A weekend of two halves
06/10/02 | by Mike Shaw

Call me old-fashioned, but I can remember back in the day of games always being on a Saturday. Then the odd game moved to Sunday for the TV, then Monday night…but this?!

Over this weekend there have been 4 games on Saturday, 5 today (Sunday) and there is one tomorrow night (Monday). The official line is that European competition leaves players too tired to play Wednesday or Thursday and then on Saturday. I say bollocks. Remember when we played in Europe, I don’t remember our games moving to the Sunday. To be honest my annoyance is this, why split the weekend into two or three parts. Make up your minds please, if people are going to play on a Sunday why don’t they play all the games on a Sunday, and why should some play midweek in the Worthington Cup and not get the same rest period? Well because money talks that’s why, but anyway, the weekend’s action…parts one and two.

Part One, Saturday

West Ham stay rooted to the foot of the table (thanks lads, that’s 1 prediction wrong). 2 goals from Stern John, his second a corker, gave Birmingham a 2-1 win, Joe Cole scoring for the Hammers.

Ehiogu and Geremi got the goals for Boro to keep them 3rd, as they beat Bolton 2-0. As I said, are they really a surprise, my Boro supporting friend Helen thinks not…I’m starting to think not as well. Just across the Tyne Newcastle’s hammering of West Brom never materialised. The only thing that got a hammering was poor referee Mr Foy of St.Helens from Gary Megson. After waving away claims Jason Roberts had been hauled down by last man Andy O’Brien, he awarded Newcastle a contentious indirect free-kick 5 yards out for a backpass. This allowed Alan Shearer to grab his 1st of 2 goals, after Balis had given the Baggies an early lead.

Finally Southampton beat Man City 2-0 with 2 goals from Brett Ormerod. Marian Pahars was sent off, his second booking for diving. While I’m on the subject of play-acting I feel I must mention Darren Purse’s wonderful “Tonight Matthew I want to be Rivaldo.” He was struck on the arm in the box, but it his attempts to look innocent after the referee had waved away penalty claims he stayed down clutching his face, even getting treatment for his “injury”. Once again we ask, what is the world coming to?

Part Two, Sunday

Starting at 1 O’Clock, Fulham beat Charlton 1-0 at Loftus Road, Sava scoring the only goal. Arsenal won again, they stay top, they beat Sunderland 3-1 with Kanu scoring twice in the opening 9 minutes and Vieira making it 3 on the stroke of half time, Jody Craddock getting a consolation goal late on.

Liverpool stay in touch in 2nd, a late goal from Michael Owen giving them the win over Chelsea in a poor, scrappy and overall disappointing game, which I had of course called “The game of the week” last week…oh well.

Villa and Leeds drew 0-0 in the battle of the 2 ex-England bosses and Spurs beat Blackburn 2-1 with Jamie Redknapp getting the winner in stoppage time. Robbie Keane had earlier given Spurs the lead, only for Egil Ostenstad to equalise. The win moves Spurs up to 4th, although Man U could move above them should they beat Everton in Part 3 tomorrow night.

So last week's hopeful guesses ... to call them predictions would be a little kind! Newcastle beat but failed to hammer West Brom, to be fair to West Brom they haven’t rolled over against anyone this season and although they haven’t set the world on fire and sit 15th in the table. Survival is their ambition and picking up points here and there should do it, its worth pointing out they are above Man City at this stage of the season. (0 for 1)

West Ham went down to Birmingham and stay bottom; they look in serious danger of relegation this season and if they do it’ll be bye-bye to Cole and Carrick and Kanoute and who knows who else, Glenn Roeder will be a worried man at this rate. (0 for 2)

Peter Reid, at 8pm Sunday, is still Sunderland boss, although they went down 3-1 at Arsenal and were, according to teletext, outplayed, watch this space... (0.5 for 3)

So it all hangs on Man U v Everton tomorrow, will Van Nistelrooy prove me right, probably not, oh well.

So this coming week there’s no Premiership action due to the Euro 2004 games, so a special international round-up may be in order, or I might take the week off!