Alone Again...on Saturday?
It's been awfully quiet around here this week, but I'm hoping to hear from you lot today on a day of really exciting Premiership and Coke fixtures. The relegation battles in both leagues are on again after last nights losses for Fulham, Hull and Southend. The sheer size of Southend's loss - 0-3 - means that Leeds have leapfrogged to third bottom (with a game in hand) and no longer have the worst goal difference in the league.
posted by gatorbob @ 9:36 AM
72 Comments:
Oh yeah, there's the small matter of the championship race, which took another small twist this morning as a Ricardo Carvalho goal gave Chelski a one nil win over Spurs at Stamford Bridge. How will ManYoo respond when they play (live on FSC!) at noon?
Here are the other Premiership fixtures today:
Arsenal v West Ham
Blackburn v Aston Villa
Chelsea Tottenham
Middlesbrough v Watford
Portsmouth v Man Utd
Reading v Liverpool
Sheff Utd v Newcastle
Wigan v Bolton
Leeds play Plymouth in a must win today. Come on you Whites!
In World Cup Cricket action, bottom of the Super Eights table Bangladesh take on South Africa today. Bangla are off to a solid start with 25/0 off seven overs.
Yes! The Tractor Boyz have scored against Barnsley. We're now a win away from safety.
A half shout for a penalty there as Reina bundles over Stephen Hunt. Nothing given.
Boro have taken the lead against Watford. More good news for West Ham. No way around it, the Hammers need an away win today against the Arse. They could also use some help from the Magpies against the Blades.
Are you out there, Sir Trev?
GOAL! Liverpool 1-0. A lovely threaded ball from Crouchy puts Arbeloa in on goal and he finishes with aplomb.
Bangladesh are 37/0 after eleven overs. It's a slow run rate but they'll be able to throw the bat around late on.
Roy Keane's Sunderland continue their brilliant run by scoring against Wolves.
Right on cue, Newcastle have scored at Sheffield. A West Ham win today would really put the wind up the Blades and Charlton.
Welcome, Sir Trev. Yes, the dream is still alive. Let's face it - the Arse have absolutely nothing to play for and loads of players out now, so it's an opportunity for a big win, which would leave you two points from safety.
Thanks for the well wishes.
Come on you Hammers!
Preston are in terrible form and their playoff hopes are fading fast. They're two nil down at home to Palace.
West Brom also two nil down today to Stoke.
Benni McCarthy has converted a penalty to put them 1-0 up over Villa, who are in rotten form and not entirely safe.
Watford have equalized, but it doesn't really affect the drop fight, since they're well off the pace on 21 points.
Bangladesh now 42/1 after fourteen overs.
Thanks for the well wishes for the Gators - it was a fantastic night on University Ave on Monday. I don't know about Joakim in the NBA - he is a clumsy mf and can't shoot free throws for toffee. We'll see.
England are not doing so well in the CWC. You may have caught something about Freddie Flintoff's "Gazza" like behavior out on the piss. That kind of indiscipline seems to plague England teams. They're in fifth place now - one off the semi-final spots - after having lost an absolute thriller to Sri Lanka on Thursday. They needed three runs off the last ball and got clean bowled!
Yes, there will be a final match on April 28th, I think.
Wigan have scored a vital goal against Bolton. They're 1-0 up.
And Villa have equalized against Blackburn.
OH NO! Plymouth have scored! This cannot stand! Come on you Whites! Don't let me down.
No, they started with four groups of four with some scrubby teams like Scotland in there to make up the numbers, but the group stages are over. It's just one big group with eight teams in it. The best four go through to the semi finals. It looks likely that it'll be the Aussies, NZ, South Africa and either Sri Lanka or England.
Unfortunately not. It's a PPV package through DirectTV that costs $199 for the whole competition. And you need a bloody international dish too! Your best bet would be to find a kindly Indian restaurant that's showing the games - that should be doable in a cosmopolitan area like yours.
I've been following on the official site, which is:
http://cricketworldcup.indya.com/
It's got a live scorecard that is quite good.
Cardiff are one down to Sheff. Wed.
Bangladesh now 59/1 after seventeen overs. They need to put on some runs but quick.
YESSSS! Healey has equalized! 1-1 now. We need one of those hat-tricks he's been scoring for Norn Ireland recently. But we're back on forty points now.
And Bolton have leveled against Wigan. Good news for both of us, Sir Trev!
Half time - Liverpool in the lead at Reading in the televised game.
The second half starts with a Reading equalizer - a cracking strike from an acute angle by Gunnarsson.
Lovely jubbly - Ipswich now 2-0 up on Barnsley.
Craig Bellamy is not pleased to see his number go up with Dirk Kuyt coming on for the wee Welshman.
Bangla have lost a third wicket. 87/3 after twenty one overs - they're in deep trouble.
Make that 77/3 after 21 overs.
Sorry, Sir Trev, I was sleeping on that one. It was right at the death of the first half. Great time to score - well done! It's on!
Luton are now two down at home to Southhampton and are now rooted to the bottom of the table with a little gap opening up. Lovely.
