Sunderland earned a valuable 0-0 draw away to Crystal Palace on a weekend of tight Premier League matches. Everton and Aston Villa also shared a goalless draw, Bournemouth beat Brighton 2-1, Newcastle edged Wolves 1-0 thanks to debutant Woltemade, and Fulham snatched a last-minute 1-0 win over Leeds.
The Premier League weekend unfolded with plenty of tension, new faces making their debuts, and a series of matches where goals were rare but stories were abundant.
In London, Sunderland showed maturity beyond expectation by holding Crystal Palace to a 0-0 draw at Selhurst Park. For the visitors, the summer arrivals Brian Brobbey and Bertrand Traoré, both signed from Ajax, began the game on the bench. Manager Tony Mowbray’s plan was clear: focus first on defensive solidity and trust in goalkeeper Robin Roefs, who has quickly become an essential figure for the team. Once again, the former NEC goalkeeper justified his starting role with a composed performance, dealing confidently with Palace’s attempts and ensuring that Sunderland finished the night with a clean sheet. At the opposite end, Dean Henderson was equally reliable, and between the two keepers the scoreline was locked in place. When Brobbey finally entered the match with twenty minutes to go, he offered presence and strength up front but was unable to trouble Henderson. Later, in the eighty-fourth minute, Geertruida also made his Sunderland debut, coming on as a substitute to reinforce the visitors’ defensive line. At the final whistle, it was Sunderland who left more satisfied, taking a hard-earned point against a side competing in Europe and confirming that their new squad has the discipline to compete at this level.
The same outcome, without goals, was seen on Merseyside where Everton and Aston Villa produced another 0-0. At the Hill Dickinson Stadium, Aston Villa started with Melayro Bogarde alongside Youri Tielemans in midfield, while Donyell Malen, Ian Maatsen and Marco Bizot watched from the bench as Emiliano Martínez returned to the starting eleven. Everton placed their hopes in Jack Grealish, but even the recently named Player of the Month could not make the difference. Clear chances were scarce, and although Malen came on in the second half to inject speed and creativity, he too failed to alter the course of the game. The result left Villa in an uncomfortable position, still searching not only for their first win but also for their first goal after four rounds of competition, an early-season drought that is becoming increasingly painful for the club and its supporters.
Further south, the Vitality Stadium offered more excitement as Bournemouth secured a 2-1 win against Brighton & Hove Albion, confirming their place among the early-season frontrunners. Dutch players Bart Verbruggen, Joël Veltman and Jan Paul van Hecke all started for Brighton, but they could not stop Alex Scott from putting Bournemouth in front inside the opening twenty minutes. After the interval, Kaoru Mitoma equalised with a well-taken finish following a pass from Yankuba Minteh, the former Feyenoord man whose energy caused problems for the home defence. Yet Brighton’s joy was short-lived: after an hour, Van Hecke conceded a penalty, and Antoine Semenyo converted confidently from the spot. That goal proved decisive, and with their third win of the season, Bournemouth continued to demonstrate consistency and ambition at the top of the league.
In Newcastle, relief finally arrived for the Magpies as they ended a run of three games without victory by defeating Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-0 at St. James’ Park. Sven Botman remained on the bench, but the story of the evening was written by debutant Woltemade. The tall German striker, standing at 1.98 metres, marked his very first appearance by scoring the decisive goal after half an hour, heading in Jacob Murphy’s cross with authority. Wolves began strongly and forced Nick Pope into two important saves early on, but once Newcastle settled, they took control. Sandro Tonali almost extended the lead when his shot hit the post before the break, yet the single goal was enough. After just over an hour on the pitch, Woltemade was substituted and left the field to a standing ovation, recognition for both his immediate impact and his promising start in English football. The remainder of the match was less inspiring, with few clear opportunities for either side, but Newcastle’s three points were the essential outcome that lifted both spirits and position in the table.
The round concluded at Craven Cottage, where Fulham and Leeds United engaged in a contest that for long stretches lacked quality in the final third. Kenny Tete started for Fulham, while Pascal Struijk led the line in defence for Leeds, who were missing Joël Piroe. The visitors enjoyed more of the ball, controlling possession for large parts of the match, but opportunities were limited. The closest moment came before halftime when Sean Longstaff struck the crossbar with a powerful effort. For most of the second half, the game appeared to be drifting inevitably toward a 0-0 scoreline, until late drama arrived in stoppage time. Gabriel Gudmundsson turned the ball into his own net, handing Fulham an unlikely 1-0 victory in the dying moments. The fortunate three points lifted the London side into tenth place, while Leeds were left disappointed after believing they had done enough to earn a draw.
Altogether, it was a weekend where the headlines were not written by goalfests but by resilience, new beginnings, and narrow margins. Sunderland’s organisation and Roefs’s composure, Villa’s frustrating drought, Bournemouth’s steady progress, Newcastle’s much-needed breakthrough led by a debut hero, and Fulham’s last-minute fortune all combined to show once again the many ways in which the Premier League delivers drama even on days when the ball refuses to cross the line.
