Premiership round up - Week 34

Hull v Burnley - 1:4 - A relegation candidates’ derby. Hull went ahead in just 3 minutes when Kilbane nodded in a simple header from a cross. Burnley came back strongly, showing good spirit. Hull also began to press, challenging an uncertain Jensen repeatedly, but without gain. After much too-ing and fro-ing Paterson equalized after a fine piece of control and turn in the box (35) and the first half ended with Burnley in the ascendancy. Burnley had an open goal to go at early in the second half, but Duff failed to put it away, possibly due to near concussion from a collision of heads with his own team mate, Cory. Duff’s head was split open while Cory’s was swollen like an egg. Later Alexander scored from the spot after an unclear decision for a foul on Duff (64). Burnley’s second penalty was less unclear and Alexander buried it in the same area of the net for the second time (70). Hull might have got back into the game twice, once when Vennegoor of Hesselink crossed the ball (or was it a shot) but no one could get on the end of it, and then when Bullard shot wide. Burnley improved their goal difference stats with a great fourth goal from a free kick By Elliott (90+6).

West Ham v Sunderland - 1:0 - Many chances at either end went begging, Bent possibly having the best of them with what would have been a fine lob. West Ham were unlucky not to be awarded a penalty and the half ended without score. The Hammers got their noses in front when Cole won an aerial challenge and Ilan slid the ball in (51). Cattermole had a good shot which went wide and Bent had a great opportunity but slipped over. Sunderland pressed a nervy West Ham harder and almost scored from a free kick, which was well saved and the Hammers nearly replied from a free kick of their own. Cole might have finished the game in the 90th minute but missed and 4 minutes of anxious extra time were played. Franco thought he had scored but was judged to have handled the ball. The action moved to the West Ham end for a final corner kick which Zenden took. West Ham cleared the ball, the game was over and Zola’s face almost split in two he was smiling so hard. A good win for the Hammers that will greatly help their chances of avoiding relegation.

Blackburn v Man United - 0:0 - Blackburn have only lost twice at home all season, so from the off a depleted, deflated United knew they were in for a hard time. Robinson made a couple of good saves early on but throughout the whole 90 minutes United were unable to convert their aggressive play. No Rooney, no score. No goals, a draw.

Man City v Birmingham - 5:1- Adebayor missed an early opportunity but it was City’s day nonetheless. Late in the first half Adebayor was challenged and knocked over in the box and Tevez buried the spot kick (38). Two minutes later Onuoha headed the ball well and Tevez deflected it in with the slightest (unaware) touch for his second, showing how unfair the awarding of goals in football can be. Two minutes later (again) Jerome got one back for Birmingham, heading home from a suspected offside position. A minute later (43) Adebayor scored from a good cross by Bellamy. So, four goals in 5 minutes, not bad for the ticket money, and the crowd had to wait another 29 minutes for the next goal. Tevez nearly scored from a free kick but it was Onuoha who did (74) with a good run through the middle and a one-two off a defender. Then Adebayor did much the same thing at twice the speed (88) to make it five.

Liverpool v Fulham - 0:0 - Liverpool and Fulham are the remaining two English teams still playing in European competitions but it seems unlikely that either of them will enjoy that privilege next season, unless, of course they win the cup the Euro competition concerned. Liverpool had all the possession but Schwarzer made several good saves to keep a clean sheet. Fulham, on the other hand, only warmed Reina’s hands once and never caused him to move his feet.

Wolves v Stoke - 0:0 - Good play at either end went unrewarded in the first half. Early in the second Sidibe thrashed the ball skyward when he had a clear shot on goal and the crowd then had to wait until the end of the game for some excitement when Sorensen saved from a free kick. A good point for Wolves who now look safe.

Chelsea v Bolton - 1:0 - Chelsea were under par, Bolton defended well and the hosts were slightly fortunate to come away with all three points from the game. Anelka headed home Drogba’s cross near the end of the first half (43), but the Blues might have conceded two penalties from handballs by Terry and Drogba. On the other hand, Lampard hit the post and Terry shot wide. Then again, Elmander should have equalized but missed a header. All in all an unsatisfactory match from a spectator’s standpoint and Sir Alex’s suggestion that the game was an ‘easy’ three points for the As (Abramovich and Ancelotti) proved unfounded.

Aston Villa v Everton - 2:2 - Nip and tuck for two close rivals. Cahill made space in the six-yard box to head home Baines' cross after Bilyaletdinov nearly scored (23). Agbonlahor's glancing header levelled the game for barely a minute before Cahill scored again (72, 74). Jagielka’s unfortunate own goal in extra time under pressure from Carew (90+1) got Villa off the hook. O'Neill - ‘Maybe a point did not suit either team in terms of our respective aspirations, Everton in terms of European football and ourselves in terms of something higher. I would say we have to win the whole lot from here. It is not impossible but it will be tough. We will just give it all that we can.’ That puts Everton in their place, Your Ear thinks. Moyes - ‘I am really pleased with how well we played, I thought we played some really good football, but I was disappointed that we only got a point in the end. But they had opportunities as well. Tim Howard made a couple of really good saves in the first half but I think he, like us, will be disappointed he did not save the second one.’ So Moyes was both pleased and disappointed at the same time…

Wigan v Portsmouth - 0:0 - Wigan should have won this game many times over but could not capitalize on their opportunities. The visitors had early chances when Ritchie twice missed with headers. Wigan took control but rarely tested Ashdown and Scharner, Scotland and Rodallega all squandered chances allowing Pompey to hold on for an unlikely point. Martinez - ‘It's frustrating because we had all the possession but Pompey had a game-plan, they got behind the ball and made it very difficult. It was one of those situations where you can get punished if you don't concentrate, and the lads did well in that respect. We were brave but we tried to win with the heart rather than the head - but we've got a point. There's a bit of disappointment and if decisions had gone our way it could have been different, but there are no easy games.’ Grant - ‘We have many players who were injured so we used some players from the academy and I was very pleased with them. We needed to do it because we have a very small squad.’ It will be smaller soon.

Tottenham v Arsenal - 2:1 - With this result Tottenham might have squashed any Arsenal plans to win the Premiership, whilst boosting their own chances of qualifying for the Champions League. Rose whacked a magnificent 30-yard volley past Almunia early on (10 - a 'wonder goal' according to Redknapp) and everywhere-man, Bale, tapped in Spurs' second from six yards after a pass by Defoe just after half-time (47). Gomes made three heroic saves to keep out Arsenal before Bendtner got a goal back (85). This was Tottenham’s first league win over Arsenal in 20 games. Spurs’ supporters are hoping they don’t have to wait another 11 years for a repeat performance. Before the match both clubs’ managers had said that anything other than victory would end their hopes of achieving their respective targets this season. Your Ear has assumed that Arsene is drowning his sorrows while ‘Arry is having a (small) beer with ‘the boys’.

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