Sunday, 17 August 2014

Football news, match reports and fixtures | theguardian.com

Football news, match reports and fixtures | theguardian.com

Sheffield Wednesdays Chris Maguire denied by bar in Derby draw

Posted: 16 Aug 2014 02:31 PM PDT

Stuart Gray believed his Sheffield Wednesday side could well have still boasted a 100% record but had to settle for a goalless draw. Defences were on top in south Yorkshire but Wednesday came closest to making the breakthrough when Chris Maguires free-kick took a slight deflection and left Rams goalkeeper Lee Grant a spectator only for the ball to hit the bar.

The visitors were also grateful to Grant who pushed away Maguires shot from outside the area as well as managing to get his hands on Stevie Mays deflected effort which appeared to be heading into the corner.

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Manchester City defender Eliaquim Mangala is ready to take the pressure

Posted: 16 Aug 2014 02:30 PM PDT

Eliaquim Mangala, the defender with the big price tag, is eager for the chance to prove himself at a buoyant Manchester City

Eliaquim Mangala is the most expensive defender in England at £32m, yet the former Porto centre back admits it may be a while before he gets a game. An unused substitute with France at the World Cup, the 23-year-old arrived at Manchester City a little short of match fitness, and even when he is ready he still faces the task of displacing Martín Demichelis or Vincent Kompany, two centre halves who did appear for their countries in Brazil.

Citys keynote signing of the summer is not the most physically imposing of stoppers either. Centre halves have slimmed down quite a bit since Bill Shankly invited local journalists into the Liverpool dressing room to be shown round Ron Yeats, but even so Mangala is willowy. At just under 6ft 2in his weight is a mere 11st 9lb, which makes him around the same as Sergio Agüero and lighter than Samir Nasri. Signed for his pace and mobility as much as his defensive awareness, Mangala realises the Premier League will be a particular challenge.

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Liverpool entitled to re-assert their transfer power, says Brendan Rodgers

Posted: 16 Aug 2014 02:30 PM PDT

Players gravitate to the biggest clubs, says Liverpool manager
Rodgers targets a new striker as his side face Southampton

Liverpool lost at home to Southampton last season, though the summers transfer dealings appear to have reduced the possibility of such an upset happening again on Sunday. The south coast club have lost their manager to Tottenham and most of their best players to bigger clubs, with Liverpool responsible for spiriting away Adam Lallana, Dejan Lovren and Rickie Lambert.

Brendan Rodgers is unapologetic. Southampton didnt have to sell, the Liverpool manager said. Maybe their objectives have changed. I believe they were looking to be a Champions League club, and they were on course for that, but they obviously decided on a change of plan. I dont have any sympathy for their situation. Its just the way football works, it has always been the same. We signed three of their players because they play in a similar way to us and certain of their players fit the profile we are looking for but it wasnt just us over the summer. Manchester United signed one of their players too, Arsenal took another. Players will always want to compete at the highest level they can and therefore gravitate to the biggest clubs.

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Said & Done: footballs new culture; a classic bandit; and the prince of pitches

Posted: 16 Aug 2014 02:23 PM PDT

Also featuring: Karl Oyston; Diego Maradona; One Direction; and the player suspended for being two people Continue reading...

Keith Millen is keen to speak with chairman about Crystal Palace job

Posted: 16 Aug 2014 02:13 PM PDT

Caretaker keen on Selhurst Park post despite Arsenal defeat
I like being in charge and will speak with the chairman

Up in the directors box, when the Crystal Palace co-chairman Steve Parish was not watching his players efforts on the field he was busy studying his mobile phone. Evidently, not a second can be wasted in the bid to solve the new manager conundrum. But as far as Keith Millen is concerned, the answer to Palaces managerial vacuum may just be under Parishs nose. The club stalwart caretaker made it clear he wants the job.

Id like to continue, he said after Palace pushed Arsenal mighty close at the Emirates only to be vanquished by a stoppage-time goal. I enjoy being in charge. I will speak to the chairman tomorrow. It has been a very quick last two days in terms of conversations. The chairman has not really spoken to me about his ideas going forward, we just spoke about this game. I am sure there will be more conversations. The players need to know what direction the club needs to go. Hopefully at the start of the week there will be some more answers.

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Bouncebackability: 50 years of BBCs football favourite Match of the Day

Posted: 16 Aug 2014 02:00 PM PDT

From Kenneth Wolstenholme in 1964 through Jimmy Hill in the 70s, to the Alan Hansen era and beyond the MotD timeline Continue reading...

