Football news, match reports and fixtures | theguardian.com

Socceroos' Robbie Kruse an extreme doubt for World Cup
Moyes: United have to believe
Mourinho on a mission to develop
Championship roundup: 'fluke' Millwall goal defeats Ipswich Town
European roundup: Real Madrid demolish Real Betis to go joint top
Wellington Phoenix 5-0 Melbourne Victory | A-League match report
Sydney FC 0-1 Central Coast Mariners | A-League match report
Clarence Seedorf believes he's the man for Milan but fans have doubts
José Mourinho plants thoughts of Chelsea move in Wayne Rooney's mind | Daniel Taylor
Adnan Januzaj by the men who forged Manchester United's rising star
Said & Done – the week in football
Saturday Sundae: Puncheon above his weight
Celtic 3-0 Motherwell | Scottish Premiership match report
Davids resigns as Barnet manager
Liverpool 2-2 Aston Villa
Manuel Pellegrini: Manchester City centurions can win four trophies
Liverpool v Aston Villa – as it happened | Scott Murray
Steve May's hat-trick for St Johnstone earns a point against Hearts
Football League: your thoughts | Alan Smith
Reading 7-1 Bolton Wanderers | Championship match report
Norwich City 1-0 Hull City | Premier League match report
Crystal Palace 1-0 Stoke City | Premier League match report
Real Betis 0-5 Real Madrid | La Liga match report
Arsenal 2-0 Fulham
West Ham 1-3 Newcastle

Socceroos' Robbie Kruse an extreme doubt for World Cup

Posted: 18 Jan 2014 03:20 PM PST

Robbie Kruse’s chances of appearing at the World Cup appear to be over after the forward tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee

Moyes: United have to believe

Posted: 18 Jan 2014 03:00 PM PST

• Moyes: 'I'm always looking at the No1 spot. I have to'
• Disappointed if United finished fourth in Premier League

David Moyes does not see Champions League qualification as a saving grace for Manchester United's erratic season and claims he would be disappointed to finish in fourth place in the Premier League. "I'm always looking at the No1 spot," the United manager says. "I have to. That's the job. When you are at this club the No1 slot is where you have to be."

With six league defeats United are seventh in the table and six points adrift of the lowest Champions League place after Liverpool's draw with Aston Villa. Moyes goes to Stamford Bridge on Sunday knowing that only a win will suffice. Yet, despite not having won at Chelsea in 12 years as a Premier League manager and being handicapped by injuries to both Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie, he insists his side can still be title contenders. "There are still plenty of games to go," Moyes says. "We have got a long way to go to catch up but we have got to believe there's a chance.

"We have to try and do something about our league position. We have won five out of six games, but some of the teams above us have done even better than that. There are a lot of teams having very good seasons the seven or eight at the top are all on pretty good runs, and we are going to need some of them to drop some points. At the moment Manchester City, Arsenal and Chelsea are the teams to beat."

With City looking solid in the league and scoring goals for fun under Manuel Pellegrini it is being unkindly suggested Moyes is in a familiar situation at United, in charge of the second-best team in a major footballing city. The former Everton manager is not having that. "United are not just the biggest club in the country they are the biggest club in the world," he says. "Some of the results have not been what we would want but I wouldn't say any of the aura is fading, in fact I actually think the opposite.

"The number of big players who want to join Manchester United is incredible. Maybe players want to go for the money to other clubs but, if you ask them where they would really like to play,whose badge they would choose to wear, they want to wear the badge of Manchester United, because of what the club stands for, its tradition, its history, everything about it."

Mirroring the slide down the league table, Manchester United's share price has dipped in recent weeks, but Moyes is confident both reversals will prove short term because of the power of the club's brand. "Players are not looking at the share price, they are looking at what the club stands for in global terms," the United manager says.

"It's renowned throughout the world, everywhere you go. This club is much bigger than even I realised, I've been to a few games in the last week or so and wherever you go in the world everybody knows the Manchester United manager. It is difficult to hide away at a game, put it like that. That tells you right away what this club stands for."

Moyes is aware that after so many seasons of success many in the game are enjoying the sight of United struggling. "None more so than the media," he points out. "I can see that. If you didn't have Manchester United I don't think there would be anything to read in the papers, because almost everything you see is talking about Manchester United. Everybody needs a good, powerful Manchester United. Well, it might be a wait, but don't write us off yet."

Paul Wilson

Mourinho on a mission to develop

Posted: 18 Jan 2014 02:59 PM PST

Manager determined more players should follow John Terry's path from academy to Stamford Bridge regular

José Mourinho fears that there is an error with Adnan Januzaj's birth certificate. "He's not 18, he's 25," the Chelsea manager jests of the prodigy who will carry the fight for Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. "He is so mature, so comfortable. A fantastic player. He has great conditions to have a long‑term career at United. I don't know the boy individually, but it looks like he has everything."

Januzaj represents an ideal that Mourinho has come to covet and that, he admits, is among the principal drivers of his second spell at Chelsea. Januzaj, who has shot to prominence this season, is not exactly a home-grown product – United took him from Anderlecht as a 16-year-old in 2011 – but he is a player who has made the transition from academy prospect to first-team regular.

"You can see that since I left [in 2007], Chelsea didn't really have a player coming direct from the academy to the first team," Mourinho says. "John Terry was the last and it was not with me. It was before me."

Terry became an important member of the Chelsea first team from 2000-01 onwards – and if he is a symbol of the old school, ranks-to-riches route, Januzaj is today's twist: a player of diverse heritage who moves freely in a smaller world. Mourinho simply wants a graduate from the Chelsea academy, however late they arrive and however many times they jump in and out of the club on loan. "It's very important," Mourinho says. "It's something I really want to happen."

Chelsea are doing everything they can, from the grassroots to arrangements with clubs such as Vitesse Arnhem and Middlesbrough, where players can develop on loan – although the signing of Nemanja Matic for £21m from Benfica on Wednesday does not look like an example of joined-up thinking. The midfielder was allowed to leave Chelsea three years ago as a makeweight worth £3m in the deal that brought David Luiz to Stamford Bridge from Benfica.

Mourinho talks up the role of the technical director, Michael Emenalo, while he also works closely with the academy manager, Neil Bath, and Eddie Newton, who liaises with the many players who are out on loan.

There are five of them at Vitesse, including Lucas Piazon and Bertrand Traoré, while the highly rated Nathaniel Chalobah has joined Kenneth Omeruo on loan at Middlesbrough, where Aitor Karanka, Mourinho's former assistant at Real Madrid, is the manager.

Tomas Kalas and Lewis Baker have appeared for the Chelsea first team this season, and Mourinho mentions the progress of Nathan Ake. There are hopes for Thorgan Hazard, Eden's younger brother, and Patrick Bamford, who are on loan at Zulte Waregem and Derby County respectively.

"Emenalo is working hard and choosing the right place for the players to go and play, to evolve," Mourinho says. "We watch them every weekend. The information comes to me online immediately, so I can know where Chalobah is, little Hazard, what they do.

"We have contacts with their coaches and their clubs. It's not something you can just click and make happen. It needs time.

"The academy is very well organised and the transitional period [into the first team] is something that the club is having a lot of care with. So, normally, it has to work."

Januzaj is a young man in a hurry, but Mourinho is older and wiser, more patient these days. His management style has changed, he said, as he looks at a broader and long-term project at Chelsea, during which he intends to set a new mark for managerial longevity under Roman Abramovich.

"I have the record … three and a half years," Mourinho says of his first spell in charge. "I have to try and beat the record. I have a four-year contract, so hopefully I will beat the record.

"I reflect a lot about my style of leadership. One thing is where I want to try to get the best results immediately and, for a couple of years, your leadership can be much more confrontational. It is one thing to have a relationship with my players that I know are going to be my players for a couple of years and another thing to educate players with a relationship and with an empathy that I'm sure is going to be for five, six, seven, eight years."

Abramovich is also a different beast. "He is an intelligent person and intelligent persons, even if they are not experts in certain areas, will learn a lot," Mourinho says. "So, in 10 years of experience, working closely with managers and the club, and so on, it is easy for him to add experiences and understand better what he wants."

What everyone wants is a player to emerge and excite like Januzaj.

David Hytner

Championship roundup: 'fluke' Millwall goal defeats Ipswich Town

Posted: 18 Jan 2014 02:56 PM PST

• Ian Holloway praises Ryan Fredericks's winner against Ipswich
• Billy Davies says Forest will get stronger, after 4-1 win

Millwall 1-0 Ipswich Town

Ian Holloway hailed Millwall's "fluke" winner from Ryan Fredericks, who signed on loan from Spurs on Friday – the 21-year-old's over-hit cross beating Ipswich keeper Dean Gerken. "Ryan didn't mean to do that but I'm delighted we held on. What I asked for they gave me, and this is the bare minimum. We were up for a fight and we were ready for it. My question to the players is: 'Where has that been until now?'" Mick McCarthy admitted his Ipswich side deserved to lose. "Fair play to Ollie because he got them going – that was always going to be the case. They played better."

