England Football Blog

United will spend more

Manchester United chief executive David Gill has says that the club will bring in players to improve the team this summer.

The Old Trafford outfit may have won their 10th Premier League crown on Sunday to make it 17 league championship titles in all, but they will not rest on their laurels.

Gill revealed: “We will be in a position where, if we can improve it, we will.

“It is the best league in the world so if we want to continue to be at the top we have to make sure we look at the squad and improve it.”

Last summer United spent over £50m on Owen Hargreaves, Anderson and Nani, while Carlos Tevez was signed on a two-year deal ahead of a permanent deal.

 What will come next?

Vital wins for North East trio and fellow strugglers Reading

Kevin Keegan enjoyed his first win since returning to Newcastle United, Sunderland picked up three points away from home for the first time and Bolton Wanderers stay in the bottom three.

Reading won their six-pointer with Birmingham City, Middlesbrough edged past Derby County, Blackburn Rovers easily beat Wigan Athletic and Tottenham Hotspur left it late to overcome Portsmouth.

Everton’s UEFA Champions League hopes suffered a blow as they were held to a 1-1 draw at home by West Ham.

Mark Viduka and Michael Owen provided a relieved Keegan with a much-needed lift as Newcastle beat struggling Fulham 2-0.

Newcastle enjoyed a dream start in front of a bumper St James’ Park crowd when Viduka turned smartly on the edge of the area and fired a low shot inside the far post for his first goal of 2008.

Obafemi Martins had a goal disallowed for offside before Owen made the points safe seven minutes from time when he met Geremi’s free-kick unmarked to head beyond Kasey Keller.

Everton were looking to move level on points with Liverpool in the race for fourth place but were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw with West Ham.

Yakubu Aiyegbeni gave the Toffees the perfect start when he turned away from young defender James Tomkins to lash the ball beyond Rob Green in the eighth minute.

But Dean Ashton climbed to head the Hammers level from Lucas Neill’s hanging cross after the break, with young substitute Freddie Sears hitting the post in the dying seconds.

Sunderland boosted their survival hopes with a first away win of the season as substitute Michael Chopra scored the only goal at Aston Villa.

Chopra, who netted Sunderland’s first goal this season, came up with another important strike when he latched on to Kieran Richardson’s pass to finish coolly beyond Scott Carson on 83 minutes.

Bolton Wanderers are stuck in the relegation zone after being held to a 0-0 draw by Manchester City at the Reebok Stadium.

The hosts came closest to scoring when Icelandic defender Gretar Steinsson headed a corner against the post in the first half.

Blackburn and Wigan both had a man sent off as Rovers battled to a 3-1 win at Ewood Park.

Blackburn were ahead on 12 minutes when Roque Santa Cruz stooped to head home his 13th Premier League goal of the season from close range after Chris Kirkland could only parry David Bentley’s swerving shot.

But Wigan were level within five minutes after Blackburn defender Christopher Samba was sent off for a slight tug on Emile Heskey’s shirt in the box, and Marlon King stepped up to equalise from the spot for his first goal for the club.

Rovers, though, were back in front in first-half injury-time when former Wigan striker Jason Roberts showed great skill on the edge of the area before slipping his shot through Kirkland’s legs.

The home side continued to make light of their numerical disadvantage and scored a third goal on 63 minutes when Bentley curled in a cross from the left for the arriving Santa Cruz to head home at the far post.

Wigan’s chances of a comeback took a further knock on 69 minutes when Wilson Palacios was sent off for a second bookable offence after bringing down David Dunn.

Reading climbed further away from trouble after Andre Bikey grabbed both goals in a 2-1 win over relegation rivals Birmingham City at the Madejski Stadium.

The Royals edged in front just past the half-hour mark when Bikey nipped in at the near post to glance John Oster’s free-kick into the net.

Mauro Zarate pulled Birmingham level on 65 minutes when the Argentinian scored his first goal for the club after firing home from Mikael Forssell’s pass.

But Blues were undone by Bikey again on 79 minutes after the Cameroon international darted in to meet Nicky Shorey’s free-kick.

Darren Bent made a decisive impact from the substitutes’ bench as Tottenham won 2-0 at home against Portsmouth.

