Alan Pardew was left choked by Swansea City after his Newcastle United side suffered a fifth consecutive Premier League defeat.
Wilfried Bony s stoppage-time penalty on Saturday heaped more misery on the north-east club and Pardew could only watch on from the stands at St James Park as the Welsh side snatched a precious 2-1 win to ease their relegation fears.
Shola Ameobi s first top-flight goal since December 2012 had put Newcastle in front, but Bony equalised with a powerful header just before half-time and then sent Tim Krul the wrong way from the spot after Cheick Tiote had brought down Marvin Emnes.
Newcastle have lost six of the seven games that Pardew has been banned from the touchline for following a headbutt on Hull City s David Meyler, but he believes the lat…
Dynamo Moscow winger Balazs Dzsudzsak is likely to be offloaded in the summer transfer window, .
The Hungarian midfielder has failed to properly adapt to life in Russia and he is hoping to return to one of Europe s top leagues.
He has also lost his place in the starting line-up of late, which should move him closer to the summer exit.
Considering that his current deal is due to expire in June 2015, it is highly unlikely the club will stand in his way.
Dzsudzsak joined Dynamo in a €14 million deal from Anzhi in January 2012 and he enjoyed a decent start to his career at the club.
The 27-year-old went on to make 57 league appearances and scored a total of 6 goals in the process.
Dzsudzsak remains a key player for the Hungary national team…
Adem Ljajic has rejected accusations he insulted Delio Rossi s mother seconds before being attacked by the former Fiorentina coach.
Rossi assaulted the Serbia international in the dugout after the player had reacted with sarcastic applause and praise following his 32nd-minute substitution in Wednesday s Serie A clash with Novara.
The former Palermo boss, who was sacked over the incident, is now claiming that Ljajic also made a derogatory remark about his mother in Serbian, which Rossi has a grasp of, but the forward insists otherwise.
I want to deny in every possible way the story that I insulted Rossi in my language, Ljajic told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
Besides, the insult he is referring to is not even a common phrase for me or the Serbian language.<…
Liverpool winger Stewart Downing hopes his improved performances will keep him at Anfield.
The midfielder joined Liverpool for 20 million pounds in the summer of 2011 but has struggled before stepping things up with his first Premier League goal for the club against Fulham.
I wanted to stay, I didn t want to leave, but it was out of my hands, Downing explained to Sky Sports after manager Brendan Rodgers hinted that he would be allowed to leave in the winter transfer window.
I was out of the team and frustrated and I said, if something big came up, I d look at it. We had that conversation and, to be honest, I thought I was on my way in January.
I was a little bit surprised when (Rodgers) said I could go. He came in and was pleased with me at the start …
Antonio Conte s recent absence from Tottenham due to recovery from gallbladder surgery did not change his mind about his future at the club amid reports of a contractual impasse.
Conte was back in the hot seat on Tuesday as Spurs held their pre-match press conference before Wednesday s Champions League last-16 second leg against Milan.
Spurs revealed Conte was set for a period of leave on February 1 after a sudden illness required the emergency removal of his gallbladder.
He returned to work just eight days later but was then signed off again on February 16, with Conte acknowledging he underestimated how long his body needed to recover.
The visit of Milan will be Conte s first game back at the helm, assuming control again from Cristian Stellini, but it co…
Bayern Munich were indebted to Matthijs de Ligt s heroics against Paris Saint-Germain and Yann Sommer offered the centre-back a sweet reward for his pivotal Champions League intervention.
Julian Nagelsmann s side recorded a 3-0 aggregate triumph in the last-16 on Wednesday after Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and Serge Gnabry secured a 2-0 second-leg triumph at Allianz Arena.
However, PSG should have twice restored parity in the tie in the first half as Alphonso Davies thwarted Lionel Messi from close range before De Ligt cleared off the line with Vitinha firing at an open goal.
The latter chance came from an inexplicable Sommer error as he squandered possession inside his own area and the goalkeeper joked a deserved treat will await for De Ligt s last-ditch efforts.
Amid reported interest from Barcelona, Palmeiras forward Gabriel Jesus confessed playing for the Catalan giants would be a dream.
Gabriel Jesus was named Newcomer of the Year following the conclusion of the 2015 Campeonato Brasileiro and has drawn interest from the likes of Barca, Bayern Munich and Juventus.
Following reports of a €19million offer from the reigning Liga champions, Palmeiras sporting director Alexandre Mattos denied any bids had been made for the 19-year-old at the weekend.
Mattos added his understanding was that Gabriel Jesus wanted to remain at Allianz Parque, but the forward has fuelled talk of a move by admitting a desire to play for Barca.
To go to Barcelona would be a dream. I am aware of my conditions, I know what my potential is…
Competition: Premier League
Market: Watford to be relegated
Odds:
Watford have a new manager of the new Premier League season, and are potentially likely to lose a number of players from 2015/16. The Hornets were a comfortably distance from the relegation zone for the majority of last season, but could be in for a campaign of struggle this time round.
Last season saw Watford finish 14th in the Premier League with 45 points from their 38 games, but they could be without a number of important players next season if transfer rumours are to be believed, and that could well disrupt the harmony in the camp.
And while Watford are used to their seasons being rife with off-field problems, 2016/17 might not be so kind to them. Their form in 2016 has been a rea…
Germany defender Philipp Lahm says he trusts his side s chances of defeating Denmark in Sunday s Euro 2012 clash.
Germany go into their final Group B game in control of their own destiny after defeating Portugal and Netherlands in their first two matches.
Lahm warned his team-mates against underestimating Denmark, but made it clear he expects Germany to emerge from the contest as winners.
Denmark stunned the Netherlands 1-0 in their first match to throw the group wide open, and were unlucky to go down 3-2 to Portugal after conceding a late goal.
They defeated Netherlands, and against Portugal they had a draw in their pocket right until the end, Lahm told Bild.
Denmark are a difficult opponent, they are very well organised in defence. And in att…
Italy coach Marcello Lippi will take nothing for granted when the world champions start the defence of their title against Cyprus here Saturday.
Cyprus will not be underestimated. We will be very careful knowing what happened in the past, Lippi said on Friday.
That was a reference to a game in 1983 when Cyprus secured an unlikely 1-1 draw at home to Italy in a European championship qualifier.
Then, as now, Italy were world champions, but needed an own goal to get them out of trouble.
I ve watched many games, especially those from last season in the Euro qualifiers and the recent friendly against Switzerland and I have a good idea of what Cyprus can do, said Lippi.
But the World Cup-winning coach said Italy will play to their strengths.
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