West Ham United 3 Liverpool 1

West Ham United 3 Liverpool 1 match-reports Sun 27 Feb 2011, Boleyn Ground West Ham United produced arguably their best display of the season to haul themselves back off the bottom of the Barclays Premier League and all but end Liverpool's faint Champions League hopes. Goals from Scott Parker, Demba Ba - rapidly developing into one of the signings of the January transfer window - and Carlton Cole secured a 3-1 win at Upton Park and kept the pressure on the Hammers' relegation rivals. Glen Johnson pulled one back for Liverpool but their late rally was in vain as their revival under Kenny Dalglish suffered its first major setback. The defeat left the Reds eight points behind fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur having played a match more, while Avram Grant was able to celebrate a result that moved the Hammers level on points with fourth-bottom Wolverhampton Wanderers. The hosts certainly did not lack for confidence in the opening moments, Thomas Hitzlsperger - making his Barclays Premier League debut for the club - unleashing an outrageous 40-yard volley that flew into the arms of Jose Reina. A minute later, Raul Meireles looped a header wide from the fit-again Steven Gerrard's pinpoint 50-yard ball. Meireles also fired straight at Robert Green, Gary O'Neil's shot hit a Liverpool defender and Glen Johnson saw a header from a corner blocked before the game settled down. A Hitzlsperger rocket was again too close to Reina before Parker showed the kind of precision his team-mate had been lacking to give West Ham a 22nd-minute lead. He and Hitzlsperger played a neat one-two on the edge of the box and Parker floated a delightful finish right into the far corner with the outside of his foot. another blow Dirk Kuyt hit the side netting from 20 yards following a lightning Liverpool break when team-mates were arguably better placed. The recalled Piquionne then sent a wicked ball across the six-yard box, which just evaded Ba. Liverpool struggled to respond, Luis Suarez repeatedly coming off second best in his personal battle with the impressive James Tomkins. Right-back Martin Kelly's low drive was too close to Green as the interval approached, while Mark Noble curled a free-kick wide at the other end. Liverpool suffered another blow when Kelly pulled a hamstring and was replaced by Joe Cole, Dalglish switching his formation from 5-3-2 to 4-4-2. That was not the end of their woes, with the unmarked Ba powering home a header on the stroke of half-time from O'Neil's cross. quick turn Liverpool began the second half on top but nevertheless made a quick change when David Ngog came on for Meireles. With Wolves having won 4-0 on Saturday, West Ham needed another goal to climb out of the drop zone and Ba almost provided it when he drilled inches wide from 25 yards. Tomkins, Piquionne and Ba were all close to connecting with a corner as the home side hit back. But they had Green to thank for preserving their two-goal lead when Suarez finally beat Tomkins with a quick turn and unleashed a rising drive which the goalkeeper tipped behind. Piquionne missed a glorious chance to kill the match when he glanced Noble's corner wide midway through the half but West Ham's commitment was summed up when Parker threw himself in front of a goalbound Gerrard shot Gerrard was making his presence felt and Green tipped a dipping volley over the bar from the England star. Reina had to be equally alert to beat Ba to the ball from a Hammers break but he almost produced an absolute howler when he spilt Piquionne's shot goalwards before recovering. It was all Liverpool at this stage and Grant responded by withdrawing Piquionne for Jonathan Spector after Cole had mishit a volley for the visitors. But the Reds' pressure paid off six minutes from time when Suarez crossed for Johnson to tap into an unguarded net. West Ham ran down the clock by bringing on Cole for Ba - although time-wasting was the last thing on the substitute's mind as he left Skrtel in a heap and drilled home at Reina's near post in stoppage-time. There was still time for Suarez to test Green again but the points had already been lost.

Premier League Arsenal 1-0 Stoke City

Premier League Arsenal 1-0 Stoke City First Published: Weds 23 Feb 2011
Arsenal edged past Stoke City and moved to a point behind Barclays Premier League leaders Manchester United but their victory was overshadowed by injuries to Theo Walcott and Cesc Fabregas. Sebastien Squillaci's seventh-minute header gave Arsenal the victory but injuries to their key duo will be of concern with the Carling Cup final and a Champions League match against Barcelona coming up. Fabregas came off with what appeared to be a knee complaint in the first half while Walcott was carried off on a stretcher with an ankle injury after being flattened by a Dean Whitehead challenge. Much of the pre-match talk had been about how the Gunners would cope without another of their key men, Robin van Persie, who was ruled out on Tuesday with a hamstring injury. Arsene Wenger chose Nicklas Bendtner to lead the attack in his absence while Fabregas, Wojciech Szczesny and Samir Nasri returned after missing Sunday's disappointing draw with Leyton Orient. Tony Pulis recalled Asmir Begovic and Whitehead while Ryan Shawcross skippered the side almost a year to the day the that he broke Aaron Ramsey's leg at the Britannia Stadium. Clearly determined to put their shock FA Cup draw behind them, Arsenal came flying out of the blocks and rattled the Stoke woodwork with barely a minute gone. Fabregas slotted in Theo Walcott after some good work by Jack Wilshere, and the England winger beat Begovic at the far post but his shot rebounded off the woodwork and into the goalkeeper's hands. Walcott tore into the Stoke box again three minutes later after being played through by Bendtner but Begovic came out to smother the ball. The early pressure paid off for the home side when they took the lead. slower pace Bendtner volleyed across the box from a Wilshere corner to find Squillaci, who headed home unmarked from five yards for his first league goal of the season. Fabregas looked to be struggling with an injury and was replaced by Andrey Arshavin 14 minutes in. The Spaniard, who missed most of December with a hamstring injury, looked disappointed to have picked up a knock and will be badly missed by the Gunners if does not recover for Sunday's cup final and the Barcelona match in two weeks' time. Arsenal remained in control but played the match at a much slower pace following their captain's departure. Arshavin, who scored the winner against Barcelona last week, skipped past his marker before drawing a good save from Begovic at his near post. more assured Szczesny had to scramble down to his right to save John Carew's 25-yard volley with Stoke's first chance of the game at the other end. The Stoke defence backed off as Arshavin raced at the defence and Shawcross, who had been booed with his every touch, hacked the Russian down 20 yards out. Nasri curled the resultant free-kick a couple of yards wide of Begovic's goal. The away side almost equalised early in the second-half when Shawcross' deflected header whistled just past Szczesny's goal. Stoke were looking much more assured in the second period and they went close when Robert Huth headed just over the bar from a Rory Delap long throw. Arsenal then went on the attack through Arshavin, who dodged a Shawcross sliding tackle to find Walcott in the box but the 21-year-old was off-balance and mis-kicked his attempt on goal. Walcott was bundled over by Whitehead on the edge of box in the 68th minute but referee Walton waved play on. The winger stayed on the ground, clearly in pain, clutching his ankle before being carried off to be replaced by Denilson. Bendtner headed wide from six yards after a Wilshere corner as Arsenal looked for a killer second goal with 20 minutes left.
Pennant almost stole an equaliser in the last minute of normal time with a beautiful curling free-kick that went into Szczesny's side-netting.

Man Utd 2 - 1 Man City
Arsenal 2 - 0 Wolves
Birmingham 1 - 0 Stoke City
Blackburn 0 - 0 Newcastle
Blackpool 1 - 1 Aston Villa
Liverpool 1 - 1 Wigan
West Brom 3 - 3 West Ham
Sunderland 1 - 2 Tottenham
Bolton 2 - 0 Everton
Fulham 0 - 0 Chelsea
Birmingham 0 - 2 Newcastle
West Brom 1 - 1 Wolves
Blackpool 3 - 1 Tottenham
Arsenal 1 - 0 Stoke City

West Bromwich Albion 1 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1

West Bromwich Albion 1 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1
match-reports Sun 20 Feb 2011, The Hawthorns
Carlos Vela rescued a point for West Bromwich Albion with an injury-time equaliser in the Black Country derby with Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Hawthorns. On loan Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Jamie O'Hara's stunning strike looked to have settled the match in the first half. But, with seconds remaining, Wolves keeper Wayne Hennessey spilled James Morrison's shot and Vela, who is on loan from Arsenal, converted the rebound. Wolves had been the dominant force in the opening 45 minutes as they made the most of their numerical advantage in midfield. O'Hara looked sharp and on his current form Wolves manager Mick McCarthy looks certain to take up the option to make the move from White Hart Lane permanent in the summer. Matt Jarvis also caused problems down the left flank while Kevin Doyle was his usual threat as the lone striker.
It was a different story after the break as Wolves dropped deeper and Paul Scharner started to exert his influence in midfield.
eventual shot O'Hara made a determined run at the Baggies defence inside the first 30 seconds before his eventual shot was blocked by Jonas Olsson.
A ball over the top of the Wolves back four from Gabriel Tamas almost played in top scorer Peter Odemwingie. But Hennessey was alert to the danger and was able to clear from the edge of his area. Matt Jarvis was causing problems down the left flank for Gonzalo Jara and another probing centre was headed over by O'Hara.
Hennessey was called upon to make the first save of the match after 21 minutes but he easily dealt with Olsson's header from Chris Brunt's corner.
West Brom started to gain a foothold in the match and Scharner's glancing header from a Nicky Shorey cross went just past the post. Marc-Antoine Fortune should have done better when he headed a curling shot from Graham Dorrans over the bar from close range.
Then five minutes before half-time a stunning strike from O'Hara put Wolves ahead.
Doyle won a free-kick when he was brought down by Tamas 25 yards from goal.
narrow angle Albion were caught napping when Milijas squared the free-kick to O'Hara and his curling shot flew past the dive of Myhill into the roof of the net.
It was the on loan Tottenham player's first goal for Wolves.
Wolves had the chance to double their lead with a 4-2 numerical advantage on the counter-attack.
But Doyle hesitated, when O'Hara was free to his left, and was crowded out. Jarvis wasted a golden opportunity to double Wolves' lead after 51 minutes.
Tamas made a mess of trying to head the ball back to Hennessey and Jarvis nipped in with only the keeper to beat. But, from 10 yards, out he dragged the shot wide of the far post.
In a rare Albion attack, Henry lost possession to Odemwingie who released the overlapping Fortune but his shot from a narrow angle was turned aside by Hennessey. George Elokobi then made a great block to deny Odemwingie at close range and Scharner shot over from 12 yards out. Wolves were dropping deeper and Fortune should have equalised after 63 minutes.
full stretch Odemwingie headed the ball across the box to Fortune but, from six yards out, he failed to make any contact on his attempted shot.
Jarvis atoned for his earlier miss when he headed a near post Olsson header off the line from Brunt's corner. Albion striker Vela was soon involved in the action and Hennessey beat out his shot after he cut in from the left.
Tamas was relieved when he turned Doyle's low centre inches wide of his own post at full stretch with Ebanks-Blake unmarked behind him.
Then, with seconds remaining, Vela equalised for Albion after Hennessey spilled James Morrison's low drive.

Newcastle United Football Club

Newcastle United F.C. Newcastle United Football Club Founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, they have won four First Division titles—in 1905, 1907, 1909 and 1927—and six FA Cups—in 1910, 1924, 1932, 1951, 1952 and 1955—as well as the 1969 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup and the 2006 UEFA Intertoto Cup.
Newcastle United played in Newcastle East End's red kit until 1894 when they adopted their current black and white striped shirts.They have a long-standing and fierce rivalry with neighbours Sunderland with whom they have contested the Tyne-Wear derby since 1898.
History Main article: History of Newcastle United F.C. Early history
The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End who were previously rivals in the Northern League, but after West End fell into financial difficulties they decided to merge.The deal included the lease on West End's stadium St James' Park and several names were suggested for the new club, including Newcastle Rangers and Newcastle City, however they chose the name Newcastle United.
Achieving success
Newcastle United went on to win the League Championship on three occasions during the 1900s; 1905, 1907 and 1909.The club's success continued in cup competitions, as they reached five FA Cup Finals in seven years, appearing in the final of 1905, 1906, 1908, 1910 and 1911. However they went on to win just one of them, the 1910 Final against Barnsley, in a replay at Goodison Park. However, there was still one particular low point during this period, as the team suffered a 9–1 defeat by fierce rivals Sunderland in the 1908–09 season, Sunderland still count the result as their record highest win


Blackburn Rovers Football Club

Blackburn Rovers Football Club The official Blackburn Rovers FC website with news, transfer rumours, online ticket sales, live match commentary, video highlights, player profiles, mobile content, wallpapers and more http://www.rovers.co.uk Blackburn Rovers F.C. Blackburn Rovers Football Club is a professional English Football league club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football.
Blackburn Rovers Football club was established in 1875, becoming a founding member of The Football League in 1888. It is one of only three clubs to have been both a founder member of the Football League and the Premier League (the others being Aston Villa and Everton). In 1890 Rovers moved to its permanent home at Ewood Park. Prior to the formation of the Premier League in 1992, most of the club's successes were before 1930, when it had gained league and FA Cup trophies on several occasions. Relegation in 1966 was followed by 26 successive seasons of football outside the top flight.
In 1992, Blackburn was promoted to the new Premier League a year after being taken over by local steel baron Jack Walker, who installed Kenny Dalglish as manager. In 1995, Blackburn became league champions, having spent millions of pounds on players like Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton. However, the title-winning team was quickly split up and, in 1999, the club was relegated. It was promoted back to the Premier League two years later, just after Walker's death, and has been in the top flight ever since. During this time it has qualified for the UEFA Cup four times: once as League Cup winners, twice as the Premier League's sixth-placed team and once via the Intertoto Cup. The 2009–10 season marks the club's 70th nonconsecutive year in the top flight. The club's Latin motto is "Arte et labore", the club's translation of which is "By Skill & Hard Work".

Premier League 15 February 2011, Birmingham 0 - 2 Newcastle

Premier League 15 February 2011, Birmingham 0 - 2 Newcastle Newcastle United registered their first victory of the post-Andy Carroll era as goals from Peter Lovenkrands and Leon Best ensured a comfortable success against Birmingham City at St Andrew's.
Lovenkrands opened the scoring after four minutes and then Best struck early in the second period to wrap up the points for the Magpies.
Birmingham enjoyed a fair share of possession but lacked a cutting edge as they suffered their first defeat in six matches.
Newcastle had picked up only two points from three matches since Carroll's £35m departure to Liverpool on the final day of the January transfer window.
But they looked the more threatening throughout the 90 minutes with Jose Enrique surging forward from left-back to good effect. They were well marshalled in midfield from skipper Kevin Nolan and were a constant threat on the counter-attack. Nikola Zigic, who had scored in the previous three matches, posed the biggest threat for the home side.
Newcastle got off to a dream start in the rainswept conditions with Lovenkrands putting them ahead after only two minutes. Enrique's original cross was cleared after he had skipped past Sebastian Larsson but Jonas Gutierrez pounced on the loose ball and delivered a testing low centre to the near post.
shot past Lovenkrands was first to react and he slid in front of Roger Johnson and drilled his shot past Ben Foster. It was his fourth goal of the campaign. Blues looked shaky and more good play by Enrique found skipper Nolan inside the box but he did not extend Foster.
Former Newcastle striker Obafemi Martins showed good skill to get past Mike Williamson but Steve Harper was alert to the situation.
Birmingham were now in the ascendancy possession-wise and Johnson headed just wide from Larsson's free-kick
Then Harper did well to turn aside Zigic's shot on the turn from inside the box after good play by Barry Ferguson.
Nolan became the first player to be yellow carded for bringing down Bentley in full flight after 36 minutes.
Midfielder Craig Gardner came close to equalising five minutes before the interval. The midfielder hammered a 20-yard drive just wide after being teed up by Larsson who cut into the box before pulling the ball back. acrobatic effort Newcastle doubled their lead four minutes into the second half through Best's fifth goal of the campaign as Birmingham were again caught cold. Gutierrez delivered a left-wing cross to the far post and Best got above the normally-dependable Johnson to head home.
Barton was yellow-carded for a challenge on Liam Ridgewell.
Larsson made a crucial challenge to deny Best a second goal after good play by Cheik Tiote
Magpies boss Alan Pardew brought on Nile Ranger for the limping Lovenkrands after 65 minutes.
Johnson was well wide with an acrobatic effort while at the other end Foster gathered a rising drive from Tiote.
Zigic had a great chance to reduce the arrears but headed over from Ridgewell's pinpoint cross when unmarked.
Johnson forced Harper to save his low header from Bentley's centre and substitute Kevin Phillips miskicked inside the box when well placed.
But Birmingham seldom threatened to salvage anything tangible from the match.


Barclays Premier League Submit Your Site To The Web's Top 50 Search Engines for Free! Free SEO Tools
Twitter Delicious Facebook Digg Stumbleupon Favorites More

 
Design by Free WordPress Themes | Bloggerized by Lasantha - Premium Blogger Themes | Best Buy Printable Coupons