Premier League: Tottenham held off a spirited Swansea fightback to win 2-1

Saturday 30th March 2013 17:05

Tottenham held off a spirited Swansea fightback to secure a vital 2-1 victory at the Liberty Stadium, which kept them on course for a top-four finish.

Sublime goals from Jan Vertonghen and Gareth Bale put Spurs in pole position to get back to winning ways after back-to-back league defeats.

However, the home side rallied in the second half and got themselves back in it thanks to Michu, who headed his 11th home league goal of the season to ensure a nervy end to the game for the travelling Spurs faithful.

The visitors managed to hang on though and moved up to third thanks to results elsewhere, whilst the Swans remain comfortable in ninth.

It did not take long for Spurs get into their stride, and the in-form Bale turned provider for a change, lofting a sublime pass on the turn into the path of the onrushing Vertonghen, who plucked the ball out of the air and prodded a shot past Michel Vorm.

With only one clean sheet in the last nine Premier League games, Spurs boss Andre Villas-Boas will not have been sitting comfortably, but just 15 minutes later the same two players combined to devastating effect to double the visitors' lead.

Vorm's poor clearance found its way to Vertonghen, who carried the ball forward, drilled a pass into the feet of Bale and he took one touch before lashing an unstoppable shot past the helpless Swansea keeper.

Michael Laudrup needed a response from Swansea, and the shell-shocked home side upped their game and started to create more opportunities, the best of which was wasted by Nathan Dyer, who could only head Dwight Tiendalli's pinpoint centre onto the underside of the bar from close range.

The home side continued to increase their intensity in the second period, and looked much more of a threat going forward.

A quickly taken free-kick caught Spurs sleeping, but Brad Friedel reacted well to smother Michu's prod towards goal.

The Swans' pressure did eventually tell on 71 minutes as Michu outjumped a flat-footed Michael Dawson to head a right-wing corner into the bottom corner.

Bale did almost make it three, clipping the bottom of the post after a mazy run, but arguably his most important contribution was a last-ditch block in injury-time to thwart Dyer when he looked odds-on to net a dramatic equaliser.

Speaking after the game, Villas-Boas was pleased to see Spurs pick up some momentum in the pursuit of Champions League qualification following recent defeats by Liverpool and Fulham.

"It was an important victory after back-to-back defeats," he said. "We cannot expect to dominate away from home, but we had a couple of chances to make it three which would have helped us. Momentum shifts quickly, but we just have to keep winning."

Swansea boss Laudrup was left to rue a slow start to the game after falling 2-0 down after just 21 minutes.

Laudrup said: "They just started better than us. The second goal we couldn't have done much about, as Gareth Bale made the difference. But the first we should have done much better with. We had five against two in our favour."

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Premier League: Titus Bramble own goal sees Manchester United past Sunderland

Saturday 30th March 2013 14:37

An own goal from Sunderland's Titus Bramble handed Manchester United a 1-0 win and an 18-point lead at the top of the Premier League table.

Fortune has not been smiling on the Black Cats this season and they remain rooted in relegation trouble after seeing their winless run stretched to eight games.

In contrast, United are strolling towards the title and could even afford to leave Rio Ferdinand and Wayne Rooney out of their matchday squad at the Stadium of Light.

Sir Alex Ferguson's side dominated possession from the off in the North East, as they enjoyed a positive return to the scene of their final day heartache from 2011/12.

Robin van Persie nodded an early effort into the hands of Simon Mignolet, before Alexander Buttner took one too many touches after bursting into the box.

The home support were doing all they could to drag an extra ounce of effort from their struggling troops, and they were almost awarded a gift by David de Gea - but he was saved by the assistant's flag after badly scuffing a clearance straight at Danny Graham.

Sunderland were then offered another kick in the teeth on 27 minutes when Van Persie - without a goal in his previous seven outings for United - wriggled past Phil Bardsley and drilled over a cross-shot which flicked off the knee of Bramble and past a helpless Mignolet.

The Dutchman wheeled away in celebration, believing he had notched his 20th Premier League goal of the season, but he will have to wait a little longer before reaching that particular milestone.

United continued to probe for the remainder of the first half, without really threatening, and the only other point of note during the opening 45 minutes was the early exit of Rafael - as he had to be replaced by Jonny Evans just past the half-hour mark.

Alfred N'Diaye fired a cross from a promising position into the stands at the start of the second period, before Van Persie whipped a dangerous free-kick into the face of the brave Danny Rose at the opposite end of the field.

Sunderland were able to offer more of a threat as an attacking force as they grew into the contest, but their final ball, be that from a cross or shot, let them down on too many occasions.

