Sunderland v Middlesbrough FA cup fourth round

A second half strike from Sunderland substitute Fraizer Campbell denied Tony Mowbray’s Middlesbrough side a place in the last 16 of the FA cup, after Boro put their recent league form to one side to create a highly entertaining game at the Stadium of Light. Barry Robson’s first half volley had set the standard, as the Championship side led at the break but Campbell’s goal marked a dream return to the Sunderland team and the sides will have to do it all over again in the return game at the Riverside.

Scott McDonald was the first to test Sunderland keeper Mignolet but Boro first real attack came on 15 minutes, when Sunderland thought they had cleared the danger only for Robson to fire the ball though the crowd with a moment of brilliance to launch Boro in front. Sunderland then struggled to respond, as they were unable to produce there premier league quality to break their rivals down. However the home side felt hard done by after their goal 5 minutes from the half time was not given for offside, when replays showed Sunderland striker Conner Wickham didn’t make contact with the ball. But the cameras also caught Craig Gardener handling the ball making the goal rightly disallowed. Boro then had the chance to double their lead but new signing Lukas Jutkiewicz couldn’t hit target after his first shot was saved missing a golden chance on the stoke of half time.

In the second half Sunderland manager Martin O'Neil introduced substitute Campbell in a risk that paid off. Boro were caught out from their own corner, as a sloppy pass from goal scorer Robson was well anticipated from James McLean resulting on three on one in Sunderland’s favour when he picked out Campbell to level the score. Sunderland looked the more likely side to win it after that with Danny Coyne the busier of the two keepers. But Sunderland never really found there best and the game remained level, as both sides now look to push on in the league before the replay in just over weeks time where the reward will be a home tie with Arsenal or Aston Villa.

Match Ratings

Coyne   8 – strong performance when called upon nothing he could do about the goal

McMahon   7 – generally kept main player McLean quiet

Bates (C)   7 – dealt with danger in area with confidence  

Hines   6 – solid performance on return to the team

Williams   7 – covered well in midfield while missing Bailey and Thompson

Hoyte   6 - didn’t really get chance to show pace going forward

Haroum   8 – looked strong and powerful going forward and keep shape in midfield

Robson   8 – stunning goal and stand out player but made mistake for the goal

McDonald   6 – early shot but quiet for long spells

Emnes   5 – found some space early on but then wasn’t his best day

Jutkiewicz   6 – worked hard but missed chance to make it 2-0

Murray v Djokovic Semi-Final

Novak Djokovic crushed Andy Murrays Australian open dreams for the second year running, after the Brit battled to a heart-breaking defeat in a thrilling contest lasting 4 hours 50 minutes. Murray had fought back from 5-2 down in the deciding set, as he couldn’t convert break points at 5-5 to serve for the match. And world number one Djokovic showed just why he’s top of the men’s game with a super human performance  finally prevailing  in the match of the tournament with a score of 6-3 3-6 6-7(4)6-1 7-5.

The first set started with both players being aggressive, as they traded serve trying to control the play. But it was Djokovic who landed the first blow, as a careless game from Murray gave him little time to recover before conceding the first set in 47 minutes.

Djokovic looked to have the match in control, as a Murray hangover from the first set gifted the Serb an early break. However Murray stuck to the game plan and continued to be aggressive limiting his opponent’s options before turning the set around to lead 4-2. Breaks of serve were again exchanged but it was Murray who found his best tennis at the right moment to level the match.

 Murrays triumph had his opponent on the ropes in set three, as the defending champion appeared short of fatigue. Nevertheless Djokovic dug deep squandering three set points of his own ultimately leading to a tie break. Then it was Murray, who found a new level, as Djokovic crumbled leaving him with a 2-1 deficit.

But in the blink of an eye it was level again when Murray was unable to capitalise on his advantage, as errors crept into his game dropping three service games without reply. But crucially he didn’t make Djokovic serve it out allowing the Serb to serve first in the vital fifth set.

 In the decider it was Murray who seemed to be tiring hanging on in exhausting conditions. Then the world number one made has move finding the shots to take a 5-2 lead. However a determined Murray would not back down making the defeat even harder to take, after levelling at 5-5 he couldn’t put away two break points when a gutsy Djokovic found the line. The world number one then took his chance to book his place in his second successive Australian open final where he will meet Rafael Nadal. For Murray he needs to take a lot of pride from this match, after going toe to toe with the world’s best in a match that could easily gone the other way.             

Murray v Nishikori Match Report

Andy Murray reached his fifth consecutive grand slam semi-final to set up a meeting with world number 1 Novak Djokovic, after a straight sets win over Japan’s Kei Nishikori. It was a solid performance from the British number 1, as he saw out the match against a resolute opponent in 2 hours 12 minutes with a score of 6-3 6-3 6-1.

Murray started the quickest after a comfortable hold put immediate pressure on his opponents serve, as he was rewarded with an early break. However Nishikori in a first-time slam quarter-final dug deep not allowing Murray the double break to take control of the match.But the Japanese player couldn’t take advantage of Murrays missed first serves,And the world number 4 had enough to seal the opening set in 55 minutes.

