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It’s the most wonderful time of the year.  The final Sunday of the Barclay’s Premier League season contains more drama and mystery than a John Grisham novel.  By the end of this column, one club will experience the joy that comes with  a championship, three runner-up teams will celebrate the happiness of a Champions League berth,  while three more will have their hearts and wallets shattered after being relegated to the minor league (think Charlotte Bobcats to the D-League).  For those squads caught in the middle, the song  remains the same. Let’s kick start this thing.

MANCHESTER CITY-QUEENS PARK RANGERS
The task was hardly mission impossible for City: emerge victorious at home and become rewarded with their first championship crown since 1968.  The subplots for QPR were not as lofty, but equally important.  A loss coupled with a Bolton win at Stoke would mean relegation.  An added ingredient was that QPR boss Mark Hughes was sacked and humiliated by Man City two years earlier.  A pulsating game was virtually guaranteed, and  the script matched reality.  City went ahead through Pablo Zabaleta in the 39th.  QPR would come off the canvas and deliver a mighty one-two of their own, taking the lead via a textbook header from Jamie Mackey in the 66th.  Before I dance forward , I first need to moonwalk back.  QPR’s resident gangsta Joey Barton was shown red in the 55th.  While the sending off was controversial, Barton’s reaction wasn’t.  He did his best Ric Flair impersonation minus the robe, delivering a knee and an elbow to an unsuspecting Sergio Aguero.  While the heel left the ring to a chorus of boos, babyface City marched forward but could not find the equalizer.  When all hope seemed lost Edin Dzeko and Aguero would strike twice in the 92nd and 94th minutes. If the clock were to strike at midnight, City was rescued at eleven, fifty-nine, fifty-five.  City wins the game and the title.  To quote the late Jack Buck “I can’t believe what I just saw.”  Simply breathtaking.  Veteran soccer observers are proclaiming it as the most exciting ending in the history of the EPL.  Man City-3 QPR-2.

SUNDERLAND-MANCHESTER UNITED
United did what they had to do with a blue-collar, 9-to-5, win over the black cats.  Wayne Rooney nodded home a Phil Jones cross early in the first half to open the scoring for the visitors.  With two cleats on the Sunderland grass, but an eye and an ear on the score from the Man City-QPR contest,  United failed to score another.  One was enough to get three points, however, it would only result in a second place finish to the campaign. Hey at least the best supporting award comes with a Champions League spot.  Manchester United-1 Sunderland-nil.

STOKE-BOLTON
Bolton sank into the abyss of the relegation zone when they could only manage a draw. Bolton’s tag team of The Davies, Mark and Kevin, produced a ray of hope, but that would be eclipsed by a Jonathan Walters penalty kick in the 77th.  A total buzz-kill for a brave Bolton side. They displayed courage and perserverance in the wake of Fabrice Muamba’s collapse during a match in March. Stoke-2 Bolton-2.

WEST BROMWICH ALBION-ARSENAL
Arsenal should give out a hefty bonus to goaltender Marton Fulop; and he plays for West Brom! Just a dud of a performance in his first premiership start.  He was guilty of being at fault for all three Arsenal goals.  An empty net would’ve offered more protection than what Fulop provided.  Arsenal-3  WBA-2. 

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR-FULHAM
Emmanuel Adebayor and Rafael Van Der Vaart joined forces on the first goal just two minutes into the opening stanza, while Jermain Defoe added a second 18 minutes into part two.  Fulham’s fans deserve a refund as their club pulled a no-show. Spurs is part of the Champions League next season unless Chelsea defeats Bayern Munich next Saturday.  Don’t ask.  It would take too long to explain.  Tottenham-2 Fulham-nil. 

EVERTON-NEWCASTLE UNITED
Newcastle also strangely showed up in uniform only, offering no resistance with a Champions League role at stake.  Everton produced their usual  lunch bucket effort and were deserved winners.  The magpies season should best be remembered for manager of the year Alan Pardew, and the premiership’s lethal scoring combo of Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse. Everton-3 Newcastle-1.

CHELSEA-BLACKBURN ROVERS
Blackburn was already sentenced to relegation and Chelsea used this contest as a prep for next Saturday’s Champions League final against Bayern Munich.  Chelsea-2 Blackburn-1.

NORWICH CITY-ASTON VILLA
After several subpar efforts. Norwich re-discovered their scoring touch. There’s less scoring at Aston Villa than at a Florida nursing home.  Norwich-2 Aston Villa-0.  

SWANSEA CITY-LIVERPOOL
A “battle” among two middle-of-the-road teams secure in their premiership status for 2012-’13.  This game was not pretty. Heck it wasn’t even close to cute.  Swansea 1 Liverpool-0.

WOLVERHAMPTON-WIGAN
Wigan continued its marauding ways, Wolves lacked fangs. Wigan-3 Wolverhampton-2.

PENALTY KICK
From my first entry on August 14, 2011, through today’s final edition, I want to express my appreciation to everyone who took the time to read this blog.  I’ve achieved my “goal” in sharing my passion for soccer.  Hit me back: nbaker@yesnetwork.com

With their tense 1-nil victory over big-brother Manchester United last Monday, Manchester City is all grown up. The win propelled City to the top of the premiership table with just two games left in the season. Was City in the driver's seat? Do young girls overly use the word "like?" The rub for Man City was a tough road encounter against Newcastle United. The magpies were coming off a well-deserved 2-0 win at Chelsea in mid-week which featured two of the prettiest strikes this side of a bowling lane.

Let's kick-start this thing.

NEWCASTLE UNITED-MANCHESTER CITY........City faced a stiffer test than final exams at MIT. Roberto Mancini's crew struggled with the questions put forth by the home team but after the ten-minute mark they were able to figure out the Newcastle puzzle. However all of the sky blues possession netted a giant goose egg on the scoreboard. At 62 minutes Mancini brought on Nigel DeJong which allowed YaYa Toure to push forward. Toure is the blues maestro; its' conductor; the leader of the band. The Ivory Coast international put the team in rhythm. He broke the deadlock with a low slider in the 70th and provided frosting on the cake in the 89th. If Sergio Aguero had been a more accurate marksman, this game would've been over by the 70th minute. The result speaks for itself. Polish off the silverware, Man City is about to take their place at the head of the table. Man City-2 Newcastle-nil.

MANCHESTER UNITED-SWANSEA CITY.....The red devils had to be in a sour mood after Man City's win, and they were able to take out their anger on an overmatched Swansea side. Paul Scholes did his best Alex Ovechkin impersonation with a re-direction of an Ashley Young shot in the 28th. Thirteen minutes later Young doubled his team's pleasure with a right-footed shot into the lower corner pocket. The visitors would huff and puff in the second stanza but came away with nothing. Man United-2 Swansea-0.

ARSENAL-NORWICH CITY.....Defense wasn't an afterthought, before-thought, or really any thought as both sides were in full-attack mode. Yossi Benayoun got the party started with a right-footed laser just two minutes into the game. Norwich surprised their hosts with their offensive flair and were rewarded with goals from Wes Hoolahan and Grant Holt. After intermission the gunners got their marching orders and who else would lead the charge but Robin Van Persie. The dunking Dutchman of the pitch would score twice from his sweet spot; 8 yards in front of goal. Armed with a 3-2 advantage Arsenal fell-asleep at the back and watched Steve Morrison enter through an open window to steal a point. At games' end Arsene Wenger, as is his custom, offered only a limp and clammy fish-like handshake. Perhaps he was perturbed over his valuable fullback Bacary Sagna, who suffered a broken fibula in the match. A 3-3 score was a fair result. Arsenal-3 Norwich-3.

ASTON VILLA-TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR.......AV is one of the most offensively-challenged clubs in the premiership but was on luck's good side in the 35th through Brad Clark. His seemingly routine shot from the top of the box was deflected past a stunned Brad Friedel. Spurs midfielder Danny Rose saw red five minutes into the second half for a harsh tackle. While Spurs was down, they weren't counted out. Emmanuel Adebayor converted a well-deserved Penalty Kick from the dot to salvage one point and keep their Champions league hopes alive. Aston Villa-1 Tottenham-1.

FULHAM-SUNDERLAND....Americans are generally looked down upon in London but Clint Dempsey is treated as one of their own. The Texan was tall in the saddle after delivering a free kick to open the scoring in the 12th minute. Phillip Bardsley would supply the knot in the 34th but before the ink would turn dry on the score sheet Mousa Dembele restored Fulham's lead one minute later. No team has done more with less this season than Fulham. Fulham-2 Sunderland-1.

