Trollheart's Match of the Day Thread

[Trollheart]

Teams: Wolves v Manchester United
Regions: West Midlands v Manchester
Managers:  Vitor Pereira v Ruben Amorim
Targets: Wolves need to get out of the relegation zone; Man United have to get back into the top half of the table
Expectation: No idea but I hope Wolves win
Ground: Molyneaux
Respective current positions (Before match): 18 & 13

United had the first shot in anger on 20 minutes but Sa kept it out, then it was Wolves' turn to go close, the Man United keeper ensuring it remained scoreless at the break. The second half had barely begun before Fernandez, already on a yellow for a bad tackle, found himself in the ref's book again, and walking off the field. United, certainly not playing to their best, down to ten men. Minutes later they were one goal down too - except it was ruled out for offside. A lucky escape for the visitors.

On the hour, that luck ran out as Cunha scored direct from a corner to put Wolves ahead against the ten men, no offside this time! United gave it a go, but it was always going to be a losing proposition as extra time ticked away. When Wolves broke away and scored their second, that chance dwindled to nothing.

Result: Wolves 2 - 0 Manchester United
Scorer(s): Cunha, Hwang (WOL)
VAR decision(s), if any: None
Red Cards: 1 (Fernandez, second yellow)
Respective current positions (After match): 17 & 13
Respective final positions: 17 & 13
Effects: Wolves move out of the relegation zone, but there's just a point in it. United remain where they were.

[Trollheart]

Teams: Manchester City V Everton
Regions: Manchester v Merseyside
Managers: Pep Guardiola v Sean Dyche
Targets: Man City have to stop the rot as they fall further down the table; Everton need to climb up
Expectation: Time was you would not even ask, but these days? Can't call it.
Ground: The Etihad
Respective current positions (Before match): 7 & 15

City were first to strike but the ball came off the post, then in the 14th minute Silva scored to put them ahead. A good start, but could they keep it? Well, Silva came close on the half-hour but shot wide, then nine minutes from half-time it was Everton who scored to level the match. City kept up the pressure in the second half but were unable to retake the lead until they were given a penalty on 51. Up stepped their goal machine, and missed! Stopped by the keeper, but scored by Haaland on the rebound. City back in front. No, not so: offside, so 1-1 it remained, and 1-1 it ended, City still unable to hold a lead, still unable to win a game. In fact, Everton could have taken it at the death.


Result: Manchester City 1 - 1 Everton
Scorer(s): Ndiye (EVE); Silva (MNC)
VAR decision(s), if any: None
Red Cards: None
Respective current positions (After match): 7 & 15
Respective final positions: 7 & 15
Effects: City fail to win again; both teams remain where they are, but a worse result for Pep's men than for Sean Dyche's.

[Trollheart]

Teams: Southampton v West Ham
Regions: Hampshire v London
Managers: Ivan Jurich v Julen Lopetgui
Targets: Southampton just hope to get a little closer to being off the bottom, West Ham want to move up
Expectation: Has to be a Hammering for the Saints
Ground: St. Marys
Respective current positions (Before match): 20 & 14

As expected, West Ham had all the chances though Southampton did come close. Finishing is however not the Saints' strong point - if they have one. Guess you can't fault their effort; just a pity they don't get any reward for it. A bad collision saw Fabianski stretchered off the field before half time. They almost had more bad luck as a red card was produced, but VAR saw fit to recommend its being overturned, and so a yellow was what resulted. On the hour, a needless corner given away gave Bowen his chance to take the lead for West Ham, and he did not waste it. The Saints had a chance to take a share of the points in extra time but the ball went over the bar, perhaps underlining why Southampton remain where they are.


Result: Southampton 0 - 1 West Ham
Scorer(s): Bowen (WHU)
VAR decision(s), if any: Red card converted to yellow for West Ham
Red Cards: None
Respective current positions (After match): 20 & 13
Respective final positions: 20 & 13
Effects: Despite the (expected) win, West Ham stay where they are. Southampton have set up camp at the bottom of the league table.

[Trollheart]

Teams: Bournemouth v Crystal Palace
Regions: Dorset v London
Managers: Andoni Iraola v Oliver Glasner
Targets: Bournemouth want to get into the top four; Palace want to stay outside of the relegation zone
Expectation: Should be a victory for Bournemouth
Ground: Dean Court
Respective current positions (Before match): 5 & 16

20 Minutes in and the Cherries could have been ahead but wide of the post, while Palace came close too, but into the keeper's arms. A corner then for Bournemouth was cleared off the line, or it would have put them in front. Palace thought they had taken the lead on the half-hour but called offside. Into the second half then with both teams striving for the opening goal, Palace coming closest but despite a hatful of attempts from the home side the points had to be shared.

