..::Football III::..

[Wolverine GTR]

La Liga 2015.01.17 Fixtures

La Liga 2015.01.17 Fixtures

Real Sociedad Vs Rayo Vallecano

Valencia Vs Almeria

Villareal Vs Athletic Bilbao

Espanyol Vs Celta Vigo​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Serie A 2015.01.17 Fixtures

Serie A 2015.01.17 Fixtures

Empoli Vs Inter

Palermo Vs Roma​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Ada QPR match 1ka hoda goals margin 1kakin dinagatthoth patta& Falcao aniwa start karanna one Match 1ka

Good Luck Manchester United
​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Half Time

QPR 0 Vs 0 Manchester United
​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Manchester United 1st Half performance hari nahaPossession nam thiyanawano goals

2nd half 1ke improve unoth hodai.

Good Luck Manchester United!
​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

QPR 0-2 Manchester United: Fellaini & Wilson get Van Gaal's men back on track

Marouane Fellaini came off the bench to help Manchester United to a deserved win at QPR - their first Premier League victory in four matches.

United failed to register a shot on target during last weekend's 1-0 defeat at home to Southampton and Louis van Gaal's team did little to test the league's most porous defence in the opening 45 minutes.

Fellaini was introduced at the interval and, after a remarkable point-blank save from QPR goalkeeper Robert Green denied much-criticised United striker Radamel Falcao, the Belgian netted his third goal of the season with 58 minutes played.

Green's opposite number David de Gea continued his superb individual season by twice thwarting Charlie Austin when the game was goalless and United needed an injury-time strike from another substitute, James Wilson, to make absolutely sure of the points.

United edge ahead of Southampton into third before the latter take on Newcastle in Saturday's late kick-off.

QPR boss Harry Redknapp, who dismissed speculation over his future in the build-up, recalled defender Nedum Onuoha and forward Bobby Zamora in place of benched pair Steven Caulker and Adel Taarabt.

There were defensive recalls for United duo Marcos Rojo and Jonny Evans, while Falcao replaced Robin van Persie (ankle).

At his pre-match press conference, Van Gaal urged Falcao to prove his worth to Manchester United and he passed up a glorious opportunity to do just that in the 13th minute.

An arching left-footed pass from Juan Mata unlocked the QPR defence, but Green stood firm to repel Falcao's close-range effort and then diverted the rebound for a corner.

Eduardo Vargas prodded the ball onto the roof of the net after United dealt unconvincingly with Clint Hill's long throw, and a raucous Loftus Road crowd enjoyed the visiting defence's struggles under pressure during the first half.

In the 19th minute, Zamora capitalised on sloppy play from Evans to play in Austin, but De Gea denied QPR's top scorer.

The Spain goalkeeper bettered that stop to frustrate Austin again with half an hour played, extending himself to turn a sweetly struck 25-yard effort behind.

There was a change apiece from each side at the break as Caulker and Fellaini replaced Richard Dunne and Mata respectively.

QPR midfielder Leroy Fer should have done better when he towered above the United defence to connect with Joey Barton's 51st-minute free-kick, before Green provided a moment to savour.

Angel Di Maria cut back on the right flank to supply a wonderful cross - Falcao seemingly certain to head home, only for Green to push the ball to safety with razor-sharp reaction.

But there was nothing Green could do when United went ahead.

Wayne Rooney released Antonio Valencia on the right flank and Fellaini took a touch before rifling the wing-back's cutback high into the net.

QPR pressed hard for an equaliser - Austin firing wide before Vargas woefully wasted an opening on the counter-attack having initially pounced on a Rojo error.

There was more misery for Falcao inside the final quarter of an hour as he failed to convert Wilson's low cross with the goal gaping, and the youngster beat Green at the second attempt to show his illustrious team-mate how it was done after De Gea had prevented Vargas from earning a share of the spoils.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Congratulations Manchester United!

