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Scotland 6-13 England
by Paul Rees
4 Feb 2012 at 7:19pm
Scotland 6-13 England
Ben Youngs said before the game that the England players wanted to embrace a completely different style to the one they played under what he called the old coaches but the future will have to wait a little longer. Stuart Lancaster's reign as interim coach started with a victory that owed more to traditional English virtues, hard work, resolution, opportunism and a capacity to recover from mistakes, than any new-fangled theories.
Scotland were also pretty much the same as last year, willing to have a go but continuing to find new ways of botching moves that seemed certain to lead to tries. If the weather appeared to favour the home side, earlier rain had given way to a howling wind, their kicking game was so wretched that they were better off keeping the ball in hand but every time they made ground and got in behind the defence, they took the wrong option or made a lamentable error.
Scotland started as they were to carry on. When England made a hash of receiving the kick-off, Jim Hamilton charged through Dan Cole's attempted tackle on his way to the opposition 22. Scotland had the opportunity to exert the early pressure and stir the crowd that had come to see inexperienced England turned over.
Instead, Scotland spent the next 15 minutes in defence after losing control of the ball. Tom Palmer hoofed it down field and the template for the opening period had been established: mistakes abounded, not so much as a consequence of the conditions – the handling was generally secure – but through some poor decision-making and, in England's case, shortcomings at the breakdown.
While England considered themselves born to run, Scotland were intent on territory. Dan Parks launched a series of kicks but it took him 27 minutes to avoid the arms of Ben Foden and put the ball behind the England full-back. Foden was forced to clear hurriedly, providing Max Evans with the opportunity to counterattack.
Parks divides opinion in Scotland, safe rather than adventurous, but his errors with the boot hurt England. They had recovered from conceding the first score of the game on 22 minutes, when Owen Farrell, who had earlier missed from 45 metres, punished Allan Jacobsen's indiscretion from a ruck after David Strettle had seized a Rory Lamont knock-on from closer range, to lead 6-3 at the interval.
England's weakness at the breakdown was quickly apparent. Their first real attack was an all-Saracens affair: Charlie Hodgson to Brad Barritt to Mouritz Botha. The second row surged into Scotland's 22 but lost the ball and Scotland took the lead through two Parks penalties for offences after a tackle.
Chris Robshaw conceded the first, playing the ball off his feet in his own 22, and Chris Ashton the second, caught holding on after being surprisingly used as first receiver from a defensive scrum. That was one example of England's unfamiliarity costing them: their first attempt at a driving maul saw forwards pushing against each other and it went sideways into touch. A promising breakout ended when Robshaw sent a pass over Ashton, who was playing on the left wing, into touch and defensive uncertainty allowed Scotland to make gains.
Yet there was also a durability about England. They made mistakes but they scrambled their way to atonement. Scotland, slow to apply pressure, finished the opening half in the ascendant but they made a hash of manoeuvring Parks into position to drop a goal at the end of the half and 25 seconds after the restart they were behind.
England kicked long but Scotland wasted the chance to kick the ball back, setting up a ruck before Parks tried to clear. Hodgson was quickly on him and charged the ball down to score the first try in this fixture here since 2004. Parks's next contribution was to miss touch with a penalty but it was not until 58 minutes that Greg Laidlaw replaced him.
England should have been further ahead by then. Hodgson, starting to dictate, perfectly weighted a crosskick for Strettle which the wing collected only for David Denton, who had made some tackle-breaking bursts, to not only make a try-saving challenge but execute it with such precision that Strettle gave away a penalty for holding on.
Denton, Hamilton, Richie Gray and Ross Rennie all made damaging breaks but no side are less dangerous with the ball in hand in the Six Nations than Scotland. When Gray swatted away two defenders, Al Strokosch knocked on in England's 22; when Rennie, immediately after England had brought on three replacements, made a line break from a scrum, he delayed what would have been a try-scoring pass for so long that Foden was able to knock it on, fortunate not to be penalised because he went for the ball with one hand.
When Scotland did get over the line, it was still not enough. Laidlaw's chip saw him beaten to the bounce by Youngs, but his right arm brushed the ball as it landed on the ground. The video official, Nigel Whitehouse, took so long to decide downward pressure had not been applied that the referee, George Clancy, forgot he had been playing advantage after England had been caught offside.
If Scotland could curse their misfortune, another reason for their latest failure to score a try was England's improvement at the breakdown. They committed more numbers when they sensed the prospect of a steal, they stayed on their feet and, remembering how Ireland beat Australia in the World Cup, they kept ball-carriers on their feet and ripped effectively. For all their possession, territory and clean breaks, Scotland earned nothing. The only other points of the second half were scored by Farrell, who played the final 18 minutes at outside-half after Jordan Turner-Hall, one of seven England debutants on the day, replaced Barritt, who tackled himself to exhaustion.
The game ended with Scotland knocking on, symptomatic of yet another match in which their composure did not match their ambition. For all England's talk of a new dawn, it was old-fashioned virtues that allowed the champions to make a winning startand it was just as familiar for the Scots.
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Younus puts England on back foot
by Vic Marks
4 Feb 2012 at 2:29pm
Pakistan 99 & 222-2; England 141
History tells us that Test cricket teams dismissed for a double-figure score in the first innings of the match very rarely go on to win. The last time this happened was in 1907 at Headingley when England, all out for 76 at the start, defeated South Africa. But history is an unreliable cove.
By the end of the second day's play in Dubai, Pakistan, bowled out for 99 in their first innings, were nonetheless in charge of the third Test. After another flurry of wickets during Saturday's morning session, the game adopted the pattern expected before the series but seldom experienced.
From lunch onwards batting became a serene experience, bowling a trial. At the close Pakistan, luxuriating on 222 for two, led by 180 runs.
Younus Khan, who hit the first century of the series, toyed with the England attack, all aggression and flamboyance once he had completed a good period of reconnaissance. His faithful ally was Azhar Ali, as calm and dutiful a batsman as Pakistan has produced for years. The ball seldom went anywhere but to the middle of their bats in a magnificent unbeaten partnership of 194.
Initially they were merely positive and assured in defence, proving that it is possible to bat for hours out here without paranoia over the umpire decision review system intervening to cloud the judgment. Against Monty Panesar they both stretched calmly forward and patted the ball away; against Graeme Swann they were always more interested in scoring runs. England's off-spinner, not so long ago ranked the best slow bowler in the world, did not bowl too badly but he was now no higher than fourth in the rankings and that was just out of all the spinners in this particular match.
A once capricious surface was now behaving as decorously as a teacher's pet. In the evening Pakistan, via the rapier bat of Younus, cashed in. His first 50 had occupied 106 balls, his second just 60. He tormented Swann with reverse sweeps; he reduced Panesar to bowling over the wicket into the rough.
In that final session England were rudderless. Captain Strauss could conjure no tricks. Vice-captain Alastair Cook squatted resolutely for another Panesar over at short-leg, even though he has not taken a catch off his bowling all series. He was there because … actually I don't know why he was there except that Monty usually has a fielder there. For the first time in the series England looked a spent force in the field, devoid of energy and ideas.
Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad have done enough to be on the winning side but now they discovered a surface that had drifted off to sleep. There was rarely any turn for the spinners and somehow those deadly straight balls that have had the third umpire jumping out of his chair at regular intervals lost their potency.
The English batsmen could only look on anxiously as the score mounted. So many of them are scarred now, not just by the prospect of Saeed Ajmal's doosra, but by the more conventional challenge posed by Abdur Rehman's brisk and unrelenting left-arm spinners.
By now England must have craved a lead larger than the 42 achieved by Strauss and the lower order in the morning session. Anderson, often described by this (metaphorical) pen as the most improved batsman in the England side (admittedly not the most difficult of accolades to acquire at the moment), did not live up to his reputation. He played an airy waft against Rehman, hoping to hit the ball in the vague direction of extra cover, and was bowled through the gate.
Broad, having paddle-swept his first ball for two, then began to bat with unusual discretion. With Strauss still at the crease he opted to hang in alongside his captain. He plunged forward to the spinners and defended without too many problems. But his last plunge ended predictably. Forward he went to Ajmal and the ball struck his front pad. Umpire Davis declined the appeal; Misbah-ul-Haq asked for a review. Up came the three dreaded red squares on the screen and Broad had to go, no more enchanted with life – and the DRS – than Kevin Pietersen was when lbw on Friday.
So the debate over DRS was back on the agenda. Much of the talk was about millimetres and angles and expanding the leeway for batsmen. As a supporter of the system in principle, my suggestion would be to try to change the way in which the players use it by reconsidering the allocation of reviews.
If a team had five reviews per match rather than two per innings they may not be so cavalier in calling for them early in the game. So the emphasis would revert to what the DRS was designed for: the elimination of howlers rather than the sneaking of marginal lbws.
Soon Strauss's dutiful innings came to a close when he was stumped for only the second time in his Test career. Swann swished, survived a review, swished again and was caught on the boundary.
The lead only seemed adequate in that morning session. Taufeeq Umar was caught at slip off Anderson and then we were treated to an old-fashioned lbw when Mohammad Hafeez had a slog against Panesar and missed. Umpires of the 70s and 80s always gave those out "for the shot".
But that was that. Not another wicket fell. SK Tarapore, the third umpire up in his eyrie, could have a little doze and a dream, while out in the middle the nightmares of Strauss and his team were fast returning. A substantial victory target is now in the offing.
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Manchester City 3-0 Fulham
by Paul Wilson
4 Feb 2012 at 7:48pm
Manchester City made the best of difficult conditions to keep the pressure on Manchester United when they visit Chelsea on Sunday, brushing off a negligible Fulham challenge to win by three goals and put the same number of points between themselves and their neighbours. It was not a vintage display but it was never going to be given the wintry weather. City simply needed in a convincing win to put their recent setbacks behind them and they easily accomplished that. They might have won by four goals but for a weak finish by Micah Richards late in the game, but the way the City captain muscled an uninterested Moussa Dembélé off the ball before setting off on a determined solo run neatly encapsulated the difference in attitudes between the two sides.
City had to turn to the error-prone Stefan Savic in central defence when Vincent Kompany was unable to shake off a knee injury picked up at Everton, though there were plenty of attacking options at the other end with David Silva, Samir Nasri, Sergio Agüero and Edin Dzeko all in the starting line-up, albeit with Nasri in central midfield to allow Adam Johnson to complete a front four. Dzeko was nominally the focus of the attack and was quickly involved, bringing a save from Mark Schwarzer in the second minute then volleying over the bar from Gareth Barry's cross.
The first time City used the full width of their attack they took the lead through a penalty, as Agüero, on the left, found Johnson on the right. The winger went to ground after the merest hint of a tackle from Chris Baird. It was not clear whether there had been any intent, or even whether Baird had actually fouled his opponent, though the referee, Mike Dean, took his time before deciding contact had been made. Agüero finished with aplomb from the spot.
Simon Davies brought a save from Joe Hart and Damien Duff saw a shot roll past the wrong side of a post by inches, before Baird's day got even worse on the half hour when he deflected a shot from Johnson past his own goalkeeper. Aleksandar Kolarov had crossed from the left for Agüero's flick to find Johnson unmarked at the far post with a clear sight of the target, though his shot was going across the face of goal until it hit Baird and went in. Fulham were in trouble now and as if to emphasise the fact Philippe Senderos almost contributed another own goal, from Richards's cross. This time, Schwarzer was able to react and make a save.
City could have had another penalty when Dickson Etuhu brought down Silva with a challenge that looked riskier than the one for which Baird was penalised, and a third goal also looked likely when Agüero attempted to launch a quick break from halfway on the stroke of the interval, yet with Dzeko, Silva and Johnson all running into open space in support, he failed to look up in time and ended up overhitting a pass that eluded all of them. Fulham were the last team to take points off City at home in the league with a 1-1 draw almost a year ago, but by half-time here their only hope appeared to be the worsening weather.
The pitch remained playable throughout the second half, although one of the penalty boxes had to be freshly defined with a shovel, but with snow coming down more or less constantly the game was occasionally in danger of disappearing from view. City introduced James Milner for the ineffective Nasri early in the second half, though the first shot on target after the interval actually came from Fulham, Stephen Kelly obliging Hart to make a routine stop after 62 minutes. It would be harsh considering the conditions to say that the previous 15 minutes of football had not amounted to much, but it said a lot that the men with the snow shovels produced a much livelier crowd reaction than anything the players managed.
Senderos was somewhat harshly booked for what was no more than an accidental collision with Kolarov on the edge of the area when players on both sides were finding it difficult to stay on their feet. The defender hurt himself in the process and for one reason or another found himself unable to challenge Agüero as he set up City's third, allowing the Argentinian to skip into the area from Johnson's pass and square the ball to leave Dzeko a chance he could not miss. Fulham managed to hit a post shortly afterwards, or at least a deflection off Dzeko's heel did following a corner, but the visitors' luck was out. City's was definitely in. After losing in midweek to a feisty and highly-motivated Everton, they could not have asked for more accommodating opponents.
An unmemorable contest long over, the announcement of five minutes added time at least brought one of the best chants of the season.
"It's flipping freezing," the crowd sang, or words to that effect. "We wanna go home."
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Arsenal 7-1 Blackburn
by Amy Lawrence
4 Feb 2012 at 3:15pm
Mutiny? What mutiny? For a change, Arsène Wenger was surrounded by nothing but jovial faces as his team, and their supporters, remembered what it is like to thoroughly enjoy a game of football. No pressure. No anger. Well, not in the home camp anyway.
Against opponents who could not have been more accommodating, more ragged, more ready to self-combust, Arsenal were able to put on an exhibition of the kind of stylish, attacking football which been so frustratingly elusive of late. Robin van Persie collected his second hat-trick of the season, Theo Walcott enjoyed as many assists, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain crowned another dazzling display with his first strikes in the Premier League, and even Thierry Henry chipped in with one.
On a weekend when Fabio Capello has more than his fair share of headaches, Oxlade-Chamberlain's performance will give the England manager a welcome injection of positivity. He has quickly become symbolic of this season at Arsenal, and underlined why he has such backing with his most purposeful display yet. He has started 10 games this season and has now scored in three different competitions. He is making it very difficult for Wenger to consider leaving him out, which could make life interesting when Gervinho returns from the Africa Cup of Nations.
The biggest league win at the Emirates Stadium began when Arsenal eased in front after 82 seconds. Francis Coquelin dinked a crafty pass into Walcott, whose low, accurate centre provided Van Persie with a tap in.
Blackburn had very little to offer in return, until Laurent Koscielny tugged down Anthony Modeste on the edge of the penalty area. Morten Gamst Pedersen struck his free-kick beautifully. It arced and dipped and although Wojciech Szczesny reached a palm to it, he could do nothing to prevent the equaliser.
Parity was brief. Arsenal scored a near replica of their opening goal. The main difference saw Alex Song carve Blackburn open with a wonderfully weighted pass to Walcott, who picked out Van Persie for another simple finish .
For all the applause that was due to their regular scorer, an even bigger cheer was on the way. Two minutes later, Van Persie turned provider to outwit the Blackburn defence and give Oxlade-Chamberlain something to chase. He switched on his turbo, and then showed excellent composure to flick the ball around Paul Robinson before steering into an empty net. Top marks all round for his first Premier League goal.
Blackburn's plight took a turn for the worse when Gaël Givet was sent off for a reckless, two-footed lunge at Van Persie.
Arsenal duly continued to rip into Steve Kean's team after the break, scoring three more in an 11-minute blitz. Van Persie's corner was half-cleared by Steven Nzonzi and knocked on to Mikel Arteta, who drove in through a crowded area.
The fifth saw their two ex-Southampton prodigies combine superbly. Walcott dribbled infield and delivered an inviting assist, which Oxlade-Chamberlain again took with aplomb. He tricked his way past his marker and poked the ball in.
Then Van Persie swept in his hat-trick with what was becoming customary comfort against a Blackburn team that was, psychologically at least, on the bus home by half-time. That is 28 goals from 28 starts in all competitions this season. Van Persie had time for one more assist, combining with Henry to enable the old favourite to clip in with the aid of a deflection.
Defeat at Ewood Park back in September had been arguably the lowest of Arsenal's low points this season. This meeting brought some much needed catharsis.
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Criminal probe of Armstrong closed
3 Feb 2012 at 10:45pm
• Investigation centred on allegations of doping
• Seven-times Tour de France winner denied taking drugs
United States federal prosecutors say they are closing a criminal investigation of Lance Armstrong, the seven-times Tour de France winner, and will not charge him over allegations that he used performance-enhancing drugs.
The US attorney Andre Birotte Jr said the case had been closed but did not give the reason. Investigators looked at whether a doping programme was created to keep Armstrong and his team-mates running at the head of the pack while, at least part of the time, they received government sponsorship from the US Postal Service.
Armstrong's attorney Mark Fabiani welcomed the decision in a statement. "This is great news," he said. "Lance is pleased that the United States attorney made the right decision, and he is more determined than ever to devote his time and energy to Livestrong and to the causes that have defined his career."
However the US Anti Doping Agency CEO Travis T Tygart has said that the matter is not over. "Unlike the US Attorney, Usada's job is to protect clean sport rather than enforce specific criminal laws," he indicated in a statement. "Our investigation into doping in the sport of cycling is continuing and we look forward to obtaining the information developed during the federal investigation."
Armstrong won the Tour de France every year from 1999-2005 and has always fiercely denied doping.
The investigation, anchored in Los Angeles where a grand jury was presented evidence by federal prosecutors and heard testimony from Armstrong's former teammates and associates, began with a separate investigation of Rock Racing, a cycling team owned by the fashion entrepreneur Michael Ball.
Birotte Jr announced that his office "is closing an investigation into allegations of federal criminal conduct by members and associates of a professional bicycle racing team owned in part by Lance Armstrong".
The Armstrong probe was led by the federal agent Jeff Novitzky. US authorities sought assistance overseas, requesting urine samples of US Postal riders from France's anti-doping agency and also meeting officials from Belgium, Spain and Italy.
Prosecutors also subpoenaed Armstrong supporters and former team-mates to testify in Los Angeles. Among them were the Ukrainian cyclist Yaroslav Popovych, who rode on three Armstrong teams dating back to 2005; Allen Lim, an exercise physiologist for Team Radioshack; and the long-time Armstrong friend Stephanie McIlvain.
The investigation was spurred by the disgraced cyclist Floyd Landis, who claims Armstrong had a long-running doping system in place while they were team-mates. Landis, who was stripped of the 2006 Tour de France title for drug use, acknowledged in 2010 he used performance-enhancing drugs after years of denying he cheated.
One of the most serious accusations came during a "60 Minutes" interview last May when another former team-mate, Tyler Hamilton, said he saw Armstrong use EPO during the 1999 Tour de France and in preparation for the 2000 and 2001 tours.
As the investigation progressed, Armstrong assembled a legal team, hired a spokesman and briefly created a website to address any of the allegations reported.
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Nottingham Forest owner Nigel Doughty found dead at home
4 Feb 2012 at 7:52pm
• Doughty was found in the gym of his house
• Ed Miliband pays tribute to 'kind, generous man'
The Nottingham Forest owner Nigel Doughty, who stepped down as the club's chairman in October after a decade in the role, has been found dead at his home in Lincolnshire.
