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Wigan 1-1 Fulham: Andy Johnson scores first goal in almost two years

Published 17:06 15/01/11 By MirrorFootball

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Andrew Johnson's late deflected strike earned Fulham a point at fellow strugglers Wigan.
The hosts went ahead in the 57th minute through Hugo Rodallega, who neatly guided the ball over David Stockdale.
Substitute Johnson drew things level with four minutes of normal time remaining with a shot that hit Gary Caldwell on its way towards goal, leaving Ali Al Habsi unable to stop it going in.
The result saw Wigan move out of the Barclays Premier League drop zone to 17th but they are only a point clear of the bottom three, while Fulham are one point better off in 15th.

In a scrappy opening to the game, Chris Baird made the first attempt on goal after eight minutes, striking a low shot from outside the area which Al Habsi got down to his left to save comfortably.
Two minutes later, Wigan launched an attack which saw Mohamed Diame cross for Rodallega, but the Colombian sent his effort wide.
Baird tried his luck from even further out on the quarter-hour mark after receiving the ball from his skipper Danny Murphy, but the strike went high and wide.
Damien Duff then drove off-target before Clint Dempsey broke into the Latics box, only to find himself crowded out.
In the 27th minute Rodallega went the closest yet to breaking the deadlock when he headed Ronnie Stam's cross against the post. The rebound fell to Charles N'Zogbia, whose shot cannoned off a Fulham shirt.
Soon after Stockdale flapped at a high delivery into the box with Rodallega lurking, but the ball was cleared away.
Duff then found himself through one-on-one with Al Habsi, but he could only place his attempt against the legs of the Oman stopper and Simon Davies' follow-up cleared the crossbar by some distance.
Duff was next to shoot too high and Diame scuffed the ball into Stockdale's arms.
Dempsey unleashed an effort shortly after the restart which went the wrong side of the post, but it was Wigan who started to show more urgency in their play.
Stam lofted one ball over the top which Stockdale claimed before Rodallega could get there.
He then repeated the trick, with Rodallega this time able to make contact and hook the ball towards goal.
Stockdale caught that, but it was only moments later that Rodallega opened the scoring from a similar position, latching on to Al Habsi's long ball and calmly lifting it over the goalkeeper to put Wigan in front.
At the other end, Dempsey had the opportunity to equalise twice in quick succession but was denied firstly by a Diame challenge and then by Al Habsi's save.
Back came the hosts and Rodallega looked set to net a second, getting on the end of N'Zogbia's cross but stretching too much to control his effort.
N'Zogbia and Rodallega were soon combining again, the latter unable to finish at the near post due to the efforts of Stockdale.
Fulham boss Mark Hughes brought on Johnson, who soon had a shot blocked by Al Habsi, and the Cottagers then thought they had drawn level as Dempsey rifled in from close-range.
Replays showed the American had handled as he controlled the ball and the effort was disallowed.
Dempsey was looking threatening and saw a scissors-kick diverted wide before providing the pass that led to Fulham's leveller.
His pass found Johnson, whose strike took a deflection off Caldwell and Al Habsi's hand was not enough to stop the ball bouncing in.

Ancelotti wants Blues to build






Updated Jan 15, 2011 7:18 PM ET
Carlo Ancelotti challenged his Chelsea players to prove their worst Barclays Premier League run for almost 15 years was behind them by winning at Bolton next Monday after watching them beat Blackburn.
The champions ended a sequence of one victory in nine with arguably their best performance for more than two months, winning 2-0 to haul themselves back into the top four.

Blackpool 2-1 Liverpool | Recap Chelsea 2-0 Blackburn | Recap
Man City 4-3 Wolves | Recap
Stoke City 2-0 Bolton | Recap
West Brom 3-2 Blackpool | Recap
Wigan 1-1 Fulham | Recap
West Ham 0-3 Arsenal | Recap Birmingham vs. Aston Villa
Sunderland vs. Newcastle
Liverpool vs. Everton
Tottenham vs. Man Utd BPL Scores | Table | Fixtures

But just as after Sunday's FA Cup third-round thrashing of Ipswich, Ancelotti refused to get carried away with the result, insisting his side needed to record an away win to demonstrate their slump was at an end.
"I think a good support for us for these two games was to play at home," he said.
"Now we have to check also away in the next game against Bolton."
The performance was still some way below the level Chelsea were showing at the start of the season, when they threatened to sweep all before them, but it was another step in the right direction.
Ancelotti added: "We are not at the same level but we will come back to play at the same level.
"We don't need to have a lot of time to come back.
"It will be very important the next game against Bolton because we can say definitely that the moment is gone.
"If the moment is gone, I think that we will be stronger."
Chelsea were let down by their final ball in the first half and both their goals came from corners, with Branislav Ivanovic and Nicolas Anelka punishing slack defending.
Ancelotti said: "If I have to judge the performance today, I can say it was good.
"We could score before the first goal of Ivanovic, we could score in the first half. But our play was good, more intensity, more quality."


He added: "It was important also for us to score on the set pieces.
"We had a lot of opportunities today. Ivanovic is very good with his head, he scored in an important moment.
"After the first goal, the team played a good game.
"Obviously, we want to score with good play, with good football. But also we have to use the set-pieces because I think we have dangerous players in the set-pieces."
It was that which determined Ancelotti's selection policy, with Didier Drogba, Florent Malouda, Michael Essien and Ashley Cole all recalled.
"We needed to have more size," Ancelotti said.
"I knew that Blackburn could use long balls and set-pieces.
"So I wanted to have power in the box. For this reason, Essien and Drogba started the game."
Ancelotti, who refused to discuss the club's move for Steven Pienaar, which has stalled due to the Everton midfielder's wage demands, also insisted he never felt his job had been on the line in recent weeks.
"I didn't have a doubt before, also when we lost the games because the support of my club was very close to me and the players," he said.
Blackburn boss Steve Kean questioned the legitimacy of Chelsea's opening goal.
"We're disappointed because normally we're very, very good at defending set plays," he said.
"We felt that they were sloppy by our standards. We felt there might have been a little bit of a foul on Junior Hoilett just before the corner that led to the first goal.

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"But even taking that aside, we're normally aggressive on the first phase of our defending so I'm disappointed with the goals that we lost."
Despite Chelsea twice hitting the post, Blackburn arguably had the best chance of the first half when Hoilett forced a fine stop from Petr Cech.
"I thought it was a world-class save from Petr Cech," said Kean, who lost midfielder David Dunn to a hamstring strain early on.
Roque Santa Cruz also came off the bench for his second Blackburn debut at the start of the second half following Friday's move from Manchester City.
"He's not played so many minutes, as everybody knows," said Kean.
"But I felt he showed great quality when he came on."
Santa Cruz is set to be joined at Ewood Park by United States midfielder Jermaine Jones, who Kean revealed was close to completing a loan move from Schalke.

Blackpool 2-1 Liverpool






Updated Jan 12, 2011 7:17 PM ET
Kenny Dalglish's return to Premier League management ended in disaster as Blackpool came from behind to beat Liverpool 2-1 at Bloomfield Road. There were promising signs from Liverpool in Dalglish's first game back in the hotseat at Manchester United on Sunday, and they were given the perfect start on Wednesday evening by Fernando Torres' third-minute strike.
However, Gary Taylor-Fletcher drew Blackpool level before half-time after Torres and Raul Meireles combined to lose possession, and DJ Campbell's headed winner in the second half was no more than Ian Holloway's side deserved.

