Four-star Rooney sends United top

January 23, 2010

Wayne Rooney’s four-goal performance helped ensure Manchester United’s focus returned to on-field affairs as the defending Premier League champions moved to the top of the table for the first time in more than three months with a 4-0 victory over Hull.

Manager Sir Alex Ferguson has spoken of the need to give Rooney a rest but the England forward’s form and importance to his team make such a move unlikely any time soon.

It took Rooney just seven minutes against struggling Hull to illustrate the point perfectly to his manager and also to ease the pressure and growing dissatisfaction around Old Trafford in the wake of recent developments off the field surrounding American owners the Glazer family.

The announcement this week that United’s debts stand at 716 million pounds did not impress many of the club’s supporters, even though a successful 500 million bond issue will allow the Glazers to re-structure that debt.

Ferguson felt moved, in his pre-match programme notes, to call upon supporters to show unity behind their club and cease their anti-Glazer agitating.

However, as long as Rooney remains fit and in the sort of goal-scoring form he showed against Hull, United’s future does not look quite so precarious.

United’s first goal came after Park Ji-Sung played the ball into the path of Paul Scholes, who drilled in a vicious shot which Hull goal keeper Boaz Myhill could only parry.

Rooney responded more quickly than anyone else on the field, gathering the loose ball and steadying himself before burying his 17th goal of the season into the gaping goal.

Goal number 18 came in the 82nd minute after Myhill had made a poor job of dealing with a long-range Nani free-kick. Rooney himself kept the loose ball in play and Nani found the forward, who finished clinically from 15 yards.

The hat-trick was just three minutes away as the irrepressible forward ran in to meet Nani’s hanging cross and head into the goal from six yards.

For good measure, the 20th goal of Rooney’s increasingly remarkable season followed in injury-time as he collected Dimitar Berbatov’s neat flick, saw three defenders back off, and converted his shot from 12 yards.

Rooney, partnered by Michael Owen, who was making just his fifth league start of the campaign, was comfortably his team’s greatest threat, from early in the contest, and, midway through the first half, almost had a hand in two more goals.

First, he met Nani’s cross with a devastating shot on the turn which looped off a defender and behind for a corner. Then, seconds later, Rooney produced an audacious back heel which played in Owen but the former England striker was slow to respond and Andy Dawson made the recovering tackle.

Rooney was again the threat, just after the half hour, when George Boateng brought down Park on the edge of the area and Rooney curled a free-kick beyond the Hull wall and inches past Myhill’s right-hand post.

While United only led by a goal, there was still anxiety, not aided when Jonny Evans’ weak back header almost allowed Nick Barmby to equalize, his shot being saved well by Edwin van der Sar.

The other side of Rooney’s football personality was on display just before the half-time whistle when he was booked for hacking at Stephen Hunt out of frustration having just lost the ball badly to Ricardo Garcia.

Also before the interval, Owen was on the end of the move of the match, a flowing passing sequence which ended with Nani’s neat through ball and a weak tap straight at Myhill from the out-of-sorts striker.

It was a similar story after the re-start with United creating enough chances to win the game comfortably before Rooney put the outcome beyond all doubt with a devastating spell of three more goals in the final eight minutes.

MANCHESTER (AFP)

Tags: andy dawson, Boaz Myhill, Edwin van der, England, free kick, george boateng, glazer family, glazers, goal keeper, goal performance, hat trick, HULL, league champions, loose ball, Manager Sir Alex Ferguson, Manchester, manchester united, michael owen, nick barmby, number 18, old trafford, park ji sung, paul scholes, poor job, sir alex ferguson, wayne rooney

Drogba double gives Ancelotti a winning start

August 15, 2009

Didier Drogba’s injury-time goal – his second of the match – ensured Carlo Ancelotti enjoyed a winning start to his new life in the Premier League as Chelsea narrowly beat Hull City 2-1 here on Saturday.

Chelsea manager Ancelotti was heading for an opening day disappointment with Hull hanging on for a point after Stephen Hunt’s 28th minute goal had been cancelled out by Drogba’s 37th minute equaliser.

But Drogba claimed all three points with a superb chip from the narrowest of angles to secure three points for the hosts at Stamford Bridge.

The frantic ending was at odds with the atmosphere that greeted Ancelotti at the start of the game.

An air of expectation at Stamford Bridge had been reinforced by last weekend’s Community Shield victory over Manchester United at Wembley and, with one piece of silverware already under his belt, Ancelotti settled back in his new home dug-out in anticipation of a debut Premier League win.

