29/09/2013 Match of the Day 2

Here are the classified results. It could have gone wrong for Paolo di

Canio. I am never going to change and gave up. You could see that

happening. We are bitterly disappointed. That really took the

wind out of our sales. Aston Villa have the lead. Really disappointing.

The only way you can make it count is by putting the ball in the net.

Tonight, who will get back to winning ways? Yes, all formats

sides in action today desperate to put disappointment last weekend

behind them. Behind me are Peter Schmeichel and Jason Roberts. Their

thoughts will come later. Tonight's first game comes from the Stadium

of Light. Well, it was fun while it lasted, although possibly not for

Sunderland fans. Paolo di Canio's reign was over after just one point

from five games at this season. His final games were played out last

weekend. But as one character departs, another one returns. 162

days after his last appearance, Luis Suarez is back, with Liverpool

fans hoping he can get them back to winning ways. With still no

permanent manager in players, Kevin Ball is the man entrusted with

restoring pride and points to the team at the bottom of the table at

restoring pride and points to the his second spell in caretaker

charge. Lee Cattermole starts for the first

time since February. There is also action for Carlos Cuellar.. Simon

Mignolet makes a quick return to the Stadium of Light. Also back his

Jordan Henderson who was developed and nurtured in the Academy by

Daniel bolt. That was a terrific effort. He

looked sharp. It opened up for him. He did not get the bend on the shot.

Sturridge goes down again. It is available free cake. Lee Cattermole

is a bit upset at about the awarding of Ed. The referee was

right on the spot. It was a very good said, but the

follow-up will not count. The flag is up. Martin Skrtel was offside.

It was a terrific effort initially from Gerard.

And a foul by Lucas. A free kick to Sunderland. Emmanuele Giaccherini

has had a bright start. That was a whisker away from giving

Sunderland the lead. Simon Mignolet was nowhere near that.

That was brilliant. Daniel Sturridge has silenced the Stadium

of Light. His 11th goal puts Liverpool in front. Was it off his

head? Sebastian Larsson was on the line trying to keep it out. He was

totally unmarked. It definitely does not hit his head. He

sheepishly ran away. The referee's assistant did not see it.

Sunderland have to show some character now.

That was too close to Simon Mignolet. Or was it? He gathered in

the end. Kolo Toure might have impeded John O'Shea.

Steven Gerrard with a majestic ball into the path of Sturridge. That

was Luis Suarez. It is a fantastic Liverpool goal. Luis Suarez on his

return to the Premier League is back amongst the goals. The payback

time has begun. This was all about the ball from Steven Gerrard. Look

at the movement of the Uruguayan. He points to where he wants it and

he gets it. That was a simple finish. Six goals in his last six

games against Sunderland. It has been a long time, 162 days without

Premier League football for the Uruguayan. There is the smile as he

doubles Liverpool's advantage. The majority of the Stadium of

Light were desperate to see that go in. A former goalkeeper denied them.

Fabulous fish and from Lee Cattermole. Excellent reaction from

the Belgian goalkeeper to keep Liverpool's clean sheet intact.

That was not too far away. He relieved, that is for sure. Luis

Suarez knew exactly the intention of Adam Johnson.

Emmanuele Giaccherini. Sunderland have hope. Simon Mignolet is beaten.

His second Premier League goal for the club, the Italian FA stop Simon

Mignolet could only push it into the path of Emmanuele Giaccherini.

That is exactly what was required from Sunderland's point of view.

Sunderland are back in it. He knows they are now back in it. Just what

was required. He needed to push that around the

post. Good reactions from Simon Mignolet. He moved at the last

minute as well. He has a big week ahead, the owner and chairman.

Moses went for goal. It was turned aside by Keiren Westwood. It took a

deflection as well. It was a good save from Keiren Westwood. That was

terrific delivery from Jose Enrique. He really did ask a question here.

That was Luis Suarez again. Sunderland survive again. Lee

Cattermole did brilliantly the first time around.

