LONDON -- John Obi Mikels first English Premier League goal helped to end Chelseas four-game winless run in a 2-0 victory over Fulham on Saturday. After Oscar powered in the opener early in the second half, Mikel sliced the ball into the net in the 84th minute of the west London derby. "They have been killing me about it -- going to the national team and scoring but not here," the Nigeria midfielder said. "Im sure the guys will give me a lot of stick." Mikel had previously scored only twice for Chelsea, in the FA Cup in January 2007 during Jose Mourinhos first reign as manager. Mourinhos return has not gone to plan, presiding over the clubs worst start to a season since Roman Abramovichs investment started a decade ago. This victory, however unconvincing, enabled Chelsea to dislodge Liverpool from the top of the standings ahead of Sundays games. "We know our fans have been disappointed about a few performances going into these games so we wanted to give them something to cheer," Mikel said. But the season is barely a month old, enabling Mourinho to dismiss the early criticism. "To lose is a normal thing and it looks like for us its the end of the world," Mourinho said. "Some of (the teams) started the Premier League in a brilliant way, we started in a very bad way ... I read it was a disaster." Chelseas ability to remain among the title contenders will hinge on rediscovering the cutting edge thats been missing. To achieve that, Mourinho has shown hes willing to risk antagonizing his squad with public criticism. Midfielder Juan Mata and defender David Luiz were both in Mourinhos firing line on Saturday as they were left out of the squad and saw their abilities called into question. Mourinho knows his return to Chelsea after six years has not matched the expectations of fans who were ecstatic when the season began with a pair of wins. A draw and a loss domestically was followed by a losing start to the Champions League group stage, provoking a smattering of boos at Stamford Bridge after Wednesdays loss to Basel. "Sorry about your disappointment," Mourinho wrote in the matchday program. "But we will give you happiness." Maintaining harmony in the squad will be as important. The ostracizing of midfielder Mata, last seasons player of the year, has baffled many. Matas displays this season so far were "not convincing," Mourinho said as he justified dropping the Spaniard again on Saturday and warning that he has to "fight and work for his opportunities." That will come in the League Cup against Swindon on Tuesday. "I hope he tells me on the pitch, You are wrong, Im the best and I have to play every game," Mourinho said. "I would love that. Im waiting for a professional reaction." Mourinho also publicly castigated Luiz for his defensive performance in the 2-1 loss to Basle on Wednesday. Yet, Mourinho kept faith with Samuel Etoo to lead the strike force against Fulham, despite publicly doubting his sharpness against Basel. Etoo rarely came close to opening his account for Chelsea since joining from Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala, volleying wide and heading off target in the first half. Fulham, though, was even more ineffective up front as it slumped to a ninth loss in 12 matches stretching back to last season. "The first 50 minutes they were really worried," Fulham manager Martin Jol said. "They couldnt find the space, they couldnt find a solution and that is probably the moment you have to punish them and we couldnt do that." And the visitors were breached seven minutes into the second half. Goalkeeper David Stockdale parried from Andre Schurrle and couldnt keep hold of Etoos shot before Oscar blasted in the goal. To cheers, Etoo was replaced in the 64th by Fernando Torres, the only Chelsea striker to find the net this season. After Torres had a header pushed over Stockdale, the second goal came from the resulting corner from the unlikely source of Mikel after John Terry nodded the ball into this path. "The second half they stepped up a gear, they were more aggressive than us and that is what showed," Jol said.
Ben Gardner Cowboys Jersey . Cleveland has won the first two of this set and has won six straight games since losing back-to-back tilts to open the year. Seattle, on the other hand, has now lost six in a row following consecutive wins to kick off its campaign.
Roger Staubach Cowboys Jersey . MacArthur scored two goals, and the Senators outlasted Detroit in a testy third period to beat the Red Wings 4-2 on Saturday night.
http://www.cowboysproshopus.com/Womens-Corey-White-Cowboys-Jersey/ . With the win, the Marlies complete a three-game series sweep of the Admirals and move on to the second round of the Calder Cup playoffs. T.J. Brennan added an empty netter with less than 25 seconds remaining for his second of the playoffs.
Michael Sam Cowboys Jersey . The San Antonio Spurs handled the conditions, and the team, and it sure helped when a suffering LeBron James couldnt make it to the finish.
Brandon Weeden Cowboys Jersey . Fielder has been out with a herniated disk in his neck, and surgery was recommended after a follow-up exam and another scan Thursday with Dr.NEW YORK -- Paul Pierce called the Miami Heat a juggernaut. He insisted they are still the team to beat. So yes, the Brooklyn Nets have plenty of respect for the two-time defending NBA champions -- and no fear. Pierce made that clear again Sunday, a day after the Nets Game 3 rout that cut Miamis lead to 2-1 in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Brooklyn will try to even the series at home Monday night. "Youve got to have that type of mental ego against a juggernaut. You go against the best, a lot of series are won on fear factor, like, or non-belief. When you have that non-belief, then you have no chance," Pierce said after practice. "What I try to do in this locker room, or with my teammates, is just try to give them belief that we can beat this team. Theyre not unbeatable." The Heat had been in these playoffs until the Nets 104-90 victory on Saturday night. Miami hadnt even faced a fourth-quarter deficit, but was out of the game long before then after Brooklyn dominated the third quarter to build a huge lead. "The defeat was complete," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "It was both sides of the basketball. "It was like trying to plug in holes in a leaking dam. There was so many things that were not in our favour really on both ends of the court." The Nets made 15 of 25 3-point attempts, outrebounded Miami 43-27, and limited LeBron James to two baskets over the final three quarters after he had 16 points on 6-of-7 shooting in the first. Brooklyn swept the regular-season series, though none of the games was anywhere near as easy as Game 3. Yet the four victories gave the Nets a confidence against the Heat that some other opponents may not have. "We just had a little success against them during the regular season. We played them well and we feel like we match up well wiith them," Nets guard Deron Williams said.dddddddddddd "And if were on top of our game, were playing defence the way were capable of playing, like we did the last game, we put ourselves in a good position to win." Pierce did his part after the Nets were routed in Game 1, asking coach Jason Kidd to switch up the defence so he could guard James. And after he and the Nets did such a good job of it over the final three quarters of Game 3, Pierce said the Nets wanted to show the Heat that they werent scared of them. "Why should it be a fear factor?" James said. "Its just basketball. Were not trying to win a war here, its just basketball. Thats all it is. Were all grown men, who cares about whos fearing who? "Weve never been a team that talks. We dont get into that, and weve never been a bulletin board team. We just want to play the game the right way and we give ourselves a good chance to win if we play our type of basketball and last night we didnt do that." Miami had won its previous eight post-season games and followed every loss with a victory last year. To do that in this series, Spoelstra said the Heat would not only need better effort and urgency, but also more attention to the little details. Pierce is expecting that, as well as in Game 5 back in Miami on Wednesday night. Even though the Heat didnt look it Saturday, he believes they are just as good as the recent versions that ended his seasons in Boston. "Definitely. Theyre well-seasoned now. They know how to win," Pierce said. "Theyve won two championships, theres nothing they havent been through. So the one thing you always hear, its kind of a cliche, is never underestimate the heart of a champion, and you know thats what they have under their belts. So you know, theyre the team to beat."
Wholesale NFL Jerseys ' ' '
