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Match of the Day running order revealed

The Match of the Day running order has been revealed ahead of the programme, after what has been a busy and controversial afternoon.

You can see the highlights of all of those played so far along with all the talking points, replays and analysis from 10:20pm on BBC One.

Presenter Gary Lineker will as always be joined by pundits Alan Shearer, and Ian Wright who’ll no doubt will have a lot to rant about. If you miss the show, you can view it over on the BBC iPlayer.

www.fanbanter.co.uk – Fan reaction to the latest football news, gossip & funnies

1) MAN CITY v WATFORD

Manchester City extend their lead at the top of the Premier League to four points; Gabriel Jesus scored two goals in each half and assisted Rodri’s rocketed strike in an eye-catching performance; Hassane Kamara scored the first-half reply for Watford

Player ratings

Man City: Ederson (5), Cancelo (7), Dias (6), Laporte (6), Zinchenko (7), De Bruyne (8), Rodri (7), Fernandinho (7), Grealish (7), Sterling (7), Jesus (8).

Subs used: Gundogan (7), Ake (6), Mahrez (6).

Watford: Foster (6), Ngakia (6), Kabasele (5), Samir (5), Kamara (6), Sissoko (6), Louza (5), Cleverley (6), Sarr (5), King (6), Dennis (6).

Subs used: Cathcart (5), Joao Pedro (5), Kayembe (n/a).

Man of the match: Gabriel Jesus.

Man City manager Pep Guardiola to Sky Sports:

“If there was one person who deserves the best of his life for him and his family and friends, it’s Gabriel.

“All of us at the club and locker room, when he has one of these situations we are happy for him because he is so generous and it doesn’t matter what position he is going to play, he always fights, he always helps for his mates. It was fantastic.

“We started with having a goal in the first minutes of the first half and second half, that was good. We didn’t defend well in the back, we were not aggressive enough. Defending is a question of attitude, it’s not question of skills or abilities, and we were not good.

“But the players at the front, not only Gabriel Jesus for his incredible four goals, but Raheem, Jack, Kevin, all of them, they were brilliant.”

Watford manager Roy Hodgson to Sky Sports:

“It was always going to be a tough afternoon because we’re playing the champions and a team that’s fighting to be champions for a second year in a row.

“If you then concede goals in the very first minutes, you have made life far too difficult for yourself against a team of Man City’s quality. In the end, when these things happen, you can so easily find yourself on the end of the heavy defeat.

“There’s always a glimpse of hope if you defend properly and make certain that they don’t score their goals too easily. There’s always opportunists and hope on the counter-attack that you can do something.

“That was the case today, but the pressure is always on the defence and that does provoke mistakes unfortunately and they were able to capitalise on them.

“There’s five games left to play so that also gives us lots of hope, but we have to make certain we cut out some of the mistakes that we were forced into giving today and conceding goals in that way.

“But I think there’s every chance that against teams around us now, we can certainly play better. Individuals can give better performances than they have done today.

“But to be honest to everybody, they provoke those mistakes and make life difficult for you and that’s why they’re top of the league and we’re near the bottom.”

2) ARSENAL v MAN UTD

Arsenal laid down a marker in the race for fourth with a 3-1 win over Man Utd; Cristiano Ronaldo’s 100th Premier League goal in vain as goals from Nuno Tavares, Bukayo Saka and Granit Xhaka seal victory; watch free highlights on the Sky Sports app and website

Player ratings

Arsenal: Ramsdale (7), Cedric Soares (6), White (6), Gabriel (6), Tavares (5), Elneny (8), Xhaka (8), Saka (8), Odegaard (7), Smith Rowe (6), Nketiah (7).

Subs: Martinelli (6), Holding (n/a), Tomiyasu (n/a).

Man Utd: De Gea (7), Dalot (7), Lindelof (6), Varane (7), Telles (5), Matic (7), McTominay (6), Sancho (7), Fernandes (5), Elanga (6), Ronaldo (7).

Subs: Rashford (n/a), Lingard (n/a), Mata (n/a).

Man of the match: Granit Xhaka.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta: “A big performance in a game I think had everything. Moments where we showed real quality, a game where we had to suffer, a game where there were moments where we were a bit lost and lacking energy, a game where we were really efficient in the boxes, a game where we had luck when we needed it. Overall I am extremely happy.”

On the race to finish in the Champions League: “I said this is going to be a rollercoaster. The winning and losing in this league is small margins. Today things went our way and we are really happy.”

Man Utd interim boss Ralf Rangnick: “I think we showed an improved performance but in the end a disappointing result. I think we bounced back well from the early goal and had numerous chances in both halves to score more goals.

“I thought the weak part of our performance today was we didn’t defend well inside and around our box. I felt there were three very unlucky VAR decisions. For me the Arsenal third was clearly offside. The second of Cristiano was not offside. We were not very happy with the VAR decisions today. An improved display but a disappointing result.”

On Fernandes’ missed penalty: “It would have helped us a lot if that had been the equaliser and probably would have changed the whole game. In the end, very unlucky for us.”

When asked if Man Utd’s top-four chances have gone, he added: “Pretty sure. For me even before the game it was not very likely but after today’s result it is gone yes.”

3) NORWICH v NEWCASTLE

Joelinton scores twice and Bruno Guimaraes adds a third to send Newcastle up to ninth in the Premier League table with a comfortable 3-0 win over Norwich at Carrow Road

Player ratings:

Norwich: Krul (4), Byram ( 5), Hanley (5), Zimmermann (5), Dowell (6), Normann (5), Rashica (5), Lees-Melou (6), Pukki (6), McLean (5), Giannoulis (5).

Subs: Aarons (6), Tzolis (6), Rowe (6).

Newcastle: Dubravka (7), Lascelles (7), Joelinton (8), Saint-Maximin (6), Targett (7), Krafth (7), Murphy (8), Willock (6), Burn (7), Longstaff (7), Guimaraes (8).

Subs: Ritchie (6), Almiron (6), Gayle (n/a).

Man of the match: Joelinton

Norwich head coach Dean Smith: “I don’t think it was a 3-0. We’ve been beaten 3-0 before and you’ve felt it’s been a kick.

“Today, there was nothing in the game until the first goal. We probably had the better moments and didn’t take them, and then we didn’t defend well enough for their goals. If you make mistakes at this level you get punished.

“The league table doesn’t lie, we’ve been punished too many times for our mistakes and, unfortunately, we keep on making similar mistakes that have cost us in the end.”

Newcastle manager Eddie Howe: “It was a tight game until we scored the goal. We weren’t particularly happy with how we started but once we scored, we showed a different level in our play.

“We scored some great goals today, really pleased for Joe, 100th appearance and you saw the scenes at the end there, brilliant moments for him especially knowing the journey he’s had at the club. A great day for us.”

On being ninth in the Premier League: “When you look back and think of some of the days we had early on, the Cambridge defeat, the late equaliser Watford scored, those were difficult moments and we were a long, long way from where we are now.

“It’s taken an incredible effort from the players, staff and supporters to lift us into the position we are. I can’t thank everyone enough what they’ve given me and the team.”

4) BRENTFORD v TOTTENHAM

Spurs miss chance to retake fourth place from Arsenal after goalless draw at Brentford; Ivan Toney hits post and bar for Bees as Harry Kane clears Pontus Jansson’s header off the line; Spurs fail to have a shot on target and are two points behind Gunners

Brentford manager Thomas Frank speaks to Match of the Day: “Massively proud. I think it was a top performance against a very good Tottenham side that came with their strongest players. We had so many injuries with our centre back situation.

“We played with two new centre backs, a new wing back, without our normal number six and we limited perhaps the best front two in the league to nothing. Plus we created chances and opportunities. I think there could be only one winner – us – and that is crazy to be honest.

“We missed these players. We were a little down to the bare bones but the players stepping in are focused, well prepared and ready to help the team.

“I think we started the season very well. Then we started getting our injuries. Then we had the bad spell with results but performances were quite sold actually. Now we are in a better spell, it is easier for players to step in.”

On reaching 40 points: “True. I heard about that figure when we came in. It has never been a specific target but we want more.”

Tottenham manager Antonio Conte speak to Match of the Day: “A little bit frustrated because in every game you want to try to win. But at the end of the game I think the draw was fair. They are strong physically and crated many problems in set pieces.

“I think in the end, a draw, in our mind we wanted three points. Today we didn’t deserve three points. Now we have to try to prepare the last five games in the best possible way and stay in this race.

“We have to be very proud because of the difficulties this club has faced this season. To now fight for a target like Champions League in England we have to be proud.”

On behind prevented from scoring for two games in a row: “I think now the opponent when they face us they pay great attention. This is the difference. When you climb the mountain and start going up, the difficulty becomes more and more.

“I think defensively we were good today. Offensively we can do much better. But we have to respect the game Brentford played as they played a very good game.

“We have to continue to do what we are doing and continue to work in the same way. We have to try to do more in possession in the game and to take more responsibility. To stay in this race for a place in the Champions League I think is a big achievement for all the problems this team had this season.”

5) LEICESTER v ASTON VILLA

Leicester and Aston Villa play out a dull goalless draw in a Midlands derby at the King Power Stadium, despite Jamie Vardy’s return from injury for the Foxes

Player ratings

Leicester: Schmeichel 6; Justin 7, Soyuncu 6, Fofana 5, Castagne 6; Mendy 5, Dewsbury-Hall 6, Tielemans 6; Maddison 6 Daka 5, Lookman 5

Subs: Vardy 6, Barnes n/a, Ayoze Perez n/a

Aston Villa: Martinez 6; Cash 6, Konsa 6, Mings 6, Young 5; Luiz 6, McGinn 6, Ramsey 5; Bailey 5, Watkins 6, Coutinho 6

Subs: Ireogbunam 6, Buendia 6, Nakamba 6

MOTM: James Justin (Leicester)

“In the last couple of games, we played really well, but in the final third we couldn’t find the killer pass,” said Rodgers. “Maybe that is a lack of energy because of the number of games we’ve played – the speed of our attacking combinations is not quite as we want it. Our heart and effort is there though.

“We got the clean sheet. In the last 15 minutes we tired a bit.”

“It’s enough to satisfy me because after four defeats, it’s important you stop that,” Gerrard said. “I think our performance today was very strong and very good and we came here to win the game and unfortunately we couldn’t do that. But when you can’t, it’s important that you don’t lose.

“We’ve come up against a strong team today with very technically gifted players but over the course of the 90 minutes we had slightly the better chances.

“Everyone was all in, everyone was fighting for the cause. We conceded four in the last game so we needed to reset a few things. I’m sure our goalkeeper and defenders are very happy with their performances from a defensive point of view.”

 

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