Trollheart's Match of the Day Thread

[Trollheart]

Teams: Ipswich Town v Crystal Palace
Regions: Suffolk v London
Managers: Kieran McKenna v Oliver Glasner
Targets: Both need to get away from, or out of, the relegation zone
Expectation: No idea
Ground: Portman Road
Respective current positions (Before match): 19 & 17

A real relegation six-pointer as both teams tried hard to leave the zone behind, one in it and one just above it. Palace seemed to be doing all the attacking, Ipswich putting up a desperate defence, and despite several attempts managed to keep the visitors out until the second half. On the hour Palace's dominance told as they scored the opening goal. They had a great chance to double that seven minutes later but 1-0 it remained, Ipswich almost equalising a few minutes after that but the ball just skimmed off Delap's forehead.

A  free five minutes from the end could have given them a precious point, but no dice and instead it was the London team who came out on top, in every sense, moving three points clear of the drop zone.

Result: Ipswich Town 0 - 1 Crystal Palace
Scorer(s): Mateta (PAL)
VAR decision(s), if any: None
Respective current positions (After match): 18 & 17
Respective final positions: 18 & 17
Effects: Nothing much really. Palace manage to remain just above the zone while Ipswich climb one place, switching places with Wolves, but still in the drop zone.

[Trollheart]

Wednesday December 4 2024


Teams: Newcastle v Liverpool
Regions: Tyne & Wear v Merseyside
Managers: Eddie Howe v Arne Slot
Targets: Liverpool are cruising, just looking to put as much distance between them and the chasing pack as they can. A win tonight would give them a 12-point lead. Newcastle need to start moving up the table
Expectation: I'd expect Liverpool to take it easily.
Ground: St. James Park
Respective current positions (Before match): 11 & 1

Newcastle on the break can be a fearsome sight, but could they get anything from such surges forward? Not this time as Kelleher stopped the shot, then the visitors had their own shot, the Newcastle keeper equal to it. McAllister came closest, just shaving the post, but halfway through and still scoreless. Newcastle slid it past the post, but on the wrong side, and the home team seemed to be making most of the running, but not doing much with it. Until they did, ten minutes from the end of the half when Isak rifled the ball into the Liverpool net.

The Magpies had a chance to double their lead before the end of the half, after a mistake, but Kelleher was the saviour. In the second half the home side gave away the ball, and Liverpool did not need to be asked twice, Jones equalising five minutes after the restart. Liverpool on fire now, Gakpo going close a minute later, then somehow Nunes missed a cross from Salah. Back they came, but it was Newcastle who nicked the ball and Gordon put his team back in front.

In the 70th minute Alexander-Arnold passed to Salah who drew Liverpool level again. As time ticked away Newcastle had an appeal for a penalty, but had it been given it would have been a soft one, then Salah rattled the bar with 8 minutes to go. Liverpool applying all the pressure now, and it told, seven minutes from time as Salah took his second and surely the game was now done, all three points to the league leaders. But no: in the final moments Newcastle got a free which Kelleher should have come for, did not, and Schar scored to equalise again. Oddly enough, the full-time whistle went when the home side were on an attack, which did not go down well at St. James, but the points ended up being shared.
Result: Newcastle United 3 - 3 Liverpool
Scorer(s): Isak, Gordon (NEW); Jones, Salah (2) (LIV)
VAR decision(s), if any: None
Respective current positions (After match): 1 & 10
Respective final positions: 1 &10
Effects: Liverpool maintain their top position of course, but failure to win for the first time in recorded memory (or something close to that) means the gap shrinks, and Chelsea's win also cuts that lead, meaning that Liverpool now have only (!) a 7-point advantage over the team immediately behind them, currently Chelsea. The draw helps Newcastle move back up into the top half of the table.

[Trollheart]

Teams: Arsenal v Manchester United
Regions: London v Manchester
Managers: Mikel Arteta v Ruben Amorim
Targets: Arsenal want to close the gap on Liverpool, Man United want to advance up the table
Expectation: Hard to say, but I couldn't see Arsenal losing at home
Ground: The Emirates
Respective current positions (Before match): 2 & 9

I hate supporting Arsenal, but I'll back anyone against Man United. Not that they needed my voice behind them, a corner on 8 minutes nearly leading to the first goal for the Gunners, a second soon after also failing to open the scoring, but the half looked to be ending without a goal being scored, and despite a last-minute flurry by the visitors, that was how it did finish. Second half saw Arsenal push forward again, Rice shooting over the bar, then United gave it away on 52 minutes which resulted in another corner for the home side, and this time in it went. Timberrrrr!

