English Premier League, Saturday Round-Up: Manchester United Latest Titan Stymied At Sunderland

Rafael van der Vaart's brace gave Tottenham Hotspur a 2-1 victory over Aston Villa on Saturday, but as the highlights show, Peter Crouch deserves his fair share of the credit on each goal, as well as for another chance were van der Vaart came within inches of another goal. The play was the same each time: far post ball from the right flank, Crouch heads it down and back across goal from the far post, van der Vaart runs on for the chance.

As Peter Odemwingie worked with the ball along West Bromwich's right flank, midfielder James Morrison was make a run from deep, past the defense an onto Odemwingie's eventual cross, scoring the equalizing goal in the Baggie's 1-1 draw with Bolton Wanderers at The Hawthorns.

Bolton manager Owen Coyle feels the goal should have never counted.

See his interview, below, with the BBC, where he called the Morrison goal "clearly offside:"

Bolton was the better team, but September's player of the month, Peter Odemwingie, found James Morrison for a late equalizer, salvaging a point for the Baggies at The Hawthorns. Owen Coyle, speaking to the BBC after the match, called Morrison's goal "clearly offside." Video of interview, forthcoming.

Most people who watched Manchester United's visit to Sunderland would have a difficult time believing three minutes of "highlights" were possible from the match. Perhaps the true Red Devils and Black Cats supporters would disagree, saying any action involving their teams is, by definition, a highlight.

You can decide for yourself. Highlights from Saturday's 0-0 draw at the Stadium of Light:

Oh, the agony of being a Villa fan, never secure in the lead. This emotion was once again felt at White Heart Lane, where the visitors couldn’t hold on to the lead, falling at the feet and feats of Rafael van der Vaart. While Emile Heskey played superbly, he picked up a knock, forcing John Carew to come on in his place—and the rest of the match was Villa’s to lose, as Kevin McCauley points out:

Well, that was a bit of a roller coaster ride.

After Mark Albrighton's tap-in goal, I thought that Spurs were going to be in for a very long match...When Roman Pavlyuchenko was substituted off for Aaron Lennon at halftime, I thought "we're going to win, Villa are screwed."

7500 to Holte’s Kirsten Schlewitz has this to say about Emile Heskey’s heroics:

Heskey was spectacular today. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him play that well, holding up play, moving gracefully on the pitch, hustling about. It was his combination of speed (!) and muscle that won and kept the ball in the Tottenham end, which he then slid through to Marc Albrighton for Villa’s goal.

For more things Villa, visit 7500. For happy thoughts from Spurs fans, visit Cartilage Free Captain.

Credit to Mick McCarthy for being straight about the Karl Henry tackle, though we've come to expect nothing less from Wolverhampton's manager.

In the wake of seeing his captain sent off early in Wolves' 2-0 loss at Wigan, McCarthy called Karl Henry's tackle "disappointing," had "no argument" with the official's decision. He went on to call the tackle "theatrical" and a "wreckless challenge."

McCarthy said the timing of the tackle, coming amidst criticism of Wolves' physical play, was "even more disappointing."

Fulham remain unbeaten this season, the only Premier League side to retain those bragging rights after Chelsea fell to Manchester City last week. Yet the Cottagers stay at 9 points, with today’s draw making it six out of seven for the London club.

Russ Goldman of Cottagers Confidential keeps Fulham fans hopeful that the team will win again, at least at some point:

On the positive side their were several Fulham players that shined today. Clint Dempsey shot often, and was a scoring threat the majority of the game. Carols Salcido continues to impress at left back. He is a dangerous player coming up, and crossing the ball in the box. Eddie Johnson I thought played well. He played the Bobby Zamora role admirably today. He just needs to finish.

For more on Fulham and their spectacular drawing abilities, visit Cottagers Confidential.