..::Football III::..

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Inside Van Gaal’s school of Manchester United

You would be forgiven for thinking that forbidding people from leaving the dinner table until everyone has finished and insisting on having the final say on absolutely every detail within an organisation might be the work of a public school head-teacher. But that is also the formula with which Louis van Gaal has taken Manchester United to the top of the Premier League.

United may head to Arsenal on Sunday proudly sat at the summit, but Van Gaal has yet to win the friends and plaudits which would normally be considered commensurate with such a feat. Seven games in, United are leading the way in England, but the Dutchman’s own style of leadership is still causing a number of worries amongst players, fans and superiors alike.

Van Gaal’s side have a number of question marks hanging over them despite the run of form in September, which saw them charge past neighbours City to the top of the table. Three straight wins in the league have added to recent cup wins over Ipswich and Wolfsburg to cover up what really has been an unconvincing start to United’s season.

Their opening day win over Tottenham set the tone, with a first-half own goal giving them something to hold onto amid a Spurs barrage late on. Further victories over the likes of Aston Villa, Club Brugge, Liverpool, Southampton, Wolfsburg and even Sunderland have been gained despite similarly slow starts, with stealth rather than style being the order of the day.

The success of Van Gaal’s tactics so far have belied much of the feeling around the club. Yet at the same time the far more drilled approach of United’s football has been very much in keeping with the man at the helm.

Van Gaal admitted earlier this season that captain Wayne Rooney and his understudy Michael Carrick had approached him with concerns from the rest of the squad. While the particulars of their conversation were not divulged, some players are known to be occasionally left feeling uncomfortable by his sergeant major style on the training ground which can include him coming almost nose-to-nose with stars when delivering instruction. He is also a stickler for training routines, constantly repeating the same small number of drills rather than mixing up his schedules to keep things fresh.

The 64-year-old has made it known regularly throughout his United career that he will do things his own way, living or dying by the sword as a result. As recently as Wednesday, after watching his side come from behind to beat Wolfsburg, he was busy underlining his position of power when asked by journalists to explain Juan Mata’s promotion in the pecking-order for penalties.

“I take all the decisions, believe me. I am responsible. Of course, I communicate always with my players, but I make the decisions and everybody knows that except you,” he blasted, and it is not just the media that he has treated with such rigid values.

He also asks that all club staff dine together and do not leave until everyone is finished. It doesn’t matter what your role; as long as you are on site, you are expected to partake. Treating multi-millionaire footballers like schoolchildren is one thing, but significant professional staff members being asked to follow suit is another.

It is the trait of a man who demands complete control. While his desire to have Desso GrassMaster pitches laid at the training ground to match the one used at Old Trafford is completely understandable, and other top-notch facilities have been requested on the playing side, his attempts to have a say in areas of the club that have nothing to do with the football department have left many frustrated.

Executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward admitted over the summer that he sees himself as Van Gaal’s right-hand man rather than his boss, revealing that he told the Dutchman when he arrived at the club: “Technically you report to me, but I work for you.”

That was borne out in the transfer market, where Woodward went about making all the changes Van Gaal asked of him. And whenever something came off, the Dutchman was quick to thank Woodward personally. It came across a little like somebody giving a youngster a pat on the head for good behaviour, and that vibe of superiority is unsettling many behind the scenes at Old Trafford.

His match-up with Arsene Wenger this weekend is a fascinating one and comes at a key time in his Manchester United reign. The Frenchman has earned the right to have a say in multiple areas of the club, with the Arsenal structure considered by many to be an example for the rest to follow. Van Gaal, on the other hand, has demanded rather than won the right. And all this at a club that leads the way in so many aspects off the field.

One thing is for sure: Van Gaal is not going to change. This is how he manages, and he refuses to consider doing it any other way. Conviction in his beliefs will be considered an admirable quality if he continues to lead United forward. A victory at the Emirates would give him further tangible evidence that his approach is completely justified. Yet win, lose or draw, the leader is not for turning.

 

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Revisited: When Steve McClaren first beat Man City... as Man Utd manager

Steve McClaren faces Manchester City on Saturday looking for his first Premier League victory as manager of Newcastle United, and in fact his first in the English top flight since 2006.

The match at the Etihad Stadium comes 15 years since his maiden win in senior football management. But although McClaren boasted an unbeaten eight-match run against City in his first managerial spell with Middlesbrough, his debut victory pre-dates even that.

In a move which may have betrayed Sir Alex Ferguson's feelings about the threat City posed to him at the turn of the millennium, McClaren was handed the reigns for a Maine Road derby while the Scot attended his son's wedding.

Eighteen months after leading his side to the treble, Ferguson was so confident in his team's ability to beat City he put his assistant in charge of the first clash between the two clubs in four years - the longest time between derbies since the World War II.

Having only appointed McClaren in the early part of 1999 - and only after turning down David Moyes' application because the former Preston North End defender was "too intense" - Ferguson jetted off to South Africa with his family for the wedding of his son, Mark, at the Lanzerac Manor and Winery in Stellenbosch. Golf, of course, was available for guests who also made the trip.

Despite initially being introduced to the media by former United chairman Martin Edwards as "Steve McClaridge", McClaren quickly made an impact at the top end of English football and, just weeks before being handed the keys to Old Trafford for a week, was added to England's coaching staff by caretaker boss Peter Taylor.

Thirteen games into the 2000-01 campaign, United were two points clear of Arsenal at the top of the table having won their previous five matches. City languished in 16th, four points above the drop zone after losing their previous three, and had not beaten their city rivals since the famous 5-1 in 1989, which Ferguson would call the worst defeat of his career until the 6-1 loss in 2011.

The clash at Maine Road, which kicked off at 11:30 due to fears over fan trouble, was a fierce, bitty affair, played in front of a raucous crowd. McClaren was even embroiled in some handbags on the touchline and the afternoon was most memorable for new England captain David Beckham picking up a £1 coin that had been thrown at him and putting it in his shorts.

"We knew we would get a little bit of stick. Fortunately they were all £1 coins so I've saved them," Beckham said. "We quietened them down with a win."

Indeed, the winger silenced the whistles and jeers with a trademark free-kick after just 90 seconds. It would prove to be the winner, although a City attack including a 19-year-old Shaun Wright-Phillips caused plenty of problems for a visiting side that had Gary Neville and Wes Brown to thank for their clean sheet.

"He's highly delighted with the result," McClaren said of the absent Ferguson, who watched on TV, after the game. "He's just opened the champagne and is getting ready for his wedding. We'll see him on Monday morning bright and smiley."

United went on to win the league again while City were relegated, prompting manager Joe Royle to be sacked with George Weah's withering assessment of the squad and his managerial skills ringing in his ears.

City would bounce straight back to the Premier League the following year and, in the next home derby, went on to hand out that famous 3-1 drubbing, with Shaun Goater capitalising on Neville's error as Peter Schmeichel celebrated at the other end.

McClaren, though, would have to wait two years for a crack at management, when he embarked on his adventure at the Riverside which would include a series of highs against City - not least when clinching a Uefa Cup spot at their expense as David James toiled up front - and end with him landing the England job.

All these years later, with Newcastle struggling, he may still be fighting to prove himself as a manager in this country, following his ill-fated time in charge of the national team, and spells in the Netherlands, Germany and the Championship.

But he will always be able say he was the last Manchester United manager to beat City at Maine Road.

 

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Walcott: Ozil is a special player

Theo Walcott believes that Arsenal can build a team around a player like Mesut Ozil, saying that the Germany playmaker "makes football look easy".

World Cup-winner Ozil has enjoyed a strong campaign so far, amassing three assists and creating more chances than any other player in the Premier League.

One of those assists came in Arsenal's win over Stoke City in September – a looping pass from the half-way line that Walcott latched onto before slotting home - and the England forward has hailed Ozil's quality.

"He can do it anywhere on the pitch, he's a threat from anywhere," Walcott – who also scored against Leicester City last weekend and looks set to lead the line for Arsenal against Manchester United on Sunday – told the club's official website.

"Mesut's involvement in the Stoke goal sums it up and also shows what he can do for this team. He makes football look easy and he's a special player.

"When you've got that in your dressing room you can build on it. The first thing he does when he has the ball, in fact when he hasn't even got the ball, is that he looks.

"He looks first before he gets the ball and he knows where he's going to play it before he's even got it. That just shows the sort of quality we have in this team.

"I know what he's going to do now when he's got the ball, I just need to keep making those runs and hopefully we can get that relationship going."

 

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No Ronaldo dependence for Real Madrid - Buyo

Former Real Madrid goalkeeper Paco Buyo says there is "zero dependence" on Cristiano Ronaldo for the club.

Madrid boss Rafa Benitez claimed before his team's 2-0 win at Malmo on Wednesday that he hoped other players will chip in and help the Portuguese when it comes to scoring goals this season.

Ronaldo then hit both of his side's strikes in Sweden to draw level with Raul on a record 323 goals for the club and also surpassed the 500-mark with his double in the Champions League group game.

Ronaldo now has half of Madrid's 20 goals this term, but Buyo told Goal: "There is no dependence on Cristiano Ronaldo. To give you an example, they defeated Barcelona in the final of the Copa del Rey (in 2013-14) when Ronaldo wasn't playing. Zero dependence."

