Three pairs of local rivals clashed in the Premier League this afternoon with different agendas to compete for and yet not a single match produced a decisive winner. The Tyne-Wear derby saw two of the top flight’s high flyers come up against one another with both clubs harbouring European ambitions. At the same time in the West Midlands, Birmingham and Aston Villa fought it out in a relegation battle. Following this, completing the hat-trick of derby games, Everton and Liverpool looked to kick on from poor starts as Kenny Dalglish had his homecoming at Anfield.
Sunderland were out to ensure a repeat of the drubbing they received at St. James’s Park earlier in the season did not occur again. The Magpies were still without top scorer Andy Carroll, missing through injury. Despite this captain Kevin Nolan gave the visitors the lead in seven minutes into the second half when he back-heeled a Shola Ameobi header past Craig Gordon. The Mackems levelled with a last gasp strike from Asamoah Gyan deep into stoppage time. The result sees Steve Bruce’s side remain sixth whilst Newcastle slip to ninth, a point behind Stoke and Bolton.
At St. Andrews the priority was staying in the Premier League. Birmingham had lost the first leg of the Carling Cup semi-final to struggling West Ham thanks to the goalkeeping blunders of Ben Foster. Alex McLeish stuck with the England stopper and after a shaky first half he produced a superb fingertip save five minutes from the end which denied substitute Nathan Delfouneso a winner.
Loan signing David Bentley had an impressive debut for the blue that could have only been capped if his free kick had been on target. He was a genuine threat down the right all afternoon and showed no signs of tiredness despite his lack of match fitness. On the other flank full back David Murphy was left exposed with no out and out left-sided player in front of him. This attracted the attentions of Kyle Walker and Marc Albrighton who did their level best to exploit the situation.
Craig Gardner provided some assistance to his teammate, but would have been better utilised centrally which is where he has played his best football. McLeish’s tactic of using Aliaksandr Hleb there instead is rather unusual considering he occupied a wide berth with great success when he plied his trade at Arsenal. Both Birmingham and Villa’s strikers continue to struggle in front of goal. Matt Derbyshire completely missed the ball from a couple of yards out having been presented with a glorious chance. Gabby Agbonlahor blazed over inside the first thirty seconds when it was easier to hit the target and the returning John Carew didn’t really do much either.
It fell to defenders to involve themselves in the goalscoring, with fortune playing a big part in both sides scoring. Not long after the break a Gardner free kick deflected off Villa defenders and broke to the prone Murphy who knocked into the path of Roger Johnson up from the back to sweep it home. With just over fifteen minutes to go the Villa right combined well and Albrighton’s cross with headed down by Agbonlahor and James Collins’s shot went in off Liam Ridgewell. Whilst the visitors have lifted themselves out of the bottom three it remains extremely tight at the foot of the table with just three points separating West Ham and fifteenth placed Fulham.
The Merseyside derby saw Kenny Dalglish lead Liverpool at home for the first time in twenty years. At last the Anfield crowd had something to cheer about as their side performed excellently in the first half. Fernando Torres looked sharp and was desperately unlucky to see his run inside beating two and shot come back off the post just after the quarter hour. Raul Meireles, charged with supporting the Spanish striker from midfield, broke his duck for the club putting the ball in at the third attempt after a Dirt Kuyt header and follow up were parried by Toffees keeper Tim Howard.
Daniel Agger went off with an injury during the interval and it disrupted the home side. The defensive change was capitalised on immediately by Everton who equalised from a corner straight away thanks to Sylvain Distin’s header. Five minutes later the visitors found themselves in front as Victor Anichebe won a long ball from Martin Kelly and Leon Osman slipped it to Jermaine Beckford for a tap in. The Toffees threw away their lead when Howard bundled Maxi Rodriguez over from behind and Dirk Kuyt calmly dispatched the penalty to level the scores and ensure honours were even.
These three draws were all fair results, but have changed very little in the fight for survival, done nothing to relieve relegation fears or propel sides into the promised land of UEFA continental football. Even the fourth and final match of the day which saw Tottenham host Manchester United ended without a winner and goalless, Spurs unable to capitalise on Rafael’s dismissal for two bookings. The Premier League remains an enthralling prospect week-in week-out no matter what clubs’ goals are!
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