Lifting the lid on football's 'hire and fire' culture

Aidy Boothroyd’s sacking from the Ricoh Arena hotseat this morning, after getting just one win in the last sixteen matches at the helm of the Midlands club, was the thirty-sixth managerial change of the season made by Premier and Football League clubs.

In this case, after such a poor run of form that saw the Sky Blues’ play-off ambitions fade completely with the former Watford and Colchester boss seemingly unable to do anything to change their fortunes, there can be little argument with him getting the boot. And yet the mere statistic that his dismissal provides is both revealing about English football’s hire and fire culture as well as Coventry’s own instabilities over the last decade.

Martin O’Neill resigned from Aston Villa on 9 August and in the two hundred and seventeen days (thirty-one weeks exactly) since then, head coaches have parted company with their clubs at the alarming rate of just more than one per week. The first cut and dried sacking fell to Alan Pardew, removed from his post at Southampton on 30 August, but by Christmas he was installed at Premier League Newcastle; ironic, as the Saints board felt he had a poor start to the campaign with one of the League One promotion favourites.

Not everybody lands on their feet like Pardew, least of all the man he replaced at St. James’s Park, with fans still scratching their heads trying to fathom why Chris Hughton was sacked in the first place. Prior to Southampton signing Scunthorpe’s Nigel Adkins to take over, resignations were the order of the day with Steve Coppell (Bristol City) and Chris Turner (Hartlepool) joining O’Neill in walking away from their clubs in the early stages of the season.

Kevin Blackwell left Bramall Lane by mutual consent after just a handfull of matches. This was the beginning of what looks increasingly like a disastrous campaign for Sheffield United fans. His assistant Gary Speed got the nod to fill the void, but after an unspectacular four months in charge, the Welsh national team came calling for its most capped outfield player to replace John Toshack. Sheffield born and bred Micky Adams chose the sentimentality of managing his hometown club over finishing his project at League Two high flyers Port Vale and has just one win in fifteen in charge of the Blades to date.

The run-up to the Christmas fixture list also saw Chris Sutton resign from League Two Lincoln City, Paulo Sousa be replaced by Sven-Goran Eriksson at Leicester, Simon Davey leave Hereford United, Gordon Strachan walk away from Middlesbrough who finally have club legend Tony Mowbray at the helm and Craig Short be fired from Notts County in favour of Paul Ince. The festive season itself was particularly lethal, with fifteen managerial changes in the twenty eight days between 13 December and 10 January inclusive.

Amongst those casualties was Sam Allardyce, dismissed from Blackburn by the club’s new Indian owners who plumped for his assistant Steve Kean with no previous experience in being the boss. Only three months down the line his place at the helm at Ewood Park has now been speculated on in the press. Only Pardew, Darren Ferguson, Roy Hodgson and Gary Johnson have got themselves back into work in relatively quick time, the latter trio making a return to Peterborough, replacing Roberto di Matteo at West Bromwich Albion and stepping down to League Two Northampton from London Road respectively.

Dave Penney was given just two months to turn around Bristol Rovers relegation threatened season in League One. Two wins in thirteen is a poor return, but will thirty-three year old club captain Stuart Campbell do a better job? Here the lack of ambition the board had about Penney’s successor raises question marks over why he wasn’t given time and makes you wonder if the Pirates haven’t accepted going down already.

Similar analysis with all the other changes could go on and on forever, but this trigger-happy season from football club boards is going to do one thing and one thing only, and that is to further shorten the average tenure for managers, perhaps even to a length of time that makes it unfeasible for bosses to achieve the targets set for them.

Turning attentions back to Coventry, since their relegation from the Premier League in 2001 and Gordon Strachan’s departure after five years in charge, eight permanent managers have now followed suit. The Sky Blues went on to alternate between not having the steam to make the play-offs and flirting with relegation for the next five seasons. Since then they have been in mid-table obscurity, apart from 2007-08 when they came very close to the drop, surviving in the end by a single point.

In the decade since they last graced the top flight, City have brought in successful managers from elsewhere to take charge. The likes of Peter Reid, Iain Dowie and Chris Coleman, all with Premier League experience, took the job on, but they couldn’t deliver the same success at the Ricoh (and Highfield Road before that). Have Sky Blues fans and board members alike expected too much? The new stadium was not cheap to build and the parachute payments have long since dried up.

Signings haven’t worked out for Boothroyd and his predecessors. Freddy Eastwood has shown he is only a hot shot in front of goal at lower league level and giving a contract to disgraced striker Marlon King was a move that got a mixed reaction from Coventry supporters at best. The Jamaican has since gone on to show his indiscipline on the pitch still persists, being sent off twice this season so far.

This has placed a burden on the twenty-one year old Lukas Jutkiewicz and crowd favourite Gary McSheffrey, who has never been the same since the persistent knee injuries he picked up whilst on Birmingham’s books, which they just haven’t been able to bear. City are the Championship’s fifth lowest scorers with a very average defensive record and that explains why only Middlesbrough and Crystal Palace are between them and the bottom three.

It must difficult being a Sky Blues fan with so many other teams in that part of the country doing well or in the Promised Land where they want to return to. Their West Midland rivals are all in the Premier League (until the end of the season at least) and Nottingham Forest are in with a shout of automatic promotion to the top flight, not forgetting Leicester’s play-off push.

With money being the all-powerful influence that it is on the modern game, pleas to give managers time to turn things around after a bad run to any end are probably going to fall on deaf ears with directors and chief executives who run clubs as though they are like any other business. Looking at this problem from a different angle, it would be naive to say, as some pundits frequently do, that no manager deserves the sack.

Take Roy Keane for example. At Ipswich there was no return on the substantial investment their board made into supposedly improving the squad. The ex-Republic of Ireland and Manchester United star has developed a fetish for purchasing his fellow countrymen since going into management that worked at Sunderland, but didn’t at Portman Road.

Gordon Strachan is guilty as charged for employing a similar approach, bringing players he worked with at Celtic or that lit up the SPL to the Riverside. Middlesbrough remain in a relegation fight even after his departure. If managers ask their chairmen to open their wallets there has to be some sort of improvement on the club’s position after the spending spree.

There is a middle ground here. Between the hire and fire culture that is evident in football today and the infinite chances people get in other walks of life there exists a space in which managers can and should be given time if necessary to remedy poor runs of form. Too often the easy option is taken, but are chairmen thinking up and down the country when they reach for the trigger?

The saddest thing about the here today, gone tomorrow attitude is that nobody wins. More often than not, football clubs’ fortunes aren’t turned around by chopping and changing. We can all point to the ‘great escapes’ of the Premier League in recent times. Fulham (2007-08), West Ham (2006-07) and West Brom (2004-05) spring to mind, but if Brian Clough himself had risen from the dead he couldn’t have saved Derby County from a humiliating record low points total for a top flight campaign whilst Hodgson pulled off miracles in West London.

Many teams with greater heritage than Coventry have fallen from the top flight. Leeds and Nottingham Forest look like they could claw their way back, but others, Southampton and Sheffield Wednesday, have even further to climb than the Sky Blues. Over the same timescale since their last adventure at the zenith of the English football pyramid, Bradford City have gone from being relegated from the Premier League with the Midlands club to the bottom of the Football League.

Any solution to the managerial turnover issue lies in the re-adoption of old-fashioned attitudes. You only have to look to Old Trafford to see how stability over a long period of time has brought success. Europe’s other heavyweights, Real Madrid and Barcelona, the likes of the Milan clubs and Juventus in Italy, and even closer to home in the shape of Arsenal and Liverpool, all these have only enjoyed silverware when there has been a settled presence in the dugout. The quick fix flatters to deceive.

Champions League roundup

Courtesy of Suite101:

First Arsenal in Barcelona:
http://www.suite101.com/content/arsenal-outclassed-by-brilliant-barca-a356992

And Spurs against Milan:
http://www.suite101.com/content/goalless-draw-dumps-milan-out-and-sees-spurs-advance-a357350

Kolo Toure Fails Drugs Test

Reports have emerged today that the Manchester City defender has tested positive for a 'specified substance'. This will result in suspension from playing in all competitions, but an appeal will clearly be launched by the Ivorain centre half's agent and representatives.

JC Update

I also write for The Football Reporer now, here's last night's match report, also on Suite101:

http://www.thefootballreporter.com/public/story.aspx?messageid=3326

Toffees Topple Cup Holders Chelsea (external link)

You can now follow me at Suite101! Here's a match report from today's  FA Cup 4th round replay between Everton and Chelsea:

http://www.suite101.com/content/toffess-topple-cup-holders-chelsea-a349789

Matri Dents Inter’s Title Hopes

Juventus 1 Inter Milan 0

Leonardo saw the Nerazzurri lose for only the second time of his managerial reign in the Derby d’Italia continuing the visitors’ poor record in Turin, with the home side managing a clean sheet for the first time in 2011. Alessandro Matri’s header on the half hour proved to be the difference between these two giants, sending Juventus sixth and leaving Inter eight points behind Serie A leaders A. C. Milan putting their chances of retaining the Scudetto into further doubt.

Just four of Luigi Delneri’s starting XI were playing for the Turin club this time last year, with the much travelled Luca Toni partnering his fellow January transfer window signing from Cagliari up front. Leonardo picked the same team which took to the field in the remarkable 5-3 win over Roma last weekend. Unlike that fixture though this was a more tense affair with the message that today was a game neither could afford to lose clearly having been imparted to the players from their coaches.

Andrea Ranocchia again showed very little evidence of his high rating with another poor display at the back with Ivan Cordoba. Time and again he made errors which on another day would have cost him dear. It should be noted that the centre back pairing which won last season’s unprecedented treble, Lucio and Walter Samuel, are both out injured at the moment and it is one area of the pitch where there isn’t a lot of cover.

Juventus exploited this weakness and after ten minutes a Giorgio Chiellini cross, playing at left back the position he started his career in, was headed over by Toni. The visitors did look dangerous with balls over the top with Giampaolo Pazzini giving chase. The former Sampdoria favourite was wrongly flagged offside on a couple of occasions by the officials; such was Inter’s luck that these tight calls went against them.

