This weekend’s action got better with time. Monday’s Chelsea v. Man City clash was the highlight but there was sending offs, managerial debuts, and great goals in the other nine matches.
Manchester United 4-1 Wolves
A bounce back game with four goals is exactly what United needed against lowly Wolves on Saturday. Nani gave the Red Devils the lead after 17 minutes and Wayne Rooney doubled that lead just 10 minutes later. Early in the second half, Steven Fletcher scored on a header to pull one back for Wolves. However, another goal from Nani and another from Rooney made it two for each of them and four for the team.
Liverpool 1-0 QPR
A 1-0 win after a 1-0 loss on Monday was just fine with Kenny Dalglish. Luis Suarez, Maxi Rodriguez, and co. attacked and attacked the QPR goal and Suarez was finally rewarded in the second half with a header that would prove to be the winner.
Bolton 1-2 Aston Villa
Bolton, again, just cannot buy a win. They went down early on a Marc Albrighton goal and just a few minutes later Stilyan Petrov made it two. There were boos all around the Reebok but Bolton came out better in the second half. Ivan Klasnic made it 2-1 ten minutes into that second frame but a second goal never came.
Arsenal 1-0 Everton
The historic North London club was celebrating their 125th anniversary this weekend and they got the win on this historic day with a historic volley from none other than their captain, Robin van Persie. Theo Walcott made a couple of chances but the match remained 0-0 until the 70’ minute when an Alex Song lifted ball met RVP, who hit a volley that was the stuff of legend.
Norwich 4-2 Newcastle
Some people feel that this was the time when Newcastle would fall off after their great start. They played City, United, and Chelsea in succession and only took a point out of those three matches so Norwich, one would think, was a great match to bounce back. Unfortunately, though, Norwich were on their A game and took the lead when Wes Hoolahan scrambled it over the line. Demba Ba scored after a great over the top pass from Yohan Cabaye to make it 1-1 at halftime. Grant Holt would get the lead back for Norwich and Steve Morrison doubled it on a fine header. Dan Gosling was then sent off for the Magpies but Ba scored again to make it 3-2. It was Grant Holt who would finish it off with another score as Norwich got their most impressive win of the season.
Swansea 2-0 Fulham
It was not Clint Dempsey’s day as he deflected Scott Sinclair’s shot into the net to give Swansea the lead and then had his penalty saved by Michel Vorm in the 87’ minute. Danny Graham added another to get all three points for the Swans.
West Brom 1-2 Wigan
Wigan got only their second away win of the season after coming back from a 1-0 deficit on a Steven Reid free kick. Victor Moses got the equalizer and Jordi Gomez the winner on a penalty.
Sunderland 2-1 Blackburn
This was Martin O’Neill’s first full match in charge at Sunderland and his reign started with a bang. Simon Vukcevic gave Blackburn the lead though and it looked grim at the Stadium of Light. Paul Robinson kept Blackburn in it but no keeper in the world could have kept out David Vaughan’s blast. That strike leveled it with six minutes to go and then a Mauro Formica hand ball set up a free kick in a dangerous position for Sunderland. Seb Larsson stepped up and tucked it home to give O’Neill a dramatic first win. The roar around the stadium was electric.
Stoke 2-1 Tottenham
The same man who robbed Chelsea earlier this season, referee Chris Foy, robbed Spurs in this game. Stoke came out very strong and dominated the first 20 minutes. Matthew Etherington got a goal to justify the play but Tottenham started to settle in. Etherington would grab another, though, after a scramble in the box. In the second half Tottenham continued to play well and eventually got one back when Glen Whelan brought down Luka Modric. Emmanuel Adebayor scored from the spot. An equalizer looked likely and Spurs should have had one when first Ryan Shawcross elbowed a ball off the line and just after that Adebayor was wrongly ruled offside as he scored. Yunus Kaboul was then sent off and the legs of every player were heavy as this wild match wound down. 2-2 would have been fair but it ends 2-1 to Stoke.
Chelsea 2-1 Manchester City
The marquee match of the weekend was saved for last. Man City came in without a loss in the league yet but has just been knocked out of the Champions League. The away side controlled the first part of the game and Mario Balotelli got a goal out of it when Sergio Aguero played him in beautifully. Stamford Bridge was up for this one and Chelsea showed their thanks with an equalizing goal when Daniel Sturridge’s run and cross led to a Raul Miereles tap in. Neither team made too many chances, as this was a midfield battle that saw seven total cards shown. Gael Clichy was sent off for his second yellow 15 minutes before Frank Lampard was brought on as a sub. Sturridge was again involved when the arm of Joleon Lescott blocked his shot in the box. Penalty to Chelsea and Lampard left no doubt as he smashed it in. It would prove to be the winner as City just ran out of gas and suffered their first league loss of the season.
This week’s team of the week goes to Sunderland for their epic swing in new boss, Martin O’Neill’s first game in charge. The goals from Vaughan and Larsson were both contenders for goal of the week. Player of the week goes to Nani for his excellent performance, which United needed to see, against Wolves. Man City stays top, but not by much.
