Premiership and Championship Review No Change at the Top; Gunners Win Twice to go Fifth and Leicester Celebrate at Bottom The Premier League festive football bonanza started off on Boxing Day with a great day for favourite backers and supporters of the top teams, after eight of the top nine won. However, two games in two day’s was bound to take its toll; even on the strongest of squads and on Sunday none of the top six teams won. On Boxing Day Chelsea and Man City continued their dominance with comfortable and impressive wins against West Ham and West Brom respectively. John Terry scored his second goal in two games to give Chelsea the lead before top scorer Costa rounded things off in the second half. The Hammers, who achieved their highest top flight position at Christmas in 30 years, arrived at Stamford Bridge dreaming of giving their city rivals a run for their money. However, they offered little in response and keeper Adrian was by far their best player, making sure the score line was kept to a minimum. Man City were in rampant mood again making light work of struggling West Brom at the Hawthorns. City were without their three main strikers Aguero, Dzeko and Jovetic again, but you would have hardly have noticed as they powered to a 3-0 lead by early in the second half. The return of David Silva has definitely been a blessing in disguise for City; he has provided them with similar quality to Aguero in the final third and his eye for goal goes beyond most of their midfield talent. West Brom did get back in to the game after the heavens opened and heavy snow began to fall. They missed a host of guilt edged chances to at least reduce the deficit, but as is often the case between top and bottom sides their finishing just didn’t cut the mustard; and apart from a consolation goal at the end they were left to assess their short comings after failing to get a result for the second game in a row. On Sunday the rails came off for both Chelsea and Man City after they both only managed draws against Southampton and Burnley respectively. Chelsea will have made a huge sigh of relief and Mourinho will no doubt be sending Sean Dyche a bottle of his finest tipple, after City let a 2-0 lead slip against relegation threatened Burnley at the Etihad. Chelsea, as always dominated possession however, they conceded first after the impressive Mane latched on to a lob from Tadic and the Senegalese striker chipped home a cool finish. Chelsea got a vital equaliser just before half time thanks to a brilliant finish from Hazard, but as theyve discovered in a number of away games this season possession and class is not always enough when you face a highly organised, well disciplined defensive unit like the Saints. Man City, Man United, Sunderland, Newcastle and now Southampton have exposed this weakness in Chelsea’s game and as a result it cannot be called a coincidence. Mourinho may need to address this weakness going forward or it could easily cost them the title. Man City looked nailed on to reduce Chelsea’s lead at the top to one point, after goals from Silva and Fernandinho gave them a 2-0 lead by half-time. However, Burnley would not lie down and soon after the break they got one back through Boyd; and with nine minute left Ashley Barnes struck a barnstormer to set up a thrilling end to an already pulsating clash. City manager Pellegrini will no doubt with hindsight be criticised for leaving out star man Toure and not starting with a recognised striker after Jovetic was declared fit. With three strikers out there has been more strain put on the rest of the team during this period and it could be argued after a tough game on Boxing Day in awful conditions; they faded during the second half on Sunday. Whatever the shock reason was for their capitulation; it was a massive chance missed for Pelligrini to close the gap on Chelsea and an opportunity he may come to regret come the end of the season. Southampton’s held on to fourth place by goal difference after an easy 3-1 win away against Palace on Friday and their spirited draw at home to Chelsea on Sunday. The win resulted in the first managerial sacking of the season when Neil Warnock was given his marching orders by Palace. Southampton manager Ronald Koeman is quickly becoming a name to be reckoned with in the Premier League and the job he is doing with a squad lacking of any genuine world class stars is nothing short of miraculous. Manchester United maintained third position after easily beating Newcastle at home on Friday thanks to a first half brace from Wayne Rooney, but they failed to close the gap on Chelsea and City after a surprise 