NEWSPost India

Dimitar Berbatov contributed to a record-breaking Saturday in the Barclays Premier League. The Bulgarian striker scored five times as Manchester United beat Blackburn Rovers at Old Trafford, writes Stewart Coggin. His amazing haul meant that 27th November broke the Premier League record for most goals scored on a single Saturday. The net bulged a total of 36 times as the likes of United, Arsenal and West Bromwich Albion filled their boots.

The following day, Newcastle United earned a 1-1 draw with Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur beat Liverpool 2-1, meaning every single Barclays Premier League club scored over the weekend.
Berbatov became only the fourth player to scored five goals in a match, joining a very exclusive club. Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe achieved the feat in his side’s 9-1 win over Wigan Athletic last season, Premier League legend Alan Shearer did it in Newcastle’s 8-0 victory against Sheffield Wednesday in November 1999 and Andy Cole also managed it for United against Ipswich Town in a memorable 9-0 triumph in March 1995.

FEW PLAYERS

“It was an fantastic afternoon for the team and for me personally - I still can’t quite believe I scored five goals,” said Berbatov. “I’ve scored five in a match before, but it was a long time ago back home in Bulgaria. To do it in the Premier League is a great feeling especially when only a few players have done it. To stand alongside the likes of Shearer and Cole is a great honour.” After a prolific start to the season, Berbatov had not scored for United since a hat-trick - which included a stunning overhead kick - against Liverpool on 19th September. His goal glut propelled him to the top of the Barclays Premier League scorers list.

Asked if his lack of recent goals had affected him, he said: “It had concerned me a little bit because when you’re a striker people just tend to look at the number of goals you score, but, for me, my game isn’t just about goals. It’s about how you play and how you link-up with your team-mates.” Saturday was not just a personal triumph for Berbatov. Twenty one-year-old Aston Villa midfielder Ciaran Clark scored his first goals for the club in the 4-2 defeat at home to Arsenal. Meanwhile, Jack Wilshere’s stooping header at the other end was his first Premier League goal for the Gunners

UNPREDICTABLE SEASON

Over at Upton Park, Victor Obinna scored his first league goal for West Ham United in a much-needed 3-1 win over Wigan Athletic. Wins for West Ham and Wolverhampton Wanderers - a come-from-behind 3-2 victory at home to Sunderland - ensured that the two clubs have not been cut adrift at the bottom of the league, and it looks like being a fight to the finish in the relegation battle. At the other end of the table, just six points separate the top five clubs.

The drama of the weekend only served to demonstrate what an exciting and unpredictable season it has been so far, with more twists and turns guaranteed before the final day of the season on 22nd May.