Issue 11, 24th January 1996: SPORTING ROUNDUP

By Charles Hirst.

Liverpool Thrash Leeds(22/01/96)
Penalties Shoot Out Newcastle(18/01/96)

Liverpool Thrash Leeds(22/01/96)

Liverpool took Leeds to the cleaners, banging five goals past them, as the Yorkshire team crumbled after being reduced to ten men. Robbie Fowler and Neil Ruddock both struck twice, with Stan Collymore contributing with a twenty yard effort.

The first half showed little signs of the goal gluts that was to come. Leeds looked happy to play a containing role, playing with Lee Chapman stranded up front. Meanwhile Brian Deane was reduced to an onlooker, unable to get a place in the stating line up.

Liverpool edged the opening contest, and probably deserved their first goal. McAteer forced Carlton Palmer into an error and from the resulting corner, Neil Ruddock came steaming in to power a close range header past the hapless Beeney. It was not going to be a good day for the Leeds keeper.

Leeds responded well, and looked the sharper of the two sides before the break. McAllister and Speed both forced good saves from David James.

After the interval, Liverpool again began to look dangerous, with Rob Jones and McManaman conecting well down the left flank. Jones made a deep run into the Leeds area and was clumsily pushed off the ball by Wetherall. It looked a penalty, but the ref turned down the appeal. The incident was an omen however for Leeds, as Jones again burst through into the area. This time however, Garry Kelly brought down the Liverpool full back, and the ref gave Keely his marching orders. Worse was to come for Leeds, as Fowler put away the penalty kick.

Reduced to ten men, two goals down, away at Anfield, Leeds were indeed in an unfortunate sittuation, and Liverpool weren't about to let them off lightly either.

Collymore chose to go it alone down the left flank, eventually centering to the unmarked Fowler, who slid in at the back post to make it 3-0. Collymore has of late been both goal scorer and provider in the way that Roy Evans had indicated he needed to be to regularly make the first team. After a dissapointing start to the season, Collymore seems to have converted his talents well into an all round team performer.

Collymore showed the other side to his game in the 89th minute, the side that he always had. He accepted the ball from Fowler, twenty yards out, set his sights and blasted it past Beeney. The stricken keeper could only help it on its way, even though it was hit straight at him.

Not content with four goals, Ruddock finished the scoring that he had started, planting a left foot volley into the back of the net, after Liverpool had won a corner.

Sitting amongst the ecstatic crowd was the England coach, Terry Venables. He was swift to add to Fowler and Collymore to his England squad, involved only in a training session this week.

Penalties Shoot Out Newcastle(18/01/96)

FA Cup 3rd Round Replay
Newcastle 2 Chelsea 2
Chelsea win 4-2 in penalties

After 210 minutes of football, the only way to seperate these two great clubs, was via a dramatic penalty shoot out. Before it came to this however Chelsea had had to achieve what no other club has managed this season, prevent Newcastle from winning at St James' Park.

Chelsea were desperately unlucky not to have won this contest in the first leg, but for a late Ferdinand equaliser. The prospects looked bleak for them as they had to travel to Newcastle and penetrate their fortress at St James' Park.

This looked an unlikely prospect, especially as Albert had put the home team ahead in the 41st minute. The goal came from a free kick in a central position, just outside the area. Albert's shot took a wicked deflection off Wise, leaving Hintchcock no chance to reach the ball.

Up until then Chelsea had produced as many chances as Newcastle, but they didn't allow the Newcastle goal to rattle them. The experienced heads of Wise, Gullit and Hughes, kept the Chelsea team together. Ginola came close to making it two for Newcaslte, with a fierce drive, after Beardsley had laid the ball into the Frenchman's path.

Chelsea's equaliser came from a messy incident. Darren Peacock brought down Spencer as he burst through into the Newcastle area. There was no question about the penalty decision, but to the crowds distress, Peacock was sent off, having already received a yellow card for dissent.

Wise stepped up to stroke the spot kick away and suddenly it looked as if Chelsea would have all the momentum. However, the Magpies responded well and were themselves awarded a penalty, in rather more dubious circumstances, when Kiston went down under pressure from David Lee.

