Champions Season So Far

Sunderlands 2-0 win at the weekend against a Swansea City full of confidence after their own 3-2 win at home to Arsenal shows just how far the Mackems have come in the past few weeks since the arrival of Martin O'Neill at the Stadium Of Light.

Ask any Sunderland fan and they to a man would agree if the men in charge had stuck with previous manager Steve Bruce then they may well have found themselves either relegated or a season of fighting for survival.

Bruce was never a fans favourite, probably due to his Newcastle roots but the Sunderland faithful stuck with him just to see if their side was going to improve on last seasons 10th place finish.
With the arrival of some 11 new signings things were looking good with some fans even dreaming of a place in Europe but as the season got under way it soon came to the fore that Sunderland weren't heading to Europe next season, but maybe Doncaster!!!

They started the season of with a draw against Liverpool but then they lost to their main rivals Newcastle and really from that moment their season seemed to go from bad to worse leading to Bruce's sacking on November 30th.

Within a week owner Ellis Short had found the man to take the team forward. Northern Ireland's Martin O'Neill. The former Wycombe Wanderers, Leicester City and Celtic (whom he supported as a boy) manager took over and declared he was over the moon taking over the other club he supported and in his 9 games in charge he's won 6 and lost 2 propelling the Mackens up the table to 10th place and rekindling the supporters hopes of a place in Europe.

Things are looking good at the Stadium of Light. The players are playing for the manager, the fans are returning and the victories are coming one after the other. Could they still achieve a place in Europe this season, lets wait and see.

Sunderland continue fine form and claim titleSunderland 2 (Sessegnon 14, Gardner 84) Swansea City 0

Two sublime goals extended Sunderland's renaissance under Martin O'Neill and ended Swansea's four-game unbeaten run.


Stephane Sessegnon found the top-right corner from the left side of the penalty area to put Sunderland ahead.


Sebastian Larsson had earlier struck the Swansea post, before Scott Sinclair wasted the visitors' best chance by firing over from six yards.


Swansea dominated without threatening and Craig Gardner's late 25-yard volley wrapped up victory.


The substitute's clincher five minutes from time was a rare effort on goal from Sunderland, who hardly threatened after Sessegnon's opener.


But Swansea's inability to offer a cutting edge on their travels was again evident, with home keeper Simon Mignolet troubled only twice, consigning Brendan Rodgers's side to a seventh away defeat in 11 games.


The victory moves Sunderland above Swansea into 10th place as O'Neill collected his 10th point from a possible 12 at home since taking over.


Sunderland's opener came as a breathless opening 15 minutes ended with a moment of genuine quality.


After a quick exchange of passes with James McClean down the left flank, Sessegnon opened up his body to curl an unstoppable effort into the top right corner.


The precise strike was too good for Swansea goalkeeper Michel Vorm, who had earlier deflected Larsson's volley on to the foot of the post.


Swansea, basking in the plaudits of their 3-2 win over Arsenal last Sunday, also threatened in the opening exchanges.


Sunderland defender Wes Brown, back after a three-game injury absence, denied Nathan Dyer with a well-timed last-ditch tackle, before Phil Bardsley followed suit to stop Scott Sinclair on the opposite flank.


Sinclair was guilty of wasting a glorious chance when he blasted over from barely six yards from Dyer's low cross.


The visitors went on to dominate the rest of the half, with Gylfi Sigurdsson slotting seamlessly into the Swansea midfield as he made his first start.


His far-post cross gave Danny Graham a great chance to level, but the striker failed to keep his header down.


Despite Swansea's dominance of possession, Sunderland stopper Mignolet was not tested until the 57th minute when he palmed away Sigurdsson's free-kick.


The home crowd grew impatient as Sunderland struggled to find any cohesion, but the Black Cats suddenly came to life in the final 15 minutes.


Sessegnon headed wide from McClean's inviting cross, before Vorm needed to be alert as he rushed out to beat Connor Wickham to the ball at the edge of the box.


Wickham wasted a glorious chance to seal victory when he fired wildly wide from close range, but the points were secured when Gardner struck.


The substitute controlled Sessegnon's crossfield pass on his chest before sending a dipping 25-yard volley into the top corner.