Milos Krasic coming inside from the right wing gave the Nerazzurri problems with the ageing Javier Zanetti showing that three games in a week, including his one hundred and thirty ninth cap for Argentina against Portugal, was perhaps a little too much for him. Sneijder looked fatigued as well, failing to have the influence and impact the Dutchman had last weekend and on international duty.

Delneri’s side could not make the most of a 3-on-3 counter with Cordoba stepping up to snuff out the danger. The match winner came from Krasic’s ability to commit players. Both Zanetti and compatriot Esteban Cambiasso tracked him wide on the right and he laid it back to young Freddy Sorensen up from full back in space. A cross from the Dane was missed by Cordoba and that gave Matri the space for a free header which he put into the corner with Julio Cesar stranded to net for the third time in three matches.

Inter continued to have good possession either side of the break, but never seemed to do anything particularly creative or forward-thinking with the ball. Matri spurned another opportunity that would have seen the Turin outfit increase their lead eight minutes into the second half. Krasic provided the ball in, but this time the former Cagliari striker’s header was off target.

The Nerazzurri boss looked to Goran Pandev off the bench replacing the absent Kharja, but nothing clear cut came for the visitors until late in the match. After an encouraging display in the target man role, Toni was replaced by Vincenzo Iaquinta who offered nothing like the same outlet through the last quarter of the match. Matri took a blow to the ribs and was in some discomfort, but Delneri somewhat surprisingly kept him on the pitch. Claudio Marchisio who had kept Maicon’s forays from right back down to a minimum with the help of Chiellini on the left side departed for Simone Pepe and after Felipe Melo began to struggle he too was brought off for Momo Sissoko leaving no more substitutes at Juventus’s disposal.

A poor Sorensen back pass had Eto’o marauding in on goal from off the left wing, but Buffon was alert and came off his line to block an effort from the Cameroonian. Inter pressed for an equaliser inside the last ten minutes and again the home side were indebted to their goalkeeper. Sneijder’s ball over the top found Eto’o racing through again coming in from a wide position, but Italy's number one smothered out the danger. Despite playing through the pain Matri missed a further opportunity at the other end, volleying wide from Pepe’s cut back.

With a minute to go Eto’o unbelievably spurned a guilt edge chance, an effective open goal from four yards out was not found. A Maicon cross eluded everybody at the near post and the twenty seven goal striker came steaming in at the back stick, but somehow put his shot against the bar. It was a big let off for Juventus, but they hung on to secure what might prove a vital win come the end of the season and it could well be the difference between them settling for the Europa or making a return to the Champions League.

The Nerazzurri were not at their best today and problems at the back are apparent. This wasn’t exactly the most convincing display from their hosts either, with Barzagli and Bonucci having about the same experience as a centre half pairing as Inter’s defensive duo. The big names did not perform at the end of what has been a demanding week. This fixture was compelling evidence that there is at least something in claims that internationals are a tiring experience.

Rooney Wonder Strike Wins Manchester Derby

Man United 2 Man City 1

An out of this world overhead kick proved to be the difference between the Red Devils and the Citizens at Old Trafford as the home side extended their lead at the top of the Premier League table to seven points and now sit eight ahead of their neighbours.

City were by far the better side in the first half, but as is so often the case it was United who went in at the break with a lead courtesy of a smash and grab Nani goal. A lead that Sir Alex’s side scarcely deserved on their opening forty-five display was cancelled out by a real stroke of fortune for the blues. Substitute Edin Dzeko’s shot cannoned off the back of David Silva to level the score, but Wayne Rooney completed his rehabilitation in the eyes of Red Devils fans with a world class finish twelve minutes from time.

When the team sheets came in there was a real fear that this match might repeat the drab goalless draw at Eastlands earlier in the season, with both Ferguson and Mancini going with five in midfield. Right from the first whistle these concerns were allayed, as the first real opening camie inside four minutes and for the visitors. Silva attacked down the right and fed Yaya Toure, who passed to Tevez who slipped the Spaniard in who had continued his run into the box, but poked his shot wide of Edwin Van Der Sar’s goal from a narrowing angle.

Much of City’s joy came from exploiting the space in the right channel between Vidic and Evra. On the quarter hour Silva fed Toure, but Chris Smalling came across to put it behind for a corner. The young defender had been earmarked by many as a weak link in the United back line, but performed with composure and maturity beyond his years throughout.

Similarly for the visitors, Vincent Kompany had an impressive display despite receiving the first booking of the match from referee Andre Mariner for a foul on Wayne Rooney. He was strong in the air all afternoon, riling the man he was marking. Further up the field City showed wonderful off-the-ball movement with Kolarov ending a spell of possession with a shot over from edge of the box.

It took United over half an hour to create a real chance. Ryan Giggs’s deep cross was met by the head of Darren Fletcher, but it was straight at Joe Hart. Nani then began to come off the right wing and had two sighters before firing the Red Devils into a half time lead. Van Der Sar’s long kick up field towards Rooney was won by the England striker in the air ahead of Joleon Lescott, Giggs then put a first time pass towards the Portuguese winger down the middle. His first touch was exquisite to bring the ball down and he rolled it into the corner with Hart exposed.

Mancini introduced Shaun Wright-Phillips off the bench five minutes after the break and Dzeko came on at the hour mark. The substitutes combined to set up the equaliser. Wright-Phillips put a low cross into Dzeko’s path and his shot deflected off the back of Silva with the ball looping into the corner with Van Der Sar wrong-footed. Ferguson responded to being pegged back by throwing Premier League top scorer Dimitar Berbatov on, but it fell to his strike partner to steal the headlines and earn the Red Devils the three points.

After some great build up, Nani’s cross from the right took a nick off a City defender but reached Rooney at the perfect height to execute his overhead kick which flew into the top corner leaving Hart with no chance. It’s no exaggeration to say that the United winner was worthy of settling any game and the strike will be one that is talked about for years to come. What technique and confidence to attempt such an audacious effort!

The extraordinary goal is not something that Mancini and the City players will admire as they have lost further ground on their neighbours and now face a mountain that may be too great to climb in order to win the Premier League title. The race is by no means over, but only Arsenal can now feel confident of catching United.

England Come from Behind in Copenhagen

Denmark 1 England 2

A first international goal for Ashley Young twenty minutes from time ensured that Fabio Capello’s Three Lions fought back from a goal down to beat Martin Olsen’s side in the Parken Stadium. Daniel Agger had given the Danish an early lead, heading in a cross from the eye-catching Christian Eriksen, but with little more than ten minutes played England had responded and equalised through Darren Bent.

Jack Wilshere got his first start and looked solid in a deep lying role in midfield. The home side wasted a couple of early half chances through the profligate Nicklas Bendtner, but it was the visitors who created the first clear sight of goal. Bent pounced on a slack backpass, but Thomas Sorensen came off his line sharply to smother. Wayne Rooney was the first to rebound but was forced wide and Mathias Jorgensen cleared his shot off the line.

With seven minutes played Michael Krohn-Dehli who also had an excellent game for the Danes passed into Eriksen and the Ajax prodigy’s cross was met by the flying Agger ahead of Michael Dawson whose header went beyond Joe Hart to give Olsen’s men the lead. Capello got an instant response to going a goal and two and a half minutes later England were on level terms. After patient build up and a lengthy spell of possession, Rooney had the vision to find Theo Walcott with an inspired cross field pass. The Arsenal winger then showed strength and skill to get the better of Simon Poulsen and his cross was tapped home by Bent about a yard out.

Eriksen continued to be a thorn in the side of the Three Lions. Taking up a position in the hole every Danish attack went through him and were it not for good tracking back from Wilshere and Dawson’s tackle on Bendtner the home side might have had another clear sight of goal. With ten minutes to go to the break the England captain Frank Lampard allowed Eriksen to drift away from him and free the Ajax forward exchanged passes with Bendtner before cracking a shot from the edge of the area that came back off the post. Krohn-Dehli blazed the rebound well over.

The visitors continued to live dangerously as half time approached. Eriksen slipped a ball in to Rommedahl between Terry and Ashley Cole and his shot form a tightening angle was saved by the legs of Hart to keep the score even. At the interval Capello swapped Lampard, Rooney and Wilshere for Gareth Barry, Scott Parker and Ashley Young and these changes had the desired effect. England pressed for a second goal, with the Aston Villa front line almost combining, but Sorensen bravely punched with Bent lurking. Young had chipped up a cute cross from his teammate. James Milner also posed a threat down the left, putting in some dangerous balls into the box.

Denmark had a great chance of their own to retake the lead with a quarter of the match remaining. Krohn-Dheli found Eriksen yet again and his audacious back heel set up Rommedahl but he couldn’t put his shot across Hart and the Manchester City keeper smothered it out with his body. The Danish number nine would get caught in possession by Glen Johnson and this would lead to the visitors getting their winner. The Liverpool full back played a crisp pass into Young’s path and he slotted it past the exposed Sorensen at the near post.

The victory is Capello’s first since the win in Switzerland, with a subsequent draw with Montenegro and defeat at the hands of France in the interim. There are a number of positives for England fans to take from tonight’s performance. Resiliency, patient build-up and good football got their reward, but some of the defending needs to be tightened up. Wilshere acquitted himself well in the middle of park. For Denmark there’s no doubt Eriksen is a real talent and one of Scandinavian football’s players to watch in future.

Speed Era Starts with Defeat

Republic of Ireland 3 Wales 0

Giovanni Trapattoni enjoyed a comfortable win in the first fixture of the Carling Nations Cup as the hosts outshone a poor showing from Gary Speed’s side in his first game in charge. Second half goals from Darron Gibson, Damien Duff and Keith Fahey wrapped up three points to send the Republic top of the table in the round robin format competition.

In the absence of Robbie Keane, Jonathan Walters got his first start partnering Kevin Doyle. Seamus Coleman, Ciaran Clark and later Marc Wilson all made their debuts for the boys in green. Speed went with a front three, the diminutive Rob Earnshaw playing centrally rather than Simon Church who had a berth on the right.

