11/11/2012 Match of the Day 2

Back in August, Match Of The Day to's season began here at the

Etihad, with the hope it would give us passion, drama and excitement

and it has delivered that. Today is no exception. Chelsea against

Liverpool, Newcastle against West Ham and right here, the champions

Manchester City against Spurs. The Nasri. City have the lead back.

respect to replace rancour, this is it. And Martin Atkinson shows a red

card. Soirees gets on with it and it is in. Soirees takes a

theatrical dive right in front of David Moyes. -- Luis Suarez. Torres

is sent off and Chelsea are down to Three games, three guests, Alan

Hansen sandwiched in between Michael Owen and Jason Roberts and

think we should get down to are your Barclays Premier League

champions and it is all because of what happened here in the final

throes of last season. I want to remind further back to January and

reminds you of another classic. What a finish that is from Samir

Nasri. Brilliant! What a sight from Gareth Bale. Is there a chance for

Spurs to win it? It is Manchester City three, Tottenham Hotspur two.

From this seat, Roberto Mancini hasn't watched is the -- his side

lose in the League since December 2010, but after beating United

earlier this season, Spurs no longer fear the city of Manchester.

They have been 15 blue goals scored this season at the Etihad and had

fully Guy Mowbray will be describing more. -- and hopefully

Guy Mowbray will be describing more. COMMENTATOR: City are winless in

the Champions League, unbeaten in the Premier League and that is

something Roberto Mancini pointed out keenly in his match-day

programme notes. Two changes to the team since Tuesday. Samir Nasri has

out through illness. Silva and Kolarov come in. Five changes for

Spurs from Thursday in Europe. One key difference from last week's

defeat to Wigan. It is one up front, that being an adult Adebayor.

Jermain Defoe is a substitute, three days on from his hat-trick.

Before the game and every game on this Remembrance Sunday, a pause to

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honour those who gave their lives Has Hart brought down Adebayor? A

comedy of errors, defence and tricked but it is ruled to be an

accident or round. Mario Balotelli today, no gain time, just a

free kick for Spurs. A great position for it. Aguero was too

but he can't keep it out. Spurs have the lead. Steven Caulker went

for it. City again caught out, Andre Villas-Boas has already

engineered will win on the right side of Manchester's this season.

Spurs have not won at both Manchester clubs in the same league

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asking and demanding and the hard. Great play from Adebayor.

Just as you thought he was going to shoot, that fooled everybody. That

would have been some strike for goal. He did raise eyebrows with

his team selection, Adebayor and Huddlestone right across him.

Nothing going Zabaleta's way at all. Great work from Silva. Zabaleta is

into the box and how is that not a blatant obstruction? Huddlestone

knows exactly where he is going Friedel. It was an effort on target

but straight at the beat Spurs keeper. A great ball from Tory. --

well. That would have been his best chance to score in the game but he

lost it and all of his own accord. He completely lost his balance. He

fluffed it. Sergio Aguero, three Premier League games without a goal.

Really cool. He passed the ball into Brad Friedel's goal. The

loudest noise of the day. Massive relief around the Etihad.

Manchester City a level. Picked it is a bit of good luck here. -- it

is a bit of good luck here. That is last season has got them back into

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was not having about. -- but he she away. Friedel made the save. The

ball as behind for the corner. A couple of times David Silva has

threatened to getting, his magical touch was on the heavy side. Dzeko,

off-target. Tottenham's nemesis Ageing, creaking bones? Not a bit

of it. He flung out a leg to get the ball away from Aguero and keep

the ball -- and keep the score finish, Dzeko. Manchester City two,

Tottenham Hotspur one. Edin Dzeko, this super sub, has scored again.

The 88 th minute of the match. He took his time here. The support

arrived. What a delicious clip art is from Silva. Dzeko timed it

beautifully. It was the pass of the match. We still have a lot to do.

season. Half-a-dozen of those have come when he has left the

substitutes bench. All of a sudden the Etihad Stadium is a very happy

The game was not easy for any of the teams. Certainly when

Manchester City have those combinations between the strikers

it is difficult to stop them. You have to be very narrow and

concentrated because they go through the middle like no other

team in the world because they have that ability. A did you feel at

half-time things were going against you, 1-0 down at two strong penalty

shouts turned away? Yes, we are unlucky also with the referee in

this moment. We were unlucky with the referee. But I think today, we

deserved to win the game because the players were fantastic. I

should say thank you to the supporters because in the last

weeks they were very close with us and the second half they were like

the 12th player on the pitch. know you don't like being a

substitute, but it keeps working? It is good the manager knows as

well. I am not going to repeat it. I have already said. At the moment,

sometimes I come and sport, it is just coincidence. All you can do is

keep scoring goals? Yes, that is my job. It is not easy for players to

go on the bench but today, we had three important strikers and if

we're in this period, we can win. Are you the sort of player who will

be banging on the manager's door and saying you have to start me, or

do you let your goals do the talking? My goals talk, that is the

Today I thought was the performance of champions. Strong in the Premier

League all season. Pouring Europe. Against a good side today. 1-0 down.

They came back really strongly. In the end it was a fantastic result.

If Manchester City are good at coming back, Spurs have thrown away

a lead. Why is that? Spurs defended really well for the majority of the

game. They were brave, they held a high line. It was tough for them to

put pressure on the ball, especially as Manchester City got

more of the ball and dictated play. There were key moments. Basically,

going back to how Spurs defended, they were brave, confident. And it

was working. Especially after they went a goal ahead. Getting Man City

of side on numerous occasions. It looked like something had to change.

We were a little bit surprised that my son came in. -- my son. He was

really quite dangers and effective with the ball. -- dangerous. He was

really making an impact in the game. It was a tactical change I do not

think any of us Willie saw. He drew players and of the area. Allowing

Dzeko to run inside. This is the cole mack. He made a fantastic run.

Spurs getting deeper. A great ball. Fantastic finish. Manchester City

kept going even though it looked quite hard. The performance of

champions. They made some uncharacteristic mistakes at times.

But the spirit is 100 percent? Absolutely. Aguero would epitomise

everything that is good about Manchester City. In a poor

afternoon, he struggled. At times his touch let him down. But what he

is totally adept at his shoulder on the last defender, running down the

channels. If you get that wrong... That was a wild slice. Watch this.

Between the two centre-backs. You do not need a combination of per

Teeny and Glenn Hoddle to find him. Put it into the space. -- Michel

Platini. Sooner or later you will find him. In the second half they

did find him. Gallas played him onside. The ball played over the

top. Terrible touch. He slips and slides. You think it is not going

to be his day. But eventually gets one major chance. How well does he

take this. He cuts inside and passes it into the net. A fabulous

finish from a fabulous player. were sitting there thinking we knew

what was going to happen. Dzeko scores the winning goal. Is it

possible to be a great substitute but not necessarily as at -- as

great a player? It is possible to be a better sob, yes. I do not

think it is the case with Dzeko. Far from it. I certainly think

there are players who were Impact kind of players, who come off the

bench and are more suited to making a difference. Dzeko has scored six

goals this season from coming off the bench. He can change a game. He

has got size and presence. He is a cracking finisher. I certainly

think he has got more to his game. Cannot sit somebody's game more?

Maybe get that extra half a yard of space? Definitely. It is easy for a

any striker to come across on with 20 minutes left. Tired legs, you

are fresh. A lot of the time the striker is brought on when they are

struggling. You can only be a hero, really. A think he is great in the

air as well. When teams are defending deeper, he is brilliant

in the air. He is prolific when you start him. Any Abu boys scored

coming on as a substitute this season? No. Not yet. Any of the boy

is the score at others season? That's fine. To West London and a

chance for Chelsea to return to winning ways, and for Liverpool to

continue and up would trend. -- an philosophy. We are playing well.

They are enjoying themselves. you use games the result was

pressure. Once we get the bid of luck which will be fine. -- bit of

luck. We have three tough games in 10 days'. The performance level has

been outstanding. There is it bright future ahead. -- a bright

future ahead. A guard of honour is normally the preserve of champions.

But today, a European champion clubs present and past form a guard

of honour to heroes, heroes of conflicts, new and old. A tribute

paid at all three Barclays Premier League grants today. FA Cup Final,

Champions League semi-finals, they have played them all. 32 meetings

in the last eight seasons. Liverpool have lost just two of the

last 11. John Terry returns to captain the side. David Luiz is ill.

Torres has yet to score against his former club. Liverpool played 3, 5,

too. Glen Johnson scored the winner here last season. Jamie Carragher

points behind Chelsea. Oscar! It was not far away. Liverpool'

problems started when Joe Allen lost possession. They thought he

had been fouled. He was not. It was nicked away by Alastair. A little

bit more testing for Chelsea in the Champions League and indeed in the

Premier League, at Swansea last a bang, back with a goal. John

Terry. The inquest in the Liverpool defence had practically be gone

before the ball was in the back of the net. Johnson and Daniel Agger

between them lost him. It was a pretty straightforward task for

John Terry to guide it into the net. The first goal of the season for

John Terry. A frustrating few weeks on the sidelines is now but a

memory. Torres! Good save by Brad Jones. A let-off for Liverpool.

Good save by Brad Jones. It would have been a big moment for Torres

to score against Liverpool. He got a warm return from the staff at

Chelsea, Brendan Rodgers. He worked here under Jose Mourinho. Liverpool

playing on. John Terry is in all kinds of trouble. We heard on the

edge of his own penalty area. -- really hurt. We heard the shout.

Luis Suarez Falls On t John Terry's knee. -- on to. It looks really

nasty. His return from suspension started on a high but has finished

on a low. Gary Cahill, a more than believe he has missed it. Of all

the players he would bank on a to put this in the back of the net on

current form, it is Juan Mata. Seven goals in his last eight games.

He cannot believe he has not even hit the target. The game could do

with an injection of pace, to be curl. If it had, Brad Jones may

have had a problem. Chelsea down like he had been clattered in

the face. It is a yellow card for Glen Johnson. Lovely foot work from

Oscar. It was an arm, not canal ball. I think Howard Webb has

called it absolutely right. Good save by Jones. Chelsea looking for

a penalty, which they will not get. Steven Gerrard down for Liverpool.

Playing everybody onside. Liverpool scrap it away. The referee blows

the whistle. Steven Gerrard cannot get up. Torres denied here. Just

cannot score against his former club. Liverpool will be hoping they

can create just one opportunity, and they will be hoping if they do,

would have expected to see popping up inside the Chelsea penalty area.

Luis Suarez! It is 1-1! Luis Suarez equalises for Liverpool. With what

is, I think, their first attempt on target in the game. A corner kick

curled end, flicked on by character and Luis Suarez is definitely not

offside. -- Jamie Carragher. Luis Suarez heads is the 11th goal of

the season. -- his. I just wonder if Chelsea will take the view that

Luis Suarez pushed Ramires? There is a posh. Does he care? Not a lot.

Roberto di Matteo will be frustrated in the extreme if

Chelsea have a chance to attack. Chelsea's third corner of the game.

Ivanovic! Good chance. He has had to work hard to get in front of the

defender. He will be disappointed Cech took it away from him. Petr

Cech to the rescue. He was onside. He was played in by Enrique. Look

We had the chances to score the second goal. Mata had a glorious

chance. And the second half, we knew we wanted to score the second

goal to kill the game off and we knew it was important for us. We

did have chances. The goalkeeper made some good saves. We missed and

the second goal did not arrive. the first half we were slow and our

penetration, we made too many passes in order to get it forward.

Our tempo was slow. And the second half, the players were fantastic,

confident and belief in the game had returned. That is more like

what we have been most of the season. Any complaints on the

equaliser? You might have seen this as a Suarez push on Ramires?

Ramires was with him, gave him a push in the back. We did not get

the free kick. Do you see this shaping up between Chelsea and the

two Manchester club? It looks like it. We had a very good start.

Manchester started with their defeat but they are still there.

Now they are top of the Premier League, United and they have

advantage of a few points. It is early days. I know as a kid you

were a striker. The thing you had four goals in 700 games for

Liverpool. Is it five? Would it have been six if Suarez had not put

it in? I don't know, was it going in? Maybe it needed a touch.

would love to see Luis Suarez get the goal. Chelsea might think that

you should Ramires a little bit. You were probably looking the other

way, I guess? Suarez did? I haven't seen it. It is part and parcel of

corners. Defenders get a lot to -- get away with a lot. That is the

burning issue, two strikers and defender, can you clear it up for

ball comes in, the pushed there, it is conclusive. Jason? Everyone is

looking at the first challenge with Carragher, that is why he gets away

with it. That is a blatant push. They will be disappointed with it

but defenders do it all the time in the box, so a little bit of a hook

for a striker. Agreed? Yes, it is a blatant push but defenders Paul and

push and everything all the time. Up that is what I thought U3 would

say. It went to script. The real disappointment for Chelsea was that

it was not all over, long before that? Absolutely. I thought in the

first half Liverpool were awful. They had a lot of possession but it

was like twenty-five passes back to the same bit at Chelsea rolled over

the top of them and conceivably it could have been three or four at

half-time. Effectively the game over. They showed a lack of

score there. This time soirees gets caught in possession. -- Luis

Suarez. They break in numbers. They broke in afternoon -- all afternoon

in great numbers. A good save by the keeper, it comes to Oscar, back

to Hazard and he should do better. Allen gets caught. Chelsea are

breaking again. It is fluent, effective. A little bit more

composure from Hazard. A better ball in. Mata is on the end of it.

The same again here. Torres is up, the keeper does well to get off his

line and pocket. The best chance is the Swan, Mata. We have watched it

three or four times and we can't understand why he hits it. Why

doesn't he take another touch? He has hit it early. They have paid

for it. In the end, Liverpool came back into the game and got the goal

and the last ten minutes, Liverpool It was all about the goal. Brendan

Rodgers said the first half was my fault, which was Fancott him but it

was all about that set piece, all about the goal and a huge momentum

formations were anything to do with that goal. It is a set piece. As

you know, in football, if you are only 1-0 to the good and you are

always in the game and Liverpool were that, as long as they kept it

at one. They managed to get the equaliser. If the game had

continued, then it looked as if Liverpool were coming right in

tight and they looked the most dangerous side. Chelsea will be

disappointed, after the first hour If it is 1-0, you are always in the

game. If you are playing great and 1-0 down, if you are playing

awfully, and you get a goal, it swings the momentum. You get a

massive lift. It is incredible. Jason, in that first half we were

saying Liverpool are smaller, younger, these are the problems but

our statistics Kourou really Jason said, do think they are

younger and smaller but I said it was about the same. Get down to

business, Michael, look at that. 25.5, the average age, exactly the

same height in the teams. We were surprised. We all were. I don't

think any of us called that. The average height is one we did not

see, and their age, we were surprised. Sterling is at 17.

was me who called it, I thought Liverpool were the smaller side

than Chelsea. I was so surprised when they came back. Their age as

well, I saw Liverpool were younger Terry was the oldest player who

started today. When we watched the replay, we thought it was terrific.

It looked like he had broken a bone at the bottom of his leg. He is

going to have a scan at tomorrow, he must be made of steel? It looked

like a break, I thought it was a break, especially in slow motion.

If he has got away with it without it being a break, you have to say

he has got away with it. All the goals and a special Remembrance Day

finish to come. We have a reunion now of a few familiar faces in the

third stop of the day. Everywhere you looked there was someone who

used to play here or manage their but I would not use the word

friendly. That Toon Army criticised Big Sam's style when he criticised

Newcastle but it is working for the Hammers. Alan Pardew, despite his

adoration for former players know when and Carroll is out to burst

his old club's bobble and the Magpies will want to score first

today, as they haven't come from behind to win a league match since

2010. Naturally that was against West Ham, went to Machrie Newcastle

flatmates now playing for West Ham got the goals. Waiting to see if

anyone celebrates if they score sort of reception Andy Carroll

receives. It was not terribly welcoming when he was too with

Liverpool in April. This week, Alan Pardew said he would jump at the

chance to have him back here. Today, Carroll returns, still looking for

his first goal for West Ham. Newcastle are without two of their

current key men, captain Cudicini and T yacht are suspended.

this season before last. James that. We have had better effort

than that, Matt Jarvis. He got it all wrong. It is nearly five years

ago now since Sam Allardyce was sat here by you know Eckersall -- by

might have been a collision of unease, which is painful. It is the

sort of challenge that Sam Allardyce, in his prime, would not

Clumsy give away for a free kick in going to make a change here. The

captain's armband will have to be handed on from Gutierrez. On comes

and 80, the Dutch international who was Newcastle's biggest by. --

Anita. Mike Dean is going to take the captain's armband to Ba. I

don't think he was expecting it, He didn't and troupe -- unduly

troubled Jaaskelainen. His first attempt on target, at either end.

They are looking nonplussed, like was. Kevin Nolan, who had a good

goal disallowed against Manchester City last weekend is there to score

against his former club and pointedly not celebrating it. He is

onside. The assistant got that absolutely right. Beautifully

tucked away by Noland. He should not miss from there. The former

Newcastle captain scores on his persistence from the West Ham left

done again McCartney, who just threw himself in front of the

effort from Ferguson. Alan Pardew, it says in the programme today but

West Ham provided him with some of the most memorable moments of his

that Ba wanted in there. Maybe there was a touch. Maybe it was the

tiniest of glances but it wanted more of a deflection. I don't think

he did get a touch, did he? That there. He wanted to give the

interesting to see how much of a case Newcastle had for a penalty

not yet built up any sort of head Ba with the header and it is the

age old question, was that over the line? That looks as though it might

have been. Impossible to tell just yet. West Ham have only one away

from home was this season. -- had only one away from home once this

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that. -- Jaaskelainen had a good There are far! -- Hatim Ben Arfa!

Jaaskelainen's saved count is save by Tim Krul. -- Andy Carroll.

He had the chance. Probably to score his first goal for West Ham

and to Rapid up for his team. He was not able to do so. -- rapid it

for it. Just over a minute of added time remaining. Tim Krul is in the

penalty area. It is just over his head! I thought for a moment the

Newcastle goalkeeper was going to catch it in the West Ham penalty

area. That could be it. It looks like defeat against his former club

for Alan Pardew. Difficult place to come. Mastered it well. Took full

advantage of Newcastle's extra game in midweek in Europe. That have a

bit of extra energy wasn't there. I'm sure Alam will see that. --

Alam. He seemed to take a long time to get going? A degree of that.

Nothing to do with a European game. -- I would agree with that. The

team was fresh. No excuse. We did not do ourselves any justice in the

first 30 minutes. When they scored, we came alive. That ain't good

enough. We have played Manchester City and Newcastle, two of the top

five teams last season, and taken for.. It is brilliant. After a

disappointing result against Wigan, this was important. We have come

back well. It is only a solid start. We have to get fit the elusive 40

points. How did you feel Andy Carroll played? I think he had to

control his emotions today. It was a really good save. He was

disappointed he did not score. I cannot criticise him too much for

the finish. It was a brilliant save. He loves macro Newcastle. It is his

town. He loves mackerel this club. He is under pressure when he comes

back. But the handle it well today. He played the game as well as he

could. That was the basis of us What with the keys to the game?

were the keys? Both teams played a similar system. Both played it

differently. Here you have got one with the midfielder running on to

the ball. Nolan for West Ham. It is so hard to pick up. You see an

example of him running forward. At bread-and-butter finish. With the

Carol, -- with Andy Carroll, he often takes two defenders to stop

him. He leaves spaces. There is nobody better than making those

forward runs than Nolan. Attacking midfielders. They get goals. Nolan

is like that. Newcastle playing with two strikers. Sort of a split

striker situation. This seemed to be always coming in with their back

to goal. Noel and runs on to play. Borth, insured. Trying to get the

ball to feet. It is very difficult. -- both coming short. You get

frustrated. You're not getting enough service. You come too deep.

You were looking to get on the ball. Again another 30 yard shot. Not

really troubling West Ham. You would prefer a further link play

with Papiss Cisse. Similar Fourniret -- formations but played

in a different way. Liverpool did not want Andy Carroll. This season,

Alan Pardew said Newcastle would love mackerel to have him back.

would be in my side. When he came to Liverpool initially, he was

injured. He had a hard time at the start of last season. Last season

he was unplayable. He was a nightmare. Franny defender that is.

His height is invaluable. People forget about how good he is in his

own box. In the last 10 or 15 minutes, he was playing the holding

position. Great header under pressure. He gets fouled. We pick

him up here. He is sitting in front of the back four, which is

incredible for a centre-forward. I do not think the two sitting beside

me could sit -- play in that position. This is absolutely

frightening. Wonderful play. He has -- he is like the boys, he has not

scored in the Premier League yet. But it by was anything to do with

Liverpool, he would be in my team. Newcastle are 11 points down on

where they were last season. West Ham up to six. Do you see West Ham

or performing and Newcastle underperforming? I think people

would say West Ham appointing above their weight. Newcastle have got a

pretty good squad. He would be expecting them to do better. The

second season for them will be tough. West Ham, it is a typical

Sam Allardyce team. They are strong, they know how to get results.

playing devil's advocate. A little bit of re-evaluation on West Ham.

How much have they punching above their weight? -- pinpointing.

has a system and you know what you need to do in that system. It has

always been successful for him. West Ham, because of having been

promoted, are doing better than they would expect. But you look at

the talent they have to call on, but yes, they are punching above

their weight. New Castle are better. -- Newcastle. The highlights from

Yesterday's action now. We begin you are beaten. For some teams

coming back from the brink is in their DNA. Others struggle to hold

on to what they have got. No matches over until it is over, a

philosophy Liverpool -- Everton have embraced. It applies double

when a Manchester United are in of half-time, Aston Villa take the

lead. The biggest goal in his Weimann again! Manchester United

looked for a flag but it was not there. Sensational. Hernandez! A

brilliant finish. Manchester United's super substitute brings

What an impact! Aston Villa 2, Hernan bit too. Steered it between

three defenders. It has gone enough were Ron Vlaar. -- it has gone

enough Ron Vlaar. Hernandez complete United's comment! Just

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got real power behind the header. Dimitar Berbatov. Bakala Ilic! --

Kacaniklic. Fulham have come from Dowd points to the spot. 108 years

of playing are stole away from home, they have never won. They are 3-2

ahead thanks to Dimitar Berbatov. Arsenal, led by a 2-0, are 3-2 down.

Giroud hits the post! Giroud! 3-3! Would you Adam and Eve it? Olivier

Giroud. Arsenal have been gifted one last chance. Penalty! It is a

penalty to Arsenal. Looked like handball. 50th minute of the second

half. Saved by sue fords or! -- shorter! Arsene Wenger cannot

believe it. That is the full-time whistle. Mark Schwarzer is the hero

his first Sunderland goal. Everton have gone behind for the 6th

premier-league game in succession. True striker's goal. In less than

three minutes, Everton have turned I want to talk about Fulham.

Berbatov was a fantastic signing. So much class. Technically one of

the best players you will see and a prolific goalscorer. Wonderful for

Fulham and their supporters. Goals from all over the park. Berbatov

leading the way. He played with him? I did. They spread their goals

around. Berbatov is a sheer class. The manager certainly knew he was

top class. He was just going for at a different type of player at the

time, maybe adding some more pace. Who would have captured him in the

summer was going to get a fantastic player. A headache for many?

Reading was 3D three this season as well? It was. He had a fantastic

game. Louise scored against us as well. A really good side. They will

continue to score goals. Any chance of getting them on here? I

goalscorer! Somebody who can score goals! Dempsey went the other way.

