Premiership Roundup Week 11

This week's Premiership fixtures kicked off with Wigan Athletic proving just too strong for the improving Fulham but only just, leaving it until the 90th minute to edge it 1-0. The weekend's big fixture saw the strutting Tottenham Hotspur just fail to beat bitter rivals Arsenal, ending 1-all after Spurs had dominated the match but failed to finish off the opposition.

The three o'clock games saw Chelsea extend their control of the Premiership, running out easy 4-2 victors over an initially hard to break down Blackburn Rovers, thanks to great performances by lethal striker Didier Drogba and the best player in Britain today, Frank Lampard in midfield.


..............Chelsea's Didier Drogba

Elsewhere, Bolton Wanderers proved just too strong for hosts Charlton Athletic, stealing a vital 0-1 away win thanks to another crucial goal from captain Kevin Nolan and going above the East Londoners in the table, whilst Liverpool returned to winning ways with a steadying 2-0 victory over the original East Enders West Ham United.


..........Bolton's inspirational captain Kevin Nolan

The two basement battles were decisive, the previously rooted to the bottom Everton leapfrogging over the increasingly vulnerable Steve Bruce's Birmingham City to 18th place, their second away victory coming due to the first of the day's crucial goalkeeping errors. Over on the East Coast, sad strugglers Sunderland confirmed the mammoth task facing them as they are already looking like relegation fodder, going down 1-4 to fellow minnows Portsmouth.

The same score at Middlesborough sounds unremarkable until one realises that it's 4-1 to the home team over a truly dire Manchester United, who were inept in defence and clueless in front of goal. Apparently billionaire American owner Malcolm Glazer is prepared to give Sir Alex Ferguson a blank cheque to make the team competitive with rouble-rich Chelski, news which can't come soon enough for the bewildered fans.


............Sir Alex Ferguson on a happier day

Sunday saw the heretofore underperforming Newcastle United return to winning ways, slamming West Bromwich Albion 0-3, thanks to a brace from the now fit Michael Owen and a late goal from supersub Alan Shearer, a result which takes the Geordies back into the top half of the table but leaves the generally impressive Brummies right on the edge of the drop zone.


............Michael Owen of Newcastle United and England

Week 11 draws to a close with the Monday night victory of Manchester City over up for sale Aston Villa 3-1 with former Villa striker Darius Vassell scoring twice as the Sky Blues soar to fourth place.

The current English Premiership Football league table is here.

This article is cross-posted here on BlogCritics.

Middlesbrough 4 Manchester United 1

It's a full house at Middlesbrough's Riverside Stadium as former Alex Ferguson assistant Steve McClaren, now in charge here in the North East for four years, hopes to continue Middlesbrough's good run of results against his former boss. Sir Alex in turn will be hoping Manchester United start a good run of form, knowing that his season, and possibly his career, depend on the next nine days.

Middlesbrough centre-backs Gareth Southgate (groin) and Ugo Ehiogu (knee) are both out injured but Franck Queudrue, Emanuel Pogagtetz and Matthew Bates all return to the team. Middlesbrough: Schwarzer, Bates, Riggott, Queudrue, Parnaby, Boateng, Mendieta, Rochemback, Pogatetz, Hasselbaink, Yakubu. Subs: Jones, Nemeth, Doriva, Morrison, Viduka

Manchester United's Wes Brown and Kieran Richardson return to the squad but Ryan Giggs, Roy Keane, Gabriel Heinze, Quinton Fortune, Gary Neville and Louis Saha are all still unfit. Man Utd : Van der Sar, Bardsley, Ferdinand, O'Shea, Silvestre, Fletcher, Smith, Scholes, Park, Rooney, van Nistelrooy. Subs: Howard, Brown, Ronaldo, Richardson, Rossi.

Middlesbrough get things going and it's hammer blows to the United heart straightaway as Gaizka Mendieta collects a long crossfield ball outside the Reds' penalty area and with barely a glance slams a rocket into the back of the net, it's GOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAALLL and 1-0 to Middlesbrough with only two minutes gone. Game on!

.......................................Middlesbrough's Gaizka Mendieta

Unfortunately for United, the home side are now filled with self belief and contesting every ball. Sir Alex' cautious 4-4-1-1 formation isn't built for buccaneering and with Park as the only real wide player, the Red Devils are finding midfield control impossible.

Suddenly, in the 24th minute, it gets worse; Mendieta, helping out in defence, sends a long visionary pass deep into United territory where Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink makes no mistake from close range and it's GOOOOOOAAAALLL and 2-0 to Middlesbrough.

It's bedlam in the Riverside and things are looking grim for the Manchester men. There seems scant prospect of one of those miraculous comebacks which the United fans once took for granted as Middlesbrough seem to have total control and Mendieta is proving the master of midfield.

It's almost half time, offering a chance to re-group for United, when events take a turn for the even worse. Kieron Richardson, on as a tactical change for Bardsley, brings down Stuart Parnaby in the United area and Aiyegbeni Yakubu makes easy work of the penalty, sending Van der Sar the wrong way, so it's another GOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLL and now 3-0 to Middlesbrough.

As the referee mercifully brings the first half to a close, the words "Sir Alex" and "hairdryer treatment" spring to mind as the United players trudge towards the dressing room.

Fifteen minutes later, United get the second half started playing 4-3-3 now but there's still no sign of winger Cristiano Ronaldo, who would surely help unlock this tight defensive unit. Middlesbrough look determined to continue their good work and not simply defend the lead.

For all their good passing and not for want of trying to get forward, United are getting nothing but scrappy little chances with little real threat to Mark Schwarzer in the 'Boro goal and the danger of a swift counter attack is continuous and real as the home team grow in confidence.

Ronaldo comes on for Manchester with only thirty minutes remaining, but replaces Park, still leaving United with only one wide guy. Predictably, this proves too little and further hurt is caused in the 77th minute when Yakuba brushes past the ineffectual Ferdinand and squares the ball to that man Mendieta who shoots rightfooted into the bottom corner for another easy GOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAL and 4-0.


Cristiano Ronaldo, scorer of Manchester United's 1000th Premiership goal

Just before the end of this shoddy performance by the team expected to lead the Chelsea chase, the hugely disappointing Rio Ferdinand is taken off by Ferguson and replaced by the welcome return of long term injury victim Wes Brown. Then, in the second minute of added time, a further crumb of comfort comes Manchester's way when they become the first ever team to score one thousand Premiership goals as a Paul Scholes corner is met by a bullet header from Cristiano Ronaldo who scores a great consolation GOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAL to make the final score a well-deserved 4-1 to Middlesbrough.

Cross-posted here at BlogCritics.

Premiership Preview Week 11

The dramatic tension of the Premiership is really starting to build now as the heady outlines of glory and failure begin to take shape for all twenty teams.

The fever starts to build with the two lunchtime fixtures where high flying debutantes Wigan Athletic should prove too strong for struggling visitors Fulham. Meanwhile in the match of the day, Spurs entertain Arsenal with their best chance for years of winning the at times heated North London derby. Arsenal's heart, in the shape of

Thierry Henry, misses the game due to injury so the likelihood of Wenger's boys taking advantage of the chance to catch the newly confident Tottendam (sic) looks slim.

In the five three o'clock kickoffs, there's an into-the-valley-of-relegation battle between two seriously underperforming teams as Birmingham host Everton; it's second versus seventh as Charlton hope to resist the attacking verve of Bolton Wanderers; whilst the leaders Chelsea will be hoping both to recover momentum against Blackburn Rovers and that there's no re-run of the pitched battle between the two teams we saw last season. Liverpool will be hoping to avoid further embarrassment against the improving West Ham and in the other basement battle two teams struggle desperately for air as Sunderland face Portsmouth.

The late afternoon match sees the unpredictable Middlesboro host the so far inconsistent Manchester United in a game in which literally anything can happen but, as United keeper

Edwin van der Sar says: "The season is going to stand or fall on our two results this week. There is already a gap between ourselves and Chelsea [who we play on November 6th], so that will only be an important game if we win on Saturday".

Sunday sees West Brom looking to keep their recent good run going against the dangerously wounded beast that is Newcastle United but I expect the Toon Army to prevail and the month of October and this week's round of matches is brought to a close on Monday night as the high-flying Sky Blues of Manchester City will look to take advantage of a struggling Aston Villa.

This article cross-posted here at BlogCritics.

Manchester United 4 Barnet 1

Manchester United continue their recent custom of using the Carling Cup to develop younger squad players, tonight against Barnet, a team currently enjoying their first season of Football League.

Obviously I wasn't able to see the match but the worst moment was obviously the totally unnecessary sending off of Barnet's goalkeeper in the second minute whilst the best was the confident performance of a weird mixture of rusty first teamers and a handful of kids making their United debuts.

The bare stats of the match are:-

Man Utd Howard, Bardsley, Brown, Pique, Eckersley, Martin (Gibson 75), Miller, Jones, Richardson, Ebanks-Blake, Rossi.

Subs Not Used: Park, Smith, Silvestre, Steele.

Booked: Miller, Jones, Eckersley.

Goals: Miller 4, Richardson 19, Rossi 51, Ebanks-Blake 89.

Barnet Flitney, Hendon, Yakubu, King, Gross, Soares (Tynan 3), Lee (Batt 87), Sinclair, Bailey, Strevens, Grazioli (Hatch 75).

Subs Not Used: Charles, Graham.

Sent Off: Flitney (2).

Booked: Yakubu.

Goals: Sinclair 74.

Att: 43,673

Ref: R Beeby (Northamptonshire).

Premiership Roundup Week 10

This week's Premiership fixtures kicked off with the Saturday lunchtime game between Mark Hughes' Blackburn Rovers and Steve Bruce's Birmingham City; the striker's team beat the defender's side and Birmingham went home empty-handed after losing 2-0.

In the main group of Saturday afternoon matches, the standout game was a bit of a letdown for both sets of fans as Manchester United were held to a draw by Tottenham Hotspur, which can only have pleased Chelsea fans. Elsewhere Arsenal bested the continuingly impressive Manchester City thanks to a Robert Pires penalty but the former kings of the capital ended the day as they started, only the fourth best team in London.

Perennial strugglers Aston Villa were unable to raise their game for the visit of this season's surprise package Wigan Athletic, who surge to an unprecedented fourth place in their first ever Premiership season, whilst Fulham played above themselves to beat the moody men of Merseyside that are Liverpool.

The late afternoon match saw strugglers Portsmouth entertain high flyers Charlton Athletic down on the South Coast of England - and down is where they stayed as the Londoners came from behind to leap into second place.

The four Sunday matches started with a cracking North East derby as Newcastle United hosted an increasingly desperate Sunderland. The final 15 minutes of the first half produced a flurry of four goals but Newcastle nicked the victory thanks to a stunning second half Belozoglu Emre free kick, his first goal for the club since joining them from Inter Milan.


................................................Belozoglu Emre

Later, Bolton Wanderers continued their good season with a routine 2-0 victory against promoted West Bromwich Albion, which takes them to 7th, whilst West Ham United bounced back from last week's defeat, beating Middlesborough 2-1.


.................................................Everton's James Beattie

This week's fixtures were brought to a thrilling close with this season's surprise whipping boys Everton, currently propping up the table, hosting runaway leaders Chelsea. All non-Chelsea fans will join in congratulating The Toffees as the first team this season to avoid defeat against the reigning champions. The Merseysiders held on for the draw after going ahead through a first half James Beattie penalty and it took another stunning Frank Lampard goal in the second half to bring Chelski back into it. He truly is the best footballer in the Premiership right now.


..............................................Frank Lampard


The current Premiership League table is here.

This article is cross-posted here on BlogCritics.

Manchester United 1 Tottenham Hotspur 1

After the disappointing Old Trafford performance in mid-week, when Manchester United really should have consolidated the control of their Champions League group but managed only a 0-0 draw against a stubborn but outclassed Lille, everybody from the owners to the cleaners must be hoping for a much better performance against the team between them and leaders Chelsea.

For this week's team, United manager Sir Alex Ferguson's job has been made even more difficult by the ongoing injury-crisis at the club. With only a threadbare squad to work with, Sir Alex has selected what looks like a 4-3-3 formation with Edwin Van der Sar in goal, a makeshift back four of Phil Bardsley, Rio Ferdinand, Mikael Silvestre, and John O'Shea, a cautious midfield of Darren Fletcher, Alan Smith, and Paul Scholes, with Wayne Rooney and Ji-Sung Park playing either side of Ruud van Nistelrooy. The increasingly thin subs bench today seats Tim Howard, Cristiano Ronaldo, Liam Miller, Gerard Pique, and Guiseppe Rossi.

Tottenham are totally pumped for this fixture and keep to the same team that beat Everton last week, lining up with goalie Paul Robinson behind Paul Stalteri, Michael Dawson, Ledley King, Young-pyo Lee; a positive looking midfield of Aaron Lennon, Michael Carrick, Edgar Davids and Jermaine Jenas; and upfront Hossan Ahmed Mido and Jermain Defoe.


.................................Hossan Ahmed Mido

We are looking at what promises to be a very open attacking match with United's still experimental 4-3-3 formation ranged against Tottenham's more familiar 4-4-2.

Wayne Rooney kicks off for United and straightaway United, looking very positive, surge forward towards the Tottenham defence, who just manage to tidy up. The Red Devils are clearly determined to be more assertive than in midweek and are immediately driving forward again and again.

With only six minutes gone, an innocuous looking free kick taken by Paul Scholes wide on the left brings an awkward downward header from Ruud van Nistelrooy which Spurs keeper Paul Robinson somehow fumbles and the ball falls to Mikael Silvestre who stabs it into the corner of the net and it's GOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLL for United and it's 1-0.


................................ Mikael Silvestre

The first half continues as almost one way traffic as United, playing full of confidence and self-belief, continue striding forward at every opportunity and stretching the Tottenham defence almost to breaking point. Almost but not quite and Spurs hold on, resisting attack after attack and being limited to barely three unproductive counterattacks. Before we know it, top referee Uriah Rennie blows his whistle and it's half time. Whew!

Fifteen minutes later the London boys get the second half underway, both sides unchanged. Tottenham have obviously decided to come out attacking and lay siege to the United goal, with at least three clear goal opportunities in the first five minutes, but the United defenders stand firm and goalie van der Sar is as solid as a rock.

Tottenham's determination to get something from the game keeps United pinned back in defence and more than ten minutes of the second half have passed before the home team have an attacking opportunity but van Nistelrooy shoots high over the goal from almost thirty metres out.

After sixty-four minutes Tottenham's clever Dutch manager Martin Jol brings on striker Robbie Keane for midfielder Lennon, as he looks for a way to turn Spurs' territorial dominance into goals, whilst Jenas is booked for clattering into Park, the third Spur to be booked in the space of five minutes.

The change pays off for the Londoners when Rio Ferdinand is falsely judged to have fouled Mido just outside the penalty area. Jenas strolls up to the dead ball and effortlessly lifts it over the wall and direct into the corner of the net. It's a surprise but deserved GOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLL to Tottenham and the score is 1-1.

.......................................Jermaine Jenas

United respond by bringing on Cristiano Ronaldo for Fletcher so it's obviously going to be a hot final twenty minutes as both teams battle for victory. United are storming forward down both flanks now in search of that crucial goal but in the 79th minute it's Spurs turn to threaten as they get another free kick outside the United box. This time it's taken by the impressive Michael Carrick who floats it into the goal mouth where it suddenly dips and van der Sar has to leap to prevent an almost identical goal, the ball slamming into the crossbar.

Two minutes later, United up the stakes, taking off impressive young fullback Bardsley and bringing on the equally impressive and even younger striker Guiseppe Rossi. Clearly, a draw won't do!

However, despite a bundle of half chances, a draw is what we get as the Tottenham defence battle manfully to hold back a desperate United. The match ends 1-1, a result which only Chelsea fans can be happy about.


This match review is cross-posted here at the mighty BlogCritics.

Premiership Football Preview Week 10

This week's Premiership fixtures kick off with the Saturday lunchtime game between Mark Hughes' Blackburn Rovers and Steve Bruce's Birmingham City, as the two former Manchester United players, now rival managers, compete for vital points.

Birmingham need the points more as they look to get a so far disappointing season turned around but Blackburn are becoming hard to beat; probably a draw waiting to happen but, if there is a winner, it's more likely to be the Rovers.

In the main group of Saturday afternoon matches, the standout game is obviously at Old Trafford as third placed Manchester United host the much improved Tottenham Hotspur who are currently lying in a well-deserved second spot. United have been stuttering a lot recently due to a bloated injury list, now even longer due to the mid-week fracture of Welsh winger Ryan Giggs' cheekbone by a French elbow, and will be desperate for a victory over the new second best team in London.

Elsewhere, the former second best team in London, Arsenal, host the continuingly impressive Manchester City, who will be looking to maintain their good start. Perennial strugglers Aston Villa host this season's surprise package Wigan Athletic, currently flying high in sixth place in their first ever Premiership season, whilst Fulham will hope to get at least a draw against a Liverpool side boosted by the return of Steve Gerrard.

The late afternoon match sees strugglers Portsmouth entertain high flyers Charlton Athletic down on the South Coast of England - and down is likely where they are going to remain against the well-organized Londoners.

The four Sunday matches start with the prospect of a cracking North East derby as two teams with a lot to prove go for it as Newcastle United host Sunderland. It could get hot in St James Park at lunchtime...

Later, Bolton Wanderers are having another good season so far and will be looking to consolidate against promoted West Bromwich Albion and West Ham United will be looking to bounce back from last week's defeat for the visit of Middlesborough, one place below them.

This week's fixtures are brought to a close with the 4 pm kickoff of this season's surprise whipping boys Everton, currently propping up the table, having to face the runaway leaders Chelsea. All non-Chelsea fans will doubtless be hoping to see The Toffees end the Londoners' perfect start, probably in vain.

Current League Table

	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	W	D	L	F	A	GD	PTS
1	Chelsea	9	5	0	0	14	2	4	0	0	9	1	20	27
2	Tottenham	9	3	1	1	5	2	2	2	0	6	3	6	18
3	Man Utd	8	1	1	1	3	3	4	1	0	10	3	7	17
4	Man City	9	3	1	1	6	3	2	1	1	5	4	4	17
5	Charlton	8	1	1	2	4	6	4	0	0	9	2	5	16
6	Wigan	8	3	1	1	5	3	2	0	1	3	2	3	16
7	Bolton	9	2	1	1	3	1	2	1	2	7	10	-1	14
8	Arsenal	8	4	0	0	9	1	0	1	3	2	5	5	13
9	West Ham	8	2	1	1	8	3	1	2	1	4	4	5	12
10	Middlesbrough	9	1	2	2	3	7	2	1	1	7	5	-2	12
11	Blackburn	9	2	1	1	4	4	1	1	3	3	6	-3	11
12	Liverpool	7	2	1	1	3	4	0	3	0	2	2	-1	10
13	Newcastle	9	1	2	1	2	3	1	1	3	3	5	-3	9
14	Aston Villa	9	1	2	1	6	6	1	1	3	3	8	-5	9
15	West Brom	9	2	0	3	8	9	0	2	2	1	7	-7	8
16	Portsmouth	9	0	3	1	2	4	1	1	3	4	6	-4	7
17	Fulham	9	1	1	2	4	5	0	2	3	4	9	-6	6
18	Birmingham	9	0	1	4	3	9	1	2	1	4	4	-6	6
19	Sunderland	9	0	2	3	5	10	1	0	3	2	4	-7	5
20	Everton	8	0	0	3	0	4	1	0	4	1	7	-10	3

This football preview is cross-posted here at the mighty BlogCritics.

Manchester United 0 Lille 0

I was unable to see this game due to real life stuff but by all accounts I didn't miss much as Manchester United were pretty uninspired and uninspiring in this Group Stage match against Lille in the UEFA Champions League.

Paul Scholes is facing a ban after harshly being sent off for two debatable yellow cards and, adding injury to insult, Ryan Giggs will be out for a couple of months after one of the French team broke his cheekbone in three places, deepening the already grave injury crisis at Old Trafford.


....................Captain Giggs Talks As Paul Scholes Walks

The only good news is that Villarreal and Benfica also drew, maintaining United's narrow lead at the head of the group.

In case you're interested, here's some info about France, the city of Lille and, for our American readers, Football. These are links to Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia that anyone can edit.

Premiership Roundup Week 9

This week's round of fixtures in the most exciting Premiership season for years produced some surprising results, starting with the early Saturday victory by new boys Wigan, now up to 6th thanks to another Jason Roberts goal,

Wigan Athletic's match winner Jason Roberts

over a still stuttering Newcastle United who drop to 13th and must be feeling their season is already one of recovery - and we're only at the quarter season mark.

In the main group of Saturday afternoon matches, Premiership leaders Chelsea thrashed the previously highflying Bolton 5-1, but only after being a goal behind at half time. Manchester United advance to third after a relatively straightforward victory over a spirited Sunderland side that are better than their current position implies.

Manchester United's American Italian striker Guiseppe Rossi, 18, who scored on his debut

Liverpool had the best of the Northwest derby against Blackburn but both teams remain wedged in midtable. Portsmouth were as pleased as Middlesborough disappointed after their routine draw; the impressive Spurs deepened Everton's mystifyingly poor start and climbed to second place; and West Brom, whose only dream is avoiding relegation, continued playing out of their skins for manager Bryan Robson and beat an out-of-sorts and injury stricken Arsenal.

West Brom manager Bryan Robson

The Sunday lunchtime Midlands derby made history as Aston Villa earned their first ever Premiership victory over neighbours Birmingham whilst the later game saw much-improved-under-manager-Stuart-Pearce Manchester City just best the always positive West Ham United thanks to two goals by the much-travelled Andy Cole on his 34th birthday.

2 goal birthday boy Andy Cole of Manchester City

This week's round of fixtures was completed with a Monday night London derby as Charlton fell to fifth place after having to come from behind to earn a draw with Fulham.

All in all, another good week for reigning champions Chelsea, who lead the table by nine points after nine consecutive victories; the two Manchester teams, United and City, who are third and fourth respectively; Tottenham, who make it a London 1-2 at the top of table; and Wigan, who were playing non-League football only twenty-seven years ago and now are up to sixth in the Premiership.

Week 9 Results

Saturday 15th October 2005

Chelsea 5 Bolton Wanderers 1
Liverpool 1 Blackburn Rovers 0
Middlesbrough 1 Portsmouth 1
Sunderland 1 Manchester United 3
Tottenham Hotspur 2 Everton 0
West Bromwich Albion 2 Arsenal 1
Wigan Athletic 1 Newcastle United 0

Sunday 16th October 2005

Birmingham 0 Aston Villa 1
Manchester City 2 West Ham United 1

Monday 17th October 2005

Charlton Athletic 1 Fulham 1

The current Premier League table can be seen here.

This roundup is cross-posted here on BlogCritics.

Sunderland 1 Manchester United 3

So it's back to normal after the long international break which thankfully saw England confirm their qualification for next year's World Cup in Germany. Today's challenge for Manchester United, as we look to continue building a decent run of form, is a journey across England to the North East to face struggling new boys Sunderland.

Continuing our recent tradition of fielding a different team every week, today's lineup features Edwin van der Sar in goal, a back four of Barsdsley-Ferdinand-Silvestre-O'Shea (Bardsley is in because of Richardson's injury), an attacking midfield of Park-Smith-Scholes-Ronaldo with Rooney playing a free role behind van Nistelrooy. On the bench are Howard, Fletcher, Miller, Rossi and Pique. I presume Giggs is injured although nothing has been said by club or media.

For the record, Sunderland line up like this:- K Davis, N Nosworthy, G Breen, S Caldwell, J Hoyte, L Lawrence, D Whitehead, T Miller, A Welsh, S Elliott, A Gray and their subs are C Robinson, J Stead, B Alnwick, D Collins, A Le Tallec. Full squad details for them are here.

What's clear right from the start is that Sunderland, having not lost their last three games, are keen not to lose again and so defend deeply. I think it's going to take a while to break them down, even with the attacking lineup we have today.

Sure enough, things tend to bog down in midfield as Sunderland appear to be playing practically 5-4-1. Over 15 minutes have passed before the home team even try and look at the United penalty area but they never looked like scoring.

Rio Ferdinand

It carries on like that for what seems like forever until, with only a few minutes to half time, Ferdinand, who is playing better than of late, clears a rare Sunderland free kick and the ball reaches Rooney who steps forward and slams the ball into the corner of the net from close range. It's a GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLL and 0-1 to United!

Wayne Rooney

That's the best moment of a first half that has been more like a home match for the Red Devils as they attack at will and Sunderland play deep and look for the occasional counter.

After the break, nothing has changed, no substitutions by either side and no change in tactics as United look to build on their lead and Sunderland dream of an equalizer, but somehow you can feel they lack the necessary belief.

United seem to want to spread the goalscoring load, not leaving it all up to Ruud and Rooney, and there are useful shots at goal from both Park and Ronaldo, both just kept out by the stretched Sunderland defence. Nothing really worth reporting until, with quarter of an hour left in the game, a sweeping United attack sees Rooney reach Ruud with a clever pass from the right and the Dutch goalmaster makes no mistake, stabbing the ball into the back of the net. GOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLL and 0-2 to United!

Ruud van Nistelrooy

Sir Alex clearly think that's job done and replaces van Nistelrooy with American-born Italian striker Guiseppe Rossi. He's no sooner come on than commits handball in the Sunderland half. From the resulting free kick, Sunderland charge forward and striker Stephen Elliott shoots diagonally from the right and it's GOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLL, only seven minutes to go and it's 1-2. Can Sunderland get another goal or will United hang on?

Stephen Elliott

The question becomes academic with three minutes left when Rossi caps a busy if brief Premiership debut with an impressively taken goal, shooting leftfooted into the right corner and it's GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLL and 1-3 to United.

Guiseppe Rossi

That's about it bar the singing and the United team and fans can go home feeling satisfied with the day's work, another victory and three more points towards what is certainly going to be a season long chase after the impressive, if lucky, Chelsea.

This review is also cross-posted here at the mighty BlogCritics.

Premiership Football Preview Week 9

This week's round of fixtures in the most exciting Premiership season for years features some crucial matches, not least the early fixture today when surprise new boys Wigan look to consolidate their good start to their first ever Premiership season against a stuttering Newcastle United, who will be hoping their surprise signing of England striker Michael Owen


will rescue both their season and the career of manager Graham Souness.


Of the main group of Saturday afternoon matches, leaders Chelsea take on the continuously improving Bolton, who just might sneak a point and spoil the Londoners' perfect start. There's a cracking Northwest derby as Liverpool host Blackburn with both teams needing to get something from the game; Portsmouth make the long journey North from the South Coast to Middlesborough but may return home empty-handed; northern neighbours Sunderland host Manchester United who will hope their continuing injury crisis doesn't cost them dear; the impressive Spurs will be expecting to continue Everton's poor start; and West Brom, performing well under former Manchester United and England captain Bryan Robson,

will fancy their chances against a struggling Arsenal.

The Sunday matches feature a lunchtime Midlands derby with a lot at stake as both Birmingham and Aston Villa try to find some form whilst the later game has two teams that like to play entertaining football, the much-improved-under-manager-Stuart-Pearce

Manchester City and the always positive West Ham United meet in Manchester.

This week's fixtures are brought to a close with a Monday night London derby as Charlton, currently deservedly second in the table, host the so far disappointing Fulham.


Saturday, 15 October 2005, Uk match times.

Wigan v Newcastle, 12:45

Chelsea v Bolton, 15:00
Liverpool v Blackburn, 15:00
Middlesbrough v Portsmouth, 17:15
Sunderland v Man Utd, 15:00
Tottenham v Everton, 15:00
West Brom v Arsenal, 15:00

Sunday, 16 October 2005

Birmingham v Aston Villa, 12:00
Man City v West Ham, 16:00

Monday, 17 October 2005

Charlton v Fulham, 20:00


Current table before these fixtures

	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	W	D	L	F	A	GD	PTS
1	Chelsea	8	4	0	0	9	1	4	0	0	9	1	16	24
2	Charlton Athletic	7	1	0	2	3	5	4	0	0	9	2	5	15
3	Tottenham Hotspur	8	2	1	1	3	2	2	2	0	6	3	4	15
4	Manchester United	7	1	1	1	3	3	3	1	0	7	2	5	14
5	Bolton Wanderers	8	2	1	1	3	1	2	1	1	6	5	3	14
6	Manchester City	8	2	1	1	4	2	2	1	1	5	4	3	14
7	Arsenal	7	4	0	0	9	1	0	1	2	1	3	6	13
8	Wigan Athletic	7	2	1	1	4	3	2	0	1	3	2	2	13
9	West Ham United	7	2	1	1	8	3	1	2	0	3	2	6	12
10	Middlesbrough	8	1	1	2	2	6	2	1	1	7	5	-2	11
11	Blackburn Rovers	8	2	1	1	4	4	1	1	2	3	5	-2	11
12	Newcastle United	8	1	2	1	2	3	1	1	2	3	4	-2	9
13	Liverpool	6	1	1	1	2	4	0	3	0	2	2	-2	7
14	Portsmouth	8	0	3	1	2	4	1	0	3	3	5	-4	6
15	Birmingham City	8	0	1	3	3	8	1	2	1	4	4	-5	6
16	Aston Villa	8	1	2	1	6	6	0	1	3	2	8	-6	6
17	Sunderland	8	0	2	2	4	7	1	0	3	2	4	-5	5
18	Fulham	8	1	1	2	4	5	0	1	3	3	8	-6	5
19	West Bromwich Albion	8	1	0	3	6	8	0	2	2	1	7	-8	5
20	Everton	7	0	0	3	0	4	1	0	3	1	5	-8	3

Fulham 2 Manchester United 3

With another two week break for World Cup 2006 qualifying matches coming up, this weekend's round of Premiership matches is a vital chance to show some major improvement for the so far patchy Manchester United.

