The Best League In The World ???

In the next couple of weeks, four English clubs: Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool will be involved in the quarter final stage of the highest club competition tournament in Europe, The European Champions League. A phenomenal feat that would surely make any English natives hold their heads up high with pride and the right to claim, that today, the English Premier League is the best league in Europe and the world.

But, along with the phenomenon, comes an irony regarding English football itself. Despite having four clubs competing in the European Champions League quarter final, their very own national team failed to qualify for the EURO 2008 tournament in Switzerland and Austria. The question is why? Why can't they qualify when they have so many world class players and managers in their league?

The answer lies within the nationality of those world class players and managers. Take a look at the nationality compositions of the four clubs that made it through the quarter final. Exactly how many of them can be defined as "English?"

We have four top-class clubs and none of them are managed by an English manager. The closest thing that comes to an English manager is Alex Ferguson who is Scottish by nationality. Theo Walcott is the only top English player in the Arsenal squad, and he doesn't even see regular first team football. Liverpool only has two English players as regular starters: Steven Gerrard and Jammie Carragher. The same number goes for Chelsea.

With so many foreigners, I don't think it's fair to say that those who are involved in the quarter final can be called "English teams." Rather, they should be called a name that resembles global and European teams who use England as their base.

There has been a lot of criticism about too many foreigners playing in European clubs for quite some time now. But then again, this is the risk of progress, the risk of going global. European football, especially English football, has grown into an "international brand" for football since the early 90's. The Bosman rule, globalization, and the EU labor policies and laws make it possible for any player to work and play football in Europe, as long as they have the skills.

In recent years, we have also seen a number of huge investments in football clubs made by foreign investors. These investments are particularly taking place in England where investors see the most potential for growth and profit. Suddenly, we have a Russian oil tycoon, some American sugar daddies, and Dubai's crowned prince as owners of major European clubs. The football clubs have been taken away from their real owners, the fans. And to make things worse, most of the investors invested in football clubs just so they can sell their stocks back to gain profits. Their sincerity to put money into the long term success of the club is highly questionable.

As with any other investments, all that investors want are fast results. There is no time for them to wait for home-grown players to develop into world class footballers. They want to buy already established players, win some trophies as fast as possible, and increase the value of the club before selling it back to another blood thirsty investor.

Football clubs are being taken out of their roots all over England, and there's nothing the FA, UEFA or FIFA can do about it. They condemn the investments, but can do nothing because the reality is primarily concerned about the money. In a free global market, anyone who has the money is allowed to do whatever he pleases as long as it is within the law. And no law can prohibit the buying and selling of clubs.

This is the sad reality of global football, and it will affect the biggest football nations of Europe. Will they have strong clubs? The most definitely will, but will they have the usual strong national teams? That remains very doubtful...

Arsenal Must Win Something

Arsenal haven't won anything since the 2005 FA Cup and Van Persie, who has spent much of this season out injured, says he cannot face the thought of a third consecutive campaign with no silverware.

But upon making his return to the first team fold, the Dutchman has vowed to fire the Gunners to Premier League and Champions League glory this season, honours he believes the squad fully deserve.

Winning A Must

"We have to win at least one trophy this season. If we don’t, then we would have played all the fantastic football for nothing," said the striker. “This is our moment and we need to win something. We all realise we are in a fantastic position and this has to be our year.

Double Dreams

"I am not a daydreamer," he continued. "I really think we can win the title and the Champions League this season. Why not? We have the qualities so we just need to stick together and believe in it. Belief can take you very far in football."

Arsenal have stumbled to four consecutive Premier League draws, surrendering the league lead to Manchester United at the weekend, while in the Champions League they face Liverpool in the quarter-finals.

"It is still in our hands to win the double and we have to take these opportunities because we have something special here at Arsenal," Van Persie added before going on to discuss his personal fitness. “Physically I can’t play a full 90 minutes yet but I’m getting there and I just need match fitness now," said the striker, who started his first league game for five months when Arsenal took on Middlesbrough on Saturday.

More Games Needed

"I need three or four games to really get back into my stride but I will give everything I have whenever I’m out on the pitch. It has been a very frustrating season for me. It started really well but now all I ever seem to do is talk about injuries. Yet I don’t feel as though I’m an injury-prone person.

"I suffered a thigh injury in October and then I came back too soon for the Carling Cup semi-final against Spurs and was out for another two months. I take full responsibility for that. It was all my fault. I was too emotionally involved because I was desperate to play.”

Van Persie and Arsenal travel to Chelsea on Sunday.

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE : WHICH IS THE BEST LEAGUE IN EUROPE

For the very first time in the history of the champions league,4 teams from the same league (England) made have made it inot the quarter finals.Though this is not surprising since for the last 3 seasons we have always had at least 1 semi-finalist from England,last season witnessed the appearance of 3 semi finalist from England,something that will most likely repeat itself again should all the English Teams measure of to the standard expected of them in the quarter finals in April.

Even Spain and Italy at their best could only produce 3 quarterfinalist in between them,the question that comes to mind then is : WHICH IS THE BEST LEAGUE IN EUROPE? Or is it just a fluke ? Or is that the top four teams in England beginning to wake up ? Or is this the beginning of another dominance of England by English clubs,as was the case when Liverpool,Aston Villa and Nottingham forext won Seven European Cups In just eight seasons.

I just can not wait to see the games and most of the Excitement in the last 8 also involves English teams facing each other.The Gunners' Luck could only place them against veterans-Liverpool

Of the English quartet Chelsea will be the most happy, having drawn Fenerbahce, who on paper perhaps seem the weakest side left. However, Rick Parry of Liverpool revealed his relief at the fact that "at least we don’t have to go to Turkey." Whether this was a reference to the distances to travel or a fear of the Turkish dark horses was unclear.

It was also acknowledged by Parry that drawing an English side was bad luck, with the intriguing situation that the English four are looking some of the most competitive and strongest teams at the moment.

For the ever noisy English media the qualification of 4 Of their teams into the last 8 marks the beginning of an ear. Alex Ferguson, speaking before the draw, proclaimed that ‘the English league is the strongest in Europe’.

Even more telling than a Scot extolling the virtues of the English league was Kaka’s statement: "You can say that the Premier League is not only the best for this season but for what its teams have done over the last few years’." Soon after the draw in Nyon, a visibly relieved Txiki Begiristain, Barcelona's director of sport, also hailed the Premier League as "undoubtedly the strongest league in Europe."

You can blame the Englishmen once in a while for getting carried away, but when praise begins to come from those in the continent - there is most certainly some fire beneath all the smoke.

The fact of the matter is that seven quarter-finalists in two seasons and most possibly six out of eight semi-finalists over the same period is a feat not worth ignoring, even if Serie A and La Liga loyalists may attempt to shoot it down.

Manchester United who has been placed against Roma in a repeat of the quarter finals of last season will sure not be Happy to have Roma again,I am quick to warn the fans of the red devils not to expect a 7-1 win this time around.That said, the feisty reception the Red Devils' fans received in Rome last time round will worry some.

If they are to beat the Italian side they will have to play either Schalke or, more likely, Barcelona, a prospect that will have the mouths of fans the world over watering.

Meanwhile the winners of the all-English tie face either Chelsea or Fenerbahce. Chelsea and Liverpool have a habit of drawing each other in the knock out phases of cups. The Blues have, interestingly enough, often come off worse - unlike in the Premirship - and would be eager to seek revenge.

That said, I honestly think Arsenal has a better chance to progress than Liverpool ( forget the poor performance in the League ) though Liverpool seems to know how to play the ball when it comes to playing it in Europe so also their manager who has not been impressive in the local league but has a big chance in Europe.

This clash promises to be very interesting and full of goal and intrigues ,it is a tripple-header too, : too: the teams also meet in the league in the same week, so the sides will have plenty of opportunities to ‘get to know each other’.

This could be seen as the year the Premier League came of age, announcing itself to the rest of Europe as truly the strongest league on the planet. An all-English final would be the culmination of a true renaissance for the game in its country of origin.

Amid all the criticism directed at this country's football - some justified, some not quite - some of the great positives get forgotten, or deliberately ignored. Surely some credit is due.

I honestly think the dominance of the English League is real,and I look forward to a all English final in Moscow last in the year.I don't want to raise the dust here though but I stronghly believe in a Manchester united - Arsenal final,quote me anywhere

Yakubu Targets Top Four

Nigerian striker Yakubu Aiyegbeni is still coming to terms with Everton’s midweek Uefa Cup exit after losing a penalty shoot-out to Serie A outfit Fiorentina.The man they call ‘The Yak’ isn’t likely to internalise his frustrations, though, not with a visit to leaky Fulham in store on Sunday.


Only Thierry Henry has scored more Premiership goals than Yakubu since the 2003/04 season. Indeed, Yakubu is looking to add to his 12 Prem strikes as the season enters its crucial phase.


Yakubu insists the Toffees are ready to put their Euro heartache behind them and have fourth-placed Merseyside rivals Liverpool firmly in their sights.


"Going out of Europe will only make us more determined to finish in the top four this season," warned Yakubu. "I have a good feeling about the Fulham game because I scored a hat-trick against them at Goodison. I can feel there are more goals in me.


"They say it was the perfect hat-trick because I scored with my left foot, my right foot and a header - but for every goal I've scored at Everton, I owe the credit to my team-mates and the manager.


"Since I came here I am fitter, faster and better.


"It is a great compliment to the people around me that I have scored more goals in the Premier League than any striker apart from Thierry Henry over the past few years. Players like Henry only come round once in a lifetime and I look up to him, but the comparison will mean nothing if we do not have anything to show for all our hard work at the end of the season.


"Liverpool are favourites to finish fourth, but Everton beat them to it three years ago and we are capable of doing it again. It would be a fantastic achievement, but I believe in my team-mates and I think they believe in me to score the goals which will take us where we want to go.


"We will keep fighting together and, don't forget, we still have to go to Anfield. We were unlucky not to get at least a point against Liverpool at our place and that will be a massive game for both clubs."


Bridge Boy



Despite recent disappointment, Yakubu is relishing his Premier League career, which has flourished at Middlesbrough and now Everton. The footballing high-life is a far cry, he admits, from his days in native Nigeria with the Bridge Boys of Julius Berger.


"I have come a long way since I left Africa and I feel blessed that my career has brought me to such a good club as Everton," he said.


"My first club was called Julius Berger, which is a big Nigerian construction company with its own team.


"They had a grass pitch - not everybody in Africa is able to play on grass - and I remember thinking I was rich when I collected my first wages, which were small.


"After only four months I was spotted by Maccabi Haifa and I went to play for them in Israel. We won the title and [current Chelsea boss] Avram Grant was my coach there.


"I have been on a long journey since those days, and to play in the Champions League next season would be a proud moment."


Reds fans will be hoping that’s a Bridge too far for the Yak.

Anglo/Italian Debate: “Ronaldo Best In World” - Is The English Media Naïve?

As a person who was born and educated in England, but has Italian parents and was largely brought up the ‘Italian way’, I am perhaps well placed to understand the difference between the English and Italian/continental way of thinking, not only in football, but in culture as a whole.

Now I don’t want to sit here and preach that Italian is better as every country and culture is different. I just want to demonstrate, in reference to the Cristiano Ronaldo issue, the general lack of understanding of European football in the English media (and by this I don’t mean Goal.com which is an international website!).

I was first bugged by this issue in about 1996/97. I was not even a teenager at the time but I was already stubborn enough to form my own opinions about football, and have scant regard for what much of the media said.

Alan Shearer was proclaimed in the press as the undisputed best forward in the world. This really irritated me. “Shearer couldn’t possibly be better that Ronaldo, Roberto Baggio, George Weah, Davor Suker, Gabriel Batistuta e.t.c,” I thought to myself.

Slowly but surely I formed an opinion that the English media really had a very poor, somewhat non-existent, understanding of the European or world game. If they did not then they would have known that the pragmatic Shearer didn’t deserve to be named in the same breath as these attackers.

As the years passed my view was slowly reinforced. England took an early 2-0 lead in their first group game at Euro 2000 over Portugal, and the commentators on television were already proclaiming them as champions of Europe. Portugal came back to win 3-2 and England were eliminated in the group stages after conceding another three goals to Romania.

Then of course you had the so-called ‘golden generation’ of English talent that went to Euro 2004 and World Cup 2006. The English media boasted repeatedly that they had the best team in the world in their possession and that they would bring home the trophy.

After all they had the best left-back in the world Ashley Cole, the best centre-backs John Terry and Rio Ferdinand, the best centre midfielders in Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard, and the best support striker in Wayne Rooney.

Following a simply disastrous tournament when England displayed all of their innate technical deficiencies, manager Sven-Goran Eriksson was slated for throwing away this golden generation of talent. It was all his fault.

Of course this was absolutely ridiculous. Steve McClaren’s subsequent stint as manager, coupled with Eriksson’s work at Manchester City, has proven that the Swede actually did an excellent job, and in reaching three quarter-finals he actually punched above England’s weight. In truth this has probably been accepted now by most people, although many of the lessons, as we will soon see, have still not been learned.

My point though is that the English media makes ridiculous statements, such as “Alan Shearer is the best striker in the world”, and that “England are going to win the World Cup”, and unfortunately the majority of the nation, as is the power of the press and broadcast, are brainwashed into believing it. You are what you are taught after all.

The most recent of these preposterous declarations is that Cristiano Ronaldo is the best player in the world.

Once again, referring back to first Shearer and then the World Cup, this belief is only present due to a complete lack of understanding of the European game.

Ronaldo may have smashed in 27 goals this season, however as Gil Gillespie correctly pointed out in his Who Is Better – Kaka Or Ronaldo article, how can a player who has almost always flopped whenever he has come up against a top team/defence/defender, or in a big match, possibly be regarded as the best player in the world.

It is ignorance such as this that is so frustrating.

Only on Sunday I was watching a programme called ‘Sunday Supplement’ on Sky Sports. For those of you who don’t know, this is a weekly show that includes the chief football writers from all of the top newspapers in England; The Guardian, The Times, The Daily Mail e.t.c.

These are the so-called experts of English footballing journalism, the people that the country ‘should’ look up to for their knowledge and understanding of the game.

One of the chief writers, whose name I will not disclose, incredibly claimed that Ashley Cole was the best left back in the world. The rest of the panel did not disagree.

My first reaction was shock, my second reaction was to switch off the television, then my third reaction was “actually I want to hear some more gems such as these.”

I immediately had flashbacks to 1997 and Alan Shearer. I mean Ashley Cole is so clearly better than the likes of Gianluca Zambrotta, Philipp Lahm, Maxwell, Eric Abidal and so on. For me personally, Ashley Cole is not even the best left-back at his own club, let alone the world.

Until the English media begins to grasp a better understanding of the European and World game I fear that the same age-old football problems that have plagued this country in recent years will always be present.

The top journalists may have an encyclopaedic knowledge of the domestic game, but their grasp of continental football (unlike the journalists in Italy and other European countries) is frankly embarrassing.

What are your views on this topic? Is the English Media naïve? Do they lack an understanding of the European game? Are the English people in general being brainwashed by statements such as “Cristiano Ronaldo is the best player in the world”? I will like to know what YOU Think

Carrick: ‘Title Race Is Not Over’

Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick admitted he was disappointed by today's derby defeat at Old Trafford but insists it hasn't dented the club's title ambitions.

It was Carrick who struck what turned out to be a consolation goal in injury time as United slipped to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of local rivals Man City.

“Scoring doesn't really mean much because we lost, we’re all desperately disappointed,” he told MUTV. "We never got going and didn’t create the chances we normally do. That’s not like us.

City took the lead midway through the first half through former England international Darius Vassell and doubled their lead just before the interval when new signing Benjani glanced in a cross from the excellent Martin Petrov.

“Once City got the two goals it was hard to come back from it,” added Carrick.

“One goal down, you always believe you’ve got a chance of coming back, but two is difficult. We needed to score right after half time to give us momentum, but when we did score it was too little, too late.”

Arsenal could now move five points clear at the top of the league if they beat Blackburn at the Emirates Stadium on Monday but Carrick refuses to be despondent.

“I don’t think Arsenal will go the rest of the season without dropping points," the former Spurs midfielder continued. "There are still going to be ups and downs in the title race, and hopefully there will be more ups for us and we can overtake them.”

Lastly, he admitted that it was a shame that the game didn't go United's way on such an historic day for the club.

"It was good to see that the minute’s silence was well observed. But in terms of the game we’re not going home happy.”

Moyes Calls For Prem African Shutdown

Everton gaffer David Moyes has called for a Premier League shut-down during future African Cup of Nations tournaments...

In an ideal world, the bigwigs would have the African showpiece moved to the European off-season. These calls were rebuffed, though, by the Confederation of African Football, who are unwilling to make this compromise.

David Moyes is without Joseph Yobo, Ayegbeni Yakubu and Stephen Pienaar during this crucial period of matches. With the Toffees pushing for a European place this term, Moyes is of the opinion that the Premier League should accommodate the Cup of Nations instead.

"You cannot win. But maybe now we have to consider if we close the Premier League season down during the African Nations Cup," Moyes told AFP.

"That would be the correct respect for Africa and the players in it.

"If we want to bring players in from that part of the world we should be rightly allowed to do so, which we are, but it is not a fair playing field if you cannot field your best team."

Indeed, the fixture problems aren’t limited to Europe and Africa. Everton midfielder Tim Cahill may soon be on Australia duty, with FIFA clearly struggling to correlate the world football calendar.

"I think it's ridiculous that someone has to fly halfway around the world in between two league matches at this stage of the season," said Moyes.

"But Tim has to make the decision on whether he goes to play for Australia or not. He has got a hamstring injury just now so we will have to see if that hinders him in any way."

Who Needs Jose Mourinho ????

A quick glance at the Premiership table today shows Manchester United and Arsenal neck-and-neck at the top of the table. However, the idea that it's now a two-horse race has been thrown firmly in to doubt by Avram Grant’s rejuvenated Chelsea.



It is to Grant’s immense credit that he's managed to avoid the realisation of the predictions of impending doom and the ‘end of an era’ that came with the sudden exit of Jose Mourinho in September. As we enter the second half of the season, the Blues are well positioned in third place in the Premiership, only four points behind this season’s pace-setters. Chelsea have crept on to the coat tails of the leaders, and seem to be clawing their way back in to the title fight with more vigour each week.

One of the key reasons for this would seem to be the sheer, dogged determination that still characterises the Chelsea team. This will to win, most dramatically instilled in to the Chelsea squad under Jose Mourinho, seems to have been channelled just as effectively by Grant since he took over the job.

Indeed, after a lacklustre defeat to Manchester United in his opening match, Chelsea have not looked back. From week to week, the Blues have moved from fixture to fixture, exerting the maximum effort, and extracting as many points as possible. This approach have seen the team possess the best away record in the Premiership, with their most recent road game at Fulham showing the team coming back from an early goal to eventually win the game thanks to a Michael Ballack penalty.

Most importantly, the incredible undefeated home run at Stamford Bridge that began under Claudio Ranieri has been increased to over 70 games by Avram Grant. During this time, the Blues have recorded important home victories against the likes of Tottenham, Newcastle, West Ham, and most remarkably Manchester City, who were on the end of a 6-0 in October.

The machine-like regularity that is Chelsea’s approach to the game contrasts most vividly with the attacking verve and creativity that flows through Manchester United and Arsenal. However, this has its benefits. While the words ‘fragility’ and ‘Arsenal’ are still linked together by some, these are terms that cannot be applied to Chelsea. Indeed, the belief that exists within the Chelsea camp that Arsenal especially can be caught was shown this past week by captain John Terry when he stated, "Arsenal are still up there, but I can just see them slipping away a bit."

Indeed, the efficient Chelsea style, often derided by critics and opposing fans as being far too boring, may prove the more effective challenge to Manchester United come the season’s end. As such, it remains a question for the future as to when the attractive football promised by Grant upon his unveiling as Chelsea manager will emerge.

Another reason to expect a strong second half of the season from the Blues will be the fact that they have managed to remain in the title race during the kind of injury crisis that would sink most teams. During the last few months the treatment table at Stamford Bridge has resembled a ‘who’s who’ of world football, with players of the calibre of Michael Ballack, Frank Lampard, John Terry, Ashley Cole, Petr Cech, Didier Drogba, Florent Malouda, Wayne Bridge, Claude Makelele, Ricardo Carvalho and Joe Cole facing long spells on the sidelines, yet Chelsea have come through it.

What's more, the withdrawal of John Obi-Mikel, Michael Essien, Salomon Kalou, and Didier Drogba to the African Cup of Nations will also place similar strains on the Chelsea squad. As these players come available for selection again, a significant boost will be given to Chelsea’s ever-present challenge for honours on all fronts.

Another important factor in Chelsea’s season is the fact that whilst Jose Mourinho may have left, Roman Abramovich and his billions of roubles did not. The effects of this have already seen a depleted squad being boosted by the £15million capture of the enigmatic Nicolas Anelka, and the £9million signing of Serbian utility defender, Branislav Ivanovic. The prospect of Anelka and Drogba forming an explosive strike partnership after the Ivorian returns from the African Cup of Nations is an exciting one for all CHelsea fans.

With title rivals Manchester United, Arsenal, and Liverpool all still to come to Stamford Bridge in the coming months, the belief within the Chelsea ranks that the Premiership can be reclaimed is based firmly in reality. As such, an exciting, three-way battle for the title between Arsenal, Manchester United, and Chelsea is one that can be expected to be fought out until the very end of the season.

Source Goal.com

Worst players of the season... so far

While it is a comment that applies to entire teams, the half-term report card for certain players contains the unwanted words 'could do better'. The only consolation is that the second half of the season presents an immediate opportunity for improvement. But if not, it won't represent a year to remember for the following:

Arsenal: Emmanuel Eboue

While the majority of his team-mates have exceeded expectations, Emmanuel Eboue is an unfortunate exception. His campaign has hardly been a disaster, yet the transition from attacking full-back to right-sided midfielder is proving awkward. While Eboue provides vitality on the right, his lengthy wait for a Premier League goal is one indication that he has his shortcomings in the final third. In addition, his aggression can be misplaced, and the Ivorian could have been dismissed against either Middlesbrough or Chelsea.



Manchester United: Michael Carrick

If Owen Hargreaves was initially perceived as the threat to Michael Carrick's place, Anderson has emerged as another. Even with Paul Scholes sidelined, Carrick has been a spectator for the majority of the matches against Arsenal and Liverpool with the axis of Anderson and Hargreaves preferred. It all suggests that, though he remains a fine passer, Sir Alex Ferguson is unconvinced, with questions remaining about his capacity to dominate the biggest games.



Chelsea: Claudio Pizarro
Adding strength in depth on the cheap can prove problematical, even for a club with the pull Chelsea exert. Steve Sidwell, Tal Ben-Haim and Alex all have their doubters, but Claudio Pizarro ranks as the greatest disappointment among the fringe players. A Premier League debut goal against Birmingham promised much, but it remains his only strike and the Peruvian's performances have made Avram Grant's need for another forward evident.



Liverpool: Peter Crouch
His band of admirers appears to grow with each occasion he is omitted, but the case for Peter Crouch is as thin as the man himself. Without a Premier League goal since March, his domestic drought this season is usually attributed to a lack of opportunities. Yet Crouch has been granted 13 games in English competitions and one of his most ineffectual displays, in the ignominious defeat to Marseille, placed Liverpool's Champions League place in doubt. And because of the dreadful tackle that led to his dismissal at Stamford Bridge, he must also take a sizeable share of the blame for Liverpool's Carling Cup exit.



Manchester City: Darius Vassell
Among the enduring mysteries of Darius Vassell's career is that that he has 22 caps, all awarded by Sven-Goran Eriksson. Yet at Manchester City, Eriksson has deployed Vassell as an ersatz and often unproductive right winger, which has only served to show the importance of Stephen Ireland to the City cause. Even with a City strike-force that Eriksson appears to mistrust, Vassell has been restricted to two Premier League starts in attack. He may have ended December as the first-choice forward but with Eriksson already securing striking reinforcements in January, it is hard to imagine Vassell featuring as prominently in the New Year.



Everton: Tony Hibbert
He has missed the majority of Everton's winning run, but Tony Hibbert has the unfortunate distinction of starting each of their seven Premier League defeats. While his dismissal in the Merseyside derby was debatable, those results indicate that Everton are a superior side with Phil Neville, providing a higher quality of cross, or Phil Jagielka, a speedier defender, at right-back. Hibbert's efforts cannot be questioned, but better options are starting to emerge.



Aston Villa: Curtis Davies
At least Curtis Davies has been honest. Rather than proffering excuses for Aston Villa's Carling Cup exit at the hands of Leicester City, he made the frank admission that: 'I looked like a pub player.' A rather expensive pub player, however; with Villa having agreed to spend £10 million on the defender, such words were unlikely to have reassured Martin O'Neill. With Zat Knight, his other defensive addition, making a rather quicker impact and injury hindering Davies, he managed a mere eight minutes' Premier League action before Christmas. It should not take much for the second half of the campaign to be an improvement, and a goal at Wigan suggests it will be.




Portsmouth: David Nugent
The English striker can appear an endangered species, but they are playing a part in their own downfall. When the much-coveted David Nugent eventually left Preston, he had options, but his choice of Portsmouth should be questioned. Still without a Premier League goal, Nugent has not started since August. Apart from becoming a Carling Cup specialist, he has been reduced to a series of unmemorable cameos, while Harry Redknapp's entertaining Africans appear a class apart from their £6 million substitute.



Blackburn: Morten Gamst Pedersen
He was once the likeliest target of a raid on Blackburn from one of the 'big four', but not any longer. Morten Gamst Pedersen's slump in form has meant that mantle has passed to David Bentley or Roque Santa Cruz. Other indications of his underachievement include his omission for several games - when the right-footed David Dunn deputised on his flank - and the fact that the possessor of one of the finest left feet in the division is still looking for his first Premier League goal of the season.



West Ham: Freddie Ljungberg
Among the perplexing glut of attacking midfielders at Upton Park, Julien Faubert has been spotted least, but that is entirely the product of injury. But Freddie Ljungberg, whose descent from regular scorer to irregular presence in his final two years at Arsenal prompted his exit, has represented the major disappointment. In a stop-start season, his case for inclusion, thus far, is rather weaker than those of Nolberto Solano, Lee Bowyer, Luis Boa Morte and Matthew Etherington. The bench, at best, beckons when others are fully fit.





Newcastle: Jose Enrique
The presence of a winger, in the shape of Charles N'Zogbia, at left-back for the majority of the season has hardly endeared Sam Allardyce to many among the Newcastle support. Yet, with Celestine Babayaro paid off, the only alternative is his £6 million acquisition Jose Enrique, and it is understandable why Allardyce has been reluctant to field the former Villarreal man. With 12 goals conceded in his five Premier League starts, the Spaniard - present, if not correct, for the home humiliations at the hands of Portsmouth and Liverpool - is certainly taking time to acclimatise to the English game. Much of the £62 million Newcastle have spent on defenders in the last decade has been wasted, and Enrique is in danger of joining a roll of dishonour at St James' Park.



Tottenham: Younes Kaboul
When Juande Ramos decided to travel to Belgium for a UEFA Cup tie with only one fit central defender, his actions were explicable. The alternative was to select Younes Kaboul, who has become a byword for mistakes. A litany of errors have resulted in goals already this season, with the grateful beneficiaries including Birmingham's Gary McSheffrey and West Ham's Carlton Cole in the two games prior to Kaboul's omission. Ledley King's extended absence was lamented for many reasons, but Kaboul's continued blundering was among them.



Reading: Michael Duberry
Repeating their heroics of last season was always unlikely, but Reading's porous defence has endangered their Premier League status. Michael Duberry is one of those who, especially when playing away from the Madjeski, has appeared best suited to the Championship. Conceding 19 goals in his last six appearances to date helps explain the significance of Ibrahima Sonko to the Reading cause and the 7-4 defeat at Portsmouth comprised an afternoon to forget for Reading, in general, and Duberry, in particular



Middlesbrough: Jonathan Woodgate
Normally, the problems with Jonathan Woodgate concern his fitness, not his form. This season, however, has been the exception. The sight of strikers bettering Woodgate has been a comparative rarity over the years, but it has happened with disturbing frequency in recent months. Woodgate, usually mentioned in dispatches for England, has barely rated a mention. The cause for optimism for Boro is that the December victories over Arsenal and Derby have appeared to herald a return to form for the usually dependable defender.



Birmingham: Garry O'Connor
At least his season started well. Garry O'Connor's debut goal against Sunderland briefly pushed him to the forefront of Steve Bruce's thinking. Since then, however, O'Connor has failed to find the net in the Premier League and successive managers, Bruce and Alex McLeish, appear to have pigeonholed him as a substitute. That even the often diplomatic McLeish has told him to 'mature quickly' is a sign the Scot has much to do if he is to be anything better than a substitute.




Bolton: Gerald Cid
No one disagreed when Gary Megson, with more than a hint of understatement, announced: 'Andy O'Brien is not Bobby Moore or Franz Beckenbauer.' But the Bolton manager was lamenting the absence of O'Brien after, with Lubo Michalik deputising, his side conceded eight goals in two games. And Gerald Cid is rated below Michalik at the Reebok. The decline in Bolton's fortunes this season is a consequence of a loss of solidity, coinciding with Sam Allardyce's departure and Cid's arrival. Hauled off after a disastrous 45 minutes against Everton, there were suggestions he was injured. Few were convinced.



