Sunday, 29 December 2013

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Football news, match reports and fixtures | theguardian.com

Melbourne Heart sack John Aloisi as head coach

Posted: 28 Dec 2013 03:07 PM PST

John Aloisi's time as Melbourne Heart coach is over after the club's board pulled the plug on his tenure

Brendan Rodgers: 'I wouldn't be where I am now but for José Mourinho' | Paul Wilson

Posted: 28 Dec 2013 03:00 PM PST

Brendan Rodgers is relishing the prospect of facing his old mentor, José Mourinho, when Liverpool travel to Chelsea

Brendan Rodgers can remember his first season working at Chelsea, turning up at the training ground on his birthday in January and finding a giant cake waiting in the canteen. "I was only the youth team manager so I was touched," he said. "I thought they must think a lot of me and I was flattered. It turns out I share a birthday with José Mourinho. He is exactly 10 years older than me. The birthday cake was for him, but at least I got a slice."

The Liverpool manager has shared a lot more with Mourinho since the latter invited him to join him at Stamford Bridge in 2004. "I was able to observe one of the world's best operators going about his business. José gave me the self-esteem and confidence I needed to make my own way in management," Rodgers explained. "I probably wouldn't be where I am now but for him. I regard him as a friend now, but he is actually a great organiser, the best controller of day-to-day detail I have ever met."

There might be friendship and mutual admiration on the sidelines at Chelsea on Sunday afternoon, when the old pals meet as managers for the first time since Mourinho's return to England. But a fresher memory than the birthday cake episode is what happened the last time the two sides met, when Luis Suárez took a bite of Branislav Ivanovic.

The transformation in the Uruguayan since then has been remarkable, especially as he spent the summer agitating for a move from Anfield and making himself thoroughly unpopular. Now stand-in captain, with a £10m-a-year contract that notionally keeps him tied to the club until 2018, Suárez is the Premier League's top scorer, the Football Supporters' Federation's player of the year, and in such a rich vein of form that John W Henry's famous response to Arsenal's summer bid of £40m plus £1 – "What are they smoking at the Emirates?" – now seems like the height of common sense. That was not quite how it was received at the time.

As recently as the summer there were plenty of people who thought Liverpool should bite Arsenal's hand off, so to speak, because clubs were not exactly lining up to pay good money for such a troublesome commodity who would begin the season with a ban. "Luis was in a real bad place after the last incident, there was a lot of self-reflection and he probably felt he couldn't have gone any lower," Rodgers said.

"Sometimes you have to get to that point before you can see the way forward. It was a real test for all of us. You don't learn about how to deal with that when you are doing your coaching courses, it's not part of the manual. But I have always been interested in personal coaching, looking after the welfare of players and not just sending them out to play football, and I could see Luis felt the world was against him.

premeditated in his action, he said he was sorry straight away. He's a good man and a joy to work with but he has this incredible will to win and competitive spirit. I felt he needed to get out of the country to begin his recuperation, so we arranged that, and possibly because he felt he was at the lowest point in his career he has come back a much happier player. His performances speak for themselves, he loves being captain and his behaviour and the maturity he has shown this season have been exemplary.

"I think he has learned some of that from Steven Gerrard. He understands the culture of this country and the traditions of this club a bit more now. He enjoys the responsibility of being captain, but when he gave the armband to Daniel Agger the other day it showed he has the respect and humility to remember that Daniel is vice-captain of the club."

Liverpool could have been top of the league after Christmas but for what Rodgers unrepentantly insists was a travesty of refereeing justice at Manchester City. Yet while the visitors may have been the better side at the Etihad, the defeat still leaves them without a win over any of the sides currently forming the top four.

"Do Manchester United and Tottenham not count then?" Rodgers asked. "We've beaten a Champions League club already and Spurs were in the top four in recent history. I'll admit that Arsenal were the better side and you could argue we should have beaten Everton at Goodison, but the beauty is we have all these teams to play at home in the second half of the season.

"The results will come, even though we are substantially behind our main rivals in terms of the growth of the squads. I'd like to think we are now toe to toe with the top teams, and that wasn't quite the case when I first came in 18 months ago.

"We are competing now, and we are still improving. We showed that against Manchester City, who have destroyed everyone apart from Bayern Munich at home this season. We have one or two targets to try and bring in this January, and if we can do that, the next target will be to set up camp in the top four."

Paul Wilson

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Saturday Sundae: Danny Welbeck awakens United; Fulham spiked at Hull

Posted: 28 Dec 2013 02:02 PM PST

Danny Welbeck and Saido Berahino score crucial goals, while René Meulensteen thinks there's something in Fulham's tea

MAN OF THE DAY

Manchester United were flatlining again – until Danny Welbeck came on at half-time, scored his fourth in four league games, and sparked them back to life.

GOAL OF THE DAY

England's next new saviour Saido Berahino turned West Ham's Guy Demel inside out at Upton Park, then sent a rasping, grass-high shot fizzing past Jussi Jaaskelainen.

STAT OF THE DAY

Man City have scored 54 goals this season: more than any Premier League side has managed in their opening 19 games.

HIGHEST TROUSERS

Cardiff's popular alpha male Vincent Tan turned out for his first match since seeing off Malky Mackay in defiant garb: beltline higher than ever, with shades, replica top and leather gloves completing this season's must-have look.

BLEAKEST FACT

Hull scored six at home in one half yesterday. Villa have scored six at home since late September.

THEORY OF THE DAY

Why did Fulham fold at Hull? "I'm shocked," said René Meulensteen. "I don't know if there was something in the tea."

BEST TURNAROUND

Charlton were having a grim time this season. But then came Boxing Day's 3-2 win – and now they are in takeover talks with a Belgian multimillionaire.

AND SPARE A THOUGHT FOR …

Conference table-bottomers Hyde: ending 2013 with their 21st league defeat, 5-2 at home to Wrexham. Their campaign so far: P24 W0 D3 L21 GD-44 Pts3. @hydefclive tweeted post-match: "Can't win 'em all."


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Alan Pardew: 'Wenger deserves to win the Champions League. We owe him'

Posted: 28 Dec 2013 02:00 PM PST

• Francophone Newcastle follow Arsenal's example
• 'Arsenal on Tyne' aiming to stay in the top eight

There are mornings when Alan Pardew wakes up and can barely believe it is only three years since he took charge at St James' Park. "I keep looking in the mirror and thinking it's been about 20 years," jokes Newcastle United's manager as he prepares for Arsenal's visit to Tyneside on Sunday. "I was a young man when I came here."