Nottingham Forest 4-1 Blackburn

Billy Davies warned Forest's promotion rivals his team are only going to get stronger after a fine demolition of Blackburn, featuring two penalties from Henri Lansbury. "We have momentum, we have confidence, and we will keep working away. We've been playing good stuff in recent months, and the transfer market is very interesting in January: we'll keep working." The Blackburn manager, Gary Bowyer, pointed the finger at referee Darren Deadman's performance. "Why do you ask me if the referee cost us the match? You have answered your own question. I agree with you."

QPR 2-1 Huddersfield Town

QPR assistant Kevin Bond admitted Rangers would be "very vulnerable" without Charlie Austin after his goals secured three points, and confirmed efforts are underway to sign another striker. "That search is still continuing - that's all I can say at this stage. We need people who can score goals and we need help in that department. We haven't finished teams off in the way we would have liked." Mark Robins said the defeat was tough to take. "We played really well, but we've not got a point, so it's difficult to swallow."

And the rest

Blackpool's miserable form continued at Oakwell as bottom club Barnsley secured a impressive 2-0 win. ■ Yeovil won 2-0 at Birmingham to move within four points of safety, James Hayter scoring twice. ■ Bournemouth drew 1-1 with 10-man Watford. ■ Burnley dropped out of the automatic promotion places after being held to a 1-1 home draw by Sheffield Wednesday. ■ Derby won a scrappy game against Brighton 1-0 thanks to a goal from on-loan Chelsea striker Patrick Bamford. ■ Struggling Doncaster ended Wigan's unbeaten run with a 3-0 home victory. ■ And an Emmanuel Ledesma strike gave Middlesbrough a 1-0 home win over Charlton, stretching their unbeaten run to six games.

European roundup: Real Madrid demolish Real Betis to go joint top

Posted: 18 Jan 2014 02:26 PM PST

• Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale score in 5-0 win
• Juventus record historic 12th consecutive victory with 4-2 win

Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema took Real Betis apart to give Real Madrid a resounding 5-0 victory that put them level on 50 points with Barcelona and Atlético Madrid at the top of La Liga. Barça and Atlético's play on Sunday, against Levante and Sevilla respectively.

Ronaldo opened the scoring in the 10th minute with a long-range shot that rocketed past the Betis goalkeeper, Stephan Andersen. Andersen was again left rooted to the spot when Bale's delicate free-kick found the net in the 25th minute and Benzema fired just inside a post moments before half-time.

After the break Andersen went some way to redeeming himself when he produced a fine save to deny Ronaldo time but Di Maria and Álvaro Morata completed the rout.

In Serie A, Juventus beat Sampdoria 4-2 to restore their eight-point advantage after Roma had briefly closed the gap with a 3-0 defeat of Livorno.

Arturo Vidal scored twice for Juventus and Paul Pogba netted a brilliant goal as Juve recorded an historic 12th successive victory.

Marseille's Ligue 1 game at home to Valenciennes fell victim to torrential rain at the Stade Vélodrome.

Wellington Phoenix 5-0 Melbourne Victory | A-League match report

Posted: 18 Jan 2014 02:19 PM PST

Wellington Phoenix extracted sweet revenge for their fourth round defeat by Melbourne Victory with a 5-0 win

Sydney FC 0-1 Central Coast Mariners | A-League match report

Posted: 18 Jan 2014 02:12 PM PST

Mile Sterjovski ensured Sydney FC endured their fifth consecutive winless week in the A-League

Clarence Seedorf believes he's the man for Milan but fans have doubts

Posted: 18 Jan 2014 02:00 PM PST

• Lack of a coaching pedigree is a major concern
• 'I can allow myself to say I am not afraid of anyone'

James Riach

Clarence Seedorf had only been away for less than two years, but all it took to coax him back to Milan was a call from Silvio Berlusconi. That and the offer of one of the most prestigious jobs in world football. Where the Rossoneri are concerned, Seedorf's connection runs deep.

Ten years with Milan as a player coincided with one of the club's most successful periods under Carlo Ancelotti, with two scudetti and two Champions League titles secured by a side once feared throughout Europe.

How things can change. Seedorf returns for his first managerial job with the club 11th in Serie A and before this weekend, trailing Juventus by 30 points following the departure of Max Allegri. They are a team in transition desperately searching for a forgotten identity

Yet despite Seedorf's pedigree as a player, his appointment has received a mixed reaction in Milan, and the task in hand is daunting. It is easy to understand supporter scepticism. Seedorf, at 37, has no coaching experience but could not turn the opportunity down. He had been playing well for the Brazilian side Botafogo when the call came from Berlusconi, and the answer was simple.

"When he called me I couldn't say no," said Seedorf. "We have a lot to do to get the club back where it belongs and I'm very happy to be back here.

"I feel very emotional and I also feel a sense of duty. I have to give 100% to rebuild, and to give enthusiasm and a sense of security. We can look to do important things for the fans. I left Milan in May 2012 at the end of a cycle. My job now is to open a new one."

Yet Seedorf is unlikely to be afforded any honeymoon period. Milan need results and they need them now, following a campaign where their defence has been weak and their attacking talents – Mario Balotelli aside – have failed to spark. They are six points above relegation, 15 away from the top four and preparing to face Atlético Madrid, joint top of La Liga, in the last 16 of the Champions League next month. Seedorf promised a more attacking style on the eve of his first match in charge at home to Hellas Verona .

"For me it's not a question of one, two or three attackers, it's about a philosophy of how to play. My plan will be to have lots of players in the opposition area," Seedorf said. "Milan's best performances in recent years, for example against Barcelona, took place when we were able to stay in the opponent's half. It is easier to get a result when you play good football. I've seen many of the Milan games so far and I think they deserve more points than they currently have."

Those bold words may yet fall on deaf ears. A banner unfurled by the Curva Sud ultras at Milan's former offices read: "Seedorf, no grazie", while director Adriano Galliani's assertion that "Seedorf will become a great coach because he was a great player" appears misguided at best. Leonardo, who preceded Allegri in the job and was appointed in similar circumstances, could only guide Milan to third in the league and a crushing European defeat to Manchester United during his year at the helm.

In Seedorf's final years with Milan as a player, the club may have secured the title but his role in the side was at times questioned. In 2009 a banner called him "arrogant", while his relationship with Berlusconi was also called into question.

Now, with Milan's internal power struggle intensifying, Seedorf may find his role and allegiances within the club under scrutiny. Barbara Berlusconi, the daughter of owner Silvio, remains an important figure within the club. Galliani also remains despite suggestions last year that he was close to resigning.

Yet for all this, one thing certainly counts in Seedorf's favour: he is a born winner. After becoming the first player to win the Champions League with three different clubs, he declared: "I can allow myself to say that I'm not afraid of anyone." That followed Milan's 2003 victory over Juventus in Manchester, matching a feat he previously achieved at Ajax and Real Madrid, before lifting the trophy again for the Rossoneri in 2007 after the disappointment of 2005.

Seedorf is an astute observer of the tactical side of the game, and he knows Milan inside out. Significantly, he becomes the first black manager in the Italian top-flight for 20 years, a symbolic step in a country where racism on the terraces is still rife. He will need all his self-confidence during these first few months in charge as he attempts to re-shape a squad that only recently underwent an overhaul. Defence will be his first priority, but getting the most out of Balotelli, Kaka, Robinho and Stephan El Shaarawy is also a major task.

"I still need to get to know the team and do it as quickly as possible," he said yesterday. "However with the desire that I have seen I'm convinced that things will start to go much better than before."

James Riach

José Mourinho plants thoughts of Chelsea move in Wayne Rooney's mind | Daniel Taylor

Posted: 18 Jan 2014 02:00 PM PST

Manager has cunning plan to secure services of Manchester United striker who could transform his own side's goal output

It was the photograph, taken from behind the goal at Swansea, that probably did most to show how dislocated Wayne Rooney became during those weeks and months when his relish at winning matches with Manchester United no longer seemed to be at the heart of his ambitions.

Robin van Persie had just scored his second goal of a 4-1 win and, to a man, the entire team had formed a back-slapping scrum on one side of the pitch. Well, almost to a man. Rooney had forgone the celebrations, in a picture that went around the world because of what it said about his frame of mind. His team were about to usher in the David Moyes era by winning the first match of a new season. Yet Rooney was alone, head down, walking to the centre-circle, with absolutely nothing about his body language to suggest even a flicker of job satisfaction. For United it was a painting-the-town-red kind of day – and yet there was Rooney, one of their own, barely able to add a splash of beige.

That was mid-August, when he was craving a move to Chelsea and, behind the scenes, everything had become a lot messier than ever really came out. At one point United discovered there were people telling Rooney, falsely, the club were leaking damaging stories about him. Something deep and fundamental inside Rooney's mind had already been pushed off course and Ed Woodward, United's chief executive, deserves more credit than he received for deciding the player could stamp his feet as much as he liked but was not going to be permitted to leave. No one could have been sure how Rooney would react, or the level of risk, in a sport where convention tells us it seldom makes sense to keep a player against his wishes.

As it has turned out, Rooney has knuckled down in a way that suggests he is aware Old Trafford is not an entirely joyless workplace after all. Yet still there is the overwhelming sense that this particular story is not fully told. Rooney's pledge of allegiance to United has been notable by its absence. His contract expires at the end of next season and in the modern transfer market that means his value has been depreciating since the start of this season.

United either sell him at some stage or risk losing him for nothing. The only other option is they persuade him to sign a new contract but that appears to be unlikely and José Mourinho would not be offering regular updates if the possibility had come on Chelsea's radar. Within the sport it is an open secret the relevant people want the deal to happen.

All of which can seem strangely perplexing when Rooney is close to achieving a form of greatness at Old Trafford but is apparently prepared to give it up just as it looms. His 208 goals puts him fourth behind Jack Rowley, Denis Law and Sir Bobby Charlton in the list of United's all-time scorers. Charlton has 249 and it is not easy trying to understand Rooney if he is not motivated by the thought of catching and overhauling that number.

Mourinho's analysis is that United will probably try to move him abroad but no one should take that as the Chelsea manager giving up on luring him to Stamford Bridge, even if it means playing a long game. He also appears extremely keen to keep it as a matter of public debate bearing in mind – and the cunning old dog carefully plans these events – he brought it up without any prompting at Friday's press conference. Everything Mourinho says is for a reason and on this occasion it is not the greatest leap of logic to suspect it is all part of a wider strategy to encourage Rooney to be more proactive this time.

What he said, though, made perfect sense in one regard because, if there is one thing Chelsea should have learned after unsuccessful bids of £23m and £25m last summer, it is that they would be foolish to underestimate Woodward for a second time. For United it was always a question of status and positioning before money, of knowing that caving in would make them appear weak and vulnerable, while simultaneously projecting Chelsea as the more ambitious club with the greater plans and momentum.

A disaffected Rooney, they concluded, would still be far more useful to them than watching him score 20-plus goals for a direct rival while chipping off another piece of flint from the mountain of debt accrued by the Glazer family. They have been proved right and, importantly, they know as well now that Rooney will still score goals, however scrambled his mind might occasionally be, if they do the same next season, too; if, that is, they are willing to take the hit financially.

Would Rooney move abroad? He says this was always his plan when he handed in a transfer request in October 2010 but the alternative would be to admit that he was intrigued by the possibility of moving to Manchester City, which would be complicated to say the least in a divided football city. Rooney's mind might like to wander but that does not necessarily make him a great traveller and City's thinking at the time was straightforward: "Strengthen yourself, weaken your rival," as one member of coaching staff put it.

Equally it is not particularly easy to understand what is driving Rooney's thoughts. His relationship with Sir Alex Ferguson was always the issue last season but he now has a manager who fully trusts him again. Ferguson might be a regular at matches but he does not go to the training ground or into the dressing room and should not therefore be of great consideration. As for the crowd, the hostile reaction to Rooney's first transfer request has made way this time for the kind of voluble and sustained backing that recognises his importance to the team. The supporters have been doing their bit, almost out of self-preservation, to show him they care and that he matters.

Anyone who values sporting achievement will understand what it ought to mean for a wearer of United's colours to surpass Charlton's record but maybe money comes into it, too. In football it usually does, and it does not help United that their relationship with Rooney's adviser, Paul Stretford, seems permanently to be strained. Stretford is not an easy man with whom to do business. He also suffers from what might be considered a fatal defect for an official adviser: he gives his client some wretched advice.

In this case, however, a reasonable case could be made that Mourinho's Chelsea will be more accomplished trophy-collectors over the next few years than Moyes' United. It is not an exact science but two things can be said without fear of contradiction if Chelsea had Rooney on board. The first is that they would probably be going into Sunday's game at the top of the Premier League; and the second is that the difference of nine points between themselves in third position and United in seventh would be strikingly more.

As it is, worrying about the output of their strikers has become a way of life at Chelsea for longer than they would probably wish to remember. Fernando Torres has been erratic long enough for it to seem like the norm rather than just a passing affliction. Samuel Eto'o is a fraction of the player he once was and, in hindsight, signing him was a lapse in judgment bearing in mind it compelled the younger and more effective Romelu Lukaku to request a move. Demba Ba is waiting to be moved out, a confidence player with little to be confident about at this level, and it is no great surprise to learn that, away from their earshot, Mourinho's exasperation with his forwards has poured out in the form of at least one diatribe about their collective failings. A fit and fully motivated Rooney would solve the problem in a click of the fingers. Chelsea's problem is that United are well aware of that, too.

Short should apologise for giving De Fanti starring role in Sunderland farce

Roberto De Fanti, despite considerable competition from elsewhere in the north-east, will be remembered as the man who put the word "dire" into director of football. Yet the most startling part of the De Fanti story is that Sunderland's owner, Ellis Short, was naive enough to allow a former football agent to exert such a position of influence and in the space of seven months leave them with a squad considerably worse than the one that finished fourth bottom last May.

De Fanti was brought in to take charge of recruitment last June, having been advising Short for several months, and was instrumental in the decision to replace Martin O'Neill with Paolo Di Canio.

Short has evidently seen sense but only after the latest manager, Gus Poyet, reverted to using the core of players from O'Neill's time in charge. Jozy Altidore, signed for £8.5m, has managed only one league goal all season. Cabral,correct the midfielder De Fanti envisaged building a team around, played in the first league game of the season but never again. Vito Mannone has done pretty well since signing from Arsenal and, being generous, Emanuele Giaccherini and the on-loan Ki Sung-yeung are relatively successful pieces of De Fanti business but only in the context of a list of 14 signings who also include Charalampos Mavrias, Valentin Roberge, Andrea Dossena and Modibo Diakité.

De Fanti also oversaw the recruitment of a network of new and mainly Italian scouts and Di Canio could hardly wait to distance himself from the signings once he had left the premises.

A small fortune has been lost in the process and De Fanti will leave with a considerable amount of money for his troubles. The statement Short put out should have taken the form of a public apology.

Anfield's Trigger in coat-hanger gaffe

Roger Lloyd-Pack, who died last week, was a long-time Guardian reader and Spurs fan and no doubt he liked the fact that his character in Only Fools and Horses has spawned more "Trigger" nicknames in football than could possibly be calculated.

No one, however, carried it off as well as Jason McAteer who, as a Liverpool player, once locked his keys inside his car and was trying to think of a way in when a policeman pulled over and suggested he fetched a coat hanger.

McAteer went inside and duly returned with a wooden hanger. "What the hell do you expect me to do with that?" the policeman asked. And McAteer, still nonplussed, replied: "I thought you were going to use it to smash the window."

Daniel Taylor

Adnan Januzaj by the men who forged Manchester United's rising star

Posted: 18 Jan 2014 02:00 PM PST

'Natural class, talent and a love of the game' allied with a determined father helped propel the young midfielder to the top

It is 1 March 2011, at Neerpede, home of the Anderlecht academy. Charleroi U17s are the visitors. Within two minutes, Anderlecht take the lead through a fragile looking boy who is later elected "man" of the match. But he is not a man, he is a boy and a year younger than the other players. A group of parents who, along with a cluster of scouts, make up the majority of the crowd, are not happy as it is common knowledge that the boy in question is about to join Manchester United. The feeling is that he is keeping someone else out of the team. Prowling the touchline is a man wearing his customary Anderlecht shirt. The boy is Adnan Januzaj. The man is his father.

A lot of things can be said about parents on the touchline – few of them good – but there is no doubt that Abedin Januzaj has had a positive impact on Adnan's career. Speaking to Yannick Ferreira, who coached Januzaj when he was playing for the Anderlecht Under-15s, it becomes clear that the youngster was extremely talented, but that it was a combination of the young man's skills and the older man's determination that set the Januzajs apart from the rest.

"I remember him being not as tall and strong as his team-mates, but his technique, his game reading and his left foot were so good that he was the best player we had," Ferreira says. "If I have to define him as a young footballer in a few words: natural class, talent and love of the game. Even with all those skills, nobody thought that he would progress so quickly. Am I surprised that he plays for Manchester United's first team? Not at all. But so early? That's just amazing. His game has taken on another dimension after a few years in England."

Another dimension is quite clearly an understatement. A few months into his debut season, Januzaj has become one of United's best players, one of the few to offer spark and creativity in a midfield lacking skill and invention. Some had seen it coming, one of them being Sir Alex Ferguson, who said last season: "Adnan is a beautifully balanced player. He's only 18 and has to grow into his frame but he has good balance, good acceleration and is a very good technical player."

Ferreira, who became the youngest coach of a Belgian first division team when he took charge of Charleroi at the age of 31, provides further insight into Januzaj's application and professionalism from an early age. "Adnan was a young boy who really loved the game. He was always disappointed when the training session was over or when I gave the players a day off.

"For example, in 2008-2009 we played our league games on a Saturday afternoon. The Sunday was a day off but I planned a training session for the players who had not been selected and for the ones who didn't play much. Adnan played every single game from the first until the last minute, but he came to every Sunday session.

"I've had a lot of chats with his father. He's a kind person. Very demanding, but that's what young players need if they want to reach the top. He watched every single training session and game. Even when Adnan played well, he always had some things to tell his son to help him to improve. He was not the kind of father saying after each game that his son was the best and he played a great game. He was always demanding improvement. And this is something that made Adnan mentally strong."