Last Season flop Fellamin meh sare elatama play karanawa

& Falcao goals score karanna thibba chances 2ka 3nakma miss karagattha​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Tottenham 2-1 Sunderland: Eriksen to the rescue as Spurs leave it late

Christian Eriksen struck late on as Tottenham maintained their bid for a Champions League berth with victory over Sunderland.

Spurs took the lead after just three minutes when a poor clearance allowed Jan Vertonghen to power home a deflected strike, before the Belgian then gave away a free-kick from which Sebastian Larsson curled home a wonderful 31st-minute equaliser.

Harry Kane rattled the post before the break as Tottenham applied some pressure, but it was Eriksen who won it for the hosts with two minutes to play.

It could even have been three late on, but Vertonghen had an effort ruled out for offside, despite appearing to be in his own half when he collected the ball.

All eyes in the build-up were on Jermain Defoe, who was thrust immediately into the fray against his former club.

His arrival is designed to boost Sunderland’s attacking options, with Gus Poyet's side starting the game with just 18 goals in 21 Premier League games - the second worst record in the division, behind only Aston Villa.

However, it was Sunderland's problems at the other end of the pitch that were exposed after just three minutes, when Eriksen's cross was cleared only as far as Vertonghen, whose shot inside the area took a wicked deflection off John O'Shea to wrong-foot goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon.

Tottenham continued to press, as Eriksen forced a smart save from the Romanian 15 minutes later with a firm drive, before Roberto Soldado - who retained his place after the FA Cup win over Burnley - saw an effort smothered after being played in by Vertonghen's long ball.

Pantilimon produced another great save to deny Eriksen's 25-yard strike after 27 minutes and those heroics should have been rewarded a minute later, but Steven Fletcher failed to connect with a ball flashed across goal from Billy Jones.

Sunderland grew in confidence and they drew level just after half-an-hour when Larsson curled home a wonderful 30-yard free-kick after Defoe had been brought down by Vertonghen.

Kane nearly marked his return to the Tottenham side with a goal on the stroke of half-time, only for his drilled effort on the edge of the area to cannon back off the post.

Kane set up Soldado two minutes after the restart, firing a low cross from the right that just eluded the Spaniard at the far post.

Soldado was soon replaced by Emmanuel Adebayor as Mauricio Pochettino's men searched for another breakthrough, but Sunderland remained firm to restrict their opponents.

Nacer Chadli did manage to test Pantilimon seven minutes later with a well-placed half-volley on the edge of the area, before Adebayor forced a simple save with a tame left-footed volley.

Defoe, meanwhile, was withdrawn with 15 minutes left to be replaced by Danny Graham.

With two minutes left Tottenham's industry finally paid dividends when a wonderful counter-attacking run from substitute Andros Townsend allowed him to pick out Eriksen on edge of the area, and his lashed effort clipped the post on its way in.

It was nearly made even better for Pochettino's men before the final whistle, as Pantilimon's decision to go up for a corner allowed Vertonghen to breakaway and finish into an empty net, only to be contentiously ruled out for offside when he appeared to have taken the ball from his own half.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Aston Villa 0-2 Liverpool: Borini & Lambert pile the pressure on goal shy Villans

Goals from Fabio Borini and substitute Rickie Lambert helped Liverpool inflict more misery on beleaguered Aston Villa and their under-fire manager Paul Lambert with a comfortable win on Saturday.

The build-up at Villa Park was dominated by talk of a supporter protest against Lambert and the Villa hierarchy during the early stages of the match and, although there was no huge demonstration from the stands, the pressure will continue to mount after a seventh league match without a win.

Italian forward Borini prodded home the opener in the 24th minute for his first Liverpool goal in the Premier League since April 2013.

Martin Skrtel saw Villa goalkeeper Brad Guzan tip his header onto the post after the break, but it was Villa who created the better second-half openings with Christian Benteke and Nathan Baker both missing promising chances.

Liverpool took advantage of their profligacy, though, when Lambert - brought off the bench for Borini - drilled home expertly 11 minutes from time.

Defeat for Villa means they remain just three points above the relegation zone, while an improving Liverpool move up to sixth.

