Ger McCarthy
Winners
Robbie Keane
REPUBULIC of Ireland international Robbie Keane returned to haunt his old club Wolves with a brace of goals in Aston Villa's 3-2 derby victory at Molineux. Keane demonstrated that he has lost none of his goal scoring instincts since transferring to the USA to play for LA Galaxy in the MLS. The former Wolves striker refused to celebrate either strike as a mark of respect for the club that helped cultivate his talents and already looks a terrific piece of business (albeit on loan) by Alex McLeish. Giovanni Trapattoni will also have taken note that his international captain looks fit and raring to go ahead of this summer's Euro 2012.
Clint Dempsey
USA international Clint Dempsey continued his remarkable season with a second hat-trick in three games to help Fulham defeat Newcastle 5-2 at Craven Cottage. Dempsey's 15 goals in all competitions has helped Martin Jol's inconsistent side rise to the relative safety of mid-table. Rumours of dressing room disharmony have dogged much of Fulham's 2012 campaign with strikers Bobby Zamora and Andy Johnson both expected to leave Craven Cottage before the end of the summer. Dempsey's goal scoring form has proven a welcome fillip for a Fulham side currently eight points clear of the relegation zone and looking to push up the standings.
Mario Balotelli
MANCHESTER City's brooding Italian international made the headlines once again this weekend by converting a 95th minute penalty to earn his club a narrow 3-2 victory at home to Tottenham Hotspur. Balotelli was lucky to still be on the pitch as he had earlier appeared to lash out and kick Scott Parker in the head while the England international lay flat on the turf. Already on a yellow card Balotelli was extremely fortunate to get away with just a ticking off from the referee as replays showed the nasty impact made on Parker's skull. Irrespective of your opinion of Balotelli, the striker coolly delivered a winning goal under the most intense pressure securing Manchester City's eleventh consecutive home victory of the campaign. Should City go on to eventually claim the title then many supporters and pundits are sure to point to the day Balotelli's impact from the bench helped earn a pivotal victory at the expense of Spurs.
Manchester United
WHEN news filtered through of Manchester City's late winner a succession of worried frowns spread rapidly through the Manchester United supporters faces gathered at the Emirates Stadium. They need not have worried as once again Alex Ferguson got his tactics spot on and delivered a 2-1 victory over Arsenal that owed much to the players never-say-die spirit engendered by the Scot. Danny Welbeck is developing into one of the best strikers in the Premier League, Wayne Rooney is slowly returning to his early season form and most importantly, a United defence shorn of the talents of Vidic and Ferdinand has a solid look about it once again with Chris Smalling enjoying one of his best afternoons in a United jersey. The most pertinent point from Sunday's results is that Manchester United will not be relinquishing their title without a fight.
Owen Coyle
OWEN Coyle has endured a miserable season in charge of a Bolton Wanderers side that had, until this weekend, won only once at the Reebok Stadium. A marvellous all-round team performance in the 3-1 defeat of high-flying Liverpool reminded Trotters' fans of better days when Bolton regularly finished in the top ten. The shock victory over the Anfield club helped ease Wanderers temporarily out of the relegation zone but more consistency is needed if Bolton are to stay up at the end of the season. For now at least, Owen Coyle can back in the glory of a rare victory over a top six side and prepare for the visit of Arsenal on February 1.
Losers
Arsene Wenger
THE audible boos emanating around the Emirates Stadium said it all as Arsene Wengers' strange decision to haul off Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain for the drastically out-of-form Andrey Arshavin backfired spectacularly on the Arsenal manager. Oxlade-Chamberlain had performed superbly and setup Robin van Persie for Arsenal's equaliser before being substituted, much to the surprise of the home supporters and a clearly bemused Gunners captain. Worse still, Arshavin's only contribution was to help flick the ball into the path of Danny Wellbeck for United's winner.
Wenger's assertion in his after match press conference that Oxlade-Chamberlain was ill during the week sounded hollow but there can be no escaping the fact Arsenal's third consecutive Premier League defeat has severely dented their Champions League aspirations. All of a sudden a midweek trip to Bolton Wanderers becomes a must win game for Arsene Wenger and his side on February 1st.
Karl Henry
AN intense local derby between Wolves and Aston Villa was delicately poised at 2-2 when Karl Henry petulantly dug his heel into the chest of Marc Albrighton who was lying prostrate on the ground. Referee Michael Oliver had little option but to send Henry off for a straight red card offence before ten man Wolves eventually lost 3-2. The third dismissal of Henry's career couldn't have come at a worse time for Mick McCarthy and his struggling Wolves side who have now gone eight Premier League matches without a victory and marooned second from bottom.
Chelsea
ANDRE Villas-Boas' failure to grab all 3 points from Chelsea's visit to Norwich City was significant as it represented the home side's first clean sheet since gaining promotion back from the Championship. Chelsea's forward line missed the cut and thrust of Didier Drogba on Africa Cup of Nations duty as Fernando Torres' awful season in front of goal continued with the Spanish striker failing to score and being hauled off before full time. Villas-Boas has guaranteed a top four finish and decided that a midweek break to Mallorca will help prepare his side for what should be a volatile FA Cup tie with QPR next weekend. Should the young manager fail to deliver on his promise then expect the club's Russian owner to come under pressure to replace Villas-Boas with a more experienced Coach.
Follow Ger on Twitter: @offcentrecircle
Source: http://feeds.examiner.ie/~r/iesportsblog/~3/lyjI2ozlhQk/post.aspx
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