Best redemption – Jason Puncheon
Widely mocked by football fans and pundits after his shocking penalty miss against Tottenham Hotspur 10 days ago (some Spurs fans teased on Twitter that the main flight path over Heathrow had to be diverted to avoid his airborne effort), the Crystal Palace midfielder showed he had broad shoulders by converting a far more difficult chance against Stoke City to gift his side what could prove to be a crucial three points as they exited the relegation places for the first time this season.
Worst week – Southampton
What a turbulent few days it has been on England’s south coast. First, Nicola Cortese, a key figure in the club’s climb out of administration and the doldrums of League One to the Premier League, left his post as chairman. Cortese was at loggerheads with the club’s owner, Katharina Liebherr, who wishes to sell the club – an idea the Italian opposed – and resigned from his post. That set in motion rumours that the manager Maurcio Pochettino, a firm ally of Cortese, would follow suit after the Argentine had stated previously he could not envisage working at St Mary’s without him. To confound matters, the team threw away a two-goal lead against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light to draw 2-2 and are waiting on medical results of injuries to Gaston Ramirez and Dejan Lovren, who were both hospitalised after the game.
Best rewarding his manager – Emmanuel Adebayor
A pariah under Andre Villas-Boas, the Tottenham striker is repaying Tim Sherwood’s faith in him with goals aplenty. His two strikes against Swansea City took his tally to six in eight games. The Togolese has displaced Roberto Soldado as Spurs’ first-choice frontman and the North London club are unbeaten in the league since his return to the side last month.
sluckings@thenational.ae
Follow us on Twitter @SprtNationalUAE