Monday Morning Premier League Analysis - 03/03/08

Arsenal 1 Aston Villa 1

Diaby came in for the Gunners with Walcott partnering Adebayor in attack. Bendtner came on to equalise and could well have earnt a start against Wigan next weekend. Arsenal haven’t fired since the FA Cup embarrassment at Old Trafford and will be hoping the return of Rosicky and Van Persie can spark them in to life.

Villa were unlucky not to break Arsenal’s unbeaten record at the Emirates. Agbonlahor, Carew and Young all threatend throughout. Reo-Coker and Davies (ruptured achilles) both picked up injuries in the fist half. It’s just one defeat in 12 now, although no clean sheets in 14 make Laursen not such an attractive pick as he used to be.

Birmingham 4 Tottenham 1

Jaidi came in for the suspended Taylor and McSheffrey replaced Kapo (out for a month). Forsell’s return of seven goals and two KC’s in just 12 starts make him appealing at £2.5M whilst strike partner McFadden (£3.5M) has now bagged 22 points in his last three games.

Loads of changes for Ramos with King (rested), Woodgate (ankle), Jenas (bench), Lennon (bench) and Keane (bench) all out. Kaboul, Tainio, Huddlestone, O’Hara and Bent coming in. The changes backfired badly as the euphoria of a Carling Cup win was banished by Birmingham. Expect more rotation if Spurs can continue their UEFA Cup run.

Derby 0 Sunderland 0

Savage, Ghaly and Fagan were all dropped by Jewell with Lewis, Sterjovski and Jones coming in. Barnes (knee injury) missed out so Villa returned up front with Miller.

Keane recalled Higginbotham and Richardson at left-back and left midfield respectively. Leadbitter dropped to the bench with Chopra playing on the right of midfield. Murphy partnered Jones up front. Jones is a popular pick but his return of just one KC in six games is poor.

Fulham 0 Manchester Utd 3

No place in the 16 for Dempsey as Hodgson went 4, 5, 1 with McBride as the lone striker. Davis and Johnson came in to midfield. Just one win in nine for Fulham who look doomed. Crucial games against Newcastle, Derby, Sunderland and Reading are coming up.

Easy for Utd who rested Anderson, Ronaldo and Rooney - although all three came on to stretch their legs once the game was safe. Vidic had a calf-strain so O’Shea partnered Ferdinand. Saha played with Tevez in attack. Their home game with Bolton has been switched to 19th March meaning they have a double header in the week after next.

Manchester City 0 Wigan 0

Corluka and Elano (subbed with an injury before half time) returned with Richards sidelined through injury and Petrov suspended. Johnson came in after three months out through injury with Hamann dropping to the bench. With Petrov out for two more games City will continue to struggle for goals. In the last seven games they have only scored more than one goal once - at Old Trafford!

Koumas in for Kilbane was Steve Bruce’s only change. Three clean sheets in four as they continue to sneak up the table. Arsenal at home is their next game.

Middlesbrough 0 Reading 1

Wheater returned from suspension to partner Pogatetz as Huth remains sidelined with a calf strain. Rochemback failed a fitness start so O’Neil started. Alves made his full Premiership debut alongside Tuncay who got the nod over Mido. With tough away games at Villa, Arsenal and Chelsea coming up it’s difficult to make a case for selecting any of Southgate’s men.

Rosenior, Ingimarsson and Bikey came in for Murty, Sonko and Cisse. Long got a rare start up front with Kitson dropped to the bench. A massive result for the Royals who recorded their first win in 11 starts in all competitions. Upcoming fixtures look kind and I’d expect them to climb free of trouble.

Newcastle 0 Blackburn 1

Just one change by Keegan with Enrique coming in for N’Zogbia. Duff and Milner were lively and created a plethora of chances that Owen failed to convert. It’s not getting any easier for the Toon Army with three away games in the next four. It’s Liverpool at Anfield next.

Ooijer came in at right back with Emerton moving in to midfield for Dunn (hamstring). Rovers have lost just one in eight in the Premier League this year and with games against Fulham, West Ham, Wigan and Reading next I’d expect Bentley and Santa Cruz to return to YTM point scoring form soon.

West Ham 0 Chelsea 4

The Hammers were unchanged from the win at Fulham with Boa Morte supporting Cole and Ashton on the bench. This was a comprehensive mauling and West Ham must be filled with trepidation ahead of Wednsday’ nights trip to Anfield - the first of four Premier League away games in five.

Wholesale changes for Grant with Cole, Ferreira, Ballack, Makelele, Kalou, Joe Cole and Anelka coming in. Drogba was an unused sub. A fifth clean sheet in six games as Chelsea overcame Lampard’s sending off to march on in the league. Frank will miss the cup game against Barnsley and then Derby and Sunderland unless Chelsea risk an appeal. His absence should see Ballack getting more action.

Bolton 1 Liverpool 3

Joey O’Brien in for Guthrie (loan deal) was the only change for Gary Megson. They have gone from five clean sheets in six games to conceding eight in three and are right back in the relegation cat fight. They have no games next week and then face trips to Wigan and Man Utd. Avoid all their players.

Carragher came back from suspension in place of Finnan and Skrtel replaced Arbeloa as Rafa beefed up his defence. Aurelio has started the last four and Babel (check out the celebration) the last five as Rafa eases off on the rotation. Kuyt has found a bit of form and was unlucky not to score.

Everton 3 Portsmouth 1

Arteta’s continuing abdominal problems meant Neville played in midfield with Hibbert at right back. Moyes continues with 4, 5, 1 and The Yak is loving it. He’s bagged six in three in all competitions. This was the Toffee’s third straight win and eighth game unbeaten in the Premiership - conceding just two goals in those games.

Harry went with two up front with Kanu getting the nod alongside Defoe who notched up his third goal in the last four games. Pompey have played the top five home and away now and have three of their next four at home so expect an up turn in their fortunes. Defoe, Diarra and the defence should pick up plenty of points on the run in.

Cheers,
Tom

Tags (click to view more!): Old Trafford, Van Persie, McFadden, Ronaldo, Rooney, Tevez, Ballack, Joe Cole, Anelka, Drogba, Aurelio, Babel, Kuyt, Kanu, Defoe