Result: Bournemouth 0  - 0 Crystal Palace
Scorer(s): None
VAR decision(s), if any: None
Red Cards: None
Respective current positions (After match): 6 & 16
Respective final positions: 6 & 16
Effects: Bournemouth drop one place while Palace remain where they are, 3 points and two places above the relegation zone.

[Trollheart]

Teams: Brighton v Brentford
Regions: East Sussex v London
Managers: Fabian Hurzeler v Thomas Frank
Targets: Brighton want to stay in the top half of the table; Brentford want to get back there.
Expectation: Could see it being a hard-fought draw
Ground: The Amex
Respective current positions (Before match): 10 & 12

Brighton came close early on but the upright stopped the shot, their next shot a poor attempt, right into the keeper's arms, not so much a save as a gentle catch. Still, the home team asking all the questions until Wissa raced down field and scored for the Bees. Unfortunately for him, though a thing of beauty, the goal was ruled offside, and so the game remained scoreless. As the first half drew to a close, Brighton drew close to the opening goal, but the Brentford goalie dived across to stop it.

The second half saw the visitors come more into the game, and they could have been ahead when Mbuomo raced up field, leaving defenders in his wake, but the shot was weak when he passed it and no trouble for the Seagulls keeper. They could have had trouble though as a wayward elbow went to VAR to see if more punishment was merited, but the men in the control room agreed a yellow was sufficient. A later corner could have given Brighton the points, but over the bar it went, and both teams had to be happy with a point.

Result: Brighton 0 - 0 Brentford
Scorer(s): None
VAR decision(s), if any: Wissa's goal ruled offside
Red Cards: None
Respective current positions (After match): 10 & 12
Respective final positions: 10 & 12
Effects: Neither team move

[Trollheart]

Teams: Arsenal v Ipswich Town
Regions: London v Suffolk
Managers: Mikel Arteta v Kieran McKenna
Targets: Arsenal need to close on the leaders, having seen Chelsea beaten but Forest take their third place; Ipswich want to get away from the relegation zone.
Expectation: Arsenal all day
Ground: The Emirates
Respective current positions (Before match): 4 & 19

Ipswich could have shocked the Emirates and taken an early lead, but the shot fizzed past and it was Arsenal who scored at the midway point of the first half, Havertz getting on the end of Trossard's cross to put his team ahead. Rice could have doubled their lead before the break, but his shot went over the bar, then Jesus thought he had made it two when he tapped in at the far corner, but it was ruled offside. Into the second half then, Arsenal completely in control, but unable to extend their lead as Gabriel missed a total sitter as he just headed inches wide of the post from a corner, Ipswich guilty of some really poor defending and just hanging on. In the end, one goal was enough to settle it. One-nil to the Arsenal, and they go back second.

Result: Arsenal 1 - 0 Ipswich Town
Scorer(s): Havertz (ARS)
VAR decision(s), if any: Jesus ruled offside
Red Cards: None
Respective current positions (After match): 2 & 19
Respective final positions: 2 & 19
Effects: Arsenal go second; Ipswich remain as they were.

[Trollheart]

Meh of the Day: Not really
 
Scratch of the Day: Not really

Player of the Day: Bad player of the day goes to John Duran of Villa, who had a hissy fit because he couldn't take the free kick (though Digne missed, so he may have had a point) and then managed to get himself sent off, just when we need him. Dickhead.

Goal of the Day: Gordon for Newcastle's first against Villa (mutter) or Cunha's direct shot from the corner for Wolves' first against Man United

Miss of the Day: Gabriel's header past the post against Ipswich, which would have given them a two-goal lead.

Save of the Day: Leno stopping Chelsea at the death and so giving his team a famous win. Everton keeper stopping Haaland's penalty.

VARiations: You'd have to say the decision as to whether or not Gakpo was offside for Liverpool took far, far too long. At the same time, the men in the box did recommend a red card be reduced to a yellow, so I suppose it evens out mostly.

Climb of the Day: Newcastle climb from 8th to 5th, their highest position this season.

Drop of the Day: On the other side of that match, Villa drop from 6 to 9, just hanging on there in the top half.

Howler of the Day: Nothing this time.

Mirth of the Day: Gary's face as Leicester slumped to defeat against Liverpool (surely he had been expecting that?) and into the relegation zone.

Quote of the Day:

Pen of the Day: Bad penalty of the day (the only one in fact) taken by Haaland, whose shot was saved, then he scored on the rebound but was offside.
 
