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00:00What a freak!
00:01Oh, look at that!
00:02Oh, look at that!
00:03Absolutely phenomenal!
00:04Rooney Oco!
00:05Welcome to Match of the Dead.
00:30MUSIC PLAYS
00:50Evening, four games to show you from the first Saturday of 2026,
00:54and unlike New Year's Day, no nil-nils and plenty of goals.
00:58One of England's best centre-forwards is in the studio alongside Alan.
01:02First, Wolves still winless,
01:04but looking to build on their draw at Old Trafford in midweek
01:07against a West Ham side who began the day four points from safety
01:11and without winning their last eight.
01:12Commentary from Alistair Mann.
01:16It was the 8th of November when West Ham last won a match,
01:20and though Wolves haven't gathered a three-pointer since April,
01:24their increasingly hopeless position
01:26has actually begun to relieve the tension.
01:29Rob Edwards' assertion that recent displays at Anfield and Old Trafford
01:33were promising is backed by him making just one change
01:37from the draw with Manchester United,
01:39Santiago Bueno returning from injury.
01:42With just nine goals in their nine away games this season,
01:46West Ham's travels have offered little encouragement.
01:49Captain Jarrod Bowen continues to look their brighter spark,
01:54particularly today as he scored more career goals against Wolves
01:58than any other opponent.
02:00His importance now even greater given Lucas Paquetá has been ruled out with injury.
02:05Well, following the news of the sad passing of former Wolves winger Terry Wharton
02:12who died at the age of 83 following a short illness,
02:15two sets of players will now pause for a moment's reflection.
02:20There's been a feeling in these parts that this is a game in which the pressure is all on the visitors.
02:39Wolves increasingly desperate plight.
02:43They seem now resigned to their fate for West Ham.
02:48It is a must-win fixture.
02:51West Ham have already won the ball back through Somerville.
02:54He kept it in play as well.
02:56There are options as well.
02:58Potts is one of them.
02:59Well, he was clipped I think.
03:01Tried to stay on his feet which was the honest thing to do.
03:06Well, he could easily have gone down and won a penalty there.
03:10But it was quickly dismissed.
03:15Nicely done by Mane.
03:18An exciting protégé.
03:20And it goes to Huang.
03:22Huang's ball across and Wolves in front.
03:29Less than four minutes and Arias scores his first goal as a Wolverhampton Wanderers player.
03:36There are some times, as a commentator,
03:38you're reluctant to point out how long it's been since there's been a goalless draw.
03:43But you never expected this to end 0-0.
03:46And within four minutes that particular prospect is over.
03:52He's inherited a team who've had real problems expressing themselves this season.
03:57Defensively, they have been frail.
04:02Here he is again, Mane, and now Hugo Bueno.
04:08Clearance as far as Mane, who goes down and wins the penalty.
04:15Magassa says no way.
04:17Peter Bank says definitely.
04:19And Magassa went for the ball.
04:21And Peter Bank says he got the man and not the ball.
04:25And awards Wolves a penalty.
04:28So Huang with an opportunity to give Wolves a 2-0 lead.
04:36An opportunity he takes.
04:38And the explosion of noise around Molyneux is to herald a potentially winning position.
04:44For the Wolves, number 11.
04:473, 2, 1.
04:49Well, it was April 26th the last time that Wolves celebrated a victory in the Premier League.
04:57Huang's penalty right down the middle.
05:00Areola moving out of the way.
05:03But Wolves in uncharted waters this season.
05:06They lead 2-0.
05:10Walker-Peters.
05:13And that's headed straight to Mane.
05:16He doesn't need asking twice to have a go.
05:20Full of confidence.
05:22Brings in Chatua.
05:27Trying to get round Scars, he's done it.
05:29Dangerous ball in and he wins a corner.
05:44Headed away by Kilman.
05:46João Gomez.
05:48Clip ball in.
05:50A brilliant save by Areola.
05:52Wow, that is sensational.
05:55He had no right to get anywhere near that.
05:57And he's helped it over his crossbar with his foot.
06:02You go a long way before you see a save better than that one.
06:07That just looked like it had to be a goal.
06:13Here's Hugo Boyne up.
06:19Mane's onside, no question of that.
06:22And he has a goal!
06:24And it's three!
06:25They're so excited about him in these parts, Matthias Mane.
06:35He's been given licence to have a go when he gets the ball.
06:40And he now scores for the first time as a Wolverhampton Wanderers first-team player.
06:45No question of offside.
06:46And Mane thought, well, why not?
06:50And it was a stunning strike.
06:53He's a player with so much promise.
06:56Outstanding at Old Trafford on Tuesday.
06:59And now he has his first professional goal.
07:03And it will not be the last on the evidence of what we've seen so far from him.
07:07And Wolves extraordinarily lead 3-0!
07:14Well, a penny for your thoughts.
07:17More like a million pounds.
07:18Nuno has made his changes, changed the formation.
07:25Mayers has gone in as the third centre-half.
07:27Saucek up towards Somerville.
07:35Probably looked as lively as anyone for West Ham.
07:38That's a good attempt from Bowen.
07:40Got underneath it and skied it, but at least it will go down as a chance.
07:45Well, they've not seen their team win away from home since August 31st.
07:53Ironically, that was at Nottingham Forest under the management of Nuno Espirito Santo.
08:00Andre in front of Bowen.
08:03Hugo Bueno.
08:05Still going.
08:07It's a good effort and Areola puts it beyond the post.
08:10Well, he's a player who has certainly benefited after Ryan Knight.
08:16Norrie left for Manchester City.
08:18Working it onto his right foot.
08:20And Areola's save was important.
08:25Wilson.
08:28With Mane for company.
08:31And he wins a corner.
08:35Fifth West Ham corner, they're fourth of the second half.
08:39Great delivery.
08:43Good punch by Jose Sartre.
08:45Well, just at the moment, VAR are still checking for a potential foul.
08:51Krejci on the back of Saucek.
08:55Well, Saucek was asking the question.
08:58Nothing given.
09:00Andre.
09:05Cleared, but only as far as Mane.
09:11Well, he's done that well.
09:13It's a great save again from Areola.
09:15Well, he's box office, isn't he, Mane?
09:17Just such an exciting prospect.
09:21He scores his first ever professional goal.
09:24And it gives him the confidence to try and grab his second.
09:27Well, the damage was inflicted in the first half.
09:41But it was some serious damage to West Ham United.
09:44Wolves finally taste a victory.
09:49Rob Edwards first in charge of Molyneux.
09:53And as much as Wolves are delighted,
09:56West Ham will be feeling desperate.
09:59A terrible afternoon for the visitors.
10:02A wonderful one for the hosts.
10:04The final score, Wolves three, West Ham United nil.
10:10The overall performance, I thought we were good.
10:13Resilient when we needed to be, compact when we needed to be.
10:16But, yeah, stuck together in place from really good football at the right moments as well.
10:21So I thought it was a pretty complete performance.
10:23Has it been difficult to convince them to buy into what's going on?
10:26No, because I don't think, if you watch the performances,
10:28I don't think the lads have struggled to buy in at all.
10:30I think they've been all in.
10:31And you're seeing that, we're seeing that.
10:34So a big credit to the lads and a huge credit to the supporters.
10:38That's for them today because they've had it really, really tough.
10:40Has this been the lowest point so far since you took over, would you say?
10:44Yes, yes.
10:45Especially the first half was really disappointed, was embarrassing.
10:50And I should apologise to our fans, those that travel, those at home.
10:55This is not what we want to show them.
10:58We have problems in terms of squad, in terms of options.
11:03But that doesn't, is not a justification for what we did in the first half.
11:08The mistakes that we made, the lack of effort, discipline, organisation, responsibility, was very bad.
11:16Tell us about the feeling when you get the ball and you think, you know what, I'm going to have a crack here.
11:22Yeah, I saw John Henry say on the edge, but I thought, let me get a chance, let me shoot.
11:26And it went in and I was buzzing, buzzing to get my first goal.
11:30A moment you dream of, but did it feel even better in reality?
11:33Yes, 100%.
11:34When I saw it going, I just ran to the corner and did a nice knee slide and celebrated with the team and the fans.
11:39Can't help but smile, can you?
11:42His performance and just listening to him and there's only one place to start and that's for him.
11:46It's no coincidence that Wolves have certainly improved in the last three games and the three games are the ones that he's started.
11:54Liverpool, Man United and obviously today and everything was about him today.
12:00He brought an energy, he was brave on the ball, he was the best player on the park by a mile.
12:06He constantly did that, he just played with such confidence for someone so young.
12:12He played a huge part in that first goal.
12:17Little give, little go and he doesn't stop, look around the corner and he follows his ball.
12:22And we will talk about West Ham and how weak they were today, but they just couldn't handle him.
12:27He was too quick for them there, he gets the penalty, of course they score the penalty.
12:33And the same thing again, look, he's the wrong side.
12:36Then goes, takes the ball with the left foot and hits it with the right foot.
12:39Great skill to do there from him.
12:43Doing his bit defensively, which he had to do, more so second half when West Ham changed it a little bit.
12:51But he was more than prepared to do that.
12:54And, look at this little...
12:56This is brilliant, isn't it?
12:57The little flick through, there you go, see you later to Bowen and Fernandes.
13:02And that's a decent save there.
13:04And to get his first goal, it'll be a day he will never, ever forget.
13:10And so he shouldn't, because he's given something different to Wolves.
13:14And as I said, they've been better, far better when he's been in the team.
13:18And you can see that today, since he's been in the team.
13:21Look, all of a sudden, total shots, shots on target, fouls won.
13:26So, yeah, it looks very, very promising for him.
13:29He started off as a kid at Rochdale and Wolves brought him into their academy.
13:33And you talked to people around Wolves, so one of the things that they're impressed with him
13:39is that he's performing for the first team in the same way that he performs for the under-21s.
13:45He's sticking true to what he does.
13:47Is that, from your experience with academy coaching, is that unusual?
13:51Sometimes it is. I think you need a football personality.
13:54Obviously, you're dealing with different characters, but I think for this young man,
13:58who's a masterclass in terms of how he played, his desire,
14:00it looked like he's been there for years.
14:04And a lot of occasions, you get young players, like you said,
14:06they're in the under-18s or the 21s and they're the best player.
14:09All of a sudden, they go over to the first team and their games change a little bit.
14:13But, I mean, if he can excite us like the other Mane that we had in the Premier League,
14:18then it would be amazing. But what a performance.
14:21When you realise the pressure that Wolves are under,
14:24then you look at him today and just the way he played,
14:26and he played with such freedom. It was great to watch.
14:28Off the back of Anfield and Old Trafford as his first two.
14:34So, for all of that, and that's brilliant for Wolves,
14:36and what a boost that will give them.
14:39West Ham, on the other hand,
14:41what adjective would you use to describe West Ham?
14:44Well, I'll give you three or four. You can choose whatever you want.
14:47Weak, woeful, pathetic, useless.
14:50All of those things, particularly in the first half.
14:53I mean, I can't remember such a poor performance from a team in the first half.
14:57All over the park, not just in midfield.
14:59You can see the three midfielders there.
15:01Yes, that's great skill.
15:03Potts has got to come over.
15:05Fernandes has got to track the runner.
15:07Comes over, but there's no such effort to get back into the box.
15:10And all of a sudden, it's too late, you're punished.
15:12That was a constant today.
15:14Not following runners.
15:15Not prepared to win tackles.
15:17Not prepared to roll your sleeves up.
15:19Bwemo can run 30 or 40 yards up the pitch there, and there's no one within 10 yards of him.
15:24It's like, how do you want it?
15:26How easy do you want it?
15:27How free do you want to be?
15:29Take your time, put your ball into the box, of which they did.
15:33And they really just couldn't handle what Wolves were chucking at them.
15:38Magasa and Potts, same thing again.
15:40They don't win the tackle there.
15:42How many times that happened?
15:44Particularly in that first half, we lost count of it.
15:47Ball into the box again.
15:49Mane, who we've spoken about, who was brilliant, is free.
15:54The ball eventually falls to him, and he gets his penalty.
15:57Too late.
15:58It's weak.
15:59Same thing again.
16:01Jao Gomez, just have a look at this.
16:03Look at how, and there's just no desire to close down.
16:07He takes three touches before he puts the ball into the box.
16:10But for a wonderful save, that's another goal there.
16:13You've got Fernandes and Magasa again into the midfield.
