Best of New Year

Last updated: 2nd January 2008  

Team of the weekend

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Best of New Year

Player of the Day

Michael Ballack

Chelsea captain Michael Ballack led by example as he inspired his side to their 2-1 win at neighbours Fulham.

In only his second start of the season after a lengthy lay-off, Ballack proved to be the driving force as Chelsea came from behind to take the spoils at Craven Cottage.

Blues boss Avram Grant handed Ballack the captaincy in the absence of John Terry and Frank Lampard and the German midfielder responded with a dominant display and the winning goal from the penalty spot.

Game of the Day

Fulham 1 Chelsea 2

Chelsea kept pace with the top two as they came from behind to spoil Roy Hodgson's first game in charge of Fulham with a 2-1 win in their derby clash at Craven Cottage.

Second half goals from Salomon Kalou and Michael Ballack gave an under-strength Chelsea all three points to cancel out Danny Murphy's early opener.

Murphy gave Hodgson the dream start with the opener from the penalty spot on ten minutes after Moritz Volz was brought down by Joe Cole.

Chelsea hit back and drew level on 54 minutes when Salomon Kalou headed home Alex's knock-down from close-range.

The visitors grabbed the winner just past the hour mark when captain for the day Michael Ballack scored from the penalty spot after going down in the box under a challenge from Clint Dempsey.

Goal of the Day

Carlos Tevez

After finding Ronaldo with an overhead kick, Carlos Tevez continued his run, collecting an inspired back-heeled return pass inside the Birmingham box before beating Taylor in a manner that looked far easier than it actually was, before celebrating in bizarre fashion, pulling a dummy out of his pocket and sticking it in his mouth.

Miss of the Day

Martin Laursen

Martin Laursen - who bagged the winner for Aston Villa - needed to make amends after his first-half shocker.

Stilian Petrov's low cross into the near post was only half-cleared to the unmarked Dane eight yards out but he managed to loft the ball over the crossbar.

Gaffe of the Day

Marcus Hahnemann

A hopeful long ball looked to pose little danger to Reading just nine-minutes into their game with Portsmouth, but Marcus Hahnemann inexplicably let the ball squirm through his hands and after Sylvain Distin had nodded the ball goal-wards Sol Campbell was on hand to bundle the ball home and give Pompey the lead.

Reading were already down to 10-men at this point after the dismissal of Ibrahima Sonko and the American goalkeepers error proved to be costly as Pompey went on to run out 2-0 winners.

Save of the Day

Tim Howard

An outstanding stop from the American midway through the second half against Middlesbrough.

With the game at 0-0, he was able to keep out Gary O'Neil's from point-blank range when the Boro midfielder should have scored.

The save was vital as Everton went on to win the match 2-0.

Bad defending of the Day

West Ham

Eduardo was left in acres of space in the box and given time to chest down and volley Cesc Fabregas' cross into the bottom corner after just two minutes. Robert Green launched a verbal rocket in the direction of Anton Ferdinand straight afterwards.

Celebration of the Day

Carlos Tevez

Very strange from the Argentine - after bagging the only goal of the game against Birmingham he celebrated in bizarre fashion, pulling a dummy out of his pocket and sticking it in his mouth!

Substitution of the Day

Gelson Fernandes

The Manchester City midfielder was brought on for Stephen Ireland with 15 minutes remaining, and within 40 seconds had scored his side's second goal. Fernandes was set up by fellow substitute Kelvin Etuhu and made no mistake with a superb strike from the edge of the box which gave Shay Given no chance.

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Comments (14)

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Josh Ilan (Bolton Wanderers fan) says...

What about Stelios for substitute of the day!!! And Derby's defending leading up to the goal!!! Or Jaaskelainens wonder save!!!

Posted 09:17 5th January 2008

Talhah Mayat (Chelsea fan) says...

michael ballack was player of the week wonderful play by the german captian.chelsea came from 1-0 to 1-1 to 2-1 michael ballack grabbed the full three points for chelsea

Posted 12:27 4th January 2008

Michael Gaffney (Manchester United fan) says...

What a goal by Tevez beautiful flowing football by united, great build up play, and a great finish to match definitely the best goal of the week.

Posted 10:37 4th January 2008

Sylvester Pembani (Arsenal fan) says...

I think Eduardo's goal deserved to be goal of the weekend. That goal showed that he is a cool finisher at any angle...

Posted 11:04 3rd January 2008

Sakthi Krishna (Manchester United fan) says...

It's supremely idiotic, Chris Mohammed, to suggest that the Tevez goal was a tap-in. Whenever a certain Thierry Henry(heard of him?) side-footed the ball with such composure, everyone went ga-ga over him. Credit to United, it was a beautiful flowing move that produced, and rightfully so, the goal of the week. That being said, Adebayor's finish was indeed very good, and deserved a mention.

Posted 04:13 3rd January 2008

Suresh Dhanda (Manchester United fan) says...

i thought tevezs goal was class it deserved to be the goal of the day

Posted 02:25 3rd January 2008

Rob Savage (Manchester City fan) says...

I believe Richard Dunne fully deserves his place in the team, perhaps it should be centre back as he was outstand today once again against Newcastle, after his performance against Liverpool.

Posted 00:38 3rd January 2008

Matthew Kneale (Everton fan) says...

why is joleon lescott not in the team , hes a quality player and an important asset to the everton squad, and i thought he was simply outstanding yesterday

Posted 19:08 2nd January 2008

David Tarigan (Arsenal fan) says...

You forget Gael Clichy. He's been immense. He should be chosen to fill the left back position.

Posted 18:40 2nd January 2008

Chris Mohammed (Arsenal fan) says...

A simple tap in is goal of the month!?? I agree the movement leading to the goal was good but, how often do you see someone score who is at a 180 degree angle to the goal mouth!!?? Then again, if it wasn't a man utd player then it would not even feature would it?

Posted 18:39 2nd January 2008

Aleem Bader (Manchester United fan) says...

Quite simple Ray Lewis, adebayor's strike was a great goal no doubt but an individual goal whereas tevez's goal came from classic team play and a very cool finish. I think that's the only reason tevez's goal is better than adebayor's. Otherwise I'd prefer the arsenal strikers goal compared to the touch by tevez, but tevez's goal was man u at their finest.

Posted 18:27 2nd January 2008

Alpesh Gujjar (Manchester United fan) says...

Nothing bizarre...he was just trying to show how much he loves his daughter..that was for his daughter...she might have been there with her mother...and then Tevez may have thought let me just grab her dummy and will suck it if i manage to score..maybe a dedication to his beloved daughter...

Posted 12:41 2nd January 2008

Lulu Tembo (Manchester United fan) says...

I just love Carlos Tevez and i think the pulling out of his babygirls dummy was the sweetest thing....

Posted 10:58 2nd January 2008

Ray Lewis (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...

how did adebayor's impossible strike not make goal of the day? none of u at skysports could score a goal like that even if there was no goal to kick the ball into.

Posted 10:33 2nd January 2008
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