Hammers triumph at Turf Moor
The classy presence of Boyd in midfield had caught the eye and more trickery from him on the half-hour mark created another opening for Burnley. Michael Kightly looked poised for a free header from Boyd’s cross at the far post but Jutkiewicz took the ball away from his team-mate, leaving Kightly with head in hands. There was a narrow escape for the hosts down the other end as Stewart Downing cut inside on the right of the area and curled a shot against the far post. Dyche would have been encouraged by his side’s first-half display but frustrated they could not make the most of their superior chances. And they were made to pay four minutes into the second half when Cresswell curled over a superb cross and Sakho, this time with his eyes firmly on the target, headed in. Five minutes later it was 2-0, Carl Jenkinson the architect from the right this time and Valencia applying the finishing touch with a fine header from 10 yards. It was very nearly three as Cole – on for Valencia – got his head to a corner only to see it cleared off the line by Kightly, and from there Burnley went down the other end and pulled one back. Ings won a corner and then made a nuisance of himself as Adrian tried to collect the cross, allowing Boyd to slam the ball home. Adrian appealed for a free-kick but the blame appeared to lie squarely with him. It was the boost Burnley needed and they almost drew level immediately but Ings’ header from Trippier’s cross flew agonisingly wide of the far post. However, West Ham did a good job of seizing back the momentum and quietening the crowd and, with 20 minutes to go, they restored their two-goal advantage. It was another cross that undid Burnley, Noble’s corner picking out Sakho, who headed across the six-yard box for Cole to nod in. Downing almost added a fourth with a rasping shot that flew just wide, while Cresswell poked a shot straight at Heaton. Burnley’s afternoon was rather summed up three minutes from time when the excellent Trippier crossed for substitute Ashley Barnes to slam a shot against the bar. Press Association West Ham gave boss Sam Allardyce the perfect present ahead of his 60th birthday on Sunday with three points at Burnley. Allardyce, once the manager of Burnley’s bitter rivals Blackburn, is staying in the north-west to celebrate, and will do so in good spirits after the 3-1 victory lifted them, at least temporarily, into the top four in the Barclays Premier League. Burnley dominated the first half but Diafra Sakho’s sixth goal in as many games gave West Ham the lead in the 49th minute, and Enner Valencia doubled that five minutes later. George Boyd pulled one back on the hour mark but substitute Carlton Cole ended the Clarets’ hopes of a comeback to leave Sean Dyche’s side still searching for a first win back in the top flight. The international break allowed Burnley’s injury problems to ease and Danny Ings, David Jones and defender Kieran Trippier all started, while Mark Noble made his 200th Premier League appearance for West Ham. The return of last season’s leading scorer Ings from a hamstring problem was particularly welcome given Burnley’s problems in front of goal and he was straight into the action, seeing a shot blocked by James Collins. They came even closer in the fifth minute, Boyd controlling Trippier’s deflected cross and firing a brilliant left-footed volley against the underside of the bar. Lukas Jutkiewicz did have the ball in the net three minutes later but the former Middlesbrough man was denied a first Burnley goal, correctly, by an offside flag. Ings had created the opening with a jinking run into the box and shot that was fumbled by Adrian into Jutkiewicz’s path. It was a frustrating 10 minutes for Jutkiewicz, who then headed Trippier’s cross over the bar before being unable to capitalise after two West Ham defenders fell over in the area. The Hammers had not got going, and Allardyce was unimpressed with Sakho, who appeared more concerned by an impending challenge from Jason Shackell then Aaron’s Cresswell’s fine cross and headed well wide from close range. 
Press Association The 19-year-old, whose existing Anfield contract runs to 2017, has reportedly attracted the interest of European champions Real Madrid, but believes he can realise all his dreams on Merseyside. Quoted in several national newspapers, he said: “I am happy to be here for as long as possible. Hopefully I can achieve the goals I want to achieve here at Liverpool in years to come. England forward Raheem Sterling is ready to commit his long-term future to Liverpool.
“I am just happy to play football at this club for many years to come. The club has spoken to my representatives and hopefully something can be done soon.” Sterling found himself in the spotlight off the pitch recently after England boss Roy Hodgson revealed the player had told him he was tired ahead of the final training session in the build-up to last month’s Euro 2016 qualifier against Estonia in Tallinn. That led to accusations the teenager had said he did not want to play, but Sterling insists nothing could be further from the truth – and says he has learned from the experience. “It was pretty difficult,” he said. “I tried to not really watch TV much or listen to things. “If I saw a conversation about me on TV, I would just turn over. It was the first time I’d had to deal with anything like that. It was different but I felt I dealt with it really well. I didn’t read too much into it. “The main thing I’ve learned is to just shut off. I was always on my phone and Instagram – things would pop up and you could not go past it without having a look. But now I’ve learned to block it all out and not read what is said. “I just love playing football for club or country. If anything I said got taken the wrong way, I’m sorry about that, but I am always happy to play football.” 
Press Association Kevin Doyle and Fraizer Campbell will battle it out to spearhead Crystal Palace’s attack in the Boxing Day clash with Southampton at Selhurst Park. He said: “We’ve made offers for a number of strikers, especially when Chamakh’s been missing we’ve lacked that physical presence. “We’ve looked at two or three strikers from home and abroad, and we’re hoping to get one of those over the line in the first couple of weeks. “They’ve got to be good enough, they’ve got to be better than what we have. “We’ve got some good strikers at the club, but we’ve got to be able to adapt, to change the system as well, and so we’ve got to try to find the strikers that can do that. “That’s what we’re looking for; to give us another dimension.” Victory over Everton ended a miserable run of five consecutive defeats for Ronald Koeman’s Saints, who have tumbled out of the top four after a difficult run of fixtures. An excellent start to the campaign, however, means Southampton remain fifth, two points ahead of both Arsenal and Tottenham. “At the start of the season, if they had shown me a piece of paper to sign that said we would be fifth in the competition at Christmas I would have said ‘okay’,” Koeman said. “I am very proud and happy about that. We have had a bad two or three weeks with some defeats even though some of them were maybe unlucky. “We had a good game against Everton, we played with good organisation and little by little during the game we got our confidence back. “That’s the most important thing now, winning games brings confidence back to the players.” Dusan Tadic is expected to return for Southampton but captain Jose Fonte is suspended against his old club. Fit-again Doyle and Campbell will compete to lead Palace’s one-man line for the Barclays Premier League contest, with Marouane Chamakh again ruled out through thigh trouble. Manager Neil Warnock is looking to boost his strikeforce when the transfer window opens. 
“The Supreme favourite normally gets turned over, that’s Douvan, who is probably one of our hottest ones. It’s what we’re in the game for, though – to go to Cheltenham with as many as we can muster with a chance. As much as I dread it, it’s lovely. That’s the position we want to be in. “This game is a game of disappointments more than anything. You need to enjoy the good ones when they come along.” The nine-times Irish champion jumps trainer has been the Festival’s top handler in three of the past four seasons and would dearly love to add to his haul in the year the award is named after Dessie Hughes, who passed away last year. Despite leaving Prestbury Park last March with four winners, Mullins admits there was still a sense of what might have been. He said: “Last year we had four winners and six seconds – three of them involved in photo finishes – and maybe a stewards’ inquiry or two that could have gone our way and didn’t. “We all regrouped after and we were delighted to win the leading trainer award, but we were left wondering what it would have been like if everything clicked – it could have been a hell of a year. “That just shows you what the competition is like at Cheltenham. If you’re just not up to it, you’re just going to be beaten. It’s the thrill of Cheltenham. If it was that easy, it wouldn’t be any fun.” Mullins will send a jaw-dropping squad of around 50 horses to the Cotswolds, more than most trainers have in their yard, and admits it is something of a logistical nightmare for his hard-working team. He said: “It’s definitely the strongest team we’ve ever had and I think we’ll definitely have more numbers this year and I’m not sure if that’s a good thing. “I’m just hoping it doesn’t leave our line too thin for looking after all the horses that are going over there. It’s going to be hard work for the people involved and I don’t get involved as I find if I do, it goes wrong! “Two years ago, I think, we brought over a horse that wasn’t running and another horse got left behind. Luckily enough it’s a short ferry ride and short drive over to Cheltenham!” It is 10 years since the Festival was increased from three days to four and with the the popularity of the fixture showing no signs of waning, there has even been talk of adding a fifth day and taking the fixture into the weekend. While an extra six or seven races would provide Mullins with more chances of winning races, the purist in him feels extending the meeting would be the wrong way to go. He said: “I was brought up with black and white TV, watching Arkle and Mill House and all those, and that’s what’s in a lot of our heads. I’m not in favour of Cheltenham getting bigger, but as a trainer I shouldn’t say that. “I should say I want a 10-day Cheltenham because as a trainer it’s our job to have more races to win at Cheltenham. “But I don’t know if expanding it is making the experience better. The experience as a three-day meeting was fantastic. Four days probably hasn’t caught up with that experience and a lot of people are either going for the first two days or the second two days. “As someone who loves the atmosphere and loves Cheltenham for what it is – the best jumps racing in Ireland or England – we must preserve it, I think.” And so, as Mullins prepares for the biggest week of the season, is the obvious pressure that comes with saddling so many high-profile names and favourites keeping him awake at night? He said: “I sleep all the time. That’s the one good thing – I could sleep on a bed of nails!” It would be one of the biggest shocks in racing history should he not add to that considerable tally during the four days at Prestbury Park, but Mullins is well able to keep his feet on the ground. He said: “You just hope you don’t get a cough or cold in the yard and it’s a nervous time, but it’s a good nervousness. “We’re looking forward to it as much as we’re dreading it. We’re looking forward to one or two of the nice horses hopefully winning their races.” In fact, if Mullins does not strike at least a couple of times on Tuesday’s opening card, there are likely to be some long faces within his camp, in the Cheltenham betting ring and the length and breadth of Ireland. Douvan is all the rage for the opening Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, while Un De Sceaux is odds-on across the board for the Arkle Trophy. Most trainers would be happy with two such horses over the whole week, but later that afternoon Mullins will then go to war with Faugheen and Hurricane Fly in the Champion Hurdle, before Annie Power goes in the OLBG Mares’ Hurdle. “We know they can’t all win. I was only thinking in bed what the percentage is of winning favourites on the first day,” said Mullins. “I keep reading in the paper we have five favourites on the first day. Do five favourites win out of seven races? One or two might get through, we might have a treble if we’re really lucky. Willie Mullins has admitted to feeling a mixture of dread and excitement as he prepares to unleash a scarcely believable army of equine talent on the Cheltenham Festival. It is 20 years since the master of Closutton first struck gold at the greatest show on turf, with Tourist Attraction a 25-1 winner of the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. Despite descending from esteemed National Hunt stock as son of the great Paddy Mullins, trainer of the remarkable Champion Hurdle and Gold Cup-winning mare Dawn Run, few could have guessed at that stage Willie would go on to become the all-time leading Irish trainer at the Festival, with 33 successes to his name so far. Press Association
“That’s football. You aren’t going to play to the best of your ability in every game,” said Johnson. “Whether you play well or not, the most important thing is that you don’t go out of the cup. We’re still in the draw and we can still win the tie. “It was frustrating. Everyone wanted to win the game but the most important thing is that we’re in the hat for the semi-finals. “You’ve got to give Blackburn a lot of credit because they worked hard. They got men behind the ball. “Hopefully we’ll play better in the replay and get the win we want. “The fixture list isn’t too crowded for us now so having a replay isn’t a big problem. “We’ve got plenty of time on the training ground in between matches to work on things now. “We’re still confident we can go through. Hopefully we can pick up our perf ormance and go through in the replay.” Blackburn’s performance was not just a resilient one as for a long period in the first half they dominated the match despite having made seven changes but what did not help Liverpool was the state of the Anfield pitch, which is in desperate need of an overhaul. “It slowed us down a bit but we can’t make excuses. We just didn’t play to our best. That happens sometimes. They played well and made it tough,” added Johnson. “Without doubt it’s the worst it’s been during my time at Liverpool. It’s the same pitch for both sides. You have to watch your touch more because it bobbles so much and it’s harder for the likes of Philippe and Raheem (Sterling) to dribble with the ball. “It slows everything down because the bounce is so irregular. It’s different every time. “It takes a bit more concentration and it’s harder to play one touch football which is what you need to open these teams up from around the box.” Liverpool defender Glen Johnson has no idea where he will be next season but it appears increasingly likely he will move overseas as his representatives have already held exploratory talks with foreign clubs. He has long been linked with a move abroad – he has been free to talk to overseas clubs since January 1 – and the defender admits there have been discussions. Asked about his contract situation with Liverpool Johnson said: “No talks. At this point I have no idea (where I will be next season). I haven’t thought about it.” On his option to explore a move overseas he added: “There are talks. It would be great for the kids to go abroad but I am not thinking about yet as we have two months left here and I’ll think about it after that. “We will have to wait and see.” Ironically Johnson made his first start in 12 matches in Sunday’s goalless FA Cup quarter-final draw at home to mid-tabled SkyBet Championship Blackburn. The team’s performance was so alien to what fans have become accustomed to seeing since the turn of the year there were understandably some grumbles at Anfield but Johnson said it is inevitable players will be criticised when they fail to reach the high standards they have set themselves. Unbeaten in the Premier League since January 1 and playing football lauded as currently the best in the land has set a benchmark which is not always easy to achieve. Rovers stuck to their game plan of nullifying the threat of Philippe Coutinho and Adam Lallana, Liverpool’s two playmakers behind the striker, and were rewarded with a replay next month at Ewood Park – where they have already beaten Swansea and Stoke in the competition. The 30-year-old is out of contract in the summer and negotiations over a new deal stalled at the beginning of the season and have never got going again. In January manager Brendan Rodgers said he was hopeful a solution could be found to keep the England international but with Johnson having lost his first-team place in the 3-4-2-1 formation which has been so successful since the turn of the year that now looks less likely. Press Association
Press Association Hamilton shot-stopper Michael McGovern, who has just three friendly caps to his name, is in line to deputise. Carroll sat out training on Thursday and Friday but at his pre-match press conference, O’Neill brushed aside concerns over the former Manchester United player. “Roy has had a stomach upset but it’s just precautionary that we sat him out of training,” he said. “He’ll be fine.” Within a couple of hours that bright prognosis proved to be overly optimistic, with Carroll withdrawing from the squad. McGovern, 30, last featured in the 1-1 friendly against Qatar on May 31, replacing Carroll at half-time. That places him ahead of Cheltenham’s Trevor Carson, who has yet to make his senior international debut. St Johnstone’s Alan Mannus, meanwhile, would be forgiven for cursing his luck. Mannus is a long-serving squad member and has served as Carroll’s number two for much of the past three years, earning only seven caps despite making his international bow in 2004. He made himself unavailable for the current squad having already booked his wedding and honeymoon, a decision that could have cost him his biggest break yet. With little time to summon a replacement, Northern Ireland’s 43-year-old goalkeeping coach Maik Taylor, an 88-cap veteran, has taken Carroll’s place in the squad. Taylor played his last professional game for Millwall in September 2012 before joining O’Neill’s backroom staff. Carroll, 37, is a cornerstone of Michael O’Neill’s side, playing every minute of his 15 competitive fixtures as manager. But that ever-present run will end at Windsor Park after the Irish Football Association announced the Notts County keeper had been ruled out of the top-of-the-table clash. Northern Ireland goalkeeper Roy Carroll has been ruled out of Saturday’s key Euro 2016 qualifier against Romania due to abdominal pain.
Press Association Adidas has defended the design of Manchester United’s new women’s shirt. Adidas unveiled the first United kit of its £750million deal with the Old Trafford club last week. The German sportswear giant was criticised for the design of the women’s shirt, which had a much lower neckline than the men’s version. 
One United fan, @MUnitedGirl, posted on Twitter: “Seriously Adidas? Why is the V-neck so low compared with the men’s one? Some of us don’t like to show cleavage. “I call that discrimination. Nike never did that.” Responding to the criticism, Adidas said it took the thoughts of fans into account before producing the kit. “Adidas provides an adult shirt which is a replica of what the players wear,” an Adidas spokesperson said. “Based on research from fans, we also offer a women’s shirt as part of our lifestyle range of products. “This range has a slightly different design and fit to give fans a choice.” There were those who did not find the design of the new shirt offensive. Sonal Raja said: “Wow they actually released a women’s shirt this year! About time tbh… It’s cute u know. I like it.” Nike did not produce a women’s version of the United shirt last season. Adidas pointed out that it makes women’s kits for Chelsea, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and all of its other top European clubs. 
Odion Ighalo and Etienne Capoue each had an excellent chance to snatch all three points for the Hornets but both failed to convert from close range as the teams were forced to settle for a point. Southampton duo Sadio Mane and Victor Wanyama, linked with moves away to Manchester United and Tottenham respectively, both started the fixture but Mane left the field through injury just 25 minutes into the first half. Watford and Southampton are still searching for their first Barclays Premier League wins of the season after playing out a scrappy goalless draw at Vicarage Road. Press Association
It means Watford have now drawn all three of their opening matches of the campaign while Southampton find themselves in the relegation zone after two draws and a defeat. Ronald Koeman succeeded Quique Sanchez Flores in charge at Valencia in 2007 but it is the Watford boss now looking to emulate Koeman, with the Dutchman showing the way in progressing a recently promoted Premier League side, while also bringing European football to the south coast. How Saints cope with the extra demands of the Europa League is likely to be a crucial factor in whether they can repeat last season’s success and this offered an early indication of the difficulties ahead, coming three days after Thursday night’s first leg draw at home to FC Midtjylland. The visitors began brightly with Mane, playing just off the striker, making his scintillating pace count in the 16th minute when he raced in behind the Watford backline but Allan Nyom did well to prevent his cross reaching Graziano Pelle. If Louis van Gaal had been watching over his latest transfer target, he had little else to ponder as the forward was forced off through injury nine minutes later after two collisions with Heurelho Gomes and then Troy Deeney. The contest was largely a scrappy affair, ridden with heavy touches and speculative balls forward, but the one clear-cut chance in the first half fell to Watford’s Ighalo five minutes before the break. Deeney fed Ikechi Anya down the right and the Scot fired a low cross to the back post where Ighalo seemed certain to finish from three yards out but the Nigerian failed to connect and Southampton were spared. Alessandro Diamanti came on at half-time to make his Watford debut but it was Saints who started faster as Pelle’s shot was palmed away from the top corner by Gomes before Shane Long headed the resulting corner over. The Hornets enjoyed a stronger spell as the game moved past the hour-mark and Capoue should have scored when Deeney flicked to him at the back post but the Frenchman could only head over with the goal gaping. The hosts looked the more likely to steal a late winner and substitute Ben Watson should have done better with a shot from the edge of the area three minutes from time, but in truth neither side did enough to deserve victory and the spoils were shared. 
