SOCCER HIGHLIGHTS

Chelsea v Middlesbrough Highlights Video

2009-01-28T01:14:00.001-08:00

Chelsea captain John Terry is fit again after his back injury and is in the squad to face Middlesbrough at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night.

Terry missed two games with a back spasm but, while he returns, co-defender Ricardo Carvalho is out for 10 days with a hamstring problem.

Striker Didier Drogba continues in the squad but is likely to start on the substitutes' bench again.

Assistant first-team coach Ray Wilkins insists Chelsea are in good shape to face a month that could potentially define their season.

The Blues have three home games in the Barclays Premier League, beginning with the Boro clash, plus Hull and Wigan.

West Bromwich Albion 0 - 5 Manchester United Highlights Video

2009-01-27T17:15:00.000-08:00

West Bromwich Albion 0 - 5 Manchester United

	Dimitar Berbatov (22)
	Carlos Tevez (44)
	Nemanja Vidic (60)
	Cristiano Ronaldo (65)
	Cristiano Ronaldo (73)

West Brom 0 - Manchester United 5 (Premier League, January 27, 2009) At the Hawthorns, Dimitar Berbatov had the first shot on target, drilling a shot straight at Carson. And it was Berbatov who broke the deadlock, combining beautifully with Michael Carrick to slot in the opener for United. West Brom were fortunate not to fall further behind when Carlos Tevez steered a shot just wide from a Ronaldo cross. The Baggies were then served a crippling blow when captain Paul Robinson picked up a straight red for a challenge on Park Ji-Sung. And the Baggies were put to the sword when a horrendous fumble from butterfingers Carson allowed Tevez the simple job for scoring the second. (First half highlights here.) West Brom came within inches of pulling a goal back when Ryan Donk pierced a hole through the United defence only to see his effort crash against the post. And the miss proved costly, Nemanja Vidic met Giggs’ corner in full force to head in the third before Giggs (who had another great game) teed up Cristiano Ronaldo for the fourth. Ronaldo, back in the goals, chalked up the fifth from Berbatov’s lay-off.

West Bromwich Albion 0 - 5 Manchester United Video

Sunderland v Fulham Highlights Video

2009-01-27T00:09:00.000-08:00

Sunderland manager Ricky Sbragia is expected to turn to his big guns once again for Fulham's Barclays Premier League trip to the Stadium of Light.

The Scot rested strikers Kenwyne Jones and Djibril Cisse, as well as midfielders Dean Whitehead and El-Hadji Diouf, from the starting line-up for Saturday's FA Cup fourth-round clash with Blackburn, but all four could return.

Teemu Tainio is available after serving a one-match ban, while George McCartney could feature once again after returning from his long-term foot injury as a substitute at the weekend, and Paul McShane can play after being cup-tied.

Sbragia is determined to build his Sunderland team around Kenwyne Jones after rebuffing Tottenham's latest approach.

Bologna 1 - 4 AC Milan Highlights Video

2009-01-25T08:22:00.000-08:00

Bologna 1 - 4 AC Milan

Marco Di Vaio (pen 9)	Clarence Seedorf (13)
	Kaká (pen 17)
	Kaká (43)
	David Beckham (59)

AC Milan captain Paolo Maldini insists the Rossoneri will not be travelling to Bologna with the aim of taking revenge for their shock 2-1 home defeat to the Rossoblu on the opening weekend of the season.

Milan notched up their first win of 2009 with a 1-0 victory over Fiorentina at the San Siro last weekend and will be keen to decrease the six-point gap to leaders Inter Milan with a win tomorrow.

Real Madrid 1-0 Deportivo La Coruña Highlights Video

2009-01-25T05:53:00.000-08:00

Real Madrid 1 - 0 Deportivo La Coruña

Raúl (40)

Real Madrid trimmed Barcelona's lead at the summit back to 12 points after seeing off Deportivo La Coruna with a 1-0 win, but the entertainment that has become commonplace at the Nou Camp this season was sorely lacking at the Bernabeu.

Raul struck the only goal of a largely drab encounter just before the break as Madrid gained revenge for their 2-1 defeat in La Coruna on the opening day of the season.

Real Madrid 1 - 0 Deportivo La Coruña Video

Cardiff City 0-0 Arsenal Highlights Video

2009-01-25T05:40:00.000-08:00

Cardiff City 0 - 0 Arsenal

Cardiff 0 - Arsenal 0 (FA Cup, January 25, 2009) Cardiff took the cup tie to Arsenal in the first half creating a host of goal-scoring opportunities including seeing Ross McCormack miss with a header from Joe Ledley’s fine left-wing cross. In the second half Robin van Persie steered a free-kick just wide of the post. Minutes before time Ross McCormack forced a fine save from Fabianski with a curling free-kick.

Liverpool 1-1 Everton Highlights Video

2009-01-25T05:32:00.000-08:00

Liverpool 1 - 1 Everton

Steven Gerrard (54)Joleon Lescott (27)

Liverpool 1 - Everton 1 (FA Cup, January 25, 2009) Everton travelled to neighbours Liverpool for the second time in week in the final FA Cup tie of the round, and the blue half of Merseyside went mental when Tim Cahill (watch his sneaky run into the box from behind the goalline) headed a corner into Joleon Lescott who in turn steered home the opener. Early in the second half the Reds levelled, Torres skillfully played in Steven Gerrard and his shot beat Tim Howard embarrassingly at his near post.

Liverpool 1 - 1 Everton

FA CUP- Liverpool 1:1 Everton

Manchester United 2 - 1 Tottenham Hotspur Highlights Video

2009-01-24T15:22:00.000-08:00

Manchester United 2 - 1 Tottenham Hotspur

Paul Scholes (35)	Roman Pavlyuchenko (5)
Dimitar Berbatov (36)

Manchester United 2 - Tottenham 1 (FA Cup, January 24, 2009) Against the odds, Spurs scored the opener at Old Trafford inside five minutes as Roman Pavlyuchenko glanced in Huddlestone’s cross past Foster. United’s best attacking moments were coming from Carlos Tevez, who rattled the bar from 20-yards out before forcing Ben Alnwick into a fine one-handed save to keep Spurs’ lead intact. The pressure eventually paid dividends, Paul Scholes opened his account for the season with a scruffy shot from the edge of the box before Dimitar Berbatov completed the turnaround with a textbook striker’s goal, controlling superbly and firing into the bottom corner.

FA CUP-ManU 2:1 Tottenham

Derby County v Nottingham Forest: Preview

2009-01-23T01:05:00.000-08:00

Defender Andy Todd and striker Steve Davies are likely to miss Derby's FA Cup fourth round clash against East Midlands rivals Nottingham Forest at Pride Park.

Both players had to be substituted due to injury in the Rams' Carling Cup semi-final defeat to Manchester United on Tuesday night - Todd with a hamstring strain and Davies due to a groin problem.

Kris Commons required stitches in a gashed shin at Old Trafford but the midfielder is expected to be available to face his former club.

The tie throws together two teams with new managers - each with strong links with their opponents.

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Burnley v Tottenham Hotspur: Preview

2009-01-21T01:21:00.000-08:00

Tottenham skipper Ledley King has a hamstring strain and will miss Wednesday's Carling Cup semi-final clash against Burnley at Turf Moor.

Left-back Benoit Assou-Ekotto is back from suspension but Vedran Corluka (both thigh), Jermaine Jenas (calf) and Aaron Lennon are out.

Full-back Alan Hutton is out with a foot injury.

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp will give Ben Alnwick the chance to solve one of the problem areas of his squad.

Protecting a 4-1 lead from the first leg of the semi-final, first-choice goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes is among a host of injuries Redknapp has to deal with, meaning Alnwick will make his Spurs debut.

Redknapp wants cover for Gomes, who has a thigh strain, but Alnwick has the chance to stake his claim as the Brazilian stopper's deputy while the search for a back-up goalkeeper continues.

Another concern for Redknapp is a lack of tenacity in his squad, which is why he wants Honduras midfielder Wilson Palacios, with chairman Daniel Levy discussing personal terms with the 24-year-old after agreeing a fee with Wigan.

"We've agreed a deal and the chairman is talking to his people,'' Redknapp said. "Hopefully it will happen.''

Adding bite to his squad is also why he targeted Craig Bellamy, before Manchester City came in for the striker.

"I wanted Craig and would have loved him here,'' Redknapp said. "He's a fighter and wants to win, he also has terrific ability but once City come in it's difficult to compete because they are working on another level. We couldn't get anywhere near him.''

With his squad still being shaped, Redknapp will send out his strongest side possible against Burnley.

Darren Bent will be in the squad, three days after his glaring miss against Portsmouth - an opportunity Redknapp later suggested his wife could have scored.

Despite facing criticism for his comment, Redknapp said: "I don't regret saying it. If I had the hump every time somebody said something about me I wouldn't go out every morning. It's frightening really.

"Sometimes you say what you think and people take offence. I've spoken to him and there is no problem.

"You keep pussyfooting around with people - what am I supposed to say? Really good try? Really unlucky? He's really done his best with that?''

Redknapp is hoping for a different reaction from Spurs players to last season, when they won the Carling Cup then struggled to get results in the league.

"It didn't help league form last year as we only won three games after that until I arrived,'' Redknapp added. "I hope it has the reverse effect.

"The key is getting into the final and winning some league games - these are the two competitions that matter. We have to get to Wembley and stay in the Premier League. The FA Cup and UEFA are very secondary.''

Burnley manager Owen Coyle will be without skipper Steven Caldwell and striker Steve Thompson.

Defender Caldwell, who missed the first leg at White Hart Lane due to suspension, is banned again after being booked in last week's FA Cup win over QPR.

Thompson is cup-tied having played for Cardiff in an earlier round of the competition so Robbie Blake will return to the starting line-up.

Winger Wade Elliott is available again after missing Saturday's 2-1 defeat at neighbours Preston due to a one-match ban and should also claim a starting berth.

Coyle will also check on a couple of minor knocks as his side seek to defy the odds following a run of five defeats from seven games in all competitions.

The Clarets boss has urged his players to enjoy tomorrow`s Carling Cup semi-final second leg against Tottenham and is confident they can win the match, even if the tie appears beyond them.

"You don't have to be Einstein to recognise that Tottenham Hotspur, with all their quality and a three-goal lead, are clear favourites,'' said Coyle.

"There's no doubt we're trying to climb Everest and beyond but I believe that if we play to our capabilities then we can win the match on the night.

"That's we'll look to do.

"For a Championship club to get to a semi-final shows you the extent of the journey we've had,'' added the former Bolton striker.

"We're there on merit and have had some terrific results which have got us here.

"I want the players to enjoy themselves and give the fans a victory for the terrific support they've given us this season.

"We have raised the bar for everybody in terms of expectation and we know we have the ingredients to make this club talked about.

Manchester United v Derby County: Preview

2009-01-20T00:41:00.000-08:00

Manchester United new boy Zoran Tosic could make his debut in Tuesday night's Carling Cup semi-final against Derby.

Tosic was unveiled last week following his £8million move from Partizan Belgrade and Sir Alex Ferguson suggested it would be the end of February before the 21-year-old was ready to meet the physical demands of life in England.

But Ferguson appears to have had a change of heart and is considering naming Tosic in his squad to face the Rams, who hold a one-goal advantage from the first leg.

Meanwhile, Michael Carrick has confirmed Ryan Giggs remains the shining example for Manchester United's entire squad to follow.

The veteran midfielder has been little more than a bit-part player this season, but has shown his class with a fine performance against Chelsea followed by a big role in the winning goal at Bolton on Saturday.

"Ryan is as motivated as anyone in the dressing room,'' said Carrick. "That is why he has been here for so long and achieved so much.

"If you win a league title, a lot of players might think 'that is not bad, I will settle for that'. But you can't get away with that here and Ryan is the obvious example of that.

"As players coming in you look at Ryan, see how motivated and determined he is and realise that is the way to be.

"He commands the respect of everyone in the dressing room. People look up to him. It is not so much asking his advice, it is to see what it takes to be a success in the game.''

Derby boss Nigel Clough is boosted by the return of defenders Paul Connolly and Jordan Stewart for the tie.

Connolly missed the weekend defeat to QPR due to a one-match ban, while Stewart served the final game of his three-match suspension but both are set to return to bolster the Rams' defence.

However, Clough will be without on-loan striker Luke Varney who is cup-tied after playing for parent club Charlton earlier in the competition.

Defender Martin Albrechtsen returned from a knee injury to play 90 minutes against QPR and he is set to keep his place at the back after suffering no ill-effects.

Fellow defender Claude Davis is fit again after a hamstring injury and is pushing for a place among the substitutes, but striker Nathan Ellington has picked up a groin injury in training and misses out.

Clough remains optimistic his side can do the unthinkable and knock Manchester United out of the competition.

The Rams travel to Old Trafford for their semi-final second leg with a 1-0 lead after Kris Commons' strike gave them a surprise victory at Pride Park.

United are now firmly installed as Premier League favourites and are expected to put Clough's men back in their place, even if Sir Alex Ferguson fields a weakened side.

Clough remains optimistic, however, and said: "We are not sure what side they will put out but we are certainly capable of getting a result there, whether it be a draw to hang onto the lead or whatever.

"It is a long, long time since Derby have been to Wembley. That is the incentive and it should spur everyone on in training. We have got to look after the lead - so we won't be playing three up front - but you can't defend for 90 minutes at Old Trafford.

"When we get the opportunity to go forward we have to. We must have an element of a threat going forward in order to try to get us a goal. If we could get a goal at any point that would make their job that much more difficult.''

Liverpool v Everton : Preview

2009-01-19T04:27:00.000-08:00

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez is not worried that Manchester United have taken his team's top spot in the Premier League and maintains their title bid is still on track.

United's 1-0 victory over Bolton on Saturday lifted them a point clear of Liverpool, who play Merseyside rivals Everton at Anfield on Monday night.

Xabi Alonso (foot) and Fernando Torres (hamstring) have declared themselves fit to start for the Reds.

Fellow Spaniard Alvaro Arbeloa is also set to return after a hamstring problem, although centre-back Daniel Agger (calf) may miss the game.

Benitez's rant at United boss Sir Alex Ferguson and the row over his contract extension have raised questions over whether the Reds can handle the pressure of a title challenge.

However, the Liverpool boss insists their approach has not altered and they are unconcerned by the rise of United.

"The situation does not change, no matter what they do,'' said the Spaniard.

"We have to get three points in every single game and especially in the derby.

"I think it is important to understand when people talk about the title and your position in the table that I didn't expect in August to win the title in January.

"No-one can expect this. If you keep calm and analyse the situation you will know if you want to win the title it has to be maybe in May and to have Chelsea, Arsenal, now Aston Villa, and United in the title race is normal.

"We will try to stay there and if we cannot be (top) one week then the next week we have to think about getting three points and getting ahead again.

"I have a lot of confidence in my team.''

Benitez insists the club being in contention - having not won the championship since 1990 - has given his players an extra lift as the matches begin to get more important.

"There is a little bit of anxiety because we are in a fantastic position, but we have to be calm and take one game at a time,'' he added.

Everton manager David Moyes believes Mikel Arteta is in the form of his life going into the derby against the Reds.

The 26-year-old Spanish midfielder has become an increasingly influential figure at Goodison Park after arriving initially on loan four years ago.

Since reverting to a central midfield role, he has added goals to his game and scored his fifth of the season in the win over Hull last weekend.

If there were any doubts he would struggle to get over an operation in the summer to correct a stomach injury they have been firmly put to bed, according to Moyes.

The Everton manager will be without suspended midfielder Marouane Fellaini, as well as long-term injury victims James Vaughan (knee), Aiyegbeni Yakubu (Achilles) and Louis Saha (hamstring).

Nuno Valente (knee) is missing too but Joseph Yobo could come into contention after being sidelined with a hamstring injury for the last four matches.

But there are no doubts over Arteta's fitness and contribution, and Moyes said: "Mikel is always looking to score goals and it was a terrific one last week.

"Hopefully he will get a few more - he is always practising. He has found another dimension to his game.

"We needed someone to put his foot on the ball and control the play for us in the middle of the park. That has given Mikel confidence and the team confidence.

"It has taken him a while to get over the injury but his form has been very good and he has been playing very well.

"We are pleased as he has been an influence on the side for several years.

"Maybe he slipped off it a little bit at the start of the season because of his injury but since he has come back, he has got himself into condition.''

Moyes admitted that Arteta - who had a spell at Rangers - found it difficult to adjust to the English game in 2005.

The Scot said: "We brought him in as a central midfield player and he looked a little bit lightweight for the Premier League.

"He has played on the right and the left as well as the middle. He is versatile and we will continue to use him that way.

"Mikkel is now competing and handling the pace of the game much better in the middle.''

Dead-ball specialist Arteta has yet to be recognised by Spain and Moyes added: "We have always been trying to get Mikel nearer the squad but the competition is incredible.

Real Madrid v Osasuna: Preview

2009-01-18T02:01:00.000-08:00

The newspaper allegations of a vote-rigging scandal that led to the resignation of Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon have overshadowed the club's preparations for the visit of Osasuna.

Calderon threw in the towel to be replaced by interim president Vicente Boluda after a torrid week of lurid headlines, but still professed his innocence from any wrong-doing at a news conference.

The champions are showing definite signs of improvement under Juande Ramos having registered their third consecutive victory with a 3-0 win at Real Mallorca last weekend.

They have edged up to second in the standings but still trail leaders Barcelona by 12 points.

The feelgood factor generated by the turnaround in results, however, has now been overtaken by a sense of uncertainty at the prospect of a new presidential election and the newspaper headlines that will generate.

Madrid's experienced defender Michel Salgado has seen it all before at the nine-time European champions, and called for the players to keep their attentions trained on the pitch.

"We are on the up and need to isolate ourselves from everything that is going on,'' Salgado told sports daily AS.

"It's an institutional problem... and the players can do nothing about it. What we have to do is support the club, the current president, and focus on sporting matters.''

The match at the Bernabeu is shaping up to be a turbulent affair with fans expected to give their verdict on the week's events, and could offer up an uncomfortable atmosphere for the home side.

Incoming president Boluda asked for calm from everyone connected with the club.

He said: "The teams still have important objectives to achieve, and they deserve to have all of us behind them.''

Ramos will have to do without injured playmaker Guti and reserve goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek, but that should not affect his starting 11.

He will also have the added advantage of a full week's rest in comparison to Osasuna, who were knocked out of the Copa del Rey with a 2-0 defeat away to Athletic Bilbao on Thursday. Madrid went out of the competition in the previous round.

Bottom club Osasuna have enjoyed a slight upturn in fortunes of late and had gone three matches unbeaten in all competitions before the visit of Barcelona last weekend.

They put up a spirited display to overturn a one-goal deficit to lead 2-1 with 10 minutes to go before Xavi and Lionel Messi snatched victory away from them.

But their best performances have all come at home, and they have yet to win on their travels in the league.

Chelsea v Stoke City Highlights

2009-01-17T02:15:00.000-08:00

Didier Drogba is back in the Chelsea squad for the Barclays Premier League match at home to Stoke.

The Ivory Coast striker was axed for the midweek FA Cup third-round replay against Southend.

Coach Luiz Felipe Scolari is boosted by the return of Florent Malouda after a hamstring injury but looks set to lose Joe Cole to a knee problem. Midfielder Deco misses out with a calf strain, but Ricardo Carvalho is fit after a calf problem.

Scolari has denied Drogba was victimised for their defeat against Manchester United.

The Brazilian coach refused to say whether Nicolas Anelka or Drogba would start as the main striker but insisted that the Ivory Coast international, who did not even travel with the squad for the cup tie, was not being made a scapegoat for the United debacle.

Instead, Scolari claimed that he had been the biggest victim of their Old Trafford mauling, not his players.

"Didier is not being made a scapegoat,'' declared Scolari. "The reason he was left out was because it was an option for me. I put this player or that player in the team.

His reaction was normal. When you sign a contract at a club, you are first or second choice, the coach chooses.

"My job here is to choose 11 players and the job for the players is to play. Finish.''

Chelsea have again been concentrating on set-pieces after conceding another simple goal against Southend.

Their defensive lapses have been criticised by Scolari in recent weeks and the side will return to a combination of zonal and man-to-man marking against City.

Stoke possess a unique threat in long-throws from Rory Delap and such was Scolari's concern that he described relegation-haunted Stoke, in his customary Brazilian humour, as 'the most dangerous side in the world'.

"Stoke are more dangerous than all the teams in England and the world.

"If you look at their statistics, they've scored 18 goals and 11 have been from corners, free-kicks or throw-ins. It will be a very good test for us.

"We have been thinking about our problems and we have some solutions.''

Striker James Beattie is expected to make his debut for Stoke.

Beattie was drafted in from Sheffield United in midweek, after scoring 12 goals this season for the Coca-Cola Championship club.

Midfielder Salif Diao could be available, after suffering a back spasm, but Ricardo Fuller remains suspended.

Midfielder Liam Lawrence is desperate to restart his top-flight career.

Lawrence, 27, has been on the bench for the last four matches after recovering from an ankle injury.

He spent three months on the sidelines after falling over his dog and down a flight of stairs.

Now he is keen to show his pedigree, starting at Chelsea, after helping Stoke win promotion from the Coca-Cola Championship.

Atletico hit by stadium ban

2008-10-14T08:55:00.000-07:00

Atletico Madrid have been hit with a stadium ban for their next two home Champions League fixtures as UEFA handed out their heaviest punishment so far for racism.

GettyImages

Atletico's Vicente Calderon Stadium

Due to the trouble that flared during last month's European match against Marseille the Spanish club, who were also fined €150,000, will have to play their group games against Liverpool and PSV Eindhoven at a venue at least 300 kilometres outside of Madrid.

European soccer's governing body said the punishment could be extended to a third match away from the Vicente Calderon stadium should there be repeat of crowd trouble or racist chanting within the next five years.

Atletico coach Javier Aguirre has also been banned for his club's home and away fixtures against Liverpool on October 22 and November 4 for insulting Marseille player Mathieu Valbuena

Last week England vice-captain Rio Ferdinand had publicly criticised UEFA and FIFA for their seemingly lenient stance against racism, saying the paltry fines handed out did nothing to stop the problem.

Speaking after the Croatian FA was only fined £15,000 for their fans' racist chanting during last month's 4-1 World Cup qualifying defeat to England in Zagreb, he said: "They make a lot of comments about what they are going to do but they never back up the words with actions. Croatia were fined a few thousand quid. What good is that going to do?"

UEFA spokesman William Gaillard explained the reasons for UEFA's stringent action against Atletico, which follows Monday's announcement that England will refuse to play in Madrid when they take on Spain in a friendly in February because of past racist incidents.

Gaillard said: "This shows our renewed determination to show zero tolerance towards racism. We had a great Euro (2008) with outstanding fan behaviour and we want our club games to be played in the same spirit.''

Gaillard also said he understood why England players may be reluctant to return to Madrid where they were targeted four years ago.

He added: "I understand the players' fears. That is exactly why we are acting with renewed strength - to make sure that in the future England players will not be threatened by this kind of behaviour."

In a statement on their website UEFA added that Atletico were charged with a lack of organisation during the Marseille match, which led to crowd incidents, and for the improper conduct of their supporters.

The Primera Liga club, who have until midday Friday to respond to the punishment, released a statement on their official website that said Atletico's lawyers were looking into the matter.

Meanwhile, Liverpool have complained that the relatively late decision to move their game from Madrid has caused "disruption" to their fans.

"To say the decision is a bit late in the day, is to put it mildly," said chief executive Rick Parry.

"We have 3,000 fans going to the game and we are extremely concerned for our supporters, the vast majority of whom have already made travel arrangements.

"If the match is played at least 300 kilometres from Madrid, it will cause major disruption, inconvenience and large additional expense for our fans.

"UEFA have to take their needs into account when making a final decision on the game."

UEFA sympathise with Liverpool and have pledged to minimise problems for the 3,000 fans who have already booked a trip; but have defended the stadium ban saying there was "no alternative''

Gaillard said: "We are in touch with Liverpool because we are concerned about the fans. We know they face hardship and disruption and we sympathise with that, but we needed to punish Atletico Madrid. We have no alternative.

"What would people have said if Liverpool went there and the players and fans suffered the same treatment?"

Gaillard said they were already talking to the club about moving charter flights and UEFA would help in any way they could.

"We are looking at the logistics and seeing what help we can provide,'' he added.

England 5 - 1 Kazakhstan

2008-10-11T16:55:00.000-07:00

England vs Kazakhstan
Rio Ferdinand (52') Zhambyl Kukeyev (68')
Aleksandr Kuchma (65') Own Goal
Wayne Rooney (77')
Wayne Rooney (86')
Jermain Defoe (90')

Better late than never.

England ultimately ended up with more than an adequate margin of victory against Kazakhstan to maintain a 100% record in World Cup qualifying Group Six.

But the scoreline should deceive no-one.

England were at times dreadfully poor and manager Fabio Capello will be alarmed how quickly the spark which so electrified their 4-1 win in Croatia last month disappeared.

Still, a win is a win, so the professionals say. And when the final table is compiled in 12 months' time, three points and five goals at home will not look so bad.

Yet it took Wayne Rooney's late double and Jermain Defoe's injury-time effort to eventually kill off spirited opponents ranked 131st in the world after Kazakhstan had rallied from a breakthrough header by stand-in skipper Rio Ferdinand and an Alexandr Kuchma own goal.

The win in Zagreb had launched a wave of euphoria over the Three Lions which should be enough for them to ride into South Africa in two years' time, if not as one of the favourites to lift the trophy, then a decent outsider.

As ever with England, too much can be taken for granted sometimes and the fact Capello's plea for supporters to cut out the boos, which have become such a feature at Wembley in recent times, lasted until the half-time whistle sounded told its own story of the opening 45 minutes.

Kazakhstan could not be compared to Andorra. They did try to play and attack when they could, and showed plenty of enthusiasm if not much finesse, as half-chances came their way thanks to some lacklustre England defending.

But, rather like a cup tie featuring a team from the higher reaches of the Premier League against one from League Two, the gulf in ability was obvious from the outset and a capacity crowd sat back and waited for the slaughter.

It did not happen. In fact, Kazakhstan goalkeeper Alexandr Mokin did not have a shot to save in the first half, two brave punches to Frank Lampard free-kicks the most exertion he required.

Disappointments were easy to find. The defence, with Matthew Upson replacing injured skipper John Terry, lacked cohesion. Upson was not commanding enough and Ashley Cole's concentration was strangely lacking.

In front of them, a midfield designed to get the best of Lampard and Steven Gerrard showed promise. Both men drove towards the visitors' box after receiving smart lay-offs from Emile Heskey and Wayne Rooney respectively.

But on each occasion Kazakhstan's massed defence snuffed them out and any other moments of promise were overshadowed by sloppy passing.

Under the circumstances, and with his hat-trick so fresh in the mind, it was hardly surprising Walcott raised spirits - and the noise level - every time he touched the ball.

Aside from two fairly woeful first touches, the youngster lived up to his billing in all senses, apart from the goals.

His extreme pace and fearless desire to run at opponents threatened openings which, as it turned out, did not materialise for either Heskey or Rooney.

Capello's response was to introduce more direct running, in the form of Shaun Wright-Phillips, at the break, leaving Gerrard and Lampard to prove they could play together in central midfield as Barry made way.

