23/12/2013 Match of the Day 2

MUSIC: "Christmas (Snow's Coming Down)".

Welcome to Match of the Day 2, a day later than normal so we can bring

you arsenal against Chelsea, but the TV contract means we can only do

that at 10:45pm, so be patient, we will also allow Wojciech Szczesny

and Martin Keown to speak, but first to Spurs having a rather difficult

week. Raheem Sterling completes the

round! They have had luckier Sunday afternoons. Embarrassed and annoyed.

Tottenham Hotspur have sacked their manager. Tim Sherwood in temporary

charge. West Ham lead! Change, they are losing at home again. Tottenham

Hotspur's spiral continues. It has been a wee cup disappointment

on the field and upheaval for Tottenham, and things not getting

any easier. Site Upton's captain returns to the starting line-up as

they look order first win in six. -- Southampton's captain. And Emmanuel

Adebayor or scored on Wednesday night.

Some missing from Southampton, because of leg injury.

He was so close to picking out Barkley. But Emmanuel Adebayor could

not quite reach it. -- -- is so close to picking out Adebayor. A

fine goal, Southampton one, Tottenham zero.

After a turbulent week, Tottenham's Sunday afternoon has not got

underway in the manner they might have hoped for. Adam Lallana with

his third goal of the season. Spurs behind. I presume he has not seen

enough and is going off to the street, he will come down to pitch

level. 18 minutes into the game now down on the touchline. Seen enough

from the director's box. Rose was twitching about there. --

stretching of it there. But not quite 2-0! Tottenham skating on thin

ice for a moment there. And it is Adebayor! 1-1, Tottenham

back in the game, and it was a pinpoint delivery from Adebayor,

starting in the Premier League for the first time this season. He fires

Tottenham level. Soldado's delivery and Adebayor makes it two goals and

two of unions is and he strained every sinew into that delivery.

It is an own goal! Ricocheting off Gazzaniga and Tottenham time the

game around. Less than ten minutes in the second half, Rose going for

the return, but start Goldberg and an own goal gives Tottenham Hotspur

believed, from Jos Hooiveld! Possibly another change shortly.

A great charge, from Lambert, it is 2-2, and the Tottenham's lead did

not last for long. Rickie Lambert could not miss that chance.

Southampton quick to reply. The boy played forward to Lallana?, just on

signed, Lloris miles out from the goal, caught in no man's land, and

Rickie Lambert with the whole goal to aim at.

Adebayor almost got there first. Southampton almost behind again.

Adebayor was a whisker away from his second goal of the match.

And look at Walker going down that far side, finally brought to a halt,

but not without the ball going out for a row from Tottenham.

Southampton beaten at home just one so far this season, the 3-2 defeat

to Aston Villa. And Tottenham back in front! Adebayor's second of the

day, what a seesaw second half this is turning out to be. And Tottenham

now leading once more, the ball breaking of Adebayor pouncing, so

many first Southampton, but they could not get rid of it and Adebayor

binds the bottom of the net and a modem to celebrate 14 German and

Spurs. -- moment to celebrate for Spurs. Southampton behind for the

second time this afternoon. A great chance, but wide by some

distance there. A great chance, and Roberto Soldado.

Another chance goes begging! It was a stretch for Soldado, but left the

stated again. -- left frustrated. Can Tottenham hang on to the win at

the end of a tough week here? Will Southampton snatch a late equaliser

in added time? A chance therefore Jay Rodriguez. The shot drilled into

the floor, and carried over the bar. Nervous moments for Tottenham.

70 minutes was enough upstairs? -- 17 minutes. I could not sit still,

some adjustments were needed on the field. That is the way it is, it is

tough to get the message out there. You do not always have a lot of time

with these players, but they are still getting used to a new boys.

Obviously very angry, gifting them a lot of things, giving them a lot of

presence. How difficult has it been over the last few months? Very

difficult. You do not want the other team to beat you. And sometimes

showing some to suspect. But I am a professional footballer, keep my

head up and stop do what I asked off. -- I will do what people as me

to do. And everything played. Hopefully, someone is praying for

me. We will see what happens tomorrow. It has to be right for the

football club first and foremost, then worry about what is right for

me. This evening, Spurs have confirmed

that Tim Sherwood will continue and has signed an 18 month contract.

