Fulham's Bobby Zamora piles away day misery on Sunderland and Steve Bruce

Fulham 1 Sunderland 0:

Fulham moved into eighth place in the Premier League after Bobby Zamora's early strike clinched a 1-0 win over Sunderland at Craven Cottage.

Roy Hodgson's team qualified for the Europa League last season after finishing seventh and the west Londoners look capable of repeating that impressive achievement this term.

They have lost just one of their last nine league matches thanks to what was only Zamora's 10th goal in two seasons with the club.

The former West Ham and Tottenham forward has come in for criticism from Fulham fans for his lack of goals and he celebrated his winner by pushing team-mate Damien Duff out of the way to make an angry gesture to the home supporters.

The Black Cats should have been ahead early on when former Fulham midfielder Steed Malbranque ran onto Lorik Cana's pass but Australia goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer was equal to the finish.

That near-miss provoked a superb response from Fulham, who took the lead through Zamora in the seventh minute. Duff laid the ball back to John Pantsil and when the ball came over Zamora nipped in front of Phil Bardsley to head home his sixth goal of the season.

Sunderland suffered another blow when Anton Ferdinand was forced to limp off after being fouled by Erik Nevland as the defender tried to shield the ball out of play.

American midfielder Clint Dempsey was a constant danger to the Sunderland defence and he curled a free-kick just over the crossbar before shooting wide from Zamora's pass.

Zamora came close to a second goal twice in quick succession when he nodded Jonathan Greening's cross wide, then but headed against the bar from Paul Konchesky's cross.

Nevland was guilty of a far worse miss before half-time when Zamora found him in the six-yard box. Sunderland goalkeeper Marton Fulop saved Nevland's first effort and the former Manchester United striker blasted over the rebound with the goal at his mercy.

Dempsey tried his luck again early in the second half as Fulham pressed for the second goal, but his long-range shot was off-target.

Out of nothing Kenwyne Jones was presented with a glorious chance to equalise by Paul Konchesky's wayward back-pass. Schwarzer came to the rescue with a smart stop to frustrate the visitors.

Bruce's side went even closer to an equaliser when Darren Bent met Kieran Richardson's cross with a fierce volley that flashed just wide.

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Bryan Habana hat-trick breaks New Zealand's unbeaten tour

Barbarians 25 New Zealand 18

BRYAN HABANA is fast becoming the scourge of New Zealand. The Springbok wing picked up where he left off in the Tri-Nations by scoring a scintillating hat-trick for the Barbarians yesterday to see them to a famous victory over the All Blacks, their first since the famous Gareth Edwards-inspired 1973 classic.

Habana’s heroics spoilt New Zealand’s previously unbeaten autumn, and saw their line crossed for the first time in five matches. The star-studded Barbarians punished the All Blacks coach, Graham Henry, for fielding a second-string outfit in a fiercely competitive match.

You would have expected nothing less of a Barbarian side with seven Springboks and four Australians. Both teams had good reasons for not wanting their Tri-Nations rivals to end their tour undefeated. The South Africans were protecting an unblemished record of three wins over the All Blacks this season, while the Wallabies wanted a win after being on the losing side five times in the past six months.

Nick Mallett, the former South Africa coach taking a break from his duties with Italy to knock the Barbarians into shape, did not want to do New Zealand any favours, either. He did a good job of pulling his scratch team together, and although it is strange for those of us reared on the Barbarians as the Lions at home in the 1970s to see the invitation side with just one British and Irish player in their starting line-up — in this instance, Jamie Roberts — the Wales and 2009 Lions centre did the home unions proud, running strongly and off-loading slickly.

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Nevertheless, when the crowd starts doing a prolonged Mexican wave with the match locked at 10-7 four minutes before half time, you cannot help wondering whether anybody other than the players cared. Thankfully, there was no sign of the wave in the second half as a Barbarian victory loomed. Stephen Donald put New Zealand ahead with an early penalty, but Habana showed that the Barabarians meant business by finishing off a long-range strike, backing up Drew Mitchell after the Australian full-back had poached the ball from an All Black attack inside his own 22. Matt Giteau’s conversion put the Barbarians 7-3 ahead, but the keen contest swung back New Zealand’s way when Ben Smith was worked clear midway through the half.

