The Guardian from London, Greater London, England • 20

THE GUARDIAN Thursday May 18 1995 Soccer League play-off semi-finals, second legs First Div: Bolton 2, Wolves 0 (aet; agg 3-2) Boxing Earlier weigh-in ordered ctiiniay hits Wolves Jack Massarik 20 SPORTS NEWS Cynthia Bateman 20,041, their largest gate of the season. "We didn't play as we would have wanted to," Taylor said. "We just didn't create any chances and Bolton were the better team." McGinlay's first-half goal derived from a rare touch of finesse in a match that otherwise was all pace and power. McA-teer, the Republic of Ireland midfielder, produced a delicate chip that found McGinlay loose on the right side of the penalty box. He lifted his shot over Stowell to put Bolton ahead.

Thereafter Bolton had the better of the chances and Wolves were twice forced to clear off the line. Midway through the second half Wolves came back into the game, but Bolton found a second wind. They started extra-time needing only to prevent Wolves scoring. But De Freitas, one of two substitutes for Bolton players carried off, began to make inroads. He turned Richardson down the right, and Shirtliff managed only to knock the cross to McGinlay, who took full advantage.

"David Lee got a kick on the foot and Alan Stubbs was hurt on the calf," said Rioch. "We don't know how bad it is yet." Bolton Wandercra: Branagan; Green, Bergsson, Slubbs (Dreyer, 7lmin). (De Freilas, 60), McAteer, Alan Thompson, Paatelainen, Coyle, McGinlay. Wolverhampton Wanftorers: Stowell; Andy Thompson. Shirtliff, Richards, Venus, Goodman, Cowans, Rankine, Dennison (Wright, 101).

Bull, Kelly. Referee: Dunn (Bristol). IT WAS their 57th game of the season, and at times you wondered if their hearts and legs could hold out. But Bruce Rioch's defiant Bolton, who had won only once since losing to Liverpool in the Coca-Cola Cup final, produced a lung-straining burst to earn another shot at a Wembley final. John McGinlay levelled the aggregate score a minute before half-time and scored the second four minutes into the second period of extra-time.

But the Scottish international striker could count himself fortunate still to be on the pitch; he had aimed a left hook at Kelly as fighting broke out at the start of extra-time in an otherwise good-natured match. "Maybe I should have gone off," McGinlay admitted. "It was a long wait before I found out what card the referee was going to show. I was just happy that it was yellow rather than red, and I wasn't going to stand around and argue with him." Kelly too was booked. Bolton survived some hairy moments as Graham Taylor's side, who had given no quarter in a relentless encounter played at a frighteningly furious pace, strove to find the goal that would take the tie to a penalty shoot-out.

The roar at the final whistle was enough to lift the roof off old Burnden Park, packed to the rafters with Reading 0, Tranmere 0 odest FROM THE beginning of next month the weigh-ins for any major championship fight held in Britain will take place 24 hours before the contest and not, as at present, on the day of the fight. By announcing this initiative yesterday, the British Boxing Board of Control implicitly recognised the increasing and alarming incidence of brain damage in the ring. The tradition of fighters weighing-in at lunchtime on the day of the contest is almost as old as the sport itself. It was designed to ensure that both men came to the ring close to the stipulated match weight. So strict was the weigh-in that some champions the great Scottish flyweight Benny Lynch for one lost their titles on the scales by turning up overweight for the fight.

In those days the way to lose weight in a hurry was by fasting, doing roadwork in heavy clothing, or spending a night in a Turkish bath. The recent availability of diuretics makes it possible to shed weight painlessly but dangerously. The increase in cases of brain damage during fights has led neurosurgeons to speculate that a side-effect of weight-reducing dehydration is to deplete the fluid around the brain which would normally help to cushion it from injury. "The Board feels the time is right for this change," its secretary John Morris said yesterday. "Switching weigh-in times to a longer period before a contest will he a major recommendation of the independent neurological working party that will shortly hand the Board its final report, and the Board felt there was no point in delaying the change." Earlier weigh-ins have already been introduced by the four major world-championship sanctioning bodies.

