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Welcome to the Premiership round 2 roundup, where goals were a plenty! - 36 goals in the 10 games and most of them at St.James Park!!
We’ll start at the Walkers Stadium, where two newly promoted sides Leicester and Watford faced each other. Both teams had their chances here but ultimately the defences held out and a goalless draw was the result - which both teams will probably take, Leicester after last weeks heroics at Burnley, and Watford to retain the unbeaten start. Hause in the heart of the Watford defence claimed man of the match but this was a rare goalless game in a round of high scores.
Illustrating how mad some of the games were, we follow with three 1-0 results; First at Blackburn, who have made a great start under new boss Tony Ayre - they pipped Everton at Elwood Park with a great goal from defender Luke Ayling just before half time. Amazingly Everton boss David Gooch played Nathan Patterson ahead of Tangana yet again, and again it didn’t seem to help their cause. Fans are starting to question whether the young Scottish defender has some dirt on Gooch - it will be interesting to see if he continues to choose him. Everton actually had more chances than the home side, but Ayling’s moment of quality was enough for him to pick up man of the match
At Selhurst Park, the feeling was optimistic after a good point at Chelsea last week, and this week they were expecting to turn over Barnsley - however, Barnsley defender David Zappacosta hit a rocket shot after 2 minutes which last weeks hero keeper Livakovic couldn’t get near. Barnsley actually looked more likely to score a second than Palace an equaliser and got their first points of the season. Polish defender Frankowski picked up the man of the match award as again the defenders came out on top.
Completing the 1-0 score lines were Man Utd who bounced back after last weeks home defeat with a narrow win against Southampton. Saints were dealt a massive blow with an injury to Geertruida in defence which gave Flanagan a rare run out and he didn’t quite look up to pace. The star of the show for United was their young midfielder Gavi who scored the only goal of the game and made important tackles when needed. Manager Steve Outten will be disappointed with the amount of chances that they are creating, but happy with the win against a dangerous Southampton outfit. Gavi received Man of the Match
Liverpool got their campaign up and running with a good win at Aston Villa. Early goals from Mahrez and Rashford put the game out of reach and despite Martinez scoring in the second half for the home side, the Reds held on and game Graeme Edwards his first points as boss. Rashford picked up man of the match and looked a class above the rest. 2-1 to Liverpool
The champions carry on where they left off at the Etihad , overcoming a first half injury to Dusan Vlahovic to score through Phil Foden in the second half. Wednesday made it interesting as Ollie Watkins equalised 8 minutes later, but Foden again popped up to score and get the win. Foden was very unlucky when in the last minute he was penalised for what looked like a good tackle, and shown his second yellow. He will miss the next game but the rest of the squad will cope - Jude Bellingham for City picked up man of the match as they eventually won 2-1
Now to the goals!!
At the Emirates, Arsenal who looked strong last week with their 3-1 win at Wednesday, came out looking the part, and went 1-0 up with a goal from Thuram after a lovely pass from Reece James. At halftime the home side looked happy - but the Leeds boss Tim Davey could be heard in the stands having a half time team rant. Unconfirmed reports mention chainsaw noises and all sorts of banging going on in the away dressing room. When they came out for the second half the Leeds lads looked somewhat pumped up, as Davey looked on menacingly - this seemed to do the trick as they equalised through Lenglet immediately, and then Davey introduced Angel Di Maria, Amrabat and Rafael Nel. Di Maria set up Berardi to put them in front, Caicedo then put them further in front, and then he set up Nel who scored the 4th to give Leeds a 4-1 win and stun the home crowd. Darren Humphris was seen making throat slitting gestures to his defenders as the two FFO hard men went head to head but it was the away side that cruised to the top of the table. Once again Moises Cacedo was outstanding and deservedly won man of the match.
Just across the way at Tottenham Tim Brown’s Spurs were hoping to follow up their away win at Man Utd with another win against one of the top half teams, in Burnley - who were looking for their first points. After 10 minutes Nicklas Sule scored with a fantastic scissors kick to put the home side ahead, and then after Boadu’s shot was saved Leon Bailey followed up to double the lead. Burnley came back and Morata cut back the deficit to put the score at 2-1 at half time. Orkun Kocku then produced a moment of magic on the 70th minute to make it 3-1 and still Burnley weren’t done as Hamsik popped up to make it 3-2 with 10 minutes to go. Bailey scored with one of those wicked snap benders to make it 5 goals in 3 for the new Spurs hero and make it two 4-2’s in a row for Brown as the Tottenham revival continues. Kocku, who was left out of the trip to Old Trafford, seemed to have a point to prove and was everywhere, deservedly picking up man of the match
Cardiff were happy with their point at Watford last week and faced another London club at home. West Ham who will be expecting to challenge at the top half needed to get their season going after a close home defeat to Man City. The Hammers came with three at the back as they attempted to take a stranglehold, but were shocked as Gueye put the home side ahead with a volley on 16 minutes. Defender Tom Lockyer then hit a speculative shot which looped over Nick Pope to make it 2-0, and West Ham went on the attack. Lamar then sent the home fans wild with another terrific strike and Cardiff looked home and dry. Immediately Cole Palmer responded with a goal for West Ham, as they went in shocked at 3-1 down. Defender Lockyer popped over to his manager on the hour mark and appeared to take some tablets - he then turned into Lionel Messi and scored twice on 68 and 73 to put Cardiff into dreamland and 5-1 up. He celebrated by running to the cameras in a Maradona-sequence, eye bulging rage. He ran all over the pitch like a man possessed and then pulled up in agony as his hamstring went and was stretchered off to a standing ovation as the crowd went wild and celebrated a famous first victory in the Premiership. West Ham manager Todd Fortune was furious and was unable for comment. Lockyer unsurprisingly picked up man of the match and has gone to rehab.
