F.A. Premiership 2009/2010

[abadani69]

Arsenal ended Manchester City's perfect start to the Premier League season with a 1-0 win at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

Cesc Fabregas scored the only goal of the game in the 80th minute after Robin van Persie had earlier missed a penalty for the Gunners.

City had enjoyed the better of the early chances but Arsenal dominated the game for long spells.

The hosts were awarded a penalty when Micah Richards brought down Aleksandr Hleb, but Van Persie's shot was saved by Kasper Schmeichel.

There was nothing the young Danish goalkeeper could do a few minutes later however, when Fabregas blasted home at the near post after Hleb's neat pass set him up.

City's best chance came when Manuel Almunia was forced to save well at Emile Mpenza's feet just after the hour mark.

Chelsea was not its their best but still went top ahead of City thanks to a 1-0 win over Portsmouth at Stamford Bridge.

Pompey's Matt Taylor came close before Frank Lampard's shot on the half-hour from 18 yards had too much power for David James, who could only deflect it weakly into the net.

Gary O'Neil shot narrowly wide for the visitors early in the second period and Benjani also came close after bursting through on goal, while Ashley Cole headed off the line late on from Hermann Hreidarsson.

In Saturday's early kick-off, Liverpool maintained its good start to the season with a comfortable 2-0 win at Sunderland.

Mohamed Sissoko handed the Reds a deserved half-time lead when he blasted home from Andriy Voronin's lay-off, and the Ukrainian, after wasting a good chance moments earlier, fired across Craig Gordon with four minutes left to seal the points.

The pressure eased on Bolton boss Sammy Lee as his men claimed a 3-0 win over Reading at the Reebok Stadium.

Gary Speed headed them in front from El-Hadji Diouf's corner in the 32nd minute and Nicolas Anelka's 55th minute tap-in made things comfortable for Wanderers.

Daniel Braaten added a third in injury-time from Anelka's brilliant cross.

Shaun Maloney scored in injury-time to hand Aston Villa a thrilling 2-1 win over Fulham at Villa Park.

American Clint Dempsey had put Fulham ahead in the fifth minute, picking up a loose ball to fire into the top corner, but Zat Knight turned an Ashley Young cross into his own goal in the 50th minute to level the scores.

Fulham's Chris Baird was then sent off for a second caution

Two late goals left honors even between West Ham and Wigan at Upton Park.

The Hammers seized the initiative and had a good penalty appeal turned down for a foul on Mark Noble while Craig Bellamy's 'goal' was ruled out for offside before half-time.

But Wigan scored when Paul Scharner's well-placed overhead kick found the corner of the net in the 79th minute before Lee Bowyer finished from a tight angle two minutes later to leave it 1-1.

Birmingham won the clash of the promoted sides at Pride Park with a 2-1 triumph over Derby.

The visitors went ahead after 32 seconds when Cameron Jerome shot across Stephen Bywater from a tight angle and Rahdi Jaidi later hit the crossbar for Blues with a powerful header.

In the 51st minute, Matt Oakley buried a cross from American Eddie Lewis to level but Jerome's fine half-volley put Steve Bruce's men back in front in the 63rd minute.

In the evening match, Everton came from behind to claim a 1-1 draw with Blackburn at Goodison Park.

Roque Santa Cruz continued his fine early-season form with the opener in the 15th minute after Morten Gamst Pedersen's overhead kick hit the bar.

But James McFadden swept home at the near post with 12 minutes left to level the match.

[abadani69]

Manchester United striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has confirmed his retirement from soccer at the age of 34.

The Norwegian, who moved to Old Trafford 11 years ago and scored the winner in the 1999 Champions League final, has decided to step down after continuing problems with a knee injury.

Solskjaer will remain at the club in a coaching capacity and will represent Manchester United as an official ambassador.

"I would like to thank the manager. The coaching and medical staff and most of all the supporters, who have supported me through my career," Solskjaer said.

"They have been fantastic and were a real inspiration to me when I was out injured."

Solskjaer joined the Red Devils for $ 1.5 million from Molde in 1996 but has spent the last four seasons struggling with injury and was yet to appear for the Red Devils this season.

He did manage 11 goals in United's title-winning campaign last term, with his most recent appearance in the FA Cup final defeat to Chelsea on May 19 when he came on as an extra-time substitute.

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson hailed a player who "achieved everything".

"Ending your playing career is a sad day for anyone, in the case of Ole, he has 11 fantastic years he can look back on," he said.

"Ole has achieved everything a player could ever wish to achieve. He has been a great servant to the club and has always remained a model professional in his responsibility as a player, in his demeanour and his manners have always been exemplary. Ole will hopefully go on to be a good coach."

"Ole has provided us all with some exceptional memories during his time here at the club," chief executive David Gill added. Nobody will ever forget his dramatic winner in Barcelona, but much more than that his dedication and professionalism make him one of the great role models in football."

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's father, Oyvind, has revealed it would have been 'impossible' for the striker to prolong his career any further.

"He wanted to keep playing," said Oyvind Solskjaer in an interview with Aftenposten.no. "This is sad for us, and for him, that he has to quit. He'd hoped to recover (fully), but now something has happened in his knee that makes it impossible for him to continue.

"But he believed that he still had a lot to offer on the football field, if he'd just recover."

[Rasputin]

Bolton - Everton 1 - 2
Fulham - Tottenham 3 - 3
Liverpool - Derby 6 - 0
Middlesbrough - Birmingham 2 - 0
Newcastle - Wigan Athletic 1 - 0
Reading - West Ham 0 - 3
Man Utd. - Sunderland 1 - 0
Arsenal - Portsmouth 3 - 1
Blackburn - Manchester City 1 - 0
Aston Villa - Chelsea 2-1

[abadani69]

Arsene Wenger believes Cesc Fabregas will come of age this season and prove that Arsenal don't need to spend big money to win the Premier League title.

The 20-year-old has been regarded as the most talented of Wenger's young prodigies for several seasons, but now the Spaniard has added goal-scoring to his game, making him the complete midfielder in the eyes of his manager.

He scored his fourth goal in six matches to help Arsenal to a 3-1 win over Portsmouth on Sunday, equalling his total for the whole of last season.

Wenger is convinced Fabregas is capable of being the kind of world-class playmaker who can ensuring compete with Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool for the game's top honours.

He drew a comparison with the way Paul Scholes combines striker's instinct with the ability to influence matches from midfield.

"He has a lot of characteristics of Scholes," Wenger said. "The frame, intelligence in the game, passing when to go into the box. He is only 20 and people forget that.

"I made a tape of him last year and you wouldn't believe how many chances he had. When he was a young boy he scored goals. That is a nice disease to have.

"Sometimes it disappears but it always comes back when you mature physically and mentally.

"When you go into the senior game you can lose it but if you did it in the youth team you can take advantage of positive situations anywhere."

If Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov and former Gunners vice-chairman David Dein do manage to mount a takeover at Arsenal, Wenger is likely to have millions to spend in the transfer market.

But he maintains he has enough talent to succeed already, so spending vast sums on famous names would not necessarily be the best route to success.

"Money can always be enough or never enough," Wenger said. "If you have 100 pounds and your opponent has 200, then you want 200. When you have 200 he has 400. Where does it stop?

"It depends as well what the other clubs have. I believe football is great because everybody can have a chance by building a team.

"I feel we have stability. What is important in a football club is what is happening on the pitch.

"We are super ambitious and of course that creates a pressure but we can live with that. This team has been built to have an attacking personality. That means it is very important they express themselves.

"We have enough quality to fight for the championship. I selected these players and I believe in them. I have enough belief they share my ambition."

Arsenal were at their eye-catching best against Portsmouth.

They took the lead in the seventh minute when David James brought down Robin van Persie and Emmanuel Adebayor stroked home the penalty for his first goal of the season.

Fabregas got the second with a close-range strike after Gilberto Silva had flicked on a corner.

Philippe Senderos's dismissal early in the second half for a professional foul on former Arsenal striker Nwankwo Kanu did little to disturb Arsenal's rhythm.

Tomas Rosicky punished slack Portsmouth marking to extend Arsenal's lead and Kanu's strike a minute later was no consolation.

Redknapp admitted several of his new players had been given a harsh lesson in the special demands of the Premier League.

"One or two of the new signings are still coming to terms with the English game," Redknapp said. "People like John Utaka; on the ball he did some fantastic things, but he has to learn the otherside of the game as well.

"I didn't shout and screaming at anyone. We just had a chat about it.

"The problem is I won't see those players until Friday week because of the internationals. I can't sit down with them and show them videos and discuss the goals in detail.

"Then when they come back we are concentrating on playing Liverpool. Am I then going to start getting into them about what they did here? It's crazy."

[abadani69]

Chelsea lost for the first time this season in the Premier League, beaten 2-0 at Aston Villa on Sunday and missing a chance to return to first place.

Defender Zat Knight had a goal in 47th minute and Gabriel Agbonlahor added another in the 88th as Chelsea desperately tried to even the score.

"The reaction we had in the last 20 minutes, we should score a goal," Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho said.

Arsenal defeated Portsmouth 3-1 despite playing with 10 men for most of the second half. Emmanuel Adebayor, Cesc Fabregas and Tomas Rosicky scored for Arsenal. Kanu scored in the 60th minute for Portsmouth.

Chelsea trails leader Liverpool on goal difference as one of four teams with 10 points. The others are Everton and Arsenal. Liverpool has played one fewer game. Manchester City was a point back in fifth after losing 1-0 at Blackburn in Sunday's other game.

Arsenal's Philippe Senderos was sent off for pulling back Nwankwo Kanu in the 49th minute when the former Arsenal forward was running through the defense.

Portsmouth goalkeeper David James brought down Robin Van Persie in the area in the eighth minute, and Adebayor sent the penalty kick low to James' right. Fabregas made it 2-0 in the 35th and Rosicky increased the lead in the 59th. Kanu scored seconds later when the ball rebounded off his leg as he tried to control it with his back to goal.

[abadani69]

The Glazer family will not sell Manchester United, despite reports of potential billion-dollar takeover bids from China and United Arab Emirates.

"United is not for sale," the family's spokesman said Sunday. "The Glazer family is 100 percent committed to long-term investment and ownership in the club ... demonstrated by the expenditure during the transfer window.

"The position has not changed and nor will it."

A Chinese consortium has reportedly expressed interest in the club, while a rival group with connections to the Emirates royal family is also considering a bid.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers owner Malcolm Glazer bought United for $1.47 billion in 2005.

Since winning the Premier League title last season, Glazer has financed the purchase of more than $100 million worth of players, including England midfielder Owen Hargreaves and Argentina striker Carlos Tevez.

FC United, the breakaway club formed by supporters in protest against Glazer's takeover, reached the first qualifying round of the FA Cup for the first time Sunday. The non-league team will play Fleetwood Town -- also the opponents when Manchester United played its first match in the competition in 1886.

[abadani69]

Sven-Goran Eriksson has dismissed talk of Manchester City breaking into the top four next May despite his side moving second following the single-goal victory over Aston Villa on Sunday.

Michael Johnson's second half goal extended City's 100 percent home record under the new manager and moved Eriksson's side to within a single point of early league leaders Arsenal.

But the former England coach moved to play down the growing expectation surrounding the club, insisting the head of the Premiership table will carry a familiar look at the end of the campaign.

"I would be very happy if the league was finished now," said Eriksson, who denied reports he has been promised a 150 million pound transfer budget.

"I don't feel we should start talking about a top four finish. I think the four top places are for the four top clubs (Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool) but in football you never know.

"But I think the league will be tighter this year, even for the big four. A lot of teams have invested heavily and I don't think anyone will go through the season and lose just one or two games. It will be tight until 10th, 11th or 12th."

Eriksson hailed the display of Johnson, 19, who claimed his second match-winner of the season and insisted the teenager has the perfect midfield mentor in the experienced Dietmar Hamann.

"Michael Johnson is an all round midfielder," he added.

"You can't say he has one speciality, he is good at everything and it is rare you can say that about a young player. And how he took the goal today showed maturity.

"I never saw Manchester City live last season but when I came here he told me he played the last nine games and said he came into the team and saved them. He's very confident!

"It's gold to have a midfielder who can score goals. It's absolutely fantastic and the goals he has scored have been extremely important.

"I'm positively surprised by Hamann. He seems to be getting younger and younger. You expect him to tire in the second half but he is getting stronger and we need him because his football brain is better than anyone."

Eriksson omitted Stephen Ireland from his squad after the Republic of Ireland midfielder admitted last week he had lied about the death of both his grandmothers in a bid to secure his release from international duty but stated the youngster's club future is not in doubt.

"I'm quite sure Stephen Ireland will be the same player we had before he went on international duty when he starts training again," Eriksson added.

"He is young, and an extremely good footballer and we can't afford to lose him. When you are young you make mistakes and you pay for them. But life goes on, he will be ready for the next game I hope."

Villa manager Martin O'Neill admitted his frustration as his side failed to build on the impressive victory over Chelsea two weeks ago before the international break.

"We have no excuses because the break was the same for everyone," O'Neill said.

"But as a club manager, I wish we had had a game immediately after that. We have got plenty of work to do but that doesn't stop me being excited about the team.

"John Carew has played with a groin injury. But strikers benefit from scoring goals and I am sure he will get a great lift when he gets off the mark for us this season."

[abadani69]

Manchester United's France defender Mikael Silvestre is likely to miss the rest of the season after suffering a cruciate knee ligament injury at Everton, the champions said on their Web site on Sunday.

The 30-year-old left back got his studs caught in the ground and fell awkwardly, twisting his knee in Saturday's Premier League match at Goodison Park which United won 1-0.

Silvestre, who will miss France's Euro 2008 qualifying run-in, is the third United player to suffer a serious knee injury this year following similar problems for South Korean midfielder Ji-sung Park and goalkeeper Ben Foster.


The unlucky Silvestre was ruled out for the remainder of last season in mid-March after dislocating his shoulder in a Champions League match against Lille at Old Trafford. On that occasion he required surgery to stabilise the joint.

United's injured midfielder Darren Fletcher and defender John O'Shea are also expected to be out for several weeks at least, the club added on their official www.manutd.com Web site.

Silvestre's absence, coupled with the sale of Argentina's Gabriel Heinze to Real Madrid in the close season, means Patrice Evra is manager Alex Ferguson's only recognised left back.

[abadani69]

Brief reports of Premier League matches played on Saturday and Saturday:

Played on Sunday:

MANCHESTER CITY 1 ASTON VILLA 0

Teenager Michael Johnson scored his second goal of the season to give City a 1-0 win over Aston Villa and move Sven-Goran Eriksson's side up to second in the table.

Johnson struck after 48 minutes after powering his way through the Villa defence to strike a low, hard angled shot past Villa keeper Scott Carson.

Played on Saturday:

BIRMINGHAM CITY 1 BOLTON WANDERERS 0

Birmingham secured a first home victory of the season thanks to a first-half goal by Olivier Kapo. City were worthy winners despite some late pressure from a Bolton side who have lost five out of six league games under new manager Sammy Lee.

- - -

CHELSEA 0 BLACKBURN ROVERS 0

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho ripped a TV monitor out of its socket to demonstrate to officials that replays would show they got the decision wrong to disallow a Chelsea goal for offside in the second half.

Chelsea failed to score for the second successive match while Blackburn, who have already played nine matches this season including four in the Intertoto Cup and UEFA Cup qualifiers, remain unbeaten.

- - -

EVERTON 0 MANCHESTER UNITED 1

Nemanja Vidic headed United's winner seven minutes from full time with a header from Nani's corner. The game had looked to be heading for a scrappy stalemate with Everton's best chance coming when Andy Johnson's effort was kicked off the line by Paul Scholes. The champions had Mikel Silvestre taken off with a knee injury in the first half.

- - -

PORTSMOUTH 0 LIVERPOOL 0

A below-par Liverpool lost top spot in the Premier League and were fortunate to escape with a point after Nwankwo Kanu's first-half penalty was saved by Pepe Reina. Peter Crouch had two efforts saved by Portsmouth keeper David James while Liverpool substitute Fernando Torres wasted a late opportunity after being sent through by captain Steven Gerrard.

- - -

SUNDERALND 2 READING 1

Sunderland's 1973 FA Cup hero Ian Porterfield, who died this week, was remembered before the game and the home side went on to end a three-match losing sequence in the league.

Kenwyne Jones and Ross Wallace were on target for Sunderland with Dave Kitson scoring a late consolation goal for a Reading side struggling to match last season's form.

- - -

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 1 ARSENAL 3

Arsenal went top of the league after continuing their domination over their north London rivals stretching back to 1999. Wales left back Gareth Bale shot Spurs ahead against the run of play with a free kick after 15 minutes but Emmanuel Adebayor levelled midway through the second half. Cesc Fabregas thumped Arsenal in front 10 minutes from time before Adebayor's exquisite volley wrapped up the victory in stoppage time.

- - -

WEST HAM UNITED 3 MIDDLESBROUGH 0

West Ham picked up their first home win of the season with all the goals coming in the second half at Upton Park. Lee Bowyer opened the scoring straight after the re-start and Luke Young's own goal put West Ham two up. Fit-again Dean Ashton scored the third, his first goal since the 2006 FA Cup final.

- - -

WIGAN ATHLETIC 1 FULHAM 1

Fulham were unfortunate not to take all three points after a late penalty by Jason Koumas rescued the home side. Clint Dempsey gave Fulham the lead after 11 minutes when he got on the end of a cross from Diomansy Kamara. Koumas got his chance from the spot after Mario Melchiot had been fouled.

- - -

Playing Monday:

DERBY COUNTY v NEWCASTLE UNITED

[abadani69]

Manchester City moved into second place in the Premier League on Sunday after a goal from teenager Michael Johnson gave them a 1-0 win over Aston Villa.

Johnson powered past three Villa defenders after taking a pass from Brazilian Elano to fire wide of keeper Scott Carson in the 48th minute.

The win on a rainy afternoon at the City of Manchester Stadium saw Sven-Goran Eriksson's men climb from eighth to second place with 12 points from their opening six matches.

Arsenal are top with 13 points, followed by City, Liverpool (11), champions Manchester United (11) and Chelsea (11).

Villa, who beat Chelsea in their last league match two weeks ago, remain in 11th place with seven points.

The game was evenly matched with both sides creating and spurning scoring chances but Johnson's strike was enough to give City their third successive 1-0 home league win this season.

Eriksson left Stephen Ireland out of his side after he said the midfielder "was not quite right" after the player admitted lying and apologising to Irish officials after claiming his grandmother had died while on international duty last week.

"He trained today, but he wasn't quite right," Eriksson told Sky TV. "He will be back on Tuesday and I am sure he will be 100

[abadani69]

"نرمن فاستر" معمار انگليسي پيشنهاد خود را براي تغيير شكل ورزشگاه معروف نيوكمپ باشگاه فوتبال بارسلوناي اسپانيا كه توسط "آنتونيو گائودي" معمار ايتاليايي طراحي شده است، ارايه داد.

به*گزارش سايت رسمي فدراسيون بين*المللي فوتبال (فيفا)، وي در جريان ارايه پيشنهاد خود همزمان با پنجاهمين سالگرد تاسيس اين ورزشگاه گفت: انتظار مي*رود ورزشگاه جديد ظرف چهار سال تكميل شود.

وي اظهار داشت: اين ورزشگاه نمايي آجري به رنگ*هاي باشگاه يعني آبي و بنفش و همچنين قرمز و زرد خواهد داشت . اين نماي آجري تا سقف ورزشگاه كه مجهز به سيستم سيم كشي است، ادامه خواهد داشت.

"خوآن لاپورتا" رييس باشگاه بارسلونا با اشاره به اينكه ورزشگاه جديد به يك نماد معماري بين*المللي تبديل خواهد شد، گفت:ايده فوق*العاده*اي است.

در ورزشگاه جديد حمام*هاي بيشتري تعبيه شده و براي دسترسي به طبقات بالاتر پله برقي كار گذاشته خواهد شد. مكان*هاي جديدي براي تعوض بازيكنان وهمچنين جايگاه*هاي جديد VIPنيز درهر دو طرف ورزشگاه در نظر گرفته مي*شود.

در جريان بازسازي ورزشگاه، مسابقات طبق روال برگزار خواهند شد.

از جمله آثار مشهور معماري فاستر، ورزشگاه جديد ويمبلي انگليس ، پل هزاره لندن، خط راه آهن ميلائو در فرانسه و پايانه بين*المللي فرودگاه پكن هستند.

[abadani69]

Manchester United took over second place in the English Premier League on Sunday with a 2-0 victory over Chelsea in the London club's first game since the departure of manager Jose Mourinho.

Carlos Tevez scored his first goal for United in first-half injury time and Louis Saha hit a late penalty to extend Chelsea's winless streak to four games in all competitions and hand Avram Grant a defeat in his first game in charge.


"I am very happy with the boys, they gave me a lot of fight today," Grant said. "It was not ideal to take over the team in this situation."

United's fourth win lifted it to 14 points, two less than leader Arsenal, which routed Derby 5-0 on Saturday to maintain its unbeaten start to the season.

"The first half hour we played as well as we have all season," United manager Alex Ferguson said. "There was terrific penetration, good passing and at that stage we could have been two or three ahead."

United paired Tevez and Wayne Rooney in attack for the first time and was dominating possession when John Obi Mikel was red-carded for his challenge on Patrice Evra in the 32nd.

Ryan Giggs then set up Tevez for the opening goal, curling in a cross from the right with the outside of his left foot. Tevez dived in front of goalkeeper Petr Cech to head the ball into the net.

Saha replaced Tevez 12 minutes before the end and earned a penalty kick in the 90th when he fell just inside the area after a slight tap from Tal Ben Haim. The France striker took the kick, driving the ball into the middle of the goal and clipping Cech's legs on its way into the net.

Newcastle beat West Ham 3-1 to mark its best start to a Premier League season in six years, but its win was marred by another injury to Michael Owen.

The England striker limped off in the 51st, with his team leading 2-1 through two goals by Mark Viduka.

[abadani69]

Michael Owen could recover from his groin and abdominal problems far quicker than it was first thought, his Newcastle United manager Sam Allardyce said on Saturday.

Earlier in the week, Allardyce said that Owen would probably be out at least until the end of October and miss both of England's Euro 2008 qualifiers next month against Estonia and Russia.

Speaking after Newcastle's 3-1 defeat at Manchester City on Saturday, Allardyce said that Owen could return in time to play against Everton next weekend.

"The second operation on the weaker side of his stomach appears to be very successful," said Allardyce.

"It is good news that he is with the best (surgeon) in the world and that is why it's only a few days for his recovery."

Allardyce added that Own might even be fit in time to play for England.

"With what we've heard from Germany (where he is being treated), it might be a shorter recovery than we thought.

"Who knows? He may even be fit for Everton next week."

[abadani69]

اتحاديه فوتبال باشگاههاي انگليس قصد دارد حركتي را با هدف احترام بيشتر بازيكنان به داوران آغاز كند.

به گزارش خبرگزاري فرانسه از لندن ، اين اتحاديه تصميم فوق را پس از هشدارهاي روز افزون از بدرفتاري نسبت به داوران گرفته است.

"برايان بارويك" رييس اجرايي اتحاديه فوتبال انگليس با اعلام اينكه احترام به داوران بايد در مسابقات سطح بالا به اندازه سطح مسابقات رعايت شود گفت: معتقدم روش*هايي كه اعلام شده مي*تواند تاثير بسياري داشته باشد.

سه مفهوم اصلي اين دستورالعمل كه از اواخر دي در ۹منطقه اجرا خواهد شد، به شرح زير است:
فقط كاپيتان تيم اجازه دارد با داور صحبت كند.

محوطه*هاي خارج از طناب فقط در مسابقات جوانان وجود دارد بنابر اين والدين حق هيچگونه توهيني را نسبت به داور ندارند.

تمامي بازيكنان و مسوولان باشگاه*ها بايد تفاهمنامه*اي را در مورد استانداردهاي رفتاري كه بايد رعايت شوند، امضا كنند.

بارويك اظهار داشت: اين مسائل با مذاكره بهتر از سختگيري، حل خواهند شد اما ما نمي*خواهيم اوضاع از كنترل خارج شود. شور و اشتياق خاصي در مسابقات وجود دارد اما همانند مسابقات راگبي بايد تا حد مشخصي به داوران احترام گذاشت.

وي افزود: اين امر استانداردهاي مشخصي را براي فوتبال مشخص مي*كند چون رفتار داوران موضوع واقعا جدي است كه بايد به آن بپردازيم.

رييس اجرايي اتحاديه فوتبال انگليس در ادامه از اقدام "استيو مكلارن" سرمربي كنوني تيم ملي اين كشور كه در زماني كه سرمربي يك باشگاه محلي بود به دليل رفتار والدين از سمت خود استعفا داد، حمايت كرد.

[abadani69]

Brief reports from Premier League matches played this weekend:

ARSENAL 3 SUNDERLAND 2

Arsenal made life hard for themselves as they reclaimed top spot with a 3-2 win on Sunday after allowing Sunderland to fight back to 2-2 after taking an early 2-0 lead.

Robin van Persie scored with a free kick, and Philippe Senderos with a soft goal after 14 minutes to give Arsenal command of the match but Sunderland fought back with goals from Ross Wallace and Kenwyne Jones to draw level after 48 minutes before Van Persie hit Arsenal's 80th-minute winner. Sunderland's Paul McShane was sent off after 90 minutes for a clumsy challenge on Aleksandr Hleb.

- - - -

ASTON VILLA 1 WEST HAM UNITED 0

Aston Villa, who squandered a 4-1 advantage to draw 4-4 at Tottenham Hotspur on Monday, made no such mistake on Saturday as they held the lead for almost 70 minutes to clinch their fourth successive home league win.

Villa netted after 24 minutes when Craig Gardner lashed home a right-footed free kick from the edge of the box which was enough to consign West Ham to a third successive league defeat.

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BLACKBURN ROVERS 2 BIRMINGHAM CITY 1

Blackburn beat Birmingham for the second time in 10 days following their league cup success with David Bentley, making his 100th appearance in the Premier League, putting Rovers ahead after 15 minutes on Sunday.

The match turned in the 56th minute when Birmingham had a goal disallowed and Rovers went up the other end and Benni McCarthy scored to make it 2-0 from the penalty spot after Roque Santa Cruz had been fouled by Johan Djourou.

Cameron Jerome scored for Birmingham after 68 minutes.

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BOLTON WANDERERS 0 CHELSEA 1

Salomon Kalou put Chelsea ahead after 41 minutes on Sunday when he got on the end of a long clearance from goalkeeper Petr Cech, held off Abdoulaye Meite and fired an angled shot home.

It was Chelsea's first goal in five league matches and enough to give them all three points on a day when Frank Lampard returned to the side after missing the last seven matches because of a thigh injury.

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FULHAM 0 PORTSMOUTH 2

Portsmouth won their third successive league match and moved into fifth place thanks to two goals in two minutes soon after the break at Craven Cottage on Sunday.

Benjani Mwaruwari, who scored a hat-trick in the 7-4 win over Reading last week, put Pompey ahead after 50 minutes with a low, deflected shot to goalkeeper Kasey Keller's left.

Hermann Hreidarsson added the second two minutes later when his shot took a deflection off Chris Baird and went past Keller. Fulham had no response and fell into the bottom three after a seventh league match without a win.

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LIVERPOOL 2 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 2

Spurs were just seconds away from victory when Fernando Torres headed a last-minute equaliser for Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday.

Andriy Voronin put Liverpool ahead after 12 minutes when Paul Robinson spilled a Steven Gerrard free kick into his path and he made no mistake from close range. Robbie Keane equalised for Spurs just before halftime when he collected a flick-on from Dimitar Berbatov to fire past Pepe Reina and he put Spurs 2-1 up just after the break after another Berbatov flick on. The point lifted Spurs out of the bottom three.

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MANCHESTER CITY 3 MIDDLESBROUGH 1

Chris Riggott put through his own net to give Manchester City the lead after eight minutes on Sunday and they deservedly doubled their lead after 33 minutes through Brazilian Elano, who scored with a well taken right-foot shot.

Elano made it 3-0 after 63 minutes with a curling free kick, his third goal in the last two matches before Ben Hutchinson scored a last-minute consolation for Boro.

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MANCHESTER UNITED 4 WIGAN ATHLETIC 0

Manchester United, who have struggled for goals this season, cracked four past Wigan in the second half at Old Trafford on Saturday.

Carlos Tevez opened the scoring with a fine individual goal after 54 minutes and two from Cristiano Ronaldo and one by Wayne Rooney gave United their sixth consecutive league win without conceding a goal.

The victory was not without cost for United, who lost France striker Louis Saha with an injury in the warm-up and defenders Nemanja Vidic and John O'Shea with injuries in the first 30 minutes.

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NEWCASTLE UNITED 3 EVERTON 2

Nicky Butt scored with a delightful chip on Sunday to give Newcastle the lead after 42 minutes for his first goal since Janaury.

Andy Johnson also ended a long streak without a goal when he scored Everton's close-range equaliser after 53 minutes -- his first goal for the club since March. But he ended the afternoon having to pull out of the England squad for the upcoming Euro 2008 qualifiers with an ankle injury that will require surgery on Monday.

Emre Belozoglu hammered Newcastle in front with four minutes to go before Michael Owen, just back from surgery, came off the bench to head Newcastle's third. Everton's late consolation was credited as an own goal by goalkeeper Shay Given after Mikel Arteta's cross was deflected home.

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READING 1 DERBY COUNTY 0

Steve Coppell picked the same Reading side that lost 7-4 at Portsmouth last week and he was rewarded with three points as they beat bottom-of-the-table Derby 1-0 at the Madejski Stadium on Sunday.

Kevin Doyle scored his first goal of the season with a 63rd-minute header to send Derby to their fifth defeat in five away league matches this season, all without scoring a goal.