Premier League Analysis - 17/03/08

Arsenal 1 Middlesbrough 1
Van Persie started for Arsenal but he couldn’t stop a troubling run of four consecutive Premier League draws for the Gunners. They have now dropped 13 points against teams from the bottom half of the league. An erratic Adebayor had an early goal ruled out for offside.

A gutsy performance from ‘Boro who defended in numbers and have played well since going out of the FA Cup. No sign of Alves as Aliadiere and Tuncay started. Mido came on but only lasted ten minutes before sending off.

Derby 0 Man Utd 1

It’s 24 league games without a win for Derby now. They are closing in on Sunderland’s record of 26.

Ferdinand had a back strain so missed out. O’Shea came in at right back with Brown switching to the centre. Tevez was also not in the squad. Foster produced a couple of excellent saves before Utd finally broke through. Ronaldo had 12 attempts at goal - the same as the whole of the Derby team.

Liverpool 2 Reading 1

Torres is the first Liverpool striker to score 20 league goas in a season since Fowler 12 seasons ago. 18 of the 20 have been at Anfield. A distinct lack of rotation from Rafa with Skrtel playing ahead of Hyypia, Aurelio preferred at left back and Arbeloa getting the nod at right back.

Doyle and Long again the option for Coppell in attack. Long reacted badly to being subbed (for Kitson) on 63 minutes. The Royals did well and have no need to worry this season.

Portsmouth 2 Aston Villa 0

It’s six in six for Defoe and four in four for him versus Villa. Pompey are the only Premier League team this season to have won every game in which they had scored first. James had yet another belter in goal. He’ll be 40 at the next World Cup but who cares when he’s playing so well? Muntari was sent off for two yellows.

It’s 16 games since their last clean sheet for the Villains. Agbonlahor has not scored in ten games and could miss out to Defoe in Capello’s next squad. Mellberg was sent off for two yellows.

Sunderland 0 Chelsea 1

It was JT’s first goal since August 2006. Alex partnered Terry with Carvalho an unused sub. Chelsea have scored 11 goals in their last three games with only one of them bagged by a striker.

Sunderland have failed to score in five of the last six league games and having played a game more than Birmingham and Bolton are fully in the mire. Keane has denied that Chopra and Richardson were dropped for disciplinary reasons.

West Ham 2 Blackburn 1

18 year old local lad Freddie Sears scored the winner six minutes after coming on. The new “Tony Cottee” reportedly bleeds claret and blue and has been averaging a goal a game for the reserves. Ashton provided the KC for Sears having scored the first.

16th goal of the season for Santa Cruz. Five of them have been headers which is the best total in the league. Roberts started whilst Derbyshire came on for Dunn after 71 minutes.

Fulham 1 Everton 0

McBride’s first goal since August and only Fulham’s fourth in nine games. All 14 Premier League games between thease two have ended in a home win with Everton having failed to score at Craven Cottage since 1967. A great win but I doubt whether it will be enough.

A disastrous six year anniversary in the job for Moyes as Everton failed to get over their UEFA Cup penalty shoot out hangover. It’s been a top season but they missed Cahill here and their squad is looking thin on the ground. There was no striker on the bench so Lescott ended up in attack.

Man City 2 Tottenham 1

Onuoha’s first senior goal clinched the points for Man City. Dunne passed a fitness test to play. It’s only the second time they have come from behind this season to win. It was a lucky win with Ireland looking offside as he netted City’s first goal in over six hours of play.

Robbie Keane’s 21st goal of the season. He was then subbed for the seventh time in the last eight games. It’s looking like the Carling Cup win will be the peak in Spurs’ season. Their fallibility at set pieces continues.

Wigan 1 Bolton 0

Koumas was sent off after just four minutes so Wigan did brilliantly to hang on after Heskey scored his second of the season and his first for seven months. It was Wigan’s fourth successive clean sheet with Scharner (had an effort cleared off the line) once again to the fore.

Resting players in the UEFA Cup backfired for Gary Megson who made nine changes. Jaaskelainen is out for the rest of the season with a back complaint. Could well be joining Derby and Fulham in the Championship next term

That’s it for today.

Cheers,
Tom

Tags (click to view more!): Adebayor, Tevez, Ronaldo, Torres, Fowler, Freddie Sears, Santa Cruz, Craven Cottage, Cahill, Lescott