16/12/2017 Football Focus

COMMENTATOR: Pedro!

It is three. Lukaku.

Oh, and it has gone in.

Still McDonald.

Burnley are up to fourth place.

They are walking away with the

Premiership.

We've had a busy week of football.

Nine days before we get

to open these, three wise

men in the distance,

and we have plenty to persuade you

to put the shopping off for an hour.

They're breaking records.

City's Sterling on the prep of Pep.

The matter who we play, his

preparation is always the same. He

shows you what they are really good

at.

Burnley's rise continues.

We hear from one of the key

inhabitants of Proudsville.

It is great, can't get better.

It's all about the south coast.

Ibe, Bournemouth's Jordan,

takes on his old club Liverpool.

We hear from the Celtic

wunderkid Kieran Tierney

living his childhood dream.

I can't remember a life without

Celtic, I was seven when I was

scouted from my club.

And we're with Bristol City,

riding high in the Championship,

and a League Cup visit

from Mourinho awaits.

I won't have any flour or milk in my

office!

Not sure who's got

the gold and frankincense.

I'm sure Lawro will

provide the mirth.

Leon Osman and Paul Ince

are alongside him.

After that full midweek schedule

of Premier League games,

barely time to pause for breath

as we go again.

Leicester are back in action

after just two days' recovery.

They play the late drama specialists

Crystal Palace in the early kickoff.

All the team news

from there shortly.

Five three o'clocks.

We'll be live at Arsenal

against Newcastle.

And at the Bet365 Stadium as

struggling Stoke take on West Ham.

Tomorrow, it's West Brom against

second-placed Manchester Utd.

And, after two draws in a week,

Liverpool travel to Bournemouth.

On Monday, Everton face bottom club

Swansea at Goodison.

We start, though, with

record-breaking Manchester City.

15 league wins in a row,

at home to Tottenham.

Raheem Sterling has been having

a chinwag with Garth.

COMMENTATOR: It is Raheem Sterling!

Sterling! Oh, my goodness. You have

already scored more goals this

season than any other complete

campaign in your career, what is

that down to?

I'm trying to make the box, really.

Trying to be more ruthless, more

clinical, try to decide games. That

is what I am being judged on. I like

to challenge myself. I need to get

better.

That is what I am tried to do.

COMMENTATOR: Sterling wants it and

has got it.

What is it like playing but this

team?

The most important thing is the

belief in the dressing room. I

definitely put it down to that the

manager sets a plan for each game,

his ideas, he gives us a blueprint.

Everyone else, you can see everyone

buying into it, is on board. If

someone is on the pitch getting

smashed about, they go and help.

How would you describe your personal

development?

I would say, mature, more focused.

I saw a clip on social media where

Pep Guardiola is working with you

closely, showing how to open up your

body. Is he that intense,

micromanaging?

First came, he said he is intense,

trying to get the best, that is what

he is. No matter who we play, what

our position or competition, it is

preparation always the same. He

shows you what they are really good

at. When they first came, we don't

have much time, but now it is a year

and a bit, we understand what he

wants from us, the message is clear.

That is a massive part.

To know exactly what he wants from

us.

COMMENTATOR:. Silva. He doesn't get

it away. It is wet in bike Otamendi.

How significant was that victory?

-- it is swept in.

It was massive. Walking out we had

that belief we can win.

Is the title for you to lose?

If we

do win our remaining games or as

much as possible, we have a good

chance.

It is early days, only December.

COMMENTATOR: Dele Alli!

He sweeps the ball home. Tottenham

this weekend will want to take

points from you, how dangerous are

they?

Last season at White Hart Lane, they

were fantastic, aggressive, strong,

dominant, playing good football.

Players there can score goals.

Kyle Walker has been impressive,

facing his old team, any inside

information?

Not as yet. We will be training in a

minute. He is revved up for the

game, raring to go.

You have come on an extraordinary

amount, have you given thought to

how good you can be?

I have been thinking about that

since I was 17, every season.

Something good happens, something

bad, what can I do better? I am

always analysing, critical, trying

to improve.

Ronaldo isn't getting any younger!

I know that.

Someone I look up to.

Great talking to you.

Thank you very much.

Smiling with

good reason, his team are top of the

division on an incredible run.

Individually, how have you seen him

develop under Pep Guardiola?

When I looked at him last year, was

he technically good enough? He would

get himself in positions where he

could score up put a pass in but it

never happened. He lost confidence

last year. This year with the way

Man City have started, it is OK

having a manager who puts demands on

you. You have two deliver those

demands. What he has done this year

is he has put himself in the right

positions to score goals. Some of

them have been lucky, as in

Huddersfield. He is in the right

place at the right time.

He has really improved.

A lovely goal, eight goals after 80

minutes. He is scoring important

goals. Picking up crucial points.

That shows one of the biggest steps

forward. He has grown in confidence

under Pep Guardiola. He went to Man

City as a young player trying to

develop, playing with quality

players. Being in awe of them so to

speak. This season, he is prepared

to take the onus himself, to take

the shot out, make the moments of

magic. It has been incredible.

He is maturing. Everyone does

eventually. Now you are getting a

consistent end.

He now knows how to play the

position. When you first coming you

are reactive. You need someone to

say, this is what you need to do.

Also, he is playing in the best team

that suits him. Everything is

attack, attack.

They have now brought in Silva. He

has been under pressure.

We talked about Kevin De Bruin.

Silva has been amazing. Total class.

Very rarely gets injured. He is

level in his consistency and

performance. The only way City can't

win the League is himself and Kevin

De Bruin have a long period of

injury. He has that consistency. If

you get players like him, it is a

godsend.

Great to see him getting the audits.

Kevin De Bruin has been getting it

back, but here's the blue. Keep

things moving.

Other footballers and coaches

appreciate it.

Spurs, I asked earlier to look at

Spurs against the top six.

Since Pochettino came in, they have

one one game against the top six.

What do they have to do? To stop

Manchester City from winning again?

It will be difficult. Spurs are set

up to play against better teams.

They are missing some big defensive

players which could hurt them.

Another bloke, why they are not

playing their best?

5% off, Canes, Alli, Eriksen.

So, City have that longest winning

run in English Football history.

Whilst City have been enjoying that

record-breaking run,

it's been another one of those weeks

for Jose Mourinho.

If you ask me one thing that I don't

like it a lot, it is they lose the

balance very easily.

A little bit of winning.

COMMENTATOR: The country's top of

the two, the game that could have it

all.

It is a derby win for the blue side

of Manchester, it feels like a

notable day in the Premiership.

It was made with a big penalty not

given.

COMMENTATOR: Boot to boot. He flings

himself to the ground.

He will see it a different way.

Has the time gone now? They are a

good team. They are protected.

COMMENTATOR: They want him to

celebrate with the Manchester City

games, he will do that in the

dressing room.

City celebrations inside were deemed

excessive by Jose Mourinho. He

confronted them and is said to have

had a carton of milk thrown at him

during an heated exchange while

Mikel Arteta suffered a cut head.

This press Conference...

COMMENTATOR: Manchester City United

have the points, born with played

their part but once again David de

Gea would not be beaten --

Manchester City.

-- Manchester United.

He would be very good in panto!

It's almost a pantomime at times.

Mourinho has until 6pm on Monday

to give the FA his observations

on his comments pre the City game.

You have seen plenty go on at Old

Trafford.

There have been a lot of scuffles

with Arsenal. Not to the extent

where we are seeing, a bottle of

milk being thrown. It is getting

blown up out of proportion.

I am disappointed with Manchester

City. The pictures in the changing

room. When we want Manchester

derbies, we wouldn't be doing photos

as if we had won the title, you have

to show some dignity.

They have beaten their rivals and a

bit on them but that isn't isn't

even halfway through. It was over

the top. But it is rich when Jose

was the guy who slid his trousers

down the touch line when Porto got

that goal... Bow, it is different,

it is Champions League?

We are in the day of social media.

We didn't know what went on in the

dressing room or those years ago.

But celebrating as if they had won

the League, that is not right.

How good a side are they? We saw

earlier the graphic since Ferguson

left, 42 points, better than all the

seasons since, under Mourinho. It is

an annoying season for Mourinho so

far.

That is all people want to talk

about, how well Manchester City are

doing. Jose and United are chasing

them, their local rivals.

Which makes it difficult. In four of

the last ten seasons, they would

have been top. They are progressing

again. The pressure is always on.

In third place is Chelsea. A nice

round of fixtures, Southampton,

Everton, Brighton and Stoke. Will we

see them as a challenger?

Not to City. No.

I just wanted to know! City is done,

forget that. But they can finish

second or third. It is between the

other three.

We saw Chelsea beat Huddersfield in

midweek, you've seen quite a bit of

Huddersfield this season force of

the way Huddersfield like they did

against Man City and Man United,

they beat Man United.

You play

against these teams it's always

going to be tough for Huddersfield,

this is a game people expected

Chelsea to win and they won

comfortable in. Huddersfield won't

stay up on games like this, they

will stay up when they play games

like Stoke.

Brighton.

Brighton the

other week.

For them to compete

against the top boys at the minute

they need to be full of energy and

get about the pitch and make it

really difficult for the opposition,

playing on the weekend and playing

midweek game against Chelsea would

always be difficult.

Manchester United were drawn

against Sevilla in the last 16

of the Champions League.

Just a reminder.

Draw took place on Monday.

Some tasty ties for both

Chelsea and Spurs.

After beating Stoke on Tuesday,

for nearly 24 hours,

Burnley were in the top four.

Yes, they've dropped

down to sixth since.

But the boss is a very happy man.

I'm so proud, whatever story you

want to write you can write because

I'm in Proudsville.

That's Proudsville, Lancashire.

The club have made a video about it.

The boss has a major role.

There is an impressive

supporting cast.

And you can't have a hit

series without a dog.

