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Premier League round-up: Wigan edge out Blackburn in eight-goal thriller

Steve Bruce chalked his first win as Wigan manager in a pulsating game at the JJB stadium. The 16,489 spectators were treated to two hat-tricks, a penalty save and a sending off as the home side ended 5-3 victors - it was their first win 14 games. Marcus Bent was the star for Wigan, as he netted his first hat-trick in seven years.

The 29-year-old, on loan from the Championship's Charlton, opened the scoring after 10 minutes and Denny Landzaat doubled the lead four minutes later.

A Paul Scharner bullet header made it 3-0 before Blackburn's South African striker Benni Mccarthy had his penalty tipped around the post by Chris Kirkland.

Mark Hughes' side did pull a goal back before the break, through Paraguayan forward Roque Santa Cruz, who also ended the game with three goals to his name. But just as Blackburn were gaining momentum, Brett Emerton was ejected for a second bookable offence, much to the disgust of Hughes, who spat out his chewing gum.

Having failed to have scored in his previous seven games, summer signing Santa Cruz pulled his side back to 3-3 after the interval with his first hat-trick for the club. But Bent's two second half goals took the game beyond Blackburn. The only disappointment for Bruce was that striker Emile Heskey was stretchered off with an ankle injury.

There were 22 goals in all in the seven Premier League games which kicked off at 3pm. Manchester City continued their 100 per cent home record, winning their ninth consecutive match at the City of Manchester Stadium. Sven-Goran Eriksson's team ran out late winners against Gary Megson's Bolton, who are yet to win away in the league all season.

Conversely Tottenham had a good away day at Fratton Park, defeating Harry Redknapp's Portsmouth - their first defeat in 11 games. Dimitar Berbatov scored the only goal of the game, and Spurs recorded their first away victory.

Everton beat West Ham at Upton Park for the second time in four days. Yakubu, who had tormented the Hammers in the midweek Carling Cup fixture, was again on the scoresheet - his seventh goal in four games - and Andy Johnson scored a late chip to help the Toffees to 2-0. David Moyes' side have now won 10 of their last 12 games, and drew the other two.

Sunderland were unlucky not to make it two consecutive wins as a late header - which looked perfectly legitimate goal - was deemed a foul. As it was the Black Cats drew 1-1 with Aston Villa.

Middlesbrough defeated Paul Jewell's Derby County thanks to a sweet left-foot volley by Tuncay Sanli. The 25-year-old Turkish forwad has now scored in his last three matches.

Alex McLeish was unlucky not to win his first home match at St Andrews. The Birmingham manager saw his team take the lead through Finnish striker Mikael Forssell, only for a contentious Stephen Hunt penalty to level the game.

Labels: Birmingham, football, Manchester City, Premier League, Tottenham, Wigan

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 6:59 pm | Permalink | Comments

RIDGEWELL DELIGHTED WITH NEW MAN MCLEISH

Alex McLeish would rather avoid relegation with his new club Birmingham City than have qualified for Euro 2008 with Scotland - captain Liam Ridgewell thinks. And the former Aston Villa centre-back is delighted with the impact the new manager has had on his team’s confidence.

He believes that the 48-year-old, who won seven trophies in five years at Rangers before taking the reins of the Scottish national team in January, is just the man to steer Birmingham in the right direction.

Before Birmingham’s 3-2 away win over Tottenham the erstwhile Scotland head coach, who started at St Andrews last week, had instilled a fearless belief into the team, which reaped immediate rewards.

The 23-year-old said: “For Scotland not to go through to Euro 2008 is very disappointing for Alex. But it will be more of an accolade for him to keep Birmingham City in the Premier League. We are all pushing hard to try and make sure we do that.

“I think he is a great manager and it’s a great shout to get him. All the players are happy that he is here, and that he has brought in all his backroom staff too. I’m sure we will go from strength to strength.”

Ridgewell continued: “He just told us to go out there against Spurs with a bit of confidence and to have the belief to play your game and do what you do.

“Alex has seen a couple of our games that we have played and has seen the desire that is there. He told us to go out and build on that, and not fear any side.”

Sebastian Larsson won the game for Birmingham with a potential goal-of-the-season strike, in deep injury time, to bring Tottenham manager Juande Ramos’ unbeaten start to an end.

“It was an unbelievable, fantastic strike,” added the defender. “I’m sure Sebastian’s never hit one like that before. He’ll hopefully do another one next week. We’ll have to practice them in training a little more!”

Labels: Alex McLeish, Birmingham, football, Liam Ridgewell, Premier League, Tottenham

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 1:10 pm | Permalink | Comments

CERNY BEMOANS SPURS' POROUS DEFENCE

Tottenham goalkeeper Radek Cerny bemoaned his team’s “silly mistakes” after they conceded yet another last minute goal at the weekend and is worried about the low confidence of Younes Kaboul.

Birmingham’s Sebastian Larsson scored with 35-yard wonder-strike in the 93rd minute to gift Alex McLeish a dream start with a 3-2 victory at White Hart Lane.

The 33-year-old, who joined Spurs from home-club Slavia Prague in January 2005, asked: “How many times have you seen us concede a goal in the last minute?

“Larsson’s goal was fantastic, but it’s like when I was in goal against Blackburn when (Christopher) Samba scored in the last minute and we lost – I was a little bit unlucky.

“It’s these little things that all add up. We have lost maybe 18 points in the last five minutes this year – that’s a lot of points. I just hope our luck will change.”

Spurs have conceded five goals in the 90th minute or later, and have dropped seven points. The tone was set in the Premier League’s first game of the season on August 11 when Sunderland found a winning goal in the 94th minute. If they had not conceded those late goals Ramos’ team would be in tenth place.

Cerny is also concerned by the form of young centre-back Kaboul. The Frenchman was replaced at half time on Sunday by manager Juande Ramos after conceding a penalty, which Gary McSheffrey converted to put McLeish’s team one nil up.

The Czech international said: “Younes made a big mistake against Birmingham and it makes it difficult for us – we need not to make silly mistakes like this.

"It was a silly foul and a penalty. And in the last few games we have made big mistakes.

“Younes is having a difficult time at the moment. But when he arrived he was playing well. I hope he has the character to come back and be a success at Spurs, because we have some very good players here."

He added: “But we need to win games like Birmingham City at home, so we can be fine for the next game. We do the first step but we have a problem with the second step.

“I think there is a problem with the confidence, not just of Younes, but of the whole team. When we are a goal up we need to relax and control the game more."

Labels: Birmingham, football, Juande Ramos, Premier League, Tottenham

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 12:41 pm | Permalink | Comments

LARSSON STRIKES GOLD

Sebastian Larsson's 93rd-minute 35-yard screamer, which earned Birmingham their first points in four Premier League games, caused David Gold to party until the early hours of yesterday (MON) morning.

After former Scotland manager Alex McLeish's first game in charge ended in a dream 3-2 victory at White Hart Lane - the Midlands club's first in 23 years - the Birmingham chairman could not contain his delight.

"I'm going to be up celebrating this victory until 4 o' clock," he beamed after seeing the young Swede's shot fly into the top right hand corner past England No1 Paul Robinson, inflicting the first defeat of Juande Ramos' reign at Spurs.

Larsson, who began his career with Tottenham's north London rivals Arsenal, confessed that he had only taken the shot because he was fatigued. The modest 22-year-old suggested that it was a pure fluke that he hit the jackpot with such a fabulous strike.

"I have never scored anything like it before," he admitted." I had a shot earlier on and that was nowhere near the goal.

"To be honest I was quite tired and when the ball came to me I thought why not have a go, and it's one of those lucky goals I suppose."

Even Spurs captain Robbie Keane, who had brought his team back into the game with two goals in three minutes early in the second half before being sent off for a contentious challenge on Fabrice Muamba, took his hat off to the match-winning strike.

"There is not much you can do about their last goal," said a disappointed Keane. "You have got to hold your hands up and give the fella credit." The Republic of Ireland marksman now faces a three-match ban, including Spurs' trip to the Emirates on December 22.

Larsson was full of praise for McLeish, who won seven trophies in five seasons as Rangers manager before he took over as Scotland head coach in January.

He continued: "It has been short and sharp with the new manager. There is not too much you can do in such a short space of time.

"But he believes in us, and he told us to believe in ourselves. He told us to go out and enjoy and express ourselves.

"He wanted us to come with that belief that we can get something out of difficult games like Tottenham. We had a lot of luck but we also showed a lot of bottle to stick in there."

Labels: Birmingham, football, Premier League, Tottenham

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 4:33 pm | Permalink | Comments

KEANE TO APPEAL THREE MATCH BAN

Tottenham captain Robbie Keane described his sending off against Birmingham City, and consequent three match suspension – a ban that will see him miss the north London derby at the Emirates three days before Christmas – as “a killer blow”.

Alongside Arsenal’s Emmanuel Adebayor and Benjani Mwaruwari of Portsmouth, the Republic of Ireland marksman is joint top scorer in the Premier League with eight goals.

But he will be in the stands for the visit of Manchester City and the trips to Fratton Park and the Emirates Stadium after his tackle on Fabrice Muamba was deemed a professional foul by referee Phil Dowd.

The 27-year-old, whose brace in the first seven minutes of the second half had dragged Spurs back into the game at White Hart Lane, was shown a straight red card in the 68th minute with the match finely balanced at 2-2.

Former Arsenal trainee Sebastian Larsson rubbed salt into Tottenham’s wounds by scoring a 92nd minute winner with a screaming 35 yard drive. However Keane felt Dowd had made a terrible decision and hopes the ban will be revoked.

“It is a killer blow for me,” he said. “Whether it is Arsenal or anyone else, to miss three games is disappointing. To have 20 minutes taken away was hard enough.

“Anyone who knows me, and has seen me play over the years, knows that I’m not a malicious player – I never go in to hurt anyone. The two of us went in for the ball; the two of us got some of the ball – it’s a simple as that.

“It certainly wasn’t a red card. Hopefully the referee and whoever is behind making the decision will have another look at it and common sense will prevail.”

Labels: Birmingham, Premier League, Robbie Keane, Tottenham

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 1:30 am | Permalink | Comments

LARSSON'S SCREAMER STEALS POINTS IN MCLEISH DEBUT

Sebatian Larsson's 92nd minute screamer brought Juande Ramos’ unbeaten start as Tottenham manager to an end and unbridled joy for Birmingham’s new manager, Alex McLeish, who saw his team win 3-2 in his first game.

In a highly entertaining match McLeish, who relinquished his position as Scottish national manger in midweek, made three changes to the side who lost at home to Portsmouth last weekend. Most significantly 36-year-old Maik Taylor was recalled between the sticks.

The Northern Ireland ‘keeper’s heroics, particularly in the first half, ensured the three points for the visitors, as Birmingham went into the break not only with a clean sheet but also somehow in front, thanks to Gary McSheffrey’s 24th minute penalty.

They had managed only one shot in the half – Daniel De Ridder’s second minute strike, which screwed well wide – compared with Tottenham’s 10 efforts, four of which were on target.

Taylor was first called into action in the tenth minute when centre-back Johan Djourou misguided a headed clearance – the ball falling kindly for Dimitar Berbatov 12 yards from the goal. The Bulgarian forward struck his gilt edge opportunity straight at the grateful ‘keeper.

It was all Spurs, and after 20 minutes Berbatov’s inside-out through ball found Darren Bent, whose swiveled shot from six yards was deflected agonisingly wide by Taylor.

Taylor’s best save came after Birmingham had opened the scoring though McSheffrey’s spot-kick. In Birmingham’s solitary first half attack, the beleaguered Younes Kaboul, who missed Thursday’s game due to groin injury, chopped down the former Coventry forward. He stepped up to the spot and cracked the penalty straight, as Paul Robinson dived to his left.

Taylor had to be at his best to keep Birmingham’s sheet clean before the interval, and showed just why his Scottish manager selected him over Richard Kingson when Gareth Bale’s free kick was saved.

The 18-year-old curled his centrally positioned, 30 yard shot towards the top right-hand corner, only for Taylor to reach the ball with the tips of his fingers, and turn it round the post. Bale, just recovered from a metatarsal injury, was to later limp off, much to the frustration of Ramos, who is short of left-backs in his squad. The Welshman was seen with his right foot in a cast after the game, and could only walk with the help of crutches.

Ramos rang the changes at the break, replacing Bent with Jemaine Defoe, and Kaboul with Tom Huddlestone, and it paid dividends almost immediately.

After only five minutes Spurs had equalised through Robbie Keane, after Djourou had tugged back Berbatov in the box. The Republic of Ireland striker then latched onto Huddlestone’s lofted ball, after Fabrice Muamba had failed to clear from a corner. His finish, with the studs of his right boot, put Ramos’ team ahead, and the relief was tangible.

However, Keane was to turn from hero to villain after being shown a straight red card with 20 minutes remaining; his late tackle on Djourou, being deemed dangerous by referee Phil Dowd.

Cameron Jerome had leveled the scores six minutes before Keane’s ejection, with a rare Birmingham attack, but it was midfielder Larsson who will rightfully claim Monday’s headlines. It was the third time that Spurs have conceded in injury time this season, after leaking late goals against Fulham and Blackburn.

To rub salt into Tottenham’s wounds, Larsson is a former Arsenal player, but his 30 yard crackerjack shot powered into the top right-hand corner, passed the groping hand of England No1 Robinson, and lifts Birmingham two points above their north London hosts.

Labels: Alex McLeish, Birmingham, Juande Ramos, Premier League, Tottenham

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 9:02 pm | Permalink | Comments