On the hour they had yet another corner, nearly doubling their lead but just past the post, while United raced upfield six minutes later and almost scored from a free but Raya saved. A bit of fancy footwork by Odegaard in the 73rd minute earned the home team yet another corner, from which this time they did make it two, Saliba bundling it into the United net. Havertz could have made it three but the keeper stopped it, and two goals was enough in the end.


Result: Arsenal 2 - 0 Manchester United
Scorer(s): Timber, Saliba (ARS)
VAR decision(s), if any: None
Respective current positions (After match): 3 & 11
Respective final positions: 3 & 11
Effects: Despite the win, Arsenal slide to third, their place taken by Chelsea, while having briefly visited the top half of the table Man United drop back down into the lower half again.

[Trollheart]

Teams: Southampton v Chelsea
Regions: Hampshire v London
Managers: Russell Martin v Enzo Maresca
Targets: As ever for the Saints, it's to climb out of the pit, while Chelsea want to dog Arsenal's heels and make up ground on Liverpool.
Expectation: You wouldn't bet against Chelsea, would you?
Ground: St. Mary's
Respective current positions (Before match): 20 & 3

It only took the visitors seven minutes to put one past struggling Southampton, and you definitely got the impression it would not be the last of the game by the team in blue. I did not get the impression that the next goal would be scored by a Saint, but so it proved, only three minutes later, showing that if nothing else, Southampton have at least some fighting spirit left in them. Arriba! Sorry, Aribo.

But it doesn't help your desperate cause when your keeper makes a stupid mistake, as Lumley did seven minutes later, passing the ball to a Chelsea player, and undoing his team mates' good work as Southampton went behind again. Palmer almost made it three but the ball came back off the post, Southampton leading something of a charmed life now. Just after the half hour it was three, surely no hope now for the beleaguered bottom side.

Certainly not when one of their men was sent off for a stupid foul, with all of the second half to play. Southampton did try, and they could have pulled one back but for a great save, and then fourteen minutes from time the hammer fell as Palmer got his goal, Chelsea now four to the good. No way back for the home team, doomed to remain at the very bottom of the table for another week. And then it became five, the only question now being would that be it? It was, and Chelsea rack up a good victory to keep them in the title chase.

Result: Southampton 1 - 5 Chelsea
Scorer(s): Disasi, Nkunku, Madeuke, Palmer, Sancho (CHE); Aribo (SOU)
VAR decision(s), if any: None
Respective current positions (After match): 20 & 2
Respective final positions: 20 & 2
Effects: Chelsea go second, overtaking Arsenal on goal difference. Same old same old for the Saints, who remain at the foot of the table.

[Trollheart]

Teams: Manchester City v Nottingham Forest
Regions: Manchester v Nottinghamshire
Managers: Pep Guardiola v Nuno Espirito Santos
Targets: Man City need to win a game and get back up into the top three, Forest want to climb the table too, only a single point between them.
Expectation: I'd imagine Forest may take it
Ground: The Etihad
Respective current positions (Before match): 5 & 6

City went on an early attack, as you would expect, Haaland coming close on 6 minutes but the Forest keeper was able to stop it. Back they came, De Bruyne passing to Silva two minutes later, the Brazilian nodding it into the Forest net. A second goal should have come shortly after but Gvardiol headed it wide, meanwhile Gibbs-White almost equalised, but couldn't get past the keeper. Gvardiol tried again, wide again, then on the half-hour Wood pinched the ball and raced towards the City goal but he, too, shot wide.

In the end it was Kevin De Bruyne who put his team two up, or had he? VAR checked to see if there was a free kick, but no, they agreed with the ref and the goal stood, Forest fought back in the second half, coming close five minutes in but another wide (and high) shot, then City scored their third just before the hour, surely putting themselves in the driving seat, about to leave that four-game losing streak behind them?

The Belgian came close to making it four on 64 minutes, but a fingertips save kept him out, Forest shot high 15 minutes from time, so did City a few minutes later, but three was enough and finally City win a game.

