Simon Wilderspin looks at the latest action from the A-League which saw Perth Glory return to winning ways and inflict a first defeat of the season on Sydney FC. Sydney FC 1-2 Perth Glory Perth Glory took a huge step towards the Hyundai A-League title by inflicting a first defeat of the season on rivals Sydney FC. Glory had to do it the hard way after Sky Blues striker Shane Smeltz converted a controversial penalty past his former employees just 12 minutes into the second half. Glory were infuriated that the penalty had been given, after Smeltz’s goal bound effort…
Author: Simon Wilderspin
Simon Wilderspin brings us all the latest action from the A-League, which saw Melbourne Victory leapfrog Adelaide United and Perth Glory held by Brisbane. BRISBANE 1-1 PERTH GLORY Brazilian Henrique gave new Brisbane Roar coach Frans Thijssen a point in the Dutchman’s first match in charge with an equaliser against Perth Glory four minutes from time. A cracking volley from Dino Djulbic after only six minutes gave league leaders Perth the lead in a dour first half. Despite Brisbane’s possession, they created little before Henrique latched on to a pass from Corey Brown before neatly finishing past Glory keeper Danny…
Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert has backed his decision to loan club record signing Darren Bent to Championship side Brighton and Hove Albion, despite his side being the lowest scorers in the Premier League. Villa have only netted six times this season and have been in an alarming slide down the table since their encouraging start to the campaign. Bent, 30, who spent last season on loan at Fulham, has rarely featured under Paul Lambert despite Chairman Randy Lerner forking out £24m to Sunderland in order to land him in January 2011. In fact, his last start came in the…
Simon Wilderspin takes a look at the weekend action in the A-League, which saw Mike Mulvey sacked as manager of Brisbane Roar. Melbourne Victory 1-0 Brisbane Roar Brisbane failed to make it consecutive wins as the Victory edged a tight encounter at Etihad Stadium, which proved the end of the road for Roar manager Mike Mulvey. The visitors had battled hard but their efforts counted for nothing when the unfortunate Jade North unwittingly guided the ball into his own net. It was enough to ensure the Melbourne side remain unbeaten so far this season whereas last years champions Brisbane, who…
Real Madrid have been dealt a blow with the news that Luka Modric is expected to be out of action for at least three months after picking up a thigh injury on international duty. The 29-year-old was substituted in the first-half of the Euro 2016 qualifier in Milan which ended 1-1. The former Tottenham midfielder could miss up to 20 matches for his club after scans confirmed a tear of the proximal rectus femoris tendon. A statement on Real Madrid’s website confirmed the tear although did not put a timeframe on his return, a potential last-16 tie in the Champions…
Borussia Dortmund midfielder Nuri Şahin looks set to make his first appearance of the season after overcoming a knee injury suffered back in May. The Turkish international has been absent from his side’s awful start to the Bundesliga since injuring his knee against Bayern Munich in the Super Cup but could return to the match day squad for this weekend’s game at Paderborn. Speaking to German newspaper Bild, Şahin said: “I am pain free and just happy that I can be on the pitch again. I hope that I may again collect a few minutes playing time in our game this…
Brisbane Roar finally picked up their first points of the Hyundai A-League season thanks to a 4-0 thrashing of Newcastle Jets. Brazilian Henrique was the hero as he came off the bench to score a hat-trick to ensure the Roar move up from the bottom of the ladder. After replacing the injured Jean Carlos Solorzano, Henrique broke the deadlock just after the break before setting up a goal for Steven Lustica just past the hour mark. Henrique added two more including an 89th minute strike to inflict further misery on the Hunter Stadium side. Roar could even afford to miss…
Defender Mamadou Sakho believes his return to the Liverpool starting line-up could put an end to their defensive woes. Despite almost winning the league last season, Liverpool have continuously looked shaky at the back, especially from set pieces as was the case again in last weekend’s defeat at home to Chelsea. Despite spending over £30m on defensive recruits during the summer, manager Brendan Rodgers seems to have yet found his best partnership, with recent arrival Dejan Lovren struggling to find the form he showed so consistently for Southampton last season. Now, after recovering from a thigh injury, the returning Sakho…
Melbourne City have recorded their first win of the season as they put current champions Brisbane to the sword at Suncor Stadium with a 3-1 victory. Without the influence of their Spanish star David Villa (who has ended his loan spell with City), the visitors stormed out of the blocks and were two-up within ten minutes through goals from David Williams and Mate Dugandzic. A fortuitous Brandon Borello goal seemed to give the home fans a sense of a comeback when the back of his head diverted Matt Mckay’s drive from outside the box. But for the roar and their…
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino looks set to offload some of his stars at White Hart Lane following his side’s less than impressive start to the season. Sunday’s 2-1 defeat at home to Stoke City was Tottenham’s fourth home loss of the season and the Argentine now looks set to start bringing in his own players to put across his own footballing ideology. To obtain his desired targets such as Southampton duo Morgan Schneiderlin and Jay Rodriguez, several Spurs stars are set to make an exit, with England duo Andros Townsend and Aaron Lennon two of the four names being branded…