READING vs DERBY COUNTY - Rampant Royals

Sunday 7th October 2007

Bottom-of-the-table Derby County are still looking for their first away point of the campaign after a single goal defeat at Reading. The only consolation from their trip to Berkshire is that they could – and should - have suffered a more emphatic defeat. The Rams should have paid the penalty of two penalties. Reading skipper Graham Murty’s shot was blocked by Jay McEveley with his arm while Dean Leacock was also later guilty of handball when he challenged Dave Kitson.

The Right Result is a 3-0 win for Reading.

BLACKBURN ROVERS vs BIRMINGHAM CITY - Blue Blues

Sunday 7th October 2007

Blackburn Rovers put the disappointment of their midweek UEFA Cup exit behind them with a hard-earned victory against Birmingham City at Ewood Park. It should have been a hard-earned draw though. Moments before Rovers’ second goal, Blues’ Gary McSheffrey had a goal disallowed for offside when he was actually level with the last defender.

The Right Result is a 2-2 draw.

BOLTON WANDERERS vs CHELSEA - All not well with Chelsea

Sunday 7th October 2007

The crisis at Chelsea is over, or is it? A number of observers feel the Blues waters have calmed following the departure of Jose Mourinho but we believe Avram Grant’s charges were fortunate to leave the Reebok Stadium with all three points. Steve Sidwell’s first-half handball should have been deemed a penalty.

The Right Result is a 1-1 draw.

MANCHESTER CITY vs MIDDLESBROUGH - Rough on Riggott

Sunday 7th October 2007

Sven’s Manchester City continue to be the surprise package of 2007-08 with another impressive win. However, it should have been a closer call against Middlesbrough at Eastlands as Boro were denied a valid penalty shout. Having already conceded an own goal, defender Chris Riggott suffered more misfortune when he was unfairly held in the City area by Dietmar Hamann.

The Right Result is a 3-2 win for Manchester City.

ARSENAL vs SUNDERLAND - Diaby’s day

Sunday 7th October 2007

Another breath-taking display by Arsenal should – in every sense – have resulted in a far more emphatic win against struggling Sunderland at the Emirates. Their victory should have been more comfortable as they should have had a three-goal advantage after only 20 minutes. They got two but, Abou Diaby’s effort that was disallowed for offside, should also have stood. Replays showed that Mathieu Flamini was at least level.

The Right Result is a 4-2 win for Arsenal.

MANCHESTER UNITED vs WIGAN ATHLETIC - One in the eye for Cristiano

Saturday 6th October 2007

Brave resistance from Wigan Athletic kept the scoresheet blank at the interval at Old Trafford before Manchester United turned on the style in the second half. The Latics noses were well and truly bloodied by the end, but the black-eyed Cristiano Ronaldo’s trickery should have calmed United’s nerves earlier. When he was pushed over in the first-half by Michael Brown in the box, referee Mike Riley should have pointed to the spot.

The Right Result is a 5-0 win for Manchester United.

ASTON VILLA vs WEST HAM UNITED - Neill’s unlikely hat-trick

Saturday 6th October 2007

Lucas Neill walked away from Villa Park probably feeling not too pleased with a 0-1 defeat. However, the West Ham United defender should have been thanking his lucky stars having avoided an unlikely hat-trick. The visitors have good reason to feel aggrieved in as far as the only goal of the game should not have been given. Craig Gardner scored from a splendid free kick but the free-kick should not have been awarded. Gabby Agbonlahor was backing into Danny Gabbidon. When the Hammers centre-back lost his footing, inevitably, both players fell to the ground. By then, Villa should already have been one up though as Neill brought down flying winger Ashley Young in the area. To be fair, the Londoners should have been back on level terms with a penalty when Zat Knight held then hauled down Carlton Cole. Somerset ref Steve Tanner appeared to be determined not to give a penalty as Neill then clearly pushed Agbonlahor to deny the Villa forward any chance of reaching a dangerous cross. Neill completed his hat-trick of unpenalised penalty offences when he handled Young’s cross. Despite their claims of injustice, the afternoon should have been a whole lot worse for West Ham.

The Right Result is a 3-1 win for Aston Villa.

China White

Little things made the fifth Women’s World Cup finals so joyous, alongside the consistently entertaining football. The renditions of ‘Jingle Bells’ and ‘Auld Lang Syne’ from the Chengdu crowds. A Ghanaian defence including a Gladys, Mavis and Doreen. The sheer volume of silence which greeted every goal the host nation China conceded (exceeded in volume only by the Ghanaian players’ shorts). And the almost total lack of any on-field violence. A testosterone-free zone and the better for it.

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WIGAN ATHLETIC vs LIVERPOOL - Latics double denial

Saturday 29th September 2007

Wigan Athletic have every reason to feel aggrieved following the single goal home defeat by title hopefuls Liverpool. The Latics were justified in their first-half claims for a penalty after a foul by Jamie Carragher on Julius Aghahowa immediately before Paul Scharner was adjudged to have been offside. Then after the break, when he was in an onside position, Marcus Bent was denied a valid goal when one of his retreating team mates was flagged off. It’s the sort of rotation Rafa Benitez wouldn’t like as we turn a Liverpool win into a Liverpool loss.

The Right Result is a 2-1 win for Wigan Athletic.

WEST HAM UNITED vs ARSENAL - Freddie’s hammer blow

Saturday 29th September 2007

An assistant’s flag denied former Gooners favourite Freddie Ljungberg a sensational second-half equaliser against the Premier League leaders at Upton Park. Hammers boss Alan Curbishley thought he was was onside, and we agree.

The Right Result is a 1-1 draw.