Frank Lampard hands Manchester City's first league defeat of the season.

Frank Lampard came off the Chelsea bench to score the winning goal in Manchester City's first league defeat of the season.

Pirates on a ROLL

All of the Premier Soccer League (PSL) trophies are now in the Orlando Pirates cabinet after the Buccaneers lifted the 2011 Telkom Knockout, beating BIDVest Wits 3-1 at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday night.

Mata: I don't fear City, I don't even fear Barca.

Chelsea winger Juan Mata has insisted he will feel no fear when he faces Premier League leaders Manchester City, because not even Barcelona frighten the former Valencia star.

Balotelli could be fined for breaking a curfew before Monday's game against Chelsea

Anelka's move to China confirmed by Chelsea

Chelsea striker to join Shanghai Shenhua in January with Didier Drogba their next target as rise of Chinese League continues.

Rooney's Euro ban reduced to two matches

Wayne Rooney sees Euro 2012 ban cut and both Manchester clubs crash out of Champions League.

City follow ManUtd in the dig out.

A night of too little, too late as City dazzle to defeat Bayern Munich.

Basle knock Utd out of CL...

Sir Alex Ferguson's side knocked out of the Champions League after goals from Marco Streller and Alex Frei in Switzerland.

Mourinho's Madrid are real deal

Despite his glittering array of achievements at Porto, Chelsea and Inter Milan it would be the second campaign at Real Madrid which would tell us just how special the ‘Special One’ is – with indications that he would quit the Bernabéu come what may.

That has changed. Now the signs are that Mourinho will stay in Madrid — he has two more years on his contract after this season — and that he is happier than ever. It’s clear he’s happy because he’s not saying anything. There have been no outbursts, no controversies, no grand statements. Nothing.

With all three of his former clubs in varying degrees of crisis, he has resisted the temptation to gloat. There has been no war of words, no provocation while the incident in August when he shoved his finger in the eye of Barcelona assistant coach Tito Vilanova, after a tempestuous Super Cup tie, seems like an awful long time ago.

Instead, Mourinho has let his team do the talking and there is a quiet confidence that he has assembled a squad formidable enough to not only wrestle the Spanish title away from Barcelona, but also to take theChampions League trophy from Pep Guardiola.

Hernández's freak injury adds to Sir Alex Ferguson's problems up front

Sir Alex Ferguson said United were enduring a “torrid time” through injuries with the latest inflicted as the Mexican striker crumpled to the ground early on in Saturday’s 1-0 Premier League victory over Aston Villa with no defender close to him. He has damaged ligaments in his left ankle.

We've no fear of Real Madrid, says Fabregas

Barcelona star Cesc Fabregas insisted on Sunday that his team will not fear Real Madrid when the first El Clasico meeting of the season takes place at the Bernabeu next weekend. Spanish and European champions Barcelona trail their bitter rivals by three points at the top of La Liga and have played a game more. But ex-Arsenal skipper Fabregas believes a victory will be the perfect send-off before they head to Japan for the Club World Cup.

Leal: We were brilliant

Orlando Pirates coach Julio Leal has praised his players following their 3-0 victory over log leaders SuperSport United last night. Goals from Benni McCarthy, Isaac Chansa and Ndumiso Mabena were enough to give the Buccaneers all three points and to hand United their first defeat of the season. This was also the first time that the Buccaneers had scored three goals in a League match, but what pleased Leal more was the fact that his side has now cut the gap between them and United to seven points.

Vladimir Vermezovic backs Bernard Parker to deliver

Kaizer Chiefs coach Vladimir Vermezovic continues to back Bernard Parker, despite the striker struggling with his form. Parker, who was touted as the ideal replacement after Knowledge Musona left for Germany this season, has only managed to score one goal in the League.

Vlad V clashes with the media… again

Kaizer Chiefs coach Vladimir Vermezovic has clashed with the media after a discussion over football tactics got out of hand.  

Vermezovic was speaking at a press conference ahead of the Chiefs versus Mamelodi Sundowns match on Sunday.
 
The media posed a question, asking whether Chiefs’ failure to win a match in the last three League matches could be perhaps that his players are not responding well to his tactics or he doesn’t have a quality team at his disposal to challenge for the League title.
 
His response infuriated the media…
 
Here is how it went down.
 
Bareng-Batho Korjaas (better known as ‘BBK’) of the Sunday Times: Earlier on, did I hear you correctly saying that you can only discuss tactics with people who understand tactics?
 
Vermezovic: Yes!
 
BBK: Am I correct in saying that you think that we (the media) do not understand tactics?
 
Vermezovic: No. I did not say you don’t understand tactics, but I said I discuss (tactics) with people who understand.
 
BBK: But you are discussing with us right now…
 
Vermezovic: It is not a discussion. It is a press conference and I will answer you or not.
 
BBK: It is for clarity’s sake, coach, because I don’t think a driving instructor can say he cannot discuss driving with people who cannot drive, because his job is also to teach those people to drive. So I’m just looking for clarity…
 
Vermezovic: What is your question?
 
BBK: I don’t have a question. I was looking for clarity, thank you.
 
Vermezovic: Okay.
 
In October last year, Vermezovic apologised to the media for claiming he had been misquoted, specifically by the Daily Sun over comments he made that he had better strikers than Kaizer Motaung Junior, which he later denied.

Hunt: ‘We respect Pirates’

SuperSport United remain the only team unbeaten in the Absa Premiership team this season, but in Orlando Pirates they face a team with an unblemished home record. It is all to play for on Saturday night! ‘Ezimnyama Ngenkani’, in sixth place, host ‘Matsatsantsa a Pitoli’, who are top of the log, at the Orlando Stadium with both teams looking to protect their records.

Vladimir Vermezovic says he will not resign from Kaizer Chiefs

Despite having lost three League matches this season, Kaizer Chiefs coach Vladimir Vermezovic says has not lost hope of winning the title, and has no intention of resigning. 

Vermezovic is in the last year of his contract at Amakhosi, but is yet to deliver the championship trophy to Naturena.

'VV' and his team have not been enjoying the best of form in recent times, and their 2-0 loss to SuperSport United in Polokwane yesterday put a dent in their chances of winning the League.

But the Serbian warns people not to write off his team.

"We are still in the middle of the season and can't give up now," Vermezovic says. "We can't surrender now and we will fight until the end of the season."

VV also refutes reports going around that he will resign if Chiefs lose to Sundowns in Pretoria on Sunday.

"I am not going to resign," he says, emphatically. 

Nengomasha blames off-the-field problems

Nengomasha says that playing the Brazilians will be a big test at the Loftus Stadium this weekend.
 
"This will be a good stage for us to bounce back to our winning ways especially after losing to SuperSport," he says.
 
"It is not going to be easy though as Sundowns are also a big team and the character of both teams will be tested. We will go there to compete and hopefully get maximum points."
 
Amakhosi have gone three games without a win and without scoring a goal, but Nengomasha blames the off-the-field problems that engulfed at Naturena in the past few months.
 
"We started the season well but other factors crept in that contributed to us losing focus. The argument between the supporters and management didn't do things any good as we lost concentration of what we wanted to achieve as a team at the end of the season," he adds, without expanding on his comments.
 
"I believe we have players with the experience to bounce back and I am confident that we will soon take Chiefs back to the level where they belong," he adds.  

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich vows to stand by Andre Villas-Boas even after recent wobble

Roman Abramovich has “no intention whatsoever” of sacking Andre Villas-Boas as Chelsea manager despite being upset at the club’s poor run of form, according to a source close to the Russian billionaire.

ManUtd lack fire power against Crystal Palace

Dougie Freedman's side to face Cardiff City in the Carling Cup semi-finals after goals from Darren Ambrose and Glenn Murray.

Chelsea performance 'not good enough', says under pressure manager Andre Villas-Boas

The Chelsea manager labelled the performance unacceptable and said his team had been far “inferior” to Liverpool, who have now won on their last three visits to this stadium which had, in previous seasons, been such a fortress for the home side.

“I thought Liverpool were far superior all the way through,” Villas-Boas said.

“They had a strong desire to kill the game and we couldn’t match it. We have to be critical of ourselves and shouldn’t accept this result.

“At the moment, at home, we’ve just not been good enough. We need to get our fans behind us at home. I know, and you can feel, Stamford Bridge has become anxious about Chelsea playing at home, but we need their full support behind us. That’s the only way you can build the atmosphere to take us through this period.”

Sanchez double as Barca cut Real lead to three

An Alexis Sanchez brace helped Barcelona to a 4-0 victory over Rayo Vallecano on Tuesday which reduced Real Madrid?s lead to three points and showed they will not give up their title without a fight.

KG eyes clash with Red Devils tonight

Bafana Bafana midfielder Kagiso Dikgacoi is looking forward to play against his childhood dream team, Manchester United, in a Carling Cup match at the Old Trafford tonight.  

Aguero sinks the gunners

Sergio Agüero puts league leaders through to the Carling Cup semi-finals with 83rd-minute strike.

Chelsea crash to Liverpool again

Andre Villas-Boas left to fear for his future as his side suffer yet another loss in the Carling Cup quarter-final.

