20/09/2014 Match of the Day

Welcome to Match Of The Day, the first of a new series coming to you

every Saturday. Best has done it again! Welcome to Match Of The Day.

Look at his face, just look at his face! Look at that, oh, look at

that. Unbelievable! A great touch by Bergkamp. Absolutely magnificent!

Aguero! It has gone all the way in, the

Argentinian has done it again. Looking for Aguero, 1-0. What a

wonderful counter attacking goal. He goes for the shot, what a shot!

Sanchez on the volley, Alexis Sanchez. A header. Oh, cost us is

there. Equalised. Costa! And he has done it again. Costa. It is three,

for Diego Costa. I still love that June. -- tune.

There's a distinctly South American feel to the start of this season's

Will that continue with the six games we've got for you this week?

MUSIC: "Jumpin' Jack Flash" by The Rolling Stones

In the studio we've got the antithesis to those

South American fancy-dans - Martin Keown and Neil Lennon.

We start with bottom of the table Newcastle, where under-fire manager

Alan Pardew this week described the atmosphere surrounding

They faced a Hull side whose boss Steve Bruce has been linked with

the job at St James' Park - a rumour he labelled as disrespectful.

Against a background Alan Pardew has described as mass hysteria, the

beleaguered Newcastle boss will attempt not only to haul his side

off the bottom of the table, but equally to stave off the immediate

threat to his very position at the club. The level of vitriol became

almost overwhelming, following last weekend's miserable capitulation at

Southampton. There is no surprise there are changes today, but only

two as income Dummett and Tiote for his first start of the season. The

Hull boss will have taken -- spoken to his players about the need to

take advantage of the potentially disruptive atmosphere.

If not me, then at least get behind the team, was the message from the

manager. Today's game seems as much about how those players cope in the

cauldron of negativity. Elmohamady gets past him and the ball ends up

comfortably in the arms of McGregor. Cabella looked to have hit the shot.

He got back at him and got too much on it. It is quite subdued, in

reality. Pockets, I would say, rather than a unanimous protest

against him. Colback. Suddenly dropped at his

feet. He got reasonable contact on it, but nothing more. Certainly

wasn't intended for Colback, but it reached him. They have taken just

five points from the last 36 on offer. That is why there is so much

scrutiny on his position. Alan Pardew continues to be backed by the

owner, and it is his position that counts. Sissoko has never done that,

allowing Robertson to break away. Not short on pace, the 20-year-old.

Turning defence into attack. A good lay Jelavic. Krul, with a simple

stop in the end, but the manner in which Hull were able to advance

there was very worrying. Not too much to concern himself a, at least

on the field. In the last six meetings between these two sides

have ended in a home victory, four away wins and two draws. Jelavic,

going through the heart of Newcastle. Brings in Diame.

Elmohamady on the overlap. Colback has lost out. Jelavic! Brilliant

finish! Superb goal. What might that mean to the atmosphere within St

James' Park now? You can't legislate for that. It is a fantastic finish

from Jelavic. It is a dagger, perhaps, right through the heart of

Alan Pardew. They were careless, Newcastle.

It needed improvisation. A breathtaking goal. How significant

might it be for Alan Pardew? There is nothing you can do, absolutely

nothing. It came from an error. I guess you would suspect that would

have been the case. In fairness, there was still plenty of work for

Hull to do, particularly Jelavic, but, boy, did he do it. Cabella, and

the flag is up. Hull have a free kick, but Cabella almost had the

equaliser. It looks as though Newcastle have made a real mess of

this. Williamson found Cabella and the offside flag was up against

Colback in front of the goalkeeper. Had that gone in, one wonders if it

would have stood. He curses his look. -- luck. His delivery to Aluko

was terrific. Aluko had only just come on. One wonders if he had been

more attuned to proceedings whether he might have made it 2-0. Here come

Newcastle on the counterattack, having survived a genuine scare.

Cabella reaches it. McGregor, just gets himself in the way. Cabella

with another opportunity. Never looked as though he was going to

score it, to be fair, because it was a tight angle and McGregor had come

very quickly at him. Here is Robertson. His delivery from the

left is always accurate and dangerous and it is once more. Away

by Coloccini. A push from Tiote. Free kick to Hull. It was needlessly

firm, the shove, from Tiote. He made sure the referee had a decision to

make. The decision is to give Hull free kick in a very dangerous

position. Huddlestone and Jelavic poised. Hit by Huddlestone, straight

into the wall. No flag and Queen Mrs. Should be 2-0. -- Queen --

Quinn misses. Quinn should have scored, but doesn't. Could but --

could that be the change of fortune that Alan Pardew is craving?

Diame, he can hit them, and he has! Into the back of the Newcastle net

addict is double trouble for Alan Pardew. Is this an irretrievable

position? It certainly seems that way. The barely audible protests are

now turning into a more significant chorus of boos. Diame with his

second goal in a week, with a crunching shot beyond the reach of

Tim Krul. Two wonderful goals. We are witnessing a really

significant afternoon in the history of Newcastle United, and perhaps

more significantly, Alan Pardew. He was about to bring on Papiss Cisse

anyway, but now as the boomers become more and more audible, the

protests become more and more concerted, he has little option

other than to bring on the player who has been injured for five months

-- the boos become more audible. Cisse, scores! Now than! It is his

first goal since March, his first gold -- his first match since April

and the messages of support for Younus Gutierrez, who is backing

Argentina receiving treatment for cancer, a serious message amidst the

crazy goings-on at St James' Park, but most significantly in terms of

the scoreline, has Papiss Cisse built an improbable is platform for

the comeback? Might they'll the way back into this

game? Inside the last five minutes at St James' Park. So much on the

line in these remaining moments here. He knows what awaits him at

full-time if Newcastle can't equalise. Perhaps even if they can.

