Arsenal head into Sunday's FA Cup fourth round clash with Aston Villa on the back of three consecutive league defeats, but they have still been deemed the favourites by many European bookmakers to emerge victorious.

Arsenal and Villa last played an FA Cup match nearly 29 years ago at the good old Highbury, where the Gunners progressed courtesy of a 2-0 win.

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Mirror: City and Liverpool battling for Shaq report

Bristol Rovers youngster in demand with Fulham also interested

View the full story here: The Mirror

A news article on 2012-01-10 12:26:30 from: The Mirror

This news item has been reproduced from today's media.

Sky: Hunt on for Pirates starlet

Sky Sports understands a host of Premier League clubs are hoping to snap up Bristol Rovers starlet Shaquille Hunter.

View the full story here: Sky Sports

A news article on 2012-01-10 11:34:03 from: Sky Sports

This news item has been reproduced from today's media.

Aston Villa manager Alex McLeish says he has been told by Liverpool counterpart Kenny Dalglish the Reds are not interested in signing Darren Bent.
McLeish was speaking after watching his side reach the fourth round of the FA Cup with a 3-1 victory at Bristol Rovers.
England striker Bent, 27, who joined Villa from Sunderland a year ago, has been linked with a move away, with Liverpool reportedly among the favourites, and he played in Saturday night's win at the Memorial Stadium.

Aston Villa manager Alex McLeish says he has been told by Liverpool counterpart Kenny Dalglish the Reds are not interested in signing Darren Bent.
McLeish was speaking after watching his side reach the fourth round of the FA Cup with a 3-1 victory at Bristol Rovers.
England striker Bent, 27, who joined Villa from Sunderland a year ago, has been linked with a move away, with Liverpool reportedly among the favourites, and he played in Saturday night's win at the Memorial Stadium.

It wasn't a bad day for Americans in England as Clint Demspey, Brad Guzan and Landon Donovan impressed in the third round of the FA Cup.

Dempsey continued his impressive goal-scoring form with a hat trick in Fulham's 4-0 victory over Charlton Athletic at Craven Cottage.

Dempsey opened the scoring against the League One leaders in just the eighth minute, taking control of a deflected through ball and beating John Sullivan in Charlton's goal.

Forget Roy Keane, among the weapons the now former Bristol Rovers manager Paul Buckle had in his armoury was an icy stare that could single-handedly re-freeze the polar ice caps. I've seen it used on misbehaving players in training, at fans who've had a differing opinion, and at journalists (including myself) who've asked questions that he doesn't think are worth answering (which, on some occasions, has been a fair response).

Forget Roy Keane, among the weapons the now former Bristol Rovers manager Paul Buckle had in his armoury was an icy stare that could single-handedly re-freeze the polar ice caps. I've seen it used on misbehaving players in training, at fans who've had a differing opinion, and at journalists (including myself) who've asked questions that he doesn't think are worth answering (which, on some occasions, has been a fair response).

With leagues coming off their winter breaks, and England diving into FA Cup action, today's slate of matches will give us the first good schedule of activity of the new year.

The Mexican League gets its Clausura season underway this weekend, as Herculez Gomez and Santos Laguna take on Jose Torres and Pachuca.

The third round of the FA Cup is littered with the typical David vs. Goliath matchups that the tournament boasts every year, but there is one matchup featuring a pair of giants that is sure to capture everyone's attention.

Premier League front-runners Manchester City and Manchester United square off in an early-round encounter that has plenty on the line.

Saturday Bristol Rovers - Aston Villa 12pm - Fox Soccer The FA Cup enters the Third Round proper, with Brad Guzan and Eric Lichaj's Villa getting an away date with League Two club Bristol. Part of the fun of the English cup competitions is seeing stadiums that normally don't appear on US television. Memorial Stadium in Horfield, Bristol is mostly standing areas, since Bristol has never been high enough in the English league system to.

Oh fuck me. The FA Cup is back.

Now, I'm not one of those EPL-centric, footballing-history-started-in-1992 type people. I just hate the FA Cup. I hate how misused the FA Cup is in terms of broadcasting (both online and televised).

Last March I wrote a post about how College Basketball's March Madness is presented in America.

