Trollheart's Match of the Day Thread

[Saulaac]

I don't know, matey. Macclesfield Town was my closest team after birth, and I must say I cannot deny the local footy team. Macc Lads were also a great band.

I mean I'm definitely not a lizard. Jesus no. Fuck that for a game of chess.

[Trollheart]

Lizard?

[Trollheart]

Saturday May 10 2025

Bournemouth v Aston Villa
Southampton v Manchester City
Fulham v Everton
Wolves v Brighton & Hove Albion
Ipswich Town v Brentford


Teams: Bournemouth v Aston Villa
Regions: Dorset v Birmingham
Managers: Andoni Iraola v Unai Emery
Ground: The Vitality Stadium
Respective current positions (Before match): 8 & 7

20 minutes before any chances, the first going to the home side but saved, then in the dying moments of the half Asensio came close but back off the post. In extra time at the end of the half Villa went on the attack again but a double save kept us out, then in the sixth minute of added time we scored to take the lead. Our attack continued as the second half opened, but unable to add to our lead, then ten minutes from the end Ramsay sent off, which left us in a really bad position, now trying to hang on to our one-goal lead. Totally on defence now as Bournemouth pressed their advantage, but thanks to a great performance from Martinez we held on to the lead to take all three precious points. Europe beckons!

Result: Bournemouth 0 - 1 Aston Villa
Scorer(s): Watkins (AST)
Penalties: None
VAR decision(s), if any: None
Red Cards: 1
Controversies: None
Respective current positions (After match): 10 & 6
Respective final positions: 10 & 6
Effects: Bournemouth drop two places while we rise one, to be in contention for Europe.


Teams: Southampton v Manchester City
Regions: Hampshire v Manchester
Managers: Simon Rusk v Pep Guardiola
Ground: St. Marys
Respective current positions (Before match): 20 (Relegated) & 3

Running out the clock now, Southampton probably could have done without the visit of Man City, chasing second place in a real revival for Guardiola's team, and an early free kick could have had the Manchester team ahead but the Saints hung on. As the half-hour passed another chance for City to open the scoring from another free, but DeBruyne uncharacteristically off-target, so the home side kept them out till the break.

On the hour a third free for the visitors, another miss, the return of Erling Haaland not seeming to have been the bonus for City that was expected. They certainly had all the chances, Southampton playing deep in defence, but City yet to make something of any of their chances despite the Southampton goal being under siege, Ramsdale playing a blinder. In extra time Man City came close to finally breaking down the stubborn - could you say valiant? Ah yes you could - resistance of Southampton but it cracked off the bar, and in fact the Saints could have taken it themselves at the death, but managed to hold off City to a nil-all draw.

Result: Southampton 0 - 0 Manchester City
Scorer(s): N/A
Penalties: None
VAR decision(s), if any: None
Red Cards: None
Controversies: None
Respective current positions (After match): 20 (Relegated) & 3
Respective final positions: 20 (Relegated) & 4
Effects: City lose the chance to go 2nd, and are displaced at 3rd by Newcastle. Southampton at least avoid the worst-ever points total in Premier League history (that's still held by Derby County, 11 points).



Teams: Fulham v Everton
Regions: London v Merseyside
Managers: Marco Silva v David Moyes
Ground: Craven Cottage
Respective current positions (Before match): 11 & 14

First shot from the home team on ten minutes, but straight at the keeper, seven minutes later it was a different story as Jiminez opened the scoring. Fulham continued to pile on the pressure, coming close five minutes later to doubling their lead, Everton without a shot in the whole of the first half. Well, one shot, right in the final minute of extra time - which levelled, very much against the run of play.

Back came Fulham in the first minutes of the second half, trying to re-establish their lead, but with 20 minutes to go it was in fact Everton who took the lead from a corner, silencing Craven Cottage. It got even quieter in the home end when Everton took a second in two minutes, three in total now. Certainly turned the game around.

Result: Fulham 1 - 3 Everton
Scorer(s): Jiminez (FUL); Mykolenko, Keane, Beto (EVE)
Penalties: None
VAR decision(s), if any: None, but they tried to tell the ref to award a penalty for a handball, but for once he stuck to his guns.
Red Cards: None
Controversies: None
Respective current positions (After match): 11 & 13
Respective final positions: 11 & 13
Effects: Everton climb one place.


Teams: Wolves v Brighton & Hove Albion
Regions: West Midlands v East Sussex
Managers: Vitor Pereira v Fabian Hurzeler
Ground: Molyneaux
Respective current positions (Before match): 13 & 10

Wolves were almost ahead on six minutes but over the bar, then again six minutes later, the home side certainly pushing for the early goal. Brighton were almost in though when a bad pass had Sa out to cover, and then out of his goal but the Brighton player passed to a Wolves player! Talk about a comedy of errors! Midway through the half and  the visitors were ahead - or were they? Offside decision confirmed by VAR, no goal. So though the Seagulls were first to have the ball in the net, scoreless it remained until they had a penalty just before the half-hour.

Wolves tried to come back minutes later but the ball went over the top of the net so Brighton one to the good at the break. Just on the hour the home side should have been level but 1-0 it remained until five minutes from the end when Brighton set the seal on it to take all three points.

Result: Wolves 0 - 2 Brighton & Hove Albion
Scorer(s): Welbeck (p), Gruda (BHA)
Penalties: 1
VAR decision(s), if any: Penalty awarded to Brighton; first goal ruled offside
Red Cards: None
Controversies: None
Respective current positions (After match): 14  & 9
Respective final positions: 14 & 9
Effects: Brighton move up one place, Wolves slip down one.



Teams: Ipswich Town v Brentford
Regions: Suffolk v London
Managers: Kieran McKenna v Thomas Frank
Ground: Portman Road
Respective current positions (Before match): 18 (Relegated)  & 9

One team on the way down, another (finally) on the way up, could Ipswich emulate Southampton earlier and keep Brentford from dreaming of Europe? They certainly tried. 2 minutes gone and the home side could have been ahead, but right at the keeper. 16 minutes after that and Ipswich were behind. Would the floodgates open now? On the half-hour Mbeumo missed a chance to double Brentford's lead, while it was his strike partner's turn to miss in the second half, but Brentford kept going, determined to extend their lead. Ipswich weren't lying down though and went on an attack of their own, and could have levelled with 10 minutes to go, putting up a great fight and just missed grabbing a point in extra time.

Result: Ipswich Town 0 - 1 Brentford
Scorer(s): Schade (BRE)
Penalties: None
VAR decision(s), if any: None
Red Cards: None
Controversies: None
Respective current positions (After match): 18 (Relegated) & 8
Respective final positions: 18 (Relegated) & 8
Effects: Brentford move up one place.

[Trollheart]

Sunday May 11 2025

Newcastle United v Chelsea
Nottingham Forest v Leicester City
Liverpool v Arsenal
Manchester United v West Ham United
Tottenham Hotspur v Crystal Palace




Teams: Newcastle United v Chelsea
Regions: Tyne & Wear v London
Managers: Eddie Howe v Enzo Maresca
Ground: St. James Park
Respective current positions (Before match): 4 & 5

Two teams fighting for a place in Europe next season, there was nothing to choose between Chelsea and Newcastle, other than the former was 5th and the latter 4th at the kick-off. Victory for either would lift them into third, after Manchester City failed to beat bottom club Southampton yesterday. Two minutes on the clock at the Magpies were ahead at home, though things seemed to go quiet then for the rest of the half, Chelsea nowhere and Newcastle coming closest on the half-hour mark, then more misery for the London team as Jackson was sent off for a deliberate elbow, Chelsea down to ten men. In extra time at the end of the half the home team again came close, Isak unable to score his customary goal, while Chelsea's first effort came just after the hour, but saved.

The visitors, to be fair, played well in the second half, even being a man down. But the pressure told and in the final minute of normal time Newcastle doubled their lead to take all three points and move into third, all but guaranteeing themselves now of Champions League football next year.

Result: Newcastle 2 - 0 Chelsea
Scorer(s): Tonali, Guimaraes (NEW)
Penalties: None
VAR decision(s), if any: Jackson sent off after review for violent conduct
Red Cards: 1
Controversies: None
Respective current positions (After match): 3 & 5
Respective final positions: 3 & 5
Effects: Newcastle virtually assure themselves of a CL place, taking third place from Manchester City.



Teams: Nottingham Forest v Leicester City
Regions: Nottinghamshire v Leicestershire
Managers: Nuno Espirito Santo v Ruud van Nistelrooy
Ground: The City Ground
Respective current positions (Before match): 6 & 19 (Relegated)

The difference between the teams: one heading to the Championship, the other looking to get into the Champions League. Forest must curse the fact that they've slid to 6th, having held 3rd for so long, but they're still in the hunt, and to extend the metaphor slightly, they were hunting Foxes today. Would already-relegated Leicester scatter for cover or come out fighting? Vardy just needs one more goal for his record of 200 for Leicester, so I couldn't imagine him sitting back. Wood hasn't scored for a while and he was on the attack straight away, but unable as yet to break that non-scoring streak.

Leicester in fact struck first, netting just after the quarter-hour to show they may be down but they're not going easily. A free ten minutes later had the home side level, and Wood could have had them ahead in the last minutes of the half but the keeper alive to it. Ten minutes into the second half though and he had scored, Forest in front for the first time in the match. Nine minutes from the end though and Leicester put paid to that, scoring for the second time and levelling the match, and almost won it at the death.

Result: Nottingham Forest 2 - 2 Leicester City
Scorer(s): Coady, Buonanotte (LEI); Gibbs-White, Wood (FOR)
Penalties: None
VAR decision(s), if any: None
Red Cards: None
Controversies: None
Respective current positions (After match): 7 & 19 (Relegated)
Respective final positions: 7 & 19 (Relegated)
Effects: Forest slip to 7th, hopes of Champions League football fading...


Teams: Liverpool v Arsenal
Regions: Merseyside v London
Managers: Arne Slot v Mikel Arteta
Ground: Anfield
Respective current positions (Before match): 1 (Champions) & 2

Usually, first against second is guaranteed to be a great match and there's a lot at stake, but at this stage Liverpool already have the title wrapped up and the best Arsenal can do is hold on to second, with Manchester City breathing down their neck. Mind you, already achieving your target can have its downside, at least for the spectator. Liverpool pretty much sat back and let Chelsea walk all over them last weekend, but surely they'd be different against the team who were their rivals for the title?

It was however Arsenal who came closest in the first few minutes but Saka off-target, then Liverpool had their own chance, this one saved, the game not ten minutes old. Another ten minutes and Liverpool were ahead, and sixty seconds later it was two. The second half was only two minutes old when Arsenal halved the deficit, and with 20 minutes to go it was all square, Liverpool guilty of complacency? Then it all went a bit haywire as Arsenal lost a man for a red card, Liverpool got a free kick but couldn't profit from it. A very sloppy pass in extra time let Arsenal in to win it, but Odegaard shot wide. Liverpool then looked like they had taken all three points but the late late goal ruled out for a foul.

Result: Liverpool 2 - 2 Arsenal
Scorer(s): Gakpo, Dias (LIV); Martinelli, Merino (ARS)
Penalties: None
VAR decision(s), if any: None
Red Cards: 1
Controversies: Trent Alexander-Arnold's reception by some of the Liverpool fans was disappointing. People leave, players transfer, guys. Get used to it.
Respective current positions (After match): 1 (Champions) & 2
Respective final positions: 1 (Champions) & 2
Effects: Nothing at all, was never going to be.


Teams: Manchester United v West Ham United
Regions: Manchester v London
Managers: Ruben Amorim v Graham Potter
Ground: Old Trafford
Respective current positions (Before match): 15 & 17

First attack to the Hammers but well over the top, Man United unable to convert either but at least hit the keeper. Just before the half-hour mark West Ham took first blood, Ward-Prowse coming close to doubling their lead, but then on the hour Bowen did, United humbled at home. Again. The Theatre of Broken Dreams?

Result: Manchester United 0 - 2 West Ham United
Scorer(s): Soucek, Bowen (WHU)
Penalties: None
VAR decision(s), if any: None
Red Cards: None
Controversies: None
Respective current positions (After match): 16 & 15
Respective final positions: 16 & 15
Effects: Man United slip a further place, West Ham rise two.


Teams: Tottenham Hotspur v Crystal Palace
Regions: London v London
Managers: Ange Postecoglu v Oliver Glasner
Ground: The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Respective current positions (Before match): 16 & 12

It only took eight minutes for Palace to open the scoring at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, until that is VAR got involved and the goal was judged to have been offside. Back they came, nearly correcting that on 25 minutes from a corner, then Mateta went on a run five minutes later but his shot came back off the bar. Spurs had not yet had a shot on goal. Crystal Palace continued the pressure, and they certainly looked the more likely to score. As they did, finally, just before the half-time whistle. Unless it was again offside? No, this time VAR gave the green light. The second half had hardly begun before they were two up, same scorer. And still not a player in white in the Palace area. Finally, they had a shot just before the hour, but it went nowhere, and as time ticked away it looked like Palace might punish them further, but two did it in the end. After seeing how Spurs played - or didn't - the League Cup final between them and Manchester United looks like it will be a real borefest!

Result: Tottenham Hotspur 0 - 2 Crystal Palace
Scorer(s): Eze (2) (PAL)
Penalties: None
VAR decision(s), if any: First Crystal Palace goal ruled offside
Red Cards: None
Controversies: None
Respective current positions (After match): 17 & 12
Respective final positions: 17 & 12
Effects: Spurs drop one place. Despite Palace's convincing win, they stay where they were.

[Trollheart]

Overview

Newcastle booked their place in the Champions League surely as they took third place after beating Chelsea, and pushed Man City down to 4th. Villa played out an edgy second half with ten men, defending a narrow 1-0 lead against Bournemouth, but triumphed, to go 6th. In the process, Ollie Watkins becomes our highest-ever scorer with 75 goals for the club. Good man Ollie - another fine mess you've got us out of! Feelings were running high at Anfield when that man ran out onto the field, but though some cheered all you could hear was the boos for Real-bound Alexander-Arnold. A bit childish: people have short memories. Liverpool should have won the game easily but capitulated against an Arsenal team out for revenge, no doubt furious at having had to provide the traditional honour guard to the champions. They did manage to force a draw, but Arteta did not look happy.

Elsewhere it was poor performances from Tottenham, who folded like folding things against a rampant Crystal Palace side, lucky to only lose 2-0, Ange's moan that if they weren't in the cup things would be different sounding a little like a weak excuse for a team that have not played well all season, while talking of teams who have not played well, Man United saw the glory days slip further into the mists of history as they were well beaten by West Ham. If I seem like I'm gloating, it's because I am.

Leicester sent a final shot across the bows of Nottingham Forest, making their bid for Europe harder as Nuno's team fell 2-2 to the relegated Foxes, while Manchester City couldn't even manage a single goal against bottom side Southampton, who put up a great defence, while Everton turned it around to undo Fulham's 1-0 lead and win the game 3-1.

[Trollheart]

[Trollheart]

Sunday May 18 2025

West Ham United v Nottingham Forest
Arsenal v Newcastle United
Brentford v Fulham
Everton v Southampton
Leicester City v Ipswich Town
Aston Villa v Tottenham Hotspur
Chelsea v Manchester United


Teams: West Ham United v Nottingham Forest
Regions: London v Nottinghamshire
Managers: Graham Potter v Nuno Espirito Santo
Ground: The London Stadium
Respective current positions (Before match): 15 & 7

Champions League qualification is the only thing left in the balance now really, and Forest walked out onto the pitch at the London Stadium hoping to beat West Ham at home and increase their chances of getting that final place. The Hammers were on the attack in the second minute though, ball just coming back off the crossbar, Forest nearly opening the scoring themselves three minutes later but saved this time. Eleven minutes in though and West Ham shot themselves in the foot as the keeper passed out to a Forest player and a simple tap-in for Gibbs-White. Not even close to Christmas! Wood almost doubled their lead soon after, but stopped this time by Ariola. On the hour it was two, a free for the visitors, despite a lengthy check for offside, giving Forest their second goal and one foot in Europe.

West Ham almost pulled one back but the Forest keeper alive to it, then with four minutes to go Bowen came to the rescue for the home side to halve the deficit. Was it too little too late though? Forest had to win this game; a draw would not be enough. Could they hold on to their lead or would the Hammers frustrate them in extra time? In the last of twelve minutes of added time the home team got a corner and almost profited from it, but the points went to Nottingham Forest in the end.

Result: West Ham United 1 - 2 Nottingham Forest
Scorer(s): Gibbs-White, Milenkovic (FOR)
Penalties: None
Red Cards: None
Controversies: None; other than the inordinate amount of time it took to confirm Forest's second goal was in fact onside (the automatic offside system was on the fritz apparently)
Respective current positions (After match):  15 & 7
Respective final positions: 15 & 7
Effects: Forest remain in the hunt for a Champions League slot.


Teams: Arsenal v Newcastle United
Regions: London v Tyne & Wear
Managers: Mikel Arteta v Eddie Howe
Ground: The Emirates
Respective current positions (Before match): 2 & 3

Nothing for Arsenal to do now but try to hang on to second place. If Newcastle won today they would overtake them, and that would surely be the ultimate humiliation: not only unable to stop Liverpool taking the title but also losing the runner-up position in the last days? And at home, too. Another poor pass from the keeper as Raya passed to a Newcastle player, but the Magpies unable to capitalise on the error in the early minutes. Trossard came close on 11 minutes, then it was Barnes' turn to just shave the post, then Raya called into action twice to keep them out. Just before the hour it was the Gunners who struck, another poor passage of play, this time from the visitors as Arsenal began to grow into the game now. One for sorrow for the Magpies, who remain in third.

Result: Arsenal 1 - 0 Newcastle United
Scorer(s): Rice (ARS)
Penalties: None
Red Cards: None
Controversies: None
Respective current positions (After match): 2 & 3
Respective final positions: 2 & 4
Effects: Newcastle take 3rd at the weekend but Man City push them down to 4th tonight.


Teams: Brentford v Fulham
Regions: London v London
Managers: Thomas Frank v Marco Silva
Ground: The G-Tech Community Stadium
Respective current positions (Before match): 8 & 11

The eleventh minute could have seen Brentford take the lead but for some ping-pong in the area, and five minutes later the visitors were ahead. That lead lasted to the midway point of the first half when Mbeumo equalised after a fine break away. A penalty shout three minutes later went Brentford's way, but this time the scorer unable to double his and Brentford's tally, a fine save to keep Fulham in it. Just before half-time Mbeumo's strike partner took the lead for the home side, then with 21 minutes to go Fulham levelled and two minutes after that they were ahead again, a real rocket from 30 yards out. A second penalty appeal for the home side was not given this time, and Brentford pushed for another equaliser as normal time ran out, but unable to do so, Fulham taking the points.

Result: Brentford 2 - 3 Fulham
Scorer(s): Jiminez, Cairney, Wilson (FUL); Mbeumo, Wissa (BRE)
Penalties: 1
Red Cards: None
Controversies: None
Respective current positions (After match): 8 & 10
Respective final positions:  9 & 10
Effects: Brentford down to 9th; Fulham up to 10th.


Teams: Everton v Southampton
Regions: Merseyside v Hampshire
Managers: David Moyes v Simon Rusk
Ground: Goodison Park
Respective current positions (Before match): 13 & 20 (Relegated)

Last match to be played at Goodison Park, you'd imagine Everton would have little to no trouble hosting already-relegated Southampton, and would want to make a good showing before leaving their spiritual home for over 130 years. Could the Saints go marching all over their farewell celebrations? Seemed unlikely, but then you never can say. Three minutes in and the Toffees were already on the attack, and they didn't have to wait long to lift the roof off the stadium for one more time, Ndiye opening the scoring on six minutes. In the 20th minute it could have been two, but shot wide, but in extra time at the end of the half, Ndiye doubled his tally and put Everton two up before the break.

Before the hour some bad passing from Southampton (surely not!) almost let the home side in for their third, but again just over the bar. However the Saints were not the only ones guilty of giving the ball away, Southampton unable to convert either when Everton's passes went astray. The day was of course Everton's though, a fitting farewell to the stadium that has seen two centuries' worth of football.

Result: Everton 2 - 0 Southampton
Scorer(s): Ndiye (2) (EVE)
Penalties: None
Red Cards: None
Controversies: None
Respective current positions (After match): 13 & 20 (Relegated)
Respective final positions: 13 & 20 (Relegated)
Effects: No change


Teams: Leicester City v Ipswich Town
Regions: Leicestershire v Suffolk
Managers: Ruud van Nistelrooy v Kieran McKenna
Ground: The King Power
Respective current positions (Before match): 19 & 18 (Both relegated)

You'd have to call this the game with absolutely nothing riding on it. Both teams already relegated, the only thing that might matter could be Jamie Vardy getting to 200 goals before he has to bow out of the Premiership with his team, and says goodbye to Leicester in a few months. It was in fact Ipswich who came closest after six minutes, then Vardy, desperate to get that 200th goal, just took it too wide, but you got the feeling he would make it work, the ultimate prize of scoring that special goal at home. Almost, but side netting as Leicester broke again and finally, just before a half-hour had elapsed, the Ipswich net bulged and it was Vardy's foot that despatched the ball to make history for the Foxes.

Ipswich came close in the dying moments of the half but the home side ahead as we went into the break, then Leicester could have had two if it hadn't been for the foot of the post as the second half opened. With 20 minutes to go, it was two, McAteer on target after missing just minutes ago. The visitors thought they had pulled one back in the last minute but ruled offside, so a clean sheet for Leicester and the perfect ending for Jamie Vardy.

Result: Leicester City 2 - 0 Ipswich Town
Scorer(s): Vardy, McAteer (LEI)
Penalties: None
Red Cards: None
Controversies: None
Respective current positions (After match): 19 & 18 (Both relegated)
Respective final positions: 19 & 18 (Both relegated)
Effects: No change, none expected. Vardy notches up 200 goals for Leicester.


Teams: Aston Villa v Tottenham Hotspur
Regions: Birmingham v London
Managers: Unai Emery v Ange Postecoglu
Ground: Villa Park
Respective current positions (Before match): 6 & 17

Also in the running for a Champions League place, could Villa exploit Spurs' awful fall from grace and hammer them at home? A good strike by McGinn in the seventh minute but the accuracy not there as it sailed over the top. Spurs then had their chance but kept out. Rogers came close on 20 minutes but Villa kept pushing, Asensio wide so scoreless at half-time. On the hour Villa took the lead, Watkins almost able to double that lead minutes later but that second goal was coming, and it did, 10 minutes from time.

Result: Aston Villa 2 - 0 Tottenham Hotspur
Scorer(s): Konsa, Kamara (AST)
Penalties: None
Red Cards: None
Controversies: None
Respective current positions (After match): 5 & 17
Respective final positions: 6 & 17
Effects: Villa move up to 5th but results tonight push us back down to 6th.


Teams: Chelsea v Manchester United
Regions: London v Manchester
Managers: Enzo Maresca v Ruben Amorim
Ground: Stamford Bridge
Respective current positions (Before match): 5 & 16

Four minutes gone and Chelsea had penetrated another poor United defence, but unable to net, while the visitors took their chance on 15 minutes, but were found to be offside. A penalty appeal was turned aside for Chelsea in the first half, but another in the second was confirmed, until VAR got involved and it was ruled not to be a spot kick. Still no score as we headed into the last 20 minutes, then Chelsea took the lead, finally. United had a chance to equalise late on, but the Chelsea keeper stopped it and Chelsea still in the running for the Champions League.

Result: Chelsea 1 - 0 Manchester United
Scorer(s): Cucurella (CHE)
Penalties: None
Red Cards: None
Controversies: None
Respective current positions (After match): 4 & 16
Respective final positions: 5 & 16
Effects: Chelsea rise to 4th but are pushed down to 5th by City's win tonight.

[Trollheart]

Monday May 19 2025

Brighton & Hove Albion v Liverpool


Teams: Brighton & Hove Albion v Liverpool
Regions: East Sussex v Merseyside
Managers: Fabian Hurzeler v Arne Slot
Ground: The Amex
Respective current positions (Before match): 9 & 1 (Champions)

Anxious perhaps to dispel the belief that they're just on automatic pilot now that they've won the league, Liverpool struck first when they met Brighton away, no more than 9 minutes on the clock, but Brighton were level before the break. Liverpool restored their lead in extra time at the end of the half, finishing the first period as they had begun it, on top and in control. Salah uncharacteristically missed a chance to widen that lead and make it three in the second half, and had cause to regret the miss when the Seagulls levelled again with 20 minutes of the match to go. They then thought they had won in the dying minutes with their third goal, but the flag went up.  However on further examination VAR overruled the decision and the goal was allowed, giving Brighton all three points.


Result: Brighton & Hove Albion 3 - 2 Liverpool
Scorer(s): Ayari, Mitoma, Hinshelwood (BHA); Elliot, Szoboszlai (LIV)
Penalties: None
Red Cards: None
Controversies: None
Respective current positions (After match): 8 & 1 (Champions)
Respective final positions: 8 & 1 (Champions)
Effects: Brighton move up one place.

Tuesday May 20 2025

Crystal Palace v Wolves
Manchester City v Bournemouth



Teams: Crystal Palace v Wolves
Regions: London v West Midlands
Managers: Oliver Glasner v Vitor Pereira
Ground: Selhurst Park
Respective current positions (Before match): 12 & 14

Could Wolves dampen the atmosphere at Selhurst Park? Honestly, even if they won it seems unlikely the crowd would care that much. Crystal Palace have made history by winning their first ever FA Cup, but they would probably like to end the season on a high if possible. Wolves were only 2 places and 8 points behind them; a win tonight would cut the gap to 5 and lift Vitor Pereira's resurgent team into 13th.

Well the visitors struck first, 24 minutes gone and Palace were one goal down, but not for long, Nketiah levelling three minutes later, and five minutes after that he had scored again to turn the match around and put Palace in the lead. A free five minutes into the second half made it three, and the FA Cup winners looked to be heading for victory in their penultimate game of the season. Wolves did their best, scoring a second just after the hour, but the man who won the Cup for Palace on Sunday took their fourth in the last four minutes of the game to give his team all three points.


Result: Crystal Palace 4 - 2 Wolves
Scorer(s): Nketiah (2), Chilwell, Eze (PAL); Agbadou, Strand Larsen (WOL)
Penalties: None
Red Cards: None
Controversies: None
Respective current positions (After match):
Respective final positions: 12 & 14
Effects: No change



Teams: Manchester City v Bournemouth
Regions: Manchester v Dorset
Managers: Pep Guardiola v Andoni Iraola
Ground: The Etihad
Respective current positions (Before match): 6 & 11

Last chance saloon for Pep's boys to make it back into the top three with a win. Bournemouth have slid slightly but showing half-decent form; would the crushing defeat in the FA Cup final sap the heart from City or make them even more determined to regain what they would see as their rightful place in the table, and confirm Champions League football?

City opened the scoring before the first quarter-hour, but it wasn't quite the fairy tale send-off Kevin DeBruyne could have hoped for, as with a chance to double their lead he missed an absolute sitter before Silva made it two, seven minutes from the break. With a man sent off for a straight red just past the hour it looked like Bournemouth had a chance to pull at least one back, but five minutes later the man advantage was gone as they too lost a player to a red. A third sealed it for the home side in the final minute, while Bournemouth did manage one, but it was less than a consolation goal in extra time.

Result: Manchester City 3 - 1 Bournemouth
Scorer(s): Marmoush, Silva, Gonzalez (MNC); Jebbison (BOU)
Penalties: None
Red Cards: 2
Controversies: None
Respective current positions (After match): 3 & 11
Respective final positions: 2 & 11
Effects: City retake third place

[Trollheart]

Overview

An emotional send-off for Kevin DeBruyne as he ends his time with Manchester City, and an equally emotional goodbye for Jamie Vardy as he bows out of Leicester City as their all-time top scorer with 200 goals. Manchester City fought off Bournemouth to take third place back from Newcastle and surely nab one of those places in Europe, Liverpool at least tried this time but were beaten by a late goal from Brighton, and although Villa beat a poor Tottenham side, results over the last two days mean we're back to sixth, which may not be enough to qualify for the Champions League next season.

Nottingham Forest held on for the win against West Ham to stay in contention, while Newcastle lost to Arsenal and ended up losing their third place to City tonight. A poor Man United team was beaten again, this time by Chelsea.

[Trollheart]