The son of Kosovo-Albanian refugees, Januzaj was born in Brussels in 1995, six months after the national team manager, Marc Wilmots, sat on the bench watching Belgium lose in the last 16 of the 1994 World Cup. Januzaj's parents had fled Kosovo in 1992 and settled in Koekelberg, one of 19 districts in Brussels. As a youngster, Januzaj played for FC Brussels, and was recognised as an exceptional talent by Anderlecht as a 10-year-old. He stayed there for six years, until United came knocking.

Jean Kindermans, head of Anderlecht's academy, has fond memories of a player who is now wanted by at least six national teams. "He was small and frail with thin legs. He had a phenomenal left foot. He has always been a class above his age. How he managed to control the ball, and at the same time protect it directly, was amazing," he told Vivacité Radio last year. "His only weak point was his speed. This was compensated by his vision and his ability to think three times as fast as the others.

"I remember that his father was always on the touchline, always wearing an Anderlecht shirt. His father was very demanding as he knew his son was talented. Adnan was very well advised by his dad and he is reaping the benefits today. His father said to Anderlecht: 'It's Anderlecht who educates my son, it's not the national team who will give him a contract or help him to develop. He doesn't want to rush things and he doesn't want to be an international player before getting a place in the first team in a club like Manchester United."

When Januzaj moved to Manchester, one of the theories at the time was that his father wanted his son to leave as Anderlecht preferred to focus on building up his strength rather than improve his technical ability. Whatever the reason, and it was said money was not the main issue, the Januzaj family refused to sign Anderlecht's offer of a contract when he reached 16, the minimum age in Belgium, despite a guaranteed place in the first-team squad and – for a country like Belgium – attractive terms.

Januzaj's promotion to the first team at Old Trafford has come remarkably quickly and has coincided with the end of Ferguson's reign at Old Trafford. This was clearly going to be a season of transition and Januzaj is seizing his chance at this time of upheaval. When he played at Anderlecht, he was always the playmaker in the No10 shirt. That is where he could soon be stationed for United, but Januzaj is versatile and in the immediate future David Moyes is likely to use him where he is most needed.

Two former Belgian internationals, Franky Van der Elst and Marc Degryse, have been generous in their praise. "The way Januzaj moves when he receives the ball and the way he's able to see things so quickly reminds me of [the former Holland international] Robbie Rensenbrink," says Van der Elst.

"When I saw first saw Januzaj playing for Manchester United, I immediately tweeted Gert Verheyen [a former international striker and now coach of Belgium's Under-19s] to say he had to get that boy into the squad."

Degryse also sees Januzaj as a special talent. "For his age, Januzaj has great confidence and guts, but also flair, vision and elegance. Importantly, he's always looking to hurt opponents in the final 25 metres, and that's rare."

As for his international future, ever since Januzaj first played for Anderlecht, his father has insisted that his son should focus on his club career. So Januzaj has refused to play for the Belgium junior teams. Apart from Belgium, his country of birth, Croatia, Turkey, Albania and Serbia have also been mentioned as having – somewhat spurious – claims. However, the recent Fifa ruling that Kosovo would be allowed to play friendlies could mean Januzaj opting for that fledgling state, a decision that would certainly please his father. The other option, that of waiting until 2018 and then playing for his adopted country England, remains a remote possibility.

Jean Kindermans ended a recent BBC interview saying it was sad that Januzaj had left Anderlecht at 16 as it would have been easier to stay until he was, say, 21 or 22, and then secure a lucrative move. Recalling Januzaj's departure, Kindermans bemoans the fact that scouts queue to get into Anderlecht's U14 games, take videos and chat to the boys and their parents. Januzaj's father has long gone from Brussels but doubtless he has an Anderlecht shirt hanging up somewhere in his Manchester home.

John Chapman has been covering Belgian football since the late 90s for the BBC, World Soccer and FourFourTwo.

Said & Done – the week in football

Posted: 18 Jan 2014 01:48 PM PST

The week in football: Fifa and Visa; zero tolerance news; a physio aiming high; plus Ronaldinho basking

Partner of the week

Visa – putting 2011's headline stand against Fifa's corruption apex behind them ("This is not good for the game … we ask Fifa to resolve it") by signing an extended partnership to 2022. "Visa couldn't be more excited."

• Signing off the renewal: Fifa's Jérôme Valcke – eight years after he secured the original deal by "lying repeatedly" to elevate the price. Rival bidder Mastercard sued for $90m and Valcke was sacked – a New York court hearing how among the "white lies, commercial lies, bluffs, pure lies, straight untruths and perjury, Mr Valcke even lied when testifying about his lies". Sepp rehired him eight months later.

• Also contained in the 2006 court ruling [pdf] – quotes from internal Fifa emails discussing "different excuses" to avoid a law suit; strategies for "how we can still be seen as having at least some business ethics"; and for how to "make the whole f***-up look better for Fifa".

Meanwhile

Also last week from Zurich: Fifa.com hailing a "landmark" moment: Fifa's total financial grants towards football development since 1999 passing the $1bn mark for the first time. • 2009: the moment Fifa's cash reserves passed the $1bn mark [pdf] – currently $1.3bn.

And one to watch

Aug 2013: Sepp calls on Russia for clarification on its anti-gay law – a potential breach of Fifa's discrimination statutes leading to possible "suspension or expulsion". Jan 2014: Vladimir Putin provides it.

Busy week for

Spain's FA head Angel María Villar: 1) Appointing a new integrity commissioner briefed to "enforce zero tolerance on fraud in football"; And 2) Requesting clemency for ex-Sevilla president José María Del Nido, sentenced to seven years last month for embezzlement.

Breakthrough of the week

Poland: Prosecutors ruling on Lech Poznan chants of "Move on Jews", "Your home is at Auschwitz" and "We're sending you to the gas chambers" – finding they did not incite racial hatred as they were aimed at opposition fans, not "specifically at Jews".

Plus: lost in translation

Italy: Serie A signing a partnership deal with Panini and Disney to launch a new "Mickey Mouse initiative in the fight against racism".

Money news: fair play update

2013: Chelsea hail "serious progress" on their commitment to financial fair play, announcing "a £1.4m profit, contrasting with a loss of £67.7m in the previous financial year". 2014: Chelsea announce a £49m loss, ahead of the transfer window.

Also making progress

Rangers – asking players to take wage cuts, 13 months after raising £22.2m in a share issue. Ex-chief executive Charles Green, paid £933,000 as the club lost £14.4m, told fans: "We are rebuilding; Rangers will rise again."

Best campaigners

Dunkin' Donuts-backed Liverpool. May 2013: "Our Foundation is dedicated to improving people's lives through the power of the LFC badge. Obesity is a major public health issue on Merseyside."

Moving on

Last week's manager news:

• Oct 2013: Catania president Antonino Pulvirenti sacks coach Rolando Maran. Dec 2013: Defends new coach Luigi De Canio. "He inherited a mess. My only regret? Not sacking Maran sooner." Jan 2014: Sacks De Canio, rehires Maran.

• 3 Jan: Philippines FA head Mariano 'Nonong' Araneta says press spin twisted his words about coach Michael Weiss. "They added such negativity to what were constructive comments. He has done many beautiful things." 13 Jan: Sacks him.

Employee of the month

Steve Bruce, weighing up Hull owner Assem Allam's statements that "no one on earth is allowed to question my business decisions" and that critics "can die as soon as they want". Bruce: "We should be singing his name from the rooftops."

Feeling wonderful

Sep 2013: Stoke's Kenwyne Jones says he would have left if Tony Pulis had stayed. "The atmosphere - and the entire squad could testify to it - wasn't good. It's been wonderful since the new manager came in." Jan 2014: Goes on strike.

Spat of the week

Spain: Neymar taking legal action against model Laryssa Souza de Oliveira for claiming a romp. Lawyers say the comments were "baseless and slanderous in the name of self-promotion"; De Oliveira: "I don't say things I can't prove."

Best ambition

Brazil: Aparecidense physio Romildo Fonseca da Silva, famous for invading a pitch last year to make an 89th-minute goalline clearance, says he's standing for public office in Goiás on a social justice ticket. "The club told me to forget it, but the public really want me."

Plus: new man of the week

Brazil: Ronaldinho, posing in a pool with five women in thongs lying at his feet. Brother Roberto Assis says critics are uptight. "Do I approve? Yes I approve. What's the fuss? He's on vacation, he's single, he's at peace with life. He's just basking in a pool with women."

David Hills

Saturday Sundae: Puncheon above his weight

Posted: 18 Jan 2014 01:40 PM PST

Jason Puncheon's bad week ends well; Ian Holloway channels his inner pedagogue at Millwall; Hyde take a wrong turn

MAN OF THE DAY

Jason Puncheon put a week of comedy-penalty-skying and red-mist tweeting behind him, netting Palace's winner.

LET DOWN OF THE DAY

Andy Carroll: teed up for a storybook West Ham saviour cameo role against his old club, he came on and missed a sitter.

MOST RELAXED START

Sunderland limited themselves to 15 touches of the ball against Southampton before shipping a fourth-minute opener.

FACT OF THE DAY

The Premier League's bottom half is now separated by just five points: 11th-placed Hull on 23, 20th-placed Cardiff on 18.