Chances were few and far between in an underwhelming first half, but the home side made the better start with a Duff crosshot shaving the post after five minutes. The Fulham winger certainly had the better of his exchange with Blackpool full back Neal Eardley who was subbed at the interval for Chris Gunter.

Welsh attacks broke down and possession was consistently wasted in the final third with Earnshaw not getting a sniff all night; a counter attack made by his pace being cut out summed up the Nottingham Forest striker’s evening. Speed’s men nonetheless had a case for a penalty as the half hour approached when Coleman lunged in on Hal Robson-Kanu, but the Reading man stayed on his feet when going down under the challenge might have resulted in a spot kick.

Doyle, who had been voted the Republic’s player of the year for 2010, showed great strength to get away from his markers, but shot straight at Wayne Hennessy in the visiting goal with ten minutes to go before the break. Debutant Clark subsequently wasted a free header which he put wide after a worked free kick. Church did draw a save out of Shay Given at the end of the half, coming in from the right and shooting from the edge of the box, but Ireland’s most capped player and captain on the night was equal to it.

Shane Long was introduced for Doyle during the interval and the Reading striker should have hit the target from twelve yards on fifty minutes when Duff slipped him in but he fired over. The pair combined again moments later, but the Fulham man was off-balance when he cracked his shot and it was straight into the arms of Hennessy.

The Republic found the breakthrough on the hour. Gibson played a one-two with Glenn Whelan with the Welsh defence standing off him and the Manchester United midfielder hammered a twenty five yard drive beyond the keeper. Speed’s side showed very little signs of responding to going behind, though Church did have another long range effort deflected wide.

Seven minutes after taking the lead Trapattoni’s men doubled their advantage through Duff. Walters showed strength and determination to get the ball off Gunter who was attempting to shepherd it out for a goal kick. The Stoke forward then pulled it back into the middle where Long dummied and the Fulham winger ended his five year international goal drought beating Hennessy from eight yards.

Substitutions for both sides came thick and fast as six apiece are permitted in the Carling Nations Cup. Eight minutes from time James Collins who was given the armband by Speed for the match fouled Walters giving the Republic a free kick in a promising position. Fahey stepped up and the substitute curled one round the wall and past Hennessy to seal the win. The Welsh keeper’s positioning may be brought into question as he was stood too centrally as the set piece was taken.

This was a comfortable win that puts the boys in green in a promising position with Scotland and Northern Ireland to play tomorrow. Wales were very poor opposition, lacking creativity and guile. The in-form Andy King had an extremely quiet night and Andrew Crofts showed none of the playmaking ability he has displayed for club side Norwich. Service into the frontmen was absent and although a number of key names, Gareth Bale and Craig Bellamy to name two, were missing for the visitors the lack of depth is something that will concern Speed.

Trapattoni’s side didn’t have to be anywhere near their best to come out on top in this fixture. The Irish defence was commanding in the air, but there was not much of a contest in that department. All the Welsh possession was enjoyed in front of them which made it easy for the back four to shut out attacks; a first clean sheet in five is most welcome nonetheless. Duff was the inspiration and still has a lot to offer in spite of his increasing years.

Inter and Roma Produce Eight Goal Thriller

Inter Milan 5 AS Roma 3

The returning Wesley Sneijder inspired the Nerazzurri to victory in a quite remarkable contest. The win sees them cut their great rivals A. C. Milan’s lead at the top of Serie A to just four points. In a match that from start to finish was a joy to watch the Dutchman opened the scoring inside three minutes with a stunning strike. Fabio Simplicio equalised for Ranieri’s Roma, before a Samuel Eto’o brace either side of the interval, the second a penalty, put the home side in command.

A red card for Nicolas Burdisso’s on the hour for the challenge that led to the referee pointing to the spot looked to have ended the contest, couple with a Thiago Motta tap in that saw Inter establish a three goal lead over the ten men. Goals in just over five minutes from Mirko Vucinic and Simone Loria put Roma back in it and set up a tense finish. In the last minute of the ninety, as the visitors looked for an equaliser to complete a most remarkable comeback, the Nerazzurri sealed the win through Esteban Cambiasso.

Sneijder’s opener was something special. Maicon romped down the right and passed to the Dutchman who created the opening from the edge of the area from where he found the top corner with Julio Sergio merely a spectator in the Roma goal.

Ranieri got a response from his side after going a goal down. Marco Borriello drew a save from Julio Cesar at the near post before Simplicio equalised. Vucinic ran at the Inter defence and found Marco Cassetti on the overlap from full back. His cross found the Brazilian midfielder ahead of compatriot Maicon, the wing back caught in a centre half’s position, to tap in and level the score.

Roma could well have been in front were it not for two top saves in quick succession from Cesar. The inexperienced partnership at centre half of Ivan Cordoba and Andrea Ranocchia was exploited by the visiting front three. Borriello played in Jeremy Menez, but his shot was parried by the Brazilian stopper who kept the rebound out which the Italian international had headed goalwards. A third, more comfortable save from a tight angle from the Frenchman followed.

Leonardo’s side began to press, Sneijder’s free kick was spilled by Sergio but Cassetti blocked any follow up with Eto’o lurking. Last ditch defending from Roma denied Giampaolo Pazzini and Cambiasso from getting shots in inside the area. With thirty minutes gone Sergio saved well from another Sneijder long range effort.

Eto’o broke the deadlock ten minutes before half time. The Cameroonian international came inside off the right flank, touched it past John Arne Riise and slotted it into the net under Sergio, who will feel he should have done better.

After the break Inter had a great chance to extend their lead, but Pazzini was flagged offside running onto Cambiasso’s incisive pass. The Nerazzurri did increase their lead just after the hour when Burdisso brought down Pazzini after he cut across him. Sneijder played a delightful through ball over the top which led to the concession of the penalty. The Argentine centre got an early bath and Eto’o placed the spot kick expertly into the corner to put Leonardo’s side 3-1 up.

Loria was brought off the bench to fill the void in the visiting defence. Inter continued to look to increase their lead against the ten men. Maicon fed Sneijder on the counter who passed to Eto’o on the left and Pazzini’s shot from his cross was kept out by Sergio. The Dutchman and Cameroonian were involved in creating the Nerazzurri’s fourth goal, with Motta heading home from close range. It was served up on a plate for the Brazilian as Sneijder’s deep cross was nodded back into the danger area by Eto’o with the Roma defence static.

Daniele De Rossi’s deflected free kick found Vucinic with fifteen minutes remaining and the Montenegrin guided it past the wrong-footed Cesar for what appeared to be only a consolation. Five minutes later Ranieri’s side had got themselves within a goal of pulling level once more. A powerful header from a corner by Juan cracked the post and the rebound was seized upon by substitute Loria.

Inter spurned chances to put the match to bed, largely thanks to the Japanese full back Yuto Nagatomo off the bench, his endeavour and willingness to get to the by line led to chances for Eto’o and Maicon. Substitute Diego Milito missed a guilt edge chance that would have put the matter beyond doubt, stabbing wide from two yards out as an Eto’o shot rebounded off the goalkeeper to him too quickly to react properly.

Cambiasso wrapped up the win for the Nerazzurri in the ninetieth minute. Again Eto’o came in from a wide position. His cross was parried by Sergio and fell to the feet of Inter’s captain Javier Zanetti who unselfishly squared to his compatriot to pass the ball into the net.

To say that this match was thoroughly absorbing is a massive understatement. There isn’t going to be a better advert for Serie A and Italian football than this wonderful game all season. Whilst that is no consolation to Ranieri and Roma, who have lost ground in their quest for the Scudetto, the positives he can draw from are the way in which his side continued to attack and score after losing a man.

With A. C. Milan dropping two points at Genoa earlier today, it seems Leonardo and Inter are right back in the hunt for successfully defending the Italian league crown. The Nerazzurri look completely rejuvenated with the additions of Pazzini and Houssine Kharja in midfield, as well as the timely return to fitness of Sneijder. No question he was man of the match tonight and his club look a completely different side to how they did under Rafael Benitez.

10-Man Rangers Edge Past Royals

Reading 0 QPR 1

Wayne Routledge’s second winner in four games since rejoining Neil Warnock’s side on loan handed the Loftus Road outfit a vital victory in a tempestuous match. Just before the break Hogan Ephraim’s lunge on Jimmy Kebe earned him an early bath as referee Russell Booth showed him red.

Moments earlier Matthew Mills had blocked off the Rangers midfielder on the wing as he looked to attack down the flank. The Reading defender was the last man, but Booth brandished yellow when to the letter of the law the challenge could have resulted in a sending off.

This action came late in the first half, with neither side hitting the target in the opening forty minutes. In between these two big calls for the official, the home side created two chances. First Simon Church drew a sprawling save from Paddy Kenny from a knock down off the chest of Shane Long and just after Mills’ back post header from a corner was kept out by the legs of the QPR keeper. A third opportunity before the break saw Long hit the side netting from a tight angle after Kenny made an uncharacteristic error.

With the visitors aggrieved by the number of decisions going against them the situation threatened to boil over when Rangers captain Adel Taarabt had a coming together with an opposition player. From the referee’s point of view the half time whistle came at just the right time in order for him to keep control of match.

In the second half a poor challenge from Jay Tabb on Taarabt did not get sufficiently punished; in light of other bookings Booth should have shown the Irishman a yellow. Warnock introduced Ishmael Miller for Rob Hulse with a quarter of the game to go as the ten men searched for a winner. The man on loan from West Brom looked lively showing strength and power, firing a shot just over Adam Federici’s goal.

Eight minutes from time after some crisp passing Alejandro Faurlin played in Routledge through the middle and the winger showed Mills a clean pair of heels as he struck a precise finish into the corner. Federici did get a hand to the shot, but it was in vain. QPR have notched their first ever win at the Madjeski Stadium and sent themselves eight points clear of the chasing pack at the top of the Championship.

Being clinical in front of goal, coupled with great resolve and determination after losing a man ensured Warnock’s side ground out a result. It is victories like this, in adversity, that trophy wins and promotions are founded on. Reading lacked that cutting edge tonight and had been sweating on the in-form Long’s fitness. Brian McDermott’s team will lose ground in their own push into the play-off places with the rest of this weekend’s fixtures to come.

