EPL Week 33: THE WEEKEND THAT WAS.

CHELSEA CLOSE IN ON EPL TITLE AFTER VICTORY AGAINST UNITED.

Blue was the color that came out on top in the battle at the bridge despite the Red Devils fine performance on the day. Elsewhere, Manchester United's noisy neighbors were victorious against West Ham to move within a point of their cross town rivals.


CHELSEA 1 - 0 MANCHESTER UNITED

Louis Van Gaal's must be eating his hair out, just how United lost this one he will not understand and his anger was plain to see in his post match interview which was rather hilarious and had a bit of a Mourinho feel to it, short and arrogant responses. Yes, United were the better attacking side, their play moving forward had more fluency and panache than that of Chelsea but they really failed to deliver anything of real threat in the final third. Chelsea though were better defensively, an organized and solid defensive work by the whole squad ensure United had little joy.

To be honest, Chelsea looked out of sorts going forward but still managed to score a goal and create the best chance of the whole game. Hazard played a part in both, scoring the first effort and coming inches close from doubling his tally when he touched the ball against the bar with De Gea not in sight.

United started the game well and Rooney's effort had all United fans on their feet unfortunately for them the ball had hid the side netting. From then on, chances were few and far between, United having much of the ball played at a very slow pace and were patient to wait for the Blues to make an error. Shaw's pace caused Ivanovic all sorts of problems but really didn't do enough.

Chelsea's well drilled defensive line kept pushing United out wide and dealing with any crosses into the box with ease. Matic and Zouma were like an unmovable rock in the heart of the midfield, tracking Rooney and Fellaini with great effect.

When the Blues struck, the gulf in class was evident. They just needed one moment to split the United defense opened and it was a sublime back heel from Oscar to the path of Hazard that undid the defense. 

The second half had very little to offer, apart from the Hazard effort against the bar and a couple of United ping-pongs in the Chelsea box, it wasn't as exciting as I'd hoped. Chelsea have one foot across the finish line, and a victory against Arsenal this coming weekend we'll surely be enough to see them champions.


MANCHESTER CITY 2 - 0 WEST HAM

 Regardless of the absence of captain  Vincent Kompany and James Milner through injury, City had the capacity to see off an inadequate West Ham side and move seven points clear of fifth placed Liverpool, who do have a game in hand.

A peculiar 18th-moment own goal from James Collins put City ahead before Sergio Aguero multiplied the lead with his 20th goal of the season.

West Ham never debilitated a fightback, however a routine triumph was soured when Silva was caught by an elbow from Cheikhou Kouyate halfway during the half, with the Senegalese gaining just a booking.

City had the better of the opening stages as West Ham struggled to get hold of the ball and, after Alexander Kolarov had run close with a curling free-kick, City took the lead through an immense stroke of fortune after 18 minutes.

West Ham developed into the game and gave a sporadic attacking threat, yet they were given a mountain to climb when Aguero completed off a shining counter-assault in the 36th minute.

Yaya Toure won the ball in midfield and set Aguero free, the Argentina striker then finishing off the attack with a smart low finish under Adrian in the wake of a fine interchange Navas.

City now close in on cross town rivals United and are two behind second place Arsenal who have a game in hand.


NEWCASTLE 1 - 3 TOTTENHAM

 
 Chadli gave Mauricio Pochettino's side a half-time lead with a long-range strike 29 minutes in, though Tim Krul might have done more to save the effort.

However, Newcastle equalized early in the second half - Colback restoring parity 18 seconds after the restart.

If there was any doubt about Krul's role in Spurs' first goal, there was nowhere for the goalkeeper to hide with the second, as Eriksen's 53rd-minute free-kick eluded the Dutchman's grasp and found the back of the net.

Kane's 30th goal of the campaign added to John Carver's woes, with Newcastle remaining just seven points clear of the relegation zone, while Spurs moved above Southampton into sixth.


OTHER RESULTS;

CRYSTAL PALACE 0 - 2 WEST BROM

EVERTON 1 - 0 BURNLEY

STOKE 2 - 1 SOUTHAMPTON

LEICESTER 2 - 0 SWANSEA