Harry Redknapp watched from the stands as Manchester United came from behind to beat his new Queens Park Rangers side at Old Trafford.

QPR, who announced Redknapp as their new boss on Saturday morning, led when Jamie Mackie pounced from close range.

Headers from Jonny Evans and Darren Fletcher, on his first league start for over a year, put United in command.

Substitute Javier Hernandez stroked in the third as Sir Alex Ferguson’s men moved top of the Premier League table.

United’s three goals in the space of eight second-half minutes puts the pressure firmly back on neighbours Manchester City, who know they can return to the summit by beating Chelsea on Sunday.

QPR, who sacked Redknapp’s predecessor Mark Hughes on Friday, stay bottom of the table as they remain without a victory in their opening 13 matches.

But there will be plenty of positives for Redknapp to take from the match before he assumes control on Monday.

Under the guidance of Hughes’s former coaches Mark Bowen and Eddie Niedzwiecki, the hard-working visitors refused to allow United any space and used their compact defensive unit as a base to catch their hosts on the break.

Scotland international Mackie was the focal point of QPR’s counter-attacking raids and he thought he had put them ahead just before the interval when he sent a diving header past United goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard.

But the goal was correctly ruled out for offside, with replays showing Mackie had strayed ahead of United central defenders Rio Ferdinand and Evans.

It was a laboured performance from the hosts in the opening hour, as Ferguson’s side allowed their opponents to score first for the ninth time in 13 top-flight matches this season.

A shock looked to be on the cards as Mackie struck after Lindegaard could only parry Kieron Dyer’s low cross into his path.

United had been rather pedestrian up to the goal and it served to wake them from their slumber as Ferguson urged his players to increase the tempo of their play.

Wayne Rooney, back in United’s starting XI after missing the last two matches with tonsillitis, pushed further forward alongside Robin van Persie in a bid to stretch a QPR backline that had already conceded 23 goals this season.

And it was the England striker who provided the spark for United’s recovery. His left-wing corner was met at the far post by Danny Welbeck, whose header allowed Evans, also making his return from injury, to score from virtually on the goal-line.

Moments later, Fletcher swung the match in United’s favour – again from a Rooney corner.

The Scotland international, whose last Premier League appearance came on 19 November 2011 before he missed the rest of the season with a bowel complaint, found space in the QPR box to head in.

Hernandez sealed victory as he raced on to a throughball from fellow substitute Anderson, who played a pivotal role after coming on, before confidently slotting past Hoops goalkeeper Julio Cesar.

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson:

“We only played for 10 minutes and those 10 minutes were brilliant. The crowd got up and I thought Anderson changed the game for us.

“We expected an improved performance from QPR, it always happens when a side loses their manager. They fought very hard and had some good counter-attack play.

“Falling behind again is a concern but it was a wake up call. Then we got down to our business and played with speed and determination. Victories like this when you’re not really at your best are always important.

“Darren Fletcher has had a long journey back and he has showed he is back to his best.”

(BBC Football)

 

That petered out in three minutes of stoppage time, after which the Inverness players, and their delighted manager Terry Butcher, took a well deserved curtain call in front of a small band of ecstatic fans who have now seen their side win in the League Cup at Ibrox and, for the first time ever, at Celtic in the league.

(BBC Football)

 

 

Rangers’ Third Division match at Elgin City on Sunday has been postponed on safety grounds because the Borough Briggs club has sold about 1,100 tickets more than its 4,520 capacity.

A statement on the Scottish Football League website said: “It has come to light that there has been a substantial over-sale of tickets for this fixture.

“Elgin City could not confirm the exact number of tickets sold for this match.

“On the grounds of public safety, this match has been postponed,” it added.

“Elgin City FC would like to apologise sincerely for this disappointing outcome.”

The club have announced that they will refund supporters who bought tickets for the cancelled fixture, but tickets for the match will not be valid for the rescheduled date.

“We would ask all fans to note that tickets issued for the game due to be played on Sunday 25 November 2012 will not be valid for the re-scheduled date,” said an Elgin statement.

“The club advises that those holding tickets issued by Elgin City return these to the club for a full refund.

“Tickets purchased via Rangers FC for this match should contact the Rangers ticket office.

“New ticketing arrangements will be announced in due course once a rescheduled date has been announced by the Scottish Football League.”

The decision to postpone the match was taken in conjunction with Grampian Police and Moray Council.

Match commander superintendent Mark Cooper said: “After discussions with the club it was clear that we were faced with the prospect of at least 1,100 extra fans turning up for what was an already sold-out fixture.

“We understand that fans will be disappointed with the cancellation of this match but our primary concern always has to be safety and we could not allow a situation that potentially put lives or the welfare of the general public at risk.”

Earlier in the week, club director and safety officer Martyn Hunter said 4,520 tickets had been sold and that “the stadium will be at its capacity for the first time in many years and it should be a great football occasion with both teams sitting at the top of the league”.

Rangers manager Ally McCoist expressed his disappointment at the late call-off.

He told the Rangers website: “This was due to circumstances outwith our control but we were informed a short time ago that there was no way the match could go ahead on safety grounds.

“I am sure this is a huge disappointment to our supporters who have purchased match tickets and arranged travel in good faith.

“Elgin City have apologised to the club and we accept their apology but I feel for our fans.”

The SFL operations director is to spend Saturday in Elgin seeking answers over the cancellation of the match and the league’s board will meet on Monday or Tuesday to discuss his report.

Elgin could have gone top of the league if they had beaten the Glasgow outfit. Ross Jack’s side are second in the table, two points behind Rangers, having played a game more.

The game was due to be screened live on TV.

The teams meet at Ibrox in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup on Sunday 2 December.

(BBC Football)

 

2 Roma fans arrested in attack

Two Italian men identified as Roma fans have been arrested in an attack on Tottenham supporters out drinking ahead of their team’s Europa League match against Lazio.

Seven people were injured, one with a knife wound, when 50 masked thugs launched an assault on Spurs fan Thursday at a pub in Campo de’ Fiori square, a popular drinking spot in Rome.

A police statement says that after investigations of 15 people and searches of homes, officers arrested 26-year-old Francesco Ianari and 25-year-old Mauro Pinnelli. Italian reports say the two were being held on suspicion of attempted murder and other charges.

Lazio fans initially were blamed for the assault. Witnesses said the hooligans shouted “Jew” during the attack. Tottenham is known for having a large Jewish fan base from north London.

The president of the Italian Football Association (FIGC) sent a letter of apology to English FA chairman David Bernstein condemning the “disgraceful attack.”

“Once again, football has given a handful of delinquents the excuse to take out their racist and anti-semite anger,” FIGC president Giancarlo Abete said in a statement. “There is evidence of this undoubted motive, which is detrimental to the image of Italian football and doesn’t match with the traditional hospitality and welcome of the city of Rome.

“The city authorities and I publicly express our firm condemnation, with my personal indignation at these events. I beg you to send our apologies to all Tottenham’s fans — and in particular to those families directly involved. I will personally follow the investigation’s development and remain at your disposal should my assistance in any further matters be required.”

Ashley Mills, 25, was stabbed in the leg and head, with at least 10 other fans and bystanders injured.

Mills was enjoying a drink with fellow Tottenham fans at ‘The Drunken Ship’ in central Rome before falling victim to what officials have called a targeted and planned assault.

The 25-year-old was stabbed as the hooligans stormed the pub, with a bystander stemming the bleeding before paramedics arrived and helped to save him.

Mills, who is being treated at the Eternal City’s San Camillo Hospital told London’s Evening Standard: “They came out of nowhere. I didn’t see the guy who stabbed me. There were too many of them.”

Mills said there was a good atmosphere in the bar, in which he and friends were enjoying a few drinks, but the situation changed quickly.

“I was standing outside drinking and the next thing I knew there were loads of them,” he said. “It happened very quickly, I don’t remember much. I remember being pulled out, along the ground, after I had been stabbed.”

Initial reports suggested Lazio fans were exclusively to blame for the assault which was apparently launched with shouts of abuse about the English team’s historical Jewish roots.

Before the match, Lazio club president Claudio Lotito denied his fans were responsible. But shortly afterward, as the game got under way, Lazio fans chanted “Juden Tottenham” — using the German word for Jew, and also unfurled a “Free Palestine” banner.

UEFA is expected to decide Saturday if Lazio should answer for its alleged anti-semitism, after the chanting.

However, it was two fans from the city’s other Serie A club, Roma, who were charged with attempted murder. Officers said Ianari and Pinnelli were in custody and would appear in court this weekend.

A Tottenham club spokesman released a statement on Mills’ recovery and promised the club would remain in contact with the family.

“Mr. Mills remains in a serious but not life threatening condition in hospital after suffering a ruptured artery in his upper thigh as a direct result of a wound sustained in an attack in the early hours of Thursday morning in Rome,” said the statement. “Mr. Mills is the only one of our supporters that remains hospitalised in Rome following this incident. The club remains in contact with his family and we shall offer updates as and when it is appropriate to do so. The family requests that their privacy is respected at this time. Everyone at the football club wishes Mr. Mills a speedy recovery.”

Information from The Associated Press and Press Association was used in this report.

(soccernet.espn)

Hibernian fans face weapons charges

Two Hibernian fans have appeared in court on weapons charges after being arrested on their way to an SPL match.

Kevin Watt and Thomas McFarlane were arrested after police moved to quell potential disorder between Hibs and Dundee supporters on Saturday.

The men, who are both from Edinburgh, appeared on petition at Dundee Sheriff Court.

Neither man made any plea or declaration during the brief private hearings.

Mr Watt, 24, is accused of being in possession of a knife and possessing drugs. He was remanded in custody.

Mr McFarlane, 23, faces charges of breach of the peace and possessing an offensive weapon, and was released on bail.

Surprise result

A heavy police presence was in force around Dens Park on Saturday after reports of up to 40 Hibs casuals travelling to Dundee with the intent of fighting members of the Dundee Utility Crew before kick off.

Tayside Police said the match had passed peacefully.

A spokeswoman said: “On Saturday, the police operation took place and passed peacefully.

“Tayside Police and FoCUS work together before, during and after the game to ensure no such violence associated with football takes place.”

Bottom of the table Dundee won the SPL clash 3-1 in a surprise result – with Hibernian having started the day top of the league.

(BBC Football)