03/02/2014 Match of the Day 2

It is the most exciting Premier League in years and on Match Of The

Day 2 we feature four clubs who believe that this could be the

season they return to the summit of English football.

Sturridge. It is a fantastic goal. Oh that is simply magnificent.

Hazard. Toure. He has done it again. Good evening. On a special blue

Monday. We have action from yesterday's two matches, Arsenal

against Palace plus tonight's main event, the super-heavyweight clash

between Manchester City and Chelsea. Their last league meeting was an

October encounter with a dramatic finish. The best of tonight's

important encounter from the Etihad Stadium. But first we look back on

events at the Emirates where Arsenal took on Crystal Palace.

Anywhere will do for Oxlade-Chamberlain. Ramsey is

injured. This is the Eagles first ever match

on this ground. Oxlade-Chamberlain. A nice run in

behind. A descent save. A lovely ball to release. Good goalkeeping.

He was off his line really quickly. This was a lovely ball. Joe Ward was

caught a little unawares and couldn't recover. It is a good save.

The points that were dropped at St Mary's knocked Arsenal off the top

of the table. Crystal Palace would love the

opportunity to go front. It is a great start for Tony Pulis since he

arrived. Delaney gives it back again.

Mistakes are littering the match at the moment.

A foul by Delaney. An Arsenal free-kick.

They are the Palace fans. This is An arsenal free-kick.

A flip ball in. Oh, and it is a good save.

I don't know if the French defender got anything on it at all. It is one

of those that nearly looks like it is going to creep in the far corner.

Arsene Wenger who was appointed in October 1996 and behind him a player

who was born in January 1997. The first Arsenal player to play in

their first team who was born after Arsene Wenger took over.

Here is Joe Ward for Palace. A deflection on the cross. Jerome at

the near post. A bit of a tussle here and Ward got to his feet and

sneaked across and you could hesitate to call it a real

opportunity, but Jerome was there and Chesney made the block for

Arsenal. Oxlade-Chamberlain here. 1-0.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain for Arsenal, 90 seconds into the second half. His

run wasn't tracked. It is a lovely goal, really. A little step over. No

one went with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain who can simply

lift it over to give Arsenal the lead.

Just napping, Crystal Palace at the start of the second half.

Oxlade-Chamberlain makes them pay. The reaction of Arsene Wenger tells

its own story. Tony Pulis and his players have been single-minded in

keeping Arsenal out for 46 minutes. Now they have to try and create

something of their own. That's a good ball. A great save.

What a great opportunity for Crystal Palace. A deflection. It is a good

save by Chesney. Otherwise Palace were level. The first eight minutes

of the second half have been arguably more eventful than the

whole of the first-half. Oxlade-Chamberlain did well to feed

Arteta. A good ball, Arteta. The side netting and you could make a

case for Arteta to have a go at this one. The goalkeeper is in a less

inviting position. There might be something on here.

Delaney. It is Bannan and got right underneath it. That was promising

for a moment. He is on side. It is wasted in the end from Bannan. They

have had a chance or two, Palace in this second half.

And back to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. He could be in for a second here and

he is! Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, two goals

surely to make the game safe for Arsenal. Injured on the opening day

of the season. This is his first League start since. And it was his

flick which provided the opportunity with the return and the Palace

goalkeeper couldn't keep it out. Arsenal lead by two. What a very

good return for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

It is never nice being injured. It is a frustrating and ha period. I'm

delighted to be back and get my first start. We needed to be

patient, to get him back to full fitness, you know and

competitiveness as well. He had a great game today and scored two

great goals. He has shown that it is an interesting position for him as

well. He can play, I believe, both wide and central. Certainly in a few

years, he will be a centre mid-fielder, but he has that kind of

surge of power in the modern game that is so vital. Against the bigger

clubs you have to take your chances and Arsenal are a very, very good

side. They move the ball quickly and they will have their moments in the

game where you are hoping and praying they don't take their

chances, but you can't criticise the players. The players have worked

very, very hard again today. Something I want to improve on is my

goal scoring ratio and the boss is on to me, if I miss an opportunity

that I should score. It is an area I want to improve on. Today, it was a

nice step and in the right direction in terms of scoring goals to get

two. Oxlade-Chamberlain says he needs to

improve his finishing and Arsene Wenger says in a few years time he

will be ready made for the middle of mid-field. On yesterday's evidence,

why can't he play there now? He looks as if he has been playing

centre mid-field all his life. What I liked about his, his first thought

was, "Can I get the ball into a centre forward?" The first two

passes with his right foot and he is starting the attacks up. This time,

left foot across the pitch. His vision was brilliant also all

afternoon. This is the first goal here. This is what I liked about his

performance yesterday. He has seen the gap and he is going to run into

it. Poor defending from Palace. Ward will be disappointed. Their body

shape is all wrong. Oxlade-Chamberlain is running into

that space, but once he is in there, it is a brilliant finish. He did the

ugly side of the game very well as well. He wins it here. He is strong,

but he is not contempt to -- content to kick it up field, the Arsenal way

is to pass it out and he did that. The second goal, I thought was

brilliant, the skill superb, a little one-two. We have seen him

finish with his left foot before. This time he finishes with his right

foot. Look at his vision here. He has got a picture in his head of

what he is going to do before the ball comes to him. Once he is away,

it was a great finish. He joked about he has got to work on his

finishing, but there was nothing wrong with it yesterday.

He is two-footed. There were several examples where he looked before he

made the pass. Do you like his physicality? He can handle himself

in there. He showed that yesterday. I know Arsenal fans would have been

worried with the lack of activity in the transfer market, he is like a

new signing for them having not played since the beginning of the

season. Is it going to give Roy Hodgson a dilemma? Yes. I am going

to ask John later on for your World Cup squad thoughts as far as Roy

Hodgson is concerned. Also later on, we will see Liverpool's game at West

Bromwich Albion, but now to tonight's big game.

S Opponents big and small have been

shot down by the Premier League's most ruthless team.

But Chelsea could be Manchester City's toughest test in this

record-breaking season, skilful, organised, Jose Mourinho's men have

beaten City once this season and they might be the first invaders to

take maximum points from the Etihad Stadium. Watching this one, Guy

Mowbray. What a way to start the week! It

could be explosive. It will surely be a fascinating all-blue Monday in

Manchester. We have had eyebrows raised even before kick-off with the

Manchester City team featuring Martin Demichelis in a mid-field

role. One he did play to good effect in the latter stages of last

Wednesday's win at Spurs. The Chelsea side is changed by two

from their frustrations against West Ham last time.

A handshake. They didn't at the end of the game at Stamford Bridge in

October. They have had the pleasantries before kick-off

tonight. Negredo. Loads of room on the left.

Five sky blue shirts in the middle and it was Toure it was closest. It

only needed the touch. I think Toure got there. He is there. He has not

quite lifted his leg at the right time and place. Seven goals in his

last nine Premier League games. Away goes Hazard. Hazard just kick the

ball at his own will. The flag is up. The flag was raised against

Eto'o in the first instance. Toure. Toure. Petr Cech was a

worried Chelsea goalkeeper for a second or two there.

It seemed casually, but look at the pace on the ball and it was dipping,

but not quite quickly enough. Now, it is Toure. Toure again. He

has managed to pull it across and it is just wide from Silva.

Toure was always seen to be potentially the most influential

player on the field for Manchester City tonight and it is proving that

way. Strong and positive. It is a lovely ball back for Silva. David

Silva thinks he should have scored. Now City are opened up. It is

Willian, Hazard and Ramires to his left. It is Ramires. A great save

Hart. Willian now. Way, way over the bar. Chelsea charging on the.

Counter-attack. Look at that, it is four on one at one stage. Ramires, a

really good save from Joe Hart and even then Chelsea had a chance.

Willian had the chance to get it down and feed it out to Eto'o and

went for the spectacular. Hazard is showing good strength to

see off Martin Demichelis. Good skill there to dart between here and

and there. That's in! That's fired in brilliantly by Ivanovic.

Manchester City couldn't get the ball away and of all people, it is

Ivanovic who fires Chelsea in front. Hazard is the architect. Starts on

the left and he carried on wandering right the way across the area to the

right hand side. Great block save by Kompany.

Ivanovic only had one crack at that and cracked it in quite brilliantly.

It is only his second goal of the season. His first came way back at

the start of the campaign against Aston Villa. What a good goal that

could be. Eto'o will find him. Hazard has been superb. Eto'o is on

side. He timed it well. Willian hanging back, but no way through.

City are having problems giving it away. That's Hart down to save.

There is a few arguments going on in the back and in the mid-field

amongst City City's -- Manchester City's players.

Hazard, the danger man. What a chance this is of the it is off the

post. Samuel Eto'o into that on the full. It is brilliant again from

Hazard. Eto'o thought he scored the Chelsea second. He got himself set

perfectly. Jose Mourinho rues one that got away.

A touch down for Toure and it flashes across the face. It didn't

so much flash across the face as bobble and weave and curl away.

Talking of weaving and getting away from everybody, Hazard, balance,

control, awareness, everything just right from him.

I think he clipped the outside of the post with that. That was a

thunter bolt. -- thunderbolt. He has loads of room and it has Hart

beaten. It would have had any goalkeeper beaten.

And it is off the post again. Third time Chelsea have hit the woodwork

tonight. Hart beaten. He didn't even dive for it.

A good one. Dzeko has mis-hit it. Now Kolarov with the drive. Cahill

in the way of everything. Cahill away. And he is up to block the next

effort too. Brendan Rogers is here. E. E. Navas, Silva. It was indeed

caught as he tried to roll around him. A free-kick for City. They are

going to have to come up with something really magical to get

through Chelsea. Silva had a look. Kolarov is having a longer look.

Left footed option, both. Silva with the run and the free-kick and Petr

Cech needed to save it. I think Cech was expecting Kolarov too, but a

good save. Silva has put it wide. A bite of the

hand in frustration because he might not get another bite at scoring a

goal better than that that one tonight.

First Ivanovic and then Ramires. Chelsea are claiming that Oscar is

in. That he was the last defender. That's what Jose Mourinho is saying.

I am not sure virtually on the centre spot that you can call that a

blatant goal scoring opportunity. The referee ignores the advice of

John Terry and co and issues punishment as he sees fit. He

bundles Oscar over. He has got a hold of him. He pulls him back, now

would Oscar have run through from there? Is that an obvious goal

scoring opportunity? Jose Mourinho thinks you can. Manchester City are

dealing in seconds. One more ball in could do it, if

they can get the ball in. And Cech kept it out. Fiercely fired

in. Look at Cech's view. Chelsea Chelsea change before what will be

the final action of the game. Hazard is about to be substituted with

Demba Ba to come on. He really will be lucky to get a touch of the ball.

It is a case of all hands on deck required to defend this. That's all

he is required to do. It was Ba who got to it. Cahill away

yet again. Toure, Silva. Kompany. And that will do it. It is a real

chance for the Manchester City defender, but not nearly as good

with the first time shot as Ivanovic was in that goal in the first-half.

It is his fellow sub who has won the game. What a win for Chelsea. Jose

Mourinho has got this one absolutely spot on. And Chelsea have now got

the same points tally as the team they have beaten tonight. Tucked in

the pair of them, two points behind Arsenal. This title race is going

right the way to the end. Manchester City nil, Chelsea one.

The plan worked, but the plan is nothing without the players

performing the plan? Nothing at all. The players are everything. The plan

is just something to try to help them, but the players are everything

and they were everything and they were fantastic and they very much

deserve a victory against an unbelievable team and when you win

against a fantastic team, the feeling obviously is better. I don't

think it is the best team won the game. I think that Chelsea also

played very well today. It is very important for us to have important

players missing today. A lot of things influenced the result. Do you

think you have joined a team that can influence the championship? It

is too early to speak about that because there are a lot of games to

the end. We have a lot of quality and we will try, but now nobody can

say who is going to win. I think we are not favourites. Liverpool is a

great team. They play one match a week. When the Champions League

start, we are involved in the Champions League, Liverpool is not

involved in the Champions League. So I think it is not for us. For us is

the responsibility and the ambition of every game we play and it doesn't

matter Manchester City, Newcastle next week or West Brom in ten days,

our responsibility is we want to win the next game, but no more than

that. He might very well had a Seagulls

trawler moment. Social media, the journalists that are there, are

talking about that's a tactical masterclass from Jose Mourinho. It

is where Jose Mourinho comes into his own. Would you agree it was a

tactical masterclass? Yes. It was a master plan that worked. Jose

Mourinho says he can only put the plan place, but it is the players

that have to go on to the pitch and deliver. Tonight, the back four that

we are normally accustomed to playing, I thought they played in

front of the back four which gave them great protection and to do that

they had to be really, really disciplined. They played with

Willian, Hazard and Ramires. They caused problems all night. I think

the reason he played Ramires is because he gives you that more

defensive work. He has got a great engine and he can support the front

and he can defend as well. So Chelsea have protection in front

of their back four. Did Manchester City? City didn't have protection at

all. It was man for man all over the park, I thought Chelsea were much

better, but they got at City's back four too easily. Just look at the

attack. Look who is running on to it. They get into the dangerous

positions too easy and it happened all night and Demichelis wasn't the

answer in there not at all. And time and time again they got into goal

scoring positions. Look, you have got four guys running there.

Demichelis runs out of the way. Willian runs him into the corner

which creates that. It creates space for them to run into and they have

got the four there. Four on four time and time again. Problems. You

don't want Hazard running at you with the ball. You don't want

Willian running at you with the ball. Split them down the middle,

Demichelis losing out in the tackle again. It is four on one. Just, it

is incredible. My worry for Chelsea on the night was because they scored

the one, I'm thinking you have got to go and score a second and a third

one. Hazard has the ball and Demichelis has him in the corner and

he goes past him too easily. Look where Hazard ends up to where

Demichelis is. It summed City up and it is a fantastic finish. This is

from City's corner. So within three, or five seconds you've got four and

five players breaking again into the heart of City's defence and there is

no doubt about it, Chelsea were the better team on the night and they

should have won and could have won by another three or four goals. They

hit the woodwork three times. If you look at the Chelsea team and

their average positions over the course of the 90 minutes, it is a

team of two halves. Because the rest of the side stayed in their own half

and those four average in the whole course of the game, they were in the

opposition's half? Exactly. The one thing that's interesting, they never

get all three goal-side of the ball if you like. They gamble. When they

break, they break with real pace and real quality and I thought they were

really adventurous tonight and they had to be brave to perform the way

they did. Hazard was crucial. He was involved in everything good that

Chelsea did tonight. He was just electrifying tonight. Manchester

City couldn't cope with him. We see him standing still almost. Who else

do we see? Lionel Messi. We see him pulling wide. So he gives himself

distance. He goes past Zabaleta. Eto'o arrives and it hits the bar.

He comes inside. He has the freedom to run if you like. He has the

vision to pick out Ivanovic. Hart can't hold it. Again, pulls himself

wide. Controls it. Brilliant first touch. Look at this for strength and

power. Keeps the ball. Goes at players and OK, this doesn't come to

much, but as I said everything he did defensively as well. Look at the

feet. Quick feet. I can't think of a player at the minute in the Premier

League that's playing better than Hazard. Messiesque is what you said,

and that's high praise. This is getting back and doing the dirty

work. On the ball he was confident enough to try stuff. It was

brilliant. Chelsea were happy to be strong centrally, because Nemanja

Matic swept everything up and won everything that came into the box.

