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Histon celebrate their goal against Leeds.
STUTES HANDED SWANSEA CLASH

Histon’s stunning victory over Leeds did not bring them the FA Cup third-round rewards they were hoping for.

The Stutes, chasing promotion from the Blue Square Premier, were 1-0 winners over Coca-Cola League One giants United in the second round but were visibly disappointed to be handed a home tie with Swansea as they watched the live draw.

Fellow non-leaguers Blyth Spartans will host Barclays Premier League side Blackburn if they win their replay against Bournemouth.

FA Cup holders Portsmouth were drawn at home to Bristol City while Liverpool will travel to Preston, Manchester United face a trip to Southampton, Chelsea host Southend and Arsenal entertain Plymouth.

Histon’s victory at a wet and wild Glassworld Stadium came courtesy of Matthew Langston, who headed in Gareth Gwillim’s cross in the 39th minute.

Histon dominated the first half and could have gone into the break further ahead, but they had to withstand a barrage of pressure in the second half.

Lubomir Michalik twice came within a whisker of equalising for Leeds, first seeing his shot cannon back off a post then a fierce drive headed off the line by Jack Midson late on.

Manager Steve Fallon looked on the draw as a chance to get to the fourth round.

“It’s a good draw for us,” he told ITV1. “Obviously, we wanted to be at home; that’s all you want. You could have the big boys but Swansea are a big side in their own right.

“It’s a good little tie for us and I’m sure we’ll have a full house again and maybe a chance of getting to the fourth round.”

Among the other stand-out ties in the third round, Coca-Cola Championship pace-setters Birmingham and Wolves will face each other at St Andrews.

The local rivals were involved in a pulsating 1-1 draw at Molineux on Saturday.

Blue Square Premier team Barrow were rewarded for their 2-1 victory over Brentford on Friday with a trip to Middlesbrough while there could be an all non-league tie with Notts County or Kettering hosting Eastwood Town.

Northern Premier League side Eastwood caused the shock of the day on Saturday with a 2-0 win over League Two leaders Wycombe while County and Kettering drew 1-1 24 hours later.

Brett Solkhon gave the non-league outfit the lead after 18 minutes but Sean Canham equalised 11 minutes before half-time.

Droylsden will travel to Ipswich if they win their tie against Chesterfield, which was abandoned because of fog with the Blue Square North side 1-0 up.

Three more Blue Square Premier sides are also in the third round with Kidderminster drawn away at Coventry, Torquay hosting Blackpool and Forest Green Rovers visiting Derby.

League Two Macclesfield were handed a glamour tie at home to Everton while last year’s beaten finalists, Cardiff, host Reading.

Barnsley, who beat Liverpool and Chelsea last year, will have another chance to upset Premier League opposition when they travel to West Ham.

There are three all top-flight ties with Hull hosting Newcastle, Wigan travelling to Tottenham and Bolton visiting Sunderland, where they triumphed 4-1 in the league on Saturday.

Eastwood manager Paul Cox is a former Notts County player and was thrilled with the draw.

He told Sky Sports News: “It’s a dream tie for me, it’s just fabulous, living in Nottingham. I’m keeping my fingers crossed now they actually beat Kettering.

“I think it’s a winnable tie and it’s a tie we’ll be relishing.”

Histon celebrate.
HISTON PULL OFF LEEDS CUP SHOCK

Blue Square Premier promotion chasers Histon won the biggest match in their history with a 1-0 victory over Leeds putting them into the draw for the FA Cup third round.

Matthew Langston scored the only goal of the game in the 39th minute at a wet and wild Glassworld Stadium when he headed in Gareth Gwillim’s cross.

Histon dominated the first half and could have gone into the break further ahead, but they had to withstand a barrage of pressure in the second half.

Lubomir Michalik twice came within a whisker of equalising for Leeds, first seeing his shot cannon back off a post then a fierce drive headed off the line by Jack Midson late on.

In Sunday’s other tie, Notts County will face Kettering, with the winners to face Saturday’s giantkillers Eastwood Town.

Brett Solkhon gave the non-league outfit the lead after 18 minutes but Sean Canham equalised 11 minutes before half-time.

Scolari gives instructions on Sunday.
SCOLARI DEMANDS APOLOGY FROM REF

Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari called for referee Mike Dean and his assistant to make an apology for allowing Robin van Persie’s offside goal which turned Sunday’s Premier League clash against Arsenal at Stamford Bridge.

An own goal from Johan Djourou had given the home side a first-half lead, before the Gunners fought back.

Van Persie was clearly in an offside position as he collected a pass from Denilson on the edge of the penalty area, before smashing the ball past Petr Cech.

There was, though, nothing controversial about what proved to be the winning goal, when the Dutchman spun in the box to drill a low shot into the far corner.

However, the fact his team were “killed” by such a crucial decision did not sit well with the Brazilian coach.

He said: “Have you ever heard me speak about referees any time in the games I have been here? Never, in 15 in the Premier League, four in the Champions League, the Carling Cup, I have not said anything, but today is different.

“I do not want the referee to make something different - I want only after tomorrow that he looks at the television, that the referee and the linesman see they are wrong, and they say ’sorry’.

“That is all I want, no more, because they were not good and made a mistake, which I understand.

“I do not want three points, all I want is them to say sorry it was a mistake, because in the first half, the same linesman made a mistake against us with [Salomon] Kalou.

“He is human and he can make a mistake, but the offside has killed my team. I just want them to say they are wrong, because I am wrong when I put some players in, or the players are wrong when they make a mistake in front of goal or are not covering.

“These are all wrong, but the referee is never wrong.

“I do not think they came here to deliberately make a mistake against us.

“It is difficult to play for my team after this, because they lost their concentration. The offside killed my team.

“We lost today because one goal was not a goal, and it was a goal which changed the result.

“If we won, Arsenal would have been 13 points behind us and their championship would have been finished.”

While Scolari’s men remain top on goal difference from Liverpool on Sunday night, the Merseysiders will replace Chelsea if they get at least a point from their clash with West Ham at Anfield on Monday.

“We have now lost three points and in the last five games we have not played well, but that is my mistake and the players’ mistake,” said the Chelsea boss.

“The players are very angry about the first goal, but the players understand they have not played well.

“Now, I need to say, okay, this game is finished and I have a week to work with the players and try to make it better than before to get started again, to get in a good position.”

Scolari added: “Now when we play away against our title rivals, we need to win.

“The gap will sometimes be six points, sometimes three and in the last two or three games of the season, that will decide who is the champion.”

Haroon Lorgat - hopes England go to India.
ICC PRESS FOR ENGLAND RETURN

International Cricket Council chief executive Haroon Lorgat has urged England to return to India for next month’s two-Test series.

The tour is in doubt following the terrorist attacks in Mumbai this week that killed 174 people.

The squad arrived back in London on Saturday after the final two one-day internationals were postponed, but they are due to return for the first Test starting on December 11 in Ahmedabad.

That could now be moved to Kolkata with the second match having been switched from Mumbai to Chennai already.

The England and Wales Cricket Board are taking security advice and expect a decision to be made about the future of the tour within the next 48 hours.

After expressing his horror at the events, Lorgat said: “If safety and security allow then I would urge the England Test tour of India to go ahead and if it does so then representatives of the ICC will be there to show solidarity with the competing teams.

“And if those Tests are played I would also urge supporters of the game to attend them as that will be the best way to send a message to those who seek to disrupt our way of life, that we will not be prevented from doing what we want or what we enjoy.

“I have today written to the Board of Control for Cricket in India pledging whatever support the ICC can offer to help ensure that, if appropriate, cricket goes ahead.

“I have also written to the England and Wales Cricket Board with a similar offer of support and solidarity.”

Lorgat also revealed issues of safety and security will be addressed at next week’s ICC chief executives’ committee meeting in Cape Town.

The ECB and the BCCI have discussed a number of ways forward but a neutral venue such as Abu Dhabi looks like one which will not be pursued.

The favoured option currently is thought to be for the team to head straight for the city in which they will play the first Test - be it Ahmedabad or Kolkata - and play a two-day warm-up game at an alternative ground to the Test.

