01/12/2013 Match of the Day 2

They know the importance of the games in the run-up to Christmas.

COMMENTATOR: Here in the Premier League, it is crunch time.

The start of a new month and a frantic period of Premier League

action, and another manager has lost his job. Martin Jol has been sacked

today, just one of many things for Mark Lawrenson and Dion Dublin to

discuss. Four games to bring you from today, starting at White Hart

Lane. Tottenham and Manchester United come

into this game in 11 and ten points respectively off the pace being set

by Arsenal. Gareth Bale has scored as many goals for Real Madrid this

season as Spurs have got in the Premier League, but there is little

point in looking back, and a win today could change everything. Three

changes for Spurs. Manchester United are fresh from putting five past

Leverkusen. They also make three changes, with clever Li, Welbeck and

Vidic coming back in. There is still no van Persie.

Chiriches broke his Neo 's -- broke his nose against Newcastle, which is

why he is wearing a transparent mask today. Heavy touch from Walker.

Manchester United goal kick. Wasted by Tottenham. He said he is immune

to criticism. Just as well, because he has been getting plenty.

Lennon has worked some room here. His left foot has never been his

favourite. He did not really get a lot behind that. Jermaine Defoe,

consigned to the bench again. Vertonghen's ball in, away by Jonny

Evans. Paulinho, as Jones let it drop, a lovely turn, and then a

sliding challenge from Jonny Evans brings Tottenham a free kick in a

very good position. Well, Phil Jones left this and allowed it to drop,

and Paulinho was in a very good position indeed, and Jonny Evans had

to foul him. But the mistake really was that of Phil Jones. De Gea seems

happy to have four in his wall. It looks like Kyle Walker is going to

go for power here. Into the net! Kyle Walker! It has gone right

through a ragtag Manchester United wall. Tottenham celebrate. Huge

relief for Andre Villas-Boas here. The wall jumped and the ball went

right underneath the legs of Wayne Rooney. De Gea is entitled not to be

happy. The 'keeper had very little time to adjust. It is still pretty

much down the middle of the goal, but Tottenham are in front, and Kyle

Walker has his first goal of the season.

Valencia's ball in, that was not a bad idea. Soldado, lovely touch.

Paulinho, can he get it to Soldado? It is a brilliant ball. Soldado! He

misses. Could've been two. You might argue it should have been. Great

Tottenham breakaway, beautiful touch by Soldado to start with. Paulinho,

I thought he had waited too long, but it was perfect.

Soldado lacked the composure to hit the target.

Great run by Lennon, beautifully found. Saved by de Gea. Lennon looks

for Paulinho, who had stood on the edge of the six yard box, and the

ball rolled invitingly almost along the goal line. Will these misses be

costly for Tottenham might have in -- for Tottenham? United are

fortunate that they are only one behind. Rooney! Opportunist finish

from Wayne Rooney! And Kyle Walker, who put Tottenham in front, turns

away in despair, because he has put that right into the path of Wayne

Rooney. And out of nothing, Manchester United have equalised. It

is a crucial goal, on the back of two big chances for Tottenham.

Walker inadvertently played it straight to Rooney. That is the

price you pay if you do not take your chances. And Tottenham did not

take two big ones. It is now one each.

Phil Jones arriving. And very nearly sliding in was Wayne Rooney. This is

what you mean when you talk about gambling, look at Rooney there. Just

taking a chance that it might come his way, and it nearly did. Half of

his six goals for Tottenham have been from the penalty spot, Soldado,

and he will be looking to make amends from that miss in the first

half. You have to go back 12 months for the last time Tottenham last

three on the spin. Sandro! What a strike! Well, de Gea is wondering

what it was that just flew past him! Tottenham are back in front.

Well, very measured celebrations from those in the dugout and the

boardroom. But Sandro has unleashed an absolute howitzer. It is only his

third ever goal for Tottenham Hotspur. I would hazard a guess that

the other two were not as good as that. That is a beauty. Well, who

saw that coming from the foot of Sandro? Tottenham, back into the

lead. Here is Soldado. Chadli once again.

Kyle Walker is busting a gut to reach this. Very strong by Vidic,

good challenge. Wayne Rooney for Manchester United, with 35 minutes

to go. Hugo Lloris... Oh, it is a penalty. Hugo Lloris on well back.

Penalty to Manchester United. Michael Dawson says that Hugo Lloris

got the ball. They can protest all they like, Mike Dean is not going to

change his mind. Well, it is the trailing foot which, on this replay,

finds contact with the outstretched glove soft Hugo Lloris. It is

Rooney's first penalty this season. And he scores. It is 2-2.

Tottenham's lead lasted about three minutes. Wayne Rooney has equalised

twice for Manchester United. Bobby Charlton, with the club record

249 goals for Manchester United. Wayne Rooney is now on 207. The only

other players to have gone higher than Wayne Rooney at the moment are

Denis Law and Jack Browning. Kyle Walker trying to hold off Jonny

Evans. That was so close for Townsend!

It is a corner kick to Manchester United, which has left one or two

Tottenham fans nonplussed, but it is a good decision, it came off the toe

of Sandro. Is there time? Barely any. 35 seconds on my watch. Hugo

Lloris did not get there. But he falls on it. That was a nervous

moment for the goalkeeper. He came they do have to settle for a point

each. It was a blockbuster of a game. Andre Villas-Boas and David

Moyes come in either of them will be too happy, but neither, on

reflection, will be too displeased. Sandro scored the pick of the goals.

Terrific game. Due to the fact that we took a heavy defeat against

City, it was a great response from the players, because they played

with no fear, they played with rate desire, and it shows the unity that

we have to go ahead. Tottenham were highly motivated, you could see

that, by the level of their performance. But we were also. We

wanted to build on our really good win in midweek. We kept at it.

Obviously after taking the lead twice in the game, maybe we should

have won it, but things happen in football, and you just have to keep

going. We showed great character out there. What was your view on the

penalty? Well, it is difficult. Obviously the referee does not see

that Welbeck leaves his leg. The 'keeper has no intention to bring

the player down. It is not the first time that we have penalties against

Manchester United where players leave the leg to make contact. We

have had a couple of drawers over the last few weeks. If we can turn

them into victories, then we will be a lot closer. But we are doing the

right things, I think we are gradually getting better. The

pressure surrounding me this week I think was aggressive and agenda

driven. I am very fortunate to have a great group of players who have

responded in this manner to show the unity of the group. We sit with the

possible at the of going into the semifinals of the League Cup, for a

team which has not won a trophy for a long time. And we have qualified

in Europe, with 15 points, so, this driven agenda is not correct, in my

opinion. They have not had the best couple of weeks, but one man was

very, very positive for them this afternoon.

He is willing to work hard for the team, holding onto the ball, and

keeping hold of the ball for Spurs, keeping them ticking over. He keeps

hold of the ball, he loses it, and his first thought is, how come I win

it back? The blogs Jonny Evans. This one, he has got options, he will go

into an area down the right-hand side, where they have to against

one. He finds the best option for his team. This is pure strength, to

do this to Wayne Rooney, like he is not even their... Wayne Rooney is

incredibly strong, but he gets his body across, and he keeps the ball.

He tries to look to get a shot off. A year ago, the Guardian had him in

the top 100 footballers in the world, but he has been a bit

inconsistent since. That is the thing, it is end product, for a guy

that has so much natural ability. You could not argue about Sandro's

end product. He mishit one today. You are cruel! Tom Cleverley is in

the right position, but he should stay close. Sandro moves it to his

left foot, then he just strikes the ball. That is perfect. Just

perfect, the goalkeeper has no chance. He thinks, I will never get

there. Sandro will not hit a shot like that again this season. It

started to war three feet outside the post. David Moyes talked about

needing Wayne Rooney if Robin van Persie got injured, to play up top,

which is what he did in the week, and he did it again. What are the

advantages of the? With Wayne Rooney, when you give him a

responsibility to lead the line and be the man that is going to make

things happen for you offensively, he responds. At the moment, even

before the game, I saw him shaking hands, smiling, looking like he

would enjoy the game. He put himself in a position to receive the ball.

The others play-off him. His enthusiasm, when you see your

forwards on fire, the quality of past there, a bit of fade on the

pass, and another one there. A bit of fade. His willingness, he wants

to get in the box all the time. He wants to be everywhere. He ran 20 or

30 yards to get into the box and he got himself a goal. He has got to be

central to everything. As long as the rest of your players know that.

When he drops a bit, Shinjuku, can go past him? You have got a licence,

he sees things, we know with Wayne Rooney, when he is frustrated, he

causes problems himself, but he has been nothing short of outstanding

this season. Andre Villas-Boas said that a Manchester United player

dangled a leg out so he was caught. I think it is a stonewall penalty, a

great ball from Wayne Rooney. Danny Welbeck is trying to bring his left

leg through to stay standing. The pace of the goalkeeper and the pace

of Danny Welbeck coming together. I think it is a penalty as well. The

slightest touch, it is a penalty, but Danny Welbeck has waited for the

Dutch, which is nothing new. Is it a fair penalty? Yes. Definitely. The

free kick, you have a problem with the Manchester United wall. I do not

see why they jump. Another five yards further out, I can understand,

but that is too easy a goal to concede, far too easy. You have both

been involved. I have never been in a ball! You have organised them, so

is there an area where you do jump and an area where you do not? You

have got to know who is on the ball and what kind of a free kick taker

he is. I would be in the line of the ball. The second man in the wall and

the post. You go on tip toes. If you stand there and the guide takes a

free kick and bends it into the top corner, well done. But to concede a

goal like that... Further out, absolutely. Andre Villas-Boas seemed

angry, talking about a gender is against him, he seems to be involved

in an argument with the former Spurs chairman and one of the Daily

Mail's football reporters, is he right to be angry at the treatment

he has had over the last couple of weeks, given where Spurs are? Spurs

have done fantastic. So he is right to be angry? I think so, he has a

squad of players, Spurs are overachieving. Despite spending ?100

million? Yes, teams around them are better, but they are still in the

race. What are you pouting for? I think they are underachieving, and

he needs to get on with it, they played well today, though. Next, the

KC Stadium and a match played against the background of the home

side's owner telling the fans in a Sunday newspaper that if they were

protesting against any name change, they were hooligans.

There was nothing sophisticated the last time these teams met, Hull City

waved goodbye to the Premier League and Liverpool to Rafa Benitez. Much

has changed since. Hull City face the ultimate test the day, to avoid

a fifth defeat in six games. Two alterations by Steve Bruce, as he

changes to three at the back. Income Alex Bruce and David Meyler. George

Boyd drops to the bench. Daniel Sturridge is missing for Liverpool

and will be out for between six and eight weeks. Felipe could see Neo is

on the bench with an ankle problem, so Victor Moses and Raheem Sterling

start, and Kolo Toure Ray comes in. Hull City's first corner of the

game. This man has been in the headlines this morning. In an

interview with a national Sunday newspaper, his response to the

supporters being unhappy about the name change proposal.

Curtis Davies, just wide. He scored here against Cardiff this season. It

just think back in. He got her -- he got there ahead of Martin scuttle,

but could not direct it towards the target.

Away from Simon Mignolet, Jake Livermore begins the Hull City

celebrations. Victor Moses gave it away. A lovely touch back to jake

billable -- to Jake Livermore. No chance for Simon Mignolet. That

might be the stroke of luck that Hull City required. Jake Livermore

will claim his first Premier league goal, with a huge helping hand from

Martin scuttle. And a huge jump in the air from Steve Bruce. 21 minutes

gone. One clean sheet in ten games for his

team, there is no doubt they can score goals, but they are conceding

them. Curtis Davies felt that Jordan

Henderson dived. It was his own header, he passed it to himself. He

was very quick to the second ball. Steven Gerrard has found the back of

the net, Liverpool are level. Steven Gerrard was his -- with his third of

the season. Allan McGregor spent a long time organising the wall, and

that was inch perfect. The goalkeeper nowhere near it. His last

goal was his 100th in the Premier League, at Newcastle. That one is a

welcome one for Liverpool to get them back level.

His team have only scored more than once on one occasion this season,

the 3-2 victory at Newcastle. Excellent work by Allan McGregor.

Hull City survive. Allan McGregor was alert. It was a purposeful move

from Liverpool, Victor Moses got something on it.

Hull City in front again. David Meyler's first league goal of the

season. That was not in the script. A direct ball in initially from Liam

Rossini. Liverpool foreplay had dealt with it. But when it came back

to David Meyler, what a smart finish. It has put them in front,

with 17 minutes to go, at home to Liverpool.

Nobody cares about the name at the moment. Hull City have never beaten

Liverpool in there in Thai history. -- in their entire history. A

Liverpool free kick. It was just too quick for him.

It was a decent try, it had Allan McGregor scrambling. Just drifting

wide of the right-hand post. It did not really have enough power

to trouble Simon Mignolet. Liverpool almost threw it away once and for

all. Curtis Davies has been immense in

the Hull City backline. Deflected, and in. Again, off the

defender, and Hull City can begin the celebrations now. Their first

ever victory over Liverpool is complete. A famous day for Hull

City. Credit to Yannick Sagbo. He took his time, he saw Tom

Huddlestone arrived, and then he tried the audacious effort. I am not

sure that was going in from Tom Huddlestone. But Hull City will not

worry. Now he can relax and jump for joy.

And so can they. Deafening noise inside the KC Stadium. It is a day

to forget for Liverpool and Martin Skrtel.

Elmohamady is onside, being chased by Henderson. It could be four. And

it probably should have been. Neat build-up. Fantastic role in with a

little bit more composure, it could have got even better for Hull City.

He spent all week preparing for this, and his plan has been

performed to perfection. For the first time in their history, Hull

City have beaten Liverpool. They have upset the Premier League odds.

Steve Bruce's team come with a performance to remember. And a huge

lift to get back to winning ways, and they are positive headlines, for

footballing reasons, that have been written by those Hull City players.

It is always nice to turn over Liverpool, of course. But the big

thing for me was the response. It was our first real disappointment

last week at home to Crystal Palace, so it was a good game in that

respect. I did not have to do much talking, apart from a few bits and

pieces, they knew that they have to play well. We are bitterly

disappointed with the result, of course. We made too many mistakes

today, with and without the ball, to win the game. So, we were not

anywhere near our best today, unfortunately. We knew we would have

to set up solid, so, to win the Game 3-1 is great for us. To score three

against a Liverpool side like that is great. We will all reflect

together, find out where we can be better, and then go from there. When

you bring a team from the Championship, a lot of them have not

played at premiership level, and they are itching and dying to make a

fist of it. Sometimes, when you get beat heavily, or you lose a game

badly, it affects the confidence, so this gives them a bit of belief that

we can compete at this level. Once we went 2-1 up, we had more belief.

Is he claiming that last one? We want him to claim it because we want

him to cut his hair! We will come onto that matter. This Hull line-up

served them well in the Championship and it served them very well today.