That was a useful cross and Gerrard almost headed it towards

his own goal. This is where Liverpool might be

able to counter and really punish Sunderland. It had to be him to

seal it, didn't it? Two for Luis Suarez on his return to the Premier

League. It is a return to winning ways for Brendan Rodgers and his

team. A real purpose started by the throw of Simon Mignolet. Luis

Suarez picked out Sturridge. The two strikers have linked up to good

effect again. Luis Suarez did well to finish it off because it was

just behind his body. Just look what it means to Brendan Rodgers.

He is back. I think those two have shown, certainly in training, that

they really complement each other. They are both goalscorers, but they

are both workers were the team and they are going to be a real threat

for defences. Did Daniel have a bit of fortune in his first goal? It

looked that way. He has been doing a lot of practice and extra work on

his heading and it did not come off. You do not mean to do things like

that and I am not the type of person to do things like that and

by our eyes were closed and it hit my arm. There were not any appeals

from Sunderland. He it happens so fast, but it came over his head and

it missed my head and hit my arm. These things happen sometimes.

There was some good football played today. There are some areas that we

will identify individual and collective things we need to

improve on. But if you look at today as a whole, they put in a

decent performance. We have got to today as a whole, they put in a

stick together, the players especially. Whoever gets a point,

they know they are coming into players who are willing to work out,

that has never been in doubt. What instructions have you been given? I

am going to have a quick cup of tea and go home to the wife later to be

honest with you. I have not got any, to be honest with you. I will speak

to somebody from the board tomorrow and we will discuss it and see what

happens. A hypothetical answer. Kenya ticket to the end of the

season? A hypothetical answer, I am not sure.

There were positives for Sunderland. 23 shots. The most in a Premier

League game since December. They are in a hard place at the moment, but

today they worked very hard. Carlos Cuellar and Lee Cattermole came in

and worked very hard. When they scored the goal, I thought they grew

in confidence and showed ambition to close Liverpool down but it never

happened to them. There was a negative in the first golfer

Sunderland and a negative that keeps happening. They make the same

mistakes. Let me just show you this. We have been talking about this

quite a lot today. Do you see zonal marking? We have spoken about it but

I am still not sure. Who is marking Daniel Sturridge? This is the

opportunity you get to stop and organise yourself and they are not

organised. I am saying that that is man marking. I am saying that it is

zonal marking. You do not give someone like Daniel Sturridge this

amount of space inside the six yard box. But have a look. He looks like

somebody waiting for the number nine bus going to Salford excavation Mark

--! This is the first game against Fulham. It is far too easy to score

against them. Against Crystal Palace, look at all of the yellow

shirts, they should be very comfortable. But, they are conceding

soft goals. Against Southampton, they are 1-0 up, on their way to

three points, and this happens, at a relatively easy set these and they

drop two points. The goal should not have stood, because it hit his arm.

Daniel Sturridge said it in the interview. The new manager must come

in and deal with that, right away. The goals that they are conceding,

with all respect to the opposition, they are not brilliant set pieces.

The first goal was a very soft goal to concede. Every club and team

spends time on the practice pitch, practising organisational setups in

set pieces. If you concede a goal practising organisational setups in

and a set piece that is brilliant, you hold your hands up, but this is

too soft, and the new manager has to take that very seriously. You have

written a piece about strike partnerships not existing any more

in the Premier League. Does what happened this afternoon blow that

theory out of the water? It is proof that it can work when you have

intelligent players. Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suarez can rotate

and make different movements. When you look at the intelligent

positions that Victor Moses takes up, he is still driving and trying

to expose the defence. Luis Suarez has got the ball ahead, but what I

like is, they are making their way into the box. Three genuine

goal-scorers in the box. Nobody took up any fixed position. Victor Moses

picks the ball up, deep, he looks for Luis Suarez, and he is not happy

with that, he makes his way into the box. And get the shot away. And he

did that, all game. When he has got options, it is two players making

intelligent runs. Being -- David Sturridge is in the box, with

another genuine goal scorer, Luis Suarez, to score a goal. As a

striker yourself, you always look for the strike partner. Daniel

Sturridge has got his hand up. It is the first player that he is looking

for, when he has got the ball. When Luis Suarez has got the ball,

Sturridge is the first player that he is looking for. Great ball from

Gerard, Sturridge takes up an intelligent position and Luis Suarez

is pointing exactly where he wants the ball and that is a strike

partnership gelling. With the likes of Victor Moses and Philip Coutinho

coming into that it looks very exciting. Can that come undone

against other sites? You have to make sure that your discipline and

intelligent, so that one of the strikers drops off to attach itself

to the deep lying midfielder. If you both stay up you can be outnumbered

in midfield, but Brendan Rogers was smart, with a five-man midfield.

