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Manchester United will be ruing a series of missed chances and refereeing decisions after a controversial Demba Ba penalty earned ten-man Newcastle a point at Old Trafford.

The Red Devils had earlier taken the lead through Javier Hernandez after Wayne Rooney’s second half free kick ricocheted off the Mexican in the penalty area. However they were pegged back after Ba cooly converted a spot kick after Rio Ferdinand was adjudged to have fouled Hatem Ben Arfa in the penalty area despite getting a clear touch on the ball. The Magpies were later reduced to ten men after Jonas Gutierrez was sent off but survived a wave of United pressure with Tim Krul producing a number of saves as they hung for a point that keeps them in the Premier League top four. Sir Alex Ferguson will be disappointed that his side failed to find the decisive goal during a frantic final few minutes that saw Hernandez have a stoppage time strike ruled out for offside. However credit must go to Krul and the defence in front of him that proved to be a virtual force field as the champions surged forward at every opportunity in search of a winner. Despite losing in the blue half of Manchester last week the Geordies came into the game full of confidence and produced another impressive performance that once again justified their position that many labelled as a flash in the pan. They rode their luck at times as United bombarded their goal in the last 10 minutes showing admirable resolve to hang on for a point.

From the first whistle Newcastle looked to attack with Ben Arfa Ba and former Red Devil Gabriel Obertan proving to be an effective attacking trio up against an experienced home defence. The former two combined brilliantly to produce the first real chance of the game with Ben Arfa’s delicate ball through releasing Ba who volleyed provided an early test for David de Gea. Ryan Taylor then miscued a volley from an Obertan cross before United sparked into life with Krul in the visiting goal the only reason why they went into the break on level terms. The young Dutch keeper had already saved twice from Hernandez before producing a fingertip save to deny Ryan Gigg’s who’s deft flick looked destined for the net. Despite his heroics in the first half there was nothing Krul could do to prevent United’s opener four minutes after the restart. Steven Taylor’s clumsy challenge on Hernandez brought a free kick that Rooney slammed straight into the black and white wall. The England striker reacted quickest to the rebound volleying it back into the area with the ball deflecting off Taylor before hitting the Mexican striker and trickling over the line. It was harsh on Newcastle who had defended superbly up until that point but were soon to reap the rewards of contentious penalty on 64 minutes with Ferdinand’s challenge on Ben Arfa producing a flag on the far side much to the bemusement of everyone situated in Old Trafford. After a brief consultation with his assistant Mike Jones, a late replacement for the unwell Phil Dowd, pointed to the spot with Ba cooly converting against a cauldron of whistles and jeers.

It was a goal the Magpies deserved for their performance but their objective of holding on was made much tougher after Gutierrez was sent off after receiving his second yellow following a rash challenge on Nani. From then on it was backs to the walls stuff for the away side as United poured forward in search of a goal but just couldn’t find a way past a resolute Geordie back line. Krul was on hand again to produce another fine save from Nemanja Vidic’s header before tipping away Patrice Evra’s effort. Credit must also go to Taylor who blocked any ball that dared to find it’s self on target whilst former Old Trafford youngster Danny Simpson then produced a remarkable save on the line before Hernandez saw his close range header ruled out for offside as the home side’s frustrations threatened to reach boiling point. It wasn’t to be though as Newcastle held on to claim a precious point and remain in the top four whilst United will regret missing their chance to close the gap on City.

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Chelsea’s David Barnard believes a quarter-final against Manchester United could become another classic all-English Champions League clash. West London club Chelsea have experienced some memorable European encounters with Premier League opposition, including a 7-5 aggregate win over Liverpool in 2009.They will now take on United in a last eight re-match of the 2008 Moscow final, which Chelsea lost on penalties following a 1-1 draw.”Obviously we’ve got a great rivalry with Manchester United on the domestic scene,” club secretary Barnard said.”But when it comes to the Champions League we’re experienced in playing other English clubs like Liverpool, we’ve played them four times, we’ve played Arsenal in a quarter-final.””But the Champions League is different to the domestic, believe it or not. The atmosphere, the organisation … so those games are going to be special.””The law of averages says that we were going to come up against an English side at some point. We have the opportunity hopefully to do away with the English club early doors.”Barnard’s Manchester United counterpart John Alexander admitted his side might have preferred to avoid domestic opposition.”I think from the English teams’ perspective it would have been nice to avoid each other,” Alexander said.”But having said that it’s an opportunity for an English club to take a step towards a Wembley final, we hope that it’s going to be Manchester United on this occasion.””It’s what Manchester United is all about, we like to be in the big competitions as long as we can.””We like to be in them and we tend to thrive on the bigger games and we look forward to it.”Gary Lineker – official ambassador for the 2011 Wembley final – chose Real Madrid against his former club Tottenham Hotspur as the pick of the draw.”Spurs – Real Madrid … is a very tasty looking game, two sides who love to entertain,” Lineker said.”A thrilling night for Tottenham fans you’d think.” “I don’t think the Spurs faithful will be overly impressed with what I pulled out … certainly a tough track to final.””If they get through they face Barcelona in the semi-finals, but that is what European football is all about.””It’s the big time and i’m sure the Spurs fans will love their trip to Madrid and certainly the home game against Real.”

Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini is set to make Lazio's Serbia international left-back Aleksandar Kolarov his fourth capture of the summer.

The 24-year-old, who featured in his country's first two games at the World Cup in South Africa, had been expected to sign for Real Madrid only for Lazio to reject their £12million bid for the player.

It is believed that City will seal the capture of Kolarov for £16million.

Mancini is keen to sign a left-back to provide competition for Wayne Bridge and believes the former OFK Belgrade player is the man for that job.

Lazio president Claudio Lotito was quoted earlier this month as saying:"Kolarov is not a free agent. If it was down to me, I would not sell him.

"But if he wants to leave, he needs to bring an offer from a team that grants a fair economic solution.

"Those that claim that I am asking 50million euros for the player are mistaken. I am ready to discuss a solution that takes into account the wishes of everyone involved.

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"Kolarov is a good man and we have no intention to block his career growth but we have to bear in mind the needs of everyone involved. I am available to look at offers."

Mancini has already signed Valencia's Spain international David Silva, Hamburg defender Jerome Boateng and Ivory Coast midfielder Yaya Toure from Barcelona this summer.Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email

It seems that every club these days are either trying to increase the capacity at their current stadium, or move to another home – Chelsea have long been looking to either move or expand the bridge, Real Madrid are attempting to become the most ‘technologically advanced’ stadium in football – what ever that means – City sold their naming rights to Ethiad for a huge sum,and both Spurs and West Ham have been fighting it out for the right to move to the Olympic Stadium after the games in 2012.

Now you can’t expect to please all fans, and some will always be more difficult that others, but to me it seems entirely reasonable for Spurs fans to be more than a little bit miffed about the attempt to move them out of their North London home across the capital to the Olympic Stadium.

Said fans must have been happy when firstly the move fell through and secondly with the news that Spurs are planning to delist from the AIM after record revenues and operating profits rising by 42%. This is due to a number of reasons, including the revenue from the Champions League, and Daniel Levy now believes that by delisting and being privately owned, funding for a new stadium will become easier to acquire.

Cue a sigh of relief for fans wishing to stay in N17, as the £350 million Levy and Spurs want will be used to build a new stadium adjacent to White Hart Lane – in North London. It seems that Spurs have their hearts set on increasing their capacity in any way possible, and feel that the revenues that can be gained from this, and that ‘continued development’ for Spurs as a football club is vital if they wish to solidify a position in the top four of the Premier League and also compete with rivals financially.

A complex package including sponsorship deals, naming rights and a large amount of borrowed capital will be how Spurs plan to finance the NDP – a plan that has been mooted since as far back as 2008, yet looked to be curtailed by finance issues. After the decision to delist however, Levy is confident that Spurs can raise the funds, and continue with their plans to expand and move forward.

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It will come as good news for fans who opposed the Olympic Stadium move, yet whether Spurs can actually raise such a vast amount of capital is still questionable, and even if they can fund the NDP, does not necessarily mean success on the field. Levy however is optimistic about the development plans, and is determined to see the club move forward, and how the fans will be glad it seems like being in North London.

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Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas says he does not have a point to prove in his side’s battle with Barcelona on Tuesday.Fabregas will lead his side out against his former club in the second leg of the round-of-16 Champions League tie, knowing all the Gunners need to do is avoid defeat to ensure progression after they won 2-1 in a brilliant first-leg match at the Emirates Stadium on February 16.Amazingly, the match will be Fabregas’ first at the Nou Camp despite the fact he spent six years with the Catalan giants. But despite all the hype surrounding his first appearance at the famous stadium, the Spaniard played down the personal significance of the match and preferred to focus on his team.”I am not here to shut up comments or to beat anyone specifically or whatever. I am just here to win for Arsenal Football Club,” Fabregas said.”For all my connections with Barca, tonight is all about Arsenal. All I will be concentrating on is how to help Arsenal through to the quarter-finals. It is something that I want as badly as any Arsenal fan.””It is about us proving that we have what it takes to beat the best of the best. Sometimes I don’t understand these reactions or comments about people saying I want this or I feel this. I want to win for Arsenal and that’s it. That’s easy for me.”Fabregas denied the match was held more occasion for him, and re-iterated his desire to lead Arsenal into the last eight of the most prestigious European club competition in world football.”I don’t put anything extra in my head because I play against Barcelona in the Nou Camp. It is a special game for everyone because it is a special stadium and we play against a good team and that’s it. It’s one more game that we want to win,” he said.”We want to do well for the club and we want to get through to the next stage of the Champions League. There is nothing more to it than that – we just want to go through and get to the quarter-final.”Fabregas’ manager, Arsene Wenger, also spoke to the press on Tuesday and confirmed that Dutch striker Robin van Persie would still need to undergo a fitness test before being named in the final squad.Van Persie injured ligaments in his knee just nine days ago in the Gunners’ 2-1 Carling Cup final loss to Birmingham and was expected to miss up to four weeks, but has made a surprisingly speedy recover.”He’s here as a player who will have a test,” Wenger said.”I personally would like him to play but he has to be 100 percent. He’s made quick progress in the last few days. When I spoke (on Monday morning) it was unlikely he would travel. But he was keen to have a go.”

I never fail to be amazed at the sheer stupidity of footballers and their outlandish remarks. Carles Puyol believes Arsenal need to show Cesc Fabregas some respect and allow him to move to Barcelona:

“I think Arsenal need to respect his class and show the same class by giving the guy who has given so much to them the move that he and his family want.

“He isn’t just being deprived of moving to the best club in the world, more importantly, he is being deprived of coming home.

“He has tried everything to win trophies at Arsenal and when he sees the success so many of his Spanish team-mates are having at Barcelona, it’s only natural that he should want to be a part of that.”  (Sun)

I find it a bit rich that Puyol asking for a little respect given the shameless way he forced a shirt onto Cesc last week and the scandalous actions of his football club in tapping him up in the past few months, which has subsequently turned the player’s head. Success has clearly got to the officials and players of Barcelona’s heads and this great club, who use to go about their business with absolute class and decorum, find themselves acting in the same shameful and underhand manner as their great rivals Madrid. Unfortunately the game’s governing bodies continue to turn a blind eye on their actions, subsequently giving them the green light to carry on with their policy.

Speaking with Barcelona fans about this current situation I was surprised as to how many of them believed that the club was well within their right to adopt their behaviour, given the way we brought Fabregas to Arsenal in the first place. When I pressed them on what rules we had actually broken in obtaining a young Fabregas, a sudden silence and a quick shrug was the best they could muster in response. They failed to realise that there was no gun to Cesc’s head when he decided to walk out on this apparent ‘club of his dreams’ at 16 and no appreciation of what Arsenal had actually done in making him the player he is.

I have always questioned the final point about Cesc and his great love of Barcelona and whether he would have been so keen to move back to the Nou Camp had it not been for their current set-up and status. I guess we will never know but the fact remains that it was Arsenal that gave him the opportunity and platform to make him the player he is and that should never be forgotten. My own personal view is that not a lot has changed and the same reasons he decided to move from Catalan all those years ago is still relevant today, as there are too many obstacles still ahead of him and a place on the bench is going to be the likely place for Fabregas if he were to move on. Barcelona may now feel that they have the god given right to obtain his services, but the likes of Messrs Puyol, Rosell, Busquets and Xavi need to realise that it is their own and club’s lack of RESPECT that has prevented any move this summer reaching fruition.

Click on image to see a gallery of the BEST BABES at the World Cup this summer

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Aston Villa go into the richest game of football as underdogs on Saturday, so should Steve Bruce throw caution to the wind and start Jonathan Kodjia?

When Kodjia joined Aston Villa from Bristol City, fans had an instant new favourite as the towering striker grabbed goals for fun, and what a story it would be if he returned to seal his side’s promotion this weekend.

The 28 year-old Ivory Coast international bagged 19 Championship goals in his first season at Villa Park, but some torrid luck with injuries has derailed his promising start.

There’s no question about his goalscoring talents, but the big man certainly hasn’t looked himself in recent weeks as he works towards full fitness.

He has grabbed a goal and a few assists in his limited time on the pitch this season though, so should Steve Bruce unleash him at Wembley?

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The first instinct for most fans would of course be to say no, as Lewis Grabban has been an excellent addition on loan from Bournemouth.

Bruce’s side are the underdogs on Saturday though, and Fulham will no doubt be expecting the usual defensive 4-1-4-1 setup, so why not surprise them?

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Whether it be by shifting Grabban further wide or really going for it with two up front, the Cottagers will absolutely not be expecting any major changes from Bruce’s usual sturdy setup, and Kodjia would certainly give them something to worry about.

So, Aston Villa fans, would you take a risk and give Kodjia his chance on Saturday? Or play it safe? Let us know your thoughts by voting in the poll below…

The Third Round of the FA Cup remains one of the greatest traditions of English football, but due to the incredible pressures of the Premier League, it has inevitably become the weekend in which most managers look to rotate their squads after a difficult winter period.

While that may be a disparaging remark on how the FA Cup has gradually waned in prestige and importance down the years, it does give fringe players the chance to prove themselves once again after finding themselves some way down the pecking order.

With Everton’s squad emerging as a particularly unbalanced and confusing one after a summer of unprecedented spending at Goodison Park, Sam Allardyce will surely relish the chance to give such players a runout on Friday night against Liverpool and assess whether they should be a part of his future plans.

So, Everton fans, which three fringe players would you like to see start against the Reds in the coming instalment of the Merseyside derby? Let us know which ones you would by giving them a thumbs up, and those you wouldn’t a thumbs down…

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Liverpool’s Lucas Leiva is considered to be a bit of an unsung hero at Anfield due to the integral services he provides in the middle of the park. The Brazilian midfielder is tenacious when it comes to breaking-up play, and puts in the leg work so the likes of Philippe Coutinho don’t have to.

But I often feel that Leiva’s vitality to the Reds often goes unnoticed – he’s currently the only holding midfielder that the Reds can boast, and without him, defensive duties in the middle of the park have to be taken up by Steven Gerrard, which is a waste of the England international’s talents going forward.

With a disturbing gap in Brendan Rodgers’ squad depth now identified, we’ve compiled a list of FIVE tough-tackling, tenacious and physical midfielders who could be snapped up during the January transfer window to significantly improve the Premier League outfit’s squad.

CLICK ON ALEX SONG TO REVEAL THE FIVE DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDERS TO IMPROVE LIVERPOOL

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Aston Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor wants manager Paul Lambert to deploy him as a centre-forward this season.

The 25-year-old was used in a number of positions last term, including wide midfield and behind the main striker. Agbonlahor, who missed Villa’s first two games of the 2012/13 Premier League campaign with a knee injury, is now hopeful that he will be played in his preferred position.

He told Sky Sports:

“Last season I was being used more left midfield or off the striker and it was a different sort of formation. If you don’t get a run of games (in the same position) it can sort of mess your head up. Hopefully I can get a certain amount of games in my preferred position.”

However, Agbonlahor admits that he will have to fight for the centre-forward position with Darren Bent, Andreas Weimann, Christian Benteke and Jordan Bowery.

“No one is guaranteed a starting place and they’re going to be coming after my place. That was the same when I was younger. I was going for other players’ places.”

Villa will host Swansea City in their next Premier League game on Saturday.