There he is.

Juliette Ferrington has been

speaking to one of the residents.

Nicely done by Cork, he keeps on

going, and continues the run and

scores against his former club.

What

is reality like right now for you

guys?

Strange season, a lot of

people wrote us off at the start of

the season, we had Chelsea,

Tottenham, Everton, all of those

teams away and we couldn't see where

we would get the waypoints,

especially because of the away form

last year but we got the wins and

points on the board from there and

with our home form we just kept

going. It has got us to the point

where we are in a good position,

it's a lot down to the squad. If you

look at the team, the players at the

start of the season and the last

game and the players we have it has

proved we have a strong squad and we

can rely on people to do their jobs.

What has it been like to, compared

to the previous two occasions you

have been here?

The last time I was

here, we got relegated on the next

season we had lots of expectation in

the Championship and we'd never

quite reached that. This season is

just full of optimism and positive

energy everywhere and the club is

changing, it's progressing and going

in the right direction and it just

feels like a good atmosphere for

everyone, especially at this moment

to be in the top six.

Difficult time

for Swansea in the first part of

this year, and now you've come in

here. Can you contrast the two

emotions and mood in terms of your

own personality and character?

At

Swansea it was tough, we had lots of

changes and we just stayed up over

two seasons, and it is tough,

difficult to be confident and play

with freedom because there is so

much riding on it in a place like

Swansea where everyone is so into

the football team. You do feel it,

you go down to the shops and

everyone asks you about football and

stuff like that, and you go, we are

trying but it's not working. To come

somewhere like this and get straight

into it with the wins is

unbelievable. It is a complete

change to what it was in the first

half of the year for me.

What kind

of vibe do you get from the streets

of Burnley?

They can't say anything

about it now, it's great.

If

somebody is said to us you would

have 31 points by Easter I would

have snapped their handoff.

It is a

dream. You have an international cap

as well. You almost didn't make that

one, did you?

I was on holiday,

nearly. I packed my bags and the

manager said you have had a call,

Gareth Southgate wants you to join

the squad.

Did you think he was

winding you up?

I thought so, I was

at the age of 28 coming into the

second part of my career thinking

the chance had gone. To get that

call was great that he was going to

give me the opportunity and really

excited to get going.

Why don't you

guys do social media here?

I did it

for a bit and I don't know, I've

just gone off it a little bit.

None

of the players. Often you see after

big wins, dressing room photos, you

just seemed to give it all to

yourself.

I don't think the manager

likes us getting carried away, to be

honest, it lacks to keep as

grounded, especially at a time like

this, to get carried away on a

platform like that I don't think it

would go down too well.

Is it him?

It may be, I'm not sure!

You are in

the European places right now.

Realistically could you still be

pursuing that at the end of the

season?

We would love to, we will go

to Christmas and see how money

points we have and see what is

realistic and what is not and if we

are at 40 points at Christmas we

will have to try and go for it and

if not we will have to keep trying

to plug towards the 40 points.

Stay off social media.

Wise words. They have been so

impressive this season, and the

stats back it up as well. Well under

one goal a game conceded. No other

side has made few changes, 13

changes to the starting line of the

season.

It is great to sea and in a

time when it is fashionable to make

changes and keep things fresh they

have got another way, they have

togetherness, unity and they are all

pulling in the right direction and

there are no egos in that team. When

you get all that together under a

manager like Sean Dyche who they

believe in, you see it in the

results on the field.

Ashley Barnes,

their goal in midweek against Stoke,

Paul, this time last season they had

17 points, 31 this time round in the

same number of games. It has been

great for the Premier League to see

Burnley doing so well.

Great, not

just for the Premier League but

great for the British players. Look

at 13, 90% of their team are British

players, you know, and they have had

an influx over the last number of

years of foreign players, great to

see a team that can play a basic

4-4- two or 84-4- 1-1 picking up

results. Last year they could not

win away -- 4-4- 1-1. Sean Dyche,

he's a fantastic manager. The

biggest thing for me is the social

media because the art of

conversation has gone now. In the

changing room they are all together

and talking, they have a camaraderie

and spirit and desire and you see it

on the pitch.

Great to see Sean

Dyche's development, as Paul pointed

out, they couldn't win away last

year, he has figured out how to do

that and is bringing on the team and

he is developing along with the team

and he has been linked with other

jobs. I don't think it will be long

before someone else comes along.

Keep somebody in a job for long

enough and eventually there will be

a good side.

They have bright and.

Chris Hughton said it is not time to

press the panic button but they have

two points from 18 and no goals in

open play in the Premier League for

eight hours. Everybody said look at

the three promoted teams in the top

ten and now they are dropping like

stones.

It is important they get

something today. I think Brighton

will be fine.

We heard from Crystal Palace Manager

Roy Hodgson last week.

And he must be starting to enjoy

looking at the Premier League table.

The Eagles can climb out

of the bottom three when they take

on Leicester this afternoon -

although they love

a bit of late drama.

COMMENTATOR: The last seconds at the

end of this one, it needs to be now

from Crystal Palace. Zaha. My word!

It's the last kick of the game.

It's

a cliche but we tell our players

it's 95, 96 minutes per game.

COMMENTATOR: Zaha. It's beaten them

all and it comes to Cabaye, of the

post and it's in. Crystal Palace

have a huge three points.

If you

fight until the end you will always

have a chance.

Milunovich took the

penalty and scored. Benteke has

taken this one. In added time, saved

by Begovic and Crystal Palace have

missed a golden opportunity -- Luka

Milivojevic.

It was a unilateral

decision in the end.

Can Crystal

Palace conjure something up in the

dying minutes of the game? Sakho!

Pinball! Here is the chance,

McArthur! Would you believe it! ?

Crystal Palace have turned it

around.

We have done well in the

last minutes of games really.

It's a

bit of an understatement.

Six games undefeated for Palace.

Today they face a Leicester side

who have only lost once

since Claude Puel took over

in October - and that

was to Manchester City.

Martin Fisher is at the King Power

Stadium this lunchtime

and has the team news.

Thanks, Dan. Bitterly cold day at

the King Power that two sides on a

hot streak so we should be in for a

cracking day. Cap, Palace unbeaten

in the last six and if the extent

that here they will move out of the

relegation zone for the first time

this season, at least for a few

hours. Leicester were in the bottom

three themselves a couple of months

ago but under Claude Puel they are

back to their very best and four

wins in a row has the locals talking

about closing in on the top four.

Despite his two goals the other

night Shinji Okazaki drops out for

the return of Demarai Gray. King and

Bastian Fuchs make way for Gabon and

Albrighton. Palace are without the

suspended Luka Milivojevic and

Fosu-Mensah who is injured. James

McArthur and Martin Kelly come in.

-- Christian Fuchs. The modern base

Dominic Day obsession with

statistics show that he has not

taken part in any goals this season

because the touches have taken away

his assists.

He's making a

difference in games, isn't he?

He

is, especially in the last ten or 15

minutes. He's prepared to take the

ball and run with it, take people

on. Last year when he played

alongside Bolasie, or the season

before, there was the two of them,

Crystal Palace didn't always know

who to Turn 2, who was the Talisman,

so to speak, but he's become that

now and taken it in his stride, and

he is happy to do things like this,

take people on, show his skills and

provide goals and at the moment Roy

Hodgson will be delighted.

Last year

the only question about is our heart

was his end product, I thought

something was a bit below par from

the. A bit like Sterling. Similar

scenario. They missed him in the

early part of the season when he was

injured. When we are blinded by his

skills and step overs, but now he is

producing for Crystal Palace.

Too

much too early at Manchester United.

You can understand why they took him

and you can see now because of the

ability he has. He may go again. Is

comfortable Palace now.

They had

wingers out on one side and they

were far too open. Now Roy Hodgson

has them organised and compact. The

little bit of magic Zaha brings is

making Crystal Palace into a much

better team.

There were playing

Dutch football in the Premier League

and it doesn't work.

What about

Claude Puel at Leicester? The fans

were not happy.

They go straightaway

he didn't do much at Southampton.

Actually he did a good job at

Southampton. When you analyse it. He

has Mahrez playing, we know about

Vardy, they have some really good

players, Leicester City. I honestly

think they will finish seventh in

the league this season. Which, for

Claude Puel, would be very good. I

think he's a good manager. I just

think he got a bum deal at

Southampton.

Would you go along with

that, you two?

Not about the fans, I

wouldn't!

LAUGHTER

Paul Ince is a trouble at any ground

he goes to, it makes no difference.

I think Mahrez has been important

for Leicester.

Is it strange he's

turning it on now near the January

window?

We were talking about that

before, they are getting goals from

all departments, they have Demarai

Gray back, Okazaki.

The manager must

have had a word with Mahrez, forget

about January, we might let you go

in the summer and he's got him

playing. Doesn't matter.

Grey hair

as well.

Leicester are the reigning

BBC Sports Personality

Team of The Year.

Tomorrow we'll find out who's

going home with the gongs

this time around.

# She loves you yeah, yeah, yeah.

On, Liverpool, let's have a night to

remember.

Is this a real thing?

I

can't hold this with these on.

Looks

like it could do with a polish.

Some

greats have won this award.

It would

look nice in my room.

BBC Sports

Personality of the Year 2017 live

from Liverpool, Sunday at 6:45pm on

BBC One.

The Echo Arena the venue for that.

Tomorrow afternoon, Jurgen Klopp

will be taking his Liverpool team

to the south coast to face

a Bournemouth side featuring

old boy Jordan Ibe.

Rachel Stringer has been

to see him - and don't forget,

this was an absolute

classic last season.

COMMENTATOR: Mane past Boruc and

rolls the ball home.

Liverpool have

a lot of quality.

Boruc is committed

and he's nowhere near him and Origi

scores. Change made at the start of

the second half, Jordan Ibe, former

Liverpool player.

Playing against

your old team you want to do the

best you can.

Inside to Fraser who

goes down Emma Gray penalty. What a

goal!

Three goals in the last 20

minutes.

Bournemouth have a second

goal.

Great achievement for us to

come back.

I don't believe it!

Bournemouth are level.

Great game to

be involved in and for the fans it

was a great game to see.

The shot,

he has lost it, it is unbelievable,

Bournemouth have won the game. After

the final whistle went Jurgen Klopp

came over to you and embraced you.

Does that kind of show the kind of

manager that he is?

I was happy when

he came over. For me, as a manager,

he is a really good manager one to

one, he makes you feel important

whether you are coming on from the

bench or a starter, everyone feels

the same so I give him credit for

that.

How does he compare differ to

Eddie Howe?

Jurgen is a bit more

aggressive, not in a bad way. He

gets more excited, you can see how

he is on the sideline, it's as if he

is the 12th player on the pitch.

That's the only difference. The

manager is still great. He's taught

me a lot on the defensive side of

things. I wasn't the best at

tracking back. I think it is like

that with a lot of wingers. It is a

lot more work but as I say I'm

getting used to everything, I feel

as if I've done better.

You've been

here 18 months now, you were a club

record signing at the time when you

were brought in. What pressures did

that add to you, if any?

A lot of pressure. Being the age I

was, it wasn't the greatest last

season. I have picked up the pace

but there is loads more to come from

me, and from the team.

COMMENTATOR: A little backheel.

With an exquisite touch. We don't

know what will happen on Sunday.

Paul, everyone is talking about

their attack. Do you look at them

and feel worried?

They have a lot of attacking

options. You see the way they

attack, fast players. It will be

difficult for us. It is a game to be

involved in. We have to look out for

the great players.

How important will it be for you to

make an impact against your former

club?

Extremely. I want us to win. I would

like to get a goal and be a vital

player in the team.

Presumably they were indoors, I

don't know what it says about the

player. He is still a young kid.

From Derby, went on to Bournemouth,

hasn't really done the business. I

am not sure how much Eddie Howe will

trust him to play the whole game. He

is more of an impact player.

We have just had Raheem Sterling,

Wilfried Zaha, they have seriously

trained, that is what he needs to

do. Rather than wearing a hat, he

needs to look at what they are

doing. I'm just joining in. He had a

go at Leicester fans, did you hear?

He has great ability. Someone has to

shake him up. He went there for £15

million. When you look at the

players he is up against, he should

be in the team on a more regular

basis.

Lots of players have made the most

out of average ability. He has lots

of ability.

We mentioned last season against

Liverpool. We will show you the

winner in injury time. Coutinho on

the bench. An interesting decision

from Jurgen Klopp.

Where are Liverpool at the moment?

They have shown they have all the

tools to destroy teams and score as

many as they have. They are always

capable of giving you a chance. For

Everton to go there and keep it Tate

-- keep it tight. Liverpool may do

something silly at the back. If you

defend deep, deny them the space to

run into, you are taking away half

their strength.

They were off-colour the other

night. The first touch, and usually

it was poor. You can't call them the

Fab four anymore, they are called

the Quad squad!

One place below Bournemouth

are Stoke, and the grumblings

against manager Mark Hughes have got

considerably louder after the loss

to Burnley this week.

Much of it was his decision

to substitute Shaqiri.

I don't think the performances have

been particularly bad. In the game

against Spurs, clearly from our

point of view, it was not what we

expected. We are not the only team

with trials and should relations at

this time of this current season.

Our fans will accept defeat up to a

point if they see performances of

commitment and real desire and

working hard for the short which --

for the shirt.

Let's go to the Bet365 Stadium now.

John Murray there for

Match of The Day today.

A local columnist this week said

it was time for Hughes to go.

He is one of the bosses under

extreme pressure.

It has that feeling about it, coming

here today. The pressure is on. This

game against West Ham and the next

home match against West Brom. Games

we can look at. They will only be

looking at this one. A tough week

for Stoke away from home, as well as

losing at Burnley. The performance

was better. Last Saturday, well

beaten by Tottenham at Wembley. That

business at the railway station,

probably in times past you would

have heard the dog, but pictures of

supporters telling the players what

they think of them. -- you wouldn't

have heard that.

Saido Berahino hasn't played

a minute in the last six games

and is yet to score for the club

in 20 league appearances.

It is a strange situation, talk

about young players with talent. He

said they had something about him.

Without doubt, his is an

extraordinary story, he has lived a

nice -- a life less ordinary. He had

difficulties at West Brom. Mark

Hughes had a gamble on him, Stoke

had a gamble. He has not featured in

the last six matches. He has been an

unused substitute this season more

times than he has got onto the

field. One of the grumbles the other

night, why not use him? Put him on

the field.

We will see today.

I heard an

interesting discussion about how

many players you would wear.

John, I know you always take a hat.

Have you gone vest as well today?

I am not a big one for thermals! You

get too hot inside. You need to get

the layering right, I hope I have

nailed it today.

Excellent. Good advice.

That is the Stoke point of view.

They take on West Ham. They had been

improving under David Moyes. Running

an extra seven kilometres per match.

I don't know if he has improved on

everything. He has said in terms of

training, they have been very good.

It looks like he has them organised,

some good results. They are in the

battle to avoid relegation, nothing

more.

November is the month when people

change their manager. Now it is

December. Those managers who have

changed, they have been positive

changes.

It can go either way. Look at West

Ham, Roy Hodgson at Palace.

Everton. It has that effect. How

long will the effect last? These

clubs will see it wearing off.

If you say the stats are down, it is

a natural requirement for any player

to work hard. After that, it is a

bonus. Talking about David Moyes,

Claude Puel, they are both doing

well.

That is one of the games featuring

this afternoon.

That's one of the games that

will feature on Final Score this

afternoon, from 4pm on BBC One,

Sportscene in Scotland.

Dion Dublin and Garth Crooks

joining Jason for that one.

Match of The Day is back at 10:20pm

tonight with Ian Wright

and Marthin Keown in the studio.

-- and Martin Keown in the studio.

With Match of The Day 2 at 10:30pm

tomorrow on BBC Two due

to Sports Personality

being on BBC One.

Now to a young Celtic player who's

already picking up plenty of awards.

Kieran Tierney has already been

voted young Scottish Player

Of The Year twice.

Rob MacLean has been to see a full

back playing in a side who are now

unbeaten in 69 league matches.

Sask I am a rebel...

I bet you can't do it like me.

I was looking at a website picking

their best players, Coutinho,

Bernardo, Neymar. Your name was in

there, how does it feel?

It is bad.

Mad they have put me in it but I am

delighted.

COMMENTATOR: It is Kieran Tierney

forced first goal in the top team.

I can't remember life without

Celtic. I was seven when I was

scouted. To be so young, to make the

grade is really a great achievement

in itself.

I feel as if I need to work hard

every single day to keep it going.

COMMENTATOR: Stunning opening goal.

I never take it for granted. I keep

going, work hard. Whatever, wherever

it takes me.

What has the arrival of Brendan

Rodgers meant?

He has developed me as a much better

player. People can see over 18

months my maturity on the pitch has

got a lot better. I am learning the

game. He has done that with a lot of

players.

Knocking on 70 games unbeaten.

It is great but not something we

will talk about too much. Every game

is big for us.

You're just thinking about your game

plan and how you will keep it going.

You have signed a new long-term

contract with Celtic, do you plan to

be here for a long time question

mark yes, that's why I signed it, I

was delighted when it was offered.

It was done so quickly. From

Thursday until Tuesday. It gave me a

lift. My family are proud. And it

will give the fans a lift.

The Scottish Cup last season when

you got a bang and had to go to

hospital.

That was crazy. It was a fairy tale

I made it back in time. I went to

the dentist, got the operation. Just

to make it back. Then I ran into the

stadium. It was perfect timing. You

can see how much it meant to me when

I lifted it and the reaction from

the fans is something I will never

forget.

Most of the top English clubs have

scouts watching you.

My friends tell me that. Sentience

that's coming to watch me. I don't

know how true it is. -- 17 scouts

coming to watch me.

COMMENTATOR: Be champions, the

Invincibles.

I dreamt of playing with Celtic when

I was younger and I am living that

dream, I had no ambitions at the

moment to play anywhere else. It is

football, anything can happen.

Celtic's youngest ever captain.

In August, The Herald

asked if he was the best

Scottish player for 40 years.

He has got talent undoubtedly and

could go on to be a really top

player. I am not having that title.

You're taking out Graeme Souness,

Alli McCoist, Charlie Nicholas? No.

I think he might be embarrassed.

Maybe they were just chatting it up

there.

I think it was a question.

Our incredible talent, so young,

coming in with a mature head. Taking

the weight of Celtic. He is now

captain of his country as well.

Going back to the Herald newspaper,

the last thing we need is that type

of publicity at this time. He might

be able to deal with it but he

doesn't need it. Celtic are

dominating the League. He has

potential to be great but he has to

move away from Celtic.

Two League defeat in his entire

career. He has a winning mentality.

I'm not being funny but you would

have because you win every week.

Virtually. The league is not great,

it's not Celtic's fault that they

beat every other team but there is a

massive disparity between Celtic and

all the other rest of the teams

apart from maybe Aberdeen.

And as

Rob was asking I think holding onto

him will be a challenge in the

future but he's enjoying his

football at the moment.

Celtic have drawn Zenit St

Petersburg in the Europa League.

Arsenal play Graham

Potter's Ostersund.

You may remember we went

and interviewed him last month.

Which is quite good timing really.

That's in February.

A visit from Newcastle is of more

pressing concern to.

Steve Bower is there for us.

Does it feel like the final few days

or weeks of the reign of Mike Ashley

at Newcastle?

Every Newcastle

supporter would like to think that

because it's a rather unique

situation and we know one owner

wants to sell and there is a group

that wants to buy, and we know they

have had talks and there is a

transfer window opening next month.

I was talking to Rafael Benitez a

couple of weeks ago down here when

they play Chelsea. You could see his

frustration because he's getting, he

feels, the most out of his squad,

the ability, most of the time and

they are crying out for quality. And

he is crying out with a list ready

to try and bring back quality in to

keep them in the Premier League in

January. So he is hoping that can be

the case. Every Newcastle fan needs

a lift with this run, the worst run

in the last eight games, one point

from the last 24 and again more

frustration. The performance, he

felt, was that at times against

Everton in the week, whether they

can get a lift here today is a big

as given Arsenal's home record

before the debate against Manchester

United. But Newcastle, no doubt, the

nerves are getting thin on Tyneside

and the club on and off the pitch

need a lift and they need a lift

quickly.

Talking of Arsenal now, we

have mentioned the transfer window a

few times in this programme. Without

reopening in January... You are

smoking because I think you know

what the question will be. Those two

contract revels at Arsenal will be

on the back pages again, won't they?

That's the whole point, we are

talking about it, you are asking the

question, it is not a healthy

situation for Arsenal with Alexis

Sanchez and Mesut Ozil. I talked to

a few Arsenal fans outside and

that's the first thing they ask,

will they stay, will they be sold in

January? There are bound to be

players in the dressing room

thinking Batcombe Arsene Wenger

publicly yesterday reiterating that

nobody is going to leave the club in

January -- thinking that. The more

immediate issue is they have gone

three Premier League games without a

win since January. I was at West Ham

when a team with Ozil and Sanchez

struggled to break West Ham down and

that will give Newcastle and Rafa

Benitez hope today if they can

remain resolute and defensively they

might be able to get something.

Arsenal need to get winning quickly

again and keep those points close to

those Champions League rivals, of

course, with or without Ozil, 4chan

Piesley football next season.

Thanks, Steve, enjoyed the game

later on.

Do you think they are better than

their league position?

I do, I

honestly think so. Last week against

Everton they hit the woodwork three

times and had many chances. I love

Rafa but you can't keep putting out

excuses about the takeover. That's

an excuse for the players, every

time they get beat they say we need

money and this. Managers in that

league have less money than he has.

When I look at their squad he has a

better squad than four or five teams

in there. Where they are at the

moment does not surprise me. If you

make an excuse for the players,

waiting for the takeover, basically

saying his squad isn't good enough.

The players used that as an excuse.

That needs to be put to bed. We know

the situation with Newcastle, there

is a takeover coming, but don't put

that on the players. The players

have to go out and perform. They

haven't got a bad squad. You would

not see Sean Dyche moaning about it

and he probably has the least budget

out of all of them. I'm not buying

that.

Goals, looking at Dwight

Gayle, Perez, Mitrovic you don't

think goals on a regular basis in

the Premier League which is

something they will have to address.

Which is what he's asking about

January.

Newcastle were the Championship

champions last season.

This time it's Wolves

leading the way.

In third are Bristol City

who are surprising many and face

Manchester United in the

quarterfinals of the League Cup

next week.

Mark Clemmitt has been

to where the M4 meets the M5.

I have only watched training for ten

minutes this morning and I'm

freezing. Do you actually enjoyed it

and do the players, yes, absolutely

love it.

It's the best job in the

world. As far as the lads are

concerned they are going and kicking

the ball around with their mates

still.

Have you surprised yourself

this season?

No, I think that it was

always a medium-term sort of project

for us. We had a horrendous spell

last year, and in one sense it's

good because we came through it and

it made everybody stronger.

Did you

have to go and make representation

to the board and say, I know it

looks terrible but you've got to

believe in me?

Of course,

absolutely, and sometimes that is a

daily communication, sometimes that

is a weekly or a monthly, after

games, that communication, the

humility, the understanding of

what's required and particularly

being a young manager and they have

helped me through it.

Do you ever

doubt yourself?

No, never, you have

a belief in what you are trying to

do. Sometimes it's the frustration

that you can't fast-track it. You

know where the endgame is and it's

about keeping on the straight line

getting there.

The manager said

things he wanted to do last season

when he first came in, couple of

seasons now down the line is teasing

place and everybody understands

their roles and what is expected

from us all, on the pitch and off

the pitch.

You have become a bit of an Internet

sensation, haven't you? Somebody

told me over 2 million hits on the

last one.

It is just a bit of a

joke, football is serious but it

shows you can have fun on the side,

looking forward to what the others

come up with because there are a few

good ones coming up.

The League Cup

is looming, you've already toughed

out three Premier League clubs and

Jose is coming to Town.

I'm excited,

that's for sure, it would be nice to

chat to him and trying to pick his

brain.

Let's hope it doesn't kick

off in the tunnel because you might

not get much out of him.

I won't

have any flour or milk in my office!

OK, fine!

