READING v TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR - Judgement Day

Saturday 3 May 2008

Saturday was Judgement Day in the world of the Right Result. Manchester United were confirmed as champions while Reading and Birmingham City will join Derby County in next season’s virtual Championship. To add an additional nail into Reading’s coffin, they should have suffered a heavier defeat than the critical single goal setback against Tottenham Hotspur at the Madejski Stadium. Having taken the lead, Spurs should have had their lead doubled in the first-half as Steed Malbranque’s goal that was ruled out for offside should have stood. The outstanding Right Result issue for the final day of the season will be the final Champions League position with Liverpool trailing Everton by one point.

The Right Result is a 2-0 win for Tottenham Hotspur.

EVERTON v ASTON VILLA - Penalty patience

Sunday 27 April 2008

Everton are the only club in this season’s Premier League who have yet to be awarded a penalty. We believed that should have changed in Game No. 36 with Aston Villa’s visit to Goodison Park. Shortly before the first of the four shared goals in a pulsating second-half, Villa’s Stilian Petrov blocked Lee Carsley’s shot with his arm. The Bulgarian midfielder had his arm outstretched and, due to the distance the ball travelled, had the opportunity to take evasive action.

The Right Result is a 3-2 win for Everton.

BIRMINGHAM CITY v LIVERPOOL - Driven to distraction

Saturday 26 April 2008

Birmingham City earned a vital point in their battle against relegation with their draw against Liverpool. It came courtesy of a controversial second goal from Sebastian Larsson’s free-kick. Blues’ Radhi Jaidi was shown to be in an offside position in a direct line between the free-kick and Liverpool keeper Jose Reina. The big defender also moved from side-to-side as the kick was taken to fulfil the interfering with an opponent criteria - making a gesture or movement which deceives or distracts. No indication is suggested with regard to the degree of distraction so, as Jaidi is 6ft 2ins and 14st, it would be surprising if something didn’t catch the corner of Reina’s eye.

The Right Result is a 2-1 win for Liverpool.

ASTON VILLA v BIRMINGHAM CITY - Second goal syndrome

Sunday 20 April 2008

For the second week in a row, Aston Villa have enjoyed an emphatic win against struggling opposition.
And, for the second week in a row, we’ve chalked off their second goal. This week it’s John Carew who
had advanced into an offside position before rising to head home Ashley Young’s flighted free-kick as
Villa rose to the occasion against Birmingham City in, of course, the second city derby.

MANCHESTER CITY v PORTSMOUTH - Defoe denied

Sunday 20 April 2008

Having conceded two early goals at Manchester City, then being reduced to ten-men before half-time, Cup finalists Portsmouth gave themselves plenty to do to maintain their impressive away form. It could have been a climbable mountain had Pompey been awarded a legitimate penalty with the score at 1-2 in the second half. As he burst into the area, Pompey’s Jermain Defoe got to the ball first before being caught by Richard Dunne’s lunge.

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

BLACKBURN ROVERS v MANCHESTER UNITED - Almost there

Saturday 19 April 2008

Manchester United’s trip to Chelsea next Saturday is being billed as a title decider and, but for a mathematical freak, United will be crowned champions of the Right Result table if they avoid defeat at Stamford Bridge. That’s because we believe they should have taken three points from their clash at Blackburn Rovers as we uphold two of their penalty appeals. In the first-half, Rovers’ Steven Reid tripped Wayne Rooney inside the box. In the second-half, defender Brett Emerton blocked Michael Carrick’s goal-bound header with his arm.

The Right Result is a 3-1 win for Manchester United.

MIDDLESBROUGH v BOLTON WANDERERS - Hero and villain

Saturday 19 April 2008

Gavin McCann became the hero for Bolton Wanderers with the winner at Middlesbrough that has given the struggling Wanderers a Premier League survival lifeline. Shortly before his possible defining season moment, the summer signing from Aston Villa could have played the role of villain. Some distance away from Stewart Downing’s cross and with time to avoid the flight of the ball, the deliberate element of his handball offence should have resulted in a Boro penalty.

The Right Result is a 1-1 draw.

WEST HAM UNITED v DERBY COUNTY - Bus for Zamora

Bobby Zamora’s first Premier League goal in almost exactly a year arrived with relegated Derby County’s visit to Upton Park and - sure enough, just like buses - the second should have come along minutes later. The former Tottenham Hotspur striker last found the net with the winner against Everton on 21 April 2007 before giving the Hammers a 20th minute lead against the Rams. No. 2 seemed to have followed 12 minutes later, only to be wrongly denied for an offside offence.

The Right Result is a 3-1 win for West Ham United

WIGAN ATHLETIC v TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR - Mario’s hands on job

Saturday 19 April 2008

Wigan Athletic appear to have escaped the clutches of relegation from the Premier League but the Latics’ status in the Right Result table isn’t quite as secure as we deny them the point from Tottenham Hotspur’s visit to the JJB. Clearly, Spurs should have been awarded a first-half penalty after Mario Melchiot pulled Dimitar Berbatov down by the shoulders to prevent the Bulgarian striker taking advantage of a goalscoring opportunity.

The Right Result is a 2-1 win for Tottenham Hotspur.

LIVERPOOL v BLACKBURN ROVERS - Rueful Roberts

Saturday 12 April 2008

With all the shenanigans that are going on in the Anfield boardroom, Liverpool can be thankful that things are going so well on the pitch, as displayed in the comfortable dismissal of Blackburn Rovers. Although the Reds may be aggrieved that they had a number of penalty appeals turned down, Rovers were rightly left feeling what-might-have-been after Jason Roberts’ first-half opener was disallowed for offside. However, the former Wigan Athletic frontrunner was shown to be level with last defender Martin Skrtel.

The Right Result is a 3-2 win for Liverpool.