Ancelotti’s Blues hunt down Wolves
Venue – Stamford Bridge
Result – Chelsea 2 – 0 Wolves
As it happened’- Chelsea kept their 100% home record intact for the season and in the process opened a five point lead at the top of the premiership. The fantastic front trio of Malouda, Anelka and Drogba were once again united to deadly affect. Zhirkov was given a rare start in the Chelsea midfield after his brilliant goal in the midweek Champions League game. Malouda put Chelsea in front in the 23rd minute when he finished off a cross from Yury Zhirkov. The Russian is finally getting his bearings right at the Bridge after an indifferent start to his Chelsea career. To be fair to Wolves they tried hard but were guilty of missing a number of decent opportunities. Salomon Kalou sealed the three points coming off the bench late in the second half. The defeat left Wolves still looking for their first win since the opening day of the season and are second from bottom.
‘You can’t miss this’- Often accused of bullying their way through goal, the Chelsea opener was a piece of skill and beauty as Zhirkov produced stunning pass on the run which was neatly tucked in by Malouda. It’s getting almost impossible to keep the little Frenchman out of action; Malouda has been in red hot form throughout the season.
Shock & Horror as United win away from home
Venue – Britannia Stadium
Result – Stoke City 1 – 2 Man Utd
As it happened’- Ferguson’s team sheet raised a few eyebrows as Patrice Evra started on left wing and Gary Neville got a rare start. After a topsy-turvy week following the Rooney saga, United displayed resilience and determination to come back from the Britannia Stadium with all 3 points and in the process notched up their first away league win of the season. Chicharito headed home from yards out to give United the lead, which they have inevitably squandered in previous encounters this season. Tuncay Sanley produced a glorious strike cutting in from the right wing and curling one in the top corner – unstoppable finish. But to the delight of the travelling United fans Chicharito was in the right place at the right time to tap home the winner. United needed the win badly to keep themselves in the title hunt.
‘You can’t miss this’- Chicharito’s opening goal was almost beyond belief. The’ little pea’ headed home from the back of his head when he looked in absolutely no position to head that ball in. Surely no coaching manual in the world teaches you to do that kind of stuff – unorthodox but amazingly effective.
Fortress Anfield restored?
Venue – Anfield
Result – Liverpool 2 – 1 Blackburn
‘As it happened ‘-Liverpool finally gave their premier league campaign some much needed impetus as they defeated Sam Allerdyce’s Blackburn rovers in a keenly contested encounter. Billed as the second relegation six pointer for Liverpool although in jest, the match was dominated by the Merseyside outfit only to be thwarted regularly by the surprisingly brilliant Paul Robinson. Sotirios Kyrgiakos’ 48th-minute header finally gave Liverpool the lead, however, their joy was cut short by a Carragher own goal. But a sign that the Reds’ fortunes were changing came in the 53rd minute when Torres ghosted in at the far post to side-foot a Joe Cole cross. The much maligned Roy Hodgson would breathe a sigh of relief as this win ended a series of poor results which had included seven matches without a win in all competitions.
‘You can’t miss this’- The Carragher own goal, the Liverpool skipper has this rather unfortunate habit of scoring for the opposition time and time again, however on this occasion he could hardly be blamed as a Paul Konchesky’s goal-line clearance from El-Hadji Diouf’s shot cannoned back off Carragher, into the net.
Gunners put City to the sword:
Venue – City of Manchester Stadium
Result – Man city 0 – 3 Arsenal
‘As it happened’- In a match billed as the battle between the potential title contenders, an early sending off seemed to derail the contest of its path. Dedryck Boyata brought Maroune Chamakh to the ground unfairly and got his subsequent marching orders as early as in the fifth minute of the game to put City on the back-foot. The opening goal came after 20 minutes as Nasri played a one-two with Andrey Arshavin on the edge of the box and clipped the ball over Joe Hart. In a mildly ill tempered game the match referee Clattenburg was called upon again as Vincent Kompany recklessly lunged in on Fabregas just inside the area. A penalty was rightly awarded but Hart kept City in the game with a brilliant save from Fabregas’ spot-kick. Carlos Tevez suffered a knock and was replaced by the former Arsenal man Adebayor but it was Song who doubled Arsenal’s lead and all but killed City’s resistance. Substitute Bendtnar provided the gloss on the score line as he finished from a tight angle. The result pushed Arsenal ahead of City on goal difference and their title challenge got a much needed fillip.
‘You can’t miss this’- the moment of the match was undoubtedly the sending off in the 5th minute. The naivety of the youngster cost the blue side from Manchester the match, as they had to contend with an in form Arsenal side having a man advantage. The decision was as straight forward as they come and Clattenburg had no option but to send the youngster off.
The Other Affairs
Tottenham 1 – 1 Everton
Birmingham 2 – 0 Blackpool
West Ham 1 – 2 Newcastle
Wigan 1– 1 Bolton
Sunderland 1 – 0 Aston Villa
Wes Brom 2 – 1 Fulham