Man Utd 2-0 Sunderland: Wayne Rooney scores twice, Wes Brown wrongly sent off

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Wes Brown is wrongly sent off by Referee Roger East

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Wayne Rooney fired Manchester United to a 2-0 win over Sunderland and third spot in the Premier League at Old Trafford - but Wes Brown was controversially sent off for the visitors.

Radamel Falcao produced a fine piece of skill to turn John O’Shea in the box and was hauled down by the Sunderland defender to earn United a second-half spot-kick.

Brown did not appear to make any contact with Falcao, but referee Roger East showed him a straight red card before Rooney drilled in the penalty on 66 minutes.

Ander Herrera had a late goal correctly ruled out for offside but the result leaves Sunderland three points above the relegation zone and with just one win in their last 10 Premier League matches.Rooney then added his second - and first from open play in 2015 - by heading in from close range with six minutes left when Costel Pantilimon parried Adnan Januzaj's shot. Januzaj had replaced the disappointing Angel di Maria at half-time.

United began the game brightly and Rooney - who had gone eight games without a goal before kick-off - wasted a good chance to open the scoring four minutes in when he headed Di Maria's corner wide.

However, Sunderland showed early intent too, with Connor Wickham surging forward and drawing a fine save from David de Gea from the edge of the box before Jermain Defoe curled a shot over the bar.

The impressive Young - who caused Anthony Reveillere problems throughout the match - then cut inside and bent an effort wide from 25 yards before Sebastian Larsson hacked Marcos Rojo's effort off the line five minutes before the break.United dominated possession throughout the opening 45 minutes though, and the impressive Ashley Young sent a powerful volley over the bar before his cross-shot deflected up onto the woodwork off the foot of O'Shea.

Di Maria had a first half to forget, wasting numerous opportunities to deliver a good cross into the box, and was replaced by Januzaj at the interval.

The young Belgian had an immediate impact, winning two corners at the start of the second half before lashing a volley wide on the hour mark when Reveillere half-cleared Rooney's free-kick.

However, controversy followed when the referee - advised by his assistants - showed a red card to O’Shea's fellow centre-back Brown before Rooney fired the penalty low past Pantilimon's right.Well-organised Sunderland continued to frustrate United until a smart piece of control from Falcao - who started in place of the injured Robin van Persie - left O'Shea little option but to foul the United striker in the area.

Substitutes Januzaj and Marouane Fellaini both tested the Sunderland shot-stopper as tiredness took its toll on the visitors before Rooney nodded in the second from close range to put the result beyond doubt on 84 minutes.

There was still time for one more moment of drama, when Herrera's injury-time goal was rightly ruled out for offside, after Fellaini had spurned a golden opportunity to score a one-on-one chance. 

"It was comfortable from about 20 minutes after half-time and I have to give credit to Manchester United. I have been a bit harsh on them this season but I thought they did very well. They gave the ball away very cheaply in the first 15 minutes when Defoe had a shot and should have done better; Wickham should have passed to Defoe but chose to shoot. After that they were dominant, United passed the ball quickly, Ashley Young was very good. United got the penalty in the second half, and it was a stonewall penalty. I do not know how the referee got the decision wrong. It was definitely John O’Shea who committed the foul. O’Shea even admitted it was him and not Brown. Everybody makes mistakes, but that was a bad one."

SOCCER SATURDAY VERDICT - PAUL MERSON

PLAYER RATINGS

Man Utd: De Gea (7), Evans (6), Rojo (6), Smalling (7), Valencia (6), Blind (6), Herrera (6), Rooney (7), Young (8), Di Maria (4), Falcao (6). Subs: Fellaini (6), Januzaj (7), Mata (6).

Sunderland: Pantilimon (7), Brown (7), O'Shea (6), Reveillere (6), Van Aanholt (7), Cattermole (7), Gomez (6), Johnson (6), Larsson (6), Wickham (6), Defoe (6). Subs: Vergini (6), Fletcher (6), Graham (6).

Man of the match: Ashley Young

Hearts put 10 goals past Cowdenbeath in Scottish Championship

Genero Zeefuik (right): Memorable afternoon for the Hearts striker

Genero Zeefuik notched the third fastest hat-trick in Scottish football history as Hearts broke their own league win record as they eviscerated Cowdenbeath 10-0.