ECB managing director Hugh Morris insisted England will be going back to India if it is deemed safe to do so - but admitted it may not be a first-choice side.

The ECB and captain Kevin Pietersen have already confirmed no player will be forced to return to the country.

Morris told BBC Radio Five Live’s Sportsweek programme: “If the security advice suggests it is a safe environment, we will be playing two Test matches.

“The support we’ve had in India has been incredible. Cricket is a galvanising force in that country, and that’s got to be taken into account as well.”

Asked about the possibility of top players refusing to go back, Morris added: “Clearly we would have to potentially face that issue.”

Morris has been in constant contact with the Professional Cricketers’ Association and players’ advisors.

He has had informal talks with the players and they have agreed that no final decision will be made until all the security advice - which will be shared with the PCA - has come in.

BCCI vice-president Lalit Modi expects England to return - but insisted the board will not press for compensation if they decide to stay at home.

“It’s not the BCCI against the ECB and the players, that doesn’t achieve anything,” Modi said.

“In 2005, the bomb blasts in the UK, two weeks later the Ashes series began.

“Everybody needs to be pragmatic. If the security is possible and it is there then we should continue.

“It’s not about compensation. I’ve heard numbers, but it’s got nothing to do with monetary issues. We would never pressurise anybody and that’s not the way we operate.

“Compensation is the last thing we are looking at.”

Bowler Steve Harmison described the decision each player will have to make about whether to return as “the most important of their lives” but insisted now was not the time to make rash judgements.

Describing the scenes they witnessed on Indian TV, he told the Mail on Sunday: “The carnage is unimaginable, like a horror movie. I’m sorry, but whatever is being asked of us in the next few days, at the moment, the idea of being asked to go back out there is the last thing on my mind.

“I can’t say now that I will definitely not come back or that I definitely will.

“If the board say they want us to go back the players have about 72 hours to come to the most important decision of their lives. All I hope is that nobody thinks we will take it lightly.”

Enckelman - string of fine saves.
NO SPLITTING SWANS AND BLUEBIRDS

Goalkeeper Peter Enckelman produced a string of brilliant saves to help Cardiff claim a point after a pulsating south Wales derby against Swansea finished as a 2-2 draw with both sides reduced to 10 men.

Darren Pratley had put the Swans ahead in the 19th minute before Joe Ledley’s equaliser on the stroke of half-time and the Bluebirds then took the lead three minutes after the break when Ross McCormack converted a debatable penalty.

Stephen McPhail was then shown a second yellow card and Gorka Pintado came off the bench to score a spectacular equaliser but Enckelman was the hero for the visitors as he made several brilliant saves before Leon Britton was also dismissed for a second bookable offence in stoppage time.

Swans boss Roberto Martinez said: “It was a superb derby game played in a fantastic atmosphere.

“To concede goals so close to either side of half-time was disappointing but we went on to create a number of chances and should have finished off the game.

“The squad reacted superbly to going behind and we never lost our style of play. The performance deserved a victory and we had three up front trying our best to get the winning goal.”

Cardiff counterpart Dave Jones said: “It was a fantastic advert for Welsh football.”

Pietersen arrives back in England.
ECB BRACED FOR PLAYER REFUSALS

England and Wales Cricket Board managing director Hugh Morris today insisted England will be going back to India if it is deemed safe to do so - but admitted it may not be a first-choice side.

The ECB and captain Kevin Pietersen have already confirmed no player will be forced to return to the country following the terrorist attacks in Mumbai this week.

The squad arrived back in London on Saturday after the final two one-day internationals were cancelled, but they are due to play a two-Test series beginning on December 11 in Ahmedabad, with the second match having been moved from Mumbai to Chennai.

The ECB are taking security advice and expect a decision to be made about the future of the tour within the next 48 hours.

If it is deemed safe, it will then be left to the players to decide whether they will take part.

Morris told BBC Radio Five Live’s Sportsweek programme: “At the moment, nothing has been confirmed with any of the players.

“We are committed, as it stands at the moment, to playing in those two Test matches, subject to safety and security advice.

“If the security advice suggests it is a safe environment, we will be playing two Test matches.

“The support we’ve had in India has been incredible. Cricket is a galvanising force in that country, and that’s got to be taken into account as well.”

Asked about the possibility of top players refusing to go back, Morris added: “Clearly we would have to potentially face that issue.”

Board of Control for Cricket in India vice-president Lalit Modi expects England to return - but insisted the board will not not press for compensation if they decide to stay at home.

Modi also called on the sides to show cricket can move forward following the deadly events, and used the comparison with the attacks in London in 2005, which came two weeks before the start of that year’s Ashes.

“We can’t allow events around the world to deter us, to go out and be afraid to play,” he said.

“I really do believe it (the tour) will happen. It’s just we need to take it to another city, which we have agreed to do so. I’m sure it’ll be all right.

“It’s not the BCCI against the ECB and the players, that doesn’t achieve anything. In 2005, the bomb blasts in the UK, two weeks later the Ashes series began.

“Everybody needs to be pragmatic. If the security is possible and it is there then we should continue.

“It’s not about compensation. I’ve heard numbers, but it’s got nothing to do with monetary issues. We would never pressurise anybody and that’s not the way we operate.

“Compensation is the last thing we are looking at.”

Bowler Steve Harmison described the decision each player will have to make about whether to return as “the most important of their lives” but insisted now was not the time to make rash judgements.

Describing the scenes they witnessed on Indian TV, he told the Mail on Sunday: “The carnage is unimaginable, like a horror movie. I’m sorry, but whatever is being asked of us in the next few days, at the moment, the idea of being asked to go back out there is the last thing on my mind.

“This is beyond cricket. This is beyond anything. It’s all very well for people back home to say we should carry on with the tour, but none of what has happened has anything to do with cricket.

“How anyone can say that we should be carrying on with the tour in the circumstances is beyond me. I can’t say now that I will definitely not come back or that I definitely will.

“If the board say they want us to go back the players have about 72 hours to come to the most important decision of their lives. All I hope is that nobody thinks we will take it lightly.”

Former captain Alec Stewart believes the ECB will come to the right decision and insisted players should not be penalised if they decide to stay at home.

He told the Sunday Mirror: “The ECB has a duty to its players and the England supporters. There is no way it will allow the team to return to India if their safety is in any doubt.

“If the tour was to go ahead and individual players did not want to return, the decision should not be held against them in the future.”

Mils Muliaina dives over for New Zealand.
NEW ZEALAND SEAL GRAND SLAM

New Zealand beat England 32-6 to claim a third Grand Slam on a frustrating afternoon at Twickenham for Martin Johnson.

Mils Muliaina crossed twice and man of the match Ma’a Nonu once while Dan Carter, who uncharacteristically missed five shots at goal, kicked 17 points.

But the scoreline failed to do England justice with terrible discipline - topped by four yellow cards - marring their best display of the autumn.

A one-sided final quarter distorted what was otherwise a full-blooded encounter which saw Toby Flood kick all of England’s points.

James Haskell has urged England fans to keep the faith because he believes the results will come under Johnson.

“Anyone watching at home who cares about English rugby should know we have the passion, we have the ability,” the flanker told Sky Sports. “It comes down to execution and ruthlessness. We will do it.

“When you’re building something new, it takes time.”

New Zealand captain Richie McCaw was proud of the way his team played patiently in the first-half before punishing English mistakes later in the game.

“I think in the end, especially in the last 20 minutes of the game we benefited from a couple of mistakes and there might have been a few more,” he said.

“A lot of what happens in the end is a result of what we did in the first half. We saw what was going to work and what’s not. It’s an 80 minute game.”

Johnson admitted that the yellow cards played a key role in England’s defeat. “The sin bins didn’t help,” he said. “To have four guys in the one game is pretty unusual. There were times today where we thought we had their guys under pressure but we didn’t make anything of it.

“We still have to be better.

“I put down indiscipline sometimes to mistakes. Maybe our guys have really got to learn that Test match rugby is about pressure. When you make mistakes they’ll kill you. They made mistakes today but we didn’t take advantage and that’s the difference in the game.

“But you’re not helping yourself obviously when you have 14 men for half the game.”

