I don't get excited about many Premier League fixtures but the Black Country derby certainly gets my heart racing. It's even more special when it takes place in the Premier League – todays match only the fourth in Premier League history.

So as Wolves slumped to what turned out to be an embarrassing defeat my major interest in Premier League football for this season ends in disappointment as West Brom triumphed for their eighth time to Wolves three wins since I first went to Molineux in 1999.

The Missouri Comets magic number for clinching a playoff birth this year is now down to 1, after an 18-9 win over the Baltimore Blast at the Independence Event Center. The win, coupled with a 6-3 loss to the Milwaukee Wave in Milwaukee leaves the Comets 1 win or 1 Wichita loss away from clinching a spot in the playoffs this year.

Mmm ....... Roland Martin seems quite comfortable in his ascot. Too comfortable.

Roland Martin, CNN's most vocal homophobic bigot gets all frothy and excited over the David Beckham undie ad that aired on Super Bowl. With friends like these, does Obama need any enemies?

He probably thought seeing the ad would turn half of America's menfolk gay.

Now before regular readers come and have a pop at me following on from my post the other day after the QPR game, I want to make a point that I am trying to make clear to you all.
My issue at the moment is and has been that we all know we aren't playing well, we know we are a couple of players short of winning the league, we know we are in a struggle for fourth place and have various issues with players at the moment.

By FRANCO PANIZO

One of the favorites to win this year's Africa Cup of Nations, Ghana opened its tournament with a narrow victory over Botswana that can best be described as a roller coaster for John Mensah.

The Ghana captain endured highs and lows in Ghana's Group D opener, scoring the only goal before receiving a red card and then picking up a hamstring injury.

Liverpool set up a Carling Cup final against Cardiff after playing out a thrilling 2-2 draw with Manchester City at Anfield to advance 3-2 on aggregate.
Trailing 1-0 from the first leg, City quickly drew level on aggregate thanks to a superb long-range strike from defensive midfielder Nigel de Jong that flew into the top corner.

Messi scores another hat trick in victory over Malaga (Photo: Jorge Guerrero/AFP/Getty Images)

An inspired three-goal performance from Lionel Messi saw Barcelona defeat Malaga 4-1 at La Rosaleda, keeping the Catalans within striking distance of Real Madrid in the race for the La Liga title.

Jordan Lussey netted a late winner as Liverpool U18s won their first game of 2012 with a 1-0 success over Crewe Alexandra on Saturday morning.
Mike Marsh's side, who had striker Jordan Ibe making his debut, had to work hard for their victory in a match played out in a gale force wind.
Lussey found the net six minutes from time when he found space just outside the box and his shot took a wicked deflection on its way into the net.

Jordan Lussey netted a late winner as Liverpool U18s won their first game of 2012 with a 1-0 success over Crewe Alexandra on Saturday morning.
Mike Marsh's side, who had striker Jordan Ibe making his debut, had to work hard for their victory in a match played out in a gale force wind.
Lussey found the net six minutes from time when he found space just outside the box and his shot took a wicked deflection on its way into the net.

Everything was set up for another Anfield disappointment. Liverpool had drawn 6 of their 9 home games so far this season, stumbling against the likes of Sunderland, Blackburn and Swansea, but on Friday night Liverpool went against their home form and produced a convincing display. Newcastle took the lead but Liverpool stormed back and equalised a couple of minutes later.

What a game of football it was last night. Tottenham dominated the first part of the game, Chelsea then got back into it, Spurs had to make a change to their formation and Chelsea dominated and should have won the game but then Spurs could have nicked it right at the end. It had everything!.
Both teams would be happy to take a point away from this one and both would feel as though they should have won it!

1. For whatever reason, Craven Cottage has been a difficult place for United to get a result in recent years. Tonight we more than made up for that, thrashing Fulham 5-0 without even looking like we were trying hard. This was the form of the start of the season again, blowing the opposition out of the water without even having to get out of second gear.

Defender beats defenders...
Liverpool scored two goals in the first fifteen minutes at Villa Park to secure a much needed three points. In the slot under the top four at the moment Liverpool are slowly but surely putting some pressure on and the win lifted them up to 6th. Craig Bellamy and Martin Skrtel were the goalscorers.

