March 6th and 7th - Man City's long unbeaten run came to an end at the hands of local rivals Man United on Sunday afternoon. A polished performance from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side saw a two-nil victory earned through goals from Bruno Fernandes Penalty and Luke Shaw. City's lead at the top is now eleven points with ten games to go so they're unlikely to lose much sleep over this one. Man United once again rpvoed they're a match for any team on their day but failing to score against Crystal Palace and Chelsea in their last two games means they've a long way to go to match the consistency of the champions elect.

Leciester came from behind to win two-one at Brighton on Saturday night - after dropped points in their last two games against Burnley and Arsenal that was a much needed three points in their battle for a top four finish. Monday night's games involving Chelsea, Everton and West Ham will go a long way to deciding who else might be dusting off their passports for Champions League football next season.

Liverpool continue to put forward the worst defence since Ryan Giggs was caught clambering down his brother's drainpipe. Two more defeats at Anfield versus Chelsea and Fulham (both one-nil) mean it's six home defeats on the bounce for the soon to be dethroned champions. It looks increasingly likely that the only way they'll be in next season's tournament is if they win this year's. I won't be putting money on that outcome.

Fulham's win at Anfield means they're now only in the relegation zone on goal difference behind Brighton after their recent run of good form. Newcastle are a point clear after a nil-all draw at West Brom. Elsewhere this weekend there were draws between Burnley and Arsenal and Aston Villa and Wolves. Southampton picked up their first win in a while with a two-nil win at Sheffield United. Sunday's action finished with Spurs beating Crystal Palace four-one - both Gareth Bale and Harry Kane scored twice in that one.

Victoria Reid is our first leader in March - she has 76 points and a seven point lead over Kris Stainton in second place. Trevor Byrne is third with Cathal Thornton and Eoghan Farrelly completing the top five:

 

March 12th to 14th - Two wins in a week left Man City seventeen points clear on Saturday night. They won three-nil at Fulham thanks to goals from Stones, Jesus and Aguero to move a step closer to the title. They had bounced back from defeat in last Sunday's Manchester Derby with a five-two win at home to Southampton on Wednesday night. Man United reduced that lead to fourteen points with a one-nil win at home to West Ham on Sunday night.

Fulham's recent resurgence had injected life into the relegation battle. Brighton responded with a two-one win at Southampton on Sunday lunchtime - Lewis Dunk and Leandro Trossard scored two vital goals as the Seagulls moved three points clear of the drop zone with a game in hand. Jamelle Lascelle's equaliser for Newcastle four minutes into injury time on Friday night and the point earned might prove vital by the end of the season.

The battle for the top four saw a couple of the contenders drop points. Chelsea were held nil-all by Leeds on Saturday lunchtime. Everton were surprised by Burnley who picked up their second win on Merseyside in 2021. Sean Dyche's side won two-one with goals from Chris Wood and Dwight McNeil.

Elsewhere this weekend, Arsenal earned the bragging rights with a two-one win over Arsenal in the North London Derby. They had to come from behind after Erik Lamela's rabona opener. Goals from Martin Odegaard and a penalty from Alexander Lacazette saw Mikel Arteta's side complete a fine comeback. Sheffield United announced that Chris Wilder had vacated the hot seat at Bramall Lane before crashing to a five-nil defeat at Leicester on Sunday afternoon. Iheanacho was the hero for Brendan Rodgers' side scoring a hat-trick.

I hope you all took note of my tips on Thursday as I somehow managed to pick up four ten-pointers and climb to the top of the March leaderboard. I'm two points clear of Jonathan Fox in second place. Gerard McCluskey is third with Victoria Reid and Trevor Byrne completing the top five - full details below:

 

March 15th to 21st - A shortened month was truncated due to the FA Cup Quarter Finals being followed on by an international break. A handful of games in the week saw Liverpool keep in touch with the top four by winning one-nil at Wolves. Diogo Jota scored the only goal, returning to rub salt into the wounds of the club that sold him to Liverpool last summer.

Fulham missed the chance to improve their survival prospects when they lost two-one at home to Leeds. Raphina scored the winner for the Elland Road side after Joachim Andersen had equalised Patrick Bamford's opener.

Brighton plunged Newcastle into further relegation trouble with a three-nil win on Saturday night - Leandro Trossard, Danny Welbeck and Neal Maupay scored for the hosts in that one as they moved six points clear of the relegation zone.

West Ham managed to throw away a three goal lead at home to Arsenal on Sunday - the Hammers were three up after half an hour but Alexandre Lacazette's equaliser in the final ten minutes saw the points ahred. Tottenham moved back into top four contention following their Europa League elimination by winning two-nil at Aston Villa - Vinicius and Harry Kane were on the scoresheet in the final game of the month.

