21/12/2013 Match of the Day

Football and Match Of The Day lost one of its favourite voices today.

David Coleman was a giant of sports broadcasting, a man synonymous with

so many of the great sporting moments of our lifetime. A

brilliant, genuine all-rounder. Tonight you are invited to enter our

goal of the month competition. Can he do it, he surely must. The game

you are about to see is the most stupid, appalling, disgusting and

disgraceful exhibition football possibly in the history of the game.

It is all going on here! Why did you come from behind my back? We need a

bit of practice. She gets the goal -- medal! This is one of the

proudest moments of my life. Will you be ready? Will he be ready for

me? There appeared to be about eight minutes of shooting, then everything

went quiet. In just a few minutes, Boeing 737 is due to arrive from New

York carrying four men from Liverpool. The question is, when the

action stops, what happens next? This first London Marathon, even

before it started, is surely already the most remarkable success. Oh, my

word! Steve Cram wins the world Championship! What a save!

Our thoughts are with David's family. In this Judy, Kevin Kilbane

and Alan Hansen. -- in the studio. He was always a broadcasting giant.

He excelled at so many sports. I enjoyed the football. His knowledge

and authority, even when you listen to them now, they are fantastic. I

can't get close to when he says 1-0. It is superb. He was a great man. He

certainly was. As David once famously said, it is goals that pay

the rent and we have got plenty of them in tonight's Match Of The Day.

We start with Fulham against Manchester City who were looking to

enhance their title credentials after last week and's win over

Arsenal. Manuel Pellegrini's side have bounced things more difficult

on their travels, which must have given hope to Fulham. -- have found

things. COMMENTATOR: Manchester City's search for consistency on the

road continues. Fulham have lost seven of the last eight and sit in

the bottom three. Their preparations have been hit by an injury to

Dimitar Berbatov, which rules him out. Adel Taarabt comes in. Joe Hart

returns on golfer Manchester City, making his first Premier League

appearance for eight weeks. Gael Clichy moves to write back with

Aleksandar Kolarov coming in on the left-hand side.

Manchester City, with a good record against Fulham in recent seasons.

They were 2-1 winners here on their last visit.

Look at the space. Joe Hart, good save! First thing he has had to do

since coming back into the team in the league. First big test for Joe

Hart. So I eat, David Silva! City hadn't

threatened at all until now. -- so I'm lucky. He almost lifted the

frame of the goal out of the ground. Manchester City's form a way has

been well documented. Their goal scoring average is much higher at

home. They have nearly 4.5 goals per game at home. So many white shirts.

They have got a free kick right on the edge of the penalty area. Let's

have a look at this one. David Silva made the run. He was fouled by

Sidwell. Is this scenario where Fulham's good early work can be

undone in an instant? Here we go. Yaya Toure... Oh, what a goal!

Brilliant strike! It was perfectly placed, nothing the goalkeeper could

do about it. Manchester City, who haven't imposed themselves on the

first quarter of the game, now have the lead.

Negredo on his own. Still Negredo... Superb late. Dzeko. He

tried to place it. My goodness, what a chance but was for 2-0. -- that

was. Lively, open first half. Adel Taarabt, saved by Joe Hart. Half an

hour in and it is developing into a good game. Joe Hart saves, not for

the first time in the game. From what we have seen, Meulensteen has

got Fulham going. Good save. A fine stop by Maarten

Stekelenburg to keep it 1-0. Samir Nasri was fouled by John Arne

Riise. Alawite on the leg there. -- a whack.

Half cleared and then poked home by the captain. Kompany formatted the

city. Now they have got a bit of elbow room. -- for Manchester City.

The goalkeeper half got it away and Kompany there got the ball home.

Plenty to aim at... David Silva... Almost a perfect start to the second

half for Manchester City. The keeper was able to plonk himself down and

gather the ball. I slid by Gael Clichy. Richardson

with a chance and it is 2-1. Fulham are back in the game. Look at

Richardson striding through the middle. A great chance. I decisive

finish. It was firmly planted beyond Joe Hart. It is 1-1.

A decent ball in, and oh, he was in a great position there. It was a

flying header from Sidwell. But if he had left it, Adel Taarabt was in

a great place. Sidwell was caught out by Samir

Nasri. Negredo... And it is wide. It was his first touch, having come off

the bench. A real threat therefrom Manchester City.

Manchester City are going to be tested again here. Superb running.

Oh, and Kompany, oh, it has gone in! What a calamitous own goal!

Manchester City's awayday wobbles strike again. A 2-0 lead has slipped

through their fingers. Fulham have pushed and probed with energy and

purpose, and look at this. Kompany slices it up into the air and

there's nothing anybody can do about it. Manchester City's captain, who

had scored the goal that gave them the lead, now scores are the other

end to bring Fulham level. Negredo used his strength there.

Could be a chance and a goal! Manchester City's lead is stored.

Navas, the substitute, with the finishing touch. But it was David

Silva who created it. It was straight through the keeper's legs.

It was the strength of Negredo there, under pressure, and Navas,

into the bottom corner of the net. There will be no more relieved man

at Craven Cottage than that one there, Vincent Kompany. He will be

the second most relieved man. Negredo... Great pass, superb finish

from James Milner. Game, set, match, Manchester City! 4-2, and with seven

minutes to go, there will not be any coming back from Fulham now, I am

sure. A lovely pass with the outside of the boot. Gleefully despised by

James Milner, after the ball had spun past Aaron Hughes. --

dispatched. Before they scored at 2-1, I think we had clear chances to

score. We missed our chances, and when you miss so many chances,

normally they are the team that scores. We had bad luck in the

second half. The second goal was unbelievable. It happens in

football. It is important that the team can react. TRANSLATION: I know

David very well. He is a very clever player. When he got the ball, I saw

he wanted a through ball. I hit the ball and it was a good moment. It

was a shame we couldn't hold on longer to the 2-2, to stay settled.

Maybe the third chance would have come for us. I would have been happy

with a point. We played very well. You'll if we keep playing like that,

will get points. -- if we keep playing like that. A terrific game.

You can't take your eyes off them. And yet I don't know what you think

of the today. -- what to think of them today. City have had four other

games this season. Joe Hart came back, played all right, made a

couple of decent saves. If you are quick and diving, that is a problem.

You are slow and diving, you are in all sorts of problems. -- if you are

slow. This is what I'm talking about. He gets in position. He has

just got to hold the forward up. A communication problem with Yaya

Toure. He is diving again on his backside. Just as well Kompany is

there to divert the problem. Don't pick up the runner. He is slow to

react. You have got to get tight with the runner. On another day,

that could have found the net. With the first goal, he was impetuous. He

dives in there. Then a bit of complacency. Richardson makes a

dart, and Yaya Toure, too little, too late. Defensively, Kompany is

the most important player in the Premier League. No Kompany, no

title. He did have a remarkable day. I had a Twitter conversation with

him and he said he could do it 100 times and never do it deliberately.

It was amazing. It is very much unlike Kompany. They look so

comfortable when he plays. As the ball is played in, he was not

relaxed. He has just taken a wild swing. He

could try that a million times. It will be on every Christmas DVD for

years. For the next ten minutes, Manchester City were appalling.

They could not get hold of the ball. They were short. They scored four

goals! I understand, but if you are going to win the title... Kevin

agrees. They had a terrible spell for ten minutes. It could have gone

differently. This is the problem away from home. At times, they are

so good that they think, this game is finished. That is all right at

home. Doesn't matter if you get fired at home. Away, it is

different. Fulham, whilst it was a defeat,

signs of improvement? Rene Meulensteen will be happy with the

way they closed down today. The spell after half-time, after that

second goal, the way they closed down. I have not seen it enough from

Fulham this season, real high workrate. Big run of games coming

up. These are the games, Norwich, Hull, West Ham and Sunderland, these

games will dictate the season. That today they did well to nearly get

something from the game. These next two weeks will be key for Fulham's

season. City, brilliant to watch. Thank you. That's great. So many

groans watching that game this afternoon. So Manchester City remain

strong favourites to win the title, but there's plenty more twists and

turns at the top and bottom still to come.

Next, it's to Anfield and two sides who have had constrasting build-ups.

Liverpool put five past Spurs and secured the services of Luis Suarez

for another four-and-a-half years. Cardiff meanwhile are in turmoil

with Malky Mackay's position looking increasingly untenable. Steve Wilson

watched this one. Chalk and cheese, harmony and discord, Liverpool and

Cardiff. The contrast is startling as Liverpool secure Suarez for

four-and-a-half more years, Cardiff prepare to sack the most successful

manager they have had in 50. 11 goals in his last home games in 17

Luis Suarez seems to be getting better by the week. No surprise

Liverpool are unchanged from the side which scored five at Spurs.

Andre Villas-Boas was sacked hours after that result, it would be a

surprise if the same fate doesn't apply to Malky Mackay, but for

different reasons. Just one change. Sterling has lost it. Mutch brings

it forward for Cardiff. Craig Noone here for Cardiff City, he goes for

goal. Mignolet makes the save. That would have been a dream goal for

him, to score against the club he supported as a boy. Liverpool are a

bit short at the back here. Coutinho. Lovely ball to Luis

Suarez. So many bodies in front of him. It's deflected off the back of

Andrew Turner, I think. Lovely bit of vision there from Coutinho to

find Suarez. Henderson. Suarez again, inside Cattermole. Joe

Allen. Henderson. Suarez, 1-0. They kept him pretty quiet for 24

minutes. There is simply no stopping Luis Suarez. 18 for the season. He

can't stop scoring. Well, they were looking for offside.

I think Henderson was just about level. Setup Suarez, who still had a

lot to do, but he enough of a sight of goal. It was right in the corner.

Another goalkeeper is left motionless by Luis Suarez.

Good challenge, Coutinho. Tried to go outside Theophile-Catherine.

Free-kick to Cardiff, in a good position. Whittingham has got a

great left foot. Curled in, dangerous. Oh, fell

nicely for Liverpool in the end. Caulker attacked it, so did Skrtel.

It ended up in the gloves of Mignolet. Caulker is suggesting that

he was fouled here. Skrtel is definitely pulling his shirt.

Coutinho. It might come to Suarez. It might still come to Suarez. In

the end Caulker was feeling uncomfortable and felt the best

course was just to get it out of the danger area. Cardiff City fans are

giving Luis Suarez a bit of stick. Corner played short to Coutinho. He

hits the post! Great piece of skill. Beautifully done. Smashed against

the near-post. Henderson. Good ball from Raheem

Sterling. Johnson. Suarez, missed it. Flanagan! Came off the face of

the post, I think. Not quite sure how it stayed out, but it did. Must

have been mighty close. Definitely not a goal. The system works. Here's

Coutinho. Oh, great ball. Raheem Sterling,

away from Taylor. Can he finish? No, he can't. Good save by Marshall. A

good save this by David Marshall. Flanagan, away. Hernedson through.

