..::Football III::..

[Wolverine GTR]

It's not just about Diego Costa - Guus Hiddink

Interim Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink feels Diego Costa is bearing too much of the club's goalscoring burden.

Spain international striker Costa missed the midweek 0-0 draw with Manchester United through suspension but is in contention for Sunday's clash with Crystal Palace.

With just five Premier League goals, Costa is the club's highest league goalscorer this season, but Hiddink believes other players need to support the Brazilian-born 27-year-old."Diego is focusing very much on his job and that's a lot of responsibility. He's brave and he likes to be like that," Hiddink said.

"It's a lot of responsibility, but not just on Diego. He has a big temper and wants to perform and is keen to score, but the other attacking players must play a part in assists and goals. It's not just him.

"There's a lot of technical skill in the midfield and attacking positions. We have to see how the players can become even more productive and take the next step.
"We're trying to get them into good positions in the box so that their high quality has more effect.

"They have the quality. Now they have to be productive with assists or goals. It's not just about Diego."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Pardew: I need to win trophies

Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew is in talks with the ambitious Premier League side about a new contract as he looks to deliver silverware.

Pardew arrived at Selhurst Park a year ago, with Palace languishing in the bottom three before the former Newcastle United boss guided the team to a 10th-place finish last term.

The 54-year-old, who signed a three-and-half-year contract when he joined, has continued where he left off this season, Palace flying high in fifth position after 19 matches and the Englishman wants to turn Londoners into permanent trophy contenders.

"The reason I am talking to them about a new contract here is because I feel we could go forward," he said."There is no point in me staying if I don't have the ambition.

"At this time of my career, I need to win trophies - that is probably the thing that you can hold against me as a manager, so I want to win trophies."When I came here the most important thing was to go from the concept of a manager who was trying to stay in the division - which I think Neil Warnock's mentality was - to a manager who wanted to finish higher than that.

"If you set your sights for the stars, you are going to fall a little bit less."The biggest difference I made here was changing the mentality of the players to make them think they could go and win.

"It's quite an important role for a manger, to give belief. I take that as massive for this football club at the time. I think there was a lack of belief."I changed the dynamic of the players and the attitude of approaching games. To go and win games and not a 'see how we go' kind of attitude to try and stay in the game."

 

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Hodgson is as 'revered as Sir Bobby Robson' - Dyke

Football Association (FA) chairman Greg Dyke hailed England manager Roy Hodgson, as the veteran coach celebrates 40 years in football management.

This year marks four decades in management for Hodgson, who took over Swedish club Halmstads at just 28-years-old and led the club to their first-ever Swedish title.

Since then, Hodgson's coaching career has seen the Englishman work in Finland, Switzerland, Italy, Denmark, Norway, United Arab Emirates and England.

Dyke believes Hodgson's appetite for knowledge and his openness to new experiences sets him apart from many of his contemporaries.

"Roy is a great example to any aspiring coach that being open to new experiences and cultures can really develop you as a person," he told the FA's official website.

"His CV is quite remarkable and it is hard to think of another coach of his stature that has been prepared to learn and grow the way he has.

"According to the record books he started in Sweden in 1976 and here is about to take England to the European Finals in 2016, still inspiring and encouraging young players – good young English players.

"What a fantastic achievement – 40 years coaching at the level he has puts him up there with the great English coaches, much revered people like Sir Bobby Robson, Dave Sexton and Don Howe."

Dyke also praised Hodgson's ability to communicate, saying it has endeared the 68-year-old manager to supporters and staff alike.

"I am constantly amazed by supporters' reaction to Roy if you go to a game with him. He is genuinely liked," Dyke said.

"It is fascinating; wherever we travel people from different countries seek out Roy to share an experience they had of watching one of his sides, or talking to him about a player he once would have managed, or a coach that he knew. He’s probably done more for The FA’s international relations than anyone!

"We're very proud that, as England manager, Roy celebrates 40 years of coaching at the highest levels of our game. Long may it continue."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

I'd like to see Ibrahimovic in the Premier League - agent

Paris Saint-Germain striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic would be ideally suited to a move to the Premier League, his agent Mino Raiola has said.

The Sweden star's club contract expires at the end of the season and the future of the 34-year-old remains far from certain, with a return to Serie A with AC Milan and a switch to MLS both mooted.

While Ibrahimovic himself has stated that a move to Qatar is also an option, Raiola believes a spell in England's top flight would be good for the player.

"I would like to see him in the Premier League," Raiola told Sky Sports News.

"I think it's a game that is made for him with his strength. his ability, his technique, the stadiums with fantastic atmosphere and how football is lived.

"It's difficult now because for the first time in his life he wants to be a free agent so that he can look around and have a feeling day by day what he wants to do.

"There are a lot of projects on our table but he has not decided yet.

"Can he go to England? In theory yes he can because he will be a free agent and for sure there are some clubs always interested in him. What we will do at the end, I really don't know."

Ibrahimovic has ruled out leaving Parc des Princes before his contract expires and Raiola has likewise stressed there will be no chance of a January transfer.

"He will definitely stay with Paris Saint-Germain until the end of the season," he added.

"He wants to be with them, they want to be with him. We have a very strong relationship with the club. He will not leave in January."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Gerrard: This will be my final year

Steven Gerrard expects to retire within the next 12 months and is planning to move into coaching when he calls time on his playing career.

The former Liverpool captain joined LA Galaxy on an 18-month deal last June but admitted towards the end of the year that he found the significant travelling involved in MLS football to be surprisingly difficult.

Gerrard has now stated he expects the 2016 campaign to be the last of a stellar career which has seen him win the Champions League, Uefa Cup, FA Cup and League Cup with Liverpool.

"I'm not 100 per cent sure but I think it will probably be my last year as a player," he told The Daily Telegraph.

Gerrard has spent time training with his former club during the past few weeks and he confirmed there is interest from manager Jurgen Klopp in bringing him back to Anfield.

"I have had a chat with Klopp. I haven't had an offer as such, but the club have let me know they are keen for me to come back but there hasn't been a conversation where they have said: 'We want you to do this, we want you to do that'," he said.
"They have welcomed me back in. I am always going to be biased towards Liverpool and the [English] FA and basically when I am back home I am going to carry on with my punditry work and try and move around clubs and gain more experience, going to watch managers and learning more.

"I am basically available from November, December 2016. Everyone in the football world will know I am available and hopefully I will be 75 per cent into my coaching badges."

Gerrard is now fully focused on entering coaching and admits a regret at not focusing on earning his badges sooner, while urging Premier League clubs and the FA to do more to keep top players involved in the game after retirement.

"They should be getting offers they cannot refuse. If a player has got 100 caps and 700 club games how can a club and the FA just let them go? They have so much to offer," the 35-year-old added.

"A lot of clubs don't let it happen - they don't let players like that go. You see it at Manchester United with Ryan Giggs, Barcelona with Pep Guardiola, they say when you finish here, this will happen.

"I have regrets I didn't start my coaching badges at 21-22. All that time wasted in hotels as an England player when I've been bored and was watching 'The Office' and 'The Sopranos'. I wish I'd done my CBA [coaching] licence then so I'd be doing my pro-licence now.

"I admire that Gary Neville has made the jump so soon, especially into a big club like Valencia.


"Gary was one I thought would go into a role around a first team set-up when he finished playing. You have to tip your hat to him - he is being brave. It will be a great experience for him."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

No favourites in Serie A title race, says Perisic

Inter winger Ivan Perisic believes the Serie A title is wide open this season.

Roberto Mancini's side begin 2016 as the league leaders but both Napoli and Fiorentina sit just a point behind, while champions Juventus and Roma are three and four points further adrift.

While he concedes Juve's dominance in recent years and the togetherness of their squad gives them a slight edge, Perisic insists there are no favourites for the trophy at present.

"We have to forget the defeat against Lazio and get the three points against Empoli [on Wednesday]. We're first in the standings and we want to stay there," he told Corriere dello Sport.

"We're first and it's nice to be up there, but I think we need to do better. I'm optimistic by nature. I believe in myself and the fact that we will close the gap to the top three and the Scudetto.

"It won't be easy, because the competition is so great.

"Juve have returned to the level of the last four years, Napoli and Fiorentina play some great football, the best in the last few championships.

"Roma have gone through a tough time to come back to their levels of October and November.

"Juventus are strong, they've won seven straight matches and they have a squad which knows each other well. Compared to other sides they have an advantage.

"But there's no favourite. I hope Inter win. Getting in the top three is critical."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Ronaldo: I am my own inspiration

Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo has revealed his primary source of inspiration in his quest to be the best player in the world... himself!

The 30-year-old has won the Ballon d'Or three times but says that he never needed to model himself on any particular idol growing up, beyond his single-minded desire to play for the Portugal national team.

"Most of the time, I inspired myself," Ronaldo told Unscriptd. "I'm self-motivated.

