Rob Smyth's Blog, page 68
November 6, 2022
Chelsea 0-1 Arsenal: Premier League – as it happened
Gabriel scored from a yard to give Arsenal a statement victory at Stamford Bridge
And now, to business.
It’s Remembrace Day on Friday. Before kick-off, the players will gather round the centre circle to pay tribute to those who lost their lives in the war.
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October 22, 2022
Chelsea 1-1 Manchester United: Premier League – as it happened
A cagey game came alive in the last few minutes, when Jorginho’s penalty was cancelled out by a mighty header from Casemiro
2 min Chelsea are playing as expected, with Cucurella as the left-sided centre-back.
2 min “Interesting about the rivalry that never quite exploded,” says Digvijay Yadav. “I always thought that the 2006-10 period was as intense as any. In fact the ‘06-‘07 was the most cathartic title win since Fergie’s first. And that was partly a result of the fear that Chelsea had sowed in the league and the loathing that inspired in United. Or maybe that’s just me.”
Continue reading...Nottingham Forest 1-0 Liverpool: Premier League – as it happened
Taiwo Awoniyi scored against his old club and Dean Henderson made an immense late save as Forest stunned Liverpool at the City Ground
6 min “Thiago adding illness to his litany of absence reasons,” says Stephen Carr. “I think we are going to have to get HR involved.”
5 min Aurier is fouled by Jones, which allows Forest to send the big men forward. Gibbs-White’s free-kick is headed away by van Dijk.
Continue reading...October 18, 2022
Brighton 0-0 Nottingham Forest: Premier League – as it happened
Forest moved off the bottom with a hard-fought draw at the Amex, where Brighton passed up a series of chances
1 min Peep peep! Brighton get the game under way.
“Quadrophenia, eh?” muses Justin Kavanagh. “Brighton’s Roberto De Zerbi looks a rocker at heart with that slicked back hair and air of insouciant cool. Meanwhile, Steve Cooper could only be a mod with his zip-up tops and his look of sleepless nights spent burning through too much nervous energy.”
Continue reading...The Fiver | A basic football essential of gathering to abuse a gigantic LED screen
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The Fiver expects the Human Rights World Cup to be the guiltiest of pleasures. On the one hand, the World Cup stimulates the happy child in even the most bereft tea-time email; on the other, the human rights bit triggers the adult in us who frankly doesn’t need any additional triggering. And now there’s a new reason to despair about Qatar 2022, because millions of football fans are at risk of being denied the most basic tournament essential of all: Tin.
Continue reading...October 16, 2022
Liverpool 1-0 Manchester City: Premier League – as it happened
Mohamed Salah scored a late goal to kickstart Liverpool’s season and ensured City lost ground on Arsenal at the top of the table
Full-time scores
Aston Villa 0-2 Chelsea
Man Utd 0-0 Newcastle
Southampton 1-1 West Ham
Continue reading...October 15, 2022
Wolves 1-0 Nottingham Forest, Fulham 2-2 Bournemouth: clockwatch – as it happened
Ruben Neves settled a tale of two penalties at Molineux, while there were six goals and four red cards at Bramall Lane
“Wrexham’s FA Cup battle v Blyth Spartans is scoreless entering half time,” writes Mary Waltz. “Yes, it is being televised live here in the States. Amazing what a documentary can produce.”
That must be a contender for the most unlikely televised game ever, just behind the Craggy Island All Priests Over-75s five-a-side Indoor Football Challenge Match.
Continue reading...October 13, 2022
Manchester United 1-0 Omonia Nicosia: Europa League – as it happened
United were denied repeatedly by the Omonia keeper Francis Uzoho before Scott McTominay scored an injury-time winner
4 min “I wonder if Frederico Fred is feeling upstaged by Charalampos Charalampous,” says Peter Oh. “And imagine if the substitute Loizos Loizou comes on.”
Wait till Eric Djemba-Djemba comes back from the metaphorical dead.
Continue reading...The Fiver | So, Barcelona’s gambled farm is now left relying on … Viktoria Plzen?
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Oh, Barça! This was supposed to be the season when football’s bastion of sanctimony and fiscal eccentricity returned to former glories. Instead, after Wednesday night’s desperate, exhilarating 3-3 draw against Internazionale, they have another first-class ticket to Big Vase in the post. Before February, Barcelona had not slummed it there since 2003-04. Now they are in danger of becoming a Thursday-night staple to rival George Clarke’s Remarkable Renovations and – hic – starting the weekend prematurely.
Continue reading...October 9, 2022
Arsenal 3-2 Liverpool: Premier League – as it happened
Bukayo Saka scored twice as Arsenal won a thrilling game to move back to the top of the Premier League
“I feel like Klopp at his press conferences sighing at the constart negativity,” says Ian Copestake. “Yes, it was Rangers but Hendo played his best game for Liverpool by not going forward. We don’t want him up there! Fabz needed to be benched as he has been truly off it. Yet if Klopp had reverted to previous he would be condemned for blinking.”
The players stroll out of the tunnel, into the autumn sunshine. There’s a cracking atmosphere at the Emirates. I cannot wait for this.
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