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The Premier League issued a few levellers this week, as Hull City, Everton & Sunderland all experienced heavy defeats at home and Chelsea & Liverpool lost the only 2 remaining 100% records. Also, as I'm writing this, there has been some quite extraordinary transfer activity, that will no doubt be covered on this site at a later date.

Saturday 30th August 2008

Bolton 0 West Brom 0
Not quite a bore draw here at the Reebok, where both sides contributed lots of attacking play in an effort to take all three points.

Both Juicy Jaaskelainen & Scott Carson in the respective goals produced fine displays to keep the scoreline at nil, but it was Jaaskelainen that Bolton had to thank for taking a home point.

A vintage display by the big Finnish keeper repelled a barrage of attacks from the Baggies.

Everton 0 Portsmouth 3
The scoreline does not indicate so, but this was the best performance of the season so far by Everton. Indeed it was probably the best performance of either of the Merseyside teams this season, but that's another story.

So how did Pompey win 3-0?
Inability to finish off chances hurt the Toffees and some good stopping from David James frustrated them, but perhaps most damaging to them was the quality of Portsmouth's finishing and, in particular, that of Jermain Defoe.

Defoe scored early with a tricky tight turn & shot in the box that snook inside Tim Howard's near post. Defoe's presence in the box should have attracted tighter marking from three static Everton defenders.

The second was a move of precise speedy counter attacking between Glen Johnson & Defoe and ended with the right back surging in on goal after a quick exchange of passing. Again Tim Howard was easily beaten.

The clincher, and Defoe's second was a deft lob over Howard that just crossed the line after cannoning down off the underside of the bar. Thankfully Crouch's claim for the poal after his follow up were rejected.

The most glaring miss by Everton was a Yakubu penalty that James was allowed to collect as if a back pass.

Hull City 0 Wigan Athletic 5
After two defeats, Steve Bruce can not have been looking forward to an away trip to the Kingston Stadium, but the way his Wigan side brushed off Hull will no doubt have delighted him.

A spirited display last week against Chelsea did not proffer any goals for the Latics, and this weeks result was perhaps justice done for all the chances saved by Petr Cech to thwart them last week.

Two goals for Amr Zaki have got the Wigan fans drooling over their newest find, and even Emily Heskey chipped in with a thumper. Happy Days.

Middlesboro 2 Stoke 1
Another win and another impressive display by Gareth Southgate's men as Boro gradually overwhelmed the resistance of a stubborn Stoke side at the Riverside.

This game was somewhat tetchy in places, culminating in Amdy Faye being sent from the field for a lunge on the Premier Leagues most unusual name on the back of a shirt, Shawky.

Tuncay & Alves were again the driving force for Boro, and both notched again to give an air of confidence about the place.
This side may go far, on their early season form.

West Ham 4 Blackburn 1
The Hammers put their dreadful start behind them and the 4-1 defeat of Blackburn will no doubt help ease the departure of Anton Ferdinand.

In truth, West Ham looked different class against a lacklustre Blackburn and provided Incey Wincey with a less than happy homecoming to the team he used to play for.

There were nervous moments however as Robert Green kept the Hammers in the game with a penalty save, and made vital stops from one or two speculative efforts.

Jason Roberts proved that he must be a big fan of this website by stepping up to the challenge offered him last week, and producing another fine strike for Rovers' consolation.

Arsenal 3 Newcastle 0
Any early season hopes of running for contention in the title race were surely dispelled at the Emirates on Saturday.
For Newcastle, that is.

On the other hand, Arsenal were back to their magnificent best with a fine free flowing football display of the type we are well used to from them.

Fabregas, Nasri & Denilson looked awesome, and played with a great understanding in the middle of the park, and Van Persie put in one of those barnstorming performances that he produces from time to time.
Unfortunately, the Dutchman limped off in the second half with yet another niggle. It must be very frustrating for Arsenal supporters to see him sidelined again.

Newcastle weren't without chances on the day, but were well and truly outplayed by Wenger's men.

Sunday 31st August 2008

Chelsea 1 Tottenham 1
A fine gritty performance by Spurs earned them a point at Stamford Bridge in a game that was high on tempo but low on real quality.

Woodgate and King looked pretty neat & tidy as they thwarted most that Chelsea could throw at them, and we saw one or two glimpses of the talent that Modric possesses in the Spurs midfield.
Deco had a shocker for Chelsea.

Also, the Spurs 'keeper, Heurelho Gomes looks as mad as a box of frogs.

Aston Villa 0 Liverpool 0
Liverpool failed to seize the chance to go top (I expect that to be the last time I write that this year) as they visited Villa Park.

In fact they were lucky to take a point from this game as Villa more than matched them all over the park.

Reo Coker & Barry did more than enough to put the shackles on the midfield, and Robbie Keane again proved disappointing in a Liverpool shirt.

More worryingly for Liverpool fans, their goalscoring talisman Fernando Torres limped from the field injured, and a side that is already missing the injured Gerrard will surely struggle in coming weeks.

Unless, of course, Albert Riera has suddenly upped a his game a tad since being deemed not good enough for Man City a year or so ago.

Sunderland 0 Man City 3
A surprising, but nontheless quality display from the visitors ensured a dream homecoming for Shaun Wright Phillips as his two goals helped City to all three points, and ensured that Royston Keane had a face of thunder at full time.

Early Sunderland pressure was negated and an impressive performance by Richard Dunne at the back for City kept chances for the Black Cats down to a minimum.

This result must surely have prompted the interests of any watching trillionnaire in the United Arab Emirates.

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