31/10/2015 Match of the Day

Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful.

COMMENTATOR: Goals came and went. And, Keegan.

Look at his face! Just look at his face!

Look at that. Oh, look at that!

What a goal. Oh, what a goal.

You are probably fed up with Halloween and allergies by now but,

come on, we only get one chance every year!

As we approach the witching hour, seven games from the

Barclays Premier League to send a shiver down your spine.

Ruud Gullit and Jermaine Jenas are tonight's little pumpkins.

Chelsea's season has certainly been a horror show.

The champions began the day in the bottom six.

They faced Liverpool, whose new boss, Jurgen Klopp,

had lost just one of four previous meetings with Jose Mourinho.

COMMENTATOR: Remember when special was normal and normal was special.

15th against ninth in the Premier League is not particularly special,

and certainly shouldn't be normal for these two clubs. For Chelsea

today two changes from Saturday at West Ham as Nemanja Matic and Cesc

Fabregas pay the price for not being their best this season by being

named substitutes. John Obi Mikel and Oscar start instead, as does

Diego Costa despite a blow to the ribs that ended his game early at

Stoke in the League Cup on Tuesday. Christian Benteke eight does not

kick off for Liverpool although he's on the bench having missed the cup

win over Bournemouth with a problem. Firmino shone in that game and

starts again today in Benteke's striking role. For the Captain James

Milner it is a 400th Premier League appearance, just under 13 years

since his first full Leeds against West Ham aged just 16.

Rarely has a Premier League mid-table fixture at the end of

October carried quite so much interest and intrigue. There is not

a lot of love lost and it's not just Chelsea against Liverpool, this is

Jose Mourinho in difficult times against Jurgen Klopp, the new

Premier League Punk on the block. Costa. The backheel finds

Azpilicueta, nobody in the box yet, Oscar in there now and arriving is

Ramires. Three minutes in and Chelsea lead at the Bridge. No smile

on the manager's face, Milner could not stop the backheel from custody

Azpilicueta and then he was a study in concentration. He looked, he

waited, on to his favoured right foot, there was a little flick on

the cross, and Ramires watched it brilliantly, in front of Moreno and

away from Mignolet, Chelsea 1-0 Liverpool. Mariniere's name echoes

around Stamford Bridge. Fresh from a trip to the powers earlier in the

week Frank Lampard is back at his spiritual home. Here is Firmino. He

is causing Chelsea one or two problems by not playing as an

orthodox striker, dropping back and finding pockets of space. Nothing

yet to really worry Begovic in goal, though. Milner gets the return from

Lallana. Flicked on. That was on target but to close to the Chelsea

keeper from Lallana. Chelsea just having to soak up a fair bit at the

moment. It is the Liverpool manager who is scowling and prowling

somewhat menacingly. Willian. Hazard. Too far in front of Costa.

It was the right ball, and the only ball.

Jose Mourinho wants to get to the dressing room before the players.

Lucas. Milner.

Firmino to Coutinho. Coutinho's turn and shot, brilliant

goal! Absolutely fantastic from Philippe

Coutinho and he stayed at the top of the tunnel just long enough to see

it, the Chelsea boss. It might just change his words. Liverpool have

threatened ever since going a goal behind they have had more of the

ball and the ball has spent more time in Chelsea's half. Nothing to

really test Asmir Begovic until this. Firmino time and again has

dropped off the attack to find some room, he's worked well with

Coutinho, and how well did Coutinho do with that finish? That's magic.

That is quite a measured celebration by his standards. He will feel that

over the course of the game, by what he's seen so far, that his team have

deserved to be on level terms by the break. He will maybe wish he hadn't

seen that. Half-time at Stamford Bridge and it is Chelsea 1-1

Liverpool. Lallana.

John Obi Mikel Drew Lucas into it and Lucas will get a yellow card,

just one more caution away from missing a game.

Diego Costa, dealt with by Skrtel, who he then brings down. Mark

Clattenburg quickly in to stop it escalating but there seems to be a

healthy mutual respect there. I think Diego Costa recognises that

even with a little dig back... It is a dig back, and unnecessary flick of

the boot and Skrtel didn't make anything of it. I think Costa

recognises when he's met somebody who is his match. Ramires. The

Chelsea fans howl that it is Lucas and Emre Can, both of whom are on a

yellow card. The referee has given it just as a free kick. He will not

be talked round by Chelsea players now. He will be making his own mind

up. Diego Costa telling him. But Mark Clattenburg is his own man. He

knows. That said it might be wise for Jurgen Klopp to think about

substituting Lucas now. That's one of those you could easily argue if

he hadn't got a yellow card he would have got one for that. Another one

for Jose Mourinho's charge sheet. He's insisted time and again that

his team have not been getting decisions. He might really genuinely

have a case there. Given away by Ramires to Emre Can. Lucas has lost

it. And Oscar tries to catch Mignolet

out, and he nearly succeeded too. You could almost see the thoughts

going through Simon Mignolet's mind. I'm struggling, which hand

should I go with? Quick thinking and very nearly perfect execution from

Oscar. That is going in all right. Lallana. Pushed off the ball,

advantage Liverpool. Sakho. Benteke. Lallana. Touched on to

Coutinho. Coutinho again! He does it again! What a test of Chelsea's

resolve a spirit, backing of their boss this is. What a performance

this is from Liverpool. Benteke has made a difference. He won it you to

flee. Maybe it's important that Lallana didn't get much of a touch

on it because it came through to Coutinho. And is there a little

deflection on that? Let's C. Terry's arm was outstretched, and

actually it came off his midriff and it spins away from Begovic. Two in

the bag for Philip Kirby near. Chelsea one-two Liverpool. -- Philip

could in your. Bruce Buck next to England manager Roy Hodgson. Who

will he be texting? There will be questions to be answered. Note Roman

Abramovich today. Moreno went alone. That was an important boot from

Begovic. It looked like that one was being squeezed inside the near post.

Begovic has just about kept Chelsea in the contest.

Ibe. Lallana. It has come to Benteke. And take it takes his time

before shooting and scoring. Another deflection, another Liverpool goal

and another bag to the heart of Jose Mourinho. I think the game is up for

him today. Just today? Look at all the space. Every red shirt player

had space, time, still time, and coal. Terry can't stop him. Cahill

can't block it. It comes off the underside of his right leg. There

was nothing Begovic could do. You don't suppose there was much Chelsea

could do from here. Jurgen Klopp is close to his first Premier League

win as Liverpool boss. Are they seeing the last days of the man that

they once, and many still do, regard as simply the best? None of us

really know what discussions will take place amongst the Chelsea

hierarchy, but there will be discussions. It looked as though

Chelsea were heading into half-time with a 1-0 lead and then Coutinho

struck, then you can plot's men took over in the second 45 minutes. It is

a weary trudge down the tunnel for Jose Mourinho. Hugs all around for

Jurgen Klopp. Philippe Coutinho is the star of the show. Chelsea 1-3

Liverpool. It's not easy to be dominant the whole time against

Chelsea but it is possible to play football against them and that is

what we did, we stayed cool, we said one week ago we were not cool

enough, today was much better. We have started to believe in our

strength and for this the most important thing in the game is goals

and we made them and in brilliant style, really all three goals were

perfect. We got a bit of luck because there was a touch on the

ball, but if you do not shoot you cannot hit, that's important. Today

we deserved the three points. Maybe we didn't start like we wanted. But

after our first goal, and then the second, I think we controlled the

game and today we deserved to win in Stamford Bridge.

Post-match, Jose Mourinho met with his coaching staff out on the pitch,

and unlike last week he did speak to the press.

What are your thoughts on the game today?

I can't express my feelings. In any way at all?

In any way at all. What is the reason for that?

I think you are not just here to interview me, or other players, or

other managers, you are also here to see the game. I believe that, and I

believe that you could do part of your work too and let me out of more

comments. In the game it is our job to ask

about what you saw in the game, what did you see from your players today?

What I have seen from my players was good until the moment when they felt

it was impossible to do better. I think you are referring to Lucas

staying on the field. Do you feel unable to speak about things like

that? I don't speak.

Do you speak about what happens next regarding the Chelsea supporters?

What can you tell them today? I think they are not stupid, I don't

think I need to tell them anything. They know how much myself and the

players we are trying and how much myself and the players feel sad with

the situation. They know why we are not getting results, we know they

are pushing us, they know. Does the fight go on? Sorry? Does the fight

go on? Of course the fight goes on, but

sometimes there are fights that are impossible to win. You go to a fight

with different ammunition. There are some fights that you cannot win.

Enough. We not used to seeing you like this, we are used to seeing you

win. My team can play against any manager and any team and lose. But

more than this is difficult... Thank you, Jose. Interesting, we will come

back to Jose shortly but The Tahs look at the incident with Lucas

Barrios was peeved about, would that have been two yellow cards? I think

it is. The first was a couple of accidents already that happened

previously and he had to give a yellow card for that. He accepted it

also but he's not happy with it. He just came into late. But this one,

you know, you could give him a yellow card for this and he knows it

also. I think he's lucky to stay in. I

understand the arguments of Jose, but if you keep on moaning and

moaning and moaning, then after a while people are fed up with it. But

there is also other things happening. Chelsea are aggrieved

about that one, but perhaps Costa was mildly fortunate to get away

with his little kick out? I think he was very fortunate, Gary. This is

just before the Lucas incident, and if Costa feels aggrieved at what

happened with the Lucas situation, Skrtel and Costa by the way have

previous. Skrtel has been physical with Costa there, but obviously we

all know what is going to happen next. That has obviously upset

Costa. He's had a kick out there, I kick in his stomach. Mark Zuckerberg

is right there in front of him. If he's upset about Luke is not getting

sent off, Diego Costa should have got sent off for that incident --

Mark Clattenburg is right there. It works out even in the end.

Interesting tactically, Jurgen Klopp coming to Liverpool, unbeaten so

far, a steady start, now starting to win games, what about his tactics,

especially in forward positions? In the first half we didn't play with a

real striker, he tried to get as much possession as he wanted to keep

Chelsea off the ball. And it worked. You can see this is the first half.

All players, all in midfield, no strikers, Lallana is in midfield. So

therefore, they kept possession. The first half, 64% of possession. Of

course tactics can also be crucial when you are winning, but Chelsea

scored after three minutes and all of a sudden he thought himself, I

need to change it. He put Benteke in the second half and look what

happens here. This is one of the first balls on Benteke. Then you get

Ramires and Fabregas getting lazy. Don't chase Coutinho, Lallana, stays

in midfield, they are chasing for the ball. They want it also,

Coutinho is at the ball and of course it's a deflection but at

least it's a game plan. The second goal, same thing. Schoolboy error,

two defenders and one striker, in the middle again people not chasing.

They can pick it up and look how much space and freedom he had to

choose the angle. That is unbelievable. I think Klopp had it

all right. There's Jose, let's talk about this conspiracy theory, all

the referees are against us, the media, everyone against us, we have

heard managers use these tactics before but where do you stand? You

said he can't just keep moaning. Thing is you get things in favour

sometimes against you but you need to be humble also when things go

against you. If you get humble, the best example was when Drogba came

into England. He was diving, moaning, John Terry went to him and

said, look, you can't do this here, don't do that. And now Drogba was

one of the most popular players of all. This is what you need to do.

You can't keep on moaning all the time when things go against you.

What about Liverpool, Jurgen Klopp looking promising? Today was their

best performance since they Wood he arrived. It's not something you can

get carried away with. I have seen Liverpool place and games where it

has been so positive. Leaders Manchester City welcomed

Norwich to the Etihad Stadium. The visitors had lost their last

three, and were the only side in the A Iheanacho -- Iheanacho makes his

full debut. The only other change to the Manchester derby drawer, Navas

goes from the bench. Mulumbu exes debut for Norwich. Olsson and Jerome

come into the side beaten by West Brom. Hoolahan and Redmond go to the

bench. One win 20 visits for Norwich, to City. It's a very good

centre forward play. It forces a save out of Ruddy. Good football by

Bony. Came from behind Bassong and turned, got a good shot away. Raheem

Sterling on the bench for Manchester City, went off against United last

week. Norwich are frustrating Manchester City in doing their job.

Martin needed to claim it, here's Bony, a bad mess, a bad miss. No

composure in the penalty area. He got himself into a scoring position

and was then wasting it. 26 minutes gone. Manchester City, can they find

a way through here? Bony. The second time he's been in that sort of

position. The same result. A shot sweeping away off his right foot,

moving left to right, and slicing wide. Norwich do not look like a

team that has conceded 21 goals. Only Bournemouth and Newcastle have

conceded more, going into this. A good chance for Norwich, Joe Hart

balls off the save of the game so far. -- Paul's off. That's

Norwich's game plan, contain and then break out. Try and punish. They

very nearly pulled it off. A good save from Joe Hart. What can she

clock up for us? -- what can she clock up for us? Looking for Kevin

De Bruyne. Good use of the advantage. The referee decides Bony

could take the advantage no further. Norwich can protest here now. Robert

Madley, the referee, decided the advantage should be played there and

quite rightly, after a foul by to Brady on Kevin De Bruyne. Toure,

winding up to take it. A good save by Ruddy. He was on the scoresheet

in the 7-0 romp era couple of seasons ago and nearly puts

Manchester City ahead. Good goalkeeping.

The Navas cross deflected, it's a corner to Manchester City. Their

10th corner kick of the game. Kompany is in there. Bony makes his

run behind company, that's a great header! A terrific goal that breaks

the deadlock by Nicolas Otamendi. For the first time in the game,

Norwich switched off and they've been made to pay. 1-0 Manchester

City. Came in unannounced. Marx. And powered it home. -- he was unmarked.

Norwich switched off, Nicolas Otamendi with his first for the

club. Still pensive, anxious, the manager.

Good football by Norwich, they forced the corner kick.

Five yellow and green shirts in the middle, an equaliser by Cameron

Jerome! It's a personal nightmare for Joe Hart. The defensive shape

was good, in came the cross, it was bending. He had to backpedal a

little bit, but he shouldn't have dropped it. That a howler, he will

know it. The whip on the cross, yes, and pace. But a real gift for

Cameron Jerome and Norwich City are level at Manchester City, 1-1,

totally out of the blue. Can Manchester City force a winner?

Its a dangerous corner. He's got himself into no man's land and it is

a penalty and that's a penalty and that's ascending off and Norwich say

that Russell Martin headed it away and he is red carded. It's all gone

wrong for Norwich. In came across, the keeper spilled it, a horrible

moment for Ruddy, the Norwich goalkeeper. Was this hand ball? Oh,

yes, it was, no doubt about it. Now Toure, to win it for Manchester

City, with two minutes to go. Can the goalkeeper at own? No, he

can't. Yaya Toure scored, puts Manchester City up just as Norwich

thought they had an unlikely point. Toure stepped up, handles the

pressure and drills then surely the winner. -- he drills in, surely, the

winner. A free kick for the challenge in midfield on O'Neil.

This could be Norwich's last chance. Sent in high towards the box, good

defending by Bony. They get the ball back into the box

quickly, no, they can't. Fiercely struck by Olsson. A good save,

really good save, for the deflection. Redemption for Joe Hart,

after the howler that presented Norwich with the equaliser. That's a

good head on by Bony. Perhaps Sterling can clinch up here, he's

gone down in the box. It's a penalty. A foul by a tired Robbie

Brady. It's going to be Kolarov to take it, in the absence of Toure.

This is to wrap it up for Manchester City. No, it isn't. Oh, no, it

isn't. A few gasps, a looked at the sky, in many ways it was that sort

of afternoon for Manchester City. They squandered a chance to make it

three. But it's three points for the league leaders in the end, they've

won it by 2-1. We missed three or four clear chances, after that we

scored a beautiful goal with Otamendi and unfortunately a ball

from Joe allowed them to draw and in the last ten minutes he demonstrated

his character, he believes in what they do. How pleased were you with

the new system, the centre halves and wingbacks playing today? We

worked it great, that's the frustrating thing because I'm so

frustrated for the boys and how much they worked, how well they worked

and how disciplined they were within the match. Then to make silly

mistakes to cost you the game after having done all that hard work. John

made a mistake, the team is right behind him to come back stronger. We

managed to score right behind and win. We played well in spells and

games throughout the season. I don't think many teams have outplayed us.

We had a disappointing result at Newcastle, City had a lot of

possession and moments in the game against us today but other than that

there is no team that has outplayed us. We keep repeating the same

things, we take positives from games but we are not getting the results.

We need to smarten up. Was a valiant performance from Mark Norwich but

the match came to life in the last ten minutes because of suspects

goalkeeping, you have to say. It was a couple of our own England

goalkeeping players that made the mistakes. Joe Hart,

uncharacteristically as well, it was very poor in the 83rd minute, a tap

in for Cameron Jerome. Write down the other end, John Ruddy comes out,

flaps that one, could have been a penalty as well there. Eventually

costs his team towards the end. It was, sorry, the draw towards the

end. It was not great goalkeeping displays, but we see the penalty

dispatched but thankfully for Joe Hart he was able to make amends for

his mistake. That's a top save. Yes, deflection. If you make a mistake,

do it when you win! That's always the way. Noah Granero, clearly

anyone would miss someone as good as Aguero. What's the panel's

assessment of his replacement, Wilfried Bony? I like Wilfried Bony

come he gets in the right positions. Look how he turns. This is a good

finish. It's not an easy challenge, this. I think sometimes it looks

like he wants to prove it too hard. I can understand, because to forget

Aguero is difficult but he gets in the right positions. The only thing

I would suggest to him it stay calm and next time when there is a

penalty, take it. The Kolarov at the end. Live by goals, don't let anyone

else. He gets in the right positions and I think he's a good goal-scorer.

A good striker, he needs confidence and if you play every week you play

with a different attitude then, when you have to replace someone like

aggro. City overall, they are pretty solid but they seem to have a bad

day at now and again but they are up there. They are up there, and they

seem to win games without Aguero and Silva. As the Norwich and Alex Neil,

they changed their system, three at the back, quite offensive in many

ways but you would expect that at Manchester City.

Last week we spoke about Bournemouth having to find a different way of

playing and Alex Neil tried it, three at the back, with the

wingbacks and he was unfortunate not to get the draw. Would have been a

great point but alas it wasn't. Arsenal began the day

in second place on goal difference behind Manchester City,

after six wins in seven games. The Gunners were in action

at Swansea, who'd won just one Steve Wilson was at the

Liberty Stadium. COMMENTATOR: Beaten twice by Swansea

last season, this might not be the fixture Arsene Wenger would have

chosen at the end of a tough week. Swansea unchanged from the side that

won at Aston Villa, Thomas, who scored the winner twice against

Arsenal last season, has not found the net since scoring in each of

their first four league games this campaign -- Gomez. Joel Campbell has

to aim told by Arsene Wenger it is now or never for him at Arsenal.

Injuries to Walcott, Chambers, Rusedski and Welbeck means the Costa

Rican gets his first Premier League start -- Rosicky. -- Gomis.

Giroud's little flick was intended for those all. Campbell, nicely

done. -- Ozil. Super flick from Campbell. Giroud try to flick it the

other way and fell to Campbell it was a foot wide but a lovely attempt

to. Monreal. Dealt with by Williams. Ki

Sung-yueng is there. Shelvey. It hit Ashley Williams. Here is Shelvey and

Gomez is onside, can Bafetimbi Gomis beat Cech? No he can't. Was there a

touch from the Arsenal keeper on the striker? He was given onside and

that was correct. Cech to beat them he got around him and was very

little touch from Cech on the ankles of Bafetimbi Gomis? Swansea have not

got it. It is great defending from Bellerin. Pretty symmetrical

managerial CV Garry Monk has come a 28 wins, 16 draws and 28 defeats.

Ayew to Neil Taylor. Monteiro. Nicely done getting away from

Bellerin, the full-back will not recover from there, what will

Monteiro do with it? Gomis. Straight into the gloves of Petr Cech. Nice

little turn from Coquelin, Sanchez, great ball and Giroud has wasted it.

Loria Spall into Olivier Giroud, the man who at the beginning of this

game had the best minutes to goal ratio of any Premier League player

has wasted the opportunity. Sigurdsson. Monteiro now, coming

inside Bellerin. He has done well and he has been caught. Free kick.

Hector Bellerin. Campbell and Bellerin had a bite at him there.

I'm not sure the full-back made contact, it might have been

Campbell, but it is a free kick. Sigurdsson against a three-man wall

and Petr Cech behind. Sigurdsson, and blocked by a combination of

Giroud and Mertesacker. Lovely ball. Monteiro. Shelvey. Didn't really

tagged with conviction you would expect. There was something rather

timid about that. -- Montero. Just a suggestion that when the free kick

was taken that there might have been a deliberate handball from

Mertesacker. He might have got lucky there. Cazorla. And now Ozil. It was

quite a clever idea and Lauren Koscielny worked ever so hard to try

and bring it to fruition. Ozil's Russ charged down and it's an

Arsenal corner, and feeling a renewed surge of optimism here.

Mesut Ozil with the Arsenal corner kick. Free header into the back of

the net from Olivier Giroud! Arsenal have the lead early in the

second-half and it is Olivier Giroud, of whom many a question has

been asked this season, but who has stepped up to the plate again. And

has now scored in four of Arsenal's last five games, and five of their

last seven. It is a free header, not well marked, but well finished.

Swansea 0-1 Arsenal. Garry Monk will be pleased with the performance of

his team today but if it stays like this it's another poor result. The

game needed a goal. It could be a really good second-half now.

Sigurdsson, well hit and well saved. You know what he's going to do,

Sigurdsson. He hits it so sweetly, and it is a good stop by Petr Cech.

Santi Cazorla. Bellerin. Ozil with real whip on that, Williams' header,

Fabianski, is he fouled? Koscielny put the ball in the net and the goal

is given and Arsenal have doubled their lead. Lauren Koscielny has

scored a controversial goal. The former Arsenal goalkeeper, Lukas

Fabianski, convinced he was fouled. Look at this, swung in by Ozil, of

Williams' head, Koscielny backpedalling into the goalkeeper

Tom and everybody seemed to stop except Koscielny. Magath Ki

Sung-yueng standing on the line. He made no attempt to cover the post.

He clearly thinks there is no way that play is going to continue. Have

a guess what he thinks about that. 2-0 Arsenal. Santi Cazorla to Mesut

Ozil. Coquelin. Beautiful little flick from Sanchez to Ozil, the

jewels in Arsenal's round. Sanchez back into Ozil, square, chance for

Joel Campbell here, 3-0 X Mac given a chance by his manager, Joel

Campbell has taken it. That split second between controlling and

hitting the shot must have felt like from here to eternity for Joel

Campbell. It is a long time to think about it but didn't he take it well?

Say what you like about goal number two, there is nothing wrong with

goal number three. His first goal for Arsenal. Swansea 0-3 Arsenal for

stop Arsene Wenger's men have ended up comfortable winners, though not

without a hint of controversy. Santi Cazorla. Now Alexis Sanchez

being chased by Britton. Sanchez. Gibbs.

Blocked by Naughton cleared by Barrow. Chambers. Ozil gliding into

the box and hitting the shot. Sanchez. Double save by Fabianski.

Ozil floating into the danger area. Fabianski busy again. We had a

difficult first half where we didn't find our rhythm, pace and

decisiveness. The second half was a different team. I think after we

score the first goal it was all us. I think the scoreline flatters

Arsenal. We played exceptional in the first half and had chances to

score and should have taken the lead, we were the best team in the

first half. You would expect Swansea to be unhappy about the second goal.

It didn't look that way to meet but I have to watch the game again

because it's difficult to see if somebody did something that was not

legal. It didn't look like it from outside. Were you a little surprised

yourself it was a goal? No, no, no, they told me I could score and I

shot the goal and it was a goal. I've seen the second one be given so

many times as a foul but maybe he could have punched the ball

instead. It was definitely a penalty, I thought it was handball

at the time but you never know if they are intentional or not because

it happens so quickly. In the hindsight of replays it shows his

intention was to raise his hand towards the ball and in anyone 's

book is handball. Garry Monk clearly unhappy about a couple of decisions,

what is your view? I think it was a handball. Sigurdsson's free kick.

Mertesacker getting his hands out, and that was at 0-0. You can see it

is clear that he gets his hands out. It is a penalty.

So this was all in the first half. This one is difficult. I think that

the goalkeeper makes a mistake. I think he should have punched it.

He's got a clean that up. You do see them given free kicks because they

are an overprotected species. You can understand why Garry Monk feels

the way he does because nine out of ten times it is a free kick but

there was not enough for me for it to be given. I can understand his

frustration. There is not inconsistency. It can never be

consistent, can it? Arsenal have been losing players almost as

quickly as gaining points in recent weeks and it has given us a chance

to see one or two players that would not ordinarily play. Joel Campbell

is one of them today and you were impressed with him. I was very

impressed, he was a player given an opportunity today. I watched him

throughout the game and he was skilful and confident. His

confidence seemed to grow. We have him circled here, not because of the

little bit of trickery but because of this part here. When he did lose

the ball his intent to work back. The last thing Mertesacker wants is

a one-on-one with Montero down the left hand side and thankfully for

him Joel Campbell gets himself back into position and defence very well.