WOLVERHAMPTON-EVERTON.....A nursing home provided more scoring than was found in this lackluster contest. Everton enjoyed the better of play but a tie was a fair result. Wolves-nil Everon-nil.

BOLTON-WEST BROMWICH ALBION.....Bolton could've taken a giant leap out of the premiership danger zone, but instead only took a small step. They had a 2-nothing lead on home soil with just 15 minutes left but somehow allowed WBA a life-line. Goals from Chris Brunt and James Morrison in the 75th and 90th was pure thievery for WBA. If a tie can ever be described as devastating, than this one fit the bill. Bolton-2 WBA-2.

QUEENS PARK RANGERS-STOKE......With a season-ending trip against a Manchester City squad that has its' champagne on ice, QPR was in a must-win situation. Talk about drama, a scoreless draw was a likely result until Djibril Cisse tapped home a rebound from the doorstep. QPR's fans partied like it was 1999 at games' end and for good reason. There's a better chance of Mitt Romney and Barack Obama sharing a vacation house than QPR has of winning next week at Manchester City. QPR-1 Stoke-nil.

Penalty Kick...Congratulations to Chelsea for winning the prestigious FA Cup on Saturday. They'll celebrate the summer by taking on Paris Saint-Germain at Yankee Stadium on July 22. Hit me back with your comments at nbaker@yesnetwork.com.

Progressive music (jazz, rock and roll, rhythm and blues), movies, and modern dance are just three forms of entertainment that Americans do better than our European peers.  As Muhammad Ali often said, it’s not bragging if you can back it up.  While singing, dancing, and movie-making are inherently in our DNA, Americans have been, and continue to be genetically challenged on the soccer field. Case in point; the spine-tingling Champions League semifinals in which Chelsea and Bayern Munich advanced to the Finals.  Would the Manchester two-step , with premiership supremacy at stake no less, be the equal of the CL semis?  Let’s kick start this thing to find out.

MANCHESTER CITY-MANCHESTER UNITED
Sir Alex Ferguson tipped his hand by including Ji Sung Park and excluding the more dangerous Dany Welbeck or Antonio Valencia in his starting eleven. Lo and behold the two fighters sparred at the outset.  It wasn't until the 35th that the two engaged in a slugfest.  City recorded the first knockdown in injury time when Vincent Kompany out jumped Chris Smalling.  Credit David Silva with the assist via a corner kick.  The second half was tense as a tightrope. City defending stoutly while United poking and probing for an opening that they would never find. Even the two managers went fingertip to fingertip on the touchline. Pure, 100 percent drama. Man City reclaims the top spot but only because of goal differential.  City-1 United-0.

EVERTON-FULHAM
The London-based side lost their grip on the match just seven minutes into the contest when in-form Nikica Jelavic deposited a PK past Mark Schwarzer.  The former Rangers (Scottish Rangers, not New York) front man has now scored 10 goals in 13 matches.  Jelavic would add another with Marouane Fellaini and Tim Cahill also joining in the fun. Cahill's tally was cuter than a three-year old girl on Easter Sunday, as he volleyed home a perfect pass from Steven Pienaar.  Fulham boss Martin Jol missed the game due to a chest ailment.  This outcome certainly won't help his recovery. Everton was pretty as a picture on this day, while Fulham was finger-paint ugly. Everton-3 Fulham-0.

WIGAN-NEWCASTLE UNITED
My main man Moses! Victor Moses, that is. He started out the season hotter than July, endured a cold spill in the winter months, and is heating up again in the latter stages of the campaign.  His flick-on header in the 13th and his right-footed slider in the 15th spelled doom for a Newcastle club that's hoping to execute its blueprint for a Champions League berth.  Wigan would score four times in the opening 45 to put this game to bed before intermission.  Papiss Cisse had a pair of efforts strike the frame in the second stanza, but to be honest it only would've provided perfume to a skunk. Strange effort from Newcastle.  One would think that they would display heart and courage with a CL spot within viewing range, but perhaps they're sweating under the heat. I erred when I declared Wigan dead and buried two months ago. They've been reborn.  Wigan-4 Newcastle-0.

NORWICH CITY-LIVERPOOL
When Luis Suarez is in the "on" position, he becomes one of the sport's most prolific goal scorers.  On this afternoon the Uruguayan was right-on.  He would record a hat trick.  The first two were standard offerings, but the third had to be seen to be believed.  He took out his wedge and lobbed his shot past a helpless Tim Krul from 55 yards away. Anyone else in his position would've gone with driver. Rory McIlroy and Phil Mickelson beware. It was a surprising performance from Suarez. Seconds before the opening kickoff he was quivering and shaking like a hip-hop dancer.  The chill in the air obviously didn't enter his veins.  One of the most dominant efforts of the season. On the other side after a surprisingly strong showing by the premiership rookie, the Norwich tank is on E. Liverpool-3 Norwich-0

CHELSEA-QUEENS PARK RANGERS
The Hatfields and McCoys are cousins compared to the hatred that these two London sides bring to the field.  Accusations of racism from QPR's Anton Ferdinand against Chelsea captain John Terry brought this rivalry to a boil. However, when play began it was the Blues who was the heavyweight in the scrap while QPR barely made it to featherweight. Daniel Sturridge scored just 48 seconds into the match while Fernando Torres netted a three-bagger. To add embarrassment to defeat for the visitors, Terry entered the scorebook the best way he knows how with a 13th minute header.  One has to take two steps back and admire the handy-work of Chelsea in the past few weeks.  They've qualified for the FA Cup and Champions League Final, they're fighting tooth-and-nail for a spot in next year's CL competition, their captain has a racism hearing pending, and they're producing results despite toiling under an interim manager. They certainly have an abundance of character.  Chelsea-6 QPR-1.

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR-BLACKBURN ROVERS
With Chelsea's victory and Newcastle's defeat, Spurs were able to recapture 4th place in the standings with a workmanlike, blue-collar effort thanks in large measure to diminutive Aaron Lennon. The speedy winger is Usain Bolt-like when afforded space and Rovers didn't have a stop sign to slow him down.  He played a role in both of Tottenham's goals and proved once again that if motivated and in good health he's as dangerous as any winger in the sport.  Blackburn has the look of a team that's destined for relegation.  Tottenham-2 Blackburn-0.

STOKE CITY-ARSENAL
Playing against Stoke is like a trip to the dentist.  You'll come out of the visit in better health, but while you're in their presence you'll experience discomfort.  Arsenal underwent root canal in the 9th when lanky Peter Crouch nodded home a cross from his sweet spot five yards from goal. Robin Van Persie would net the equalizer in the 28th thanks to a perfect cross from Tomas Rosicky. If a tie is like kissing your sister, then Arsenal's sibling is Roseanne Barr.  Arsenal-1 Stoke-1.

SWANSEA-WOLVERHAMPTON
Stand up and howl to the moon, Wolves; your ticket to Championship League football next season has been punched. You'll field a vastly less expensive team in 2012-'13 and you have nothing to play for in these last three weeks besides pride. The men in orange never wave the white flag of surrender. They found themselves staring up at a 3-0 deficit after just 15 minutes and were buried beneath a 4-1 hole in the 31st.  Terry Connor's crew was somehow able to score three unanswered goals and walk away with a point. Bravery personified by Wolves.  Swansea-4 Wolverhampton-4.

SUNDERLAND-BOLTON
A valuable point for Bolton as they hope to avoid relegation. Captain Kevin Davies would score both goals for the visitors. Sunderland is playing like a club that realizes that its premiership status for 2012-'13 is secure; which it is.  Sunderland-2 Bolton-2.

WEST BROMWICH ALBION-ASTON VILLA
Both sides had solid scoring opportunities, and both were the victims of questionable decisions by the officials, but besides that there was nothing on the scoreboard and nothing to report.  AV is the brunt of too many jokes they're so offensively-challenged. WBA-nil Aston Villa-nil.

Comments please, nbaker@yesnetwork.com.

Between April 7th and the 16th, Wigan took on Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal. That's the premiership's equivalent of a pitcher facing Gehrig, Ruth, and DiMaggio in the ninth inning of a tie game. Despite being relegation-challenged, Wigan escaped the jam with a pair of strikeouts (victories over Man U and Arsenal) and a free pass (a controversial loss to Chelsea). I've officially moonwalked away from my March prediction that Roberto Martinez's team is going down. Without the benefit of a life-preserver, Wigan has floated back to sea-level. Well-done, Wigan. Let's kick-start this thing.

