By Simon Wright – Follow
me on Twitter @Siwri88
The Barclays
Premier League returned in some style on Saturday, with 18 goals and some
interesting results.
Reigning
champions Manchester United made a perfect start to their new chapter under
David Moyes. United might have been
matched in the possession stats by Swansea City, and had fewer shots on goal
during the late kick-off at the Liberty Stadium, but clinical finishing was the
difference in the 4-1 victory on a slippery surface in Wales.
Swansea
started the match brilliantly, and gave the visiting backline some problems,
but the game was all over as a contest when the Red Devils scored twice in
three minutes. Robin van Persie (pictured celebrating with Patrice Evra) has
picked up where he left off last season and added another two goals to the brace
he clocked in the Community Shield last week.
Both were of stunning quality, and he was backed up by his strike
partner Danny Welbeck, who also found the target twice.
It was almost
the perfect day for Moyes. Wayne Rooney
even got a useful half an hour under his belt on his return from injury
problems that have ruined his pre-season.
Swansea’s passing was as ever a joy to watch, but their finishing
infront of goal let them down. New
record signing Wilfried Bony did find the target as a second half substitute
eight minutes from time, but it was ultimately business as usual for Manchester
United.
Not so for
Arsenal though, who made a shocking start to this season. The Gunners gave away two penalties, had
Laurent Koscielny sent off on the opening weekend for the second time in four
years and were booed off the field after losing 3-1 at home to Aston
Villa. It is their first defeat at home on an opening day since 1993. This was the result of the day,
as Villa’s plan of playing on the counter attack at the Emirates Stadium worked
to fruition. Christian Benteke scored a
double, although he did have a penalty saved in the first half by Gunners
goalie Wojciech Szczesny before putting in the rebound. New £2m signing Antonio Luna wrapped up the
three points for the visitors in the 84th minute. There were no positives for Arsene Wenger who
needs to spend and soon otherwise it could be another lean season for the
frustrated fans.
The season
began on Saturday lunchtime with a home victory for Liverpool against Stoke
City. Daniel Sturridge started despite
an injury-hit summer and scored the first goal of the new campaign on 37
minutes. The game had a dramatic
conclusion at Anfield, when the Potters won a late penalty. However, Jonathan Walters had his spot-kick
saved infront of the Kop by the new Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, who
has already become an instant LFC hero.
The 1-0 result was Liverpool’s first opening day triumph since 2008.
The only
other home winners of the afternoon were West Ham United, who reminded Cardiff
City of what the big league is all about.
The Red Dragons equipped themselves well at Upton Park on their Premier
League bow, but lost 2-0. The goals came
in each half from Joe Cole and Kevin Nolan in an assured opening for Sam
Allardyce’s men.
The honours
were shared at Carrow Road in an entertaining duel between Norwich City and
Everton. Both managers Chris Hughton and
Roberto Martinez seemed content with the 2-2 draw in East Anglia. There were no goals before half-time, but the
second half saw chances for both sides to win the game. Steven Whittaker put the hosts ahead with a
fortunate opener six minutes into the restart.
Young teenager Ross Barkley scored a cracking equaliser for Everton, who
turned the match around in four second half minutes when Seamus Coleman notched
up a rare goal. £8.5m Canaries striker
Ricky van Wolfswinkel headed home a goal on his debut though to ensure both
side got off the mark on day one.
There were
also away victories for Southampton and Fulham.
The Saints recorded a deserved 1-0 success at West Brom who really
struggled to cope with the south coast side and their high pressing game. Rickie Lambert completed a memorable week for
himself with the winning goal at the Hawthorns.
It was a penalty and came in the last minute of normal time. Fulham won by the same scoreline at
Sunderland, with Patjim Kasami continuing his excellent pre-season form with
the winner in this match. Martin Jol
might be more concerned though with injuries to Kieran Richardson (hamstring)
and new goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg (shoulder).
In the
Championship, Nottingham Forest took over at the top of the table as they kept
up their perfect record with a comfortable 3-0 win over Bolton Wanderers. The goals came from Jamie Mackie, his first
in 25 games, Andy Reid and Henri Lansbury.
Bolton weren’t helped by a daft red card from Darren Pratley early in
the second half. It was a similar case
for Wigan Athletic, who slumped to a shock 1-0 reverse at Bournemouth. Callum McManaman was dismissed for a reckless
tackle, and Lewis Grabban scored the only goal of the game for the Cherries.
In an
entertaining game at the Majevski Stadium, Reading and Watford shared the
points in a thrilling 3-3 draw. The home
side led twice in the match by a two-goal margin, but were pegged back by a
determined Watford outfit. Diego
Fabbrini struck an equaliser in the 89th minute. Millwall are now the only side without a
point after three games, as they succumbed to a 1-0 home defeat again, this
time to Huddersfield Town. The winner
came in the second half from James Vaughan.
Other
highlights included a late win for QPR over Ipswich by the same scoreline,
Charlton securing an excellent point at Oakwell after trailing 2-0 at Barnsley
and a feisty Yorkshire derby at lunchtime which ended with honours even in a
1-1 draw between Leeds United and Sheffield Wednesday.
Leyton Orient
and Peterborough both made it three wins from three in League One. Orient sneaked a 1-0 away win at Stevenage
and Peterborough beat Oldham 2-1 at London Road. Carlisle United slumped to a heavy defeat yet
again, this time 4-0 at home to Coventry City.
Brentford rescued a late point against Gillingham. Farid El Alagui scored the equaliser to deny
Martin Allen a victory against his former club, but there was a victory for
Steve Evans on his return to Crawley Town with his new club Rotherham, as they
won 2-1.
League Two
saw Mansfield Town record their first victory since returning to the Football
League. One of their new summer
signings, Ollie Palmer grabbed the winner in a 1-0 victory against Wycombe
Wanderers. Leading the way is Oxford,
who won well again, this time 3-1 at Torquay United. Southend United remain hot on their coattails,
in overcoming Northampton Town 2-0.
Inverness CT are
setting the early pace in the Scottish Premiership. Terry Butcher’s men defeated Motherwell 2-0
on Saturday. Celtic climbed into third
place with a 2-0 success at Aberdeen, whilst Ross County sunk to second bottom in the table with a 4-0 loss to St Johnstone.
The Premier
League is back but already, Manchester United and their goal king RVP have
sent out an early message to Chelsea and Manchester City. That is ‘try and match that!’
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