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Welcome to "The Gents" with Stan Bentley - The Yorkies' regular advice column for our valued readers. Bring your modern day problems and have them answered by the most valued voice - a 1950's journeyman footballer. "Back of the net!"
Hi Stan,
I have to attend a Christmas party this week but I have a problem.

The Very Best of Pitch Invasion, an anthology of 39 essays from this site since 2007, was released in digital and print editions last Friday.

The print edition is available on Amazon in the United States, and today (Monday) is the LAST day to order it in time for Christmas delivery!

Swindon Town, la beffa nel finale Di Renato Cignoni BRISTOL ROVERS 1 (Woodards '87)SWINDON TOWN 1 (Caddis '38) Bristol Rovers:Scott Bevan; Woddards Danny, Byron Anthony, Gary Sawyer, Lee Brown, Joe Anyinsah, Craig Stanley, Andy Dorman, Mustapha Carayol; Chris Zebroski (Richards '63), Matt HarroldSostituti non utilizzati: Michael Smith, Cian Bolger, Oliver Norburn, Giordania Goddard Swindon Town:

Confirmation of the live televised matches for the Third Round of the FA Cup came early this year, and while there was no great shock in the Manchester derby a match which has, arguably, taken on a heightened level of importance given the events in the Champions League last night, even if it still isn't the main even of either teams season it was a little surprising to see that the decisions were taken by both ITV and ESPN before next weeks Second Round replays had even been played.

The Seattle Sounders' search for Kasey Keller's successor has been completed.

Seattle announced the long-rumored signing of Austrian goalkeeper Michael Gspurning on Wednesday, ushering in a new era between the posts at CenturyLink Field.

"First off, you don't replace Kasey Keller.

Tim Howard and Everton find themselves in a logjam in the middle of the English Premier League standings, but if the U.S. national team goalkeeper and his team want to make a run at the top teams in England, they will need a win today against Stoke City to make that happen.

Everton is currently in a four-way tie in the middle of the Premier League table, but the Toffees hold two games in hand on the pack, and wins in those two games could pull Everton within range of arch-rival Liverpool, among others.

By Alan Duffy

Bristol Rovers' Memorial Stadium, scene of the crime

Reports that Bristol Rovers midfielder Jordan Goddard relieved himself in front of visiting Corby Town fans during their recent FA Cup game are now being investigated by the Pirates.

By Alan Duffy

In a prime example of the worth of the old "do your research" adage, Crystal Palace midfielder Andy Dorman got a rather nasty surprise after agreeing a loan move to League Two side Bristol Rovers.

On learning of a potential move to the Pirates, the Welsh international jumped at the chance, but in his eagerness to secure some regular playing time, he forget to do his research and expected to be moving down just the one division.

Dorman barred from League One Crystal Palace midfielder Andy Dorman has revealed he unintentionally move down two divisions because he thought Bristol Rovers were in League One when he made his loan move. Dorman agreed to leave his Championship side to get first-team football in the tier below, but has since discovered that Rovers are [.

All signs point to Toronto?Toronto FC's season has barely gone cold but it looks like plans for 2012 (aka SIXual Healing) are already starting to heat up. According to reports out of football hotbed Bermuda and East Anglian metropolis/tractor hotbed Ipswich, former Ipswich Town and Bermudian international midfielder Reggie Lambe is on The Reds' radar.

Following Keith Millen's exit from the managerial post at Bristol City earlier this week, we are very pleased to welcome Paul Binning for our latest interview. Paul trades under the name @cider1977 on Twitter and runs the consistently enjoyable blog, The Exiled Robin. He also contributes a regular feature on social media and football that appears in the Bristol City matchday programme and I was

By Chris Wright

Cheltenham Town substitutes raided the kit bag to rig themselves up a set of improvised sunscreens in order to escape the UV at the Memorial Stadium as the wilting Indian summer heat engulfed their League Two match against Bristol Rovers yesterday afternoon.

The Carling Cup 3rd round draw was made today with some interesting match-up's in the offing none more so than Manchester United's trip to Leeds United.

Tie to be played week commencing September 19.

