Hammers’ horror show

World Cup 2010 dates set

—– The five British teams are all through to the last 16 of the Champions League.
Following Chelsea and Liverpool’s lead, Manchester United and Arsenal’s progress also means that all four Premiership teams finish top of their group table.
United have an early scare against Benfica but comeback to beat their old foes 3-1 at Old Trafford.
Also in Group F, Celtic - who had already qualified - lose 1-3 at FC Copenhagen.
A draw suits both Arsenal and FC Porto in Portugal so, not entirely surprisingly, it finishes goalless.

—– West Ham United manager Alan Pardew admits the euphoria created by their new owners is over after a woeful 0-2 home defeat to Wigan Athletic as the Hammers slip back in to the bottom three.
A splendid opener from David Cotterill sees the Latics youngster live up to his middle names of George and Best.
Newcastle United move out of the bottom three but have to come from behind to beat Reading 3-2 at St James’ Park.

—– A date for your diary - FIFA reveal that the 2010 World Cup finals matches in South Africa will be played between 11 June and 11 July.
The number of qualifying places remains unchanged so five African teams plus South Africa secure a place in the tournament.
There will be places for 13 European countries, five Asian and Oceania teams, and a total of eight for South America and the Central American region.
The bidding process for the 2014 World Cup to be played in South America is also officially opened.

El Karkouri boosts Addicks

Boston future in doubt

—– Having already qualified for the knockout stages, Chelsea and Liverpool both finish top of their Champions League group.
Chelsea ease to a 2-0 win against Group A wooden-spoonists Levski Sofia while Liverpool lose 2-3 at Galatasaray.

—– On the 14th anniversary of the club’s return to The Valley, Charlton Athletic move off the bottom of the Premiership. Talal El Karkouri’s last-gasp free-kick seals a crucial and deserved win over Blackburn Rovers. Following his first win as manager, Les Reed says: “The home games are important. I have said for the last few weeks that if we win our home games, we will get out of trouble and we had to start tonight.”
Robbie Keane’s late strike completes Tottenham Hotspur’s 2-1 against Middlesbrough at White Hart Lane. The game ends 10-a-side after Spurs’ Didier Zokora and Boro’s George Boateng clash.

—– League One leaders Nottingham Forest suffer their third league defeat of the season as they go down 0-2 at struggling AFC Bournemouth.
Second-in-the-table Scunthorpe United are held to a 1-1 draw by Tranmere Rovers at Glanford Park so they are joined on 36 points by Bristol City who beat Carlisle United 1-0 at Ashton Gate.
Managerless Brentford’s woes continue as they slump 0-4 at home to improving Doncaster Rovers.

—– At last! It’s taken them 20 games but Macclesfield Town record their first league victory of the season. Paul Ince’s team beat Rochdale 1-0 at Moss Rose despite having Alan Navarro sent-off after 38 minutes.
Walsall are nine points clear at the top after they come from behind to win 2-1 at Bury.
Lincoln City move back up to second after beating Bristol Rovers 1-0 at Sincil Bank.

—– The future of Boston United is plunged in to severe doubt after plans for a new stadium are rejected by the local borough council.
It was hoped the relocation project would pay off a £900,000 debt owed to the Inland Revenue.
Boston Borough Council have concerns that the development would not go ahead.
Pilgrims chairman Jim Rodwell says he cannot guarantee that Boston would have a football club in the Football League by the end of the month.

Watford make a point

Hull sack Parkinson

—– Liverpool reveal they have given Dubai International Capital (DIC) permission to carry out a complete study of the club’s financial records ahead of a possible £450million takeover bid.
DIC is an investment arm of Dubai Holding which is owned by Dubai Crown Prince and United Arab Emirates Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
Sheikh Mohammed is the world’s fifth richest man with an estimated personal wealth of $10 billion.
In the world of sport, the Al Maktoum family is known internationally for its running of the Godolphin horse racing stables.
The proposed deal is expected to include £200million to build a new 60,000-capacity stadium on Stanley Park.
Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry confirms: “This is the latest step on the road of finding the long-term investment that the club needs.”
Although the news is bound to be welcomed by Reds supporters, the takeover talk will concern those worried about the increasing number of Premiership clubs currently in the possession of foreign owners.
Manchester United, Chelsea, Portsmouth, West Ham United and Aston Villa have all been taken over by non-British owners in their recent history.

—– Watford gain another vital point as they hold out for a goalless draw at Manchester City.
Although left frustrated by their rugged approach, City boss Stuart Pearce praises the visitors gutsy efforts: “It was like a game in the 70’s and 80’s - it was my old non-league days.
“The only thing I was disappointed with is that my old legs ain’t up to it. I would have loved to been involved with that tonight.”
City have a late penalty appeal turned down by referee Mark Clattenburg but, to his immense credit, the former England international refuses to jump on the officials bandwagon: “My coaches tell me it wasn’t a penalty, so the referee got it spot on. Well done the referee.
“I’m the first to say ‘this was a foul or that was a foul’, but when it’s not, I’m the first to say to them ‘You got that one right, well done’.”

—– After less than six months in charge at the KC Stadium, Hull City ‘part company’ with manager Phil Parkinson three days after his 39th birthday.
Having guided Colchester United to promotion, the former Reading midfielder was appointed following Peter Taylor’s departure to Crystal Palace in the summer at a cost of £400,000 in compensation.
However, despite having spent more than £2million in the transfer market, the Tigers are currently one place off the bottom of the Championship.
In the last week, they lost 1-5 at Colchester and 2-4 at home to Southampton (Parkinson’s first club).
Chairman Adam Pearson has continually backed the young boss and still believes he has a bright future: “I would like to wish Phil all the very best for his future managerial career where he is sure to go on and achieve significant future success in the game.”
First team coach Phil Brown and assistant manager Colin Murphy are placed in temporary charge but a permanent replacement is expected to be named before Saturday’s visit to Plymouth Argyle.

—– BT - UK telecommunications company - announces a deal with Irish sports broadcaster Setanta that will allow them to broadcast live Premiership football matches.
Setanta has rights for 46 Premiership matches for the 2007-08 season.
BT have officially launched its new Vision television service and they aim to compete against market leader BSkyB which owns the rights to the other Premiership matches.
BT say it will be looking to attract customers that did not want to pay a monthly subscription but wanted more services than were available through a simple Freeview box and package.

Salisbury hold Forest

It’s Twaddle for Rangers

—– West Ham United’s travel problems continue as they remain without an away goal in the Premiership for three months following a 0-2 defeat at Everton.
In windy conditions at Goodison Park, Everton go ahead early in the second half through a Leon Osman volley.
In stoppage time, youngster James Vaughan drills home a low shot for the second.
Everton move to within a point of a Champions League place while the defeat leaves West Ham a point ahead of the bottom three.

—– In a game steeped in the romance of the FA Cup, Salisbury City of the Conference South (and managed by Nick Holmes who was in Southampton’s FA Cup Final winning team in 1976) hold former European Cup winners Nottingham Forest to a 1-1 draw in front of a record 3,100 crowd at their Ronald McEnhill Stadium.
Local boy Matt Tubbs is the hero with a second-half equaliser.
In the day’s other tie, Phil Jevons hits a first-half hat-trick as Bristol City sneak past Gillingham (4-3) at Ashton Gate.

—– In atrocious weather conditions, a new storm hits Rangers season as they lose a league game against Falkirk for the first time in 35 years.
Marc Twaddle heads the only goal after 26 minutes at the Falkirk Stadium.
It leaves Rangers in second place in the SPL but 16 points behind leaders Celtic.
The win eases Falkirk’s relegations worries, the delight of head coach John Hughes: “I’m so proud of them. I thought it was a great game and there was lots of goalmouth action.”

Liverpool end away drought

Blues on top

—– Manchester United take full advantage of Chelsea being inactive this weekend by extending their lead at the top of the Premiership to six points.
United win 2-1 at Middlesbrough but only before Cristiano Ronaldo clearly appears to dive to earn their opening goal via a penalty.
Manager Sir Alex Ferguson turns down the opportunity to condemn his player’s actions: “Schwarzer [the Boro keeper] is trying to avoid it, but would Ronaldo have scored? I think he would, but anyway it was a penalty kick.”
That’s alright then.
Arsenal move up to third with a 3-0 win in Tottenham Hotspur’s first visit to the Emirates Stadium.
It’s not a particularly joyous occasion though as, not only do the Gunners remain 16 points behind the leaders, but rumours persist about a fall-out between manager Arsene Wenger and captain Thierry Henry.
Reports claim Henry stormed out of training yesterday after being told he would not play against Spurs.
The length of his absence is mysteriously unconfirmed as Wenger coldly comments: “We will have to sit down with the medical staff and see if Thierry needs a rest or not, and for how long.”
Liverpool end their miserable away form – without a Premiership away goal since the opening day of the season – in emphatic style with a 4-0 win at Wigan Athletic. All four goals come in the first half.
In the day’s big relegation tussle, Sheffield United celebrate manager Neil Warnock’s seven years in charge with a vital 2-1 win against bottom-of-the-table Charlton Athletic at Bramall Lane. Furthermore, Keith Gillespie’s spectacular late winner lifts the Blades out of the bottom three.

—– Birmingham City go to the top of the Championship with a 3-0 win against Plymouth Argyle at St Andrews. Blues have now won seven of their last nine league games.
The morning’s leaders Preston North End slip up with a 0-2 defeat at out-of-form Luton Town.
Early term leaders Cardiff City have now gone four games without a goal following a 0-0 draw with Colchester United at Ninian Park.
In the key relegation battle, Leeds United and Barnsley draw 2-2 at Elland Road while the pressure increases on Hull City boss Phil Parkinson after a 2-4 home defeat by Southampton.

—– After the day’s FA Cup ties, Tamworth are the only non-league club definitely through to the Third Round. The Lambs come out on top (2-1) of the all-Conference clash at Rushden & Diamonds.
Two League Two clubs win at League One promotion candidates – Wrexham 2-0 at Scunthorpe United and Peterborough United 2-1 at Tranmere Rovers.

Larsson to join United

Oldham and Stockport reach Round Three

—– West Bromwich Albion midfielder Ronnie Wallwork is stabbed several times in an incident at a bar in Manchester.
The former Manchester United player who is currently on loan at Barnsley suffers stab wounds to his hand, stomach and back.
Greater Manchester Police say they do not believe the attack was random.
The 29 year-old is reported to be in a stable condition and his injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.

—– A month ahead of the transfer window re-opening in January, Manchester United announce that they will be signing veteran striker Henrik Larsson on a three-month loan deal.
The 35-year-old former Celtic striker will leave current club Helsingborg on 1 January and will return on 12 March in time for the start of the season in Sweden.
The move comes totally out of the blue, much to the delight of United manager Sir Alex Ferguson: “He is a great player. It is a terrific bit of business for us. We are bringing someone in who can change a game.”

—– Oldham Athletic (2-0 at King’s Lynn) and Stockport County (2-1 against Wycombe Wanderers at Edgeley Park) reach the Third Round of the FA Cup.
In the night’s other Second Round tie, 2004 Finalists Millwall draw 0-0 at 1911 winners Bradford City.