"But of course, at that age, I was looking at a big reference in the national team - for example, [Luis] Figo, Rui Costa, Fernando Couto. It was kind of a dream to reach that level.

"The national team, I'd look at them and I'd speak for myself: I want to be a professional player and I want to play for the national team. But I don't have one specific person that I just follow."

Ronaldo also explained that he now looks outside of football to other sports to learn lessons from elite players regardless of their field.

He continued: "As I said before, I'm self-motivated. I'm always like that since the beginning when I was young, [up until] now.

"Of course, I appreciate other players, talented players, great players - not just in football but in other sports because people enjoy to see, in different specific sports, the best ones.

"You should be able to understand that you don't know everything so the other guy can help you in this kind of way so I just pick the best things off other sports."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Rooney 'only man capable' of leading England attack, insists Gerrard

Former England captain Steven Gerrard has launched a staunch defence of current skipper Wayne Rooney, insisting there is no player more capable of leading the country's attack at Euro 2016.

The Manchester United striker, 30, became the nation's all-time record goalscorer during a qualifying campaign that saw Roy Hodgson's men win all 10 of their matches.However, his form at club level has been poor this season, scoring only two goals in 15 Premier League appearances for United under Louis van Gaal.

Rooney's struggles, coupled with impressive form of Tottenham forward Harry Kane and Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy, has led to calls he should be replaced at international level, but Gerrard, 35, does not agree.He told the Daily Mail: "Jamie Vardy and Harry Kane are doing well but, in a big game, who is England's best chance of scoring?

"Does anyone think it is not Wayne Rooney? If there is a penalty in the last 10 minutes to progress out of a group or into a quarter-final, who would you want to take it?

"Who does everyone in the dressing room at Manchester United and England look to for inspiration? Who are they all hiding behind, pressure-wise, when it is not going well?

"I am not saying nobody should criticise him, but let's analyse it properly. He has not lost ability and he is probably the only person capable or proven to get the goals you need to progress in a tournament."Wayne Rooney does more than just score goals. He has an impact on the whole team and squad."

Gerrard acknowledges that Rooney's performances have been below his best this season, but he feels it is too easy just to call for him to be dropped.He added: "He has said he is not in the best form of his life but people need to support him and help him get into better form for England and United.

"The easiest thing to do is point fingers and say 'get him out'. I have been there when you are under a bit of pressure and everyone is having a go. No one wants to turn that round more than you do but you need help."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Man City & Real Madrid in talks over Isco move

Manchester City and Real Madrid are in discussions over a January deal for Isco, Goal understands.

The attacking midfielder has fallen out of favour under Rafa Benitez at the Santiago Bernabeu this season and has grown increasingly unhappy with his situation in recent weeks.

City manager Manuel Pellegrini continues to insist January arrivals are unlikely, but has admitted that Samir Nasri's long-term injury could make a winter transfer possible.

And while the club have strenuously denied reports that CEO Ferrano Soriano met with Madrid counterparts to thrash out a deal last week, it is believed talks have accelerated since New Year's Eve and a payment structure is being discussed.

A loan deal has been suggested, which would allow City to pay any transfer fee in the summer if desired, while Madrid could assess the lay of the land should Benitez lose his job in the coming months.

Isco, for his part, is keen to move to the Etihad Stadium, where he would link up once again with Pellegrini, who took him from Valencia to Malaga at the age of just 19.

Isco even came close to joining City before eventually electing to choose Madrid in 2013. A deal in principle had been agreed with Malaga and the playmaker had been offered a contract before los Blancos made a late intervention thanks to his fine form for Spain Under-21s that summer.

But he could now be reuinted with Pellegrini after becoming disillusioned with life in Madrid.

The 23-year-old caused controversy last month when he was filmed rubbing his eyes in exagerrated astonishment to see Toni Kroos sit alongside him on the bench for the away game at Villarreal.

The Andalusian saw plenty of action in the early part of the season as Madrid had to contend with injuries to several forwards, including James Rodriguez, Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale.

The return to fitness of those players has restricted Isco's opportunities, however, and talk of his unhappiness has featured in the Spanish press for several months; his red card against Barcelona in November was said to stem from his frustrations.

A January sale inevitably carries political significance for Madrid, though. Benitez is an unpopular figure with many of the club's supporters and appeared to be on the verge of losing his job heading into Wednesday's defeat of Real Sociedad.

He survived that match but his future remains very much uncertain heading into 2016, and even president Florentino Perez, the driving force behind Madrid's famous 'Galatico' transfer policy, has had to deal with opposition from the terraces.

