Deane Reflects on First-ever Premier League goal

History can venerate the most unlikely of individuals, prolonging their names well beyond their final years for future generations to preserve their groundbreaking achievements.

Brian Deane in the first season of the Premier League

Marc Albrighton earned himself a place in history by scoring the 20,000th Barclays Premier League goal  - and he takes his place in football history alongside Brian Deane, the scorer of the first-ever goal nearly 20 years ago.

On Saturday 15 August, 1992, at about 3.05pm, the striker put Sheffield United 1-0 up against Manchester United with an instinctive header at Bramall Lane. The goal, Deane admits, would not be found in the top-five stylish finishes of his career, but its gravitas transcends any form of beauty.

Whatever happens, wherever I am, that will be the one moment fans all over the world will remember me for," Deane told premierleague.com ahead of Albrighton becoming the 20,000th goalscorer.

"It was a fantastic feeling and even to this day people remind me of it - and it's now a classic quiz question too."

It all started when Blades goalkeeper Simon Tracey cleared a back-pass - then only recently outlawed by FIFA - deep into Manchester United territory, with United defender Gary Pallister heading the ball out for a throw-in.

"We had a throw-in at the Kop End (at Bramall Lane), Carl Bradshaw took a long throw aiming for Alan Cork at the near post," remembered Deane, who also played for Leeds, Middlesbrough and Leicester City during his 12 seasons in the League.

"He flicked a header on and I managed to get myself between Steve Bruce and Pallister to nod the ball past Peter Schmeichel.

"They were no mugs those three, all great players. That made it extra special because that goal was against one of the top teams in the country and in Europe."

With the home support in raptures, Deane's attention quickly switched to the other eight fixtures around the country to find out whether anyone had surpassed his early marker.

"I got word that David Hirst had scored for Sheffield Wednesday early on, but then the news filtered through that I had scored before him," said Deane, who added a second goal to help the Blades to a 2-1 home win against United, the inaugural Premier League champions.

"I knew I was going to be close because of the time I scored the goal but to realise I was the first ever to score in the new Premier League, well, it took a while to sink in."

The competition has evolved every season since its inception, becoming the most-watched football league in the world because of its open, attacking style.

The 2011/12 season has seen a glut of goals, averaging 2.96 per match, a factor which Deane attributes to world-class creative players like David Silva and Luka Modric rather than a drop in quality defending.

"When the likes of myself, Les Ferdinand, Alan Shearer and Ian Wright were playing, there were some great defenders around like Tony Adams, Martin Keown and Dave Watson as well as Bruce and Pallister, who were all at the peak of their powers," he said.

"Defending back in those days was an art. But now people want to see goals and teams are looking to win rather than closing results out. It makes for a better spectacle and more chances.

"The product itself has evolved again to be the best in the world."

However, the Yorkshireman is confident he would still have scored with regularity if he was able to play in the current Barclays Premier League competition.

"In that first season in 1992/93 I scored 15 goals, all different types of goals, so I don't think I would have a problem," added Deane, who scored 71 goals during his time in the Premier League.

"With the type of science involved in training at the moment, I would have evolved with the developments. I don't think the quality is too different, but the one huge change in that time has been the attitude to training."

Big Win Isn't Far Off | Johnson

Glen Johnson believes it's only a matter of time before Liverpool dish out the hiding they have been threatening for weeks.

The Reds' picked up three precious points with a 1-0 victory over QPR at the weekend, but the scoreline was a scant reward for their complete dominance as shot after shot rained in on the Rangers goal.

It's become a familiar story this season as Liverpool have often torn teams apart - but haven't yet been rewarded with the final results they deserve.

"I definitely get the feeling a big win isn't far off," he said.

"We're coming close. We had so many chances against QPR to get a healthy scoreline and on another day with a bit more luck you score 80% of your chances and you find yourself 6-0 up.

"As long as you win the game it doesn't really matter but the way we are playing it's coming.

"We only got the one goal against QPR but three points was the most important thing.

"There was relief getting back to winning ways at home. It's always nice to bounce back after a defeat and that's what good teams do."

Luis Suarez was Liverpool's matchwinner at the weekend - rising to head home Charlie Adam's inswinging second half cross, and Johnson admits it's up to the rest of the squad to take some of the goalscoring pressure off the in-form Uruguayan.

"When you are playing and winning, nobody cares who scores but the more players who are scoring the better it is for the team," he said.

"You don't want to be relying on the same players.

"Luis isn't going to let any of the silly stuff bother him. People will try everything they possibly can to upset him because he's a good player.

"No opponent wants him to feel comfortable because if he feels comfortable he will score goals and that's not what they want. Of course he will get everything thrown at him. That's just the way it is.

"But he's exactly the same - a good professional and a good player. His confidence hasn't dropped. He always works so hard for the team and he plays very well when he's not scoring. But obviously we are much happier when he's scoring.

"I've been fortunate to play with some very good players and Luis is right up there.

"The difference between him and most other strikers is that he works so hard. Obviously he loves to score goals like most strikers but he works that bit harder. And when he's in front of goal he's the man you want the chances to fall to."

Liverpool Eyes on Villa

Liverpool had made initial inquiries about the shock move for Barcelona striker, David Villa, according to reports in Spain.


The Spain's main striker is rumored to have a fight with Lionel Messi, and the Reds have contacted Villa's agent to confirm the initial interest in moving to Anfield.



While enjoying the success of Luis Suarez, Kenny Dalglish's men has been struggling to attack since the loss of Fernando Torres to Chelsea, with a player worth £ 35 million, Andy Carroll scored only five goals since his move from Newcastle in January.


This requires large bid to ensure that Villa, who have a record of stunning international action with 50 goals from 80 matches, out of the Nou Camp. But the Anfield owner John W. Henry in the past has proven that he is not afraid to splurge after finance the transfer of Suarez and Carroll as well as great 'shopping' last summer.


Villa enjoyed a dream debut season at Barcelona since arriving from Valencia in 2010, scored the winning goal in the Champions League final to Manchester United,but this season he failed to repeat the achievement. The striker has scored just three goals in 11 La Liga appearances.


But Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola denied that Villa and Messi fight. He said, "It is impossible for David to start a fight, he was very good. He was very generous in terms of the way he played football and the rebels in his personal life

Barclays Premier League Saturday Round-Up

Yakubu scores four for Blackburn, while Man City, Arsenal and Tottenham win big

Blackburn 4-2 Swansea

Blackburn moved off the bottom of the Barclays Premier League thanks to a four-goal haul from Yakubu in a rain-soaked thriller at home against Swansea.

The striker put Rovers ahead early on only for Leroy Lita to head in an equaliser, before Yakubu nodded home in first-half injury time to make it 2-1.

Yakubu headed in once more to complete his treble and although Luke Moore fired in for the Swans, they had Joe Allen sent off before Yakubu scored from the spot to seal the points. Watch Highlights

Man City 5-1 Norwich

Manchester City were dominant throughout as they maintained their grip on top spot in the Barclays Premier League.

They had to be patient but went in front when Sergio Aguero toe-poked through a crowd of players, with Samir Nasri's free-kick flying past John Ruddy to double City's lead.

Yaya Toure curled in to make it 3-0 and after Norwich grabbed a late consolation through Steve Morison's header, substitutes Mario Balotelli and Adam Johnson still had time to grab City's fourth and fifth goals.Watch Highlights

QPR 1-1 West Brom

Shane Long struck nine minutes from time to earn West Brom a valuable point at QPR.

Long stabbed in Peter Odemwignie's cross from close range after QPR had missed a host of chances to win the match.

They had taken the lead when Heidar Helguson headed in Joey Barton's cross, but Barton later missed an open goal and the hosts were made to pay.Watch Highlights

Tottenham 3-0 Bolton

Tottenham continued their sensational run in the Barclays Premier League with a clinical victory at home against struggling Bolton.

Gareth Bale flicked in Luka Modric's corner to give the hosts the lead, before Bolton had defender Gary Cahill sent off for a foul on Scott Parker.

Spurs dominated, and they got further goals from Aaron Lennon and Jermain Defoe in the second half to secure a convincing win.Watch Highlights

Wigan 0-4 Arsenal

Arsenal kept up the pressure on the teams above them in the League by hammering Wigan at the DW Stadium, sending the Latics to the bottom of the table in the process.

The Gunners went ahead when Mikel Arteta's drive flew in and Thomas Vermaelen headed in a corner to double their lead.

Gervinho poked in the third after Ali Al Habsi had saved from Robin van Persie, but there was still time for the Dutch striker to notch a fourth. 

Manchester City and Liverpool Progress in Carling Cup

Manchester City and Liverpool both booked their place in the semi-finals of the Carling Cup with away wins on Tuesday.

Sergio Aguero scored a late goal as City edged out Arsenal to go through to the last four.

Arsenal had their chances before substitute Aguero's goal in the 83rd minute to seal victory for the Barclays Premier League leaders.

It was City's first win at Arsenal in all competitions since the 1975-76 season when they won the League Cup.

Andy Carroll missed a penalty in the first half for Liverpool but Kenny Dalglish's side recovered to beat the Blues for the second time in 10 days.Two second-half goals from Maxi Rodriguez and Martin Kelly saw Liverpool win 2-0 against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

In Tuesday's other Carling Cup match, Blackburn lost 2-0 at Championship high-flyers Cardiff.

Manchester United host Crystal Palace at Old Trafford on Wednesday in the last of the quarter-final ties.

Players are to Blame | Petr Cech

Petr Cech has assessed Chelsea's current failings, pinning the blame firmly on the players.


Goalkeeper Cech accused his team-mates of failing to defend aggressively enough during their current slump, of repeating the same mistakes over and over again, and of being persistently wasteful in front of goal, before demanding that the defeat at Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League on Wednesday should herald the end of their malaise.


He told the club's official website: "The manager is not on the pitch, we are on the pitch and we are making mistakes. He cannot do anything about individual mistakes while he is standing by the bench. So the players are to blame and we know it and we try to make things happen and change. It is not easy but we keep going."


The 2-1 loss marked a new low in what has been Chelsea's worst start to a season since Roman Abramovich bought the club.
Having crashed out of the Barclays Premier League top four, the Blues are now in real danger of failing to reach the knockout phase of the Champions League, something unprecedented in the Abramovich era.


SAME MISTAKE
The billionaire Russian's patience with his new manager would be tested to the limit were Chelsea not to qualify for the last 16 but Cech insisted any wrath should be directed at his multi-million-pound squad, who are repeating the slump that cost Carlo Ancelotti his job last season.


He added: "We have been talking recently about the same mistakes - concentration and little details when we don't go to clear the ball. I think we need to be much more aggressive in terms of defending."


Wednesday night's game was not without controversy, with Didier Drogba convinced he should have been given a penalty when the score was still 1-1.


But Cech said: "There are no excuses. We need to look first at ourselves and then we can criticise the other people because we put ourselves in the situation where we were 1-0 up and we could have killed the game off.


"Then there would be no discussion whatsoever about things that were happening in the game. We have to take it like that and make sure that this is the last time it happens."

Onwards and Upwards for Song and Co.

Alex Song feels Arsenal are finally starting to gel into an effective unit - and sent a warning to their rivals.

The Gunners beat Borussia Dortmund 2-1 at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday night with a brace from in-form captain Robin van Persie to become the first English side to secure qualification for the knockout stages of the Champions League at the top of Group F with a match to spare.

And Song - whose powerful run and cross set up Van Persie's opener at the start of the second half - firmly believes there is more to come, saying: "We want to push ourselves to try to look forward."

Arsene Wenger's men, fired by the 17 goals of their skipper, are a team transformed from earlier in the season, now having won eight from nine matches in all competitions, with the 8-2 humiliation at Old Trafford now a distant memory.

GOOD COHESION

"Maybe some people are very hard on Arsenal, I don't know why," the Cameroon midfielder continued.

"We want to show everyone is wrong about us and we did very well - but we don't want to stay in the same situation now and just say, 'everything is working and we will just keep on like this'.

"We started really badly, but it is not easy when you have new players - you need to give them time.

"Everyone tries to help each other and we have very good cohesion, which is important.

"When you play for a team like Arsenal you just want to finish all the time at the top of the league. That is what we try to do.

"We know we have the Carling Cup [quarter-final against Manchester City] coming soon and we just have to try to win every single game."