D Tuesday, September 15, 2009 METROSPORT 23 SOCCER (7.45pm unless stated) UEFA Champions League Group A Juventus v Bordeaux............................................ Maccabi Haifa v Bayern Munich .......................... Group B Besiktas v Man Utd .............................................. Wolfsburg v CSKA Moscow ................................. Group C FC Zurich v Real Madrid....................................... Marseille v AC Milan............................................. Group D Atletico Madrid v Apoel Nicosia ........................... Chelsea v FC Porto .............................................. Coca-Cola Championship Coventry v Sheff Utd............................................ Derby v Barnsley .................................................. Ipswich v Nottm Forest ........................................ Leicester v Peterborough ..................................... Plymouth v Watford.............................................. QPR v Crystal Palace ....................................8.00 Scunthorpe v Preston........................................... Sheff Wed v Middlesbrough ................................. Swansea v Bristol City.......................................... West Brom v Doncaster........................................ FAI Cup quarter-final replays Bray Wanderers v Longford Town ........................ Sligo Rovers v Bohemians ................................... Shamrock Rovers v Sporting Fingal..............8.00 St Patricks Athletic v Waterford United ............... CRICKET NatWest Series: England v Australia HORSE RACING Haydock, Lingfield, Yarmouth, Listowel CoCa-Cola league league oNe MK Dons ...........2 Norwich ............. 1 Puncheon 57 Martin 1 Leven 77 pen Att 10,354 P W D L F A Pts Charlton 7 6 1 0 16 4 19 Leeds 7 6 1 0 12 3 19 Bristol Rovers 7 5 0 2 10 5 15 Huddersfield 7 4 2 1 17 8 14 MK Dons 7 4 2 1 9 6 14 Swindon 7 3 3 1 7 9 12 Colchester 7 3 2 2 14 8 11 Gillingham 7 3 1 3 13 7 10 Brentford 7 2 4 1 7 6 10 Walsall 7 2 3 2 7 8 9 Southend 7 1 5 1 9 7 8 Carlisle 7 2 2 3 8 9 8 Hartlepool 7 2 2 3 6 7 8 Norwich 7 2 2 3 11 14 8 Brighton 7 2 2 3 7 13 8 Millwall 7 1 4 2 4 6 7 Yeovil 7 1 3 3 10 11 6 Stockport 7 1 3 3 8 11 6 Leyton Orient 7 1 3 3 10 14 6 Exeter 7 1 3 3 6 10 6 Oldham 7 1 3 3 5 10 6 Wycombe 7 1 2 4 8 13 5 Tranmere 7 1 0 6 6 18 3 Southampton 7 0 5 2 5 8 -5 Clydesdale baNk premier league Falkirk ...............0 Aberdeen ........... 0 Att 4,724 P W D L F A Pts Rangers 4 3 1 0 10 3 10 Celtic 4 3 1 0 10 4 10 Dundee Utd 4 2 2 0 5 2 8 Motherwell 4 1 3 0 5 3 6 Hibernian 4 2 0 2 5 5 6 Aberdeen 4 1 2 1 4 3 5 St Mirren 4 1 2 1 4 4 5 Kilmarnock 3 1 0 2 5 5 3 St Johnstone 4 0 3 1 7 10 3 Hamilton 4 1 0 3 3 10 3 Hearts 3 0 1 2 3 6 1 Falkirk 4 0 1 3 3 9 1 Mark HugHes has called for understanding as the Footballassociation passes judgement on Manchester City striker emmanuel adebayors clash with robin van Persie. The Fa has pledged to study footage of the incident, which saw the Togo striker kick his former arsenal team-mate in the face during saturdays 4-2 win at eastlands, and is expected to charge him today. Television replays indicated adebayor may have acted deliberately, a view backed up by Van Persie, who released a statement claiming he had been the victim of a malicious stamp. But Hughes has defended his forward, insisting adebayor did not mean to make contact, despite alleging he had been provoked. adebayor sustained a tremendous amount of personal abuse from the kick-off but strongly maintains there was no malice intended in the challenge on Van Persie and apologised to him when he hugged him on leaving the field of play at the end of the game, Hughes said. Much will now depend on the view provided to the Fa by referee Mark Clattenburg, who did not blow for a free-kick at the time. The ref had a great view of the challenge from ade and the one that preceded it by Van Persie and deemed at the time neither were worthy of either a yellow or red card, Hughes added. adebayor is also likely to be punished for his exuberant celebrations in front of the arsenal fans but Hughes called for understanding. There has been much discussion over the weekend regarding the various incidents in saturdays game, he said. We expect high standards of behaviour from our players and it is easy in the cold light of day, when the adrenaline has died down, to talk about what players should and shouldnt do. ade again immediately apologised but we know the Fa will be reviewing the matter. u sTePHen Ireland expects to be fit for sundays Manchester derby. The midfielder was forced to miss the second half of the win overarsenal with an ankle injury but says he will be fine for the