Onside. Now can Suarez finish it off. Luis Suarez, Raheem Sterling,

2-0 Liverpool. Is Eventually, they surely were going to take one. You

cannot invite Liverpool to run on your goal time and time again. Great

ball here from Jordan Henderson. That's what started it. Suarez, oh,

well, looking for offside, it wasn't given, regime Sterling won't score

too many simpler goals than that. Liverpool 2, Cardiff 0. Luis Suarez

into Flanagan. Hernedson and Sterling arriving in the middle, Joe

Allen too. Here is Suarez. Muff arrived in the nick of time. Suarez

again. Oh, that is brilliant! That is brilliant! That's three. Well,

Luis Suarez has scored some spectacular goals over the course of

the last few weeks and there's another. He can probably barely

believe himself what he's doing this season. That is absolutely

inch-perfect. Marshall is thinking - he can't score from there. Marshall

is wrong. It Liverpool three, Cardiff City nil. If there is a

better goalscorer in world football right now, I haven't seen him.

A free-kick now for Johnson. His challenge on Campbell.

Five around the box here, Cardiff. Whittingham's delivery. A free

header from Mutch, and it's in. Absolutely free. Jordon Mutch hutch.

-- Mutch. Pretty shocking defender. Sakho at the back post was one on to

two. 3-1. Whittingham, nice little dink looking for Noone. Cardiff

corner. Whittingham's corner kick. Head back

by Caulker. Cardiff are wondering whether there wasn't a foul in

there. There was certainly a melee. Raheem Sterling, in very strongly on

Whittingham. He did get the ball, Sterling, it's the way he approached

it I think which annoyed Whittingham. Yellow card is shown to

Raheem Sterling. That is a foul in Rugby Union. There is no interest in

the ball. His only thought is to impede Caulker. That's a lovely

ball. Sterling is onside here. Sterling. Could finish it. Suarez.

Definitely onside, Sterling. Good save by Marshall. Suarez to the

redowned bound. It's off the post. That the third time Liverpool have

hit the woodwork in this game. Time ran out for Cardiff City in the end.

Big embrace from former colleagues and Malky Mackay, if that is the

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

his team played in that second-half. The Cardiff City supporters are

sing. I think it's farewell and thank you. That looks, to me, like

an emotional Malky Mackay saying goodbye. I thanked our fans like I

do every week. They have been exceptional, tremendous again today.

The backing of the team and myself they have been since day one here at

the football club. The Liverpool fans are what they are, tremendous

group of people, class act. You are top of the league as we talk now.

You have to be in that equation? I don't think about it so much. I

think it's something that, you know, it's unprecedented really that a

club to go from seventh to winning a title and, you know... I still

believe it's for Manchester City to lose. You have spoken this week

about your old mate Malky Mackay who you worked with at Watford. His team

did him proud in the second-half. It doesn't feel right what we are

expecting to happen, it doesn't feel right? I don't think it's right. I

think everyone in the country and throughout football sees it as

wrong. It looks like there is only one person who doesn't recognise the

great job he has done there. There are a lot of people who want to see

things done properly. I'm delighted and humbled with that. What will

happen now? I won't be resigning from the football club. I'm the

manager here. I couldn't look at myself in the mirror, resigning and

walking away from that group of players, my staff, the training

groundstaff, the office staff. What we have built here for the last

two-and-a-half years. That group of fans out there today, they have been

like that home and away for two-and-a-half years. They should be

enjoying the Premier League season this year. Do you know what Vincent

Tan is going to do. You know what you will and won't do, do you know

what he is going to do? No, I don't. It is a strange thing. There is his

record at Cardiff. It is's a remarkable tale? He has been under

so much pressure under the 48-hours since it came to light since the

email from Vincent Ktan. Could have Liverpool could have gone and won

that game five or six nil. It showed a team playing for the manager. Talk

of Craig Bellamy being asked to take over the team yesterday. To work

under these sort of circumstances it was very, very difficult for them. I

think the team showeded a tremendous amount of courage the supporters are

right behind Malky Mackay and the rest of football is behind him. As

Brendan Rodgers appeared as as well. Appears to be one man, doesn't it?

Yes. Is like the pantomime villian at it time of year, the black gloves

on. The whole image? He has flown in Malaysia, hasn't he, to relieve him

of his duties. Job he has done, I don't think he realises the job he

has done in getting them promoted and to the position they are in

right now. Championship clubs have spent so much money trying to get to

the Premier League and haven't been able to do it. It's a wonderful

achievement for Malky Mackay in doing what he is doing right now.

Other side of things, Liverpool it couldn't be going much better at the

moment. In Luis Suarez, boy have they got a man... Brendan Rodgers

and the Liverpool board did so well keeping him in the summer. He is a

fantastic player. He scores so many goal. More than most Premier League

clubs this season. I know he had his problems last season. He is a dream

player on the pitch in as much as... He came back for the World Cup and

got back to Liverpool, 1.00pm on a Friday, plays in the Merseyside

Derby on the Saturday 12.45pm. Doesn't mention tiredness. His work

ethnic on the pitch is fantastic. With the younger players he is

sensational. I'm not there at the club, I heard he is great with the

younger players. On the pitch you can see this. This stuff with Jon

Flanagan on the left hand side. Young player. You watch Suarez here.

He keeps on telling him to wait. And he nearly scores.

He makes a great run on the right-hand side. You would have

tried to score there. But he is unselfish. The reaction when he

scores is great. This is a world-class player. In the first

game, he was in a similar position. He should have passed over. The vice

captain comes on. This is a brilliant gesture. He says, right,

you are the vice captain, you are on. The giving and going... Best

player in the league at the moment? Not a shadow of a doubt. You watch

him when he plays it. Does he stand still? Not a chance. He is on the

goal. Pass and move, the Liverpool philosophy. I tell you what,

Liverpool have gone top and they have gone about it the right way.

philosophy. I tell you what, Liverpool have gone top and Brendan

Rodgers is not shouting from the rooftops. He knows there is work to

be done. If they can keep on doing what they are doing... And they will

always have a chance with Luis Suarez. The last time Manchester

United lost three consecutive home games, Alan Hansen was wearing tight

shorts. 35 years on, and after defeats to Everton and Newcastle,

the Old Trafford faithful were happy to see West Ham in town. The

commentator was Guy Mowbray. commentator was Guy

COMMENTATOR: Manchester United missed Wayne Rooney in midweek but

he is passed fit today. He is facing a new goalkeeper.

The busy holiday run of games begins. Manchester United's target

will be 12 points from the four games they are going to play. Out

goes the ball. Manchester United get their first corner within the first

minute. West Ham have already done better than they did here last

season. They were down on goal after 32 seconds. Robin van Persie scored

it. There is a chance... Great save. Tom Cleverley thought he had scored.

Most of the ground for tea scored. That is why he has got the nod

today. He has got it with the wrong hand. That was a great save.

He went to power. The goalkeeper was ready for it. It took a deflection

off George McCartney. I was travelling quickly enough to make it

a good save. Not where he is used to is -- being. Phil Jones takes it in

a blink of an eye. Wayne Rooney runs... Danny Welbeck scores for

Manchester United. Danny Welbeck has scored at Old Trafford for

Manchester United for the first time since October of last year. He is on

side, not the question. Looked as though Collins was going to stumble

into him and give away a penalty. That didn't become an issue either.

Adrian will know he should have done better with that. Manchester United

lead 1-0. It has brought David Moyes to his feet. Happy with the

scoreline, perhaps just wanting a bit more from his team overall. West

Ham need to keep themselves in the game. Was he pushed? Mike Jones

thinks about it before saying goalkick. Mark Noble is not happy

with the way the teenager went down. There is not much of him, you can

say that. He gets a push from Noble. I think Manchester United might have

had a strong case there. West Ham are hanging on at the moment.

Januzaj goes himself and scores himself. 18 years old, he scores his

first Old Trafford goal for Manchester United. He was given his

chance by that man at the end of last season. He has integrated into

the team fully in this campaign. He has got skill. He has got

confidence. He could have laid it back to Wayne Rooney but he was

having none of it. Scored from the same sort of angle as the first

goal. But not as much chance for Adrian with that one.

Januzaj was caught by Collins. Mike Jones is going to book Januzaj for

diving here. West Ham drew the referee's attention to it earlier

with his penalty appeal. And he did. A great spot by Mike Jones. I am

afraid, young man, that is poor in the extreme.

A great ball in. Danny Welbeck was so close to meeting it. In the end

it was firmly met and put behind for a corner my George McCartney. That

was cross of the match. There is man of the match. Boy of the match, you

might say. Evans... Was it cleared off the line or just missed? It

might have been sneaking in, you know. He is relaxed enough since

moving upstairs. That one won't count. A quick

decision made. It was close. On the near side, he might have been

playing Hernandez in and on. Such is the speed of the past and the

players that it is difficult for the assistant referee to know. Of those

Januzaj, scorer of Manchester United's second goal, and on goes

Ashley Young with his players. -- in his place.

Young hits it. He hits it all right! First touch of the ball. Into

the roof of the net. The third goal ensures three points for Manchester

United, for sure. Ashley Young on Wednesday scored his first goal

since May of last year. He hit that one hard. He hit this one true. That

was just perfect from young. That is the one plays no goalkeeper in the

world is going to reach it. Two goal in the world is going to reach it.

Two Golding two games for Young. -- two goals in two games. The problem

for Sam Allardyce is a possible something here. Too quick for George

McCartney's name, which will go in the book. Not a good one at all. He

is lucky that is yellow. That should have been a dismissal. David Moyes

was quoted before the game saying maybe we have had all our downs and

all our cups are still to come. -- ups. Carlton Cole... Scores.

Manchester United's defenders and midfielders are furious with

themselves. An open invite book Carlton Cole to give the Hammers

fans something to cheer. -- for Carlton Cole. With every deal he

gets, he might stick around a bit longer. He not make is West Ham if

not into the game then onto the scoresheet for the first time in six

visit to Old Trafford. -- he not mades.

We have not seen a direct run at the defenders all day. It was blocked on

the edge of the box. Morrison is sure it was with the hands of Tom

Cleverley, who is holding his chest. Is that to convince us, or is it

genuine pain? It hit the left hand. But you do have arms. I think it

would be harsh but you can understand why they are shouting for

it. We are creating a lot of opportunities. We have been doing

great. The two goals we gave away were poor, not just offensive play

but poor play as a team. That is why Manchester United took full

advantage and scored two. We had to try and get something back but when

the goal came it was Ashley Young who finished it off. Everybody who

works at the club, we have always got that belief. We have got the

winning mentality. Like I said after the game in midweek, the momentum is

building. We have got to keep going. We are going into a busy period now.

