Premier League - Bentley breaks Derby hearts

Premier League - Bentley breaks Derby hearts

Derby suffered their 15th defeat of the season as Blackburn Rovers came from a goal down to win 2-1 at Pride Park.

Rams captain Matt Oakley opened the scoring for the home side before Roque Santa Cruz's equaliser, a minute after Brad Friedel saved a Steve Howard penalty, and David Bentley's strike from distance gave Mark Hughes' side all three points.

The result leaves Paul Jewell and his team eight points adrift at the bottom of the table, while Rovers move above West ham into ninth.

Although Derby had to endure large spells of Blackburn possession and creativity, they were positive going forward themselves, and just before the half hour mark Lewis' diagonal ball was knocked on by Giles Barnes for captain Oakley to mark his 250th league appearance by firing the ball through the legs of goalkeeper Friedel.

The goal marked the consecutive game in which Blackburn had conceded the first goal, and it knocked the visitors out of their stride somewhat, and soon afterwards Ryan Nelsen fouled Kenny Miller in the area.

Referee Peter Walton had no hesitation in pointing to the spot, but resisted handing the Blackburn captain a second yellow card to go with the one he picked up just a few minutes previously.

In what proved to be the start of two minutes of heartbreak for Derby, Howard's spot-kick was saved by Friedel, who dived low to his right and kept hold of the ball.

Blackburn went straight up the other end and Lewis Price could only parry Benni McCarthy's shot into the path of Santa Cruz for a close range finish.

Things got worse for Derby three minutes later when the impressive Bentley made space for himself to shoot from 25 yards out and his low swerving shot had Price well beaten for what proved to be the winning goal.

It had looked as though Santa Cruz was destined not to add to his seven goals in his previous four matches when his header from a corner was cleared off the line by Tyrone Mears in the sixth minute.

He was denied again in the first half when Bentley turned Dean Leacock inside out on the left wing before sending in a perfect cross for the Paraguayan to head in, only for the goal to be ruled out because the cross had swung out of play before it reached the far post, before having another effort cleared off the line late on as Derby pushed for the equaliser that never came..

reference: "eurosport"

Nadal focused on Beijing Games

Nadal focused on Beijing Games

Spaniard Rafael Nadal has targeted the 2008 Beijing Olympics after ending a third consecutive year as world number two behind Swiss maestro Roger Federer.

The 21-year-old French Open champion is the top seed at the Chennai Open next week where he will also play in the doubles with compatriot Bartolome Salva-Vidal.

"This year there is special significance because of the Olympic Games," Nadal said.

"The Davis Cup is also there, but importantly the Olympics comes along only once in four years. It is a special tournament, special motivation."

Nadal said he could still improve his game from 2007 but was unconcerned about Federer.

"I'd love to be number two for 50 more years," he said. "Especially in my situation: 5,600 or 5,700 points, that is a lot."

Nadal earned 5,735 ranking points to Federer's 7,180 in 2007. "In a normal moment in the history of tennis, I'd have been number one."

The claycourt specialist won six titles in 2007 and pushed Federer to the brink in an epic five-setter on grass in the Wimbledon final.

However, he was subdued in the hardcourt grand slams, losing in the quarter-final at Australian Open and in the US Open fourth round.

"It is difficult to play better," Nadal said. "I played very well on grass, clay and on indoor too.

"I'm not worried about Roger, he is better than the other guys at the moment. But a lot of young guys are coming from behind at the present time."

reference: "eurosport"

Megson: No Anelka offers

Premier League - Megson: No Anelka offers

Bolton manager Gary Megson has again insisted that the club has received no offer for striker Nicolas Anelka.

The Frenchman played the full 90 minutes in his side's Premier League defeat at Sunderland against the backdrop of speculation that Chelsea have tabled a bid for his services.

However, Megson denied any offer has been received and confirmed the club is determined to hang on to their prized asset.

He said: "It's been going on for so long, and Nicolas is probably more used to it than most players in the country, I suppose.

"But from my own point of view, it becomes normal, actually, because all it is is speculation.

"I would tell you if a club had actually come to me, or if the chairman told me a club had come to him.

"I would tell you because there is no point hiding the fact. But at the moment it just seems to be things that are in the papers and in the media that you have to cope with.

"But I think most people will be in the same boat."

Megson now finds his side level on points with the Black Cats - who dragged themselves out of the relegation zone with just their second win in 14 games - and will look to strengthen his squad during the January transfer window.

However, he admitted his activity may be largely governed by what happens with Anelka.

"It would probably affect what we have to do, but nobody at Bolton Wanderers wants Nicolas Anelka to go anywhere, and I mean nobody.

"If Nic isn't of the same opinion, then we will have to deal with that as and when.

"But we are not at that point yet."

reference: "eurosport"