Jonathan Fox scored 22 points from the final games of the month to break homebased hearts and pip me to the monthly title. Gerard McCluskey finished 17 points off the lead. Andy Dunne finished fourth with Cathal Thornton finishing strongly to end up joint fifth with Victoria Reid:


Premier League 2020-2021 - March Leaderboard
No.
Lst Chg
Name
Team Name
Pts
Lst
Chg
Support the Site:
1
2
1
Jonathan Fox
Kilppety Klopp All The Way To The Top
151
129
22






2
1
-1
Joe Turner
#blocklivesmatter
145
131
14
3
3
0
Gerard McCluskey
Breffni Blues
134
117
17
4
6
2
Andy Dunne
Peter Crouch Rangers
128
104
24
5
18
13
Cathal Thornton
Horse's Heroes
125
91
34
6
4
-2
Victoria Reid
Tristan's Titans
125
108
17
7
8
1
Sean O'Mairtin
Creweless
124
102
22
8
9
1
Alan White
Al White XI
123
99
24
9
14
5
Brian Prendergast
Mista Dobalina
120
93
27
10
15
5
Ralph Goodwin
Sky Blue Champions
119
92
27
11
10
-1
Robert Manley
Alisson Wonderland
119
97
22
12
5
-7
Trevor Byrne
Noddy's 11
119
107
12
13
7
-6
Brendan Maguire
Cantthinkofone
114
102
12
14
16
2
Wayne Donovan
Sixth Senseless
114
92
22
15
21
6
Javier Suarez
Hendo's Boys
113
89
24
16
17
1
Anastas Popov
Strong Saints
110
91
19
17
23
6
David Lavelle
Gers Abu
110
88
22
18
28
10
Davy Doyle
FC Twente Benson
110
86
24
19
30
11
Eoghan Farrelly
Last Chance Saloon
110
86
24
20
31
11
Frank McSweeney
Poolabu
110
86
24
21
12
-9
Gary McGurk
This Is Our Year
110
96
14
22
20
-2
Con McSweeney
Dowtcha_Boys
109
89
20
23
26
3
Niall Murray
Book Ake
109
87
22
24
11
-13
David McGinley
Reservoir Dubs
108
96
12
25
13
-12
Kris Stainton
Da Love Be Beek
108
94
14
26
45
19
Derek Brady
Liverpool
105
76
29
27
29
2
Eamon Fox
Goals Very Important In Life
105
86
19
28
54
26
Caroline Carroll
Prince
104
72
32
29
61
32
Micheal Joyce
Pure Whites
104
67
37
30
49
19
Joe Behan
MT-09
103
74
29
31
41
10
Kev Dalton
Show Me De Mane
102
80
22
32
22
-10
Robert Hynes
Charlton
101
89
12
33
27
-6
Brian Haughton
Klopp's Achievers
100
86
14
34
39
5
Gavin Morgan
Bristol Fashion
100
81
19
35
33
-2
Joseph Kavanagh
Joey's Invincibles
100
86
14
36
19
-17
Paul Prendergast
The Untouchables
100
91
9
37
25
-12
Gareth Pierpoint
Alisson Wonderland
99
87
12
38
36
-2
Philip Jordan
Frankie's Army
99
84
15
39
34
-5
Christina Morgan
Return of the Red Dwarf
98
84
14
40
42
2
Dean White
Armchair 11
98
79
19
41
32
-9
Gavin Goodwin
Gorey United
98
86
12
42
40
-2
Kevin Philpott
Phillys Phylers
98
81
17
43
24
-19
Gerry Draper
Everton10
95
88
7
44
53
9
Brian Mullen
Mothers Milk
94
72
22
45
35
-10
George McGettigan
Right Up The Jimmy
94
84
10
46
50
4
Paul Moore
Bobby Dazzler
93
74
19
47
51
4
Richard Johnston
The Corporation Lads FC
93
74
19
48
57
9
Liam Geraghty
Is There Any Hope?
92
70
22
49
43
-6
Phil Doyle
FC Muertos Errantes
92
77
15
50
38
-12
Gary Fitzpatrick
Timo Werner Is A Hurensohn
90
81
9
51
37
-14
Craig Calvert
Proper FC
89
82
7
52
47
-5
Ciaran Nelson
Nelson Utd
88
74
14
53
48
-5
David Cooney
Frank's Silvalinings
88
74
14
54
44
-10
Aidan White
Saved By A Goalline Technology Failure
85
76
9
55
55
0
Bobby Hynes
Born To Run
85
71
14
56
59
3
Gerry Moore
Mikel's Maestros
84
67
17
57
60
3
Liam Keohan
Invincibles
84
67
17
58
65
7
Lionel Knott
Red Abbey Reds
84
57
27
59
63
4
Ciaran O'Hart
Riverchapel Plate
83
64
19
60
46
-14
Roisin Joyce
Roisin Joyce
82
75
7
61
52
-9
Darragh Kenny
The Sporting Wing
80
73
7
62
56
-6
Graham Goodwin
2021 Pls
80
71
9
63
62
-1
Niall Carroll
19
79
67
12
64
58
-6
Aidan Scanlon
Kilflynn Santos
75
68
7
65
64
-1
John Brophy
Carrig United
74
59
15
66
66
0
Fiachra O'Brolachain
Tallacticos
53
46
7
67
67
0
Niall Cannon
TAA Very Much
37
35
2
68
68
0
Calvin McGettigan
Average Joe 1.0
24
24
0
69
70
1
Drew Armstrong
Army's All Stars
10
6
4
70
71
1
Gary Donnelly
Audrey's + 1
10
6
4
71
72
1
Michael Kenaney
Expected Toulouse
10
6
4
72
69
-3
Ben Creasey
#1
8
6
2
73
73
0
John O'Driscoll
The Botchments
8
4
4
74
74
0
Callum Dunne
The Keita Success
4
2
2
75
75
0
Patrick Mifsud
Red & Black Brigade
2
0
2