The Sports Matrix: Wednesday 01 February 2012

Gibson’s goal earns Everton superb victory over City

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QPR splash out on a new forward line

Queen’s Park Rangers were on course to be the big spenders of transfer deadline day as they brought the French former Liverpool striker Djibril Cissé back to the Premier League, while Fulham’s Bobby Zamora was also at Loftus Road for a medical. MORE

Swansea draw as Liverpool win

Neil Taylor scored a late own goal to deny Swansea a win over Chelsea, who had Ashley Cole sent off after Scott Sinclair put the home side ahead. Liverpool recorded a 3-0 victory at Wolves. Andy Carroll, Craig Bellamy and Dirk Kuyt scoring. MORE

ECB hails new television contract

ECB chairman David Collier hailed an “astounding” new TV contract after it was announced that Sky will again show all Test and limited-overs matches live for four years from 2014 and that Channel Five will screen early evening highlights. MORE

Bale at the double to down Wigan

Gareth Bale scored twice as Tottenham beat Wigan 3-1 to reinvigorate their League season. Bale volleyed Spurs in front before Luka Modric doubled the lead and Bale added a third after the break. James McArthur scored Wigan’s consolation goal. MORE

England batting flops hold meeting

England’s batsmen yesterday discussed how they can improve after their poor displays against Pakistan. “As a batting unit we wanted to sit down and talk,” said Ian Bell. “[It was] about how we want to take our game over the next 12 months.” MORE

Scots’ emotion will ‘drive England on’

England forwards coach Graham Rowntree said the Calcutta Cup is always “a fire-and-brimstone game” and that will motivate the visitors on Saturday. “Scotland always save some of their passion for us. Those are the emotions that drive you,” he said. MORE

United draw level with City after win

Manchester United beat Stoke City 2-0 to draw level with City in the table. Javier Hernandez struck a penalty after Jermaine Pennant fouled Park Ji-sung and Dimitar Berbatov scored a spotkick following Jonathan Walters’ foul on Antonio Valencia. MORE

Robinson drops Barclay for Rennie

Scotland coach Andy Robinson has dropped John Barclay to the bench for Saturday’s opener against England, with Ross Rennie replacing him. “[Rennie will] quicken it [play] up,” said Robinson. “That’s the reason for selecting him ahead of John.” MORE

Opinion: James Lawton

The complicated story of Justin Fashanu is well known but it took the retelling of it on television this week to remind us that football has still to move on from homophobia. No footballer has come out as gay since. MORE