Sunday, December 13, 2009

Live - Sunday football

GOALFLASHES AND MAJOR INCIDENTS (all times GMT)

606: DEBATE
Your thoughts on the action

To get involved use 606 or text us your views & comments on 81111 (UK) or +44 7786200666 (worldwide). (Not all contributions can be used)

By Chris Bevan

1345: Dave Kitson felt his shot hit Mark Hudson's arm... replays show it did, but a penalty would have been very harsh. Play continues, and Boro's Mark Keates sees his shot from the left fizz past David Marshall's post - I think that was about the 100th chance in the opening half-hour.

1343: A golden chance for Middlesbrough's Marcus Bent, who is in acres of space after latching on to a ball over the top. Bent, who is just onside, should really have a pop himself, but he hesitates and tees up Dave Kitson instead... his shot is blocked and Cardiff survive.

1341: Cardiff's first sustained spell of pressure, with Boro struggling to clear their lines from a corner which they conceded when Michael Chopra had a shot blocked. The Bluebirds are passing the ball around well too.

1340: If you give this page a quick manual refresh, a link to BBC Radio 5 live's commentary from the Riverside will appear at the top right of your page. UK users only, I'm afraid.

1338: It's not as though Cardiff are just sitting back and soaking things up either. Chris Burke vaults a couple of challenges and lets fly from 25 yards but his low shot is straight at Boro keeper Brad Jones.

From Giles in Ghana, via text: "Yesterday, what a day, was sat in Ghana reading the updates then texting a friend in Mali who supports Man Utd. Fingers sore today, hopefully his internet will be back up today otherwise my phone bill will be excessive."

1334: Boro haven't won a home game since Gordon Strachan took charge on 26 October but they have made a decent start to this one - some neat passing from them coming forward, and Adam Johnson is seeing plenty of the ball on the right too. Cardiff holding out so far, though.

ArtDecoGecko on Twitter: "I can't explain why but I have a feeling Liverpool are going to turn it around, starting today... here's to a 3-1 win."

1330: Michael Chopra has his first effort on goal of the day, taking a pot-shot from the edge of the box after finding a bit of space... but he doesn't quite catch it right and it rolls wide of Brad Jones' right-hand post.

1325: Cardiff's ex-Newcastle and Sunderland striker Michael Chopra is getting some hearty boos from the Boro fans, whose side are still on top. Dave Marshall has not had another save to make but the Cardiff defenders have blocked about a dozen shots already. Could be a busy afternoon for them...

From AberdeenBluebird on 606: "Hopefully this will be a repeat of the FA Cup Quarter-final of 2008! I think we have a great chance to win today but we're quite inconsistent... Come on Cardiff!!"

1320: A lively start at the Riverside. Cardiff have shown their intention by getting forward quickly but Boro's Adam Johnson just had a fierce shot saved by David Marshall before Dave Kitson dragged the rebound wide.

triggersolution on Twitter: "Huge chance for Liverpool today. Bet they don't take it again! Hope Arsenal get themselves back in the title race."

1315: Right then. Middlesbrough get us started. Win today, and fifth-placed Cardiff go third - Boro are 11th at start of play but three points would send them sixth... yes, it's that tight in the Championship.

1313: Middlesbrough boss Gordon Strachan on his side's poor home form that has seen them win only one of their last seven games at the Riverside: "The crowd are actually very good and support the team very well. But there is something fundamentally wrong here and we need to find it out."

From Jesus Saves but Jinky taps in on the rebound on 606: "Middlesbrough and Cardiff are two teams that have on and off days. It could be high scoring, nil-nil or 4-0 to someone. I'm gonna say 2-0 boro with Bent getting one and Mark Yeates getting the other."

1309: TEAM NEWS Middlesbrough v Cardiff
Middlesbrough boss Gordon Strachan brings Mark Yeates back Marcus Bent into his starting XI but Gary O'Neil misses out after picking up a knock in midweek. Cardiff midfielder Joe Ledley starts after recovering from a hip injury and striker Jay Bothroyd returns from suspension.

1307: Hopefully you know how to get involved by now. If not, tweet me gently on Twitter, text me via 81111 (UK) or +44 7786200666 (international) and join the chat on 606.

1305: We've lost another manager today too. Sheffield Wednesday have parted company with Brian Laws "by mutual consent".... making him the 20th boss to go in the top four divisions this season. Probably not the early Christmas present Laws was hoping for.

1303: I want your thoughts on yesterday too... lots to talk about, whether it be Sir Alex Ferguson demanding that referees should not decide how much injury time is played (I should probably add that Sir Alex isn't suggesting that he should start doing that himself) as well as a diving debate involving Wayne Rooney and Craig Bellamy (one was correctly spotted, one was wrongly called), and an alleged player-fan clash at White Hart Lane. Got all that? Good.

1301: TEAMS Middlesbrough v Cardiff
Middlesbrough: Jones, McMahon, Wheater, St. Ledger, Pogatetz, Johnson, Rhys Williams, Osbourne, Yeates, Bent, Kitson. Subs: Coyne, Hoyte, Lita, Emnes, Arca, Hines, Luke Williams.
Cardiff: Marshall, Quinn, Hudson, Gerrard, McNaughton, Burke, Ledley, Rae, Whittingham, Chopra, Bothroyd. Subs: Enckelman, Kennedy, Etuhu, Taiwo, Matthews, Wildig, McCormack.
Referee: Grant Hegley (Hertfordshire)

1259: Kick-off at Anfield is at 1600 GMT... before that, we're heading up to the north-east for Middlesbrough v Cardiff, which starts in about 16 minutes' time. If you think the Premier League is unpredictable this season, then check out the Championship.

1257: Yep, Aston Villa were the only team to start the day in the top eight to win on Saturday - meaning Arsenal (two defeats in their last three league games) and Liverpool (one win in five league games) are still very much in touch with the leading pack despite their recent poor form. A win for either today would improve their title/top four prospects no end too. All to play for then...

1255 GMT: I'm pretty sure Rafa Benitez and Arsene Wenger enjoyed yesterday's Premier League thrills and spills as much as you and I... will either of them have anything to smile about today, though? I wonder...



ะพ 1:53 AM

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