Football Analyst

Forest moved top after coming from behind at Bournemouth. Callum Wilson netted his 3rd in 3 games for the Cherries but second half goals from Britt Assombalonga and Matty Fryatt put Forest top. Cardiff join Forest at the top after Nicky Maynard’s strike 8 minutes into second half condemned Wigan to third straight defeat. Millwall kept unbeaten run going with Magaye Gueye stoppage time equalizer at Wednesday after Chris Maguire had given home side the lead. Charlton continued good form at start of season with 3-2 at home to Derby. George Tucudean put Charlton ahead before Jamie Ward levelled but Yoni Buyen’s penalty on the stroke of half time put Addicks back in front. Igor Vetokele increased the home side’s lead before Jamie Ward scored his second after a mistake, but Charlton held on. 

Two late goals from Lewis Grabban and Bradley Johnson moved Norwich to sixth. Grabban netted a brace and leveled after Tom Cairney’s first minute strike before  Johnson and Grabban struck in last three minutes. Kike’s second goal for Middlesbrough inflicted another defeat for Bolton. Craig Davies penalty put the Trotters in front before Grant Leadbitter scored one of his own before Kike’s strike. Bakary Sako’s first half strike moved Wolves into top half and left Fulham with 0 points after three matches. Blackpool remain rooted to the bottom after Brentford came from behind to win at Bloomfield Road. Nathan Delfoneuso headed the opener but Alex Pritchard and Stuart Dallas gave the Bees their first win in the Championship. 

Two goals in 13 minutes from Lloyd Dyer and Gianni Munari gave Watford the points at Rotherham. Christopher Berra’s injury time equalizer rescued a point for Ipswich at Birmingham. David Edgar and Clayton Donaldson had put Birmingham ahead in between Berra’s first. Huddersfield’s first win at Reading in 16 years was secured by Jacob Butterfield and debutante Harry Bunn. Simon Cox halved the deficit but Town hung on for the win. Joao Teixeria scored on his Brighton debut to give them 3 points away at Leeds. The Liverpool loanee opened the scoring 5 minutes in before Kazenga LuaLua’s free kick 6 minutes from time secured the win. 

Cesc Fabregas inspired Chelsea to a confident 3-1 win away at Burnley sending out a clear message of intent to their nearest rivals. Goals from £32 million man Diego Costa, Branislav Ivanovic and a contender for goal of the season saw of the Premier League new boys. Scott Arfield had given the home side the lead with a fantastic volley but 3 goals in 17 minutes turned the game on its head.

Fabregas who returned to the Premier League after 3 years away was at the heart of Chelsea’s attacking play. The ex Barca man was seeking a new challenge after it didn’t work out in Spain, highlighted his quality with 2 assists and a fine back heel in the build up for the Blues’s first. Chelsea have filled the void left by Frank Lampard’s departure with the arrival of Fabregas and will be real challengers this season.

Burnley started with new signings Matt Taylor and Lucas Jutkiewicz looking to give them the perfect start to life back in the Premier League. The last time Burnley were in the Premier they opened their campaign with 1-0 victory over Manchester United but were nearly behind when Andre Schurrle saw his effort deflected wide. Jose Mourinho started Thibaut Courtois in goal ahead of Petr Cech after 3 fine seasons on loan at Atletico Madrid putting out an alert that he may be available on loan for the season. The Clarets took the lead after 14 minutes when a corner was cleared and the ball was headed out to Taylor in the left channel after being played onside by Chelsea captain John Terry. The former West Ham winger picked out the unmarked Scott Arfield on the edge of the box. Th ex Huddersfield Town man controlled the ball and unleashed a fizzing volley past Courtois in the Chelsea goal.

Chelsea realized that this Burnley side would not just roll over for the pre season title favorites and responded three minutes later when Costa opened his account for the blues after netting 36 times for Atletico last season. Fabregas back heeled the ball to Ivanovic in the right channel and the right back saw his cross deflected on to the post with rebound falling to Costa who smashed home. Chelsea were now into their rhythm with Fabregas finding space in the Chelsea midfield dictating play for the away side. Fabregas was the architect of the Blues’s second and a brilliant goal it was. After a 20 pass move Ivanovic found the Spaniard on the edge of the box and with immaculate precision and vision he found Schurrle with a glorious half volleyed through ball. The German World Cup winner lost Marney in the box and volleyed home the through ball in to the far corner to cap a wonderful team goal for Chelsea.

