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The cavalry are coming!! The Lilywhites of Leeds and Spurs can now feel the heat of the breath on their neck of the big boys, as this fascinating season continues to play out…..
If anyone needed a win it was probably West Ham at home to Barnsley - 3 consecutive defeats keeping the Hammers at the bottom end of the table. Barnsley folk hero Mitoma didn’t have any sympathy in mind when he put the away team ahead after just 2 minutes, which triggered the defensive bus from Ant Harris. Recent signing Podence managed to equalise for the home side as the fans started to grumble, and almost immediately after they were ahead when Kubo’s overhead found the net. Moments later Barnsley equalised through Araujo and it was all to play for at 2-2. West Ham battered the Barnsley goal but couldn’t find a winner, the Barnsley keeper looking solid and they defended to hold on to a valuable point. West Ham’s hunt for a win continues…
MOM: Takefusa Kubo (West Ham)
One of the clubs coming in fast from the mid table is Chelsea - and this time Sheffield Wednesday were their hosts. Dalot put the Blues ahead after just 5 minutes, and then Kayode saw his second yellow after just 10 minutes to leave Chel;sea down to 10 and Wednesday had a glimmer of hope. That came to nothing though, as Odegaard decided to score 2 goals in the next 2 minutes and it was 3-0 Chelsea. A minute later it was 4-0 as Sanches hit a thundering volley, and the game was effectively over. De Roon pulled one back for 1-4 and to be fair Wednesday had the same amount of chances as their opponents - but nowhere near the finishing as this time Ollie Watkins couldn’t find the net.
MOM : Martin Odegaard (Chelsea)
Big scary monster on the horizon number 2 as Man City hosted Leicester. Again an early lead for the Champions through Silva on 8 minutes, then Vlahovic converted a penalty after Bellingham was taken out by Sequeira. Silva scored his second to make it 3-0 at half time and City managed the second half like the champions that they are to secure a comfortable victory/ Leicester had some good moments in the game but couldn’t compete with City who have 3 straight wins and move up to 5th.
MOM : Bernard Silva (Man City)
Anfield saw new boys Watford visit and were dealt a huge blow when Liverpool keeper Onana was injured after 3 minutes and had to be replaced. Mats Hummels put the home side ahead just before half time and new signing Frankie De Jong doubled the lead half way through the second half. The Reds again looked slick and well managed and this was the first game all season where a team (Watford) managed zero attempts on goal. The Anfield revival continues.
MOM : Mats Hummels (Liverpool)
Everton continued with Confais at DM and have become the ‘form’ team in the bottom 3. Burnley have looked better of late but surely needed to win this one to start their escape mission. Morata has been clinical for them and put them ahead after just 4 minutes. Another firing striker in a misfiring side, Romelu Lukaku equalised in the 18th minute, and that w\as how they went in at half time. Guedes has also hit the target regularly and he put Burnley ahead 10 minutes after half time, when Simon Hill must have thought the three points were coming back with him. Lukaku had other ideas, and his header from Mowatt’s cross equalised and gave the Toffees another big point in their 3rd without defeat.
MOM : Romelu Lukaku
Both Villa and Palace came into their match at Villa Park with just one defeat in their last 5, and it was the home fans celebrating first when Lobotka hit a glorious shot to put them ahead. Correa made it 2-0 after 18, and Villa parked the bus, making the rest of the game somewhat dull. Both sides had very few chances on goal, but Keith Drummond will be very happy with the three points
MOM: Stanislav Lobotka (Villa)
Man Utd have looked like they are starting to click and this week had a trip to Wales to meet Cardiff. Anthony Gordon got them off to the perfect start with a curling long range effort, and Kalvin Philips followed with a second. Politano found one back for Cardiff to give the home fans some hope, but Ansu Fati, in his last game before leaving the club, restored the 2 goal lead. Adeyemi made it 4-1 just after half time and despite a decent penalty shout and then a contender for goal of the season from Politano to make it 2-4, United held on and never looked in doubt really. Cardiff shocked the fans when they announced the departure of Politano after the whistle.
MOM : Matteo Politano (Cardiff)
Blackburn took on high flying Newcastle at home, and took the lead in the first half through veteran Mo Salah. Newcastle were very toothless again on their travels and really couldn’t find anything to combat the Rovers side who doubled their victory margin just before the final whistle with another Salah goal, this time a penalty when his strike partner Son was taken down in the box. 2-0 Blackburn and the first win in 6 for Tony Ayre’s men.
MOM : Mo Salah (Blackburn)
Leeds played against Southampton at home, Saints with 3 straight wins behind them and Leeds looking to get back on title winning form. The home fans were shocked when Cartright scored for Saints to take the lead, but Berardi equalised soon after. Saints took the lead again through Diaby and then went 3-1 up when Boniface drove home. Lenglet produced a Cruyff turn and a lob to claw one back for Leeds in the second half, but Saints were on fire here , and Martinelli sealed a convincing win with their 4th goal, and 4th win in a row as they climbed to 6th.
MOM : Nahuel Molina (Southampton)
The North London derby at the Emirates was another belter of a game as Spurs took the game to their neighbouring hosts. Tottenham edged the first half and looked the better side, but couldn’t break through the Gunners defence. Aaron Hickey started the season at Spurs, and he broke their hearts when he put Arsenal ahead after his move from Barcelona just after half time. Spurs kept on pushing and Arsenal had their fair share of chances, and it wasn't until the 78th minute that another defender, Raum made it 2-0 for Arsenal and the bragging rights in North London. Again Spurs boss Tim Brown was pleased with his side’s performance as they gave Arsenal a good run for their money
MOM : Aaron Hickey (Arsenal)
Team of the Week:
Agirrezebala (Burnley),Cucurella (Burnley), Lepenant (Cardiff), Nacho (Man U), Molina (Southampton), Lobotka (Villa), Bentancur (Arsenal), Silva (Man City),Odegaard (Chelsea), Salah (Blackburn), Lukaku (Everton)
Performance of the Week: Saints thoroughly deserved their victory at Elland Road as they climb up the table
Shocker of the Week: Got to be Watford who registered no attempts on goal at all, starting to look a little bleak for the Hornets