Sunday, October 31, 2010

United Edge Closer To Chelsea After A Week Of Upsets

Chelsea's unbeaten streak ended at the City of Manchester stadium in the first match of the sixth weekend of the Premier League season setting the tone for a week of upsets.

Robert Mancini smartly diluted any pressure of expectation on the Citizens, by predicting that the champions would retain the title quite easily this season.

That was before the match, although Mancini continues to stand by his statement even after the Chelsea game that City won 1-0.

An inspired goal by Carlos Tevez was followed by resolute defence that saw Carlo Ancelotti substituting a surprised Didier Drogba.

With Lescott and Boateng missing in the back-line, it was left to Ashley Cole to man the fortress, and ironically Tevez's shot went through Cole's legs before ricochetting off the post to beat Cech into the Chelsea net.

Next, it was West Brom's turn to upset punters who had backed Arsenal to win handily against Albion before their home fans at Emirates.

After a goalless first half, West Brom set the alarm ringing at Emirates, with an Odemwingie strike in the 50th minute, and followed it up with a second one, two minutes later, this time off Jara's boot.

But it wasn't until 20 minutes later that Arsene Wenger's men woke up with a vengeance.

By then, Albion were 3-0 up, with the third goal coming in the 72nd minute. Ironically, that strike which proved eventually to be the winning margin was the contribution from Jerome Thomas, an ex-Arsenal man.

For Arsenal, the match was a tale of missed opportunities, with. Ebou and Arshavin wasting scoring opportunities within the first quarter-hour.

Bolton held Manchester United to a 2-2 draw at the Reebok Stadium which should justly rank as a win, considering that United never led during the match but came back twice from behind to level the score. Knight put the home side ahead in the fifth minute, and Nani got the Red devils level in the 22nd.

Petrov got Bolton up again to 2-1 in the 67th minute; seven minutes later, Owen rescued the Old Trafford side from what would have been a humiliating loss.

Tottenham's loss to West Ham at Upton Park should be up there with Chelsea and Arsenal's defeats. Coming off a morale boosting win in the Carling Cup, West Ham prevailed in the London derby played before a full house of home fans.

Apart from Piquionne's 29th minute strike that gave Avram Grant's side the lead, Ro Green's athleticism between the sticks won the day for the Hammers.

West Ham continue to remain in relegation zone, for now, but they have managed to move one place up the points table, leaving Everton to wallow in twentieth, following the Goodison Park squad's draw against Fulham at Craven Cottage.

Blackpool's 2-1 loss to Blackburn could also be considered an upset; that is the extent of Blackpool's stamp on the ongoing Premiership campaign, the Seasiders' first ever. The defeat left the Tangerines without a home win. In their only other match at Bloomfield Road, so far, Blackpool drew 1-1 against Fulham.

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