Centre-half Michael Dawson rattled the crossbar in the first half for Spurs before Bent came on to fire Dimitar Berbatov’s scuffed shot beyond David James with 10 minutes to go.

Just two minutes later, Bent turned provider as he played in a cross to supply Jamie O’Hara with a simple tap-in.

Middlesbrough inched ever closer to securing their Premier League status for next season after a 1-0 win at home to bottom club Derby.

Woeful Derby defending contributed to Boro’s winning goal on 32 minutes when Tuncay Sanli collected George Boateng’s inside pass and sauntered into the box before steering a low shot beyond the wrong-footed Roy Carroll.

Robinson returns to England squad

England coach Fabio Capello has recalled Tottenham goalkeeper Paul Robinson to the squad for Wednesday’s friendly in France.Capello has reduced his squad from 30 to 23 and brought in Robinson to replace the injured Scott Carson.

Matthew Upson is also injured, while Gabriel Agbonlahor, Ashley Young, Shaun Wright-Phillips, David Wheater and Jermain Defoe are cut from the squad.

David Beckham retains his place and could win his 100th cap in Paris.

Robinson lost his England spot in the final Euro 2008 qualifier against Croatia last year.

Jenas scored the opening goal of Capello’s reign in the friendly win over Switzerland last month, but he missed Tottenham’s Premier League win over Portsmouth on Saturday.

Capello risks his squad for Wednesday being hit by injuries to key players when Liverpool play Manchester United and Arsenal play Chelsea on Sunday.

The Italian has voiced his concern over the timing of the Premier League fixtures.

“This is a friendly - having said that I’m not ecstatic, not happy about it,” said Capello.

“Some of the players I will not be able to train as I would like to.”

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Goalkeepers: David James (Portsmouth), Paul Robinson (Tottenham Hotspur), Chris Kirkland (Wigan Athletic)

Defenders: Wayne Bridge (Chelsea), Wes Brown (Manchester United), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United), Glen Johnson (Portsmouth), Joleon Lescott (Everton), John Terry (Chelsea), Jonathan Woodgate (Tottenham Hotspur)

Midfielders: Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Gareth Barry (AstonVilla), Owen Hargreaves (Manchester United), Joe Cole (Chelsea), David Bentley (Blackburn Rovers), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), David Beckham (LA Galaxy), Stewart Downing (Middlesbrough)

Forwards: Michael Owen (Newcastle United), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Peter Crouch (Liverpool), Theo Walcott (Arsenal)

Newcastle 2-0 Fulham

Goals from Mark Viduka and Michael Owen gave Newcastle their first win in 14 league games and boss Kevin Keegan’s first in 10 matches since his return.Viduka struck in the sixth minute when he collected a pass from Geremi and fired low past goalkeeper Kasey Keller.

Owen should have doubled their lead with a close-range header before nodding in from Geremi’s free-kick.

Jimmy Bullard had Fulham’s best chances but his long-range efforts were comfortably dealt with by Steve Harper.

Victory will be a massive relief to Newcastle, who move six points clear of the relegation zone after their first win in the Premier League since a 1-0 win at Fulham on 15 December.

But the signs seem ominous for the west London outfit, who are now four points adrift of safety with seven games left.

The visiting team were gifted enough possession during the first half but time and time again failed to come up with the killer ball.

Their downfall was self-inflicted at the other end of the field where Roy Hodgson’s men produced a display that could politely be described as inept and in the sixth minute Viduka took advantage of that.

The Australian, who had not played for nine weeks prior to last week’s draw at Birmingham, controlled Geremi’s pass from the right, turned then drilled his shot into Keller’s bottom right.

Owen, the hero at St Andrew’s should have made it 2-0 but he could only head Geremi’s clipped ball into the hands of Keller after finding himself inexplicably free eight yards out.

The England striker also had a 20-yard shot tipped over by the American shot-stopper, who then had to be alert to divert Obefemi Martins’ low effort round the post.

Harper had his hands kept warm on a wintery Easter Saturday by the spirited Bullard, who fired in a couple of shots from distance that the Newcastle keeper had to crouch down low to save.

Keegan’s men, who looked edgy in the first half despite taking an early lead, were far more confident after the break although shots on goal were few and far between.

They always looked potent though and Joey Barton, who along with Nicky Butt was one of the stars of the show, came closest to doubling his side’s lead when he whacked a 20-yarder that missed Fulham’s right-hand upright by a foot.

The result was still in doubt until the 83rd minute when Owen leapt above the Fulham defence to score his second in two games.

And with that, some of those growing concerns on Tyneside seemed to drift away.

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Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan on Owen:
“People keep questioning all sorts of things with these great players, but they can answer them.”Michael probably answered a few critics again today - there are plenty out there, from what I am seeing.

“He would certainly be in most people’s England side.”

Fulham boss Roy Hodgson:
“We have got seven games to play. But it was a big move for Sunderland with their excellent win at Aston Villa, so we have lost touch with them.”But having said that, seven matches, a lot of things can happen.

“We’ve got to keep believing that our football can get us out trouble and hope things start going right.”

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Newcastle: Harper, Beye (Edgar 87), Taylor, Faye, Jose Enrique, Geremi, Butt, Barton, Owen, Viduka (Smith 84), Martins (N’Zogbia 74).
Subs Not Used: Forster, Carroll.

Goals: Viduka 6, Owen 83.

Fulham: Keller, Stalteri (Healy 84), Hughes, Hangeland, Konchesky, Andreasen, Bullard, Murphy (Volz 71), Davies, McBride (Dempsey 66), Johnson.
Subs Not Used: Warner, Bocanegra.

Booked: Volz.

Att: 52,293

Ref: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire).

Aston Villa 0-1 Sunderland

A late Michael Chopra strike gave Sunderland’s survival ambitions a lift and hit Aston Villa’s European hopes.Chopra raced on to Kieran Richardson’s pass with seven minutes left to beat Scott Carson and seal Sunderland’s first away win in the league this term.

Villa were disappointing, with Marlon Harewood wasting their best chance when he was clean through after the break.

Sunderland were worthy winners, with Roy O’Donovan off target before substitute Chopra struck.

As Sunderland fans celebrated wildly at the final whistle, Villa’s supporters rounded on Martin O’Neill’s side as their recent indifferent form continued.

Sunderland suffered a blow before kick-off when influential striker Kenwyne Jones was ruled out through illness, while Villa’s only change was the recall of Craig Gardner for suspended Olof Mellberg.

John Carew almost gave Villa the perfect start after four minutes when he produced a surprise overhead kick which flew narrowly wide with Sunderland keeper Craig Gordon motionless.

But Sunderland more than held their own in the first 45 minutes, with Villa’s cause not being helped by a shaky performance from England keeper Carson.

He was fortunate to escape in the 23rd minute when he dropped a long ball and appeared to handle outside the area as he attempted to retrieve the situation, but referee Howard Webb ignored Sunderland’s appeals.

O’Donovan should have put Sunderland ahead three minutes later when he directed a poor header well over the bar when unmarked only eight yards out.

Carew was at the centre of most of Villa’s attacking threat, and he almost broke the deadlock four minutes before half-time when he pounced on a poor clearance from Gordon, but the Sunderland keeper recovered to save his shot on the turn.

Sunderland were furious with referee Webb again on the stroke of half-time when Andy Reid’s shot struck Nigel Reo-Coker on the arm, but once more their claims were waved away.

Villa boss O’Neill made a bold substitution after 56 minutes, sending on striker Harewood for holding midfield man Reo-Coker - a move that almost yielded instant dividends.

Harewood muscled Sunderland defender Nyron Nosworthy out of the way, but steered his first touch of the game inches wide with only Gordon to beat.

He was a lively presence after his introduction, unsettling the Sunderland defence again only to find the side-netting.

Sunderland still looked dangerous on occasion, and Grant Leadbitter wasted a good opportunity to put them ahead with 13 minutes left, dragging his shot across the face of goal when well-placed.

But Sunderland got the goal their determination and resilience deserved after 83 minutes, when Richardson’s speculative long ball dropped behind Zat Knight, leaving Chopra to race clear and coolly loft a finish over Carson.

Villa almost responded instantly when Gabriel Agbonlahor broke into the area, but Gordon saved with his legs to clinch a priceless victory.

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Aston Villa boss Martin O’Neill:
“We failed to take any chances that came our way but you can’t just point the finger at that.”Our overall play was disappointing and it is my responsibility. Since we drew with Arsenal a fortnight ago we have been really disappointing.

“You would not expect us to collect only one point from our last two home games. I have to rectify it.”

Sunderland boss Roy Keane on their first away victory of the season:
“We have been unlucky in some away games - it is not as though we have been battered every week.”We have played quite well without getting over the finishing line but here we achieved it.

“We played some decent stuff. Maybe we rode our luck a little bit but we got one clear-cut chance in the second half and managed to take it.”

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Aston Villa: Carson, Gardner, Knight, Laursen, Bouma, Maloney (Osbourne 74), Reo-Coker (Harewood 57), Barry, Young, Agbonlahor, Carew.
Subs Not Used: Taylor, Salifou, Petrov.

Sunderland: Gordon, Bardsley, Evans, Nosworthy, Collins, Edwards (Leadbitter 67), Whitehead, Richardson, Reid, O’Donovan (Chopra 59), Murphy (Yorke 87).
Subs Not Used: Fulop, Prica.

Booked: Bardsley, O’Donovan.

Goals: Chopra 83.

Att: 42,640

Ref: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire).

Everton 1-1 West Ham

Everton dropped two points in their bid for a Champions League place as West Ham earned a well-deserved draw.Yakubu’s powerful finish gave Everton the lead after eight minutes and he had a goal wrongly ruled out for offside seven minutes later.

But West Ham came back strongly, with Dean Ashton missing a glorious chance before heading home Lucas Neill’s cross after 68 minutes.

West Ham substitute Freddie Sears then struck a post in injury time.

The Hammers’ teenage debutant James Tomkins almost made a dream start to his career in the fourth minute when he met Mark Noble’s corner with a firm header only to hit the bar.

Sadly, his lack of experience was quickly exposed when he was turned by the wily Yakubu, who showed pace and power to race clear and fire an emphatic finish past West Ham keeper Robert Green.

Everton suffered a blow in the ninth minute when Tim Cahill, who had been doubtful before the game with a foot injury, suffered a recurrence and limped off to be replaced by Manuel Fernandes.

Yakubu should have had his second after 15 minutes when he turned in a neat finish. The goal was ruled out for offside, but replays showed the striker was onside and the final touch through to him appeared come from West Ham’s Scott Parker.

West Ham have had had their struggles recently, but they responded well and should have been level by the interval.

A communication breakdown between Mikel Arteta and Phil Jagielka in the 31st minute gave Ashton the perfect opportunity right in front of goal but he somehow shot wide.

Yakubu was a real physical threat and Green needed to plunge at the feet of Victor Anichebe after he was played in by his strike partner.

Ashton was frustrated again two minutes before half-time when his 25-yard free-kick took a heavy deflection off Joleon Lescott, but Everton keeper Tim Howard reacted brilliantly to stretch out a foot to save.

West Ham clearly felt they were in with a real chance of drawing level, and boss Alan Curbishley wasted no time after the break in making a change, sending on teenager Sears for the dismal Luis Boa Morte.

And the Hammers were level after 68 minutes when Ashton rose superbly to head home Neill’s cross - with Everton keeper Howard getting a hand to the ball but failing to keep it out.

A dreadful error by Jagielka almost let in Sears with six minutes to go, but Howard came to the defender’s rescue with a vital interception.

West Ham were by far the better side in the closing stages, and midfield man Noble sent a fierce 30-yard drive just over the bar.

The lively Sears was too quick for Jagielka again in the dying seconds, but his shot rolled agonisingly against the post with Howard beaten.

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Everton boss David Moyes:
“I am a little frustrated - I thought we thought we did OK.”We tried to get at them early but give them a little bit of credit because they came back well.

“West Ham are playing well under less pressure. We’re in fifth and hoping teams don’t catch us up. We’re pleased with a point but should have three.”

West Ham boss Alan Curbishley:
“We came here today and I asked them to pass it around - we were disappointed we didn’t take all three points.”Freddie Sears came on and he gave our side a lift - he could have scored a goal late on.

