After a poor International break for the home nations the Premiership was back in full swing with another programme of controversy. Unusually there was no lunchtime kick-off but six three o'clock kick-offs and a tea time kick-off.
Wolves hosted West Ham in a match that was already dubbed as a relegation battle and this game didn't escape from controversy. Another Rob Green mistake allowed Matt Jarvis to put the ball into the empty net to give Wolves the lead after ten minutes. Eight minutes into the second half Victor Obinna was fouled in the box and West Ham were awarded a penalty, much to Wolves' bemusement, Mark Noble stepped up and levelled for the Hammers. Frederic Piquionne thought he'd won the game in stoppage time when he skilfully made room for himself to score. However referee Mark Clattenburg had judged Piquionne to have handled when controlling the ball, replays looked to show it actually hit his shoulder. The game finished 1-1.
Second half stoppage time again played a big part in the match at the Reebok stadium between Bolton and Stoke. A great finish from Lee Chung-Yong put the home side ahead after 22 minutes, Rory Delap equalised for Stoke just three minutes into the second half. Four minutes of added time was to be played and it was enough time for Ivan Klasnic to score the winner for Bolton and then pick up two yellow cards to then be sent off.
Newcastle came back from 2-0 down to rescue a point at home to Wigan; former Newcastle player Charles N'Zogbia put Wigan ahead after 22 minutes before doubling Wigan's lead just a minute later. Shola Ameobi pulled one back after 72 minutes as Wigan conceded their first away goal of the season. Fabricio Coloccini then equalised for Newcastle in almost the last kick of the game, again in second half stoppage time.
Birmingham took the lead against Arsenal at the Emirates thanks to Nikola Zigic after 33 minutes. Marouane Chamakh won a penalty for Arsenal when he looked to have dived after minimal contact from a Scott Dann challenge, Samir Nasri stepped up to equalise for Arsenal four minutes from half-time. The Moroccan Chamakh then won the game for Arsenal just two minutes into the second half. Second half stoppage was enough time for Jack Wilshere to dive in with his studs showing and then be subsequently sent off for Arsenal.
Fulham hosted Tottenham in another game shrouded in controversy; Diomansy Kamara put Fulham ahead on the half hour mark with questions over whether Dempsey handled before passing to him to lead to the goal. However the lead only lasted a minute as Van Der Vaart played some magnificent skill before hitting the crossbar, the rebound was followed up by Roman Pavlyuchenko. Tom Huddlestone struck a long range shot on 63 minutes that found its way to the net but the linesman flagged to disallow the goal. Referee Mike Dean then went over to his assistant to have a chat about it and then awarded the goal to Tottenham which meant they won the game 2-1.
Manchester United's shocking run of form continued at home to West Brom, but somehow still remain the only unbeaten Premiership side. Sir Alex Ferguson issued a statement by leaving Rooney on the bench, and it looked to pay dividends when Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez gave the home side the lead after five minutes. Nani then doubled the lead twenty minutes later and United were cruising. But failure to hold a lead continued for United when Evra inadvertently put the ball into his own net from a Chirs Brunt free-kick five minutes into the second half. Then dreadful dropped catch from Van Der Sar allowed debutant Somen Tchoyi to equalise five minutes later. Meaning another two points dropped by Manchester United.
This allowed Chelsea to stretch their lead to five points after they were held to a goalless draw at Villa Park against Aston Villa in the tea time kick-off.
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