Blyth Spartans Premier League — April 2014

Here we go, the decisive month in our first Premier League season. We were in 5th place at the end of March thanks to some great results against Chelsea and Liverpool but now we had to hang in there and grab an Europa League place. There were very tough battles ahead of us, we just couldn’t afford a moment to rest.

The first game was at home with 3rd placed Aston Villa, a very good team that defeated us quite convincingly in November, 2-0. This time the game was quite even and I was hoping for the best when Pavlyuchenko scored after picking up a superb through ball from Nicao. Rodrigo Palacio made it all square with a terrific strike before the break and although we created some chances in the second half we looked a bit nervy and couldn’t score. Aston Villa tried to control the last minutes of the game and they did that very well.

Next up, mission impossible away at Arsenal. They were just above us in the table, we were 6th and they were 5th. We caused a major upset in November by beating them 2-1 at home, but now Arsenal were in great form. They were incredibly confident and they started the game with a very attacking 4-2-4 formation! The bad thing was that we just couldn’t get the ball back from them, they were passing it around with enormous ability. The first half ended all square but we never looked like being capable of getting something out of the match. Arsenal got a well deserved revenge.

And things were getting even more rough as we had to play our next game away at the leaders, Manchester City. They badly needed a win to stay on top of the table, Liverpool were just two points behind them. I would have been happy with a draw and Pavluychenko hit the target again just before half time to give us the lead! But Manchester City were simply unstoppable in the second half and we were not able to resist. We were down in 6th place and the Europa League place that we were dreaming to achieve was in great danger.

The next game was absolutely crucial, at home with 7th placed Crystal Palace. We had to win this to stay in 6th but it was going to be tough, Crystal Palace defeated us 2-0 back in December with great determination. They were looking very aggressive again and the first half ended with a well deserved 1-0 for them. They were looking unbeatable, we had to react after the break, otherwise… We played better after half time and when everybody expected us to score the equalizer, disaster struck… Cristian Suarez picked up a second yellow card and was sent to the showers. I decided to gamble and played the last 20 minutes of the game with a 3-4-2 formation, without a right back! Right winger Mario Garay had to do a lot of work on that flank at that point but he looked very happy to do it. Even more, he dribbled past everybody on that right wing and whipped in a perfect cross… Roman Pavlyuchenko was there and hit a perfect powerful header, 1-1! Crystal Palace were trying to take advantage of the big hole in our right flank but Christos Karakatsanis, the right back that I moved to the center of the defense after the sending off was absolutely heroic. Crystal Palace wanted to win this and they were pushing forward and leaving gaps at the back. We intercepted a pass and sent in the long ball forward… Nicao reached it before their keeper, fast dribble past him… Get in! Sorry for any heart attacks we might have caused among our older fans, we won it!

The last game of the month was away at the weakest team in the league, Hull. We demolished them 4-0 back in December and I expected a nice win this time too. Our performance was disappointing though, my lads were looking tired after the very tough battles that they had to face this month. It looked like we were in for a 0-0 draw but a bit of inspiration saved our day. I sent in substitute left winger Martin Panik in the second half, I hoped that his pace could make the difference. And it did, right in the last minute of the game, a great run o the left flank and a perfectly placed far post shot! We were lucky to win it, but I guess it doesn’t matter too much at this point.

I checked out the other results after the end of the game and I was shocked! Crystal Palace lost at home with Fulham, 1-0. Chelsea lost 1-0 at Portsmouth! Manchester United were beaten 2-0 by Aston Villa! We were back in 5th place and our European dream was closer than ever! We have another two games to play and we need at least a draw to make sure of the 6th place.

Or we could climb up to 3rd place with a bit of luck… Anyway, the last two games will be at home with Wigan and away at our local rivals from Newcastle. Manchester United will have two very difficult games, with Arsenal and Liverpool!

We’re getting close, we have to get at least a draw in those two games, we just can’t afford to throw away all the good work that we did all season long in the last games, that won’t happen! Now please excuse me but I’m going to prepare and play those last two games, expect a new post later today ;)