Brumblues!
Chelsea will have to replay at Birmingham in the fifth round of the FA Cup after the 1-1 draw against the second-tier club heaped more pressure on under-fire coach Andre Villas-boas. Birmingham lost captain Stephen Carr to a 12th-minute injury but took the lead at Stamford Bridge eight minutes later through David Murphy. Chelsea earned a 22nd-minute penalty when Wade Elliott fouled Ramires but goalkeeper Colin Doyle saved Juan Mata’s kick and Chelsea needed a 62nd-minute equaliser from Daniel Sturridge to salvage the draw.
LONDON: Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp claims he has had one team on his mind all week – and it hasn’t been England.
Redknapp is the overwhelming favourite to succeed Fabio Capello as England manager ahead of Euro 2012.
But he claims he is yet to hear from the FA, English football’s governing body, about the post – and the thought of leading his country has not entered his head.
And the team that has occupied his thoughts all week as he enjoyed a four-day break in Dubai has been Stevenage, tomorrow’s FA Cup fifthround opponents, rather than the national side.
“I have not spoken to anybody about it. I have not discussed the job with anybody,” Redknapp said.
“Last week I saw that a number of managers had ruled themselves out, but they hadn’t even been ruled in.
“I am not going to rule myself out but I have never been ruled in either. No one has never mentioned it to me. Never. I have just been thinking about Stevenage on Sunday. It will be a tough game for us.
“(Coaches) Joe (Jordan) and Clive (Allen) went to watch them the other night and they came back and said it will be a real hard Cup tie.”
Redknapp admits he would not welcome an approach about the England manager’s post until after the season is over, when he hopes to have secured Champions League football for next season.
Tottenham are currently occupying third place in the Premier League, seven points off leaders Manchester City and 10 above fourth-placed Arsenal.
“I have a job to do here,” Redknapp added. “My focus has to be on trying to get Tottenham as high as I can in the table.
“We are not far away. Weare right there. We are just behind the Manchester clubs.
“I still keep looking at the gap between us and fourth. That’s the key as well for me.
“Ten points is a good lead but you know we have to make sure we maintain that at least until the end of the season.” — AFP