Crystal 0 - 0 Everton. Match report

Joel Robles produced an inspired performance as 10-man Everton held on for a 0-0 draw against Crystal Palace in Wednesday's Premier League encounter at Selhurst Park.

Alan Pardew's men created numerous chances to open the scoring, with Dwight Gayle and Jason Puncheon in particular coming close, but they failed to beat the Everton shot stopper as he held out for his third clean sheet of the campaign.
Ross Barkley hit the crossbar but Everton's attacking intent was stifled when James McCarthy was dismissed soon after, having collected his second yellow card.
The draw takes Palace further clear of the relegation zone. They are now 11 points above 18th-placed Sunderland with five matches, having been unbeaten in three matches and earned their first league win of 2016 against Norwich City on Saturday.

Pardew opted for the pace of Dwight Gayle over Connor Wickham and Emmanuel Adebayor in attack, and another of Palace's quick attackers, Yannick Bolasie, was the first to bring a save out of Joel.
Wilfried Zaha set up Gayle in a dangerous position shortly after as the hosts continued to push for the opener, only for the attacker to fire wide under pressure from John Stones. 
Palace keeper Wayne Hennessey was called into action for the first time midway through the first half when Seamus Coleman volleyed straight at him after a fine cross from Leighton Baines. 
Everton grew into the match and Arouna Kone’s powerful shot from 20 yards went narrowly over the crossbar, before Hennessey pulled off a sublime save to deny Romelu Lukaku from close range. 
Gayle's acrobatic overhead kick went just wide at the far post, before Barkley was unfortunate not to break the deadlock in the 48th minute, beating Hennessey with his curled shot from the edge of the box, only to see his fine attempt hit the crossbar.
Everton's chances were dealt a blow three minutes later when referee Mike Jones showed McCarthy his second yellow card after bringing down Bolasie in midfield.

Puncheon should have opened the scoring after some good work from Mile Jedinak, but Joel produced a superb save, and the Everton goalkeeper denied Joel Ward after Palace kept the move alive.
Yohan Cabaye curled wide as Palace began to press home their numerical advantage, but they found Joel too tough to beat and Puncheon, Saturday's match-winner, saw another powerful effort saved.
Substitute Adebayor could have won it for Palace with a late header, but he could not hit the target as Pardew's men were denied the chance to reach 40 points for the season.
Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew: "Before the Norwich game I'd have taken four points from the two games but in the circumstances we should have won it.
"It's hard to break through when the other team are sitting and we still created three or four good chances - nine times out of 10, they're goals. I'm still pleased with the performance, just slightly frustrated we didn't get all three points."
Everton manager Roberto Martinez: "It's more than a decent point. It's always tough to come here and cope with direct play and balls into the box and to do that with 10 men is an incredible performance. To be so disciplined and solid is so impressive, and we created as many chances as them."
"It's an incredible level of satisfaction to have a team with that much resilience. It was a great clean sheet. We know how to play with 10 men and that came across - we kept the ball well and we managed the game well and that's something we haven't done enough this season."

Hamilton looks to stop rot in China

Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton faces a severe test of his mental strength in China this weekend as he tries to halt Nico Rosberg's blistering start to the season.

The Briton, who is chasing a third successive victory in Shanghai, denies his Mercedes teammate has struck a psychological blow by winning the first two races, insisting the early skirmishes count for little with 19 grands prix left in a championship with more rounds than ever.
But Hamilton has failed to win since securing his third world championship in Texas last October, while German rival Rosberg, who has opened up a 17-point lead over his fierce rival, has now won the past five races dating back to last year.

Lewis Hamilton

"I couldn't care less if he's won the last five," sniffed Hamilton, who was rammed by the Williams of Valtteri Bottas at the first corner before finishing third behind Kimi Raikkonen's Ferrari in Bahrain two weeks ago, despite starting on pole for the second race in a row.
"Anything can happen."
The 31-year-old knows, however, that failure to stop the rot in China could add weight to suggestions that he has lost a little of his edge since winning his third world title, a success he celebrated by partying long and hard.
Hamilton is still searching for the swashbuckling form that swept him to victory last year when he dominated in Shanghai, prompting a tantrum from Rosberg.
Worryingly also, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has warned that the clutch problems that have sabotaged Hamilton's starts, setting him back in the first two races, might not be fixed in time for China.

