Weekend review

Alves proves that not all Premier League derbies are thrillers

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Sunday's Premier League fixtures underlined the excitement offered when derby rivals clash while Saturday's servings saw Christmas shopping start ahead of schedule.

Manchester United reinvigorated their title challenge with an entertaining three points at neighbours City on Sunday, taking full advantage of league leaders Chelsea's dramatic defeat by London adversaries Arsenal.

Also on the second day of the weekend, Pompey came out on top in a five-goal thriller, while their former boss Harry Redknapp saw his 100 per cent home record in charge of Tottenham come to an end.

The main talking point from Saturday surrounded the increasing pressure facing Sunderland boss Roy Keane following a comprehensive home defeat by Bolton, while Wigan sunk rock-bottom West Brom.

UEFA Champions League hopefuls Aston Villa drew with Fulham, Premier League new boys Stoke and Hull shared the spoils, while the Tees-Tyne derby ended in a drab stalemate.

The surprise result of the weekend saw Arsenal - who have endured a turbulent fortnight - leave Chelsea with a 2-1 victory as a three-minute Robin van Persie brace cancelled out Johan Djourou's first-half own goal.

Controversies surrounding former captain William Gallas and successive league defeats to Villa and City had shrouded the Gunners ahead of their trip to Stamford Bridge, but they repeated their knack of rising to the occasion.

Having seen off defending champions United after condemnation and a lack of form earlier in November, Arsene Wenger's side again earned the points against major adversaries - with a little help from the lack of an offside decision in Van Persie's equaliser - to silence their critics and fire themselves back into league contention.

However, Frenchman Wenger will be well aware that progression at Burnley in the Carling Cup on Tuesday, and avoiding failure at Emirates Stadium against Wigan in the league next Saturday, will be vital to prevent a sense of déjà vu.

An eventful Manchester meeting at Eastlands saw United fire their way back into the title race as Wayne Rooney's 100th club goal was enough to see off City in another thrilling derby battle, but that was not the only piece of action in the North West.

Rooney's team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo was endlessly snapped bronzing himself by the Mediterranean sea throughout the summer, and the Portuguese appeared to have a flashback to those sandy, sun lounger, days as, having been booked nine minutes earlier, he was handed a second yellow card for a spontaneous attempt to start a game of beach volleyball in the second half.

The Red Devils are now only five points behind table-toppers Chelsea - who recorded only one point from their home ties with fellow members of the 'Big Four' - and enjoy the luxury of a game in hand, while title foes Liverpool host West Ham on Monday night.

Elsewhere on Sunday, Redknapp's winning run as manager of Tottenham at White Hart Lane came to an end in a 1-0 loss to Everton, reminding Spurs that they are in a relegation battle.

As Redknapp's home luck expired, Pompey boss Tony Adams secured his first success at Fratton Park since taking over at the end of October as his players grabbed the 3-2 glory over Blackburn.

The setback on the South Coast piles the strain on Blackburn boss Paul Ince, who insists he is not feeling the heat, as he currently presides over the Ewood Park outfit's worst stream of results - no win in nine games - since 1996.

Following last week's European action, on paper, the list of matches for the final Saturday of November made a bout of premature Christmas shopping sound an appealing prospect, but the Stadium of Light provided far more commotion than any possible three for two offer at Boots.

Bolton came from behind to inflict a third successive home defeat on Sunderland and the Wearside boo-boys gave a full indication of their appreciation of a 4-1 turnaround.

Black Cats boss Keane now finds himself in a similar scenario to former United colleague Ince and it appears a question of when, not if, the former Republic of Ireland international, who confesses he is considering his future, will walk away from the North East.

While Bolton's triumph over Sunderland created a debate to postpone a trip around the city centre looking for stocking fillers, Newcastle's short journey to Middlesbrough suggested novelty bags of chocolate money can never be bought too early.

Middlesbrough striker Afonso 'If he is worth £12million then I am worth...' Alves offered an improved performance against Newcastle - who had interim manager Joe Kinnear celebrating after being awarded a contract to the end of the season - but the match ended in a dull deadlock, suggesting not all local derbies are packed full of thrills and spills.

The highlight at The Riverside was perhaps the thick second-half fog which obscured vision of on-field action.

Back to the theme of items to be found under the tree on 25th December, it is also that time on the calendar when high-street shelves are stacked with celebrity keep-fit DVDs to cash in on New Year resolutions to lose a little of that festive flab.

But while Vicky Entwistle (you know, that one from Coronation Street) and Michelle McManus were unlikely fitness instructors, it seems doubtful Hull veteran Dean Windass will be hitting the shops with 'How to stop Rory Delap'.

Thirty-nine-year-old striker Windass received a booking for cunningly conducting his, stretch-two-three-four, rest-two-three-four, warm-up routine in front of Stoke's long-throw expert Delap during the 1-1 draw at The Britannia Stadium. Ten out of ten for theory, but in practice Entwistle and McManus need not watch out.

Like Hull and Stoke, West Brom have hopes to stay in the top flight after securing promotion last season but manager Tony Mowbray will be concerned that his rock-bottom charges currently possess the fortune of a team destined for an immediate return to the Championship.

It is well known that the luck of the draw tends to work against strugglers who are scrapping for points at the foot of the table, and that appears to be the case with the Baggies as, despite the help of ever-reliable Wigan defender Titus Bramble in their opener, Mowbray's men could not find additional routes past Latics goalkeeper Chris Kirkland in a 2-1 defeat at the JJB stadium.

Finally, Villa's hopes to break the monopoly of the top four took a dent as they were held to a goalless draw against visiting Fulham, with the encounter only memorable for home goalkeeper Brad Friedel setting a new English record of 167 successive league appearances.