From 'Dixie' Dean (above) to Duncan Ferguson (right) Everton fans have always liked their centre-forwards FA Cup profile by David Lacey Ferguson true to Goodison tradition nearer the peak and in Ferguson's absence, Rideout successfully led the line against Tottenham, but more will be needed on Saturday. Over the years Goodison has revered its centre-forwards as passionately as the breed is worshipped on Tyne-side. After Dean came Tommy Lawton. In the Sixties there was Alex Young, the Golden Vision, and later came Bob Latchford, an underrated striker. Nearly 20 years ago the then Everton manager Harry Catterick left out Young for a match at Blackpool and included in the attack a tall 16-year-old called Joe Royle.

After the game some disgruntled Everton supporters assaulted Catterick outside the ground. Nobody will have a go at Joe if Everton lose at Wembley on Saturday. And if Royle's gamble with Ferguson paysoff, both will be feted in Liverpool on Sunday. It takes one centre-forward to know another. been not another Van Basten but perhaps another Ferguson.

The first time Everton became serious FA Cup contenders this season was when they knocked out Newcastle United in the sixth round. The match, played on a bumpy tundra of a pitch at Goodison, was not up to much but it did demonstrate how far Royle's team, could go provided Ferguson stayed fit and free. A header from Ferguson at a free-kick set up Dave Watson's winning goal. In addition Ferguson often came deep to gather the ball and turn with it before opening up wings or middle with careful passes. A good centre-forward is as important for his passing as for his shooting or heading.

What with suspensions and injuries, Ferguson has scarcely had time to develop a full understanding with Paul Rideout, Everton's original answer to the problems of a vertically challenged attack. In the semi-finals, Russell Thomas ILM PARK resounded with I songs of praise last night las Reading reached Wem bley on Monday week, when Berkshire's contribution to soccer romance will be complete if they beat Bolton to reach the Premiership for the first time. Tranmere, undermined by their poor defensive performance on Sunday, worked valiantly here but a brave last fling of the season was tarnished by Tony Thomas's sending-off six minutes from time for fouling Darius Wdowczyk. It was the defender's second bookable offence. It is an outsize achievement for a club of Reading's modest scale the 13,245 audience vas Elm Park's largest of the season to be within one game of reaching the elite after 124 years labouring a long way from the pinnacle.

Potentially exhausting, too, for their multimillionaire chairman John Ma-dejski, who must now walk 45 miles to Wembley in aid of the BBC's Children In Need appeal. The immediate agonies ended a shade prematurely when 200 Reading fans swarmed on to the pitch from the North Bank deep into injury time. Paul Alcock soon sounded the final whistle. The invaders then indulged themselves raucously at their former manager Mark (agg 3-1) Reading McGhee'e expense, chanting: "He's fat, he's round and he's taken Leicester down." Soon Reading's co-managers since January, Mick Gooding and Jimmy Quinn, were saluting the supporters from the directors' box. Suitably, last night was a triumph of collective effort, though it was scarcely a spectacle.

Reading's immediate reward is a week's sunshine in Lanzarote, starting today. Reading, starting with two goals in hand, were content to contain and counter and were most menacing deep into the match, Taylor embarking on a 60-yard run past three men before shooting against Coyne's legs. Nogan, after a far shorter sprint, was similarly baulked two minutes from time. John King had given Tranmere emergency surgery, dropping Nixon from goal and O'Brien for the first time in their careers at the club. A vastly improved defensive display shackled the free-scoring Lovell and Nogan.

But Malkin and Aldridge failed twice in the second half to make the telling connections that would have extended Elm Park's anxieties longer into the night. Readlngl Hislop: Bernal, McPherson, Wdowczyk, Williams (Hopkins, 16min), Gilkes, Taylor, Osborn, Gooding, Nogan, Lovoll (Quinn. 76). Tranmere Rovers: Coyne: Stevens. McGreal, Thomas, Morrissoy.

Irons, Mungall. Nevin (O'Brien, 49), Brannan, Aldridge, Malkin (Jones, 81). Referee: Alcock (Redhill). bitterly opposed to the playoffs," said the Brentford manager David Webb afterwards. "It's not sour grapes; I've always said that.

We finished second with 85 points. But I'll bounce back." A 1-1 away leg had promised much for Brentford and when they took the lead after 18 minutes last night all looked rosy. Ironically that brief glimpse of glory came from a penalty, Tre-vitt fouling Stephenson, and Grainger converting. But totally against the run on play and amid a huge whiff of controversy, the visitors equalised. On 31 minutes the defender Sinnott pumped a high, hanging ball into the Brentford area.

Dearden came for it and caught it but then lost it under a dubious challenge from Bullock that nine times out of 10 would have been penalised. This time it was not, and Booth picked up the loose ball to score his 28th goal of the season. Brentford: Dearden; Statham. Grainger, Ashby, Bates, Ratcliffe, Smith, Forster, Taylor, Stephenson, Abrahams (Mundee, 56min(. Huddersfield Town: Francis; Trevilt, Cowan, Bullock, Scully, Sinnott.

Billy, Duxbury, Booth, Jopson, Crosby (Dunne, 60). Referoe: Foakos (Claclon). a hernia operation. Since Joe Royle paid Rangers 4.3 million for him Ferguson has quickly stamped himself as a player in the best tradition of Everton centre-forwards, last seen when Graeme Sharp moved to Oldham in 1991 after 12 seasons at Goodison. Sharp struck his richest vein of goals in the mid-Eighties but there is much more to leading an attack than simply putting the ball into the net.

A good centre-forward is invaluable even when he is not scoring. He is the frontal lobe of an attacking thought. As well as a good touch on the ball and the strength to hold it up under pressure, he should have an eye for the quick pass and the vision to see where the movement is leading. Blackburn's Alan Shearer provided an excellent example at Liverpool on Sunday. At 5ft llin, Shearer is proof that centre-forwards do not have to be especially tall.

Billy Dean, who disliked Results Soccer PLAY-OFFS Semi-finals, second legs First Division Bolton 1)2 Wolverhampton (0) McGinlay 44, 109 20041 (agg: 3-2) (aet, 1-0 al 90min) Reading 0) Tranmore (0) 0 13,245 (agg: 3-1) Second Division Bronttord (1) 1 Huddorafield (1) 1 Grainger 18 (pen) Booth 30 (agg: 2-2) 11.161 (aet: 1-1 a1 90min; H'liold win 4-3 on pens) Crewe (0) 1 Bristol Rovers (0) 1 Rowbolham 97 Miller 106 6,578 (agg; 1-1) (aol: 0-0 al 90min; Bristol win on away goals) Third Division Bury (0) 1 Preston (0) Rigby 88 9,094 (agg: 2-0) Chesterfield (1)5 Mansfield (2) a Lormor 27, Robinson 56 Holland 3 Law 95 (pen), 101 Wilkinson 32 Howard 115 8,165 (agg: 6-3) (ael; 2-2 al 90min) FRENCH LEAGUE: Paris-SG 2, Caen 0. Tennis ATP ITALIAN OPEN (Rome): Second round: 0 Ivanisevic (Croatial bl Spadea (US) 6-4, 6-3; Muster (Aul) bl Siemerink INelh) 3-6. 6-4, 6-3; Bruguera (Sp) bl Ellingh (Nelh) 6-2, 4-6, 6-4; BJorkman (Swo) bl A Chesnokov (Bus) 7-6. 6-3; Fromberg (Aus) bt Guardiola (Fr) 6-3, 7-5; Tarango (US) bt Gross (Ger) wo; Edberg (Swe) bt Rios (Chile) 6-3, 6-3; Santoro (Fr) bl Dosedel Ct Rep) 7-5. 6-7, 6- Washington (US) bl Goellner (Ger) 7- 6, 6-2; Ulihrach (Cz Hep) bt Martin (US) 6-4.

