By: Tagdh McGinty
Bournemouth Vs Huddersfield 2-1
Eddie Howe’s side raced into an early lead with goals from Callum Wilson and Ryan Fraser but Huddersfield responded well, Terence Kongolo’s header pulling one back before the break. Huddersfield pushed for an equalizer in the second half but they found Asmir Begovic who kept Aaron Mooy’s low drive out after making a number of smart saves before the break in excellent form as the hosts held on for all three points.
After consecutive defeats to Manchester United, Newcastle, Arsenal and Manchester City, Bournemouth were looking to avoid five consecutive league defeats for the first time since March 2013 when they were in League One. They made a superb start as Wilson, who was played onside by Mathias Jorgensen, beat Huddersfield’s offside trap in what was a tight decision to head home Fraser’s free-kick in the fifth minute.
Wilson then turned provider in the 22nd minute, slipping the ball through for Fraser, who slid the ball under the onrushing Lossl to round off a slick counter-attack from the hosts. Huddersfield responded well to Bournemouth’s second and the hosts needed Asmir Begovic in top form as he made three excellent saves in quick succession to keep out Alex Pritchard’s close-range effort, Laurent Depoitre’s header and Mooy’s free-kick.
Wagner’s side finished the half the stronger of the two teams and they were eventually rewarded when Mooy’s cross was headed on by Christopher Schindler and Jorgensen before Kongolo looped a header past Begovic. Joshua King almost extended Bournemouth’s advantage early in the second half, slicing wide from the edge of the penalty area, but Huddersfield were soon back in control as they searched for an equalizer.
The visitors dominated possession for long spells of the game but once again they were denied by Begovic, who kept out Mooy’s low drive with his feet before the Australian saw a late effort from distance deflected wide as Bournemouth held on.
Westham Vs Cardiff City 3-1
Perez came in from the bench to score twice after replacing Marko Arnautovic, who limped off with a hamstring problem. Michail Antonio added a third before Josh Murphy registered a late consolation for Cardiff. It was former Arsenal striker Perez’s first Premier League goals since January 2017 as West Ham made it back-to-back wins after turning over Newcastle on Saturday.
It could have been very different if Ralls had not missed his chance from a good spot just before the break at 0-0 but West Ham goalkeeper Lukas Fabianski guessed right, keeping the score tied. Both teams started with a confident swagger after their respective wins at the weekend but it was West Ham who created the early opening.
Angelo Ogbonna had a close-range header turned over the bar by Neil Etheridge while Arnautovic had an effort cleared off the line after rampaging through the Cardiff backline.
The frustration of missing that chance may have affected Arnautovic’s decision-making at the 35th minute when he barged over Junior Hoilett in the box. The West Ham striker was a relieved man when Ralls’ weak penalty kick was easily saved by Fabianski. Arnautovic’s eventful evening came to end just before the break when he limped off with a hamstring injury.
His departure seemed to knock the Hammers, who looked short on ideas until Perez struck just after half-time. Robert Snodgrass produced a deft touch behind the Cardiff defense and the striker powered a goal past Etheridge, who could have done better.
Confidence was now flowing for Perez after a frustrating period of his career since moving to the Premier League – he doubled up six minutes later. This time it was Arthur Masuaku who opened up Cardiff and his pass was finished by the striker – once again, Etheridge will have been disappointed with his effort.
Watford Vs Manchester City 1-2
City were camped in Watford’s half for most of the first half and took the lead at 40 minutes as Leroy Sane chested home Riyad Mahrez’s dangerous cross. Provider Mahrez then turned scorer in the second half, slotting past Foster with a controlled finish from Gabriel Jesus’ cut-back, before Abdoulaye Doucoure made for a nervy ending with a messy late goal.
But City held on, and the result means they remain unbeaten this season and five points above Liverpool who play at Burnley on Wednesday night. Watford are down to 11th. Predictably, City dominated the ball from the start, and were nearly ahead on 11 minutes as Roberto Pereyra’s sloppy square pass allowed Sane through on goal, only for Ben Foster to race out and save superbly.
Foster came to Watford’s rescue again as he closed down the gap on Mahrez six yards out after the Algerian was played through beautifully by Fernandinho, and Watford had a chance of their own at the other end as Troy Deeney was denied at point-blank range by Ederson’s foot.
But City went ahead with five minutes of the half remaining as Mahrez, whose cross should have been turned home by David Silva 30 seconds previous, delivered a beauty for Sane to improvise and chest past the onrushing Foster from six yards out.
City took just six minutes of the second half to get the two-goal cushion, as Sane and David Silva combined with Jèsus on the left, before the Brazilian’s cut-back into the box was tucked home from 10 yards out by Mahrez, his sixth goal against Watford and fourth at Vicarage Road.
Mahrez’s shot from just inside the box then hit Christian Kabasele’s arm, but went unnoticed by referee Paul Tierney, while Jèsus, in the side due to Sergio Aguero’s absence, finished poorly inside the box from Mahrez’s superb through ball.
Man-of-the-match Mahrez was denied by Foster’s fine one-handed save late on, but a rare Watford attack then resulted in a goal as Doucoure bundled over the line after seeing his first effort blocked by Kyle Walker. The 63th-minute introduction of Gerard Deulofeu had burst Watford into life, and they nearly grabbed a shock leveller as Deeney’s header from a corner fell into the grateful arms of Ederson.