Beardsley, playing on the eve of his 35th birthday made no mistake with the penalty, to put Newcastle back in front. Chelsea piled the pressure back on, and got their reward in the 88th minute, when Gullit poked in a John Spencer cross to take the game into extra time.

The extended period of play proved fruitless for both teams, but a result had to come. Penalty shoot out was the only way to sperate these two great footballing forces and it was always going to be cruel to one team.

The unlikely sinner was Beardsley, who crashed Newcastle's first effort against the bar, followed by Watson who was denied by Hitchcock. Lee, Wise, Gavin Peacock and Newton all converted for Chelsea, to give them a 4-2 victory in the shoot out. At the end of the two games that it took to get the result, it was probably justice for Chelsea, who have earned an away trip to QPR in the 4th round.

FA Carling Premiership

Sunday 21st January

Aston Villa 2 Tottenham 1

Saturday 20th January

Arsenal 1 Everton 2
Blackburn 3 Sheff Wed 0
Chelsea 1 Notts Forest 0
Liverpool 5 Leeds 0
Man City 1 Coventry 0
Newcastle 2 Bolton 1
Southampton 2 Middlesbrough 1
Wimbledon 2 QPR 1

FA Cup 3rd Round Replays

Wednesday 17th January

Man City 5 Leicester 0
Newcastle 2 Chelsea 2
Notts Forest 2 Stoke 2
Sheff Utd 1 Arsenal 0
Stockport 2 Everton 3
Tottenham 5 Hereford 1
Wimledon 1 Watford 0
Wolves 2 Birmingham 0
Tuesday 16th January

Blackburn 0 Ipswich 1
Oxford Utd 1 Milwall 0
Port Vale 4 Crystal Palace 3
Shrewsbury 2 Fulham 1
Sunderland 1 Man Utd 2

FA Carling Premiership League Table

                P    W    D    L    F    A    W    D    L    F    A    Pts
Newcastle       23   12   0    0    28   6    5    3    3    17   13   54
Liverpool       23   9    2    1    32   8    3    4    4    14   13   42
Man Utd         23   8    4    0    24   9    4    2    5    17   18   42
Tottenham       24   6    3    3    17   12   5    5    2    16   12   41
Aston Villa     22   6    3    1    16   7    5    3    4    13   9    39
Blackburn       24   10   1    1    32   8    1    4    7    5    18   38
Arsenal         24   6    4    2    20   12   4    3    5    12   12   37
Nottm Forest    23   7    4    0    19   8    2    6    4    14   24   37
Everton         24   6    3    3    21   12   4    3    5    15   14   36
Chelsea         24   5    5    2    15   12   4    4    4    10   13   36
Leeds           23   7    2    3    16   10   3    3    5    14   22   35
Middlesbrough   24   7    2    3    20   12   2    4    6    6    14   33
Sheff Wed       23   4    4    4    21   19   2    4    5    12   17   26
Wimbledon       24   3    4    5    17   20   3    2    7    16   26   25
West Ham        21   3    3    3    10   13   3    2    7    12   16   23
Southampton     23   4    4    3    11   10   1    4    7    11   23   23
Coventry        23   3    4    5    16   17   1    4    6    13   28   20
Man City        23   4    4    4    8    9    1    1    9    5    24   20
QPR             24   3    3    6    12   19   2    0    10   6    17   18
Bolton          24   3    3    6    9    16   0    1    11   14   30   13

FA Carling Premiership Leading Goalscorers

                          L    F    C    E    O    T
Shearer (Blackburn)       21   0    5    1    0    27
Fowler (Liverpool)        20   1    2    0    0    23
Ferdinand (Newcastle)     19   1    3    0    0    23
Sheringham (Tottenham)    14   3    3    0    0    20
Wright (Arsenal)          11   1    7    0    0    19
Yeboah (Leeds)            10   1    1    3    0    15
Armstrong (Tottenham)     8    0    5    0    0    13
Dublin (Coventry)         12   0    0    0    0    12
Hirst (Sheff Wed)         11   0    1    0    0    12
Holdsworth (Wimbledon)    8    0    4    0    0    12
Scholes (Man Utd)         8    0    2    1    0    11
Stuart (Everton)          7    2    1    1    0    11
M Bright (Sheff Wed)      7    0    3    0    0    10
Yorke (Aston Villa)       7    0    3    0    0    10

L=League, F=FA Cup, C=Coca Cola Cup,
E=European, O=Other, T=Total.

