Tag Archives: distinction

Aston Villa 0 Tottenham 4 match report – Gareth Bale scores hat-trick

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Aston Villa 0 Tottenham 4: TREE-mendous Bale celebrates hat-trick in fine festive style

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UPDATED:

08:28 GMT, 27 December 2012

Gareth Bale’s first Premier League hat-trick pushed Paul Lambert towards an unwanted record as a second-half goal glut deepened the gloom at Villa Park.

The Wales winger grabbed the match ball – and stuck it on his Christmas tree – following his 23-minute salvo that built on Jermain Defoe’s opener to leave Villa’s boss with a massive festive hangover.

Just three days after the former European champions suffered the heaviest defeat in their history in shipping eight against last season’s Champions League winners, they served up another horror show against Tottenham in front of a sizeable holiday crowd.

Handy: Gareth Bale celebrated a hat-trick as spurs crushed Aston Villa

Handy: Gareth Bale celebrated a hat-trick as spurs crushed Aston Villa

Isn't that tweet: Bale used Twitter to show fans where he had put the match ball after his hat-trick

Isn't that tweet: Bale used Twitter to show fans where he had put the match ball after his hat-trick

Match facts

Aston Villa: Guzan, Lowton, Herd, Clark, Baker (Ireland 45), Bennett, Westwood (Albrighton 46), El Ahmadi, Delph, Holman, Benteke.

Subs Not Used: Given, Bowery, Bannan, Lichaj, Carruthers.

Booked: Delph.

Tottenham: Lloris, Walker, Gallas, Vertonghen, Naughton, Lennon, Dembele (Parker 66), Sandro, Bale (Townsend 85), Defoe, Adebayor (Sigurdsson 79).

Subs Not Used: Friedel, Dawson, Livermore, Caulker.

Goals: Defoe 57, Bale 61, 73, 84.

Att: 36,863

Ref: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear).

Latest Premier League table and results

And with Bale at the heart of the
torment, it meant the 12 goals fired past Brad Guzan equalled the most ever conceded in back-to-back
matches in the Premier League. They share the dubious distinction with
Ipswich, Manchester City, West Ham and Wigan.

Make no mistake, this result was no
fluke. The first-half corner count was 15-1 in the visitors’ favour and
Villa did not enjoy a shot on Hugo Lloris’s goal until Marc Albrighton’s
effort three minutes from time.

It is difficult to judge just how
good Spurs were given they huffed and puffed against Stoke City last
time out. However, they at least looked like they knew what they were
doing, which was more than could be said for the hosts.

And once Defoe had broken the
deadlock and Villa were forced to chase the game, Bale exploited huge
gaps to take his season’s tally to nine in the league.

‘He’s up there with the best,’ said
manager Andre Villas-Boas following Spurs’ sixth victory in eight games.
‘And I think he is improving every game.

‘His left foot is wonderful and the
power and direction he applies is wonderful too. It was an excellent
performance from him and obviously he gets the goals and reward. But it
was a very good team performance from start to finish.’

Jermain Defoe makes the breakthrough

Jermain Defoe makes the breakthrough

Happy days: Defoe celebrates his strike

Happy days: Defoe celebrates his strike

Gareth Bale on Twitter

Before posting a picture of the match ball on top of his Christmas tree, Bale tweeted: 'Amazing feeling to get my first league hat trick today but more importantly a great team performance to get us up to 4th #matchball'

Asked about the possibility of Bale
leaving in January, his manager said: ‘There’s no release clause in his
contract. He has a market value that is unobtainable to most clubs.’

Villa, who used Christian Benteke as a
lone striker behind a five-man defence and four-man midfield, were
chasing shadows for long spells in the opening period.

Guzan made a superb fingertip stop to
deny Bale from 25 yards in what was the stand-out moment — apart from
the corner won by Villa in the last knockings of the half, greeted by
cheers from the home supporters.

Cool finish: Gareth Bale rounds goalkeeper Brad Guzan to score his team's second goal

Cool finish: Gareth Bale rounds goalkeeper Brad Guzan to score his team's second goal

Gareth Bale of Tottenham Hotspur scores his first goal

Lambert’s side began the second half
brightly but Spurs found a way through. Defoe, surrounded by claret
shirts inside the area, passed backwards to Bale, who did likewise to
Kyle Naughton.

The left back’s first-time ball inside Matthew Lowton was controlled by Defoe, who finished with the outside of his right foot.

Four minutes later, it was two as
Villa shot themselves in the foot again. Spurs just managed to clear
Benteke’s cross from the right but Ciaran Clark’s pass was cut out by
Aaron Lennon and his pass inside was knocked into Bale’s path by Joe
Bennett. Bale ran forward with Chris Herd in his wake, rounding Guzan
and slotting home.

The whole stadium knew that was game
over. But not as far as Bale was concerned. Twelve minutes later, he
took a short ball from Lennon in his stride, taking one touch and
firing past Guzan.

Triple treat: Bale completes his hat-trick

Triple treat: Bale completes his hat-trick

Clinical: Bale scores his second goal

Clinical: Bale scores his second goal

Hat-trick hero: Bale holds the match ball

Hat-trick hero: Bale holds the match ball

Kyle Walker then fed substitute Gylfi
Sigurdsson, who pulled the ball back for Spurs’ man of the moment to
claim his second hat-trick for the club. Who could forget his first It
came in the San Siro against Inter Milan.

While those late goals lifted
Villas-Boas’s side to fourth, Villa now face Wigan on Saturday. If
Wigan win, they will move level on points with Lambert’s side. ‘We rode
our luck massively in the first half,’ admitted Lambert. ‘I thought
there was a foul on Fabian Delph in their first goal.

‘We had a good chance to make it 1-1
but then they go up the park and score again. That’s what can happen
when you are playing those kind of players.’

Asked whether there were problems
defensively, Lambert added: ‘It’s not just the defence. It’s everywhere.
We’re in it together, collectively you have to stop it.’

Villa’s fans – incredibly – ended the
game singing Lambert’s name. They have a Capital One Cup semi-final to
look forward to, after all.

But on this evidence, you wouldn’t
put it past Bradford to reach Wembley. Now that really would shake the
foundations at Villa Park.

Roma open to offers for Daniele de Rossi

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Champions City on alert after Roma admit they'll listen to offers for captain De Rossi

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UPDATED:

14:36 GMT, 5 November 2012

Manchester City have been encouraged to make a fresh bid for Roma captain Daniele de Rossi.

The Italian international has long been a target for Roberto Mancini, and the English champions spent much of the summer attempting to lure the 29-year-old from his hometown club.

City tabled a 30million bid for the versatile midfielder but were unable to convince the player his future lay away from the Italian capital.

Open to offers: Roma could sell captain Daniele De Rossi come January

Open to offers: Roma could sell captain Daniele De Rossi come January

Open to offers: Roma could sell captain Daniele De Rossi come January

The move tempted De Rossi into a public declaration of love for Roma, the team he has represented with distinction for more than a decade.

'I'm staying,' De Rossi said in August. 'I never asked to leave. One club, the one you all know, made an enquiry. One or two others too, but that was just talk.

'What I can promise everyone is that the day I want to leave Roma — whether it is to win the Champions League or make more money — I will say so in public.'

But now it appears that decision has been taken out of his hands, with club general manager Franco Baldini admitting offers for the captain will be considered.

Fabio Capello's former right hand man, told Sky Italia: 'Should an offer arrive for him, we will consider it.

'In summer we heard an offer from Man City and because we listened to it, it means we took it in consideration. Then we decided to give up.

'Should another offer will arrive, we will listen again it, but we could also decide to give up on it again.'

De Rossi, who has more than four years left to run on his contract at Roma, has featured just six times under new manager Zdenek Zeman this season.

Michael Owen back at Liverpool – Mersey Beat

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Owen ready for another uncomfortable afternoon
back at Liverpool

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UPDATED:

15:16 GMT, 5 October 2012

They will give him a generous ovation on Sunday. As is usually the case when a former player’s name is read out, the Kop will clap, sing his old song and recognise the service he gave.

Given he appeared in a European final, played a crucial role in helping Liverpool win an FA Cup and lead the line with distinction, becoming a crowd favourite in the process, it is only right that the Kop will look to acknowledge Peter Crouch when sets foot on Anfield’s turf once more.

This way to Anfield: Michael Owen can expect a lukewarm reception

This way to Anfield: Michael Owen can expect a lukewarm reception

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What happens when Michael Owen does something similar, however, will be completely different.

He did all the things Crouch did for Liverpool and more but, for him, the best scenario for which he can hope is muted applause.

It is nothing new, of course. Owen has been back to play at Anfield on several occasions since he left for Real Madrid in 2004 for both Newcastle United and Manchester United – he even pulled on a Red shirt during Jamie Carragher’s testimonial in September 2010.

Each time he return, though, it sharpens the focus of what could and should have been but now never will be. Owen, remember, was one of the greatest goalscorers of his generation. In 2001, he won the FA Cup final almost single-handedly and was named European Footballer of the Year.

During one of the many transitional periods Liverpool have endured in the past two decades, Owen’s emergence was genuinely thrilling and whenever the club had a big game, he could be relied upon to come up with the goods.

With a tally of 158 goals in 297 appearances, Owen, by rights, should receive the warmest of welcomes whenever he comes back to the place that was once his home but now all he can expect is indifference and ambivalence.

Golden boy: Owen started his career at Liverpool and was once a hero

Golden boy: Owen started his career at Liverpool and was once a hero

Now this is not a sob story on Owen’s
behalf. Far from it. There are reasons – plenty of them valid – as to
why the Kop have lost their rapport with the former England
international and sympathy is not something he will ever get at Anfield.

Owen, after all, is accountable for the decisions he made.

For starters, there was the manner in which he left in 2004. Having indicated that he was ready to sign a new contract, he sat out Rafael Benitez’s first game against AK Graz in the Champions League and within days had signed for Madrid.

Then, when presented with the chance to re-sign for Liverpool 12 months later, he chose to join Newcastle instead at the last minute. When he headed back to Anfield that Christmas for a Premier League game, he was the subject of chants of, among others things, 'Where were you in Istanbul'

‘I could see the deflation in his eyes and recognised how hurt he was,’ Carragher wrote in his autobiography about the incident. ‘To see a player who had played his heart out for us on the end of a reception so untypical of those that former Anfield heroes usually get was depressing.

‘Over the years I’ve seen players who didn’t contribute half as much as Michael, and some who were only here for a season or two, be welcomed back as if they had played 500 games and won dozen of trophies. It made no sense.’

Of course, any hope that bridges would have been rebuilt were extinguished when Owen went to Manchester United in 2009 but, given he was without a club at that time, it was hardly an offer he could refuse, particularly as Liverpool showed no interest then to bring him back.

There was talk about Owen being drafted back to Liverpool as an emergency measure last month but it lacked substance. Brendan Rodgers has a vision in mind and it does not include signing a 32-year-old who has not started a Premier League game for two years and three days.

Tony Pulis, though, has an idea in mind for Owen and the Potteries are where he will see out his playing days. But what happens then

Will Owen ever return to Anfield and watch a game from the stands Will he be welcomed back, say, if a reunion takes place for the treble winners of 2001

To look at everything Owen achieved for Liverpool, those questions should not be asked. That they are tells you everything about a sad situation.

FIFA get tough on socks and shin-pads

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FIFA show their true colours by getting tough on… socks and shin-pads

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UPDATED:

21:14 GMT, 17 August 2012

Of all the issues they might have
dealt with to boost your enjoyment during the new Premier League season,
the lawmakers at FIFA have chosen to demand that all tape holding up
socks and shin-pads must be the same colour as the sock.

Never mind goal-line technology, Sepp
Blatter is getting tough in the sock department. It will be a challenge
for kit men up and down the land, first sourcing the right colour tape
to match the socks their team are wearing on any given day, and then
explaining to players with their own rituals and superstitions why it is
so.

In charge: Fifa president Sepp Blatter

In charge: Fifa president Sepp Blatter

Although it is a FIFA rule change and thus applies to all levels of the game, referees are not expected to impose it with great energy in parks football, where sometimes socks don't match, let alone the tape.

The players' equipment rule-change comes in to help assistant referees looking across the offside line see the distinction between the teams after some players had taken to using so much tape on their socks that it might be difficult to tell clearly what colour the socks were.

Frankie Fredericks on Plastic Brit debate

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EXCLUSIVE: Change the laws! Sprint king Fredericks wades in on Plastic Brits debate

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UPDATED:

23:49 GMT, 16 July 2012

Sprint legend Frankie Fredericks has added his voice to the ‘Plastic Brits’ dispute by questioning why any athlete would want to represent a country in which they have never lived.

The four-time Olympic silver medallist said he could understand why some competitors switched allegiance given a change to their circumstances, but would not defend those who had ‘only taken nationality out of convenience’.

He believes the practice should be stopped as it risks a supposed ‘home’ athlete receiving a lukewarm response from 90,000 spectators in an Olympic stadium.

Sprint king: Fredericks is now an IOC committee member

Sprint king: Fredericks is now an IOC committee member

Fredericks, 44, also told of how proud he had been to win Namibia’s first Olympic medals by finishing second in both the 100m and 200m at Barcelona 1992. He is now an IOC committee member, tasked with representing the interests of athletes.

Speaking to Sportsmail during the IOC’s visit to London to inspect Games progress, Fredericks drew a distinction between Yamile Aldama, the triple jumper who competed for Cuba and Sudan before switching to Britain, and Tiffany Porter, the former US sprinter who swapped to Britain in 2010.

Aldama has lived in Britain for 11 years after marrying her Scottish husband Andrew Dodds. Porter, meanwhile, has never resided in the country despite possessing a British passport since birth. She qualifies for citizenship through her mother.

‘An athlete’s circumstances obviously change over the life of their careers,’ Fredericks said. ‘If I take Aldama, and look at where she’s come from, she’s lived here for many years, she feels like she’s from here.

‘If you’ve lived in the country for seven, eight years then I would put a claim to the athlete to say their circumstances are genuine, the athletes deserve to take nationality.

Opportunist Porter has never lived in the UK

Opportunist Porter has never lived in the UK

‘What I don’t agree with is that people go and buy athletes to compete for their countries. But if it’s genuine circumstances that athletes have changed their nationality because they live in the country, they were born there or their parents live there then I have no problem.

‘The other athletes – it depends on the circumstances. If you don’t live in a country I just don’t understand how you could get nationality. I will not agree on that one. If you do not live in the country, you have no ties to the country.’

Asked directly about Porter who, like US-born runners Shana Cox and Michael Bingham, has been dogged by accusations of opportunism in her national selection, Fredericks responded: ‘I think you have to do something with your laws in the country to make sure that someone like that cannot get the nationality.

‘If you win a medal, the people in the country will not feel like it’s their medal. You don’t want this situation. You don’t want 90,000 people to come and watch and they don’t care about you as an athlete. It’s not a nice feeling. You will not feel welcome.’

Fredericks conceded the IOC were powerless to bar athletes from transferring allegiances, though, as long as the nations in question had granted passports.

Lets be Frank: Fredericks spoke candidly to Sportsmail

Let's be Frank: Fredericks spoke candidly to Sportsmail

‘The IOC is not bigger than the laws of a country,’ he said. ‘Once we have the proof that a person has a British passport and has been accepted as being British according to their laws, then we cannot stop the athlete and I will not allow that the IOC stop them.

‘Being the spokesperson of the athletes, I have to ensure that they get their fair share. But, for me, I feel bad if I have to defend an athlete who I know only took that nationality because of convenience. It’s something that I will not be happy about.’

Addressing the issue of Shara Proctor, the Anguillan long jumper who will compete for Britain because her native country does not have its own National Olympic Committee, Fredericks said there are no plans to change rules regarding such overseas territories. He reinforced the view that only sovereign countries can take part in the Olympics.

