SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2015 SPORTS Stoke snatch late win attacking line-up featuring Gabriel Agbonlahor, Christian Benteke and Sinclair. Aston Villa 1 Villa seemed energised by Sherwood’s presence and took the lead in the 20th minute when Fabian Delph’s cross picked out Sinclair, who rose to glance a header Stoke 2 into the top corner for his first Premier League goal since August 2012. It was a second goal in successive appearances for Sinclair, signed on loan BIRMINGHAM: Tim Sherwood’s reign as from Manchester City by the much- Aston Villa manager started in painful fash- maligned Lambert, after he also netted in ion as Stoke City snatched a late 2-1 win at the Cup win over Leicester and his latest Villa Park yesterday. effort prompted a fist-jumping jig of Sherwood was in charge for the first delight from Sherwood on the touchline. time following his appointment as succes- But Mark Hughes was furious after sor to the sacked Paul Lambert, but the for- Stoke’s FA Cup fifth-round thrashing at sec- mer Tottenham Hotspur boss was unable ond-tier Blackburn Rovers last weekend to spark an immediate improvement in his and his players mounted a strong response struggling team’s fortunes. to get back in favour with their manager. The hosts had taken the lead through Moses tested Villa goalkeeper Brad Guzan Scott Sinclair’s first-half goal, but Mame Diouf equalised just before the break and with a stinging drive and their pressure was Victor Moses ensured Sherwood’s debut rewarded when Senegal forward Diouf would end in frustration when he convert- equalised on the stroke of half-time with a ed a penalty three minutes into stoppage powerful header from Stephen Ireland’s time after Villa defender Ron Vlaar was sent cross. off. Sinclair’s goal had been Villa’s only shot The dispiriting defeat dropped Villa to on target in the first half and Sherwood second bottom of the Premier League and didn’t take long to make a change after a left them without a win in 11 league games lethargic start to the second period. after a woeful run of six successive defeats. Austrian forward Andreas Weimann was Sherwood’s decision to head down from sent on to replace Carles Gil, but it was the stands and deliver a half-time team- Stoke who won in dramatic fashion. Vlaar’s talk, even though he hadn’t officially taken poor touch allowed Moses to steal the ball charge at the time, had inspired an FA Cup and burst into the area, where he was LONDON: Chelsea’s Eden Hazard (right) dribbles past Burnley’s Scott Arfield, during an English Premier League soccer match at the Stamford fifth-round win over Leicester City last hacked down by the Villa defender. That Bridge ground. —AP weekend. He was greeted warmly by the brought a red card for Vlaar and Nigerian Villa faithful as he took his seat on the winger Moses added insult to injury as he bench before kick-off after naming an slotted home the spot-kick.—AFP Miserable week for Chelsea some of the club’s supporters, who were chanti- only for it to strike Michael Kightly’s hand. The Barca slump to ng a racist song. Burnley midfielder seemed to have his arm Chelsea 1 Both captain John Terry and chairman Bruce stretched out, but Atkinson allowed play to con- Buck asserted the club’s commitment to anti- tinue. Towards the end of the half, then, Costa stunning defeat racism campaigns in their programme notes and surged into the box but was pushed by Michael some Chelsea fans also produced banners Keane. Burnley 1 denouncing racism. Costa probably didn’t help his case by going MADRID: Barcelona’s La Liga title hopes were before the Cameroonian denied Gerard Pique But their attempt to move on was complicat- down easily, although there was a definite shove dealt a huge blow as Malaga stunned the in stoppage time. —AFP ed by reports that police are investigating com- from the defender. The second half continued in Camp Nou with a 1-0 win yesterday. Juanmi plaints that Chelsea supporters were involved in much the same vein, with Chelsea in total con- grabbed the only goal of the game after just LONDON: After a week of controversy off the more racist chanting on their return from the trol, and also having more claims for penalties. seven minutes when he pounced on an error Matches on TV pitch, there was an afternoon of rancour on it at Paris Saint Germain match at St Pancras train sta- Within minutes of the resumption, Filipe Luis