Manchester City 3 – 0 Sunderland
Goals from Kolarov, Aguero and James Milner gave City a deserved victory at the Etihad Stadium. In form Kolarov was first on the score sheet with a stunning free kick after Tevez was fouled outside the box, City then had to wait till after the break to add another as Kolarov turned provider for Aguero to turn in his cross. Manchester City got another free kick late in the game which James Milner took and caught everyone by surprise as he went for the shot and not the cross but it prevailed as it flicked off Craig Gardener into the back of the net. Sunderland’s prolific goal scorer Steven Fletcher was kept quiet all game as City strolled to 3 points. This is City’s first clean sheet of the season and it pushes them to 2nd in the table, behind leaders Chelsea.
Wigan 2 – 2 Everton
For the majority of this game Wigan had the lead and they were on track to disrupt Everton’s superb start to the season until Leighton Baines fired in a penalty late in the game to share the spoils. Everton did start the game in 2nd place but soon realised this was to be no walk over as Wigan’s intensity unsettled The Toffees. Wigan took an early lead through Kone which looked offside but the sides were level again within seconds through a Jelavic header on the 11th minute. The home fans didn’t have to wait much longer to see their side take lead again through Franco Di Santo on the 23rd minute. Everton piled on the pressure in the 2nd half but couldn’t break Wigan down until Mirallas was fouled in the box and Leighton Baines converted against his old club. Everton will settle for a point after being behind for so long and they will be satisfied with the battling qualities shown by the players.
West Brom 3 – 2 QPR
West Brom are another side that have made a surprisingly good start to the season with this victory leaving them sitting in 6th, European spots. James Morrison headed in after five minutes before Zolton Gera capitalised on Anton Ferdinand’s mistake for 2-0. Adel Taarabt’s brilliant volley reduced the deficit but Mulumbu restored The Baggie’s 2 goal lead late on with some superb one touch football. Esteban Granero’s fine strike in the 90th minute was only a consolation for QPR as they now sit bottom of the table. The pressure is mounting on Mark Hughes with them still without a win in the Premier League this season.
Swansea 2 – 2 Reading
The last time these two sides met was in the 2011 Championship play-off final, when Swansea crushed Reading’s Premier League hopes with a thrilling 4-2 win. This game started out differently as Reading were 0-2 up in the first half through Pogrebnyak and Hunt. A string of fine saves from Reading keeper Alex McCarthy kept Swansea at bay but they kept coming and eventually Michu’s diving header gave Swansea hope. Seven minutes later Routledge got the equaliser, exchanging passes with Moore before smashing home an unstoppable shot. This result stopped Swansea’s run of three defeats and denied their first Premier League win of the season.
Chelsea 4 – 1 Norwich
Despite all their off-field troubles, the European Champions prevailed as they continue to set the pace at the top of the table. It was the away side that surprisingly broke the deadlock when Grant Holt drove in a 15-yard shot but their lead lasted no longer than 3 minutes before Chelsea’s current top goal scorer, Torres, headed home to level the scores. Before the break Chelsea added another two through Lampard and Oscar to give them a comfortable 3-1 lead. Ivanovic completed the victory on the 76th minute with a superb strike, with Chelsea now holding a four point league at the top of the league.
West Ham 1 – 3 Arsenal
Arsenal had to come from behind in this game to win as the Hammer took the lead against the run of play when Diame scored from a tight angle. Giroud scored his first league goal for Arsenal when he was at the near post to convert Podolski’s cross to put the side’s level going into the break. Theo Walcott came off the bench to make it 2-1 with Santi Cazorla going on to hit a third to wrap up the game in the 83rd minute. This victory still leaves Arsenal looking up at the Champion’s League spots as West Ham only sit one place behind them in 8th.
Southampton 2 – 2 Fulham
Nigel Adkins’ side went into this game looking to record a successive home victory in the Premier League and they made the ideal start when Fonte rose to loop a header past Mark Schwarzer within 5 minutes. This lead stood until the 70th minute when Southampton scored their 3rd own goal of the season when Hooivel, on as a substitute for the injured Frazer Richardson, diverted John Arne Riise’s shot into his own net to draw Fulham level. Kieran Richardson looked to have won it for Fulham with a deflected shot two minutes from time, but Fonte popped up again to nod in an equaliser. This point moves The Saints out of the bottom 3 and Fulham will be disappointed not to have snatched all 3 after taking the lead so late on.
Tottenham 2 – 0 Aston Villa
Spurs earned their fourth straight Premier League victory as second-half goals from Steven Caulker and Aaron Lennon saw off Aston Villa. There weren’t many chances in the first half but the deadlock was broken, fortunately, as Defoe controlled Bale’s corner before his shot deflected in off Caulker. Lennon’s strike nine minutes later sealed the win with a touch of class; it was the winger’s first goal for nine months, adding to Caulker’s first for the club. Their task was made easier when Villa were reduced to 10 men, having used all their substitutes, following a serious looking injury to Joe Bennett with 13 minutes left. Disappointingly, this game saw the end of Brad Friedel’s record of 310 Premier League games. Nonetheless, Spurs remain unbeaten at home and move to fifth in the table.
Liverpool 0 – 0 Stoke
Liverpool remain with a home league win this season as they were held to a draw by a strong Stoke team. Stoke’s best chance came after the Reds gave the ball away with former Liverpool man Charlie Adam’s shot being saved. Liverpool youngster Raheem Sterling hit the woodwork but neither side could break the deadlock and so both sides go home with a point. A frustrating afternoon for Liverpool which sees them placed 14th in the table with only 6 points from 7 games.
Newcastle 0 – 3 Manchester United
Playing the day after Chelsea meant the Man United started the day seven points adrift of leaders Chelsea. The visitors needed 3 points to close the gap and they did just that with two unlikely scorers giving Manchester the lead. Jonny Evans was the first as he powered home a header from a Van Persie corner and Evra soon doubled their lead with another header for his first goal for the club in two seasons. The home side failed to convert any of their chances although they thought they’d scored when Cisse headed towards goal but De Gea clawed it off the line. Tom Cleverley soon wrapped up the game with a stunning curling effort from well outside the box, whether it was a cross or not we don’t know. This result gives Manchester United their fifth win in seven games to send them into second place.