Doughty, who was 54, was discovered in the gym at his home in Skillington on Saturday. Nottingham Forest said in a brief statement: "It is with enormous sadness that we announce the death of the club's owner Nigel Doughty. The club would like to appeal for the privacy of Mr Doughty's family to be observed at this sad time."
A life-long Forest fan, Doughty saved them from administration when he paid £11m to take control in 1999, and invested almost £100m of his personal fortune in the club.
During his chairmanship Forest won promotion back to the Championship in 2008, three years after their relegation, and, under manager Billy Davies, reached the play-offs in each of the past two seasons.
The businessman's time as chairman ended after the departure of the former England manager Steve McClaren, who had only 112 days in charge. Doughty, who said appointing McClaren was his decision and had been "a very poor one", was replaced in the role by the former Forest manager Frank Clark.
The Labour leader Ed Miliband paid tribute to Doughty, who was a high-profile party supporter. Doughty had also chaired a Small Business Taskforce late last year, making recommendations to Labour which are to be considered as part of the party's policy-making process.
Miliband said: "I am shocked and saddened … I was with him only a week ago and he was full of life, enthusiasm and vigour. Nigel was a kind, generous man with a deep desire to make the world a better place. My heart goes out to his wife Lucy and his children. We mourn his death deeply and will sorely miss him."
Forest's players also paid tribute to Doughty. The forward Matt Derbyshire wrote on Twitter: "I can't believe the sad news, my thoughts go out to his family," while Garath McCleary praised Doughty for the work he did at the club, saying: "He has done so much for Forest, which was not always best appreciated. My thoughts are with his family."
Greg Clarke, the chairman of the Football League, said: "I'm hugely saddened to hear of Nigel's death. He has made an enormous contribution to Nottingham Forest and the Football League and will be greatly missed by us all."
When he resigned the chairmanship, Doughty reassured fans he planned to continue to provide financial backing for Forest which he said needed £12m annually to survive.
Doughty said: "It has been my club for 50 years … I have said on a number of occasions I have always been happy to support the club on a financial basis."
Forest, struggling in 23rd place in the Championship, are due to play at Derby County on Sunday.
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England's Owen Farrell kicks Scotland boo boys into touch | Richard Williams
by Richard Williams
4 Feb 2012 at 7:44pm
The crowd tried to put the young centre off his game but he shows maturity to put points on the board
An outbreak of booing during a rugby match is always an ugly sound, the more so when it is directed at a young man, only a few months out of his teens and in the early stages of his international debut, doing nothing more discreditable than attempting a kick at goal.
Perhaps this sort of thing is only to be expected nowadays in the heat of Six Nations competition. It happens at the Stade de France, it happens in Cardiff, and it is occasionally the subject of stern warnings to the Twickenham crowd. Somehow, though, it is not what one expects from Murrayfield, even at a time when a desire to escape English rule is at the forefront of national debate.
So the Scottish crowd brought no honour on itself when Owen Farrell stepped up to take the first penalty kick of the match in the 12th minute. Ben Foden had run Dan Parks's poor kick back across the halfway line, prompting Richie Gray to enter a ruck by the side door. Farrell's attempt from 47 metres had the length, but drifted just wide of the right-hand post.
Perhaps the crowd concluded that they had played a part in his failure, because they repeated the treatment when the Saracens centre was given a second opportunity 10 minutes later, this time from 25 metres and a wider angle. Impervious to the distasteful reception, Farrell gave England the lead with an immaculate swish of his boot.
When Parks was given the chance to reply, after Chris Robshaw was penalised at a ruck in the 25th minute, there was a reciprocal response from the large contingent of England supporters among the 67,000 crowd. The Scotland outside-half brought his side level, following up a few minutes later – this time amid relative silence from the visiting fans – with another successful effort.
England had started impressively enough, pressing the Scots so effectively that the white shirts spent 70% of the first quarter in their opponents' half of the pitch. But it was pressure rather than penetration, and individual errors undermined their efforts to turn territorial supremacy into the harder currency of points.
The 25-year-old Robshaw, England's least experienced new captain since Nigel Melville in 1984, will not want to recall his moments of scruffiness in a disappointing first half. As England strained to piece together a handling move after Charlie Hodgson's initial pass had gone to ground, he threw a simple pass over Chris Ashton's head and into touch.
A minute later he tried to dispossess Chris Cusiter after the whistle had gone for an infringement and found the Scottish scrum-half grabbing him warmly by the throat in response, leading to a mini-melee from which the England skipper emerged with his shirt refashioned into a fashionable off-the-shoulder number. Then came the offence from which Parks gave Scotland the advantage they were to hold to the interval.
Not that Robshaw was the only offender, and Phil Dowson, making his debut in the No8 shirt at the age of 30, dropped a restart kick under no pressure. But Foden ran everything that came his way, which was plenty, and David Strettle showed flashes of enterprise on the right flank.
Stuart Lancaster's bold selectorial decisions and obvious desire to shepherd his squad were given a helping hand less than half a minute after the resumption, when Hodgson dashed forward to charge down Parks's attempted clearance kick on the five-metre line. The fly-half followed up to gather the rebound as he crossed the goal line before exerting untidy but legitimate downward pressure.
It could not be claimed that the try was the result of any great strategic deliberation or tactical innovation dreamed up during the squad's nine days in their Leeds training camp. What it represented was a heartening demonstration of quick wits and opportunism from a veteran viewed by many as an international write-off after too many examples of fallible defence and kicking nerves in front of the unforgiving Twickenham audience. Hodgson's performance on his 37th appearance for his country was much more in keeping with a reputation acquired during long years of productive service with Sale and Saracens, and will have heartened those who always pleaded his cause.
The composed distribution he offers at his best could be seen during a lovely second-half exchange of passes with Ashton and Foden, followed a few seconds later by an exquisite cross-kick into the hands of Strettle, who collected the ball on the run but could not evade the grasp of David Denton.
England saw out the match with a display of resolute defence. Not much – in fact virtually nothing at all – was seen in open play of the Saracens midfield combination of Hodgson, Farrell and Brad Barritt. As so often happens when a murky Edinburgh is the venue for the Calcutta Cup, that kind of rugby was not really on the agenda. But the reaction of Lancaster's players to the final whistle indicated that they had faced up to the first stage of a long rehabilitation, and come through unscathed.
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Zambia 3-0 Sudan | Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final match report
4 Feb 2012 at 7:43pm
• Zambia 3-0 Sudan
Zambia reached their first Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals in 16 years after a clinical 3-0 win over struggling 10-man Sudan.
Stophira Sunzu headed in from a free-kick in the 15th minute and Christopher Katongo made it 2-0 in the 66th when he scored from the rebound after his penalty was saved. The substitute James Chamanga sealed Zambia's dominance in the 86th with a curling shot from the edge of the area that went in off the post.
Sudan's hopes of an upset slipped away when the defender Saif Eldin Ali Idris was sent off in the 65th minute for a reckless foul on Rainford Kalaba that led to Katongo's penalty. By then the Sudanese had already been forced into two first-half substitutions because of injury before Ali Idris went for his second bookable offense.
Zambia could have won by an even bigger margin but the Sudan goalkeeper Akram El Hadi Salem, who had a busy night, dived full length to his right to save a stoppage-time effort that appeared destined for the net.
Sunzu rose high at the near post to beat Akram for the opener after a free kick out wide from Isaac Chansa. Katongo hit his right-footed penalty straight at Akram, who save it one-handed, but the Zambia captain followed up to poke home with his left foot for 2-0.
Chamanga's goal was the pick of the three as he controlled neatly and sent a curling right-footed effort toward the far corner that was too good for Akram.
Before the match, both sets of players and officials observed a minute's silence in a mark of respect for the more than 70 people killed at a football riot in Egypt this week. Zambia will play the winner of Ghana v Tunisia.
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Toby Flood returns as Leicester reach LV Cup semi-finals
4 Feb 2012 at 7:36pm
• England fly-half Flood back as Tigers beat Newcastle 24-13
• Northampton and Scarlets also book semi-final place
Leicester secured a place in the LV Cup semi-finals by beating Newcastle 24-13 at Welford Road. Toby Flood came through 30 minutes of action from the bench in a boost to the England management, as the fly-half returned from a knee injury with no ill-effects.
The home side went ahead in the seventh minute, when the No8 Thomas Waldrom was barged over the line after a lineout. Jeremy Staunton added the conversion and then struck two penalties. Jimmy Gopperth replied with two penalties for Newcastle, but two more kicks for Staunton gave Leicester a 19-6 half-time lead.
Leicester lock George Skivington increased their lead when he nipped in for their second try early in the second half. Newcastle kept battling, and when Will Chudley whipped the ball out to Gopperth at first receiver, the Kiwi utilised superb decoy running from Jamie Helleur to scurry between the posts, adding the conversion himself.
Northampton scored eight tries in a 57-10 home victory over Wasps to qualify for the semi-finals. The England Under-20 winger Jamie Elliott scored twice as the Saints dominated against a hopelessly out-of-form Wasps.
The Saints went ahead with an early penalty from Stephen Myler, and soon the hooker Andy Long plunged over for his first try for the club. James Craig soon opened his account and Elliott scored their third try after Myler's deflected grubber fell kindly for him.
Will Robinson struck a long-range penalty for Wasps to make the half-time score 22-3, but when Simon McIntyre was sin-binned, the home side took advantage with a penalty try, a run into the corner for Noah Cato and Elliott's second. Joe Simpson scored a consolation for Wasps before Alex Waller and Cato completed the scoring.