by Dani Alves. Stamford Bridge, as Chelsea’s Nemanja Matic tion. burst into the box, only to be felled by Kieran Thereafter, the hosts failed to breakdown (Local Timings) was sent off in the Premier League leaders’ 1-1 For 90 minutes at least, Chelsea could focus Trippier. Again, Atkinson shook his head. Chelsea a well-organised Malaga defence, which also draw against Burnley yesterday. on football and Juan Cuadrado offered the first almost made it 2-0 from the resulting corner but frustrated the Catalans in a 0-0 draw earlier in English Premier League Branislav Ivanovic had given Chelsea a first- threat with a looping header that Tom Heaton Ivanovic couldn’t quite get a good enough the season. Tottenham v West Ham 15:00 half lead, but Matic was sent off after the interval tipped over the bar. touch on Costa’s header. beIN SPORTS 1 HD Defeat leaves Barca still a point adrift of and struggling Burnley took advantage to Cuadrado was also instrumental to the home Cuadrado was having a hugely productive Real Madrid at the top of the table, but the beIN SPORTS 11 HD Everton v Leicester 17:05 snatch a shock point thanks to Ben Mee’s header side taking the lead after 14 minutes, even if game and almost scored his first goal. He slid in European champions can extend that advan- beIN SPORTS 1 HD nine minutes from full-time. Ivanovic’s goal was all about Eden Hazard’s sub- for a Hazard cross, only for Mee to just about tage to four points when they travel to Elche beIN SPORTS 11 HD Blues boss Jose Mourinho may feel his side lime assist. divert the ball away. But in the 70th minute on Sunday. Southampton v Liverpool 19:15 were hard done by as they had three penalty Having lost the ball near the by-line, Matic was sent off for serious foul play and after “We’re used to these kind of games. I’d like beIN SPORTS 1 HD appeals turned down by referee Martin Cuadrado did well to win it back, before feeding the midfielder challenged Barnes, who some- it to be an accident but it is becoming habit, beIN SPORTS 11 HD Atkinson, while Matic’s dismissal for retaliation the Belgian. Hazard then danced through the what dangerously left his foot up, catching Matic the opposition close up and we can’t find a was sparked by a nasty tackle from Ashley Burnley defence, beating two players, and on the shin. Spanish League way through,” lamented Barca boss Luis Barnes. squared for Ivanovic, who finished from close The Serbian reacted furiously, confronting Enrique. Deportivo v Celta 0:00 beIN SPORTS 6 HD It was a depressing end to a troubled few range for his sixth goal of the season. Barnes, shoving him to the ground, and “These kind of results are sometimes a beIN SPORTS 14 HD days for Chelsea, who could see their lead at the Atkinson immediately showed the red card. good reminder that other sides have their beIN SPORTS 2 HD top reduced to five points if Manchester City PENALTY CLAIMS It was at that point the game turned, and qualities. You could consider this a deserved Sociedad v Sevilla 14:00 beat Newcastle later yesterday. Chelsea could have been much further ahead Burnley scored a shock equalizer in the 81st defeat.” It is the second time this season Barca beIN SPORTS 2 HD The club’s pre-scheduled “game of equality” by half-time, as Burnley offered virtually no minute when Mee got above the Chelsea back have been shocked at home after a 1-0 beIN SPORTS 14 HD came in the aftermath of the shocking incident threat of their own, but Atkinson waved away line to head home a corner, leaving the home reverse to Celta Vigo in November. Bilbao v Rayo 19:00 on the Paris Metro on Tuesday in which a black two penalty claims. crowd to vent their frustration by booing beIN SPORTS 2 HD However, defeat was all the more of a sur- man was blocked from getting on a train by For the first, Ivanovic powered a shot at goal, Atkinson.—AFP prise as Barca came into the game in fine beIN SPORTS 12 HD Villarreal v SD Eibar 21:00 form having won their last 11 games in all beIN SPORTS 6 HD competitions, scoring 42 goals in the process. beIN SPORTS 14 HD Sunderland rue Their star front three of Lionel Messi, beIN SPORTS 2 HD Neymar and Luis Suarez were kept remark- Elche v Real Madrid 23:00 ably quiet as Malaga became the first side beIN SPORTS 2 HD missed chances since Getafe in 2007/08 to keep Barca score- beIN SPORTS 11 HD in Albion draw less over two games in La Liga. beIN SPORTS 14 HD “They scored and shut up shop.