Unfortunately QPR have scored a crucial away goal at Coventry and are pulling away from the pack.
Whew! Fabregas has rattled the crossbar, but West Ham have survived. Still 0-1.
Sunderland now 2-0 up and heading for promotion under Keano.
Sheff. Wed. have scored a second against Cardiff. 1-2.
Bangla are at mid-innings - 92/4 from 25.
Palace now thumping PNE 3-0.
More good news for the Hammers - Bolton are in front at Wigan.
Villa are now in front at Blackburn through a superb Gabriel Agbanlahor strike.
Marcus Hahnemann's picked up a yellow card for swiping a ball just outside the area.
Stevie G. standing over a dangerous looking free kick....and Hunt clears off the line.
Bolton and Boro have added to Wigan and Watford's misery. Both games now at 3-1 and seemingly over.
Cheers, Sir Trev. Enjoy the hunt and the weekend. I'm pulling for those three points.
Not good news - the Blades have equalized against Newcastle. Warnock's side just seem to have enough grit to survive.
Bangla have reached their ton - 102/4 off twenty eight overs. A bit better on the run rate now.
Oh dear, Barnsley have sneaked a goal back against Ipswich. Come on you Tractor Boyz.
Boro have put Watford to the sword today - now 4-1!
GOAL! 1-2 Liverpool! And Kuyt has scored the winner at Reading! A neat header at the backpost.
Newcastle have scored what must be the winner against the Blades. Great news for the Hammers.
Good old Ipswich. Just on cue, they've stuck in not one but two late goals. Barnsley are now 4-1 down and closer to us on goal difference.
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!
Leeds 2 Plymouth 1.
It could be just could be the goal that allows to survive. Michalik with a vital, vital goal.
And we've completed what is probably the most important win of the season. It moves us out of the drop zone for the first time since October.
And West Ham have won at the Emirates. A great, great day for Leeds and the Hammers. Wigan have lost, Sheffield have lost, Barnsley were thumped 5-1 by Ipswich and Luton have lost at home to Soton.
Next up - ManYoo at Pompey.
Slow early going at Portsmouth as both sides are teasing each other out. 0-0 after five minutes.
15 minutes in: "United are closing Portsmouth down with such alacrity that the South Coast side are struggling to keep possession for any length of time." (From 365)
Bangla closing in on the end of their innings - 179/6 after forty two overs.
Half time - Portsmouth 1 ManYoo 0. Davey boy will not be a happy camper, but this is what happens when you ignore the sacred LOB for days on end. If this result based on Stephen Taylor's 29 minute header stands up, the lead at the top will be reduced to three points with United and Chelski still to play at Stamford Bridge.
Down to the last ten minutes and its nailbiting time for Dave's beloved Red Devilers. Portsmouth, not surprisingly have erected a large blue wall between their goal and the ManYoo strikers. Do they have the guile of champions to break it down - we'll see.
Calamity James, sporting a Grizzly Adams beard today, holds a shot from Skippy well...for once.
Sir Alex is chomping on the gum just a little bit more intently than usual today in the bitter cold air of the south coast.
Neat interplay between Scholes and Skippy at the "D" comes to nought as the Pompey defenders once again clear. 87th minute.
Suddenly Pompey break and Lua Lua is bearing down on goal....oh, he gone off for the corner flag. You'd think that Pompey were playing for something here rather than just acting as spoilers of ManYoo dreams. Very cynical.
GOAL! Well, well, well, what has happened there. Rio Ferdinand has dribbled a backpass past VDS and it's 2-0 Pompey. Extraordinary stuff here on the south coast. Gooner would no doubt blame it on the ganga, but who knows what Rio was thinking there. From little danger, Pompey have got the killer blow.
GOAL! James bobbles an easy shot from Solsjaer and O'Shea pots the rebound. It's game on! Four minutes of stoppage time to play.
Smithy has a chance but is not greedy enough. Tried to slide it across.
VDS now up for the corner.
Pompey are again playing with it in the corner, wasting valuable seconds of time for ManYoo.
Two minutes of stoppage time left for United. Ball lofted in the box but cleared out.
Oh, Smith hits a great volley and James saves. He's kept Pompey in the lead here.
Solsjaer wastes a gilt edge chance over the bar. Only about thirty seconds left now.
And it's over - full time - and it's been a quite implausibly wonderful day all round. Suddenly we have renewed championship battles at the top of both leagues with United and Birmingham losing and Sunderland and Chelski winning.
And renewed relegation battles with West Ham and Leeds winning and Sheffield United, Wigan, Luton and Barnsley losing.
Great stuff! Can you read us on the blog, Dave? CAAAAAN YOUUUUU REAAAAD USSSS OOOOON THEEEEE BLOOOOOOGGGGGG!
Hey Bob, I am sitting here in Barton Mills sick to my stomach. A horrible display from every United display. I am disgusted!!!!!!
I feel the title is gone.
Well done your lot for a great victory and out of the zone!!!!
I was driving the car in Newmarket when Five Live announce the winner.
WELL DONE
Totally depressed in England.
Read you later.
Dave
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