Latest News

Asprilla For Newcastle(24/01/96)

Newcastle United are reported to be close to closing a deal with Parma, for the Colombian striker Faustino Asprilla. The deal is said to be around 6.7 million, and would bring yet another big name to St James' Park.

Kevin Keegan has itterated that he is not happy with the depth of his squad and is eager to bring fresh faces in. It is ubderstood that Newcastle and UEFA Cup holders, Parma, have agreed on the price and that the deal is now subject to personal terms.

Also on Keegan's hit list is Blackburn's David Batty, Chris Waddle of Sheff Wed and Lazio's Alen Boskic. The Asprilla deal will take Keegan's spending to 23 million since the summer. The price tag is likely to be picked up by the fans, with yet more raises to seat prices.

King Kenny Says No To Ireland Job(24/01/96)

Kenny Daglish the Blackburn supremo, has turned down a chance to take on the reins of manager of Ireland. The job left vacant after Jack Charlton's recent departure had amounted some speculation over Daglish's interests.

Interviews for the position are being held today (24/01/96), but Daglish has turned down the chance to be considered. Candidates include Mick McArthy the Milwall boss, Dave Beasant ex Sheff Utd boss, and Wimbledon boss Joe Kinnear.

McArthy is the likely choice, with international experience behind him, having won 57 caps for Ireland. There are rumours that Daglish turned down the Irish job in anticipation of being offered the England position.

Fowler and Collymore Earn England Call Up(22/01/96)

The Liverpool strike partners, Robbie Fowler and Stan Collymore have forced their way into the England set up after inspiring a devastating 5-0 thrashing of Leeds Utd.

Terry Venables sat watching the impressive display from the stands at Anfield and gave the deadly duo a call up within hours of the performance. The squad meets this week for a training session at Bisham Abbey, instead of an International that could not be scheduled.

David Platt has withdrawn from the session with a knee injury, placing serious doubts on his chances of making the England team for Euro '96.

Arsenal in the Buying Mood(22/01/96)

Bruce Rioch is searching the continent for new talent, in an effort to give new life to his ailing Arsenal team. Rioch who spent 12 million at the start of the season on the combined talents of Denis Bergkamp and David Platt, is now in the hunt to recruit new players.

It is believed that the Aresnal boss has handed his directors a short list of four players that he is interested in. Speculation over the possible players involved has included, Paul Ince, Roberto Carlos (both of Inter Milan), Tim Sherwood (Blackburn), Lee Bowyer (Charlton) and Alan Stubbs (Bolton).

There has also been a rumour in the Italian press involving Gianluigi Lentini, AC Milan's record signing at 13 million from Torino. The Italian striker is presently out of favour with Milan's coach Fabio Capello, and has expressed interest in a move to the Gunners.

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Battle of Kickers Ends in English Defeat

France 15 England 12

France squeezed out a victory over England, in a see-saw match that was fought with an intense physical edge. England were left to rue their missed early chances, as Pual Grayson kicked two attempts wide of the uprights.

The half back pairing of Grayson and Matt Dawson, looked impressive, with the later making spritely runs off the back of the scrums and planting clever kicks into the French territory.

The first half belonged to England, who lead by an impressive forward display, had forged out a 6-3 lead at half time. Underwood had come close to scoring, after a break through midfield set up by Carling. The Englang captain had stepped inside, cutting across the French defence and in doing so wrong footing them. Underwood carried the charge on and with one man to beat fed the ball to Mike Catt, who knocked on. It would have been a marvelous try, and a match winner, but it was not to be.

After the break the French came tearing back at England, making up for their slow start. A drop gaol and a penalty from Lacroix saw the Frewnch take the lead, but after 65 minutes, Grayson leveled the score, agin from the boot.

The scoreline remained fixed, even though the French had now started to dominate possesion, until the last five minutes.

