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Mixed Fortune and a referee's debut hat-trick

April 27, 2013

Costly mistakes

After leading early on against Wigan, Tottenham were ultimately lucky to scrape to a draw against the relegation battlers - with Emmerson Boyce gifting them a late own goal.

The result means Spurs have squandered a not-inconsiderate total of 23 points from winning positions so far this season, the second most behind Southampton (thanks, Opta). Apropos of nothing much, Andre Villas-Boas' side are currently fifth in the table, level on points with Chelsea (having played a game more) and one behind Arsenal (with both north London sides still to play four matches).

Villas-Boas said on Friday that Gareth Bale will stay if the club finishes in the top four. If they had managed to keep hold of a few more winning positions over the course of the season, they'd now have a far better chance of keeping hold of their best player...

A debut to remember

Strikers dream of Premier League debuts where they grab a hat-trick. Goalkeepers dream of debuts where they make eye-catching saves while keeping a clean sheet. But what do referees dream of?

Presumably Roger Madley, taking charge of his first top-flight affair, did not take to the pitch at St Mary's hoping to show three red cards. But that is exactly what happened, the official dismissing Gaston Ramirez (for an elbow on Shane Long), Marc-Antoine Fortune (for a slap on Ramirez after said elbow) and Daniel Fox (for a late challenge on Steven Reid) in quick succession.

It was just the 17th time in Premier League history that three players have been sent off in a match. Madley has set a high bar for himself in games to come.

A true all-action display

Fortune, incidentally, became the first player for over five years to score, assist and get a red card in the same Premier League match. Which is exactly two-thirds impressive, one-third foolish.

The last player to achieve that unusual trifecta? Why, that would be Bobby Zamora - then of West Ham - against the club he would join 18 months later, Fulham.

Don't dilly-dally on the way

Boyce was not the only Wigan player to make a hash of things at the DW Stadium, with fellow defender Maynor Figueroa and goalkeeper Joel combining to start proceedings in similarly haphazard fashion. Only Joel will know what he was thinking when, after exchanging lazy passes with Figueroa at the back, he languidly tried to float a clearance over the onrushing Bale with just nine minutes gone.

Instead, the ball flew into Bale's outstretched foot and flew into the corner of the goal - giving Spurs an early lead from nothing. We know the Spanish like their siestas, but 3.09pm - in the middle of a game! - is probably not the best time to completely fall asleep. Especially if you are a goalkeeper.

Brought up the right way

Finally, a special acknowledgement of Crewe Alexandra, whose starting lineup on Saturday against Walsall contained 11 academy products.

Such Barcelona-esque local reliance proved a winning recipe, too, with the side claiming a 2-0 triumph against their fellow League One side to end their campaign in some style.

Rise like a salmon, head like a Perch

James Perch has been asked to play a number of positions for Newcastle this season, with the latest being a midfield role alongside Yohan Cabaye. You'd have thought he'd have been deployed as the stopper in front of the back four, but he spent quite a bit of time in the Liverpool box - which as it turned out was a bonus for Liverpool. Newcaslte full back Massadio Haidara dug out an excellent cross, which Perch broke on to superbly. Six yards out, he rose unmarked in the middle of the goal. The St James' faithful rose to acclaim the ball hitting the back of the net, but it did not as Perch somehow sent it miles wide.

The class of Coutinho

Brendan Rodgers clearly saw something when he shelled out big money for Philippe Coutinho. It was quite possibly Coutinho's ability to see a pass that Rodgers saw. On two occasions in Liverpool's mauling of Newcastle, Coutinho created goals with passes of the highest class. Both of his passes were to Daniel Sturridge, who scored from one and created the other for Jordan Henderson. Both passes were flicks with the outside of the boot that took defenders out of the game and created space for team-mates to score. Rodgers expects Coutinho to be even better next season. If that's the case, Reds fans are in for a treat.

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