Digest

German bundesliga

Babbel mystified by Hoffenheim's slump

Coach Markus Babbel (pictured) has admitted he was left mystified after nine-man Hoffenheim was hammered 4-0 at home by Eintracht Frankfurt to leave it bottom of the Bundesliga.

This was Hoffenheim's third defeat in three competitive matches since suffering a shock 4-0 defeat at fourth-division minnow Berliner AK 07 in the German Cup two weeks ago, then a 2-1 loss at Moenchengladbach last weekend.

Things went seriously array for Hoffenheim at its Rhein Neckar Arena on Saturday as both midfielder Sejad Salihovic and defender Stephan Schroeck were sent off in the second half for receiving second yellow cards.

"I have no logical explanation," admitted ex-Liverpool defender Babbel, who has coached VfB Stuttgart and Hertha Berlin. "This performance is a mystery to me. This is definitely a bad start. This is bitter for the guys, it has hurt us."

English soccer league

Warnock to keep Senegal star Diouf for rest of year

Leeds manager Neil Warnock backed El-Hadji Diouf to fire his side into the Championship promotion race after the Senegal forward's inspired display in the 3-3 draw against Blackburn.

Diouf joined Leeds on a non-contract basis after being released by Doncaster last season, but the former Liverpool and Blackburn star has impressed Warnock enough to earn a deal until January.

The 31-year-old sparked a Leeds revival on Saturday with his side's first goal after Blackburn had surged into a 2-0 lead. Warnock's side moved 3-2 in front before Ruben Rochina's late equalizer preserved Blackburn's unbeaten start.

"I thought Diouf's contribution in the second half was good," Warnock said.

"The game was a good advert for the Championship. I am so proud of my team for battling back from two down."

Rovers boss Steve Kean was relieved to escape with a point after Leeds staged such a strong fightback and he believes his side, relegated from the Premier League last season, will figure in the promotion race if it continues to show that kind of spirit.

"It was a roller-coaster game and looking back we will think it was a decent point, but at two up we were in total control," he said.

"If we had gone in two goals up at halftime I think we would have won, but full credit to Leeds. They had a real go. We have gone four league games unbeaten which is a solid start."

Villas-Boas says Spurs are too anxious for first victory

Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas said his side is suffering from early-season anxiety problems following a third Premier League game without a win.

A late equalizer from Robert Snodgrass gave Norwich a 1-1 draw at White Hart Lane on Saturday and left Villas-Boas (pictured) still waiting for his first win as Spurs boss.

Spurs looked set to celebrate their first three points under the former Chelsea manager, who replaced the sacked Harry Redknapp in the close-season, when new signing Mousa Dembele came off the bench to mark his debut with a 68th-minute strike.

But Snodgrass leveled with five minutes remaining and Tottenham, which had lost at Newcastle on the opening day and was held 1-1 at home to West Bromwich Albion last week, was booed off on the final whistle.

"It was a different game to last week, but a goal conceded in more or less the same way," Villas-Boas said. "It is disappointing for us to suffer again in the dying moments of the game.

"When things happen like this we have to work on our concentration and our sharpness to make sure these situations don't happen again.

"It is a pity that we have worked during the week to try to solve it. But it hasn't been enough so we will continue to pursue it.

"We were not as sharp as last week. There was a lot of anxiety but there was a good response in the second half.

"Obviously this is not the start we wanted and the start we deserve. We had two good games, Newcastle and West Brom, that we didn't win.

"Everybody wants to build more confidence by getting those first three points, and when that happens we will feel less anxiety and show a little bit more talent."

Villas-Boas, who will appeal against the straight red card shown to substitute Tom Huddlestone for a late challenge on Norwich midfielder Jonny Howson, did not blame the fans for their grumbling.

"You have to accept their disappointment," he said. "It has not been the ideal start to the season but it doesn't mean that we haven't been working hard to get the wins that our fans want."

Scottish premier league

Euro exploits take their toll on tired Celtic in 2-2 draw

Celtic manager Neil Lennon said his side's European exploits had taken their toll after he watched the Hoops twice throw away a lead to draw 2-2 with Hibernian at Parkhead on Saturday.

The Hoops booked their place in the Champions League group stages for the first time in four years when they defeated Swedish champions Helsingborgs 2-0 in midweek to seal a 4-0 aggregate win in the playoffs.

It was Celtic's fourth qualifying match of the campaign so far after previously dispatching Finnish side HJK Helsinki over two legs in the third qualifying round.

The games have taken a lot out of Lennon's squad with the Celtic manager missing six first-team regulars for the meeting with Hibs due to injury.

But the Hoops' boss hopes the upcoming international break will allow his squad to recover.

"The European games have certainly taken their toll on the squad. We had so many players out and we lost Victor Wanyama to an injury as well today," Lennon said. "We had Beram Kayal, Scott Brown, Joe Ledley, Georgios Samaras and Charlie Mulgrew missing too. These are exceptionally good players, but I'm not using that as an excuse as you want to bring these kids through."

Agence France-Presse

(China Daily 09/03/2012 page23)