D Monday, October 19, 2009 METROSPORT 23 Lifes a beach (ball): Bents shot deflects past Pepe Reina and Glen Johnson after striking the rogue obstacle Deflected glory By PauL MuRPhy Picture: Getty Red-hot Bent happy to bask in... Wenger is furious at atrocious chanting Darren Bent scored one of foot- balls strangest goals on Saturday but says he does not care how the ball ends up in the net as long as it keeps doing just that. the 10million Sunderland striker took his tally for the club to eight since his summer move from totten- ham with the winner against Liver- pool at the Stadium of Light. Bent won the game with the help of a significant touch from a beach ball that had been thrown on to the pitch by a reds fan. However, like any top forward, he will not refuse any goal. the 25-year-old said: Little things are going in my favour hitting one off the top of a balloon and it goes in the corner but I will take it. as a frontman you will always take what you are given and Saturday was no exception. But at the same time the team played fantastically and, to be fair, from a neutral point of view, no one would say it [Sunderlands victory] was unjustified. reds boss rafael Benitez refused to dwell on the beach ball incident but may wonder why one of his players did not take the opportunity to get rid of it before it became such a huge talking point following the goal. Former referees have since claimed the goal should have been disallowed by official Mike Jones under the rules of the game but england striker Bent added: the ball was sitting in the middle of their own six-yard box and if they are not going to move it, then theres nothing we can do about it. Managers Benitez and Steve Bruce also clashed while Black Cats striker Kenwyne Jones was stretchered off with Bruce later admitting he behaved like a prat towards his Liverpool counterpart during the incident. the reds now sit eighth, one place below the Black Cats and seven points off the title after their fourth Premier League defeat. But, ahead of Lyons visit tomorrow in the Champions League, Benitez claimed he was not worrying about losing ground on Manchester United, who went top after beating Bolton saying: I dont talk about the title. We have an important game on tuesday, an important game on Sun- day [against United] and that is the priority. Harrys hopes for breaking the big four Take it as red: Phil Dowd sends Jermain Defoe on his way West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola insists there are signs of improvement at the Hammers despite them slumping to their worst start to a Premier League season. Zolas men lost 2-1 at stoke to stay second-bottom but Zola is refusing to panic. He said: I thought they gave everything, thats encouraging. the way they played makes me think [turning] the corner is very close. the club could be revitalised if a reported 100million takeover bid comes to fruition. CHAMPIONSHIP Billy: Were not finished BILLY DaVIeS claims his nottingham Forest side are a work in progress after their fourth successive win. Dexter Blackstocks goal clinched a 1-0 victory over high-flying newcastle on Saturday and Davies said: newcastle showed what a good side they are after half-time and also showed us what we have to aspire to. FA to probe Chopra claim tHe Football association is set to investigate allegations Cardiff striker Michael Chopra suffered racist abuse in their 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace. Jay Bothroyd claimed his strike partner was racially abused by a Palace player after Saturdays match. the teams had to be separated at full-time and trouble reportedly continued in the tunnel. SOCCER PREMIER LEaGuE tOttenHaMS hard-fought win at Portsmouth has strengthened Harry redknapps belief they can crack the top four. the Spurs boss was pleased with the reception he received from the Pompey fans he left last year ago, and encouraged by a performance in- spired by recalled goalkeeper Heu- relho Gomes in a 2-1 win. Spurs, currently third, endured a second-half onslaught at Fratton Park and will lose Jermain Defoe to a three-match ban after he was sent off for a petulant stamp onaaron Mokoe- na on Saturday. But redknapp is convinced his squad are strong enough to sustain their challenge for Champions League football next season. We have to believe and weve got to have a go, said the White Hart Lane manager. that is the aim and I cant keep saying we cant. this is the year the top teams are getting beaten. Other years its been different but Chelsea and Liverpool have been beaten this weekend. Liverpool only lost twice last year. there are teams now who, on their better days, can knock the top sides over, so I think the league is getting closer. ARseNe WeNGeR has blasted Birmingham fans for chanting the name of Martin taylor as theo Walcott lay injured during Arsenals 3-1 win at the emirates on saturday. Walcott was felled by a crunching tackle from Liam Ridgewell and is now a doubt for the Gunners Champions League trip to AZ Alkmaar tomorrow. the incident revived memories of taylors challenge on Arsenal striker eduardo at st Andrews in February 2008, which left the Croatia striker with a double leg fracture and dislocated ankle. And Arsenal boss Wenger, whose side won the game thanks to goals by Robin van Persie, Abou Diaby and Andrey Arshavin, was furious by the reaction from a section of the travelling support. Frankly, that was atrocious, he said. they wont be remembered for their taste with that kind of remark. One says something stupid, everybody follows, even intelligent people. People lose their identity and sense of responsibility. Pain game: Walcott in agony index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html