EPL Round 1 – Fixture Results
<!-- .entry-metaSaturday 18th August 2012
Arsenal 0 – 0 SunderlandScorers:Arsenal started life after Robin van Persie with a goalless draw against Sunderland at the Emirates Stadium.
Arsene Wenger’s side, who fielded Lukas Podolski, the German striker, and Spain midfielder Santi Cazorla in the starting XI, enjoyed plenty of possession, but lacked a killer instinct in the final third.
When a clear opening eventually came their way late in the second half substitute Olivier Giroud fired wide.
Fulham 5 – 0 Norwich CityScorers: Fulham – Damien Duff (26)
Mladen Petric (41, 54)
Alex Kacaniklic (66)
Steve Sidwell (87 Pen)
Fulham debutant Mladen Petric scored twice and set up one more as Martin Jol’s side subjected Norwich City to a comprehensive defeat. Martin Jol’s side put on a sublime display to ensure a disappointing start for Chris Hughton in his first match in charge of the Norfolk club.
Queens Park Rangers 0 – 5 Swansea CityScorers: Swansea - Miguel Michu (8, 53)
Nathan Dyer (63, 71)
Scott Sinclair (81)
Swansea are joint top of the table after their 5-nil hammering of QPR on Saturday. Michael Laudrup got life at the Swansea helm off to the best possible start and 2 goals to Michu and Dyer and a final goal from Sinclair gave them a very convincing win.
Reading 1 – 1 Stoke CityScorers: Reading – Adam Le Fondre (90 Pen)Stoke - Michael Kightly (34)
Reading were lucky to scrape a draw in their first game in the top flight in 4 years after a pretty average start saw them go 1 nil down as Kightly converted after a mistake by Adam Federici. Le Fondre managed to convert a penalty in the final minute after Garath McCleary came off the bench to turn the game by winning the decisive spot kick.
West Bromwich Albion 3- 0 LiverpoolScorers: West Bromwich Albion - Zoltan Gera (43)
Peter Odemwingie (64 Pen)
Romelu Lukaku (77)
The upset of the round came in the form of West Brom thumping Liverpool 3 zip at home. A superb strike from Zoltan Gera, Peter Odemwingie’s penalty plus a header from Romelu Lukaku made it a bad start for new Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers.
West Ham United 1 – 0 Aston VillaScorers: West Ham United - Kevin Nolan (40)
This was a fairly comfortable win for newly promoted West Ham as Aston Villa started the season in very poor form. A controversial goal came just before half time as Kevin Nolan touched home an easy goal that was originally ruled offside by the assistant ref. The goal counted and the Hammers had several chances in the second half to double their lead, but they were rarely troubled and came out easy winners.
Newcastle United 2 – 1 Tottenham HotspurScorers: Newcastle - Demba Ba (54)
Hatem Ben Arfa (80 Pen)
Tottenham – Jermain Defoe (76)
This game looked all set to end in a 1-all draw but a late penalty to the home side was enough to clinch the win for Newcastle. Demba Ba scored his first goal since February before Jermain Defoe hammered home a low shot to even it up before Ben Arfa cooly converted the penalty to win it for his team.
Sunday 19th August
Wigan Athletic 0 – 2 ChelseaScorers: Chelsea - Branislav Ivanovic (2)Frank Lampard (7 Pen)
New boy Eden Hazard played a big role in Chelsea’s opening match of the season. With just over a minute played his neat footwork and pin-point pass sent Ivanovic one on one with the keeper which he duly converted. Minutes later Hazard again caused problems and this time earned his team a penalty which Lampard hammered home.
Manchester City 3 – 2 SouthamptonScorers: Manchester City - Carlos Tevez (40)
Edin Dzeko (72)
Samir Nasri (80)
Southampton - Rickie Lambert (59)
Steven Davis (68)
It was deja vu for Manchester City as the defending Premier League champions came from 2-1 behind to beat newly promoted Southampton. They fell behind mid-way through the second spell but recovered after goals from Dzeko and Nasri sealed the win.
Monday 20th August
Everton 1 – 0 Manchester UnitedScorers: Everton - Marouane Fellaini (57)Manchester got off to the worst possible start after losing away to Everton 1 nil. A fairly even first half saw both teams have their opportunities but some fine goal keeping (especially from De Gea) kept it locked at nil all at the break. The break through came after 57 minutes as Fellaini showed his strength and skill to jump above the United defenders to head home. Even the introduction of new signing Robin Van Persie wasn’t enough for United as Everton played out the rest of the game in defense.
