Anthony Pilkington's brilliant header helped Norwich stun Manchester United to win 1-0 at Carrow Road.
Pilkington, a former United trainee, stole a yard on Chris Smalling before looping a header over Anders Lindegaard on the hour mark.
Sir Alex Ferguson brought on Paul Scholes and Danny Welbeck in an attempt to once again turn around a deficit but there was no way back for United and they have now surrendered top spot in the Premier League to rivals Manchester City.
The Red Devils had settled quickly into their passing game early on and Robin van Persie forced a save from John Ruddy in the Norwich goal within minutes.
The England international goalkeeper also got down well to prevent Ashley Young finding the breakthrough later in the half as Michael Carrick and Ryan Giggs looked for an opening.
But Norwich were an intermittent threat at the other end with Wes Hoolahan finding space between the lines and Smalling was forced into a smart interception to deny Grant Holt.
The pattern continued after the interval as the game remained open but with neither side able to find a clear opening.
However, it was no surprise that the impressive Hoolahan was the architect when the goal finally came.
The Republic of Ireland international spread the play wide for Javier Garrido to cross and Pilkington was there to head over the helpless Lindegaard.
The lead was no more than the Canaries deserved from a spirited display and, while United continued to probe away in search of an equaliser, they found Ruddy in wonderful form.
He managed one final superb save from substitute Anderson deep into injury time and Chris Hughton's side held on for the three points.
All thanks to the high boots of Emmauel Adebayor, Tottenham lost from a winning position after
Emmanuel Adebayor went from Tottenham Hotspur's hero to zero against former club Arsenal as he scored and was then sent off in a dramatic 5-2 North London derby defeat.
The Togolese striker, who angered Arsenal fans when leaving for Manchester City in 2009 before this summer making a permanent transfer to Spurs after an initial loan, set up a typically hectic meeting at Emirates Stadium with the opener.
Adebayor's goal added to his lack of popularity among Gunners fans following his controversial celebration three years ago for City when scoring in his first reunion with his ex-employers and then his penalty goal in last season's ultimate repeat 5-2 defeat for Spurs.
But his emotions got the better of him shortly after the quarter-hour mark on Saturday and his red card for a lunge on Santi Cazorla allowed Arsenal to come back and win through Per Mertesacker, Lukas Podolski, Olivier Giroud, Cazorla and Theo Walcott despite Gareth Bale's consolation.
Tottenham started well and, less than a minute after a William Gallas effort was ruled out for offside, they took a 10th minute lead when Adebayor tapped in the rebound after Wojciech Szczesny, back after a two-month injury lay-off, could only palm a Jermain Defoe shot.
But Adebayor's joy was short-lived, as, in the 18th minute, he was shown a straight red card by referee Howard Webb for a wild, studs-up sliding challenge on Cazorla, which sparked a melee between both sets of players.
Adebayor had let his team-mates down and, with a man disadvantage, they were only able to hold onto their lead for six minutes before Mertesacker's excellent header from Walcott's pinpoint cross opened the German's account for Arsene Wenger's Arsenal.
The home side, dominating possession, cranked up the pressure and took the lead in the 42nd minute when a Podolski shot from inside the penalty area ricocheted off Gallas to strand Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, who was preferred ahead of Brad Friedel.
Things went from bad to worse for Tottenham in injury time before half-time when Giroud, who had earlier been denied from two headers by Lloris, slid in to meet Cazorla's low cross and make it 3-1.
Tottenham boss Andre Villas-Boas, in charge of his first North London derby and now under greater pressure in his job after this latest defeat, sent on Clint Dempsey and Michael Dawson at half-time in place of full-backs Kyle Walker and Kyle Naughton.
Arsenal, though, remained in the ascendency and, on the hour mark, Podolski's excellent, passed cross from the left provided Cazorla a one-touch, right-foot finish at the back post to give his side a comfortable cushion.
Bale's fine 20-yard finish, which arrowed into the bottom corner from his weaker right foot, in the 71st minute gave Spurs some hope but any thoughts of a comeback were already over long before Walcott made sure of the points in injury time.
Chelsea tasted their second defeat in the Barclay's premiership this season at the hands of Di Matteo's former employers.