More for that later, plus Everton and Swansea, what now to the

Emirates. Through the wind and rain, looking

to whip a perfect storm. Arsenal could go through to the very mere

league. Chelsea could go second above Arsenal, but have lost four of

their last six away. The doubters say of arsenal that they do not win

enough of the big games. Here is another. Jack Wilshere starting his

two match ban. Chelsea have dropped their points in an expected fashion,

but so far, the bigger the game, the better the performance. A suspension

for one after five-year lows this season, Lampard returns in a 4-3-3.

You can see the spray of water there. Flipped up by the party from

Ramsey. A great run, well cut out, good defending from Cahill. Giroud

was right behind Cahill, and it had to be dealt with. Arsenal coming

into this off the back of two defeats, Napoli and Manchester city.

Ramsey almost got it through their two Walcott -- there to.

Scooped up towards Ramirez, and not a bad header. It was an attempt at

the goal, it's not actually on the goal.

Onto the bar, Arsenal still not getting it away.

This, the best spell of Begin that either side have had, Frank Lampard

very nearly putting them in front. -- best spell of the game. Smashed

off the underside of the bar. Ten minutes of the first have to go.

Categorically seeing no penalty there. Theo Walcott looks aghast.

There is the decision, Cech one Walcott. -- Willian on Walcott. This

was the challenge that left Mikel Arteta on the hit. A really bad

challenge from Obi Mikel. Two decisions and neither of them going

Arsenal's way. Saved by Szczesny. That could have

been a lot more damaging, and maybe should have been. From an Arsenal

corner. Aaron Ramsey giving it away to Fernando Torres.

Lovely move, but cleared by Vermaelen. Ramires was behind.

Wanting to avoid defeat having lost their last two games in the -- in a

row. They have not won a game since the 4th of December since they beat

Hull City. Ramires on Mikel Arteta. What does

Mike Dean do? Arteta is rising for the second time and again. Arteta

gets there first. It is going to be a yellow card. So, the referee has

deemed it to be worse than the challenge from Jon Obi Mikel.

Theo Walcott will now be summoned over, and he's going to get a yellow

card. He does not look as though he is arguing that the decision. We

would concur. Comfortable for Szczesny. David

Lewis looks like he's struggling to stay awake. -- David Louise. --

luiz. Szczesny was right behind it. One of

the more dangerous moments in the game that Chelsea have provided.

They have provided the bulk of the dangerous moments.

Ozil hits it, Ivanovic blocks it. Ball spins away, Arsenal throw.

Arsenal not happy with that but they have a throw. Ozil and Ivanovic

getting involved. Willian trying to act as a peacemaker. Gibbs trying to

keep it peaceful as well. They were very unhappy with

Ivanovic's boot, which was very high from the throw in.

Rusedski -- Rosicky sliding in on Ivanovic. Mike Dean wants them to

calm down. Getting a little bit heated unstretched. Ivanovic made a

lot of that. It is a foul, and Tomas Rosicky being told that the yellow

card is for more than just that offence.

Shooting tank -- chance for Olivier Giraud. A few Arsenal fans on this

side of the ground thought it had gone in. Maybe he should have gone

closer, and yes, he should have. Beautifully found, sliced off the

outside of the boot. A long way from being a centre -- sitter, but in the

context of chances but Arsenal this game, the best they've had. Never in

the Premier league era have Arsenal failed to get a shot on target in a

home game. Gibbs puts it square! Dropping over

the bar from Giroud. What a chance. He did brilliantly. Once he decided

he was not injured. Petr Cech has to take credit for the save.

A first effort on target, saved by Petr Cech. The 85th minute of the

game. There will be no coming back for

Chelsea and Arsenal score here. -- if Arsenal score. Sagna with a

header down, hooked off the line. Azpilicueta taking up the defensive

position. Lampard found Luiz, and it is a

corner. A few Arsenal players put their hands on the head at that

decision. Ozil with a clearance, and Mike Dean

puts the whistle in his mouth and blows it. And that is the end of

that. Arsene Wenger and Jose-Maria Poe -- Jose Mourinho shake hands.

They locked the game up and waited for a counterattack, and we could

not score. It took was a while to get into a flow, and I thought

always, from outside, that in the final part of the game, we might win

it. But when we have the chances we could not take them. We had the

biggest chance, which from my position, if we don't have goal-line

technology, I would have jumped up a goal. But, no doubt, no doubt about

that. It was a game where both teams, of course, want to win, but I

think both teams don't want to lose. And, for us, it was especially

important not to lose, because if we do, we would be five points off the

lead, and with these results -- this result, we keep within two points to

both of the leaders. For us, that's important. I think in the first half

it was 100% penalty on Walcott, in my opinion, but after that, we

played with great focus and concentration, great desire, we just

could not get the goal in the second half that I think we deserved. Are

there any excuses for the challenge of Jon Obi Mikel on you in the first

half? I cannot tell you because I haven't seen it on the TV, but my

ankle is swelling and I nearly broke my shin pad. I think it was late,

and I think Ramires was late on the ball in the second half as well. But

the referee has to make a decision, and he probably believed it was not

a red card. What I want from my team is to go in the direction where we

play the way we are playing, we use the ball away we are using it, but

we score goals, especially in crucial goals. We are not doing

that. It is not just about missing chances, it is about what I call

half chances, where, with sharpness, aggression, you transform

a half chance into one chance and the goal. We face people won against

the one, two against the two, and we are not killing opponents. Do you

think that what he said early on in that interview package, both teams

wanted to win, but both teams did not want to lose, that sums it up?

No doubt about it, if you look at the tactics they have, certainly in

the midfield, Arsenal have maybe lost a couple of games they have

tried to win and have lost them doing that, Chelsea something

similar, the way they suffered against Sunderland. I don't think

you necessarily believes enough in the team, they were a bit more

defensive -- he believes. It was maybe the 60th minute until the

teams went toe to toe. But at least Arsenal tried to press on the high

areas, and then they were punished on the break. A difficult night all

round. Does that sum it up, what Martin said about the recent results

affecting them? Arsenal summed up Manchester City. Chelsea create

chances but keep conceding. -- thumped at Manchester City. As a

player, you get negative on yourself if you had one or two defeats

before, so you play with a bit more caution. We saw it with Arsenal in

the first half. But credit to them in the second half, they had a good

go and they deserved at least a point and could have won it with the

chances later. They were the only team in the latter stages trying to

win the game. The other thing to watch is that sometimes one game is

like that, you can lapse into taking the easy option yourself, or not

trying to ignite it. What I meant was, sometimes you can see players

with not as much energy as normal, not as sharp, and it has an effect

on everybody. You think you will play shape -- safe, stay in your

shape, and not lose. But thankfully it opened up, after 60 minutes.

Chelsea started looking dangerous on the break as well. Overall both

managers will be pleased with a point, but as a fan, it is a shame

you did not get more action. Arsenal have waited nine days to play a

game, and it felt a bit leggy, it was a bit too nice, they weren't

closing down. Same for both teams. They kind of matched each other, the

two great tacticians in the game. A lot of respect the -- for each

other. I hoped Arsenal might go for it a bit more. It was an opportunity

to go out and play like champions. You would have preferred Arsenal to

go through more than Chelsea. You're at home and the emphasis is on you.

I can understand Arsenal being worried. With Willian and Hazard on

the counter, they have pace. The tackle by Jon Obi Mikel in the first

half? This is something that has come into the game. Danny would say

he likes a tackle like this. For me, you sliding on the side, no real

caution for the opponent. I'm surprised he's not sent. When you

look at it in slow motion it looks like a sending-off. At the speed in

the match, I can see maybe it looks like he's got the ball, but it is a

straightforward, on his backside. For me, I tackle on the side,

sliding with the side, if I wanted to win it, but I would make sure I

was not causing that much damage. It's not the way he tackled, it is

the lateness. You protect yourself as a midfielder. I would go in with

a straight leg. Not at the man, but that was late. I saw in his face

that he meant a bit more than a fair challenge. I thought it was naughty.

