Former England cricket captain Kevin Pietersen admitted in an interview published Sunday that he too had lost money in torn-up contracts with alleged fraudster Allen Stanford.
   Pietersen, who did not specify the value of the contracts he had signed with Stanford to be a cricket ambassador, described the Texas financier as a ‘sleazebag’ and said his sponsorship of a tournament involving England made it seem as though ‘the England team had been sold.’
   His comments to the News of the World weekly newspaper came after authorities seized the Bank of Antigua, one of Stanford’s assets, while Peru, Panama, Ecuador, Venezuela and Colombia have also taken action against his banks.
   ‘I was an ambassador for Stanford – a player face – but that contract has gone,’ he told the paper.
   The News of the World reported that Pietersen had signed a two-year deal with Stanford, with an option to promote Stanford’s winner-takes-all Twenty20 clash for a further three years.
   ‘Stanford was a sleazebag,’ Pietersen said. ‘I was very uncomfortable with the whole Stanford thing.’
   ‘It was not that I was captain at the time, it was the uncomfortable situation of everybody thinking the England team had been sold. With the financial state of the world, people were talking about money instead of cricket.
   ‘Those kinds of things just didn’t seem right to me, so it’s not a bad thing we are not going to have that tournament anymore.’
   The England and Wales Cricket Board terminated all contracts with Stanford on Friday, and will not be taking part in any further Stanford Twenty20 matches in Antigua or his proposed international quadrangular Twenty20 events in England, the first of which was due to be played at Lord’s in May.
   Negotiations between the ECB and Stanford were suspended on Tuesday when it was revealed that the US Securities and Exchange Commission had charged the Texan tycoon with an alleged nine billion dollar fraud.

Chief executive David Collier defended the England and Wales Cricket Board on Sunday in the wake of criticism over its dealings with Allen Stanford.
   Collier insisted he would not be resigning and stressed that he believed he and the ECB’s actions in relation the Texan billionaire were beyond reproach.
   The ECB chief told BBC Radio Five: ‘I have been extremely heartened that many people involved in cricket – and I suppose having worked in the game for 30 years I’ve probably got as many contacts as anyone – have urged me to continue what they see as the immense progress we’ve made over the last four years.
   ‘I’ve certainly looked back and said, “would we have been able to do things differently”, and I believe that as professionals we went through all the correct contract procedures. Clearly the board correctly signed off all of the agreements.
   ‘I believe therefore that I could not have done more at that time and I don’t think the board could have done more.
   ‘So the answer is no (to whether he had considered resigning) on that.’
   The ECB terminated all contracts with Stanford on Friday, and will not be taking part in any further Stanford Twenty20 matches in Antigua or his proposed international quadrangular Twenty20 events in England, the first of which was due to be played at Lord’s in May.
   Negotiations between the ECB and Stanford were suspended on Tuesday when it was revealed that the US Securities and Exchange Commission had charged the Texan tycoon with an alleged nine billion dollar fraud.
   Asked whether he and chairman Giles Clarke had discussed their positions, Collier added: ‘Certainly I’ve discussed that with Giles but more importantly members of the board have been phoning to say we have full confidence and you must carry on. ‘We’ve looked back at all of the events and said, “what more could we have done at the time?” It’s not as though we’ve been involved in any of the fraud that is alleged. This is another party altogether.’
   Collier was non-committal about the possibility of the ECB returning the money received for last year’s Twenty20 events.

