Professionalism a Given

Chris Hughton claimed Newcastle would have expected nothing less than a professional performance from Shay Given.
Despite a statement this week from his representative suggesting he was unsettled, Given produced a number of excellent saves as Newcastle claimed a goalless draw in an entertaining FA Cup third round tie.
Both sides had numerous opportunities to settle an end-to-end encounter but two stops from Given to deny Daniel Cousin caught the eye.
Hughton, Joe Kinnear's number two, said: "We have got used to that type of performance from him.
"He is a top quality goalkeeper and a top quality individual - but we wouldn't expect anything different from him."
Michael Owen spurned two excellent opportunities to win the game for the visitors at the KC Stadium but Hull thought they had scored from a Michael Turner header in the second half.
Turner's effort rebounded onto the post and bar off Damien Duff and Given smothered it as it bounced down, with referee Chris Foy ruling it had not crossed the line.
It was an obvious talking point from the game but Hughton felt the decision was correct and Hull boss Phil Brown did not complain.
Hughton said: "I have seen it again, and as per normal you look at the reactions of players.
"Their players are always going to see it going over the line and ours could see it for what is was, hit the crossbar, went into Shay Given's hands and certainly not over the line."
Brown has already got involved in one argument about video replays this week after his side had a late penalty revoked against Aston Villa on Tuesday night.
This time he maintained a diplomatic line and said: "You can go on about goalline technology but it is inconclusive and impossible for the linesman to give that.
"Shay does look like he has stepped over the line to save the ball.
"Damien Duff has done fantastically at the back post to get a touch, certainly if he doesn't Michael Turner scores."
After three successive defeats, Brown was pleased with the Tigers' display.
He said: "Both sides endeavoured to win the game, no doubt about it.
"I am pleased with the performance. It is getting the balance right between entertaining, winning football and that clean-sheet mentality and in the last two games we have got back to that ugly side of the game."
Hughton felt Newcastle were unfortunate not to have snatched victory.
He said: "I think given the fact that we are the away side coming here, probably we edged it, certainly on goalscoring chances.
"We are probably the ones slightly more aggrieved we didn't come away with the win, but they are a very good side and showed they have a good squad.
"It was a typical cup tie and became very open in the second half and could have gone either way."
Hughton was speaking on behalf of Kinnear, who has had a difficult relationship with the media since taking charge this season and today decided not to address the press.
Hughton said: "Every now and again his throat gets a little sore - he does a lot of shouting on the touchline."

Forest fire embraces Cup's values

Quite what the sheikhs of Abu Dhabi made of Man City's 3-0 FA Cup embarrassment against Forest is anyone's guess.
But it was the result the FA Cup had yearned for.
A result which proved there is an alternative to the money which fuels the Premier League.
A result which pushed the transfer window out of the headlines for a weekend at least and let us take a peep at what the game really should be all about.
True, £10million Wayne Bridge, the first of what could be many City signings, was paraded at Eastlands before the match but, if anything, his presence only highlighted the desperate state of affairs at City as manager Mark Hughes attempts to appease Arab billionaires who profess patience but sooner rather than later will want trophies for their money.
Not this season. City are in a relegation battle. They are out of the Carling Cup, out of the FA Cup and now have been given a lesson in pride and passion by a club struggling in the Championship.
Yet City are not the first club to be humbled in the finest traditions of the FA Cup. Nor were they the only one on a third round day when football's little men did the game proud.
In League One Hartlepool's slaying of Premier League Stoke.
In Peter Clarke's injury-time equaliser for Southend, a club 55 league places below Chelsea, but who gave World Cup-winning manager Luiz Felipe Scolari another perplexing day at Stamford Bridge.
In Bristol City, who take cup holders Portsmouth back to the west country for a replay and non-league Torquay who beat Championship side Blackpool and Peterborough who held Premier League West Brom at The Hawthorns.
In non-league Forest Green, too, in the third round for the first time in their 118-year history but who laced their Gloucestershire outpost in FA Cup fantasy when they went 2-0 up against Derby, then led 3-2, only to lose valiantly 4-3.
All wonderful performances which proved industry and commitment can on any given day be a match for talent, however richly remunerated.
There was more. The FA Cup needed to rise above the lack of respect it had been shown in recent years by football's big boys.
And it did, in the main, with Premier League teams fielding strong teams.
Not least league leaders Liverpool, for whom Steven Gerrard shrugged off one of the most traumatic weeks of his career to do what he does best. That is, inspire Liverpool to another victory. This time 2-0 at Preston, although only after a frantic second-half battle.
Clearly, Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez wanted to profess his trust and faith in his captain, who was charged this week with assault.
He also showed a desire to keep the momentum rolling in a season which is beginning to promise great things. So no wholesale rotation. Rather a reliance on star men such as Gerrard, Xabi Alonso, Javier Mascherano, Jamie Carragher and Fernando Torres, the latter who came on to score off the substitutes' bench. A reliance on genuine class and respect.
That perhaps was the most refreshing aspect of an invigorating third round.

Carragher credits Preston in victory

Jamie Carragher admitted Liverpool made life difficult for themselves before sealing a 2-0 FA Cup third-round win at Preston.
Albert Riera gave the visitors the lead in the first half with a superb strike but the Coca-Cola Championship side came back into it in the second half and it was not until the last minute that Liverpool sealed victory through Fernando Torres.
Carragher told ITV1: "It was a tough game. We always seem to have problems against lower league opposition but thankfully we've come through. There were a couple of scares near the end and great credit to Preston."
Carragher was at the centre of the most controversial moment of the game when Sean St Ledger's header, which would have made it 1-1, was disallowed for a foul by Jon Parkin on Carragher. Preston were furious the defender had not been penalised for an initial foul on Parkin in the area.
"I wasn't aware of the flag (to disallow the header) until the lad headed it in," said Carragher.
"But he was trying to stop me getting up and I realised I was playing everyone onside."

Ronaldo dismisses Real link

Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo insists continued speculation linking him with a move to Real Madrid is not true.
Ronaldo dazzled for United last season, scoring 42 goals in all competitions as the Red Devils won the Premier League and the UEFA Champions League.
That form led Spanish champions Real Madrid to pursue the 23-year-old during an unsuccessful summer transfer saga, which angered United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
However, Real director Pedro Trapote was quoted in December claiming that his club have a deal in place to sign the Ballon D'Or winner at the end of this season.
Ronaldo, though, has reiterated that the claim is false, telling United's official website: "There's always speculation, not just about me, but about the future of players all around the world.
"People were speaking about me this summer but that was normal because of what I did during the season.
"What people are saying now (the recent speculation about an agreement with Real Madrid) is not true.
"Who says that is a liar because I am happy at the club, I want to stay here. I feel at home here. I feel very happy here."
Meanwhile, Ronaldo admits he felt under pressure to impress after a summer of rumours, but was not worried that fans would turn against him.
"I think the people don't forget quickly what you do for the club," he added. "When I arrived at the stadium, to play (my first game of this season) against Villarreal, I felt a little bit of pressure.
"But the fans were very good and this is why I feel the Manchester United supporters are amazing.
"I love the fans because they have been brilliant with me, not just this season but every season. Like I said before, I feel at home in Manchester."

Kinnear tips Colo to bounce back

Joe Kinnear has backed Fabricio Coloccini to bounce back after his below-par performance against Liverpool.
The £10million defender was blasted by TV pundits after the Reds ran riot to win 5-1 at St James' Park on Sunday.
While Kinnear admits his usual "Mr Reliable" was not at his best, he believes excuses can be made, including that he had to play Charles N'Zogbia at left-back and throw reserve-team skipper David Edgar into a makeshift back four.
Kinnear told the Newcastle Evening Chronicle: "He's Mr Reliable normally but he was below par against Liverpool.
"I can understand that. One of the reasons for that is because we didn't have two of the usual back four playing.
"I've already said this season that we need to keep a settled back four.
"Also, Colo's performance was probably to do with the quality of the team we were playing against.
"But for all that, I did not expect us as a team to lose in the manner that we did and we must improve."
The Magpies' defence will be boosted by the return of Sebastien Bassong after the Frenchman served his one-match ban against Liverpool following his sending-off at Wigan.
Kinnear said: "It will be a big boost to get him back. We did miss him against Liverpool and he too can come back stronger."
He added: "We'll learn from this, but we do need some reinforcements."

Benni warns Cruz about leaving

Benni McCarthy has warned Blackburn team-mate Roque Santa Cruz to think twice before deciding to leave Ewood Park.
Santa Cruz's future has been the subject of intense speculation for some time with the player admitting a desire to play for a more ambitious club.
Manchester City are believed to be lining up a bid for the Paraguayan when the transfer window reopens, with former Rovers boss Mark Hughes apparently keen to be reunited with Santa Cruz.
McCarthy, whose own future has also been the subject of conjecture, has urged Santa Cruz to stay put, warning him he might not be appreciated as much away from Ewood Park.
"My message to Roque is that the grass is really not that green on the other side," said McCarthy. "Life is always harder. Here, you are appreciated and loved, but go elsewhere, and you have to start all over again.
"That makes it really, really hard to get going and who knows whether you will be as popular as you were at your previous club when you join your next one?
"Blackburn is a fantastic place to be. It is a great family club and, when you play here and you are a family-orientated person, it is amazing.
"It is very close-knit, the people are nice and they always try to do everything they can for you and your family to make you feel at home.
"That is the most important thing you can have in football because, if your family life is good, then the football side will get the best out of you."

Wenger eyes future domination

Arsene Wenger believes Arsenal are not far away from 'dominating' the Premier League despite being 10 points behind.
The Gunners have endured a disappointing first half of the campaign after suffering five defeats in their opening 20 league matches.
Wenger's side sit fourth in the table, but the Frenchman has boldly claimed they are "one or two per cent" away from dominating the league.
He said in the Evening Standard: "I'm convinced that we are on the right track. We are not missing 10 per cent, we are missing one or two per cent.
"We can get that one or two per cent easily and then we can dominate the league.
"I'm disappointed that the team is not getting the praise or the respect it deserves at the moment, but we have to keep going. We will keep going with this spirit and we will turn people around.
"Getting that final per cent or two is down to being a bit more relaxed and composed when the situation calls for it.
"My hopes and aims for 2009 are to support this team. I believe strongly in this team and if they get the support I think they will be rewarded in 2009 because they deserve it.
"They have talent and I'm sure they will be rewarded."
Gael Clichy, meanwhile, believes "focus" will prove key to Arsenal's hopes of forcing themselves back into the title race.
The 1-0 home win over Portsmouth on Sunday broke a run of three successive draws, the last of which came at top-four rivals Aston Villa - where the Gunners had led until stoppage time.
It was not the first time Arsenal were hit late on, having thrown away a two-goal advantage in the north London derby against Tottenham.
Clichy, though, believes with improved communication between the defence, such flaws can be removed from their game.
"When we conceded late goals, it was not so much that the other teams were better than us, more of a lack of focus and communication," the full-back told Arsenal TV Online.
"The boss has asked us to talk and communicate more on the pitch, which is what we did against Portsmouth and we got the clean sheet.
"We all played as a unit against Portsmouth, and we have to use this game as an example for the team and if we play like this, with the players we have, we can still do things."
Clichy added: "Everyone is looking forward to a little break now, because we need it at this time of year. We have a lot of games coming up and need some fresh players."
The Gunners have a break from league action now until the visit of Bolton on January 10, as they face Coca-Cola Championship side Plymouth at the Emirates Stadium this weekend in the FA Cup - the last trophy the club won in 2005.
Whether or not any fresh faces will arrive at London Colney before then remains to be seen.
With Fabregas sidelined until April at the earliest, it seems most likely Wenger - who has a healthy transfer kitty at his disposal, should he wish to spend it on the right man - will look to strength his midfield options.
Arsenal have been linked with moves for both Zenit St Petersburg's Andrei Arshavin, Liverpool's Xabi Alonso as well as Barcelona's Yaya Toure, brother of Arsenal defender Kolo.
The return to fitness of striker Eduardo after 10 months out with a broken leg could also provide a timely boost, although the FA Cup tie will come too soon for the Croatia international.