02/09/2012 Match of the Day 2

Good evening. Our first hat-trick of Sunday Games this season at

watched by Alan Hansen and Dion Dublin and with all the action from

yesterday and goal of the month thrown in, it is 70 minutes of

football heaven and we send you straight to the Saints to kick it

all off. This fixture not only marks Sir Alex Ferguson's 1000

league game in charge of Man United, but it is one that is bog of

history. April 1996 was a great day for Manchester United on the south

coast, a 3-1 defeat which Fergie blamed on the colour of the United

shirts. Southampton versus Manchester United has been an

incredible tie ever since. We have seen the Saints hit United for six

and the Red Devils get their revenge. The last time the two met

a United win at relegated Southampton after a 27 year stay in

the top flight. It is great to see them back, if only to see them

renew hostilities with Manchester United in the fixture that just

keeps on giving. Sir Alex Ferguson has scripted so much drama in this

fixture and he reaches another milestone. It is his 1000 match as

included. United make three changes. Anders Lindergaard is preferred.

Danny Welbeck replaces Ashley Young who is injured. Manchester United

looking for a 4th Premier when in their 5th visit to St Mary's. That

was typical van Persie. He has settled in Manchester United so

quickly and so well he could have little bit flat after a bright

opening five or six minutes. Adam Lallana got the shot away. A neat

little set-piece routine. The Southampton chairman is an

ambitious man who has driven the club forward. There is some youth

hour played. How about this? Rickie Lambert, hero of successive

promotion campaigns gets his second goal in the Premier League already.

Manchester United gave it away cheaply. From that moment when the

cross comes in at United are always in trouble at the far post. Rickie

Lambert was isolated and he was always going to win. 90 goals in

161 Games for the club. Manchester the way he dropped away from his

market. That has cost Southampton into a dangerous position, but he

He is such a good striker of the ball. Eight terrific game of

football to watch. 10 times Manager of the Year. 1000 League Games

disguised it. I do not think the goalkeeper would have seen that

until very late. Shinji Kagawa hook. A striker of his quality

was the Manchester United defence? They do not care. Twice we have

seen defenders make costly slips in this game. Morgan Schneiderlin put

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for days like this. Manchester spend dramatically. Southampton

have been the better passing team. What an outstanding testimonial

that is to Nigel Atkins and his work. It is a penalty. It was risky

Manchester United hero went for the little chip. Another day off huge

Southampton-Manchester United's drama. To casual, he knows it. That

was a brilliant challenge by van Persie is redeemed. The man who

squandered the penalty opportunity drawers at Manchester United's

level after a tremendous game of football. This time he simply made

Manchester United have won it in the second minute of stoppage time.

Irrepressible. Southampton are crestfallen. The Premier League can

be so cruel. But no-one picked him up. He lost his markers. A

brilliant finish. Manchester United I learned so relieved. When they

missed at the penalty I was gutted. -- when I missed the penalty.

Normally when he gets a parody he rattles that in the corner. His

first goal was magnificent. It is not a nice feeling. We are used to

winning at the football club. We give ourselves two goals but did

not see it out. You have idea drummer's and this is another one?

Adders and heart attacks! We did not really start playing until Paul

Scholes came onto the pitch. Scholes is unbelievable. He is

world class. He changed the game. He is my man of the match. We have

scored goals. We want to pass the football. At this level you get

punished. That is probably why defenders cost so much money.

years back I reached 1000 games. To be manager for 1000 league games is

exceptional. I do not think it will happen again. Three top games today.

That is top billing every time they get together? If Southampton player

like that against any other side, they will win. Southampton should

be proud of how they played. scored Europe debut goal? It was

not in the run of the video you short. It should have been in there,

my first goal. It was from a yard! I want to start 68 minutes into the

game when Van Persie took that penalty. No doubt Sir Alex Ferguson

had his briefcase with his hair drier ready. By the end he was

putting it back. I do not think he will be enamoured by the penalty

kick. What a performance by Van Persie. He had set them on target.

Three goals. -- seven of them on target. The first goal was classic

Van Persie. The position, the first touch. He scored a great cole mack

last week against Fulham. -- goal. He drags away. Keeps on going.

Keeps on dragging away. Valencia crosses it. He gives himself some

space. He makes it look easy. He still has a lot to do. It is

imperative he gets it right. And boy, does he get it right. The

goalkeeper had no chance. He had no chance because of the pace of the

strike. The next couple of clips we see that he is vastly overrated, of

course! Paul Scholes came on. The best player on the pitch. Then he

makes the penalty kick. He waits for the tackle. He gets up and

takes it. Like all great strikers he makes up forehead. He was in the

right place at the right time. Fantastic header. He is loving that.

Not even thinking about that penalty. You know as somebody who

was paid to score goals, the spotlight is on you. That is it. If

you are bought to score goals. He has started off like a train. His

quality is there to see. You miss a penalty. You stand strong. It is a

dream start. But you have to mention the Scholes at the age of

46! Southampton were tired. It was a perfect time to put him on.

Persie said he was the man of the match. Let's talk about Southampton.

If Nigel is watching now, he will despair of me saying this. The only

positives he wants are points. But it has to be said in the

performance, there are many positives. They deserved something

I'd of the game today. Not only for effort and commitment but for how

they played. They played some great football. The centre-forward,

Rickie Lambert, sometimes you look at strikers who are big and strong

and cannot play. He is big and strong and can play. He scores the

opening goal. He drags to the back post. Classic header. It is clever

because he is in the position to be able to adjust. I like this. Good

first touch. Place it wide, comes back to him. Great position to hit

it. Great instinctive strike. He put himself in great positions.

love this. This is clever play. He looks to see when Vidic is coming.

Vidic has no alternative but to go over the top. The second goal, that

put Southampton in the lead. He will give a lot of Premier League

defences big trouble. Money well spent when they bought him. Sir

Alex Ferguson, 1000 league games in Most wins, Tockenham, 34. The game

he like the most was the one at White Hart Lane when Tottenham were

leading by three-0, Manchester United came back to beat them 4-3.

How many times have we seen performances like today? 5-10

minutes remaining, they are getting beaten, they come back. There is

none Lock about that. That is what Manchester United do. That is their

footprint. He is only three weeks into the season and we have already

had a Ferdy pointing at his watch. -- Fergie. Right, the good news is

that there were no Sunday duds today, so it's worth staying up for

Newcastle Aston Villa. But for now goals the away side could not score.

At the moment we have not scored. We know we cannot score. But we

have not conceded. We know it will be a difficult game. Of all the

games we have had, they have been incredible locations. The

supporters really do lift the team and carry them. Hopefully that will

be the case this week Guy Mowbray is the commentator.

Nothing exciting on a premier -- deadline day. No Premier League

wins to date. There is one new face in the home team. He was wanted by

Arsenal but Liverpool got the deal done. He takes over from the

injured Lucas. Agger and Jose Enrique come Owen. Vito Mannone

continues in goal for Arsenal. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain gets his first

meat. It comes on a significant date. It is the 99th meeting of the

teams at Anfield on what would have been Bill Shankly's 99th birthday.

Borini fired the shot in. He is not shy. He will have at try when he

gets that the chance. It flew past at Reina. A brisk feel to the game.

Both teams in an attacking frame of mind. It all bodes well. 40 games

against Liverpool as Arsenal manager. He has won 15. He did not

win any of the first eight. This is Brendan Rodgers's first time as

Arsenal! Their first goal of the season. The new boys linked

perfectly. A quick Arsenal counter and Liverpool are on done. Cazorla

got it from Podolski. Saw Podolski continued his run and found him. It

all came from Steven Gerard losing possession. -- Steven Gerrard. No

surprise that Arsenal's first goal of the new campaign has been

created by Santi Cazorla, who has been brilliant. Lucas Podolski gets

reward for the effort he has put in. the post. Why did Arsenal not get

that one away? Top marks to Borini. He did brilliantly to keep that in.

Three Arsenal defenders went for the ball. None of them cleared it.

Sterling came close to equalising. went down. It is not a penalty. Per

Mertesacker stressed that the long- leg and made contact with the ball.

Giroud! He cannot find the target. He had to find the target. Not

quite as big as the chance he missed against Sunder land in the

first week. But he had to do better area. The crowd screaming for a

spot kick. Soirees seems bemused as to why he has not got one. -- Luis

Suarez. Mertesacker had a hold of him. It never takes much for Luis

Suarez to go down. Was he touched? I do not know why he has got a hold

from Reina. It was on target. Just got the feeling that something

five Vito Mannone. -- by the tow far wide. Reina may just have got

there and had his coast -- pulsed has deserved that. He has been

outstanding in the Arsenal's opening games. Reina has not had

such a good start to the campaign. He never stops. He drilled it

straight at the Liverpool goalkeeper. It is too much for him.

The more we see it, the worse it looks for a Reina. Santi Cazorla

has got his first goal macro for for Arsenal this afternoon. He does

not have another striker to put on. It is going to take time what

Brendan Rodgers wants to do with this Liverpool team. For the

supporters it is a very frustrating match. He sometimes gives the

impression the whole world is against him. Today it might be.

Three games in a row without conceding a goal. I wonder how much

influence Steve Bould has had on Mannone has parried it behind.

Watching Arsenal played today, they way they kept it, is that what you

want your team to do? I was fully aware of the job I had to do in

here. That takes players and a lot of work on the training field. They

are 15 years into their way of working, but give credit to them.

They won the game and by the end they hit the ball well enough to

secure the win. We still had chances and could have got

something. But it is a disappointing result for us, but

there are plenty of positives from it. Is this one of the days when

everything comes together for you? Yes, we had good cohesion. That is

why we scored today, but we had two good team performances in the first

two games. Therefore it became a bit easier. It was a convincing win.

It was always going to be a difficult start. We have got a very

young team and I thought Raheem Sterling was excellent. Glen

Johnson was terrific on the right side. You have got to keep working

hard and as I said we are not magicians as coaches. We have got

to work hard and work well and the results will come. Santi Cazorla

has had a massive impact very quickly. He is a top player. He

plays football like I would like everybody to play. It is a pleasure

to watch him and we are lucky to We sat here a year ago almost to

the day and we were talking on this very show, the first run of

analysis, was about Arsenal conceding eight goals in one game.

What difference is there? On the day their performance was

magnificent. We have seen them play before and offensively not been

solid. You can see that Steve Bould has been training them. Certainly

the back four are more solid and resolute and they get position

better this season. The near post flicked corner, but going forward

who won it for them today? player, Abou Diaby was absolutely

outstanding. Everything he tried today was spot on. He finds himself

in positions. That was a lovely dummy. Everything he did today was

simple. That was his vision, knowing what was behind him. He

keeps everything simple and he He was very positive. Every time he

passes the ball he tries to get on it again, or he moves forward. He

keeps Arsenal moving. There is a long way to go in terms of his

contribution, but the way he shapes up. It is the way he passes the

ball. His vision and his stature. A bit of defensive play from him.

Doing two jobs for Arsenal. Keeping hold of the ball, making sure they

retain it. For me today it was one of the best performances so far in

the three games. The three in the middle of the park where great.

What about Liverpool? Where they are the architects of their own

downfall? I thought Liverpool were quite impressive and they passed it

quite well, but if you are playing against Arsenal, you do not let

them settle and give them time and space. I thought Liverpool did not

do that. Arsenal had far too much time and space early on. Abou Diaby

had oceans of space. When you give multi-talented players this sort of

time and space, they will destroy you. That was a great move. Here we

are again when it breaks down. Liverpool press a bit, but when

Abou Diaby comes past, they back off and there is too much time and

space. A little bit of movement and there is a great chance. This is

one of the great moves of any season. With Liverpool the front

two Press, but nobody else presses. It is absolutely magnificent play.

We are talking about oceans of space. They are halfway in the

Liverpool half. You will not see any better than that anywhere.

Liverpool did not do badly, but when the philosophy is pass, pass,

pass, when you come up against a better team that passes better than

you are, you will be in trouble. Brendan Rodgers had three league

games and he said Rome was not built in a-day. Is there something

to be said for getting the basics right, the job you are employed to

do, and then build on that? Absolute leave. The first game was

against West Brom, the second against Man City. I was always

taught your first job as a defender is to defend. It is not about how

many times you get it right, it is about how many times you get it

wrong. The full-backs go further forward. Glen Johnson thinks he is

playing outside right. He is a multi-talented player. But when we

pick him up in this position, when it breaks down he is the first man

forward. You have got to have somebody filling in for him. This

is the first 20 minutes. Sometimes attackers do not get back as

quickly as they should do. He is the front man there again. He

obviously thinks he is a right-wing heir. He is looking for the ball

over the top and he is the furthest man forward. You have seen this

from an attacking prospective where Glen Johnson is relatively quick,

but Lukas Podolski is not that quick. Now he is not that quick.

