It was a crucial weekend for sides at the bottom and those challenging for Champions League spots, and we were feasted to some brilliant goals to boot.
By Declan Whooley
Mauricio Pochettino, Paul Lambert and Alan Pardew will be the happiest managers at the weekend as they edged closer to safety, Reading and QPR all but confirmed a return to the Championship while Arsenal and Chelsea took strides towards a place in Europe’s premier competition.
Thrown into the mix were some outstanding individual finishes and even if the title race is dead in the water, there is no shortage of excitement with the end of the season looming.
Anyway, here is JOE’s five-a-side team from the weekend.
Goalkeeper: Artur Boruc (Southampton)
Six points clear of the drop-zone with just six games left to play, the Saints have turned their season round in dramatic style and the unrest over the sacking of Nigel Adkins has dissipated, helped significantly by getting the better of his Reading side on Saturday.
The result pretty much confirmed that the Royals will be returning to the Championship and survival for the coastal team is now more than just a dream. The Polish shot-stopper was in tip-top form, especially in the opening 20 minutes when Reading were in the ascendancy. His save from Adrian Mariappa in particular was outstanding and the Saints sit pretty in 11th place.
Defender: James Collins (West Ham)
We’re not sure how on earth the Hammers left Anfield with a point and a clean sheet, but they did, and in James Collins they had the most committed player on the pitch.
Only QPR, Stoke, Norwich and Sunderland have scored fewer goals, so keeping it tight at the back is essential for Sam Allardyce’s side and Collins was throwing himself into everything he could at Anfield yesterday. Block after block and putting Anfield legend Jamie Carragher to shame with last-ditch tackles, he was instrumental to taking a valuable point back to London.
Midfielder: Ashley Westwood (Aston Villa)
We had to put a Villa midfielder in after the way they dominated Stoke in their 3-1 win, and Ashley Westwood was the stand-out performer. Ably assisted by Fabien Delph, there is nothing fancy about his game, but he was extremely effective on Saturday and controlled matters from the centre of the park.
James Lowton will take most of the headlines for his spectacular goal, but Paul Lambert’s pre-game praise of the former Crewe man seemed to have the right effect.
Midfielder: Tomas Rosicky (Arsenal)
It’s not often we say this, but Tomas Rosicky was head and shoulders above everyone else on the pitch at the weekend.
The Czech midfielder gave us a reminder that he is a decent player when in the mood, and if the Gunners do make the Champions League spot, this result will have been central to that.
He scored both goals – his first league goals since the 5-2 drubbing of Spurs last year – but even aside from that, his all-round display was excellent, linking up with team-mates and showing defensive awareness with a goal-line clearance.
Striker: Loic Remy (QPR)
Harry Redknapp will be as sick as the proverbial parrot this morning after a draw was snatched from the clutches of victory against Wigan, but what a strike that looked to be giving the home side the victory.
‘Arry did splash the cash on the French striker, but at times he has looked to be the jewel in the crown and his goal taken first time on the run was a collector’s item. He had already thundered the post with a brilliant half-volley while also going close with a header. Can’t see Remy plying his trade in the Championship.