Former Madrid midfielder Ruben de la Red, who took part in a veterans' match alongside Buyo, told Goal: "I don't think there is "Cristianodependence", just like there is no "Messidependence" at Barca. They are two players who stand out in their teams and it's normal they are missed when they are not playing.

"But if Cristiano isn't playing for Madrid, there's Bale, James, Modric, Benzema... a lot of players who can come in."

Ronaldo is available, but Atletico midfielder Koke is doubtful for Sunday's derby, while Madrid are sweating on the fitness of Sergio Ramos, Bale and James for the clash at the Vicente Calderon.

"Koke is important for Atletico," De la Red said. "He has become their standard-bearer in midfield, but they have a big squad and great players. Let's hope Sergio, Bale and James make it, but if not then someone else will come in. All of the players offer guarantees."

Asked for a prediction, he joked: "5-0 would be ideal! That way the goal-average is sorted for the second match. But the best thing for Madrid is to win and get the three points. I wouldn't call Atletico favourites just because they are playing at home. Anything can happen in a derby."

This is the first derby in many years without the presence of former Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas, who left for Porto in the summer and set a new appearance record in the Champions League this week.

"It's extraordinary," Buyo said. "His level has been fantastic at Madrid and now at Porto. The fact he has played more than anyone else in the Champions League speaks for itself. It has extraordinary value."

 

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Bale and Ramos fit to face Atletico

Real Madrid duo Gareth Bale and Sergio Ramos are fit to face Atletico Madrid having recovered from their respective injuries.

Bale suffered a calf problem against Shakhtar Donetsk in September while Ramos was forced off with a dislocated shoulder during the same game.

But Real coach Rafa Benitez has now revealed both will play their part in the Madrid derby against Diego Simeone's side.

"Bale andRamos can play. I talked to them. They are fine, excited and with desire," he told reporters.

Real currently sit fourth in the Liga table, with city rivals Atletico two points behind in fifth, but both sides will be looking to gain ground on the suprise packages of Villarreal and Celta Vigo at the top of the league.

But Benitez knows the threat Atletico can pose, despite the disappointing 2-1 Champions League defeat to Benfica on Wednesday, and is wary of the coaching talent of Simeone.

"Atletico are a great team, they are well managed. We are very focused knowing that they will be too," the former Liverpool manager added.

"Despite the result, Atlético had their chances against Benfica. But I insist that every game is different."

Away from the pitch, the Real coach took part in a celebratory ceremony this week to mark Cristiano Ronaldo becoming the club's record goalscorer with 324 strikes, pulling ahead of Raul with two goals against Malmo on Tuesday.

There is some dispute around the attacker's goal tally, with official charts suggesting that the 30-year-old remains level with Raul on 323 goals following a deflected goal against Real Sociedad in 2010, but the club, president Florentino Perez and the newspaper Marca all awarded the disputed goal to Ronaldo.

And Benitez is hopeful the forward will continue to score.

"I'd like to congratulate Ronaldo again. If he continues to score a lot of goals it's good for us and him," the Spanish coach said.

 

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Barclays Premier League 2015.10.03 Fixtures

Barclays Premier League 2015.10.03 Fixtures

Crystal Palace Vs WBA

Aston Villa Vs Stoke

Bournemouth Vs Watford

Manchester City Vs Newcastle

Norwich City Vs Leicester

Sunderland Vs West Ham

Chelsea Vs Southampton

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LA Liga 2015.10.03 Fixtures

LA Liga 2015.10.03 Fixtures

Sevilla Vs Barcelona

Granada Vs Deportvio

Espnyol Vs Sporting

Las Palmas Vs Eibar

Malaga Vs Real Sociedad​

 

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Serie A 2015.10.03 Fixtures

Serie A 2015.10.03 Fixtures

Carpi Vs Torino

Chievo Vs Hellas​

 

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Crystal Palace 2-0 West Brom: Bolasie and Cabaye seal win for Pardew’s men

Crystal Palace made it back-to-back wins in the Premier League after Yannick Bolasie and Yohan Cabaye netted after half-time to see off a dogged West Brom 2-0 at Selhurst Park.

Returning to his former club, West Brom head coach Tony Pulis was uncompromising in his pursuit of a result, with defence very much the order of the day for a side that was yet to concede away from home in the league this season.

Despite losing Jonny Evans to a first-half hamstring injury, they extended that record until the 68th minute when Bolasie arrived at the back post to head home Cabaye's beautifully floated cross.

The French midfielder got in on the act himself a minute from time, converting from the penalty spot after Wilfried Zaha – a constant source of discomfort for Albion on his return to the Palace line-up – was brought down by Chris Brunt

The result moves Palace up to third in the table ahead of Saturday's remaining Premier League fixtures, while West Brom lie 15th and face the prospect of being dragged closer to the relegation zone.

James McArthur and Zaha came into the Palace line-up, with Joe Ledley and Bakary Sako making way, while Gareth McAuley replaced Jonas Olsson at centre-back for West Brom.

Albion right-back Craig Dawson was dispossessed in the fourth minute by Bolasie but the winger’s shot was too close to Boaz Myhill.

It was a shaky start from the visitors and Zaha cut in menacingly from the opposite flank to drag an attempt wide of the near post.

Evans limped out of the action to be replaced by James Chester after 24 minutes and there was another blow for West Brom's Northern Ireland contingent shortly afterwards.

Brunt was caught by Zaha's flailing arm when the Palace man closed down his shot from James McClean's free-kick.

Unlike his international team-mate, Brunt played on despite heavy bleeding from the nose necessitating a shirt change.

Zaha continued to make Brunt's afternoon an uncomfortable experience, twice skipping past him only to have his shots sharply stopped by Myhill before the interval.

Given West Brom's limited attacking ambition, Saido Berahino could count himself unfortunate to be replaced by Craig Gardner at half-time.

The Palace pressure continued as Jason Puncheon fired over from the edge of the box, with Zaha once again marauding down the right.

The massed ranks of Albion defenders continued to intercept and block with determination and it required a moment of sheer quality for them to be breached.

Collecting a ball from Puncheon, Cabaye shuffled to his right and arched a cross towards Bolasie that got the finish it deserved.

After falling behind, West Brom lacked the personnel or the intent to impose themselves upon their opponents and a deserved second arrived for Alan Pardew's men in the 89th minute.

Zaha had threatened to spoil his afternoon when he was booked for reacting angrily to a challenge from Claudio Yacob, but he regained his composure to torment Brunt once more - drawing the foul for Cabaye to add gloss to a clinical victory.

 

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Van Gaal: England call-up is proof of Carrick's quality

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal believes Michael Carrick's England call-up is proof of the midfielder's quality, and believes the selection can further boost his performances.

The veteran was rewarded for his fine form in United colours this season with a place in Roy Hodgson's national squad for the concluding Euro 2016 qualifiers against Estonia and Lithuania.

Carrick is expected to return against Arsenal in the Premier League on Saturday after sitting out the team's midweek encounter against Wolfsburg, and Van Gaal has assured that the 34-year-old is nearing peak fitness.

"He [Carrick] is a quality player and I am very happy for him when Hodgson thinks he needs him because he wants to play for the national team," Van Gaal told reporters.

"I'm very happy for [Carrick] because he is also able to play for me against Arsenal."He was not injured, I have said that already. It was a minor injury and tiredness."He is 34 years old so it is logical that he needs more time to recover as a player but I am very happy with him."

Van Gaal is hopeful that Phil Jones can build towards match fitness during his time away with England."He has also selected Jones and he still needs minutes so I am happy that he can do that for the English squad, maybe," the former Netherlands coach added.

"It is always an honour to play for your national team and me, as a former national coach, I am aware of that."It is good that you are also in other environments to play - it can sort of relax for your mind."

 

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Benitez: Injured James won't play for Colombia

Real Madrid coach Rafael Benitez has insisted that James Rodriguez will not feature for the Colombian national side due to injury, despite being called up by boss Jose Pekerman.

James has been out of action since injuring his left thigh in a friendly match with Peru in September and Goal understand that Real had been mystified by the Colombia coach's decision to include the playmaker in the squad, although respecting the South American nation's right to call-up the 24-year-old.

Benitez had revealed on Saturday that James picked up a knock in training, aggravating the thigh injury that has prevented him from appearing in a Real shirt since August, and the Spanish manager insisted that the 24-year-old will not fit to play for Colombia.

James will also miss Sunday's La Liga clash between Real and Atletico Madrid, representing a blow for Los Blancos as they take on their city rivals.

"James was hit last Thursday during the training session in the injury zone [his thigh area], and has pain. He is not ready for the derby, nor the Colombian games," the former Napoli and Inter coach said.

The Real boss also explained that the Colombian national team doctor and Pekerman were in Madrid to recieve the news, further emphasising that James will not be fit to play.

"Fortunately, the [Colombia national team] doctor Carlos Ulloa and the coach Pekerman are here in Madrid and have received all the information," Benitez added.

"So it's very clear he is not fit and he is not ready to play."

 

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Allegri braced for 'most important game of the year'

Juventus must approach Sunday's clash with Bologna as "the most important game of the year" if they are to halt their sluggish start to the Serie A season, says coach Massimilano Allegri.

The Turin giants' bid for a fifth straight Scuedtto has gotten off to a rocky start, with just one win from their opening six games.

However, Juve have carried last season's Champions League form into the current campaign, winning each of their opening two Group D fixtures, against Manchester City and Sevilla.

Wednesday's success against the Europa League holders saw Juve dominate from the off, and Allegri will keep faith with the same XI from that game - meaning Sami Khedira will make his Serie A debut in midfield.

"It is important to win tomorrow, above all as it would be our first Serie A home victory of the season," Allegri told a news conference.

"If you play well, you're more likely to win. Results haven't been on our side so far, but until the referee blows the final whistle, everything is still to play for.

"I was very happy with how we played on Wednesday, as Sevilla had only one shot on goal. I don't believe in turning points, but in consistency. Tomorrow we have to treat Bologna as if it were the most important match of the season.

"Then there will be the break for international duty and I asked the lads to help me relax during that break. Bologna have some good individuals and only conceded right at the end against Fiorentina.

"The same players you saw on Wednesday will play tomorrow. As for the system, you can discuss that between yourselves."

One player not available to Allegri is Martin Caceres. The Uruguay defender was suspended by Juve this week after being caught drink-driving.

"Caceres is one of the most reliable on the field, but there are things you do off it that are simply not acceptable" Allegri said.

"Players shouldn't be like monks, but there are things you just shouldn't do."

 

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Poor Atletico form is 'no surprise' to Simeone

Atletico Madrid's disappointing week is "not a complete surprise" to head coach Diego Simeone.Atletico were beaten 1-0 by surprise early La Liga leaders Villarreal last Saturday before suffering a 2-1 home defeat to Benfica in the Champions League.

The 2014 champions head into Sunday's derby with Real Madrid with a four-point gap to the top of the table, but Simeone has insisted he fully expected a difficult opening to the season.

"We have to see the positive things from the last two games we've lost and correct the negatives. We're always thinking of the positive things," he said on Saturday. "We create quite a few chances and that's not easy, especially in the Champions League.

"Nothing of what's happening to us is a complete surprise to me. We knew the first 10 games of the season would be tough, with difficult opponents home and away, plus we have a lot of young lads who we need to incorporate into the team in the best way possible."We're working very well. In that regard, the team is doing very well and we finish games better than our opponents."

Jackson Martinez has struggled for form since his move to Atletico from Porto during the transfer window, but Simeone would not confirm whether the Colombia striker or Fernando Torres would start on Sunday.

"They trained very well and that's very good," he continued. "That's good for the team. Whoever players, although they have their own characteristics, will do well for the team."Simeone went on to praise the impact of Rafael Benitez at Real Madrid this season, especially in improving their defensive record.

"They've still got the same line of attacking power, they're trying to protect themselves with greater defensive work, especially out wide," he added. "That's given them fewer goals against, an important factor for any team that wants to win. We'll try to be alert to counter whoever plays in these areas.

"In his history as a coach, Benitez has always worked in the same way. At Valencia, Liverpool - he has inherent characteristics, to have teams that work, are balanced and have a good defensive aspect."

 

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Manchester City 6-1 Newcastle: Five-goal Aguero steals the show

Sergio Aguero equalled a Premier League record by scoring five times as Manchester City returned to winning ways with a 6-1 demolition of Newcastle United.

Manuel Pellegrini's team lost on their previous two league outings against West Ham and Tottenham and there were fears they would suffer a repeat dose at the Etihad Stadium when Aleksandar Mitrovic opened the scoring with his first Newcastle goal.

Aguero headed the hosts level three minutes from the end of a keenly contested first half, which stood in stark contrast to the second.

City's Argentina superstar collected passes from David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne to claim the matchball by the 50th minute.

After De Bruyne volleyed a wonderful fourth, Aguero had time to add two more before departing to a standing ovation in the 66th minute – becoming the fifth player in Premier League history to score five in a match after Andy Cole, Alan Shearer, Jermain Defoe and Dimitar Berbatov.

The result moves City back to the top of the table ahead of Manchester United's trip to Arsenal on Sunday, while Steve McClaren's crestfallen and winless Newcastle fall to the bottom of the table on goal difference.

Pablo Zabaleta came into the City XI for his first start of the season following a knee problem, with Eliaquim Mangala back from a groin complaint and Fernando replacing the injured Yaya Toure.

A calf strain meant Jack Colback made way for Yoan Gouffran in the Newcastle midfield and the visitors began confidently - Moussa Sissoko thundering a volley over inside 30 seconds.

City's first sight of goal ended with a double save from Tim Krul, the Netherlands international plunging to his right to push out De Bruyne's free-kick and denying Fernando when the midfielder tried to poke home the rebound.