But he ran past Glen Johnson. You have got to get back into your

position first and defend. He has not done enough. Today he has gone

forward too much and has not defended too much. It is well worth

the win debate. First, a little bit of digital love. From early

tomorrow you can see our burners, Match Of The Day three. Alan Hansen

loves doing it. All the goals from yesterday on the way after a trip

to St James's for a game between two teams who right now are in two

very different places. If you are Paul Lambert and you're Aston Villa

side need a win, you do not want a trip to Tyneside right now. The

Magpies have handed out some real hidings here and the past. One goal

just conceded in the last three encounters. Aston Villa might be

buoyed up by a decent League Cup performance midweek. Alan Pardew

gets to watch this one from the dug-out. Watching from the stands

a pitch side view of his new strikers. The last time they scored

in the same match was against a delay in February. Newcastle are

injury. Newcastle have been largely invincible here in 2012. Only

Manchester City have emerged reasonable power. Aston Villa are

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having a reasonable spell. They are was helped on by Ciaran Clarke into

the path of Barry Bannan. A good delivery from Barry Bannan and a

good finish from Keirin clerk. The man who was sent off last weekend's

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excellent block. Brad Guzan has come to Aston Villa's aid a couple

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stretching. The direction was not cats from Brad Guzan. -- the catch.

Some encouragement for the Newcastle supporters. Aston Villa

enjoying this. They cannot become comfortable save. It was a well hit

shot. Plenty of warning signs for Newcastle that Aston Villa are not

Newcastle needed inspiring. They needed somebody to produce

something. And boy, did Ben Arfa producer at? -- produce it. Within

the blink of an IT it nestled in the roof of the net. Quite stunning.

They will not tire of seeing this straight to the other end after

conceding. Still possessing a in front. What an opportunity for

Aston Villa to get all three points. Ireland knows it, the manager knows

magnificent intervention. On his Premier League debut, 18 years old.

That is as good as a goal. Was that a push? It was. A yellow card. When

Newcastle find themselves a winner? Good effort by Cabaye. Good save by

Brad Guzan. Cabaye was just about to embark on his celebration. It

was a big decision by Paul Lambert to leave Shay Given on the bench.

He has certainly justified that We played really good football. If

we keep playing like that and keep working as hard as that, it is a

start. It was not a great day on the sideline for us. It was a

frustrating one when at the set plays did not come of. We changed

position. The fair play to Villa. I take my hat off to them today. They

worked so hard. They can be proud of their performance. You made the

decision to bring in Brad Guzan today. What was the thinking behind

that? I thought it was the right decision for the football club at

this moment in time. He made two world-class saves. It was a big

call. That is the game. What were your feelings when you were told it

was you? One of those, when your name is called you just want to

help the team do well. I was happy to be in the team. You want to

contribute to getting a good result. Luckily it came off today. The goal

was special. He has been our best player this season. Fortunately, he

is not in the French squad so we will put him in cotton wool and

wait for Everton. At Lucker Premier League managers trying to impose

themselves on their respective sides. What about Aston Villa?

just starting to take on board the way the manager wants to play the

game. The energy he instilled into Norwich. Villa were unrecognisable

today. Their energy to win the ball back. They forced Newcastle to play

a certain way. All around the ball. All around -- all wanting to get on

it. Paul Lambert wants them to go forward. He wants the opposition to

Newcastle have the ball. Look at this closing down. Newcastle forced

into making mistakes. That was all over the pits, all game. That is

what you want to see from your centre-forward. Trying to get

chances for your team-mates. Signs of life. But if they are to prosper,

unless they signed Belgium's best kept secret, they need barrack --

Darren Bent? Yes. There are signs of the team doing well. Bentwood

possibly have scored this one back in 2009. -- Darren Bent would

possibly have. He is putting itself in a position to score. He should

have swivelled on that. He is looking positive. He is now on the

front foot. I think you will get his goals. -- he will. I would like

to see Ben strike that first time. -- Darren Bent. Good signs for Paul

Lambert. You know as the Don of punditry, no big sweeping

statements after a couple of games. People have been writing them off

after the first couple of games. They were poor at the first couple

of matches. But the green shoots of recovery were there today. What

does it say about Newcastle that that is classified as a bad game?

Newcastle have come a long way under Alan Pardew. They were not

very good in the first half. In the second have be played a lot better.