Both defences were on top in a scrappy opening, although Baker - playing in place of the suspended Ciaran Clark in one of two changes - and Benteke had half chances with headers.

Alberto Moreno then thought he had opened the scoring for Liverpool by racing on to Philippe Coutinho's through ball and slotting past Guzan, only to be flagged for offside.

Liverpool were not to be denied in the 24th minute, though.

Stand-in captain Jordan Henderson's excellent guided cross from the right was volleyed home by the outstretched boot of Borini from close range to end his lengthy wait for a Premier League goal in a Liverpool shirt.

Raheem Sterling, back in the side in place of captain Steven Gerrard after being rested for the win over Sunderland last weekend, had the opportunity to double the visitors' lead when he raced free, only to chip tamely into the hands of Guzan.

Villa finished the half well, but Simon Mignolet kept out Carlos Sanchez's stinging long-range drive and Tom Cleverley poked wide when one-on-one with the Belgian goalkeeper.

Shortly after the restart, Guzan made a fine stop to push Skrtel's powerful header onto the post, while Sanchez was perhaps lucky to avoid punishment when he caught Sterling in the face with a high boot.

Lambert brought on Andreas Weimann and Valencia loanee Carles Gil for his debut from the bench in an attempt to find more spark going forward.

And Villa responded just after the hour mark when Benteke spun sharply in the area and unleashed a fierce half-volley at compatriot Mignolet, who parried well.

The home side continued to threaten and Baker put a thumping header over the crossbar with Mignolet stranded, before last-ditch defending from Skrtel denied Benteke a good opportunity in the penalty area.

Having escaped those scares, Liverpool put the game beyond doubt when Lambert - who had been on the pitch just eight minutes - latched onto Sterling's pass and drilled an angled shot into bottom left-hand corner, with Villa fans then voicing their frustration as the final whistle blew.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Swansea City 0-5 Chelsea: Oscar & Diego Costa inspire ruthless Blues

Chelsea stretched their lead at the top of the Premier League table to five points as they tore Swansea City apart at the Liberty Stadium.

A scintillating first-half display from Jose Mourinho's men saw them run riot, with four of the visitors' five goals coming before the break.

Swansea were the architects of their own downfall at times, though, with Oscar profiting from a poor pass to open the scoring from 20 yards within the opening minute, and Diego Costa opening his account with a composed finish.

The striker added his second following a mistake from Federico Fernandez in the 34th minute, before he turned provider as Oscar made it four two minutes later.

Chelsea coasted to victory in the second half, with Andre Schurrle rounding off the scoring from close range late on.

Victory sees Chelsea move five points clear at the top of the table - second-placed Manchester City face Arsenal on Sunday – while Swansea remain in ninth after their heaviest defeat of the season.

With Leon Britton sidelined by a groin injury, Swansea were forced to play Gylfi Sigurdsson in a deeper midfield role, and it cost them almost instantly.

The Iceland international played a loose pass inside his own half that ricocheted off Tom Carroll to Oscar - the Brazilian punishing the mistake with a low drive from the edge of the penalty area.

Sigurdsson immediately went close to atoning for his error with a long-range effort that clipped the post on its way wide, but Swansea should have been further behind when Willian blazed over after 12 minutes.

Mourinho's side were in total control and, after Eden Hazard saw a low shot saved, they doubled their lead as Costa applied the finishing touch to a flowing move.

Oscar, Willian and Cesc Fabregas exchanged passes on the edge of the penalty area before the latter played in his Spain team-mate, and he emphatically fired beyond goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski.

Another two goals arrived before the break as Chelsea punished some more slack Swansea defending, the first coming when Costa pounced on Fernandez's weak back pass and the second – Chelsea's fourth – going in two minutes later.

Willian powered through the Swansea midfield before finding Costa on the right, his cut back found Oscar and he fired high into Fabianski's goal.

There was still time for Willian to hit the crossbar before the break, but it mattered little to Chelsea, who threatened again early in the second half with Fabregas wasting a close-range effort.

After such a disastrous first half, things began to improve for Swansea as their pass-and-move football returned, but Chelsea's defence comfortably kept them at bay.

Patient play was the name of the game for the visitors and, after another period of possession, the ball fell to Hazard after 71 minutes - the Belgian unleashing a powerful shot that Fabianski was able to push away.

Substitute Schurrle added gloss to Chelsea's win with the fifth goal after 79 minutes, the Germany international ghosting into the penalty area to convert Branislav Ivanovic's low cross and seal an emphatic win.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Leicester 0-1 Stoke City: Bojan keeps Pearson’s Foxes rooted to the bottom

Leicester City remain rooted at the foot of the Premier League as their recent revival ended with a 1-0 defeat at home to Stoke City on Saturday.

Bojan Krkic scored the only goal of the game in the 63rd minute, following a period of pressure from Mark Hughes' men, who in truth spent the large part of the game on the back foot.

Leicester had the better of the first-half, but Stoke emerged after the break with added belief and adventure about their play in the second half and got their reward in the form of a fourth away league win of the season.

Nigel Pearson named Leicester's record signing Andrej Kramaric among his substitutes, following the completion of the Croatian's move from HNK Rijeka.
The striker was waiting to come on when the crucial goal was scored, and he could not prevent Leicester slipping to a first defeat in five, which leaves them three points from safety.

Shorn of captain Ryan Shawcross to injury, Stoke were cautious out the blocks as Leicester dominated possession, though chances were ever-present on the break for the visitors.Only a last-ditch Danny Simpson challenge stopped Victor Moses tapping home the opener, however Leicester's dominance of the ball began to tell as the half drew on.

Jeffrey Schlupp showed no ill-effects of the injury concerns which forced him from Ghana's Africa Cup of Nations squad, creating good opportunities for Anthony Knockaert and Jamie Vardy - but neither could beat Asmir Begovic in the Stoke goal, who also saw a curling David Nugent effort drift just over.

For all their good work at the end of the first half, Leicester could have been behind within 60 seconds of the restart.A clever ball from Moses, in behind Paul Konchesky, put Marko Arnautovic in on goal, but the Austrian lashed at his shot and only his the side-netting from close range, while Steven N'Zonzi hit the target with a stinging volley 10 minutes later but Ben Hamer was equal to it.

This prompted Pearson to look to Kramaric, but before the Croatian could be introduced, Stoke took the lead.Buoyed by their strong start to the half, the visitors looked more dangerous with every foray forward and Bojan broke the deadlock neatly pirouetting to collect a Walters pass, turning and firing into the bottom corner in one swift motion.

There were encouraging signs from Kramaric in the closing stages as he held the ball up well and brought others into play, but his debut - and Leicester's performance - was devoid of that final touch in front of goal, leaving them cur adrift at the bottom.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Burnley 2-3 Crystal Palace: Gayle completes stunning comeback

Dwight Gayle and Jason Puncheon were on the scoresheet again as Crystal Palace fought back from two down to defeat Burnley 3-2 in the Premier League.The pair both scored when Palace came from behind to defeat Tottenham 2-1 last weekend, and Gayle's brace either side of Puncheon's strike saw Alan Pardew's side mount a stirring comeback once again.

Ben Mee's header - only the defender's second senior goal - put Burnley ahead inside the opening quarter of an hour, and then Danny Ings struck his seventh goal of the campaign after being set up by Scott Arfield.

The nature of that second goal left Pardew aggrieved as he felt Arfield had fouled Joel Ward in the build-up, but referee Phil Dowd saw nothing wrong as Burnley took a commanding lead.Palace improved from that point on, however, and pulled one back just before the half-hour through Gayle's powerful shot.

Early in the second half, Puncheon, who netted the winner against Spurs, struck from distance to equalise before setting up Gayle three minutes from time for the striker to net a dramatic winner and cap a remarkable turnaround.

It was the second time in four days that Burnley had let a two-goal lead slip, after losing 4-2 to Spurs in the FA Cup third-round replay in midweek - and the defeat leaves Sean Dyche's side a point above the bottom three, while Palace climb to 12th.Dyche named the same starting 11 for the eighth league match in succession while for Palace there was a debut for on-loan Arsenal striker Yaya Sanogo.

Following a quiet start to proceedings, Burnley took the lead in the 12th minute.Kieran Trippier swung over a corner from the left and as Julian Speroni got caught under the ball, Mee was left free to nod home from an acute angle at the far post.
And the hosts' advantage was doubled just four minutes later as Ings finished coolly following persistent work from Arfield.

The midfielder chased a long clearance by Tripper and robbed Ward on the left touchline, before playing in Ings who shot low beyond Speroni into the right-hand corner.

After that quickfire double blow, Palace regained a measure of composure and halved the deficit in the 28th minute when Gayle rifled home after the hosts failed to deal with Wilfried Zaha's dangerous cross from the right.

The visitors continued to go in search of an equaliser as the half drew to a close, James McArthur bringing a save out of Tom Heaton before Sanogo's header was hacked away by Arfield.Palace picked up where they left off at the start of the second half, and drew level within three minutes as Puncheon picked up the ball from Gayle and drove into space before firing into the bottom left-hand corner from 25 yards.

As the second half wore on, Burnley looked the more likely to find a winner and they went close 12 minutes from time when Michael Keane's goalbound shot was cleared from just in front of the line by McArthur.

Substitute Glenn Murray then struck the post for Palace, before there was one final twist as Puncheon's ball was allowed to travel to the back post to Gayle, who took a touch and smashed the ball low and hard beyond Heaton to spark scenes of jubilation among the visiting players and supporters.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Barca dropping points is party time for media - Luis Enrique

Luis Enrique has bitterly declared that Barcelona dropping points is "party time" for the media ahead of their clash with Deportivo La Coruna on Sunday.

The coach is believed to be fighting for his job at Camp Nou, despite reports of a feud with Lionel Messi dying down over the past few days, following reports of discontent in the dressing room among established players.

And the former Roma coach - in charge at Barca since the start of the season - took a swipe at journalists when asked if victory at Deportivo would be sweeter because it's away from home.

"No I don't think playing away is something that matters, all it means is if we lose or if we draw then it's party time for the media," he told reporters at Saturday's press conference, following midweek qualification for the Copa del Rey quarter-finals.

"The team will always try to win the game. More often than not we will be successful, but the way we play and our attitude will always be there."

Luis Enrique also provided an update on the fitness of star forward Neymar and veteran midfielder Xavi, with the former set to feature against Deportivo and the latter's availability still up in the air due to a calf problem.

"Neymar is fine, he can play. Xavi doesn't yet have medical green light, trained normally, we'll see tomorrow," the coach added.

Jeremy Mathieu, meanwhile, will definitely not be featuring following confirmation on the Catalans website of an Achilles issue.

Barca will face Atletico Madrid on Wednesday in the first leg of their Copa del Rey clash but Luis Enrique insists that "Deportivo is the only match that exists right now".

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Ancelotti: Real Madrid don't need rotation

Carlo Ancelotti has stressed that Real Madrid are not suffering from fatigue and says he will not be pressured into unnecessary rotation.

The European champions were dumped out of the Copa del Rey at the last 16 stage by local rivals Atletico Madrid on Thursday, having lost 4-2 on aggregate, leaving them fighting on two fronts for the remainder of 2014-15.

Madrid have triumphed in only one of their last four games - having previously won 22 matches in a row in all competitions - but Ancelotti is adamant that his first-choice XI does not need mixing up.

"There is no need right now to do rotations, I think the team are fine," the Italian told reporters on Saturday.

"The problem is not fatigue and regarding injuries we just have Pepe, who took a blow to the ribs against Atletico, and Modric out. The rest are just fine.

"The team is doing well physically. There are some players who must get better though. Although Cristiano Ronaldo and Toni Kroos have played more than anyone, because they are important, they are fine physically."

Ancelotti was apologetic about being knocked out of the Copa del Rey - a competition he won with Madrid last season - but the former Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain coach has set his sights on bouncing back in La Liga and, subsequently, Europe."We have paid for some errors that have not allowed us to progress in the cup," the coach continued. "We're sorry because it was a goal for the club.

"Last year we won it and we're sorry. But we have to look forward. We are in two competitions. We have a month to strengthen our position in the league, try to get more points against our rivals and then also we have the Champions League."
Real Madrid travel to Getafe on Sunday, with kick-off in the Liga clash at 12:00CET.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Wenger backs Alexis to end away woes

Arsene Wenger is confident that Alexis Sanchez can replicate his home form when Arsenal travel to Manchester City on Sunday, while he has hinted at fielding the Chilean up front.

The former Barcelona attacker has shone for the Gunners this season, scoring 12 goals and assisting a further seven, though has only managed to net in one away victory all season – a 2-0 win over Sunderland in October.

Wenger, though, has defended his summer signing’s form on the road and believes he has previously been starved of the service he craves.

“Yes, it's true that at Chelsea and Liverpool he wasn't at his best,” the Frenchman told reporters. “But he has some good away games too.

“It's maybe because the team has not been as effective away from home, because when you are a striker you depend a little bit on how much your team pushes forward.

“As a team we didn't play as well as we would like and it was difficult for the strikers to get good balls. We played with Alexis, [Olivier] Giroud and [Danny] Welbeck and they didn't have the ball they need and maybe they weren't at their best at the time.”

Wenger will hope the return of Mesut Ozil can provide the ammunition Sanchez requires, and he revealed that the Chilean could be pushed further forward to accommodate both Ozil and Theo Walcott.

“It's possible, he is a player who can play through the middle - but not the way Giroud plays, but because of his mobility,” the Arsenal boss continued.

“His two assets are the quality of his runs and his reception of the ball. He gets into areas where you can find him. When he gets the ball short he can run at people. But he can also play further forward because of the timing of his runs.

“He is one of the fastest to adapt to the Premier League. I believe it's because he feels accepted by the other players that he feels he is an important player.”

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Reus isn't leaving just yet - Zorc

Borussia Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc has rejected speculation that Marco Reus could leave the club for Real Madrid.

Reports in the Spanish media have indicated that Real are ready to activate a €25million release clause in Reus' contract, the presence of which was revealed by Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge last August.The Germany forward has also been linked with the Bundesliga giants and Premier League sides Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool.

However, Zorc is adamant there have been no enquiries for Reus and that Dortmund are committed to keeping him at Signal Iduna Park."You know, I've been confronted with this question about Reus' future for years now," Zorc told Bild.

"Almost every week I hear about such rumours. There's no new developments, we want to continue working with Marco Reus for the long haul."Reus has been struggling with ankle problems this season, the latest of which has kept him out of action since November, yet he has scored six goals in just 11 appearances in 2014-15.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Palermo 1-1 Roma: Giallorossi held in Sicily

Roma saw their Serie A title hopes take a dent on Saturday as they stumbled to a 1-1 draw with Palermo in Sicily.

The hosts came into the tie unbeaten in their last six games and continued their habit of making good starts when they took an early lead through Paulo Dybala after just two minutes. The Sicilians have now scored 21 first-half goals this season, more than any other club in Serie A.

Davide Astori's stray pass was intercepted by Franco Vazquez, who rolled in his fellow Argentine to slot home the opener from close range.

It was Dybala's 10th goal of the campaign and the third time this season that Rudi Garcia's men had gone behind inside the opening three minutes.

A depleted Roma side were clearly missing the presence of Daniele De Rossi, Radja Nainggolan and Seydou Keita in a midfield that was persistently bypassed by a Palermo side who played with a real zip in the first half, frequently looking to get Vazquez and Dybala running at an often exposed visiting backline.

In a quiet first period the hosts could have doubled their lead five minutes before the break, but Morgan De Sanctis made a diving save to stop Edgar Barreto's header from 12 yards as Roma failed to secure a single shot on target in the opening 45 minutes.