Could Sunderland have been more urgent at 2-1? For me, at times,

they were not pushing the build-up. Kieran Westwood gets the ball. This

happened a few times in the second half. Have a look at the little

clock in the corner. Get the ball up the other end when Liverpool has

committed players for that. You do not know what is going to happen out

there. It took him 12.4 seconds to get rid of the ball. Just to

contrast that, when Simon Mignolet gets the ball, he gets it out to

Luis Suarez, and that there is a lover little run, but we're getting

near to the point where Kieran Westwood release the ball. 15, 16,

17 seconds and the ball is in the back of the net. This is Brad Guzan,

yesterday. This is a 3-point pass. back of the net. This is Brad Guzan,

He did that a few times yesterday, trying to look for someone up there.

And at times... The goalkeeper has to try and dig date the pace of play

and try something different. -- dictate the pace. It can get a bit

dull and easy to defend against, the modern game. Sometimes I wish that

goalkeepers and centre halves were just watch the ball up there, and

see what happens. -- would just launch the ball. The second game

see what happens. -- would just tonight comes from the Britannia

Stadium as Norwich go to Stoke. And it's there! What a strike!

Arsenal three, Stoke City, one. What a goal! Chances for Tottenham.

And Aston Villa have the lead. Steve Wilson was at this one. They

are still in red and white stripes but otherwise they say that Stoke

City are unrecognisable from the team that Tony Pulis built, and if

they win today it will be at their best start to a Premier League

season, but Mark Hughes knows that it is where they finished that

counts. Norwich are still looking for their first goal away from home

and Arsenal and Chelsea are there next two ponies. -- opponents.

Chris Uden makes four changes for Norwich. -- Hughton.

Pilkington has worked this brilliantly onto his right foot. It

took a good block in the end. That is an inviting cross for

Snodgrass at the back post. The shout is come on, from Eric Pieters,

and you can understand why, because Stoke City have been on the back

foot from the beginning. That is headed off the crossbar, and Asmir

Begovic has made it his. That would have been a deserved lead. The

corner kick, hammered in, then arriving of the bar, then the tussle

breaks out, and Asmir Begovic finds the ball in his gloves. You would

breaks out, and Asmir Begovic finds not believe that his side have come

into this game having played two and not believe that his side have come

lost two in the Premier League. Arnautovic has just reached that. He

could have given that two Charlie Adam and in retrospect, he might

think that he should have done. Norwich City have been very busy.

Beautiful ball in from Pilkington. It has gone wide, it would did not

Beautiful ball in from Pilkington. have counted. Ricky Van Wolfswinkel

says, what do you expect? I need to try and win it. Suspicion of

handball from Eric Pieters, but not giving. The suspicion of a high boot

from Snodgrass, that one, not even Ava. -- either. That was a good try.

Arnautovic is already a firm favourite with the Stoke City fans.

He linked up well with Charlie Adam, here. That was curling and dipping

but not quite enough. He knows a thing or two about hitting the ball

well, Mark Hughes, and he will recognise that Arnautovic hit the

sweet spot with that one. That is not a bad hit, and it goes

through Asmir Begovic. Jonny Howson for Norwich! Asmir Begovic will be

very disappointed. Jonny Howson with the goal, Norwich City with the

lead, and the Stoke City goalkeeper will not be happy. There is a lot of

room, the shot is dipping, but I still think that Asmir Begovic will

still feel that he should have got a hand to this. It really did dip in

front of the goalkeeper, but I do not think that Jonny Howson expected

to hit the back of the net with that. That is the first Barclays

Premier League goal away from home this season for Norwich City. He

will be very pleased with Norwich City's performance so far.

Russell Martin definitely had an arm on the back of Jonathan Walters. The

delivery from Charlie Adam, put behind for a corner kick by Tettey.

Norwich will be happy when the whistle goes and it is still 1-0.

And the corner kick, a free header, and Ryan Shawcross did not get

enough on it. And he is wondering how.

Huth forward. Stephen Ireland, with Peter is offering an option to his

left, and across is dealt with comfortably. Stoke City have come

out with more purpose and more threat. They have a corner kick.

Jermaine Pennant to take this. Of Kenwyne Jones goes down

appealing. He is not going to get anything. Anthony Taylor saw

nothing wrong with that. His assistant on the far side will have

had a good view of it. But there was definitely a pool on him. You

could argue if it was given, it would be a soft one, but soft ones

are often given. Good play by Pilkington. He certainly offers a

threat down the left-hand side. He is a good player.

Johnny house and decided against another crack. That was not grass.

He was not a million miles away. -- that was Robert Snodgrass. I do not

think Asmir Begovic was worried. Kenwyne Jones just lacked the

finish. Just when you think he has Kenwyne Jones just lacked the

run out of steam, Kenwyne Jones can do something special. The attentive

goal was not the most fearsome, but the approach was lovely, fluid and

fluent. That is the first effort on target

stoke have had all game. That was a good save. That was a

good effort by Robert Snodgrass. It was definitely going in as well.

The referee blows his whistle and that is three very good points for

Chris Hughton and Norwich City. Their first away victory of the

season. Johnny house and with the only goal in the 34th minute. Maj

use will reflect they might have had a penalty when Kenwyne Jones

was appalled by Leroy Fer. But that means a lot to Norwich, and they

edged it. Stoke with only one shot on target in the whole game.

Fairness to the guys, since they walked through the door they have

been excellent in terms of their walked through the door they have

application and what they are trying to do. In games we have been

good as well, promptly any one half when we were poor. I was pleased

with what we produce today. We had many guys not quite up to the level

to when Premier League games and Norwich played well. It was a very

good all-round performance to date. Maybe we set the tempo in the first

half when we got the goal. Maybe on Maybe we set the tempo in the first

another day we could have had a couple of more. We hit the bar in

the first half, there was a terrific save towards the end. Be

felt fairly comfortable. Might that have been a penalty? Yes, I think

the referee interpreted it in a different way. But let's not hide

behind an obvious penalty decision. Over the course of the game we did

not deserve anything out of the game in terms of performance. We

need to pick ourselves up. Up and a today I have been pleased with what

we have done. Did you expect it to go end from there? I just picked it

up and I had a little bit of space, and it just seemed to open up.

Robert Snodgrass was on my right and the defender came up to the

ball and I fancied my chances. Yes, it would be nice. Maybe I was a bit

surprised, but you have got to take them. Teams are not going to allow

us to play the game that we want to on occasion, so if that is a case

us to play the game that we want to we need to have a Plan B and a

different string to our bow. Today it was difficult to find it. Chris

Hughton gave me his thoughts after it was difficult to find it. Chris

the game. Where we are at the moment, we

wanted to try and get a foothold in the game early and play the game at

quite a high tempo. We were able to do that. We know the style of play

has changed here and we hoped we could benefit from that. But we

knew it would be hard to sustain that tempo for 90 minutes. The

second half became a little bit of a different game or with Stoke

getting more direct. But we had some really good periods in the

game of possession and we could have won by more. When you know the

momentum might change in the second half and your temper might drop, at

half-time is it important to prepare the players for that? To

know they will have to defend? The important thing is to know how to

stay calm and it is about responsibility. I always felt that

even when Stoke Abbott periods that we could catch them on the counter

attack and if we showed a little bit more in that Sira pass we could

have made it a bit more comfortable for ourselves. Leroy Fer got man of

the match. What Cassie brought to your club this season? He has got

better and better. I think it takes a bit of time to settle him.

