Premier League Wrap (Week 10)

A number of late scores and drama this week as the Premier League hits full swing, full recap after the jump.

Saturday, October 30 – Arsenal 1, West Ham United 0
The infamous Robert Green, known for bungling a seemingly easy save to give up the USA’s equalizer in the World Cup, put in a fantastic performance in front of a partisan crowd at Emirates Stadium only to see Alex Song nod home the winner off a Gael Clichy cross two minutes from regulation. Green and West Ham had dodged a number of bullets up to that moment, tallying nine saves and weathering a strong Arsenal attack that possessed for nearly two-thirds of the match and fired 23 shots.

Saturday, October 30 – Blackburn Rovers 1, Chelsea 2
Blackburn has historically been a tough team to beat at Ewood park, and Saturday was no different, but ultimately Branislav Ivanovic headed home an 84th minute score to seal victory for the defending champions. Benjani Mwaruwari opened up the scoring for Blackburn, who controlled much of the opening 45 minutes. The Zimbabwean nodded in a deserved lead on 21 minutes. Six minutes from the half, a Nicolas Anelka strike on the end of a brilliant build up from Florent Malouda and Didier Drogba allowed the Blues to go into the break even. Blackburn still pressed for the winner well into the match, coming up short on a number of opportunities before Ivanovic put it out of reach.

Saturday, October 30 – Everton 1, Stoke City 0
Break up the Blues! After finding themselves sitting last in the Premiership six matches in, the Toffees have gone unbeaten over their last five matches. Yakubu gave the Goodison Park faithful something to cheer about 67 minutes in, sending a rebound into the top of the net, the first score for an Everton striker this season. The match was also marked by the return Mikel Arteta to the lineup, and Jack Rodwell was available for the first time since a scary leg injury earlier this season. Stoke City seemed fine playing for the draw for most of the match, and never really tested Tim Howard in net.

Saturday, October 30 – Fulham 2, Wigan Athletic 0
There were many who felt Fulham might struggle a bit with the loss of Bobby Zamora, but it appears that the Cottagers may have a savior of sorts in American Clint Dempsey. The US international scored a brace in the first half, which is all FFC would need to knock off a Wigan side that had impressed as of late. Dempsey headed home a Carlos Salcido cross for the opener on 30 minutes, and put it out of reach for the Latics just moments before the half. The Texan struck again off a Chris Baird pass in the 44th, handing Fulham their first win in three weeks.

Saturday, October 30 – Wolverhampton Wanderers 2, Manchester City 1
In what will go down as one of the bigger upsets of the early goings of this Premier League season, Wolves responded to an early deficit by knocking off a Man City team that had been playing as well as anyone over the last month. The embattled Emmanuel Adebayor scored his first goal this season off a penalty kick in the 23rd minute, but Nenad Milijas would respond seven minutes later after a deflected cross landed at his feet in the box. Wolves was on the receiving end of another fortuitous bounce as Kolo Toure blocked a shot only for the ball to land at the feet of David Edwards for the winner on 57 minutes. The match was the first victory for Wolverhampton since opening day.

Saturday, October 30 – Manchester United 2, Tottenham Hotspur 0
Tottenham entered Saturday’s match having not won at Old Trafford in 21 years, and it looks like that streak may go up to 22 years. Nemanja Vidic opened up the affair for the Red Devils, heading home a 31st minute Nani cross off a set piece. Nani would also provide the final tally in controversial fashion six minutes from time. Spurs keeper Gomes set up for what he thought was a free kick, Nani capitalized on the live ball in the box slotting home the easy score. Despite the Tottenham protests, Man U was clearly the better side, and it’s hard to imagine Spurs would’ve equalized late, Nani goal or not.

Sunday, October 31 – Aston Villa 0, Birmingham City 0
In one of those ever-so-memorable nil-nil draws, Birmingham City ended a six match losing streak to their local rivals in a physical derby clash. The only real memorable moment for either side was Aston Villa’s Nigel Reo-Coker appearing to get away with a handball in the waning moments of the first half, but ultimately the match was pretty forgettable.

Sunday, October 31 – Newcastle United 5, Sunderland 1
Newcastle completely and utterly outplayed an overmatched Sunderland side that had entered the fixture as a stout defensive side. Kevin Nolan netted a brace within the first 34 minutes, and added a third 15 minutes from time. Shola Ameobi scored on a penalty just moments before the half, and doubled his total on 70 minutes. The Black Cats played a man down for much of the second half after former Magpie defender Titus Bramble was sent off in the 53rd. Darren Bent would salvage just a tad of dignity in the games waning moments.

Sunday, October 31 – Bolton Wanderers 0, Liverpool 1
The Reds are now out of the relegation zone, utilizing a late Maxi Rodriguez score to send the Reebok Stadium faithful home discouraged. Bolton entered play on their best start in years, but the 86th minute score gave the Trotters a seemingly-undeserved loss as both sides were very evenly matched. For Liverpool, the match ended a month long stay among the bottom three, perhaps cooling just a little bit of the heat on Roy Hodgson’s seat.

Monday, November 1 – Blackpool 2, West Bromwich Albion 1
Playing 11-on-9 soccer for much of the match, Blackpool earned their first home victory of the season on Monday. Charlie Adam slotted home a 12th minute penalty kick that saw Baggies defender Pablo Ibanez get sent off. On 29 minutes, Gonzalo Jara cut down Luke Varney with a decidedly bad challenge to earn a straight red. Varney would double the lead for the Seasiders in the 62nd minute, and Youssuf Mulumbu would set up a nervous ending after cutting the deficit to one in the 85th.