The Giallorossi made a much more positive start to the second half, carving out their best chance of the match within a minute of the restart, but Mattia Destro could only head Jose Holebas' whipped cross over the bar.

The visitors continued to improve in the opening stages of the second period and managed to work Stefano Sorrentino for the first time on 52 minutes, though Miralem Pjanic's fierce strike was straight at the Palermo goalkeeper.

Roma continued to press and were level two minutes later when Pjanic's in-swining free kick from the left was nodded down by Kevin Strootman for Destro to stab home from inside the six-yard box.

Former Boca starlet Leandro Paredes was making his first start of the season and the Argentine made his first serious contribution on the hour mark when he tested Sorrentino from long range.

But for all Roma's improvement, Palermo should have been ahead a minute later as Baretto played in Dybala, but this time the Argentine's shot was blocked by a sprawling De Sanctis.

The draw means table-topping Juventus have the chance to extend their lead at the summit of Serie A to five points when they host Verona on Sunday.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Newcastle 1-2 Southampton: Elia double keeps Saints marching on

Southampton continued their march towards Champions League qualification with a 2-1 win over Newcastle on Saturday evening, new arrival Eljero Elia scoring both away goals.

The Dutch winger slid the first past an unimpressive Tim Krul just before the 15-minute mark, having been played in by James Ward-Prowse, but the Magpies had an equaliser in bizarre fashion another quarter-hour later when Florin Gardos's rash clearance bounced off Yoan Gouffran's shin and into the net.

Elia snagged his second after the break when, pitted against Daryl Janmaat by Graziano Pelle's canny headed flick, he found enough room to shoot, with a heavy deflection from his countryman diverting it into the goal.

The result returns Southampton to third position following United's win at QPR earlier in the day, while Newcastle lie 11th and are winless in four matches under caretaker manager John Carver.
In the injury-enforced absence of influential midfield duo Morgan Schneiderlin and Victor Wanyama, Southampton ceded plenty of the early play to Newcastle - Gouffran stinging Fraser Forster's palms with a rasping volley - but the visitors scored on their first attack of note.

Elia darted between the returning Massadio Haidara and makeshift centre-back Paul Dummett to collect Ward-Prowse's pass and squeeze a shot through Krul, possibly caught out by Janmaat's sprawling challenge.

Ward-Prowse was the provider again in the 24th minute, this time with a perfectly flighted free kick as Jose Fonte headed over before Newcastle levelled in fortuitous fashion. Gardos slid to cut out Remy Cabella's deflected through-ball, his interception cannoning into Gouffran and looping into the net.

The goal put Newcastle back in the ascendancy for the remainder of the half and a stretching Ayoze Perez almost put them ahead on the end of Cabella's lofted 43rd-minute pass.

Full-back Haidara whipped in a wonderful cross for Gouffran to head wastefully wide in the 61st minute - a miss which Newcastle would soon regret.

Shane Long, on for ineffective Old Trafford hero Dusan Tadic, won a flick-on which Elia was alert to collect and the winger's shot deflected of Janmaat to leave Krul with no chance.

Dummett wasted a free header from Jack Colback's 75th-minute corner as it became clear that Carver's quest for a maiden win in the St James's Park hotseat was set to continue.

Southampton striker Graziano Pelle glanced a cross from the similarly impressive Nathaniel Clyne against the crossbar with 12 minutes remaining before Koeman's men closed their fifth win in six unbeaten league games.

Newcastle made them sweat in stoppage time, with Cabella missing his kick as Sammy Ameobi cut the ball back into the box, while fellow substitute Emmanuel Riviere clattered a shot into Southampton captain Fonte's outstretched arm but referee Robert Madley rejected desperate appeals for a penalty before whistling for full-time.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Empoli 0-0 Inter: Toothless Nerazzurri forced to fourth draw in six games

Inter's erratic run of form following the return of coach Roberto Mancini continued with an underwhelming 0-0 Serie A draw at Empoli on Saturday.