Real Madrid leapfrog Barcelona in La Liga power stakes as first El Clasico of the season approaches

It's payback time. Twelve months ago, Jose Mourinho watched from the Nou Camp touchline as Barcelona tore apart his Real Madrid side in a 5-0 humiliation. Fast forward to the weekend and the balance of power in Spain is reaching a new tipping point.

Barcelona crash...

Barcelona crashed to a shock 1-0 defeat at Getafe on Saturday and now trail Real Madrid, who came from a goal down to beat nine-man derby rivals Atletico Madrid 4-1, by six points.

Ferguson must sharpen up his midfield to give Manchester United a cutting edge

When the indignation wears off Manchester United will study all of the chances they missed and blame not the match officials but themselves.

Andre Villas-Boas's five fixtures to save his job

Saturday, November 26: Chelsea v Wolves
Probably the most appealing of their next five fixtures, Chelsea are unlikely to struggle too much against a side that have only recorded three victories this season.
Likely outcome: high scoring victory and timely boost to players' confidence.
Will he stay? Job safe for now.

Tuesday November 29: Chelsea v Liverpool
Given last weekend's 2-1 home defeat at the hands of Kenny Dalglish's side, Chelsea will be out for revenge. Villas-Boas' line-up will ultimately come down to how much progression in the Carling Cup means to the club given the away trip to Newcastle three days later.
Likely outcome: Chelsea to scrape through
Will he stay? Yes, but remaining in the Carling Cup will not be enough to end speculation.

Saturday, December 3: Newcastle v Chelsea
Not an easy tie to be sandwiched between to cup fixtures, harder still for Chelsea when you look at Newcastle's record this season. They've lost just once – to leaders Manchester City last weekend – and have a perfect home record.
Likely outcome: score draw
Will he stay? Roman Abramovich is unlikely to rock the managerial boat just days before a do-or-die Champions League clash with Valencia. Defeat could put the penultimate nail in the proverbial coffin.

Tuesday December 6: Chelsea v Valencia
Chelsea came within minutes of victory at the Mestalla in September. Had it not been for an inspired performance by Diego Alves, Villas-Boas' side could well have scored four of five goals. Home advantage should see them secure qualification but only victory will do with both sides tied on points in the Group E table and Bayer Leverkusen unlikely to lose against Genk.
Likely outcome: narrow victory and group runner's up
Will he stay? Exiting the Champions League will likely be the straw that breaks the camels back for Villas-Boas. This result over any other will prove pivotal to his fate, though victory and qualification won't mean he is home and dry.

Monday, December 12: Chelsea v Manchester City
Villas-Boas will welcome the six-day break between the Champions League and this tie. Injuries permitting he should be in a position to field his strongest side but the focus will fall on Chelsea's defence and how well they cope with a side that has scored 42 goals already this season.
Likely outcome: third home defeat of the season
Will he stay? If Chelsea have secured a place in the Champions League knockout stage it will buy him some grace, if not this could be his last game in charge.

Villas-Boas: we need Chelsea fans behind us

Andre Villas-Boas on Wednesday night said he took “responsibility” for Chelsea’s collapse in form after the surprise 2-1 Champions League defeat to Bayer Leverkusen which puts their progress in the competition in doubt.

Arsenal striker Robin van Persie in the same class as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo?

Mikel Arteta believes "on fire" Arsenal captain Robin van Persie is up there with world's best strikers after brace against Dortmund

ManUtd' defensive self-destruction

Hosts' defensive self-destruction returns with potentially calamitous consequences in a damaging draw at Old Trafford.

Man City fluff their lines in Naples

Edinson Cavani's two goals inflict a big hit on City's chances of qualifying for the knockout phase of the Champions League.

Massive week for Pirates

Orlando Pirates' Siyabonga Sangweni Orlando Pirates face his former team Lamontville Golden Arrows in their 2011 Telkom Knockout semifinal on Saturday.

With the side coming off a disappointing 3-1 loss to BidVest Wits at the weekend, they need a few positive results to bring back the confidence to the team.

They will at least have the suspended key duo of Benni McCarthy and Lucky Lekgwathi back in action after they missed the Wits game, which will be a big boost to beleaguered coach Julio Leal.

Pirates are currently 10 points behind League leaders SuperSport United and the defence of their title looks shaky.

Having already won the MTN8 though this season, they will be hoping for more silverware as they seek a final appearance in the 2011 Telkom Knockout with a win against in-form Golden Arrows at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.

Why Man Utd boss Ferguson regrets not signing Tottenham's Parker in August

Sir Alex Ferguson has to be having second thoughts about not going for Scott Parker during the summer.

Admission that Tom Cleverley's injury is worse than first feared only exacerbates the problems in midfield the Manchester United manager needs to confront. The energy and mobility Cleverley - andAshley Young - added to United in the early part of the season masked problems so exposed byBarcelona in the Champions League final last season - and later exploited by Manchester City in that derby drubbing.

There's been plenty said about the creative void left by Paul Scholes, but Ferguson also lacks a ball-winner. Cleverley was able to cover both shortcomings, but United haven’t played with the same pace and snap since Bolton Wanderers captain Kevin Davies took him out at Old Trafford. Ferguson's midfield has looked pedestrian, their build-up laboured and the final pass virtually non-existent. The players are still good enough to challenge for the title in England, but against Champions League opposition - and City - United's flaws have been exposed.

That Ferguson chose to ignore finding a solution over the summer now risks coming back to haunt him - on and off the pitch.

With the January market looming, the Manchester United manager now faces a huge dilemma - which could've been avoided if he'd pull the trigger on Parker before the former West Ham United midfielder had signed with Tottenham.

When winning the prestigious Golden Foot last month, Ryan Giggs was asked by Italian journalists about his former United teammate Giuseppe Rossi. Giggs admitted during Rossi's time at Old Trafford there was little chance of Ferguson keeping the now Villarreal striker happy with the likes of Ruud van Nistelrooy ahead of him.

And this is dilemma that again confronts the United manager.

The talk is Inter Milan now need to sell Wesley Sneijder to fund their planned overhaul and have been actively encouraging Ferguson to try again after a frustrating summer in pursuit. Benfica midfielder Nicolas Gatian, Lille's Eden Hazard and now Ajax whizkid Christian Eriksen have all been mentioned as potential solutions to United's creative problem. Then there's Rennes' powerhouse Yann M'Vila, who is greatly admired by Ferguson and would fit perfectly in a midfield lacking genuine defensive steel.

But should any of these candidates arrive, with the pressure of a massive price-tag guaranteeing them an extended chance to prove themselves, where will that leave the clutch of young midfielders which Ferguson has not shied away from talking up since the start of the season?

United staff say they haven't seen a talent like Ravel Morrison since Scholes, Ryan Tunnicliffe is pulling up trees at Peterborough United, Paul Pogba's departure on-loan was blocked by Ferguson as he sees him as first team material - and then you have the fit-again Daniele Petrucci, back after a broken leg and who has been likened to Francesco Totti, plus Robbie Brady, doing so well at Hull City.

The arrival of a 27 year-old Sneijder, or an even younger M'Vila or Eriksen isn't going to go down well with players like Pogba, who is now in the middle of protracted talks over a new deal.

Everything could have been solved if Ferguson had gone for Parker.

As he's shown for club and country, Parker has been dynamic at both ends of the pitch this season. With England he's primarily been employed in a holding role, while at Spurs the former Hammers man is high up the table in terms of assists. And against Spain, he proved himself well capable of matching it with the game's very best.

Parker could've solved both problems weighing heavily on United’s midfield and at 31, would not have appeared a threat to the youngsters now expecting a first team chance.

Ferguson hasn't been against signing veterans in the past. Henrik Larsson is the obvious example, but there's been others. Gines Carvajal's revelation that Ferguson tried to sign Raul last year before he joined Schalke is proof the United manager will go for an OAP when he feels it necessary.

But his failure to make a move for Parker has now handed him a huge dilemma. Can United risk waiting for the likes of Pogba, Petrucci and Morrison to prove their value. Or do they now splash out millions on a Sneijder and/or M'Vila - and so force these youngsters to look elsewhere to launch their senior careers?

After 25 years in the job, it's another massive question Ferguson needs to get right for the good ofManchester United.

Adebayor sends Spurs to third

London - A double by Togolese international striker Emmanuel Adebayor handed Spurs a deserved 2-0 win over Aston Villa here on Monday and lifted them up to third place in the Premier League.

Adebayor - on loan from Manchester City - struck in the 14th and 40th minutes to give manager Harry Redknapp a pleasant return to the dugout after recovering from minor heart surgery.

Spurs went above Newcastle on goal difference and trail Manchester City by nine points and Manchester United by four, though, the London club have a game in hand.

There was little fuss when Redknapp took his seat on the bench just before kick-off.

He had missed the Europa League defeat to Rubin Kazan and the win over Fulham just before the international break when they extended their unbeaten run in the league to eight matches.

"I enjoyed the way we played tonight, I think the fans enjoyed it as well," said Redknapp.

