There was a huge programme of friendlies today, the final pre-season games for most sides and therefore the best indication yet of just what those Premiership managers have in mind for their lineups for the season kick-off. You’ll find all the results, scorers, lineups and analysis of all today’s games, right here…
Ajax 0 Arsenal 1
Robin van Persie got the late goal to win Arsenal their second piece of
pre-season silverware in a friendly match that saw the tackles and yellow cards flying. The Dutchman got the winner against his compatriots after Clichy went on a incisive run from full-back. He found Van Persie who’s shot deflected past the Ajax keeper. Wenger was without Fabregas tonight who will presumably come into the side for Flamini against Fulham if fit. Otherwise this lineup looks likely to be the one that takes the field next weekend. Eboue was again played on the right-side of midfield while Hleb linked the midfield and the lone frontman, Van Persie.
Arsenal Lineup: Lehmann, Clichy, Eboue, Toure, Gallas, Sagna (Hoyte 86), Denilson, Flamini, Hleb, Rosicky (Eduardo 62), Van Persie (Traore 90)
Aston Villa 3 Internazionale 0
United may have lost their pre-season unbeaten record to Inter but in contrast Villa had little trouble sending the Italian giants packing. Gareth Barry sent a timely reminder to all Fantasy Managers in this match, scoring the first from Petrov’s pass before supplying the assist for Laursen to nod a second. Barry then got the third goal from the spot after Agbonlahor was brought down. Lineup wise it’s interesting that Carew was again absent from this game. There’s no confirmation of injury from the Villa camp but Carew was also absent from the last friendly against Stoke. Luke Moore benefited from Carew’s absence today and played the full 90-minutes. He now looks likely to start up front against Liverpool with Agbonlahor. The rest of the side looks settled.
Aston Villa Lineup: Taylor, Cahill (Gardner 46), Mellberg (Berger 72), Laursen (Osbourne 81), Bouma, Young (Maloney 74), Petrov, Reo-Coker, Barry, Moore, Agbonlahor (Harewood 72).
Sheffield Wednesday 0 Birmingham 2
Birmingham ended what has been a successful pre-season with another victory, this time at Championship Wedneday. New signings Garry O’Connor and Liam Ridgewell got the goals. Ridgewell got things underway, scoring with his first touch in a Birmingham shirt, flicking a header past the Wednesday keeper from a McSheffrey free kick. O’Connor came on to replace Forssell who was forced off with a head wound. The new arrival sealed the win for Bruce’s side with a cool finish from a Ridgewell pass. The Birmingham starting lineup for this game could well be the side that takes the field at Chelsea next week. Club skipper Damien Johnson is still carrying a knock while Taylor was preferred to Jaidi today. Kapo will also be pushing for a start
Birmingham Lineup: Doyle; Kelly, Taylor, Ridgewell, Queudrue (Tebily 65); Larsson (De Ridder 65), Muamba, Nafti (Danns 76), McSheffrey (Vine 76), Forssell (O’Connor 36), Jerome (Kapo 65)
Preston 1 Blackburn 3
Blackburn were impressive at Preston, running out winners with goals from Ooijer and a brace from Samba. All three goals came from set-pieces with Bentley providing the cross from a a free-kick for Ooijer’s third goal of the pre-season. Gamst-Pedersen meanwhile, set up both of Samba’s goals one from a free-kick the other from corner. Reminders once more of the potential of both Bentley and Gamst Pedersen when it comes to assits but also that Blackburn’s defenders could well chip in with a decent number of goals given the accuracy of their set-pieces. Blackburn had Emerton on the bench after missing most of pre-season through International duty with Australia but Ooijer has done enough to start at right-back next weekend. There is still some doubt about Hughes’ exact lineup in central midfield with Dunn fighting it out with Tugay and Mokoena competing with Savage for the two spots. Santa Cruz appeared as sub for this game and showed some touches of class but seems likely to have to make do with a place on the bench against Boro.
Blackburn Lineup: Friedel, Ooijer (Emerton 46), Samba, Nelsen, Warnock (Olsson 64), Bentley (Gallagher 75), Dunn (Tugay 75), Mokoena (Savage 46), Pedersen (Rigters 77), McCarthy (Santa Cruz 64), Roberts (Derbyshire 64)
Colchester 1 Bolton 2
Yet another goal from Vaz Te, added to an early penalty from Speed, were enough to give Bolton victory at Championship Colchester. Bolton went behind early on but hauled themselves back level when Speed converted a penalty after Vaz Te was brought down in the box. Vaz Te then slotted in his fifth pre-season goal from a precise pass from Davies. He now looks odds on to get a chance to start the game next weekend in a wide position, with Anelka and Davies leading the line. Sammy Lee rested Jaaskelainen and presumably Cid who was also absent, so Michalik partnered Meite in the centre of defence. There could be some doubt over the right-back slot with Sinclair starting today and Hunt picking up a knock when he came on at half-time. Bolton are still waiting on international clearance for new signings Braaten and Wilhelmsson so neither are likely to figure next weekend.
