THE MALAY MAIL
FRIDAY 3 FEBRUARY 2012 ●
WORLD
47
SPORTS Cisse was bright and brings power and pace and a good finish. That is something we haven’t had in the squad before and will benefit to us. He is going to be vital MARK HUGHES QPR MANAGER
BRIEFS
MANCHESTER | FOOTBALL | ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE
Trouble between the posts Lindegaard scan deepens United keeper crisis ANDERS LINDEGAARD (pic) has been ruled out for four weeks, leaving Manchester United to rely on calamity keeper David De Gea for their crunch period. Lindegaard had a scan yesterday on the ankle he injured on Monday, which revealed the United No 1 has suffered ligament damage. The Denmark international is definitely out of United’s games against Chelsea, Liverpool and Norwich — and is struggling to be ready for Tottenham on March 4. With Lindegaard out, Sir Alex Ferguson will have to turn to De Gea for United’s
crucial next phase in the title race. De Gea also suffered a knock in Monday’s training session, but his problem is much less serious and he could be back to play at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. The young Spaniard was at fault for both Liverpool goals on Saturday and Fergie cannot take him out of the firing line, like he did after his horror show in United’s home defeat to Blackburn on New Year’s Eve. United’s only other options are the inexperienced Ben Amos, who made his Premier League debut against Stoke
yesterday, and outcast Tomasz Kuszczak, who will be shown the door in the summer when his contract expires. Although Amos is the same age as De Gea at 21, his appearance in the 2-0 win over the Potters was only his seventh in his five seasons at Old Trafford. Amos hopes he has shown Ferguson he is ready for more league action after being restricted to just three games in the Carling Cup this season. “I have been waiting a long time for an opportunity this season and thankfully it came,” he said. — Daily Mirror
LONDON
Cisse back with a bang — but not a win
Carroll will roll on after ending goal drought
squad before and will benefit to us. He is going to be vital. “You ideally want new signings to have an under-
standing of the Premier League and the intensity they will face — particularly coming in January. “He understands that clearly, which is why he was able to make the impact he did.” Hughes also gave debuts to Nedum Onuoha and Taye Taiwo a day after he bought Cisse and Bobby Zamora in a bid to score the goals to haul Rangers back up the table. Owner Tan Sri Tony Fernandes’ backing for new manager Hughes in the transfer market paid off after just 12 minutes when Cisse curled in a beauty. QPR doubled their advantage when hapless Villa defender Stephen Warnock headed Taiwo’s cross past his own keeper Shay Given in the 29th minute. — DM
LONDON
Hamann: Title failure would destroy City IS THE strain of trying to keep ahead of a certain 70year-old in the title race beginning to tell on Roberto Mancini? Although Mancini is 23 years Sir Alex Ferguson’s junior, he was the one looking his age on Tuesday after the latest twist in the battle for the Premier League. The Manchester City boss wore a haunted expression in contrast to OAP Fergie,
who appears to be the one relishing the intense pressure of it all. Mancini’s candid admission that he had underestimated Everton leaves a question mark over how he is handling the pressure of going head-to-head with Ferguson. His confession that he had not prepared his players properly to face his bogey side, who had won seven
of their previous nine meetings, almost defies belief. It could just have been a ploy to take the spotlight off his players and make himself the story — one of Jose Mourinho’s favourite tricks. What can’t be denied is that the heat has been turned up on Mancini and former City midfielder Didi Hamann claims the club will be knocked back if they don’t win the league. — DM
LONDON: Wolves captain Roger Johnson has leapt to the defence of under-fire boss Mick McCarthy. McCarthy is battling to save his job after Wolves’ humiliating home defeat to Liverpool which has left them entrenched in the relegation zone. But centrehalf Johnson insists it is the players who should take the blame for their poor run and urged owner Steve Morgan to stick with McCarthy as they prepare for a relegation show-
down at QPR. Johnson said: “We’ve let ourselves down — the players on the pitch are the ones who let the staff and the fans down. “Changing the manager isn’t going to change what the players do on the pitch. Unfortunately, that’s what it’s like in football. “The manager’s head’s on the chopping block. It’s unfortunate. For me and all the lads, the manager needs to stay. We respect the manager massively. — DM