Sri Lanka (644/7 dec) lead Pakistan (44/1) by 600 runs at stumps, day 2
   Mahela Jayawardene and Thilan Samaraweera smashed double hundreds during a world record stand of 437 as Sri Lanka left Pakistan with a mountain to climb in the opening Test here on Sunday.
   Jayawardene ended on 240 and Samaraweera struck a career-best 231 as the tourists declared their first innings at 644-7, their best ever total against Pakistan, on the second day at the National Stadium.
   Pakistan, who must score 445 to avoid the follow-on in their first Test in 14 months, were 44-1 at stumps with debutant Khurram Manzoor on 18 and Younus Khan yet to score.
   With the twin threats of Ajantha Mendis and Muttiah Muralitharan, the world record-holder for Test wickets, looming large on a pitch likely to take spin, Pakistan’s task looks daunting.
   “We need to bat sensibly,” said Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam, who replaced Australian Geoff Lawson in October last year.
   “The Sri Lankans batted well on a lifeless pitch and we bowled poorly on the first day. I am not happy with the pitch.”
   Muralitharan gave signs of what is in store when he dismissed opener Salman Butt for 23 in the penultimate over to underline a dominant day for the tourists.
   Skipper Jayawardene and Samaraweera, who came together on Saturday evening with their team on 177-3, punished the new-look Pakistan attack with their partnership, which was the eighth best for any wicket in Test history.
   The overnight pair batted with authority to beat the previous best fourth-wicket stand of 411 between England’s Peter May and Colin Cowdrey against the West Indies at Birmingham in 1957.
   Resuming at 406-3, they also beat Sri Lanka’s previous best fourth-wicket stand 240, set by Asanka Gurusinha and Arjuna Ranatunga against Pakistan in Colombo in 1986.
   The partnership also took Sri Lanka past their highest Test total against Pakistan — 528 at Lahore in 2002. Samaraweera improved his previous highest Test score of 142 against England at Colombo in 2003.
   The two batted through all but two overs in the first two sessions before the Pakistani bowlers were rewarded with three wickets for an unchanged score of 614.
   Jayawardene fell when he miscued a sweep shot off spinner Shoaib Malik and was caught one-handed by diving wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal behind the stumps.
   The Sri Lankan skipper hit 32 boundaries during his 531-minute stay at the crease. Samaraweera was bowled by leg-spinner Danish Kaneria after hitting 31 boundaries during his 457-minute innings, while Kaneria finished with 3-170.
   Jayawardene also shares the record for the highest ever partnership of 624 in Test cricket — made for the third wicket with Kumar Sangakkara against South Africa in Colombo three years ago.
   Pakistan are playing their first Test match in 14 months after security problems prompted teams to cancel tours of the country.
   They have also been hit by an injury to strike bowler Shoaib Akhtar, as well as international bans against 17 first-class players for taking part in the rebel Indian Cricket League.

Simon Katich and skipper Ricky Ponting flayed the South African Board President’s XI bowling attack as the touring Australians dominated the second day of a three-day match at Senwes Park Saturday.
   Katich hit 124 before retiring while Ponting made 93 in a second-wicket stand of 185 scored in just 35.1 overs.
   The tourists finished the day on 360 for four in reply to the President’s XI total of 403 for seven declared.
   The Australian pair scored freely as they made up for their team’s lacklustre bowling performance on the first day.
   The pitch continued to play easily and there were no real problems for the batsmen, although new opening batsman Phil Hughes made only 24 before he was first man out.
   Hughes looked impressive in making his runs off 34 balls before he was caught behind off a bouncer from Ethy Mbhalati.
   But Katich and Ponting then put a weak bowling attack to the sword. Among those who suffered was leg-spinner Imran Tahir, who was hit for 92 runs in 18 overs, although he picked up the wickets of Ponting and Andrew McDonald.
   Tahir, who was born in Pakistan, qualifies to play for South Africa in April and has been touted as a potential international player.
   McDonald made 23 before he was leg before to Tahir. Marcus North, McDonald’s rival for the number six batting spot in the first Test starting in Johannesburg Thursday, made an unbeaten 52.
   The President’s XI added only 10 runs to their overnight total of 393 for five before declaring, with wicketkeeper Heino Kuhn falling one run short of a century when he was caught behind off Ben Hilfenhaus.

Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam on Sunday criticised the lifeless wicket prepared for the first Test after Sri Lanka racked up a record total to take a stranglehold on the match.
   Sri Lanka, who won the toss, feasted on the flat and grassless National Stadium track, piling up 644-7 in their first innings after two days’ play — their highest total against Pakistan.
   ‘We did not want this kind of pitch, it is disappointing,’ said Alam after his new-look attack toiled on the unresponsive track.
   ‘We wanted a pitch which had some grass and some bounce because we rely on our fast bowlers.’
   Alam laid the blame with groundsman Agha Zahid, a former Pakistan Test opener, but declined to call for his removal.
   ‘The curator has the final authority as we briefed him what kind of a pitch we wants and he is responsible for this pitch,’ said Alam.
   ‘It turned out to be a batting strip and Sri Lankans took the benefit. I am also not happy with our bowling on the first day because we either bowled too full or too short.’
   Pakistan, missing injured strike bowler Shoaib Akhtar, are playing their first Test in 14 months after their schedule was rocked by a series of security scares.
   ‘We will have to take up the challenge and the only way to save this Test is to bat sensibly, otherwise it would be difficult,’ Alam said.

