26/02/2012 Match of the Day 2

And that's about a silent as the show gets on Oscars night. The

Barclay's Premier League once again proves that nothing in this game is

black-and-white. A star line-up in the studio. Alan Pardew,

Blackburn's true grit, Paul Robinson and I have a list of

insults from you, leave. Dr Dolittle, misses out fire, pretty

woman or Forrest Gump? Forrest Gump, definitely. We begin with the North

London of blockbuster between Spurs, the best supporting cast in the top

flight and a home side in danger of going straight to video for another

season. For Arsene Wenger, and Arsenal, they are enduring a seven-

year itch. It is unlikely they will win anything this season but their

last success was 2005. Eight top four spot is vital and to make that

happen they need van Persie to keep scoring. Just 28 so far. For Spurs,

it looks like Harry will be given an offer he cannot refuse. The

England job looks to be his. He has worked wonders with the Lily Whites.

They are still in the title race and Champions League football looks

probable for next season. As for probable for next season. As for

today, the Derby rarely disappoints. Jonathan Pearce calls this one.

For so long that a beautiful mind in the dug-out. Arsene Wenger may

be Unforgiven if Spurs win back-to- back league games at Arsenal for

the first time since 1926 to leave the, as' season sinking faster than

Titanic. Redknapp may not be Spurs man for All seasons but his platoon

start hot favourites for the first 28th birthday by hoping to become

the first player since Jimmy Robinson to score in this fixture

Tottenham Hotspur, inside four minutes. -- Louis Saha. Arsene

Wenger, suffering from a flu virus in the build-up to the game.

Arsenal have caught a cold in the opening exchanges. Look at the

space through the middle. As it comes back in, no one tracks are

Louis Saha. He has acres, absolutely acres. Some are will

claim it. Who should have picked him up? -- Louis Saha Will Claye

covering that. If he had got a touch, it might have gone into his

own net. Luckily for Spurs, he did not make contact. I am sure he

hope of extending that run of 15 years without a finish outside of

the top four. It's the side as it so often does, flicked off the heel.

Just wide. -- hit the side. Rosicky with a header. Splendid goalkeeping.

brings a free kick. Parker has won the ball. Very difficult to going

for a challenge like that without studs showing. The is cautioned. --

he is cautioned. Harry Redknapp, the Aith Tottenham manager in

charge of the team at during Arsene Wenger's tenure at Arsenal. -- a

What will he do now? What card will reproduce? Gareth Bale shrugged

away games. -- get thes. I don't think the keeper touched him. It

muted celebration from Emmanuel Adebayor. More sensible. They are

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 54 seconds

five minutes before half-time, Arsenal denied by the woodwork

initially but Spurs did not give it away. Sagna gives Arsenal a

lifeline. Brilliant by van Persie. Spurs have plenty of bodies to deal

with the cross. But when it came in, no one picked up Banchory sank

enough. -- Sagna. It is his first goal in 13 months. The man who had

broken his leg against Tottenham Hotspur, backing of torpor, has

scored against them. -- back in that?! Arsenal 2, Tottenham two. It

has happened again. This time, the other way around. Arsenal have

thrown away two goals three times in the last five meetings. Now they

have come back from 2-0 down. How much drama can this fixture give

us? It was a poor header, and then he opened his body up to curve in a

a shot that is. 41 League goals in 51 games, 29 this season. How much

does it mean, Arsene Wenger? Harry Redknapp has run the half-

time changes. Since they went 2-0 a very good goalkeeper. His 291 --

291st consecutive appearance. He complete with a terrific goal from

iPlayer who has had a very, very good game. -- from a player. This

in a year. So often hit by injury, so often an enigma. He has been

more confident, effective today for Arsenal. They cannot believe what

has happened to their team today. Just as Arsenal fans suffered last

season. There could still be more to come. Stoppage time play

included, there were 13 minutes and 29 seconds between Arsenal's first

ball and their third by Rosicky. A blistering period. -- first goal.

Van Persie in the middle! The right option, because I do not think he

saw van Persie coming through until very late. Goodness me, that was

Arsenal! Stunning. Absolutely stunning. Crestfallen. Van Persie

waited. Walcott seems to have pushed it wide but recovered. It

was a lovely chip in the end. Pearce had a rotten couple of weeks,

Theo Walcott, but he has given Arsenal a two goal lead against

Tottenham Hotspur. Four goals in quarter-of-an-hour.

