West Ham boss targets progression as new deal hangs in the balance

                           

 

West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce has revealed he is only thinking about helping the club progress – not his contract, which expires at the end of the season.

The Hammers currently sit eighth in the Premier League table, and are looking to secure European football in east London for the first time since 2006.
And the 60-year-old boss, who confirmed he won’t have talks about a new deal until the end of the campaign, admitted he’s just concentrating on ensuring his team finish as high as possible in the top flight.
He told the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast: “It would be very nice if we could achieve [European football] but progression is what it’s about.
“The owners are no different now to what they have been for my entire time here, [they’re] waiting until around or at the end of the season [to talk about my contract].
“Last time, when we first got back into the Premier League, we finished tenth and it was sorted out at the end of the season. It will be the same for this contract.”

Van Gaal confirms Man United striker Van Persie faces prolonged spell on the sidelines

Louis van Gaal has revealed Robin van Persie's ankle injury will keep the striker out for more than a fortnight - and admits the club will have to 'wait and see' how bad the injury is.

The 31-year-old was injured during the Red Devils' 2-1 defeat to Swansea last weekend and, according to some reports, could spend a month on the sidelines.
And, speaking ahead of the Premier League clash with Sunderland, Van Gaal claims the former Arsenal man could be out of action for a prolonged period.
"He is injured," the 63-year-old said. "It is an ankle problem. I do not think it is very heavy but ankle problems can take a long time. It is not one or two weeks."

Europa League exit boosts Tottenham and Liverpool's top four chances, claims Redknapp

                                         

Harry Redknapp insists Tottenham and Liverpool’s Europa League exits are a blessing in disguise – as it means the clubs can concentrate on a top four spot.
Spurs were beaten 3-1 by Fiorentina over two legs in their last 32 clash with the Serie A side, while the Reds were knocked out on penalties to Turkish side Besiktas.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side are currently seventh in the Premier League table, three points behind fourth placed Manchester United, while Brendan Rodgers' steads are sixth.
And former White Hart Lane chief Redknapp claims Tottenham, along with Liverpool, will be better off after being dumped out of Europe’s secondary competition.
“The race for a top four place is wide open,” he told the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast show. “Liverpool have been done a favour going out of the Europa League. Tottenham are the same.
“They only have the league to concentrate on. In terms of getting into the top four it will give them a better opportunity being out of the Europa League.”

Capital One Cup or top four? Harry Kane reveals what Tottenham want

It started as a trickle. A Europa League winner away in Cyprus. The third goal in a comfortable Capital One Cup victory at home to Nottingham Forest. The trickle became a torrent, and then a flood. A Thursday night hat-trick. Two against the league leaders, including a commanding run and drive. A towering header to win the north London derby – his second of the game.

Kane nets a North London derby winner Tottenham’s Harry Kane is a phenomenon. He has emerged this season as one of England’s brightest attacking prospects. For our interview he’s back where it all began: at Ridgeway Rovers, the youth football club that helped launch the careers of David Beckham, Andros Townsend and Kane himself.
“It’s great to come back and see some of the younger kids who will hopefully one day be playing for a big club like Spurs,” says Kane after watching the current members of the club working with trainee coaches from the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation. “Obviously David Beckham used to play here, and he was a big idol of mine growing up. So the fact that he played for Ridgeway made it even more special that I was playing for them as well.”
image: http://talksport.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/jonenoch_harrykane_004.jpg?itok=OHB0WL7V

Main portrait photo and photo above by Jon Enoch Beckham never popped his head in while Kane was on the books at Ridgeway, but he did have a brilliant childhood encounter with another footballer. “I was in the street with my mates just playing football,” Kane remembers. “Just having a little muck around. This Range Rover pulled up, and Jermain Defoe got out and said: ‘Do you mind if I have a little kickabout?’ He was probably there about half an hour, just messing about with us. I was quite in awe, quite starstruck. But it was great for him to do that and something I’ll definitely never forget.”
Old-fashioned qualities
With his hair slicked back and wearing a classic football shirt for our photoshoot, Kane looks like a figure from English football folklore: a classic number nine straight from a pre-war cigarette card. But he is not just an old-fashioned goalscorer. There’s much more to his game.
He’s been compared to Alan Shearer, but Kane grew up admiring a more artful breed of forward – Tottenham’s own Teddy Sheringham. “I can see a bit of both in me, which isn’t bad, to be honest,” he says. “To be compared to someone like Alan Shearer is very special. He’s the all-time Premier League top goalscorer. If I score anywhere near as many as he did, it wouldn’t be a bad career.
image: http://talksport.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/sas.jpg?itok=vWtBwgWE

Teddy Sheringham watches Alan Shearer score for England at Euro 96 “I feel sometimes I play in both of those roles for Spurs, and I see little bits that they had in my game. Shearer was a great finisher, and I like to think I’m a good finisher. Sheringham brought others into play, so you can definitely say I have some similar attributes. Hopefully I can do well and continue to score goals, and one day people will say that this player is like Harry Kane.”
Kane is a thoroughly modern breed of striker, and he’s much more comfortable in modern surroundings. After the shoot, he swaps Tottenham’s 1961 FA Cup final shirt for a hoody bearing the logo of another winning team: the New England Patriots.
image: http://talksport.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/jonenoch_harrykane_007.jpg?itok=l4UDCE4P

Portrait by Jon Enoch Kane is a huge American football fan. One of his dogs is named Brady, after the Patriots’ quarterback, while the other is (coincidentally) called Wilson – sharing a name with the opposing quarterback (Russell) in this year’s Super Bowl. It’s a few days after the Super Bowl when we meet him, and Kane is buzzing from the result. He stayed up with Brady and Wilson to watch the Seahawks blow their last-minute chance to win the game.
The 21-year-old has his own experience of painful late reversals, as he recalls when we ask him for his worst moment in football.
“When I was on loan at Leicester, we were playing against Watford in the playoff game,” he recalls. “Anthony Knockaert had a penalty to take us to Wembley. He missed it, and they went up the other end and scored from the rebound. It was crazy, because it had happened in a Brentford game the week before. So for it to happen twice in a week…”
Kane might have been robbed of the opportunity to appear at Wembley by that last-gasp goal, but he’ll get his chance this weekend in the Capital One Cup final against Chelsea. It’s a repeat of “a very special day out” – Kane was in the Wembley stands in 2008 when Spurs beat Chelsea after extra-time to win their most recent trophy.
image: http://talksport.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/gettyimages_79965721.jpg?itok=76wu9lDo

Tottenham celebrate winning the League Cup in 2008 “I was there watching Spurs beat Chelsea on the big stage, and winning trophies,” he says. “It was something I grew up dreaming of doing, and now I have the opportunity.”
Kane scored twice and won a penalty against Chelsea on New Year’s Day; a powerful performance, but was it his best in a Tottenham shirt? “I think so,” he says. “So far. It was a game I’ll always remember. Against a top team like Chelsea, to be able to score two goals myself and five as a team, it showed how well we played that night. It was a very special night for me, the players, the fans, everyone.”
One of their own
Kane is a local lad, and a Tottenham fan – something that has greatly endeared him to the White Hart Lane faithful, who loudly proclaim the forward as ‘one of their own’.
“My family are big football fans, and they used to take me over there,” he explains. “I’m sure they’re as proud as I am that I’m playing for Spurs.”
Kane wears the number 18 shirt previously occupied by Jurgen Klinsmann and Jermain Defoe, and has inherited their clinical touch. The latter even bequeathed his shirt to Kane: “When Defoe was leaving, he said: ‘You’ve got to have that number 18 shirt, because it’s a goalscoring shirt.’”
Kane’s first senior game for Spurs was “a very emotional night”, he says: “It was obviously a great feeling to be walking out that tunnel at White Hart Lane, and I’ve been able to do it more often now, and hopefully I’ll continue to do it for a long time.” His favourite terrace chant, says Kane, is ‘He’s one of our own’:
image: http://talksport.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/gettyimages_125520922.jpg?itok=1lLGexp2