It is a sign of a good side that they can play so appallingly badly

in the first-half and come back and play so well in the second.

Obviously they got more bodies forward. There were chasing the

deficit. Unfortunately the ball did not get played in here. When the

goal eventually came from Ben Arfa, who has been sensational this

season, Dion Dublin was shouting, keep him on his right foot! He has

got such a wonderful left. Holman get back and takes him on the right

side. He did the right thing. Nobody realised just how good Ben

Arfa was. You do want that. You wanted him to go on his right. Brad

Guzan did that a few times today, kept them in again. You cannot let

Ben Arthur shoot from there. -- Ben Arfa. That is his first Premier

League goal on his right foot. So Dion was right! OK, six games from

yesterday, all bundled together over six minutes of goals, gaffes

despite some sunshine, such -- summer is all but over. The

transfer window is definitely closed. Until January, it is all

about the football. Some sites were showing off their shiny new players.

Others were having to make do. Where better to begin the round-up

than at Upton Park where West Ham had Andy Carroll, while Fulham had

dinner Tam Berbatov. -- Dimitar in 50 odd seconds. Andy Carroll had

a huge role in it. It is two to West Ham United. Winston Reid up

Fulham are terrified of Andy Carroll. He has heard himself here.

West Ham will hope it is not a dead leg. Or even worse, hamstring. He

did not score but he played such an important role in the first half.

Andy Carroll will be a very good signing on the evidence of this.

Taylor look in difficulty. Everybody on their feet to give him

a standing ovation as he is taken off the pitch. Fletcher! He has put

the Sunderland shirt first Steven Fletcher. Sunderland need all their

concentration. Niche you! He has done it again. -- Michu. This

fellow cannot stop scoring. Great leap. What a finish. Really silly

challenge by the Spaniard. It is a Outstanding save. A great run by

Snodgrass. Dembele! I goal on his It is Robert Snodgrass. Russell

Martin knocked it back and Snodgrass tucked in the corner. The

Odemwingie made it. Shane Long scored it. His first Premier League

goal of the season. It is in the net again from Gafa Macauley. Timed

his run just right. -- Gareth scores. -- penalty. That was also a

penalty. Johnathan Walters scores. Franco di Santo. The Argentine is

on a great run. That his five goals in his last eight appearances in

the Premier League. Stoke get an equaliser for a second time. A

lovely, lofted ball from Johnathan Walters and Peter Crouch provides

you have to say that had been coming. Queen's Park Rangers are

level, but that was all about Andy Johnson's deflected shot. There was

Bobby Zamora. Carlos Tevez takes the opportunity. He picks out Edin

Dzeco. Carlos Tevez gets his 50th Dzeco. Carlos Tevez gets his 50th

Premier League goal. Honeymoon periods everywhere. How long is the

honeymoon period going to last? depends who the boy or the girl is.

Andy Carroll is not going to play for a while. He is going to go for

a scan. That is important because he was magnificent in the first 25

minutes. We have got a lot of continental players who are in who

are very good, but a huge part of the English game is still in the

air and he is as good as you can get. And thoughts about Taylor. We

knew that straight away. Moussa Dembele got a sensational goal.

Tottenham have done very well to get him. Time up for the goal of

the month even though it has only been two weekends in football in

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August. Get cash tag Muppet at the Magnificent. What a brilliant

finish that was. That is what the money is 4th. That is as loud a raw

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or as I have heard for a Manchester Sometimes an easy job, no pressure

on you whatsoever. You have got to pick one of those. Sometimes it is

difficult and other times it is really easy. Do the right thing.

There are not many people who can score goals like Robin Van Persie.

I am going to go with him. Only two of us have ever scored like that. I

scored one like that in 1994. It was on my right foot. In your

dreams. I thought you grew up as a West Brom supportable stock I did,

what is wrong with that? Zoltan Gierek if you are watching and feel

free to write a letter of complaint. Before we go a couple of tables and

tomorrow's headlines tonight. Daylight robbery at St Mary's as

van Persie bags a hat-trick to beat Southampton 3-2. It never rains but

pause for Liverpool as Arsenal start firing at Anfield. And Aston

Villa are denied it the big three Chelsea are now the only club with

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This is an alternative table. That is all from us, but we leave you

tonight on a sad note as we pause to remember put all's forgotten men

left to walk aimlessly through the streets alone. The free agents who