They were Two-nil up going into the 50th minute last season and lost 2-

2. -- 3-2. They were Two-nil down after 30 minutes. Looking for

another! Well caught onside again! You could not make this up! --

Walcott. No scriptwriter could write this. Kaboul straggled

hopelessly in the middle. The first touch was decisive. A brilliant

finish. Spurs, hopelessly undone at the back. An Englishman scorers in

front of Stuart Pearce, who watches on with a big date against Holland

in the week. The message is clear Scott Parker. -- Thomas Buch Malan.

Tottenham's day of despair complete. He knew straightaway that he had

feature. Arsenal looked out of it as Spurs looked untouchable, but

the crumbling empire struck back, giving the gun as the Derby spoils.

I think it was a bit unjust to be two-meltdown, but by thought the

team would have a problem with their morale and spirit -- Two-nil

down. But they just refused to leave the game and kept going. What

helped as well is that we got back to 2-2 before half-time that we

could see Spurs were touched. just wanted to get it half-time at

2-0. This time last year, they were 2-0 up at half-time and we ended up

winning. So I just wanted that six minutes, looking at the clock, and

we found ourselves all-square. In fact, we could have gone behind.

Did you decide at 2-0 down, this is when we have to stand up as Arsenal

players? We couldn't keep going that way. We have kept losing

recently, including the Champions League and the FA Cup, so we had to

do something. We want the third spot, that is what we are after, we

have to make Champions League football. It would be easy, Arsenal,

Chelsea, they are strong sides. We have never finished above them

before, but this is our best chance. We have to pick ourselves up.

Could this be a real turning point, a real Cornerstone game for the

rest of the season? Let's hope, yes, that we can maintain the quality we

have shown today, the spirit, and that we do not lose players,

because it is international week and it -- is not very well placed.

It is a big problem for us. Real pressure on Arsenal before a

ball was kicked today and they showed real character. A lot of

character, a very big result for Arsenal. It has been a difficult

week for them. For the first time in a long time, there have been

questions posed against them. To go 2-0 dead in the first half an hour,

it was looking like an uphill struggle -- down. But they showed

such characters are not any get back to the game but to win it as

well. Allen, at the dangerous 2-0 lead, you felt fell to it yesterday.

Why is it so precarious? -- you fell foul. It was a bit different,

they got the goals before half-time, but it is still one of those were

psychologically the next goal is the best -- of the most important

goal and if the other team's cause it, it enoki back sometimes, as it

did to us yesterday -- if another team's cause it, it knock you back.

You possibly and start to think you couldn't lose the lead and then it

starts to go away for me. It is a big disappointment yesterday which

I still hurting from. So I will move on! Another great game

involving the elite clubs. Can you analyse that? Where do you start?

When you consider the week Arsenal have had, losing 2 AC Milan and

then losing in the FA Cup, and then going into this game, going 2-0

down, an awful start. I think Harry Redknapp said he got it rugged

midfield afterwards. The midfield of Arsenal's three really out Ran

Park and Luka Modric. Our -- Tottenham played 4-4-2, but it just

didn't work out for them. Arsenal caused them all sorts of problems

with the three up front as well. The way the three moved around the

midfield were causing problems up front as well. We see the midfield

of Arsenal, Mikel Arteta, Bassong, Tomas Rosicky. -- Alex Song. Scott

Parker has dropped off further back to try and shield the back four. As

the ball comes over to Tomas Rosicky, there is Scott Parker in

that corridor trying to protect the back four. Thomas Lisicki has acres

of space, he can pick any ball he wants -- Tomas Rosicky. The ball

goes over, and eventually they cleared. But watch what happens,

not a great clearance and it comes back out to Alex Song. This time

Luka Modric is the shielding the back four. Alex Song has no one

near him. We already know they have three up front who are really

lively. Theo Walcott comes in, van Persie hits it and it eventually

leads to the first goal. Here rather three. Look at Scott Parker

and Luka Modric outnumbered -- here are the three. Alex Song can pick

any pass he wants. Another poor clearance putting the back four

under pressure and this is pure magic from van Persie. Sandro came

on to try and shore up the midfield, but they were all over the place.

