Derby appoints Jewell as manger

Derby County have appointed former Wigan Athletic manager Paul Jewell as head coach.The Rams parted company with Billy Davies on Monday and chairman Adam Pearson has wasted no time in finding a replacement.

Pearson told reporters: "Paul is a stand-out candidate with regard to management experience and I couldn't think of a better man for the job."

Jewell, who left Wigan after securing their Barclays Premier League safety on the final day of last season, emerged as Derby's prime target on Tuesday.Since leaving the JJB Stadium he has been linked with several jobs, including a return to his former club Wigan.

But Jewell said: "I wanted a rest from football, I've enjoyed my time off, I'm refreshed and I'm absolutely delighted to be here and really looking forward to challenge ahead." Jewell had resigned as Wigan boss at the end of last season declaring himself "physically and mentally drained"

He has been handed a three-and-a-half-year deal at Pride Park and speaking about his appointment, Jewell insisted he would not "wave the white flag" in the club's battle with relegation.Asked if he could keep the side up this season, he said: "Absolutely. If I don't believe it, if the players don't believe it, if the fans don't believe it we have no chance.It's going to be very difficult but I'm not here to wave the white flag. We're not adrift."

McLeish is new Burmingham manager

Alex McLeish has been confirmed as the new manager of Birmingham City.The former Rangers and Hibernian boss quit his role as manager of the Scottish national team on Tuesday and less than 24 hours later was unveiled at St Andrews.

McLeish, who has signed a three-and-a-half-year contract, takes over from Steve Bruce who left the club earlier this month and is now at Wigan Athletic.The new role will be McLeish's first in the Barclays Premier League and his aim will be to steer the Blues clear of relegation trouble. They currently sit just one point above the drop zone.

McLeish admitted the lure of the Barclays Premier League and day-to-day management were significant factors in his decision to leave Scotland.He said: "I've always had a desire to come to the Premier League. I'd love to be managing in the Premier League for a considerable time.The Scotland campaign was over and I really thought long and hard about staying on. I knew of some interest in the Premier League and had a desire to get back to day-to-day football.I really enjoyed my time in the Scotland job, it was a good period for me which was not day to day but allowed me to rekindle my appetite for the club scene again.I've come to a club with great tradition in football and with a fervent and fantastic fan base.I look forward to the challenge.''

Coach Roy Aitken, who was part of McLeish's backroom team at Scotland, has also made the move to St Andrews, as has Andy Watson, another member of the Scottish set-up.

Derby part company with Davis

Derby County have parted company with manager Billy Davies after a run of eight matches without a win.Davies led the Rams to promotion from the Championship last season but the club currently sit bottom of the Barclays Premier League after only one win this season.

"I have met with Billy Davies this morning and we have decided mutually in the best interests of both parties that to go our separate ways is the correct decision at this time," Derby Chairman Adam Pearson said in a statement on the club's official website.

"Billy Davies leaves Derby County with our best wishes and our genuine gratitude in achieving a magnificent promotion to the Premier League, where everyone connected with the club wanted to be.We wish Billy all the best for his future career and both parties will now move forward, which I am sure will lead to future success for Billy Davies and Derby County."

Derby have been beaten 5-0 by Arsenal and West Ham United this season and 6-0 by Liverpool. The Rams lost 2-0 at home to Chelsea on Saturday.Academy manager Kevin Thelwell has been appointed as caretaker manager on a temporary basis.

"We've agreed mutually to part our ways," said Davies. "It's football. We know the situation.It's time to move on. This is not the time to discuss anymore. It's time to move onto something new. I don't know what there is for the future. I'll wait and see.At this point I'd like to thank very much the staff and players and the fans, who have been magnificent.Everyone's been a pleasure to work with and I've enjoyed the great times I've had at Derby.I'm very, very proud walking out of these gates with what's been achieved. I'm walking out with my head held high.The one thing I can guarantee is that Billy Davies will bounce back and be a much better and stronger manager for this experience."

Game Week 14- Review

Sir Alex Ferguson was sent to the stands as title-chasing as relegation threatened Bolton shocked Manchester United to their first defeat since August.Nicolas Anelka's first half strike was enough to seal all three points for the home side.The result gives Gary Megson his first win as Trotters manger, as his new charges climb out of the relegation zone for virtually the first time this season.

Arsenal extended their lead at the top of the Barclays Premier League with a 2-0 win over Wigan taking full advantage of Man utd slip up at bolton. For large spells, though, the Gunners - now unbeaten for 28 matches - had been frustrated by a determined Wigan side, who will have new manager Steve Bruce in charge from Monday.

Ayegbeni Yakubu and Tim Cahill grabbed two each, with Steven Pienaar, substitute Andrew Johnson and Leon Osman scored give Everton a resounding 7-1 victory over Sunderland. Dwight Yorke got the Black Cats goal.

Goalkeeper Robert Green saved an injury-time penalty from Jermain Defoe to ensure West Ham earned a point in a thrilling clash at Upton Park. Tottenham centre-half Michael Dawson had hauled Spurs level with a header in the 66th minute after a first-half blunder by Younes Kaboul had allowed Carlton Cole to open the scoring for the Hammers.

Stephen Warnock rescued a point for Blackburn with a late equaliser at Craven Cottage. Danny Murphy put Fulham ahead from the spot .But Brett Emerton responded in emphatic fashion with Rover's first equaliser. A well-worked move saw Diomansy Kamara fire the Cottagers ahead for a second time only for Warnock to pounce 12 minutes from time.

Goals from Steven Gerrard, Dirk Kuyt and Ryan Babel earned Liverpool a deserved away day victory at St James' Park. Magpies goalkeeper Shay Given made a series of saves to ensure the defecit was kept to a minimum.

Birmingham City goalkeeper Richard Kingson's mistake and a superb strike from Niko Kranjcar saw Harry Redknapp's side take all three points at St Andrews. It clinched a fifth successive away win for Pompey and extended their unbeaten league run to nine games to keep them in the top six.

John Carew, Olof Mellberg and and Gabriel Agbonlahor helped Aston Villa to a 3-0 victory at Middlesbrough. Boro, who have not won a single league game since September, fall to fourth bottom in the table.

James Harper looked to have secured a point for Reading after Martin Petrov had opened the scoring, but Stephen Ireland came to Manchester City's rescue with a stoppage-time winner.

Chelsea wrapped up a 2-0 win over Derby County at Pride Park. Salomon Kalou opened the scoring before Shaun Wright-Phillips scored with a close-range effort.

Steve Bruce join Wigan,Leaves Birmingham

Steve Bruce has left Birmingham City and has been named as the new manager of Wigan Athletic.Wigan chairman Dave Whelan said he was "delighted" Bruce had joined the Latics and confirmed that Birmingham would receive £3million in compensation.

Whelan said "When Paul Jewell decided he was not going to come back I was a little bit disappointed but Steve Bruce is the guy we wanted.I'm delighted we've got him, I think he's a big loss for Birmingham and a big signing for Wigan Athletic.He'll be a fantastic signing for Wigan Athletic. He's one of the best young managers in the land, I'm delighted we've got him and he'll bring enthusiasm, knowledge and spirit to our team.We have a good team now, we have some good players. We've had some bad luck with injuries and when Steve comes in he I know he will want a midfield player and maybe a striker - and I will be backing him exactly the same way I did with Paul Jewell."

Whelan confirmed the compensation package for Bruce, adding " We've got to do the right thing for Birmingham and (co-owner) David Sullivan has been a good and honest man all through the dealings."

On Bruce's previous stint with the Latics, at the end of the 2000-01 season, Whelan added: "I was annoyed when he walked away but I didn't give him a contract and he came for the last six weeks of season.He did a super job and got an offer from Crystal Palace which he wanted to take. I was disappointed to lose him but I'm delighted he's come back to us.My message to the fans is 'support your team'. We need every bit of support we can get but we've got a brilliant manager now and together we have to make Wigan what it once was - a fighting team.

"Under Steve Bruce we know Wigan will be a fighting team.What he earns he deserves - he will keep us out of relegation problems and all the fans will be delighted we've got him."

Game Week 13- Review

Two goals in the final nine minutes gave Liverpool a 2-0 win after a frustrating night at Anfield against a defiant Fulham. The west Londoners had fought determinedly, and seemed certain to claim a point before substitute Fernando Torres broke the deadlock with a clinical strike after 81 minutes, with Steven Gerrard driving home a penalty four minutes later after Peter Crouch was tripped.

