Wear-Tyne derby: Toon leave Wearside upbeat despite late leveller

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew was satisfied with his side's 1-1 draw with Sunderland

If you had offered Newcastle United fans a point following Cheick Tiote’s dismissal at Sunderland yesterday, you can be sure the majority would have taken it.

With in excess of 65 minutes still to play at the Stadium of Light, the Magpies were winning 1-0 thanks to Yohan Cabaye’s excellent third-minute finish, but Tiote’s red card left them facing an unenviable task.

It took the Black Cats until four minutes from the end to finally bundle home an equaliser, and but for some bad luck from a Seb Larsson free-kick, Newcastle would have held on for a famous victory.

They had repelled the likes of James McClean, Stephane Sessegnon, Steven Fletcher and Adam Johnson admirably, and while the Sunderland quartet all disappointed, that was in large part due to excellent Newcastle defending.

Fabricio Coloccini was a class apart at the back and it is no coincidence Sunderland’s leveller came when he had left the pitch.

Credit must also go to Mike Williamson, Davide Santon, Danny Simpson and James Perch for keeping Sunderland’s attackers quiet, but it was Coloccini who held it all together.

Yesterday’s game proved Newcastle are a completely different proposition with the Argentinean defender in their team, with his composure, skill and doggedness not only keeping Sunderland at bay, but also calming his team-mates in the process.

Toon manager Alan Pardew remarked after the game that his captain’s performance “was like watching Bobby Moore”, and that is a compliment his captain thoroughly merited.

In an encounter where attacking talents were expected to shine, Coloccini deservedly picked up the man of the match award and showed just what Newcastle have been missing in recent weeks due to his injury absence.

I have never seen a better defender in a Newcastle shirt, and Coloccini’s display at the Stadium of Light yesterday was certainly one of the best defensive performances in the club’s recent history.

Until Tiote’s sending off in the 25th minute, Newcastle were by far the better side.

For all the pre-match talk of Sunderland being favourites, it was the visitors who sprinted out of the blocks and Cabaye’s opener was the least they deserved.

However, the Ivorian then turned the game on its head with his crazy sending off.

His challenge on Fletcher was dangerous, reckless and thoroughly deserving of a red card, which was made all the more moronic given the referee had already blown for a foul in Tiote’s favour before he dived in on the Scot.

Tiote has been walking a disciplinary tightrope for some time

Many fans have defended Tiote and insist he should not have been sent off, and one argument they have given is that Sunderland’s Larsson was not even given a booking for an equally reckless challenge on Shola Ameobi.

Larsson’s foot was so high it almost took Ameobi’s head off, and he at least deserved a yellow card, but Tiote could have no real complaints.

His dismissal also led to Ameobi being sacrificed by Pardew, which clearly disappointed the front-man.

However, it was a wise decision by the manager to bring the striker off, as Newcastle could no longer afford to play two up-front, Demba Ba offered a better goal threat and Ameobi was on a booking due to his part in the aftermath of Tiote’s dismissal.

Newcastle coped admirably with their one man disadvantage and were worthy of at least a point.

They will be the team most satisfied by their performance in the cold light of day, however galling it was to lose their lead with time running out.

Ba was desperately unlucky after a dogged display up-front to head Larsson’s free-kick into his own net, but the Magpies managed to hold on for a point.

Both sides will have been relieved with the draw, but for very different reasons.

Sunderland will have been delighted not to lose the game having trailed for so long, while Newcastle must have feared the worst after Tiote’s red.

In truth, they didn’t come under anywhere near as much pressure as they might have expected until the last 10 minutes, when their legs were weary and Sunderland managed to gather some momentum.

It was a typically ferocious and atmospheric derby, but unfortunately it is again off-the-field matters which are dominating the headlines.

A Sunderland fan is being investigated for allegedly racially abusing Ba, while neither set of supporters covered themselves in glory.

While a relatively small number of arrests were made, a section of Sunderland fans chanted the moronic “We wish you were dead” at Toon defender Steven Taylor in retaliation to his ill-advised pre-match comments, and some Newcastle supporters chanted equally tasteless songs about Lee Cattermole and Jimmy Savile.

Neither side can take the moral high ground when it comes to chanting as both showed extremely poor taste.

It is disappointing that this is even a talking-point but it seemed inevitable due to the intense build-up this fixture always invites.

For Newcastle, they will have left Wearside with mixed emotions but the overriding one should be upbeat as they proved just what a good and resilient side they are.

If they had managed to keep 11 men on the pitch, they would surely have fancied their chances of taking another three points back to Tyneside, but they can’t be too devastated by a solitary one.

Newcastle once again had the better of a derby and their performance should stand them in good stead. Their season is finally up and running and they should feel much more positive now with their pride very much intact.

Michael van Gerwen's World Grand Prix triumph the first of many

Michael van Gerwen's passion for darts is great for the sport

Michael van Gerwen was threatening to become a darting enigma.

He burst onto the scene as a fresh-faced 17-year-old in 2006, when he won the BDO's World Masters, and several other blistering displays in the months that followed made him seemingly destined for greatness.

However, after moving to the superior PDC in 2007, he struggled.

The sense of inevitability he would soon be dominating world darts wavered and he became seen as an erratic and inconsistent player.

Commentators, experts and fans seemed to forget that, as a teenager, setbacks were obviously going to come his way.

They started looking for reasons behind his defeats on TV, labelled him a disappointment and questioned whether he would ever fulfil his obvious talent.

What they didn't realise is that all those defeats and heartbreaks - including an agonising defeat to Phil Taylor in the 2008 World Championship first round, when he missed a dart at double 12 to win - were the making of him. They grounded him and ensured he would never take anything for granted.

However, the criticism and defeats threatened to break van Gerwen.

The Dutchman slipped down the rankings and was forced to participate on the youth tour in order to regain his confidence.

This, seemingly, was the turning point for him.

He found his love of darts again. He found his love of winning again.

van Gerwen twice reached the final of the World Youth Championship and, despite losing on both occasions, he had re-found his belief.

The talent had never gone away and was always waiting to be sparked into life, and over the last 12 months, van Gerwen has delivered.

He has been much improved on TV and on the floor, and that culminated in last night's thrilling 6-4 victory over Mervyn King to win the World Grand Prix.

van Gerwen had been 3-0 and 4-1 down, but dominated the closing stages in front of a delighted Dublin crowd.

He seems to have been around for a long time, but van Gerwen is still only 23. That must be frightening for the other players.

He is only going to get better, and with triumphs like this, his confidence is only going to soar further.

van Gerwen is capable of magic spells in matches to take the game away from his opponent, and that was in full evidence against King.

The Dutchman was occasionally erratic on his finishing doubles, but his scoring bought him so many darts at the double that his misses almost seemed irrelevant.

He won the match - and with it the tournament - with a brilliant 145 checkout to finish in the grandest of style.

As for King, he will have left Dublin wondering what might have been.

King missed out on a first major PDC title

As an experienced professional, he should have closed the game out from a position of 4-1 up, but van Gerwen is capable of such blistering spells that you can never count him out.

King came across as a bitter loser in his TV interview following the loss and seemed to suggest he would have won if it wasn't for the crowd's behaviour (they repeatedly booed when he was on a double) but this is nothing more than a case of sour grapes.

Yes, the crowd were out of order in booing him, but King could not have expected anything else.

He seemed to cope pretty well with it when he went 3-0 and 4-1 up against van Gerwen, while his semi-final win over local hero Brendan Dolan was played in an even more fervent atmosphere.

To blame the crowd for his defeat will not help King's fortunes in future, as it is likely supporters will only target him even more after seeing what a sore loser he is.

This has been in evidence before, most notably in his BDO days, when he was known to blame defeats on anything ranging from air conditioning to the length of the oche.

He also targeted van Gerwen before the match, criticising the Dutchman's extravagant celebrations during matches, but he was out of order there, too.

Just as King is entitled to keep his cool on stage after sinking crucial doubles, van Gerwen is entitled to let off steam.

His delight at success is part of the package of van Gerwen, and this enthusiasm is part of the reason fans get behind him, along with his fast pace and obvious talent.

It is understandable that King was deeply frustrated after throwing away the match from a dominant position, but his words afterwards will not have done him any favours.

Playing in the PDC, he has to expect raucous atmospheres and his behaviour in the past is always going to make him a target.

If he wants better playing conditions, he should go back to the BDO. No successful darts player with ambition would be so stupid, though.

It seems certain King will forget all about the atmosphere in Dublin the next time he looks in his bank account and sees an extra £40,000 in there - his runner-up prize.

The best prizes, players, excitement, competitions and prestige are on offer in the PDC, and with that comes certain negatives, like the crowd participation King so despises.

As for van Gerwen, he pocketed a cool £100,000 for his win and rocketed up to number eight in the world rankings.

He seems destined to continually improve that ranking as he has finally found his feet.

van Gerwen will now surely be installed as one of the favourites for the World Championships, which start in December.

The usual suspects - Taylor, Adrian Lewis (who van Gerwen beat in Dublin), James Wade and co - will take some beating in the most prestigious tournament in darts, but the Dutchman will be in the mix.

The confidence his triumph in Dublin will give him should carry van Gerwen to even greater heights, and he will be eager to prove himself again at Alexandra Palace.

He is a pure darting talent and has now provided two of the greatest moments of the year in darts - his nine-darter at the World Matchplay in Blackpool and now his maiden major triumph - with the promise of plenty more to follow.

The World Grand Prix may have been van Gerwen's first PDC major title, but it certainly won't be his last.

The crazy world of Blackburn Rovers

Steve Kean is said to be on the brink of losing his job at Blackburn

It's easy to see why Blackburn Rovers fans want Steve Kean axed as manager.

He relegated them, promised them Champions League football, caused suspicion over the role of his agent Jerome Anderson, continues to constantly lie, is full of excuses after defeats, is constantly blindly optimistic and refuses to acknowledge the strength of feeling against him.

There is an incredible amount of sympathy for him in the 'football community'.

Managers, pundits and the media are seemingly lining up to back the Scot, despite his disastrous reign in charge of Blackburn.

The mix of Kean and clueless owners Venky's is a toxic one which will only end in tears, although sadly for Rovers fans it seems likely the tears will be theirs.

Kean, while keeping his ridiculously ever-positive public attitude throughout, has presided over a period in which Blackburn have gone from a comfortable mid-table Premier League club to a Championship side in turmoil, and much of the blame lies with him.

Venky's must take a lot of blame too, for their shambolic running of the club and their blind backing of Kean, who has looked hopelessly out of his depth from day one.

The latest damaging week at Ewood Park will not have surprised Rovers fans, who have lived through two years of farcical situations.

The supporters have taken much of the blame for the situation at their club, too, which is simply ridiculous.

Their protests against Kean may have gone too far on occasion and it is true that chants calling for the manager's head during matches may have affected the team's performances, but what would you do if it was your team?

Would you like Steve Kean in charge of your club? More to the point, would you want a combination of Kean and Venky's to be running your club? Thought not.

Fans tried protesting before and after matches at Ewood Park last season, but were ignored by the club who continued to stick with the beleaguered Kean.

Protests during matches did no good, either, and even relegation was not enough to cost Kean his job.

Supporters have simply been ignored and the fact Kean survived last year's horror campaign is nothing short of a disgrace, and only underlines the complete incompetence of everyone in power at the club.

On the face of it, Blackburn have had a decent start this season in their quest to return to the Premier League at the first time of asking, but scratch beneath the surface and the same old problems have continued to bubble away.

The club cannot begin to recover from the trauma of last season until Kean is removed.

Attendances at Ewood Park are significantly down - just over 13,000 saw last Friday's defeat to Middlesbrough - and protests about the manager and owners have continued, despite the club sitting in third in the Championship table.

Blackburn fans have long protested against Kean and the board

There is a planned boycott from fans for Rovers' next home game, against Wolves in October, and this is probably the only type of protest which could force the club's hand.

Hit the owners in the pocket and they will surely be forced to act.

Kean has lied throughout his tenure in charge at Blackburn and it is not a surprise to see the fans still up in arms.

They are, quite rightly, bewildered that this imposter of a football manager remains in charge of their club.

There have been numerous times during his tenure when his axing has seemed inevitable, but Kean has been bulletproof.

Earlier this week, reports spread that he was to be sacked, but it appears he has survived yet again and is set to take charge of the team against Charlton Athletic this weekend.

