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[Rutashubanyuma]

Bruce ready for relegation scrap


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Updated Apr 17, 2011 7:51 AM ET
Sunderland boss Steve Bruce accepts his side are in the thick of a relegation battle after being beaten 2-0 at his former club Birmingham.
Goals from Sebastian Larsson and Craig Gardner lifted City above the injury-hit Black Cats. The Wearsiders have now taken one point from the last nine games after being contenders for a European spot in January.


Bruce said: "There have been a few times recently when I have said the performance has not been good enough.
"But I could not ask any more from a young, makeshift side today.
"We have to try and take the positives out of today and if we play like that, we can still turn the season around and finish with a flourish.
"We are in it (a relegation battle), no question about it. There are 10 teams in it and we are one of them.
"The lads know we have not got enough points. We have one point from nine games and we've got to try and arrest that slump."
Bruce added: "We've now got back-to-back home games with Wigan and Fulham so it is an opportunity to put things right.
"Maybe 41 points will be enough to stay up. One win might do it. I think so."
Black Cats keeper Simon Mignolet was at fault for the first goal from Larsson.
Bruce said: "You can't legislate for individual errors. The keeper has been excellent but will be disappointed with that error.

BARCLAY'S PREMIER LEAGUE ​

Sat., Apr. 16​

Birmingham 2-0 Sunderland | Recap
Blackpool 1-3 Wigan | Recap
Everton 2-0 Blackburn | Recap
West Brom 1-3 Chelsea | Recap
West Ham 1-2 Aston Villa | Recap

Sun., Apr. 17​

Arsenal vs. Liverpool

Tue., Apr. 19​

Newcastle vs. Man Utd

Wed., Apr. 20​

Chelsea vs. Birmingham
Tottenham vs. Arsenal

BPL Scores | Table | Fixtures​

"The first goal was an awful one to give away and, apart from the two goals, I can't remember Birmingham creating any chances."
Blues have now taken seven points from three games after recovering from the hangover of their Carling Cup triumph over Arsenal.
City manager Alex McLeish said: "We lost five or six players after the final through injury and when that happens, it becomes tough.
"The expectancy levels were there because of the cup win.
"Mentally we suffered after that triumph with a lot of players not used to winning trophies. But the players have regrouped and we have got some experienced bodies back.
"This was a big win for us."
Larsson, whose contract runs out this summer, capped his 100th Premier League appearance with the opener after a mix-up between Phil Bardsley and Mignolet.
McLeish said: "He deserves credit because he gambled on chasing down what looked like a lost cause.
"If you don't buy a ticket, you don't win the raffle and Seb got his reward for gambling."
Birmingham are now on 38 points but McLeish is taking nothing for granted in the battle to stay up.
He said: "I'm not saying we are safe but it is better than being on 35 points.
"We did our jobs. We were under pressure as the home team and we responded to that."

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

Holloway calls for more hunger


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Updated Apr 17, 2011 7:58 AM ET
Ian Holloway wants Blackpool's players to show they are the "hungriest dogs" left in the Premier League survival battle after losing to Wigan.
The Seasiders fell behind in just the third minute at Bloomfield Road when Hugo Rodallega slotted through Matt Gilks' legs, and Charles N'Zogbia made it 2-0 in first half stoppage time.


Mohamed Diame sent in a third for the visitors via a deflection off Neal Eardley midway through the second period, rendering DJ Campbell's late reply a mere consolation.
The result meant the Latics leapfrogged their opponents into 17th and Blackpool now have five matches left to get themselves out of trouble.
With only one win in their last 13 games, a revival is needed quickly and Holloway wants to see his team fighting for their lives in their remaining fixtures.
"I don't think at this level that you can give two goals away like that and get back," Holloway said.
"We had a go, we huffed and we puffed, but we didn't get a goal early enough and it didn't give us the momentum.
"Momentum is a hell of a thing at this level and we just can't grasp any of it at the moment - when we had it against Arsenal for five minutes, we needed that chance of a penalty (when a Laurent Koscielny challenge on Gary Taylor-Fletcher went unpunished in last week's 3-1 loss).
"But we have to start again now, because you are not given anything in life - you have to take it.
"This suits us now. We are like a wounded animal and we know we are the dirtiest in the dog zone and we have to come out fighting for every scrap that is left.

