| Fabio Capello to decide on England captaincy after squad meet up for Montenegro clash England manager still undecided over who will lead country in Euro 2012 qualifier against Montenegro. telegraph.co.uk |
Stoke City 1-0 Blackburn Rovers | Premier League match report There is something about the first half of a match that has Stoke flummoxed this season, but it did not take them much of the second to score a deserved winner against Blackburn.At least the home side, who had yet to make it to the halfway point without conceding, managed as much here, and within three minutes of the restart Jonathan Walters scored the goal the first half threatened but somehow failed to deliver.Kenwyne Jones had scored with his head in each of Stoke's last four games, but he turned creator here, nodding the ball to Matthew Etherington from the centre circle in the 48th minute. Etherington strode forwards with the ball before sliding it neatly between Christopher Samba and Walters. The former Rovers youth player let it run on to his right before stroking it past Paul Robinson.Sam Allardyce – yet to win two consecutive away matches as Blackburn manager – reacted quickly, swapping El Hadji Diouf, the architect of Blackburn's win over Blackpool but of limited influence here, for Martin Olsson and added Benjani to the mix soon after. But the visitors' rarely looked as if they might steal a point.Stoke kept Paul Robinson occupied if rarely panicked with several early chances, including a Jones strike that went just wide. After 10 minutes, Brett Emerton flicked a trademark Rory Delap throw on to his own post to cause the first of several flutters at the back for Blackburn.By the time Robinson stopped a low Etherington drive sneaking in at his near post in the 35th minute, the captain, Ryan Shawcross, had seen Stoke through the only moment of genuine threat from Blackburn, heading a dipping Emerton volley off the line.Premier LeagueStoke CityBlackburn RoversGeorgina Turnerguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Powell embraces England Peace mission • England meet South Korea and New Zealand in group games• 'This is going to be an excellent tournament experience for us'England will be heading into the unknown as they begin their build-up to next year's World Cup finals with an appearance at the Peace Cup in South Korea this week. Hope Powell's team have never met either South Korea or New Zealand, the sides they will face in group matches, nor have they come up against Taiwan who are in the other group alongside Australia and Mexico."This is going to be an excellent tournament experience for us," said Powell, the national coach. "We are very comfortable playing against European teams because we are always coming across them in qualifying rounds for major tournaments. That's not the case with teams from the Far Fast. We rarely play them and we get very little chance to see them in action, but we'll almost certainly meet one or two of them at the World Cup so this will be a great learning opportunity."As the highest‑ranked team in the tournament, England will be favourites to reach and then win the final on Saturday. That is not, however, Powell's top priority. "It would be lovely to win it, but the most important thing will be to start forming the crux of the team for the World Cup, and so players who are on the periphery of the side will be getting game time."As well as including in the squad youngsters such as Sophie Bradley, Claire Rafferty, Dunia Susi and Steph Houghton, Powell has welcomed back the midfielder Anita Asante and the goalkeeper Karen Bardsley after long-term injuries.In the Premier League Sunderland took over top spot from Blackburn with a 4-1 win against the previous leaders. In the day's other two games Millwall won 2-1 at Watford and Reading beat Nottingham Forest 2-0.Women's footballTony Leightonguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Everton v Liverpool: David Moyes says rivals helped by recent takeover turmoil Liverpool's off-field problems have taken the focus away from poor start to the season, claims Everton manager telegraph.co.uk |
WBA fightback stuns Red Devils Manchester United draw 2-2 with West Bromwich Albion as Sir Alex Ferguson's decision to leave Wayne Rooney on the bench backfires. foxsports.com.au |