Blackpool 2-1 Liverpool | Recap Chelsea 2-0 Blackburn | Recap
Man City 4-3 Wolves | Recap
Stoke City 2-0 Bolton | Recap
West Brom 3-2 Blackpool | Recap
Wigan 1-1 Fulham | Recap
West Ham 0-3 Arsenal | Recap Birmingham vs. Aston Villa
Sunderland vs. Newcastle
Liverpool vs. Everton
Tottenham vs. Man Utd BPL Scores | Table | Fixtures

Liverpool now have just two victories in almost 13 months on the road - hardly the start Dalglish was expecting on his return.
The Scot said when he took over at the weekend he did not think the game had altered much but when he was last in charge of Liverpool almost 20 years ago, Blackpool were in the old Fourth Division and now they have a first league double over the Reds since 1947.
It had all begun so well for the visitors, looking to bounce back from Sunday's FA Cup exit at Manchester United.
After that game Dalglish had promised to get Torres back to his best after a laboured season and he was true to his word as the Spaniard struck in double-quick time from the kick-off.
The goal was set up by Martin Kelly, retained at right-back by Dalglish, with Glen Johnson lining up in an unfamiliar left-back position.
When Dirk Kuyt span the ball out to Kelly he advanced over the halfway line before rolling a pass into the inside-right channel. Torres did not need a second invitation, racing into the area and firing a ferocious shot past Richard Kingson and into the roof of the net from a tight angle.
It was only the Spain international's second goal in his last nine matches and just his seventh of the season.
The visitors' joy lasted only until the 12th minute, however, as when Meireles lost the ball to David Vaughan in midfield he played in Taylor-Fletcher to exact the ultimate punishment by running through the defence to roll a shot under Jose Reina.
All the players then ran to the touchline to hold up a T-shirt with the words '4 Butch you Bluenose RIP' - a reference to Macclesfield player Richard Butcher who died suddenly this week.


Blackpool had the better chances in the remainder of the half, with Campbell heading wide from five yards and Taylor-Fletcher almost catching out Reina with a lob from the right wing after the goalkeeper duffed his kick.
The home side stepped up the pressure after the break with Charlie Adam's left-footed drive beaten away by Reina, who then tipped over Vaughan's shot.
Liverpool almost produced an eye-catching response when Milan Jovanovic's left-wing cross to the far post saw Torres volley well over, with the Spaniard also forcing a low save from Kingson this time from the left of the area.
Meireles then cut in from the right to hit a left-footed shot wide while Kuyt's low effort forced Kingson to save at the expense of a corner.
However, with 21 minutes remaining the Seasiders struck the killer blow when Ian Evatt beat Martin Skrtel to Eardley's deep cross and Campbell headed home unmarked.
Meireles' header from Torres' cross at the other end was not as accurate and dropped just over the crossbar.
Liverpool could have had a penalty in the 79th minute when the ball hit Craig Cathcart's arm, which was raised well above his head, but referee Michael Oliver blew for a foul by Torres.
The Reds have now lost 10 of their 21 league matches and eight out of 11 on the road.
If Dalglish wants the job on a permanent basis he will have to find a way of eliminating results such as this.

Wolves boss left to curse Tevez


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Updated Jan 15, 2011 3:32 PM ET
Wolves boss Mick McCarthy was left cursing the "little Argentinian with great feet" for ensuring Manchester City went top of the Barclays Premier League.
McCarthy's team could not have done much more in an outstanding opening half-hour at Eastlands.

Blackpool 2-1 Liverpool | Recap Chelsea 2-0 Blackburn | Recap
Man City 4-3 Wolves | Recap
Stoke City 2-0 Bolton | Recap
West Brom 3-2 Blackpool | Recap
Wigan 1-1 Fulham | Recap
West Ham 0-3 Arsenal | Recap Birmingham vs. Aston Villa
Sunderland vs. Newcastle
Liverpool vs. Everton
Tottenham vs. Man Utd BPL Scores | Table | Fixtures

But their failure to build on Nenad Milijas' opener left them vulnerable, and once Tevez had put City ahead with a superb effort just after the interval, the Blues always had their noses in front, even if a late Wolves rally made for a tense period of stoppage-time before they were able to claim a 4-3 win.
"Tevez got a lucky ricochet and the ball fell in his path," said McCarthy. "After that it was a brilliant goal. I know everyone wants me to criticise defenders. But he runs at you, he gets in the box, he has quick feet. At some stage you have to say it was a great goal.
"I thought we played really well. But we lost because they have that little Argentinian with great feet who has waltzed through our back four."
Little wonder McCarthy was so frustrated.
Had Aleksander Kolarov not blocked Matt Jarvis' goalbound effort, or Wolves stayed in front until the break, they might well have completed an unlikely double over the Premier League's big spenders.
As it was, Kolo Toure levelled just before half-time, then Tevez skipped between defenders and cut inside Richard Stearman before calmly putting his side ahead.
Yaya Toure added another before Tevez joined Dimitar Berbatov at the top of the Premier League scoring charts with his 14th of the season.
Still Wolves would not be denied. Kevin Doyle scored a penalty before Ronald Zubar added another to set up a tense finale.
"Forget the disparity between resources," said McCarthy. "I am disappointed we have lost.
"But most teams would have laid down and had their backsides slapped at 4-1 down. It just shows what spirit the lads have got.


"There were a few squeaky bums when five minutes' injury-time went up. I was getting a lot of abuse at 4-1. At 4-3 with five extra minutes I thought they had all left."
In the end though, it was City celebrating top spot as Wolves slid back into the bottom three.
"I am very happy for Carlos. He played very well and the first goal he scored was fantastic," said Blues boss Roberto Mancini, who was also impressed with £27million debutant Edin Dzeko.
"It is his first game for 30 days and his first game for a new team.
"He played well but he needs to work. He showed he is a good player."
He also showed he was prepared to graft and act as support to Tevez if required, although - as Mancini acknowledged - there is still work to do, for them as well as his team.
"It is their first game and they have only worked together for one week," said Mancini.
"Dzeko needs three or four games to work with his team-mates and know the team well.
"It is not easy at the moment but Dzeko is a good player and so is Carlos. When you have two good players, it is easy to play together.
"Overall, we must improve.
"When you are 4-1 up after 75 minutes, you should control the game better, not think it is finished. In England the game is never finished."

Ancelotti: Title would be huge


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Updated Jan 15, 2011 7:36 AM ET
Carlo Ancelotti has revealed retaining the Premier League with Chelsea this season would be the "greatest achievement of his career".
The Blues' worst slump in the top flight for almost 15 years has seen them blow a five-point lead to lie fifth, nine points behind Manchester United having played a game more.

Blackpool 2-1 Liverpool | Recap Chelsea 2-0 Blackburn | Recap
Man City 4-3 Wolves | Recap
Stoke City 2-0 Bolton | Recap
West Brom 3-2 Blackpool | Recap
Wigan 1-1 Fulham | Recap
West Ham 0-3 Arsenal | Recap Birmingham vs. Aston Villa
Sunderland vs. Newcastle
Liverpool vs. Everton
Tottenham vs. Man Utd BPL Scores | Table | Fixtures

Ancelotti has refused to surrender the title completely but claims Chelsea overhauling such a points deficit and all four teams above them would rank even more highly than his two Champions League triumphs with AC Milan.
"Yes, it would be fantastic. It wouldn't be easy to do that, but we can try," said the Italian, who believes it could take as few as 80 points to win the title this season.
"We needed 86 points to win it last year. This year, the team will need less. 80 points is enough."
Even so, Chelsea would need to win at least 14 of their remaining 17 games to reach that target, and Ancelotti added with a hint of understatement: "It'll be tough."
While retaining the title could be beyond them, it is unthinkable Chelsea will fail to qualify for the Champions League next season.
Yet, the same could be said for Liverpool last term when they finished seventh.
Then-manager Rafael Benitez promised a top-four finish just over a year ago and ended up with egg on his face and ultimately his P45.
Ancelotti was not about to fall into the same trap.
"I don't like to promise because I have to stick with that promise," he said.
"I don't want to bet because I don't like to bet, but we have the possibility to stay in the top four."
With Luiz Felipe Scolari sacked just under two years ago when owner Roman Abramovich began to fear Chelsea would not qualify for the Champions League, Ancelotti knows his double win last season will count for little if he fails to finish in the top four.

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"It would not be good to be out of the Champions League," he said.
"For us, one of the most important things is to stay in the first four places in the table.
"I don't want to speak about financial reasons, but about the motivation of the players, the club, the manager.
"We have to play the Champions League."
Ancelotti spoke over the telephone this week to Abramovich, who is obsessed with winning Europe's premier club competition.
"We didn't speak about that," he added.
"We're not considering being out of the top four.
"I don't think it's impossible - we have to pay attention - but we didn't speak about it."

Chelsea 2-0 Blackburn Rovers


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Updated Jan 15, 2011 7:22 PM ET
Goals from Branislav Ivanovic and Nicolas Anelka gave Chelsea a deserved 2-0 Premier League win over Blackburn at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
The Blues finally stopped the rot as arguably their best league performance for more than two months saw them beat Rovers and climb back into the top four.

Blackpool 2-1 Liverpool | Recap Chelsea 2-0 Blackburn | Recap
Man City 4-3 Wolves | Recap
Stoke City 2-0 Bolton | Recap
West Brom 3-2 Blackpool | Recap
Wigan 1-1 Fulham | Recap
West Ham 0-3 Arsenal | Recap Birmingham vs. Aston Villa
Sunderland vs. Newcastle
Liverpool vs. Everton
Tottenham vs. Man Utd BPL Scores | Table | Fixtures

Looking to end their worst run in the league for almost 15 years after winning just one of their previous nine games, Chelsea dominated from start to finish at the Bridge.
Both their goals came from corner kicks courtesy of Ivanovic and Anelka, with their final ball continuing to let them down in open play.
The duo also found the net against Rovers back in October to keep Chelsea five points clear at the top of the table, but their efforts on Saturday were arguably even more precious.
Despite reports he might attend the game, there was no sign of billionaire owner Roman Abramovich prior to kick-off.
Chelsea needed no extra motivation to end their miserable run in the league, knowing they could leapfrog fourth-placed Tottenham for at least 24 hours.
And buoyed from Sunday's 7-0 FA Cup thrashing of Ipswich and having recalled all their big guns, the home side flew out of the traps.
A heavy touch from Didier Drogba allowed Michel Salgado to intercept after the striker was played in by Anelka and Ramires smashed the ball against the bar after David Hoilett was caught napping.
Martin Olsson tested Petr Cech from 25 yards at the other end as the hesitancy that has dogged the champions in recent weeks began to resurface.
Michael Essien sent a difficult header wide from Frank Lampard's corner, with Blackburn's defence continuing to hold firm in the opening quarter.
Drogba fired over from range before the visitors suffered a 24th-minute blow when David Dunn limped off to be replaced by Premier League debutant Jason Lowe.
Jose Bosingwa blazed over from 25 yards as Chelsea began to run out of ideas but a lightning break 12 minutes from half-time might have seen them break the deadlock but for a brilliant Gael Givet challenge on Drogba.
They were almost caught out themselves moments later when they gave Hoilett space to shoot and force a fine save from Cech, with only desperate defending preventing Nikola Kalinic and Lowe pouncing on the rebound.
An under-pressure Lampard nodded over Bosingwa's cross from point-blank range before Anelka was desperately unlucky not to score when he flicked Drogba's wicked ball against the
Roque Santa Cruz came on at half-time for his second Blackburn debut, with Kalinic withdrawn, but the new man was almost upstaged by Anelka, who dragged narrowly wide less than two minutes in.
Florent Malouda talked himself into a booking after a poor tackle on Mame Biram Diouf, who was too off balance to head Morten Gamst Pedersen's corner on target minutes later.
Chelsea finally got the goal their overall dominance deserved in the 57th minute.
Pedersen flicked John Terry's header from Malouda's corner straight to Ivanovic, who held off Ryan Nelson before squeezing a shot past both him and Salgado.

Malouda fired straight at Robinson as the champions looked for a quickfire second, which Terry should have provided when he flicked Lampard's mishit volley just wide midway through the half.
A well-placed Lampard then got the ball stuck beneath his feet, chipping straight into Robinson's arms before Hoilett was replaced by Jason Roberts.
Robinson came to his side's rescue again 15 minutes from time when a horrendous backpass from Christopher Samba sent Drogba clear.
The striker should have scored but the keeper still did well to close him down.
But that good work was undone by more poor defending from the subsequent corner, Ivanovic leaping highest to head goalward, with Anelka making sure from point-blank range.
That was the striker's final contribution as he and Essien made way for Salomon Kalou and Josh McEachran for the final 10 minutes.
Lampard's lame finish wasted a great chance to make it 3-0, Malouda's rocket was almost spilt into his own net by Robinson and Drogba clipped a improvised strike just over the top.
Daniel Sturridge replaced Malouda for the final three minutes and Chelsea comfortably played out time.

Stoke City 2-0 Bolton Wanderers


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Updated Jan 15, 2011 7:21 PM ET
Goals from Danny Higginbotham and Matthew Etherington earned Stoke a 2-0 Premier League victory over Bolton at the Britannia Stadium.
Before kick-off boss Tony Pulis was shaken by the news his proposed move for Demba Ba for a reported £7.1 million had broke down after Hoffenheim's Senegal striker failed a medical.

Blackpool 2-1 Liverpool | Recap Chelsea 2-0 Blackburn | Recap
Man City 4-3 Wolves | Recap
Stoke City 2-0 Bolton | Recap
West Brom 3-2 Blackpool | Recap
Wigan 1-1 Fulham | Recap
West Ham 0-3 Arsenal | Recap Birmingham vs. Aston Villa
Sunderland vs. Newcastle
Liverpool vs. Everton
Tottenham vs. Man Utd BPL Scores | Table | Fixtures

But the manager's mood would soon have changed thanks to a comfortable win with the goals coming either side of half-time.
Even though they were bolstered by the return of midfielder Stuart Holden, Bolton were always second best as they slumped to their fifth successive defeat on the road.
Stoke spelled out their intentions as early as the eighth minute when Tuncay Sanli skipped away from Zat Knight down the right.
But he failed to test goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen, his cross-cum-shot going wide of the post.
Tuncay, who posted his top 10 goals on Facebook this week, was finding plenty of space on the flanks early on.
He tried to pick out Kenwyne Jones in the 13th minute. However he put too much weight on the cross and the ball drifted out of play.
Then Tuncay tested Jaaskelainen from distance with a chip but his opponent was equal to it. This was a good spell by the home side with Robert Huth heading narrowly over the bar in the 24th minute following a Rory Delap throw-in.
Stoke almost took the lead in the 26th minute after Bolton defender Gary Cahill lost his bearings and whipped a cross from Tuncay over his own bar.
From Etherington's corner, Huth escaped his marker, only to head wide of the post.
Bolton were struggling to get going and Holden dragged a shot wide of the post from 25 yards in the 32nd minute after striding forward.
Huth was making life difficult for Bolton by breaking into the box at every opportunity and got on the end of a Delap throw-in but was again out of luck with his effort.
Stoke made the breakthrough in the 37th minute following a corner from Tuncay.
Bolton failed to clear their lines with striker Johan Elmander heading the ball across his own area. Higginbotham took advantage, marking his return to the side by forcing it home at the back post.
Elmander then headed wide of the post following a cross from Sam Ricketts in the 46th minute. And four minutes later Holden came close to equalising, goalkeeper Asmir Begovic doing well to claw away his fine free-kick.

Back came Stoke and Tuncay got away from Knight in the 54th minute only for his effort to go over the bar.
Bolton, however, were showing signings of improvement and Knight released Kevin Davies with a superb long ball only for Huth to make a crucial block.
The visitors were rocked back on their heels, however, in the 62nd minute when Stoke made it 2-0.
Tuncay sent Etherington racing clear and the winger was tripped by Knight as he broke into the box and won a penalty.
Etherington dusted himself down and although Jaaskelainen deflected the ball onto the post it trickled over the line to the goalkeeper's disgust.
Etherington and Tuncay were causing Bolton all kinds of problems with their pace and movement.
And the visitors were looking dispirited after that second goal from Etherington, his fourth of the season.
Tuncay then cut into the area in the 84th minute but his finish was wayward, finishing nearer the corner flag than the goal as Stoke went on to seal an emphatic win.

Manchester City 4-3 Wolverhampton




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Updated Jan 15, 2011 7:17 PM ET
Edin Dzeko debuted but was upstaged by Carlos Tevez as Manchester City took top spot in the Premier League with a 4-3 home victory over Wolves.
The fiery South American joined Dimitar Berbatov at the head of the Premier League goalscoring charts with a second-half double to take his tally to 14, accompanying Kolo and Yaya Toure on the scoresheet as the brothers achieved the rare feat of finding the net in the same top-flight game.

Blackpool 2-1 Liverpool | Recap Chelsea 2-0 Blackburn | Recap
Man City 4-3 Wolves | Recap
Stoke City 2-0 Bolton | Recap
West Brom 3-2 Blackpool | Recap
Wigan 1-1 Fulham | Recap
West Ham 0-3 Arsenal | Recap Birmingham vs. Aston Villa
Sunderland vs. Newcastle
Liverpool vs. Everton
Tottenham vs. Man Utd BPL Scores | Table | Fixtures

It must have been quite an eye-opener for Dzeko, who produced an encouraging performance on his debut and appears willing to do the hard work in his partnership with Tevez in addition to the glamourous stuff.
The Bosnian was also given an instant lesson in the difficulty of securing points in England as City, having been totally outplayed for the first half-hour, then needed to resist a late Wolves surge after the plucky Black Country outfit had pulled themselves back into a contest that had already been turned on its head after their initial heroics.
Having flexed their mighty financial muscle to make Dzeko the sixth most expensive player the Premier League has ever known, City cannot have expected to be rolled over quite so easily as they were in that opening 30 minutes.
It should not have come as a total surprise.
After all, Wolves beat City at Molineux earlier this season and accounted for both Liverpool and Chelsea during the Christmas period, so they clearly cannot be taken for granted.
Still, the one-sided manner of the contest was a shock, the only consolation for Roberto Mancini coming from the knowledge his side remained in the game.
They were already wobbling when Kolo Toure blasted a clearance into Vincent Kompany, the rebound dropping kindly for Nenad Milijas, who finished at the second attempt despite Joe Hart's initial heroics.
Hart denied Milijas shortly afterwards when the Serbian powered a header towards goal, although there was nothing he could do to prevent Steven Fletcher picking out an unmarked Matt Jarvis at the far post.
Jarvis must have thought he had scored when he pulled the trigger on a shot from 12 yards. Instead, Aleksandar Kolarov flung himself in the way to preserve a fragile state of affairs.
The value of Kolarov's block was not immediately apparent as it took City some time to assert themselves.
But once Adam Johnson had forced Wayne Hennessy into an excellent feet-first save, Wolves began to assume the air of a side who could not wait for the interval to come.
Unfortunately for them, the clock did not speed round quickly enough.
Tevez was only just wide with a fizzing shot, then, after Dzeko had been denied by an excellent Ronald Zubar challenge, Kompany got his head to Johnson's corner and flicked it towards the far post.
Kolo Toure controlled, then went for goal, ignoring the crowd of bodies in his way. His decision proved correct as the shot beat Hennessy, bounced through David Jones' legs and eventually over the line.
It was the Ivorian's first goal of the season. More importantly, it created the platform for normal service to be resumed after half-time.
More than anyone, Tevez had been inconvenienced by Dzeko's arrival, shunted from his favoured central berth to a role wide on the left at kick-off.

The Argentinian is not one for keeping quiet, though.
And, as spectators were still taking their seats, he picked up possession on the angle of the area and exploded into life, bursting through the passive presence of Christophe Berra and Stephen Hunt, then skipping inside Richard Stearman.
The hard work done, the rest was easy as Tevez calmly slipped City in front.
Mancini's men were not done either.
Their third owed much to a neat one-two between Dzeko and Tevez just inside the Wolves half.
The Bosnian then sent Yaya Toure clean through with a perfect through ball, the midfielder following his brother onto the scoresheet with clinical efficiency.
Dzeko came close to a debut goal when his deflected shot flew narrowly wide, but Tevez was in no mood to offer reprieves and when countryman Zabaleta crossed from the right, the Argentina star's header bounced in via the underside of the crossbar.
Amazingly, within seconds Wolves had pulled one back, Doyle getting to his feet to score from the spot after he had been bundled over by substitute Joleon Lescott.
Zubar added another to set up a frantic ending, which would have been sickening for City had Geoffrey Mujangi Bia's stoppage-time shot deflected into the net off Kompany rather than just wide.

Mancini won't take Given 'risk'




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Updated Jan 15, 2011 2:29 PM ET
Manchester City have told want-away goalkeeper Shay Given he can only leave when they find a replacement for him.

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Following a superb campaign last season, the Irishman has found himself out of favour with Roberto Mancini this term as the Italian continues to select England's Joe Hart ahead of him.
One goalkeeper linked with a move to Eastlands of late is Coventry and former Blues reserve Keiren Westwood.
Ironically the 26-year-old is also Given's understudy for the Republic of Ireland national team, however Mancini is yet to make a move and does not want to offload the former Newcastle star until adding to his bulging squad.
"We can't take the same risk as last season," the Italian told The Guardian.
"We have seen two or three [possible options] but Shay doesn't decide this situation.
"I have talked about this with Shay and he told me that, if we have a chance to take another goalkeeper [he would like to go]... but finding a goalkeeper like Shay?"

Villa secure Makoun switch




Updated Jan 15, 2011 7:52 AM ET
Aston Villa have completed the £6million signing of Lyon midfielder Jean Makoun after the Cameroon star put pen to paper on a deal until 2014.
Makoun put pen to paper on a three-and-a-half-year contract on Saturday morning after passing a medical at Villa Park on Friday afternoon.

TRANSFER SPECIAL

Keep up with all the biggest moves around the globe with our 2011 January transfer gallery.

But Makoun will not be eligible to play for up to two weeks while he obtains a work permit.
The 27-year-old becomes Villa boss Gerard Houllier's first major signing since replacing Martin O'Neill in September.
Houllier had also unsuccessfully tried to sign Makoun from Lille when he was in charge of Lyon.
His arrival will provide competition for Villa skipper Stiliyan Petrov and Nigel Reo-Coker.
Houllier said: "Jean is a player who can play in front of the defence as a sitter and defensive midfielder or as a box-to-box midfielder.
"He has several assets about his game. He is also a very experienced player because he played Champions League football with Lille and Lyon.
"He is a nice guy too. I think he will settle well in the dressing room."
Makoun said: "I am thrilled to be here at Aston Villa. I am really, really happy and very proud to have joined a great club.
"Villa have been after me for quite a while, so I am delighted it's finally happened. I can't wait to get started now.
"I've left a very good club in Lyon, a side which has played Champions League football, but I am very excited by this new challenge at Aston Villa.
"Villa really want to do well and really want to achieve something, so I am really excited to be joining."
Makoun began his career in his native Cameroon at Cotonsport Garoua where he was part of the youth set-up.
He had spells at fellow Cameroon sides, Jeunesse Star and Tonnerre Yaounde, before eventually moving to France to join Lille and then Lyon in June 2008.
One of the highlights of his time with Lyon came in February 2010 when he scored the only goal in Lyon's Champions League win over Real Madrid.

Wenger expects Arshavin recovery


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Updated Jan 15, 2011 5:13 AM ET
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is in no doubt Andrey Arshavin remains a great player and is "desperate" to keep the Russian at Emirates Stadium.
Arshavin has drawn criticism this season for some below-par performances, and was again bitterly disappointing in the 1-0 Carling Cup defeat at Ipswich on Wednesday night, replaced for the final 10 minutes by Carlos Vela.

Blackpool 2-1 Liverpool | Recap Chelsea 2-0 Blackburn | Recap
Man City 4-3 Wolves | Recap
Stoke City 2-0 Bolton | Recap
West Brom 3-2 Blackpool | Recap
Wigan 1-1 Fulham | Recap
West Ham 0-3 Arsenal | Recap Birmingham vs. Aston Villa
Sunderland vs. Newcastle
Liverpool vs. Everton
Tottenham vs. Man Utd BPL Scores | Table | Fixtures

Reports have suggested the 29-year-old - signed from Zenit St Petersburg in January 2009 - could be set for a £17million move to Juventus.
However, the Arsenal manager insisted Arshavin, who once netted all four goals in a sensational personal display at Liverpool, is going nowhere.
"We have had no contact," Wenger said.
"As soon as a player doesn't play fantastically well, he is criticised. We all know that. I am very happy with Arshavin.
"I believe he is a great player - he is going through a period where it is more difficult for him at the moment.
"But he works very hard in training - his attitude is fantastic and I am desperate to keep him.
"He played almost every single game since the start of the season and has played for his national team as well. Physically he is a bit less fresh."
Arshavin could be back on the bench for Saturday afternoon's late kick-off at Premier League bottom club West Ham.
Wenger continued: "After a breather of a few games he will come back stronger than ever because he works very hard in training.
"As far as I know, I believe he and his wife are happy in London, but what is very important as well is that I am very happy with him."
Wenger also rejected suggestions veteran goalkeeper Manuel Almunia, currently recovering from an ankle problem, was set to join Galatasaray and refused to be drawn on any of his transfer targets.
Arsenal are in the market for a central defender, and have been linked with West Ham's Matthew Upson, who left the Gunners in 2003, as well as Bolton centre-back Gary Cahill, Montpellier's Bosnia and Herzegovina international Emir Spahic and Werder Bremen defender Per Mertesacker.

TRANSFER SPECIAL

Keep up with all the biggest moves around the globe with our 2011 January transfer gallery.

"The players we have signed recently, especially the defenders, you would never have guessed - not [Thomas] Vermaelen or [Laurent] Koscielny. Let us surprise you if we do something," the Arsenal boss said.
Wenger is also said be a keen admirer of Southampton's £10million-rated 17-year-old Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
However, the Gunners boss once more was giving little away.
"One day this player goes to Chelsea, one day to Man United, one day to Liverpool and one day to Arsenal. We are not close to signing anybody at the moment," Wenger said.
Arsenal could close the gap at the top down to two points as leaders Manchester United do not play until Sunday at Tottenham.
Wenger, though, accepts there can be no repeat of their terrible display against Ipswich, where they lost 1-0.
"If you play like that at West Ham you will lose. We will not play like that at West Ham," he said.

West Bromwich Albion 3-2 Blackpool




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Updated Jan 15, 2011 7:20 PM ET
Two-goal Peter Odemwingie ended West Brom's five-game losing streak with a late winner in a 3-2 success against Blackpool at The Hawthorns.
David Vaughan had put Blackpool in front in Saturday's Premier League encounter but Albion replied through Odemwingie and James Morrison only for Gary Taylor-Fletcher to level for the Seasiders.

Blackpool 2-1 Liverpool | Recap Chelsea 2-0 Blackburn | Recap
Man City 4-3 Wolves | Recap
Stoke City 2-0 Bolton | Recap
West Brom 3-2 Blackpool | Recap
Wigan 1-1 Fulham | Recap
West Ham 0-3 Arsenal | Recap Birmingham vs. Aston Villa
Sunderland vs. Newcastle
Liverpool vs. Everton
Tottenham vs. Man Utd BPL Scores | Table | Fixtures

But then Odemwingie struck with three minutes remaining to move Albion away from the relegation zone.
Blackpool, fresh from their mid-week triumph over Liverpool, played with their customary freedom with the in-demand Charlie Adam in fine form in midfield.
But they were left to rue two missed chances by the normally deadly DJ Campbell.
The Baggies were unsurprisingly devoid of confidence in the first half after their recent poor run.
But they were dragged up off the floor by the driving force in midfield of Youssouf Mulumbu.
Jerome Thomas also posed problems with his pace and crossing power from the left flank.
Campbell missed a golden chance to put his side ahead after only two minutes.
Luke Varney's pass picked out the Seasiders top scorer and he evaded the challenge of Paul Scharner to leave himself with only Boaz Myhill to beat 10 yards out.
But Campbell contrived to screw his shot wide of the post when it looked easier to score.
The Baggies tried to retaliate and Odemwingie's cross from the left of the box found its way to acting skipper Chris Brunt at the far post.
But he opted to volley rather than head towards goal and was high and wide with his attempt.
Blackpool went ahead after 11 minutes through a superb goal from Vaughan.
Stephen Crainey's cross was only half cleared to Vaughan 20 yards out. The midfielder had time to line up his shot - with no Albion player closing him down - before curling it past the dive of Myhill for his second goal of the campaign.
Albion tried to build up some momentum with Thomas posing the main threat and Brunt seemed certain to convert his deep cross but Crainey made a superb block.
Crainey was then relieved when he made contract with a cross from Thomas under pressure from Odemwingie and forced Richard Kingson to save away to his right.
Then after 37 minutes Odemwingie brought the Baggies back on level terms.
Graham Dorrans supplied the telling ball from the left.
Odemwingie beat the offside trap, controlled the ball and slipped it past Kingson for his seventh goal of the campaign.
Odemwingie then went for goal after being freed by Thomas but he shot wide when Brunt was better placed in the centre.

A second glaring miss of the game from Campbell prevented Blackpool from regaining the lead early in the second half.
Adam's perfectly timed pass enabled Campbell to beat the offside trap but he slipped the ball past the post from 10 yards out.
It proved a costly miss as Morrison put Albion in front after 52 minutes.
Kingson got his hand to a low ball across the box from Thomas but Morrison was on hand to make no mistake at the far post.
Vaughan became the first player to be yellow carded for a challenge on Mulumbu.
Odemwingie found himself one on one with Kingson who spread himself and smothered the shot.
Albion squandered another great chance when Odemwingie teed up Morrison who shot over from 10 yards out.
With 10 minutes left, Taylor-Fletcher levelled for Blackpool when he turned home Phillips' low cross.
Back came Albion and Kingson blocked an effort from Simon Cox.
But in the 87th minute Odemwingie held off Cathcart after a long ball forward and drilled his shot wide of Kingson for the winner.

TFF yaufyata mkia kwa DRFA
Saturday, 15 January 2011 09:32

katibu wa TFF, Angetile Osiah

Sosthenes Nyoni na Sweetbert Lukonge
MZUNGUKO wa pili wa Ligi Kuu ya Vodacom unaanza kutimka leo kwa timu nane kuumana vikali katika mapambano yatakayofanyika kwenye viwanja vinne tofauti, huku mabingwa wa Kombe la Mapinduzi, Simba wakishuka leo Uwanja wa Uhuru kucheza mechi yake ya kirafiki dhidi ya Zesco ya Zambia.

Mechi ya wazambia hao wanaocheza na Simba na Yanga imeandaliwa na Chama cha Soka jijini Dar es Salaam (DRFA) kwa lengo la kuzipa mazoezi Simba pamoja Yanga ambazo zinajiandaa na michuano ya kimataifa ya kuwania ubingwa wa klabu bingwa Afrika na ule wa Shirikisho.

Afisa habari wa TFF, Boniface Wambura amesema kuwa shirikisho limebariki mechi hiyo ya Simba ambayo itafanyika leo pamoja na ile ya Yanga hapo kesho kwenye uwanja huo.

Mbali na hilo Wambura pia alisema timu hizo zitapambana na timu ya Atretico ya nchini Brazil, Januari 18 na 19 lengo likiwa ni kujiandaa na mashindano ya kimataifa.

Kauli hiyo ya Wambura imekuja siku moja baada ya katibu wa TFF, Angetile Osiah kusisitiza kutotambua mechi hizo na kwamba Zesco imekuja kutalii na kufanya mazoezi na kujiandaa na michuano yake ya kimataifa.

"Tunachojua Zesco wamekuja kutembea na kuweka kambi kwa ajili ya kujiandaa na mashindano yao, barua tuliyopata ni ya kuwaombea kufanya mazoezi kwenye uwanja wa Karume hakuna barua nyingine, na msimamo wetu upo pale pale,"alisema Osiah juzi.

Wakati vigogo hivyo vya soka nchini vikiwa kwenye maandalizi ya mechi ya hiyo ya kirafiki, Ligi Kuu inaendelea tena leo tangu iliposimama kwa miezi miwili tokea Novemba baada kumalizika kwa mzunguko wa kwanza.

Pazia hilo linafunguliwa leo kwa Azam FC kuikaribisha Kagera Sugar katika mpambano utakaofanyika kwenye Uwanja wa Mkwakwani mjini Tanga wakati Toto African ya Mwanza itakuwa mwenyeji wa Polisi Dodoma katika mechi itakayochezwa kwenye Uwanja wa CCM Kirumba.

Huko mjini Songea, Majimaji ikiwa nyumbani itaikaribisha JKT Ruvu katika mpambano utakaofanyika kwenye Uwanja wa Majimaji ili hali AFC itakuwa nyumbani kwenye Uwanja wa Sheikh Amri Abeid mjini Arusha kuikabili Afrcan Lyon.

Azam iliyo chini ya kocha mpya Stewart Hall yenyewe ilimaliza mzunguko wa kwanza ikiwa na pointi 20 na kushika nafasi ya tatu huku wapinzani wao Kagera wakimaliza katika nafasi ya tano sambamba na pointi zao 17.

Hall aliliambia Mwananchi jijini Dar es Salaam kabla ya kuondoka na kikosi chake kwenda Tanga kuwa ana uhakika wa kuanza mzunguko wa pili vizuri kwa kuibuka na ushindi akisema matatizo ya timu yake kutocheza kitimu ameyamaliza.

Naye kocha wa Toto African, Choke Abeid alisema kuwa atahakikisha anaitungua Polisi Dodoma na kuanza vizuri kampeni yake licha ya kuwa kikosi chake hakikuwa na maandalizi ya kutosha.

Akijivunia nyota wapya kama Ulimboka Mwakingwe na Mohamed Kijuso waliosajiliwa msimu wa dirisha dogo, kocha msaidizi wa Majimaji, Godfrey Mvula ambaye kikosi chake kilimaliza mzunguko wa kwanza kikiwa katika nafasi ya 11 na pointi zake nane amesema hakuna njia ambayo JKT Ruvu wanaweza kuepuka kipigo kwani ziara ya hivi karibuni waliyoifanya nchini Msumbiji ilikuwa na mafanikio makubwa.

Kwa upande wake kocha msaidizi wa AFC, Dan Koroso ambaye kikosi chake kilimaliza mzunguko wa kwanza kwa kushikilia mkia kikiwa katika nafasi ya 12 na pointi zake tano alisema jana kutoka Arusha kuwa amerekebisha mapungufu yaliyosababisha vijana wake wawe katika nafasi hiyo na kwamba wamejidhatiti kutoa dozi kwa yeyote ili waweze kujihakikishia hawashuki daraja.

Wakati huo huo; Mwenyekiti wa DRFA Amini Bakheresa ameliambia Mwananchi kuwa wamefikia muhafaka na shirikisho la Soka Tanzania juu ya mechi hiyo ambayo hapo awali TFF ilisema kuwa halitaruhusu kufanyika kwa vile mechi hiyo imeingilina na ratiba ya Ligi Kuu ya Tanzania Bara inayoanza kutimua vumbi leo katika viwanja mbalimbali hapa nchini.

"Baada ya mkanganyiko huo jana (juzi) tumekaa na TFF kwa muda mrefu na tunamshukuru Mungu sasa mechi hiyo itakuwepo kama ilivyopangwa.

"Mbali na hilo pia tiketi kwa ajili ya mechi hiyo zitauzwa katika uwanja wa Taifa na siyo sehemu yoyote ile na pia tunawaomba watu wote wasithubutu kununua tiketi kutoka kwa watu wasiohusika," alisema Bakheresa.

Katika hatua nyingine Makamu Mwenyekiti wa Simba, Godfrey Nyanga 'Kaburu' alisema kuwa wamejipanga vilivyo na mechi hiyo pia itakuwa ni maalumu kwa ajili ya kuwakabidhi wapenzi na mashabiki wa timu hiyo Kombe la ubingwa wa michuano ya Mapinduzi walilolinyakuwa hivi karibuni baada ya kuitandika Yanga katika mchezo wa fainali uliyofanyika kwenye Uwanja wa Amaan visiwani Zanzibar.

TOC-Tafuteni wadhamini mapema Saturday, 15 January 2011 09:31

Imani Makongoro

KAMATI ya Olimpiki Tanzania (TOC) imevitaka vyama vya Michezo nchini kuanza kutafuta wadhamini kwa ajili ya kuwasaidia kwenye maandalizi ya mashindano ya michezo yote ya Afrika (All Afrika Games) iliyopangwa kufanyika mapema Septemba mjini Maputo, Msumbiji.

