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Cech set to play against Latics

Avram Grant is said to be preparing to launch Petr Cech back into the Chelsea squad to face Wigan Athletic this evening.

Cech, 25, suffered extensive facial injuries as a result if a training ground accident recently and if selected to play, it is thought that he will be forced to wear a chin guard in addition to his now characteristic head guard.

Should Cech not make it, then Grant will be forced to include Hilario in his starting eleven as Carlo Cuddicini is also ruled out through injury. It is also thought that if Hilario gets the nod, then eighteen year old reverse side stopper Rhys Taylor will take his place on the bench.

Chelsea are currently six points behind leaders Manchester United, and they know that nothing less than a win will do this evening. The Blues also travel to Everton on Thursday evening, knowing that they could be level with the defending champions before they play their next competitive fixture.

That would make United’s visit to Stamford Bride later in the month a real championship decider and in many ways prove many people wrong regarding Avram Grant’s ability to fill the seat of “the special one”.

As far as the Latics are concerned, Jason Koumas and Michael Brown are both eligible after serving their suspensions whilst Erik Edman is the only long term injury victim ruled out.

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.

What could be worse than watching Man City V Wigan? Losing your chips!

Anyone who had the displeasure to watch Manchester City Vs Wigan on Sunday will have witnessed one of the worst games of the season. Luckily for me I only listened to the match on BBC Five Live, my heart goes out to poor old Alan Green and Jimmy Armfield had to sit there and talk about the game!

It seems that there is a three way divide in the Premier League now, teams scrapping for survival, teams in mid table meritocracy and those in the top 4 (maybe top 5 with the push of Everton). All this means that if you get two teams playing against each other who are mid table at this stage of the season it’s going to be a dire affair. In the case of Manchester City, they are in the mid table area and Wigan won’t attack for a win at Eastlands they would rather sit back and aim take an easy point.

Anyway,  as the second half was starting this little lad lost his chips, its down to inexperience of food consumption at football match, if your eating chips or any food from a tray you need to have your thumb on the top, stopping the tray flying away in the wind. He’ll gain that knowledge from experience.

P.S. note the commentator with a cracking lisp, Manccchesssster CCCity…..

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.

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!).

A royal appointment at Wigan

Wigan have signed striker Marlon King from Watford for a reported £5m (pretty expensive if you ask me) with a contract lasting 3 1/2 years.

Some reports claimed that his proposed move to Fulham fell through after a dodgy medical, but “Winning Is Everything” understands that Fulham tried to renegotiate the payment method to Watford, a move rejected by the Hornets.

King has a decent scoring record, just under 1 in 2, while at Watford and Bruce thinks he will improve Wigan’s chances of staying up this season.

“He’s a proven finisher who gives us a different kind of goal-scoring threat.”

Lets hope so, for Wigan’s sake.

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