Mitrovic instinctively flicked a chance into Joe Hart's gloves and the Serbia striker opened the scoring in the 18th minute.

Georginio Wijnaldum was alert after Mangala blocked Kevin Mbabu's initial cross, picking out Mitrovic to nod home.

Daryl Janmaat had a goal ruled out for offside against Ayoze Perez and Mitrovic headed over before Hart brilliantly denied the same player, having once again been betrayed by his ramshackle defence.

Aguero flashed a low left-footed shot narrowly past the post and Fernandinho thumped a volley into the turf and wide before the South American duo combined for the equaliser.

Silva was the architect, manufacturing space from a short corner and lifted the ball to Fernandinho and the back post, who nodded across goal to give Aguero a simple headed finish.

Jesus Navas replaced Raheem Sterling at half-time – the winger's pace serving to stretch Newcastle and Aguero took full advantage.

Silva pounced on an error from Mbabu to find Aguero, who cut onto his left foot for a deflected shot to beat Krul.
De Bruyne released him a minute later to complete an eight-minute treble with a delicate, dinked finish and the Belgium international scored for the third top-flight match in succession when he swivelled to send an acrobatic near-post volley from Navas' right-wing cross over Krul.

There was an air of inevitability when Aguero gathered the ball on the left-hand corner of the area in the 60th minute, moving it onto his right foot to send an unerring finish into the far corner.

A scarcely believable period of five Aguero goals in 22 minutes concluded when he turned in De Bruyne's cutback.

Substitute strikers Wilfried Bony and Kelechi Iheanacho passed up opportunities to deepen Newcastle’s misery – thankfully for Pellegrini, his main man had already dealt out more than enough brutal punishment.

 

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Congratzzzzz Aguero!​

 

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Bournemouth 1-1 Watford: Murray misses from spot as spoils are shared

A dreadful error from Artur Boruc and a missed penalty from Glenn Murray cost Bournemouth as they were held to a 1-1 draw by fellow Premier League new boys Watford on Saturday.

Murray's first-half header on his full debut had the hosts set to go into the break in front after having the better of the first 45 minutes. Boruc, though, gifted an equaliser to Odion Ighalo with a poor pass just before half-time.After struggling earlier on, Watford were much better after the break and could have gone on to win, with Ben Watson smashing an effort off the crossbar.

But it is Bournemouth who will be more regretful at not having secured three points after Murray saw his spot-kick saved by Heurelho Gomes with just seven minutes remaining.

The draw means the home side move on to eight points from as many games, while the visitors go up to 10 having lost just two of their first eight matches in the top flight.Bournemouth came close in the early stages when Matt Ritchie's cross found Murray and the striker's looping header drifted just over the crossbar.

It was the same pair who combined again as the home side opened the scoring on 28 minutes. Simon Francis found Ritchie, who delivered an in-swinging left-footed cross from the right and Murray found space to power a header past Gomes.

The home fans were unhappy prior to half-time following a flashpoint between Etienne Capoue and Murray. First, the Bournemouth forward went down after the Frenchman had appeared to step on his foot, before he took retribution with a heavy challenge moments after, which earned him a yellow card.

Just as it appeared Bournemouth were going to go into the break with a comfortable one-goal lead, Boruc's horror moment gifted Watford their equaliser.

The goalkeeper had received a routine pass-back from Sylvain Distin, before inexplicably passing straight at Ighalo, allowing the in-form striker to comfortably round him and tap into an empty net.After the first half had produced so few chances, the second got off to a flying start, with Watford twice coming close.

Ighalo showed brilliant skill to beat Distin all ends up and his threatening shot was hacked away. Shortly after, Bournemouth failed to clear a corner and Watson ran on to the loose ball to smash a half-volley off the crossbar.The visitors were enjoying an impressive spell of dominance and Ikechi Anya forced Boruc into a low save after being played in by a precise Almen Abdi pass.

Having struggled for momentum in the second half, Bournemouth did improve in the closing stages and almost scored a spectacular second when Steve Cook forced Gomes into a diving stop with a brilliant overhead kick.

The home side then had a wonderful opportunity to grab victory after Adam Smith was felled by a clumsy Capoue challenge in the box. Murray, though, was casual with his penalty and Gomes got down to save, meaning an eventful contest finished level.

 

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Aston Villa 0-1 Stoke City: Arnautovic strike enough for Potters

Marko Arnautovic scored the only goal of the game as Stoke City continued their upward momentum in the Premier League with a 1-0 win at Aston Villa that piles further pressure on Tim Sherwood.

Following a disappointing start to the season, Stoke have turned things around in recent weeks and claimed their third straight win in all competitions thanks to Arnautovic's 55th-minute strike.

