This week had one amazing derby and one rather dull derby. I'm going to start with the exciting derby and that was between Newcastle and Sunderland.
Newcastle were the only team that turned up and absolutely bossed this game from start to finish. Kevin Nolan became the first man to hit a hat-trick in this fixture since Peter Beardsley and Aneobi got 2 to give the Toon Army a 5-1 victory. Darren Bent got one just before the end but by then there was nothing to celebrate.
The other derby was between Villa and Birmingham and it was dull. A goalless draw was the outcome and no team ever really looked like they had the upper hand. The draw doesn't help either team at all. They sit with Villa one place above Birmingham both hovering over the relegation zone.
Now for the biggest talking point of the whole weekend and Old Trafford was the venue for this. 1-0 up Nani burst into the penalty area and went down under a challenge (not sure who from). Mark Clatternburg said get up but DID NOT give a
free-kick. Nani was furious at the referee and was holding on to the ball with his hand. Gomes took the ball and put it on the ground, thinking that a free-kick had been given for Nani's handball, and started to take a run up. Nani hadn't heard the whistle so he just kicked the ball into the net. Clatternburg gave the goal but when Gomes went over to the lines-man saying Nani had handballed it he raised his flag. Clatternburg went over to his lines-man who said about the handball the ref then appeared to reply "I know. I played advantage" and the goal stood. I see why it stood and I agree with the ref. If he played advantage a free-kick has not been given. Lesson to all kids that may be reading this. Always play to the whistle.
Next I'm going to talk about the battle of the newly promoted teams. I've talked about Newcastle already so it has to be Blackpool and WBA. This game ended with only 20 men left on the pitch after WBA went down to 9 men in the first half. The second was spot on. Jara went airborne from behind on Varney and left the ref no choice. But the first was all wrong. I don't even think it was worthy of a yellow. It was a foul no doubt about that, which Charlie Adam converted from the spot, but there were 2 covering defenders and Carson to beat. Blackpool did it the hard way though after going 2-0 up they looked home and dry but WBA nicked a goal with 7 minutes left and piled on the pressure for the rest of the game. Credit Blackpool, they got the win and that is how you stay up.
On to the other games and Arsenal left it late to get all three points against West Ham. Rob Green was in amazing form and pulled off many a save before Alex Song scored an 88th minute header to keep the gunners in the title race.
I know its early days to saying who is in and who is out of the title race but let me just give you a run down on my view. Chelsea are going to run away with it if other teams can't steal points from them. Arsenal look good. They went to City and came away comfortable winners and as long as they keep on getting results they will be there at the end of the season. Man Utd, well you know that they will be there or thereabouts but if you ask me they don't look like a very well oiled machine they are getting results but teams like Stoke are really making them work for it and you would expect them to win these games without any problems. AS for City. They are a club in disgrace and to describe their problems I need to talk about their trip to Wolves.
A well deserved win for Wolves. After Adebayor gave City the lead from the spot Wolves fought back and scored twice to win the game 2-1. During the game the City players started to row amongst themselves. Now I know people are saying it takes time to gell but there will but you can't gell if you don't have team spirit. Something I think you can't put a price on. And also there is no suggestion that it is a happy dressing room. Santa Cruz has said he wants out in January and Tevez is homesick. No one has actually come out and said that they are alright. I say again, I see people leaving City in January but no doubt they will just get replaced by more big money signings.
Chelsea had to come from behind to beat Blackburn but once again they looked comfortable. They did have a scare when Roberts went through but put wide. That is the difference between Blackburn and Chelsea. Chelsea convert those chances.
Everton continue their good run with a win at home to Stoke. Not much to talk about in this game. It leaves Everton clear of the relegation zone while Stoke need to win their next game as they sit 1 point above the bottom three.
Liverpool might be starting to get their season back on track. They followed up their win against Blackburn with a win away to Bolton. The real test comes next week when they play Chelsea. As for Bolton it is only their 2nd defeat of the season so I wouldn't worry.
Last to craven cottage and it was a easy win for Fulham. Fulham now sit 10th but only 3 points clear of the drop while wigan are one place of the drop by 1 point
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