Best of the weekend By Peter Fraser Last updated: 26th December 2007
Team of the weekend (4-4-2) - Lewis Price (Derby) - Wes Brown (Man. United) - Sol Campbell (Portsmouth) - Ledley King (Tottenham) - Nicky Shorey (Reading) - Steed Malbranque (Tottenham) - Steven Gerrard (Liverpool) - Richard Hughes (Portsmouth) - Cristiano Ronaldo (Man. United) - Wayne Rooney (Man. United) - Andriy Shevchenko (Chelsea) Game of the weekend Chelsea v Aston Villa Not a difficult decision. Chelsea and Aston Villa provided the perfect late Christmas present for any football fan as they played out an eight-goal cracker at Stamford Bridge which included three red cards. Any supporters who made their way to the Bridge hoping for a gentle game as they digested the big day's festivities will have been disappointed, but few will have been asking for their money back. Villa stormed into a two-goal lead courtesy of a Shaun Maloney brace. But Chelsea were back in it when Andrei Shevchenko converted from the penalty spot after Zat Knight was dismissed for a foul on Michael Ballack. Four minutes into the second half Shevchenko hit an equaliser, before Alex put his side in front. Ten-man Villa then restored parity through Martin Laursen before Ricardo Carvalho headed for an early bath following a dangerous two-footed challenge on Gabriel Agbonlahor. With most inside the Bridge struggling to keep abreast with the developments, the drama continued to unfold as Ballack made it 4-3 with a curling free-kick. Then in the dying seconds Ashley Cole was red-carded for deliberately handling in the box and Gareth Barry slotted home from the spot. Player of the weekend Cristiano Ronaldo The Portuguese trickster turned in a master class performance as Manchester United cruised to a 4-0 victory over Sunderland. Ronaldo underlined the breath in quality between the top and bottom of the Premier League as he ran the United show at the Stadium of Light, aided and abetted it must be said by a fine display from Wayne Rooney, and smashed in the visitor's third goal with a stylish dipping free-kick. How Sunderland manger Roy Keane must wish Santa had left him a match-winner in the mould of Ronaldo under his Christmas tree. Controversy of the weekend Ashley Cole The Chelsea left-back received his marching orders after he was adjudged to have deliberately handled in the dying stages of the topsy-turvy clash with Aston Villa. The entire Villa side were convinced that Cole intentionally stuck out his right arm when positioned on the goal-line to stop Agbonlahor's effort hitting the back of the net. Referee Phil Dowd awarded the kick and dismissed Cole without hesitation, despite replays proving inconclusive as to whether the defender intentionally stuck out an arm to stop the ball. Chelsea boss Avram Grant has said he will appeal against the red card as, with an injury to John Terry and a suspension for Carvalho, his defence is beginning to look as bare as Christmas Day's turkey Goal of the weekend Andrei Shevchenko The Chelsea striker fired a sensational equaliser at 2-2 in his side's classic encounter with Villa and it does not deserved to be buried amongst the further drama at Stamford Bridge. The Ukraine international lashed a stunning 50th-minute leveller after latching onto a Salomon Kalou pass and smashing past Villa goalkeeper Scott Carson from 25 yards. The Blues hit man could be one to watch in 2008 as his confidence begins to grow. Ronaldo's devilish free-kick against Sunderland only narrowly misses out on this award as the United winger demonstrated his danger from dead ball situations to curl past a helpless Craig Gordon. Gaffe of the weekend Petr Cech The Chelsea goalkeeper is usually exempt from blame following many match winning performances, but hot on the heels of his flap against Arsenal, Cech produced another howler in his side's 4-4 draw with Villa. Maloney had already given Villa the lead before he added a second courtesy of Cech's blunder. The Czech shot-stopper allowed Maloney's effort to pitch just in front of him before watching on in horror as it slipped into the net after he failed to hold on. Save of the weekend Lewis Price The Derby goalkeeper made a nervy start after receiving a late call up to replace injured first-choice Stephen Bywater, but the Rams shot-stopper almost proved to be the hero of the piece with a stunning late stop from Xabi Alonso in the Rams' 2-1 defeat to Liverpool. Price had received criticism from the Pride Park faithful for his early distribution, but the jeers turned to cheers on 82 minutes as he flung himself to the top left hand corner to repel a 30-yard effort from Alonso as Derby looked set to hang-on for a draw. Steven Gerrard was to win the game for the Reds, but Price can also consider himself unfortunate after he produced a fine reflex save to deny Fernando Torres from close range prior to the Liverpool skipper's prodded winner. Pass of the weekend Nicky Shorey The Reading left-back proved his right foot is for more than standing on in 60th minute of the Royals' 1-1 draw with West Ham as he played in Dave Kitson for an equaliser straight from the training ground. West Ham had taken a first half lead through Nolberto Solano, but they were carved apart on the hour mark when Shorey demonstrated his quality as he delightfully threaded through Kitson to allow his team-mate to guide home. Wes Brown's eyebrow raising assist for Wayne Rooney's opener in United's victory over Sunderland also deserves a nod of the head for its collector's item status if nothing else. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
