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Winless in Manchester First-place Leeds faces tough challenge at Old Trafford
Updated: Thursday October 25, 2001 4:20 PM
LONDON (AP) -- Leeds has a tough fight to stay on top of the English Premier League with a trip to Manchester United on Saturday, with the added incentive of trying to end a 20-year winless streak at Old Trafford. The game offers an intriguing matchup between Manchester manager Alex Ferguson and his Leeds counterpart -- and perhaps successor -- David O'Leary, who has modeled his side on United. The last time Leeds won at Old Trafford was in 1981. The club is also hunting for its 10th successive win or draw of the season. The last time it achieved that was in 1992 when it edged Manchester United to win the Premier League. "We've had a good week to prepare and rest up so hopefully we'll come out all guns blazing on Saturday," said Leeds defender Danny Mills, who was the victim of a nasty two-footed tackle by Chelsea captain Graeme Le Saux in Sunday's 0-0 draw. "We'll go to Old Trafford full of confidence, still on top of the table, aiming to stay top of the table." United plays knowing it is through to the second phase of the Champions League after defeating Olympiakos 3-0 on Tuesday. The Reds are in fourth place, two points behind Leeds. United's clean sheet on Tuesday was a boost to its beleaguered defense, which has conceded 16 goals this season. But that was tempered by another knee injury to defender Ronny Johnsen. The Norwegian is likely to be sidelined for three months, after only recently returning from two knee operations. United may also be without captain Roy Keane, who was missing from the Champions League win over Olympiakos with a knee injury. Nicky Butt is likely to cover for him. With Ferguson changing his formation to two strikers up front for English games, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer may have earned himself a starting spot with his goal-scoring performance against Olympiakos as a substitute. "Solksjaer never lets you down," Ferguson said. "That goalscoring threat he has is phenomenal. In the last 25 minutes of a game, all of the players you can think of, you just hope the ball lands at his feet. You can bet your life on him." Liverpool travels to Charlton Saturday, its good form continuing to aid manager Gerard Houllier's recovery from heart surgery. Liverpool drew 1-1 with Boavista in the Champions League on Wednesday and needs just one point to advance to the next phase. The Reds beat Leicester 4-1 last weekend. Star striker Michael Owen traveled to Porto but was omitted from Liverpool's Champions League squad after being sidelined for six matches with a hamstring injury. He could be in the lineup Saturday. "It would have been a tall order to have asked Michael to go on late in the game when he has been out for a few weeks," stand-in manager Phil Thompson said. "He's in the frame for the game at Charlton at the weekend and we will make a decision on whether he plays or not later in the week." Owen's England teammate Steven Gerrard could also make a return after suffering a thigh injury, while defender Sami Hyppia is uncertain after being substituted in Porto with a hamstring injury. Charlton is likely to be without defender Andy Todd, who was dropped in Wednesday's 1-0 loss to Aston Villa after being involved in an undisclosed incident with another player shortly before the match. "Will he play for the club again? I don't want to talk about that -- but I'll talk to the people involved and we'll make some sort of decision," said Addicks manager Alan Curbishley. Chelsea will be waiting on the fitness and attitude of Frenchman Emmanuel Petit for Sunday's match against Derby. Petit, a World Cup and European champion, asked to be substituted in Wednesday's loss to West Ham because he was tired. Petit was one of the six Chelsea players who refused to travel to Tel Aviv for a UEFA Cup match the club lost. He was back in the lineup for Sunday's goalless draw at Leeds. "Manu came over to the bench and said he wanted me to make a change," Chelsea manager Claudio Reineri said. "When he came off I asked him what had happened and he said he was very tired -- I hope it is nothing serious." Also on Saturday, third placed Aston Villa plays sixth-placed Bolton and Everton hosts Newcastle in a northeastern derby. New Southampton manager Gordon Strachan is looking for his first win after drawing 3-3 with Ipswich on Wednesday against a Fulham side desperate to rekindle last season's impressive form. A revitalized Tottenham hosts Middlesbrough while Ipswich hosts West Ham. Arsenal travels to Sunderland fresh from its Champions League win over Real Mallorca and advancement to the second phase, while the Black Cats lost 2-0 to Middlesbrough on Monday. Standings are tight atop the English first division. Crystal Palace, Wolverhampton and Coventry all have 27 points with Burnley and Norwich have 26. Crystal Palace plays Norwich, Wolverhampton plays Burnley and Coventry plays Sheffield Wednesday in the weekend's matches. In the Scottish Premier League, league leader Celtic plays Kilmarnock, with third placed Livingston playing second placed Rangers. Chelsea's Petit backs off from playing timeLONDON (AP) -- Emmanuel Petit is causing controversy again at Chelsea. On Wednesday, the French World Cup midfielder asked to be taken off after 61 minutes in Chelsea's 2-1 loss at West Ham, saying he was tired. Last week, Petit declined to travel to Israel to play in the Blues' UEFA Cup game against Hapoel Tel Aviv because he said he feared for his safety. Five other Chelsea players stayed away in the 2-0 loss. "Manu came over to the bench and said he wanted me to make a change," Chelsea manager Claudio Rainieri said. "When he came off I asked him what had happened and he said he was very tired -- I hope it is nothing serious." Petit's dedication to Chelsea has been under question since he joined from Barcelona this summer on a 7.5-million-pound (US$10.7 million) transfer. Scotland to meet with United's FergusonGLASGOW, Scotland (AP) -- The Scottish Football Association will ask Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson to be involved with the national team when they meet him this week. The Scotsman, who will retire at Man United at the end of the season, has already said he does not to want to succeed Craig Brown as Scottish manager. Brown resigned after Scotland failed to qualify for next year's World Cup finals. But the SFA wants to find a role for Ferguson. "We are not going there to offer him the Scotland job as he has stated quite clearly that he is not interested," SFA chief executive David Taylor told The Mirror. "It's not a question of us going there to specifically offer him a job. We will be speaking about a whole number of things connected with Scottish football. "We are interested in his views, specifically on the manager's job, but he may have other things that he wants to talk to us about, so it's an open agenda." Ziege signing demands explanationLIVERPOOL, England (AP) -- The Premier League has given Liverpool another week to explain its signing of Christian Ziege from Middlesbrough. Middlesbrough claims Liverpool made an illegal approach to the German player, who joined the Reds in August 2000 on a 5.5 million pound (US$7.8 million) transfer. The Premier League said Thursday that Liverpool would present its evidence on Oct. 30. Ziege has since left Liverpool, signing with Tottenham over the summer in a 4 million pound (US$5.8 million) deal. Johnsen's status with Man Utd uncertainMANCHESTER, England (AP) -- A third knee injury is threatening Ronny Johnsen's future with Manchester United. The Norwegian international defender, who injured his knee last week against Deportivo in the Champions League, is out of contract at the end of the summer and needs to some game time to prove himself. The injury-prone defender has played just 27 times for United in 2 1/2 seasons. "I don't know how long I will be out, but normally with this kind of injury you are talking about three months," he said. Beckham backs Sheringham for place on England squadMANCHESTER, England (AP) -- David Beckham wants former Manchester United teammate Teddy Sheringham on England's World Cup team. Sheringham, 35, came off the bench and scored a goal in last month's 2-2 draw with Greece, which earned the English a berth in next year's World Cup finals. "You need experienced players going into a World Cup, and there is none more experienced than Teddy," Beckham told The Sun. "People talk about his age, but if he's still playing like he is for Tottenham as well as England now he deserves every chance he gets." It won't be easy. Sheringham will have to win one of five forward places. Candidates include Emile Heskey, Michael Owen, Robbie Fowler, Andy Cole and Alan Smith. Charlton consider action after training ground bust-upLONDON, Oct 25 (Reuters) -- Charlton Athletic are expected to announce on Thursday what action they will take against two players who were involved in a training ground incident earlier this week. Defender Andy Todd missed the premier league match at Aston Villa on Wednesday night while an unnamed player was allowed to travel with the rest of the squad by manager Alan Curbishley despite his role in the dispute. It was noted that goalkeeper Dean Kiely played the match -- which Charlton lost 1-0 -- with a black eye. Curbishley is expected to reveal more at a news conference at the club on Thursday afternoon. But speaking after the defeat at Villa Park, Curbishley said: "I don't want to say too much about it or use it to deflect from what was a poor display. "Something happened at training between two players. One of those players traveled with us to Villa but I told Todd to stay away. It was a bit unpleasant. "I'm very disappointed with what has happened, but I have been concentrating on the match and we'll review the situation properly tomorrow. I will be talking to the chairman. "It's the kind of thing that happens but I don't think it would upset the team. It was a football matter only. Todd would have played against Villa." Todd was sold to Charlton by Bolton Wanderers in 1999 after he was involved in a training ground incident with coach Phil Brown, who suffered a broken cheekbone and fractured jaw. Barnsley manager fired after eight-game losing streakBARNSLEY, England (AP) -- Nigel Spackman was sacked Thursday by struggling first division side Barnsley, becoming the 19th manager in English soccer to lose his job this season. The Tykes, winless in their last eight league games, lie second from bottom in Division One after Wednesday night's 3-1 defeat at Sheffield Wednesday. Since taking over from Dave Bassett in January, Spackman guided the side to only nine wins in 33 games. The last victory came against Crewe on Sept. 15. "Playing performances and results have been unacceptable and the directors are firmly of the opinion this measure is in the best interests of the club," the club said in a statement. Also dismissed was first-team coach Derek Fazackerley. Reserve team coach Glyn Hodges was put in charge pending the appointment of a new manager. Barnsley was in the Premier League just three seasons ago and, under Bassett, reached the first division playoff final at Wembley last year, losing 4-2 to Ipswich. But the club's fortunes foundered during Spackman's 10 months in charge. "If you are in the bottom three of any league you are under pressure - that goes with the territory," the former Liverpool midfielder said after Wednesday night's defeat. "I'm not stupid enough to think there's no pressure on me but I'll continue to give 100 percent, as I've always done, and if that's not good enough there will be a parting of the ways. I'm sure any manager in my position would say the same." Only nine weeks into the English season, 19 managers have either been dismissed or left their jobs. Three Premier League managers have gone: Jim Smith at Derby, Peter Taylor at Leicester and Stuart Gray at Southampton. There have been four managerial casualties in division one: Spackman at Barnsley, Trevor Francis at Birmingham, Gordon Strachan at Coventry and Peter Shreeves at Sheffield Wednesday. Five managers in division two and seven from division three have been ousted.
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