Monthly Archives: October 2010

Blues face anxious derby wait

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Birmingham midfielder Alexander Hleb is in a race against time to be fit for Sunday’s derby with Aston Villa (14/1 – Premier League Top-4 Finish) after suffering a knee injury in Saturday’s 2-0 win over Blackpool.

The former Arsenal man was forced to leave the pitch 15 minutes from the end of the Premier League win and is already a concern for the weekend.

Hleb, on a season-long loan from Barcelona, seems almost certain to sit out Tuesday’s Carling Cup tie against Brentford but Blues (16/1 Top Six Finish 2010-11) will hope for better news later in the week.

Alex McLeish remains hopeful that the Belarus international will be ready for the Second-City derby, but was wishing he had replaced Hleb earlier.

The Scot said: “At half-time I said to Alex ‘give me 15 minutes of magic and we will get you off’. It went a bit longer than that and all of a sudden he had a little twist in his knee which we are concerned about.

“We have to wait to see how it is, but he is a brave guy. I just hope there is no serious damage.”

Another concern for McLeish is winger Jean Beausejour, who has missed the last two matches after injuring his knee ligament.

The summer signing was short of match fitness when he joined Blues and has yet to start in the Premier League.

Birmingham say they don’t want to take “any unnecessary risks” with Chile international, but may decide to give him a run out in midweek.

It will be a much-changed team that takes to the field for the League Cup encounter (Birmingham 3/10, Draw 18/5, Brentford 9/1 – Match Betting), with McLeish having one eye on the trip to Villa Park.

The manager admits that there will be “enforced changes” as Blues look to reach the quarter-finals of the Carling Cup.

McLeish added: “One or two will definitely need to rest and players have been playing with injections.

“That has been the case with three or four of them over the last few weeks, and that just can’t last forever because you will burn them out.”

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Portsmouth reach Gaydamak agreement

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Portsmouth look to have pulled back from the brink of extinction and could be heading out of administration (Portsmouth 7/1 to be promoted).

The Championship side’s former owner, Sacha Gaydamak, revealed he had reached an agreement with the club over a £2.2m sum owed to him.

Portsmouth had issued a statement on Friday saying they could be forced to fold.

But Gaydamak, the club’s key creditor, said on Saturday night: “A new agreement was reached on Saturday and as soon as I receive the papers I’ll sign them.

“I hope this draws to an end the uncertainty surrounding the club.”

Barclays Bank and another former owner, Balram Chainrai, are the Hampshire club’s other main secured creditors.

“Portsmouth, its fans, employees, players and the community that surrounds it deserve more than being subjected to rumour resulting from some parties using the press,” added Gaydamak.

The former owner will now receive £2.5m in instalments over five years.

Portsmouth (40/1 to win the Championship) have been in administration since February this year, and were £120m in debt at one point.

“Contrary to some reports, I fully intended to sign the deal on Friday and had it not been changed at the last minute I would have,” said Gaydamak.

“Everyone involved understood on Friday that further negotiations were now required.”

Former Hull chairman Paul Duffen now says he has put together a consortium that is interested in buying out the club.

Duffen was part of a group that bought the Tigers from Adam Pearson in June 2007.

“I have been monitoring the situation at Portsmouth for several months and trying to do a deal for some weeks,” Duffen told Express FM. “I have a fully funded bid ready to go.”

Duffen stepped down as executive chairman of Hull and Superstadium Management Company Ltd in October 2009.

Saturday proved an excellent day for Pompey as they continued their recent fine form with a 2-1 away win at Hull.

David Nugent gave Pompey the lead with a breakaway goal in first-half injury time and Greg Halford netted with a free-kick.

Nicky Barmby’s goal for the home side was mere consolation and Portsmouth have now taken 16 points from their last six games.

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Motherwell get helping hands

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Motherwell remain the closest challengers to the Old Firm after receiving a generous slice of luck in the SPL on Saturday (Motherwell 10/3 -  betting without Celtic & Rangers).

Well benefitted from two own goals as they beat Dundee United 2-1 to consolidate third place in the table.

Scott Severin and Sean Dillon scored at the wrong end, either side of a penalty from David Goodwillie.

Rudi Skacel scored a hat-trick as Hearts beat St Mirren 3-0 to register their first home league win of the season (Hearts 5/2 – betting without Celtic & Rangers).

The Czech Republic international scored twice before half time, including the opener inside the first two minutes.

Skacel claimed the match ball with the last kick of the game as Saints were left still searching for their first points on the road this season.

Colin Calderwood’s stint at Hibernian got off to a poor start as his side lost 4-2 at Aberdeen.