However, Habana struck a crucial psychological blow when he lived up to his name of the Intercept King, picking off a Donald pass to race home from 60 metres on the stroke of half-time, Giteau converting for a 14-10 lead. Both teams came close to scoring at the start of the second half, Rocky Elsom being denied by a corner-flagging tackle from Luke McAlister, and Brendon Leonard being hauled back close to the line.

A Giteau penalty pushed the Barbarians to a 17-10 lead just before the hour, but New Zealand’s response was immediate when Anthony Boric was judged by the television match official to have scored after a McAlister break, making it 17-15. However, Habana was not finished and, with 12 minutes remaining, the excellent Giteau sucked in two tacklers allowing Morne Steyn to put Habana over in the left corner and make it 22-15. In doing so, Habana became the first Barbarian to score three tries in a match against the All Blacks.

The match ended with an exchange of penalties between Mike Delany and Steyn before the final whistle ushered in Barbarian celebrations.

Afterwards, Habana, who also took a heavy knock making a try-saving tackle on Leonard, said: “That’s up there with the best. We have an unbelievably talented group of players and to beat an All Black side that hasn’t lost and hasn’t conceded a try is special. It’s great to finish off as we did.”

A delighted Mallet added: “Nobody will forget 1973 and we understand the ethos of what the Barbarians is about.

“Bryan Habana is exceptional, a fantastic player to coach because you don’t have to coach him. He understands defensive systems so well, it is no coincidence he scores so many intercept tries with his great pace.”

It was a disappointing end to the All Blacks’ European tour, which saw them notch up wins over Wales, England, Italy and France without conceding a try. All Blacks assistant coach Wayne Smith added: “It’s disappointing really, but the Barbarians are a great team. We let a couple of simple opportunities slip by and we couldn’t get it back. It was a pretty good game of rugby, but we threw a couple of good balls away that made the difference in the end.”

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Defensive injuries overshadow comfortable win for Sir Alex Ferguson

West Ham 0 Manchester United 4

ON THE day Paul Scholes declared he was no longer good enough for Manchester United and would probably disappear into the sunset at the end of the season, he produced a performance that would have steamed up the designer glasses of England manager Fabio Capello.

Like his predecessor, Steve McClaren, Capello had been hoping that Scholes could be persuaded to consider reversing his decision to quit international football. There is more chance of Scholes turning up at a karaoke evening, but if he were sitting in front of England’s back four in South Africa next summer, all the tub-thumping about their chances of winning the World Cup would be more credible.

The 35-year-old gave a masterclass in the sniping role in front of the back four, and delivered a cherry on the top via a superb opening goal that set United on their way to a sublime and far too easy victory against the pitiful Hammers. Collecting a cross from Ryan Giggs, 12 months his senior, he dismissed the challenge of Radoslav Kovac and smashed in a left-foot volley, his 99th league goal for United.

West Ham were demoralised by the time the ball hit the back of the net on the stroke of half-time, and were overrun in the second half. United turned on a football display as easy on the eye as Arsenal’s and as ruthless as Chelsea in turning it into an end product.

Scholes’s performance was all the more meritorious because two of the back four were complete impostors. Darren Fletcher (Arsène Wenger’s favourite midfield enforcer) was pressed into action at right-back, and when Gary Neville, a makeshift centre-half, came off injured, Michael Carrick auditioned for a central defensive role.

The changes were brought about by injuries to Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic. The latter’s absence could soon become permanent amid rumours that Mrs Vidic is threatening to take a golf club to her husband’s car if he does not end his love affair with United and move to a more fashionable city than Manchester.

West Ham were also missing key players, such as centre-half Matthew Upson and energetic midfielder Mark Noble. The difference is that they do not have multi-million-pound stars like Dimitar Berbatov to step off the bench, nor even a youngster as good as Darren Gibson, 22, who scored his third goal of the week for United’s second just after the hour.

With West Ham hardly a threat, Antonio Valencia filled his boots after a fine pass by Anderson picked him out. A minute later, Wayne Rooney was given the freedom of Upton Park by West Ham’s defence and duly tucked the ball away. West Ham goalkeeper Robert Green, who bravely played on despite being sick on the pitch, then decided it was time to call it a day.

West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola, whose team have conceded 10 goals in three league matches, seven of them at Upton Park, said: “We are in shock but I can’t be too hard on my players. We should have put more pressure on them but they are the champions. We cannot do more up front unless I put my boots back on.”

Incredibly, Manchester United lost another central defender in the final minute when Wes Brown limped off. Manager Sir Alex Ferguson, back on the bench after his touchline ban, hardly turned a hair as he considered his options for Tuesday’s Champions League game in Wolfsburg, saying: “Vidic should be back after flu and I’ll probably play Carrick there again.”

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Halifax: NSCAD students steal the first Atlantic Fashion Week show

Following in Atlantic Fashion Week tradition, the first designer showcase of Halifax’s two-night AFW kicked off in the Mercedes-Benz showroom on Kempt Road last Wednesday with work by current students of Nova Scotia College of Art and Design University. Unlike the past, however, their unveiling didn’t whip by with only the ghost of a few key pieces lingering in its wake. Instead, the NSCAD students, their designs rich with imagination and artistry, have completely swallowed my memory of the evening. Our art college, ever strengthening its fashion department, must be doing something right.

Read a round-up of the shows, after the jump.

Under the label Chloé Comme Parris (chloecommeparris.ca), Chloé Gordon and her sister Parris Gordon take up the bulk of the night’s imprint on my mind. Having brought to the table one of the only truly wearable collections to NSCAD’s Wearable Art Show in the spring (and having shown up to Wednesday night’s event in the most incredible leather pants and dagger earring), this designer’s addition to AFW was one I was eager to relish—and Chloé didn’t disappoint. Chloé Comme Parris poured a collection of tribal polish down the runway, pairing sexy sheaths in organic silhouettes with the tailored cuts of coattailed blazers and leather vests. Inspired by fish, references to gills and fins flitted along hems and side seams and many of the airier fabrics were dyed using the rust—an allusion to water pollution—on found objects in the art college’s metal shop.

See looks from the Chloé Comme Parris collection.

Danica Olders, with her line Stiks by Rustik (rustiklothing.com), matched the Gordons’ mingling of femininity and edge on her female models, swapping the aquatic inspirations for something of the dry-land (and perhaps even feathered) variety. But Olders, who says she’s frustrated with women’s wear’s adoption of masculine lines, ventured into menswear and is hoping to give the male silhouette back to, well, men. Committed to making everything her models wore on the runway herself—not always the case for young, emerging designers—Olders suited her male models in cozy scarves, tribal vests, military jackets, simple shirts and jeans with exposed zippers. I had already drafted a Rustik must-haves list by the end of her short collection: a thick, double-strap cherry leather belt and a collarbone grazing dream catcher earring to add to my collection—an item, I’ll admit, I’ve already picked up.

See looks from the Stiks by Rustik collection.

Designer Pamela Onecia Johnston, also a NSCAD student, has grown since her last appearance on the runway, this time presenting two whimsical children’s outfits in earthy takes on the classic Easter-egg tints. She also created an oversized hooded jacket and sweet little garden frock, fairytale-like pieces that brought the youth of her children’s wear into her more grown-up garments. Alison Seary, (see a look from this collection) who made it to week three of local fashion competition Off the Cuff, showcased her skills in the textiles department with treated denim and—my favourite of her pieces—a woven capelet that any chilled shoulder would be honoured to don. Punctuating the handful of NSCAD students was third-year St. Francis Xavier University student Sarah McKenna, who exhibited a small collection of tiny, flirty party dresses, one of which (a floral, boustier of a thing) had many a frock-loving lady leaning forward in cupidity.

After collections from Susan Johnston, who took the event’s attendees into the past with pieces made from her late grandmother’s fabric, Lycheelime, John Michael of Drunk Gurl, The 3 Elements, Maxwell John Designs, andAkshay Tyagi completed the NSCAD bookends, presenting several pieces from his Thaw collection. Adding that little bit of theatricality we’ve come to expect of Tyagi’s use of the runway, his final model, enrobed in a clear plastic overcoat and an icy blue double-zip textured dress, was accompanied for a slow stroll by two barefooted (and bare-chested) men in futuristic white pants and layers of beautiful ocean-hued scarves—the East Coast emerging designer sure isn’t a shy one.

