TUESDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2016 SPORTS Gray strikes late as Burnley edge out Middlesbrough

early chance, shooting off-target from the edge of the box after Antonio Barragan’s Burnley 1 pass caught Burnley’s defenders napping. But as a scrappy first half wore on, so Burnley began to assert themselves. Boro goalkeeper Valdes had to turn a 20-yard Middlesbrough 0 shot from Ashley Barnes behind and later produced an unconvincing save to repel George Boyd’s swerving 25-yard free-kick. BURNLEY: Middlesbrough goalkeeper In between, the hosts felt they should Victor Valdes unwittingly took on the role have had a penalty when Dean Marney’s of Father Christmas as his error gifted shot struck the raised elbow of visiting Premier League relegation rivals Burnley a defender Calum Chambers, only for referee 1-0 win on Boxing Day. Craig Pawson to shake his head. An attritional Turf Moor encounter Boro upped their game after the break, looked to be drifting towards a goalless but Burnley goalkeeper Tom Heaton had draw when, in the 80th minute, Andre Gray little trouble fielding Gaston Ramirez’s free- took aim with a volley that Valdes allowed kick and Stuani’s header. In the absence of to creep beneath him and into the net. meaningful goal-mouth action, the game The former Barcelona man’s blunder became increasingly physical. gave Burnley only a second win in seven Burnley’s fans bayed for a red card after league games, propelling Sean Dyche’s side Ramirez went in firmly on Barnes, but above their opponents into 14th place, six Pawson awarded only a free-kick. points clear of the bottom three. The home supporters were out of their Without an away win in eight league seats again in the 80th minute, but this games, Aitor Karanka’s Boro slipped one time they were cheering. place to 15th, but they remain four points Heaton’s long kick was flicked on by above the drop zone. substitute Sam Vokes to Gray, whose well- Boro welcomed back Cristhian Stuani struck shot somehow squirmed beneath after a foot injury and he squandered an Valdes and rolled over the line. — AFP Lukaku strikes to deepen Leicester’s problems Wasilewski and Wes Morgan. Three touches later and the ball was in MANCHESTER: Manchester United’s Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic (C) lifts the ball over Sunderland’s English goalkeeper Jordan Pickford Leicester 0 the back of the net courtesy of a deflection (R) to score their second goal during the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Sunderland at Old Trafford in from Wasilewski that gave Kasper Manchester, north west England, yesterday. — AFP Schmeichel no hope of making the save. Ranieri made a double change midway Everton 2 through the half and it almost paid imme- diate dividends. Ibrahimovic keeps Loud boos rang around the King Power LEICESTER: Goals by Kevin Mirallas and Stadium when the lively Gray, arguably Romelu Lukaku kept champions Leicester City’s best performer, was replaced by firmly enmeshed in the relegation battle Leonardo Ulloa with Riyad Mahrez also Man United motoring yesterday as they lost 2-0 to Everton in coming on for Andy King. their Premier League clash. Within a minute of their arrival Ulloa Mirallas’ third goal in as many games should have nodded home from Danny a low, 25-yard free-kick from Mata. to deny Ibrahimovic, but could do nothing when against the Foxes and Lukaku’s 10th this Simpson’s fine hanging diagonal ball but Pogba headed over a good chance early in a defensive error on the halfway line allowed season came against a Leicester side miss- headed straight at Robles who caught under the crossbar. Man United 3 the second half as United sought to assert their Pogba to slot the former Sweden international ing three key players, all of them suspend- superiority, with Ibrahimovic then fizzing a shot through for a second. ed, including striker Jamie Vardy. There followed long periods of Leicester pressure with Everton very much having just over after being played in down the right by Mkhitaryan’s third goal in three appearances The only consolation for Leicester was Mata. In an attempt to put the match out of had the home fans on their feet to applaud, that two of the bottom three Sunderland their backs to the wall. But try as they Sunderland 1 Sunderland’s reach, Mourinho brought on although replays suggested the former Borussia and Swansea lost but even so they are only might the home team failed to create a sin- gle noteworthy opportunity. Mkhitaryan with just over an hour played. Dortmund schemer may have been offside. three points above the relegation spots. The Armenia captain almost made an imme- Borini’s consolation, an unstoppable, looping For Everton it was their first away win in Everton should have wrapped things up when Lukaku squared for Idrissa Gueye MANCHESTER: Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored his diate impact, controlling Mata’s excellent cross- shot from 25 yards after Rojo had headed out three months. Leicester made their point