Sections of the Santiago Bernabeu crowd have called for him to resign this season, and an online petition to that effect has garnered more than 6,000 signatures.

The sale of a popular player in Isco, therefore, would represent a precarious situation for both Benitez and Perez.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

West Ham 2-0 Liverpool: Antonio and Carroll down Reds

Michail Antonio and Andy Carroll both scored as Liverpool were beaten 2-0 by West Ham at Upton Park on Saturday afternoon.

Antonio's header gave the hosts an early lead at Upton Park before both sides hit the woodwork in an entertaining first half.

Carroll put West Ham in control with a typically towering header 10 minutes into the second period to leave Jurgen Klopp's side with a mountain to climb against the team who shocked them with a 3-0 win at Anfield in August.

Liverpool enjoyed plenty of possession but lacked any real cutting edge in the final third as Christian Benteke found life particularly difficult against James Collins and Angelo Ogbonna.Defeat ends Liverpool's mini-revival after consecutive 1-0 wins, as Klopp's inconsistent tenure struggles to gather momentum.

Jordon Ibe fired inches wide of the far post after cutting in from the right as Liverpool started brightly, but it was the home side who struck first with just nine minutes played.

Enner Valencia curled a fine cross in from the right and Antonio beat Nathaniel Clyne at the back post to head past Simon Mignolet from close range. Liverpool felt aggrieved that the West Ham winger was not penalised for fouling Alberto Moreno at the other end moments earlier.

Manuel Lanzini, who was forced off through injury shortly before the break, hit the post with a swerving effort that bamboozled Mignolet, but the Belgian responded and saved smartly from Aaron Cresswell's deflected effort.

Liverpool finished the half on the front foot and went close when Emre Can rattled the crossbar from 18 yards out, but they were punished for some slack marking just 10 minutes after the interval.

Mark Noble was given time to swing in a deep cross from the right and Carroll arrived unmarked to rise above a helpless Clyne and power a header into the far corner.Liverpool pushed for a lifeline but were almost caught on the break by Carroll, with Mignolet saving superbly from his close-range header before scrambling to keep out the rebound from Antonio.

Philippe Coutinho sliced through the defence only to be denied by the onrushing Adrian and Noble stabbed the ball off the line after Lucas steered a header towards the far corner as the pressure began to mount with a series of Liverpool corners.

Joe Allen then nodded a late chance wide as Slaven Bilic's side remained disciplined in the closing stages to move two points above Liverpool in the Premier League table with their second win in a row.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Espanyol 0-0 Barcelona: Champions held in goalless derby

Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez both hit the woodwork as Barcelona were held to a 0-0 draw against Espanyol that gives Atletico Madrid the opportunity to take sole ownership of top spot in La Liga.

Espanyol set their stall out from the off at Cornella El Prat, with their intensity and aggression proving an effective means of nullifying their more illustrious neighbours's wealth of attacking talent.

Barca were far from at their best but for all Espanyol's hard work, the hosts still had to rely on the help of the frame of the goal to claim an unlikely point.

Messi was first to go close when his sublime 25-yard free-kick shortly before half-time beat Espanyol goalkeeper Pau Lopez all ends up but struck the corner of the post and crossbar.

Suarez had a goal disallowed for offside and then hit the post early in the second half as Luis Enrique's team began 2016 with a point that gives Atletico the chance to go two points clear with a win over Levante later on Saturday.

Barca began the game in uncharacteristically sloppy fashion and struggled to get out of their own half early on thanks to Espanyol's impressive attitude with and without the ball.

But it was the visitors who carved out the first real chance of the game in the ninth minute when Jordi Alba miscued Suarez's pin-point cross wide from close range.

Slowly but surely, Barca wrested control away from a lively but limited Espanyol side.

Suarez, Neymar and Messi combined in the 19th minute to create another opportunity only for the Neymar's cutback to fall marginally behind Suarez, who would have had the goal at his mercy from six yards.

Barca defender Gerard Pique had to be alert to hack the ball off the line when Claudio Bravo failed to deal with an inswinging corner from the left before Espanyol captain Javi Lopez was cautioned for a needlessly aggressive foul on Neymar as a bad-tempered affair threatened to boil over.

Messi's influence was growing and, nine minutes before the break, Barca's talisman rattled the woodwork with a sensational free-kick that Pau Lopez could only stand and admire.

Barcelona started the second half quickly and Suarez had the ball in the net four minutes after the restart only for the offside flag to deny him.

