Football Matters: Weekend Review

We're now 13 matches into the 2016/17 English Premier League season and it's shaping up for one of the best seasons ever. At the start of the season I said that any one of six teams could possibly win the title (Leicester City not being one of them) although I singled out Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea as the main three contenders (the others being Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur). It looks like I was right to include leaders Chelsea and City who are one point behind them but United appear so far back already that they need a disaster to befell the teams in front. Another draw this weekend saw them slip to eleven points behind Chelsea and even if the Blues lost four more games than United by the end of the season (which looks unlikely) there is still City and Liverpool ten points in from of the Red Devils and Arsenal eight in front. Mourinho may be able to turn things around to get them back into the UEFA Champions League but an EPL title looks dead and buried.

THE CHELSEA MATCH

The key match in the title race this weekend was between Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge and with the home side coming back from a goal down to win 2-1 it put a seven point gap between the sides at the top of the table. It also condemned Spurs to their first league defeat of the season having previously won six and drawn six of their opening twelve games. Since Antonio Conte switched to the new 3-4-3 formation the side have won seven out of seven matches and Christian Eriksen's 11th minute goal was the first they have conceded since Mesut Ozil's third goal in the 40th minute of Arsenal's 3-0 win on 24th September 2016. It was also the first goal conceded at Stamford Bridge since Jordan Henderson's goal when Liverpool won 2-1 on 16th September 2016. Both those defeats are the only ones in the league under Conte and both helped shaped the formation and tactics he is now using. For my views on how well this is doing and which players fit his system you can click HERE for the first team and HERE for the players out on loan. The third part is still to be written regarding our targets before January and next summer.

Although Saturday's performance against Spurs was not anywhere near as good as some of the previous wins it did still highlight some of our key performers this season. I had doubts over Pedro when he first joined but he has really stepped up to the plate lately and this was his sixth consecutive league start as he keeps Willian on the bench. He scored Chelsea's equaliser just before half time with a great turn and shot from outside the box that was curling past Hugo Lloris before the Spurs keeper really had time to react. Victor Moses has been a sensation on the right in the wing back position and capped off another great performance with his fourth goal of the season (all of which came in home wins). Diego Costa gave another mature performance up front as it was clear that Spurs' tactic to try and wind him up from the first whistle was failing. Their plan would have worked against the Costa that played under Jose Mourinho but the Conte version keeps his cool and gets on with the football which is what I've been asking for since he joined. Whenever I've called for him to be sold or replaced it was never about his ability on the ball but more his liability off it. Every match the commentary team point out that Costa is 'one game away from suspension' but that has been the case since his fourth booking of the season against Arsenal in that 3-0 defeat. Since then he has kept his cool even when fouled twice early in Saturday's game, the second one being an unpunished elbow by Eric Dier in an aerial challenge.

Before Pedro equalised it looked like Spurs could end their 26 year wait for a win at Stamford Bridge as Christian Eriksen gave them them an 11th minute lead in a first half they went on to dominate. The Danish midfielder was given too much time and space to strike from outside the box to give the away side the lead after good work from Dele Alli. Tottenham were controlling the game while Chelsea stuttered with misplaced passes, mistimed tackles and allowing their opponents too much time and space. Pedro's goal was against the run of play and sent the sides in level at half time so when Moses scored just six minutes after the interval it rocked the Spurs confidence and morale. Marcos Alonso could even have made it 3-1 soon after when more great work from Costa (who assisted the Moses goal) teed him up in front of goal but the Spanish left wing back scooped the ball high over the bar.