3-6, 6-3; Ferrolra (SA) bl Yzaga (Peru) 6-4, 7-6: Borroni (II) bl Caireloro (Sp) 7-6. 7-6; Chang (US) bt Carbonell (Sp) 2-6, 6-2, 6-3; A Medvedov (Ukr) bt Reneberg (US) 6-4, 6-4. WOMEN'S QERMAN OPEN (Berlin): Second round: Begerow (Get) bt Kan-darr (Ger) 4-6, 6-1, 7-5; M-J Fernandez (US) bt Ritlnor (Ger) 6-2, 6-2; I Splrlea (Rom) bt A Coetzer (SA) 7-5, 6-4; Bradtke (Aus) bt I Gorrochategui (Arg) 4-6, 6-2, 6-4; A Temesvarl (Hun) bl Tu (US) 6-3, 7-6; Halard (Fr) bt Zrubakova (Slo) 7-5, 6-1: A Sanchei-Vlcario (Sp) bl Tauziat (Fr) 6-2, 6- Zvoreva (Bela) bt Wachtershauser (Ger) 6-0, 6-3; Hack (Ger) bl Hingis (Switz) 6-3, 1-6, 6-3; Oate (Japan) bl Meier (Ger) 6-0. 6-4. LTA SPRING SATELLITE (Bournemouth): Second round (GB unless staled): Lark-ham Aus) bt Hand 6-3, 5-7, 6-1; A Belo-brajdlc (Aus) bt Matheson 6-3, 6-4; Stanolchev (Bui) bt A Caspari (Ger) 6-2, 7- A Mllllgan bt Qolgado 6-3, 7-5.

Third round: A Belobrajdlc (Aus) bl Larknam (Aus) 6-3. 6-4; Maclagan bt Curry (SA) 6-1, 6-2; Stonolchev (Bui) bt Henderson 6-4, 6-3; Sekulov (Aus) bt A Milligan 3-6, 6-3, 6-3. BRITISH WOMEN'S CLAV-COUflT C'SHIPS Bournemouth): First round: Ungrova (Cz) bt Tarabini (Arg) 6-2, 7-5; Strandlund (Swe) bl Nowak (Pol) 6-2, 6-2; Dradomlr (Rom) bt Roinstadlor (Aul) 7-6, 6-0; Bobkova (Cz) bl Schott ESERVATIONS about Duncan Ferguson persist. By this time next week he may be in jail. Even if he escapes imprisonment for head-butting a Raith Rovers defender while playing for Rangers, there remains the matter of the 12-match ban imposed by the Scottish FA and suspended until the recent trial in Glasgow.

Ferguson's long-term future with Everton, therefore, is still a mite murky. Over the next 48 hours, however, this 24-year-old, 6ft 3in graduate from Carse Thistle represents Everton's best hope of winning the FA Cup for a fifth time by denying Manchester United a record ninth success. For all that has happened up to now a succession of appearances in Scottish courts for offences relating to drink, violence or a cocktail of both and whatever may occur after Saturday's final, the only thing that matters immediately to Everton is his match-fitness after Miller's strike gives Rovers a Wembley spot Don Beet PAUL MILLER'S 22nd goal of the season last night sent Bristol Rovers to Wembley when a 1-1 draw at Crewe after extra-time saw them through on away goals in their Second Division play-offs semi-final. Miller slotted home a through-ball from Gareth Taylor after 16 minutes of extra-time and knocked the stuffing out of Crewe, who had taken the lead in the 97th minute through Darren Rowbotham. In the Third Division semifinals Bury booked a place at Wembley for the first time with their second 1-0 victory over Preston.

In the final on Saturday week they will meet Chesterfield, 5-2 extra-time winners over Mansfield last night (2-2 after 90 minutes) and 6-3 winners overall. At Gigg Lane a 20-yard volley two minutes from time from Tony Rigby put paid to Preston and seconds later the Bury winger Tony Kelly was sent off after a clash with Ryan Kidd. It was much more violent at Saltergate, where Mansfield had two players sent off and their goalkeeper carried off. Paul Holland headed Mansfield into a third-minute lead, Tony Lormor equalised in the 27th minute and the visitors led again five minutes later through Steve Wilkinson. But Chesterfield again drew level through Phil Robinson.

