PREMIER LEAGUE REVIEW: MATCHWEEK 28
The weekend came with its drama, excitement and disappointments as it was an eventful matchweek 28 in the English Premier League. Here we review each action as it unfolded in every game that took place over the sporting weekend.
Nottingham Forest 1-2 Newcastle United
The round started on Friday night at the City Ground with two teams facing totally different ambitions at opposite ends of the league table heading into the clash.
Unbeaten at home in league action since losing to Fulham in September, it was Nottingham Forest who took the lead through Nigerian Striker, Emmanuel Dennis in the 26th minute, only his second league goal of the campaign, 4 minutes after receiving a yellow card from English referee Paul Tierney.
The home side were undone by two stoppage time goals from Alexander Isak (one at each half of the game) to snatch the 3 points for the away side and keep them in the race for a top 4 finish, leaving them just 2 points behind fourth-placed Tottenham having played two games less. The club’s record signing took his league tally to 6 while converting from the penalty spot in the 93rd minute of the game.
This loss leaves Nottingham Forest two points away from the relegation zone and continue their hope for safety.
Aston Villa 3-0 Bournemouth
It was some interesting dominant display for the home side at Villa Park as goals from Douglas Luiz, Jacob Ramsey and Emiliano Buendia were more than enough to secure 3 points for Unai Emery’s men who are aiming for a top-half league finish.
Inconsistency is a key problem for the relegation battling Bournemouth as they failed to follow up their impressive 1-0 home victory against Liverpool the previous week and are stuck on 24 points after 27 games on the log.
Brentford 1-1 Leicester
It was all square after 90 minutes at the Brentford Community Stadium in London as nothing could separate ‘the Bees’ and the ‘the foxes’.
Mathias Jensen’s goal to give the home side the lead in the first half was cancelled out by Harvey Barnes in the opening stages of the second half to see both sides share the points at the end of the day.
The result means the London side are still unbeaten at home in league action since September, when they lost to Arsenal (their only home loss this season in the league) and remain hopeful of translating their performances to a European spot at the end of the season. They currently sit 8th with 42 points (tied with Liverpool and Brighton at 6th and 7th respectively). The foxes on the other hand are temporarily out of the relegation zone at 17th place having played a game more than West Ham.
Southamptom 3-3 Tottenham
The saints fought back at the St. Mary’s Stadium to claim a vital point against Champions League chasing Tottenham.
January signing Pedro Porro gave the away team the lead in the closing stages of the first half but has his goal cancelled out by Che Adams immediately after the second half restart to keep the scores level before goals from Harry Kane and Ivan Perisic extended the lead further for the away side with less than 20 minutes to play. All hope wasn’t lost just yet for the home side as Theo Walcott pulled one back just 3 minutes after Ivan Perisic’s goal and gave the home team the momentum to chase a comeback. Ward-Prowse 93rd minute penalty was the icing on the cake to seal an entertaining six-goal thriller which helped the bottom placed team to earn one point on the afternoon.
Wolves 2-4 Leeds
The weekend entertainment wasn’t over just yet with another six-goal thriller at the Molineux Stadium which saw Javi Gracia’s men triumph over Wolves.
Jack Harrison gave the away team the lead only 6 minutes into the game but tempers were flying high and cards were flashed to almost anyone for anything as the game recorded a total of 10 cards (including 2 red cards to the home side). Luke Ayling doubled the lead for the away side in the second half further aided by a third from substitute Rasmus Kristensen. Jonny pulled one back almost immediately for the home side while Matheus Cunha grabbed another goal to give the home side hope of a thrilling come-back but their efforts were only discouraged by a red card to their first goalscorer and a late goal for the away side in the 7th minute of added time by Rodrigo to put the tie to bed and ensure all 3 points were secured for the away side.
Both teams are still in the survival battle and only one point separate both sides after the round of matches.
Chelsea 2-2 Everton
Stamford Bridge was Saturday’s venue for our late kick-off with the Blues looking to extend their rare winning run.
Loanee, Joao Felix gave the home side the lead in the second half after a goalless first 45 minutes but Doucoure equalized for the visitors 17 minutes later. Kai Havertz converted his penalty in the 76th minute to give the London team a 2-1 lead before substitute Ellis Simms grabbed an all-important 89th minute equalizer to share the points between the sides.
Arsenal 4-1 Crystal Palace
Another derby, another victory, another 3 points, another record for high flying gunners as they shoot down the eagles at the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal have opened up an 8-point lead at the top of the table, with 10 games to go, as they become the first side in the league history to win as many as 9 derby games in a single season.
Goals from Gabriel Martinelli, Granit Xhaka and a brace from Bukayo Saka who became the first player in the league this season to record double digit goals and assists (10goals and 10 assists), saw the gunners match their points tally (69) from last season. Jeffrey Schlupp’s goal proved to be a mere consolation goal but was much more frustrating for Arsenal as they were in search for their 13th league clean sheet of the campaign.