MANCHESTER UNITED-EVERTON......Games like this would make anyone a premiership soccer fan. With 8 goals scored, this horse is easy to ride. What made this see-saw affair so dramatic was the quality of the goals scored, and the competiveness of the two sides. If I were to start at the beginning, this blog entry would never end. Nikica Jelavic opened the scoring in the 33rd with a nod of the head despite being virtually parallel to goalkeeper David De Gea. A near impossible shot made possible by a perfect placement. Wayne Rooney and Nani then decided to make the pitch their own. With the aid of a terrific right-footed thunderbolt from Danny Welbeck, Man U had a two-goal cushion on two separate occasions. But despite playing at home, and with the aroma of a premiership title in the air, the red devils put down their pitchforks. They didn't just fall asleep they went comatose. Everton would strike twice within a two minute span in the 83rd and 85th minutes resulting in a 4-4 standoff and sending Man City hearts racing. Man U's collapse was comparable to Saturday's 15-9 Yankees victory over the Red Sox. Wow. Manchester United-4 Everton-4.

WOLVERHAMPTON-MANCHESTER CITY......So with Everton providing first aid to their rivals, it was up to City to complete the exacta and add meaning to next Monday's Manchester derby. Strangely, City came out cagey and crafty while Wolves had City net minder Joe Hart scampering across his goal line like a hip hop dancer. Sergio Aguero finally allowed the visitors to exhale in the 27th courtesy of a terrific assist from Gael Clichy. Samir Nasri doubled City's pleasure in the 74th. The table is set with the premiership's finest silverware on the line next Monday afternoon. On the flip side Wolves is officially relegated. The orange-clad unit displayed heart and courage during this difficult season. They have absolutely nothing to be ashamed of. I predict only a one-year absence from soccer's strongest league. Manchester City-2 Wolverhampton-0.

ARSENAL-CHELSEA........Chelsea was coming off an emotional midweek victory over Barcelona, compared to the Gunners stunning setback to Wigan. With that as a backdrop it was surprising to see both teams tap on the brakes instead of a full-throttle attack. Chelsea had the upper hand when the contest was played between the top of the penalty boxes, but from penalty box line to the goal line, Arsenal was in charge. Robin Van Persie had several golden scoring opportunities turn to rust. The gunners didn't suffer a loss on the scoreboard, but their locker room was a minus one when it was announced that Theo Wolcott would miss the rest of the season with a hamstring injury. Chelsea-nil Arsenal-nil.

QUEENS PARK RANGERS-TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR.......Tottenham resides in the upper floors of the premiership while QPR is looking to escape the cellar. Guess which side came out with more spirit and courage? One goal was scored but it would prove to be enough; Harry Redknapp once called Adel Taarabt a fruitcake. After the Moroccan delivered the goods on a free kick, the beleaguered Spurs boss had to be reaching for the alka seltzer. Spurs has been diagnosed as schizophrenic and need a firm hug or at a house call form Dr Oz. They have rock-solid character in the form of Bale, Parker, Modric, and Gallas. But Adebayor, Van der Vaart,and Lennon, are little girls with curls. It would be astonishing if they fall out of the top four after being anchored in third for the majority of the season. QPR-1 Tottenham-nil.

NEWCASTLE UNITED-STOKE CITY........Newcastle went big-game hunting; winners of five in a row, with dreams of a Champions League berth at seasons' end. The scoring firm of Cabaye and Cisse was too much for Stoke to handle. In the 17th Yohan Cabaye deposited the rebound of a Papiss Cisse header, and four minutes later Cabaye was on the giving end with a pinpoint pass to the premiership's hottest goal scorer. Cisse would net his 11th goal in his last 10 games and it was essentially game-over. Cabaye added some frosting 12 minutes into the second half. He rolled a curler past a defenseless Asmir Begovic for the final tally of the afternoon. It's refreshing to see one of England's blue-collar workers contend with the Chelsea's, Arsenal's, and Man U's for European glory. Newcastle-3 Stoke-nil.

FULHAM-WIGAN......Instead of a slice-and-dice approach, these two offensive minded sides decided to poke and prod their way through the first 55 minutes of "action". Emmerson Boyce was the first player to awake from the slumber party with a perfectly-placed drive from just outside the box. The home-side countered via Pavel Pogrebnyak exactly 71 seconds later. Pogrebnyak has proven to be one of the most valuable additions from the transfer window period. With the contest headed to an apparent deadlock, Phillippe Senderos unlocked the tie by using his noggin' in the final five minutes. Offensively Fulham doesn't need to take a backseat to Beyonce, Megan Fox, or Brooklyn Decker in the looks department. I could watch their entire body of work 24/7. Fulham-2 Wigan-1.

LIVERPOOL-WEST BROMWICH ALBION.....If indeed revenge is a dish best served cold, then Roy Hodgson will be booking his next flight to Siberia. 13 months after being shown the door at Anfield, the WBA chief came in with his new squad and raided the kitchen cupboard. Liverpool surrounded the WBA net with chance upon chance but had nothing to show for it. Meanwhile Glen Johnson's charitable donation in the 75th was gladly accepted by Peter Odemwingle. It was thievery of the highest order minus the disguise. WBA had no right to win this game and they didn't; Liverpool lost it. West Bromwich-1 Liverpool-nil.

ASTON VILLA-SUNDERLAND......Another head coach returning to his old stomping grounds. Martin O'Neill has been a miracle worker at Sunderland, after previously nursing AV to good health. However the temperamental O'Neill can be counted on to speak his mind which has made for a lengthy resume. His black cats must've walked under a ladder because their luck on this day was all bad. Nicklas Bendtner deserved to score three goals. The one time he placed the ball in the back of the net, it was disallowed due to a bad off-sides call. Sometimes you're the windshield, and sometimes you're the bug. On this day Sunderland was the insect. On the other side, AV is offensively-challenged. Sunderland-0 Aston Vila-0.

BLACKBURN ROVERS-NORWICH CITY......Blackburn's supporters continue to treat head coach Steve Kean as if he were a hippie at a country music concert. His team got the last laugh with a well-deserved three points. Mauro Formica volleyed home a cross in the 41st and David Hoilett showed why he's the best soccer player to come from Canada. He dribbled some ten yards across the top of the box before unleashing a laser into the top corner pocket. Pure magnificence. Blackburn will need performances like this to escape the danger zone. Blackburn-2 Norwich-nil.

BOLTON-SWANSEA CITY.........There were goal scoring chances aplenty between these two sides looking to stay within the premiership next season. Each side would score in the opening 15 minutes, but they do not enter sign awaited both teams in the last 75 minutes. Swansea's Danny Graham was found guilty of squandering a pair of scoring opportunities while Bolton was ruled innocent of poor defending. They simply retreated to a defensive posture and soaked up Swansea's pressure. A tie was a fair result. Bolton-1 Swansea-1.

PENALTY KICK......Next week's blog will come your way following Monday afternoon's Manchester City/Manchester United showdown.

The 2012-’13 Barclay’s Premier League season has been reduced to a precious few, and there’s as much drama and mystery at the bottom of the sea as there is at the top. The Manchester brothers, United and City, will slug it out for the title with big sibling United having the upper hand.  Arsenal, Tottenham, Newcastle, and Chelsea were separated by just seven points entering the weekend.  But it's the ocean floor where the sharks reside. The three clubs who sink at season's end will drown; those that can stay afloat retain premiership status next season.  Let’s kick start this thing.

NORWICH CITY-MANCHESTER CITY
Roberto Mancini was more nervous than a cat on a hot tin roof in the days leading up to this encounter, but he had nothing to fear but fear itself.  A suddenly inspired and rejuvenated Carlos Tevez charged at will against an overmatched Norwich defense.  The Argentine striker got the call with Mario Balotelli serving a suspension and he endeared himself to the City faithful with a hat trick (however, I'm sure Mancini could have done without the Bubba Watson impersonation after the third goal).  Sergio Aguero and David Silva enjoyed more open space than a Nebraska farmer at harvest time, as City turned back the calendar to September and October 2011, when they dominated the premiership. Let's all hope that the 4/30 United at City contest means more than just three points. Manchester City-6 Norwich-1.

