The Weekend Round-up 18 & 19th August

A quick round up of this weekend’s Premiership action, with news and views on the latest talking points from Danny Wright

Manchester City top the table after defeating bitter rivals Manchester United in the big Manchester Derby. The visitors had dominated throughout but couldn’t convert their chances as Geovanni sent Eastlands into delirium with his deflected long-range strike. City then produced a superb rearguard action, with Micah Richards and Richard Dunne foiling a lacklustre United on numerous occasions. Old Blue Eyes seems to be doing the trick at City, who haven’t conceded a goal and maintain their 100% start. Alan Hansen quickly dismissed any title challenge City may pose, this coming from the man who said United wouldn’t win anything with kids…

Liverpool and Chelsea played out an entertaining draw at Anfield, however the game made the headlines for the wrong reasons as referee Rob Styles had an afternoon to forget. Eight yellow cards were handed out in this fiery game, with Styles incorrectly awarding Chelsea a penalty to gift Mourinho’s men a lifeline. New signing Fernando Torres put the hosts ahead, before Frank Lampard tucked away the controversial spot-kick to finish things at 1-1.

Jens Lehmann’s howler handed Blackburn a point against Arsenal on Sunday, his glaring error allowing David Dunn’s tame effort to creep over the line. Brad Friedel was also in a generous mood as his spillage allowed Robin Van Persie to put the Gunners ahead after 18 minutes. Ryan Nelsen was later sent off, as Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger branded Blackburn “violent”, before running off home to tell his Daddy big, bad Mark Hughes had been picking on him again.

It wasn’t a good weekend for the league’s goalkeepers as Birmingham’s Colin Doyle contrived to gift West Ham a penalty by fouling Craig Bellamy in the match at St Andrews, Hammers youngster Mark Noble making no mistake from 12-yards.

Tony Warner wasn’t having a great weekend either as he shoveled a weak Mido effort into the net in Fulham’s match against Middlesborough. Brian McBride had put the Cottagers ahead, but Lee Cattermole snatched the points late on to give under-pressure manager Gareth Southgate a much needed boost. David Healy thought he had equalized, but his effort – at least a foot over the line – was chalked off by the seemingly blind-folded officials.

Wigan thrashed Roy Keane’s Sunderland 3-0 at the JJB, with not a decent shop or WAG in sight. It could be Keano who has to go shopping though, a defender top of the list after this display. Goal-machine Antoine Sibierski bagged his third goal in as many games to top the goal scoring charts, with Emile Heskey and Denny Landzaat also on the score sheet.

Tottenham bounced back with a 4-0 thumping of Derby, three goals in the first 14 minute settling the tie before it had really begun. The relief may only by temporary for Spurs fans, as they face Manchester United and Arsenal in the coming weeks.

Aston Villa and Newcastle played out a 0-0 draw at St James, Magpies stopper Steve Harper proving why he is a fine understudy to Shay Given with a string of fantastic saves. His counterpart – the on-loan Scott Carson – didn’t do too badly either as he thwarted David Rozehnal.

Bolton capitulated to a 3-1 defeat at Portsmouth, meanwhile Reading showed why they will be no sufferers of ‘Second Season Syndrome’ as they beat high-flying Everton 1-0 at the Madejski.

David Beckham played a full 90 minutes in LA Galaxy’s 5-4 loss to the New York Red Bulls at Giants Stadium, with Goldenballs expecting to be fit for England’s mid-week clash with Germany. Becks set up three of Galaxy’s goals but it came at a price as his ankle flared up on an unfamiliar astroturf surface.


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