City Run Halted As Chelsea Go Top

After Saturday’s games in this weekend’s Premiership games Chelsea went to the top of the League with a 1-0 win over Portsmouth at Stamford Bridge. However, Manchester city, the leaders at the beginning of Saturday, fell to Arsenal, also 1-0.

Back at Stamford Bridge it was Frank Lampard’s 31st minute strike that was enough to extend the Blues unbeaten home record in the League to 65 matches and move them into 10 points after 4 games. It was the fourth game in succession in which Lampard has scored including England’s goal in the defeat to Germany at Wembley during the week). His manager, Jose Mourinho, praised Lampard’s performance yesterday staying, “When he plays well he is the best, when he doesn’t play well he is the second best.” At least he’s not biased then. I have to say, in my opinion, Gerrard is a far better all round player. Anyway, Mourinho added, “But I want my team to play better. The weather didn’t help, it was very very hot and it cost us a bit, it was not a great performance but a god result.”

It was Portsmouth first defeat of the season, in what has been a good start for Harry Redknapp’s men.

Meanwhile at the Emirates Stadium the City goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel was beaten for the first time this season. He did save a 66th minute penalty from Robin van Persie but he had no chance of stopping the shot from Cesc Fabregas 14 minutes later. It was enough to secure the 3 points for the Gunners and end City’s impressive perfect start to the season.

City’s good start to the season comes to an end at The Emirates Stadium

City now have 9 points from 4 games, but Schmeichel, taking a leaf out of his father’s book [Peter] nearly saved a point for City right at the end. Like his father used to sometimes do at United, Schmeichel joined the City attack for a corner and forced the Gunners goalkeeper, Manual Almunia, into a save from his header.

The new City manager, former England boss Sven Goran Erikkson, said after his team conceded their first goal of the season, “Kasper could do nothing about the goal, he had no chance saving it. Now and then we played really well, but it’s time to see the reaction to our first defeat of the season, but I am sure it well be OK and we will go on. I can’t complain about the performance. We stood up to Arsenal and I am rather proud of the way the players played.”

The win meant that Arsenal move onto to 7 points along with Wigan and Liverpool who beat Sunderland 2-0 at the Stadium of Light in the day’s early kick-off.

Liverpool’s first goal was scored by Mohamed Sissoko. It was the midfielder’s first goal for Liverpool after 78 matches for the Reds. It was also Liverpool’s 7,000th goal in their League history. Their 7,001st goal was scored by new boy Andriy Voronin about 3 minutes from the end. Voronin is looking like an astute signing by Benítez and it’s starting to look like Liverpool have remember how to close out away games and claim those all important 3 points. If they want to challenge for the Title this year they are going to have to make that a habit. They can’t afford to drop too many away points this season.

There must have been a huge sigh of relief at the Reebok yesterday as Bolton finally picked up their first three points under Sammy Lee after three straight defeats. Goals came from Gary Speed (one of only six players who are still playing that played on the first day of the Premier League all those years ago. Do you know who the other 5 are?), Nicholas Anelka and the substitute Daniel Braaten. The goals gave them a very welcome 3-0 win over a very hard to break down Reading.

The relieved Bolton boss said, “There were a lot of positives to be taken from the defeats and I did not get too carried away because we were losing. Now I am not going to get carried away because we have won.” Good thinking!

At Villa Park Aston Villa beat Fulham (one of my predictions for the drop this season) for their first win of the season too. They left it late though, when the substitute Shaun Maloney scored in the final minute to secure all three points. Well, if Liverpool can do it…..!

Fulham had actually gone in front early on courtesy of Clint Demspey. But Villa equalised when a shot from Ashley Young deflected of Zat Knight and past the debutant keeper, veteran Kesey Keller after 51 minutes. But Fulhams’s “away day woes” continued when their defender Chris Baird was sent off on 69 minutes after his second bookable offence.

In the day’s battle of two promoted teams, Birmingham got the better of Derby 2-1. Derby are now languishing at the bottom place with only one point from their opening four games. Not suprisingly, Derby were my tip at the beginning of the season to finish bottom. I think my money might be safe then!

Derby are in very good company let’s not forget. As in today’s [Sunday] two games Manchester United take on Tottenham at Old Trafford. United are also on only one point after the first three games and are currently in second from bottom. I haven’t put any money on them finishing the season there though!

In the final game today there is the little matter of a North-East Derby. Who will secure the bragging rights when Middlesbrough host the deadly rivals Newcastle United?

The Soccer Blogger

Selected Best Posts From The Soccer Blog

• Transfers
• Ramsey targets Arsenal first team
• Deco pleads with Drogba to stay
• Dunne signs new Man City contract
• Barnsley capture Rigters on loan
• Johnson not for sale, says Moyes
• Wembley The Home Of The FA Cup

• Soccer Fitness, Soccer Training, Soccer Skills

If you enjoy The Soccer Blog, the please don't forget to Subscribe Here

Please feel free to copy this Trackback URL on your blog for this post:
http://thesoccer-blog.com/england-premiership/city-run-halted-as-chelsea-go-top/trackback/

53 views this week (Brand New Feature, just introduced.)

Entering Comments

If you would like to see your photo (or gravatar) next to your comment, please simply sign up at Gravatar.com and add your picture to your email address. Our logo will appear by default next to your name should you not wish to add your photo or gravatar image to your comments.
Many thanks
Rik