Weekend of Shocks in Barclays Premier League

December 21, 2009

Christmas is full of joy, excitement and surprises, and this weekend in the Premier League was just the same, with some of the big boys suffering surprise defeats in an interesting couple of days of football.

The first of the shock results came at Fratton Park as a resurgent Portsmouth beat Liverpool 2-0. Maybe that shouldn’t be such a big surprise given the Reds’ poor form of late, but if they’re guaranteed to finish in the top 4 come May as Rafael Benitez confidently told the press last week, they need to improve a hell of a lot.

Pompey dominated for large parts of the game, and were helped somewhat when Javier Mascherano received his marching orders for a horror tackle on Tal Ben Haim. Two great goals by Belhadj and Piquionne sealed the three points for the home team.

Fulham also produced a bit of a shock at Craven Cottage, by beating champions Manchester United 3-0. The margin of victory was emphatic and well deserved. The Red Devils were off their game as well as suffering badly from defensive injury problems, but the Cottagers gladly took advantage with goals by Murphy, Zamora and Duff.

United’s defeat left the door open for Chelsea to try and extend their lead at the top of the table to six points as they faced West Ham on Sunday. But they didn’t make the most of the most of their chance as they struggled to a draw against the Hammers. It was a game of two penalties, West Ham’s Diamanti converting in the first half, and Chelsea’s Lampard equalising from the spot after a somewhat dubious decision by referee Mike Dean.

Arsenal were the only side in the so-called ‘big 4’ to gain maximum points this weekend as they triumphed 3-0 over Hull City. It wasn’t plain sailing but goals by Denilson, Eduardo and Diaby ensured the Gunners closed the gap on the front two as they lay third with a game in hand. Hull wasted a great chance to equalise with the score at 1-0 when Geovanni missed a penalty and the three onrushing Tigers players got in each other’s way to turn the rebound wide of Almunia’s goal, on a day to forget for them.

Aston Villa remain in the top four for the time being after they managed yet another win, this time at home to Stoke. It wasn’t vintage Villa, but they did enough to beat the Potters. John Carew netted the only goal of the game before his best shot of the game to strike the corner flag into the crowd. Funny what the euphoria of scoring a goal at the Holte End does to someone!

Tottenham are knocking on the door of the top four, but for now they’re still stuck outside. They travelled to a snowy Ewood Park and two Peter Crouch goals gave them all three points against Blackburn. Tom Huddlestone claimed an assist for the first one, with a shot that went so badly it turned into a great pass out wide to Krancjar who crossed for a towering Crouch header. England credentials shown there by Tom, turn bad into good in the same movement!

It was a funny old day at Eastlands on Saturday. Not least on the field, where Manchester City finally managed to beat Sunderland 4-3 in a helter skelter of a game. Two goals by Santa Cruz (appropriate to this time of year), were followed by efforts by Tevez and Bellamy, while Mensah, Henderson and Jones netted for the Black Cats.

But that was only half of the story, as Mark Hughes was unceremoniously sacked by the City chiefs after the game, and quickly replaced by Italian Roberto Mancini in a move that looks somewhat pre-planned, although all parties deny that. Mancini will be in the dugout as City face Stoke on Boxing Day.

After a few days of stick in the press, and off his own supporters, Mick McCarthy had the final word at Molineux. The Wolves boss fielded a team with 10 changes at Old Trafford in midweek in preparation for the big game against Burnley. And his tactic paid off as they beat the Clarets 2-0, with Milijas and Doyle on the scoresheet.

Everton and Birmingham played out a 1-1 draw at Goodison Park with goals by Bilyaletdinov for the Toffees and Larsson for the Blues. That result ends Birmingham’s impressive run of 5 successive wins but they still sit in an outstanding seventh place in the Premier League going into Christmas.

The final fixture of the weekend was due to be held at the DW Stadium between Wigan and Bolton. But the bad weather, and mainly bad state of the surrounding roads meant the game had to be postponed much to the disappointment of, well, some people.

So that’s it in terms of Premier League football before Christmas. I’d like to end by wishing you all a very merry festive period.

Paul Harper

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