united clash. I hope God puts his hand on my shoulder EMMANUEL ADEBAYOR is hoping help from a higher power will boost Manchester Citys title chances and he is not referring to the Football Association. Speaking before the controversy surrounding Saturdays game against Arsenal, the Manchester City striker revealed he is looking for a bit of divine intervention. Asked if winning the Premier League was a genuine goal for City, he said: The ambition is to win trophies and take this club into the top four and more. I hope God will put his hand on my shoulder and help me to continue to score goals. And as for what the scoreline might be against Manchester United next weekend, he added: There will be goals, Im sure, because both sides have amazing strikers. If we win by one goal I will be happy, especially if God allows me to score it. And the FA allows him to play, of course. Full interview in this weeks Nuts magazine, on sale now Hughes sees nothing to fear in video nasty For some more celebrations which left opposing fans seething, go to metro.co.uk/footballwindups Flash point: Emmanuel Adebayor claims he did not mean to kick Robin van Persie Picture: Fotosports soccer PREMIER LEAGUE By PHIL HOWARTH fixtures last nights results fai cup Fenlon wont panic despite Sligo strife SLIGO ROVERS are expecting their biggest crowd in years when they take on holders Bohemians in tonights FAI Ford Cup quarter-final replay at the Showgrounds. After the scoreless draw between the sides at Dalymount Park last Friday, Rovers boss Paul Cook delighted by the form of fit-again defender Gavin Peers will keep an unchanged side although Alan Keane is back from suspension. Bohemians, without a win in three games, welcome back midfielder Gary Deegan after suspension but defenders Ken Oman and Owen Heary are again injury absentees. Boss Pat Fenlon refuses to press the panic button even though they have failed to overcome Sligo in their two meetings in the last fortnight, saying: I will be looking for the same level of performance but this time we have to take advantage of the chances we create. KEnny DALGLISH claims Liverpool can still prove their doubters wrong and win the Premier League this season. The Reds, who yesterday signed a new sponsorship deal thought to be worth up to 80million (90m) with Standard Chartered Bank, resumed normal service in the Premier League on Saturday with a 4-0 win over Burnley. That result followed defeats by Aston Villa and Tottenham which led to Rafael Benitezs side being written off by their critics in their bid to win the title. But Dalglish, who managed the club to their last league crown almost 20 years ago, remains convinced the Reds can emulate his own achievement. Ahead of tomorrows Champions League opener against Debrecen at Anfield, Dalglish now an ambassador for the club said: Thats all right, let them keep writing us off. Well add the points up at the end of the season and see what happens. Certainly when you lose a home game it is a disappointment but it wouldnt be the first time a team has lost a home game and gone on and won the league, so well keep our fingers crossed. Meanwhile, the deal which has seen Standard Chartered replace Carlsberg as Liverpools main sponsor, will run from July 2010 through to the end of the 2013-14 season. It represents the largest commercial deal in the clubs history, dwarfing their contract with Carlsberg, which currently brings in 7.2m (8m) a year. Anfield managing director Christian Purslow said the agreement would help get plans for a new stadium under way again. He added: The overall financial health of our football club is a key ingredient of being able to get the stadium project back up and running. This is a huge step forward for the club financially and that can only be helpful to create the conditions in which we can restart the stadium project. Title bid is still alive, says Kenny Teams have lost at home and gone on to win the league eVerTon captain Phil neville damaged knee ligaments in sundays 2-1 defeat at Fulham and could face a lengthy spell on the sidelines, the club confirmed yesterday. neville left the Craven Cottage pitch on a stretcher after a challenge from dickson etuhu and everton physiotherapist Mick rathbone revealed the 32-year-old could be out of action for some time. an MrI scan... has confirmed our fears and revealed Phil has damaged ligaments at the back of his knee, said rathbone. He will now rest it for 48 hours and see a specialist before a decision is made on how best to manage the injury. Its too early to estimate length of absence but I fear he is certainly facing a lengthy lay-off. 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