Burns vows to continue aggressive

Perth Glory Captain Jacob Burns says that he will maintain his robust approach if he focuses on a return to competitive action on Saturday.

The 34-year-old missed last weekend's defeat at the Melbourne Victory as a result have suffered five yellow cards suspension in so many games are tally to 32 in take 81 A-League matches.

But he has no intention of weakening of the physicality and will stick to his style in this weekend collision with Melbourne Heart.

"To be fair, that I'm tired of even talking about it," he said. "There is more to my game than that.

"I said that often enough, that I play the game in a manner that has served me well during my entire career.

"If I went into games thinking about cards hanging over my head, I would have the same player, so I don't have a thing about my game doesn't change.

"People who play in my position make more rigs than anyone else and you're on that fine line if you're in there and under it.

"I am also the captain and the leader of the club and I feel a responsibility to the questions and sometimes referees do not believe that, but I'm still to go about my business."

Burns was equally bullish when defending his side run of four matches without victory, insisting that there are no major changes are needed to last season's beaten grand finalists to get back to winning ways.

"To be honest, that the Group is disappointed from the back of the maximum points are not getting a few home games," he said. "But we're not disappointed in the way that we play.

"People who understand football will agree that we have dominated just about every game we have played and created numerous chances, so it's just a matter of time before the start hitting the back of the net.

"I don't think much needs to change, really.

"It would be different if we weren't creating opportunities and teams were getting and scoring loads of goals against us, but that is not the case.

"We are confident, but we have set the bar high for ourselves on the back of last season.

"We want there and under it and the middle of the table is not where we want to be, but we are convinced that the business end of the season, we will be right up there."

The former Leeds United and Barnsley man looks certain to come back in the glory of eleven directly for the heart, but revealed that he not start collision may be accompanied by regular central midfielder partner Liam Miller.

Irishman Miller is still struggling to overcome the back problem that his late withdrawal from the team for last Friday meeting with Melbourne Victory forced.

"Liam not train today," said Burns. "But if he is fit, that is fantastic, because he's been in fantastic form, if he didn't, we got guys who can come in and do more than a good job.

"Liam poked itself would not there under-done, he would like to the right and if it is for this week, so be it and if not, I am sure we will see him in the near future."

And endorsed by club chief executive Paul Burns tribute to Kelly, who announced his intention to quit his post earlier in the day.

"The admin and the way the club is run is for the guys at the top and on the Board of Directors," said Burns. "But how he goes, we wish him well and thank him for the support he has given us during his time here.

"It's never an easy role in every club and he has done a fantastic job."

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Reappointed Berger rues slow progress

Han Berger says that he is not satisfied with his progress after being reappointed as Football Federation Australia's national technical director.

Berger is set to remain as technical director until July 2014 after FFA CEO David Gallop announced the extension of his contract on Wedesday.

The 62-year-old Dutchman got the FFA main technical role in January 2009 and its national football curriculum four months later, but remains convinced that Australia has a long way to go in the football-development introduced.

"I welcome the opportunity to continue my work with FFA that me great satisfaction and pleasure in the past four years," said Berger.

"I'm not satisfied that we have gone as far as we can go in the lifting of the quality of our football, our players and our coaches and getting the message that in Australia and I am glad that an extended deadline to do this.

"I would particularly like to see the advantage of enhanced coaching education programs and programs for talented players come to fruition with better results for our national youth teams, and eventually with the Qantas Socceroos and Westfield Matildas."

Berger hit Australia's youth development in July, claiming that some coaches do not understand his curriculum, while others have ignored his recommendations.

But despite the frustration, Berger looks forward to ' next steps ' in his project, while Gallop claimed that the Dutchman work is clearly improved Australian footballer.

"It is clear that the technical side of football development has advanced significantly during the four years that Han has been on board with FFA," Gallop said.

"Han produced the first ever national curriculum and is responsible for its implementation that has seen great progress in coach and player education.

"He has an impressive network established throughout Australia to do this, with great effect.

"Han is currently working on a second, expanded version of the Curriculum that will be launched early next year.

"It will be the implementation of the technical improvements that he has introduced to consolidate."

Berger's position is for only eight months per year because he the other four with his family in Netherlands during periods of limited football activity in Australia will spend.

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Premier League: Reading 2 Everton 1

Reading claimed their first Premier League win of the season on Saturday, coming from behind to beat Everton 2-1 in controversial circumstances.