United suffered another injury scare when De Gea was involved in a nasty clash of heads with his captain Nemanja Vidic, but the Spaniard was able to continue and help the Red Devils to a sixth successive clean sheet - and their 11th in 30 league outings.

The game became stretched in the final quarter, with the Black Cats having to go chasing a point, but they were unable to find a way through a dogged visiting defence and United were ultimately happy to settle for one goal in a seventh straight win - with Vidic coming as close as anyone to grabbing a second as he nodded narrowly wide from a corner.

Speaking after the game, Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson hailed the battling qualities of his side as they edged a step closer to reclaiming the top-flight crown.

He told Sky Sports: "It was a battling performance by the players. We picked up two or three injuries along the way and it was courage that got us through in the second half. It means we will go into the Man City game with at least a 15-point lead.

"I think the players have galvanised themselves - the team spirit, the concentration, the focus in every game. That's 25 wins in 30 league games, which is a record. That's all down to the efforts of the players."

Sunderland manager Martin O'Neill remains confident that the Black Cats can haul their way to safety, despite ending another afternoon empty-handed.

He told Sky Sports: "Confidence is a major thing in the game and we are striving for it, but I thought the players can take a great deal of confidence from that second-half performance.

"We have to go and put it right, and we intend to do so. There is a determination in that dressing room to get the points. Nothing is too easy in this game, but we are up for the challenge."

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Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini demands strong finish after Newcastle win

Saturday 30th March 2013 18:07

Roberto Mancini urged his Manchester City players to keep performing at the same level for the rest of the season after an emphatic 4-0 victory over Newcastle United.

City's chances of defending their Premier League title appear extremely faint as they trail leaders Manchester United by 15 points with eight games left to play, but Mancini still expects a lot from his side as they aim to finish with a flourish.

And he was delighted with the way City shrugged off a slow start to defeat Newcastle thanks to goals from Carlos Tevez, David Silva and Vincent Kompany, as well as a James Perch own goal.

"They defended very well. It was difficult. Maybe we didn't have a good tempo in the first 20 to 25 minutes but after that we played quicker and scored a goal," Mancini told Sky Sports.

"If we play like this, we play very well. We have another eight games, and an FA Cup semi-final, and we need to continue playing like today."

Asked if City would be looking to win every remaining match this season, Mancini admitted it would be important to keep his squad fit.

He said: "We want to try, but we wanted this also two months ago. The Premier League is difficult and it is important that we don't lose players to injury for the next two months."

Mancini was pleased to see Kompany back in action for City, after he had played for Belgium in midweek against the club's wishes following a two-month injury lay-off.

"I don't think he is 100 per cent because it is his second game after 60 days out," said the City boss. "Maybe he needs to work more, but he is an important player for us."

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Nigel Adkins urges Reading to move on after Arsenal thumping

Saturday 30th March 2013 18:39

Reading boss Nigel Adkins feels his side need to move on quickly after they were thumped 4-1 at Arsenal in his first game in charge on Saturday.

Hal Robson-Kanu's second-half header was the only bright spot at the Emirates Stadium for the Royals, who were soundly beaten by Arsene Wenger's rampant side.

It was a harsh re-introduction to the Premier League for former Southampton boss Adkins, whose new side now sit bottom of the table.

"The Emirates is a challenging place to come to," he told Sky Sports. "I thought Arsenal were excellent today, they passed the ball about very well and they made it quite challenging for us.

"Some of the goals we could have done better with, but the timing of the goals are always important, key decisions, these are all factors that go on as part of a game.

"But we'll analyse the game, we'll learn the lessons from it, debrief it on Monday and Tuesday and then we'll get ourselves ready for the next game, I think that is the most important thing we've got to go and do now."

Adkins hinted that he will look to try and change the club's style of play in their remaining matches this season, while he also praised the travelling supporters, who backed the team throughout.

"I'm looking for us to play a passing type of football, the pitch was beautiful out there to do that today," he added. "But we can't change everything straight away and we can't negate the massive strengths that Reading Football Club already have.

"The fans were outstanding, all the players went over to applaud them for staying and keeping behind the players because that's massively important.

"We have a massive challenge in place, but one that we are facing head on and the supporters are part of that."

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Martin O'Neill says Sunderland prepared to scrap for survival

Saturday 30th March 2013 15:42

Martin O'Neill says Sunderland will look to respond positively to a 1-0 defeat by Manchester United and battle their way to Premier League survival.

The Black Cats saw their winless run stretched to eight games on Saturday as an own goal from Titus Bramble handed table-topping United all three points at the Stadium of Light.

Another setback leaves O'Neill's side precariously perched just above the drop zone, but he is confident that his players can steer a course to safety.

He told Sky Sports: "Confidence is a major thing in the game and we are striving for it, but I thought the players can take a great deal of confidence from that second-half performance.

"We have to go and put it right, and we intend to do so. There is a determination in that dressing room to get the points. Nothing is too easy in this game, but we are up for the challenge."

O'Neill concedes that Sunderland started slowly against United, which ultimately cost them dear, but feels the manner in which they responded after the break 'bodes well'.

He added: "I thought we were tentative in the first half, a little bit nervous, a bit wary of the quality of the opposition. I thought we maybe gave them a little bit too much room.

"I thought in the second half we started the game and we put absolutely everything into the match, everything we had. It certainly wasn't through a lack of effort, but Manchester United are a very fine side. The second half, I was very pleased with the team indeed.

"I would have liked us to have done better in the first half. It's very hard to keep a performance level like that, but we did in the second half.

"It's difficult to keep that intensity up for 90 minutes against anyone, never mind the best side in the league. If we had been a little bit less tentative to begin with, that might have borne some fruit. That said, I was delighted with the effort of the team and it bodes well."

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Premier League: Roberto Martinez hailed Wigan's character after beating Norwich

Saturday 30th March 2013 18:28

Roberto Martinez hailed Wigan's character after his side beat Norwich 1-0 to climb out of the Premier League relegation zone.

After a tight game of few chances, Arouna Kone scored the all-important winner with nine minutes remaining.

The win - Wigan's third league victory in four matches - saw Martinez's side climb into 17th in the table above Aston Villa on goal difference.

Martinez told Sky Sports: "It was very important (to win) as you can imagine, I think the points they are vital to try to increase the points tally.

"But today was more important than that. Today was to find a way to perform after an international break which historically for us has been very, very difficult.

"Today we had to find that extra character to keep a clean sheet against a Norwich side who are the best team in the Barclays Premier League in dead-ball situations and we all know how organised they are and how well they do to keep a clean sheet.

"So I'm extremely, extremely proud. I think it is one of those performances that probably we weren't at our best in terms of the style and the fluent possession that we always have because we had a few tired legs as you can expect.

"So today to perform in that manner, to find a way to keep a clean sheet, to find a way to score that all-important goal and restrict Norwich to no shots on target, is a phenomenal effort and a great result."

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Arsene Wenger praises Arsenal forward Gervinho after Reading win

Saturday 30th March 2013 18:15

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger praised the "outstanding" Gervinho after he inspired the Gunners to a 4-1 romp over Reading on Saturday.

The Ivorian, starting his first Premier League game since December, gave the Gunners the lead after just 11 minutes at the Emirates Stadium before laying on two more for his team-mates.

The former Lille forward could have grabbed a hat-trick as Arsenal threatened to overrun the struggling Royals in the second half.

"He is what you want from a striker, dangerous, he scored and gave assists," Wenger told Sky Sports after the game.

"The only regret is that he had a few more chances to score, but you cannot fault his performance today, he was absolutely outstanding."

Speaking of the team's display in general, Wenger added: "It was a good performance. Technically sound, serious, always focused and a very creative performance as well because we created many shots and chances - that is what you want.

"We kept our focus and fortunately we scored early in the second half, that killed the game a little bit.

"Reading kept going but our technical quality today was very, very good. We also had a lot of imagination, sometimes a little bit too much but that is what you want from your team."

The win keeps up the pressure on north London rivals Tottenham in the race for a top four place, though Wenger insists he is not worrying about other teams' results at present.

"We are focused just on winning our games," he said. "We have a clear target, we don't need to look around us because at the moment we are still behind. We just want to win our games."

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Chelsea interim manager Rafa Benitez disappointed by Southampton defeat

Saturday 30th March 2013 17:42

Chelsea interim boss Rafael Benitez was left disappointed by his team's efforts as they lost 2-1 to Southampton.

First-half goals from Jay Rodriguez and Rickie Lambert either side of John Terry's header ensured it was Saints who claimed the points and Benitez admitted the performance was not good enough as they dropped to fourth.

"You have to be really disappointed when you do not win," the Spaniard told Sky Sports.

"In the first half we did not play with the intensity required. In the second half we were much better and had more chances but the decisions in the final third were wrong. At least we had chances.

"We knew we were in a really good position and we're still in a good position but in the remaining games we must do something more and win.

"We have to start thinking about the next game as we cannot change the result now."

That next game is an FA Cup quarter-final replay against Manchester United on Monday and that fixture surely played its part in Chelsea making seven changes for the game at St Mary's.

Asked if he had been forced into resting the likes of Eden Hazard, Benitez said: "You say it, we were forced to do it and we did it."

The travelling Chelsea supporters were again left frustrated by the manager's substitutions as Demba Ba was left on the bench despite the team trailing.

Asked if he now considers dissenting voices a normal part of life at the club, Benitez said: "I concentrate on the game. That is it."

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