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Sunderland manager Bruce fined for ref rant

Sunderland boss Steve Bruce was on Monday hit with a 2,500-pound fine for an outburst over referee Andre Marriner’s handling of his side’s 4-3 defeat by Manchester City in December.

Bruce was enraged by Mariner’s dismissal of defender Michael Turner for an aerial challenge with Gareth Barry and described the red card he issued as “obscene”, “a joke” and “an outrage”.

That led to Monday’s judgement from the Football Association, which found Bruce guilty of improper contact having also dismissed Sunderland’s appeal against Turner’s sending-off.

LONDON (AFP)

Tags: Andre Marriner, Gareth Barry, joke, judgement, london, manchester city, Michael Turner, outburst, outrage, referee, Steve Bruce, Sunderland

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Chelsea can dominate title race says Ancelotti

Carlo Ancelotti believes Chelsea are capable of running away with the Premier League title race if they maintain focus in the aftermath of their impressive 3-0 victory at Arsenal.

Ancelotti’s side opened up a five point lead at the top of the table thanks to Didier Drogba’s double strike and a Thomas Vermaelen own goal at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.

The Blues are firmly in control of the fight for the English title after five consecutive league victories and Ancelotti admits it is possible they could keep up their impressive pace for the rest of the season.

Wins over reigning champions United, Liverpool and now Arsenal suggest the Italian could be right.

But Ancelotti was wise enough to couch his claim in a warning that his players cannot afford to rest on their laurels after defeats at Wigan and Aston Villa earlier this season showed what can happen if they take their eye off the ball.

“We know very well our possibilities. We can win every game but if we don’t have concentration we can lose every game. We have to pay attention and maintain good behaviour in our work,” Ancelotti said.

“We started the season believing we can win the title. Our objective is to stay in all the competitions until the end of the season. Then after that, if we can win things, we will try to do it.

“When I signed a contract with Chelsea, I believed we could win something.”

After ruthlessly demolishing the Gunners, Chelsea are now 11 points clear of their London rivals, whose title hopes look all but over for another year.

Ancelotti refused to write off Arsene Wenger’s team, preferring instead to concentrate on his own team’s ambitions.

“It is not so important for me if Arsenal can return to the top,” he said. “It is more important that Chelsea continue to play like this, with determination and concentration.”

The Blues, now unbeaten in nine matches in all competitions, are increasingly carrying the look of champions elect.

Yet Wenger insists they can still be caught, even though he acknowledged it may not be his own team who do the catching.

Once again the Gunners failed to produce on the big occasion as they suffered their first home loss since Chelsea won in north London in May.

Although Arsenal, who have lost two successive league games, were able to sweep aside some undemanding opposition during their recent 14-match unbeaten run, they have lost all their serious tests against Chelsea, United and Manchester City.

Wenger said: “At the moment they are in a very strong position, but this team for me they can drop points. I am convinced of that.

“We are 11 points behind Chelsea so our title hopes have suffered a big blow, Before we speak about Chelsea we need to win games. We can see that the defeat at Sunderland had done more damage confidence-wise than it should have done.

“It is two games for the first time when we didn’t score. We are used to scoring goal after goal but at the moment we don’t score.”

Rather than admit his own team’s failings, Wenger was keen to concentrate on referee Andre Marriner’s decision to rule out Andrey Arshavin’s strike for dangerous play after Eduardo’s high foot flicked the ball away from Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech.

Wenger was adamant that was the turning point as his side had made a bright start to the second half following the shock of conceding two goals in four mintues late in the first period.

Drogba had finished off Ashley Cole’s cross from close-range in the 41st minute before Vermaelen turned another delivery from the England defender into his own net.

After Arshavin’s disallowed goal, Arsenal gradually lost belief and ran out of ideas long before Drogba curled a superb free-kick past Manuel Almunia in the 86th minute.

LONDON (AFP)

Tags: aftermath, ambitions, Andre Marriner, aston villa, carlo ancelotti, CHELSEA, competitions, concentration, consecutive league, couch, Drogba, Eduardo, emirates, Emirates Stadium, England, good behaviour, gunners, laurels, Liverpool, london, Manuel Almunia, north London, Petr Cech, possibilities, premier league, rivals, Sunderland, Thomas Vermaelen, United, Wigan

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Zayatte strike rescues Hull from FA Cup chop

SHEFFIELD, England (AFP) – Hull fought back to earn an FA Cup fifth round replay against Sheffield United as Kamil Zayatte’s strike secured a 1-1 draw on Saturday.

Phil Brown’s Premier League side were facing an embarrassing exit when Greg Halford’s early goal put the Championship promotion chasers into the lead at Bramall Lane.

But Guinea defender Zayatte, playing in an unaccustomed midfield role, bailed out the Tigers with an equaliser – only his second goal of the season – before the break to set up a replay at the KC Stadium.

With former Tottenham centre-back Anthony Gardner making his long-awaited return to action after five months on the sidelines with a thigh problem, Hull should have had a more secure look at the back.

Brown’s men had the first chance when captain Dean Marney surged forward before driving a powerful shot just over.

But there was no sign of any new-found solidity in Hull’s leaky defence as the Blades grabbed the lead in the seventh minute.

Hull left-back Andy Dawson slipped and allowed David Cotterill to cross to Halford, who outjumped Sam Ricketts at the far post to plant a firm header past Boaz Myhill.

Brown’s side responded to that setback with Richard Garcia heading over from a Dawson corner.

Halford could have increased United’s lead after breaking clear but shot straight at Myhill when through on goal.

The Blades lost Chris Morgan when the defender was stretchered off midway through the first half, with striker Danny Webber sent on as his replacement.

As United regrouped, Hull took advantage and levelled after 34 minutes when Dawson delivered a curling free-kick from the right and Zayatte got forward to glance a header past Kenny.

United went close to regaining the lead in first-half stoppage time when Billy Sharp headed wide from another Cotterill cross.

Hull appealed for a penalty early in the second half after Caleb Folan was released by a brilliant back-heel from Geovanni and went down as Halford challenged, but referee Andre Marriner waved away their protests.

The visitors had another good opportunity moments later as Ricketts crossed but Kenny parried Garcia’s header. Kenny had to be at his best again to stop Bernard Mendy’s effort moments later.

That was as close as either team came to a winner and the sides will now meet again for a place in the last eight a week on Thursday.

Written by: AFP

Tags: Andre Marriner, andy dawson, Anthony Gardner, bernard mendy, Billy Sharp, Boaz Myhill, bramall lane, caleb folan, captain Dean Marney, chris morgan, Danny Webber, david cotterill, Dawson, dean marney, England, English Premier League, equaliser, first chance, geovanni, greg halford, Guinea, HULL, Kamil Zayatte, kc stadium, Kenny, long awaited return, phil brown, replacement, Richard Garcia, ricketts, Sam, Sheffield, sheffield england, sheffield united, solidity, stoppage time

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Holders Portsmouth crash out to Swansea

PORTSMOUTH, England (AFP) – FA Cup holders Portsmouth were condemned to an embarrassing fourth round exit as Championship club Swansea won 2-0 at Fratton Park on Saturday.

Last May’s final victory over Cardiff secured Portsmouth’s first FA Cup triumph since 1939 but there will be no repeat this season after a woeful display from Tony Adams’ side.

They were out-fought and out-thought for long periods by Swansea, currently ninth in English football’s second tier, and fell behind when on-loan Southampton winger Nathan Dyer struck in the first half.

Jason Scotland’s penalty on the stroke of half-time left Portsmouth deep in trouble and there was no way back for the Premier League strugglers.

Pompey debutant Jermaine Pennant, newly signed on loan from Liverpool, had a chance to impress with an early long-range effort but he failed to hit the target.

Keeping the ball on the deck at all times, Swansea were having little problem picking the hosts apart and they fully deserved to take the lead in the 26th minute.

To rub salt into Portsmouth’s wounds, it was Dyer, on loan from local rivals Southampton, who delivered the finished touch.

Collecting Scotland’s cute floated pass on the edge of the area, Dyer chested the ball down and drilled it past James into the bottom right corner.

Peter Crouch was denied by Hartlepool keeper Dimi Konstantopoulos and then centre back Alan Tate produced a timely block on an attempt by Pennant.

Adams’ team were too careless at the back though and they were caught on the counter in first-half injury time.

Jordi Gomez dashed into the box and was sent crashing to the turf by defender Nadir Belhadj, who protested his innocence as referee Andre Marriner pointed to the spot.

Trinidad striker Scotland converted the spot-kick to leave Roberto Martinez’s men on the verge of a major shock.

Adams sent on Kanu and Hermann Hreidarsson for the second half in an effort to change his side’s fortunes.

Crouch tumbled beneath a challenge but Marriner was not interested in the shouts for a penalty and moments later Konstantopoulos had to dive to keep out a header from the towering forward.

Swansea almost made it three with another quick break from Dyer but his shot at David James was well held by the England keeper.

A fingertip save from James kept out Gomez and before Konstantopoulos produced a sublime save to deny Kanu.

Crouch struck the woodwork in the final moments as Portsmouth tried to stage a late fightback but it was too little too late.

Written by: AFP

Tags: Alan, alan tate, Andre Marriner, bottom right corner, cup triumph, David James, english football, FA Cup, final victory, finished touch, Fratton Park, Hartlepool, Hermann Hreidarsson, injury time, Jason Scotland, Jordi Gomez, kanu, Liverpool, long periods, marriner, nadir belhadj, Pennant, peter crouch, pompey, Portsmouth, portsmouth england, premier league, roberto martinez, Southampton, Swansea, take the lead, target, Tate, Trinidad, winger

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