NYHETER: Ex-player/-manager news, Part I

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Manchester United striker Alan Smith still has a future according to manager Sir Alex Ferguson. (Daily Mirror)

Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler will be offered a shock move to America by old team-mate and New England Revolution boss Steve Nicol. (Daily Mirror)

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MARK VIDUKA is finally ready to discuss a new contract with Middlesbrough.

West Ham failed with a January bid for the Aussie striker, 31, while Newcastle and Everton are also admirers.
But Boro hope to hold them off with a three-year deal. Boss Gareth Southgate revealed: “I want to sit down with Mark in the next couple of weeks.
“West Ham was a firm offer but he is aware I want him to stay.”

Kilde: The Sun

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GEOFF HORSFIELD says his year at Sheffield United was a ‘nightmare’.

The on-loan Leicester striker, 33, was only given one game at Blades after joing in a £1.2m deal from West Brom.
Horsfield, who hopes to clinch a permanent Foxes deal, said: “People were wondering where I’d got to at United and I did too! I was in the wilderness.
“It’s been a nightmare. Neil Warnock didn’t like my playing or didn’t want me playing. It is a matter of opinion and I don’t begrudge him.”

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Neil’s silver service

NEIL Aspin took charge of Harrogate Town's key Conference North home match with Alfreton Town last night exactly a quarter of a century after making his Leeds United debut at the age of 16.
Gateshead-born Aspin marked his silver anniversary in football at Wetherby Road having been introduced to the game as a nervous 16-year-old receiving a surprise call-up to face top-flight leaders Ipswich Town back in February 1982.
Aspin, now 41, became a cult hero at his beloved Leeds before being revered for a decade at Port Vale and is now carving out a fine coaching reputation after being awarded the Conference North's Manager of the Month award for January.
Few people can also count Robbie Williams as one of THEIR biggest fans but Aspin is afforded that unique status and unlikely worship due to the megastar's passion for Vale.
Aspin still, however, harbours vivid memories of when his footballing odyssey began.
Then Leeds manager Allan Clarke asked him to report to Elland Road for 12pm instead of travelling to Doncaster for a youth-team fixture.
The unwitting teenage centre-back thought little of the request until, on his arrival, Clarke told him he would be starting against Bobby Robson's men as Leeds were depleted by a series of injuries and suspension.
He just about had enough time to call his father to get a train down from the north-east before he was given his simple brief - keep Alan Brazil off the scoresheet just four days after the Scotland international had scored five times against Southampton.
"It wasn't the best time to be playing against him," Aspin admitted. "But I came out of the game pretty well and didn't embarrass myself.
"Everybody was complimentary about how I had done and from then on it was always going to be easier and I'm really grateful to Allan Clarke that he was prepared to put me in. I'd always supported Leeds and it had been my ambition to play at Elland Road since being little so, with the nerves and adrenalin, the whole experience was a big thrill.
"Even if I'd never played for the club again at least I'd achieved that."
Aspin's commitment during seven years at Leeds was unwavering and he even postponed his wedding when it clashed with the club's 1987 FA Cup semi-final meeting with Coventry City.
He said: "People might say you don't get married every day but, at the same time, you don't get the chance to play in an FA Cup semi-final every day and that's been seen by the fact that Leeds haven't played in one since. My wife understood and we got married two years later instead."
Unfortunately, Leeds did not show the same level of loyalty when Aspin asked his former club to provide the opposition for his testimonial at Port Vale.
Then manager David O'Leary and chairman Peter Ridsdale could not commit to a date or guarantee a strong turn-out of players so Martin O'Neill stepped in instead and brought a competitive Leicester team to Vale Park.
Aspin said: "I had no previous affinity with Martin O'Neill or Leicester but he put out a team at short notice and said he made the gesture because he appreciated players who gave 100 per cent. I was really disappointed with Leeds and I can't say I have the same affection for the club now.
"I was not the greatest of players to have worn a Leeds shirt but I gave my all and would have run through a brick wall for them. I did not earn a great deal of money from the club and they got a transfer fee for me so I thought the least they could do was bring down a team for my testimonial."
Former Take That singer and record-breaking solo artist Williams did fly back to Staffordshire from America to take part in the game and Aspin said: "It was a great honour for me when he did that and I can't speak highly enough of him.
"He loves his football and was buzzing afterwards because he scored a goal and didn't stop ringing me about it for ages. He's a massive star but to all the Port Vale players at the time he was just normal.
"I've been back stage at his concerts and seen what it's like. It's not an easy life.
"You can't go from playing on stage in front of 100,000 people to coming home and having a cup of tea before going to bed. I know he's got a few problems at the moment but people shouldn't judge until they have led that type of life."
Harrogate fans will now be hoping that Williams' anthem, Let Me Entertain You' remains an apt description of his Wetherby Road effort.

Kilde: yorkpress.co.uk/

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Vil ha Fowler til USA

Den tidligere Liverpool-spilleren Steve Nicol har planer om å hente Robbie Fowler til MLS-ligaen.
Robbie Fowlers kontrakt med Liverpool går ut etter sesongen, og det er ventet at spissen ikke blir tilbudt en ny avtale.
Ifølge Daily Mirror står New England Revolution-trener Steve Nicol klar til å hente Fowler til MLS-ligaen i USA.
I MLS er det slik at ligaen sentralt skriver kontrakt med spillerne, og fordeler dem selv på klubbene. Nytt av året er at hver klubb kan kjøpe inn én spiller på egen hånd - en såkalt spesiell spiller. Det var slik LA Galaxy sikret seg David Beckham.
Dermed er det ingen regler som kan forhindre en eventuell overgang for Fowler

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Mye god mat også i Irland....?



Pressman praises Ports display  

Portadown hero Kevin Pressman hailed his team's second-half display in the penalty shootout win over Glentoran in the Irish Cup sixth round replay.
The former Sheffield Wednesday keeper saved Gary Hamilton's spot-kick to complete a superb individual display.

Hele: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/irish/6381879.stm

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Lucic blir kvar Häcken:
Har förlängt kontraktet med ytterligare tre år



Häcken åkte ur allsvenskan.
 Men nu har en av klubbens viktigast spelare förlängt kontraktet inför säsongen i superettan.
 Förre landslagsbacken Teddy Lucic blir kvar i Hisingsklubben i ytterligare tre år.
  ”Teddy Lucic är en viktig profil för BK Häcken. Det är med glädje och stolthet som vi konstaterar att Teddy nu väljer att skriva på ett nytt längre avtal med BK Häcken. BK Häcken gör en offensiv satsning i sin utmaning av övriga Fotbollssverige och även om fjolåret var en stor besvikelse vill vi och Teddy genom det nya kontraktet sända en viktig signal â€" satsningen går vidare!”, skriver Häckens sportchef, Carl Fhager, i ett pressmeddelande.

Skall satsa vidare
33-årige Teddy Lucic har spelat i BK Häcken sedan 2005 och är med sina 86 landskamper en av de stora profilerna i den svenska fotbollen.
 â€BK Häcken är en klubb som jag trivs mycket bra i. Fjolåret var en stor besvikelse för alla men jag och föreningen är överens om att vi skall satsa vidare”, säger Teddy.

Kilde: http://www.aftonbladet.se/vss/sport/story/0,2789,1005973,00.html

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Blackwell's set for new challenge

FORMER Town goalkeeper and coach Kevin Blackwell says he is ready to return to football after a five-month absence.
The 48-year-old, who was at Town during the Neil Warnock days, has been travelling Europe and South America learning new coaching techniques since being sacked by Leeds last September.
Blackwell, who has also coached at Sheffield United, said: "I hope my record speaks for itself.
"I have reached four semi-finals and two finals in the last four years so I must be doing something right."
Blackwell was Warnock's right-hand man at Bramall Lane before becoming head coach at Leeds in 2003.

Kilde: The Huddersfield Daily Examiner

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Blackwell til Swansea??

Kevin Blackwell - Manager Profile

We profile another possible candidate for the manager's job, former Leeds boss Kevin Blackwell.

Kevin Blackwell was a goalkeeper and he started his career as an apprentice at Cambridge United.
He played a lot of his early football under Neil Warnock in the lower leagues for Scarborough and Torquay United.
Blackwell continued to follow Warnock and joined him at Huddersfield Town in 1993. He also took on coaching duties as well as his playing role.
For the 4th time, Blackwell followed Warnock's move, this time to Plymouth Argyle. Despite Warnock's departure, Blackwell remained at the club as assistant manager to Mick Jones.
Jones was then sacked in 1998 which prompted Blackwell's departure.
Warnock was managing Bury at the time, and you guessed it. Blackwell joined him there as a goalkeeper coach and then eventually became assistant manager.
Warnock then moved to his current club Sheffield United in 1999 where Blackwell joined him as his assistant.

MANAGMENT
Blackwell became manager of Championship side Leeds in 2004. With the club's huge debts, he insisted on buying players that were value for money as well as talented.
He looked to be heading Leeds for a play-off place but they ended the season poorly, finishing in mid-table.
For the following season, Blackwell was given funds to buy players and by February 2006, Leeds were in the top 3. But again, they didn't finish the season as well as they should have and they finished in the play-offs, losing in the final to Watford.
This season they began to struggle, as they languise at the bottom of the league, Blackwell was then sacked in September.

Stats:
Leeds: Games: 114 Won: 44 Drawn: 33 Lost: 37
Wins %: 38.6%

Kilde: http://www.swansea.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=52941

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Finaleheatet?

Dean Saunders and Kevin Blackwell will holds talks about taking over at managerless Swansea.

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Boat backs Woody for armband  
Skipper George Boateng hopes Jonathan Woodgate turns his loan move to Boro into a permanent stay and tipped him to be the next captain.
The 31-year-old combative Dutch midfielder has been very impressed by the Middlesbrough-born Real Madrid star's defensive performances since his arrival on a season-long loan last August and he would love to see him stay on at the Riverside. Boateng also claims Woodgate is pushing John Terry and Rio Ferdinand hard for a central defensive role in the England side and feels he would be certain to succeed him as captain at the Riverside when he hangs up his boots or moves on.
Boateng told the Northern Echo: "The guy is top-class and his professionalism is very good. He comes in early to start doing his warm up and looks after himself."
He added: "We would love to sign Woodgate. He could be a huge figure for this area and huge personality for this club.
"I think he would be the perfect captain. I am 31 and he is 27 and I can't go on for another ten years. When I signed I did not think I was going to be the captain because of Gareth, but things change."

Kilde: EatSleepSport

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Fergie: Smith ready to return
Alan Smith has been told he will play an important role for Manchester United this season.
Smith suffered a serious leg injury 12 months ago but returned to action as a late substitute in the UEFA Champions League clash against Benfica in September.
He then played two Carling Cup games before Sir Alex Ferguson admitted his fitness had been misjudged and that he had been rushed back too soon.
But Smith has been training hard over the last few weeks and Ferguson insists he would have no qualms about putting him straight back into the fray.
With United in top form in recent weeks there has been no chance for Smith to make his comeback, but Henrik Larsson is set to return to Sweden on 12th March and Ferguson admits an opportunity should be around the corner.
"Alan will soon be really important to us - he has trained superbly," said the Manchester United manager.
"I gave him a game in the reserves against Liverpool and it showed he needed a game.
"When we put him in midfield in the second half he did really well.
"He is absolutely outstanding in training and is improving all the time.
"I could play him today, no problem at all, but the form of the team at the moment has kept him out."
Kilde: SkySports
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Man Utd boss: We need Smith firing
Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has assured striker Alan Smith he has a future at Old Trafford.
With Henrik Larsson set to return to Sweden on March 12, Fergie has primed Smith for action.
"Alan will soon be really important to us - he has trained superbly," said the Reds boss. "I gave him a game in the reserves against Liverpool and it showed he needed a game. When we put him into midfield in the second half he did really well.
"He is absolutely outstanding in training and is improving all the time. I could play him today, no problem at all.
But the form of the team at the moment has kept him out."
Several Premiership clubs enquired about the 26-year-old in the January transfer window.
Kilde: tribalfootball.com
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Still hope
The Mirror reports that former Leeds star Alan Smith still has a future at Manchester United. Things haven't been easy for Smith after his return from a fracture injury.
Smith got a few chances in the first team just after his return, but things never worked out and he is not on top of the list when Sir Alex picks his first 11.
But Sir Alex has assured the player that he still has a future at the club and that his chance will come. Just before the transfer window opened reports linked Smith with a move to Everton.
The latest rumour links Smith with a chance to get back in action with Leicester City. They could financially manage to pay Smith's vages and at the same time give him a chance to play first team football.
Kilde: Soccervoice.com

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I farta 21/2

CCC:
Derby - Stoke 0-2: 0-2 Dominic Matteo (26).
Matteo startet for Stoke - og ble byttet ut i 63. mins.

PL:
Watford - Wigan 1-1: 1-1 Caleb Folan (40).
Folan startet for Wigan - og ble byttet ut i 55. mins.

Everton - Tottenham 1-1.
Paul Robinson og Robbie Kean hele kampen for Spurs, hvor Aaron Lennon startet og ble byttet ut i 80. mins.

CL:
Barcelona - Liverpool 1-2.
Jermaine Pennent byttet inn for Liverpool i 80 mins.

[Per-Stian]

quote:Originally posted by kjelvi

Watford - Wigan 1-1: 1-1 Caleb Folan (40).
Folan startet for Wigan - og ble byttet ut i 55. mins.

Tenke seg til... Caleb Folan med mål i Premier League[:0]

[Ferre]

quote:Originally posted by Per-Stian

quote:Originally posted by kjelvi

Watford - Wigan 1-1: 1-1 Caleb Folan (40).
Folan startet for Wigan - og ble byttet ut i 55. mins.

Tenke seg til... Caleb Folan med mål i Premier League[:0]

Ja, hvem hadde trodd det?!

-WE'LL BE BACK-

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STEVE CALDWELL can prove old boss Roy Keane wrong after being named Burnley skipper.
Sunderland chief Keane took a swipe at the Scottish international when he stripped him of the Black Cats’ armband in January.
Keane said: “A captain is somebody who trains regularly, plays regularly and isn’t on the treatment table constantly.”
But Clarets boss Steve Cotterill has no doubts about the £200,000 defender. He said: “Steven will be the new captain â€" and he’ll be a good one.”

Kilde: The Sun

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MICHAEL RICKETTS may be available for Preston’s trip to Cardiff tomorrow.
Ricketts was carried off with a shoulder problem in Sunday’s FA Cup tie with Manchester City but has been training this week.

Kilde: The Sun

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RICKETTS COULD MAKE SHOCK RETURN

