 |
| *Traore and Bodisso |
The problem Naismith was he couldn’t remember a damn thing — he scored and won a penalty — after copping Jordi Amat’s arm in the 3-1 win.
“Naismith is okay. We will check him over the next 24 hours as he had a bit of delay
delayed concussion with the knock,” said the Spaniard.
“He was okay and then all of a sudden he became dizzy and he couldn’t remember what was happening and we couldn’t take any risks.
“He said he didn’t remember he scored so I told him he scored from 40 yards!
“He is a gem of a boy, an incredible footballer and I am just pleased he is enjoying his football.
“He has played in different positions but when he is central he is at his best, he was instinctive, a real threat and he is enjoying his football.
“I want him to carry on doing that. We hope he will be fine and be able to join training this week.”
CUP MAGIC
Sheffield United, languishing in the third tier, is the lowest side left in the competition and they’re through thanks to some late Cup magic against Nottingham Forest.
Nigel Clough, son of the late Nottingham Forest boss Brian, learnt of the FA Cup quarter-final draw at the interval — Sheffield Wednesday if their local rivals get past Charlton in a rearranged fixture — and used it as motivation at the interval.
“We told them. Just before we went out for the second half, news about the draw came through. We just thought: “What the hell, we’ll tell them”.
“It was a small incentive and — who knows? — it might have had a small effect. We just told them that they had 45 minutes to have a go and, if they did, there could be a Sheffield derby at the end of it.
“So this was a brilliant day for everybody. The honesty of the players shone through.
“The main thing is we have beaten an exceptionally good team, though this will be forgotten if we don’t beat Gillingham on Wednesday.”
Substitute Chris Porter came on in 87th minute, scored in the 90th and 91st minutes, before delirious fans invaded the pitch to celebrate.
WILY WIGAN
Knocking out Cardiff hardly represents a giant-killing — but respect is due to Wigan (the FA Cup holders, remember that?) for claiming a spot in the FA Cup quarter-finals. No one expected the holder to make it this far and it was finished off with a free-kick from last season’s final matchwinner Ben Watson that is probably still travelling.
“We take it game by game,” said Wigan manager Uwe Rosler, whose side beat Premier League team Crystal Palace in round four.
“I wanted to compete against the best teams in the country and Cardiff today gave us the possibility, and we stood our own ground very well.”
BLACK CATS’ FORTUNE
A few months ago, Sunderland was looking odds on to be playing Championship football next season. They’re not out of the relegation mire yet — although they do have a game in hand over West Brom in 17th — but the Black Cats are now in the final of one cup competition (Capital One Cup against Manchester City) and the quarters of another.
Perhaps more importantly, Gus Poyet’s team had to get past the highly impressive Southampton to do so. Not that the Uruguayan is ready to celebrate yet.
“Me, I would prefer to stay in the Premier League,” Poyet said after the game.
BAD
COLLAPSING CARDIFF
Cardiff City’s league record since sacking Malky McKay and replacing him with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer: P6, L4, D1, W1.
Maybe Solskjaer took a page from his mentor Sir Alex Ferguson’s book and decided the FA Cup was just something his team could do without this season — but second-bottom on the table and now out of the Cup, the Bluebirds’ season is getting worse all the time.
“It gives us a blow,” the Norwegian said when asked what this loss meant.
“I don’t know any other way than work hard, believe in what you’re doing, don’t feel sorry for yourself. You’ve got to believe in each other, trust in each other and we’ve got a big, big game next weekend — Hull.”
Read more: http://www.foxsports.com.au//football/fa-cup-good-bad-and-ugly-arsenals-revenge-webbs-blunder-drama-at-sheffield-united/story-e6frf423-1226829208344#ixzz2tZLhuS2J
No comments:
Post a Comment