By Joel Greenwaldt
For the second consecutive evening the Baltimore Blast found a way to give away a game they should have won in front of their home crowd.
Coming off a shocking 12-10 loss the night before at the hands of the Missouri Comets, the Blast found a way to lose their second game in as many nights to the Syracuse Silver Knights by a score of 12-9.

Just a short year ago the majority of Arsenal fans opinion on Robin van Persie could likely be summed up as, "Great technique, but a crock" or simply "A luxury player". Even the Dutchman's most ardent supporters (me) would have had difficulty arguing the point convincingly because well... he was a crock and rarely was fit enough to prove to all his worth.

When Karim Benzema scored the opener for Real Madrid inside the first minute, some assumed it was going to be a long night for Barcelona's players and the club's supporters. However, the Catalans eventually turned the result around in another painful defeat for outspoken coach Jose Mourinho who, as expected, pretended the loss was not damaging.

Real Madrid got off to the perfect start with a goal after just 22 seconds from Karim Benzema who took advantage of a terrible mistake from Victor Valdes in the Barcelona goal, however Barcelona again showed their class to come from behind to win the El Clasico 3-1 with goals from Alexis Sanchez,Xavi via a massive deflection off Marcelo and a wonderful diving header from Cesc Fabregas.

BY ADAM SERRANO

LOS ANGELES -- Chandler Hoffman can't stop scoring and thanks to the junior forward's incredible run of form, UCLA sits just one win away from the College Cup.

Hoffman tallied two goals, making his total 18 on the year, as UCLA defeated Rutgers, 3-0, at Drake Stadium in the NCAA Round of 16 on Sunday night.

Manchester City escaped from Anfield with a point. The sky blues had taken the lead in the first half, thanks to Vincent Kompany's shoulder. Appreciated fortune. Moments later Liverpool responded in kind, thanks to an enormous deflection off of Joleon Lescott from Charlie Adam's wayward shot.

Qualification for the knock-out phases of the NextGen series will have to wait after Villa's U19s failed to get a result in Norway, losing 3-2 to Rosenborg.

Derrick Williams cancelled out Ole Kristian Selnæs' 29th minute opener from a Samir Carruthers corner in the 39th minute. Daniel Johnson sent the visitors into the break 2-1 ahead just minutes later with a wicked shot from a tight angle.

Tottenham Hotspur picked up their seventh win in their last eight Premier League matches with a thrilling 3-1 victory at Fulham, as Bolton avenged their FA Cup semi-final defeat last season by thrashing Stoke City 5-0.

Tottenham took the lead at Craven Cottage after ten minutes as Gareth Bale found the net from a tight angle via a deflection off Chris Baird.

Kenny Dalglish bemoans Liverpool profligacy as Norwich City hold firm

• Kenny Dalglish says Liverpool must learn to finish teams off • Grant Holt comes on to secure point for Norwich Screams from the front row of the directors' box told of a torturous finale for Delia Smith and the Norwich City board.

Grant Holt celebrates the Norwich equaliser...Similar to the Stoke game and the draw with Manchester United, it was yet again a story of missed chances for a frustrated Liverpool side. Norwich fought hard, particularly in the second half and were spurred on by their goal but despite over 20 attempts at goal and 11 shots from Suarez alone, Liverpool couldn't find a winner.

Missed Chances Leave Liverpool Disappointed

Grant Holt celebrates the Norwich equaliser... Similar to the Stoke game and the draw with Manchester United, it was yet again a story of missed chances for a frustrated Liverpool side. Norwich fought hard, particularly in the second half and were spurred on by their goal but despite over 20 attempts at goal and 11 shots from Suarez alone, Liverpool couldn't find a winner.

Finally, a late goal goes in our favor, we keep a quality opponent from scoring, and we secure a huge win in the Champions League. Aaron Ramsey, who only came on in the 78th minute, coolly fired home in stoppage time after a nice cross from Djourou was deflected by Gervinho, right onto Ramsey's path.

Levante extended its best ever start by beating 10-man Malaga 3-0 Sunday for a fifth straight victory that kept it level with Barcelona atop the Spanish league.

In a matchup between the league's lowest payroll and biggest offseason spender, Levante outplayed the revamped Malaga by taking advantage of the visitors' goalkeeping gaffs.