He looks a very good buy. He was big in there, strong in there, and Toure

met his match. He was up against hem. He wasn't fazed at all. He

protected his back four when he needed to. He wasn't bullied. How

many times have we seen Toure bully fellow midfielders, but he didn't

bully this lad. The way Chelsea want to play under Jose Mourinho, the way

Mourinho wants him to play, you cannot overemphasise how important a

player like Matic is to be there, to be disciplined. Lucas does a similar

job for Liverpool, and Barry for Everton. You can't Overemphasise how

important a player like that is. He allows other guys we've mention like

Hazard, Willian and Eto'o, to do their stuff, knowing there is

protection there if they lose it. He looks like Yaya Toure. He played

that role brilliantly. How big a win is this for Arsenalle? A win or a

draw would have suited Arsenal down to the ground. It has kept

Manchester City in behind them. A great night for Arsenal. City are

not invincible, they can be beaten. If you go there and get your tactics

right, you can beat them. Jurm said on the title race, the toilet race

has two big horses and a little horse which needs milk and work to

learn to jump. It can win the race next season. I have no idea if you

feed a horse milk or not. Next to the Hawthorns to see if

Liverpool could keep up their quest for fourth or even better at a West

Brom side, who like so many, needs the points.

Relegation haunt West Brom. It will be a mainly surprise if the Baggies

can halt Liverpool's unbeaten run. Anelka is injured.

Liverpool are unchanged as they look for a sixth win in seven. They will

need no reminding that swaerz hit a hat-trick -- Suarez hit a hat-trick

against them in October. Taking on Sissoko and enforcing the

corner. A pinged effort comes out to the

captain. 200th start for West Bromwich Albion's player who took

the corner. Pepe Mel looking for his first win

in charge of West Bromwich Albion. Sturridge scored and Liverpool take

the lead. That was created out of nothing by Suarez. That's a

fantastic ball drinked to the far post. -- dinked to the post.

Liverpool take the lead. It's the SAS attack again. The ball played

inside to Sterling. A second bite at it, but watch the final ball from

Suarez. Round the West Brom defence. Absolutely immaculate. A fantastic

delivery, this. Sturridge at the far post pokes another one in.

Sturridge on hand for his 17th goal of the campaign.

West Brom didn't run at them and that will cause danger. Victory

today will lift them four points away from Everton.

Good delivery. Toure was in there and got a touch. Out of the bunch

came Suarez. Misses the header. Toure gets an edge on it.

That's the closest West Bromwich Albion have come.

There's space on the left-hand side of the Liverpool defence.

A vital block. Flanagan saves Liverpool. Absolutely crucial block.

I think that would have sneaked in beyond Mignolet. The keeper covered

his post but Flanagan made sure anyway. A Terry header splendidly

stopped. Really good spell by the home side. They've come roaring out

of the traps. McAuley got up really high. A fine

piece of goalkeeping. Suarez... Foster denied him. That

would have been game over. That's one that got away for

Liverpool. Suarez exasperated at himself there. Broke off Lugano.

That's a lovely touch by McAuley. The finish by his standards was

tame. Free kick on the edge of the box.

Toure was in trouble. I think he's looked ill at ease at times. His

foot was raised high on the challenge there. What a risky

challenge to make for a man that experienced in that sort of position

as well. He misjudged it completely. Chris Brunt found the target, found

the goalkeeper. A deceptive free kick.

Toure, that's disastrous. Anichebe! 1-1. What a mistake! 67 minutes

gone. 1-1. Just four minutes after coming on to the field of play, the

substitute has tied. What was he doing there? Kolo Toure, head in

hands, and so he should be. An absolute gift. At times, the

experiencedive otherian has -- the experience Ivorian has looked

haphazard. Anichebe need no second asking. 1-1.

Sterling with a shot that was blocked. Liverpool thought the

goalkeeper foul Sturridge. They didn't play it brilliantly. The ball

was behind Sturridge. Foster came and won it, didn't he? That's a

really good point for West Bromwich Albion and two absolutely chucked

away for Liverpool. How pleased are you with the way

your team came back, because at half time it didn't look good. Now I am

very happy for the players, for the people, for the fans. But in the

hard time -- in the half time, we need to speak, because we forget the

press, Gerrard, no need to press the central back. The second half... We

had coal of the game. Good control of the first half, good possession.

Scored an out tstanding goal, a team goal. And we make the mistake and

the game becomes in the balance, and the home team get momentum and we've

got to show our defensive qualities. Of course, straight after the game

there's disappointment, because it should have been three points

really. We weren't really troubled so much. He made a mistake.

Everybody makes mistakes but he is trying to do the same thing. That's

what we are trying to do, so I don't think you can criticise Kolo. He's

been fantastic. I suppose I helped Everton today.

I had a text saying help us do over the Reds. It is always nice to score

but parents more important to help West Brom. I helped the team. The

team fought well today. I came on and helped as well. And the masseur

is probably thinking, thanks for revealing the contents of that text

on national television! Do you think they regret that missed opportunity?

I do. They are very much in hand with the top flour players. West

Brom were fragile for you at times? They were. They made a lot of

individual errors. A simple pass from McAuley. Let's it slip under

his foot. Fouling Suarez in a dangerous position.

McAuley for me gets the wrong side of Suarez but has to foul him in the

end. Vydra here, the vehicler, that's poor. They've lost Shane

Long. This is Liverpool's opening goal. Alan thinks this is a shot. I

think it is a cross. That's world class from Suarez. I know he is

capable of things like that. You can see Sturridge keeps himself on side.

He is inline. Having gone 1-0 up... It was a good shot though. I think

the reason why, they had another chance just before half time. Suarez

could have made it two just before half time. You were a generous

striker who always looked to pass to your opponent. The second half, the

momentum changed slightly. Maybe partly through Pepe Mel's team talk

and the changes he made. He made a change into the second half but they

came out in the first four to five minutes, Mulumbu, McAuley. Mignolet

keeps Liverpool in the game there. Suarez, one on one, you would put

your life on to score. This was the turning point in the game for me.

This is the equaliser. You can see three best players at the back for

Liverpool. Should be throwing that to Gerrard, not the player who is

worst of the three there. You can see Gerrard pointing to the

goalkeeper. Anichebe gets in. He still has a lot to do. When Anichebe

came on, his physical presence, he was strong, he won free kicks.

Toure, I do think 1-1 at West Brom while extraditely fragile, a new

manager, a couple of players have left. I do feel Liverpool may feel

it is two points dropped. In yesterday's games we had Sturridge

and Oxlade-Chamberlain among the goals. They weren't the only

Englishmen sending out a message to Roy Hodgson.

Bardsley down with Anita and it is a penalty. Spot kick Sunderland. Anita

is aghast. Borini powers it in to give Sunderland the advantage.

Colback tries but it is deflected. A chance for Johnson. 2-0 Sunderland!

A touch of bad fortune there. All the luck is with Johnson. It is

Newcastle United nil, Sunderland 2. It is three on three here. Make that

four on three with Ki coming. This is Colback. All over now. The

Tyneside ear scores for the team from Wearside. This might be an even

darker day for Newcastle than last April's defeat to Sunderland here

was. It is going to be Andy Carroll to

Nolan, to the back of the net! West Ham 1, Swansea 0. Carroll's knocked

down, Nolan's finish, the Tremmel clutching it there.

Nolan! 2-0. It is the old one-two again. Carroll to Nolan, into the

same corner of the same net. West Ham 2, Swansea 0.

Andy Carroll and Chico Flores has come together. The Spaniard is down

holding his face. A red card for Andy Carroll.

I don't think there's an enormous amount. Does Carroll really mean to

do that? Flores is making the most of it, I don't think there's any

question about that. Adam Lallana for Southampton. 63

minutes played at Craven Cottage and Adam Lallana gets his eighth goal of

the season. 2-0, Rickie Lambert. Rodriguez

leaving the ball and that allowed Rickie Lambert a free shot on goal.

Oh what a wonderful finish! That is absolutely brilliant from Jay

Rodriguez. We were going to have a discussion

about how Roy Hodgson's World Cup squad may be shaping up, but

Newcastle have just confirmed in the last half-hour that Joe Kinnear has

this evening resigned from his position as director of football

with immediate effect. The club will be making no further comment. You

Alan Shearer can comment. What do you make of that? I always say

nothing should surprise you in football, certainly not with

Newcastle. But I was very surprised at the appointment in the first

place, particularly the way it was announced, when Joe himself

announced it on the radio, got all those names wrong, Alf being out of

the game for so long. It was a strange appointment in the first

place. I'm not surprised, because when you sell your best player, as

they did three days before the deadline, you have to have a plan.

You have to have someone ready to come in. There was talk about Cabaye

going to PSG anyway, so there must have been a plan there. Whether

that's Newcastle's way of saying he didn't do his job or he didn't bring

players in, I'm not sure. I hope it is not ill health, but I'm not sure

what his job was anyway at Newcastle. Myself and Alan were at

the game on Saturday and it was a real nasty atmosphere in St James's

Park. I'm sure Joe Kinnear, a lot of that anger was vented at Joe, Mike

Ashley and the manager. I think there's only really so much that Joe

was going to take. It wasn't a great appointment in the first place, it

wasn't a popular appointment. After all the stick he's taken, in

particular Saturday, when they lost for the third time against their

biggest rivals, Sunderland, he probably thought, I can't take this

any more. # There is only one guy that can

sign the cheques and that's the owner. With whether he said that's

the way we are going down an he is taking responsibility for that...

But if Mike doesn't sign cheques to bring players in, the manager and

the director of football have got their arms tied. John's right, it is

as poor as I've seen for a long time their performance on Saturday. There

was no heart, no fight. And they were beaten. They were lucky to get

away with 3-0. He joined in 2013 and he signed Remy on loan. Here are the

rest of the weekend's goals. Stoke City are ahead. We've got a

game on our hands now. They've hardly threatened in the first half,

but 37 minutes from, Stoke City are ahead. Welbeck was offside. It is

van Persie for 1-1. A great start for the second half. Van Persie with

the finish. Charlie Adam with the show. Oh what

a goal! What a sensational goal. Rooney to strike. On to the post by

the keeper. United can't turn it in. And it is over the top by Tom

Cleverley. An opportunity for Snodgrass. Within

four and a quarter minutes Norwich City are in front. A simple goal for

Snodgrass. Bellamy! 1-1.

Craig Bellamy. His first Premier League goal for Cardiff City and he

puts the home side level. Jones went for it and scores! What a

turn around. Two goals in just over a minute. From one behind to 2-1 up.

Kenwyne Jones on target. Redmond, good save. Off the line

from Hooper's flicked header. I think it was Craig Bellamy. That is

excellent goalkeepering. And Bellamy off the line to deny Hooper. That is

superb from Bellamy. Off the post. He nearly scored

within three minutes of his league dub et. -- his league debut. Back in

the UK, back in business. The referee says play on. Aston

Villa lead. Pienaar, Naysmith. He finished very

neatly. That was a perfect strike. Everton

lead Aston Villa 2-1, and deservedly so.

A fine save from Steve Harper. Adebayor with great balance to get

this shot away. Hull City are in front. 12 minutes

into his Hull City debut. Steve Bruce leads the applause.

It is an equaliser tore Tottenham Hotspur. It is through the left hand

of the goalkeeper. Tottenham Hotspur are level.

Back post! Hit the post. What a come Bo that could have been. What a

lovely ball from Long. Jelavic at full stretch.

Let's go to too good too bad. Save of the weekend came from as myrrh

Begovic. Late on he got his finningers to the Wayne Rooney free

kick. With the World Cup coming up, that's how to take a penalty.

Borini. This is great skill from Stoke. But

equally a great clatter from Wayne Rooney. And this time Chico's role

in the round doesn't leave big Sam amused.

It is so bad for this Fulham fan, he really is struggling to know whether

to laugh or to cry. And this Newcastle fan wants to storm out in

disgust, but if you want to storm out, you don't want to be on one end

of the row with the exit at the other end. Excuse me, excuse me,

excuse me... Keep going, excuse me. And event lip he goes. That's it

from us. Thank you very much to Alan and John on a night when Planet

Etihad has finally been breached by little horse. Goodnight.