The Austria forward saw a 35th-minute goal dubiously disallowed for offside but would not be denied a second time, his low shot from 10 yards condemning Villa to a fourth-straight league defeat.Arnautovic capitalised on some poor defending from the Villa backline to break the deadlock, and Mark Hughes' men rarely looked like being pegged back.

Micah Richards did waste a glorious chance to level but Villa - who have not won in the Premier League since the opening day of the season - rarely tested Stoke after that.

Defeat for the hosts keeps Sherwood's men in the bottom three with just four points from eight games and, with a trip to champions Chelsea next on the agenda after the international break, life is unlikely to get any easier for the former Tottenham boss.

Stoke were without Xherdan Shaqiri because of a thigh injury but had the better of an open start to game, although both teams struggled to craft goal-scoring opportunities.

Charlie Adam almost opened the scoring in spectacular fashion in the 18th minute with an effort from inside his own half, reminiscent of his stunning goal at Chelsea last season. However, a backpedalling Brad Guzan turned the ball behind/ Stoke were fortunate not to fall behind themselves as Villa defender Joleon Lescott forced Jack Butland to tip the ball over the crossbar with a header from a corner nine minutes later.

The visitors appeared to have been rewarded for their slight superiority 10 minutes before half-time when Arnautovic turned Bojan's cross home at the near post only to be denied by the offside flag, despite replays suggesting he was level with play.

Lescott was replaced by Jack Grealish after the interval but the substitution did not have the desired impact as Arnautovic again displayed his finishing prowess to put Stoke ahead.

The 26-year-old was afforded too much space by the Villa defence to latch on to an excellent Glen Johnson pass and fire in off the post.Villa should have responded instantly but Richards headed wide from Grealish's left-wing cross from point-blank range.

Midfielder Jordan Veretout had a seemingly goal-bound effort blocked but that was as good as it got for Villa on yet another uninspiring afternoon for the Villa Park faithful.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Norwich City 1-2 Leicester City: Vardy on target again for Foxes

Leicester City returned to winning ways in the Premier League with a hard-fought 2-1 victory away to Norwich City on Saturday.

Jamie Vardy's penalty opened the scoring at Carrow Road for a Leicester team who made three changes from the loss to Arsenal, with Riyad Mahrez surprisingly left on the bench.But Claudio Ranieri's side coped well without the Algeria international as Jeffrey Schlupp fired home a second just after the break to put the visitors in control.

Substitute Dieumerci Mbokani halved the deficit when he turned in Jonny Howson's cross before Leonardo Ulloa's header was ruled out for a foul on John Ruddy.

Norwich poured forward in search of an equaliser, but Leicester - marshalled by the excellent Robert Huth - held firm to secure their fourth win of the campaign, while Alex Neil's side remain on nine points.

Cameron Jerome shot just over the crossbar after a clever move involving Wes Hoolahan and Graham Dorrans as Norwich looked to attack the changed visiting backline from the off.

Leicester quickly found their feet, though, and Ruddy came to Norwich's rescue, denying Danny Drinkwater from close range after Vardy had failed to connect with a flick-on across goal.

But Ranieri's men grabbed the lead after 27 minutes, with Vardy finishing confidently from the spot after he was tripped by Sebastien Bassong when played through by N'Golo Kante, though contact appeared to be minimal.

Schlupp was inches from poking in Marc Albrighton's driven cross just two minutes later and Shinji Okazaki dragged an effort just wide at the end of the half, with Norwich struggling to recapture their earlier intensity.

Leicester almost gifted the hosts an equaliser straight from kick-off in the second half as Christian Fuchs headed narrowly over his own crossbar, but they doubled their advantage just a minute later. Kante cut in from the left on a quick break and his precision pass through to Schlupp was hit low past Ruddy and into the bottom corner.

Neil threw on Mbokani and the 29-year-old came within inches of a goal as his powerful header was kept out by the fingertips of Kasper Schmeichel and the crossbar.But the former Dynamo Kiev striker had better luck in the 68th minute as he cleverly flicked Howson's cross into the bottom corner with the outside of his right boot.

Ulloa thought he had restored Leicester's two-goal advantage just a minute after coming on, but his header was disallowed after Huth was adjudged to have pushed Ruddy following a corner.

Norwich piled on the pressure and Schmeichel saved superbly at the near post from Nathan Redmond's fierce drive, but Leicester held on for maximum points.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Sunderland 2-2 West Ham: Black Cats denied by Hammers comeback

Jeremain Lens scored and was sent-off as Sunderland squandered a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2 with West Ham at the Stadium of Light.

Lens and Steven Fletcher put the home side two goals in front inside 22 minutes but Carl Jenkinson pulled a goal back before Dimitri Payet levelled on the hour mark to complete the comeback.