More inconsistent serving allowed both players to exchange breaks at the start of the second set. But a positive response from Murray provided another break of serve to regain control of the match. Murray finished the match with 44% of first serves but Nishikori couldn’t exploit this only converting 2 in 10 break points. Murray then wrapped up the second set was with an identical score line, as it was obvious Nishikori was beginning to tire.

In the final set Murray increased the level with aggressive play and blameless returning, as Nishikori looked out of ideas. The 3^rd set took no longer than 29 minutes, as Murray secured the match with a respectable performance. Murray later said “I didn't serve well but the returning was good" and he knows he will have to improve when he plays the defending champion Djokovic. 

Tomorrow two of the biggest names in tennis in Rodger Federer and Rafael Nadal go head to head in the first of the men’s semi-finals while in the women’s draw defending champion Kim Clijsters takes on 3^rd seed Victoria Azarenka.

Murray v Kukushkin Match Report

Andy Murrays place in the quarter final of the Australian open was easier than expected, when his opponent Mikhail Kukushkin threw in the towel after a very one sided affair. Murray was off court in under an hour, racing through the first two sets with Kukushkin trailing 6-1 6-1 1-0 when he decided to retire.

It was clear Kukushkin was low on fatigue off the back of two five set matches and that showed when four errors gave Murray an early break. The Kazakhstani was in unprecedented territory of the fourth round and couldn’t hold serve in the whole match, as Murrays aggressive returning punished his wounded opponent. Kukushkins only game in the first set came from a lapse in concentration from Murray but this did not stop him prevailing to a 22 minutes opening set.

This was only the second meeting between these two players the other came in this year’s opening match in Brisbane where made Murray was made to work for the 3 set win. However this one was no contest, as the second set followed the first with Murray in control. Another careless service game from Murray got Kukushkin on the board, when the Brit suffered a first serve percentage drop but Murray was awarded the match in 50 minutes and is safely through to the last eight. There he will play Kei Nishikori of Japan after he upset 6th seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in five sets.

Meanwhile defending champion Novak Djokovic dropped his first set of the tournament when he finally put out the last Aussie in the draw ending Lleyton Hewitt’s run in four sets. Djokovic will now play David Ferrer in the quarter final, the Spaniard a comfortable winner over Richard Gasquet. In the women’s draw Serena Williams crashed out in straight sets to Ekaterina Makarova of Russia missing out on a quarter final with Maria Sharapova.   

Australian Open First Week Round Up

As the opening week of the Australian open comes to a close the first grand slam of the year is perfectly poised for some more action packed tennis at the business end of the tournament. So far the competition has seen 5 set marathons, match deciding controversy and supreme performances.

With half of the men’s quarter finals draw complete the bottom sees two mouth-watering ties, as Rafael Nadal and Rodger Federer look to claim back the Australian crown both being overshadowed by Novak Djokovic in 2011. Nadal takes on a dangerous world number 7 in Thomas Berdych while Federer faces former US open champion Juan Martin Del Potro as the Argentine keeps improving on return from injury last year. Djokovic himself has been in dominating form with the loss of just 10 games in his route to the last 16 where he will meet the last Australian in the draw Lleyton Hewitt. Plus Andy Murray’s brilliant performance against Michel Llodra put him back in the frame; he plays unseeded Mikhail Kukushkin tomorrow with a potential quarter final with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga on Wednesday.

The women’s event home hopes rested on Sam Stosur but she fell at the first hurdle losing her opening match. Today was a repeat of last year’s final, as Na Li couldn’t convert any of her 4 match points falling to Kim Clijsters for the second year running. Clijsters will now face top seed Caroline Wozniacki in the last 8, the Dane seeing off a second set comeback from Jelena Jankovic. The other quarter pairs Victoria Azarenka and Agnieszka Radwanska who were both comfortable winners in round 4. The bottom half of the draw Maria Sharapova, Petra Kvitova and Serena Williams all remain to fight for their quarter final place tomorrow.

Murray v Llodra Macth Report

Andy Murray found top gear on day 6 of the Australian Open when he produced a master class performance in a breath-taking match with Frenchman Michel Llodra. Murray made big improvements to his all-round game and in the end sailed through to the second week winning 6-4 6-2 6-0 in I hour 49 minutes.

The quality of tennis from the start was hard to believe, but Murray snatched an early break with some aggressive play against the Llodra serve. However doubles specialist Llodra hasn’t won 3 Grand slam doubles titles for nothing and looked dangerous showing his talents from the net. But every time he got a look at the break back the number 4 seed would pull out some brutal serving to see out a hard fought first set.

The second set went one better, as both players played their part in some extraordinary rallies. Nevertheless it was Murray who remained winning the battles with both mind blowing passing shots and net play, leading to a double break when Llodra failed to capitalise on a drop in Murrays first serve percentage. Towards the end of the set Llodra himself made little first serves, as he began to tire falling to a 6-2 deficit.

The final set was not a contest, as an exhausted Llodra was making all the errors and failed to get on the score board. Murray later said “it was a fun tennis match which is unusual in a grand slam”. He now moves into the round 4 where he will meet Mikhail Kukushkin after he beat Gael Monfils in five sets.

Elsewhere top seed Novak Djokovic crushed Nicolas Mahut with the loss of just two games while Lleyton Hewitt gave Australia more interest in the competition after beating Milos Raonic to join fellow country man Bernard Tomic in round 4. On the woman’s there were easy wins for Petra Kvitova and Maria Sharapova, as the top five seeds all remain in the tournament.  

Murray v Rodger-Vasselin Match Report

An improved performance from Andy Murray saw a comfortable straight sets win, over Frenchman   Edouard Roger-Vasselin. On his second appearance on the Hisense Arena. Murray was rarely troubled and saw out the match in 1hour 58 minutes with a score 6-1 6-4 6-4.

It was obvious from the start that Roger-Vasselin didn’t have the weapons to hurt Murray from the baseline unlike in the Brit’s opening match against Ryan Harrison. The Frenchman was quick to surrender his opening service game, as Murray took control early with his solid ground strokes squeezing the errors from his opponent to take the set 6-1.

Murray was then quick to break early in the second and looked to have the match over and done with. But Rodger-Vasselin dug deep by raising his game finding success at the net to get a foot hold in the match. Murray s dominant serving saw him drop just three points on serve in the second set, but had to settle for the single break needing to be more ruthless only converting 1 in 8 break points when a couple of errors crept into his game.   

The third set was similar to the second, as a patient Murray got his reward by not dropping serve throughout an ideal match. Murray later said “I served well and didn’t give to many opportunities”. Next for Murray lies another Frenchman in Michal Llodra who put out Alex Bogomolov Jr in a  five sets.

Tomorrow on the Rod laver Area Rafael Nadal takes on Slovakian qualifier Lukas Lacko followed by Rodger  Federer against six foot ten Ivo Karlovic while on the woman’s side Caroline Wozniacki, Victoria Azarenka and defending champion Kim  Clijsters are all in action.                  

Murray v Harrison Match Report

Andy Murray got his Australian open campaign off to a shaky start eventually overcoming American teenager Ryan Harrison on the Hisense Arena. Watched by new coach Ivan Lendl, Murray never really hit top form, as he battled to record a 4-6 6-3 6-4 6-2 victory in a gruelling 3 hours 12 minutes.

World number 72 Harrison was quickest out of the blocks, as Murray looked vulnerable giving his opponent too many looks at a weak second serve. Harrison showed his talents of big baseline hitting and safe hands at the net helping him secure a double break before wrapping up the first set in 51 minutes.

Murray was quick to break in the second finally converting one of the longest games of the match. The Brit then took control, as errors crept into Harrison’s game allowing the match to be levelled at a set a piece. A tricky third saw the single break enough as a gutsy Harrison kept fighting but Murray was comfortable in seeing out the match. He later said “I had a few nerves early on but I started to play better towards the end." He will hope to improve for a second round tie with Frenchman Edouard Roger-Vasselin.

Tuesday also saw a dominant performance from defending champion Novak Djokovic with the loss of just 2 games against Paolo Lorenzi of Italy. Jo Wilfred Tsonga and David Ferrer are also safely though while home favourite Lleyton Hewitt set up a tie with big serving American Andy Roddick.      

FA Cup 3rd round round up

The 3^rdround of the FA cup an historic event of upsets and drama. For non-league the 3^rd round is a target a chance to face big opposition where there is nothing to lose and everything to gain. While for the might of the premier league the 3^rd round usually only offers embarrassment for those under pressure. 

And this year was no exception as the stand out match paired up the premier league Leaders with the premier league Champions in the Manchester derby. For the first time city went in favourites but an early dismissal for Captain Vincent Kompany and United threatened to run a rout over their rivals, as goals from Wayne Rooney and one for Danny Welbeck gave United three without reply at the break. Yet a gutsy performance for Roberto Mancini s side produced a second half comeback, as goals from Kolarov and Aguero saw a careless United nearly throw away their place in the fourth round.

There were also wins for Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham after all comfortably despatching lower league opposition. While the scene was perfectly set for Thierry Henry’s Arsenal return. After coming off the bench to score 12 minutes from time proving to be the winner, as the Gunners saw off championship Leeds.

 

A dream return for Henry after scoring winner

The shock of the round came at league 2 Swindon after Paolo Di Canio’s side dumped out premier league Wigan. Despite this the fourth round fails to feature any non-league teams, as Fleetwood Tamworth and Salisbury could not produce the big cup upset. But the fourth round gave even more enthralling ties, as Liverpool host Manchester United and a potential Chelsea QPR clash if they overcome a home replay to MK Dons While Arsenals triumph earns them a home tie with Aston Villa