Frankie Fredericks is Mizuno’s Global Ambassador for 2012 and is figure heading the brand’s campaign – Mizuno Seiei Moments. This exciting campaign showcases the synergy between Mizuno product and athlete in making famous sporting moments possible. Visit www.facebook.com/mizunorunning for more information on Mizuno Seiei Moments.

Stoke want Michael Owen on free transfer

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We want Owen! Stoke keen to snap up former Man United striker on a free

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UPDATED:

13:51 GMT, 8 June 2012

Up for grabs: Michael Owen

Up for grabs: Michael Owen

Stoke manager Tony Pulis is keeping tabs on Michael Owen now the striker is a free agent but admits he is only one of a number of players under consideration this summer.

The 32-year-old former England international was released by Manchester United last month and has yet to find another club.

Pulis was previously interested in signing the former Liverpool and Real Madrid striker and he is a name currently on their list.

'We tried to find out what he was doing a couple of years ago but nothing came of it – and it was a couple of years ago,' Pulis told The Sentinel.

Waiting game: Ex-England striker Owen hopes to find a new club this summer

Waiting game: Ex-England striker Owen hopes to find a new club this summer

'Everyone knows Michael's pedigree and the fact he has performed with such distinction at the highest level for club and country.

'We are monitoring him, but along with about 400 other players to be honest, so it's a case of waiting to see what happens.'

Martin van Jaarsveld joins Glamorgan for Twenty20 campaign

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Veteran South African batsman Van Jaarsveld joins Glamorgan for Twenty20 campaign

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UPDATED:

13:32 GMT, 1 May 2012

New recruit: Former Kent batsman Martin van Jaarsveld is joining Glamorgan

New recruit: Former Kent batsman Martin van Jaarsveld is joining Glamorgan

Glamorgan have signed veteran South African batsman Martin van Jaarsveld for this year's FriendsLife t20 campaign.

The 37-year-old served Kent with distinction between 2005 and 2011, and agreed a deal to join Leicestershire at the end of the last campaign.

However, the agreement was cancelled in the autumn when Van Jaarsveld felt he was no longer able to properly compete in the four-day game.

He has shone in 20-over cricket in his native country since then, leading the Nashua Titans to a domestic double, and will arrive in Wales at the end of May.

Van Jaarsveld said: 'The Titans have had a really successful season and this has re-ignited my passion in the game.

'I enjoy playing Twenty20 cricket and I will be working hard to help the Welsh Dragons reach the 2012 Friends Life t20 Finals Day, particularly as it is being held at the SWALEC Stadium.'

John Barnes: Cultural mix in the England team should make us all feel proud

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John Barnes: Cultural mix in the England team should make us all feel proud

Breaking down barriers: John Barnes represented England with distinction

Breaking down barriers: John Barnes represented England with distinction

When Stuart Pearce selects his England team to face Holland on Wednesday, it will reflect modern society.

There will be a number of black players starting the game for their country, maybe six or seven, but so what To me it no longer carries any significance.

I will not turn on the television and start counting the number of black faces in the team – we have moved beyond that to investigate deeper issues.

Ashley Cole, Micah Richards, Chris Smalling, Glen Johnson, Ashley Young, Theo Walcott, Daniel Sturridge, Fraizer Campbell and Danny Welbeck represent the black community, but to most people they are Saturday’s Heroes.

Right-minded supporters watch them play in the Barclays Premier League week in, week out and do not discriminate when they represent their club team.

Those barriers were broken down a long time ago and it is common for Premier League teams to field more black players than white, but does anyone notice Probably not.

To see Walcott or Richards walk out in an England shirt is not a cause to rejoice or celebrate because they are black — the fact it mirrors the modern game and our culture is far more eye-catching.

That gives me more satisfaction than jumping up and down because a significant number of black players are representing the squad.

Big news: Viv Anderson's debut was not shown on TV because of a strike and his mum missed it

Big news: Viv Anderson's debut was not shown on TV because of a strike and his mum missed it

Britain is culturally diverse, full of different nationalities and backgrounds being brought up in different circumstances. That is the real benefit of this England team, watching a cross-section of different communities and backgrounds uniting for one reason: they want to win a football match.

