Bolton concede opportunity to move nearer safety

Posted: April 8, 2012 | Author: | Filed under: Bolton Wanderers, English Premier League, Fulham, Newcastle United | Tags: , , , | Leave a comment

Bolton Wanderers started the Easter weekend in the strongest position of the bottom five clubs in the Premier League. A point better off and home advantage against a mid-table Fulham side on Saturday, while their rivals all played away. But the outcome at the Reebok Stadium went badly against the home side who had strung together three wins in a row including two home wins prior to the Cottagers’ visit.

In some ways Owen Coyle’s side were fortunate given that the other three relegation contenders that played yesterday also all lost, while QPR take on Manchester United at Old Trafford today, but the fixture calendar throws Bolton back into action tomorrow, while the others have longer to prepare for home games in midweek. They must go to Newcastle United who have an eye back on qualifying for Europe next season after four consecutive wins, and a pair of clean sheets last week. Bolton can’t fancy their chances much especially given the goalscoring form Magpies’ Papiss Cisse is currently in.

After the 3-0 defeat Coyle said, “My disappointment is the goals we have conceded. The free-kick is something we don’t have to give away, and then the second right on half-time we have given away with a poor pass and Damien Duff sets up a great ball and we want defenders or midfielders to sense danger but Dempsey is allowed to run unmarked with a free header.

“Second half we changed it, we scrapped around at 2-0 without creating anything gilt-edged and we needed the next goal but then we give away another poor goal on the counter.

“But I feel that the first goal is always vital and that turned the game on its head today.”

Passionately fought derby ends amid late drama

Posted: March 7, 2012 | Author: | Filed under: English Premier League, Newcastle United, Sunderland | Tags: , | Leave a comment

Simon Mignolet was a few minutes away from becoming a Sunderland legend last Sunday but the goalkeeper’s penalty save could only temporarily maintain the visitors’ 1-0 lead from the first half. Voted man-of-the-match by Black Cats supporters after he had denied Demba Ba from the penalty spot, Mignolet was eventually beaten by Newcastle substitute Shola Ameobi in the final minute of the derby.

The fierce nature of the contest spilled from the pitch to the two managers on the touchline at times as Sunderland were reduced to ten players for the final half an hour following Stephane Sessegnon’s dismissal for a swung elbow at an opponent in full view of referee Mike Dean. And after the final whistle Dean showed Sunderland’s Lee Cattermole the second red card of the afternoon.

With Sessegnon and Cattermole set to miss a total of seven games between them, their manager Martin O’Neill said he felt the home side could consider themselves fortunate to come away with a full compliment of players. O’Neill praised his team’s performance without condoning the actions of either of his red carded players. He said, “The players were intent on not letting anybody down, particularly the supporters, and I think they did that admirably today.”

Only pride left to play for in the north east derby

Posted: March 4, 2012 | Author: | Filed under: English Premier League, Newcastle United, Sunderland | Leave a comment

I’m prepared to make a bold statement just 15 minutes before the big north east derby kicks off: Neither Newcastle United or Sunderland will finish in the top five this season. I believe that Liverpool have also already blown their chances largely as a consequence of their last three league games.

Even if Newcastle earn three points this lunchtime to go level on points with Chelsea, the Londoners goal difference is far superior. It’s been at home that Spurs, Arsenal and Chelsea have enjoyed comfortable wins, whereas the clubs below them have sometimes struggled to. Whatever the outcome at the Sports Direct Arena today, Newcastle supporters will no doubt still be dreaming of a European place next season, while Sunderland could of course still qualify via the FA Cup.

However, I cannot see any one of the trio of London clubs messing up to such an extent that an other will be allowed to slip in front of them come the end of the season. But since there’s much more at stake than just the points today, it can hardly be billed as a meaningless fixture. It’s more one which the visitors would do rather well to win.

