Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha showed a lack of desire in Sunday’s 1-0 loss to Tottenham and needs to improve his concentration, manager Alan Pardew said.
“The issue with Wilf is that he’s a fabulous footballer. I’m trying to get him to understand that every moment in every game is very important,” Pardew said.
“It’s about concentration, about having that same desire to defend and attack, movement and everything that a top player produces. Unfortunately I didn’t think he did that.
“He had 45 minutes to show me he was up to speed on those areas and he wasn’t. He needs to take away a lesson.”
NY Red Bulls clinch post-season berth
The New York Red Bulls clinched a berth in the Major League Soccer post-season and climbed to the top of the Eastern Conference on Sunday with a 2-0 win over Portland.
Goals from Felipe and Damien Perrinelle in the first half sealed the win for New York, who became the first team into the play-offs. New York are on 48 points, one more than Columbus Crew in second.
Portland, on 41 points, hold the sixth play-off spot in the West.
Matic backs Hazard to go on scoring run
Chelsea midfielder Nemanja Matic backed team-mate Eden Hazard to rediscover his scoring touch after the Belgian international netted his first goal of the Premier League season in their 2-0 win over Arsenal on Saturday.
Hazard scored in stoppage time when his shot took a huge deflection off Arsenal’s Calum Chambers before it ended up in the back of the net.
“It’s a big goal for Eden. He needs to score goals for his confidence and to be on his top level.
“He is very important for our team,” Matic said.
“I am very happy he scored his first goal and I hope it gives him more self-belief to score more.”
Rodriguez closing in on Everton debut
Everton’s South American striker Leandro Rodriguez is on the verge of a first-team debut after impressive displays for the U-21s.
Manager Roberto Martinez said the 22-year-old, signed from River Plate Uruguay for £500,000 in late August, is six months ahead of expectations.
As a result he has been rewarded with a place in the League Cup squad which travels to Reading tonight and if he continues his progress he will provide another alternative up front.
“I think he is ahead of his development in terms of what I expected,” said Martinez.
“I expected for him to probably take five to six months to be ready for the British game.
“I have been impressed with him in the games for the U-21, where he scored in both games.”
Mata dedicates win to injured Shaw
Juan Mata has dedicated Manchester United’s victory at Southampton to injured team-mate Luke Shaw.
Louis van Gaal’s side won 3-2 at St Mary’s courtesy of a brace from Anthony Martial and a goal from Mata to finish a 45-pass move.
The game was played against the backdrop of a serious injury to Shaw who suffered a double-leg break in the Champions League defeat to PSV last week.
“It was an important and very special win,” Mata wrote on his official blog.
“Everybody knows that last Tuesday was a bad day for us. Because of the defeat but, especially, because of Shaw’s injury.
“That’s why we wanted to dedicate a victory to him as soon as possible, to make him feel happy, and it came this very Sunday.”
Lee cleared over £1m transfer row
Senior football figures including former England coach Sammy Lee have been cleared of all charges after they were accused of a string of offences surrounding a £1 million Premier League transfer deal.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) offered no evidence against Bolton, their chairman Phil Gartside and others from the club, as well as top agent Jerome Anderson, and the retired midfielder Gavin McCann.
Agent Tony McGill started a private prosecution against the parties, following a legal battle over his claims he was cut out of McCann’s transfer from Aston Villa to Bolton in 2007.
The CPS took over the case and at a hearing at Newcastle Crown Court, the prosecution formally offered no evidence.
Schubert steps in for Favre at Gladbach
Borussia Moenchengladbach have appointed reserve team coach Andre Schubert as an interim successor to Lucien Favre who resigned on Sunday after the team began the Bundesliga season with five straight defeats.
Gladbach sports director Max Eberl said the club had been caught by surprise after the Swiss coach resigned despite efforts by club officials to change his mind.
“Lucien Favre’s resignation caught us unprepared and we are now searching for a new head coach,” Eberl said.
“Until then Andre Schubert will lead the team.”