Calderwood had targeted the match as an opportunity to start climbing the table, against a side that had only one draw to show for their previous six games.

But Chris Maguire put the hosts in front on 18 minutes, and Scott Vernon added a second after 33 minutes via a wicked deflection off Hibs defender Sol Bamba.

And it was game over five minutes after the interval when Vernon converted Maguire’s shot-cum-cross, with Paul Hartley adding a fourth from the penalty spot.

His side did rally after the hour mark, with Colin Nish pulling a goal back and Bamba heading a second in the last minute, but it could not stop Aberdeen notching just their second home league win of the campaign.

Inverness are still unbeaten away from home in the SPL after making it three defeats on the spin for Kilmarnock as they secured a 2-1 victory at Rugby Park.

The visitors went in front three minutes before the break when Adam Rooney netted from the spot, and Johnny Haynes made it 2-0 on 66 minutes before Kilmarnock sub Rui Miguel scored his first goal for the club to give them hope.

A late Danny Grainger free-kick gave St Johnstone a 2-1 victory over Hamilton at New Douglas Park.

Sam Parkin put the visitors ahead after 19 minutes, but former Saints player Simon Mensing levelled from the spot in the 67th minute after a handball from defender Michael Duberry.

There were just four minutes left when Grainger netted with a 25-yard free-kick to seal the points.

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Hodgson handed Kuyt boost

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Liverpool (7/1 Top 4 Finish) boss Roy Hodgson watched his side secure only their second Premier League win of the season against Blackburn and then was told striker Dirk Kuyt should return within four weeks, as he does not require surgery on his injured ankle.

The Reds have endured a difficult campaign and the pressure has mounted on Hodgson after they recently dropped into the Premier League’s relegation zone.

However, second half goals from Sotirios Kyrgiakos and Fernando Torres (14/1 Premiership Top Scorer) – his first since August – ensured Jamie Carragher’s unfortunate own goal sandwiched in between did not prevent them from dropping more points.

Liverpool remain in the Premier League’s drop zone on goal difference, but they will have been boosted to finally get a much-needed win under their belts.

A relieved Hodgson felt his players deserved the win on the balance of play in which they dominated the opening 70 minutes.

He said: “I thought the passing and movement was as good, if not better than it’s been but we were more incisive. We got in more crosses, got more bodies into the box for crosses, we had an enormous number of corner kicks and looked dangerous from those corner kicks, which is nice to see.”

The former Blackburn boss will also have been heartened by the news Dutch hitman Kuyt could be back in action for the Reds within a month.

It was feared that the 30-year-old would be missing for up to five months with an ankle injury he picked up on international duty in the Netherlands’ Euro 2012 qualifier against Sweden a fortnight ago. However, he is hoping to be back in time for the busy schedule of games in December.

Kuyt said: “I had a second scan and the doctor has now told me that they do not need to operate on my ankle. That is such a relief.

“The doctor says I could be back in the Liverpool team within one month.”

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Hodgson handed Kuyt boost

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Liverpool (7/1 Top 4 Finish) boss Roy Hodgson watched his side secure only their second Premier League win of the season against Blackburn and then was told striker Dirk Kuyt should return within four weeks, as he does not require surgery on his injured ankle.

The Reds have endured a difficult campaign and the pressure has mounted on Hodgson after they recently dropped into the Premier League’s relegation zone.

However, second half goals from Sotirios Kyrgiakos and Fernando Torres (14/1 Premiership Top Scorer) – his first since August – ensured Jamie Carragher’s unfortunate own goal sandwiched in between did not prevent them from dropping more points.

Liverpool remain in the Premier League’s drop zone on goal difference, but they will have been boosted to finally get a much-needed win under their belts.

A relieved Hodgson felt his players deserved the win on the balance of play in which they dominated the opening 70 minutes.

He said: “I thought the passing and movement was as good, if not better than it’s been but we were more incisive. We got in more crosses, got more bodies into the box for crosses, we had an enormous number of corner kicks and looked dangerous from those corner kicks, which is nice to see.”

The former Blackburn boss will also have been heartened by the news Dutch hitman Kuyt could be back in action for the Reds within a month.

It was feared that the 30-year-old would be missing for up to five months with an ankle injury he picked up on international duty in the Netherlands’ Euro 2012 qualifier against Sweden a fortnight ago. However, he is hoping to be back in time for the busy schedule of games in December.

Kuyt said: “I had a second scan and the doctor has now told me that they do not need to operate on my ankle. That is such a relief.

“The doctor says I could be back in the Liverpool team within one month.”

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Evra warns of big mistake

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Patrice Evra has admitted that he understands the recent criticism aimed at Manchester United (5/1 Premier League Outright) but insists that writing off the club’s title credentials is a huge mistake.