It was this side of his game that I really liked. The shoot on sight

policy, Arsenal have not got enough players like that, I think. They

tend to overpass ball at times but not only has he got that, he's got

good feet, beautifully going past players and almost slipped in

Bellerin. His confidence was building now, and that is nearly

84-4-2 formation for Arsenal, receives it, turns and get the shot

away. -- eight Giroud would usually get across the

goalkeeper in that situation. He already had a couple of site is at

goal, can he finished? Is he a player who scores goals? That touch

tells me he's comfortable in front of goal and he will chip in with his

fair share of goals. I spoke about confidence at the start of the peace

and this epitomised it all. Looking at the level of players surrounding

him, Ozil, Cazorla, Giroud, Sanchez, all of them screening for the ball

and he says, no, I'm going to take this on, I will bring goals and some

thing different for Arsene Wenger. -- screaming for the ball. Five in a

thing different for Arsene Wenger. -- screaming for the ball. Five in a

row for Arsenal, we ask this all the time, is it their time? I don't

know, I think Giroud had a lot of stick and he does a great job for

Arsenal full stop he does the thing he needs to do, scoring in the last

five games, four times, six goals, didn't play a lot of games from the

start, and I think he does well. I said is it their time? If he keeps

on scoring. It could be. They have another player who is also trying to

find the goal full stop don't overpass it, get it in and they will

score goals. Jermaine. Thanks for that. I think they will win the

league, I will get all sorts of abuse. From Arsenal fans? ! Why is

that? They are showing more positive signs than last year. Proof in the

pudding. Leicester's man of the moment -

Jamie Vardy - was looking to score in his eighth

consecutive game, but faced one of the league's meanest defences

in West Brom, who've kept six clean Alistair Bruce-Ball was

at the Hawthorns. COMMENTATOR: Back-to-back 1-0 wins

for West Bromwich Tony Pulis names an unchanged team for the third

consecutive game. Salomon Rondon got the winner at Norwich last weekend

but he's yet to open his account on home turf. Claudio Ranieri was

forced into one little tinker, Christian fixes injured soap

Leonardo Ulloa comes in for a first Premier League start of the season

full stop Jeffrey Schlupp drops to left-back and Jamie Vardy has a

strike partner. Positive stuff as ever from Ranieri.

Albrighton finding Vardy. Vardy, inside, outside and... Jamie Vardy

immediately looking for the space down the channel and only denied by

the fingertips of Myhill and the West Brom woodwork. Brunt. Rondon. A

chance for McClean. The men trundling forward. Sessegnon,

flicked on at the near post and in from Salomon Rondon. His first West

Brom goal at the Hawthorns. It is a beautifully worked corner on the

half-hour mark. And absolutely nothing Kasper Schmeichel could do

about that. Rondon starts to run from the

penalty spot, gets the run on his marker. Schmeichel gets a hand to it

but too late. And Solomon Rondon is doing the business for West Brom.

Third goal for the club, first at the Hawthorns, and you can tell he

enjoyed that one. Vardy doesn't really want those sort

of balls, the aerial challenge against Gareth McAuley. Let this one

bounce, Leonardo Ulloa flexitime, that's more like it for Vardy. Jack

clears. -- flicks it on. Beautifully directed towards Albrighton. That's

a fabulous ball, gets Leicester back in the game thanks to a brilliant

cross from Marc Albrighton and Mahrez has his sixth Premier League

goal of the season. And it all starts with Huth's powerfully but

brilliantly placed defensive header. Lovely control from Albrighton and

Mahrez just pops up at the back post. He was never going to miss

from there. Leicester City now have scored 21 Premier League goals this

season, 16 of them have been scored by Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez, and

it may not be pizzas all round tonight, but Claudio Ranieri very

happy with that. Playing with his right foot. Finds Fletcher.

Holes-macro was stronger, court Fletcher, definitely didn't get the

ball -- Hurst was strong there. He caught Fletcher. Both going for the

ball. He did clatter into him. Albrighton has Mahrez in acres of

space on the left. Here he is, Vardy is up and running again. Schlupp,

with pace on the outside. Vardy, O! Would have been a fabulous goal.

Quick-witted, inventive. Very, very nearly came off. Comes to Simpson.

Albrighton. Took a little deflection, here's Mahrez again and

he has scored again! Second of the game, Myhill got a touch. They do it

time and time again, Leicester, down at half-time and all very sudden

they are back in front, less than 20 minutes played in the second half.

It was almost an identical finish from Riyad Mahrez. Mahrez was in the

offside position before he took that, he looks to check if the flag

went up. Last touch was off whisk West Ham player and Mahrez it. West

Brom one, Leicester two, two goals for Riyad Mahrez in the space of

second -- seven second-half minutes. Morrison, who does like to hit them

from distance, Sessegnon, given away by Sessegnon. Up towards Vardy,

that's nice from Vardy, Vardy with the pace again. Here he goes, Jamie

Vardy, we have seen it so many times before, and again! Would you believe

it? Jamie Vardy has scored, for the eighth consecutive Premier League

game, and he now belongs to a very exclusive club. Daniel Sturridge has

done it eight times in a row, Ruud van Little Roy has the record with

ten, and Jamie Vardy, goodness me, he is up there with them once he was

away there, no stopping him and the finish as sure-footed as ever.

Vardy's first touch set it up, Drinkwater looking for the return

ball. He was never going to get that from Jamie Vardy. What a fabulous

finish from the England striker. Fletcher looking for McManaman, his

first touch of the game. Got two man to beat. Nice from McManaman, wins a

penalty, this isn't over yet. It was Dyer's foot that went in, a lovely

nutmeg from McManaman and it caught the back of McManaman's leg. Not a

clever challenge from Dyer, left foot up, Anthony Taylor in a perfect

position. . Rickie Lambert. Trying to score his first goal for West

Brom, cool as you like. West Brom two, Leicester three. Kasper

Schmeichel trying to slow things down and we have a rousing last

seven minutes to come. A little bit late from Lambert, a beautifully

struck penalty, Schmeichel went the wrong way, Rickie Lambert's first

goal in all competitions since the 17th of January. He takes a mean

penalty and did the business there. Lambert holds off Robert Huth, a

last chance opportunity for an equaliser. Lambert couldn't finish

it. Schmeichel gets the touch. Schlupp clears. And that is just

about going to be that. We have a very strong character and also we

play good football and in this moment for us was very important. --

to win. I stand by saying Leicester did really well, it was a good game,

very open. Referees, having watched the videos, we will talk about the

penalties. The first one, he pulls, you can see Johnny being pulled back

and he's in the six yard box, not only should he'll be giving a

penalty, the player should be sent off. The second one, he doesn't give

a penalty, he goes straight through his back. Again, it's a difficult

one for take. -- a difficult one for us to take. It shouldn't happen at

this level. Vanessa Low Roy -- Van Nistelroy's record is ten, he gets

closer. Yes, he works very hard and score the goal. It's OK for him, for

us, for the record, it's good for everybody. You clearly have a little

competition going with Jamie Vardy to see who can score the most

goals. You got two, he got one, you are catching. No, no competition, we

just want to score for the team, to help the team. He has 11 goals, we

have seven, it's good for the team. A lot of players have scored this

year. You just have to carry on. You took them out for pizza to celebrate

last week. What is the celebration this time? Nothing, would concede a

goal and then... You are a hard man? Never, never pizza more. We change

maybe. Changing the dish, OK. Leicester caused West Brom all sorts

of problems, particularly down the left-hand side, didn't they? They

did, it was an area we picked out early doors, we have a touch map to

show how dominant they were down the left-hand side. The linkup between

Schlupp and Albrighton was brilliant. It wasn't just

Albrighton, Mahrez popped up also. When you have someone like Jamie

Vardy and the form he's in, and the running he does that teams, it must

be a delight for these winners. I've played with Marc Albrighton at

Villa, you don't think twice about getting the ball in the box. As soon

as he can get a yard he makes sure he can deliver it into the box. It

was not only the amount but the quality and the runs made by the

strikers today. Just the decisions, Mahrez knows all he has to do is

wait for Schlupp. A great ball, if that goes in from Vardy we are

talking about one of the finishes of the season. It was the two wingers

that linked up for the goal, the question of offside, is very close.

This was for Mahrez, the second goal to put them 2-1 up, against a West

Brom side that has had six clean sheets out of ten. They have scored

three goals, fantastic form. We will wake up at some point, that is for

sure! Eight consecutive games to score a goal, there he is, a couple

behind Van Nistelroy record, it's a remarkable turnaround for the

player. What do you like about? I like he controls the pace he has, he

controls, good flick on, goes for the goal, gets it back, then the

pace and the control, using the goes too much to the outside but he

covers the defender, he's chasing him, you can see it here. He

thinks, OK, go to the other side and he finishes it. Leicester have found

gold. Yes, yes. Found gold, unbelievable. England games coming

up, does he deserve a start? Yes, I want to see him playing in the

middle, where he plays for Leicester, not out on the wing. He's

in great form. What do you do with Rooney? Play him just behind him!

Heworth Place was fuming about a couple of decisions. -- Pulis was

fuming. This is a penalty, it looks like an Italian game here. He's

climbing on him, holding him, you can't get a clear header that and I

think they have an issue there. I think it's a penalty. This is a

penalty as well, for me, it's clumsy from Robert Huth. He has no need to

be running into the back of Darren Fletcher like that. The 1 they did

get, I don't think it was a penalty. I felt it was a dive. Win some, lose

some. OK. Two games for you on Match

of the Day 2. It's

the FA Cup first round next week. Salford City, from the seventh tier

of English football, Ian Wright and the Class

of '92 will be among the guests. Before that, there's international

rugby league on Sunday. England versus New Zealand,

BBC Two at 4:45pm. COMMENTATOR:

It's gone in, Kevin Nolan has scored for Newcastle. Gutierrez and

Henderson, it's broken for Kevin Nolan. Two for the captain, two for

the two. Ameobi, and it's Nolan, he's got his hat-trick.

West Ham made the trip to Watford, boasting the best away record

The home side won at Stoke last week,

but have struggled at Vicarage Road, scoring just once in five games.

COMMENTATOR: No one thought it would be easy for

Watford to re-acclimatise to the Premier League but it can be lonely

and they are making a good fist of Premier League but it can be lonely

it. If only they could reprise their abysmal -- if only they could beat

the abysmal record here, the Watford captain Troy Deeney has been

outstanding this season and the victory at Stoke saw him score his

first goal in the Premier League. Andy Carroll came on as substitute

against Chelsea scored the winner. He starts to date, Sakho has a thigh

problem, Victor Moses is the other Ham change.

Well played, Tomkins. Watson was an opportunity to deliver it, a testing

corner for Watford. Off the top of Carroll's had. He

wanted the corner again. -- Carroll's had. It's still Watson who

will deliver. Deeper this time, what a free header. Goodness gracious!

There's a chance, Troy Deeney, was that a hand ball? Watford appealing

for a penalty kick. I'm not sure if there was a hand on the ball, but

whose hand was it? Was it Andy Carroll? Well, it came off

Carroll's forehead and onto his hand and I don't think it can be

construed as deliberate hand ball. Deeney WinZip Anya is there, a halo.

They are appealing for a penalty kick for the challenge on Anya

against Collins. It did, but it was outside the

penalty area. This has been West Ham's best ever start to a Premier

League season. Ighalo is offside. I think that's

the best that Watford could expect from those circumstances, a free

kick. They have scored just once at Vicarage Road in the league this

season, but so far in this game they don't look like a side with such

wretched home form. What's Carroll doing? He loses it to

Ake, it's a goal! A halo tucks it in from only a couple of feet --

Ighalo. Andy Carroll, in the penalty area, safety first, Andy, you really

should have smacked that ball to safety and Watford have got what

they deserve in this first half. Ake has been a persistent attacking

threat, up from fullback, turned left flank. He really shouldn't have

got that ball back from West Ham. Just wondering if Ighalo was the

final touch, or if it was a defender. It might have been an own

goal. Watford won't mind how the goal came about. A halo certainly

lunged for Ake's cross, but whether his touch was going to take it into

the net without Cresswell's intervention is yet to be

determined. -- Ighalo. The question is, can Watford hang on after a

really good half display? Or will they score further goals? Here's an

opportunity for Ighalo again, 2-0. There's no disputing he scored that

goal, two minutes into the second half, and the advantages doubled for

Watford. It really should have been cleared by the defence. What a good

finish though, by Ighalo. Between them, Tomkins and Collins should

have cleared the danger. West Ham were rattled and Slaven Bilic will

have to think again. Cabu with a good clearance, flicked

on by Deeney. Ighalo. -- Capoue. . I think he should have passed the ball

to Deeney. Quique Sanchez Flores impressed with his team's

performance today. Payet. Looking for Carroll. Difficult skill, the

left foot volley. Andy Carroll may have preferred the cross to be

higher so he could have headed the ball. Watson. Goodness gracious.

Carroll is there. That was a terrible error by Cathcart. Valencia

should have scored. If he had scored it would have silenced the Watford

fans. Carroll dived. He was not fouled. People take out their mobile

phones these days at football matches, turn on the lights and hold

them up. Deeney. Ighalo. Collins. It is a red card! That finishes West

Ham of. Heavy challenge on Ighalo. Was it a red card challenge? I think

it is a bit iffy. He was late. He had a hack at him. You can see why

the referee felt it was a red card. Do you think they are happy?

Capoue. Ake again. Good football. Capoue. It breaks to Behrami.

Deeney. Deeney! In the last minute of added time Troy Deeney denied a

goal that he deserves this afternoon. I'm very happy with the

result and the performance and the players. We enjoyed a great

performance in the match. The players played really well and had

confidence on the ball and we are defending very high all the time

with high-pressure. It was amazing for the players. I've been working

hard on everything I do, I give my best win or lose and try and work

for the team. That's the most important thing. I will keep going,

I want to keep learning every day, working hard and scoring goals. From

the ten minute mark we were second best. They totally deserved to beat

us. Fair comments, terrific win and performance from Watford.

Particularly how well they have played on the road West Ham shot

themselves in the foot. Andy Carroll has to defend here. Attacking but

also defending. He cannot play football in his own box. He gave the

goal away, that is why you don't want strikers to do this. West Ham

created their own problems. It is good play from Watford. He's got a

clear it. Fantastic finish. That is a poor display, bad challenge from

James Collins. He deserved to get a straight red card. He wanted to do

it, you could see it. It is bad. He's obviously not happy with the

way Ighalo was picking his runs throughout the game because that is

a tackle of frustration. Watford are in the top half and they have done

terrifically well. We've got to give credit to Quique Sanchez Flores, he

brought in 30 new players. How many! ? They have only conceded ten goals

this season. That tells me it is a team that is well drilled and

organised. Ian Wright describe them as the new sheriff in time. -- Town.

That is like Ian Wright! He likes a little phrase.

Crystal Palace were hoping to make it lucky 13 against

Manchester United, having never beaten the Reds in 12

United arrived at Selhurst Park in fourth place after Sunday's

COMMENTATOR: Amid much public debate about the composition of Manchester

United's attack it is Wayne Rooney who will be the focal point again

captaining the side on his 350th Premier League appearance. Crystal

Palace have issues upfront at the moment, managing only one goal from

open play in the last half-dozen league games. By Gail comes in for

his fourth Premier League start of the season upfront. -- Dwight Gayle.

Looking to get back to winning ways after three defeats in the row in

all competitions. Puncheon. Joel Ward got one in the head

inadvertently from Juan Mata. Mata's boot catching Joel Ward. What

can Crystal Palace do with this one. Bastian Schweinsteiger was

underneath it. Bolasie lashing that one in! Palace so unlucky as the

ball flashes against the bar, it is a bright start for Crystal Palace.

Floated in by Yohan Cabaye, the head by Scott Dann, and the fingertips of

de Gea pushed the ball over the top for another corner kick. Crystal

Palace very close to taking the lead in the opening minutes of the game.

This shot from Bolasie. It was the fingertip of David De Gea that

tipped it onto the bar. Superb save. With Crystal Palace again pushing

forward de Gea called into action once more. Having been all at one

end of the pitch for the opening 20 minutes play is starting to shift.

Mata, slight miss control, and he gets a free kick. Mike Jones thought

about that for half a second. The ball just got away from Mata and he

was just clipped by Scott Dann. The Lonsdale Road and holds its

collective breath as Wayne Rooney strikes around them wall and it

brings the save from Wayne Hennessey. He got it up and down but

not good enough to test the goalkeeper. Anthony Martial has a

chance to run perhaps, and it is through to Rooney, but Hennessey is

there. He spotted that one coming. For a moment it looks as though

Rooney is in but how about this for a pass from Anthony Martial,

straight through the defence and Rooney could not quite get there to

get his toe on it. Raho. Towards Rooney. Turning away from Jason

Puncheon here, Ander Herrera in front of him and now it is with

Mata. Suddenly Crystal Palace are backpedalling rapidly here. Anthony

Martial. Sliding in was Herrera, who just couldn't quite make anything of

it. The pass fell at the feet of Ander Herrera from Anthony Martial.

Up towards Fellaini and now it is Gayle, in two Yannick Bolasie, Joel

Ward with the ball in, and what a chance for Cabaye. Suddenly it

opened up for Crystal Palace. It was Lassie with the ball out wide, Ward

with the cross and Cabaye unable to find the back of the net -- it was

Lassie. That's the best chance Crystal Palace have had for a long

time in this game. Bags of room for mockers Raho. Scott Dann across,

Martial has done well and Herrera goes down. I'm not sure that he was

touched. I think he may have maybe even trodden on the ball. The

decision, no penalty from Mike Jones, the referee. Here comes

Puncheon. Rojo trying to block off Bolasie, failing to do so, Zaha!

Good play from Ashley Young. Manchester United were hoping they

would get a penalty at one end of the field and suddenly defending at

the other. De Gea stays on his line and the header was just wide from

Scott Dann. Twice in the last few minutes Crystal Palace came close to

breaking the deadlock. Scott Dann got up well unopposed. And also his

central defensive partner Damien Delaney lurking at the far post.

Here comes Bolasie, challenged by Young, great save to deny Gayle by

de Gea. Puncheon and Crystal Palace hammering on the door. Puncheon

shoots wide. Crystal Palace really pushing here, the challenge on

Bolasie, the shot from Gayle, got to come up with something special to

get the ball past David De Gea. Just a little bit niggly and bitty in the

closing moments here. It has not been a great second half at all.

Manchester United set to play through three goalless draws in a

row if it stays like this for the first time since 2005. Puncheon puts

the ball in and Ashley Young ahead of Wilfried Zaha. That is twice

Young has done well at the far post now. Crystal Palace just looking for

what would be surely a late winner. The ball comes in, what a bungle in

front of the net. It will be a goal kick. You have to say in the second

half it is Crystal Palace asking more questions. Palace have come

closer to scoring. Man United had a spell in the first half when they

started to rotate the ball and we started to struggle a little bit,

just after the first 20 minutes. . We got a grip in the second half and

I thought only one team was going to win it. It was a shame we didn't.

Having said that, the run we are on, we needed to take something today so

the point was important for us for stop do you sense frustration among

supporters saying "attack, attack, attack.

" I can imagine because you play for the fans and Crystal Palace was

pushing more than we could do. And you can expect that.

In terms of scoring what can you do? Do you think it is just a question

of being in the right place and at the right time and scoring? I think

so. There is a lot of debate about

United, are they playing attractive football, three straight 0-0s, the

critics may have a point. Martial has to play on the left, are they

mechanical as Scholes said in the newspapers? You can see Rooney does

not want to play upfront. He passes the ball forward, and at the end

nobody upfront. Rooney is not the striker that everybody wants. Again

you think to yourself OK, you want somebody in front of you. Why would

you cross it? Why would you want to do this? This is the only good ball

and Martial gives him the ball, unlucky, the goalkeeper does well. I

think this was the only chance in the first half and Martial again

crosses it inside to Ander Herrera and he should have done better with

this one. This was the 20 minutes they were talking about. This is the

confusion you can see. Rooney is unhappy because... This is the last

seconds of the game. You get the chance to put the ball in the box.