Lacroix hit another penalty over, from all of fifty metres, but again Grayson hit back, this time with a forty metre drop goal effort. At 12-12 and with the clock ticking, a draw was getting closer and closer. This would have set up the resrt of the Five Nations for an intriguing contest. But in the last minute, France pushed forward for one final effort. Perie set up a ruck deep inside England's 22 metre line, and fed Carbonneau, who in turn found Castaignede who hit a low drop goal between the posts to win the match for France.

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Cricket

Australians Under Death Threat From Sri Lankans

Hysterical conditions are clouding the Sri Lankan tour of Australia. Arriving in the wake off allegations of bribary against Pakistan's captain Salim Malik by Australian team members, Warne, May and Mark Waugh, the Sri Lankans have seen their own relations dissolve into continuous mud slinging and on pitch confrontations.

Sri Lanka are a relatively new team to the fold of full Test Cricket, and they have hardly been given an easy ride by their hosts. Tempers have been flairing on and off the field with accusations of ball "chucking" leveled against the young off spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, that may see the end of his test career.

Both sides have reacted strongly against the other, where cordial peacemaking would have been much better placed. The highlight of the turmoil has seen Warne and MacDermont receive death threats warning them off appearing in Sri Lanka for the World Cup, set for March/Febuary.

This ridiculous affair once resolved will perhaps enlighten the cricketing world that aggressive bludgeoning of the opposition, both on and off the field of play, is not the spirit that the World game should be played in.

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Motor Racing

Hakkinen Returns to Training(18/01/96)

Mika Hakkinen the Finnish Formula One dirver, has recovered from the fractured skull that he sustained in a practice run for the Australian Grand Prix last season. Hakkinen has now begun training in preperation for the start of the new season after being declared fit be the Formula One medical unit.

Schummacher has had problems test driving the new Ferrari, culminating in a crash in recent testing that left him unhurt. A new multiple choice examination paper may have to be completed by drivers for the 1997 season. The questions will relate to safety aspects and any driver failing will be forced to resit.

Jackie Stewart to Lead New F1 Team(3/1/96)

Jackie Stewart is expected to announce that he is to lead a new Ford based team on the F1 circuit for the 1997 season.

Stewart will be the leading figure behind his son's Milton Keynes based team, Pual Stewart Racing, which will be making the step up from Formula 3000.

Stewart's connections with the buisiness world assure that the team will not lack financial support. It will bring another top British team to the F1 circuit, which is already dominated by British manufacturers.

Others

Britain's Hockey Team Left With Plenty To Do

Great Britain will clash with Spain today(24/01/96) and Holland tomorrow in their Olympic qualifying contest. David Whitaker, the British coach has set a target of two points fromthe two games, in order for the team to progress.

With those points in the bag against two of the strongest teams competing, Britain would be in a good position to get amongst the top teams if they go on to beat Belgium and Malaysia.

five of the eight teams competing will book a place in the Olympics, but Belgium and Belurus are both still without any points after three games, are virtually aalready out of it.

Rusedski Bows out to Boris

Greg Rusedski, Britain's top ranked tennis player, was knocked out of the first round of the Australian Open by Boris Becker. Rusedski was slightly unfortunate to be drawn against the seeded player so early in the competition, but he still gave a good account of himself.

The first set went to Becker,6-3 after Rusedski had made too many unforced errors. However the Brit fought back to take the next two sets, leaving Becker in a frustrated and irritated mood. It is in this sort of position though that Becker is at his most dangerous. The German rallied himself, adjusted his mentality and turned the game to his favor, eventually winning in five sets, 6-3,3-6,4-6,6-3,6-3.

The crunch point came in the fourth set when Becker escaped two break points in the third game. It seemed that Becker suddenly focused on the game at this point, and the 1991 champion went on to steal victory. It was a noble effort indeed though from the young Brit.

Top Sporting Links Around the WWW

CarlingNet- the official FA Carling Premiership site.
Soccer Virtual Library: has links to every football page on the web.
Coopers & Lybrand Ratings of Test Cricketers
Formula One Grand Prix Page
1996 Olympics Home Page
WWW Rugby Server
The Electronic Telegraph

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