The Sport Matrix: Thursday 6 February 2014

Meulensteen to be given more time to save sorry Fulham

Defeat at home to Sheffield United on Tuesday was a new low for Fulham and Rene Meulensteen. However, despite crashing out of The FA Cup to the League One side, Fulham’s American owner Shahid Khan wants his manager to remain in charge.

The former Manchester United coach was only handed the reins in December, but Fulham are languishing at the bottom of the Premier League table, four points adrift of safety. Khan is no doubt being told the story of the 2007/08 season, when they beat relegation on goal difference on the final day, as a means of reassurance as the club prepares itself for a battle against the drop.

Meanwhile, Oscar Garcia is the frontrunner for the vacant manager’s role at Swansea City.

Michael Laudrup was sacked on Tuesday after a poor run of results and fear over his long-term commitment. Swansea have already made contact with Garcia, the Brighton & Hove Albion manager, formerly of Barcelona. Another ex-Barcelona coach, Luis Enrique, is also in the frame. MORE

Gibbs: Arsenal can make a statement

Kieran Gibbs, the Arsenal left-back, says his club can silence those who doubt their title credentials at Liverpool on Saturday. Arsenal are top of the Premier League and Gibbs said: “Going there and doing well would be a big statement, like when we played them at home.” MORE

Beckham reveals MLS franchise plan

David Beckham has confirmed his plan to bring a Major League Soccer franchise to Miami. The former England captain said it would be “the people’s football club”, with no public funding, and he has already looked into possible stadium sites for the as yet unnamed team. MORE

Gunners defend FA Cup ticketing

Arsenal insist that the kick-off time was behind the decision not to grant Liverpool their full allocation of tickets for next week’s FA Cup tie. Liverpool wanted 9,000 tickets for the fifth-round tie, but Arsenal have only granted them 5,100 seats, all in the lower tier. MORE

Forest beat valiant Preston to advance

Nottingham Forest saw off League One Preston in the FA Cup last night with a 2-0 win in the fourth round replay. Jamie Mackie and Darius Henderson netted at Deepdale to send Billy Davies’ side through, and they travel to Fulham’s conquerors Sheffield United in the next round.

Prior dragged into KP war of words

The fallout from Kevin Pietersen’s sacking by the ECB has intensified after Matt Prior was angered by tweets from Piers Morgan accusing him of betraying the batsman. “I don’t do this PR, spinning media rubbish,” said the vice-captain. MORE

Boost for GB hopes as White pulls out

Two British snowboarders will take part in the first event in Sochi today amid mounting safety concerns. Billy Morgan and Jamie Nicholls compete in the slopestyle category after US star Shaun White withdrew citing injury fears. MORE

Robshaw: ‘Plucky losers’ not enough

England captain Chris Robshaw is still “seething” about the Six Nations defeat to France and is out to make amends against Scotland on Saturday. “There will have to be a reaction. Plucky losers? No one wants to be called that,” said Robshaw. MORE

Watson and Konta notch Fed wins

Judy Murray’s team got off to a winning start in their quest for a Fed Cup World Group play-off place yesterday. Heather Watson and Johanna Konta beat Latvian opponents as Great Britain won their opening Europe Africa Zone Group One ties. MORE

Froome shows no signs of letting up

Sir Dave Brailsford, the Team Sky chief, says Chris Froome has avoided a dip in performance levels after his Tour de France win last year, and only an incident with baboons hindered his training in South Africa. MORE

Glenn Moore

Tony Pulis’s success at reviving Crystal Palace’s fortunes will get owners nervous. They may also think “maybe a new manager will have the same effect at my club”. MORE