Giant Killers Boro: Daily Premiership Recap (8/23/06)

I'm Josh and I'll be giving you updates on the Premiership at the end of every matchday. Nice to be here.

Full day in the Premiership today; the typical slate of midweek games:

Chelsea at Middlesbrough Middlesbrough stunned the defending champs at their Northeast England home today as they came on with two late goals to take the three points, 2-1. Emanuel Pogatetz headed past in the 80th minute and Mark Viduka slotted home the winner in injury time to overcome Andriy Shevchenko's 16th minute goal for the Blues.

After the match, The Special One Jose Mourinho commented on his team's effort: "I am not disappointed. I am disappointed when I deserve to win and don't win...we have to blame out own performance. That is why I am not disappointed...Overall their attitude was much stronger than ours and I think we did not deserve more."

Is this the beginnings of the death knell for the former Pensioners? Not even close. It's the second game of the season, all you Liverpool fans. The fact that the Blues dropped one game doesn't mean you're going to get the League trophy that everyone seems so ready to give you already. Sheva is just getting started, and Chelsea are still without Joe Cole (He's here, he's there, he's every____ingwhere, Joey Cole!) and Peter Czech. Also, guess what, they've got Ballack waiting to come back to match fitness too. Just wait. There are worse teams to lose to than Boro, for sure, and once Chelsea gets to full strength there's nothing to stop them from winning the league again. And when they do, I'll wear my Lampard jersey proudly.

Manchester United at Charlton Athletic United, even without Wonderboy Wayne Rooney, dominated Charlton on their home turf and came away with a deserved 3-0 win. With Rooney serving the first of his harsh three-game suspension, it was up to the clearly redeemed Christiano Ronaldo to carry the weight. And carry it he did, getting involved in nearly every attacking play ManU attempted despite being booed every time he touched the ball and cheered every time he made a mistake.

Daren Fletcher opened the scoring, after either team failed to get a goal in the first half, in the 49th minute and was followed by Louis Saha in the 80th and team talisman Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in stoppage time to complete the evening's dominance. While Charlton played well, they had nothing to compete with United's relentless attacking and stingy defense, and rarely got a real chance on goal.

After only two games, United are looking very good and is absolutely putting to rest all the naysayers who were screaming about the departure of Ruud Van Nistelroy and the havoc it would cause for the Manchester side. Sir Alex has shown that even without his prize bull Rooney his team can compete with anyone and dominate even the mid-level EPL teams. United are now at the top of the table with eight goals for to none against after only two games, and so far they are looking like the team to challenge Chelsea for the crown again this year. With the maturing of Ronaldo and Rooney, the return of Salskjaer, and the possible addition of Owen Hargreaves, United are looking like they won't let Chelsea run away with the league again. This could end up being the toughest and closest Premiership battle in years.

Reading at Aston Villa Newly minted Premiership side Reading took the lead with a Kevin Doyle goal in only the 4th minute but as the match went on the Royals were left to watch as Juan Pablo Angel put a spot kick into the back of the net in the 34th minute and Gareth Barry headed in the winner for Villa to ensure new boss Martin O'Neill his first win at Villa Park.

After a decent showing against Arsenal last Saturday and a win here, Aston Villa has got to be happy with their position in the young season. Reading was unable to duplicate their past weekend's success as they were reduced to ten men after Ibrahima Sonko was sent off in the first half, his foul leading to Angel's penalty goal. Reading has shown themselves, however, to be a scrappy team and one that is definitely not assured of a quick relegation back to the Coca-Cola Championship. It should be interesting to follow Reading this season and see where they end up.

Portsmouth at Manchester City City's Ben Thatcher must have decided he wanted to be in the news after this 0-0 draw match, and surely the English papers and the FA will not spare him. After hard challenges on three Portsmouth players, the former Wales fullback was given a yellow card for a vicious forearm to the head of Pedro Mendes. Replays showed the Portsmouth player was likely unconscious before he hit the ground and clattered into the advertising boards on the sideline. Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp blasted Thatcher to the press after revealing his player suffered a seizure due to horror foul. "I knew exactly what was coming five seconds before it happened...Unfortunately on the field he is capable of doing such things," Redknapp said before calling for FA action against Thatcher, who was sent off in a preseason game after puncturing an opponent's lung with another vicious challenge.

Everton at Blackburn Australian legend Tim Cahill came on late and rescued a point for Everton with an 84th minute goal to even up the match. After taking the lead in the 50th minute Blackburn looked to be in control and likely to come away with a full three points, but a wayward clearance allowed Cahill the opportunity to salvage at least something for his side. Everton has gained four points after two games, while Blackburn has come away with only a solitary point after their first week of action.

Bolton at Fulham A penalty kick for each side were the only goals in this match, the first coming from Bolton's El-Hadji Diouf in the 73rd minute after Louis Boa Morte knocked Kevin Nolan down inside the box. Fulham protested the questionable call loudly but to no result as the Diouf calmly knocked home the kick. In the 90th minute the home side got revenge as Bolton sub Abdoulaye Faye was called for a handball within the area and Jimmy Bullard slotted home the tieing goal to come away with a valuable and deserved point.

So far in the season:
Top Four (with record and points): Manchester United (2-0-0;6), Portsmouth (1-0-1;4), West Ham (1-0-1;4), Bolton (1-0-1;4)
Bottom Three (with record and points): Fullham (0-0-1;1), Wigan (0-1-0;0), Charlton (0-2-0;0)

Upcoming EPL games on Saturday August 26:
Liverpool v. West Ham; Tottenham v. Everton; Aston Villa v. Newcastle; Watford v. Manchester United; Charlton v. Bolton; Wigan v. Reading; Fullham v. Sheffield United; Manchester City v. Arsenal