Incredibly, we’re nearly a quarter of the way through the Barclays Premier League season, but before we hit double-digit matchdays tomorrow, let’s look back at Week #9 in the English top flight as we prepare for the first weekend of football in November. This past week in the Prem saw less scoring and generally less calamity than we’ve become accustomed to in this EPL campaign, but there were no shortage of tremendous performances, not to mention a shock or two, with the most surprising coming in the opening match of the week…
West Ham 2, Manchester City 1
The sight of Russell Brand barging in on Sam Allardyce’s post-game presser and kissing the Hammers’ manager on the cheek (…repeatedly) while saying, “Give this man the credit he deserves!!” summed up the feelings of everyone in London’s East End beautifully.
The match easily could’ve swung City’s direction on numerous occasions, as both Sergio Aguero and Yaya Toure hit the crossbar after falling behind in the 21st minute on Morgan Amalfitano’s tap-in, but the footballing fates would have none of it today.
That’s not to say there wasn’t drama at Upton Park. A great headed goal in the 75th minute from Diafra Sakho – his sixth in six starts for the Irons – only extended West Ham’s lead for all of two minutes, as David Silva hit right back with an incredibly patient dribble-and-strike from the left corner of the box to the upper right corner of Adrian’s goal. At 2-1, City pressed for the equalizer and nearly went through in stoppage time if not for desperate defending from James “Bald Ginger” Collins and Company, enabling the Hammers to close out the match and seal their third consecutive EPL win.
On one hand, you had to assume Man City’s indifferent form – especially away from the Etihad – would catch up to them again at some point. After all, you’d have to go back nearly a month to their 1-1 draw against Chelsea to find a quality performance in any competition, and even that result required last-game heroics. (Yes, they did beat Spurs by three goals last week, but they managed to look oddly wasteful doing it, an impressive feat considering the final 4-1 scoreline.) Maybe I’m holding City to too high a standard, but with that pedigree and those players? I think it’s deserved.
On the other, even though the Boleyn Ground is a tough place to play, and even though WHU have been strong of late, you had to assume Manuel Pellegrini’s men were going to pull this out, just as they’d done a few weeks back at Villa Park. In the end, they needed a bit of brilliance from Silva – who unfortunately is now out a month after suffering a knee injury midweek – just to make for an interesting final fifteen minutes. Not a good sign.
This loss, coupled with defeat to Newcastle in the League Cup on Wednesday and the Champions League draw-from-the-jaws-of-victory at CSKA Moscow last week, has put the Citizens in desperate need of good news, and fast.
With that in mind, this is either the best or the worst time for the Old Trafford edition of the Manchester Derby, as nothing will jump start their season quicker than three points on the road against their fiercest rivals…but nothing else will send it over the rails faster than a poor result.
Liverpool 0, Hull City 0
You know what? I think Brendan Rogers and Liverpool fans in general are happy to take a clean sheet against an in-form Hull side.
The Reds created a gaudy amount of chances, most coming from the 128 set pieces they had during the match, and even though they couldn’t convert, they defended well and will take the point, especially after the crushing 3-0 defeat midweek in the UCL against Real. Not a bad performance in the least from a side that’s still trying to find its identity in Year 1 A.S. (…After Suarez).
(How genuine did that come across?…Too optimistic to be believable, huh? Shoot.)
Southampton 1, Stoke City 0
Another match, another victory for Ronald “Just Give Me Manager of the Year Now” Koeman and Southampton. This wasn’t the 8-0 lambasting of last week over Sunderland, but then again, Stoke are actually in the Premier League, so you expected this one to be closer. (…We’ll get to Gus Poyet’s team shortly.)
Thanks to a scramble of a goal from Sadio Mane (off an assist from the post on a Graziano Pelle shot) and strong defending all afternoon, the Saints are now second – SECOND!! – in the league and have gone 6-2-1 through nine matches this season. They looked dangerous throughout, with Pelle, Mane, Morgan Schneiderlin, Dusan Tadic and others causing problems in front of Asmir Begovic on a consistent basis.
Make no mistake, this is a good Southampton team. They have three winnable games upcoming before things turn considerably harder at the end of November, when they face Man City, Arsenal and United in a nine-day span. And yet, if the Saints keep this level of play up, they’ll be relishing those fixtures instead of fearing them.
Sunderland 0, Arsenal 2
The look on Poor Gus Poyet’s face after watching the Black Cats gift-wrap both of Arsenal’s goals was a sad sight to behold, landing somewhere between disbelief and all-out despair. (On the plus, he only made that face twice this weekend instead of six or seven times against Southampton. Little victories, Gus.)
In a match that Sunderland actually played well in for a change, they were comically undone by two defensive errors that could be described as A) amateurish, B) woeful, C) embarrassing or – my personal choice – D) soul-crushing, with one coming from Wes Brown in the 30th on the most awkward back-pass in recent history, and the other from keeper Vito Mannone in second half stoppage time, who momentarily forgot how legs work.
(Add in the egregious Vergini own-goal/wonder-strike of last week, and that’s three pure moments of slapstick for Sunderland in a seven-day span. It’s almost cruel, isn’t it?)
Key to both of the Sunderland mistakes was the presence of Alexis Sanchez, who pressured Brown and Mannone into their mistakes and scored on both. The Chilean now has five league goals in his debut season for the Gunners and three in his last two games, a sign of good things to come for Arsene Wenger’s crew.
The win on Tyneside was Aresenal’s first in the league since Matchday 5 and has them up to fifth now in the table, though you’d expect them to rise higher after their home date against Burnley this weekend.
As for Sunderland…To say that the struggle is real would be a gross understatement. The Black Cats are now in the drop zone with only one win through nine games, and the wheels have really fallen off in the last two weeks. They need a result in the worst way in the final match of the weekend at Selhurst Park against…
West Bromwich Albion 2, Crystal Palace 2
…Crystal Palace, who by all rights had this match against the Baggies done and dusted until the home side stormed back in the second half.
In a game of mirror images, each side scored a scrappy goal from a corner that could’ve been called back because of keeper interference, each side were justly awarded a penalty in stoppage time after poor challenges, and each side will probably feel a little hard-done by the result, though both would’ve probably taken the point were it offered at the match’s outset.
For Neil Warnock’s crew, to let one slip when leading 2-0 at the interval will be hard to take, especially as the equalizer came in the 93rd minute of the match.
Mile Jedinak, who had converted Palace’s first half stoppage-time penalty with aplomb, went from hero to villain after lunging in on Victor Anichebe in the box. Saido Berahino, who continues to earn mention in this space on a weekly basis, blasted home the ensuing penalty over reserve keeper Wayne Hennessey to snatch his fifth league goal in the last four games and give WBA their second straight draw via a 2-2 scoreline.
The Baggies, who I’ve enjoyed calling the “Punching Bag-gies” at points this season, suddenly have come to life under Alan Irvine and are sitting in 13th presently. They’ll have a chance to keep moving up the table this weekend when they take on a reeling Leicester City side…
Swansea 2, Leicester City 0
Despite splitting possession 50-50 and being outshot 9-7 on the day, Swansea dominated proceedings at the Liberty Stadium, opening up the Leicester backline on multiple occasions to cruise to their first league win since Matchday 3.
After a painfully slow start to the season, Wilfried Bony was on the score sheet twice against the Foxes, with both goals coming on either side of halftime through great pass-and-move play. The Ivorian linked with Gyfli Sygurdsson for the first on a beautiful give-and-go and was played in by Jefferson Montero on the second to give him four goals in his last three Prem matches, a good sign for Gary Monk’s chances of staying in the top half this year.
For Leicester, it’s hard to claim they’re still suffering a hangover from their 5-3 comeback win over Manchester United way back on Matchday 5…but they’ve gone 0-3-1 since that glorious day at the KP and have drifted down to 17th, only one point above the drop zone. The goals that flowed early in the season have become harder to come by (…just ask Leo Ulloa), as they’ve been shut out in three of their last four, plus the defense has lost its way more than once of late. You don’t need to be an expert to know that’s a bad combination.
Nigel Pearson will need to hit the reset button and fast, or they could very well be mired in a season-long fight for survival.
Burnley 1, Everton 3
Speaking of fighting for survival, it’s our weekly dose of Burnley, everyone!
On the positive side of things, the Clarets managed to get one past Tim Howard after a poorly timed back-pass from Romelu Lukaku allowed Danny Ings to get his first Prem goal of the season. (It wasn’t Muhammed Besic-vs-Chelsea bad…but it wasn’t good.)
On the negative end…Well, they were outplayed all over the park and struggled defensively again, a worrisome trend given that Sam Dyche’s side is built around their defense. Samuel Eto’o snagged a brace of well-taken goals – especially his second in the 85th, a real beauty from outside the area – while Lukaku atoned for his lapse in concentration with his second goal in as many games.
Against the only winless side in the EPL this year, this was a game Roberto Martinez needed, and he got it emphatically. His side is starting to get healthy again, and they’ve crept up into the top half of the table, moving up from 17th two weeks ago to 9th.
Incredible what six points from six can do, right?
They’ll have a stiffer test against Swansea this weekend in a game both sides would love to have to keep momentum going.
Tottenham 1, Newcastle 2
Do I detect a winning streak at Newcastle?!
This was a MASSIVE result for Alan Pardew and Geordie Nation, as they came from behind at White Hart Lane to steal three points from a Spurs side that’s really struggling of late. After trailing at halftime, goals from Sammy Ameobi and EPL debutant Ayoze Perez in the first 15 minutes after the interval sparked Toon on to a decisive road win and their second straight league victory overall.
After going winless through seven games, the light has been shiner much brighter of late on St. James Park. Newcastle have climbed to 14th in the Prem, and that league success, along with a 2-0 League Cup win over Manchester City of all clubs midweek, must have owner Mike Ashley putting aside any thoughts of handing the sack to his manager anytime soon.
As for Spurs… Yikes.
After winning their opening two matches of the season, they’ve gone 1-4-2 in their last seven and are currently sitting in 11th, only one point above Newcastle. Mauricio Pochettino’s side should – repeat, should - get back on track when they face an out-of-whack Aston Villa side this weekend…but then again, this should’ve been a positive result for them as well.
There’s still plenty time for the North Londoners to figure it out and get back into European contention – after all, we’re not even a fourth of the way through the season – but there’s not been much to suggest they’re on the right track of late.
Manchester United 1, Chelsea 1
In a game that didn’t feature the single biggest stars for both clubs – a recurring hamstring kept Diego Costa out, while this was the final match of Wayne Rooney’s three-match red card ban – it was the second chairs that stepped up to the front to give us a story worth of the Theater of Dreams.
After a scoreless first half, Blues hero Didier Drogba put his side ahead with a brilliant glancing header from a corner, the Ivorian’s first league goal in this his second spell in West London. Even though he’s now in the twilight of his career, the power and touch that characterized Drogba’s game have certainly not abandoned the talismanic 36-year old just yet. Both were on full display on this particular attempt, as was the dismal man-marking decision to have Rafael – all 5’8″ of him – attempt to prevent the 6’2″ Drogba from reaching the Cesc Fabregas cross. (To quote Louis Van Gaal post-match, “…My bad.”)
It appeared we were headed for an 0-1 Chelsea victory, but in the 90th minute, Branislav Ivanovic picked up his second yellow card of the match, much to the derision of Jose Mourinho. The Serbian full back was subsequently dismissed, and the initiative was firmly handed over to the home side.
United would earn a corner late, and while Thibaut Courtois was able to keep out the initial drive on target from Maroune Fellaini, he could do nothing on the rebound from Robin Van Persie. The Dutchman fired home in the fourth minute of extra time to equalize, sending Old Trafford into hysterics and ending the Blues’ three-game EPL winning streak.
(BTW – The unintentional comedy of RVP’s stop-start celebration was pretty fantastic. The man scored, fell down, was mobbed by his teammates only to push them off and then fall down again before he finally ripped off his shirt and tried – in vain – to toss it into the stands. Even without the shirt toss, I’d have given him a yellow card. Can you tell he hasn’t scored for a while?)
Moving forward, it’s a big point for United going into the Manchester Derby. For Chelsea, it’s a bit of a shrug of the shoulders than cause for concern, as they still controlled the majority of the match. However, that’s two weeks running now that they’ve looked beatable without the services of Costa up top. It’s incredible what an in-form hit-man does for the confidence of a club…
(…Insert your favorite Mario Balotelli punch-lines here.)
Queens Park Rangers 2, Aston Villa 0
The final match of the week was an uplifting one for QPR, as a brace from Charlie “Stubble” Austin gave the Hoops the three points they probably deserved last week against Liverpool.
Even more uplifting? Harry Redknapp’s press conferences; they just keep getting better and better, don’t they? (He’s so incredibly candid. All the time.) Even though Rangers are still 19th in the table and are still a good bet to be sent down, I’m fairly convinced there’s no one who could do better with the current squad. Long live, ‘Arry.
You know what’s…downlifting? Everything about Aston Villa right now. (…If “downlifting” isn’t a word, at least you know what I mean.) Paul Lambert’s side have dropped five straight and have not scored in the EPL since September 11th. Their owner, American Randy Lerner, is so desperate to sell the club he’s cut his initial asking price in half. Christian Benteke doesn’t look like Christian Benteke yet after returning from an Achilles injury. Even Roy Keane’s beard is starting to look weird.
It’s all getting a bit depressing in Birmingham, but they’ll at least be hosting an equally deflated side in Tottenham this weekend. A result is by no means guaranteed, however, and after a losing streak like this, neither is Lambert’s job.
Looking Ahead
While Matchday 10 offers several intriguing fixtures, including Everton hosting Swansea and white-hot Southampton traveling to Hull, all eyes will end up on Manchester, as United will host City in a classic derby match that both sides will be desperate for.
The debate over who needs three points more is basically a moot one, as they both could do with a shot in the arm and in the table.
For City, a win gets their title charge back on point and earns them some much-needed confidence, especially after such disappointing results – two losses and a draw – in their last three matches in all competitions.
As for United, they’ll have some momentum on their side coming off their late draw against Chelsea, but if LVG is serious about his goal of challenging for the league title (…), then earning three points at home in this fixture becomes significantly more vital.
In a stunning case of role-reversal, City have owned Man U in recent years, winning 7-1 on aggregate in the two league matches last season, including a three-goal shutout at Old Trafford in March. United have lost to City in their last three attempts, but they’ll get a boost – in theory, anyway – with the return of Wayne Rooney from suspension. Add in the absence of David Silva and the Citizens’ recent poor form, and things are looking decidedly more rosy for the red half of Manchester.
Will it remain that way when the final whistle blows? That remains to be seen.
For updates and commentary on this weekend’s matches, you’re welcome to follow me on Twitter @alheinert. As always, thanks for reading, enjoy the football this weekend, and walk on!
Photography courtesy of PremierLeague.com