Manicini: EPL race not over yet

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Fighting words ... Roberto Mancini says his side can still retain their EPL title. Source: Clint Hughes / AAP

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini feels his side's FA Cup fifth-round win over Leeds United could help rejuvenate their Premier League title bid.

City produced a strong performance to beat Leeds 4-0, with Sergio Aguero scoring twice and further goals from Carlos Tevez and Yaya Toure securing a passage to the competition's last eight.

Mancini felt the result was reward for his team's concentration during a comfortable win over Leeds that the Italian hopes will also help inspire his players to break down Manchester United's 12-point advantage in the race for the league championship.

		P	W	D	L	GD	Pts
1	Man United	26	21	2	3	31	65
2	Man City	26	15	8	3	24	53
3	Chelsea	26	14	7	5	27	49
4	Tottenham	26	14	6	6	14	48
5	Arsenal	26	12	8	6	21	44
6	Everton	26	10	12	4	8	42
7	Liverpool	27	10	9	8	15	39
8	Swansea	27	9	10	8	4	37
9	West Brom	26	11	4	11	1	37
10	Stoke	26	7	12	7	-5	33
11	West Ham	26	8	6	12	-9	30
12	Fulham	26	7	8	11	-6	29
13	Sunderland	26	7	8	11	-6	29
14	Norwich	26	6	11	9	-15	29
15	Southampton	26	6	9	11	-9	27
16	Newcastle	26	7	6	13	-12	27
17	Aston Villa	26	5	9	12	-25	24
18	Reading	26	5	8	13	-15	23
19	Wigan	26	5	6	15	-21	21
20	QPR	26	2	11	13	-22	17

"It was really important to win this game and if you score two goals in the first 20 minutes it is clearly easier," he said.

"If he (Aguero) scores a lot of goals from now until the end, the championship is not finished."

Leeds manager Neil Warnock was not happy with City's second goal, an Aguero penalty awarded by referee Mark Clattenburg after he had adjudged Tom Lees to have fouled the Argentine striker in the box.

Contact between the two looked minimal, but Aguero stopped playing after Lees' arm made contact with his face.

Mancini, though, insisted he did not have a good view of the incident but that the result was the right one.

"It (the foul for the penalty) was difficult to see from the bench. I didn't see it," he said. "The game finished 4-0 and I don't think we gave them many chances to score.

"I think the result is correct. I don't know if the penalty was correct, I will see it again but I can't say at the moment."

Read more: http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11679/8506611/Manchester-City-manager-Roberto-Mancini-hoping-for-an-FA-Cup-spark

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Shanghai could report Drogba to FIFA

Controversy ... Didier Drogba (L) left Shanghai in acrimonious circumstances. Source: AAP

Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua will take its battle against star striker Didier Drogba's move to Turkish side Galatasaray to football's governing body FIFA this week, domestic reports said Monday.

The Ivory Coast striker left the club in acrimonious circumstances last month, with Shanghai saying he had breached his contract.

''We now have evidence which we believe will give Shenhua a 99 per cent chance of winning a lawsuit at FIFA,'' a lawyer acting for the club told the Sina web portal.

The anonymous source from ''Shenhua's legal team'' said papers would be submitted to the sport's governing body on Wednesday.

The report said Shenhua will provide evidence that Drogba breached his contract and that Galatasaray had violated FIFA rules by luring a player away from his current club.

Shenhua declined to comment when contacted by AFP.

Chinese media previously reported Drogba had asked FIFA to nullify his contract after the club defaulted on payments following a shareholder dispute dating back to September.

Drogba came off the bench to score five minutes into his Galatasaray debut on Friday, a 2-1 victory over the Turkish league's bottom club Akhisar.

The striker signed an 18-month, 10 million euros ($A13.06 million) deal with the Istanbul side, who are due to play German side Schalke 04 on Wednesday in the last 16 of the Champions League.

Drogba -- a Champions League winner with English Premier League side Chelsea last season -- had signed a two-and-a-half year deal with Shanghai in June last year on a reported salary of $US300,000 ($A292,870) a week.

Drogba's exit from Shanghai followed that of former Chelsea teammate French striker Nicolas Anelka, who joined Italian giants Juventus on loan.

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Aussies outclassed by India A

Phillip Hughes ... struggled to make an impact in both innings against India A. Source: News Limited

Australia showed some signs of improvement with the bat but were still comprehensively outplayed by India A in their three-day tour match which ended in a draw just four days out from the first Test.

