Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini criticised the Hull fans who subjected Wayne Bridge to a series of personal chants on his return to the side as City lost 2-1 at the KC Stadium.
Bridge has found himself in an unwanted media spotlight following the revelations about an alleged affair between former Chelsea team-mate John Terry and his ex-partner, which on Friday resulted in Terry being stripped of the England captaincy by coach Fabio Capello.
Terry was roundly booed during Chelsea's 1-1 draw with Hull at the KC on Tuesday and Bridge was also singled out by the home fans on Saturday afternoon, with Mancini saying: "I think sometimes we have to have respect for people. It was not good, in the first half, the people did not respect him."
The City coach, who refused to comment on Terry's demotion, added of Bridge's performance: "It was important he played and I hope in the next week he can improve. Wayne is an important player for us."
Hull came flying out of the blocks and dominated a first half in which the impressive Jozy Altidore opened the scoring in the 31st minute with his first Premier League goal.
City struggled to create anything of note, with Bridge managing their first shot on target in first-half injury time, and the hosts were celebrating a two-goal lead nine minutes into the second period. And what a strike it was, veteran midfielder George Boateng letting fly from 25 yards with a volley that rocketed past Shay Given and gave the Dutchman his first goal of the season.
Emmanuel Adebayor pulled one back five minutes later but the expected City onslaught never really materialised and Hull were left to celebrate a victory that lifted them out of the relegation zone and up to 14th.
Mancini, who gave Patrick Vieira and Adam Johnson their debuts off the bench, admitted his side had been second best.
"We didn't play very well," he said. "We know Hull at home is a different proposition, they played well. We started the game very, very slowly and there were things I didn't like because the pitch is the same whether we play at home or away.
"If we want to make the top four, we must win away and we must fight. We must be aggressive away, not like the first half."
Manchester United get ready to pounce as City boss Roberto Mancini prepares to sell Stephen Ireland
Manchester City's Stephen Ireland is set to leave Eastlands, with Roberto Mancini determined to splash out on a new attacking midfielder this summer.
It leaves the tantalising question of whether City will allow the 23-year-old to join Manchester United, whose manager Sir Alex Ferguson is a huge admirer.
Liverpool and Spurs would also be interested in the Irishman.
Mancini failed in a bid to sign £7million Parma midfielder McDonald Mariga on transfer deadline day because of work permit problems, but he is now lining up Real Madrid and Argentina playmaker Fernando Gago. Mail
MCF.NET THREAD: viewtopic.php?f=119&t=30244
Manchester City defender Wayne Bridge, who has been in the spotlight over allegations that his former girlfriend had a relationship with Terry, is still part of Capello's plans and will be selected for the friendly with Egypt on 3 March.Sunday Mirror
Manchester City striker Benjani failed medicals at West Ham and Blackburn before sealing a loan switch to Sunderland. The People
Fabio Capello concern over Adam Johnson's Manchester City move
Do not expect Fabio Capello to be celebrating Adam Johnson's transfer deadline day move to Manchester City if it means the left winger is restricted in his playing appearances.
Johnson is one of four key players, a quartet which also includes Kieran Gibbs, Jack Wilshere and Jack Rodwell, whom Capello identified as candidates for the national team at Euro 2012.
But Capello, in Warsaw today for the Euro 2012 draw, is wary that his starlets will not get enough first-team action.
'It is very important that those players make a big step forward this year and then the same next year,' he said. 'I like Johnson - but all these players have to play. At the moment Gibbs and Walcott are not playing.
'You've seen what has happened to Joe Hart now he is playing at Birmingham. This year he has improved a lot because he plays.'
Johnson almost joined rivals United in January. The former Middlesbrough player was given a secret tour of United's training ground and met with Sir Alex Ferguson but the Premier League champions did not follow up their interest. The People
TRANSFER BOLLOX
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson wants Everton star Jack Rodwell to come to Old Trafford in the summer. News of the World
But Ferguson has lost out to Real Madrid in the race to sign Racing Santander's 18-year-old Spanish midfielder Sergio Canales. The People
Liverpool's Martin Skrtel is an £8m summer target for Italian Serie A side Juventus. News of the World
Juventus are also planning a £13m raid for Tottenham defender Gareth Bale. The People
Bordeaux striker Marouane Chamakh says he wants to join Arsenal when his contract expires in the summer. imscouting.com
Stoke striker James Beattie was close to a £2m move to Fulham in January but his demands for £60,000 a week scuppered the deal. Sunday Mirror
Sunderland manager Steve Bruce is preparing to offload £20m of talent in the summer. Anton Ferdinand, Kieran Richardson and Kenwyne Jones - who were all bought by previous boss Roy Keane - will be the ones to leave. News of the World
Everton, Liverpool and Spurs are all in the chase for Hull's 19-year-old midfield starlet Tom Cairney. Sunday Mirror
West Ham defender Matthew Upson will be sold to the highest bidder in the summer. The People
Chelsea could make a move for Borussia Dortmund defender Neven Subotic at the end of the season. Sunday Mirror
Birmingham's loan striker Christian Benitez says he wants to join the club on a permanent basis.
The People
WAG OF THE DAY - Clair Meek
http://www.thespoiler.co.uk/index.php/2 ... clair-meek
OTHER BOLLOX
Arsenal will offer Cesc Fabregas a £30m deal in a bid to keep the talismanic captain at the north London club. Sunday Mirror
Jose Mourinho could buy himself out of his £5.5m contract with Inter Milan to make a return to the Premier League. News of the World
Chelsea are ready to axe goalkeeper Petr Cech from the first team at the end of the season if his form does not improve. The People
England manager Fabio Capello told John Terry to "get some help" for issues in his private life when he axed the Chelsea defender as his skipper on Friday. News of the World
John Terry could take some time out of the game to try and resolve issues in his private life. Sunday Express
Capello sacked Terry to protect the Chelsea defender amid concerns about the impact the continued media pressure would have on the player. Sunday Telegraph
Aston Villa's James Milner has done enough to impress Capello and looks set to be included in his World Cup squad.
News of the World
Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand, who has replaced Terry as England skipper, has been visiting a specialist sports physician in an attempt to save his career. News of the World
And Ferdinand is ready to drop his fight against a Football Association ban in order to keep in with Capello. Sunday Times
Manchester United fans are preparing to boycott season tickets in their protest against the club's owners. Mail on Sunday
Portugal manager Carlos Queiroz was involved in an altercation with a television reporter at Lisbon airport en route to the draw for the Euro 2010 qualifiers. Sunday Times
Beleaguered Portsmouth are facing more troubles after they failed to pay their overdue electricity bill. News of the World
Tottenham failed to sign goalkeeper Asmir Begovic last month because of an appointment mix-up. The Bosnian player was set to join Spurs in a £2m deal from Portsmouth but was not too happy at meeting rival Stipe Pletikosa, who was also having a medical at the same time. Begovic pulled out of the move and joined Stoke instead. Sunday Mirror
In a bid to raise morale at Manchester United, the ruling Glazer family will treat staff to a day out at the Carling Cup final against Aston Villa later this month.News of the World
FINAL BOLLOX
Robinho pays extra £10,000 a week on guards over kidnap fears
Robinho has been forced to shell out an extra £10,000 a week on bodyguards following fears that Manchester City’s £32.5million flop could be targeted by South American kidnappers.
City have allowed the Brazilian winger to return to former club Santos on a six-month loan deal in a bid to safeguard his World Cup place. But the agreement was ratified by the Blues only after Robinho gave assurances he would double his security staff by putting another four personal minders on his pay-roll.
Evandro Souza, the man who looks after his welfare, said: “There are now eight people taking care of Robinho and his people in Brazil.
“We already had four, but Manchester City demanded four more.
“None of Robinho’s family will be left without protection at any time.”
City were worried that the 26-year-old may once again be seen as fair game by ruthless kidnap gangs who strike fear into the rich and famous of big cities like Sao Paulo.
Five years ago, Robinho was forced to pay a £50,000 ransom to one of Brazil’s most wanted criminals after his mother was held captive for 41 days.
Marina de Silva Sousa was snatched at a family BBQ, bundled into the boot of her own car and driven away by a vicious gangland killer nicknamed Bin Laden.
Robinho received threatening messages and videos in which the kidnapper was seen cutting off huge chunks of his mother’s hair.
Celio Marcelo da Silva, who was on the run from a 38-year sentence for murder and robbery after staging a prison break, confessed to staging the abduction after being recaptured following a gun battle with police.
The kidnapping came weeks after it emerged Robinho was about to agree a mega-money deal to move from Santos to Real Madrid in a £18m deal.
City were not prepared to take any chances with Robinho – even though he is doing much of his travelling by helicopter.
The 26-year-old was told he had to double his security team for insurance purposes – and finance it himself. It is believed Santos are helping him pay for it.
