D Tuesday, October 6, 2009 METROSPORT 23 SOCCER (7.45pm unless stated) Setanta Cup Group 2 Bohemians v Coleraine .................... League of Ireland Premier Division Cork v Derry City.............................. St Patricks v Sligo ............................ League of Ireland First Division Monaghan Utd v Finn Harps ..... 8.00 Waterford Utd v Shelbourne............. HORSE RACING Catterick, Folkestone, Leicester, Tipperary SOCCER baRClayS pREmiER lEaguE Aston Villa ......1 Man City ......... 1 Dunne 15 Bellamy 67 Att 37,924 P W D L F A Pts Chelsea 8 7 0 1 18 6 21 Man Utd 8 6 1 1 19 8 19 Tottenham 8 5 1 2 19 12 16 Man City 7 5 1 1 15 8 16 Arsenal 7 5 0 2 24 10 15 Liverpool 8 5 0 3 22 12 15 Aston Villa 7 4 1 2 10 6 13 Sunderland 8 4 1 3 16 13 13 Burnley 8 4 0 4 7 16 12 Everton 7 3 1 3 9 11 10 Stoke 8 2 3 3 6 10 9 Wigan 8 3 0 5 8 15 9 Bolton 7 2 2 3 10 11 8 Birmingham 8 2 1 5 5 8 7 Fulham 7 2 1 4 6 10 7 Blackburn 7 2 1 4 8 15 7 Wolves 8 2 1 5 7 14 7 Hull 8 2 1 5 8 20 7 West Ham 7 1 2 4 8 11 5 Portsmouth 8 1 0 7 4 13 3 gOlF DuNHill liNKS CHampiONSHip Final rnd (Gbr & Irl unless stated, par 72): 268 Simon Dyson 68 66 68 66. 271 Rory McIlroy 68 65 69 69, Oliver Wilson 69 67 70 65. 272 Richie Ramsay 67 66 70 69, Rafael Cabrera Bello (Spa) 70 68 65 69. 273 Ross McGowan 66 68 71 68. 274 Luke Donald 72 65 64 73, Darren Clarke 68 68 67 71. 275 Gary Lockerbie 69 71 67 68, Ricardo Gonzalez (Arg) 70 71 68 66, Francois Delamontagne (Fra) 71 67 67 70, Gregory Bourdy (Fra) 73 67 67 68, Kenneth Ferrie 69 66 69 71, Paul McGinley 69 67 69 70, Lee Westwood 73 67 66 69. 276 Peter Hanson (Swe) 72 64 75 65, Jose Manuel Lara (Spa) 67 68 69 72, Raphael Jacquelin (Fra) 67 71 68 70. Others: 277 Michael Hoey 67 66 70 74. 278 Graeme McDowell 69 70 68 71, Padraig Harrington 70 70 72 66. 279 Damien McGrane 71 71 68 69. fixtures results High flyer: Craig Bellamy celebrates his equaliser, left, while Gareth Barry takes flak from fans of Aston Villa Pictures: Getty/Action Images Craig points the way as City gatecrash top four CRAIG BELLAMY sent Manchester City charging into the top four in the Premier League last night with a poachers goal at Vil- la Park. Mark Hughes men leapt above both Arsenal and Liverpool and into fourth spot when Bel- lamy whipped in a right-foot effort from close range after being set up at the near post by Emmanuel Adebayor. City had been on the back-foot until the 67th-minute equaliser after falling behind as Richard Dunne broke the deadlock against his old club in the 15th minute. The Republic of Ireland defender climbed above former Villa favourite Gareth Barry to direct a corner from Stephen Warnock past Shay Given. But Dunne was just as impressive at the back as he helped to quieten Citys potent attack led by Adebayor, playing for the first time since his three-match ban for stamping on Arsenals Robin van Persie. It was an explosive match with both sides playing at a furious tempo. Villa goalkeeper Brad Friedel twice denied Adebayor before the interval, while James Milner nearly drilled Martin ONeills side further ahead just after the break with a shot which flew just wide of the far post. Dunne was close to adding to his first goal of the season with another header from a corner which flashed wide. But Villa, who harbour their own dreams of a top-four finish, were pegged back as Bellamy pounced with his fourth goal of the season. AstON VillA 1 MAN CitY 1 MATCH FACTS Aston Villa: Friedel, Cuellar, Dunne, Collins, Warnock, Milner, Petrov, Sidwell, Ashley Young (Reo-Coker 82), Agbonlahor, Carew (Heskey 69). Booked: Petrov. Manchester City: Given, Zabaleta, Lescott, Toure, Bridge, De Jong (Ireland 50), Barry, Wright-Phillips, Tevez (Santa Cruz 69), Bellamy, Adebayor. Booked: De Jong, Wright-Phillips. Ref: Mike Dean Ferguson ordered to explain ref rant SIR ALEX Ferguson could face a charge after he was written to by the FA asking him to explain his claim referee Alan Wiley was not fit enough to officiate in the Premier League. The Manchester United boss hit out at the official after Saturdays 2-2 draw with Sunderland at Old Trafford, declaring referees abroad were as fit as a butchers dog compared to those in the