But they are going to equalise! Papiss Cisse, 2-2, incredible! Well,

you wouldn't have scripted this! They seemed down and out until the

arrival of Papiss Cisse. He may have saved his manager's job.

It brings the reaction of relief coupled with joy. Sometimes you get

a performance that we put in against Southampton that is just not right

and we knew that and it did not need any expert to tell us how bad we

were. We were really poor. But we had tremendous results today, the

players have had to play under enormous pressure. I am proud of

them. We have made a stupid couple of errors and it got them back in

the match, after being comfortable. Two wonderful goals. If you make

mistakes at this level you get punished and we found that today.

This Premier League is never finished, the game, so we try

better, different, how to kick the ball better and we did it. This week

is very hard for everybody and I think today we gave a smile to

everyone. People say I am proud to be the Newcastle manager, it is one

of the best jobs in the world. Let's not get carried away, we haven't won

the game, we have drawn 2-2, not won. I hope he sees it through

because it is not easy watching a fellow manager. We have all got

problems but there is not many others, English ones, we wish him

the best of luck. What is it like to hear comments about you and the way

you manage? There are some unfair things, I pick out Robbie Savage, he

said I was a broken man and I was far from that this week. I have

tried to do the job with dignity and be honest. Sometimes if it's -- it

is nice if professionals in the game reflect that and that is an example

that I thought was wrong. A terrific comeback from Newcastle and a lot of

that time in the game you could not really see it coming, could you?

Know, even though they started the game pretty well they lacked a bit

of conviction and self belief in the final third. Hull scored two

magnificent goals. The comeback epitomised the character the team

showed. The build-up play was good. He slips in Cabella, his touch is

decent. This is symptomatic of Newcastle's play in the first hour

or so. The build-up play was good, the 18-yard box, the shot lacks

conviction. There is no real belief in that. They need a bit more, the

cross comes in, it is not dealt with by Hull. Colback followed in, pretty

safe. Papiss Cisse comes on and I felt with Ba and Cisse, Newcastle

were a force. Tiote is backing the team, a driving force. They get a

bit of luck. McGregor believes he should do better. He puts his laces

through it and get the reward. He gambles on this one, the cross comes

in. Gouffran, Robertson loses Gouffran, and he spins round the

back as all good strikers do. A brilliant finish. He only got two in

his last 30 games, comes back and schools two. A great substitution.

You have to give the manager a lot of credit. You could see how

emotional he was after the game. It is not being -- easy in the

opposition. Hull Got Themselves Ahead. Worth

Seeing Those Goals Again. Look At The Technique On This. You Can

Complain About This. The Technique, He Tries Those Things. Diame, Little

Faint. You Think, No, He Will Not Shoot From There. It Hits The Back

Of The Net. That Took Somma Coming Back From.

at the moment, that amount of pressure? It is a lonely place. Only

Alan will know how he feels about it. You can have all your family and

stuff around you, but it is lonely when you are a manager. I have been

in that position myself and you have to have self belief, self-confidence

that you can come through it. Permeate that your players. I worry

in this fixture there was a famous incident last year when Alan letting

self down. Since then I'd think Newcastle's form has been great.

Wonder if an edge has come away from him psychologically and I wonder if

it has permeated through to the players. He has been there as the

second longest-serving manager in the Premier League. I think he

deserves the opportunity to stay on. He needs to turn it around quick.

Two away games coming up. He needs points on the board. How hardside

for a manager. You have been in that situation, you said yourself, give

us an example of how you deal with it? My second season at Celtic we

were 15-points behind Rangers in October. We were 3-0 down at

Kilmarnock. I'm walking down the touchline saying, if I don't turn it

around now, I never will. I went into the players and said, if you

want me here on Monday you better turn it around. Thankfully, they

did! We went on a great run. Maybe that is the turning point for Alan.

You never You need that know. Turning point at some point. All

good managers do. The players are still with him. They need to stick

with him. OK. West Ham have lost both matches

at home this season and the omens weren't good against

a Liverpool side who they've beaten West Ham hoping to avoid a hat-trick

of home defeats to start the new season against opponents who made a

winning return to the Champions League on Tuesday, but have yet to

hit their stride. Former Arsenal player, Song, on-loan from

Barcelona, makes his first start from West Ham after coming off the

bench at Hull last Monday in the 2-2 draw. Liverpool have Martin Skrtel

back after a knee injury. Borini and Lucas also start the game.

West Ham in their familiar claret and blue, kicking from right to left

in the first half. Looks like the bubble machine has

gone into overdrive here, pre-kick-off.

Referee taking charge of his fourth Premier League game of the season.

2-2 draw between Sunderland and Tottenham last week. He is ready. So

is everyone else. First chance for West Ham to get the ball into the

Liverpool area. High and long. Reid, from about half a yard, 1 minute and

15 second played. What a start for West Ham. They lead Liverpool by

1-0. Here it is again. The cross. Deep, long. Knocked back from the

far-post by James Tomkins. Winston Reid could hardly miss. Right in

front of the goal. Nipped in front of Lovren. What a start for West Ham

as they look for their first points of the season. West Ham have the bit

between their teeth here. Noble. Sakho's ball in. Inside

seven-minutes, Liverpool are two down. What a start for West Ham.

What a lot of work Liverpool have got to do here. Having lost the ball

on the half-way line. West Ham, full of vigour here, in the early stages

of the match. Watch Valencia peeling off the Liverpool defence. Did he

get to the ball before it crossed the line I'm not sure he did. It

means the goal will be Sakho's. I don't think too many people would

have expected West Ham to race into a two-goal lead here.