Messi sets Milestone in Barça Victory (Photo: David Ramos/Getty Images)

Who's afraid of the big bad Fifa virus? After a two week international hiatus, Barcelona returned to action at the Camp Nou in emphatic fashion, dispatching Racing Santander 3-0 to claim top spot in La Liga standings.

First things first, on Friday night in Portland the Dynamo had to take care of business and get three points against the Portland Timbers...and they did. It was a bit physical, borderline dirty even*, but a clever header deflection by Andre Hainault and a 40-yard wonder strike from Danny Cruz was enough to give Houston a 2-0 victory and the first piece of the final playoff spot puzzle.

By JOSE M. ROMERO

On the outside looking in for a playoff spot to begin the night, the climb toward the MLS postseason got a little steeper for D.C. United.

The Vancouver Whitecaps played spoiler Wednesday night at B.C. Place Stadium, holding on for a 2-1 victory thanks to strong defensive play for 56 minutes, another goal for leading scorer Camilo and the first career MLS goal for forward Long Tan.

U.S. head coach Jurgen Klinsmann his first win at the helm of the United States as a Clint Dempsey goal was all that the US needed to beat Honduras in rainy Miami.

Tim Howard earned Budweiser Man of the Match honors, posting six saves en route to his 37th victory. With the win, Howard moves into a second-place tie with fellow New Jersey native Tony Meola on the USA's all-time win list for goalkeepers.

In soccer, offense comes down to creating opportunities, taking chances and converting those into goals. There are times when a great keeper, the post or some defenders can get in the way of those goals, but it does not minimize the offense. There has been the question of a third DP, a "consistent" scorer, but against the Chicago Fire the Seattle Sounders showed that goal danger doesn't need a big name.

Soccer is a game of goals. Not necessarily pretty goals, not amazing feats of beating strong defense, just goals. Saturday night as the Seattle Sounders beat the New England Revolution 2:1 the goals made were all off of defensive errors. Diego Fagundez was unmarked on a corner leaving him with just Kasey Keller to beat.

Sunderland were left shell shocked earlier on when West Bromwich Albion took a 2 goal lead in the first 5 minutes. Firstly a foul was given middway through the Mackems half, It was swung in by Chris Brunt and Scotsman James Morrison got on the end of it with a header to put the visiting side in the lead.

Seattle mounted a stirring fightback through Osvaldo Alonso who scored a dramatic equalizer in the 89th minute to battle Comunicaciones to a 2-2 draw in Guatemala City. An uncharacteristic mistake by Kasey Keller following a corner allowed Rafael Morales to latch onto a loose ball and give the lead to the Guatemalan side.

Michael Ballack scores in the 90th minute to give Bayern Leverkusen a 2-0 win over Belgian Champs Genk after his volley gets a slight deflection before hitting the back of the net.

Why Saturday shows Everton will have upper hand in Mersey derby

Don't be fooled by Saturday's results I think Everton head into the Merseyside derby in much better shape than Liverpool. Everton came very close to pulling off yet another fine result at the Etihad Stadium and Roberto Mancini's multi-million pound had little clue how to break down their stubborn resistance before Mario Balotelli's lucky deflection off Phil Jagielka.

Goals:
Bellamy 7'
Kuyt 81'
Barnes 90' (pen)
We'll preface this with "any win after two losses is a good result" and "this was an archetypal banana skin cup tie and Liverpool advanced." Just in case.
All the arrows in the above formation don't do the team justice.

Debut goals by Kieran Gibbs, Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain, and Yossi Benayoun guided the Gunners to a 3-1 win over Shrewsbury Town, a side who showed a fair bit of skill and fighting spirit.

Arsene Wenger went to his crop of promising youngsters and new signings to trot out Chamberlain, Carl Jenkinson, Ignasi Miquel, Yossi Benayoun, Park Chu Young, and Francis Coquelin.

For yet another game a complete lack of offensive ideas doomed the Rapids to a loss. After a boring first half where the teams combined for 1 decent attack Toronto came out re-energized for the second half while Colorado spent 15 minutes waking up from halftime. Unfortunately by then they were already down 2 goals.

I cannot remember if I have ever come away from a defeat feeling as positive as I did yesterday. I think to be fair based on the chances we created we should have got a draw there at least but credit United, you took the chances you had (apart from the penalty) and won the game.
I could be like United fan's were a couple of seasons ago and start bleating on saying "the goals were offside" but I am not going to bother.