Result: Manchester City 3 - 0 Nottingham Forest
Scorer(s): Silva, De Bruyne, Doku (MNC)
VAR decision(s), if any: Free kick for Forest after the third City goal ruled out; the goal stood.
Respective current positions (After match): 4 & 6
Respective final positions: 4 & 6
Effects: City climb one place to 4th, but more importantly have that all-important confidence boost they've been lacking for the last seven or so matches. Forest remain where they were.

[Trollheart]

Teams: Everton v Wolves
Regions: Merseyside v West Midlands
Managers: Sean Dyche v Gary O'Neil
Targets: Everton need to start winning and moving up the bottom half of the table, while Wolves want to get out of the damned relegation zone they keep falling back into.
Expectation: I think Wolves might come good tonight.
Ground: Goodison Park
Respective current positions (Before match): 15 & 18

Eight minutes in and Wolves were nearly ahead, another poor example of defending by the home side. Then Everton shot high, but they had another chance as they were awarded a free, and this time they scored their first goal in four games, ten minutes on the clock. Another free led to Everton's second six minutes later, but then VAR stuck their nose in again, and the ref was sent to the screen, the result being that the goal was chalked off. Fucking thing.

The home team restored that two-goal cushion just after the half-hour mark and Everton were in control. In the second half the Toffees went three ahead, in Dreamland now as Wolves scored an own goal and looked condemned to remain in the relegation zone till at least the weekend. A fourth goal would have settled it completely, but it was ruled out for a foul on the keeper, then just after the hour Wolves came close to at least getting one goal, but off the post and Calvert-Lewin made it four - oh wait, another own goal - off the same player! Oh dear! I wonder is that another record? Not one Dawson will want, nor Wolves.

Result: Everton 4 - 0 Wolves
Scorer(s): Young, Mangala, Dawson (og) (2) (EVE)
VAR decision(s), if any: Second goal ruled out for Everton
Respective current positions (After match): 15 & 19
Respective final positions: 15 & 19
Effects: A result that helps nobody, despite the much-needed victory for the home side. Everton remain in 15th while Wolves slide further down into the relegation zone.

[Trollheart]

Teams: Aston Villa v Brentford
Regions: Birmingham v London
Managers: Unai Emery v Thomas Frank
Targets: Villa need to start winning and move back up the table, Brentford could go fifth with a win.
Expectation: More hope really. Come on, ye Villans! Please?
Ground: Villa Park
Respective current positions (Before match): 12 & 8

The boos are going to be ringing around Villa Park if we don't start winning soon. Things started well 20 minutes in when Rogers scored, and got better when we got a penalty, Watkins converting to put the home side two up. Just after the half-hour we were three up as Cash latched onto a rebound, just the fingertips of the Brentford keeper stopping Watkins making it four before the end of the half.

Keeping up the pressure in the second half, Villa found themselves pegged back one as Damsagaard scored for Brentford, but we went back on the attack to try to re-establish that lead, Watkins denied again. Another save, this time from Duran, kept it at three but with five minutes of normal time to go, Duran kept out again, it was pretty clear we were going to win for the first time in four matches. About fucking time.

Result: Aston Villa 3 - 1 Brentford
Scorer(s):  Rogers,Watkins, Cash (AST); Damsgaard (BRE)
VAR decision(s), if any: Penalty awarded to Villa
Respective current positions (After match): 7 & 9
Respective final positions: 7 & 9
Effects: Joy returns finally to Villa Park, as we move back up into the top half of the table. Brentford also remain there, but slide down one place.

[Trollheart]

Meh of the Day: Still nothing that qualifies.

Scratch of the Day: I think the Liverpool/Newcastle match has to go down as this. If Kelleher had come for that ball, Newcastle were losing the match and Liverpool would have been 10 points clear. Such a late late goal to concede.

Player of the Day: I don't know, but reverse player of the day has to be Dawson in the match between his Wolves team and Everton. Two own goals!

Goal of the Day: Would probably have to go to Newcastle's Fabian Schar, who just would not give up what looked to be a lost cause, and netted from the very tightest of angles to win his team a share of the points against Liverpool.

Miss of the Day: Nunes somehow missing the cross from Salah and ending up in the net himself, sans the ball.