Preston striker Michael Ricketts is set for an unexpected comeback in Friday night's crucial promotion clash at Cardiff.
The England cap looked sure to miss the game between the Coca-Cola Championship's fourth and seventh-placed sides when he left the field after just 42 minutes of Sunday's FA Cup fifth-round tie against Manchester City with a shoulder injury.
But after a spell of intensive physiotherapy at Deepdale the former Bolton and Leeds forward is back in contention and is set to play at least a bit-part role at Ninian Park.
However, Lilywhites manager Paul Simpson is adamant Ricketts, who is yet to score in seven appearances for North End, will not be rushed back into action unless he is completely ready.
"I am not prepared to take any chances with him," he told the Lancashire Evening Post. "We have got good options in that department.
"Ricko was still very tender on Tuesday, but he has been running. The physios are working on him to get the shoulder moving and the muscles relaxed again.
"It seems to be working so far. But we will leave it until the last possible moment to make a decision.
"We will be training down there (in Cardiff) tomorrow (Friday) morning and we will check out how he is."
Fortunately for Simpson, he is well endowed with striking talent and should Ricketts fail to prove his fitness in time for the match either Danny Dichio - who scored what proved the winner in Tuesday's 2-1 win over Norwich - Patrick Agyemang or Neil Mellor could be called upon to partner David Nugent in attack.
Mellor is yet to start for North End following his summer move from Liverpool, but the 24-year-old's chances were boosted by a midweek hat-trick for the reserves.


Kilde: http://www.football365.com/story/0,17033,8669_1935569,00.html

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SHERIDAN ORDERS SMILES ALL ROUND

Oldham boss John Sheridan has ordered everyone associated with the club to stop feeling depressed ahead of Bournemouth's visit this weekend.

The promotion-chasing Latics have lost their last two games to surrender top spot in League One but Sheridan says that is no reason to panic.
"If we can bounce back with six points from the games against Bournemouth and Blackpool I'll be more than happy," he said.
"That'll take us to nine points from the last five games, and if we replicate that until the end of season we will go up.
"I don't want people getting depressed - we're second in the league and I believe we're the best team in this division and the players should be playing with smiles on their faces."


Kilde: http://www.football365.com/story/0,17033,8920_1935379,00.html

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I farta 22/2

UEFA:
Newcastle - Zulte-Waregem.
James Milner fra start for Newcastle.

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Pearson slams Bridges reports


Hull chairman Adam Pearson has rubbished reports Michael Bridges' moment of madness has cost him his career with the Championship strugglers.
The former Sunderland, Leeds and Newcastle striker, who joined the Tigers from Carlisle last August, was dismissed in Wednesday's reserve game against Rotherham for headbutting an opponent.
His behaviour was branded "unacceptable" by Tigers boss Phil Brown - who will be without the striker for three games - but Pearson dismissed reports it will lead to his exit.
Pearson said: "It's a load of rubbish and whether someone has has some sort of agenda here I don't know.
"Hundreds of players get sent off all the time. Michael will be fined a week's wages but that's it. There's nothing more to it. He's a member of the squad which is trying to help the club stay in the Championship."


Kilde: http://www.teamtalk.com/football/story/0,16368,1786_1937928,00.html

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Marlon the mascot is fan-tastic
AIDY BOOTHROYD could use crocked Marlon King as Watford’s lucky mascot for the rest of the season.
Striker King â€" who is unlikely to play again this term due to a knee injury â€" appeared on the pitch with a microphone to gee up the home fans before Wednesday’s draw with Wigan.
Boss Boothroyd said he intends to use the tactic again as Watford look to cut a seven-point gap separating them from safety.
He said: “I asked him to speak to the other players before the game â€" and he told me about his idea.
“It didn’t quite turn out as he planned, because he wanted all the players to be on the pitch at the time.
“But we are bound by Premiership rules, so it didn’t happen as he had imagined.
“Marlon wanted to do it. He’s still an integral part of what we’re trying to do.
“He wanted to contribute, as he’s injured, and got the fans going because he is that type of person.
“Would I do it again? I will have to have a look at it because I don’t want to pay him extra to be a stadium announcer!”

Kilde: The Sun

[Eriksen55]

viduka med et kunststykke av et mål for boro i dag.. høy klasse på viduka

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mange mål av ex-players i dag


Liverpool - Sheff. U 4-0: 1-0 Robbie Fowler (str. 20), 2-0 Fowler (str. 25).



Boro - Reading 2-1: 1-0 Mark Viduka (7), 2-1 John Oster (87).
Osters første Premiership-mål på 10 år!


