Premier 10 Minute by Minute Review – March 15, 16 & 17
The Premier 10 Jackpot Rollover will carry on for yet another week since no-one scooped all ten correct results as the weekend saw Manchester United leapfrog Arsenal into first place in the Premier League. The Gunners misfired again and Liverpool took a huge step to ensuring Champions League qualification for next season as the Toffees came unstuck yet again at lowly Fulham. Here’s your minute by minute guide to how the weekends Premier 10 matches unfolded.
FIRST HALF GOALS
5 MINS - Marek Matejovsky
LIVERPOOL 0-1 READING
10 MINS - John Terry
SUNDERLAND 0-1 CHELSEA
11 MINS - Jermain Defoe
PORTSMOUTH 1-0 ASTON VILLA
19 MINS - Roque Santa Cruz
WEST HAM 0-1 BLACKBURN
19 MINS - Javier Mascherano
LIVERPOOL 1-1 READING
25 MINS - Jeremie Aliadiere
ARSENAL 0-1 MIDDLESBROUGH
32 MINS - Robbie Keane
MANCHESTER CITY 0-1 TOTTENHAM
33 MINS - James McFadden
BIRMINGHAM 1-0 NEWCASTLE
34 MINS - Emile Heskey
WIGAN 1-0 BOLTON
38 MINS - Nigel Reo-Coker (Own Goal)
PORTSMOUTH 2-0 ASTON VILLA
39 MINS - Dean Ashton
WEST HAM 1-1 BLACKBURN
SECOND HALF GOALS
48 MINS - Fernando Torres
LIVERPOOL 2-1 READING
56 MINS - Michael Owen
BIRMINGHAM 1-1 NEWCASTLE
59 MINS - Stephen Ireland
MANCHESTER CITY 1-1 TOTTENHAM
67 MINS - Brian McBride
FULHAM 1-0 EVERTON
72 MINS - Nedum Onuoha
MANCHESTER CITY 2-1 TOTTENHAM
76 MINS - Cristiano Ronaldo
DERBY 0-1 MANCHESTER UNITED
81 MINS - Freddie Sears
WEST HAM 2-1 BLACKBURN
86 MINS - Kolo Toure
ARSENAL 1-1 MIDDLESBROUGH
The biggest home banker of the weekend was at Pride Park where the rampant Red Devils were expected to make mincemeat of the rock bottom Rams. However, despite a 98% Premier 10 backing it wasn’t until the 76th minute that the twinkle-toed Portuguese winger Cristiano Ronaldo finally broke the deadlock despite a personal duel with the Derby goal. The home side could have pulled off a real shock had it not been for the goalkeeping ability of United’s Ben Foster after a long injury lay-off.
Liverpool kept up their hot winning streak as a whopping 92% of you expected though they did fall behind to a stunning Marek Matejovsky goal after just 5 minutes. However the Royals recent revival was soon crushed as the Reds expensive signings Javier Mascherano and Fernando Torres scored in both halves. They’re now firmly in the driving seat for the last remaining Champions League slot.
Portsmouth and Jermain Defoe’s good form continued as they completed the League ‘double’ over Villa at the weekend. The majority of Premier 10 players (45%) backed a draw in this one as both teams on paper look relatively evenly matched. However, deadly Defoe made it 6 goals in just 6 games since his move from Tottenham and a highly unlucky Nigel Reo-Coker own goal ended the Villans hopes and gave 34% of you the result you craved.
Chelsea have bounced back from cup disappointment to maintain their drive for the title. The Blues put on a Mourinho-esque performances to the delight of 90% of you by grinding out a 1-0 win at Sunderland. Captain John Terry scored the only goal and his first for the club since August 2006. A mere 3% backed the Black Cats to shock the Stamford Bridge Billionaires but the Blues stayed strong and are on course for a title showdown with United and Arsenal, particularly if they win on Wednesday night at Tottenham.
West Ham ended their sequence of 4-0 defeats with a customary home win over Blackburn at Upton Park. Despite their appalling form the Hammers were backed to win by 35% of Premier 10 players and so it turned out. Rovers had taken the lead which would have pleased the 28% of you that backed an away win but goals from Dean Ashton and young debutant Freddie Sears put paid to those hopes. This result should also relieve the growing pressure on Alan Curbishley in the Hammers hot seat.
The Gunners slipped to their 4th consecutive League draw at home to a weak Boro side which ruined the chances of 93% of you of picking up the Jackpot this weekend. It could have been worse for Arsenal as only a late Kolo Toure header cancelled out ex-Gunner Jeremie Aliadiere’s first half strike. The Boro opener was contentious as the Frenchman was offside in the move that led up to his goal but then again so was Mido’s red card and the award of the Arsenal corner that led to the equaliser. These events and decisions make these fixtures so difficult but so exciting to predict.
The Sunday matches kicked off with a rare Fulham win over high-flying Everton. Despite having an unbelievable 42-year unbeaten home record over the Toffees only 7% of you backed a Cottagers win. This result ended a depressing week for the Merseyside club after being dumped out of Europe in midweek. The fact that the damage was inflicted by a former Blue in the shape of American veteran Brian McBride only rubbed salt in the wounds of the Everton faithful and the 72% of you backed an away win.
Steve Bruce’s impressive reign at the JJB continued as they won 1-0 at home to free-falling Bolton. Despite resting his first team during the Uefa Cup defeat at Sporting Lisbon in midweek, Gary Megson saw his side lose yet again. The Latics heroics are even more impressive if you take into account that Jason Koumas was sent-off after just 4 minutes of this relegation 6-pointer. Cometh the hour, cometh Emile Heskey, the England forward grabbed just his 2nd goal of the season to create a 6-point gap between the clubs and to delight 55% of you who backed Bruce’s boys.
Tottenham’s poor away form continued as City ended a dismal run against the North Londoners and picked up their first home win of 2008. The draw was backed highest by Premier 10 players (43%) and a mere 26% expected the Citizens to take the points. However, the match turned on a dubious Stephen Ireland equaliser which was proven to be offside and the rest, as they say is history. Juande Ramos and the 31% who backed Spurs should know their lucks not in when defender Nedum Onuoha finally nets his first for the club.
Monday night’s game saw Newcastle pick up a much needed point at St Andrew’s which proved fruitful for 31% of you. Such is the Toon’s poor form that 50% backed the home side to pile on the misery. Despite falling behind to a James McFadden goal, Newcastle fans were reminded that even though they haven’t won in 9 games under King Kev, they still have the diminutive hitman Michael Owen who netted to share the spoils.
Once again, no-one predicted all 10 correct results so the rollover continues this week. This could lead to an exciting Easter earner of an estimated £18,750 for one Premier 10 predicting genius this coming weekend, good luck!
Tags: 16th, 17th, March 15th, Premier 10 review, Premier League