Villa must fight for McLeish and win at Wigan

Posted: February 24, 2012 | Author: | Filed under: Aston Villa, English Premier League, Fulham, Newcastle United, Queens Park Rangers, Stoke City, Swansea City, West Bromwich Albion, Wigan Athletic | Tags: , | Leave a comment

None of the three Midlands clubs in the Premier League can confidently say they will be in the top flight next season, and the worst off currently, 18th placed Wolves have just sacked their manager after 25 games. 

When after 12 games Aston Villa had drawn six, not many expected their position to get worse than that. But it has, and they are now in desperate need of a result like West Brom’s win at Wolves a couple of weeks ago, which marked the end of Mick McCarthy’s time in charge at Molineux.

Villa aren’t used to relegation battles, even if they see the seven point gap between themselves and QPR as a safety net. Earlier this month they had needed to come back from 2-0 down at home to the London club, otherwise the gap now would be just four points.

Bottom of the table Wigan Athletic, who have only won once at home in the league this season, host Villa tomorrow, buoyed by taking three points away at rivals Bolton Wanderers. Villa lost at Newcastle United earlier this month – despite getting back on level terms from a goal behind, that wasn’t enough in the end to earn a point – and after the game manager Alex McLeish had called on his players to show more effort. Stephen Ireland and Charles N’Zogbia were among the players who were dropped by the Scot for their next game.

After Stoke City made a great start to their winter programme they’ve been on a downward spiral since they took a point from Liverpool last month. Four consecutive league defeats have followed and going two goals behind and eventually losing 2-1 at Fulham in the last of them was an opportunity missed to secure a relatively safe domestic position before the European knockout stages began.  

After missing out on further progress in the Europa League – they had finished runners-up in their group last year to make the last 32 – they now turn their attention back to the Premier League this Sunday. Swansea City will be at the Britannia having had a rest while their hosts played three times, against Spanish giants Valencia twice and Crawley Town in the FA Cup last weekend. 

Having gained promotion last season, Swansea’s current mid-table Premier League position, above both Fulham and Stoke on goal difference, has been down largely to their home form. However, they began the month coming from behind to win at West Brom, so Potters boss Tony Pulis may need to accept a point, which would at least end their poor recent run.

Villa’s defensive problems scupper any chance of progress

Posted: February 6, 2012 | Author: | Filed under: Aston Villa, English Premier League, Newcastle United | Tags: , | Leave a comment

Aston Villa had gone into the half time interval at the Sport Direct Arena yesterday on level terms after loanee Robbie Keane had made it 1-1 right at the end of the half. But unlike at Wolves last month, it was the home side that scored the next decisive goal this time.

Villa had capitalised on the momentum after equalising at Chelsea on New Year’s Eve by going on to win that day as well. But on this occasion McLeish’s team left with nothing. Looking at the result from a more positive outlook, it was Villa’s first defeat away from home in the league since playing Spurs when the manager was heavily criticised for his team selection and approach to that fixture.

Yesterday Alex McLeish blamed a shortage of work ethic from his team overall this season, compared with Villa’s opponents Newcastle United. Alluding to the high number of games that his team have drawn this season, rather than go onto win, he said: “They [Newcastle] put the ball in the box and flood it.

“That was the reason for their first goal. I don’t think it’s rocket science. They get results because of a fantastic team work ethic.”

Can Villa start climbing up the Premier League table?

Posted: February 4, 2012 | Author: | Filed under: Aston Villa, English Premier League, Newcastle United | Tags: | Leave a comment

Much to their credit Newcastle United, who finished 12th in the Premier League last season, remain in with a chance of qualifying for Europe, having started off the campaign so well and only faultered since on odd occasions.

Their opponents at the Sport Direct Arena tomorrow are Aston Villa who have mildly better league form on the road this season than at Villa Park, having only won a quarter of their home games while losing just twice away from home. This might be explained in part by fans’ ill-feeling towards the club’s manager, Alex McLeish. 

Their midweek game against QPR became their tenth draw in the Premier League this season (Villa pre-McLeish drew 12 throughout 2010-11) although before last week’s comeback from 2-0 down, just a third of their draws this season had come at Villa Park. 

For McLeish, who suffered relegation with Villa’s rivals Birmingham City last season on the back (in part) of ten defeats and only two victories in their 18 matches away from St Andrews, the pressure will be off – at least for tomorrow.

Eight draws at home didn’t save Birmingham last season. Although not considered to be in any genuine danger of becoming lured into a relegation scrap, Villa are currently down in 13th place and McLeish’s current club hasn’t won at home in the league now for three months.

Plenty of reasons to admire Kenny Dalglish’s Liverpool

Posted: December 30, 2011 | Author: | Filed under: English Premier League, Liverpool, Newcastle United | Tags: , , | Leave a comment

Liverpool have won only one of their last six home games in the Premier League, but despite having played both Manchester clubs at Anfield remain unbeaten there this season. But bizarrely there’s a feeling that any result against Newcastle United tonight other than a ninth league win (fourth at home) won’t be good enough, even though the Magpies are just a point behind at present.

Liverpool have consistently stood just inside the top six in the table – currently just one win away from fourth placed Chelsea (who they beat at Stamford Bridge twice in November) – Kenny Dalglish’s team have since recovered from their defeat at Fulham, and the loss of Lucas Leiva for the rest of the season through injury, to win two back-to-back. However, despite keeping a third consecutive clean sheet in a goalless draw at Wigan just before Christmas, their 1-1 draw at home to bottom of the league Blackburn Rovers on Boxing Day was greeted by question marks from the media.

Liverpool face City three times next month with a Carling Cup Final place in sight, but before all that they end 2011 looking to protect that home record tonight. Charlie Adam’s own goal right at the end of the first half last time out was only their 14th conceded in 18 league games, and the defence has been tight both home and away, despite three league defeats on the road including a 4-0 defeat at Spurs back in September.

Their top scorer in the Premier League with five – Luis Suarez, who hasn’t scored in the last three games following his winner against QPR – misses out through suspension. Should the points be shared again tonight Liverpool will have still scored only four goals fewer than their opponents this season. Except in Demba Ba the visitors have a striker who has contributed 14 of Newcastle’s 25 Premier League goals – some proof that  having a striker in prolific goalscoring form – or otherwise – helps alter perceptions.

Big game expectation faces fourth placed Newcastle United

Posted: December 1, 2011 | Author: | Filed under: Chelsea, English Premier League, Newcastle United | Tags: , , , , , | Leave a comment

Arsenal on the opening day of the campaign and Spurs (in October) have been the only sides to take a point away from St James’ Park this season. Chelsea haven’t been travelling well and could struggle to even match their London neighbours’ efforts there when they themselves head to Newcastle United this Saturday.

Possibly for the first time this season against a top team, United are expected not to lose, and I don’t think they will. Demba Ba, the club’s penalty taker this season, has nine goals. Taking a point at Old Trafford last weekend was a terrific response by Alan Pardew’s team after losing for the first time a week earlier.  

For Chelsea, there has been that shock derby defeat suffered at QPR in the league just over a month ago which was followed by two league defeats, both at home. And they have only beaten Bolton, Sunderland and Blackburn away from home so far this season. Andre Villas-Boas’ team did win at Everton after extra-time in the last 16 of the Carling Cup, but will be grateful their Champions League rivals Valencia will be doing the travelling on Tuesday because their 100% record after two games at Stamford Bridge is all that has prevented them from an exit before Christmas in that competition.

Has buying a new holding midfielder in the January transfer window become Chelsea’s priority? Raul Miereles has been preferred to Jon Obi Mikel on occasions. But the former Porto player is better suited in a more advanced position. Oriol Romeu made his first Premier League start last weekend – one of two changes from the previous week’s defeat by Liverpool. Frank Lampard and Florent Malouda made way for the 20 year old Spaniard and Daniel Sturridge (22) who scored his sixth Premier League goal in eight starts. Lampard and Malouda are another two along with Mikel who are unused to the fringes of the first XI, but may become more acquainted to the Chelsea subs bench this season.

In Romeu’s first eight appearances, before last Tuesday night, the Blues had remained unbeaten, so he seems like a decent temporary solution for the team currently occupying fifth place in the table.