16:19I mean, this is just, it's unbelievable this is.
16:23It's great skill, absolutely.
16:25But if you just have a look at, I don't know how to describe it,
16:29without swearing.
16:31Go on, swear.
16:32It's like, no, but just have a look at Mavropanis.
16:35If that's the best you can do in closing down,
16:38a defender turning your back, not preparing to put your foot in,
16:42when your team's in danger of being relegated.
16:44Seriously, you cannot allow that to happen.
16:47You have to do better than that.
16:49And that's why the manager was that angry at full time,
16:52because of performances and incidents like that.
16:54And you look at the comparison to what West Ham are like under Graham Potter
16:58and to where they are under Nuno,
17:00and actually the numbers are worse under Nuno than they were under Graham Potter.
17:04But, I mean, they're depressing whichever way you look at them,
17:07whichever coach you look at them.
17:09Which highlights really, Jermaine, what West Ham are like.
17:11This is deeper than who their head coach is.
17:13Yeah, because under Graham Potter, it was disappointing.
17:17The performances, the results weren't there.
17:19And obviously Nuno come in.
17:20I think naturally when a new manager comes in, you're going to get a reaction.
17:22I think that happens from the players.
17:24But since then, nothing's really happened, to be honest.
17:27I mean, the performances and...
17:29Players go into games and they work hard, but competing is different.
17:33You know, working hard and competing is completely different.
17:35And when you see the goal there, especially the Marnie one, you know,
17:37you have to...
17:38There's different phases of the game.
17:39When the ball goes wide, you're defending the box.
17:41As soon as it comes into the middle, you're defending the goal.
17:43And when you're seeing players shoot from the edge of the box
17:46and your defenders are not engaging or making contact,
17:49it's worrying for the manager and it's worrying for West Ham.
17:51What I would also say quickly is that the players and the manager
17:55have to accept the criticism that they're getting this season
17:58and particularly today.
17:59But what I also say is the money that West Ham have spent,
18:02the recruitment needs a good, hard, long look at as well
18:05because it hasn't been anywhere near good enough.
18:07OK. Arsenal began the day four points clear when they travelled to Bournemouth,
18:12who'd gone ten matches without a victory.
18:14Commentary on this one from Mark Scott.
18:16Bournemouth were responsible for half of Arsenal's
18:21four league losses last season.
18:23But you'd get long odds on them doing damage
18:26to the Gunners' title chances today.
18:29With that ten-game winless run,
18:31their worst under Antony Iraiola.
18:34Iraiola goes with the same side that started the draw at Chelsea.
18:38So Antoine Semenyo starts for the Cherries once again,
18:42despite Manchester City closing in on a deal for the Gunners.
18:45Mikel Arteta switches his side up by three.
18:49Declan Rice returns after missing the Villa game with a knee injury,
18:53while Noni Madweke and Gabriel Martinelli come in out wide.
18:57It's only Madweke's second start in the last 14 league games.
19:01Marino Trossa and Saka all move to the bench.
19:04Havertz misses out altogether as he's eased back in after that long layoff.
19:09This is the sixth time that Arsenal have topped the Premier League table by the end of New Year's Day.
19:17And on all five previous occasions they've failed to win the title.
19:22One more. Timba.
19:28Madweke.
19:31Good stuff by Noni Madweke!
19:34The run was excellent, the finish was poor.
19:37Still looking for his first Premier League goal for Arsenal, Noni Madweke.
19:42And he made real headway to get into a handy position.
19:46But then the accuracy was lacking with the hit.
19:49His side won a four-game winning run in the league for the second time this season.
19:55They didn't manage more than three in a row last season.
19:58Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go!
20:04Oh dearie me, given straight to Emma Nielsen, a horrific error, has gifted Bournemouth the opening goal and it was a chance gobbled up by Emma Nielsen.
20:21Gabriel with an absolute nightmare here and Arsenal who we've got used to seeing being so watertight at the back with one of the biggest gaps you will see all season and Bournemouth are in front against the league leaders.
20:39And forwards towards Brooks, timber underneath it, Tamanir, Clyburn opens up, not far away.
20:55I think Raya was hoping rather than expecting it to go wide.
21:00Go back a long way, Mikel Arteta and Antoni Iraiola, with the pair having played together for a youth team in the Basque Country.
21:15Zubimendi.
21:18It's a bit too robust from Alex Jiménez.
21:21Hoping to do some damage at the other end now, Gabriel, after that error that led to the opener.
21:31Delivered by Teklam Rice, and Petrovic is done with it to a certain extent.
21:38Matweke, forgets Semenyo, and away from Semenyo, and still going, and across, and blocked, but in.
21:47Arsenal level, and it is Gabriel who makes amends for his ghastly error by blasting Arsenal level.
21:57Matweke was really positive here, absolutely did Semenyo.
22:02And then cut it back, looking for a teammate to get on the end of it.
22:06Martinelli had the first pop which was blocked, but Gabriel made no mistake when the ball broke his way.
22:12A speedy response from the league leaders.
22:19Bournemouth 1, Arsenal 1.
22:22What a start to the game.
22:29Here's Alex Scott.
22:31Cinesi.
22:35Jiménez.
22:36Hill.
22:46Good ball!
22:48And a good chance that Tavernier can't take.
22:51No-one picked up the run of Tavernier who couldn't quite manoeuvre the correct angle to find the net.
22:57Zubamendi to Jokeres, and Rice couldn't give it back to the Swede.
23:08Nice from Tavernier.
23:11He lets himself down with the pass.
23:14He's giving away possession chiefly again, though.
23:16Kluivert, dangerous!
23:22Tavernier should have done better.
23:25But he couldn't get the correct touch on it.
23:32Semenyo, lovely first touch.
23:33Still Semenyo.
23:43Evan Nielsen.
23:44Semenyo!
23:46That's a tricky chance.
23:48Ball coming towards him and the first time scoop had too much height on it.
23:53too much height on it, Snesi's header finds its way to Truffair and Ebenielsen
24:05striked out, free kick taken quickly and they could be in here with Brooks, Brooks!
