Today's other stories in brief
O'Neill looks to replace Laursen
ASTON VILLA: Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill admits it is going to be hard to replace captain Martin Laursen after the former Denmark international was forced into retirement by a knee injury.
O’Neill, who takes his side to Middlesbrough today, has described the former AC Milan centre half as a “real leader.”
O’Neill, who hopes to have Gareth Barry and Carlos Cuellar available at The Riverside following illness, said: “I was expecting Martin’s decision. But the irony is that it was a knee with which he had never had a problem.
“I would not have believed that after we had beaten West Ham at Christmas-time he would only play one more league game for us.”
Replacing Laursen will test O’Neill this summer, but of more pressing concern is trying to end the season with back to back wins after a run of just one victory in 13 games.
Redknapp determined to change club's image
TOTTENHAM: Harry Redknapp is determined to change the perception of Tottenham Hotspur as Premier League party animals, in the damaging aftermath of the Ledley King affair.
The manager intends to speak to his players next week to put “strong measures in place”, which will include a ban on nightclubs and alcohol during the season, although he will tolerate them having a glass or two of wine over dinner.
“I don’t want what happened to Ledley to happen again,” said Redknapp, referring to the club captain’s drunken antics in London last weekend, which saw him arrested and bailed for an alleged assault on a doorman.
Redknapp said he had been warned of the Spurs players’ fondness for a night out before he joined the club last October and the recent incidents involving King and Alan Hutton have convinced him of the need to act. Hutton left his father with two black eyes after a brawl outside a pub in High Barnet in March. The police were not brought in. Redknapp has noted that the incidents and others at rival clubs nearly always involve British players and he believes that they could learn from their overseas counterparts.
“D’you think Paolo Maldini, who is nearly 41, is going out and getting drunk on a Saturday night after a game, drinking lager until it’s coming out of his ears and falling over? I can’t imagine that, somehow.
“You wouldn’t have seen Paolo Di Canio coming in like that. I remember him warming up one day (at West Ham) and Razor Ruddock was there. They were both stretching and Razor is going ‘Oi, last night, 10 pints, shagging’. Di Canio was there saying ‘idiot’ and he was right.”
Old Firm have it all to play for
SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE: Walter Smith has urged Rangers to think of points first and goals second when they face Aberdeen tomorrow.The midweek 1-1 draw at Hibernian saw Smith’s men fail to reclaim top spot in the Premier League after dramatically moving into pole position following last weekend’s Old Firm derby triumph.
Goal difference is all that separates Celtic and Rangers at the top of the table now and Smith knows fans will be expecting to witness a rout against the Dons at Ibrox, before Celtic face Hibs tomorrow. Gordon Strachan believes “trust” will underpin Celtic’s bid to retain their title. After tomorrow’s game Celtic end with a home game against Hearts on the last day.
While permutations are being explored and discussed, including the very real possibility the championship could go down to goal difference, Strachan will focus on his squad’s spirit to see them over the line for the fourth season in succession. He said: “It’s trust. Trust in your team-mates, trust in your own ability and trust in the way you play.”
Carr stays at Birmingham
BIRMINGHAM: Birmingham defender Stephen Carr has signed a new two-year deal with the club, keeping him at St Andrew’s until the summer of 2011. The 32-year-old came out of retirement and was one of the star performers in Birmingham’s final 13 games of their promotion-winning season.
Manager Alex McLeish said: “Carr has done well. He’s vastly experienced and in the crucial closing stages of our quest for Premier League status that experience told.”
Rovers looking for home win
LEAGUE OF IRELAND: With their form still a little erratic at their new home, Shamrock Rovers will look to end a run of four straight defeats by Bohemians this evening in Tallaght where the league champions will be playing for the first time, writes Emmet Malone.
“We’ve got to get a win soon for the supporters,” admits Rovers midfielder Shane Robinson, who was, as it happens linked with a move to Dalymount Park towards the end of last season. “It’s a big game for everyone and we need to stay on the coat-tails too. Besides it being a derby, we need the points to keep in touching distance with them.”
Rovers have a few injury problems. Ian Bermingham (calf) and Sean O’Connor (bruised bone) will both sit the game out while Dessie Baker (hamstring), Sean Webb (back) and Corie Treacy (calf) are considered doubtful.
Bohemians have virtually a full squad to choose from with just Gary Deegan doubtful with a hamstring injury.