Duff Does for Deflated Magpies

Fulham 1 Newcastle United 0

Ex-Toon winger Damien Duff needed three bites of the cherry in the second half to consign his former club to their first defeat of 2011. The Irishman’s strike with a quarter of the game remaining was enough to push Mark Hughes’ side up to twelfth, a point behind the visitors and gave Fulham their fifth straight home win.

Much has been made of star striker Andy Carroll leaving St. James’s Park for Liverpool on transfer deadline day for a fee of around £35 million. It should be pointed out that the England international would not have been fit to play at Craven Cottage this evening, although he was paraded in front of his new fans at Anfield.

The burden of his departure will fall on Alan Pardew’s team as a whole, but matters have not been helped by the loss of another forward, Shola Ameobi, through injury just over ten minutes into tonight’s match. An innocuous flailing of Steve Sidwell’s arm without any intent whatsoever appears to have fractured the Magpies striker’s cheekbone, sidelining him for the foreseeable future.

Nile Ranger stepped in to the breech, but the first half was characterised by solid defensively displays from both sides. The calmness and skill of Jose Enrique to play the visitors out of trouble from left back was notable. Andy Johnson and Moussa Dembele chose their moments throughout the match to drift into wide areas and come inside, but the Spaniard remained on top of the situation for the opening forty-five at least.

The Toon’s success has not all been down to Carroll, but their threat from set pieces looked visibly diminished on tonight’s evidence. Pardew’s men probably just edged the first half with clear cut openings hard to come by. Had referee Mike Jones played an advantage when Danny Simpson fouled Clint Dempsey and the ball broke to Andy Johnson in a promising position, then Fulham might have created a chance.

Further the home side had a couple of minor shouts for penalties as Mike Williamson lived dangerously pulling the shirt of Brede Hangeland as he marked him from corner and free kicks. Neither keeper was called into any noteworthy action before the break, Mark Schwarzer having returned to the XI for Hughes after the conclusion of the Asian Cup with Australia.

Duff’s first effort came just after the restart, racing through on goal inside from the right his shot was blocked out. The second opening he spurned was a real guilt edge chance. Dembele played Dempsey in behind the Magpies defence and his shot came back off the legs of Steve Harper, deflected off Williamson and fell to the Irishman only a few yards out but he screwed it wide.

At the other end after a quiet display from Leon Best, he headed a half chance well over the bar from Danny Guthrie’s cross; Ranger’s industry in the build up should get a mention. Fulham’s next chance to take the lead came just after the hour when Williamson got caught in possessing by the harrying of Johnson and Sidwell, Dembele profited and again fed Dempsey who from an ever tightening angle forced Harper to tip it over for a corner.

Moments later Danny Murphy’s long ball out of defence found Duff in a race with Enrique, but the Spaniard could not get his team out of trouble this time, so typical of a full back finding himself in a centre half’s position, and the Irishman showed strength before slotting home past the exposed Harper.

Hughes’ side had other opportunities to put the match to bed. Gael Kakuta off the bench looked lively, shooting straight at the keeper from a Dembele pull back inside the last ten minutes. Fulham are indebted to Schwarzer who saved well from Ranger at close quarters after Kevin Nolan set him up from Joey Barton’s deep cross.

Straight down the other end, Kakuta put a delightful through ball into Dempsey but one-on-one with Harper the American opted to try and poke it past him rather than lift it over and another chance went begging. Duff’s goal in the end proved enough to secure the three points for the home side to ease their relegation fears.

Newcastle cane up against a side tonight that have become resolute under Mark Hughes, a style that he has brought to all the clubs he has managed. In all likelihood the Toon only need a few more wins to ensure their own place in the Premier League next season. Losing Ameobi is unfortunate, but it is premature to be panicking at this stage.

Baggies and Lactics Share Relegation Battle Spoils

West Bromwich Albion 2 Wigan Athletic 2

With the transfer window firmly shut and the end of big money moves attentions were turned to the on the field matters once more. Both Roberto di Matteo and Martinez found their sides in the bottom five of the Premier League and despite an enthralling game from the neutral’s perspective they remain there after a draw at the Hawthorns.

Peter Odemwingie gave the home side the lead before the visitors turned things around to lead at half time thanks to free kicks from first Charles N’Zogbia and then Ben Watson. Albion rallied after the break, having been booed off at the interval and earned themselves a point thanks to a strike from Marc-Antoine Fortune.

This meeting of two sides who have struggled in the Premier League was billed as an important fixture and it certainly did not disappoint. Coming into tonight’s encounter the Lactics had just two away wins to their name all season, whilst their hosts had not kept a clean sheet since the opening weekend.

It was the Baggies who drew first blood with just less than five minutes played. Odemwingie timed his run superbly from a delightful through ball from Jerome Thomas. The Nigerian then showed a turn of pace to get away from Steve Gohouri and slotted it past the onrushing Ali Al Habsi. This early goal boosted the confidence of di Matteo’s men and Jonas Olsson up from the back at set pieces posed a dangerous threat.

This quickly evaporated when with less than twenty minutes on the clock Youssouf Mulumbu conceded a free kick in an excellent position for a left footer. N’Zogbia, who had been fouled himself to get the award, stepped up and his low effort was deflected past Boaz Myhill. An assist must surely go to Franco di Santo who locked arms with Mulumbu on the end of the wall, preventing the Congolese midfielder from cutting it out and instead helping it into the net to draw Wigan level.

The Lactics winger who is believed to have been the subject of a substantial offer from former club Newcastle in the late stages of the window grew in influence. The Frenchman dribbled past three and got a shot away at a tight angle that was punched away by Myhill.

Albion conceded another free kick on the edge of the area just before half time, Maynor Figueroa being caught by Gonzalo Jara. Ben Watson, who otherwise totally wasted set pieces, whipped in a ball that three teammates attacked whilst the home defence stood static, with Myhill powerless to stop it going in the corner.

Di Matteo’s side started the second half much more promisingly. An audacious lofted effort from Thomas went just over after he came inside. Simon Cox was pushed up front from midfield as they searched for an equaliser. Wigan spurned chances to increase their lead, di Santo shooting straight at Myhill on the break and N’Zogbia and Rodallega both cutting inside, a tactic which was consistent throughout tonight’s game, but with finishes that similarly lacked conviction.

Substitute Fortune hit the post with a strike on the turn and again moments later the visitors’ woodwork was rattled by Albion’s captain Chris Brunt. The home side’s pressure finally told when with ten minutes remaining Thomas found himself at the back post from a corner, stuck the ball back into the centre and this time Fortune found the net with a header past Al Habsi’s despairing dive.

Olsson again threatened from a set piece and were it not for the Omani keeper in the Lactics goal the Baggies might have won it. The tension was palpable towards the ends with players from both sides going into referee Phil Dowd’s notebook as the emotion reached breaking point.

Late appeals for a penalty to West Brom were waved away despite Gary Caldwell handling the ball and in stoppage time Al Habsi saved well with his legs after Fortune got a shot away amidst a scramble in the penalty area. Honours remained even and although the result has done nothing to improve either side’s fortunes or defensive records this was a thoroughly entertaining match.

Play in wide areas from both sides was outstanding, N’Zogbia and Thomas lit up the fixture. The decision to play Cox in central midfield is one that puzzles and Olsson’s prowess in attacking set pieces at one end is good, but the Swede didn’t seem to show that same aggression when he was defending them. This will concern di Matteo, but on the other hand Brunt’s passing and playmaking is a big positive to draw from.

As for Wigan they defensively have very little quality. Gohouri and both Caldwell brothers seem to still be struggling to step up to the Premier League. Di Santo is still learning and although Rodaellga has the pace to play out wide, he will only add to his goal tally and subsequently fire the Lactics to safety if he plays down the middle.

On a final note it is so refreshing to see two sides fighting for their lives in the top flight of English football sticking to their guns and positive philosophy. The temptation must be immense to play defensively, but both Martinez and di Matteo sent their teams out to attack tonight and that is why we got a memorable game instead of a scrappy affair.

Wenger in Pole Position for Silverwear

Arsenal 3 (3) Ipswich 0 (1)

The Gunners booked their place at Wembley for the League Cup final after coming from a goal down from the first leg to defeat Paul Jewell’s tractor boys thanks to three second half goals. Nicklas Bendtner, Laurent Koscielny and Cesc Fabregas all netted in a fifteen minute spell just after the hour to set up an encounter on 27 February with either London rivals West Ham or Birmingham who will conclude the other semi-final tonight.

Very few clear cut openings were created in a nervy opening forty-five which is so often the case in such a fixture. After a clash fifteen minutes in with his own keeper Bacary Sagna could no longer continue and was replaced by Emmanuel Eboue. The Ipswich defence was almost undone moments later when the in-form Robin Van Persie headed a Bendtner cross against the woodwork. Marton Fulop came off his line superbly on the half hour to deny the Dutchman again, this time with him racing through on goal.

After the break the pressure was cranked up on the visitors and their resistance broke. An inspired long ball over the top from Jack Wilshere was taken down wonderfully by Bendtner, who then cut inside and placed it beyond the Ipswich goalkeeper. Three minutes later the Gunners took the lead in the tie in uncharacteristic fashion from a set piece. Koscielny headed in Andrey Arshavin’s corner at the near post, but Fulop will feel he should have done better as the Hungarian failed to get there off his line and claim the ball. Darren O’Dea, on loan at Portman Road from Celtic, did not exactly cover himself in glory either, losing his man and Ipswich paid the penalty.

Thirteen minutes from time Fabregas put the tie to bed after exchanging passes with Arshavin and slotted home from the edge of the six-yard box. The quality of the home side's movement and passing told as it so often does in the end. Arsene Wenger’s side are now firm favourites to lift their first silverwear since the 2005 FA Cup.

Jewell’s men gave a good account of themselves, but some of the tactics he employed during this game may be brought into question. Mark Kennedy never has and never will be a holding midfielder; the Irishman occupying that berth did not prevent Fabregas from influencing the game. This was not helped by the middle of the park for the visitors lacking an attacking thrust. Moreover Carlos Edwards has played his best football in attacking position, being used at full back will now ultimately seem like an unnecessary risk.