Score of the Day: Nothing spectacular. Highest score was Newcastle's 3-0 victory over Villa or Liverpool's 3-1 defeat of Leicester, but in terms of significance, has to be Fulham's 2-1 result against second-placed Chelsea, the first time they've beaten them at home since the end of the 1970s. Also impacts upon the title race.

Cliche of the Day Didn't hear anything

Red Card Total: 3

Keeper Kapers
Good: Leno with a great save against Chelsea that kept it at 2-1. Everton keeper's save that denied Haaland his penalty and City their first win.

Bad: Fabianski fell badly after a fine save and was injured; left the pitch on a stretcher.

We Wuz Robbed! Not this time

Trollheart's Hates:

Arsenal

Won AND went second, damn them!

Crystal Palace

They only drew, but they remain outside the relegation zone. Want to see them drop back down into it.

Nottingham Forest

Hate to see them win; hate even more to see them get into third.

Manchester United

A great day. They lost, badly, and had their captain sent off. Sweet.

[Trollheart]

Overview

Christmas presents in the form of advancement up the table for some teams, lumps of coal for others as they slip down the standings. Naughty and nice, good and bad, and while not exactly Santa's sackful of goals, there were more then enough to keep us entertained on this cold Christmas week.

A good day for Nottingham Forest as they rise to third, their highest position since being promoted, and also for Newcastle, who reach the dizzy heights of 5th. Both Manchester teams fail to win, City drawing with lowly Everton while even worse for United, being beaten by relegation scrappers Wolves. Arsenal make ground on Liverpool at Chelsea's expense, while the former holders of second place slip to fourth after a historic defeat to Fulham.

Speaking of the Cottagers, great respect must be paid to them, beating Chelsea at Stamford Bridge for the first time since 1979, while Tottenham were felled by Forest, so to speak, and end up outside the top half yet again. Having reached sixth, Brighton begin a slide down the table and are just hanging on there now, at the bottom of the top half, with Villa crashing down behind them, struggling at 9th.

Liverpool turned on the style to widen the gap at the top with an impressive performance against Leicester, who slip into the dreaded relegation zone, West Ham climb away from the dotted line which Ipswich remain beneath it, and of course as per usual Southampton prop up the table. Villa had a man sent off for a straight red, and not just any man: we need Duran! Things are not going well for us. But on the bright side, Manchester United had their captain sent off, too, which won't have helped their cause.

Finally, just like to add my "thoughts and prayers" to all those wishing Lukas Fabianski a speedy recovery and return to the West Ham goal. That looked nasty!

[jimmy jazz]

Check these odds:

https://www.oddschecker.com/football/english/premier-league/relegation

Most likely to get relegated at the top, least likely at the bottom.

MC are 10/1! They must have some sort of knowledge that they're going to get whacked with a huge points deduction when the verdict is out on the 115.

MU 40/1. That will shorten after the weekend. They're away at Liverpool. Could be a double digit loss imo.

[Trollheart]

Sunday December 29 2024

West Ham v Liverpool
Everton v Nottingham Forest
Leicester City v Manchester City
Fulham v Bournemouth
Tottenham Hotspur v Wolves
Crystal Palace v Southampton



Teams: West Ham v Liverpool
Regions: London v Merseyside
Managers: Julen Lopetegui v Arne Slot
Targets: As ever, Liverpool want to put as much distance as they can between them and the chasing pack; West Ham happy to move closer to the top of the bottom half of the table.
Expectation: Have to be Liverpool
Ground: The London Stadium
Respective current positions (Before match): 13 & 1

First Liverpool were being chased by Chelsea, then Arsenal, and now it's Forest, the gap having narrowed to 6 points. A win tonight would give them an 8 point advantage. In the fifth minute the Hammers were on the attack, but a pretty poor attempt at a shot, then Salah shot against Fabianski's replacement in goal, the reserve keeper proving he has what it takes. On the half-hour the visitors struck, ball given away and Diaz did not waste the opportunity. West Ham went in search of the equaliser before half-time and almost made it, but found Allison in fine form. They should have been level though when Kudus's shot cannoned back off the upright, and some magic from Salah allowed Gakpo in for Liverpool's second. Suspicion of offside but cleared, and the goal stood, Salah then adding one of his own in the final minute of the first half, Liverpool three to the good at the break.

A fourth looked likely in the second half, Salah coming close soon after the restart but it was Alexander-Arnold who took it with a fine shot from outside the box to rob the home side of any chance they had of coming back. Kudus tried again, but again hit the bar, while Jota wrapped it up for the Reds with six minutes to go. A long shot from West Ham in the dying seconds shot wide, diverted by Van Dijk's heel, denying them even a consolation goal.

