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            Former Villa Manager Ron Saunders Dies
           IRISH EXAMINER  |  December  11th, 2019


                ormer Aston Villa manager Ron     The   Birkenhead-born  Saunders
                Saunders died at the age of 87 on  enjoyed a prolific career as a player, scor-  Son Heung-Min Scores Wonder Goal
            FSaturday.                         ing 200 goals combined for Everton,                  As Spurs Rout Burnley
              Saunders is widely regarded as one of  Gillingham, Portsmouth, Watford and
            the club’s finest managers, in particular  Charlton from 1951 through to 1967.
            steering the club to the old Division One  Upon retiring, Saunders immediately
            title in 1980-81.                  went into management, initially with
              As a mark of respect, black armbands  Yeovil, before spells with Oxford,
            were worn during Villa’s Premier   Norwich and Manchester City, and then
            League clash with Leicester on Sunday  taking over at Villa in 1974.
              The Villa statement read: “It is the sad  Saunders enjoyed eight years with the
            duty of Aston Villa Football Club to  club prior to joining bitter rivals
            announce that our former manager, Ron  Birmingham, followed by 19 months at
            Saunders, has passed away at the age of  West Brom, concluding with his sacking
            87.                                in 1987.
              “He died earlier today, Saturday 7th  He remains the only manager to have
            December, at 3pm and his family have  taken charge of all three Second City
            asked for their privacy to be respected at  clubs. C
            such a difficult time.
              “Widely regarded as one of the club’s
            greatest ever managers, he guided Villa
            to promotion in his first season in charge,
            lifted two League Cups and steered the
            club to a league championship in
            1980/81.                                                                  Son Heung-min’s wonder goal sparked Tottenham’s 5-0 Premier League
              “Against Leicester City tomorrow                                      rout of Burnley, as Harry Kane bagged a fine brace.
            afternoon, the players will wear black                                    South Korea’s hard-grafting Son scythed all the way from one box to the
            armbands and, as a mark of respect, we                                  other  before  lashing  into  the  net  for  a  goal  of  the  highest  quality  at  the
            will be holding a period of applause to                                 Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
            mark his outstanding contribution to                                      Lucas Moura and Moussa Sissoko rounded off a commanding win for Jose
            Aston Villa.”                                                           Mourinho’s  men,  to  ease  the  “hurt  and  pain”  Son  admitted  suffering  in
                                                                                    Wednesday’s 2-1 reverse at Manchester United.
                                                                                      The  ever-humble  Son  underscored  exactly  why  he  is  such  a  manager’s
                               SSlliiggoo--NNeeww  YYoorrkk  GGAAAA                 dream when insisting “I have to be positive” amid the dejection of that Old

                                                                                    Trafford defeat.
                                    DDiinnnneerr  DDaannccee                          Because  when  the  chance  arose  to  atone  for  that  midweek  misery  in
                                                                                    Manchester,  Son  made  good  on  the  vow  to  keep  his  head  up  –  and  then
                                                                                    some.
                                                                                      Son’s one-touch assist created the space for Kane’s fine fifth-minute open-
                                SSaattuurrddaayy  DDeecceemmbbeerr    1144tthh
                                                                                    er, it was his break and shot that led to Lucas’ second; and that was even
                                                                                    before the coup de grace.
                         M Maannhhaattttaann  MMaannoorr  aatt  RRoossiiee  OO''GGrraaddyy''ss  Never mind Burnley’s ineptitude, Son still had to stalk the bulk of this ful-
                                                                                    some field, skinning defenders at will before angling home.
                               201 West 52nd Street (at Seventh Avenue)               Spurs boss Mourinho had already declared his “love” for Son at the start
                                      New York, NY 10019e                           of this week.
                                                                                      Kane  thundered  Tottenham  into  a  near-immediate  lead  that  the  hosts
                                                                                    never looked remotely like relinquishing.
                                         H Hoonnoorreeeess
                                                                                      The England talisman fired a trademark 25-yard opener, wrong-footing
                                      GGuueesstt  ooff  HHoonnoorr                  Burnley keeper Nick Pope with a minimal backlift strike into the left corner.
                                                                                      Son’s neat first-touch lay-off gifted Kane the space and Burnley paid the
                                     G Geerrrryy  MMccGGwwyynnee                    price for standing off the arch-finisher.
                                                                                      South Korea star Son stepped through the Burnley traffic just four min-
                                 S Slliiggoo  PPeerrssoonn  ooff  tthhee  YYeeaarr
                                                                                    utes later to help Spurs double their lead. The half’s outstanding performer
                                      D Deeccllaann  HHeennrryy                     saw his shot rebuffed, but the quick-thinking Alli was able to hook the ball
                                                                                    across the area – for Moura to bundle home.
                            S Slliiggoo  NNYY  SSeenniioorr  PPllaayyeerr  ooff  tthhee  YYeeaarr  Sissoko struck the post despite doing the all hard work to clip past Pope,
                                                                                    after another cutting canter from Son.
                                      V Viinnnnyy  CCaaddddeenn
                                                                                      And then Alli dallied too long in the area to let Tarkowski slide in and flick
                            S Slliiggoo  NNYY  JJuunniioorr  PPllaayyeerr  ooff  tthhee  YYeeaarr  the ball off his toes for a goal-saving challenge.
                                                                                      Robbie Brady headed onto both crossbar and post in a rare Burnley raid,
                                        N Niiaallll  JJuuddggee                     but Spurs were quickly back on the front foot.
                                                                                      Son’s third and most destructive run on the ball saw him jink from one
                  2 2001199  SSeenniioorr  CChhaammppiioonnsshhiipp  aanndd  LLeeaagguuee  CChhaammppiioonnss
                                                                                    box all the way to the other – and then still boast the poise to slot home a
                          2 2001199  JJuunniioorr  CChhaammppiioonnsshhiipp  FFiinnaalliissttss    fine finish.
                                                                                      Kane extended the one-way traffic after the break, checking in from the
                                                                                    inside left before blasting into the roof of the net.
                                   MMuussiicc::  MMccLLeeaann  AAvveennuuee  BBaanndd  Sissoko made up for his first-half miss when prodding home after exchang-
                                                                                    ing passes with Kane for Spurs’ fifth.
                                         Tickets $125.00
                                                                                      This was another pleasing strike on an afternoon where Mourinho doubt-
                                                                                    less  warmed  even  more  to  Son  –  and  where  perhaps  the  Spurs  faithful
                                     gaanysligo@hotmail.com
                                                                                       warmed that bit more to their new boss too. C
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