TOP 100 SOCCER SITES
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| Premier League: Blackburn Rovers 2-2 Sunderland In much the same way that ice-bound north-east roads refuse to thaw, there seems no end in sight to Sunderland's bleak mid-winter. Steve Bruce's suddenly fragile side have now gone seven games without a win and were arguably lucky not to lose here against an initially sluggish Blackburn who grew stronger as the afternoon unravelled.A raft of injuries deprived Bruce of Andy Reid, Lee Cattermole, Kieran Richardson, John Mensah and Anton Ferdinand, thereby dictating that 20-year-old David Meyler, signed from Cork City by Roy Keane, finally made his first senior start. Meyler proved quietly competent in central midfield, showing off some intelligent movement and even finding the time to chest down a high ball and send a first-half volley swerving narrowly wide.Similar highlights were frustratingly few and far between with the opening period's principal drama focused on the sometimes abrasive central midfield sub-plot featuring Lorik Cana's duel with Blackburn's Steve Nzonzi. A typical cameo occurred when Nzonzi – aka Ewood Park's answer to Patrick Vieira – accidentally caught the Albania captain in the face and Cana retaliated by barging into his unimpressed adversary.Perhaps inspired by his co-midfielder's uncompromising approach, Meyler wellied late into Morten Gamst Pedersen with a Keane-esque tackle and promptly earned a booking. The sense of minor grievance stemming from that little incident seemed to inspire Blackburn, sparking a period of concerted, set-piece punctuated, home pressure which saw Keith Andrews direct a right-foot shot from outside the area intended for the top corner fractionally off target.Not that there was exactly a surfeit of excitement on a day when both teams craved the sort of imagination and invention customarily supplied by Blackburn's injured David Dunn and Sunderland's Reid.Rovers fans seem reasonably satisfied with the job Sam Allardyce is performing here but, even so, there is still plenty of nostalgia in these parts for the Mark Hughes era. If Manchester City fans do not appear overly exercised by the former Blackburn manager's sacking, Ewood regulars are convinced it was a terrible mistake.Pedersen has largely looked such a shadow of his former self under Allardyce that he has been dubbed "The Ghost". The Norway winger still boasts a trick or two, though, and, almost immediately after Darren Bent had given Sunderland the lead, Pedersen wrong-footed Phil Bardsley down the left transferred the ball from his preferred left to his right foot and defied Marton Fulop - who arguably should have done better - with a shot which went in off a post.The joke doing the rounds in the north-east at the moment is that Bruce has banned his players from owning dogs as "they cannot hold onto leads". Sure enough Pedersen's equaliser highlighted a worrying Wearside trend.Sunderland had rarely looked like scoring until – helped on by the leg of Chris Samba – Bent lashed home his 12th goal of the season following a goalmouth scramble occasioned by Daryl Murphy's cross and Paul Robinson's parry.Undeterred by seeing his side's lead wiped out, Bent merely dusted himself down and scored a distinctly superior second. Connecting with Jordan Henderson's offside-defying through pass, the striker advanced to the edge of the area from where his low shot proved far too good for Robinson. Bent's name has not always been synonymous with poise but this was a wonderfully composed finish.Unfortunately for Bruce it was insufficient to win the game. El Hadji Diouf, newly on the pitch as part of a triple attacking substitution on Allardyce's part, swiftly rose to head a Pascal Chimbonda cross beyond Fulop with Nyron Nosworthy the defender most culpable. The fact that Diouf and Chimbonda left Sunderland under considerable clouds last January hardly enhanced the mood of visitors who have now won just once in 12 games.Premier LeagueBlackburn RoversSunderlandLouise Taylorguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
You are the Ref Click to enlarge, and debate the strip below the line. Keith Hackett's official answers appear in Sunday's Observer and here from Monday.A very happy new year to everyone from Paul and Keith - many thanks for all the comments and questions.Competition: win an official club shirt of your choiceFor a chance to win a club shirt from the range at Kitbag.com send us your questions for You are the Ref to you.are.the.ref@observer.co.uk. The best scenario used in the new Observer YATR strip each Sunday wins a shirt of your choice from Kitbag. Terms & conditions apply.For more on the fifty year history of You Are The Ref, click here.guardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Roma striker Okaka to join Fulham on Monday • Italy U21 striker to move to London on initial six-month loan• Option exists to extend loan to 12 months if successfulStefano Okaka's agent has confirmed the Roma striker will complete a move to Fulham on Monday.The 20-year-old was set to join the Cottagers this week after Roma and Fulham reached an agreement for the player to move to London on a six-month loan deal. However, the move was delayed due to the Italy Under-21 striker having yet to finalise terms."Everything is okay," said Okaka's agent Domenico Scopelliti. "Fulham want the boy and Okaka wants Fulham. On Monday he will fly to London. There have been no problems regarding the financial aspect with Fulham. The only delay has been due to a fax or an email that we were supposed to receive. Okaka will join Fulham for six months with an option that Fulham can exercise to extend the loan deal for a further 12 months. This was crucial as it would allow the player more time to adapt."Fulham are looking to reinforce their attack with Bobby Zamora currently sidelined through injury.Okaka has made six league appearances for Claudio Ranieri's side this season and is under contract with the Serie A club until June 2012.FulhamPremier Leagueguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Guillermo Franco on time for Mexico The breakout year for Guillermo Franco was a long time coming and with the World Cup fast approaching the Mexican striker is finally primed to make a lasting impression. cbc.ca |
A-League round 24 preview Fox Sports football commentator Paul Trimboli offers his thoughts and predictions for round 24 of the 2009-2010 A-League season. foxsports.com.au |