This weekend saw 34 goals, 30 bookings, 1 sending off, 3 penalties, 1 missed penalty, plenty of referee controversy, missed chances and opportunities. So, I had loads to choose from, here are my top and flop picks of this week:
Top game: The Merseyside derby definitely lived up to its reputation, all the action, controversy, rivalry, heart and soal in the game every football fan can desire - well, maybe not Everton fans. A crucial and controversial decision went against them with Jack Rodwell's sending off, Luis Suarez being the controversy in person once again and making the most of the show, and panned out to Liverpool's advantage. That's the cruel world of football.
Top team: Fulham will be the happiest after their 6-0 thrashing of QPR, their first win this season came in style and it was also the first time they had taken the lead this term in the Premier League. Before the game, Fulham were the only Premier League side still without a win this season. Talk about relief! Another team celebrating and worth a note are Newcastle after their controversial win against Wolves made this their best start to a season in 17 years being unbeaten in their last 10 PL games.
Top player: Everyone who had started to write off Frank Lampard should be ashamed and laugh/write themselves off! With his third hat-trick in the Premier League, the Chelsea man overtook the 1930s legend George Mills as Chelsea's fifth highest league goalscorer, with 119. I think that should be enough to silence his critics. Hats off to Andrew Johnson, too, the first Premier League hat-trick scorer for Fulham.
Top goal: Manchester City produced some beauties after a forgettable first half at Ewood Park: Adam Johnson's opening strike, a sweet curl into the top corner, and Mario Balotelli's fine volley from close range into the bottom left corner of the goal to make it 2:0 against Blakburn. That's more I like it.Top news: Time out from the Premier League sees the Euro 2012 qualifiers conclude the coming week, England looking for a point against Montenegro to take them to Poland and Ukraine.
Flop game: Newcastle's win against Wolves was marred by controversy after the homeside were denied a penalty AND a goal for offside, with referee Mark Halsey judging Steven Taylor's foul on Jamie O'Hara to have been outside the area when it was inside and the assistant referee deeming Adam Hammill's cross to have gone behind before it was headed back for Kevin Doyle to net it. It made it Wolves fourth defeat and they have claimed only one point from a possible 15. Is it more than just bad luck?
Flop team: After the 5:1 thrashing defeat at Stamford Bridge means this is Bolton's worst league start for 109 years. Their sixth defeat keeps them at the bottom of the table, one point behind under fire Steve Kean's Blackburn and two behind Wigan and West Brom, the prior two also recording defeats 4-0 v City and 2-0 v Villa respectively, whilst West Brom recorded a draw and point against Sunderland. It is going to be a sour crunch at the bottom of the table, that's for sure - Arsenal only two points safe of the relegation places after their defeat against bitter rivals Tottenham.
Flop player: Off the field, Sunderland defender Titus Bramble caused most turmoil and has been suspended after he was arrested on suspicion of sexual assault and possession of a Class A drug. On the field, Suarez has been the man of controversy once again after his drama antiques led to Everton man Rodwell seeing red. It just spoilt which looked to be a promising juicy derby encounter.
Flop goal: The goals that weren't leave the most sour taste: Wolves disallowed equaliser and denied penalty. But Bolton keeper Adam Bogdan, making his first Premier League start of the season in place of the injured Jussi Jaaskelainen, had an afternoon to forget. Two bloopers, one easy save fluffed and one strike parried, gave Daniel Sturridge and Lampard an extra tick on their and Chelsea's scoreboard and turned an already bad enough afternoon for the Wanderers even worse.Flop news: Aaaaaaand there has been another delay on introducing goal-line technology. At this rate I'd call myself lucky if I'll get to see it in my lifetime!!!
My predictions - Actual results:
Aston Villa 1:0 Wigan - 2:0
Blackburn 0:3 Man City - 0:4
Bolton 1:3 Chelsea - 1:5
Everton 1:1 Liverpool - 0:2
Fulham 1:1 QPR - 6:0
Man Utd 4:0 Norwich - 2:0
Sunderland 3:0 West Brom - 2:2
Swansea 1:2 Stoke - 2:0
Tottenham 2:1 Arsenal - 2:1
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