Save of the Day: There are plenty of good saves every day, but I'm only going in future to note those that either a) are so remarkable they're talked about b) really affect the match (e.g. a last-gasp save that wins the match or seals the points) or are totally unexpected (keeper who has no clean sheets makes an amazing save). On the other side of the coin, I'm introducing

Howler of the Day: This will, naturally, mostly involve keepers, but not always. Any incident that results in a goal being scored when it could easily have been avoided, a bad pass, an own goal etc. Today we had of course two, the first and most public being Kelleher's total misunderstanding of both the flight of the ball and the possibility of anyone getting on it, which led to Newcastle's last-minute equaliser against Liverpool. On such events, seasons turn and titles are won and lost. The other one, natch, is the crazy pass from the Southampton keeper to a Chelsea player, allowing the Blues to go ahead again, and go on to win the game in fine style. And of course we mustn't forget Dawson and his two own goals. Sorry.

VARiations: VAR was its usual annoying self but to be fair, a few decent decisions and an offside overturned, so I think it kind of balanced out. Nothing like the weekend where the men in the box robbed a team of the points.

Climb of the Day: Yay! Villa climb 5 places to take our rightful place in the top half of the table again. Now, if we can only hold on to that.

Drop of the Day: Nobody really fell more than 2 places, but I have to rub it in to Manchester United, whose fall takes them out of the top half of the table less than four days after getting there! Oh, the humanity! I mean, the hilarity.

Mirth of the Day: As I saw it anyway, one lone fan with a small sign in the Everton end which said "Dyche Out". Nobody else seemed bothered. He looked the visual equivalent of the one guy who starts clapping and then realises nobody else is going to. How embarrassing. Also, Cucharilla being hauled down by his hair in the box. I mean, it was a stupid foul, but the point could be made that if he had a nice short haircut it couldn't have been done. Bad hair day? That's what you get for having hair like a girl! Now Granit Xhaka: that's a haircut you can set your watch by!

Also have to note the scenes of Ruben Amorim with his head in his hands as his team slumped to a defeat away to Arsenal. The look says "What the fuck have I got myself into? Why didn't I stay in sunny Portugal?"

Quote of the Day: Nothing really.
 
Pen of the Day: Just the one, and to be honest, I didn't think Watkins' shot was that great. Could have been saved and just barely crept in.

Score of the Day: Not sure when I wrote this originally whether I meant just the highest or the most surprising score. Highest has to be Southampton 1 - 5 Chelsea, but the most unlikely is probably, well, take your pick: four teams won which would have been expected to lose and one drew which definitely should have won.

Cliche of the Day Again nothing comes to mind.

We Wuz Robbed! I'm tempted to say this about Liverpool, but they were the architects of their own downfall, and it really can't be blamed on refereeing decisions or even VAR. Just a really really bad decision at a crucial time from a keeper who should have known better.

Trollheart's Hates:

Arsenal

Oh hell, it's the lesser of two evils isn't it? I said in the report I'd support anyone against Man U, so I guess I gotta suck this one up. At least they lost second place, so that's something.

Crystal Palace

Still just hovering above the relegation zone, but they did win, so swings and something else that isn't swings.

Manchester United

See Arsenal. Hopefully their short "renaissance" won't last. I mean, even a coach like Amorim can only work with what he's got, right?
 
Nottingham Forest

Hey at least they were beaten. But overall not as good as it could have been.
 

[Trollheart]

Overview

A very interesting midweek session which saw several teams who had not won in ages finally get their three points, witnessed the "resurgent" Man United be shot down by the Gunners, and had two own goals in one game and an incredible draw that nobody would have put money on.


Chelsea battered poor Southampton 5-1 to take second place, Man United, after a brief uptick in their fortunes, fell foul of Arsenal and slide out of the top half of the table. Ipswich stay in the relegation zone while Crystal Palace are still dancing on the edge. Manchester City finally got a win, and a pretty comprehensive one, against Forest, though you'd have to say even in fourth place now their title bid looks to be receding in the rear view. Villa also finally won a game, to get back into the top half of the table.

Everton, who haven't scored in the last four games, won their first match in ages (but stay where they are) as did Leicester, same result. Liverpool fought well and twice went ahead but were pegged back at the end by a fiercely dogged Newcastle side, their lead cut to 7 points and their unbroken run of victories coming to an end.