Kevin Lampkin was sent off before, in extra-time, Chesterfield took the lead from a debatable penalty, taken by Nicky Law. Three minutes later Mark Peters was dismissed and Law and Jon Howard rounded off the scoring on a heated night. the epithet was half an inch shorter than Shearer yet scored so many of his goals for Everton with a flick of that close-curled head that one could almost believe the tale about Elisha Scott, the Liverpool goalkeeper, diving into the gutter when Dean nodded to him in the street. Maybe, in years to come, people will talk of the time the paramedics were summoned when Ferguson acknowledged passers-by in similar fashion. Either way, Everton's striker provides the rider that, though those of average height need not be handicapped in the air, if a centre-forward is tall and retains the all-round strengths of the stockier variety then his club has struck gold.

Take this specification to its logical conclusion and one finds Marco-van Basten, whose retirement through injury has cost the game an ultimate exponent of the centre-forward's art. Give Arsenal's Alan Smith a stronger frame and he would have (Aul) 7-6. 6-3: Lao (US) bt A Ellwood (Aus) 4-7, 6-2, 6-2: A Carlsson (Swe) bt Guse (Aus) 6-2, 6-2; Cross (GB) bt Gardano (Arg) 6-4. 6-4: Calient (Bel) bt Jells (GB) 6-1. 6-4: Richterova (Cz) bt Sharpe (Aus) 6-4, 6-3: Wood (GB) bt A Fusai (Fr) 2-6.

6-4. 7-6; Rubin (US) bt Krizan (Slo) 6-3. 6-2. Second round: Lee (US) bt Miller (GB) 6-2; Callens (Bel) bl Cress (GB) 6-1, 6-2; Richterova (Cz) bt Fendick (US) 6-3, 6-1; Rubin bt Wood 6-2, 6-1: Bobkova bt Dragomir 1-6, 6-3, 6-4. Baseball AMERICAN LEAOUEs Cleveland 10, New York 5: Texas 6, Toronlo Detroit 9, Baltimore 8: Oakland 7, Chicago 1 SA innings); Calilornia 9, Minnesota Boston 5, Milwaukee 0: Kansas City 4.

Seattle 2 (5 innings). NATIONAL LEAGUE: Chicago 2. San Francisco Atlanta 15. Colorado Now York 1, Houston 0: Montreal 7, Cincinnati Philadelphia 9, Florida 7 (10 innings); San Diego 1, SI Louis 0: Pittsburgh 2, Los Angeles 0. Basketball NBA: Play-offs: Eastern Conference: Semi-final: Orlando 103, Chicago 95 (Orlando lead series 3-2).

Western Conference: San Antonio 96, LA Lakers 98 (ot) (San Antonio lead series 3-2); Phoenix 97, Houston 103 (ol) (Phoenix lead series 3-2). Chess MADRID TOURNAMENT: Sixth-round standings: Korchnoi (Switz). Salov (Rus) 415; Epishin (Rus), A Yusupov (Ger), San Segundo (Sp) 3Jj. Also: Short (Eng) IX. VERENIGOE SPAARBANK (Amsterdam): Fifth round: Kasparov (Rus) 1, Topalov (Bui) 0: Lautier (Fr) Piket (Ncth) X.

Standings: Kasparov, Lautier 3Z; Topalov 2. Cycling GIRO D'lTALIA: Fifth stage (Porto Recanati to Torloreto Lido. 182km): 1. Casagrande (II) Brescialat 4hr 39min 2sec; 2. Sorcnsen (Den) Maglilicio MG: 3, Breukink (Neth) ONCE both si.

Overall: 1 Rominger (Switz) Mapoi GB 19lir, 50min 39sec; 2. Fondnest (ID Lampre al 5lsec: 3, Casagrande 1.07. TOUR OF ASTURIAS: Second stage (Oviedo to Aviles. 172km): 1, A Chiuralo (It) Mapei-GB 4hr 23min 55soc; 2, Moncassin (Fr) Novell-Sottwarc at 7sec. Overall: 1.

