Mirror Football

Latics to probe Kirkland incident

Pa Sports — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 08:31:05 GMT

Wigan are looking into an incident in which England goalkeeper Chris Kirkland was apparently struck by a coin during his side's dramatic 1-0 victory over Burnley. The match at the DW Stadium was halted by referee Mike Jones in the 53rd minute for Kirkland to receive treatment.Kirkland was not allowed to comment on the incident, but Wigan boss Roberto Martinez said: "We're trying to find out (what happened). We think it was a coin. We're not too sure about it, but it's one of those events you ...

Why Aquilani is the Premier League's 'Golden Bin' winner

Sun, 21 Mar 2010 07:01:44 GMT

In Italy it’s called the Bidone d’Oro, the most unwanted award in football.The prize goes to the biggest flop of the season. The player who costs his club a fortune as a marquee signing and turns out to be an embarrassing turkey.Step forward Juventus midfielder Felipe Melo. The Brazillian was taunted by Juve fans at Fulham last Thursday and has failed to live up to the £25million fee paid to Fiotentina for him last summer.So who would rate as the Premier League’s biggest flop of the curr...

Wigan facing FA inquiry after Chris Kirkland hit by coin

MirrorFootball — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 22:45:30 GMT

Goalkeeper hit by an object thrown from the away end in the win over Burnley

Wigan 1-0 Burnley: The Sunday Mirror match report

Derick Allsop — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 21:55:52 GMT

Hugo Rodallega’s injury-time winner leaves Brian Laws' on the brink

Rodallega grabs late Wigan winner

Pa Sports — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 17:31:05 GMT

Hugo Rodallega broke Burnley's hearts with a last-gasp winner to add to the Clarets' deepening relegation woes as Wigan won 1-0 to stay on course for Barclays Premier League survival. It is now 15 defeats from 16 top-flight matches on the road for Burnley, who came as close as they have done all season to finally ending their away-day hoodoo. But deep into stoppage time Colombian striker Rodallega scored the most important goal of his nine for the Latics when he powered home a header from eig...

Wigan 1-0 Burnley: Rodallega strike pushes Clarets closer to trap door

MirrorFootball — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 17:15:11 GMT

Brian Laws' men remain rooted in bottom three

HT Wigan 0-0 Burnley: relegation scrap all square at the break

MirrorFootball — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 15:58:41 GMT

Wigan's Gary Caldwell struck the post in frenetic first-half

Pictures of the Week, March 14-20, 2010

Sat, 20 Mar 2010 13:23:40 GMT

Welcome to our new Pictures of the Week gallery, your pictorial guide to the past seven days in football.

And what a week it's been: Euro glory - and despair; managerial sackings - and appointments; and, of course, that injury to David Beckham.

Come back next - and every - Saturday for more amazing football pictures from the week that was,

Follow all today's football LIVE!

MirrorFootball — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 12:24:56 GMT

Text commentary, pictures and stats from all of today's games, plus match reports on the whistle

What do you think will happen in today's games?

Sat, 20 Mar 2010 12:02:49 GMT

It's shaping up to be a great weekend for football, with the best of the action likely to happen at Old Trafford tomorrow, when Liverpool face Manchester United.There's still plenty of great games to get your teeth into today, however.In the Premier League, Arsenal can do their title ambitions a world of good by beating troubled West Ham, while the race for fourth place sees Spurs travel to Stoke, Villa host rivals Wolves and Everton take on Bolton. And at the bottom, Iain Dowie will manage H...

Transfer news, rumours and gossip from Saturday's papers

Sat, 20 Mar 2010 11:52:54 GMT

From today's Daily Mirror: Benitez: I would rather have Torres than Rooney Reina: I will sign a new deal - I am lucky to be at Liverpool Paolo Di Canio 'dreams' of becoming West Ham boss Zola denies David Gold dressing room rift Tamas set to seal permanent West Brom deal Forest close to clinching permanent deal for midfielder Phillips urges Birmingham to spend wisely this summer From today's other papers:Portsmouth's Serbia international Dusko Tosic is expected to join Swansea on an emer...

Gary Caldwell vows to send brother's Burnley side closer to the drop

Alan Nixon — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 05:00:56 GMT

Wigan defender will do his best to dent Burnley sibling Steven's survival hopes

Brian Laws: Wigan have underachieved this season

MirrorFootball — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 15:34:37 GMT

Burnley chief claims relegation rivals should be higher up the table with talented squad at their disposal

3PM Extra: The best things we've found on the internet today - Friday, March 19, 2010

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 15:25:54 GMT

We don't know if the internet's funny guys are all watching the Cheltenham Gold Cup or what, but there's a distinct dearth of videos doing the rounds today.Still, these crackers should tide you over until it's time to spend your winnings/drown your sorrows come beer o'clock.1) Forget Kauto Star v Denman, the only debate we care about is who's better: Messi or Rooney? Our new star columnist Jermain Defoe had his say earlier on today, and now you can make your own mind up courtesy of this handy...

'This is where it starts to matter, where every game counts' - Martin Lipton previews a crucial weekend in the title race

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 11:56:54 GMT

A week off for United and Arsenal. A week of woe for Chelsea.And with a potentially titanic and pivotal weekend to come, the shape of the title race could take a dramatic and decisive shift.Arsene Wenger and his players know this is their opportunity to really turn up the heat.Beat West Ham at The Emirates - something they should accomplish with the minimum of fuss - and the pressure will really be turned up on their rivals.The three-point haul that is within the Gunners' grasp would take Ars...

Listen to the new MirrorFootball podcast - March 19, 2010

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 11:19:24 GMT

Welcome to the new MirrorFootball podcast - available to download from MirrorFootball.co.uk every Friday, and also via subscription on iTunes.This week: Daily Mirror assistant sports editor Alan McKinlay, 3PM columnist Steve Anglesey and Daily Mirror reporter Darren Lewis look ahead to a massive weekend of Premier League action.Can Liverpool upset Manchester United at Old Trafford? Will Chelsea recover from their Champions League exit to stay on course for the Premier League title? Can West H...

Transfer news, rumours and gossip from Friday's papers

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 09:33:00 GMT

From today's Daily Mirror:Robinho set for early City return due to Santos salary row Riera banished from Liverpool due to bust-up with young reserve player - Exclusive Arsenal and Man City target Yaya Toure rules out move to Premier League Sunderland offer olive branch to Spurs in bid to land defensive star McLeish warns West Ham they won't get Brum stars by using a FIFA loophole Fergie Jnr hoping dad will sell him midfielder in the summer Blackpool set to raid Crystal Palace for veteran defe...

MirrorFootball's Best XI: Beardies

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 09:00:21 GMT

After the soaraway successes of our Baldy XI and our Ginga XI, this week we want your help to compile the all-time Beardy XI.That's right, those fells with the best facial fuzz in the business are about to get their moment in the sun.To help you out, we've compiled the magnificent gallery of hirsute heroes above, but no doubt you will have plenty of thoughts of your own.You can nominate your players by leaving a comment below, posting on our Facebook page or joining in the debate on our Twitt...

Burnley's Elliot backs boys to confound critics

MirrorFootball — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 22:45:28 GMT

Star reckons Clarets can return to form that saw them beat manchester United

Martinez won't gamble on N'Zogbia

Pa Sports — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:21:03 GMT

Wigan manager Roberto Martinez will know on Friday if Charles N'Zogbia is able to face Burnley in this weekend's crucial relegation clash at the DW Stadium. However, Martinez insists he will take no chances with the influential midfielder, who was forced to come off with a hip problem in the defeat to Aston Villa on Tuesday.The Spaniard said: "He could not train on Thursday and at the moment he is 50-50 to make the game. He has a knock in his left hip that stops him from having free mobility....

Transfer news, rumours and gossip from Thursday's papers

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 09:51:28 GMT

From today's Daily Mirror:Chelsea planning dream team pairing of Drogba and Torres Abramovich will stick with Ancelotti and bankroll £140million summer spree Villa target £9m deal for Spurs ace - Exclusive Wolves star Hahnemann targets survival and a new deal Interest grows in QPR's Alejandro Faurlin Riera's broadside at Rafa's 'sinking ship' Gary Johnson faces Bristol City axe Other rumours and gossip:Pavlyuchenko pledges future to Spurs Mancini reassures Toure over Man City future Villa to ...

Caldwell beats the baby blues

Alan Nixon — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 23:00:17 GMT

Wigan boss Roberto Martinez hails defender after starring show against Villa

3PM Extra: The best videos we've found on the internet today - Wednesday, March 17

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 15:08:50 GMT

It's almost Guinness o'clock! But if you've already exhausted our amazing St Patrick's Day Irish football legends archive special, then here's some ace footy vids to help while away the time until you can stuff your face with potato and cabbage and fall down drunk in the street in the name of religious martyrs.1) Following hot on the heels of Alan Shearer's legendarily brusque newspaper interview last week, we present further evidence that Wor Alan could well be the most curmudgeonly man in f...

Transfer news, rumours and gossip from Wednesday's papers

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 08:38:26 GMT

From today's Daily Mirror:Real Madrid target Ashley Cole Davenport seeks clean break from West Ham Blades set for sweeping cuts if promotion bid fails - Exclusive Arsenal given Fab fitness boost - Exclusive Hull appoint Dowie as new manager - Exclusive Beckham feeling 'positive' after surgery - but doc says World Cup return unlikely Portsmouth set for Premier League points penalty What's wrong with Steven Gerrard? And could he be about to leave Liverpool? From today's other papers:Arsenal t...

Wigan 1-2 Aston Villa: The Daily Mirror match report

Alan Nixon — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 22:29:10 GMT

Martin O'Neill can finally celebrate a Premier League win in March

Milner grabs Villa winner

Pa Sports — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 22:01:02 GMT

James Milner fired Aston Villa firmly into Champions League contention by settling a thriller 2-1 at Wigan.The England World Cup hopeful fired home in the 63rd minute after Wigan's Gary Caldwell had cancelled out an own goal from team-mate James McCarthy at the DW Stadium. Victory lifted Martin O'Neill's men within three points of fourth-placed Tottenham, with a game in hand, in the Barclays Premier League. Yet Wigan, desperate for points at the opposite end of the table, could count themselv...

Wigan 1-2 Aston Villa: Milner winner keeps Villa in hunt for fourth place

MirrorFootball — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 21:48:23 GMT

Gary Caldwell had earlier got Wigan back in the game by equalising James McCarthy's own goal

H-T: Wigan 1-1 Aston Villa - Caldwell pulls Latics level at the break

MirrorFootball — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 20:44:16 GMT

A James McCarthy own goal had previously given Villa the lead

Follow tonight's Champions League and Premier League action LIVE!

MirrorFootball — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 18:54:45 GMT

Text commentary, pictures and stats from all of tonight's games, plus match reports on the whistle

3PM Extra: The best videos we've found on the internet today - Tuesday, March 17

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 16:56:36 GMT

Day one of Cheltenham is over, and already the Mirror Football shirt is lost. With nothing left to play for except the fun of seeing how many days Alan Brazil will miss of his TalkSport show due to extreme thirst, we're taking solace in these brilliant football videos from the interweb.

1) Not sure, but we THINK this might be a foul...

If Jermaine Pennant, Lee Hughes, Joey Barton and even Tony Adams got a second chance, why not Marlon King?

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 10:27:30 GMT

Last week I called for John Terry to be left alone to focus on his football in the wake of the Wayne Bridge affair.If I'm being fair then maybe I should accept that Marlon King must be given the chance to get on with his game too.In case you don't remember, the former Wigan striker was jailed for 18 months in October last year for sexual assault and actual bodily harm.Noises have been emanating from his camp, however, about a possible early release. And as we all know in this country, nobody ...

Transfer news, rumours and gossip from Tuesday's papers

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 08:59:01 GMT

From today's Daily Mirror: Spurs agree £6m deal for Brazilian wonderkid Grant refuses to commit to Pompey - Exclusive Beckham: I'll be back Campbell wins legal battle with Portsmouth I should still be Chelsea boss says Mourinho Hull want Hughes to replace sacked Brown From today's other papers:Calum Davenport has played his last game for West Ham. The defender is back in training after suffering leg wounds in a stabbing last year, but the Hammers are desperate to cut costs so have agreed...

Baby blues for Wigan star Caldwell

Alan Nixon — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 23:00:03 GMT

Manager Martinez says defender has been affected after becoming a father

Aston Villa stars line up to replace Beckham at World Cup

MirrorFootball — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 23:00:02 GMT

Boss Martin O'Neill pushes the case for Milner, Downing and Young

3PM Extra: The best videos we've found on the internet today - Monday, March 15

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 14:49:53 GMT

As the nation's tanning salons and karaoke bars shut as a mark of respect for Phil Brown, here's another selection of brilliant football videos.

1) Not the greatest of weekends for David Beckham. He's out of the World Cup and, to add insult to injury, Brazilian Baiano's ripped off his greatest moment in Paulisto's win against Prudente.

Ask John Cross your football questions in our live webchat on Monday lunchtime

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 11:00:52 GMT

Want to talk about the weekend's football? Want to get something off your chest? Want to ask something about your club? Want to know about life as a leading football journalist?Then join Daily Mirror football writer John Cross, our king of the back page exclusives, online on Monday from 12.30pm-1.30pm in our Monday Mouth-Off series - the new place for you to chat with Daily Mirror reporters about everything that happened on another wild weekend in the Premier and Coca-Cola Leagues.To ask a qu...

Transfer news, rumours and gossip from Monday's papers

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 08:45:18 GMT

From today's Daily Mirror: Liverpool set for cash boost - but still face losing Torres Birmingham owner vows to spend big this summer Beye escapes O'Neill wrath after admitting he wants to quit Villa Parker not giving up hope of England World Cup call-up Beckham's World Cup dream ended by torn Achilles tendon From today's other papers:Trying to sign Wayne Rooney and linking him up with former Manchester United teammate Cristiano Ronaldo has beocme an "obsession" for Real Madrid, says pres...

Bolton 4-0 Wigan: The Daily Mirror match report

Alan Nixon — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 05:30:10 GMT

Fab Muamba salutes ref Halsey after finally breaking Wanderers goal duck

Martinez wants Wigan to show more consistency

Alan Nixon — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 23:00:13 GMT

Wigan followed up win over Liverpool with heavy defeat against Bolton

Beckham was having a scarf with his green and gold stunt

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 22:50:15 GMT

Manchester United's destruction of AC Milan in the Champions League should have been the main focus last week but trust David Beckham to hog the limelight - again.I regard Beckham as the master headline grabber and football politician.So I can’t take seriously his claim that the only reason he put on a green and yellow scarf at Old Trafford was because it was the colours of the old Manchester United.That’s got to be a complete load of rubbish.Becks would have known all about the growing momen...

Stan Collymore's hero and villain of the week

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 22:45:07 GMT

Hero of the week: Nicklas Bendtner. Four goals in a week should keep the Arsenal striker’s detractors quiet.

Villains of the week: Wigan’s team. They let their club down badly in a relegation scrap at Bolton.

Bolton 4-0 Wigan: The Sunday Mirror match report

Derick Allsop — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 21:30:11 GMT

Trotters on the march after thumping win

Trotters ease drop fears

Pa Sports — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 17:21:03 GMT

Owen Coyle was celebrating his biggest win as Bolton manager and one that eases their relegation worries after a comfortable 4-0 victory over Wigan.Johan Elmander made the breakthrough at the Reebok Stadium in the 10th minute but it was only in the second half they took full control.Kevin Davies extended their lead from the penalty spot before Fabrice Muamba scored his first goal for the club with substitute Matt Taylor also on target.Bolton scored in the 10th minute after Davies managed to g...

Bolton 4-0 Wigan

Mirror Football — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 17:09:50 GMT

Elmander, Davies, Muamba and Taylor ease Wanderers' relegation worries

Follow all today's football LIVE!

MirrorFootball — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 11:39:54 GMT

Text commentary, pictures and stats from all of today's games, plus match reports on the whistle

Transfer news, rumours and gossip from Saturday's papers

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 11:26:14 GMT

From today's Daily Mirror:Liverpool keeping a close eye on Alex McLeish's contract talks with Birmingham as Rafa Benitez continues to struggle at AnfieldEverton ready to offer TEN players new long-term dealsManchester City chasing Benfica strike star Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini tells Shaun Wright-Phillips to stop moaning over his new contract and focus on the fight for fourth spot From today's other papers:Real Madrid are said to have had informal talks with Manchester United over a ...

Why Whelan's right for once over Liverpool mess

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 05:59:11 GMT

These are words I never dreamt I would type: Dave Whelan, you are 100% correct: "Liverpool are in a mess," he said. "The owners don't feel what the fans feel. There's absolutely no atmosphere and no heart at all at present. The supporters feel that and I think the players are starting to feel it." Spot-on.For three years Liverpool has been riddled with poisonous and incompetent factions and finally the poison and incompetence has spewed out on to the pitch. This club is lost at every level....

Martinez: I'll be a failure if Wigan don't reach Europe

Alan Nixon — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 05:00:33 GMT

Spaniard determined to take Latics into Europe within next three years

It would be wrong to remember Keith Alexander in terms of his race, but with so few other black managers it's hard not to

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:24:27 GMT

Many tributes have been paid in the past few days to the memory of Keith Alexander, the 53 year old manager of Macclesfield Town who died unexpectedly and suddenly last week.Perhaps the most fitting tribute to a man whose managerial career took in six league clubs came from the players at his last one. In what must have been difficult circumstances to say the least, the players of Macclesfield Town took to the field away at Hereford and won their match 2-0.The death of Keith Alexander is a tr...

I couldn't give a stuff what Alan Green thinks, it's my ticket and I'll leave early if I want to

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:15:28 GMT

The award for patronising berk of the week this Friday goes to Alan Green, the outspoken commentator at 5Live. Commentating on the game between Arsenal and Burnley at the weekend, Green looked around the stadium early doors and was appalled at the number of people who had yet to take their seats.“I’m sorry folks,” he said, “I don’t get your commitment to football.”Personally, I couldn’t give a good God damn if Alan Green ‘got’ my commitment to football or not. But if the Ulsterman does care t...