Mellberg scored his second goal of the season Martin Laursen's 84th-minute winner helped Aston Villa to sixth place in the Premier League after an entertaining match against Tottenham.
Scorers : Martin Laursen, Mellberg
Defoe
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Aston Villa 2-1 Tottenham
Footballer dies of heart failure
A post-mortem examination has found that Motherwell footballer Phil O'Donnell died from heart failure. The 35-year-old collapsed during his team's game on Saturday and was pronounced dead a short time later. Robert Liddle, the club doctor, said: "The post-mortem revealed that Phil had suffered left ventricular failure of the heart." It was also announced that the player's funeral service would take place in Hamilton at noon on Friday. The Requiem Mass, in St Mary's Church, Cadzow Street, will be followed by internment at the nearby Bent Cemetery. At the request of his wife Eileen, the church service will be for family and friends only. Mrs O'Donnell said she had been left "devastated" by her husband's death. We are all devastated by what has happened
Fans tributes to football star
Sudden death screening call
Profile of Phil O'Donnell
Father speaks of shock
Eileen O'Donnell Speaking publicly for the first time since he died, she said her husband had achieved much in football but "the most important thing for him was his family". Mrs O'Donnell, mother of the couple's four children, said: "He would like to be remembered as a family man and we were all so proud of him. "We are all devastated by what has happened. "We hope we will now be given peace and time to grieve but we are overwhelmed by the messages of support we have received." The player collapsed and died as he was substituted during his side's 5-3 defeat of Dundee United at Fir Park on Saturday. Celtic manager Gordon Strachan and Rangers captain Barry Ferguson were among the figures from across the world of football who visited Fir Park to see the tributes.
The Old Firm derby between Rangers and Celtic, O'Donnell's former club, was postponed as a mark of respect for the father-of-four.
Middlesbrough 0-2 Everton
Middlesbrough's poor home form continued as Andrew Johnson and James McFadden struck in the second half to give Everton a battling win.
Listen:
Interview: Everton boss David Moyes
Interview: Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate
Scorers : Andrew Johnson, James McFadden
Fulham 1-2 Chelsea
Roy Hodgson was dealt a cruel blow in his first game in charge of Fulham after Chelsea bounced back from a goal down to win at Craven Cottage.
The home side took the lead when Danny Murphy converted a penalty after Joe Cole carelessly tripped Moritz Volz.
Chelsea equalised after the break when Salomon Kalou nodded in Alex's headed pass from Juliano Belletti's corner.
And Michael Ballack grabbed Chelsea's winner from the spot after he had his shirt pulled by Clint Dempsey.
Interview: Chelsea boss Avram Grant
Interview: Fulham boss Roy Hodgson
Scorers : Danny Murphy
Salomon Kalou, Michael Ballack
Man Utd 1-0 Birmingham
Carlos Tevez scored the only goal as Manchester United secured a narrow victory to stay two points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal.
Scorer : Carlos Tevez
Arsenal 2-0 West Ham
Arsenal comfortably saw off West Ham to maintain their two-point lead at the top of the Premier League table.
Scorers : Eduardo da Silva, Emanuel Adebayor
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Saturday Night Action
West Ham 2 - 1 Man Utd.
Everton 1 - 4 Arsenal
Chelsea 2 - 1 New Castle
Portsmouth 0 - 1 M'boro
Wigan 1 - 2 A.Villa
Tottenham 6 - 4 Reading
Birmingham 1 - 1 Fulham
Sunderland 3 - 1 Bolton
Its raining goals at White Hart Lane
The match of the day came at White Hart Lane as Tottenham recorded an extraordinary 6-4 win over Reading.
Dimitar Berbatov scored four times, the first after only seven minutes.
But the home side were forced to come from behind three times.
First Kalifa Cisse and Ivar Ingimarsson made it 2-1 before Berbatov levelled.
That was the first of seven goals in 20 crazy minutes as Dave Kitson, Berbatov, Kitson again and Steed Malbranque made it 4-4 before a Robbie Keane penalty and Berbatov completed the carnage.
Fabregas & Eduardo take Arsenal to the top
Arsenal went back to the top of the Premier League as manager Arsene Wenger claimed they have learned how to cope with physical sides.
They beat Everton 4-1 at Goodison Park, a ground that had seen them lose four of their previous seven visits, and where they are always given a severe physical examination.
But in a spiteful game that saw Arsenal's Nicklas Bendtner and Everton's Mikel Arteta sent off, the Gunners claimed the three points that take them back above Manchester United, shock losers at West Ham today.
Wenger said: "We battled, we had to. Last season here, Everton played a very physical game and they were very direct. And we lost.
"I can understand that they repeated this tactic. This time we won, but it was very close.
"I was tempted to change the team around at half-time, but I felt the reason we were not winning was that we had become nervous after hearing the Manchester United result.
"But we were playing against a good Everton side who stopped us playing, they did well and it was up to us to get the ball down and be more positive. And to be less nervous because we lost too much possession in the first half.
"After the break we were maybe fortunate to score straight away, 1-1, and that changed the game. From then on we looked dangerous, Everton dropped physically and we were ahead very quickly."
Tim Cahill had stabbed Everton into a deserved lead at the break, but Everton were overcome in spectacular fashion.