0-0 draw away to Spurs on Sunday. They dominated the first half and really should have taken the lead when Falcao, Van Persie and Young all missed good opportunities to open the scoring while Mata came inches away from doing so when his free kick hit the post. Spurs picked up three points away to bottom of the league Leicester on Boxing Day and pushed for the lead in the second half against United, creating some good chances. However, it was both team’s defences and keepers that dominated overall and while Van Gaal lamented the number of games played at this time of year a draw was a fair result. Arsenal were the only team in the top half to record back to back wins over the festive period and as a result jumped ahead of West Ham to go joint fourth with Southampton. They got underway with a hard fought 2-1 derby win at home to QPR on Friday; thanks to goals from Sanchez, who missed a penalty prior to his first half strike, and the returning Rosicky midway through the second half. Arsenal had Giroud sent off at the beginning of the second half for violent conduct; QPR top scorer Charlie Austin pulled one back on 80 minutes for the visitors to set up a nail-biting finish, but it was too little too late for the Rangers and the Gunners headed in to their second London derby in two days in confident mood. The big test for the Gunners was on Sunday away to city rivals West Ham who were on an unbeaten run of seven at the Boleyn ground in the Premier League. History was not on the Hammers side however, the Gunners were unbeaten against them in their last 13 matches in all competitions and won their last seven Premier League games against them. The Hammers looked as if they’d taken the lead in the first half when Song’s long range strike found the back of the net, but it was ruled out for offside. Arsenal broke the deadlock just before half time when Cazorla won a penalty, which he coolly put away; before Wellbeck extended the lead minutes later to give the Gunners a commanding lead going in to the break. The Hammers started the second half brightly and top scorer Sakho came close to scoring before Tomkins set up Kouyate with a floated cross and he rose above Debuchy to head home. Both teams continued to press for the fourth goal; Arsenal created the better chances and they deservedly recorded their eighth win in a row against the Hammers in the Premier League. Stoke were the only other team in the Premier League to win both of their festive period games with good wins away at Everton 1-0 and at home to struggling West Brom 2-0. The win lifts the Potters up to tenth level with Liverpool, who play Swansea tonight. At the bottom there were much needed wins for Hull who took their chances well in a 3-1 away win against fellow strugglers Sunderland. Many would have fancied the Tigers to repeat their success at home to bottom of the league Leicester on Sunday however; it was the Foxes who stunned their rivals at the KC Stadium with a narrow hard fought 1-0 thanks to a fine goal from star man Mahrez. This was Leicester’s first win in 13 games and leaves them just three points behind Burnley, Palace and Hull now and still in with a chance of survival if they can add some much needed quality in the transfer window. Before Burney’s heroics at the Etihad on Sunday they were left frustrated after a narrow 1-0 defeat at home to Liverpool on Boxing Day. Manager-less Crystal Palace managed to pick up a much needed point in the London derby away to QPR, who were aiming for their fourth Premier League home win in a row. Many will have fancied QPR for the win against a Palace side low on confidence, but as is usually the case in these types of hard fought derbies and relegation battles the spoils are usually shared. Elsewhere Aston Villa and Sunderland only managed to pick up a point each after their two games. Villa lost away to Swansea on Friday while Sunderland were shocked at home to Hull. They faced each other on Sunday and while Villa went down to 10-men; the Blackcats could still not turn the situation to their advantage and the game ended goalless. Bournemouth Extend Lead; Boro Miss Chance to go Second and Wigan Stop Rot Leaders Bournemouth extended their winning run to six in the Championship after back to back wins on Boxing Day and Sunday. On Boxing Day they dominated at home against Fulham with goals from Pitman after 9 minutes and the decider in injury time from Arter. Pitman missed a second half penalty, which would have put more of a gloss on the win, but the Cherries were still very good value for the three points. Their style of neat, sharp intricate football stretched the