English Premier League Sunday: Late Villa Header Equalizes At Bridge

That said, the Latics didn’t defend particularly well either although the close 1-0 scoreline fails to reflect that. While shots hitting the crossbar or post still count as missed opportunities and not goals, they too prove that the team who has rocked the woodwork has created more in terms of meaningful opportunities in front of goal. On multiple occasions, Newcastle did just that when Wigan failed to simply mark men in the box. The Toon’s Fabricio Coloccini in the first half and Steven Taylor in the second half, both came close to asserting United’s dominance over Wigan in the form of goals two and three of the match by gracing the Wigan iron.

For the home side, Wigan again fail to prove to detractors and neutrals that they belong in this league. Playing to a relatively small audience when compared to Premier League standards at the DW, Wigan, for all their ambition, fail to prove that they currently employ the right personnel to carry out said ambition of attacking football.

But as Newcastle United haven’t enjoyed back to back defeats in the league, they have enjoyed an early goal and lead when Shola Ameobi tapped in from close range. Here’s how some good team play witnessed the Toon open the scoring against Wigan Athletic:

Lovenkrands, enjoying a rare start because of an injury to the thigh of Andy Carroll, was able to make contact with the spilled Barton shot and set it towards goal. When Lovenkrands’ tip harmlessly bounced off of Al Habsi’s post, Ameobi was waiting to open the scoring with a tap in. Now 30 minutes in, Newcastle stay up a goal while Wigan search for answers.

The draw leaves Chelsea in fifth place, having been passed by Spurs for what would be the last Champions League spot. VIlla’s points give them some, but not much, reprieve from relegation worries,with two points now separating the Villans from 18th place.

As five minutes of stoppage time has been added, it’s highly likely that the scoring isn’t yet finished on the day and that either team could still lay claim to all three points or that a point each could be shared.

While plenty of time remains at Stamford Bridge for either side to push on and find a winner, it’s Chelsea and not Villa who remain on the front foot and look the more likely of the two sides to score again.

Stay close for updates on both matches as SBN Soccer wraps up the first weekend of 2011 Premier League action.