Jose is right up there,

I've read all of his books and

watched any sessions available to

watch and studied his interviews and

he was the play the same level that

I was and hopefully one day I will a

top level club.

To have come through

the academy, to be scoring for one

of your home City clubs must be one

of the most amazing feelings, isn't

it?

100% and I don't think we are

trying to do something special this

season. The feeling is crazy,

everybody wants to be part of it and

everybody is raring for us and who

knows where it could take us?

This

is the first time I'm going to

mention the City of Bristol as a

sleeping giant. Premier League

football would be spot on for this

City.

That's the dream, certainly.

We are trying everything possible to

fast-track it. We've got the

stadium, the training ground,

planning permission went in last

week, we've got the fan base,

fantastic fan base. It's a huge City

and it has a lot going for it.

I have a quick update from the

Premier League. Christian Benteke

has scored away from home for

Crystal Palace, they lead 1-0 at

Leicester. That's the update, not a

penalty, in case you are wondering.

The quote behind Lee Johnson during

the interview, because you couldn't

quite make it out, is from the

American actress Judy Holliday.

Nobody can give a good performance

unless the authors and composers

have written a good part,

a fact which is often overlooked.

You can tell she wasn't talking

about football. What's all that

about?

You lot, you have been a

manager...

Hold on I reckon our take

on that is no matter what we do on

the pitch, actually the coaching

staff and manager are more

important. What a load of baloney!

He's reminding himself.

Himself!

He's reminding himself that his role

is important.

The game has gone.

You

are just throwing out opinions.

I am

not, what did you think of that?

I

think it's important. What he's

trying to say is if they do all the

work before the Saturday then the

players have to go and perform so it

is a joint team effort. I'm not of

the opinion of Laura, to be honest.

From his perspective it is working,

they are third in the league, many

people's favourites to go down, he

has managed 250 league games and

only about 30.

He's done a lot in

his short time but he's doing a

fantastic job at Bristol City and

they have an opportunity to get

promoted, but the big cup game in

the week, that they will enjoy.

They

are also a way to Watford in the

third round of the FA Cup in a few

weeks' time as well. The final

non-league replay this week, trying

to book their places this week in

that hat. They had already breached

a pretty hefty gap to their League 1

opponents in the first meeting and

early on in the return National

League side Woking were at it again.

Woking have the lead and it's a

wonderful goal from Ehiogu. Any home

concern was quickly quelled by,

ironically enough, Michael Doughty.

And for those of the Peterborough

disposition it got even better soon.

Jack Murray it found room, 2-1.

Woking wobbling but as their heads

cleared they found a way back.

Charlie Carter paving the way for

Matt Young. Upset back on. But only

for a moment.

Intermediate 3-2, and

he does. What an FA Cup tie this is

turning out to be.

Things were

starting to slip away for Woking.

Danny Lloyd was sent bling, easy one

for the referee, Maddison made

penalty looked simple too. Edwards

added some gloss for Posh, now

perhaps a little anxiously, Aston

Villa await.

With a tasty looking trip to Premier

League team Bournemouth the enticing

reward, stakes were sizeable at the

DW Stadium worth the former FA Cup

winners landed the first blow. Ivan

Toney, 1-0. Files are made of strong

stuff, Simon grand rattled in the

level, grand indeed. But even better

was to follow for FA Cup thrill

seekers.

He finds Danny Rowe and is

deflected and into the net. --

Fylde. The League 1 leaders Wigan

shaken but they stirred. Will Grigg

was summoned from the bench and his

response was impressive, having

levelled the tie minutes later he

won it. Wigan have turned it around

and it's Will Grigg again.

For 4-4-2

or -- Fylde.

Hereford were creating cup history

but here Fleetwood were determined

to create their own. From George

Linde and's corner, skippered Ciaran

Rodger got them in front and it

worked so well they had another go,

very much a captain's innings. Uwe

Rosler and, rubbing their hands in

glee, a third round tie with

Leicester was their prize.

Ivan Gaskell rounding it up there.

Wins for Exeter,

Yeovil and Blackburn.

Carlisle against Gillingham

was postponed until Tuesday.

That's it from us this lunchtime.

Lyle Rowe is off for a lie down! --

Lawro.

We're back next Saturday at midday

for a pre-Christmas extravaganza.

We leave you with the

yuletide predictions

of the WWE star John Cena,

who's currently providing the voice

of a bull in the film Ferdinand.

Goodbye.

, no, you are a 2000 lb feather.

Talking about the guys who fall down

dramatically when they don't get

hit. So I think they would do just

fine in the WWE. Did the US not make

the World Cup? I thought it was the

World Cup, doesn't everybody play?

We didn't make it? We didn't make it

for real? Stoke- West Ham. Who

doesn't love a good ham? It provides

you with nourishment, happiness, a

sense of community, always served at

a big family function or gathering.

I like West Ham, 1-0. Now, everyone

in the Internet world is going to

think I'm going to choose the Spurs.

You're right, Tottenham all the way.

Wait for it... 1-0.