Advertisement

Sport

City Go Under the Hammer

Man City 1-2 West Ham Manchester City's perfect start to the season came to an end over the weekend...
TodayFM
TodayFM

3:52 PM - 21 Sep 2015



City Go Under the Hammer

Sport

City Go Under the Hammer

TodayFM
TodayFM

3:52 PM - 21 Sep 2015



Man City 1-2 West Ham

Manchester City's perfect start to the season came to an end over the weekend and once again West Ham recorded another impressive away win. The Hammers first three games on the road have seen them beat Arsenal, Liverpool and City and the key in all three wins has been scoring the first goal. Victor Moses and Diafro Sakho put the Hammers 2-0 up in the first half but City's record signing Kevin de Bruyne pulled one back for City on the stroke of half time. West Ham had to ride their luck in the second half with YaYa Toure going close to an equaliser but City's run of 11 wins is no more. It was a blow to lose David Silva in the warm up because Jesus Navas is not an adequate replacement. Silva and Navas are both Spanish but that's where the similarities end as Navas failed to deliver the final ball time after time. Although City have lost back to back games I wouldn't be too concerned about their title ambitions because they have created so many chances. I don't know what Slaven Bilic says on the West Ham team bus but it's certainly working.

Chelsea 2-0 Arsenal

Chelsea picked up their first home win of the season and they have Diego Costa to thank for it. I don't think there's any doubt the Spanish International is the most hated player in the league but Chelsea fans love him. He got involved with Laurent Koscielny and then Gabriel with the latter getting sent off just before half time. We know what Costa is all about and he certainly did a job on Gabriel who took the bait. It was incredible that the Chelsea striker didn't commit one foul during the game and once Kurt Zouma scored in the second half there was only ever going to be one winner. It didn't help when Santi Cazorla was also shown a red card in the 79th minute and Eden Hazard wrapped up the win with the aid of a deflection off Calum Chambers. Chelsea are unbeaten in eight league games against the Gunners and once again Jose Mourinho got one over on Arsene Wenger and he was even able to drop his captain John Terry.

Southampton 2-3 Manchester United

Manchester United are only two points behind their neighbours City and Anthony Martial has settled in better than most expected. The 19 year old was on target twice in United's win away to Southampton and I know it's very early days but it's the manner of his finishing that has been the most impressive. The French teenager has scored three goals from four shots in the league and all three finishes have been passed into the net as calm as you like. Martial is an unknown quantity so defenders will get use to him but the early signs are good for United. Louis van Gaal also has the best goalkeeper in the league as David de Gea proved with a string of superb saves. Van Gaal must have also enjoyed the third goal which consisted of 45 passes. Southampton scored twice so we'll see how close United can go in the title race when the central defence pairing of Smalling and Blind is tested in the bigger games.

Liverpool 1-1 Norwich

Brendan Rodgers changed things up at the back with Sakho coming in for Lovren but not for the first time the Liverpool manager was let down by his goalkeeper. Danny Ings scored his first goal into the Kop but Simon Mignolet was far from convincing as Russell Martin equalised not long after his wife gave birth to their third child. I'm not sure if Rodgers will still be at the club much longer with Mignolet as his number one but the problem is that he's better than the backup Adam Bogdan. Liverpool should have won this game given all the chances they had but not sure FSG will be too interested in excuses. Liverpool are without a win in five and haven't scored more than once in any game this season.

Stoke 2-2 Leicester

It appears that Leicester only come to life when they go 2-0 down and that was the case yet again at the Britannia. Stoke manager Mark Hughes wasn't impressed with the officials in the lead up to the Jamie Vardy equaliser but the Potters were looking comfortable with a two goal lead. Jonathan Walters was on target after Bojan had finished off a fine move set up by Marko Arnautovic. Leicester are still without a clean sheet so no free pizza from Claudio Ranieri but they remain unbeaten this season.

Tottenham 1-0 Crystal Palace

Tottenham are starting to put some wins together which is no real surprise but it is a surprise that Harry Kane is yet to score this season. The winner came from Son Hueng-min on his home debut in the league and it has put another dent in Palace's good start. There's no doubt Alan Pardew's side are good to watch and have come a long way since Ian Holloway brought them up from the Championship so another top ten finish would be great for the club.

Aston Villa 0-1 West Brom

Villa haven't won since the opening day and Tim Sherwood's side are already hovering above the relegation zone. It also doesn't help when you lose to your local rivals ahead of game with your bitter rivals in the League Cup. Saido Berahino was given a start by Tony Pulis now that the transfer window is closed and it was his goal that separated the sides. Pulis has never been relegated from the top flight and his side have kept four clean sheets in their last six games.

Bournemouth 2-0 Sunderland

Callum Wilson has scored five goals already this season and at this rate he could be getting a call from Roy Hodgson. Matt Ritchie was so influential for the Cherries promotion push last season with 15 goals and his first goal in the Premier League was an absolute cracker. It also gave Bournemouth their first ever home win in the top flight although Sunderland striker Jermain Defoe will feel he should have scored against his former club. Younes Kaboul was sent off and showed the kind of form that saw him fall out of favour at Tottenham. Dick Advocaat really must wish he left in the summer after keeping the Black Cats up because it's already looking like it could be a long season.

Newcastle 1-2 Watford

Like Sunderland, Newcastle still haven't won this season and probably just as well manager Steve McClaren is on the Board of Directors. I was impressed with Newcastle the day they drew at Manchester United but that's as good as they've been all season. Watford have won two league games in a row and Odion Ighalo continues to impress just like he did in the Championship last season. The Hornets have brought in 15 new players and a new manager but so far it's all going well for Quique Sanchez Flores.

Swansea 0-0 Everton

Swansea have still never beaten Everton in the league and it's the second week in a row the Swans and their main striker Bafetimbi Gomis have failed to score. Everton will feel it's a game they should have won but they are much improved from last season and with no Europa League they could challenge for a place in the Europa League.



Read more about

Sport

You might like