With a view to igniting passion among the junior footballers across the country and also to picking a competent Under-13 team for the upcoming AFC U-13 Football Festival, the Bangladesh Football Federation kicks off the U-13 Development Football Tournament today.
   Forty district teams splitting into eight groups will be playing in the tournament at eight regional venues across the country. The venues are Bhola, Mymensingh, Narail, Noakhali, Comilla, Chapainawabganj, Bagerhat and Thakurgaon. The eight zonal champions will qualify for the final round. The date of the final round is yet to be confirmed.
   The budget of the tournament is Tk 22.5 lakh of which Tk 17.5 lakh will be spent on the zonal round. Each team will receive Tk 20,000 as the appearance money with the host venues getting Tk 50,000 each.
   ‘We will look for the talents from the very beginning and we will strictly maintain the age level of the players. We hope the tournament will inspire the young footballers,’ said Kazi Nabil, the chairman of BFF development committee, at a press conference at the BFF House on Sunday.
   Md Mohsin, member-secretary of the organising committee, Shahidur Rahman Shantu, technical director of the BFF and Satyajit Das Rupu, a BFF member, were also present on the occasion.

Bangladesh Army recorded their third consecutive victory in the Need For Speed Shaheed Smriti Hockey by defeating BKSP 3-1 at the Maulana Bhasani National Hockey Stadium on Sunday.
   Hamidul Islam, skipper Sirajul Islam and substitute Mostafa Sharif scored one goal apiece in the 14th, 27th and 52nd minutes for Army while Abdullah Al Mansoor netted the lone goal for the losers in the 30th minute.
   Bangladesh Army top the league table securing full nine points from three matches.

Sunnydale meet SOS Shishu Palli in the opening match of the KFC Pizza Hut 5th Mini Girls’ Handball Tournament at the Paltan handball ground today.
   A total of 18 teams are participating in the tournament. The executive director of sponsor Transcom Foods Limited, Akku Chowdhury, will inaugurate the meet.
   The estimated budget of the tournament is Tk 1.9 lakh, and the sponsor will provide Tk 1.5 lakh.
   The chairman of the tournament committee, BM Shoaib, declared a prize of computer for the best player of the meet.
   Handball federation general secretary Asaduzzaman Kohinoor disclosed the details of the tournament at a press conference at the federation office on Sunday. Tournament committee secretary M Salahuddin Ahmed was also present.

Bangla-desh VDP and Jessore brightened their hopes of reaching the semi-finals of the Citycell Women’s National Football Cham-pionship after securing their second successive wins on Sunday.
   A double hat-trick from Tithi Rani Sarkar powered VDP to a massive 9-0 win over Rangamati, who also lost the first match against Jessore, at Bangabandhu National Stadium.
   Apart from Tithi’s six goals, Shahnaz Parvin struck twice while Salma Khatun netted the other for VDP.
   In the day’s other match, Jessore recorded a lone goal win over Khulna with Rehana Khatun scoring the decider in the dying minutes. Khulna lost their Group B opener to VDP.

Cricket’s most famous umpire, Harold ‘Dickie’ Bird, says the game has been damaged forever by the amount of money that is coming in.
   Ten years after he retired, Dickie, 75, who umpired three World Cup finals and 66 Test matches, is depressed that the ‘greatest game in the world’ has been so badly tarnished by the Allan Stanford scandal.
   ‘It was right for the England and Wales Cricket Board to terminate all contractual links with Allen Stanford. But it is too late because the damage has already been done. It depresses me what has happened to the game I knew and was brought up with as a boy. Money has been the ruination of cricket,’ The Sun quoted Bird, as saying.
   ‘I have always been an establishment man. I turned down a lot of money when Kerry Packer founded World Series Cricket in the Seventies.
   ‘I also turned down the rebel tour to South Africa on principle as I opposed apartheid. So when I see these huge sums pouring into the game now I feel saddened,’ he added.
   ‘When Sir Allen showed off the case with the 20 million dollars prize money for the West Indies and England winner-take-all game last year, Viv Richards and Ian Botham were beside him.
   ‘They were all smiling, but when they pulled back the blanket to reveal the cash, I thought it was horrendous. I thought ‘there is something wrong here’ and I have been proved right,’ Bird said.
   He also said that the West Indies used to be so powerful and there are signs that they are coming back. But this is a terrible setback for them.
   ‘Why can’t we leave things alone? We need to return to some of the old traditions and principles,’ Bird said.

