FA charge could help Hull

Hull have been encouraged by the FA's actions ahead of the deadline for a complaint over the Fabregas spitting row.

Cesc Fabregas was accused of spitting at Hull assistant boss Brian Horton just after the final whistle of Arsenal's FA Cup quarter-final win, with an extension now granted until Monday for formal statements to be submitted.

Swansea midfielder Leon Britton accused Wellens of spitting at him during a Coca-Cola Championship match last month, with the FA this week charging Wellens and giving the Doncaster midfielder until April 7 to respond.

Hull need to submit written documents to Soho Square if they want the FA to investigate the alleged incident involving Fabregas and Horton at the Emirates Stadium, and it is understood the extension was granted as Horton is abroad.

Tigers boss Phil Brown was furious with William Gallas appearing offside when he scored Arsenal's winner, then with Gunners skipper Fabregas being on the pitch celebrating despite being out injured with a knee complaint.

Brown then accused Fabregas of spitting at Horton when the pair were down the tunnel.

"I was there and I witnessed it, he spat at my assistant manager down the tunnel," Brown said afterwards. "That is their club captain, hopefully he is proud of himself. He spat at his feet."

Tigers submit Fab statements

Hull have submitted their version of events to the FA following allegations Brian Horton was spat at by Cesc Fabregas.

The accusations from the Hull camp followed their 2-1 defeat to Arsenal in last month's stormy FA Cup quarter-final at the Emirates Stadium.

Tigers boss Phil Brown maintains he saw Fabregas - who was out injured but came on the pitch to celebrate with his team-mates following the final whistle - spit towards Horton in the tunnel at the end of the match.

Although the Press Association understands no formal submissions have yet been received into the relevant departments at FA headquarters in Soho Square, Hull say statements from Brown, Horton and fitness conditioner Sean Rush have now been sent.

"My evidence has gone in, Brian Horton's evidence has gone in and Sean Rush's evidence has as well. That is all that has been necessary as regards to us up to now," Brown told the Hull Daily Mail.

"There is an independent solicitor representing us and hopefully there will be no bias towards any one club."

Fabregas strenuously denies the allegations, but Brown added: "We really just want the truth to come out.

"If the truth comes out, then we have got nothing to worry about."

Once the FA receive any relevant documentation, the governing body can then consider whether the alleged incident merits any further investigation.

The FA confirmed the relevant documents from Hull have now been received and will be taken into consideration.

Both Arsenal and Fabregas could, in due course, also be contacted for their observations before any decision is made by the FA over whether to take the matter further.

Ancelotti impressed by Reds

AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti believes Rafa Benitez's Liverpool are the hardest team to play against in Europe.

The Reds overturned a 3-0 deficit to beat Milan on penalties in the Champions League final in 2005 and they have consistently excelled in the competition in recent years.

Liverpool crushed Real Madrid last month to advance to the quarter-finals, while they are also mounting a strong challenge for the Premier League title.

Manchester United remain in pole position to clinch top spot but Ancelotti admits he is always more wary of Liverpool.

The Italian has great respect for Rafa Benitez and feels the Merseysiders can be unstoppable at times. 

"Liverpool are the hardest team to play against in Europe," Ancelotti said in the Daily Mirror.

"Benitez is a great coach. He has a well-organised defence and the perfect counter-attack.

"To play against them is always dangerous. Manchester United are stronger, but they let you play. Liverpool don't."

Ancelotti, who has been linked with the manager's role at Chelsea, has also paid tribute to Guus Hiddink.

Hiddink will stay in charge of the Blues until the end of the season and Ancelotti would not be surprised if he was successful at Stamford Bridge.

He explained: "Hiddink is the coach I regard most highly. Professionally he is really good.

"He has done well everywhere he has gone. I like him as a person."

Verbeek: Moyes should thank me

Australia boss Pim Verbeek feels Everton manager David Moyes should thank the Socceroos for getting Tim Cahill back to fitness.

Cahill has spent the last week in Sydney recovering from a calf injury and did not play any part in the Socceroos' 2-0 World Cup qualifying win over Uzbekistan on Wednesday night.

Moyes has often been scathing of Australia's use of the 29-year-old, especially in regards to him suffering injuries while on national duty.

But Verbeek hit back at Moyes, suggesting the English Premier League club should be grateful for the medical rehabilitation Cahill has undergone during his time with Australia.