All of them on one side of the pitch, look at this base on the

other side and this is what Arsenal are good at. -- the space. There is

a situation where it is five Against 4. They have already

bypassed the midfield of Tottenham. Look at Luka Modric and Scott

Parker chasing back. The back four are exposed. And the rest is

history. And Tomas Rosicky had a word before game today. Arsene

Wenger got it spot on. -- had a wonderful game today. And

considering Arsenal were 2-0 down, Grade character. If you have other

things going off -- going on off the pitch, managers will say it is

not in the dressing room, but every time Harry goes into the press

conference at the moment committed England job, England job. Can you

keep it away from the players? can't really. It is like chess.

Once you move one pawn, it affects the game, and that England job will

affect the dressing room and it will affect Harry to a degree, and

his staff. It will unsettle people. What is probably best for Harry and

Spurs and England is to try and get it sorted quickly. He said he

hasn't had a fine call. Why not? -- phone call. Rob Lowe, this is the

whole thing with Spurs, full credit to them -- Paul Robinson. But the

way this league is, they are not home and hosed the Champions League.

They have had a fantastic season so far, they deserve a lot of credit

for the last few seasons, and to be that many points ahead of Arsenal

at the moment, it is something the fans will have dreamed about. But

the next few pictures, Man United at home, Everton away and a tough

home game against Stoke City and then going to Chelsea, their season

could be shaped over the next two or three weeks. As for Arsenal,

George Graham is talking this week about there being a crisis, and

that is because they have had a great awayday at Chelsea when they

had their backs against the wall, there Sabre went -- again today,

but it is going to be TROW fillers. It is and the disaster will be if

they don't qualify for the try it - - Champions League. Poor defending

at the start of the game today but absolutely brilliant for the rest

of it. Let's move on. With Manchester City wedding yesterday,

the simple question was could Manchester United keep pace with

them today -- winning? What is more complicated is plotting the

downfall of a Norwich side but have only lost three at home all season

and sit 8th in the table. Paul Lambert's marriage have been

incredible. They had taken the Premier League by storm, Prom but

that before then the best of they - - performing at the best out of the

promoted sides. Today, aiming for their third win in a row. United,

not surprisingly, are amongst the usual suspects to win a record-

breaking 20th tiled pool. -- title. Last time out, they were no better

encounter against Liverpool and before that, came back to draw

against Chelsea -- a bitter encounter. Martin Fischer is your

commentator. Norwich City will not be overawed,

having pushed the champions all the way at Old Trafford end-October.

What are the odds of a surprise twist in this one? Paul Lambert

twist in this one? Paul Lambert made six changes to the team that

dumped out of the FA Cup by Left-back Adam Drury is the only

survivor of the meeting here seven years ago, which Norwich 1 2-0.

Wayne Rooney's throat infection that means he did not travel. Tom

Cleverley injured. You clearly failed Sir Alex Ferguson in Europe,

so today, experience. This is Ryan Giggs's 900 appearance for the club.

back of the Met's inside seven minutes. -- back of the net. What a

start by United. City threw down the gauntlet and how United have

responded. Paul Scholes timing his run to perfection. He got free off

his marker and not sit home of from close range. His second goal of the

campaign and what a rise decision to come out of retirement -- what a

good stop by the Norwich goalkeeper. -- What a save. Fabulous, crisp

passing by Manchester United. And when it is cut back to Danny

Welbeck, at the first time shot was heading into the bottom corner. And

it would have found it if it was run of form at the moment. Unbeaten

in their last five, 13 points from young Spaniard. Great movement

Baikal Pilkington. -- by Pilkington. David de Gea is one of those

goalkeepers who uses his legs to such good effect and he produces a

splendid stop to preserve United's times at Old Trafford in October --

perhaps didn't have enough but it was on target. David de Gea read it

brilliantly. Norwich are pressing hard for the equaliser. No. Good

stops by David de Gea preserving Manchester United's son Glen the

lead. -- two could stopped by David is a lovely move by Manchester

United. The trees above route released by Ashley Young -- Patrice

Evra. Just didn't get enough power Lovely movement by Manchester

United. John Ruddy had no answer to it and but for the crossbar, it

would have been 2-0 to the Marriner gives a corner. Make up

hold. Were let's have another look at this a possible merger by Paul

Scholes -- Grant Holt. You have question mark it would have been

Contra no -- for Patrice Evra? It Norwich. The latest in a series of

great stops by David de Gea. He has had his critics, but if United do

get all three points, David de Gea will be their chief hero. Terrific

with the equaliser. -- can he turn. Seven minutes from time, bedlam.

They kept on pressing. Whitbread helped it on. How about that for a

finish from Grant Holt? De Gea, on terrific form, could not keep that

out. They could not clear the line. Grand old's control was good and

the finish was explosive. -- Grant Danny Wellbeck. Giggs with a

delicious centre. Welbeck, completely unmarked. Any touch and

surely United would be back in front. Only he will know how he

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 54 seconds

turning the screw, but have they all people, Ryan Giggs wins it for

United! 75 seconds into injury time, and look what that means two

players and fans and management alike. Ryan Giggs, in-game 900 for

Manchester United, wins it for Manchester United. Look how he

drove it into the back post. The right kind of purchase. United win

it. They demonstrate their title- winning prowess again. They go to

the death and they were met in injury time. Ryan Giggs with the

magic touch on a special day, does the job again for his manager. And

how many times has he done that over the last 20 years?

Saw the usual suspects do the business again. The win was down to

business again. The win was down to the good old boys. We were lucky

today. In general terms, we made the most chances. We have some

incredible chances. In the first half, I think Norwich were the

better team. It says a lot when Alex Ferguson says the best team

lost today. Was that right? That is really kind. But they walk away

with three points. I thought we did everything we had. We gave a

monumental performance but you have to win at the end of the day. I

could not ask for any more. Ryan Giggs scored for you in the Premier

League 19 years ago. Will we ever see the light of them again?

don't think so. For her a player to play in the Premier League for 19

seasons, scoring in so many, we have created an amazing man.

Fantastic celebration, almost reminiscent of the FA Cup semi-

final goal. Thankfully today, the shirt stayed on. I think it was a

mixture of joy and relief. When you score that later on, you know that

the game is over. Celebrations by me and the fans and the team-mates.

It goes to prove that age is but a number. Absolutely. Fantastic. 900

games for one team. It is incredible. When you pick a team,

you're not looking at their birth certificates, you were looking at

their ability. Today's age, especially with the products that

there are and the way we look after players, they can play and play and

play. Unfortunately, chairman don't want to buy players that are too

old. I have managed to -- I managed Teddy Sheringham at 38 and he was

brilliant at 38. There will be a few people heading to the bookies

to put a couple of quid or on 1000 appearances. We keep talking about

him every time he plays. He is great on the ball but it for me, is

his intelligence. The way he reads the game, and how he goes about

the game, and how he goes about performing every week, it is

sensational. This is him at his best, this is in thinking about the

game. He is ahead of the midfield, Carrick, Welbeck, he is ahead of

them. So we things, if I go behind, I can go forward. He makes the past,

many Czechs again and nearly getting. Absolutely brilliant. --

then he checks again. The full-back is out of position here, out of

position on Nani. Giggs is at the bottom. He knows that Carrick is

getting the ball so that if he gets it, it is on. Look at this

forerunner. He does not get on it but thinking all the time. This is

what he is perfect at. This is what he has done all his career, putting

those balls in. But he has had to change his game. He has had to

become more of the general player. He was a winner at one time and now

he is an all-round player. To get that finish, he has taken it with

his good for it but it is a great finish for 1993, is it, look at him

here. He still have the same run. He is about 40 here, I think!

plays like a little kid now, but plays like a little kid now, but

with the brain of a genius. We have Ruddy, about whom we cannot see

enough nice things. De Gea, he is enough nice things. De Gea, he is

in that position, where he is playing for Manchester United with

Ryan Giggs, with that record in front of him. I'm going to show you

little bits and pieces from both little bits and pieces from both

little bits and pieces from both goalkeepers today. Two very good

goalkeepers. Norwich are doing very well this year. De Gea, he has come

in and questions have been asked, but Firstly, great positioning. You

cannot underestimate how good that is. Here, a little bit of a charge.