West Brom maintained their impressive start to the season as they beat Chelsea 2-1 at The Hawthorns.
Peter Odemwingie nodded in the winning goal early in the second half after Shane Long and Eden Hazard had also scored with close-range headers before the break.
Roberto Di Matteo, on his return to West Brom, saw his side push hard for a second equaliser but they were unable to find a way past Boaz Myhill who was deputising for the injured Ben Foster in the Baggies goal.
Chelsea were much changed as they had one eye on Tuesday's crunch clash with Juventus in the UEFA Champions League and left the likes of Ashley Cole, Ramires, Oscar and Juan Mata on the bench.
And it showed in their sluggish start when Shane Long escaped the clutches of David Luiz to head past Petr Cech at the far post from a probing James Morrison cross.
Chelsea enjoyed plenty of possession in the early stages but Long was a constant threat on the break and got the better of Gary Cahill on two occasions without finding the net.
At the other end, Ryan Bertrand saw an effort cleared off the line by Liam Ridgewell and Daniel Sturridge also had a shot comfortably saved by Myhill.
And the Blues did find an equaliser before the break thanks to a tactical shift as Di Matteo switched Hazard to the left flank.
The Belgium international headed in Cesar Azpilicueta's cross from close range via a deflection off Billy Jones' shoulder.
But Steve Clarke's side started quickly again after the interval and Odemwingie converted Long's near-post cross from the right to restore the home side's lead.
When Oscar and Mata finally did emerge from the bench, the visitors took control of the game and pushed hard for an equaliser.
But Myhill saved smartly from Sturridge on two occasions and Albion held on for a win that takes them to the dizzy heights of fourth in the Premier League.
The other Team from Manchester have found themselves at the top of the premier league log by maintaining their unbeaten start to the season in some style on Saturday as they crushed Aston Villa 5-0 at the Etihad Stadium.
David Silva opened the scoring for the Premier League champions, before two goals apiece from Argentine strike duo Sergio Aguero and Carlos Tevez put a rather lop-sided slant on the final scoreline.
A comprehensive victory was enough to take City back to the top of the table, for a few hours at least, while out-of-sorts Villa tumbled into the drop zone as a result of Reading's victory over Everton.
Roberto Mancini's men dominated possession throughout, but struggled to break a stubborn Villa defence down during a scrappy first half and left themselves open to counter.
Vincent Kompany almost put through his own net at one stage, but Joe Hart came to his rescue, but City's pressure finally paid off two minutes before half-time when Villa failed to deal with a Samir Nasri corner and, after seeing the ball ricochet around the box, Silva was in the right place to bundle home.
Paul Lambert likely told his troops at the interval that there was still all to play for, but within nine minutes of the re-start City had doubled their lead in contentious circumstances.
Aguero calmly stroked home from the spot, but the awarding of a penalty for an apparent handball by Andreas Weimann left Villa incensed - with it their opinion that the forward did not make contact with the ball as it fizzed past him.
Villa's mood went from bad to worse as the afternoon wore on, with seemingly everything going against them right now.
City, though, were now in complete control of the tie and netted twice in the space of as many minutes to wrap up the points.
Tevez rolled home the Blues' second penalty of the game following a handball by Barry Bannan and Aguero made it four on 67 minutes as he led a swift counter and fired past Brad Guzan at his near post via the aid of a deflection.
The final act of a game bossed by City saw Tevez convert a low cross from Nasri, with the goal left gaping in front of him.
It has been suggested at times this season that City have been performing below their best, but such accusations could not be levelled at them on Saturday and they will be hoping to have ignited their title defence in front of their own supporters.
The hand writing is beginning to be boldly written on the wall, If Mark Hughes survives till Christmas then i will know miracle still happens.
Southampton piled the pressure on QPR boss Mark Hughes by winning the battle of the Premier League's bottom two 3-1 at Loftus Road.
With managers in both dug-outs under severe pressure, first-half goals from Rickie Lambert and Jason Puncheon gave the Saints a deserved 2-0 lead at the break, before Junior Hoilett headed QPR back into the game early in the second period.
Southampton, though, kept pushing forward and secured the points seven minutes from time, when Adam Lallana's low cross was poked into his own net by Anton Ferdinand.
With the victory, Nigel Adkins' side have established a four-point gap between themselves and their beaten hosts.
Both he and Hughes stuck with the same starting line-ups that played last weekend, with Southampton the quickest to settle. Captain Lallana came close in the seventh minute, firing just over after a neat one-two with Gaston Ramirez, but their defensive frailties remained.
Adel Taarabt - so often a threat for QPR - drove in-between Nathaniel Clyne and Jose Fonte, before forcing a reaction save out of Paulo Gazzaniga, who then shovelled a Hoilett shot around the post less than a minute later.
Saints returned to the attack and got the game's crucial opener in the 23rd minute, when a corner was not cleared properly by the home defence. Ramirez pulled back for Fonte, whose shot was prodded goalwards by Puncheon. That effort was cleared off the line but Lambert showed his strength to bundle home.
Southampton pushed for another, which came on the stroke of half-time, when Puncheon collected the ball from Clyne, turned Alejandro Faurlin, and fired home a left-footed strike.
QPR were booed off at half-time after their inept display and Hughes replaced Faurlin with Jamie Mackie at the start of the second period, which was only four minutes old when Taarabt's floated cross was nodded home by the unmarked Hoilett.
Saints quickly retained their momentum, though, and Puncheon forced Julio Cesar into a smart save before firing wide twice within a minute.
The game was flowing from end to end and Cesar had to be at his best to deny a Maya Yoshida scissor-kick 10 minutes from time.
Nelsen headed straight at Gazzaniga moments later and then Saints secured victory, with Puncheon playing a short corner to Schneiderlin for the Frenchman's cross to squeeze in off Ferdinand at Cesar's near post.
QPR fans bellowed 'You're only here for the money' at their players and duly booed the side off at the end of the game, while Adkins and the Saints fans celebrated their first points earned away from home.
Swansea City produced an impressive performance to triumph 2-1 at St James' Park and move above Newcastle United in the Premier League table.
Michu broke the deadlock for the Swans in the 58th minute with a header from Pablo Hernandez's cross as Tim Krul was punished for a poor clearance.
Jonathan de Guzman turned home a second from close range three minutes from time after Krul could only parry Danny Graham's shot.
Newcastle pulled a goal back thanks to Demba Ba's header just before the final whistle but there was not enough time to find an equaliser.
It had been a frustrating afternoon for the Magpies even before kick-off, with Papiss Cisse not allowed to play after Senegal invoked FIFA's five-day rule after he missed an international appearance in midweek.
It was nevertheless an exciting and open game from the very start as Newcastle desperately tried to put on a show for their supporters and Swansea threatened on the counter-attack, with both goalkeepers called into action in the first half.
Krul produced a fine stop to keep out Michu's shot from distance after a quarter of an hour, while he then did well to stand up tall and narrow the angle on Itay Shechter after a hopeful long ball had caught out Mike Williamson.
At the other end, Hatem Ben Arfa was by far the greatest threat and, after striking one effort into the side-netting from a tight angle, he made Gerhard Tremmel dive to his right to pull off an acrobatic save.
Newcastle stepped up the pressure at the start of the second half as Shola Ameobi came on to replace Shane Ferguson and Sammy Ameobi got into the game more down the left, but Ba squandered a couple of good opportunities and the hosts were made to pay when Michu opened the scoring.
Ba then headed a 64th-minute Cheick Tiote cross towards goal, but without the power to trouble Tremmel, and the keeper then got a good block on Shola Ameobi's cross after a dazzling run from deep by Ben Arfa.
The Magpies were demonstrating little composure in front of goal, and were grateful to see Michu uncharacteristically do the same to miscue Hernandez's 76th-minute cross wide.
But the sting in the tail arrived three minutes from time when Krul could only parry substitute Graham's shot and De Guzman smashed home the rebound from a tight angle, making Ba's late header after substitute Sylvain Marveaux had struck the bar practically irrelevant.
Adam Le Fondre scored twice as Reading came from 1-0 down to beat Everton 2-1 at the Madejski Stadium for their first Premier League win of the season.
The Toffees started the game much like the hosts, opening the scoring in the 10th minute when Steven Naismith poked the ball past Adam Federici following a comedy of defensive errors which saw the Royals fail to clear on several occasions.
