Barclays Premier League Results

FA punish Brown

Hull manager Phil Brown has been fined £1,000 and warned over his future conduct by the Football Association after admitting a charge of improper conduct.

The charge relates to Brown's touchline behaviour during the Tigers' 5-0 Barclays Premier League defeat against Wigan at the KC Stadium on August 30.

The FA's regulatory commission revealed the punishment took into account Brown's admission of the charge, his immediate apology to the match officials and the steps the club have taken to avoid a repeat incident in the future.

Gunners wait on Walcott news

England's medical staff will assess Theo Walcott before deciding when the youngster can fly back to Arsenal.

Walcott dislocated his shoulder in training on Tuesday night, ruling him out of Wednesday's friendly with Germany in Berlin.

It is likely that Walcott will be out for quite a while, but first he needs to be examined by the Gunners, who must wait to discover what advice the Football Association come up with.

Pompey stadium plans under scrutiny

Portsmouth insist their dream of moving to a new waterfront stadium by 2011 is still alive despite new plans for the project looking certain to face a full public inquiry.

Bankers who have been approached to finance the £100million-scheme have told the club there must be a significant retail element alongside the 36,000-seater ground and housing in order to attract the necessary cash.

Pompey, who are refusing to respond to reports that the club is so crippled by debt that owner Alexandre Gaydamak is desperate to sell, have gone back to the drawing board and changed their new stadium plan to include shops, a hotel and supermarket.

Sugar critical of debt-ridden clubs

Former Tottenham chairman Sir Alan Sugar has called for stronger punishments for clubs who spend beyond their means.

Sugar cited the example of Leeds, who went into administration last year but were quickly sold to a newly-formed company, of which current chairman Ken Bates is one of the directors. The West Yorkshire side only missed out on promotion to the Coca-Cola Championship when they lost to Doncaster in the League One play-off final - despite being docked points last season.

The Elland Road club currently occupy a play-off place this season, although 61-year-old entrepreneur Sugar does not believe they should be in such a strong position, telling BBC Radio Five Live; "Clubs should not be going bust and starting again the next day."

Fans flocking to Premier League games

Newcastle are experiencing a dramatic slump in attendances this season but the Premier League insist the credit crunch is not affecting the top flight as a whole.

Stadiums are still 92 per cent full this season, the same as the last campaign, but some clubs are suffering while others are enjoying bigger crowds.

Newcastle have been the hardest hit, due in part to fans being disenchanted with owner Mike Ashley, who is currently trying to sell the club.

Dunne boost for Republic

Richard Dunne will play for the Republic of Ireland in Wednesday's friendly against Poland in Dublin, it has been confirmed.

The Manchester City defender returned to England on Tuesday to be with his pregnant wife.

But the Football Association of Ireland announced on Wednesday afternoon on their website, www.fai.ie, Dunne is back in Dublin and ready to play at Croke Park.

Gerrard urges caution over title bid

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard admits the team's fine start to the campaign has raised hopes of a first league championship since 1990.

Rafael Benitez's side lie second in the Barclays Premier League table, level on points with leaders Chelsea, but Gerrard knows there is a long way to go before the destination of the silverware will be determined.

"It's nice but it raises expectations," he told Champions magazine when asked about talk of Liverpool being genuine title contenders. "It's important to stay humble. We know we're a good team, we know we're getting closer to a title challenge - we can say that. But we've got to prove we can stay in the race to the end."

Benayoun feels the frustration

Liverpool midfielder Yossi Benayoun has warned boss Rafael Benitez that his patience is starting to wear thin after finding himself reduced to a supporting role at Anfield.

The Israel international has started just four of Liverpool's 13 Barclays Premier League matches to date this season, and has revealed he is considering a move to the continent - with a return to Spain one of his likely destinations along with France, Italy and Russia.

"If the situation remains the same over the next few months, and I'm not getting more time in the middle, I will not want to continue as a Liverpool player," Benayoun told Israel's Channel Five TV.

Enrique - I want to play my part

Jose Enrique insists he will remain a Newcastle player even if the club has plans to sell him.

Enrique was touted as a long-term solution to Newcastle's defensive problems when he was signed by then Newcastle boss Sam Allardyce for £6.3million last August.

The Spain Under-21 left-back has made six starts for the club this term and media reports suggested he could be off-loaded by Newcastle interim manager Joe Kinnear in the January transfer window. But Enrique told Spanish newspaper Marca: "I want to complete my contract.

Drogba, Ferguson hit with bans

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson and Chelsea striker Didier Drogba were both handed bans on Tuesday, on a busy day for the Football Association's disciplinary chiefs.

Ferguson has been given a two-match touchline ban and £10,000 fine by the FA following his row with referee Mike Dean this month.

The 66-year-old was fuming that Dean did not send off Hull defender Michael Turner for a foul on Michael Carrick during United's 4-3 Barclays Premier League win at Old Trafford.

Barclays Premier League Fixtures as at 19th November 2008