Harewood double gives Blackpool opening win
Blackpool marked their first top-flight match in 39 years with a surprise 4-0 win away to north-west rivals Wigan.
WIGAN:
Blackpool marked their first top-flight match in 39 years with a surprise 4-0 win away to north-west rivals Wigan on the opening day of the new English Premier League season.
They were in front as early as the 16th minute at Wigan’s DW Stadium. Charlie Adam played in Harewood, whose cross was tapped in by Gary Taylor-Fletcher. Harewood then held off Antolin Alcaraz, before beating Chris Kirkland from more than 20 yards for his first Premier League goal in two-and-a-half-years. Two minutes before the break, Harewood tapped in after Elliot Grandin’s shot was parried.
Then, 15 minutes before full-time, Alex Baptiste made it 4-0 when his cross beat Kirkland at the goalkeeper’s near post.
Milner scores as Villa nail Hammers
Aston Villa showed there was life after Martin O’Neill with a 3-0 win at home to West Ham just days after their former manager’s resignation. England goalkeeper Robert Green, playing his first senior match since his World Cup blunder, helped give Villa a 15th minute lead.
His poor punch led to a Marc Albrighton shot and Stewart Downing scored from the rebound. Villa made it 2-0 when Stiliyan Petrov headed in five minutes before half-time. And in what could be a parting gift to Villa fans, before his possible transfer to Manchester City, England midfielder James Milner made it 3-0 after Albrighton’s cut back in the 66th minute.
City draw at Spurs while Everton lose
England goalkeeper Joe Hart – chosen by Roberto Mancini ahead of Shay Given – produced several fine saves to help big-spenders Manchester City secure a point in a goalless draw at Tottehnham. But Everton’s United States goalkeeper Tim Howard gifted hosts Blackburn a 14th minute winner in a 1-0 victory when he somehow dropped a cross into the path of Nikola Kalinic, who duly scored.
Birmingham held by Sunderland
Birmingham came from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 against 10-man Sunderland. Darren Bent opened the scoring with a 24th minute penalty.
But two minutes before the break, Sunderland captain Lee Cattermole became the first player sent-off in the Premier League this season after collecting two yellow cards. Sunderland still went 2-0 up when Carr looped a header into his own net, trying to clear a cross under pressure from Campbell.
Birmingham hit back 13 minutes from time through Scott Dann’s header and were level when Liam Ridgewell turned in Sebastian Larsson’s cross to score.
Wolves beat Stoke 2-1
Wolves beat Stoke 2-1 after Kenwyne Jones, Stoke’s club record eight million signing, limped off injured after just 14 minutes at Molineux.
The hosts scored twice in two minutes late in the first half, going ahead through a 20-yard strike from David Jones before Steven Fletcher headed in at the back post.
But Stoke scored early in the second half through Abdoulaye Faye’s header. Bolton and Fulham shared the points in a goalless draw.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 15th, 2010.
Blackpool marked their first top-flight match in 39 years with a surprise 4-0 win away to north-west rivals Wigan on the opening day of the new English Premier League season.
They were in front as early as the 16th minute at Wigan’s DW Stadium. Charlie Adam played in Harewood, whose cross was tapped in by Gary Taylor-Fletcher. Harewood then held off Antolin Alcaraz, before beating Chris Kirkland from more than 20 yards for his first Premier League goal in two-and-a-half-years. Two minutes before the break, Harewood tapped in after Elliot Grandin’s shot was parried.
Then, 15 minutes before full-time, Alex Baptiste made it 4-0 when his cross beat Kirkland at the goalkeeper’s near post.
Milner scores as Villa nail Hammers
Aston Villa showed there was life after Martin O’Neill with a 3-0 win at home to West Ham just days after their former manager’s resignation. England goalkeeper Robert Green, playing his first senior match since his World Cup blunder, helped give Villa a 15th minute lead.
His poor punch led to a Marc Albrighton shot and Stewart Downing scored from the rebound. Villa made it 2-0 when Stiliyan Petrov headed in five minutes before half-time. And in what could be a parting gift to Villa fans, before his possible transfer to Manchester City, England midfielder James Milner made it 3-0 after Albrighton’s cut back in the 66th minute.
City draw at Spurs while Everton lose
England goalkeeper Joe Hart – chosen by Roberto Mancini ahead of Shay Given – produced several fine saves to help big-spenders Manchester City secure a point in a goalless draw at Tottehnham. But Everton’s United States goalkeeper Tim Howard gifted hosts Blackburn a 14th minute winner in a 1-0 victory when he somehow dropped a cross into the path of Nikola Kalinic, who duly scored.
Birmingham held by Sunderland
Birmingham came from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 against 10-man Sunderland. Darren Bent opened the scoring with a 24th minute penalty.
But two minutes before the break, Sunderland captain Lee Cattermole became the first player sent-off in the Premier League this season after collecting two yellow cards. Sunderland still went 2-0 up when Carr looped a header into his own net, trying to clear a cross under pressure from Campbell.
Birmingham hit back 13 minutes from time through Scott Dann’s header and were level when Liam Ridgewell turned in Sebastian Larsson’s cross to score.
Wolves beat Stoke 2-1
Wolves beat Stoke 2-1 after Kenwyne Jones, Stoke’s club record eight million signing, limped off injured after just 14 minutes at Molineux.
The hosts scored twice in two minutes late in the first half, going ahead through a 20-yard strike from David Jones before Steven Fletcher headed in at the back post.
But Stoke scored early in the second half through Abdoulaye Faye’s header. Bolton and Fulham shared the points in a goalless draw.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 15th, 2010.