Premiership round up - Week 37

Man City v Aston Villa - 3:1 - City nearly got an early lead with a deflected cross but it was saved. Villa took the lead through Carew with a short run and simple pass into the net, making the City defence look foolish (16). City applied a tourniquet on Villa but Villa are a hard side to break down and nearly went two up but their shot was saved. City players went down in Villa’s box a couple of times and the referee rightly saw no infringements until the third time, when Warnock slipped and clipped Johnson. Tevez converted from the spot and levelled the game (41). Carew almost got the lead back immediately but hit the post and City responded with a slightly lucky combination of circumstances (and passes) to end the half ahead (Adebayor, 43). Villa are a great second half side and came out with all guns firing. Bellamy had a good chance, nevertheless, but his shot was saved and in the 89th minute his fine strike into the top right hand corner of the net secured City’s victory.

Spurs v Bolton - 1:0 - Spurs needed this victory to remain in the driving seat in contention for fourth place. Bale looked threatening, as usual, but it was Huddlestone who hammered home a stupendous strike to get the first and only goal from 25 yards (38, Huddlestone’s second in the league this season). Huddlestone and Defoe both had subsequent good looking shots which went wide and Pavlyuchenko had a good opportunity for a header but missed. At the other end Spurs had to hang on grimly against a couple of Bolton attempts whilst Crouch nearly put the result beyond Bolton’s reach near the end of the game. Bolton pressed for three minutes of extra time but failed to score. Owen; ‘It was a wonder goal that separated the teams.’ Harry (regarding a late injury to Gomes); ‘Well, he felt his groin go a little bit.’ All eyes on Spurs v Man City mid-week for the fourth place spot.

Portsmouth v Wolves - 3:1 - James, sporting an even more elaborate hair-do than usual (mock-Elizabethan, Your Ear thinks), saved a good Wolves’ free kick before Dindane put Portsmouth ahead with a simple header (20). Piquionne nearly got a second goal soon after, but Doyle equalized after James saved two headers in quick succession with a tap-in (35). Utaka regained Portsmouth’s lead soon after (39) and despite valiant Wolves’ attempts Brown got another (67). McCarthy - ‘We need more players.’

Everton v Stoke - 0:0 - Cahill won an early corner as Everton started brightly. Fuller might have scored at the other end but Everton always looked stronger and more aggressive. Having said that Delap missed an easy opportunity for Stoke. Everton finally scored but, Anichebe was ruled offside. Everton fans were not best pleased and further clarification of the offside rule is required if there is to be any consistency in decisions.

Birmingham v Burnley - 2:1 - If Fulham win the Europa Cup final Burnley (despite their relegation) will play in Europe next year due to their ‘fair play’ record. Blimey, Your Ear is sure the rest of Europe is quaking in its collective football boots. Birmingham might have conceded an early penalty, but got away with it and pushed up-field. Birmingham finally squeaked ahead before half time when the ball went in-off Jensen (o/g, 30). Birmingham got their second when Johnson strained every sinew to head a cross and Chucho Benitez chested it in (41). Both Benitez and Larsson might have had another and Burnley had chances until Thompson got one back (87).

Liverpool v Chelsea - 0:2 - As the game progressed Liverpool appeared to have the upper hand at home and were more frequently on the offence until a simple misplaced back pass by Gerrard was pounced on and put away by Drogba (33). Lampard might have doubled Chelsea’s tally but his shot was saved. And a good shout for a Chelsea penalty was denied, all in the first half. Nine minutes into the second half Anelka put in a perfect cross which Lampard slid in and Chelsea celebrated as though the season was ended, and they had won it. And they might have.

Sunderland v Man United - 0:1 - Sunderland looked as though they were well in the game until ManU started playing ‘pass the parcel’ in Sunderland’s box and Nani scored with an easy shot (28). Berbatov, a player who looks good but sometimes fails to deliver (he should have stayed at Spurs where that sort of thing is more easily forgiven) should have taken at least one of three almost cast iron opportunities, but missed again and again (and again) from point-blank range. Berbatov was substituted and ManU came on strongly, but the score remained the same.