Players cannot always hit it off straight away. We have to get used

to them how they play and how they played before. Once we get our best

11 out at any particular time, we believe we can show some of the

qualities we showed today. Tony house and made scoring that goal

sound very matter of fact, but there are various things we can

pick up. Norwich played very well and

deserved the win. Wolfswinkel worked the back four all game. It

dropped to Johnny house and who does what he does best. So Stoker

are very disorganised. I think Robert Huth should have been out

there. He gives the line to Jonny Howson. Looking at it from this

angle, you cannot even see the ball. You see Ed very late and he had no

chance. I think Robert Huth should have been out there putting

pressure on him. Is that the goalkeeper's view? He has done

fantastic to use the defender. Did I say that? Grudgingly. It was a

very odd star performance. Mark Hughes was very upset with it at

the end, resigned about it. I was a bit confused as to the way stoke

attacked the game. Having played for a Ma accused him, the first

thing he wants you to do is to make sure that you dictate to them. They

never did that to date. When they closed down Norwich it was

lethargic. They are not actually saying anything to Norwich when

they have had the ball. They are getting into the pocket. It was

totally different to the way they closed down Manchester City. They

are telling them exactly where they want them to go and they appear

aggressive with their challengers. They want to make sure they put

their foot in and let them know that they are in charge. Here again

it is totally different. No-one is getting close to the opposition.

That is not a stoker, Mark Hughes's performance, dictating to the

opposition. The contrast between the Norwich game and the Manchester

City game was stark. We wondered if it was a tactical instruction. We

did not have to use the circle against Manchester City because

there wasthere anybody because they were closing) from the front. Here,

there is lots of space outside. Stoke have started the season very

well, but they were poor by their standards today and they will know

that. Here Kenwyne Jones was closing down from the front and

getting an opportunity. That is the difference. Sometimes it is what

you do without the ball. For me I thought stoke looked fatigued and

tired. I do not know for whatever reason. You could see Mark Hughes

was very disappointed. He said they were poor. He is clever enough to

understand he cannot change them from what they were to what he

wants them to be in a few months. When you are struggling, you have a

go to play. We have seen that over When you are struggling, you have a

the years. They get into this When you are struggling, you have a

position. If you cross the ball, you might get a chance. But there

are passing the ball back. I do not know what happened to them today,

if they were tired, if they were confused about the tactical set up.

We get a bit of a cross, but the quality is not like them. This I

have to say, brace yourself... I am braced. This is stope's best chance

of the game and that sums up the performance of the stage. It they

of the game and that sums up the were not themselves. Is that down

to trying to change their style too quickly? I think there is a big

difference when you are a team like them to host Manchester City or

host Norwich. You think the Norwich game is going to be easier, or you

are not going to work that hard. With Manchester City you do that

automatically, it is like a cup final. You put a bit of extra

performance into what you are doing on the pitch. With Norwich I do not

know what happened. They just looked tired. Norwich went to extra

time in their cup game during the wait. You just proved my point.

Let's go to the penalty. These are very honest post-match interviews.

Sturridge said he would not hide behind this. Fair play to him, but

the referee's position is blocked. I am not sure the referee assistant

can see that. Kenwyne Jones accentuates ed. He is making sure

officials see that somebody has got hold of him in the box. For me that

is an absolute penalty. This is what I am like, I agree with your.

Whichever Union it is, goalkeepers or strikers, I do not care. Leroy

Fer is a lucky boy because at this point he had already been booked.

If he had given the penalty, he would have been off. He was the man

of the match. It could have changed the game, because as we know goals

change games. On what was a day of honesty Leroy Fer admitted he

committed the foul in the same way Daniel Sturridge admitted it came

off his arm in the Liverpool goal against Sunderland.

