Match of the Dave

First to the FA Cup where the day started with an unexpected win for Portsmouth against Manchester United at Old Trafford. The majority of play went to the home side, but they couldn’t break through a solid Pompey defence - Redknapp’s choice of a huge back four being especially important in nullifying the threat of Ronaldo and Nani’s dangerous deliveries. In the rare moments when United did managed to squeeze through they found David James in superb form in the Portsmouth goal, one particular save from a Patrice Evra shot that he got the faintest of touches to tip on to the post stands out in my mind.

United started with Edwin Van Der Sar in goal but a groin injury meant that Kuszczak started the second half. With the game looking to be heading for stalemate, a quick release of the ball from James fell nicely for Baros & Krancjar, the latter powering away down the right with both Rooney and Nani tracking him - leaving Baros completely unmarked in the middle. A smart pass through led to Baros being 1 on 1 with Kuszczak and as the keeper tried to bat the ball away, Baros tumbled. A penalty was awarded and the Polish keeper was sent off, leaving Rio Ferdinand to go in goal and face a Muntari penalty. The Portsmouth player scored a confident spot kick that no goalkeeper would have saved, Ferdinand doing well to get as close as he did.

This was the defining moment of the match, but two things stick in my mind. Baros made a complete meal of the challenge and left his leg in before, in my opinion, diving. With both Nani and Rooney having got back to cover their goal, I think he decided to go down to ensure the goal and as such, the referee was fooled. Secondly, I don’t think it should have been a red card. As mentioned, there were players covering so the keeper was not the last man, and contact was minimal.

The day’s other cup fixture saw Barnsley host current holders Chelsea. After knocking out Liverpool at Anfield to get to this round, Barnsley had proven they were not to be underestimated and yet most people expected only one outcome from this game and that involved Chelsea progressing.

From the outset, however, Chelsea were unable to make many chances and throughout the game I can recall very few times when goalkeeper Luke Steele (player of the last round) was called in to action. With around 20 minutes remaining, an excellent ball in to the Chelsea box was headed home by Odejayi with Cudicini nowhere near getting the ball. The game finished 1-0 to the home side but make no mistake, this was no smash and grab - Barnsley deserve their place in the Semi-Finals fully.

So, to the Premiership where there were three fixtures played.
Liverpool hosted Newcastle United with the away side desperate to address a steady slide that has seen them not win in 11 matches. The first chance of the game did fall to Newcastle, but a reaction save from Reina denied them a goal and soon after, Torres powered a shot in from the right that Harper did well to parry away from goal.

The first goal of the game was quite ridiculous and summed up the position Newcastle find themselves in. A clearance struck the shin of Liverpool’s Jermaine Pennant and looped over the stranded Harper to put Liverpool 1 up. You honestly couldn’t write it! The merseyside club then doubled their lead when Gerrard fed Torres, who dummied superbly to take Harper out of the equation and slotted home from the diagonal.

The game was made safe with just six minutes played in the second half when Gerrard broke through and chipped a wonderfully weighted ball over the advancing Harper to make it 3-0. Newcastle had their chances and were desperately unlucky not to score when Martins unleashed a fine shot from a long, long way out that flew over Reina and came back off the bar.

Reading finally stopped the rot last week with their first win in 10 and also their first away win of the season. They went in to this home game against Manchester City hoping to extend their recovery and get some points on the board as they look to cement their place in the top flight. An early chance fell to City’s Corluka who found himself unmarked in the box but blazed over the bar and with the scores level, Johnson made a three-course meal out of an innocuous challenge from Ingimarsson in an attempt to win a penalty. Referee Uriah Rennie blew up immediately, leading to protestations from Reading’s players - however he was in fact stopping play to book Johnson for diving.

City lost Richard Dunne to a nasty leg injury that came after a tangle with Stephen Hunt for which neither player was at fault, an event that gave the home side an advantage which was taken by young Irish striker Shane Long who flicked a Marcus Hahnemann kick on to compatriot Kevin Doyle and then buried the return ball past Joe Hart.

Neither team had too many chances after that, but in the 82nd minute Kitson came on to replace the goalscorer and a mere six minutes later went on a solo run that ended in a fine goal to make the points safe. The result lifted Reading out of the relegation zone for the first time in weeks and thanks to other results led to a healthy position in the table.

The final Premiership fixture of the day was at Ewood Park where Blackburn Rovers played Fulham. There wasn’t too much to write home about in this one but Pedersen scored a good header for the opening goal and it looked like Fulham were going to succumb again in a dire season that leaves them at risk of going down. They rescued a point late on, however, when Jimmy Bullard continued his fine return from a long injury lay-off to score another great free kick that left Friedel with no chance in the Blackburn goal.

Popularity: 44% [?]