Indurain (Sp) Banesto 4hr 36min 21sec: 2. Chiuralo 15: 3, Zbeig (Switz) Carrcra 26. Ice Hockey MHLi First-round play-offs: Eastern Conference: NY Rangers 4, Quebec 2 (New York win series 4-2; Washington 1. Pittsburgh 7 (series tied at 3-3). Hockey FOURTH MEN'S TEST IHobart): Australia 3, England 3 (Aus lead six-match series 3-0).

Fixtures Cricket BRITANNIC ASSURANCE COUNTV C'SHIP (1 1.0, four days): Choster-le-Stroot: Durham Warwicks. Southampton: Hants Kent. Leicoster: Leics Dcibys. Lord's: Middx Lanes. Northampton: Norlhanls Surrey.

Hove: Sussex Essox. Bradford) Yorkshire Glamorgan. OTHER MATCH (11.0. three days): The Parks: Oxford University Nottinghamshire. BAIN HOGG TROPHY (11.0): Chelmsford: Essex Sussex.

Uibridge: Middx Lores. Meedingley: Yorks Derbys. Badminton England hit by doubles flop Richard Jago in Lausanne iEFEAT for the European men's doubles champions Chris Hunt and Simon Archer consigned England to defeat against China on the opening day of the World Championships here yesterday, and their eventual 4-1 defeat virtually ensured that they will have to struggle to avoid relegation from the top group of the Sudir-man Cup. Hunt and Archer went down 15-12, 17-14 to Jiang Xin and Huang Xhang Xhong, ranked six places below them at No. 12 in the world, after a rip-roaring start by last year's All-England mixed doubles champions Nick Ponting and Joanne Wright, who overwhelmed Liu Jianjun and Wang Xiaoyuan 15-6, 15-8, had raised England's hopes.

However, after the national champion Julia Mann had lost 11-6, 11-5 to the world No. 6 Ye Zhaoying, England needed their former European champion Darren Hall's best form. The Essex man played plenty of fast rallies with the world junior champion Sun Jun but lost 15-9, 15-10. Sport in brief Hockey Hounslow's Rob Thompson celebrated his 100th international by converting a corner a minute from time to give England their best result to date in their six-Test series with Australia, a 3-3 draw in Hobart, Tasmania, writes Pat Rowley. England led twice through Bobby Crutchley (Hounslow), in the fourth minute, and Thompson in the 37th, but Australia had taken the lead by the 48th minute through Jay Stacy (13th), Mark Hager (44th) and Paul Lewis.

Cycling Filippo Casagrande of Italy, at 21 the youngest rider in the Giro ltalia, won the 114-mile fifth stage from Recanati to Tortoreto Lido. Tony Rominger of Switzerland retained the overall lead. Equestrianism Emma-Jane Mac and Di Lam-pard, first and second in the British women's championship at Windsor last Friday, have been called into the five-strong Great Britain squad for the Hickstead Nations Cup meeting from June 1-4, alongside John and Michael Whitaker and Geoff Billington. Second Divs Brentford 1, Huddersfield 1 (aet; agg 2-2, H'field won 4-3 on pens) Huddersf seSd rejoice as Francis proves to be their saviour breaks took into account the clubs' resources, so the big spenders were nowhere; Kenny Dalglish was an also-ran and Alex Ferguson failed to attract one vote. ENGLAND UNDER-21 SQUADS: Uefa Championship ctualifler (v Latvia.

June 7 at Burnley): Gerrard lOldham), Oakes (Asian Villa): Watson (Newcastle). Gordon (Crystal Palace). Neville (Manchester Utd), Pearce (Blackburn). Unsworth (Everton), Nethercoft (Tottenham), Roberts (Millwall). Butt (Manchester Utd), Bart-Williams (Sheffield Wed), Parlour (Arsenal), Shipperley (Southampton), Gallon (OPH), Booth (Huddersfield), Sinclair (OPR), Thompson (Bolton).