This weekend sees United back in London for the Saturday afternoon fixture against goalie Edwin van der Saar's former club, Fulham, owned by Mohamed Al Fayed, who also owns upmarket shop Harrods. The Red Devils are going to be too busy to go shopping however as, not having won in the League since August, there is some serious work to be done against a club currently lying fourth from bottom in the table.


Manchester United and former Fulham goalkeeper Edwin van der Saar

All I can tell you about the Fulham lineup today is that it reads Mark Crossley, Moritz Volz, Carlos Bocanegra, Alain Goma, Niclas Jensen, Steed Malbranque, Claus Jensen, Papa Bouba Diop, Luis Boa Morte, Brian McBride, Collins John with substitutes Heidar Helguson, Tomasz Radzinski, Ahmad Elrich, Dean Leacock and Tony Warner. Full details on the entire Fulham squad are available here.


Mikael Silvestre

This week's Manchester United lineup looks curiously almost 4-4-2 with Edwin van der Sar in goal; a back four of John O'Shea (the new Phil Neville?), Rio Ferdinand, the returning Mikael Silvestre and Kieran Richardson; in midfield we find Ji-sung Park, Darren Fletcher, Alan Smith, and Ryan Giggs (captaining the side for the second match in a row) with Wayne Rooney joining Ruud van Nistelrooy up front. There are a couple of notable players rested today, giving a bench of Tim Howard, Cristiano Ronaldo, Paul Scholes, Phil Bardsley, who did so well against Benfica in midweek and the young Spanish defender Gerard Pique.

Before anybody's had time to adjust to the lineups and formations, Fulham get the ball forward and their American striker Brian McBride heads the ball on to strike partner Collins John standing on the penalty spot.. The Liberian-born Dutch international makes no mistake and slams the ball past van der Sar into the corner of the net and with 2 minutes gone it's GOOOOOAAALLL 1-0 to Fulham.


Collins John

Unfortunately, there is a lot of wind swirling round Craven Cottage making it difficult for either side to get their passing game working. Fortunately, United don't let this early setback get to them and keep pressing forward. Within 10 minutes of the restart the Red Devils have had three decent shots saved by Fulham's keeper Crossley then, in the 15th minute, the Cottagers' German defender Moritz Volz brings down Ji-sung Park in the Fulham box and it's a clear penalty to the Reds.

Ruud van Nistelrooy steps forward and with a confident air practically strokes the ball past Crossley and it's GOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLL 1-1.


Ruud and Rooney celebrate

The good news has hardly sunk in before Park is surging forward again and slides a great pass through to Rooney who makes no mistake and shoots past the advancing Crossley and it's GOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLL 1-2 to United! Two goals in two minutes - and playing 4-4-2. Sensational!

United aren't in a mood to settle for this and keep pressing forward whilst Fulham seem happy to play the offside trap and counterattack. Just before the half hour mark and totally against the run of play, Fulham have a free kick which their Danish international midfielder Claus Jensen sweeps goalwards and, with Ferdinand and O'Shea leadenfootedly ballwatching, almost unbelievably it's GOOOOOOOOOALLLLLLL to Fulham and 2-2.


Claus Jensen

Both sides are up for it now and the match is turning into a real classic Premiership attacking game played at high pace. This match is turning into a total vindication of the 4-4-2 formation and attacking football and the hell with 4-5-1!

United do it better of course and in first half stoppage time Park again proved his skill, determination and increasing importance to United with a beautifully placed pass to an unmarked van Nistelrooy who simply tapped the ball into the net and it's GOOOOOOOAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLL 2-3 to United and halftime. Whew!


Ji-sung Park

Heavy rain and determined defending combined to prevent the second half matching the excitement of the first and with only a couple of chances at each end and no further goals to report, United did indeed revert to 4-5-1 for the last few minutes, correctly defending the ultimately match winning lead.


This review is cross-posted here at BlogCritics