That is something England can be proud of, watching a cosmopolitan team take on a side who reached the 2010 World Cup final.

Walk down any street in any town across the country and there will be people from different backgrounds and different cultures.

When Viv Anderson became the first black player to represent England in 1978, of course it was a big thing, but that was a time when most of the people in the country were white.

Attitudes were different. Black players were a relatively new phenomenon in English football and it took time to make a breakthrough.

Since then, Paul Ince has captained England and, at various times, there have been more black players on the field than white. Most people will not even notice, all they want is to see a winning England team on the field.

Multicultural: The England team is representative of the society in the country

Multicultural: The England team is representative of the society in the country

Ultimately, when a top Premier League club, or even the England side, has a permanent black football manager, then it will take on more significance.

It is well known that black managers are not given as much time as white managers, but that is a question for the boardroom and a phenomenon I describe as ‘unconscious racism’.

I do not believe in positive discrimination and the idea of giving black people interviews for jobs because they are black — that is discrimination in itself.

The idea that a black man is less intelligent than someone who is white is perpetuated by society, but there has been a gradual change over the last 10 to 15 years.

Leader: Paul Ince captained England in a World Cup

Leader: Paul Ince captained England in a World Cup

When I played for England I was one of the only black players in the squad, but I was in the team based on ability.

I was easily distinguished by the colour of my skin, but that was the only difference between me and the other players.

Football is often seen as the solution to issues that affect society, but that is too simplistic and is often asking too much of the game’s authorities.

The real issues are with the Government and the legislation that is passed to condemn racist behaviour. People have been stealing for hundreds of years and just because it is illegal, it does not stop people stealing.

I spent time with the Prime Minister last week discussing the issue in our sport and I am all in favour of better educational programmes to tackle the issue.

Just because it is a crime to be found guilty of making racist remarks at a football stadium, does it mean it is OK to be a silent racist instead Of course not.

I believe there is an increased understanding and social acceptance among young people, something I will continue to encourage.

I have young children and they lead varied lives, building a social network of people from all walks of life. They are growing up in an era and at an age when they understand that is it not acceptable — or correct — to discriminate against people based on the colour of their skin.

Australian Open 2012: Andy Murray loses to Novak Djokovic as girlfriend Kim Sears watches

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Heartbreak again with Murray downed by Djokovic in epic five-set semi-final classic

Andy Murray described himself as a 'different player with a different attitude' after falling agonisingly short of a career-high victory over Novak Djokovic.

The 24 year-old Scot pointed to the huge distinction between the man who limply surrendered to his old rival in last year’s Australian Open final and the one who mounted not one but two remarkable comebacks in this semi-final before falling 6-3, 3-6, 7-6, 6-1, 7-5, in a match of astonishing momentum changes.

Murray looked dead and buried at 2-0 down in the second set, and again at 5-2 down in the third before looking the more likely winner until Djokovic’s extraordinary survival instinct kicked in to bring him victory in a gruelling four hours and 50 minutes.

So close, yet so far: Andy Murray missed out on a place in the final after losing to Novak Djokovic

So close, yet so far: Andy Murray missed out on a place in the final after losing to Novak Djokovic

He now faces a race to recover ahead of Sunday’s final against Rafael Nadal, who he beat in six finals last season.

While Ivan Lendl will be disappointed
with the final outcome he will surely have seen plenty to work with
this fortnight, and overall should not have been dissatisfied with a
performance that the player himself rated an eight and a half.

Of his comeback, Djokovic said: 'It is difficult to describe, I was
just trying to focus on very point. Andy deserves the credit to come back from 5-2 down, he was fighting, I
was fighting.

'It was evidently a physical match,
it was one of the best matches I have played, emotionally and physically
it was equally hard.'

It was Djokovic who struck first,
breaking for a 3-1 lead in the first set and, although Murray hit
straight back, another break gave him a 4-2 advantage and he kept a
level head to serve it out.

All hail: Djokovic was simply brilliant at times, and his big-game experience shone through

All hail: Djokovic was simply brilliant at times, and his big-game experience shone through

The momentum remained with the
Serbian as he moved 2-0 up in the second with Murray still struggling to
find any kind of rhythm. But having levelled at 2-2 his game suddenly
returned.

He broke again for 4-2 and there was now a crispness to his groundstrokes hitherto lacking.

On the other side of the net,
Djokovic was showing the signs of a man struggling. His body language
indicated he had a physical problem with his frequent looks to his
worried camp suggesting he was in trouble.

The Serbian is a warrior though and
he battled through the pain to break back only for Murray to reclaim the
upper hand straight away.

Djokovic did his utmost to level once more with Murray serving for the set but the Scot held his nerve to level it.

Telling: But Murray had his moments, and Djokovic was out on his feet by the end

Telling: But Murray had his moments, and Djokovic was out on his feet by the end

If the first two sets were attritional the third, all 88 minutes of it, was simply punishing, especially in the latter stages.

Murray staved off three set points at
4-5 with some gutsy play. He saved the first with an ace, the second
with a crushing forehand winner and the third with a drop shot-clipped
backhand combination.

Sensing he had got out of jail,
Murray then struck for 6-5, claiming his second break point chance after
some outstanding defence.

But, not for the first time in his
career, Murray seemed crippled by nerves at a crucial juncture and a
string of errors allowed Djokovic to level and take it to a tie-break.

The momentum had seemed to swing back
towards Djokovic but Murray played a solid breaker to win it 7-4 and
edge two-sets-to-one ahead.

Net gains: Murray fought every step with the Serbian world No 1, matching shot-for-shot

Net gains: Murray fought every step with the Serbian world No 1, matching shot-for-shot

After what had gone before, the
fourth was totally unexpected, the defending champion romping through it
in just 25 minutes, breaking three times en route with Murray offering
very little resistance.

The earlier signs of fatigue and distress from Djokovic had now disappeared and he made a strong start to the final set.

Murray was also looking like he had
regained his composure after the fourth-set horror show although he had
to stave off three break points at 1-2, some big serving getting him out
of trouble.

All eyes on us: Despite going on long into the night, spectators stayed packed in to the Rod Laver Arena

All eyes on us: Despite going on long into the night, spectators stayed packed in to the Rod Laver Arena

But he could not repeat the feat when
Djokovic threatened again, the Serbian moving 4-2 ahead after crushing a
mid-court forehand on his second break point.

Murray forced his opponent to serve
it out and it proved a crucial moment as Djokovic faltered, his serve
deserting him at a critical time.

The Scot completed his comeback from 5-2 down to 5-5 with a cool hold.

And he almost broke again only for
three break points to come and go – the second a 29-shot rally ended
with a crushing forehand from Djokovic.

Rallying cry: Murray was cheered on by his usual entourage, including girlfriend Kim Sears

Rallying cry: Murray was cheered on by his usual entourage, including girlfriend Kim Sears

It was to prove his final opportunity
as Djokovic then broke to clinch an extraordinary match in four hours
and 50 minutes and set up a title decider with Rafael Nadal on Sunday
night.

'I am delighted to reach the final
and what can be a bigger challenge than playing Rafael Nadal, who has
been playing so well on this court,' he said.

'We have a lot of respect for each
other but I am going to try to recover. It is going to be physical so I
need to do some push-ups tonight.'

Sir Alex Ferguson at 70: His best Manchester United team

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Fergie at 70: Is this his perfect Manchester United team

Sir Alex Ferguson turns 70 this weekend, and once again his Manchester United team head into the new year challenging for trophies.

But what about his best ever United team Here, we select a side that really would take some stopping.

Great Dane: Peter Schmeichel dominated the No 1 shirt between 1991 and 1999

Great Dane: Peter Schmeichel dominated the No 1 shirt between 1991 and 1999

GOALKEEPER: Peter Schmeichel

Boils down to a choice between Peter Schmeichel and Edwin van der Sar, with hardly anything between them. Schmeichel (five titles, one European Cup) gets the nod, but only because he came before Van der Sar (four titles, one European Cup) and broke the mould.

