The Sporting Hack

England 1-0 Sweden England wrapped up a pleasing 2011 in satisfactory fashion by beating Sweden 1-0 just days after defeating world champions Spain. The sparsely populated crowd at Wembley witnessed Gareth Barry’s 23 rd minute header brush Daniel Majstorovic to record England’s 2000 th international goal. In truth there was little else to celebrate as Fabio Capello reshuffled his pack dramatically from Saturday’s win to see his side get the better of the Swedes for the first time in over 40 years. Kyle Walker’s full international debut – alongside returning skipper John Terry - was one to savour for the Spurs right back (above) who has as good a chance as anyone of cementing his place in that position in time for next summer. Walker’s link up play with Theo Walcott showed signs of promise and looked far more inventive and fruitful than messrs Baines and Downing’s efforts on the opposite side. The Merseyside based players seem to lack an extra gear with which to step up to...

Leeds United 0-5 (five) Blackpool Npower Championship Elland Road Att: 22423 Blackpool loanee midfielder Jonjo Shelvey (left) bagged a hat-trick as Ian Holloway’s men ran riot in West Yorkshire to inflict one of Leeds United’s heaviest ever league defeats. The Bloomfield Road outfit leapfrogged the hosts – who have now lost only twice in 10 league games. Former Tangerine’s boss Simon Grayson was helpless as he watched a first half horror show from his keeper Paul Rachubka – who was consequently substituted at half time. Rachubka, who is deputising in the absence of first choice Andy Lonergan, was unable to hold on to Shelvey’s 14 th minute drive and spilled in to the path of debutant forward Lomana Lua Lua who tapped home from eight yards. Scottish veteran Barry Ferguson caught the eye with his passing, however it was England under-21 Shelvey whose performance that will make people sit up and take note. His first came courtesy of a retaken spot kick which was awarded after...

Doncaster Rovers 1-3 Middlesbrough Npower Championship Keepmoat Stadium Att: 9792 The tragic loss of Doncaster striker Billy Sharp’s two day old son invariably dominated proceedings and occupied the thoughts of everyone through the evening. The game itself was settled by Scottish midfielder Barry Robson, whose double lifted Middlesbrough to third and ensured Doncaster sank to the foot of the Championship. Amid a backdrop of boos for Doncaster’s latest recruit El Hadji Diouf from Boro fans, there was a united and sympathetic approach to Sharp’s situation, with both sets of supporters admiring and applauding his bravery for even playing. It was perhaps fitting that after 14 minutes, Sharp (above) scored the first – and arguably best goal of the night - a left footed volley which flew over Jason Steele and prompted the goalscorer to display a printed message on a t-shirt which poignantly read: “THAT’S FOR YOU, SON.” Middlesbrough showed their resilience however, and prov...

Sheffield United 2-1 MK Dons (Npower League 1) - Bramall Lane. Att: 16,367 Sheffield United moved up to fourth in League 1 with a hard-fought victory over play-off contenders MK Dons. Matt Phillips (right) scored the 67 th minute winner as he combined with fellow Blackpool loanee Billy Clarke to take the Blades to within 3 points of the automatic places. The hosts started the game nervously after conceding a goal late in Saturday’s draw at Leyton Orient and Dons midfielder Stephen Gleeson’s poke at George Long’s goal caused early problems before Neil Collins brave block. The alarm bells were ringing for United but they broke the deadlock on 22 minutes through centre forward Richard Cresswell. Stephen Quinn broke free from the halfway line and after a neat one-two with Clarke; he laid on Cresswell to power home from 15 yards for his fifth of the season. In a stop-start encounter, Phillips stung the hands of David Martin before the excellent centre half Harry Maguire headed a...

Sheffield United 0-3 Huddersfield Town Huddersfield Town’s impressive unbeaten start to the season continued as they inflicted defeat on Sheffield United boss Danny Wilson for the first time. Lee Novak’s first half double effectively settled this hotly contested Yorkshire derby after only 37 minutes before Oscar Gobern’s header wrapped things up for the Terriers. Lee Clark’s men, in particular Danny Ward, were responsible for seeing that this pulsating match up, played at a frenetic pace, was effectively over as a contest before half time. Forward Novak bagged the first of his brace after just 20 minutes courtesy of Steve Simonsen’s misjudgement. Ward’s well struck shot from 20 yards seemed to move in the blustery Sheffield air, and as a result, Novak was on hand to take full advantage of the ‘keeper’s lax parry. The Blades – who are joint leaders of League 1 on goal difference – could have restored parity had Chris Porter shown more composure from six yards as he flashed M...

Sheffield United 4-0 Bury Sheffield United kept up the heat on League 1 pacesetters MK Dons by brushing aside a toothless Bury outfit 4-0 at Bramall Lane. The hosts, who are only second placed on goals scored, bagged four for the first time in 19 months at home courtesy of Chris Porter (right), Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, Matt Lowton and Erik Tonne despite the loss of key frontmen Daniel Bogdanovic and Jordan Slew on transfer deadline day. Two goals just moments either side of half time effectively put the game to bed when first Porter stabbed in from close range after a frustrating 42 minutes, before Mendez-Laing – on loan from Wolves – hit a speculative right wing cross which sneaked in at the near post after ‘keeper Cameron Belford’s misjudgement. The visitors, who were without prolific poacher Ryan Lowe for the first time after he moved to United’s rivals Wednesday in the aforementioned window, struggled for clear cut chances, with the pick of the bunch wasted by Giles Coke who ...