Sport

BOURNEMOUTH 1-0 LEICESTER CITY - RIATH AL-SAMARRAI AT THE VITALITY STADIUM: Premier League champions Leicester City may have beaten the might of Manchester City on Saturday, but a single Marc Pugh goal condemned them to defeat at Bournemouth on Tuesday. Ron-Robert Zieler will come under scrutiny for the part he played in the goal, as he got a touch to Pugh's strike but was unable to stop the ball from crossing the line. Leicester came out fighting in the second half but were unable to get anything from a tough game on the south coast.

Former Everton player Duncan Ferguson was forced to step in as tensions between the Toffees and visitors Arsenal threatened to boil over during the Premier League clash on Tuesday night. The tussle began between midfielder James McCarthy and German playmaker Mesut Ozil and quickly escalated as both teams made their way down the narrow tunnel at half-time. Legendary hardman Ferguson, who is now a coach at the club, was quick to play peacemaker between the heated pair, much to the surprise of those watching.

BLACKBURN ROVERS 2-3 BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION - TIM ABRAHAM AT EWOOD PARK: Shane Duffy registered a goal against Blackburn Rovers for the fourth time this season, but the broad grin with he celebrated it told a quite different story. The Republic of Ireland defender left Ewood Park for Brighton in a £4m switch in August and in his final two league games for Rovers put through his own net three times. Duffy, once on the books of Everton, scored an own goal in Rovers' 3-0 loss to Wigan and then did it twice in the 2-1 defeat to Cardiff.

Motherwell and Aberdeen will resolve to compensate the travelling fans who saw just seven minutes of football before Tuesday night’s game at Pittodrie was abandoned due to the floodlights going out. The failure of a temporary generator saw referee Alan Muir call a halt to proceedings with the game goalless to deny Derek McInnes’ side the chance to move within a point of second placed Rangers. Just six minutes had been played when a number of lights in the main and south stands failed forcing the players and officials to leave the field.

INTERVIEW BY MIKE DICKSON: The Ian Wooldridge Award, established to honour the memory of our late chief sports writer who died nine years ago, is voted for by you, our readers. It celebrates that elusive blend of sporting genius and Corinthian spirit — and in this case Olympian spirit — that ‘Woolers’ loved and admired. Nominated by Mike Dickson, this year’s very deserving winner is our hockey goalkeeper Maddie Hinch, who outsmarted the Dutch in a nailbiting penalty shootout to steer Team GB’s women to Olympic gold.

Slaven Bilic had Dimitri Payet (centre inset) in his office on Monday to talk after their game against Liverpool amid speculation over his future ahead of the January transfer window. The 48-year-old said that Payet told him he is ready for the rest of the year and only focussed on West Ham, as they prepare to play Burnley at the London Stadium (where West Ham trained on Tuesday night (above)).

Manchester City were put through their paces by Pep Guardiola on Tuesday evening as they prepared for Wednesday's clash with Watford at the Etihad Stadium. Summer signings Ilkay Gundogan, Leroy Sane and Nolito were all present for the final training session before the game as Guardiola looked on in an attempt to solve his worsening problems.

There were plenty of smiles amongst Manchester United players as they made their way to London to take on Crystal Palace, fresh of the back off their impressive win against Tottenham at Old Trafford.Wayne Rooney, Basitan Schweinsteiger and Ashley Young looked to be in high spirits in particular as they made their way to catch a train from Stockport train station, before sharing a joke on the platform with Phil Jones and Michael Carrick.

Cristiano Ronaldo has insisted that he always knew he could become the best player in the world after winning a fourth Ballon d'Or. But the Real Madrid star also paid tribute to his team-mates, emphasising that the individual award 'did not entirely depend on me'. Ronaldo, who posed with Sergio Ramos and a replica of his trophy on Tuesday morning, was back in training soon after as he looks to kick on in the Club World Cup. 

EXCLUSIVE - JACK GAUGHAN: Manchester City’s imposing revamp of the Etihad Stadium will be complete for next season, with Pep Guardiola’s side afforded a new state-of-the-art circular dressing room. The huge project, taking place under the Colin Bell Stand, incorporates a glass players’ tunnel designed for some supporters to see some of the world’s best lining up before matches. City have released striking images of the development, which will see those paying for the privilege able to dine in new executive lounges with a full view of both teams emerging from the dressing rooms.

Mr Johnson, 57, who was paid £50,000 hush money by Chelsea, went on the break to Bognor with a friend two years before he fell into the clutches of chief scout Eddie Heath. The former professional footballer turned taxi driver said Mr Gradi, now suspended by the FA over claims he ‘smoothed over ’abuse at Chelsea, 'behaved impeccably' throughout. He said: ': 'I would only be 11 or 12. Dario took me and my best mate for a summer holiday to Wittering, near Bognor Regis. We went for a week. My mum and dad let me go.' He added: 'He was always the perfect gent around me'. Last night Dario Gradi responded to his FA suspension, claiming he has done nothing wrong and thanking those who have supported him.

England arrived in Chennai on Tuesday to a scene of devastation brought by Cyclone Vardah ripping through the city but the show will go on with the final Test on Friday when they attempt to repair the damage to their battered reputations. The ‘Red Rose’ cyclone flattened homes, snapped communication lines and threw into disarray air and road travel. But England were unaffected as the storm had passed by the time they arrived here and landed to discover that the Chepauk Stadium will be fit to stage the fifth Test.

PETE JENSON: While it's true they topped a difficult Champions League group that included Bayern Munich, that seems small consolation right now to supporters waving goodbye to another league title tilt so early in the season.