Kane on his Spurs debut against Hearts in the Europa League “Especially after that Chelsea game – it was the loudest I’ve heard it, which was very special to me.”
The chants have only got louder since we spoke to Kane. We suspect his answer to his best moment for Spurs may have changed too, after a match-winning performance against local rivals Arsenal. Kane has certainly vindicated his manager Mauricio Pochettino’s decision to give him a regular starting place – but did he have to keep knocking on the manager’s door to get the chance?
“I just had to keep doing what I was doing,” he says. “Whenever I was playing in Europe or in the cups, I was scoring. So I knew I just had to keep my head down and I’d get the chance in the Premier League.”
Rush goalie
Kane’s rise to prominence has not been straightforward. He worked hard to make his mark on loan in the lower leagues, with varying degrees of success.
“I went to Leyton Orient when I was 17 and scored five goals in nine games,” he says. “Then Millwall when I was 18, scored nine goals in 27 games. They were very good loans for me. Norwich and Leicester were maybe not as good as I wanted them to be [a combined two goals in 18 appearances]. But it’s still an experience on how to deal with not playing as well and being on the bench, and I think it helped me.”
Kane could well be out on loan again this season were it not for Tim Sherwood. “I think sometimes there are a lot of good players who just don’t get the chance to showcase themselves on the big stage, which is unfortunate,” says Kane when we ask whether it’s difficult for young English players to break through.
“I was quite lucky. Tim Sherwood first of all played me [regularly] in the Premier League. I knew Tim from the development squad, and we had a great relationship. He threw me in when maybe other managers wouldn’t have. Maybe that’s what a few more young strikers coming through need.”
His breakthrough moment this season was arguably the hat-trick he scored in a Europa League game at White Hart Lane. Two weeks later he had his starting place. It was a performance given extra excitement by a brief stint in goal after Hugo Lloris was dismissed. “When I was really young, I had a trial for Ridgeway as a goalkeeper, and they wanted to take me as a goalkeeper,” he says. “But I got a bit bored and wanted to go out on the pitch. It was a good decision in the end, especially after what happened this season!”
image: http://talksport.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/gettyimages_457728336.jpg?itok=n5kbDASD

Keeping goal after scoring a hat-trick in the Europa League Kane let a low free-kick slip through his fingers at the near post. “I was quite looking forward to it,” he says when we ask what was going through his head as he donned the goalkeeper’s jersey and gloves against Asteras.
“I’d scored a hat-trick anyway, so I was buzzing from that, and I actually go in goal in training sometimes. I’m quite good. We won the game 5-1 in the end, so it didn’t really matter. But yeah, I probably won’t be putting the gloves on again for a while!”
Striking stats
There’s no doubt about the position Kane will be playing in on Sunday – he’ll lead the line against the defence he terrorised on New Year’s Day. But if he had to choose between lifting the Capital One Cup or a Champions League spot, which would he go for?
“To win a trophy for a club like Spurs would be something very special, but we want to try and get into the Champions League too, so we’re focused on doing the best we can in every competition.”
image: http://talksport.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/gettyimages_462426006.jpg?itok=novITAqm

Celebrating semi-final success in the Capital One Cup He has sensed the anticipation in the area building as the Wembley date with Chelsea draws closer. “There are a lot of Spurs fans around this sort of area, and – especially this season now we’ve got to Wembley – you feel that little buzz in the air around the place.”
Kane still lives locally with his girlfriend, 10 minutes from his family, who he says have been the biggest influence on his career. Apart from watching American football, he spends his time playing golf and, inevitably for a 21-year-old footballer, on the PlayStation. “I play FIFA and Madden a lot,” he says, referring to the NFL video game franchise. “I play as Tottenham quite a bit on FIFA and I always put myself on. Hopefully my stats might have gone up a bit!”
In a triumph for investigative journalism, we fired up the PS4 to have a look. His form has seen Kane’s virtual rating increase from a 68 to a 77, but what stats does he think have changed in real life?
“I think I’ve got more physical,” he says. “I’ve got fitter, stronger, faster, which has helped me. And I’m always working on my finishing as well. I think it’s something natural as I’ve got older, but we’ve been working a lot on it in pre-season with the new manager – a lot of time spent in the gym, so that has definitely been part of it.”
His performances have caught the eye of England manager Roy Hodgson, who has all but confirmed that Kane will get his first senior call-up when the squad is named for the games against Lithuania and Italy. The striker has been an integral part of the youth set-up for England at all age levels, and will probably be going to the European Under 21 Championship in the Czech Republic in the summer. “I’m really looking forward to it,” he says. “It’s going be a great tournament, we’ve got a great side and we’ve got a good chance.”
Kane recently signed a new contract with Spurs that lasts until 2020, and the goals keep going in. He’s at 24 so far for the season, in all competitions: “I’ve set myself a new target in my head. I won’t tell you what it is, but I’ll tell you if I get there.”
Right now, no matter what that target is, you get the feeling that Kane is able.

Warri Wolves boycott training

Players of Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) side Warri Wolves have began a warning strike to press for their unpaid wages, supersport.com has been informed.

The angry players boycotted training on Tuesday evening after honouring the morning session, it was learned.

Wolves have failed to pay their players salaries for the month of January, and the players fear that could extend to February.

The players also claimed they are still owed 30 percent of their signing-on fees for last season despite an agreement by clubs with the League Management Company (LMC) to abolish such fees and put in place improved salaries.

One of the influential players of the club told supersport.com: "It is so disheartening that after working we still haven't been paid. The club needs to know that we have a life apart from being footballers. We have families and dependents. They have not paid us for the last month, and they still owe us 30 percent signing-on fees for last season."

"We, the players, are not happy with what they are doing to us. How can we continue to play on empty stomachs? And at the same time we can't provide for our families when we should. Apart from the salary and signing-on fees, we haven't been paid match bonuses for five matches, including four matches from last season's league," another player revealed.

The players of the Warri club have now threatened to boycott the second leg, preliminary round match against RC Bobo-Dioulasso in the Caf Confederation Cup this Saturday.

"If nothing is done about the money owed us, then we will stay away from the Caf Confederation Cup on Saturday and we will continue to stay away from training afterwards," warned one of the players.

Wolves take a one-goal lead into Saturday's game following their 1-0 win in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso.

The club are owned and financed by the Delta State government.

Burnley boss Dyche hits back at Mourinho’s referee criticism

Burnley manager Sean Dyche has hit back at Jose Mourinho's criticism of referee Martin Atkinson after the Chelsea boss blamed officials for his side's 1-1 draw with the Clarets on Saturday.

After the Stamford Bridge clash, Mourinho highlighted four "crucial moments" in a thinly-vied attack on Atkinson, the most controversial of which saw midfielder Nemanja Maticsent off in the second half.

Matic was dismissed for pushing Ashley Barnes after the Burnley striker had caught the Serbia international with a high, late challenge that Mourinho described as "criminal".

Chelsea's website also broke down the incidents, while publishing the views of personalities who agreed with their manager.

But Dyche claimed it was necessary to "give a balanced view" on the game's events in a ten-minute interview with Burnley TV, in which the boss defended Barnes' tackle.

"When moments like that occur, it's very rare there is not a reaction to that moment in the stadium," the manager said.

"Look at the reaction from a bunch of expert footballers from the Chelsea side - the likes of John Terry, Kurt Zouma, Branislav Ivanovic - big, strong boys who are on right top of this moment.

"Jose Mourinho has a similar view to me, the crowd behind me, circa 15,000, no-one reacts. In live time no-one reacts except Matic.

"After the event, with hindsight and slow motion, statements like 'criminal tackle' are being used. I find that hard to adjust to."

Dyche also believes Barnes' tackle was not malicious, but instead a natural movement of his leg after the forward failed to complete a pass.

"After the event of course, it looks an ugly challenge," he added.

"Ashley Barnes tried to play the ball down to Dave Jones behind him, his momentum and the pendulum motion of his leg swings up through the ball.

"Matic is late getting there - not in a vicious way - but that means his [Barnes'] leg pendulums through and hits him on the shin."

The Clarets boss also addressed the other three incidents that Mourinho cited, including two Chelsea penalty appeals that Atkinson turned down before half-time.

Dyche admits Michael Kightly's handball in the 33rd minute would "usually" result in a spot-kick but insisted Jason Shackell's apparent push on Diego Costa eight minutes later was harder to call.

"Jason Shackell definitely gets a mild hand on him - is that enough for him to go down? It's a real debating point," he said.

"That's a close one. The first one usually gets given but that one is a real tough one for referees.

"He [Costa] is off balance anyway, he gets a slight nudge and he goes down.

"I'm not remotely saying he went down easily or is trying to simulate, I just mean it's a mild contact which inevitably means he ends up on the floor.

"I think that's a tough one, particularly when you consider the referee's actual angle to see that incident."

FIFA task force recommends 2022 World Cup to take place in November and December

A FIFA taskforce has recommended that the 2022 World Cup in Qatar should take place in November and December.

It has also recommended the World Cup should be shortened in compensation for moving the tournament to the winter.

The tournament was always expected to be shifted from its usual June-July dates with temperatures soaring to above 40 degrees in the Gulf state during the summer months.

FIFA agreed to set up a working group to look into alternative dates and consult with broadcasters, sponsors and influential European leagues.

Following a six-month consultation process, the taskforce, which included Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore, duly put forward their recommendations after meeting in Doha on Tuesday.

FIFA's executive committee meeting in Zurich on March 19 and 20 will now make the final decision on when the World Cup will be held.

"We are very pleased that, after careful consideration of the various opinions and detailed discussions with all stakeholders, we have identified what we believe to be the best solution for the 2018-2024 international match calendar and football in general," said taskforce chairman Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa.

"It was a challenging task and I want to thank all members of the football community for their productive input and constructiveness in helping to find a solution that we believe can work for everyone."

Martin Atkinson's performance at Chelsea one of worst of all-time, former refs'

public/field/image/201502/chelsea_2.jpg?itok=e4bs0yE8

Martin Atkinson produced arguably the worst refereeing performance in Premier League history at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

That is the view of former referees' chief Keith Hackett after seeing Atkinson get a host of major calls wrong in Chelsea's 1-1 draw with Burnley.

A furious Jose Mourinho highlighted four incidents which he believed changed the course of the game in his post-match interviews, including a 'criminal' foul from Ashley Barnes on Nemanja Matic that went unpunished and led to the Serbian being sent off, and two dismissed penalty appeals.

And Hackett says the Blues boss, who also felt Atkinson should have taken disciplinary action against Barnes for a challenge on Branislav Ivanovic, had every right to feel aggrieved with the man in the middle.

Speaking on the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast, Hackett, who writes a popular 'You are the Ref' blog, said: "Atkinson was very, very poor. I've asked the question on our website: 'was that the worst refereeing performance that we have ever seen in the Premier League?'

"I think he was fatigued. He had Schalke v Real Madrid, a big Champions League game, in midweek and he shouldn't have been out on Saturday for a game of that nature.

"Mourinho was correct. Four major decisions in that game Atkinson got wrong and of course the major one was Barnes and that horrendous challenge [on Matic]. That is what referees are getting paid for, that’s what a professional referee should be able to detect and punish.