He gets lucky but he keeps his team in the game. Talking about this

fellow, that is a lot of movement for a goalkeeper. Manchester United

do not spend that amount of money on a goalkeeper unless the homework

has been done. No one more question Alex Ferguson. I think he is now

seeing the best of them. The English game is very different to

any other league. He is going to have to adapt. I think you are

seeing it in some of the same sea is making. He is dominating his

area. He has taken across offer of the striker's head. Late on the

game, another fantastic save. He made a fantastic save in the last

made a fantastic save in the last minute. One movie night, we should

point out that he is the double of Jason Bateman from teen Wolf 2. We

both agreed that Norwich have been a credit to the Premier League.

Today as well. I know it will hurt because they did not get anything

but what Paul Lambert is doing is sensational. It is not just this

year, he has been doing it for three years. He has been

exceptional as a manager. That team this year has just confounded

everybody. We went there and got comfortably beaten. It is a tough

place to go. It is a fantastic environment. Everyone is a season-

ticket holder and you can sense that. It has a family feel. What a

great performance. So one lucky today. I think they have had a go

at the big teams. -- so one lucky. Yes, they got beaten at Chelsea and

Man United, but today they played a part. Last year, Blackpool had a

similar start. But certainly, Norwich have got more about them as

a team. I think he's got the balance right between playing and

doing what you need to do. Sometimes you can also play a

little bit, playing one in the hall, but when he needs to put it in the

box, he does. Grant Holt, another fantastic goal. Let us end the

love-in and get to the Britannia. Two sides that have been anything

but expendable. Both with some points to learn before they can

start writing the script for next season. -- points to earn.

If Stoke City are on the ropes, having suffered four straight

having suffered four straight defeats. They have not won since

January 2nd. Their last victory was against Spurs 11 weeks ago. Tony

Pulis will be looking for a knockout performance today. Swansea

proved to be the Premier League's Good fellas. Brendan Rodgers' boys

have played great football, earning respect and taking scalps. They

have lost seven away but they are strong at home. Today will be

another tough test. After only naming four substitutes

in Valencia on Thursday, Tony Pulis brings back is leading men today.

11 changes from the Europa League defeat in Spain. One or two

warhorses among the players that comment. Tremmel makes his Premier

League debut and Brendan Rodgers has opted not to name a substitute

head for Scott Sinclair. Less than two minutes on the clock and a

fantastic build up sums up what Swansea City are all about.

Perfectly judged pass, firstly from Randell, then from Nathan Dyer. --

Rachel. There seems to be a considerable height difference

between these teams. Stoke City are one of the tallest and Swansea, one

Williams. Peter Crouch is the top scorer in the Premier League for

But then it was tricky to try and pick out across. Such were the

number of defenders. Tony Pulis is a Welshman, and SNC has a big

rivalry with Swansea, being from Newport himself. -- and I sense he

the bottom of the net. From Matthew Upson, for his first ever goal for

Stoke City. It is only his 9th Premier League appearance for Stoke

City. You mentioned the sun in the eyes of the defenders. There is no

sun in his eyes. Stoke City have Swansea are trying to deploy, --

intricate tactic that Swansea are Peter Crouch! Swansea's debutants

keeper got his hands on it after Ryan Shotton's throat and a

prediction will attack from Stoke City. -- predictable attack. The

rookie goalkeeper could have done a bit better. With a Stuffer arm,

perhaps, he could have kept that trying to do, but it is one of

those days for Swansea where things are not coming off. They are yet to

produce a proper shot on target in Europa League on Thursday. Ryan

Shotton with his latest long throw. Peter Crouch got there ahead of the

goalkeeper and Jon Walters puts it over the bar. Gerhard Tremmel has

done well over the last couple of long throws into the box but was

bit of fresh blood to reinvigorate themselves in this game -- Swansea

are in need. Brendan Rodgers will be so disappointed that his team

really kill this game off. It was such an inviting ball for Jonathan

been there for try as we have been used to in recent weeks but spoke

pot -- Stoke's error count has been very low in this match. They have

not allowed Swansea's creative the first shot on target for the

Stoke City -- Swansea. It has taken goalkeeper, on to the woodwork. He

has so -- had so little to do, as near their village, but he was

first Premier League game since dragged themselves back from a run

of a four straight defeats. That result put them 12. Swansea's poor

away form continues. They slipped to 14. We work very hard on set

plays and closing down. Brendan Rodgers and the coaching staff have

a great job at Swansea and they move the ball round the pitch very

well. They stretcher and are not afraid to go backwards and sideways

and be patient -- a stretch you. We had to do it in a way which meant

we didn't get overstretched. Or we should defend the goals better. We

have worked on it and we get bodies in the areas where we know the ball

is coming into, we have done our homework, but the quality off the

ball in for the first goal, we are disappointed there is nobody in the

central zone, and the second goal, we give away a needless throw-in.

