Fixture List & Results

West Ham vs Newcastle
These two teams came out with it seemingly a mismatch on paper with Newcastle having probably the strongest side in the league and an experienced manager with CF having sold the top West Ham players without any replacements being brought in and a controversial managerial history. But the game started surprisingly with West Ham having the stronger start to the game with Diame dispossessing Cabaye and running with the ball and feeding Joe Cole who took a shot from range but Forster tipped the ball round the post for a corner. West Ham were playing well and Cisse missed a big chance to open the scoring after the half hour mark when he evaded Coloccini but blasted wide. Newcastle had one moment in the first half and it was good play from Remy on the left wing, beating Demel and charging into the box before being hacked down by Tomkins, but it wasn't a penalty as the home fans breathed a sigh of relief. Newcastle were getting more and more into the game and in the second half it was Morrison who won the ball high up the pitch and made a great run forward but instead of squaring to Volland who was screaming for the ball he went for glory and Jaaskelainen was able to make the save. Further chances came when Gomis beat Taylor in the air and got his header on target but it was saved, and when Debuchy tried a shot from range which went inches wide. It was injury time and the scores were still level. Cabaye had a potshot at goal from way out but it was deflected wide by Noble. The resulting corner had everyone up for Newcastle, leading to the danger of a counter attack. Cabaye took the corner himself and Collocini burst into the box to meet the ball and get it past a despondent Jaaskalinen, flicking off the post and in to give Newcastle a late, late win.

West Ham 0-1 Newcastle
Coloccini 90+4

Tactical Analysis (by Lee Dixon)
West Ham came and put in a good performance today, they made things very difficult for Newcastle to play but in the end the extra quality present in the Newcastle side, along with their ability out wide which West Ham struggled a little with, gave the away side a win in a very tight game.


Crystal Palace vs Sunderland
In this early season game, Crystal Palace started very brightly with new signing Hughes running the midfield but against the run of play, Emanuele Giaccharini managed to score a goal out of nothing, with a long ball played forward by Cavanda which found Fletcher who fed the Italian to open the scoring. Crystal Palace believed they could get back into the game and responded well when Hunt made an overlapping run past Lee, drawing Fabio out of position and allowing the Korean to take a first time shot into the back of net to equalize just before the half hour mark. Sunderland had a couple of chances to get back in front but had their best just before half time when Downing crossed the ball in and Fletcher failed to connect when any contact would have lead to a goal. Sunderland were on the front foot and this continued in the second half, with them eventually getting the goal they deserved. Adam Johnson made a fantastic run down the right and played the ball into the box. Clever movement from Fletcher gave Ruiz space in the box to stick away a goal giving Sunderland the lead. There was time for Palace to get back into the game though and it was substitute Chamakh who had a big chance in injury time when Parr made a great run and cross into the box. Chamakh beat O'Shea in the air and set his header low but Vorm was there to make a brilliant save giving Sunderland the three points.

Tactical Analysis (by Alan Shearer)
The Sunderland manager seemed to give his players a bit of a tactical overload before the game, but they have some good players going forward with the likes of Adam Johnson and Bryan Ruiz impressing. The Crystal Palace defense needs a couple of improvements and also, if they are encouraging their full backs to get forward then they need more cover for the defense from central midfield.


Crystal Palace 1-2 Sunderland
Lee 28; Giaccharini 8, Ruiz 62


Cardiff vs Aston Villa
Aston Villa went into this game with an attacking line up and star signing Hatem Ben Arfa making his debut, while Cardiff had not been as active as they'd have wanted to be in the transfer market and their tactics were clear from the first minute. Aston Villa had a lot of the ball early on but were unable to create any chances of note as Cardiff had numbers back making it very difficult for anything to happen. They only had one major chance in the first half with a moment of brilliance from Ben Arfa who got past Mutch and sent in a low shot which beat the goalkeeper but hit the post and was cleared. The second half was more of the same with Cardiff continuing to defend and Aston Villa getting all the chances. Benteke made a clever run which made space for Ben Arfa in behind who passed the ball to Weimann who saw his shot blocked by Caulker. Odemwingie had a big chance on the counter attack and got Cardiff's only shot on target throughout the whole game just after the hour mark with Medel playing him in, but Guzan made a fantastic save. Aston Villa were throwing more and more bodies forward and Ince sent in a cross which found Benteke who beat Theophile in the air and headed the ball just over the bar. Bacuna then played a great ball wide to Lowton who crossed the ball very deep to Benteke who headed the ball at goal once again, this time he was not to be denied and scored a goal to give Aston Villa the lead with just three minutes remaining. Cardiff quickly tried to respond but at this late stage, it was too little, too late with Villa getting the win.