Jacob Oram and Ross Taylor have returned from injury and been named in New Zealand’s 13-man squad for two Twenty20s against India, but there appears growing concern for Kyle Mills. Mills missed New Zealand’s last Twenty20, a one-run loss to Australia in Sydney recently, due to an Achilles tendon problem, and his situation was still unclear.
   ‘He’s had an ultrasound scan which showed no tear in the tendon so it might be inflammation of the sheath, we are just not quite sure,’ said New Zealand’s convener of selectors Glenn Turner.
   Mills has been replaced by Ewen Thompson, the Central Districts left-arm fast bowler, who made his debut in a Twenty20 against West Indies in December. ‘He will give the side additional strength as a specialist new ball and swing bowler,’ said Turner.
   The Twenty20s will be played in Christchurch and Wellington on February 25 and 27.
   Twenty20 squad: Daniel Vettori (capt), Neil Broom, Ian Butler, Grant Elliott, Martin Guptill, Brendon McCullum (wk), Nathan McCullum, Iain O’Brien, Jacob Oram, Jesse Ryder, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Ewen Thompson.

England all-rounder An-drew Flintoff was ruled out Saturday of the fourth Test against the West Indies in Barbados with a right hip injury, the ECB announced. Flintoff underwent a scan on his hip on Friday and the results showed a muscle strain.

The Indian side under Mahendra Singh Dhoni is presently the best cricket team in the world and they would have little difficulty in crushing Kiwis, predicted former Pakistan captain Rameez Raja.
   ‘They are the team to beat at the moment. They have this ability to adjust and adapt to all conditions and that is their greatest strength,’ Raja told PTI on Sunday.
   The former Test opener, who is now a well-known commentator, said India’s main strength was that they studied their opponents closely and executed their plans properly on the field.
   ‘Their execution of plan is top class, courtesy their captain, Dhoni who has led the side from the front,’ he said.
   ‘In those days we had a top class bowling attack and also strong batsmen. I see India in a similar position. But they have gone one step further that they have beaten Australia in Australia (in ODI) which we could not do,’ Rameez added.

Manches-ter United let in their first goal in the Premier League in three months, but still stretched their lead at the top of the table with a 2-1 win on Saturday against an unlucky Blackburn at Old Trafford.
   United’s victory means second-placed Liverpool will be eight points adrift of the English, European and world champions when they kick off at home to Manchester City on Sunday.
   England striker Wayne Rooney put United ahead in the 23rd minute.
   However, after 1,337 minutes – more than 22 hours – without a dent in their goals against column, United’s defence was pierced after the half-hour mark.
   United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, presumably with an eye on Tuesday’s last-16 Champions League clash with Inter Milan, opted to play Tomasz Kuszczak in goal rather than Edwin van der Sar, who recently broke the British record for most minutes without conceding a league goal.
   But Paraguay striker Roque Santa Cruz, released by Andre Ooijer’s precise pass, rounded Kuszczak before finishing from a tight angle.
   Rovers, belying their status as a bottom three club, nearly went ahead just before the hour mark when New Zealand defender Ryan Nelsen hit the post with a well-struck shot.
   Two minutes later United’s Cristiano Ronaldo, booked for diving by referee Howard Webb having escaped a yellow card for earlier kicking out, made it 2-1 with a brilliant curling free-kick from the left edge of the box.
   Rovers were then denied a legitimate penalty when Morten Gamst Pedersen was pulled back in the box by United full-back Rafael da Silva.
   A relieved Ferguson said: ‘We deserved it just – no more than that. When you consider how we’ve defended over the last few weeks it was a very soft goal to give away.
   ‘This is a great lesson. It tells us exactly what this league is like. I’ve said all along there is no way we can predict we are going to win the league when we get difficult games like this.’
   Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce was furious with Webb’s refusal to award a penalty for Rafael’s challenge on Pedersen.
   ‘Sir Alex doesn’t think it is a penalty, but I think it is. It has to be pretty blatant to get a penalty here at Old Trafford. We all know that. For me, it is a big disappointment because the lads put up a really good fight.’
   Earlier, Guus Hiddink enjoyed a winning start as Chelsea manager after Nicolas Anelka’s goal clinched a 1-0 victory at Aston Villa.
   Hiddink, appointed after Brazilian coach Luiz Felipe Scolari was sacked last week, saw Anelka’s 19th minute finish from Frank Lampard’s pass lift Chelsea above Villa into third place.
   Hiddink, who is combining his work at Chelsea with his job as Russia manager, downplayed suggestions he’d inherited a divided dressing room.
   ‘I did not see what sometimes is suggested about this big division. I have analysed it rather well,’ said the Dutchman, who has made it clear he will only be at Chelsea until the end of the season.
   Arsenal’s goalless draw at home to Sunderland left them six points off the top four and struggling to qualify for the Champions League.
   This was their the Gunners’ third straight goalless league draw and manager Arsene Wenger did not hide his frustration at Sunderland’s approach.
   ‘Like everybody who comes here they put one striker up front and that’s it,’ the Frenchman said. ‘If everybody plays like that it will be very boring in the Premier League.’
   James Beattie was Stoke City’s hero as they moved two points clear of the relegation zone with a 2-2 draw at home to fellow strugglers Portsmouth. Beattie scored twice as Stoke came from behind in a match where all four goals arrived in the final 15 minutes.
   Niko Kranjcar finished off a well-worked move to put Pompey in front but three minutes later Stoke were level when a penalty, controversially awarded for a handball by Glen Johnson, was converted by Beattie. Then, in the 80th minute the striker headed in from close range.
   Pompey salvaged a draw that left them five points clear of the drop zone when Stoke’s Ryan Shawcross put through his own net in the 90th minute
   Bolton scored twice in two minutes as they beat West Ham 2-1.
   Long-range specialist Matt Taylor curled in a free-kick from 22 yards before Kevin Davies made it 2-0. West Ham pulled a goal back through Scott Parker in the 66th minute.
   Middlesbrough remained in the bottom three after a goalless home draw with Wigan Athletic.

