D Monday, December 14, 2009 METROSPORT 23 Police rule out inquiry into Blues accounts Never mind the Ballon dOr...heres a Messi punk BARCELONA star Lionel Messi wore a Sex Pistols T-shirt to parade his European Football of the Year trophy at the Nou Camp. The Argentine showed off the Ballon dOr before Barcas 1-0 La Liga win against city rivals Espanyol which he missed through injury. FORMER Birmingham City co-owner David Sullivan has criticised new president Carson Yeung after police ruled out a criminal investigation into alleged financial irregularities at St Andrews. West Midlands Police confirmed officers from its economic crime team met representatives from Blues to discuss concerns raised by the club over the alleged irregularities in its accounts. But a police spokesman said: After careful consideration and examination regarding concerns raised by representatives of Birmingham City FC, we have now advised the club that we do not feel there is any criminal matter to be further investigated. Sullivan said the allegations had wasted police time and added: There can be no allegation of wrongdoing. Birmingham City was a plc, run by professionals and properly audited. If Mr Yeung and Co have any issues they should deal directly with us and not through the press or through the police, who have enough to do investigating serious crimes. I almost feel we should collectively apologise to the police for wasting their time. The detectives have been dragged into what I can only imagine was a case of sour grapes. BIRMINGHAM matchwinner Lee Bowyer admits he is concerned his former club and boyhood favourites West Ham are not good enough to stay in the Premier League. Bowyer hit the winner against the Hammers at St Andrews to extend Citys unbeaten run to seven games. It was the third time in the last four games the midfielder has scored the only goal of the game and it plunged Gianfranco Zolas side back into the relegation zone. Bowyer said: Im sorry to see West Ham at the bottom. In this league you need to score goals and I didnt see many threats to us. Im a bit concerned for them. Bowyers fear for Hammers SuNdeRLANd defender Nyron Nosworthy believes the clubs disappointment at their mid-table position is a sign of genuine progress. After two tough seasons struggling to maintain their top- flight status, Nosworthy (pictured) said: Its fantastic and its great testament to everyone who has backed the club. The chairman had a vision and he has come in and said we want to push for the top ten and be in there pushing for a europa League place. Its a beautiful thing to see. The Black Cats conceded a late equaliser to lowly Portsmouth on Saturday to drop two points and have only taken five points from seven league games. High-flying Aston Villa are their opponents tomorrow at the Stadium of Light. FuLHAM boss Roy Hodgson says he will be glad to welcome back Andy Johnson and diomansy Kamara from injury after watching his team squander chances to win at Burnley. Bobby Zamora put the Cottagers ahead at Turf Moor but Wade elliott earned the hosts a draw after damien duff and erik Nevland had missed chances for Fulham. Hodgson (pictured) said: Im hoping pretty soon Ill have both diomansy and Andy back from injury to bolster our strikeforce and that will maybe make us a little bit more dangerous in the final third. We had a lot of possession but could have done a little better. Roys lacking goals Nyron: Black Cats making progress Troubled times: Zola RICHARD DUNNE believes Aston Villas strong team spirit is key to their push for a Champions League spot. Villa moved up to fourth in the Premier League with a surprise 1-0 win at Manchester United on Saturday evening, extending their unbeaten league run to ten matches. And Republic of Ireland defender Dunne, who signed at Villa Park after being discarded by big-spending Manchester City in the summer, said: We have a really good atmosphere in the dressing room. Everyone works hard for each other. Everyone is prepared to put their foot in. It is taken for granted you will not go home with a victory without everyone doing their bit when you are coming under the cosh.Spirit level: Dunne Dunne delighted by work ethic Time Villa got a little respect, says ONeill Faint praise: Ashley Young and Gabriel Agbonlahor Picture: Action Images SOCCER PREMiER LEAGuE Winning like this will do our confidence good but we wont get carried away MARTIN ONeILL hopes Aston Villas long-awaited victory at Manchester united will finally earn his players the recognition they deserve. Gabriel Agbonlahors head- er in the 21st minute ensured Villa collected their first Old Trafford win since 1983 on Saturday. It also added the scalp of the Premier League champions to those of Liverpool and leaders Chelsea, collected already this season. Now ONeill feels it is time for his side to be regarded as more than a bunch of in- dustrious scrappers who are not afraid to launch long balls forward when req- uired. There is an ability within our squad that some- times gets overlooked, said the Villa boss. People looked at our away results last season and decided we were a counter-attacking side. There is nothing wrong with that. Manchester united have won championships like it. We have also tightened up defensively. I know we have improved. A couple of years ago we could not have per- formed like we have been. American keeper Brad Friedel had a quiet evening but needed to produce a fine late save to deny dimitar Ber- batov an equaliser, James Milner was praised by Sir Alex Ferguson, while Stewart downing capped a good dis- play by booting a header from Nemanja Vidic off the goal- line. And Agbonlahor clearly likes facing united as the england striker has now found the net against them in four successive seasons. It left the hosts to go away and lick their w o u n d s ahead of their match with Wolves tomorrow and ONeill contemplating a top-four fin- ish and the prize of Champi- ons League football. Ourselves, Manchester City and Tottenham are very strong and winning matches like this is bound to do our confidence good, he added. But that could easily be eroded so there is no point in us getting carried away. BY kEviN AiTkEN CARLO ANCELOTTI has brushed aside Chelseas defensive problems despite a run of form which has seen them fail to win in four games and eliminated from the Carling Cup. Chelsea played poorly again as they drew 3-3 with Everton at Stamford Bridge with their inability to defend set-pieces threatening to undermine their season. Ancelottis men have now let in ten goals in four matches and Evertons three arrived from two free-kicks and a throw-in. Boss Ancelotti said: I am working with fantastic players and we have a good opportunity to have a fantastic season. But we have to improve on the set- plays because we conceded three goals from them. It was the same against Aston Villa. We lost that game on set-plays but we worked on the situation and we improved. We have to do the same now. Ancelotti: We wont panic over set-piece index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html