Not a sending-off. I understand what Martin says but I have tackled that

way myself. It was late. A bit naughty, but a yellow was enough.

You can cause damage like that, and if you do, you deserve what you get.

He was lucky there. Did you think it was a penalty but the challenge on

Theo Walcott? I didn't, actually. I understand after seeing it three or

four times, with the flick off Walcott, but if you look where the

referee is, it looks like nothing coming together. I thought the

referee got that right from what he saw. We have the luxury of seeing it

a few times. Straightaway, you think there is a problem. Mike Dean is

looking at that. It is the way that Theo Walcott theatrically flicks

out. It is a shallow dive, but he realises he has been whacked. He's

definitely caught him, and it was a penalty. Not that many chances in

the game. At 1.I thought we would be talking about the train journey that

you had to get here -- at 1.I thought. Or the radio prediction I

made. You said it was definitely not 0-0. There could have been goals, I

suppose. I think Frank was profiting most in that Chelsea team. Frank

knows when to arrive in the box, desperately and rocky -- desperately

unlucky there, he knows where to run, it is a clear picture. With

Mirallas and McCarthy in the midfield. It just did not quite come

off. -- with Ramires and Obi Mikel in the midfield. Arsenal gave the

ball away in a bad area. Willian should do better there, it was a

poor finish. That was the in between bit. I think Oscar has more quality

on the pitch than Willian. But Arsenal started coming into it, but

I think Giroud waited a bit too long. It is a wonderful pass from

Ramsey and that was the best chance in the game. And the one with Gibbs

showing his pace, which she did not do enough of. He can be rapid, and

he needs to do that more, get forward more. If you scored the

goal, it can be done, but the goalkeeper did exceptionally well

there. At the end of it, they will both be satisfied? Jose Mourinho are

still finding out about this new team, and the characters, we have he

would have had some white players in the past, now he is going more

expansive, trying to tighten up today, so he will be pleased. He

will be thinking that he is doing nicely in the Premier League, but

perhaps a missed opportunity for Arsenal. Chelsea have two home games

over the festive period. Swansea and Liverpool at home, and Southampton

away. Now let's go back to yesterday's other game and it was a

good one, Swansea against Everton. Wilfried Bony leads the team. Two

changes for the visitors as James McCarthy and Kevin Mirallas return.

Swansea played themselves into trouble there. McCarthy intervenes

and now Mirallas. Can Everton prosper from Swansea's mistake?

Nothing too tricky there, but Swansea guilty of overplaying, which

is their way to play that all around. Not just with it forward,

but got there. Ultimately, Mirallas got the shot away. Tremmel was the

favourite to stop it. Roberto Mancini is, -- Rob Raven -- Roberto

Martinez cut his teeth as a leader of Swansea City.

Bony to get it first time. A glimpse of the net, but no more than that.

Oh, dear! His footing gave way, the best chance of the match by an

absolute mile. Barkley strides through, then falls over. What an

opportunity. What a time to lose your footing. Still 0-0.

Good effort, and flicked over by Tremmel.

Tremmel with an unorthodox, but successful save to deny Barkley,

flecks of him, then the crossbar, Roberto Martinez perhaps sensing

that Everton are getting on top year. -- on top here.

Good effort, he scored! Seamus Coleman! Breaks the deadlock with a

stinging drive! They have nearly scored a few

moments earlier, Tremmel making the save, but Roberto Martinez sends, as

the Everton supporters did, that at all might have been coming, but now

one predicting the source, Seamus Coleman with a swinging shot that

went beyond the reach of the goalkeeper and into the corner of

the net, Everton ahead 20 minutes into the second half.

And it is deflected in! Tiendalli, takes a wicked deflection off

Oviedo, and it could be an own goal, but it does not matter to Swansea

who is the scorer, but that is their first ever goal against Everton in

the Premier League, and as has cancelled out the goal from Seamus

Coleman, and it is 1-1. I shake off the head from Tim Howard says

everything -- shake of the head. He went for the little dink chip,

and I am afraid he put it straight into the body of Tim Howard.

A free kick to Everton, I'd yellow card for Davies. He knew what he was

doing. The first booking of the afternoon.

