• United too strong for City
• Dutch double puts Stoke up to seventh
• Van Persie double gets another win
• Stoke back to winning ways
• Stoke lose against Leeds
• Stoke win five goal thriller at Everton
• Early lead but eventually lose to Arsenal
• Saints humbled by Van Persie and Aimar
• Sneijder strike beats Kidderminster
• Unlucky defeat at Villa

We lost easily 3-1 at OldTrafford as Manchester United dominated the match on possession and chances. We improved after Dyer and Rosina came on but we were 3-0 down by then. Now we face Charlton and we have no new injury worries. There could be two new faces in the squad as the focus on squad-building turns to youth players. This is really all we can afford at the moment as the priority has to be getting a much bigger stadium if we are to progress in the long term.

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Goals from Huntelaar and Van Persie secured a great 2-0 win over Liverpool which elevates us to seventh. We were slightly the better side as we worked their keeper far more. Next up is a trip to Manchester United who are the form side in the division. Wes Sneijder returned for the Liverpool game and he will remain in the side as our strong midfield of Sneijder, Frings and Aimar take on United's quartet of Gattuso, Gerrard, Esien and Giggs. A draw will be a very good result for us. Our rivals for seventh, Kidderminster, have a difficult home game against Leicester.

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Two late goals from Robin Van Persie were enough to secure a 3-2 win over Torquay as the push for a UEFA place continues. The win leaves us two points behind Kidderminster ahead of the visit of Liverpool. The score of the game flattered Torquay as we were the dominant side with 60% possession and we made far more chances (20-9). Wes Sneijder is fit to return this week after a lengthy lay-off.

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A great solo effort from Robin Van Persie was enough to get us a 1-0 win over Blackburn to put us within four points of seventh-placed Kidderminster. The goal, which came after Van Persie beat several players in a mazy run, was the least we deserved as we had 60% possession and made far more chances (19-9). This week we are at home to Torquay. Wesley Sneijder isn't quite fit enough to return to action but that day is coming soon.

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We played well against Leeds but the defence couldn't handle Shevchenko as we slipped to a 2-1 defeat. We were 2-0 down before Huntelaar scored midway through the second half but we couldn't force an equaliser. We go to Blackburn this week as we try to close in on a UEFA spot.

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We won a thriller at Everton 3-2 despite playing Van Persie out of poistion in central midfield. We shaded possesion (51%) but the Toffees made more chances (15-11). We took an early lead through Bellamy and re-took the lead through a Mellberg own-goal. Aimar put us 3-1 up ealr in the second half and we hung on for the win. We are now two points behind our next opponents Leeds. Changes will be made to the side for this one as the race for the UEFA Cup spots hots up.

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Huntelaar scored for us after eight minutes but Arsenal took advantage of our injury problems to storm to a 3-1 win. The Gunners earned it as they had most of the ball (57%) and made far more chances (16-5). Next up is a trip to Everton who are five points and one place below us. We are five points behind Leeds. We need to close on them fast. Jens Lehmann has been sold to Chelsea for 2M GBP as we need the cash to reduce the wage bill and look at extending the stadium capacity.

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The race for the UEFA cup spot is back on as we chalked up an easy 2-1 win over Southampton which should have been won by more. We were the better side despite only having 49% of the ball. We created far more chances (20-8) and were rewarded with goals from Van Persie and Aimar. We are still in eighth but we are only two points off Leeds in seventh. Next up is a difficult trip to Arsenal which is made harder as both left-sided midfielders, Sneijder and Gavilan are injured. Justin Hoyte has gone on loan and Jens Lehmann should be sold for 2M GBP.

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Wesley Sneijder scored the only goal of the game on his return to the side against Kidderminster. The Harriers were the better side with 59% possession and they made far more chances (20-12) as we ground out the result despite playing badly. Next up for us is a trip to Southampton as we start on the second half of the league season.

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A goal from Miroslav Klose in the 88th minute condemned us to a 3-2 defeat in a thriller. Villa led then Frings and Gavilan put us ahead before our opponents turned it around with late goals in both halves. This puts us eight points behind Villa as we stay in eighth. During the game, we had more of the ball (54%) but we created fewer chances (14-11). This week we reach the halfway point of the league season with a visit from Kidderminster. Wesley Sneijder returns to the side after injury. Stephen Quinn was sold to Bournemouth for 1.89M. Some enquiries have been made about Craig Bellamy but I'll have to think about that one.

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