The early signs were not good as Gerrard failed to cover Cole's overlapping burst, inviting Sabyrkhan Ibrayev to charge into the space left free.

Sergey Ostapenko probably should have converted the cross, Tanat Nuserbayev definitely should have finished off the downward header. Thankfully, neither did.

It was the let-off England required and, profiting from Mokin's poor goalkeeping, they duly scored.

Wright-Phillips' low drive was ruled to have taken a deflection as it whistled wide. Mokin tried to come through a crowd of bodies to reach Lampard's corner and got nowhere near.

It meant Ferdinand, lurking at the far post, had an empty net to nod his third international goal into.

Having vowed to "cherish the moment", England's stand-in captain enjoyed the celebration.

With 21-year-old Nuserbayev continuing to catch the eye of Premier League scouts, the hosts needed a second, which came courtesy of Kuchma, who turned Lampard's free-kick into his own net as he jumped with Rooney.

It should have been over. It certainly would have been in Italy, where Capello carved out most of an impressive coaching career.

So, to see Cole aimlessly loft a pass into the path of Zhambyl Kukeyev, who promptly drilled into the corner, just four minutes later, must have been fairly dispiriting.

Cole was booed by the England fans thereafter, although at least Rooney sent them home in happier mood as he headed home Wes Brown's teasing cross 13 minutes from time.

There was still time for a brief cameo from David Beckham, who would be a perfect special team player, if such a thing existed.

And it was Beckham's cross Rooney steered home to earn man-of-the-match accolades before being replaced by Defoe, who also got his name on the scoresheet in the final minute.

England 5 - 1 Kazakhstan Video

Eng 3-1 Kaz

Capello tells Walcott: "Don't try too hard"

2008-10-11T06:38:00.001-07:00

LONDON, October 11 (National Team) - Fabio Capello will have a quiet word with Theo Walcott before Saturday's World Cup qualifier with Kazakhstan - to stop England's boy wonder trying too hard.

Walcott announced his arrival on the international stage in Zagreb last month with a phenomenal hat-trick in the unexpected hammering of Croatia.

Now, in front of a sell-out 90,000 crowd, the teenager will make his Wembley debut, with England fans expecting big things.

Capello is in no doubt he has a special talent to work with. However, the Italian also knows Walcott cannot be expected to produce such astonishing performances every time he pulls on a white shirt.

Which is why he will whisper a sobering message in Walcott's ear to ensure he helps England's pursuit of a 100% record from their opening three games.

You have to try and play normally and not try to do too much,'' he said.

"I am sure he will take that on board.

"He's a very good boy. He is young but he is still the same - nothing has changed since Croatia. That hasn't surprised me. Why would it?''

Walcott takes his place in an unchanged front line but elsewhere, Capello has selection issues to contend with.

Skipper John Terry is sidelined by a back problem, leaving Rio Ferdinand to take the captain's armband and Matthew Upson, Wes Brown and Joleon Lescott hoping for a start.
[ Capello tells Walcott: "Don't try too hard" on http://sportsoccerhighlights.blogspot.com ]

And, while it may new the start of a bright new dawn at Wembley - Capello's words - there is a familiar problem as Steven Gerrard returns to the same midfield as Frank Lampard.

At various stages under Capello's predecessors Sven-Goran Eriksson and Steve McClaren, either Lampard or Gerrard shone. But never both.

Currently it is Lampard's star in the ascendancy, Capello's decision to use Gerrard on the left in the August friendly against the Czech Republic drawing stinging criticism from Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp, who could see an immense talent being wasted.

Despite the euphoria of last month, which Gerrard missed after a minor groin operation, Capello must realise he does not have enough players of such extreme talent to disregard one.

Which is why he will continue to work at the conundrum until he unearths a solution.

"I hope I can make it work,'' he said.

"Fantastic players have to play together. I don't know why they haven't worked before. The past is not my problem. I just think about the future.

"This kind of thing has happened a lot in my career, although always with the forwards.

"But it's not a problem for me. I prefer to have players of this quality.''

It is only two months since England were booed out of Wembley after a wretched performance against the Czech Republic and four since Euro 2008 unfolded without English representation following the abysmal failure in qualification.

Yet, on the back of just one - albeit extraordinary - win, Capello's side are being talked of as live World Cup contenders, a tournament they will not even have reached the last four of in two decades by the time 32 finalists assemble in South Africa.

It is the kind of over-the-top reaction that makes coaching England seem like an impossible job to many. It is just as well that number does not include Capello.

"It is not an impossible job,'' he said.

"Being England manager is a fantastic experience.

"I agree, it is not easy. For me, it is different to being in charge of a club, when you work and train every day. Then you can change errors and rectify mistakes.

"For this reason alone you need a different mentality.

"But the pressure is the same in all countries. The only difference is somewhere like Milan you are talking about one city and one set of supporters.

"Here, the focus is different. It's one nation. It is the England team.

Charlton to be taken over by Dubai investors?

2008-10-10T18:25:00.000-07:00

Charlton Athletic appear set to become the latest club to be taken over by Dubai-based investors, after receiving a "indicative cash offer" from Zabeel Investments, a company previously linked with Newcastle United.

GettyImages

The takeover will come as a pleasant surprise to Charlton fans and perhaps club manager Alan Pardew.

A statement from the Championship club has revealed they will receive significant investment as part of a takeover from the Middle East.

The statement on the Charlton website read: "The board of Charlton Athletic plc announced on Friday that it has received an indicative cash offer from Zabeel Investments, a Dubai-based diversified investment company.

The indicative offer is subject to a number of preconditions, including due diligence. However, it is at a level at which, should the offer be made formally to shareholders, the board would recommend shareholders to accept it."

"Despite being approached by various English football clubs, as well as a number of well-known clubs in Europe and South America, Zabeel Investments believes Charlton is the right club for them.

"The board will keep the shareholders, fans and employees updated with any further developments."

Last year Charlton were subject of interest from a group of businessmen from the Middle East and Europe, but takeover talks were later called off. The bid valued the club at around £50 million.

No figure has yet been quoted for the sale of the club to Zabeel Investments.

Derek Chappell, plc chairman, and Richard Murray, chairman of the football club, commented: "The board firmly believes that a successful outcome for this transaction would be beneficial to shareholders and employees of Charlton, all fans of the club and the local community as a whole."

Mohammed Al Hashimi, executive chairman of Zabeel Investments, added: "We feel now is the right time to make a strategic, long-term investment in Charlton and get Charlton back to the English Premier League where the club belongs.

"The passion of the fans at Charlton, the heritage of the club and the unique status it enjoys in the community make it an exciting proposition for us.

"For the purposes of the takeover code, this announcement has been made with the consent of Zabeel Investments."

The Newcastle Evening Chronicle reported in September that the North East club snubbed a £200 million takeover offer from Zabeel Investments, with owner Mike Ashley holding out for a higher bid.

Early reports suggested that Tony Jimenez, who quit his role as Newcastle vice president of player recruitment on Thursday, played a role in brokering the Charlton deal.

Charlton dropped out of the Premier League in 2007 and were forced to sell several players over the summer, with Chris Iwelumo, Marcus Bent, Madjid Bougherra and Amdy Faye all leaving the club. The Addicks currently lie 14th in the Championship with four wins from ten games.

Bentley: Spurs have become a laughing stock

2008-10-09T16:26:00.000-07:00

Tottenham midfielder David Bentley admits the Premier League's bottom club have become a laughing stock as they have claimed just two points from their first seven matches - their worst start to a season since 1912.

GettyImages

The winger has been dropped by England.

Manager Juande Ramos, having been in the job for just under a year, is under increasing pressure while questions are being asked of sporting director Damien Comolli's activity in the transfer market, allowing experienced strikers Dimitar Berbatov, Robbie Keane and Jermain Defoe to all leave the club in the last 10 months without finding suitable replacements.

I know people are having a laugh at the fact we are bottom of the league at the moment but it's up to everyone at the club to stop the jokes,'' said Bentley.

''We're not happy with what has been happening. You cannot hide from the situation but what we need are a team of leaders who take responsibility. We have to grow as people.

''We have more than enough good players at Tottenham to get us out of this situation and I give my word that we will.''

Reports had suggested Bentley blamed Ramos for missing out on the current England squad for not playing him often enough and playing him out of position.

Although the winger, who moved to White Hart Lane from Blackburn in the summer for £15million, does not regret the switch to north London and is says he is backing Ramos to turn things around.

''I'm fully behind him, 100%,'' the 24-year-old told The Sun.

''I still love being at Spurs and I don't regret joining the club for one second.

''I know I haven't been at my best but I haven't become a bad player in a fortnight. The manager believes in me.

Newcastle announce departure of Jimenez

2008-10-09T05:19:00.001-07:00

Newcastle have announced that Tony Jimenez has left the club, adding to the turmoil surrounding the Tyneside outfit.

GettyImages

Jimenez (right) had been working under Dennis Wise.

The man appointed vice-president (player recruitment) by owner Mike Ashley when he installed his off-the-field team under executive director (football) Dennis Wise, has left St James' Park to ''pursue other interests''.

A club statement on the Newcastle website read: ''Newcastle United can today confirm that Tony Jimenez has left the club.

Tony, who was appointed vice-president (player recruitment) in January, has made the decision in order to pursue other interests.

''Newcastle United thanks Tony for all of his hard work and efforts and wishes him every success in the future.''

The Magpies have been a club in disarray ever since the departure of manager Kevin Keegan, who ironically cited his inability to work with Jimenez and director of football Dennis Wise as one of the reasons behind his decision to move on.

Wise, Jimenez and technical co-ordinator Jeff Vetere were put in place to oversee the club's recruitment policy, although their roles have proved controversial.

Keegan resigned last month after furious disagreements with managing director Derek Llambias over the club's transfer policy, which saw James Milner sold to Aston Villa and Fabricio Coloccini, Jonas Gutierrez, Danny Guthrie, Xisco and loan signing Ignacio Gonzalez drafted in.

Owner Mike Ashley has since put the club up for sale, and Jimenez flew out to Dubai with the other executives in the hope that his business contacts could help them push through a quick deal.

However, Ashley will now need to find a buyer without the help of Jimenez after the club confirmed his departure on Thursday.

Mourinho says he considered England job

2008-10-07T21:18:00.000-07:00

Jose Mourinho says he was flattered by links with the vacant job as England coach but wanted continue his career in club football. He also turned down the Portugal job for similar reasons.
Jose Mourinho

NealSimpson/Empics

Jose Mourinho: One-time favourite for role with two national teams.
The Inter Milan boss was touted as a potential successor to Steve McClaren but revealed the lure of day-to-day involvement proved too great.

"In a certain moment I considered being England national manager," said Mourinho, who was out of work at the time of McClaren's departure in the face of exit from Euro 2008. Having left Chelsea in September last year, Mourinho was heavily backed at to take the job but chose to chase his ambitions of continental management, which he eventually realised with his summer appointment at San Siro.

First of all because I was in love with the football country and with England - I was also happy there - and secondly because if you have one country where the prestige of the national team manager is huge, it is England.

"But at the same time my passion for the day-by-day work, my passion to train every day, my desire to play every week and if possible more than one game a week, this is my life. That's the life I want to have."

Mourinho confirmed that he had been approached by his own country ahead of their appointment of Carlos Queiroz.

"I always had in my career project the Portuguese national team job as one of the last moments of my career but they tried to press me to do it early," Mourinho said in a video released by Ford.

"Sometimes you have to jump out of this road you built - but they understand that I cannot do it now.

"But I want to have the experience of coaching my country one day. I would like to make my family very proud, and I'm sure one day they will be very proud when I become Portuguese national manager.

"I [prefer] club [over country] because at this moment I'm a club manager and it's the kind of job I enjoy.

"The national team job is not the kind of job that motivates me - it's a completely different profile.

Chelsea warned off Lavezzi

2008-10-06T19:07:00.000-07:00

Napoli sporting director Pierpaolo Marino has warned Chelsea they would waste their time making an offer for their Argentinian striker Ezequiel Lavezzi.

Reports in England claim Chelsea are keen to lure the 23-year-old forward to Stamford Bridge as they look to bolster their attacking options.

Lavezzi has established himself as one of the top young strikers in Europe since arriving at the San Paolo from San Lorenzo last summer and Chelsea are thought to be willing to offer €13million to acquire his services.

When asked about Chelsea's reported interest on Lavezzi, Marino said: "I know nothing regarding that story.

"But I would not advise Chelsea to make any offer because we would turn it down immediately."

Lavezzi, who was a member of Argentina's gold medal team at the Beijing Olympics this summer, has scored one goal in three appearances for the Serie A outfit this campaign.

The South American sensation joined Napoli from San Lorenzo last summer and is under contract until the 2011-12 campaign.

Greedy Scolari wants more victories at home

2008-10-06T08:19:00.001-07:00

Chelsea boss Luiz Felipe Scolari has highlighted his side's form at Stamford Bridge as one of the keys to the Premier League title race, insisting they cannot afford to drop points.

Although they have not been beaten in their last 86 home league matches, seven draws on their own turf last season helped hand the title to Manchester United.

One of those draws came against Aston Villa. But Chelsea never looked like dropping points against them yesterday, Joe Cole and Nicolas Anelka grabbing the goals in a 2-0 win.

After sharing the points with Tottenham and United, it was Chelsea's first league win at home since the opening weekend of the season.

"We need to win more games at home,'' said Scolari. "We have played four games and won two of them; we need more, because we remember last season.

"I wasn't here but I know about this. There were many, many draws ... and the final result was being two points behind Manchester United.''

Cole opened the scoring when he lashed in at the near post but he then limped off with a foot injury and was left out of Fabio Capello's England squad.

John Terry and Ashley Cole, who both had back niggles, came through unscathed - while Deco and Alex could be available after the international break, and Didier Drogba and Ricardo Carvalho will be on the road to recovery.

Scolari was delighted with the prospect of being top of the table over the international break, his players returning - and also three days off to finally sight see in London with his family.

"I will spend three days with my family,'' he said. "I have only spent one day in London, so I will do something with my wife. I don't want to talk about football!

"I told that to the players - to win and give me three days of thinking about nothing.''

Scolari spoke of his admiration for Martin O'Neill before the match.

The Villa boss feels Scolari is putting his own stamp on the football at Stamford Bridge.

"He is a brilliant manager,'' said O'Neill. "He's proved it; he won the World Cup with a side whose expectations were incredibly high - and that is hard to do.

"He doesn't have to prove anything. He's enjoying himself. He's inherited a very good side and put his stamp on it - which is remarkable. They were brilliant, which is a credit to him and the players.''

Aside from the scoreline, O'Neill noticed significant differences from Chelsea's performances against Villa last season.

"Ashley Cole is back probably playing to his best again,'' he said. "He has licence to go forward, safe in the knowledge that when it is played square to midfield they will put him in.

"Bosingwa has given them a new dimension, which has helped. But the great stalwarts of the last few years are still brilliant.

Chelsea vs Aston Villa Highlights video

Chelsea vs Aston Villa Highlights

Live Score Sat, October 5

2008-10-05T17:33:00.000-07:00

- English Premier League -

Final Upton Park Expand +
West Ham 1 - 3 Bolton
30' 0 - 1 Goal Kevin Cyril Davies
34' 0 - 2 Goal Gary Cahill
68' Carlton Cole Goal 1 - 2
86' 1 - 3 Goal Matthew Taylor

Final Stamford Bridge Expand +
Chelsea 2 - 0 Aston Villa
21' Joe Cole Goal 1 - 0
43' Nicolas Anelka Goal 2 - 0

Chelsea vs Aston Villa Video

Chelsea vs Aston Villa Highlights

Final City of Manchester Stadium Expand +
Man City 2 - 3 Liverpool
19' Stephen Ireland Goal 1 - 0
41' Javier Garrido Goal 2 - 0
55' 2 - 1 Goal Fernando Torres
67' Pablo Zabaleta Red Card
73' 2 - 2 Goal Fernando Torres
90' 2 - 3 Goal Dirk Kuyt

Final Fratton Park Expand +
Portsmouth 2 - 1 Stoke
25' Peter Crouch Goal 1 - 0
48' 1 - 1 Goal Ricardo Fuller
51' Jermain Defoe Goal 2 - 1

Final White Hart Lane Expand +
Tottenham 0 - 1 Hull
9' 0 - 1 Goal Marcio Geovanni

Final Goodison Park Expand +
Everton 2 - 2 Newcastle
17' Mikel Arteta (pen) Goal 1 - 0
35' Marouane Fellaini Goal 2 - 0
45' 2 - 1 Goal Steven Taylor
46' 2 - 2 Goal Damien Duff

Luiz Felipe Scolari may have an injury crisis on his hands but Chelsea's title challenge continues apace, with Aston Villa the latest to be swept aside at Stamford Bridge.

First-half goals from Joe Cole and Nicolas Anelka kept Scolari's men at the top of the Barclays Premier League, and it could have been more but for the reflexes of Villa goalkeeper Brad Friedel.

• Scolari: My most satisfying win

The hosts, already without the services of Didier Drogba, Deco, Ricardo Carvalho and Michael Essien, were missing Alex from their starting line-up and then saw midfielder Cole limp off.

Anelka, struggling with muscle spasms before the match, was also taken off at the break meaning Franco di Santo was Scolari's frontline striker for 45 minutes.

It mattered little. Scolari had never met Martin O'Neill before and had spoken of his admiration for the teams the Villa boss has produced - but this crop simply had no chance as Chelsea gave them a first-half masterclass in passing and movement.

Villa had been billed as the team to put pressure on Chelsea's unbeaten home league record, with the pace of Gabriel Agbonlahor and Ashley Young enough to trouble most sides.

As it was, Branislav Ivanovic went untroubled on his league debut as most of the action was ahead of him.

John Terry, partnering the Serbian in central defence, said before the match that he wanted to play even if it was on one leg - and he probably could have done that in the first half, such was Chelsea's dominance.

Friedel's busy afternoon in goal for Villa started with two early saves.

The first effort was from Michael Ballack, who fizzed a drive from 25 yards, then Florent Malouda had a go from the left flank at a similar distance.

Frank Lampard had the first clear opening of the game, in the 18th minute, when Anelka found him with a cross, only for the England midfielder to head wide.

Lampard, however, set up the opener three minutes later after Curtis Davies' clearance fell to Malouda. Malouda slipped the ball inside to Lampard, who in turn helped it on to midfielder Cole.

Cole took one touch and lashed his finish past Friedel and inside the near post, his third of the season.

Anelka could have doubled the lead when he cracked a drive from 30 yards but his effort smashed against the crossbar - starting the onslaught on Friedel's goal.

The American goalkeeper parried a Lampard free-kick and also denied Malouda with another skidding drive.

He also made a double save in the 43rd minute, but could not prevent Anelka tapping in the rebound. Ashley Cole had crossed from the left, Ballack's drive and Anelka's follow up were saved - but the Frenchman made sure with his next effort.

It was Anelka's last contribution as he was taken off at the break for Di Santo, while Villa took off Davies and Luke Young, with James Milner and Carlos Cuellar coming on.

Stiliyan Petrov did have an effort saved by Petr Cech - but then there was more attacking from Chelsea.

Worryingly for England boss Fabio Capello, who was watching from the stands, was the sight of Terry dropping his shorts for treatment on his back.

Then midfielder Cole picked up his apparent foot injury and hobbled down the tunnel, with Salomon Kalou taking his place.

Wastefulness from Ballack at close range, then a brave block from Friedel to deny Kalou, kept the score down. Kalou also had an overhead strike disallowed for offside - and another goal would not have flattered the hosts.

# Scolari: My most satisfying win

Luiz Felipe Scolari declared victory against Aston Villa as his most satisfying result as Chelsea boss as his side head into the international break top of the Barclays Premier League.

"I am satisfied because we played very well,'' Scolari said. "For me it is the most important game this season because if we won we were in first position in the league and now we have 10 days to recuperate our players through the international break.

"After, when we start the league, all our players will be in good condition.''

John Terry dropped his shorts to receive treatment on his back, while Joe Cole limped off with a foot injury - but Scolari feels they will be ready to play for England against Kazakhstan and Belarus.

Of midfielder Cole's problem, Scolari said: "He got a little touch, it's nothing, a little problem on the foot. In two or three days with the national team he will be in the condition to play.

"John Terry is the same. He is a fantastic man, if he feels something he still wants to play.''

Ashley Cole came through 90 minutes following a slight knock during the week, although Anelka came off at the break and may miss the first part of France's schedule.

England boss Fabio Capello watched his players from the stands, with Frank Lampard putting in a box-to-box display in Chelsea's midfield.

"He played very, very well - I said it two times not once,'' said Scolari.

Villa boss Martin O'Neill agreed, adding: "He was absolutely outstanding. I think he is an outstanding player.''

Villa barely tested Petr Cech in Chelsea's goal but got the glimpse of a goal when Gabriel Agbonlahor almost took advantage of a Terry backpass.

O'Neill had no complaints with the result, adding: "Chelsea were brilliant. We would have had to have our best players at the top of their game to compete, never mind anything else. It is a harsh lesson.

"It's what you want to aspire to. We didn't help ourselves but it doesn't matter. We will have learned a lot from this.''

But for the reflexes of Brad Friedel, Chelsea could have added to their two goals in the second half.

"I was pleased he was in goal for us,'' O'Neill. "He was fantastic and we needed him or we would have been in a spot more bother.

- Italian Serie A -

Final Stadio Azzurri D`Italia Expand +
Atalanta 4 - 2 Sampdoria
7' 0 - 1 Goal Antonio Cassano
35' Sergio Floccari Goal 1 - 1
39' György Garics Goal 2 - 1
54' 2 - 2 Goal Antonio Cassano (pen)
71' Red Card Pietro Accardi
77' Sergio Floccari Goal 3 - 2
80' Red Card Daniele Dessena
83' Cristiano Doni Goal 4 - 2

Final Stadio Marc`Antonio Bentegodi Expand +
Chievo Verona 0 - 2 Fiorentina
32' 0 - 1 Goal Zdravko Kuzmanovic
38' Francesco Scardina Red Card
74' 0 - 2 Goal Alberto Gilardino

Final Comunale Luigi Ferraris Expand +
Genoa 3 - 2 Napoli
1' 0 - 1 Goal Ezequiel Lavezzi
44' Sokratis Papastrathopoulos Goal 1 - 1
52' Raffaele Palladino Goal 2 - 1
55' Marco Rossi Red Card
73' Alberto Diego Milito Goal 3 - 1
75' 3 - 2 Goal Germán Denis
90' Sokratis Papastrathopoulos Red Card

Final Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino Expand +
Juventus 1 - 2 Palermo
24' 0 - 1 Goal Fabrizio Miccoli
38' Alessandro Del Piero Goal 1 - 1
41' Mohamed Sissoko Red Card
81' 1 - 2 Goal Levan Mchedlidze

Final Stadio Oreste Granillo Expand +
Reggina 1 - 1 Catania Calcio
69' 0 - 1 Goal Michele Paolucci
72' Red Card Michele Paolucci
80' Andrea Costa Goal 1 - 1

Final Artemio Franchi Montepaschi Arena Expand +
Siena 1 - 0 Roma
45' Mario Frick Goal 1 - 0
66' Red Card Philippe Mexes
74' Red Card Christian Panucci

Final Stadio Friuli Expand +
Udinese 2 - 0 Torino
44' Fabio Quagliarella Goal 1 - 0
77' Fabio Quagliarella Goal 2 - 0

Final Stadio San Elia Expand +
Cagliari 0 - 0 AC Milan

Live Score Sat, October 4

2008-10-04T17:17:00.000-07:00

- English Premier League -

Final Stadium of Light Expand +
Sunderland 1 - 1 Arsenal
86' Grant Leadbitter Goal 1 - 0
90' 1 - 1 Goal Cesc Fábregas

Final The Hawthorns Expand +
West Brom 1 - 0 Fulham
61' Roman Bednar Goal 1 - 0

Final JJB Stadium Expand +
Wigan 0 - 1 Middlesbrough
89' 0 - 1 Goal Jeremie Aliadiere

Final Ewood Park Expand +
Blackburn 0 - 2 Man Utd
30' 0 - 1 Goal Wes Brown
64' 0 - 2 Goal Wayne Rooney

Blackburn 0 - 2 Man Utd

- English League Championship -

Final Bloomfield Road Expand +
Blackpool 1 - 1 Cardiff
83' 0 - 1 Goal Paul Parry
90' Alan Gow Goal 1 - 1

Final St Andrews Stadium Expand +
Birmingham 1 - 0 QPR
45' Kevin Phillips Goal 1 - 0

Final Oakwell Stadium Expand +
Barnsley 4 - 1 Doncaster
11' 0 - 1 Goal Brian Stock (pen)
49' Darren Moore Red Card
54' Stephen Foster Goal 1 - 1
60' Jamal Campbell-Ryce Goal 2 - 1
73' Jonathan Macken Goal 3 - 1
87' Iain Hume Goal 4 - 1

Final The Valley Expand +
Charlton 2 - 1 Ipswich
6' Nick Bailey Goal 1 - 0
34' 1 - 1 Goal Martin Cranie (og)
60' Moritz Volz (og) Goal 2 - 1

Final Carrow Road Expand +
Norwich 1 - 2 Derby
26' 0 - 1 Goal Rob Hulse
50' Red Card Roy Carroll
51' Sammy Clingan Goal 1 - 1
85' 1 - 2 Goal Nathan Ellington

Final City Ground Expand +
Nottm Forest 0 - 2 Crystal Palace
4' 0 - 1 Goal Paul Ifill
81' 0 - 2 Goal Shefki Kuqi

Final Home Park Expand +
Plymouth 4 - 0 Sheff Wed
15' Mark Beevers (og) Goal 1 - 0
25' Paul Gallagher Goal 2 - 0
30' Jamie Mackie Goal 3 - 0
90' Marcel Seip Goal 4 - 0

Final Madejski Stadium Expand +
Reading 3 - 1 Burnley
4' Noel Hunt Goal 1 - 0
52' Stephen Hunt Goal 2 - 0
64' Shane Long Goal 3 - 0
89' 3 - 1 Goal Chris McCann
90' Red Card Stephen Jordan

Final Bramall Lane Expand +
Sheff Utd 3 - 0 Bristol City
45' James Beattie Goal 1 - 0
56' Liam Fontaine (og) Goal 2 - 0
69' James Beattie Goal 3 - 0

Final Liberty Stadium Expand +
Swansea 3 - 1 Wolverhampton
1' Garcia-Penche Jordi Gomez Goal 1 - 0
16' 1 - 1 Goal Andrew Keogh
41' Jason Scotland Goal 2 - 1
57' Jason Scotland Goal 3 - 1

Final Vicarage Road Stadium Expand +
Watford 2 - 1 Preston
5' 0 - 1 Goal Sean St. Ledger
12' Jon Harley Goal 1 - 1
21' Tommy Smith Goal 2 - 1

Final Ricoh Arena Expand +
Coventry 4 - 1 Southampton
19' Jay Tabb Goal 1 - 0
33' Leon McKenzie Goal 2 - 0
47' Leon Best Goal 3 - 0
63' 3 - 1 Goal Andrew Surman
87' Jay Tabb Goal 4 - 1