New Zealand coach Graham Henry was delighted by an unbeaten tour that finished with a ninth successive victory.

“This result epitomises what we’ve been doing all year,” he said.

“We showed a lot of character in the first half, hung in there and then dominated in the last 20 minutes.

“That proves the backbone of the team. The guys have won all of the trophies available to them this year.

“We did the business and the boys have been superb. Winning a Grand Slam is difficult to do, it’s only been done three times now.”

Man of the match: Honourable mentions in white shirts to Nick Kennedy and Delon Armitage. Keven Mealamu excelled, as did Ma’a Nonu and Ali Williams once more. A cut above them was Conrad Smith, who broke England’s backs all day and tackled like a demon in defence.

Moment of the match: Muliaina’s first try. Having struggled for so long, Smith’s straight line, the loop and the finish was as perfect an execution as you will see, and dropped English heads.

Villain of the match: A few bits and pieces here as tempers frequently simmered over, but James Haskell’s elbow charge on Rodney So’oialo was a little too wanton to put down to mere over-aggression.

The scorers:

Pens: Flood, Armitage

For New Zealand:

Tries: Muliaina 2, Nonu

Con: Carter

Pens: Carter 5

Yellow cards: Mears (24, killing the ball), Haskell (32, elbowing), Flood (44 high tackle), Rees (76, killing the ball) - all England

England: 15 Delon Armitage, 14 Paul Sackey, 13 Jamie Noon, 12 Riki Flutey, 11 Ugo Monye, 10 Toby Flood, 9 Danny Care, 8 Nick Easter, 7 Michael Lipman, 6 James Haskell, 5 Nick Kennedy, 4 Steve Borthwick (c), 3 Phil Vickery, 2 Lee Mears, 1 Tim Payne.

Replacements: 16 Dylan Hartley, 17 Matt Stevens, 18 Tom Croft, 19 Tom Rees, 20 Harry Ellis, 21 Danny Cipriani, 22 Dan Hipkiss.

New Zealand: 15 Mils Muliaina, 14 Joe Rokocoko, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma’a Nonu, 11 Sitiveni Sivivatu, 10 Daniel Carter, 9 Jimmy Cowan, 8 Rodney So’oialo, 7 Richie McCaw (c), 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Ali Williams, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Neemia Tialata, 2 Keven Mealamu, 1 Tony Woodcock.

Replacements: 16 Hikawera Elliot, 17 John Afoa, 18 Anthony Boric, 19 Kieran Read, 20 Piri Weepu, 21 Stephen Donald, 22 Isaia Toeava.

Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)

Touch judges: Nigel Owens (Wales), George Clancy (Ireland)

Television match official: Tim Hayes (Wales)

Assessor: Steve Hilditch (Ireland)

Eastwood celebrate ousting Wycombe.
EASTWOOD DUMP WYCOMBE OUT

Eastwood pulled off the surprise of the day as they beat League Two high-flyers Wycombe 2-0 in their FA Cup second-round tie at Coronation Park.

A superb curling effort from Lindon Meikle gave the Northern Premier League minnows the lead in the 34th minute after some good work by Anton Foster down the right flank.

Wycombe, who boast an impressive unbeaten league record, piled on the pressure in search of an equaliser but they struggled to beat Shane Redmond who had an excellent match in the Eastwood goal.

The underdogs then put their name into the hat for the third-round draw when Peter Knox finished a superb counter-attacking move in the 89th minute.

Non-league side Forest Green booked their passage into the third round with a 2-0 win over League Two side Rochdale at the New Lawn Stadium.

The Blue Square Premier side took the lead after 27 minutes when Jonathan Smith struck to the delight of the home fans.

Josh Low then doubled the lead 11 minutes into the second period when he scored from just inside the area after a break from a Rochdale corner.

Alfreton’s run came to a shuddering halt as they crashed to a 4-0 defeat against Scunthorpe.

Ben May put the Iron in front on the half-hour and Alfreton’s job was made more difficult when Paul Clayton saw red just three minutes after the break.

It was one-way traffic thereafter with goals from Gary Hooper (62 & 83) and Sam Togwell ensuring the League One side eased through.

A Matt Fryatt hat-trick helped Leicester to a 3-2 win over Dagenham and Redbridge at the Walkers Stadium.

Matt Richie’s fourth goal of the season gave the visitors a shock lead before Fryatt shot into the roof of the net to equalise two minutes later.

Ben Strevens’ low drive put the League Two side back ahead before Fryatt converted a 30th-minute spot-kick to level before scoring the winner on 55 minutes.

Hartlepool survived a second-half scare to see off Blue Square North side Fleetwood 3-2 at the Highbury Stadium.

The home side went ahead with an Andy Bell strike after 14 minutes before Michael Mackay turned home a Jamie McCunnie cross to equalise.

The League One side then raced into a two-goal lead thanks to Mackay’s second and Joel Porter’s 12th strike of the season.

Adam Marlow pulled one back for Fleetwood after 66 minutes but, despite more pressure, they could not find an equaliser.

Bournemouth and Blyth Spartans must do it all over again after drawing 0-0.

Droylsden were leading 1-0 at Chesterfield thanks to a Carl Lamb goal before referee Steven Cook abandoned the match due to fog.

Morecambe’s match with Cheltenham at Christie Park also fell victim to the fog.

Barry Hayles levelled for Cheltenham after Rene Howe’s penalty had put Morecambe ahead before the game was called off.

A second-half header from Danny Granville gave Leyton Orient a 2-1 win over Bradford at Valley Parade.

Michael Boulding had equalised Jason Demetriou’s opener before Granville headed home Dean Morgan’s corner to win the match.

Loanee Junior Stanislas scored either side of the break as Southend beat Luton 3-1 at Roots Hall.

James Walker also bagged for the hosts while Luton’s consolation came from Michael Spillane.

Stefan Moore and Mark Creighton were on target for Kidderminster as they beat UniBond League side Curzon Ashton at the Aggborough Stadium.

A Gary Alexander double and helped Millwall to a 3-0 win over League Two side Aldershot at the New Den.

The midfielder scored either side of half-time before Ashley Grimes rounded off the win with two minutes to spare.

A double strike from Elliot Benyon helped Torquay see off Oxford in the all-Blue Square Premier affair at Plainmoor.

Neither Peterborough nor Tranmere could break the deadlock at London Road while Gillingham and Stockport will also have to replay their goalless draw at Priestfield Stadium.

Goals from Graham Kavanagh and Danny Graham gave Carlisle a 2-0 win over Grays Athletic in their first-round replay at the New Recreation Ground.

Ohuruogu - wins award.
OHURUOGU CLAIMS BOA AWARD

Olympic champion Christine Ohuruogu has been named the British Olympic Association’s athlete of the year at UK Athletics’ awards dinner in Solihull following her triumph in Beijing.

In August Ohuruogu added Olympic gold to her world title from Osaka in 2007 with a brilliant run in the Bird’s Nest Stadium.

The 24-year-old overhauled favourite Sanya Richards down the home straight to become Britain’s first ever female Olympic champion over 400 metres.

Khan - faces Fagan next Saturday.
KHAN: WORST TIME TO FIGHT ME

Amir Khan says there could not be a worse time to face him.

The Bolton lightweight returns to the ring next Saturday for the first time since his stunning 54-second knockout at the hands of Breidis Prescott.

The durable Oisin Fagan is the man in the opposite corner as the world of boxing watches on to see how Khan responds to his first professional defeat.

And the 21-year-old says people who have been writing him off as a soft touch and those wanting a piece of him since that loss are going to be proved wrong.

“There’s been so many fighters that want to fight me knowing I’ve just been beaten - they think I’m not going to be the same fighter again,” he told Sky Sports.

“But I think this is the worst time to fight me, because I’m going to be a lot stronger than the last fight. And a lot wiser.”

Khan has turned to Freddie Roach after sacking Jorge Rubio in the wake of the Prescott defeat.

Roach will be in Manny Pacquiao’s corner against Oscar De La Hoya in Las Vegas on Saturday night but says he has already seen enough to know he has another world champion on his hands.

“I believe that he can do it, he’s a talented guy,” he said. “I believe he will be the next champion. That’s what I love to do - make champions.”