Result: West Ham 0 - 5 Liverpool
Scorer(s): Diaz, Gakpo, Salah,  Alexander-Arnold, Jota (LIV)
Penalties: None
VAR decision(s), if any: None
Red Cards:None
Controversies: None
Respective current positions (After match): 13 & 1
Respective final positions: 13 & 1
Effects: West Ham remain where they are; Liverpool widen the gap to 8 points, cut back to 6 after Arsenal's victory tonight.

[Trollheart]

Teams: Everton v Nottingham Forest
Regions: Merseyside v Nottinghamshire
Managers: Sean Dyche v Nuno Espirito Santos
Targets: Everton want to pull away from the relegation zone; Forest can go second with a win.
Expectation: You'd have to see this as a win for Forest
Ground: Goodison Park
Respective current positions (Before match): 15 & 3

I couldn't tell you when Forest were this high up the table before, but I'd be willing to bet it might be decades, perhaps even before I got into football in the 1990s. Certainly, this has to be their best performance in the Premiership since being promoted, and they couldn't have had too much fear of coming to Goodison. Everton aren't exactly opposition they'd be too worried about. Four minutes in and Everton showed why they are so low down, Ndiye shooting high over the bar and squandering the chance to take an early lead at home, and letting Forest in on 15 as Wood lobbed the keeper.

In the last minute of the first half Everton had a chance to draw level, but like every other chance they had had in the game - and few of them - it went wide. Mind you, Forest also spurned a chance before the break, but then, they were already ahead. On the hour they wrapped up the points when Gibbs-White netted. Only Pickford's agility after he dropped the ball saved his team going three down, but in fairness he made three good saves. Everton, desperate for at least a point, had little chance as the Forest keeper played his role, keeping the home side out despite several chances that came late in the game. Another double save from the Everton keeper was all that stopped it becoming three, but the home side well beaten and Forest move into second.


Result: Everton 0 - 2 Nottingham Forest
Scorer(s): Wood, Gibbs-White (FOR)
Penalties: None
VAR decision(s), if any: None
Red Cards: None
Controversies: None
Respective current positions (After match): 16 & 2
Respective final positions: 16 & 3
Effects:  After the weekend games other wins go against Everton, who slip dangerously close to the relegation zone, only 2 points and 2 places in it. Forest rise to second, 8 points behind Liverpool, but slip to third after Arsenal's win tonight.

[Trollheart]

Teams: Leicester City v Manchester City
Regions: Leicestershire v Manchester
Managers: Ruud van Nistelroy v Pep Guardiola
Targets: Leicester hope to move away from the relegation zone; City desperate for a win to arrest their slide down the table
Expectation: I don't honestly know: a draw?
Ground: The King Power
Respective current positions (Before match): 18 & 7

Heading for 15 games without a win in all competitions, Man City appear to be in freefall, while Leicester should see this as a chance to take three points and get out of the relegation zone. Nobody's afraid of the former champions now, and if they could capitalise on that, the Foxes might win this one. Vardy could have had a penalty in the 15th minute, except that as Ortega took him down in the box he was adjudged to be offside, otherwise Leicester were surely taking the lead. The Leiceister man was back in to try moments later, this time the City keeper saved it at the near post, spreading himself well. Instead it was the other City who scored, Savinho knocking it in after Foden's shot was saved. Leicester had a shot on goal but past the post as we moved into the last ten minutes of the half, then Haaland shot wide, off the line from Leicester and both teams were having chances, but the only one who had converted so far were the visitors.

An appeal for a penalty by Leicester was turned down by the ref, but the game seemed to be turning against Man City now, though they still retained their one-goal lead. By the time an hour had passed they had not added to it though, and were lucky not to lose that lead as Vardy's shot was cleared off the line. Back came the Foxes on the hunt, Vardy missing a sitter; surely they would rue those misses? And so they did. With 16 minutes to go, Haaland finally scored, to put Manchester City two ahead. Vardy spurned yet another chance to halve the deficit, and finally Manchester City have a victory.


Result: Leicester City 0 - 2 Manchester City
Scorer(s): Savinho, Haaland (MNC)
Penalties: None
VAR decision(s), if any: None
Red Cards: None
Controversies: None
Respective current positions (After match): 18 & 5
Respective final positions: 19 & 6
Effects: Leicester slide further into the mire, one place from the bottom; Man City move up to 6th

[Trollheart]

Teams: Tottenham Hotspur v Wolves
Regions: London v West Midlands
Managers: Ange Postecoglu v Vitor Pereira
Targets: Spurs want to get back into the top half; Wolves would like to be over the dotted line, not under it.
Expectation: I think Wolves could take it.
Ground: The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Respective current positions (Before match): 11 & 17

A free for Wolves after five minutes gave them the lead, Hwang with his second in as many games, but the lead did not last long, Betancur making it all square after 12 minutes. The home side almost took the lead a few minutes later but wide of the post, then pretty shambolic defending from the visitors led to a penalty for Spurs, which Son took. And failed to score. Dreadful penalty. Johnson made up for it though in extra time at the end of the half, Spurs in the lead at the break. The second half saw Tottenham attempt to make a comeback by Wolves impossible, two missed attempts allowing the visitors back into the game with three minutes to go. In the dying minutes the relegation dogfighters could have taken all three points, but at the final whistle it ended all square.

Result: Tottenham Hotspur 2 - 2 Wolves
Scorer(s): Hwang, Strand-Larsen (WOL); Betancur, Johnson (TOT)
Penalties: 1
VAR decision(s), if any: None
Red Cards: None
Controversies: None
Respective current positions (After match): 11 & 17
Respective final positions: 11 & 17
Effects: Both teams remain where they were.

[Trollheart]

Teams: Fulham v Bournemouth
Regions: London v Dorset
Managers: Marco Silva v Andoni Iraola
Targets: A win for Bournemouth would see them 5th while Fulham could go 6th
Expectation: Draw?
Ground: Craven Cottage
Respective current positions (Before match): 8 & 6

Surely on a high after their historic victory over Arsenal on Friday, Fulham came up against a Bournemouth side also flying. Could be quite a match, could cancel each other out. Bournemouth came close but Brooks's curling shot just too much of an angle to find the top corner. In the end Fulham took the lead five minutes from the end of the first half, and could have had reason to complain when Christie avoided a red card for what looked like a very heavy tackle, only a yellow given. Iwobi came close to making it two just before the break but again a curling shot that was high and wide. The second half was only six minutes old before Bournemouth were level, Jiminez almost in for his second five minutes later, but 1-1 it remained as we moved into the last twenty minutes of the game, the Cherries having a chance to take the lead but straight at the keeper. Two minutes after that miss, Harry Wilson nodded in to put Fulham back in front, not much time now for the visitors to equalise again. Could they do it? Yes they could! In the last minute of normal time it was even again, all Fulham's good work undone as the Cottagers gave the ball away.


Result: Fulham 2 - 2 Bournemouth
Scorer(s): Jiminez, Wilson (FUL); Evanielson, Ouattara (BOU)
Penalties: None
VAR decision(s), if any: None
Red Cards: None
Controversies: Should Christie have walked after that tackle? Both ref and VAR said no.
Respective current positions (After match): 8 & 6
Respective final positions: 8 & 7
Effects: Fulham remain where they were, Bournemouth slide one place to 7th.

[Trollheart]

Teams: Crystal Palace v Southampton
Regions: London v Hampshire
Managers: Oliver Glasner v Ivan Juric
Targets: Palace want to keep moving away from the relegation zone; Southampton seem destined to spend all season there, and at the bottom.
Expectation: Have to imagine Palace will win
Ground: Selhurst Park
Respective current positions (Before match): 16 & 20

Southampton took a seriously shock lead in the 15th minute, ten minutes later the attempt from Palace did not trouble the keeper, and into the half-hour mark when a corner resulted in Palace levelling, despite complaints from the Saints. VAR said no, Ramsdale had not been impeded, the goal stood. Five minutes after that it could have been two to the home side had it not been for a superb save from the Saints' keeper to, um, keep it at 1-1. Another corner almost put Palace ahead again, but the overhead kick failed to make the Southampton net bulge.

Another corner on 51 saw some pinball in the Southampton area, then a rocket from Eze gave the home side the lead. Just after the hour the Saints could have levelled again but a fine save by the Palace keeper stopped the shot, then a free on 68 was pushed over by the keeper, the game ending nevertheless in victory for Crystal Palace.

Result: Crystal Palace 2 - 1 Southampton
Scorer(s): Dibling (SOU); Chalobah, Eze (PAL)
Penalties: None
VAR decision(s), if any: None
Red Cards: None
Controversies: Had Ramsdale been impeded for Palace's first goal? The referee said no but it looked possible.
Respective current positions (After match): 15 & 20
Respective final positions: 15 & 20
Effects: Palace move one place further away from the relegation zone; no prizes for guessing where Southampton are!