Arshavin has been getting a lot of criticism recently for being absent in games and showing little presence or looking ineffective. The facts however are that he notched two assists in this match, bringing his number of contributions for setting up goals to nearly twenty for the season. Surely this is more than satisfactory from the Russian who after all is playing on the flanks.

Ipswich now must focus on moving away from the relegation places in the Championship, whilst the Gunners are still in the Premier League title race, the FA Cup and the Champions League. You still can’t help but feel the League Cup is where their best opportunity of adding something to the trophy cabinet lies, but McLeish’s blues or the Hammers will not be a pushover in the final.

Routledge Return Revitalizes Rangers

QPR 2 Coventry 1

Neil Warnock’s Hoops moved five points clear of the chasing pack in the race for automatic promotion at the top of the Championship registering their first victory of 2011, completing the league double over mid-table Coventry. Goals from influential captain Adel Taarabt and the on-loan Wayne Routledge sealed the win after the visitors had led through the much maligned Marlon King.

Rangers did business in the transfer market midweek to replace injured pair Jamie Mackie and Patrick Agyemang as well as Kyle Walker who was lost by the lure of Premier League football at Aston Villa. Warnock brought Routledge back to the club he left this time last year for Newcastle along with frontman Ishmael Miller on loan from West Brom and former Blackburn defender Pascal Chimbonda to bolster their promotion push. The ex-Palace winger had a second debut to remember as he and Taarabt linked up time and again tearing apart Aidy Boothroyd’s defence.

Right from the start the pace of Routledge gave Coventry problems as he romped down the right. Crosses and through-balls were fired into the box at every opportunity, but the first real test for Kieren Westwood came from Taarabt. The Moroccan hit at a shot from the edge of the area that was parried by the Irish goalkeeper, but his subsequent fingertip save from Shaun Derry’s twenty five yarder highlights exactly why he is so highly rated.

The Loftus Road faithful cried for a penalty when Heidar Helguson’s header from Tommy Smith’s cross struck the arm of Martin Cranie, but referee Mark Haywood deemed it accidental. Earlier on the Icelandic centre forward had wasted a glorious chance to give QPR the lead when he headed a Routledge cross into the ground and it bounced over the bar.

For all this pressure from Rangers, the visitors found themselves in the lead with twenty five minutes played. A long kick up field got Freddy Eastwood in behind, who played it back for Gary McSheffrey to shape a ball into the six yard box where King tapped home. Neither Gorkss nor Connolly in the Hoops’ defence had the wherewithal to cut out the cross. Boothroyd’s men had a great chance to increase their lead ten minutrs before the break, but Eastwood scuffed his shot as he dribbled inside the area.

Taarabt continues to both simultaneously sparkle and make poor decisions. On the half hour he got in behind Richard Keogh brilliantly and came in from the by-line, but rather than square to give Routledge a tap in he chose to try and beat Westwood from an impossible angle. This sometimes maverick attitude he seems to have places a question mark over his leadership of the team and certainly frustrates fans as much as the positive aspects of his play delights them.

This is further evidenced by his stunning equaliser in first half stoppage time. Paddy Kenny took a long free kick which the Moroccan took down, went inside onto his stronger foot, beating two defenders before firing in over the keeper from fifteen yards. QPR could even have gone in with a lead had Clint Hill’s volley been kept down.

Coventry swapped Eastwood for Jutkiewicz at half time and the ex-Everton striker was inches away from connecting with McSheffrey’s crosshot just a few minutes after the restart. Alejandro Faurlin was desperately unlucky not to give the home side the lead moments later when his wonderful curling free kick came back off the post. Just after the hour mark the visitors came close with a dead ball of their own, with King firing at Kenny who spilled, but recover to save at the feet of Jutkiewicz.

Westwood produced another outstanding save at the other end tipping Ishmael Miller’s shot round the post after the substitute worked an opening. Rangers’ winner came eleven minute from time when Routledge took down Taarabt’s audacious ball over the top with the outside of the boot and slotted past the Coventry stopper.

The difference between the two sides was the superior guile and creativity of QPR. Marlon King did a super job of holding the ball up and bringing his teammates into play for the visitors. He played the target man role a great deal better than Helguson at the other end. This is an encouraging sign for Boothroyd, but his forwards need to start scoring more regularly. The profligacy of Eastwood who netted so frequently in the lower leagues is a worry if Coventry are looking to kick on towards the playoff places.

Rangers and Warnock go marching on towards the Championship title and the daylight they have between themselves and the rest of the top six could be vital at the business end of the season.

Bent Breaks Duck on Debut

Aston Villa 1 Manchester City 0

A poacher’s goal from record signing Darren Bent was enough to consign Roberto Mancini’s men to their fifth defeat of the season. The England striker, signed from Sunderland for an initial fee of £18 million midweek, reacted first when Joe Hart parried an Ashley Young effort from the edge of the area to get a tap in and relieve some of the pressure at Villa Park.

Gerard Houllier had put out what seemed on paper a very attacking XI; but the home side showed remarkable discipline with forward-thinking quartet Young, Stewart Downing, Marc Albrighton and Gabriel Agbonlahor all on the pitch. City played some attractive approach play, but lacked penetrations and width at times.

Villa’s backline, made up entirely of centre halves, were outstanding as a unit to shut out the talismanic Carlos Tevez and the Citizens’ new signing Edin Dzeko. The clean sheet was the home side’s first since the goalless draw in the Midlands derby against Birmingham in October.

Aleksandar Kolarov provided quality with dead balls for the visitors, but Brad Friedel was never sternly tested in the Villa goal. The American was only called upon twice to tip over a Vincent Kompany header in the first half and a Jerome Boateng shot from the edge of the box on the hour mark which he parried before it was cleared. City seemed intent on breaking their hosts down through the centre.

The closest the Citizens came to scoring was five minutes from time when Nigel de Jong’s shot from range deflected off Ciaran Clark and came back off the base of the post. Other chances were spurned by Dzeko who failed to hit the target. The defeat leaves Mancini’s side three points behind leaders Manchester United in the race for the Premier League title.

Wenger Keeps Third Round Record Intact

Leeds United 1 Arsenal 3

The Gunners outclassed their hosts to set up a tie with another Yorkshire outfit, Huddersfield Town, in the last 32 of the FA Cup. An early goal from Samir Nasri was added to by Bakari Sagna ten minutes before half time, but the visitors’ lead was not so comfortable as a superb strike from Bradley Johnson pulled one back for United before the break. Both sides had chances after the interval, but substitute Robin Van Persie put the tie to bed with a header fifteen minutes from time.

Already this season the world’s oldest knockout football competition has produced some memorable games and the replay of what had been essential Saturday lunchtime viewing last weekend certainly lived up to that original tie. Arsenal started the match really well, crafting a typically wonderful team goal that Nasri finished off. Kieran Gibbs came storming forward from left back and played it up to Marouane Chamakh, who exchanged passes with Andrey Arshavin before teeing up the French midfielder to open the scoring.

Moments later Leeds were indebted to their keeper Kasper Schmeichel who pulled off a remarkable save plunging to his right to keep out Chamakh’s downward header from a free kick. The Moroccan striker found himself completely unmarked and surely thought he had scored. The home side’s Danish stopper was called into action again when Nasri’s surging run at the defence set up Arshavin to drive the ball goalwards from the edge of the area. Again Scmeichel proved equal to it, tipping it round the post to keep United in it.

Left back Ben Parker was struggling to deal with anything as the visitors attacked mercilessly with the pace of Sagna down the right. His foray to the by-line from a sprayed ball out of defence by Laurent Koscielny set up a clear sight of goal for Nicklas Bendtner, but in typicl fashion he couldn’t make anything of it. The cross from the French right back just eluded the Dane.

With Leeds under such intense pressure they needed to make their own opportunities count, but Robert Snodgrass chose to shoot from a tight angle when a cross was needed after Jonny Howson found him from a free kick. The home side’s defence was breached again shortly afterwards when Andy O’Brien’s clearance went straight to Sagna who blasted it past Schmeichel from just inside the area. The United keeper got a hand to it and if you were hypercritical you might feel he should’ve done better, but such was the power on the shot from the Arsenal full back that it’s doubtful anyone would’ve saved it.

Simon Grayson’s men didn’t let their heads and drop and pulled one back with the goal of the night. Snodgrass showed tenacity on the right flank and found Max Gradel whose attempted centre came back off the Gunners defence to Howson. He rolled it to Johnson who rifled the ball into the roof of the net over Szczesny. Leeds might’ve added to this just before the half time whistle, but Snodgrass wasted a free kick again choosing to shoot rather than cross from a set piece.

United did not start the second half as the first had ended. Just thirty seconds after the restart Nasri ran at their defence again, slipping in Alex Song to shoot from a tight angle, but Schmeichel was always favourite. The French midfielder’s influence continued as he was involved in the build-up to another chance for Arshavin, denied only by a sublime tackle and tracking back by Snodgrass.

Arsenal did not have it all their own way as just after the hour a Gradel cross was just inches away from Billy Paynter playing up top for Leeds in place of the injured Luciano Becchio. Another glorious chance for the home side was spurned by substitute Davide Somma. With his first touch the South African striker made a poor connection from close range after Paul Connolly played a one-two with Snodgrass and the right back whipped in a cross.

Wenger brought Cesc Fabregas and Van Persie off the bench with twenty minutes to go and within five minute the latter put the tie to bed. Bendtner crossed deep from the right and the Dutchman peeled off his marker at the back post to head past Schmeichel. United’s defence had been disrupted when O’Brien had to go off with what seemed to be a hamstring problem. That third goal for the Gunners was enough to see out the tie, but again Leeds’s exploits in the FA Cup have been both noteworthy and enjoyable for the neutral.

They missed Becchio today because of his holdup play and work rate. Paynter has been struggling with an injury picked up in pre-season and although there is definitely more to come from him the calibre of the opposition was too much for a player returning from spell on the sidelines. Out wide United have a real threat and will be a handful for anyone in the play-offs, provided their annual slump is not too severe. As for Arsenal they are still fighting on four fronts and look almost certain to end their six years without a trophy if they can win against Ipswich at the Emirates in next week’s League Cup semi final second leg.

Mancini's Men Claim Fourth Round Place

Manchester City 4 Leicester City 2

Notts County await the Citizens in round four after an absorbing replay which was as pleasing to the eye as the original tie last weekend. Two goals in the space of a minute late in the first half did for Leicester. The Foxes had been level with a Paul Gallagher penalty after Carlos Tevez opened the scoring for the home side, but strikes from Patrick Vieira and Adam Johnson put Man City in a commanding position at the interval.

After the break the home side spurned the chance to increase their lead when the in-form captain put a spot kick straight down the middle making it easy for Chris Weale to save. A lucky break of the ball off referee Mark Halsey led to Lloyd Dyer pulling one back for Leicester and whilst it could’ve been an uncomfortable last five minutes for the Citizens they countered and Aleksandar Kolarov eventually put the tie to bed.

The Foxes’ wide men impressed again and it was a great shame when Gallagher limped off with only half an hour played. Lloyd Dyer was a constant thorn in Man City’s side First blood went to the home side though after a quarter of an hour when Tevez raced through the Leicester defence receiving the ball from a Pablo Zabaleta throw in, rode a poor challenge from Yuki Abe and smashed the ball past Weale. A few minutes later and the visitors were handed a way back into the match thanks to a foolish trip just inside the box by Vieira on Dyer and Gallagher dispatched from twelve yards.

Tevez was involved in Man City’s second. A great ball by the Argentine found Zabaleta who squared to David Silva. His shot was kept out by a combination of Weale’s palm and Sol Bamba’s clearance which fell straight to Vieira for a tap in. Leicester lost the ball from the restart and Silva slipped a defence splitting pass through to the onside Johnson to place into the net.

Just more than ten minutes into the second half Jack Hobbs brought down Tevez in the area. Clearly the last man referee Halsey felt the penalty award was punishment enough, the Eastlands crowd chanting for the Foxes centre half to be sent off. In an otherwise top display from the Argentine however his spot kick was poor. The match official had shown leniency, but when Dyer and Vieira and squared up to one another after the former felt he had been fouled the coming together resulted in both players going into the notebook.

Seven minutes from time the ball broke off Mark Halsey to Abe in centre field whose pass was found by the marginally offside Dyer, but the flag stayed down and he slotted it past Joe Hart to set up a tense ending at Eastlands. Leicester overcommitted in search of an equaliser and were duly picked off as the Citizens countered. After taking some time to work an opening, despite the home side having a five on three advantage early in the break Kolarov hammered the ball home from the edge of the area to seal the win.

Richie Wellens and Andy King did not perform as well as they did in the original tie, the former being subbed for Matt Oakley at half time. The Foxes remain a threat in wide areas and from set pieces although the examination they gave Man City this time round was one they dealt with far better.

Quality told in the end, but don’t be surprised if Leicester push on towards the play-off places under Sven. They are playing some attractive football and the calibre of the opposition in the Championship is nothing like what they have faced over these two cup matches. Mancini’s men will go marching on still in three competitions, but must remain second favourites to United in the Premier League title race because of the Red Devils’ games in hand.

Draws are the order of Derby day

Three pairs of local rivals clashed in the Premier League this afternoon with different agendas to compete for and yet not a single match produced a decisive winner. The Tyne-Wear derby saw two of the top flight’s high flyers come up against one another with both clubs harbouring European ambitions. At the same time in the West Midlands, Birmingham and Aston Villa fought it out in a relegation battle. Following this, completing the hat-trick of derby games, Everton and Liverpool looked to kick on from poor starts as Kenny Dalglish had his homecoming at Anfield.

Sunderland were out to ensure a repeat of the drubbing they received at St. James’s Park earlier in the season did not occur again. The Magpies were still without top scorer Andy Carroll, missing through injury. Despite this captain Kevin Nolan gave the visitors the lead in seven minutes into the second half when he back-heeled a Shola Ameobi header past Craig Gordon. The Mackems levelled with a last gasp strike from Asamoah Gyan deep into stoppage time. The result sees Steve Bruce’s side remain sixth whilst Newcastle slip to ninth, a point behind Stoke and Bolton.

At St. Andrews the priority was staying in the Premier League. Birmingham had lost the first leg of the Carling Cup semi-final to struggling West Ham thanks to the goalkeeping blunders of Ben Foster. Alex McLeish stuck with the England stopper and after a shaky first half he produced a superb fingertip save five minutes from the end which denied substitute Nathan Delfouneso a winner.

Loan signing David Bentley had an impressive debut for the blue that could have only been capped if his free kick had been on target. He was a genuine threat down the right all afternoon and showed no signs of tiredness despite his lack of match fitness. On the other flank full back David Murphy was left exposed with no out and out left-sided player in front of him. This attracted the attentions of Kyle Walker and Marc Albrighton who did their level best to exploit the situation.

Craig Gardner provided some assistance to his teammate, but would have been better utilised centrally which is where he has played his best football. McLeish’s tactic of using Aliaksandr Hleb there instead is rather unusual considering he occupied a wide berth with great success when he plied his trade at Arsenal. Both Birmingham and Villa’s strikers continue to struggle in front of goal. Matt Derbyshire completely missed the ball from a couple of yards out having been presented with a glorious chance. Gabby Agbonlahor blazed over inside the first thirty seconds when it was easier to hit the target and the returning John Carew didn’t really do much either.

It fell to defenders to involve themselves in the goalscoring, with fortune playing a big part in both sides scoring. Not long after the break a Gardner free kick deflected off Villa defenders and broke to the prone Murphy who knocked into the path of Roger Johnson up from the back to sweep it home. With just over fifteen minutes to go the Villa right combined well and Albrighton’s cross with headed down by Agbonlahor and James Collins’s shot went in off Liam Ridgewell. Whilst the visitors have lifted themselves out of the bottom three it remains extremely tight at the foot of the table with just three points separating West Ham and fifteenth placed Fulham.

The Merseyside derby saw Kenny Dalglish lead Liverpool at home for the first time in twenty years. At last the Anfield crowd had something to cheer about as their side performed excellently in the first half. Fernando Torres looked sharp and was desperately unlucky to see his run inside beating two and shot come back off the post just after the quarter hour. Raul Meireles, charged with supporting the Spanish striker from midfield, broke his duck for the club putting the ball in at the third attempt after a Dirt Kuyt header and follow up were parried by Toffees keeper Tim Howard.

Daniel Agger went off with an injury during the interval and it disrupted the home side. The defensive change was capitalised on immediately by Everton who equalised from a corner straight away thanks to Sylvain Distin’s header. Five minutes later the visitors found themselves in front as Victor Anichebe won a long ball from Martin Kelly and Leon Osman slipped it to Jermaine Beckford for a tap in. The Toffees threw away their lead when Howard bundled Maxi Rodriguez over from behind and Dirk Kuyt calmly dispatched the penalty to level the scores and ensure honours were even.

These three draws were all fair results, but have changed very little in the fight for survival, done nothing to relieve relegation fears or propel sides into the promised land of UEFA continental football. Even the fourth and final match of the day which saw Tottenham host Manchester United ended without a winner and goalless, Spurs unable to capitalise on Rafael’s dismissal for two bookings. The Premier League remains an enthralling prospect week-in week-out no matter what clubs’ goals are!

Awful Bridge is Avram's Epitaph

West Ham 0 Arsenal 3

Rumours have been rife of Martin O’Neill’s imminent arrival at Upton Park no matter what the outcome of tonight’s Premier League encounter was, but surely now Avram Grant will be getting his marching orders. A brace from Robin Van Persie, including a penalty and a Theo Walcott strike consigned the Hammers to their eleventh defeat of the season.

As dominant in possession as the Gunners were, West Ham lacked belief and confidence. The loss of Mark Noble to a calf problem after twenty minutes compounded the absence of Scott Parker and left the midfield lacking a crunch. Arsenal profited by monopolising the ball, their passing going largely unopposed.

New signing Wayne Bridge on loan in East London from Manchester City was thrown in at the deep end despite his lack of match time and that decision is almost certain to have been one of the final ones Grant makes in his job. He was at fault in some way for all the goals the Hammers conceded and yet he was supposed to sure things up at the back. Bridge couldn’t handle Walcott’s pace down the right, evidenced by him giving away the penalty that sealed the win for Arsene Wenger’s side.

Van Persie was finally starting to look sharp after his spell on the sidelines and his opener was superbly taken. Samir Nasri played his part too, dummying Walcott’s low cross before the clinical finish from the Dutchman. Although the visitors took the lead inside fifteen minute, the Hammers showed some signs of responding with Zavon Hines shooting over and across goal from a tight angle.

Arsenal’s number ten turned provided for the second, pulling the ball back from the by-line and Walcott finished into the roof of the net to give them a two goal cushion at the break. In the second half Szczesny in the visitors’ goal had little to do again, but was nearly caught out by a cross-shot from Freddie Sears before the Gunners sealed the win thirteen minutes from time with Van Persie scoring from the spot.

Swans Slam Eagles in Striker Shortage Showdown

At the time of writing Brendan Rodgers’s side have gone second in the Championship table after a comfortable victory over struggling Palace. New Eagles boss Dougie Freedman has got some real problems scrapping for survival at the other end. In many ways though these two clubs may have contrasting fortunes but they are suffering from one similar problem - a goalscoring centre forward.

The good form of former Chelsea winger Scott Sinclair, coupled with the Swans’ excellent defensive record has offset the lack of firepower from strikers. Rodgers’s lads have become the experts at winning matches by a single goal, playing expansive football in a 4-3-3 system that dates back to the days of two promotions under ex-manager Roberto Martinez.

With two widemen in the kind of form they showed today you would think Swansea would have a centre forward who could bag some goals from all the chances they create, but the latest to try Luke Moore couldn’t find the net. Of the permanently contracted players Rodgers has at his disposal the two strikers Craig Beattie and Stephen Dobbie have contributed just seven goals between them this season and that’s in all competitions. The latter was signed from the Scottish league to replace Jason Scotland who was prolific for the Swans, but lightning did not strike twice.

