The Prempionship

[Northantslad]

......its ok ref can blow now they have the ball.

Half times are in:

Stoke City 0 V Aston Villa 1

(Samatta 14 min)

Leicester City 0 V GTFC 2

(Doyle 12min, Rudzi 32 min)

Man Utd 2 V Leeds Utd 0

(Rashford 19min, Greenwood, 24 min)

(Red Card- Roberts, 18 min)

Everton 0 V Chelsea 0

 

[Northantslad]

Full Times are in:

Stoke City 3 V Aston Villa 1

Villa took the lead on 14 minutes when Samatta headed in a decent cross and they held onto the lead, despite some Stoke pressure until Half-Time. It was Stoke however who came out flying after the break, when Powell stuck home a rasping effort from the edge of the box, and with Vokes tapping in soon after, Villa looked shell shocked as they hunted for the points to maintain a title challenge. Stoke made the most of the Villa press for a goal and caught them on the break on 67 minutes when Thompson ran on beyond Mings to round the keeper and drill home to secure the points for the hosts.





Leicester City 3 V GTFC 3

GTFC started this one looking like champions elect as they tore Leicester apart for the first half an hour, their slick play topped with goals from Doyle still in for the injured Godden, justifying his selection again and then Rudzi, another consistent product of the GTFC academy. Leicester grabbed a goal back when Vardy played the back line well in a trade mark turn, run and finish, however his any good work resulting from a half time set up change, was ruined when Rudzi capitalised on a mix up between Soyunchu and Evans on 61 minutes. Leicester switched James for Gray and he had an immediate impact, firing beyond Maloney on 73 minutes, making for a tense finish. How often is the case in these situations and despite their manager tearing his hair out on the touchline, GTFC sat deeper and deeper, inviting almost constant Leicester pressure and it was almost in the last kick of the game where Vardy finally knocked in following a last ditch scramble on 89 minutes.

Man Utd 4 V Leeds Utd 0

The teams were greeted by a vociferous atmosphere aided by Leeds occupying all of their allocation for seats. Rashford opened the scoring for the hosts with a clever free kick following Roberts dragging him back, and as last man, was shown a red card for the foul. Greenwood, recently recalled, added to the lead 5 minutes later after cutting inside and firing into the roof of the net. Leeds could have pulled one back before the break but Bamford was adjudged to have fouled Bassaka on his way to slipping the ball under De Gea. Mata enjoying some good runs in the starting line-up and well beyond his usual 70 minutes, again proved his Utd worth when he tapped in a cut back from Greenwood on 74 minutes. Rashford on 82 minutes ensured that the bragging rights were even for the season when he headed in a McTominay cross for his second of the night. Leeds will probably rue the Bamford goal decision and even may see it as the turning point of the game, but in fairness they didn’t offer much in a fixture that wasn’t as hotly contested as its usual billing suggests.

Everton 0 V Chelsea 0

The leagues joint lowest scorers met the leagues tightest defence in this one and it showed, along with Chelsea emerging as the draw specialists, the smart money was on the draw and perhaps the smarter money on a scoreless one. Chelsea had the better of the play over the 90, but and has been the case, didn’t seem to be clicking, especially where it matters.

So, how the table looks with 3 games to go.

Team​	Pld​	W​	D​	L​	F​	A​	PTS​	GD​
GTFC	11​	6​	2​	3​	29​	16​	20​	+13​
Aston Villa	11​	5​	3​	3​	16​	12​	18​	+4​
Leeds Utd	11​	4​	3​	4​	16​	18​	15​	-2​
Chelsea	11​	3​	6​	2​	14​	10​	15​	+4​
Stoke City	11​	4​	2​	5​	15​	21​	14​	-6​
Man Utd	11​	4​	2​	5​	13​	19​	14​	-6​
Leicester City	11​	2​	5​	4​	14​	19​	11​	-5​
Everton	11​	2​	5​	4​	13​	15​	11​	-2​

 

[H T B]

A better point for Leicester than us.
Again VAR failed to spot the pullback by Vardy in the late, late equaliser
Big club bias again!!!