You know it is coming into they box and Peter Crouch has got above one

or two of our players. The England squad was announced this week,

disappointed not to be back in the next? He has gone for a young squad

and that is obviously what he wants to do. That is fine by me,

obviously I will have to work hard and do well for Stoke City if I

want to be part of whoever is in charge's plans. We have 12 games to

go and they will all be tough games and it is the real business end of

the season. We have been brilliant up until now but we will just

continue to work hard. It has been a tough season, that is our 43rd

game, we have been all over Europe and we are in the quarter-finals of

the FA Cup. It has been a fantastic effort by the players and we have

looked tired at times but the energy today was fantastic. Where

we get it from, I don't know. An entirely different team, but two

different styles going to war. know about Stoke and we know about

Swansea, and Tony Pulis was right, they worked so hard to close the

ball down. This is what they are good at. It is a corner, Matthew

Upson gets a run on the defender and just get away. A free header,

1-0 down. And this is from a throw- in. Yes, very difficult for a

goalkeeper making his debut, with the throw-ins coming in at such a

trajectory. Gerhard Tremmel got moved about there. A look at the

closing down. The next one goes, the next bongos. It is a big stream

of closing down. Swansea try and pass their way out, but there were

great, Stoke, it is fantastic -- the work rate. They tried to hit

them on account and look how quickly they get back. A player

gets the ball and he has five around him. As Tony Pulis said,

where they get the energy from, I don't know. But they did have the

game of just last week, so a bit of energy. -- off. But they played 43

games already. Those long throw-ins, we always talk about them, but

people down the park can throw them 40 yards. It is not a distance

thing, it is trajectory. Yes, it is very difficult for a goalkeeper and

very hard to practise against unless she has someone in your team

he can do it. It is a good weapon. -- you have. Should you leave it

will go for it? It is difficult. Managers probably want the

goalkeeper to get involved, because it created melee. Defenders will go

on to the line and cover the goalkeeper. A leisure while 100%

certain it is your ball, you have to leave it -- unless you are.

Adding Tony Pulis sees it as a success if they can get the

goalkeeper to come for them. It opens the goal up. Newcastle may

have played 43 games at this stage next season. What a feat. It has

been superb. You have to manage that situation. As you say, he has

made 11 changes and he has had to do that because he knows the energy

you need in the Premier League. The problems all of the teams have had,

Fulham as well, the energy you need in the next game. If we play three

games in a week, although statistics tell us the players are

not are -- at the same level, they will leave players at home.

Swansea, it is their away form. Take nothing away from them, but

the budget they have, and coming up, they have done brilliantly, but do

they changed the routine? I think his philosophy, Brendan Rodgers,

and I have worked with him, so I can talk about it, is that he will

play the way he plays, and he won't change. He won't change. And he

will keep banging that drum until their away form picks up. He won't

change his tactics. And they will get used to it and they will get

their way Windsor no really hope they stay in the division, because

they have been a real highlight of the season bash away wins and I

really hope of. Match of the Day 2 these days is bigger, Longer and

uncut, so still to come, all of the goals from yesterday and a special

guest. And one click away, we are off to Wembley. Highlights of

today's Carling Cup final between Liverpool and Cardiff, with the

Welsh side hoping to emulate the success of their fellow countrymen

at Twickenham yesterday. 11:05pm on BBC One. And Match of the Day 3, on

the red button on the BBC website from tomorrow morning. -- and the

BBC website. And also on the red button from 11:10pm tonight, the

BBC Philharmonic Orchestra Turner - - teaming up with Radio 5 Live for

a night of sporting music. They perform everything from Ski Sunday

to Chariots of Fire, truly special. Scriptwriters will have fun writing

about Newcastle this season, with Alan's men creating a few surprises.

Yesterday, they welcomed a troubled Wolves to St James' Park.

What a season for Alan And Newcastle. Wins, goals, happy days.

They went three months unbeaten. And the Magpies are still flying.