Four more games. With only one team of the eight starting Saturday in

said table after ten games and only West Brom did not have to flick to

page two. The Baggies know from bitter experience that the bottom

half is no place to meet as the nights draw in, so all he'll Steve

Clarke. For the others the only way is up, also they had. Not the

relegation six-pointer has just yet but that phrase could be back in

Queen's Park Rangers. The delight for Charlie Adam as he begins his

was trying to pick out the far corner. It is the best save he has

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the crossbar saved Norwich. Can relief for Nigel Adkins. The

midfield man gets the goal. After 64 minutes. How much redemption

here. He has hit the post and he has scored against his old club.

What a shocker for Southampton and what a bad mistake and they have

lost the lead. Swansea celebrate, but what on earth was Southampton

doing? The goalkeeper tries to be a bit clever here and Dyer snatches

at and the shot goes in off the Brom ahead, James Morrison. Brunt's

delivery had accuracy and Morrison way M. Gary Caldwell was the

unlucky player. West Brom's league Great to have two current Premier

League players on the programme. Five draws in there, it shows you

are competitive, you are not being beaten and the defeat was only 1-0.

We are disappointed, we are getting ourselves in good positions. We

kept a clean sheet yesterday which is positive but were disappointed

because we feel we can win games and we haven't been able to close

it out. We are getting ourselves in the right position to do it. We are

playing good football, feeling positive. We need to turn that

draws into wins and we will be firing up the league. Where's that?

You have been in front five or six times and failed to close it out.

Is it luck, being against better players, individual mistakes?

Individual mistakes, playing against better players. Strikers

will take some chances. It is a mixture colour combination. We have

to remain positive in what we do won't know that if we continue to

do the right things, it will come. Do you think if you get an elusive

win, the momentum will take you for? We have gone on runs at

Reading and if we get a result that we will go on a run. We have been

playing the kind of football that has given us the opportunity to do

it, we haven't been able to close it out. Few are quite vocal on the

pitch, you are enjoying playing and hope to get a run. Last week to

have a favourable bit of analysis on Match Of The Day Two, which is

bizarre when you are one of the people who appears on it. Did you

watch it, was it strange? I did watch it, it was strange. I can see

you squirming in your seat, uncomfortable that you have to say

something nice about me. I pointed out so many mistakes to the guys

but they did not want put them in. Stoke need goals, you were not

playing. You must cut the figure of frustration at the moment? Yes, it

is frustrating, being injured is frustrating. The team have played

particularly well this season. The last two games probably not so well,

away at Norwich and we were not at our best yesterday even though we

won 1-0. But by and large we have played pretty well this year. We

have played a lot of the big boys. A lot of drawers. We would like to

have turned them into wins. Goalscoring has been our problem.

You are the man. How far away are you from being fit? Two or three

weeks. I missed pre-season. You get yourself into some sort of rhythm

and it goes. I am hoping. Is it a big thing when you miss pre-season

when you are older? I would probably say so, yes. The legs do

not carry you as well as they used to. A couple of weeks away,

hopefully I can score. Michael, when you are not playing, you fill

your mind up with other things. How is the Village People tribute band

going?! We will leave it there. A big day of football and weekend

summit it on Match Of The Day to as some thing like this. -- we can sum

it up on Match Of The Day to. The Etihad is the Garden of Edin as

Dzeko comes off the bench and breaks Spurs' hearts. SWEARS --

Suarez bridges the gap. One of the prodigal sons was one too many for

Newcastle as West Ham pick up an impressive three points at St

United lead the way. Everton have a strong start to the season and dark

ahead of two sides of -- who are Villa and Sunderland have yet to

reach double figures in the points column. Now the alternative table,

the most goals scored by substitutes. Dzeko and Hernandez

are the headlines this weekend. Basic second and third respectively

for most goals scored by super subs. It is Fulham who are still top of

them all. Look at Jason's read it in 5th. Liverpool are amongst the

quartet of clubs at the bottom. Mr Owen hopes to change that soon.

That is all from us, when almost all footballers wore the poppy to

remember those dying in battle, rather than experiencing their

lives in the way most of us have been able to. We leave you with

memories of some of those who were lucky enough to survive the

atrocity of war and returned to the football field or the did out

beside it. Good night. -- the dug- # Will meet again, don't know where,

# But I know we'll meet Again some # Keeps smiling through, just like

# Until the blue skies drive the # And will you please say hello to