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Kevin Davies Dislocated Finger Picture - Ouch!

At the weekend Kevin Davies grabbed the only goal between Bolton and West Ham, a win which really helps Bolton in thier fight against relegation. He also managed to pick up a nasty dislocated finger which was fixed during the game in the dressing room, no comming off and going to the local hospital for Kev, hand on a table and push.

As my old man would say “Thats not meant to go that way”.

Bolton 1 - 0 West Ham

1 point out of a possible 24 for the home side coming into the match, the Wanderer’s have been slowly wandering into the Championship, last season the Trotters were in fifth pushing for a Champions League spot at this stage of the season while West Ham were fighting for their lives.

Things didn’t start well for the away side when Ferdinand had to go off injured after a few minutes. Bolton came near to the opener Kevin Davies header being cleared off the line by Jonathan Spector. Davies had a second effort cleared off the line by Scott Parker, as Bolton pilled on the pressure from corners and throw-ins. Diouf thought he grabbed the first of the game when he tapped in a free kick but he was ruled offside, on second viewing an incorrect decision.

Bolton kept up the pressure from the first half and it didn’t take long into the second period to break the deadlock. Kevin Davies smashing in from a yard after Spector inpeded Green when he went to clear a the Bolton corner.

Dean Aston came the closest to grabber in a goal for West Ham, his overhead kick tipped onto the bar by Al Habsi. Kevin Nolan did have the ball in the net, that effort was disallowed correctly for offside.

The win moved Bolton onto 29 points two away from Birmingham.

Fulham, City and Wigan win.

Fulham gave themselves a lifeline today beating a tired Everton at Craven Cottage 1-0 to go within 2 points of Bolton. A second half header from Brian McBride was enough to separate the sides. Everton looked physically tired from their UEFA Cup exploits on Wednesday when they played 120 minites of footbal.

Fulham still have much to do and will have to transfer the form at home way with 5 of their remaining games being away from Craven Cottage.

It the relegation battle Bolton visited the JJB to play Wigan. It was a terrible start for the home side who went down to ten men when Jason Koumas was sent off for a high tackle on Gary Cahill  after 5 minites. The sending off galvanized the home side and the took the lead in the first half thanks to Emilie Hesky. The big forward volleyed in Mario Melchiot’s long-throw.

In the second half Bolton pilled on the pressure with Erik Edman clearing off the line but the home side held on to take all three points and move 12th in the table

At the City of Manchester Stadium Spurs seemed to have had got over their midweek hangover due to going out of the UEFA Cup. Robbie Keane struck in the first half after a mistake from Vedran Corluka let Chimbomda in. To City’s credit they came back in the second half Stephen Ireland directed a shot in to equalize and Nedum Onuoha thumped in a header from a corner.

Nolan calls for introduction of video technology

Bolton Wanderers captain Kevin Nolan has become the latest top flight footballer to publicly advocate the need for video technology to be introduced to the game.

The Trotters have been on the receiving end of some very contentious decisions over the last few weeks against European hopefuls Blackburn Rovers and Portsmouth.

The notion that technology needs to be introduced within the game was furthered last weekend after Manchester United’s treble dreams came to an abrupt end when referee Martin Atkinson refused to award a penalty against Sylvain Distin for his challenge on Ronaldo.

Whilst Nolan believes that referees are doing the job to the best of their ability and fitness, he comments that they need some help other than their two assistants. This is where he feels video technology would benefit the game – particularly in terms of match changing decisions such as penalty decisions.

The Wanderers skipper also believes that assistant referees should have some of their powers removed to accommodate the introduction of video technology. Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, Nolan states –

“To be honest, I really feel the assistant refs should just go back to running the line, doing throws and offsides. That way you don’t have three brains trying to work as one… In my view, assistant referees shouldn’t even give penalties.”

Winning is Everything sees Nolan’s point, and in many ways agrees, but the question has always been where to draw the line with technological advances. What decisions should be aided with these and which should be left to the referees discretion?

The problem with football is that there are very few natural breaks within the passage of play and thus technology may serve only to devalue the game rather than improve it.

For example, much has been said about goal line technology which can determine whether a ball as crossed the line – how would this work though if the ball isn’t immediately put out of play or the game suspended whilst the decision is made. Following this how would the game be restarted if the ball did not cross the line?

People have suggested that video refs would only be consulted at the next logical opportunity within the pattern of the game ie a foul or the ball going out of play. But this could turn the game into a farse – imagine the situation if Team A have a case where the ball “may” have crossed the line and the video ref is ready to interject – but Team B go straight down the pitch and score themselves!

Team A would have to claim the goal if the ball crossed the line but all this is daft and despite the good intentions would render the game almost unplayable within a 90 minute (or even 100 minute) timescale.

In theory introducing technology to the game is a valid one but in practice it will surely never work.

Besides, I thought football was meant to be about berating the referee with a pint or two after the game?

Please let us know your comments on this issue as it is sure to rear its head again in the near future!

Premiership Round Up

Another great Premiership Saturday, it was good to get back to watching football after the weeks major news of the announcement of the possibility of a 39th game to be played overseas. With the top 3 not playing the concentration was on the battle for 4th place and the battle of the bottom.

Aston Villa 4 - 1 Newcastle

Kevin Keegan is still without a win in his second spell at Newcastle. Micheal Owen had given the away side the lead in the first half. The second half with a few chances Villa came out on top, a deflected Bouma shot, two Carew headers and a Carew penalty sealed the match. Carew was awesome and fully deserves his hattrik

Everton 1 - 0 Reading

Yakubu was left out after coming back late from the African cup of Nations. The first half of the match was pretty quiet at Goodison Park. The addition of James Vaughan at half time helped, and Everton took the lead when a second ball from a corner found Phil Jageilka who looped in a header at the far post. That defeat for Reading and other results meant that the Royals moved into the bottom three for the first time this season.

Sunderland 2 - 0 Wigan

Sunderland recorded their fourth straight home win, and over fellow relegation rivals meant they moved out of the bottom three. Dickson Etuhu back from the African Cup of Nations grabbed a goal just before half time heading in from a free-kick. The Black Cats doubled the lead in the second half, this was after Wigan hit the woodwork twice, a cracking ball from Andy Reid found Daryl Murphy who thumped in a shot of the underside of the bar form all of 25 yards.

Middlesborough 1 - 0 Fulham

Afonso Alves who signed last week for £12 million started the game on the bench, it was another stirker who grabbed the only goal of the game in the frist half, Jeremie Aliadiere slotting in after breaking the offside trap. Alves came on the second half but was unable to make an impact.

Bolton 0 - 1 Portsmouth

The first half saw former Pompy player Matt Taylor miss a sitter, an open goal from all of 3 yards. The only goal came late in the game for the away side Lassana Diarra with his first goal in the Premiership. He did look offside which compounded the misery for the home side who had been the better side and had been denied by an inform David James on numerous occasions, no doubt that James is England’s number 1.

Derby 0 - 3 Tottenham

Well the Rams managed to hang on till the second half but then Spurs class shone. Robbie Keane tabbed in after Roy Carroll saved from Malbranque. The second from Kaboul when Derby couldn’t clear from a corner. The third form the spot for Berbatov after Stubbs handballed.

West Ham 1 - 1 Birmingham

James McFadden grabbed his first goal for Birmingham again West Ham, the Scot equalized from the spot after he was brought down in the box by Lucas Niell. West Ham had taken the lead in the first half, a long throw was flicked on by Cole and Ljungberg stole in at the far post to tap smash in the opener. Lee Bowyer decide to get himself sent off for a lunge on Johnson, bit of a shocker from Mr Battenburg.

Two games tomorrow complete the weekends football, and you don’t better than Liverpool Chelsea and the Manchester derby.

Barclays Premier League
Chelsea v Liverpool, 16:00
Man Utd v Man City, 13:30

winningiseverything Premiership round-up

The results are in for the weekends matches, the Premiership finished with for another week.

The big winners this weekend were those at the wrong end of the table really. Fulham, Wigan and Bolton all won their respective games against Villa (2-1), West Ham (1-0) and Reading (2-0) to leave Derby further adrift at the bottom and some worried faces at clubs such as Reading (who are in free-fall), Sunderland and Birmingham.

Arguably anyone up to Tottenham are still in the relegation fight, but with Spurs having an upturn in fortunes and a scoring record the envy of many European contenders they will be fine. After their perhaps surprising 1-1 draw with champions Manchester United they will be looking to move onward and upward toward top-half status.

Newcastle and Middlesbrough played out a dull 1-1 draw as did Derby and Birmingham.

Jermain Defoe will be pleased with his weekends work, as he scored on his debut for Portsmouth against Chelsea to push the London club further behind the leaders.

Speaking of which, Arsenal maintained their excellent form this season with a 3-1 win at Manchester City, with two goals form the superb Adebayor. Wenger just seems to have a knack of selling players when he sees that they are holding up the progression of others. He did it with Viera to allow Fabregas to progress and now he has done it this season, letting Henry go to give Adebayor room to shine. As for Manchester City, they suffered their first home defeat this season and will be hoping that the Benjani deal goes through so that they have a striker that can actually score.

European contenders Blackburn and Everton played out a 0-0 draw at Ewood, but the Toffees will be disappointed that Andy Johnson’s goal in the second half was ruled out by the officials.

Finally, Liverpool recaptured some form as they beat Sunderland 3-0 at home. With their game in hand they may now feel a little more confident for that fourth spot.

Bolton spend money !?!

Bolton have signed Aston Villa defender Gary Cahill for an undisclosed fee.

The Trotters beat Birmingham to the signature of the 22-year-old, who has penned a three-and-a-half year deal at The Reebok.

“winning is everything” cannot remember the last time Bolton spent money.

winningiseverything Premiership round-up

Tuesday night didn’t throw up many surprises as far as results go.

Arsenal beat Newcastle for the second time in 4 days to go top of the Premiership table, as least for 24 hours. The score was 3-0 again, leaving Newcastle in a state of deja-vu. It turned out to be an easy game for Arsenal, with goals coming from prolific Adebayor, industrias Flamini and the always impressive Fabregas.

Perhaps the most significant result of the night came at the Stadium of Light where Sunderland beat Birmingham 2-0 in a battle of the relegation strugglers. Goals from Murphy and the debutant Prica gave the Black Cats the vital victory, in what was essentially a committed and tense game with little quality.

Bolton failed to seize their opportunities at home to Fulham giving the London side their first point under Roy Hodgson. The drab 0-0 encounter leaves Fulham 4 points from safety and Bolton slipping to 16th.

Middlesbrough striker Jeremie Aliadiere scored an excellent first-half strike and his team then held out for victory in a tight contest. It is Middlesbrough’s first win at home since December 9th against Arsenal. The loss sends Wigan into the bottom three.

As Avram Grant would say…style is nothing, winning is everything…Chelsea. (And if this reminds you of a little goblin like creature there’s a reason for that, and no it’s not Dennis Wise!).

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