Australia resumed in their first innings on 4-131 on Monday in reply to India A's 451 and were skittled for 235 at Chennai's Guru Nanak College Ground.

The home side's spinners Rakesh Dhurv (5-51) and Jajaj Saxena (4-61) claimed nine wickets between them in Australia's first innings.

Trailing by 216, Australia were forced to bat again as India A skipper Gautam Gambhir enforced the follow-on.
The Shane Watson-led tourists reached 3-195 at stumps.

Watson top-scored in Australia's first innings with 84 and the Test vice-captain was prominent again in the second dig, hitting 60 from 63 deliveries.

Watson and Ed Cowan (53) added 104 for the first wicket on Monday - their second century partnership of the match.

Phil Hughes (19) was bowled by Dhurv in the final over before tea.

Usman Khawaja finished on 30 not out with Matthew Wade on 19.

Skipper Michael Clarke (hamstring) and David Warner (thumb) were rested from the three-day game but have been training well.

"Davey has been hitting (balls in the nets) in the last couple of days so I think he'll be alright," Khawaja told his post-match media conference.

Khawaja said simply playing a first-class game in Indian conditions was a step forward for Clarke's men.

"Their spinners bowled very well. They used the conditions brilliantly and they put a lot of pressure on us," Khawaja said.

"You can bat in the nets as much as you want but it's not the same.

"The players took a lot out of that.

"That's why in the second innings you saw us bat so well. Watto and Eddie really set it up and we batted pretty well throughout the second innings.

"It's just nice to be out in the middle and getting some game time and putting ourselves under a bit of pressure."

Khawaja says pace remains a key weapon for Australia.

While spinners Nathan Lyon, Xavier Doherty and Ashton Agar claimed eight India A wickets, all three conceded centuries and couldn't match the tight bowling of pacemen Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc and Moises Henriques.

"Pete Siddle bowled lovely in this game (1-40 off 18)," Khawaja added.

"He really hit the deck hard and got in their faces and did what he does best.

"Pace can be as effective as spin out here."

Agar, 19, will return home on Tuesday to resume with Western Australia.

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Wellingham's freak trampoline injury

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Freak injury ... a trampoline accident throws doubts over Wellingham's pre-season. Source: Daniel Wilkins / AAP

Gun West Coast Eagles recruit Sharrod Wellingham will miss the rest of the NAB Cup and could be in doubt for his new club's first game of the season proper after he injured an ankle in an off-field incident.

Wellingham damaged ligaments in his ankle after he landed awkwardly bouncing on a trampoline.

He will wear a moon boot for the next couple of weeks.

The former Collingwood midfielder won't require surgery but will miss the rest of the pre-season with West Coast, and is in doubt for the blockbuster round one Western Derby on March 23.

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Wellingham starred in West Coast's win over Fremantle on Saturday night at Subiaco, finishing with eight disposals and two clearances in the shortened match.

The club has this weekend off before playing Collingwood on March 3.

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Questions raised over Aust bowling

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Australia's bowling has raised a number of questions ahead of their first Test. Source: Tony McDonough / AAP

Australia's selectors were hoping their three-day game against India A would answer some questions about their bowling attack, rather than raise them.

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The tourists' strategy seemed clear enough.

New-ball partners Peter Siddle and Mitchell Starc were named to play in the full-strength squad's only tour match before the first Test on February 22.

Seam-bowling allrounder Moises Henriques was also picked after taking 4-12 in the two-day game against the India Board XI.

And the team's regular spinner Nathan Lyon was joined by two-Test player Xavier Doherty and 19-year-old Ashton Agar in a three-man bowl-off for a possible two spin spots for the first Test.

However, while the spinners did claim eight wickets between them during the weekend, India A were allowed to pile on 451 runs on a flat batting track.

Siddle, Starc and Henriques all bowled tightly but took only two wickets between them.

The three spinners all conceded centuries, bowling more overs but less maidens than the quicks.

Australia's slow bowlers were unable to maintain pressure, something which will be even more crucial in the tense atmosphere of Friday's opening to the four-Test series at Chennai's Chidambaram Stadium.

It will be hot and humid and any loose bowling will be seized upon by India's batsmen.

Agar claimed 3-107 off 20 overs, removing three tailenders late in innings.

Doherty's determination to push the ball through and bang it hard into the wicket to get turn out of the spin-friendly pitches could count in his favour for selection alongside Lyon.