Real Madrid sent an emphatic warning to Champions League opponents Liverpool on Saturday when they thrashed Real Betis 6-1 to move seven points behind leaders Barcelona, who suffered a shock 2-1 derby defeat against Espanyol.
   Real scored all their goals in a terrific first half to record a ninth straight league win and they are brimming with confidence for Wednesday’s last-16 Champions League match with Liverpool at the Santiago Bernabeu.
   ‘I never said the league wasn’t on,’ said Real coach Juande Ramos.
   ‘Just like we had a dip in the first half of the season – due to injuries and other factors – other teams will have the same experience over a long season.
   ‘We are closer to Barcelona but they still have a significant advantage and seven points is still a lot.’
   Barcelona travel to Lyon on Tuesday for their European clash and will be kicking themselves after the loss to Espanyol, who won at Camp Nou for the first time since 1982.
   Old boy Ivan de la Pena, who played at Barcelona from 1995 to 1998, scored twice to gun down his old club, who had Seydou Keita sent off after 37 minutes.
   It was Barcelona’s first defeat since the opening day of the season, ending their 22-match unbeaten run and in just a fortnight Real have sliced their lead from 12 points to seven.
   ‘Nobody said it was going to be easy,’ said Barca coach Pep Guardiola. ‘We have lost today but we are still in a strong position and will recover from this setback.’
   Guardiola refused to criticise referee Delgado Ferreira for sending off Keita but team-mate Xavi didn’t mince his words.
   ‘The referee got it (Keita’s sending-off) wrong,’ fumed Xavi. ‘He decided the game and apart from that he didn’t allow it to flow at all.’
   Real took full advantage with Gonzalo Higuain opening the scoring in the seventh minute with his 14th goal of the season before Klaas-Jan Huntelaar scored twice.
   Liverpool needn’t worry about Dutch forward Huntelaar scoring against them as UEFA rules forced Real to omit the 20-million-euro signing from the Champions League squad with Lass Diarra grabbing the final place.
   Captain Raul will be available though, and the veteran striker scored a quick-fire brace, in the 36th and 42nd minutes, as Real led 6-1 at the interval.
   Ricardo Oliviera, a nine-million-euro signing from Real Zaragoza, had pulled a goal back on the half hour mark for Betis and it was the first goal Real had conceded in five league matches.
   Sergio Ramos completed the first half rout.
   Barcelona have been cruising for most of this season but have hit a rocky patch with the Betis draw followed up by defeat to Espanyol.
   Thierry Henry spurned a great chance after 13 minutes heading over from close range after Lionel Messi’s great cross.
   It was a fast-paced match and on 37 minutes Keita was red-carded for a late tackle on Moises Hurtado giving Barcelona an uphill task.
   Guardiola was furious about the decision while Keita looked stunned, probably expecting a yellow card rather than a red.
   Five minutes into the second half it got worse for Barcelona when old boy de la Pena headed the visitors in front. The 32-year-old then scored again five minutes later with a terrific chip.
   Yaya Toure gave Barcelona hope with a 62nd-minute strike but Espanyol held on to triumph in a heated game which produced ten yellow cards and one red.
   For Espanyol it was a first victory since the beginning of November and they move off the foot of the table with Numancia taking their place.
   Elsewhere, Villarreal went fourth thanks to a 2-1 win over Sporting Gijon with a Joan Capdevila free-kick securing the win.
   Sevilla cemented their third position with a late 1-0 win over Champions League rivals Atletico Madrid.
   Jesus Navas scored the winner four minutes from time to help Sevilla move three points clear of Villarreal while Atletico stay sixth eight points adrift of Sevilla.

Manch-ester United are facing mounting defensive concerns ahead of their last 16 Champions League game against Inter Milan.
   United were already without Serbian defender Nemanja Vidic due to suspension for Tuesday’s first leg at the San Siro and they lost Jonny Evans to an ankle injury in the 2-1 Premier League win over Blackburn Rovers at Old Trafford here on Saturday.
   And with Gary Neville and Wes Brown struggling with injury, manager Sir Alex Ferguson is now hoping John O’Shea can overcome an ankle problem in order to partner Rio Ferdinand at centre-back against Jose Mourinho’s team.
   ‘We’ve got some injury issues of course and I just hope we can get two centre-backs out there on Tuesday,’ Ferguson said.
   ‘At this moment in time, it’s very doubtful. Jonny Evans is unlikely to be playing, he’s looking very doubtful and I’m just hoping to have John O’Shea available because we don’t have Gary Neville and we don’t have Wes Brown.
   ‘We’re having a nightmare with defenders this season. Hopefully we can patch it up with Tuesday because this does leave us very, very short.’
   Cristiano Ronaldo was at the centre of controversy in the win over Rovers. The Portugal winger appeared to kick out at David Dunn just minutes before he was booked for diving on the edge of the area.
   Ronaldo added insult to Rovers injury with a superb free-kick that sealed a 16th win in 17 matches in all competitions for United and moved the reigning English, European and world champions eight points clear of Liverpool at the top of the Premier League.
   Ferguson hit back at criticism of Ronaldo, who took his tally for the season to 16 goals after Rovers forward Roque Santa Cruz had cancelled out England striker Wayne Rooney’s opener.
   ‘He wasn’t fortunate to be on the pitch,’ said Ferguson. ‘The referee (Howard Webb) spoke to him when he flicked out and Ronaldo said that the boy kicked him so he was given a warning.
   ‘It was no more than a flick and you see that time and again in games but because it’s Ronaldo people will make a meal of it,’ the Scot added.
   ‘It’s just one of those things and he has to live with that examination of him. It would have been a ridiculous sending-off.’
   Despite United picking up a tenth straight Premier League victory and moving well clear at the top, Ferguson believes the way they were made to work by Blackburn shows they cannot grow over-confident about their chances of securing an 18th league title.
   ‘Sometimes when you don’t play your very best and get a result, that goes a long way towards winning the title.’
   Ferguson, whose side were recently labelled ‘untouchable’ by Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, added: ‘I’ve said all along that we can’t forecast that we’re going to win the league. A team like Blackburn will come to Old Trafford and fight for their lives.
   ‘That’s what you can expect from every team in the bottom 11. It’s a difficult league so when people are talking about us going to win the league, we’re going to dismiss it. We’ve got to focus on every game and fight for our lives just like the teams at the bottom of the league are fighting for their lives.’
   Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce admitted Rovers needed wins to back up their improved performances. Rovers are still two points from safety and Allardyce said: ‘I’m anxious about where we are and anxious about the fact that we’re in the mire.
   ‘The only thing that will get you out of the mire is wins now, points on the board. Performances help you get points on the board but we’ve had consistent performances and we haven’t got a consistent level of points to go with that.
   ‘That’s a big worry at the minute. Converting good performances into wins is now imperative.
   ‘We’ve got to try to make sure we got to Hull City now and do what we haven’t done since I’ve been here, which is win away from home.
   ‘Clubs above us are now pulling away and there are fewer and fewer clubs involved now so we’ve got to make sure we’re not stuck the bottom.’

Inter Milan maintained their nine-point lead at the top of Serie A after a battling 2-1 victory at lowly Bologna while Juventus won 2-0 at Palermo on Saturday.
   It was the perfect warm-up for coach Jose Mourinho’s men ahead of Tuesday’s crucial Champions League round of 16, first leg clash against Manchester United.
   But despite the European encounter three days away, Mourinho resisted the temptation to make wholesale changes to his starting XI, bringing in Brazilian Maxwell for Serbian Dejan Stankovic in midfield and handing Colombian centre-back Nelson Rivas a rare start in place of Argentine Nicolas Burdisso.
   He was rewarded for fielding a strong line-up as teenage forward Mario Balotelli hit the winner direct from a free-kick from wide on the left eight minutes from time to secure the three points.
   Mourinho refused to start popping the champagne corks.
   ‘Is the title race over? We still need another 30 points, it’s still too early,’ he said before looking ahead to the United match.
   ‘I want my players to take great pleasure in playing in the match against Manchester United without fear of going out in the second round.
   ‘I have great faith that we’ll do just that. They’re a very dangerous team, especially from dead balls. I expect a great match.’
   The Italian champions will arrive at Tuesday’s match at the San Siro in peak form physically and mentally for what has been dubbed the tie of the round against the reigning world and European champions.
   In Bologna, Inter dominated from the off with Sweden forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic as influential as ever.
   But it wasn’t until the 57th minute that Inter finally got the lead they deserved when Adriano headed down Maicon’s corner to Esteban Cambiasso, who was left unmarked to calmly control the ball on his thigh and then rifle it into the roof of the net.
   But on 79 minutes Miguel Britos rose highest to meet a corner and glanced his header in off the far post, despite Cambiasso standing next to the upright.
   Mourinho threw young striker Balotelli into the fray and he proved the match-winner as his late free-kick was missed by everyone before bouncing in off the far post.
   Juventus were mighty relieved to come away from Sicily with the three points after having been put under the cosh for the first half hour.
   As Palermo dominated, Fabrizio Miccoli beat Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon but not the bar on four minutes.
   Juve took the lead against the run of play on 27 minutes as Momo Sissoko strode forward unchallenged before thrashing a shot into the top corner.
   Palermo continued to push for a goal while Juve contented themselves in playing on the counter-attack.
   That ploy worked 11 minutes from time when former France forward David Trezeguet finished off from close range to celebrate his first start of the season by opening his goalscoring account for the campaign.
   ‘I’m very happy because after four difficult months for me I’ve finally returned to the starting side,’ said Trezeguet.
   ‘I played well. I scored a goal and my team wanted me to be captain.’
   Now Trezeguet is focussed on Wednesday’s trip to London to face Chelsea in the Champions League.
   ‘I’m ready and I hope to get even fitter. On Wednesday we have a very important match and we hope to give our fans something to cheer about,’ he added.
   AS Roma moved up to fourth with a narrow 1-0 home victory over Siena courtesy of Brazilian Rodrigo Taddei’s second-half goal.
   The result leaves them only two points behind AC Milan in third and seven behind second-placed Juventus.

Tues-day’s Champions League round of 16 first leg between Inter Milan and Manchester United throws together two heavily-decorated coaches who know more than a thing or two about each other.
   Jose Mourinho has been the bane of Sir Alex Ferguson’s United ever since the night he masterminded Porto’s 3-2 aggregate victory over the reigning English champions in the first knockout round of the 2003-2004 Champions League.
   Costinha’s decisive last-minute goal in the second leg at Old Trafford spurred Mourinho into a jubilant sprint down the touchline in front of the South Stand and it is an image few United fans will forget.
   His quip that he, too, would have been dismayed to lose to a team, built on 10 per cent of the budget, was met with similar disdain on the United terraces, but revealed a mischievous wit that would come to characterise his successful tenure in charge of Chelsea.
   From the moment he sat down at his first press conference and labelled himself ‘a special one’, his self-belief began to permeate the club, turning players like John Terry and Frank Lampard into world-beaters and firing the club to back-to-back Premier League titles in his first two seasons in charge.
   For United it was a body blow.
   In the 2003-2004 season Arsenal’s ‘Invincibles’ had emerged as the team to beat, and with Ferguson plotting the downfall of his old adversary Arsene Wenger, Mourinho pulled the rug from beneath them both.
   Chelsea raised the bar in terms of what it took to be top dog, finishing 2004-2005 with a record 95 points before dropping just two points on their home turf the season after as they defended their title at a canter.
   Amid rumours of boardroom-level clashes, an underwhelming start to last season saw Mourinho shuffled out of the club he had re-made, he left having lost just one of 10 matches against the team he welcomes to his new home, the San Siro, on Tuesday.
   Sparks flew whenever the sides met, although Ferguson managed to avoid the full-blown spats that marred Mourinho’s relationships with Wenger – whom he once labelled a ‘voyeur’ – and Liverpool coach Rafael Benitez.
   The Portuguese certainly got under Ferguson’s skin during his time in the Chelsea dugout, but the wily Scot confesses to being an admirer.
   ‘It will be interesting to come up against Jose again,’ Ferguson said when the draw for the Champions League knockout rounds was made in December.
   ‘He is a character with a good personality and I have always got on well with him. He knocked us out of the competition when he was at Porto, so I hope we have the luck they had in that tie this time around.’
   Mourinho, likewise, was enthused by the prospect of a reunion with the club that loves to hate him.
   ‘It is a team with the current Ballon D’Or winner (Cristiano Ronaldo), a great coach in Alex Ferguson and a stadium with a fantastic atmosphere,’ he said. ‘It will be unforgettable returning to Manchester.’

Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho hailed Manchester United as the best counter-attacking team in the world ahead of the pair’s Champions League clash on Tuesday.
   The battle at the San Siro between the champions of Italy and their visitors, who hold the titles of English, European and world championships, is the most mouth-watering of all the second round pairings in Europe’s premier competition.
   And Mourinho is under no illusions as to who the favourites are but he wants his team to relax and go out to express themselves when Sir Alex Ferguson’s team arrives in town.
   ‘I don’t want my players to feel under pressure, I want them to enjoy themselves and the first thing I will tell them is that I have great belief in their ability to win it,’ said the Portuguese boss.
   ‘I’ve known Manchester since 2004, they’re the best counter-attacking team in the world and can kill their opponents in transition (from defence to attack).
   ‘They have (Dimitar) Berbatov, who has fantastic technical qualities and then (Cristiano) Ronaldo, (Wayne) Rooney, (Carlos) Tevez or Park (Ji-sung) who can make the difference, give them width and pace. Our concentration will have to be spot on.’
   Mourinho first pitted his wits against Ferguson at the same stage in 2004 and a late equaliser from his Porto team at Old Trafford gave them a 3-2 aggregate victory, after which they went on to lift the trophy.
   That earned Mourinho a move to Chelsea and he enjoyed an excellent record against Ferguson while with the Londoners, beating United to the title in 2005 and 2006 and wresting the FA Cup away from their northern rivals in 2007.
   ‘From now we are totally focussed on the challenge against Manchester United,’ said Mourinho.
   ‘I will tell the players that I have great belief in their ability to qualify for the next round and like the derby (against AC Milan) I expect it to be a great match.
   ‘It’s a challenge that has arrived at an ideal time for us from both a physical and mental point of view.
   ‘It should be a pleasure to play in this match and we’ll approach it with calm and without any added pressure.’

The FIFA medical team said on Saturday that it was satisfied with arrangements put in place by South Africa ahead of the Confederations Cup in June and the World Cup next year.
   ‘My impression is positive. I am confident with what I have seen and heard,’ FIFA chief medical officer, Jiri Dvorak, told journalists at the end of a meeting with the South African FIFA local organising team.
   ‘I am personally confident that we can hold the World Cup from the medical side... that the teams, the FIFA family, the FIFA delegation and also the spectators will be well taken care of,’ said Dvorak, who is also chairman of FIFA’s Medical Assessment and Research Centre.
   He said that the meeting discussed strategies to combat doping during the competitions.
   These will include the education of players and collaboration with local officials and anti-drug agencies.
   A doping laboratory for testing has been set up in the central city of Bloemfontein where results could be produced within 24.
   The 48,000-capacity Mangaung Stadium in Bloemfontein is one of 10 venues for the World Cup.
   ‘Ten players per team will be controlled (tested) unannounced during the competitions,’ Dvorak said, adding that FIFA had not recorded any football doping cases since that of former Argentine football star, Diego Maradona, during the 1994 World Cup in the United States.
   ‘I am absolutely impressed. It is absolutely brilliant what the local people have done,’ FIFA executive member and chairman of the FIFA medical committee, Dr Michel D’Hooghe, said in his assessment of the medical preparations.