We want to kick on from here, get more wins. Kevin, it was a

comfortable win for Manchester United, really. A big improvement.

Again in confidence. They have definitely got a young star in

Januzaj. A bit to learn in some respects. He was excellent. He is

showing real maturity now. The ball comes out. He has got a real ability

to get it out of his feet, which it in first time. He has got wonderful

ability. He can move the ball really well. He was the real key player for

United today. James Collins things Danny Welbeck is offside. He turned

his back on clay. Januzaj takes full advantage. -- he turns his back on

clay. This is what he is starting to learn. He reacts. That is David

Moyes' ethos. He likes players to react, track Pack and work hard. --

trap back. There were few incidents retired that matter regarding

diving. -- there were a few incidents regarding diving. He has

come back inside James Collins. There is no excuse for that. David

Moyes has said he will have a word with him. But he has previous. He

received a yellow card today. Let's hope he stands it out of his game.

received a yellow card today. Let's hope he stands it out You thought

you saw some signs in terms of the wing play from Manchester United

today? Over the last couple of seasons, they have been excellent

from crosses. You see a lot of goals last season, they were the best in

the Premier League, 34% from crosses. This season, they rank

write-down in 13th. 21% of their goals come from crosses. Over the

years, they have had outstanding ball is going into the box. Antonio

Valencia, he has been a bit inconsistent for me. Today,

certainly, he was trying to get wired, get crosses in. One thing

David Moyes again tries to get into the play is when a white man is

going in, the opposite man gets into the other side. We saw it there

would Ashley Young's goal. Last week, we see Januzaj again come he

is looking to get into the box. Antonio Valencia is starting to come

into his own. He is starting to get more confidence, believing himself

again. He is starting to be more creative. That is where we have seen

United get so much joy. What about West Ham? They are missing key

individuals. They were pooled today in virtually every aspect of the

play. We always say home form is important, but they look like they

cannot score at one end and are susceptible at the other, which is a

bad combination. Next up is Arsenal at home, West Brom at home and then

Fulham and Cardiff away. If they don't get their act together, they

will be in trouble. Before we move on, a reminder that you have to wait

until Monday for much of the day to this week, but your patients should

be rewarded -- Match of the Day two. Paulinho celebrates. Coleman,

surely. Walcott finds the net. That is a brilliant finish from Ramires.

Before we move on, as we are approaching Christmas, we thought we

would ask you who you thought would win the Premier League, so just go

to the BBC sport website or tweet using any other hashtag is on the

screen from the current favourite at the bookies -- hashtags. Next up, a

trip to the palace, with three wins out of the last five has brightened

the mood. Newcastle are in good mood as well, after taking 16 from a

possible 21 points. Crystal Palace could move out of the

relegation zone with a third successive home win. Newcastle

arrive having lost just one of their last seven. What is certain is that

the conditions will certainly have an impact at a very wet Selhurst

Park. Three goals in his last three games for Marouane Chamakh. If

Palace win today, they could move out of the bottom three. Dikgacoi is

out through injury. Johann Cabaye returns after a one match

suspension, with Newcastle aiming for their fifth away win in the

league this season. Pulled back to Cabaye. And the man

who scored the winner at Manchester United puts Newcastle in front at

Crystal Palace. It always looked to be dangerous for Crystal Palace for

the moment Newcastle break clear, but then they had numbers back. A

deflection in the end as Cabaye pussy shot in. -- puts a shot in. It

gets a touch of Jedinak, the final touch coming from the Crystal Palace

captain, but it is no doubt that Yohan Cabaye will be claiming the

first goal of the afternoon. It is a lovely day to watch football. You

sure you wouldn't rather be Christmas shopping?

Tim Krul with the block to keep Newcastle in front. The return pass

from Barry Bannan didn't look as though it would work out for Cameron

Jerome, but suddenly there was the opportunity for a shot. Half an hour

played, Crystal Palace get their first corner.

It was Williamson with the touch, heading into the Newcastle goal

until it was cleared away by Vurnon Anita. That could have been very

embarrassing indeed for Newcastle. In towards low-income reverie. -- in

towards Loic Remy. It is an own goal by Danny Gabbidon. An awkward

crossing, and Gabbidon turns it into his own net. Newcastle's lead is

doubled. Loic Remy was never going to get there and in fact, gives up

the chase to get on the end of it. Gabbidon sticks out a leg and

diverted into the bottom corner. The day has gone from bad to worse for

Danny Gabbidon. A shake-up ahead from both player and manager says

all you need to know about that Newcastle goal. -- a shake

Does Delaney have a point? He is claiming he did not touch the

Newcastle man. He may very well have a point.

What a save. And the header is wide from Williamson. Julian Speroni

keeping his side's deficit to just the two.

But moved in the air. Two very well-known Newcastle supporters,

Sting and Jimmy nail, the two of them collaborating on a recent

project that Sting has written all about the Newcastle shipyards.

The challenge by Coloccini, with the high foot. That is a yellow card.

It would be a very special free kick if Jason Puncheon were to beat Tim

Krul from here. Headed across goal by Jedinak and

Jerome puts it over. What a chance for Crystal Palace to halve the

deficit. Jedinak with the header back across the area and it flashes

over the bar. What an opportunity that was for Cameron Jerome. It has

certainly given the Crystal Palace fans grounds for optimism.

Ben Arfa still going. Almost stumbled. Gouffran with the shot,

and it is of the post under way to safety. What a mazy run from Hatem

Ben Arfa. Gouffran was so close to getting a third goal for Newcastle

this afternoon. A fifth away win in the league this season is within

grasp of Newcastle United and Alan Pardew.

Shola Ameobi down in the penalty area, it is a penalty kick. Scott

Ledger, the assistant on the near side, with the decision, ratified by

the referee. It was a foul by Jonathan Parr on Shola Ameobi, and

with five minutes plus stoppage time remaining, a chance for Hatem Ben

Arfa to certainly seal the victory for Newcastle.

Speroni got to it, but couldn't keep the ball out, such was the ferocity

of the shot. And that surely is a victory for Newcastle. Speroni gets

a touch but the pace and the power from Ben Arfa was too much for him.

Newcastle secure their fifth away victory in the Premier League this

season. It is not often in your career you can come back to your old

club and have a victory as good as that, because we were very good

today. We decided to try and control the game in terms of possession, and

we couldn't have done any better, really. The goals came at good times

for us and it was a great day for Newcastle. The first two goals we

conceded were very poor from our point of view. One thing we have

done very well since we came into the football club is we have looked

very sound defensively. And we had one great chance, Cameron's chance

with 20 minutes to go, and he scores, it would have given

everybody a lift and made Newcastle nervous. It was blustery wind and

strong, swirling rain, what was it like to play in? Typical English

game! But I thought we dealt with it extremely well and we played with

intelligence and we deserved to win. I think that is fair to say, and

Newcastle go from strength to strength and Yohan Cabaye, a play

any club will crave. And it seems long ago, the dark days, that Alan

Pardew was under pressure, the team were not performing and 19 points

out of 24 later, everything is rosy in the garden. It is the same as the

Luis Suarez situation, Pardew and the Newcastle board didn't let

Cabaye go because he's one of the better players and the magnificent

performance today. Again, every aspect of midfield play, technically

very good, stronger than he looks, he picks up play. That is the goal,

it is a good hit, good timing. Again, he goes, comes inside, strong

again, brings out a good save from the goalkeeper. Defensively, no

problem, just chips it down the line. They free kick swerving all

over the place. And finally, the ball into the box here is

phenomenal, great cross into the box. As I say, a great player and

the manager has done well to keep a hold of him. They are strong

candidates for the top six, top aide, going really well. As for

Crystal Palace, there is obviously an initial reaction when a new

manager comes in and the danger now is that they do not lose that.

Before today, they had three wins and the Tony Pulis. I know one of

them was under Keith Millen initially, but they certainly looked

very well organised over the last few weeks. Today, they looked

disjointed and conceded some poor goals but I am sure Tony Pulis will

work on that ahead of the January transfer window. Now to the

Britannia, whether visitors Aston Villa were guilty of possessing the

most trivial statistic of the season. They have conceded more

handballs than any other Premier League team, 15 if you are

interested. The wife of the Stoke City centre forward has just one

Strictly Come Dancing. Will it be a doubly happy day for the Crouch

household? Jonathan Walton is is one of the two

changes for the Stoke 11 who drew at Hull City last week after more than

100 consecutive start but he has missed a couple of games in recent

weeks -- Jonathan Walton is. With Christian Benteke and Gaby

Agbonlahor both absentees, Kozak and Andy Weimann lead the attack for a

greatly changed Aston Villa 11. Unusually, Stoke have lost more

games at home this year than they have won, and one of those defeats

came last year to Aston Villa in the latter stages.

Marc Wilson might be in a bit of bother here. It wasn't a great ball

to him and the referee has a decision to make as to whether he

was the last man and denying goal-scoring opportunity. A yellow

card. The referee believes that another Stoke defender would have

come across. That is debatable. It is just going away from the goal,

but maybe that is why Wilson gets the yellow card. Paul Lambert is

asking why it is not a red card offence.

I don't think that was shot but it was going to curl just inside the

far post, and bread queues and, quite naturally, like the goalkeeper

should, helping it out of harms by any means. -- Brad Guzan.

That is a late one. Ciaran Clark protests his innocence but he will

go into the book. As they used to say a few years ago, he has only

just finished making that tackle now.

Crouch with a nod and Charlie Adam! The substitute makes an instant

impact. Just over five minutes after coming onto the field, Charlie Adam

gets only end Peter Crouch's knock-down, and Mark Hughes shows

why he made the alteration. -- gets on the end. Charlie Adam took a

chance, got the other side of Nathan Baker and tucked it out of the reach

of Brad Guzan. Stoke City, five minutes into the second half, take

the lead in a game of precious few chances.

That is a terrible backpass, a shocking header, and Kozak has put

Aston Villa level in front of their gleeful supporters. Well, it was

hardly a goal of Aston Villa's making. Just look at this back

header. Peters, it is, hang your head in shame. You can see what he

is trying to do, but he was nowhere near achieving it, and he has given

an absolute gift to Kozak. And look at the Villa supporters

now, bouncing their way to Christmas. Crouch is looking... And

scoring. Aston Villa play mat handball but Peter Crouch doesn't

care. It is 2-1, having just been cancelled out at 1-1. No delight on

the face of Mark Hughes. But plenty on that of Peter Crouch. The

one-time Aston Villa player, he spent a couple of years there early

in his career, but he is delighted to have scored against them today.

It was missed by the Aston Villa defence. A desperate claim for a

handball. In fairness, none of the others were claiming it. He had the

simplest task. He span away in delight.

Cameron to his right hand side... A corner. This second-half does not

bear any relation to the first. Marcuse must believe a third goal

would give them victory. -- Mark Hughes. Crouch... Against the post!

The flag stayed down. Maybe they ought to have had a third goal. Once

it came to Peter Crouch, the flag stayed down. It is against the

middle of the post. Oh, agony. They found their way back in once. Can

they do it a second time? Villa have to show some urgency now. Kozak, out

of nothing, and a super stop. Best save of the match by either keeper.

Just a simple punt forward causing confusing, and Kozak almost in for

his second of the match. A great save.

confusing, and Kozak almost in for his second of the We are going in

the right direction. We want to kick on from this point. We have worked

really hard in the first period of the season. If we do that, we will

have a good year. In the first half we were excellent. The wind was very

strong. It was a close game. Yeah, we will go again. Are you going to

go home and click on the TV and see how the Mrs gets on? It will be a

great night if I get a goal and she wins Strictly. Do you know must --

much about dancing? She is miles better than me. I have only got the

robot! She wins, Peter. He probably knows by now. You are next, aren't

you? Yeah, I am going on there and to the jungle at the same time, and

I will win them both. Shocking, your dancing. Not good! It was a tight

affair, but one change seemed to make all the difference. They didn't

really get any word between each other. Charlie Adam came on at

half-time and he changed it. He got beyond Peter Crouch. He is playing

an unfamiliar role. He got beyond Peter Crouch on scored a really good

golf. -- and scored a really good goal. He was playing close to him.

They linked up well together. Peter Crouch in fairness, he seemed to

respond to that as well. He scored a good goal off the back of that. He

is playing of Crouch again. It was a really good second-half performance,

certainly by Charlie Adam. He has started to bring that to his game.

At Blackpool, when he went to Liverpool, and at Stoke, he is

playing more advanced. Hopefully you are winding down for Christmas. But

there is no sign of a winter break just get in football. Plenty for you

to digest with the turkey. It is footballing gifts galore on the BBC

this Christmas. And you can access all our shows and

content through the website and our smartphone and tablet app. The

perfect gift for Christmas. And if it is goals you want, join us

for the Football League Show tonight where we have got 81 for you, and we

have QPR taking on Leicester City. Two sides battling for an early slot

on the Saturday night TV schedule. Join us after Match Of The Day if

you can. If you watch on Sunday morning, we are on the iPlayer all

week. Two of Kevin's former size now. West

Brom entertain Hull city. Keith Downing was in separate charge of

the Baggies, who let Steve Clarke though this time not weak. Your

commentator was Steve Bower. -- this time last week.

COMMENTATOR: Return for Ben Foster in goal. He is hoping to improve the

club's records of two points from the last 18. Curtis Davies was

signed by Bryan Robson and played over 70 times for West Brom and was

relegated from the Premier League. Hull City have just four points on

the road so far. Three in the penalty area for

Hull... It is behind for a corner. Huddleston delivers the corner. Just

enough to put James Chester off. No great appeal from West Brom.

There could be a break on. Livermore is up with Graham. It is

Livermore... It is 1-0 Hull! Hull City, clinical on the counterattack.

Jake Livermore's second goal for the club has broken the deadlock. This

all came from Morrison's stumbling right there in front of the referee.

The long ball found Danny Graham. He watched and waited for the run of

Livermore. His finish went under the body of Ben Foster and into the back

of the net. Hull City, with just four points from 24 away from home

this season, lead at the hawthorns. The clearance was poor. A decent

try. It might have moved in the air. It caught McGregor by surprise.

But he could parry it behind for a corner. Headed through the crowd and

it was Huddleston who stuck his leg out. Suddenly more urgency about the

home team. That was travelling on target. Whatever he said in his team

talk has had some kind of effect. That was a fair challenge.

Good save by Foster. To rivet save again. -- traffic.

Harrelson had nobody with him. That was a good save but he did well to

get back on his legs. The West Brom chairman is the man with a big

decision to make over the Christmas period. Who will replace Steve

Clarke? Finally! The persistence has paid

off for West Bromwich Albion. The Czech Republic international's first

West Brom goal is the equalising goal. A lovely ball. Great setup

play from Long. A very smart finish. He was one of Steve Clarke's

signings. The first game since his dismissal brings West Brom level

with five minutes remaining. He Hull free kick. A yellow card for

the hunger airing, too. He hasn't really touched him come in fairness.

-- behind Aryan. Tom Huddleston still hasn't scored

since April 2011. No scissors out yet to cut that

hair. Steve Clarke said enjoy the day. I

did that. They have got an array of talent to bring on. They have been

on -- in the division four years. We have got to emanate what West Brom

have done. Not by sacking the manager, mind! They have gone about

it well, in my opinion. Big year for club and country now? I'm just

concentrating on getting my bearings back. I played 45 minutes for the

reserves last week. That is the only competitive football I have had so

far. I am looking at getting a few more points on the board. It was one

substitute setting up another. A fantastic decision, then. People

might moan and safe -- savings. If it is a point for Steve Clarke, I

think the boys wanted to give him something back for all the fantastic

work he had done for 18 months. Well said. Good solid performance. They

are stopping the rot. Interesting that Jake Livermore has agreed to

pay and replace a ?6,000 camera. He just kicks it, knocks it along,

broke it. He has apologised to the photographer on Twitter. He has

donated the same sum to the Cancer research appeal, too. Delighted. But

you think the West Brom defence should be fined for the goal. Yeah

macro there's no excuse for this. The ball has gone over the top. --

there's no excuse for this. Danny Graham does well. A decent goal.

Then he kicks the camera. Today it was back to life at the

bottom of the Barclays Premier League against Norwich City. Martin

Fisher was at the Stadium of Light. COMMENTATOR: They must translate

success in the cup to the Premier League. Five points adrift of

safety, they are in danger of being cut adrift. The goals of Gary Hooper

have done the trick for Norwich. Four in his last six games have

helped the Canaries fly away from trouble.

Here's Bassong. The shout from Hewitton is to push on forward.

Finding Hooper, now Redmond. Norwich with four in and around the area.

Redmond goes for goal himself. That was heading in. A really good stop

from Mannone. Right in the bottom corner that one, from Nathan

Redmond. The manager beginning to get impatient with his team.

Altidore, battling with Johnson. Winning the free-kick. Nothing

between these sides at all. Bardsley's free-kick. O'Shea looking

to attack. It Brown is in there across. Brown across, it's Altidore.

Took a long time to get the shot away. It came off Turner in the end.

A little bit surprised that Altidore didn't attack the loose ball quicker

than he did. Larsson, through the challenge of Fer. Best spell of the

game this for Sunderland. Support here in the shape of

Bardsley. He will shoot. Finally, John Ruddy is forced into action.

The left back telling the rest of the team, this is what you do. First

touch, get it out your feet. Given away by O'Shea. That might

drop for Hooper who away from company brown. Hooper! Fabulous save

from Mannone. Flying to his right. He pulls off a splendid stop.

Cattermole. Whittaker's mistake. Bardsley wants it to run, it will.

Sunderland have Fletcher in the mix to add to the threats of O'Shea and

Brown from this set-piece. Whipped in by Larsson. Could go anywhere.

Norwich still haven't cleared it. Against the post. Brown had the

header. As Ruddy came to punch that ball away. Brown close to giving

them the goal of the afternoon. A lovely pass. Ricky van Wolfswinkel.

Saved by Mannone. Brown strong enough to hold off Hooper as he

looked to get to the rebound first. Here's Johnson taking over for

Sunderland. Needs to pick the pass. Not an awful lot to pick out. Turner

has a foot in. Borini is chasing it. Ruddy is out of his goal. Borini.

Ruddy is out of the game. Ki, over the bar. The most relieved man at

the Stadium of Light is John Ruddy. Borini does so well. What a pass to

Ki, under pressure from Fer, couldn't get it away quickly enough.

When he did shoot, he couldn't put it on target. Borini. Drifting

square. Picking out Johnson. He skips away from Whittaker, two to

aim for in the middle. He found Bassong, appeals for a penalty. The

referee is not interested. Johnson whipping it in. Where does this hit

Bassong? It is definitely the hip, isn't it? Nowhere near the arm.

That's a strong late challenge by Brown. Robert Snodgrass is not happy

with that. He reaches for the red. Wes Brown is offer. This will not be

overturned. Under the nose of the assistant. That is reckless. Ricky

van Wolfswinkel was flattened. Brown walks to the tunnel. Every time we

do something especially at home we win an important game, in the

League, in the Cup the next step is always down or back. It's a

situation that we are, no place to hide. That's where we are. It is

always going to be difficult here irrespective of the position that

they are in. They have played some of the big teams here. Heard some of

the comments they are at least playing a team in their area of the

league. It was never going to be an easy one. Overall it was a draw,

fair result. We are the team away from home. We showed grit and

determination. Probably a fair result. Was your view of the sending

off, Wes Brown getting the red card? I say you can't really tackle like

that now in football. He is a wholehearted player. He wouldn't

have done that to go in and hurt the lad. It's one of them things. Wes

probably knows himself we can't tackle like that now, he has

suffered the consequences. Bottom of the Premier League at Christmas

usually with one exception means one thing, that is relegation at the

end? Because I'm realistic and because I, like the rest of the

people at the club we are getting paid every month. I need to do my

job and everybody does their job. Time is running off. I don't know

when is the limit. It's getting close. They have it all to do. You

know what it is like to be relegated with Sunderland, do you fear the

worse? So much is going against them. They have showed positive

signs. They are starting to play differently from what they had been.

I think there is positive signs, history is against them. As for

Norwich, they bounced back well, steadied the ship? Stabilised. They

got hammered at the Etihad and Liverpool. Cleansheet today, happy

times. Not bad at all. Earlier in the show we asked you to let us know

who you thought would win the Premier League this season. Well,

here is your answer: As it pans out there you can see that Liverpool

have edged it with 26%, Man City 25% both you two went for. We went for

Manchester City. At the start of the season. Yes. That is quite an

interesting stat there. There you have it. Means nothing of course. It

means absolutely nothing. It is who has the most points at the end of

the season. That usually wins it. Thank you both. Before we leave you

a look at the Barclays Premier League table:

Now the papers. Malky Mackay's uncertain position as Cardiff boss

as well as Liverpool's return to the top of the Premier League. It's a

similar theme in the Mail on Sunday Sport, celebrating Luis Suarez

adorning the front page. We leave you this week by remembering once

again David Coleman OBE. We all have our favourite footballing quotes and

moments from the television sporting icon. It really was a privilege for

us all to know him. Goodbye. There are still only five draws, as far as

I can tell. We will start the classified check with three still to

come in. Wimbledon beating Sutton United. Oh, my