EPL recap: Disappointing Round 3
by Paul O'Donnell
With one-fourth of the goals coming from the penalty spot, and in three other matches the on field officials, with a heavy hand and far too frequent whistle, were center stage instead of the players. We're supposed to say 'well, its early days' and that goes for the officials too of course. Disappointing is the correct word. So disappointing in fact that the Premier League will suspend two officials for the next round games.
That said, the results in some matches would surely lift the spirits of many.
Man City 1:0 Man United
They did it! Sven's newcomers scored again in front of the home fans (Geovanni, 30) shaking off that legacy from last season and held on for a huge victory in the big derby. Don't forget that this was a much crippled United missing several big cogs in the wheel but City supporters will rightly set that aside for now and celebrate their 3 straight wins.
Portsmouth 3:1 Bolton
Anelka opened the scoring in the 12th answered shortly after by Kanu (15) and Pompey took the lead in the 29th from newboy Utaka. The match swung back and forth from there and was finally settled in the 87th minute from the spot (Taylor). The Wanderers their 3rd straight defeat has them bottom of the table.
Liverpool 1:1 Chelsea
While neither side really stamped their authority on this match the opening half could easily have gone heavily in the Blues favor. Missed opportunities from Drogba, Pizarro and Terry prove pivotal. The Reds too had their share. Torres put them up in the 15th but the real story is he should have done better on a few other chances too. He might be their record signing but I'm not impressed, or perhaps I should say he seems a little soft and I wonder if he's tough enough to endure in this league. Torres demonstrated another failing too; he lacks the vision and appears decidedly right sided, not only his shot, but he seems to see only the right half of the pitch in front of him too. At least twice during the match he had a runner and acres of space to his left and on both occasions put the ball meekly to the winger on his right who then had to deal with multiple defenders and the runner on the left was stranded both times. When he did shoot his efforts lacked power, authority and conviction and that included his goal. Like many of the Spanish imports he spends more time with pleading gestures to the ref instead of playing the game. He needs to watch Alonso's approach to the game.
That said, this match was really dominated by ref Rob Styles and he eventually determined the outcome with his penalty call which Lampard converted easily in the 61st. Reds manager Rafael Benitez labeled it the "invisible" penalty and from what I've seen he's right. Shame. The Premier League thought so to and after a review has suspended Styles for the next round but his egregious error costs Liverpool 2 points.
Bad call and all, as a Liverpool fan I really don't think the result being a draw was all that undeserved frankly. Had Chelsea taken one or more of those first half chances it was the Reds who would have been thankful with a draw. This was a truly golden opportunity for the Reds to thump the Blues and they failed to take it. Chelsea was again forced to play a patchwork side and this was after all being played at Anfield. The Reds may step up and really challenge for the top spot but after this one my pick of them for 2nd looks overly generous (and hopeful) to say the least.
Blackburn 1:1 Arsenal
Van Persie gets another (17th) from a scramble in front as he assumes the role many expect from him for the Gunners. David Dunn, back at Rovers, levels in the 71st as Lehman failed to hold his drive. The wet ball and gloves strikes again.
Fulham 1:2 Boro
Fulham can't catch a break. McBride opens the scoring in the 15th and dislocates his knee cap in the process, and defender Bouazza joins McBride in the ambulance with a separated shoulder. Dempsey misses the open net from inside the six yard box and then came the real offense on the day when they scored what should have been the leveler late and the goal was ruled out by the officials. The assistant on the sideline (Ian Gosling) will also join Styles in the penalty box for the next round for getting it wrong. Where does Fulham go to get the point back?
Yes, it wasn't a PK call but it was as bad as they get and reminiscent of the 'Goal that never was' from November of '04 (Tottenham v United at Old Trafford). The message there is that here we are two years later and they still can't get it right when a goal is either not given or even worse, like last years St Patty's Day debacle when one was given when it never did cross the line (West Ham at Blackburn).
Remember what happened on that one? Tevez was awarded the goal even though he was clearly offside PLUS he actually had prevented the ball from crossing the line. Those 3 points were the difference at the end with West Ham surviving relegation and the ugliness of the court battle that ensued. And the glaring errors continue and still the league has done little to correct it. With the competition as close as it is in the EPL this simply can't be allowed to continue. Shame on the EPL for not making a more diligent effort to try to ensure they get it right but at least the very public penalty to the officials involved may help. We'll have to wait and see how that works out.
I think more eyes would make a big difference. Such as the goal judge a la Hockey. Worth a shot and it’s not techno wizardry like chips in the ball and such.
Tottenham 4:0 Derby
Spurs woke up early with Steed Marlbranque leading the way (1st and 5th minute) and Jenas added another in the 13th and it was coasting time at White Hart Lane. Darren Bent got his initial goal for Spurs in the 79th to close out the scoring. Despite the display Spurs manager Martyn Jol is still getting some heat in the press.
Elsewhere Newcastle and Villa went scoreless and Wigan got one from Heskey (18) and two from the spot (Landzaat and Sibierski) for a 3-0 win over Sunderland.
Plucky Reading held off Everton in a hard fought contest 1-0 (Hunt 43) and West Ham cashed in a PK (Noble, 69) to defeat Birmingham at home.
