Stoke City were humiliated on their last visit to St James Park, but boss Mark Hughes believes they can get revenge on Newcastle United.
Stoke City manager Mark Hughes is confident his side are in a good position to avenge last season s humiliating 5-1 loss at Newcastle United when they visit St James Park on Sunday.
Hughes was sent from the sidelines in the humbling back in December 2013 in which his side finished the game with nine men.
The Welshman was still able lead Stoke to their best Premier League finish in the last campaign as they edged out Newcastle by a point to claim ninth place.
With 32 points enough to take them to 10th after 23 games of this season, Hughes is backing his side to raise the benchmark this time around.
I think we a…
Leicester City s promotion-winning captain Wes Morgan has signed a new three-year contract.
Morgan, who joined from Nottingham Forest in 2012, was instrumental as his side secured a return to the Premier League by finishing top of the Championship last season.
And the 30-year-old has now put pen to paper on a deal that will run until June 2017, much to the delight of Leicester manager Nigel Pearson.
Pearson told the club s official website: Wes has been every bit the captain we hoped he would be when we signed him two and a half years ago.
He s a leader on and off the pitch, sets a terrific example for young players and is an extremely positive influence on the squad.
He is one of number of players that has worked incredibly hard to reach the …
The Los Angeles Galaxy players were disappointed after the defeat to Houston Dynamo on Saturday.
Houston Dynamo won the match 3-0 and the Galaxy is now out of the running for the 2008 MLS Cup Playoffs.
It s disappointing, Galaxy midfielder Eddie Lewis said. We put a lot into the season and wanted to give ourselves a chance going into the last game.
At least since I ve been here, it seems like in every game within 15 minutes, the other team has two or three or four chances. Whether the other team scores or not is different every game, but the amount of chances that we allow early on in games, is almost suicidal.
It s tough, said star striker Landon Donovan. We were hopeful that we would have been more competitive tonight, under the circumstances, but …
Under-fire Wales boss Rob Page says he is determined to see out the three remaining years of his contract.
Page signed a four-year deal exactly 12 months ago as Wales prepared to make their first appearance at a World Cup for 64 years.
But their fortunes have plummeted since and Page faces a potentially make-or-break Euro 2024 qualifier in Latvia on Monday.
Wales must beat bottom side Latvia – who are yet to register a point in Group D – to keep alive hopes of a top-two place and automatic qualification for next summer’s finals in Germany.
Asked at his pre-match press conference whether he was under pressure from the Football Association of Wales executive to qualify, Page said: “I can’t let that affect me. I can’t think about that.
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Paris Saint-Germain boss Unai Emery could use Hatem Ben Arfa as a central striker in the absence of Edinson Cavani when his team take on Lyon in the Trophee des Champions.
Cavani is set to lead PSG s attack this season following Zlatan Ibrahimovic s move to Manchester United, but he will miss Saturday s game in Austria with a hamstring problem.
That leaves Emery with a selection dilemma for his first competitive match in charge, but he is calm about the prospect of handing Ben Arfa a centre-forward role on his debut, or deploying promising teenager Jean-Kevin Augustin.
Edinson Cavani has a little muscle strain and it was better that he remain in Paris to receive treatment, so as not to miss the start of the season, the former Sevilla boss said at his pre-match …
Spain midfielder Sergio Busquets has pinpointed Barcelona team-mate Arda Turan as the man to watch when the European champions take on Turkey on Friday.
A late goal from Gerard Pique enabled Spain to see off Czech Republic in their opener and they know a second win will put them into the last 16.
But Busquets is wary of the threat posed by Arda, who came in for strong criticism in his homeland for his performance in the 1-0 defeat to Croatia.
He said: I have not spoken to Arda, but I saw a different game [to the critics]. He was Turkey’s best player, not with goals but with his play.
I am sure the national team know what he can bring. After the first game, he got a lot of criticism and that’s difficult for a footballer.
We know every…
Brad Friedel believes fellow American goalkeeper Brad Guzan can establish himself as Aston Villa s number one for years to come.
The two were team-mates at the club for three years before Friedel left to join Tottenham in 2011.
And the veteran has paid tribute to his compatriot s talent, tipping him to be number one at Villa Park for the next decade and beyond.
Now is his time. He could be Villa s number one for over ten years, absolutely. It s entirely up to him by way of his performances, Friedel told Villa s official website.
If he keeps playing like he has done this past season, he could be Villa s goalkeeper for a long, long time.
When you re a goalkeeper that s all you can ask. You can only ask to be in the team if your level of performance is consistently high.…
Millwall are set to appoint Steve Lomas as their new manager after agreeing a compensation package with St Johnstone.
The 39-year-old joined the Scottish Premier League side in November 2011, replacing Derek McInnes following his move to then-Championship outfit Bristol City.
Lomas has now made a similar switch, succeeding Kenny Jackett at the helm after the Englishman elected to end his near six-year association with the club.
Former West Ham midfielder Lomas led St Johnstone to finishes of sixth and third in his two seasons in charge in Scotland the latter achievement marking the Perth club s highest-ever placing in the Scottish Premier League and handing them a European place.
Millwall chairman John Berylson was understandably delighted to announce the news, with the…
Mikel Arteta played down concerns over Bukayo Saka’s fitness after he was forced off during Arsenal’s 2-0 win over Sevilla in the Champions League.
Saka scored in front of England manager Gareth Southgate to help the Gunners record a third victory in Group B and move within touching distance of the last-16.
Arteta substituted goalscorer Leandro Trossard and the excellent Gabriel Martinelli in the 81st minute but left Saka on and seconds later he went down holding his ankle after landing awkwardly before he limped off.
Arsenal host Burnley in the Premier League on Saturday while Southgate names his England squad for this month’s European Championship qualifiers with North Macedonia and Malta on Thursday, but Arteta suggested his six-goal attacker would be fi…
Serie A leaders Inter Milan were knocked out of the Italian Cup on Thursday when a 1-0 semi-final second leg win over Sampdoria fell short of overturning a 3-0 deficit from the teams first meeting.
In the May 13 final in Rome, Sampdoria will face Lazio who completed a 4-2 aggregate win over Juventus on Wednesday.
It will be Sampdoria s first cup final appearance since 1994 where they defeated Ancona while, for Inter, defeat meant their run of four successive final spots came to an end.
Inter were champions in 2005 and 2006 and runners-up in 2007 and 2008.
With three goals to make up, Inter coach Jose Mourinho played three strikers with Mario Balotelli, Julio Cruz and Zlatan Ibrahimovic all starting.
It was Ibrahimovic who was to score the only go…