The England flanker Hendre Fourie scored a try on his home debut to give Sale a 19-14 victory but Scarlets still progressed to the semi-finals. Scarlets' bonus point, coupled with defeats for Gloucester and Newcastle, guaranteed their passage into the last four. Fourie's early try was converted by the fly-half Nick Macleod, but the visitors were 11-7 ahead by half-time thanks to two penalties from Dan Newton and a try from Peter Edwards.
Sale rallied in the second half with three further penalties by Macleod. The Scarlets replacement Stephen Jones reduced the deficit with a penalty, but a final kick from Macleod ensured victory for Sale.
A masterly kicking display from the London Irish full-back Tom Homer condemned the defending champions Gloucester to a 23-15 defeat, with both teams already out of semi-final contention. The Gloucester winger Ian Clark stole the show with two tries, one of them an outstanding solo effort, on his first start for the club. Homer kicked six penalties, with the hooker Brian Blaney grabbing a try for the Exiles.
Worcester beat Ospreys 24-14 at Sixways in another match where both teams were already eliminated. Two tries from Josh Drauniniu and nine points from the boot of Andy Goode contributed to Worcester's win, while Matthew Morgan and Hanno Dirksen crossed for the Ospreys.
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Manchester City v Fulham - as it happened | Evan Fanning
by Evan Fanning
4 Feb 2012 at 7:28pm
Manchester City moved three points clear at the top of the table with an easy win over Fulham in the snow at the Etihad
Good evening. Fulham were the last team to avoid defeat in a league game at Manchester City almost one year ago. In fact you have to go back to November 2006 to find the last time that Fulham were beaten at City in the league. The City of Manchester Stadium, Eastlands, the Etihad, call it whatever you like, Fulham are happy to go there.
This would seem to be the right time for Martin Jol's side to visit. With just three wins in their last six games and three defeats in their last nine (not including exits from the FA and Carling Cup) this is as close to being on the rocks as City are likely to get.
Roberto Mancini's side have been crying out for a lift in recent weeks. What thyey could really do with is a diminutive bundle of energy with an eye for goal scampering around the pitch causing havoc everywhere he goes. But Carlos Tevez is still in Argentina - he's playing in Martin Palermo's testimonial this weekend if you're interested - but Mancini does have new signing David Pizarro available if he needs him. Cue much hilarity as commentators joke about what the Chilean must think of the Manchester weather. Because it never gets cold in Rome.
Match pointers, get your match pointers• There has not been a single clean sheet in the last 15 Premier League meetings between these teams
• Manchester City have won their last 16 top-flight fixtures at home since drawing 1-1 with Fulham there 12 months ago
• Damien Duff has scored in his last two visits to City
• The hosts have struck the woodwork more times than any other team in the division this season (15)
• Fulham are the only team in the Premier League not to have conceded a penalty so far this campaign
Team news (fairly) hot off the presses. Vincent Kompany misses out with an injury so Stefan Savic returns to the centre of City's defence. Adam Johnson also gets a start. For Fulham, Mark Schwarzer returns in goal after 11 games out. The excellent Moussa Dembélé also returns for Martin Jol's side with Bryan Ruiz dropping to the bench.
Man City: Hart; Richards, Savic, Lescott, Kolarov; Nasri, Barry; Silva, Johnson, Aguero, Dzeko.
Subs: Pantilimon, Zabaleta, Milner, Pizarro, Clichy, De Jong, Rekik.
Fulham: Schwarzer; Kelly, Hangeland, Senderos, Baird; Murphy, Etuhu; Davies, Dembele, Duff; Dempsey.
Subs: Stockdale, John Arne Riise, Kasami, Ruiz, Gecov, Hughes, Frei.
Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral)
"I thought Liverpool were topping the charts when it comes to hitting the woodwork this season," asks Patrick Body. "Or is that in all competitions rather than just the league?" I believe it is league only. At least I hope so otherwise that stat is pointless. Meanwhile Ryan Dunne writes: "I know that Gary Naylor or Mac Millings would doubtless romp to the top place, but the competition allowing regular schmuks a shot at MBM-officiating glory (I can't the only one reminded of Eminem's "Lose Yourself") sounds most intriguing. Do MBM-officiators have to be fair, balanced and neutral, or are you allowed to respond Phil Thompson style if your team scores a last minute winner? (We're much more sensible about this in Scotland, where it's assumed that everyone supports either the Glorious Glasgow Rangers or Celtic on top of people's professed diddy teams)." You're not allowed do anything Phil Thompson would do. That's one of the key rules. But if you were to win, Ryan, who would email in?
Mike Dean gets the OK to lead the times onto the pitch by ESPN's Lady in Red Rebecca Lowe. That's power that is. Nothing like a bit of we-pay-a-portion-of-the-over-inflated-tv-deal-so-we'll-do-what-we-want flexing of our muscles. I wonder if Mike Dean will hold the kick off while I go to the men's room? I'll give him 67p if he does. It's all I have.
Deany blows his whistle and we're underway in an icy Etihad. Fulham kick off playing from right-to-left. The undersoil heating has been on for a week so it should be nice and cozy. I suppose City don't have to worry about heating bills.
Dembélé loses possession in the centre circle and City are quickly onto the front foot. Agüero carries the ball towards the Fulham area before Dickson Etuhu's sliding challenge turns into a perfect through ball for Dzeko. The Bosnian takes a touch but his shot, under pressure from Baird, is easily stopped by Schwarzer.
Lots of empty seats in the Etihad. It's cold seems to be the main reason for the vacancies. I thought City fans were the real fans in Manchester? On the pitch there's another half-chance for Dzeko after Barry finds space on the left and whips in a cross to his striker who's arriving at pace but deflects his shot over the crossbar.
It's all City at the moment and Hangelaand has to hack clear as David Silva tries to pick out Dzeko in the six yard box. Have you ever not gone to a game you had a ticket for because it was cold? Go on, you can admit. There's doctor-patient confidentiality here*.
* No there's not.
Penalty to City as Chris Baird trips Adam Johnson.
Goal!!!! Manchester City 1-0 Fulham (Aguero pen). Schwarzer goes the right way but Aguero makes no mistake with a perfectly placed shot into the corner. It was a softish penalty - Johnson cut inside Baird and left his leg hanging for the touch from the full back which duly arrived,. Mike Dean thought long and hard and, after perhaps getting the OK from Rebecca Lowe, pointed to the spot,
"I just flipped over the England Scotland game," writes Fraser Thomas. "A Scottish back picked up the ball and hoofed it down field, where an English back did exactly the same thing. I'll stick with the football." Thank God Stoke aren't playing Blackburn is all I'll say to that.
Clint Dempsey is an isolated figure up front for Fulham but the US international does well to pluck a ball out of the air with his chest but his half-volley from distance is well wide of Joe Hart's goal.
City look dangerous every time they come forward, which is frequently. Nasri tries to fins Kolarov on the overlap but the ball is poor, the full back trips over it and a Fulham player hacks clear for a corner. "I've often wondered if the homeless ever try to sneak in to grounds such as City's in the dead of winter, knowing that the undersoil heating is on," writes Justin Kavanagh. "If you're going to sleep rough, presumably it would be ideal if some sheik or Russian oligarch was providing an outdoor electric blanket?"
It seems very many of you are soft and have opted out of going to sporting occasions on the grounds that you just didn't fancy it. "I had tickets for the speed-skating at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics and didn't go because I had a cold," says Jordan Devine. "I regret that one." Fraser Thomas writes: "One November nine years ago I couldn't be arsed to brave the crappy weather to drive 70 miles to watch my team play at Mansfield. Bristol City were 4-2 down after 90 minutes. They won 5-4."
Adam - yes Adam - Johnson skips by Baird again right on the touchline and falls to the ground looking for another penalty. This time Mike Riley needs no confirmation from Rebecca Lowe and waves play on, which makes you wonder why Johnson hasn't been shown a yellow card. Thanks to those who pointed out that Baird tripped Adam rather than Andy Johnson, who is his team-mate and therefore he can trip him as much as he wants without consequence.
For the first time in the game Fulham get several players forward but Stephen Kelly's cross is too deep and sails out of play on the far side.
This a decent spell for Fulham - relatively speaking at least - as Clint Dempsey slide a pass to Davies, who's cutting in from the left. Davies takes a touch before hitting a low drive which hart drops to his right to save.
City go straight up the other end and David Silva drills a shot wide when he might have hit the target. :My brother Chris and I went to the Manchester United v Arsenal game a couple of years ago, which kicked off at 12:45, and he got married at at 4pm the same day," says William Gibson. "Anyone who doesn't go to a game just because it's a bit cold is a lightweight and a sissy." Did he show up to the wedding?
Adam Johnson tries his luck from distance but it's never really going to threaten Mark Schwarzer's goal. "I had a ticket to the D'Angelo gig in London tonight, but haven't gone because I'm outrageously hung-over," says Denilson. What's the worst thing you've missed because of a hangover?
The snow is really coming down now but it's not bothering Damien Duff who comes in from the right and tries to bend a shot around Lescott, which he does, and it's not very far away from creeping into the corner.
Goal!! Manchester City 2-0 Fulham (Baird og). Manchester City double their lead and it's all too easy. Kolarov crosses from the left, Aguero gets the slightest of touches towards Adam Johnson who tries to fire back across goal but it takes a massive deflection off the hapless Chris Baird and give Schwarzer no chance in the Fulham goal.
Manchester City should have had another penalty as Etuhu wrapped his leg around Aguero. It was a clumsy challenge but perhaps Mike Dean is feeling sympathetic towards Fulham. "Re: who would email if I was officiating an MBM," says Ryan Dunne. "Call me an optimist but: hot single women?" You don't really understand the MBM game, do you?