 

[Northantslad]

Today's fixtures, all 3PMs

Aston Villa V Man Utd

Heaton, Mings, Taylor, Targett, El Mohamady, Grealish, Luiz, McGinn, Hourihane, Wesley, Gilbert

De Gea, Bassaka, Mcguire, Lindelof, Williams, Fernandez, McTominay, Mata, Fred, Rashford, Greenwood

Chelsea V GTFC

Arrizabalaga, Rudiger, James, Azpilicueta, Willian, Kante, Kovacic, Mount, Gilmore, Abraham, Pulisic

Maloney, Baker, Baines, Spence, Rigsby, Fitzpatrick, Woods, Rudzi, Godden, Doyle, Penman

Leeds Utd V Stoke City

Casilla, Cooper, Davis, Douglas, Stevens, Phillips, Hernandez, Dallas, Shackleton, Bamford, Costa

Butland, Martins-Indi, Shawcross, Ward, Clucas, Ince, Powell, Allen, Thompson, Vokes, Diouf

Everton V Leicester City

Pickford, Mina, Coleman, Digne, Holegate, Keane, Gomes, Bernard, Davis, Delph, Calvert-Lewin

Schmeichel, Chilwell, Soyunchu, Evans, Pereira, Maddison, Albrighton, Gray, Perez, Vardy, Iheanacho

 

[Northantslad]

Half-times are in:

Aston Villa 1 V Man Utd 0

(Hourihane 31min)

Chelsea 1 V GTFC 0

(Abraham 12min)

Leeds Utd 1 V Stoke City 2

(Bamford 2 min) (Diouf 8min, Powell 29 min)

Everton 0 V Leicester City 0

 

[Northantslad]

Full Times are in:

Aston Villa 3 V Man Utd 0

Hourihane set the hosts with title ambitions on their way with a well- placed header just past the half hour mark, which was the pinnacle of a half in which Villa had much of the play. Fernandez returned for the visitors and despite some minimal link up with the front line, couldn’t seem to work any clear cut openings through one of the best defences statistically in the league. McGinn doubled Villa’s lead on 62 minutes, knocking in at the second attempt after De Gea had saved well with his feet from close range with the initial effort. Man Utd did put the pressure on Villa following this and should really have got back into it when Rashford had rounded Heaton to finish well after his run. There however followed a long delay for a VAR check and after sometime, Rashford had been judged off-side when he received the ball. VAR is clearly impacting on the dynamics of the game and something that the late Graham Taylor always advised of, was that stop/starts in games usually result in goals soon after, as players lose their concentration. This was definitely the case when not even a minute after the decision had been made, McGinn doubled his tally and sealed a vital win for Villa, when he found himself un-marked as he arrived late and not tracked, to hammer a low effort beyond De Gea, after a Wesley cut back.

Chelsea 1 V GTFC 1

Abraham justified his selection by Frank in his search for goals and game winning formulas when he ended a good solo goal, curling in beyond Maloney on 12 minutes. Rather than be deflated by this start, it only seemed to spur GTFC into life and the rest of the half belonged to them, with Godden and also the in-form Doyle going close and only denied by some outstanding goalkeeping by Arrizabalaga. GTFC continued in much the same manner after the break and their constant pushing for a goal was clearly being driven by knowledge of the score line emerging from Villa Park. They do seem to be a team who is able to press, without opening themselves up for a counter, with Fitzpatrick and Woods as dynamic as ever, in a rare set up seldom seen, with both performing the box to box role. As the second half drew on, it didn’t look like being GTFC’s day, as they hit both posts and continued to bring out the best from Arrizabalaga. However, they were gifted a goal when the Chelsea keeper over did the short ball out by one too many times and Godden, back to fitness dispossessed Rudiger and hammered home for a vital point on 87 minutes.

Leeds Utd 1 V Stoke City 3

Leeds were looking to continue to have a say in the title outcome and hosting a Stoke side in a good run of form, which has seen them climb up the table, after a bad start to the season. Leeds started the game well and Bamford after a lean spell capitalised on the energy the hosts started with, when he drill home a shot across Butland on 2 minutes. Diouf however levelled for Stoke 6 minutes later after good work out wide by Thompson. Stoke took the game into their hands by pushing for the remainder of the half and were rewarded when Powell struck one of the goals of the season from 30 yards. Leeds came out for the second half with a renewed vigour and made most of the running for the majority of the half, but were denied by a busy Butland. In a rare change to matters in the half, Stoke broke and were awarded a corner, from which, Vokes headed in on 77minutes to secure the win. The outcome of this one, could now mean that it is Stoke who could have the bigger say in matters and leaves Leeds with a must win for them on Wednesday when they host league leaders.