Espanyol once again had the woodwork to thank for keeping the scores level when Suarez somehow contrived to hit the post from five yards after dancing around Pau Lopez before Messi shot straight at the goalkeeper from the edge of the area following superb work by Neymar.

But despite enjoying most of the ball Barca could not find a way past Pau Lopez as Espanyol, who visit Camp Nou in the Copa del Rey on Wednesday, clung on for a hard-fought point.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Klopp angry at Liverpool's failure to play at full tilt

Jurgen Klopp admits that he was angry, rather than disappointed, by Liverpool’s non-performance in their 2-0 defeat to West Ham.

Goals from Michail Antonio and Andy Carroll gave the hosts a deserved victory at Upton Park on Saturday with the Reds abject in attack and bullied at the back.

Klopp was annoyed that his side never seemed to be at full tilt, and has urged his side to learn from their mistakes.

"It’s not a day for being disappointed, only a day for being angry about ourselves – and that’s what we are," he said.

Asked what he felt was the most frustrating aspect of the loss, the 48-year-old added: “That we could have done much better. Everybody saw we have these two moments [West Ham goals] – we have the set plays, the throw in, and their shot that hit the post.

“We had our moments, we played football and we tried - and that’s what we have to do. But if you don’t fight, if you fight in these moments not with 100 per cent, but with 95 per cent it’s not enough. Who wants to see 95 per cent? It’s not enough. If you know if the other they have Andy Carroll, how can you allow crosses?

“One of their other chances was after a throw in and they hit the post, then a counter-attack [at the end] but that’s normal in this match. We have to defend this and we can play football. 0-0, you play football and then you will have your chances. We didn’t and that’s our fault.”

Liverpool conceded within 10 minutes, as Antonio opened the scoring, and Carroll doubled his side's lead with a towering header in the second-half, and Klopp says his side must be more combative as they attempt to restrict their opponents.

“Talking about defending I don't want to use the word nasty or ugly - it's football, defending is a part of football," he said.

"I was a defender, I enjoyed it. It's a nice part of the game, you get dirty after, it's not a problem you don't have to wash your clothes yourself. It's our responsibility [to defend].”

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Benitez refuses to back Man City target Isco

Rafael Benitez refused to offer in-demand playmaker Isco assurances on playing time on the eve of Real Madrid's trip to face Valencia.

Goal revealed earlier on Saturday that Premier League side Manchester City and Madrid are in discussions over a January deal for the out-of-favour Spanish playmaker.

Isco has struggled for regular action this season and reports continue to link with a January exit, but Benitez is happy to have the playmaker in reserve."I cannot play all of my players," he told reporters. "When one stops playing you always ask me why."Yesterday I was chatting to him, he trained very well."

However, Benitez did back James Rodriguez despite the Colombian reportedly being chased to Madrid's training ground by police, who are ready to issue a driving ban and fine the player for speeding at 200 kmh, on Friday.The issue fits in with a frustrating season individually, which has seen the former Monaco man likewise struggle to force his way into Benitez's plans and substituted early in Madrid's 3-1 win over Real Sociedad.

Nevertheless, Benitez was quick to stick up for his player when quizzed on his brush with the law."It's a private matter, he explained to me what happened," the coach continued. "He's a fantastic kid, a serious kid. He has given us a full explanation.

Benitez has come under increasing pressure at the Bernabeu despite his team being only two points behind Barcelona in La Liga, but the 55-year-old sidestepped questions about his future."I stand by what I have said. I hope that Madrid win, then you can ask me about my future in the next two years," he concluded.

"Madrid fans have always applauded players who leave everything on the pitch. That's what I want from my players.""As a coach I look for quality but people think that it is ball control and that is not, it's technical quality".

"The quality I'm looking for is delivery, sacrifice and technical quality. The players have to give it all on the field."I have full confidence in the team and I will not lose at Mestalla. We will try to get the three points and win."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

West Bromwich Albion 2-1 Stoke City: Late Evans strike gives Baggies win

Jonny Evans struck in injury time to earn West Brom and manager Tony Pulis a 2-1 win over the Welshman's old team Stoke City in the Premier League on Saturday.

Mark Hughes' Potters, having struggled to respond to Stephane Sessegnon's 60th-minute opener, thought they had earned a point when Jonathan Walters powered home the equaliser with nine minutes to go at The Hawthorns.

Stoke then lost Geoff Cameron to a harsh red card two minutes after restoring parity, prompting a West Brom onslaught that produced a dramatic winner, Evans stabbing home his first goal for the club from close range after the visitors failed to clear a corner. The result sees Pulis' men climb to within three points of 10th-placed Stoke and they are now nine clear of the relegation zone.

West Brom started strongly, but the first real chance fell to the visitors eight minutes in, Boaz Myhill reacting quickly to tip over a Glen Johnson cross-cum-shot. From the subsequent corner, Cameron struck a strong half-volley at goal that was blocked by the legs of Craig Dawson.

Evans was inches away from opening the scoring for the hosts in the 16th minute, narrowly failing to connect properly with the ball at the back post after Dawson flicked on Chris Brunt's corner.

Marko Arnautovic perhaps could have done better when, approaching the half-hour mark, he was released in behind the West Brom defence by Xherdan Shaqiri's clever lofted throughball. The Austrian's shot across the face of goal was well saved by Myhill.

West Brom should have taken the lead with three minutes remaining in the half, Darren Fletcher shooting over the crossbar after being found unmarked by Sessegnon in the centre of the penalty area following a corner. Stoke came close to breaking the deadlock with a well-worked move seven minutes into the second half.

Johnson picked out Arnautovic in the area and the former Werder Bremen man produced a delightful lay-off to tee up Shaqiri, whose effort was weak and off target.The visitors came to regret passing up that opportunity as West Brom took the lead on the hour mark.

Fletcher did well to win possession on the half-way line and drive forward, passing to James Morrison just outside the area. The midfielder found Sessegnon in space inside the penalty area and the Benin international smashed a fierce strike past Jack Butland and into the back of the net.

Stoke laboured in vain to produce a response and had to wait until the 81st minute to pounce, Joselu dispatching a superb cross from the left flank with the outside of his foot, picking out fellow substitute Walters, who nodded home from close range, giving Myhill no chance.

Cameron received his marching orders shortly afterwards, the United States international dismissed for tossing Claudio Yacob to the ground in an otherwise innocuous tussle, although the defender did perhaps appear to raise his hands to the face of the West Brom man.

The numerical difference cost the away team dearly when, in the final minutes of added time, former Manchester United defender Evans slotted home at the back post to snatch all three points for Pulis against the club he steered into the top flight.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Norwich City 1-0 Southampton: Tettey delivers home win after Wanyama sent off

Alex Tettey sealed a 1-0 win for Norwich City over 10-man Southampton at Carrow Road to move the hosts six points clear of the Premier League drop zone.

Both sides probed brightly during the first half, with Norwich striker Dieumerci Mbokani and his Saints counterpart, Shane Long, both passing up opportunities to break the deadlock.

This gave way to more attritional fare after the break but the game turned when Southampton midfielder Victor Wanyama was sent off for the second time this season for two bookable offences.

Ronald Koeman's team were forced to operate with reduced numbers from the 73rd minute and the Dutchman – who dropped star forward Sadio Mane to the bench for missing a team meeting – watched them fall behind three minutes later.

Norway midfielder Tettey, whose first goal of the campaign came in the Canaries' shock 2-0 win at Manchester United, sidefooted coolly in the top corner in stark contrast to Wanyama's hot-headedness.

The hosts have now won three of their past four matches to build up a healthy cushion between themselves and the bottom three, while Southampton are only a point above their opponents – last week's 4-0 romp against leaders Arsenal standing as their only win in eight attempts.

James Ward-Prowse benefitted from Mane's shoddy timekeeping to take a place in Koeman's XI, while Jordy Clasie replaced the suspended Oriol Romeu in midfield and Gary O'Neil was preferred to Graham Dorrans in the hosts' only change.

Long headed over under pressure from Norwich goalkeeper Declan Rudd on the end of Dusan Tadic's deflected left-wing cross but Alex Neil's team should have led in the 11th minute – Jonny Howson prodding wide after visiting captain Jose Fonte misjudged a clearance.

Mbokani scrambled wide from close range after half an hour as a challenge from Cuco Martina complicated matters.

Southampton right-back Martina then swept a wonderful cross behind the Norwich defence, only for a combination of Ryan Bennett and Rudd to deny Long – the Irishman drawing another save from the resulting corner.

Norwich displayed further set-piece frailties after Rudd turned Clasie's 42nd-minute drive behind but Virgil van Dijk failed to make headed contact with the goal gaping.

A frantic, committed opening to the second period from both sides brought neither fluent football nor clear chances and Southampton's intricate game was put aside as Tadic sliced high and wide on the end of a Marten Stekelenburg punt.

The away team's ambitions of a victory push were checked as Wanyama foolishly collected his second yellow card by clattering through Norwich substitute Vadis Odjidja-Ofoe.

Norwich smelled blood and, after a brave block from Van Dijk thwarted Wes Hoolahan, Tettey was set up by Odjidja-Ofoe to send an unerring shot beyond Stekelenburg.

Koeman threw on Mane in the 80th minute but, perhaps fittingly, he arrived too late to make an impact.

 

[kellsupun]

~cricket only

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Arsenal 1-0 Newcastle United: Wenger's men Premier League sole leaders

Laurent Koscielny netted the only goal of the game as Arsenal went two points clear at the top of the Premier League with a less than convincing 1-0 victory over struggling Newcastle United on Saturday.

Koscielny, along with Nacho Monreal and Mathieu Flamini, was one of three Arsenal changes from the 2-0 win over AFC Bournemouth last time out and the France defender's 72nd-minute effort proved decisive at Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech - who set a new Premier League record of 170 clean sheets in the success over Bournemouth - showed his class once again, superbly denying Georginio Wijnaldum on three occasions prior to Koscielny's winner.The breakthrough came following a corner, with Koscielny on hand to prod home from close range from Olivier Giroud's header.

Defeat means Newcastle - who warmed up with t-shirts adorned with the message 'Pavel is a Geordie' following the death of their former keeper Pavel Srnicek earlier this week - see their winless run extended to four matches.

Steve McClaren will likely be encouraged by his side's spirited performance, although they remain in the bottom three, while Arsenal took advantage after Leicester City could only draw 0-0 with Bournemouth.

The home side began brightly and carved out the opening chance in the second minute when Hector Bellerin got away down the right, but his firm cutback was stabbed wide by a stretching Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

After weathering an early storm, Newcastle gained a foothold in the game and Cech was forced to keep out Wijnaldum's header low to his right before gathering Jack Colback's follow-up.

Newcastle began to play with a confidence that belied their lowly league placing, but Arsenal continued to look dangerous and the visitors needed a timely block from Fabricio Coloccini to stop Giroud's shot following Oxlade-Chamberlain's clever pass.

Newcastle's threat remained - Cech saving comfortably from Aleksandar Mitrovic's overhead kick before the goalkeeper had to rush from his line to deny Wijnaldum with half-time approaching.Three minutes after the restart, Wijnaldum had a glorious chance to break the deadlock when played through with just Cech to beat, but once again the former Chelsea star came out on top, producing a fine save with his legs.

Newcastle went close again a minute later when Moussa Sissoko's cross was cushioned across goal by Ayoze Perez, where Mitrovic could only divert the ball over off his knee.Chancel Mbemba headed wide midway through the half and Newcastle were made to pay for their profligacy 18 minutes from time as Koscielny got free at the back post to turn the ball home.

A Mitrovic header flew over as Newcastle went in search of an equalizer before Rob Elliot kept out Aaron Ramsey – who shot wide soon after – as Arsenal earned themselves some breathing space at the top of the table.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Leicester City 0-0 Bournemouth: Mahrez penalty miss sees hosts fall away at top

Riyad Mahrez missed what could have been a decisive penalty as Leicester City lost ground at the top of the table in a 0-0 draw with 10-man Bournemouth.

The Foxes needed at least a win to keep pace with Premier League leaders Arsenal on Saturday, but failed to put away a host of chances despite threatening on several occasions.

Josh King headed wide from a great Bournemouth chance, while Jamie Vardy hit the post for Leicester in an end-to-end first half.

A golden opportunity arrived Simon Francis gave away a penalty and saw red after a mistimed sliding challenge on Jamie Vardy in the area, but Artur Boruc was equal to the task and saved Mahrez's effort from 12 yards.

Claudio Ranieri's outfit continued peppering the visitors' goal with shots but were ultimately unable to capitalise on their man advantage as they fall behind Arsenal in the standings.

Despite their numerical advantage, Leicester could not find a winner, as they failed to score or win for the third consecutive match.

The surprise packages now trail leaders Arsenal by two points, while Bournemouth - who have only lost one of their last eight games - extend their cushion over the bottom three to four points.

Both teams made one change, as Leonardo Ulloa replaced Gokhan Inler, with the hosts reverting to 4-4-2, while the away side brought in Junior Stanislas for Marc Pugh.

Leicester had the first chance of the match when Mahrez impressively met Marc Albrighton's deep cross and diverted an acrobatic effort just over, but it was the visitors who should have taken an early lead.

