Premier league and Controversy? Surely not.....

So, it appears referee Stuart Attwell has taken it upon himself to take centre stage following the completion of this weekend's Premier League fixtures. If you haven't seen the goal, basically Sunderland had a free kick in there own half, Michael Turner back heeled it for keeper Simon Mignolet to take said free kick before Liverpool striker Fernando Torres ran clean through, squared the ball to Kuyt who slotted the ball home to make it 1-0 to Liverpool. After seeing the goal on MOTD, I can't see anything wrong with the goal. Turner put his foot on the ball where it the infringement had occurred and 'took' the free kick although, I can understand how the incident can be seen as controversial.

However, what really did grind my gears was Steve Bruce's post-match comments, criticising Attwell and stating that the goal shouldn't have stood at all. Unless Steve Bruce has no memory of the reverse fixture at the Stadium of Light last season where a beach ball played a massive role in their 1-0 win, Steve Bruce needs to coin the term 'pot kettle black' before criticising Attwell's role in the goal. One criticism I do have for Attwell is his decision to not send off Gerrard for his elbow on Man Utd loanee Danny Welbeck where the Liverpool skipper managed to escape with only a booking which, I believe, warrants more attention than Liverpool's opener.

Less controversial than refereeing decisions gone 'wrong' was the performance of last season's top 4 who obtained 1 point between them. A Chelsea team that have picked up maximum points prior to their 12.45 KO on Saturday, lost 1-0 to a Man City side hoping to, eventually, win the league but may have to settle for a top 4 finish at the expense of an injury hit Spurs who lost 1-0 at West Ham courtesy of a 29th minute Frederic Piquionne winner aided by an inspired Rob Green in goal and Tom Huddlestone leaving his goal scoring boots back in the White Hart Lane changing room.

Following Chelsea's loss, Manchester United had the opportunity to cut the gap at the top to a solitary point alas, United failed to capitalise on Chelsea's inability to win at Manchester City and had to settle for a 2-2 draw away to Bolton with forgotten England man Michael Owen saving a point for Sir Alex Ferguson's men. The biggest shock of the weekend, however, came at the Emirates stadium where Arsene Wenger's Arsenal fell to the mighty West Brom 3-2 despite a late rally courtesy of French midfield maestro Samir Nasri as Arsenal also failed to close the gap at the top to 1 point.

Elsewhere, former England great Emile Heskey scored the winner in the Midlands derby against Wolves in Aston Villa's 2-1 victory against one of their rivals, Everton continued their poor run of form with a 0-0 draw away to Fulham leaving them bottom with 3 points and without a win in 6 games, Birmingham and Wigan played out a cracking 0-0 draw at St. Andrews leaving Wigan in the relegation zone on goal difference, Blackburn picked up a 2-1 away win at Blackpool leaving the Premier League new boys in the bottom half of the table on 7 points (at least they are above Liverpool!) and finally, Newcastle failed to turn their dominant opening 45 minutes into 3 points as they lost at home to a, if Arsene Wenger is to be believed, rugby playing Stoke side 2-1.

All in all, probably the most thrilling weekend of football in the EPL since the 2010/11 season kicked off. Here is hoping for more of the same before May rolls around (less of Spurs losing will be ideal though).

Will write again soon.

Laters,

Macca