Prior to that goal Everton's Nikica Jelavic was kicking himself for not having more composure in the box when the ball fell kindly to him, however the unmarked striker lashed an audacious scissor kick well over the bar.
David Moyes' men may also feel hard done by following the final whistle after two penalty claims were waved away in the first half.
The first came when Naismith turned into the area leading to a Kaspars Gorkss late challenge, however Martin Atkinson saw nothing wrong with the Latvian's mis-timed lunge.
Moments later, what appeared a fantastic block to deny Jelavic turned out to be a Sean Morrison handball as the Royals continued to ride their luck going into half-time.
However, Brian McDermott's interval team talk must have done the trick as Reading stepped up a gear and Nicky Shorey fed the hungry Le Fondre for a header of the highest class into Tim Howard's top corner in the 51st minute.
It was an inspired move by McDermott to re-introduce Le Fondre for Noel Hunt, who had to be content with a place on the bench, as the strike proved to be problematic for Everton's back four which was missing skipper Phil Neville.
Hal Robson-Kanu, who started in place of Garath McCleary, was more than a handful for Leighton Baines and it proved to be a feisty battle down Reading's right-hand side throughout.
Jason Roberts and Le Fondre kept combining well with Everton having to call upon Seamus Coleman to come across and nick the ball from the goalscorer's feet in a last-ditch tackle.
Le Fondre's persistence up front finally paid off on 79 minutes when he attempted to chest the ball down in the box and was rashly challenged by Coleman in the back, giving Atkinson little option but to award the penalty. The striker dusted himself off to take the spot-kick and drilled it down the middle of the goal with Howard diving to his left.
Marouane Fellaini could have levelled the game for the visitors just minutes after Reading's second but luck was on the hosts' side once more as the Belgian's header cannoned back off the bar and into Federici's arms, helping Reading to claim a priceless three points and a first win of the season.
Luis Suarez continued his rich vein of form with two goals to help Liverpool to a 3-0 win over Wigan at Anfield.
The Uruguayan took his tally for the season to 13 goals with two second-half strikes with the impressive Jose Enrique netting the third with his first goal for the club.
The victory was well deserved for the home side after a dour first half with Wigan struggling to pose only problems to the returning Pepe Reina in the Liverpool goal.
The win is only Liverpool's second home success of the season in the Premier League to lift them up to 11th spot in the table.
In a quiet start to the game Liverpool had to wait until 23 minutes to create their first noteworthy effort as Suso let fly from the edge of the box and Al Habsi could only palm out his powerful shot.
The little Spaniard missed the best opening of the half on 32 minutes as Glen Johnson got to the byline and pulled a cross back for Suso who headed his effort over the crossbar from six yards out.
Both sides made changes to their midfield just past the half hour mark with David Jones replacing the injured Ben Watson following a collision with Raheem Sterling, while Brendan Rodgers appeared to make a tactical change by taking off Suso for Jordan Henderson.
Just before the break Al Habsi was forced into a smart save as Enrique tried to get onto Suarez's drilled cross across the six-yard box.
Whatever Rodgers said at half-time seemed to work as Liverpool broke the deadlock two minutes into the second half through Suarez.
Sterling capitalised on a poor pass from Jean Beausejour to round Maynor Figueroa and the England international picked out Suarez who fired his shot high into the net past Al Habsi.
Suarez made it 2-0 on 58 minutes when Enrique slipped him in on goal with a superb pass and the deadly striker poked his shot past Al Habsi.
Liverpool made it 3-0 on 65 minutes with Enrique grabbing a deserved goal for his afternoon's work, but there was some controversy in the build-up.
Wigan felt they should have had a throw-in when Ivan Ramis's pass appeared to be deflected into touch by Suarez, but the home side were awarded the throw and from it Sterling got in on goal and saw his powerful shot palmed out into the path of the grateful Enrique to snaffle up the rebound.
Liverpool missed further chances to add to their lead in the remaining minutes as they enjoyed their best day of the season at Anfield against a below-par Wigan.
With a lot of twist and turns and with some wonderful goals scored coupled with some unbelievable results that's what makes the English Premier League what it is, "The best Television series of all time"
No comments:
Post a Comment