Louis van Gaal left to hope opening defeat is as illusory as opening win

Posted: 16 Aug 2014 12:48 PM PDT

David Moyes won his first league game 4-1 against Swansea and Manchester Uniteds new manager must hope his 2-1 loss is as meaningless but the display does not augur well Continue reading...

Louis van Gaal and Ronald Koeman require help from above to succeed

Posted: 16 Aug 2014 12:00 PM PDT

Manchester United and Southampton managers do not have much in common but they share a need for more players Continue reading...

AFC Wimbledons Matt Tubbs spoils Luton Towns return to the league

Posted: 16 Aug 2014 11:58 AM PDT

Football League: your thoughts

Posted: 16 Aug 2014 11:50 AM PDT

Bournemouth and Millwall are the surprise early pacesetters in the Championship, a late Charlton winner sparks a managerial bust-up and Bristol City look the team to beat in League One Continue reading...

Arsenals Aaron Ramsey breaks battling Crystal Palace at the death

Posted: 16 Aug 2014 11:42 AM PDT

Arsenal 2-1 Crystal Palace: Premier League as it happened

Posted: 16 Aug 2014 11:32 AM PDT

A late winner from Aaron Ramsey rescued the three points for Arsenal against obdurate Crystal Palace

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Scottish roundup: Aaron Dorans strike seals Inverness win at Motherwell

Posted: 16 Aug 2014 11:16 AM PDT

Hamilton beat St Johnstone to collect second win in four days
Kilmarnock held on at Ross County for first league win

Inverness followed up their win at Hamilton last Saturday by deservedly defeating a poor Motherwell team 2-0 at Fir Park to go top of the Scottish Premiership table.

A fine strike from Greg Tansey just before the interval gave a slick Inverness the lead, and substitute Aaron Doran put the seal on the victory late in the match, to make the scoreline better reflect the possession the visitors enjoyed throughout.

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Louis van Gaal concedes that he needs to find better players soon

Posted: 16 Aug 2014 10:51 AM PDT

Home loss to Swansea has smashed down confidence
Transfer deals vital if Manchester United are to improve

Louis van Gaal admitted Manchester United needed to bring in better players as he reflected on a miserable start to his reign as manager and warned the current squad they had to show they could cope with the pressures of playing at Old Trafford.

Van Gaals first Premier League match ended in a 2-1 home defeat to Swansea City but the new manager said he had already been aware they needed to go into the transfer market if they wanted to be realistic challengers for the title. It is very disappointing for the players, the fans, for me, my staff. When you have preparation time and you win everything [in pre-season] and then lose your first match, that cannot be worse.

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Football clockwatch: Premier League updates and latest news as it happened

Posted: 16 Aug 2014 09:44 AM PDT

Sunderlands Sebastian Larsson grabs point at West Bromwich Albion

Posted: 16 Aug 2014 09:34 AM PDT

Our picks of the best images from the seasons opening day

This was an opportunity missed for West Bromwich Albions new head coach, Alan Irvine, to win over the sceptics. Here was an early education in the pressures and pitfalls of Premier League management as his side surrendered three points, with five minutes remaining, after Sebastian Larssons equaliser.

The Scot, making his top-flight bow as a number one, certainly experienced the full merry-go-round of emotions as his side fought back from Lee Cattermoles stunning opener to lead, courtesy of Saido Berahinos brace.

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Aston Villas Andreas Weimann makes most of lucky break to beat Stoke

Posted: 16 Aug 2014 09:14 AM PDT

Our picks of the best images from the seasons opening day

We came here to praise Stoke Citys continental conversion and went away appreciating the remarkable resolve of an Aston Villa rearguard superbly marshalled by Ron Vlaar.

Thanks to Andreas Weimanns goal five minutes into the second half, Paul Lamberts team were able to play to their strengths and soak up pressure while counterattacking with promise and no little quality. With Christian Benteke to return in October, Villas fortunes in this transitional period could be on the turn.

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Leicester Citys Chris Wood nets late equaliser against Everton

Posted: 16 Aug 2014 09:13 AM PDT

Our picks of the best images from the seasons opening day

The new season is only one game old but the problems are already mounting for Roberto Martínez.

With the Everton manager hoping to go one better than last year and break into the promised land of the Premier Leagues top four, the news that Ross Barkleys knee injury could keep the England midfielder out of action for several months was about as welcome as Chris Woods equaliser four minutes from time which earned Leicester a point on their return to the top flight after a decades absence.