Chelsea started the stronger, a slick opening move inside the first minute that involved an exchange of passes between Michael Essien and Jose Bosingwa on the right flank creating an opening that Essien exploited before delivering a precise cross towards Drogba.

Positioned in front of goal, just eight yards out, the striker should have claimed the honour of scoring the first goal of the new campaign but wasted the excellent opportunity by firing wide.

The ease with which Chelsea had unpicked Hull’s defences suggested another chance would arise sooner rather than later and sounded an ominous warning for the visitors, who have already been earmarked as favourites to go down.

Phil Brown’s side endured a miserable finish last season and avoided relegation only on the back of an extraordinary set of results before Christmas that included victories at Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur.

But the way they responded following Drogba’s early miss suggested they still have the capacity to shock.

After finally settling, the visitors’ packed midfield and organised backline restricted Chelsea to a series of half chances while forcing Chelsea onto the backfoot with a series of sharp counter-attacks.

One such attack forced a corner that was only half cleared and it took an excellent reaction save by Petr Cech to keep out Hull midfielder George Boateng?s low drive with his right boot.

Ancelotti’s preference for a narrow diamond in midfield gave Hull space to exploit from the flanks with Hunt and Boateng linking particularly effectively down the City left.

And the chinks in Chelsea’s defence were fully exposed when, after another swift break, Boateng’s shot cannoned off John Obi Mikel’s knee and into the path of Hunt, who finished comfortably from close range.

Hull were well worth their lead, but Chelsea – and Drogba especially – were finally spurred into action by the shock of falling behind

And the Ivory Coast striker was given the chance to make amends for his earlier miss in the 28th minute when Seyi Olofinjana fouled Mikel outside his own penalty area and Drogba delivered a superb, dipping free-kick beyond Hull goalkeeper Boaz Myhill.

From that moment on, Hull were forced into survival mode with Chelsea dominating possession.

It helped Hull’s cause that Chelsea were in wasteful mood, never more so than when Nicolas Anelka tamely shot straight at Myhill just seconds after the restart, a miss that was as glaring as Drogba’s had been at the start.

Myhill repeatedly dealt with anything Chelsea threw at him in the second period, including an outstanding save to deny Drogba.

And, worringly for Ancelotti, as time wore on, his side ran out of ideas far too quickly for a side with title ambitions until Drogba conjured a final piece of magic.

LONDON (AFP)

Tags: Boaz Myhill, carlo ancelotti, CHELSEA, CITY, community shield, defences, didier drogba, Essien, flank, george boateng, HULL, hull city, injury time goal, Ivory Coast, John Obi, Jose, jose bosingwa, Manchester, manchester united, Michael Essien, Mikel, minute goal, ominous warning, opening move, Petr Cech, phil brown, premier league, stamford bridge, Stephen Hunt, tottenham hotspur, Wembley

Boro’s Southgate gets another chance. Does he deserve it?

May 29, 2009

Most people agree that sacking a manager after a few weeks or a handful of matches is ridiculous, but sometimes chairmen go to the other extreme and exhibit reserves of patience that would be beyond most fans.

Given the frantic pace of the soccer industry, Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate can consider himself an extremely lucky man after a season that brought the club just seven league victories, 28 goals and relegation.

Boro chairman Steve Gibson said in a BBC Radio interview this week he was backing Southgate to get the club back in the Premier League next season, vowing not to make the former England international a scapegoat for the club’s relegation.

A lot of people will be wondering why not.

In January 2008, Southgate brought in record signing Brazilian striker Afonso Alves for 12.7 million quid from Heerenveen and let captain George Boateng and fellow midfielder Lee Cattermole go in the close season.

This campaign, Boro struggled to compete in midfield and could not score goals. Alves managed just four all season and despite this problem Egyptian international Mido was allowed to leave on loan, along with another Southgate signing, Marlon King.

Gibson showed similar patience with former England manager Steve McClaren and Bryan Robson. While it is an admirable and rare virtue in football, it certainly has not done Gibson many favours to date.

Can Southgate prove the chairman’s faith is not misplaced by bringing Boro straight back?

PHOTO: Gareth Southgate kicks the ball during Middlesbrough’s Premier League match against Sunderland at The Stadium of Light, April 26, 2008. REUTERS/Nigel Roddis

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Tags: afonso alves, bbc, bbc radio interview, bryan robson, captain george, captain George Boateng, chairmen, England, england international, england manager, English Premier League, favours, frantic pace, gareth southgate, george boateng, heerenveen, Lee Cattermole, lucky man, Marlon King, midfield, mido, Nigel Roddis, rare virtue, relegation, reuters, scapegoat, steve gibson, Steve McClaren, Sunderland

Reds must rediscover defensive steel, says Reina

April 25, 2009

HULL, England (AFP) – Pepe Reina admits Liverpool have to re-discover their defensive steel to stand any chance of winning the Premier League.

Ahead of their trip to Hull, the Reds are relying on a serious slip by leaders Manchester United to let them back into the title race.

United capitalised on Liverpool’s 4-4 draw with Arsenal by beating Portsmouth 2-0 on Wednesday to move three points clear at the top with a game in hand.

Rafael Benitez’s side had forced themselves right back into contention with a run of five straight wins in the Premier League before having to settle for a point with the Gunners.

That impressive run has been based on a new-found attacking potency that has seen them score four or more goals in six of their last eight matches in all competitions.

But the downside of that has been a leakier defence and Spain goalkeeper Reina has let in 11 goals in his last four appearances.

Reina is desperate for Liverpool to continue with their free-scoring attitude but acknowledges they also have to find a way of being more solid at the back.

He said: “We are scoring a lot of goals but we have to try and improve in defence.

“Scoring goals is the most difficult thing in football but now we must sort some of the problems we’re having in defence.

“We’ve always had the balance between attack and defence. That’s why we’re always there in the Champions League and cup competitions, because we are a team with balance. We have to get back to this way.”

Despite United now looking clear favourites to retain their Premier League crown, Reina is adamant that Benitez’s players will fight on until the final game of the campaign.

He added: “We knew it would be difficult for United to drop points in two games, and now it’s even harder because they have to lose those games but we have to still believe and keep going until the end.

“It’s not worth looking at the fixture list. All we can do is win our games, so we don’t look at United’s fixtures. We just have to do our job and win our five remaining games.

“This club has been many, many years without being in this position going into the last five games.

“To be involved at this stage is beautiful, but to win the league would be massive, so we have to give our all.”

The Reds are hoping that captain Steven Gerrard will overcome a groin problem that has kept him out of their last three matches.

But the England midfielder is likely to miss out at the KC Stadium where Hull are desperate for points for a very different reason.

Phil Brown’s Tigers enjoyed an impressive start to the season but have won just once in 17 Premier League matches and are three points above the relegation zone.

In the first half of campaign, Hull won at Arsenal and Tottenham and have also drawn at Anfield and at Chelsea in their first season in the top flight.

And veteran midfielder George Boateng hopes his team-mates can use those performances as an inspiration against Benitez’s side.

He said: “We have been to places where people gave us no chance, like Arsenal where we won. What were the odds there?

“When we play against Liverpool no one will give us a chance but we can surprise them.

“Hopefully Tuesday’s game will have taken a lot of energy out of them but I look forward to it and the team does.”

Tags: attack and defence, captain Steven Gerrard, champions league, CHELSEA, contention, cup competitions, downside, England, English Premier League, final game, fixture list, george boateng, gunners, HULL, hull england, kc stadium, league crown, Liverpool, Manchester, manchester united, pepe reina, phil brown, Portsmouth, potency, premier league, rafael benitez, reds, Reina, scoring goals, Spain, two games

Boro survival hopes boosted as Hull hauled back

April 12, 2009

MIDDLESBROUGH, England (AFP) – Middlesbrough gave their own survival hopes a huge shot in the arm and dragged Hull into the relegation quagmire with a precious 3-1 win at the Riverside on Saturday.

Former Hull striker Marlon King sealed the win with two minutes left after earlier goals from Tuncay Sanli and Matthew Bates either side of a Manucho equaliser for the visitors, who are now just four points clear of the drop zone.

Boro meanwhile are now within two points of local rivals Sunderland, the side occupying the last survival spot, after manager Gareth Southgate’s decision to draft King into his starting line-up proved inspired.

Boro started the match with four forwards and that bold approach paid off after just three minutes when Brazilian striker Afonso Alves exchanged passes with King to break into the box.

Matt Duke saved the resulting low shot but the rebound fell for Turkey forward Tuncay, who finished off comfortably.

Boro’s lead lasted just six minutes before Hull, who have now won just once in 16 matches, equalised.

Nick Barmby sent a ball into the box and on-loan striker Manucho rose to head home his second goal for Hull.

There were numerous chances at both ends of the pitch before Boro reclaimed the lead just before the half hour mark, Bates nipping in to convert a low cross at the near post.

With time running out for Hull, Boro made sure of all three points thanks to a mistake by their former midfielder George Boateng.

The Dutchman had come on as a substitute after three months out injured and his rustiness was exposed when Jeremie Aliadiere robbed him to send King clear for the decisive strike.