WITH SUNDAY’S CAPITAL One Cup Final taking centre stage, as well as Liverpool’s clash with Man City, it was a relatively quiet day of top-flight action with just six games down for decision.
However, there were crucial wins for sides at both ends of the table and here are five talking points from Saturday’s action…
Murray proves his worth after week of uncertainty
AP / Press Association Images
AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images
His afternoon may have ended prematurely but Glenn Murray was very much the hero for Crystal Palace as Alan Pardew’s side produced the perfect away performance to move further clear of the danger zone.
Despite spending large periods of the game sitting inside their own half, Palace struck three times from set-pieces with Murray scoring twice, albeit the first one went in via Aaron Creswell, either side of Scott Dann’s header.
Murray’s future was the subject of debate this week as the striker was linked with a loan move away from Selhurst Park after falling down the pecking order behind new arrivals Shola Ameobi and Yaya Sanogo as well as Marouane Chamakh and Fraizer Campbell.
But, after making an impact off the bench against Arsenal last week, Murray was given the nod at the expense of Dwight Gayle at Upton Park and grasped his opportunity with both hands. Although he’ll now be suspended for the next game.
“It was a mix afternoon for Glenn,” Pardew said afterwards. “He could have had a hat-trick, he gets into the right positions.
“The sending off was a little bit unlucky. He has to go for the ball, and I don’t think he deserved that. But I’m absolutely delighted with him. He was terrific. It shouldn’t take away from a terrific performance.”
Palace have now won their last five away games in all competitions and have created daylight between themselves and the red zone. Conversely, West Ham were booed off by the Boleyn Ground faithful as the pressure increases on Sam Allardyce.
After a terrific first-half to the season, the Hammers have now gone five games without a win and their campaign, which promised so much, is in danger of petering out into mediocrity.
United do enough but di Maria’s struggles continue
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Nigel French
Nigel French
When Angel di Maria arrived at Old Trafford in late August for a British record fee of £59.7 million, there was an expectation he would provide all the answers to United’s problems. Six months on, however, and a few glimpses of his undoubted quality apart, di Maria has failed to make a telling impression in England.
After being hauled off at half-time during United’s 2-0 win over Sunderland on Saturday, di Maria has now gone 14 league games without a goal. Speaking after the game, his manager, Louis van Gaal, insisted di Maria just needed time to adapt to the rigours of English football.
“The difficulty not only with Angel is that players have to adapt to Premier League. The rhythm of the game is so high – a lot higher than other countries – so we need to give him to time to adapt and lift his confidence again.
“He is a human being and you can make mistakes but he shall overcome this period I hope.”
But di Maria’s form is symptomatic of United’s. The winger has been unsettled by several issues off the pitch and having been deployed in several positions over the last few months, seems short on confidence wherever he’s played.
During the time he was on the pitch this afternoon, di Maria repeatedly went down injured, looking for attention. Van Gaal confirmed afterwards he wasn’t replaced because of injury but it was a tactical decision. Either way, it’s hugely worrying for United.
Again, however, they got over the line thanks to a Wayne Rooney brace. The Red Devils, despite their indifferent form, remain in pole position to finish inside the top four. If they can stay there it will be a huge achievement given the struggles they’ve endured this year.
New manger, same problems for Villa
Sherwood watched his side fire blanks before being undone by Newcastle Richard Sellers
Richard Sellers
If Tim Sherwood wasn’t already aware of the size of the task facing him at Villa Park, he’ll be fully aware now after his side’s defeat at Newcastle. Paul Lambert’s successor has now lost both of his games in charge of Villa as they remain locked in a relegation dogfight.
That said, the visitors enjoyed the better of the opening half at St James’ Park but their lack of fire-power in the final third has hampered them for the last few years. Gabriel Agbonlahor, Christian Benteke and Tom Cleverley all spurned glorious chances but for all their dominance, Villa couldn’t convert and were made to pay.
The Midlands club have now gone six consecutive away games without scoring and have lost their last seven league outings. It makes for grim reading and there seems to be little light at the end of the tunnel. A derby against West Brom is next-up while the teams meet a week later in the FA Cup before Villa have a crucial fixture against Sunderland.
Newcastle, meanwhile, are just starting to find their feet after the abrupt departure of Alan Pardew and the appointment of John Carver. Today’s win was their first at home in 2015 and despite the humiliation at City last week are heading in the right direction.
The game also marked the return of Jonas Gutierrez to the match day squad. The midfielder was diagnosed with testicular cancer 17 months ago but having undergone surgery and chemotherapy in his native Argentina, has been working his way back to full fitness since December. He was an unused sub this afternoon.
Saints’ season in danger of falling by the wayside
Shane Long returned from injury but couldn't help prevent Southampton suffering another loss Jon Buckle
Jon Buckle
Some will say it was coming but Southampton’s season is in danger of unravelling as their quest to finish inside the top four received another blow today with a 1-0 defeat at West Brom.
The result follows the damaging defeat to Liverpool last time out and now Ronald Koeman’s side are losing valuable ground on those around them. Southampton are now winless in three and although they stay fifth, they could drop a place if Liverpool beat City on Sunday.
It’s perfectly understandable that they’re beginning to run out of steam after what’s been an incredible season for a side who many tipped to struggle at the wrong end of the table after several high-profile departures, including their manager, during the off-season.
The visitors looked sluggish at the Hawthorns and for all their possession, failed to create any clear cut chances.
They did, however, endure a similar blip over the Christmas period and hit back to breath new life into their Champions League bid and you can’t write them off just yet but with the goals starting to dry up, it’s hard to see them ousting one of the big boys for one of those coveted berths.
The visitors were undone by Saido Berahino’s clinical strike after just two minutes as Tony Pulis continues to work his magic at the Hawthorns. The Baggies are now eight points clear of the red zone and a few more positive results will ensure them of safety for another season.
Incredibly, Southampton became the seventh side to fail to score against West Brom during Pulis’ 10 games in charge. He’ll need all his managerial wizardry to keep hold of Berahino in the summer, however.
Crouch moves level with Shearer
It was all smiles for Crouch and Stoke today Mike Egerton
Mike Egerton
No, he hasn’t reached Alan Shearer’s 260 Premier League goals yet but Peter Crouch’s strike against Hull at the Britannia Stadium moved the striker level with Shearer on the headed-goal charts.
Crouch now has 46 headed goals and tops a pile, alongside Shearer, which includes Dion Dublin, Les Ferdinand and Dwight Yorke. It was Crouch’s fourth goal in as many games as Mark Hughes’ side followed-up their win at Villa Park last week with a narrow victory over a Hull side still nervously looking over their shoulder.
Before today, Steve Bruce’s side had won two and drawn one of their last three games and were beginning to pull clear of those below them but it remains incredibly tight down the wrong end of the standings.
5 talking points from today's Premier League action
WITH SUNDAY’S CAPITAL One Cup Final taking centre stage, as well as Liverpool’s clash with Man City, it was a relatively quiet day of top-flight action with just six games down for decision.
However, there were crucial wins for sides at both ends of the table and here are five talking points from Saturday’s action…
Murray proves his worth after week of uncertainty
His afternoon may have ended prematurely but Glenn Murray was very much the hero for Crystal Palace as Alan Pardew’s side produced the perfect away performance to move further clear of the danger zone.
Despite spending large periods of the game sitting inside their own half, Palace struck three times from set-pieces with Murray scoring twice, albeit the first one went in via Aaron Creswell, either side of Scott Dann’s header.
Murray’s future was the subject of debate this week as the striker was linked with a loan move away from Selhurst Park after falling down the pecking order behind new arrivals Shola Ameobi and Yaya Sanogo as well as Marouane Chamakh and Fraizer Campbell.
But, after making an impact off the bench against Arsenal last week, Murray was given the nod at the expense of Dwight Gayle at Upton Park and grasped his opportunity with both hands. Although he’ll now be suspended for the next game.
“It was a mix afternoon for Glenn,” Pardew said afterwards. “He could have had a hat-trick, he gets into the right positions.
“The sending off was a little bit unlucky. He has to go for the ball, and I don’t think he deserved that. But I’m absolutely delighted with him. He was terrific. It shouldn’t take away from a terrific performance.”
Palace have now won their last five away games in all competitions and have created daylight between themselves and the red zone. Conversely, West Ham were booed off by the Boleyn Ground faithful as the pressure increases on Sam Allardyce.
After a terrific first-half to the season, the Hammers have now gone five games without a win and their campaign, which promised so much, is in danger of petering out into mediocrity.
United do enough but di Maria’s struggles continue
When Angel di Maria arrived at Old Trafford in late August for a British record fee of £59.7 million, there was an expectation he would provide all the answers to United’s problems. Six months on, however, and a few glimpses of his undoubted quality apart, di Maria has failed to make a telling impression in England.
After being hauled off at half-time during United’s 2-0 win over Sunderland on Saturday, di Maria has now gone 14 league games without a goal. Speaking after the game, his manager, Louis van Gaal, insisted di Maria just needed time to adapt to the rigours of English football.
“The difficulty not only with Angel is that players have to adapt to Premier League. The rhythm of the game is so high – a lot higher than other countries – so we need to give him to time to adapt and lift his confidence again.
“He is a human being and you can make mistakes but he shall overcome this period I hope.”
But di Maria’s form is symptomatic of United’s. The winger has been unsettled by several issues off the pitch and having been deployed in several positions over the last few months, seems short on confidence wherever he’s played.
During the time he was on the pitch this afternoon, di Maria repeatedly went down injured, looking for attention. Van Gaal confirmed afterwards he wasn’t replaced because of injury but it was a tactical decision. Either way, it’s hugely worrying for United.
Again, however, they got over the line thanks to a Wayne Rooney brace. The Red Devils, despite their indifferent form, remain in pole position to finish inside the top four. If they can stay there it will be a huge achievement given the struggles they’ve endured this year.
New manger, same problems for Villa
If Tim Sherwood wasn’t already aware of the size of the task facing him at Villa Park, he’ll be fully aware now after his side’s defeat at Newcastle. Paul Lambert’s successor has now lost both of his games in charge of Villa as they remain locked in a relegation dogfight.
That said, the visitors enjoyed the better of the opening half at St James’ Park but their lack of fire-power in the final third has hampered them for the last few years. Gabriel Agbonlahor, Christian Benteke and Tom Cleverley all spurned glorious chances but for all their dominance, Villa couldn’t convert and were made to pay.
The Midlands club have now gone six consecutive away games without scoring and have lost their last seven league outings. It makes for grim reading and there seems to be little light at the end of the tunnel. A derby against West Brom is next-up while the teams meet a week later in the FA Cup before Villa have a crucial fixture against Sunderland.
Newcastle, meanwhile, are just starting to find their feet after the abrupt departure of Alan Pardew and the appointment of John Carver. Today’s win was their first at home in 2015 and despite the humiliation at City last week are heading in the right direction.
The game also marked the return of Jonas Gutierrez to the match day squad. The midfielder was diagnosed with testicular cancer 17 months ago but having undergone surgery and chemotherapy in his native Argentina, has been working his way back to full fitness since December. He was an unused sub this afternoon.
Saints’ season in danger of falling by the wayside
Some will say it was coming but Southampton’s season is in danger of unravelling as their quest to finish inside the top four received another blow today with a 1-0 defeat at West Brom.
The result follows the damaging defeat to Liverpool last time out and now Ronald Koeman’s side are losing valuable ground on those around them. Southampton are now winless in three and although they stay fifth, they could drop a place if Liverpool beat City on Sunday.
It’s perfectly understandable that they’re beginning to run out of steam after what’s been an incredible season for a side who many tipped to struggle at the wrong end of the table after several high-profile departures, including their manager, during the off-season.
The visitors looked sluggish at the Hawthorns and for all their possession, failed to create any clear cut chances.
They did, however, endure a similar blip over the Christmas period and hit back to breath new life into their Champions League bid and you can’t write them off just yet but with the goals starting to dry up, it’s hard to see them ousting one of the big boys for one of those coveted berths.
The visitors were undone by Saido Berahino’s clinical strike after just two minutes as Tony Pulis continues to work his magic at the Hawthorns. The Baggies are now eight points clear of the red zone and a few more positive results will ensure them of safety for another season.
Incredibly, Southampton became the seventh side to fail to score against West Brom during Pulis’ 10 games in charge. He’ll need all his managerial wizardry to keep hold of Berahino in the summer, however.
Crouch moves level with Shearer
No, he hasn’t reached Alan Shearer’s 260 Premier League goals yet but Peter Crouch’s strike against Hull at the Britannia Stadium moved the striker level with Shearer on the headed-goal charts.
Crouch now has 46 headed goals and tops a pile, alongside Shearer, which includes Dion Dublin, Les Ferdinand and Dwight Yorke. It was Crouch’s fourth goal in as many games as Mark Hughes’ side followed-up their win at Villa Park last week with a narrow victory over a Hull side still nervously looking over their shoulder.
Before today, Steve Bruce’s side had won two and drawn one of their last three games and were beginning to pull clear of those below them but it remains incredibly tight down the wrong end of the standings.
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