Leaving it for Barkley, and Barkley scores! A fabulous free kick from

Ross Barkley! It looked like it was going to be had left footed, but it

was the decoy, and Barkley right footed off the underside of the

bar. No goalkeeper in the world can get to those and Everton back in

front again with about six minutes or thereabouts, plus added time, to

go. And the reaction of a delighted manager. A fabulous winning goal

perhaps from Ross Barkley. He will be delighted that he decided

to come here. Bill Kenwright, the Everton chairman, with a big smile.

Popped away thereby Tim Howard, hands-on heads there! It needed

saving. Stop its time, Swansea needing a second equaliser. --

stoppage time. And he could not get the touch

there. Possibly to a way of Tim Howard's arrival, and he would have

scored that he committed himself. And with that, perhaps the win for

Everton is confirmed. The most significant when you can get in any

other glamorous fixture. These three points today tell us a

lot more about the score than the other two. I could not be happy with

the characters shown, and specially on a day like today. We were able to

stop a Swansea side and get three points. Looking like they were

enjoying each other's company? Definitely. The manager putting his

stamp on things and we have adapted to how he wants us to play. And

coming here and winning 2-1 is a massive result, especially with the

games coming up. I think we deserve more, but that is what happened, we

played against a good team, in good form at the moment, and I think they

had that lack in the end, not luck to score, not that, but luck to find

it in that moment, when you maybe think that drawing is not bad, then

finding the win liked by. Which goal was the best? I think Ross will put

it to Twitter later, but both happy to score. We won 2-1, and fans go

away happy. We are in danger of talking about Ross Barkley after

every Everton game, but he is impossible to ignore. Sometimes

players come along to inspire you, and he is inspiring the others.

They are seeing an 18-19 -year-old running around, skill and balance,

desire, passion, every time Everton did the attack, it was through him.

He is looking to get ahold of the ball every time someone has, always

demanding it. He had a bad slip there, so he picks and self, bit of

awareness, and the best bit about this is the fact that young English

talent. He is running with that ball, the ability, left foot, right

foot, I was on the sofa with the flu yesterday and he got me out of my

seat, he is an absolute top player, we have to protect, but what a

talent, his confidence. The manager has a top player and is telling him

to play, they are playing with freedom. Thank you for the insight

into your medical help! Everton are the best team I have seen this

season, without doubt. You look at Pienaar, at Mirallas, and Mirallas

and Barkley are almost in competition with each other. I think

they could go all the way. Roberto Martinez has them flourishing. And

the chairman of Tottenham Hotspur, giving that 18 month contract to the

manager, said they have a great squad, and the need accords that can

bring out the best and allow them to flourish. -- they need a head coach

that can bring out the best. Could he allow them to flourish? He could

be. He seems to have the respect of the senior players, the way they are

talking about him, but of course early in the first week. He has a

great knowledge of the game, and really passionate about Tottenham as

well, and it is refreshing for a club together young English coach

the chance, because it is the only way to get experience. Is a

technical coordinator, and it is odd to hear when he is not really happy.

Daniel Leavy has a special relationship, challenges him, and it

has come good for him. Isn't it refreshing to hear someone say, I

want to be the manager of Tottenham Hotspur, not number two, I am good

enough. It may be a refreshing, but Andre Villas-Boas may be watching.

When you add in a club, you have your job to do, and should do that.

Now he has fallen on his feet to get that manager and should take a

vantage of like it. Instead of being PC of the time, I think you should

see what you want. He has to do the job and show people what they can

do. But he has been given the chance by Daniel at a fantastic club with a

great squad of players. I think they will play with a great deal of

freedom. There is that change, now he has to get the results. We have a

busy festive period on the way. If you need some respite from the

relatives, we are here for you. Footballing gift -- gifts galore on

the BBC this Christmas. Danny Welbeck again, and goal number 17 of

Luis Suarez's easing. -- season. You can access all of the contact on the

smartphone application. The perfect gift for Christmas -- the content.

Onto Saturday's games, starting with sides in the top six.

Gary medal. -- Gary Medel. Suarez, 1-0! There is simply no stopping

Luis Suarez. Joe Allen, down to Henderson. On the side. Can Suarez

finish it off? Raheem Sterling. 2-0, Liverpool. They are looking for

offside. Jordon Mutch arrived in the nick of time. Suarez again. That is

brilliant! Luis Suarez has scored some spectacular goals over the

course of the last few weeks, and there is another. Five around the

box for Cardiff. Whittingham's delivery. A free header from Jordon

Mutch, and it is in. Some pretty shocking defending.

Time ran out the Cardiff City in the end. And Malky Mackay, if that is

the last 45 minutes of his time at Cardiff City, can be proud of the

way his team played in that second half.

Here we go, yah yah Torre for Manchester City. What a goal! -- yah

yah Torre -- Yaya Toure. Nothing the goalkeeper could do about this.

David Silva's delivery. Half cleared, then poked home by the

captain. And now they have got a little bit of elbow room as they

look for what would be a third away win of the season. Adult Harrogate

-- Taarabt. Richardson with a chance. 2-1. Fulham are back in the

game. A great chance, and they are decisive finish, firmly planted

beyond Joe Hart. Now it is with Parker. We'll Manchester City be

tested again? Superb running by Riise. And it has gone in. Vincent

Kompany, slicing it up into the air. There is absolutely nothing anybody

can do about it. Negredo uses his strength. David Silva, Jesus Navas,

could be a chance, a goal! Jesus Navas. Jesus Navas, the substitute

with the finishing touch, but it was David Silva who created it with the

past. - pass. David Silva, creator of the goal that separate the teams,

Negredo. Great ball, superb finish from James Milner. Game, set, match,

Manchester City. Lovely pass with the outside of the boot. Negredo's

pass, gleefully dispatched by the substitute James Milner.

Cissokho. Three in the middle to Newcastle. Pulled back towards

Cabaye! The man who scored the winner at Manchester United puts

Newcastle in front at Crystal Palace. Picked up by Anita. Obuchi

to his right. It's an own goal! Danny Gabbidon. And awkward cross,

and he turns it into his own net. A shake of the head from both player

and manager. Ameobi. Away from Delaney, and it's a penalty kick.

That was a foul on Ameobi. Well, Speroni got to it, but couldn't keep

it out, because of the ferocity of the shot. That is surely victory for

Newcastle. Let's talk about Liverpool, and we

looked at Arsenal, talking about the fixtures against Chelsea Manchester

City defining them, and Liverpool have the same going next to them.

Steven Gerrard missing, they said they would struggle without him, but

they are not. Suarez is on fire, setting the world alight, but I

think after the next three games, if they are still there or thereabouts,

they have a serious chance of winning the league. He is that

good. They have got character. They played Arsenal at the Emirates and

lost, but they bounced back. When you have a player like Suarez in

your team, he gives you such belief that you can achieve anything. They

are really enjoying their football. Henderson's movement from midfield,

players developing. Brendan Rodgers is developing something special

there. It's always emotional when you play at Anfield. Merseyside is

starting to rock again, no doubt about it. You look at the top teams

now, six teams, two points between them, the best Premier league for a

while. They have two big games coming up, city away, Chelsea away,

and because they don't have Daniel Sturridge, he can play Suarez on his

own, and they can pack the midfield. That might be a blessing, because

playing counterattack might suit Liverpool better and give the likes

of Henderson and Coutinho ago. Going one laptop has given Suarez more

space as well. Henderson's best space is in a central area. It gives

him a licence to go forward. If there is no need -- only one

striker, he can go on. If he sees Suarez and storage, the space is

limited, so that's why he's getting better -- storage. Brendan Rodgers

has cleared out all the baggage. It is just a joy to watch. They

genuinely believe they can go and do something special. We will have to

see. Sooner or later, it's the consistency that wins you the

league. There isn't yet a team that has that. More to come after the

goals from the weekend. Diame. Free kick. Phil Jones takes

it in the blink of an eye. Wayne Rooney runs with it. Well back --

well back -- Danny Welbeck has scored at Old Trafford for the first

time since October of last year. Januzaj. Danny Welbeck. Jan Azad.

Goes himself, and he scores himself. -- Januzaj. Adnan Januzaj, 18 years

old, scores his first Old Trafford goal for Manchester United.

Raphael. Valencia, so quick. Rooney, trying to tee up Ashley Young to hit

it. He does. He hits it all right. First touch of the ball, into the

roof of the net. The third goal which insures three points

Manchester United for sure. Maiga. Coral is on side. Carlton Cole --

Carlton Cole is on side. Carlton Cole scores. The Manchester United

midfielders and defenders are furious with themselves. Cole Has

timed his run well, and Buttner is careless. Carlton Cole was clinical.

Good girl, Adam! -- good goal. The substitute makes an instant impact.

Just five minutes after coming on, Charlie Adam makes an instant

impact, and Mark Hughes shows why he made the alteration. Thumped away by

Dusan -- doesn't -- Guzan. A terrible bore, a shocking header,

and Rob Kozak has put Aston Villa level. It is an absolute gift to

Kozak, and a gift at the Britannia Stadium. Cameron. Crouch looking,

and scoring! . Aston Villa claimed a handball, but Crouch does not care.

It is too one, having just been cancelled out -- 2-1.

There could be a break for Hull City. Danny Graham, Livermore up

with him. Still Graham. Livermore. 1-0, Hull City. Hull City, clinical

on the counterattack. Mulumbu. In towards Shane Long. Away from Bruce.

Zoltan Gera. Vydra! Finally, the persistence pays off for West

Bromwich Albion. Great setup play from Long, and it was the pass from

Zoltan Gera, and are very smart finish from Vydra. -- a very smart

finish. That might drop for Hooper, away from Brown. Super! Fabulous

save by Mannone, flying to his right, and pulling off a splendid

stop. -- Hooper! Whipped in by Sebastien Larsson, could go

anywhere. Norwich have not cleared it. I think it was Brown who had

their header, a lick of paint away from giving Sunderland are precious

first goal of the afternoon. -- a precious first goal. That is a

strong, late challenge by Brown. Snodgrass not happy. Martin Atkinson

reaches the red card, and Wes Brown is off. That is reckless. Very

reckless indeed. Wes Brown gets Christmas. Here is

the league table. Depending on your point of view and

who you support, this is either just too good, or too bad. An old man,

not impressed by a young man dancing. Don't tweet Chris Hoy.

Nobody for the mascot to way that. How to disguise a bad backpass.

Claim it hit an opponent. Goal of the weekend from Luis

Suarez. And the advertising hoardings took some stick over the

weekend. There is Seamus, Everton, Jake Livermore taking it out on a

camera -- Seamus Coleman. It cost Livermore ?6,000 to replace the

camera, plus a ?6,000 donation to charity. Thanks to Martin and Danny.

We have reached the festive period, time to look back on what has gone,

time to look forward on what is to come. Time to celebrate the fact

that throughout the holidays we football. Our gift to you is the

secret footballer. Merry Christmas. A good time to reflect on the season

so far. Best signing, I think Fernandinho has been amaze. Worst?

Some of the Tottenham players are struggling to adapt. Lamela and

Soldado. Biggest overachievers? Southampton, but that's because they

got a forward-thinking manager who likes to play attractive football.

Underachievers? West Ham, and also full, who I think are an ordinary

team. It has to be Manchester United, doesn't it? My player of the

season so far, Luis Suarez. That is absolutely stunning. He is off the

scale at the moment. His constant desire to make something happen is

inspiring. Honourable mention for Aaron Ramsey. What a goal excavation

Mark he's been exceptional, as Arsene Wenger might say. Finally,

playing at Christmas. I've been clubs where a manager always gave on

Christmas Day, but I've been clubs where we trained in the the morning.

I played through a manager who gave his Christmas morning with the

family and drag this -- drag us into training in the afternoon. The

hardest thing I ever had to endure was watch my kids open their

presents on Sky. I wouldn't do that again for anybody. If you're asking

me if I get to Christmas and I feel like I need a break, the answer is

no, I never have, and I don't think I ever will. You get into a rhythm

of playing, and you don't want anything to get in the way.

Injuries, suspensions, and certainly a break you don't really need. Merry

Christmas.