King only had Kasper Schmeichel to beat after Stanislas had diverted Francis' cross back across goal, but he did not get enough on his header and failed to find the target as a golden opportunity went begging.Leicester responded strongly and soon struck the woodwork, with Vardy unlucky not to net his first goal of 2016. Ulloa gathered a second ball and scuffed a shot towards goal that fell into the path of Vardy.

The England striker took a good touch to get the ball out of his feet and looked destined to score but saw his toe-poked shot cannon off the inside of the post and away to safety.

Poor finishing was the only factor preventing goals in an end-to-end first half and Bournemouth wasted another opening prior to half-time when King showed speed and persistence down the right to create a clear opening for Dan Gosling, but the unmarked midfielder fired his shot over from 12 yards.Boruc was tested for the first time early in the second half when Vardy latched on to Albrighton's long ball and saw his powerful effort from the edge of the box tipped wide.

Defender Wes Morgan then missed a brilliant chance from the resulting corner, firing over with his left foot from inside the six-yard box.Leicester continued to press and they won a penalty in the 57th minute when Danny Drinkwater's precise throughball sent Vardy in on goal but he went down under Francis' challenge just inside the area.

The defender was sent off by referee Andre Marriner despite appearing to get a touch on the ball, but Mahrez saw his spot-kick beaten away by Boruc, who threw himself to his left.

Even though Schmeichel was not tested at the other end, 10-man Bournemouth saw out the closing stages in reasonable comfort to secure a valuable point - although Vardy had a late claim for a second penalty turned down by Marriner after tangling with the legs of Gosling in the corner of the box.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Manchester United 2-1 Swansea City: Rooney and Martial end winless run

Wayne Rooney scored a superb winner as Manchester United ended their Swansea City hoodoo with a 2-1 victory at Old Trafford on Saturday to ease some of the pressure on manager Louis van Gaal.

The Dutch manager had lost each of his previous three meetings with Swansea by the same scoreline, including his Premier League bow back in August 2014.

However, Rooney produced a sublime finish 13 minutes from time to earn United a first win in nine in all competitions.

After dominating the early stages, Van Gaal's men allowed Swansea back into the match, with Morgan Schneiderlin surviving penalty claims for an alleged handball.

But the breakthrough came two minutes into the second half when the impressive Ashley Young supplied the cross for Anthony Martial to score his eighth United goal.

Swansea refused to go down without a fight and, after Andre Ayew hit a post, Gylfi Sigurdsson restored parity with a looping 70th-minute header.

However, Rooney had the final say, with his flicked finish sending United into the top five while Swansea remain one place above the relegation zone.

Phil Jones came into the United defence in place of Matteo Darmian, while Swansea reverted to a more familiar starting XI after ringing the changes for Monday's goalless draw at Crystal Palace, with Jonjo Shelvey axed from the matchday squad.

United put in a much-improved performance when they were held by Chelsea last time out and made another bright start on Saturday, with Ander Herrera having a shot blocked in the box by Federico Fernandez early on.

Swansea settled as the half progressed and Wayne Routledge's volley force David De Gea into his first save, before the visitors' calls for a penalty were rejected when Schneiderlin's acrobatic clearance struck his own hand in the United box.

Rooney climbed to power a header goalwards nine minutes from the break, only to see the ball bounce back off the heel of Jack Cork, who avoided punishment for what could have been deemed to be a backpass soon after.

Young was a constant threat down the right wing and carved out two more opportunities prior to the half-time whistle - rounding Leon Britton and cutting back for Juan Mata to draw a save from Lukasz Fabianski before the goalkeeper also kept out a Rooney header from the England winger's cross.

The warning signals were there for Swansea and Young proved instrumental as United took the lead two minutes into the second half.

The 30-year-old's ball in from the right found its way to Martial, whose downward header beat Fabianski.

United's last two Premier League defeats from leading positions have come against Swansea and they will have been fearing the worst when Ayew headed against the post shortly after the hour mark.

Angel Rangel was subsequently booked when he was judged to have dived in the box as he chased the rebound, but Sigurdsson - scorer of the winner at Old Trafford last season - netted the leveller from a Modou Barrow cross.

However, Rooney - without a Premier League goal since October 17 - applied an improvised finish to a Martial ball into the box in the 77th minute.

De Gea came to the rescue when Ashley Williams unleashed an instinctive drive in the closing stages and goalkeeper Fabianski headed narrowly wide from a corner with the last action of the match, but United held on to end their winless run.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Finally!

Hoda fight 1kak dunna ada

Congratulations Manchester United!​