Borini. Referee getting in the way there.

Working hard to take advantage. Cresswell decides to have a a go.

Certainly worth a crack here from Cresswell.

Long way to go yet. Good to see Sam smiling on the bench.

Players exchanging greetings. The referee with some sorting out to do.

Balotelli with the challenge. The reaction from the West Ham

goalkeeper. And a yellow card each. 25 minutes

in, Liverpool yet to test the West Ham goalkeeper.

Henderson. Over the top of Reid, brought down by Balotelli. Liverpool

back in it. Raheem Sterling. Balotelli inside the penalty area

initially, as the ball is flicked into the box. Bringing it under

control. The deflection off Cresswell.

Raheem Sterling, absolutely lashed it home.

Liverpool's first effort on target of the game results in a goal.

Cutting their deficit in half. Lovely ball into the box there from

Song. Flicked back in. Oh, Kouyate was almost there. Moreno was clearly

caught by the West Ham player, who gets a yellow card. It was a lovely

move from West Ham. Sakho there with a brilliant piece of improvisation.

Almost resulting in a goalscoring opportunity. He chatters Moreno in

the end. -- Caters. Down goes Downing.

Free-kick West Ham. Given away by Raheem Sterling.

-- clatters. 13 minutes to go until half-time. Valencia fancies this,

scored from range on Monday, against Hull. He is going to have a crack

here. Away by Simon Mignolet. Here come West Ham. It's with

Downing. He let's fly. Good stop by Mignolet.

Reid beats Borini. Henderson finds Balotelli who picks out Borini.

Borini. Comfortable at the near-post for Adrian. Swift break away from

Liverpool. Crisp passing. Firmly struck shot. Comfortable save.

Lallana. Balotelli. Moreno, away from one in towards

Lallana. Good control. Challenge on the edge of the box there by Song.

Liverpool still going. Just over the top from Borini. Anxious moments

there for West Ham, just inside their own penalty area. Lallana,

just toppling over that challenge initially. The shot over the top.

Tidy play. Borini. Might want to let fly here. He does. It was an awkward

bounce. Adrian, glad to dive on the ball at the second attempt. He

catches Borini. His boot in the air as he slid and gathered the ball. He

has of course been booked by the referee. He needs to be careful as

the match wears on. Away from Tomkins. Cries of handball

from the home crowd. He shoots. Oh, it is was fiercely struck.

Tremendous shot from Balotelli. Adrian, relieved to have just

blocked it. Can they hang on to this slender lead and inflict a third

league defeat of the season already onto Liverpool?

In the air by Winston Reid and by Gerrard.

Gerrard again, trying to get things moving. He can't find Moreno this

time. Away by Tomkins as far as Sakho. A wayward header. Can West

Ham hit Liverpool on the break here. Tremendous ball in towards

Amalfitano. It's all over now. There won't be any coming back from

Liverpool today. In the last three minutes of the game, Amalfitano,

with his first goal for West Ham. They lead Liverpool by 3-1.

Liverpool are going to lose for the second week in a row. And for the

third time in their opening five fixtures of the season. Amalfitano

there, just guiding the ball into the bottom corner of the net.

Despite the outstretched leg of Martin Skrtel. West Ham United,

heading for their first home win of the season. When you see a gameplan

work, particularly as early as that. I said to the lads today - Liverpool

have come off the back of a Champions League game for the first

time in four years and physically and mentally that is draining when

they haven't been there so long. Can we start as quickly as we can.

Liverpool want to control their possession of their game. Control

the tempo of the game we said in the first 10-15 minutes we wouldn't let

them do that. You couldn't miss from a yard? No, I nearly missed. It was

good to get a goal. Most important for the team we got a couple of

goals pretty early on. That was important for the game. I don't

think we are near to the levels we expect to be at. Of course, now the

standard and expectancy is raised for us after the last couple of

seasons, how we have been developing. We have to be able to

accept that. It's something that a at this moment in time, we haven't

been to the level, or anywhere near our level. We have to continue to

work hard. We will hopefully get a number of our important players

coming back from injury soon. We will look to bounce back again. We

have a Cup game on Tuesday night. Not a great start for Liverpool.

Marvellous performance by West Ham, Martin. Optimised in many ways by

the performance of Stewart Downing, in a different role to one we have

seen him in the past. Sam is very clever. We know about his quality.

His goal kicks and taking corners from set-pieces. They play the

diamond well. He is making improve ams. Travels with the ball through

midfield. Wants to get forward. A range of passing in his game. This

is Cresswell, another new signing from Ipswich, shooting from

distance, testing the keeper. Bringing people into play. He

travels through the midfield. Bags of pace and energy. Maybe more is

needed from the shot. He is making things happen for West Ham. This is

him there. He wants to make runs into that. He recognises the playing

of three Liverpool, he is intelligent, he wants to get in

there. He will whip that in. Get in the box for him. Nobody there on

this occasion. He has been around for years. Why hassens someone seen

this before? Exactly. It is very interesting. This is the goal here.

Look. Everyone is having a go at Sakho. Downing, waiting for the run.

Amalfitano on his left. Slide pass. A great finish. A massive improve. .

A tow Ali different West Ham. The atmosphere there today. Belief in

the players. Lots of good performances, deserving winners

today -- totally. Liverpool, defensively a shambles at present? I

will talk about Sakho. He came after 20 minutes. A lack of communication

and understanding with Lovren. Should leave this for Lovren to deal

with. In the end, a massive clash of heads. Your main centrele half is

getting stitched up. Probably dazed. Not the first time it has happened

this season. This is the two of them going for the one ball against

Spurs. Just this lack of communication. Poor header. No

direction on the header. Again, this is the third goal. He heads it into

no-man's land. Really, if he doesn't know where he is going to hit it,

his team-mates aren't going to know. They will get punished for it. He

came on at 2-0 down. They conceded two goals before he came on. Not

only did they not have the goals of Suarez and Sturridge they are

conceding goals at an alarming rate. The controversy was whethered a

rowan should have been red carded. They are 2-0 up. It's not that bad.

His reaction is over the top. The two of them, head-to-head. Balotelli

doesn't too bad. The keeper is all over him. Two hotheads together

here. You know who does well. Mark Noble. He says, we are 2-0 up. Calm

down. In control of the game. We don't need to lose you. The keeper

is at it again. Look at how high his foot is up here. Keepers get a lot

of protection. It's part of his cage, he wants to make sure he

doesn't get hurt. He is lucky to stay on the pitch. I think he should

have been sent. He deliberately let one on the player there.

Three defeats. The Champions League football really affect you.

Aston Villa began the day in second place after three wins and a draw.

By contrast Arsenal have started with three draws and a win,

but they travelled to Villa Park unbeaten in their last 15 visits.

As Scotland was deciding this week, Paul Lambert's contract extension is

an indication of how well Aston Villa have started the season. The

virus has forced Darren Bent home, Nathan Baker is out and Ashley

Westwood dropped out of the warm up. Ciaran Clark comes in for Baker, and

Sanchez takes over from Westwood at the last minute. Arsenal, into the

team have come Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Santi Cazorla,

and Calum Chambers, who is over about of tonsillitis.

Santi Cazorla was trying to find Aaron Ramsey. Hutton asking Weimann

to start sprinting. Weimann will turn his attentions to Szczesny, who

has to hurry. Great to Delph. He is allowed to gather a few yards and

shoots, and faucets Wash forces a save from Szczesny. He holds up his

hand in an apology. He took too much time, Weimann was getting close all

the time. Delph was close with that. Arsene Wenger's 37th game of Arsenal

boss against Aston Villa. He has only lost four and only once here.

Given away by Ramsey. Agbonlahor versus Gibbs, who did not know where

it was. It did strike his arm. There were tentative shouts of hand ball

from Villa fans. I think that tells you that they were not clear. Even

the fans stopped halfway through. Weimann looks to give Gibbs the

slip. Gibbs has been forced to scramble the ball behind. Weimann is

so hungry. Agbonlahor and Weimann are doing so much harrying and

pressing that Arsenal's defenders do not have time to think. In it comes

from cleverly, over by Hutton. If he could get on the scoresheet with his

first-ever Aston Villa goal, it would complete a remarkable

turnaround. Extended his deal as Villa boss to 2018 this week.

Oxlade-Chamberlain, a cracking cross. It is all Ciaran Clark could

do with it. Could not afford to let it drift across goal. Santi Cazorla

will take the right wing corner. Sakho, the most towering presence of

all in the penalty area. Out to Ramsey. He doesn't often miss the

target these days. He is forced to drag it wide.

Caught by chambers. It will be a free kick, and maybe a little bit

more hand in the pocket, yellow card. The fourth booking office

Arsenal career for Calum Chambers already. This is only his eighth

game for the club. Cleverley with the delivery. That is a really good

stop by Szczesny. It was a goal on a plate for clerks, all the way

through to the defender, who timed his run defects -- his run defence.

A lovely ball through. Well finished, Mesut Ozil is back amongst

the goals for Arsenal. Faith shown in him by the manager, faith repaid.

He might have suffered a dip in form at the start of this season, but you

can never doubted quality. Aston Villa nil, Arsenal one. That

is what Arsenal haven't quite found enough this season so far. The

precise way through to goal. Everything about that was precise

and just about perfect. Here they come again. Another great ball,

Welbeck scores! His first Gunners goal. Mesut Ozil scores one, then

makes one, and look at the smile on Danny Welbeck's face. He enjoyed

himself at Villa Park last season. He scored twice in a 3-0 Manchester

United win, nine months ago. So far, it is a 2-0 Arsenal leads this time.

Aston Villa unlocked twice inside two minutes. Arsenal looking

absolutely rampant now. He has worked it to Santi Cazorla.

Gibbs with the drive. It has gone in, off Sissoko. He has turned it

into his own net and Aston Villa have fallen apart in five minutes.

They are giving the goal to Arsenal now.

He decided he had to clear it. Anywhere but there are! -- anywhere

but there. Did you have a nice afternoon football, love? Yeah,

brilliant. Nobody asked Roy that question, for goodness sake.

Ramsey has got a shot on here. The second time he has fired one just

wide of that post. 3-0, Arsenal, it could conceivably have been five or

six. One of those days. Started badly, with players suffering from

illness and dropping out of the squad, and it has only got a whole

lot worse. He gave it away to Cleverley. Arsenal up on the ball,

quickly. Welbeck is going for gold, finding

Guzan guarding it. He is never shy in taking on the goal from this sort

of position. The confidence will of course now be up.

Well, if Arsenal just keep their heads, don't make mistakes, a raise

any carelessness, they win this game comfortably, but look what Aaron

Ramsey has done here. This is a gift.

It is Cleverley's corner. Welbeck did not get to it, it has come to

Clark. It is Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain who flung himself in the way of the

ball. Sanchez has run it out. A decent corner. Where was Szczesny?

Is defenders did his job for him. To be honest, that sums up the second

half. Nothing has happened and that will do it for Arsenal. Aston Villa

nil, Arsenal three. A very, very good first half when we were in

control and dominated the game. The second half was more about keeping

the result, with less drive going forward but it was a very important

game for us. Goodwin, what we did. All credit to them for the second

half, the lads were going on empty. They have been brilliant at the

start of the season. Somebody said to me, if you take ten points out of

this, you would have taken it. How did it feel to score? It was

pleasing to get off the mark for Arsenal and it was a good game for

us and good team performance all round. You've been asked a lot about

Danny Welbeck and Mesut Ozil aren't interesting they have combined for

the first two goals, both helped and both scored. They combine very well

today, especially in the first half. It worked well. Our plan was to play

Mesut Ozil behind midfield and it worked. Had a couple more training

sessions. Playing with new players, having to get -- getting to know

them better. Developing more of an understanding. In time I am sure we

will gain that distinctiveness and know where each other will be on the

pitch and it is the same for all the players. He played very well. The

game was settled three minutes and 12 seconds of brilliant play from

Arsenal and a lot of that was as Ozil. He has been strongly

criticised in the last week or so. He bounced back well, didn't he? He

was magnificent today. In the central position, where he can press

all the buttons, he orchestrates Arsenal's attacks. There was a

simplicity in their play will stop he brings that to their team. As

soon as he got it here, he is bright, sharp, he seems energised,

playing in that central position. He wants to go forward, which will

please Arsene Wenger. He is looking for the forward pass. He gets it

back, again, a slide rule pass, inside of the foot, he almost wears

his foot out all afternoon doing that. A lovely flick, the icing on

the cake. The confidence is there. It is in this area here that he is

trying to get into such propositions. -- central positions.

This is brilliant play, good movement, Welbeck, nice pass, again

on the deck, look at in here, he slots at home. Nice and calm, Arsene

Wenger loves this on the training pitch. Keep it on the carpet, don't

let it bubble, and put it in the corner. Simple. In this area now he

comes, yes, he plays wide at times. He comes from a central position. A

free role. He likes the area he comes into. He recognises Welbeck is

on his bike. You pop sitting there. Brilliant finish. Somehow, today,

with Sanchez not playing, the team has been dancing to his beat and

without Sanchez in the team, I know he will come in eventually, but it

was, for them, easier to see the picture for the players. How does

Wenger handle players that are out of form perhaps like as Ozil has

been, you must know, you had lots of spells, you know him really well of

courts. Wattie is a master as, he would have said it publicly to

defend him but behind the scenes he is not waving a flag at people if

they have problems. The response from the player, he knows the

manager is supporting him, today, he looked a different class. It is a

position he played predominantly in Madrid and you can see the freedom

he got from the performance today was brilliant. The shackles were

off. As for Aston Villa, a bump back down to earth in many ways but they

did have the virus that affected many of the squad. It is unusual, it

lasts for about three and a half minutes! It is a sign their position

is perhaps... Paul would be the first to admit that. They got ten

points, delighted with that. They have a heavy schedule of big games

coming up. They made a brilliant start. If they can hold the fort

until Benteke comes back, they have had a fantastic start. If anyone

deals and humility and a dose of reality it will be Paul.

Four games on Sunday in a bumper Match of the Day 2.

They have been totally dominant. Into the net! Palace back in front.

A brilliant header. Stamford Bridge rising to a new hero.

Four games tomorrow and four-balls and foursomes next weekend.

Extended highlights of the Ryder Cup from Friday onwards on BBC Two.

Well Gary, your old England team-mate, Stuart Pearce,

has made a great start to life as manager of Nottingham Forest.

The Championship leaders went in search of a sixth win

We'll have the best of Watford against Bournemouth.

Clem was at Cambridge United - back in the Football League,

Join us, if you can, after Match of the Day or, if you're watching

this on Sunday morning, we're repeated at 9.00am on BBC Two.

COMMENTATOR: Davis is on the far side. That's the ball that's a good

shot. Oh, what a goal. Oh, what a goal! A fine, curling shot.

Stoke boss, Mark Hughes, faced his former club QPR

for the first time since being sacked by them two years ago.

These two sides have managed just three goals between them

Rio Ferdinand and his new team-mates are finding life on the road tough

at the moment. Home form will be pivotal in their chances of

survival. A repeat of their win against Sunderland, three weeks ago,

today's tarring. In direct opposition today, an old team-mate

from his England days, Peter Crouch played for QPR as a teenager and

scored in Stoke's win here, two seasons ago. Barton, who wasn't

involved at Old Trafford due to a hamstring problem. Back to captain

the side. Chance of an early strike here. Simple enough stop for

Begovic. First sight of what var gas is all about here. -- Vargas.

Found Diouf. N'Zonzi. Perfect weight on the pass for Moses. First touch

let him down. Three in red and white. One of them is Crouch. And

it's in! Stoke City have the lead. And it's Diouf who heads it past

aless Rob Green. It looked as if the chance had gone with a poor first

touch from Moses. It's a decent centre. Crouch makes something of

it. Stoke City are in front at Loftus Road.

Crouch, lovely touch from Moses. Bearing down on Ferdinand. Crouch in

support. Here is Peter Crouch. A whisker wide.

On his return to Loftus Road, Peter Crouch almost doubling Stoke's lead

here. A beautiful move. This time it's a reasonable pass from Moses.

Crouch got his feet right. It's the wrong side of that left hand post

from a Stoke City point of view. Krancjar. Good shot. Well, he wasn't

far from finding the post. Top corner of Begovic's goal here, Niko

Krancjar. Back at the club, having signed on a season-loan. We know he

has quality in that right boot, in particular.

Krancjar. Two to his left. Ignores both.

Working the space. Blocked by Shawcross. Corner number five.

Deeper is Caulker. Caulker's header. QPR are level! Three minutes before

half-time. Caulker got in amongst the bodies there and just about got

enough on it. Caulker's header was certainly on target. I wonder if it

came off a Stoking boot last? There were three of them back. There it

looks as though Crouch gets the final touch.

Phillips now for QPR. More red and white than blue and white between

him and the penalty area. He's done really well. The cross just a little

bit too strong for Charlie Austin, in the six-yard box. That's more

like it from Matty Phillips. He has pace to burn. With delivery like

that, he's a dangerous customer. Now, N'Zonzi.

Lost by Isla. Moses, again. Good cut back. And Crouch! Stoke City, back

in front. Peter Crouch, on his return to Loftus Road, with his

first Premier League goal of the season. This clearance here was a

shocker. Surrendering possession in the final third. Moses does well to

cut it back for Crouch, who had a gap for himself and his marker, Rio

Ferdinand. Peter Crouch, who might, in some quarters, get credited with

QPR's equaliser, scores in the same goal, but for the right team this

time. Vargas has the better of Pieters.

Krancjar couldn't do anything with that pass. It might set up another

counter-attack here for Stoke,. . N'Zonzi has come for Charlie Adam.

Adam back for N'Zonzi. They are creating chances so, so

easily, Stoke City. Mark Hughes will be so irritated that they're not

putting them away. Adam here, with so much time to pick his man, went

for N'Zonzi. He went for power. Green wouldn't have stopped it, had

he found the top corner that he was looking for. Isla. Krancjar. Left

footer is on. Couldn't find the bend he was

looking for. Austin has won S the header.

Shawcross wins the second ball. Stoke, at the moment, can't get out

of their own half. It will drop for Krancjar. Foul by

Sidwell. Another yellow card for a Stoke City man. This, in an inviting

position for strike at goal. Desperate lunge from Sidwell. Fer

and Krancjar over it. It's Krancjar. It's in! Beautiful free-kick. He won

the free-kick. He took the free-kick. He buried the free-kick

and QPR level for the second time this afternoon. You just don't keep

out these. It's superb. On the balance of play, I think our

performance merited more than the one point, I think, in terms of

chances created in open play. We had any number of good clear-cut

chances, sometimes we didn't quite pick the right pass, at the right

time. In terms of what we created, as an away team, I was pleased. It's

good for the spirit we didn't get beat today. If we got beat it knocks

you flat. To come back twice against a tough team to play against, a good

result. When the opportunity fell your way you fancied yourself? Yes.

Delighted it went in. How much practice does that take to get it

right? Apparently, a lot! I'm not usually the one that really takes

free-kick. Today I felt quite confident and, luckily for me, even

whout practicing this weekend went in. There is no-one I would rather

have on the ball than Niko Krancjar. He has the ability he practices a

lot. He takes free-kick and shots, a lot of shooting practice. Does he

practice or doesn't he practice? Krancjar says, no, Harry says, yes.

Whatever he did, it, works. It was in the top corner. He signed him

three times you would think he knows whether he practices or not He is a

special player. No doubt that. Full range of passing. He can see a pass.

No doubt he has that vision. I thought he played too deep in the

game. I wanted him to get forward. He gradually did that. He shoots

from distance. That's some effort from there. Look at this.

Gerrard-like pass. Full repertoire. Whatever he needs to do, he can do

it. That is showboating for me. I want to see him in this central

position. Can you get into that area? The position hard to defend

against. Shot from distance. Little drag back. Good imagination. Power

in the shot. Shawcross gives him a reducer. Sidwell, takes him out. A

"reducer" New one on me, that one! Quality finish. He wants to put it

into that area. Can he do it. Great technique. You knew he was going to

pull it off. It would work for Harry. Harry was buzzing. Rightly

so, good performance. Stoke, you were impressed with how they

counter-attacked? Against Hull they were flat. Today they were breath

taking. The linkup play between Diouf, Crouch and Moses was fans

tastic. Particularly Moses and Crouch. Crouch sees it first time.

He is away again. Moses loves this position, one against one with

Caulker. If that is split, Crouch is on hand. Layoff here. Away goes

Moses. Crouch, Barton pulls up with a hamstring. This was symptomatic of

the game. This is the goal. Swept out wide first time. Moses was a

real threat all afternoon. Peter Crouch is just waiting are for the

ball to come in. Half a yard. The cross really should have been

stopped. It comes in. For me, a clear foul on Rio Ferdinand. Diouf

is there to tap it in. He takes a ride on Rio's back. You are seeing

it more getting away with it. Pieters and Moses pressing. Moses

all day, really direct. Gets to the by-line. All sorts of problems.

Crouch peels off from Rio. Brilliant first time finish. On the balance of

play and the chances they created Stoke should have won. I can see why

Mark was disappointed not to win the game. Shawcross, likes to get his

hands on? This is, people talk about zonal marking, he man-to-man marks.

He is marking. Dancing has started early. Won't let go of him. This is

the goal. Caulker gets his own back. Gets away with him. He is obsessed

with him, Shawcross, causes panic. Crouch puts that into his own net.

Credit to QPR getting back into it. Stoke should have won this game. I

thought they were impressive today, Stoke. Looked a good side. OK.

Two sides now currently occupying the Champions League places -

early days of course - Swansea and Southampton have both enjoyed

Today, they met at the Liberty Stadium.

Ferdinand makes his debut in defence. Recall for Swansea's

top-scorer as Wilfried Bony searches for his first goal of the new

campaign. Lambert scored the last goal from a visiting player in the

League. Pelle has three Premier League goals already and bids to

score for the third match in a row today. M

Sigurdarson. Routledge is on side. Four in thele penalty area. One was

Bony. Then Dyer. Southampton survived, Routledge with the

delivery. Dyer, just couldn't make the contact.

Bony to chase. Challenge on Yoshida. He was late there, the Ivory Coast

international. He is an absolute plan mountain when he's in this kind

of challenge. He is growling as well. He got a yellow card for that

challenge. A few complaints from the Southampton players. In fairness, he

wasn't playing the ball. Back from Schneiderlin. Taddism,

clever, still taddism. On the ground. -- Tadic. He had a clear

shot at goal. There is a foul on Bony. That was by Fonte. The

Southampton captain is shown a yellow card. Moments after Bony had

gone in the book himself. Fonte, still protesting his innocence.

Sigurdarson. Lovely touch. No flag. Should have been the first goal.

Routledge can't believe he hasn't put that away. Beautifully worked

from Swansea. Caught Southampton, first time they've opened them up.

Most definitely onside. Routledge, with the outside of his foot.

Off the legs of Schneiderlin for the first corner of the game, ten

minutes before half-time. It goes Swansea's way. Schneiderlin saw the

danger and got in the way of the cross. In from Sigurdsson, it was

inviting. In came Bony. Burke and off the line. Evidence of why

managers put them in those positions. A really good running

header from Bony. As Bertrand not been there it would have been 1-0

Swansea. Needed to Quinn dispossess bony. -- needed to Quin dispossess

Bony. It ends with a red card. The top score of last season for Swansea

City is sent off. That was the tackle from behind on Yoshida.

Southampton have a man advantage. Taylor could not take any chances.

Southampton have their first corner of the game. James Ward-Prowse to

take the corner. Almost came to Fonte. He was late on Routledge, who

has been booked. You can hear what the Swansea supporters think should

happen. John Moss just shot away. Is this a yellow card? You didn't make

any contact in the end, fortunately. Garry Monk is saying, what is the

difference? He got the shot in as well, which

was deflected, and deflected just over, from Tadic. A little trick,

and to his right. Just took a deflection off Dyer. It looped over

the goalkeeper and over the crossbar. His team are a little more

creative with the man advantage, should give them a goal advantage.

Swansea have won seven of their 11 Premier League games. Southampton,

beaten only once in their last eight, going back to last season.

No need to debate that one. Tadic is quite clearly going to take this. A

long, hard look at this. Here comes the Serbian international.

Fabianski, safely down to his left hand side to gather. Trying to

Have they got away through? They have! The substitute, Wanyama, with

his very first goal for Southampton, to finally break the

deadlock, with just ten minutes remaining. Wanyama kept his

composure and his balance and finished really strongly.

We were by far the better team in the first half. We dominated in

every aspect and considering the second half where we were playing

with a man less, the only shot they had on our goal was in the 80th

minute, when they scored. After that, shots on target did not mean

anything because we had to push on and be open and try to get back in

the game because we were losing. Until the 80th minute, we did well.

We got three wins on the bounce, so we keep the keys clean sheets, we

are defending well and scoring goals as well. Hopefully we can continue

the run of form. We don't like to lose two on the spin. We will have

to dissect this game. Very disappointed. The lads are really

down in the dressing room because of the effort we put in and we came

away with nothing. After

the game I spoke to Southampton's This has been easy so far? Maybe it

looks easy but today, it wasn't. Today was very touched -- tough, a

difficult game against a strong opponent. But finally it was a great

school and a great win. This is the best start Southampton have had in

the top flight for 26 years. As it surprised you? A little bit, yes,

because after the summer we had to make a lot of changes in the team

and normally you need time to build up again and new, strong team full

Webb. The players and the team play in a positive way. That is very

important to keep the philosophy of the team and the club. Until now, it

is going well. One player, Wanyama, came in, and what a goal he scored?

He scored a great goal. It is difficult for the manager because we

have a great midfield players and to keep players like Wanyama on the

bench is always difficult. But he came in in the second half and put

spirit into the team and scored a great goal and finally it is a great

result. York are second in the table now. It is -- you are second in the

table now. It is early in the season. What are your expectations?

First of all, to play good football. We like that. We bring in the

quality players and we like to build up from the defence and to have good

ball position, and now the results of course, little by little, you are

watching the list and it is fantastic for the fans to be second

in this moment. You know, football is football, and it is changing very

fast. A great start for you and thanks for talking to us. Thank

you, goodbye. It has been a terrific start, helped of course by a red

card incident. Two yellows, I should say. No complaints? No, the player

is over physical. He has gone straight into Russia death --

Yoshida. That is very sore. When you are on a yellow card, you can't do

something like this. It is a pincer challenge, goes with both feet. It

is Yoshida on the end of it. It is not like him, is it? He is a

physical guy, but it is rare use the that discipline. Fonte has got away

with similar? This was in between the booking, I wonder if it was on

his mind, Fonte takes him out. That is a bad challenge. This was a

yellow card. It has wound him up a little bit because it was not long

afterwards, he got sent off at a critical stage. Fonte, people saying

he had gone for that, but for me there is nothing in that. There is

no real contacts. The referee gives a free kick. He has seen it and

doesn't see it as a sending off. An excellent winning goal. You had him

at Celtic for a long time. A terrific player. He is 21, the world

at his feet. He has more to come. Predominantly up defensive midfield

player, but he has goals in him. He goes past Ki Sung-Yueng, a brilliant

finish. It sits up for him. He pokes it into the far corner of the net. A

wonderful start for Southampton. There is far more to come from

Victor, he has so much to his game. He has the right attributes. A

strong boy, brilliant athlete, his temperament is fantastic. Built like

a heavyweight, people bounce off him. A fantastic player. He's one of

the few players not linked with a move away. To lose all those players

as they have, they lost their manager, the Chief Executive...