Fine servant: Gary Neville spent his entire 19-year career at Manchester United

Fine servant: Gary Neville spent his entire 19-year career at Manchester United

RIGHT BACK: Gary Neville

Paul Parker was an essential component of Ferguson”s first title-winning team but Neville is the stand-out candidate. Loyal, brave – a bit of a pain sometimes. But committed and pretty good too. First-team career lasted 19 years and 602 appearances.

CENTRE-HALF: Jaap Stam

Ferguson has admitted to making one of his few mistakes in allowing Jaap Stam to leave in 2001. Only at United for three seasons but won the title in every one, in addition to the Champions League. Strong in the tackle and an excellent reader of the game. Few come close – but some do. Rio Ferdinand for a start.

Defensive rock: Jaap Stam of Manchester United Serbian steel: Vidic is United

Rock solid: Jaap Stam (left) and Nemanja Vidic have been key players at United

CENTRE-HALF: Nemanja Vidic

Nemanja Vidic holds the rare distinction of being confirmed a United player on Christmas Day. Struggled at first but has gone on to become one of the world”s best defenders. And he has ended that nightmare run against Fernando Torres as well. Has the strength to match any opponent and is proving an outstanding captain.

No lying down on the job: Patrice Evra edges out Dennis Irwin for best left-back

No lying down on the job: Patrice Evra edges out Dennis Irwin for best left-back

LEFT BACK: Patrice Evra

Few could quibble if this spot went to Denis Irwin, or even Phil Neville. Frenchman Patrice Evra is slightly better though, especially in an attacking sense.

Just champion: Cristiano Ronaldo established himself as one of the world

Just champion: Cristiano Ronaldo established himself as one of the world”s greatest players while he was at Manchester United between 2003 and 2009

RIGHT WING: Cristiano Ronaldo

Now the arguments begin. David Beckham is an obvious choice here and his efforts deserve due mention. But someone who was crowned the world”s best player during his time at United – and is still rated in the top two – has to have a place. Cristiano Ronaldo”s trickery was not to everyone”s taste. Forty-two goals in a single season certainly was.

CENTRAL MIDFIELD: Roy Keane

The Irish colossus patrolled the United midfield as though it was his own personal fiefdom. His duels with Arsenal”s Patrick Vieira were the stuff of legend and his performance in the 1999 Champions League semi-final against Juventus in Turin, when he was already booked and out of the final, stands comparison with any.

Deadly duo: Paul Scholes (left) and Roy Keane teamed up to great effect

Deadly duo: Paul Scholes (left) and Roy Keane teamed up to great effect

CENTRAL MIDFIELD: Paul Scholes

Sometimes decisions are so tough, it is best to let others make them. Bryan Robson, Paul Ince, Michael Carrick even. But when great players such as Xavi and Edgar Davids are asked to name the man who made United tick, Scholes is the name they always come up with. That will do for us.

Wing wizard: Ryan Giggs has been with Manchester United for over 20 years

Wing wizard: Ryan Giggs has been with Manchester United for over 20 years

LEFT WING: Ryan Giggs

Ferguson likened Ryan Giggs to “a piece of paper blowing in the wind” when he first saw him as a schoolboy. Nearly 900 appearances later, the Welshman is still going strong. Barring the first FA Cup and European Cup Winners” Cup triumph in 1991, Giggs has played a part in all Ferguson”s successes.

Full of goals: Wayne Rooney hasn

Full of goals: Wayne Rooney hasn”t stopped scoring since joining United in 2004

CENTRE FORWARD: Wayne Rooney

Arrived a teenage sensation, then condemned to live in Ronaldo”s shadow, Wayne Rooney is now starting to blossom. Carried United into their post-Ronaldo season, scoring 32 goals before injury intervened and personal problems came to light. Now back to his best and ready to assume the mantle of greatness for which he was destined.

Adored: Eric Cantona turned Manchester United into Premier League champions

Adored: Eric Cantona turned Manchester United into Premier League champions

CENTRE FORWARD: Eric Cantona

More than any single player, Eric Cantona transformed United from nearly-men to champions. Arrived with the swagger of a man destined to usurp Denis Law as the new king. Fifteen years after his departure, he is still adored, that infamous night at Crystal Palace merely enhancing his legend.