| Football League: your thoughts Just three points separate second from 12th in League One after a day of topsy-turvy resultsClick here for all the day's results and scorers and here for the latest league tables.• Hartlepool pulled off a notable 2-0 win over 10-man Peterborough at Victoria Park as a day of topsy-turvy results left just three points separating second from 12th in the gridlocked upper echelons of League One. After high flyers Peterborough, Colchester and Exeter all lost, and leaders Brighton were held by Bournemouth, you can only ask - is League One becoming the new Championship?• Match of the day in League Two saw high-flying Port Vale away at basement club Hereford United, who had dismissed manager Simon Davey after only one win in 10 games. Sean Carnham's 15th minute goal raised the prospect of an upset before the prolific Marc Richards scored his seventh of the season to pull table-toppers Vale level from the penalty spot.• Bradford City secured a surprisingly comfortable victory in the desperate struggle between League Two's other desperate strugglers at Underhill. Two goals in five second-half minutes gave the Bantams only their third victory of the season and relieved some of the pressure on manager Peter Taylor, who had failed to secure the signing Calvin Zola earlier in the week.• Zola's club, Crewe Alexandra, were involved in the Football League game-of-the-day – a ding-dong 3-3 draw with Torquay. Two goals from Mark Ellis saw the south Devon side race into the lead, while a second half brace from Ashley Westwood preserved the Railwaymen's nine-game unbeaten streak.• Peering briefly in to the Conference, Rashid Yussuff's late strike sealed victory for AFC Wimbledon at Wrexham and cut big-spending Crawley Town's lead to one point after the Sussex side were held at Barrow.Check out all of the latest league tables and have your say on all of today's Football League action below.League OneLeague TwoScott Anthonyguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Report: U.S. striker Charlie Davies caught speeding 125 mph A French newspaper is reporting that American forward Charlie Davies, who nearly died in a car crash last year, was caught speeding at 125 miles ... rssfeeds.usatoday.com |
Portsmouth grateful to Sacha Gaydamak after club's future assured • 'The current preoccupation with money and finance isn't helping the game'• Former owner agrees deal to sell to Balram ChainraiPortsmouth's administrators have thanked the former owner Sacha Gaydamak after a deal was finally agreed last night to safeguard the club's future.The club claimed on Friday evening they were on the brink of ceasing trading because Gaydamak had refused to sign a deal to sell to Balram Chainrai.But after Gaydamak confirmed last night he would sign an agreement, the club issued a statement expressing their delight that the issue had been resolved."The administrators of Portsmouth City Football Club Ltd are pleased to announce that negotiations between the various parties concerning the sale of the club have now been satisfactorily concluded," the statement read. "Accordingly, the club has now been formally sold by the joint administrators, Messrs UHY Hacker Young, and will continue to trade outside of administration."The administrators would like to thank Mr Gaydamak for his cooperation and assistance in securing the future of the club and acknowledges that he has played an integral part in delivering its survival."Gaydamak had expressed his frustration with the club for suggesting the club was on the brink. Portsmouth will pay him £2.2 million in instalments over the next five years.He said: "The news this week surrounding football and this club shows that the current preoccupation with money and finance isn't helping the game and its reputation."Portsmouth football club, its fans, employees, players and the community that surrounds it deserve better than being subjected to rumour resulting from some parties using the press to create uncertainty as a negotiating tactic."I fully intended to sign the deal on Friday and had it not been changed at the last minute I would have. Everyone understood on Friday that further negotiations were now required. A new agreement was reached late this evening and as soon as I receive the papers I will sign them."I hope this draws to an end this unfortunate uncertainty surrounding the club. I wish everyone involved in the club well for the future."PortsmouthChampionshipBusinessguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Ronaldo scores four times against Racing la liga oct 23 cbc.ca |
Chelsea's brick wall lays title foundation • Champions have not conceded at home in league since March• City, United and Arsenal next up for struggling WolvesThere is a hopelessness induced by visits to Chelsea these days. Opponents who arrive in south-west London intent on containment are swept aside, their game plans invariably wrecked early. Others, like Wolverhampton Wanderers, are more ambitious yet they, too, end up attempting to pluck positives from scoreless defeat. It is a familiar pattern from which the champions have not deviated since March.Already there is a relentlessness to the club's pursuit of a second successive league title, their progress serene while those at their backs are preoccupied with their own troubles. Carlo Ancelotti left the arena conceding his side had been "lucky" but there was something utterly routine about this latest victory. Wolves may have impressed throughout, offensively and defensively, but they were repelled even with Chelsea becalmed for long periods