Premier League review

City top, United struggling and official outrage

By Peter Fraser   Last updated: 20th August 2007

Premier League review

Styles: Under pressure

TEAM OF THE WEEK

See who made skysports.com's Premier League Team of the Weekend.

1) Harper

2) Richards

3) Bikey

4) Dunne

5) Granqvist

6) Utaka

7) Malbranque

8) Gerrard

9) Jenas

10) Kanu

11) Healy

Related links

Teams

Also see

After a frenetic opening weekend it was possible the second Saturday and Sunday of the Premier League may have been somewhat of a quieter affair, but it failed to disappoint.

This season appears intent on living up to its big billing as the most competitive campaign yet with goalkeeping gaffes aplenty, shock strugglers and equally surprising league leaders.

Unfortunately it is the men in black that seem to be grabbing the majority of the limelight, but the quality of football on show cannot be ignored.

Portsmouth and Bolton got the weekend underway in Saturday's lunchtime kick-off and Harry Redknapp continues to demonstrate what a fine manager he is after goals from Kanu, John Utaka and Matt Taylor allowed Pompey to come storming back for victory after initially going a goal behind to a Nicolas Anelka strike.

Meanwhile, Bolton boss Sammy Lee must be wondering if Redknapp's managerial tonic comes in a bottle as Wanderers find themselves pointless and rooted to the bottom of the pile.

All was doom and gloom at White Hart Lane ahead of Derby's visit to North London and, if rumour is to be believed, Tottenham boss Martin Jol's P45 was on the verge of making an appearance.

But the Dutch tactician will not be reaching for his CV just yet after his Spurs side, inspired by Jermaine Jenas, romped to a comfortable 4-0 win and left Derby looking increasingly out of their depth.

Staying in London it is with regret that attention has to turn to the officials as Fulham were denied a blatant equaliser in their 2-1 Craven Cottage defeat to Middlesbrough.

Annoyance

David Healy struck a potentially parity restoring effort, which clearly crossed the line before Boro cleared, but the phantom goal was inexcusably missed by referee Andy D'Urso and his assistants, much to the justifed annoyance of Fulham boss Lawrie Sanchez.

At St Andrews, Birmingham manager Steve Bruce was also left ranting at the referee as he argued the officials were conned by the experience of West Ham striker Craig Bellamy, who earned the Hammers' winning penalty under a contentious challenge from Blues goalkeeper Colin Doyle in a 1-0 victory.

Reading continue to rip up the rulebook at The Madejski Stadium after Steve Coppell's side recorded a hard-fought 1-0 win over Everton and the Royals seem focused on proving that hard work, organisation and team-work can compete with money in the Premier League's battle for success.

A snarling, fiery eyed Roy Keane is not an unusual sight in the top-flight, but it is not common for his own club to be on the receiving end of his passion.

The Sunderland boss saw his side humbled 3-0 by Wigan, who having been tipped for the drop found themselves sitting on top of the pile on Saturday night, and it is unlikely many supporters would like to be in the shoes of those Black Cats players Keane claims to have 'found out about' when they arrive for training on Monday.

A damp St James' Park meeting between Newcastle and Aston Villa was the only fixture which failed to deliver this weekend and the goalless affair was a test for even the staunchest of followers.

However, on Sunday the drama continued in style and it was Manchester City who came out of the weekend smiling after racing to the summit of the Premier League.

In his early England days former manager Sven Goran Eriksson brought in a few surprise names - Gavin McCann, Chris Powell etc - but cranked out results and famously defeated a bitter enemy.

Derby rivals

Now at Manchester City Eriksson, having been set up by the pessimists for the biggest fall of all Premier League bosses, seems to be determined to mirror his international career after his new-look side - Geovanni, Elano et al - maintained their 100 per cent start to the season with a battling 1-0 win over fierce derby rivals United.

Eriksson admits there is 'a long way to go' and, though the Swede's successful start does deserve great credit it will be interesting to see if this is another England-esque honeymoon period. Will Sunday's 1-0 win prove to be a pinnacle to rival a 5-1 win in Munich?

Blackburn and Arsenal fought out, almost literally, a bruising 1-1 draw in Sunday's most low-key affair with the Gunners goalkeeper Jens Lehmann continuing his tendency to bring an element of fantasy and fun to life between the sticks as he gifted Rovers' David Dunn an equaliser to cancel out Robin van Persie's opener.

At Anfield the final fixture of the weekend produced the most high-profile refereeing debate when a seemingly innocuous Steve Finnan challenge on Florent Malouda allowed Frank Lampard to earn Chelsea a point from the penalty spot following Fernando Torres' first Liverpool goal.

The Reds manager Rafa Banitez was uncharacteristically, but understandably, incensed by referee Rob Styles and Steven Gerrard accused the official of buckling under the pressure, but Chelsea boss Jose Mourniho was more than willing to welcome the fortunate point in trademark style.

Post to your View!

Be the first to post a comment on this story

Add Comment*

Send us your views

Are you a Sky Sports subscriber?

*All fields required, your email address will be kept private