See looks from the Susan Johnston, Lycheelime, 3 Elements, Akshay Tyagi collections.

Next up, Veronica MacIsaac, Orphanage Clothing, Sunsets on the Eastside and more in the second AFW designer showcase. Stay tuned!

Read more...

Halifax: NSCAD students steal the first Atlantic Fashion Week show

Following in Atlantic Fashion Week tradition, the first designer showcase of Halifax’s two-night AFW kicked off in the Mercedes-Benz showroom on Kempt Road last Wednesday with work by current students of Nova Scotia College of Art and Design University. Unlike the past, however, their unveiling didn’t whip by with only the ghost of a few key pieces lingering in its wake. Instead, the NSCAD students, their designs rich with imagination and artistry, have completely swallowed my memory of the evening. Our art college, ever strengthening its fashion department, must be doing something right.

Read a round-up of the shows, after the jump.

Under the label Chloé Comme Parris (chloecommeparris.ca), Chloé Gordon and her sister Parris Gordon take up the bulk of the night’s imprint on my mind. Having brought to the table one of the only truly wearable collections to NSCAD’s Wearable Art Show in the spring (and having shown up to Wednesday night’s event in the most incredible leather pants and dagger earring), this designer’s addition to AFW was one I was eager to relish—and Chloé didn’t disappoint. Chloé Comme Parris poured a collection of tribal polish down the runway, pairing sexy sheaths in organic silhouettes with the tailored cuts of coattailed blazers and leather vests. Inspired by fish, references to gills and fins flitted along hems and side seams and many of the airier fabrics were dyed using the rust—an allusion to water pollution—on found objects in the art college’s metal shop.

See looks from the Chloé Comme Parris collection.

Danica Olders, with her line Stiks by Rustik (rustiklothing.com), matched the Gordons’ mingling of femininity and edge on her female models, swapping the aquatic inspirations for something of the dry-land (and perhaps even feathered) variety. But Olders, who says she’s frustrated with women’s wear’s adoption of masculine lines, ventured into menswear and is hoping to give the male silhouette back to, well, men. Committed to making everything her models wore on the runway herself—not always the case for young, emerging designers—Olders suited her male models in cozy scarves, tribal vests, military jackets, simple shirts and jeans with exposed zippers. I had already drafted a Rustik must-haves list by the end of her short collection: a thick, double-strap cherry leather belt and a collarbone grazing dream catcher earring to add to my collection—an item, I’ll admit, I’ve already picked up.

See looks from the Stiks by Rustik collection.

Designer Pamela Onecia Johnston, also a NSCAD student, has grown since her last appearance on the runway, this time presenting two whimsical children’s outfits in earthy takes on the classic Easter-egg tints. She also created an oversized hooded jacket and sweet little garden frock, fairytale-like pieces that brought the youth of her children’s wear into her more grown-up garments. Alison Seary, (see a look from this collection) who made it to week three of local fashion competition Off the Cuff, showcased her skills in the textiles department with treated denim and—my favourite of her pieces—a woven capelet that any chilled shoulder would be honoured to don. Punctuating the handful of NSCAD students was third-year St. Francis Xavier University student Sarah McKenna, who exhibited a small collection of tiny, flirty party dresses, one of which (a floral, boustier of a thing) had many a frock-loving lady leaning forward in cupidity.

After collections from Susan Johnston, who took the event’s attendees into the past with pieces made from her late grandmother’s fabric, Lycheelime, John Michael of Drunk Gurl, The 3 Elements, Maxwell John Designs, andAkshay Tyagi completed the NSCAD bookends, presenting several pieces from his Thaw collection. Adding that little bit of theatricality we’ve come to expect of Tyagi’s use of the runway, his final model, enrobed in a clear plastic overcoat and an icy blue double-zip textured dress, was accompanied for a slow stroll by two barefooted (and bare-chested) men in futuristic white pants and layers of beautiful ocean-hued scarves—the East Coast emerging designer sure isn’t a shy one.

See looks from the Susan Johnston, Lycheelime, 3 Elements, Akshay Tyagi collections.