Yes, credit where it is due, I thought Hull were outstanding today,

and you hear all the time about managers in training and

everything, and setting up to play against the opposition, and they did

it brilliantly today. As Steve Bruce just said, people who have come from

the Championship, he has got lots of honest players, who know what their

limitations are. Here, the one thing about them, when they did break

forward, they passed the ball. They have got a lot of midfield players

who are extremely comfortable on the ball. I think it is so important if

you are going to play this way. Listen, take nothing away from Hull,

but Liverpool were very, very poor today. But Hull put them under all

sorts of pressure, and Liverpool, every single one of their players,

gave the ball away, and they made some poor decisions, as opposed to

Hull, who made some outstanding decisions, no doubt about it

whatsoever. You get the ball, you come out and you play. You do not

just hack it anywhere. There is definitely a plan. Also today, they

are a couple of strikers missing, but it just worked. Here, at the

end, Elmohamady should have done better. For your wingback to be

doing that in the 90th minute shows great energy. Yes, but also,

Liverpool, quite honestly, had given up a double you saw it in the link

between the midfield and the strikers, but Huddlestone in

particular but that game, for you? Yes, he did, and one reason he

bosses the game, everything is really, really simple to him. If he

only needs one touch, he takes one touch. He makes the ball here, and

he did that on a number of occasions. It is just so simple Jack

he has got this laconic, almost lazy style, but the great thing about

him, he sees the bigger picture. Huddlestone passes the ball to you

where you want it. Not where he wants to pass it, he actually gives

it to you in all the right places. And it just keeps the team ticking

over. It looks simple, but that is the great thing about football, when

you make it simple, it is simple, it is easy. He always has time, doesn't

he? Yes, and here's a big unit, and he is this is Kolo Toure, he goes

down, I do not know what happened to him. We put a circle around

Huddlestone, and we're waiting for the whistle. We are going, he is

offside, three days! And then, Kolo Toure is backed up, so he has played

him onside. Huddlestone, I was going to say sprinting, but that is being

kind, he jogged up, and he gets the deflection. Not his goal, he does

not need to get his hair cut. No, it has been given to scuttle. Steve

Bruce has said, listen, I have got to have a conversation with the

owner. -- to Martin Skrtel. What we cannot let happen, he says, is for

it to fester. And in fairness, if you are a Hull supporter, you are

miffed about what he said about changing the name. Protest before

the game and after the game, but when your team plays, at home, you

just give them 100%. And with performances like that, he might

change his mind. Still to come tonight... Manchester City-Swansea.

Chelsea-Southampton. The latest on Martin Jol's sacking, and all of

yesterday's goals. And next, we go to the home of

goals. Never mind a fortress, the Etihad has been a torture chamber

for visiting teams this season. Six league matches played, 28 goals

scored, only two of them by the visitors. No team is safe. Today,

Swansea take up the challenge. They have lost their last seven at City.

Your commentator, John Motson. Sergio Aguero has scored 12 goals in

his last nine games. He has got 16 in all and he averages one game at

the Etihad, where City have scored 41 in ten games this season. Joleon

Lescott starts with Mr Sitch in Dutch -- with Nastasic injured.

Swansea have injuries to Wilfried Bony and also to Michu. Can Swansea

stop this pulsating home form of Manchester City? Yaya Toure, trying

to get at wherever going early. Swansea have been caught out

already! Look at Aguero. What form he is in. Pellegrini has been

talking about him in the same breath as Lionel Messi. Well, he nearly

caught Swansea cold in the first minute. Pellegrini knows that it is

the away form which has been holding Manchester City back. Yaya Toure...

They have got the bit between their teeth again, City. That is a foul,

surely. Bought down by Canas. Lovely ball by Jesus Navas here, just

tempting the defender to go in on the grading. Free kick Manchester

City, just outside the area. -- to go in on Negredo. Negredo to take

it... And he scores! Just on the eighth minute. And this guy can do

no wrong at the moment. That is now eight in his last 74 Negredo. -- in

his last seven for Negredo. There was not much the goalkeeper could do

about that. I think he was slightly leaning to his left, if that was any

sort of excuse at all. But it went right in the bottom corner from

Alvaro Negredo, really living up to his reputation from Seville. And

Manchester City score again at home. 27 now I'm home Premier League

games. Jonathan de Guzman has got good support here, with six Swansea

players in attack. It comes out to Jonjo Shelvey. Good hit by Jonjo

Shelvey, and Pantilimon response. This was an important save, not just

for Manchester City, but for Pantilimon, who is still being

preferred to Joe Hart. Ben Davies, de Guzman onto Shelvey. He has

another strike, and Pantilimon saves again. And immediately he berates

his defence. I am not surprised, they laid off there. So, for the

England goalkeeper, it is still a matter of wait and see. This is

Alejandro Pozuelo for Swansea. He was not able to get that on to de

Guzman, and Manchester City have broken away again here. Nasri is

coming back across the pitch, then he turns and finds Clichy. Aguero

waits in the middle, as does Negredo. Aguero! Locked at the near

post by Gerhard Tremmel. The two strikers took up damaging positions,

but it was Aguero who had the shot. Corner to Manchester City, to be

taken by Nasri. Demichelis clips the bar! I thought that was going in. It

beat the goalkeeper. Two City players almost got to the rebound.