Extraordinary. To be second in the table is extraordinary. A

magnificent win. Both Burnley and Sunderland have yet

to win a game this season, so could At Turf Moor for us was

Jonathan Pearce. Burnley Givet first league start to

Sordell. Giaccherini starts the Sunderland for the first time since

March, with the Argentine international injured. Wickham is at

the top supported by a five-man midfield. The 99th league meeting

between these two famous old names. Sordell playing to the left and

Yanukovych to the right. Playing it back to him, that is a big chance.

Burnley's stretch without a goal goes on. That is the difference

between Championship football and Premier League football. In the top

flight, you have to take opportunities like that.

Splendid dummy by Arfield, gets it back again.

Trippier has made a promising start to life in the Premier League.

Jones, straight at the goalkeeper. Another chance, Burnley's way, and

still they can't score. The build-up, I thought he had done too

much but Jones came in behind him. No goals, but decent football being

played. He held onto it a bit too long, it wasn't a good ball to

Johnson. I flicked header by the Deeney, the

goalkeeper got down, didn't get a goal kick. The Argentine right back

is yet to score English football. -- score in English football. Was there

a little nudge thereby Brown on Yucca which is Ashton Mark -- on

Jutkiewicz? He miss timed it. I think that is a penalty. A gloomy

day in Burnley. Unless we have an early second-half goal, the game may

well become gloomy and grey as well. A chance for Arfield. Space in front

of him, here comes Jutkiewicz. Brown away. Giaccherini, always seems to

be a Sunderland player in space. They have the extra man in midfield,

of course. Blocked and away in the end by Mee. Just would not come at

the far post. Larsson. Good counter by Sunderland, this. Too much space

for Giaccherini. Looking for Rodwell.

Arfield went close. Mannone did well to get down there. Protected the

ball well. Good release. Such a famous old ground. Once upon a

time, the home of the champions of the land.

Burnley protest. The referee unimpressed. He rolled around and he

stumbled, then his forward momentum sent him sinking down. There is

nothing wrong with that defending. That is not a penalty. Chances have

been at a premium. A few long-range efforts dealt with easily bribed

both goalkeepers. Jones has been busy. -- dealt with easily by both

goalkeepers. That is Burnley's best chance.

Sunderland are a bit jittery. The referee is going to book John O'Shea

for pulling his man back. Had he stopped it and given the free kick,

O'Shea might have been gone because Jutkiewicz would have been through

on goal. Arfield had time. Good linkup with Barnes. Could have got

away early, the goalkeeper was off his line. Back to Ashley Barnes, it

hit the top of the bar and might have taken a deflection on the way

through. That is the closest we have come to a goal, Ashley Barnes. Took

curious loop, up off Cattermole, dipped and bounced against the bar.

Brought down by Marney. He was stretching into the challenge, a

yellow card. How much contact was there? Vergini's touch was heavy.

You can't tell from there. He thinks he played the ball.

Sunderland looking to win it here, late. Van Aanholt with the drive.

Oh, how did that stay out? It hit the upright, bounced off the

goalkeeper. A moment of real quality from Van Aanholt, I rode it in and

the keeper David onto the post. A game of ifs, buts and maybes. There

was a number of chances. Anyone else on the pitch, it was a foul, and if

it is it is in the box. The inevitable was getting over line.

For the first time in the Premier League we kept a clean sheet and

points. It was a game that was difficult to play. We tried full --

we tried. Burnley was pushing. One of those games, the one who scores

wins the game. It has been positive, we don't do negatives.

He thought he should have had a penalty. What do you think? I'm not

convinced. There is a slight tug. I think Jutkiewicz falls into him. I

think the referee has that right. I don't think he is in control of the

ball. He falls again. You are clutching at straws a little bit

there. He goes down easily. Maybe if he goes down with the contact of Wes

Brown he would have got the penalty, not the second incident. Three 0-0's

on the row doesn't get you high on the Match of the Day running order.

It gatherses points. It suggests if you start scoring, you might start

winning? It got him up through the Championship. The players are well

drilled. They know each other. Particularly the back four. They

played together a long time. The midfield tightly packed. They lost

47-goals from last season and Ings and Vokes. They have to be hard to

beat. Sunderland found it really difficult. Sunderland would have

been coming here expecting to win the game. There is a great spirit

among the Burnley team, roared on by home support. That is respectable

going into the season. Sunderland will be encouraged with their clean

sheet? Knowing Gus as I do, and the improve am he is looking, surviving,

staying up. They bought well am they should be going there and fancying

their changes. Not scored in two games. That will be a worry for him.

Two home games coming up for them. Gus will get the show on road. Thank

you very much. We are about out of time. Now a look at the Premier

League table: Southampton have marched up to

second in the Premier League Villa missed their chance to top

the table with a defeat at Arsenal, which means Chelsea could go five

points clear if they beat Newcastle drop into the bottom

three, despite their point today. Draw specialists Burnley meanwhile

move out of the relegation zone, with West Brom and Crystal Palace

both playing on Sunday. what will the newspapers say.

Express, Alan Pardew save from the sack. Liverpool and Newcastle

dominate the Sunday Times. Costa accusing his Premier League

opponents of goading him. So a see-saw spell saw

Cisse save the Silver Fox. On my sofa this week, hot new

singer/songwriter George Ezra, # If you want it done,

then ask a busy woman! # ..Oscar-winning actor

Denzel Washington... There is no way you would actually

put our lives at risk. Alfie Wickers

is the baddest teacher.