TOP 100 SOCCER SITES
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| Sir Alex Ferguson furious at Manchester United's dismal FA Cup display • Sir Alex Ferguson will change team for City semi-final• Manchester United manager criticises referee's timekeepingSir Alex Ferguson is ready to make changes after admitting he was shocked by Manchester United's abject performance against Leeds.Jermaine Beckford's first-half goal consigned United to a first third-round FA Cup exit, and their first defeat by lower league opposition, since they were beaten at Bournemouth in 1984.Ferguson could offer no excuse or explanation for his side's defeat, though he could not resist an aside at the referee Chris Foy for adding five minutes' stoppage time at the end of the match. The United manager thought more should have been allowed.Having declared he would rely on many of the younger players involved for the first leg of the Carling Cup semi-final at Manchester City on Wednesday, Ferguson has had an immediate change of heart."We have a semi-final on Wednesday night and a lot of these players today won't be playing," he said. "You have to view that performance in its right light. I am shocked by the performance because our preparation for the game was very good. But we never got going. The quality of the passing and whole performance was bad."On Foy's time-keeping after a second-half punctuated by petty disputes and an injury to Beckford, plus five substitutions, Ferguson said: "The referee gave five minutes. That is an insult to the game and the players out there."It also rather deflected from the paucity of the home side's performance, and Ferguson admitted Leeds had shown more determination."Leeds had far bigger appetite than us," admitted the manager. "Human beings can always surprise you but we didn't expect that today. We didn't start right, Leeds got their goal and it was something to hold on to. We spoke about Beckford's pace up front and we were caught napping."Ferguson excused only the substitute Antonio Valencia from criticism, which presumably also included Michael Owen, who had a couple a decent chances to pull United back on level terms but failed to take them."I don't think any of them can say they had a good day," said Ferguson. "It took us 10 minutes to find him but only Valencia can say he had a good performance. You have to get over these kind of results quickly. We have to make sure we are ready for Wednesday."FA CupManchester UnitedSir Alex FergusonLeeds Unitedguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Squad sheets: Arsenal v Everton Arsenal's midweek postponement deprived them of an opportunity to move to within a point of the leaders, but they will be intent upon maintaining recent momentum against an Everton team who are steadily recovering their form. The Merseysiders' heavy home defeat to Arsenal on the opening day of the season set a troubling tone that has left them marooned in the lower reaches, yet they arrive at the Emirates unbeaten in five league games – albeit with only one of those won – and apparently upwardly mobile again. Their hosts, even without Cesc Fábregas for another week, will test that newfound resilience. Dominic FifieldVenue Emirates StadiumTickets Sold outLast season Arsenal 3 Everton 1Referee P WaltonThis season's matches 12 Y28, R2, 2.50 cards per gamesportingbet odds Arsenal 4-11 Everton 13-2 Draw 16-5ArsenalSubs from Fabianski, Mannone, Szczesny, Silvestre, Rosicky, Mérida, Vela, Barazite, Eastmond, Watt, Randall, BartleyDoubtful NoneInjured Fábregas (hamstring, 17 Jan), Senderos (foot, 17 Jan), Walcott (back, 17 Jan), Clichy (back, 23 Jan), Bendtner (groin, 27 Jan), Wilshere (hamstring, 23 Jan), Gibbs (ankle, Mar), Djourou (knee, Apr), Van Persie (ankle, May)Suspended NoneUnavailable Eboué, Song (Africa Cup of Nations)Form guide WWWDWWDisciplinary record Y27 R0Leading scorer Fábregas 9EvertonSubs from Nash, Osman, Donovan, Duffy, Mustafi, Coleman, Agard, Baxter, Wallace, Akpan, Vaughan, GoslingDoubtful Hibbert (groin), Saha (hamstring)Injured Rodwell (hamstring, 16 Jan), Distin (hamstring, 23 Jan), Anichebe (knee, Feb), Jagielka (knee, Feb), Arteta (knee, unknown)Unavailable Jô (club suspension), Yakubu, Yobo (Africa Cup of Nations)Suspended NoneForm guide WDDDDLDisciplinary record Y31 R1Leading scorer Saha 10Match pointers• Arsenal have scored more goals against Everton (73) than any team have netted against any opponent in the Premier League• Everton have lost 13 of their 14 visits to Arsenal in all competitions since their last win in north London (2-1 in January 1996)• Arsenal have scored 31% of their goals from outside the box this season, the highest proportion in the division• The 7-0 defeat at Highbury and the 6-1 loss at Goodison earlier this season represent Everton's biggest away and home defeats respectively in the Premier LeagueArsenalEvertonPremier Leagueguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Cameroon edge out Zambia 3-2 Cameroon edged Zambia 3-2 in an Africa Cup of Nations Group D thriller at Tundavala Stadium to revive hopes of winning the tournament for a fifth time. foxsports.com.au |
Manchester City set to unload Robinho at last with loan move to Santos Big money flop could make final Man City appearance in FA Cup tie at Scunthorpe before moving to Brazilian club on loan. telegraph.co.uk |
United must ignore Manchester derby distractions, says Ryan Giggs • Players and fans must focus on Wembley, says Giggs• 'We're the holders and we want to defend our trophy'Ryan Giggs says Manchester United's players and fans must forget the distractions around tonight's Carling Cup second leg derby match and focus on reaching Wembley.Giggs, speaking ahead of what could be a volatile match given the events on and off the field during the first leg – which today led police to make more arrests – said fans should focus on the bigger picture."Of course, it's a derby but it's also a cup semi-final with a place at Wembley at stake and a trophy at the end of it. We're the holders and we want to defend our trophy."City take a 2-1 lead into the match, and Giggs believes home fans have a key role to play in turning the deficit round."They are going to play a massive part. It was a great atmosphere at Eastlands and we need them to get behind us again because it really does make a difference. It's not often you play City in a night game – it'll be like a European match in some respects which is obviously something we're used to and something which we usually thrive on."Ryan GiggsManchester UnitedManchester CityPremier Leagueguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |