Sunderland 2-4 West Brom

Fans from the Black Country must be wondering when they’re going to wake up.

Albion moved up to third (and nosebleed territory) with their fourth consecutive victory after the enthralling encounter at the Stadium of Light in the lunchtime kick off, although their third, and ultimately the deciding, goal came from a controversial decision by Mike Dean to award a penalty.

Martin O’Neill chose an unchanged side after the Black Cats recorded their first away victory at Fulham last week, Phil Bardsley and Lee Cattermole shaking off knocks picked up in the Craven Cottage clash. Craig Gardner returned to the match-day squad.

Steve Clarke opted for regular Gareth McAuley over stand in Gabriel Tamas after the defender returned from a hamstring injury. Captain Chris Brunt started in place of injured Youssouf Mulumbu and Boaz Myhill continued in goal for the recovering Ben Foster.

It was a slow start to the game. One could sense that both teams were getting to grips with each other, Adam Johnson of Sunderland and Peter Odemwingie of West Brom tested their opposing keepers from distance without causing problems.

The 16th minute offered the first real chance on goal- although Claudio Yacob probably didn’t know too much about it. A corner came in which Jonas Olsson couldn’t connect with, and it fell to the Argentine who headed over from a matter of yards.

The first real move of quality came from the hosts. Danny Rose played Johnson in, the winger then flicked the ball onto Stephane Sessegnon, who chipped the ball over McAuley and fired in a shot that Myhill turned round the post.

On 20 Shane Long went down under a challenge from John O’Shea who had already been booked and referee Dean took his yellow card out again- but Long was penalised for simulation. O’Shea had initially made for the exit believing it was he who was about to earn his marching orders, and the replay showed that there was contact.

In the same way Myhill had an individual duel with Daniel Sturridge of Chelsea last week, the Welshman seemed to be stopping Sessegnon at all costs, this time pushing away a header from the Mackems’ midfielder as a result of a corner.

The Baggies took the lead on the half hour mark as a result of some sloppy play from the hosts. Johnson’s touch was too heavy and he saw the ball taken away from him by Odemwingie. The Nigerian went on to play Zoltan Gera in and the Hungarian hit a rasping left footed strike from 25 yards beyond the stretching Mignolet.

This served as a wake up call for the Black Cats, immediate pressure on the visitors’ area ensued and resulted in O’Shea curling an effort just wide of the far corner. Lee Cattermole was soon to be replace by Craig Gardner, the captain seemingly aggravating the injury sustained a fortnight ago.

 A wonderful individual effort was the home side’s final chance before half time. Sessegnon kept the ball in wide on the left before cutting inside and evading numerous challenges. The Benin international then unleashed a shot which deflected off a defender and Myhill collected.

A moment of madness followed on the stroke of half time. An inaccurate chip over the top from Brunt should have been routinely collected by Mignolet, but the Belgian spilt the ball to the probing Long who doubled his side’s lead.

H-T: 0-2

Martin O’Neill was forced into a change at the break as John O’Shea required a replacement. James McClean was introduced, showing the attacking intent from the Wearsiders.

The home side started with more urgency as expected. Gardner’s run was impressive, but his cross was poor and Myhill dealt with it easily. Up the other end, Albion showed they were capable of adding to their lead when Morrison played Long through, but the onrushing Mignolet prevented a third. It was shaping up to be an entertaining 45 minutes.

The end-to-end style of play continued further into the half. Adam Johnson’s dipping shot from distance caught Myhill out and the keeper resorted to parrying the ball away with his upper arms. Meanwhile, Billy Jones went on a mazy run into the Sunderland box before being thwarted by an excellent tackle from Danny Rose.

Fletcher headed over from a Larsson corner and Morrison and Odemwingie both had chances to take long range shots on the counter for the Baggies, but challenges were put in to stop them. The home side were enjoying plenty of possession, as many teams do against Albion, but the defence were soaking up the pressure and releasing their pacey forwards on the break. Brunt had a cross shot that evaded the stretching Long and Odemwingie tried to tee up Morrison within a couple of minutes, but to no avail.

Odemwingie very nearly scored a belter from almost 30 yards, cutting in from the right once again and fizzing a left footed strike just beyond the far post. Steve Clarke immediately introduced duo Lukaku and Fortune in place of the hard-working Long and Odemwingie, hoping fresh legs would carry his side over the line. O’Neill gambled and threw on Louis Saha for Jack Colback.

There was a slightly fortuitous lifeline for the Mackems on 73. Craig Gardner’s long range free kick ricocheted off Marc-Antoine Fortune in the wall and the deflection carried the ball over the diving Myhill. A roar greeted the goal and hope was rekindled for the hosts.