Tim Cahill earned battling Everton a share of the spoils with an 88th-minute equaliser as they drew 1-1 with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Didier Drogba looked to have given the home side all three points when he put the Blues in front with a bullet header in the 71st minute. But Chelsea had to settle for a point when Cahill's spectacular overhead scissor-kick beat Carlo Cudicini from six yards.

Cristiano Ronaldo's first-half double was enough to see off 10-man Blackburn Rovers and send Manchester United back to the top of the Barclays Premier League. Ronaldo nodded home Ryan Giggs' corner, then converted Carlos Tevez's superb square pass a minute later to provide United with their ninth win in 10 matches. It was harsh luck on Blackburn, who battled tirelessly throughout but saw any chance of a comeback disappear when David Dunn was sent off for a second bookable offence eight minutes after the break.

West Ham United racked up their biggest win of the season as Derby County's fight for survival suffered another blow as they were beaten 5-0 at Pride Park. A goal late in the first half from Lee Bowyer was followed by a blitz after the break that saw Matthew Etherington, an Eddie Lewis own goal, Bowyer again and Nolberto Solano expose their opponents' shortcomings.

James Milner was Newcastle United's derby hero with the equaliser which ensured the Magpies extended Sunderland's wait for a home win over their closest rivals beyond 27 years as the sides drew 1-1. Danny Higginbotham had headed Sunderland in front seven minutes after the break with his first goal for the club, and Sunderland might have snatched victory eight minutes from time when Michael Chopra's header hit the bar.

Gabriel Agbonlahor settled the Second City derby with a late goal as Aston Villa edged a pulsating match with fierce rivals Birmingham City 2-1 at St Andrews. The England Under-21 international had cleared a Liam Ridgewell header off the line just 60 seconds earlier before charging down the pitch to turn home Ashley Young's cross with a deft header. A Ridgewell own goal against his former side had earlier given Villa the lead but Mikael Forssell came off the bench to level matters for the hosts before Agbonlahor settled the outcome with three minutes remaining.

Bolton Wanderers failed to match their heroics of midweek when they held Bayern Munich to a draw in the UEFA Cup as they played out a 0-0 draw with Middlesbrough. The Trotters had to settle for a point against their fellow strugglers and have now won only once in 13 Barclays Premier League matches.

Tottenham Hotspur picked up their first league win in almost three months by beating Wigan Athletic 4-0 - but Juande Ramos' side were barely tested against their opponents. Jermaine Jenas (two) and Aaron Lennon got the first-half goals at White Hart Lane to put Spurs in total control at the interval. And Darren Bent came off the bench in the second half to add to the scoring.

Portsmouth hit bar and post through Glen Johnson and substitute David Nugent but Joe Hart's confident goalkeeeping helped Manchester City secure a 0-0 draw at Fratton Park. It was Pompey's third goalless home draw of the season and prevented them overhauling City into third place in the Barclays Premier League, but it was also their eighth straight league match without defeat.

In the monday night match Arsenal again signalled their intent to battle Manchester United all the way as Arsene Wenger's men went back to the top of the Barclays Premier League with a virtuoso display at Reading. Arsenal beat Reading 3-1 Mathieu Flamini and Emmanuel Adebayor finishing off superb moves either side of half-time before Alexander Hleb's fine late individual goal wrapped up a comprehensive victory before England full-back Nicky Shorey grabbed a late consolation goal.

Game Week 12- Review

Arsenal signalled their determination to fight Manchester United all the way for the Barclays Premier League crown with a dramatic stoppage-time equaliser from captain William Gallas in the 2-2 draw at Emirates Stadium. Cristiano Ronaldo's goal with eight minutes remaining looked set to send the champions back to the top of the league and ending the Gunners' unbeaten run, which stretched back to 24 matches.

Clint Dempsey and David Healy came up with late goals to clinch only the second Barclays Premier League win of the season for Fulham and leave Reading still searching for their first success away from home. Steve Coppell's side looked like doing it when suffocating pressure at the start of the second half brought Kevin Doyle's equaliser after Simon Davies had shot the home side in front early on.

Everton left it late to secure all three points at Goodison Park, thanks to stoppage time goals from Lee Carsley and James Vaughan. Steve Bruce's Birmingham side will feel hard done by not to have got anything from a match that looked as though it was heading for a draw after Kapo c.ancelled out Yakubu's early strike for the visitors.