Let's look back at Saturday's games with struggling Fulham at home to

Cardiff. It was disappointment for a fallen yet again. First of all

they lose Scott Parker after seven minutes. He signalled he had to go

off. Stephen Cocker put Malky Mackay's side ahead. They had other

chances, Ben Turner seeing a header saved. That was a good header from

Stephen. It was. He has been a great signing for a them, coming in

from Spurs. Cardiff have had a fantastic start. Bryan Ruiz came on

before the end of the first half and just four minutes later he got

the equaliser. It is a beautiful finish. It is. This is what he has

been brought in for. He scores goals. It is a mystery to me that

been brought in for. He scores Fulham are struggling in that

department. But they are. Do either of you worry that they have him,

they have bred a tough, they have Adel Taarabt, there is creativity

there. It is all about the balance. The problem for Fulham is that they

are conceding goals. They have conceded a game in the last -- goal

in the last and most of the last four games. This is about

confidence? If you do not concede those goals, it makes a massive

difference to how the league table looks for them. I am not worrying

about whether they are going to go down, but do you worry for them? I

think the quality is there, and I think that he is the right guy to

manage the club. He's a very safe pair of hands. The problem that

Fulham have is not, for me, going backwards, it is taking the next

step. Fulham will struggle to get into the next sort of level of the

Premier League. I do not see Fulham getting into trouble. This is just

about the beginning of a Premier League season. If the new owners

keep their cool and keep Martin Jol, I think they will be OK. More of

Saturday's games now as the West Midlands celebrated a double over

Manchester. West Brom arrived at Old Trafford seeking a first agree there

at 1978 when Jason's uncle several Trafford seeking a first agree there

played a starring role. -- Uncle Cyril.

Manchester United's left back is well down field, and Amalfitano is

in here, and scores, delicately. And we asked from a charred being lead

at Manchester United with 53 minutes gone, United caught out after

attacking down the left-hand side, the full-back went forward, did not

get back, and there was little cover and didn't he take the gold well? --

the goal. The equaliser, and Manchester United are back in the

game at 1-1. Amalfitano with a delicate touch,

and Berahino, brilliant goal from West Brom, the new kid on the block

for the Baggies strikes once more. Nani, crusty Marouane Fellaini, he

is onside, but Simon Long raises his flag. Was it correct? He is ahead of

the pass. In a lonely Place at the moment. A game of two halves, goals

win games. Aston Villa against Manchester City proved that these

are truths as well as cliches in football. Vincent Kompany was on the

near post, and Manchester City take the lead from Yaya Toure, the top

scorer. Delph. Spreads that wide to Bacuna.

And he has found LR muddy. -- El Ahmady. Was he offside? That will be

the big question raised by Manchester City. If the player is

just about level you have to give the advantage to the attacker. Edin

Dzeko scores. He makes it 2-1, the Manchester City. Samir Nasri

swinging in the corner, it comes off a shoulder, it comes off his back,

in actual fact, from that angle, Edin Dzeko.

Bacuna! He has got it, he has scored, with his first goal for

Aston Villa, and what a goal! He curled that beautifully. Andreas

Weimann is through the city defence, and it is going to be 3-2, Aston

Villa, yes it is! It was a long kick by Brad Guzan, two defenders left

chasing Andreas Weimann, never looking like getting there. Were

they looking for the offside flag? Andreas Weimann was not asking

questions, he slipped the ball through and it ran over the line.

The Manchester clubs have been debated all day and yesterday

evening, so let's have some praise to West Bromwich and Aston Villa.

You look at Aston Villa doing that without Christian Benteke and Gabby

Agbonlahor. And West Bromwich Old Trafford with the belief that they

could win the game. They said we could dominate possession. They did

that fantastically well. They deserve the result. I am not talking

about Manchester United! You just sit, that's tough! Bacuna. That

celebration straight after, with the manager. That tells me something.

Aston Villa will be a force in a manager. That tells me something.

couple of years. You can go back to sulking now! Before this London

derby everyone was looking for confrontation off the pitch between

two Portuguese managers, but the real drama happened on it. Eriksson

nicely away from Lampard. And again, 1-0, Tottenham. Gylfi Sigurdsson tuk

tuk beyond Petr Cech to give top of the lead. -- tucks it beyond.

Jan Vertonghen is furious with Fernando Torres. And it is a yellow

card. That is not very civilised from Fernando Torres. It is a chance

for Juan Mata to deliver. And John Terry with a header makes it 1-1.

