Recent Blogs Posts

Sunderland win this week's performance of the week for ending Manchester City’s 100% home record.

- Manchester City went in to the game with the chance of equalling Liverpool’s all-time top division record of 21 consecutive home wins which has stood since 1972.
- Despite their revival under Martin O’Neill, Sunderland had won only one of their last five away games in the Premier League.
- Sunderland have not won at Manchester City since 1998 and lost 11 of their 15 previous Premier League meetings including all seven in Manchester.
- Against the odds, Sunderland came within minutes of pulling off one of the shock results of the season and certainly put a severe dent into City’s title ambitions.
- Seb Larsson scored either side of a Nicklas Bendtner header ...

It has been widely reported that Brighton & Hove Albion created FA Cup history yesterday when they 'scored' three own goals in their 6-1 Fifth Round tie defeat at Liverpool.



Although very rare, three own goals by the same team in a game is not unique.

In fact, it happened as recently as last Tuesday (14 February). Peterhead's 6-1 loss at Elgin City in the Scottish Third Division included OG's by David Ross, Rory McAllister and Callum MacDonald.

The Premier League's only own goal hat-trick was especially extraordinary.

In a relegation season, Sunderland lost 1-3 at home to Charlton Athletic in February 2003 with the visitors benefitting from three gifts from their generous hosts in the ...

This week's goal of the week was Sunderland’s goal by Kieran Richardson in the defeat at Wolverhampton Wanderers.


- With Martin O’Neill looking on from the stands, the new manager saw the best and worst of Sunderland at Molineux.

- After clearing a Wolves corner, left-back Kieran Richardson supported Stephane Sessegnon from deep at great speed and took the pass in his stride before beating keeper Wayne Hennessey at his near post with a cracking left-foot shot.

Aston Villa & West Bromwich Albion

· None of the ten Premier League meetings between Aston Villa and West Bromwich Albion have been decided by more than a one goal margin.
· Aston Villa’s defeat at West Bromwich Albion in April is one of only two losses they have suffered in their last 16 Premier League games.
· This is West Bromwich Albion’s 100^th away game in the Premier League.



Bolton Wanderers & Sunderland

· Sunderland have avoided defeat in six of their eight previous league and cup visits to the Reebok Stadium, winning both of the last two.
· Bolton Wanderers are the only team in the Premier League and Football League who have yet to gain a point from their home games this ...

Aston Villa & Wigan Athletic

• Aston Villa have scored only two goals in Wigan Athletic’s six previous Premier League visits to Villa Park.
• Having been held in their last three games, Aston Villa could complete a sequence of four consecutive Premier League draws for the first time since September / October 2004.
• After taking five points from their first three games, Wigan Athletic will be aiming to avoid a run of four consecutive Premier League games for the first time since October 2008.

Blackburn Rovers & Manchester City

• Manchester City are unbeaten in their last seven Premier League meetings with Blackburn Rovers.
• Other than newly promoted Norwich City, Blackburn Rovers are the only team who have yet to keep a clean sheet in the Premier

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Norwich City & Sunderland

· The last five league meetings have resulted in a 1-0 win to the home team (three at Sunderland and two at Norwich).
· Left-back Marc Tierney is the only Norwich City player to start in all five of their Premier League games this season.
· Since going down at Birmingham City on 16 April, Sunderland have gone longer than any other Premier League since suffering an away league defeat.

Fulham & Manchester City

· Manchester City have been beaten in only one of their last ten visits to Fulham since August 1999.
· While Manchester City have recorded hat-tricks in each of their last two games, Fulham are still awaiting their first hat-trick scorer after over ten years in the Premier League.
· Manchester City will be aiming to win the first five games of a league season for the first time since 1912-13.


Manchester United & Chelsea

· Manchester United have failed to score in only one of Chelsea’s last 16 Premier League trips to Old Trafford.
· Manchester United have scored 18 goals in their opening four league games. It’s the most by any club in the ...

Arsenal & Swansea City

• This is only Swansea City’s fifth visit to Arsenal in all competitions and their first since New Year’s Day in 1983.
• Prior to their recent defeat at Manchester United, the last time Arsenal conceded seven goals in a top division game was at Leicester City (2-7) on 31 August 1963. Frank McLintock, who became the captain of the Gunners 1971 double-winning side, scored one of the goals.
• Having failed to score in their first three Premier League games, Swansea City will be aiming to avoid failing to score in the first four games of a league season for the first time in their history.

Bolton Wanderers & Manchester United

• Bolton Wanderers have won only one of Manchester United’s 11 previous visits to the Reebok Stadium (all Premier League). That was a 1-0 success in

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Aston Villa & Wolverhampton Wanderers

• Aston Villa and Wolverhampton Wanderers met on the first-ever day of Football League fixtures on 8 September 1888. In a 1-1 draw at Dudley Road in Wolverhampton, Villa full-back Gershom Cox conceded an own goal after 20 minutes before Tommy Green equalised just before half-time.
• Following Dwight Yorke, Gabby Agbonlahor has become the second player to score 50 goals for Aston Villa in the Premier League.
• Wolverhampton Wanderers are aiming to win their first three games of a top flight season for the first time since 1969 when they won the first four games under Bill McGarry.

Blackburn Rovers & Everton

• This is the 162^nd meeting between Blackburn Rovers and Everton in all competitions dating back to November

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Arsenal & Liverpool

• In their seven previous league and cup visits to the Emirates Stadium, Liverpool have scored one goal on five occasions and failed to score in the other two.

• In their five previous seasons at the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal have failed to win only one of their first home league games of the season (a 1-1 draw with Aston Villa in the first-ever Premier League game at their new home on 19 August 2006).
• Their 5-2 win at Fulham in their last visit to London in May was the first time that Liverpool had scored five goals in the capital since a 5-2 win at Chelsea in December 1989 during Kenny Dalglish’s first period in charge.

Aston Villa & Blackburn Rovers

• In league and cup competitions, Aston Villa and Blackburn Rovers have met nine times in the last two years. Villa have

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