PremWatch 22nd September 2008

It wasn't the most exciting weekend of Premier League football, but it wasn't so bad.

Saturday saw the under-rated Blackburn Rovers striker Matt Derbyshire net the winner against a very decent Fulham side to bring Roy Hodgson's team back down to earth with a bump.

Arsenal put in a stunning performance after going a goal down at the Reebok against Bolton Wanderers. Kevin Davies had scored the opener, but Emmanuel Eboue, Nicklas Bendtner and Denilson fired Arsenal to a comfortable-looking victory. They were full of tricks and quick passing and looked good value for two big away wins in a week.

Stoke City benefited from some suspect officiating at Anfied, fighting out a goalless draw with Liverpool despite Steven Gerrard curling in what seemed to be a perfectly good free kick. Nobody seems quite sure what happened - including the referee, probably.

Two late strikes from Michael Chopra helped Sunderland to a home victory against Middlesbrough, who were apparently surprisingly lacklustre.

Meanwhile, Newcastle United collapsed at Upton Park. Michael Owen's consolation did nothing to ease the pressure on the club after David Di Michele scored twice for West Ham United, once with an absolutely sublime finish, and Matty Etherington made it three. So Gianfranco Zola's first game at the Hammers ended in a win.


England's European representatives were in action yesterday, with West Bromwich Albion and Aston Villa raising the curtain at the Hawthorns. Villa performed something of a hit and run job, fighting hard to secure victory after John Carew and Gabriel Agbonlahor had put Villa ahead with two goals in as many minutes. James Morrison pulled one back for the baggies.

Ji-Sung Park and Saloman Kalou netted for Manchester United and Chelsea respectively as United came within 10 minutes of ending Chelsea's 376-year-old unbeaten run at Stamford Bridge. Sir Alex Ferguson's team had a staggering seven players yellow carded and will face an FA charge.

Hull City threw away a 2-0 lead at home to Everton. Michael Turner and then, accidentally, Phil Neville, turned in corners from Dean Marney to put City ahead. Everton levelled with two goals in five minutes from Leon Osman and Tim Cahill.

Manchester City demolished Harry Redknapp's Portsmouth at Eastlands. Their six goals came from Jo, Richard Dunne, Robinho, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Gelson Fernandes and Ched Evans. Now THAT is a beating.

Tottenham Hotspur played Wigan Athletic too. Nothing happened.

In terms of the table, the weekend finally put the big four in their rightful positions, with the Champions League spots occupied by Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Villa. Stoke, Newcastle and Spurs form the bottom three, and I hereby vote that we end the season now.

(Photo Credits: BBC Sport)