Another week gone, and now we are left with the horrible prospect of just 2 more weekends of Premier League football before the torture that is the summer break. As if to remind us of what we’re going to be missing the Premier League put on a real show of goals (Arsenals snore fest vs Man City aside) for us, with 31 goals scored in the 10 fixtures over the weekend.
We’ll start at Stamford Bridge where an irresistible Chelsea put 7 unanswered goals past a poor Stoke side. Ryan Shawcross making his first appearance after his horror tackle on Aaron Ramsey… what a welcome back – and I for one was very amused by it. A 7-0 victory after a week in which Carlo “Eyebrow” Ancelotti spoke of his Chelsea side experiencing title anxiety… mind games, anyone? It was a real show of class today by Chelsea and it will make some people reconsider the view that their team is ageing and will need serious rebuilding in the summer. On today’s showing, they have a fair bit left in the tank yet.
Shawcross's return didn't go as planned
The other team in the two horse race, Man Utd, did what was needed, dispatching of Spurs 3-1 courtesy of two penalties (both correct decisions, for once) and a fine finish from the much improved Nani. Speaking of which, what an improvement he has shown this year. Despite starting the season in the much the same vain as previous (ie – he looked like a waste of money), his MotM performance at the Emirates earlier in the season seems to have acted as a catalyst for him and he has since gone to show why Fergie continues to show patience and have faith in him. If he can continue his improvement at the same rate, he might just become the dangerous pacey winger they need to replace the ageing Ryan Giggs.
Elsewhere and Burnley were relegated at the hands of a Liverpool side still hoping for that 4th spot finish. A 4-0 humiliation at home and the Burnley board must surely hold their hands up and admit their surprise appointment of Brian Laws was a bad move. His record since taking over has been truly woeful (lost 14 in 17). Laws’ predecessor, Owen Coyle, watched his Bolton side do an Arsenal (almost) as they threw away a two goal lead at home against Portsmouth – he was understandably frustrated. Hull’s premier league has come to an end, barring a very very unlikely turn around in goal difference as they lost at home to Sunderland and West Ham played out an entertaining 3-2 victory at home against Wigan. There was talk immediately after the game of Administration, although the chairman has stated, rather unconvincingly, it’s “not on the immediate agenda”… hopefully that won’t happen to them.
The other results saw Arsenal continue to disappoint with an incredibly dull 0-0 draw at home against Man City – a game which saw Shay Given dislocate his shoulder, causing something of a GK crises at Man City as they will now be forced to rely on the pretty much untested Faroe Islands’ Gunnar Nielson. Aston Villa beat Birmingham in the big midlands derby, 1-0 courtesy of a penalty. Whilst Everton kept their slim hopes of a 7th place finish alive by beating Fulham 2-1. Wolves drew 1-1 with Blackburn in a game which, surprisingly, wasn’t the least exciting of the weekend!
Birmingham disputed the penalty decision
Unfortunately, as a result of some refereeing decisions (2 penalties at old trafford, penalty at Stamford bridge and a penalty at Villa Park) the boring, long disproven, theory that their is a “big club” bias amongst premier league referees has reered it’s ugly head again. What makes me laugh is that the goalposts move every week (now that would be an unfair bias!). When Arsenal/Chelsea/Man Utd/Liverpool get a decision against the likes of Villa/Tottenham/Man City/Everton then the pundits, the opposition managers (often) and media brand it a “big 4″ bias. When Villa get the decision against Birmingham suddenly it’s simply “big club” bias… notice the change from 4 to club. It’s pathetic and it;s irritating how often this crappy theory is regurgitated. The fact is all clubs get their fair share of shitty decisions during the course of a season, Arsenal will not get penalties they should get away from home, Utd will recieve red cards they don’t deserve, Chelsea will be denied goals through incorrect offside decisions and Liverpool will be punished with penalties against they shouldn’t have been. Yes, they will have some dubious decisions go their way, but so will Birmingham, Stoke, Wolves, Hull, Fulham and all the other teams in the league. If there is any bias in refereeing decisions it is simply a slight home bias, not for specific teams, for all home teams… and that is very slight. This weekend Utd, Chelsea and Villa all happened to be playing at home, they all happened to win penalties. Some of the decisions were poor, but that’s all there is to it, referee’s get things wrong from time to time (maybe too often, for another time!) but that it. Nothing more, nothing less.