[Trollheart]

[Trollheart]

Saturday December 7 2024
Manchester United v Nottingham Forest
Crystal Palace v Manchester City
Brentford v Newcastle
Aston Villa v Southampton



Teams: Manchester United v Nottingham Forest
Regions: Manchester v Nottinghamshire
Managers: Ruben Amorim v Nuno Espirito Santos
Targets: Having briefly popped their heads into the top half of the table, United will want to get back there, whereas Forest can go fifth with a win.
Expectation: I reckon a draw
Ground: Old Trafford
Respective current positions (Before match): 11 & 6

Two minutes in and Forest had the first corner of the match, and the first goal from a free header, then two minutes later they were caught in possession, United unable to make it count. 18 minutes and the home side were ahead after a fine breakaway, Hojlund levelling the game. Just after the half-hour it was United who were guilty of giving the ball away, but the visitors equally unable to convert, then from a free Fernandez could have put his team ahead but a great save pushed the ball onto the bar, and into the break we went with the teams honours even.

Two minutes into the restart it was Forest who went ahead, taking the lead for the second time as United again surrendered possession, Gibbs-White netting to slot the ball past Onana, who should have done better. Wood nearly made it three a few minutes later but just wide, then just before the hour it was three, and Chris Wood made up for his miss, Forest well ahead now. Fernandes pulled one back just after the hour. In extra time United got a free, from which Rashford's shot resulted in a corner, Forest holding on now as the corner went high, United beaten at the end by just the one goal.

Result: Manchester United 2 - 3 Nottingham Forest
Scorer(s): Milenkovic, Gibbs-White, Wood (FOR); Hojlund (MNU)
VAR decision(s), if any: None
Respective current positions (After match): 13 & 5
Respective final positions: 13 & 5
Effects:  United remain in the bottom half of the table Forest move to 5th.

[Trollheart]

Teams: Brentford v Newcastle
Regions: London v Tyne & Wear
Managers: Thomas Frank v Eddie Howe
Targets: Level on points, Brentford and Newcastle both want to advance up the top half of the table, just a place between them.
Expectation: Really hard to call: Newcastle will be on a high after holding Liverpool to that late late draw during the week, so they might edge it.
Ground: The G-Tech Community Stadium
Respective current positions (Before match): 9 & 10

Like Forest in the previous match, the Magpies were on the attack within 2 minutes, but unlike the Nottinghamshire team, their effort did not open the scoring, hammering back off the post. On 8 minutes they were at it again, but they lost the ball and it was the home side who scored, Mbeumo banging it beyond Pope for his 9th goal of the season. Two minutes later Newcastle's top scorer did what he does, and the teams were level. He should have put his side into the lead a few minutes later but for the long arms of Brentford's keeper.

Just before the half-hour mark Barnes gave the ball away and Wissa did not miss, putting the home team in the lead, but he made up for it a minute later by equalising again. Newcastle had the chance to go ahead just before the break but the ball bounced off the bar. In the second minute of the second half Wissa raced free, only kept out by the keeper, then just before the hour Brentford were ahead again, this time through Collins and some seriously bad defending. Eight minutes left, could the visitors pull off another late draw to earn a share of the points? Not this time, as Brentford took their fourth three minutes from time.

Result: Brentford 4 - 2 Newcastle
Scorer(s): Mbeumo, Wissa, Collins, Schade (BRE); Isak, Barnes (NEW)
VAR decision(s), if any: None
Respective current positions (After match): 7 & 12
Respective final positions: 9 & 12
Effects: Despite the win, other results push Brentford down to 9th place. Newcastle stay where they are.

[Trollheart]

Teams: Crystal Palace v Manchester City
Regions: London v Manchester
Managers: Oliver Glasner v Pep Guardiola
Targets: Man City, having managed to extricate themselves from the, for them, embarrassing position of fifth, want to climb higher and renew their fading challenge for the title; Crystal Palace just want to stay above the dotted line.
Expectation: Normally I'd say City should take this, but the way they've been slipping who knows really?
Ground: Selhurst Park
Respective current positions (Before match): 17 & 4

Another early goal as Palace opened the scoring after only four minutes, but was Munoz onside? Yes he was, and the home side were ahead with a dream start against stuttering (but returning?) Manchester City. In the 23rd minute they had two chances to equalise, but one came off the post and the other, well, didn't get that far. Only a fine block down the City end stopped Palace going two to the good, then on the half-hour Haaland headed in to equalise. In the second half City gave the ball away but Hughes unable to profit from the mistake. From the resultant corner on the hour though the home side did score, and took the lead again.

