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Villa moved up to sixth place in the Premier League with the help of a penalty and a sending off that suddenly tilted the contest their way. Ryan Nelsen was dismissed on 52 minutes for conceding the kick that put Villa two up.

“He’s given it for a shirt pull and it was probably the right decision but I didn’t think it warranted him being sent off,” said the Blackburn manager, Mark Hughes.

Villa’s Martin O’Neill, savouring a third away win in a row, also had his doubts about whether Nelsen needed to go, but had no doubts that the penalty was justified. “And we went on to play very well in the second half,” he said.

Villa dominated the opening stages, but David Dunn was the first to oblige his manager’s instructions to test any post-Wembley nerves Scott Carson might have with a volley after nine minutes that the England goalkeeper could only parry.

Carson did rather better to hold on from Nelsen a couple of minutes later. Far more demanding was a curling free-kick from David Bentley that he did well to turn away 15 minutes into what was beginning to look like a busy night. Five minutes later, Rovers did have the ball in the net but Benni McCarthy was just offside when Roque Santa Cruz delivered the final pass.

A marginal decision to flag Santa Cruz added to the feeling that Villa were hanging on rather precariously. What they managed to summon up on the counter attack tended to batter itself out harmlessly on the towering figure of Christopher Samba.

After 29 minutes, however, and completely against the run of play, the equally imposing John Carew got free in the penalty area to meet Ashley Young’s free-kick with his head and Villa were one up.

It would have been worse for Blackburn if Carew had been equally adept with his feet when set up by some lovely trickery from Stiliyan Petrov.

McCarthy could hardly believe his bad luck early in the second half when his goal-bound volley hit Wilfred Bouma on the side of the head with the Villa defender knowing nothing about it until he felt the shuddering impact.

Far more stunning was what happened to Blackburn next. Nelsen was adjudged to have pulled back Gabriel Agbonlahor and referee, Phil Dowd, not only awarded the penalty but also brandished a red card at the Blackburn captain.

Gareth Barry put away the spot kick and Blackburn felt all the more aggrieved when they had a penalty appeal of their own turned down at the other end of the ground when the ball appeared to strike the still groggy Bouma.

Hughes brought on Jason Roberts and Steven Reid to try and salvage something, but the 10 men had the beaten look.

They found themselves overstretched nine minutes from time when Young fired home from the angle of the area to put the issue beyond any doubt even before Marlon Harewood’s goal two minutes from time.

Blackburn (4-4-2): Friedel; Ooijer, Samba, Nelsen, Warnock; Emerton, Bentley (Pedersen, 82), Mokoena (Reid, 67), Dunn, Santa Cruz; McCarthy (Roberts, 67). Substitutes not used: Brown (gk), Savage.

Aston Villa (4-4-2): Carson; Mellberg, Knight, Laursen, Bouma; Petrov (Gardner, 82), Reo-Coker, Barry, Young; Carew, Agbonlahor (Harewood, 85). Substitutes not used: Taylor (gk), Davies, Berger.

Referee: P Dowd (Staffordshire).

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Source: Blackburn Rovers 0 Aston Villa 4: Carew turns tide to leave Rovers beached

It was all change in the Midlands yesterday, with Alex McLeish named as Steve Bruce’s successor as the manager of Birmingham City and Paul Jewell given the unenviable task of rescuing Derby County from relegation.

McLeish will be unveiled this morning after resigning as the Scotland coach yesterday afternoon. McLeish, 48, arrived back in Britain from the World Cup draw yesterday morning but finalised details of his move with Birmingham’s chairman, David Gold, and co-owner, David Sullivan, before informing the Scottish Football Association in writing that he was stepping down.

McLeish earned £350,000 a year as Scotland manager, a post he took up in January on a contract that was supposed to run until the summer of 2010. He will more than double his basic salary at Birmingham after signing a deal with a strong emphasis on performance-related pay. Retaining Birmingham’s Premier League status is his main goal this season and it is understood he will earn a six-figure bonus if he achieves it.

The SFA will seek compensation worth the full amount of the remainder of McLeish’s SFA contract and it is understood this will be sanctioned swiftly by Birmingham, who received between £2m and £3m compensation from Wigan for Bruce. Eric Black, Bruce’s assistant at St Andrew’s, completed his own move to the JJB Stadium yesterday.

Jewell will be officially announced as the next manager of Derby in time to take charge of his first match, a relegation six-pointer at Sunderland, on Saturday. The former Wigan manager was finalising details last night with the Derby chairman Adam Pearson over a contract yet unspecified in length, but agreement had been reached in principle.

It is likely to be three or four years with Jewell thought to believe that while Derby face relegation this season, in the longer term they are a club with the potential to re-establish itself in the Premier League.

That would depend on fresh investment coming into Pride Park and Jewell’s willingness to sign indicates that may happen sooner rather than later. Pearson has been speaking to possible investors in America and elsewhere recently.

Jewell, who has been courted by the Republic of Ireland, Leicester City and Preston, as well as at least two other English clubs, plus of course his old team Wigan, will have to appoint an entire new backroom staff. All were swept away by Derby with manager Billy Davies on Monday, but Jewell’s assistant at Bradford City and Wigan, Chris Hutchings, will not be joining him this time around. Hutchings was only sacked by Wigan earlier this month.

Jewell had been Derby’s coveted target even while Davies was in the job, but a measure of doubt about Jewell surfaced hours after Davies’ dismissal when Paul Ince met with Derby officials. It now appears this was done out of courtesy to Ince.

Last night Jewell was installed as the new heavy favourite with many bookmakers suspending betting.

It means that the 43-year-old has been out of work for just six months. Jewell walked away from Wigan the day after he kept them up with a gutsy victory at Sheffield United on last season’s final afternoon.

Wigan’s chairman Dave Whelan suggested that Jewell had felt the pressure of Wigan’s hard second season in the top flight, but in truth the manager knew that having led Wigan from the old third division to the Premier League and a League Cup final, there was little more he could do at the JJB Stadium.

Birmingham’s next match, meanwhile, is away at Tottenham on Sunday, followed by a trip to Newcastle the following weekend. Blues then have three home games in December against relegation rivals Reading, Middlesbrough and Fulham, in between a trip to Bolton, before kicking off 2008 at Manchester United on 1 January.

McLeish had an illustrious playing career: as a stalwart under Ferguson at the Old Firm-busting Aberdeen; with Scotland, for whom he was capped 77 times and played for at three World Cups; and then with Motherwell, where his managerial career began in 1994. He led Motherwell to second place in the SPL, and moved to struggling Hibernian in 1998, where relegation was followed by immediate promotion. In 2001 he was poached by Rangers, where he won seven trophies, before stepping down in May 2006.

When Paul Le Guen’s short-lived tenure as McLeish’s replacement at Ibrox came to an end in January this year, Rangers poached Walter Smith from Scotland, and the SFA hired McLeish, whose stock has risen hugely since. He steered Scotland to the brink of qualification for Euro 2008 before they fell at the final hurdle.

The Scottish FA’s board was meant to meet this morning to discuss whether to allow McLeish permission to talk to Birmingham but will convene instead to start work on finding a replacement, with Gary McAllister and Billy Davies both likely to be high on any short list of candidates. McAllister, 42, was considered by the SFA for the position when it was available in January.

Davies, 43, is available after being sacked by Derby this week and the manner of his departure will not harm his candidacy. He had previously been the manager at Motherwell, then assistant to the former Scotland manager, Craig Brown, at Preston, before taking sole charge in 2004.

Other candidates include Craig Levein, 43, who is currently reviving the fortunes of Dundee United, and Graeme Souness, 54, who has been out of work since being sacked by Newcastle last year.

New masters in the Midlands

Birmingham’s next five fixtures: 2 Dec Tottenham (a), 8 Dec Newcastle Utd (a), 15 Dec Reading (h), 22 Dec Bolton Wanderers (a), 26 Dec Middlesbrough (h).

Derby’s next five fixtures: 1 Dec Sunderland (a), 8 Dec Manchester Utd (a), 15 Dec Middlesbrough (h), 23 Dec Newcastle Utd (a), 26 Dec Liverpool (h).

Alex Mcleish

Born: 21 Jan 1959, Glasgow

Playing career:

1978-1994 Aberdeen

1994-1995 Motherwell

77 caps for Scotland

Managerial career:

1994-1998 Motherwell

1998-2001 Hibernian

2001-2006 Rangers

2007 Scotland

Paul Jewell

Born: 28 Sep 1964, Liverpool

Playing career:

1984-1988 Wigan Athletic

1988-1998 Bradford City

1995 Grimsby

Managerial career:

1998-2000 Bradford City

2000-2001 Sheffield Wednesday

2001-2007 Wigan Athletic

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Source: McLeish and Jewell check in at Birmingham and Derby

Chris Bosh

TORONTO - Raptors forward Chris Bosh left Wednesday’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies in the second quarter with a right groin strain.