Cardiff 0-1 Aston Villa
Benteke 87

Tactical Analysis (By Roy Keane)
Aston Villa have Benteke who won the game for them late on to break through a determined Cardiff effort. Both sides were well set up, the difference in quality was what made it with Cardiff needing some signings pretty desperately if they are to challenge.


Fulham vs Stoke
The Fulham side that went out today meant business and made a bright start against Stoke. Berbatov got onto the end of a Dempsey cross but hit the ball wide in the first minute as Fulham went with an attacking line up. They had another chance just a couple of minutes later when Kasami made a run forward and chipped the ball through to Adebayor who smashed the ball straight at Begovic. Stoke were struggling but improved after that shaky start and Arnautovic made a great run, beating Sidwell and getting past Amorebieta before being brought down for a penalty. Benzia wanted to take the penalty and placed the ball, pointing to the goalkeepers left hand side. Stekelenburg dived to his right as the penalty was struck and he went the wrong way but Benzia's penalty hit the post and was hacked clear by Reither. Benzia then had a big chance to make amends just two minutes later and he got onto the end of a through ball from Pennant but at the vital moment he hesitated allowing Lescott to cut across and clear the ball for a corner. Sidwell played a great long pass through to Snodgrass on the right and the winger cut inside and found Dempsey lurking on the edge of the area and his shot was on target but deflected off Bent to go wide of the goal. There was time for Stoke to have the final chance though, with Taarabt dispossed by Palacios and the defensive midfielder playing the ball over the top for Arnautovic who raced clear of the goalkeeper and smashed a low shot against the side netting to leave this game ending as a draw.

Fulham 0-0 Stoke


Tactical Analysis (By Martin Keown)
The front three for Fulham didn't really click and their attacks were a bit sluggish. They played a very attacking line up with the wingers and three at the back. But Stoke lack a cutting edge upfront. Benzia is not ready for this level to be the main man and could maybe do with someone partnering him in attack.



West Brom vs Norwich
These two sides look like they will be strong this season and it started with Olly running onto the pitch to give all the Norwich player's shirts after the game, in an incident similar to Andre Santos and Robin Van Persie. The referee had to forcibly remove him from the pitch as he blew the whistle to start the game with Redmond getting straight into it, making a fantastic run down the wing and skinning Reid. He sent a cross into the box which just evaded van Wolfswinkel when he could have given Norwich the lead early on. They were not to be denied for long though, as Fer found Redmond on the edge of the box and he took his time before placing a low drive which went straight through Foster's hands and into the net, it was weak goalkeeping and Norwich went into the break in the lead. Sessengnon had a fantastic chance to equalize straight from the kick off as Long made a run distracting the Norwich defenders and Sessengnon having space in behind, but he sent his shot just over the bar. McAuley had a header from a great delivery from Sessengnon but it was saved by Ruddy, and Berahino got right infield and took a shot which went wide. Subsitute Brunt finally orchestrated the breakthrough with a killer pass through found Long who managed to get the extra yard past Hangeland and smash home a low strike to get West Brom back on terms. But the game didn't end there with half an hour still to play. Hangeland had the chance to score from a corner when he beat Yacob in the air but just couldn't quite get the right contact, and Sessengon sent hit the crossbar with a fantastic free kick in response for West Brom. It was end to end stuff late on with both teams seeking the win and the final chance fell to Norwich subsitute Jonny Howson who made a great run and played a neat one two with Pilkington before taking his shot which beat Foster but was cleared off the line superby by Olsson to end the game in a fair draw.

West Brom 1-1 Norwich
Long 55; Redmond 37


Tactical Analysis (By Jamie Redknapp)
Norwich made themselves difficult to break down with a deep line, hardworking midfield and the full backs not given instruction to get forward. While West Brom slightly edged the midfield battle and Sessengnon had a good game, they just couldn't quite get the win.