(Insidesports.ph brings you a wrap-up of the English Premier League matches courtesy of Sky Sports.)
Blackpool announced their top-flight arrival in stunning style by trouncing Wigan as Chelsea routed West Brom, James Milner fired Aston Villa to victory and Tottenham drew with Manchester City.
Birmingham hit back from 2-0 down to draw with 10-man Sunderland, Blackburn overcame Everton, Wolves defeated Stoke and Bolton played out a stalemate withFulham.
Marlon Harewood’s brace had Blackpool in Premier League dreamland as Ian Holloway’s men confounded the critics as they romped to a 4-0 success at Wiganwhere Latics goalkeeper Chris Kirkland had an afternoon to forget.
The Seasiders had been widely expected to be cannon-fodder in the top flight after their promotion via the play-offs but needed just 16 minutes to make their mark among the elite through Gary Taylor-Fletcher before new signing Harewood bagged two in five minutes ahead of the interval.
Alex Baptiste’s hopeful cross confounded Kirkland at his near post to complete the scoring and send Blackpool briefly top of the fledgling table, in a match which also marked the return to action of referee Mark Halsey following a spell away from the game as he battled against throat cancer.
Thumping
Chelsea began the defence of their Premier League title in fine style with a thumping 6-0 victory over a West Brom side who were severely punished for their defensive generosity.
Former Blues favourite Roberto Di Matteo was granted a warm reception on his return to Stamford Bridge only to see his side dismantled with Didier Drogba helping himself to a hat-trick, Florent Malouda bagging a brace and Frank Lampard also finding the net.
Aston Villa started life after Martin O’Neill with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Avram Grant’s West Ham as James Milner, whose anticipated exit for Manchester City played a key role in his former manager’s departure, completed the scoring.
Caretaker boss Kevin MacDonald elected to name the England international in his starting XI and was rewarded with a fine left-foot finish after the break with Stewart Downing and Stiliyan Petrov having put the hosts in control.
Joe Hart produced a superb display to deny Tottenham after being handed the Manchester City goalkeeping gloves ahead of Shay Given.
Roberto Mancini put his faith in the young England international and was fully rewarded, but will be concerned that the rest of his expensively-assembled squad failed to fire in a 0-0 draw at White Hart Lane.
Blues recover
Birmingham hit back from 2-0 down to draw with 10-man Sunderland at the Stadium of Light as Scott Dann headed through Simon Mignolet’s legs before the goalkeeper was again rooted to his line in the closing moments as Liam Ridgewell bundled home two minutes from time.
Darren Bent had picked up where he left off last season by firing the home side into an early lead from the penalty spot, before the Black Cats were reduced to 10 men when Lee Cattermole was dismissed before the interval.
Stephen Carr then scored a comical own goal in the 56th minute, looping a header over Ben Foster from the edge of his own box under pressure from Fraizer Campbell.
David Jones scored a stunning goal from a sublime free-kick routine to set Wolves on their way to victory over Stoke, with Steven Fletcher bundling home a second soon after before Abdoulaye Faye powered in a header after the break.
The Potters endured a miserable afternoon at Molineux with club record signing Kenwyne Jones, who had rattled the bar in the opening exchanges, limping out of the action in obvious pain with an apparent ankle injury just 14 minutes into his debut before joining his team-mates on the bench with the aid of crutches.
Tim Howard’s astonishing blunder gifted Blackburn victory at Ewood Park as the Everton goalkeeper inexplicably spilled the ball in the 14th minute, allowing Nikola Kalinic to slot home.
New Fulham manager Mark Hughes watched his side claim a point from his first match in charge as the Cottagers drew 0-0 with Bolton at the Reebok Stadium.
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