And then you get this. It is poor. And of course he gets frustrated.

And here we can see, is Rooney a striker? Hammer neat touches in the

box? Nothing. In defence of strikers having played that position, if the

team is not attacking well and you cannot get touches in the box. There

is debate about whether Wayne Rooney should play up top. I can't remember

games when Rooney is missing chances. Crystal Palace have the

best of the second half and could have sneaked it. I think they

deserved more out of it. They played really well. We talked about Man

United, but they were bombing. They were really trying to make something

United, but they were bombing. They were really trying to make something

out of the game and they wanted it also. This should have been a goal.

That was Cabaye. It should have been a goal and this was unlucky he did

not get the second flick on it. I enjoy Crystal Palace. They had a bad

spell and they wanted something out of the game. They showed it. OK.

Newcastle's derby defeat at Sunderland left them second

Today's opponents Stoke were beaten by Watford last week, ending

At the end of the week that included an open letter -- letter to the

Newcastle supporters, McLaren is aware he has to deliver three

points. He must do it without Jack Colback, soap Anita returns in

midfield. Having come through 120 minutes in the League Cup in the

week, Stoke Captain Ryan Shawcross starts a Premier League match for

the first time since May, having come back from a back injury. He

returns to a defence who haven't conceded an away goal for over four

and a half hours. Walters has scored five Premier

League goals from open play so far this season. That's good play from

Bojan, was he caught? Roger East, the panel -- the referee, says no.

There was a touch, but it was outside the penalty area. Last time

Newcastle won back-to-back Premier League home games, was last

December. I was just -- he was just looking in front of him for some

movement. Sissoko hopping up on the left-hand side. Unable to get the

crossing, there's the header from Mitrovic. Somehow Butland was able

to survive. Aleksandar Mitrovic thought he'd scored his third

Premier League goal. He got the all-important touch, and it came

back off the post and then improvisation from Jack Butland kept

his clean sheet intact. Good cross, a decent try from

Walters. Then the volley, way over the crossbar. But it was the first

chance that could have been problematic for Newcastle.

Sissoko into Wijnaldum, that's a good exchange. It's Sissoko. It's a

very good faith by Jack Butland. -- says. Quickly off his line, the

Stoke goalkeeper. The best piece of play in the game so far between

Wijnaldum and Sissoko, but watch Butland. He stood his ground and

then quickly out. His right leg did the job in the end.

Did well from Tiote, Wijnaldum. Into Perez. First time, and Butland is at

it again. Much more positive from an attacking point of view, as far as

Newcastle are concerned. Good movement from Perez, good, confident

strike as well. Pushed away by Butland.

Good stuff from Mitrovic. One side, unable to stop him in his tracks but

good workrate from Mitrovic. He's got the throw and again it just

leads to... Keep calm, and again, I'm not sure sure the contact

warranted the reaction there. It's a yellow card for Wollscheid, it was

ludicrous on Mitrovic. He got the throw, then there's the little push

and watch this. Dear me. He won't be proud when he watches a rerun of

that. Silly, from Wollscheid. Mitrovic, back on his feet, is also

shown a yellow card from Roger East. He had a tussle in his days, his

team standing firm at the moment. A nice turn from Sissoko, he's

picked up Wijnaldum, up against Wollscheid. Sissoko again. And

Butland again. In the way. To deny Newcastle once more. Two terrific

saves now, both, with efforts from Moussa Sissoko. They have looked

much more threatening in the second half, Newcastle. Can they find their

way through? Good work from Mbemba. A foul by

Arnautovic. He's on a yellow card, I shake off the head from Roger East

suggests another one isn't for Wood forthcoming. Four minutes to go. In

from Perez, there's the header from ourselves. He the latest to be

denied by Jack Butland. He really attacks this, the substitute, got up

well. The reflexes of Jack Butland deny Newcastle again. He can't

believe it, Steve McClaren. English goalkeeping situation looks very

healthy, because that was a magnificent performance by Jack

Butland. We had him at Derby for a couple of months, but as points, and

today four great saves ultimately deprived us of three points, which I

thought deserved and got Stoke we point. Their keeper has made a great

save from Walters which may have made the difference. We had a couple

of half chances as well. As an away team you get chances and when we

did, Butland was outstanding and made a couple of key saves for us so

all in all, we probably felt we could have gone on and won it but in

the end we will take on a waypoint. Always nice to make some saves and

the fact it contributes to a clean sheet of even better, so it helped

to get a point away from home, we could have been better, maybe a bit

sluggish from midweek but very happy to contribute to a clean sheet. He

certainly did contribute and he's made more saves than any other

goalkeeper this season and he's been brilliant for Stoke. We saw two

other England goalkeepers that erred earlier in the show, but Jack

Butland certainly put on a show. He did, I thought he had a shaky start

the season to be honest, but since then he has been brilliant. No point

getting into the technicalities of these saves, I'm not a goalkeeping

coach, but he was big, brave, and therefore Stoke when they needed

him. He got his hands in the way, basically! He did. It was a

fantastic performance from Butland. Goodie replace Joe Hart? It's good

for Joe Hart, knowing there is somebody there. But I think today

also, slowly playing better. 36 shots in the last two games without

a goal is worrying. Having said that, they scored six against

Norwich. Today, there was a goalkeeper in the way but their

performance is better, they will get more confident. A good week for

Stoke as well, the Capital One Cup. Precisely, through to the next round

of the cup. The AIDS -- they played in extra time, Mark Hughes will take

that point and Shawcross was a huge positive for them, back into the

side as well. Stoke mid-table, they always end up in that middle batch.

They do, but Mark Hughes has taken them on a notch, here's a really

good season last season. Their style has changed as well. I feel like

they are doing a really good job there. We are just about out of time

but thank you both. Let's take a look at the

Barclays Premier League table. Manchester City are top on goal

difference, Watford's excellent start of the season sees them nudge

into the top half. Another defeat keeps Chelsea rooted in the

unfamiliar surroundings of 15th. Newcastle missed out on a chance to

move out of the relegation zone, but rise above Sunderland, who play on

Sunday. Bottom side Aston Villa face Tottenham on Monday. Let's see what

the Sunday papers have to say, unsurprisingly the focus is on Jose

Mourinho's future. The mail on Sunday lead with his belief that he

won't be sacked by Chelsea. The Sunday Express carried quotes from

the Blues manager in which he refutes claims he's lost the

dressing room. The Daily Star's Sunday firm Mourinho's wish to on at

Stamford Bridge. Well,

it's close to midnight and something Especially if you are Chelsea fan.

Goodbye.