MANCHESTER UNITED-ASTON VILLA
For the second straight week, Ashley Young was more like Ashley Judd.  His Oscar-winning act when "tripped' within the box prompted yet another controversial PK call.  Hey, in this sport, tricks often produce treats. Wayne Rooney delivered the goods from the spot and the defending champions were off to the races.  Danny Welbeck and Nani would play follow the leader as Rooney would net another in the second half.  To be fair AV did find room to roam in the Manchester's defensive end particularly in the opening 45, but the red devils were the better side by the length of the pitch.  The lead atop the table stands at five with the games dwindling to a precious few. Manchester United-4 Aston Villa-nil.

SUNDERLAND-WOLVERHAMPTON
I've promised my editors that I would have little trouble in filling this space, but I was severely tested by this "contest". The black cats came out in full metal jacket, but Wolves net minder Wayne Hennessey was up to the task. What was baffling is that a Wolves team that squats rock bottom in the standings did not possess a sense of urgency.  During their recent poor form (which some would argue began with the first game of the season) Wolves had displayed heart and courage. Neither was on display on this afternoon. Sunderland had greater possession and the better scoring chances, but I can't quibble with the final score line. Sunderland-nil Wolverhampton-nil.

WEST BROMWICH ALBION-QUEENS PARK RANGERS
Relegation-threatened QPR had to relish an opportunity to score goals against a WBA side lacking a strong defensive core.  The visitors discovered that WBA wouldn't blow away by itself; that someone had to huff-and-puff.  Unfortunately, the visitors couldn't produce an offensive flow and at the other end really gave up just one scoring chance; but one chance was all that the home side would desire. Graham Dorrans put the pedal down on a 70 mph drive from 35 yards away.  QPR net minder Patrick Kenny would've had his hands sawed off if he had stopped the shot. Pure 100 percent quality. QPR remains in the relegation danger zone. West Bromwich-1 Queens Park Rangers-0.

SWANSEA CITY-BLACKBURN ROVERS
After a promising February and March, Blackburn have suddenly stumbled like a college freshman at last call.  There was no life, no energy, and no goals against a Swansea side that will never be confused with Real Madrid.  However, with that being said all three Swansea tallies had artistic merit.  In the 37th Gylfl Sigurdsson's effort was as difficult as the pronunciation of his name. His curling left hook from the side of the box was perfectly placed and just outside the lunging grasp of David Robinson.  The second goal took a paint by numbers approach.  Tic-tac-toe sharing in the 43rd minute resulted in a Nathan Dyer slider. Then Scott Sinclair bobbed and weave through a swiss-cheese Blackburn backline for the final tally of the afternoon.  Unfairly the deflected shot was credited as a Scott Dunn own goal.  This reporter prefers the hockey approach; credit a goal to the last offensive player to touch the puck/ball. As soccer's scoring rules are formed, Sinclair's superman effort goes unnoticed.  Blackburn is sitting in deep horse manure residing second from the bottom.  Swansea-3 Blackburn-0.

PENALTY KICK
Four teams were involved in FA Cup action over the weekend, which was the reason for the abbreviated schedule. Normalcy returns to the premiership next weekend with the marquee matchup taking place in London where Arsenal will square off against Chelsea.

Coming into the weekend, there were just seven games remaining in the 2011-‘12 premiership season.  Fan Appreciation Day is tentatively scheduled for April 30; that's when the monsters of Manchester collide. Currently, United sit in first place with City parked in second. That dish is the main course, but first we must get through the appetizers.  Time to kick-start this thing.

MANCHESTER UNITED-QUEENS PARK RANGERS
Thankfully in the past few weeks this blog hasn't had issues with the officiating throughout the prem, but unfortunately poor decisions from the on-field decision-makers reared its ugly head in this match.  Lee Mason ruled Shaun Derry guilty of an innocent nudge upon United midfielder Ashley Young. Not only was the contact minimal at best, but Young was also a yard offsides. To compound his misjudgement Mason banished Derry to the dressing room with a red card.  Coming in only the 15th minute, it was game-set-match for QPR. Wayne Rooney delivered the goods from the pk spot and ancient Paul Scholes provided insurance in the 68th.  Polish the hardware, the championship trophy is enroute to the red devils.  Manchester United-2 QPR-0.

CHELSEA-WIGAN
Chelsea came into this match off a midweek champions league victory over Benfica.  They showed signs of fatigue both physically and emotionally in this contest, but received first aid in the form of Branislav Ivanovic's strike to open the scoring in the 38th minute.  Ivanovic was clearly offsides (a recurring theme throughout the weekend) but the referee and linesmen failed to spot the infraction. Wigan dug in their heels and tied the score in the 82nd when Mohamed Diame beat Peter Cech from the top of the box.  The beauty within the play was the lightning quickness in which Diame unleashed his left-footed blast. It was a case of now you see it, now you don't.  The blues would later come off the canvas and deliver the knockout blow in injury time with a suddenly re-born Fernando Torres providing the body shots. Juan Mata would slot home the rebound of Torres' shot allowing Chelsea to accept all three points.  I'll take this opportunity to admit a mistake; Wigan will not be relegated without a fight.  Unfortunately they came out second-best against the officiating. Why is it that the strongest teams always seem to benefit from questionable calls, while the lower-tiered clubs seem to always draw the short-straw. Chelsea-2 Wigan-1.

ARSENAL-MANCHESTER CITY
The Gunners were firing from all angles but had nothing to show for it until the 87th.  City midfielder Juan Pizarro had control of the ball but chose a dangerous path instead of a safe one.  Mikel Arteta dispossessed Pizarro and unleashed a rocket into the lower left-corner pocket.  That  wasn't City's only faux pas; spoiled brat Mario Balotelli was deservedly dismissed with his second yellow card late in the contest.  70 minutes earlier the young italian nearly severed Alex Song's leg with a horrible challenge.  Why Roberto Mancini sees fit to include Baloteli in his starting eleven defies a logical answer. Bubba Watson won the Masters green jacket; Balotelli needs to be fitted for a straitjacket.   Arsenal-1 Man City-0.

SUNDERLAND-TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Zeroes on the scoreboard after 90, and zero to report.  Both clubs poked and prodded but never came close to denting the scoreboard. Sunderland-nil Tottenham-nil.

BOLTON-FULHAM
How did Clint Dempsey score his two goals? Let me count the ways.  The Texan first received congratulations after driving home a free kick from 25 yards out;  he would then nod home his second 14 minutes later.  The London-based side would add a third but the story of this saga was Dempsey. His 15 goals on the season sets a new Fulham club record.  Here's a tip of the ten-gallon hat, and a kick of a snakeskin cowboy boot to the native of the lone star state. Fulham-3 Bolton-0.

LIVERPOOL-ASTON VILLA
Although I'm tempted to heap more abuse upon overmatched Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish, I'll pass the spoon on this occasion as his side attacked Villa much like MacArthur stormed Normandy.  Wave upon wave of Liverpool red was turned aside by a stout AV defense and goalkeeper Shay Given. Luis Suarez neutralized a Chris Herd tally in the 82nd minute.  Sports is a results-oriented business, and Liverpool's stock is still trading low. Liverpool-1 Aston Villa-1.

NORWICH CITY-EVERTON
This lively contest was the most entertaining contest of the holiday weekend. All four goals were scored from a combined distance of 15 yards out as both sets of defenders appeared to be on holiday.  Attackers from each side were left stranded the entire match. Grant Holt's tap-in from the doorstep salvaged a point for the home side. Norwich-2 Everton-2.

WEST BROMWICH ALBION-BLACKBURN ROVERS
Rovers had been praised and worshipped by various writers including this one for their improved play last month, but if March came in like a lion, April arrived like a lamb. Steve Kean's side proved lifeless and without energy which is surprising since they were meeting another relegation-threatened side. WBA will never be confused with Barcelona or Manchester United but they didn't have to be on this day. West Bromwich-3 Blackburn-0.

STOKE-WOLVERHAMPTON
Wolves undoubtedly know that they're enjoying their last six weeks of top-flight football, but they continue to scrap and claw in every match. They were done wrong by a perfectly placed Peter Crouch header in the 61st. The skyscraper-like Crouch was able to head home a cross from 15 yards out! Just incredible placement by the Brit.  Poor Wolves; they're more than just snakebit. Stoke-2 Woverhampton-1.