SADDEST SETBACK

Conference Premier side Hyde turned the corner in midweek, winning for the first time in 29 matches. On Saturday they turned it again, losing 6-2 to Forest Green.

WORST DAY OUT

Was endured by Morecambe fans: a 600‑mile round trip to see their game at Exeter called off half an hour before kick-off.

BEST NURTURING

Ian Holloway, on how he is changing Millwall, who won for the first time this year. "I'm getting my schoolteachers in place to help me be the headmaster of this wonderful school. Everybody will be encouraged."

SEVEN-YEAR ITCH

On 19 January 2007 Portsmouth were 6th in the English pyramid. Today they are 89th.

UNHAPPIEST BRAVADO

Bolton's official Twitter feed engaged Reading's in pre-match banter last week – concluding on Friday: "Okay, let's settle this once and for all. Us, you, 3pm tomorrow." They lost 7-1.

Celtic 3-0 Motherwell | Scottish Premiership match report

Posted: 18 Jan 2014 01:26 PM PST

Kris Commons's impressive goalscoring form continued with two goals in Celtic's win over Motherwell but the home striker Anthony Stokes was sent off late in the game for a lunge on the Motherwell captain, Keith Lasley.

The 30-year-old midfielder scored his 18th goal of the season in the fifth minute and drove home a penalty before the interval.

Celtic had thrashed Motherwell 5-0 when the two teams met at Fir Park in December and a similar outcome looked on the cards. However, the visitors responded to the challenge in a more positive way in the second half although former Celtic captain Stephen McManus deflected a James Forrest cross into his own net in the 68th minute as Celtic extended their unbeaten league run to 21 games.

eferee Bobby Madden to send Stokes on the long walk after the Irishman took Lasley out from behind – the only real disappointment for the Celtic manager, Neil Lennon, who witnessed a convincing victory over a side which travelled to Glasgow on the back of a six-game winning run.

Commons posted his intentions as early as the second minute when he forced a save from Gunnar Neilsen with a 25-yard free-kick.

The Motherwell goalkeeper was soon under pressure again when the Commons sent Stokes racing through the defence. His angled drive was parried by Neilsen but the former Nottingham Forest and Derby striker was first to the loose ball to knock it into the net.

With the signs already pointing towards another rout of the Lanarkshire side, Charlie Mulgrew missed a great cross from the left-back, Emilio Izaguirre. Attempts on goal from Commons and Stokes, twice, followed before a deflected drive from Motherwell's attacking midfielder James McFadden ended in the arms of Fraser Forster.

Motherwell steadied themselves as the first half unfolded but in the 28th minute the home side came close again when Forrest drove into the Motherwell box, going past Shaun Hutchinson and shooting wide of the far post.

At the other end, Lionel Ainsworth almost equalised with a similar effort, the referee judging that Forster touched the ball, to the anger of the home fans, but the corner came to nothing. Mulgrew then headed a Joe Ledley cross into the arms of Neilsen from close range before Celtic's Virgil van Dijk finished a move he started by blasting the ball over the bar from 16 yards.

In the 39th minute, however, the points were all but assured when Neilsen fouled Stokes as the Irishman rounded him inside the box and picked up a booking before Commons fired the spot-kick high past him for number two.

Thereafter the one-time Scotland player - he called time on his international career last May - went looking for his hat-trick.

Subsequent efforts either side of the break were less impressive before Motherwell edged back into the game.

Forster was almost fooled by a long-distance drive from Iain Vigurs in the 53rd minute and he then made a point-blank save with his legs from McFadden, as the visitors tried to get back into the game.

Stokes clipped the top of the bar with a curling shot from the edge of the box in the 58th minute to show the home side were far from finished in front of goal, while Commons had yet another drive fly wide of the target.

The hapless McManus then redirected Forrest's cross past Neilsen to extinguish any faint hopes of a comeback and to earn the cheers of the home support.

Motherwell kept going after Stokes was sent packing but it was to no avail as Celtic continued their march towards the league title.

Davids resigns as Barnet manager

Posted: 18 Jan 2014 12:57 PM PST

• Davids spent 15 months with Conference Premier team
• Holland international was sent off three times this season

Edgar Davids has "resigned by mutual agreement" as player-coach of Barnet, 15 months into his first management job. The 40-year-old former Holland international made his decision after Saturday's 2-1 defeat at Chester, which left his side tenth in the Skrill Premier.

Barnet said in a statement: "Everybody associated with the club would like to thank Edgar for his contribution during his time here and for his help in putting together the current team structure.

"The club would also like to wish Edgar the very best of luck in what we have no doubt will be the continuation of an illustrious career."

Davids joined the club in October 2012 as joint head-coach, working alongside Mark Robson. However, Davids took sole control two months later after Robson left the club. In a bid to save the Bees from relegation, the Dutchman came out of retirement to make 29 appearances but his efforts were in vain as Barnet lost their league status on the final day following a defeat to Northampton.

At the time there were rumours that Davids was bound for pastures new but the club confirmed he would stay, saying he was "keen to help the Bees return to the Football League". However, last month Davids hinted he was ready to walk away after he picked up a third red card in eight league appearances, claiming he was being made a target by referees.

"I think I know for definite now that the league is targeting Barnet," he said. "I don't know how many games we have played now but there is weird decision-making all the time. It is ridiculous. I don't think I'm going to play any more."

Liverpool 2-2 Aston Villa

Posted: 18 Jan 2014 11:36 AM PST

Pictures: the best images from Saturday's games

Liverpool dropped a couple of home points against a surprisingly dynamic Aston Villa, though at least the club's American owners saw a few goals and an entertaining game. The home side came back from two goals down to share the points on an evening that put some of the recent title talk around Anfield into perspective. It is true, as Brendan Rodgers keeps saying, that Liverpool still have to play most of the leading contenders at home, though evidently it is also the case that they cannot take results against sides lower down the table for granted. Villa won this fixture last year, and until Gabriel Agbonlahor was forced off early in the second half looked capable of doing so again.

"We lost Gabby at a vital time, because he was proving unplayable," Paul Lambert said. "Some of our players put in massive performances today. I thought we could have been out of sight by half‑time."

That is only a slight exaggeration. Not realising his side would soon be two goals to the good, Paul Lambert had his head in his hands just 45 seconds into the game when Villa missed a great chance to open the scoring, Agbonlahor latching on to Christian Benteke's flick but poking the ball wide in front of the Kop with only Simon Mignolet to beat. If that was a lucky escape for Liverpool then luck soon evened itself out, Leandro Bacuna surviving a penalty appeal when the ball clearly hit his arm.

Villa's away kit is every bit as hideous as purple and white quarters suggests, though the visitors were no shrinking violets. They took the game to Liverpool in the early stages, with Agbonlahor and Benteke both causing problems for Kolo Touré and Martin Skrtel, and the Kop goal had another let-off when Ciaran Clark struck the foot of Mignolet's post with a firm header from a corner.

With Liverpool struggling to get into their stride, Villa took a deserved lead with a well-executed counterattack. Benteke sent Agbonlahor galloping beyond Touré into space on the left, and Andreas Weimann sprinted 80 yards to supply the far-post tap-in when the cross came along the goalline.

There was a suspicion of offside because Weimann had got beyond the Liverpool defenders, though replays confirmed he was not in front of his team-mate when the pass was released.

Brad Guzan saved from Raheem Sterling as Liverpool attempted to get back on terms, but Villa gained further reward when Mignolet and Skrtel got in each other's way and failed to deal with an Agbonlahor cross from the right that left Benteke with a straightforward header. The ball crossed the line almost apologetically, and to make matters worse Liverpool's next chance to reply fell to Aly Cissokho just before the interval, and the defender appears to have modelled his finishing technique on a Jason Puncheon penalty.

Fortunately, Daniel Sturridge does know how to find the net, and when a neat touch from Jordan Henderson turned a Luis Suárez pass into something more dangerous in stoppage time, the England striker's angled shot reduced the arrears.

Rodgers made a change at half-time, sensibly deciding that this was not the game to leave Lucas Leiva on the bench, and introduced the defensive midfielder at the expense of Philippe Coutinho. The younger Brazilian lasted only 20 minutes before he too made way, for Joe Allen. Villa also made an enforced change a couple of minutes after the restart, Agbonlahor pulling up after a collision with the perimeter hoarding to allow Grant Holt the chance to make his debut.

Scorer of a memorable goal here for Norwich, though considered too portly to hold down a place at Wigan, Holt had the briefest of chances to make an immediate impression before Liverpool levelled the scores from the penalty spot. Suárez touched the ball past Guzan from Steven Gerrard's inspired pass and the goalkeeper brought him down. That is what the referee decided in any case. Contact appeared to be minimal but the goalkeeper sold himself and Suárez knows what to do in those situations. Gerrard calmly stroked the ball into the bottom corner.

Suárez and Henderson had shots saved as Liverpool pressed for a winner, Suárez went close with a free-kick and Bacuna was booked for cheekily wasting time by presenting the ball to a member of the crowd.

On this occasion, Suárez was unable to come to Liverpool's rescue; it happens sometimes. Neither side could produce enough urgency in the final half-hour to deserve all three points. A draw was fair. Even Rodgers thought so. "It was a good point in the end," the Liverpool manager said. "We weren't great but we got something."