Tanzania itashiriki mashindano hayo makubwa kwa nchi za Afrika ikiwakilishwa na wanamichezo mbalimbali wa Riadha, Ngumi, Baiskeli, Kuogelea na Soka.

Katibu Mkuu wa TOC, Filbert Bayi, aliiambia Mwananchi jana kuwa kamati yake haina fedha kwa ajili ya maandalizi ya michezo hiyo hivyo vyama vinatakiwa kujitafutia fedha kwa ajili ya maandalizi.

Bayi alisema kuwa katika mashindano ya All Africa, kila nchi inatakiwa kujitegemea katika maandalizi kwani ni suala la nchi tofauti na mashindano mengine kama Olimpiki na Jumuiya ya Madola ambapo hupata misaada.

"Mashindano ya All Africa kila nchi inajitegemea, sisi kama TOC tumekwisha peleka bajeti yetu kwa ajili ya wanamichezo watakaoiwailisha Tanzania katika mashindano hayo serikalini kwa ajili ya maandalizi.

"Tunachosubiri kwa sasa ni majibu yao, lakini vyama vinatakiwa kutafuta fedha kwa ajili ya maandalizi na si kutegemea TOC, endapo fedha zikitoka basi zitatumika kwa ajili ya maandalizi," alisema Bayi.

Kwa muda mrefu vyama vingi vya michezo vimekuwa na malalamiko juu ya kukosekana kwa wadhamini wa kuwasaidia katika mashindano mbalimbali ya kitaifa na kimataifa.

Hali iliyosababisha vyama vingi kuwa na maandalizi duni na kusababisha kufanya vibaya katika mashindano ya kimataifa.

Mfano mzuri ukiwa ni maandalizi ya timu ya taifa ya ngumi za ridhaa kabla ya kushiriki michezo ya Jumuiya ya Madola mwaka jana nchini India ambapo Tanzania haikufanikiwa kupata Medali hata moja katika mashindano hayo.

Stars, Sudan yaahirishwa
Saturday, 15 January 2011 09:23

CAIRO, Misri
MWAMUZI wa pambano la Tanzania dhidi Sudan, Denis Patti jana aliahirisha mchezo huo wa kutafuta mshindi wa tano na sita kwa sababu ya mvua kubwa iliyokuwa ikinyesha kwenye Uwanja wa Polisi wa Abbassiya, jijini Cairo, Misri.

Mwamuzi huyo kutoka Uganda aliingia uwanjani, lakini alishindwa kuanzisha mpambano kwa sababu ya mvua kubwa iliyokuwa ikinyesha ambayo iliharibu uwanja katika sehemu ya kuchezea hivyo kuamua kuahirisha pambano hilo.

Kwa mujibu wa mtandao mmoja wa Misri, Kamati inayoshughulikia mashindano hayo ya Bonde la Mto Nile inayoongozwa na Abu Amr Ezz General ilitarajiwa kukutana jana kwa ajili ya kupanga tarehe nyingine ya pambano hilo.

Jana pia, kulikuwa na mapambano ya nusu fainali ya mashindano hayo ambapo Congo ilikuwa ikicheza na Uganda na Misri dhidi ya Kenya.

Bingwa wa mashindano hayo ambayo yamefanyika kwa mara ya kwanza atajinyakulia kitita cha 200 m.

Timu zilizoshiriki mashindano hayo ni Tanzania, Misri, Uganda, Kenya, Burundi, Sudan na DR Congo.

AS Vita kuifuata Ocean View Jan. 28 Saturday, 15 January 2011 09:14

Imani Makongoro
MABINGWA wa Ligi ya Soka ya Jamhuri ya Demokrasia ya Congo, DRC, AS Vita itawasili jijini Januari 28, tayari kwa mechi dhidi ya Zanzibar Ocean View mechi itakayochezwa Januari 30.

Ofisa Habari wa Shirikisho la Soka la Zanzibar (ZFA), Maulid Hamad Maulid alisema kuwa timu hiyo itawasili na wachezaji 30 na maandalizi ya mechi hiyo yamekamilika.

Maulid alisema kuwa kuwa mechi hiyo itaanza kutimua vumbi saa nane mchana kwenye Uwanja wa Amaan visiwani Zanzibar.

Alisema kuwa viingilia katika mechi hiyo vitakuwa sh. 5,000 kwa VIP, sh. 2,000 na sh. 1,000.

ìTumeamua kuweka viingilio vya chini ili kutoa nafasi kwa mashabiki wa soka kuja kushuhudia mechi hiyo ukizingatia timu inayocheza ni ya hapa nyumbani hivyo mashabiki watajionea uwezo wa wachezaji wetu wa Zanzibar,î alisema Maulid.

Wabrazil watua kuzikabili Simba, Yanga d Saturday, 15 January 2011 09:15

Jessca Nangawe
TIMU ya soka ya Atletico Paranaente ya Brazil, imewasili nchini jana tayari kwa mechi za kirafiki na Januari 18 itavaana na Yanga katika mchezo wa kimataifa wa kirafiki utakaochezwa uwanja wa Uhuru Jijini Dar es Salaam.

Hiyo itakuwa mechi muhimu kwa Yanga kwa kuwa iko katika maandalizi ya mechi ya Kombe la shirikisho.

Afisa habari wa klabu ya Yanga, Luis Sendeu aliiambia Mwananchi jana kuwa kikosi hicho kimeanza mazoezi rasmi jana kwenye Uwanja wa Uhuru baada ya kumalizika kwa michuano ya kombe la Mapinduzi na kabla ya kukutana na timu hiyo siku ya jumanne watakua na mchezo mwingine wa kirafiki kesho dhidi ya Zesco.

Alisema licha ya kufungwa na wapinzani wao Simba katika fainali hizo zilizomalizika visiwani Zanzibar kwa sasa wanajipanga upya kumalizia mzunguko wa mwisho wa Ligi Kuu pamoja na kujiandaa na michuano ya Kombe la Shirikisho itakayoanza mapema mwishoni mwa mwezi huu.

Alisema timu hiyo imewasili ikiwa na idadi ya kundi la watu 35 na watacheza michezo miwili; Jumanne watacheza na Yanga kabla ya siku inayofuata kukutana na wapinzani wao Simba.

"Kwa sasa tunakabiliwa na michezo miwili ya kirafiki ya kimataifa hii ni muendelezo wa maandalizi yetu ya kombe la Shirikisho na kama mnavyofahamu mzunguko wa pili wa ligi umeenza hivyo tuna kazi mbili kuhakikisha tunawavua ubingwa Simba pamoja na kuhakikisha tunafanya vyema katika maichuano ya kimataifa," alisema Sendeu.

Yanga itafungua pazia la mzunguko wa pili wa Ligi Kuu Januari 19 kwa kukutana na vibonde wa ligi hiyo, AFC ya Arusha.

Villa secure Makoun switch


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Updated Jan 15, 2011 7:52 AM ET
Aston Villa have completed the £6million signing of Lyon midfielder Jean Makoun after the Cameroon star put pen to paper on a deal until 2014.
Makoun put pen to paper on a three-and-a-half-year contract on Saturday morning after passing a medical at Villa Park on Friday afternoon.

TRANSFER SPECIAL

Keep up with all the biggest moves around the globe with our 2011 January transfer gallery.

But Makoun will not be eligible to play for up to two weeks while he obtains a work permit.
The 27-year-old becomes Villa boss Gerard Houllier's first major signing since replacing Martin O'Neill in September.
Houllier had also unsuccessfully tried to sign Makoun from Lille when he was in charge of Lyon.
His arrival will provide competition for Villa skipper Stiliyan Petrov and Nigel Reo-Coker.
Houllier said: "Jean is a player who can play in front of the defence as a sitter and defensive midfielder or as a box-to-box midfielder.
"He has several assets about his game. He is also a very experienced player because he played Champions League football with Lille and Lyon.
"He is a nice guy too. I think he will settle well in the dressing room."
Makoun said: "I am thrilled to be here at Aston Villa. I am really, really happy and very proud to have joined a great club.
"Villa have been after me for quite a while, so I am delighted it's finally happened. I can't wait to get started now.
"I've left a very good club in Lyon, a side which has played Champions League football, but I am very excited by this new challenge at Aston Villa.
"Villa really want to do well and really want to achieve something, so I am really excited to be joining."
Makoun began his career in his native Cameroon at Cotonsport Garoua where he was part of the youth set-up.
He had spells at fellow Cameroon sides, Jeunesse Star and Tonnerre Yaounde, before eventually moving to France to join Lille and then Lyon in June 2008.
One of the highlights of his time with Lyon came in February 2010 when he scored the only goal in Lyon's Champions League win over Real Madrid.

Spurs yasaka kumaliza uteja kwa Man United Saturday, 15 January 2011 09:12

LONDON,England
WAKATI Ryan Giggs na Paul Scholes walipotoka nje ya uwanja kwa kujikongoja baada ya kipigo cha mabao 3-1 pale White Hart Lane mwaka 2001 ingekuwa vigumu kuamini kwamba wawili hao wangekuwa wakiendelea kuichezea Manchester United kwa miaka 10 mingine.

Wanaweza wasiamini kuwa Spurs wameshindwa kuwafunga tena katika mara 19 walizokutana sasa watakakuwa wakijaribu kufanya hivyo katika muogo huu.

Hiyo ndio rekodi iliyokuwa nayo timu hiyo ya London dhidi ya klabu wanayokutana nayo Jumapili nyumbani hicho ndicho kitu wanachotakiwa kukibadilisha kama kweli wamezamilia kuingia kwenye nne bora na kufuzu kwa Ligi ya Mabingwa.

United inaongoza ligi kwa pointi 44 katika michezo 20, pointi mbili zaidi kwa Manchester City iliyocheza mechi mbili zaidi.

Arsenal ya tatu na pointi 40, Spurs ya nne na pointi 36, huku mabingwa watetezi Chelsea wamebaki nafasi ya tano kwa pointi 35, zote zikiwa zinacheza mechi 21.

An emotional appearance against his old club by David Beckham, who missed the 2001 fixture, will not now happen as the former England captainís loan deal with Spurs looks ever-more likely to be more of an extended training session.

Scholes atakuwa nje ya uwanja akishudia mchezo huo akiwa bado anasubuliwa na matatizo ya nyonga yaliyompata tangu mwezi Novemba, lakini Giggs anauwezo kuwepo uwanjani.

Pia, Wayne Rooney na Nemanja Vidic watashuka dimbani ili kuimalisha kikosi hicho kilichokuwa kinayumba katika wiki za hivi karibuni.

Spurs wanategemea kasi yao walioanza nayo msimu huu itawasaidia kurudia kile walichokifanya miaka 10 iliyopita.

Wamepoteza mechi moja tu nyumbani dhidi ya Wigan Athletic, huku United ikiwa imepata sare saba na kushinda mechi mbili ugenini.

Liverpool imeingia kwenye rekodi mbaya ya kufungwa mechi nane, sare mbili na kushinda moja kati ya mechi 11 walizocheza pamoja na kipigo cha mabao 2-1 kutoka kwa Blackpool, Jumatano.

Matunda ya Kenny Dalglish bado hayajaanza kuonekana baada ya kuanza kazi kwa kufungwa kwenye Kombe la FA palet Old Trafford, lakini anaweza kujirekebisha katika mchezo wake wa kwanza nyumbani dhidi ya mahasimu wao Everton.

Liverpool, iliyomtimua Roy Hodgson Jumamosi iliyopita kwa sasa inashika nafasi ya 13, ikiwa na pointi 25 nne zaidi kwa timu zilizokuwa kwenye janga la kushuka daraja.

Everton ipo juu yao kwa nafasi moja kwa tofauti ya mabao ya kushindi hivyo kuifanya mechi hiyo kuwa wazi zaidi kwa mahasimu hao wa jiji la Liverpool.

Liverpool itacheza bila ya Steven Gerrard, aliyefungiwa kutokana na kadi nyekundu aliyopata dhidi ya United.

Chelsea pia watakuwa na ndoto ya kurudi kwenye kasi yao ya mwanzo wa msimu baada ya kuichakaza Ipswich Town 7-0, watakapokuwa wenyeji wa Blackburn Rovers leo.

Mabao mawili na kiwango cha juu alichokionyesha Daniel Sturridge inaweza kumsaidia kuendelea kuwawake wakongwe Didier Drogba na Nicolas Anelka benchi kutokana na kushuka kwa viwango vyao hivi karibuni.

Arsenal, ilichapwa 1-0 na Ipswich kwenye mchezo wa kwanza wa nusu fainali ya Kombe la Ligi Jumatano iliyopita, leo wanashuka dimbani kuikabili West Ham United.

Mancini apiga mkwara
Saturday, 15 January 2011 09:11

LONDON, England
KOCHA wa Manchester City, Roberto Mancini ameamua kuwa mkali na sasa anawalima faini wachezaji wanne waliojiingiza katika ugomvi wakati wa mazoezi hivi karibuni.

Kocha huyo raia wa Italia amekuwa akigombana mara kadhaa na nyota wake kutokana na matukio ya kupigana wakati wa mazoezi.
Mancini, ambaye timu yake imeshika nafasi ya pili kwenye Ligi Kuu England amesema kuwa atawapa adhabu nyota wanne waliogombana uwanjani.

Wachezaji hao Kolo Toure, Emmanuel Adebayor, Jerome Boateng na Mario Balotelli watapewa adhabu ili iwe fundisho kwa wengine.
Mancini alisema: "Ni lazima tuwape adhabu. Tutaangalia cha kufanya, tunaweza kuwakata fedha ambazo zitaingia katika mfuko wa hisani.

"Ni kweli hawajapigana sana, lakini suala la kukunjana kwa sekundi kadhaa ni utovu wa nidhamu.

Mancini alisema: ëNi kweli mambo hayo hutokea katika kila timu, lakini tatizo letu ni kwamba uwanja wetu haujajengewa ukuta kwa hiyo waandishi wa habari huona matukio kirahisi.

"Nimecheza soka kwa miaka 20 na ninafahamu kuwa mambo kama hayo hutokea."

"Hata mimi niliwahi kugombana uwanjani miaka 25 iliyopita, nilikuwa Sampdoria ilikuwa ni dhidi ya Trevor Francis. Sikumbuki sababu ya jambo hilo na baada ya muda mambo yalikwisha. Lakini huku waandishi wa habari kubeba bango katika kitu hata kidogo sana.

Boateng na Balotelli waligombana mwezi uliopita na Adebayor na Toure nao walikwaruzana.

Mancini, ambaye timu yake ipo nyumbani kucheza na Wolves leo amesema kuwa Edin Dzeko ambaye alisajiliwa kwa ada ya pauni milioni 27 anahitaji mazoezi ya wiki nzima kabla ya kujiunga kikosi cha kwanza.