He had just watched his team dominate their first game of the season yet they had lost 1-0. Following the match, the local media waited anxiously wondering what kind of response they would get from the charismatic manager. Some expected shouting, some rage, perhaps anger. They would be disappointed. Sunderland manager Paolo Di Canio instead stood behind a microphone and gave thoughtful answers to all questions. When asked how he felt about Fulham scoring with their only effort on goal, there was no pity party. "My players have to learn. I have told them for the past two months we can play attractive football, dominate, but set plays can cost you points and today it happened as their only corner kick became a goal and cost us points we deserved," he said. You will notice Di Canio said points and not point. He had clearly felt his team should have won their opening match, in front of over 45,000 expectant home supporters, but instead they had lost it to a 52nd minute header by Pajtim Kasami after he bullied debut man Valentin Roberge off the ball before nodding home. (photo: www.fourfourtwo.com - Click For Larger Image) Di Canio didnt stop with his lesson to the listening media, continuing: "I warned my players, especially the ones from abroad, they need to learn that the Premier League is different to all the other leagues in the world because every side has a minimum of five or six players over 186, 190 (centimetres). In Italy, Spain, Portugal, you have a maximum of two, three players like this - a centre-half, striker." It was a fascinating take on the approaches taken in different leagues across the continent and not only showed Di Canios experience of the English game (having signed as a player for Sheffield Wednesday back in 1997) but also just how much emphasis a manager at that level puts on set pieces, both in their own penalty box and the opponents. Last season, following the signing of Robin van Persie whose deliveries from a dead ball were outstanding, Manchester United not only won the league but led the standings in goals from set pieces, scoring 22 of their 86 goals in that manner (26 per cent). Sunderland scored just half that many and even more alarmingly, netted just two headed goals all last season - a remarkable statistic when 75 per cent of their attacks came from either the left or right flank. When Di Canio replaced former boss Martin ONeill in April he talked about bringing a different attacking approach to the team but results so far have been mixed for the 45-year-old. In truth, he has only managed eight Premier League games in his career (seven at the end of last season earned Sunderland eight points and kept them up) but with 11 new signings joining the club this summer it is clear this is now Di Canios team. The enigmatic Italian is sure to be given some time to succeed, he remains a fan favourite after guiding the club to a sensational 3-0 win at hated rivals Newcastle last season, but he will know at some point his team has to start scoring goals, and hell be hoping his team gets off the mark on Saturday at St Marys. Last seasons top scorer, Steven Fletcher remains sidelined as he recovers from an ankle injury; turning the pressure on the likes of new man Jozy Altidore and partner Stephane Sessegnon to ensure the side doesnt repeat the same mistakes as last season when no Sunderland player, other than Fletcher, scored until November. These teams met at St Marys last season just three days before Christmas in a tight affair settled by one goal scored by, you guessed it, Fletcher. Di Canio and current Southampton boss Mauricio Pochettino werent in charge of their clubs at that time but when they shake hands this weekend they will do so with more than just a foreign passport in common. Like Sunderland, Southampton narrowly escaped relegation last season and also spent big this summer raising expectations amongst their supporters that they should spend a lot more time in mid-table this campaign than near the bottom. Last weeks 1-0 win at West Brom was a perfect start to their season and while Rickie Lambert rightfully grabbed the headlines with a last minute penalty to win the match, the performances of new signings of Victor Wanyama and Dejan Lovren were impressive, instantly upgrading the Saints in key areas. "As opposed to last season, were a much more competitive team now with these two new signings," the Argentine manager said post match. Two days later he secured the services of Roma striker Pablo Osvaldo, who will likely be watching Wanyama and Lovren from the bench on Saturday. To continue the international feel of this match, Wanyama, the first Kenyan to play in this league, represents the 100th different country other than the four home nations to be featured in the Premier League since it started in 1992-93. The central midfielder had many excellent games at Celtic, including a standout performance against Barcelona in the Champions League last year, but that didnt stop some from raising eyebrows when Southampton paid over 12 million pounds for the 22-year-old in July. Former Kilmarnock manager, the outspoken Kenny Shiels, gave this less than glowing scouting report on him. "Any time we played Celtic I would tell our lads not to worry about him being on the ball because he doesnt keep it very well. (Celtic boss Neil) Lennon deserves a knighthood for getting someone to pay £12.5m. We found that when you gave Wanyama space he didnt have the natural instincts to know what to do with the ball." On his Premier League debut at the Hawthorns, Wanyama was steady, guided along by one of the leagues most underrated players in midfield partner Morgan Schneiderlin. (photo: www.fourfourtwo.com - Click For Larger Image) It will be a partnership worth monitoring closely throughout the season. Confident in their abilities to win the ball back against transitions (Schneiderlin led the league in interceptions and tackles last season), the duo will hope to stabilize the Southampton midfield and allow the four more attack-minded players in front of them to create and score goals. Prediction - Southampton 3 Sunderland 1 Join me at 950am live on TSN as I get you set to watch Southampton versus Sunderland from St Marys. You can also listen to Gareth Wheeler and I every Saturday morning from 930am est until 230pm est on TSN Radio 1050 in Toronto and on the Team Radio Networks across Canada. NEW YORK, N.Y. - His opponent couldnt stop him, and LeBron James didnt quite know what to think when his coach tried. Erik Spoelstra asked James about taking a fourth-quarter rest, but the game was too important to sit. So the answer was no — just not said so politely. "He asked me and I didnt know if he was serious or not, and what I told him I cannot say again," James said. "So I wanted to finish out the game. I felt like it was a must-win for us." James tied his playoff career high with 49 points, Chris Bosh made the tiebreaking 3-pointer with 57 seconds left, and the Miami Heat beat the Brooklyn Nets 102-96 Monday night for a 3-1 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals. James carried the Heat nearly the entire way until Bosh hit the basket that put Miami ahead for good — a play where James resisted the temptation to force a shot, instead passing to Mario Chalmers, who swung it to a wide-open Bosh. Ray Allen followed with four free throws and James finished it off with one more, putting the Heat in position to wrap it up at home Wednesday in Game 5. James was 16 of 24 from the field and 14 of 19 from the free throw line in matching the 49 points he scored for Cleveland against Orlando in the 2009 Eastern Conference finals. He missed his second free throw with 1.1 seconds left, muttering to himself after. "Thats the first time Ive been disappointed in myself in a win," James said before smiling, realizing his performance left nothing to complain about. "He was what was needed on the road and thats what makes him the best player in the game," Spoelstra said. Joe Johnson scored 18 points for the Nets, who were 15 of 25 from 3-point range in their Game 3 victory but only 5 of 22 in this one. Paul Pierce added 16 points. "This is very difficult to swallow," Nets centre Kevin Garnett said. "Hard to take, but its what it is. Coulda, shoulda, woulda doesnt help us at this point." Dwyane Wade scored 15 points on the night his Heat post-season record of 46 points was shattered. Bosh finished with 12. Miami pulled out a thrilling victory in a game in which neither team led by double digits and has won at least one road game in 14 sstraight series, breaking the record set by the Chicago Bulls from 1991-94.dddddddddddd Garnetts two free throws tied it with 2:30 remaining. Bosh then missed a pair of 3-pointers before getting a third crack at it in the corner in front of the Brooklyn bench for a 97-94 lead. Johnson then missed a jumper while trying to draw James sixth foul — Johnson said afterward James "flopped" — and Allens free throws put it away. "Obviously the series is not over but we really have to have some urgency going to Miami and weve got to come out of there with one," Johnson said. Wade scored 46 points against Boston in the 2010 playoffs, and James best in a Heat uniform had also come against the Celtics, his memorable 45-point performance that saved Miamis season in Game 6 of the 2012 Eastern Conference finals. Pierce, who asked to guard James after Game 1, was on the wrong end of this LeBron masterpiece. James and the Heat had shrugged off a couple days of chatter from Pierce, who said the Nets werent afraid of them. But things were testy at the start, with first-quarter technical fouls for James, Pierce, Shane Battier and Alan Anderson. Miami started quickly again and led 27-22 after one behind 12 points from James. He opened the second on the bench and Brooklyn started with a 9-2 spurt to take its first lead at 31-29. James was a force once he returned — especially after a second foul against him seemed to get James more annoyed than any of Pierces talking did. James gave Pierce a glare after a thunderous slam later in the period, when he had 13 points in 7 1/2 minutes, and the Heat led 56-49. James had 13 straight Miami points in the third, but Brooklyn cut it to one on a few occasions before he made a pair of free throws to give Miami a 79-76 lead. NOTES: Mirza Teletovic was held to four points and missed all three 3-point attempts. He had been 11 of 19 in the series, Wade saying before the game it was "red alert" when he entered. ... As they have during post-season home games, the Nets had a Brooklyn-based entertainer announce their starting lineups. On Monday it was Mike D of the Beastie Boys. Denzel Washington, Spike Lee and Floyd Mayweather Jr. were also in the crowd. 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He had just watched his team dominate their first game of the season yet they had lost 1-0. Following the match, the local media waited anxiously wondering what kind of response they would get from the charismatic manager. Some expected shouting, some rage, perhaps anger. They would be disappointed. Sunderland manager Paolo Di Canio instead stood behind a microphone and gave thoughtful answers to all questions. When asked how he felt about Fulham scoring with their only effort on goal, there was no pity party. "My players have to learn. I have told them for the past two months we can play attractive football, dominate, but set plays can cost you points and today it happened as their only corner kick became a goal and cost us points we deserved," he said. You will notice Di Canio said points and not point. He had clearly felt his team should have won their opening match, in front of over 45,000 expectant home supporters, but instead they had lost it to a 52nd minute header by Pajtim Kasami after he bullied debut man Valentin Roberge off the ball before nodding home. (photo: www.fourfourtwo.com - Click For Larger Image) Di Canio didnt stop with his lesson to the listening media, continuing: "I warned my players, especially the ones from abroad, they need to learn that the Premier League is different to all the other leagues in the world because every side has a minimum of five or six players over 186, 190 (centimetres). In Italy, Spain, Portugal, you have a maximum of two, three players like this - a centre-half, striker." It was a fascinating take on the approaches taken in different leagues across the continent and not only showed Di Canios experience of the English game (having signed as a player for Sheffield Wednesday back in 1997) but also just how much emphasis a manager at that level puts on set pieces, both in their own penalty box and the opponents. Last season, following the signing of Robin van Persie whose deliveries from a dead ball were outstanding, Manchester United not only won the league but led the standings in goals from set pieces, scoring 22 of their 86 goals in that manner (26 per cent). Sunderland scored just half that many and even more alarmingly, netted just two headed goals all last season - a remarkable statistic when 75 per cent of their attacks came from either the left or right flank. When Di Canio replaced former boss Martin ONeill in April he talked about bringing a different attacking approach to the team but results so far have been mixed for the 45-year-old. In truth, he has only managed eight Premier League games in his career (seven at the end of last season earned Sunderland eight points and kept them up) but with 11 new signings joining the club this summer it is clear this is now Di Canios team. The enigmatic Italian is sure to be given some time to succeed, he remains a fan favourite after guiding the club to a sensational 3-0 win at hated rivals Newcastle last season, but he will know at some point his team has to start scoring goals, and hell be hoping his team gets off the mark on Saturday at St Marys. Last seasons top scorer, Steven Fletcher remains sidelined as he recovers from an ankle injury; turning the pressure on the likes of new man Jozy Altidore and partner Stephane Sessegnon to ensure the side doesnt repeat the same mistakes as last season when no Sunderland player, other than Fletcher, scored until November. These teams met at St Marys last season just three days before Christmas in a tight affair settled by one goal scored by, you guessed it, Fletcher. Di Canio and current Southampton boss Mauricio Pochettino werent in charge of their clubs at that time but when they shake hands this weekend they will do so with more than just a foreign passport in common. Like Sunderland, Southampton narrowly escaped relegation last season and also spent big this summer raising expectations amongst their supporters that they should spend a lot more time in mid-table this campaign than near the bottom. Last weeks 1-0 win at West Brom was a perfect start to their season and while Rickie Lambert rightfully grabbed the headlines with a last minute penalty to win the match, the performances of new signings of Victor Wanyama and Dejan Lovren were impressive, instantly upgrading the Saints in key areas. "As opposed to last season, were a much more competitive team now with these two new signings," the Argentine manager said post match. Two days later he secured the services of Roma striker Pablo Osvaldo, who will likely be watching Wanyama and Lovren from the bench on Saturday. To continue the international feel of this match, Wanyama, the first Kenyan to play in this league, represents the 100th different country other than the four home nations to be featured in the Premier League since it started in 1992-93. The central midfielder had many excellent games at Celtic, including a standout performance against Barcelona in the Champions League last year, but that didnt stop some from raising eyebrows when Southampton paid over 12 million pounds for the 22-year-old in July. Former Kilmarnock manager, the outspoken Kenny Shiels, gave this less than glowing scouting report on him. "Any time we played Celtic I would tell our lads not to worry about him being on the ball because he doesnt keep it very well. (Celtic boss Neil) Lennon deserves a knighthood for getting someone to pay £12.5m. We found that when you gave Wanyama space he didnt have the natural instincts to know what to do with the ball." On his Premier League debut at the Hawthorns, Wanyama was steady, guided along by one of the leagues most underrated players in midfield partner Morgan Schneiderlin. (photo: www.fourfourtwo.com - Click For Larger Image) It will be a partnership worth monitoring closely throughout the season. Confident in their abilities to win the ball back against transitions (Schneiderlin led the league in interceptions and tackles last season), the duo will hope to stabilize the Southampton midfield and allow the four more attack-minded players in front of them to create and score goals. Prediction - Southampton 3 Sunderland 1 Join me at 950am live on TSN as I get you set to watch Southampton versus Sunderland from St Marys. You can also listen to Gareth Wheeler and I every Saturday morning from 930am est until 230pm est on TSN Radio 1050 in Toronto and on the Team Radio Networks across Canada. NEW YORK, N.Y. - His opponent couldnt stop him, and LeBron James didnt quite know what to think when his coach tried. Erik Spoelstra asked James about taking a fourth-quarter rest, but the game was too important to sit. So the answer was no — just not said so politely. "He asked me and I didnt know if he was serious or not, and what I told him I cannot say again," James said. "So I wanted to finish out the game. I felt like it was a must-win for us." James tied his playoff career high with 49 points, Chris Bosh made the tiebreaking 3-pointer with 57 seconds left, and the Miami Heat beat the Brooklyn Nets 102-96 Monday night for a 3-1 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals. James carried the Heat nearly the entire way until Bosh hit the basket that put Miami ahead for good — a play where James resisted the temptation to force a shot, instead passing to Mario Chalmers, who swung it to a wide-open Bosh. Ray Allen followed with four free throws and James finished it off with one more, putting the Heat in position to wrap it up at home Wednesday in Game 5. James was 16 of 24 from the field and 14 of 19 from the free throw line in matching the 49 points he scored for Cleveland against Orlando in the 2009 Eastern Conference finals. He missed his second free throw with 1.1 seconds left, muttering to himself after. "Thats the first time Ive been disappointed in myself in a win," James said before smiling, realizing his performance left nothing to complain about. "He was what was needed on the road and thats what makes him the best player in the game," Spoelstra said. Joe Johnson scored 18 points for the Nets, who were 15 of 25 from 3-point range in their Game 3 victory but only 5 of 22 in this one. Paul Pierce added 16 points. "This is very difficult to swallow," Nets centre Kevin Garnett said. "Hard to take, but its what it is. Coulda, shoulda, woulda doesnt help us at this point." Dwyane Wade scored 15 points on the night his Heat post-season record of 46 points was shattered. Bosh finished with 12. Miami pulled out a thrilling victory in a game in which neither team led by double digits and has won at least one road game in 14 sstraight series, breaking the record set by the Chicago Bulls from 1991-94.dddddddddddd Garnetts two free throws tied it with 2:30 remaining. Bosh then missed a pair of 3-pointers before getting a third crack at it in the corner in front of the Brooklyn bench for a 97-94 lead. Johnson then missed a jumper while trying to draw James sixth foul — Johnson said afterward James "flopped" — and Allens free throws put it away. "Obviously the series is not over but we really have to have some urgency going to Miami and weve got to come out of there with one," Johnson said. Wade scored 46 points against Boston in the 2010 playoffs, and James best in a Heat uniform had also come against the Celtics, his memorable 45-point performance that saved Miamis season in Game 6 of the 2012 Eastern Conference finals. Pierce, who asked to guard James after Game 1, was on the wrong end of this LeBron masterpiece. James and the Heat had shrugged off a couple days of chatter from Pierce, who said the Nets werent afraid of them. But things were testy at the start, with first-quarter technical fouls for James, Pierce, Shane Battier and Alan Anderson. Miami started quickly again and led 27-22 after one behind 12 points from James. He opened the second on the bench and Brooklyn started with a 9-2 spurt to take its first lead at 31-29. James was a force once he returned — especially after a second foul against him seemed to get James more annoyed than any of Pierces talking did. James gave Pierce a glare after a thunderous slam later in the period, when he had 13 points in 7 1/2 minutes, and the Heat led 56-49. James had 13 straight Miami points in the third, but Brooklyn cut it to one on a few occasions before he made a pair of free throws to give Miami a 79-76 lead. NOTES: Mirza Teletovic was held to four points and missed all three 3-point attempts. He had been 11 of 19 in the series, Wade saying before the game it was "red alert" when he entered. ... As they have during post-season home games, the Nets had a Brooklyn-based entertainer announce their starting lineups. On Monday it was Mike D of the Beastie Boys. Denzel Washington, Spike Lee and Floyd Mayweather Jr. were also in the crowd. 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