The club has become a laughing stock, and that has never been more evident than this week.

Rumours have been allowed to circulate, including one which claimed Kean was sacked last weekend, only to defiantly turn up at the training ground on Monday to take training as normal, which apparently led to the owners having a change of heart and 'reinstating' him.

The aforementioned story appears extremely unlikely, but in the crazy world that is Blackburn Rovers under Venky's and Kean, you can't rule anything out.

Kean has even described the last week as "great", which just shows how out of touch with reality he is.

Last season was an utter farce for Rovers and the only way the situation could in any way have been rectified would have been if Kean was sacked.

Instead, Venky's decided to appoint another clown to work alongside him in the form of Shebby Singh, who is the club's director of football.

He comes across as an utter fool, with particular highlights of the last few weeks including his description of Morten Gamst Pedersen as a "pensioner", his insistence Kean would be sacked if three games in a row were lost and his utterances this week, which have been confusing and inconsistent.

Reportedly, Singh set Kean a target of 16 points from the first seven games, a tally he fell two short of, but there are many other reasons the Scot must go.

Singh has even been linked with taking over from Kean should the Scot be sacked

There is the intense dislike the fans have for him as well as his disastrous management last season and the lies he has told throughout his time in charge.

He even once compared David Goodwillie to Wayne Rooney - enough said.

He also claimed they had some "monumental results last season, including back-to-back clean sheets," despite relegation.

After Kean's side registered no shots on or off target after a match at Tottenham last season, he then claimed they weren't even thinking about the prospect of relegation - despite the fact they were already as good as dead and buried.

A video has also circulated online - which has resulted in a court case - in which he labels former Rovers boss Sam Allardyce as a "crook", but at least 'Big Sam' is no fraud like his successor.

In the past, Kean has also promised exciting times lie ahead at Ewood Park and that Champions League football is on the horizon - the man is laughable.

However, it is Blackburn fans which most of the media - and the country - have been laughing at.

Instead of sympathising with them, they have ridiculed and criticised them, which is baffling.

No set of fans would accept this sort of situation happening at their club and much of the media have been foolish in falling for Kean's spin.

Kean is reportedly still on the brink of being sacked, with Tim Sherwood mooted as a possible successor.

Whether he would want to work with Venky's is debatable, but the players are there at Ewood Park to launch a serious promotion push.

In truth, promotion should be on the cards for this group of players, which includes Jordan Rhodes, Danny Murphy, Paul Robinson and Scott Dann - who could all more than hold their own in the Premier League.

Rhodes has had a promising start to life at Ewood Park

Appointing Sherwood as manager would provide a reminder to fans of better times at Ewood Park, as he is a Blackburn legend who lifted the Premier League trophy as captain in the mid-90s.

Appointing him would be a risk, as he has no first-team management experience, but Blackburn would have a much better chance of going up with him in charge.

Kean will never be accepted at Ewood Park, however well the side do this season. Too much water has gone under the bridge.

Attendances were always going to drop after relegation, but with Kean gone and a new manager in, it is certain the average gates would not have dropped as low as they are now.

If Blackburn fans finally get their wish and Kean is quickly sacked, they will then need to back their team to the hilt.

Misgivings about Venky’s are unlikely to ever go away, but they must be put to one side – at least for the time being.

With the players the new manager will have at his disposal, Blackburn should go back up to the Premier League at the first time of asking.

All the passion Rovers fans have showed in their displeasure at Kean and Venky’s will need to be redirected.

If they can get Ewood Park packed and turn their passion into positivity, a promotion campaign should be on the cards.

That is unlikely if Kean stays though, so for now, the protests should continue until he is gone.

Kean should not be judged on this season, he should be judged on his entire reign at Ewood Park - which has been disastrous.

It's time for him to be put out of his misery once and for all.

US Open: Andy Murray beats Novak Djokovic to make history

The sight many British tennis fans feared they would never see

Unquestionably, this has been the best summer of sport Great Britain has ever seen.

As well as all the blue riband events which always captivate the nation, the London Olympic and Paralympic Games have provided such a feel good factor that sport has been at the forefront of everyone's minds.

Yesterday appeared to be all about celebrating the staggering achievements of Team GB, as an estimated one million took to the streets of London to watch the athletes' parade.

One medallist who couldn't be there to soak in the incredible atmosphere was Andy Murray, who won a gold and a silver what seems like a lifetime ago.

He had more pressing matters to deal with. A US Open final, no less.

Could he provide Britain with one last incredible achievement before this summer festival of sport was over? Of course.

Not even the great Novak Djokovic could stop the wave of positivity in British sport continuing beyond London 2012.

In a five-set, nail-biting epic, Murray prevailed in four hours 54 minutes - a joint record for a US Open final - to break his major duck.

Murray was already a great of British tennis before last night's dramatic victory, but has now made himself a legend.

As the first man from these shores to win a Grand Slam championship since Fred Perry 76 years ago, surely nobody can deny him that status.

Murray has been extremely unfortunate to play in the same era as three of the all-time greats in Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, but that makes this victory all the more fulfilling.

The challenges Murray faces tournament after tournament in trying to beat these tennis icons were even apparent yesterday, as Djokovic levelled the match after being two sets down.

In the first set, the Scot won an incredible tie-break to give himself the best possible start, and while the standard of tennis from the pair wasn't at the highest level, it remained brutal.

The first set included one 54-shot rally - the longest of the entire tournament - and both men seemingly don't know when they are beaten during baseline rallies, so the winner of this clash was always going to have to suffer for it.

Murray raced into a 4-0 second set lead and appeared to be dominating, but the Serbian hit back against his nervous opponent and the set was eventually levelled at 5-5. It's never simple with Murray.

The momentum had changed dramatically and if the first set's outcome appeared crucial, this one seemed pivotal.

Djokovic, despite having five major titles already to his name, still appeared edgy.

Serving at 6-5 down in the second set, the Serbian handed Murray two break points, which were converted at the second opportunity.

Murray held his nerve to take the second set

Murray has suffered his fair share of agony in major finals, but just like his coach, Ivan Lendl, it appeared his moment of triumph would eventually come at the fifth attempt.

However, Djokovic is a warrior. He never gives in. He squeezes every last ounce he can out of any match. To beat him, you have to go the distance, mentally and physically.

The Serbian was suddenly revitalised despite the two set deficit, and deservedly took the third set 6-2 to set up a nail-biting conclusion to the match.

Djokovic then broke Murray's serve in the first game of the fourth set to show what a champion he is, and that he still fully intended to retain the US Open title he captured for the first time a year ago.

Murray was nervous, fully aware of the enormity of the situation, and there appeared only one winner.

The momentum was all with Djokovic, and despite some break point opportunities for Murray in the set, the Serbian took it 6-3 to take it to a deciding set.

However, the beauty of tennis, indeed the beauty of sport, is that momentum can change in an instant.

Murray may have lost that fourth set, but he was involved in some breathtaking rallies and gave himself opportunities to break Djokovic, so the belief was clearly still there. He knew he still had what it took to make history.

Murray showed the incredible character he has by breaking Djokovic in the first and third games of the deciding set to race into a 3-0 lead, but you can never write Djokovic off.

Sir Alex Ferguson and Sir Sean Connery watched on from the stands, seemingly mesmerised by what they were witnessing, but the best moment was still to come.

The standard of the match had been steadily growing throughout and it had developed into a classic encounter, the type of which is likely to destroy the confidence of the loser. If Murray lost from this position, how could he have possibly recovered?

Djokovic immediately broke back to pull back Murray's lead slightly, but the Scot remained strong.

He is one of the best returners the game has ever seen, and that was proving crucial here.

At 4-2 up and facing Djokovic's serve, Murray carved out two break point opportunities and took them for a 5-2 lead. He was to serve for the championship and his first major victory.

It can only be imagined what Murray's heart-rate was at that point.

In living rooms up and down Britain, as the clock ticked past 2am, most tennis fans' heart-rates were surely through the roof. History was about to be made. Surely?

Murray brought up three championship points by going 40-0 up with some nerveless tennis, and although Djokovic saved one of those, the end was nigh.

A Murray second serve was smashed long by Djokovic to hand the Scot a 6-2 last set triumph and end 76 years of British hurt.

Murray pushed through the pain barrier to seal his victory

Murray seemingly didn't know what to do when victory was confirmed.

There was no great outpouring of emotion - probably due to the fatigue he was feeling after such a brutal match - but you could sense how much it meant to him.

If he had lost this match, he surely would never have tasted victory on the biggest stages of all.

Now, though, it appears his career is on a steep, upwards curve which is only going to go from strength to strength.

Murray has won most of the British public over in recent months, too.

They suffered with him through his agonising losses, none more so than at Wimbledon this year when he won the hearts of the nation after losing to Federer in the final.

A tearful Murray remarked "I'm getting closer!", and he didn't have to wait too much longer to reach the top of his Everest.

His gold medal at the London Olympics, in which he trounced Federer in the final, clearly gave him a huge surge in belief and the wave of positivity which surrounded him surely carried him all the way to America.

Murray's Olympic victory gave him a taste of things to come

Lendl deserves huge praise for helping turn Murray from a nearly man into a champion on the world stage, and the Scot's more aggressive style of tennis is surely in no small part down to him.

Lendl's calmness in the stands during Murray's matches has clearly had a positive effect on the British number one, and has helped him remain calm himself in the most pivotal moments of matches.

There is a sense Murray wasn't ready to win a major before now, but he has now proved that he has matured beyond belief.

To bounce back after losing a two set lead was simply staggering and the feeling is this could be the first of many major triumphs for him.

The omens were all there for Murray.

It took Lendl five finals to win his first major, and Fred Perry won his first major championship at the US Open on September 10 1933, 79 years to the day from Murray's first major triumph.

Murray will surely now have the respect of everyone on the men's tour - if he didn't already - and 2012 belongs to him.

He had a superb Australian Open - where he lost to Djokovic in an epic semi-final - a decent French Open where he got to the quarters, a thrilling Wimbledon in which he contested his first final at SW19, a dazzling Olympics where he won gold in the singles and silver in the mixed doubles and now a history-making US Open where he has ended Britain's major drought.

The four majors have been shared between the four top players this year, but this is Murray's year due to the prestige of the Olympic title added to his US Open victory.

Murray could even end the year as world number one, which would be fitting.

He has stood toe-to-toe with the best and now is starting to beat the best, so who could deny him that ranking?

Praise must be given to Djokovic, too.

He never knows when he is beaten, both in rallies and match situations, and this defeat must have been like a dagger through his heart.

After battling back from two sets down, Djokovic must have felt Murray was there for the taking, making his ultimate failure to triumph all the more frustrating for him.

He produced some sublime tennis - the sort of which saw him win three successive major titles between 2011 and 2012 - to push Murray all the way, but still found the time at the end to congratulate the victor.

Tennis has so many fantastic sportsmen who are gracious in victory and defeat, and the top four players are such superb ambassadors for their sport.

Djokovic, Nadal, Federer and Murray are all tremendous ambassadors for tennis

Sport - and tennis in particular - can be so cruel and gratifying in equal measure, and that was never more evident than last night.

Tennis is a fascinating sport due to the loneliness of its competitors and the ebbs and flows which define its biggest matches, and last night's encounter was one of the best of modern times.

It is a sport which examines its competitors more than any other mentally, and Murray passed his test of character with flying colours yesterday.

Murray's triumph was yet another defining moment in this great British summer of sport, which will never be topped.

He has catapulted himself into contention with the likes of Mo Farah and Bradley Wiggins for the Sports Personality of the Year award, but he will not even be thinking about that right now.

For now, he just needs to let the enormity of his achievement sink in.

Murray has been under so much pressure throughout his career as the 'golden boy' of British tennis and the man to surely end Britain's major drought, and he has finally delivered.

He was always considered too good to go through his entire career without winning a Grand Slam title, and now that weight has been lifted from his shoulders it is just a question of how many more he can win.

Murray has won the last two biggest tournaments and will be full of confidence in the closing months of 2012 and the opening of 2013, so many more magic moments should await for him.

He will again have to overcome three of the greatest players of all-time to triumph, but he now knows he can do it and he deserves to stand alongside these legends of the game, so why shouldn't he be full of belief this is the first of many?

A lot has been said of the legacy London 2012 will have. Perhaps the first example came at Flushing Meadows yesterday.

