The Malaysian Insider :: Sports
The Malaysian Insider :: Sports |
| Shot-shy Chamakh heads Palace to win on Pulis home debut Posted: 03 Dec 2013 02:52 PM PST Chamakh had not found the net since Palace lost to Stoke City on August 24 and had mustered only three shots on goal in 886 minutes of league football this season, but his glancing header in the first half proved decisive at Selhurst Park. Former Stoke boss Pulis, who lost his first game in charge at Norwich City on Saturday, has never been relegated in 21 years as a coach and will have relished seeing his new charges claw themselves off the foot of the table. Palace moved above Sunderland, who play today, to 19th on 10 points, three points behind 15th-placed West Ham, who bossed possession and had a Stewart Downing effort harshly disallowed in the second half for a foul in the build-up. "I was pleased with the result, but as a performance we can do a lot better," Pulis told BT Sport. "It's a great start, and it's very important that we stay as close as we can to the pack, hopefully the (transfer) window opens and we can do some work from there." West Ham dominated play in the first half but mustered only one shot on target, a clever free kick routine that deserved a better finish than it got from captain Kevin Nolan. Mark Noble stood over the ball before flicking it over the wall to Nolan, who swivelled on the spot but could only direct his volley straight at Palace keeper Julian Speroni. The visitors were punished three minutes before the break when Chamakh glanced a header into the far corner. The Moroccan had garnered a meagre return since his move from Arsenal in the close season, but was clinical as he rose unmarked to direct Barry Bannan's curling cross home. Three good chances went begging for Palace just after the break with Jason Puncheon and Cameron Jerome drawing fine saves from West Ham keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen and Kagisho Dikgachoi heading over the bar from a Bannan cross. West Ham did find the net in the second half when Downing rifled home with a left-footed drive from the edge of the area, but the referee's whistle had already blown for a push on Chamakh as the initial centre was flung into the box. Television replays showed the decision was tough on West Ham and that Chamakh himself was fortunate not to give away a penalty as he jostled for position with Joey O'Brien. It was the manner of the goal, however, that most upset West Ham boss Sam Allardyce. "We gave a way the most ridiculous goal I have seen in a long time," he said. "Everybody has a marker, you don't lose your marker but we did and that's lost us a game that effectively we shouldn't have lost." - Reuters, December 4, 2013. |
| Mourinho slyly suggests Manchester City should be doing better with their “unique” squad Posted: 03 Dec 2013 06:19 AM PST Mourinho thinks that there are six contenders to win the championship, but he has warned Manchester United and While the Portuguese insists there are no clear favourites, he feels that the strength of City's squad gives Manuel Pellegrini's side an advantage. "I don't think we can speak about favourites, but we can say that one team is top of the league and some are a bit far, but I keep thinking that all six teams are title contenders," he said. "The team with more responsibilities to win it because their squad is unique is Manchester City." Chelsea sit four points behind Arsenal in second place and two points above third-place City ahead of the mid-week round of fixtures, which sees Mourinho's side visit second-bottom Sunderland on Wednesday. United and Tottenham, however, are well off the pace, trailing Arsenal by nine and 10 points respectively, and Mourinho feels that they are in danger of slipping out of contention. "United are nine points behind Arsenal. It's a gap. Nine points is a gap, Tottenham 10. That's a gap. It's not a gap for us," he said. "For us, we are speaking about four points. That's not a gap. It's something that, in two matches, is over. But nine or 10 points is a gap. "They know that if the next step is to reduce from 10 to seven, nine to six, it's to go again into the race. But if the next move is from 10 to 13, or nine to 12, it becomes hard. "In this moment, some teams like Arsenal are more comfortable because they can slide one match and nothing happens to them. "Some other teams know the next night can be crucial. But the six teams are equal in their potential." The former Real Madrid manager, who also includes Liverpool among the title contenders, added: "There's a lot to play in December. At the beginning of January we can have a look and say if all six are with short distances, or if someone has opened up a real gap. "At this moment until the end of the year, it's a moment not to decide, but to clarify a bit the situation." Chelsea striker Samuel Eto'o is fit again and could return for the trip to the Stadium of Light, but left-back Ashley Cole has been warned he could miss out again as he battles to reclaim his place from Cesar Azpilicueta. Mourinho admits that the England international is being forced to come to terms with an unfamiliar role of understudy. "Any player that normally starts matches, and Ashley has started matches through all his career, when they don't start, naturally they're not the happiest guy in the camp," he said. "He deserves to play, but Azpilicueta is doing well, so it's a question of Ashley working and waiting for his opportunity. He's more than ready to play." With a trip to Stoke City to follow on Saturday, Mourinho added: "He could play in one of these two matches. I think he will. Or if I decide not to, next week against Steaua Bucharest (in the Champions League). "Azpilicueta has played a group of consecutive matches, so sooner or later I'll have to change. So Ashley will play soon." - AFP, December 3, 2013. |
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