Uefa set to approve financial fair play rules

Just six of the current Premier League clubs would be eligible to qualify for future European competitions after Uefa’s “financial fair play” rules are introduced on Thursday. Read more

Bent faces World Cup heartache

Darren Bent faces a race against time to be fit for England’s final World Cup warm-up game against Japan this Sunday. Read more

Lennon jumping for joy after Old Firm Victory

Neil Lennon gave himself a fighting chance of landing the Celtic job on a permanent basis after his side’s 2-1 victory over Old Firm rival Rangers on Tuesday.

Goals from Lee Naylor and Marc-Antoine Fortune helped Lennon claim a victory in his first ever Old Firm match as the caretaker manager.

Lee Naylor opened the scoring for the Hoops after 8 minutes after his freekick was deflected in by Rangers captain David Weir.

After Allan McGregor the Rangers keepers was injured defending a Naylor corner and left the pitch on a stretcher.

Celtic dominated most of the first half which was becoming a fiery incounter after Kevin Thompson and Lee McCulloch picked up yellow cards for late tackles.

Rangers however equalised three minutes from the break when ex Hoops Striker Kenny Miller nodded in a Whittaker cross.

Celtic were back in front just before half-time when Fortune met Naylor’s cross and Alexander allowed his header to slip through his hands.

Rangers could have been back on level terms when Miller cut inside however he dragged his shot wide.

Celtic were forced in to changing keepers after Arthur Boruc was forced off with a hand injury and was replaced Lukasz Zaluska who came to the rescue again with a great save to deny Davis then Miller’s shot crashed off the post.

The match ended in a sour note when McCulloch was dismissed in the last minute late again and collected a second yellow for a foul on McGeady.

Pools rocked by three point deduction

Hartlepool have been docked three points with immediate effect for fielding an ineligible player. Read more

Black Cats keen for Mensah stay

Sunderland manager Steve Bruce remains keen to hold on to Ghanaian defender John Mensah.

The Black Cats are hopeful of reaching an agreement to keep the on loan defender at Wearside for at least one more season either as a permanent signing or another year long loan. Talks were due to go ahead this week, but due to the volcanic ash cloud that has stop the air travel  it meant the meeting had to be delayed.

Sunderland manager Steve Bruce said: “It was supposed to be this week but, with the volcano, it’s been put back a week.”

Mensah has become a fan favouite at the Stadium Of Light although his time there has been hampered by injury, which has been suggested relate to Mensah’s on going back problems.

Steve Bruce also said: “The simple fact is, we’re a better team when he’s in it. Yes he’s got a terrible injury record but the temptation is always to think: when he’s fit, he plays and that’s simply because if he’s anywhere near fit and he plays, he improves us every time.”

Sunderland have lost only four of the games he has been involved – Manchester City, Arsenal,Everton and Aston Villa however the Ghanaian captain has only played 16 games for The Black Cats this season.

Pompey Euro dream ends

Portsmouth have had their dreams of playing in Europe shattered by the Football Association and Premier League. Read more

PFA announce nominees

The Professional Footballers’ Association has announced the nominees for the 2009-10 Players’ Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year. Read more

Tweet revenge for Bent

Sunderland 3 Tottenham Hotspur 1

Sunderland boss Steve Bruce praised his team for producing a “truly fantastic spectacle” against Tottenham in an action packed game at the Stadium of Light.

Darren Bent scored twice and missed two penalties against his former club as the Black Cats dented Spurs’ Champions League hopes.

The £10million striker struck after just 34 seconds and grabbed a second from the spot in the 29th minute to take his tally to 23 for the season.

Bent was then denied twice from the spot by Huerelio Gomez either side of half-time and Anton Ferdinand also had a goal disallowed.

Peter Crouch came off the bench to pull one back for the visitors with a 72nd minute header but Bolo Zenden put the game beyond Tottenham’s reach with a spectacular volley four minutes from full-time.

Bruce said: “If you go back eight weeks and think of the dross we dished up and then compare that to what we produced today, that’s what we’re in football for.

“The game had everything – missed chances, goals, great goals, great performances and I’m sure the fans enjoyed it.

“The lads gave me everything and we got out of the traps brilliantly.

“I don’t know why our goal was disallowed but there was all sorts happening. I can’t remember three penalties in one game and two of them being missed.

“In the end it was a truly fantastic spectacle capped by a great goal. Bolo needed that after the one he’d missed previously!

The atmosphere was brilliant and we can reflect on a great result.”

Bardsley considers Sunderland future

Sunderland defender Phil Bardsley has admitted he may be forced quit the Stadium of Light to secure first-team football.

The 24-year-old had been a regular for the Black Cats during the first half of the season but has found his opportunities limited since the arrival of Alan Hutton in January.

With manager Steve Bruce keen to sign Hutton on a permanent basis in the summer it has forced Bardsley to consider his future on Wearside.

Bardsley returned to the side on Sunday in place of the injured Hutton, and will continue at right-back for the visit of  Tottenham as the Scot is ineligible.

He said: “It was nice to be involved again – every footballer wants to play football. If you’re playing, you’re happy and it’s the same for me.

“Phil Bardsley doesn’t get down because Alan Hutton comes in and plays – Phil Bardsley will look after himself and keep himself in the best shape he can.

“If it’s to be at Sunderland or somewhere else, you just never know. All I want to do is play football and we’ll just have to wait and see.

“Obviously, if you’re not part of the manager’s plans you have to look elsewhere and move on as every player does. I’m just looking forward to the remainder of the season and we’ll take it from there.

“If it was up to me, I’d like to stay. I enjoy it up here but I’m not the manager, and as every player will tell you, if you’re not playing you’re not happy. We’ll wait and see.

“I have a good relationship with the manager. I’ve still got a year on my contract. Hopefully I’ll stay but we’ll see.”

Sunderland boss Steve Bruce says he understands Bardsley’s frustration at losing his place in the side.

“I can totally understand Phil’s position,” he said. “I know the lad well; I’ve known him since he was a boy.

“I would be the same. If you’ve got anything about you as a footballer, not getting in the team isn’t a pleasing thing.

“Everything else can be great but if you’re not playing on a Saturday something gets to you.

“I have not made any decisions on anyone’s future. We will look at that in the summer.”

Bruce: We had our backsides kicked

Liverpool 3 Sunderland 0

Sunderland manager Steve Bruce has admitted he will struggle to take any positives from his side’s performance after they were outclassed by Liverpool.

Bruce was forced to concede the Black Cats’ had their “backsides kicked” by a Liverpool side who dominated the match from start to finish at Anfield.

The win moves the Reds up to fifth, four points behind Tottenham who have a game in hand, while Sunderland are eight points clear 0f the drop zone in 13th.

Liverpool took the lead in the third minute when Fernando Torres cut in from the left and curled an unstoppable shot beyond Craig Gordon.

Glen Johnson’s deflected shot made it two on the half hour before Torres scored his 20th of the season with a cool finish in the 60th minute.

Bruce said: “Sometimes in football you have to say you were well beaten and today we’ve got our backsides kicked, it’s as simple as that.

“Liverpool were far too good for us. Maybe two away games in such a short space of time took something out of us and we had injuries, but I don’t want to look for excuses.”

“We simply weren’t good enough to get anywhere near a very good Liverpool team. Gerrard and Torres gave a masterclass and we simply couldn’t contain them.

“Their first goal was a wonder goal. Sometimes you have to take a beating; Liverpool have some world-class players and we’ve seen that today.

“We’ll analyse it and ask whether they were simply that good or whether we were poor.

Bruce made two changes from the team that drew with Aston Villa on Wednesday, with Phil Bardsley and Lorik Cana coming in for the injured Alan Hutton and John Mensah.

“We had to make a couple of changes and when a chance comes along for someone else you expect them to take it,” said Bruce.

“We were all over the place in the first half and were slightly better in the second, but it was all over by then.

“There were not many positives to take, to tell you the truth.”

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