Murray clearly gained so much belief he could beat the best after his triumph at the Olympics - a belief which has now carried him to his first major title.

That should in turn inspire more youngsters to take up tennis, and, who knows, this time in 20 years we may be talking about multiple British players who have won major titles.

Murray has got the ball rolling to end a staggering British summer of sport in which the feel good factor has been never-ending.

We will never see another festival of sport like it and Murray provided a fitting climax by ending Britain's huge wait for a major winner.

History has been made to end a summer of history-making.

The positivity surrounding British sport lives on and Andy Murray has created one of the greatest moments of 2012. This summer will never be forgotten.

US Open: Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka reignite women's tennis

Serena Williams (right) and Victoria Azarenka contested a superb US Open final

Serena Williams has won everything there is to win in tennis. Several times over.

However, judging by her celebrations after beating Victoria Azarenka to win the US Open for a fourth time yesterday, the delight of victory is stronger than ever for her.

In what was one of the greatest women's matches of recent times, Williams secured her 15th Grand Slam title by edging past the Belarusian, who at one stage served for the championship.

Azarenka left the stage surely full of regrets, but also with a new legion of fans who are sure to have taken to her in this gripping contest.

It was an exhilarating match which ebbed and flowed, but when it really counted, in the key moments, the American's experience and class told.

Williams was the heavy favourite to beat Azarenka before the match - despite the Belarusian holding the world number one ranking - due to her imperious form both leading into and during the championships, and the first set did little to defy the odds.

The 30-year-old breezed through it, with Azarenka seemingly overawed by the enormity of the occasion.

However, it didn't take too much longer for her to prove her worth.

After losing the first set 6-2, Azarenka took advantage of a nervy Williams to take the second set by the same scoreline.

The American has been prone to nerves in recent years on the biggest occasions, and they appeared to be getting the better of her again in New York.

Williams' unforced error count just kept rising and rising and the more the match progressed, the more likely it was that Azarenka would be triumphant.

The Australian Open champion raced into a 5-3 final set lead, which became 5-4 after the world number four held serve, meaning Azarenka was to serve for the championship. It was now or never for Williams.

Sure enough, she produced her best when she needed it.

Her movement was much improved and she hit a number of ferocious groundstrokes to take advantage of Azarenka's obvious nerves.

When Williams broke Azarenka to level the deciding set at 5-5 with a crunching winner, there was only to be one winner.

Almost inevitably, after two more straight games, the championship belonged to Serena again.

It had been a truly terrific final, and the first US Open women's final to go to three sets since Steffi Graf beat Monica Seles in 1995.

Too many women's Grand Slam finals are drab, one-sided affairs. Not this one.

This was a match to keep everyone hooked, right to the end, and it was just a shame there had to be a loser.

Williams showed her delight after triumphing

Azarenka was incredibly gracious in defeat, and remarked on how honoured she was to stand alongside the legendary Williams, but will leave New York full of regrets.

She was written off before facing the American due to Williams' blistering form, but proved herself more than worthy of the number one ranking with her gutsy performance.

However, it will be so hard for her to take the positives at the moment.

She served for her maiden US Open championship and eventually got blown away, so this loss will take some recovering from.

Azarenka has not been one of the most popular players on the circuit with fans due to her grunting and both the headphones and hoodie she wears prior to matches, but is sure to have won most people over in New York.

She has now proved her talent, personality and grace and should have a bright future, with plenty of more crucial Grand Slam meetings with Williams.

Women's tennis needs a rivalry like Azarenka vs Williams and, if both can remain healthy and maintain the same desire, they look like contesting many more finals.

Williams may have edged this one, but Azarenka has now proved she has the game to get under the American's skin and beat her, despite the 30-year-old's superior record in matches between the pair.

As for Williams, she is a legend of the game and will be looking for many more major titles over the coming years.

She will turn 31 later this month, which suggests she does not have so much tennis left in her, but she is such a phenomenal athlete she could continue at the top of the game for years to come.

Over the last few months, she has won the singles titles at Wimbledon, the Olympics and the US Open, as well as doubles titles with her sister Venus at Wimbledon and the Olympics, so Williams is on top form.

She didn't produce her best tennis on a consistent basis against Azarenka, but now she has laid her US Open demons to rest, she could go on to dominate the next couple of years.

In the middle stages of the final against Azarenka, Williams seemed incredibly nervous in front of her home crowd.

The unsavoury incidents which overshadowed her last two appearances at Flushing Meadows, with her outbursts during a semi-final with Kim Clijsters in 2009 and last year's final with Sam Stosur, were clearly playing on her mind.

However, this triumph has now put all that behind her and her desire, will-to-win and passion, along with her obvious talent, will surely take her to more major titles.

Williams deserves more respect due to her achievements and even more so when you consider what she has had to overcome over the years.

The death of her sister, a life-threatening illness and a childhood spent in a gun-infested neighbourhood are just three of the hurdles she has had to deal with.

She has had her issues on the court, for which she has been rightly criticised, but she is a legend of the game.

With 15 major titles and surely more to come, Williams will go down as one of the best women tennis players to ever pick up a racket.

Azarenka pushed Williams all the way in New York

Her story is all the more remarkable when you consider her sister Venus also has seven major titles to her name, although it now seems the elder sister's best days are behind her.

One of the defining images of Serena's victory over Azarenka will be the trophy presentations afterwards.

These two warriors, who had just slugged it out in one of the best US Open finals ever, stood side-by-side, smiling and laughing their way through the formalities.

It is clear there is immense respect and friendship between the two, and it appears this friendly rivalry is only at its beginning.

Azarenka and Williams aren't the only players lighting up the women's game at present.

Maria Sharapova is producing some of her best form, while Petra Kvitova, Sara Errani, Ana Ivanovic and Agnieszka Radwanska have all proved themselves to be more than capable.

Many will say Williams' recent triumphs mean she is the undisputed number one, but for now she remains the fourth ranked player in the world due to the consistency of her rivals.

The American still faces quite some challenge to reach the top of the rankings again, but you wouldn't bet against her arriving there again soon.

Williams will again be the woman to beat in the next major championship, in Australia next year, but Azarenka will now be more feared than ever before and looks set for a truly bright future.

But this day belonged to the incredible Serena Williams.

She is a fascinating athlete who has transcended her sport and continues to push the boundaries of possibility.

Williams may not have been at her best yesterday, but she hit an incredible amount of winners and somehow found a way to win.

A huge weight has been lifted from her shoulders and her star continues to rise.

This match has reignited women's tennis and there will hopefully be plenty more Grand Slam finals like this.

Whether they can have as much drama, quality and excitement as this one though is hugely doubtful.

2012/13 Premier League and Football League predictions

The new football season is just hours away

The dust has not even settled yet on the fantastic 2012 Olympic Games, but the football season is already upon us.

If the coming campaign is anywhere near as exciting and nail-biting as the last one, we are in for a treat.

Manchester City go into the Premier League season as defending champions and they are surely favourites to retain their title, although city neighbours United have strengthened well and Chelsea also look much-improved.

There are not any real relegation certainties this season, and that makes the campaign's relegation battle fascinating as half the Premier League's teams look to be of a similar standard.

I tried predicting the finishing positions of all 92 Football League teams last season and was woefully off the mark, but I'm going to have another go now. I can't be any further off the mark than last season, so here goes...

Premier League

1. Manchester United - Their frontline looks fierce after the capture of Robin van Persie, while Shinji Kagawa is an excellent signing in midfield. Sir Alex Ferguson will be more eager than ever to win back his title.

2. Manchester City - Roberto Mancini has been frustrated in the transfer market this summer but City have a fantastic team and will not be far off retaining their title.

3. Chelsea - Roberto Di Matteo is under incredible pressure to live up to the standards he set by winning the Champions League and FA Cup last season, but with new signings like Oscar and Eden Hazard, Chelsea should be much-improved in the league.

4. Arsenal - Robin van Persie's departure will leave a gaping hole in Arsene Wenger's team, but with new arrivals like Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud, and the potential for more with the van Persie money, Arsenal should still be strong.

5. Tottenham Hotspur - Andre Villas-Boas will be eager to prove himself at Spurs after his nightmare at Chelsea, but Spurs have been greatly weakened since last season and face a huge task to replicate last year's fourth-placed finish.

6. Newcastle United - Last season's 'surprise package' have again been written off ahead of this campaign, but with players like Tim Krul, Yohan Cabaye and Papiss Cisse, they should again trouble the 'bigger teams' and have a successful year.

7. Liverpool - Brendan Rodgers accepted a long-term challenge when he took over at Anfield in the off-season, and his first campaign at Liverpool could be one of slow growth rather than anything revolutionary.

8. Everton - David Moyes continues to get Everton punching above their weight and if they can have a strong start, a season similar to Newcastle's last year could ensue. Nikica Jelavic's goals will be crucial.

9. Southampton - Very ambitious under Nigel Adkins and should have similar success as Norwich and Swansea last season. If their swoop for Gaston Ramirez comes off, it should be exciting times on the south coast.

10. Queens Park Rangers - Last season's final day survival has given the club a new lease of life and they haven't been afraid to splash the cash this summer. Their squad looks far too big, but they have more than enough quality to be much-improved in this campaign.

11. Stoke City - The Potters don't have Europe to worry about this season and certainly shouldn't have any worries as far as relegation is concerned. A top-half finish should be the target.

12. Sunderland - Martin O'Neill has not strengthened his squad as much as he would have liked this summer, so Sunderland should not progress as much as he would want this year, but his presence alone should be enough to see them comfortably safe and a possible top-half team.

13. West Ham United - Sam Allardyce is under huge pressure to deliver at Upton Park this season, but Hammers fans should accept that for one season, at least, survival will be a successful campaign.

14. Fulham - The Cottagers have lost key players Danny Murphy, Andy Johnson and Pavel Pogrebnyak so far this summer, while Clint Dempsey and Moussa Dembele could follow, so Martin Jol could be in for a frustrating season at Craven Cottage which could result in a relegation battle.

15. Aston Villa - Paul Lambert should have a galvanising effect at Villa Park but it is difficult to predict where Villa will finish this season as the squad is not too different to the one led by Alex McLeish last year.

16. Reading - Brian McDermott has brought in some quality players at Reading this summer and they should have a strong start to the season. If they can maintain that, like so many other promoted clubs have failed to do, they should comfortably survive.

17. Norwich City - Chris Hughton has his work cut out at Carrow Road as it will be almost impossible to follow the job Paul Lambert did there, but the former Birmingham and Newcastle boss has proved his worth over the last three seasons and could see them through a relegation battle.

18. Wigan Athletic - The Latics were a joy to watch at the end of last season as they played their way out of trouble, but they will again find it difficult this year, particularly if they lose star man Victor Moses to Chelsea.

19. West Bromwich Albion - Steve Clarke has taken over from Roy Hodgson at the Hawthorns and the mid-table security offered by Hodgson is something the Scot will be looking to replicate. The Baggies are about to find out just how much of a galvanising effect Hodgson had at the club.

20. Swansea City - Brendan Rodgers did an incredible job at the Liberty Stadium and was replaced by Michael Laudrup, who looks an astute appointment. However, with star players Joe Allen and Gylfi Sigurdsson now gone, and Scott Sinclair expected to follow, the Swans look set for an extremely difficult campaign.

Championship

1. Bolton Wanderers.
2. Leicester City.
3. Wolverhampton Wanderers.
4. Brighton and Hove Albion.
5. Leeds United.
6. Cardiff City.
7. Birmingham City.
8. Nottingham Forest.
9. Hull City.
10. Huddersfield Town.
11. Blackburn Rovers.
12. Middlesbrough.
13. Blackpool.
14. Burnley.
15. Watford.
16. Sheffield Wednesday.
17. Crystal Palace.
18. Peterborough United.
19. Ipswich Town.
20. Derby County.
21. Charlton Athletic.
22. Barnsley.
23. Millwall.
24. Bristol City.

League One

1. Sheffield United.
2. Preston North End.
3. Coventry City.
4. MK Dons.
5. Swindon Town.
6. Portsmouth.
7. Bournemouth.
8. Notts County.
9. Scunthorpe United.
10. Brentford.
11. Doncaster Rovers.
12. Carlisle United.
13. Crawley Town.
14. Colchester United.
15. Stevenage.
16. Tranmere Rovers.
17. Yeovil Town.
18. Crewe Alexandra.
19. Oldham Athletic.
20. Shrewsbury Town.
21. Hartlepool United.
22. Leyton Orient.
23. Walsall.
24. Bury.

