Alan Pardew will take Newcastle to Tottenham on Sunday preaching optimism after the latest twist in a topsy-turvy season.

Manager Tito Vilanova has down played the standoff between David Villa and Lionel Messi during Barcelona’s hard-fought 2-0 victory over Granada.

West Brom have inquired about signing striker Obafemi Martins on loan – but his current club Rubin Kazan are only interested in a permanent deal, it is understood.

Aston Villa manager Alex McLeish insists the club’s record signing Darren Bent will not be for sale during the January transfer window.

NELSON VALDEZ had the quality to clinically punish bad defending as Shamrock Rovers were frozen out in Kazan last night.

Richard Dunne is determined the success he has enjoyed with the Republic of Ireland will continue for Aston Villa during a testing period – starting with tomorrow’s clash at Tottenham.

Rubin Kazan 1 Tottenham 0

Tottenham 1 Rubin Kazan 0

Shamrock Rovers manager Michael O’Neill saluted the best team he has come across in European competition after seeing Rubin Kazan ease their way to Europa League victory in Tallaght.

SADLY, no heroics from Shamrock Rovers on Irish football’s long-awaited debut in the group stages of European competition.

Shamrock Rovers boss Michael O’Neill remains convinced his side will collect Europa League points after they were taught a harsh lesson by Rubin Kazan.

Shamrock Rovers 0 Rubin Kazan 3

Shamrock Rovers 0 Rubin Kazan 1

Former Tottenham midfielder Rohan Ricketts was handed a start in Shamrock Rovers’ opening Europa League Group A clash with Rubin Kazan.

Winger Sebastian Larsson’s five-year spell at Birmingham has come to an end, Press Association Sport understands.

Chairman Peter Pannu insists Birmingham will not sell any of their leading players on the cheap following relegation from the Barclays Premier League.

Wojciech Szczesny maintains it is “ridiculous” to suggest Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has run out of ideas and should be replaced – hailing him as “the best manager in the world”.

WOJCIECH SZCZESNY maintains it is “ridiculous” to suggest Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has run out of ideas and should be replaced — hailing him as “the best manager in the world”.

Birmingham striker Nikola Zigic could return for the Premier League derby with relegation rivals Wolves at St Andrew’s on Sunday.

Birmingham will be boosted by the return from injury of central defender Martin Jiranek for tomorrow’s Barclays Premier League clash with Liverpool at Anfield.

Alex McLeish is to delay contract talks with several Birmingham players until the summer.

Blackburn 1 Birmingham 1

Birmingham winger David Bentley and defender Martin Jiranek have been ruled out of tomorrow’s Barclays Premier League clash at Blackburn.

Wigan 2 Birmingham 1

Striker Hugo Rodallega has been named among the Wigan substitutes for the crunch match against fellow Premier League strugglers Birmingham.

Birmingham’s injury crisis has eased ahead of the Premier League relegation battle at Wigan on Saturday.

Birmingham’s Carling Cup final hero Obafemi Martins admits he has no idea what the future holds for him.

CARLING CUP hero Ben Foster has stressed the need for Birmingham to guarantee their Barclays Premier League status in the aftermath of their shock win over Arsenal in the final at Wembley.

Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas urged his team-mates to focus on the “great targets” still ahead of them after the bitter disappointment of Sunday’s 2-1 defeat to Birmingham in the Carling Cup final at Wembley.

Birmingham’s on-loan striker Obafemi Martins admits he is in “dreamland” after scoring the last gasp Carling Cup final winner over Arsenal at Wembley.

IF YOU had told Arsene Wenger back in the summer that his side would miss out on the Carling Cup this season, the Arsenal manager would not have lost much sleep.

Arsenal 1 Birmingham 2

Arsenal striker Robin van Persie has recovered from a hamstring injury to captain the side in today’s Carling Cup final against Birmingham at Wembley.

Birmingham 3 Sheffield Wednesday 0

Birmingham 0 Newcastle 2

Birmingham boss Alex McLeish has no fresh injury worries as his side search for a third successive Barclays Premier League win against Newcastle tomorrow.

Birmingham newcomer Obafemi Martins is included in the squad for the first time for Saturday’s home Barclays Premier League clash with Stoke after the Nigerian obtained a visa this week.

Birmingham will check on the fitness of three players before finalising their side for Sunday’s Barclays Premier League relegation clash with West Ham at Upton Park.

Birmingham boss Alex McLeish hit back at claims from Roberto Mancini that Kevin Phillips dived to win the penalty which further dented Manchester City’s title hopes.

LIVERPOOL’S bid to sign Blackpool midfielder Charlie Adam ended in disappointment last night, with Blackpool — who themselves completed the loan signing of James Beattie from Rangers — holding on to their star man on a busy transfer deadline day.

All the comings and goings for every Premier League club.

Birmingham have completed the signing of former Newcastle striker Obafemi Martins on loan for the remainder of the season, the club have confirmed.

Fernando Torres and Andy Carroll were looking increasingly as though they would be making big-money moves to Chelsea and Liverpool on one of the most exciting transfer deadline days since the January window began.