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Swansea's Fabio Borini leaves Nottingham Forest pining for a win






Championship

Swansea City 3
  • Sinclair 21,
  • Borini 26,
  • Borini 56
Nottingham Forest 2
  • Boyd 44,
  • Anderson 90


  • Spencer Vignes at Liberty Stadium
  • guardian.co.uk, Saturday 19 March 2011 17.44 GMT <li class="history">Article history
    Paul-Konchesky-007.jpg
    Nottingham Forest's Paul Konchesky (left) and Chris Cohen (right) put Swansea's Nathan Dyer under pressure. Photograph: James Benwell/Action Images Against a backdrop of posters advertising Rod Stewart's forthcoming gig at the Liberty Stadium, Swansea returned to winning ways, maintaining the pressure on QPR and Norwich for the two automatic promotion places.
    It is a shame Rod, a self-confessed football nut, wasn't here to witness this thrilling match &#8211; in particular the performance of Fabio Borini, the Italy Under-21 striker on loan to City from Chelsea until the summer for the rest of the season.
    Borini scored twice on his debut in a game Swansea dominated yet so nearly threw away. They took the lead in the 21st minute through one of the goals of the season, Scott Sinclair leaving several players in his wake on a mazy run before beating Lee Camp with a low shot. John Barnes would have been proud of it.
    Five minutes later, a peach of a pass from Alan Tate released Angel Rangel, who squared the ball for Borini, the lone striker in Swansea's 4-5-1 formation. The Italian's first shot was blocked by a defender. His second almost burst the net.
    Although Kris Boyd pulled a goal back for Forest in first-half injury time, Swansea continued to dominate, Borini scoring again in the 56th minute to seemingly put the game beyond the visitors. That was until Paul Anderson made it 3-2 in injury time and suddenly home nerves began to jangle. Only the woodwork denied Forest an equaliser, Chris Cohen's cross from the left from the left brushing against Swans substitute Garry Monk before clattering an upright.
    Forest have now gone seven games without a win and are staring nervously over their shoulders at the clubs chasing them for a play-off place.
    "It says 3-2 on the scoreboard and I didn't really think the game was a 3-2, but it's still a great win for us," said Brendan Rodgers, Swansea's manager.
    Rodgers's opposite number, Billy Davies, admitted his out-of-form side "didn't deserve anything."

 
Fabio Capello hands back England captaincy to John Terry

&#8226; England manager says defender has served punishment
&#8226; Italian fails to speak to the inujred Rio Ferdinand




  • Paul Wilson
  • The Observer, Sunday 20 March 2011 <li class="history">Article history
    Fabio-Capello.-John-Terry-007.jpg
    Fabio Capello has handed the England captaincy back to John Terry. Photograph: Michael Regan/Getty Images John Terry has been reinstated as England captain on a permanent basis with immediate effect. "He was my first choice when I decided I needed a permanent captain," Fabio Capello said. "I did not like the way the armband was moved around in the game in Copenhagen, and I saw that it was upsetting for him too. I think one year's punishment is enough."
    The England manager needed to make a decision on the captaincy because both Rio Ferdinand and Steven Gerrard are unavailable for Saturday's European Championship qualifier against Wales and, faced by the possibility that the former may not play again this season and the latter's understated leadership qualities, he has opted to restore a player he describes as the group's natural leader. "He is the biggest personality in the dressing room," Capello said. "He made mistakes but it is normal for people to make mistakes. I think he has learned from them and the other players all respect him."
    Ferdinand is now back as the vice-captain, assuming he regains fitness, with Gerrard third in line. Capello has spoken to the Liverpool player and claims he is happy with the situation and is concentrating solely on recovering his fitness, although the England head coach's attempts to meet Ferdinand to break the news to him personally were unsuccessful. The pair were both in Manchester on Tuesday to watch United's Champions League tie against Marseille when, according to Capello's version of events, he was snubbed by the player.
    "I tried to meet Rio at the United-Marseille game," Capello said. "At first he was ready to meet me but then he preferred not to. I was ready, I wanted to speak with him and explain my decision, but we did not have the chance to talk. I don't know why &#8211; it is a question for him, not me. I hope I will meet him in the future to speak with him personally and privately. I don't want to do it by phone, because I think by phone is not so good. I hope he will be fit to play for the national team again because he is one of the most important players." Representatives of Ferdinand will be at Stamford Bridge for Sunday's game between Chelsea and Manchester City, which the Italian is due to watch.
    A belated convert to the English captaincy cult, Capello decided to put the matter to bed after watching the Denmark game and forming the conclusion that England needed strong leadership during games. "In all my experience in Italy and Spain, the captaincy doesn't matter so much," he said. "The manager simply turns to the player who has played the most games, or has won most caps. When I knew that Steve and Rio were not fit to play I decided for John because we need a leader on the pitch.
    "Even when John played without the armband he was a leader on the pitch and in the dressing room. He was really good, every time. Always he is the same. I know I said he would never be captain again, but you can change your decision. This is normal in life. Sometimes the leader can make mistakes too."
    Capello names his squad for the game in Cardiff on Sunday evening and one of his first tasks once the players meet up will be to explain his change of heart over the captaincy. "I will speak about my decision, explain what has happened," he said. "The players need to know why I have gone back to John after one year, but after that it is time to prepare for the game. The players need to be focused on the game, not my decisions.
    "I understand about the pressure leading up to a game like this. I remember what the England-Scotland games at Wembley used to be like; when I first took the job as England manager they were proposing to play a friendly against Scotland as my first game. These games are like derbies, and a derby is not like a normal game. Not always the best team wins. As a manager you need to prepare for such a game really well because some players can put too much into it, getting carried away and trying to play at over 100%. It is incredible, but it can be dangerous. You need to arrive focused, with a good balance between body and mind."
    England intend to name a slightly larger squad than usual for the Wales game and the home friendly against Ghana three days later, partly to accommodate Andy Carroll and Adam Johnson, two players returning from lengthy injury spells who may be used sparingly. Capello is keeping his eye on Chris Smalling, at present with the Under-21s but on standby for the Ghana game, and is willing to confirm that Jack Wilshere is not only going to be a regular selection from now on but an eventual England captain.
    "He plays without fear, with confidence and I never saw someone so young be a leader on the pitch," Capello said. "I'm sure he will be a captain but it will be the choice of another England manager. He still needs more experience, but he is a top-level player now. After [Arsenal's victory] against Barcelona, he has arrived."

 
Stoke City 4-0 Newcastle


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Updated Mar 19, 2011 2:24 PM ET
Stoke scored four goals for the first time in a Premier League game as they crushed hapless Newcastle 4-0 at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday.
A week after securing a place in the FA Cup semi-finals, Tony Pulis' side cruised past the Tynesiders with a clinical display which moved them above their opponents and into the top half of the table.
Sat., Mar. 19​
Tottenham 0-0 West Ham | Recap
Aston Villa 0-1 Wolves | Recap
Blackburn 2-2 Blackpool | Recap
Man Utd 1-0 Bolton | Recap
Stoke City 4-0 Newcastle | Recap
West Brom 2-2 Arsenal | Recap
Wigan 2-1 Birmingham | Recap
Everton 2-1 Fulham | Recap
Sun., Mar. 20​
Sunderland vs. Liverpool
Chelsea vs. Man City
BPL Scores | Table | Fixtures​


Jon Walters opened the scoring after 28 minutes and the floodgates opened after the break with Jermaine Pennant, Danny Higginbotham and Ricardo Fuller completing the rout.
Newcastle have taken just one point from their last three games and may now start looking over their shoulders with only a four-point buffer separating them from the relegation zone.
It proved an unhappy return to the side for Sol Campbell, in for Steven Taylor in one of three changes to the team that lost to Everton.
Joey Barton was back after a thigh injury with Jonas Gutierrez stepping down while Shola Ameobi was preferred to Leon Best.
Goalkeeper Asmir Begovic returned between the posts for Stoke with Thomas Sorensen back on the bench.
It was Newcastle who were the first to show with Ameobi turning quickly in the fifth minute and firing a shot into the body of Begovic.
Five minutes later Ameobi won a free-kick out on the left after he had been tripped by Marc Wilson.
Barton delivered the ball into the area but it was easily cleared to safety.
Stoke responded in the 12th minute and Wilson got clear of his marker only to head wide of the post from Pennant's corner.
Then Rory Delap launched a long throw into the area in the 17th minute and Newcastle goalkeeper Steve Harper took no chances, punching the ball clear.
It was an even game at this stage and Jose Enrique scampered forward for the visitors four minutes later but his delivery was poor and Ryan Shawcross cleared comfortably.
Enrique seemed to pick up a knock and was immediately replaced by Shane Ferguson.
Stoke took the lead in the 27th minute when Newcastle failed to deal with a cross from Pennant. Walters was the first to react and send a header over Harper for his eighth goal of the season.
However Newcastle made a spirited response and Barton fired a free-kick narrowly over the bar.
The visitors kept up the pressure and Kevin Nolan carved out a good opportunity moments later. His cross took a deflection and looped over Begovic but the keeper managed to get a hand to it and divert the ball away.
Nolan was then dazed following a challenge by Walters but soon recovered.
Newcastle were beginning to look dangerous as half-time approached and Ferguson got in a good header only for Begovic to be equal to it.
Stoke extended their lead just a minute into the second half thanks to a string of defensive errors by Newcastle.
Harper failed to clear properly and Matthew Etherington eventually swung a cross in from the left.
The ball took a deflection and Campbell back-headed it but only into the path of Pennant, who made no mistake.
The home of the best LIVE soccer and rugby awaits at FoxSoccer.tv -- don't miss a second of the action.

Former England defender Campbell was left shaking his head in disbelief at making such a basic mistake.
Three minutes later Stoke made it 3-0 with Newcastle again all at sea at the back.
Higginbotham drove a free-kick straight through the wall and past Harper who was rooted to the spot.
Pardew by this point was out in his technical area with a look of bewilderment at how the game had suddenly unfolded.
Newcastle hit back and Ferguson skipped past two defenders in the 66th minute but saw his effort blocked by Begovic.
Campbell was then replaced in the 66th minute by Gutierrez as Newcastle tried to get some kind of hold on the game.
Newcastle were determined to save face and Barton whipped in a free kick after 78 minutes and Begovic did well to turn away at the post.
However Stoke were content to sit deep and let the visitors come onto them near the end of the game.
Stoke completed a convincing victory thanks to a fourth goal from substitute Fuller in stoppage time. Fuller got on the end of a pass from Walters to thump a shot beyond Harper.
 
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