Gareth Bale not bothered after booking for diving at Sunderland

Gareth Bale insisted he was not concerned after being booked for diving during Tottenham's 2-1 win at Sunderland.

The Wales wideman has been given five cautions for simulation in the Premier League since the start of last season and he went into referee Martin Atkinson's notebook after tangling with Craig Gardner during the second half.
"It's the same thing every time - it's the third time this season I've been clipped," Bale told Sky Sports.
"There is nothing I can do about it - the referees have to look a bit closer. If I get contact there it is a penalty or free kick.
"What do you expect me to do if I there is contact and I go over - hit my head
on the floor? I am not going to stop going because it is a foul.
"People can say what they want, it doesn't bother me. It's a foul and I know it myself.
"It's a vital win for us. We have put pressure on the other teams around us and it was a great performance from us. We got the two goals which we thoroughly deserved and won the game positively."
Manager Andre Villas-Boas was also quick to come to his player's defence, pointing the finger at match official Atkinson.
"It's a big mistake from the ref. I understand that reputations are sometimes created from the outside and it's a bit unfair," he added. "If you see the images Gardner doesn't focus on the ball, he goes to the player and he clips him.
"I don't think it mars the game in any way but obviously Gareth was one game away from being clean of yellow cards.
"I think it is extremely unfair that he will miss the Reading game by such a big mistake. It looks like persecution this time with Bale."
http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11675/8367335/Gareth-Bale-not-bothered-after-booking-for-diving-at-Sunderland

Aviva Premiership: Harlequins repel challenge of London Irish at packed Twickenham

Harlequins extended their lead at the top of the Aviva Premiership with a 26-15 victory over struggling London Irish in front of a full house at Twickenham.

Scrum-half Danny Care's 52nd-minute try coupled with 16 points from his half-back partner Nick Evans' boot paved the way for Quins' ninth win in 12 league games this season.
Evans' opposite number Ian Humphreys kicked five penalties to keep London Irish in touch until the closing stages of a tight contest but the visitors left without a bonus point after conceding a late penalty try when down to 14 men.
The result puts Harlequins five points clear in the table, although Leicester and Saracens can both cut that gap when they play later in the weekend. London Irish remain second bottom, one point above Sale, who beat Worcester on Friday.
An early penalty from Evans opened the scoring but Humphreys soon responded in kind, a pattern that repeated itself to leave the scores level at 6-6 after 24 minutes.
Both sides struggled for fluency in tricky conditions, Evans and Tom Williams each fluffing their pass when Quins were well placed.
Evans missed a penalty chance on the half-hour and Humphreys was off-target twice in quick succession to bring an end to a forgettable half.
The kickers rediscovered their accuracy to exchange penalties early in the second half before England international Care wriggled over under pressure from all sides for the game's opening try - the TMO ruling he had just stretched far enough to get the ball down on the whitewash. Evans added the conversion.
Without threatening a try of their own, London Irish dragged themselves back into contention through Humphreys, who kicked his fourth and fifth penalties either side of Evans' fourth to cut the gap to 19-15.
But it was Quins was finished stronger and the pressure eventually told when referee Greg Garner lost patience with London Irish's regular infringements close to their own line - firstly sending replacement Patrick Phibbs to the sin-bin and then awarding a penalty try when a five-metre scrum was pulled down.
http://www.skysports.com/rugbyunion/match_report/0,,11069_53915_1,00.html

Premier League round-up

Manchester United ended 2012 with a seven-point lead in the title race on a dramatic day in the Premier League, as Manchester City edged out Norwich City in a thriller at Carrow Road.

Arsenal prevailed 7-3 against Newcastle United in a staggering game at Emirates Stadium, while Tottenham Hotspur climbed to third and Swansea City returned to winning ways against Fulham.
At the bottom of the table there were crucial victories for Reading and Wigan Athletic as Aston Villa suffered another demoralising defeat, while Southampton dropped into the relegation zone after drawing with Stoke City.
Edin Dzeko inspired Manchester City as they bounced back from their loss to Sunderland with a pulsating 4-3 win away to Norwich.

