|
|
THE WEEKEND THAT WAS 13-3-06
Kean Thomas
THE WEEKEND THAT WAS IS SPONSORED BY PADDY POWER
The Dress Rehearsal Edition
In a weekend that saw a preview of the Middlesbrough v Charlton FA Cup sixth round game, and a replay and prequel of the Bolton v West Ham fifth round replay and a few goal of the season contenders we'll take a look at what happened and what it all means. In a non-philosophical way.
FA Premier League
Charlton Athletic 2 Middlesbrough 1
'Everything Changes but you', those fun loving Mancunian scamps once sang. Perhaps they were singing about Skippy and Mad-Dog as they were the only two players who made it through Steve McClaren's pre Roma game cull. With more than one eye on Wednesday's big game our glorious leader decided to rest the big names and give the stiffs a run out. And it very very nearly worked for him, with Boro being unlucky to lose this one 2-1. Next week it might be a different game and hopefully a different result. The result itself didn't do much for either team as they are both left scraping for a mid-table position.
Arsenal 2 Liverpool 1
'Whoops I did again' - could well be Stevie Gerrard's new karaoke theme tune after once again boo-booing big time to hand a result over to the opponents. ala Chelsea in last year's league cup final. Terry Henry bagged a brace to give the Arse all three points and to put a smile on Arsene Wenger's face. Well, almost. Arsenal are still in fifth place and just two points behind their north London rivals Tottenham. Liverpool have started to slip up in their quest for second place.
Manchester United 2 Newcastle United 0
Ramage did the damage for the skunks in this match, with a suicidal back pass that one of Wayne Rooney's 'friends' could have got their zimmer frames to. Mr Coleen McLoughlin also got the second to give the Red Devils all three points and help their charge for second spot. The Toon have returned to their early season form. Shame it's come too late for them to enter a relegation scrap.
West Bromwich Albion 1 Birmingham 1
'The Shoot Out at St. Andrews', 'The High Noon Dual'... doesn't matter how much you hyped this game up, it still ended up like an Audley Harrison fight. All talk and no knockout punch. In a game that both sides must have seen as a must win game, well neither side did. Leaves both of them in the thick of the relegation battle.
Blackburn 2 Aston Villa 0
Strange old team Blackburn, full of yobs and players who like a battle. You really wouldn't expect them to be challenging for a Uefa Cup spot (Champions League? You're having a laugh) but they are. I think I must have slept for the last six months, because the last time I looked at Blackburn the were struggling at the wrong end of the table. But fair play to Sparky Hughes for turning it round. Still can't stand Craig Bellamy though. Villa stay in the bottom half but look safe.
Bolton 4 West Ham United 1
This is going to hurt.
Bolton played some good football in this game and deserved to win it handsomely.
Bolton blasted the Hammers off the park in this game with Stellios getting a couple of crackers. No, not Stellios the Easy Jet guy... Alan Pardew must have been weeping into his BNP pamphlet after watching this one. Still you can always turn it round for the cup game. Both teams still in with a shout of a Uefa Cup place.
Chelsea 2 Tottenham Hotspur 1
Trivia question for you. Who scored the winner the last time Spuds beat Chelsea in the league?.
Gary Lineker in 1990. In recent weeks the 'Special One' has turned into the 'Whinging One' but bounced back with a win this week that puts them nearer to their second consecutive title. And hey, guess what Jose?. It is easier to beat teams when you have eleven and they only have ten. Now if only you could get that across to your team on Euro nights. One betting company has odds of 7-1 on Jose not being at Chelsea at the start of next season. Worth a little flutter I think.
Everton 3 Fulham 1
What the hell is going on? After spending weeks taking the piss out of Everton for only winning games one-nil they go and spoil it all by scoring three. It gets worse! James 'Hailey's Comet' Beattie only goes and scores twice as well (one of them was a bit special) and makes the third. I need a lie down.
Portsmouth 2 Manchester City 1
At 4.53 on Saturday I thought my next door neighbour had won the lottery, such was the cheer that came from his house. Mind with the season Pompey are having he needs something to cheer about. Pedro Mendes got a couple of long range beauties in this game, the final one coming in the ninety-third minute to give Pompey all three points. 'He does that three or four times in training' said Harry Redknapp after the game. I know it's not my place to tell you your job Harry, but ask him to do it in the game instead.
Sunderland 0 Wigan 1
'The Camera never lies' according to 80's bouffantettes Bucks Fizz and they were right. Henri Camara scored the only goal in yet another loss for the Mackems. I'm almost feeling sorry for them. Almost. At the rate they are going they will be relegated before Easter! Wigan still going great guns in eighth place.
Spare a thought for ex-Boro stalwart Alan Kernaghan as his Dundee team were walloped 7-0 by Airdrie United. Ouch!
Till next week. Ciao.
COME ON BORO
THE WEEKEND THAT WAS IS SPONSORED BY PADDY POWER
BACK TO KEAN THOMAS INDEX
|
|
|
|
