Fifth Week Conclusions in the Premiership

Michael Owen is still the man for the big occasion. Craig Bellamy‘s 90th minute solo effort tying the Manchester derby at 3-3 sent shockwaves though the Old Trafford crowd. But just as City fans settled back into their seats, Michael Owen popped up to do what Michael Owen does best. With a predator’s instinct, Owen latched on to a Ryan Giggs through ball and expertly poked home a 96th minuted winner. Although question marks remain over Owen‘s fitness, his unwavering eye for goal and insatiable thirst for the big occasion is surely worth a place in Capello‘s World Cup squad?

Portsmouth better start planning for the Championship. 6 matches, 6 losses, 3 goals, no points. The worst start to a Premiership campaign and relegation on the cards. Paul Hart’s side go from bad to worse. With a back four continually committing school boy errors and a front pairing who couldn’t hit a donkey’s a** with a banjo, Pompey are in need of a miracle.

Ancelotti’s Chelsea are the team to beat. The only team undefeated in the Premiership, Carlo Ancelotti passed his first real test in English football by seeing the Blues dispatch an energetic and dynamic Spurs outfit 3-0. Chelsea’s next home encounter is against a rejuvenated Liverpool side who are no strangers to breaking Stamford Bridge hearts. In last season’s fixture Liverpool ended Chelsea’s 86 match unbeaten record through a deflected Xabi Alonso strike.

Wigan’s season starts now. Sitting precariously in 15^th place having played Aston Villa, Man Utd and Arsenal in their first six matches, manager Roberto Martinez knows that his side’s survival in the Premiership depends on results against those teams outside the top six. While the club’s next half dozen games include tough home ties to both Chelsea and Man City, it’s the crucial fixtures against Hull, Burnley, Portsmouth and Fulham on which Señor Martinez must hedge his bets.

Zola’s magic is beginning to wear thin. With 3 losses in their last 4 matches West Ham now find themselves in the thick of a relegation dogfight. While assistant Steve Clarke has managed to tighten up the Hammers defense only conceding 6 this term, it’s the lack of goals in attack that has seen the East London club drop dramatically down the table. The duo of big money signing Alessandro Diamanti, who inspired a short-lived Hammers fightback against Liverpool, and former Zola teammate Carlton Cole will be tasked with bailing the Italian out of trouble.

Owen's derby winner vindicates Sir Alex's Tevez gamble

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