Next up, Veronica MacIsaac, Orphanage Clothing, Sunsets on the Eastside and more in the second AFW designer showcase. Stay tuned!

Read more...

Fashion news: Noot Seear in Law & Order jail, Calvin Klein makes crotch-friendly jeans, and more

Our November cover girl, Noot Seear, was arrested by the cast of Law & Order in the latest Harper’s Bazaar.

Jonny Johansson, the founder of Acne, has said he would like his label to be recognized for more than their slim fitting jeans. The brand is also home to a full clothing line as well as a magazine Johansson started called Acne Paper. This collective began with Johansson’s past dabbling in furniture design, music and fashion—with the full name of Ambition to Create Novel Expressions an indicator of the far-reaching creative abilities of the man behind the jeans company. A collaboration with Alber Elbaz has taken Acne into a luxury standard and higher price point—giving the company its much-deserved appreciation in the design community and building its rep.

The new Body by Calvin Klein Jeans promise to give men just that—body. The selling point of the carefully-constructed denim is the illusion of a package it promises to insecure men. The “body-defining fit for an enhanced profile” just sounds ridiculous–like a push-up bra for men’s crotches, giving a little extra lift–and leaves little guesswork. I guess the only thing getting between men and their Calvins was, well, a sock.

Lindsay Lohan denies having anything to do with the glitter pasties on the models at the Ungaro show. “I wasn’t aware of the nipple tassels on the girls until they were walking out,” she says. Not sure if that makes it better. [People, via The Cut]

The battle between Ralph Lauren and Filippa Hamilton continues despite the designer’s apology for the shocking retouched ad that’s been circulating to the delight of critical bloggers everywhere. Hamilton claims she was fired for being “overweight.” Of the photo, she has said, “I was shocked to see that super skinny girl with my face.”

Betsey Johnson was awarded the 2009 Medal of Honor for Lifetime Achievement in Fashion earlier this week. “It’s the biggest, best, fair-square celebration from the last place I’d dreamt of,” said Johnson of the win. The designer’s career spans four-decades and has come out of some of the most politically and socially charged movements of the 20th century. Her encouraging words for the future of fashion design? “Hard times always lead to something great.”

Read more...

Fashion news: Noot Seear in Law & Order jail, Calvin Klein makes crotch-friendly jeans, and more

Our November cover girl, Noot Seear, was arrested by the cast of Law & Order in the latest Harper’s Bazaar.

Jonny Johansson, the founder of Acne, has said he would like his label to be recognized for more than their slim fitting jeans. The brand is also home to a full clothing line as well as a magazine Johansson started called Acne Paper. This collective began with Johansson’s past dabbling in furniture design, music and fashion—with the full name of Ambition to Create Novel Expressions an indicator of the far-reaching creative abilities of the man behind the jeans company. A collaboration with Alber Elbaz has taken Acne into a luxury standard and higher price point—giving the company its much-deserved appreciation in the design community and building its rep.

The new Body by Calvin Klein Jeans promise to give men just that—body. The selling point of the carefully-constructed denim is the illusion of a package it promises to insecure men. The “body-defining fit for an enhanced profile” just sounds ridiculous–like a push-up bra for men’s crotches, giving a little extra lift–and leaves little guesswork. I guess the only thing getting between men and their Calvins was, well, a sock.

Lindsay Lohan denies having anything to do with the glitter pasties on the models at the Ungaro show. “I wasn’t aware of the nipple tassels on the girls until they were walking out,” she says. Not sure if that makes it better. [People, via The Cut]

The battle between Ralph Lauren and Filippa Hamilton continues despite the designer’s apology for the shocking retouched ad that’s been circulating to the delight of critical bloggers everywhere. Hamilton claims she was fired for being “overweight.” Of the photo, she has said, “I was shocked to see that super skinny girl with my face.”

Betsey Johnson was awarded the 2009 Medal of Honor for Lifetime Achievement in Fashion earlier this week. “It’s the biggest, best, fair-square celebration from the last place I’d dreamt of,” said Johnson of the win. The designer’s career spans four-decades and has come out of some of the most politically and socially charged movements of the 20th century. Her encouraging words for the future of fashion design? “Hard times always lead to something great.”

Read more...