Fulham manager Hughes defends post-match behaviour

Manchester City's Italian forward Mario Balotelli (C) is fouled by Fulham's Norwegian defender Brede Hangeland (down) during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Fulham at The City of Manchester stadium. Fine finishes from Balotelli and Damien Duff were the only brief highlights in an otherwise dire contest as Manchester City and Fulham shared the points.

Fulham manager Mark Hughes defended his post-match behaviour after watching his side leave Eastlands with a point following a truly dreadful 1-1 draw against Manchester City.
Hughes was sacked by City in December 2009 and this was his first return to the stadium in a professional capacity.
He watched his committed and passionate side come from a goal behind to earn a point and ensure City's Premier League title ambitions took another huge blow.
Hughes was replaced at City by Roberto Mancini and at the final whistle Hughes snatched his hand away from the Italian's grasp as he felt Mancini was not showing enough respect before he stormed down the tunnel.
The Fulham manager has previous history for falling out with fellow bosses after games and has had similar spats with Arsenal's Arsene Wenger and Stoke City's Tony Pulis in the past.
He said: "It's probably my fault again but I'm a bit old fashioned and I always think that you offer your hand regardless of the circumstances.
"I had to offer my hand and do it with sincerity when we were beaten 4- 1 by City earlier this season.
"I was disappointed but I acknowledged that they were better and he deserved a handshake of sincerity.
"I don't think he really acknowledged the effort of my team when he offered his hand. I might have got the wrong impression but that was my take on it."
In a terrible encounter, neither goalkeeper had much to do until a moment of brilliance from Mario Balotelli after 26 minutes when he shrugged off the attentions of Danny Murphy and fired a low effort that left Mark Schwarzer no chance.
The rest of the first half remained just as dire as the opening stages and Fulham made City pay for their blas� attitude with a brilliant equaliser straight after the interval.
Andy Johnson's chased down a long through ball and fired in a superb low cross which found Damien Duff just seven yards out and he clinically slotted past Joe Hart. It was a wonderfully executed piece of skill and Fulham deserved the goal for the discipline and commitment they were showing.
After the break, frustrations continued to grow as City lacked the spark of class needed to hurt the visitors, who held on for a fine draw that leaves them four points off the relegation places.
Hughes added: "I enjoyed the performance of my team. I thought we were excellent from start to finish. We took the game to City and showed belief in what we are trying to do.
"Their goal was against the run of play and if you are 1-0 down at halftime at City, and given the quality of their home record, it looked a difficult task for us.
"We just needed a break and it came very early in the second half with a fantastic goal, great build up and a fantastic finish and then from that point on, the only disappointment is that we didn't take all three points."
Opposite number Mancini did not wish to be drawn into discussing the handshake incident and preferred to focus on his side's failings and in particular the selfishness of Balotelli who did little else but score.
He said: "For you maybe (the handshake) is more interesting than the match but not for me.
"I am disappointed with the result but I knew that this is an option when you play every three days and we have a few players injured at this moment. It can happen. Second half probably we were so tired.
"Today was very difficult. He scored a good goal but I am not happy. He should play well and better than today. For the strikers it is important to score. But strikers should also play for the team.
"Not just for Balotelli, for Carlos and Dzeko. They should always play with the team. Afterwards they should try and score. Mario can play better."

Martins sinks Arsenal to give Birmingham League Cup trophy

Birmingham City's Obafemi Martins (R) celebrates with teammate English midfielder Lee Bowyer after scoring during the Carling Cup final football match between Arsenal and Birmingham at the Wembley Stadium in London. Birmingham City won 2-1.

A last-minute goal by Obafemi Martins saw Birmingham score a stunning 2-1 League Cup final upset over Arsenal here Sunday as the Gunners' six-year trophy drought continued.
Martins pounced in the 90th minute after a dreadful mix-up between Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny and defender Laurent Koscielny gifted a chance to the Blues' Nigerian striker.
The last-gasp winner was no less than Birmingham deserved after a gutsy display at Wembley that saw them make a nonsense of Arsenal's pre-match status as heavy favourites.
Victory was especially sweet for Birmingham's Hong Kong-based owner Carson Yeung, celebrating his 51st birthday with the club's first piece of silverware since 1963.
But it was a disastrous result for Arsenal, who had been desperate to lift some silverware this year for the first time since their 2005 FA Cup final win over Manchester United.
Birmingham manager Alex McLeish said that it was a remarkable result given several of his players hadn't been able to train all week.
"This feels like the best ever win of my life," said 52-year-old McLeish, who won seven trophies during his spell as manager of Scottish giants Rangers.
"In relative terms for us to put one over Arsenal is a titanic result."

Birmingham City's coach Alex McLeish holds the trophy at the end of the Carling Cup final football match between Arsenal and Birmingham at the Wembley Stadium in London. Birmingham City won 2-1.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger spoke of his "bitter disappointment" after the loss, revealing that Szczesny and Koscielny were "destroyed" by their howler.
"I'm bitterly disappointed, like the whole team," a shattered Wenger said, declining to criticise Szczesny and Koscielny. "Both of them are destroyed. I don't think it's a good moment for me to add to that."
Birmingham had taken the lead in the 28th minute, when a rare foray into Arsenal territory resulted in a corner met by defender Roger Johnson.
The centre-half's header found striker Nikola Zigic on the edge of the six-yard box and the tall Serbian striker easily outjumped his marker to guide a back-header into the Arsenal net.

Arsenal might have equalised immediately when a Bacary Sagna cross from the right flank was met by Robin van Persie, but the Dutchman's diving header flew just wide of the top corner.

Zigic should have put Birmingham two goals up when he again found himself clear on goal, only for Szczesny to pull off a point-blank block with his legs.

And on 39 minutes Birmingham were made to pay for their profligacy when Arsenal grabbed an equaliser.

A thunderous shot from the edge of the area by Jack Wilshere cannoned back off the crossbar, and when Birmingham failed to clear, Andrey Arshavin jinked down the right flank and whipped in a low cross for van Persie, who twisted his body into position superbly to volley home.

Until the exchange of goals, the biggest talking point had arrived after only two minutes when Birmingham were denied a penalty which should also have seen Szczesny sent off.

A deft pass from Zigic sent Lee Bowyer racing through on goal and the midfielder rounded Szczesny only to be brought crashing down by the keeper.

But instead of a red card and a spot-kick, Arsenal were given a huge let off when Bowyer was ruled offside. Replays subsequently showed Sagna had been playing Bowyer yards onside.

Arsenal began the second half brightly, and carved out an early chance when Sagna's low cross was met by Tomas Rosicky, only for the Czech international to sweep his shot just wide.

Birmingham refused to be cowed however, and the introduction of Jean Beausejour for Craig Gardner gave their attack a fresh outlet.

Beausejour was involved in the build-up on 57 minutes when Keith Fahey lashed a shot against the foot of the post with Szczesny well beaten.

With extra-time looming, Arsenal stepped up the pace and tested Foster twice in quick succession.

First Nasri forced a fine save out of the England international and then Nicklas Bendtner, who had come on for van Persie, rifled a low shot that the Birmingham keeper did well to smother.

Foster was again pressed into action on 80 minutes, Nasri once more whipping in a curling shot from near the edge of the away that was beaten away.

But just as Arsenal turned the screw, Birmingham struck the killer blow. A long goalkick by Foster was met by Zigic and when Koscielny and Szczesny bungled the clearance, Martins was on hand to jab home.

Hammers end Dalglish's unbeaten run

West Ham United's Mark Noble (R) tackles Liverpool's Brazilian player Lucas Leiva during their Premier League football match at Upton Park in London. West Ham won 3-1.

Liverpool's unbeaten run of eight matches under Kenny Dalglish came to an end on Sunday as West Ham earned a deserved 3-1 victory over them to move off the bottom of the Premier League table.
Goals by inspirational captain Scott Parker, recent signing Demba Ba and a reinvigorated Carlton Cole were more than enough to see off a Liverpool side whose only response was a late effort by Glen Johnson.
Parker's effort was even more remarkable given that a training ground accident on Saturday had left him highly doubtful to play as he fell on his shoulder and couldn't even walk.
"Scott is a special guy. The spirit he showed was great," said appreciative Hammers manager Avram Grant.
"Three hours before the game, we thought there was no way he would play.
"It was a bad, bad injury. He couldn't walk or move his arms.
"The medical department were sure he couldn't play, but they did a good job and gave him 24 hours of treatment.
"He needed more than an injection, but the medical department did brilliantly with him.
"He's the type of player I like: he always gives 100percent, is always positive.
"I like some of the things from old-fashioned play. That's what they did in the olden days. They gave everything."
Parker - whose rousing half-time talk a fortnight ago had been credited for inspiring the Hammers to come back from 3-0 down to draw 3-3 with fellow relegation strugglers West Brom - struck just after the 20 minute mark with a nice effort.

Liverpool's manager Kenny Dalglish awaits kick off against West Ham United during a Premier League football match at Upton Park in London. West Ham won 3-1.

Ba - who scored a brace in the West Brom match - then added to the hosts' lead with a fine header from Gary O'Neil's cross.
The Hammers dominated much of the match as the midfield axis of Parker and German international midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger - who only made his debut for them last Monday after being out injured since signing last June - ran affairs and gives real hope they can escape the drop should both stay fit.
Liverpool reduced the deficit when Johnson tapped in with six minutes remaining but Cole assuaged any home fans' fears of a comeback by the visitors as he restored the two goal advantage shortly afterwards and record only their sixth league win of the campaign.
The win will have given some pleasure to co-owner David Gold, who was unable to be at the match as the 74-year-old is in hospital being treated for septicaemia and an inflamed bile duct.
"I want to wish him all the best and to get well. He's a good guy, and I'm sure he enjoyed the game today," said Grant.
Grant, who experienced a topsy turvy season last year with Portsmouth reaching the FA Cup final but being relegated amid a financial crisis, said that the race for survival was the most open he had ever experienced.
"We are coming now to the last 10 games of the season.
"I don't remember a situation where the team who are bottom could still end up 10th. It's so tight."
Dalglish accepted that his side had not been the better side.
"We never passed it as well as we can or took the opportunities that came our way," said the 60-year-old Scot, whose side in mitigation had played on Thursday seeing off Sparta Prague in the Europa League.
"The last 20 or 25 minutes, we started to play a wee bit like we can. We got the goal near the end and we thought we might steal a point.
"There were a couple of shouts for a penalty, things that are outside our control that you can't manage, but we'll try to correct the mistakes we made."