Lesotho Soccer: Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart accepts blame for error against Blackburn Rovers

England man moving on...
By Zack Wilson

Joe Hart has already drawn a line under the error he made which allowed Blackburn Rovers to go into the lead against Manchester City at Eastlands on Saturday, accepting responsibility and moving on.

City were able to find an equaliser through Patrick Vieira, but Hart insists that supporters should not be too disheartened about a result which could be seen as two points lost.

“I got there and Kolo was about to head it, he heard me coming and left it. It was me getting in the way if I am honest. I hold my hands up. I am sorry for that," the England keeper told City's official website.

"I thought we did okay after the goal but Blackburn defended well. Paul Robinson did great. The save from Gareth Barry was special; all the rest of the saves he would expect to make but it is not just as easy as that.

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Lesotho Soccer: Manchester City 3-0 Liverpool: Sheikh Mansour witnesses Gareth Barry, Carlos Tevez & co crush Mascherano-less Reds in Premier League

Adam Johnson stars in convincing win...

Carlos Tevez

Adam Johnson starred for Manchester City as Roberto Mancini's side beat Liverpool 3-0 at Eastlands to claim their first Premier League win of the season.

Carlos Tevez bagged two goals and Gareth Barry the other after combining with new signing James Milner to open the scoring for the home side.

Liverpool were denied a route back into the game by a Joe Hart double-save as City finished looking convincing victors.

Mancini handed a debut to former Aston Villa star Milner but Mario Balotelli would have to wait for his Premier League bow due to a knee injury. Joleon Lescott returned to the side at left-back but there was no place for World Cup winner David Silva in the City attack.

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The visitors handed Fernando Torres a first start of the season but travelled to Eastlands without Javier Mascherano, whom manager Roy Hodgson suggested had been left in the wrong frame of mind amidst speculation surrounding his future. Lucas Leiva instead partnered Steven Gerrard in central midfield in a positive 4-4-2 formation, with new signing Christian Poulsen on the bench.

City were playing in front of Sheikh Mansour for the first time and the man who has shelled a fortune into the club had to wait just 13 minutes for evidence of a return on his investment as five signings of his regime combined to put Mancini’s side ahead.

Adam Johnson, who had earlier fired just wide with a fizzing effort from 25 yards, played a through ball into Milner in the penalty area, and the club’s latest arrival pulled the ball back for fellow former Aston Villa man Barry, who coolly slotted past Reina for the opener.

The home side did not let up as Tevez latched onto a long ball and flashed a shot into the side netting a minute later and Barry set about doubling his tally, but his long range effort failed to trouble Reina as it flashed well wide of the target.

It was a difficult opening half an hour for Liverpool as they were unable to keep possession for long periods, but David Ngog finally forced a diving save from Joe Hart with a low but tame shot to the England international’s left just over 10 minutes from the interval.

The hosts threatened twice in quick succession as Adam Johnson went closer still with a low drive and a piece of trickery from Tevez almost saw him carve an opening, but Steven Gerrard would have the final two chances of the half, missing the target from distance on both occasions.

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Lesotho Soccer: Mancini puts completed Man City squad into Premier League action vs Liverpool

Mancini puts completed Man City squad into Premier League action vs Liverpool
By Stuart Condie (CP)

LONDON — Roberto Mancini has finally assembled the squad he wants at Manchester City and will put it into Premier League action for the first time against Liverpool on Monday.

Former Inter Milan coach Mancini guided City to fifth place last season with the squad he inherited but says the signings of James Milner and Mario Balotelli over the past week will be his last in the summer transfer window.

With Chelsea at Wigan and Manchester United at Fulham (Setanta Sports Canada, 11 a.m. ET) after winning starts, City could give a league debut to both Milner and Balotelli against visiting Liverpool (TSN, 3 p.m. ET). With four more high-profile new signings in his squad, Mancini will have few excuses if City does not win its first home game of the season.

"The last thing he said to me was, 'Be ready for the next game'" Milner said. "And then he said, 'Be ready to win the Premier League.'

"That's my ultimate aim. That's what I want to do and why I'm here."

City was mostly undone last season by dropping points in the first half of the campaign, so a strong start this time is crucial. City was dominated last weekend by Tottenham, the team that edged it to fourth place and the final Champions League qualifying berth, but escaped with a 0-0 draw.

Liverpool almost beat Arsenal before a last-minute own-goal by goalkeeper Pepe Reina handed the Gunners a 1-1 draw, but midfielder Joe Cole will be suspended after a red card on his debut, giving Mancini an opportunity to select a more attacking lineup.

With home advantage and without the dangerous Cole to mark, Mancini is unlikely to play three defensive midfielders as he did last weekend. Yaya Toure and Nigel de Jong could continue in central midfield but Milner could replace Gareth Barry.

"He is a good young player, who can play in every position in the middle and out wide," Mancini said.

New signings Aleksander Kolarov and Jerome Boateng will miss the match after picking up injuries against Spurs. Leftback Kolarov damaged ankle ligaments and could be out for six weeks, while central defender Boateng is likely to be on the sidelines for two weeks because of a deep cut on the inside of his knee.

But Mancini's biggest test could be off the field, as he tries to keep all of his highly paid stars happy.

Craig Bellamy has already left on loan after being told he will not be in City's 25-man Premier League squad and other big names are reportedly disaffected.

Goalkeeper Shay Given has been linked with Arsenal and Fulham after Mancini selected Joe Hart to face Tottenham and again for a midweek Europa League match, while Roque Santa Cruz and Robinho are also being linked with other clubs.

Arsenal hosts Blackpool (TSN, 10 a.m. ET) in a fixture that looks a lot trickier after the unheralded newcomer won its Premier League debut 4-0 at Wigan.

Arsenal will still be favourite to win despite the absence of midfielder Samir Nasri following minor knee surgery, but Blackpool showed it can pass the ball as well as many topflight sides.

Also Saturday, Birmingham hosts Blackburn, Everton hosts Wolverhampton, Stoke hosts Tottenham, West Bromwich Albion hosts Sunderland, West Ham hosts Bolton and Wigan hosts Chelsea.

After routing West Brom 6-0 in its opening match, Chelsea heads to a team it beat 8-0 on the final day of last season.

United has a tougher match Sunday after a 3-0 opening win over Newcastle on Monday. Fulham drew its opener 0-0 at Bolton and beat United 3-0 in last season's corresponding fixture.

Newcastle hosts Aston Villa in Sunday's other game.

Early season League Championship co-leaders Millwall face Leeds at Elland Road in Saturday's biggest second-tier match, while Queens Park Rangers hosts Scunthorpe and Nottingham Forest is at Reading.

source: google.com

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