KEEP LIFE SIMPLE

Monday, December 17, 2007

Hie, instead of points for each correct prediction, I'll just use "x/10", because the point system is..... ineffective.

RESULTS

BIRMINGHAM CITY 1 READING 1
Reading, poor travellers of the league, picked up just their second away point of the season at St Andrews. They went a goal down after just four minutes, but in the 51st minute, they were awarded a penalty, and Stephen Hunt made no mistake from the penalty spot, converting his second penalty in as many games to rescue an important away point for the Royals. (Both predictions incorrect)

DERBY COUNTY 0 MIDDLESBROUGH 1
An important relegation battle, Derby desperately needed to win this match. While they were reeling from a 1-4 defeat at Old Trafford, Boro had a morale-boosting 2-1 victory over Arsenal. Derby however continued their poor form both home and away, when they conceded the winner in the 38th minute, Tuncay Sanli placing his shot into the back of the net from close range. Middlesbrough pick up three important away points, and their second successive victory to pull them away from relegation trouble. For Derby, they are now three victories adrift of safety, and look a good bet to drop back to Championship football come next May. (Both predictions correct)

MANCHESTER CITY 4 BOLTON WANDERERS 2
A rather lop-sided scoreline, the match was anything but lop-sided. Bolton fought back from Bianchi's early opener, scoring twice before the break to amazingly go 2-1 up. City fought back after half-time, getting an equaliser after just three minutes into the second half. Darius Vassell secured victory late on, before City grabbed a fourth in stoppage time. Bolton manager Gary Megson will be pleased with his side's display, despite getting nothing from the game eventually. (1 prediction correct)

PORTSMOUTH 0 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 1
A match which changed many statistics. Portsmouth's first home defeat in the league this season. Spur's first away win in the league this season. Spur's first away clean sheet this season. Portsmouth's 11-match unbeaten run ended abruptly. A strangely lacklustre Pompey side were bossed around by the visitors, with the visitors finally grabbing a late winner through Dimitar Berbatov. It was a match that many, including me, expected Pompey to win. Spurs, perennial underachievers, somehow get three points from an away match for the first time this season. (Both predictions incorrect)

SUNDERLAND 1 ASTON VILLA 1
The Black Cats came into the match in the relegation zone and needed a response. They got a response, Higginbotham opening the scoring for the hosts after just 10 minutes. Maloney equalised in the second half through an excellent free kick, but Sunderland should have grabbed all three points in stoppage time. From a Sunderland corner, the ball was bundled into the back of net, but the referee controversially ruled that Villa goalkeeper Scott Carson was fouled and disallowed the goal. That decision could be a decisive moment in Sunderland's season, as they need to get as many points as possible at home to avoid a relegation battle. (Both predictions correct)

WEST HAM UNITED 0 EVERTON 2
Just three day's after these two sides clashed in the League Cup quarterfinal, West Ham had a chance to avenge the 1-2 defeat, at home also. But it was not to be. On the stroke of half-time, Everton's Yakubu scored, returning to haunt the Hammers. He had scored the winning goal three days earlier. Late in the second half, nearly into stoppage time, the hosts were committing men forward for an equaliser. This meant that they were exposed to counter-attacks, and on one such occasion, was punished. After the Toffees regained possession in their own half. A long punt forward was met by Etherington, but he headed the ball straight into Johnson's path. He made no mistake with the chance, lobbing the ball over the onrushing keeper into the empty net for Everton's second, and three points. (Both predictions incorrect)

WIGAN ATHLETIC 5 BLACKBURN ROVERS 3
An amazing match at the JJB Stadium. Eight goals, a red card, a missed penalty, controversial decisions, two hat-tricks from Marcus Bent for Wigan, and Roque Santa Cruz for Blackburn. What more do you expect from a game of football? Wigan put up their best first-half performance in months, racing to a 3-0 lead after 37 minutes. Santa Cruz then scored with a crisp volley minutes into stoppage time to pull a goal back for Blackburn. 3-1 at half-time, then in the second half, Santa Cruz scored again to make it 2-3, and give Blackburn a realistic chance of equalising. Then on the hour mark, Blackburn defender Emerton was sent off after receiving his second yellow card, making Blackburn's mission near impossible. But they achieved the impossible, Santa Cruz with an excellent header to make it 3-3, and complete his hat-trick. There were doubts over who should receive the matchball however, after Marcus Bent completed his own hat-trick with goals in the 66th and 81st minute to seal an exciting victory for Wigan, their first in quite a while. (Both predictions incorrect)

FULHAM 0 NEWCASTLE UNITED 1
A drab, boring game of football, neither side looked inspired and there were few chances. The crowd had nothing to cheer about, with both sides looking lacklustre. But somehow, a goalless stalemate was avoided. Newcastle's Alan Smith was brought down in the penalty box in stoppage time, and a penalty was awarded, much to the dismay of the home fans, who have already seen their side throw away points late on in a match many times this season. Joey Barton stepped up to score his first goal in Newcastle colors, condemning Fulham to yet another defeat. The defeat means that the Cottagers drop into the bottom three, while Newcastle move into the top half of the table. (1 prediction correct)

BLOCKBUSTER SUNDAY RESULTS

LIVERPOOL 0 MANCHESTER UNITED 1
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez had not tasted victory over Manchester United in the league since he took over as manager of the Reds. He was made to wait longer, as United continue an impressive record of not losing at Anfield in the league since 2001. The Reds, backed by a ferocious Anfield capacity crowd, dominated possession and the match but failed to carve out clear-cut openings. In contrast, United looked dangerous whenever they attacked. On one such occasion, the Reds were left stunned. Owen Hargreaves's shot was deflected out for a United corner, two minutes before half-time. With Rooney left unmarked outside the box as the Red Devils prepared to take the corner, a short corner was passed to him. His shot was always swerving wide, but midway through it was met by an unmarked Tevez, who clipped the ball into the roof of the net. Replays showed that he was not offside either, as Yossi Benayoun had not moved away from his goalline position. Liverpool completely dominated the second-half but lacked cutting edge. The closest they went to grabbing an equaliser was when substitute Babel's long range shot flashed wide of the target. Yet for all of the host's pressure, they could have and should have conceded a second goal on 78 minutes. A quick breakaway saw Ronaldo chip a beautiful cross to an unmarked Rooney at the far post. Ten yards out with only Reina to beat, the England striker somehow dragged his shot wide, much to the jeers, and relief, of the Anfield-faithful. Liverpool's last chance came in stoppage time. Vidic pulled down Crouch just outside the box for a Liverpool free kick. But Reds skipper Steven Gerrard could only swerve the free-kick just over the bar. Manchester United once again hold on for a vital three points. Woo! (Now I can laugh at YF!) (Both predictions incorrect)

ARSENAL 1 CHELSEA 0
A fiery London and top-of-the-table derby match. Ashley Cole's first return to the Gunners since he moved to Chelsea was met by huge roars of boos and jeers whenever he touched the ball. Midway through the first 45 minutes, a mini brawl ensued when Chelsea and England captain Terry chopped down Arsenal's influential playmaker, Cesc Fabregas. The referee quickly kept the players in check, and booked Terry and Lampard for their troubles. Later on, Terry was caught by a stray foot from Emmanuel Eboue, and was substituted with suspected ligament damage. Arsenal did take the lead at the stroke of half-time though. A corner from Fabregas should have been a formality for Chelsea goalie Petr Cech to collect. However, the keeper, rated as one of the world's best, made an uncharacteristic error, missing the ball completely, allowing Arsenal skipper and former Blues player Gallas to nod the ball into an empty net. Chelsea played with more attacking purpose in the second half. Mikel and Shevchenko both had long-range efforts well saved by Arsenal goalie Almunia, but it was the Gunners who looked more likely to score on the counterattack. They twice put the ball into the back of the net from a swift counter-attack, but both goals were disallowed, for offside and a foul in the build-up respectively. Shevchenko then had a swerving free-kick punched away by Almunia, before Petr Cech pulled off two consecutive stunning saves to keep Chelsea in the game. First, he blocked a shot from six yards out, then blocked Fabregas's rebound as well. In between that, Joe Cole hacked down Emmanuel Eboue, and received a yellow card. Eboue was also stretchered off the pitch. A brawl then ensued in the fifth minute of stoppage time, as Ashley Cole let his frustrations get the better of him. Fabregas chopped down his former teammate in Chelsea's penalty box, with a tackle that should have deserved a red card. Cole's retaliation also should have deserved a red card, as he slapped Fabregas in the face. Amidst the chaos, the referee blew the final whistle and booked the Arsenal playmaker for his tackle, but the Chelsea defender got away with his retaliation. All in all, an amazing 10 yellow cards, five for each side, but the Gunners get the three points to return to the top of the Premier League. Not for long, Gooners! (Both predictions incorrect)

Scoreboard (Number of results correct, number of scorelines correct)
Round 1- 8/10, 2/10
Round 2- 5/10, 2/10
Round 3- 4/10, 0/10
Round 4- 4/10, 2/10

Joel at 12/17/2007 10:50:00 PM :: link