Everton dominated proceedings throughout the first half at Madejski Stadium, opening the scoring after 10 minutes through Steven Naismith, but they failed to increase their lead and had two penalty shouts turned down.

Adam le Fondre pulled one back just after the break, however, and with the visitors going all out for the win the game became very open. With about 10 minutes remaining, Reading were awarded a penalty, after a foul on Le Fondre, and the striker tucked it away to hand his side their first victory of the season.

Moyes’ men did not have to wait long for the breakthrough, and they did not have to work that hard for it either – the Royals’ defence absolutely gifting them the opening goal.

Chris Gunter failed to rid the danger when his sliced clearance went up high and into his own box, then a mix-up between Kaspars Gorkss and Sean Morrison firstly allowed Marouane Fellaini to win the ball.

The hosts then half-cleared the danger, only for Nikica Jelavic to win it back and cross for the arriving Naismith – finding Gorkss and his defensive colleagues asleep once more.

Although Reading had a brilliant chance to level straight away, Le Fondre beating Tim Howard to a loose ball but lifting it over the bar as he tried to evade the men on the line, the rest of the first-half pressure all came from the visiting side.

Steven Pienaar nearly doubled the score, but dragged his right-footed shot wide, before Everton saw the first of two penalty appeals turned away. Gorkss slid in recklessly from behind on Naismith, getting none of the ball, but the referee waved play on.

The visitors continued to create openings, Leon Osman seeing a one-on-one saved by Adam Federici and Phil Jagielka having a glancing header cleared off the line, while they could have had another penalty when Jelavic’s drive struck Morrison’s hand, but for all their dominance the half ended 1-0.

After the break, however, Reading got themselves back into the game though Le Fondre. The forward rose the highest and got his head on the end of Nicky Shorey’s dangerous free-kick, beating Tim Howard with a thumping effort.

The game then become incredibly open. Thomas Hitzlsperger wasted a clear opening by allowing Sean Morrison to get back and block his effort, before the Everton man was then exposed at the other end by Roberts, who played in Le Fondre only for the Royals’ goalscorer to scuff it into Howard’s arms.

As the clash became more stretched, Le Fondre looked to be in on goal after a quick counter-attack but Seamus Coleman came out of nowhere to disposess him with a fantastic, goal-saving tackle.

The defender soon turned from hero to zero, though, as he conceded a penalty for a clumsy challenge from behind on Le Fondre, bundling the forward to the ground.

Reading’s number nine took it himself, sending Howard the wrong way and giving his side the lead and their first three points of the campaign.

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De Boer slams poor Ajax

Frank de Boer has blasted Ajax performance in the opening 45 minutes from their 4-1 Champions League defeat to Real Madrid.

A solitary goal from Derk Boerrigter on Tuesday was only a consolation effort in a game that proved too difficult for the Dutch Eredivisie Club.

"I was very, very angry at half the time," de Boer told reporters.

"In this kind of competitions you have your normal level crossing. According to me there were nine players who were under their normal level.

"Only (Danny) Hoesen and (Kenneth) Vermeer were in order. If it is 2-0 on the half of the time you can consider our happiness. After half the time we played with more courage. I'm glad we scored, but perhaps we could have scored more. "

Fury aside, the Dutchman acknowledged his side of the achievement of finishing third in a group that the heaviest in Champions League this year was dubbed.

He added: "We should be proud of what we did. Coming third in this group is a great effort by our team. A lot of people wouldn't have expected this,, so that's a compliment.

"To be better, we have more games at this level."

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Premier League: Arsenal 5 Tottenham 2

Arsenal rediscovered their attacking flair with a 5-2 victory over 10-man Tottenham in a captivating north London derby.

But Saturday’s seven-goal thriller hinged on a first-half red card shown to Emmanuel Adebayor, who had put Tottenham in front in the 10th minute .

However, the former Arsenal turned from hero to zero eight minutes later as he was sent off for a dangerous studs-up challenge on Santi Cazorla.

From that point on, Arsenal took complete control and were 3-1 up by half-time thanks to goals from Per Mertesacker, Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud.

Santi Cazorla scored the fourth on the hour mark and Theo Walcott added the fifth in the closing stages either side of a Gareth Bale strike that will offer little consolation to Tottenham supporters.

The final score mirrors the same fixture last season, the turning point in Arsenal’s campaign, and takes the Gunners to sixth in the Premier League, two points ahead of Spurs.

