Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/258814
Sport 21 maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 12 FEBRUARY 2014 CHELSEA missed the chance to ensure they would stay ahead of Barclays Premier League title rivals Arsenal at the end of the midweek fixtures as Victor Anichebe's late goal saw West Brom hold them to a 1-1 draw at The Hawthorns. Branislav Ivanovic escaped his marker to fire home from a David Luiz set-piece delivery in first-half stoppage time, and that for a long time looked to have given Jose Mour- inho's side a four-point cushion over second-placed Arsenal, who play Manchester United on Wednesday. However, Anichebe headed past Petr Cech in the 87th minute to se- cure a valuable point for the strug- gling Baggies. West Ham claimed a crucial win over fellow strugglers Norwich, with James Collins and Mohamed Diame both scoring late goals. The Canaries created most of the better openings in the game but Collins arrived just in time to head home an 84th-minute chance - with Norwich goalkeeper John Ruddy culpable of coming to collect the de- livery and getting caught out. With the visitors chasing a late equaliser they were then exposed at the back, allowing second-half sub- stitute Diame to wrap up the win late in stoppage time. Cardiff and Aston Villa played out a goalless draw which does far more good for the visitors' hopes of sur- vival than their hosts. Cardiff dominated the open- ing half and struck the woodwork through Fraizer Campbell and a de- flected Craig Noone shot, but could not find the net. Villa offered no threat during the opening 45 minutes but could have taken all three points had Leandro Bacuna and Gabriel Agbonlahor shown better composure in front of goal. Ultimately this was a game Cardiff needed to win, and one Villa were happy enough to avoid losing, and there is no question this result will be more warmly welcomed by Paul Lambert than Ole Gunnar Solsk- jaer. Villa climb five points clear of the drop zone, but Cardiff remain 19th with just two wins from their last 17 league games. SPORTTODAY FOOTBALL Yesterday's results England - Premier League Cardiff City - Aston Villa ............ 0-0 Hull City - Southampton ......... 0-1 West Ham Utd - Norwich City ... 2-0 West Brom. Albion - Chelsea ... 1-1 Italy - Coppa Italia Fiorentina - Udinese ............... 2-0 Tonight England - Premier League 20:45 Arsenal - Manchester United 20:45 Everton - Crystal Palace 20:45 Manchester C. - Sunderland 20:45 Newcastle Utd - T. Hotspur 20:45 Stoke City - Swansea City 21:00 Fulham - Liverpool Italy - Coppa Italia 20:45 SSC Napoli - Roma Viictor Anichebe scores West Brom's equaliser against Chelsea West Brom hold Chelsea Prandelli unsure over Italy future THE Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has already expressed hope that the 56-year-old will continue but Prandelli has yet to make up his mind. "I'm torn," Prandelli said in an interview with Turin-based sports newspaper Tuttosport. "I miss the daily work on the pitch that you get when coaching a club although I am perfectly happy with this role. "I will reflect and we shall see. I will go to Brazil having already made a decision." The former Fiorentina boss made his debut on the Azzurri bench in August 2010 and led Italy to the fi- nal at Euro 2012, losing to Spain. Prandelli has won 22 and lost just 10 of his 50 games in charge so far. Italy have been drawn with Eng- land, Uruguay and Costa Rica in Group D in this summer's top tour- nament. Cesare Prandelli: Will decide his future before Brazil World Cup Vidic 'completes preliminary medical with Inter' REPORTS in the Italian press yesterday suggest that Nemanja Vidic's transfer from Manchester United to Inter is set for comple- tion. The defender confirmed last week that he would be leaving the Old Trafford outfit when his con- tract expires at the end of the sea- son. And Corriere dello Sport write that the centre-back has already been in discussions with the Ner- azzurri, and has met with the club's medical staff in Serbia. The paper reveals that the 32- year-old has undergone prelimi- nary checks with the San Siro side's doctors, with the transfer set to be confirmed soon. Nemanja Vidic