Champions League football is still a real possibility. In their latest

chapter, Newcastle hosted Wolves, led for the first time are by their

new manager Terry Connor. It turned driven in by Check dot a! Cisse!

Newcastle in front inside six a strike! There was no stopping him

that one. -- that one. No complaints from him about

Deflected and in. Matt Jarvis has come from two down to draw level at

will speak for itself, and I don't want to dwell on it, because we

have a very special guest -- You are here as a special guest. You

had a run of six in December. The resilience of the squad in January

and February has been magnificent. The first half of our season, we

relied on our big players, Demba I, -- they have all been outstanding,

but the period that was so important, after we lost players to

the African Cup of Nations and suspensions, the squad players have

been absolutely brilliant. One ought to have come into the side

and done it terrifically. We have kept an off-form and kept up there

all year and we need to finish it off. Best kept up as four. A coming

back against Arsenal, beating Manchester United, though, must

have been the highlight of the season. It is, because at the end

of the day, they are the champions and are the best, and tell

Manchester City prove that wrong. So it is -- was a special day and

we hope to have a few more. have mentioned a squad about three

times already, let's start with your goalkeeper, Tim Krul, who has

just been so strong all season. he is a younger keeper, he has a

good mentality. He has had a season where his confidence has grown and

the Premier League is one of those divisions where momentum and

confidence are very big parts, and he has grown this season. He is a

great character and enjoying his football. Demba I, let's go

straight to the front. -- Ba. I read a story about him urging

players to get more involved in the community, and he seems quite a

character off the pitch. He is, very much so, and he is in very

important to the new striker, Papiss Cisse. He has been terrific

and the fans absolutely love him. He is becoming an icon up there,

without having the number nine on his back, which is not easy to do.

There is a great statistic. When you became Newcastle manager, the

local paper did a survey and your approval rating was 1.8%. That

many? I am pleased with that! just under 95% there with the same

people. It may have gone down after Saturday. It may be 92, but she did

phase quite a challenge to be accepted and I am sure even if

you're -- you did face quite a challenge to be accepted and I am

sure up in your wildest dreams she didn't expected to go there as well.

You have to have faith in what you can do, and when I walked in there,

it was a tough agenda but the players have responded to make and

they are the ones that carry the club through. Terrific set of

players, I have been very fortunate. You say about finishing the job of,

what is that in your mind? -- off. We have expectations that Newcastle.

We have to be careful what we say and I have been guarded Ahmad.

tell us, though. We have been in the position of the European places

all year and we want to stay there, but the most important period is

now and the players need to focus on that. We let it slip yesterday

and 52,000 Geordies were walking out disappointed. But there. Could

be very important that the end of the season. -- the point. You just

have to keep picking them up and hopefully we will get European

football. And a little game next weekend... So under and, yes. Under

Martin O'Neill, they have been brilliant, said said sit up --

Sunderland. We have 10 points on them at the moment and we hope we

can keep that as it is. Does the clarify as Mr London, you can say

you prefer Newcastle as -- over London. Of course! I am an adopted

Geordie. Don't do your accent. We headed off air.

Arrested yesterday's action now. -- starting line-up and promptly ease

the pressure. Chelsea got their first win in five. Daniel Sturridge

put himself in the spotlight early on. Take one, take two... But the

best actor award goes to Darren Pratley who picked up a red -- a

yellow card for this fine Chelsea! He has done it. David Luiz.

Something to smile about. At the other end, Reo-Coker was gifted a

chance. Twice in two minutes the woodwork to punishment. But Drogba

had to wait not long. -- took punishment. Drogba is there.

Chelsea are 2-0 up. Suddenly, relief for our Andrei Villas-Boas.

Surely someone is going to put this in? But Frank Lampard had a point

to prove. The first player to score 10 goals in nine successive Premier

League seasons, not bad for a midfielder.

Peter Odemwingie burst Sunderland's bubble, scoring a first home winner

since November. The perfect storm, James Morrison was also eager to

get in on the action. Morrison's header! It is to nail to West

Bromwich Albion. -- 2-0. A masked man and a new England man was

introduced at half-time to no avail. Odemwingie, 3-0! Craig Gardner at

last gave Ben Foster something to do. West Brom look like scoring

with almost every opportunity they had. There might have been some

late consolation for the Black Cats but over the line or not, the

offside decision was immaterial. Andre's! For nail!

