EPL: Week 3 Review

BURNLEY 0 vs. MANCHESTER UNITED 0
Caution: Marney [71’], Reid [90’], Fletcher [38’], Blackett [68’]
Burnley hosted Manchester United in the first match of the day and it was same old story for the twenty time champion as the search of their first premier league win continues. Not so much positives from the game less the fact that the host would have gone ahead several times in the course of the game and they need rue their untaken chances. Both goalies were tested at different times and united had an appeal for ball handling in the box turned down by Chris Foy.
 
MANCHESTER CITY 0 vs. STOKE CITY 1 Diouf (58’)
Caution: Fernadinho [53’], Yaya Toure [84’], Bardsley [22’]
The season is so young yet we have a candidate for the surprise match of the season in the unlikeliest of places, the Ethihad- hitherto it is been a slaughter ground for teams that come visiting per time. The Mark Huges tutored lads took the bull by the horns to inflict the first defeat cum home defeat on the reigning champions. It was a game of chances between the two teams, Stoke City have Begovic to thank for the victory as he had two great efforts from the enterprising Yaya Toure saved in the injury time of the first half and shortly after the second stanza commenced. A through pass from the midfield was well anticipated by Diouf as well as well initiated as he dummied Fernandinho to slot home in a clinical manner, and that was the moment, City rallied round all to no avail and Huges’ script of revenge was well planned, implemented and followed to the letter as the former City Boss smiled home with maximum points to torment his former employers psychologically.

ASTON VILLA 2 Agbonlahor (14’), Weimann (36’) vs. HULL CITY 1 Jelavic (74’)
Caution: Guzan [90’], Davies [42’], Jelavic [82’], El Mohamady [84’]
Villa cruised to a comfortable home win over Hull city, Gabriel Agbonlahor opened scoring at Villa Park signifying his first of the season before Weimann who is in the best form of his life doubled the advantage for the Paul Lambert’s side to leave the score at half time two nil. The visitors however tried to come back with Jelavic reducing the deficit as Villa held on to leave proceedings at 2-1 after full time.


EVERTON 3 Mirallas (45’), Naismith (69’) vs. CHELSEA 6 Diego Costa (1’, 90’), Ivanovic (3’), Coleman o.g (67’), Matic ( 74’), Ramires (77’),
Caution: Howard (68’), Costa (56’), Ramires(64’), Fabrigas (82’)
Hell of a game that doesn’t depict what actually happened at the blue side or Merseyside, ordinarily the score line would make one think Chelsea had firm grip of the game in running riot over their unlucky host. Conversely the home side was the better side in terms of chemistry and expression but had mother luck against them. The man of the moment Diego Costa finished calmly from a Fabrigas’ benevolence after quick interchange of passes from Willian and Ramires, Costa was involved in the second as his chip found the advancing Ramires who in turn found a well positioned Ivanovic and two goals it was within the first 3 minutes of the hockey- score encounter. At this point Everton shed off the initial disappointment and woke up stretching the Chelsea midfield before it paid off as Mirallas powered home a beautiful header after Distin had been adjudged offside following a Lukaku effort parried his way by Courtois shortly before half time. Chelsea continued where they stopped and the hitherto anonymous Hazard dazzled down the right back-line of the host in a bizarre manner forcing Coleman to bury the ball in his own net, Everton would not just go down without some fight, Nasimith, slotted home after a fine move by the hosts to make it 3-4. Then came the moment of soccer symbiosis- in quick session, Matic and Ramires provided each other assists as they both registered Chelsea’s fourth and fifth goals respectively before Costa read perfectly a John Obi Mikel’s back heel pass to dribble the advancing Distin , scored his second of the evening leaving the final scores at 3- 6. Quickly Everton highlighted the weaknesses this book maker’s favourite have in their midfield and defence and Jose Mourinho spoke my mind in the post- match conference, if Chelsea puts up such display as we witnessed on Saturday against any top team, they might not be quiet lucky. Also worthy of note is Costa’s reaction to frustration from the hosts as he was the center of abuse and rough tackles but the young man needs to come to terms with this- he who wants to shine perpetually in the premier league needs to pay the cost- he is just 3 yellow cards short of his first suspension in England.

WEST HAM UNITED 1 Noble (27′) vs.  SOUTHAMPTON 3 Schneiderlin (45′,68), Pelle (83′)

Caution: Cresswell [ 56’], O’ Brien [62’], Pelle [79’]
One week of sexy football, Big Sam and his boys are back to status quo, Southampton were the better of both sides as they inflicted yet another defeat on West Ham and the gaffer surely knows what this is. Wouldn’t be surprised if he gets the boot any time soon! To the game proper, Mike Noble scored a delightful long range effort and it was just the ignition the visitors needed, Schneiderlin had his initial shot with the right foot blocked, he reacted quickly to smash home with the left to return parity just before half time. The young French midfielder was on target again on 68 minutes with Ward- Prowse the provider, the Saints dominated their hosts and it was no surprise when Pelle tapped in the third and 1-3 it ended at Upton Park.

NEWCASTLE UNITED 3 Janmaat [38’], Aarons [74’], Wiliamson [88’] vs. CRYSTAL PALACE 3 Gayle [1’], Puncheon [48’], Zaha [90]
Caution: Mariappa [41], Chamakh [44’]
Soccer rugby is another name that readily comes to mind as a synonym for this game at St James’ Park. All the goals were scored after moments of goal mouth scrambles. The visitors drew the first blood through Gayle while Janmaat restored parity. Puncheon one of the revelations of last season restored Palace’s lead just after half time and trust it was a great goal, a volley well anticipated, and well propelled, Aarons leveled scores yet again as the soccer war continued. Sandwiched in between the four goals were two world class saves from Tim Krul as the Newcastle goalie was on point to curtail the marauding visitors .Wiliamson’s effort placed Newcastle within moments of claiming maximum points before Zaha’s injury time equalizer amongst sea of legs meant the spoils were to be shared.

QPR 1 vs. 0 SUNDERLAND
Caution: Mutch [57’], Cattermole [37’], Giaccherini [90]
Moment of respite for Uncle Harry after the woeful display at White Hart lane last week, the Old man can hive some sighs of relief at least for now. Austin’s well taken goal in the injury time of the first stanza was just enough for the host to amass maximum points. Sunderland were largely anonymous all evening and could avail the rest the international window affords to relax well so as to return fitter and better as the soccer’s most interesting club season film continues, that is if they want to avoid the drop anyway.

SWANSEA 3 Dyer [2’, 71’], Routledge [24’] vs. WEST BROMICH ALBION 0
Caution: Ki [73’], Dorrans [27’], Gardner [62]
The swans were on rampage as they tore apart the boys from Albion. Nathan Dyer is one man too many at the moment, I don’t know so many players in the top division that can better him in terms of match performance, vein of form and tenacity as things stand, one thing going for the swans is their good synergy greatly influenced by the return of their prodigal son- Sigurdsson, he has adjusted like duck to water, he was at the fore front of all good things, weighing in with two assists as well as good display all evening. Nathan Dyer was simply unplayable, he took both goals well, to draw the first blood, he dummied two defenders in his usual style, played a one-two with Sigurdsson and slotted home, that was just scintillating, Routledge’s volley was also a good scene to behold to double the advantage of the home side, and the man of the match, Dyer scored his second of the day with Sigurdsson the provider yet again to take his goal tally to three in as many matches which invariable sees the swans go top on the log with Chelsea on 9 points, a position they can enjoy until after the international break where we have the two table toppers engage each other at the Bridge. Bravo Swansea for this wonderful feat!!!
 
LEICESTER CITY 1 vs. ARSENAL 1
Caution: Hammond [85’], Moore [90’], Szzzesny [90’]
Mine oh mine, the Leicester lads impressed so much late evening on Sunday, they took the game to the gunners as if there are no years between them and their visitors in the top flight. They were the better team in all the departments of the game, their defence line was well organized with Captain Morgan putting in a man of the match performance, their midfield swaggered in the face of their bigger opponents and their link up play with their marauding attack was a beauty to behold. Conversely though it was the visitors that drew the first blood with their new acquisition Alexis Sanchez scoring is first premier league goal putting behind his poor performance of last week against Everton where he was hauled off at half time, he followed up a spilled rebound to put the gunners in front, just two minutes later Leicester equalized when Ulloa powered home Schllup’s cross. If any team looked like coasting home with the maximum points it was the hosts, the visitors have Szczesny to thank for the share of the spoils with his point blank saves. It ended 1 all, the gunners drawing for the second time in two weeks.

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 0 vs. 3 LIVERPOOL
Caution: Allen [27’], Manquillo [37’], Sterling [74’] Moreno [90]
This game beat my imagination to it, I was expecting a high score draw worst case scenario, but the Kops had different thing in mind, they oozed with so much confidence at White Hart lane that one would have confused them to be playing before their Anfield faithfuls. There was space for the returning Super Mario to make his debut, but the Italian have himself solely to blame for not scoring at least a brace on Sunday, blessing in disguise for the Spurs as things could have been worse as they refused to get started in front of their fans, seems the Kops have finally gotten the key to securing 3 points from 3 points lane from the Blues. In form Sterling put the visitors ahead burying Henderson’s low cross, Gerrard scored the second from the spot while Moreno completed the demolishing exercise to leave scores at 3 nil. A wake up call to Pochettino and his boys, if at all you would lose matches let such not be at home, if they are to claim any European competition slot this time, they need to find some sort of consistency, the new gaffer has done a good job thus far giving fringe players of last season the opportunity to prove themselves however, as the jungle matures, the weapon of self defence needs to be quite potent.
Babajide Samson Fayoyiwa + ‘Tomi Israel Adekanmi