The result extends West Ham's unbeaten run to five Premier League games, while Sunderland are still without their first win of the season heading into the international break.The Black Cats struggled to get out of their own half in the early stages as West Ham dominated in midfield, but were ahead after 10 minutes.

A well-worked set piece saw John O'Shea draw defenders away from Fletcher, who connected sweetly with Yann M'Vila's low free-kick to score only his third goal for Sunderland in 2015.

West Ham briefly threatened when Manuel Lanzini ran unchallenged through midfield to shoot wide. But Sunderland regained the upper hand and the second goal came courtesy of a sublime piece of finishing from Lens.

West Ham surrendered possession at the back, and M'Vila played in the Dutchman, who beat Adrian with an exquisite chip that bounced in off the underside of the crossbar to send the Stadium of Light into raptures.

Two goals in 12 minutes, after a season that had previously yielded only six, put the wind very much in Sunderland's sails, and both Fletcher and O'Shea forced good saves from Adrian to keep the scoreline down.

With half-time approaching, Fletcher and Ola Toivonen pieced together a sequence of quick passes that should have delivered another goal-of-the-week contender, but Fabio Borini was a foot wide of the target as he failed to round off a wonderful move.

Having done virtually everything right in the opening 45 minutes, Sunderland conceded on the stroke of half-time as Victor Moses crossed for Jenkinson, who slammed the ball home from the middle of the box.Within 10 minutes of the restart, the momentum shifted further in the Hammers' favour when Lens was sent off for a second bookable offence after he clattered Winston Reid with a two-footed challenge from behind.

It took only two minutes for West Ham to draw level, Costel Pantilimon parrying Lanzini's powerful 20-yard drive to the feet of Payet, who gratefully buried his fourth goal of the season from close range.It ought to have been 10 against 10 when Mark Noble bodychecked Borini when on a yellow card but referee Neil Swarbrick opted to keep his cards in his pocket.

The closing stages saw both sides push for a winner and Lanzini twice tested Pantilimon, but the goalkeeper managed to avoid further errors and Sunderland ground out a draw that moves them off the foot of the Premier League table.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Sevilla 2-1 Barcelona: Champions suffer in Messi's absence

A Lionel Messi-less Barcelona lost for the second time in three league games as they were stunned 2-1 by Sevilla on Saturday afternoon.

Goals from Michael Krohn-Dehli and Vicente Iborra in the space of six second-half minutes at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan sealed the win, with Neymar's penalty nothing more than a consolation for the champions.

It leaves Luis Enrique with work to do in the weeks and months ahead as talisman Messi recovers from the knee injury he suffered early in Barca's 2-1 win at home to Las Palmas in their previous league game.

Such a significant victory against the title-holders will do much to ease the pressure on Sevilla's under-fire coach Unai Emery, following a poor start to the domestic season and their Champions League hammering at the hands of Juventus in midweek.

Barca came within inches of opening the scoring in the 24th minute, when a Neymar free-kick hit the post, ricocheted off goalkeeper Sergio Rico and rolled across the goal-line before Coke was able to clear.They hit the woodwork again six minutes before half-time, Luis Suarez striking the top of the bar with a curling effort from outside the area.

The visitors had already gone close on two previous occasions through Neymar and Suarez, but Sevilla more than held their own.

Iborra, Kevin Gameiro and Marco Andreolli all missed presentable chances inside the opening 15 minutes, while a dangerous whipped cross from Benoit Tremoulinas required the intervention of Sergi Roberto to deny the hosts what would have been a golden opportunity to break the deadlock.

With a minute remaining in the first half, Ivan Rakitic's delicate flick released Suarez in on goal, but Tremoulinas was on hand to clear the danger as the Uruguayan hesitated.

Having weathered the storm, Sevilla took the lead seven minutes after the interval as Gameiro's dangerous ball across the face of goal was met at the back post by Krohn-Dehli, who smashed past Claudio Bravo.

The hosts doubled their advantage just six minutes later. Krohn-Dehli received the ball at his feet on the edge of the Barca area, cut inside and delivered a lofted diagonal pass toward the penalty spot, where Iborra, who had managed to stay just onside, rose to head the ball beyond Bravo and into the corner of the net.
Finally jolted back into life, Barca mounted a sustained assault on the Sevilla goal just after the hour mark. Neymar was denied three times in as many minutes by Rico, but finally got his goal from the penalty spot after Sandro Ramirez's shot hit the arm of Tremoulinas on the very edge of the area.

Sandro went agonisingly close to equalising for the visitors in the 78th minute after meeting a Luis Suarez cross to smash a shot against the crossbar, but consecutive defeats on the road leave Barca struggling to replicate their dominance of last season.