"I can't recall such a bad performance. Earlier in the season Atkinson had a poor performance of a similar nature, but this one topped it.

Liverpool took ‘huge step’ towards top-four with Southampton win, claims Rodgers

Brendan Rodgers believes his Liverpool side took a “huge step” towards a top-four finish to the Premier League season with Sunday’s 2-0 victory at Southampton.

The Reds withstood early pressure to claim a vital win at St Mary’s thanks to goals from Philippe Coutinho and Raheem Sterling.

Three points lifted the Merseysiders above Tottenham into sixth place, and just three points away from Manchester United in third.

With Chelsea and Manchester City making the top two their own, it appears to be a five-horse race for the remaining two Champions League spots, with United, Arsenal, Spurs and the Saints all rivalling Rodgers’ men.

And while the boss is confident his side will keep pushing for a place in Europe’s top competition, he insists his side are in for tough battle in the remaining 12 games of the season.

“The victory today was a huge step for us,” said Rodgers

“We’re three points away from third place now, which is a great symbol of how well the team is working at the minute.

“But it’s going to be tough all the way through to the end of the season, there are still 12 games to play.

“I think our experiences from last season will really help us, over the last 14 games we went on an incredible run last year and this season, from the middle of the season onwards we’ve really progressed as a group.

“It’s a new team that is forming really well, the desire is there from the players and they’re showing that in the results and their performances.”

Southampton manager Ronald Koeman was left to lament a series of contentious referee decisions following Sunday’s clash at St Mary’s, with the hosts having two penalty claims turned down in the opening five minutes.

But Rodgers disagreed with the Dutchman about the possible penalty and hailed his side's defending after a fifth successive clean sheet away from home in the Premier League.

“With the decision, I can see why the referee didn’t give it, the guy wasn’t really in control of the ball, it was running away from him and the player has gone over far too easy,” said the Northern Irishman.

“With the crowd up, of course that puts the referee under pressure but I thought Kevin was excellent. All his decisions were correct.

“All in all, I thought we deserved the win,” he added.

"We defended magnificently. We knew we needed to improve. At the beginning of the season we couldn't get the right balance.

"Now there is and there's great confidence in the team. Our game still could be better but the result was important and everyone's contributed."

Century-maker Moeen inspires England to victory over Scotland in the World Cup

Moeen Ali scored only his second ODI century as England beat Scotland by 119 runs in Christchurch to record their first victory of the World Cup.

The Worcestershire man cracked 128 from 107 balls and shared a record opening stand of 172 with Ian Bell(54) to set England on their way to a morale-boosting win following back-to-back defeats.

Eoin Morgan’s side were always in control of the potential banana-skin contest, even though they did not fully exploit the foundation laid by the openers in reaching 303 for eight.

It was a target that proved beyond Scotland, still searching for a first World Cup win in their third visit to the tournament, as they were bowled out for 184 in 42.2 overs.

England stuck with the same XI that were so powerfully crushed by New Zealand on Friday as those involved were given the chance at redemption.

The batsmen were handed the first opportunity to try and repair their reputations, after being skittled for 123 on Friday, with Scotland skipper Preston Mommsen opting to bowl on a cloudy morning in Christchurch.

There was some early movement and Moeen survived a chance on seven when Freddie Coleman was late on getting down to a chance at cover.

But from there the England openers were untroubled as they cruised past the record England opening stand of 158 set by Dennis Amiss and Barry Wood at the first World Cup in 1975.

Moeen was far more aggressive as he thumped Josh Davey for six shortly after his reprieve and then welcomed spinner Majid Haq with another towering blow en-route to a 39-ball half-century.

By contrast Bell crept along, apparently setting himself to bat through the innings after England had failed to last the full 50 overs in their opening two defeats of the tournament.