This has placed a burden on the midfield three to contribute and the box-to-box Darren Pratley has stepped up to net five league goals, as well as finding the net in both domestic cups. He broke into the box only once during the Palace, albeit with the desired effect of giving Swansea the lead before half time, but he needs to do more of it. Young Joe Allen lacks his maturity and experience and Mark Gower who completes this trio has netted only once for his current club.

You can’t help but feel the addition of someone who can repeat Scotland’s twenty-plus goals is the final piece of the puzzle for the nearly team of the Championship. This is the Swans’ third attempt at promotion after just missing out on the play-offs by a single point last season after successive top eight finishes. It would be a real achievement as many squad members have had to step up time and again as the Liberty Stadium outfit climbed the leagues. For the likes of club captain Garry Monk playing Premier League football would be a dream come true.

As for Palace they have problems throughout the team with the notable exception of goalkeeper and cult hero Julian Speroni. In defence they lack pace at centre half and depth at full-back. Luke Moore might not have found the net, but he did come close by playing of the shoulder of Paddy McCarthy and looked a threat. Highly rated Nathaniel Clyne had kept Sinclair quiet for the entire first half until the goal. Whilst he has a fantastic engine, positioning is something he still learning. Clyne was equal to the man he marked in a foot race, but when he was caught square Swansea punished the Eagles.

In midfield Dougie Freedman needs to do something George Burley didn’t and replace Shaun Derry. Palace lack a defensively minded midfielder; if Owen Garvan continues to play it is not getting the best out of him and in all likelihood he will be sent off again. Andy Dorman was anonymous from the left and whilst Wilfred Zaha is undoubtedly a talent his clever flicks and touches are meaningless unless he can get the basics right.

Losing James Vaughan back to parent club Everton to cover the absence of Tim Cahill, away with Australia at the Asian Cup, has hit Palace hard up front. Pablo Counago looks to have had his day and the signing of 34-year old Steffen Iversen can only work out if the Norwegian can get the right service that he depends on. Calvin Andrew has nothing short of an abysmal goalscoring record for a target man. All of these issues have combined to result in the Eagles being third bottom.

Masters Snooker: Dragon Dismantles Dynamo

Graeme Dott 2 Ding Junhui 6

Three consecutive centuries before the mid-session interval paved the way for China’s best export to reach his second Masters semi final. Two breaks of 124 either side of a contribution of 108 put Ding 3-1 up at the break. The Pocket Dynamo failed to reproduce the gutsy display that saw him eliminate world number one John Higgins in the first round.

Mistakes cost Dott dear, letting his opponent run away with the match. A missed yellow in frame seven left the Scotsman facing an insurmountable lead as the Dragon took full advantage to lead 5-2. A 52 break was all Ding needed in the eighth to run out a comfortable winner.

Dott edged the scrappier frames, but the Chinese sensation was unstoppable when let in amongst the balls. The Dragon will now face the winner of Jamie Cope and Mark King in the semi finals.

Masters Snooker: Pistol shoots down misfiring Rocket

Ronnie O’Sullivan 4-6 Mark Allen

The former four-time Masters champion and local favourite exited the competition in the first round as the genius of the baize lost to the man from Antrim.

O’Sullivan struggled with his concentration, playing a series of poor break-off shots which time and again allowed his Northern Irish opponent in. Contributions of 38 and 34 were enough to give Allen the first frame, but the Rocket responded with an 86 clearance to level the match.

A scrappy third frame went the way of the Pistol after Ronnie missed three blacks off the spot and after a break of 88 in the fourth O’Sullivan’s opponent found himself 3-1 up at the mid-session interval.

When the players returned the Rocket won three of the next four to again even the score. A 64 clearance in the fifth, edging a scrappy seventh and knocks of 66 and 41 in the eighth frame highlighted Ronnie’s ability to capitalise on Allen’s mistakes. The Northern Irish player seemed to be feeling the pressure of leading the Wembley favourite.

Carelessness at the business end of the match did for O’Sullivan though, whilst Allen showed character and determination. An 87 break and victory in a scrappy final frame took the man from Antrim over the line and put out the Rocket. An attempt at a long yellow when safety looked the better option summed up Ronnie’s day.

This contest, touted as the tie of the first round, perhaps fell slightly short of living up to the hype. Question marks continue over O’Sullivans’s attitude. Geniuses should always be up for the fight. There can be no doubt Allen has taken a scalp, but the tendency to over-hit positional shots needs to be addressed. The Northern Irishman will face either Stephen Hendry or reigning World champion Neil Robertson in the Quarter Finals.

Third Round Weekend: Foxes Earn Eastlands Replay

Leicester City 2 Manchester City 2

Strikes from debutant Sol Bamba and captain Andy King were enough for Sven-Goran Eriksson’s side to ensure another encounter with the Citizens will take place in ten days time. In between Leicester’s goals Roberto Mancini’s men came from a goal down to lead 2-1 before being pegged back. James Milner netted from the edge of the area and some fancy footwork from talisman Carlos Tevez put them in front before the break.

Manchester City had started poorly, not alert to a first minute short corner with Paul Gallagher’s ball in glancing off King before Bamba stuck out a leg to put it into the back of the net. Critics of zonal marking will pick up on the static nature of the Citizens’ defence and Kolo Toure’s poor positioning, yet all day long the visitors struggled to deal with their opponents’ aerial threat. Bamba would get a further five free headers from dead ball situations after his opener but could neither find the target nor beat Joe Hart again.

A change of formation by Roberto Mancini raised a few eyebrows before the game, but his side were level after twenty two minutes. Milner latched onto Tevez’s reverse pass, he dummied and wrong-footed the debutant Bamba in the Leicester defence before coming inside and sweeping the ball past Chris Weale from twenty yards. The first half was not a one-sided affair though as the Foxes continued to pose problems from set pieces thanks to Jerome Boateng’s inability to mark. Just after the half hour Japanese midfielder Yuki Abe had a twenty five yard thunderbolt pushed out for a corner by the sprawling Hart.

Adam Johnson spurned a guilt edge chance with five minutes to go before the break, pulling wide after Tevez’s vision had found Boateng in an advanced position on the right flank. Moments later Man City did what their hosts had done to them in the opening seconds. A short corner saw Johnson and Milner interchange passes and the latter’s low cross was flicked in by the Citizens captain.

From the restart the visitors looked shaky with Leicester coming out the traps strongly as they did in the first half. Corners were no better dealt with after the break than before, but a mistake from Joe Hart gifted the Foxes their equaliser. A Paul Gallagher cross from the left past the hour bounced off the England goalkeeper’s chest giving home skipper King a tap in. He redeemed himself slightly later on, coming sharply off his line to stop Richie Wellens’ ball over the top from reaching its target. Leicester deserved a replay after their positive display of attacking intent.

The Foxes midfield three should get great praise. Abe, King and Wellens at one time or another joined in their attacks and the captain led by example. He was always popping up on the flanks or in an advanced position to supplement the forwards. Gallagher is a real handful and looked far better than the level he currently plays at. Perhaps former club Blackburn could use his dynamism now.

Tevez showed great guile today for the visitors and it was one of Milner’s better performances in a Manchester City shirt. Jo and Shaun Wright-Phillips did very little to impress. The latter has certainly failed to recapture the form he showed during his first speall at Eastlands. There is certainly a good deal of work to be done on the training ground defensively for Mancini’s side as subsequent opponents will view the Citizens as a soft touch from dead balls.

Third Round Weekend: Red Devils Dispel King Kenny's Fairytale Start

Manchester United 1 Liverpool 0

Any delusions the Anfield faithful might have that club legend Kenny Dalglish can just wave a magic wand and turn around the Merseysiders’ season in an instant have quickly evaporated after defeat at the hands of their bitter rivals.

Two major first half decisions went against Liverpool and knocked them out. After just thirty seconds Dimitar Berbatov won United a controversial penalty. The Bulgarian made the most of minimal contact from visiting defender Daniel Agger, delaying going down, but referee Howard Webb pointed the spot, despite the linesman not flagging. Veteran Ryan Giggs dispatched from twelve yards expertly with just a minute and a half on the clock.

Just after the half hour the visitors’ captain Steven Gerrard saw red for an off the ground lunge on Michael Carrick. There can be little argument about this latter decision as players are inviting a dismissal when they jump in the modern game. It could have been even worse for the visitors, but Johnny Evans’ header from a corner in stoppage time before the break came back off the post.

There can be little doubt the sending off of the Liverpool skipper damaged the contest. United wasted numerous half chances in the second half to increase their lead, but were also happy to sit back and let the visitors have the ball. Daglish’s ten men improved slightly after the hour when he sent on Ryan Babel and Jonjo Shelvey. Both goalkeepers remained on top for the rest of the match.

Pepe Reina made a superb string of quick succession saves in a goalmouth scramble around the seventy minute mark. Liverpool eventually tired being a man light, but few if any edge guilt edge chances were created by the Red Devils. Ultimately football is a results-based business but Sir Alex Ferguson’s side could have shown a little more ambition to put the tie to bed.

Whilst Gerrard will miss the Merseyside derby next weekend through suspension, it’s not all bad news for Dalglish. Martin Kelly was outstanding both defensively and going forward from right back today. Glen Johnson certainly should not walk straight back into the team after such an impressive display from the local lad. Reina could do with improving his distribution.

Third Round Weekend: Dismal Toon’s Defeat Compounds Northeast Cup Misery

Stevenage Borough 3 Newcastle United 1

The Ronnie Radford award for giant-killing will surely be winging its way to Graham Westley and the Lamex Stadium as the League Two outfit ensured that fans on Tyneside joined those on Teesside and Wearside in finding their respective clubs out the competition all at the hands of lower league opposition. Second half strikes from Michael Bostwick and Peter Winn after a Mike Williamson own goal sent the home side through to the Fourth Round. Joey Barton netted what was to prove only a consolation for Newcastle from distance.

Stevenage were thoroughly the better side against a team more than seventy places higher up England’s football league pyramid. The Toon players with the exception of the much maligned Barton lacked any sort of motivation or enthusiasm for the tie. This attitude ultimately embarrassed both themselves and the club. Whilst the visitors weren’t up for it, Borough profited to achieve a famous victory and right the perceived wrongs of their encounters in the competition thirteen years ago.

Alan Pardew made a number of changes including playing utility man James Perch at left back, a position in which he has little experience. During a first half largely devoid of action Stevenage had the best of what little there was; captain Mark Roberts’s header from Winn’s corner and a twenty five yarder from Bostwick both being kept out by Tim Krul.

The tie burst into life after the break on fifty minutes when wide player Stacy Long’s shot took a huge deflection off the head of Williamson that gave the Magpies keeper no chance. Newcastle showed some signs of responding to going behind, but Kevin Nolan’s shot was tipped over by Chris Day.

Less than a minute later Borough were two up. John Mousinho’s run was charged down only for the ball to break to Bostwick on the edge of the area whose precise shot went in off the post. Cheik Tiote was brought on by the visitors to shore things up in midfield, but he got himself sent off just over ten minutes after coming onto the field. The Ivorian did make some contact on the ball, but it was a reckless lunge on Jon Ashrton. Nonetheless the decision by referee to Andre Mariner to brandish red will be questioned by Toon supporters and fans of the physical side of the game.

Barton tinged an otherwise encouraging display by throwing the ball at the head of a Stevenage player as frustration threatened to boil over amongst the visitors. In stoppage time the controversial midfielder cracked a thirty yard shot into the roof of the net to pull one back, but the Magpies completely switched off from the restart. Mousinho again dribbled his way into the final third, slipping a delightful diagonal ball through for Winn who placed it past the onrushing Krul to put the match to bed.

Newcastle’s defeat completes a hat-trick of Third Round exits for the Northeast’s top clubs. Middlesbrough were knocked out 2-1 losing away at League Two Burton Albion, whilst Sunderland slumped to a home defeat by the same scoreline at the hands of League One strugglers Notts County. They’ll be precious little cheer for Boro who now must focus on maintaining their Championship status under Tony Mowbray. Optimists will say at least there are no more distractions for the Teessiders.

As for both Tyne and Wear much of the disappointment will be forgotten as next weekend the second derby of the Premier League season takes place. The Mackems will be out to prevent the Toon from doing the double over them. That said defeats of this nature are not exactly ideal preparation and Pardew particularly should be concerned after such a poor display by his players tonight as they lacked commitment.

FA Cup Third Round Weekend: Lightning Nearly Strikes Twice for Leeds

Arsenal 1 Leeds United 1

A tale of two penalties, one for either side, means Simon Grayson and Arsene Wenger will have to do battle again at Elland Road on Tuesday week. Robert Snodgrass opened the scoring from the spot less than ten minutes after half time when Denilson foolishly stuck out a leg to halt Max Gradel’s progress.

Arsenal responded by bringing talisman Cesc Fabregas and the pacey Theo Walcott off the bench and Leeds just couldn’t handle the England winger’s relentless running down the right. In the last minute before stoppage time Whites full back Ben Parker pulled him back giving referee Phil Dowd no option but to point to the spot again. Fabregas dispatched the equaliser calmly from twelve yards.

Moments earlier there had been controversy when Walcott and Alex Bruce tangled over the ball in the United penalty area with the official ready to award a spot kick for the challenge. The linesman flagged the active Nicklas Bendtner offside however as the ball broke to him and he curled an effort wide.

The first half had a single clear cut opening spurned by the home side. With ten minutes played Andrei Arshavin was put through on goal by the vision of Tomas Rosicky but shot straight at the keeper. Goal line clearances from Whites captain Johnny Howson and lone frontman Luciano Becchio kept the visitors in it. The Gunners were certainly on top for the opening forty five, worried only once by an incisive ball from Snodgrass but Wojciech Szczesny came off his line to smother the danger.

Leeds have both centre halves Bruce and Andy O’Brien to thank for earning them a replay besides an inspired goalkeeping performance from Kasper Schmeichel. The Dane twice denied long range efforts from Denilson superbly, the second a world class finger tips stop late in second half stoppage time.

Arsenal owe a debt to their own keeper Szczesny for keeping them in the match when they were a goal down. Just after the hour mark the Polish custodian plunged to his right to parry a powerful Becchio header from a Snodgrass corner. The introductions of Fabregas and Walcott intensified the pressure on the Leeds goal as the visitors continued to drop deep.

This wasn’t helped by the negative tactics of Grayson swapping on-loan Gunner Sanchez Watt for Leigh Bromby, going five at the back. Nonetheless the visitors deserved a replay and held their own against a strong team put out by Wenger. The Frenchmen retains his undefeated managerial record on Third Round weekend, whilst his counterpart further adds to his reputation, Leeds having knocked out Manchester United at this stage of the FA Cup last season.

Bendtner continues to forge a career for himself as a waster of chances his teammates work extremely hard to make. He is particularly profligate in the air and if the Dane could just improve his finishing then he has the potential to become a real force in English football. Arshavin has been very hot and cold since joining Arsenal and this season it’s more often than not been the latter. You could tell fellow forward Marouane Chakmakh had never played in the cup and the Moroccan has now failed to find the net in six matches.

More encouraging were the displays of Rosicky in an advanced central position and Walcott’s terrifying speed on the wing. The Czech Republic national captain has struggled to recapture the form he showed before his length spell on the sidelines, but today particularly in the first half his distribution going forwards and guile were notable.

For the visitors Becchio has to be commended for the shift he puts in up front on his own. The work rate of the Argentine forward makes him almost like a lower league version of Carlos Tevez, always willing to chase down lost causes until he runs himself into the ground. At the back there can’t be high enough praise for Bruce and O’Brien. The pair both put in tremendous last ditch tackles to keep Leeds in the match. The replay should be a real treat!

Premier League Survival Tighter Than Ever

After this midweek round of matches in England’s top flight just two points separate bottom side West Ham, humiliated by an emphatic 5-0 defeat at the hands of Newcastle, and fourteenth placed Fulham who propelled themselves out of the relegation zone with a comfortable victory over West Bromwich Albion.

Even the other sides which make up the bottom half must be looking nervously over their shoulders, not least Liverpool after winning only twice since the start of December. Manager Roy Hodgson’s future at Anfield is hanging by a thread and the American owners may wield the axe. That said he is not the only Premier League boss with concerns about the sack.

Hammers coach Avram Grant must be worried how chairmen Sullivan and Gold might react to such a heavy defeat as all thoughts that they might have turned a corner thanks to previous upturn in form evaporated. Despite their slide into the bottom three Aston Villa have assured Gerard Houllier that he will be given time to turn things around, but how long will he get?

Wigan Athletic are struggling to score goals. Talented wide man Charles N’Zogbia wants away from the DW Stadium, his cap for France earlier in the season and allegedly interest from Marseille having gone to his head. Without him Hugo Rodallega is relying on young Manchester United loanee Tom Cleverley to create chances for him with Victor Moses out injured. Argentine forward Mauro Boselli has flopped and there is always the feeling with compatriot Franco di Santo that there is more come.

Roberto di Matteo needs some luck on the injury front if Albion’s fortunes are to be turned around. The 3-0 loss at Craven Cottage on Tuesday was the club’s fifth success league defeat. Their time in the top four after an excellent start to the season is now a distant memory for Baggies fans. Four full backs played in defence at Fulham and it didn’t half show. The way West Brom handled the home side’s set pieces was abysmal, evidenced by the two second half goals they conceded coming from corners.

Both Clint Dempsey and Brede Hangeland got free headers with marking from the visitors distinct by its absence. Mark Hughes’s side will not always have it so easy and their persistence with a long ball tactic whilst Bobby Zamora remains on the treatment table is worrying. They will always carry an aerial threat from set plays regardless, but their attack really lacks a fulcrum without the England international. Andy Johnson has never been one to play up front by himself, whilst Diomansy Kamara showed a willingness to run in behind he never made a clear opening for himself.

Turning our attention back to the West Midlands, Wolves were always going to be a side who struggled this season. They stayed up during the last campaign but the fabled second season syndrome is something which should concern Mick McCarthy. Goalscoring is again the issue. Kevin Doyle has one league goal and neither Steven Fletcher nor Sylvain Ebanks-Blake has hit five yet.

It is hard to believe this is virtually the same Villa team that played with such confidence under Martin O’Neill. They showed real character in 3-3 draw with Chelsea at the weekend, but followed it up with an abject home display against Sunderland that saw Emile Heskey sent off. They are also lacking a goal threat and it’s fair to say they have been relying too much on goals from midfield.

A change of shape with Lee Bowyer suspended seemed to do Birmingham some good, after all playing a 4-4-2 resulted in their first away victory of the season. Much the same as Villa the forwards need to chip in with contributions, but Alex McLeish’s men should be buoyed by the win over Blackpool.

If goal difference is a factor in who stays up, and at this stage it looks likely to play a decisive part, then that is in the favour of both Birmingham and Fulham. The other Midlands clubs will have to try and improve theirs. Albion will hopefully be able to welcome some of their missing players back and Houllier will no doubt be given financial backing in the January transfer window in light of the Villa board giving him time.

Wigan, West Ham and Wolves are clubs that should fear the most. Who can Roberto Martinez attract? With so many other clubs in the northwest, with high flying Bolton and billionaire owners at Blackburn particularly close by what would make a player move to the DW Stadium over the Reebok or Ewood Park?

The Hammers have fallen into the same trap they always do. Offer big wages to players high on potential who come to the capital but then never show a return on the investment and the club ends up in a relegation scrap. Scott Parker stands almost alone in the Upton Park dressing room as someone who plays with the appropriate level of passion and commitment.

Wolves have much the same problem as Wigan; if a player is going to sign for a West Midlands outfit why not Albion, Birmingham or Villa? Attracting quality with so much competition on your doorstep, let alone the rest of the league, is a genuine problem.

Whoever does go down at the minute it’s too close to call and there will no doubt be a number of twists and turns along the way before it’s all said and done. This weekend provides a break from all these worries as the magic of the FA Cup lights up football grounds the length and breadth England. JC Football will be providing full coverage!