As ever, WinkBall had a strong presence at this weekend’s football fixtures. Here’s a little round-up of what when down in some of our featured games:
Terry's Chelsea fail to hold onto a win against Everton
Chelsea 1-1 Everton:
A late decider by Beckford made sure Chelsea’s run of games without victory extended to four, in uncharacteristically dowdy form.While Everton’s similarly poor form was not fully rectified this weekend, taking just a single point away again left them still languishing lower than expected in 15th.
Saha and Anelka both went close for their respective teams in the opening stages – Anelka, unbelievably, yet to score in the league at Stamford Bridge. John Terry, back in the starting line-up, came forward during one phase of attack and saw his first shot blocked, but managed to direct the rebound towards goal, only to see it bounce off the crossbar in the closest attempt of the game so far.
In an attempt to reverse their fortunes of the West Brom result from last week, Everton’s team had four changes. Though it wasn’t enough to cut out Chelsea, as an unmarked Kalou missed a great opportunity, seeing his header from a corner going wide of the post. It was an error, and indeed a necessary gift, from Phil Neville that handed Chelsea the lead. His lazy and ill-thought back-pass was too short to reach Tim Howard in goal; the keeper, having come out to try and retrieve the pass, conspired to block an onrushing Anelka – both conceding a penalty and earning himself a, perhaps fortunately insevere, yellow card. Didier Drogba stepped up to fire confidently into the top corner and give his team the lead.
Everton fought back in the second half, with attempts from Jack Rodwell, and Leighton Baines running tirelessly up the wing to pick crosses into the Chelsea box – this pair conspired to work Everton’s best chance of the game, as Rodwell headed Baines’ perfectly weighted cross into the post. It was a move that proved more successful five minutes from the end as Baines’ run and culminating cross was headed back into the path of Jermaine Beckford by Tim Cahill. The former Leeds striker made some ammends to his horror show of finishes last week, as he nodded past Cech to claim a vital point for The Toffee’s.
While Baine’s industry down the left was more promising for Everton, Chelsea still appear to be stuck in their uncharacteristically poor form – not even managing a goal from open play today, the Blues have let Arsenal steal their place at the top. But how long for?
Samir Nasri's sublime brace sends Arsenal top
Arsenal 2-1 Fulham:
A phenomenal double from Samir Nasri ensured Arsenal regained their place at the top of the Premier League this weekend, after Chelsea failed to take away three points and Manchester United were denied a chance to retain their place at the top, with their game against Blackpool being postponed for the adverse weather.
Nasri, arguably the most in-form player in the Premier League, made sure his side rose to the top in style: with balletic feet, awareness and the most impossible of finishes. The hosts, looking to improve their leaky home-form, took the lead within 15-minutes. They got off to a flying start, confidently stroking the ball in the Fulham half and dominating possession.
Arshavin helped instigate the first goal, pouncing on an Aaron Hughes error to dribble the ball into the area. Under pressure, the Russian poked a smart ball through to an onrushing Nasri, somehow left unmarked in the area. Nasri was the epitomy of composure, as he artistically outmanouvred and schooled the three defenders and a futile Mark Schwarzer, before firing resolutely into the top of the net. It was a top-class finish that drew parallels with with Robert Pires’ goal against Tottenham in the famous 5-4 victory, and reflected the confident form the French international was in this season.
Unfortunately for the Gunners, they architected their own downfall once again. Having passed up the opportunity to build a further advantage – characteristically over-elaborating – they conceded a goal that calls for the cliche: ‘from the sublime, to the ridiculous’. In an incident embodying Arsenal’s lack of defensive communication, both Squillaci and Koscielny rose to clear the same ball. The Frenchman accidentally headbutted Koscielny in the nose, leaving him in a daze and lacking the ability to prevent a Fulham attack. Arsene Wenger was furious on the sidelines, expecting the match to be halted for a head injury, but the Frenchman had to watch in frustration as referee, Chris Foy, allowed play on. Clint Dempsey didn’t need asking twice, pinching the ball away from the confused defensive pairing and releasing a perfect through-ball for Diomansy Kamara, who was unmarked in the area, to cooly curl past an onrushing Fabianski.
Arsenal had more chances after the break, with Arshavin a stand-out creator, alongside Samir Nasri – although they never looked 100-per-cent reliable in defence and are still carrying self-doubting scars from their home derby defeat. But it was a moment of individual splendour that swung that match in Arsenal’s deserved favour; a truly sublime finish that deserves its excessive superlatives. Arshavin combined with Van Persie in the build-up, with the recently-returned Dutchman tapping a pass into the run of Nasri, entering the edge of the area. It was a mesmeric move as Nasri darted in, sidestepping the Fulham defence – a wonderful touch took the ball around a grounded Schwarzer, and just as he had appeared to have gone too far, composedly turned and fired in from an acute angle at the near post.
Nasri has these tight angles nailed, with his Spurs goal scored with similar aplomb. The French midfielder is now leading Arsenal’s scoring, with 11 – Arsenal are reaping the rewards from his surprise omission from the World Cup squad. Arsenal’s style did not wholly follow Nasri’s example, however, as plucky Fulham could have earned themselves a point towards the end. Arsenal were not aerially strong enough, allowing Etuhu to get a shot away, while Fabianski had stretch to full length to stop a strike from Zoltan Gera.
Sunderland victory cuts short Hammers celebrations
Sunderland 1-0 West Ham:
A nervy game at the Stadium of Light saw Sunderland celebrate a closely-run victory, plunging West Ham back to the bottom of the table.
The Hammers, fresh from their Carling Cup victory over Man United, and second League win of the season last week, simply did not do enough to warrant three-points this weekend. Record signing, Asamoah Gyan, stood out in Sunday’s clash – after setting up Jordan Henderson for the goal, and forcing Green to parry away a later fierce shot of his own. Gyan was part of an offensive Sunderland side, fielding Bent and Welbeck as part of a three-pronged attack – as Steve Bruce opted to follow the tactics of attack being the best form of defence, due to his extensive injury list at the back.
Despite the proliferation of strikers on the pitch, it was midfielder Henderson, who scored the opening and winning goal, just after the half-hour. Gyan floated in a perfect cross, on the half-volley, for Henderson to convert – his first goal in nearly a year. Gyan later attempted to prove his worth with an audacious attempt that took the whole stadium by surprise – his long distance cross-cum-shot from the left wing beat Rob Green, but the goalkeeper’s blushes were saved by the crossbar.
The forward-facing tactics only just paid off for the Black Cats’ boss as Carlton Cole, in-form Victor Obinna and talismanic Scott Parker each came close to drawing an equaliser for the Hammers. Cole fired wide of the far post just after the restart – perhaps unsurprising considering his inglorious statistic that he has scored only one solitary League goal all season. And Obinna almost converted a cross across the goal, but his shot thudded out off the post.
The Hammers out-of-sorts style seemed characterised by one incident with Scott Parker – their best player of the season, attempting to recover from a chest infection in the icy Mackem ground, sliced an attempted clearance high into the sky and towards his own goal, prompting Green to tip over the crossbar.
Gyan had another chance saved before the end, leaving their one-goal-lead enough to send them to 7th in the League, and West Ham returning to the bottom – leaving Avram Grant’s position at the club once again uncertain. Is Grant going to be next out of the managerial exit door, following Chris Houghton’s surprise sacking from Newcastle?
Tevez celebrates City's early winner
Man City 1-0 Bolton:
City and Bolton entered the fixture, both unbeaten in the Premier League last month – but it was Manchester City that rolled away with all three points after Tevez’ swift opener.
The firey Argentine took his tally to ten, after converting Yaya Toure’s excellent through-ball. Teven ran at the Bolton defence and fired resolutely into the far corner.
The home side were well in control and continued to press for the second. A well-worked team goal was culminated with a simple finish from David Silva, as he slotted easily into an open net – only for the goal to be ruled controversially offside. While it did not ultimately affect the result, replays showed that it was in fact Gareth Barry who was offside, not Silva. Captain, Tevez,continued to threaten throughout the first half, breaking through to attack a loose Bolton defense.
Kevin Davies tried to reprieve his side by hitting a Ricketts cross full on-the-volley – unfortunately for Owen Coyle’s side, he saw his shot fly just inches over the crossbar. Zabaleta was also teed up by a wonderful team move at the start of the second half, but Joe Hart got down and saved with a strong hand.
City stilled pressed their dominance at the start of the second half, albeit without being able to convert another tangible chance. David Silva pressed for the Sky Blues once again as he got a shot away on the turn, but still City were denied, as his fierce shot was saved only by the crossbar.
The home side nearly paid the price for their lack of conversion, as a goal-line clearance from Vincent Kompany saved their blushes – and their three-points. It was a mistake from Joe Hart; the young English ‘keeper jumped to claim Taylor’s free-kick but flapped at the ball, allowing it straight through his grasp. Kompany was luckily behind, and had to clear before they saw the ball roll helplessly into the open net.
It so needn’t have been, but home supporters inside the EastLands stadium had to endure a nervy finish. They ended the game with ten-men, after Kolarov was sent off for his late lunge on Ricketts, and the home side will be disappointed to have ended the game so shakily.
Pursuit of Nattiness 