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"One accusation you can't throw at me is that I've always done my best." (Alan Shearer) And our Chairman Damon can never be said to be one to make unfair criticisms.

Harsh, but fair, our Chairman dispenses his trenchant, pithy post match analysis of the overpaid heroes and goats that make up the “Happy Band” of Euro 2008. If you're in the prawn sandwich and skim latte club, or part of the "Dippy Darling" brigade this column is not for you!!

Who's hot? Who's not? Who's left their bottle at home? Watch this space carefully as the tournament unwinds.

Previous Analysis :

Week 13.... Week 12.... Week 11.... Week 10.... Week 9.... Week 8

The pack close in... 

Aston Villa 0 - Manchester United 0

Villa move into the top four after breaking their hoodoo against Man Utd. In a game that was short on clear-cut chances but none the less lively for that, both sides will feel they could have won it with the visitors shading the first forty-five minutes and the hosts the second. Gabriel Agbonlahor should have done better when running onto Martin Laursen's knock-down eary on, whilst at the other end Brad Friedel launched himself to beat out a long-range Cristiano Ronaldo effort. Ashley Young stopped Park Ji-Sung with an excellent tackle in the Villa area and then saw his mis-hit cross nearly beat Edwin van der Sar at the back stick. The best chance of the game came late on when Michael Carrick lofted one over the top to put Wayne Rooney through only to see the striker miss by several bendy bus-lengths and the draw was a fair enough result and probably pleases Martin O'Neill slightly more than it does Alex Ferguson.

 

Chelsea 0 - Newcastle United 0

Chelsea were unable to win either, as a determined Newcastle shut them out at Stamford Bridge. United came for the point and got it with Chelsea's expensive strike-force unable to find a way past some thoroughly-committed defensive displays. Things may have turned out differently had Shay Given not pulled off a fantastic save at point-blank range from Frank Lampard's early header but as it was, that proved to be as close as Chelsea came to scoring before the break. The Londoners came out for the second half clearly looking to force the issue but again found their chances in front of goal limited with Sebastien Bassong, in particular, outstanding. Joe Cole thought he'd broken the deadlock only to see his goal rightfully disallowed for offside, whilst there were Chelsea appeals when it appeared Given may have carried Lampard's free-kick over the line, though with replays proving inconclusive, that also looked a good call from the linesman. The Blues stay top courtesy of Liverpool's draw with Fulham but with nine points dropped at home already, their inability to break down a massed defence should be causing some concern in the dugout.

 

Liverpool 0 - Fulham 0

Fulham ensure that none of the top five at start of play are able to muster a goal this weekend by holding Liverpool at Anfield. In contrast to Joe Kinnear's Newcastle, Roy Hodgson's side came out of the traps showing plenty of ambition and no little invention and with Liverpool's midfield shorn of both Steven Gerrard, through injury, and Xabi Alonso, through managerial bloody-mindedness, were able to enjoy their share of possession throughout a fairly even first half. The Reds came out after the break meaning business and were able to take control of the second period but Fulham defended gamely and were ultimately able to weather the siege quite comfortably. The Cottagers move into the top half of the table whilst Liverpool stay second on goal difference knowing, as Chelsea do, a win would have given them daylight at the top but on the plus side, it's not really been a bad weekend to drop points.

 

Manchester City 3 - Arsenal 0

The hot-cold Mancunians blew hot this weekend to dismantle an Arsenal side rocked by internal strife. With the outspoken captain William Gallas dropped from the side after some ill-advised comments in midweek, Arsenal started the game looking short on confidence and were matched in incompetence by the home side for most of a forgettable first forty-five minutes. Seconds before the half-time whistle, the game finally sprung into life when a defensive mix-up ended with Gael Clichy slicing the ball into the path of the incoming Stephen Ireland to lift a top-class finish past Almunia and give the home fans something to sing about. It looked as if a different City side had started the second half and suddenly Arsenal were in danger of a serious humping. Robinho got on the scoresheet with a delightful chip ten minutes in and should have had two just a couple of minutes later only to see his back-heeled effort harshly disallowed for offside. Another chance went begging ten minutes before the end when the Brazilian rounded Almunia only to see Johan Djourou get back to clear off the line but the reprieve was to be short for the Swiss centre-back, as his late challenge on Daniel Sturridge was deemed worthy of a penalty and the City youngster stepped up to put it away himself. All the visitors had been able to offer in reply was Robin van Persie's public dummy-spitting in kicking the ball out of Joe Hart's hands as the keeper looked to clear. City finally start on their long, hard climb to the summit and, on current form, may well meet the Gunners coming the other way.

 

Middlesbrough 1 - Bolton Wanderers 3

Boro's unbeaten run comes to an end at the hands of Bolton, as the side look to recapture their "unpredictable" tag. The Trotters had hardly been prolific scorers going into this one but took just eight minutes to take the lead when full-back Gretar Steinsson arrived at the far post to power home Matt Taylor's cross via a deflection off the back of Kevin Davies's head. Lord knows who'll end up being credited with it but it's Steinsson's for now. Just two minutes later and they'd doubled their lead, after Taylor's deft first touch allowed him to cut in and deliver a sumptuous finish off the inside of the far post. Boro nearly came straight back, only for Gary O'Neil to see his volley cleared off the line by Kevin Nolan, but did finally get themselves back into things with a quarter of an hour to go when Emmanuel Pogatetz thrashed one into the roof of the net after David Wheater's hook back into the box had fallen kindly. If the goal had led to hopes of a recovery, however, these were dashed just a minute later when Johan Elmander steam-hammered a third to celebrate his return from injury and it was all over. Bolton pull away from the drop zone and move up to twelfth, with Middlesbrough a point and two places above them.