“We have been on top in games but don’t get enough goals to finish off teams.”

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Everton: Howard, Neville, Jagielka, Lescott, Baines, Arteta, Carsley, Cahill (Fernandes 10), Osman, Yakubu, Anichebe.
Subs Not Used: Wessels, Hibbert, Gravesen, Nuno Valente.

Goals: Yakubu 8.

West Ham: Green, Neill, Ferdinand, Tomkins, McCartney, Ljungberg (Solano 80), Parker (Spector 82), Mullins, Noble, Boa Morte (Sears 50), Ashton.
Subs Not Used: Walker, Cole.

Goals: Ashton 68.

Ref: Mark Halsey (Lancashire).

Reading 2-1 Birmingham

Two Andre Bikey headers gave Reading three vital points and deepened Birmingham’s relegation fears.The hosts almost took the lead when Stephen Hunt’s drive hit the bar, but they went ahead when Bikey glanced in John Oster’s free-kick on 31 minutes.

After the break, Mikael Forssell did superbly to cross low into the box for Mauro Zarate to slot in an equaliser.

But Reading snatched a crucial victory when Bikey nodded into the bottom corner from Nicky Shorey’s free-kick.

Reading made a fast start to a match that both sides were desperate not to lose, with the relegation zone only a few points below them.

And the hosts almost took an early advantage, but Kevin Doyle could not stretch enough to turn in a low cross.

That set the tone for Reading’s attacks as they used the flanks well, with Hunt particularly effective.

Yet they would have been chasing the game had Gary McSheffrey’s shot been placed an inch inside, rather than outside, the post.

But if that was good fortune for Reading, they may have felt unlucky not to have won a penalty when it appeared Liam Ridgewell stopped Dave Kitson from reaching Oster’s cross.

And it seemed it was not Reading’s day when Hunt’s fierce shot cannoned back off the bar a little later.

But after a scare when Radhi Jaidi headed just over from a corner, Reading took the lead when Bikey nodded in Oster’s left-wing free-kick.

Birmingham, though, could have gone into the interval on level terms but Forsell poked narrowly wide from a corner.

That miss almost looked worse for Birmingham when Oster was presented with a superb chance just after the restart, but his effort flew over.

And after that let-off, Birmingham began to force the game and got their reward after some excellent forward play from Forssell.

The Finn held off Ivar Ingimarsson before delivering a low centre that Argentine Marate tucked away for his first goal in English football.

Shortly after, Forssell had a chance to put his side in front when a deflection took Jaidi’s shot into his path, but keeper Marcus Hahnemann made a fine close-range stop.

But back came Reading, and Oster cut inside from the right flank before dragging a shot just wide.

And they were not to be denied a winner, which came on 79 minutes when Shorey floated in a free-kick from the right and Bikey again added the finishing touch with his head.

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Reading boss Steve Coppell on goal hero Bikey:
“The goals were very welcome. The second one came at a stage when we hadn’t quite lost our way but they had changed their shape.”We’re not very good at holding on, so our mentality must be to score more goals. Bikey’s second was a delight.

“At one stage I thought we would be punished for not taking our chances.”

Birmingham manager Alex McLeish on setting a points target to avoid relegation:
“I don’t really like doing the points thing.”I did that for the Scotland campaign - and Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger said 24 points would be enough to qualify for Euro 2008. But it was not.

“It’s important we pick up some wins because it’s becoming so tight. But need to keep everyone fit and stop shipping goals.”

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Reading: Hahnemann, Rosenior, Bikey, Ingimarsson, Shorey, Oster (Long 77), Harper, Matejovsky (Cisse 81), Hunt, Kitson, Doyle.
Subs Not Used: Federici, Sonko, Kebe.

Goals: Bikey 31, 79.

Birmingham: Maik Taylor, Kelly, Ridgewell, Jaidi, Murphy, Larsson, Muamba, Nafti, McSheffrey (O’Connor 65), Forssell (Jerome 80), Zarate.
Subs Not Used: Doyle, Parnaby, Johnson.

Booked: Ridgewell.

Goals: Zarate 64.

Att: 24,085

Ref: Mike Riley (Yorkshire).