Finally - a score draw at St James Park. Chelsea needed to get their season going after a dull goalless draw and Newcastle were looking to bounce back after a thrashing at Southampton. Chelsea boss Steve Talbot certainly went all out attack, but the home side opened the scoring with a worldie from De Tomas which got the home fans shirts off - but Wan-Bisssaka equalised immediately, followed by a wonderful Saint-Maximin strike to make it 2-1 to Chelsea. Tarkowski then hit another long range screamer to equalise, and it looked like we might see a goal or two. On the half hour the 5th goal of the game came, Wan-Bissaka scoring again for Chelsea, but Toni Kroos converted Jonathan David’s lovely cross to make it 3-3 moments later. Just when you thought that might conclude the scoring for the half, up popped De Tomas to put the home side ahead before Chiesa struck back and amazingly it was 4-4 at half time. The second half was a dull affair in comparison, until a VAR decision gave Chelsea a penalty, which Odegaard converted, but of course there was still drama to come, and with the last kick of the match another defender, Clauss equalised to make it an astonishing 5-5 final score. What a game! Man of the match was Raul de Tomas of Newcastle with his brace of goals.
Team of the Round:
R_Majecki (Blackburn), Wan-Bissaka (Chelsea), J Tarkowski (Newcastle), T Lockyer (Cardiff), K Hause (Watford), O Kocku (Tottenham), M Caicedo (Leeds), J Bellingham (Man City), Gavi (Man Utd), M Rashford (Liverpool), R De Tomas (Newcastle)
Performance of the round : Has to be a newly promoted side again, Cardiff’s 5-1 win over West Ham was an announcement that they are not here to make up the numbers - a terrific win for the Bluebirds
Shocker of the week - Has to be the same game I’m afraid, West Ham did not look like a top 6 team this round!
We’ll start at the Walkers Stadium, where two newly promoted sides Leicester and Watford faced each other. Both teams had their chances here but ultimately the defences held out and a goalless draw was the result - which both teams will probably take, Leicester after last weeks heroics at Burnley, and Watford to retain the unbeaten start. Hause in the heart of the Watford defence claimed man of the match but this was a rare goalless game in a round of high scores.
Illustrating how mad some of the games were, we follow with three 1-0 results; First at Blackburn, who have made a great start under new boss Tony Ayre - they pipped Everton at Elwood Park with a great goal from defender Luke Ayling just before half time. Amazingly Everton boss David Gooch played Nathan Patterson ahead of Tangana yet again, and again it didn’t seem to help their cause. Fans are starting to question whether the young Scottish defender has some dirt on Gooch - it will be interesting to see if he continues to choose him. Everton actually had more chances than the home side, but Ayling’s moment of quality was enough for him to pick up man of the match
At Selhurst Park, the feeling was optimistic after a good point at Chelsea last week, and this week they were expecting to turn over Barnsley - however, Barnsley defender David Zappacosta hit a rocket shot after 2 minutes which last weeks hero keeper Livakovic couldn’t get near. Barnsley actually looked more likely to score a second than Palace an equaliser and got their first points of the season. Polish defender Frankowski picked up the man of the match award as again the defenders came out on top.
Completing the 1-0 score lines were Man Utd who bounced back after last weeks home defeat with a narrow win against Southampton. Saints were dealt a massive blow with an injury to Geertruida in defence which gave Flanagan a rare run out and he didn’t quite look up to pace. The star of the show for United was their young midfielder Gavi who scored the only goal of the game and made important tackles when needed. Manager Steve Outten will be disappointed with the amount of chances that they are creating, but happy with the win against a dangerous Southampton outfit. Gavi received Man of the Match
Liverpool got their campaign up and running with a good win at Aston Villa. Early goals from Mahrez and Rashford put the game out of reach and despite Martinez scoring in the second half for the home side, the Reds held on and game Graeme Edwards his first points as boss. Rashford picked up man of the match and looked a class above the rest. 2-1 to Liverpool
The champions carry on where they left off at the Etihad , overcoming a first half injury to Dusan Vlahovic to score through Phil Foden in the second half. Wednesday made it interesting as Ollie Watkins equalised 8 minutes later, but Foden again popped up to score and get the win. Foden was very unlucky when in the last minute he was penalised for what looked like a good tackle, and shown his second yellow. He will miss the next game but the rest of the squad will cope - Jude Bellingham for City picked up man of the match as they eventually won 2-1
Now to the goals!!
At the Emirates, Arsenal who looked strong last week with their 3-1 win at Wednesday, came out looking the part, and went 1-0 up with a goal from Thuram after a lovely pass from Reece James. At halftime the home side looked happy - but the Leeds boss Tim Davey could be heard in the stands having a half time team rant. Unconfirmed reports mention chainsaw noises and all sorts of banging going on in the away dressing room. When they came out for the second half the Leeds lads looked somewhat pumped up, as Davey looked on menacingly - this seemed to do the trick as they equalised through Lenglet immediately, and then Davey introduced Angel Di Maria, Amrabat and Rafael Nel. Di Maria set up Berardi to put them in front, Caicedo then put them further in front, and then he set up Nel who scored the 4th to give Leeds a 4-1 win and stun the home crowd. Darren Humphris was seen making throat slitting gestures to his defenders as the two FFO hard men went head to head but it was the away side that cruised to the top of the table. Once again Moises Cacedo was outstanding and deservedly won man of the match.
Just across the way at Tottenham Tim Brown’s Spurs were hoping to follow up their away win at Man Utd with another win against one of the top half teams, in Burnley - who were looking for their first points. After 10 minutes Nicklas Sule scored with a fantastic scissors kick to put the home side ahead, and then after Boadu’s shot was saved Leon Bailey followed up to double the lead. Burnley came back and Morata cut back the deficit to put the score at 2-1 at half time. Orkun Kocku then produced a moment of magic on the 70th minute to make it 3-1 and still Burnley weren’t done as Hamsik popped up to make it 3-2 with 10 minutes to go. Bailey scored with one of those wicked snap benders to make it 5 goals in 3 for the new Spurs hero and make it two 4-2’s in a row for Brown as the Tottenham revival continues. Kocku, who was left out of the trip to Old Trafford, seemed to have a point to prove and was everywhere, deservedly picking up man of the match
Cardiff were happy with their point at Watford last week and faced another London club at home. West Ham who will be expecting to challenge at the top half needed to get their season going after a close home defeat to Man City. The Hammers came with three at the back as they attempted to take a stranglehold, but were shocked as Gueye put the home side ahead with a volley on 16 minutes. Defender Tom Lockyer then hit a speculative shot which looped over Nick Pope to make it 2-0, and West Ham went on the attack. Lamar then sent the home fans wild with another terrific strike and Cardiff looked home and dry. Immediately Cole Palmer responded with a goal for West Ham, as they went in shocked at 3-1 down. Defender Lockyer popped over to his manager on the hour mark and appeared to take some tablets - he then turned into Lionel Messi and scored twice on 68 and 73 to put Cardiff into dreamland and 5-1 up. He celebrated by running to the cameras in a Maradona-sequence, eye bulging rage. He ran all over the pitch like a man possessed and then pulled up in agony as his hamstring went and was stretchered off to a standing ovation as the crowd went wild and celebrated a famous first victory in the Premiership. West Ham manager Todd Fortune was furious and was unable for comment. Lockyer unsurprisingly picked up man of the match and has gone to rehab.
Finally - a score draw at St James Park. Chelsea needed to get their season going after a dull goalless draw and Newcastle were looking to bounce back after a thrashing at Southampton. Chelsea boss Steve Talbot certainly went all out attack, but the home side opened the scoring with a worldie from De Tomas which got the home fans shirts off - but Wan-Bisssaka equalised immediately, followed by a wonderful Saint-Maximin strike to make it 2-1 to Chelsea. Tarkowski then hit another long range screamer to equalise, and it looked like we might see a goal or two. On the half hour the 5th goal of the game came, Wan-Bissaka scoring again for Chelsea, but Toni Kroos converted Jonathan David’s lovely cross to make it 3-3 moments later. Just when you thought that might conclude the scoring for the half, up popped De Tomas to put the home side ahead before Chiesa struck back and amazingly it was 4-4 at half time. The second half was a dull affair in comparison, until a VAR decision gave Chelsea a penalty, which Odegaard converted, but of course there was still drama to come, and with the last kick of the match another defender, Clauss equalised to make it an astonishing 5-5 final score. What a game! Man of the match was Raul de Tomas of Newcastle with his brace of goals.
Team of the Round:
R_Majecki (Blackburn), Wan-Bissaka (Chelsea), J Tarkowski (Newcastle), T Lockyer (Cardiff), K Hause (Watford), O Kocku (Tottenham), M Caicedo (Leeds), J Bellingham (Man City), Gavi (Man Utd), M Rashford (Liverpool), R De Tomas (Newcastle)
Performance of the round : Has to be a newly promoted side again, Cardiff’s 5-1 win over West Ham was an announcement that they are not here to make up the numbers - a terrific win for the Bluebirds
Shocker of the week - Has to be the same game I’m afraid, West Ham did not look like a top 6 team this round!