Manchester United stormed to the top of the Premier League table with a 7-1 demolition of Blackburn Rovers at Old Trafford. In the process, Dimitar Berbatov ended his 11 match goal drought becoming only the fourth player in Premier League history to score five in one game. The Bulgarian joins an elite group consisting of Andy Cole, Alan Shearer and Jermain Defoe.
Berbatov’s first came with a mere 71 seconds on the clock after a cross from Nani was touched on by Wayne Rooney. Ji-sung Park, who is currently enjoying a rich vein of form, grabbed United’s second. Then a terrible back pass by Pascal Chimbonda fell straight to Berbatov who buried the gift with grateful thanks, putting his team three up after only 27 minutes.
Blackburn saw out the remainder of the half without sustaining further damage, but by the time the second period was three minutes old, the Red Devils had plundered two more and Blackburn were dead and buried.
Berbatov completed his hat-trick on 47 minutes rounding off a lovely move, which he started and finished himself with assistance from Patrice Evra and Nani. A minute later Nani scored in his own right and United were five to the good.
After weeks of indifferent luck this was a day when everything went right for Berbatov. His fourth came on 61 minutes when a shot from Park was deflected into his path with the goal at his mercy. Then eight minutes later a pass to Rooney deflected back off Ryan Nelsen to the waiting Bulgarian, who squeezed the ball home from a tight angle.
Big Chris Samba scored a consolation for the Rovers seven minutes from the end. In the context of the match Samba’s effort may have been irrelevant, but it did prevent United from bettering Chelsea’s goal difference, which only a few weeks ago had looked unchallengeable.
United’s Manchester neighbours lost ground in the title race when they were held 1-1 by Stoke at the Britannia. The visitors looked to have secured a hard-earned three points when Micah Richards scored a fine goal from the edge of the penalty area on 81 minutes.
But that “never say die attitude” instilled into his players by Stoke boss Tony Pulis bore fruit yet again, and Mathew Etherington grabbed a share of the points for his team with a goal in stoppage time.
City Manager Roberto Mancini told the EPL website reporter that he was “disappointed for the guys, they played very well and deserved to win.”
Berbatov’s first came with a mere 71 seconds on the clock after a cross from Nani was touched on by Wayne Rooney. Ji-sung Park, who is currently enjoying a rich vein of form, grabbed United’s second. Then a terrible back pass by Pascal Chimbonda fell straight to Berbatov who buried the gift with grateful thanks, putting his team three up after only 27 minutes.
Blackburn saw out the remainder of the half without sustaining further damage, but by the time the second period was three minutes old, the Red Devils had plundered two more and Blackburn were dead and buried.
Berbatov completed his hat-trick on 47 minutes rounding off a lovely move, which he started and finished himself with assistance from Patrice Evra and Nani. A minute later Nani scored in his own right and United were five to the good.
After weeks of indifferent luck this was a day when everything went right for Berbatov. His fourth came on 61 minutes when a shot from Park was deflected into his path with the goal at his mercy. Then eight minutes later a pass to Rooney deflected back off Ryan Nelsen to the waiting Bulgarian, who squeezed the ball home from a tight angle.
Big Chris Samba scored a consolation for the Rovers seven minutes from the end. In the context of the match Samba’s effort may have been irrelevant, but it did prevent United from bettering Chelsea’s goal difference, which only a few weeks ago had looked unchallengeable.
City Thwarted at Stoke
United’s Manchester neighbours lost ground in the title race when they were held 1-1 by Stoke at the Britannia. The visitors looked to have secured a hard-earned three points when Micah Richards scored a fine goal from the edge of the penalty area on 81 minutes.
But that “never say die attitude” instilled into his players by Stoke boss Tony Pulis bore fruit yet again, and Mathew Etherington grabbed a share of the points for his team with a goal in stoppage time.
City Manager Roberto Mancini told the EPL website reporter that he was “disappointed for the guys, they played very well and deserved to win.”
West Brom End Slump
West Bromwich Albion ended their recent slump with a welcome 1-4 win away at Everton. The Baggies were two to the good by the 25 minute mark courtesy of Paul Scharner and Chris Brunt.
Everton pulled one back four minutes before the break. No prizes for guessing the source—yes, another Tim Cahill header.
The home side tried to rectify the situation in the second half, but when playmaker Mikel Arteta was red carded it was always going to be an uphill battle.
Somen Tchoyi added a third for the visitors on 75 minutes, and Youssouf Mulumbu, with a deflection off defender Sylvain Distin, rounded out a satisfying afternoon’s work for Roberto Di Matteo’s side.
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City Thwarted at Stoke
United’s Manchester neighbours lost ground in the title race when they were held 1-1 by Stoke at the Britannia. The visitors looked to have secured a hard-earned three points when Micah Richards scored a fine goal from the edge of the penalty area on 81 minutes.
But that “never say die attitude” instilled into his players by Stoke boss Tony Pulis bore fruit yet again, and Mathew Etherington grabbed a share of the points for his team with a goal in stoppage time.
City Manager Roberto Mancini told the EPL website reporter that he was “disappointed for the guys, they played very well and deserved to win.”
West Bromwich Albion ended their recent slump with a welcome 1-4 win away at Everton. The Baggies were two to the good by the 25 minute mark courtesy of Paul Scharner and Chris Brunt.
Everton pulled one back four minutes before the break. No prizes for guessing the source—yes, another Tim Cahill header.
The home side tried to rectify the situation in the second half, but when playmaker Mikel Arteta was red carded it was always going to be an uphill battle.
Somen Tchoyi added a third for the visitors on 75 minutes, and Youssouf Mulumbu, with a deflection off defender Sylvain Distin, rounded out a satisfying afternoon’s work for Roberto Di Matteo’s side.
Strugglers West ham and Wolves both managed valuable wins. The Hammers saw off the challenge of Wigan with goals from Valon Behrami, Victor Obinna and Scott Parker. Tom Cleverley pulled one back for the visitors four minutes from the end.
Wolves achieved a satisfying result at home to Sunderland. In an even contest, Kevin Foley put Wolves ahead four minutes after half-time with Darren Bent equalizing at the 66 minute mark.
The visitors then went ahead 10 minutes later through Danny Welbeck, only for Steven Hunt to level things up again four minutes later. A goal from Sylvan Ebanks-Blake delivered Wolves a priceless win two minutes from time.
To round off Saturday’s Premier League program, Bolton and Blackpool, and Fulham and Birmingham played out two draws. Sebastien Larsson put Birmingham ahead at Craven Cottage after 19 minutes, but the goal was cancelled out by Clint Dempsey’s header eight minutes into the second half.
For those older fans on the wrong side of fifty, or students of football history, a top flight match between Bolton and Blackpool conjures up visions of epic games of yesteryear featuring larger than life characters such as Bolton hero Nat Lofthouse and Blackpool legend Stan Mathews.
On this occasion the team in tangerine found themselves two up after a first half header from Ian Evatt and another header from Luke Varney on 57 minutes. Martin Petrov pulled one back for Bolton with a quality strike from the edge of the box at the 75 minute mark, and it was game on.
If there is a contemporary spiritual successor to the great Nat Lofthouse, it would have to be Bolton’s inspirational skipper Kevin Davies—a burly no-nonsense centre forward with the heart of a lion, not dissimilar to the great man himself.
But although Davies took part in the sequence of passes that lead to Bolton’s 89th minute equalizer, it was his namesake Mark Davies who finished off the move from close range to give Owen Coyle’s team a share of the points. The 1953 FA Cup (“Mathews”) Final it was not; but a decent afternoon’s entertainment nonetheless.
“I don’t think I’ve ever enjoyed a match so much in my life. I would have paid to watch that.” Blackpool boss Ian Holloway told EPL website reporters after the game.
But that “never say die attitude” instilled into his players by Stoke boss Tony Pulis bore fruit yet again, and Mathew Etherington grabbed a share of the points for his team with a goal in stoppage time.
City Manager Roberto Mancini told the EPL website reporter that he was “disappointed for the guys, they played very well and deserved to win.”
West Brom End Slump
West Bromwich Albion ended their recent slump with a welcome 1-4 win away at Everton. The Baggies were two to the good by the 25 minute mark courtesy of Paul Scharner and Chris Brunt.
Everton pulled one back four minutes before the break. No prizes for guessing the source—yes, another Tim Cahill header.
The home side tried to rectify the situation in the second half, but when playmaker Mikel Arteta was red carded it was always going to be an uphill battle.
Somen Tchoyi added a third for the visitors on 75 minutes, and Youssouf Mulumbu, with a deflection off defender Sylvain Distin, rounded out a satisfying afternoon’s work for Roberto Di Matteo’s side.
Strugglers Gain Points
Strugglers West ham and Wolves both managed valuable wins. The Hammers saw off the challenge of Wigan with goals from Valon Behrami, Victor Obinna and Scott Parker. Tom Cleverley pulled one back for the visitors four minutes from the end.
Wolves achieved a satisfying result at home to Sunderland. In an even contest, Kevin Foley put Wolves ahead four minutes after half-time with Darren Bent equalizing at the 66 minute mark.
The visitors then went ahead 10 minutes later through Danny Welbeck, only for Steven Hunt to level things up again four minutes later. A goal from Sylvan Ebanks-Blake delivered Wolves a priceless win two minutes from time.
Draws
To round off Saturday’s Premier League program, Bolton and Blackpool, and Fulham and Birmingham played out two draws. Sebastien Larsson put Birmingham ahead at Craven Cottage after 19 minutes, but the goal was cancelled out by Clint Dempsey’s header eight minutes into the second half.
For those older fans on the wrong side of fifty, or students of football history, a top flight match between Bolton and Blackpool conjures up visions of epic games of yesteryear featuring larger than life characters such as Bolton hero Nat Lofthouse and Blackpool legend Stan Mathews.
On this occasion the team in tangerine found themselves two up after a first half header from Ian Evatt and another header from Luke Varney on 57 minutes. Martin Petrov pulled one back for Bolton with a quality strike from the edge of the box at the 75 minute mark, and it was game on.
If there is a contemporary spiritual successor to the great Nat Lofthouse, it would have to be Bolton’s inspirational skipper Kevin Davies—a burly no-nonsense centre forward with the heart of a lion, not dissimilar to the great man himself.
But although Davies took part in the sequence of passes that lead to Bolton’s 89th minute equalizer, it was his namesake Mark Davies who finished off the move from close range to give Owen Coyle’s team a share of the points. The 1953 FA Cup (“Mathews”) Final it was not; but a decent afternoon’s entertainment nonetheless.
“I don’t think I’ve ever enjoyed a match so much in my life. I would have paid to watch that.” Blackpool boss Ian Holloway told EPL website reporters after the game.
