EPL round 6 roundup
by Paul O'Donnell
Intro
League play resumes with some tasty matches on the card for the weekend. A depleted Arsenal takes the short hike to White Hart Lane in the North London derby to kick off the weekend action. One way or another, this match is likely to have profound impact. Spurs have not defeated the Gunners in 8 years in league play and a loss at home at this stage could very well be Jol's last on the touchline for Spurs. It would put them a full 9 points behind Arsenal and that after a big spending spree (over $80 million) with their announced goal to break into the top four. This one should be a thrilling contest worthy of the history of the North London Derby.
In another neighborhood battle, not really a derby, but they're not all that far apart either, 2nd place Everton entertains a Man United side looking to recover from their less than stellar start without the services of Rooney and Ronaldo. Leaders Liverpool travel to the south coast to face Pompey while relegation candidates face off against one another with Wigan v Fulham and Sunderland entertaining a struggling Reading.
Will Chelsea extend their league record unbeaten run at home to 65 or will Mark Hughes and his Blackburn Rovers bring that to an end? Will Schevchenko see some playing time? Lampard fit? Drogba? Will John Terry actually start earning that big weekly wage? Will Michael Owen continue putting the ball in the net as he did in the EC qualifiers for England?
So how did it play out on the pitch then?
Tottenham 1:3 Arsenal
A clever free kick from Gareth Bale (15) got by the last man in the Arsenal wall protecting the keeper's near post for the lead for Spurs. Robinson saved their bacon time and again before Arsenal got a 2nd chance on a free kick which found Adebayor who made no mistake on the header (65). The quickly taken first attempt was whistled off by the match official because a fan was being escorted from the ground. That's the kind of thing that happens frequently in a derby isn't it? After squandering the initial attempt the second bite of the apple was spot on perfectly delivered and the match was tied at 1. Fabregas drilled home the match winner in the 80th with a goal of the round candidate and Adebayor added his second in spectacular fashion in injury time for the final score.
In a high intensity, sometimes frantic end-to-end match both sides produced several clear and quality chances at goal. True to form Arsenal created more and over the last 25 minutes cashed a few in where Spurs did not. Robbie Keane, Berbatov and even the late sub Darren Bent spurned clear scoring opportunities that might have turned this match around. The fact that Spurs created those chances and it was their big guns that failed to make them count could be the saving grace for Martyn Jol; he can't kick the ball for them now can he?
A big question from Spurs fans has to be what is it that Jermain Defoe has to do to be in the Tottenham side? Fans understand that you can only select so many strikers for the matchday team but for pete's sake, when Berbatov and Keane haven't produced and still Defoe sits on the sideline something is clearly amiss. Needing a fast start after their summer spending spree Spurs have produced precisely the opposite. Spurs now have a very impressive team, on paper. It’s on the pitch where they've clearly fallen short so far. Expect a big effort from Spurs in this weeks UEFA Cup match. Anything less and the murmurs at White Hart Lane will swell to a crescendo.
Everton 0:1 Man United
United got a late winner off a corner from Nani that found Vidic (83) at the back post to take the points at Goodison Park in a closely contested match where neither side was able to create much in the way of clear chances.
Portsmouth 0:0 Liverpool
Pompey stops the Reds goal production and takes two points away in the process. Reds fans will say they won a point on the road which is true enough but this was a match they were expected to win. The draw to the in form Reds is a victory for Redknapp and it took a Reina save on a Kanu penalty to keep it that way. Make no mistake; this match was sacrificed because of the upcoming Champions League group stage match on Tuesday versus Porto. The Benitez decision to not field his best 11 makes his claim of the Premier League title being his number one goal for the season simply a smoke screen. If that truly is his goal he's been around the league long enough to know that he must play the best 11 available for each and every match. Anything less simply will not suffice in the EPL. So which is it Rafael?
West Ham 3:0 Boro
The Hammers are looking like a much stronger team even without Carlos Tevez and Mascherano. Lee Bowyer's stoppage time goal (45) followed by Young (51 OG) and Dean Ashton (61) earned the full points at home for Curbs.
Birmingham 1:0 Bolton
City sends the Wanderers back home empty handed via a 36th minute winner from Kapo.
Sunderland 2:1 Reading
Roy Keane's Black Cats add yet another defeat to the early season woes of Steve Copple's Royals who are finding their second season in the EPL much more demanding than their first. Looks to me that they let too many guys get away in the off season and simply have not found quality to fill those gaps.
Wigan 1:1 Fulham
Clint Dempsey's 10th minute strike put the Cottagers on top which held until the 79th minute leveler from the penalty spot (Koumas). Dempsey managed to miss another sitter that in the end would have been the winner for Fulham. A few minutes after his let off Wigan got the PK goal for the draw and the Cottagers had again failed to win on the road.
England boss McClaren won't be very happy either as he has lost another striker with Heskey breaking a bone in his foot. That could also be the worst of news for the fans at the JBL too.
Chelsea 0:0 Blackburn
Expect Mourhino to be disciplined by the league for his direct attack on the match officials that resulted from Chelsea being denied their goal for offside. You'll have to see it for yourself but it looked like the Blues were robbed and Jose has a valid gripe. Jose has yet to learn however that only SAF and Wenger are permitted to launch such attacks without penalty in the Prem. What he's really upset about is that his Blues have dropped another two points at home and that his team is quite average in the EPL without Drogba despite the monumental wage bill of those that continually fail to make substantive contributions to success such as Schevchenko.
Man City 1:0 Aston Villa
Sven's youngsters again produced the goods as a 48th minute strike from Michael Johnson was the only score on the day. In a closely contested match that was one of the rare chances. Even rarer were clear opportunities for Villa which is sure to have Martin O'Neill wondering. When he sees his big man, Carew, having to play wide or 25 yards from goal to get a touch his side is not approaching the game in a way that favors their chances of success.
Newcastle 0:1 Derby
Premier League debutant Kenny Miller drilled a 38th minute volley from 30 yards for Derby County's first win of the season and he might have had a few more. Miller was the better striker on the day despite Newcastle having both Alan Smith and Owen as match fit as they've been in over a year. Miller, taking a knock and being unable to continue in Scotland's EC qualifier last week was doubtful of making his initial appearance in the PL in this one. Derby was in need of a shakeup and Miller was just the tonic they needed.
