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Short Soccer, March 9, 2013

Hearts defender Danny Wilson insists his side can put their off-field problems to one side and triumph in tomorrow's Edinburgh derby against Hibernian at Easter Road. 

Agencies

Hearts defender Danny Wilson insists his side can put their off-field problems to one side and triumph in tomorrow's Edinburgh derby against Hibernian at Easter Road. Hearts have been having a torrid time off the pitch recently with doubts over the financial future of the Tynecastle club. This has been reflected in results on the pitch with Hearts in 10th place in the Scottish Premier League, four spots below their city rivals who also knocked them out of the Scottish Cup in December. "There are no favourites for this match," said the centre-back, on loan from Liverpool. "They have been on a better run than us and some might view it that way, but it is an even game and any one can win. It is a derby match and form counts for nothing. They are going really well. They have a lot of top players on form. It will be a tough game and we are going to them, but both sides will be desperate to win it. There will be no complacency from either team." AFP

 

Second takes on third in Ligue 1 this weekend as Lyon and Marseille meet in a heavyweight clash at the Stade de Gerland tomorrow, with both sides desperately needing a victory. "Even if our matches are not always the best to watch and we are not playing the way we would like to, I think we deserve to be where we are," insisted Marseille defender Rod Fanni, who helped his side to a 2-1 home win against Troyes last weekend after successive defeats by PSG in both league and cup. "Everything is still possible. We were unlucky to lose in Paris and I see no reason why we can't cause Lyon problems." Lyon have been boosted by the return to training of playmaker Yoann Gourcuff. AFP

 

Fifa general secretary Jerome Valcke admitted there was "no plan B" if Rio's emblematic Maracana stadium was not ready for June's Confederations Cup in Brazil. There had been concern that reconstruction was behind schedule, particularly after heavy rain on Tuesday night that left parts of the site flooded and forced a planned Fifa inspection on Wednesday to be shelved. "We've sold tickets for the six stadiums - there is no possibility to change this, there is no plan B," Valcke said. AFP

 

Queens Park Rangers' financial plight has become as worrying as their Premier League position after the struggling club's latest set of accounts showed a doubling of its wage bill and a rise in debts. Wages soared from £27.6 million (HK$323 million) to £56 million in the year to May 31, 2012. AP

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