It all started so well for Tottenham as they controlled the early exchanges and took the lead in the 10th minute. Jermain Defoe raced on to a long ball as the Arsenal defence stood statuesque and after his shot was saved by Wojciech Szczesny, Adebayor scrambled in the rebound.

But Spurs’ afternoon fell apart eight minutes later. Adebayor, clearly pumped up for the occasion as he was taunted by the home fans, could have no complaints after being sent off by referee Howard Webb for his challenge on Cazorla.

From then on, Arsenal were dominant, teasing their neighbours and creating chances at will with their use of the ball in midfield.

In the 24th minute, Mertesacker levelled with a towering free header from 12 yards after good work down the right from Walcott.

The Gunners eventually took the lead they deserved in the 42nd minute.

Podolski tricked his way into the the penalty area and his shot flicked off the foot of William Gallas and spun fortuitously into the far corner.

On the stroke of half-time, Giroud made sure there was no way back for Spurs. The French striker, a constant menace throughout the game, was simply too sharp as he fired home Cazorla’s cross at the near post.

Villas-Boas responded by switching to three at the back during the break but his players were unable to stem the tide.

On the hour mark, Arsenal worked the ball to Podolski on the left and the German produced a perfect low cross from the left for Cazorla to score from eight yards. 4-1.

Bale fired in Spurs’ second after a fine run but by that stage Arsenal were going through the motions, conserving their energy ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League clash with Montpellier.

There was still time for Walcott to add a fifth with his right foot following a scorching run by substitute Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

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Duda happy despite signs

Malaga midfielder Duda was determined not to let his team a late goal for Anderlecht in Champions League group final spoil his party.

An 89th minute equaliser from Anderlecht striker Dieumerci Mbokani snatched victory away from Manuel Pellegrini's men, despite a double of the Portuguese winger.

Playing in their first Champions League tournament, Malaga moved to the knock-out phase of the contest with an unbeaten record, and although the 32-year-old to admit late complained, he was still very pleased with the progress that the team have posted.

"We have done a great job here tonight (Tuesday)," Duda told reporters.

"We are satisfied with the performance, it's just a shame about the ultimate goal. The importing thing, however, is that we the point.

"Now we can go on and on about the next La Liga-contest thought."

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Premier League: Manchester City 5 Aston Villa 0

Manchester City romped to a 5-0 win over Aston Villa at Etihad Stadium on Saturday to put the pressure on city rivals Manchester United.

City had to rely on a goalmouth scramble to open the scoring two minutes before half-time when David Silva pounced on a loose ball inside the Villa penalty area to score his first goal of the season.

The second half was much more entertaining as Sergio Aguero and Carlos Tevez grabbed two goals each to secure an emphatic win that puts City on top of the Premier League table by a point, although Manchester United will reclaim the lead with a win over Norwich later on Saturday.

The hosts settled into the game very quickly and were controlling play nicely but struggled to find their way through the organised Villa defence.

However, with half-time looming they got the break they were looking for as Silva tapped home following a goalmouth scramble.

Sergio Aguero was the first to try and get on the end of Samir Nasri’s corner, Vincent Kompany had the second attempt and Carlos Tevez had a third before the ball broke for Silva who nipped in front of Matija Nastasic to score from close range.

As the second half began the home side carried on where they left off, controlling the play with crisp passing and plenty of movement, and nine minutes into the second they were rewarded with a second goal albeit following a controversial decision from the assistant referee.

Silva drifted in from the right hand side and played a perfect pass to Aguero but just as the Argentine was about to pull the trigger Ron Vlaar made a superb challenge to concede a corner. It was from the set piece that Andreas Weimann was adjudged to have handled the ball and a penalty was awarded. Aguero stepped up and made no mistake, beating Brad Guzan down to the goalkeeper’s left hand side.

Just when Paul Lambert thought things could not get any worse, they did as his side conceded another penalty from another handball, but this one was much clearer. Barry Bannan caught the ball with his arm as he slid in to tackle Sliva and referee Jon Moss had no hesitation to award the penalty. This time Tevez took the responsibility and he fired past Guzan.

Minutes later the score was 4-0 as Tevez released Aguero on the right hand side. He took on Enda Stevens and unleashed a shot from inside the area that was on target, and the deflection it took off the young full-back’s foot caused it to beat Guzan at his near post.

The rout was complete in the 74th minute as Tevez added his second following a flowing move from the home side. Substitute Edin Dzeko released Nasri on the left hand side of the penalty area and his low cross found the Argentine who had the simple task of tapping the ball into an empty net.

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