Anything Chris Baird can do ... Micah Richards gallops down the right and crosses. Senderos sticks out a leg and deflects it towards his own goal but this time Schwarzer saves. "Although I've never missed, well, anything because of a hangover as I'm somewhat of a teetotaler, I did miss most of a close friend's wedding because I slept in," writes Gabriel Piller. "The kicker is I didn't even go out the night before and went to bed early to make sure I would be fresh for the day."
If the game isn't already over it should be. Dzeko picks out Agüero who saunters into the area and stings Schwarzer's palms with a left footed shot. David Silva should bury the rebound but puts it over the top but the offside flag was raised anyway so it doesn't matter. "I had tickets to see Quicksilver Messenger Service in New York a few years ago," says Paul. "It wasn't cold, but in the interim period between buying the ticket and the night of the show, I discovered that they had changed from their 60s Frisco acid-rock glory to a cruddy jazz-rock travesty. Didn't go, even threw the ticket away, but I'm still regretting it. If it wasn't for YouTube, I would have gone and seen for myself."
William Gibson's brother did make the wedding, for any of you who have been hanging on for that piece of news. Meanwhile, apparently Chris Baird may have faced sanction of he was to repeatedly trip his own team-mate as Rob Lindsay points out citing Fifa's Law 12 which states ...
"A player who commits a cautionable or sending-off offence, either on or off the field of play, whether directed towards an opponent, a team-mate, the referee, an assistant referee or any other person, is disciplined according to the nature of the offence committed."
Yeah, but what do Fifa know?
This game has about as much edge as a space-hopper at the moment. Fulham win a corner which is really just the springboard for a Manchester City counter-attack which Agüero wastes with a careless ball over the top. Meanwhile, Tom Chivers writes: "ESPN ticker just said Damien Duff "became only the third Irishman to score 50 Premier League goals v Blackburn last month". I mean, I know Blackburn are struggling, but I hadn't realised January went that badly for them."
One minute of added time. Given the scoreline, the way the game has gone and the snow fall I reckon neither side would have too many complaints if they agreed that this could be a one-half match.
Half-time: Manchester City 2-0 Fulham.
Half time emails: "I missed out on a career and most of my 20s I was so hungover," says Lester Lloyd. We all did that, didn't we?
"Last weekend, much to my shame, I left the stadium here in Genoa after 50 minutes because of the god-awful cold," says Michael Nimmo. "It was Genoa 2 Napoli 0 at the time, and despite us winning I went home and watched the last 20 minutes in the bar near my flat. We won 3-2 in the end, so all's well that ends well. The temperature for tomorrow here's meant to be -5 but will try to stay for all of the Glorious Genoa's undoubted victory over Lazio. Also, last year we played Roma and were 0-3 down after 50 minutes, at which some people left. Cue the best (and ABSOLUTELY not fixed) comeback that I've seen. We won 4-3. Brilliant, but I do feel sorry/pity for those who left at 0-3."
Half time thoughts: Lynx deodorant doesn't have anything like the effect their ads claim it will. It's not even close. Or maybe that's just me?
That rare thing: an email about football. Paul Ruffley writes: "Pre match espn did a piece on Silva and Nasri not always gelling because they naturally want to be in the same place on the pitch. On the other hand it seems to me Agüero and Dzeko don't click because they seem to have no idea that they're on the same pitch at all. They really don't work together and looking at Agüero I think he's starting to lose any faith in Dzeko, almost reluctant to pass it to him. Dzeko's getting his run of games everyone says he needs for confidence but it still ain't working."
The teams are back on the pitch. Fulham came from two-down to draw 2-2 when these sides met at Craven Cottage in September. Can that happen again? No is the most likely answer to that but we'll see.
We're underway again. No changes on either side. "I once missed a 6pm flight from Vancouver to London due to a hangover," says Kulveer Taggar.
City play some lovely one-touch football at times. Silva is heavily involved in a move that ends when Kolarov's shot is blocked and Barry's cross field pass is intercepted by Baird. "Lynx deodorant doesn't have anything like the effect their ads claim it has because you are not meant to ignite the spray," says firestarter Ian Copestake.
A shot from Fulham! It's Downtown Danny Murphy who has the strike but it's easily saved by Joltin' Joe Hart.
This game has gone very flat and to make matters worse James Milner is about to come on. What have you shown up to hungover and subsequently wished you hadn't? Work is not an acceptable answer.
Dickson Etuhu has been caught in possession more times than Howard Marks. This time it's Silva who robs the Fulham midfielder but he can't pick out Dzeko in the centre. James Milner comes on for Samir Nasri.
"Nice to see a comment from William Gibson," says Phil Sawyer. "Didn't think he'd be one to take an interest in City v Fulham. I'm assuming that there is only one William Gibson in the world and he is indeed the hard hitting, zaibatsu obsessed, technology predicting American cyberpunk author. Coincidentally I started reading Neuromancer again just last night. Could he pop round and sign it for me?"
The game is going to be held up for a few minutes the next time the ball goes out of play so that the lines around the Fulham penalty area can be brushed clear of snow. Don't worry, I'll bring you a sweep-by-sweep update.
City are forging their way through the snow like they're in The Day After Tomorrow. Johnson wins a corner on the right and here come the brushes. It's a lovely downward action from the groundsman but he lets himself down when he gets stuck at the corner of the penalty area. all in all some quality sweeping. "Why is it when British players dive (yes Mr Johnson i am talking about your first half shenanigans, as well as people like Bale, Rooney, Gerrard etc) , there is never a peep of protest," says Ciaran McGowan. "When a foreign player dives (such as Pires, Eduardo or Suarez) we have demands for parliament to be recalled and debates on the end of civilisation, as we know it?" Because one is English and the other is Johnny Foreigner, Ciaran. It's pretty straightforward.
The pitch sweeper has had an inspirational impact on Fulham's Stephen Kelly who says to himself "if he can do that, I can do anything". And by "anything" he means advance into the City area and have a fairly weak shot with the outside of his right foot easily saved by Joe Hart. "For all of the 'riches' at his disposal, surely Mancini should stick with Silva and Aguerro leave Nasri, (Adam) Johnson, and Milner on the training ground with the cones," says Lou Roper. "On the other hand, he still has to deal with having to play one or two of Zabaleta, Lescott, and Kolorov, especially with Kompany suspended. Surely, this reality gives United hope (until they realize that Rio's fitness problems increase the likelihood of Evans finding himself in their XI)?"
Gareth Barry gives away a free kick and Chris Baird drills it low through the wall and it's a decent stop from Joe hart, particularly as he may have mistaken the ball for a snowball thrown by Mario Balotelli.
City go straight up the other end and Murphy blocks Agüero's shot on the spin which seemed destined for the bottom corner. Kolarov is then upended by Senderos and Manchester City have a free kick right on the edge of the area as the snow gets heavier and heavier. Senderos gets a yellow card.
A flash mob of pitch sweepers are on the field now. They're multiplying like Gremlins. Bryan Ruiz comes on for Dickson Etuhu. "For all of City's new shiny things, it's quite pleasant to see a bloke with a metal trough tied onto a broom handle clearing snow at the Etihad," says Will Holmden. You would think they'd have some sort of laser gun that could take of it, what with all their money.
"Shouldn't that be caught in possession more times than George Michael?" asks Bob Craven. "Howard Marks was very elusive most of the time." I can't do anything right, In my defence Dickson Etuhu is fairly elusive most of the time too. You see, there were layers to that gag. Many, many layers.
I'm finding it quite hard to see the ball at the moment but I can tell from where the players are that Manchester City are on the attack. Unless of course they're all just running around near the Fulham goal while the ball is lying still on some other part of the pitch.
Goal!!! Manchester City 3-0 Fulham (Dzeko). It's game-set-and match except you wouldn't play tennis in this weather. Dzeko has scored the third but it's all down to Sergio Agüro who weaved his way through the Fulham defence before laying it on a plate for Dzeko who finished past Schwarzer from 10 yards.
Kolarov picks up a yellow card for pulling back Dembélé, who picks up a yellow for squaring up to Kolarov. John Arne Riise has come on for Phillippe Senderos.
Clint Dempsey has a shot deflected wide for a corner while. It's taken low by Bryan Ruiz and hits a City defender - I can't quite see who - and canons back off Joe Hart's right-hand post. "Missing a flight hungover is one thing, but last year I dragged myself out of bed after one hour's drunken sleep after our Christmas party, to catch a 6am flight," says Will. "I arrived at the airport to find out flight was the next day. No bus back to town for two hours, so I slept on baggage conveyor belt!"
Nigel De Jong comes on for Sergio Agüero. "Snow clearing at the Etihad," says Jamie Ayres. "Seems like the perfect use for a certain Mr Tevez. I bet he would make a lovely job of pushing that shovel ... well for a few seasons anyway."
Micah Richards robs Moussa Dembele, runs 30 yards with the ball but fires his shot wide. At least I think it was wide. Justin Kavanagh is also having problems seeing what's going on. "I turned on the telly to see that last goal and all I could make out was what looked like a ballet going on on a white stage with some Eastern European—the sky-blue swan maybe?—emerging victorious over the white swans (with black shorts). Perhaps City could ask their owner for a few quid to invest in an orange ball?" Yeah, come on Sheikh Mansour. Get the finger out.
A yellow card for Chris Baird for a scissors tackle on Edin Dzeko, which is not to be confused with a tackle with a scissors which would never happen because it's dangerous to run with a scissors in your hands. Moussa Dembele waves goodbye to the Etihad for this season but when one door closes another opens and Marcel Gecov waves a big hello to the crowd.
Fulham have a corner but Murphy's low, driven effort is blocked and cleared by City. David Pizarro is getting ready to come on. "Does anyone else think that City's undersoil heating is, if anything, frankly insufficiently spaceagey for a billionaire's play-thing team?" asks Ryan Dunne. "Qatar are famously supposed to experimenting with artificial clouds in advance of the 2022 World Cup, and you'd think this is the sort of thing that would be up City's alley. If they found a way to make their bit of Manchester not-rain, instead maintaining a lovely South American-esque climate, that would surely serve both to attract glory-hunting (and so bad weather avoiding) fans, and would possibly also get Tevez back on side."
