Barclays Premier League Review

Manchester United celebrated Sir Alex Ferguson's 25th anniversary in charge of the club with a 1-0 victory over Sunderland whilst Man City maintained their 5 point lead at the top with a narrow victory over QPR and there were wins for Chelsea, Arsenal and Newcastle but Liverpool were held to a goalless draw with Swansea City at Anfield.




Heitinga puts it in his own net.

 

The lunchtime kick off saw in-form Newcastle United take on David Moyes' Everton side at St James' Park. The Magpies are still unbeaten this season after an excellent 3-1 victory against Stoke City last Monday night. It was the home side who took the lead when a low cross in from the right hand side by Danny Simpson was put in by Everton defender John Heitinga gifting Alan Pardew's men the lead. The lead was doubled when Ryan Taylor hit a wonderful volley beyond Tim Howard's reach to come in off the bar and make it 2-0 to the home team. Everton got themselves back in the game when Jack Rodwell pulled one back at the very end of the first half. There were shouts for a penalty in the second half when Louis Saha's shot was deflected and appeared to strike the arm of former Everton player Dan Gosling but no penalty was given. It should have been a spot kick but the referee had his view blocked by another Newcastle defender. It finished 2-1 in the end and Newcastle went up to second in the Premier League albeit temporarily.




Guard of Honour for Sir Alex Ferguson.



It was a day of celebration at Old Trafford as Sir Alex Ferguson marked 2 years in charge of Manchester United; an incredible record of achievement and consistency at the highest level with one of the greatest teams ever. He walked onto the pitch to be greeted by a guard of honour by his own team and Sunderland as well as being presented on the pitch with the North Stand being renamed the 'Sir Alex Ferguson' stand in tribute to the Scotsman. A statue will also be placed outside of this stand in the near future. In to the action and it was a former United player, Wes Brown, who headed in to his own net. Brown didn't have a great view and was unfortunate in this scenario. Sunderland created their own chances but didn't take them and Westwood was forced into some remarkable saves including a double one with shots from Rooney and Evra coming close. United held on and closed the gap to just 2 points from Man City even if it was only for a couple of hours.

Man City were at Loftus Road in the evening kick off, but it was QPR who started the better with numerous attacks and Bothroyd eventually giving them the lead with a wonderful header. It could have been a lot more for QPR who hit the post and came close on several occasions. They didn't finish off these chances and Edin Dzeko snatched an equaliser at the end of the first half with a nice finish which was unfortunate for Rangers who really took the game to City. In the second half, Mancini's team went into the lead as David Silva took a great touch away from the defence and claimed his 4th goal of the season giving the visitors a 2-1 lead. QPR came back though despite some testing shots from Sergio Aguero and they equalised when the ball found Bothroyd in the air who headed it against his team mate Helguson and it went into the net. The Man City players complained that Helguson was offside but replays show that Stefan Savic was keeping Helguson onside so the linesman made a great decision in that respect. Man City came back once more though and regained their lead when Yaya Toure, who scored two in the midweek Champions League win over Villareal, headed home for the third to secure the victory. Man City remain 5 points ahead at the top, QPR are in 12th after a very courageous and defiant display that probably meant they deserved at least a point.

Arsenal ran out comfortable 3-0 winners against West Brom with goals from Robin Van Persie, Thomas Vermaelen and Mikel Arteta ensuring the 3 points for an Arsenal side who have revived in recent weeks after their shocking start to the campaign. Mikel Arteta's goal was finished off nicely by the Spaniard after a good team move. Arsenal are now in 7th place and certainly needed this win after the 0-0 draw with Marseille in the Champions League last week.

Chelsea recovered from their recent woes in the Premier League as they recorded a 1-0 victory over struggling Blackburn courtesy of a great header from Frank Lampard. It wasn't an easy game for Andre Villas-Boas as Cech was forced into making some essential saves and also took a knock that required treatment. Chelsea stay in 4th with that win whilst Blackburn remain in the relegation zone.