and with frustration voiced in the stands from time to time.The bar has been set high by Ancelotti but even occasional flashes of quality are enough to prevail. The focus is inevitably drawn to the more scintillating spectacle served up, the sight of Nicolas Anelka slipping Yuri Zhirkov into space down the left and Florent Malouda converting the Russian's pull-back with precision. Or the link-up play that saw passes pinged between Salomon Kalou, Didier Drogba and Michael Essien before the first of the Ivorians collected the Ghanaian's return to slide his shot beneath Marcus Hahnemann. This team can be untouchable.Yet the division's most impressive goal difference – plus 23 nine games into the season – owes as much to stingy defence as mouthwatering attack. Chelsea have conceded only twice and have not been breached in the league at Stamford Bridge since John Carew netted for Aston Villa on 27 March. Both Ancelotti and John Terry had to be reminded of the last time this team had conceded at home. The visitors were beaten 7-1 that day, with Chelsea having since gone 781 minutes without a goal against them here.Wolves came closer than any team to breaking that record, only for a lack of bite and Chelsea's stubborn refusal to yield to send them home goalless and pointless. The game's better chances were created by those in old gold, with Matt Jarvis outstanding as a supply line from the flank, but Petr Cech's handling was faultless and, when required, those across the home side's back line, aided by the midfield shield, choked the visitors into submission.Mick McCarthy would appreciate those skills more than most, his admiration obvious afterwards. Cech was "terrific", Ivanovic "outstanding". "And we all know about Terry, but centre-backs get better and better," he said. "They know when to block or hold people under the ball. They get cleverer and cuter. Chelsea's full-backs are more like wingers and it helps when you've got Mikel Jon Obi and Essien sat in front of your back four. They're so resilient. Jelle van Damme had a really good chance at the back post but [José] Bosingwa somehow got his head on it. A lot of full-backs wouldn't have done that."The Portuguese's first start in over a year was impressive in its own way with his presence offering the champions thrust and pace down the wing, if perhaps denying them the solidity provided by Branislav Ivanovic or even Paulo Ferreira when they have filled in at full-back. Ancelotti's complaints centred on Wolves being allowed space and time to conjure crosses from the flanks and central sights of goal from distance because Essien and Mikel were perhaps not as sharp as usual after the midweek trip to Moscow. Even so Chelsea did not concede."I'm playing alongside the best left-back in the world, two of the best centre-halves [Ivanovic or Alex] and the best goalkeeper but we've always had that doggedness about us," Terry said. "We rolled teams over at the start of the season but we're also capable of going to Villa and fighting for a good point or grinding out a result when we're not at our best like today. We don't concede and we don't drop points."There is a recognition that an advantage must be established now before the chasing pack, and Manchester United in particular, generate momentum. "What happened with Wayne Rooney will boost United and make it harder for us," Terry added. "They'll probably go and spend again in January. The fact that some clubs haven't been doing that, given what's happened financially in the world, has maybe helped us in the last few years. Keeping Wayne is massive for United and unfortunate for everybody else."Wolves must also think long term. They did well enough to suggest they can recover from their sluggish opening to the season, though they will do wellto spark the revival over the next few weeks as Manchester City, United and Arsenal await. "It's quite a run but it's better than being up against Scunthorpe, Doncaster, Barnsley and Derby," said McCarthy. "We've got to maintain performances and belief that we can play like that. If we don't get anything out of the next game, because it's against City, we just have to keep playing. Just keep playing." At some stage, their luck will surely turn.Man of the match Petr Cech (Chelsea). Those in front of the goalkeeper were not at their sharpest but, even so, Cech exuded such authority that Wolves must have despaired of their chances of registering reward.Best moment The disdain with which he accepted Dave Edwards' free header in front of goal when the contest was goalless. Within three minutes, Chelsea were ahead and clear.Chelsea (4-3-3): Cech; Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Terry, Cole; Essien, Mikel, Zhirkov; Anelka, Drogba, Malouda.Subs: Kalou for Malouda, 72; Ferreira for Bosingwa, 79; McEachran for Zhirkov, 82.Subs not used: Turnbull, Sturridge, Bruma, Kakuta.Booked: Mikel.Wolverhampton Wanderers (4-5-1): Hahnemann; Foley, Stearman, Berra, Ward; Jarvis, Edwards, Jones, Milijas, Van Damme; Doyle.Subs: Hunt for Van Damme, h-t; Ebanks-Blake for Doyle, 87; Fletcher for Jarvis, 87.Subs not used: Hennessey, Elokobi, Fletcher, Mouyokolo, Davis.Booked: Stearman, Berra.Attendance: 41,752.Referee: L Probert.CHELSEA'S 781 MINUTES UNBREACHED (if required)27 March v Aston VillaW 7-1 (Carew 29)13 April v BoltonW 1-025 April v StokeW 7-09 May v WiganW 8-014 August v WBAW 6-028 August v StokeW 2-019 Sept v BlackpoolW 4-03 Oct v ArsenalW 2-023 Oct v WolvesW 2-0Copy endsPremier LeagueChelseaWolverhampton WanderersDominic Fifieldguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |