Fern Mc Costigan

Saturday, April 7, 2018

No celebrations at Etihad after a Pogba spoiler

After a rough week for Pep Guardiola and his Citizens, this is a chapter they should be putting behind and now focus on their next set of challenges. After losing in the always-contested Manchester Derby not only bragging rights were lost but also their fifth Premiership championship celebrations put aside.

As Eithad Stadium in its galas and looking forward to an afternoon of partying and commemorations on the eve of their fifth Premiership title after enduring a one of a kind and dominating campaign.

With another edition of the Manchester Derby, Pep and company were ready to bury their midweek stumble against league foe Liverpool in the Champions League; a win today would uplift this squad momentum and restoring their confidence back.

Still the foe the Citizens had in front of them not considered a weak one or an easy to beat that easily.

The Red Devils already out of the title race and now fighting for its permanency in second place and ready to put in this edition a fierce contest, after all, they came ready to put on a show of might as well to play the hated role of spoiler.

In this match after the initial whistle the Citizens coming with the label of favorites and looking forward to seal the deal, today they started playing their trademark game of pressing defensively as well offensively.

Whenever the United crew anytime they took the ball the Citizens defenders did not allowed any liberties to their cross-town foes, showing an all-around dominance in the first half for 45 minutes not letting the Red Devils get comfortable offensively.

However, for the local Sky Blues initial eleven their determination of putting this match away seen ever since the get go and not stopping them in their quest of causing havoc on the posts defended brilliantly and heroically by United goalkeeper David De Gea.

With several arrivals in the course of the match by the locals and the visitors, keeper rising to the occasion with astounding saves denying the Citizens. In the 25, minute the combination of Leroy Sane and with a well-placed Vincent Kompany shaking off his defender Chris Smalling for their first goal.

No later than five minutes passed when a nice interception by Leroy Sane in the midfield with a nice triangulation passing to Raheem Sterling who found a well-placed and opportune Ilkay Gundohan who a half turn shooting to beat the likes of visitors keeper.

A beautiful and one of a kind goal that sent the whole of Etihad into frenzy for the joy of the Citizens followers, with this goal the match was 2-0 in the 30-minute and going into intermission with a two goal lead.

At halftime, maybe in the visitors, dressing room maybe Jose Mourinho scolded his side and prompting them for an all-around revival to get the share of points as a win was out of reach, but the afternoon was to be for Pogba.

Yes the £ 89 million man who after many setbacks in the campaign and harsh criticism, today he proved everyone wrong and delivered when it count the most and showing off how important his presence is for Manu.

With a nice screen and play started by Alexis Sanchez who never stopped today contributing for his new squad cause and doing a superb job, when he took the Citizens defense and passing to Ander Herrera in the area and the Spaniard chested the ball for Pogba’s finish.

As the game clock showing off minute 53, no later than two minutes passed by when another one two combination from Sanchez to Paul Pogba heading the second goal and even the score at 2 in the 55 minute.

By seeing, a total awakening by the Frenchman Jose Mourinho was seeing a prolific afternoon performed by his midfielder who rallies his troops and now the outlook of the match was showing a total dominance by the Portuguese side.

Not being over the winning goal came in the 69 as Alexis Sanchez once again delivering his magic touch and despite not doing he does best scoring, he delivered a joyous afternoon for his new team and with a brilliant pass in the 69 minute to Chris Smalling, they seal the deal.

Still with a lot of time in the game clock Pep tried to rally his eleven in the field and with some moves he desperately tried for a comeback after the 70 minute by incorporating Gabriel Jesus, Sergio Aguero and Kevin De Bruyne.

At the end he and his Citizens had to endure another heartbreaking loss in back to back matches in the course of this week, as the match continue there was a challenge inside the United area of Ashely Young over Sergio Aguero and the ref did not awarded a penalty.

Very well, a series of arrivals by the Citizens that made the likes of United keeper David De Gea as the game hero and making important and opportune saves.

Give this Derby to Jose Mourinho and company and dividing wins in this competition in the campaign, give Manu credit for the spoils today across Manchester with a great come back from behind win and with champagne left uncorked by the Citizens.

Photos Credit and Property of © Copyright Premier League. com 2018

Friday, April 6, 2018

Waterford rallied to deliver a total upset over Cork City

Waterford 2, Cork City 1

Regional Sports Center, Waterford

In the Regional Sports Center, the local Blues are one tough foe to mess with. Call it the home field advantage or this bunch is filled with a lot of confidence and hence their positive streak.

With a league match, played against the defending champions Cork City, the odds of netting a positive result were a bit pretentious for the newly promoted Blues, but nothing written until the end.

Still in a match were tempers flared and yellow and red cards hand out like candy, this is how the Munster Derby whenever these two tians face off and seen as a very controversial but one contested affair.

However three points of gold and on top of delivering an important as well valuable victory over a squad coming with all the label of all around favorites despite coming as a visiting entity, Alan Reynolds and company delivered in the clutch.

Netting three points of gold, as well helping the likes of Dundalk FC to climb to first place as Reynolds and company are within reach of the Lilywhites that edge them by an earlier win over them in the campaign.

Returning to this controversy filled match as the visiting Leesiders went up on the scoreboard with a free kick taken by Barry McNamee bouncing on Aaron Barry serving it on a golden tray for Conor McCarthy who pushed the ball to put City 1-0.

The visiting Rebel Army with just two minutes on the clock was in total control of this match to the dismay of many of Waterford faithful were seeing how their Blues possibly succumbing to the champions. As you recall the Blues lost earlier in the campaign at Turners Cross and John Caulfield bunch was heading to another easy win.

Despite the efforts performed by the locals, at the end the first half end with a one-goal lead by the visitors, the start of the second half promised to be an exciting one and to conclude it was!