Premier League and that Wiley wasnt fit. Having looked at the remarks, the FA has now requested the United boss explains the reasons behind his outburst. The comments were criticised by referees union Prospect yesterday. National secretary Alan Leighton insisted: My main concern is about the unfounded and totally unwarranted remarks about Alans fitness. Not only does it dig at the heart of Alans professionalism, where he is one of our top and longest-serving referees, but it also has an impact on all the others. All the referees, all officials and all assistant referees pass stringent fitness tests at the start of the season. If Alan or any other referee were not fit they would not be refereeing. I hear all kinds of things and I have never known a manager to say a referee wasnt fit enough. And former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher added: With the training they have got now, it is the most ridiculous comment I have ever heard. However, the FA will take no action against Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce following his criticism of referee Peter Walton after his team lost 6-2 at Arsenal.Lashing out: Ferguson sOCCer PREMIER LEAGUE By DANNy GRIFFItHS talks: Al-Fahim FOOTBALLDigest PORTSMOUTH owner Sulaiman Al-Fahim was last night locked in takeover talks with Saudi property tycoon Ali Al-Faraj. Lawyers for the two parties have been meeting in London and it is understood a deal to sell 90 per cent of the troubled Fratton Park club could be agreed by this morning. Al-Fahim is willing to relinquish full ownership in the best interests of Pompey, 43 days after buying the club from Alexander Gaydamak. Al-Fahims spokesman Ivo Gabara said: Sulaimans lawyers are engaged in talks with lawyers for Al-Faraj. He expects an offer to be made today. In the best interests of the club, he is willing to forego full ownership and if or when an offer is on the table it will be considered on its merits. Al-Fahim will reportedly retain a ten per cent shareholding and his place on the board. WEST HAM boss Gianfranco Zola insists he has not fallen out with chief executive Scott Duxbury and technical director Gianluca Nani over his clubs transfer policy. The Hammers have made their worst Premier League start since the relegation season of 2002-03 and Zola blasted his players bad attitude after Sundays 2-2 draw with ten- man Fulham. Zola is reputed to be upset with the sales of Craig Bellamy in January and James Collins during the summer but he said: My relationship with Gianluca Nani and Scott Duxbury is wonderful. We have a strong spirit and nothing will stop us from trying to achieve success. EVERtONS Leon Osman believes the club must come to terms with being considered a prize scalp for the less-fancied teams in the top flight. Stand-in skipper Osman scored the toffees equaliser on Sunday as David Moyes side were forced to battle back from a goal down in the 1-1 draw at home to Stoke. Osman said: We have finished in the top five or so now for the last few seasons so teams fancy their chances and want to do well against us. they come to Goodison Park intent on claiming the scalp of a big club now, that is what we have become. Euro hunt a tale of two Citys CORk CITY and Derry City, two of the countrys biggest clubs, clash in a six-pointer at Turners Cross tonight, with both desperate to be playing in Europe next season. With Shamrock Rovers and Bohemians battling it out for the title, third place and a Europa League slot is the prize as Derry lead Cork by just one point with seven games to play. Both sides want to qualify for Europe, and this game will have a big say in that, so well be looking for the three points, said Cork boss Paul Doolin. Elsewhere, St Patricks Athletic will all but alleviate fears of relegation should they beat second bottom Sligo Rovers at Richmond Park, while Bohemians can put Fridays league defeat at Shamrock Rovers behind them against Coleraine in the Setanta Cup. Its going to be a tough game. If we can get six points on the board, well be fairly close to qualifying, said Bohs boss Pat Fenlon. leAgue Of irelANd index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html