Any variation to the combination of Siddle, Starc and Henriques plus two spinners would be a risk, but the bowlers in general haven't excelled apart from Henriques taking 4-12 against the India Board XI.

Doherty finished with 3-108 from 24 overs against India A, having taken three of the first four wickets to fall.

Playing Agar ahead of Doherty would be a risk, but playing Doherty - whose Shield average of 80.00 this season doesn't inspire confidence - would also be a gamble alongside Lyon.

Australia's latest plan might involve three quicks plus Henriques and Lyon.

Skipper Michael Clarke has indicated he plans to bowl his left-arm spin and also throw the ball to occasional leggie David Warner in Chennai.

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Will Perth pearlers spark Glory?

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Celebrate ... Shane Smeltz broke his goalscoring drought. Source: Justin benson-Cooper / News Limited

Perth Glory couldn't have timed their revival any better, unfortunately it had to take the sacking of Ian Ferguson for last year's grand finalists to find their spark.

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A club in turmoil, playing against the A-League leading Central Coast Mariners under new coach Alistair Edwards and the team produced two stunning goals.

After going behind to the Mariners, Travis Dodd pulled the Glory level with a deft touch and placed finish before striker Shane Smeltz broke his drought with a bullet header that gave Central Coast 'keeper Mat Ryan no chance.

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Another team that is battling for a finals spot is Newcastle Jets and they got a huge win against Melbourne Heart on Friday night.

Holding onto a one-nil lead, the Jets sealed the win thanks to striker Ryan Griffith's sublime skills.

Battling a Heart defender, Griffiths managed to chip the goalkeeper before rushing off to celebrate with the fans.

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'Heart don't need Neill apology'

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Sorry ... John Aloisi says Melbourne Heart will move on. Source: Salpigtidis George / News Limited

Melbourne Heart coach John Aloisi says he didn't need to hear Lucas Neill apologise for walking away from the club to join Sydney FC.

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Instead, Neill's former Socceroos teammate said Neill must have felt sorry for the way he treated the club and it was now time to move on as the two clubs meet in Melbourne next weekend.

The Socceroos captain was heavily linked to the Heart before deciding to join his hometown club at the last minute, saying money had nothing to do with the decision.

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Speaking on Fox Sports' Shootout, Aloisi said Neill must have felt he owed the Heart an explanation.

"I don't need an apology from anyone, it's up to the person themselves," he said.

"Obviously, he feels bad about something he said to us and I'm not going to get into it.

"All I can say is, at certain times, it's the way you conduct yourself."

Neill had been released by his UAE club, Al Wasl, a fortnight ago and trained with the Sky Blues for the first time on Sunday.

Instead of having Neill to combat the likes of Alessandro Del Piero and Joel Griffiths, Aloisi will have to plan how to shut the Socceroos captain down.

However, the on-field benefit wasn't the only reason the Heart wanted Neill, said the coach.

"We would have loved to have had Lucas on football terms," he said.

"He's a great footballer, he's been a great footballer for the national team, he's had a good career and he would have helped us, not only on the pitch, but off the pitch with the young boys.

"That's why we tried to get Lucas to our club.

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"In the discussions we had, Lucas liked the way we play football, what we were trying to do at the club and he seemed very interested."

During his press conference, Neill said he was sorry about the misunderstanding.

"To the Melbourne Heart board and to Johnny Aloisi and Hayden (Foxe), I apologise if I gave too much of an indication that I was heading down to Melbourne and I wish them all the best," Neill said.

"There was never a case of leveraging one club against the other but when the opportunity became very real to join Sydney it was a difficult decision, but an easy one from a family point of view of being born in Sydney and raised in Sydney.

"As far as being gazumped at the last minute, there was never a question of money," Neill said after training with his new teammates for the first time.

"I think it's well-documented that Melbourne's offer was a hundred (thousand dollars) and I signed for seventy (thousand dollars), so I think we leave it at that."

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Aussies collapse late on day two

Shane Watson ... was a rare shining light for Australia on day two. Source: Andres Leighton / AP

Australia have been totally outplayed in their only first-class warm-up match before next Friday's first Test after conceding 451 to India A on day two of their three-day game in Chennai.

The tourists reached 4-131 at stumps on Sunday in reply, failing to build on a century opening stand led by Shane Watson's fine knock of 84.

Australia lost 4-11 after Watson had added 116 with Ed Cowan (40) for the first wicket.

Left-arm spinner Rakesh Dhurv claimed the key wickets of Cowan lbw and Watson caught-behind, although both batsmen looked surprised to be given out.