SWANSEA CITY-NEWCASTLE UNITED
It was truly a very good Friday for Papiss Cisse and a Newcastle team with designs on Europe next season. The sengalese international would find the back of the net in the 5th and 68th minutes in this contest played on April 6th. Cisse has now scored eight goals in his last nine games. Newcastle is secure in fifth place with a champions league spot well within range. Newcastle-2 Swansea-0.

PENALTY KICK
The battle to avoid relegation isn't exactly trigonometry tough; Wolverhampton has certainly capsized.  Blackburn, Wigan, QPR and Bolton are fighting over the table scraps. Two of the four sides will be tossed overboard, while the survivors can "cruise" into the 2012-'13 campaign. That's a wrap.  Hit me back with your comments. nbaker@yesnetwork.com

I’ve got PLENTY to write about the U.S. soccer team’s failure to qualify for the 2012 summer Olympics at the end of this blog.  But first we kick off the weekend that was in the Barclay’s Premier League.

MANCHESTER CITY-SUNDERLAND
2nd place City was expected to squash mid-table Sunderland but this wasn't WrestleMania and the black cats refused to do the job. The visitors sliced through City's timid backline with Stephane Sessegnon slashing at will.  He was the primary helper on Sunderland's first two goals while City looked anything but fluid in their attack. Juan Pizzaro would come on for Micah Richards midway through the second half and the home side finally found their sea legs. Mario Balotelli and Aleksandar Kolarov would score just three minutes apart to knot the score at 3 and that's where it would end. Last week I wrote that City was performing like the poker player that continually pushes all-in with middle pair; after this result they've gone from among the chip leaders, to the short-stack.  Manchester City-3 Sunderland-3.

ASTON VILLA-CHELSEA
Roberto De Matteo has proven to be Dr. Feelgood for Chelsea.  They produced their fifth straight premiership win and even received a goal from the enigmatic Fernando Torres.  The usually wayward Spaniard scored for the first time in six months to salt the game away.  There were some anxious moments when the home side evened the contest late in the match but Daniel Sturridge would ride to the rescue for the resurgent blues.  Much like the Knicks in the NBA, Chelsea has gained strength and courage from a coaching change. They have no shot at a premiership crown, but their Champions League hopes both this year and next are on blast. AV was playing with a heavy heart after receiving the news that captain Stiliyan Petrov was diagnosed with leukemia.  Chelsea-4 Aston Villa-2.

EVERTON-WEST BROMWICH ALBION
Everton travels in the right-hand lane offensively and usually proceed with caution.  In this one manager David Moyes decided to gun the engine and WBA wasn't able to keep pace.  Leon Osman's blast from 15 yards out was cruelly judged as a Gareth McAuley own goal.  Super-sub Victor Anichebe slotted home Everton's second in the 65th. Everton's wide open approach did yield several solid scoring chances for WBA but they weren't able to capitalize. Everton-2 West Bromwich-0.

QUEENS PARK RANGERS-ARSENAL
Two months ago I tabbed Arsensal's Bacary Sagna as the premiership's most underrated fullback. His fellow defenseman Thomas Vermaelen was the weekend's unluckiest defenseman. He gift-wrapped QPR's opener when he allowed Adel Taarabt to treat him like a mannequin. Then after Theo Wolcott's equalizer, Vermaelen compounded his earlier faux pas by slipping at the edge of the box.  Samba Diakate drove home the eventual game-winner from ten yards out.  A huge result for QPR.  QPR-2 Arsenal-1.

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR-SWANSEA CITY
The firm of VanDerVaart and Adebayor were found guilty of assault upon the Swansea D.  Rafael Van der Vaart was up first courtesy of his lethal, left boot. Then Air Adebayor would convert pinpoint crosses from VDV and Aaron Lennon respectively. Spurs desperately needed this victory to renew their confidence and Champions League hopes. Tottenham Hotspur-3 Swansea-1.

NEWCASTLE UNITED-LIVERPOOL
In the first half of the '11-'12 campaign, Demba Ba was the alpha male of the Newcastle offense but he has now yielded his throne to Papiss Cisse.  Two more goals on the day for a total of six in his last seven games.  Pressure bursts pipes and it also does wonders for a Liverpool's fragile psyche.  Luis Suarez missed a virtual empty net while goalkeeper Pepi Reina saw red after a needless headbutt. If this were an election year in the old country, Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish would be voted out of office. Newcastle United-2 Liverpool-0.

FULHAM-NORWICH CITY
They say that everything's bigger in Texas, but no American soccer player stands taller than Clint Dempsey.  And that includes Landon Donovan. The Lone Star State native scored first in the 2nd minute and provided first aid to Damien Duff's tally 13 minutes later.  Fulham should've had more as they pounded more wood than a lumberjack.  Norwich had been stubborn for the most part away from home, but they've definitely hit a slump. Fulham-2 Norwich City-1.

WIGAN-STOKE
Please forgive me, Roberto Martinez, for I have sinned.  A few issues ago I declared that his Wigan side was destined for the premiership scrap heap at seasons' end.  After recording their second straight win, they're undefeated in their last four. I may have to reassess their chances.  Victor Moses' goal to make it 2-0 was a testament to his hustle and drive. He swiped a pass at midfield and traveled express, dribbling 60 yards before sliding home the goal.  Wigan has true grit.  Wigan-2 Stoke-0.

WOLVERHAMPTON-BOLTON
Wolves' luck has to be seen to be believed. They were the victims of several acrobatic saves, a clearance on the goal-line, wayward finishing, and shots off the woodwork; and that all came in the first half !  In the second half they were on the receiving end of a brutally bad penalty kick call.  To make matters worse in the waning moments of the contest goalie Wayne Hennessey and one of his defenders, Roger Johnson  went nose-to-nose and nearly squared off after a disagreement.  Speaking of separation, Wolves will be divorced from the premiership in less than two months time. Bolton-3 Wolverhampton-2.

PENALTY KICK
Last  Monday, the U.S under-23 soccer team suffered a humiliating 3-3 tie to El Salvador.  The U.S. will not compete at the 2012 Olympics and that is a tragedy.  The Olympic qualifying group was composed of U.S., El Salvador, Canada, and Cuba, with the tournament played on American fields.  The red, white, and blue finished third in the group and with the home-field advantage, resources (financial and otherwise), and talent at its disposal this result is totally unacceptable. U.S. soccer fans have to wonder if American soccer is headed north. The senior team was fortunate to escape the group-stage in the 2010 world cup; they under-performed at the under-17 world cup in Mexico;  now they’ve drowned while swimming among a group of minnows.  It’s my belief that U.S. Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati has to take the fall.  Enough is enough.  Hit me back at nbaker@yesnetwork.com.

Here’s the Pitch is praying for a complete and speedy recovery for Fabrice Muamba.  The Bolton midfielder collapsed during an FA Cup match against Tottenham on March 17.  Despite some anxious moments at the onset, the 23-year old Muamba’s condition has improved on a daily basis.  It’s nice to see that in these contentious times  clubs, players, and fans are all on Fabrice Muamba's team.

STOKE-MANCHESTER CITY
A wide-open entertaining contest with spectacular goals from each team.  Stoke traveled route one in the 59th minute; a long goal kick found the spindly legs of Peter Crouch.  The Stoke striker settled, turned, and fired an arrow into the upper right corner past a defenseless Joe Hart.  1-0 Stoke.  17 minutes later, YaYa Toure unleashed a rocket from 40 yards out. The shot deflected off a defender's head, but who cares.  An absolute fastball that was better suited for the pitcher's mound. City reminds me of the poker player who continually pushes all-in with middle pair. On this occasion they were called with a better hand.  And why didn't City boss Mancini shake hands with his Stoke counterpart Tony Pulis at games' end? Stoke-1 Manchester City-1

ARSENAL-ASTON VILLA
Picture Mike Tyson vs. Frank Bruno. Villa was pummeled with rights and lefts from all different angles.  Kieran Gibbs, Theo Walcott, and Mikel Arteta all tickled the twine as Arsenal recorded its seventh consecutive premiership win. These guys are on fire and are producing results by continuing to play their up-tempo pedal-to-metal style. This writer is big on style points.  Arsenal-3 Aston Villa-0.

CHELSEA-TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
A match between two clubs fighting for a top-four finish and a reservation in next season's Champions League turned into a dud.  Chelsea being at home and mired in fifth place should've been the side in full attack mode but they were tentative and anything but fluid.  Each team hit the woodwork but it was Spurs that was the better side in the second half. Chelsea-0 Tottenham-0.