Toulon tournament (June 5-14): Watson (Barnslcy). Marshall (Norwich), Oaviea (Lulon); Thatcher (Millwall), Croft (Grimsby), Nevlllo (Manchester Utd), Richards IBradlord), Rufue (Charllonl, Pollock (Middlesbrough). Caskoy (Tottenham), Grant lEverton), Deckham (Manchester Utd). Whelan (Leeds). Fenton (Aston Villa), Forster (Brentford), Joachim (Loicestcr), Scholas (Manchester Utd), Smith (Sundeiland.

A 54th-minute headed equaliser from Dino Baggio gave Parma the Uefa Cup 2-1 on aggregate after they held Ju-ventus 1-1 last night in front of an 80,000 crowd at the San Siro, Milan, where the Turin side had elected to play their "home" leg after a row over ground-advertising revenue. The Italian league leaders who face second-placed Parma again on Sunday and need only draw to clinch the title took a 33rd-minute lead through Gian-luca Vialli's left-foot strike from 10 yards. Dominating, Juventus might then have run away with the second leg but for some inspired goalkeeping from Parma's Luca Bucci, before Dino Baggio who had scored the winner in the first leg got his head to a cross from the substitute Roberto Mussi. "We were lucky," said the relieved Parma manager Nevio Scala after a bad-tempered match which saw seven players booked. eaman ankle in Don Beet HINGS go from bad to worse for David Seaman.

Last week Nayim broke his heart in the European Cup Winners Cup final, and yesterday the Arsenal goalkeeper broke his right ankle in a 2-1 defeat in a friendly against Guo An in Beijing. He will miss England's tournament against Brazil, Sweden and Japan next month, There seemed no danger when, in the 59th minute, Seaman dribbled the ball out of his area. But he slipped on a divot and misdirected his kick into the path of the defender Lu Jun, who lobbed the ball into the empty net as the goalkeeper writhed in agony. Arsenal went two down in the 75th minute when Cao Xian-dong set up a chance in front of goal for the striker Xie Feng, and although Andy Linighan pulled one back, heading in a corner, their day dimmed even further when Stefan Schwarz was sent Tony Yeboah has subjected Leeds United to an anxious wait over his long-term future. As things stand the Ghanaian striker could, at the end of the year, exercise a "get-out" clause in his contract and return to Eintracht Frankfurt.

Leeds want him to drop the clause and stay at Elland Road for three but he will keep them waiting for an answer until the end of next week after inconclusive talks yesterday. Frank Clark of Nottingham Forest has been named Manager of the Year in a poll conducted by the League Managers' Association. The managers Martin Thorpe "HERE were a lot of happy Yorkshiremen in London last night already planning their return journey to the capital for the play-off final at Wembley on Sunday week. Their team had just beaten Brentford and, judging by the dancing and delight among the blue-and-white-shirted throng, the celebrations are probably still going on today. For Brentford there was only agony and disbelief as they lost a pulsating game of passion and pride on penalties, the cruellest of defeats.

They had created the better chances, but were denied by at least six saves from Hudders-field's keeper Steve Francis. But he saved his most crucial until the end. With the shootout score at 3-3, he blocked the Brentford captain Bates's kick. It only needed Bullock to score for Huddersfield to go through. Of course, had the normal rules applied and the top two gone up automatically, Brentford would already have been in the First Division.

"It's a cruel way to go. I'm WHO GUARANTEES YOU THE CHEAPEST QUOTE -FREEFONE QUOTELINE You're right on torgct ''or the cheapest quota AUT DIRECT A tiitur tonipuny of AWicj 1'iwnnto Ciwifnv I'd a tsam. nrx mam OR YOUR MONEY BACK? ASK FOR DETAILS NOT AVAILABLE IN HOmHEHN IRELAND Freefone open Mon-Fri 9am-8pm Sat yim-4pm (only il cover required wuhin wtjeks).