Here is Shelvey. And de Guzman! Jonathan de Guzman! And he has

missed! Can you afford that at the Etihad?! A rueful smile on the face

of Michael Laudrup. It was another brilliant Swansea move, superbly set

up for Jonathan de Guzman and he just gets underneath the shot.

Demichelis was left on his backside and I do not think the goalkeeper

really had a chance. If he had kept it low, he would have scored. So far

this season, Swansea have actually done better away than at home,

winning three out of six, at West Brom, Crystal Palace and Fulham. Not

having it all their own way today, Manchester City. Aguero! Side

netting. Well, Swansea have not been caught out that often, but he did

get away from the defender. He went around Tremmel, but in doing so,

took the ball a bit too wide. What is Pellegrini going to say here?

Perhaps he thinks they are too deep. Yaya Toure... Nasri! Manchester City

score again. Samir Nasri the scorer, after a week in which he has

admitted how disappointed he was with his form last season. But how

much better he has been this time around. It was another one of those

setups from the foot of Yaya Toure. He is so strong when he comes out

like that from midfield. Ashley Williams sold himself a bit there.

But anyway, Nasri scores, and Manchester City go two up in the

58th minute. Samir Nasri, picking up his fourth Goal of the Season.

Manchester City will be anxious to know how other teams have fared on

this busy Sunday. In the meantime, they are conducting their own

business here. Surely this time... No. Even the very best can miss

them. Swansea were stretched again here. Navas with a little touch, and

Aguero with the acrobatics. That could have sealed the game, but

he got underneath it. One of the commentators here today is Brian

Laudrup, the brother of Michael. Brian had a good spell at Chelsea, I

remember, before he had an injury which more or less ended that

particular dynasty. It is Samir Nasri again! Two for

him. It was an even better ball than the one which appeared to be on at

first. Nasri is having to refit time at the moment, and Pellegrini can

now safely locked away the three points. Nobody has been more

influential, particularly in this second half.

77 minutes gone and Manchester City are three up.

Aleksandar Kolarov has got a powerful left foot, and in that

forward position, he is not afraid to use it. That was that for Michael

Laudrup. Manchester City continue to dominate at home, which begs the

question, why can't they do it away?

It looked as though it was going in from here. Agonisingly close to what

would have been a personal achievement.

We are pleased because we won three points against a difficult team.

They played very well in possession. We did not play well in the first

half, but by the second, we scored three goals, and we had more clear

chances. We played a very good first half. But these players that

Manchester City have got, they just need a split second, they can turn

the game around. It is strange to stand here to have lost three -

zero, because we did so many things well.

Just a couple of incidents where they let themselves down. They had a

great chance just before half-time, from Jonathan De Guzman. They could

have gone in at least level. You go to Manchester City, did you sit back

and let them come at you, or do you have a go at them? They had a go,

but they are missing the two men forward players. This did not help

them. He is in no man's land with his position. Another step over...

Would he have had a better view? Yes, and he would have saved it.

Which is more important. This is Jonathan De Guzman. If you go to

Manchester City and you do not score these, you are only going home with

a defeat. They do not come very often, so you have got to take the

chances. For all we can say Swansea did well in the first half, a couple

of individual errors, Manchester City were imperious at times.

Michael Laudrup knows, he would have got into their side. This is in the

first ten or 15 seconds of the game. It is such a pace, it is almost

impossible to deal with. It is what happened last week against

Tottenham. When they decide to go, it is the charge of the light

Brigade. All five of them. In the end, it is not a good ball from

Jesus Navas, but the other thing is, you will keep going, because you

know you will get the ball. Samir Nasri was outstanding today, along

with Alvaro Negredo and Yaya Toure and Sergio Aguero. Look at how many

blue shirts are arriving. Very difficult to pick up. Some of the

stuff they do, Yaya Toure, it is like a movable wardrobe. You cannot

do anything about it. Fantastic feat for a big fan. Pablo Zabaleta arise

his chip. Every time they go forward, there are so many options.

Samir Nasri's first touch is outstanding. If Yaya Toure picks a

pass, he will pick somebody who can finish. A wall like that... Pablo

Zabaleta picks his head up, it looks so simple. That is the theme. I have

a theory about Samir Nasri, when David Silva is in the team, it does

not quite work. I just think sometimes, when David Silva is not

playing, he takes on more responsibility, and he looks like

the player they thought they had signed. If Samir Nasri goes inside,

Alvaro Negredo goes to the left, or Gael Clichy goes beyond Jesus Navas.

They can fill in for each other. Samir Nasri can drop off to let Yaya

Toure go forward. They were all going forward in those incidents,

but intelligently, covering the spaces, the ball will find one of

them. Nice, simple side foot passing. Away from home this season,

Southampton have one at Liverpool, one with Manchester United and been

beaten at Arsenal. What would they get from their game at Stamford

Bridge? John Terry makes his 400th Premier

League appearance for Chelsea as they go into the first of nine games

in December looking to bounce back from the defeat in the Champions

League. Michael Essien gets his first league start since May 2012.