Riise shoots when he might have crossed - no, seriously - and Joe Hart claws it away. Clint Dempsey's not too happy with his full back. Pizarro comes on for Adam Johnson.
Five minutes of stoppage time. Two of those minutes are due to sweeping brushes on the pitch, although technically I suppose they were shovels. Or buckets and spades. "When I was living in London, I went out hard with a bunch of work mates on a Saturday night," says Dale. "I then had to get up early to go out drinking with a bunch of Aussies on a Sunday morning. If the relentless playing of Men at Work won't make you ill on a Sunday morning, listening to it hung over on a Sunday morning will." It's a hard life.
Ruiz swings in a corner but Dempsey's header goes wide. Fraser Thomas points out that the Manchester Citys fans' chanting of "It's f****** freezing, I want to go home" is an excellent chant.
Kolarov beats Kelly on the outside and crosses but Fulham manage to scramble away.
Full time: Manchester City 3-0 Fulham.
Manchester City go three points clear, at least until tomorrow when Manchester United travel to Stamford Bridge. It was as easy a win as you can get - when the highlight of the game is some men with shovels you know you're in trouble - and I'm not convinced that the last 30 minutes weren't an elaborate game of imaginary football. I certainly couldn't see any ball. That's it from me. Thanks for all your emails. Sorry I couldn't publish them all. I couldn't see them because of the snow. Bye.
Premier League 2011-12Manchester CityFulhamEvan Fanningguardian.co.uk © 2012 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
Scottish Cup round-up: Jamie Murphy scores as Motherwell beat Morton 6-0
by Nial Briggs
4 Feb 2012 at 7:16pm
• Eoin Doyle scored as Hibernian beat Kilmarnock 1-0
• Aberdeen fought back to earn a replay at Queen of the South
Motherwell booked their place in the last eight of the Scottish Cup with an emphatic 6-0 win over Morton at Fir Park.
The home side left their First Division opponents shellshocked as they raced to a 5-0 half-time advantage. Tom Hateley scored directly from a corner before Jamie Murphy, Shaun Hutchinson, Henrik Ojamaa and Nicky Law all added goals for the hosts.
Jamie Murphy heaped further misery on the visitors when he scored his second midway through the second half to complete the scoring.
The First Division side Ross County had to settle for a home replay against Scottish Premier League opponents St Mirren after Richard Brittain missed a late penalty in a 1-1 draw.
The County captain had put his side ahead from the spot five minutes before half‑time, only for the lead to be cancelled out within three minutes by a headed goal from the St Mirren striker Steven Thompson.
County came close when Iain Vigurs struck a half-volley from the edge of the area after a free-kick had been cleared back out to him, but his powerful drive went wide as Craig Samson scrambled to cover it. Colin McMenamin then headed too high from Stuart Kettlewell's cross from the right.
Thompson almost doubled his tally 10 minutes from time with a good volley from a cross by the substitute Graham Carey– then McMenamin hit the side‑netting after holding off Marc McAusland as he bored down on goal.
Brittain had a glorious chance to win the game for the First Division side with a second penalty three minutes into stoppage time after Lee Mair brought down Mark Corcoran following a swift counterattack– but this time the County captain blasted his spot-kick well over the bar.
A first-half Eoin Doyle goal earned Hibernian a place in the quarter-finals as they beat Kilmarnock 1-0 at Easter Road.
The Irishman's goal was fitting reward for a fine display by the home side during an opening period in which they also had an effort by James McPake ruled out and Tom Soares went close. Paul Heffernan struck the visitors' best chance straight at the recalled Graham Stack.
Kilmarnock finally created a clear opportunity with 10 minutes remaining when Liam Kelly cut through the Hibs defence with a fine pass, but Heffernan's low shot was well saved by Stack.
The former Arsenal youth player was sharp again as the full-time whistle approached, pushing an awkward Danny Racchi shot to safety.
Aberdeen fought back to earn a replay against Queen of the South at Pittodrie.
The visitors made the perfect start to the second half when, after weathering a period of Aberdeen pressure, they broke upfield and scored against the run of play.
Sam Parkin fed Scott McLaughlin who kept his composure and slotted the ball past the goalkeeper Jason Brown to give the Doonhamers hope of pulling off a shock against their SPL opponents, who have suffered several cup upsets in recent seasons.
Rory McArdle struck the crossbar with a header before Scott Vernon scrambled a leveller after 67 minutes following a long Kari Arnason throw-in.
The visitors defended bravely in the closing stages as the relentless Aberdeen attacks continued with a chorus of boos ringing around the stadium as the home support made their feelings known .
Scottish Cup 2011-12MotherwellMortonRoss CountySt MirrenAberdeenQueen of the SouthHibernianKilmarnockScottish CupNial Briggsguardian.co.uk © 2012 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
Scotland v England - as it happened | Scott Murray
by Scott Murray
4 Feb 2012 at 6:50pm
Stuart Lancaster's young England began with a win at Murrayfield, but the Scots were their own worst enemies
• Visit our dedicated Six Nations site
• The Joy of Six: Calcutta Cup
The first-ever rugby international, played in 1871, was between Scotland and England in Edinburgh. It was effectively one long 100-minute maul, contested by 40 players on a narrow pitch. It ended 1-0 to Scotland. It wasn't, one assumes, much of a spectacle.
Last November, after 127 more games, we came full circle at the Rugby World Cup. Anybody who doesn't recall England's attritional 16-12 win over Scotland in the decisive Pool B game in Auckland... well, lucky you. I'll not be recollecting it here. Best to leave you in ignorant bliss. I'll be doing you a fine favour.
Still, every cloud, and all that: there is no way - no way possible - that this match could be any worse. Even if England haven't won, or indeed even scored a try, here at Murrayfield since 2004. Or that Scotland have only triumphed in the opening match of a Six Nations once in the last 12 years. There is no way possible.
Kick off: 5pm.
The weather: Scotland in February. Tee hee heeeeee, this is going to be fun.
Scotland: R Lamont (Glasgow); L Jones (Edinburgh), N De Luca (Edinburgh), S Lamont (Scarlets), M Evans (Castres); D Parks (Cardiff Blues), C Cusiter (Glasgow); A Jacobsen (Edinburgh), R Ford (Edinburgh, capt), E Murray (Newcastle), R Gray (Glasgow), J Hamilton (Gloucester), A Strokosch (Gloucester), R Rennie (Edinburgh), D Denton (Edinburgh).
Replacements: S Lawson (Gloucester), G Cross (Edinburgh), A Kellock (Glasgow), J Barclay (Glasgow), M Blair (Edinburgh), G Laidlaw (Edinburgh), G Morrison (Glasgow).
England: B Foden (Northampton); C Ashton (Northampton), B Barritt (Saracens), O Farrell (Saracens), D Strettle (Saracens); C Hodgson (Saracens), B Youngs (Leicester); A Corbisiero (London Irish), D Hartley (Northampton), D Cole (Leicester), M Botha (Saracens), T Palmer (Stade Francais), T Croft (Leicester), C Robshaw (Harlequins, capt), P Dowson (Northampton).
Replacements: R Webber (Wasps), M Stevens (Saracens), G Parling (Leicester), B Morgan (Scarlets), L Dickson (Northampton), J Turner-Hall (Harlequins), M Brown (Harlequins).
Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)
For those of you who miss the World Cup, here's a pre-match haka, performed in a more genteel manner than modern audiences are perhaps used to:
This is the 1921 New Zealand bowling team peforming a very early "kind of tribal dance", according to British Pathe, though they're cutting a very British dash, you'd have to say. It would be very easy to start loving the English team if they pulled a few shapes like this before each match. Can we get this established before this year's Six Nations are out, do you think?
Fast forward 48 years...
"The haka didn't advance much for quite a while," opines Gary Naylor.
The teams are out! It's an atmospheric Murrayfield, with the night fair drawing in, jets of fire blasting into the cold air, and the pipers giving it laldie. The players take to the field, Scotland in their dark blue, England in white. Princess Anne moves along the line to wish the English bad luck, and offer a bit of the good stuff to the Scots. And by God they'll need it. "Dan Parks!" splutters my erstwhile colleague Dan Jones. "This is only going one way." Preach on, brother, preach on.
And now it's time for the anthems. Alex Salmond comes onto the pitch to holler a rousing version of The band play England and UK ditty God Save The Queen. Then the pipers blast out the traditional 1960s pop hit single Flower of Scotland - before shutting down for the second stanza, which is sung a capella by the Murrayfield crowd. It's a very moving moment, so naturally the eejit with his mitts on the PA system immediately ruins the atmosphere by blasting out some Runrig. HELP MA BOAB.
And we're off! Scotland kick off, and within the first 20 seconds have been awarded a line out, which they cleanly win. The ball is shuttled out right, Cusiter making ground, but England soon steal and head upfield themselves. At which point the ball's gifted back to the Scots. Nerves and mistakes. Onwards and upwards!
3 min: Strettle is this close to gathering a high ball down the right, but with the Scots all over the place, he knocks forward and gives possession back to the hosts. All very scrappy so far.
5 min: A scrum in the middle of the pitch. The referee moves it a few yards to one side, so England's shirts don't soak up the blue logo of popular banking concern RBS, which is painted onto the middle of the pitch. Modern sport, eh.
6 min: Penalty to England, just inside the Scottish half, Jones refusing to release the ball. But the visitors won't be going for the points, the wind far too unpredictable. They kick for touch and win their line-out, but the Scots turn the ball over a couple of phases later, and any forward English momentum is lost.
8 min: England are soon coming straight back at Scotland, though. Their young team flings it around with no little confidence. Hodgson looks to turn the Scots with a grubber kick, but Rory Lamont is there to grab the ball and kick clear. England will be happy enough with this start, though; Scotland not so much.
10 min: Scotland can't get any forward momentum at the moment. Rory Lamont gathers another grubber kick, and tries to set the Scots going up the left flank, but when the ball's offloaded to Cusiter, he runs into trouble and is eventually relieved of the ball by England, Cusiter's forwards offering him no support whatsoever. England stream forward but soon knock on. This is very patchy, albeit less patchy from an English perspective. "I'm amazed that so many in the media are still going on about 'the intensity of international rugby'," writes Dan Lucas. "Given it's no longer 1973, the Heineken Cup is a far higher level of competition than the vastly overrated Six Nations. England's greater experience of this should stand them in good stead for this clash of the second tier countries."
13 min: Parks hits a dismal kick straight up the field, allowing Foden to bomb straight back up the park. He's tackled, and not released: another penalty to England. To some pretty unsporting whistles and boos, Farrell goes for the posts, but his penalty kick sails wide right. It's still Scotland 0-0 England. It's like 1871 all over again.
16 min: Parks sends another long kick whistling down Foden's throat. How gloriously witless. The Murrayfield crowd whistle and jeer. "Did Salmond get kicked off the BBC gig today after MI5 yesterday afternoon, aware of Salmond and his retinue rehearsing soundbites, picked up a noticeably high amount of traffic from the Bute House (Salmond's official residence) servers to this clip?" wonders Greig Aitken.
17 min: A penalty to England on halfway, Scotland coming in at the side. Before any play can continue, Robshaw and Cusiter get involved in a wee bit of handbaggery, and sillybuggery, going forehead to forehead like rutting stags. A wee bit of hanky panky, as a great man once said. England hoick the penalty into touch down the left, near the Scottish 22. Let's see what they do with this promising field position.
18 min: They do eff all with it, that's what they do. The ball is claimed from the lineout, and immediately knocked on. This is pretty poor so far, on the whole, but England will be happy enough to have the Scots on the back foot. No passionate opening period of pressure applied by the hosts.
22 min: A hopeless spill under a high kick by Parks gifts England possession just inside the Scottish 22. Soon enough, they concede a penalty for not releasing. Farrell will have the chance to kick for goal, and surely open the scoring. "Half of this England team look younger than my elder boy and he's only 14," sighs an ageing Gary Naylor. "Rugby needs its troglodytes." They're not drinking enough booze, that's what the problem is. An obsession with athleticism is ruining all sport. Apart from athletics, obviously.
23 min: PENALTY. Scotland 0- 3 England. Farrell makes no mistake whatsoever, stroking the ball in between the sticks from a position just to the right of the posts.
24 min: The territory split so far: Scotland 30 percent, England 70 percent. They enjoy a wee bit now, though, England mishandling under a high ball, allowing the Scots a scrum in a decent position. Can they finally get something going?
26 min: PENALTY. Scotland 3-3 England. Robshaw earns the referee's wrath for tackling off the feet. Parks knocks the ball between the sticks from right in front of the posts. Scotland for a minute were looking for a rare try, with De Luca powering down the left, but he didn't have enough steam to burst through the tackles.
28 min: A brilliant - and very direct - run by Evans down the left. He tears past three men, and eats up plenty of grass, before chipping and chasing. Hodgson makes a meal of collecting the ball, fumbling before recovering, and can only find touch near the 22. Scotland will have a good base from which to build another attack.
30 min: Rennie nearly breaks through down the blindside. Then again straight down the middle. Scotland fling it around quite nicely, but after 11 phases, the ball's ripped from a Scottish chest by Hodgson, and the danger is over. That was solid defence by the English there. "Oh for the days of Jeffrey, Calder and White, Armstrong and Chalmers," is the wistful beginning to Simon McMahon's email. "Anybody else miss Bill McLaren talking about 'the big Kelso farmer' or seeing pictures of Gary Armstrong driving his lorry?" The sun also shone.
32 min: From the English scrum, Ashton is caught fannying around down the left by Cusiter. He's tackled, and refuses to release. Penalty, to the right of the posts, just outside the 22.
33 min: PENALTY. Scotland 6-3 England. Parks knocks it straight between the posts. This has been a good response to falling behind by Scotland, who were appalling for the first 20-odd minutes of this game. Murrayfield is bouncing.
35 min: Denton breaks through a couple of poor English tackles down the left. Scotland are getting plenty of joy down this flank. England's early confidence has evaporated, at least momentarily.
38 min: A few phases from the Scots. Nearly progressive, but eventually loose passes clank off shins. England hack forward, but only after knocking on. Quality, please! "The state of this," screams Jon Millard, who has given up on the 2012 Six Nations after less than three-quarters of an hour. "This is allegedly high class international sport. I'll never laugh at Handball again. And to Simon McMahon, yes. I personally sometimes quietly say 'Doddy Weir' to myself just for comfort."
HALF TIME: Scotland 6-3 England. The Scots spend the last couple of minutes flinging the ball hither and yon, after stealing an English lineout. Murray nearly busts through down the right. Then Evans is close to breaking through some tackles down the middle. Scotland find Parks in the pocket for a drop-goal attempt, but two of his own forwards get in the way, and the chance to go for a score is gone. What class eejitry. And that's that for a very tatty half.
HALF-TIME ENTERTAINMENT:
Just to raise the heart rate a wee bit. (This worked for West Ham v Millwall earlier, incidentally, so hopefully we'll have a decent second half on our hands.)
And we're off again! Hodgson gets us underway for the second half. Denton snaffles the kick. Scotland will have the ball in their own 22. And...
40 min 23 secs: TRY! AND ANOTHER DAN PARKS CLASSIC! Scotland 6-8 England. Under no pressure whatsoever, Dan Parks kicks straight at Hodgson, who jumps on his own charge-down and touches down for a try over the line. What haplessness by the often inept Parks. Brilliant opportunism by Hodgson, though.
41 min: CONVERSION. Scotland 6-10 England. Farrell makes no mistake with the extra two points. Parks is standing staring at the floor, a dead look in his eyes. And well he might. That was abysmal rugby.
44 min: Parks is having one of the all-time meltdowns. He fails to make touch with a nervous prod upfield. He's then spinning through 360 degrees as he tries to catch the punt back towards him, but it whistles over his head, allowing England to find a wonderful touch just inside the Scottish 22. He's all over the shop. It's good field position for England, but they're penalised for crossing, taking at least some of the heat off the hosts.
47 min: Scotland have achieved the sum total of nothing since the restart. England are playing with an increased confidence, and no wonder. "I'll come clean," begins Simon McMahon. "I've never really understood rugby and it comes below darts and table-tennis on my list of favourite sports but I have always admired the sheer effort, commitment and intense physicality of it. Especially when those playing it were farmers and lorry drivers who played in their spare time. Like at Murrayfield 1990. But its changed since professionalism. And not in a good way. Sorry, I'm sounding like my dad. Is this what happens when you turn 40?"
49 min: Denton has been one of Scotland's better players. He tears down the left, breaking through a couple of tackles before finally being bundled into touch by Foden. He falls awkwardly, and is writhing around and screaming in very genuine pain, but after a couple of minutes with the doctor, he's back up and about. Footballers please take note.
51 min: Scotland seem to have recovered a wee bit since their hellish start to the half. They're throwing it around inside the English half, putting a few phases together, but eventually the ball's spilled, allowing England to race down the other end through Ashton and Foden. This is the most exciting period of rugby we've seen in this game. "The invisibility of England's numbers shows contempt for the public at the stadium and on TV," writes Gary Naylor, admirably looking for trouble in every nook and cranny. "And they wonder why they're called arrogant."
53 min: Brilliant rugby all round here. Farrell chips wide right for Strettle, who claims brilliantly on the run and looks to burst over the nearby try line. But the magnificent Denton is tracking back to crunch Strettle with a big tackle. Strettle refuses to release, and it's a penalty to the Scots. So nearly a wonderful try, with superb defence by Denton.
56 min: Rory Lamont tears down the right, giving Scotland some good territory, but when the ball's shuttled inside, Sean Lamont fails to release, and England turn over. Scotland are soon coming back, though. Gray makes a swashbuckling run straight down the middle, and lays off to Strokosch just outside the England 22. But Strokosch knocks on. With England all over the shop and very much on the back foot, that's a real waste. For the record, Scotland last scored a try in 1965.
59 min: Four changes by Scotland: Hamilton, Strokosch, Cusiter and Parks off, Laidlaw, Kellock, Barclay and Blair on.
61 min: Evans chips and chases down the left, but on his own tryline, Foden gathers and clips upfield and into touch. That's got the home crowd going again. "Professionalism has rodded this sport," opines Jon Millard. "And Chris Gray was my dentist. Couldn't half take a tooth out. That wouldn't happen now. Even in the dullest game back then, someone, somewhere could point at the screen and say something like 'See him? Him there? He's my GP.'"
63 min: Another chip and chase down the middle, Laidlaw going after his own kick. Is that a try? Has he put pressure on the ball? That's what the video referee is asked. I reckon that's a try: the ball brushes the back of Laidlaw's wrist, causing the ball to stop revolving as it's grounded. But it is very faint pressure. Even so, very faint pressure is pressure enough. We'll see.
64 min: No try. Hmm, not sure about that. Not sure about that at all. Then, from the restart, Rennie bursts through the middle, and has two men to his left. It's got to be a try, but Rennie hesitates and his pass is charged down by Foden. That was beyond hopeless. Scotland have not scored a try since 1938.
