Premiership Saturday review
Well another Saturday in the Premiership and yet another Chelsea victory and all they need now to clinch their second league title in a row is four more wins. Liverpool came out the better of the the Mersey side derby today but it wasn't all plain sailing for Rafa's red army. Portsmouths match against Arsenal was posponded due to a waterlogged pitch. Here is a brief report of all of todays games in the Premiership:
Two goals in three first-half minutes from Didier Drogba were enough for Chelsea to post a comfortable victory over depleted Manchester City. Drogba took his season's tally to 13 after he latched onto a throughball from Eidur Gudjohnsen. He fired home a second from six yards, despite complaints from City defenders he brought the ball down with his arm. City skipper Sylvain Distin continued his arguments at half-time and was sent off for a second booking. Final Score: Chelsea 2-0 Man City.
Liverpool overcame the early dismissal of Steven Gerrard to beat Everton in an incident-packed Merseyside derby. Gerrard earned two quickfire yellow cards - for kicking the ball away and then a bad challenge on Kevin Kilbane. Liverpool then scored twice in three minutes through a Phil Neville own goal and a clinical finish from Luis Garcia. Tim Cahill headed one back but Everton had substitute Andy van der Meyde sent off after 72 minutes for an elbow and Harry Kewell's fine strike sealed it. Final Score: Liverpool 3-1 Everton.
Blackburn kept up their charge for a Champions League spot by getting the better of a spirited Sunderland side. An individual goal from Steven Reid on 15 minutes proved the match-winner with the midfielder firing home after running half the length of the pitch. Bottom-placed Sunderland, without a home win in the league this season, showed plenty of heart after the break. Final Score: Sunderland 0-1 Blackburn.
West Ham came from behind to snatch a last-gasp victory thanks to skipper Nigel Reo-Coker's close-range tap-in. Wigan had taken the lead just before the break with a stunning long-range drive from Lee McCullough. But Paul Scharner's weak header back to Wigan keeper Mike Pollitt dropped short allowing Harewood to round the substitute keeper and tap in to level. The game looked to be heading for a draw before Teddy Sheringham crossed for Reo-Coker who cooly slotted home. Final Score: Wigan 1-2 West Ham.
Aston Villa and Fulham remain bogged down in the lower reaches of the Premiership table after playing out a drab and uneventful draw. Lee Hendrie had Villa's best chance in the first half, sending a right-foot volley narrowly over the top. For Fulham, Steed Malbranque volleyed just wide when well-placed in the opening seconds of the second half. Aston Villa 0-0 Fulham.
Just to say well done to Reading who have clinched promotion to the Premiership today with a 1-1 draw at Leicster and I looked forward to seeing them fight it out in the Premiership next season.