TOP 100 SOCCER SITES
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| Bolton Wanderers 4 Lincoln City 0: match report Bolton start life after Gary Megson with a comfortable win over lower league opposition. telegraph.co.uk |
Inter Milan's Chivu recovering after surgery Inter Milan defender Cristian Chivu is in stable condition after surgery on his fractured skull. cbc.ca |
Roque Santa Cruz faces a month on the Manchester City sidelines • Calf injury rules Paraguay striker out of next six games• Patrick Vieira will also miss the League Cup derbyThe Manchester City manager, Roberto Mancini,has said that he expects Roque Santa Cruz to be sidelined for a month with his latest calf injury.The Paraguay international lasted only four minutes of his comeback at Everton on Saturday before going down with the same problem that caused him to miss three games over the Christmas period.Although Mancini said that he did not believe Santa Cruz will need an operation, he did confirm the £18m summer purchase from Blackburn Rovers will be out of action for a month. If Mancini's assessment proves correct, it will rule Santa Cruz out of both legs of the Carling Cup semi-final with Manchester United, Sunday's FA Cup fourth-round tie at Scunthorpe United plus the Blues' next three Premier League games."It is a big problem for us and him," said Mancini.With Emmanuel Adebayor currently on indefinite compassionate leave, it may lead to a recall for Benjani Mwaruwari, who was only on the bench at Everton despite impressing on his goalscoring return to first-team duties after a long spell out with a thigh injury.Mancini will also be without the services of his new signing Patrick Vieira tomorrow. The France midfielder has been unavailable since signing on a free transfer from Internazionale after picking up a calf injury in his final game in Serie A.And, despite the importance of tomorrow's match, Mancini is not willing to risk him against United, or at Glanford Park, with next week's second leg now the earliest Vieira is likely to be seen in a City shirt. "It is better for us, and for him, that he can go and be ready in a week or 10 days," Mancini said."It is better that we do not take risks in this situation. I would like it that when Patrick does come back he can play until the end of the season."Manchester CityRoberto ManciniPremier Leagueguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Scottish Premier League: Rangers 1-1 Hearts Andrew Little salvaged a precious point for Rangers to extend their lead at the top of the Scottish Premier League on an afternoon when the champions looked to be heading for an unexpected defeat against a Hearts side reduced to 10 men by Christian Nadé's sending-off.Csaba Laszlo's side responded to that red card by snatching the lead through their young striker Scott Robinson, a goal which would be celebrated with as much fervour by Celtic supporters as it was by the travelling Hearts fans.Walter Smith's men, however, are nothing if not resilient, and the substitute Little's first goal for the club, in Âstoppage time, ensured Celtic remain under pressure to take maximum points against St Johnstone in Perth tomorrow.With Hearts providing predictably dogged resistance against a Rangers side largely devoid of pace and a genuine goal threat, this was not a contest ever in danger of stirring the blood. The Edinburgh side have recovered from a wretched start to the season, in which they even flirted with the relegation spot at one stage, but their improved run of form has not been borne of flair and excitement.They did conjure up the first scoring opportunity of a generally disappointing first half, however, and the lumbering striker Nadé might have done better than scoop his shot over the crossbar from the edge of the penalty area after neat build-up play from Robinson and Michael Stewart had created the opening.Deprived of the services of Kris Boyd, Kenny Miller and Nacho Novo because of injury, Smith had few options in attack. He chose to deploy Kyle Lafferty as his main striker, with the teenager John Fleck operating just behind him. It was Fleck who earned the free-kick from which Rangers posted their first goal threat of the afternoon, his darting run crudely halted by Ian Black some 22 yards out. Steven Davis curled the set piece around the wall, but was thwarted by Marian ÂKello's fine, diving save low to his right.Rangers were able to gorge themselves on possession, but struggled to find gaps in a well-drilled Hearts defence. Set plays appeared to offer the most likely route to goal and Kirk Broadfoot came close with a header from Kevin Thomson's free-kick which narrowly cleared Kello's crossbar. Lafferty, afforded a rare opportunity to play in his favoured position, looked almost too keen to make the most of it and there was an air of desperation about his rising shot from 20 yards, which failed to trouble Kello.Territorial momentum remained firmly in Rangers' favour in the second half, but Hearts always carried the hint of a threat on the counterattack. The home side's under-employed goalkeeper, Allan McGregor, was almost caught out by Nadé's low cross-cum-shot. The ball was sneaking in at his left post before McGregor reacted smartly.Fleck grew in confidence and influence as the afternoon progressed and the 18-year-old was unfortunate to see a shot from 20 yards curl narrowly wide. He then displayed good awareness to send Lafferty clear on goal, but the Northern Ireland international's shot lacked conviction and was comfortably saved by Kello.Hearts looked to have been dealt a significant blow when Nadé was needlessly dismissed with 17 minutes remaining. Booked just beforehand for a foul on David Weir, the Frenchman foolishly booted the ball into the crowd after being caught offside and duly Âcollected a second yellow card for time wasting.Yet as the home support anticipated a late onslaught on the short-handed visitors' goal, they were instead stunned by Robinson's breakthrough. The left-back Lee Wallace surged forward to drive in a low shot which McGregor could only parry into the path of Robinson, who gleefully bundled it into the empty net from close range.Rangers piled forward in search of the equaliser and it came in the first minute of stoppage time, Little shooting home from close in after Kello could only palm out Lee McCulloch's long-range drive.Scottish Premier LeagueRangersHeartsguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Mourinho to be questioned over comments Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho and club chief executive Ernesto Paolillo are to face Italy's football association (FIGC) following remarks they made after Sunday's Milan derby. cbc.ca |