"They've seen lots of great teams over the years and they're enjoying the way this team's playing.

"It's great to be back tonight - I wouldn't want to watch it at home again, that was nerve-wracking."

Redknapp was especially complimentary about Croatian playmaker Luka Modric, who has returned to his best form after a troubled start to the season when he appeared distracted by Chelsea making several multi-million pound bids which were all rejected.

"Luka was fantastic, he and Scott Parker have been outstanding together," Redknapp said.

"I love Luka, I love the way he plays his football and he's an absolutely top-class fella."

Adebayor - who took his total haul for the season to five in the Premier League - scored with a superb overhead kick and then a close range effort, both times being set up by Welsh star Gareth Bale.

Ex-Spurs striker Darren Bent had a header saved early in the first half, but it hardly broke the momentum of the hosts.

Bale was rampant throughout making a mockery of Villa manager Alex McLeish's decision to start with two right backs - including former Spurs defender Alan Hutton - to try and neutralise the Welshman.

Adebayor - who was sent out on loan to Real Madrid last season as he fell down the pecking order at City - could easily have had a hat-trick.

However, he spurned the three second-half chances that fell his way and also had a strike disallowed for offside.

A nice curling effort from the edge of the box drifting just wide, while 12 minutes from the end Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Shay Given, who had earlier come off best in a one on one, dived bravely at his feet.

Spurs could have had a hatful as Dutchman Rafael van der Vaart went close with a chip and a shot from a tight angle went into the side netting.

Kyle Walker, who was on loan at Villa last season, also went close when his drive from 25 yards went just wide.

Brad Friedel, who left Villa at the end of the last campaign, went largely untroubled and the visitors never looked likely to win their first away match in the league this season.

AVB - My job is safe

Andre Villas-Boas insists he does not face the sack from Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich despite their latest slip-up in the Premier League.

Question marks have been raised over Villas-Boas' future at Stamford Bridge with Guus Hiddink being linked with a return to the club after leaving his role as Turkey coach.Chelsea face a huge task to get back into the title race after falling 12 points behind league leaders Manchester City following Sunday's home defeat to Liverpool.

However, Villas-Boas, who left Porto to takeover at Chelsea in the summer, remains confident he has Abramovich's backing.

"It's not a question of the owner having patience. We have set out to build something new at this club and the club is committed to taking what we're building to the future.

"The owner didn't pay 15 million euros to get me out of Porto to pay me another fortune to get out. Our commitment is towards the club and what we are doing in the future."

Not impossible

Villas-Boas admits Chelsea's title hopes are hanging by a thread after suffering a third Premier League defeat in four games.

"There were no positives when you get a result like this," added Villas-Boas. "The situation in the league is not good. It's not impossible to turn it around, but it's not the brightest of starts.

"There's no running away from responsibilities. There's no calling this a transitional period. We're not calling for time to work. Our responsibility is to win trophies."

Becks - Title won't sway me

David Beckham insists that winning the MLS with Los Angeles Galaxy will have no bearing on his future.

The former England captain lifted the MLS Cup on Sunday evening after helping the Galaxy to a 1-0 triumph over Houston Dynamo.

His contract with MLS is now due to expire, and the 36-year-old is set to reveal a decision about his future.

A number of Premier League clubs are reported to be keen on taking him back to England, whilst big-spending Paris Saint Germain have offered him a move to France.

Asked whether the trophy would have an influence on his decision, he replied: "None, it won't make any difference.Galaxy have also offered him fresh terms, but Beckham was giving little away - just insisting that his first silverware in America would have no impact on his future.

"I said that before whether we won or not, it would not change my future."

Success

Beckham insisted that winning the MLS was just as important as any of his previous triumphs withManchester United and Real Madrid.

"It is exactly the same, doesn't matter where I am playing, what country, what team," he told Sky Sports News.

"When you are successful and win, it all means the same thing - European Cup, FA Cup, Premier League, La Liga, all means the same thing.

"I play the game to win. Whether I stay or not, I've had an amazing five years."I always think about being successful whichever club I have been at, I have played for two of the biggest clubs in the world in Real Madrid and Manchester United and been successful with them, now I have played for the biggest club in America and had success.

"I've loved it here. The fans have been unbelievable, the owners, the players, every one of them are heroes. They've been incredible all season and this has capped it off."

Beckham revealed that he played through the final despite tearing his hamstring earlier in the week.

"I tore my hamstring four days ago," he revealed.

"We told everyone it was a cold but I don't think anyone believed me - I will let it repair, we go on tour next week so I might have a glass of wine tonight. It was a slight tear and I have played worse."