City were level on 68 with a fine goal, all to play for now. The visitors went for it, but it was Palace who got the ball, and a free, then with 7 minutes to go City had a man sent off for a second yellow, surely only hoping now to hold on for the draw? In the dying seconds of extra time Palace got a corner, could City keep them out? Yes they could, and they managed to get away with a point. Another case of the final whistle being blown as one of the teams, in this case Man City, were on the attack. Getting to be a habit, this.


Result: Crystal Palace 2 - 2 Manchester City
Scorer(s): Munoz, Lacroix (PAL); Haaland, Lewis (MNC)
VAR decision(s), if any: None
Respective current positions (After match): 16 & 4
Respective final positions: 18 & 4
Effects: Other results mean Palace rise to 16th but drop to 18th after the weekend, leaving them back in the relegation zone again. City remain at 4th.

[Trollheart]

Teams: Aston Villa v Southampton
Regions: Birmingham v Hampshire
Managers: Unai Emery v Russell Martin
Targets: Southampton are desperate to see the back of that dotted line, Villa want to make up for previous losses and get up that top half of the table.
Expectation: If we can't beat fucking Southampton at home we may as well hang up our boots.
Ground: Villa Park
Respective current positions (Before match): 7 & 20

Worryingly, it was the bottom team who had the first attack on 9 minutes, although it didn't come to anything. A quarter of an hour gone and they were at it again, this time too high. Villa's first attack could have ended in a penalty but it was a good stop as Duran went over in the box, legally. McGinn couldn't capitalise on a poor pass; things not looking good for us. Then Duran got free and put the home team ahead on the halfway mark. Ten minutes later it could have been two, but too far ahead of Duran.

Another sloppy back pass in the second half could have left us with egg on our face, but Villa didn't learn their lesson and gave it away again, with Martinez to thank for keeping them ahead. Watkins should have made it certain but in the end the one goal was enough. We were lucky, though. Should be destroying teams like Southampton, and we could easily have given away two points.

Result: Aston Villa 1 - 0 Southampton
Scorer(s): Duran (AST)
VAR decision(s), if any: None
Respective current positions (After match): 6 & 20
Respective final positions: 6 & 20
Effects: Villa rise one place, Southampton remain rooted to the bottom.

Note: At the end of the storm there may be a bright golden sky, but Storm Darragh forced the cancellation of Liverpool's match against Everton. I'm not sure if this will be rescheduled (I assume so) but even without playing the Reds are still top of the table.

[Trollheart]

Sunday December 8 2024
Fulham v Arsenal
Ipswich Town v Bournemouth
Leicester City v Brighton
Tottenham Hotspur v Chelsea


Teams: Fulham v Arsenal
Regions: London v London
Managers: Marco Silva v Mikel Arteta
Targets: Fulham want to get back into the top half of the table, Arsenal want to close the gap on Liverpool, and with their game called off due to the storm yesterday, this is a perfect opportunity to cut that lead to 4 points.
Expectation: I'd have to imagine Arsenal would win this one.
Ground: Craven Cottage
Respective current positions (Before match): 11 & 3

An early attack for Arsenal as they got a corner in the third minute, the ball just missing the net, then in the 11th minute the Cottagers broke and took the first goal. Rice nearly equalised for the Gunners but past the post, and so into the break with the home team ahead. In the second half a free for the visitors went nowhere, then a corner gave them the equaliser. VAR checked for offside, but the goal was allowed. Arsenal kept up the pressure, and in the last minute of normal time went ahead, the goal again needing VAR checking, and this time it was ruled out.


Result: Fulham 1 - 1 Arsenal
Scorer(s): Jiminez (FUL); Saliba (ARS)
VAR decision(s), if any: Second goal for Arsenal ruled offside
Respective current positions (After match): 10 & 3
Respective final positions: 10 & 3
Effects: Arsenal remain third but their failure to win means Chelsea move ahead one point; both teams begin to close the gap between them and Liverpool.