Aston Villa duo Martin Laursen and Ashley Young put Derby County deeper into the relegation mire with second-half goals at Villa Park. Laursen and Young struck twice in the space of four minutes to end the resistance of the Rams who have still to notch an away goal in the Barclays Premier League this season.

Liverpool slumped to their second draw in as many weeks against Blackburn.Despite a number of chances, neither side managed to break the deadlock at Ewood Park. Both sides had to settle for a point, with Blackburn maintaining their impressive form in the Barclays Premier League. Liverpool looked threatening after the introduction of Peter Crouch midway through the second half, but the home team managed to contain the danger.

Chelsea failed to hit the heights of last week's 6-0 defeat of Manchester City against Wigan Athletic at the JJB, but two fine first-half goals were enough to put them back in the Barclays Premier League hunt. Rivals Manchester United and Arsenal drew earlier in the day, ensuring Chelsea's two Shaun Wright-Phillips inspired goals were enough to see them cut the gap at the top.

Portsmouth turned in a stunning display of finishing to condemn Newcastle United to their first home defeat of the season. The visitors raced into a 3-0 lead within 11 minutes of kick-off as Noe Pamarot, Benjani Mwaruwari and John Utaka struck in quick succession. Sol Campbell's 15th-minute own goal pulled one back for the home side before Niko Kranjcar wrapped up the win with a 70th-minute free-kick to clinch a fourth successive away victory.

Former Tottenham Hotspur defender Luke Young spoilt Juande Ramos' first match as a Barclays Premier League manager as Middlesbrough claimed a deserved point at the Riverside Stadium. Darren Bent put the visitors ahead against the run of play after 35 minutes with a low shot from 15 yards. But Young ensured both sides' search for a league victory continued with a long range piledriver in the 52nd minute.

George McCartney's first goal for the Hammers was cancelled out at the death by Bolton Wanderers' Kevin Nolan. West Ham United looked likely to have secured all three points with just seconds remaining on the clock before Nolan dealt Alan Curbishley's side a blow. The hard fought point for the Trotters takes them closer to easing their relegation worries, as they move to one point from safety.

Ramos takes up spurs job

Former Sevilla manager Juande Ramos has been appointed Tottenham Hotspur's head coach on a three year contract.The Spaniard, 53, tendered his resignation with Sevilla on Friday night, clearing the way for him to succeed Martin Jol at White Hart Lane following the Dutchman's dismissal on Thursday night.

Ramos' first game in charge is expected to come against Blackpool in the Carling Cup on Wednesday, with development coach Clive Allen and youth team boss Alex Inglethorpe in charge for the Barclays Premier League clash against Blackburn Rovers.

Tottenham also confirmed they have requested permission from Leeds United to speak to assistant manager Gus Poyet in order to invite him to join the club to work with Ramos.Marcos Alvarez, 36, who worked with Ramos at Sevilla, will also join the Tottenham coaching staff.

Ramos said: "I greatly appreciate the opportunity to work as head coach at Tottenham Hotspur, a club with a great tradition and history.Ever since I started my coaching career I have wanted to work in England. It is my sincere hope that I can repay the faith the Spurs board has shown in me.I am looking forward to meeting the players. It is a squad any coach would be excited to work with. I genuinely believe that there is the potential to achieve great things together.

"I was hugely impressed with the Spurs fans both home and away when Sevilla played Spurs last season and it will be a privilege to be the coach of this club with the huge support it enjoys both at White Hart Lane and throughout the world."

Ramos moves to White Hart Lane after a successful two years at Sevilla, where he won back-to-back UEFA Cups, a European Super Cup, a Copa del Rey and a Spanish Super Cup.He also took the Andalucian side into the Champions League for the first time in its history.

Spurs sporting director Damien Comolli said: "Juande's arrival is great news for Tottenham Hotspur.He brings with him a wealth of experience, a proven track record and a winning pedigree. Now is the time for us to regroup and look to deliver the results and performances that everyone associated with the club wants to see.By making the appointment at this stage of the season, with our current, talented group of players, we have given ourselves the opportunity to compete well in all four competitions.Juande is a highly-respected coach and his agreement to join us is excellent news. I know he is eager to get started."