 

Portsmouth 2 - Hull City 2

A frantic finish at Fratton Park saw the points shared and leaves Pompey manager Tony Adams still looking for his first home win. Portsmouth started very strongly and took the lead after twenty minutes when Peter Crouch nodded home Younes Kaboul's cross from close range. Hull came back into the game towards the end of the first half and Giovanni saw a superb long range effort crash back off the bar. Ten minutes after the restart, City did get their equaliser when Michael Turner headed home Kamil Zayette's flick on at the far post from Dean Marney's corner. Less than ten minutes later and Portsmouth were ahead again through a sensational strike from the in-form Glen Johnson. The full-back had a lot to do when charging in and chesting down a cleared corner but unleashed a ferocious, dipping left-foot drive that gave Tigers keeper Boaz Myhill no chance at all. There was still late drama to come, as veteran Dean Windass reacted first to a loose ball in the Portsmouth box, getting the faintest of touches before the ball bounced in off the bonce of the unfortunate Noe Pamarot. Portsmouth will be wondering how they didn't win but Hull remain clear of trouble and on course to defy the pre-season pundits by beating the drop.

 

Stoke City 1 - West Bromwich Albion 0

Stoke take three crucial points from the battle of the other two promoted sides. This was a quite appalling game only lit up by Mamady Sidibe's headed winner six minutes from time. City had been in control for much of the match, their direct and muscular style contrasting sharply with the occasional pretty patterns the Baggies seemed content to play in their own half, though the game looked to be headed for a draw until Danny Higginbotham stood a good cross up at the back post and Sidibe rose well to thump his header into the left corner. Stoke's start to the season has given them every chance of survival, whilst it's starting to look ominous for Tony Mowbray's side.

 

Sunderland 0 -  West Ham United 1

West Ham pick up their first win in eight by inflicting Sunderland's third home defeat on the bounce. The home side made virtually all of the running in this one but just didn't get the breaks. The visitors took the lead against the run of play on twenty minutes when Valon Behrami's drive from the edge of the area deflected in off Kenwyne Jones. The home side should have been back in it almost from the restart, only for Djibril Cisse to miss the target with a free header and it was to become a habit of his throughout the rest of the game. The Black Cats should probably have been given a penalty when James Collins wrestled Jones to the ground whilst jostling for a free-kick but were let off the hook on forty-five minutes when Behrami smacked a chance against the bar from five yards when it looked easier to score. An increasingly desperate Sunderland embarked on an aerial assault as the game wore on, only to find Hammers' centre-backs Collins and Matt Upson in the way of most of the balls lofted into the box and Cisse profligate with the remainder that found their way through. After waiting a lifetime for a clean sheet, the Irons have now racked up two in two, though travel to Anfield, next. The Mackems, meanwhile, find themselves back in the mire in what promises to be, at this stage, the most exciting relegation battle of recent years.

 

Tottenham Hotspur 1 - Blackburn Rovers 0

Tottenham clamber out of the relegation zone as their resurgence under Harry Redknapp continues, whilst Rovers are now right up against it. Poor Martin Olsson had a day to forget for Blackburn. Within ten minutes, the Swede was robbed, then skinned by the lively Aaaron Lennon, who squared for Roman Pavlyuchenko to sweep home his third goal of the campaign. Olsson didn't last until half time. Having already been booked for blocking the winger, the young full-back dived in when again done for pace by Lennon on the right flank and was duly sent off by Howard Webb. Down to ten men, Blackburn were never able to carry a sustained threat of an equaliser: Roque Santa Cruz forced to scavenge on his own after Benni McCarthy had been withdrawn to allow Danny Simpson to shore up the defence. Pavlyuchenko hit a post with a glancing header for Spurs and they were able to carve out a couple of openings without looking particularly likely to score themselves as the game ran its course largely without further incident; the home crowd seemingly content to give keeper Heurelho Gomes grief every time the hapless keeper touched the ball. They're a strange lot up the Seven Sisters but probably happier right now than their Lancastrian cousins.

 

Wigan Athletic 1 - Everton 0

Wigan ensure none of the top ten get a win this weekend by seeing off Everton at the JJB to climb out of the relegation zone. Despite a bright start from the Toffees in which Louis Saha probably should have done better when through on goal, keeper Tim Howard had kept them level at the break with several good saves, including a superb stop to deny Paul Scharner. There wasn't a lot the American could do about the opener when it came just five minutes into the second half, though. A slick piece of skill from Luis Valencia had Joleon Lescott beaten all ends up and the Venezuelan's low cross was gratefully tucked away by Henri Camara for his first Premier League goal in almost two years. The visitors, growing frustrated, ended up resorting to a succession of long balls up to Yakubu Ayegbini, without signal success, but almost grabbed an equaliser in injury time, only for Tim Cahill to blast over. What a strange old weekend it's been.