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Tottenham Hotspurs Eric Dier breaks West Ham United at the death

Posted: 16 Aug 2014 09:07 AM PDT

Our picks of the best images from the seasons opening day

Sam Allardyce spoke about the number of opportunities created by West Ham. He pointed to the penalty that Mark Noble missed in the first half, said that the way his team outplayed Tottenham Hotspur gives him great encouragement for what lies ahead and laughed off suggestions that his job could be under threat after this galling defeat. If theyre going to do it after one game, they might as well have done it at the end of last season, he said.

They almost did. Yet Allardyce had a point. If Noble had scored, West Ham probably would have won and the boos would not have rung around Upton Park when Chris Foy blew for full-time moments after Eric Dier had given Mauricio Pochettino a perfect start as Tottenhams manager.

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Hull Citys Allan McGregor denies Charlie Austin to secure win at QPR

Posted: 16 Aug 2014 09:03 AM PDT

Our picks of the best images from the seasons opening day

James Chester will never eclipse Rio Ferdinands career achievements but the Hull City centre-back did elude the former England captain here to head a precious winning goal and ruin QPRs return to the Premier League. That crowned a gleaming display by the 25-year-old, but Ferdinand had been impeccable until that point and Rangers had been on top.

Chesters 52nd-minute strike will stand as a painful reminder to Harry Redknapps promoted side that in the Premier League teams can pay a hefty price for squandering chances. Charlie Austin missed their most obvious opportunity, his 83rd-minute penalty being saved by Allan McGregor, but the hosts spurned several openings before that, especially in a first half in which they started timidly before working up an impressive head of steam and threatening to blow away the visitors.

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Premier League opening day in pictures

Posted: 16 Aug 2014 07:39 AM PDT

José Mourinho feeling no pressure as he bids to end his barren spell

Posted: 16 Aug 2014 07:17 AM PDT

Shrewd summer transfers can end Mourinhos drought
Victor Moses has been sent on loan to Stoke City Continue reading...

Kris Commons scores as Celtic run rampant in 6-1 win over Dundee United

Posted: 16 Aug 2014 07:06 AM PDT

Jason Denayer, the 19-year-old Belgian defender who arrived on a year-long loan from Manchester City last week, took only four minutes to make his mark by lashing the ball in from close range before goals by Kris Commons and Stefan Johansen had the points tied up for Celtic by the interval.

In Ronny Deilas first game as manager at Celtic Park, the stand-in captain, Charlie Mulgrew, claimed a fourth and Jo Inge Berget scored a fifth goal his first since arriving on loan from Cardiff City before Dundee Uniteds captain, John Rankin, pulled a goal back with Berget able to make it six in the last seconds. The victory came at a cost, with James Forrest and Adam Matthews serious doubts for the Champions League play-off against Maribor on Wednesday night.

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Leeds Uniteds Billy Sharp sinks Middlesbrough with late debut strike

Posted: 16 Aug 2014 06:53 AM PDT

David Hockaday kept talk of his trigger-happy owner at bay with his first league win as the Leeds United manager. By his own admission Hockaday is the Mr Nobody of coaching and speculation had been rife over how long the 56-year-old who lists Forest Green as the most senior side he has previously managed would last at the hands of Massimo Cellino.

The Italian admits he goes through managers quicker than he does clothes and losing at Millwall on the opening day of the Championship campaign was a start Hockday could have done without. But Cellino bought him three players and one of them, Billy Sharp, scored an 88th-minute winner to sink Middlesbrough.

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Swansea upstage Manchester United in Louis van Gaals Premier League bow

Posted: 16 Aug 2014 06:50 AM PDT

The best images from Old Trafford

Maybe now it should be clearer why Louis van Gaal has been telling anyone who cares to listen they should not be surprised if Manchester Uniteds rehabilitation takes longer than they would ideally like. He had warned his new club to brace themselves for some difficult moments and here was the hard evidence that a change of manager at Old Trafford is not simply going to wash away the teams shortcomings.

It was a cloying sense of deja vu attached to the team that finished seventh last season, 22 points off the top and drastically in need of some more dynamism. They were short of ideas, huffing and puffing their way towards a demoralising defeat. There was a startling lack of creativity and if Van Gaal had listened closely he would have made out the mocking chants from the away end, as the visiting fans embarked on the repertoire of songs that formed the soundtrack to David Moyess time in the job. New manager, same old story, even if the home crowd would like to trust there is better to come.

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