After last week's breathtaking installment of the Premiership, we had to take a breather by watching a mid-week round of international matches. But that's over with and the Premiership returned to grace our screens with all the drama associated with it.
It may be Valentine's weekend but one way to forget that is to stick a Manchester derby in the lunch-time kick-off slot. It was the 53rd anniversary of the Munich Air Crash last Sunday and the last time the derby was held in the week of remembrance, Manchester City triumphed. Everyone was hoping for a much better game than when they met at Eastlands and thankfully we got a much more attacking game, despite both teams lining up with a 4-5-1 formation. David Silva had the best chance of breaking the deadlock after just three minutes but toe-poked the ball wide of Van Der Sar from three yards. From there it was end to end without either keeper being tested. But United took the lead four minutes before half-time with a goal from Nani after he cut inside of Zabaleta. City brought on Dzeko and Wright-Phillips in search of the equaliser and they found it after 65 minutes when a Dzeko shot ballooned off the back of Silva, wrong-footing Van Der Sar and finding the back of the net. Every derby longs for a piece of magic to win the game and that's exactly what we had twelve minutes from time; Nani was causing havoc down the wing yet again and found an inch perfect cross to the penalty spot, Rooney met the cross with a spectacular over-head kick which rocketed in the top corner to give United the three points.
Arsenal kept up the pressure against Manchester United with a win against United's conquerors Wolves. Robin Van Persie kept up his goalscoring form with both goals, the first came after 16 minutes the second came eleven minutes into the second half.
Nikola Zigic was on hand for a second consecutive week to give Birmingham the 1-0 win late on. This time Stoke were the victims to Zigic's last minute winner. Aston Villa travelled to Bloomfield Road to take on Blackpool and took the lead after ten minutes through Gabby Agbonlahor. The lead lasted all of four minutes however when Eliott Grandin equalised for Blackpool. Jean Makoun forgot it was the weekend of love as he received a straight red card twenty minutes from time.
Last week it was Newcastle, this week it was West Ham to create the shock comeback. The Hammers, who had just won the Olympic Stadium bid, travelled to West Brom where new manager Roy Hodgson was watching in the stands before taking over. He would have enjoyed the first half as Graham Dorrans gave West Brom the lead after three minutes. It was 2-0 five minutes later when Jerome Thomas doubled the lead and a Winston Reid own goal after 32 minutes meant West Brom were 3-0 ahead at half-time. Avram Grant somehow managed to inspire West Ham at half-time, maybe with reference to Newcastle's heroics last week, and Demba Ba pulled one back five minutes into the second half. Carlton Cole made it 3-2 eight minutes later and the comeback was completed seven minutes from time with Ba scoring his second.
Liverpool's recent good run came to an end with a disappointing draw at home to Wigan. Raul Meireles just can't stop scoring and gave Liverpool the lead after 24 minutes. Wigan equalised after 65 minutes though Steve Gohouri. Blackburn and Newcastle scored seven goals between them last week, but could only play out a 0-0 draw at Ewood Park.
Yesterday's tea-time affair took place at the Stadium of Light where Sunderland hosted Tottenham. It was the home side that took the lead after eleven minutes when Asamoah Gyan scored. Tottenham equalised just before half-time through Dawson. Tottenham then sealed the win twelve minutes into the second half with Kranjcar getting the goal to keep the pressure on Chelsea who play tomorrow against Fulham.
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