field pass on the edge of the penalty area and Jason Denayer’s cross, was a special goal in its about Vardy’s three match ban-for a red who somehow ballooned his effort over an 17th goal of the season as Sunderland manager open goal from six yards. David Moyes was condemned to a 3-1 defeat on bending a shot just wide. own right, but it came too late to affect the out- card against Stoke last weekend-by placing Pickford then made a fine save with his feet come. — AFP masks of the England striker on the 30,000 Drinkwater was booked for an obvious his return to Manchester United yesterday. seats. Vardy seated in the stands played push on Aaron Lennon as City’s frustrations Dutch defender Daley Blind opened the scor- along putting one on. Both sides failed to mounted. In injury time and with Leicester ing in the 39th minute at Old Trafford with his fire in the first-half and the Everton fans pouring forward Ross Barkley lashed a first Premier League goal since September 2015. Hammers pile pressure on had to wait till the 43rd minute before their clearance forward from the edge of his own Late strikes from Ibrahimovic-his 50th for club side mustered their first effort on goal, box. Lukaku shrugged aside Morgan’s chal- and country in 2016 — and substitute Henrikh albeit off target, with Ramiro Funes Mori lenge, sprinted towards the box, coasted Mkhitaryan, who scored with an audacious back- Swansea boss Bradley heading over the crossbar. past Wasilewski and finished beyond heel, confirmed victory. Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri tried Schmeichel. — AFP It ensured that United, without injured cap- tain Wayne Rooney, extended their unbeaten his £20.5 million (24 million euros, $26.7 mil- to change things at the break bringing on run in all competitions to 11 matches, despite lion) pre-season transfer. influential midfielder Danny Drinkwater- Fabio Borini’s spectacular consolation for the vis- Swansea 1 But Ayew produced the perfect response who has just returned from being out itors. United remain sixth in the league table, but to his detractors as he put the visitors ahead injured with a knee problem-in place of drew level on points with fifth-place Tottenham in the 13th minute. Shinji Okazaki as he pushed three men up Matches on TV Hotspur, who visit Southampton tomorrow. Swansea had just wasted an opportunity front. Initially the ploy seemed to be work- (Local Timings) Sunderland and Moyes, sacked by United in West Ham 4 to take the lead when Borja Baston curled ing with first Islam Slimani and then April 2014, stay in the bottom three. United cap- wide from inside the penalty area. Demarai Gray going close with shots from English Premier League tain Rooney was left out of the squad after pick- And Ayew made them pay when Polish outside the penalty area. But one long ing up an injury in training, but Jose Mourinho’s SWANSEA: Swansea manager Bob Bradley goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski made a hash of clearance later and the Foxes were flat- dealing with a harmless flick from Cheikhou Liverpool v Stoke City 20:15 side coped without him to record a fourth suc- faces a fight to save his job after West Ham tened. Goalkeeper Joel Robles sent a huge cessive Premier League victory. cruised to a 4-1 rout of the Premier League Kouyate. Fabianski’s flap parried the ball into beIN SPORTS 2 HD clearance down the middle that saw United laboured before taking the lead and strugglers yesterday. Ayew’s path, leaving the Ghana star with the Mirallas sprint goalside of Marcin were grateful to goalkeeper David de Gea for Bradley is reportedly close to being sacked simple task of slotting into the empty net for getting them out of trouble twice in the first half. after just over two months in charge and his his first goal of an injury-hit season. He leapt athletically to his right to push away case for a stay of execution wasn’t enhanced Swansea went close to equalising through Patrick van Aanholt’s free-kick in the 19th by a wretched surrender at the Liberty Gylfi Sigurdsson, whose dipping free-kick was minute. The Spain international then reacted Stadium. Former Swansea striker Andre Ayew well saved by Darren Randolph. smartly amid defensive chaos to block Victor returned to haunt his old club with the first Bradley responded by sending on Anichebe’s close-range effort and nick the ball half opener before Winston Reid, Michail Fernando Llorente and Jefferson Montero at away as Borini followed up, causing the former Antonio and Andy Carroll piled on the misery half-time, but the changes did not to inspire Liverpool forward to miskick. for Bradley after the break. Swansea, who fell further behind in the 50th In between those two moments, United had Amid reports of player unrest and ridicule minute. Dimitri Payet swung over a corner a penalty appeal rejected as Juan Mata tumbled of his use of Americanisms when discussing and sloppy Swansea marking left New under Lamine Kone’s challenge. football, the beleaguered Bradley conceded Zealand defender Reid unhindered as he last week that more bad results over the powered his header past Fabianski. PICKFORD ACROBATICS Christmas period could see him dismissed. With Swansea’s furious fans chanting “we Paul Pogba was also very unlucky not to With Swansea languishing in the relega- want Bradley out”, Wayne Routledge headed score with a curling, deflected shot that visiting tion zone after winning only twice in straight at Randolph to the disgust of the goalkeeper Jordan Pickford touched onto the Bradley’s 11-match reign, the former United home crowd. outside of the post. States and Egypt coach needs a dramatic When Sigurdsson’s header was brilliantly The warnings got louder for Sunderland as revival to avoid being axed just months after tipped over by Randolph, Bradley must have half-time approached. Pogba lashed a dipping replacing Francesco Guidolin. known he was destined for another painful shot over the bar from 15 yards when he proba- Ahead of their trip to south Wales, West defeat. That sinking feeling was confirmed in bly should have scored, but United soon were in Ham had denied any interest in a potential the 78th minute as Antonio turned in Havard front. Marcos Rojo played in Ibrahimovic on the takeover approach from energy drink manu- Nordtveit’s shot after more dismal defending. left edge of the penalty area and he teed up a facturer Red Bull, but there was no lack of pep Llorente got one back for Swansea in the perfect short pass for Blind to run onto and drill in the Hammers’ step as they quickly took 89th minute, but it was little consolation for a shot into the bottom-right corner. A second control. Ayew was greeted with a chorus of Bradley, who endured the indignity of watch- LEICESTER: Leicester City’s Islam Slimani, center, and Everton’s Ashley Williams, left, goal might have arrived before half-time, with boos whenever he had possession in the ear- ing West Ham go straight up the other end to battle for the ball during the English Premier League soccer match between Leicester Pickford comfortably thwarting Pogba, then ly stages of his first return to Swansea since score a fourth through Carroll’s volley.—AFP City and Everton at the King Power Stadium, Leicester, England, yesterday. — AP making a rather more difficult save to push aside Deeney’s 100th goal denies Allardyce win

the lead in the first half and Allardyce, installed take from inside the box after being superbly set after Alan Pardew was sacked last Thursday, could up by Andros Towsend. Played onside by compatri- Watford 1 have been celebrating all the points if Christian ot Younes Kaboul, the 30-year-old made no mis- Benteke had converted a first-half penalty. The take. Palace should have gone 2-0 up in the 37th draw leaves Palace precariously placed fourth from minute when a wild challenge by Watford goal- bottom on 16 points and they could drop into the keeper Heurelho Gomes on Benteke gifted the visi- Crystal Palace 1 bottom three if Sunderland beat Manchester tors a penalty-the Brazilian was fortunate to escape United later. Watford’s form has slipped alarmingly without even a booking from referee Mark with just one win in their last six games, and the Clattenburg. WATFORD: Troy Deeney’s 100th goal for Watford draw extended their woeful Boxing Day record of Gomes, though, redeemed himself, getting denied former England manager Sam Allardyce a not having won for 30 years. Watford suffered two down to save Benteke’s soft penalty which was the winning return to the Premier League as his Crystal early injury blows as they lost both Dutch defender Belgian international’s second miss from the spot Palace side were held to a 1-1 draw at Vicarage Daryl Janmaat and Swiss midfielder Valon Behrami this term. Watford took the game to Palace in the Road yesterday. before the quarter-hour mark. It took almost 25 opening exchanges of the second half but fash- Deeney, who had been dropped from the start- minutes for either side to fashion a chance with ioned very little in the way of chances. ing XI after failing to score in the past 10 matches, Palace eventually the ones to threaten. Benteke However, they got the break they needed with WATFORD: Watford’s French midfielder Younes Kaboul (L) clears the ball under pressure converted from the penalty spot in the second half could have shot after working himself into a great 20 minutes remaining when Damien Delaney was from Crystal Palace’s Zaire-born Belgian striker Christian Benteke during the English to force a share of the points. position but dallied too long-the ball came to penalised for tugging Sebastian Proedl’s shirt in the Premier League football match between Watford and Crystal Palace at Vicarage Road Yohan Cabaye-who scored the winner in the Cabaye whose shot went wide of the post. A box and Deeney drilled the resulting spot-kick Stadium in Watford, north of London yesterday. The game finished 1-1. — AFP corresponding match last season-had given Palace minute later the talented Frenchman made no mis- down the middle.— AFP