The Dutchman, a January loan arrival from FC Groningen, secured the matchball after two minutes and 36 seconds of first-half mayhem, which included two penalties and a red card. 

Cowdenbeath were already 2-0 down when Lewis Toshney was ordered off and thereafter their rampant hosts showed no mercy as their relentless march back to the Premiership shows no sign of slowing. 

Hearts were in the ascendancy from the first whistle and Billy King rattled the goalframe with a stinging drive after doing well to work space on the edge of the penalty area.

The breakthrough arrived when Sam Nicholson's shot hit Nathaniel Wedderburn's hand and the ensuing penalty was clinically dispatched by Zeefuik (26).

The home crowd had barely re-taken their seats when Jamie Walker held the ball up before feeding Zeefuik who turned and fired a low shot beyond Robbie Thomson.

A difficult afternoon for the Blue Brazil assumed nightmarish proportions on 29 minutes when Nicholson was hauled down in the box by Lewis Toshney - who received his marching orders - before Zeefuik slammed home the spot-kick to guarantee the match ball for his sideboard.
 
There was to be no respite for the beleaguered visitors as Nicholson (33) unleashed a rasping drive into the roof of the net from 20 yards before Nicholson turned provider, picking out Walker (39) who swept the ball in from 18 yards.

Morgaro Gomis was fouled in the box to bring about the third penalty of the afternoon and there was a familiar outcome as Gomis made no mistake from 12 yards before Alim Ozturk (61) found the bottom corner with a sweet strike.

There was to be no let up from the runaway leaders and Danny Wilson (68) got in on the act to make it 8-0 before Osman Osman Sow's quick-fire brace (70 & 74) took the tally into double figures - and at that point the men in maroon declared, their 20-point advantage over city rivals firmly intact

Granada 1-3 Barcelona: Ivan Rakitic, Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi on target

Barcelona's Ivan Rakitic finds himself outnumbered

Barcelona kept the pressure on league leaders Real Madrid after winning 3-1 at Granada without reaching top gear.

Ivan Rakitic opened the scoring after 25 minutes and then Luis Suarez struck at the start of the second period, grabbing his third goal in four days. Fran Rico pulled one back for the hosts from the penalty spot but Suarez then put the ball on a plate for Lionel Messi to restore the two-goal advantage.

Although this was far from the mesmeric display Luis Enrique's side produced at Manchester City, it was vital they got back to winning ways in the league after their shock home defeat to Malaga. The win sees them close the gap with Madrid to one point, although Los Blancos host Villarreal on Sunday.

Luis Enrique made three changes to the team that lost to Malaga, recalling Javier Mascherano, Xavi Hernandez and Ivan Rakitic. And just as against Malaga, his side struggled to get going.

Their first real chance did not arrive until 23 minutes were on the clock. Suarez advanced down the left and squared to Xavi Hernandez on the edge of the area and the veteran midfielder saw his shot tipped over the bar by former Barcelona goalkeeper Oier Olazabal.

But the opening goal arrived just a moment later. Again Suarez caused problems for Granada down the left hand side and sent the ball across the face of goal. Granada defender Juan Cala attempted to clear but lost control of the ball, allowing Rakitic to burst in front of him and smash in from a couple of yards.

However, Barca could have lost their lead just before the break when Javi Marquez found space to shoot inside the area, but he was denied by a fine save by Claudio Bravo.

Granada had another chance to equalise just after the break. A poor pass by Jeremy Mathieu was intercepted by Lass Bangoura and the Rayo Vallecano loanee raced to the byline to cross towards Jhon Cordoba, but Bravo plucked the ball out of the sky.

Immediately after, Suarez eased Barca's fears of conceding an equaliser by doubling his side's lead, exchanging passes with Rakitic and knocking the ball past an advancing Oier first-time.

Granada got themselves back into the game when Marc Bartra was penalised for a soft-looking challenge on Lass in the area and Rico powered the resulting spot-kick just beyond Bravo.

But Suarez again weaved his magic to put the game beyond the hosts. The Uruguayan was released by another fine chipped pass by Rakitic and eased his way past Oier, but instead of passing into the goal, he opted to put the ball on a plate for Messi.

The Argentinian made no mistake but may have been in an offside position.

Suarez looked bemused when he was then substituted by Luis Enrique for Pedro. The Spain international squandered a chance to grab a fourth, as did Messi, but Barca had already done what was required.

