Premier League Results 14th August 2010 Part 2

Tottenham Hotspur 0-0 Manchester City
This fixture was pretty exciting last season and not just because there was a Champions’ League game riding on it. Considering I wanted both teams to lose, it shouldn’t have been my favourite game of the season and it wasn’t but there was some great football. This game promised more of the same. There might not have been any goals but there were plenty of nearly-goals and some amazing goalkeeping. It was Tottenham v Hull City all over again, only not as funny.
The only good thing about this game was that Gareth Bale was playing – and in some ways even that wasn’t a good thing. He did manage to beat the unbeatable Joe Hart (unfortunately the post was more alert) and should have won a penalty. Most people thought he looked great and he did give his team-mates a succession of brilliant and varied crosses, as well as some well-taken corners. But I was wondering if he was completely fit. Towards the end, he had a tendency to hang back and only use his electric pace when someone needed to be chased and he was the only person with a chance of catching them – although it is difficult to tell what he’s doing when you’ve only watched the highlights. I hope he’s okay. I know Tottenham aren’t used to having good players but they do have one and they need to take good care of him.
Craig Bellamy was nowhere to be seen on the squad list. Manchester City – it’s your loss. And I would love him to be Arsenal’s gain.

Wigan Athletic 0-4 Blackpool
It’s not often that a newly-promoted team who wins their first game gets relegated – and to say Blackpool won the game would be a bit of an understatement.
I think the lads on Match of the Day maybe went a little bit over the top about Blackpool’s brilliance. Considering the number of chances Wigan gave them, it should have been more than 4-0. They won’t get this many chances in every game and they’ll need to take a higher percentage of the chances on offer. But they could stay up, they really could. It won’t be easy but on this showing, they’re not going to finish bottom. Are they, Wigan?
When Blackpool did take their chances, they took them well. They were organised, hard-working and not the least bit afraid. Sky Sports calls them a Tangerine Dream. I’m proud to share a nickname with Blackpool.
David Vaughan played the full match for Blackpool. Neal Eardley and Rob Edwards were on the bench but as it happened, Blackpool didn’t need them.

Wolverhampton 2-1 Stoke City
Wolves were expected to struggle and the fact they beat Stoke doesn’t necessarily mean they won’t. Stoke’s mid-table finishes haven’t been down to their good home form.
Wolves’ David Jones scored the goal of the weekend. Most reports describe it as a great free kick but it was actually a bit of a pathetic free kick, a sort of wimpy toe-poke to David, but actually it was a pretty clever free kick because David was able to catch Stoke off-guard and curl the ball into the net.
Wayne Hennessey, stripped of his No. 1 jersey (though not literally unfortunately) was on the bench for Wolves but Dave Edwards was out with a groin injury.
Ryan Shawcross was in central defence for Stoke but Danny Collins was left on the bench which might have been a bit of a mistake.