BARCLAY'S PREMIER LEAGUE ​

Sat., Apr. 16​

Birmingham 2-0 Sunderland | Recap
Blackpool 1-3 Wigan | Recap
Everton 2-0 Blackburn | Recap
West Brom 1-3 Chelsea | Recap
West Ham 1-2 Aston Villa | Recap

Sun., Apr. 17​

Arsenal vs. Liverpool

Tue., Apr. 19​

Newcastle vs. Man Utd

Wed., Apr. 20​

Chelsea vs. Birmingham
Tottenham vs. Arsenal

BPL Scores | Table | Fixtures​

"I think we are normally pretty good like that, so that is what I will be talking about (to the players) tomorrow.
"We should be the hungriest dog left in this and we have some scrapping and fighting to do. I am just about ready to snarl."
With Wigan starting the day bottom of the table, this home fixture presented Blackpool with what appeared to be a golden opportunity to boost their bid for survival.
The Seasiders did not help themselves, though, giving away possession in the build-up to both of the Latics' first-half goals.
The mistakes left Holloway "baffled", but he was keen to stress the importance of encouragement when setbacks occur.
"If they choose to do those things at this level I strongly worry about everybody, but I don't think they will do that again - I think they will take that on the chin and learn from it," Holloway said.
"Who from our camp said we were better than Wigan anyway? We should be miles adrift, but we're not, so let's have a go at it.
"When you get in a run like this, it's really difficult to stop it, whoever you put in.
"Someone makes a mistake, and you need some encouragement. Was there enough of that from each player? Who knows, but I will be (giving some). We are in tomorrow and we will be talking about it."
Holloway revealed that he would be shunning Sunday's Professional Footballers' Association awards ceremony - despite his captain Charlie Adam being nominated for the player of the year prize - so he can focus on trying to ensure Blackpool's remarkable maiden Premier League campaign does not end with a return to the Championship.
"Now we are in where we don't want to be and everybody will be saying I told you so," Holloway said.
"The facts are probably right - that we are one of the worst teams in the league, and we might even be the worst team at the moment, because they (Wigan) were bottom, they have given us a whipping and they deserved their win.
"But that is not us - that is not my team, and we need to stick together and do a lot better."
Wigan manager Roberto Martinez was delighted to see his side take maximum points from the contest with a display he felt built on their efforts in last week's 1-0 defeat at Chelsea and the 0-0 draw with Tottenham before that.
"I said it before that I felt we played really against Chelsea and Spurs and it was disappointing not to get a win out of that," Martinez said.
"But today I felt that with the way Blackpool played, we had to be even better tactically than against the last two teams and I was extremely proud of the tactical awareness of the players.
"I thought we coped with Blackpool really well. Obviously we are disappointed to have conceded the goal, but overall we looked a real threat, worked really hard and we looked like a team."

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

Kean not worried by performance


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Updated Apr 17, 2011 7:48 AM ET
Blackburn boss Steve Kean refused to be downbeat after Saturday's defeat to Everton as he insisted Rovers' performance was not a worrying one.
Rovers are now just two points above the Premier League relegation zone after a 2-0 loss at Goodison Park in which they hardly tested home goalkeeper Tim Howard.


The Lancashire side are without a win in nine league games and have just five matches remaining to ensure they collect enough points for survival.
Kean, who has not overseen an away win since December, said: "I don't think it was a worrying performance.
"The overall performance was of two totally different halves.
"We were by far the better in the first and they were the better in the second.
"I think whoever was going to get the first goal was always going to be in the box seat.
"That fell to Everton and that was disappointing."
Everton upped the tempo after a drab first half to claim the lead after 54 minutes with a deflected Leon Osman shot.
The goal was Everton's reward for a spell of dominance and the Merseysiders made the game safe when Leighton Baines drilled in a penalty after a foul on Seamus Coleman by Phil Jones.
Kean added: "We felt because Everton were defending quite high there was lots of space behind Leighton Baines and Tony Hibbert.

BARCLAY'S PREMIER LEAGUE ​

Sat., Apr. 16​

Birmingham 2-0 Sunderland | Recap
Blackpool 1-3 Wigan | Recap
Everton 2-0 Blackburn | Recap
West Brom 1-3 Chelsea | Recap
West Ham 1-2 Aston Villa | Recap

Sun., Apr. 17​

Arsenal vs. Liverpool

Tue., Apr. 19​

Newcastle vs. Man Utd

Wed., Apr. 20​

Chelsea vs. Birmingham
Tottenham vs. Arsenal

BPL Scores | Table | Fixtures​

"We felt we could exploit that - play the ball back into midfield and then quickly get beyond them and play a penetrating pass.
"But then obviously when the goal went in, that changes the outlook of the game."
Rovers' misfortune was summed up when substitute Morten Gamst Pedersen missed the target after a mix-up between Baines and Phil Jagielka.
Kean said: "We felt as though we had to try to go and get a goal and we managed to scramble a chance for Morten Pedersen but he just didn't connect.
"If that goes in at 2-1 you're maybe chasing an equaliser in injury time."
Everton are now unbeaten in seven games and just a point behind their arch rivals Liverpool in sixth place.
David Moyes felt his side owed much to the all-action performance of Osman, whose fourth goal of the season was also his third in six games.
The Scot said: "I thought we played quite well.
"In the first half we were a little bit slow and gave the ball away quite a bit.
"But with the players we have got out that is always going to happen.
"If anyone thought it was going to be smooth and silky, that was never going to be the case.
"We played better in the second half and upped the tempo a little bit.
"In Leon Osman we had someone who was a match-winner by a long way.
"He deserves to be 'bigged up', if you want to say that.
"He has had to take on the mantle since we lost Steven Pienaar and with Mikel Arteta out.
"We have not got a great deal of creativity or that style of player at the moment.
"I thought Osman, when he got it, made things happen and scored a really important goal for us. That got us on our way."

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

Today's Games

Today's Games Week 1: 08/28/10 - 08/30/10 Week 2: 09/11/10 - 09/12/10 Week 3: 09/18/10 - 09/19/10 Week 4: 09/22/10 - 09/23/10 Week 5: 09/25/10 - 09/26/10 Week 6: 10/02/10 - 10/03/10 Week 7: 10/16/10 - 10/17/10 Week 8: 10/23/10 - 10/25/10 Week 9: 10/29/10 - 10/31/10 Week 10: 11/06/10 - 11/07/10 Week 11: 11/10/10 - 11/11/10 Week 12: 11/13/10 - 11/14/10 Week 13: 11/20/10 - 11/21/10 Week 14: 11/27/10 - 11/28/10 Week 15: 12/03/10 - 12/08/10 Week 16: 12/11/10 - 12/12/10 Week 17: 12/18/10 - 12/19/10 Week 18: 01/06/11 Week 19: 01/09/11 Week 20: 01/15/11 - 01/16/11 Week 21: 01/19/11 - 02/16/11 Week 22: 01/29/11 - 02/16/11 Week 27: 01/30/11 - 02/28/11 Week 23: 02/01/11 - 02/03/11 Week 24: 02/05/11 - 02/06/11 Week 25: 02/12/11 - 02/13/11 Week 26: 02/19/11 - 02/20/11 Week 28: 03/04/11 - 03/06/11 Week 29: 03/11/11 - 03/13/11 Week 30: 03/19/11 - 03/20/11 Week 31: 04/02/11 - 04/03/11 Week 32: 04/09/11 - 04/10/11 Week 33: 04/16/11 - 04/17/11 Week 34: 04/22/11 - 04/23/11 Week 35: 04/30/11 - 05/02/11 Week 36: 05/07/11 - 05/09/11 Week 37: 05/14/11 - 05/15/11 Week 38: 05/22/11​

Sunday, April 17, 2011​

Week 33​

Artemio Franchi

Expand

Fiorentina​

0 : 0
49'

Juventus​

Match Stats | Match Trax
Goals Cards Substitutions
Via del Mare

Expand

Lecce​

1 : 1
49'

Cagliari​

Match Stats | Match Trax

(49') Djamel Mesbah
Goals Robert Acquafresca (20')

(29') Fabiano

(36') Gustavo
Cards Robert Acquafresca (36')

(35') Gustavo

Stefano Ferrario

(46') Davide Brivio

Carlos Grossmüller

Substitutions
M. Bentegodi

Expand

Chievo​

1 : 0
48'

Bologna​

Match Stats | Match Trax

(15') Kevin Constant
Goals

(18') Bostjan Cesar

(19') Andrea Mantovani

(45') Luca Rigoni
Cards Gaby Mudingayi (26')

(46') Nicolas Sebastien Frey

Davide Moscardelli

Substitutions Riccardo Meggiorini (39')

Albin Ekdal

Luigi Ferraris

Expand

Genoa​

0 : 0
50'

Brescia​

Match Stats | Match Trax
Goals

(17') Giandomenico Mesto

(24') Domenico Criscito
Cards Substitutions

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

Today's Games

Today's Games Week 1: 08/28/10 - 08/30/10 Week 2: 09/11/10 - 09/12/10 Week 3: 09/18/10 - 09/19/10 Week 4: 09/22/10 - 09/23/10 Week 5: 09/25/10 - 09/26/10 Week 6: 10/02/10 - 10/03/10 Week 7: 10/16/10 - 10/17/10 Week 8: 10/23/10 - 10/25/10 Week 9: 10/29/10 - 10/31/10 Week 10: 11/06/10 - 11/07/10 Week 11: 11/10/10 - 11/11/10 Week 12: 11/13/10 - 11/14/10 Week 13: 11/20/10 - 11/21/10 Week 14: 11/27/10 - 11/28/10 Week 15: 12/03/10 - 12/08/10 Week 16: 12/11/10 - 12/12/10 Week 17: 12/18/10 - 12/19/10 Week 18: 01/06/11 Week 19: 01/09/11 Week 20: 01/15/11 - 01/16/11 Week 21: 01/19/11 - 02/16/11 Week 22: 01/29/11 - 02/16/11 Week 27: 01/30/11 - 02/28/11 Week 23: 02/01/11 - 02/03/11 Week 24: 02/05/11 - 02/06/11 Week 25: 02/12/11 - 02/13/11 Week 26: 02/19/11 - 02/20/11 Week 28: 03/04/11 - 03/06/11 Week 29: 03/11/11 - 03/13/11 Week 30: 03/19/11 - 03/20/11 Week 31: 04/02/11 - 04/03/11 Week 32: 04/09/11 - 04/10/11 Week 33: 04/16/11 - 04/17/11 Week 34: 04/22/11 - 04/23/11 Week 35: 04/30/11 - 05/02/11 Week 36: 05/07/11 - 05/09/11 Week 37: 05/14/11 - 05/15/11 Week 38: 05/22/11​

Sunday, April 17, 2011​

Week 33​

Artemio Franchi

Expand

Fiorentina​

0 : 0
49'

Juventus​

Match Stats | Match Trax
Goals Cards Substitutions
Via del Mare

Expand

Lecce​

1 : 1
49'

Cagliari​

Match Stats | Match Trax

(49') Djamel Mesbah
Goals Robert Acquafresca (20')

(29') Fabiano

(36') Gustavo
Cards Robert Acquafresca (36')

(35') Gustavo

Stefano Ferrario

(46') Davide Brivio

Carlos Grossmüller

Substitutions
M. Bentegodi

Expand

Chievo​

1 : 0
48'

Bologna​

Match Stats | Match Trax

(15') Kevin Constant
Goals

(18') Bostjan Cesar

(19') Andrea Mantovani

(45') Luca Rigoni
Cards Gaby Mudingayi (26')

(46') Nicolas Sebastien Frey

Davide Moscardelli

Substitutions Riccardo Meggiorini (39')

Albin Ekdal

Luigi Ferraris

Expand

Genoa​

0 : 0
50'

Brescia​

Match Stats | Match Trax
Goals

(17') Giandomenico Mesto

(24') Domenico Criscito
Cards Substitutions

 

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