TOP 100 SOCCER SITES
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| Have your say on Hughes's sacking Even though they were sitting sixth Manchester City chose to sack manager Mark Hughes over the weekend and install Italian Roberto Mancini as his replacement. foxsports.com.au |
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 |
Saturday clockwatch – as it happened | Alan Gardner Arsenal scored an injury-time equaliser to deny Everton victory at the Emirates on an afternoon disrupted by severe weather up and down the countryPreamble: Good aftern Afternoon everybody. Today's fixture list has been decimated (pedant note: not literally) by the cold weather, so I suggest you shun the outside world, huddle the family round the PC monitor (or iPhone) for warmth and get ready to refresh, refresh, refresh. Don't even think about turning on the automatic update doohickey – you might freeze to death.We'll have all the goals from the Prem (one 3pm fixture), Champo (three fixtures), League One (two fixtures) and, in a bit of a treat, the Scottish Cup fourth round, where they're less afraid of Jack Frost and five games are set to go ahead.Before all that, I can also inform you that Dave Chisnall and Tony O'Shea are out on the oche in the BDO World Championships ... where Chisnall has opened up with a 180. We welcome darts talk here on the Saturday clockwatch, so do send in your best Keith Talent impressions.An assorted selection of today's teams ...Arsenal v EvertonArsenal: Almunia, Sagna, Gallas, Vermaelen, Traore, Denilson, Diaby, Ramsey, Nasri, Eduardo, Arshavin.Subs: Fabianski, Rosicky, Vela, Silvestre, Merida, Eastmond, Emmanuel-Thomas.Everton: Howard, Neville, Neill, Heitinga, Baines, Osman, Cahill, Fellaini, Pienaar, Donovan, Saha.Subs: Nash, Bilyaletdinov, Vaughan, Coleman, Duffy, Baxter, Mustafi.Referee: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire)Norwich v ExeterNorwich: Forster, Russell Martin, Nelson, Doherty, Drury, Smith, Russell, Hoolahan, Lappin, Holt, Chris Martin.Subs: Rudd, Otsemobor, Gill, Adeyemi, McNamee, McDonald, Johnson.Exeter: Jones, Duffy, Seaborne, Taylor, Tully, Russell, Harley, Cozic, Golbourne, Stansfield, Fleetwood.Subs: Marriott, Edwards, Stewart, Saunders, Logan, Dunne, Sercombe.Referee: Darren Deadman (Cambridgeshire)Cardiff v BlackpoolCardiff: Marshall, McNaughton, Hudson, Quinn, Gerrard, Rae, Whittingham, Burke, Ledley, Magennis, McCormack.Subs: Enckelman, Gyepes, Chopra, Taiwo, Feeney, Matthews, Wildig.Blackpool: Rachubka, Eardley, Martin, Baptiste, Butler, Southern, Vaughan, Adam, Burgess, Ormerod, Taylor-Fletcher.Subs: Gilks, Euell, Bangura, Eastham, Nardiello, Demontagnac, Bannan.Referee: Gavin Ward (Surrey)Derby v ScunthorpeDerby: Bywater, Hunt, Buxton, Addison, Moxey, Johnson, Green, Savage, Pearson, Porter, Hulse.Subs: Deeney, Connolly, McEveley, Commons, Teale, Davies, Campbell.Scunthorpe: Lillis, Andrew Wright, Byrne, Mirfin, Williams, Thompson, O'Connor, Josh Wright, Woolford, Hayes, Hooper.Subs: Slocombe, Picton, Coleman, Togwell, Sparrow, Forte, May.Referee: Keith Woolmer (Northamptonshire)Leeds v WycombeLeeds: Ankergren, Crowe, Kisnorbo, Naylor, Johnson, Howson, Doyle, Kilkenny, Snodgrass, Beckford, Becchio.Subs: David Martin, Prutton, Grella, Michalik, Bromby, Gradel, White.Wycombe: Shearer, Hunt, Westwood, Hinshelwood, Woodman, Davies, Mousinho, Doherty, Beavon, Harrold, Pittman.Subs: Young, Oliver, Bloomfield, Green, Phillips.Referee: David Webb (Durham)Coventry v BarnsleyCoventry: Westwood, Wright, McPake, Barnett, Cranie, Bell, Clingan, Gunnarsson, McIndoe, Best, Eastwood.Subs: Konstantopoulos, Morrison, Deegan, Hussey, Baker, Madine, Wood.Barnsley: Steele, Shotton, Moore, Foster, Dickinson, De Silva, Hassell, Colace, Hallfredsson, Bogdanovic, Macken.Subs: Preece, Kozluk, Hume, Campbell-Ryce, Butterfield, Hammill, Andy Gray.Referee: Lee Mason (Lancashire)Dunfermline v StenhousemuirDunfermline: Fleming, Ross, McGregor, Dowie, McCann, David Graham, Phinn, Bell, Gibson, Kirk, McDougall.Subs: Paterson, Burke, Woods, Willis, Cardle.Stenhousemuir: McCluskey, Lyle, McLeod, Smith, Stephen Thomson, Iain Thomson, Pat Scullion, Molloy, Motion, Bradley, Dalziel.Subs: Bennett, Durrie, Welsh, Thom, O'Reilly.Referee: B Madden (Scotland)St Mirren v AlloaSt Mirren: Gallacher, Ross, Innes, Mair, McGinn, Robb, Johnston, Dorman, Thomson, Mehmet, Dargo.Subs: Howard, Murray, Higdon, Barron, Burns.Alloa: Crawford, McClune, Walker, Brown, Grant, Buist, Brown Ferguson, Townsley, Gilhaney, Noble, Agnew.Subs: Hall, Carroll, Kerr, McCafferty, Carrigan.Referee: Stephen Finnie (Scotland) Partick v Dundee UtdPartick: Tuffey, Paton, Robertson, Maxwell, Archibald, Cairney, Adams, Rowson, Corcoran, Lovell, Donnelly.Subs: Scully, MacBeth, McGeough, Erskine, Buchanan.Dundee Utd: Pernis, Kovacevic, Kenneth, Webster, Dixon, David Robertson, Gomis, Buaben, Conway, Daly, Casalinuovo.Subs: Banks, Dillon, Swanson, Myrie-Williams, Goodwillie.Referee: D McDonald (Scotland)Hibernian v Irvine MeadowHibernian: Smith, Wotherspoon, Hogg, Murray, Hanlon, Zemmama, Miller, Rankin, Stokes, Nish, Riordan. Subs: Flynn, Cregg, Benjelloun, McBride, Stevenson.Irvine Meadow: Wardrobe, Ryan, McGowan, Robertson, Lowing, Wingate, Strain, Turner, McGinty, Hamilton, Barr.Subs: Hewitt, Boyle, Swift, Cuddihy, Mclymont.Referee: E Norris (Scotland)Aberdeen v HeartsAberdeen: Langfield, Maurice Ross, Ifil, Mulgrew, Pawlett, Young, Kerr, Marshall, Fyvie, Mackie, Miller.Subs: Nelson, Maguire, Paton, Crawford, Jack.Hearts: Kello, Cinikas, Zaliukas, Bouzid, Visconte, Santana, Black, Robinson, Jonsson, Smith, Michael Stewart.Subs: Balogh, Obua, Nade, Templeton, Balatoni.Referee: S Conroy (Scotland)Scenes of some men blowtorching the ice outside the Emirates. Last week we had potential banana skins in the FA Cup, today frozen water is the problem. But will Arsenal slip up in pursuit of Chelsea? Or could the Gunners rack up a dozen goals against the Toffeemen this season by equalling their 6-1 result on the opening day?3pm: Peep! Peep! They're under way at the Emirates (Arsenal playing from left to right, if you're interested). Meanwhile the vidiprinter is all geared up in the Sky Sports studio – currently showing Nottingham Forest's goals from last night.3.05pm: Thomas Vermaelen is down injured, after an aerial collision with Louis Saha. He's required some lengthy treatment, and Arsene Wenger looks concerned in the Arsenal dugout.GOAL! Leeds 1-0 Wycombe (Jonathan Howson 4) First of the afternoon and it goes to the conquerers of Manchester United.GOAL! Cardiff 1-0 Blackpool (Mark Hudson 9) Cardiff ahead at the Cardiff City Stadium.3.09pm: Saha has the ball in the Arsenal net – but he's offside, by a good few yards. He beat Almunia with his head at the second attempt, but the Emirates crowd breathed a sigh of relief at the linesman's flag.GOAL! Norwich 1-0 Exeter (Grant Holt 8)GOAL! Arsenal 0-1 Everton (Leon Osman 12) Arsenal's achilles heel is their defending from set pieces, and they've allowed Osman, one of the smallest men on the park, to rise high and thump a header home. The assist goes to Landon Donovan on his first appearance in England. A corner that Donovan's BFF, David Beckham, would have been proud of ...GOAL! Derby 0-1 Scunthorpe (Gary Hooper 14) First blood to the Iron in the battle between the Championship strugglers.GOAL! Dunfermline 1-0 Stenhousemuir (William Gibson 15)GOAL! Dunfermline 2-0 Stenhousemuir (Andrew Kirk 17) That's two quickfire strikes for the First Division side, putting Second Division Stenhouse firmly in their place.3.22pm: Jerry, who introduced himself as a 'happy gooner in the US' but is probably less chirpy now, has a broadcasting/weather report from across the pond: "Watching the Arsenal here in the US. Didn't think I would be. Setanta supposedly lost its rights to show Premier League game here in the states because it couldn't cough up the cash. But lo here it is in the comfort of my living room. If it makes you feel better it's 22 degrees F here outside Washington DC. I sympathize with your weather." Does the Gridiron, and such, survive snow, I wonder?GOAL! Dunfermline 3-0 Stenhousemuir (Nicholas Phinn 21) The Pars are running rampant at East End Park. I don't think we're going to get a cup upset in this one.3.27pm: William Gallas is the Arsenal centre-back requiring treatment this time, for what appears to be a back strain. He's okay to continue though.GOAL! Coventry 1-0 Barnsley (Freddy Eastwood 24) It's a sixth goal of the season for the former Shrimper, Eastwood, and the Sky Blues are ahead.GOAL! Arsenal 1-1 Everton (Denilson 27) That's taken a massive deflection – off Everton goalscorer Osman – and Arsenal have drawn level. Eduardo teed up Denilson about 22 yards out and the Brazilian's strike was going to Howard's right before clipping Osman's legs and spinning in to the opposite corner.GOALS! Partick 0-1 Dundee United; Coventry 2-0 Barnsley; St Mirren 1-0 Alloa Damian Casalinuevo on the scoresheet for United, Sammy Clingan doubling Coventry's advantage and a David Crawford og putting St Mirren ahead. Blimey, it's goals galore at moment.GOAL! Hibernian 1-0 Irvine Meadow (Derek Riordan 32) Riordan is playing today's Grinch, dashing the hopes of Irvine, plucky members of the Stagecoach Super League Premier Division of the Scottish Junior Football Association, West Region. Now that's a name.GOAL! St Mirren 1-1 Alloa (Mark Brown 34) It's all square at St Mirren Park. Meanwhile, Ian Copestake is musing on Dunfermline: "I was feeling a bit blue what with the Togo business, but seeing William Gibson pop up to score for Dunfermline at least made me smile wondering if he had quoted himself as he slammed the ball in: 'The 'Net is a waste of time, and that's exactly what's right about it.'"GOAL! Dunfermline 4-0 Stenhousemuir (David Graham 35) The Pars are certainly not wasting any time in giving Stenhouse a good duffing up today. That's four.Man stacking it in comedic fashion dept. A lull in the goalscoring calls for some video funny, I think, courtesy of my colleague Evan Fanning.3.45pm: And on the subject of weather, here's Alexander Bertland from the good ole US of: "In reference to your gridiron question, last Sunday we in Buffalo had about 3 inches of snow fall on top of what was already 4-6 inches on the ground. They cleared the field for the Bills game pretty wellbefore the game and at halftime although the snow kept falling. Many fans did not go to the game but that had more to do with the fact that the Bills are terrible and the game was meaningless than the snow."I do not think they have ever canceled an NFL football game for snow. But that is par for the course for Buffalo. It has not really stopped snowing all week and probably won't until June. Right now it is 11F with a light snow falling. We have spent a good deal of money on equipment to deal with it." And I thought the NFL was for girly men who like to hit people wearing pads. Every day's a school day ...GOALS! St Mirren 2-1 Alloa; Derby 0-2 Scunthorpe Billy Mehmet and Paul Hayes notch goals right on half-time.3.50pm: They go in all square at the Emirates, where I can report Everton are playing very well. Not a great deal of chances at either end, but the visitors have certainly not been outclassed thus far.3.52pm: So, half-times are being taken around the country. Only one game 0-0 at the break and that's Aberdeen v Hearts. And here's another missive from across the water: "It's -14 C here in Toronto," says Don Evans. "Is it mandated all EPL teams have heated fields?" I think there is a requirement for Premier League stadiums to have undersoil heating, Don, but that's not the reason for the majority of cancellations, certainly in the top flight. It has more to do with what fans might do to themselves getting in and out of the stadium (see the fella in Dublin below). Something Dara O Briain has had some opinions for money about ...Forget snow and ice here's a granny stopping play at the aforementioned plucky Irvine Meadow (sorry I can't embed it but the option has been disabled).4pm: News from Angola is that Emmanuel Adebayor is returning to England, although Togo still haven't officially withdrawn from the African Cup of Nations. The teams are out at Elland Road. And despite the snow, and their reputation, the Arsenal fans are singing and bouncing around the Emirates, waiting for the second half.GOAL! Cardiff 1-1 Blackpool (Charlie Adam 46) Adam has scored what Paul Merson described as a "proper goal", and Ian Holloway's side are back in it. Merson literally whinnied when that went in.4.08pm: Arsenal and Everton have started the second period. Everton have been very energetic so far, and Arsenal, without Cesc Fabregas, seem muted. "Hope Arsene gives one of his rare bollockings at half time. We are woeful! Watching from a very comfortable 30 degrees in Phuket." Thanks, Grant, for rubbing it in for the rest of us.4.11pm: Donovan dances his way into the Arsenal box but his cross-come-shot drifts wide of the right-hand post. The American has looked reasonably lively so far – something Arsenal have not.GOAL! Coventry 2-1 Barnsley (Jon Macken) The much-travelled Macken pulls one back for the visitors at the Ricoh Arena.GOAL! Hibernian 3-0 Irvine Meadow (Paul Hanlon 59) Romance is dead in the Scottish Cup too, it would appear. Plucky Irvine now have a mountain to climb. Meanwhile, Paul Hayes's goal for Scunthorpe just before half-time has now been awarded to Garry Thompson ...GOAL! Derby 1-2 Scunthorpe (Kris Commons 59) A bit of a lucky strike from Commons but the deficit has been halved.4.20pm: William Gallas, looking to take the game by its scruff, goes charging up the Emirates pitch but is then penalised for putting his boot a little too close to Johnny Heitinga's noggin in the penalty area. Heitinga was horizontal and only a couple off feet of the ground at the time, so perhaps a harsh decision. After all, if you're going to put your head down there ...GOAL! Leeds 1-1 Wycombe (Jon-Paul Pittman) Pittman's leveller at Elland Road prompts the latest of numerous "after the Lord Mayor's show" comments in the Sky Sport studio.4.26pm: Aaron Ramsey is replaced by the Little Mozart, Tomas Rosicky, at the Emirates. Arsenal could do with a symphony or two from the Czech, with 25 minutes to go.GOALS! GOALS! GOALS! Dunfermline are now six goals to the good against Stenhousemuir, where Stephen McDougall and Joseph Cardle have added to the pain for the visitors. Meanwhile Darren Mackie has broken the deadlock at Pittodrie, putting Aberdeen 1-0 up.4.32pm: Rosicky nearly makes an immediate impact, but he's just unable to connect with Bacary Sagna's cross. Denilson then fires a shot just over, via a small deflection ... and Vermaelen is the next to be denied, following the corner. Arsenal cranking up the heat a little, just as the snow starts to settle on the pitch.4.34pm: I would say that Arsenal are beginning to look a bit more slick, but the feed I'm watching keeps freezing and stuttering, which conveys quite the opposite impression. Damien Neva is rooting for his countryman (I think): "I'm an American and I take it back all the things I said against Landycakes. He's looking good against this small team."GOAL! Norwich 2-0 Exeter (Chris Martin 77) Grant Holt pulls the ball back and Martin fires in with the help of a deflection to give the Canaries a two-goal cushion.4.39pm: Tony Parker is piping up from dictionary corner. "By the way, you can't say 'a great deal of chances' because the expression is only used with uncountable nouns," he finger-wags. "Nothing worse than a bored English teacher, is there?" My response, as my mother used to tell me, is that only boring people get bored, Tony.GOALS! Norwich 3-1 Exeter; Aberdeen 2-0 Hearts; Derby 1-3 Scunthorpe; Dunfermline 7-0 Stenhousemuir. No sooner had Marcus Stewart given Exeter hope than Grant Holt's second made it 3-1 to Norwich. Lees Miller, Gerry Thompson and Andrew Kirk – twisting the knife further against Stenhouse – were the other scorers.GOAL! Arsenal 1-2 Everton (Steven Pienaar 81) Stunning news from the Emirates, where Arsenal are behind again. Pienaar was slipped through, possibly by Tim Cahill but I can't be certain, and raced towards Manuel Almunia's goal before deftly lifting the ball over the sprawling Spaniard. Really good finish from Pienaar there.4.45pm: Arsenal's woe is increased as Denilson is stretchered off, with Fran Merida pressed in to action. And Julian Menz's grin has doubtless got bigger since he sent these words in: "I just want to give a big New Year's hug to Hull City. And may the freeze continue until Drogba and Essien are back." It's sitting up nicely for Chelsea, you've got to say.With Everton on the brink of victory at the Emirates we can celebrate Landon Donovan's performance with this video, sent in by Jesse Galdston. He even speaks more Spanish than Becks!4.52pm: There will be five minutes added time at the Emirates, as Arsenal seek to preserve their excellent record at home this season.GOAL! Arsenal 2-2 Everton (Tomas Rosicky 90+1) Another deflection has cost Everton, this time the ball looping over Tim Howard off of Lucas Neill after Rosicky struck from just inside the box. Drama at the Emirates!4.56pm: There have been a few other goals around the country, but Arsenal are really pushing for a winner. Apologies to Scunthorpe and Coventry fans, I'll get those details up in a minute ...GOALS! Coventry 3-1 Barnsley; Derby 1-4 Scunthorpe. Clinton Morrison wraps things up at the Ricoh while Jonathan Forte has grabbed a fourth for Scunny after just five minutes on the pitch.5pm: It's all over at the Emirates, where Everton have been denied victory, 2-2 the final score. Good to see several of you are still awake ... Arsenal of course aren't unbeaten at home this season, thanks to a mauling by Didier Drogba a few weeks ago. It wasn't just a nightmare I had.5.02pm: Arsenal escape with a point, then, having trailed twice although they had chances to snatch victory at the end. The final action of the match saw Manuel Almunia race from his line to deal with the threat of Everton's James Vaughan, only to collide with and injure Armand Traore. The ball rolled to safety, though. That episode seems to sum up a somewhat hapless display from Arsenal; Everton very unlucky today.Final scores up in Scotland: Aberdeen 2–0 Hearts Dunfermline 7–1 Stenhousemuir Hibernian 3–0 Irvine Meadow Partick 0–2 Dundee United St Mirren 3–1 Alloa5.05pm: So Stenhousemuir grabbed a late consolation goal through Kevin Bradley, while Billy Mehmet completed his hat-trick against Alloa. David Goodwillie was also on the scoresheet late on for Dundee United. There was plenty of goal action today, despite the reduced fixture list. Thanks for all your emails and apologies for the ones I didn't get round to using. Now here's Scott Murray with this evening's entertainment ... Enjoy.Premier LeagueChampionshipScottish CupAlan Gardnerguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Coventry City 1-2 Portsmouth It has been a long, dark tunnel but there was a flicker of light at the end of it for Portsmouth last night. Bottom of the Premier League and facing financial meltdown, Avram Grant's side looked set to add FA Cup elimination to their tale of woe until Stephen Wright put through his net in the 90th minute. Penalties then beckoned at the end of extra-time before Aaron Mokoena scored in the final seconds. It is not only the wages that arrive late at Portsmouth.Victory secured Portsmouth a place in the fourth round and a home tie against Sunderland on Saturday week although Grant is entitled to take far more from this result than progress to the last 32 of the FA Cup. This was a tie that many will have expected Portsmouth to lose and few would have bet against that prospect when Leon Best struck a wonderful goal midway through the first half to put ÂCoventry ahead.The Championship side looked the stronger of the two teams in the first half but Portsmouth began to claw their way back into the match after the interval, when Coventry dropped deeper and deeper, and finally the pressure told. The substitute Angelos Basinas delivered a centre from the left and Wright and Clinton Morrison challenged for the same ball with no Portsmouth player in sight. The result was a powerful header from Wright that gave Kieren Westwood no chance.The complexion of the game completely changed in extra-time as Coventry began to look jaded and Portsmouth grew in confidence. Danny Webber might have added a second goal and another substitute, John Utaka, twice wasted decent opportunities before Mokoena met another Basinas delivery, this time from a corner, to head beyond Westwood. The Portsmouth fans were still celebrating when Mick Jones blew the final whistle.Afterwards Grant was asked whether he felt like a lucky manager. "After the penalty shoot-out in Moscow I don't feel lucky," he said, ruefully recalling his experience with Chelsea in the 2008 Champions League final. "I am happy for any win but especially for this kind of win. The players tried and tried and we didn't give up. I am very proud of the players. I don't see many clubs in this situation that continue to fight and don't give up. We had 17 players today and key players were injured but we showed a lot of character."Indeed it took one look at the teamsheet to realise just how difficult things are for Grant. With Nadir Belhadj, Hassan Yebda, Aruna Dindane, Nwanwko Kanu, Jamie O'Hara, Steve Finnan and Younes Kaboul all missing for a variety of reasons, the Portsmouth manager was able to fill only six of the seven places on the bench and one of those, Lenny Sowah, had been plucked from the academy.Kaboul had been expected to play and his absence, allied to speculation linking him with a move to Manchester City, aroused suspicion that the central defender might have been left out because he is about to move on but Grant claimed he had picked up a toe infection. In truth, the Frenchman might well reflect that this was a good game to miss, with the combination of freezing conditions and a crowd of only 7,097 hardly making it an appealing Cup tie to play in.Coventry, nonetheless, would have enjoyed taking a Premier League scalp and Coleman was right when he described Best's goal as being "worthy of winning any game". The striker has been struggling for confidence amid a run of eight matches without a goal but there was no evidence of any loss of form when he thumped a 22-yard volley over Asmir Begovic and into the top corner. Crucially, though, Coventry failed to add to their lead when they were on top before the break."We are gutted," said Chris Coleman, the Coventry manager. "The players are devastated. Overall I think we did enough to take it to penalties. The players pushed as hard as they could but we are disappointed with the goals that we have given away. The first one was needless but I think there was a bit of desperation because it was so late in the game. Portsmouth were a bit lucky there."Portsmouth in transfer limbo, page 4 FA CupCoventry CityPortsmouthStuart Jamesguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Stoke City 3 Arsenal 1: match report Sol Campbell glaringly at fault on Arsenal return as two Ricardo Fuller goals and Dean Whitehead effort knock side out of Cup. telegraph.co.uk |