Premier League Odds and Sods 7 April 2008

Arsenal Reserves drew Liverpool Reserves 1-1 in a Saturday thriller. Rafa went with Jermaine Pennant and frisky Peter Crouch. Arsene started two English lads. Liverpool should have put the match away earlier. Crouch had a brilliant effort saved. Riise missed a sitter with his footballingly handicapped foot. Benayoun missed another. Even with United’s draw, the match killed Arsenal’s minute title hopes. See you at Anfield for round three.

Middlesbrough retained the title of big club bully by holding Man United 2-2 at the Riverside. Sir Alex sent out a stronger side than at midweek. They got outplayed. Alfonso Alves at last lived up to his transfer fee, scoring two. Had they a competent partner rather than Aliadiere they would have had at least two or three more goals. Ferdinand looked flummoxed without Vidic at his side.

Aston Villa blew out Bolton 4-0. England cuspers Gareth Barry and Gabby Agbonlahor served up three with a cherry from Marlon Harewood. Bolton’s defending was dreadful. Davies and Diouf did not communicate. The Wanderers look doomed.

Sunderland beat Fulham 3-1, in a relegation six-pointer. The win puts Sunderland on 36 points, 10 points clear. Fulham remain on twenty-four with fate fast approaching. Brian McBride can count to infinity twice, but it won’t keep Fulham up. All credit should go to Roy Keane for the wonders he’s done with the worst squad in the League besides Derby.