DEFIANT Kenny Dalglish refused to give up the title ghost after his Newcastle side were held at Wimbledon but was then told by Dons boss Joe Kinnear: “I don’t think you’ve got a chance.”
Dalglish watched controversial Colombian Faustino Asprilla clip home the classic free-kick which cancelled out Oyvind Leonhardsen’s first-half opener.
It was a result that left the Magpies 11 points adrift of leaders Manchester United, with just eight games to play but one in hand.
Dalglish, asked if Newcastle were now out of the title reckoning, maintained: “It’s still mathematically possible, and there’s certainly the desire there to go for it.
“United are obviously favourites and they’ve got the best chance, with Liverpool second favourites, but there’s still plenty of games to be played.”
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MASTER marksman Robbie Fowler – God to his Liverpool teammates – will leave Arsenal without a prayer in the Premiership title race, if he inflicts his familiar capital punishment on them at Highbury tonight.
Fowler, already the leading scorer in the top flight with 28 goals this season, seems to take particular delight in outscoring the Gunners.
He has notched nine goals in the last seven games against them, including two hat-tricks – one completed within the space of just five minutes in a staggering exhibition of quick-fire finishing at Anfield three years ago.
That was back when Fowler was just starting to show he was the natural Liverpool successor to goal machine Ian Rush.
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DOWN had to withstand a whirlwind Kildare finish in the final 10 minutes but gained a deserved draw at St Conleth’s Park, Newbridge yesterday.
It was an exciting game which leaves the Down men still undefeated after two games. With the breeze in their favour in the opening half Down played some delightful Hurling with Noel Sands the outstanding forward on the field giving the Kildare defence many anxious moments, while the freetaking of Johnny McGrattan played a major part in Down coming away from Newbridge with a share of the points.
Kildare: L Deering, B Murnane, R Coyle, N Carew, N Swan, J Brennan, E Denniffe, J Byrne, P Rohan, C Byrne (0-4), G Deering (0-1), T Carew (0-4), N Casey, M Curtin (0-1), R Byrne (0-2). Subs: E Kelly (0-2) for P Rohan, K Kelly for M Curtin.
Down: G Clarke, B Milligan, K Coulter, B Birt, M Mallon, P Coulter, M Coulter (Sen), S Murray, G Savage (0-1), B Coulter (0-1), B Braniff, G McGrattan (0-2), J McGrattan (0-6), M Braniff (1-0), N Sands (0-1). Subs: B Smith for B Birt, J McCrickard for M Braniff.
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SPANISH maestro Jose Maria Olazabal brought off one of the greatest comebacks in golfing history when he won the Turespana Masters at Maspalomas in Gran Canaria yesterday.
Olazabal (31) was playing only his third tournament since being forced to take an 18-month sabbatical, because of rheumatoid polyarthritis in both feet.
Yet, since his return just 25 days ago, he has finished joint 12th in the Dubai Desert Classic, joint fourth in the Portuguese Open and now has gained his 16th European Tour victory.
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IRISH League president Morton McKnight has cited geography as the main reason for Loughgall’s Irish League snub.
Despite winning the B Division title for the past two seasons and reaching this season’s Irish Cup semi-finals, the Co Armagh outfit will not be offered a place in the first division.
Instead, invitations to join the senior ranks have gone out to Dungannon Swifts and Limavady United.
McKnight explained: “Dungannon and Loughgall are situated very closely together. We are trying to spread the soccer gospel.
“But the door isn’t closed on Loughgall. There’s no reason why they cannot come into the Irish League the season after next.”