BOLTON-BLACKBURN ROVERS
I'm getting emotional just writing about the touching pre-game scenes as Bolton took the pitch for the first time since Fab Muamba's collapse. The home side treated the displays of affection much like a weightlifter reacts to muscle milk.  With the strength of the public behind them, Bolton willed themselves to a well-deserved victory.  Blackburn was not at their best but on this day their best likely would not have been good enough.  David Wheater would nod home a pair of first half goals for the winners. Bolton-2 Blackburn-1.

WEST BROMWICH ALBION-NEWCASTLE UNITED
Newcastle was on blast from the opening whistle while West Brom became a punching bag.  The visitors had a two-spot on the board through Papiss Cisse and Hatem Ben Arfa after 12 minutes, and added a third in the 34th.  WBA got one back early in the second, but it was a case of too little, too late. Newcastle have been road warriors with six wins away from home this season. Ohhh what a rush.  Newcastle-3 WBA-1.

LIVERPOOL-WIGAN
Regular readers of this column are familiar with my disdain of Liverpool skipper Kenny Dalglish.  No one has done less with more than the scot.  For some unknown reason he has escaped the venom and wrath that was heaped upon former coaches Hodgson and Benitez.  I've finally come across stories questioning Dalglish's future, but on this occasion I'm willing to give him a pass.  Lee Mason's officiating crew made a stew of a perfectly contested match. A questionable PK ruling in the first and a head-scratching disallowed tally in the second was too much for the reds to overcome. One month ago, I declared that Wigan would be relegated at season's end; I still stand by that belief, but will admit that they are playing much better of late. A shocking result at Anfield.  Wigan-2 Liverpool-1.

SUNDERLAND-QUEENS PARK RANGERS
In midweek, QPR came off the canvas scoring three goals in the final minutes in recording a knockout of struggling Liverpool. There would be no Rocky-type comebacks on this day. Bendtner, Maclean, and Sessegnon would find the back of the net as the black cats produced a comfortable victory.  QPR is in a relegation battle and having striker Djbril Cisse sent off for a silly red card will not help its' chances. Sunderland-3 QPR-1.

SWANSEA-EVERTON
Earlier I wrote that no coach does less with more than Kenny Dalglish.  I can offer criticism and I can also offer praise.  No coach has done more with less than Everton's David Moyes.  Yet another hard-working, blue-collar effort from Everton.  Leighton Baines' goal off a free kick had more curves than J-Lo. Everton would add another while the home side would never threaten Tim Howard's goal.  Everton-2 Swansea-0.

NORWICH CITY-WOLVERHAMPTON
Two struggling teams got together but it's Wolves that find themselves in the relegation danger zone.  All the scoring took place in the first half.  Matthew Jarvis provided the visitors with a ray of hope in the 25th, but the hardest working man in the premiership, Grant Holt, would score one minute later and also add another from the penalty spot in giving Norwich all three points.  Holt was shown red in the 85th for a harsh tackle but Wolves could not take advantage. Norwich-2 Wolverhampton-1.

PENALTY KICK
Hit me back with your comments at nbaker@yesnetwork.com.

Fans of the Barclays Premier League were treated to some heavyweight matchups the past two weeks, but this weekend's games were played in the featherweight division. But, hey, featherweight results carry the same weight as those in the heavyweight ranks. Let's get ready to rumble.

SWANSEA CITY-MANCHESTER CITY.....Swansea wasn't even expected to have a puncher's chance against the premiership leaders and a missed PK in the 7th minute wouldn't brighten their spirits.  City made one mistake but it would prove to be costly. Stefan Savic's goof at midfield would soon become a Luke Moore goal. Mike Tyson, meet Buster Douglas. Swansea-1 Manchester City-0.

MANCHESTER UNITED-WEST BROMWICH ALBION.....WBA came in winners of three in a row but they would hardly lay a glove on the red devils. A pair of goals from Wayne Rooney would send the visitors down for the count. "The champ is here" as United overtakes City at the top of the table. Manchester United-2 WBA-0.

SUNDERLAND-LIVERPOOL......Liverpool have absorbed their share of body shots this season and it seems to have taken its' toll. Nicklas Bendtner tallied the only goal of the match in the 56th while the reds proved impotent on the offensive end. They've dropped three straight for the first time since 2003. How Kenny Dalglish has escaped the wrath of the home fans is beyond me. Sunderland-1 Liverpool-0.

CHELSEA-STOKE......In black-and-white Chelsea's win looks impressive however on the green grass the victory looked more ugly than attractive. Stoke striker Ricardo Fuller was banished after seeing red however Chelsea would only yield a 68th minute Didier Drogba goal despite its' one-man advantage for 65-plus minutes. I'm not buying Chelsea's new-found success. Chelsea-1 Stoke-0.

EVERTON-TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR.....Since they blew a 2-0 lead to arch rival Arsenal in late February, Spurs has stalled like a '57 Chevy. Nikila Jelavic who arrived from Scotland during the January transfer period scored the game's only goal courtesy of some nifty tic-tac-toe passing in the 22nd. Tottenham's best chance came during stoppage time when former Everton striker Louis Saha was denied by the post and Tim Howard respectively. Two things you can be sure as the premiership season draws to a close; the weather gets warmer, and Tottenham dances to the Tighten Up. Everton-1 Tottenham Hotspur-0.

ASTON VILLA-FULHAM......A dreary, overcast game produced a ray of sunshine in the 92nd minute. Fulham keeper Mark Schwarzer couldn't wrap his mitts around Gary Gardner's hard strike from just outside the box. Andreas Weimann was in the right place at the right time to tuck home the rebound. Tough luck for a Fulham side that had been in good form of late. But in Weimann's case you make your own luck. Aston Villa-1 Fulham-0.

BOLTON-QUEENS PARK RANGERS......An enormous match between two squads fighting to avoid relegation. Unfortunately the officiating had a starring role in this production. Clint Hill looked to put the visitors in front in the 19th when his header clearly crossed over the goal line. However referee Martin Atkinson and his two accomplices working the sidelines didn't see it that way. The same exact incident happened two weeks earlier in a Juventus/AC Milan Serie A match. Goal line technology exists to get these calls 100% accurate. Millions of dollars in revenue are at stake. Hey I know it's not my cheddar but to the Football Association we're talking tip money. Ivan Klasnic broke a 1-1 tie in the 86th to give Bolton all three points. QPR was left with nothing but fumes as they expressed their disgust following the match. Bolton-2 QPR-1.

WOLVERHAMPTON-BLACKBURN.....Another huge relegation zone battle but this one would belong to the visiting side. Junior Hoilette would net two of the prettiest goals you'll ever see on each side of intermission. I've made boxing references throughout this blog and here's another; Wolves is down for the count. They can't recover from this KO. They won't be playing in the premiership next season. Blackburn-2 Wolverhampton-0.

NORWICH CITY-WIGAN....A few weeks back I proclaimed that Wigan dead and buried. After Saturday's courageous effort I've updated their condition critical. Led by Victor Moses Wigan produced its' finest effort since the calendar turned to 2012.  The result in the record books was a 1-1 stalemate but Wigan was the better side. Norwich City-1 Wigan-1.

PENALTY KICK.....How come Tiger Woods is the only golfer who continually finds himself in golf's medical ward. Els, Mickelson, Westwood, the list is endless. However it's golf's best-conditioned athlete who's always hurt. How is this so ? We're talking golf not American football. This doesn't pass the smell test. Hit me back with your comments nbaker@yesnetwork.com.

In the second week of the season, Manchester United scored three second half goals to defeat Tottenham Hotspur, 3-0.  That game was played in August 2011.  Fast forward to now.  Both sides reside within the table’s comfort zone, which is the only criteria for inclusion into the Champions League club. Their contest kicks off this week’s recap from the Barclay’s Premier League.  Let’s kick-start this thing.

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR-MANCHESTER UNITED.....Spurs have to be asking themselves where did it all go wrong ? Despite enjoying the bulk of possession and scoring chances, it was Man U who proved most opportunistic.  A goal at the stroke of halftime by Wayne Rooney and a pair of second-half strikes by Ashley Young keeps the Devils red hot. Spurs had a goal justifiably waved off due to a handball in the 37th, while David De Gea made a gorgeous glove save to keep Man U's one goal advantage in the 51st.  Tottenham was guilty of some slacking defending, but if they are to be honest, they need to admit that head coach Harry Redknapp's fascination with being the field boss for England's national squad has proven to be a distraction. Manchester United-3 Tottenham Hotspur-1.

