5 December MW20
GOALLESS IN STRATFORD
As has been pointed out here many times, this season has seen a glut of goals. In the first nine games of MW20 there had already been 35 including the usual slugfest that is Liverpool Newcastle which ended 4-2 (not quite one of the 4-3 classics from 1996 and 1997). Liverpool and Newcastle have met 58 times in the Premier League and those matches have produced 180 goals at just over three per match.
The last match of the week’s fixtures looked as though it would add to the goal tally, visitors Brighton had not kept a clean sheet for 23 matches and West Ham’s previous goalless draw came in December 2021 against Burnley, some 79 matches ago. But a turgid 0-0 was what we got, only the fifth this season and at the current rate, goalless draws will not reach double figures this season.
RED CARDS
Burnley’s Sander Berge provided the only sending off this week, taking this season’s overall total to 39 and still on track to equal the record of 75. That was Burnley’s fourth which puts them in exalted company as the same as fellow bad boys Liverpool and Tottenham. Coming up on the rails behind this trio are Chelsea, Fulham, Forest and Wolves who all have three each.
There are only two clubs who have not fallen foul of the referees’ ire this season – new boys Luton Town and also Newcastle. By contrast in the whole of last season seven clubs did not receive a single red card. In the last nine seasons only once, in 2020/21, have there been no clubs without a sending-off, so it’s now over to The Hatters and The Magpies to keep their noses clean.
QUIZ TIME
On Tuesday 16th January the Football 7th Heaven quiz will be held at the wonderful ‘Feed The Yak’ bar in sunny Elephant & Castle when you can put all those Nuggets to good use, so do join us at 7.30
The Football Mine 