Tottenham Hotspur 4 – 0 Queens Park Rangers
This was the new Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino’s very first match in charge of his new club at the home stadium, the White Hart Lane, and he didn’t let the cheering Spurs supporters down. Tottenham won perhaps the most comprehensive win so far in this new season of the English Premiership by any team, blanking out former Spurs manager Harry Redknapp’s QPR quite easily, 4 goals to nothing. At times, Redknapp looked completely disgusted with his side’s performance and looked desperate for the match to finish so that his side could get on the coach back to home.
The goals for Spurs came by Nacer Chadli – who scored two, including a spectacular first goal, scored with an exceedingly delicate touch, defender Eric Dier, who seems to have made a habit of scoring goals, getting his second in just two matches this season and the last by centre forward Emmanuel Adebeyor, who applied a clinical finish to a great low cross from the left.
It was a spectacular result for Spurs and propels them to the top of the league tables with just two games gone.
Manager Mauricio Pochettino was full of praise for new player Erik Lamela: “It was a great performance. We are trying to develop our style and philosophy. It is not easy but the players always try.
“Erik Lamela did well, it is never easy when you come to new country and you are young to adapt. He needs time to show his skill.”
QPR boss Harry Redknapp: “We didn’t play well and got what we deserved, which is nothing.
“I thought we were in awe of Tottenham a little bit. You have to play with energy, you can’t stroll about in this division if you want to stay in it.”
Sunderland 1 – 1 Manchester United
Things began well enough for Louis Van Gaal’s Manchester United at the jam packed Sunderland home stadium, Stadium of Light as they took a lead just in the 17th minute with Juan Mata finishing from close range off a low cross from the right by Antonio Valencia. Van Gaal’s side have been under pressure ever since their defeat in the first game of the season at home to little known Swansea and no doubt the Dutch manager would have been looking for a spectacular performance to answer the many critics of the world’s most popular club. But Sunderland had other ideas and Gus Poyet’s Black Cats attacked at every opportunity and always looked keener going forward than their fancied opponents. The equalizer came soon enough, with Jack Rodwell heading a Seb Larsson’s corner from close range in the 30th minute. Sunderland dominated the rest of the match and Manchester United would consider themselves lucky to get away with just a draw.
Sunderland manager Gus Poyet: “It was a good game to watch. We played a very good first half, going forward taking chances and creating half opportunities after conceding at what was the wrong time really because we were in control of the game. It was a big effort.
“We made a few decisions on how to play against a different system and the boys have done exceptionally well. We showed that we were organised and difficult to play against.
“The goal from Jack Rodwell was perfect for a home début. There are plenty of positives. It’s important we started better than last year and that was key. Will Buckley played well and was incisive as well.”
On Fabio Borini, the Liverpool target, who has been offered a Sunderland contract: “We’re getting close to a final decision either way because it’s been a bit too long.It’s time now that it’s a ‘yes’ coming or a ‘no’ as we need to move on.”
Hull City 1 – 1 Stoke City
A late 83rd minute goal from Ryan Shawcross got Stoke City a 1-1 draw away at 10-man Hull City. Steve Bruce’s Hull City held firm until the 83rd minute till Shawcross bundled in after a Phil Bardsley shot had hit the post, earning manager Mark Hughes’ side their first point of the season. Nikica Jelavic had earlier scored for Hull just before the end of the first half. Both teams look likely relegation candidates on the basis of this performance, unless they improve dramatically in the near future.
Stoke manager Mark Hughes: “The overriding emotion is frustration because we didn’t play particularly well. Frustration, but a bit of relief because we got something. We didn’t show enough intelligence. We need to be better than that.
“We didn’t create enough chances for the superiority in numbers we had. We are not hitting where we were last season. We wanted to hit the ground running but we haven’t quite done that. We didn’t deserve a great deal so we are a bit grateful.”
Hull manager Steve Bruce: “It [Stoke being awarded a dubious throw-in] baffles me. It is an awful one. The throw-in was ours and blatantly ours. It is not as though it is a faint touch, their boy does not even want to turn round for a throw. You would think they get that right because it has cost us.
“What can you say? We had an awful one last one week as well but it riles me a decision should be given, why can they not say in his ear ‘you have got that one wrong’. It only takes 20 seconds. You have the technology.”