LIVERPOOL-ARSENAL.......A tight, defensive struggle at Anfield between two teams hungry for a Champions League berth at season's end.  The Reds opened the scoring in the 23rd minute via an own goal by Laurent Koscielny.  Eight minutes later, Robin Van Persie would net the equalizer thanks in large part to a pinpoint cross from Bacary Sagna.  Let me declare when he's 100% healthy, Sagna is one of the top three fullbacks in England. He's a threat in attack mode or defending.  It's no coincidence that Arsenal has climbed the table at the same time that number three returned to the lineup from injury. The contest remained deadlocked until RVP would score the game-winner in injury time. It was an innocent-looking play, and perhaps Liverpool was guilty of feeling the buildup was of no threat.  RVP is the MVP of the Barclay's this season by a large margin. Liverpool missed a penalty kick (along with the rebound) and hit the post on two other occasions.  I've said it before and it's worth repeating: no manager has done less with more than Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish.  The only down note for the Gunners was a serious head injury suffered by midfielder Mikel Arteta. Arsenal-2 Liverpool-1.

MANCHESTER CITY-BOLTON.....The Premiership leaders are the Wall Street bankers of the sport; resplendent in suit and tie while dining at the finest restaurants.  Bolton is all blue collar, clad in flannel shirts while eating a ham and cheese sandwich for lunch.  Get the picture?  Man City was just too talented, too strong, and yes, too rich for their opponent.  A first half own-goal and second-half tally from Mario Balotelli spelled doom for Bolton.  To be truthful, Super Mario realistically should've score three goals in the game. Future Man City opponents would be wise to exploit fullback Kolo Toure who looks slow and clumsy.  Manchester City-2 Bolton-0.

WEST BROMWICH ALBION-CHELSEA.......The vultures are circling around Andre Villas-Boas.  The Chelsea manager has already seen the Premiership title slip through his grasp, with their Champions League dreams also on thin ice.  Somehow they would fail to score against one of the league's cellar dwellers.  Daniel Sturridge and Frank Lampard (in injury time) had Chelsea's best opportunities but would come up empty.  WBA had one solid chance and they made the most of it. Gareth McAuley would deflect a shot past Peter Cech in the 82nd.  Chelsea continue to sing the blues; "If it wasn't for bad luck, they wouldn't have any luck at all." On Sunday, Chelsea relieved Villas-Boas from his coaching duties.  West Bromwich-1 Chelsea-0.

QUEENS PARK RANGERS-EVERTON.....A game in which QPR enjoyed the better of play, but the result would only be one point. Royston Drenthe scored in the 31st with a high and tight fastball in the lower corner pocket from 30 yards out.  Just an absolute thunderbolt from the Dutch international.  Bobby Zamora would head home the tieing goal six minutes later.  At the stroke of halftime, Akos Buzsaky had Everton keeper Tim Howard begging for mercy from the doorstep, but would somehow misfire from five yards out. Everton escapes with a tie. QPR-1 Everton-1.

FULHAM-WOLVERHAMPTON........So much for the heart and soul that the Wolves displayed in Terry Connor's first game in charge last week. The second time around saw the visitors display the heart of the cowardly lion. Pavel Pogrebnyak has proven to pay dividends that would make a Wall Street hedge manager envious. The Russian international notched a hat trick giving him five goals in three games since joining the London side.  Clint Dempsey gave American soccer fans bragging rights by bagging a deuce.  This on the heels of his game winner midweek against the Italians. Fulham-5 Wolverhampton-0.

NEWCASTLE UNITED-SUNDERLAND.......This rivalry is as angry as grizzly bear. The Manchester derby as well as Everton/Liverpool are more newsworthy but this one was waged with a passion rarely seen this year. Career-threatening tackles, managers going jaw-to-jaw on the sideline.  I like my soccer sizzler-steak tough, but this was almost too much to digest.  Nicklas Bendtner scored from the penalty spot in the 24th while Newcastle would equalize in injury time courtesy of Shola Ameoba. This match had a little bit of everything: a red card in the 60th and a missed PK by usually reliable Demba Ba. Perhaps a tie was a fair outcome. Newcastle-1 Sunderland-1.

BLACKBURN ROVERS-ASTON VILLA......What else is new?  Again, Blackburn failed to record a shutout.  They're the only club in the Premiership yet to register a clean sheet, through no fault of goaltender Paul Robinson.  The Brit was magnificent between the pipes.  Charles N'Zogbia opened the scoring before David Dunn would use the old noggin to square the match. Rover supporters still want Steve Kean's scalp, but the manager has rescued his squad from the relegation zone. Blackburn-1 Aston Villa-1.

WIGAN-SWANSEA CITY....Just an absolutely putrid effort from a Wigan side fighting for their Premiership existence.  The Icelander Gylfl Sigurdsson put Wigan on ice with a pair of strikes.  The Wigan supporters booed their club off the pitch at game's end. Those who were brave enough to stay until the end, that is.  Swansea City-2 Wigan-0.

STOKE-NORWICH CITY....The Canaries were victimized by a wronged out-of-bounds call that led to Stoke's one and only goal of the contest. Norwich boss Paul Lambert had his nostrils flaming following the loss over the bogus call, but his club hardly pressured Stoke. Stoke-1 Norwich City-0.

PENALTY KICK…..I caution US soccer observers not  to soar too high following Team USA’s 1-nil victory in midweek against Italy.  A win to be proud of ? Most definitely.  But this victory is the equivalent of a Mets' win over the Yankees on April 3rd; the result doesn’t count.  Both teams continue to re-arrange their furniture in advance of the 2014 World Cup. I’m from Missouri; show me positive results when the games REALLY matter. Hit me back nbaker@yesnetwork.com.

Like millions of others around the planet I have a deep and passionate love affair with the beautiful game. The latest object of my affection is midfielder Ezequiel Lavezzi. While on vacation last week, I witnessed the Napoli midfielder reduce Chelsea to crumbs in their first-leg Champions League match. The Argentine would score twice and set up another as the napolitani downed the blues, 3-1. I want Lavezzi to play in the league's top league. Fans of the premiership can only hope that the feeling is mutual. Let's kick start this thing.

MANCHESTER CITY-BLACKBURN ROVERS
This match had Harlem Globetrotters vs Washington Generals written all over it and it played out that way. Goals from Mario Balotelli, Sergio Aguero, and substitute Edin Dzeko made for an easy afternoon for Man City boss Roberto Mancini as they go in search of their first league championship since 1968. City keeper Joe Hart never broke a sweat as Blackburn hardly threatened. Rovers boss Steve Kean recently hired a full-time bodyguard to ward off threats from disgruntled supporters. He may need a tank and bulletproof vest to fend off the protesters this week. Manchester City-3 Blackburn-0

ARSENAL-TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Separated by just 4 1/2 miles geographically and 16 minutes by automobile, this is the premiership's fiercest rivalry. Imagine Red Sox vs Yankees times 5 and you'll feel the temperature between these two north London sides. The game would live up to the hype. Tottenham raced to an early 2-0 lead. But this contest would not belong to the swiftest, but to the most determined. The gunners would score 5, count em, 5 unanswered goals. All of them pretty as a picture. For some reason after going up 2-nil Tottenham staged a boycott of their defensive responsibilities. Robin Van Persie would net his 23rd of the season and much maligned Theo Wolcott would net two. The relationship among the supporters is pure hatred and at times it threatens to spill over the sides, but the action on the pitch is all intensity.  AC Milan-Inter Milan, Barcelona-Real Madrid take note. Arsenal-5 Tottenham-2.

CHELSEA-BOLTON
Despite their troubles in the league and at Napoli in mid-week anything but three points here would have been uncivilized. After a scoreless first half Chelsea would find the back of the net on three occasions in the second through David Luiz, Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard. Lampard's tally had to be most satisfying. He's knocked heads with Chelsea head coach AVB all season long but he and injured fullback John Terry truly bleed Chelsea blue.  Chelsea-3 Bolton-0.

NORWICH CITY-MANCHESTER UNITED
The canaries gave the defending champions all they could handle before the red devils produced a moment that makes them special. Ancient Ryan Giggs would break a 1-1 deadlock with a deft touch in injury time. Giggs was playing in his 900th game; all with Man U. An amazing achievement of longevity. I'm tingling just writing about it. Goalkeeper David DeGea takes the best supporting player award for his effort between the pipes. Norwich displayed courage in defeat. Manchester United-2 Norwich City-1.

WIGAN-ASTON VILLA
A scoreless result that left neither side happy. Adding injury to insult for AV was having striker Darren Bent stretchered off with a knee injury. With Robbie Keane heading back to the the states to rejoin the LA Galaxy, Villa find themselves Angelina Jolie-thin up front. Wigan-0 Aston Villa-0.

WEST BROMWICH ALBION-SUNDERLAND
This was the black cats worst performance since Martin O'Neill was brought on to captain a sinking ship. WBA scored on four occasions. If this were a UFC fight it would've been stopped in the first round; unless Herb Dean was the referee. West Bromwich Albion-4 Sunderland-0.

NEWCASTLE UNITED-WOLVERHAMPTON
Both clubs were in need of turning their frowns upside down. Wolves playing for new skipper Terry Connor and Newcastle still fanning their fanny after absorbing a 5-0 spanking from Tottenham last time out. Newcastle grabbed a 2-0 lead after only 18 minutes;  the second coming via a big fly from Jonas Gutierrez. His laser into the right corner pocket from 25 yards out was one of the prettiest goals of the weekend. Wolves would knot the score through Matthew Jarvis and Kevin Doyle. Stevie Wonder could see that on this day, Wolves showed more grit and determination than they ever displayed under former head coach Mick McCarthy. Newcastle-2 Wolverhampton-2.

STOKE-SWANSEA CITY
Tony Pulis was as popular as Barack Obama at a tea party rally concerning the selection of his team in Thursday's Europa League defeat to Valencia. Fortunately for him it's not an election year. His team put their Europa League ouster behind them with a thorough thrashing of an overmatched Swansea side.  Matthew Upson and the angular Peter Crouch secured the three points for the home side. Stoke-2 Swansea City-0.

QUEENS PARK RANGERS-FULHAM
Newcomer Pavel Pogrebnyak would score the game's only goal in the 7th but how Shaun Wright-Phillips failed to tie the score when he was one-on-one with the Fulham keeper I'll never know. At this point in the season he couldn't score if he was all alone at the end of the dock with the Atlantic ocean beneath him. QPR is at low tide right now. Their new midfielder Samba Diakite picked up fouls like Christina Aguilera picks up pounds. He was red-carded in the 30th after recording his 7th foul of the opening half. Fulham-1 QPR-0.

Let's do it again next week.

Rivalries. How we sports fans adore them. The Lakers and Celtics feuded on the pro hardwood,  Duke and North Carolina renewed acquaintances on the college floor, and if your favorite sport is played on blades, then Saturday night's Canadiens/Maple Leafs tilt was for you. Of course, the Democrats and Republicans made noise. Something about contraceptives and religious organizations; I tried like heck to avoid the argument. While I avoid politics, I'm attracted to the premiership. On Saturday, it served up a special rivalry when Manchester United played host to Liverpool. Let's kick-start this thing.

MANCHESTER UNITED-LIVERPOOL

The quality of the first half was especially dull and tasteless. Liverpool's finishing in the final third of the field was particularly sour. Man U wasn't much better in the first 45, but could point to a Paul Scholes header in the 30th minute as a source of pride. The Red Devils came out with nostrils flaring in the opening minutes of half No. 2. Wayne Rooney would score twice in the opening six minutes.  On the first tally, he outmuscled Liverpool defender Glen Johnson. On the second, he was the recipient of a Jay Spearing donation.

Luis Suarez was a man on an island for Liverpool and flattered his team's scoreline in the 80th minute. However, his refusal to shake hands with Patrice Evra before the match was childish. Head coach Kenny Dalglish should also be faulted for not demanding that his striker grab hands with the Man U captain. By Sunday, Suarez and Dalglish saw the error in their ways and issued an apology. Let's hope this matter is put to rest. 

Manchester United 2, Liverpool 1.

EVERTON-CHELSEA

Chelsea appeared to be in a daze. No doubt they had a difficult time erasing the memory of last week's three-goal collapse against Man U. Steven Pienaar outraced Branislav Ivanovic to a loose ball in the fifth minute, and Everton had the winds at their backs the rest of the match. I'm grateful to only have to spell Denis Stracqualursi instead of pronounce it; the Argentine made it 2-nil in the 71st with American Landon Donovan providing the help. Chelsea was below lackluster, offensively. If they don't finish in the top four, it'll be R.I.P. for A.V.B. 

Everton 2, Chelsea 0.

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR-NEWCASTLE UNITED

This one was over before it began. Emanuel Adebayor was the cog that drove the Spurs engine.  The home side played much faster and quicker than its overmatched opponent. Benoit Assou-Ekotto opened the scoring in the fourth minute. Two goals from newcomer Louis Saha and one each from Nike Kranjar and Adebayor completed the thrashing. So much for the rumors swirling around Harry Redknapp creating a distraction. Newcastle got absolutely nothing from Demba Ba or any of their other players.

Tottenham Hotspur 5, Newcastle United 0.

ASTON VILLA-MANCHESTER CITY

The premiership leaders got the three points, but it wasn't easy. Once again City had problems when it came time to finish their handiwork. Joleon Lescott ventured up from his fullback position and scored from the doorstep in the 63rd minute. Joe Hart demonstrated why he's the best goalkeeper in the UK with a fantastic palm save on a Darren Bent volley in the game's waning moments. Help may be on the way for city with Carlos Tevez rumored to be returning, not to mention the suspended Mario Balotelli. 

Manchester City 1, Aston Villa 0.

SUNDERLAND-ARSENAL

All the goal scoring came in the second half. The Gunners suffered a bad break in the 70th when their tower of power, Per Mertesacker, collapsed to the pitch with an apparent ankle injury. That allowed James Mclean to pick up the scraps and give the Black Cats a 1-0 advantage. Five minutes later Aaron Ramsey pin-balled a shot off both goal posts to equalize at 1. And in typical Hollywood fashion, Thierry Henry volleyed home the game winner in injury time. Merci to the veteran Frenchman, as he's set to return to MLS in the first week of March. 

Arsenal 2, Sunderland 1.

SWANSEA CITY-NORWICH CITY

Norwich proved once again why they are the premiership's road warriors. Steven Fletcher scored one of the most attractive goals of the season to knot the score at 1 shortly before intermission, but two goals by Grant Holt gave the Canaries all three points.

Norwich City 3, Swansea City 2.

WOLVERHAMPTON-WEST BROMWICH ALBION

WBA would score five goals on the afternoon and, truth be told, they deserved to score at least four more. Several squads have allowed 7 goals in a game this season but Saturday's defensive effort by Wolves was the worst that this observer has seen. They gave up acres of space, weren't tenacious in their one-on-one defending and never tracked back to defend the counterattack. This reminds me of the famous line when a coach was asked to describe his team's execution and the reply was that he was all for it. Head coach Mick McCarthy had to be hotter than July when this one was over. On Monday he was relieved of his job.

WBA 5, Wolverhampton 1.

FULHAM-STOKE

Nothing fancy to report from this contest. It was the London side that put its hard hat and construction boots to work. Recently acquired Pavel Progebnyak delivered a lightning bolt in the 16th minute with Clint Dempsey also providing thunder from 30 yards out. Regrettably, it goes in the record books as an own goal, but Dempsey should take credit for a shot well-taken. 

Fulham 2, Stoke 1.

BLACKBURN ROVERS-QUEENS PARK RANGERS

Wow, Yak is back for Rovers, and he helped lead the home side to a 3-0 lead at intermission. QPR would strike twice in the second half to create some sweaty palms for the home supporters, but Blackburn did enough in the first 45 to record the win. 

Blackburn 3, Queens Park Rangers 2.

BOLTON-WIGAN

A battle to escape the premiership's danger zone belonged to the visitors. Gary Caldwell was free and clear to give Wigan the advantage in the 43rd, but Bolton would equalize via Route 1 in the 67th. A lengthy goal kick found the boot of Mark Davies, and he would make no mistake beating Ali Al Habsi to the far post. The contest sprang to life from there. My main man Victor Moses turned on the jets to burst down the left side. His shot from eight yards out was blocked, but James McArthur was johnny-on-the-spot to drive home the game winner. Before the three points were cemented, Al Habsi denied Ryo Miyaichi in the 85th. In the first two months of the campaign Al Habsi splashed about his net like a dolphin at Sea World. In the last two months he's been barbell strong. 

Wigan 2, Bolton 1.