TOP 100 SOCCER SITES
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| Scottish Premier League: Hibernian 1-1 Heart of Midlothian Both sides finished with 10 men as Hibernian and Hearts contested a tumultuous Edinburgh at Easter Road.Eighteen-year-old Gordon Smith gave the visitors the lead on his Scottish Premier League debut but Anthony Stokes equalised nine minutes after the restart with his 11th goal of the season.It was almost immediately followed by red cards for Hearts' Ruben Palazuelos and Darren McCormack of Hibs after the latter appeared to butt the Spaniard. A furious Palazuelos had to be restrained by his manager, Csaba Laszlo, as he tried to continue the argument with McCormack and the Hibs manager John Hughes.There were plenty of surprises in both line-ups as Hughes handed a debut to new goalkeeper Graeme Smith and gave McCormack his first start for more than three months, as well as recalling Ian Murray. In addition to selecting Smith, Hearts gave an unexpected debut to Marius Cinikas, on loan from FBK Kaunas, and recalled Christian Nade.Third-placed Hibs were looking to bounce back from last weekend's 4-1 thrashing by Rangers, while their arch-rivals were seeking a fourth straight victory after rousing themselves from their early-season stupor.Hearts should have been ahead in the eighth minute when Michael Stewart robbed Chris Hogg, exchanged passes with Nade and squared for striker Smith, who just failed to connect on the stretch.Cinikas escaped with a lecture after clattering into Derek Riordan with what was the latest of a number of heavy challenges from both sides.The home side began to get on top without testing Marian Kello, though the goalkeeper would have been grateful to see Hogg's venomous volley blocked.Stokes passed up Hibs' first real chance when Ismael Bouzid completely misjudged the flight of a crossfield ball but the in-form striker struck wide.But on the stroke of half-time Hearts took the lead when Palazuelos's low cross was met on the volley by the left foot of Smith. A supporter was ejected from the away end as the players left the field after a flare appeared to be thrown.Smith also had the first sight of goal in the second half when he volleyed over from 20 yards. Paul Hanlon won a shoulder-to-shoulder with Suso Santana when the latter raced onto Stewart's through ball.It proved crucial as Hibs equalised nine minutes in, when Riordan's cross was headed in at the back post by the unmarked Stokes, his seventh goal in five games.Mayhem followed two minutes later when Palazuelos and McCormack were both dismissed, and there was a second flashpoint when Suso and Murray squared off after the latter had fouled his rival but both escaped with a booking.Black forced Smith into an uncomfortable parry from long range with 15 minutes remaining before Murray scuffed a shot on the turn just wide of Kello's near post.Riordan missed a great chance to win it for Hibs when one-on-one with Smith four minutes from time but Hibs were unable to carve out the victory that would have closed the gap on second-placed Celtic.Scottish Premier LeagueHibernianHeartsguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Rangers offer Kris Boyd new deal to ward of English poachers • Striker interests Birmingham and Middlesbrough• New terms believed to be £18,000 a weekWalter Smith says he is optimistic that Kris Boyd will sign a new Rangers contract at Ibrox, despite the interest the prolific striker is attracting.Boyd, who is being tracked by Middlesbrough and Birmingham City, has six months left on his current £12,000-a-week deal. Amid Rangers' financial troubles supporters fear he could be sold during this transfer window but the 26-year-old has been offered new terms, believed to be worth £18,000 a week until 2013."Kris's agent spoke with [Rangers' chief executive] Martin Bain on Thursday to talk about the offer that was being made," Smith said. "So far I haven't heard anything back. We've made him the offer, we would certainly be hopeful that he would sign it. According to Martin, the talks were fairly amicable. It's a big decision he has to make and it's up to him but we hope he will stay with the club."Smith refused to admit that the figures which have been publicised represent an admission that Rangers are taking more meaningful steps than many thought possible to retain Boyd. "That's a dangerous thing," he said. "I don't think quoting figures is right, period, so there's no way I'm going to be quoted on the figures in the newspapers."It is widely known that Boyd, who rejected a move to Birmingham a year ago, wants to stay at Rangers in the short term at least. That factor means Smith's optimism is not unfounded, even if English clubs could still significantly beat Rangers' wage offer.The manager revealed talks are also under way with other players who have contracts which expire in the summer, Nacho Novo and Kirk Broadfoot among them. Smith said such developments are simply necessary rather than an indicator that Rangers' monetary situation is beginning to improve. He is unwilling to let any players at all leave this month."We have quite a number of players out of contract in the summer," Smith added. "If we don't start to offer some of them an opportunity to stay at the club, we'll cease to operate, never mind anything else. It's as simple as that."Kris is one of the ones we've started with but we've been in negotiations with quite a few others at the same time. Obviously it's something that has to happen."If you look at our squad overall, we only had two – Maurice Edu and Steven Smith – on the bench at Celtic Park last week as over-age professionals and we only have two available to us again this weekend. We need all our players between now and the end of the season."The Rangers manager, who claimed he has heard nothing of Sporting Lisbon's interest in the midfielder Pedro Mendes, takes his team to Hamilton on Sunday for one of the few matches which has survived the big freeze. The manager is pleased the Scottish Cup fourth-round tie has beaten the elements. "I'm happier to play than not to play," he said. "I'm happy to have the games going on, so we don't start to face a fixture pile-up."RangersScottish Premier LeagueEwan Murrayguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Injured Dempsey faces long layoff United States midfielder Clint Dempsey is facing World Cup heartbreak after suffering a serious knee injury in Fulham's 2-0 defeat at Blackburn Rovers. 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 |
Burnley sign former Manchester City goalkeeper Nicky Weaver • Weaver joins Burnley until the end of the season• Returns to England after spell with Dundee UnitedBurnley have signed the former Manchester City goalkeeper Nicky Weaver until the end of the season.Weaver has joined the Clarets after a spell with Scottish Premier League side Dundee United.The 30-year-old, who has also played for Charlton Athletic, will be available to face Chelsea on Saturday, subject to international clearance.Transfer windowBurnleyPremier Leagueguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |