Chelsea Draw Blank; City Capitalise and United Finding Form Chelseas title hopes were dealt a shock double blow away to the Blackcats on Saturday when the Wearsider’s heroically kept their star studded rivals at bay. As expected, Chelsea dominated possession and had double the number of shots on goal and target, but were surprisingly poor finishing let them down. The frustration eventually got to top scorer Costa who was booked and will now miss their midweek game against Spurs after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season. This double blow could prove costly as reigning Champions Man City recorded a convincing 0-3 win away to second placed Southampton on Sunday, who they leapfrogged as a result, and closed the gap on their main rivals to six points. If Chelsea drop further points on Wednesday and City can capitalise away to Sunderland, the title race could be blown wide open. Manchester United held on too fourth position after recording their third win in a row for the first time in almost a year. They were never in trouble against a Hull side who are in free fall after losing their fourth Premier League game in a row, and are now winless in their last six. They find themselves just one point above the relegation zone and need to address their slump quickly with the busy Christmas schedule approaching. Wayne Rooney continued his good scoring run, netting his sixth Premier League goal of the season, while Robin van Persie scored a well overdue cracker, for only his fourth goal in twelve games. If United can maintain their current form for the remainder of the season and if Rooney and Van Persie can maintain their scoring form, they will surely find themselves back in the Champions League next season at least. Arsenal made it two wins a week with a narrow 1-0 win away to West Brom in the lunchtime kickoff. Arsenal dominated possession but it took a Danny Welbeck 60th minute header to break the deadlock. West Brom had a number of great chances to get in the game and top scorer Saido Berahino came closest for the Baggies. He was clean through on goal, only to be unfairly denied for offside before his best chance came when his header hit the bar. Newcastles run of five Premier League wins in a row this season came to a frustrating end at Upton Park. They lost a desperately close game which easily could have gone either way. The defeat sees Newcastle drop to ninth in the league, while the Hammers maintained their impressive run and fifth place. Newcastle were dealt a further blow when arguably their best player this season Sissoko was sent off for two rash challenges. They will miss their influential Captain for three games now and with a host of players already missing due to injury, and with the busy Christmas schedule approaching, they may find themselves slipping further down the table if they are not careful. Liverpool continued their dominance over Stoke at Anfield thanks to a heroic late header from Glen Johnson, which ended their run of four games without a win. Liverpool dominated for the majority of the match but looked like they might fail to capitalise on their chances, until under pressure manager Brendan Rodgers brought on Liverpool talisman Gerrad and his presence eventually paid dividends with five minutes to go. Burnleys extended their unbeaten run to three games after an entertaining relegation battle draw at home to Aston Villa. Joe Cole, who made his first start for Villa and was playing his first top flight game since 2013 opened the scoring and the Clarets were grateful after an 87th-minute penalty from Danny Ings drew them level. Ings could have won it for them minutes later when he hit the post and moments later Jutkiewicz missed a great opportunity heading inches wide. QPR lifted themselves off the bottom of the table with ding dong battle against fellow strugglers Leicester. Cambiasso gave the visitors a shock lead with a cool finish in the eighth minute, before a Wes Morgan own goal drew the home side level. Leroy Fer grabbed the lead for the hosts just before the break only for Schlupp to equalise later in the second half. It was left to top scorer Austin, with his fifth goal in five games, to fittingly land the three points and send Leicester bottom and ruing their chances of what might have been. In Wales Swansea failed to convert possession and chances in to three points only managing a draw against Palace. Wilfried Bonys continued his impressive goal scoring form with his sixth of season, before Shelvey handed Palace a lifeline fouling Chamak in the box and the in form Australian Jedinak duly scored from the spot. The Swans will need to address their weakness of not finishing games off and need to start turning draws in to three points, as they have now only won two of their last ten Premier League games. Antenucci stuns Rams; Ipswich and Brentford Close Gap and Bournemouth Blow Chance to go Top In the Championship Derby were stunned by a brace from Italian striker Antenucci and failed to make it four league wins in a row. There lead at the top has been cut to just one point after both Ipswich and Brentford won. Noel Hunt on loan from Leeds helped Ipswich extend their unbeaten run to six in the league after he stole a late win at Charlton in the days early kick-off. Brentford made it five league wins in a row after thrashing Wolves, who seem to be in crisis, at Griffin Park and kept their hopes of achieving back to back promotions alive. Bournemouth missed their opportunity to go top after throwing away a two goal first half lead against Millwall, who got the equaliser in the dying minutes of normal play. Fulham continued their revival and good run of form with a another good away win against Brighton. The Londoners have only lost two of their last eleven league games this season, while Brighton drop to third bottom after Rotherham collected a point at home to bottom side Blackpool. Blackburn maintained sixth place after their stoppage-time strike cancelled out Patrick Bamfords earlier strike at the Riverside. Cardiff took advantage of Wolves, Charlton and Forest all losing and climbed to eighth in the table with a narrow win at Watford thanks to an Adam Le Fondre goal. Robins Rest for Christmas; Swindon and Preston Keep Chase and MK Six Appeal The Robins got their title Challenge back on track on Friday night with a convincing 0-3 away win against out of sorts Peterborough. They had lost to their closest rivals Swindon and Preston in their last two, and with hindsight this win was invaluable as they both won against Fleetwood and Yeovil respectively on Saturday. Benik Afobe netted a hat-trick in MK Dons 6-0 drubbing of Colchester, which extends their unbeaten run to five matches in all competitions now. Oldham ended the weekend in the top six after a comfortable away win at fellow promotion hopefuls Rochdale. A Johnson brace and a Forte penalty sealed the three points for the Latics. Bradford also pushed closer to the play off places after their impressive win over Leyton Orient who had Dagnall sent off after equalising. This proved to big a set back for the O’s and Knott, Clarke and Stead capitalised for the Bantams. At the basement end of the table Scunthorpe managed to escape further woe when they came from behind to beat Barnsley thanks to a Madden brace, which leaves them in the bottom four on goal difference. Bottom of the pack Crewe almost put themselves on par with their closes relegation rivals when they lead against fellow strugglers Doncaster, only for the visitors to level late on and rescue a point. Hatters Party On; Top Beats Bottom and Shrews End Hasselbaink Dream Start Luton kept a close check on leaders Wycombe with a straight forward 3-0 win over Mansfield. Shaun Whalley fired a brace while veteran striker Paul Benson secured another, guaranteeing they secured second place and keeping their hopes of celebrating automatic promotion alive. Leaders Wycombe were not to be out done though as they were as equally impressive brushing aside relegation favourites Hartlepool 3-1 at Victoria Park. Neil Austin missed a penalty for the hosts to add further insult to their misery, while strikes from Cowan-Hall, Bloomfield and Mawson sealed the three points for the leaders. Bury’s sudden and shock loss of form resulted in their third loss in a row at home to relegation threatened Dagenham, meaning they drop out of the play off places. Dagenham meanwhile moved a step further away from the relegation places and two points clear of fourth bottom York. A tense last five minutes at Brunton Park added further excitement to an already entertaining four goal encounter. Visitors Newport, who had earlier set up a comfortable lead through Klukowski, Yakubu and Jeffers, suddenly found themselves at risk of missing out on three points when Carlisle pulled one back through Amoo, but it was to little to late for the Foxes and Newport are now up to seventh ahead of Bury. Shrewsbury ended new Burton manager Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink’s dream start recording a tight 1-0 home win, and leapfrogging their play off rivals in to third place at the same time. Southend continued their fine run of form and tightened their grip on the play off places with their fifth straight win at home to 10-man Northampton.
Posted on: Mon, 01 Dec 2014 11:19:38 +0000