Sunderland: Greg Halford
It may seem perverse to nominate a Sunderland defender who missed the 7-1 thrashing at Everton but Halford's haplessness explains his absence then. And, error-prone as Paul McShane and Danny Higginbotham have proved, they have retained their places and, perhaps, Roy Keane's confidence. Halford has not. His incorrigible clumsiness has already brought two red cards and Keane has taken to selecting a squad of 16 without a specialist right-back, with McShane, Ian Harte, Dean Whitehead and Nyron Nosworthy standing in. At the moment, the sale of Halford for £3 million ranks as Steve Coppell's best bit of business in the summer.



Wigan: Titus Bramble
Yes, he is an easy target. But when Titus Bramble, under no pressure, can contrive to gift the opposition the lead 30 seconds into his new manager's first match, it is understandable why. A move from Newcastle has brought less mockery, but only because Wigan are rarely in the spotlight. He remains as prone to pratfalls as ever. At least, contrary to Steve Bruce's pre-match prediction that Wigan could not afford to concede three goals and win, he could enjoy the 5-3 victory over Blackburn, if not Bramble's defending.



Fulham: Diomansy Kamara
There was a time when mentions of Fulham and £6 million signings did not seem so incongruous. After the enforced parsimony of Chris Coleman's tenure, Lawrie Sanchez restored them to the category of big spenders. But Diomansy Kamara, who appeared the Championship equivalent of Thierry Henry last season, has reverted to the role of the Premier League let-down, with goals outnumbered by misses. Having struck only once in his last top-flight campaign, he has at least topped that tally, but, flitting in and out of the Fulham team, that is about as much as can be said for his season.



Derby: Andy Griffin
Having bought brilliantly in the Championship, Billy Davies recruited terribly for the Premier League. If singling out any one individual is unfair, given the mediocrity that abounds at Pride Park, Andy Griffin has had a particularly undistinguished season. Found wanting in the top flight in previous campaigns, he appeared an odd signing and, in retrospect, another spell at Stoke may have been more beneficial for all concerned. As an honest trier who lacks the requisite quality, he epitomises Derby, but the frequency with which his immediate opponents - including Ryan Giggs, Salomon Kalou, Lee Bowyer, Ashley Young and Ryan Babel - have scored is surely no coincidence.



Comments are welcome on this review

Arsenal Mid-Season Review: Exciting Times Are Back

The 2007/8 season promised to be an interesting spectacle for Arsenal supporters and critics alike, long before the first match even kicked off.

Countless column-inches of feverish conjecture devoted to Thierry Henry’s sudden departure, the scant spending on new signings compared to many other Premier League clubs, doubts over Arsene Wenger’s future, and questions about the experience of the young Arsenal squad preceded the campaign and dominated the summer transfer window.

Wenger, however, remained characteristically optimistic. “If you ask me if we have the potential to achieve success this year then I say ‘yes, without a doubt’. It is important not to relate only success with money,” he said with a playful swipe at his West London rival.



The Gunners’ attractive, free-flowing style of football has certainly won them many supporters; Pele recently declared himself a fan, and Reading’s Dave Kitson, despite being a Spurs fan, said effusively: “They are without doubt the best footballing team on the planet right now.” In last season’s campaign, though, style triumphed over substance and failed to win trophies.

On August 12th, the first match of the season, Fulham visited the Emirates and it seemed like history could be repeating itself. Just two minutes in, Jens Lehmann gifted David Healy an early goal-scoring opportunity, which he just couldn’t miss.

Despite Van Persie leading a fluid counter-attack, Arsenal’s opener remained elusive. An 84th minute penalty restored the balance and now revitalised, Arsenal pushed forward. In the dying seconds of normal time a decisive shot from the silky Hleb sealed the win.



Where Arsenal had looked uncomfortable at home last season, this was just what was required – the perfect tonic – snatching victory from the jaws of defeat. “Cut out the fancy stuff and shoot!” a frustrated fan had been heard to shout early on in the match; the season now looked a lot more interesting as Arsenal had proved that they could.

Like December’s 4-1 away win over Everton, the victory at Fulham showed the current squad’s self-belief and hunger for success. A willingness to adapt the style of play and to go long when necessary showed a ruthless edge that Arsenal had previously been lacking. Above all it showed a growing realisation that beautiful football alone does not get results.

The Champions League results also mirrored much of what was happening at home. The 3-0 home victory over Seville, 1-0 away win at Steaua Bucharest and 7-0 home demolition of Slavia Prague complemented the domestic league results. Arsenal’s unbeaten run now extended to 28 matches in all competitions – a club record – and reflected the rising confidence of Wenger’s young side.



November, historically Arsenal’s worst month, started with a scoreless draw in Prague, which sealed a place in the knockout stage of the competition, but wasn’t enough to take the top spot in Group H. In Seville at the end of the month, Wenger took the gamble of rotating the team in order to rest players for a tough December.

At first it appeared to be paying off, as Eduardo controlled Bendtner’s probing cross and prodded it home from close range. After Keita’s equaliser midway through the first half, though, Arsenal looked rattled and the perennial problem of defensive composure under pressure reared its head again. Seville’s eventual 3-1 win left Arsenal with the runner-up spot, even despite their subsequent 2-1 victory over Steaua Bucharest at the Emirates.



The unbeaten Premiership run finally came to an end with a 2-1 defeat by Middlesbrough on December 9th. A wrong turn by the team’s coach driver led to a late arrival at the Riverside and little time for preparation. It seemed to be an apt metaphor for what was to follow. Without Fabregas, Flamini, Hleb and Van Persie, all of Arsenal’s chances seemed to be heading in the wrong direction, until Rosicky’s 93rd minute consolation goal hit the target. Shrugging off suggestions of a crisis in depth and experience, Arsenal went on to take 10 points out of 12 in the next four matches.



Now at the mid-point of the season, Arsenal are two points clear of Manchester United at the top of the table; through to the knockout stages of the Champions League, and with hopes very much alive in the two domestic cup competitions many of the pre-season criticisms appear to have been answered. Arsene Wenger’s optimism, it seems, could be well founded.

Throughout all of the ups and downs he has uncompromisingly and unapologetically stuck to his system of play. The method he has developed at Arsenal is based on the collective harnessing of individual talent into a cohesive team effort, to the extent that players who frequently feature for their home country often have difficulty making it into Wenger’s starting XI – a strategy which can lead to some bruised egos. Germany’s national keeper Jens Lehmann has often voiced his feelings at being left on the bench in place of the un-capped Manuel Almunia.



Yet the Spaniard has repaid his manager’s faith with a display of solid form this season. While many of his contemporaries have a tendency to parry the ball away – regularly leading to dangerous situations in front of the goal – Almunia’s preference for catching and holding onto it makes him an effective shot-stopper. In a few short months, he has become one of the Premier League’s top-performing goalkeepers.

French international Lassana Diarra, who arrived from Chelsea on the August 2007 transfer deadline day, has also expressed his frustration at not being included in the starting XI more often; however many feel that more time is needed for him to adapt his skills into Wenger’s style of play.

Entering the New Year with the first half of an already-turbulent season behind them, the Gunners appear to be in a strong position. The 2006/7 financial results place them firmly among the world’s richest clubs; the 2-2 grudge match with Manchester United, watched by an estimated 1.5 billion people, may not have produced the most beautiful or inspiring football, but it reaffirmed Arsenal’s position as a truly global football phenomenon, and demonstrated their ability to grind out a result when needed. Even Sir Alex Ferguson admitted that the North London outfit have a “massive chance” at the title.



