Kingy’s Weekend Footy Roundup

ALBION THE ONLY LOSERS

15-11-2008

Villa, unexpectedly, winning over Arsenal at the Emirates; Albion, expectedly, lose to Chelsea at the Hawthorns; Wolves just manage a win against the Saints; Birmingham recover to beat Charlton; and Walsall gain a vital 2-0 win away at Colchester. Kingy gives an opinion on our league team’s weekend action.

Aston Villa amazingly produced the result of the season in the Premiership and deservedly thumped mighty Arsenal, with a clear 2 goal margin even though Ashley Young missed a penalty in the 1st half. 2 goals in the last 20 minutes sealed this outstanding away win for the Villains.

Ashley Young put in a cross on 70 minutes which the hapless Gael Clichy could only head into his own net. Then man of the match - Premiership young player of the year candidate for me - Gabriel Agbonlahor – sped clear 10 minutes later to seal the most outstanding performance in many Villa fans memories.

This dents Arsenal’s title hopes and enhances Villa’s prospect of a 4th spot over the Gunners to qualify for the European Champions League next season.

West Bromwich Albion started by playing well against the glittering Chelsea, but in a 15 minute spell, just before half time, the Albion were sunk by 3 soft goals.

Bosingwa sent in a speculative shot which Scot Carson allowed to drift in. Then the astoundingly in-form Nicolas Anelka scored a comfortable tap-in brace to sink the Baggies before half time. Scot Carson appeared to be flat footed and partly at fault for at least two of the goals.

The 2nd half was goalless and WBA, stuck at the bottom whist today’s opponents sit 2nd at the top of the Premiership, must now look to win 3 of their next 5 games (or draw all of them) against 8th 11th & 14th – 16th positioned opponents Stoke & Wigan (away)  Pompey (home) Sunderland (away) and Man City (home).

If Albion can get half a dozen points – or better still a dozen – from the next 5 games, they can move well up the table, depending on other results of course.

But if the Baggies don’t score wins over at least 3 of these next 5 opponents, then the prospect of survival diminishes. The next month or two are the most vital period in WBAs season – so every Albion fan is now quite rightly thinking.

Wolves secured a less than convincing win down on the SE coast against Southampton. Despite starting devastatingly with 2 goals in the opening 16 minutes – Iwelumo (8 min and Jones 17min) Wolves then conceded a soft set- piece headed goal (Pearce 21 min) just a few minutes later.
Jason Euel was rather harshly sent off just before half time in a 50/50 clash with an equally fiercely challenging Stearman.

But the 2nd half was a disappointing affair with Wolves lucky to hang on for the win against the depleted Saints who deserved a draw.

Not that this worries delighted Wolves fans as their team stay 6 points clear at the top of the Championship.

Birmingham City kept the pressure on Wolves after coming from behind at 1-2 down to beat Charlton Athletic 3-2 at St Andrews. This was a relief to Blue-Noses as it was their team’s first victory in 4 games.

Franck Queudrue was the hero in grabbing the winner on 55 minutes. As of last week, the talented James McFadden scored the 1st goal with a brilliant curler on 13 mins – only for Bouazza to equalise with a terrific volley 7 minutes later.

Andy Gray then put the Addick’s in front within 5 minutes, only for their keeper Nicky Weaver to make double errors in falling over and failing to collect a simple ball – allowing Kevin Phillips to head in on 50 minutes and in allowing in the soft Queudro winner 5 mins later.

Quashie was then sent off inexplicably for Brum on 60 minutes but the Blues held on for the win. This game was a tale of littered keeper mistakes and soft goals.

Neither Wolves nor Blues were convincing Championship winners today – but they both stay clear at the top – and the secret of success is to win even when not playing as well as expected. This is promotion form for both teams in my view.

But Blues need to strengthen in the scoring areas – more so than Wolves – who need to hang on to 3rd time in succession man of the match, Chelsea loanee Michael Mancienne, beyond his December loan-spell deadline.

Walsall overcame their successive Cup exits to record a very convincing away win at far away soldier town Colchester.

Dwayne Mattis fired in from close range on 16 minutes and, in the 2nd half, the ever reliable scorer for his original team, former England striker Michael Ricketts, headed in on 62 from a corner.

Despite discontent amongst Saddlers fans, this pushes Walsall closer to the play-off’s as they secured 10th spot and a 7th win. Not bad, in my view, considering the poor home attendances and limited finances of this super club.

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