Juan Mata provided it. John Terry scores it. Juan Mata comes up comes.

-- trumps. Fernando Torres and Jan Vertonghen are both down, they are

both hurt. Fernando Torres launched in self. And crunched into Jan

Vertonghen. And Mike Dean has sent off Fernando Torres. With both

Manchester clubs and London rivals or dropping points, Arsenal had the

chance to go clear at the top of the Premier League at Swansea.

Ozil will find a pass if there's one on. And Gnabry! He has scored his

first Premier League goal. What a confident finish that was. Jack

Wilshere wanted it. He goes in strongly on Jonathan de Guzman. And

Aaron Ramsey, they are trying to walk it in, they can do that,

Arsenal, and they have done it. Aaron Ramsey with another goal. You

just wondered who was going to finally take it on. Two backheels, a

great change of direction from Aaron Ramsey, and a thumping finish, from

a player who is in the form of his life.

Wilfred Bony with the ball back to him, to Ben Davies, and it was

beautifully flicked back by Wilfred Bony. Last weekend Hull City had

Steve Bruce dancing with joy after winning at Newcastle, and at home to

West Ham, they were going for three victories out of six.

Brady went down under the challenge, and Kevin friend has pointed to the

spot. My first viewing of that, I thought that Robbie Brady had made

too much of it. He sends him the wrong way. West Ham and Sam

Allardyce unhappy at the awarding of the spot kick. That is Hello.

Allardyce unhappy at the awarding of Welcome to the programme. Jarvis, it

is inviting. Was it over the line? No, it was not. It was very close

but it was not over the line. Ricardo Vaz Te, and once more, and

there are appeals for handball against.

Ian Holloway was back in the dugout this weekend having served his

touchline ban. He came dressed for the occasion as Crystal Palace went

to sap the National went to high-flying Southampton. -- went to

high-flying Southampton. Pablo Osvaldo has Ricky Lambert three, but

he goes the goal himself, and gets his first goal for Southampton. The

shop had enough ace and power to beat the despairing dive of Julian

Speroni. It is Ricky Lambert for Southampton and it is 2-0. Julian

Speroni, left clutching thin air, and Ricky Lambert registers his

league goal, number 200. One of the things that has been

levelled at Arsenal in the past is that they do not have strength in

depth, but missing lots of players, and still top of the table. They are

looking strong. They have got Mesut Ozil coming in. Aaron Ramsey looking

like someone who is going to go to the next level, in terms of his

game. He has got over that horrible injury and added Dorsey 's

performance can, driving with the ball, adding more maturity, and

Arsenal have got a genuine chance to win the league. And Olivier Giroud

is a top striker. People underestimate how it has left room

for Aaron Ramsey to get a new position within the dressing room

and he has taken that responsibility upon himself. That is what that we

and he has taken that responsibility wrote has done. -- that clearout.

They are one of your title favourites? Yes, Mesut Ozil, adding

his quality and his goals, once he finds his feet, Arsenal are looking

very strong at the moment. And here's how the table looks.

In-form Arsenal are two points clear, having won every game since

their opening-day defeat against Aston Villa. Liverpool and Spurs are

below them, both on 13 points. Everton will replace Chelsea in

fourth if they beat Newcastle on Monday night. What a season for Hull

so far - they're seventh. Sunderland remain rock bottom - still without a

win. Crystal Palace, Fulham and West Ham have only tasted victory once

this season. But it's Manchester United who really catch the eye in

12th. Time for two Good, two Bad. If at first you do not succeed, then

try, try and try again. And the same theory applies to Jordon Mutch as

well as it does to Brad Guzan. He missed that one, and scored a

cracker to secure all three points for Cardiff. Not a great deal we can

say about that. It is just bad. Corrie's Curly there, Not looking

very impressed at Old Trafford. You kept going. You kept going. Yes, we

kept going. That's it for another weekend full of goals, shocks and

incident. We the fans definitely feel it, most players feel it but it

is the managers who feel it more