"Timmy is 100%, if he can play 90 minutes, that's up to my colleague at Everton," Verbeek said. "We bring him back fit, and I think they can be very grateful to our medical staff that they did that job, when he came in, he could not walk.

"So they will be happy with us this time, normally they are not."

Davies warns of United threat

Curtis Davies has warned Aston Villa to be wary of a Manchester United backlash in Sunday's Premier League clash.

The Villa defender is aware the Red Devils will be smarting after the home mauling by Liverpool and the shock away defeat against Fulham in their last two games. 

United will be without the suspended Wayne Rooney after his red card at Craven Cottage but Davies knows they have the strength in depth to cope at Old Trafford.

He said: "This weekend's game is obviously going to be a very tough test for us. I actually think it's made even harder by the fact that United have lost their last two games.

"They will be looking to win to keep Liverpool at arm's length at the top of the table.

"They have three suspensions to key players - Wayne Rooney, Nemanja Vidic and Paul Scholes - but they're able to bring in international replacements in all those positions.

"This just shows the depth of their squad."

Davies knows Villa have to bounce back from their own 5-0 hammering by Liverpool as they look to end a run of eight games without a win in all competitions.

Villa have slipped three points behind fourth-placed Arsenal after collecting only one point from their last five matches.

Davies said: "We have to be positive. We certainly can't feel too sorry for ourselves after the defeat at Anfield. We just have to pick ourselves up for another big game.

"We have to stay positive about our top-four chances too. If we don't we might as well give up now.

"We have had a bad March but we have to stay mentally strong and pick up as many wins as possible. We can't worry what Arsenal or Everton are doing."

Berbatov: All well at United

Dimitar Berbatov has insisted that Manchester United will stay strong as they bid to recover from their mini-slump.

After successive Barclays Premier League defeats to Liverpool and Fulham, United host Aston Villa on Sunday - by which time they may have been replaced at the top of the table by Rafael Benitez's men, who are at Craven Cottage themselves 24 hours earlier. 

Anderson has been forced to pull out of World Cup duty with Brazil after picking up a thigh injury and Berbatov is also struggling to be fit after suffering an ankle problem at Fulham which ruled him out of Bulgaria's draw with the Republic of Ireland last weekend.

However, the former Tottenham striker is not getting too downhearted - and insists the atmosphere within the Old Trafford camp is still good.

"We are a strong team and we all support each other," he told MUTV.

"We know how to react after defeats.

"International breaks are sometimes difficult, because you have two games and you come back and can be a little bit tired; then you have a game immediately after that.

"But that's our job - there's no need to complain."

Although they appear to be in turmoil as they try to resist Liverpool's recent rally, United are still well placed to complete an unprecedented quintuple.

The loss of Anderson would be a blow if he fails to recover, considering Ferguson wanted all his squad back before considering his options for the double-header with Villa and then Porto in the Champions League.

But Berbatov still feels there is plenty of reason to look on the bright side.

"Everything is possible," he said.

"If you believe and have faith, and you really want it, it can happen.

"We need to believe in our quality and our ability. I think the gaffer will know the right encouragement to give us to prepare for the games we have. We will stay strong to the end."

Most of the United players have the experience of winning major trophies to fall back on - but not so Berbatov, who was an onlooker last month as his team-mates overcame his old club Tottenham to win the Carling Cup.

It was a taste of glory the 27-year-old is anxious to enjoy himself.

"I told the boys in the dressing room, 'you have already won the Champions League and Premier League'.

"The only one who hasn't is me. I really want to win those trophies so I can say to the other players 'I am one of you'."

Shearer ready for Toon fight

New manager Alan Shearer has called on Newcastle's fans to forgive and forget as they fight for their Premier League survival.

Wednesday's news of Shearer's appointment for the remaining eight games of the campaign has been met with wild celebrations on Tyneside, where fans have spent most of the season in open rebellion against the regime of club owner Mike Ashley.

Addressing the supporters at his unveiling this afternoon, Shearer, the club's all-time top scorer, said: "They know me as well as anyone and know they will get 100%, 24 hours a day for next eight weeks.

"I hope that will be good enough because it would sadden me and thousands of supporters if we were in the Championship. They don't deserve that, they deserve better.

"The powers that be have admitted mistakes were made this season and it's important that whatever mistakes have been made, they're gone. It's history - we can't do anything about it."

Shearer added: "We've got a massive fight on our hands, in very difficult circumstances, we've got injuries - but we'll face it head on and give it a right good go."