But there are many more hurdles to overcome before Arsenal take their first title since 2004. Key defender Kolo Toure, the only player to be on the pitch every minute of every Premiership game, could miss up to eight fixtures for the Gunners if his native Ivory Coast go all the way in the African Nations Cup, which is a worry for a team that has had more than one defensive wobble this season.

The Champions League tie against AC Milan will also be a challenge, and the Gunners still have to face Manchester United and Chelsea at their respective home grounds. “We have belief, we have talent, we are ready to fight,” Wenger has said. All of the necessary components are in place, but only time and performances on the pitch will tell if this young Arsenal team has the mettle to lift the Premier League trophy in May.

Ballack helps Blues fight back

A first-half Danny Murphy penalty was cancelled out by Salomon Kalou's header and a Michael Ballack spot-kick after the break.

It was Roy Hodgson's first game in charge of Fulham, and he brought Moritz Volz back after a one-match suspension, while Diomansy Kamara came in for the suspended Hameur Bouazza.

After the players and crowd paid their respects to Motherwell captain Phil O'Donnell with a minute's applause, Fulham started well, Kamara firing in a low shot at the near post which Hilario parried.

Then Chelsea's Joe Cole put a perfectly-weighted pass through to Salomon Kalou but his effort was comfortably saved by Fulham keeper Antti Niemi.

Shaun Wright-Phillips fizzed a cross-shot past Niemi's right-hand post, but at the other end Moritz Volz broke into the penalty area and was tripped by Joe Cole. Referee Mark Halsey pointed to the spot and Danny Murphy sent Hilario the wrong way to get Hodgson's reign up and running with the first Premier League goal of 2008.



Although Chelsea were enjoying plenty of possession, Fulham were working prodigiously to impress the new manager.

Kalou went sprawling after pushing the ball past Niemi but the striker was offside so there was no question of a penalty.

After Tal Ben Haim fouled Clint Dempsey 30 yards out, Murphy curled the resulting free-kick over the bar. Then Hilario saved from Simon Davies before the break.

Chelsea manager Avram Grant made a half-time change, sending on Jon Obi Mikel for Steve Sidwell, and Chelsea were soon claiming a penalty when a Wright-Phillips cross struck Dejan Stefanovic's arm.

But the Blues were soon level, when Alex headed a Wright-Phillips corner back across goal for Kalou to nod home the equaliser.

Almost inevitably, they took the lead - and it was through another penalty. Michael Ballack had his shirt pulled by Dempsey as a Juliano Belletti free-kick floated into the area. Halsey again pointed to the spot and Ballack converted the spot-kick himself.

The German then fired in a 30-yard free-kick that flew narrowly wide, before Hodgson sent on Seol Ki-Hyeon for Volz, and Alexei Smertin (against his old team) for Steven Davis.


Moments later, Joe Cole shot narrowly wide as Chelsea asserted themselves and pressed home the initiative.

In Hodgson's last change, David Healy came on for Kamara with 15 minutes to go, but it was looking comfortable for Chelsea.

Healy quickly unleashed a volley from the edge of the area which flew over.



Fulham: Niemi, Volz (Ki-Hyeon 68), Bocanegra, Stefanovic, Konchesky, Davis (Smertin 70), Davies, Murphy, Omozusi, Dempsey, Kamara (Healy 77). Subs Not Used: Warner, Kuqi.

Booked: Stefanovic. Goals: Murphy 10 pen.

Chelsea: Hilario, Belletti, Alex, Ben-Haim, Bridge, Wright-Phillips (Pizarro 88), Sidwell (Obi 46), Essien, Ballack, Joe Cole (Ferreira 90), Kalou. Subs Not Used: Taylor, Sinclair.

Goals: Kalou 54, Ballack 62 pen.

Attendance: 25,357

Referee: Mark Halsey (Lancashire).

Arsenal keep pace at the top

A quick-fire goal by Eduardo and an inspirational effort from Emmanuel Adebayor proved the difference in a game that West Ham deserved a lot more from.

Arsenal maintained their top-of-the-table status with a 2-0 win over London rivals West Ham United, but matters rarely went their way in a match that the Hammers should have at least drawn.

Eduardo’s instinctive finish from Fabregas’ cross gave the Gunners the lead (3). But West Ham refused to buckle and should have equalised on a number of occasions.

However, Emmanuel Adebayor made the East Londoners pay with an outstanding curled lob from the bye-line after deceiving Robert Green (21).

Once again the Hammers fought back and could have clawed their way back into the game, but a number of their efforts were either blocked off the line or fell just the wrong side of the posts.

First Half

A better start couldn’t have been envisaged by the capacity crowd at the Emirates Stadium as Arsenal scored three minutes into the match.

West Ham had hardly touched the ball before Thomas Rosicky slipped Cesc Fabregas down the right-flank. The Spaniard looked up and picked out an unmarked Eduardo with a precise cross-pass, and then looked on in admiration as the Brazilian-born Croat striker showed great technique to chest the ball down before applying his customary cool finishing ability to slide the ball past a hapless Robert Green (3).

The goal raised the roof inside the ground, but in-truth it was a defensive calamity from the Hammers to allow Eduardo the space to score.

But West Ham bounced back and only ten minutes later came within inches from equalising. Mark Noble and Anton Ferdinand tried to repeat the goal-scoring trick they managed against Chelsea, with Noble putting a precise ball onto the defender’s head from a corner, but Gael Clichy was athletic enough to clear the ball off the line.

On the 20th minute, the East London outfit almost un-did the North Londoners again, but this time with a slick passing move that finished with former Gunner Fredrick Ljungberg turning and firing a near-post shot that Manuel Almunia saved.

Only a minute later and Arsenal delivered a sickening body-punch, although one that left everyone gawping in awe. Clichy’s long-ball had Green rushing out to claim the ball, only for Emmanuel Adebayor to sneak in first and head the ball past the keeper. But with the ball tight to the bye-line, Adebayor took aim and curled the ball from an impossible angle over the covering the defender and into the net off the far-post (21).

The goal was roundly clapped by all and reminded the more intuitive Arsenal fans of a sublime effort performed by ex-Gunner Kanu, who scored a replica goal on his way to a hat-trick against Chelsea a few years back.

West Ham once again tried to bounce back into the game, with Noble curling a corner for Matthew Upson, but the defender’s goal-bound header was blocked by Kolo Toure.

Alan Curbishley’s men commendably fought back into the game and forced another great chance through full-back John Pantsil, whose overhead kick beat Almunia but not the post.

The score-line at half-time didn’t reflect the way the match went, but a West Ham player did receive the biggest cheer of the match, as Ljungberg was widely applauded from both sets of fans after being forced from the pitch with an injury.

Second Half

The second 45 minutes continued in the same rich vein of free-flowing fast football that its predecessor did, but only this time it was West Ham starting the brighter.

Within a minute and West Ham once again failed to apply the crucial final touch on a great opportunity, as George McCartney somehow managed to flick Noble’s near-post corner an inch wide of the post from six yards out.

Thankfully the match didn’t take a break from the relentless pace that had been set.

Both sides continued to trade swift, slick passing patters, as well as a fair few stinging tackles.

Arsenal came close to increasing their lead via long-range shots from Toure and Fabregas, plus another cute lob from Adebayor that beat Green but bounced wide of the far-post.

But West Ham responded in kind, with Pantsil and lone-forward Carlton Cole firing shots from outside of the area that had Almunia scrambling across his goal.

Just past the hour-mark and Eduardo appealed, unsuccessfully, with half of the Emirates crowd after stumbling in the box from a tug on the shirt by Lucas Neill.