Fulham v West Ham - 3:2 - Having hit the bar and been kept out once or twice Davis put Dempsey through for a good first half goal (45). A freak in-off Carlton Cole gifted Fulham their second (59). Cole redeemed himself two minutes later with a glancing header (61). Fulham restored their two goal advantage after another West Ham defensive error (Okaka, 80) and Franco took it away again with a simple goal in extra time (90+2). Zola - ‘I don’t want to make any comments any more…’

Wigan v Hull - 2:2 - Wigan were on top for the opening half-hour but failed to take advantage until Moses put them ahead, running in from the left flank (30). Atkinson equalized on his debut, heading in Kilbane's cross (42, the Wigan defence had hesitated when the linesman flagged for offside). Cullen headed in Boateng's cross to give Hull the lead (64), but Gohouri cracked in an acrobatic overhead kick from close range to make it a draw (90+3). The result confirms Hull's relegation and there are rumours that the club’s estimated debts of about £35m may force them into administration. Dowie's future as Hull manager is also uncertain. Martinez - ‘It's a performance which leaves me with mixed feelings. They were well-organised and working hard and I thought for spells, we showed very good moments. I felt we would kick on after scoring first but we conceded two soft goals and that is a clear area that we have to improve for next season. But what we don't lack is character and the desire to carry on doing the right things until the end. The second goal was the reward we deserved.’ Wigan, who travel to the Bridge on Saturday, now hold ManU’s only hope of denying Chelsea the league title.

Blackburn v Arsenal - 2:1 - Blackburn came from behind to beat Arsenal, whose third place in the Premiership is looking more shaky by the day. Van Persie put Arsenal ahead with a header from six yards (13) but Blackburn drew level when Dunn tapped home after a corner was poorly defended (44). Fabianski saved from Pedersen and Hoilett, but Blackburn continuously challenged Arsenal’s keeper with high balls, and Samba headed the winner from a corner (68). While it was a frustrating afternoon for Wenger, who had his normal problems in coming to terms with the refereeing decisions, the win lifts Blackburn from 13th to 10th in the table.

Fulham v Stoke - 0:1 - Not an exciting match throughout, and Etherington's fine strike was one of few Stoke shots on target (83). As a result Stoke overtake Fulham, moving into the top half of the table. Hodgson (on his side's injury problems) - ‘We think one of Damien Duff's muscles was cramping up. That was a blow of course. We hope it's not too serious. I hope he'll be fit for the final. The medical staff don't think it's a muscle tear or anything like that. Bobby Zamora stands a chance of making it but he's not making vast amounts of progress on a daily basis so it could be touch and go. It's very disappointing to lose, especially seeing as the evidence showed it was handball which deflected the ball over for the goal.’ Pulis (on Stoke beating last season's points total) - ‘We're only the second club to have beaten their points tally in their second season, so so much for second-season syndrome. That's a fantastic achievement for everyone at the club. We got beaten 7-0 at Chelsea two games ago and we have played a top team in Everton and we have won here tonight. We have had two clean sheets now so that shows our spirit of togetherness. Roy picked his best side tonight but we showed great resilience and spirit. I think it's been a great response from the players.’

Manchester City v Spurs - 0:1 - What can one say? As a Spurs supporter Your Ear has generally been happy if, over the past few seasons, Spurs finished higher than Newcastle. Then The Magpies were relegated (good job Spurs finished higher than them last year) and Your Ear had to look for another candidate. This season Man City filled the spot and Your Ear is delighted, from a number of standpoints, that Spurs have now vanquished City, at the same time ensuring Champions’ League football at White Hart Lane next season. Deep, deep joy. As for the match - In brief, City were the more dangerous in the goal-less first half but Spurs were clearly the better side in the second half and Crouch squandered a few chances before he finally headed the winner late in the game (82). The result is a very ‘appy, ‘Arry whilst Mancini left the field to stony owners’ faces. Could Hughes have done as well? Who knows (and many would say, who cares?) but Your Ear thinks that the squad Mancini inherited has a lot to do with it. A big summer clear-out is now forecast. Meanwhile St Hal needs only tweak his side a little here and there to push for greater glory next year (if he buys Berbatov back from United, at a reduced price, of course, you read it here first). On the other had Adebayor is unlikely to return to Arsenal, despite the fans (all two of them) who want him back.

The Ear - all the news that's fit to spout.