League Two

1. Rotherham United.
2. Chesterfield.
3. Fleetwood Town.
4. Gillingham.
5. Bradford City.
6. Northampton Town.
7. Exeter City.
8. Bristol Rovers.
9. Plymouth Argyle.
10. Oxford United.
11. Southend United.
12. Wycombe Wanderers.
13. Torquay United.
14. Rochdale.
15. York City.
16. Cheltenham Town.
17. Port Vale.
18. Dagenham and Redbridge.
19. AFC Wimbledon.
20. Aldershot Town.
21. Accrington Stanley.
22. Morecambe
23. Barnet.
24. Burton Albion.

Conference

Promoted: Luton Town and Wrexham.

FA Cup: Arsenal.

League Cup: Chelsea.

Champions League: Real Madrid.

Europa League: Napoli.

Scottish Premier League: Celtic.

La Liga: Real Madrid.

Serie A: Juventus.

Bundesliga: Bayern Munich.

Ligue 1: Paris St-Germain.

London 2012: A brilliant, seamless and inspiring Olympic Games

The country celebrated after London was chosen as the 2012 Olympic host city

Wednesday 6 July, 2005. Do you remember where you were?

It was the day London was announced as the host city of the 2012 Olympic Games and marked the start of seven years of hope, anticipation and controversy.

I found out the news while at school after my usually-strict English teacher, Mrs Purvis, interrupted a lesson to let us all know.

Even then, as a 12-year-old, I realised what a momentous occasion was just a matter of years away.

The country celebrated but was then brought back down to earth the very next day with the horrific London bombings, which claimed the lives of 52 innocent people.

From then on, the general feeling about the Games fluctuated, but the initial wave of positivity ebbed away and was replaced with cynicism.

It seemed inevitable, though, that once the 2012 Games began, the smiles would return. They did, and then some.

The feelgood factor the Olympics have generated has been immeasurable and the only disappointment is that it is all over (although, of course, the Paralympics are yet to come).

It will be extremely hard to sum up the last couple of weeks succinctly, so I'm not even going to try. These Olympics deserve many more words than I am even able to deliver here.

The Games have gripped the country and all the pre-Olympics negativity about budgets, traffic and safety have now been emphatically swept away. Those who doubted London's ability to be a successful host city must now be feeling rather embarrassed.

The nation has been caught up in Olympic fever and is now about to suffer an almighty hangover.

The terrific opening and closing ceremonies were the perfect bookmarks to what was an almost perfect Games, which was characterised by iconic moments, incredible crowds and unbelievable performances.

An Olympic Games is always helped if the host nation enjoys success, and Great Britain certainly delivered when it mattered most.

29 Gold medals and 65 medals in all were surely beyond anyone's wildest dreams, and it was Team GB's success which provided the momentum which helped the Games thrive from start to finish.

Mo Farah and Usain Bolt will surely come to symbolise these Games, with both men leaving an indelible impression on their sport.

Farah's two Saturday golds - first in the 10,000m and then in the 5,000m - were staggeringly brilliant and the atmosphere he helped generate in the Olympic Stadium will surely live with all who were there, along with those of us unable to get a ticket and watching the BBC's excellent coverage at home.

Living rooms up and down the country surely came alive in the closing stages of both of Farah's victories, as he somehow found the strength and extra speed to kick on and leave his rivals trailing in his wake.

The impact of an Olympic gold medal on an athlete's life is sometimes exaggerated, but for Farah, his life will never be the same again.

He created history in London and will forever be immortal in British athletics, while a knighthood is surely just around the corner.

Farah's Mobot celebration - devised by James Corden and Clare Balding on TV programme A League Of Their Own - became one of the great images of the Games, along with his pose with Bolt on the podium in which each champion performed the other's celebration.

Farah and Bolt both performed each other's iconic celebration

That brings us neatly onto Bolt, who has transcended his sport with his achievements.

There is nobody quite like the Jamaican.

Bolt's pre-race antics are a joy to watch and while he clearly has a very high opinion of himself, that is certainly not a negative where he is concerned.

He has something of a cheeky charm and it seems certain that, in 40 or 50 years time, Bolt will be remembered as the best sprinter of all-time and a character which blazed a trail for his successors.

To win gold medals in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay for two Olympic Games in a row is extraordinary, and it is hard to see him attempting to defend those titles again in Rio in 2016.

The fact is, he doesn't need to. Even people who know nothing about sprinting know exactly who Usain Bolt is.

He is surely the most marketable, popular and recognisable face in the world of sport at the moment and his achievements in London are all the more impressive considering the pressure he was under to deliver and the doubts which cropped up on the eve of the Games.

He may have been beaten twice in the Jamaican trials by training partner Yohan Blake, but once the important business started, Bolt delivered.

He clearly has a steely determination which belies his relaxed and light-hearted image in the moments immediately before a race.

Blake deserves credit, too, as finishing second behind Bolt is almost like winning a gold medal in itself.

Blake will have his time, possibly in Rio 2016, but for now, Bolt dominates sprinting and, indeed, athletics.

Despite Bolt's breathtaking brilliance, the performance of the Games was arguably by the humble and soft-spoken Kenyan 800m champion, David Rudisha.

Rudisha's 800m world record was arguably the achievement of the Games

His world record-breaking performance in the 800m final was staggering and he was so much better than his competitors it was extraordinary.

Rudisha's feat at the front dragged the rest of the field with him as they all broke national records, personal records or season bests.

It would be fantastic to see some sort of fun run between Rudisha and Bolt, possibly at the 'neutral' distance of 400m, to further emphasise just how good the Kenyan is.

The moment of the game was surely 'Super Saturday', when Great Britain won three gold medals in the Olympic Stadium in less than an hour.

That was all started with Jessica Ennis' brilliant heptathlon win, and it says it all for the brilliance of these Olympic Games that her achievements have almost been overshadowed by other performances.

Ennis performed under the most intense pressure as seemingly everyone expected her to deliver a gold medal, and she obliterated the field to send the Olympic Stadium into a frenzy.

Greg Rutherford then unexpectedly added a gold medal in the men's long jump and the evening was capped off by Farah's dramatic 10,000m victory.

