TOP 100 SOCCER SITES
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| Hull City v Manchester United: match preview Read a full match preview of the Premier League game between Hull City and Manchester United at the KC Stadium on Sunday Dec 27 2009, kick-off 16.00 GMT. telegraph.co.uk |
Donovan begins Everton adventure Landon Donovan officially began his loan spell with Everton on Tuesday, and said he hopes to help the club climb the Premiership standings, as well as remain sharp for the World Cup. cbc.ca |
Voronin leaves Liverpool for Dynamo Moscow Ukraine striker Andriy Voronin has left Liverpool to join Dynamo Moscow on a three-year contract. cbc.ca |
William Gallas to escape punishment over tackle on Mark Davies • Arsenal defender will not be punished retrospectively• Midfielder Davies may have suffered ankle breakArsenal's defender William Gallas will not face retrospective disciplinary action from the Football Association following his late tackle on Bolton's Mark Davies in last night's 4-2 Premier League win at Emirates Stadium.Bolton's manager Owen Coyle labelled the challenge, which happened in the build-up to Arsenal's crucial equaliser at the start of the second half, as "akin to assault", however scans today revealed the damage to the midfielder's ankle was not as bad as feared, allaying worries it might be broken.Arsenal's manager Arséne Wenger was quick to issue an apology if the incident was, as television replays suggested, a foul. However, it is understood that as the referee Alan Wiley viewed the challenge as two players coming together at the time and so allowed play to continue, no separate disciplinary proceedings can be implemented, as the FA does not re-officiate matches.Coyle was less than impressed by the challenge. "The second goal was the big turning point," Coyle said. "Clearly it was a foul, and closer to a red card. It was akin to assault and it changed the game."However, the fact is the referee has not seen it, and the lad is prostrate on the ground, and Arsenal being full of fair play, as we keep hearing, have carried on and scored an equaliser. That is hard to take. I don't want to sit here and make excuses, but I have seen red cards for less."ArsenalBolton WanderersPremier Leagueguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Bristol City 0-6 Cardiff City The Cardiff City manager, Dave Jones, said his side's stunning 6-0 victory over Bristol City owed much to the prospect of the Bluebirds' FA Cup fifth-round tie at Stamford Bridge. After seeing his side comprehensively beat Bristol, Jones said he had expected a big performance after training yesterday."It was only meant to be a light session but, after the Cup draw paired us with Chelsea, there was a real buzz about the place," said Jones. "The training was really high tempo with great movement and we have carried it on tonight. Our running off the ball and passing was first class. Virtually everything we hit went in but we could even have had a couple more goals."I know I have players capable of scoring in every game. But we also defended strongly throughout and all departments of the team deserve credit. I think I may have had a couple of similar wins when I was at Stockport. But it's more the way we played than the size of the victory that pleases me."Jones's counterpart, Gary Johnson, had to listen to angry fans at the end, some of whom stayed on to show their derision outside the dressing room. "It's the sort of night when it is best not to say much," he said. "Whatever reason I try to offer for that performance will be picked apart. We have a lot of soul-searching to do over the next few days before our next game at Middlesbrough. It wasn't that we forgot how to defend, we just couldn't defend on the night. Full credit to Cardiff. I had my say at half-time but now we have to collect our thoughts and come up with the right response."Three goals in five first-half minutes set the tone as Cardiff ran riot to move up to fourth in the Championship. Michael Chopra and Ross McCormack both scored twice, Peter Whittingham netted his 15th goal of the season and Liam Fontaine put through his own net as in-form Cardiff made it seven games unbeaten.It was the third time the teams had faced each other this month, with a 1-1 FA Cup draw at Ashton Gate resulting in a replay and a 1-0 success for Cardiff. Bristol City started brightly, with the debutants Jamal Campbell-Ryce and Patrick Agyemang looking lively. The latter linked up well with his strike partner, Nicky Maynard, in the seventh minute but he flashed a 12-yard shot wide of the left-hand upright.Cardiff's response came from Whittingham but his shot from the edge of the box cleared the crossbar. The midfielder was not to be denied, though, and he broke the deadlock shortly afterwards. Joe Ledley's dinked pass sent Chopra clear and, although Dean Gerken pulled off a superb save, the ball fell for Whittingham to stroke home.Cardiff doubled their advantage in the 23rd minute when Adam Matthews' long punt upfield found Gavin Rae, whose scuffed shot beat Gerken and allowed McCormack to tap into an unguarded net. And Cardiff scored their third 60 seconds later when Ledley played the ball to Chopra on the corner of the 18-yard box and he drilled a low shot past the keeper. The Robins went in at half-time to a crescendo of boos after conceding a fourth goal in the 43rd minute, Chopra whipping in a low cross which Fontaine slammed into his own net.The Bristol City manager's nightmare continued less than a minute after the restart as Cardiff grabbed their fifth. Mark Kennedy slipped the ball through for Jay Bothroyd and his touch sent Chopra clear to score with ease. It got even more embarrassing for the home side as the goals kept coming. Whittingham, who had earned a corner with a fizzing drive that was turned round a post, played the ball short to McCormack who was afforded far too much time and was able to score from distance.That left 33 minutes for the home team to avoid further humiliation and they finally threatened in the 68th minute when Campbell-Ryce fired straight at David Marshall from six yards. Gábor Gyepes blocked a header from Louis Carey, Cole Skuse fired the loose ball wide, Marvin Elliott tested the keeper with an 18-yard drive and Maynard had him scrambling to keep out a 25-yard effort but it was all to no avail.ChampionshipBristol CityCardiff Cityguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |