Weekend review

New men at the helm experience mixed fortunes

By Rob Parrish   Last updated: 4th December 2007  

Weekend review

Premier League: New faces

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With the Premier League's managerial merry-go-round spinning at a dizzying rate, it was a weekend of mixed emotions for the new men.

Alex McLeish, who can genuinely lay claim to being a fresh face in England's top-flight, enjoyed debut delight with Birmingham at White Hart Lane.

Steve Bruce, who vacated the St Andrews hot-seat to take over at Wigan, hardly had time to get settled into the JJB Stadium dug-out before Titus Bramble provided the Christmas comedy compilation DVD market with another golden moment.

And Paul Jewell, who quit the Latics in May as he needed a break from the game, will probably want to head back to the golf course for a few more months after the agony of his Derby bow.

With the likes of Sam Allardyce, Rafael Benitez, Gareth Southgate and Lawrie Sanchez reported to be under increasing pressure, there is every chance there will be further movement before the opening of the January transfer window.

Continuity and consistency seem to be words erased from the vocabulary of many Premier League chairmen, who would do well to glance at the top of the table where they would find an Arsenal side overseen by Arsene Wenger - at the helm for just over 11 trophy-laden years - leading the way.

Spurs drama

But back to the new, and nearly-new, faces.

McLeish may be used to drama from his time with Scotland, but having seen his side take the lead against the run of play at Tottenham, fall behind to two goals in quick succession, then get back on level terms before claiming victory with an injury-time strike of stunning quality, will have tested even his nerves to the full.

Former Gunner Sebastian Larsson was the man who produced the long-range screamer which left Paul Robinson grasping at thin air as the ball flew into the top corner, condemning Spurs boss Juande Ramos, yet another recent appointment, to his first defeat in his seventh game at the helm.

Among the frenzy of scoring action, Tottenham's two-goal captain Robbie Keane was harshly shown a straight red card by referee Phil Dowd for his challenge on Fabrice Muamba, a decision Spurs have already appealed against.

Over at the JJB Stadium, we can only guess as to what was going through the mind of hapless defender Bramble in the opening seconds of Wigan's clash with Manchester City.

But Bruce's thoughts would probably have been easier to read after the centre-back's shambolic slip gifted Geovanni the opener with just 30 seconds on the clock.

Fortunately for both Bramble and the new Latics boss, Paul Scharner secured a point for the home side before Mario Melchiot became another skipper to be dismissed after his late lunge towards Stephen Ireland.

Up at the Stadium of Light, Jewell was within a whisker of securing only Derby's second away point of the season before Anthony Stokes' injury-time winner.

Jewell's appointment looks to be an astute one by Rams chairman Adam Pearson, given his achievements with Wigan, but he inherits a side who have not scored a single goal on their travels and have a paltry six points to show from their opening 15 games.

Magpies misery

Newcastle's recent defensive woes continued at Ewood Park as they slumped to a 3-1 defeat despite taking the lead through Obafemi Martins.

Allardyce's stock with the Toon Army is on the slide after a run of just one point from a possible 15, in which 13 goals have been conceded. Defensive reinforcements are likely in January, although a return to St James' Park for Bramble is not.

North-East rival Southgate has not tasted victory for over two months, but at least saw his Middlesbrough side salvage a point from their trip to Reading as Tuncay Sanli cancelled out Dave Kitson's opener.

Boro chairman Steve Gibson has always backed his managers in the transfer market, and rumours are now circulating of an audacious attempt to lure Ronaldinho to the Riverside.

However, the chances of the brilliant Brazilian trading in Barcelona for Teesside are heavily outweighed by the likelihood of Southgate having enough time on his hands to earn the necessary qualifications to coach in the Premier League.

On Merseyside, the rift between Liverpool's owners and manager only seems to have galvanised Benitez's squad into action.

Despite a very public disagreement over transfer policy, the Reds remain unbeaten in domestic action and have their UEFA Champions League fate in their own hands.

Sunday's 4-0 romp against a Bolton side, who defeated Manchester United last time out, was the Reds' third victory in succession and inflicted a second defeat in eight on Trotters boss Gary Megson - yes, another new face in the top flight.

Cole firing

Chelsea extended their impressive recent run with a hard-fought 1-0 triumph over West Ham United, as former Hammer Joe Cole broke the deadlock late on at Stamford Bridge.

Avram Grant, the first of the six Premier League appointments this term, has now overseen a run of six victories from seven league games and the Blues remain a force to be reckoned with despite Jose Mourinho's departure.

At Fratton Park, Harry Redknapp will have been happy to be able to focus on matters on the field following his midweek arrest as part of a police investigation into corruption in football as his Portsmouth side drew 0-0 with Everton.

Rising above the managerial mayhem, unbeaten Arsenal continue to show the rest of the Premier League a clean pair of heels.

The Gunners were forced to come from behind at Aston Villa and claimed the three points thanks to Mathieu Flamini and Emmanuel Adebayor.

Barring an astonishing turn of events, Wenger can be expected to remain in situ at Emirates Stadium, but elsewhere the Premier League's managerial swap-shop shows few signs of closing down.

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