Cowan was first to go and Phil Hughes (one) followed in the next over as the left-hander was stumped to offspinner Jalaj Saxena's bowling.

Watson, who belted 13 fours and one six from 87 deliveries,shook his head after his departure at 3-127.

Eight balls later there was no doubt about the dismissal of Usman Khawaja who played back and was bowled by Saxena for one.

Matthew Wade (three) and Moises Henriques (zero) are at the crease.

While Watson's 84 may lead to further calls for the vice-captain to be shifted from No.4 back to No.1 in the Test side, selectors are likely to stick with the David Warner/Cowan pairing.

Warner is recovering from a fractured thumb but was able to complete a batting session in the nets on Sunday as he attempts to prove his fitness for Friday's first Test.

Australia's spinners Xavier Doherty (3-108), Ashton Agar (3-107) and Nathan Lyon (2-113) claimed eight wickets between them in India A's innings, but all conceded centuries on a turning pitch in a performance that is a hardly a boost to Australia's confidence.

No.4 Manoj Tiwary made 129, joining ex-Test opener Gautam Gambhir (112) as a century-maker in the match after Gambhir dominated the first day of play.

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Fresh Eagles smash rival Dockers

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Rivals ... Eagles recruit Sharrod Wellingham looks to handball against Fremantle. Source: Daniel Wilkins / News Limited

Fremantle fell to a disappointing 24-point loss to arch-rivals West Coast after backing up in hot conditions in Perth

1.2.6 (27)	Q1	0.1.0 (6)
1.4.7 (40)	Q2	0.2.4 (16)
	Q3
	Q4

Matt Priddis 2	Hayden Ballantyne 1
Shannon Hurn 1	Michael Walters 1
Chris Masten 1
Jeremy McGovern 1

West Coast had lost the opening game of the NAB Cup triple-header to Geelong and came out fresh and fired up, running all over the Dockers to finish 1.4.7 (40) to 2.4 (16) victors.

Fremantle found the going much tougher against the Eagles than Geelong, but coach Ross Lyon has plenty to work on with the likes of Matthew Pavlich, Nat Fyfe, Ryan Crowley and David Mundy still to return.

Fremantle could only muster a solitary scoring shot in the opening half as the Eagles piled on 34 points, including a super goal to Shannon Hurn.

0.4.2 (26)	Q1	0.2.4 (16)
0.7.6 (48)	Q2	0.4.6 (30)
	Q3
	Q4

Michael Walters 2	Mitchell W. Brown 2
Hayden Crozier 1	Joel Selwood 2
Chris Mayne 1
Tendai Mzungu 1
Clancee Pearce 1
Alex Silvagni 1

While all three sides will take plenty out of the opening hit outs, it will make it difficult for any of Geelong, Fremantle or West Coast to now make the cup final in the round-robin format.

However, the Eagles are in the best position given they lost to Geelong by just two points and beat the Dockers by 24.

Fremantle improved in the second half and outscored their opponents but it was too little too late.

Hurn and Scott Selwood ran amok for the Eagles, gathering possessions at will and using them to damaging effect while Paul Duffield showed he will be important to the Dockers in defence this season with nine touches.

It was the same in the second game as the fresher Fremantle proved too good for Geelong winning by 18 points.

As seen last season, the fresher team usually prevailed and so it proved in hot conditions with Fremantle triumphing 7.6 (48) to 4.6 (30).

Geelong coach Chris Scott rested Jimmy Bartel, Taylor Hunt, Jared Rivers and the injured Matthew Stokes while bringing in Steve Johnson, Joel Corey and Steven Motlop.

The Cats had won the opening game against West Coast but couldn't stay with Fremantle, who's run and carry proved damaging on the wide open spaces.

Mitchell Brown and Joel Selwood were the only goal scorers for the Cats while six Dockers got on the score sheet, though Michael Walters was the only one to grab two majors.

0.3.0 (18)	Q1	0.2.0 (12)
1.6.2 (47)	Q2	1.6.4 (49)
	Q3
	Q4

Jack Darling 3	James Podsiadly 2
Bradd Dalziell 1	Josh Caddy 1
Ashton Hams 1	Tom Hawkins 1
Mark LeCras 1	Joel Selwood 1
Fraser McInnes 1	Travis Varcoe 1
	Joshua Walker 1

Fremantle midfielder Michael Barlow looks to be back to his ball-winning best after gathering 15 touches in the two 20-minutes halves while Selwood and Brown against led the possessions, highlighting how much the team relied on the pair.