A point at champions Juventus, followed by an eye-catching 3-1 win over in-form Genoa last week, seemed to have inspired some optimism at Inter after an unspectacular start for the former Manchester City boss, but the Milan club produced a laboured display at Stadio Carlo Castellani.

Inter endured great difficulty creating any chances of note in the first half, with their talented frontline managing just two shots in the first 45 minutes, while Empoli often attacked with purpose.Nemanja Vidic and Rodrigo Palacio both went close for the visitors early in the second half as Inter appeared to liven up, but the visitors looked out of sorts at the back.

Empoli regularly threatened through Manuel Pucciarelli and Simone Verdi, though they failed to find a way past goalkeeper Samir Handanovic, who proved an effective last line of defence.

Mancini eventually introduced new signing Xherdan Shaqiri for his debut in the 74th minute, but the Switzerland international could not drive Inter on to victory, missing out on the chance to move up to sixth in the table.Empoli were brighter from the off, getting the ball forward swiftly and attacking in numbers.The home side went close to breaking the deadlock after just five minutes, as Elseid Hysaj's 25-yard effort forced Handanovic into a desperate save down to his right.

Inter did appear to tighten up at the back, but struggled to mount meaningful attacks of their own, with Hernanes' tame attempt from 20 yards in the 24th minute all they could muster in the first half-an-hour.

Empoli remained a threat going forward, and striker Pucciarelli felt aggrieved to be denied a penalty in the 30th minute after being nudged over by Hugo Campagnaro.
The visitors registered the second of their two first-half shots seven minutes later and, although Fredy Guarin's long-range drive was well hit, Empoli stopper Luigi Sepe watched it sail harmlessly wide of his left-hand post.

Inter appeared more willing to commit bodies forward at the start of the second period and, as a result, the visitors went agonisingly close to opening the scoring.Sepe failed to deal with Lukas Podolski's corner and Vidic met the delivery with a towering header, but the Serbian's effort bounced a few yards wide.

Inter went even closer shortly after, as Palacio raced on to a delightful pass from Hernanes and sent a diving header narrowly off target, but Empoli continued to cause problems for them at the back. With 64 minutes gone, Pucciarelli raced clear down the left and, although Handanovic blocked his shot, the ball ricocheted towards goal and forced Marco Andreolli into a vital clearance.

Mancini handed a debut to Shaqiri late on, but the new arrival did little to improve Inter's toothless attack in his brief cameo, as the match petered out to a conclusion.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Southampton are no higher than we deserve - Koeman

Southampton manager Ronald Koeman insists that his team are no higher in the Premier League than they deserve.

After weathering several high-profile exits over the summer, the Saints have climbed to third in the table, Saturday's Eljero Elia-powered 2-1 win at Newcastle their fifth victory in six unbeaten league games.

With 16 games left in the season, Southampton sit above the likes of Manchester United, Arsenal, Tottenham and Liverpool and, though admitting that he might not have believed it at the start of the campaign, Koeman believes that they are there on merit.

"If I had been asked the question in pre-season, would we be third in the table after 22 games, maybe I would have laughed," he told reporters, "but not now because we have a really good team and we have really good spirit and really good organisation.

"I'm not surprised that we are now third in the league because we haven't stolen any points and, what we have got, we have deserved."

Their game at Newcastle was the third in seven gruelling days on the road for Southampton, who overcame Manchester United 1-0 at Old Trafford on Sunday before beating Championship side Ipswich Town by the same scoreline in an FA Cup third-round replay in midweek.

Victory on Tyneside also came amid the injury absence of influential midfield duo Morgan Schneiderlin and Victor Wanyama and Koeman added: "I am very happy and very proud of everybody.

"It was a long week, a difficult week, three away games but, OK, if you win games, that gives players the confidence and the spirit that you need to win against Newcastle.

"Everybody was proud after the win last week against Manchester United because that's history, that's a great place to win, but, as a manager, I think the win today is still better because it was the third game this week and we have some injuries."