Back of the Net!

Anyone who ever had any doubt on the quality and entertainment factor of the English Premier League should be eating their words by now following an action packed Saturday of football which didn’t even feature Manchester United, Chelsea or Liverpool.

With several fixtures due to be played on Sunday, however, Arsenal have made clear that while they may not be the team they once were, they can certainly compete at this stage of the season as they easily dispatched a constantly in transition Newcastle United team 3-0.  Two first half goals from Robin Van Persie helped the home side on their way against the travelling Geordies who really don’t seem to be able to get any luck either on the pitch or behind the scenes.

Bolton and West Brom were the only teams who failed to tally any goals, drawing 0-0 and giving West Bromwich Albion their first point of what looks like a tough season for them.  All the action was taking place elsewhere

What happened at Goodison Park?  Everton were soundly trounced 0-3 by visiting Portsmouth, adding to the woes of a mixed bag in the transfer market.  Two goals in from England’s Jermaine Defoe in particular set Portsmouth apart from the home side, and it is telling that both of these teams need to improve before engaging in UEFA Cup action next month.

Result of the day however has to be little Wigan’s ultimate trouncing of Premiership new boys Hull.  Very similar clubs, of similar sizes, with one key difference: Hull; are a couple of season’s behind Wigan, who won this match based on manager Steve Bruce’s experience and the attitude of the team.  A 0-5 scoreline saw former England international Emile Heskey get on the scoresheet, with Hull helping the visitors on their way with an early own goal.

I have a soft spot for Hull; their team is made up of a number of former Middlesbrough players, and it’s good to see how they’re getting on.  Evidently they’ve already started to bang in their own net too - the Boro have now managed three own goals in consecutive league games and I suspect that is a club record.  As it ended, Middlesbrough managed to hold off newcomers Stoke, who had a man sent off and looked as though they could scrape a point after Justin Hoyt equalised into his own net following Afonso Alves‘ rasping free kick.  With Stewart Downing missing a penalty I thought the game was up at the Riverside, so thank you Tuncay for saving our blushes!

Saturday’s program was rounded off with West Ham United hammering Blackburn 4-1 - a scoreline that was just 2-1 at half time and after 90 minutes, with the Hammers slotting home two in injury time and pushing themselves into 4th place in the table.  The significance of the match to the visiting manager is evident in the accompanying photo - Paul Ince made his name at West Ham before moving to Manchester United and becoming England captain.

There’s more to come this weekend as the EPL continues and Serie A and La Liga kick their first balls of the season in anger…

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