Manchester United 0-1 Chelsea: Chelsea regain third by a point after stealing the victory at Old Trafford. With United not playing for anything, the onus was on Chelsea to bring a spark in to this game. For the large majority, it didn't materialise at either end until the game was won three minutes before the end. Ramires stole the ball off Wayne Rooney just outside the Chelsea box. Chelsea countered and, after several poor attempts at a clearance, the ball found it's way to an unmarked Juan Mata whose guided shot took a slight deflection of Phil Jones before nestling inside the post. Tempers did flare towards the end and Rafael was sent off in the final minute for kicking out at David Luiz who had laid a few well placed elbows in to his fellow countryman. But there was no excuse for Rafael's reaction, nor Luiz's smile on the ground whilst pretending to clutch his leg in front of Sian Massey on the line. Rafael was deservedly sent off and Chelsea go one step closer to guaranteeing Champions League football next season.
Liverpool 0-0 Everton: This goalless draw means that Everton remain five points clear of their Merseyside rivals. For once, there was only really one talking point in the derby, apart from it being Jamie Carragher's last, that being a goal for Sylvain Distin that was ruled out. It came from a corner and Distin headed home, but the Frenchman slightly pushed Carragher in the back and there was enough contact for Michael Oliver to rule the goal out, much to Everton's disappointment.
West Brom 2-3 Wigan: Wigan move three points behind Newcastle and Norwich in the race for safety. Despite remaining in the relegation zone, Wigan do have a game in hand over Newcastle which is against Swansea. They are two points behind Sunderland but they don't play until Monday. West Brom took the lead just before the half hour mark when Markus Rosenberg's low cross was slid home by Shane Long for his second goal in as many games. Wigan were level ten minutes later when an great advantage played by the referee, Lee Probert, saw Jean Beausejour launch a great cross in to the box for Arouna Kone to head home. West Brom were back in front five minutes in to the second half when Gareth McAuley headed home from a Graham Dorrans free-kick, which was far too poorly defended. This time Wigan were level within eight minutes when substitute James McArthur headed from a splendid Shaun Maloney cross, just a minute and nine seconds after coming on. The winner came ten minutes from time, just moments after surviving a penalty scare, when Callum McManaman tapped home another brilliant Maloney run and pull back.
Norwich 1-2 Aston Villa: Two wins and six points later, Villa are now up to 13th on 40-points and now five points clear of the relegation zone. This latest defeat for Norwich means Paul Lambert has left his former side just three points ahead of Wigan, who have a game in hand. Villa took the lead ten minutes in to the second half when Gabriel Agbonlahor took the ball from inside his half before smashing it in to the bottom corner from 30-yards. Norwich were awarded a penalty on 74-minutes when Joe Bennett pulled Robert Snodgrass down in the box. Grant Holt stepped up and sent Brad Guzan the wrong way to equalise. But Villa took all three points in the last minute of normal time when Agbonlahor's pace managed to beat the defenders to latch on to Ashley Westwood's through ball, the striker did fantastically well to coolly finish in to the bottom corner.
Fulham 2-4 Reading: It's a little late, but Reading finally showed some Premiership quality to see of Fulham at Craven Cottage, leaving The Cottagers stuck on the 40-mark. Reading were given a penalty on 12-minutes when Hal Robson-Kanu was fouled by John Arne Riise just inside the box. The Welshman got up to take the penalty and sent Mark Schwarzer the wrong way. The second goal didn't come until the 62nd minute when Robson-Kanu curled a great shot in to the corner from a wide angle inside the box. Bryan Ruiz pulled a goal back on 70-minutes after linking up well with Hugo Rodallega. But Reading restored their two goal lead with 15-minutes remaining when Jem Karacan's ball over the top found substitute Adam Le Fondre. The striker managed to head the ball past the oncoming Schwarzer before tapping home. It was 3-2 just two minutes later when substitute Alex Kacaniklic's cross was met by Ruiz's head. Rodallega ended up smashing the crossbar before Reading ensured themselves of the victory when the ball came out to Karacan to strike in to the bottom corner from outside the box, a nice way to score his first Premier League goal.
Tottenham 1-0 Southampton: Spurs remain three points behind Chelsea and two behind Arsenal in the race for Champions League football. Tottenham hadn't won a three o'clock all season so when the kick-off was delayed by half an hour due to traffic problems on the M25, Spurs must have felt a little better. The only goal of the game came four minutes from time when, who else, Gareth Bale picked the ball up and made his way inside before unleashing a shot in to the bottom corner from 30-yards to score against his former club. It means that he becomes the first Spurs player to score 20 league goals in a season since Jurgen Klinsmann. Defeat for Southampton mean that they are now just four points ahead of Wigan.
QPR 0-1 Arsenal: Arsenal remain fourth, one point behind Chelsea who still have a game in hand against Spurs, by rooting QPR to the bottom of the table. The only goal of the game was the quickest in the Premiership this season. It came on just 21-seconds when a good passing move saw Aaron Ramsey play the ball through for Theo Walcott to net his 20th goal of the season with a little help from the post. For a second time in the match later on in the first half, Robert Green managed to put a Walcott shot on to the post but this time it stayed out.
West Ham 0-0 Newcastle: Newcastle are now just three points from the brink after surviving a goalless draw at Upton Park. Newcastle thought they had scored in the first half but Papiss Cisse's effort was just cleared off the line. West Ham thought they should have had a penalty in the second half when Kevin Nolan was pushed by Fabricio Coloccini, but nothing was given. Newcastle then had to thank Rob Elliott for keeping West Ham out.
Swansea 0-0 Manchester City: A goalless draw in what was really a nothing match at The Liberty. Swansea should have had a penalty in the first half when Michu was kicked down by Matija Nastasic but nothing was given. City's best chance fell to Edin Dzeko but the Bosnian somehow missed his volley from four yards.
No comments:
Post a Comment