- English League One -

Final London Road Ground Expand +
Peterborough 2 - 0 Leeds
47' George Boyd Goal 1 - 0
90' Craig Mackail-Smith Goal 2 - 0

Final Withdean Stadium Expand +
Brighton 3 - 3 Cheltenham
1' Glenn Murray Goal 1 - 0
2' 1 - 1 Goal Scott Murray
7' Glenn Murray Goal 2 - 1
45' 2 - 2 Goal Scott Murray
47' Glenn Murray Goal 3 - 2
85' Red Card Josh Payne
90' 3 - 3 Goal Andy Gallinagh

Final Brunton Park Expand +
Carlisle 1 - 2 Tranmere
1' 0 - 1 Goal Ian Moore
80' 0 - 2 Goal Ryan Shotton
90' Danny Graham Goal 1 - 2

Final The Weston Homes Community Stadium Expand +
Colchester 0 - 1 Bristol Rovers
53' 0 - 1 Goal Richard Lambert

Final The Alexandra Stadium Expand +
Crewe 1 - 3 Northampton
45' 0 - 1 Goal Danny Jackman
55' Tom Pope Goal 1 - 1
64' 1 - 2 Goal Adebayo Akinfenwa (pen)
70' 1 - 3 Goal Abdul Osman

Final Edgar Street Expand +
Hereford 0 - 0 Walsall

Final The Galpharm Stadium Expand +
Huddersfield 2 - 3 Leicester
50' 0 - 1 Goal Matt Fryatt
65' 0 - 2 Goal Matt Fryatt (pen)
69' Gary Roberts Goal 1 - 2
77' Liam Dickinson Goal 2 - 2
90' 2 - 3 Goal Lloyd Dyer

Final Matchroom Stadium Expand +
Leyton Orient 2 - 2 Scunthorpe
26' 0 - 1 Goal Izzy Iriekpen
45' 0 - 2 Goal Paul Hayes
57' Red Card Joe Murphy
59' Adam Boyd Goal 1 - 2
67' Stephen Purches Goal 2 - 2

Final The New Den Expand +
Millwall 0 - 4 Milton Keynes Dons
9' 0 - 1 Goal Sean O'Hanlon
45' 0 - 2 Goal Sam Baldock
62' 0 - 3 Goal Paul Robinson (og)
90' 0 - 4 Goal Sam Baldock

Final Huish Park Expand +
Yeovil 1 - 2 Southend
24' 0 - 1 Goal Lee Barnard (pen)
86' 0 - 2 Goal Hal Robson-Kanu
88' Danny Schofield Goal 1 - 2
90' Danny Schofield Red Card
90' Gary Roberts Red Card

- Spanish Primera División -

Final Estadio El Madrigal Expand +
Villarreal 2 - 1 Real Betis
20' 0 - 1 Goal Damia
69' Gonzalo Goal 1 - 1
70' Joseba Llorente Goal 2 - 1

Final Estadio Camp Nou Expand +
Barcelona 6 - 1 Atlético Madrid
3' Rafael Márquez Goal 1 - 0
6' Samuel Eto'o (pen) Goal 2 - 0
8' Lionel Messi Goal 3 - 0
13' 3 - 1 Goal Maxi Rodríguez
18' Samuel Eto'o Goal 4 - 1
28' Eidur Gudjohnsen Goal 5 - 1
73' Thierry Henry Goal 6 - 1

- Italian Serie A -

Final Stadio Olimpico Expand +
Lazio 1 - 1 Lecce
26' 0 - 1 Goal Simone Tiribocchi
89' Simone Inzaghi Goal 1 - 1

Final Stadio Giuseppe Meazza Expand +
Inter Milan 2 - 1 Bologna
25' Zlatan Ibrahimovic Goal 1 - 0
50' Adriano (pen) Goal 2 - 0
56' 2 - 1 Goal Vaggelis Moras

Inter Milan 2 vs Bologna 1

- English Premier League - Sat, October 4

2008-10-03T18:04:00.000-07:00

- English Premier League -

15:00 UK Stadium of Light Expand +
Sunderland v Arsenal

15:00 UK Hawthorns Expand +
West Brom v Fulham

15:00 UK JJB Stadium Expand +
Wigan v Middlesbrough

17:30 UK Ewood Park Expand +
Blackburn v Man Utd

- English League Championship -

12:30 UK Bloomfield Road Expand +
Blackpool v Cardiff

12:45 UK St Andrews Stadium Expand +
Birmingham v QPR

15:00 UK Oakwell Stadium Expand +
Barnsley v Doncaster

15:00 UK The Valley Expand +
Charlton v Ipswich

15:00 UK Carrow Road Expand +
Norwich v Derby

15:00 UK City Ground Expand +
Nottm Forest v Crystal Palace

15:00 UK Home Park Expand +
Plymouth v Sheff Wed

15:00 UK Madejski Stadium Expand +
Reading v Burnley

15:00 UK Bramall Lane Expand +
Sheff Utd v Bristol City

15:00 UK Liberty Stadium Expand +
Swansea v Wolverhampton

15:00 UK Vicarage Road Stadium Expand +
Watford v Preston

17:20 UK Ricoh Arena Expand +
Coventry v Southampton

- English League One -

12:00 UK London Road Ground Expand +
Peterborough v Leeds

15:00 UK Withdean Stadium Expand +
Brighton v Cheltenham

15:00 UK Brunton Park Expand +
Carlisle v Tranmere

15:00 UK The Weston Homes Community Stadium Expand +
Colchester v Bristol Rovers

15:00 UK The Alexandra Stadium Expand +
Crewe v Northampton

15:00 UK Edgar Street Expand +
Hereford v Walsall

15:00 UK The Galpharm Stadium Expand +
Huddersfield v Leicester

15:00 UK Matchroom Stadium Expand +
Leyton Orient v Scunthorpe

15:00 UK The New Den Expand +
Millwall v Milton Keynes Dons

15:00 UK Huish Park Expand +
Yeovil v Southend

- Italian Serie A -

17:00 UK Stadio Olimpico Expand +
Lazio v Lecce

19:30 UK Stadio Giuseppe Meazza Expand +
Inter Milan v Bologna

- English Conference -

15:00 UK Moss Lane Expand +
Altrincham v Ebbsfleet United

15:00 UK Pirelli Stadium Expand +
Burton Albion v Crawley Town

15:00 UK The New Lawn Expand +
Forest Green v Wrexham

15:00 UK New Recreation Ground Expand +
Grays Athletic v Lewes

15:00 UK The Glassworld Stadium Expand +
Histon v Salisbury

15:00 UK A-Line Arena Expand +
Kettering v Northwich

15:00 UK Aggborough Stadium Expand +
Kidderminster v Barrow

15:00 UK Field Mill Ground Expand +
Mansfield v Woking

15:00 UK The Kassam Stadium Expand +
Oxford Utd v Rushden & D'monds

15:00 UK Plainmoor Ground Expand +
Torquay v Stevenage

15:00 UK Wessex Stadium Expand +
Weymouth v Eastbourne Borough

15:00 UK KitKat Crescent Expand +
York v Cambridge Utd

Ince relishing Fergie reunion

2008-10-03T08:02:00.000-07:00

Blackburn Rovers boss Paul Ince can't wait to battle with the man he rates as the best manager in the history of the game when he faces Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United on Saturday.

Ince played under Ferguson at Old Trafford, before being sold to Inter, and is the latest of his alumni to join the ranks of Premier League management, joining Mark Hughes, Steve Bruce and Roy Keane as well as the likes of Steve McClaren and Brian Robson, who went on to coach in the top flight after working for the Scot.

Although Ince is delighted with his links to Ferguson the ex-England midfielder wants to forge his own identity as a manager and a good result in Saturday's evening kick-off against last season's double winners - a fixture that highlights Ince's remarkable rise from League Two side Macclesfield to the Premier League via MK Dons - could help do just that.

"I've only been in management 18 months to two years and it takes time to find your own identity as a manager," Ince said. "One thing Ferguson did teach me was to have high standards on and off the pitch which I try to implement in every job I do.

"It's never a good time to play the European champions and the Premier League champions. I'm under no illusions. It'll be a really, really hard game for us. We know that.

"But why not [win]? Look at Arsenal's result against Hull last week, it's got to be the yardstick for clubs like Blackburn."

"This is the exciting thing about coming to the Premier League. It's a chance to pit yourself against the best manager of all time, as far as I'm concerned.

"Fergie has such high standards. I played under a lot of managers but they don't come close. That is no disrespect to them because I don't think anybody does."

Former England captain Ince long hoped to have a future on the touchline and he predicted that Ferguson's days of meeting former players may continue for some time to come.

He expects the likes of Ryan Giggs and Rio Ferdinand to join the next generation of top British managers.

Ince said: "I spoke to Giggsy the other day. He's taking his coaching badges and he wants to get involved too.

"Once you get past 30 you do start to think, 'What am I going to do in three, four, five years?'

"It's the same with Robbie Fowler, he's doing his badges here with me because he's thinking that way and I'm sure the likes of Rio will think the same."

Ferguson's side could be without Paul Scholes, Wayne Rooney and Michael Carrick on Saturday but Ince insists the sheer depth of the Red Devils' squad means there is no such thing as a weak Manchester United.

"The injuries don't matter, they have a fantastic squad, not just 11 players. Anderson or Darren Fletcher could come in, Giggsy could start, so we're still talking about world-class players. Then there's (Dimitar) Berbatov and (Carlos) Tevez up front. No matter who they field it will be a huge, huge battle."

United boss Ferguson is also looking forward to the battle with his old midfielder and said: "I have been impressed with Paul. He was a player who was always determined and a stubborn lad.

"He was a fighter on the pitch and I think he's taken those qualities into management. They are good qualities to have, that determination to do well and I'm not surprised he's doing well.

Kinnear's four-letter tirade in press conference

2008-10-03T02:55:00.001-07:00

Newcastle United's interim manager Joe Kinnear has launched an astonishing expletive-laden attack on his critics over the press coverage of his arrival on Tyneside.

GettyImages

Joe Kinnear: Turned the air blue at St James Park

Kinnear, the surprise choice to fill the void left by Kevin Keegan's departure, swore more than 50 times during his first official press conference as manager of the Magpies and bombarded a number of journalists with a verbal tirade.

• To read an edited transcript of Kinnear's x-rated rant click here. WARNING: Contains expletives.

The 61-year-old, who was last involved in football management at Nottingham Forest four years ago, claimed the media had already attempted to undermine his influence at Newcastle and that his first press conference would also be the last for many of the journalists there.

The former Wimbledon and Luton Town boss came out fighting with an onslaught against those who he believed have ridiculed him, insisting they would not be welcome at further meetings and that in future he would only talk to two local papers that he would hand pick.

Although his press conference was littered with four-letter words Kinnear insisted that the pressure of the job had not got to him and that he was simply defending himself.

Edited, Kinnear said: "I will stand up and fight for myself in any corner. You're not going to frighten me in any manner.

"Whatever you do, or whatever headlines you run, you're not going to embarrass me.

"I'm not going to stand for it. I've come up here for a simple chance to prove myself. Get off my back and let me get on with my job. That's all I ask.

Man City 2 - 1 Omonia Nicosia

2008-10-02T17:15:00.000-07:00

Marlon Harewood struck his first goal of the season as Aston Villa booked their place in the group stages of the UEFA Cup despite being held at home in the second leg by their Bulgarian opponents.

The former West Ham striker broke the deadlock after 27 minutes only for the visitors to level matters shortly after the break through a controversial penalty from Wilfred Niflore.

• O'Neill excited by Euro adventure

But Villa were always in command and are now guaranteed at least four more matches in the competition.

Villa boss Martin O'Neill had enough confidence in his squad to make six changes from what has become his established Barclays Premier league line-up, with Martin Laursen, Curtis Davies, Nigel Reo-Coker, Gareth Barry, John Carew and Gabriel Agbonlahor all rested.

Armed with a 3-1 lead from the first leg, it was an ideal scenario for the Villa chief ahead of Sunday's league meeting with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

But the former Celtic manager was still able to bring in the likes of James Milner and Carlos Cuellar who had been signed for a combined £20million during the summer, while Stiliyan Petrov was selected as captain for the first time.

Given the scoreline from the first leg, the game struggled to attain any great intensity, with Villa always having the insurance from events in Bulgaria a fortnight ago to fall back on.

Ashley Young was given a free role just behind Harewood in a 4-4-1-1 formation as Villa made a positive start in the driving rain.

The lively Harewood had the first effort on target - a low shot on the turn which was comfortably collected by Litex goalkeeper Todor Todorov.

Then Harewood cut in from the left and saw a curling attempt deflected just wide by fellow forward Young after he had stuck out a leg.

Harewood was seeing plenty of the ball in the early stages and he found himself in space behind the Litex defence from Young's pass but he took too long to steady himself and Alexandre Barthe was able to make the challenge.

Villa continued to look the more threatening and Moustapha Salifou flashed a 20-yard half-volley just wide after Cuellar had headed a corner from Nicky Shorey back into his path.

Litex captain Ivelin Popov became the first player to be yellow-carded after 21 minutes for a late challenge on Cuellar.

Young drilled a long-range effort over the bar before Harewood's first goal of the campaign arrived.

Brad Friedel's long clearance was flicked on by Young into the path of Harewood who needed no second invitation to show his pace and clinical finishing.

He shook off the challenge of Plamen Nikolov before hammering a fierce shot across Todorov and into the corner of the net to stretch Villa's aggregate lead to 4-1.

Harewood came close to adding another goal shortly afterwards when he cut in from the left and fizzed a low attempt inches wide of Todorov's goal.

Young was causing plenty of problems and the Litex defence backed off after he dribbled into the box but then spoilt his good work by sliding his eventual shot across the face of goal.

Litex coach Stanimir Stoilov made a half-time substitution, bringing on Momchil Tzvetanov for Plamen Nikolov.

And after 53 minutes the Bulgarians were back on level terms thanks to a controversial penalty.

Brazil-born midfielder Tom made a powerful run into the Villa box before going down after being challenged by Cuellar, but replays showed the former Rangers player had got a toe-end to the ball.

Up stepped Niflore to send Friedel the wrong way from the spot and level the match on the night.

Milner was having a quiet game by his standards although Todorov needed two attempts to block a shot from the England Under-21 international.

Wayne Routledge showed good skill to create a chance for himself following a Milner centre and his eventual shot was parried for a corner by Todorov.

Young almost clinched match victory for Villa when his shot thumped against the post following a Harewood flick-on but by then the hosts were home and dry.

# O'Neill excited by Euro adventure

Manager Martin O'Neill hailed Aston Villa's achievement in reaching the group stages of the UEFA Cup after his side disposed of Litex Lovech despite being held to a 1-1 draw in the second leg at Villa Park.

O'Neill said: "When we started out in the Intertoto Cup in July, we would have settled for being in this position and I am really pleased that we are through to the group stages.

"Villa Park has had some great European nights in the past and now we have got some more European evenings to look forward to, at least until Christmas.

"When I was at Nottingham Forest, you think European football will be there every season but then it goes away for four or five years.It is a while since Villa played in Europe but we have earned this chance and the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.

"This will be a great chance for the young players at the club to experience playing on this kind of stage. Harewood took his goal brilliantly. When he received the ball he still had miles to go to put it into the net and it was a great finish from him.

"I was amazed again at the crowd that turned up for this tie because we were in a good position going into the game.''

Litex coach Stanimir Stoilov believes his side paid the penalty for mistakes made in the first leg in Bulgaria. He said: "We paid dearly for making too many errors a fortnight ago and Villa took full advantage.

"We did not make the same sort of errors tonight and it was a good result for a very young team. We will now go away, analyse our performances and hopefully come back stronger.

Man City 2 - 1 Omonia Nicosia Preview : Video

- UEFA Cup (First Round) - Thu, October 2 ( Result )

2008-10-02T16:40:00.000-07:00

Everton have been dumped out of the UEFA Cup before the competition reaches the group stages. Standard Liege beat them 2-1 on the night, and 4-3 on aggregate, as the Toffees suffered another ignominious Euro exit. Phil Jagielka's goal wasn't enough as Axel Witsel and a Milan Jovanovic penalty made the game safe. Earlier, Spurs scraped through after an unconvincing 1-1 draw with Wisla Krakow in Poland.

Final 2ND LEGWisla Stadium Expand +
Wisla Krakow 1 - 1 Tottenham

Final 2ND LEGGiulesti Stadium Expand +
Rapid Bucuresti 1 - 1 VfL Wolfsburg

Final 2ND LEGS.Darius & S.Girenas SC Expand +
FBK Kaunas 1 - 2 Sampdoria

Final 2ND LEGLuzhniki Stadium Expand +
Spartak Moscow 1 - 1 Banik Ostrava

Final 2ND LEGUnirea Valahorum Stadium Expand +
Unirea Urziceni 0 - 2 Hamburg SV

Final 2ND LEGStadion Miejski Expand +
Lech Poznan 4 - 2 Austria Vienna

Final 2ND LEGVeltins Arena Expand +
Schalke 04 1 - 1 Apoel Nicosia

Final 2ND LEGGottlieb-Daimler Stadion Expand +
VfB Stuttgart 2 - 2 Cherno More

Final 2ND LEGTapiolan Urheilupuisto Expand +
FC Honka 0 - 1 Racing Santander

Final 2ND LEGFredriksskans IP Expand +
Kalmar FF 1 - 2 Feyenoord Rotterdam

Final 2ND LEGGeorgi Asparuchov Stadium Expand +
Levski Sofia 0 - 1 MSK Zilina

Final 2ND LEGLerkendal Expand +
Rosenborg 3 - 2 Brøndby

Final 2ND LEGMetalist Stadium Expand +
FC Metalist Kharkiv 4 - 1 Besiktas

Final 2ND LEGAli Sami Yen Stadium Expand +
Galatasaray 2 - 1 Bellinzona

Final 2ND LEGFK Partizan Stadium Expand +
Partizan Belgrade 1 - 0 Politehnica Timisoara

Final 2ND LEGGeoffroy-Guichard Expand +
St Etienne 2 - 1 Hapoel Tel-Aviv

Final 2ND LEGDinamo Stadium Expand +
Dinamo Bucuresti 0 - 0 NEC Nijmegen

Final 2ND LEGMunicipal Expand +
FC Vaslui 1 - 1 Slavia Prague

Final 2ND LEGMaurice Dufrasne Stadium Expand +
Standard Liege 2 - 1 Everton

Final 2ND LEGAbe Lenstra Stadion Expand +
Heerenveen 5 - 2 Vitoria Setubal

Final 2ND LEGArke Stadion Expand +
Twente Enschede 1 - 0 Rennes

Final 2ND LEGPetrzalka Stadion Expand +
Artmedia Petrzalka 0 - 2 Braga

Final 2ND LEGLetzigrund Stadium Expand +
FC Zürich 0 - 1 AC Milan

Final 2ND LEGAXA Arena Expand +
Sparta Prague 3 - 3 Dinamo Zagreb

Final 2ND LEGAmsterdam ArenA Expand +
Ajax Amsterdam 2 - 0 Borac Cacak

Final 2ND LEGBullen-Arena Expand +
SV Salzburg 0 - 2 Sevilla FC

Final 2ND LEGJan Breydel Stadium Expand +
Club Brugge 2 - 0 Young Boys

Final 2ND LEGParken Expand +
FC Copenhagen 1 - 1 FC Moscow

Final 2ND LEGCity of Manchester Stadium Expand +
Man City 2 - 1 Omonia Nicosia

Final 2ND LEGFir Park Stadium Expand +
Motherwell 0 - 2 AS Nancy Lorraine

Final 2ND LEGKaraiskakis Stadium Expand +
Olympiacos 5 - 0 FC Nordsjælland

Final 2ND LEGStadio Friuli Expand +
Udinese 0 - 2 Borussia Dortmund

Final 2ND LEGVilla Park Expand +
Aston Villa 1 - 1 Liteks Lovetch

Final 2ND LEGRiazor Expand +
Deportivo La Coruña 2 - 0 SK Brann

Final 2ND LEGParc des Princes Expand +
PSG 0 - 0 Kayserispor

Final 2ND LEGEstadio da Luz Expand +
Benfica 2 - 0 Napoli

Final 2ND LEGMestalla Expand +
Valencia 2 - 1 Maritimo

Final 2ND LEGEstadio D. Afonso Henriques Expand +
Guimaraes 2 - 2 Portsmouth

Liverpool 3 - 1 PSV Eindhoven

2008-10-02T04:57:00.000-07:00

Liverpool VS PSV Eindhoven
Dirk Kuyt (4') Danny Koevermans (78')
Robbie Keane (34')
Steven Gerrard (76')

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has warned of the danger of getting carried away with his team's impressive start to the season ahead of his 250th game in charge against PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League.

The Reds are unbeaten in the Barclays Premier League and are only behind leaders Chelsea on goal difference having followed up a notable victory over Manchester United at Anfield with a 2-0 win over Everton in the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park on Saturday.

After initially scraping past a resilient and impressive Standard Liege side in a difficult qualification tie, Liverpool began their Group D campaign with victory in Marseille.

Now they face PSV at Anfield knowing that another three points will put them well on the way to qualification for the knock-out stages.

It is a major change from their position at this point last season when Liverpool were seemingly doing all they could to be knocked out of the tournament with some dreadful, sloppy performances.

But with just two defeats in their last 29 games in all competitions - and one in their last 12 - the Reds are beginning to show signs that they could be serious contenders on several fronts and Benitez admitted that is a situation which slightly concerns him.

"When you are playing well and winning games, with everyone talking about how good you are, it is important to calm down and get people talking only about the next game,'' he said.

"It is a dangerous when you hear people talking well about your team, then we have to make sure we do not listen to what is being said but just concentrate on the future.

"But it is better to manage expectations, like we are, than be bottom of the table and trying to motivate players.''

Benitez will have key midfielder Javier Mascherano back from a calf injury to face the Eredivisie champions and has no other worries as he attempts to score another European victory, which would be the first time they have ever won their opening two group fixtures.

The problem now for the Spaniard is the rampant expectation that leads many to assume they will beat sides like PSV at home.

It does not help the Anfield coach's call for calm and concentration when Liverpool have such a good record against Eindhoven.

In 2006/07, on the way to the Athens final against AC Milan, Liverpool met the Dutch club four times in the competition.

The sides played out a goalless draw in Holland in the group stages with Liverpool winning the return 2-0, and they met again in the quarter-final with the Reds winning 3-0 away and by a one-goal margin at Anfield.

"PSV are a different side with a different manager and many players since the last time we played them in Europe,'' Benitez explained.

"Yes, we have beaten them at Anfield twice, but that is when things can be dangerous. People expect things to happen.

"The fact that PSV lost their opening group match to Atletico Madrid is also a problem for us.

"They have to get something here now and they will sit and defend and try to catch us on the counter-attack.

"Technically they are very good and they are equally impressive using such tactics. We must be very careful.

"Now when we are in a good situation, people are really happy, and everybody is expecting to see the team playing well and scoring goals. But I think it's more important to be concentrated to be focused and keep on winning.''

Benitez continued: "We had plenty of critics earlier in the season who said we were winning but not playing well. That is true, and we have plenty of room for improvement still.

"We are still suffering from players who have come back to us after a hard summer playing in the Euro 2008 finals.

"If we can continue to improve physically, I would be happier. Tactically the team is well organised and the players understand what they are doing.

"We just have to keep going this way and make sure that we do not experience what happened last season when we started out group matches badly.

"If we can win this one and then next in Madrid, we will be almost there. But you are always almost there until you finally achieve it, nobody can relax.

Preview Liverpool VS PSV Eindhoven Videos

Zenit deny UEFA Cup semi-final fixing claim

2008-10-02T04:48:00.000-07:00

Zenit St Petersburg manager Dick Advocaat has joined his club in expressing his dismay at allegations that the Russian club won the UEFA Cup by virtue of match-fixing.

GettyImages

Zenit celebrated UEFA Cup final success with a final win over Rangers in Manchester.
Spanish newspaper El Pais claimed a judge had forwarded information to German prosecutors which claimed a gang with links to the Russian mafia had given money to Bayern Munich before their semi-final earlier this year.

Zenit beat the Bundesliga outfit 4-0 in the second leg of their semi-final, before getting past Rangers in the final to lift the UEFA Cup.

With Bayern also denying the allegations, the Russian club have threatened legal action. In a statement on their official website, they said last: "In a selection of the media, news has popped up which refers to different Spanish sources, and directly affects FC Zenit's reputation.

"The quality of play shown by FC Zenit in the games against Rangers FC and Bayern Munich is the best proof that the victories were earned by Zenit in honest and non-compromising challenges."

"Allegations of deals mentioned in the media are offensive to all parties mentioned.

Advocaat was appalled by the allegations. "This is incredible," he told the Daily Record. "All I can say is let them play the tapes so we can hear what has been said. Then everyone will know what a big lie it is.

"Everyone knows the simple truth - we had a better team than Rangers. That's why we won the UEFA Cup.

"Rangers played very well, but we were the better side. There was no mystery. I don't know why anybody would say something like this.

"There is a lot of jealousy about what we have achieved with Zenit in such a short space of time. People don't like the fact that we have been so successful so quickly.

"But that has nothing to do with bribes or dirty money. It has everything to do with the quality of the players and coaching staff. That's why we have achieved so much."

Advocaat also dismissed suggestions either Rangers or Bayern could be bought to throw a match and also insisted Zenit's mega-rich owners Gazprom would never indulge in such tactics.

He said: "Do you honestly think clubs like Bayern Munich or Rangers would get involved in taking money to lose football matches? That is just ridiculous.

- UEFA Cup (First Round) - Thu, October 2

2008-10-01T17:20:00.001-07:00

14:40 UK 2ND LEG Wisla Stadium Expand +
Wisla Krakow v Tottenham

15:00 UK 2ND LEG Giulesti Stadium Expand +
Rapid Bucuresti v VfL Wolfsburg

17:00 UK 2ND LEG Luzhniki Stadium Expand +
Spartak Moscow v Banik Ostrava

17:15 UK 2ND LEG Stadion Miejski Expand +
Lech Poznan v Austria Vienna

17:15 UK 2ND LEG Veltins Arena Expand +
Schalke 04 v Apoel Nicosia

17:15 UK 2ND LEG Gottlieb-Daimler Stadion Expand +
VfB Stuttgart v Cherno More

17:30 UK 2ND LEG Tapiolan Urheilupuisto Expand +
FC Honka v Racing Santander

17:30 UK 2ND LEG Fredriksskans IP Expand +
Kalmar FF v Feyenoord Rotterdam

17:30 UK 2ND LEG Georgi Asparuchov Stadium Expand +
Levski Sofia v MSK Zilina

17:45 UK 2ND LEG Lerkendal Expand +
Rosenborg v Brøndby

18:00 UK 2ND LEG Metalist Stadium Expand +
FC Metalist Kharkiv v Besiktas

18:00 UK 2ND LEG Ali Sami Yen Stadium Expand +
Galatasaray v Bellinzona

18:00 UK 2ND LEG FK Partizan Stadium Expand +
Partizan Belgrade v Politehnica Timisoara

18:00 UK 2ND LEG Geoffroy-Guichard Expand +
St Etienne v Hapoel Tel-Aviv

18:15 UK 2ND LEG Dinamo Stadium Expand +
Dinamo Bucuresti v NEC Nijmegen

18:30 UK 2ND LEG Municipal Expand +
FC Vaslui v Slavia Prague

18:40 UK 2ND LEG Maurice Dufrasne Stadium Expand +
Standard Liege v Everton

19:00 UK 2ND LEG Abe Lenstra Stadion Expand +
Heerenveen v Vitoria Setubal

19:00 UK 2ND LEG Arke Stadion Expand +
Twente Enschede v Rennes

19:15 UK 2ND LEG Petrzalka Stadion Expand +
Artmedia Petrzalka v Braga

19:15 UK 2ND LEG Letzigrund Stadium Expand +
FC Zürich v AC Milan

19:15 UK 2ND LEG AXA Arena Expand +
Sparta Prague v Dinamo Zagreb

19:30 UK 2ND LEG Amsterdam ArenA Expand +
Ajax Amsterdam v Borac Cacak

19:30 UK 2ND LEG Bullen-Arena Expand +
SV Salzburg v Sevilla FC

19:45 UK 2ND LEG Jan Breydel Stadium Expand +
Club Brugge v Young Boys

19:45 UK 2ND LEG Parken Expand +
FC Copenhagen v FC Moscow

19:45 UK 2ND LEG City of Manchester Stadium Expand +
Man City v Omonia Nicosia

19:45 UK 2ND LEG Fir Park Stadium Expand +
Motherwell v AS Nancy Lorraine

19:45 UK 2ND LEG Karaiskakis Stadium Expand +
Olympiacos v FC Nordsjælland

19:45 UK 2ND LEG Stadio Friuli Expand +
Udinese v Borussia Dortmund

20:00 UK 2ND LEG Villa Park Expand +
Aston Villa v Liteks Lovetch

20:00 UK 2ND LEG Riazor Expand +
Deportivo La Coruña v SK Brann

20:00 UK 2ND LEG Parc des Princes Expand +
PSG v Kayserispor

20:15 UK 2ND LEG Estadio da Luz Expand +
Benfica v Napoli

21:00 UK 2ND LEG Mestalla Expand +
Valencia v Maritimo

21:35 UK 2ND LEG Estadio D. Afonso Henriques Expand +
Guimaraes v Portsmouth

Toure says he was 'scared' to play Hull

2008-09-30T06:10:00.001-07:00

Arsenal defender Kolo Toure has revealed he was 'scared' about playing Hull City before the Gunners' defeat to the Premier League newcomers at the weekend.

The centre-back claimed that matches against the lesser lights of the league are harder matches simply because the expection is there to win and to win well. And for that reason he believes players at the top clubs go into the games with trepidation.

The Tigers pulled off one of the shocks of the season by coming back from behind to win 2-1 at the Emirates Stadium, a result which boss Arsene Wenger said made him 'feel sick'.

Now Arsenal must look to bounce back from that disappointment tonight when they entertain FC Porto in the Champions League.

"I was scared to play the game," said the Ivory Coast international.

"Sometimes people, not the players, play the game before it's started and that's a problem because there are no small teams in the Premiership.

"Against Man United everybody thinks it's going to be a tight game but when you play against Hull it's harder because you are expected to win and score in the first minute.

"But it doesn't happen like that. I was scared against Hull because there are no easy games.

"We are professional players and when we go out we want to play well and win.

Robinho fails to fire at the JJB

2008-09-29T18:02:00.000-07:00

And so the 21st century Steve Daley came to Wigan. If there was an inevitability in a man from Sao Paulo finding Lancashire a culture shock, Robinho certainly did. Returning from a midweek trip to Brazil, Manchester City's taste of life with the jet set was an unpleasant one. Wigan's rather earthier virtues of effort and endeavour prevailed, and deservedly so.

GettyImages

The Brazilian failed to find his feet at the JJB.

Two goals in two games suggested Robinho had acclimatised rapidly to the Premier League. The import to make the greatest impact, however, was not the £32.5million man, but an on-loan Egyptian, Wigan's Amr Zaki, as Athletic emulated Brighton in suggesting money is no guarantee of progress. This was the world's richest club against arguably the Premier League's smallest. Wigan won, and it was a triumph for astute recruitment as well as the underdog.

Robinho cost more than the entire Wigan team. His arrival provided a barometer of the feelings of the City support. The initial chants were for Shaun Wright-Phillips, albeit shortly followed by a chorus of ''We've got Robinho''. City's past and their present, celebrated in that order.

So what do you get for £160,000 a week? Not two games in five days, after his visit to Brazil ruled out a day out in Brighton. And not a great deal at Wigan today either. Robinho had an immediate opportunity to equalise Antonio Valencia's stunning opening goal but his shot, the culmination of a slick move, was drilled just past the post.

Intensive English lessons apparently await, though his language skills seemed sufficient to incur a caution for dissent. This was a lecture in Premier League football - fast, physical and abrasive. Robinho's languid style meant he stood out, but for the wrong reasons. If he wasn't jetlagged, he looked it.

Nominally the left winger, his flicks and tricks were evident, but without harming Wigan. He has the capacity to amuse himself but this was an afternoon when Robinho failed to balance the flair player's twin aims, style and substance. Indeed, he was at his most effective in the final half-hour when his running was more direct and his acceleration more marked.

The suggestion is his self-indulgence may endear him more to supporters than team-mates but City have often been a club with an entertainer. In adversity, such virtuosos as Georgi Kinkladze have contributed to City's complex identity. With the expectancy their new status as favourites provides, City require more than cult heroes now.

Robinho did, at least, earn the praise of his manager. Mark Hughes said: ''He always wanted to get on the ball and that showed he has bravery in and out of possession.'' Yet the City fans who came to see the boy from Brazil witnessed a goal from a bloke from Belgium. Vincent Kompany turned in Elano's free kick and it was telling that he, rather than a costlier Brazilian, was charged with set-pieces.

That was bookended by coruscating and controversial goals from Wigan. Valencia scored the first, an unstoppable rising shot that was timed at 63mph. Zaki savoured the second, a penalty awarded when Javier Garrido challenged Wilson Palacios.

It drew differing opinions from former team-mates Hughes and Steve Bruce. The City manager said: ''The penalty was extremely harsh because the lad's blatantly looked to gain an advantage and dived theatrically.'' Bruce argued: ''There's contact made.''

Zaki was a second subject of disagreement. The Wigan boss said: ''He reminds me of Mark, certainly his physique and the way he approaches the game.'' Hughes claimed: ''I didn't used to fall down quite as easily as that.''

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The Egyptian was in fine form again.

Consensus was achieved on the Egyptian's excellence. Marauding with menace and no little skill, he tormented City throughout. Bruce explained: ''He's a bit different, something you probably haven't seen before. He's already enhanced the Premier League. He is that old-fashioned English centre-forward. He's got awesome power and pace and he wants to score a goal.''

If Zaki was the standout performer, Valencia and Palacios ran him close. The Ecuadorian provided a blend of industry and inspiration on the right flank while the Honduran, in the sort of optical illusion that could bemuse an assistant referee, appeared to be everywhere.

''Physically, we've got some unbelievable specimens,'' Bruce added. ''They're big, strong, athletic and young. We had energy in the middle of the park and they didn't like that. From these not-so-wealthy countries like Honduras and Egypt and Ecuador, they've got an unbelievable appetite for the game.''

And on a day when Robinho provided little inspiration, their perspiration was decisive.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Amr Zaki - It is no fluke that he is the Premier League's top scorer. Wigan's concern must be that his terrific form will have alerted other clubs to his availability. With Zaki only on loan and Emile Heskey's contract expiring next summer. Wigan's hugely effective strike duo could both depart.

WIGAN VERDICT: They were in a false position, just above the relegation zone. Mid-table is a fairer reflection of their abilities. It is a testament to their energy levels that Bruce's men kept up their pressing game for the full 90 minutes, and with a solitary substitution. There can be few fitter teams.

MANCHESTER CITY VERDICT: Hughes is correct to argue that it does take time for a team to gel. Yet the 4-1-4-1 that appeared a freeform attacking ensemble against Portsmouth looked disjointed today, especially as the anchor midfielder - Kompany - is better known as a defender. The addition of either a second striker or another orthodox midfielder, when Michael Johnson is available may bring greater balance.

TIME FOR TEA (TOWEL): The 1970s attitudes to race relations, however well-meaning, persist. This has been a great month to sell tea towels in Manchester, even if the most exotic headgear at the JJB Stadium may have been a lone fez among the home support.

But while City's billionaires take them into uncharted territory, the rare chorus of an owner's name came from the Wigan fans. ''There's only one Dave Whelan,'' they sang, and there are few other benefactors or businessmen on the boards who inspire such affection.

Wenger: We can equal class of 2004

2008-09-29T17:59:00.001-07:00

Arsene Wenger has stated his belief that this current crop of players can match and indeed exceed the achievements of the great 'invincibles' side which went a whole league campaign unbeaten.

Arsene Wenger

AdamDavy/Empics

Wenger: Celebrated 12th anniversary of arrival in North London on Sunday.
Wenger's Sunday celebrations of the 12th anniversary of his arrival as Arsenal manager may been muted by the shock 2-1 defeat to Hull City but the Frenchman retains his confidence in his current crop.

The Gunners class of 2003-04 did not suffer a defeat in the league with a side which boasted the talents of Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp, Robert Pires and Sol Campbell. Wenger believes his current squad, headed by the likes of Cesc Fabregas, Theo Walcott and Samir Nasri have the same ability and can win silverware at home and in Europe.

He told the BBC: "The invincibles were an extraordinary team and I believe we are very close - I believe we have the quality to achieve that.

"What comes out of the invincibles is that the consistency they showed in their attitude and that is what we have to cope with and I believe we can take that from them.

"They have been consistent with their attitude and over the long-term there is that consistency there.

"I believe this team can achieve great things and we should not set limitations on that because they will go as far as they want to go.

Ramos remains calm after Spurs latest defeat

2008-09-29T06:25:00.001-07:00

Tottenham Hotspurs manager Juande Ramos does not believe his job is under threat despite a 2-0 away defeat to Portsmouth on Sunday, a result which means Spurs are now enduring their worst start to a season for 53 years.

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Juande Ramos: So far so bad.

Ramos insists he has the confidence of the Tottenham board but with four defeats and two draws from the opening six Premier League fixtures Spurs are bottom of the table and the fans are growing impatient.

Goals from Jermain Defoe and Peter Crouch, both former Spurs players, gave Pompey a comfortable win at Fratton Park on Sunday where a lacklustre display from the Tottenham players drew howls of derision from the travelling supporters who chanted ''You don't know what you're doing'' at Ramos.

With just two points from a possible 18 Tottenham are in a worse position than they were at the same stage last season, a poor start which led to Martin Jol's sacking by an impatient Spurs board.

While Ramos remains phlegmatic about the club's current plight he has admitted that he senses the pressure is mounting, saying: ''My job does not depend on me. We have a board and a chairman who decide that sort of thing''.

Ramos, who won the Carling Cup with Spurs last season, bemoaned refereeing decisions which he feels are exacerbating the club's situation: ''Things are going against us and nobody is helping us. Everyone is quite upset about it.

''For example, we lost an appeal on a penalty here (at Fratton Park) and they got one in a similar incident. We went 1-0 down but could have equalised before they got their second. Against Wigan, too, critical decisions did not go our way.

Attempting to put a positive spin on the situation Ramos said: ''I feel I have the confidence of the board. We speak regularly and we are working together to resolve matters,'' said Ramos.

''There is another game on Thursday in a different competition and the players know they must recover quickly. Does it hurt when the fans say those things? No, it hurts only when we cannot win games.''

Defeat in the UEFA Cup against Wisla Krakow, when Spurs defend a narrow 2-1 first-leg lead in Poland, could leave Ramos under unbearable pressure.

Premier League: Hull upset Arsenal, Defoe on form

2008-09-28T17:03:00.001-07:00

Hull provided one of the shocks of the season this weekend as they upset Arsenal 2-1 at the Emirates stadium on Saturday.

Empics

The Brazilian celebrates after his wonder goal.

The Gunners went ahead through a Paul McShane goal after good work from Theo Walcott, but were powerless to stop a stunning strike from Brazilian midfielder Geonvani finding the back of Manuel Almunia's net for the equaliser.

Not stopping there, Hull picked up an incredible win with a header from ex-Rangers striker Daniel Cousin that flew in over Cesc Fabregas on the Arsenal post. An incredible save in the final minutes from Boaz Myhill sealed the points and condemned the Gunners to their first home defeat of the season.

Ronaldo made a scoring return to Premier League action after a contentious penalty award from referee Rob Styles at Old Trafford against Bolton.

Defender Jlloyd Samuel appeared to get the ball when Ronaldo ran at him in the box and several United players giggled after Styles pointed to the spot. The Portuguese then picked himself up to net past Jussi Jaaskelainen.

Wayne Rooney, who had been benched by Sir Alex Ferguson in favour of Dimitar Berbatov and Carlos Tevez, then sealed the points with a late strike to make it 2-0.

West Bromich Albion provided an upset of their own as they picked up three points from their trip to the Riverside with a 1-0 win.

Middlesbrough had no answer to Jonas Olsson's strike in the 53rd minute and the Baggies soaked up some pressure late in the second half to condemn Gareth Southgate's men to their fourth straight defeat in all competitions.

Jermain Defoe piled the misery onto his former club Tottenham by netting a penalty as Portsmouth ran out 2-0 winners on Sunday. The striker had a goal ruled out for offside in the first two minutes, but got on the scoresheet from the penalty spot after Jermaine Jenas had handballed.

Defoe also had a hand in the second as he set up Armand Traore's shot which rebounded onto the head of Peter Crouch and past Gomes, before Lassana Diarra was sent off late on for two bookable offences.

In the final game of the weekend, Wigan were given an easy penalty by referee Steve Bennett to beat Manchester City 2-1 at the JJB Stadium.

Antonio Valencia started the scoring with a stunning strike, which flew past City 'keeper Joe Hart, before Vincent Kompany levelled the scores with a close-range effort.

Wilson Palacios then made a meal of a tackle by Javier Garrido to win a spot kick, which Amr Zaki duely dispatched. City pressed for another equaliser, but only came close when Ched Evans' shot was cleared off the line.

Fernando Torres struck twice in three minutes in the 179th Merseyside derby on Saturday, as Liverpool ran out 2-0 winners to equal their best ever start to a season.

After a stale first half, the Spaniard rifled in a cross from strike partner Robbie Keane, before smashing home a second following a goalmouth scramble.

Under-fire referee Mike Riley later sent off Everton midfielder Tim Cahill for a fairly innocuous tackle on Xabi Alonso, but Everton failed to muster a single shot on target, so can have no complaints at the result.

Chelsea leap-frogged Liverpool and Arsenal at the top of the league with a 2-0 win over Stoke at the Britannia Stadium.

Stoke were without their main attacking threat, Rory Delap, and were made to pay by full-back Jose Bosingwa after good work from Frank Lampard in the 36th minute.

Chelsea, who were never under much pressure from the Premier League newboys, finished the job with a goal from Nicolas Anelka.

Djibril Cisse gave Sunderland a shock lead at Villa Park, before a low 25-yard free-kick from Ashley Young levelled the scores.

The winger, left out by Fabio Capello in his recent England squads, netted his eighth goal in 15 games to force his claim for recognition and he had a hand in the second as well. His free-kick was charged down only for the ball to be helped into the box for John Carew to backheel Villa's winner, as Martin O'Neill's men ran out 2-1 winners.

Unfortunately for Young, Capello was at Craven Cottage to watch Fulham capitulate 2-1 at home to Gianfranco Zola's West Ham.

The Italian may have been impressed by Carlton Cole, who stabbed home the Hammers' first, or by Mark Noble and Matthew Etherington who combined well for the second just seconds before half-time, but would not have liked what he saw of Fulham striker Andy Johnson who was sent off for two yellow cards.

Fulham pulled one back, through a Danny Murphy penalty, but could never convert their chances and failed to get the equaliser.

Joe Kinnear was in the stands (serving his touchline ban) to watch his new Newcastle side take on Blackburn, but could do nothing as Christopher Samba leapt above Steven Taylor to head home from Carlos Villanueva's cross.

45,000 Toon fans turned up to watch, but left unhappy after their defence was ripped to pieces by Roque Santa Cruz, who headed the second.

Michael Owen got a consolation penalty for the Magpies, but their fifth defeat in a row has added more gloom to the clouds around St James's Park, as they went down 2-1.

More penalty drama sinks City

2008-09-28T16:58:00.000-07:00

Manchester City's multi-million pound revolution suffered another setback after Wigan claimed a 2-1 victory in their Barclays Premier League clash at the JJB Stadium.

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Valencia hammers home the first goal.

City struggled to break down organised Wigan, despite including the expensive talents of British record signing Robinho in their side - along with summer imports Jo and Vincent Kompany.

Brighton had knocked City out of the Carling Cup in midweek and Latics boss Steve Bruce won the tactical battle - and took the bragging rights - with his former Manchester United team-mate Mark Hughes thanks to Amr Zaki's 34th-minute penalty.

Antonio Valencia had given Wigan the lead with a spectacular 16th-minute opening goal from long range.

• Heskey praise for Zaki

Kompany's close-range finish from Elano's free-kick five minutes later pulled the visitors level but City were unable to find an equaliser in the second half.

City boss Hughes recalled record signing Robinho as he made five changes from the team which were eliminated by Brighton.

Robinho along with Shaun Wright-Phillips, Javier Garrido, Micah Richards and Joe Hart came in for Michael Ball, Tal Ben Haim, Michael Johnson, Daniel Sturridge and Kasper Schmeichel.

Wigan boss Steve Bruce makes two changes to the side which won 4-1 at Ipswich with Kevin Kilbane and Paul Scharner replaced by Maynor Figueroa and skipper Mario Melchiot.

The hosts had the first opportunity in the 13th minute from a short corner when the ball found striker Zaki on the right edge of the penalty area - but his ambitious shot flew just over the bar.

The Latics then took the lead with a spectacular strike from Valencia three minutes later.

City failed to clear the danger from a free-kick and Valencia controlled the ball 30 yards out on the right side of the area before he lashed a shot past goalkeeper Hart into the top-right corner of the net.

The visitors almost equalised moments later after neat build-up play but Robinho's shot from the edge of the box went just past the post.

However, Hughes' side did pull level in the 21st minute from a free-kick - after Wright-Phillips had been fouled by Figueroa.

Elano whipped the dead ball into the penalty area and Belgium international Kompany was able to steer the ball home from inside the six-yard box.

Wigan were given a chance to restore their lead in the 34th minute when they were awarded a penalty by referee Steve Bennett after Javier Garrido was deemed to have fouled Wilson Palacios inside the box.

The decision seemed debatable with Garrido having made minimal contact with Palacios and Bennett booked Robinho for his protests.

Zaki took the resulting spot-kick and confidently sent Hart the wrong way with a placed effort into the bottom-right corner of the net.

City were denied a penalty of their own just before half-time when Richard Dunne fell under pressure from Emile Heskey but Bennett waved away their appeals.

Wigan began the second period brightly and Titus Bramble went close with a header which drifted wide of the post from Valencia's cross five minutes after the interval.

Latics boss Bruce was then forced into a change in midfield when Lee Cattermole picked up an injury and was replaced by Michael Brown.

Brazilian playmaker Elano came closer to an equaliser in the 61st minute with a long-range attempt which beat the dive of Chris Kirkland but flew past the post.

Wright-Phillips forced Kirkland to make his first real save of the half when he struck a near-post shot in the 73rd minute.

The ineffective Jo was withdrawn by Hughes a minute later in favour of Ched Evans as City pressed for an equaliser - and he almost had an immediate impact.

The Wigan defence struggled to deal with a long ball and Kirkland missed his kick as he came off his line - but with the ball rolling towards goal Wigan cleared.

City continued to create a series of half-chances but the Wigan defence stood firm and frequently looked dangerous on the break.

Zaki then had a late chance to add a third in the final minute of injury-time on the counter-attack but Hart tipped his shot over the bar.

# Heskey praise for Zaki

Wigan's Emile Heskey praised strike partner Amr Zaki after the Egyptian put in a man-of-the-match performance to score the winner in a 2-1 victory over Manchester City.

''When you are playing football it is more than talking, it is telepathic,'' said the England international about his relationship with his non-English speaking team-mate.

''Communication is difficult when you try to explain some stuff but he has done brilliantly since he came here, scoring five league goals.''

Heskey was also relieved the team recorded their first home win of the season.

''It is massive for us. We looked at table this morning and we were staring at the relegation [zone], although it is early in the season,'' he added on Sky Sports.

''You always want to pull away. Everyone around us was winning or drawing games.

''We stuck in there and got three points we deserved. Towards end of last season this is where we picked up most of our points.

Wigan manager Steve Bruce likened Zaki's style to that of his former Manchester United team-mate and current City boss Mark Hughes.

''He is that sort of type, he has the same physique as Mark,'' he said. ''He is a throwback - and that is no disrespect to the old-fashioned centre-forwards. Zaki played with enormous appetite, he is as strong as a bull, and both Richard Dunne and Micah Richards know they have been in a game.

''Emile Heskey and Zaki were awesome up front. When you play against Dunne and Richards you know you are going to take a physical battering.''

Bruce felt his side were correctly awarded a penalty despite Wilson Palacios theatrically throwing himself to the ground under a challenge from Javier Garrido.

''I said penalty straight away. For me he has exaggerated it but there was contact so it was the right decision,'' Bruce added on Sky Sports.

Hughes felt his team got the worst of the decisions of referee Steve Bennett.

The City boss explained: ''I thought he was in good positions to make key decisions but he got the penalty wrong, it was just a coming together and their lad (Palacios) dived theatrically - then he missed Richard Dunne when he was clearly impeded (by Heskey) in their box.

''There was a very similar one in the second half when Micah Richards came together in a similar situation and he dived theatrically - but the foul went against him.

''I felt there were a few decisions that were a bit mystifying.''

However, Hughes was not impressed with his team's performance, adding: ''We are disappointed - we expected to get something out of the game.

''We had enough possession but didn't have enough tempo to our passing in the second half, or a cutting edge.

''Maybe if we'd had a better final ball we'd have created something but because the tempo was slow they got bodies behind the ball and it was difficult to break them down.

''It was a stop-start game and there wasn't the flow or momentum we wanted. We needed that to drive us forward but we never got our game going.

Former Toon owner Hall has sympathy for Ashley

2008-09-28T06:18:00.001-07:00

Former Newcastle owner Sir John Hall has admitted he feels sorry for his beleaguered successor Mike Ashley, and fears the possibility of big-money foreign investors buying the club.

Sir John Hall

MikeEgerton/Empics

Sir John Hall: Happier times at St James's.

Hall insists Ashley, who has become a target of some abuse from fans since Kevin Keegan's departure from the club, arrived on Tyneside with the best of intentions.

But with Ashley now looking to sell the club - with a clutch of overseas consortia reportedly vying to purchase it - Hall is increasingly concerned about the influx of big-money buyers with little or no emotional attachment to the game.

When I met Mike Ashley and his advisors they had the best intentions for the club," Hall told Radio Five Live's Sportsweek programme.

"He wanted to stay there and develop it so I feel sad for him and sad for the club.

"When he bought the shares I had lots of talks with him and his team. He was coming in to build for the long run and he is a football fan.

"Newcastle was a brand to him and he wanted to use it to market his business abroad - he had a long term vision.

"He's a good businessman but a novice in the game, as I was when I first came into the game."

Reflecting on the possibility of Newcastle joining the ranks of foreign-owned clubs, he said: "(Chelsea owner) Roman Abramovich changed the game for ever. There's nobody in Britain wealthy enough who'd be interested in investing. Even Mike Ashley was struggling and £200million is a lot of money.

"No way can the rest of the clubs compete. The debate at Newcastle will be - should they try and compete with the super-rich?

"It's affecting the game...can anyone compete? I think they are fools if they try.

"The Premier League clubs are being bought as toys, they'll have them for a few years then throw them away, that's my view.

"These people don't know the passion of the fans. The Premier League is a tremendous brand but I fear for the game and for the fans."

On the field, Newcastle have at least appointed an interim manager to assist coach Chris Hughton in preparing the squad, although matters went from bad to worse with a 2-1 home defeat to Blackburn yesterday.

Joe Kinnear, out of the game for nearly four years, was not an obvious choice, but Terry Venables, who turned the role down last week, has defended him.

"They were very quick and they dealt with it," Venables told Sportsweek. "Joe has been around the game for a long time. He might not be known by some of the players but the people at the club and in the game know he is a fighter who will give his best.

"They can climb the table but the boys have to get it done. It's easy to say but actions are louder than words."

Kinnear had hinted that Newcastle legend Alan Shearer would be brought into the club by the new owners, to work alongside Keegan.

However the former England captain told BBC's Match of the Day last night: "There is no truth in that whatsoever. I don't know where that has come from at all.

Premier League: Hull upset Arsenal, Bolton suffer

2008-09-27T18:59:00.000-07:00

Hull provided one of the shocks of the season as they upset Arsenal 2-1 at the Emirates stadium on Saturday.

Empics

The Brazilian celebrates after his wonder goal.

The Gunners went ahead through a Paul McShane goal after good work from Theo Walcott, but were powerless to stop a stunning strike from Brazilian midfielder Geonvani finding the back of Manuel Almunia's net for the equaliser.

Not stopping there, Hull picked up an incredible win with a header from ex-Rangers striker Daniel Cousin that flew in over Cesc Fabregas on the Arsenal post. An incredible save in the final minutes from Boaz Myhill sealed the points and condemned the Gunners to their first home defeat of the season.

Ronaldo made a scoring return to Premier League action after a contentious penalty award from referee Rob Styles at Old Trafford against Bolton.

Defender Jlloyd Samuel appeared to get the ball when Ronaldo ran at him in the box and several United players giggled after Styles pointed to the spot. The Portuguese then picked himself up to net past Jussi Jaaskelainen.

Wayne Rooney, who had been benched by Sir Alex Ferguson in favour of Dimitar Berbatov and Carlos Tevez, then sealed the points with a late strike to make it 2-0.

West Bromich Albion provided an upset of their own as they picked up three points from their trip to the Riverside with a 1-0 win.

Middlesbrough had no answer to Jonas Olsson's strike in the 53rd minute and the Baggies soaked up some pressure late in the second half to condemn Gareth Southgate's men to their fourth straight defeat in all competitions.

Fernando Torres struck twice in three minutes in the 179th Merseyside derby, as Liverpool ran out 2-0 winners to equal their best ever start to a season.

After a stale first half, the Spaniard rifled in a cross from strike partner Robbie Keane, before smashing home a second following a goalmouth scramble.

Under-fire referee Mike Riley later sent off Everton midfielder Tim Cahill for a fairly innocuous tackle on Xabi Alonso, but Everton failed to muster a single shot on target, so can have no complaints at the result.

Chelsea leap-frogged Liverpool and Arsenal at the top of the league with a 2-0 win over Stoke at the Britannia Stadium.

Stoke were without their main attacking threat, Rory Delap, and were made to pay by full-back Jose Bosingwa after good work from Frank Lampard in the 36th minute.

Chelsea, who were never under much pressure from the Premier League newboys, finished the job with a goal from Nicolas Anelka.

Djibril Cisse gave Sunderland a shock lead at Villa Park, before a low 25-yard free-kick from Ashley Young levelled the scores.

The winger, left out by Fabio Capello in his recent England squads, netted his eighth goal in 15 games to force his claim for recognition and he had a hand in the second as well. His free-kick was charged down only for the ball to be helped into the box for John Carew to backheel Villa's winner, as Martin O'Neill's men ran out 2-1 winners.

Unfortunately for Young, Capello was at Craven Cottage to watch Fulham capitulate 2-1 at home to Gianfranco Zola's West Ham.

The Italian may have been impressed by Carlton Cole, who stabbed home the Hammers' first, or by Mark Noble and Matthew Etherington who combined well for the second just seconds before half-time, but would not have liked what he saw of Fulham striker Andy Johnson who was sent off for two yellow cards.

Fulham pulled one back, through a Danny Murphy penalty, but could never convert their chances and failed to get the equaliser.

Joe Kinnear was in the stands (serving his touchline ban) to watch his new Newcastle side take on Blackburn, but could do nothing as Christopher Samba leapt above Steven Taylor to head home from Carlos Villanueva's cross.

45,000 Toon fans turned up to watch, but left unhappy after their defence was ripped to pieces by Roque Santa Cruz, who headed the second.

Michael Owen got a consolation penalty for the Magpies, but their fifth defeat in a row has added more gloom to the clouds around St James's Park, as they went down 2-1.

Premier League: Baggies cause upset, as Torres fires

2008-09-27T09:05:00.000-07:00

West Bromich Albion provided the upset of the afternoon as they picked up three points from their trip to the Riverside with a 1-0 win.

Empics

Olsson slips home the winner for the Baggies.

Middlesbrough had no answer to Jonas Olsson's strike in the 53rd minute and the Baggies soaked up some pressure late in the second half to condemn Gareth Southgate's men to their fourth straight defeat in all competitions.

Fernando Torres struck twice in three minutes in the 179th Merseyside derby, as Liverpool ran out 2-0 winners to equal their best ever start to a season.

After a stale first half, the Spaniard rifled in a cross from strike partner Robbie Keane, before smashing home a second following a goalmouth scramble.

Under-fire referee Mike Riley later sent off Everton midfielder Tim Cahill for a fairly innocuous tackle on Xabi Alonso, but Everton failed to muster a single shot on target, so can have no complaints at the result.

Chelsea leap-frogged Liverpool at the top of the league with a 2-0 win over Stoke at the Britannia Stadium.

Stoke were without their main attacking threat, Rory Delap, and were made to pay by full-back Jose Bosingwa after good work from Frank Lampard in the 36th minute.

Chelsea, who were never under much pressure from the Premier League newboys, finished the job with a goal from Nicolas Anelka.

Manchester United were held to a goalless first-half by struggling Bolton at Old Trafford, but worked hard to find a way past Gary Megson's side.

Somewhat fortuitously awarded a penalty by referee Rob Styles for a foul on Cristiano Ronaldo by Jlloyd Samuel, United went ahead as the Portuguese picked himself up to net from the spot.

Wayne Rooney, who had been benched by Sir Alex Ferguson in favour of Dimitar Berbatov and Carlos Tevez, then sealed the points with a late strike to make it 2-0.

Djibril Cisse gave Sunderland a shock lead at Villa Park, before a low 25-yard free-kick from Ashley Young levelled the scores.

The winger, left out by Fabio Capello in his recent England squads, netted his eighth goal in 15 games to force his claim for recognition and he had a hand in the second as well. His free-kick was charged down only for the ball to be helped into the box for John Carew to backheel Villa's winner, as Martin O'Neill's men ran out 2-1 winners.

Unfortunately for Young, Capello was at Craven Cottage to watch Fulham capitulate 2-1 at home to Gianfranco Zola's West Ham.
[ Post by http://sportsoccerhighlights.blogspot.com ]
The Italian may have been impressed by Carlton Cole, who stabbed home the Hammers' first, or by Mark Noble and Matthew Etherington who combined well for the second just seconds before half-time, but would not have liked what he saw of Fulham striker Andy Johnson who was sent off for two yellow cards.

Fulham pulled one back, through a Danny Murphy penalty, but could never convert their chances and failed to get the equaliser.

Joe Kinnear was in the stands (serving his touchline ban) to watch his new Newcastle side take on Blackburn, but could do nothing as Christopher Samba leapt above Steven Taylor to head home from Carlos Villanueva's cross.

45,000 Toon fans turned up to watch, but left unhappy after their defence was ripped to pieces by Roque Santa Cruz, who headed the second.

Michael Owen got a consolation penalty for the Magpies, but their fifth defeat in a row has added more gloom to the clouds around St James's Park, as they went down 2-1.

Torres brace stuns Toffees

2008-09-27T06:42:00.000-07:00

Mikel Arteta is in line for a return to the Everton team for the Merseyside derby clash against Liverpool after missing the midweek Carling Cup loss against Blackburn due to a virus.

The Spaniard has trained for the last two days and should be fit but Victor Anichebe is absent with a foot injury.

Steven Pienaar's long-term ankle injury and Andy van der Meyde's hamstring problem will also prevent them from playing a part in the Goodison Park clash.

David Moyes claims Liverpool and not Everton are more likely to dole out the aggressive treatment.

The famous fixture has seen 16 red cards distributed during the Premier League era - more than any other match.

And despite Everton having received 10 of those - including the dismissals of both Tony Hibbert and Phil Neville during Liverpool's turbulent 2-1 win last season - Moyes believes Rafael Benitez's side will be the more physical side.

The Everton manager used the recent comments of Sir Alex Ferguson following Manchester United's 2-1 defeat at Anfield earlier this month as justification for his claim.

Ferguson claimed his side were outmuscled after Liverpool came from a goal down to beat his team and give Benitez his first win over United as Liverpool manager.

Moyes has backed up his fellow Scot and accused Liverpool of "crying'' foul over Everton's style of play when it is in fact they who look to get more "stuck in''.

He said: "They have been games that have been hotly contested and I am sure this one will be as well.

"I think in the main, the team that has got stuck in is Liverpool.

"They have been very aggressive, I think Alex Ferguson said that the other week about their style at the moment.

"They are a very tough team so I think it is Liverpool who cry that rather than Everton.

"Maybe you are speaking to the wrong manager.''

Despite his strong words, Moyes also praised Everton's rivals and he believes Liverpool's local element is the driving force behind Benitez's outfit.
[ More About Soccer Highlights at http://sportsoccerhighlights.blogspot.com ]
"They are a quality side and I think I would single out Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard,'' he added.

"They are the heartbeat of Liverpool, I think they know what it's about and I am not just talking about derbies but in general.

"They are the heart and soul of the club and because they are local lads as well so they know what it means.''

Liverpool will be without defenders Fabio Aurelio and Philipp Degen. Brazilian full-back Aurelio is still struggling with an ankle problem while Degen is out for three weeks after cracking ribs in Tuesday's Carling Cup win over Crewe.

It means Benitez could give three players their derby debuts at Goodison Park - Robbie Keane, Andreas Dossena and Albert Riera - while he will also consider handing Daniel Agger a return after he scored in the defeat of Crewe.

Benitez wants the local passion of Gerrard to drive Liverpool to derby glory, insisting his skipper is "indestructible.''

And that is even though the Liverpool manager admitted he substituted Gerrard last season at Goodison Park because he was "showing too much passion''.

Now Benitez expects to see Gerrard show a more mature approach to the 208th showdown between Liverpool and Everton, and to cap his display with the 100th goal of his Anfield career.

A Liverpool victory would not only extend their record of losing only two of their last 10 derby visits to Goodison, but also equal their best-ever Premier League start to a season after six games.

And Benitez knows Gerrard will be the key to maintaining the club's unbeaten start to the campaign.

He said: "It was a pity that Steven was denied his 100th goal for Liverpool against Stoke, but that I am sure will only motivate him more to score against Everton.

"Especially in a derby, it would be fantastic for him to get that goal, and I believe he can.

"He is always important to us. But more so in these type of games when local players are involved. Everyone knows he is key to us, and in this game more so.

"He can change games, win games and if he is not playing well he can still score and win matches for us.

"If he is playing well he is indestructible. He has the mentality and passion for these games and he is important to all the other players.

Hughes says Robinho is ready for Wigan

2008-09-26T16:41:00.000-07:00

Manchester City manager Mark Hughes believes Robinho will be refreshed and ready to put Wigan to the test on Sunday after being given a short break.

The Brazil striker was rested in midweek when City exited the Carling Cup, losing on penalties to League One Brighton.

Robinho, a £32.5million signing from Real Madrid on transfer deadline day, was given leave by Hughes to sort out domestic matters and put his feet up.

The British record signing has had a hectic schedule of international matches and domestic games as well as helping City achieve a UEFA Cup first-leg victory in Cyprus against Omonia Nicosia.

Robinho has returned to training, and according to Hughes, his performances at the club's base at Carrington, near Sale, have been an eye-opener.

"What has struck everyone is that you can see the enjoyment Robinho has in his day-to-day work," said the City boss. "He has a smile on his face when he comes to training.

"Everyone associates him with flicks and back-heels. His general work, though, is very correct.

"He has a great understanding of what is needed. That is the skill all top players have. He is a great talent.

"Robinho needed time out during the week as he has had a lot surrounding him. He has had a period in his personal and football life where a lot of decisions were made.

"He had issues back home as well that needed resolving, so it was more about clearing his mind.

"He is back fit, well and looking forward to the weekend. Hopefully we will reap the benefit.''

Apart from Robinho, goalkeeper Joe Hart, Micah Richards, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Elano are all likely to reclaim their places in the starting line-up.
[ Hughes says Robinho is ready for Wigan post by http://
Hughessportsoccerhighlights.blogspot.com ]
is looking for a repeat of the display against Portsmouth last Sunday -- when a marvellous 6-0 victory was achieved - not the one against Brighton.

However, the Welshman made no excuses for the side he put out in the second round of the Carling Cup.

He said: "We have to give players a rest on occasions and take them out of the firing line. We cannot field the same team week in, week out.

"Ideally, you would like to name your best players in every game but you have to be realistic.

"We had a side that was good enough to win at Brighton and we should have done so. But while it was a disappointing result we cannot allow ourselves to dwell on competitions we are out of. We have to look ahead."

Wigan clinched a place in the last 16 of the cup with a comfortable 4-1 victory at Ipswich and are making good progress under Hughes' former Manchester United team-mate Steve Bruce.

Hughes said: "It is a good game to come back into. They are a big, strong, powerful side, who will upset a lot of teams. We do not want that to happen to us.

"We set a standard against Portsmouth and need to produce that level again when we face Wigan."

City will again be without Bulgaria winger Martin Petrov, who is still suffering from a hamstring problem.

Venables turns down Newcastle job offer

2008-09-25T18:18:00.000-07:00

Terry Venables has rejected the chance to manage Newcastle United after a second day of talks in London.

Terry Venables

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Venables: Not happy with Toon offer

It is understood that the former England manager was unhappy with owner Mike Ashley's offer of the manager's role on a match-by-match basis, preferring a longer-term contract.

The news is expected to be broadly welcomed on Tyneside with scpetical fans viewing 65-year-old Venables as another addition to the 'cockney mafia' running the club.

The popularity of London-based vice-president Tony Jimenez, managing director Derek Llambias and executive director Dennis Wise reached an all-time low with Magpies fans after Kevin Keegan was ousted from the manager's seat earlier this month.

With Ashley courting suitors for a potential £350 million takeover Newcastle are only looking to secure an interim manager, not a long-term appointment.

Just 20,577 fans were at St James Park on Wednesday night to watch Newcastle slip out of the Carling Cup to holders Tottenham, when defensive errors and a clear lack of confidence amongst the players allowed Spurs to put their own woes behind them.

The Magpies face Blackburn in the Premier League on Saturday when the rebellion against Ashley is likely to increase in volume if they do not end a run of four successive defeats in all competitions.

Investment bankers Seymour Pierce are currently looking for buyers for the club with a Nigerian consortium emerging as a frontrunner. The Nigerian group have curried favour with large sections of the club's support by hinting that they will restore Keegan to his post.

However, Seymour Pierce are understood to be assessing the credentials of several potential buyers - there have also been links with Chinese, American and local investors.

That process, which will depend largely on the willingness of interested parties to meet the asking price will take time, and there is little prospect of a sale going through within days.

Indeed, the speed with which Ashley tied up his own swoop without conducting due diligence may serve as a salutary lesson for those looking to succeed him after he found himself facing a series of unexpected bills.

But the need to provide Hughton with experienced support is becoming more urgent by the day with the Magpies' tailspin threatening to accelerate.

Venables mulling over approach from Toon

2008-09-25T02:14:00.000-07:00

Former England boss Terry Venables will decide whether to become interim manager of troubled Newcastle.

Venables is the latest in the frame to take over since the departure of Kevin Keegan and the decision of owner Mike Ashley to put the club up for sale.

Venables has revealed talks with the St James' Park club began yesterday and that he hoped to give them a decision by the end of Thursday.

"I can confirm I met Newcastle representatives today," Venables told The Sun.

Those talks will continue in the morning when, hopefully, I can give them a final decision."

Venables is understood to have held talks with Newcastle vice-president Tony Jimenez, managing director Derek Llambias and executive director Dennis Wise in London with a view to persuade the 65-year-old to take over control of first team affairs from Chris Hughton.

Venables previously held talks with Newcastle in September 2004 when he was in discussion with then chairman Freddy Shepherd to succeed the sacked Sir Bobby Robson but the job eventually went to Graeme Souness.

Newcastle's 2-1 home defeat to Tottenham in the Carling Cup third round last night was a fourth successive loss for a team also struggling in the lower reaches of the Premier League.

The Magpies' beleaguered supporters voted with their feet as a crowd of just 20,577 - the lowest for a competitive match at St James' Park since the capacity was increased to in excess of 52,000 - turned up to see them lose to Spurs.

That came amid continued speculation about the future ownership of the club with a consortium from Nigeria believed to be the favourites to take over.

The consortium fronted by Chris Nathaniel are set to make a statement by the weekend on the possibility of buying of the Tyneside club.

Nathaniel, chief executive of NVA management, has declared interest in buying out Ashley from a group of entrepreneurs he is liaising with.

Odds slashed on Venables to be next Toon boss

2008-09-24T08:48:00.001-07:00

Terry Venables has emerged as the shock favourite to become the next Newcastle United manager after bookmakers slashed their odds on the former England manager.

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Terry Venables: The next Newcastle boss?

The Magpies, who have been put up for sale by owner Mike Ashley, have been without a manager since Kevin Keegan was ousted from his position earlier this month.

Ashley is thought to be closing in on a deal to sell the club for between £350-400million to a consortium of Nigerian entrepreneurs and it has been reported that the consortium were hoping to lure Keegan straight back to St James Park, but a flurry of activity on the betting markets hints at a return to football for Venables.

On Wednesday, UK bookmaker SkyBet cut their odds on Venables being handed the vacant Newcastle position from 33/1 to just 2/1, while VC Bet have cut their price from 28/1 to 7/2.

''The money started coming in at around 10.30am on Wednesday. We saw a flurry of three-figure bets and quickly had to take evasive action as the liabilities piled up,'' a spokesperson for SkyBet told Football365.

Newcastle, who face Tottenham Hotspur in the Carling Cup on Wednesday night, are currently under the stewardship of caretaker boss Chris Hughton, who in the build-up to the game revealed that he has been given no indication how long his services will be required.

Other names in the frame to take over on Tyneside include Gerard Houllier, Alan Curbishley and talismanic former Toon striker Alan Shearer.

Venables' last role in football was his ill-fated involvement in the England set-up, where he acted as assistant to head coach Steve McClaren. Both men were sacked after England failed to reach the 2008 European Championships.

The 65-year-old enjoyed considerable success as a manger in the 1980s and '90s with Queens Park Rangers, Barcelona, Tottenham and as manager of England at Euro '96. But over the last decade Venables' managerial track record has been tarnished with less successful stints in charge of Australia, Crystal Palace and Leeds United.

Wenger hails 'best ever' Young Gunners

2008-09-24T02:24:00.001-07:00

Arsene Wenger has hailed his latest crop of young Gunners as the best he has ever had at the club and backed his charges to reach Wembley after they turned in a scintillating performance on Tuesday night to beat Sheffield United 6-0 in the Carling Cup.

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Carlos Vela: Hat-trick against the Blades

The Arsenal manager named a side with an average age of just 19 and in which the oldest player, keeper Lukasz Fabianski, was a mere 23.

Wenger's faith in youth was repaid as Mexican striker Carlos Vela, 19, grabbed a hat-trick while Nicklas Bendtner, 20, hit a first-half double and 16-year-old Jack Wilshere weighed in with his first senior goal as the Gunners ran out comprehensive winners.

There were also impressive displays from Wales Under-21 midfielder Aaron Ramsey and aspiring full-back Kieran Gibbs, which all left the Arsenal manager confident the club's future is in safe hands.

However, Wenger admitted that integrating his talented youngsters in the Arsenal first team would be a challenge, comments which will no doubt frustrate Gunners fans who are impatient for success after years without a trophy since their 2004-05 league triumph.

''I was not surprised because I see them every day, but you never know on a big stage how they play,'' said Wenger. ''They did that with the belief we want them to have and the spirit we want them to have.''

''Now for us the biggest challenge is to keep them together and slowly integrate them into the first team. Some have done that already.

''When you are under immense pressure to buy in every transfer window, you know that you have these players behind and it would be killing the work we have done.''

Wenger said there was no reason why the young Gunners could not go all the way to Wembley, having reached the final in 2007 and losing in the semis last season.

''We want to win the trophy this season, why not?'' he said. ''The only pressure you have is that when you go through the rounds towards the semi-finals, everybody says, 'Now you have to change all these players'.

''So what do you do? Let them play like they have tonight and then say, 'Sorry, you do not play anymore'. For me, that is not serious. No matter how far we go, we have to stick to our policy.

''These players do not play like kids. They play with intelligence, talent and with spirit. They can beat many teams and I would not be scared to play any individual in the Premier League.''

Sheffield United manager Kevin Blackwell admitted his side had no answer to the young Gunners, whom he hailed as the ''best in the world'' for their age group.

''They were awesome at times and would have beaten most teams, he said. We knew they were a good set of lads, but nobody knew how good they were.

Inter Milan considering move for legend Maradona

2008-09-22T07:50:00.000-07:00

Serie A champions Inter Milan are considering hiring former Argentina great Diego Maradona as a consultant, club president Massimo Moratti has said.

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The Argentina legend could be back in the game.

"I think we'll link up with him. He still has great appeal and it seems to me that he is out of the tunnel," Moratti told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

Since his retirement from soccer, Maradona, 47, has suffered a string of health problems related to obesity and his addiction to drugs and alcohol.

In Italy, El Pibe d'Oro is best remembered for his seven year spell at Napoli, where he led the romantic southerners to the only two Scudetti in their history in 1987 and 1990

It is believed that the ex-Boca Juniors hero will be offered the job as a South American talent scout.

Nigerian consortium shows interest in Newcastle

2008-09-22T07:41:00.000-07:00

A consortium of wealthy Nigerians are planning to take over Newcastle United, according to reports in Africa.

Mike Ashley

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Mike Ashley has had his fill at Newcastle.

Current owner Mike Ashley is trying to find a buyer for the ailing Premier League club, after proving unsuccessful with his initial efforts to secure a sale and Ashley has announced he wants to sell his interest in Newcastle just 16 months after staging a £134.4million takeover.

However, a Nigerian company claim they have £350million behind them - and are bidding to secure the remaining funding which would improve their chances of a successful takeover.

Chief Executive Officer of the NVA Management, Chris Nathaniel, whose company are handling the deal, wants to make Nigeria the first African country to own a Premier League club.

He told the KickOffNigeria website: ''All along I have been working hard to get wealthy and football loving Nigerian entrepreneurs to buy the club since Mike Ashley indicated his willingness to sell the club to the person, people or entrepreneurs who can meet the £400million selling price of the club.

''Right now I am happy to tell you that well meaning Nigerians have responded and the consortium of Nigerian entrepreneurs has so far contributed £350million to buy the club.

''Ashley has stood his ground that he won't sell the club until the money is raised to the asking price of £400million.

''So what that means is that we need to raise another £50million or £100million to shut the door behind the other top Arab companies who are also interested in the club.

''The Arab companies have also indicated interest and made offers - but they haven't met the asking price too.''

NVA handle Rio Ferdinand's PR and commercial interests and also arranged the pre-World Cup friendly between England and Croatia at Old Trafford in 2006. They further name Premier League wingers Wayne Routledge and Julian Gray amongst their other clients.

Linesman in firing line after "ghost goal"

2008-09-21T22:46:00.000-07:00

A leading official has claimed that the linesman who gave a goal instead of a corner for Reading in the Championship clash at Watford "will regret'' his mistake.
Nigel Bannister, Stuart Atwell

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Guilty: Linesman Nigel Bannister and referee Stuart Atwell at Vicarage Road on Saturday
Linesman Nigel Bannister farcically flagged for a goal after the ball crossed the goalline wide of the goal following a challenge between John Eustace and Royals striker Noel Hunt.

Despite not a single Reading player appealing for the 'goal', 25-year-old referee Stuart Attwell gave Steve Coppell's men a 1-0 lead.

Watford eventually rallied to claim a 2-2 draw at Vicarage Road but assistant referee's manager for Professional Game Match Officials, Paul Rejer, admits that Bannister will be given some "operational advice''.

He told Watford's official website: "It appears an error has been made and it will be reviewed by us.

"Nobody likes making errors and if it is a serious error, which we have got to review, then obviously he'll regret it.

"The assistant referee gave what he saw and if it is incorrect then we will look at that and give him operational advice.

"From his position and angle it appeared the ball had crossed the line for a goal. He has made a human error.

"When the ball is bobbling about in the penalty area it is difficult to know that the ball has crossed the line.

"Performances by referees and assistant referees are reviewed every game, both on the day and by DVD.''

Hornets manager Adrian Boothroyd managed to remain philosophical about the decision after the game but admitted he was expecting a phone call from the national group manager of the Professional Game Match Officials.

Boothroyd, who was sent off for protesting against the 'goal', has struck up a good relationship with Dave Allison after querying a number of poor decisions over the last 12 months but admits none of them have been as bad as Bannister's error.

Boothroyd said: "I do think referees have a difficult job and I'm the first to get on the phone to Keith Hackett and Dave Allison when I think that things aren't right.

"I know they appreciate the feedback but it could be censored this time.

"I get an assessment form to fill in after every game and I will fill it in extra carefully this week.

"It it has been a major decision in the past then I have got a call on the Monday from Dave Allison and I have a good relationship with him.

"But I seem to be talking to him more than anyone at the minute. I'll have to get him on my Friends and Family list on the phone to save a few quid.

"But these things supposedly even themselves out. So by the time I get to Fergie's age you won't believe how much luck I will be getting.

Kalou pegs back United

2008-09-21T22:42:00.000-07:00

Unlikely hero Salomon Kalou salvaged a point and preserved Chelsea's 85-game unbeaten home record at the end of a breathless 1-1 draw with Manchester United.

Salomon Kalou
GlynKirk/GettyImages
Salomon Kalou heads home the leveller

The visitors had led for much of the contest following Park Ji-sung's first-half tap-in.

But 10 minutes from time, after Nicolas Anelka, Didier Drogba, Joe Cole and Michael Ballack had tried and failed to break down United's stubborn defence, Kalou exposed United's poor offside trap by nodding home John Mikel Obi's free-kick 10 minutes from time.

Not for the first time in his illustrious career, Ferguson's team selection caused an outbreak of head scratching among United's army of fans.

Yet his choice of Park and Darren Fletcher worked a dream, especially with the Scot switching to the middle of midfield, a move that saw Owen Hargreaves take up a right-wing station.

Identifying Chelsea's full-backs Jose Bosingwa and Ashley Cole as major attacking threats, Ferguson chose to put his two most energetic men in direct opposition, keeping the home pair occupied defensively and stifling their threat in attack.

Despite their poor recent form, the Red Devils showed their attacking intent from the start, when Fletcher turned Hargreaves' low cross wide, and Chelsea, having lost Deco just before kick-off after the Portugal star was injured in the warm-up, could not get into their stride even though they could call upon Michael Ballack as replacement.

Luiz Felipe Scolari's team was further disrupted when Ricardo Carvalho hobbled off after just 12 minutes, so there was always a nagging fear Joe Cole's failure to find the net when he robbed Patrice Evra to give himself a clear sight of goal was going to prove costly.

Chelsea, already given one let off when Petr Cech's wayward clearance gave first Dimitar Berbatov, then Wayne Rooney the chance to launch speculative efforts at the home goal, survived again when Rooney set up Ferdinand, only for the home keeper to save with his legs.

But on their next attack, United finally prospered as Patrice Evra galloped past Bosingwa to reach Rooney's inspired through ball.

Evra's pinpoint cross found Berbatov and while Cech was once again equal to the shot, Park had the easiest of tasks to bundle home the rebound.

After spending nearly half an hour on the back foot, Chelsea finally got into their stride.

Gary Neville's back header spread panic in the visitors defence and when Edwin van der Sar came off worst in a collision with Florent Malouda, who might easily have scored, the veteran Dutchman was eventually forced from the field.

Chelsea's improved performance also brought out the spikier side in Paul Scholes, who was booked, although, with Nicolas Anelka also firing over on a couple of occasions, it was not until the arrival of Didier Drogba - following a brief delay due to an offending bracelet - that the home side really upped the ante.

Joe Cole should have done more with Anelka's low cross than prod it straight at Evra, then Jonny Evans - preferred to Wes Brown in central defence - got in the way of Bosingwa's shot.

Ferguson's response was to bring on Cristiano Ronaldo, who put the Chelsea defence on red alert with his direct running but also shamed himself with a blatant dive as Frank Lampard made a tackle.

In ignoring Anelka's pleas for a pass as Michael Ballack split United's defence wide open, Joe Cole needed to do better than blast his shot straight at Kuszczak, who was quickly becoming one of the visitors key men.

There would have been nothing the Pole could do to keep out Anelka's effort 18 minutes from time though as, from four yards out and with the goal at his mercy, the Frenchman inexplicably failed to make contact with Bosingwa's cross, the ball bouncing to safety off the Frenchman's standing leg.

But just as a wobbling Chelsea had eventually tumbled in the first-half, so United did the same 10 minutes from time.

In chopping down Ashley Cole, Rooney not only picked up his side's fifth booking. He also provided John Mikel Obi with the opportunity to float over a free-kick to the edge of the United six-yard box where the visitors, getting their marking and offside trap hopelessly wrong, left Kalou on his own to nod home the equaliser.

The game ended in bad tempered fashion as United, who had seven players booked, complained bitterly at referee Mike Riley for his handling of the game as Drogba was receiving treatment after being clattered by Ferdinand.

Gunners back on top

2008-09-20T20:37:00.000-07:00

Manager Arsene Wenger saw his Arsenal side move to the top of the Premier League with a mix of breathtaking skill and a solid work ethic in a 3-1 at Bolton.

Emmanuel Eboue
AlexLivesey/GettyImages
Emmanuel Eboue levels the scores at 1-1

It was just the result the Gunners boss craved with Liverpool being held to a draw by Stoke and Chelsea not facing Manchester United until Sunday.

Bolton, however, made a decent fist of it and went ahead through Kevin Davies.

Arsenal's response was swift and majestic. Emmanuel Eboue and Nicklas Bendtner turned the game on its head with two goals in two minutes.

• Clichy injury clouds victory

Then Denilson secured the points late on after another swift and decisive counter-attack.

Eboue's equaliser came after some intense pressure with Emmanuel Adebayor and Alex Song both hitting the post with their efforts.

It was Bolton who almost took the lead in the third minute with a wonderful piece of vision from captain Kevin Nolan.

He spotted Manuel Almunia marginally off his line and tried to chip him from 30 yards.

However, the Spanish goalkeeper got back just in time and tipped Nolan's effort over the crossbar.

Bolton made the breakthrough in the 14th minute when Jussi Jaaskelainen picked out Davies with a long free-kick and he flicked the ball on to Nolan.

The midfielder's effort was deflected to safety and Davies was first to react to Joey O'Brien's corner, heading the ball beyond Almunia for his third goal of the season.

Arsenal were rocked but broke swiftly, only for Denilson's effort from the edge of the area to clear the crossbar.

Kolo Toure latched on to a good touch from Bendtner in 20th minute but saw his shot go narrowly wide of the post.

Arsenal then hit the woodwork twice in the space of two minutes through Adebayor and Song as Bolton found themselves under siege.

The Gunners persistence paid off in the 26th minute with Eboue scoring at the near post after being set up by Bendtner.

They maintained their momentum two minutes later with Bendtner getting his reward for some unselfish work.

He got on the end of a cross from Denilson to give Arsenal the lead with his first Premier League goal of the season.

Eboue almost extended their lead in the 36th minute after linking up with Denilson but his effort was blocked.

Bolton, however, hit back and five minutes later Ricardo Gardner went on a surging run only for Toure to stop him in his tracks.

The ball broke to Nolan and he cracked in a good shot but Almunia was again equal to his effort.

Bolton, however, found themselves on the back foot in the 47th minute when Song raced forward and drilled in a shot that Jaaskelainen did well to parry to safety.

The Finland international had some harsh words for his defence at allowing Song room to manouvre.

Adebayor then got away from his marker a minute later but headed wide at the far post following a cross from substitute Johan Djourou.

Bolton were growing in confidence, however, and Joey O'Brien rattled in a shot from distance in the 59th minute that went narrowly wide.

Riga Mustapha was quickly into the action after coming off the bench and his effort was turned away at the post by Almunia following a glorious through ball from Nolan.

The visitors continued to look dangerous on the break and Bacary Sagna shot wide following a corner from Cesc Fabregas in the 67th minute.

Gretar Steinsson sent a header over for Bolton before Denilson sealed the points three minutes from time, sweeping home a cross from Adebayor.

# Clichy injury clouds victory

Manager Arsene Wenger's delight at seeing his Arsenal side go top of the Premier League was tempered by an injury to Gael Clichy.

The full-back was taken to hospital for X-rays on his shin after a challenge by Kevin Davies, which earned the Bolton striker a yellow card.

However, the good news for Arsenal was the full-back sustained only bruising to his shin and he was able to join up with the rest of the Arsenal squad for the journey home.

While Wenger admitted he did not see the incident, he said: "It it a shin injury which means the tackle was quite high. Was it an accident? Was it mistimed? Only Davies can answer that.

"I did not really see the impact, so I have to watch it on video. We except the physical challenge and we respond well to it. We have no problem with a physical game. It is part of the charm of the game but kicking someone is not in the rules.''

Bolton manager Gary Megson defended Davies, who opened the scoring with a header in the 14th minute before Arsenal took control.

He said: "It was nothing. Kevin has actually won the ball. It is nonsense to suggest anything otherwise.

"It was a fair challenge, a proper football challenge, and he was entitled to go for the ball. We did not try to intimidate Arsenal, that's a complete nonsense.''

Wenger will look on as Chelsea face Manchester United tomorrow and feels his side are in good shape to mount a title challenge.

He said: "It will be interesting again this year. I will watch the game tomorrow with a lot of curiosity. Chelsea have made a good start while you know Manchester United will soon wake up.

"I felt we were very close last year. We were four points behind Manchester United at end of last season and lost only three games.

"Out of those three games we were leading 1-0 with 20 minutes to go. We were really unlucky but we let's go from game to game. The desire is there and I believe in the quality of my team.''

Arsenal roared back with Emmanuel Eboue and Nicklas Bendtner scoring two goals in the space of two minutes to turn the game on its head before half time.

While Bolton continued to make a decent fist of it Denilson sealed the victory with three minutes to go.

Wenger added: "I thought it was a convincing, united, classy performance with strengths everywhere.

"We were strong mentally, physically and technically. It was a complete performance.

"Even in the second half when we needed to defend more we showed resilience. There are aspects of our game that make me think the team is maturing very quickly.

"We can always get better, that is the positive thing. We want to improve. As long as your attitude is right, you can go forward. We did not panic after going behind and that is the pleasing thing.

Scolari would like Ronaldo at Stamford Bridge

2008-09-20T07:30:00.000-07:00

Chelsea boss Luiz Felipe Scolari has suggested - with tongue in cheek - he would "open the door" for Cristiano Ronaldo to play at Stamford Bridge after seeing him mature in the last few years.

Empics

Luiz Felipe Scolari: Knows Ronaldo well from his time with Portugal.
Scolari coached Ronaldo with Portugal and described how he likes the Manchester United winger as a father likes a son.

Ronaldo has recovered from ankle surgery and is expected to feature at Stamford Bridge for Manchester United on Sunday.

"Now he is one of the three best players in the world," Scolari said. "I said that two years ago, and I repeat it now.

When I was at Portugal, I had to choose three players every year (for FIFA World Player of the Year). One year I chose Didier Drogba as one of my three. Another year, I wrote John Terry. Another year I wrote Frank Lampard.

"Now these three players are with me, and that's very good for me. Maybe next season, Cristiano is with me. Very good. If he wants to change, I'll open the door to that."

"When I arrived in Portugal, Ronaldo was a kid. A young boy, 17 years old," Scolari said. "At that time, he had a good character. He was starting as a very good professional, but at that time he was already thinking about his future.

"He's improved himself, very well, in the five or six years since. More in Manchester than with the national team. He lives in Manchester 11 months of the year. Only one month a year with the national team.

"I've seen him improve. Next season, I can see him as a captain with Portugal because people like him and he has the confidence for that. He's a very good man, helps the other players, a good attitude on and off the pitch. He has grown up and matured.

"Now, at this time of life, Ronaldo is mature and is better than one or two years ago.

Ronaldo desperate to face Chelsea

2008-09-18T20:22:00.005-07:00

Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo is begging manager Sir Alex Ferguson to let him play against title rivals Chelsea on Sunday after making his return from injury against Villarreal on Wednesday night.
Cristiano Ronaldo

MikeEgerton/Empics

Cristiano Ronaldo: Back after ankle surgery
The 23-year-old winger, who scored 42-goals for United last season, underwent ankle surgery in July and despite courting a move to Real Madrid during the transfer window he received a rapturous reception from the fans at Old Trafford when he came off the bench to make his season debut.

With Ferguson's side lacking goals (they have scored just four times in five competitive matches so far this season) and Ronaldo chomping at the bit, he would seem certain to start the crucial clash but the United manager insists he has not yet made his mind up.

Cristiano is bursting to play," Ferguson said. "He has trained very well and is a natural athlete, so I have no qualms on that score. I just have to decide whether it is the right time."

Ronaldo has already warned the Blues that he will do the damage for United when the Premier League favourites face off and insists he is ready to strike back if they attempt to muscle him out at Stamford Bridge.

"I know that the attempts to intimidate me on the pitch will start again immediately - but everyone finds sooner or later that it is difficult to make me lose my rag," he said.

"I'll be booted again but I will not kick out when it happens. I'm tough and, again, it's all just part of the spectacle.

[Soccer Highlights Post By http://sportsoccerhighlights.blogspot.com ]

"I'll do my damage as usual by paying them all back with my goals."

Ferguson would certainly welcome Ronaldo's scoring touch as United must put end to a relatively barren run if they are not to fall nine points adrift of Chelsea, a staggering gap even if the Old Trafford outfit would still have a game in hand.

"I just want my team to put the ball into the net,'' said the Scot.

"We are simply not scoring enough goals to turn the whole thing round.

"But it will come. By October we will be fine. I have no doubt in my mind about that.''

Although Dimitar Berbatov is fit, it seems highly unlikely the £30million man will play alongside Ronaldo, Carlos Tevez and Wayne Rooney.

If any of the quartet were to stand down, on current form it would be Rooney, who looked a shadow of the player who starred for England in Croatia as United drew their midweek blank.

Yet Ferguson claims to be unconcerned, meaning Berbatov's lack of recent match practice may see him consigned to the bench, where Owen Hargreaves could also find himself now that Paul Scholes is back from suspension.

The United boss also has a major dilemma in defence, where Wes Brown and Jonny Evans could both replace the banned Nemanja Vidic, with Gary Neville coming in at right-back if the younger man got the nod.

While facing Chelsea is nothing new in itself, going toe to toe with Scolari will be for Ferguson, who was not always complimentary about the Brazilian's handling of Ronaldo.

It is a challenge he is relishing, even if the language barrier means the personal duel may lack some of the intensity of his scraps with Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho.

"It is interesting,'' said Ferguson.

"You wait to see what impact a manager has.

"You want to know whether they are going to change their style or what type of players they will buy in. You also want to know what his principles are and what he believes in because all managers are different.''

Scolari's major changes appear to be pushing both his full-backs further forward and introducing Deco - Ronaldo's former international team-mate - who is less forceful in style than now injured midfield colleague Michael Essien but seems to be just as effective.

"Deco is a nice footballer,'' Ferguson said.

"He is diminutive and clever. He does not have the same athleticism as Essien but it does not make them any less as a team.''

Chelsea's 84-game unbeaten record on home soil provides United with a challenge to overcome.

"It is a great challenge for us because Chelsea have not lost at home for so long.

"I know a lot of people do not expect us to win, which is unusual for our club. That is the challenge. Let's get on with it.

Fergie and Wenger back walk away managers

2008-09-18T20:22:00.004-07:00

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger have both backed Kevin Keegan and Alan Curbishley's decisions to quit their jobs after the duo rebelled against interference from their respective boards.

Curbishley was first to go at the start of the month after becoming disillusioned with West Ham United's transfer policy which, he claimed, undermined him.

Then, within the week, Keegan walked out of the job at Newcastle United pointing to similar interference from boardroom level. His departure caused chaos on Tyneside as fans protested against the board and embattled owner Mike Ashley later announced he had put the club up for sale.

Speaking at a dinner at the League Managers' Association, Ferguson said: "We need strong, capable managers who can stand up against those that try and change the principles of the game."

"The fear is that we have owners that will [make managers] become project managers or basically just fitness coaches who will determine who out of the 16 are the fittest on the day.

"I admire Kevin Keegan and I admire Alan Curbishley as they went on a matter of principle, the principle being they are not in control of their team any longer - players were trying to be sold over their heads and so therefore they walked because it is a matter of principle and I totally agree with them."

The Scot - in charge at Old Trafford since 1986 - said that he could never see the board interfering at Old Trafford and if they ever did he simply would not stand for it.

Ferguson said: "At no point in our history has the board ever overruled a manager. It won't happen in my time."

In a rare show of camaraderie Wenger, Arsenal boss for almost 12 years, agreed with his Premier League rival.

"The manager is a strong guide inside the club and has to establish his authority and demonstrate he is in complete control," Wenger said.

"If you have no control but are still responsible for the defeats then that is unbearable."

Wenger added: "The manager is the most important man at the club, if not why do you sack the manager if it isn't going well?

"I believe our [Wenger and Ferguson] luck is that we could work with our ideas, and I know if I lose a game I have to look inside as that is where I can find the solutions."

Arsenal welcome Kroenke on board

2008-09-18T20:22:00.003-07:00

Arsenal have welcomed American billionaire Stan Kroenke onto their board as a non-executive director as they attempt to stave off a potential takeover from Uzbek oligarch Alisher Usmanov.

AP

Stan Kroenke: Arsenal's unexpected knight in shining armour.

The billionaire owner of Kroenke Sports Enterprises holds 12.4% of shares in Arsenal Holdings PLC and his appointment marks a thaw in the relationship between himself and Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood. However, Kroenke has not signed up to the 'lockdown' agreement drawn up by board members last year which prevents the trading of shares without the consent of fellow directors.

Following Kroenke's initial investment in April 2007 Hill-Wood famously remarked that Arsenal did not want "his sort"; but the club's directors have been establishing closer links with the American since Russian billionaire Usmanov, the club's largest shareholder, began raising his stake in the club to 24.9%.

In a statement released on Friday morning the Gunners hierarchy claimed Kroenke was fully behind their business model - a thinly-veiled attack on the owner-funded approach that would come with an Usmanov takeover.

"Mr Kroenke fully supports the approach the board has taken in setting the direction of the club," the statement read.

"The board believes Mr Kroenke's experience in sports team commercial management, sports marketing, media and new media rights as well as real estate development will be of great value."

Kroenke has agreed not to increase his stake beyond 29.9% of Arsenal's share capital in the next year unless a takeover bid is launched by Usmanov or another party, in which case he could do so with the consent of the board.

"It is a real honour to be invited to join the board of Arsenal given their pre-eminent reputation and position in football worldwide," said Denver-based Kroenke, who through KSE has owned the St Louis Rams, Denver Nuggets and Colorado Rapids in his homeland.

"I hope my background in sports management will be an asset to Arsenal in their commercial dealings going forward."

Hill-Wood added: "We are delighted to welcome Stan to the board of Arsenal.

"He brings with him a wealth of experience through his direct involvement in sports clubs in the US and we expect to benefit from his commercial insights and knowledge."

• Kroenke's invitation to join the Arsenal board comes on the same day the club revealed a pre-tax profit of £36.7million for the year ending May 2008.

The Gunners continue to reap the rewards of their move to the Emirates Stadium with the club having announced that gate and match day revenue totalled £94.6million, which represents some 45% of their overall football revenues.

The club moved to the 60,000-capacity stadium from Highbury in July 2006, and Hill-Wood claimed that it has put the club in a strong position to help manager Arsene Wenger develop the playing side.

He said: "This club is ambitious for success and I believe that the strong financial position which the group has established, as confirmed by the results for the year, provides the best possible platform from which to deliver that success for the long term.

"We are committed to operating the club as a business which is financially self-sustaining and over the last two seasons Emirates Stadium has taken our football revenues to a new level.

"During the year we have improved and extended the contract terms of a large number of first team players and, of course, of Arsene Wenger himself.

"As a result, for the first time, the Group's wage bill has exceeded nine figures at £101.3 million."

The club confirmed that their overall debt position rose to an overall £318.1million but they had expected it to increase because of the use of bank debt to fund the construction of apartments at Highbury Square.

A significant level of property sales are anticipated for 2008-09 with a large number of Highbury Square apartments scheduled to be completed and released for sale which would reduce the debt.

Legally completed sales from the first phase of 65 apartments released at the end of July have so far generated sales proceeds of £18.7million.

Liteks Lovetch 1 - 3 Aston Villa

2008-09-18T20:22:00.002-07:00

Gareth Barry scored on his 400th club appearance as Aston Villa came from behind to defeat ill-disciplined Litex Lovech in their UEFA Cup first round first leg clash.

AP
Ivelin Popov celebrates his free-kick goal.

England midfielder Barry converted a 72nd-minute penalty to celebrate the landmark after the Bulgarian Cup holders were reduced to nine men at the Gradski Stadion.

Nigel Reo-Coker netted for the second time in as many games to haul Martin O'Neill's side level on the stroke of half-time after a gaffe from goalkeeper Uros Golubovic.

O'Neill bemoans sluggish start

Arguably that mistake altered the shape of the contest and red cards for Cedric Cambon and Mihail Venkov in the second period further enhanced Villa's position in the tie.

Litex's Brazilian-influenced midfield dictated the opening period, however, and they might have added to Bulgaria international Ivelin Popov's curling free-kick which opened the scoring in the 10th minute.

It was a disastrous beginning to the midlands club's first foray into Europe for seven years as Reo-Coker was adjudged to have bundled over Sandrinho on the right-hand edge of the Aston Villa area.

Captain Popov stepped up and curled the free-kick around a posse of bodies and into the far corner, to leave Villa goalkeeper Brad Friedel motionless.

The hosts totally bossed the opening exchanges, in fact, the dangerous Tom a constant menace from the right.

Tom, a Brazilian with Bulgarian citizenship, forced the first corner of the game as early as the third minute and although that came to nothing, Popov gave a warning of what was to come when he dragged a shot wide.

His next attempt was more accurate, however, and the Bulgarians were more at ease on a heavy surface, waterlogged yesterday afternoon, which cut up badly.

Villa began upping the level of their performance and it was their own Bulgarian, Stiliyan Petrov, who began to disrupt the home attacks with regularity.

From one such breakdown, Villa launched a counter from which they thought they had levelled.

Petrov put lone striker Gabriel Agbonlahor away down the left flank and when James Milner joined in, to cut back onto his right foot, he found Barry with his centre only for a contentious offside decision to nullify his glancing header as the ball nestled in the corner of the net.

Moments earlier Villa had tested the uncertainty of home goalkeeper Golubovic in the air when Barry headed into a dangerous area and Craig Gardner was snuffed out at the far post.

Yet Litex, currently second in their domestic league, still carried a serious threat of their own, proved when the lively Tom fed the overlapping Dudu on the left, whose first-time strike was well held by Friedel.

They might have been two goals ahead when Martin Laursen's stumble put Wilfred Niflore into a good position on the final minute of the half but he could only hit the side-netting after rounding Friedel.

Moments later the game swung as Reo-Coker capitalised on Golubovic's moment of madness to sidefoot in.

Litex's outfield players showed their disgust as they left the field at the interval.

But they reacted in a positive manner at the start of the second period with Niflore denied a penalty in the opening seconds when he went down under the challenge of Laursen.

Greek referee Christoforos Zografos waved away protests from the orange-shirted hosts, however.

Reo-Coker's advanced position meant he was receiving plenty of the ball and it was one of his bursts that resulted in the first booking of the contest.

Centre-back Cambon's heavy challenge was punished with a 63rd-minute card and five minutes later another one reduced Litex to 10 men.

Agbonlahor's pace exposed Cambon down Litex's right side and as the Villa forward pressed the accelerator, his opponent chose to haul him down in a rugby tackle.

After feigning injury on the ground for a couple of minutes, Cambon returned to his feet to see red.

The self-destruction of Litex was completed in the 70th minute when, after giving the ball away cheaply in their own half, they had a second player dismissed.

Milner seized on the chance to chip into the area and after Agbonlahor's flick-on cleared Golubovic's leap, full-back Venkov punched the ball off the line.

Barry's aim was true from 12 yards and Villa had completed their turnaround despite an unconvincing display.

Villa took further advantage of their numerical advantage when a flowing move put Petrov in on goal in injury time and although Golubovic saved his first attempt, he rolled in at the second attempt.

# O'Neill bemoans sluggish start

Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill was relieved his side's first foray into one of Europe's mainstream competitions for seven years ended in victory after Bulgarian side Litex Lovech imploded.

"It was a very sluggish start,'' said O'Neill, referring to Ivelin Popov's 10th-minute free-kick.

"We did the one thing we really didn't want to do and gave away an early goal and it took a long time for us to get into our stride. Lovech played very well indeed, as we thought they would do.

"The key moment was probably before half-time when they had a chance to score, and a very good chance, and within a minute we had got an equaliser. That was also a priceless away goal.

"It was frustrating because we played really well against Tottenham and we had hoped with that momentum to have started more brightly.

"But the equalising goal gave us such an advantage. That basically changed the whole impetus of the game.

"If you said before the game we would win and score three goals we would have been very pleased.

"We didn't play as well as we did at Tottenham on Monday but we won and we have to learn in European football.''

Former Bulgaria coach Stanimir Stoilov, now in charge of Litex, also pointed to the half-time swing as crucial in the first-round tie.

"It was the kind of breaking point in the match because we had this really good opportunity,'' Stoilov said.

"If we scored it would have been an absolutely different first period. A different scenario.

"The mistakes we made were deeply childish. Until the 60th minute - when Cedric Cambon received the red card - given the class of Aston Villa, my team was outstanding.

Tottenham 2 - 1 Wisla Krakow

2008-09-18T20:22:00.001-07:00

Darren Bent lifted the gloom around White Hart Lane with the winner at White Hart Lane but Wisla Krakow will take an away goal into the second leg of the UEFA Cup first round clash after the first leg ended 2-1.

GettyImages
de Ramos and assistant Gus Poyet felt the heat of a narrow win over Wisla.

Bent headed home with 17 minutes remaining, the striker's third in as many matches, to earn Spurs their first victory during a frustrating start to the campaign.

Even that only slightly dampened the spirits of the boisterous away support, whose side lost to Barcelona to get knocked out of the Champions League but now require a 1-0 win in a fortnight to reach the group stages of Europe's second-tier competition.

Wisla's fans were silenced for just a minute during the first half after David Bentley's opener, then Tomas Jirsak levelled to open up the tie.

Spurs head coach Juande Ramos will again be without Roman Pavlyuchenko and Vedran Corluka for that clash as the two new signings are cup-tied, highlighting Spurs' recruitment problems before the transfer deadline.

With a threadbare squad - Ramos had 18 first-team players to pick from after Luka Modric's knee injury - at least it gave him a chance to use Bentley in his familiar station on the right flank after previously using him centrally.

It was a source of embarrassment that Bentley won the club's goal of the month award with a strike from pre-season - evidence that Spurs desperately needed to kick-start their campaign after three defeats and a draw.

Bentley was in the action with less than a minute gone, with Jermaine Jenas hustling Junior Diaz off the ball and sending his team-mate down the right - but goalkeeper Mariusz Pawelek bravely blocked as Bent closed in.

• Poyet: Tough test awaitsRadoslaw Sobolewski had the first effort for Wisla, curling a long-range effort the wrong side of the post after dummying past Aaron Lennon.

Bentley provided the corner for Pawelek's first save of the match, after 24 minutes, when Jonathan Woodgate's header was claimed at the second attempt.

Wisla provided their own threat with aerial balls forward and it took Ledley King to block a shot from Rafal Boguski after the striker latched into a cushioned header.

Pawelek required treatment after throwing himself at Bent again, with Bentley again providing the service. Wisla's goalkeeper was able to continue despite a lump on his head, but he was picking the ball out of his net after Spurs' next move, in the 33rd minute.

Giovani dos Santos sent Lennon away down the left and his cross found its way to the back post, with Bentley sending the ball in the direction it came, around Sobolewski and into Pawelek's far post.

But the lead only lasted a minute, with Boguski nutmegging Gareth Bale before centring, with Jirsak lashing into the net after a lay-off from Pawel Brozek.

Boguski could have given them the lead but Heurelho Gomes produced a stunning save before the interval, turning the ball around the post to deny the striker.

Bentley had dipped a free-kick over the crossbar and also forced a save from Pawelek with a volley across the face of the goal, then the Wisla stopper had to tip over just after the break from Spurs' winger.

Bent had a strike chalked off when he tapped in after a flowing move down the left resulting in Jenas crossing to the far post - replays suggested it was a harsh decision to call it offside.

Ramos' response was to bring on Fraizer Campbell for his debut to replace Lennon, while Chris Gunter was replaced by Jamie O'Hara.

It was Wisla who threatened a second when Mauro Cantoro volleyed over the bar from a promising position but Bent grabbed his goal as the visitors threatened an upset.

Campbell held the ball up on the right and floated in a cross, with Bent climbing over Cleber to send the ball past Pawelek.

# Poyet: Tough test awaits

Tottenham assistant first-team coach Gus Poyet admitted Spurs must go into the second leg of their UEFA Cup first-round tie with Wisla Krakow looking to win the match.

Spurs took the lead when Aaron Lennon's cross was finished by David Bentley in the 33rd minute, only for Tomas Jirsak to hit back 67 seconds later with a neat chip.

But Darren Bent's second-half header gave head coach Juande Ramos his first victory of the season as they held on to claim a 2-1 win over the Polish outfit at White Hart Lane.

"It will be a tough game in Poland and we have to make sure we do not lose there,'' Poyet told Setanta Sports 1.

"We will have to go there with the mind to win. It will be a totally different game from the one tonight and we are not in a good position so we need to win.''

When asked whether Spurs were naive to concede a goal so quickly after scoring Poyet added that Spurs were right to "take risks'' to try and win the game.

"It was incredible because we were doing our best - we thought it would finish at least 1-0 but the players reacted well and we needed to take a few risks,'' he said.

"We said before the game we needed to take a risk and take our opportunities. We are not the type of team that sits back and defends, we are the type of team that goes to win games.''

UEFA Cup: Baros brace sinks Bellinzona

2008-09-18T20:22:00.000-07:00

Milan Baros struck twice as Galatasaray edged a see-sawing encounter with 10-man Bellinzona 4-3.

Paris St Germain kicked off their campaign with a last-gasp 2-1 win at Kayserispor.

Mateja Kezman gave the Parisians a fifth minute lead and they looked on course for victory until Delio Toledo scored three minutes from full-time.

Peguy Luyindula came to PSG's aid though two minutes later with a winner.

Seydou Doumbia scored an equaliser three minutes from time as Young Boys drew 2-2 at home to Club Brugge, while Austria Vienna defender Franz Schiemer bagged a brace either side of Hernan Rengifo's equaliser to give his side a 2-1 win over Lech Poznan.

NEC Nijmegen, Racing Santander and Besiktas each secured 1-0 wins against Dinamo Bucharest, Honka Espoo and Metalist Kharkiv respectively.

AC Milan secured their first win of the season and eased the pressure on coach Carlo Ancelotti with a 3-1 triumph over FC Zurich while Sampdoria thrashed Kaunas 5-0 to all but seal their place in the group stage.

Sevilla, who have won this competition twice in the past three years, also look likely to go through after they secured a 2-0 win against Salzburg.

Udinese hold the upper hand in their difficult looking tie with Borussia Dortmund after securing a 2-0 away win with first-half goals from Antonio Floro Flores and Gokhan Inler.

Rennes came from a goal behind to secure a 2-1 home win over FC Twente, who were knocked out of the Champions League qualification stage by Arsenal while Rosenborg edged their Scandinavian rivals Brondby 2-1.

Ajax are on course for the group stages after cruising to a 4-1 win at Serbian side Borac.

Benfica will still fancy their chances of progressing to the group stage despite losing 3-2 away to Napoli.

Darren Bent lifted the gloom around White Hart Lane with the winner in a 2-1 win over Wisla Krakow.

Bent headed home with 17 minutes remaining, the striker's third in as many matches, to earn Spurs their first victory during a frustrating start to the campaign.

Everton twice had to fight back to grab a 2-2 draw against Belgian champions Standard Liege.

Liege, who will now fancy their chances of dumping the Merseysiders out of the competition, were ahead early on when Dieumerci Mbokani netted close in after Everton were exposed on the right.

Ayegbeni Yakubu equalised before Joseph Yobo's own goal put the Belgians ahead again, only for Segundo Castillo to equalise with a fine 25-yard strike.

Kiev "tried to destroy" Walcott, fumes Wenger

2008-09-17T20:20:00.004-07:00

Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger has accused referee Luis Medina Cantalejo of turning a blind eye as Dynamo Kiev attempted to do a hatchet job on Theo Walcott during the Gunners' 1-1 Champions League draw in Ukraine.

GettyImages

Walcott (l) is marked man following his hat-trick for England against Croatia.
Wenger believes that Kiev captain Andriy Nesmachniy "tried to destroy" his 19-year-old forward, who scored a hat-trick for England last week, and added that the left-back could have been shown the red card on a number of occasions.

The Arsenal manager said: ''The referee should have sent off the left-back three times at least during the game because he destroyed Walcott.''

But Walcott had the last laugh when he provided the cross from which William Gallas equalised Ismaël Bangoura's opener, after he had scored from the penalty spot.

Despite leaving Kiev with a draw Wenger was also unhappy at the time-keeping of the Spanish referee and his decision to award a spot kick for a foul by full-back Bacary Sagna.

Wenger said: "I wanted to understand how we had only three minutes of injury time, and then only played one minute."

"Every referee looks to have a different computer to calculate the in time and still I do not know and really understand how it works.

"It looks like it is through the inspiration of the referee and he could not explain it. He just said it was enough."

"When we got to 1-1, there was no game any more.

"We were on top, they looked very tired, but the game was finished because of the interruptions for injuries and stoppages.

"You could feel the game was there for the taking, but we had no more opportunity to play."

The Gunners boss added: "The penalty was harsh. Sagna is convinced he [Vukojevic] pulled him with his two hands on his shirt and then went down."

Wilkins handed Chelsea role

2008-09-17T20:20:00.003-07:00

Chelsea have appointed former Stamford Bridge star Ray Wilkins as the club's new assistant first-team coach following the departure of Steve Clarke to West Ham United.

PeterRobinson/Empics

Ray Wilkins: In his days as an England international.
Wilkins, who first joined Chelsea as a schoolboy and made 198 appearances from 1973 to 1979, teams up with manager Luiz Felipe in time for the visit of another of his former clubs Manchester United on Sunday.

Scolari had been anxious to maintain a British element to his backroom team, having brought a trio with him from his old job with Portugal, believing a knowledge of the domestic game is invaluable.

Wilkins, 52, has previously worked as an ambassador for Chelsea and helped the club to win the FA Cup and Charity Shield in 2000 as a coach under ex-Blues boss Gianluca Vialli. The former AC Milan player also has experience as a manager with Fulham and QPR.

"He brings with him a wealth of expertise and experience from his time in British and European football," Chelsea said in a statement.

Scolari was disappointed by Clarke's move to West Ham to become Gianfranco Zola's No 2 and Chelsea eventually held out for compensation is excess of £1 million.

Dynamo Kiev 1 - 1 Arsenal

2008-09-17T20:20:00.002-07:00

Dynamo Kiev coach Yuri Semin watched Emmanuel Adebayor score a hat-trick at Ewood Park but insists he will not man-mark the striker on Wednesday in the Group G clash at Valeri Lobanovsky Stadium.

''We knew very well prior to this the capabilities of the Arsenal forward,'' said Semin.

''But we will not be putting a man-marker on him. Adebayor plays all over the pitch, and in every zone there will be one of our players to meet him.''

Emmanuel Adebayor is ''hungry'' to end his Champions League heartache and fire Arsenal to European glory this season.

The Togo striker smashed a hat-trick against Blackburn on Saturday and will once again spearhead the Gunners attack as their Champions League campaign kicks off.

Adebayor - who netted 30 goals last season - has come a long way since arriving in north London from Monaco as a relative unknown during January 2006, and recently agreed a lucrative new deal with the Emirates Stadium club after a summer of speculation over a £35million move to AC Milan.

The powerful 6ft 3ins 24-year-old, though, has yet to taste success at the highest level, having watched from the bench as his old club were beaten 3-0 by Jose Mourinho's Porto in the 2004 Champions League final and then being cup-tied when Arsenal lost out to Barcelona in Paris two years later.

Adebayor is determined to make up for that bitter disappointment this time around.

''We have every chance to win the Champions League with Arsenal,'' he declared.

''I had the chance to be in the final with Monaco, but I was on the bench and I could see all these special things going on.

''Then with Arsenal, I could not play because I was cup-tied and in my head it was difficult - but now I have a chance to play so there is an argument for me to be more hungry than most of my team-mates.

''However, I am not the only one. Cesc [Fabregas] and Kolo [Toure] lost in the [2006] final as well and so all these players would like to win it in their career.

''These are the things that we are going to pin together as brothers and help each other on the pitch and off the pitch and try to achieve something this season.''

Adebayor added: ''I do not know whether we are going to win the Champions League or the Premier League - but we have to achieve something because we have the quality within the squad.

''We just have to believe in the squad and believe in ourselves to do it.

''I know if I have the chance to win something like the Champions League with a team like Arsenal I will be very happy and very glad.''

Arsenal remain without summer signings Sami Nasri and Mikael Silvestre.

Midfielder Nasri (ankle) and defender Silvestre (thigh) are certain to miss the game but Gael Clichy and Emmanuel Eboue are available to manager Arsene Wenger after recovering from minor knocks.

Mexican striker Carlos Vela has made the trip to Ukraine and is set to be a substitute, along with fellow youngster Jack Wilshere.

Adebayor is happy to be back in form, finally getting his domestic account up and running.

''My confidence has always been high because I have had a few chances,'' he said.

''I know if I keep working hard for the team and we keep on playing the football for the team, you always have a chance to score.

''Those are the things that I always put in my head and it made the goals that went in on Saturday against Blackburn easy.

''For me, the most important thing is to work hard for the team and I think up until now I have been doing that quite well.

''I am very happy and for sure my confidence is higher than before.''

While a win in the Stadion Valeriy Lobanovskyi would put them on course nicely, Arsenal do not have the best of records in the old Soviet bloc - losing on their last visit to Moscow, against CSKA two years ago, while also going down twice to the Ukrainians in 1998 and again in 2003.

Man Utd 0-0 Villarreal: Ronny can't break deadlock

2008-09-17T20:20:00.001-07:00

Not even the return of Cristiano Ronaldo could prevent Manchester United fluffing their lines as the Champions League winners began the defence of their crown with a disappointing draw against Villarreal at Old Trafford.

Jonny Evans
PaulEllis/GettyImages
Jonny Evans prepares to fluff his lines

Ronaldo's second-half introduction certainly sent a surge through United - and dispelled any doubts the summer transfer saga with Real Madrid would affect his popularity.

But United could come no closer than a late Jonny Evans diving header that bounced back off a post as their 12-game winning streak on home soil in the competition was brought to an end, the Yellow Submarines almost sinking Sir Alex Ferguson's men altogether when Guille Franco hit the woodwork as well.

With record signing Dimitar Berbatov failing to recover from the knee injury he sustained at Liverpool, Michael Carrick ruled out with an ankle problem and Paul Scholes suspended, a legacy of his needless dismissal against Zenit St Petersburg in last month's Super Cup, Ferguson was committed to making changes.

Nevertheless, the presence of Gary Neville - his first competitive start since March 2007 - and Evans in the home defence was a surprise.

Not that the pair were extended much.

Aside from one powerfully struck effort from an acute angle by Robert Pires which Edwin van der Sar saved easily enough anyway, Villarreal created nothing.

In contrast, United threatened at regular intervals but through a combination of bad finishing, poor refereeing and excellent goalkeeping, failed to make the breakthrough by half-time.

The litany of woe began after just five minutes when Owen Hargreaves curled over a corner that Diego Lopez completely misjudged to leave Rio Ferdinand an empty net to steer the ball into.

Unfortunately for United, Ferdinand succeeded only in prodding the ball back in the general direction it had come from.

Then it was Wolfgang Stark's turn to fail. The German official may have been deceived by Park Ji-sung falling outside the area and then opting not to make any significant protest.

But there was no doubt Sebastian Eguren caught the South Korean inside the box and a penalty should have been given.

Park, who did not even make United's bench in Moscow, was a constant menace, as was Carlos Tevez.

The Argentina star may have got no marks for waving an imaginary yellow card in the direction of Eguren when he was hauled back near halfway but he came agonisingly close to scoring as his powerful drive was tipped away by Lopez.

Nani had a couple of long-range efforts and Darren Fletcher saw his header blocked at close range.

However, a goalless first half was not what Ferguson would have wanted as his team began the defence of their trophy and a quest to become the first side to win the competition - as the Champions League - in successive seasons.

The Scot resisted an obvious temptation to bring on Ronaldo at half-time.

But some intricate passing involving Wayne Rooney and Fletcher, plus an up and under from Nani which Lopez collected with some difficulty, failed to convince the United boss a goal was going to come so, to huge cheers, Ronaldo was told to get stripped.

The winger was still waiting to be introduced when Villarreal almost hit their hosts with the ultimate sucker punch.

Finding space just outside the box, Angel Lopez crossed for Franco. The striker flicked the ball goalwards with the back of his heel and watched in agony as it bounced back of the post with a grateful Van der Sar gathering the rebound, knowing he would not have been able to do a thing to stop it going in.

With Ronaldo - and Anderson - on the field, United were transformed.

From becoming increasingly sluggish, the Red Devils were suddenly full of life.

Evans headed wide, Lopez punched clear just as Tevez was about to connect with a Patrice Evra cross, then Gonzalo Rodriguez booted off the line as Tevez's bouncing shot was going in after Ronaldo had led a lightening break which also involved Rooney.

Ronaldo eventually managed a header that floated wide before Evans hit the post but it was a familiar tale of disappointment for the hosts in front of goal this season.

Ferguson will need no reminding the last time Villarreal gained a draw at Old Trafford, three years ago, United did not make it out of the group.

It is unlikely to happen again but as Chelsea are lying in wait on Sunday, they need some of those 42 goals Ronaldo scored last season.

Gallas rescues Gunners

2008-09-17T20:20:00.000-07:00

A late tap-in from William Gallas rescued a point for Arsenal against Dynamo Kiev. The Gunners trailed to a dubious penalty, converted by Ismael Bangoura, but eventually secured a draw. Manchester United couldn't break down Villarreal as they drew 0-0 at Old Trafford. Elsewhere, Barry Robson missed a penalty as Celtic drew 0-0 with Aalborg, Lyon were held 2-2 by Fiorentina and Juve beat Zenit 1-0.

Type rest of the post here

Marseille v Liverpool: Preview

2008-09-16T21:53:00.001-07:00

Rafael Benitez arrived in the south of France desperately trying to calm wild expectations following Liverpool's humbling of the champions of Europe.

But already talk on both sides of the channel is of whether Liverpool can achieve Premier League and Champions League glory in tandem following their victory over Manchester United on Saturday.

Marseille boss Eric Gerets was so impressed he described Liverpool as "Duracell bunnies'' and an example to the world for their performance in reducing Sir Alex Ferguson's men to despair in a 2-1 defeat at Anfield.

Benitez needed to have the famous battery advert explained to him but once he cottoned on, the Spaniard said: "It is nice that we have made such an impact. As far as battery-powered, I suppose they are talking of Javier Mascherano.

"But as far as making an impression, I am only concerned about the impact it has on us and our confidence. Too many people want to talk too early about titles and other things.

"We did well against Manchester United but we must be focused on the next game, and that is Marseille.

"We must not allow ourselves to get carried away. We played well on Saturday but the Champions League is different.

"Clearly we must not think about what happened in the past and think only of our next game and making sure that we win it. Otherwise you waste what has gone before.

"We have talked to the players about putting Manchester United out of their minds and just concentrate on the future.''

Benitez is without Brazilian full-back Fabio Aurelio, who has a calf injury, but he confirmed that Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres are both fit to start in the opening Group D clash in the Stade Velodrome.

Marseille coach Gerets, who has twice plotted victories over the Reds in Europe - first for Galatasaray and then in OM's win at Anfield last season - admits to being concerned about the level of form the five-time European Cup winners achieved in beating the current champions on Saturday.

And Gerets is even more worried that Liverpool beat United without Torres and with captain Gerrard only involved for 20 minutes.

He said: "If I had been asked five days ago whether I was happy with Liverpool not having their best two players, it would have been a different answer to now.

"I love watching Premier League football played at that pace. I really enjoyed watching Liverpool's game with Manchester United.

"Liverpool are like the Duracell bunnies - they are an example to the rest of the world for the effort they put in. You just wind them up and off they go.''

He added: "Liverpool have a fantastic coach, a fantastic team. I know that Manchester United have cut their lead of titles (now 18-17 in the Merseysiders' favour) but I really hope that Liverpool win the Premier League, and somehow we survive in this group and end up playing them in the Champions League final.''

Skipper Lorik Cana, rested in Sunday's 1-1 draw at Bordeaux, will return in midfield, probably in place of Karim Ziani, while there is a worry over Hatem Ben Arfa who has a knee injury.

Lacklustre Liga?

2008-09-16T07:27:00.000-07:00

The game at Old Trafford on Wednesday between Manchester United and Villarreal should be interesting from various perspectives. All week there seems to have been a collective paranoia floating around the Spanish scene that the English Premier League is taking over the Galactic Federation and that all Star Wars from now in will be heavily weighted in English favour.

The latest three to turn up on Blighty's shores, Albert Riera, Xisco and Robinho, all made their respective waves at Liverpool, Newcastle and Manchester City this weekend (the latter two even scored) when they should have been playing their trade in Cervantes' fair kingdom. This was the claim made this last week by Santiago Segurola, Spain's most respected football journalist, an argument based on the theory that it is as much La Liga's mismanagement of their own affairs that is causing this steady exodus from here as it is the glint of filthy lucre shining from across the seas.

When Segurola writes a piece so damning basically of the back-scratching Spanish Federation, the LFP's fear of upsetting the cart and of the television companies' tiresome bickering, people tend to take notice. Segurola is a bit of an Anglophile, and is the only living Spaniard who can recite from memory the Leeds United line-up in the 1972 FA Cup final against Arsenal. Nevertheless, he was careful to underline the fact that he still thought there were bucketfuls of quality in La Liga, if only it could remember how to market itself. At times last season there seemed to be more English football on offer on Spanish telly than the national product itself.

Euro 2008 went someway to restoring the balance and the self-esteem, and Villarreal's game on Wednesday might help too. At home to Deportivo this weekend, the little side from the middle of nowhere decided to apply the law of rotation to the game, given their relatively meagre resources as a Champions League side. The American Josmer Altidore accompanied Cani up front after Llorente had gone off at half-time. Rossi didn't figure, Nihat is still injured, but Villarreal were still far too good for Depor, who started their campaign brightly a fortnight back with a home win against Real Madrid. Ibagaza, Senna and Cazorla in the middle of the park should give United something to think about, but they might prove to be short of firepower to worry the English champions' impressive-looking defence although it looked far from solid at Anfield at the weekend.

Villarreal's defeat of Deportivo was a reminder of the Champions League 2002 campaign, when Deportivo won at both Old Trafford and Highbury, playing splendidly into the bargain. How times change. Those results back then were proof of La Liga's strength in depth, underlined the year before when tiny Alavés contributed to that wonderful UEFA Cup final against Liverpool. Sands have since begun to shift, proof of which is the fact that Spain's wonderful performances in the recent European Championships seem to no longer be the yardstick by which to measure a league's power or status. On the night last week when Spain beat Armenia 4-0 to register their 25th game on the trot without defeat, England's 4-1 win in Croatia (televised by a number of regional channels) seemed to be equally big news. Looks like the four Champions League representatives are going to have to work hard this season to restore some balance.

Real Madrid, drawn in the Group of Death with Juventus and Zenit, have their easiest game on paper on Wednesday night at home to the obscure BATE Barisov, but if their game this weekend against the equally unfashionable Numancia was anything to go by, they won't necessarily win at a stroll. Since Barisov are renowned for their fitness, there certainly won't be much strolling going on. Madrid were twice behind, and looked ill-at-ease at the back against a side concocted from loanees, trusted Second Division campaigners and not a great deal else. Sergio Ramos and Gabi Heinze were missing, but Metzelder again looked less than convincing, and Michel Salgado continues to look like a man who should have retired in the summer.

At least they managed four goals, one a cracker by their debutant Rafael Van der Vaart, and Guti bagged the club's 5,000 goal in professional competition since 1929 about which he looked extremely pleased. That's because it puts him in famous company and means that in about twelve years his face will appear in a 'Marca' pull-out which goes over the previous thousand-men since 1950 (when Pahiño scored the 1,000th). Guti joins Gento, Juanito and Zamorano on this chancy podium of history-snatchers, one of the few accolades that Raúl has managed to miss out on. Who will get the 6,000th? Theo Walcott tempted to Spanish shores by a new Chinese consortium, just as Cristiano Ronaldo retires from the game in a Manchester City shirt?
Samuel Eto'o

JosepLago/GettyImages

Samuel Eto'o rues another missed chance
Real Madrid are no strangers to adversity, but if they mess up Wednesday's game then they can probably kiss goodbye to the famous 'tenth' and will probably do the same to several of their hierarchy too. Despite laughing all the way to the bank with the Robinho money, sporting director Pedja Mijatovic seemed to be suggesting at the weekend that nobody would be bought in the next transfer window. That may be so but since none of the long list of glittering names quoted as reinforcements ever arrived for the start of this season, Mijatovic's words have been seen as no more than a gesture of self-protectionism, after a long period in the shadows.

Over in Barcelona, things are hardly in better shape. The Pep Guardiola reign has started in stuttering fashion, and the signs are that some of the old tensions are still around, despite the presence of the Catalan folk hero, brought in by Joan Laporta to calm the waters and save his own butt. The folks of Barcelona will grant Guardiola time and patience, such is his godly status amongst them, but the signs are that the new manager's strict regime and rather convoluted way of expressing his tactical preferences are not being immediately appreciated by his players.

Messi, Iniesta and Bojan all started on the bench (due, presumably, to their efforts in midweek for their respective national sides) and whilst Guardiola's faith in his squad players is to be applauded, Racing de Santander are no longer the sort of side you can afford to mess around with. They parked the bus in the goal area, but that was to be expected. Barça's domination of the play was only superseded by their inability to put the ball into the net, a factor made all the more significant by Henry's absence not simply from the squad but from the stadium. There's another one who will be joining the Man City revolution in January. And when they finally did score (penalty from Messi), Racing replied with a soft one from a free-kick and took a welcome point home to Cantabria. That makes it one point from six for Guardiola, and Barça's worst start to a league campaign since 1973. On Tuesday night they open their European campaign at home to Sporting Lisbon, who whilst no great shakes of late cannot be underestimated. Barça need some goals, and fast.

Atlético Madrid, who travel to PSV, lost rather tamely (2-1) at Valladolid, with the added bother that their starlet, Kun Agüero, arrived home late from Argentina and was kept on the bench (while he woke up from his jet-lag) by the unamused manager Javier Aguirre. Rather like his mate Messi, who was accused by Maradona of being 'greedy' last week (with the ball), Agüero came off the bench to score, but in this case it garnered not even a single point.

None of the four sides currently in the Champions League sits in the top four after this weekend, which may or not be significant. Espanyol, shorn of Albert Riera, sit atop the league with six from six (the only ones with maximum points), but that is most certainly not significant. They're more likely to be much further down by the end of it. Sevilla's 4-3 cracker at home to new boys Sporting Gijon was an amazing match, but it raises further questions as to the winner's credentials for the season to come. They face a short trip across town for the Betis derby next weekend, a fixture that can leave marks on the psychological template for the rest of the season.

Things don't quite seem to have got going in La Liga just yet. This week should mark out some territory, either restoring confidence or increasing the jitters.

Tottenham 1-2 Aston Villa

2008-09-15T19:27:00.000-07:00

Nigel Reo-Coker and Ashley Young grabbed the goals in Aston Villa's 2-1 win at White Hart Lane to consign Tottenham to their worst start in the Premier League.

Spurs could point to Dimitar Berbatov's transfer saga contributing to just a point from their opening three games, but this defeat had nothing to do with the Bulgarian - Martin O'Neill's men had too much pace and dealt with almost everything thrown at them.

Goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes prevented Villa from adding to Reo-Coker's opener but it was then his mistake that gifted Young his strike in the second half.

Darren Bent's fortunate effort gave Spurs hope with four minutes left but Villa held on.

It sealed Villa's first three points in London for four years, and kept Spurs at the bottom of the table.

• Ramos: It's only just begun

The corresponding fixture last year resulted in eight goals shared and Spurs' dramatic comeback completed in the last seconds - and the way both teams started suggested they were in the mood for more of the same.

Plenty has changed at Spurs since. Not one of their goalscorers on that night are now at the club and Martin Jol, coach at the time, is currently top of the league with Hamburg in the Bundesliga. Villa fans even ironically chanted the Dutchman's name.

With Franco Baldini from Fabio Capello's backroom staff watching in the stands, Villa broke the deadlock in the fifth minute with a goal made by three of Villa's seven Englishmen in their starting XI.

Winger Young had fed Gabriel Agbonlahor down the left flank and his low cross found its way to the far post, after John Carew's attempted flick.

Reo-Coker did not take a touch and stroked the ball in at the the near post, his first league goal for Villa.

Luka Modric attempted to get Spurs back into the game with a run and shot that was saved by Brad Friedel - his only contribution before hobbling off with a knock - but it could have got worse for the hosts.

Reo-Coker had a cross deflected that sliced towards Gomes' goal and hit the post.

Nicky Shorey was booked for a trip on Aaron Lennon as Spurs attempted to get themselves back in the game by breaking forward. They thought they should have had a penalty when Curtis Davies blocked a shot from Roman Pavlyuchenko, who was making his debut after his £13.8million move from Spartak Moscow.

The scoreline made for an open game, and Gomes kept Spurs within reach with two saves from the top drawer. The first was when Gareth Barry got on the end of Agbonlahor's cross - the ball was behind the Brazilian when he clawed it away.

Then Agbonlahor met Shorey's cross at the far post and Gomes punched to safety.

Pavlyuchenko made a frustrating start to his career in England, snapping at the ankles of Stiliyan Petrov within 12 seconds of kick-off.

He got on the end of a Gareth Bale free-kick but his finish went in the wrong direction, then he had a penalty shout correctly turned down when Luke Young cleared for a corner.

Spurs head coach Juande Ramos sent on David Bentley at the break and the England midfielder came sprinting out of the dressing room first, signalling his intent.

Spurs pushed forward and Friedel was required to tip a swerving Lennon half-volley over the crossbar - but they were two goals adrift within nine minutes of the restart.

Villa's second started with Barry getting out of trouble in his own territory by tricking Jermaine Jenas and Pavlyuchenko with a sharp turn. He fed midfielder Young on the halfway line and the former Watford player headed towards goal, breezing past Michael Dawson and then firing a skidding shot that crept under Gomes' dive.

Dawson picked up a booking for a block when Young was running at the hosts at full speed, then the defender was taken off for Giovani dos Santos as Spurs went for broke.

Bent grabbed his goal with four minutes remaining when he failed to get out of the way of Jenas' shot - the ball struck his ankles and flew past Friedel.

Jenas then blocked on the line from Villa substitute Marlon Harewood when a third goal looked a certainty.

# Ramos: It's only just begun

Tottenham head coach Juande Ramos insists it is too early to write off hopes of a top-four finish despite the defeat by Aston Villa bringing about the club's worst start to a Premier League season.

''We've only played four games, it's only just begun,'' said the Spaniard. ''There is still room for us there. We had very little time to prepare - (Vedran) Corluka, (Roman) Pavlyuchenko and (Fraizer) Campbell are new to the club and haven't really had time.

''We are behind in our preparations. We need to keep the spirit going and climb as high up the table as possible.

''We've made an irregular start to the season having lost three games which makes it an uphill struggle for us.''

Ramos insists he has faced bigger challenges in his career and feels he has the quality in his squad to kick-start their season.

''We've got a young squad with plenty of quality there and hopefully with calmness and experience we'll get a positive result and after that things could well change for us,'' he said.

''I'm not going to carry out an assessment after just one game. Don't forget this is the same squad that beat Roma 5-1.

''We've had good results against Celtic and Roma, I know that was in pre-season but they were great games and we have very good footballers.''

Ramos admitted he was furious with his players but refused to single out Heurelho Gomes, who was at fault for Ashley Young's strike just after the break.

''I'm always angry at the end of games like this with the players and myself as well,'' Ramos said.

''The blame I give to the goalkeeper is the blame that is due to him, like the other players. On other occasions he also stopped them scoring goals.

''I think he was absolutely magnificent apart from that goal.''

Seven of O'Neill's starting XI were Englishmen, although it was Franco Baldini, from England's backroom staff, rather than coach Fabio Capello, who watched the game.

''I'm not wildly interested in what Fabio does, I'm sure he's basking in the glory of a wonderful performance and that is great,'' O'Neill said.

''With Ashley Young and Gabby Agbonlahor, their time will come. I'm really selfish about this and want them to be on the fringe of the internationals but not actually play.

''I'd hope that would continue for another eight years!''

Reo-Coker said: ''It's just hard work and determination.

''We can be as strong as we want to be. The Premier League is very strong and competitive - we are just focusing on getting points on the board.''

Gareth Barry added: ''They had a lot of pressure but we saw it out well.''

Agbonlahor picked up a thigh problem but the injury is not thought to be serious, while John Carew hobbled off with an apparent ankle injury and will need to be assessed ahead of Villa's UEFA Cup clash against Litex Lovech on Thursday.

Ashley puts Toon up for sale

2008-09-14T23:39:00.000-07:00

Billionaire Mike Ashley has confirmed he wants to sell the Newcastle United just 16 months after staging a £134.4million takeover.
Mike Ashley

AlexLivesey/GettyImages

Mike Ashley has had his fill at Newcastle.
Ashley and his executive director (football) Dennis Wise have borne the brunt of a furious backlash from supporters in the ten days since manager Kevin Keegan walked out in protest over the club's transfer policy.

• The full statement from Mike Ashley

Thousands staged demonstrations outside St James' Park before and after yesterday's embarrassing 2-1 Barclays Premier League defeat by Hull demanding that Ashley sell up and that Wise be removed from his post.

They could now get at least one of their wishes after the sportswear magnate revealed that he is ready to listen to offers.

In a lengthy statement, Ashley said: "I am not stupid and have listened to the fans.

"I have really loved taking my kids to the games, being next to them and all the fans.

"But I am now a dad who can't take his kids to a football game on a Saturday because I am advised that we would be assaulted.

"Therefore, I am no longer prepared to subsidise Newcastle United.

"I am putting the club up for sale. I hope that the fans get what they want and that the next owner is someone who can lavish the amount of money on the club that the fans want."

Ashley snapped up the Magpies after launching successful bids to buy out first the Hall family's holding in the club and then chairman Freddy Shepherd.

There was delight on Tyneside at the time as the fans settled back and waited for the cash to start flowing from a man with a personal fortune estimated at £1.9billion.

They were celebrating again when, after sacking manager Sam Allardyce just eight months into his reign, Ashley pulled off a sensational coup by persuading Keegan to return.

However, it was only after gaining control of the club that the tycoon realised the full extent of its debts, and he has since invested a further £110million to address both that situation and the recruitment of new signings.

His blueprint for lasting success was to run the club as a business, and that meant not over-extending it financially.

Ashley said: "I knew that the club would cost me money every year after I had bought it. I have backed the club with money.

"You can see that from the fact that Newcastle has the fifth highest wage bill in the Premier League.

"I was always prepared to bank roll Newcastle up to the tune of £20million per year, but no more. That was my bargain.

"I would make the club solvent. I would make it a going concern. I would pour up to £20million a year into the club and not expect anything back.

"It has to be realised that if I put £100million into the club year in year out, then it would not be too long before I was cleaned out and a debt ridden Newcastle United would find itself in the position that faced Leeds United.

"That is the nightmare for every fan. To love a club that over-extends itself, that tries to spend what it can't afford.

"That will never happen to Newcastle when I am in charge. The truth is that Newcastle could not sustain buying the Shevchenkos, Robinhos or the Berbatovs.

"These are recognised European footballers. They have played in the European leagues and everyone knows about them. They can be brilliant signings.

"But everybody knows that they are brilliant and so they, and players like them, cost more than £30million to buy before you even take into account agent commissions and the multi-million pound wage deals.

"My plan and my strategy for Newcastle is different. It has to be.

"Arsenal is the shining example in England of a sustainable business model. It takes time. It can't be done overnight."

It was to that end that Ashley appointed Wise, vice-president (player recruitment) Tony Jimenez and technical co-ordinator Jeff Vetere to scour the world for young, undiscovered talent.

They identified the likes of summer signings Fabricio Coloccini, Jonas Gutierrez and Xisco, but Keegan's fury at his lack of control over that recruitment mission, and the sale of James Milner and efforts to offload Michael Owen, Joey Barton and Alan Smith, ultimately led to his departure.

However, Ashley insisted he never had a problem with the 57-year-old, with whom he has held talks over a possible return this weekend.

There have been rumours since Ashley arrived on Tyneside that he would look to move the club on quickly, and several potential buyers have been circling for some time.

Indian businessman Anil Ambani has publicly ended his interest after failing to get a response from the club, although that may not be the end of the story, while Chinese billionaire Xu Rongmao has also been linked with a bid.

But Ashley is adamant that he will not sell to anyone he believes cannot give the fans what they want.

He said: "If I can't sell the club to someone who will give the fans what they want, then I shall continue to ensure that Newcastle is run on a business and football model that is sustainable.

"I care too much about the club merely to abandon it.

"I have the interests of Newcastle United at heart. I have listened to you. You want me out.

"That is what I am now trying to do, but it won't happen overnight and it may not happen at all if a buyer does not come in.

"You don't need to demonstrate against me again because I have got the message.

"Any further action will only have an adverse effect on the team. As fans of Newcastle United, you need to spend your energy getting behind, not me, but the players who need your support.

"I am determined that Newcastle United is not only here today, but that it is also there tomorrow for your children who stand beside you at St James' Park."

# The full statement from Newcastle owner Mike Ashley:

I have enjoyed sport since I was a boy. I love football. I have followed England in every tournament since Mexico '86. I was there to see Maradona and his hand of God. I know what it means to love football and to love a club. I know how important it is to other people because football is so important to me.

My life has been tied up with sport. It was the passion that I felt for sport that helped me to be successful with my business. That success allowed me to mix my passion and my business.

I bought Newcastle United in May 2007. Newcastle attracted me because everyone in England knows that it has the best fans in football. When the fans are behind the club at St James' Park, it makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. It is magic.

Newcastle's best asset has been, is and always will be the fans.

But like any business with assets the club has debts. I paid £134million out of my own pocket for the club. I then poured another £110million into the club not to pay off the debt, but just to reduce it.

The club is still in debt. Even worse than that, the club still owes millions of pounds in transfer fees.

I shall be paying out many more millions over the coming year to pay for players bought by the club before I arrived.

But there was a double whammy. Commercial deals such as sponsorships and advertising had been front loaded.

The money had been paid up front and spent. I was left with a club that owed millions and part of whose future had been mortgaged.

Unless I had come into the club then it might not have survived. It could have shared the fate of other clubs who have borrowed too heavily against their future. Before I had spent a penny on wages or buying players Newcastle United had cost me more than a quarter of a billion pounds.

Don't get me wrong. I did not buy Newcastle to make money. I bought Newcastle because I love football.

Newcastle does not generate the income of a Manchester United or a Real Madrid. I am Mike Ashley, not Mike Ashley a multi-billionaire with unlimited resources. Newcastle United and I can't do what other clubs can. We can't afford it.

I knew that the club would cost me money every year after I had bought it. I have backed the club with money.

You can see that from the fact that Newcastle has the fifth highest wage bill in the Premier League.

I was always prepared to bank roll Newcastle up to the tune of £20million per year but no more. That was my bargain.

I would make the club solvent. I would make it a going concern. I would pour up to £20million a year into the club and not expect anything back.

It has to be realised that if I put £100million into the club year-in, year-out, then it would not be too long before I was cleaned out and a debt-ridden Newcastle United would find itself in the position that faced Leeds United.

That is the nightmare for every fan. To love a club that over-extends itself, that tries to spend what it can't afford.

That will never happen to Newcastle when I am in charge. The truth is that Newcastle could not sustain buying the Shevchenkos, Robinhos or the Berbatovs.

These are recognised European footballers. They have played in the European leagues and everyone knows about them.

They can be brilliant signings. But everybody knows that they are brilliant and so they, and players like them, cost more than £30million to buy before you even take into account agent commissions and the multi-million pound wage deals.

My plan and my strategy for Newcastle is different. It has to be.

Arsenal is the shining example in England of a sustainable business model. It takes time. It can't be done overnight.

Newcastle has therefore set up an extensive scouting system. We look for young players, for players in foreign leagues who everyone does not know about. We try and stay ahead of the competition. We search high and low looking for value, for potential that we can bring on and for players who will allow Newcastle to compete at the very highest level but who don't cost the earth.

I am prepared to back large signings for millions of pounds but for a player who is young and has their career in front of them and not for established players at the other end of their careers.

There is no other workable way forward for Newcastle. It is in this regard that Dennis [Wise] and his team have done a first class job in scouting for talent to secure the future of the club.

You only need to look at some of our signings to see that it is working, slowly working.

Look at Jonas Guttierrez and Fabricio Collocini. These are world class players.

The plan is showing dividends with the signing of exceptional young talent such as Sebastein Bassong, Danny Guthrie and Xisco.

My investment in the club has extended to time, effort and yet again, money being poured into the Academy.

I want Newcastle to be able to create its own legends of the future to rival those of the past. This is a long-term plan. A long-term plan for the future of the club so that it can flourish.

One person alone can't manage a Premiership football club and scout the world looking for world class players and stars of the future. It needs a structure and it needs people who are dedicated to that task. It needs all members of the management team to share that vision for it to work.

Also one of the reasons that the club was so in debt when I took over was due to transfer dealings caused by managers moving in and out of the club.

Every time there was a change in manager, millions would be spent on new players and millions would be lost as players were sold. It can't keep on working like that. It is just madness.

I have put Newcastle on a sound financial footing. It is reducing its debt. It is spending within itself. It is recruiting exciting new players and bringing in players for the future.

The fans want this process to happen more quickly and they want huge amounts spent in the transfer market so that the club can compete at the top table of European football now.

I am not stupid and have listened to the fans. I have really loved taking my kids to the games, being next to them and all the fans. But I am now a dad who can't take his kids to a football game on a Saturday because I am advised that we would be assaulted.

Therefore, I am no longer prepared to subsidise Newcastle United. I am putting the club up for sale.

I hope that the fans get what they want and that the next owner is someone who can lavish the amount of money on the club that the fans want.

This will not be a fire sale. Newcastle is now in a much stronger position than it was in 2007. It is planning for the future and it is sustainable.

I am still a fan of Newcastle United. We, my kids and I, have loved standing on the terraces with the fans, we have loved travelling with the away fans and we have met so many fans whose company we have enjoyed. We have absolutely loved it, but it is not safe any more for us as a family.

I am very conscious of the responsibility that I bear in owning Newcastle United. Tough decisions have to be made in business and I will not shy away from doing what I consider to be in the best interests of the club. This is not fantasy football.

I don't want anyone to read my words and think that any of this is an attack on Kevin Keegan. It is not.

Kevin and I always got on. Everyone at the club, and I mean everyone, thinks that he has few equals in getting the best out of the players. He is a legend at the club and rightly so.

Clearly there are disagreements between Kevin and the board and we have both put that in the hands of our lawyers.

I hope that all the fans get to read this statement so that they understand what I am about. I would not expect all of the fans to agree with me.

But I have set out, clearly, my plan. If I can't sell the club to someone who will give the fans what they want, then I shall continue to ensure that Newcastle is run on a business and football model that is sustainable.

I care too much about the club merely to abandon it.

I have the interests of Newcastle United at heart. I have listened to you. You want me out. That is what I am now trying to do, but it won't happen overnight and it may not happen at all if a buyer does not come in.

You don't need to demonstrate against me again because I have got the message.

Any further action will only have an adverse effect on the team. As fans of Newcastle United you need to spend your energy getting behind, not me, but the players who need your support.

I am determined that Newcastle United is not only here today, but that it is also there tomorrow for your children who stand beside you at St James' Park.

Mike Ashley.

Ronaldo: I've changed football

2008-09-14T06:50:00.000-07:00

ROME, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo believes he changed the game by scoring 31 goals from midfield in the Premier League last season to win the European Golden Boot award.
Click here

"With this Golden Boot I have changed football a little. Usually strikers won it and I'm a winger," the Portugal international told La Gazzetta dello Sport after receiving the trophy at a ceremony in his native Madeira on Saturday.

Ronaldo said he is confident of winning the Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year prizes after inspiring United to the Champions League-Premier League double last term.

"The best candidate for the other prizes is Cristiano Ronaldo," the 23-year-old said.

"To be honest, I think I have been the most consistent and the best. And over time I want to enter the book of the all-time best players."

Ronaldo, who has been sidelined since undergoing surgery on his right ankle in July, said he does not fear a hostile reception at Old Trafford after making an unsuccessful request to be sold to Real Madrid in the close season.

"When I put on the (United) shirt, I give my all. And I'm already in the history of the club," he said. "When I play again the fans will love me again."

He also said it was unlikely he would move to Manchester City, after media reports linked him to a big money move to the cross-town rivals.

"No one knows my future, but I don't see myself in the shirt of another Manchester team," he said.

Football / Scottish Premier League: Celtic win, Rangers stay top

2008-09-13T20:01:00.000-07:00

GLASGOW: Celtic warmed up for their midweek Champions League date against Aalborg with a 4-2 win over Motherwell yesterday but Rangers remained top of the Scottish Premier League with a 2-1 victory over Kilmarnock.
At Fir Park, the game had looked over as a contest at half-time with Celtic racing into a 4-0 lead with goals from Shaun Maloney, Scott McDonald and a double from Georgios Samaras.

Motherwell improved in the second-half and pulled two goals back through John Sutton and David Clarkson.

But despite dominating possession in the second period the home side could not get back on level terms as Celtic took all three points.

Strachan said the first 55 minutes of the match was Celtic at their best.
"That was as good as we have produced for a long time," said the Celtic manager.

"There was a great flow to the game. Everybody knew when the ball was getting passed and everybody was moving at the right time.

"I thought the football was absolutely magnificent. At the start of the second-half we could have wrapped it up really and there were a lot of good things to come out the game for us."

Motherwell manager Mark McGhee praised his players' second-half performance but admitted Celtic had been too good for his side.

"They were fast, they were inventive and we were out-powered and outclassed in every department," said McGhee, a former Celtic player.

Celtic took the lead with just four minutes on the clock when Scott Brown's pass across the face of goal found Maloney unmarked at the far post to sidefoot the ball in.

The Hoops doubled their lead just four minutes later when Samaras held off Motherwell defender Mark Reynolds to slide the ball under the advancing Graeme Smith.

Former Motherwell player McDonald made it three with 24 minutes gone. Samaras completed the first-half rout after 41 minutes.

Motherwell came out transformed in the second-half and pulled one back in the 54th minute as Sutton rifled in a volley from 16 yards out for his third goal in as many games since joining the club. Clarkson got Well's second just two minutes later.

At Ibrox, 10-man Rangers had a Kris Boyd second-half double to thank for their win against Kilmarnock.

Frazer Wright took advantage of an Allan McGregor error to fire Killie into a first-half lead, but Boyd converted a penalty in the 58th minute then fired in the winner minutes later before Sasa Papac saw red for his second bookable offence.

In other matches, St Mirren came from behind to defeat Inverness CT 2-1 away. Second-half goals from Billy Mehmet and Garry Brady cancelled out Adam Rooney's penalty.

A Steven Fletcher double gave Hibs a 2-1 win over Dundee United at Easter Road with Lee Wilkie scoring for the visitors.

Falkirk picked up their first points of the season with a 2-1 victory against Hearts with goals from Neil McCann and Scott Arfield. Michael Stewart scored for the Jambos.

Hamilton came from behind to defeat Aberdeen 2-1 at Pittodrie with David Graham and James McCarthy cancelling out Gary McDonald's opener.

EPL 2008/09 Season: Benitez: Win will give us title belief

2008-09-13T19:59:00.001-07:00

LIVERPOOL: Rafa Benitez insisted Liverpool's 2-1 victory over Manchester United yesterday will give his players the belief to mount a serious Premier League title challenge.
Benitez's side savoured their first league win against arch rivals United since 2004 thanks to Ryan Babel's late goal at Anfield.

Carlos Tevez had given United an early lead but Wes Brown's own goal drew Liverpool level and the hosts were the more dynamic force after that.

Reds boss Benitez is convinced his first league success over Sir Alex Ferguson's men could be a springboard to win a first English title since 1990.

"I think it was really important. Our position in the table was good but now it is better," Benitez said. "It was important for the belief of the players to show we can do well against a good team.
"The players were really good. We conceded an early goal but after that we showed character.

"We were on top of them. We were doing a good job in the first half against a good team but we talked at half-time about showing confidence to go for a win."

Ferguson admitted Liverpool deserved the victory but he was furious with his side's lacklustre performance.

"Losing our composure the way we did is not expected from Manchester United," he said. "The defending was very poor for both goals. Over the whole match Liverpool were the far better team.

"We started excellently and at that point we needed to establish ourselves, but Liverpool produced a performance of tackling and harrassing and we weren't able to cope with that. We have to give Liverpool credit but we have to cope better.

"We didn't have one good performance, possibly Rio (Ferdinand) but that was it."

As if that wasn't bad enough for Ferguson, he also saw Nemanja Vidic collect a late red card that will rule him out of next weekend's trip to Chelsea, while Michael Carrick suffered an injury that is likely to keep him out of Wednesday's Champions League clash with Villarreal.

"We got three players booked and one sent off. Is that a reflection of Manchester United being a dirty team? I don't think so. The crowd played their part in that," Ferguson added.

While Ferguson left Merseyside licking his wounds, Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher echoed Benitez's verdict that the Reds' confidence will be sky-high now.

"It's not just the three points that are important, it's the belief and confidence," Carragher said. "We've just beaten the champions of Europe, a team that we've got a lot of respect for.

"For too long now we've been off the pace and it's been Manchester United and Chelsea going for the league. It gives us a bit of breathing space at the top and that's where Liverpool should be.

"Hopefully this should spur us on. We haven't been playing that well, that's the best we've played this season by far.

"We'll see at the end of the season whether we're good enough to win the league.

Chelsea win clash of cash

2008-09-13T19:33:00.000-07:00

Ryan Babel came from the bench to strike a late winner against arch-rivals Manchester United as Liverpool triumphed 2-1 at Anfield.

GettyImages

Newcastle fans make their feelings known

His 78th minute goal came after Javier Mascherano harried Ryan Giggs in to an error with Dirk Kuyt squaring for his fellow Dutchman.

United had taken the lead through Carlos Tevez in the third minute but Liverpool cancelled that out after an Edwin Van Der Sar howler led to a Wes Brown own goal.

United finished the match with ten men after Nemanja Vidic received his second yellow card for a challenge on Xabi Alonso as Rafa Benitez celebrated his first league win over Alex Ferguson's side.

Robinho got his Manchester City career off to a flying start when he converted a wonderful free-kick to open the score at the Eastlands in the 'clash of the cash' against Chelsea.

City fans had little else to cheer though as Chelsea responsed quickly with a Ricardo Carvalho strike before well-taken second half goals from Frank Lampard and Nicolas Anelka secured a deserved victory for the Blues.

John Terry was shown a straight red card for a clumsy challenge on Jo and will miss the next three games for Luiz Felipe Scolari's side.

Hull City added to the mounting woes on Tyneside with a 1-2 victory at a turbulent St. James Park.

Newcastle, managerless since Kevin Keegan left the club, started brightly and Danny Guthrie missed a wonderful chance to open his Premier League account.

But Marlon King opened the scoring for the visitors with a 34th minute penalty after Nicky Butt fouled Peter Halmosi.

Their lead was doubled when King netted again in the 55th minute but Xisco netted on his debut to set up a barnstorming finish.

It wasn't enough though and the Newcastle fans left Mike Ashley in no doubt of their feelings at the end of a demoralising defeat.

Arsenal warmed up for their midweek trip to Kiev with a four nil win over Blackburn at Ewood Park.

Adebayor bagged a hat-trick for the Gunners with Robin van Persie opening the scoring for the visitors after good work from Theo Walcott.

Portsmouth trailed to a 24th minute Mido goal at Fratton Park before Jermain Defoe rescued them with a brace.

Defoe equalised after Crouch fed him and the England striker then struck the 89th minute winner with his eleventh goal in sixteen games for Pompey.

The hapless Titus Bramble scored an own goal against Sunderland to leave Wigan trailing at half-time.

Wigan came out with purpose after the break and Amr Zaki hit a post for the Latics in the second half as they turned the screws on Roy Keane's men.

The Egyptian Zaki got the goal Wigan's play deserved with his fifth goal of the season to earn his side a point.

Fulham secured a 2-1 win over Bolton to make this their best start in five seasons.

Zoltan Gera and Bobby Zamora scored both goals in the first half as The Cottagers appeared to be cruising to victory.

A Kevin Davies goal for Bolton caused the home side some alarm but they held on for all three points.

West Bromwich Albion secured their first Premier League victory of the season as Gianfranco Zola watched his new team for the first time.

In an entertaining first half, West Ham side shared four goals with the Baggies at the Hawthorns.

James Morrison scored the first with a third minute header but Mark Noble struck one back for the Hammers in the 29th minute.

The London side then took the lead with a Lucas Neil goal but Roman Bednar converted a penalty to leave honours even at the interval.

Chris Brunt was the Baggies hero as he fired in the winner to send the home crowd wild.

Liverpool v Man Utd: Preview

2008-09-13T06:52:00.001-07:00

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard and striker Fernando Torres have both been passed fit to face Manchester United at Anfield on Saturday.

Torres had been sidelined with a hamstring injury, while Gerrard underwent minor groin surgery last month, but both completed a light training session at Melwood on Friday and have been included in the squad.

They are both much better,'' manager Rafael Benitez told the club's official website.

"They came through a full training session. It wasn't a very hard session, but they will both be in the squad.

"It's important for us to have these two players of quality who can change a game.

"I'm not surprised they are available because the medical staff have done a good job and the players have been working really hard with the physios to get fit.''

Defender Fabio Aurelio believes the team can learn from past mistakes against the champions as they go in search of a long-awaited victory.

Lapses in concentration have allowed the Red Devils to take 10 points from their last four visits to Anfield and manager Rafael Benitez has yet to win a league match against Liverpool's bitterest rivals since arriving at Anfield in the summer of 2004.

Aurelio knows the players have to retain their focus for the entire match if they are to finally overcome Sir Alex Ferguson's side.

"If we remember the two games at home against them in the last two seasons we were better than them in my opinion,'' the Brazilian left-back, who played in both matches against United last season.

"We conceded a goal against them from a free-kick in the last minute and last season they scored from a corner. This shows that we have to concentrate at all times,'' he told the club's website liverpoolfc.tv.

"We have to be 100% on our game and try to show character. We need to show them how difficult it is to play at Anfield. We need to try to change the history.

"In recent years it has been difficult against them but we have a great opportunity to change that on Saturday.''

Owen Hargreaves and Michael Carrick return to United's squad while Cristiano Ronaldo is primed for a Champions League comeback against Villarreal at Old Trafford on Wednesday.

Sir Alex Ferguson confirmed his entire first-team squad is now fit ahead of the Anfield trip but that Ronaldo would not travel as he completes his recovery from ankle surgery.

However, Hargreaves, who has been troubled by a tendinitis problem, and Carrick, who also missed England's victories over Andorra and Croatia with an ankle injury, will be involved as United look to continue their recent stranglehold in meetings with their bitter north-west rivals.

Dimitar Berbatov is in line for his debut for the club following his £30million move from Tottenham with just minutes to spare on transfer deadline day.

However, a dramatic day only received further fuel with confirmation City had a bid accepted by Tottenham which is believed to have been in excess of the sum United eventually paid.

Once they realised Berbatov was committed to joining the Old Trafford outfit, City went elsewhere, eventually persuading Robinho to move from Real Madrid for an incredible £32.5million, smashing the British record transfer fee.

It appears to be the start of a revolution at Eastlands. But it also seems City might have more trouble attracting the players they want given Berbatov's stance.

"I would not even have thought about Manchester City,'' said Berbatov. "My only goal was to come to Manchester United.

"My ambitions and goals are big and I want to fulfil them at the biggest club in the world.

"I heard about the offer Manchester City made and the money they want to spend.

"I was surprised but it did not make any difference to me. I just wanted to come here.

"That was my only goal - and I achieved it.

Liverpool bench Gerrard and Torres

2008-09-13T04:25:00.000-07:00

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard and talismanic striker Fernando Torres were only fit enough to make the bench against arch-rivals Manchester United at Anfiled on Saturday.

Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa, Skrtel, Carragher, Aurelio, Benayoun, Alonso, Mascherano, Riera, Kuyt, Keane. Subs: Cavalieri, Dossena, Hyypia, Gerrard, Torres, Babel, Ngog.

Man Utd: Van der Sar, Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Rooney, Scholes, Carrick, Anderson, Tevez, Berbatov. Subs: Kuszczak, Nani, Evans, Hargreaves, O'Shea, Fletcher, Giggs.

Furious fans await Newcastle

2008-09-13T01:02:00.000-07:00

NEWCASTLE: Furious Newcastle United fans will stage protests today to voice their growing anger and frustration over the latest crisis to engulf the slumbering English Premier League side.
Official club stores have already been shunned by supporters refusing to line the pockets of the St James' Park hierarchy and the protests, planned around today's fixture against Hull City, will see thousands of season ticket holders vent their anger in response to the treatment of iconic former manager Kevin Keegan, who left his job under a cloud last week.

Northumbria Police have moved to double the usual number of officers on duty this weekend in a bid to nip any potential trouble in the bud and deeply unpopular owner Mike Ashley is yet to decide whether he dare face 50,000 of his fiercest critics.

The leisure wear billionaire has been advised to reassess his own personal security needs if he does opt to take his seat in the St James' Park directors' box in the wake of the furious backlash which followed Keegan's exit.

With no big name successor lined up to appease the baying hordes, it is little wonder caretaker manager Chris Hughton is approaching his first game at the Newcastle helm with trepidation.
It is understood the former Tottenham Hotspur coach has been told he could be picking United's team for another three weeks as Keegan's potential successors shy away from managing the troubled north-east club.

"We appreciate things may be difficult for the fans at the moment," said Hughton. "But one thing Newcastle supporters are renowned for is their support of the team." Hughton, of course, is not seen as one of the team'. His allegiance to Ashley and director of football, Dennis Wise, is well known and he will be the obvious focus for fans' fury should Ashley stay away and things go wrong against newly promoted Hull.

By contrast, a convincing victory will go some way towards ending a period of intense unrest and begin to move the focus back to football.

Losing the influential Argentinian international Jonas Gutierrez will not help Hughton's cause and the in-form midfielder could be out of action for several weeks after suffering a shoulder injury against Peru in this week's World Cup qualifier.

Hughton could call upon new signings Ignacio Gonzalez and Xisco to step in but neither the Uruguayan nor the Spaniard has trained with their new teammates following transfer deadline day moves to Newcastle.

Hull may never have a better chance of winning on Tyneside and their manager, Phil Brown, could hand a debut to Guinea international Kamil Zayete after the former Young Boys of Berne player landed a deal at the KC Stadium.

Ironically, Zayete impressed Keegan during a trial at Newcastle last month and United's failure to sign the 23-year-old defender was one of the factors which widened the rift between the Magpies' former manager and his board.

Brown also expects to have Dutch midfielder George Boateng and defender Anthony Gardner available after both players trained this week

Liverpool's woes set to continue

2008-09-13T00:59:00.000-07:00

LIVERPOOL: It is the most intense rivalry in English football -- England's most successful club against the outfit that are rapidly closing the trophy gap, both domestically and in Europe.
But despite the decades-old battle for supremacy between Liverpool and Manchester United, it is Sir Alex Ferguson's men that travel to Anfield today with the Premier League and Champions League trophies in their possession.

Liverpool, despite winning the Champions League in 2005, know the balance of power has long since shifted from Merseyside to Manchester.

Rafael Benitez's men go into today's game having failed to score against the reigning European champions in their last seven league meetings, a run stretching back to September 2004 and even then, it was a John O'Shea own goal.

Liverpool have made an unbeaten start to the league season, however, and they entertain United determined to end the miserable run against their bitter rivals.
Good news though, is the speedy recovery of skipper Steven Gerrard and striker Fernando Torres, which gives Liverpool renewed hope that a goal, if not a win, is within reach.

With United still without the injured Cristiano Ronaldo, Ferguson's team have made an unconvincing start to the campaign, but Liverpool's Spanish defender, Alvaro Arbeloa, has warned that the champions remain a threat even without last season's 42-goal top scorer.

"United don't have Ronaldo -- but they still have really good players like Nani, Carlos Tevez, Wayne Rooney and now Dimitar Berbatov. I really don't know if it will be easier without Ronaldo," Arbeloa said.

"Losing to United was a really bad experience at Anfield last season. I know how much of an important game it is for us and our supporters and we were all really disappointed. It is just as important for me as the supporters.

"I think this game is worth much more than three points. If we beat Manchester United at home we will have 10 points and much more confidence. But everyone will also be very, very happy."

United are likely to hand STG30.75 million (RM189 million) new signing Berbatov his debut at Anfield, but with experienced performers such as Michael Carrick and Owen Hargreaves still injured, Brazilian youngsters Rodrigo Possebon and Rafael da Silva are set to be named in the squad.

Old Trafford veteran Paul Scholes insists the young guns are capable of producing the goods on such a big occasion.

"You try to give a little bit of advice to them, but not too much. They don't need much talking to," Scholes said.

"I just say to them to do exactly what has got them here. The manager has seen something in them that has got them to this stage, so why stop that?

"It's good having the youngsters in because they can do all the running for you! You can just sit and pass the ball to them and off they go.

United face a daunting trip to Chelsea after the Liverpool clash, but Scholes is unfazed by the demanding workload.

"These are historically tough games and whenever you play them it isn't any different. You need to play these games at some stage during the season.