Everton 0 V Leicester City 0

In a game which saw the bottom two battle it out, the game quickly became an obvious outcome of neither wishing to lose. Hosts Everton did offer more than Leicester in terms of ambition and possession, but the threat of possible relegation was clearly playing on the minds of both teams, as the ball, once in possession rarely found any forward movement of it. Everton would seem on paper to have the more difficult run in of the two, but nothing is certain were two wins could equally see either team move into the top half.

League Table, with 2 to go.

Team​	Pld​	W​	D​	L​	F​	A​	PTS​	GD​
GTFC	12​	6​	3​	3​	30​	17​	21​	+13​
Aston Villa	12​	6​	3​	3​	19​	12​	21​	+7​
Stoke City	12​	5​	2​	5​	18​	22​	17​	-4​
Chelsea	12​	3​	7​	2​	15​	11​	16​	+4​
Leeds Utd	12​	4​	3​	5​	17​	21​	15​	-4​
Man Utd	12​	4​	2​	6​	13​	22​	14​	-9​
Leicester City	12​	2​	6​	4​	14​	19​	12​	-5​
Everton	12​	2​	6​	4​	13​	15​	12​	-2​

 

[H T B]

Any other time, a point against Frank Lampard's Chelsea would be welcome, but we have to start showing less respect, almost as if we don't believe we are where we are.
No mention of VAR today

 

[Northantslad]

Tonight's Fixtures.
Leeds Utd V GTFC

Stoke City V Man Utd

Leicester City V Chelsea

Aston Villa V Everton

No team news i'm afraid for these, team have been busy debating if playing games at neutral venues at the other end of the country to deter fans travelling is a good idea. Left to me, we would have team news as i could have suggested in seconds that moving players and staff alone all over the country can't be a good thing when still in a time of trying to contain matters. Like this will be on Super Sunday, just end it for this season.

 

[Northantslad]

Half Times are in:

Leeds Utd 1 V GTFC 0

(Shackleton 23 min)

Stoke City 2 V Man Utd 1

(Powell 19 min, Vokes 44min) (Fernandez 3min)

Leicester City 2 V Chelsea 1

(Vardy 9, 11 min) (Abraham 23min)

Aston Villa 1 V Everton 0

(McGinn 39min)

 

[Northantslad]

Full Times are in:

Leeds Utd 2 V GTFC 0

GTFC came into this one on the back of surpassing their expectations and unless there is something @HTB isn’t telling us, like this was his local team when he lived in Brazil, they certainly had nothing to prove to anyone in their search for points to make Sundays game a little less nervy. Their hosts however again demonstrated and with well taken goals from Shackleton and Bamford in each half respectively, that regardless of form they should never be taken lightly as @Wise Owl will tell you, themselves looking to push for a runners up medal.

Stoke City 4 V Man Utd 1

@mickthestick was in the stands for this one with rumours rife that he could be taking over as manager as soon as for the final game on Sunday, with @emmaemma sat next to him…. The potential for this was made all the more likely by another disappointing display from Utd, despite getting a flying start from a neat Fernandez finish. Utd then seemed to as they often have recently, got stuck between sitting on the lead and pushing forwards, achieving neither, as Stoke responded with goals from Powell and then Vokes just on the half time whistle which had @Lee Richards jumping up and down in the directors box. Vokes completed his double on 55 min and then his hatrick on 68 minutes when he climbed above Lindelof to head home.

Leicester City 4 V Chelsea 4

In a game where Chelsea finally found the back of the net in ample amounts to take all 3 points, no-one seemed to have reminded them to keep them out of the other end and had the Londoners won just half of the games they have drawn, they would have been champions weeks ago. Vardy spurred Chelsea into life with two goals, to which Abraham replied for the blues. In a second half that was end to end and great to watch, the lead changed hands, as Abraham got his second and Giroud headed in soon after. Perez levelled for the foxes and Gray put them in front on 78 minutes. Leicester looked to have done enough to put a smile on @robert d s face, but Hudson-Odoi, on for Giroud made an immediate impact on 85 minutes when he ensured another share of points for Frank’s men, which made for some difficult questions in his post- match interview with @Peter , where it seemed it would have taken more than a nugget to cheer him up.



Aston Villa 1 V Everton 2

As the players strode out, Villa park almost fell silent as their new sponsors from the world of angling bright orange logo dazzled everyone against the shirts claret and blue including @Dusty Rhodes . He and the other 45,000 Villa fans however were soon much happier when McGinn opened the scoring for the hosts following most of the half being a stalemate as Villa had plenty to win and also much to lose and it showed and was compounded by a stiff set up from Everton, following their work in the week with @Spadger123 . It was however a very different style and almost as planned as Everton shocked the hosts minutes after the break with Calvert-Lewin knocking in a first of his brace on 48 minutes. Villa nerves were evident and the visitors capitalised on this on 64 minutes, to set up a very interesting super Sunday indeed.

The table with a game to go.

Team​	Pld​	W​	D​	L​	F​	A​	PTS​	GD​
GTFC	13​	6​	3​	4​	30​	19​	21​	+11​
Aston Villa	13​	6​	3​	4​	20​	14​	21​	+6​
Stoke City	13​	6​	2​	5​	22​	23​	20​	-1​
Leeds Utd	13​	5​	3​	5​	19​	21​	18​	-2​
Chelsea	13​	3​	8​	2​	19​	15​	17​	+4​
Everton	13​	3​	6​	4​	15​	16​	15​	-1​
Man Utd	13​	4​	2​	7​	14​	26​	14​	-12​
Leicester City	13​	2​	7​	4​	18​	23​	13​	-5​

 

[mickthestick]

Glazers out

 

[emmaemma]

One game left to play and it's all gone pear-shaped for Man Utd. Another disappointing season but with new signings, it will be all to play for next season. Can they avoid defeat and end the season not rooted to the bottom? At the top of the table, it's all to play for in the last game to see who takes the title. Super Sunday...Bring it on....

 

[H T B]

After a slow start, GTFC have grown nicely into the league.
At the start, playing in front of one man and his dog on Rushyfields [probably the same dog that had s**t all over the pitch!], crowds have now grown into their tens, and the tea lady is making a profit!

Dirty Leeds lived up to their name. They saw they had a weak referee and fully exposed his failings!
VAR ref was no better.
Any other day, Dirty would have been down to 9!
Oh well, big game on Super Sunday and the GTFC boys will be up for it.

 

[Northantslad]

It’s a final day super Sunday in the dice league. All 3pm Kos.

Leicester City V Leeds Utd

A Leicester win could keep them up, if Man Utd fail to take 3 points. A Leeds win could see them in the mix for a runners up spot.

Schmeichel, Chilwell, Soyunchu, Evans, Pereira, Maddison, Albrighton, Gray, Perez, Vardy, Iheanacho

Casilla, Cooper, Davis, Douglas, Roberts, Phillips, Hernandez, Dallas, Shackleton, Bamford, Costa


Man Utd V Everton

With current goals scored as it is, a win for either side could be a must, although it could come down to goals scored for either side to avoid the drop.

De Gea, Bassaka, Mcguire, Lindelof, Williams, Fernandez, McTominay, Mata, Fred, Rashford, Greenwood

Pickford, Mina, Coleman, Digne, Holegate, Keane, Gomes, Bernard, Davis, Delph, Calvert-Lewin


Chelsea V Aston Villa

A Chelsea win could see them get a runners up spot. Villa need to better GTFCs result to take the title.

Arrizabalaga, Rudiger, James, Azpilicueta, Willian, Kante, Kovacic, Mount, Gilmore, Abraham, Pulisic

Heaton, Mings, Taylor, Targett, El Mohamady, Grealish, Luiz, McGinn, Hourihane, Wesley, Gilbert


GTFC V Stoke City

Simple for GTFC, a win takes the title. A Stoke win, could see them take the title if Villa fail to win.

Maloney, Baker, Baines, Spence, Rigsby, Fitzpatrick, Woods, Rudzi, Godden, King, Penman

Butland, Martins-Indi, Shawcross, Ward, Clucas, Ince, Powell, Allen, Thompson, Vokes, Diouf

 

[H T B]

One final push lads.
Come on we can do it

 

[Northantslad]

Goal at Chelsea...Abraham 12mins, a well taken chance across Heaton.

 

[Northantslad]

Goal at Old Trafford...........................Gomes, 0-1 Everton, headed in from a corner.

 

[Northantslad]

More goals.........
Stoke taken the lead at GTFC-Ward freekick.

Chelsea now 2-0 up-Abraham again.

 

[Northantslad]

Goal at Leicester........Vardy 39 min.

 

[Northantslad]

Half times are in:

Leicester City 1 V Leeds Utd 0

(Vardy 39 min)

Man Utd 0 V Everton 1

(Gomes 17 min)

Chelsea 2 V Aston Villa 0

(Abraham, 12 min, 28 min)


GTFC 0 V Stoke City 1

(Ward 27 min)

As it stands, the title is going to Stoke and Man Utd are down...............