Awesome to Awful
03/12/02 | by Mike Shaw

We’ve all seen it ... hell, we’ve probably all worn it. That look. That heartbroken, haunted, “I just messed up real big” look. On Sunday we saw it again, again from a keeper, this time from Liverpool’s Jerzy Dudek as Diego Forlan tapped home the easiest goal he will ever score after Dudek had dropped a simple header back to him from Jamie Carragher.

How times change. Less than a month ago Dudek looked awesome and Forlan well... awful. All of a sudden United are only two points back from Liverpool in second and the title race, headed by Arsenal, is wide open again. As I said last week, this is what matters - get it done now and April and May are easy.

One man who is getting it done is James Beattie, his hot streak of late has brought him 10 goals in 8 games and it was his late goal on Monday night condemned West Ham to defeat, 1-0 at Upton Park. They are still the only Premiership side without a win at home and the fans discontent is being voiced, but not however at boss Glenn Roeder. The players back the boss also, the target is the board. Although I don’t really know much about West Ham’s situation any board which sells Rio Ferdinand and replaces him with Thomas Repka, who could quite easily have just stepped off Hackney Marshes, deserves some flak. West Ham are bottom still, a point adrift of Bolton.

Bolton went down 2-0 at Man City. Steve Howey bundled home a corner before Eyal Berkovic slid home after Anelka had sent him clear.

Sunderland still sit low, only 2 points off the bottom despite their recent good run, they were soundly beaten 3-0 by Chelsea, Will Gallas fired Chelsea ahead with a sweet volley, Desailly added a 2nd 5 minutes from time and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink made it 3 late on. The result wasn’t a true reflection on the Blues dominance and had it not been for Jurgen Macho it would have been a cricket score…not an England cricket score however!

West Brom’s 1-0 win over Boro moves them out of the relegation zone, Danny Dichio scored from close range to give WBA there 1st win in 10, while Europe chasing Boro slip-up again. Blackburn ended their recent poor run with a 2-1 win at home to Fulham, Brad Friedel again awesome in net for Rovers. Dwight Yorke had put Blackburn ahead before Steve Marlet levelled things on the hour mark. Fulham though were robbed by a horrible own goal from Rufus Brevett. After Sava’s beaut in Europe it was another heartbreaker as Van Der Sar pushed out a shot into Brevett and the ball trickled in. This came after Marlet had been denied from 12 yards by the big yank who is making something of a habit of penalty saves. Also in the European running are Spurs who drew 1-1 at Birmingham. They sit just below Blackburn although only 2 points separate 6th and 10th place. Teddy Sheringham had Spurs before a rare goal from Jeff Kenna earned the Blues a share of the points.

Onto Super Sunday, a day less than super for some. Among them Terry Venables, whose Leeds side slipped to a 2-1 defeat at home to Charlton. His head is well and truly on the block…a certain Paul Hart said to be favourite for the soon to be vacant managerial chair. Leeds had led through Harry Kewell before Kevin Lisbie hauled Charlton level 10 minutes from time. As it looked as though Leeds would get a point up popped Scott Parker to score a wonderful solo goal to sink them in stoppage time. Leeds are now 16th, only 3 point outside the relegation zone…painful stuff for a side who were supposed to be title challengers at the start of the season.

Newcastle robbed Everton, winning 2-1 courtesy of 2 late goals. Super Kev Campbell had put Everton 1 up before Joseph Yobo was sent off as he hauled down Craig Bellamy after just 22 minutes. Newcastle left it late before Alan Shearer struck to level things and most importantly to win the celebrated ‘Ian Woan Goal of the Week Award’ with a thumping volley, Craig Bellamy then turned hero after being the villian against Inter in midweek by grabbing a late and rather jammy winner. Newcastle are up to 6th with Everton now 5th. Everton take on Chelsea next weekend in what now looks a pretty huge game. Make or break in fact...

Sadly this weekend belonged to Dudek and Liverpool. As Dudek floundered it was (for once) Fabian Barthez who was Man U’s hero making a flying save to deny Hamann late on. Forlan had jumped on Dudek’s error to make it 1-0 and again the keeper was at fault as Forlan fired home, beating him at the near post to make 2-0. Hyypia hit back but it was all in vain as Liverpool failed to find a breakthrough in a riveting last 5 minutes.

Dudek will remember only too well what became of Sander Westerwald who went from fantastic to forgotten in a matter of games, does the same fate await Dudek? And finally did anyone see Forlan celebrate his 2nd goal…he sooo nearly took his shirt off then presumably remembered only too well that he might struggle to put it back on again!