It was week 31 in this season’s Barcalys Premier League. If QPR are going to survive they need to get their act together after conceding some dismal goals in a 3-2 defeat to Fulham. Nigel Adkins’ first game in charge of Reading didn’t go to well as they lost 4-1 at Arsenal and now look in serious trouble and Manchester United kept they charge at the top of the table with a 1-0 away win at Sunderland. Following this Martin O’Neil was given the sack and since have appointed Paoulo Di Canio as the new gaffer, so let’s see what happened.
Arsenal 4 V 1 Reading
Not the best of starts for new manager Nigel Adkins and his task now seems near enough to impossible. Arsenal not at full strength but played well enough with Gervnhio, Santi Cazorla, Grioud and Mikel Arteta penalty to give them a victory. In the 68th minute welsh winger Hal-Robson Kanu did pull something back but Reading have been left in real danger.
Aston Villa 1 V 2 Liverpool
Villa remain the bottom 3 and they’re young guns are up against it now. The positive sign this season as been new striker Christian Benteke who opened the scoring. After half time however Liverpool came out fighting and goals from Jordan Henderson and a penalty from captain Steven Gerrard gave the reds all 3 points.
Everton 1 V 0 Stoke City
Stoke are not safe yet… Some say this is they’re worst season in the top flight since promotion and some fans are turning they’re back on Tony Pulis. This now leaves them 11 games without a win after a fantastic goal from Belgian winger Kevin Mirrelas gave the toffees all 3 points.
Fulham 3 V 2 QPR
QPR can still turn this around says old ‘arry but you felt they had to take something from this game and they so nearly did. Berbatov gave Fulham the lead from the spot early on and then some awful play at the back from Samba gave him and Fulham they’re second before Clint Hill turned into his own net. Taarabt got back after the break and after Remy scored after he missed a penalty, if they didn’t make those mistakes and scored the penalty they would have got 3 precious points…
Manchester City 4 V 0 Newcastle United
Newcastle are not all yet safe and with one eye on the 1st leg of their Europa League Quater-final on Thursday boss Alan Pardew rested a few players for this trip to the champions who took 41 minutes until Carlos Tevez gave them the lead. David Silva then doubled the lead before goals from Vincent Kompany and a James Perch own goal gave city a comfortable win.
Southampton 2 V 1 Chelsea
This win should have assured fans about Southampton’s safety but not Chelsea finishing in the top 4. With the FA Cup tie on against Manchester United in mind Rafa made several changes witch backfired straightaway when Rodriguez opened the scoring but Chelsea leveled thanks to a John Terry header. This however was cancelled out by a superb free kick from Ricky Lambert to give the saints the win.
Sunderland 0 V 1 Manchester United
New manager Paulo Di Canio has it all to do… A tough run in lies await after a Titus Bramble own goal gave Manchester United all 3 points and cost Martin O’Neil is job, can the Italian turn it around?
Swansea City 1 V 2 Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham looked like they’re back on track, big Belgian centre back Jan Vertonghen gave them the lead after bombing forward early on after a chip over from Gareth Bale to set him up, he then returned the deed as Bale finished well for 2-0. Michu did get one back for Swansea but they couldn’t get a second.
West Ham United 3 V 1 West Brom
Andy Carroll really showed his class here, the big striker opened the scoring with a trademark bullet header from a corner and scored a fantastic 3rd after Gary O’Neil made it 2-0. Graeme Dorrans did pull one back from the spot for the Baggies but it was too little too late.
Wigan Athletic 1 V 0 Norwich City
They always seem to do it don’t they? Wigan yet again look like the late season form is going to rescue them… A tight game however a late goal Arouna Kone gave them the win and put them out of the bottom 3.
Okay… What a week. It seems the title race is over but the race for fourth is one. It seems Reading are all but down and QPR aren’t fat eithier but who will join them? Sunderland, Villa, Newcastle and Norwich are all in there. Next week should be again brilliant with a Manchester derby and lots more but until then please leave your thoughts below and thanks for reading.