Chelsea continued to build on their 2 goals creating chances and could have had a penalty after a poor back pass from Ben Mee. Costa who was sharp all night latched on to the through ball and knocked past the on rushing Heaton who clipped the Spanish International but Michael Oliver deemed Costa had dived and cautioned him. It didn’t take long for Chelsea to get their third, Fabregas’s in-swinging corner found Ivanovic who managed to get half a yard of space to volley home from 6 yards. Chelsea fans would have been happy with the quality of their play albeit against a team just promoted from the Championship but if this is of things to come, Chelsea will perform as pre season favorites.

Burnley forced Courtois in to an early second half save after Arfield created space but the Belgian was up to the challenge. Didier Drogba who returned to the club after his last touch for the West London club was winning the Champions League went close with a volley but Chelsea finished clear 3-1 winners. Chelsea look powerful all over the pitch with Courtois as number 1, they have a keeper who is willing to command his box which at times Cech has been shaky at. Fabregas and Costa look brilliant signings which highlight the signal of intent from Mouriniho on his bid to win the Premier League. With the striker issue being a major problem in recent seasons Costa and Drogba will provide that powerful striker that Jose likes at the top of his team. In the last 2 transfer windows he has created a brilliant team with the arrivals of Matic, Fabregas and Costa who could well and truly help Chelsea regain the league title.

Southampton departed Anfield unfortunate after their display against the Premier League Runners Up saw them lose 2-1. Nathaniel Clyne equalized for Saints after Raheem Sterling put the hosts in front in the first half. Daniel Sturridge flicked in the Liverpool winner with 11 minutes left but Southampton could not level for a second time.

Liverpool lined up with new signings Dejan Lovern and Javi Manquillo looking to sure up the Reds defense which ultimately cost them the title last season. Southampton included several new signings after a summer of selling at St Marys: Fraser Forster starting in goal after joining from Celtic, Ryan Bertrand was at left back whilst in the attacking third Graziano Pelle and Dusan Tadic started after playing in the Eredivisie last season. Southampton started dropping deeper than expected with new manager Ronald Koeman changing the Saints tactics from previous manager Mauricio Pochettino however the passing and movement remained. The Saints defended slightly deeper not pressing the ball as high as they have done, with the defense closing up to the midfield, space was limited for Liverpool. Liverpool were known last year of exploiting space in behind opposition’s midfield with Saints adopting their tactics Sterling and Coutinho were struggling to be involved.

Southampton were containing the Liverpool threat only conceding a Sturridge shot from distance but Liverpool were finding it hard to break them down. Wanyama and Scheiderlin were breaking up possession and play from the home side as Southampton began to grow in the game. The deadlock was broken after 23 minutes, Henderson robbed Tadic of possession and evaded a challenge from Wanyama. The England midfielder played a brilliant left footed through ball to Sterling who had glided in from his left sided berth, the attacking midfielder took once touch and calmly slotted the ball home. Liverpool were ahead but not at their best, Southampton weathered the next 5 minutes and James Ward-Prowse began to grow in his impact on the match. The England U21 midfielder has impressed for both club and country and went close when his over hit free kick had to be tipped over by Mignolet. Bertrand was playing well down the left linking up with Tadic which looks like a shrewd bit of business from the south coast club. Selling Shaw for 28 million whilst signing Bertrand on loan for the season from Chelsea.

Southampton went close on stroke of half time through Scheiderlin but Liverpool had the advantage at half time, the Saints continued in the second half finding spaces in the attacking third. Southampton deservedly leveled on 56 minutes; Clyne played a 1 2 with Tadic who neatly back heeled past the ex Saints defender, Lovern. Clyne ran onto the ball and powerfully struck the ball past Mignolet to level the scores. Southampton did not let off in their play with same combination nearly paying dividends but a last ditch tackle prevented it. The guilt edge chance for Southampton came after  neat play between Ward-Prowse and Tadic enabled the England midfielder to play in Steven Davis on the edge of the box but he can only shoot straight at Mignolet.

A chance that the Saints were made to regret in the last stages of the match after the ball was played into the Saints box Sterling nodded down for Sturridge who drifted off of Clyne and glanced the ball home in the far post. A goal which Liverpool did not deserve in their second half performance only forcing Forster into one save. Southampton were encouraged by their performance and went on the attack again going agonizingly close through Scheiderlin and new signing Long. The ball fell to Scheiderlin on the edge of the box and he unleashed a left foot shot which Mignolet touched onto the bar before Long nodded the rebound wide. Liverpool managed to hang on to the points but will need to improve if they are to replicate last season form.

Everyone had written of Southampton after the selling’s they had done in the summer but after this performance Saints’s fan will be encouraged by their team. Although losing Lambert, Lallana, Shaw and Lovern is a major blow, Southampton have recruited well and may need to sign a few more but the display at Anfield was very good. Wanyama broke up Liverpool’s play and was a rock in central midfield whilst James Ward-Prowse has a big season ahead of him playing at the heart of Southampton attacking midfield. Liverpool missed Luis Suarez but what team wouldn’t, in a game of few chances Suarez has that skill and quality to carve out a half chance out of almost anything. Liverpool may to another striker to replace the goals that were vacated by Suarez. Sterling, Suarez and Coutinho will have big seasons between them to show that they can perform at a high level for more than one season. Although Southampton lost, they have a lot of confidence and potential to show. 

Relegation favorites Morecambe stay top of the table after coming behind to win 3-2 at home to Newport. Adam Chapman and Aaron O’Connor put County 2-0 up before a brace from Kevin Ellison and a Paul Mullen strike gave the Shrimps the win. Wycombe kept themselves in the top 2 with a 3-1 win at home to Carlisle; Aaron Pierre put the chair boys ahead before Brad Potts leveled. 2 goals in 3 minutes saw off Carlisle with a Paul Hayes penalty and Peter Murphy strike. Southend maintained position in top three with goals from Myles Weston and Ben Coker in the first half saw of Stevenage. Billy Kee scored twice in last 6 minutes to keep Burton in top 4; Jamie Cureton opened scoring before Billy Kee’s double. Cheltenham were thankful to Byron Harrison and Koby Arthur goals to keep them on maximum points. Kal Naismith leveled for Stanley then Athur popped up with winner. Stanley did miss penalty in stoppage time which leaves them win less in two. 

Matt Tubbs’s third goal in three games for Wimbledon gave them 1-0 win away at Luton. Shrewsbury scored two goals in added time through Andy Mangan and Mickey Demetriou after Abdulai Bell-Bagie gave Tranmere a first half lead. Portsmouth won their first game at home; a Ryan Taylor strike and own goal from Chris Dunn put Pompey 2-0 in front before Kevin Appiah halved the deficit with 20 minutes left but Portsmouth held on. Plymouth scored three times without reply against Exeter; Tyler Harvey, Reuben Reid and Curtis Nelson all scored for Plymouth.

Danny Nardiello and Danny Rose gave promotion favorites Bury a 2-0 win at Hartlepool. Adam Murray came back to haunt old club Oxford scoring with 2 minutes to go to give Mansfield 2-1 win at home. Ryan Tafazolli opened scoring before a Danny Hylton penalty leveled which Oxford thought was enough until Murray struck towards the end. Marc Richards scored in stoppage time for Northampton to give them 1-1 draw at York, Anthony Straker had put the home side in front before Richards equalized. 

Bristol stay top of the table after a 2-1 victory over Colchester. George Moncur scored his second goal in a week before Aaron WIlbraham popped up with his 2nd and 3rd goals of the season to wrap up victory for City. Chesterfield kept pace at the top through two penalties from Eoin Doyle against Rochdale with Ian Henderson’s penalty grabbing the consolation for Dale. Peterborough beat MK Dons 3-2 at London Road, Spurs youngster Kenny McEvoy scored the opener before Delli Ali leveled. Kyle Vassell scored twice in the last 9 minutes for home side before Daniel Powell scored for MK giving Posh a 3-2 victory. Jamie Proctor continued from his goal and assist last week to keep Fleetwood in top 5 with 1-0 win over Notts County. The striker netted in stoppage time at the end of the first half to keep Fleetwood with 100% record in league. Crawley achieved their third 1-0 win in as many matches thanks to an Izale McLeod second half penalty, his third goal of the season. 

Preston inflicted a first defeat at home since November for Scunthorpe with a 4-0 win; goals from Joe Garner who netted twice, Chris Humphrey and an own goal from Miquel Llera gave Preston the win. Bradford and Walsall played out a 0-0 draw at the Banks stadium to put Bradford on 4 points and leave Walsall still looking for first win in the league. Port Vale scored three times in the first half through Tom Pope, Ben WIlliamson and Carl Dickinson before Kyle Bennett scored for Donny. Leyton Orient came from behind to win 3-1 at Oldham; goals from Darius Henderson, David Mooney and Kevin Lisbie came after Jonathon Forte scored his 3rd goal in 2 games to open the scoring. 

Barnsley came from behind to win 2-1 away at Crewe; Crewe took the lead through a stunning volley from Billy Waters then goals from Leroy Lita and Martin Cranie gave the Tykes their first win in league. Joe Martin and a converted Danny Kedwell penalty gave Gillingham 2-0 win at home to Yeovil. Promotion favorites lost their second game in the league losing 1-0 at Coventry, an own goal from Bob Harris condemned the Blades to second defeat.