Bell had only just managed to reach his fifty, from 80 balls, before Moeen was raising his bat for a century that required only 11 more balls.

The left-hander cracked Haq over the mid-wicket rope for his fourth six to bring up the landmark and England were seemingly coasting to a hefty total.

Even when Bell picked out short cover, when Richie Berrington returned to the attack, Moeen rattled along to surpass his best ODI score of 119 set in Sri Lanka last November.

But the 27-year-old's departure, when he lofted Haq to Coleman on the midwicket rope, set off a mini-collapse that held England back through the powerplay.

Gary Ballance chopped on from the first ball of the fielding restrictions and Joe Root quickly followed as he nibbled at Josh Davey delivery that seamed away.

Morgan used up 10 balls before he got off the mark as Scotland edged back by constricting England to 22 for two in the powerplay.

Scotland then missed an opportunity to dismiss Morgan on 11 when his pull just flew over Coleman, who was perhaps too far off the rope, but wicketkeeper Matthew Cross pulled off a fine stumping to end James Taylor's 17 from 26 balls.

Jos Buttler thrashed a quickfire 24 before holing out and then Morgan and Chris Woakes fell to steepling catches to leave Davey on a hat-trick in the final over.

Stuart Broad kept it out, but England's hopes of significant late acceleration never quite arrived as they returned 78 for four in the last 10 overs.

Former Scotland skipper Kyle Coetzer hit a half-century in Scotland's reply, but England were able to make breakthroughs at the other end.

Bell grassed a tough chance off Coetzer in Anderson's first over, but the right-armer struck in his next when Calum MacLeod charged only to edge behind.

Coleman drove Woakes' first delivery to Morgan at short cover before Steven Finn struck in his first over, catching Matt Machan's edge.

Coetzer, who was unwanted by Northamptonshire at the end of the season, produced some fine strokes to reach his fifty, from 64 balls, as Scotland reached 74 for three after 20 overs.

Scotland held slim hope while Coetzer and Mommsen combined in a 60-run stand until they fell in consecutive overs.

Mommsen swept Joe Root to deep square-leg, where Broad held a good catch diving forward, before Coetzer departed for 71 after lofting Moeen straight to Woakes.

Mourinho demands apology over Costa treatment as he slams ‘criminal’ Barnes tackle

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho launched a lengthy attack on referees and media coverage of his team during an appearance on Sky Sports.

The Blues boss refused to comment on his issues with officials following his side’s 1-1 draw with Premier League strugglers Burnley on Saturday, but was more forthcoming on the network’s Goals on Sunday show, where he branded Ashley Barnes' tackle on Nemanja Matic as “criminal”.

Matic was sent off for his reaction to Barnes' tackle in the 70th minute at Stamford Bridge, but the Burnley player went remarkably unpunished despite a shocking challenge.

But that wasn’t all Mourinho had to say to the broadcaster he had strongly criticised for their coverage of Diego Costa's stamp on Liverpool's Emre Can last month, when replays of the incident carried the caption 'Costa's crimes'.

Costa was later handed a retrospective three-match ban, and, taking the opportunity to turn the tables, Mourinho used a question about Barnes' tackle to repeat his complaint.

"When I finished at the game against Liverpool, I went to the dressing room and the first thing I saw on the big screen, reading non-stop - 'Diego Costa crimes'," he said.

"I would like to know how to you, Sky Sports, describe the actions of the Burnley player yesterday? My English is not good enough to find a word.

"When you think 'Diego crimes' after he puts his boot on a hand, when this is 'Diego crimes', the minimum you have to say is 'criminal tackle'.

"Did you apologise to Chelsea, to Diego or myself? You didn't. As an institution, Sky is so important in the Premier League, you never apologise.

"When Diego Costa has a three-match ban, probably three matches to Matic... tell me how many matches this player deserves?"

Mourinho was fined £25,000 by the Football Association in January for claiming there was a "campaign" in the media against Chelsea, but maintained his attack on coverage.

