Premiership round-up (Week 5)

By: Martini Extra Dry | September 20th, 2008

The table is still fairly early days, with Hull in fifth and Villa in fourth, when everyone clearly knows that come next summer Hull will be nearer the bottom and Villa will be top! Well… I’m allowed to dream.

Blackburn 1-0 Fulham
Fulham are proving they are capable of playing very well but they need to work on their consistency. The same can be said for Blackburn too, neither team look likely to be relegation contenders but they won’t be battling for UEFA either. Consistency is the key aim for Hodgson and Ince this season. The game was one of two today that was goalless for 80 minutes and then won in the last ten. Derbyshire slotted home the winner in this mediocre match.

Bolton 1-3 Arsenal
Bolton took a surprise lead with a Kevin Nolan header that Arsenal really should’ve defended better, but Eboue got Arsenal back on level terms with a debatably offside goal not too long after and that set Arsenal off. Within a minute they had another through Bendtner to give Arsenal the upper hand. Fair play to Bolton, they fought back with real intent but eventually it was Theo Walcott’s lightning pace that sealed the game. He broke through the middle and then showed his maturity by slipping a neat pace to Adebayor when many would’ve shot and his cross was hit home by Denilson.

Chelsea 1-1 Man U
Always a fiercely contested match this one and the first time they meet since the Champions League final. United took the lead through Ji Sung Park but Chelsea headed it equal with ten minutes to go through Kalou. In a heated game, United received seven yellow cards which will net them a fine from the FA.

Hull 2-2 Everton
Hull stormed into a two goal lead in the first half and looked like they were going to take the three points but a five minute period in the second half had the Toffeemen back on level terms. David Moyes is not enjoying such good times as last season but Hull must be loving their start; two wins, two draws and just one loss.

Liverpool 0-0 Stoke
There’s no easy games they say, and this one proved it. Stoke rode a storm, rode their luck and then eventually rode out of Anfield with a point. It was far from easy for the newly promoted team but they’ll be delighted to go to Liverpool and not get beaten. Robbie Keane had a few good chances but hit them straight at the keeper. Steve Gerrard hit the net early on with a free kick, only for it to be disallowed, seemingly unfairly. In conclusion; hard luck to Liverpool but fair play to Stoke.

Man City 6-0 Pompey
Man City and their new millions cause the shock of the week by thumping Harry Redknapp’s boys for six. Robinho and Jo performed excellently, as did the returning hero Shaun Wright Phillips. Six goals from six different scorers, great team performance.

Sunderland 2-0 Boro
I’m a bad man. I can’t help it. It’s not even his fault, he can’t help who Fabio picks. But… I took great pleasure in watching Stewart Downing smash the penalty over the bar, infact in every wrong move he made. Ashley Young for England! Back to the game in hand though, it was a fairly scrappy affair, decided in the final ten minutes by two Sunderland goals.

Spurs 0-0 Wigan
Spurs continue to frustrate their fans by not yet winning a game and remaining bottom of the league. I doubt they’ll be struggling with relegation later in the season but all these dropped points won’t be helping them in any way. Not quite the top four contenders that everyone was making them out to be pre-season.

West Brom 1-2 Aston Villa
For the second game in a row, Villa were outplayed by their opposition but again they won. It’s encouraging when you can win even the games you don’t play well in but on the other hand, it’s discouraging to be outplayed by two teams that are of a lesser standard to ourselves. Performances could do with improving but as long as we stay on winning ways the fans will be happy.

West Ham 3-1 Newcastle
Both teams have recently lost their managers, Newcastle still have no replacement but Wham have the Italian legend Gianfranco Zola. In his first game in charge he names his fellow countryman Di Michelle and his former Chelsea strike partner Carlton Cole. It was West Ham who played with more meaning and soon they proved it in front of goal too. Di Michelle was clearly on a high and scored twice in the first half and then his spooned shot was finished by Etherington to give West Ham the win. Michael Owen got a great consolation goal for the Toon to give Fabio Capello something to think about but Newcastle have got huge worries this season unless something changes soon.