Straight away Sessegnon had a shot pushed away by the in-form Myhill. But Albion were to regain their 2 goal lead on 80 minutes, albeit in fortunate circumstances. Liam Ridgewell was supposedly brought down in the area by Johnson, but replays showed that the left back went down without being touched. Nevertheless, substitute Lukaku dispatched the penalty with aplomb, the loanee notching his fourth of the season.

Sunderland wouldn’t lie down and with three minutes to go Myhill parried a header from a corner straight to Sessegnon who blasted his second of the season into the roof of the net from a couple of yards.

As the four minutes of stoppage time were signalled, the hosts threw everything at their visitors and were ultimately caught out in the final minute when Fortune finished coolly to round off a fantastic breakaway involving Lukaku and the outstanding Yacob.

A truly entertaining match with an outcome that means the Wearsiders remain 15th while the Baggies move up one to third.

F-T: 2-4

Match ratings: SUN- Mignolet 5, Bardsley 6, O’Shea 5 (McClean 6), Cuellar 6, Rose 6, Larsson 7, Cattermole 5 (Gardner 6) Colback 5 (Saha 5), Sessegnon 7, Johnson 5, Fletcher 5

WBA- Myhill 6, Jones 6, McAuley 7, Olsson 7, Ridgewell 6, Yacob 8, Morrison 7 (Tamas 5), Brunt 6, Odemwingie 7 (Fortune 6), Gera 7, Long 7 (Lukaku 6)

Arteta miss costs Arsenal while Everton hold on to fourth

An missed penalty in the fifth minute of injury-time by Mikel Arteta cost Arsenal all three points at the Emirates in an entertaining 3-3 draw with Fulham. 

Veteran Australian goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer saved low to his left to deny Arteta to extend the Cottagers' unbeaten run in the Premier League to five matches.

The miss continued Arsenal's poor form from the spot as this was their 5th miss from their last 10 penalties, the joint-highest in the Premier League.

The Gunners remain one place above Fulham on goal difference in seventh, although Martin Jol's men will be much happier with their league standing than the side from North London. 

Olivier Giroud answered his critics when he headed in the opening goal, and when Lukas Podolski stabbed the home team two in front, it looked like there would be no way back for Fulham. 

However former Spurs striker Dimitar Berbatov ignited his side into action with a header of his own to bring the scoreline back to 2-1 with just 29 minutes gone. The Bulgarian then set up Alex Kacaniklic to equalise five minutes before half-time. 

Berbatov then converted a penalty to grab his fifth goal in just seven Premier League games this season, before Giroud responded with his second, a header from a Theo Walcott cross. 

There was more drama to come, when in the 94th minute Sascher Riether conceded what looked to be a harsh penalty for hand-ball. The spot-kick came to nothing though as Schwarzer saved and referee Phil Dowd immediately brought an end to proceedings. 

At Goodison Park Everton came from behind to beat Sunderland 2-1 thanks to goals from Maroune Fellaini and Nikica Jelavic, their sixth and fifth league goals of the season respectively. 

Toffees boss David Moyes (after what was his 400th match in charge) admitted: "I thought it was going to be one of those days. It didn't look as if it was coming, I thought it looked like a 1-0 to Sunderland - but that was not for us not trying to keep knocking at the door.

"I thought we kept going and the players showed great character to come from a goal behind."

Steve Clarke's West Brom got their first league win of the season away from home as they beat Wigan 2-1 at the DW Stadium: http://asportinginsight.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/wigan-1-2-west-brom.html

James Morrison gave the Baggies the lead before Gary Caldwell found his own net. Despite an Arouna Kone goal the away team were well worth the three points that kept them level on points with fourth-placed Everton. 

Manchester United increased their lead at the top of the Premier League to four points after coming from 2-0 down to beat Aston Villa 3-2 at Villa Park.

Javier Hernandez scored two and made another as United completed their eighth winning come-back of the season: http://asportinginsight.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/uniteds-spirit-shows-no-signs-of.html

The young Mexican has now scored every 51 minutes he has played in the Premier League this season.

Struggling Southampton could not keep a first clean-sheet of the season as Nathan Dyer scored a 73rd minute equaliser to give Swansea a 1-1 draw after Schneiderlin had given the Saints the lead.

The young Saints team played well despite averaging only 23 years and 326 days old and under-fire manager Nigel Adkins said: "We're together as one. Everyone is having a right go, the performance was good. Listen, take the positives. We got a point. We wanted the three and a clean sheet but let's take the positives."

Premier League bottom club Queens Park Rangers remain without a win after losing 1-0 at Stoke courtesy of a Charlie Adam goal, his first Premier League striker in thirteen months. The Hoops missed several second half chances and have now trailed for more minutes than any other team (463) this season.

It also looks ominous for Hughes's men as they have extended their run without a win to 11 matches.