Great Olympic Games need iconic moments and this is one that will live with the country, and hopefully the world, forever.

Cycling delivered yet again for Team GB with nine medals, including seven golds, and legends of the sport Sir Chris Hoy and Victoria Pendleton ended their Olympic careers in style.

Bradley Wiggins also cemented his legendary status with a victory in the time-trial, and a knighthood for him seems assured due to his seven Olympic medals - including four golds - and inspirational Tour de France victory.

Wiggins may now have a rival for his Sports Personality of the Year crown in Farah, but one thing is for sure - the winner will deserve it.

Cycling provided GB's first medal of the 2012 Olympics with Lizzie Armitstead in the women's road race, although there was disappointment for Mark Cavendish in the men's road race.

However, this was another glorious Games for British cycling, as the likes of Jason Kenny and Laura Trott offered a glimpse into the future by adding more golds to their collections.

The interest the country has had in these Olympic Games has surely surprised even Seb Coe, who did a fantastic job in delivering the showpiece to London and must have been incredibly proud to see everything come together.

After initial quibbles over empty seats - about which very little could be done as all available tickets were sold - the fantastic arenas were almost all full and vibrant, while even the weather played its part in making these Games special.

The passion this country has for sport was showcased around the world and the Games will surely go down as a resounding success.

British athletes seemed to thrive on their compatriots' successes, with the likes of Alistair Brownlee, Nicola Adams, Louis Smith, Max Whitlock (and the men's gymnastics team), Tom Daley, Christine Ohuruogu, Robbie Grabarz, Anthony Joshua, Luke Campbell, Peter Wilson, Ed McKeever and the rowers all doing their country proud by winning medals, many of them gold.

The brilliant Brownlee brothers delivered a gold and bronze medal in the men's triathlon

Ben Ainslie won his fourth Olympic gold medal to become the most successful Olympic sailor of all-time, while unexpected success was delivered from Team GB in the equestrian events.

There was also a gold for Jade Jones in taekwondo and medals for Gemma Gibbons and Karina Bryant in judo, while Rebecca Adlington added two more bronze medals in the pool and Michael Jamieson delivered a stunning silver.

Heck, even a British man won a singles tournament at Wimbledon! Andy Murray was brilliant and the victory could provide the platform for him to go on to deliver his potential in tennis' major tournaments.

Some things even the Olympic can't change, though - a British football team still lost a quarter-final on penalties.

The three big slogans surrounding these games have been 'Take the Stage', 'Our Greatest Team' and 'Inspire a Generation', and on all three counts, London 2012 has surely delivered.

David Bowie's classic song 'Heroes' was played whenever GB won a gold medal. It was played so often it would have been easy to grow tired of it, but 'Heroes' became the soundtrack of the Games as the country was caught up in the success of Team GB and the Olympics in general.

There were not too many disappointments for Team GB, although just three swimming medals suggests that sport still has much to improve on.

Cavendish endured a frustrating road race while Pendleton's two disqualifications were infuriating and injuries to Phillips Idowu and Paula Radcliffe robbed GB of two of its best performers, but all in all, these Games have surely gone better than anyone could have dreamt about.

Three Olympic legends - Bolt, Hoy and Michael Phelps - delivered and it was fantastic to see the latter, in particular, end his career on a high.

Phelps ended the Games with four gold medals and two silvers, to take his overall Olympic medal tally to 22, including 18 golds.

There were also great performances in the pool by Missy Franklin, Ye Shiwen and Ryan Lochte among others, while the father of Chad Le Clos, who beat Phelps to the 200m butterfly title, provided a great moment in his excitable interview with Clare Balding.

The inspirational Kath Grainger finally secured her first Olympics rowing gold medal after three silvers, while Nicola Adams became the first woman to win an Olympic boxing gold medal and GB's boxing team delivered.

On the track, Allyson Felix delivered with three gold medals, Sally Pearson took a breathtaking 100m hurdles gold and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce defended her 100m title.

There was world records on the track for Jamaica's star-studded 4x100m men's relay team, David Rudisha, USA's 4x100m women's relay team and a heap of world records went in cycling.

The brilliant volunteers really helped make the Games, and it was fantastic to see them get their due recognition in the closing ceremony speeches.

One of the few disgraces of these Games were the badminton doubles players who played deliberately to lose, but that was just one blot on one of the best Olympic Games in history.

It is to be hoped that the feelgood factor these Olympics have provided will lead to a surge in interest for many sports, including triathlon, gymnastics, women's football (and boxing), handball, judo, taekwondo and so many more, while many budding youngsters will surely be inspired by the likes of Farah and Ennis.

The BBC provided excellent coverage and more than contributed to the success of the Games with insightful analysis and superb presenting - hopefully Lawrenson, Keown, Hansen and co were taking notes.

Gary Lineker, Clare Balding, Sue Barker, Gabby Logan, Ian Thorpe, Michael Johnson, Chris Boardman, and the excitable duo of Denise Lewis and Colin Jackson all impressed, along with the likes of Steve Cram and Brendan Foster in the commentary box, who were excellent - particularly in Farah's two thrilling races.

The 2012 Olympics began with a superb opening ceremony and the iconic lighting of the flame, and ended with a night of celebration in the same place it all started.

Seven teenagers were given the honour of lighting the Olympic cauldron

A lot was expected of London and, with the help of Lord Coe, the athletes, the volunteers, the fans and everyone connected with the Games, London delivered.

Rio has some act to follow in 2016. So do the next members of Team GB.

The 2012 Olympics have been a festival of great sport and it is hard to remember the last time the country felt so buoyant and upbeat.

If these Games do not inspire a generation, then surely nothing ever will.

From Farah to Bolt, Ennis to Rudisha, Brownlee to Brownlee, Phelps to Hoy, these Olympics have featured unbelievable performances, iconic moments and jaw-dropping host nation success.

The country needed a feelgood factor to return and these Olympic Games have provided it. The years of anticipation have been well and truly worth it.

If anyone can follow London, Rio can, but these Games will still be some act to follow.

Britain should be proud, London should be proud, we all should be proud - if there has been a better Olympic Games than this, it must have been one hell of a party.

London, you delivered emphatically and delivered a feast of sport we will never forget. Over to you, Rio.