visitors; especially on the flanks and the opening goal came via the rampaging Francis down the right, who won the corner that lead to Pitman’s glancing top corner header. On Sunday they continued their impressive run with a comfortable 2-0 win away against struggling Millwall at the Den. The Cherries wrapped things up in the first half with goals from Kermorgant and top scorer Wilson just before half time. Elsewhere at the top there were wins for Ipswich, Middlesbrough and Derby on Boxing Day. Second placed Ipswich kept up the pressure on the leaders with a resounding 4-2 away win against sixth placed Brentford, who lost again on Sunday away to eighth place Wolves. Ipswich top-scorer Murphy bagged a brace taking him to 16 for the season in the league and making him the top-scorer in the Championship. Ipswich got off to a flying start scoring in the 1st minute and were out of site by half time after Anderson made it 3-0. Shell shocked Brentford did try and mount a late come back with a brace from substitute Saunders in the 80th and 90th minutes; but Ipswich’s fourth from Tommy Smith made sure of the three points for the Tractor Boys, who can reduce Bournemouth’s lead to one point again if they win their game in hand at home to Charlton on Tuesday. Middlesbrough missed the chance to go a point clear of Ipswich in second on Sunday managing only a goalless draw away to Blackburn. They made light work of Forest at home on Boxing Day winning 3-0 thanks to second half goals from Friend, Vossen and Leadbitter and were desperately unfortunate not to pick up another three points against Rovers. Ironically Blackburn could not play Boro loanee keeper Steele so Eastwood deputised and was ultimately the difference between the two sides. Eastwood brilliantly denied Vossen and Reach in the first half, before second half strikes from Kike and Bamford hit the woodwork, denying Boro what would have been a well deserved three points. Fourth place Derby got back to winning ways on Boxing Day thrashing Birmingham 4-0 at St Andrews. The win ensured they kept the pressure on Ipswich and Boro and a win at home to Leeds on Tuesday could take them up to second if Ipswich don’t win against Charlton. Norwich failed to take advantage of Brentford’s awful festive period and move in to the play off places. They made light work of Millwall on Boxing Day thrashing them 6-1, but failed to take advantage of this momentum losing away to Reading on Sunday 2-1. Wolves moved up to eighth in the Championship over the festive period with impressive back to back wins against fifth place Watford and sixth placed Brentford. On Boxing Day a second half strike from Dicko guaranteed a narrow 1-0 away win against Watford and on Sunday he featured again scoring the first against Brentford; before a second half own goal from the visitors left the home fans in raptures and wishing the festive period came around more often, as this was their third win in four games after losing five in a row. At the bottom Blackpool are still six points adrift after losing on Boxing Day 1-0 away to Sheffield Wednesday and drawing at home against Rotherham 1-1. Manager-less Brighton had Calderon to thank for a much needed point after the defender struck a 90th minute equaliser to make it 2-2 at home to Reading. The Seagulls didn’t play on Sunday, but can jump out of the relegation zone with a win away to Fulham tonight. After five straight defeats in a row and no win in eight third bottom Wigan finally got a much needed three points with a hard fought win away against fellow strugglers Leeds, who face a tough task away to Derby on Tuesday. The Latics also play on Tuesday, but at home to mid-table Sheffield Wednesday and another three points could take them out of the relegation zone. Rotherham kept themselves clear of the relegation zone with two draws; at home against Huddersfield on Boxing Day and away to bottom club Blackpool on Sunday. They were fortunate to pick up a point on Boxing Day after Vaughan and Coady put Huddersfield 2-0 up, but the home side proved their metal with late goals from Clarke-Harris on 88 minutes and a late late equalizer from Frecklington in injury time. Finally Huddersfield picked up a vital four points over the festive period and pulled eight points clear of the relegation zone as a result. They were unfortunate not to make it two wins out of two after throwing away a 2 goal lead away to Rotherham on Boxing Day. They didn’t let that result affect them though and followed the draw up with an impressive come from behind 2-1 home win against mid-table Bolton on Sunday.
Posted on: Mon, 29 Dec 2014 09:58:30 +0000