Premier League Review – Matchday 30
There was a limited programme this weekend, due to the FA Cup quarter-finals
Friday 18th March, 2022
Wolverhampton Wanderers 2 Leeds United 3
This match had it all! Goals, drama, a comeback and a late winner for Leeds. There was also a controversial sending off of Raul Jimenez for a second yellow card when he collided with Leeds’ goalkeeper Meslier who had advanced to a position outside his area. Leeds also lost no less than four players to injury, including Meslier, and were grateful to the concussion substitution rule to allow replacements.
Leeds nearly scored after 6 minutes. James raced away down the left side and his cross was met by Rodrigo whose right foot shot was wide of the near post. Patrick Bamford started the game but had to be replaced after only 23 minutes by 20-year-old Sam Greenwood. Bamford’s injury resulted from over-stretching for a ball over the top of the Wolves defence. The striker’s distress at having to withdraw was plain for all to see.
Wolves took a 26th minute lead when Trincao cut the ball back from the bye-line to the right of goal and Jonny scored his first goal since July 2020. Trincao had only just replaced then injured Ruben Neves. Jonny was unmarked to sweep in the cross with his right foot.
Jimenez’s first yellow card was for a challenge upon Koch who had only just replaced Llorente at the back of the Leeds defence. There were 12 minutes of first half added time and in the second of these Trincao hit the post with a left foot shot from 25 yards. The ball rebounded clear across the goal area. Meslier made a fingertip save from another Jonny shot before the break. Klich had to be replaced by Cresswell before the end of this half. That was deemed a concussion substitution. Jimenez was fouled by Struijk who was booked and after the free kick and a pass from Podence, Trincao scored with a well-placed shot from 20 yards which hit the net inside Meslier’s right post.
Jimenez’s second yellow card came in the 53rd minute. The clash with the Leeds’ keeper followed a long ball hit down the right flank and what looked more like a 50/50 accidental collision than one which was premeditated. Meslier reached the ball first and referee Kevin Friend deemed a second booking for Jimenez appropriate. Meslier was replaced by Klaesson.
Leeds scored their first goal in the 63rd minute. Koch hit a long free kick from the left which reached Ayling at the back of the area. He hit one shot which rebounded to his feet off the post and a second which Coady cleared off his line before Harrison swept in the cleared ball. Leeds were now sniffing a return from a game against ten men. Leeds went level within three minutes. Ayling crossed deep from the right and James’ shot rebounded off the woodwork. The Wolves defence was all over the place, trying to clear a looping ball after Sa blocked James as he tried to follow-up. Leeds finally scored when Rodrigo’s shot hit the net off the unfortunate Coady.
James failed to make contact with a Harrison cross which went over the bar off a Wolves defender. Sa made a great one-handed save from a left foot shot by Harrison to concede another corner. After the corner, Harrison crossed high, and Cresswell’s header passed just over the bar. There were eight added minutes and in the first of these after a free kick from the right which was initially headed back into the area by Ayling, Wolves failed to clear and the ball reached Ayling via Struijk before the Leeds captain powered his shot past Sa, who did get a touch. Ayling made a poor attempt at a Robbie Keane cartwheel celebration, but nobody cared, not least the exuberant travelling support.
There had also been another attempt by a protestor trying to tie himself to a goal, but this was prevented by the alert stewards.
Saturday 19th March, 2022
Aston Villa 0 Arsenal 1
Arsenal’s game was the only Premier League game played on Saturday, and it still was not the first game on Match of The Day! The BBC flagship programme chose to focus on the previous night’s drama at Molineux. Arsenal were able to maintain their hold on fourth place against a Villa side that has lost their last two games and four of their last seven, despite Gerrard, Coutinho et al. Villa were missing Digne (Hamstring) who was replaced by Ashley Young. Buendia started and Ings was on the Villa bench.
Arsenal were without Ramsdale, due to a hip injury. Leno made a first league start since August. Martinelli was out due to illness and Smith-Rowe took his place.
Martinez’s toughest save in the early stages was to save a deflection by Konsa at his near post. Saka was fouled out on the wing by Young and after the play which followed the free kick it was Saka who scored from the edge of the area with a low left footed shot.
McGinn went close with a shot from 22 yards after an hour, but that was Villa’s best effort of the game to date. Watkins had a shot deflected onto the outside of the Arsenal goal 8 minutes later. Watkins was soon to be one of three Villa players replaced. In his case it was by Danny Ings, who headed over McGinn’s ball minutes from the end of the game. Villa had one final chance with the last kick of the game and that was a Coutinho free kick saved by Leno.
Sunday 20th March, 2022
Leicester City 2 Brentford 1
Leicester celebrated their third consecutive home win in the Premier League and the cardboard-clapper wielding home fans were extra happy because their first goal was scored by Timothy Castagne, making his first appearance since 28th December. With the win, Leicester moved into the top half, but they are stranded in mid-table and their main target will be to try and secure the Europa Conference League, which would win them a Europa League place next season. Fofana had made his first appearance of the season in Leicester’s European game on Thursday and scored, but he was absent from the squad for this game. Soyuncu took his place. Leicester’s front three was Maddison, Iheanacho and Barnes.
Christian Eriksen was absent from the Brentford side as he is recovering from Covid. Brentford’s front three was Mbeumo, Toney and Wissa.
Castagne’s goal was scored in the 20th minute. It followed a long crossfield ball by Mendy, and a pass back by Harvey Barnes before Castagne unleashed a curling right-footer which hit the net inside Raya’s left post. Wissa fed the ball to Jensen two minutes later and Schmeichel managed to save the quickly-taken shot. Maddison was fouled two yards outside the area, after taking a pass from Dewsbury-Hall. The midfielder took the free kick himself and hit the net with his right foot shot. (33 mins) Dewsbury-Hall had a shot pass just wide himself later in the first half.
Raya cleanly held 20-yarder by Maddison five minutes into the second half. Iheanacho was upset with his miss after he was sent clear, lifting his shot over not only the keeper, but also the goal. Schmeichel had to make a good save from a Jansson header at the other end, following a Brentford corner and a ball returned into the area by Ajer. The Leicester keeper saved again after a Mbeumo header which followed Toney’s cross from the right. Wissa did score for Brentford five minutes from time. He received Mbeumo’s short pass and hit the net with a right footed shot.
Spurs 3 West Ham United 1
Two-goal Heung-min Son was your man of the match. It was the first time "Sonny" has won the accolade since our 2-1 win against Aston villa on 3rd October. Son didn’t score in that game but had one assist and plenty to do with our other goal. Son has now scored 14 club goals this season whilst Harry Kane has 22. "Sonny" is equal second in the Premier League scorers’ list with 13 goals, one ahead of Harry. Jota is level with Son and Salah has 20 league goals at the top of the pile. This was the first time Son has scored two goals in a game since our 6-1 win at Old Trafford in October 2020.
Heung-min Son now has 81 Premier League goals to his name and 121 club goals in all. That figure puts him within reach of our top ten all-time club goalscorers. Teddy Sheringham currently holds tenth place with 124 goals. Son and Kane have extended their Premier League record goalscoring combination figure to 39 goals.
Here are a couple of your comments on the game:-
"Excellent win, organised defensively when needed particularly when West Ham had a lot of the ball 2nd half. Levy needs to back Conte in the summer. We have a top class coach whose methods look like they're getting through to the players"
"Getting exciting.... love Conte, let´s see what he can do with quality additions in the summer and a full pre-season"
Fixtures and results - 18-20.03.22
Friday 18th March, 2022
Wolves 2-3 Leeds
Saturday 19th March, 2022
A. Villa 0-1 Arsenal
Sunday 20th March, 2022
Leicester 2-1 Brentford
Spurs 3-1 West Ham
Premier League Table
P W D L F-A GD Pts
1. Man City 29 22 4 3 68-18 50 70
2. Liverpool 29 21 6 2 75-20 55 69
3. Chelsea 28 17 8 3 57-19 38 59
4. Arsenal 28 17 3 8 44-31 13 54
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5. Spurs 29 16 3 10 47-36 11 51
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6. Man Utd 29 14 8 7 48-40 8 50
7. West Ham 30 14 6 10 49-39 10 48
8. Wolves 30 14 4 12 31-26 5 46
9. A. Villa 29 11 3 15 41-40 1 36
10. Leicester 27 10 6 11 42-46 -4 36
11. S'hampton 29 8 11 10 36-45 -9 35
12. C. Palace 29 7 13 9 39-38 1 34
13. Brighton 29 7 12 10 26-36 -10 33
14. Newcastle 29 7 10 12 32-49 -17 31
15. Brentford 30 8 6 16 33-47 -14 30
16. Leeds 30 7 8 15 34-67 -33 29
17. Everton 27 7 4 16 29-47 -18 25
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18. Watford 29 6 4 19 29-54 -25 22
19. Burnley 27 3 12 12 22-38 -16 21
20. Norwich 29 4 5 20 18-63 -45 17