The striker received the game’s second biggest standing ovation when he was replaced shortly later by Theo Walcott.

The young England international made an instant impact as he skipped away from Noble and then past Neill’s challenge, but his eventual shot was weak and saved comfortably by Green.

The Hammers bought Dean Ashton on late in the game but there was not much the bulky forward could do to change the way the match was going.

The final whistle was sounded minutes later to signal the fact that Arsenal enter the New Year as league leaders.

Essien targets Nations Cup glory

Michael Essien, the indefatigable Chelsea midfielder, will be one of the many high profile African players missing from the Premier League in January when the African Nations Cup takes centre stage.

Essien, who plays his international football for Ghana, the country staging the 2008 edition of the tournament, speaks to ESPNsoccernet on a variety of matters from Chelsea's Champions League draw and life at Chelsea under Avram Grant as well as the host country's chances in January's Nations Cup.

ESPNsoccernet: Michael, we've had the Champions League draw and Chelsea have been drawn with Olympiacos. What do you think of that?

Essien: I think it's a good draw for us and I think Olympiacos are a very good side. I think it's going to be interesting. We are looking forward to beating them and moving onto the next stage.

ESPNsoccernet: Disappointed that you didn't get your former club Lyon, or are you saving them for later? Maybe a final?

Essien: Well for me, I don't mind playing anyone. So it's good that we got Olympiacos and we'll show them what we can do.

ESPNsoccernet: How has it working with Avram Grant as the new manager?

Essien: I think so far so good. He's doing really well. We are getting our points. We are winning games. So I think he is doing well at the moment. Hopefully things will get better at the end of the season.

ESPNsoccernet: Chelsea will be very sad to lose you for the African Cup of Nations. Of course, it's a proud moment for you particularly that it's in Ghana, where you're from. How do you feel about going back home?

Essien: I feel great. We are hosting the Nation's Cup. I think the nation is expecting more from us. I think that puts pressure on us, but I think we can do it. For leaving my club to go and play is a little bit sad, but I have no choice. I have to go and help my country as well.

ESPNsoccernet: And just having a look at your group, you've got Namibia, Guinea, and Morocco. Not too bad, is it?

Essien: Well, for me, I think it's really tough, you know. Football now, you can't underrate anybody. Everybody can do it, so we have to take it seriously and work really hard. Hopefully we can win the group and go to the next stage.

ESPNsoccernet: The opening game is on the 20th of January and that's against Guinea. What sort of atmosphere do you think that'll be for the opening game?

Essien: It's going to be massive. I think that the nation just can't wait for us to start the tournament. It's going to be a really good game and I think hopefully we can win it.

ESPNsoccernet: Ghana had a great World Cup. How much has the team improved since that time?

Essien: Yeah, I think we did really well during the World Cup. Ever since, I think we won all of our friendly games. We only lost to Brazil I think, one to nil. I think the team is doing really well at the moment and we are confident that we can do something

ESPNsoccernet: You've got one of the most enviable midfields in the world with Appiah, Sulley Muntari, and yourself. How do you rate that as a midfield?

Essien: I think our strongest is in the midfield. Me, Muntari, and Appiah in the midfield I think is one of the best midfields in the world. They expected more from us so we've got a big, tough task ahead of us.

ESPNsoccernet: And if Ghana go all the way, who do you think would be your opponent in the final?

Essien: I don't know. I can't predict, but I would just say anybody. Anybody can get to the final.

ESPNsoccernet: In your opinion, what are the strongest sides out there? Maybe give us three or four names.

Essien: Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia.

ESPNsoccernet: It's a great shame of course that Chelsea will be losing you, but not only you. There's some phenomenal African players such as (see if you can cut this part out) Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou, and John Obi Mikel. How do you think Chelsea will cope in your absence?

Essien: I think it's a massive blow for the club. They will lose four important players. I think we've got great players who can do the job while we are away. So for me I don't think it'll be a big problem, because they can do the job.

Derby Pay For Penalty Miss

Derby went one up just before the half-hour mark against the run of play, and Blackburn were looking doomed to another defeat when Ryan Nelsen conceded a penalty a few minutes later. Steve Howard stepped up but his sub-standard penalty was saved by Brad Friedel, and within 90 seconds Roque Santa Cruz had drawn Rovers level.

David Bentley (pictured) put in a Man of the Match performance, which was capped with the match-winning goal from 25 yards out just before the break. Derby fought admirably from then on, but were ultimately unable to break through Blackburn's defenses, with both sides having chances to kill the game in the second half.

First Half

The game began quietly, but Blackburn looked the stronger side, with David Bentley and Roque Santa Cruz posing the main threats.

The latter did well from a throw-in to nod the ball on to Benni McCarthy, whose tame shot was saved, as his goal drought now stretches to nine games.

On 20 minutes Blackburn had a goal ruled out, with David Bentley doing exceptionally well on the left to eventually cross in for Santa Cruz to head home, but the cross had unfortunately curled out of play while in the air before curling back in for the Paraguayan to knock in.

It was Derby who took a shock lead on 27 minutes when a ball skimmed into the area was touched on neatly by Giles Barnes for captain Matt Oakley to hammer home through the legs of Brad Friedel.

Derby sought to double their advantage, as they were now playing with a confidence not oft-associated with this season’s bottom club, and as Miller charged at Nelsen, the Blackburn man was booked for blocking him off.

A few minutes later Nelsen could have had his second yellow of the game and his third red of the season when his trailing leg took Miller down in the area. He avoided the booking but not the penalty, as Blackburn’s miserable run looked set to continue.

However, Brad Friedel guessed right and went low to his right as an average penalty from Steve Howard was crucially saved. Eddie Lewis was booked for an overzealous follow-up which saw him clash with Friedel, much to the disdain of the goalkeeper’s team-mates

That served as an omen, within 90 seconds Blackburn were level. David Bentley did brilliantly on the right hand side and his cross was brought down well by Benni McCarthy, his snap-shot was saved by Price, who could only watch as goal-machine Roque Santa Cruz tapped in the rebound.

Within three minutes Blackburn were in front, Tugay intercepting well, then McCarthy and Mokoena showing good strength to maintain possession and Bentley, from 25 yards out, only needed that little bit of space to drill it into the bottom corner.

Derby did have a chance to draw level before the interval, when a corner floated in was struck not once but twice by Matt Oakley – the second being well saved by Brad Friedel.

Second Half

Paul Jewell made a substation, with Leacock being substituted for Benny Feilhaber.

It was the substitute who fashioned the first chance of the second half as he ran at Blackburn and his long-range shot was well-saved by Friedel.

Morten-Gamst Pedersen found himself in space a few minutes later, but opted to go alone when a fuming Benni McCarthy had space in the middle.

It went straight back down the other end with Lewis threading an excellent through-ball to Kenny Miller, but his first touch wasn’t quite perfect and Emerton was in quickly to snuff out the danger.

The action continued with David Bentley breaking for Blackburn on 53 minutes, he laid it off for Benni McCarthy, who failed to get it out of his feet with his first touch and his shot was saved.

Amidst the end-to-end action Mokoena was lucky to avoid being sent off; he was booked for a high challenge and referee Peter Walton was lenient when a repeat offence occurred moments later.

The game slowed down, with both sides now looking to hit each other on the break, and both were found wanting with poor touches in the final third squandering many of the chances created.

Derby began pressing around 70 minutes but failed to pierce the Blackburn defense, and they broke excellently on 74 minutes, with Warnock delivering a ball across that went all the way to Bentley on the other side, whose cross was headed by Roque Santa Cruz and tipped over excellently by Price.

