D Monday, February 1, 2010 SPORT 23 SOCCER PREMIER LEAGUE City set out to help Bridge over his troubled waters Man City: Given, Zabaleta (Onuoha 37), Toure, Kompany (Boyata 59), Garrido, De Jong, Ireland, Barry, Petrov (Bellamy 73), Tevez (pictured), Adebayor. Booked: De Jong. Portsmouth: Tames, Vanden Borre, Ben- Haim, Wilson, Hreidarsson (Finnan 27), Mullins (Owusu-Abeyie 85), Basinas, OHara, Webber (Piquionne 77), Utaka, Boateng. Booked: Wilson, Basinas, Boateng. Att: 44,015. Ref: M Atkinson MATCH FACTS MANCHESTER CITY 2 PORTSMOUTH 0 By Simon Kay MANCHESTER City players showed their support for colleague Wayne Bridge yesterday by wearing Team Bridge slogans under their shirts dur- ing the Premier League victory against Portsmouth. The full-back is out with a knee injury but some of his colleagues felt it was important to show backing for the 29- year-old, who has found himself at the centre of a media storm after allega- tions of John Terrys affair with his former girlfriend Vanessa Perroncel. Bridge is not speaking about the scan- dal, insisting he is interested only in the welfare of his three-year-old son. But he is known to be deeply dis- tressed about the situation, not least because he regarded England captain Terry as a friend, and has consid- ered quitting the international scene. And the City players showed whose side they are on with their own statement. Boss Roberto Mancini said: The players are very close to Wayne. He is a fantastic player and a good guy. It was a nice gesture. Mancini also praised Emmanuel Ade- bayor, who scored Citys first goal Vincent Kompany added the other in first-half stoppage-time to ensure City moved to within a point of fourth spot. It was Adebayors first goal since re- covering from the shock of his Togo team being attacked at the Africa Cup of Nations. Mancini added: I am very happy for Emmanuel to score. It was an incredible situation he was involved in. Two good: Scorer Adebayor, right, is congratulated by Kompany Picture: Reuters AFRICA CUP OF NATI0NS Togo ban outrageous Furious Togo captain Emmanuel Adebayor has labelled the decision to bar his national team from the next two Africa Cup of Nations as outrageous. Togo have been banned from the next two tournaments and hit with a fine following their withdrawal from this years competition in the wake of a terrorist attack on their team bus which killed three people. Manchester City striker Adebayor yesterday said of the Confederation of African Footballs decision: [CAF president issa] Hayatou has served Africa extensively but now he must escape. This decision is outrageous. Sealed with a kiss: Skipper Ahmed Hassan hails Egypts 1-0 victory over Ghana in yesterdays Africa Cup of Nations final index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html