CHINA CRISIS?
Despite his problems, Hamilton is unlikely to suffer a crisis of confidence – nor will he be enlisting the help of sports psychologists as he attempts a fifth win in China, after recently dismissing the practice of hiring driver coaches as a "bunch of crap".
However, he will be anxious to avoid the kind of controversy he courted in Shanghai last year when he sprayed champagne in the face of a Formula One hostess, triggering outrage on social media.
Rosberg will be buzzing after a superb drive at Bahrain's desert circuit, and the German will know that victory in Shanghai could put real pressure on Hamilton.
Raikkonen showed genuine pace in Bahrain but Ferrari will be concerned about reliability after Sebastian Vettel's engine blew on the warm-up lap, the second successive race they have suffered mechanical failure.
American newcomers Haas will be looking to build on their impressive start to the season after Romain Grosjean's fifth place last time out, while Fernando Alonso hopes to be passed fit to return for McLaren after his horror crash in Australia.
Cash-strapped Sauber have secured a sponsorship advance from their Swedish backers to pay staff salaries and take their place on the grid in China, a reminder of the financial demands on F1 outfits.
Meanwhile, rebellious teams have forced the sport's governing body to revert to the 2015 qualifying format after the fiasco caused by the new system in Australia and Bahrain.
The Chinese race will see a return to last year's qualifying system after the experiment with 'progressive elimination', where cars were steadily knocked out, often left fans staring glumly at an empty track.

Djokovic upsetted at the Monte Carlo Masters.

MONACO (AP) Defending champion Novak Djokovic was stunned by 55th-ranked Jiri Vesely 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 in the second round of the Monte Carlo Masters on Wednesday.
It was his first loss in a completed match since November. He retired from a match in February with eye infections.

The top-ranked Djokovic saved a match point when he was serving against Vesely in the ninth game. But the Czech, who had never beaten a top-10 player, sealed the win on his second match point in the next game.
It was Djokovic’s first loss in a Masters-level event since August. Since then he’d won nine of 10 events, including two grand slams, four Masters titles, and the ATP Finals.
Earlier, eight-time Monte Carlo champion Rafael Nadal dropped serve twice and still beat Aljaz Bedene of Britain 6-3, 6-3 in the second round.

Conor McGregor defends combat sports after MMA fighter's death

Conor McGregor was ringside on Saturday in Dublin as teammate Charlie Ward defeated Portugal's Joao Carvalho at a Total Extreme Fighting event.

McGregor leads the condolences session.

Two days later, Carvalho was dead at age 28, and McGregor joined the mixed martial arts world in trying to process the fatality while also defending the sport.
Carvalho said he felt strange about 20 minutes after Saturday's TKO loss. He was taken to a Dublin hospital, where doctors determined he needed emergency brain surgery. He remained in critical condition until dying Monday night, Carvalho's team announced.
Vitor Nobrega, on whose team Carvalho fought, called the death a "huge misfortune" and said in the Facebook post that Irish fight officials met all safety standards.


McGregor poured out his thoughts in a Facebook post on Tuesday, anticipating criticism and questions about MMA as he went.
"To see a young man doing what he loves, competing for a chance at a better life, and then to have it taken away is truly heartbreaking," McGregor wrote. "We are just men and women doing something we love in the hope of a better life for ourselves and our families. Nobody involved in combat sports of any kind wants to see this. It is such a rare occurrence that I don't know how to take this."
McGregor referenced British boxer Nick Blackwell being put in a medically induced coma for eight days following a fight last month before praising sports that can often come under fire for the positives they impart to competitors. "Combat sport is a crazy game and with the recent incident in boxing and now this in MMA, it is a sad time to be a fighter and a fight fan," McGregor wrote. "It is easy for those on the outside to criticize our way of living, but for the millions of people around the world who have had their lives, their health, their fitness and their mental strength all changed for the better through combat, this is truly a bitter pill to swallow. We have lost one of us."
McGregor, the UFC featherweight champion, is scheduled to fight next on July 9. His opponent in UFC 200: Nick Diaz, theAmerican who forced McGregor to submit on March 5 at UFC 196.

Road to Rio: NOC unveils Wakanow as Nigeria authorised reseller

The Nigeria Olympic Committee has announced tour and hospitality services provider, Wakanow, as the country’s sole authorised ticket provider for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

The right empowers the tours firm to sell the Olympic tickets and also arrange approved and easy passage for Nigerians desirous to be in Brazil for the Games, which will hold from August 5 to 21.
At the ceremony held at the National Stadium in Lagos , the President, Nigeria Olympic Committee president, Habu Gumel, described the partnership as part of its programmes to ensure that Nigerians got smooth access to the tickets and every other thing linked with the games.
Gumel said the decision to reappoint Wakanow following their first deal for the London 2012 Olympics was based on the company’s performance and competence in the travels industry.
The NOC secretary general, Tunde Popoola, said the deal would enhance Nigeria’s participation at the 2016 Olympics because Wakanow had the capability to transport Nigerian fans to all the venues.
Wakanow’s Managing Director, Obinna Ekezie said his firm had acquired the experience to improve upon the London 2012 Olympics and the 2014 World Cup experiences.
Ekezie said Wakanow has created a platform that would afford those who want to pay in installment to do so.

No awards for the Villans this season!

Aston Villa have decided to scrap their player of the season awards for the 2015/16 campaign, with the club on the cusp of relegation from the Premier League.
The Birmingham club, bottom of the table and 15 points adrift of safety, will be relegated on Saturday if Norwich avoid defeat against Sunderland or if they themselves lose at Manchester United.
Villa, currently without a manager, have won just three league games out of 33 this season and a club spokesman said Wednesday: "The club will not be holding its annual Player of the Year Awards at the conclusion of this season. In the current circumstances, we are sure our supporters will understand."
Villa have lost their last eight games and former manager Remi Garde left last month, with Eric Black currently in caretaker charge.
Last weekend's 2-1 loss at home to Bournemouth sent Villa to the brink of dropping down into the second-tier Championship.

Villa, whose US-based owner Randy Lerner has been trying to sell the club, have been ever-present in the Premier League since its creation in 1992 and the former European champions were last relegated from the top flight in 1987.

Former Manchester United boss David Moyes, Nigel Pearson, previously with Leicester, and Garry Monk, who was at Swansea, have all been linked with the managerial vacancy at Villa Park.

Leicester trio named on PFA Players' Player of the Year shortlist

Leicester City's remarkable season has been recognised with Jamie Vardy, N'Golo Kante and Riyad Mahrez all named on the six-man shortlist for the PFA Players' Player of the Year.

The Foxes trio are joined by West Ham's Dimitri Payet, Tottenham striker Harry Kane and Arsenal's Mesut Ozil for the 43rd PFA Awards to be held in London on April 24.

A closer look at the nominees

Kane is also named on the shortlist for Young Player of the Year alongside Spurs team-mate Dele Alli, with Stoke keeper Jack Butland, Liverpool midfielder Philippe Coutinho and Everton duo Romelu Lukaku and Ross Barkley also nominated.

Dele Alli and Harry Kane have formed a fine partnership for Spurs - both have been nominated for the Young Player of the Year

Vardy has 21 Premier League goals this season - just one fewer than leading scorer Kane - having formed a lethal partnership with Mahrez to help fire Leicester seven points clear at the top of the table with just five games remaining.
Mahrez, a £560,000 signing from Le Havre in 2014, has 16 Premier League goals and 11 assists.

Ngolo Kante has been a dynamo in Leicester's midfield

Their success up front has been backed up by the tireless work in midfield of Kante, who manager Claudio Ranieri joked "was running so hard that I thought he must have a pack full of batteries hidden in his shorts".
Kane's nomination comes on the back of another successful season which has seen him become the first Tottenham striker to register back-to-back 20-goal seasons in the Premier League, while Payet has been the brightest star in West Ham's positive campaign.

Kane has scored 22 Premier League goals this season

The creative midfielder has nine goals and eight assists from 24 appearances - including some spectacular free-kicks - having missed six weeks of the season through injury.
Meanwhile, Ozil has been the creative fulcrum of Arsenal's season, contributing 18 assists and six goals to the cause with Arsene Wenger's side set to secure yet another top four finish.

Dimitri Payet has been a revelation in West Ham's midfield

Kane is the current holder of the Young Player award, but is tipped to be beaten to it by Alli, who has enjoyed a breakthrough season at White Hart Lane following his move from League One's MK Dons with eight goals and nine assists, seven of them to Kane.
Should Kane or Alli win the award, Spurs players will have won four of the last five Young Player awards after Kyle Walker in 2012 and Gareth Bale in 2013.

Mesut Ozil has more assists than anyone else this season

Butland's season suffered a cruel end when he fractured an ankle on England duty last month, but he had previously been in superb form for Stoke to help their push for European football this season.
Coutinho's wonder strike against Stoke on the opening day of the season set the tone for the Brazilian, who has made light of the upheaval at Anfield this season to become a vital cog in Jurgen Klopp's evolution.

Jack Butland was superb in goal for Stoke until getting injured on England duty

Across the city at Goodison Park, Lukaku and Barkley have been the shining lights in an underwhelming campaign at Goodison Park, with Lukaku's 18 goals ensuring Roberto Martinez's side have not been dragged further down the table.

Spurs need to maintain pressure - Lamela

Instead of hoping for a slip-up from Premier League leaders Leicester City, Tottenham Hotspur must win their remaining five games to give Spurs their best chance of winning their first league title since 1961, midfielder Erik Lamela said. The 24-year-old winger has shone under manager Mauricio Pochettino this season, but his four goals and six assists might still not be enough, as second-placed Spurs are still seven points behind Claudio Ranieri's men.
 
"We still believe... Our task is to win all the remaining games. Whether Leicester win or lose, the important thing is that we are concentrated on the job in hand," Lamela told British media.
"We have the finish the season in the best manner possible. There are five games left and our aim is five victories."
Spurs have the meanest defence in the league, conceding just 25 goals in 33 games, and according to defender Jan Vertonghen that has been crucial in the North London club's impressive run.
Vertonghen said playing alongside the likes of Toby Alderweireld and goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, while receiving extra protection from influential defensive midfielders Eric Dier and Mousa Dembele, makes life easy.
"Toby (Alderweireld) and I have been playing together for such a long time and with the full-backs, Hugo (Lloris), Eric (Dier) just in front, Mousa (Dembele) as well it's like a warm bath!," Vertonghen said.
"I've known them such a long time and they helped me through the game."
With fifth-placed Manchester United 12 points behind, Tottenham can take a step closer towards securing their Champions League place for next season when they travel to face Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium on Monday.

Sturridge: Facing BVB like playing Playstation

Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge has drawn comparisons between his team's upcoming Europa League quarterfinal, second-leg clash against Borussia Dortmund and playing the Fifa video game.
Dortmund, second in the Bundesliga, travel to Anfield for the return leg on Thursday having conceded an away goal in the 1-1, first-leg draw in Germany, and Sturridge drew the unusual parallel to describe his emotions before the game.

"It's like when you're playing a final on Fifa and you're playing against your mate. You've all put 20 pounds ($28.46) in the middle and there's 100 pounds.
"The pressure's on, your palms are sweaty, but as you get into the game, the nerves go away and you enjoy it. And that's exactly what it's like," he told his club's website (www.liverpoolfc.com).
"It's going to be a great occasion, not just for the players but the fans, for everyone who isn't involved with Liverpool as well – they'll enjoy the match.
"It's one of those occasions where you just soak it all up, enjoy it, embrace it, have fun, that's what you live for."

Billy Joe Saunders title defence off due to hand injury

Billy Joe Saunders celebrates winning the WBO middleweight crown

Billy Joe Saunders has been forced to call off his WBO middleweight title defence against Max Bursak after damaging a hand during a training session.

The unbeaten 23-year-old was due to defend his crown for the first time against Ukrainian Bursak at the Copper Box Arena in London on April 30.

Saunders won the title last December when he defeated Ireland's Andy Lee on points in Manchester to take his record to 23-0.

Saunders defeated Andy Lee to capture the title in December

"I'm bitterly disappointed. This is boxing and these things happen," said former Olympian Saunders.

Manchester City charged over Champions League fireworks

Fireworks were set off at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday (Skysports image)

UEFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against Manchester City after fireworks were set off during their Champions League quarter-final victory over Paris Saint-Germain.

The charge against City after their 3 -2 aggregate win at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday relates to Article 16 (2) of the UEFA disciplinary regulations.
The case will be dealt with by the UEFA control, ethics and disciplinary body on May 19.
UEFA considers it the club's responsibility to police the use of fireworks, or flares, by supporters.
City in November avoided disciplinary action for their fans booing the Champions League anthem.
UEFA's disciplinary body reviewed the case after the booing was reported by the match delegate following October's home win over Sevilla and decided not to take any action.
City's fans have regularly booed the anthem, which is taken from Handel's Zadok the Priest, to express their unhappiness with UEFA.
Issues that have angered fans include financial fair play sanctions and last season a City fans group protested after 650 CSKA Moscow supporters gained access to their stadium for their Champions League game, despite the Russian club being ordered to play it behind closed doors for racism offences.

Alastair Cook hopeful that James Taylor's legacy can help protect players

Alastair Cook says James Taylor's "tragic" retirement can leave a legacy that could help protect players in the future. 

Taylor was forced to quit cricket on Tuesday after scans revealed the 26-year-old is suffering from a serious heart condition and must have surgery in the coming days.
Taylor was in line to take his place in the England Test side to face Sri Lanka in May after impressing on the successful tour of South Africa over the winter and Test skipper Cook admitted he was "numb" when he was told the news by England team director Andrew Strauss.
"He was just starting to do what he's done his whole life and prove people wrong," Cook told reporters. "He would have played the first Test against Sri Lanka and that gutsy character is what English cricket needs. It's taken the whole cricket world by shock.

James Taylor would have played for England against Sri Lanka next month (Skysports)

"This week you remember you can't take your health for granted. My thoughts are with James and his family. A career robbed short like that is a tragic waste but on the flip side at least it was spotted and he's still with us.
"We've had heart scans. Can we do more? Of course. It's another checkpoint for the ECB to make sure everything is in place. Will it be a wake up call to make sure we can do more and spend more money to make sure players are looked after? Of course.
"One of the legacies that James could leave might be to protect a number of other players."

Culled from Skysports