Manchester City v Portsmouth
Aston Villa 0-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers
Scorers: —
MOTM: Giannelli Imbula
One team sitting back and looking to counter, one team passing the ball around midfield never really going anywhere, both teams nullified each other, a lack of width meant Wolves never really managed to stretch Villa in their lower block, whilst Wolves’ energy in midfield and their extra man meant it was difficult for Villa to break out, especially as both De Bruyne and Hazard all too often looked to go into what was already a crowded midfield. In the end some suicidal Villa subs saw Wolves piling on late pressure, Ludy has Ter Stegen to thank after what can only be described as nonsensical substitutions.
Birmingham City 0-1 Leicester City
Scorers: Dimitri Payet(FK) 57
MOTM: Santi Cazorla
A game dominated by the away team who really just had too much for the home side, in particular they totally dominated the midfield which meant Birmingham struggled to get a foothold, leaving too many gaps for Leicester too. In the end it was a wonder goal from Payet to win the three points but this was largely down to Cech’s heroics.
AFC Bournemouth 0-1 Southampton
Scorers: Texeira(Blind) 80
MOTM: Jorginho
Bournemouth dominated this game from start to finish playing some lovely football but Southampton went to defend in numbers and crowded the middle of the field and this made it difficult for Eriksen, Lanzini and Mata to produce the final ball, whilst Alcacer was isolated from the game. The introduction of Corona and Giroud looked like it would win the game for Bournemouth as Corona gave Southampton trouble with his direct running and the extra width he offered, Giroud providing more of a target than Alcacer, but having threatened very little for 80 minutes, Blind managed to release Teixeira one v one with Jagielka and he got a winner, much against the run of play in this game.
Liverpool v Arsenal
Everton 1-2 Chelsea
Scorers: Mandzukic(Yaya) 63; Alli(Florenzi) 13, Morata(Neymar) 55
MOTM: Arturo Vidal
Another week, once again fan beating himself, this time on the football field.
Newcastle United 2-2 Stoke City
Scorers: Suarez(Fabregas) 32, Pjanic(FK) 38; Carrasco(Mkhitaryian) 8, Mkhitaryian 62
MOTM: Henrikh Mkhitaryian
A good match between two teams fighting for the final european places, a Newcastle win would have all but secured their position in europe next season but they couldn’t quite get over the line despite having the better of the game. Newcastle enjoyed more of the ball but Stoke are built on solid foundations and Carrasco and Mkhitaryian always posed a threat, whilst at the other end Suarez was a constant menace. They both have huge games against teams fighting for Champions League next week to decide whether they will reach europe or not.
Manchester United 0-0 Hull City
Scorers: —
MOTM: Jonathan Tah
A very poor game that never looked like igniting. United dominated the ball and moved it around between them at their own tempo, Hull remained in position, kept rigid, the defence always together, the midfield always working as a unit. United lacked the freedom to break down such organised defending, whilst Hull were unable to get past United’s midfield to pose a threat at the other end. This game petered out into nothing.
Results week 29
posted on 5/4/16
Manchester City 1-1 Portsmouth
Scorers: Lewandowski (Matuidi); Kane (Ribery)
Man of the Match: Koscielny
In a game where Portsmouth could and, perhaps, should have claimed the 3 points, they find themselves frustrated at being unable to clinch a vital win and keep the pressure on the top 4. Portsmouth attacked in numbers and looked to keep City pegged back in their own half but the City players defended valiantly with Koscielny in particular making numerous last gasp blocks.
Lewandowski opened the scoring just before half time after a lung bursting run from Matuidi drew space for him in the box and it looked to remain that way until the 86th minute when the substitute Ribery worked some space for himself, tee'd up Kane on the edge of the area and the young England forward finished in style.
Liverpool 2-1 Arsenal
Scorers: Ronaldo (Modric); Griezmann (Rakitic), Felipe Anderson
Man of the Match: Modric
Red Card: Witsel
Arsenal utilised their pace in attack fantastically well in the first 45 minutes - with darting runs preventing the Liverpool formation from being as compact as it usually is. The talent of Ronaldo up front showed once again as a simple Modric pass found him with a yard of space and, from 35 yards out, he swivelled and unleashed a thunderbolt that no keeper in the world would have stopped.
The second half brought a change in emphasis from Liverpool and it started to work, with the game becoming more open. This did not suit one person as Witsel lashed out at Rakitic as he skipped past the Belgian - earning himself a red card. Perhaps unfortunately, some will claim.
This event turned the game on its head and Liverpool made good use of their man advantage, first with a clever Griezmann finish and then with Felipe Anderson winning the ball late on and finishing off a superb solo run.