Sunderland - Derby 2-1: 2-1 Liam Miller (90).


Scunthorpe - Gillingham 3-1: 3-1 Ian Morris (90).


Torquay - Darlington 0-1: 0-1 Julian Joachim (87).

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Viduka still waiting for Middlesbrough contract offer

Middlesbrough ace Mark Viduka insists he has still to receive an offer of a new deal.
The Australian international's current contract expires in the summer and he has been linked with a free transfer away from The Riverside.
However, Viduka is happy to study any offer from Boro after the club intimated they wanted to keep him.
"There have been indications that the club are going to offer me a new deal, but as yet there have been no offers," Viduka told Sky Sports News.
"My contract finishes at the end of this year."
Viduka insists the speculation over his contract and future is not affecting him.
"It is and it isn't (affecting him)," added Viduka. "I have said to myself whatever happens I am here to the end of the season and I want to do my best for the club and myself."

Kilde: tribalfootball.com

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Newcastle aim to trump Middlesbrough for Woodgate
Newcastle United want to take Jonathan Woodgate back to St James' Park.
The News of the World says Middlesbrough have agreed a deal to sign the centre-back, 27, from Real Madrid at the end of the season when his loan spell at the Riverside expires.
But his old club Newcastle will make a bid to thwart the deal.
Newcastle originally had first refusal on the England ace but decided against taking that option when he returned to England earlier this season.
Toon boss Glenn Roeder was concerned at the player's injury record. But, after impressing in a largely injury-free campaign, Newcastle now fancy him.

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Mark Viduka er den eneste ex-playeren som kom med på SkySports' ukens lag, hvor ogsåJohn Arne Riise var med.

http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=450542&CPID=8&clid=&lid=1490&title=Team+of+the+Weekend

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SkySports spillerpoeng

Hvordan gjorde våre ex-players det i helgens Premiership-runde.

4 --> 10

Charlton - West Ham 4-0:
Scott Carson 7 (Confident when called on)
Jimmy Hasselbaink (innbytter) 7 (Impressed)

Fulham - Man. U 1-2:
Judas Ferdinand 6 (Okay)

Liverpool - Sheff. U 4-0:
Jermaine Pennent 7 (Lively)
Robbie Fowler 8 (Two good penalties)
Rob Hulse 7 (Worked hard)

Boro - Reading 2-1:
Jonathan Woodgate 7 (Strong display)
Mark Viduka 8 (Goal and an assist)
Mike Duberry 6 (Okay debut)
John Oster (innbytter) 7 (Neat finish)





Her er alle kampene med spillerpoeng: http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=450461&CPID=8&clid=&lid=1490&title=Premiership+player+ratings (blir oppdatert etter søndagskampene)

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I farta 25/2

Wigan - Newcastle 1-0.
Caleb Folan hele kampen for Wigan. James Milner innbytter for Newcastle, byttet inn i 62. mins.
Sky's spillerpoeng: Folan 8 (A menace all afternoon), Milner 6 (Worked hard).

Tottenham - Bolton 4-1: 1-0 Robbie Keane (11), 3-0 Keane (22), 3-1 Gary Speed (str.37), 4-1 Aaron Lennon (90).
Paul Robinson og Lennon hele kampen for Spurs. Keane (kaptein) fra start for Spurs, men ble utvist i 35. mins.
Speed hele kampen for Bolton.

(Inswinging corner from right by-line taken left-footed by Speed (Bolton) to centre, resulting in open play. Handball by Keane (Tottenham). Keane dismissed for deliberate handball. Power penalty taken left-footed by Speed (bottom-right of goal), scored.)

Sky's spillerpoeng: Robinson 6 (Sharp), Lennon 8 (Explosive),
Keane 8 (Great cameo) og Speed 7 (Kept going).

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quote:Originally posted by eriksen55

viduka med et kunststykke av et mål for boro i dag.. høy klasse på viduka

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXChHARBSok