Wigan recorded a well-deserved 3–1 win over the previously unbeaten Premier League leader Chelsea on Saturday. Chelsea was denied their longest winning streak in club history and, in the process, was knocked off the top of the Premier League table.
Titus Bramble’s header put Wigan up 1–0 but Didier Drogba scrapped one back for Chelsea just after the break.
Chelsea keeper Petr Cech then tripped Hugo Rodallega, conceding a penalty shot. Cech was shown a red card for having denied a clear goal-scoring opportunity. Rodallega converted the spot kick to put Wigan up 2–1.
Wigan sealed the three points when Paul Scharner completed his impressive performance by tapping in Maynor Figueroa’s cross.
Wigan has now beaten one of the “Big Four” clubs for the first time in 35 attempts. Prior to the game Wigan manager Roberto Martinez manager called on the players to “create history.”
“When you are Wigan and playing against the top four you have options, you can be brave and beat them or you can get hammered,” said Martinez in an interview with the BBC.
“That is what happened. We were beaten 4–0 and 5–0 [by Arsenal and Manchester United respectively] and here the only reason we won is because we learned our lessons.
“We have been brave from the first moment and no-one can say we did not deserve the win. That is a big compliment to our club.”
Chelsea coach Carlo Ancelotti told the BBC, “It was a bad display. I don’t know why we didn’t play well but these things can happen after many wins.
“Wigan played better than us. They were well organized and played well. This was the right result.”
Giggs then picked out John O’Shea from a free kick and Stoke conceded a headed goal, which is uncharacteristic of them.
“There is a long way to go but it has been a good day for us,” said Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
“Ryan Giggs is important and he made the goals. I felt his intelligence would give them a bit of bother on that side of the pitch.”
Torres restored the lead when he rounded Boaz Myhill to slot in the ball and then he got on the end of a Yossi Benayoun ball to complete the hat trick just after half time.
You knew it was Liverpool’s day when Steven Gerrard’s in-swinging cross/shot flew in the net for a 4–1 lead.
Ryan Babel tapped in Dirk Kuyt’s cross and then unknowingly got another when Albert Riera’s shot deflected off him in the 90th.
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez discussed Torres’s performance, “He is now showing his ability but I think he can do it better. He is keen to learn and he will improve but how much depends on him.
“We decided to spend £20 million [$31.7 million] on him. That was a massive figure for us. We brought him here because of his quality but also his potential. We are pleased now but he can improve.”
“Today I am very happy. We compensated for a lack of fluidity and cohesion with attitude, spirit, and desire. And of course it was a good display by Mannone,” said Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.
“It was vital for us to come back, and with Chelsea losing today, the Premier League became more compact again and that is interesting. We are in a strong position.”
Titus Bramble’s header put Wigan up 1–0 but Didier Drogba scrapped one back for Chelsea just after the break.
Chelsea keeper Petr Cech then tripped Hugo Rodallega, conceding a penalty shot. Cech was shown a red card for having denied a clear goal-scoring opportunity. Rodallega converted the spot kick to put Wigan up 2–1.
Wigan sealed the three points when Paul Scharner completed his impressive performance by tapping in Maynor Figueroa’s cross.
Wigan has now beaten one of the “Big Four” clubs for the first time in 35 attempts. Prior to the game Wigan manager Roberto Martinez manager called on the players to “create history.”
“When you are Wigan and playing against the top four you have options, you can be brave and beat them or you can get hammered,” said Martinez in an interview with the BBC.
“That is what happened. We were beaten 4–0 and 5–0 [by Arsenal and Manchester United respectively] and here the only reason we won is because we learned our lessons.
“We have been brave from the first moment and no-one can say we did not deserve the win. That is a big compliment to our club.”
Chelsea coach Carlo Ancelotti told the BBC, “It was a bad display. I don’t know why we didn’t play well but these things can happen after many wins.
“Wigan played better than us. They were well organized and played well. This was the right result.”
Stoke 0, Manchester United 2
Ryan Giggs came off the bench to pull United’s attacking form back into shape by setting up the only two goals in the match. United restored their place at the top of the Premier League based on a better goal differential than Chelsea.
Giggs replaced Nani who was not having a good game, continually wasting attacking moves by holding on to the ball for too long and not providing quality service to his teammates. Giggs on the other hand was sublime with his simple well-weighted passing, making Dimitar Berbatov’s opener an easy tap-in.Giggs then picked out John O’Shea from a free kick and Stoke conceded a headed goal, which is uncharacteristic of them.
“There is a long way to go but it has been a good day for us,” said Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
“Ryan Giggs is important and he made the goals. I felt his intelligence would give them a bit of bother on that side of the pitch.”
Liverpool 6, Hull 1
Liverpool demolished Hull with Fernando Torres bagging a hat trick.
Torres wrong footed Hull’s defense to create space and slot in the opener before Giovanni leveled with a volley on the quarter-hour mark.Torres restored the lead when he rounded Boaz Myhill to slot in the ball and then he got on the end of a Yossi Benayoun ball to complete the hat trick just after half time.
You knew it was Liverpool’s day when Steven Gerrard’s in-swinging cross/shot flew in the net for a 4–1 lead.
Ryan Babel tapped in Dirk Kuyt’s cross and then unknowingly got another when Albert Riera’s shot deflected off him in the 90th.
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez discussed Torres’s performance, “He is now showing his ability but I think he can do it better. He is keen to learn and he will improve but how much depends on him.
“We decided to spend £20 million [$31.7 million] on him. That was a massive figure for us. We brought him here because of his quality but also his potential. We are pleased now but he can improve.”
Fulham 0, Arsenal 1
Arsenal’s third-string Italian goalkeeper Vito Mannone was the star of the match, making several spectacular saves and keeping the Gunners in the match in the early going.
Fulham was the better of the two teams but is was Arsenal who stole a winner when Cesc Fabregas put in Robin van Persie, who coolly scored in the far side of the goal.“Today I am very happy. We compensated for a lack of fluidity and cohesion with attitude, spirit, and desire. And of course it was a good display by Mannone,” said Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.
“It was vital for us to come back, and with Chelsea losing today, the Premier League became more compact again and that is interesting. We are in a strong position.”
