Fern Mc Costigan

Saturday, April 28, 2018

Dusan Tadic double raises hopes for the Saints permanency

Southampton 2, AFC Bournemouth 1

Saint Mary’s Stadium, Southampton

Mark Hughes is doing everything to start rallying his troops with a possible comeback or revival in their last three matches of the campaign to see if his squad can deliver a miracle. As of today series of odd results in various fronts and them netting a notable win, they are dreaming of a possible salvation.

Still the road to salvation is paved with multiple and tough challenges for the Saints looking forward to see another day in the top ranks of the English Premier League instead of seeing their destinies into relegation.

As the visiting Cherries coming with all the labels of favorites to win it or at least net a point, the Southampton Boys did not consider this an option as a win could uplift them into a more notable positon in the table and within reach of the Swans.

With today’s win, they have three crucial if not important matches against Everton at Goodison Park a match considered important as well difficult, then going to Liberty Stadium and seeing a possible mano a mano between them and the Swans.

In this match we may see the possibility of fight for salvation between these two and with the elements of a grand finale being played between these two in were the winner will be determined its permanency.

And closing at home against the league champions Manchester City were the odds of netting positive result maybe within their reach as the Citizens are already proclaimed league champions and their manager Pep Guardiola sending a third string squad into this match.

So far, this win allows the Saints to be within reach of Swansea by a point the Swans have advantage over the Saints and three points within striking distance of Huddersfield and maybe West Ham if these do not come victorious tomorrow.

As the race in the bottom three starts getting a little heated with Stoke City netting a points in a draw against Liverpool, West Brom beating Newcastle United and Southampton doing the same at home over Bournemouth. We have a contest for the Saints of course as the Potters and especially the Baggies already condemned for the abyss.

One thing for sure I cannot take the credit to the Serbian as he deliver a one of a kind afternoon and the game winner when needed with a double to keep his squad on the hunt and maybe pull a late move for their salvation in the end.

With an early play in minute 25 in a counter attack started by the Saints Mario Lemina passing to an opportune and well placed Dusan Tadic to open up the score and giving the locals the lead 1-0.

One thing Eddie Howe and his Cherries have is fight, by far this has kept them in the safety zone, and with on danger within to making a decline in the game, all of a sudden their persistence paid off with an equalizer goal. For AFC the half was not over, when Simon Francis well placed assist in the clutch to Joshua King scoring in the 45 with added minute injury time to make it 1-1.

In the 54 minute, once again Dusan Tadic delivered once again by robbing the visitors Steve Cook ball and converting this brilliant play into in what became the game winner and his second goal of the match.

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

Crystal Palace sealing their stay in Premiership

Crystal Palace 5, Leicester City 0

Selhurst Park, London

What a match in a sold out Selhurst Park, where the local Crystal Palace Boys put on a display of amazing and one of kind football with a rout over Leicester City. With both halves, the soaring Eagles delivered mayhem to the visiting Foxes.

These are starting to seal their permanency under manager Roy Hodgson ever since his arrival at these parts of London Town to rescue and try his best to give an identity to a squad without it under then manager Frank De Boer.

Ever since the get go, the locals started getting on top of this match and showing off an all-around dominance over the visiting City squad looking forward to continue adding points seeking a possible notable finish in the overall table.

Not today against an inspired and belligerent Glaziers looking at all costs to deliver a win and three points of gold, and for Hodgson and company every point is crucial as the way these display their football with ambition a plenty.

Offensively and defensively, the Eagles were amazing in the field and showing off a total domains in the course of the whole game over a decimated Foxes squad that saw its luck dwindle, when they left with ten men in the second half.

After Marc Albrighton not so bright, play in the 56 over Wilfred Zaha, by tripping him in stopping his momentum in a play that for sure was to culminate with a score for Palace, despite the protests from various of City players the game official show him the red card.

As the locals seeing a sort of movement by the visiting Leicester City when Ryhad Mahrez started his usual attack in midfield and passing to a wide, open Kelechi Ieanacho to pass to Jamie Vardy but denied the goal with a brilliant stop in the line. With a well-placed Eagles center back Joel Ward on the line, kick the ball denying the opening goal for the visitors and for goalkeeper Hennessey to control the ball that came into his hands.

This play opened the doors to an all-around momentum exercised by Crystal Palace until the end of the match, with a nice back heel pass from James McArthur to Wilfred Zaha opening with their first goal in the 17 minute.

the Eagles game rising to a new high and for its players so determined to deliver a perfect afternoon at home with a win, raising their expectations of permanency with a perfect close to this match.

They did it with style and with hunger written all over, as the second goal before going to intermission came in the 38 minute when the same combination of Wilfred Zaha now serving to James McArthur to extend the locals lead to 2-0.

After the Albrighton red card, everything seemed to collapse for the Claude Puel side seeing his decadence and chaotic run in the end as not promising with a classless football and dropping points like crazy.

The third goal of Palace came in the 81 minute by a long pass from midfield from Mamadou Zakho to a well-placed Reuben Loftus- Cheek for the third goal of the match and in the 84 Patrick Van AanHolt extending the lead to 4-0.

Still this affair was far from over from the locals showing off a display of top of the line offensive might and with a challenge over Christian Benteke that he took matters into his own and scored the final goal via a penal and seal the deal with a 5-0 win.

Huge was the step taken today by the Crystal Palace to see another day in the ranks of Premiership with today goal fest these delivered at home and seeing a light at the end of the tunnel with manager Roy Hodgson happy for his near feat.

Friday, April 27, 2018

Limerick in the plus after netting a valuable win

Bray Wanderers 0, Limerick 1

Carlisle Grounds, Bray

Finally, the Super Blues are back on the winning column after delivering a valuable win away at Carlisle Grounds against a weak and relegation sentenced Bray Wanderers at the coast.

As every match passes for the Wicklow county based squad, showing why they are firm candidates to go down to relegation with just four points in the campaign, the Limerick Boys delivered the winning goal and netting three points of gold.

About time the Limerick, side delivered a win after having some troubles in the campaign and now separating themselves from the Sligo Rovers and Bray Wanderers from the bottom spots, as this win gives them a point edge over the Bit O’ Red.

For 470 traveling Limerick fans going to Bray they left happily after seeing their Boys delivering a one of a kind win and separating themselves from the relegation spots.

Still a win is a win but this came with a price as the Limerick Boys did worked their way out of this match with pure bravado as the locals did put on a fight but the visitors defense step up its game to preserve the win.

As told before this win did not come easy and for the Super Blues manager Tommy Barrett side winless in their last nine matches, this win came as a relief and now getting a dose of confidence to his squad looking forward to its salvation in the end.

For Bray missing a penalty and hitting the bar, luck was not on the Seagulls side and at the end surrendered with a lone goal scored by Limerick’s captain Shane Duggan in the 50^th minute.

Once again, for Bray Wanderers manager not seeing a break after that win a few weeks ago, and by playing at home his hopes deposited on getting positive results at the end these do not come and seeing his project failures in every match.

For Limerick manager Barrett making three moves in his initial eleven after last week draw against the Shamrock Rovers, these paid off for the best and uplifting his work in the upcoming months of seeking more positive outcomes for his side.

Still it does not come easy for the Super Blues as their next week compromise against Cork City staging another edition of the Munster Derby to play in the house of horrors for the Super Blues Turners Cross.

Challenging you bet, as the Limerick squad with a win on their backs and playing the defending champions this will be a one of a kind challenge and tough but not difficult encounter for Tommy Barrett and company.