In the day's other top-flight match Reading also failed to chalk up their first victory as they played out a 0-0 stale-mate with Norwich.

Statistics courtesy of Infostrada Sports: http://infostradalive.com/

Are City Back On Top Form?

Photograph courtesy of The Guardian

An impressive win over Sunderland in the lunch-time kick-off has quashed doubts that City are not up to the same standard that they were last season. Alexandar Kolarov was a menace down the left all game and the strike-force of Carlos Tevez and substitute Sergio Aguero always looked dangerous, meanwhile Micah Richards produced a performance reminiscent of his rampaging efforts last campaign. 

However the big difference between the City of the start of last season and the side that are playing at the moment is that they have lost the clinical edge that got them so many goals this time last year. The Sky Blues had 26 shots with 16 on target as an inspired Simon Mignolet made save after save. 

Roberto Mancini acknowledged that his side were sloppy in front of goal: "I think in the first half, we missed two or three chances like other games but we had a good performance. I think also in London against Fulham we did very well and against Stoke. Every game is difficult in this moment. I am happy because we got a clean sheet, scored three but also because of our performance."

Mancini was also understandably delighted with Kolarov after a brilliant performance playing on the left wing. The Serbian international got past Carlos Cuellar time and time again and his final ball was excellent, scoring one from a trade-mark free-kick and setting one up with a magnificent left-footed cross from which Sergio Aguero headed past Mignolet. . 

Sunderland conceded an unlucky third goal from a Milner free kick, taking a deflection off the wall and finding a home at the back of Sunderland's net. The goal was just rewards for a City side that dominated the match throughout and never looked like taking anything other than three points out of the game.

The Citizens will be very hopeful of winning a second Premier League title come May, but until today they hadn't looked like a title winning team; dropping points against Liverpool, Stoke and Arsenal. They also looked out of sorts in a lucky 2-1 win at Fulham last weekend. 

Other teams have improved their squads since last season and City are no longer out on a limb at the top of the table with city rivals United. Chelsea have splashed the cash on players such as Eden Hazard, Marko Marin and Oscar and United have brought in Shinji Kagawa and Robin Van Persie.

Mancini has only added Jack Rodwell and Javi Garcia to his senior squad and players who performed well last season like Gareth Barry and Balotelli have been off form so far this season. The enigmatic Italian striker was withdrawn after 56 minutes today and Mancini said that 'he can play better'.

Despite a slowish start to the season City were on top form today and looked like a side capable of defending their Premier League title. 

Manchester City on the Brink

"As a team, I think it's going to be without doubt the most important game we've ever played in."

As said above by Pablo Zabaleta, this could be without doubt the most crucial game Manchester City have ever, and will ever, play. Their future lies on the line. Win today at home to Queens Park Rangers and the Premier League title is theirs; fail to win and Manchester United are victorious at Sunderland and it could be the most crushing result of their history. Without a title since 1968, the same year United first won The European Cup, the blue side of the city has never been so hopeful of ending the 44 years of hurt. 

Despite being underwhelming underdogs, United will be hopeful of securing a 20th league title. With so much at stake they are relying on the Blues to buckle under the pressure against relegation battling QPR today. The 'Rs' know that a point will all but confirm safety for them, while Sunderland have almost nothing to play for sitting comfortably in 11th place. 

After being eight points clear in the title race just weeks ago, the Red Devils are sure to be kicking themselves for letting that lead slip. Defeats to Wigan and City, as well as a 4-4 draw with Everton have left United wondering what might have been. The return of Carlos Tevez has been crucial to Mancini's team's return to form with four goals including a hat-trick against Norwich. Manchester City's reaction to losing their lead has been admirable but nothing but a win today will suffice. 

Another twist in the tale is the revisiting of former City boss Mark Hughes to the Etihad Stadium. After being sacked so acrimoniously by owner Sheikh Mansour he will be desperate for revenge to keep QPR up and help old team United win the league. However The Citizens will have other ideas and will be confident of sweeping the relegation candidates aside after dropping just two points at home in the league all season. Last year they ended a 35-year wait for a trophy with a 1-0 win over Stoke City in the FA Cup final and now are fingertips away from winning the biggest domestic trophy if them all. 

Considering they have won 6-1 and 1-0 against United this campaign City will feel a title victory over their old rivals is justified. Manager Roberto Mancini said: "We have played the better football, 100%, even if we don't win, we played the better football." 

Following last weeks impressive success over Champions League chasing Newcastle United people may think that City have the title in the bag. But on the other hand Manchester United have won 12 Premier Leagues under Sir Alex Ferguson and have plenty of experience in Ryan Giggs, 38 and Paul Scholes, 37. United have been there and done that; but despite this it might just be City's year.