Archive | April 13, 2015

David Seaman’s thoughts on Szczesny….

Wojciech Szczesny

Wojciech Szczesny can use his battle with David Ospina for Arsenal’s number one jersey to make himself a better goalkeeper, according to former Gunner David Seaman. “With Wojciech, it must be hard for him now to be number two, coming off the back of a season where he was a regular and had been playing at his best, but it is totally just because he had a couple of bad mistakes and Ospina has gone in and done his stuff,” says Seaman. “It is not just the games which make you play better, it is the training. “The goalkeepers train together, and you see the other guy, you think ‘I want to be better than him’ or ‘I am going to show him how good I am’. That is day to day and is good because it brings the best out of you and tests you, so you become a better goalkeeper.”

QPR condemn missile-throwing fans….

Branislav Ivanovic

Queens Park Rangers say they will ban “indefinitely” any fans who threw missiles during their 1-0 defeat by Chelsea at Loftus Road on Sunday. Coins and plastic bottles were among objects thrown towards the pitch after Cesc Fabregas’s 88th-minute winner. CCTV footage of the incident is being reviewed by the club, who say they will liaise with police. “This is not the kind of behaviour the club condones in any way, shape or form,” a spokesperson said.

Sakho out for up to four weeks….

Mamadou Sakho

Liverpool defender Mamadou Sakho will be out for between three and four weeks with a hamstring injury. The France international will miss tonight’s Premier League match with Newcastle, the FA Cup semi-final with Aston Villa at Wembley on Sunday and league games against West Brom, Hull and QPR. Liverpool are hopeful he could be back for the trip to Chelsea on 10 May. Sakho limped out of the FA Cup quarter-final replay win over Blackburn last Wednesday, and scan results have now revealed the full extent of the injury.

Ivanovic hit by missiles from fans….

A cigarette lighter can clearly be seen striking Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic

As Chelsea’s Cesc Fabregas and his team-mates celebrated his 88th-minute winner against QPR on Sunday, home fans threw coins and plastic bottles from the stands. Defender Branislav Ivanovic grabbed his neck in pain after being hit. “The game was correct in the pitch and correct in the stands,” said Mourinho. “It is not easy in an emotional game.” The Chelsea boss added: “If, at the end of the game, someone threw a pound coin, put it in your pocket. If someone threw a chocolate, eat it. It is no problem. Everybody needs a pound.” QPR manager Chris Ramsey did condemn those involved in the incident, claiming rivalries can “sometimes go too far”. He said: “We don’t want objects thrown on the pitch. “I don’t know what happened and I didn’t see it, but if that’s the case [that objects were thrown] we don’t want those people back in the club.” The 1-0 victory took Chelsea seven points clear of second-placed Arsenal at the top of the Premier League, with a game in hand. The English FA will contact QPR about the incidence.

Tennis Star Andy Murray weds….

The quaint town of Dunblane, Scotland, has been set abuzz by the wedding of tennis legend Andy Murray to his long-term girlfriend, Kim Sears. Saturday’s event — dubbed “the royal wedding of Scotland” — took place at Dunblane Cathedral, with cheering crowds spilling onto the streets to support their home-grown talent. The couple met at the U.S. Open in 2005 and got engaged in November last year. But any plans for a honeymoon have been put on hold as the world number three returns to tournament action next week.

Nigeria Soccer Teams qualify for 2015 All Africa Games….

Nigeria has qualified for both the Male and Female categories of the football event at the 2015 All Africa Games coming up in September in Brazzaville, Congo. The female team, The Super Falcons defeated their Malian counterparts 8 – 0 in the second leg match played in Abuja after in first leg ended 1 – 1 in Mali and thus qualified by 9 – 1 aggregate scoreline. Desire Oparanozie, Asisat Oshoala and Francesca Ordega all scored a brace each while Evelyn Nwabuoku and substitute Esther Sunday notched one each to make the fixture a walk in the park for the African champions.

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English Premier League results….

Saturday 11 April 2015:

Swansea 1 – 1 Everton

Southampton 2 – 0 Hull

Sunderland 1 – 4 Crystal Palace

Tottenham 0 – 1 Aston Villa

West Brom 2 – 3 Leicester

West Ham 1 – 1 Stoke

Burnley 0 – 1 Arsenal

Sunday 12 April 2015:

QPR 0 – 1 Chelsea

Man Utd 4 – 2 Man City

Monday 13 April 2015:

Liverpool 2 – 0 Newcastle