Champions Transfer Window Update

Its fair to say the January Transfer Window is a usual quiet affair but one team that hasn't been quiet are the current Unofficial Premier League Champions Swansea City.


As the enter the last few weeks of the window Swansea have signed four new players, the most out of all Premier League sides and as yet no-one has left the Liberty Stadium.
So who has Brendan Rodgers signed?

First deal was actually completed in August when Swansea signed Darnel Situ from French side Lens.
Situ agreed terms on August 31st but there was complications with the deal and the 19 year old defender didn't receive international clearance in time for the £250,000 to be completed. Lens did however agree to loan the defender to Swansea up until the reopening of the transfer window and then on January 10th the deal was completed. Situ is still waiting to make his debut for his new club and will be hoping to make an impression in 2012.

Icelandic International Gylfi Sigurdsson was next to join the Swans. The Hoffenheim midfielder has agreed to join the club on loan for the rest of the season after falling out of favour from his current club. Its not known whether this could lead to a permanent deal in the future but the midfielder has already made his mark when coming on as a substitute to set up the winning goal in Swansea's 3-2 victory over Arsenal on January 15th.

Rodgers headed home for his next signing when he snapped up prolific striker Rory Donnelly from Northern Ireland outfit Cliftonville. The 19 year old scored 20 goals in his 49 appearances which lead to Swansea making a £100,000 bid. Everton soon started sniffing around meaning Swansea upping their bid and signing the promising striker on 10th January.

Finally, the most recent new comer to the Liberty Stadium see's Chelsea midfielder Josh McEachran joining on loan until the end of the season. The highly rated midfielder has made 11 appearances for the Blues and has been sent out on loan by Andre Villa-Boas to gain some valuable Premier League experience. The way he likes to play seems perfectly matched to the way Swansea play so this could be the perfect match, although with Swansea flying high in the Premier League at the moment its a wonder whether Josh will break into the squad!!!!




As I say Swansea have been busy in the market but what do we make of the signings? Well Sigurdsson has already made his mark in the starting line up and with the addition of McEachran Swansea have a midfield full of talent, as for Situ and Donnelly I can't see them making much of an impression at the Liberty Stadium and I wonder whether these are signings "for the future"

Swansea keep title in five goal thrillerSwansea City 3 (Sinclair 16, Dyer 57, Graham 70) Arsenal 2 (van Persie 5, Walcott 69)

Swansea City dashed Thierry Henry's hopes of a dream return to the Premier League as they struck a blow to Arsenal's top-four ambitions with a 3-2 win at the Liberty Stadium.


Robin van Persie had given the Gunners an early lead only for a Scott Sinclair penalty and a Nathan Dyer strike to swing the contest in Swansea's favour. Theo Walcott levelled for Arsene Wenger's side in the 69th minute, soon after Henry's introduction as a substitute for his 255th English top-flight appearance, yet the visitors were left stunned a minute later when Danny Graham fired in the winner.


Arsenal could have few complaints with the outcome, though, after a sub-standard display which means they remain four points adrift of fourth-placed Chelsea in fifth position. They have now suffered back-to-back league defeats and this was a painful reintroduction to the division for French striker Henry, five years after he left Arsenal to join Barcelona.


Mikel Arteta was a notable absentee for the Gunners after picking up an injury in training, while their injury crisis at left-back meant Ignasi Miquel earned his first Premier League start.


Swansea made four changes from the team which defeated Barnsley in the FA Cup last weekend, yet they found themselves trailing within five minutes following the Gunners' first serious attack.


Welsh midfielder Aaron Ramsey, back in his native country, and Alex Song combined to feed Andrey Arshavin, whose threaded pass set Van Persie away and he did the rest, fooling Steven Caulker with a dummy before squeezing a vicious low shot inside the near post.


After scoring 35 goals in 2011, it was the Netherlands international's first of the new year having recently been given time off by Wenger. However, the Swans were handed an opportunity to level matters from the penalty spot just 12 minutes later when Dyer turned sharply inside the area before tumbling under contact from Ramsey.


Gunners goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny guessed the right way but Sinclair's strike was precisely placed into the bottom corner. Arsenal squandered a good chance when Van Persie went through on goal, yet this time he was foiled by Michel Vorm, who stood up superbly to narrow the angle.


The Gunners fans chanted Henry's name when he emerged from the dug-out to warm-up as they signalled their desire to see their hero make his much-anticipated Premier League return. They certainly needed inspiration from somewhere as Swansea twice threatened with long-range strikes from the impressive Dyer and Joe Allen.


And it was those two who combined to put Brendan Rodgers' team in front in the 57th minute. Allen dispossessed Ramsey and squared the ball to Dyer, who steadied himself before unleashing a sweetly-struck shot beyond Szczesny.


It was not long before Henry and Tomas Rosicky were introduced for the disappointing Arshavin and Yossi Benayoun and by the 69th minute Arsenal were level. Johan Djourou carved open the Swans defence to send Walcott clean through and he clipped the ball beyond Vorm.


The visitors' joy was to prove short-lived, though, as within a minute the Swans had regained the lead. Graham took advantage of some slack defending to clinically convert from a tight angle after good work from substitute Gylfi Sigurdsson.


Henry, back with Arsenal on loan from the New York Red Bulls, made an immediate impact with the winner on his return in Monday's FA Cup victory over Leeds United. Yet he was unable to register his 175th Premier League goal and inspire a turnaround this time as the Swans survived a flurry of late pressure to record a memorable triumph.

Swans take title off VilliansAston Villa 0 Swansea City 2 (Dyer 4, Routledge 47)

Swansea City deservedly claimed their first away win in the Premier League as Aston Villa's troubles at home continued. 


The Welsh side went ahead in the fourth minute when Stephen Warnock got in a mix-up and gave the ball straight to Nathan Dyer, who took it on before firing past Brad Guzan. Wayne Routledge then made it 2-0 shortly after half-time, pouncing when Danny Graham hit the post, to condemn their opponents to a fourth successive defeat at Villa Park.


The result brought Alex McLeish's team crashing back down to earth after their shock 3-1 win at Chelsea on New Year's Eve and sees them slip to 12th in the table, overtaken by Swansea, who are up to 11th after building on Saturday's 1-1 draw with Tottenham Hotspur with another impressive performance.


As anticipated, Swans boss Brendan Rodgers refreshed his side again by making a host of adjustments from the Spurs game, restoring the likes of Graham, Leon Britton and Angel Rangel to the starting line-up. Villa's record signing Darren Bent, who had come off the bench to score against Chelsea after missing three matches with a thigh problem, came in for Marc Albrighton in what was the only change for the Midlanders.


Having finished 2011 on such a high, Villa made a terrible start to the new year as Swansea snatched an early lead following a blunder by Warnock. The defender needlessly lost possession in his own half and Dyer took full advantage, collecting the loose ball, driving into the box and firing a shot into the corner of the net.


The hosts looked to make a quick response, but Gabriel Agbonlahor appeared to be put off by his team-mate Bent as he headed Charles N'Zogbia's cross wide, and Swansea then went close to doubling their advantage, Andrea Orlandi given the space to advance before flashing a strike across Guzan's goal. Stephen Ireland saw an effort deflected behind and James Collins a header saved as Villa attempted to get back on level terms, but a cross-cum-shot from Dyer in between issued another warning at the other end.


Warnock suffered more embarrassment just before the half-hour mark as he was left for dead by Dyer, whose cut-back was met by Graham to bring a stop out of Guzan. N'Zogbia blazed a free-kick over the bar and Swansea were soon breaking forward again, this time Orlandi teeing up Graham, who sent his shot just wide. Villa struggled to muster much in way of reply and were grateful that the damage was not greater by the time the interval came.


Within just two minutes of the restart, though, the hosts had fallen further behind, with another error on their part playing a role. Guzan sent his goal-kick to a white shirt and the ball came to former Villa man Routledge, who burst forward, laid on a pass for Graham and then reacted swiftly when the striker hit the post, tucking away the rebound to register his first goal for Swansea.


There was no let-up, with Orlandi almost slipping in Graham, and Richard Dunne summed up Villa's frustrations when he shoved over Dyer, picking up a booking in the process. After N'Zogbia's shot was blocked and Dunne headed over, it was then the Villa fans who vented their anger, making their displeasure known at McLeish's decision to substitute Ireland for Albrighton.


Ciaran Clark tried to turn and shoot in the Swansea box, but the ball was taken away from him before he could pull the trigger. The visitors continued to threaten, with Dunne doing just enough to ensure Graham's shot could not trouble Guzan and the goalkeeper then managing to stop Joe Allen squeezing through.


N'Zogbia nearly pulled one back at the death, but his shot hit the goal frame and the boos rang out around the ground from Villa fans at the final whistle as another home loss was confirmed.

Villa victory see's Villians crowned ChampionsChelsea 1 (Drogba 23pen) Aston Villa 3 (Ireland 28, Petrov 83, Bent 86)

Chelsea's habit of conceding late goals returned to haunt them as a 3-1 defeat at home to Aston Villa saw them suffer the worst possible end to 2011. 


The expected signing of Gary Cahill cannot come quickly enough on the evidence of the final ten minutes today, which saw Villa exploit some horrible defending to snatch an unlikely victory, much as Arsenal and Liverpool had done earlier in the season. Stiliyan Petrov and substitute Darren Bent both scored in the final seven minutes, putting another nail in the Premier League title hopes of the Blues, who have now taken just three of the last 12 points on offer and have dropped out of the top four. 


Didier Drogba's penalty - his 150th Chelsea goal - had given the home side the lead but Stephen Ireland put his off-field problems behind him to equalise before the late drama. 


They had been boosted before kick-off by the news of Manchester United's shock home defeat to Blackburn Rovers as they sought to end a run of three straight draws and keep their fading championship hopes alive. They were immediately on the attack and James Collins stopped Juan Mata testing Brad Guzan from close range. 


But the hosts were soon grateful themselves when David Luiz did enough to prevent Gabriel Agbonlahor getting a clean header on Marc Albrighton's cross. Both sides began giving the ball away before Ireland wasted a great chance to slide in Albrighton, with Villa belying their recent run of one win in seven. 


But they shot themselves in the foot in the 22nd minute when Richard Dunne lunged in on Drogba and referee Mark Halsey awarded a penalty. Drogba stepped up to score straight down the middle, going level on 150 Chelsea goals with Roy Bentley and Peter Osgood, who is buried under the Shed End penalty spot. 


But as against Fulham on Boxing Day, the Blues conceded less than ten minutes after taking the lead. Charles N'Zogbia got to the byline and cut the ball back for Ireland, whose shot was blocked on the line by John Terry straight back to the midfielder, who slotted home his first goal for Villa and first for more than two years.


Terry was then booked for clattering into Agbonlahor on the halfway line, before Stephen Warnock threw himself forward to block Mata's shot. 


Chelsea started the second half as they did the first, Daniel Sturridge close to connecting with Mata's low cross. But Villa remained a threat and Collins almost inadvertently bundled home N'Zogbia's free-kick before Agbonlahor missed a glorious 53rd-minute chance on the break. 


The visitors burst forward after a Chelsea attack, perfectly exploiting a three-on-one to release Agbonlahor, whose finish was too close to Petr Cech. Villas-Boas threw on the axed Frank Lampard for Oriol Romeu four minutes later, moments before Agbonlahor dragged another chance wide. 


Mata almost conjured up a chance for Sturridge with some magical wing play, with the latter immediately replaced by Fernando Torres. The Spaniard, who had also been dropped, was desperately unlucky not to make an instant impact, crashing a 30-yard shot against the crossbar - possibly via a deflection. 


Ashley Cole had a handball appeal against Dunne waved away by Halsey, who did then book Carlos Cuellar for a robust tackle on Drogba. Chelsea then poured forward. Drogba fired Torres's through-ball wide, with Jose Bosingwa then replacing Paulo Ferreira for the final 15 minutes, the substitute immediately testing Guzan from 25 yards. 


Villa sent on Bent and Gary Gardner for N'Zogbia and Albrighton, but remained on the back foot until dramatically taking the lead seven minutes from time. Ciaran Clark was allowed to carry the ball forward and Petrov ran into what was mammoth gap between Terry and Luiz to clip the ball over Cech. 


Petrov limped off injured with Barry Bannan coming on, and it was game over three minutes later, Lampard's pass intercepted by Ireland, who burst forward and squared for Bent to beat the onrushing Cech. 


Chelsea were jeered off by their own fans, who will be hoping for much better in 2012.