The Premier League round-up

Another goal fest in the top English football league this weekend as we hit mid November.

Goal of the weekend

Defender Luke Young‘s goal at Stoke City. The definition of a team goal involving Jamie Mackie, Shaun Wright-Phillips and the goalscorer Luke Young. As the latter two exchanged passes in the box, Mackie’s ball across goal was swept home by the left back to give Queens Park Rangers three points at Britannia Stadium.

Save of the weekend

Liverpool’s Jose Reina away to Chelsea on Sunday. After seeing an effort go past him a minute earlier, Branislav Ivanovic’s header from a Didier Drogba free-kick looked to be in the bottom corner, but for the Spaniard pulling off a brilliant low, reaction dive to tip the ball around the post.

Club of the weekend

Blackburn Rovers. The Lancashire side are currently having a torrid time in the league, but for me they were this week’s club of the weekend. After finding themselves a man and a goal down away to Wigan Athletic, Rovers battled back to score two equalisers – one in the last-minute – and earn a valuable point.

Player of the weekend

Liverpool right back Glen Johnson. The England international had a tough time marking Florent Malouda and Ashley Cole but he had the final laugh after waltzing past the Chelsea defenders to score a late winner against his former club. He also earned the man of the match status and all-in-all, done a decent job for the injured Jamie Carragher.

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Miss of the weekend

Scott Sinclair‘s open goal v Manchester United. The Swansea City winger found himself unmarked in the six-yard box and after Wayne Routledge picked him out, Sinclair completely missed the ball to the despair of the Welsh fans.

Worst decision of the weekend

Blackburn’s second goal against Wigan. This was a bizarre one, Yakubu placed the ball down next to the corner flag and left it for Morten Gamst Pedersen to take. The Norwegian then played it to himself – thinking Yakubu touched it – crossed it and David Hoilett equalised. There was hardly any appeals from Wigan players and the goal stood, despite television replays showing different.

What went wrong?

The referee was against Stoke. It’s not often City lose at home, but they were convincingly beaten at the Britannia by QPR. Some of the blame could have been towards the defenders – especially with the third goal – but the referee also didn’t help. Mr Jones waved away two blatant penalties for Stoke as Jermaine Pennant and Robert Huth were both tripped by Joey Barton. Also, the Potters’ record signing Peter Crouch has yet to impress in the red and white shirt and fans may start to get frustrated with his lack of goals.

Aaron Aquilina
@P_D_L_P