Juan Mata a first start in a month. Samuel -- Fernando Torres comes in,

as does Eden Hazard, as they protect an 11 year unbeaten home run against

Southampton. Southampton dropped Rickie Lambert to the bench for the

second time this season, with Daniel Osvaldo preferred. One other change,

Dejan Lovren returns. Chelsea need as big a performance as they put in

at West Ham last weekend in the Premier league. They do not want

another nightmare performance similar to the one they putting in

the Champions League. Would you believe it? Southampton have the

lead in 14 seconds, unbelievable, Jay Rodriguez from an awful backpass

from Michael Essien. Michael Essien has not played from the start for

Chelsea in a league game since May 2012. At home to Blackburn Rovers.

He showed real rustiness there. Careless, and a very assistant

finish. For the third time this season, a Premier League player has

scored officially after 13 seconds. Jesus Navas of Manchester City,

Asmir Begovic of Stoke City, today it was Jay Rodriguez of Southampton,

what a start. Morgan Schneiderlin thinks he made a

meal of it. He was not tripped, it was a dive. Morgan Schneiderlin was

right, Michael Essien gets booked. Michael Essien, shame on you. Shame

on you. He was nowhere near him. Oscar has stayed down. Both teams

will need to get the physiotherapists on. He kicked

himself as he turned. He clipped his own heels. His ankle. Chelsea fans

are getting a bit disgruntled. Dejan Lovren has been a rock at the

back for Southampton. After borage saved. His position was

a pitched range. He was momentarily behind the goal line. Chelsea have

been forced into a substitution. A great save. Terrific goalkeeping,

the man who had a nightmare at Arsenal last week. That was a

splendid save. Southampton were good enough to get

a draw at Old Trafford this season. This would be their best result of

the campaign so far if they can hold this.

The goalkeeper got there with quick reactions to thwart Frank Lampard.

As sound as they pound today, after borage. A terrific save, and forced

them, Gary Cahill from the rebound. The goalkeeper will look at his

defenders and say, why did you not react to the second ball? He did

brilliantly to keep it out initially. Branislav Ivanovic with

the header, the goalkeeper pushed it out at close range. He could not get

there. Branislav Ivanovic with the downward header, Demba Ba with the

flick on. It hit the post. The goalkeeper could not recover. Gary K

Hill was quickest to react, with the goalkeeper stuck in the net. Artur

Boruc may have damaged a finger. Southampton forced to change the

goalkeeper. Chelsea beginning to dominate for

the first time in the game. Gary K Hill has pushed his man off.

John Terry was there. John Terry with a celebration, and why not? His

400th Premier league appearance for Chelsea. The flying header. He has

played a captain's innings again. Look at his movement from when the

ball goes out wide. Poor defending. I great header. Paulo Gazzaniga's

first touch will be to bring the ball out of the net. Chelsea have

turned the game on its head. Two goals in seven minutes, both from

centre halves. Chelsea have looked much better with two upfront.

How many chances do they need to put the game beyond Southampton? Chelsea

have had nine second-half efforts, competitive Southampton. Daniel

Osvaldo looked at it, and hooked it over. Has their moment come and

gone? Ramires has been excellent in the

second period. Chelsea have secured the victory. Dejan Lovren switched

off in the Biddle. Demba Ba makes it three. In the 90th minute. A

terrible start by Chelsea, who conceded after 13 seconds, but they

have dominated the second half. Premier has been excellent

throughout that period. Demba Ba made a real difference. He has made

the victory safe for Chelsea. They John Loughran was caught lumbering.

An important victory. Off he goes to his boy.

That was a horrible start for you. This, but you have to be ready for

everything, so it is important not to be panicking. It paid dividends

with two strikers. You can be afraid to do it, because you have lots of

midfielders. We were starting to create chances, so I think it was a

deserved victory. Is it important to see how the players respond to the

defeat? TRANSLATION: The players will bounce back positively, because

we will continue playing in the way that we believe. We are playing

against Chelsea, they have not lost here for ages. We conceded soft

goals. I was pleased to get the first goal, it has been a while. I

am glad to get the joke of my back, it and used to contributing with a

view more, so hopefully that will happen. We were losing after a few

seconds. From the mental point of view, it was a blow.

to use the cliche, it was a game of two halves, brought about by Jose

Mourinho's tactical substitution. Yes, Southampton set up very well,

the formation was good. They do use long balls, which is foreign to

Chelsea, really. They like to play little triangles. But if you watch

the willingness to work from Southampton, they all want to go

forward. The nearest person to the ball goes, and everybody else will

follow. That is how they started the game. But you have all got to go.

