ARSENAL v ASTON VILLA - Vela’s valid Villa verdict

Saturday 15 November 2008

Another week, another crisis at the Emirates as, according to a number of respected pundits, a fourth defeat of the season already appears to have signalled an end to Arsenal’s title hopes. That remains to be seen but there seems to be total agreement that Aston Villa were well worth their first win on Gunners territory since November 1993. There was rather more disagreement about Villa’s second goal as Arsenal’s star youngster Carlos Vela was fouled immediately before the visitors broke to seal their win with Gabby Agbonlahor’s clinical strike.

The Right Result is a 1-0 win to Aston Villa.

BLACKBURN ROVERS v SUNDERLAND - Not so, Keane

Saturday 15 November 2008

Last week’s speculated fall-out between Sunderland’s Djibril Cisse and his manager Roy Keane appeared to come to a happy ending when they almost literally kissed and made-up after the bustling striker scored the Black Cats’ winner at Blackburn Rovers. However, with the help of very slow motion replays and in line with the strict edicts of the law, Cisse converted with the advantage of being offside as at least his head was nearer to the opponent’s goal line than the second last opponent. Similarly, such is the close contest in the Premier League this season that the denial of two more precious points - in addition to the point deducted against Arsenal last month - has seen Sunderland drop into the Right Result’s relegation zone.

The Right Result is a 1-1 draw.

BLACKBURN ROVERS v CHELSEA - Winning in the rain

Sunday 9 November 2008

Despite the torrential downpour in Lancashire, Chelsea continued their impressive away form with a comfortable win at Blackburn Rovers. Indeed, it could have been a flood of goals if the Blues had justifiably been awarded a penalty as early as the fifth minute which would have also seen Rovers keeper Paul Robinson sent-off. It came when Nicolas Anelka latched on to a poor back pass and, although made worse by the conditions, stumbled then fell with the goal at his mercy following the England goalie’s sliding challenge. And, as officials often make the point, contact does not have to be made for a free-kick or penalty to be awarded.

The Right Result is a 3-0 win to Chelsea.

FULHAM v NEWCASTLE UNITED - Taking the Mickey

Sunday 9 November 2008

In his familiar forthright manner, Newcastle United manager Joe Kinnear pointed the finger of guilt in the direction of referee Martin Atkinson for the Toon’s defeat at Fulham. He branded the Yorkshire official a “Mickey Mouse referee doing nothing” in response to an alleged free-kick that wasn’t awarded in the build-up to Fulham’s match-winning penalty. United’s interim boss can expect a letter from the FA’s disciplinary department, especially as Dermot Gallagher (former Premier League ref turned TV pundit) duly declared: “I think that would have been the softest free-kick ever given.” Furthermore, as Joe demanded an apology, one wonders if he will be on the phone to the match officials to thank them for awarding Newcastle’s goal. That’s because the scorer, Shola Ameobi, was subsequently shown to be in an offside position.

The Right Result is a 2-0 win to Fulham.

ARSENAL v MANCHESTER UNITED - Arsenal are back

The Arsenal crisis is over. Following fevered speculation that the Wenger empire was about to crumble, normal service was resumed in a fabulous contest with Manchester United. The Gunners just prevailed but they could have had a more comfortable finish as, with the score at 2-0 in the second-half, they should have been awarded a penalty for Nemanja Vidic’s shirt-tug on Man of the Match Samir Nasri.

The Right Result is a 3-1 win to Arsenal.

CHELSEA v SUNDERLAND - Thirsty Nic

Saturday 1 November 2008

Chelsea’s new thirst for goals slightly got the better of them in their crushing win against Sunderland at Stamford Bridge. Such was Nicolas Anelka’s determination to add to the Blues tally of 1,000 Premier League goals that - from being in an offside position - he converted their second goal unchallenged and virtually on the goal-line. By playing the ball, it becomes an offside offence so should have been disallowed.

The Right Result is Chelsea 4, Sunderland 0.  

EVERTON v FULHAM - Breaking the duck

Saturday 1 November 2008

Everton finally broke their Premier League duck at Goodison Park this season with victory on home soil at the sixth attempt. They had to rely on a late winner but a different type of ducking should have increased the narrow margin. From a first-half long throw-in, Fulham defender Brede Hangeland climbed all over Blues midfielder Marouane Fellaini yet, despite a clear view, ref Lee Mason mysteriously turned down the Gwladys Street End’s claim for a genuine penalty.

The Right Result is a 2-0 win to Everton.

PORTSMOUTH v WIGAN ATHLETIC - Staying the same

Saturday 1 November 2008

The more things changed, the more things stayed the same at a rainy Fratton Park as two scoreline changing errors cancelled each other out. Wigan Athletic should not have been awarded their penalty on the stroke of half-time as Portsmouth midfielder Papa Bouba Diop visibly withdrew his foot as he went to challenge Titus Bramble so did not trip the big Latics centre-back. To redress the balance, Wigan’s second-half ‘goal’ by Luis Valencia that was disallowed for offside should have stood as he was subsequently shown to be in an onside position.

The Right Result remains a 2-1 win to Wigan Athletic.

BOLTON WANDERERS v EVERTON - Bolt for the Blues

Wednesday 29 October 2008

Although Everton have surprisingly struggled at Goodison Park this season, their considerable away points collection seemed to have been further boosted by Marouane Fellaini’s last-gasp winner at Bolton Wanderers. However, in the move directly leading up to the goal, Steven Pienaar had marginally advanced in to an offside position when Phil Neville passed the ball in to his path before the South African went on to produce his telling cross.

The Right Result is a 0-0 draw.

BLACKBURN ROVERS v MIDDLESBROUGH - Drawn to the punch

Saturday 25 October 2008

Blackburn Rovers continue to attract the attention of the Right Result concept with Paul Ince’s new charges now subject to seven judgements in their first nine games of the 2008-09 campaign. Initially they came out on the plus side of Middlesbrough’s visit to Ewood Park when a superb first-half effort by Boro’s Tuncay was incorrectly ruled out for offside. The balance was quickly restored though when Andrew Taylor inexplicably punched - rather than headed - away a dangerous Rovers cross without the punishment of a home penalty.

The Right Result is a 2-2 draw.

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