Santa Cruz had another weaker effort cleared off the line from the corner following a scrap for the ball, and Bentley then cut inside from the right to rifle a left-footed shot against the bottom of the near post as Derby could count themselves lucky to still be in the game at all.

Derby were the side pressing for the final 15 minutes but failed to fashion a genuine chance out of it, as Blackburn held on for a crucial victory.

Line-ups:

Derby County (4-1-3-2): Price – Mears, Davis, Johnson (Fagan, 59), McEveley – Leacock (Feilhaber, 46) – Barnes, Lewis, Lewis – Howard, Miller (Macken, 79)

Unused Substitutes: Hinchliffe, Teale

Blackburn Rovers (4-4-2): Friedel – Emerton, Khizanishvili, Nelsen, Warnock – Bentley, Tugay (Dunn, 93), Mokoena, Pedersen (Olsson, 84) – McCarthy (Derbyshire, 87), Santa Cruz

Unused Substitutes: Brown, Berner

Goals

1-0 (Derby) Oakley, 271-1 (Blackburn) Santa Cruz, 391-2 (Blackburn) Bentley, 41

Missed Penalty: (Derby) Howard, 37

Bookings

(Blackburn) Nelsen, 32(Derby) Lewis, 37(Blackburn) Mokoena, 50(Blackburn) Warnock, 61

Referee: Peter Walton

Attendance: 30,048

Man City 2-2 Blackburn: Santa claws it back

Manchester City's perfect Premier League home record bit the dust amid huge controversy as Roque Santa Cruz scored twice to earn Blackburn a 2-2 draw.

The Paraguayan had already levelled once for Blackburn after Darius Vassell nodded City ahead.

Yet Rovers quickly found themselves behind when skipper Ryan Nelsen slid into his own net and Sven-Goran Eriksson's men seemed certain to be celebrating victory until David Bentley swung over a right-wing cross six minutes from time.

The nearside linesman Darren Cann immediately raised his flag as Santa Cruz powered home his 13th goal of the campaign, only to then advise referee Howard Webb he had made an incorrect decision in ruling a non-active David Dunn offside.

• Hughes delighted with officials

Given Rovers boss Mark Hughes had spent most of the second period berating the officials for a series of borderline decisions that went against his team, it was an ironic ruling which not only ended City's nine-match winning streak at Eastlands and cost them fourth spot in the table but also did scant justice to the tremendous efforts of Martin Petrov.

Among the glut of eight new faces Eriksson introduced at City within days of his installation as manager, Petrov and Elano have been the two undoubted stars.

Yet, while City have continued to over-achieve, the influence of the stand-out pair has started to wane.

With Elano demoted to the bench, Petrov seemed to feel a return to top form was overdue and, in Rovers full-back Zurab Khizanishvili, the Bulgarian had just the opponent required.
Khizanishvili is not a bad player, far from it. But the Georgian's lack of pace was ruthlessly exposed and he was left to look distinctly second class as Petrov zoomed past him at regular intervals.

Three times the winger reached the by-line at top speed having outsmarted the Blackburn defence. That City only scored twice was more to do with an atrocious miss by Rolando Bianchi than anything Petrov did wrong.

Bianchi is a favourite of the City faithful, who have seen enough misfiring strikers down the years to recognise a top notch talent in their midst.

Finally, Eriksson has recognised it too and been rewarded with three goals in Bianchi's last three games.

Yet the £8.8million striker must have been wishing the ground would open up and swallow him after Petrov had galloped onto Stephen Ireland's return pass, then rolled across along the face of the Blackburn goal which left an unmarked Bianchi with a two-yard tap-in. Inexplicably, he missed.

Thankfully, Vassell was not so profligate shortly afterwards when he rose to power home a far-post header after Petrov, leaving Khizanishvili gasping in his slipstream, delivered the perfect cross.

It was the trigger for a goal explosion as, within a four-minute spell, Blackburn levelled before City went in front again.

Santa Cruz must wonder if he is cursed at the moment. Scorer of a hat-trick against Wigan earlier this month, then two against Arsenal in Blackburn's following game, the Paraguayan finished a loser on both occasions.

He netted his 12th goal of an excellent campaign to level matters for Rovers, flicking David Bentley's curling free-kick beyond Joe Hart, yet Mark Hughes' men barely had time to catch their breath before they were behind again.

Petrov was the architect once more, producing a carbon-copy cross to the one Bianchi had wasted earlier. Again, the Italian was hunting a goal but on this occasion Nelsen saved him the bother sliding the ball into his own net from four yards.

The least surprising event of the night was that Khizanishvili failed to re-appear for the second half, put out of his misery by Hughes who presumably could only see major problems if the defender remained on the field.

Hughes' move worked to the extent Petrov's space was closed down by Brett Emerton, although the arrival of Benni McCarthy did little to lift an out-of-sorts visiting attack, Santa Cruz excepted.

The introduction of Elano just after the hour mark threatened more, especially when the Brazilian neatly controlled Christopher Samba's poor clearance on his chest and then sent a dipping volley inches wide.

With Blackburn's threat withering, there appeared only one outcome.

It still appeared the case even when Santa Cruz nodded home Bentley's late corner.

But, after discussion between Webb and his brave assistant, Blackburn had their point and City's proud home record had gone.

• Hughes delighted with officials

Blackburn boss Mark Hughes backed the 'brave' call of assistant referee Darren Cann which wrecked Manchester City's 100 per cent home league record.

'The flag went up very early and when you see that, you expect the goal to be chalked off,' said Hughes. 'In fairness to the assistant, he was strong enough and brave enough to admit that he had made a mistake. We are grateful for that, although it was the right decision.'

Hughes admitted the massive grey area which now exists over the offside rule makes controversy inevitable.

However, the Blackburn chief has fallen victim to debatable decisions often enough in the past to feel justice was done this evening.

'Sometimes, it is very difficult to know the difference between black and white,' he said. 'There seems to be more grey now. That is where the debate will always be.

'We have had examples in the past where we have felt hard done by, where decisions relating to phase one and phase two have gone against us.

'But if the referee explains it, I think most people would say it was the correct decision.'

Having seen his side concede an equally controversial goal at Tottenham recently, City boss Sven-Goran Eriksson could be forgiven for feeling somewhat hard done by.

Yet the Swede remained his usual ice-cool self, although he indicated he felt the ruling was wrong.

'Dunn was in an offside position and he tried to flick the ball but it went over him,' observed Eriksson.

'By being in that position, Dunn decides what our goalkeeper is going to do. Whether that is interference according to FIFA I don't know but to me it is interference. I asked the referee to explain it to me afterwards and he did say it is a big grey area.'

The result denied City fourth spot in the Premier League table ahead of Sunday's eagerly-awaited clash with Liverpool.

And it also did scant justice to the efforts of wide man Martin Petrov, who was a constant threat throughout the contest, created both City goals for Darius Vassell and Ryan Nelsen, who unfortunately turned the ball into his own net, and would have had a third assist if Rolando Bianchi had not inexplicably failed to convert a two-yard tap-in.

Yet, even Petrov could not argue against Santa Cruz's right not to finish on the losing side again.

Having scored a hat-trick against Wigan and been beaten and then netted twice against Arsenal in Blackburn's next game and gone down in that one as well, it would have been harsh in the extreme on the South American if his team-mates had failed him again.

'Roque makes things happen in the box,' said Hughes. 'He is a big guy and an intelligent player who makes great runs.

'He is frustrated, as we all are, about the fact his goals have not brought us greater reward but we have just been giving ourselves too much to do.'