It has been an amazing week at Old Trafford with star striker Wayne Rooney (12/1 to finish as the Premier League’s Top Scorer) firstly insisting that he would not be signing a new contract with the club and wanted out, before performing a dramatic U-turn to put pen to paper on a new five-year deal.

Rooney had originally stated that with the burgeoning debt at Manchester United the club could no longer compete at the top level, and could not match his own personal ambitions.

Evra was obviously worried of the impact of Rooney’s stance at the time and said: “If one player in the team does not trust the others, he should not play in the team.”

Since Rooney’s change of heart, though, Evra is keen to get matters sorted on the pitch and insists the current squad is very capable of challenging for honours this season.

Evra told the Sunday Mirror: “I myself would not play for this club if I knew we were not strong enough to win the league. That is why we all play for Manchester United.

“At this moment, I think everyone just needs to focus on their own job again and we will see at the end of the season. I agree with the criticism that United have not had the winning mentality this season.

“We draw, we win and then we draw again and, of course, people will talk about this not being the same United because we are already behind Chelsea in the league.

“I know this is not normal for us, but after what has happened this week we need to make sure we win against Stoke and then everything will look better.

“I only stay in Manchester to win trophies and my message is that if people think that United are finished they are making a big mistake. I say this because it is the truth and I believe it.”

Manchester United (8/11 in the match betting) take their unbeaten record to Stoke (4/1 to win, 5/2 the draw) on Sunday but they are still looking for their first win away from home this season.

Rooney was stretchered off the training field with United last week with an ankle problem and has been ruled out for three weeks, while Jonny Evans, Michael Owen and Ryan Giggs are also unavailable for Sir Alex Ferguson.

Striker Ricardo Fuller aggravated a shoulder injury at Bolton last week but could still make the bench for Stoke, although midfielder Dean Whitehead will sit out through suspension after picking up his fifth booking of the season.

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Walcott relishing underdog tag

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Theo Walcott believes that Arsenal (2/1 to win at Eastlands) will relish the fact they are the underdogs when they visit big-spending Manchester City (11/8 in the match betting, 9/4 the draw) on Sunday as they look to go above Roberto Mancini’s men in the table.

Walcott is obviously wary of the threat posed by a City side (11/2 to win the Premier League title) given their start to the campaign so far, but insists the pressure is off the Gunners (15/2), who will go above City with a win as they will have a better goal difference.

“Man City are probably one of the favourites for the league going into Sunday’s game and maybe favourites against us,” Walcott said.

“That’s good for us. We’ll go there with no fear and express ourselves and try to get that result we need.

“City are very strong. They beat Chelsea at their place. They have so much money and have fantastic players and I think they are starting to gel now.

“They are growing every single game but, hopefully, we can stutter their season.”

Walcott (7/2 to score at anytime on Sunday) is back in contention for a starting berth against City for the first time since August after missing the last six weeks with an ankle problem while on England duty.

The 21-year-old came on as a substitute during Arsenal’s Champions League win over Shakhtar Donetsk in midweek is hopeful that he has fully recovered from his ankle injury but is expecting some physical treatment from City when the sides go head-to-head.

“There have been a lot of breakages this season, more than normal,” Walcott said. “I’m a player who gets kicked all the time. I just have to get back up from it and move on.

“With training, hopefully I can get back to the physical side of things with my ankle.

“I’ve been whacked on it once but I think I need a couple more to be sure it’s okay.

“Wayne Bridge will be left-back at City. I’m sure I’ll take a few whacks and bruises but I’ll be fine.”

Captain Cesc Fabregas is back to full fitness and is set to return to Premier League action, while defender Bacary Sagna has also recovered from injury.

However, Laurent Koscielny is struggling with a back problem and Jack Wilshere is suspended.

City could welcome back striker Mario Balotelli to the squad following his knee injury although former Arsenal defender Kolo Toure is a doubt with a hamstring complaint.

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O’Neill targets swift return

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Bet on the SPLFormer Celtic (4/5 to win the SPL outright) boss Martin O’Neill has insisted that he wants to return to management as quickly as possible after he walked out of the Aston Villa job.

The Northern Irish manager left the club just five days before the start of the Premier League season after what was believed to be a disagreement between himself and Villa owner Randy Lerner over the sale of star midfielder James Milner.

O’Neill is now looking to get back into a managerial hot seat and has been linked with a number of clubs including the vacant position at Championship side Middlesbrough as well as the Liverpool job as Roy Hodgson has had a poor start to his reign at Anfield.

Speaking about the future, the former Leicester City manager said: “I’ve been enjoying myself and getting rather lazy these last two months.

“But I obviously miss the game and I’m sure I’ll get back into it at some stage if I can.

“I’d rather that happened sooner rather than later.”

O’Neill could take the job at the Riverside as Middlesbrough look to turn their season around after a poor start to the campaign.

Boro were tipped to win the Championship this term but under the leadership of Gordon Strachan the side failed to live up to expectations and currently sit in 21st place in the league.

O’Neill would be an ideal replacement for Strachan as the club looks to climb up the Championship table.

The 53-year-old has also revealed that he had been interviewed for the England job before Steve McClaren was given the role after Sven-Goran Eriksson.

He said: “Obviously Steve had been there as assistant to Sven at the time, but I’m not sure of the way the voting system went.

“A number of candidates were interviewed – Big Sam Allardyce brought every piece of machinery and all the stats with him, unfortunately I didn’t.

“I just brought myself, and we all know what happened.”

O’Neill could be a candidate for the England (8/1 to win Euro 2012 outright) job in 2012 after the current boss Fabio Capello stated that he would retire from management after the tournament.

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Big Sam out to increase pressure on Liverpool

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Bet on the Premier LeagueSam Allardyce reckons there is no better time for his Blackburn Rovers (5/1 to win) side to travel to Anfield to face Liverpool as the hosts are in the midst of an on-the-field crisis.

Liverpool (4/6 to win, 12/5 draw) have had a disappointing season under Roy Hodgson and their plight has been much-documented. They sit in the Premier League relegation spots with only six points from their opening eight games.

In previous seasons many football fans would not give Blackburn much of a hope at Anfield, but this season things are different.

Liverpool have lost four games already in the league and have been defeated at Anfield by Premier League new-boys Blackpool and, even more embarrassingly, by League Two side Northampton Town in the Carling Cup.

Allardyce goes into the game without captain Chris Samba after his sending off in the draw with Sunderland last time out. Ryan Nelsen is set to come in and replace him, while strikers Benjani (8/1 to be first goal scorer) and Jason Roberts are back in contention.

The experienced manager admits it is a “good time” to be facing Liverpool, but he expects a tough challenge from Hodgson’s side as they look to put in a good performance in their first home game under their new owners.

“They’ve had a difficult time results wise of late, they had a good result in Europe but from our point of view we have a better chance than normal to get a result at Anfield on Sunday,” said Allardyce.

“We have still got to play at our best and I think this time it gives us a better chance of getting a result. You can be at your best many times at Anfield and it still wouldn’t be good enough to get you anything.

“I think at this moment in time it might be good enough to get us something.”

Hodgson is expected to recall captain Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres to the first team after they sat out the Europa League draw with Napoli on Thursday (Liverpool 11/1 to win Europa League).

Glen Johnson and Daniel Agger are also available for Hodgson as the manager looks to stop a rot that has seen Liverpool endure their worst start to a top-flight campaign for more than 50 years.

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Celtic ready for Old Firm clash

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Bet on the SPLCeltic (4/5 to win the SPL) boss Neil Lennon believes his team are in ‘prime condition’ to take on their city rivals Rangers on Sunday.

The Glasgow giants meet at Parkhead in the biggest game of the SPL season so far as both sides have won all of their first eight matches of the campaign.

Rangers are the current leaders in the league thanks to having a better goal difference than the Hoops as both sides have set up what looks to be another two-horse-race for the SPL title.

However, Lennon has insisted that his side has what it takes to beat Gers in the first Old Firm clash of the season.

He said: “They are playing some good stuff and they were excellent in the 2-1 win against Dundee United  last week.

“I couldn’t have asked any more from them in terms of a team performance and an attacking performance.

“So the tails are up, there is a wee bit of excitement about this game and the players are looking forward to it,” he added.

The Old Firm games always deliver exciting football but the fixtures between the two Scottish giants could take on added importance with both sides winning all their league games so far.

Rangers (10/11 to win the SPL) boss Walter Smith is taking part in his last season in management and the 62-year-old has admitted that he won’t miss the Old Firm games.

He said: “I must admit it’s a kind of nervy day.

“I think the way both teams have started the season, both seem to be playing confidently and will be looking forward to Sunday’s game.

“Both teams have every right to be confident. Maybe because of the fact we’ve both won eight games, this year’s four Old Firm games will take on an added importance,” he added.

Rangers will be looking to continue their battling form which has seen them come from behind in their last three SPL fixtures.

Gers also managed to secure a 1-1 draw against Valencia in midweek in the Champions League which keeps the Glasgow side in the hunt for a final 16 spot in the tournament.

Smith’s side will be looking to spoil their rivals’ winning record on Sunday as they hope to continue their good run of results domestically and in Europe.

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