24:15Dozie from Arsenal but it was such a tough angle for David Brooks to try and
24:21find the net with, switched off here, didn't they? Brooks might have been offside but no
24:30need for VAR to get involved as he wasn't able to get it inside the post, Snesi ahead
24:43of Jokeres there, Martinelli, Jokeres got the wrong side of his man, Snesi struggling to
24:50recover, Odegaard now, Rice! Brilliant! Absolutely clinical from Declan Rice!
24:59And the league leaders have turned it around! He's come in for a bit of stick for not making much of an
25:07impact this season Victor Jokeres but he was the man that started it all for Arsenal here, causing a bit of panic inside the penalty area
25:16Odegaard saw Declan Rice and he saw exactly where he wanted to put the ball and caressed it beyond Petrovic and in
25:25first time stroke in is gorgeous from Declan Rice, he scored in the loss to Bournemouth in May but has put
25:36Arsenal in front against the Cherries today to the delight of his manager
25:41here's Bukayo Saka, Bryce! Game over now you feel, Declan Rice at the double for Arsenal
26:02Sealed with a kiss and surely the goal that seals the win! Saka with the intelligent run, Rice peeled back, Saka found him perfectly and you never really doubted Declan Rice when he went for another first time hit
26:23Bournemouth won, Arsenal 3, Bournemouth won, Arsenal 3, Bournemouth won't feel a bit hard done by at the current scoreline, they've had their chances and they've been more than a match for Arsenal
26:33Let's have it here
26:37Cook
26:40Opens up for the hit here, oh! What a hit too from Kruppi!
26:45And Bournemouth are back in business
26:48Junior Kruppi with a cracker beyond David Raya
26:55To move Bournemouth back to an inner goal
26:59Well that is the definition of an impact sub and what an impact he had on the ball here
27:04A ripper beyond Raya
27:06Little hope keeping that one out and it's Bournemouth 2, Arsenal 3
27:12Sinesi pumped in, Salivas underneath it
27:17He has a swing and it comes off
27:20Jurien Timber
27:21For a throw for Bournemouth
27:24And Antoine Semenyo will hurl this in
27:27What could be one of his final appearances for the club?
27:31Could he help out his potential new employers
27:34By helping Bournemouth take points off Arsenal?
27:37Semenyo's throw, keepers up there
27:40New Year
27:44Same outcome for Arsenal
27:47Mikel Arteta's men make it five wins in a row
27:51Bournemouth unhappy with the referee
27:53They felt there was still time left for them to try and do something
27:57But they fall just short against the league leaders
28:01Who have shown grit and determination to recover from that dreadful start to win here
28:08By three goals to two
28:10Today we conceded three goals against Arsenal
28:14And they haven't really had a lot of chances
28:16You know, you can concede three goals because they are putting a lot of pressure on you
28:21They have, I don't know, 25 shots and your keeper saves
28:24But I haven't felt like a game where we should be conceding three goals
28:29Big praise to them because it's a team that creates so many questions and difficulties to you in everything that we do
28:36Because they do it really well
28:37And on top of that we put ourselves into a very difficult position in the manner that you concede the goal
28:43And then it's a big mountain to climb
28:45But I think the team showed a lot of maturity
28:47What Gaby has done after that mistake is remarkable
28:50And then the team slowly grow
28:53Started to control and dominate the game much better
28:55Scored two very great goals
28:57Greg was
28:58Were you hoping for the hat-trick when you've previously been looking for two?
29:01I actually was
29:02I was thinking one more cut back to me, please
29:04But another chance didn't arise
29:06And Bournemouth for the last 15 minutes played really well
29:09You know, they shut that space off
29:10So I was guided to not get the hat-trick
29:13But I'll keep trying
29:14Maybe one day that might come
29:16Well, if he keeps adding the goals, Jermaine
29:18He becomes even more the complete midfielder, doesn't he?
29:21Unbelievable
29:22You know, 296 games
29:24And you know, the first time he's got two goals in a Premier League game
29:26But it's, I mean, what a performance
29:28You know, I think when you look at the modern-day midfielder
29:31You know, he does everything
29:33You see here, you know
29:34He's just an energy level just to get you up the pitch
29:36I remember Declan speaking a few years back to you
29:38And he sort of like modelled his game on Yaya Torre
29:40And that was sort of like Yaya Torre-like
29:42You know, just getting you up the pitch
29:43Unfortunately, he didn't get the free-kick there
29:45But even here, you know
29:46He's always sort of like
29:47He knows what's around him
29:48That sort of like pitch geography
29:49You know, he comes away from the pressure
29:50And you see here just that
29:51The change of speed there
29:53To caress it in the corner
29:54You know
29:55You know, his body position
29:56His shoulder, where he's relaxed his shoulders
29:58And, you know, good contact into the corner
30:00Here, you know, just again
30:01The other side of the game
30:02You know, can you
30:03Out of possession
30:04Can you be, you know, effective
30:05And then stop those sort of like balls into the frontman
30:07You know, you see him scanning there
30:09I think that's Kliver
30:10You know, he stops the passes going forward
30:12And then, you know, he doesn't stop there
30:14You know, onto the second balls
30:15Wins that
30:16You know, just everything he did
30:18Again, you know, just arriving into the box at the right time
30:20We spoke about, you know
30:21If he can add goals to his game
30:22You know, he becomes even a better player
30:23And the detail there
30:24Just the scanning
30:25Just to see where he's at
30:26And again, the change of speed
30:27And sometimes
30:28People talk about in the box
30:29You know, moving and getting to those areas
30:30But sometimes actually standing still
30:31You know, and then when it comes
30:33Then you've got executing that
30:34So, you know, that was his
30:35His second goal
30:36Here again
30:37You know, just sensing the danger
30:38You know, Lewis Cook there
30:39Just stuck on his heels and that
30:40But again, getting it
30:41Here
30:42Again, you know, making contact
30:43Not just sort of like getting close
30:45And not making contact
30:46But actually making contact
30:47Winning the ball back for his team
30:48You know, he's fantastic
30:49The energy levels
30:50And again, scanning there
30:51So important
30:52Just to know where you're at
30:53Again, just, you know, heads it round the corner
30:55He makes it look so easy
30:57He does exactly what the game told you to do
30:59You know, he plays one touch
31:00He plays two touch
31:01You know, he drives forward
31:02You know, he got his two goals
31:03And I just felt that
31:04The performance was brilliant
31:05And you know, if Arsenal are going to go on
31:07To win this title
31:08You know, he's pivoting
31:09I mean, he must be the perfect player
31:12For any manager
31:14It's a manager's dream
31:15It's a manager's dream
31:16He's a manager's dream
31:17He really is
31:18I mean, his attitude is amazing
31:20He very rarely misses games
31:22And when he's out there
31:23He's a regular
31:24Eight out of ten
31:25So, he's been incredible
31:27So he said that to you, did he?
31:28About Yaya Toure
31:29That's right
31:30I remember watching it
31:31And he actually said that
31:32He watched Yaya Toure's game
31:33And the way Yaya Toure is
31:34Is to get the teams out the pitch
31:35And, you know, drive through midfield
31:36And he's got that
31:37I think the only thing now
31:38Is probably adding a little bit more goals
31:39To his game
31:40And when he arrives on the edge of the box
31:41He makes good contact
31:43He's a good finisher
31:44Bournemouth are great to watch
31:45Going forward
31:46Their problem this season
31:48Has been defensively
31:49When you look at the stats
31:51Their numbers are way down
31:52Which is maybe to be expected
31:54Jermaine, I suppose
31:55Given the number of defenders
31:57They lost in the summer
31:58And the goalkeeper
31:59Yeah, well, it's not just defence
32:00I mean, it's ten players
32:01And I think when you look at that
32:02You know, last season
32:03At this stage of the season
32:04You know, seventh
32:05Now, fifteenth
32:06And you talk about
32:07You know, when you concede
32:08You know, that many goals
32:10You know, you don't give yourself
32:12A chance to win games
32:13And they're a funny team to watch
32:14Bournemouth
32:15Because some of the performance
32:16Is actually good
32:17You know, they play the right way
32:18They've got good players
32:19They have a go
32:20But you know, if you can't concede
32:23If you stop conceding goals
32:25You know, it's so difficult
32:26To win games
32:27You think they'll be alright though, do you?
32:28I think they'll be alright, yeah
32:29I think they'll have enough up top
32:30When they'll get enough goals
32:31I think to be alright, yeah
32:32Okay
32:33Six games on tomorrow's match of the day
32:50And Kerry with a cracker
32:53Florian Veer
32:57That's it, or Joe Linton who's hooked it in
33:00Macheta
33:04And nodded in by Gray
33:06A lovely ball
33:07A deep ball
33:10Driven in
33:11Sheik is scored
33:12And Enzo Fernandes
33:14Worked the space very well
33:20Tonight's Premier League
33:21Sunday will cover it all on air
33:22From midday
33:23You get a choice of commentaries
33:24At three o'clock
33:25All of them can be found
33:26On BBC Sounds
33:27Manchester City
33:28Chelsea is then at 5.30
33:30Ski Sunday
33:31Returns for a new series
33:32On BBC Two
33:33And iPlayer
33:34From ten to six
33:35Another chance to watch
33:36The Mo Saladoc
33:37Straight after tonight's programme
33:38And there's a full midweek programme
33:40In the Premier League
33:41Eight games on Wednesday
33:42Match of the day
33:43On BBC One
33:44And iPlayer
33:45From twenty to eleven
33:46Now no club in Europe's
33:47Top five leagues
33:48Had a higher win percentage
33:49At home
33:50Than Aston Villa
33:51In twenty twenty five
33:52Nottingham Forest
33:53Their first visitors
33:54Of twenty twenty six
33:56And Steve Bauer
33:57Was at this one
34:01Villa who've won their last
34:02Ten games here
34:03Are able to recall
34:04Both Cash and Kamara
34:06After suspension
34:07Both Captain McGinn
34:08And Martson
34:09Also return
34:10And Nana
34:11Is injured
34:12Nottingham Forest
34:13Who've lost
34:14Four of their last
34:15Five Premier League games
34:16And their last five here
34:17Are able to welcome
34:18Are able to welcome back
34:19Ola Einar
34:20After injury
34:21For the first time
34:22Since September
34:23While Frenchman
34:24Dylan Bakwa
34:25Starts for the first time
34:26Under Sean Dyche
34:33Bright sunshine
34:34On a very chilly afternoon
34:36In the Midlands
34:37Williams
34:38Williams
34:42Williams is quickly
34:43Closed down
34:44Watkins denied
34:45By John Victor
34:47It's still alive
34:49It's still alive
34:50Martson
34:52It isn't now
34:54What a let-off
34:55It's a fantastic stop
34:56You know
34:57From the Brazilian goalkeeper
34:59Nico Williams
35:00Put under pressure
35:01By Rodgers
35:02And Watkins
35:03Thought he'd given Villa
35:04The lead
35:05But the six-foot-six frame
35:06Of John Victor
35:07Did brilliantly well
35:08His right leg
35:10Denying Watkins
35:11Still trying to get his watch moving there
35:15I think
35:19Clancy from Konza
35:24Lindelof had to make that
35:25He didn't
35:26It's Dominguez
35:27For Nottingham Forest
35:29Hutchinson
35:30Stepping inside
35:32And
35:33Forcing the save
35:34Out of Martinez
35:35When Hutchinson
35:39Came inside
35:40Here
35:41You could see his intention
35:42Martinez
35:43Equal to it
35:44Good height for him
35:54Rogers
35:57Watkins
36:00The special moment
36:03That was required
36:05To break down
36:06Nottingham Forest
36:07Stubborn resistance
36:09Provided
36:11By the man in form
36:13Oli Watkins
36:15On his 250th appearance
36:17For the club
36:19His sixth goal in seven
36:21Premier League games
36:23To finally
36:25Unlock the forest door
36:26Forest door
36:30And it needed
36:31To be in the highest quality
36:32And it was
36:35Two quick touches
36:37And then the emphatic one
36:40And John Victor actually
36:42Went with his opposite hand there
36:45Got something on it
36:46Wasn't right in the corner
36:47But
36:48The speed of the strike
36:50Went past him
36:52Unai Emery's side
36:53Unai Emery's side
36:54Have the advantage
36:56At the break
37:00Tielemans
37:02Martin
37:03That's too close to the goalkeeper
37:04Who decided not to catch it
37:09Got the job done in the end
37:11There's a slight question mark
37:12There's a slight question mark
37:13About John Victor there
37:18Simon Hooper says play on
37:20Backward does that
37:21But he's closed down by Tielemans
37:24Watkins behind McGinn
37:26Cash is in space
37:28Kamara's found him
37:29McGinn coming in
37:332-0 Aston Villa
37:35Three and a half minutes
37:36Into the second half
37:38A second Premier League goal of the season
37:42For the Villa skipper John McGinn
37:45Well a perfect end to the first half
37:48And a dream start to the second
37:50And he reacted quickly in the end here
37:54The credit Tielemans there
37:56To win it back
37:58And it eventually came out to cash
38:01He delivered the cross for Walsh McGinn
38:03In ahead of Milenkovic
38:07Who was a little flat-footed
38:09But the desire
38:11From John McGinn to get there
38:13Won the day
38:15Fully committed as ever
38:18Aston Villa 2
38:20Nottingham Forest 0
38:22Committer meeting required now
38:27His team
38:29The second lowest scorers in the Premier League
38:31This season
38:33Only 18 goals
38:34Forrest have mustered
38:36Long from Milenkovic
38:38Jesus
38:41He's done so well to potentially keep that alive
38:43Dominguez
38:45In from Hutchinson
38:47Oh and backward
38:51Completely miscued the header
38:53First real moment of promise
38:56From Nottingham Forest
38:58Early ball in eventually from
39:01Amari Hutchinson
39:03And that needed to go
39:05Right across the face of the goal from Bakwa
39:09He knew that too
39:17As Bakwa
39:19Gibbs-White bursting forward and he's onside
39:20It's Morgan Gibbs-White for Forrest
39:24Hope is restored
39:26Seven games without a goal
39:31He's popped up
39:33Just past the hour mark
39:35With a perfect time to end that run
39:38And get it back to 2-1
39:40Timed his run to perfection
39:42Timed his run to perfection
39:44Took his time
39:46And then lifted it beautifully
39:48Past Emi Martinez
39:51Lovely finish from the Forrest skipper
39:53And from nowhere
39:55They are back in the game
39:57Villa 2, Forrest 1
39:58Forrest 1
40:01Thirteen goals conceded in the last seven games now for the home team
40:05In the possession of Hutchinson
40:11Couldn't find McAtee though
40:17Tielemans into McGinn
40:20Oh the goalkeepers in no-man's land here
40:22And John McGinn
40:25Makes him pay
40:27His second
40:31And Villa's third
40:33And it could be a crucial goal in the outcome
40:37The skipper
40:39At the double
40:41Well the goalkeeper's down holding his left calf
40:46But when this ball was played
40:48And this ball was played
40:50By Uri Tielemans
40:52He was never ever getting there
40:55That's a super finish from McGinn
40:58But John Victor
41:00Caught where he was never getting to the ball or the man
41:05And from then on
41:07It was composure
41:09What McGinn provided
41:11Look at the curl on that from that angle
41:13Absolute precision
41:15Aston Villa 3
41:16Nottingham Forest 1
41:18Nottingham Forest 1
41:20And you would expect Matzels
41:22To be required here
41:24For the remaining 17 minutes for Nottingham Forest
41:29And it is a tearful John Victor
41:32That leaves the field at Villa Park
41:35Matzels without a warm-up
41:37And he's told he is coming on
41:38He is coming on
41:44Williams
41:46Can Forest
41:48Hit back straight away
41:50Gibbs White
41:52Martinez required
41:56Now the goalkeeper was changed at one end
41:58The Villa one
42:00Had to stay warm and had to stay alive
42:01What a save you would have expected him to make
42:05Aston Villa up to second
42:08With an 11th consecutive home win
42:11The last time that happened
42:13Was 36 years ago
42:15That is five defeats in six though for Forest now
42:18Aston Villa 3
42:20Nottingham Forest 1
42:22The manager pushes me a lot
42:25He is very demanding
42:26He says I should be scoring more goals
42:28Getting in better positions
42:30We do a lot of analysis
42:32This morning he pushed me hard to get in those positions
42:35Thankfully today I have managed to get two goals
42:37So hopefully he will get off my back a wee bit
42:39It's a strange situation today
42:41Because there is a lot of energy out there
42:42There is a lot of performance
42:43There is a lot of mentality
42:44Because you know come back 2-1
42:45It looks different
42:47But you can't keep giving yourself a mountain to climb
42:48We did it in the last game
42:50Pretty soft goals
42:52From the organisational point of view
42:54And players just switching off to the basics
42:56And the basics of the principles of the shape
42:58And the organisation
43:00We were focusing a lot this match
43:02To try to keep the energy we had
43:05Or we showed it
43:06But of course playing out of matches
43:08And last week in Chelsea
43:10Then Arsenal
43:12Now again
43:14We needed rest
43:16We needed work
43:18And get focus for this match
43:20With the energy
43:22We showed it
43:24And how the players respond
43:26In all demands
43:28We are settling
43:29Really fantastic
43:31Well they struggled in the second half of the Emirates
43:33Because they had
43:34Zanana at half-time with injury
43:35And Kamara was suspended
43:37They had him back today
43:38And it made a big difference
43:40Yeah with Kamara and Telemans in that midfield
43:43And then you heard John McGinn saying
43:45He has to get other managers telling them to get into better positions
43:47Well that happened today
43:48And it worked perfectly for them today
43:50And the midfield balance was absolutely superb
43:53I thought you got Kamara and Telemans there
43:55This is in the first minute
43:57And it all happens because of their positioning really
44:00Is that there's actually no way out for Nottingham Forest
44:03When they win the ball back
44:05Because they're closing down there
44:07And then all of a sudden they're closing down there
44:11And there's just no way out at all
44:13The Rodgers is also closing there
44:15So force them into a mistake
44:17And after the first minute it should be 1-0
44:19Olly Watkins should put the ball in the back of the net
44:22It's a decent save
44:24And then the last minute of the half
44:25Where Forrest are thinking they're doing okay
44:27The midfield balance again
44:28They get their throwing
44:30And their set up there is perfect
44:32And that little swivel here from Telemans
44:35Then the pass into Rodgers
44:37He doesn't even look, he actually knows exactly where he is
44:40And as I said that balance was superb
44:42I mean the finish is wow
44:44It's a fantastic goal, it really is
44:45And there's again, there's no way out
44:48They just don't give up on it
44:50Telemans is there expecting
44:52There's no foul
44:53But what's the reaction?
44:55He's straight after it, he blocks it
44:57And then all of a sudden Villa are on the front foot
44:59And then you can see his midfield partner there Camara
45:02He's then getting forward and playing the pass in
45:04And then McGinn's getting into those good positions
45:07That he was on about
45:09That his manager was telling him to get into
45:11I mean this is an incredible pass and a great touch from McGinn
45:13Like a quarterback pass isn't it there?
45:16Yeah, beautiful
45:18He just guides it in there, but you see the touch better
45:20I mean God knows what the goalkeeper is doing
45:22I haven't got a clue where he is
45:24But just have a look at the pass here
45:26The way to pass
45:28And then the touch from McGinn
45:30You can see where he wants it
45:32That touch there with the right foot
45:34And then to get that much bend and curl on it
45:36When he's under pressure, it really is a great thing
45:38This is the angle isn't it?
45:39You can see it there from this angle, how far
45:40Have a look at the ball boy as well
45:42He's ready to go, look
45:44He's up on his knees ready to celebrate
45:46It's such a clever goal, a clever finish
45:49But I thought the midfield balance for Villa today was spot on
45:53And that takes them into second
45:57From a Nottingham Forest point of view
45:59We can show you the sort of run that they are on at the moment
46:02Sean Dyche-Allen said afterwards
46:05Before today's game, if you look at their last six
46:08So from Wolves onwards, they've taken six points out of those six games
46:12And Sunderland in that same period had taken seven
46:16So it's his job to look at the reality, he said, not the noise
46:20And Sunderland are obviously getting a lot
46:22Do you understand that logic?
46:23I don't understand where he's coming from and what he's trying to say
46:26Because he's trying to give his team a little bit of confidence
46:28And a little bit of belief
46:30But what I would say, the game they have on Tuesday against West Ham
46:33At West Ham
46:35Is a huge game for both football clubs
46:37And if Forest can go there and win
46:39I would say that's pretty much enough for them
46:41Do you think Forest in that game can take advantage of the pressure that will be on West Ham at home
46:47And what the atmosphere will be like?
46:49I think they're going to have to
46:51I think they're going to have to go there and try and win the game
46:53Like we said before, it's a massive game from a West Ham point of view
46:57Being at home, someone's actually better be in the way
47:00There's always been an expectation and a demand
47:03To play the right way at West Ham
47:05To win games, to compete like we spoke about at the top of the show
47:07But that is a huge game, massive
47:10Forest probably carry more of a threat, don't they?
47:13Well, yeah, I mean, judging, I don't know, they've lost the last four
47:16But judging by their performance today and the noise, that will create West Ham
47:20It will be a tough atmosphere they'll be at home on Tuesday
47:23OK, there's a pattern to Brighton's last six
47:26It reads, lost draw, lost draw, lost draw
47:30They were looking to break the sequence against a Burnley side
47:33Six points from safety, Simon Brotherton was at the Amex
47:3518-year-old Greek international Haralampos Kostoulos makes his first Premier League start
47:43And Caro Mitoma is first in over three months
47:47Jorginho Rutter and Brian Gruder both come in too
47:50Pascal Gross has just rejoined the club from Borussia Dortmund
47:53And is named as one of the substitutes
47:55Burnley make three changes with Jadon Anthony and Jakub Bruun Larsson playing instead of Marcus Edwards and Lume Chouna
48:03While Bashir Humphreys starts at the back with Maxime Stev absent through injury
48:08Burnley actually unbeaten in their last seven away league fixtures against Brighton and Hove Albion
48:13But lost away to them in over a decade now
48:18Excellent play
48:20Opportunity taking flag up straight away though
48:23To deny Kostoulos
48:25Took his chance extremely well
48:28But the flag was raised immediately as soon as the ball was played forward
48:32Very tight call there
48:33But Kostoulos certainly took the chance superbly well
48:39It looked close and indeed it was it was extremely close
48:44And it was almost the perfect start for Fabian Herzlis team
48:49Small margins
48:50Brighton without a win actually
48:53In just over a month now
48:55Back end of November at Nottingham Forest
48:57Looking to make a positive start to this one
48:59In towards Rutter
49:00Blasted towards goal by Gomez
49:03And it was a shot that
49:05Was heading goalwards here from Diego Gomez
49:08Deflected behind by Ekdal
49:15It's excellent play from Jorginho Rutter backed up by Gruder
49:18Ayari
49:20Kostoulos is in there
49:22Blasted home by Rutter
49:24It's taken them nearly half an hour
49:28But this time the home side really are ahead
49:31And Jorginho Rutter has his second goal of the season
49:36Rutter's initial attacking burst appeared to have come to an end
49:41Gruder and Ayari kept it alive
49:44And Kostoulos with the deflection that fell
49:48At the Frenchman's feet
49:50And Rutter buried the chance
49:55Joel Veltman with the throw
49:57Met by Bashir Humphreys
50:00Breuer chasing
50:02And Kauru Mitoma on the end of it here with Kyle Walker for company
50:10It's going to be Brighton's ball
50:16Brighton's ball
50:20So Burnley finding themselves in a familiar position behind
50:27Kauru sweeps it in
50:29And almost snuck it in at the near post
50:32Dubravka
50:35Covering the near post to deny Kadioulu
50:39Games come thick and fast at this time of year, don't they?
50:42Scott Parker and his team at home to Manchester United on Wednesday night
50:47Here comes Jadon Anthony now
50:50Into Brun Larsson
50:52Support from Lucas Pires
50:54And Pires brings the save from Verbruggen
50:56That's the best we've seen from Burnley
50:59Almost on the stroke of half-time
51:01First effort on goal
51:03On target
51:04From the Clarets
51:11Here's Gomez
51:15Kadioulu forward
51:17Is he done?
51:18Gomez can't find a way through
51:19Ugochukwu tries to send it away
51:21Sliding in but
51:22Yasin Iyari collects it here
51:24Oh, it's the perfect start to the second half
51:26For Brandon Hove Albion
51:31The lead is doubled
51:32And we've only been playing just over a minute
51:34Following the restart
51:37And Burnley's problems this afternoon
51:39Have just got a whole lot worse
51:42Only half cleared by Ugochukwu
51:46Ayyari was
51:47Quick on his feet
51:48Quick to react
51:50Quick to collect the loose ball
51:52And Ayyari has his third goal of the season
51:57Bright looking to make a winning start to the new year
52:00They've made a bit of a habit of it
52:01They've only lost their first league game
52:06At the start of a calendar year
52:07Once in the last 16 years before today
52:10Guarantino Luiz
52:15He's lost his way
52:16In a pretty big way
52:18And it could so easily have been three
52:20Dubravka
52:22Makes the save
52:24From Kostoulos
52:30Veltman moves it on
52:31Gruda's got support on the far side
52:33This is Ayyari
52:41Kostoulos was there
52:43Kadiolu moving in at the far post as well
52:45It might have been a tap-in for him
52:46Had it gone that far
52:48And Yasin Ayyari who scored the second
52:51Very nearly creating a third
52:54As Kostoulos stretching
52:56That's an excellent pass for Marcus Edwards
52:59To latch on to
53:02Luum Chawna is up alongside him
53:03Jaden Anthony in the middle as well
53:10Net by the head of Van Hecke
53:13Burnley have a corner
53:15Signs of life
53:17From Scott Parker's team
53:19At 2-0 down
53:22As Pires with the corner
53:25Back across
53:26Kadiolu was on the line
53:32And Burnley was so close to getting a goal back
53:35Ferdi Kadiolu in the right place there
53:38And Brighton get it away
53:41Kadiolu heading it against the crossbar
53:43The ball clearly not going over the line
53:46De Kuyper
53:47To De Kuyper
53:53Bit loose there
53:54Ayyari
53:55Into De Kuyper
53:56Free kick
53:58Referee couldn't miss that if he tried
53:59It was right in front of him
54:01Josh Laurent concedes it
54:08Welbeck leaves it
54:10Slamming against the post there from Maxime De Kuyper
54:14Brighton's so close to number three
54:19Well that's going to be two points from the last 33 available for Burnley
54:27After today
54:33Good tracking back there by Yasin Ayyari
54:35But Clarentino Luis has done really well
54:38And the deflection
54:40Falls fortuitously into the gloves of Bart Verbruggen there
54:43Brighton back to winning ways
54:46Their first victory in seven
54:48Brighton two Burnley nil
54:52I thought we were poor today
54:54Yeah I thought it was really poor
54:56I thought we didn't deserve anything from the game today really
54:58So I think there's been other games where I've stood here and said that we
55:02We was competitive
55:04I know the results have not gone our way
55:06But we've been hugely competitive today
55:08It wasn't the case really
55:10And it was a big shift from
55:12We lost the game only three days ago against Newcastle
55:15Which was very different to how we looked today really
55:19I thought we lacked a little belief today
55:21And that was why we're in today
55:23We controlled the game
55:25I think there was one chance for
55:27For Burnley in the first half
55:29Overall we defended quite well
55:31We had some good chance after set pieces
55:34We don't had that many chances in the first half
55:36But in the second half again we started well
55:38We created more chances
55:40We controlled the game quite well
55:42So it was not a perfect game
55:44But overall it was a good performance
55:46And in the end we kept a clean sheet and we deserved to go
55:49The way we lost today is not
55:50Is not one which was nice for us really
55:54And not acceptable really
55:55And we need a reaction now for sure
55:57And like you said the saving grace is that there is only an X amount of points
56:01But that's irrelevant to be quite honest with you
56:03Because if we want to perform at times like we did today
56:06Then whatever points are we're not going to get enough
56:10He's been positive in recent post-match interviews with Scott Parker, Jermaine hasn't he?
56:15But not today, he was fuming
56:16Yeah, I mean Burnett's win this run now extends to 11 Premier League games
56:20Really disappointing
56:22I mean last season, yeah of course, you know, in the championship, you know, conceding 16 goals
56:26And you know, this season they've conceded 39 goals
56:29I mean the signs were there from early on
56:31You know, I mean they look like an okay position right there
56:34And you know, it's just a long bow over the top
56:36But the signs were there, I think that's poor defending from the full back
56:39You've got to be in the inside looking out
56:41Here, you know, Rudy gets it here and you think, right, there's not anywhere you can go really
56:47You know, you can't come back inside, you've got to make contact and, you know, try and win the ball
56:52And stop him getting inside, you know, it's sort of like poor defending there
56:55Is that too easy for you?
56:56It's too easy to get through
56:57Yeah, a little bit of fortune there
56:59When he gets the goal and that
57:00But I just feel like, you know, when the ball goes wide you have to make contact and win the ball
57:03Again, they've got bodies back, don't really look like they're in much danger
57:07No contact, you know, poor really
57:10Again, you know, can you sort of like regain it and try and play out
57:13And it's just an unbelievable finish
57:16But yeah, I mean, they caused their own problems to be honest, you know
57:19They're again, you know, overplaying
57:21Sometimes, you know, when you're away from home it's difficult
57:23You've got to get the ball from back to front quicker
57:25This should have been a goal
57:27And they just continue to play the same way
57:29And it sort of goes even ahead, you know
57:31No one's sort of like engaging, getting close, it's too easy, you know
57:35Not defending the box
57:37Again, another great chance, you know
57:39Brighton could have scored four goals
57:41And you can see why Scott Park is disappointed
57:44Because it's a reflection on a team that he wants to put out
57:48And like I said, you know, last season conceding 16 goals
57:51And it's almost, you know, against his principles, you know, 39 goals
57:54Which is way too many
57:56Brighton up to eight, despite that being just their first win in seven
57:59Seven, yeah
58:01That's the big picture for Brighton
58:03I think I would expect something around that now
58:05And I know there were one or two that weren't happy on that run
58:09But they're back to winning ways
58:11And as you said, back up to eight
58:13Here's the table then
58:14Their lead to six points
58:16Manchester City face Chelsea on Sunday
58:18Villa are into second after an eighth successive home league win
58:21The Wolves have doubled their points tally for the season
58:24After beating West Ham
58:26West Ham four points behind Forrest
58:28And they play each other on Tuesday
58:30That's it, thanks to Alan and Jermaine
58:32And now that they have that first win
58:34Maybe 2026 will be the year of the Wolf
58:36Goodnight
58:37Outro
58:52Outro
58:54Outro
58:57Outro
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