Krul to be kind
LONDON
DJIBRIL CISSE (pic) took just 12 minutes to prove Mark Hughes right — and earn a glowing tribute from his new manager. Cisse had only been signed the previous night from Lazio but went straight into the starting line-up at Villa Park. And almost three years after his last Premier League goal for Sunderland, Cisse fired Rangers into the lead. A delighted Hughes said: “I thought his goal was excellent. Everyone understands why I wanted to bring him to the club. We are delighted with the business we have done. “Cisse was bright and brings power and pace and a good finish. That is something we haven’t had in the
Wolves skipper pleads: Have mercy on Mick
LONDON: It was Krul by name and Krul by nature as Newcastle’s big Dutch keeper grabbed a sneaky win and left David Dunn and Blackburn in despair. Dunn should have celebrated his new contract with his beloved Rovers when he was handed a penalty chance right on half-time, but Tim Krul made a superb save. Alan Pardew’s men came away with their third win over Blackburn this season, but this was the most fortunate as they profited from a cruel mistake and then survived several scares
round Krul’s goal. The Geordies are now up to fifth but Pardew admitted: “We had a bit of fortune in the game and sometimes it can make a difference. “Tim’s whole body language and demeanour on the pitch suggested confidence. It’s no surprise he saved the penalty. He punched, he came out and really took the pressure off too. “It’s incredible to be where we are, but we are also safe which is important to us. Now we can go and let our hair down and see what we can do.” — DM
Spurs still want Rodallega LONDON: Wigan striker Hugo Rodallega is wanted by Tottenham and Fulham at the end of the season. The Colombian was close to agreeing moves with both London clubs this week, with loan switches still being discussed right up to Tuesday night’s deadline. But the proposals came too late, and left Wigan boss Roberto Martinez with no time to find a replacement. Wigan knows Rodallega will leave as a free agent,
but turned down a £4 million bid for him from QPR because they did not want to sell to a survivalfight rival. Both Spurs and Fulham intend to re-ignite their interest in Rodallega when he becomes a free agent in the summer. However, the 25-year-old, who is looking for a lucrative £60,000-aweek contract, is clear to speak to foreign clubs and sign a precontract between now and the end of the season. — DM
Saha: I’ve joined Britain’s most exciting team FITTINGLY, it was exactly one year on. Frustratingly, it has happened all too infrequently. But Andy Carroll (pic) gave a rare glimpse of why Liverpool paid £35 million (RM167.2m) on deadline day last January to make him the most expensive English striker ever. Sadly for Liverpool, his pay-back has been pretty disappointing, his opener at Wolves on Tuesday night was just his fifth Premier League goal since leaving Newcastle. That is a jaw-dropping £7m-a-goal and is the reason why Carroll has an awful lot of work to do to justify his price tag, expectation and get his career back on track for club and country. — DM
LONDON: Louis Saha clocked on for Tottenham’s antiques roadshow claiming: “I’m joining the most dynamic and exciting team in the country.” Deadline-day signing Saha could make his Spurs debut at Liverpool on Monday night after his surprise switch from Everton on an 18-month contract. Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp rarely fails to let a transfer window pass without creating
shock waves - but this time his impact was more about age than expense, 33-year-old Saha joining on a free transfer along with New Zealand captain Ryan Nelsen, 34, from Blackburn. Rovers tore up Nelsen’s contract, making him a free agent, so Redknapp could complete the deal beyond Tuesday’s 11pm deadline, and Spurs were confident of finalising the paperwork last night. — DM
Black Cats devour Canaries LONDON: Fraizer Campbell is showing why Martin O’Neill was right to save his transfer cash in January. The 24-year-old has only played a game and a half since his comeback from injury, but his explosive impact up front has been as sparkling as any multi-million-pound new signing. Campbell’s presence has added verve and panache to Sunderland who last night demol-
ished Norwich to climb to eighth. And to think there were genuine relegation fears when O’Neill took over just under two months ago! This was Sunderland’s sixth win in nine league games under O’Neill. They are unbeaten at home under the Ulsterman, after taking just 11 points in 16 games at home in 2011 under former boss Steve Bruce. — DM