Eduardo da Silva struck twice to take Arsenal into the lead, his first goals in the Premier League although he now has nine in 10 games for the Gunners.
Arsenal rubbed it in with goals from substitutes Emmanuel Adebayor and Tomas Rosicky as Everton fell to their first home defeat since mid-October.
Wenger believed his players' character had seen them through.
"The turning point was the fact that we played well with long balls, and we held on when we were down to 10 men and they still had 11," he added.
"They then made that mistake and it killed the game.
"It was hard for Everton because the difference was not as big as 4-1. But they also had a player sent off and it became impossible for them.
"But it was a great result for us, we showed we can battle, we have a great spirit and showed that we can cope with all kinds of challenges - that is always a sign of a very good side."
Everton boss David Moyes maintained that his side were the better team, despite the heavy defeat.
He said: "I could not see that coming at half-time - I couldn't really see it coming well into the second-half either.
"Overall I felt we were the better team, the best team lost. I felt we deserved to win the game and played the best football.
"We passed it better than Arsenal and they scored with humps up the pitch, didn't they.
"It was route-one Arsenal, we couldn't deal with it, and it was not Arsenal-type goals.
"For all the stuff talked about the way they play, it was not their usual type of goals that beat us.
"We cannot hide that we made mistakes for the goals, but I will take some convincing that Arsenal were better than us.
"The scoreline was not a true reflection. I felt that we were always in with a chance of getting it back."
Fergie fires warning to players
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has emphasised the importance of discipline.
Ferguson has notoriously taken a hard line with his players throughout his career and has not been afraid to sell some of the club's biggest stars.
His latest comments come after revelations about the club's Christmas party made front-page headlines.
Ferguson said: "Football has changed but you cannot lose your control. That is why we make changes here at Manchester United when we see anyone interfering with this sense of control.
"When we see this, then it's time for them to go because this club is based on everyone being together.
"When we start going off at tangents you have to assess it - definitely."
He added: "What annoys me about some players today is this personal glory thing.
"They score a goal and then knock players out of the road so they can have their own private, personal gratification and praise from the fans. It's ugly seeing these kind of celebrations.
"These present-day footballers need to be noticed, with their earrings and tattoos. They no longer go to the small Italian restaurants but to the big and bright places."
Edmilson : Barca can still win the league
Edmilson insists the spirit in the Barcelona camp remains positive despite their defeat to Real Madrid before the winter break.
Barca went into Christmas seven points behind their arch-rivals after Julio Baptista's goal handed Bernd Schuster's side a 1-0 win at the Nou Camp on December 23.
Brazilian Edmilson, who is nearing a return after six months out through injury, is optimistic that deficit can be cut in the second half of the season.
He told the club's official website: "For sure the team is a little sad after losing to Real Madrid but now we have to forget about that blow.
"What we have to do is look forward and see that we have all the second half of the season to reduce the lead of the league leaders.
"Despite everything, I see the team in high spirits and eager to return to playing and winning games."
Edmilson could make his long-awaited return in Wednesday's Copa del Rey clash against Alcoyano.
"I feel very good," he added. "I'm happy with how my recovery is going. It's been a very long process, six months, but I preferred to extend the recovery period in order to return fully fit without any niggling problems.
"Now I hope (coach Frank) Rijkaard will give me a few minutes against Alcoyano to gain match fitness."
English trio eye Sergio Asenjo
Manchester United, Liverpool and Everton are vying to sign Real Valladolid goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo, according to reports in Spain.
The Barclays Premier League clubs are understood to have sent scouts to watch the 18-year-old in action, and could now decide to match his buy-out clause of 4.5million euros (£3.3million) to try and sign him in the summer
Valladolid supremo Carlos Suarez is aware that he would be powerless to prevent Asenjo from leaving if an offer of that value comes in.
"We are prepared for any situation and it is not impossible to see that a club may think about paying his buy-out clause," Suarez told AS.
"We want him to stay here because we will do what is best for him. But his value is continuing to grow."
Along with the English trio, Asenjo's agent has revealed that several Spanish sides have also shown an interest in the 'keeper.
Fernando Redondo explained: "More than one Spanish team is very interested in his future with a view to next season.
"But with his buy-out clause standing at €4.5m, they have held off. Sergio is going to stay where he is for now."
Asenjo made his first-team debut for Valladolid in the 2-0 victory over Villarreal earlier this month and his performance in keeping a clean sheet saw him win many plaudits.
Brother rules out Ronaldinho's move
Ronaldinho's brother and manager, Roberto de Assis Moreira, has rejected reports the Barcelona star has been in contact with AC Milan.
The Brazilian striker, who has also been linked to Chelsea in the past, has struggled to make an impact at the Nou Camp this season, prompting speculation he could soon be on his way out of the Primera Liga club.
Milan are one of a number of sides said to be interested in the 2002 World Cup winner, but Assis revealed Ronaldinho has no plans to leave Barca in the immediate future.
"There have been no negotiations with Milan at this moment. There has, on the other hand, been a lot of speculation from the press," Assis said.
"He has a contract with Barcelona until 2010 and that is very important to him. Besides, the club's board has already shown their interest in extending that agreement."
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