Click below for individual match reports and stats:

Sunderland 1 Tottenham 2
Aston Villa 0 Wigan 3
Fulham 1 Swansea 2
Man Utd 2 West Brom 0
Norwich 3 Man City 4
Reading 1 West Ham 0
Stoke 3 Southampton 3
Arsenal 7 Newcastle 3

Dzeko gave Man City the perfect start with two calm finishes inside the opening five minutes, first guiding a shot into the bottom corner after being played in by David Silva and then side-footing home a second after Sergio Aguero had dragged Mark Bunn out of position.
Norwich hit back after 15 minutes when Anthony Pilkington's free-kick took a crucial deflection off the defensive wall to beat a wrong-footed Joe Hart, and the match was left on a knife-edge on the stroke of half-time when Samir Nasri was harshly sent off after squaring up to Sebastien Bassong following a foul by the Canaries centre-back.
City re-established their two-goal advantage early in the second half when Aguero dinked a sublime chip over Bunn following a raking long ball from Yaya Toure, only for Russell Martin to respond for Norwich and make it 3-2.
City grabbed a fourth when Dzeko's fierce shot was fumbled by Bunn at his near post, but Martin's second of the game ensured a nervy finish as City clung on for three vital points.
Manchester United remain seven points ahead after a hard-fought 2-0 triumph at home to West Bromwich Albion.
The crucial moment arrived in the ninth minute when Gareth McAuley stuck out a leg to try and block Ashley Young's low cross and only succeeded in turning the ball past his own goalkeeper.
United carved out opportunities to make their afternoon more comfortable but could never shake off their resilient opponents and had to wait until the 90th minute to add a second as substitute Robin van Persie struck in sensational style.

Blitz

Theo Walcott scored a hat-trick as Arsenal raced away from Newcastle in the closing stages of a remarkable clash at Emirates Stadium to run out 7-3 winners.
Walcott broke the deadlock with a finish reminiscent of the watching Thierry Henry, only for Demba Ba's deflected free-kick to draw Newcastle level at half-time.
The game exploded into life after the break as Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's goal was cancelled out before the hour mark by Sylvain Marveaux, and then Jack Wilshere set up Lukas Podolski to make it 3-2 to the Gunners.
Newcastle equalised for a third time thanks to a shot by Ba after good work from Marveaux, but the finale was one-way traffic as Arsenal ran riot.
Walcott rifled in a fourth after a scramble in the Newcastle area, and Olivier Giroud scored twice in quick succession just after coming on as a substitute.
The last word went to Walcott, though, as he wriggled away from a couple of challenges and regained his footing after being knocked to the ground, to put the gloss on an extraordinary performance.
Tottenham boosted their UEFA Champions League hopes by coming from behind in the day's early kick-off to beat Sunderland 2-1 at the Stadium of Light.
John O'Shea put the Black Cats ahead against the run of play on 40 minutes when he pounced on a rebound after Steven Fletcher had been denied by Hugo Lloris, but a two-goal blitz early in the second half turned the game decisively on its head.
Carlos Cuellar inadvertently headed a corner into his own net to draw Spurs level, and Aaron Lennon then showed great determination to capitalise on a slice of good fortune and grab the winner.
Aston Villa's dismal form continued, and the pressure on manager Paul Lambert increased, as they slipped closer to the bottom three following a 3-0 defeat at home to Wigan Athletic.
Having conceded 12 goals in their past two games Villa would have been determined to make a solid start, but they fell behind after just three minutes as Ivan Ramis lost his marker far too easily to head Wigan in front.
Emmerson Boyce swept in a second for Wigan on 52 minutes following a flowing attack, and Arouna Kone took advantage of more poor defending to slot in a third from a tight angle and send the Villa fans heading for the exits with half an hour still to play.