Paul Wilson

Manuel Pellegrini: Manchester City centurions can win four trophies

Posted: 18 Jan 2014 11:32 AM PST

• Manchester City pass 100 goals with 4-2 win over Cardiff
• Manuel Pelligrini targets quadruple as side turn on style

Manchester City stormed past 100 goals in all competitions in a record 34 games by defeating Cardiff City 4-2 at the Etihad Stadium. Such is their irrepressible form that it was no surprise Manuel Pellegrini declared his side are candidates for an unprecedented quadruple, as they maintained the pressure on the Premier League leaders, Arsenal, who beat Fulham 2-0 at the Emirates.

"We are in a very good moment and the confidence of the whole team is very high," Pellegrini said "The team is a candidate to win all the titles, but we are still far. It's not easy to score 100, 103 goals by the middle of the season. It reflects what we think about how this team must play. The players feel comfortable in what we are doing, always an attractive team, always have chances to score a lot of goals."

The City manager was delighted that his attacking philosophy was paying such dividends at this stage in the campaign. "We are playing fantastic football at the moment," he said. "We play with fantastic intensity and that is how we must continue. The best way to play is the way we are playing now. I know it is easier to go back with 10 players in our box and try and have a couple of counterattacks, but that is not my way, it is not the style I think this club wants."

Edin Dzeko's 14th-minute goal took City past Chelsea's previous quickest mark of reaching 100 goals after 42 matches, set last season, before further finishes from Jesús Navas, Yaya Touré, and Sergio Agüero were answered only by Cardiff's Craig Noone and Fraizer Campbell.

Pellegrini added: "I think the first 45 minutes was one of the best we did in this season so far and it's important to continue in the same way. I think we are playing better than at the beginning of the season. It's not easy to change so many things in the way this team played in the other year."

Encouragingly for City, the Chilean showed no signs that he is about to become complacent. "Maybe I am not 100% happy because we conceded the second goal in the last minute. But we scored four and missed five or six clear chances so if we continue to play like we are, we are always going to score more than we concede."

City remain a point behind Arsenal, who have 51. Santi Cazorla scored two second-half goals in five minutes for Arsenal, earning the Spaniard a glowing review from his manager, Arsène Wenger. "It was just a question of time and Santi Cazorla delivered two special goals," Wenger said. "He was like the team, good in the first half and excellent in the second."

Jamie Jackson

Liverpool v Aston Villa – as it happened | Scott Murray

Posted: 18 Jan 2014 11:27 AM PST

Minute-by-minute report: Stuttering Liverpool came back from two goals down to salvage a point against an impressive Aston Villa. Scott Murray was watching

Scott Murray

Steve May's hat-trick for St Johnstone earns a point against Hearts

Posted: 18 Jan 2014 10:56 AM PST

• Filip Kiss scores two goals as Ross County beat Dundee United
• Partick still without first home victory after Killie draw

A Danny Williams goal midway through the first half earned Inverness a second Scottish Premiership win under their manager, John Hughes, as they overcame Aberdeen at Pittodrie.

The 1-0 loss ended a four-game winning run for the Dons, who had also won eight of their past nine, but Motherwell's defeat to Celtic meant they remained second in the league.

The St Mirren striker Adam Campbell inspired the Buddies to a 3-2 win at Hibernian as the visitors resisted a second-half fightback by the Easter Road side. The on-loan Newcastle player scored one and set up another as Saints scored three unanswered goals before the break.

St Mirren took the lead in the sixth minute when Hibs goalkeeper Ben Williams was credited with an own goal after Paul McGowan's shot hit him after coming back off the post. Campbell then struck from close range before setting up Steven Thompson as the Buddies scored two goals in two minutes. Hibs striker James Collins scored two goals after the half time break, the second coming in the 88th minute, but St Mirren held on to move within five points of the Leith outfit. Stevie May's second hat-trick in five games was not enough for nine-man St Johnstone as Danny Wilson completed a two-goal comeback in injury-time to earn Hearts a dramatic 3-3 draw. In a dramatic encounter at a rain-soaked McDiarmid Park, St Johnstone lost their centre-back Steven Anderson to a controversial red card for a last-man foul and saw Murray Davidson suffer what looked like a serious injury to his left knee, which led to him being taken away in an ambulance at half-time.

But the striker May scored either side of the break, the first from one of two contentious penalties given against Kevin McHattie, with his treble coming from the spot soon after Dale Carrick had pulled one back.

The Saints goalkeeper Alan Mannus and the Hearts forward Ryan Stevenson were sent off in a mass last-minute brawl during a scramble for the ball after Sam Nicholson had scored, and Wilson soon headed Kevin McHattie's corner past makeshift keeper Tam Scobbie.

Partick conceded a last-gasp equaliser to Robbie Muirhead as Kilmarnock recorded a 1-1 draw.

Kallum Higginbotham's spectacular overhead finish inside the opening three minutes looked like it had handed the Jags victory, but Aaron-Taylor Sinclair's last-man foul on William Gros a minute from time saw him sent off and the visitors handed a penalty. Stand-in Thistle keeper Paul Gallacher saved Kris Boyd's spot-kick but teenager Muirhead was the quickest to react as he slammed home the rebound.

Two goals from Filip Kiss and a debut strike from the new signing Yoann Arquin enabled Ross County to win 3-0 at home to Dundee United.

Nial Briggs

Football League: your thoughts | Alan Smith

Posted: 18 Jan 2014 10:34 AM PST

Charlie Austin was QPR's hero and pity the Morecambe fans who travelled to Exeter only for the game to be called off at 2pm

Championship

• With Leicester beating Leeds 1-0 in the early kick-off, the onus was on Burnley to keep tabs with the leaders. However, they could only draw 1-1 at home to Sheffield Wednesday after Christopher Maguire cancelled out Sam Vokes's opener late in the first half. That meant QPR climbed to second, thanks to a 2-1 win at home to Huddersfield. Charlie Austin scored both goals for Harry Redknapp's team, either side of Nahki Wells's second goal since becoming Huddersfield's record signing eight days ago.

• While the most striking result came at Reading, who battered Bolton 7-1 to move into the play-off places, Derby County overcame last weekend's heavy defeat by Leicester with a single-goal victory at home to Brighton, while a pair of Henri Lansbury penalties set up Nottingham Forest for a 4-1 win against Blackburn Rovers.

• Gabrielle Angella put Watford ahead at Bournemouth before he conceded a penalty and was shown a straight red card with an hour to play, allowing Lewis Grabban the chance to earn a point.

• Down near the bottom of the table, Ian Holloway's first home game in charge of Millwall ended in victory, with debutant Ryan Fredericks's fortuitous effort five minutes before half-time enough to inflict defeat on Ipswich Town. Fellow south Londoners and relegation-battling Charlton Athletic lost 1-0 at Middlesbrough.

• It was a good day for the bottom three, although they all remain in the same positions. Barnsley and Yeovil Town both recorded 2-0 wins, against Blackpool and Birmingham, and Doncaster hit three without reply at home to Wigan to strengthen their fight for survival.

The Championship table

League One

• With Brentford's eight-game winning streak coming to an end after a 1-1 draw at Walsall, Leyton Orient returned to the summit, having come from a goal down to defeat Crewe Alexandra 2-1. Both goals were scored by debutant Chris Dagnall, who was sprung from the bench at half-time with the match goalless. Third-placed Wolves' game away to Crawley was postponed.

• Preston remain in fourth, despite a draw at home to Coventry, while both Rotherham and Peterborough recorded 3-0 wins, against Shrewsbury and Tranmere respectively.

• The Carlisle centre-half Max Ehmer scored at both ends and was booked in an eventful 4-2 defeat at home to Colchester. Elsewhere, Port Vale edged out Oldham, struggling Bristol City drew 2-2 with MK Dons, Gillingham defeated Swindon Town 2-0, Notts County earned three points at basement side Stevenage and Sheffield United spurned a two-goal lead to draw at home to Bradford

The League One table

League Two

• Of the 18 teams in action on Saturday afternoon, 10 failed to score, with the most notable blank coming from leaders Scunthorpe, who were held to a scoreless draw at home to AFC Wimbledon. Burton, who were second heading into the day's game, left Bury with a similarly boring point. That allowed Rochdale, 3-0 winners at home to Plymouth, the chance to go second.

• Southend struck three without reply past fellow promotion-chasing Chesterfield to move into fourth, three points behind Scunthorpe on 45, and Fleetwood also reduced their gap with a 2-0 triumph over Hartlepool.

• Nicky Wroe scored three minutes from the end to give Oxford the points against 10-man Wycombe, Portsmouth and Mansfield Town ended 1-1, while there were no goals between York and Bristol Rovers.

• Still, at least there was a game … spare a thought for Morecambe, who made the 288-mile journey to Exeter only for the pitch at St James' Park to fail an inspection less than an hour before kick-off. The games at Newport and Torquay were also postponed.

The League Two table

Find all the day's results in full here

Reading 7-1 Bolton Wanderers | Championship match report

Posted: 18 Jan 2014 09:52 AM PST

Adam Le Fondre scored a first-half hat-trick as a rampant Reading thrashed Bolton to move into the Championship play-off places.

Le Fondre set his side on their way to a comprehensive victory with three goals in 21 minutes, two from close range and one from a precise finish after good work by Pavel Pogrebnyak.

The Russian striker then added a fourth from the penalty spot just before the break as Reading all but won the game by the interval.

After the break, the home side piled on the agony for the visitors, with further goals from Kaspars Gorkss, Hope Akpan and Nick Blackman before David Ngog scored a late consolation goal.

Reading began the match with one win in their past six matches and with an array of key players absent due to injury. Bolton, meanwhile, had suffered one defeat in six games and were unbeaten in three, with Dougie Freeman's team having shown steady improvement since being bottom of the division in late September.

Reading started well, and Le Fondre opened the scoring in the 12th minute. Garath McCleary cut in from the left wing and, although he tumbled to the floor and lost possession, Le Fondre was in the right place to thunder in the loose ball for his eighth goal of the season.

Bolton should have equalised soon after when an error by Alex Pearce allowed Ngog to go through on goal, but he was foiled by a sprawling save by Alex McCarthy.

Bolton would pay for the miss, with Le Fondre scoring twice in five minutes to complete his hat-trick and establish a 3-0 lead. First, he ran on to Pogrebnyak's clever headed flick to coolly beat Andy Lonergan, and then tapped home from close range after McCleary had unselfishly passed to him.

Just before half-time, Reading increased their lead when Alex Baptiste carelessly handled an attempted Jordan Obita cross, and Pogrebnyak slotted in the penalty. And on the hour Reading scored their fifth. Pearce's miscued shot was returned into the area by McCleary and centre-back Gorkss pushed in his second goal in two games.

Akpan compounded Bolton's misery in the 74th minute when he lashed home from close range and four minutes later Blackman's fierce shot looped in via a deflection to make it 7-0.

Ngog scored the consolation near the end after a goalmouth scramble but Reading climbed into the top six.

Norwich City 1-0 Hull City | Premier League match report

Posted: 18 Jan 2014 09:46 AM PST

Pictures: the best images from Saturday's games

Chris Hughton felt his side deserved their victory over Hull City in what he conceded was a big game for Norwich City, but the manager denied it had been a "must-win" fixture for them.

Norwich had not won at home since November and, despite being the better side for much of the game, needed a late winner from Ryan Bennett to pick up their first victory in eight games and put a little breathing space between themselves and the Premier League relegation zone.

Hull, who could have gone ahead when the debutant Nikica Jelavic hit a post inside the opening two minutes, ended the game with 10 men, with Tom Huddlestone seeing red for a second yellow card late on, but could have no complaints that they left Carrow Road without a point.

Hughton's future has been under intense scrutiny following a 3-0 thrashing at Fulham in their FA Cup third-round replay, with the club's chief executive, David McNally, saying his job was safe as long as he kept Norwich out of the bottom three. This win opened up a five-point gap to the relegation zone and Hughton was delighted with the response from his beleaguered players.

"We knew this was a big game," he said. "I want to do the best job that I can, because with every manager there is a trust put in them to develop a group of players and do as well as you can.

"I saw it as a big win. It is so tight down there it is very difficult to talk about must-win games, but I know it is an important win for the fact the opposition are close to us in the division and it is a close game.

"You have to not panic and be composed, things can change over one-game or a two-game period. It is never nice when there is a lot of criticism around, but it is part and parcel of the game and for any criticism that I might have had or feelings about my job, maybe next week it will be someone else. The good part about this game is there is always the challenge of the next one."

Ricky van Wolfswinkel, who has not scored since the opening day of the season, and Robert Snodgrass had the best of Norwich's chances but it was Bennett, scoring his first goal since April, who settled the match.

Hughton admitted he started to think it would not be his side's day in front of goal. "I was concerned," he said. "On the balance of the game I don't think there is anybody that could not agree that we deserved to win the game. I thought we were the better team over 90 minutes, but they are a good side and defend very well.

"We perhaps didn't create enough clearcut chances, but we put them under a lot of pressure. At that stage of the game there is a part of you that thinks, 'It isn't going to be our day', but the lads were resilient."

Steve Bruce was left ruing the miss from Jelavic but felt his side did not do enough to leave with three points. The Hull manager said: "We had a big chance in the first couple of minutes when Jelavic hit the post and Liam Rosenior had a really big chance, but overall in the second half we were a touch disappointed with how we handled the ball.

"He [Jelavic] has done everything right. His connection with it was right, he struck it really well and I was expecting it to nestle in the back of the net. It has hit the post and missed by two inches. What a start that would have been for the lad.

"When you play like that away from home, to come away with a point would have been terrific for us, another point on the board, but it wasn't to be."

Bruce has been praised for his side's start to life in the top flight, but the win for Norwich takes them level with the Tigers.

The former Canaries defender believes he has been exempt from the pressure placed on Hughton because less is expected of his players. "It is about expectation," Bruce said. "We are a newly promoted club. Everybody expects us to be in the bottom three and when you have been here for two or three years everybody expects you to be in the top six. That is how it is in the Premier League, but Chris has been around it a long time."

Crystal Palace 1-0 Stoke City | Premier League match report

Posted: 18 Jan 2014 09:18 AM PST

Pictures: the best images from Saturday's games

Jason Puncheon could afford a wry smile at the full-time whistle here. From bungler to saviour in the space of a week, the midfielder redeemed himself for an embarrassing penalty miss at Tottenham by scoring the match-winner to claw Crystal Palace out of the Premier League's relegation zone, after they started the day bottom of the table.

How crucial a victory this could be for Palace come the end of the season. Tony Pulis, applauded warmly by the travelling Stoke fans, who unfurled a banner in his honour before kick-off, will have been particularly pleased by the performance – another solid if not scintillating display that has been a hallmark of his time in south London so far.

His former club were short of ideas and frustrated in their efforts to feed Peter Crouch. Puncheon, meanwhile, capitalised on some woeful defending shortly after half-time to shuffle inside and finish well past Jack Butland, seven days after slicing a terrible spot-kick wide at White Hart Lane.

Pulis said: "We had no problems with Puncheon. He missed a penalty, albeit by a great distance, but that's what happens in life. The most important thing for him was to get back and do what he does best."

The result ensured that Palace leapfrogged four teams in the table, but Pulis, who admitted it was "surreal" to face Stoke from the opposition dugout, insisted the elevation in the league must not lead to complacency.

"This is not the defining moment. The defining moment is in the future, so what we've got to do is make sure we keep our feet on the ground and hope and pray that we can bring some players in," he added.

"It was funny coming out and seeing the Stoke supporters, having been there for 10 years. It must have been surreal for them and it was certainly surreal for me."

Midfield was congested throughout the match, but Yannick Bolasie used his trickery to good effect early on, beating the Stoke right-back Geoff Cameron and delivering a precise cross from the left, which was headed narrowly wide by Joel Ward.

That was as good as it got for Palace in the opening 45 minutes, but Stoke were equally short of creativity in attack. Their sole opportunity came after 15 minutes when Marc Wilson forced a fine save from Julián Speroni, who dived low to his right to tip a header wide.

Stoke almost took the lead immediately after half time but, after good work from Jon Walters, Charlie Adam's right-foot short bobbled narrowly past Speroni's right-hand post. Shortly afterwards, though, Palace were in front.

When it arrived, Puncheon's goal came out of nothing. Stoke looked to have alleviated any danger only for Oussama Assaidi to needlessly give the ball away in his own penalty area, inadvertently diverting it into the path of Puncheon, who shuffled inside and fired a low shot into the bottom corner, somehow evading attempted blocks from Wilson and Ryan Shawcross.

"We're better than that," said the Stoke manager, Mark Hughes. "You can't allow consecutive errors to happen at this level. Inevitably they lead to goals. We've got to be better in that regard.

"We're still looking to see if there are opportunities to bring more of a threat to the group than we have at the moment. Certainly if there are opportunities to bring more quality in then we'll do that."

Palace were denied a second late on following a wonderful triple save by Butland, keeping out Ward, Puncheon and Stuart O'Keefe all in the space of a few seconds, before the England goalkeeper kept out Puncheon again in the dying minutes. It was a frantic finish, but Palace held on for a vital three points.

James Riach

Real Betis 0-5 Real Madrid | La Liga match report

Posted: 18 Jan 2014 09:16 AM PST

Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema took Real Betis apart to give Real Madrid a resounding 5-0 win that put them level on 50 points with Barcelona and Atlético Madrid at the top of La Liga.

Madrid's dynamic performance at the bottom club laid down a marker before Barça's and Atlético's games on Sunday against Levante and Sevilla respectively and proved Carlo Ancelotti's side are in fine fettle going into the second half of the season.

Known collectively in Spain as "BBC", Bale, Benzema and Cristiano cost the world's richest club by income in excess of €200m, more than three times the value of the Betis squad, and they showed their quality in Seville.

The Croatia international Luka Modric also played a starring role alongside the imperious Xabi Alonso in midfield as Madrid ruthlessly dominated from start to finish at the Estadio Benito Villamarin.

Ronaldo, who also netted in the 2-0 Copa del Rey win at Osasuna on Wednesday, celebrated Monday's Fifa Ballon d'Or award for the world's best player with a stunner to open the scoring in the 10th minute. The Portugal forward picked up a pass from Ángel Di María on the left, cut inside and unleashed a blast from distance that rocketed past the Betis goalkeeper, Stephan Andersen, into the top corner for his 21st league goal of the campaign.

The hapless Andersen was again left rooted to the spot when Bale's delicate free-kick nestled in the back of the net in the 25th minute.

The Betis supporters were furious with the Danish keeper, whistling him the next few times he touched the ball, and also began singing the name of the former coach Pepe Mel, who was sacked last month and replaced by Juan Carlos Garrido.

Chants of "Garrido go already" also rang round the stadium and Betis's woes deepened when Modric fed Benzema in the area and he fired inside the post moments before half-time. It was the France forward's 100th goal for Madrid in all competitions since he joined from Lyon in 2009.

Andersen went some way to redeeming himself when he produced a fine save to deny Ronaldo seven minutes after half-time but Di María made it 4-0 when he cracked a low, long-range drive into the bottom corner on 62 minutes.

The substitute Álvaro Morata clipped the ball in from close quarters in the 90th minute to complete the carnage.

Betis barely troubled Diego López in the Madrid goal. They are rock bottom on 11 points, five adrift of Rayo Vallecano and Real Valladolid, who are 19th and 18th respectively.

Arsenal 2-0 Fulham

Posted: 18 Jan 2014 09:12 AM PST

Pictures: the best images from Saturday's games

Home victories against relegation contenders rarely win a team the title, but they do suggest that a side is not about to throw away their chances. So Arsène Wenger could savour a triumph that keeps his team at the top of the Premier League table for at least another week. They may not be favourites to finish in first place, but, here, Arsenal showed their determination not to surrender it without a fight.

Arsenal laboured in the first period against a Fulham side that showed more resilience than usual, but, like the champions that they aspire to becoming, they conjured a top-class move to make the breakthrough in the 57th minute through Santi Cazorla, who soon added another fine goal to secure the win. "We have 51 points after 22 matches and that is one of our best ever [totals] at this stage, so we are doing well," said Wenger.

For a while, it looked as if Rene Meulensteen would be the more satisfied. The Fulham manager's plan to repair the league's most ramshackle defence worked well. He dropped Philippe Senderos and John Arne Riise and started with the same back four that kept a rare clean sheet in the midweek FA Cup victory over Norwich. The fit-again Brede Hangeland made his first Premier League start in three months and 21-year-old Dan Burn made his first ever, having been recalled from loan at Birmingham City this month to help rescue his parent club.

It looked like being a baptism of fire for Burn as Arsenal started brightly. Mesut Özil could have opened the scoring in the fourth minute after being played in by Jack Wilshere. But the German failed to make a firm connection with his right-footed shot, which rolled past Maarten Stekelenburg but not Hangeland, who scrambled the ball to safety.

Özil's fluffed effort was a precursor of what was to come from Arsenal in the rest of the half. They enjoyed the lion's share of possession but pussyfooted about with it, seldom worrying a Fulham side that performed with new-found solidity and energy. It was Arsenal who were looking sluggish.

Fulham gradually grew bolder and in the 26th minute they forced a fine save from Wojciech Szczesny, who tipped over a 20-yard drive from Steve Sidwell. It took a 39th minute set-piece for Arsenal to pierce the Fulham defence again. Cazorla bashed a free-kick into the wall but it rebounded to Bacary Sagna, who shot first time from 16 yards out. Stekelenburg saved well and then produced an even better block to deny Olivier Giroud's close-range follow-up.

Arsenal raised their tempo in the second half and found their fluency. Stekelenburg made a routine save from Giroud in the 52nd minute before being forced into a more difficult one three minutes later, when Gnabry shimmied past two defenders and sent a low shot towards goal from the edge of the box. An extraordinary goalline clearance then saved Fulham, but, moments later, their resistance was shattered.

Arsenal took the lead in the 57th minute through a delightfully intricate move. Cazorla started and finished it, with Giroud and Wilshere contributing quickfire passes in the box before the Spaniard shot into the net from 10 yards. "Against a team of this quality if you switch off and do not track runners even for a moment they can hurt you, and that is what happened," said Meulensteen.

Five minutes later, Arsenal took the match beyond them. Cazorla doubled his team's lead and his own tally for the season as he sent a low shot beyond Stekelenburg from 20 yards.

Meulensteen introduced Darren Bent for Ashkan Dejagah, but the game was gone. Arsenal substitute Lukas Podolski nearly wrought further damage with a ferocious shot from outside the area, but Stekelenburg pawed it on to the post.

"We were in control defensively for 90 minutes, but a bit one-paced in the first half with our passing," said Wenger. "These kind of games against teams who fight not to go down are very difficult."

Fulham could take heart from their performance, even if Bent squandered a late chance to claim a goal, as he shot into the side netting with Szczesny stranded. Meulensteen saw enough to convince him his team will fight for their survival until the end. "At the top and the bottom, this is going to be the most exciting season ever," he said.

Paul Doyle

West Ham 1-3 Newcastle

Posted: 18 Jan 2014 09:07 AM PST

Pictures: the best images from Saturday's games

Someone should tell West Ham they are in a relegation battle. There is nothing shocking about a football team losing a match. Yet it was the level of West Ham's incompetence that beggared belief, especially in a first half of such staggering negligence that it was a wonder that Newcastle only scored twice.

After the relief of last weekend's victory over Cardiff City, this was a reversion to type from West Ham and defeat plunged them back into the bottom three. For Sam Allardyce, there is no escape from the pressure.

Newcastle, it must be said, were worthy winners and Alan Pardew relished victory against his old club. Yohan Cabaye, the man of the match by a country mile, delivered a masterclass in midfield and Loïc Rémy was a slippery, potent menace in attack. The two Frenchmen scored the goals and Newcastle's superiority was rarely disputed. Yet West Ham were so pathetic that it beggared belief that they can call themselves a Premier League side – perhaps not for long, mind you. Pardew, in a good mood after ending a four-match losing streak, was generous in his assessment that West Ham will stay up.

Once again, the chance to win successive Premier League games for the first time under Allardyce was frittered away and as impressive as Newcastle were, this was as bad as anything West Ham have produced this season.

Although they could point to dreadful misses from Andy Carroll and Carlton Cole in the second half in their desperate search for an equaliser, they were outclassed and well beaten. Disruption to their defence did not help.

Already missing the suspended James Tomkins and the injured Winston Reid, Joey O'Brien and Guy Demel, Allardyce was dealt a further blow when George McCartney, who was supposed to play at right-back, injured his neck on the morning of the match.

It meant that West Ham did not have a fit right-back and Matt Taylor, a left-footed midfielder, was shoehorned into an unfamiliar role. Surely, though, it would have made more sense to play Leo Chambers instead but the 18-year-old was named on the bench.

Recognising West Ham's weakness on the right, Newcastle attacked down that side repeatedly and took the lead after 16 minutes when Yoan Gouffran drifted away from Taylor and nutmegged Mark Noble with a pass to Cabaye, who stepped past a risible challenge from Razvan Rat before caressing a lovely shot beyond Adrián.

West Ham's lack of pace had already been exposed by that point; Rémy only needed to break into a light jog to get away from James Collins and Roger Johnson but his effort was deflected wide after eight minutes.

Cabaye was operating on a different level, running rings around the ponderous West Ham midfield and creating countless chances, and it is crucial that Newcastle do not lose him this month.

"All the managers in the transfer window are nervous," Pardew said. "Like all Premier League clubs, everybody is for sale at some price. But we've got a good team and we'll try to keep it together and push on."

At times, Newcastle were brilliant. They attacked with pace and purpose, but they were guilty of some wasteful finishing too: Gouffran had a smuggled effort cleared off the line by Noble, Cabaye fired inches wide, Rémy was denied and Moussa Sissoko shot too close to Adrián.

A second goal was inevitable, though, and when Taylor failed to deal with Sissoko's cross, Rémy chested the ball down and poked it past Adrián from close range after 34 minutes.

That was the cue for Upton Park's fury to bubble over. West Ham had been abysmal, yet they were gifted a way back into the game just before half-time when Rat's cross reached Carlton Cole and, although his effort was blocked by Tim Krul, the ball rebounded off the striker and then off Mike Williamson, dribbling over the line for a mess of an own goal.

It was a goal that defied logic and it caused Newcastle to lose their way during a frenzied 20-minute spell in the second half when Cole contrived to miss from six yards out from Taylor's cross.

That was the cue for Carroll to come on but when the big man's big moment came with 15 minutes to go, he blew it.

Stewart Downing's cutback from the byline was palmed out by Krul and fell to Carroll, who took stock of the situation, steadied himself, leant back and then blootered the ball into Row Z with the goal gaping.

That drained the life out of West Ham and Cabaye sealed the points for Newcastle with his second goal of the game in stoppage time.

He curled a free-kick over the wall and Adrián could only push the ball on to the inside of the post, and it went in. Allardyce's expression on the touchline said it all. Time is running out.

Jacob Steinberg

Sunday, 19 January 2014