The assorted stresses involved in keeping, among others, Mike Ashley and Joe Kinnear, Newcastle's owner and director of football respectively, happy have been outweighed by the highs. Particularly now, when an easy on the eye, francophone Newcastle are showing signs of fulfilling Ashley's long-standing ambition and turning into something of an "Arsenal on Tyne".

"I've enjoyed it," says Pardew. "Newcastle United is a bit of a rollercoaster but there've been more ups than downs. I'm very pleased with the progress this club has made. Hopefully we can keep ourselves in the top eight for the next three or four years. That's the objective."

Currently within touching distance of a Champions League place, Newcastle will be aiming higher this season should Arsène Wenger's title challenge falter on Sunday. Even if the afternoon ends in disappointment for Pardew, his side's run of seven wins and one draw in their past nine league games has made a mockery of those who, as recently as October, believed he should be sacked in view of last spring's relegation skirmish. "We're playing on the front foot and trying to take the game to the opposition, whoever we face," says the 52-year-old. "We play a nice brand of football."

Wenger probably feels much the same about the critics who, back in the summer, suggested he was a busted flush, but his Newcastle counterpart knows loyalty is an increasingly rare commodity in the Premier League these days. "Things change quickly," says Pardew, who fully appreciates the absurdity of being the division's second longest-serving manager behind Wenger. "You mustn't get carried away but I think longevity is important. I really do. It's difficult for managers to get any longevity now, though, as that loyalty is not there any more. The game needs to look at it."

Newcastle's manager believes English football is suffering from a lack of continuity at the top of clubs. "It's important to have the same [managerial] voice in the dressing room," he says. "A training ground is like a living and breathing animal. You need to understand how it works so you can make changes when it's not working. You need to have time to be allowed to do that but, sometimes, if it's not working out over a little period, you can lose your job.

"Clubs can learn from Arsenal. What a job Arsène Wenger has done there. I really hope he wins the Champions League this year. He deserves it."

There was a time, most notably during his days in charge of West Ham, that Pardew's attitude towards Wenger was somewhat frostier but passing years allied to Newcastle's own Gallic experiment has mellowed such attitudes.

"We've introduced a lot of French players because of market forces," says Pardew. "Arsène's first port of call when he arrived here was France, for the same reason. I'm disappointed not to have more British players in my team. I want more British players but I'm certainly not going to argue with our French contingent. They've been brilliant. It's a world [transfer] market now. Arsène maybe saw that before other managers; we owe him a bit of a debt."

Louise Taylor

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Why a renewed bid for Leighton Baines will ask questions of Everton | Andy Hunter

Posted: 28 Dec 2013 02:00 PM PST

Another effort by Manchester United to bring Baines to Old Trafford will offer a variety of options for the player and his club

Everton are comfortable with the prospect of Manchester United returning with another bid for Leighton Baines in January to judge by Roberto Martínez's demeanour on the subject. There may be less trepidation about losing a key asset to David Moyes than there was in the summer, but it is too simplistic to say there will be no temptation should United decide to fish again.

The stance on Baines for next month is consistent with Everton's refusal to sell to the Premier League champions during their former manager's first, unproductive transfer window at Old Trafford. And rightly so. Martínez has built impressive momentum during his debut season at Goodison Park, Everton's form warrants consideration as a genuine contender for one of the Champions League places, and the club are looking to build around a core of experienced talent in January, not diminish it.

In Baines, who is in contention to return to the squad for Sunday's game against Southampton, they possess an impeccable professional, a class act on and off the pitch and a boyhood Evertonian suited to the new manager's passing style. There were no public declarations of discontent or transfer requests from the England international when his club repeatedly rejected United's offers throughout the summer. That pursuit began before Moyes had even left Everton's employment on 30 June and continued until transfer deadline day on 2 September, somewhat undermining the principled stance the Scot took on protracted courtships by wealthier clubs during his time on Merseyside.

But Everton, in truth, were not given a difficult decision to make on Baines in the summer. United made it easier for Martínez and chairman Bill Kenwright to stand their ground with underwhelming bids of £10m and £12m, the "derisory and insulting" joint £28m offer for the left-back and Marouane Fellaini – a mere £500,000 more than they ultimately paid for the hirsute midfielder alone – and were given short shrift when inquiring about a possible U-turn on deadline day.

As the Fellaini fee illustrated, Everton were always in control of transfer negotiations with United in the summer thanks to their policy – promoted by Moyes, ironically – of securing their key players to long-term contracts. Martínez reaped the benefits. As he says: "We're in a position where we can control what happens. It's different when you've got someone out of contract. The problem is when you've got no one talking about your players, because that means they're struggling. So I don't mind that as long as we are the ones who are making the calls. We are in a position now which means we can do that."

But it is not that straightforward. Baines is entering the final 18 months of his contract at Goodison and, despite encouraging noises recently about an extension, has yet to commit to a new deal that was first spoken about at the end of last season. Martínez also talked of resolving the contract issue once the summer transfer window had closed, an agreement that would force United to look elsewhere in January, but Everton head into the new year still without a resolution. But the club's target is to reward Baines, Ross Barkley and Sylvain Distin with new deals before the season is over.

Baines turned 29 on 11 December and there would be dilemmas on all sides should United finally make a serious play for the Everton defender. Would Baines find Old Trafford so alluring at present, for a start? Given his contractual position, it would make sense for the left-back to delay a decision on his future until after being involved in a World Cup in Brazil. He would know by then whether Everton or United, if any, have Champions League football to offer upon his return.

the question of Everton's finances, and whether a club that has regularly had to sell a prized asset to reinvest could afford to reject an improved offer of around £15m for a 29-year-old full-back. Everton are no longer backed into a corner financially thanks largely to the record Premier League broadcasting deal that came into effect this season. They still have money available for Martínez to spend in January from the deadline-day sales of Fellaini and Victor Anichebe. Add a fee for Baines to that pot, however, and Everton could be in a position to propose a permanent deal to Chelsea for Romelu Lukaku next summer. Just a devil's advocate thought, of course, with both clubs and the Belgium striker adamant he will be back at Stamford Bridge for the 2014-15 season.

