The referees are still favouring the big clubs.
Every week the refs favour the big clubs.
The smaller clubs never get a decision.
NEVER NEVER NEVER GET A DECISION.
And that does my head in.
Last night Chris Smalling fouled Newcastle’s Riviere very clumsily in the box but referee Anthony Taylor didn’t give it. If Newcastle score a penalty in 10 minutes, it’s a different game.
The contest was very close and it took the belligerence of Rooney at the death, pressurising two defenders and forcing keeper Tim Krul to miskick to Ashley Young, who slotted tidily. Young’s first goal in 14 months
Wilfried Bony, starting for Manchester City, pulled back Schlupp in the box when the score weas 0-0.
Everybody in the stadium could see it was a penalty except referee Robert Madley.
City won 2-0 with goals by David Silva, who scored from two yards in 45, and James Milner infringed Frank Lampard’s copyright when he got the second in 88.
Pellegrini had dropped his captain Vincent Kompany. A big call but the right one
Charlie Austin had the best shot of the firsts half against Arsenal but it was 0-0 at halftime.
Then two left-sided Arsenal attacks bought two goals in five minutes.
Gabriel started alongside Mertesacker but Koscielny had to come on when the Brazilian succumbed to a hamstring in 36.
When Gibbs broke away on the left his shot brushed Clint Hill but the ball broke to Giroud, who poached from close range. Giroud had jogged across the box, hoping something like that would happen
QPR 0 Arsenal 1 in 64 minutes.
It had been a pretty close battle for an hour
After Rob Green saved well from Alexis Sanchez in 67, Arsenal broke away promisingly on the left
and a world class goal by Sanchez gave them a 2-0 lead.
His 19th of the season was a deadly shot inside the near post, hit early, hard and very accurately.
Charlie Austin swivelled on the edge of the box and scored with a tremendous shot in 82 to make Gooners rnervous. A masterful finish by the bearded 25-year old. Charlie is beginning to remind me of somebody. A continental striker from the distant past. Any week now I’m gonna twig it.
West Ham really gave Chelsea a game, battling well but missing good chances.
Courtois, as always, made tremendous saves.
Eden Hazard scored the winner with a header. And Carl Jenkinson made a very fine tackle to deny Diego Costa.
Arsenal are still third, Liverpool still fifth.
Liverpool beat Burnley 2-0 at Anfield.
A thunderbolt by Coutinho just missed the target but another by Jordan Henderson almost burst the net.
Since he came back Sturridge has looked pretty slick and mobile.
Liverpool had chances to wrap it up. But that didn’t happen till Sturridge netted really nice header at the far post.
My favourite goal of the night, though, was Nacer Chadli in 7 minutes.
Left back Danny Rose took his time and hit a wicked cross into the box.
The trajectory was high but dipping and when Harry Kane went for it the ball went over his head on the way down and the tall Chadli had to jump a yard off the ground to connect with a balletic cushioned volley that left Fabianski helpless.
Very good balance by the lad, I thought. You can’t smash a ball like that because it’s too high and you’ll get under it
Spurs beat Swansea 3-2.
The 10 games may be exciting but I doubt if the CL race will go to the last day.
The Top Four is the Top Four is the Top Four and unless one of them stutters badly, it will be business as usual, especially if the referees favour the biggest clubs, which they will
If Spurs win their game in hand they’ll still be below Liverpool.
Having said all that, any football match is unpredictable.
All we know, really, is that, football is about players. And the next game.
At the moment Rooney is carrying Man United, Sanchez is carrying Arsenal, and Hazard is carrying Chelsea.