There was a thriller at Villa as Norwich City travelled to Villa Park and it was the away team that took the lead through a wonderful free-kick from Pilkington with 25 minutes gone but Bent equalised 5 minutes later before Villa took the lead in the second half through Gabriel Agbonlahor to make it 2-1. Darren Bent then got a second to give Villa a 3-1 lead before Steve Morison pulled one back with over 10 minutes left creating a very tense end but the home side held onto all 3 points taking them above Norwich and into 8th place.

Swansea City earned a remarkable point away at Anfield with a fantastic performance in a game where they also had chances too. Michel Vorm was the hero for Swansea denying Liverpool on a countless number of times. Liverpool attacked and attacked but they couldn't find a goal. Swansea also had chances too and they came close to causing a huge upset against the Reds. Dirk Kuyt had a goal disallowed for offside and this was an excellent decision by lineswoman Sian Massey who correctly ruled the goal out. Swansea held on for a famous point and will be very pleased by their performance that will give them a major confidence boost. Especially as they take on Manchester United at home in their next Premier League fixture.

Premier League results

Arsenal 3-0 West Bromwich Albion

Aston Villa 3-2 Norwich City

Blackburn Rovers 0-1 Chelsea

Liverpool 0-0 Swansea City
Manchester United 1-0 Sunderland

Newcastle United 2-1 Everton

Queens Park Rangers 2-3 Manchester City

Sunday's Fixtures

Bolton Wanderers v Stoke City

Wolverhampton Wanderers v Wigan Athletic (Sky Sports 1, 1.30pm)

Fulham v Tottenham Hotspur (Sky Sports 1, 4pm)



npower League 2 review

In another big weekend in League 2 Southend United went 2 points clear at the top as Crawley and Morecambe were held to draws in their respective matches but there were wins for both Cheltenham Town and Shrewsbury Town away from home.

Southend United were at home to an Oxford United side who are certainly fighting at the top end of the table and earning important results so this was one of the big games in League 2. Mark Phillips gave the home side the lead at half-time but Oxford replied in the second half through Damian Batt making it 1-1 but Ryan Hall's 25 yard effort that gave Southend a 2-1 lead proved to be the winner as the Shrimpers picked up maxium points to keep them at the peak of League 2.

Shrewsbury Town were in need of a victory after their 0-0 draw at home to AFC Wimbledon last week and they were up against a struggling Dagenham side at the wrong end of the table. Both sides were reduced to 10 men in this game. James Wallace, who signed on loan from Everton midweek, was sent off for Shrewsbury after lunging in on Jon Nurse. Terry Gornell gave the visitors the lead in the 6th minute capitalising on a mistake from Dagenham's Richard Rose. The game was decided in injury time when Graham Turner's men were awarded a penalty after Scott Doe fouled James Collins and was consequently sent off. It was Collins who took the penalty and put it away to seal the 3 points for Town who move up to 4th with that away victory.

Cheltenham continued their surge into the automatic promotion places with a 1-0 victory at Bradford City; Kaid Mohammed's 15 yard strike being the only goal of the game to take Cheltenham up to third.

Morecambe and Crawley Town had to settle for draws as Morecambe drew 1-1 with Plymouth Argyle and it could have been worse for John Coleman's side who were 1-0 down to Plymouth courtesy of Simon Walton. However, in the 4th minute of injury time, Nick Fenton scored a very late equaliser to rescue a point for the visitors. Crawley finished 1-1 with Hereford United at Edgar Street. It was Hereford who took the lead early on through Barkhuizen but Drury levelled for Crawley before half-time and the Red Devils are now unbeaten in 9 games and lie second in League 2 behind Southend.

Despite Dagenham's defeat they remain above the relegation zone on goal difference as Barnet drew 1-1 with AFC Wimbledon keeping them in the bottom two along with Plymouth Argyle.

League 2 Results:

Accrington Stanley 2-1 Bristol Rovers
AFC Wimbledon 1-1 Barnet FC
Bradford City  0-1 Cheltenham Town
Burton Albion 1-0 Macclesfield
Crewe Alexandra 0-3 Torquay United
Dagenham and Redbridge 0-2 Shrewsbury Town
Gillingham 4-3 Northampton Town
Hereford United 1-1 Crawley Town
Plymouth Argyle 1-1 Morecambe
Port Vale 0-2 Swindon Town
Rotherham United 2-0 Aldershot
Southend United 2-1 Oxford United