Doncaster promoted to Championship
May 25, 2008
Doncaster won the battle of Yorkshire this afternoon beating Leeds United 1-0 in the League One play-off to gain promotion to the Championship. The one goal just after half time from striker James Hayter was enought to seal victory.
Leeds huffed and puffed but they were unable to get past the impressive Sullivan in the Doncaster goal. The nearest Leeds games was a shit from Beckford which was easily saved by Sullivan. Really Doncaster should have taken the lead earlier and gone on to score more.
Similar to Hull who were promoted to the top flight yesterday Doncaster have risen through the leaves. It was only four seasons ago they were playing in the conference. The League Two final takes place tomorrow between Stockport and Rochdale.
Hull City secure place in the top flight
May 25, 2008
Hull City secured a placein the Premier League yesterday beating Bristol City 1-0 in the Championship play-off final at Wembley. The only goal of the game came in the first have when vetran and Hull born striker Dean Windass volleyed in from the edge of the area. It was a great goal and will mean that Windass will ply his trade in the top flight at the grand age of 40.
Hull didn’t have it all their way in the match and had to rely on keeper Myhill to keep the lead making saves in the second half as Bristol City pushed on.
It been an amazing turnaround for Hull who were in the bottom league only four seasons ago. Promotion and the new KC stadium have been key to sucess this year as has manager Phil Brown who managed to save the side from relegation last year and lead them to promotion this year. The league One play-off between Leeds and Doncaster kicks off this afternoon.
The League Play-Offs 2008 – League One Leeds United V Doncaster Rovers.
May 24, 2008
Sunday Leeds United take on Doncaster Rovers in the Yorkshire Derby League One Play Off final. Leeds United have managed to defied the odds to reach the final after a minus 15 point start to the season for breaking rules. Dennis Wise had set Leeds on their way at the start of the season but his move to Newcastle and Gus Poyet to Spurs caused a mid season wobble.
Former Leeds great Gary McAllister got the train back of the rails and were even unlucky to not reach automatic promotion. The former Leeds captain believes that the achievement would be one of the clubs best “We are 90 minutes away from what I believe would be a fantastic achievement by this group of players.”
Standing in their way are Yorkshire Rivals Doncaster Rovers who have done well under Sean O’Driscoll who moved the club in 2006. They missed out on automatic promotion on the last day of the season to Nottingham Forest and had to come past Southend in the play-offs semi’s to reach the final. They drew the first leg 0-0 and then thrashed the southerners 5-1 in the second leg at the keep moat.
Leeds will have around 36,000 fans at Wembley while Doncaster will have around 24,000.
The League Play-Offs 2008 – Championship Hull V Bristol City
May 23, 2008
Some may say that it doesn’t get bigger than the Champions League or the F.A. Cup or the Premier League but for me it doesn’t get much better than the League Play-Offs. Theres been some classic down the years at Wembley and Cardiff, City V Gillingham, Bolton V Reading and maybe the best Sunderland V Charlton.
This weekend six teams meet at Wembley the home of football, three will go home unhappy and three go home in a higher division. This season the games are played backwards, no not penalties first then extra time but the Championship game is on Saturday with the League Two match moving to bank holiday Monday.
Hull V Bristol City
Bristol City are looking for a second promotion in as many years, manager Gary Johnson has masterminded the rise the Robins first year in the Championship. They’ve remained in the top 6 all season and have punched above their weight. Their opposition Hull have been on a great run coming into the play-offs late on and narrowly missing out on promotion. Phil Brown is looking to take the tigers to the top division for the first time in history, as the famous fact goes Hull is the biggest city never to have a team in the top flight.
It’s a close match with Hull having a slight edge with experience in Barmby, Pedersen and Dean ‘Fat Boy’ Windass. Bristol have been the underdogs all season and they might just grab a place in the top flight.
John Terry Penalty Miss Video
May 23, 2008
John Terry’s Penalty Miss was the turning point in the Champions League FInal penalty shoot out, the real reason for the miss has now come to light, there was a banana on the pitch next to the ball.
Some people had thought the penalty miss was due to Terry’s boots
Celtic seal SPL
May 22, 2008
The Scottish Premier league came to a conclusion tonight with Celtic taking the title after Rangers lost out to Aberdeen. A single goal from Celtic’s Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink gave Celtic the title in their 1-0 win over Dundee United. It was a tence end to the season and one that means Rangers may only seal two titles from a possible four.
Rangers went down 2-0 to Aberdeen a goal from Blackpool target Lee Miller and a second from Darren Mackie sealed the win. Nacho Novo was sent off for a lunge in what’s turning out to be a awful end of the season for the Gers.
Manchester United Win European Cup
May 21, 2008
Manchester United have lifted the European Cup in one of the best Final’s of recent years beating Chelsea 6-5 on penalties after a 1-1 after extra time. The tie had it all, blood, sweat, tear, sending off, woodwork being hit and missed penalties. Edwin Van der Saar proved to be the Hero saving Nicolas Anelka’s penalty to give United the win in sudden death. The villain Didier Drogba who was sent off late on for a slap and John Terry proved to be the unlucky one, he hit the post from his penalty when scoring would have won the game.
The game over 120 minuets was amazing with United taking the lead. Wes Brown crossed following a neat one-two with Paul Scholes to find Cristiano Ronaldo who leaped above Michael Essien to head in. Ronaldo’s 42 goal of the season.
United had been the better side in the first half and nearly extended the lead, a double save from Cech denied Carlos Tevez and then Michael Carrick. Tevaz also spurned a chance missing a Wayne Rooney cross.
Chelsea managed an equaliser in the first half, a shot from Essien deflected off two United players to Frank Lampard who smashed home pas Van der Saar who slipped.
In the second half Chelsea had long periods of possession and hit the post via Drogba and then the underside of the bar via Lampard in extra time. It did start to turn a little nasty late on and when Carlos Tevez somewhat un-sportingly urged his teammates forward after giving the ball back to Chelsea following an injury and 20 man pushing session started. In the mist of it Drogba slapped Vidic in-front of the ref and received his marching orders.
Into penalties and the first four resulted in goals from Tevez and Michael Carrick for United who were taking first and Ballack and Juliano Belletti following suit for Chelsea.
Goal scorer Ronaldo stepped up with his stopped run up gave Cech a relatively easy save. to make to give Chelsea a very good chance. Lampard scored as did fellow England colleague Owen Hargreaves. Ashley Cole’s then scored and Nani held his nerve scoring to take it to the Chelsea to score to win.
Chelsea captain John Terry stepped up and hit the post slipping in the process. Into sudden death. Anderson and Kalou both converted and so did Ryan Giggs who made a record breaking 759th appearance for his only ever team. That put the pressure on Anelka who fired to Van der Sar’s right for a comfortable save.
Ryan Giggs and Rio Ferdinand lifted the European Cup to crown United Champions of Europe.
Joey Barton Jailed
May 20, 2008
Newcastle bad boy Joey Barton has been jailed for assault and affray for 6 months. Barton, 25, who currently plays for Newcastle United was caught on CCTV in December 2007 punching one man 20 times and then attacking a teenage boy breaking the lads teeth.
Barton who has one cap for England has made a name for himself with numerous sending offs and beating up team mates while at his first club Manchester City. Along with Barton his cousin and brother pleaded guilty to assault.
The court was informed that before the fight Barton had had 10 pints of larger and five bottle. It has since come out that alcohol is the problem and he’s been attening the sporting chance clinic to get himself clean.
Since the fight Barton has been playing for Newcastle but it’s not sure what future the dirty scouser has. At then end of the day this is what he does on the pitch when he hasn’t had a drink.
Ronaldo laughs like a girl and Nani sounds like Borat
May 19, 2008
A cracking video of Cristiano Ronaldo, Nani and Anderson messing around after winning the league against Wigan. The lads can’t resist messing about behind Owen Hardgreaves as he’s interviewed. Then when Nani is interviews he pretty much talks like Borat! Maybe more of these after Wednesday night?
United leave for Moscow
May 19, 2008
Manchester United left this afternoon for Moscow for the Champions League Final on Wednesday against Chelsea. The United team looking very smart set off from Manchester airport with a pretty much full strength squad, I’m guessing it’s just Louis Saha is injured.
There is going to be around 40,000 fans traveling from England but there ares still some tickets on sale. Many have been put off by the huge prices for travel and accommodation in the Russian capital. Chelsea will most likely have John Terry and Didier Drogba back after the pair picked up injuries on the last day of the season.
The game kicks off on Wednesday at 19:45, you have a choice of viewing, ITV or Sky Sports? What will it be Clive Tyldesley or Martin Tyler ???