65 min: Changes for England, by the way. Dixon, Turner-Hall and Stephens are on, Corbisiero, Youngs and Hodgson off.
66 min: Some more good field position for Scotland, but they are penalised for crossing. This is a litany of ineptitude. "The rugby playing kids of Calcutta would like your support," writes Paul Walsh. "Only £5 per ball!"
68 min: Morgan replaces Dowson.
69 min: Scotland knock on while embarking on a promising attack. But this is no longer news.
71 min: A penalty for England on halfway. Farrell is dead-eyed in terms of direction, but there's not enough juice on the ball. That would have put England a converted try ahead.
72 min: See 69 minutes. This is a ridiculous performance by Scotland.
73 min: Another English change: Brown comes on for Barritt.
75 min: PENALTY. Scotland 6-13 England. Saucy Scottish hands in the breakdown. Penalty to the English, right in the middle of the Scottish half. Farrell makes it three from five, and England have done enough.
76 min: Cross and Lawson come on for Scotland, Ford and Murray go off.
78 min: This is over. Scotland are doing nothing.
79 min: Scotland make one last push upfield. They fling it around outside the England 22, but - surprise, surprise - there's a knock-on. Given the situations they've carved out for themselves, Scotland have been beyond appalling.
FULL TIME: Scotland 6-13 England. The victory is England's. Scotland had chances to win that game, but threw every one of them away. For much of that match, they were playing against themselves. But well done to a very young England, who kept their heads through that game. Dan Parks, though.
Six Nations 2012Scotland rugby union teamEngland rugby union teamRugby unionSix NationsScott Murrayguardian.co.uk © 2012 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
Freeze puts Nicky Henderson's Cheltenham Festival strategy on ice
by Chris Cook
4 Feb 2012 at 6:27pm
• Trainer running out of options after Ffos Las is abandoned
• Runs for top-class Oscar Whisky and Binocular thwarted
The cold snap which wiped out jump racing on Saturday has caused a particular problem for Nicky Henderson, who is now casting around for suitable races in which to prepare his impressive collection of top-class hurdlers for the Cheltenham Festival in March. Oscar Whisky and Binocular were both due to run on Saturday and the trainer can see no ready alternative for the races lost.
"The plan was easy," Henderson said. "Grandouet would go for the Kingwell at Wincanton [on 18 February], Binocular would go to Sandown and Oscar Whisky had the Welsh Champion Hurdle at Ffos Las." But Sandown's card on Saturday was called off a full day in advance after the course was found to be frozen and the situation at Ffos Las was judged to be similarly hopeless before 8am on Saturday.
Both Grandouet and Binocular are being aimed at the Festival's Champion Hurdle and Henderson is keen that they should not take each other on before then. "I've got to move all the pieces around again," he said. "There is talk of restaging the Welsh Champion Hurdle but if they did, the horse who should really go for that is Binocular.
"Oscar Whisky doesn't have to run again," Henderson said of the horse whose main target is a clash with Big Buck's in the Festival's World Hurdle, "but if he did, I would quite like it to be in a longer race." He named Fontwell's National Spirit on 26 February as an option.
The focus for Binocular appears to be narrowing to the Red Mills at Gowran Park in Ireland on 18 February and the Morebattle at Kelso on the 15th. While the trainer would rather avoid a trip to Ireland at this stage of the season, he had an unhappy experience of the Morebattle in 2010 when Zaynar was beaten on desperate going at odds of 1-14, and he stressed that the going would have to be better than it was that day if Binocular is to line up.
Henderson's options were reduced when Tim Long, the clerk of the course at Ffos Las, indicated that the Welsh Champion Hurdle would probably not be restaged. "We don't really have a suitable fixture for the race now," he said, adding that an existing sponsorship for the course's fixture on 19 February would probably prevent the race being added to that card.
Long had been hopeful that Saturday's card would go ahead until his team began to remove the frost covers, at which point the exposed turf began to freeze. Briefly, he considered holding the fixture over to Sunday, "but we weren't sure we could get sufficient stewards, doctors and vets together to stage a safe meeting.
"This was a flagship day for us. Everyone imagines you can still collect on the insurance but nobody insures a race meeting because no insurer will touch you."
There has been no jump racing in Britain since Wednesday and hopes for Sunday rest on a 7am inspection at Musselburgh, Fontwell's officials having called off their fixture at lunchtime. A "slight frost" was expected overnight at Punchestown, due to stage Sunday's Tied Cottage Chase, in which Big Zeb and Sizing Europe take each other on.
John Maxse, a spokesman for the British Horseracing Authority, said the regulator's priority at this stage of the cold snap was "to minimise the economic impact on the sport by making sure there are sufficient all-weather meetings to keep the show going. The longer it goes on, you have to start thinking about missed opportunities for horses as well."
But "all-weather" can prove an unjustifiably optimistic term and Saturday's card at Wolverhampton, hastily arranged in response to the freeze, was abandoned after four races because of heavy snow on the artificial circuit. Kempton's extra fixture on Sunday is vulnerable for the same reason.
Maxse said the run of abandonments may be short. "The forecast snow should bring warmer weather in its wake, which would give you hope for the fixtures from midweek but we need more information about what follows that.
"If you get a 10-day blight on the sport, you have to start being more radical in terms of identifying alternative solutions to make up for those missed opportunities. I'm not saying yet what those might be, it's too early to speculate.
"This could have come at a worse time. There's still enough time to get another run into horses before Cheltenham."
Nicky HendersonCheltenham Festival 2012Horse racingChris Cookguardian.co.uk © 2012 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
Why all the controversy over DRS during Pakistan-England Test series?
by Rob Smyth
4 Feb 2012 at 6:20pm
• There have been 37 lbws, a record for a three-match series
• Pietersen disputed his dismissal but Broad favours DRS
DRS – players usually drop the U for umpire – stands for the decision review system, but this may be remembered as the decision review series: there have been 37 lbws, a record for a three-match series and six short of the record for a six-match series. A number of batsmen have been unhappy at being given out to balls that were barely kissing the stumps.
Such as Kevin Pietersen on Friday?Yes. Pietersen was chuntering away to Andy Flower on the England balcony for some time after his dismissal by Abdur Rehman. He reviewed the lbw decision, but Hawk‑Eye indicated the ball was just shaving the leg bail, meaning the on-field decision stayed.
If the ball was hitting the stumps, why was Pietersen aggrieved?He seemed to think the umpire was guessing, and there is an increasing sense that the old maxim – that the benefit of any doubt should go to the batsmen – is dying as DRS broadens both the minds of umpires and their perception of how wide and tall the stumps are.
Yet Stuart Broad defended DRS on Twitter on Friday night?He did. He said "Players careers and whole Tests can rely on decisions, so surely u want a right decision? Too much pressure and money relying on human error now. Works in tennis, rugby, NFL, football crying out for it."
But yesterday he was DRSed himselfYes, he was given out lbw on review, having originally been not out. Broad was a long way forward, but whereas in the World Cup you could be given not out if you were more than 2.5 metres down the pitch, you now have to be three metres.
Is there an easy solution for batsmen?Use only the bat and not the pad, then DRS becomes an irrelevance, as Azhar Ali and Younus Khan showed. But it is difficult to teach an old batsman new tricks.
CricketEngland cricket teamPakistan cricket teamRob Smythguardian.co.uk © 2012 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
Football League: your thoughts | Jacob Steinberg
by Jacob Steinberg
4 Feb 2012 at 6:07pm
Cardiff throw it away against Blackpool, Leeds get over Simon Grayson's sacking and Sheffield Wednesday mount a fightback
• Cardiff City missed the chance to keep in touch with West Ham, who beat Millwall 2-1 despite losing Kevin Nolan to a red card after just nine minutes. Malky Mackay will be furious after Cardiff took the lead against Blackpool through Joe Mason after 59 minutes, only for the visitors to hit back, an equaliser from Kevin Phillips and Matt Phillips keeping Ian Holloway's side in the hunt for promotion. They are now only two points behind Cardiff, who find themselves five behind West Ham.
• Leeds United got over the sacking of Simon Grayson, winning 3-0 at Bristol City, who had two men sent off at Ashton Gate. There were more reds at the Amex Stadium, Brighton and Leicester both losing players to early baths – but it was the hosts who snatched the points thanks to Will Buckley's 90th-minute winner. Leicester's manager Nigel Pearson was left to bemoan refereeing decisions for the second time in four days.
• There was also a late winner at the Ricoh Arena for Ipswich, who followed up their 5-1 thrashing of West Ham on Tuesday by beating Coventry 3-2. Paul Jewell's side were 2-1 down at half time, but Michael Chopra's brace earned them their second win in a row.
• In League One, Sheffield Wednesday left it late to beat Yeovil Town, but came from behind to win 2-1 thanks to strikes from Jermaine Johnson and Reda Johnson at Hillsborough. They're now two points ahead of Huddersfield, who had to settle for a 1-1 home draw with MK Dons, who are fifth.
• The bad weather meant there was only one game in League Two today, Plymouth Argyle hosting Southend United. Although Southend led 2-0 with four minutes to go, they somehow contrived to throw it away and miss the chance to go level with leaders Cheltenham Town, eventually drawing 2-2. Plymouth remain second bottom.
For all today's results click here and find out the latest standings here.
Championship 2011-12ChampionshipLeague One 2011-12League OneLeague Two 2011-12League TwoJacob Steinbergguardian.co.uk © 2012 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
The latest stories from the Sport section of the BBC Sport web site.
Scotland 6-13 England
4 Feb 2012 at 6:53pm
Charlie Hodgson scores the only try as England beat Scotland 13-6 to earn their first Six Nations win at Murrayfield since 2004.
VIDEO: Hodgson scores England try
4 Feb 2012 at 6:49pm
Hodgson goes over
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