Pegged back

Southampton fell into the drop zone after being pegged back to 3-3 by Stoke City in an exciting clash at the Britannia Stadium.
Forced into two changes at the back, Stoke's vaunted defence was breached after ten minutes when Guly do Prado's delightful cross to the back post was expertly steered in by Rickie Lambert.
Kenwyne Jones quickly equalised with a superb improvised finish as he flicked in a low cross from Ryan Shotton, but Jay Rodriguez restored Southampton's advantage after Robert Huth's attempted interception of a Lambert cross cannoned into the crossbar.
Andy Wilkinson's own goal gave Saints a cushion going into half-time, but Stoke rallied after the interval and closed the deficit when Matthew Upson forced in a shot.
Steven N'Zonzi's dismissal for a foul on Jack Cork left Southampton with an extra man for the closing stages, but Cameron Jerome's blistering piledriver from distance in the 90th minute extended Stoke's unbeaten run to ten games.
Reading pulled three points clear of bottom-placed Queens Park Rangers as they beat West Ham United 1-0 in a scrappy affair to claim only their second win of the season.
Pavel Pogrebnyak proved to be the match-winner as he seized on a poor back-pass from James Collins to tuck a neat shot beyond Jussi Jaaskelainen after five minutes.
Swansea ended a run of four matches without a win as they defeated Fulham 2-1 at Craven Cottage.
There have been suggestions that Swansea may be too reliant on Michu for their goals this season but, with the Spaniard missing through injury, Danny Graham took up the mantle and blasted in an opener from close range after Fulham had failed to deal with a Nathan Dyer shot.
Jonathan de Guzman made it 2-0 to the Swans after David Stockdale's awful clearance presented him with the sort of glorious chance that could have been gift-wrapped for Christmas.
Bryan Ruiz reduced Fulham's arrears following a goalmouth scramble but the home side could not find an equaliser.
http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11661/8367208/Premier-League-round-up

A Gareth McAuley own goal and a Robin van Persie strike seal win for Manchester United

A Gareth McAuley own goal and a late Robin van Persie strike gave Manchester United a 2-0 victory over West Brom at a sodden Old Trafford.

The rain-soaked pitch, which was subject to two inspections prior to kick-off, put paid to any hope of free-flowing football but McAuley's blunder and substitute Van Persie's sublime finish were enough to separate the sides.

Best of the Match

• Man of the Match: Shinji Kagawa: At the heart of everything good about United on his return to the side.
• Attempt of the Match: Ashley Young: Long-range strike from the edge of the box which was brilliantly saved.
• Save of the Match: Ben Foster: Got down well to prevent Robin van Persie when through on goal.
• Goal of the Match: Robin Van Persie: His late strike from 18-yards brilliantly sealed victory for United.
• Talking Point: United had to win ugly, but defended doggedly when called upon. Have they resolved their defensive issues? Will the Baggie's injury-list put pay to their progress?
• 
  

After having a good shout for a penalty turned down in the opening few minutes by referee Jonathan Moss, when Shane Long went down under a challenge from Chris Smalling, Baggies defender McAuley inadvertently gave United an early lead.
Ashley Young's attempted one-two with Shinji Kagawa was diverted back into the winger's path by the outstretched leg of Graham Dorrans, allowing Young time and space to drill a low cross into the danger zone, which cannoned off the despairing McAuley to put the league leaders in front.
Ben Foster kept his side in the match twice in quick succession just after the half-hour mark, firstly brilliantly tipping Young's powerful effort over the top, and then scrambling a Michael Carrick effort away from the resulting corner.
The early goal and a much-changed line-up seemed to affect the Baggies' momentum, as they never really got going in the first period.
However, they made a much brighter start to the second half, with Chris Brunt coming close from distance, and McAuley had a great chance to make amends for the earlier own goal, but could not direct his header on target from a Brunt free-kick.
As the game wore on, the pitch deteriorated even more, stifling much of the play. Kagawa, making his long-awaited return to the side, was the only one whose quality was not hampered by the damp conditions.
He was at the heart of everything for the Red Devils before being replaced by Robin Van Persie.
Another substitution made a huge difference to the game. Romelu Lukaku added an extra dimension to West Brom's attack, with his physical presence causing the United back-line problems. The defending was desperate at times, with some last-ditch blocks keeping the score at 1-0.
However, despite all their pressure the Baggies rarely troubled David De Gea in the United goal, and in fact the league leaders came closest to adding to the scoreline through Van Persie and a Danny Welbeck effort, before the Dutch hitman once again got his name on the scoresheet in added-time.
His stunning left-footed strike from the edge of the area beat Foster all ends up to seal the three points for the Red Devils.
http://www1.skysports.com/football/live/match/261755/report

Roberto Mancini says Manchester City will appeal against red card shown to Samir Nasri

Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini will appeal against Samir Nasri's red card that marred their thrilling 4-3 win at Norwich.

Nasri was dismissed just before half-time at Carrow Road after a head-to-head confrontation with Sebastien Bassong, and although it did not cost City, Mancini was upset with the decision after the game.
Edin Dzeko scored twice in the first five minutes but the reigning Premier League champions were forced to hold on after Russell Martin's second goal of the game set up a tense final 15 minutes.
Mancini, whose side remains seven points behind Manchester United, said: "It (the red card) changed the game. If not we would have won this game without a problem.
"With 10 players it is difficult as Norwich is a good team - 11 against 10 is not easy, but today we showed why we are there for the title because we won't leave this title easy and we'll fight every game. With 10 players the guys were fantastic.
"It was not a red card. I cannot understand why the linesman said to the referee it was a red card because I was there and Samir did nothing.

"Both players came forward with their heads, so if you are going to send off one, then you have to send off both, not only Samir. Samir said he touched his head, okay, but the other player has done the same.
"The linesman has a big responsibility also, because it was not a good decision, it is incredible. You want to send off both players? Then, okay, the referee was there, he saw everything. The linesman was behind [the players], he could not see. We will appeal, sure.
"At Sunderland we played well, we deserved to win and we were missing only a goal. We had 23, 24 chances to score and we don't score. In the end we lost, but that is now in the past and we won this game - an important game.
"We played very well and played fantastic football for 20 minutes. Dzeko scored two important goals and I am happy. I was happy after Sunderland as well when we were missing only a goal. Carlos (Tevez) played well, Sergio (Aguero) played well and clearly when the strikers score it is easy for us.
"For us, now it is not important to look at the table because now we need only to work, to win many games in a row and then maybe in February we can look at the table."
 http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11679/8368988/Roberto-Mancini-says-Manchester-City-will-appeal-against-red-card-shown-to-Samir-Nasri

Arsenal beat Newcastle 7-3 with Theo Walcott scoring a hat-trick in thriller

Arsenal had to take the lead four times to beat Newcastle 7-3 in a thrilling clash at the Emirates Stadium.

Theo Walcott scored a hat-trick - including the opener, the winner and the final goal of the game to claim the points for the Gunners but there was plenty of drama in between in an astonishing match.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Lukas Podolski also put Arsenal ahead but the Magpies found three equalisers through Sylvain Marveaux and Demba Ba twice to make for a cracking contest.
Substitute Olivier Giroud then added gloss to the display with a late brace before Walcott capped an impressive display to lift Arsene Wenger's side to fifth in the Premier League table.

Best of the Match

• Man of the match: Theo Walcott scored three and could have had more in a threatening performance for Arsenal.
• Goal of the match: Plenty to choose from but a word for Newcastle - Sylvain Marveaux showed real quality to find Demba Ba at the far post who netted a remarkable third equaliser for the Magpies.
• Talking point: Has Theo Walcott proven once and for all that he is a centre forward?

Despite conceding seven, Newcastle kept their defensive shape well in the early stages and even had the first chance of the game when Ba headed Marveaux's corner over the crossbar.
But the good work was undone when Davide Santon dropped too deep, allowing Walcott to latch onto Podolski's threaded pass and finish neatly past Tim Krul.
Walcott, playing in his favoured striker role, had opportunities to add to the lead on the break but squandered them and it proved costly as Newcastle found a first-half equaliser.
With the visitors continuing to dominate possession, Magpies winger Gabriel Obertan was fouled by Bacary Sagna and Ba saw his free-kick deflect off Jack Wilshere and past Wojciech Szczesny.
It was no more than Newcastle deserved at the break and when Marveaux and Ba had further chances just before the interval it could have been better for Alan Pardew's men.
Instead they were behind early in the second half as Oxlade-Chamberlain was given too much space by Santon and Krul could not keep his low effort from distance out despite getting a touch to the ball.
If that was supposed to kill off the visitors, they had other ideas. Obertan waltzed past Sagna and found Marveaux at the far post via a deflection off Laurent Koscielny to stun the home crowd.
Podolski then headed in after a fine run from Wilshere but even better work by Marveaux gave Ba the chance to make it three goals apiece with a sidefooted volley at the far post.
But Walcott took advantage of indecision in the Newcastle area to make it 4-3 and then turned provider to set up Giroud twice before jinking in from the left and lifting the ball over Krul to cap a remarkable match.
http://www1.skysports.com/football/live/match/261751/report

Adam Johnson says his winner against former club Man City was 'in the script'

Adam Johnson claims his winner against former club Manchester City was 'in the script' as Sunderland stunned the Premier League champions.

Johnson scored for City at the Stadium of Light in March 2010 and he was on target again in the Boxing Day clash - but for the Black Cats this time.
The winger has struggled to settle into life on Wearside since his £10million summer move from the Etihad Stadium, but his third goal for the club signalled an important win which took Martin O'Neill's side seven points clear of the drop zone.
Johnson told the Sunderland Echo: "It's crazy how football works. I scored the equaliser for City at the Stadium of Light three years ago and now to score the winner for Sunderland against City was in the script I suppose.
"Without a doubt, that's the highlight ... although there haven't too many so far to be honest!
"But from the team's point of view and for who we've just beaten and everything that goes with it regarding me, it was definitely the highlight.
"The crowd were so loud from the very start. We pressed and got them behind us and that's what we need to do here. We need to show the fight we showed yesterday.
"It's important anytime to get three points, but it just makes it a little better with the opposition.
"We're delighted to get the win and the lads deserve a lot of credit."
http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11695/8363054/Adam-Johnson-says-his-winner-against-former-club-Man-City-was-in-the-script-

Jose Enrique tells Liverpool team-mates to show more character in wake of Stoke defeat

Jose Enrique says Liverpool must develop a stomach for the fight or forget about competing for a Champions League spot.

Brendan Rodgers' side were outbattled at Stoke on Boxing Day, slipping to a 3-1 defeat despite taking a second-minute lead through Steven Gerrard's penalty.
The result left Liverpool eight points behind three teams contesting fourth place and was a dispiriting follow-up to Saturday's impressive victory over Fulham.
And Enrique has warned his team-mates success will continue to prove elusive as long as their application fails to match their ability.
He told the club website: "We need more experience and need to show more character in these type of games.
"You can see we have quality players and we have a good squad, but we need to fight for every point we play for if we want to be in the top four.
"We have to get a winning mentality going and we have to show what we are all about. Every game in this league is difficult but you have to give 100 per cent every time you play for this club and show character."
http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11669/8362893/Jose-Enrique-tells-Liverpool-team-mates-to-show-more-character-in-wake-of-Stoke-defeat

Blackburn sack Henning Berg after 10 matches in charge

Henning Berg has been sacked as Blackburn manager after just 10 matches and 57 days in charge.

Rovers have won just once since Berg took over from Steve Kean, a run of form that has seen them slide down to 17th in the Championship table.
The 1-0 defeat to Middlesbrough on Boxing Day - a fifth loss in their last six games - was the final straw for the club's Indian owners, who have also dismissed assistant boss Eric Black and two other coaches.
A club statement read: "Blackburn Rovers FC has announced the departure of manager Henning Berg, assistant manager Eric Black, first team coach Iain Brunskill and goalkeeping coach Bobby Mimms with immediate effect.

BERG'S ROVERS RECORD

• Games played: 10
• Games won: One
• Games lost: Six
• Games drawn: Three
• Goals scored: 10
• Goals against: 18
• Win percentage: 10%
• 
  
• 
  

"This decision has been taken following a very disappointing sequence of results.
"The club thanks the four men for their efforts and wishes them every success for the future."
Berg, 43, signed a three-year contract on October 31 as he took over from Kean - but he has become the second managerial casualty at the club in two months.
He played over 200 times for the Ewood Park club in the 1990s before joining Manchester United.
Berg's time at Ewood Park was hardly a happy one, with a statement released earlier this month playing down claims that he had stormed out of the club's Christmas party after an alleged bust-up.
Former boss Mark Hughes is the strong favourite with Sky Bet to replace Berg from Alex McLeish, Roberto Di Matteo and Billy Davies.
http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11676/8362924/Blackburn-sack-Henning-Berg-after-10-matches-in-charge 

Joe Hart says Manchester City must keep believing in title race

Joe Hart has admitted the Boxing Day loss to Sunderland was painful but says Manchester City have already proved they can claw back points in the title race.

While Manchester United claimed a late victory over Newcastle United, City were beaten 1-0 by Sunderland to slip seven points behind their rivals at the top of the table.
Hart concedes that the situation is far from ideal but insists there is pressure on United as well as City.
"We've had leads, United have had the lead - it's to-ing and fro-ing at the moment," he said on the club's official website.
"We're a team of winners, it's hard and it hurts but we've got to move on. It is hard to lead and it is hard to chase too.
"We've clawed points back before, we proved it at the end of last year - we've just got to believe."
Adam Johnson scored the only goal of the game for Sunderland to extend City's poor recent record at the Stadium of Light, and Hart was disappointed to let the ball squirm past him at the near post.
He added: "First and foremost someone stamped on Zaba - it was a blatantly obvious foul but what can you do?
"A few of our players have stopped but Johnno has seen me sniffing for a cross and he's struck it well with that stiff ankle of his and it just deviated under my hand unfortunately."
"The only way we can change it is (City's record at Sunderland) by winning here next year but for now we only have Norwich on our minds.
"Simon Mignolet has had a magnificent game, he's a brilliant goalkeeper. I've watched him closely in other games and I think Sunderland defended for their lives and it just wouldn't go in for us."
http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11679/8362892/Joe-Hart-says-Manchester-City-must-keep-believing-in-title-race

Chelsea boss Rafa Benitez delighted with his side's character in 1-0 win at Norwich

Rafa Benitez hailed the character of his Chelsea players as they battled to a 1-0 win over Norwich at Carrow Road.

Juan Mata's first-half goal proved to be enough to give Chelsea all three points and keep them in third spot in the Premier League.
Norwich rarely threatened in a cagey affair and Benitez was delighted with his side's performance as they built on their 8-0 success over Aston Villa with another three points.
"We knew it would be a difficult game, they have won against United and Arsenal and it was a tough game," said the Chelsea interim manager.
"I am really pleased with the performance of the players and really pleased as it is another victory after [returning from] Japan, so the team is showing character.
"We were working hard in defence, against Aston Villa we were attacking, it was a different type of game today and we showed character that the team can play football and at the same time can defend.
"They didn't have too many chances, we had two or three to score the second goal so I am pleased because it was a great performance."
Benitez refused to be drawn on reports that Frank Lampard, who started the game on the bench, would leave Stamford Bridge in January after being told he would not be getting a new contract.
"We don't talk about speculation, that is a conversation between Frank and the club," added Benitez. "We have to do our job which is to try and prepare the team for the next game
"To be fair I do not pay too much attention [to the rumours] because I have to concentrate on the games.
"Some things in the newspapers is something every club has to manage with."
http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11668/8358999/Chelsea-boss-Rafa-Benitez-delighted-with-his-side-s-character-in-1-0-win-at-Norwich

The FA will not be taking action against Sir Alex Ferguson over his Boxing Day touchline rant

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson will not face any FA action over his angry touchline protests towards match officials during Wednesday's dramatic 4-3 win over Newcastle at Old Trafford.

Ferguson was unhappy because Newcastle went 2-1 up in the first half when a Jonny Evans own goal, having initially been disallowed for offside against Papiss Cisse, was eventually allowed to stand after consultation between the officials.
Before the second-half began, the United boss could be seen remonstrating with referee Mike Dean, fourth official Neil Swarbrick and linesman Jake Collin, and it had been suggested that the ref might make an official complaint.
However, Dean's match report made no mention of Ferguson's conduct and so the FA will not be pursuing the matter further.
Asked about the controversial Evans own goal after the match, Ferguson said: "The linesman correctly whistled for offside, because Cisse was in an offside position when the cross was made and he also pulled on Evans' arm.
"If that's not interference, what is interference? That's the point I was making to Mike Dean."

However, the Premier League have backed Dean and issued a clarification which said that "as Cisse did not play the ball, then he was not interfering with play".
The league added: "It is also the case that Cisse didn't interfere with the opponent."
Despite falling behind three times, United ended up winning the game 4-3 thanks to a 90th-minute Javier Hernandez goal and they are now seven points clear at the top of the table, because nearest rivals Manchester City lost 1-0 at Sunderland.
http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11667/8363114/The-FA-will-not-be-taking-action-against-Sir-Alex-Ferguson-over-his-Boxing-Day-touchline-rant

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney faces three weeks out with knee injury

Wayne Rooney will miss the rest of Manchester United's festive programme after injuring knee ligaments in training.

The striker has been ruled out for between two and three weeks with the problem, which kept him out of a thrilling Boxing Day victory over Newcastle.
Rooney's replacement Javier Hernandez scored an injury-time winner in a 4-3 success which put United seven points clear at the top of the Premier League.
And after the game Sir Alex Ferguson told MUTV the reason for Rooney's omission from the 18-man squad.
He said: "It was a volley towards the end of training. He did a ligament at the back of his knee and could be out for two to three weeks."
Ferguson's worst-case scenario would see the England international miss Premier League games against West Brom, Wigan and Liverpool and the FA Cup third round tie at West Ham.
http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11667/8359013/Manchester-United-striker-Wayne-Rooney-faces-three-weeks-out-with-knee-injury

Andre Villas-Boas hails Tottenham's 4-0 Premier League victory over Aston Villa

Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas believes Gareth Bale is one of the world's best players after another match-winning display from the Welsh winger.

Bale smashed in a 23-minute hat-trick as Tottenham beat Aston Villa 4-0 at Villa Park.
The 23-year-old had already twice gone close to opening the scoring in a goalless first half, before beating Brad Guzan three times following Jermain Defoe's opening strike for Spurs.
Bale has now scored 10 goals in the current campaign and asked if there were any better players in world football than Bale, Villas-Boas said: "He is up there with the best.
"He is showing tremendous skills and talent, I think he is improving every day - he is such a young player - and he is helping the team. He is one of our major assets.
"His personality is wonderful, he is going through an excellent moment of his professional and personal life, and we are benefiting from that."
Asked if he thought Bale could get even better, Villas-Boas said: "I think so. You always expect that the team can make an individual even better.
"The team changes so much from one year to another, and as he keeps learning, he will feel even better and probably his performances will improve.
"His finishing is very accurate. He has been prolific in front of goal this season and I think he is enjoying getting into those positions.
"His left foot is wonderful and the power and direction he applies on the ball is wonderful too."
Villas-Boas admitted it had been discussed in the Tottenham camp how damaging it might be for the hosts' morale if they conceded the first goal following Villa's 8-0 thrashing at Chelsea in their last match.
"We mentioned it between us after that result," Villas-Boas said. "There is always the game in which you have to try to come back from such a negative situation, and Villa were putting their efforts towards that in this game.
"But for us, it was important to get that (first) goal, because we knew emotionally it could have that kind of effect, making them unstable in some way."
http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11675/8359567/Andre-Villas-Boas-hails-Tottenham-s-4-0-Premier-League-victory-over-Aston-Villa

Javier Hernandez won't rock boat at Old Trafford despite lack of starts

Javier Hernandez will not be demanding more starts despite scoring the goal which put Manchester United seven points clear at the top of the Premier League.

The Mexico striker - in the side for the injured Wayne Rooney - netted the decisive goal in a 4-3 victory over Newcastle on what was just his fourth league start this season.
An anticipated three-week absence for Rooney should mean further opportunities for Hernandez, who has now scored four late winners in little more than two months.
He said: "Ask any player in the world and they will tell you they want to play every game. But the competition here is incredible.
"It is the biggest club in the world. You need to be aware there are five strikers who want to be part of the games. I have to prove, in one minute or 90, that I want to start."
Hernandez now has 10 goals in all competitions, though two good chances went begging before his luck turned on Wednesday.
He said: "You cannot afford to regret every chance you miss because if you do you will never be concentrated for the next opportunity.
"You are never going to play the perfect game. You will never score five goals from five opportunities. That is the beauty of football."
http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11667/8362956/Javier-Hernandez-won-t-rock-boat-at-Old-Trafford-despite-lack-of-starts

Harry Redknapp blasted referee Chris Foy after QPR's defeat to West Brom

Queens Park Rangers boss Harry Redknapp was left fuming at referee Chris Foy after seeing his side beaten 2-1 at home by West Bromwich Albion on Boxing Day.

There was little festive cheer for the locals to enjoy at Loftus Road, with Redknapp branding some of the decisions which went against QPR as 'scandalous' and 'terrible'.
The most contentious call during a game which saw QPR slump back to the foot of the Premier League table came when West Brom notched their second goal.
Robert Green appeared to be impeded by West Brom striker Marc-Antoine Fortune as he challenged for a high ball and ended up flapping into his own net.
On the incident, Redknapp told Sky Sports: "It was a foul. The fella (Fortune) was backing him into the goal - he's backing in and has got no intention of playing the ball. He couldn't get a fist to it, couldn't do nothing with it. It was a blatant foul."
Redknapp also felt that QPR were denied a penalty late on, with Liam Ridgewell appearing to handle inside the box.
He added: "That one at the end is a blatant penalty. Ridgewell has got his hand up. It's a penalty. Scandalous decisions."
On the game as a whole, he said: "Their keeper has pulled off unbelievable saves, they have got blocks on the line. It all changed. At 1-0 we're bang in the game, then he lets that goal stand and you are 2-0 down and we could have dropped heads. We didn't deserve to lose that game, no way.
"Unfortunately they got the points and we got two terrible decisions which cost us dearly. We just have to keep going. We need to keep battling away, that's all we can do."
http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11711/8359125/Harry-Redknapp-blasted-referee-Chris-Foy-after-QPR-s-defeat-to-West-Brom