by Trapper John » Sun Dec 10, 2017 11:33 am
Summary of Saturday's Premier league games sees what will probably be the most surprising result of the weekend.
A Low on confidence West Ham entertained last season's champions Chelsea in a game no-one assumed would be anything other than a victory for Conte's team. Not so, David Moyes is making slow but genuine progress since taking over as manager and this game was proof of that. A well taken goal by Arnautovic, his first for the Hammers after 6 minutes put Chelsea in disarray. A West Ham side that just a few weeks ago, wouldn't have been able to hold on to that, they did as Moyes defensive know how gave them a well deserved 1-0 victory and 3 valuable points.
Another new face in a hotseat is Roy Hodgson who since taking over at Crystal Palace has seen his side play extremely well in many games yet fail to come away with anything, due to a myriad unfortunate turns of fate. Yesterday's game was another to add to the list as Bournemouth visited Selhurst Park and took a 1-0 lead after 10 minutes through Jermain Defoe. The goal shouldn't have stood as an obvious foul was commited before Defoe netted, which neither the ref or linesmen appeared to see. A penalty gave Palace the equaliser 4 minutes before half time and 3 minutes later the lead as Scott Dann converted. It looked as if Palace would go in as half time leaders but a wonder/ lucky goal from Defoe levelled it at 2-2 in 3 minutes of added first half time.
Palace continued to batter Bournemouth's goal but with little luck and so it remained until into the 3rd minute of added time at the end of the game, Zaha was brought down in the Bournemouth box. The second penalty of the game was awarded but instead of the scorer of the first taking it, Christian Benteke, the Premier league's least confident striker insisted on taking it, much to the disgust of many of his team mates. It was poorly taken and saved leaving the final score at 2-2 and once again Palace ruing their misfortunes.
In the other games, Spurs welcomed a Stoke side who after a bright start to the season have been on a slide since their whooping by Man City. Nevertheless it took an own goal by Stoke's Ryan Shawcross to break the ice halfway through the first half. It remained that way until early in the second half, as Spurs starting the sharper of the two teams, scored 3 goals in 12 minutes to put the result beyond doubt. A fifth goal came 15 minutes from time before Shawcross made up for his unfortunate own goal by adding a consolation 10 minutes from time. The game ended 5-1 to Spurs.
Yesterday's early game featured Newcastle against visitors Leicester a close game with perhaps the geordies having the best of it for the most part. Rafa Benitez side also hasn't had much fortune of late and again it wasn't going to shine on them. After taking the lead they found themselves behind from goals by Mahrez and Gray by 60 minutes. Dwight Gale levelled at 2-2 with 15 minutes to go and it looked like a share of the points, though both sides kept pressing. Misfortune once again struck though as a last push from Leicester brought about a deflection and an own goal giving Leicester a not particularly deserved 2-3 win. Newcastle will be very disappointed they didn't come away with at least a point, they did deserve that.
This season's newcomers Huddersfield and Brighton came together to see the home side take the honours in commanding fashion with a confident win, Huddersfield 2 Brighton 0.
Sean Dyche's Burnley continue to create news as they tough it out with the big boys at the top of the league. The 1-0 victory against visitors Watford wasn't the whole story though, Watford had the best of the game by far and will curse themselves for not coming away with at least something.
Finally, under pressure manager Paul Clement saw his side Swansea take on WBA and the last of the most recent managerial appointments, Alan Pardew. In an evenly matched game which was perhaps just for the supporters of both clubs, there was little to write home about. The good news for the Welsh side is that they won the game 1-0 and it was scored by 'prodigal son' Wilfried Bony who seems to have finally found his shooting boots by scoring in each of his last two outings. Clement gets a respite from the pressure for at least the rest of the weekend by bagging his first 3 points in 8 games and keeping the Swans off the foot of the table.