Bolton Lineup: Al Habsi, Sinclair (Campo 57), Samuel (Jamieson 46), Nolan (Guthrie 57), Meite (Hunt 46 (Harsanyi 81)), Speed (Faye 46), Michalik, McCann (Alonso 57), Anelka, Davies, Vaz Te (Diouf 46)
Derby 2 Espanyol 2
Steve Howard hit a late eqauliser as Derby pegged back their Spanish opponents in a keenly fought encounter. Torrejon’s own goal, back-heeling into his own net from a Camara cross, had given the home side the lead before Espanyol hit back with two goals. Howard then rescued a draw for Billy Davies’ men scoring with a towering header from a Leacock free-kick. The Derby lineup saw new signing Claude Davis make a full debut alongside Moore in central defence. It’s still difficult to read Davies’ mind on this areas of the side with various combinations tried out over the summer. Jones, Oakley and Teale seem set to start in midfield with Camara making up the quartet for today’s game, although Pearson is pushing him for that place on the left of midfield. Fagan appears to edged in front of Earnshaw for a place alongside Howard, after he hit goals against Forest, although Earnshaw’s Premiership experience should see him get the nod against Portsmouth.
Derby Lineup: Bywater, Mears (Edworthy 82), Camara, McEveley (Pearson 68), Davis (Leacock 62), Moore, Jones, Oakley (Macken 72), Howard, Fagan (Earnshaw 64), Teale (Malcolm 72)
Crystal Palace 0 Everton 0
Everton found the woodwork on seveal occasions but couldn’t break the deadlock at Palace to claim the win. The lack of goals will be alarming Everton fans – with Cahill injured and Johnson without a single goal in pre-season, they go into the season with the same symptoms they suffered for much of last term. As for their lineup, the right-back spot and the role of Jagielka seem to be the only real doubts although today’s team was disrupted by some late injuries. With Phil Neville absent for family reasons, Jagielka started the game in midifield while de Silva also earned a starting role. Lescott was employed at left-back with Stubbs partnering Yobo. Pienaar was still waiting his international clearance. Next weekend Neville seems likely to come in at left-back with Jagielka once again played in midfield in the absence of Cahill.
Everton Lineup: Howard, Hibbert (Valente 46), Yobo, Lescott, Stubbs, de Silva, Arteta (Vidarsson 46), Jagielka, Carsley, Johnson (Jutkiewicz 77), Anichebe.
Man City 0 Valencia 1
Sven’s final pre-season game didn’t go to plan, slipping to a defeat in front of an expectant crowd and new owner Thaksin Shinawatra. Valencia took the lead early in the game through da Silva and City just couldn’t find a way back. Bianchi missed chances and hit the woodwork as did Michael Johnson who impressed in midfield. The youngster stood out in this match, despite the presence of five new overseas signings with Elano and Garrido making their debuts. Petrov showed touches but relied more on the accuracy of his delivery than speed and trickery, to cause problems. Sven went with just Bianchi up front with Ireland and Johnson bombing forward from a midfield position, although Corradi appeared in the second-half.
Man City Lineup: Schmeichel, Richards, Onuoha (Jihai 62), Dunne, Garrido, Elano (Geovanni 46), Johnson (Corradi 71), Fernandes (Hamann 71), Petrov, Ireland, Bianchi
Peterborough 1 Manchester United 3
A United youth side saw out a victory at London Road but there was one significant inclusion in the United side. Owen Hargreaves played his first pre-season game in United colours and starred as a second-half sub, as Sir Alex’s younglings won the game with goals from Eckersley, Jones and Dong.
Man United Lineup: Heaton, Simpson, A. Eckersley, Shawcross (Bardsley 46), J. Evans (S. Evans, 79), Pique (Lea 46), R. Jones, Gibson (Hargreaves 46), Campbell, Dong, Martin
Middlesbrough 2 AZ Alkmaar 0
Yakubu and Downing registered the goals that handed Southgate’s men victory over their Dutch opponents. Downing fired the first from a Aliadiere pass before Yakubu headed home a Taylor cross for the second. Tuncay Sanli was once more employed on the right of midfield with Aliadiere partnering Yakubu up front. This starting eleven looks very likely to be the side that faces Blackburn next weekend.
Middlesbrough Lineup: Schwarzer; Young (Hines 46), Davies, Wheater, Taylor, Sanli, Boateng, Arca (Walker 83), Downing, Aliadiere (Euell 65), Yakubu (Lee 65).
Leicester 1 Portsmouth 3
Pompey fell behind to the Championship side but stormed back with goals from Nugent, Lua Lua and Songo’o to seal the win. Mvuemba provided the cross for the first Portsmouth goal, new signing Nugent slotting the ball home for his third goal in the last two games. Nugent then turned provider for Lua Lua to smash Pompey into the lead early in the second-half. Songo’o then sealed the win, firing the third from an assist by Lua Lua. The peformance of the front two should guarantee starting spots for them for the visit of Derby and both look decent bets if you’re looking for a mid-price Forward option for the weekend. Mvuemba meanwhile impressed down the right and it was significant that Harry did not start with Taylor even though Kranjcar was absent through injury. The midfield appears to be the only area of doubt then with today’s defence almost certain to start against Derby.