Carling Cup third round draw:

Cardiff City v Leicester City

Wolves v Millwall

Chelsea v Fulham

Aldershot Town or Carlisle United v Rochdale

Arsenal v Shrewsbury Town

Burnley v MK Dons

Leeds United v Manchester United

Brighton v Liverpool

Nottingham Forest v Newcastle United

Manchester City v Birmingham City

Blackburn Rovers v Leyton Orient or Bristol Rovers

Swindon Town or Southampton v Charlton or Preston North End

Everton v West Brom

Crystal Palace or Wigan v Middlesbrough

Aston Villa v Bolton Wanderers

Stoke City v Tottenham Hotspurs

Manchester United have been drawn against Leeds United in the 3rd Round of the League Cup. The last time the teams faced each other was in the FA Cup the season before last, with our hated rivals leaving with a 1-0 win. They brought out t-shirts to mark the momentous occasion, replacing the "0″ with their own club badge.

Liverpool will play Cardiff City in the English League Cup final after a thrilling 2-2 draw at home against Manchester City completed a 3-2 aggregate success for Kenny Dalglish's side. Cardiff v Liverpool Tickets

The Premier League leaders twice took the lead at Anfield thanks to goals in either half from Nigel de Jong and Edin Džeko but the hosts responded swiftly on both occasions with Steven Gerrard's penalty and Craig Bellamy's strike booking a place in the showpiece on 26 February.

Carling Cup heroes Crystal Palace were rewarded for their shock win over Manchester United with an all Championship semi-final draw with Cardiff.

In the other semi-final, Manchester City's Roberto Mancini takes on Kenny Dalglish's Liverpool.

Palace and City will be at home for the first of the two legs, which will be held in the week of 9 January.

Darryl Duffy's career trajectory may perhaps have left the striker wondering if he has perpetually arrived too early for the party. Most notably, journeyman though he may appear to be, he has enjoyed spells at two clubs which, not long after his departure, have attained Premier League status. First, he joined Hull City in a fanfare of publicity five years ago, his 37 goals in just 68 games for

Carling Cup 2nd Round Draw: Liverpool away to Exeter as Everton host Sheffield United - originally posted on Soccerlens.com

Liverpool were drawn away to League One side Exeter in the second round of the Carling Cup, while city rivals Everton will host Sheffield United.

Meanwhile, Doncaster host Leeds in a Yorkshire derby, while Sunderland face a long trip south to Brighton.

Football is the dream of many youngsters, but only a few get the chance to turn this dream into a reality. Even among these few, there are those who need a second chance to showcase the talents that are unique to them.

In an exciting project developing in Spain, coach John Gontier is leading the way for many of England's struggling young football players to keep believing in their dreams.

Admittedly I was a bit slow to publish this...so with the added benefit of one performance, here's the League Two preview!

Who's Looking Good?

Crawley Town: Most bookies favourites, Crawley have the biggest budget in the league, momentum to die for, and probably the deadliest striker in the division in Matt Tubbs.

Admittedly I was a bit slow to publish this...so with the added benefit of one performance, here's the League Two preview!

Who's Looking Good?

Crawley Town: Most bookies favourites, Crawley have the biggest budget in the league, momentum to die for, and probably the deadliest striker in the division in Matt Tubbs.

A lot of people worked very hard for this moment. In modern football, a considerable amount of time, paper and bandwidth is spent on celebrating a relative few, but at Wimbledon it was the likes of Erik Samuelson, Kris Stewart, Marc Jones and Ivor Heller, who refused to let their club die with a that was brought about by little more than carpet-baggers.

A lot of people worked very hard for this moment. In modern football, a considerable amount of time, paper and bandwidth is spent on celebrating a relative few, but at Wimbledon it was the likes of Erik Samuelson, Kris Stewart, Marc Jones and Ivor Heller, who refused to let their club die with a that was brought about by little more than carpet-baggers.

The Weekend Six Pack is back! And raring to go with Blackpool, Southampton and Leverkusen is a post from: Just Football

Hull Vs Blackpool – Friday 1945 Sky Sports 1

Hollo's back

Two sides that lit up the early months of the last two Premier league campaigns but both now licking their wounds.