Cats coach Chris Scott said it was important to get game time into a number of players.

"We got some quality game time into most of our list really apart from Chapman, Mackie and Kelly who were available that we didn't bring with us,'' Scott said.

"I think that's the good thing with this year compared to last because we waited a bit longer to play our senior players last year and on reflection I dont think it was the right thing to do.

"I think we'll be better placed now for the early rounds of this season.''

In the opening game, it was again Selwood who inspired his team with a last-minute super goal giving the Cats a two-point victory over West Coast.

The Eagles looked to be cruising in the opening contest of the triple-header in Perth when leading by 22 points with just five minutes remaining.

However, the Cats got back within nine-point range and Jimmy Bartel handpassed off from a mark to his captain and Selwood kicked the goal from just outside the 50-metre arc to give Geelong victory 1.6.4 (49) to 1.6.2 (47).

Josh Caddy, who crossed from Gold Coast to the Cats at the end of last season, started brilliantly with a clever goal within 20 seconds in a sign of what he can offer.

Geelong led by seven points early in the second half of the reduced minutes contest, but that's when the Eagles took over and the most heartening aspect of all was the successful return of All-Australian forward Mark LeCras.

He started solidly enough in the first half in his first official hit out in 17 months since he injured his knee and required a full reconstruction that cost his entire 2012 campaign.

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While he had just five disposals in his return, it was what he did from a free-kick on the boundary that showed just how much he was missed and why he could help West Coast go that extra step or two in the finals this year.

LeCras kicked a goal from the boundary after a free-kick and, with a super goal soon after from Bradd Dalziell and a regular six-pointer to Fraser McInnes, the Eagles looked home with a 22-point lead.

However, quick goals to Travis Varcoe and Taylor Walker, and then the super goal by Selwood, saw the Cats scrape home.

Geelong next plays Fremantle before the night concludes with the first western derby of 2013.

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Marsh battles injury, scores ton

One-dayer ... Aaron Finch finally scores some runs for Australia. Source: Luke Bowden / News Limited

Former Test batsman Shaun Marsh battled through injury to notch a classy century in Australia A's convincing seven-wicket over the England Lions at Bellerive.

Marsh collapsed clutching his right knee after completing a run to reach 99, appearing to have suffered a serious injury.

The 29-year-old writhed in agony and was treated by medical staff, but batted on long enough to reach 100 from 128 balls before promptly retiring hurt.

Marsh will have scans on the injury on Sunday but is already considered to be in doubt for Monday.

Finch said reaching the hundred was important for his opening partner.

"I think it's important for guys to get milestones like that, especially Shaun who's probably copped his fair brunt of criticism from the public and from the media,'' Finch said.

"He's a super player and I think we just saw a glimpse of how good he is.

"Just to keep the wolves at bay for a little bit for himself, for his own personal peace of mind I guess, is really important.''

Marsh and skipper Finch (80 from 92) set up the Australians' 3-260 with five balls to spare, after the Lions had made 6-259 boosted by opener Varun Chopra's 105.

The West Australian hit seven fours and a six to continue a superb domestic summer after he'd been dropped from the Warriors squad for disciplinary reasons.

Marsh, who has played seven Tests for Australia, fought his way back into the national team for the Twenty20 series against Sri Lanka before playing two ODIs against the West Indies.

Finch put a forgettable debut international summer behind him after averaging just 15 in his seven ODIs for Australia.

The Lions didn't look like getting a wicket as Marsh and Finch put on 172 before the Victorian miscued and was caught at mid-off.

The visitors grabbed two in the space of two runs at 3-237 and had the Australians needing 21 off 18 before Joe Burns (18 from 19) and Tim Paine (10 from 11) guided their side home.

The Australians go 1-0 up in the five-game series while the Lions' winless tour has now stretched to four matches.

Game two is a day-game in Hobart on Monday.

Chopra compiled an opportunist's century after Australia A keeper Tim Paine had dropped a regulation nick in the first over before the Englishman had scored.

Chopra's 105, his second hundred on tour, came from 137 balls.

Chopra said the Lions would take some encouragement out of the game.

"We dragged it back really well so that's definitely a positive to take out of it and to take the game into the last over,'' he said.

The fireworks came from young gun Ben Foakes, who blasted 56 from just 42 balls.

Australia paceman John Hastings bagged 3-55.

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