"I don't like the fact you start immediately, in that moment, the public judgement of the player," he added with regard to the Costa coverage. "You gave no space to the people that have to decide, the pressure was so much.

"You don't do this with every club, with every player. Last year, Yaya Toure against Norwich, you didn't have the same approach; [Robin] van Persie against West Ham, you didn't have the same approach.

"This one [on Saturday] was even worse. This can be end of career. Matic is a very lucky guy."

Liverpool defender 'disrespected' Southampton, claims Saints legend

Digsby

IM, Email, and Social Networks in one easy to use application!

http://digsby.com

Matt Le Tissier claims Dejan Lovren showed Southampton ‘an incredible amount of disrespect’ when he left for Liverpool last summer.

The Croatian defender handed in a transfer request and admitted his head was 'already at Liverpool’ before sealing a £20million switch to Anfield.

And St Mary’s legend Le Tissier admits the whole deal left a sour taste in his mouth.

“When Dejan Lovren left he showed an incredible amount of disrespect to Southampton,” he told the Weekend Sports Breakfast show. “Even before the clubs had agreed a fee he did an interview saying that his head was at Liverpool and the club should let him go.

“These guys are under contract and they should show a little bit more respect to the clubs which are paying them a good wage. I just thought he was bang out of order.”

I was right! Burnley draw supports ‘campaign against Chelsea’ claims, says Mourinho

Digsby

IM, Email, and Social Networks in one easy to use application!

http://digsby.com

Jose Mourinho claims the host of referee oversights during Chelsea’s 1-1 draw with Burnley supports his belief of a “clear campaign” against the Premier Leagueleaders.

The Blues allowed title rivals Manchester City to close the gap at the top to just five points after being held by the struggling Clarets at Stamford Bridge.

Branislav Ivanovic scored his sixth goal of the season to put the hosts in front before a late Ben Mee header saw relegation-threatened Burnley come away with a point, but it is the sending off of Chelsea’s Nemanja Maticwhich is sure to dominate the headlines.

The Serb was shown straight red after pushing Ashley Barnes to the ground in response to a nasty one-footed lunge from the forward, who incredibly escaped unpunished.

It was just one of the incidents highlighted by Mourinho following the game, as he launched a thinly-veiled attack on referee Martin Atkinson’s performance.

And the Blues boss believes the ongoing decisions against his side proves he was right in claims made in January over a campaign by "people, pundits, commentators and coaches from other teams".

"Have I seen a run of decisions like this? I don't remember,” Mourinho said.

“I'm happy that I'm not stupid and I understood everything a couple of months ago. I'm not in the mood to laugh.

"If this story that started a couple of months ago finished today with 12 matches to play with an advantage of five points, I'd tell you we will be champions. But I don't know if the story ends here, or if there is more waiting for us."

Mourinho, mindful of avoiding another run-in with authorities, chose his words carefully as he criticised Atkinson for the Matic incident as well as rejecting penalty appeals when Michael Kightly handed the ball in the 33rd minute and Jason Shackell barged over Diego Costa in the 43rd minute.

"This game had four crucial moments - minutes 30, 33, 43 and 69. This is the story of this game. I can't comment because it's difficult for me to not say the truth," Mourinho added.

"I'm making it easy for you because if you look at these moments you know exactly what I think about the game.

"What happened to Matic was in minute 69 and minute 69 had a big relationship with minute 30 because normally that player, if I can call him a player, should have been in the shower in minute 31.

"There wouldn't have been a minute 69 if the person in charge had dealt with minute 30 properly."

When asked about Barnes' tackle, Mourinho replied: "I'll leave it with you. I'd prefer not to call it because if I call it I'm going to use some words...

"A couple of weeks ago when I was here in the press conference after the Liverpool game in the Capital One Cup, the television subtitles had gone on and on about Diego's crimes. Well compare Diego's crimes with what happened against Burnley."