Recent Posts
A controversial penalty by Steven Gerrard salvaged a draw for Liverpool as their faltering season continued against Birmingham at Anfield.
Gerrard scored from the spot to make it 2-2 after David Ngog had appeared to dive over a Lee Carsely tackle.
Ngog had earlier put the Reds ahead when he smashed in a far-post volley but Christian Benitez levelled when he nodded in a well-worked set piece.
Cameron Jerome's 30-yard strike shocked the Reds before Gerrard's equaliser.
Birmingham were angered by referee Peter Walton's penalty decision given as Carsley did not seem to make any contact with Ngog.
But despite a half-fit Gerrard, who had only come on because of an injury to Albert Riera, slotting in from 12 yards the result will only heap further pressure on Reds manager Rafael Benitez.
It was a game Liverpool were expected to win to quell the unrest at Anfield but, instead, leaves the Reds flailing in seventh in the Premier League.
Liverpool's defensive solidity has been their strength during Benitez's reign but the foundations he has laid have been on rocky ground this season and again undermined their play.
The home side had taken a patient and calm approach to the match before gradually raising the tempo and taking the lead.
Glen Johnson was having plenty of joy down the right flank and, after weaving between two defenders, he pulled the ball back for Ngog, whose initial shot was saved by Joe Hart.
Hart scampered across his goal to fend away Dirk Kuyt's follow-up but the Blues keeper had no chance when Riera crossed to the far post for Ngog to smash a left-foot volley into the roof of the net. The Reds were in control, only to let their weakness in defence allow the visitors back into a game they rarely looked like making an impact on.
Former Everton midfielder James McFadden swung a Blues free-kick to the far post and, after being headed on by Roger Johnson and Scott Dann, Christian Benitez nodded in from close range. The goal gave Birmingham encouragement and the visitors had an extra air of belief about them as they repelled some concerted Liverpool pressure with the home side looking to re-establish their grip on the game.
Hart tipped over a 25-yard strike from Javier Mascherano before the Blues defence cleared a tamely-struck Lucas Leiva side-footed shot off the line.
Liverpool brought Gerrard on when Riera went off with a hamstring problem but their unfit captain could do little as the visitors took the lead in spectacular fashion.
Jerome controlled Dann's headed ball forward, fended off the irritation of Mascherano and unleashed a thunderous shot which dipped over keeper Reina.
The Reds piled on the pressure in response and it almost paid off, only for Gerrard to head a Johnson cross against the outside of the post from eight yards.
Birmingham defended in numbers with an admirable bravery which saw the particularly impressive centre-backs Dann and Roger Johnson flinging their bodies at crosses and shots to keep the home side at bay.
However, they conceded an equaliser in controversial circumstances as Gerrard, who looked a constant threat even when nursing his groin injury, sent Hart the wrong way from the spot.
The Anfield crowd were now staunchly behind their team and Ngog side-footed wide after Gerrard powered in a cross to the near post in an exciting finale.
However, a winner eluded the Reds and Benitez is still without a league victory over Birmingham in seven attempts.
John Terry grabbed the only goal of the game to extend Chelsea's Premier League lead to five points and deal a big blow to Manchester United's title chances.
The Blues skipper met Frank Lampard's free-kick late on to earn his side a 10th straight home win.
But a makeshift United side will feel aggrieved after a fine display, with Darren Fletcher in impressive form.
Wayne Rooney twice went close from range, but a lack of cutting edge cost the reigning champions dear in the end.
And with Sir Alex Ferguson's side now five points behind their London rivals, United must hope Chelsea's current form falls away if they are to win a fourth successive title.
They can at least be comforted by a brave performance, though, especially considering the absence of centre-half pairing Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic, as well as striker Dimitar Berbatov.
That meant Jonny Evans and Wes Brown were again paired in defence - and up against the in-form frontline of Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka, many expected them to have their work cut out at the Bridge.
The pair held up well, though, aided enormously by the return to league action of Fletcher following a recent ankle problem. The Scot, so often a pivotal player for them in the big games in the past, typified the visitors' relentless and disciplined approach.
Matching up against Chelsea's diamond formation, with Rooney floating and Antonio Valencia pushed up against left back Ashley Cole, United stifled their opponents' rhythm and just had the better of a keenly fought first half.
Twice Chelsea got the better of close early refereeing decisions, firstly when Anderson set Rooney through on goal only for the striker to be harshly ruled offside and then when Terry escaped punishment for an apparent tug on Valencia's shirt in the box.
Ryan Giggs and Michael Carrick also had efforts from range to keep home keeper Petr Cech interested.
However, a lack of a real killer pass or shot in the final third often had lone striker Rooney cutting a forlorn figure and it was Chelsea who forged the more clear-cut chances, particularly through Anelka.
The Frenchman had an early sighter with a near post shot that Edwin van der Sar held comfortably, and he forced a far more impressive save from the Dutchman just after the half hour with a left-foot curler that the keeper had to beat away on the stretch.
In a half of few chances, it was by far the closest either side had come to a breakthrough, and the pattern of play was almost identical in the second.
The irrepressible Fletcher forged the first opening of the half when his fierce drive was well blocked by Carvalho, while at the other end Van der Sar comfortably saved from Lampard's low left-footed drive.
While it remained 0-0, Ferguson - mindful of his side's failure to get anything out of four of their last five away matches against a 'big four' team - was by far the more comfortable manager and it was Blues boss Carlo Ancelotti who blinked first from the sidelines, bringing on Joe Cole for the ineffective Deco. But it was Rooney at the other end who twice came closest to breaking the deadlock, his first effort a drive inches wide from the edge of the area and the second a curler that had to be tipped round the post by Cech.
However, Chelsea under Ancelotti have been imperious at home and all United's play counted for nothing when Terry rose highest to meet Lampard's pinpoint free-kick and put the Londoners into a precious lead.
To compound the visitors' deflation, United had argued that Fletcher, in conceding the crucial free-kick, had won the ball from Ashley Cole and that Drogba was in an offside position as the ball flew in - but their protests fell on deaf ears.
All of a sudden United were the side displaying an air of desperation, and even as Valencia drove wide and substitute Gabriel Obertan forced a good block late in the game, there was a lack of belief among the visitors' late rally.
As it was, Chelsea's record of not having conceded a home goal in the league since the opening day of the season rarely looked in trouble late on and the final whistle prompted scenes of jubilation among a home faithful with a firm eye on regaining a Premier League title they have not won since 2006.
Arsenal moved into second place in the Premier League after dismantling Wolves with another fine attacking display.
The Gunners were a touch fortunate with their opener as Ronald Zubar turned a Cesc Fabregas corner into his own goal.
And Eduardo's chip went in off Jody Craddock's head to make it 2-0 before Robin van Persie's exquisite touch set up Fabregas to score a classy third.
Andrey Arshavin struck with a low shot from the edge of the area before Craddock headed in a late consolation.
The result means Arsenal leapfrog Manchester United, who play leaders Chelsea on Sunday, and it also leaves Wolves in the bottom three.
For Arsenal the signs are growing that they can make a real challenge for the title this season, but Wolves are set to face a battle to stay in the top flight.
Wolves' biggest problem is their lack of a goal threat as the first 15 minutes of this match demonstrated.
Playing a direct brand of football and hustling Arsenal into errors, the hosts looked to gain an advantage as they racked up the set-pieces.
But Kevin Doyle and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake missed good chances with headers from corners, while Christophe Berra misdirected his header from a free-kick.
The hosts' start might have given boss Mick McCarthy hope that he could mastermind only his second victory over Arsenal - and Wolves' first since 1979.
But 20 minutes into the game, Arsenal served warning they were about to step through the gears as an interchange between Abou Diaby and Arshavin almost opened up Wolves.
Diaby was forced off injured shortly after and was replaced by Alex Song, who had been rested with Aaron Ramsey drafted in.
Yet Arsenal's misfortune soon turned on its head when Fabregas' corner came off Zubar's thigh and went into his own goal.
It served to settle Arsenal, and have the opposite effect on Wolves.
Ramsey headed straight at Wayne Hennessey, and then the Welshman over-hit a pass that would have played in Eduardo as the visitors took control.
Wolves were opened up again as they committed far too many men forward, and at the end of a rapid counter-attack Eduardo's shot clipped Craddock to leave Hennessey stranded as the ball went over his head.
With McCarthy's men still reeling, Arsenal carved out a superb third, when Bacary Sagna's cross was brilliantly laid off by Van Persie for Fabregas to slot home.
Almost inevitably it led to a subdued period after the break as Wolves looked to regroup, while Arsenal stroked the ball around with little urgency.
Then an injection of pace from Arshavin saw him test Hennessey with a stinging shot.
And from the resultant corner, the Russian rifled in after Hennessey had punched the cross away.
Eduardo almost added a fifth goal but was denied by Hennessey who did well to smother the striker's low effort.
More fluid approach play carved out another chance for Arsenal as Van Persie pulled the ball back for Fabregas but the Spaniard blazed over.
Instead it was Wolves who were to score the next goal, as Craddock thumped in a header from a corner.
_____________________________ ___________
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger:
"We had so many chances and they had been under pressure for 10 to 15 minutes before the opening goal.
"I felt we controlled the game. Overall we could have scored many more. On every counter attack we looked dangerous.
"The most important factor is we play for each other as we do. We have to focus on our performance and continue to develop our style of play.
"We were out of it (the title race) last year after we lost five games in 14.
"Two years ago, though, we were close to winning it, people forget that. We will keep our humility and play our game."
Wolves manager Mick McCarthy:
"Our season won't be judged by games against Arsenal. We have Birmingham coming up and that is the type of game we have to win.
"Hull, West Ham and Portsmouth are the teams in and around us and matches with them will be important.
"We have been ticking along but were well beaten in the end. We were outstanding for 30 minutes and took Arsenal on but mistakes have cost us.
"But I know the crowd appreciate the hard work the team put in and the way they tried to play."
Abou Diaby is keen to forget the 'silly mistake' that sent Arsenal crashing to defeat at Manchester United.
The Gunners looked on course for an impressive victory over the reigning Barclays Premier League champions when Andrey Arshavin's long-range strike handed them a 1-0 interval lead at Old Trafford on Saturday
[ Click here to read more ]
Everton 1-6 Arsenal
Arsenal produced a stunning opening-day performance to underline manager Arsene Wenger's belief his young stars can win the title.
The Gunners exposed Everton's frailties in defence and the hosts' lack of depth
[ Click here to read more ]
Salomon Kalou scored the winning penalty Sunday as Chelsea beat Manchester United 4-1 in a shootout to clinch the Community Shield in Carlo Ancelotti’s first competitive match in charge.
The traditional curtain raiser to the English season is rarely a spectacle, but on this occasion was hotly contested with a heated conclusion
[ Click here to read more ]
Everton boss David Moyes says Manchester City's continued pursuit of Joleon Lescott is "disgusting".
City boss Mark Hughes had suggested he would go above Moyes' head, but the Scot said he would decide whether the England centre-back would leave
[ Click here to read more ]
Guys,
here is our forum where we can exchange news, views and ideas on various topics and also help each other out.
[ Click here to read more ]
Welcome to Nyandarua Pasha Pioneers blog. Here is our forum all pasha members to share ideas and also keep tabs on each other in terms of progress towards opening and managing our own pasha/e-centers. But first things first! Let’s update each other on the progress each other has made in terms of writing the business plan.
Those of us who are having difficulties writing them especially on cash flow projections are depending on other members who are conversant with that to give us tips on how to complete comprehensive Business plans by 31st October. I know it seems a far off date (miles away but its not) the day will be with us before we can say PASHA
[ Click here to read more ]
|
|
|
Add Comments
Read More
Comments (2)
Comment by Reg
on Our Very Own Forum
MAD ABOUT SOCCER
Nyandarua Pasha Pioneers
Pasha Managers Forum
Thats expe but I wish you could send an email to all the members so we can chat the way forward.
Well, members to make sure you dont miss a post or a comment here make sure you subscribe to the blog by just providing your email address.
Regards,
Barnabas Kimani