Best of the weekend By James Dall Last updated: 21st October 2007 Clattenburg: At the centre of controversy
Game of the Weekend Aston Villa v Manchester United Saturday's evening kick-off at Villa Park was jam packed full of incident and glorious football. Sir Alex Ferguson's side ran out 4-1 winners, but the score-line tells little of what was an absorbing game. Gabriel Agbonlahor gave Martin O'Neill's men an early lead but three goals in 12 minutes turned the match on its head. Wayne Rooney twice capitalised on sloppy defending to begin United's comeback, and then Craig Gardner's attempted goal-line clearance smashed off his own bar to make it three. Early in the second half things went from bad to worse for O'Neill's side when Nigel Reo-Coker and Scott Carson were given their marching orders. Reo-Coker was dismissed for two daft challenges, and Carson was given a straight red after chopping down a clean through Carlos Tevez. Replacement keeper Stuart Taylor trotted onto the field to deny Rooney from the penalty-spot, and then Ryan Giggs added insult to injury with a fortunate strike on 75 minute. Player of the Weekend Joleon Lescott This week's star of the weekend was a tough decision, but the Everton man just edges it. Joleon Lescott put a miserable week behind him to perform superbly - only to be on the end of another painful defeat. The versatile defender powered his way down the left wing in Roberto Carlos-like fashion. The 25-year-old was also involved in two highly debatable decisions after he was hauled down twice in the Liverpool box. A nightmarish seven days for the former Wolves man, but every cloud has a silver lining and Lescott's comes in the form of skysports.com's player of the weekend. Team of the weekend: 1) Antti Niemi 2) Glen Johnson 3) Sol Campbell 4) Alex 5) Joleon Lescott 6) Hleb 7) Michael Essien 8) Dietmar Hamann 9) Elano 10) Jones 11) Wayne Rooney Gaffe of the Weekend Sami Hyypia To the relief of the 34-year-old Finn, his side did go on to win the Merseyside derby, however his 37th minute own goal may well have cost Liverpool dear. The gaffe came when Everton's Alan Stubbs crossed into the area, and Hyypia inexplicably lashed the ball past his own keeper Pepe Reina. Goal of the Weekend Alex The tank-like Alex opened his Chelsea scoring account in remarkable fashion in Saturday's game against Middlesbrough. When The Blues won a free-kick 30 yards from Mark Schwarzer's goal, spectators at the Riverside Stadium sniggered at the eagerness at which the centre-back picked up the ball. However, little did the Premier League know that the Brazilian international packed an extraordinary amount of firepower in his right boot. Frank Lampard rolled the ball off for Alex and the 25-year-old smashed a swerving and vicious strike past a despairing Schwarzer. Save of the weekend Robert Green The West Ham goalkeeper enhanced his claims for a call-up to the England side with a crucial save in West Ham's 3-1 win over Sunderland on Sunday. At a crucial stage in the game, Green produced a superb reaction save to fingertip Grant Leadbitter's shot onto the post to deny Sunderland going 2-1 in front at Upton Park. His save was possibly the turning point in the game as West Ham went on to take all three points. Controversy of the Weekend Merseyside derby Saturday's lunchtime kick-off just about claims the 'award' for involving the weekend's most controversial incident. Elsewhere, Birmingham City boss Steve Bruce was left incensed after witnessing the build-up to Elano's winning goal - Michael Johnson looked to have fouled Fabrice Muamba. However, the match at Goodison Park edges it this week after referee Mark Clattenburg's bewildering decision. Liverpool were a goal down after Sami Hyypia's own goal (see above), but the match was turned on its head courtesy of two Dirk Kuyt spot-kicks - the latter of which came from a Phil Neville superman-like reach to save off the line. But the weekend's most controversial incident came in the final minutes. In the dying seconds, Clattenburg chose to completely ignore strong claims for a penalty when Jamie Carragher clearly dragged down Joleon Lescott. Everton boss David Moyes was left fuming, to say the least. Change of the Weekend Wenger's double substitution With the hour mark approaching, Arsene Wenger's Arsenal look destined for a stalemate at Emirates Stadium against Bolton. But after a wise peer through his famous spectacles, the French tactician called on Theo Walcott and Tomas Rosicky. Just six minutes after his double change The Gunners took the lead courtesy of Kolo Toure's daisy-cutter. And then, sparked fully into life by Rosicky and Walcott, the two combined for the second with ten minutes remaining as the Czech finished from six yards out after Walcott's cross. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