Still do not call the local Blues quitters as these put on a fight and started a rally with a couple of scores that seal the deal. For Waterford in the 51 minute, Conor McCormack opened the scoreboard and tying the match, followed later in Courtney Duffus in the 80 minute.

All of a sudden on injury time is when hell broke loose in a match that ended with a record six red cards after a melee erupted in the field, when Bastien Hery pushing John Caulfield who enter the field to retrieve the game ball.

All of sudden we had both squads benches emptied and on the field pushing and shoving making the game officials important to both sides tempers flaring, without any doubt the game official Robert Rogers started awarding red cards without any contemplations.

By sending off Waterford Bastien Hery the main culprit and his teammate, Stanley Aborah along with manager Alan Reynolds followed by Cork City manager John Caulfield, Steven Beattie and Garry Buckley. Both teams will have some major penaties imposed to them and missing their best players in the case of the Blues Hery and Aborah.

Liverpool going against the odds and seal the deal

Liverpool took the likes of Manchester City to school this past Wednesday. After their Champions League match and repass over heavily favorites Manchester City, with a scandalous 3-0 rout.

For the Merseyside squad, now seen as a clear favorite to deliver the ultimate of upsets come Tuesday April 10, when they travel to Manchester City colossus of Etihad looking to seal the deal.

With a campaign in Premiership, filled with a series of controversies that if they would reinforce their defense on the preseason these would had a banner of a campaign and without any problems.

After their backfield played with such authority in this match and being its highlight a young lad by the name of Trent Alexander-Arnold who delivered a one of a kind performance alongside Dejan Louvren, Virgil Van Dyjk and Andy Robertson.

This amazing foursome combined to stop the likes of an unstoppable and powerful offensive attack with Leroy Sane, Kevin De Bruyne and Gabriel Jesus running in the center stopping them cold in a night that they completely dominated.

I must state the total dominance of the Liverpool bunch all evening long and thanks, to their follower’s support the specter of fatigue did not took a toll on their fighting initial eleven all evening long and close it with a touch of class.

Still their three goal lead does not assures them the automatic pass to the next level, as anything can happen in Manchester with the Citizens now being in the helm by playing at home and with all its advantages.

As one of these squads looking forward to advance into this prestigious competition semifinal, their next face off will be one considered as one contested one and the winner will have all the momentum to go all the way to the finals.

Despite the Sky Blues, worst performances of the campaign, as many assume fatigue catching up, but one thing this club has is a winning spirit that will deliver them another Barclays Premiership shield and undoubtedly can turn things around.

For manager Pep Guardiola seeing off target shoots by his starting eleven but none of those considered direct, a shame when this squad has run havoc on all of the Premier League squad’s defenders and today neutralized by the Reds patch up defense.

In the Liverpool, side of the story and manager Jürgen Klopp despite the rout and winning with an spectacular flair leaving everyone perplexed after this result, still he is aware of the second leg not being easy. As he is expecting a very determined and hungry Man City putting on its best of fights to prevent another disappointing end to their Champions League run.

Score round one for Jürgen and company but round two will be a different story as the City stars silenced will show up and voice up their best of games to rally into the deficit they went into and possibly overcome the odds.

Nothing for no one as the tale of the tape shows up a very even match between these two titans at the end we have no favorites but for sure in this mano a mano we will have a lot of fireworks.

Wednesday, April 4, 2018

The competition for the last spots begins in Championship

With Cardiff City near its assurance of being second seed to get its direct promotion but with six matches left in the EFL. The likes of Fulham are knocking on the door of the Welsh side and anything can happen as the Londoners are playing a one of a kind football.

However, my focus in this story is about the race for the last four spots.

As Fulham, Aston Villa, Derby County and Middlesbrough looking forward to seal their respective positions in the overall table and get ready for the playoff that nets the last promotion spots to Premiership.

As a race for second place can be developing between Fulham and Cardiff City, we may have another contest for some of these vying to net one of those bottom four spots with squads being near within a point or two behind the above mentioned.

Still with the Cottagers riding with 75 points, followed by 73 of the Villains and 65 of the Rams, for Boro they seem to be the most vulnerable with 63 and followed to closely by four squads looking to nab that coveted sixth spot. these squads vying to net a spot in the likes of Bristol City, Millwall, and Sheffield United with 62 points and Preston North End with 60.

By having their hopes up high and to reach one of those coveted positions, this will take a sort of miracle or an undefeated run netting all of the three points in play in order to be in this positons in the end.

As one of the highlight of this league, promotion is the play-off or knockout rounds when these four squads finishing from third to sixth place start a so-called competition that has all the elements of an all-around contest to the end.

So far, Fulham and Aston Villa seeded with a comfortable point spread versus Derby and Middleborough within reach of Bristol City, Millwall and Sheffield United that are looking strong and playing a one of kind football.

Despite Wolverhampton with a point in need to clinch first place and Cardiff City we can say in the driver’s seat too, still anything can happen from here to the first week of May when Championship league comes to a wrap.

As Cardiff City, Aston Villa, Boro and Fulham look forward to return to the big circuit, so do squads of the likes of the Rams, Lions, Robbins and Blades trying to get a shot or try to get in the last minute with a surprising move.

However, anything can happen in the next weeks of Championship of who will hold a contest, in the end net a spot among the final four, and start the contested knockout rounds of these titans looking to seize the last spot to the top.

Nothing written and anything can happen, but one thing for sure, the highlight of this edition of Championship is the number of squads competing to get into the final four squads and from there we start another story.

What will the end of the campaign table will show us and squads that at the end persistence deliver them a spot in the final four, will it stay as it is or we may see a newcomer in the end, the answer lies in the end of this tournament.