-- Andrews. 4-0. And all of lost between opposing

fans or managers, it seemed, at Loftus Road. Fulham earned the

bragging rights in the west London derby. Andy Johnson headed the

Cottagers into an early lead. Offside there, perhaps. Only for

the referee to spoil the party temporarily. Around the goalkeeper!

Well worked for some -- well worked. QPR's player discipline this season

is a hot topic. Take note, there is the yellow. You can probably guess

what is coming. The Malyon international learnt his first big

lesson in Premier League football. A 33 minute dismissal to mark his

debut. From then on, Rangers would have to seize every chance. They

looked unlikely to improve on two home wins this season. What a

glaring error. Four defeat set of six since taking over, Martin Jol's

consoling arm it did little to lift spirits. Alec McLeish faced fans'

fury and returned empty-handed from Wigan. His brighter spark is

leading to return to the dazzling light of LA. He was denied the

perfect send-off. Al-Habsi stole the show. At the other end, nothing

was going Wigan's way. This handball appeal fell on deaf ears.

In a massive blow for Villa and England, Darren Bent's ligament

injury has ruled him out of the international friendly against

Holland. Shay Given on the near post to sit

round! -- to tip it round. A busy

afternoon for one of our guests, putting in overtime to limit the

damage at the Etihad Stadium. A string of fine saves kept the score

at 0-0 but not for long. Johnson screening for the ball, in the

comes! Balotelli, 1 L! And he scores a goal with a message. -- 1-

0. The shout for a penalty was dismissed before Paul Robinson's

lightning reactions were on display once again. Sergio Aguero beat

Robinson but not the post, but he got a chance to make amends. He did

not do the best job with that! Sergio Aguero takes full advantage.

A lovely first-time cross! What a smashing goal and what a brilliant

touch by Dzeko. Steve Kean was lost touch by Dzeko. Steve Kean was lost

for words. I do not want to go into Clichy,

but may be a positive. 14 points in 13 games. I suppose the survival

strategy, the games coming up? have to take points from those

games. The performances have not been too bad. If you take the

Arsenal game out of it, we can take positives. You can compare it to

seasons gone past. You can say that we do not have enough to stay up

for it to this or that of the reality is there are five other

teams in the same situation and we have to make sure we finish in the

top two. Which was better than if you had come along a month ago

weather was not five teams in that battle. You were cast adrift. --

where there was not. To me about your opposite number. He has had a

great season. Without a doubt, he is the best English goalkeeper

playing at the moment. He is playing with a very good team. He

is a very confident young man and he showing that. He could be on the

international side for a long time to come. Joe Hart as England

captain, how does that sound? a consistent performer. You would

have to do well to take it away from Steven Gerrard, who will be

the favourite. He will play every game guaranteed. He is a confident

player definitely up there with a shout. Strange breed, goalkeepers,

can you trust them with the armband? There is somebody out

there who knows what they're doing. He wants somebody near the referee,

he needs to dictate now and then what the referee is going to do and

make his mind up for him. The goalie cannot do that. A quick word

on Man City. 67 goals in 26 matches, more than any team in half-a-

century in the top flight. They have become the 6th club in the top

flight history to win 18 considered of home games. Brilliant. The

statistics back it up. -- 18 consecutive. The best goals for,

the most wins, the joint defeats. Lovely stuff. What does pre-empt

tomorrow's football headlines. -- tomorrow's football headlines. --

let us. It was Die Hard With a vengeance as Arsenal's hot shots

come back from two down. Giggs was Best in Show with help from Paul

Scholes as Man City once again cannot shake off the damned United.

And deliverance.. They took the points against Swansea, who hit the

road to perdition. United stay close to City and the

gap at the top is two points. Spurs lose ground. Are sore move up to

4th. Norwich stay in eight. -- Usually we give you a few funnies

to end the show but there is one this weekend that stands out above

all others. I give you commentator all others. I give you commentator

Simon Brotherton, starring in Man City Blackburn, the director's cut.

Kolarov is in a lot of space. Aguero getting in behind. HE CHOKES.

Dzeko brings Milner into the game. Milner for Manchester City. And

still... It is a corner. Thanks to Bob Fleming and Alan, Paul and

Bob Fleming and Alan, Paul and Leigh tonight. Carling Cup