Graham Potter was the only man to win in the English Premiership League last Wednesday. Image : West Ham United shared via Facebook
Graham Potter was the only man to win in the English Premiership League last Wednesday. Image : West Ham United shared via Facebook
(The Post News)- Manchester City and Chelsea were held back in a draw against the underdogs in Tuesday’s games. Brentford responded to Manchester City with a comeback to draw 2-2 in Green Community Stadium, while Bournemouth held Chelsea to the same score at home.
After a record of just one win in 13 games, Phil Foden’s two goals put City on track for their fourth straight victory. However, Yoane Wissa and Christian Norgaard scored goals in the last ten minutes to give Brentford a point, punishing the English champions for their ineffective defence throughout the evening. The one bright spot for City was Foden’s comeback to the form that won him Premier League Player of the Year the previous season.
For Pep Guardiola, the coach for City, this was a missed opportunity at getting closer to the top four, as City remains in sixth place after accumulating one point. During the first half, City’s goal attempts came from Savinho, who struck a post, and Erling Haaland. Meanwhile, a spectacular last-minute tackle by Josko Gvardiol kept Wissa from scoring the first goal for the home team, though Brentford posed a continual danger on the counterattack.
Shortly after, Foden scored for just the third time this season in the Premier League with a beautiful, subtle touch from Kevin De Bruyne’s tempting pass. While Brentford had numerous opportunities to tie the score, City dealt them a cruel blow. Foden scored his fourth goal in five league games after Mark Flekken parried Savinho’s strong effort into his path.
However, Brentford’s attacking efforts were ultimately rewarded when Wissa slotted in from Mads Roerslev’s cross to become Brentford’s all-time best Premier League scorer. They completed the comeback in stoppage time when Norgaard’s header proved too powerful for Stefan Ortega.
On the other hand, Chelsea’s league winless streak had reached five games, but they were grateful for captain Reece James’ stoppage-time equaliser against the Cherries. Chelsea got off to a great start thanks to Cole Palmer’s superb finish off a through feed from Nicolas Jackson. Despite losing two forwards, Evanilson and Enes Unal, to long-term injuries, Bournemouth retaliated.
After an equalizer from Justin Kluivert in the penalty spot, the visitors seized the lead on Antoine Semenyo’s blistering near-post shot. Even though James has had another injury-plagued season, he still showed off his brilliance by curling home a free kick in the last seconds.
Meanwhile, in another match, Graham Potter, the West Ham manager, made a victorious home debut as Fulham lost 3-2 at the London Stadium. The Hammers scored twice in the first half after overcoming an attacking area injury problem. Before Tomas Soucek scored from Aaron Wan Bissaka’s cross, Carlos Soler pounced on a misdirected pass by Andreas Pereira to sweep home the first goal. Fulham had optimism when Alex Iwobi’s attempted cross at the beginning of the second half eluded everyone on its way in.
Potter’s squad climbed up to 12th place, passing Manchester United and Tottenham, as Lucas Paquetá restored West Ham’s two-goal lead. Fulham, on the other hand, rallied with another goal from Iwobi, but the defeat kept them in ninth place.
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