Portsmouth Lineup: James, Lauren, Campbell, Distin, Hreidarsson, Mvuemba, Davis, Mendes Muntari, Nugent, Lua Lua. Subs: Ashdown, Craine, Pamarot, Songo’o, Traore, O’Brien, Hughes.
Wolves 2 Reading 3
Goals from Hunt, Gunnarsson and Kitson saw Coppell’s men come from behind to beat Championship Wolves. Hunt capatilised on a defensive mix-up to claim the first while Gunnarsson put Reading in front from a James Harper pass. Hunt then set up Kitson to put Reading 3-1 up at half-time. Wolves pulled another back in the second-half but Reading held on for the win. Coppell’s lineup looks pretty settled with Ingimarrsson and Duberry likely to start alongside Murty and Shorey in defence. There’s still some doubt as to the preferred striking pairing with Doyle appearing as sub n this game and Lita and Kitson starting together. Coppell did say before the game that he “very much†doubted that the team in this game would be the team that took to the field at Old Trafford next week. A 4-5-1 formation with Doyle employed wide could well be on the cards then.
Reading Lineup: Hahnemann (Federici 45), Murty (De La Cruz 45), Ingimarsson (Bikey 51), Duberry, Shorey, Seol (Doyle 45), Harper (Cox 65), Gunnarsson (Oster 59), Hunt (Convey 60), Lita (Cisse 59), Kitson (Long 51)
Sunderland 1 Juventus 1
Sunderland were denied a victory against their illustrious Italian opponents by a last minute equaliser from Cristian Molinaro. Daryl Murphy had given Sunderland the lead, netting from a Etuhu knock-down from a Ross Wallace corner. Having made just one change from the previous friendly against Galway, it seems likely that today’s lineup will be very close to the one that starts the game against Spurs with McShane seeing off Anderson for the centre-back role alongside Nosworthy with Wallace at left-back.
Sunderland Lineup: Fulop (Ward 46), Halford (Kay 85), Nosworthy, McShane (Anderson 75), Wallace (Collins 69), Miller, Whitehead (Yorke 60), Etuhu (Stokes 60), Richardson, Murphy (John 69), Chopra (Connolly 60)
Tottenham 2 Torino 0
Jol restored the Keane/Berbatov pairing and they responded with the goals to hand Spurs their latest win in their successful pre-season. Keane spun to fire the first after Kaboul knock-down a rebound from his own free kick into Keane’s path. Berbatov tapped in the second after good work by Malbranque. Darren Bent appeared after the hour mark with Keane dropping back into midfield but the fact that Jol started with Keane, seems to indicate that Bent will find himself on the bench for the visit to Sunderland next weekend.
Tottenham Lineup: Robinson, Chimbonda, Rocha (Stalteri 72), Dawson, Kaboul, Tanio (Bent 65), Zokora (Huddlestone 65), Jenas, Malbranque (Routledge 74), Keane (Taarbat 85), Berbatov (Defoe 72).
West Ham 2 Roma 1
Ashton and McCartney got the goals as the Hammers came from behind to beat their Serie A opponents. Guily put the visitors in front after just 13 minutes but West Ham turned things around in the second-half. McCartney got the first, nodding home a Ljungberg corner while Ashton grabbed the win by cutting in from the right to fire home. The West Ham lineup saw Curbishley decided on a central defensive pairing of Ferdinand and Upson. The midfield quartet also looks settled with Parker still absent through injury and the Dyer transfer off. However, Boa Morte got a knock today that saw him withdrawn on 28 minutes so that situation needs to be monitored. Meanwhile, it’s likely that Ashton will be handed a starting role alongside Bellamy after netting the winner here.
West Ham Lineup: Green (Wright 45), Neill, McCartney, Ferdinand, Upson, Bowyer, Noble, Ljungberg, Boa Morte (Etherington 28), Bellamy, Zamora (Ashton 45)
Leeds 1 Wigan 2
Sadly for those Fantasy Managers looking to get an advantage by opting in on Jason Koumas early on, the Wigan midfielder demonstrated his potential again with both the goals that beat Leeds to send out another loud and clear “come and get me†plea. He slotted home the first from a Heskey pass. Then his the second from a deflected free-kick after Leeds pegged Wigan back. Koumas might find it hard to repeat the brace at Everton next weekend but there’s no doubting his value over the season for those looking for a mid-price midfielder who is central to his side’s attacking potential in both open play and set-pieces. Hutchings appears to have decided on his defence with Kilbane replacing Baines at left-back. In midfield there are still places up for grabs. Scharner lost his place to Brown today but the new signing from Fulham is suspended for the first two games of the season so Scharner should slot back in at Everton. Aghahowa again lined up with Heskey up front although Sibierski made his Wigan debut after missing the pre-season with injury.
Wigan Lineup: Kirkland; Melchiot, Granqvist, Bramble, Kilbane; Valencia, Landzaat (Scharner 46), Brown (Cywka 81), Koumas (Cotterill 78); Aghahowa (Folan 46), Heskey (Sibierski, 46)