Yes, if one does not go, you will get picked off. They made Chelsea

rushed their game. They were not comfortable on the ball in the first

45 minutes. They made the Chelsea back four go back to the goalkeeper,

two Petr Cech, and they made him launch it up the field, and they do

not like to do that. They have not got big, strong centre forwards who

like that. And they can press like that, because their defence is

holding a high line? Yes, the back four is incredibly high, leaving the

six people in front of them to go and work. And they do not score

goals -- if they do not score goals while they are doing it, it is easy

for them to get back into the game. They are now occupying both centre

halves, Southampton. Ba was fantastic, after he came on. Torres

started to have more space as soon as he had a strike partner. Look at

the gap between the centre halves here. That should never happen.

There was an area for Lampard and Ramires to get into. The two centre

halves are in that zone, and they should never be there. At least one

of them should be finding his way back towards a more central

position, on to the toes of Ba. That is what you have got to do as a

centre half. The change that Jose Mourinho made made a big difference

to them winning the game. I thought Southampton were a bit naive. The

full-backs were still bombing on. You are conscious of the fact that

you are playing against a team which is doing this, you pull the

full-backs in, you say to Luke Shaw, use it in there for a few minutes. I

just thought they failed to do that a little bit. Is that a way that you

can get out Southampton, or is it too easy to say that after just a

single 45 minutes from Chelsea? If you are Aston Villa, do you think,

on Wednesday night, maybe we will play two up? You can see how

difficult it was, with Ba and Torres laying incredibly well together. If

you do that, you have got to pull the full-backs in, like Lawro says.

If you do not do that, they are left to onto, and you cannot do that with

good players. -- two on two. I do not think Villa will play two --

against Southampton. But sometimes you can change the way you play if

you spot a weakness in the opposition. Possibly, but possibly

more so, it is to stop people playing, rather than the other way

around. One thing about all of these teams now, tomorrow morning they

will all be in the video room, saying, if this happens again, this

is what we do. You have got to have the personnel to be able to change

it in your squad. And I think Chelsea have got that. Whether Villa

have got it... One other line to come out of that game, Artur Boruc

will be out for about six weeks with a broken hand. We have a Match of

the Day for you on Wednesday night, because there is a full Premier

League programme this week. Full against Spurs is one of those games,

and Fulham will go into that game with a new manager, Martin Jol

sacked this afternoon after yesterday's defeat at Upton Park.

West Ham's goals came from Diame, Carlton Cole and Joe Cole. Sam

Allardyce said that this was a massive game for them, and the West

Ham players looked like it was a massive game. They were listening to

him, no doubt about it. All of those Fulham players, if they can look at

themselves in the mirror and say, I did my ultimate best for Martin Jol

and my team, then I am sorry, there is probably about three or four of

them. They knew he was under pressure. He even said, if he lost

this game, he was probably going to lose his job. I am sorry, so many of

those players let him down. We knew he was going to be sacked, it was a

matter of time. Why did we know that? Because they have lost in all

competitions six games in a row. It is impossible. The appointment of

Rene Meulensteen was strange in itself. What did they appoint him

as? I think that is a really interesting conversation. Eventually

we might find out. You need players, there has got to be an

element of player pride. You need your seniors to say, we do not want

to be down here, let's do it for ourselves, if not the manager. And

what message did that send out, when Rene Meulensteen came in? You are

looking at Martin Jol as a player and thinking, what is the gaffer

doing, or is he not the gaffer any more? For all of the players letting

him down, Martin Jol will have to take sponsored energy as the person

who brought most of them into the football club. They are decent

players, Scott Parker, Steve Sidwell, David Ruiz, but nobody has

really taken on the responsibility. Talent will get you so far when you

are down there, it is all about rolling your sleeves up and wanting

to work hard. The balance was not right and they did not work hard

enough, individually and collectively. Once it starts, it is

difficult to change it. Rene Meulensteen had six days in charge

of Anji and he has not got that much experience as the main man. Is it a

risk? Yes, it is. I would presume they would back him in January in

the transfer window, otherwise, why give him the job in the first

placement of in the other thing is, with all of these owners, they know,

if they are not in the Premier League and the end of May, they do

not get the golden ticket, ?70 million, in August. We now have all

three sides in the relegation zone having changed their manager

already. I feel for Martin Jol because he tried to play the game in

the right way, but he just did not get the backing of his players. With

Rene Meulensteen, is it a gamble? Possibly it is, because he has never

experienced what they have gone through. We know how good he is as a

coach, however. Newcastle, by contrast, cannot stop winning.

Yesterday it was West Brom at St James' Park. The goals came from

Gouffran, and also, a cracker from Mladen Petric, with West Brom's goal

sandwiched in between. And to think that Alan Pardew was a manager under

pressure as well. MARK LAWRENSON: That was crazy. The

loan signing of Loic Remy was absolutely inspired. The thing with

Newcastle is that their first XI is very strong. Once they start to get

a couple of injuries, obviously, not quite the same. But Alan Pardew is

doing a really, really good job. He is the second longest serving

manager in the Premier League, which is a statement in itself. But what

about this one? It sets up perfect for him, and any professional

footballer, any footballer, can strike the ball on the half volley.

He catches it an absolute peach, and the goalkeeper has got no chance. We

cannot gloss over the finish of Chris Brunt as well, by the way.

West Brom would have wanted it to fall to him, her but they could not

take advantage of it. Last January, they did quite a lot of business,

Newcastle. When you are talking about their starting XI, could they

do it again this January? Possibly, but also they might need to get one

or two out. You have got to get the balance of the dressing room right.

It is so important, with all of the foreign players. But it sounds

ridiculous that they seem to have found their best form when Ben Arfa

has been taken out of the side, and Shola Ameobi has been brought in?

Yes, but you have got to work hard, no matter what talent you have got.

It is the same with Berbatov. It is an absolute prerequisite. . You have

got to be very lucky just to rely on your talent. It will not happen. As

good as Berbatov is, if he does not work hard, you will get your just

rewards. You have just got to sweat, you have got to work hard, you have

got to add something to your team's performance. But if you have 11

players in your team which just sweat... You will go through sticky

spells! He is here all night, which is not much longer, fortunately!

Tony Pulis's first game in charge ended like most of Crystal Palace's

this season, but it took a goal of real class to win three precious

points for Norwich. Nathan Redmond constantly swapping rings. He is

away. He has got some support. Elmander! Hooper! Beautifully

worked! And Norwich city score a first half goal for only the second

time all season. In the end, it was very neatly worked. Redmond had got

away from Moxey. Wes Hoolahan almost getting there.

Jason Puncheon! Saved by Roddy! So close to an equaliser for Crystal

Palace. Somehow it stays out. John Ruddy making the save, and

eventually, it bounces away to safety. The match ends in

disappointment for Tony Pulis. Perfect conditions, royalty in

attendance, and the scene was set for a cracking game of football at

Villa Park. Well, at least we got the miss of the season. Ki...

Bardsley arriving! And Giaccherini has put it over! How has he done

that? Giaccherini, who last season helped Juventus to the title in

Italy, cannot find a goal to help Sunderland here. It looked harder to

miss than score. Giaccherini seems to fancy himself against Bacuna.

Touched onto the bar. The header was from Borini. Brad Guzan just touched

it onto the crossbar, I think. If he does, it is a fabulous save. I think

he gets the slightest touch. Lots of class on show in south Wales

yesterday. Aaron Ramsey, the Cardiff fans, and Arsenal, who continue to

confound our pundits by looking every inch the title favourites.

Jack Wilshere starting off in a very high position. He goes for another

early goal and was so unlucky not to get it! Great technique. The flag

has stayed down. He is onside, and he does not realise it!

Extraordinary. Giroud thought he was offside, but the flag stayed down.

This is astonishing. As the ball is played, he is onside, but he is

offside by, what, three yards. The flag stays down. He then realises,

but Cork has got back to cover. Another big crowd in this ground.

They have broken the attendance record four times here this season.

That is a great goal. He is back in Cardiff and he has scored the goal

which puts Arsenal ahead. Aaron Ramsey, it had to be. No

celebration. That is a controlled header of the highest order. It

hurts him his 12th goal in all conditions this season. He was

respectful to the club which gave him a chance. The Cardiff fans, let

me tell you, by giving him a standing ovation.

That is a sensational save, he has so improved this season. That is a

brilliant save. You would have thought it was in. A brilliant

finish, Mathieu Flamini. A terrific move. They decided to go up through

the gears, and finish the game. It is his first goal in English

football since January 2008 at a cracking finish.

A brilliant third goal. It had to be Aaron Ramsey. He started the

goal-scoring, he has finished it. The Cardiff City fans applaud him

again, they have been brilliant throughout. This was some test for

Arsenal, Aaron Ramsey and Arsenal have come through with flying

colours. Everton have borrowed some good

players, including Romelu Lukaku, at the star but the teenager on loan

from Barcelona. Gerard Deulofeu scores. His first

Premier league start, his first Premier League goal.

That is a remarkable goal. One of those players lined up in the middle

for Gerard Deulofeu, and it is mishit by Seamus Coleman. Everton

are fully in control. A right foot smasher from Bryan

Oviedo. Three goals, three points, surely, for Roberto Martinez was

like men. Bryan Oviedo's first goal for Everton is one to remember.

Stoke City will not be coming back from this.

Romelu Lukaku gets his goal. He was about to be replaced, his eighth

goal of the season. He has had to be patient. A resounding Everton

victory, a real statement. That was a big victory for your

former club, Norwich. They needed it, Chris has been trying different

personnel and formations, trying to get them into a bit of form. Very

important and well-deserved. The bottom three have now all

changed their managers, following the dismissal of Martin Jol.

Sandro's old was spectacular, but David De Gea cannot believe it. And

neither can Roberto Soldado, who sinks to his knees. The other great

goal of the weekend came from recessive psycho. Do not let that

detract from the fantastic header from the Spectator. Late arriving

kids at Hull City recreate the Abbey Road cover. Everton have been

practising backheel is, as you might be able to tell. Joleon Lescott is

seeing if he can turn into an owl. If you are going to go into the

crowd like Patrice Evra, at least get your bottom pinched. Cheeky!

Thank you. Good night. What a miss! Has hit the bar! What

they miss!