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Manchester United win title as Fulham survive

The Premiership came to an exciting close this afternoon with Manchester United winning the title and Fulham winning to survive relegating Birmingham and Reading.

A 2-0 win was enough for United to retain the title although a draw was sufficient with Chelsea drawing to Bolton. United took the lead in the first half a 50:50 tackle on Wayne Rooney was adjudged to be a penalty. Ronaldo slotted past Kirkland. The away side then had two decisions go their way, a hand ball claim was waved away when Rio Ferdinand blocked a shot and Paul Scholes was given a warning and not a second yellow card for a blatant block on a Wigan player.

Meanwhile down in the capital Chelsea had been unable to break the deadlock against Bolton. John Terry
had to go off with a dislocated elbow and now is a doubt for the Champions League final against Manchester United in late May.

United sealed the title when Ryan Giggs slotted home with ten minutes to go, the second half had been end to end with Wigan having a good go at United. Chelsea did take the lead in their match, Shevchenko with the goal. On the stroke of full time Matthew Taylor drove the ball home but by then the title race was over.

Ryan Giggs lifted the trophy for their 17th title and will look to complete a double with Champions League final in Moscow on 21 May

Meanwhile the relegation race ended with Fulham completing a great escape beating Portsmouth 1-0. Fulham had looked doomed earlier in the season but the win today thanks to a goal from Danny Murphy means they’ll be in the top flight next season.

Reading and Birmingham were the ones to miss out, Reading won 4-0 and Birmingham 4-1, but with Fulham collecting three points the wins made no different.

What an end to a great season, well done to Manchester United and commiserations to Chelsea, but remember Winning Is Everything!

Fulham pull out of the relegation zone

Fulham recorded another win in what is turning into being a great escape, Brian McBride and Erik Nevland grabbed goals in the second half to seal a win over Birmingham. The win takes Fulham above Birmingham and out of the relegation zone.

With Birmingham Reading now sit in the relegation zone after a 1-0 defeat to Tottenham. It all  means a very exciting last day of the season with four teams not safe. The fixtures on the last day of the season are as follows:

Birmingham v Blackburn, 15:00
Chelsea v Bolton, 15:00
Derby v Reading, 15:00
Everton v Newcastle, 15:00
Middlesbrough v Man City, 15:00
Portsmouth v Fulham, 15:00
Sunderland v Arsenal, 15:00
Tottenham v Liverpool, 15:00
West Ham v Aston Villa, 15:00
Wigan v Man Utd, 15:00

Reading 0 - 2 Fulham

A first win away from home in the league for Fulham since September 2006. Reading are still not safe after this defeat and still need to pick up more points to be sure of a place in the Premiership. Fulham took the lead in the first half Brian McBride slotting in Davies cross. Doyle nearly grabbed a goal in the first half for the home side with a header which just went wide.

In the second half Brian McBride nearly grabbed a second and a goal of the season season with a cracking volley from the edge of the area which was tipped onto the bar by Hahnemann. Fulham hit the bar again with a Hangeland header’s again tipped on the bar by the impressive Hahnemann. Fulham then hit the bar for the third time when Bullards free kick bounced down off the bar.

It didn’t prove to be three times unlucky and the the second did eventually come late on when Nevland smashed in a crisp low shot past Hahemann for his first Fulham goal. At long last an away win for Fulham and there is a glimmer of hope for Roy Hodgson’s team.

Keegan finally get his first win

Kevin Keegan finally has seen his Newcastle team in his second spell in charge picking up a home win over fellow stragglers Fulham. Mark Viduka scored early on to take the lead of the home side. The game was sealed late on when Owen headed in in the 83rd minute. Manager Kevin Keegan was pleased with the result and the performance of his captain Owen.

“People keep questioning all sorts of things with these great players, but they can answer them

“Michael probably answered a few critics again today - there are plenty out there, from what I am seeing.

“He would certainly be in most people’s England side.”

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.

United one point behind as Bendtner salvages a point for Arsenal

Manchester United were 30 seconds from regaining top spot in the Premiership this afternoon but a late Nicklas Bendtner goal salvaged a point for a lack luster Arsenal against Aston Villa.

Alex Fergerson in his post match interview had a pop at the Gunners quoting their ‘usual 7 minutes of extra time’, but this morning he won’t be too disappointed as he got team selection spot on as his side strolled past an all but relegated Fulham 3-0 at Craven Cottage.

Ronaldo, Rooney and Anderson were all rested ahead of the mid-week Champions league game against Lyon. Owen Hardgreaves started the scoring grabbing his first Untied goal with a 20 yard free kick, Ji-Sung Park headed in for a second before the break. A John O’Shae cross was deflected in by Simon Davies to make it 3-0 in the second half, Rooney and Ronaldo then were introduced so they could stretch their legs.

Meanwhile across London Aston Villa took the lead in the first half against Arsenal a Gabriel Agbonlahor cross was deflected past his own keeper by Senderos. Villa had chances to double their lead and even hit the bar. The home side looked hung over from the events of last week but rose to the occasion Adebayor nodding down a Cliche cross for Bendtner to fire in.

All this means is that Arsenal are one point clear putting the title race back into the hand of Untied and have no wins in the last 4 games, league and Cup.

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

Jimmy Bullard fishing video

Fulham’s Jimmy Bullard is going to be essential if Roy Hodgson is going keep them in the Premier League this season. After a bad knee injury Bullard has been in great form ofver the past few days and put in a man of the match performance against Aston Villa.

Bullard’s other passion is fishing, not very glamorous or typical of a Premiership footballer but he seems to have just as much fun. Soccer AM caught (sorry for the pun!) up with him to create the Jimmy Bullard fishing video.

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.

Late deals

A few late deals from the Premiership last night including a right balls up from the blue half of Manchester.

First off, strugglers Fulham signed some experience for the run-in including former Liverpool forward Jari Litmanen and defender Toni Kallio. Both feature from manager Roy Hodgson’s past, having played for him in the Finnish national side. Litmanen is initially on trial, but arrives on a free anyway, while Kallio joins from Swiss side BSC Young Boys. Stalteri also joins from neighbors Tottenham on loan until the end of the season. I make this 7 signings for Fulham in this window.

Middlesbrough broke their club transfer record signing Brazilian striker Afonso Alves from Dutch club Heerenveen. The fee is thought to be in excess of £10m, with Alves putting his name on the dotted line of a four-and-a-half year deal. He comes with the reputation of being very prolific in front of goal with an especially impressive record at former club Malmo of 45 goals in 38 games. Middlesbrough will be hoping he came recapture that sort of form as they try to avoid relegation.

Everton let defender Alan Stubbs go to Derby for some first team football and then brought in some cover for their impressive defence signing Anthony Gardner on loan from Tottenham for the rest of the season.

Speaking of Tottenham, they completed another defensive signing, with Gilberto signing from Hertha Berlin. The Brazilian left-back joins for £1.9m after medical complications were ironed out yesterday.

And finally to the City/Portsmouth saga. Portsmouth captured Defoe from Spurs for an undisclosed fee with Harry especially happy at the capture. However, the deal may have been pushed through because of the transfer of Benjani to Manchester City thought to have been a done deal, for a figure thought to be around £9m. Complications have been forthcoming with City possibly not putting through the papers for the deal before the deadline thanks to the late appearance of Benjani at the club at around 11.15pm last night. Manager Sven-Goran Eriksson was trying to get the deal complete, or at least find out if it would be, until 1am but the matter remains unresolved.

It’s not all bad news for City though as they completed the capture of Ecuador international striker Felipe Caicedo from FC Basel for a fee thought to be around £5m. Caicedo is 19 and signs a four-and-a-half-year deal at Eastlands. They also signed Filippo Mancini, 17, the son of Inter Milan boss Roberto.

Stay tuned to “winning is everything” for further developments in the Benjani saga.

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