Eleventh Week Conclusions in the Premiership

Football Remembers. Commemorating the end of World War I, prior to each of this weekend’s fixtures, football fans up and down the country stood unified in a minute’s silence to remember the fallen servicemen from wars gone by. It’s good to know that football fans can spot the real heroes.

Manchester City draw days continue. Following an impressive start to the campaign including an Adebayor inspired thrashing of Arsenal, City were being hailed as genuine title contenders and top four certainties. But consecutive draws against Aston Villa, Wigan, Fulham, Birmingham and most recently Burnley have seen City’s title challenge fade dramatically and their grip on the top four weakened. The good news for City fans is their next match is against Liverpool at Anfield.

Chelsea charge clear. They say the league can’t be won this early in the season but only lost. On a day of remembrance, the country’s two most talented and courageous teams descended on Stamford Bridge for a top of the table clash of the highest order. England’s own John Terry scored the only goal of the match, dealing a damaging blow to Manchester United’s title challenge and seeing Carlo Ancelotti’s Blues climb five points clear at the top of the table.

Sam Allardyce loves himself. Beating Portsmouth is nothing to write home about… just ask the nine different sides that have done it. When Jason Roberts and Benny McCarthy finally entered the fold at Ewood Park with Blackburn one-nil down to Pompey, things couldn’t get much worse for Big Sam. Forty-five minutes later a Roberts double led Blackburn to victory and saved Allardyce’s blushes. Interestingly, during his post-match interview Big Sam repeatedly applauded his decision to bring on Roberts and McCarthy, forgetting to mention his ineffective first half tactics and poor choice of starting XI.

Phil Brown lives another day. Billed as a must win match to save his job at the club, Hull’s come from behind victory over Stoke City temporarily eases the pressure on Brown and sees Hull move out of the relegation zone for the first time since September. Next up for Brown and his side: West Ham away, another side struggling to put points on the board.

Roberts and McCarthy give Big Sam something to celebrate