| Hernandez hurting after tough tackles Melbourne Victory midfielder Carlos Hernandez is struggling with injury after he was again on the end of several tough tackles in Saturday night's 0-0 draw with Newcastle Jets. foxsports.com.au |
Scotland look to life after Ferguson Kris Boyd is out and Allan McGregor is in the squad for the Euro 2012 qualifiers as Scotland's manager asserts controlOnce again, those not involved in Craig Levein's Scotland squad triggered more debate than the players who will feature against the Czech Republic and Spain. Levein cut an almost weary figure as he addressed "the Barry Ferguson issue" for the umpteenth time yesterday. It will also probably be the last occasion in which Levein has openly to discuss the Birmingham City captain, who has finally put paid to any suggestion that he will return to national service.The Ferguson situation was always a tricky one for Levein. And ultimately, it has to be acknowledged that the manager hasn't really endorsed his public position through it all. Scotland have such a dearth of talent that Levein was keen for the former captain, of Boozegate and V-sign fame, to join his squad.Ferguson, while dropping the odd public nugget of encouragement, stretched the matter out from the turn of this year until this week before finally insisting that no means no. The 32-year-old will be remembered for the scandal which prompted his international downfall. If he had accepted the invitation to return, he would have entered Scotland's Hall of Fame within five outings.Levein had perfectly obvious football reasons for seeking a change of heart from Ferguson. The sense that it was the player – who wronged in the first place, after all – and not the international manager who called the shots through this saga is unavoidable, though.Kris Boyd's absence, on the other hand, is totally of Levein's volition. Scotland's manager raised an eyebrow at the Middlesbrough striker's physical condition when he reported for the games against Lithuania and Liechtenstein. Having not featured at all in Kaunas, Boyd lasted only a dismal 66 minutes in the Liechtenstein encounter at Hampden before becoming the latest victim of Levein's sharp side.James McFadden's serious knee injury obviously counts him out of Levein's plans. It would have been fascinating to see if Ferguson's club-mate had been otherwise selected for the upcoming qualifiers. McFadden was afforded only half of that Liechtenstein struggle with reports suggesting he was the recipient of Fergie-esque hairdryer treatment at the time of his removal.Among those Levein has included in a 24-man party are two goalkeepers who are clearly locked in a battle for Scotland's No1 jersey as never before. In proving there is life after Boozegate, Allan McGregor was Scotland's only decent performer during the defeat by Sweden in August. His showings against Lithuania and Liechtenstein were error-free, hardly a surprise given his similarly fine form for Rangers.McGregor had become accustomed to playing second fiddle to Craig Gordon, and not unreasonably, but the Sunderland man's latest injury problems have cost him a guaranteed Scotland start. Levein's admission that, even had Gordon been fully fit, McGregor would have retained his place for the visit to Prague is telling.It was Levein who handed Gordon his first-team debut as a teenager at Hearts, rendering the manager's faith in McGregor as even more notable. A £9m player Gordon may be, but the evidence now is that McGregor is suddenly the man in possession of the custodian's slot.Those in more attacking roles are unlikely to be of much importance, given the standard of opposition and Levein's time-honoured, pragmatic approach. Shaun Maloney has made a deserved return to the Scotland squad on account of his early-season form while Boyd's place has been taken by Jamie Mackie, the Championship's leading scorer. It would be a surprise, all the same, if either player plays for much of the 180 minutes against the Czechs or Spanish.Levein is likely to deploy two holding midfielders in Prague, and possibly five defenders when Spain visit Hampden. Gary Caldwell's level of fitness is key, particularly for the Czech game given the lack of defensively-orientated midfielders at Scotland's disposal. Caldwell has not featured for Wigan this season as he recovers from hip surgery; that issue will almost certainly prevent him from playing two full games.Those who do feature have a simple task. Namely, to divert conversation away from those players who will be consigned to watching two of Group I's more attractive fixtures on television.ScotlandCraig LeveinEwan Murrayguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Newcastle United 2 Wigan Athletic 2: match report Fabricio Coloccini strikes in injury-time after Charles N'Zogbia threatened to condemn his former club to defeat. telegraph.co.uk |
Gangs paid fans to disrupt Italy v Serbia Reports claim criminal gangs paid more than €200,000 ($A284,000) to football fans who rioted during the Italy-Serbia Euro 2012 qualifier. foxsports.com.au |
Middlesbrough 1-2 Leeds Pressure is mounting on the Middlesbrough manager, Gordon Strachan, after his team were defeated by Leeds at the Riverside.A crescendo of boos from the home supporters greeted the final whistle, while jubilant United fans celebrated their team rising to ninth in the table in manager Simon Grayson's 100th match in charge.Boro were widely tipped to launch a promotion push under Strachan's stewardship but find themselves languishing in 20th – two points above the drop zone – after another damaging loss. Davide Somma needed just 12 minutes to open the scoring for Leeds and, despite Kris Boyd's second-half leveller, Luciano Becchio lashed in a fine volley as the visitors earned a deserved win.Gary O'Neil shook off a hamstring problem to return for the home side, while Leeds were without the suspended Alex Bruce and keeper Kasper Schmeichel. The two teams paid tribute to Malcolm Allison prior to kick-off following the former Boro boss' death this week.Even though this was the hosts' biggest crowd of the season, empty seats were aplenty at the Riverside following the Teeside club's underwhelming start to the campaign.And they Middlesbrough began on the backfoot as Jonny Howson powered into the box and drove a shot over the bar, before Robert Snodgrass sent a daisy-cutter into the hands of Jason Steele.Nicky Bailey then miscued a volley horribly wide at the other end and the comedy continued when Leeds midfielder Amdy Faye inexplicably caught the ball in the box after thinking he had heard a whistle from referee Chris Foy. Leeds were rewarded for theirbright opening when Davide Somma swung a left leg at Sanchez Watt's deflected centre to send the ball past Steele. In response for Middlesbrough, Scott McDonald and O'Neil fired in shots that failed to trouble Jason Brown while Boyd should have done better when he evaded the attentions of Neill Collins but headed wide.Somma ought to have played in Becchio when Leeds had a two-on-one just before half-time, but the striker opted to shoot despite his colleague being unmarked on the edge of the box.Middlesbrough improved after the break and Boyd got in front of Richard Naylor to prod in an equaliser after 53 minutes from Matthew Bates's inviting cross.Leeds rallied and restored their advantage 10 minutes later in emphatic fashion when Becchio sent a stunning left-foot volley in off the post from Bradley Johnson's clever cut-back.The Argentinian was brimming with confidence and he cracked a shot off the crossbar with Grayson's team threatening to put the game out of sight. Boro put in a late rally in search of an equaliser but seldom tested Brown as Leeds left with all three points.MiddlesbroughLeeds UnitedChampionshipguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |