UK Football

Manchester United fully hit their stride in this match, after a rocky start to their season the champions dominated Blackburn pretty much for the full ninety minutes.  Putting up 19 shots with 4 on target, compared to Blackburn’s 7 with 2 on target.  Even the possession statistic tells you that Man U is back playing like themselves again, with 61% to Blackburn’s  39%.  Showing everyone that not only are Manchester United not in trouble, but the Rooney, Ronaldo combination that has been missing is back in full force.

Wigan 0-1 Middlesbrough

Boro were by no means the better side in this match, in fact very much to the contrary, but Gareth Southgate’s men were lucky and sometimes luck is enough.  Wigan and their golden boy Zaki put up 21 shots with 5 on goal, and yet could not clench a breakthrough, showing that despite Zaki’s pure talent, Wigan still need a much more well rounded team.  Wigan also dominated in possession with 60% to Boro’s 40%.  But still Southgate’s men trudged on until a lucky Aliadiere goal in the 89th minute was enough to seem them through for the three points.

West Bromwich Albion 1-0 Fulham

West Brom secure their third Premiership victory over a Fulham side that hasn’t shown much improvement over the Fulham that was almost relegated last season.  Fulham went into the West Brom match playing a 4-5-1, putting way too much pressure on Bobby Zamora to control the flow of Fulham’s attack.  Despite a less than dominant performance from West Brom, in which Fulham completely controlled the ball with 62% possession, just couldn’t find that final pass and West Brom’s Roman Bednar 61st minute goal stood as the deciding factor.

Sunderland 1-1 Arsenal

Sunderland put forth an absolutely stout defensive performance in this one, in which the black cats did not back down despite Arsenal’s overwhelming attacking play.  Arsenal dominated proceedings as you would expect, with 68% possession.  But Sunderland stood firm, and made their few chances count right up until their 86th minute Grant Leadbitter breakthrough.  And for four minutes it looked as though the Gunners would be upset again until Cesc Fabregas’ 90th minute equaliser to rescue an Arsenal point.

Everton 2-2 Newcastle United

If anything is to be said about this match, it is that Everton will not finish fifth this season the way they are playing.  David Moyes needs to seriously get his men under control, because they just aren’t putting out the sort of form they need to win matches, as evidenced by their failure to beat a ridiculously weakened Newcastle side.
Had it not been for the favor of the official with Everton’s 17th minute Mikel Arteta penalty, Newcastle would have surely captured the three points, as the Toon Army was clearly the more hungry side in the second half.  A half in which Everton just let both Steven Taylor’s 45th minute net buster, and Damien Duff’s follow up one minute later, I’m surprised things ended a draw.

Tottenham 0-1 Hull City

There’s nothing to be said about this fixture except that Robinho isn’t ready for the Premiership, Fernando Torres is the new best player in the world, Liverpool are the real deal this season, and Manchester City has a while to wait before they crack the top four.  Mark Hughes has the ambition, he just doesn’t have the on field leadership from a more reliable captain, or the defenders/midfielders to make it happen.

Portsmouth 2-1 Stoke City

Well Stoke seem to be living up to their reputation of being a club that doesn’t belong with England’s top flight.  While Pompey’s  Crouch, Defoe combo seems to finally be becoming effective.  Perhaps now that partnership can grow the way Redknapp predicted in the off season.  Pompey did exactly what they should against a lesser club, dominating things 62% possession and 20 shots with 9 on target, to Stoke’s 9 shots.  Redknapp should be proud, but still inquiring his defense as to why the 48th minute Ricardo Fuller goal was put into the back of David James’ net.

Chelsea 2-0 Aston Villa

Despite Villa’s attacking prowess of Ashley Young, Reo-Coker, Agbonlahor, and Gareth Barry, the Villans still cannot rise to the glory that should come naturally to them.  Chelsea however seem to have approached a stride that would have been useful last season.  Chelsea simply dominated the match with 61% possession and an unbelievable 35 shots with 14 on target, forcing 12 saves out of Brad Friedel.  Also meaning Aston Villa have one hell of a keeper in Friedel, but there’s only so much you can do under that sort of pressure.

West Ham 1-3 Bolton