Two substitutions late in the game swung the tide back in Spurs' favour but they could not capitalise on it. First on 73 minutes Mauricio Pochettino brought on French winger Georges-Kevin N'Koudou who started causing problems in Chelsea's right back area. Conte responded eight minutes later by bringing on Branislav Ivanovic for Moses with the plan being a more defensive player would help tie down N'Koudou. Unfortunately for Conte it was like using a bucket of water to contain a forest fire as Ivanovic's recent lack of any defensive attributes allowed the Spurs winger to create a plethora of problems for the rest of the Chelsea defence. Once upon a time the Serbian was a rock at the back with a penchant for goals but his form disappeared in the Mourinho reign and has not returned. He was one of the key problems that forced Conte to change to the 3-4-3 formation along with John Terry however the manager is clearly concerned about what cover we have there should Moses be injured or suspended. The Blues are lucky that Nigeria failed to qualify for the African Nations Cup which takes place in January 2017 as Moses would no doubt have missed several games on international duty. With Kurt Zouma on the path back from a long term injury I'd rather see Cesar Azpilicueta switch to the right back position should we need cover for Moses provided the French centre back is fit. It's a tricky position to consider for the transfer window as with Moses in such good form we'd be looking to buy a cover player for that spot rather than a regular first choice which would rule out players like Serge Aurier or Paris St Germain or Alessandro Florenzi of Roma (who is one of my favourite players in Europe right now).

There's no let up on the big games for Chelsea as next week it's a trip to Manchester to face City at The Etihad Stadium. Chelsea have seven consecutive wins now but face their stiffest test yet with a City side unbeaten in the league for six games (three wins and three draws) since Spurs beat them at White Hart Lane on 2nd October 2016. It certainly promises to be an exciting clash which kicks off at 12:30pm on Saturday 3rd December 2016. On the same day Spurs will host Swansea City who won a thrilling 5-4 match at the weekend against Crystal Palace.

OTHER PREM MATCHES

The biggest talking point of the weekend was the Swans 5-4 win over Palace in a match that swung back and forth and the Eagles thought they had all three points in the bag after being behind. Wilfried Zaha gave Palace the lead on 19 minutes but Gylfi Sigurdsson equalised 17 minutes later to put the scores 1-1 at half time. Nobody had any clue of the drama that would follow in the second half. Leroy Fer scored two goals in two minutes as the in-form midfielder continued his run of goals since his loan from Queens Park Rangers was made permanent in the summer and the Dutch international now averages a goal every two games (played 12 scored 6). So Swansea looked fairly comfortable at 3-1 up until seven minutes later James Tomkins made it 3-2 and with eight minutes to go a Jack Cork own goal (as he deflected a shot) levelled the scores. Two minutes later Christian Benteke thought he'd won the game for Palace and as the 90 minute mark passed the away side had three points in their hands. Spanish international Fernando Llorente had other ideas though and first scored a minute into injury time to level the scores and then grabbed the winner just two minutes later, sending the home fans delirious and Crystal Palace to their sixth consecutive defeat. Swansea remain in the bottom three as this was their first league win since they beat Burnley on 13th August 2016. They are just two points away from Palace now who slip to 17th in the table and are only on the right side of the relegation line due to a better goal difference than Hull City. When Swansea travel to White Hart Lane next weekend Crystal Palace will entertain Southampton who beat Everton at the weekend.

Liverpool are second in the table after beating Sunderland at Anfield with late goals from Divock Origi and James Milner. The Reds are unbeaten since their only defeat of the season away to Burnley on 20th August 2016. Sunderland beat Hull City and Bournemouth in their last two games for their first wins of the season and must have thought they'd done enough for a point at the weekend until the Belgian striker grabbed Liverpool's first with fifteen minutes to go. The Black Cats remain bottom of the league and three points from safety with a match at home to champions Leicester City next weekend. Liverpool will play away to Bournemouth on Sunday.

A brace for Sergio Aguero earned Manchester City a 2-1 win over Burnley after Dean Marney gave the home side the lead after 14 minutes. The Argentine striker grabbed a goal either side of half time to put City third on goal difference. City play Chelsea next week as previously stated and Burnley travel to Stoke City.

Arsenal are fourth in the table and three points behind the leaders after a 3-1 win at home to Bournemouth. Alexis Sanchez grabbed two goals either side of Theo Walcott and although a Callum Wilson penalty on 23 minutes briefly made the score 1-1 the Cherries slipped to their sixth league defeat of the season. Bournemouth have now won just one of their last five games (away to Stoke in the match before this one) and next weekend's visit by Liverpool looks unlikely to end their poor run. Arsenal travel to West Ham having not lost in the league since the opening day 4-3 defeat by Liverpool.

