SPORTS SATURDAY, JANUARY 3, 2015 PREVIEW Van Gaal rues injury woes as United draw STOKE-ON-TRENT: Manchester United after such a busy festive program of match- took a point from a game in which his side club. But he said: “It’s a measure of how far manager Louis van Gaal complained that es. “You have seen, for example, that were far from their best. we have progressed that we are disap- the New Year had brought no change of Ashley Young could not bear that load,” he “I think we have known before the pointed with a point from a game against fortune on the injury front following his said. game already that this shall be a tough one of the top clubs in Europe. “We created side’s 1-1 draw at Stoke City. His year got Young will be one absentee when game,” he said. “Stoke are a well-organised by far the better opportunities and had the off to the worst possible start as United fell United begin their FA Cup campaign with a team and play with the long ball. “We start- better momentum to our play.” Hughes behind to an early Ryan Shawcross goal at potential banana skin at League One strug- ed very badly by conceding from a set play can now look forward to welcoming his the Britannia Stadium on Thursday and glers Yeovil Town tomorrow. Van Gaal that we had prepared for. They scored the home-town club Wrexham to the Britannia although they equalised, they also lost added: “I will have to check on my players same way we had thought. That’s a big dis- Stadium in the FA Cup. Ashley Young to injury. Young, who has tomorrow (Friday) and then again the day appointment.” He added: “I think Stoke “It is an occasion I am looking forward flourished under Van Gaal in the absence after before we can begin to plan for the City deserved more the victory and at the to,” he said. “It will be a great FA Cup game, of injured team-mates, limped off with a FA Cup match. “The FA Cup is the shortest end a draw is good. I cannot say we were because Wrexham will be bringing 5,000 hamstring injury and could be sidelined for route to success, so we are very interested the better team today. I have said that fans. “It means so much to them as a club a month. and my players are also very interested I many, many times before, but today I can- because it will boost their finances, but we “It looks like four weeks, but I am not a think.”Following his experience in the not say that. We could have passed the ball will be looking to go as far we can in the doctor,” said Van Gaal, whose side earned a League Cup, where United were humiliat- quicker I think. The crosses were not so competition. “I watched my first live foot- point thanks to a 26th-minute equaliser by ed 4-0 by third-tier Milton Keynes Dons, good. I don’t think one cross was good.” ball game at Wrexham when they played in Radamel Falcao. United’s manager was Van Gaal knows his side are in for another Stoke City manager Mark Hughes was the sixth round of the FA Cup so I desper- quick to highlight once again the concerns tough test in the West Country. He wore frustrated that his side had only one point ately want to see them enjoy good times that he has for the health of his players the look of a relieved man after United to show for their efforts against his former again in the future.” — AFP PREVIEW PREVIEW Dyche backs City winner Lampard Burnley to beat the drop faces cloudy future NEWCASTLE: Burnley remain in the Premier League relegation MANCHESTER: Frank Lampard’s future zone after a 3-3 draw at Newcastle, but Sean Dyche is confident became the subject of fresh speculation after his team will beat the drop. The Clarets coped with the loss of he sent Manchester City joint-top in the three players through injuries and illness in the opening half and Premier League with the winning goal in a 3- almost triumphed despite going behind on three occasions at St 2 victory over Sunderland. Lampard came off James’ Park on Thursday. And Dyche’s disappointment at his the bench to score a 73rd-minute winner in side’s failure to achieve a badly-needed win was tempered by the the New Year’s Day game, hours after City way his team coped with the various setbacks they encountered confirmed that he will remain at the club during a hugely entertaining game. until the end of the season. City officials “It was certainly an interesting day at the office,” Dyche said. claimed that Lampard has been loaned to “We have hit the woodwork four times and created other chances, the club from Major League Soccer franchise so I’m scratching my head about how we didn’t come away with a New York City FC, City’s sister club, who he win. “I’ve also not experienced a situation before where three signed for after leaving Chelsea at the end of players had to go off so early in the game, but we dealt with it fan- last season. He had initially been due to join tastically well. “I couldn’t be more proud of my players. We talk up with the American outfit on Jan 1. about their effort and organisation, but some of the quality shown But it emerged that Lampard has not was outstanding. Newcastle were excellent for 25 minutes and on signed a loan deal with the defending the front foot but we hung on. People were probably thinking it Premier League champions, but has in fact would be tough for us, but you saw the desire and belief of the signed an extension to the short-term con- players. “We are relentless in how we play and there is a mentality tract that saw him join Manuel Pellegrini’s here that is very, very strong. Our performances over the squad in August. It calls into question the Christmas period have been outstanding.” exact nature of Lampard’s contract with New York City and when asked whether the Battling Burnley 36-year-old midfielder would ever play for Newcastle, playing for the first time since manager Alan the MLS side, City manager Pellegrini Pardew’s departure, led on three occasions through Steven Taylor, refused to answer. “We are only finishing Jack Colback and Moussa Sissoko, but Burnley responded every December,” the Chilean said in response to time, starting with an own goal from the Newcastle defender Paul the question. “I think you can’t have all dif- Dummett. Danny Ings, a player linked with Newcastle, and George ferent questions about Frank Lampard. MANCHESTER: Manchester City’s English midfielder Frank Lampard scores Boyd added the other goals for Burnley as they scored twice in the “Frank Lampard will stay now with us until their third goal during the English Premier League football match between second-half, just as they did when they drew 2-2 at Manchester the end of the season. In the month of May, Manchester City and Sunderland at the Etihad Stadium on Thursday. — AFP City in their previous game. you can start thinking about what will hap- However, Burnley knew the game could have been out of their pen in the future.” New York City supporters because other people, other cubs were and-neck with Jose Mourinho’s side at the reach by the interval. Newcastle were quick and imaginative have been vocal in their dissatisfaction with involved in this situation,” he said. “I under- summit. throughout the first half as caretaker manager John Carver intro- City’s handling of the Lampard affair, even stand perfectly New York fans want to see Meanwhile, beaten manager Gus Poyet duced a more attacking style than they had displayed under though their club have yet to play a game. A Frank playing because for the fans to see refused to condemn City for their handling of Pardew, but he is concerned at their failure to close the game statement from supporters’ group the Third Frank Lampard playing in New York City is the Lampard issue and said they deserved down after taking the lead so frequently. “I would love to know Rail claimed that Mansour bin Zayed Al- amazing. I hope he will be there next year, credit for the manner in which they had used what changed at half-time. I’ve never been involved in a game Nayhan, who owns both clubs, was treating but I think at this moment it is the best deci- the regulations to sign the former Chelsea where the cliche of a game of two halves was more appropriate,” the New York version as an inferior member sion for him, for the club, for New York, for star. “For me it’s clever, it’s smart,” said the he said. of his football stable. him to stay here with us until the end of the former Chelsea midfielder. “It’s legal, so I’ve “It could have been 3-0 at the interval, then we came up against season.” Lampard scored a dramatic winning got no problem with that. a direct style of play and didn’t know how to deal with it. Burnley Poyet Admires City Cunning goal, his fifth of the league season, three But his goal? Yes, I do have a problem should have won the game.