A graduate of Chelsea’s academy, the 26-year-old ended a string of loans by making a permanent move away from Stamford Bridge in 2011. Cork went on to play a key role in Southampton’s promotion that season and helped the club establish themselves as a Premier League force, before deciding to move on to pastures new in January. Press Association Jack Cork’s fine form could see the Swansea midfielder receive a maiden England call-up next week, but Southampton manager Ronald Koeman has no regrets about letting him go earlier this year. “That’s true, 30 or 35 minutes is not enough to win, not against Man United, not against Swansea,” the Dutchman said. “You need more time in the game on your level and you can’t do the mistake we did because you can’t win. “Look back to the first half against Man United and Wednesday, we are in a good way now to show and to win the game we need to win to move up the table.” Frustrated at a lack of regular first-team football and with his contract running down, the midfielder plumped for a move to the Liberty Stadium on a three-and-a-half year deal. It has proved a shrewd move and Roy Hodgson has been so impressed that Cork could now be handed his first Three Lions call-up, not that Saints boss Koeman regrets allowing him to leave. “No, I think Jack is doing well,” he said. “He looks that he is winning the competition with the rest of the midfield players in Swansea. “We know his quality, he’s an experienced player, a very good professional, but the time he choose to leave the club he wasn’t first choice on the midfield. “We have a lot of good midfield players, we spoke about it and finally he took the decision to leave the club. He’s doing well and that’s very positive for him.” Cork returns to St Mary’s after being rested against Hull in midweek, when the 2013 Capital One Cup winners crashed out at the third-round stage. Saints, by contrast, won 6-0 on their trip to Championship opposition, but now need to replicate the form shown against MK Dons in the league. Koeman’s men have secured just one Premier League victory this season and fizzled out after a fine start against Manchester United last weekend, ending up 3-2 losers. 
Divers working for the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office are busy looking for evidence from a sunken car that could help in a nearly 30-year-old killer clown case.Cold case detectives believe that the items might be tied to the May 26, 1990 fatal shooting of Marlene Warren in Wellington.Warren was shot at her door in the Wellington’s Aero Club community by someone wearing a clown suit.Detectives arrested Susan Keen-Warren and charged her with murder in the case in September 2017. She has pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial next year.The detectives think the clown costume and murder weapon could be inside the getaway car.John Moran Jr., whose father John Moran Sr., worked with Marlene Warren’s husband, Michael, at the time, tells a local TV station, “Have you ever heard of a deathbed confession? My father told me everything that happened before he died. I knew where the car was. I knew who planned it. I knew where the gun was at.” He adds, “On his death bed, he told me that car would get me anything I ever wanted from Mike Warren.”Michael Warren, who is a former used car dealer in West Palm Beach, served prison time for crimes including grand theft, odometer tampering, and racketeering. He has denied involvement in his wife’s murder.He later married Sheila Keen-Warren.The younger Moran says Michael Warren tried to bribe him after Keen-Warren’s arrest.A search warrant issued for Warren after his wife’s arrest show a review of Moran Jr.’s phone records and charges including homicide and witness tampering. However, he has not been charged with any role in the murder.Detectives say they have partially confirmed Moran Jr.’s claims.Records show that someone used a burner phone to call Moran Jr. around the same time he says Warren started calling him. Owners of burner phones are not required to register their names.However, the phone’s call log also shows the burner phone was used to contact Keen-Warren’s defense attorney, Richard Lubin, several times.Detectives have located a 1982 Audi 4000s in the spot where Moran Jr. claims he and his father dumped the “second getaway car” that was full of evidence. However, Moran says it is the wrong car, as the getaway car is thought to be a Chrysler LeBaron.Lubin says, “I do know enough about this case, not from the discovery process, but from my knowledge of the case, that she’s innocent.”