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Tartan Army can roar us to Dutch win, says Burley

Scotland boss George Burley believes the Tartan Army can roar his team to victory over mighty Holland on Wednesday and keep their World Cup dreams alive.

Scotland stayed in contention for a play-off place with a 2-0 win over Macedonia on Saturday thanks to second-half goals from Scott Brown and James McFadden.

The Scots head into their final game of Group Nine against the Dutch knowing a win would secure second spot and a chance of a two-legged tie against another European runner-up.

The Netherlands have already secured their place at South Africa 2010 with a 100 per cent record in the group so far.

Burley knows a win against the nation ranked third in the world will be a massive task but hopes the Tartan Army of fans can roar his side to victory at Hampden.

“We are looking to win the game – simple as that,” Burley said.

“We have a belief we can take the three points. We know what a fantastic team Holland are. But we have fifty-odd thousand fans behind us and we are desperate not to let them down.

“So we won’t be pensive about it. We’ll be nice and positive and try and stop them playing and try and win the game.”

But his Macedonian opposite number Mirsad Jonuz didn’t share Burley’s optimism.

“They have no chance at all with such a performance like today, especially the first-half,” Jonuz said. “It is very hard to be lucky twice.”

On Saturday, Brown headed Scotland into the lead to score his first international goal. He took a heavy knock in the first-half and will be a doubt for the game against the Dutch.

But Burley said he was hopeful Brown would make it and defended the Celtic midfielder for his part in the first-half melee caused by the player’s refusal to return the ball to the Macedonians from a drop-ball after one of their players was injured.

“I don’t think it was Scott who was causing the problems. I think it was about six or seven of their players ran over to him and tried to push him,” said Burley.

“He never got involved with anything in the second-half and showed what a good professional he is. I think initially I could see him pointing to the keeper and he wanted to kick it back to give them the ball.

“But the referee wanted a bounce ball and if it is a bounce ball you try and win the ball so I don’t see the problem.”

McFadden scored the second after a mazy run starting in his own half ended with him rounding Jane Nikoloski to score and help ease the pressure on Burley.

However, the Birmingham City star picked up a booking and will sit out the match against the Dutch due to suspension. His manager said his loss would be a massive blow and was annoyed they couldn’t appeal his booking.

“I thought James in the second-half was unbelievable at times,” Burley said.

“I didn’t realise he was booked. I don’t know where his involvement came in. Whether it was a case of mistaken identity I don’t know. But seemingly there is no procedure to appeal a yellow card at all so there is nothing we can do.

“It is a whole squad that is important to you so other players can come in and fill his boots.”

Suspensions and injuries meant Burley recalled veteran David Weir to the starting line-up for Saturday’s game where he partnered Stephen McManus, who was playing his first competitive game since May.

The pair brought much needed stability to the Scottish defence after the disastrous 4-0 defeat by Norway in their previous qualifying match.

With Gary Caldwell available for the game against the Netherlands on Wednesday the manager has a selection headache.

GLASGOW (AFP)

Tags: birmingham city, Brown, contention, cup dreams, David Weir, fantastic team, Gary Caldwell, george burley, Glasgow, hampden, Holland, international goal, James, James McFadden, Macedonia, macedonians, massive task, midfielder, Norway, opposite number, optimism, scotland, Scott, Scott Brown, showe, South Africa, south africa 2010, Stephen McManus, tartan army, the Netherlands, World Cup

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Lennon sends Tottenham top of the table

Tottenham returned to the top of the Premier League as Aaron Lennon’s strike clinched a 2-1 victory over London rivals West Ham at Upton Park on Sunday.

Even at this early stage, Harry Redknapp’s team look increasingly capable of mounting a strong challenge to the top four after making their best start to a season for 49 years.

Three successive victories over Liverpool, Hull and now the Hammers have lifted them into pole position and revived memories of the last Spurs side to make such a strong opening – Bill Nicholson’s 1960-61 double winners.

After falling behind to Carlton Cole’s goal early in the second half, Spurs showed they may finally have the grit and determination to compete with the big guns.

Jermain Defoe punished a mistake by Cole to equalise against his old club and Lennon smashed in the winner with 11 minutes to play.

Redknapp said: “We’ve had a good start – a great home win against Liverpool, who we beat fair and square, then we were fantastic at Hull.

“But I think Bill Nicholson was a bit better than me. That was a fantastic team, I saw them play as a kid, I saw an awful lot of that team and if we get anywhere near them we’ll be delighted.

“We are an open side, a bit gung-ho and even at 2-1 we had four forwards stuck up there going for it. But that’s the way we play and I think we’ll score goals this season.”

Hammers boss Gianfranco Zola added: “This is the Premier League and if you want to challenge you can’t really afford to make any mistakes.

“Carlton has made a mistake on their goal but he created our goal from nothing so he doesn’t have to be disappointed about that.”

A fiercely fought encounter was punctuated by crunching tackles before Cole fashioned West Ham’s first shot when he chased a long ball and set up a volley for himself that flew over.

Latching onto a clearance, West Ham midfielder Scott Parker almost caught out Carlo Cudicini with a 35-yard volley that the former Chelsea star scrambled to save.

West Ham were back on the attack when Jon Spector threaded a ball through and Luis Jimenez intelligently dummied to Cole, but the big targetman poked timidly at Cudicini.

Robert Green saved a fierce Tom Huddlestone effort and was left stranded when King got his head on Luka Modric’s free-kick, only for the ball to bounce off the crossbar.

Modric tried his luck with a long-range effort soon after but Green was equal to the Croatian’s shot.

After a tight first half, Cole broke the deadlock in the 49th minute with a ferocious half-volley.

Jimenez’s header picked out Cole 25 yards from goal and the former Chelsea player took a touch before driving his shot past Cudicini.

But Cole handed Tottenham a lifeline five minutes later. There was no danger when he held the ball up near the halfway line but his pass backwards turned into a perfect through ball for Defoe.

The former Hammers striker accepted the invitation and lashed past Green for his sixth goal in four games this season for club and country.

Modric almost gave Spurs the lead shortly after but headed just wide when Lennon found him at the far post, while the hosts felt they should have had a penalty when Benoit Assou-Ekotto hauled down Jimenez.

Defoe thought he should have had a spot-kick when Julien Faubert challenged him, but Mark Clattenburg waved play on again.

Tottenham kept pressing and a moment of individual excellence from Lennon in the 79th minute proved the difference.

Lennon cut inside Spector and rifled a shot towards the far corner that Green could only help into the net.

LONDON (AFP)

Tags: Aaron Lennon, bill nicholson, carlo cudicini, defoe, double winners, fantastic team, gianfranco zola, grit, hammers, Harry Redknapp, midfielder, pole position, premier league, scott parker, spurs, upton park, volley, west ham

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Torres hints towards one more Liverpool signing

Liverpool FC and Spanish striker Fernando Torres has revealed that he has suggested some names to manager Rafael Benitez, who should be at Anfield for next season.

The former Atletico Madrid frontman believes that Liverpool need “small players with quality” and would like Benitez to sign David Silva, Juan Mata or David Villa from Valencia.

“English football is very difficult because it’s very physical and played at a high tempo,” Torres said. “We have a fantastic team to play against the big teams and we are competitive.

“But maybe against those teams lower down we are not good enough. We have to improve that and I think we can.

“I think we can definitely be stronger at home. We have some very good players but maybe we need other players. I hope Liverpool will bring people like Silva, Mata or Villa. These are small players with quality like United had with Carlos Tevez and also with Paul Scholes.”

“They are clever players and maybe they can make the difference. Yossi Benayoun plays like these kind of players and I hope we can bring more like that so then we have different options to play against all the sides.”

The 25 year-old added: “It was frustrating but football is difficult against the smaller teams. We need players with quality to try to win these matches and I want Liverpool to sign players like this.”

“We finished four points behind United but we are improving. We are getting more points every season. I know that every year we can finish with more points. I have recommended the names to Benitez and I hope we have the money.”

Written by: Abhimanyu Rajput

Tags: anfield, Atletico, atletico madrid, carlos tevez, David Silva, DAVID VILLA, english football, English Premier League, fantastic team, Fernando Torres, four points, frontman, Juan, juan mata, LA Liga, Liverpool, liverpool fc, MADRID, Mata, money, paul scholes, rafael benitez, rajput, striker, tempo, Valencia

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Lampard Snr hoping to win family affair

LONDON (AFP) – Frank Lampard Snr has spent the last eight years cheering his son whenever he pulls on a Chelsea shirt, but the Watford football consultant is plotting his downfall this weekend.

Lampard, 60, joined the struggling Championship club to assist manager Brendan Rodgers in November and goes head to head with his son, the Chelsea midfielder, in Saturday’s FA Cup fifth round tie at Vicarage Road.

Guus Hiddink’s appointment as successor to sacked Chelsea boss Luiz Felipe Scolari will take most of the headlines as the Dutchman watches his new team for the first time. But the clash of the Lampards is an intriguing sub-plot.

Lampard admitted his son has been asking for an easy ride but he has no intention of going easy on the England star, who moved to Stamford Bridge in 2001 from West Ham, where Lampard Snr made his name as a player.

"When the draw was made, Frank rang me within four or five minutes and we had a chat about it and he’s quite happy about it," he said.

"When he rang me, he said, ‘Dad, make sure their midfield don’t run with me, let me have a free run.’

"I can’t repeat what I said to him as it won’t go down too well but that is not going to happen.

"They’re still a fantastic team. They might not be playing as well as they can but on their day they can take most teams apart anywhere in the world.

"It’ll be a good test for our lads here at Watford. They are a good set of lads who work very hard and they are looking forward to putting themselves up for the test.

"As long as we give a good account of ourselves we’ll be happy. And if we can pull off a shock and get a result, then even better."

Although Watford have won just one of their last seven league games, Lampard believes they can rise to the occasion and take advantage of a turbulent week for Chelsea.

"We are still in a relegation battle in the Championship so coming up against Chelsea means we can’t really lose. I certainly can’t, personally anyway, given my links with Chelsea," he said.

"Brendan and I had a feeling it was going to be Chelsea funnily enough and that’s how it worked out. It’s turned into a massive game for them as well now and it might be a good time to play Chelsea.

"I’ve been in football a long time and Scolari’s sacking didn’t surprise me. These things happen all the time. Football is a results business and if you’re not getting the results then you know what will happen.

"But that is Chelsea’s concern, not ours. We will be prepared for them and will give them a proper game.

Written by: AFP

Tags: account, AFP, Brendan, Brendan Rodgers, CHELSEA, Dad, day, dutchman, England, england star, English Premier League, FA Cup, fantastic team, felipe scolari, five minutes, Frank, frank lampard, guus, lads, Lampards, league games, london, Luiz Felipe, midfield, midfielder, quot, relegation battle, seven league, snr, stamford bridge, Vicarage Road, weekend, west ham

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