Manchester United drew at home to West Ham 1-1 as Zlatan Ibrahimovic wiped out Diafra Sakho's second minute goal. United have now won only one of their last seven league games and Mourinho made matters worse by being sent to the stands for the second time in a month. The Portuguese manager is hardly setting a great example for his players and after leading Chelsea to their worst run in years last season he has already managed United to a point where a title win in his first season looks unattainable. The draw lifted the Hammers past Crystal Palace to 16th and they are still four games without a win in a season which is going much worse for them than I expected. United travel to Everton next weekend while West Ham entertain Arsenal.

Elsewhere in the Premier League a Heurelho Gomes own goal gave Stoke City a 1-0 win over Watford at Vicarage Road and Charlie Austin scored Southampton's winner in the Saints' 1-0 victory over Everton. The other two matched ended in draws as Hull City's Michael Dawson equalised Gareth McAuley's opener for West Bromwich Albion as the match ended 1-1 and Leicester City's match with Middlesbrough ended 2-2 after Islam Slimani levelled four minutes into injury time. Alvaro Negredo had earlier scored two goals for Middlesbrough either side of Riyad Mahrez for the champions.

ELSEWHERE IN THE LEAGUE

Newcastle United lost at home to Blackburn Rovers but remain top of the Championship table. Charlie Mulgrew's 75th minute goal lifted Rovers out of the relegation zone too. The Magpies were aiming for a ninth straight win but now need to get their title charge back on track next weekend with a Friday night match away to Nottingham Forest. It's the second time in a week that Forest will play on a Friday as they just battered Barnsley 5-2 this weekend in the evening game. Henri Lansbury was the hat-trick hero in that match.

Brighton & Hove Albion beat Fulham 2-1 to keep up their pursuit of Newcastle and maintain a four point lead over Reading who recorded their fifth straight win with a 2-1 victory at home to Bristol City. There were also promotion chasing wins for Birmingham City, Leeds United and Sheffield Wednesday who beat Brentford, Rotherham United and Wolverhampton Wanderers respectively. Derby County are now ninth after a fourth straight win just a point behind Norwich City who have now lost their last five games and not won since 15th October 2016. At the other end of the Championship Rotherham United are now eleven points from safety after scoring just one point from their last ten games.

In League One Scunthorpe United remain top after a 1-1 draw with Oxford United but Bolton Wanders kept up the pressure and closed the gap to four points after recording their eighth win in nine games away to Northampton Town. Of the chasing pack Sheffield United, AFC Wimbledon and Fleetwood Town all drew while Bradford City and Rochdale lost. The nearest team to Bolton in the league to win was ninth place Millwall who delivered another defeat to struggling Bury. The Lancashire club have lost ten league games in a row with their last win coming away to Milton Keynes Dons on 27th September 2016. Coventry City lost to MK Dons this weekend for their fourth straight loss dropping them into the relegation zone. Shrewsbury Town remain bottom despite a draw with mid-table Port Vale.

Carlisle United are now top of League Two after a 5-2 win over Mansfield Town while previous leaders Plymouth Argyle slipped to a third consecutive loss away to Morecambe. Doncaster Rovers are also part of the leading trio after beating Leyton Orient 3-1. Orient are only outside the drop zone on goal difference with Cheltenham Town on the same amount of points and bottom club Newport County just one point lower. All three lost their matches this weekend. The best form in the division goes to 8th place Barnet and 13th place Yeovil Town who are both unbeaten in seven games now after the former beat Notts County and the latter drew with Accrington Stanley.

OTHER FOOTBALL

I follow two teams in the National League and both are in the relegation zone. I used to live in York so I keep an eye on City's progress but another defeat this weekend, 3-0 to Bromley, dropped them to second bottom. I also used to live near Guiseley and was delighted when they were first promoted to this division and then last season avoided relegation. This season looks tougher but a great 3-1 win this weekend over Boreham Wood lifted them above York on goal difference and both sides are now four points from safety.

Congratulations to Celtic who won their 100th major trophy this weekend with a 3-0 win over Aberdeen in the Scottish League Cup. It's Brendan Rodgers' first trophy as Celtic manager and would hopefully put a smile back on the face of players and fans alike after another poor season in the UEFA Champions League.