Everton have been spared any damaging repercussions from the toe fracture Baines suffered against Liverpool on 23 November thanks to the impact of his replacement, Bryan Oviedo. The Costa Rica international has two goals and two assists in his six starts since the derby and quickly endeared himself to supporters at Goodison. Baines's statistics have dipped this season under Martínez, having created more chances for his team last season than any other player in Europe, almost a quarter of Everton's 450 opportunities during Moyes's final campaign in charge.

To suggest that Everton have a proven replacement for Baines in Oviedo would be indecently premature. It would also run counter to the optimism and adventure of Martínez's early months in charge to offload a standard-bearer like Baines while eyeing Champions League qualification. But United, if they are serious about reuniting Moyes with the left-back next month, are duty-bound to make life awkward for Everton.

Andy Hunter

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Charlton in buy-out talks with Belgian millionaire Roland Duchâtelet

Posted: 28 Dec 2013 01:36 PM PST

• Businessman reported to have paid £14m
• Chairman talks of 'constructive discussions'

Charlton are in takeover talks with the Belgian millionaire and political activist Roland Duchâtelet. The takeover follows the collapse last month of a proposed purchase by the American Josh Harris. The 67-year-old Duchâtelet is reported to have paid £14m for the London club.

The Addicks chairman Michael Slater confirmed the news on the club's website, stating: "Very constructive discussions are ongoing which we hope to conclude soon."

The Sky Bet Championship club are currently sixth bottom - just four points off the relegation zone after recording one win in their last six league matches ahead of Sunday's meeting with Sheffield Wednesday.


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Edgar Davids ready to retire after saying he is 'a target' for referees

Posted: 28 Dec 2013 01:17 PM PST

• Barnet's player-manager feels decisions are 'ridiculous'
• 40-year-old received third red card in eight league games

Barnet's player-manager Edgar Davids is ready to end his playing career in protest at being made "a target" by referees, after he was shown his third red card in eight league appearances.

The 40-year-old former Holland international, sent off in the 2-1 defeat at Salisbury after he picked up two yellow cards – the second for kicking out at an opponent – told local media: "I don't think I am going to play any more because they are taking away the fun.

"I think I know for definite now that the league is targeting Barnet. I don't know how many games we have played now but there is weird decision-making all the time. It is ridiculous, especially the first [yellow card] because everyone can see I cleared the ball. That was an absolute disgrace. The other one for the red card was also a disgrace.

"I am a target … I want the team to do well. If you look at the red cards, some are definitely red cards and some are exaggerated. It is hard to complete our tasks when a lot of decisions are against you."

Barnet are ninth in the Conference, three points from the play-offs.


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Cardiff City 2-2 Sunderland

Posted: 28 Dec 2013 11:41 AM PST

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was on the point of turning down Cardiff's managerial vacancy on Saturday night, which will leave the Welsh club nursing a double disappointment after an added-time equaliser by Jack Colback denied them what would have been a morale-enhancing victory.

Solskjaer is expected to reject them on the advice of his old Manchester United mentor, Sir Alex Ferguson, whose golden rule in such things is: choose the owner, not the club. Mehmet Dalman, the Cardiff chairman, has been charged with the responsibility for finding Malky Mackay's successor, and could have done with a win to help him sell the job.

Goals from Jordon Mutch and Fraizer Campbell appeared to have secured maximum points, but Sunderland pulled one back in the 83rd minute through substitute Steven Fletcher, then salvaged a point when Colback's shot was deflected in off Peter Whittingham.

Dalman admitted that he had spoken to Solskjaer, but would not say when. He added: "I only have one candidate in mind" – and ruled out the Turkish journeyman Yilmaz Vural. "I am not getting a Turkish manager, I can categorically state. There is a manager who keeps putting himself forward. It is not going to happen."

Mackay's dismissal was undoubtedly unpopular, but Cardiff played as if a weight had been taken from their shoulders. The off-the-field soap opera was finally over and the players went about their work with a confidence that had been missing from their play for weeks.

Mutch, the man of the match, was booked early on for diving, headed over from six yards in the third minute, then made amends in the sixth when Valentin Roberge's error paved the way for Mutch to score with a meaty drive from the 18-yard line which flew in with the aid of a deflection off Modibo Diakité.

Roberge and Diakité were only playing because Sunderland were without their regular centre-backs, Wes Brown and John O'Shea, who were suspended and injured respectively. Another notable absentee was Adam Johnson, who was ill and gave way to Sebastian Larsson.

Cardiff were dominant throughout the first half but failed to translate their territorial supremacy into goals. Instead, Kim Bo-kyung's shot from distance was touched over by Vito Mannone and the diving header with which Campbell met Mutch's right-wing cross ran inches wide of the far post.

It took half an hour for Sunderland to assemble a decent attack, Ki Sung-yong working himself a shooting chance which goalkeeper David Marshall parried. When the ball ran loose, Jozy Altidore ought to have equalised at minimal range, but the finish was typical of a striker with one goal in 17 appearances. Just before the interval they fashioned another chance, Marshall saving from a Fabio Borini attempt on goal.

Borini, on loan from Liverpool, had to be substituted at the interval when he was taken to hospital with a stomach ailment. He was released later in the evening after being placed on a drip, and is expected to travel back to the north-easton Sunday . The experienced Fletcher replaced him and became the focal point of the Sunderland attack.

Cardiff kept their collective feet on the accelerator and doubled their advantage after 57 minutes when Mutch ran through the defence and centred from the left for Campbell to apply a routine finish from six yards.

But at 2-0 they went into what-we-have-we-hold mode too early, withdrawing Craig Noone, who had destroyed Andrea Dossena, and sending on the more defensively inclined Don Cowie.

The initiative changed hands and Sunderland profited when Fletcher, inside the six-yard box, tucked away Emanuele Giaccherini's cross from the left, condemning the home crowd to a hearts-in-the mouth finish which duly arrived when Marshall was beaten by substitute Colback's last-gasp strike.

Full of praise for his players' "character", Sunderland's manager Gus Poyet said: "I do feel we are still going to be a Premier League team next season. We are never going to give in. To beat us you are going to have to be very good or to fight very hard. We are moving in the right direction going into the New Year."

Joe Lovejoy

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Cardiff City v Sunderland – as it happened | Jacob Steinberg

Posted: 28 Dec 2013 11:28 AM PST

Minute-by-minute report: Sunderland snatched a draw thanks to Jack Colback's last-gasp equaliser as Cardiff threw away a 2-0 lead in their first match since sacking Malky Mackay

Jacob Steinberg

Joe Hart's return to form helps Manchester City to top spot

Posted: 28 Dec 2013 11:16 AM PST

• Manuel Pellegrini: 'The rest has done him good'
• Manchester City go top with narrow win over Crystal Palace

Manchester City were indebted to a battling performance from Joe Hart as they climbed to the top of the Premier League for the first time this season with a narrow 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace, Edin Dzeko scoring the winning goal midway through the second half. Sporting a black eye from a first-half collision with Cameron Jerome that forced the Palace striker out of the game, Hart went on to make three important saves from Jason Puncheon, Mile Jedinak and Joel Ward to make sure his side took the points.

"Joe is back to playing at his best," the City manager, Manuel Pellegrini, said. "The rest has done him good, and I don't think it has affected his confidence. He was always confident he would return to his position and now he is again showing he is the best goalkeeper in England."

Hart showed a certain amount of bravery, too, in carrying on after a lengthy period of treatment on the pitch, and though the goalkeeper required six stitches after the game his manager played down the extent of the injury. "It was not a serious problem," Pellegrini said. "We had the option of keeping him off at half-time but the doctor said he was OK to carry on."

Pellegrini was similarly relaxed about City topping the Premier League pile. "It might only be for a day, it might be for longer," he said. "The important thing to remember is that it is only half-time in the Premier League. We need to keep on winning in the second half, beginning with Swansea on New Year's Day."

In defending a somewhat lacklustre, tired-looking performance from his side, Pellegrini also suggested only one team had attempted to play, accusing Palace of merely coming to defend for 90 minutes, a comment that annoyed Tony Pulis yet one that was easy for the Palace manager to fight back against.

"I don't know how anyone can say we didn't do any attacking," Pulis said. "If that was the case how was it that the Manchester City goalkeeper was named man of the match?"


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Anelka could face ban after gesture

Posted: 28 Dec 2013 10:19 AM PST

• Striker claims 'quenelle' was tribute to French comedian
• Manager Keith Downing refuses to condemn action

Nicolas Anelka could face a Football Association charge for his controversial goal celebration during Saturday's 3-3 draw with West Ham.

West Bromwich Albion's caretaker Keith Downing refused to condemn the French striker for seeming to make a controversial salute after scoring the first of his two goals.

Anelka confirmed to Downing that he did perform a quenelle, described by some as a "reverse Nazi salute", after his 40th-minute strike at Upton Park but as far as the West Brom hierarchy are concerned, it was done as a tribute to the French comedian Dieudonné, a friend of Anelka.

"This gesture was just a special dedication to my comedian friend Dieudonné," Anelka tweeted in both French and English on his official account.

Dieudonné is a controversial figure in France, having been accused of insulting the memory of Holocaust victims. The quenelle is Dieudonné's signature gesture, although he insists it is an anti-establishment gesture and not against Jewish people. Anelka has previously been photographed performing the gesture alongside Dieudonné but Saturday's events brought the debate to England while provoking further outrage and debate in France, where the match was televised.

On Saturday night the French minister for sport, Valérie Fourneyron, condemned the gesture, describing it as "disgusting", and said through her Twitter account: "Anelka's gesture is a shocking provocation, disgusting. There's no place for antisemitism and incitement to hatred on the football field."

Dr Moshe Kantor, president of the European Jewish Congress, said it was "sickening that such a well-known footballer would make such an abusive and hateful gesture in front of tens of thousands of spectators".

"This salute is merely a lesser-known Nazi salute and we expect the same kind of punishment to be handed down by the authorities as if Anelka had made the infamous outstretched arm salute.This salute was created by a well-known extreme antisemite who has displayed his hatred of Jews, mocked the Holocaust and Jewish suffering."

"I'm aware of it but it has got nothing to do with what is being said," Downing replied when asked about the gesture. "It is dedicated to a French comedian he knows very well.

"I think speculation can be stopped now, it is rubbish really. He is totally unaware of what the problems were or the speculation that has been thrown around, he is totally surprised by it."

It is understood that the Football Association is aware of the gesture and will be looking into the matter.

Kick It Out, the anti-discrimination campaigning group, said it was assessing the gesture from Anelka and would help the FA if its assistance is requested. A statement read: "The campaign is in contact with partners in England and France regarding this matter."

Sachin Nakrani

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Hull City 6-0 Fulham

Posted: 28 Dec 2013 09:29 AM PST

All the best pictures from today's games

Steve Bruce hailed Tom Huddlestone's midfield masterclass as the best individual performance he has ever seen. As a former Manchester United captain who shared a pitch with Bryan Robson, Paul Ince and Roy Keane, the Hull manager is hardly short of benchmarks but even he was staggered by Huddlestone's contribution to a remarkable victory.

The former Tottenham midfielder, who celebrated his 27th birthday on Saturday, was superb from first minute to last, controlling the centre of the field, spraying pinpoint passes with both feet and ending a two-and-a-half-year scoring drought when finding the bottom corner from 20 yards.

He celebrated by allowing Hull physio Rob Price to cut a lock of hair on the touchline – having pledged to grow out his afro until he found the net.

Huddlestone might even have had a hat-trick, clattering the post in the first half and then seeing an audacious 40-yard free-kick tipped on to the crossbar by the Fulham goalkeeper, David Stockdale.

"The lads stood and applauded Tom when he walked into the dressing room and that doesn't happen often," said Bruce. "I don't often pick out individuals but I don't think I've witnessed a performance as good as I've just seen from Tom.

"He gave a masterclass of how to play in midfield. He had the lot: free-kicks, passing range, goals, a shot from 40 yards. He hit the post and the bar ... he's just an outstanding footballer, absolutely outstanding.

"I've been fortunate to have played in some good teams but I can't really remember an individual performance as good as he produced today.

"The free-kick from 40 yards, not many people can even strike from there and the movement he got on it is something he practises in training. Nobody can strike it like him and all those hours on the training ground have worked."

Indeed, the only area where Huddlestone did not win Bruce's full praise was his unusual celebration. "Maybe he's been rehearsing that ... when I saw the physio get the scissors out I thought 'I've seen it all now'," Bruce said. "It was ridiculous, I have to say."

Huddlestone's hair growth has been part of a fundraising drive for Cancer Research UK and Hull have confirmed they will be auctioning the hair clipped by Price for charity.

Outside of Huddlestone's man-of-the-match display there were first goals of the season for the captain, Robert Koren, who scored twice from close range, Matty Fryatt and George Boyd. Ahmed Elmohamady set the ball rolling by opening the scoring three minutes into the second half.

Hull had scored nine times in their previous nine games at home and Bruce was happy to bask in a rare prolific day. "It was one of the great days that we will remember for a long, long time," he said. "In my experience it doesn't often happen that you go and win 6-0 in the Barclays Premier League.

"It was quite incredible. We got the first one and then the floodgates opened, which doesn't happen very often at this level."

The shellshocked Fulham coach, Rene Meulensteen, was at a loss to explain his side's shortcomings. Having beaten Norwich away at Carrow Road on Boxing Day, hopes were high for a mini revival but they were ended in brutal fashion. "I've asked myself what happened and I've asked the players. I didn't see this coming," he said.

"I've been saying to all the media and all the press that the lads have been fantastic for me, that I can't fault the performances they've put in, that we haven't got the results we deserved but this is something completely different.

"Losing is hard to take but losing in such a manner is hard for any professional player."


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Aston Villa 1-1 Swansea City | Premier League match report

Posted: 28 Dec 2013 09:12 AM PST

All the best images from today's games

The one crumb of comfort for Aston Villa was the point that ended a run of four successive defeats and edged the Midlands club further away from the relegation zone. Otherwise this was about as underwhelming as it gets, as Villa toiled for long periods against a Swansea side that controlled the game but badly lacked the cutting edge to pick up a much-needed victory.

How Michael Laudrup, Swansea's manager, must have wished that he could have called upon the services of Michu or Nathan Dyer, both of whom remain sidelined with ankle injuries. Badly missing the goals and creativity that those two provide, Swansea were unable to punish a desperately poor Villa side. It was embarrassingly one-sided for the majority of the afternoon – Swansea enjoyed 73% of possession – yet the reality is that Brad Guzan, the home goalkeeper, had few saves to make.

Villa made the perfect start when Gabriel Agbonlahor put them ahead inside seven minutes but from that point on Swansea dominated the game and it seemed only a matter of time before they equalised. That goal arrived in the 36th minute, when the Belgian winger Roland Lamah opened his account in English football with a far-post header, but Swansea, for all their neat passing, were unable to add a second.

With their next three league matches against Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, the Welsh club could come to regret the two points squandered here. As for Villa, their supporters continue to endure rather than enjoy matches at home. They have now witnessed only 11 victories in the last 48 league fixtures at Villa Park and, once again, the final whistle was greeted with some boos.

There is no suggestion that Lambert's position is under threat but the Villa manager made it clear that he does not view the support of the chairman, Randy Lerner, as unconditional. Asked whether he felt immune to the sack, Lambert replied. "Not at all. Never do. I've got a good relationship with [the chairman]. But am I immune to it? No. I always have that fear. I had fear as a footballer and I have that fear as a manager."

Villa are five places but only four points above the bottom three and have what feels like a crunch game away at Sunderland on New Year's Day, although Lambert refuses to accept that his team are in a relegation battle. "Not at all," he said. "The table is so tight at the minute. Halfway there [to 40 points], I don't think anyone can talk like that."

He admitted to feeling relieved that Villa had picked up the point that "stops the sequence of losing, which was vital for us". Agbonlahor's goal - the first Villa have scored at home in the first half this season - arrived after the striker ran on to Andreas Weimann's neat pass before slipping the ball under Gerhard Tremmel. He celebrated by calling all the players over to the dugout for a huddle in what felt like a show of unity.

Swansea, however, were soon exposing familiar Villa weaknesses and the only surprise was that it took Laudrup's side so long to draw level. Ben Davies ought to have scored in the 20th minute but his close-range header bounced over the bar and there was another reprieve for Villa when Jonathan de Guzmán thrashed narrowly wide. Finally Swansea got some reward when Pablo Hernández crossed towards the back post for Lamah to head home via a slight deflection off Antonio Luna.

In the second half De Guzmán forced Guzan to save a 25-yard free-kick and Jonjo Shelvey saw his shot blocked by Luna, but there were few other moments of worry in the Villa defence despite Swansea's superiority. "I think I can say even taking off my Swansea glasses that neutrals would say we should have won the game," Laudrup said.

Stuart James

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Premier League clockwatch – as it happened

Posted: 28 Dec 2013 09:06 AM PST

Hull scored six against Fulham, including one by Tom Huddlestone, while there were 1-0 wins for Manchester United and Manchester City

Marcus Christenson

Norwich 0-1 Man Utd

Posted: 28 Dec 2013 09:06 AM PST

All the best pictures from today's games

The extent to which Wayne Rooney has been carrying Manchester United this season has been the subject of debate, but there was no questioning how badly David Moyes's side missed the injured Liverpudlian here.

On the other hand, as Moyes pointed out afterwards, his players have rediscovered that most useful of attributes, finding a way to win. Having seen his starting XI outplayed to an embarrassing extent in the first half, Moyes brought on Danny Welbeck and saw the England forward score an opportunistic goal to give United a sixth successive victory.

"Manchester United won the league last season not always being at their best, and today they found a way to win," said Moyes. "To win two away games in three days takes some doing, especially with a lot of our key players out, so I'm delighted with how they're keeping going, but I don't think it's anything to shout about."

Rooney, he said, is expected to be fit for Wednesday's match against Tottenham. Welbeck can also expect to start after producing a performance, as well as a goal, that changed the course of this game.

"I've said before he's a really, really good player who needs to become a really, really good finisher, and I thought he did great today," said Moyes.

With Rooney left at home to protect a minor groin problem and Adnan Januzaj joining Welbeck on the bench, United lacked almost any attacking threat throughout a first half dominated by Norwich. While Nemanja Vidic's return to partner Jonny Evans strengthened central defence, a midfield composed of Ryan Giggs, Michael Carrick, Tom Cleverley, Ashley Young and Shinji Kagawa left Javier Hernández isolated up front as they tried and for the most part failed to deal with a Norwich axis of Wes Hoolahan, Robert Snodgrass and Nathan Redmond.

It was Norwich who created the first real chance. A patient passing move ended with Snodgrass slipping the ball into the path of Russell Martin running behind Patrice Evra. From a narrow angle the full-back shot firmly and accurately, but United goalkeeper David de Gea dived to his right to make a fine save.

Encouraged, Norwich began to press forward with more belief. Gary Hooper, turning in the penalty area, shot straight at De Gea, and Snodgrass, cutting in from the right, curled a shot wide. The Scotland midfielder was becoming increasingly influential and Giggs was booked for bringing him down as he threatened the United penalty area.

t was the 37th minute before United finally had a direct attempt on goal, Carrick shooting high from well outside the Norwich penalty area. City should have taken the lead soon afterwards, Hoolahan creating space in the penalty area only to drive disappointingly against the legs of Evans.

Moyes switched his midfielders around, Young moving to the left and Kagawa into the centre, but their attacking threat remained negligible. The sight of Martin skinning Evra gave the manager even more to think about during a break in which he replaced Giggs with Welbeck and switched to a conventional 4-4-2.

The improvement was immediate. Young drove just over, though Ruddy had his shot covered, which was more than could be said for De Gea when Redmond, played in by Hoolahan, flashed a shot inches past his far post soon afterwards.

While United's movement and passing were unrecognisable from the first period, however, it took a moment of fortune for them to break through. Ryan Bennett should have cleared, but Welbeck closed him down quickly, and the rebound fell kindly for the England forward to run on, push the ball past Ruddy, and turn it over the line.

"We certainly didn't deserve to lose. We were excellent in the first half, but when you have your best period you have to capitalise and with the quality they have and the changes they can make it can allow them to get back into the game," sighed Norwich's manager, Chris Hughton.

Richard Rae

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Man City 1-0 Crystal Palace

Posted: 28 Dec 2013 09:06 AM PST

All the best pictures from today's games

Manuel Pellegrini may have a point about festive fixtures. The Manchester City manager is in his first year in England, and simply refuses to accept that playing two games in less than 48 hours is a good idea. He saw his side climb to the top of the Premier League with this victory, for which Yaya Touré, Samir Nasri and Álvaro Negredo were rested, but it was easily City's most unimpressive home win of the season.

After the Boxing Day banquet, this was about as appetising as two-day-old leftovers, and Crystal Palace came close to spoiling City's Christmas by sneaking off with a point. While it might have been imagined that City have reserves of sufficient quality to see off relegation strugglers, that turned out not to be the case. The home side were in danger of spending all day in search of a goal until Pellegrini relented and sent on reinforcements from the substitutes' bench.

"I always knew this game would not be easy," the City manager said. "We were not fresh; it is impossible to play two games in so little time, and it is always difficult when only one team is trying to play.

"The other team just wanted to play for 90 minutes in front of their own goal. I understand why they chose to do that, and sometimes it is very important to know how to win 1-0."

Palace were not quite as negative as that sounds, otherwise Joe Hart would not have been named man of the match for important saves at three crucial moments in the second half, but the pace was slow, the entertainment value low and the crowd restless. The highlights of a stodgy first half came right at its close.

Fernandinho twice came close to scoring at one end, sending a shot over the bar then bringing a save from Julián Speroni with a header from James Milner's cross, while at the other end Palace won a corner to bring a semi-ironic ovation from their travelling support. Apart from Hart taking a boot to the face, the rest of the first 45 minutes was completely forgettable, just a mountain of home possession resulting in a steady trickle of mostly uninspired goal attempts in the Palace half, where almost all the action took place.

Yannick Bolasie did manage a couple of shots for Palace, on the infrequent occasions the visitors ventured across the halfway line, but it was mostly a rearguard action from Tony Pulis's side and, perhaps feeling the effects of their Boxing Day exertions against Liverpool, City were surprisingly short of ideas about how to break it down. A goal was required to open up the game, yet neither side appeared to have enough urgency to create one.

David Silva's attempt five minutes before the interval was typical. Having shown tremendous balance to keep the ball in play on the goal-line and evade Barry Bannan's challenge, he then elected to shoot from a narrow angle when the obvious option was to look up and find a teammate in the middle.

It was as if City thought a goal was bound to arrive eventually, which is probably just what Pulis wanted them to think.

Jason Puncheon possibly showed his hand a little early in bringing a diving save from Hart early in the second half, because after that Pellegrini sent on the cavalry in the form of Negredo and Nasri. He took off two defensive players, kept Edin Dzeko on the pitch and moved Milner to right back, so his intention to win the game could not be doubted.

After Mile Jedinak forced another save from Hart, the strategy worked. Nasri instantly gave City more penetration, and he started the move from which Jesús Navas picked out Dzeko close to the penalty spot with a returned cross from the right. Dzeko crashed the ball home and all Palace's elaborate time-wasting was undone.

"We created some good opportunities and looked quite dangerous on the break," Pulis said. "It's just the final pass or the finish that keeps letting us down. We have done quite well away from home, we just need to turn 1-0 defeats into draws, something that might have happened today but for Joe Hart."

Dzeko almost had another right at the end, again from a cross from the industrious Navas, but his header from a tight angle landed on the roof of the net. A two-goal win would have flattered City: they really were not that good. Whether their present league position flatters City will be shown in the second half of the season. Once they have Touré and Sergio Agüero back, and the benefit of a bit more rest, they should look more like their old selves.

Paul Wilson

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Hull City 6-0 Fulham

Posted: 28 Dec 2013 09:04 AM PST

Premier League: Tom Huddlestone scored his first goal in years as Hull ran riot, scoring all six in the second half

Norwich 0-1 Man Utd

Posted: 28 Dec 2013 09:04 AM PST

Premier League: Danny Welbeck scored the game's only goal as United made it five league wins in a row

Man City 1-0 Crystal Palace

Posted: 28 Dec 2013 09:04 AM PST

Premier League: City went to the top of the table for the first time since August thanks to Edin Dzeko

Harry Redknapp urges QPR to raise game to revive Championship campaign

Posted: 28 Dec 2013 08:35 AM PST

• Lack of fit forwards worries QPR manager
• In-form Leicester look to stretch advantage at top

Harry Redknapp has told his Queens Park Rangers side they must improve if they are to challenge for promotion this season. QPR travel to Watford's Vicarage Road on the back of two defeats – a 1-0 loss to the leaders Leicester last weekend followed by a 2-0 reverse against Nottingham Forest on Boxing Day – that left them three points off the top of the Championship table in third.

QPR look set to be without their leading scorer, Charlie Austin, who missed the Forest match with a hamstring problem and remains a major doubt. Bobby Zamora started his first match since September following a knee injury in Austin's absence and lasted the first half, with Andy Johnson leading the line after the break, but neither looked like scoring.

Redknapp told the club's website: "We're struggling to score goals and it's a problem. We were without Charlie Austin [on Boxing Day] and Bobby Zamora and Andy Johnson could only complete half a game each because of their fitness, and the injuries that they've had. It was difficult but there are no excuses – we've got to do better.

"We've got another tough game at the weekend against Watford – that won't be easy. I'll have to look at the team and maybe juggle one or two around to see what we can do. We had a great start to the season. We've had a little bit of a blip now but hopefully that's taught us a lesson. We've got to up our game a bit if we want to challenge [for promotion]."

The new Watford manager, Giuseppe Sannino, must decide whether to stick with a winning lineup. His side ended their 11-game wait for victory with a 4-0 hammering of Millwall on Boxing Day.

Sannino recalled Ikechi Anya and Fernando Forestieri for that match and, with no new injury or suspension concerns expected, it remains to be seen whether the Italian will stick with the same XI 72 hours later against QPR.

Asked what he had tried to do differently to the previous five home games Watford had lost under former manager Gianfranco Zola, Sannino replied: "I'm not a magician but I'm an honest worker. I try to give a working mentality always to my players. It's only through the work that we can improve and have results."

Leicester have picked up seven points from their past three matches and their Boxing Day success over Reading took them two points clear at the top after previous leaders Burnley lost 1-0 at Middlesbrough, and Nigel Pearson's team will be determined to build on that in the coming days when they host Bolton before going to Millwall.

"Bolton are going to be another stiff test for us. They are a good side with good individual players," Pearson told his club's website. "Dougie [Freedman, Bolton's manager] has had a chance to get the season going and they finished last season very well.

"I think they are a team that's capable of putting some good runs together. "We've got to be mindful of what they're about, but we go into it to try and get our performance at the standard that we know we can hit."

Burnley travel to mid-table Wigan and can reclaim top spot if they win and Leicester slip up, while Derby – four points off the top in fourth – take on the bottom side Barnsley, who have won one of their past five games.

Forest take on fellow play-off hopefuls Leeds, who are on the back of a five-match unbeaten run, while Birmingham travel to Blackburn and Sheffield Wednesday can move out of the relegation zone if they overcome Charlton away and other results go their way.

Huddersfield take on second-bottom Yeovil, who have lost their last two games, while Doncaster and Millwall will battle it out at the Keepmoat Stadium - both in desperate need of a win to pull them away from the danger zone.

In Sunday's other fixtures Brighton travel up to Blackpool, Bournemouth take on Ipswich and Boro host Reading.


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Inner strength makes Ole Gunnar Solskjaer a candidate for Cardiff City

Posted: 28 Dec 2013 08:03 AM PST

• Solskjaer's potential spotted early by Sir Alex Ferguson
• Norwegian has enjoyed startling success in Norway

Vincent Tan and Sir Alex Ferguson may not have much in common but it appears that both men at least rate Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as a manager. The Cardiff owner is hoping to make the 40-year-old Norwegian the next manager of his Premier League club while Ferguson always knew that the former striker would be a success in the dugout.

Last year, when asked about Solskjaer's success at Molde, the Scot said: "Ole always wanted to stay in the game, so from an early age he was preparing to stay in the game as a coach or as a manager. He was always one of the professionals who used to take down all the notes from the training sessions and games."

Perhaps even more importantly, Ferguson talked about Solskjaer's inner strength, a quality necessary to succeed in management, whether it is working for Tan or any other owner in modern football. "He has got an inner toughness, there's no doubt about that," Ferguson said. "If you go to a club in Norway that have never won the league in their history and you win the league you have to have something about you."

Solskjaer is a wanted man. He turned down Aston Villa last year and Cardiff and West Bromwich Albion are two clubs on the lookout for a new manager going into the new year while his current club, where his contract runs out in the summer, hope to hang on to him.

The Molde director Tarje Nordstrand Jacobsen said this week that they have offered Solskjaer a contract extension and that it is by no means inevitable that the young manager will move abroad.

"I am in daily contact with Ole Gunnar and it is not impossible that this all ends with something positive for the club. He has not given us a final decision yet."

The Molde players are desperate to keep Solskjaer, understandably so after two league titles and one cup win in three years. The captain, Daniel Berg Hestad, talked recently of how Solskjaer kept spirits up earlier this year during what was, at times, a difficult season for the team.

"There were a lot of mental issues [for the younger players] and Ole and the rest of the coaching staff were very keen to sort that out as soon as possible."

There is no doubt Solskjaer has learned much from Ferguson. Last month, as Ferguson visited Norway to give a speech for 500 business men and women, the former United striker said: "It will be nice to see Ferguson again although I have heard most of the things he has to say before. What can businesses learn from Ferguson? Teamwork and team spirit. Set goals that are achievable.

"And then you have the work etiquette. Alex Ferguson was always the first one in and always the last one to leave. And he was also able to develop with the times, never to stand still, never to become a dinasour that just lingered."

And in his three years at Molde, Solskjaer has already implemented some of Ferguson's ideas. Not only has he been successful, he has done so with a group of young players, just as Ferguson's United did in the early 90s.

"I have had a very, very good time at Molde and it is always great to win titles," Solskjaer said recently. "That gives me the belief that my view on football, to develop players and to build a club, works. We are working to have better players and that way the team will develop as well.

"We are proud of what we have done so far. I can choose from a team of 11 Norwegians under the age of 22 who did a good job in the league. That is a very good sign for the club. We like to give young players a chance at the same time as we have got some very experienced players to lean back on."

As a coaching philosophy, Solskjaer's is difficult to argue with. The only question remaining is which club will be able to benefit from it in 2014.

Marcus Christenson

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Premier League: Saturday's matches – in pictures

Posted: 28 Dec 2013 07:14 AM PST

All the best images from around the grounds

Steven Bloor

Return to standing areas considered for Championship clubs

Posted: 28 Dec 2013 07:12 AM PST

• Football League writes to all 72 clubs asking for views
• 'It's only a matter of time,' says supporters' group

The Football Supporters' Federation believes "eventually common sense must prevail" over the implementation of safe-standing areas at British grounds.The FSF has long campaigned for safe standing and now the Football League is consulting clubs over the issue, which is likely to require government approval.

Politicians will be mindful of the sensitivity of the subject, nearly 25 years on from the Hillsborough disaster, when 96 Liverpool fans were killed. Yet with many supporters standing even in all-seater stadia, the FSF is adamant the current situation cannot continue.

"Eventually common sense must prevail," the FSF co-chairman, Malcolm Clarke, said. "How long it will take, I wouldn't like to estimate, but certainly the debate is gathering momentum now. It's not in anybody's interests that the current situation, where you have tens of thousands of people standing in seated areas every week, continues.

"That helps nobody. Those areas are not ideally designed for standing and you have the problem of those people who can't stand, or don't want to stand, having their view blocked by people who are. The common sense solution is to have a proper safe-standing area for those who wish to stand and seated areas for those who wish to sit."

Most of the Football League's 72 clubs are in favour of safe standing, with the German model using rail seats pointed to as a workable example.

German stadiums use rail seats, which can be flipped up and locked in place to provide space to stand behind a waist-high rail that runs along the back of the row in front. Each seat is linked to a ticket number and can be used in a sitting position to meet Uefa rules for European games.

At present, it is not clear if the rail seats would meet regulations or not; virtually all seats in every ground in the country tip up unless someone is sitting on it.The Football League chief executive Shaun Harvey told the BBC: "Speaking personally, I do not have strong views on this and it is genuinely a matter for the clubs. It is now over to the clubs to get their views."

The FSF believes clubs' attitude to standing has shifted. Clarke added: "We welcome the Football League taking this initiative. Previously it was normally a debate between us and politicians.

"The big change that's occurred in the last two or three years is that increasing numbers of football clubs are now seeing the common sense of this. We're very pleased about that."

If implemented, it is possible ticket prices for supporters could be reduced."That would be a decision for the club themselves," Clarke said, "but there's certainly the possibility there of lowering ticket prices and increasing their income, for those clubs where there's a high level of demand. It's possible to accommodate more people in the same area standing safely than it is sitting. Clubs could reduce ticket prices and increase the capacity and, in some cases, increase their income as well. Potentially everyone's a winner."


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West Ham United 3-3 West Bromwich Albion | Premier League match report

Posted: 28 Dec 2013 06:59 AM PST

The best pictures from all today's games

The boos that greeted the final whistle said it all. West Ham supporters had just seen their team show the resilience required to earn a point having found themselves 2-1 down at half-time, but they failed to triumph in a match their manager had described as "must-win" and, as such, remain the relegation zone. Little wonder the natives are restless and, for Sam Allardyce, the uncertainty surrounding his position is growing.

He did not have the look of a condemned man after this absorbing contest against a West Bromwich Albion side that twice came from behind to remain undefeated under their caretaker manager, Keith Downing. Instead, he spoke about the pride he felt in his team's display and put their conceding three goals for a third successive league game down to the fact that after James Tomkins became the club's latest injury casualty with a suspected groin strain in the 10th minute the defence had to operate with full-backs in the four positions.

Allardyce was perhaps right to be positive, yet it remains one win in 12 games for 19th-place West Ham before a potentially crucial meeting with Fulham on New Year's Day.

"We started well, looked comfortable, and the lads continued to do the right things, even after going behind – I couldn't ask much more of them," said Allardyce, who is now favourite among some bookmakers to be the next Premier League manager to be sacked. "I honestly feel that if we didn't have full-backs playing across our defence we would have won. We have to get our injured players fit, it's been weeks and weeks [out] for too many of them."

The standout absentee remains the record signing, Andy Carroll, who has not played a minute for West Ham this season because of an ankle injury. In his absence, they have looked toothless in attack, although here they well and truly sprung into life.

Key to the flurry of goals was Modibo Maïga, a half-time substitute for Carlton Cole. The Mali striker had already tested Ben Foster with a long-range drive from the edge of the area before he made it 2-2 on 65 minutes with a low shot, from an almost identical position, that the West Brom keeper should have dealt with better.

Maïga was also involved in the goal that made it 3-2 to West Ham, heading Mark Noble's delivery back across the area, where Kevin Nolan was waiting to acrobatically strike the ball into the net. Cue bedlam in the stands, with those Hammers fans in attendance relishing seeing a side that had continued to show spirit and determination during this contest getting some reward. But there was to be a sting in the tail as Saido Berahino ran on to Chris Brunt's pass and made it 3-3 with a low drive. "We mentally switched from the delight of going ahead," reflected Allardyce.

West Brom deserved the equaliser. Under pressure they may have been, but the visitors showed eye-catching movement and crisp passing throughout this contest and, having gone behind to Joe Cole's early opener, punished West Ham's all-too-slack defending. Nicolas Anelka struck on 40 minutes with a coolly taken finish, having collected Brunt's defence-splitting pass, before striking from close-range after the hosts had failed to clear a corner.

The goals were Anelka's first and second for West Brom since joining the club on a free transfer in the summer, and his reward for an intelligent display. What a shame, then, that there should be controversy surrounding one of his goal celebrations.

Downing did not want to focus on that after the final whistle and, instead, paid tribute to his team's display, especially given the number of "tired legs" in the visitors' ranks after their second match in 48 hours.

"I made changes to freshen things up and the lads responded fantastically well," said Downing, who expects to remain in charge for the New Year's Day visit of Newcastle, as the club's search for a new manager goes on having just ended negotiations with Pepe Mel.

Allardyce also pointed to tiredness in his side after their Boxing Day encounter with Arsenal. As far as the West Ham fans are concerned, however, the excuses are beginning to run out.

Sachin Nakrani

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West Ham United v West Bromwich Albion – as it happened | Jacob Steinberg

Posted: 28 Dec 2013 06:42 AM PST

Minute-by-minute report: An entertaining 3-3 draw did little for West Ham's hopes of staying up 

Jacob Steinberg

Written by TBMU Admin

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