Bosh left the game at 9:44 of the second quarter and did not return for the second half.

The all-star forward is averaging 19.4 points and 8.4 rebounds this season. He had 10 points, two assists and a rebound in 11 minutes against the Grizzlies before limping to the locker-room.

A nagging knee injury kept Bosh out for much of the pre-season, but he was returning to form, and had a 41-point performance that tied his career high in a loss at Cleveland on Saturday.

Source: Raptors’ Bosh injures groin vs. Grizzlies

STAND-IN skipper CJ Bruton rose to the challenge of Townsville’s mohawked Corey ‘Homicide’ Williams with six crucial points in the dying minutes of Brisbane’s action-charged 120-113 NBL win.

Williams, who posted a career-best 41 points (20 in the last quarter), got Townsville to within two points of the Bullets (108-106) with just under two minutes to play before Brisbane’s ‘fourth quarter man’ Bruton stepped up yet again.

Bruton landed four free throws and a field goal as the Bullets secured their fourth straight victory and moved to 10-4 for the season.

The loss ended a five-game winning streak for the Crocs, and with an 8-8 record they could slip outside the top eight by the end of the round.

Bruton and Ebi Ere shared the scoring honours for the Bullets with 32 points each, Bruton with four three-pointers and 13 of 16 shooting from the free throw line.

Williams however played a lone hand for the visitors with Galen Young the next best scorer with 18 points.

While Williams posted the game high points, it was Bruton’s courageous effort that deserved the praise after he was in doubt all week with an ankle injury.

He and Williams sparred like prize fighters going blow for blow for most of the clash, but there was no way Bruton was going to let Williams - who’d posted three 30 point-plus hauls in his past five games - rule the roost on his own floor tonight.

In further positive news for the injury-depleted Bullets, centre Justin Brown made a successful return from a foot injury, scoring nine points and six rebounds in his first game after a year’s absence.

With skipper Sam Mackinnon (knee) out injured until at least the New Year and Kiwi international Craig Bradshaw (ankle) a week or two away, Brown’s 213cm frame will be valuable.

AAP

Source: Brilliant Bruton lifts Bullets

England v Republic of Ireland
2009 UEFA European Under-21 Championship Qualifier
7.45pm, Tuesday 5 February 2008
St Mary’s Stadium, Southampton FC
Ticket Hotline: 0800 280 0050
Group Booking forms - click here
Charter Standard forms - click here

Southampton’s St Mary’s Stadium is set to host a vital Euro 2009 qualifier for Stuart Pearce’s England U21 side.

The U21s will take on Republic of Ireland on 5 February. The team currently head their qualifying group and have two remaining home games to secure qualification for the Euro 2009 play-offs.

Tickets for the match are priced just £10 for adults and £5 concessions with group bookings available at half that price.

The squad, including Southampton midfielder Andrew Surman, are unbeaten in their qualifying campaign with 16 points from six games. Having won their first five games, the U21s secured a 1-1 draw away to Portugal earlier this month.

Coach Stuart Pearce said: “We’re really looking forward to playing this match in Southampton. St Mary’s is a fantastic stadium and the support of a big passionate crowd will be a tremendous boost for the players.

“Our last home match at Milton Keynes sold out three weeks ahead of the game so that just shows the interest that there is in the England U21 team at the moment and it would be superb if we could get a full house at St Mary’s.

“The match against Ireland will be a very important one. We have got ourselves into a good position in the group but we are not yet qualified.

“We won 3-0 in Ireland in October but we know this will be a very tough game. Three points against the Irish would put us in an excellent position to reach the play-offs for the next European U21 Championship.”

Tickets will go on sale on Friday 30 November at 9am from the Ticket Hotline 0800 280 0050 or from the Southampton FC website, priced £10 adults and £5 concessions.

The U21s have played in Southampton on four previous occasions, winning each of the matches at the Dell. Most recently, England beat Poland 5-0 in March 1999.

England’s final Euro 2009 qualifier will be against Portugal in September 2008. Play-offs for the Euro 2009 Finals will then take place in mid-October.

Source: U21s set for St. Mary’s

Harry Redknapp was arrested by anti corruption police as the investigation by their economic crimes unit into alleged bungs swung into overdrive.

Redknapp confirmed that he had been arrested and said: ‘They have to arrest you to talk to you, for you to be in the police station. I think that’s the end of it, it didn’t directly concern me.’

No, Harry the police don’t have to arrest you to talk to you. Not unless they feel that you are withholding information and they want you to sing like a canary.

Also arrested were the chief executive of Portsmouth, Peter Storrie, and Milan Mandaric, the Serbian businessman who owned Portsmouth until September last year and is now chairman of Leicester City. A total of five individuals were arrested by the police. The multiple arrests follow Tottenham defender Pascal Chimbonda being taken in for questioning on similar conspiracy to defraud and false accounting matters in September.

Redknapp was in the running for the England job but with the prosecutors planning to indict him it will essentially rule him out of the race. Anyways, just as well because I don’t see anyone other than Jose Mourinho doing justice as England’s manager.

Source: Harry Redknapp, Pascal Chimbonda nabbed

QUEENSLAND has rushed back form all-rounder Ashley Noffke from injury to create an intriguing pace sub-plot in the Pura Cup clash with South Australia on a lively Gabba pitch.

Noffke has made a remarkable return from a torn hamstring to go head-to-head against Redbacks firebrand Shaun Tait as Australia’s selectors consider picking four quicks for the Boxing Day Test against India.

Tearaway Tait will get ideal bowling conditions to make his first-class return from a lingering elbow problem with the Gabba well grassed and overcast skies expected.

But Queensland coach Terry Oliver expressed doubts whether the 24-year-old had put his injury concerns behind him sufficiently to be regarded as bona fide option to play at the MCG.

Oliver is an advocate for Australia taking a West Indies-style pace arsenal into the first Test against India and believes Noffke heads a queue also including Tasmanian Ben Hilfenhaus and NSW left-armer Doug Bollinger.

The 2001 Ashes tourist, 30, leads this season’s first-class wicket-taking list with 27 at 16.4 and also has 449 runs at 64.

He will confront a South Australian batting line-up looking to overcome the loss of retired state great Darren Lehmann.

”I rate Noffke ahead of Tait and Hilfenhaus,” Oliver said.

”I see Tait as a work in progress. With his elbow he is yet to prove himself.

”I’m worried about his injury. I heard it was a long-term problem.

”Hilfenhaus had a great year last year but Noffke has jumped ahead of both those.

”He’s got runs and wickets every time he’s played this year.”

Noffke returns early after tearing his hamstring while top-scoring with 82 against Victoria last week, an injury expected to sideline him for a fortnight.

Oliver denied taking any risks with their key man but was overjoyed by his speedy recovery and also the return of Australian one-day all-rounder James Hopes (hamstring).

The Bulls, already smarting from the late loss of opener Matthew Hayden (knee), have also lost Test all-rounder Andrew Symonds after he failed to overcome an ankle problem.

Hayden has been replaced by Nick Kruger, who resembles a young Hayden, for only his second first-class game in five seasons.

Kruger, 24, made his debut as a last-minute call-up in the 2002-03 Pura Cup final against Stephen Waugh’s NSW but hasn’t played for the Bulls since due to three shoulder reconstructions.

AAP

Source: Pace battle may decide Test berth

The deadly Drogba took Chelsea into the knockout phase as group B winners last night, scoring two early goals. Alex and Joe Cole scored the others to finish the game against Rosenborg at 4 - 0 .Highlights below.

Source: Video: Drogba back among the goals

Donald Sloan had 15 points and a career-high eight assists to help No. 9 Texas A&M remain undefeated with a 76-63 victory over Alabama on Wednesday night.

Alabama got within two points of the Aggies (7-0) early in the second half, but wouldn’t get any closer.

The Crimson Tide (3-2) cut A&M’s lead to 50-47 on a 3-pointer by Rico Pickett with about 12 minutes left before Josh Carter answered with a 3 for the Aggies.

Filed under Alabama

Source: Sloan’s career night keeps Aggies unbeaten

Sergio Garcia and Greg Norman watch Jack Nicklaus tee off.
(Gunnsteinn Jónsson/Flickr)

In a story published yesterday at Golf.com, Jack Nicklaus said that specializing in golf at a young age is idiotic.

“To play all the sports is great,” Jack was quoted as saying. “I played everything. My dad played everything. Golf to me was just another sport until I was about 19. When I won the National Amateur at 19, I finally said, ‘Hmm, I must be a little better than I think I am.’”

Added Nicklaus: “Eventually, if you want to specialize in something, that’s fine. But go out and enjoy, and be happy to be able to play other things.”

The Armchair Golfer

Tomorrow: Interview with Fred Hawkins, who talks about competing with Ben Hogan.

Source: Jack Nicklaus to Youth: Don’t Just Play Golf