Premiership round up - Week 36

Man United v Spurs - 3:1 - ManU had the better of the first half but Gomes stood up well and United could not convert any of their chances (and they had one or two). In the second half Berbatov engineered a penalty from a back pass and finally ManU got a goal (Giggs, 58). This seemed to free Spurs to play their own game until King equalized with a header from a corner (70). Nani did very well to put United back in front with a toe-poke to leave the defenders for dead, and a chip to beat the keeper (81). Five minutes later Evra was bundled over by Palacios and Giggs competently scored his second penalty to put the game beyond Spurs’ reach (86).

Hull v Sunderland - 0:1 - Hull started nervously but they looked like relegation-fodder from the off. Bent got Sunderland’s first with a simple tap-in from Jones looping header (7). Hull had a good chance but the keeper chested the ball away (strangely, as he might have used his hands). Hull earned a ridiculous penalty (not that the player was fouled, but Hull had previously committed a couple of fouls of their own and got away with them). Justice was served and Bullard missed. Altidore and Hutton were both sent off, Hutton for provocation, Your Ear thinks, and Altidore for reacting. Hull continued to push forward but could not get back on terms.

West Ham v Wigan - 3:2 - West Ham needed this win to ensure their survival in the Premiership but an unfortunate own goal by Spector early on put Wigan ahead (4). Cole might have equalized having ‘rounded’ the keeper (and flattened Kirkland as well - 5 stitches in his lower lip and 4 in his cheek) but Cole’s shot was saved on the line. West Ham saved narrowly from another Wigan attack by McCarthy but then Ilan drew the Hammers level with an easy strike from Coles’ short pass (31). West Ham moved ahead on the stroke of half time with a determined header by Kovac (45+5). Wigan played well and in resolute fashion but could not get back on terms until Rodallega ‘stomached’ the ball in from close range (52). Wigan had other chances but West Ham finally got their noses in front when Parker hammered one (no pun intended) from 40 yards out, a beautiful strike (77). Other than mathematical improbabilities West Ham (and hopefully Zola) are now safe.

Arsenal v Man City - 0:0 - Van Persie was back but Adebayor was on the bench (and unwelcome) for this fixture at the Emirates. It was honours even at half time after strenuous efforts by both sides, with Arsenal having the better of it. When Adebayor came on in the second half he was booed as roundly as Viera (who he replaced), another ex-Arsenal player, this time a favourite, was cheered. Given was stretchered off with a badly dislocated shoulder and and the game soldiered on to a goal-less draw, a better result for City than for Arsenal.

Wolves v Blackburn - 1:1 - Blackburn nearly took the lead with a header off the post but Blackburn eventually took the lead when Nelsen tucked the ball away from a good cross (28). Wolves nearly equalized from a free kick but Robinson palmed the ball away. Wolves missed several other chances (saved, off the line, etc) until with his first touch of the ball substitute Ebanks-Blake scored with a clever header (81). Blackburn nearly regained the lead when Andrews hit the post, but the game ended in a draw. A point looks enough to keep Wolves up, with Burnley having it all to do.

Bolton v Portsmouth - 2:2 - James had no chance (twice in two minutes), first to keep out Klasnic’s well-aimed header, then to save Davies’ well-placed shot (26, 28). Dindane got one back for Portsmouth in the second half (54) with a good shot then got another in style after good work by Utaka (68) to earn the draw.

Chelsea v Stoke - 7:0 - Chelsea got their teeth into Stoke like a terrier into a rat from the outset, narrowly missing chances right and left. Kalou got the Blues’ first after masterly control and a cross by Drogba (24). Kalou got the second after another fine pass by Drogba which Lampard hammered at the keeper who failed to hold it (31). Kalou earned the third goal by staggering into the box whilst being held by Huth to get a penalty decision which Lampard converted (44). So, the match was stone cold by half time. Kalou ran the ball into the box and followed up to pass it into the net for his hat-trick (68). Chelsea might have had a couple more before Lampard tucked the ball away off the side of his foot to make it five (81). Substitute Sturridge ran round the keeper to score his first goal for Chelsea (87) and Malouda finished the goal-fest with an off-side goal which was allowed to stand (89).

Burnley v Liverpool - 0:4 - Burnley started needing to win all three of their remaining games to avoid relegation. They duly applied early pressure in greater measure than Liverpool and the best first half chances fell to the claret and blues. The half ended goal-less, but Gerrard made the first breakthrough with a deflected shot (52). He doubled his score seven minutes later with a cracking strike from distance and Maxi piled on the agony for Burnley with a third for Liverpool with a well-placed shot from a difficult angle (74). Burnley continued to try but could not show any finishing quality. Babel got the fourth goal from an off-side position to put the result beyond any possible doubt (90+4). So Burnley join Portsmouth on their way out of the Premiership, only the third relegation place (Hull’s) remains to be determined.

Aston Villa v Birmingham - 1:0 - A great derby game with good attacking initiatives by both sides - the sort of match which delights the crowd without a goal being scored, although, in the end, one was. Both keepers (Friedel and Hart) were in good form and made many excellent saves as the play roared from end to end until Agbonlahor was fouled in the box and Milner scored from the spot (83). McLeish was very unhappy with the penalty decision (due to the ref’s distance from the incident), O’Neill was in no doubt. Surprise, surprise, but McLeish was right, Johnson (the defender) won the ball.

Everton v Fulham - 2:1 - Fulham squeaked into the lead against the run of play when a careless back-pass by Baines allowed Nevland to pounce and tuck the ball away (36). In the second half a slo-mo header was touched in for an own goal by Smalling (50). Cahill nearly scored with his head (again) and Fulham failed to convert a relatively easy chance. Everton always looked the more determined until Cahill went down in the box and Arteta scored a last gasp penalty to get the result (90+4).

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