Manchester United go third in Premier League, as Newcastle and Stoke also win

Wayne Rooney celebrates his second goal against Sunderland

Manchester United moved up to third place in the Premier League with a 2-0 home win over Sunderland on Saturday – but the main talking point was the referee sending off Wes Brown in a case of mistaken identity.

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Match Reports

Barclays Prem

• Burnley 0 Swansea 1
• West Ham 1 C Palace 3
• Man Utd 2 S'land 0
• Newcastle 1 A Villa 0
• W Brom 1 So'ton 0
• Stoke 1 Hull City 0

United had dominated the game at Old Trafford but it took them 66 minutes to make the breakthrough, Wayne Rooney scoring from the penalty spot.

Barclays Prem

POSPTS

1Chelsea60

2Man City55

3Man Utd50

4Arsenal48

5So'ton46

6Liverpool45

7Tottenham44

8Swansea40

9West Ham39

10Stoke39

11Newcastle35

12C Palace30

13W Brom30

14Everton28

15Hull City26

16S'land25

17QPR22

18Burnley22

19A Villa22

20Leicester18

Table last updated 28/02/2015 17:01

Radamel Falcao won the spot-kick with a superb piece of skill in the box, and when John O'Shea brought him down, referee Roger East gave the penalty - correctly - but inexplicably sent Brown off. The incident came on the day the game's lawmakers - the International FA Board - ruled out trialling video replays of controversial incidents for at least 12 months.

Rooney grabbed the second on 84 when Adnan Januzaj's shot was parried by Costel Pantilimon and the United captain buried the rebound.

Sunderland’s poor run continues - just one win in 10 matches now for Gus Poyet's men.

Southampton missed the chance to move into fourth place as they went down 1-0 at West Brom.

Saido Berahino scored a superb goal just two minutes in, but Saints - and in particular Graziano Pelle - will be kicking themselves that they did not at least take a point back down to the south coast.

Pelle contrived to miss the ball from a yard out from Ryan Bertrand's second-half cross, as the Italian striker's woeful form in 2015 continues. That is three games without a win now for Southampton.

Burnley remain in deep trouble after going down 1-0 at home to Swansea. The Swans built on last week's fine win over Manchester United with another three points, though the goal - on 64 minutes - will not be on the 'Goals of the Season' shortlist.

A corner was headed on by Bafetimbi Gomis, and in the ensuing scramble the ball came off a combination of Jack Cork, Kieran Trippier and finally the luckless Burnley keeper Tom Heaton before bobbling into the net.

Burnley's winless streak was extended to four games and they remain in the relegation zone.

Aston Villa slumped to their sixth straight league defeat - and 11th game without a win - after going down 1-0 at Newcastle.

Papiss Cisse scored the only goal on 37 minutes, superbly controlling Daryl Janmaat's cross with his left foot and firing home with his right past Brad Guzan to continue new Villa boss Tim Sherwood's difficult start.

Peter Crouch scored a record-equalling 46th headed Premier League goal - and the only goal of the game - as Stoke beat Hull City 1-0.

Crouch, who had only just come off the bench, headed home from Charlie Adam's cross on 71 minutes to seal the points for Mark Hughes' men and equal Alan Shearer's Premier League headed goals record.

In the early kick-off, Crystal Palace beat West Ham 3-1 at Upton Park, Glenn Murray scoring two goals and then being sent off.

All three of Palace's goals came from set-pieces, Murray nodding in the first with the help of a deflection off Aaron Cresswell on 43, and Scott Dann then powered in the second with a header from a corner on 51.

Murray helped himself to his second on 63 from a Jason Puncheon free-kick, but was then sent off six minutes later for his second yellow card. Enner Valencia’s goal was the Hammer’s only consolation.

Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini hoping for huge win at Liverpool

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini says he is hoping his team are able to take advantage of Liverpool's hectic Europa League schedule in Sunday's heavyweight Premier League fixture at Anfield.

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The Chilean insisted the Reds' return in the early hours of Friday morning from their defeat in Istanbul against Besiktas would hamper Brendan Rodgers' side - but would not prove pivotal.

With Chelsea involved in the Capital One Cup final later the same day, City can cut the London side's lead at the top of the table to two points with a victory in the noon kick-off.

"If we are going to have three points more, we are going to go two points behind Chelsea. It is very important to beat Liverpool and to continue winning in the Premier League"

Manuel Pellegrini

Pellegrini said of Liverpool's late trip back from Turkey: "I think that of course it is an advantage, (but) not a decisive one because I always think the decisive thing is the performance on the day of the game.

"If we think we are going to win that game because Liverpool arrived last night, that is not the reason.

"But I have played in the Europa League and when you arrive on Friday it is not the best way to prepare for a game on Sunday - but that is the rules. They are playing Europa League.

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Live Ford Super Sunday

Liverpool vs Man City

"Maybe another time we (will) prepare worse for the game.

"We must play very well because they also have a strong squad. I don't think they will play the same starting 11 as yesterday night. They are a strong team and it is a difficult stadium."

Chelsea remain strong title favourites but City did claw two points back last week after hammering Newcastle at the Etihad and Pellegrini wants to take advantage of the Blues' cup distraction this Sunday.

They must also put to one side their 2-1 Champions League home defeat to Barcelona for the trip across to Merseyside.

He said: "Of course it is important, and more than psychologically it is important mathematically.

"If we are going to have three points more, we are going to go two points behind Chelsea. It is very important to beat Liverpool and to continue winning in the Premier League, and continue fighting until the end to retain the title. As soon as we close the gap it is better for us."

Chelsea will win the Capital One Cup final, while Liverpool, Arsenal and United will all claim wins, says Paul Merson

The Magic Man also thinks West Ham, Burnley, Stoke and Newcastle will claim important top-flight victories this weekend

Sky Sports' Paul Merson gives his predictions ahead of another action-packed round of Premier League fixtures, as well as his tip for Sunday’s Capital One Cup final.

Liverpool v Manchester City - Super Sunday

Liverpool host champions City at Anfield on Sunday lunchtime

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Liverpool vs Man City 

Getting beaten by Barcelona on Tuesday will have really knocked the stuffing out of City. And I think that Liverpool are at home and are on a right roll at the moment, so I see them winning this game 2-1.

I am just going for Liverpool here. They have really picked up of late, while Brendan Rodgers has rested a couple of players for the trip to Besiktas in Philippe Coutinho and Jordan Henderson, and for me this game on Sunday is bigger than the Besiktas match.

PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1 

Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur - Capital One Cup final, Sunday

Merse has tipped his former club Arsenal to see off Everton on Sunday at the Emirates

It will be a tight game. There is no Nemanja Matic, which makes a massive difference for Chelsea. I think Chelsea will just win 2-1, although it will be a hard, hard game for them - and a good game too.

PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1

Arsenal v Everton 

Burnley will beat Swansea 2-1 at Turf Moor on Saturday, predicts The Magic Man

Arsenal will win this match quite easily. Everton are struggling quite badly at the moment and only got out of jail last week with a last-minute goal at home to Leicester.

It is Arsenal all over really, they will get back to normal and then their disastrous Wednesday against Monaco will all be forgotten about. So I do not see anything other than a 3-0 Arsenal win here.

PAUL PREDICTS: 3-0 

West Ham United v Crystal Palace - Saturday

Merse tips United to beat Sunderland 3-0 at home this weekend

I am just about going for a home win here. I know West Ham have hit a bit of a rocky patch recently, but I still think that they will just have a little bit too much for Palace at home.

PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1 

Burnley v Swansea City - Saturday

Merson thinks Newcastle will overcome one of his former teams Villa at St James' Park on Saturday afternoon

Burnley need to win this match. Swansea had a great result last Saturday against Manchester United, while Burnley have got some big games coming up - this is a must-win one for them. I am going for 2-1 to Burnley.

PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1

Manchester United v Sunderland - Saturday

Stoke will beat Hull 2-0 this weekend, says the Magic Man

Sunderland are struggling badly at the moment and they cannot score goals, while Manchester United had a bad result last week at Swansea.

However, while United have not been playing well recently, I still expect them to beat Sunderland 3-0.

PAUL PREDICTS: 3-0 

Newcastle United v Aston Villa - Saturday

Merse predicts West Brom to draw with Southampton at the Hawthorns on Saturday

Newcastle got rinsed last week, while Villa have a new manager – I thought it was a good decision bringing in Tim Sherwood, but nothing really changed against Stoke on Sunday. They had just three shots last week, only two on target and I thought they would have had a lot more than that.

So I think Newcastle will bounce back this week and win 2-0.

PAUL PREDICTS: 2-0

Stoke City v Hull City - Saturday

I do not like going against Stoke, they had a decent result at Villa last week. Hull have really picked up in recent weeks, they’ve had some big wins, but I am going to go 2-0 Stoke.PAUL PREDICTS: 2-0

West Bromwich Albion v Southampton - Saturday

Southampton dominated big chunks of the game against Liverpool on Sunday, without ever really looking like scoring. It was hardly backs-against-the-wall stuff with Southampton ripping then open and goalmouth scrambles. Meanwhile, West Brom are decent at home and I do not see them losing here, so I am going to go 1-1.

Glenn Hoddle gives his views on Sunday's Capital One Cup final between Tottenham and Chelsea at Wembley

Tottenham face Chelsea in the Capital One Cup final on Sunday

Sky Sports' Glenn Hoddle gives his views on Sunday's Capital One Cup final between Tottenham and Chelsea at Wembley.

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The former England manager, who played for both clubs throughout his career and managed Spurs between 2001 and 2003, talks Jose Mourinho's cup final prowess, Tottenham's chances and the loss of Nemanja Matic.

Which Tottenham players will hurt Chelsea?

HODDLE: Christian Eriksen and Harry Kane are obviously the two. Eriksen has come up with some important goals and Kane is on fine form, but can he peak in a cup final? That’s what every Spurs fan wants. I don’t think there’s pressure on him, he just goes out and does his stuff. He’s young and hasn’t put any pressure on himself.

How will the incidents in the Burnley game at the weekend impact Chelsea?

Nemanja Matic is suspended for the clash with Spurs

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Capital One Cup Final

Chelsea vs Tottenham

March 1, 2015

HODDLE: Cup finals are not won a week before by a manager going on TV. Cup finals are won by players going the extra mile, implementing what the manager wants them to do on the day by playing as close to their natural game as possible. If Spurs do that they’ve got a hell of a chance. That’s the key to winning a cup final. In terms of the refereeing, I don’t think the events of the Burnley game have done Anthony Taylor and his team any favours.

What effect will a Spurs defeat have on the rest of their season and the quest for the top four?

HODDLE: A defeat on Sunday would be a massive blow for them after the Fiorentina loss. One defeat could carry onto the next. The pressure has built because they have gone out of the Europa League and don't have that to fall back on. That result has got to have an impact on Sunday - both in the physical side of having to travel and mentally after losing.

Harry Kane scored twice against Chelsea earlier in the season

Will Chelsea have the 5-3 defeat at White Hart Lane in January on their minds?

HODDLE: I don’t think that result will have an impact on Chelsea, but will on Spurs. It will give them that belief they can beat Chelsea in a one-off game. I think Spurs players all have to play at eight or nine out of 10, whereas Chelsea have proved this season they can play in a lower gear and still win. Some players play at eight or nine out of 10, others play at six or seven and they still win with ease. Spurs have got to really perform to win.

Nemanja Matic is suspended for Chelsea… will that have a big impact?

Nemanja Matic is suspended for the clash with Spurs

HODDLE: With Moussa Dembele and Christian Eriksen floating around in that position, it will be difficult for Chelsea to cope without Matic. He’s a massive, massive player. I’ve said before, if Matic or that type of player played for Arsenal, they’d have a far better chance of winning the title. Dembele needs to be mentioned here, it’s not all about Eriksen. Dembele has been pushed forward, something I’ve been wanting for years since I first saw him, because he started too deep but can fly past people very easily. Chelsea have a big and strong enough squad to adjust, whether he plays Cesc Fabregas deeper or brings Jon Obi Mikel in there, they’ve got options.

Mourinho has won nine of his 11 cup finals as a manager, how does he do it?

Jose Mourinho has won nine of his 11 major finals as a manager

HODDLE: He wants to win every game, and he’s always had good squads to work with. He said in the week: “It doesn’t matter what final you’re in, if it’s a five-a-side final in training or in pre-season, they’re about winning.” That’s what he instils into his team. But in the Spurs camp they’ll have the same feeling; they want silverware and it’s their only chance this year.

And your predictions?