Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neill heaped praise on James Milner after the midfielder grabbed the only goal in the 1-0 League Cup semi-final first leg win over Blackburn on Thursday.
The 24-year-old has now scored five goals in his last 11 appearances and has a total of seven for the season. The return to fitness of Stewart Downing has meant that Milner has shifted from right midfield into the center and O’Neill thinks that switch has taken Milner’s game to another level.
“It was a great goal by a great player. He’s playing splendidly at the moment and he’s settled in so comfortably there in central midfield as if he’s played there all his career,” the Villa coach said.
“I think he felt himself that there were goals in his game and he was capable of doing that and sometimes it’s very difficult when you’re trying to make goals from wide areas to be in positions to score goals,” he said.
“But in-field he’s got that licence to roam. Stiliyan Petrov allows him to and join up and James is really enjoying himself at the moment,” the Northern Irishman said.
Meanwhile, O’Neill warned his team that they are far from certain of a place in the final despite the second leg of the semi-final to come next week at Villa Park.
Villa were comfortably the better team against a Blackburn side that has now failed to win in 90 minutes in 12 matches since Nov. 7. But O’Neill remains cautious about his team’s prospects of reaching a major final for the first time since the FA Cup final defeat to Chelsea at Wembley in 2000.
“Considering we were away from home we played splendidly. It was very pleasing indeed. I thought we were always a threat and the tie is still very much in the balance,” he said.
“Blackburn are capable of coming away from home and winning so we will have to be very strong again and we will have to try to win the game,” O’Neill said.
Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce feels his team have to score first in the return leg to have any chance of reaching Wembley. Croatian striker Nikola Kalinic hit the post twice in the second period of the first leg to sum up Rovers’ frustration.
Allardyce acknowledges that Villa will now be overwhelming favorites to reach the final but is refusing to give up.
“It’s a huge task. We wanted something out of this game and a little bit more than just a 1-0,” he said.
“Overall we deserved at least a 1-1 and we did enough in the second half to create chances that we’re looking for but it’s our Achilles heel yet again,” Allardyce said.
“Hopefully it’ll start in the return leg and if that’s the case you always need that little bit of fortune to get all the way to Wembley,” he said.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely