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."