Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is pleased with his team as they head into the new year full of confidence.
Monday night's 1-0 victory over a battling Middlesbrough at Old Trafford closed the gap on Barclays Premier League leaders Liverpool to seven points with two matches in hand.
"We are in a good position come the turn of the year. We have two games in hand, both at home, and it is going to be a great run in," he said. "The important thing is to do our own job, look after ourselves and we'll do okay."
United struggled to break down a resilient Boro side, creating 25 chances in all but having only Dimitar Berbatov's 69th-minute goal to show for their efforts.
The Bulgarian volleyed home from close range after Michael Carrick's left-wing cross had bounced back off Boro defender David Wheater
Berbatov, who replaced Boxing Day's match-winner at Stoke Carlos Tevez after he returned to Argentina on a "family issue", was one of the guilty culprits in the first hour of the match.
But he was not the only one with Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo, Rafael, Nemanja Vidic and Ji-sung Park all squandering chances.
It was the second successive 1-0 win but United have scored only three goals in their last four matches.
Ferguson admitted the inability to convert opportunities is becoming a concern.
"We missed a lot of chances and that is the big concern," he said. "If we can't take those chances we will suffer from it. But I think you have to see how well Middlesbrough played. For a team in their position (one place above the relegation zone) it belies their ability."
espnstar.com brings you all the latest scores for the NFL, NBA and NHL from the United States for December 28, 2008.
NFL St. Louis 27-31 Atlanta New England 13-0 Buffalo Kansas City 6-16 Cincinnati Detroit 21-31 Green Bay Tennessee 0-23 Indianapolis New York Giants 19-20 Minnesota Carolina 33-31 New Orleans Cleveland 0-31 Pittsburgh Oakland 31-24 Tampa Bay Chicago 24-31 Houston Miami 24-17 New York Jets Dallas 6-44 Philadelphia Seattle 21-34 Arizona Washington 24-27 San Francisco Jacksonville 7-27 Baltimore Denver 21-52 San Diego
NBA Denver 117-110 New York Dallas 98-76 LA Clippers Miami 86-93 Cleveland New Orleans 105-103 Indiana Boston 108-63 Sacramento Golden State 113- LA Lakers 130
NHL Boston 2-1 Atlanta Anaheim 4-3 St. Louis Chicago 4-1 Minnesota Toronto 1-4 Washington Nashville 2-5 Edmonton Ottawa 0-3 Vancouver
Paul Casey expects Colin Montgomerie to bounce back in 2009 after a relatively disappointing campaign this year.
The Scot dropped 64 places to 121st in the world rankings, and also failed to make the European Ryder Cup team, but Surrey-based Casey insists there is more to come from the 45-year-old.
Casey said: "Monty is Monty. He is never less than good value, and he has got so much going for him."
he PGA Tour has finalised its full schedule for 2009 with a slight overall increase in overall prize money.
The itinerary for the regular season was announced in November and the dates for the Fall Series - which will determine the top 125 on the money list and playing priorities for 2010 - have now been confirmed.
Tour commissioner Tim Finchem is delighted with a calendar drawn up in a deteriorating economic climate.
"Once again, we believe we have a very strong line-up of fall tournaments for our fans, sponsors and players," Finchem said in a statement.
"We are working on a couple of options for the week of November 2-8 and will announce that week as soon as it is finalised."
The Fall Series will start in early October with the US$6 million Turning Stone Resort Championship in Verona, New York, one week after the culmination of the FedExCup play-offs.
The Disney Classic in Lake Buena Vista, Florida from November 12-15 brings the season to a close.
A total of 47 events feature on the full schedule - a reduction of just one from 2008 - with the winners-only Mercedes-Benz Championship launching the season in Kapalua, Hawaii from January 8-11.
'Sporting Legends' continues as we shift our focus to former women's tennis world numero uno, Justine Henin.
By Eugene YS Han
Calling Justine Henin the female ‘Roger Federer' could be sexist or even offensive to some. But when Roger Federer is also labeled the male ‘Justine Henin', it does not seem so bad after all.
And she is that good on the court.
Henin, or ‘Juju' as she's called by her legion of fans, is considered petite in the present world of women's tennis. Compared to the likes of the Williams sisters, Amelie Mauresmo and Maria Sharapova, Henin is literally overshadowed by this lot.
But in terms of achievements, Henin can more than hold her own.
The Belgian won 41 singles tournaments and seven grand slams - she won four French Open titles, two US Opens and one Australian. Wimbledon remains the only blot on her report card.
During her reign as world number one, her familiar shout of "Allez!" after hitting winners was common place and so was her usual celebration with a short fist pump.
As fate would have it, Henin was born during Roland Garros on 1 June 1982. The French Open would become a grand slam tournament she will grow to love and dominate both at junior and senior level.
She got her first professional break on the Women's Tennis Association tour in May 1999. She had gained a wild card entry in the Belgian Open at Antwerp and she went on to become only the fifth player to win her debut WTA Tour event.
It was in 2003 that Henin again made her mark in tennis history by being the first Belgian to win a Grand Slam title. She had overcome defending champion Serena Williams in the semi-final and beat her fellow-Belgian Kim Clijsters in the final. Clijsters went on to meet Henin again in two finals of the Grand Slams - and lost both of them.
Henin, who had started that year at number five, was ranked No. 1 at the end of it. She was to hold the number one title for more than a hundred weeks.
Tennis fans will remember her for her perfect strokes on the courts - especially her powerful one-handed backhand. Once unleashed from her racket the ball will home in on its target like a cruise missile. Her backhand is said to be a rare technique that is not even commonly seen in the men's game.
She has earned nearly US$20 million in prize money. When she eliminated Serena, then Venus, at the 2007 U.S. Open, Henin became the first woman to beat both sisters en route to a major title.
Besides winning WTA titles, the Belgian also won a gold medal at the 2004 Olympics for her country. It was an achievement which she was immensely proud of.
Henin called it a day on 14 May 2008 at the grand young age of 25 shocking the tennis world all over. In doing so, she became the first woman to retire while ranked No. 1 by the WTA.
"I realized that I was at the end of the road," Henin said during a news conference at her tennis academy outside Brussels. "I lived through it all, I had given it all."
In recognition of her achievements, Henin received triple honors on Sunday night at Ostend, Northern Belgium in her nation's most prestigious sporting occasion - Sports Gala.
The tennis champion was given a lifetime career achievement award with special video messages from American tennis legend Pete Sampras and her male childhood tennis idol - Stefan Edberg.
Perhaps the Roland Garros organisers can consider naming one of their courts after Justine Henin. To help celebrate and remember a true champion.
It will remind the present generation of how Henin captured their hearts with her tennis. It will also help to educate future generations why this tennis great should be remembered.
Fernando Alonso is rumoured to have signed a deal to race for Ferrari in 2011 or earlier if Ferrari's drivers falter.
According to Italian sports paper La Gazzetta Sportiva, the two-time F1 champion could replace Kimi Raikkonen if he fails to deliver.
Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo was vague about the team's long-term driver options when chatting with journalists at a recent holiday dinner, the paper reported.
"We have (Felipe) Massa and Raikkonen under contract for the next two years," Montezemolo said. "As for the future, we'll see. Alonso is a great champion, but life is long. He's young."
Gazzetta indicated that the pressure is on Raikkonen, the 2007 world champion, to deliver. Ferrari officials declined to comment on the report.
Last month, Alonso opted to stay with Renault, signing a two-year contract extension that will keep him at the French Formula One team through 2010.
Fernando Alonso is rumoured to have signed a deal to race for Ferrari in 2011 or earlier if Ferrari's drivers falter.
According to Italian sports paper La Gazzetta Sportiva, the two-time F1 champion could replace Kimi Raikkonen if he fails to deliver.
Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo was vague about the team's long-term driver options when chatting with journalists at a recent holiday dinner, the paper reported.
"We have (Felipe) Massa and Raikkonen under contract for the next two years," Montezemolo said. "As for the future, we'll see. Alonso is a great champion, but life is long. He's young."
Gazzetta indicated that the pressure is on Raikkonen, the 2007 world champion, to deliver. Ferrari officials declined to comment on the report.
Last month, Alonso opted to stay with Renault, signing a two-year contract extension that will keep him at the French Formula One team through 2010.
The Boston Bruins extended their winning streak to eight games with a 2-1 victory over the hapless Atlanta Thrashers.
Phil Kessel netted his team-leading 22nd goal of the season and Manny Fernandez turned aside 32 shots as the red-hot Bruins matched their longest winning streak since stringing together victories over the final eight games of the 1992-93 campaign.
They have also won 13 of their last 14. Bryan Little scored for the sixth time in three contests for the Thrashers, who have one win in their last 11 games at home.
Brooks Laich and Alex Ovechkin scored two goals apiece to lead the Washington Capitals past the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-1. Nicklas Backstrom and defenseman Mike Green each recorded a pair of assists for Washington. Jose Theodore finished with 23 saves for the Capitals, while Niklas Hagman scored for Toronto,
Dustin Byfuglien recorded two goals and two assists as the Chicago Blackhawks posted a franchise-best ninth consecutive victory with a 4-1 triumph over the Minnesota Wild.
Rookie Kris Versteeg had a goal and two assists, Martin Havlat also scored and Cristobal Huet turned aside 18 shots for Chicago. Rookie Cal Clutterbuck scored and Niklas Backstrom finished with 28 saves for Minnesota
Bobby Ryan scored a power-play goal to snap a tie with just over seven minutes remaining in the third period as the Anaheim Ducks rallied for a 4-3 triumph over the St. Louis Blues.
Defenseman Steve Montador knotted the game at 3-3 seven minutes into the third off an assist from Ryan, who later converted on his decisive shot with 7:11 remaining in the session. Blue-liner Scott Niedermayer had a goal with a man advantage and added an assist and Rob Niedermayer also scored for the Ducks.
Curtis Sanford made 18 saves to record his first shutout of the season, leading the Canucks to a 3-0 victory over the slumping Ottawa Senators. Henrik Sedin and Pavol Demitra each scored a goal and set up another for Vancouver, which avoided a third straight loss.
Erik Cole scored a goal and had two assists and Sam Gagner and defenseman Sheldon Souray each scored and set up a goal as the Edmonton Oilers used a key second-period surge to cruise past the Nashville Predators 5-2.
Australia may downsize its Ashes squad for the 2009 series against England by three players, reducing the touring party to 13.
A 16-member side -- one less than the traditional 17 -- travelled to England for the 2005 series which Australia lost, and Cricket Australia is planning to reduce it further for next year.
"Just one tour after cutting the Ashes squad from 17 to 16 members, CA is now thinking to slash 3 more players," 'The Australian' newspaper reported.
The back-up players, instead of travelling with the team, would be put on standby even as they play for their state and county sides.
"The make-up of that squad is incredibly up in the air. It could be anywhere from 13 to 16 in that group," the daily quoted a source as saying.
"Why would you have 15 or 16 there when they're just going to be carrying bags or sitting watching the blokes in the nets? The thinking is why would we carry 15 around as the whole group when the reality is three blokes are there without much of a prospect of playing any cricket?" he reasoned.
A decision on the size of the squad is likely to be made next month.
South Africa won their first-ever Test series in Australia after they reached their victory target of 183.
Skipper Graeme Smith made 75 while fellow opener Neil McKenzie finished 59 not out to give the Proteas an unassailable 2-0 lead going into the final Test in Sydney.
Following their stunning fightback in Perth, where they chased down 414 in the second innings, the tourists once again were on the back foot as they were reduced to 198 for seven at the end of day two in reply to Australia`s 394.
But a ninth-wicket partnership of 180 between Jean-Paul Duminy, who made 166, and Dale Steyn (76) helped them take an unlikely lead before the latter`s five wickets saw Australia dismissed for 247 in their second innings.
And skipper Smith, who has been in fine form throughout the series so far, laid the foundations with an aggressive innings that saw South Africa comfortably make the 183 they needed as the Australian bowlers failed to make any significant inroads on the final day in Melbourne.
Smith departed lbw to Nathan Hauritz shortly before lunch but McKenzie and Hashim Amla (30 not out) saw their side home to inflict a first home Test series defeat on Australia since they lost to the West Indies in 1992-1993.
espnstar.com runs through the papers to see who is going where as the much anticipated January transfer window looms.
Portsmouth's England international, Jermain Defoe might be on his way out of Fratton Park after a bust-up with manager Tony Adams. - The Sun
Martin O'Neill will turn to Tottenham Hotspur's Darren Bent if his bid to sign Defoe lands in failure. - Daily Mirror
Fulham are rumoured to be readying a £2m bid for QPR striker Dexter Blackstock. - Daily Mirror
Steve Bruce is set to land £3.5m-rated midfielder Mariusz Lewandowski from Shakhtar Donetsk. - The Sun
Gary Megson is keen to sign Wigan's versatile midfielder Ryan Taylor for Bolton Wanderers. - Daily Mirror
Bolton Wanderers goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi rejected offers from Blackburn Rovers and Tottenham Hotspur by securing a four-year deal at the Reebok Stadium. - The Sun
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has managed to talk chairman Daniel Levy into making a £15m bid for Middlesbrough winger Stewart Downing. - Daily Mail
The Lilywhites are also said to be keeping a close eye on Blackburn winger Morten Gamst Pedersen, Sevilla's Diego Capel and Bordeaux's Denilson in case the Downing bid gets rejected. - The Times
Irish midfielder Stephen Hunt who currently plays for Reading is also said to be on Redknapp's radar at an estimated cost of £5m. - Daily Mirror
David Moyes sent two of his backroom staff to check on Hearts' left-winger Andy Driver who might be come at a bargain price. - Daily Mirror
Mark Hughes' side Manchester City have made a £15m offer for West Ham duo, Craig Bellamy and Scott Parker. - Daily Mail
Primera Liga outfit Valencia have signed Tottenham striker Dag Alexander Olsen. - Daily Mail
In another Spurs related piece of transfer rumour, Manchester United's reserve goalkeeper Ben Foster could be moving to White Hart Lane if Spurs are willing to pay him £20,000 a week. - The Sun
Birmingham are ready to take Celtic defender Bobo Balde to England on a free transfer. - Daily Mirror
England forward Emile Heskey might be joining former club Liverpool with Wigan seemingly close to signing Columbian striker Hugo Rodallega for a fee of £4.5m from Mexican side Necaxa. - The Sun
With the January transfer window about to erupt, who do you think cash rich Manchester City should bid for?
Here is a list of our selected few.
Kaka
AC Milan and Brazil's lynchpin in attack.
Dazzling dribbler with a great shot to boot. Will add another dimension to the already jam packed Brazilian flavor at the Eastlands.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Since money is not an issue for their rich middle-eastern owners, how about putting in a record breaking bid for their eternal nemesis, Manchester United's Portuguese winger, Cristiano Ronaldo?
That will be the ultimate slap in the face for Fergie and his Red Devils!
Sergio Ramos
City's defence could do with some help.
Real Madrid's Ramos has had a difficult season at the Bernabau and seems to be lacking the motivation over in the Primera Liga.
A stylish defender who can also play as a right-back. Micah Richards and him will give Mark Hughes - if he is still in-charge come January - a dynamic defensive combination.
Jermain Defoe
A cheaper alternative than the ones stated above, Defoe is a proven scorer on English soil and his bust-up with Pompey manager Tony Adams could mean the England striker is ready to move on.
A speedster with a thunderous shot. Why not?
Walter Samuel
Internazionale's Argentine hardman.
Good tackler who reads the game well from the back.
Samuel suits the Premier League to perfection and will prove to be a valuable asset to City's desire to break into the big four.
What do you think?
Here is a chance for you to play manager for a day, so give us your list or who City should move in for and why.
Here is an in-depth look at the life and times of England and Liverpool midfielder Steven George Gerrard, MBE.
1980: Born May 30, in Huyton.
1988: Joins Liverpool Academy.
1998: November - Makes Liverpool debut as substitute against Blackburn.
December - Makes full debut against Tottenham.
1999: September - One of three players sent off in bad-tempered Merseyside derby as Everton achieve 1-0 win at Anfield.
December - Scores first Liverpool goal in 4-1 victory over Sheffield Wednesday.
2000: May - Included in Euro 2000 squad and makes England debut in 2-0 friendly win against Ukraine.
June - Features as substitute in England's 1-0 success against Germany in Charleroi but forced to pull out of final group game through injury. England lose to Romania and go out of Euro 2000.
2001: September - Scores with a terrific long-range shot to put England ahead against Germany after they had fallen behind. They go on to win the match 5-1.
October - He is called up for England's World Cup qualifier against Greece, but is spotted out drinking 11 hours before he is due to meet up with the rest of the England squad. He apologises to manager Sven-Goran Eriksson.
2002: May 12 - Ruled out of World Cup because of groin injury.
2003: February 3 - Banned for three games with immediate effect by an FA disciplinary hearing at Bolton's Reebok Stadium after two-footed lunge at Everton defender Gary Naysmith.
September 11 - Gerrard appointed Liverpool captain.
November 11 - Signs new contract to keep him at Anfield until 2007.
2004: March 30 - Named England captain for friendly in Sweden in the absence of David Beckham and Michael Owen.
June 13 - Stray backpass while playing for England eventually allows Zinedine Zidane to equalise for France in a European Championship match. France go on to win 2-1.
December 8 - Stunning long-range goal seals 3-1 win over Olympiacos and earns place in the second round of the Champions League.
2005: May 25 - Lifts Champions League trophy, scoring the first goal as Rafael Benitez's team fight back from 3-0 down to win on penalties.
July 7 - Signs a four-year contract extension to Liverpool contract.
2006: March 25 - Sent off for two bookings against Everton - both within minutes of each other - but Liverpool win 3-1.
April 19 - Real Madrid include Gerrard on their list of transfer targets, according to the club's footballing director Benito Floro.
April 23 - Named PFA player of the year.
May 13 - Nets twice as Liverpool win FA Cup with defeat of West Ham.
June 15 - Scores England's second goal in 2-0 win over Trinidad and Tobago in World Cup group stage.
June 20 - On the scoresheet again in final group game, a 2-2 draw with Sweden.
July 1 - England knocked out on penalties by Portugal in the quarter-final in Gelsenkirchen.
August 10 - Named England vice captain to John Terry by new manager Steve McClaren.
2007: June 4 - Signs new contract with Liverpool, committing him to the Anfield club until 2011.
2008: October - Scores his 100th goal for Liverpool with strike against PSV Eindhoven.
December 29 - Arrested in early hours after incident in a Southport nightclub, hours after helping Liverpool go three points clear at the top of the Premier League with two goals in a 5-1 win at Newcastle.
New Zealand all-rounder Scott Styris will be out for six weeks after breaking his thumb in the opening Twenty20 match against the West Indies, New Zealand team officials said Saturday.
Styris, a limited overs specialist, was injured during his short-lived knock of 21 from 12 balls in Friday's match when he was rapped on the hand by a delivery from Fidel Edwards.
The West Indies won the encounter in a one-over bowl-off after the scores were tied at 155-all at the end of the regulation innings.
The New Zealand management said Styris was to have a pin inserted in his right thumb.
There would be no replacement added to the squad for Sunday's second and final Twenty20 match, opening the way for either the uncapped Ewen Thompson or Friday's 12th man Mark Gillespie to make the starting XI.
A government order unveiled Friday that bars non-natives from representing India could deny Prakash Amritraj a place on India's Davis Cup squad.
The sports ministry release said: "Players who are Indian citizens only can avail themselves of government assistance to represent the country in the national teams representing the country."
It effectively rules out Amritraj, 25, a US citizen who was born in Encino, California, from starting a sixth year on India's Davis Cup team in 2009 or playing for the country in the Olympics or the Asian Games.
The 210-ranked Amritraj, whose father Vijay was one of India's most popular tennis stars, last played for the country in the Davis Cup world group play-off against Romania in Bucharest in September.
India lost the tie 1-4 and will continue in the Asia-Oceania Zone group 1 rounds next year.
Three women tennis players, Sunitha Rao, Shikha Uberoi and her sister Neha, will also be barred from representing India since they are all US citizens.
Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim and Honda team principal Ross Brawn have denied they are in talks over takeover.
Slim was reportedly one of four interested parties in negotiations to buy the troubled outfit following the withdrawal of the Japanese car giants from the sport earlier this month.
Italian newspaper La Stampa reported Slim, who owns telecommunications company Telmex, had bought Honda and that drivers Jenson Button and Bruno Senna would be confirmed as the 2009 line-up.
However, the Telmex racing team, which Slim also owns, issued a statement on their website quashing suggestions any deal had been done.
"The Telmex Team can confirm that Carlos Slim Helu has not bought the Honda Formula One team nor is holding any negotiations to do so, therefore all information related to this subject has no basis and is completely false," it read.
Slim's son Carlos Slim Domit reinforced his father's stance, telling the Mexican press that "it is a complete lie".
Brawn, meanwhile, told the Daily Telegraph: "We would love it if it were true but it's pure speculation from various members of the media. It's just been one of those rumours which has developed a life of its own."
However, Brawn insisted talks are progressing with other parties and revealed the team could stay in business through to the season opener in Melbourne at the end of March.
"There has been a huge amount of interest," he continued. "It's now got to the stage where we need to filter out the serious from the not so serious.
"We're all hopeful that something will happen and we're anxious to turn up the wick again in the new year.
"We haven't really lost anything yet as it has still only been a few weeks. Everything is in place although we have had to turn down various programmes.
"We have enough funding to get us through to Melbourne and we still have a competitive package," he added.
Broom toured Australia and India with Emerging Players and New Zealand A
Uncapped batsman Neil Broom was named in New Zealand's 13-man squad for the first two matches of a five-game one-day series against West Indies.
The 25-year-old Broom replaces Scott Styris, who is out for six weeks after breaking his thumb on Friday.
All-rounder Grant Elliott and opening batsman Jamie How have also been recalled to the squad.
Rookie Ewen Thompson and fellow all-rounder James Franklin were the two players released.
"Neil performed well with the bat in Australia and India with the Emerging Players and New Zealand A," said head selector Glenn Turner.
"He's also been scoring a lot of runs in (domestic cricket) this summer.
"Grant gives us options with both bat and ball. He can come in down the order and push the ball around and also offers a good bowling option with his medium-paced swing." The first one-day international is in Queenstown on 31 December, with the second in Christchurch on 3 January.
Reading striker Shane Long headed an equaliser to keep his side second in the Championship table and push Southampton into the bottom three.
David McGoldrick, who had hit the bar in the first half, put Saints ahead on 74 minutes when he slotted home a pass from lively substitute Kayne McLaggon.
But Long levelled 10 minutes later with a header from James Harper's free-kick.
Kevin Doyle hit the bar with a header and the Saints had a strong penalty appeal rejected in a thrilling finish.
Wales rugby wing Shane Williams has won the BBC Wales sports personality of the year award in the face of high Welsh achievement during 2008.
The public voted for Williams ahead of Olympic cycling gold medallist Nicole Cooke and undefeated world champion boxer Joe Calzaghe.
FA Cup finalists Cardiff City won the team award in a contest decided by an independent panel.
Football's Aaron Ramsey and snooker's Ray Reardon also won trophies.
The event celebrated a bumper year of success in Wales.
As well as helping secure Wales' Grand Slam triumph, Williams won international rugby's greatest personal accolade to become the International Rugby Board's world player of the year.
The 31-year-old wing's six tries won him the RBS Six Nations player of the tournament gong after he had scored decisive tries in four of Wales' five tournament wins.
His score in the Six Nations decider against France was the 41st Test try of his career and beat Gareth Thomas in Wales' all-time try-scoring list.
Personal success continued on Wales' summer tour to South Africa where he scored in both Tests against the world champions.
But he faced strong competition for the BBC Wales award in a year of unprecedented Welsh sporting achievement.
Wales had three Olympic gold medallists in cyclists Cooke and Geraint Thomas, plus rower Tom James.
Swimmer David Roberts also triumphed in Beijing, taking four golds to bring his all-time Paralympics haul to 11 golds.
Calzaghe - who had won the award three times previously - cemented his place as one of boxing's all-time greats by stepping up from the super-middleweight division he ruled for more than a decade to beat American greats Bernard Hopkins and Roy Jones Jr at light-heavyweight.
Other awards at the event in Cardiff's Swalec Stadium included team of the year, won by Cardiff City FC.
In May, the club reached the final of the FA Cup for the first time in 81 years and only the third time in their history.
The Championship side had beaten Premiership side Middlesbrough in the sixth round and went on to a semi-final win over Barnsley at Wembley before losing 1-0 to Portsmouth in the final.
But Cardiff had faced a significant challenge for this award from Wales' Grand Slam-winning rugby team.
And amateur sport was rewarded with the Welsh Sports Unsung Hero accolade, won by rugby and boxing volunteer Cliff Williams from Pontyclun in Rhondda Cynon Taf.
He was recognised for giving up his time for more than 30 years to help young people improve their lives through sport.
Mr Williams is now in contention for the UK Unsung Hero award made at Liverpool's Echo Arena on Sunday 14 December.
The lifetime achievement award went to retired snooker legend Ray Reardon in recognition of his dominance of the sport for over a decade.
A deadly long potter and tactician in his prime, he was undefeated in 17 world championship matches and won the title four years in succession.
The Carwyn James junior sportsman of the year title went to Caerphilly-born teenage football sensation Aaron Ramsey.
Now playing for Arsenal and Wales, Ramsey transferred to the Gunners from Cardiff City in 2008, having been the Bluebirds' youngest ever senior player at the age of 16, breaking the previous record set by current Wales boss John Toshack.
Carwyn James young sportswoman of the year was golfer Amy Boulden.
Boulden, 15, of Llandudno, has risen through the ranks of the Welsh Girls squad and was included in the full Welsh ladies squad for the first time in 2008, also earning selection for the Great Britain and Ireland squad.
British number one Anne Keothavong will lead Great Britain into their 2009 Fed Cup campaign in Estonia.
The 25-year-old, currently at a career-high of 60 in the world rankings, heads a team that also includes Mel South, Elena Baltacha and Sarah Borwell.
Britain will be attempting to come through the 15-team Europe/Africa Zone Group I event in February.
"It's been a great year for the girls at the top end of the British game," said GB captain Nigel Sears. "I felt almost spoilt for choice in picking the team to travel to Estonia.
"With Anne Keothavong being ranked 60 in the world and Mel South being right on the edge of the top 100, we are straight away in a stronger position than last year."
Britain lost three of their four ties at the same event in 2008 but avoided relegation with a 2-0 win over Portugal.
England striker Michael Owen will not make a decision about his future with Newcastle United until the end of the season, a statement released by his agent said Monday.
While that means Owen, 29, will stay with Newcastle through the January transfer window, his long-term future remains uncertain when his current 103,000 pounds-a-week (153,969 dollars) deal expires at the season's end.
But the statement did say the former Liverpool and Real Madrid forward, who is now free to talk to other clubs from January 1, would consider a pay-cut if he decided to stay at St James' Park.
"Following speculation about my future at Newcastle United, I have decided today (Monday) to make it clear that I am committed to the club until at least the end of this season, and I have informed them I do not want to make a decision about my future until that time," club captain Owen said.
"I hope this will be seen as a positive step and not seen as being disloyal in any way.
"I am happy here and enjoy the challenge. It is simply a matter of seriously thinking about my future as I was 29 last week and my next career decision is a crucial one.
"My decision is not about money. I told the club some months ago that I would accept a reduction in my wages.
"I have no intention of leaving Newcastle United during the January transfer window and want to assure the fans that under Joe Kinnear's passionate management, I am committed with the rest of the players to ensure that the club ends the season on a high."
However, Owen has left open the possibilty he may move to another team where he feels he has a greater chance of winning a trophy and so impressing England manager Fabio Capello, who has done without him in recent matches, even when the player has been fit.
If Owen was to leave at the end of the season, Newcastle would not receive a transfer fee on their highly-prized asset as he would be a free agent.
Kinnear, who offered the striker a new three-year contract last week, responded positively to Owen's comments.
"Michael told me in person about his decision and I fully understand where he is coming from," Kinnear explained to Newcastle's official website, www.nufc.co.uk.
"We have a great relationship as captain and manager and that will certainly continue. He is focused on scoring goals for Newcastle United and helping us keep progressing this season.
"Michael will consider his options in the summer but I am still optimistic that he will stay with us when it comes to making a decision."
He added: "In the meantime I have no doubts whatsoever that he will continue to give 100 percent.
"I'm looking forward to him continuing to score goals for us as they will be crucial in what we do for the rest of the season."
Newcastle did appear destined for relegation from the Premier League earlier this season but have risen up the table since Kinnear took charge following Kevin Keegan's exit and the caretaker spell at the helm of Chris Hughton.
Sunday's 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur left Newcastle four points above the relegation zone in 12th place.
Owen has scored 19 goals in 37 games this year but his time on Tyneside has been beset by injuries with his overall record for Newcastle now standing at 29 goals in 63 games.
Joe Johnson scored a season-high 41 points to lift the high flying Atlanta Hawks to a 129-117 National Basketball Association victory over the Chicago Bulls.
ATLANTA, Georgia (AFP) -
Joe Johnson scored a season-high 41 points to lift the high flying Atlanta Hawks to a 129-117 National Basketball Association victory over the Chicago Bulls.
Josh Smith posted a season-best 24 points, while Mike Bibby scored 17 points and Marvin Williams chipped in 16 and eight rebounds for the Hawks, who continued to show their dominance on their home floor.
The Hawks have won six of seven on their current eight-game homestand to improve to 13-2 in Atlanta this season.
"Any game that you can play that is high scoring is fun," Johnson said. "But you always want to be on the winning side."
Ben Gordon scored 33 points and rookie Derrick Rose added 27 for the Bulls, who have lost four of their last five games.
Gordon also surpassed Scottie Pippen as Chicago's all-time leader in 3-pointers.
He was 6-of-8 from 3-point range to take his total to 669, passing Pippen's mark of 664.
"It's a nice accomplishment," Gordon said. "But when you lose, it doesn't really mean anything."
Chicago's Andres Nocioni drained a 3-pointer with 7:15 to play to cut the gap to 107-105.
But the Hawks put the game away with a 16-7 scoring run.
"Our offense was solid tonight," Atlanta coach Mike Woodson said. "It was probably the best it has been all season. Everybody was clicking on all cylinders. It was an offensive performance tonight on both sides of the ball."
The win was the seventh in eight games for the Hawks, who have been lifted by their All-Star Johnson.
Four nights after recording his second career triple-double in Atlanta's 99-88 win over the lowly Oklahoma City Thunder, Johnson was two points shy of his career best.
"Everybody was making a big deal of (my career-high numbers)," Johnson said. "They were telling me to get back on the end of the floor and shoot free throws. The main thing was that we were going to get the win, and that was it."
Fiji's Vijay Singh fired a final-round 67 on Sunday to win the 5.75 million-dollar Chevron World Challenge hosted by Tiger Woods.
Singh finished with an 11-under total of 211 to claim 1.35 million dollars from the 5.75 million-dollar purse. Steve Stricker finished second, carding a 68 for 278.
Overnight leader Anthony Kim and Hunter Mahan were four strokes back on seven-under 281, Kim falling back with 73 and Mahan shooting a 68.
Singh and Stricker both started the day at 6-under, two shots behind Kim and one behind Jim Furyk.
But both Kim and Furyk struggled on the back nine, while Singh and Stricker shot matching 32s on the final nine holes.
Stricker and Singh were tied going into the final hole, where Singh converted a 10-foot birdie putt for the victory.
"It was very unexpected," said Singh, who claimed the richest prize of golf's "Silly Season" to go with his 10 million-dollar bonus for winning the US PGA Tour's FedEx Cup playoffs.
"Jim and Anthony were playing so well. My thought was if I shot 68 or 67 I would have a chance."
Singh said one of the holes on the front nine was the key to his day.
"I had bogeyed the sixth hole all week," Singh said. "I birdied it today and that fired me up."
After his successful season and post-season, Singh said he'd still be at work on Christmas Day.
"It's the best time to hit balls," Singh said. "There's nobody on the golf course. You'd be surprised."
Fu recorded three century breaks on the way to victory
Marco Fu staged a fine comeback to defeat Ali Carter 9-7 and secure his place in the UK Championship final.
Fu had been trailing 4-1 at one stage, and was 5-3 down at the first session interval, before ultimately prevailing.
Hong Kong's Fu, who compiled breaks of 104, 106 and 136 in the first nine frames, won four frames in a row from 6-4 down as the momentum shifted.
Fu will now face the winner of Saturday's semi-final between Stephen Maguire and Shaun Murphy.
Carter had led a fascinating battle with Fu for 11 frames before his opponent drew level with a break of 78.
From there Fu went on to record breaks of 75 and finally 85 to clinch a place in the final.
Carter had started the session well, moving into an early 4-1 lead thanks to breaks of 59 and 81, but defeat means the Englishman is still searching for his first ranking title victory.
Murphy defeats Fu to clinch title
Shaun Murphy clinched a dramatic 10-9 victory over Marco Fu to win the UK Championship in Telford.
Murphy had led 5-3 at the interval but his opponent from Hong Kong battled back to level at 6-6 and was within sight of the title when 9-8 in front.
But Englishman Murphy held his nerve in a tense and scrappy finish, levelling at 9-9 before clinching the decider thanks to a fluke on the pink.
Murphy, 26, adds the UK crown to the World Championship he won in 2005. He had been the more consistent of the two finalists, recording breaks of 73, 77, 87 and 99 on the way to victory, but he came up against a resilient opponent.
"It's been a while and I've never felt pressure like that," Murphy told BBC Sport.
"That was worse than the world title in 2005 because it has been such a long time since I was competing for a title.
"That was the worst match we've both played this tournament but that just goes to show the pressure we were under."
Fu, 30, said: "I never really settled and Shaun was winning frames in one visit and I wasn't really scoring enough.
"I was surprised to win nine frames because I didn't play well under pressure and Shaun did."
Winning the title was a superb achievement for Murphy, given his previous form this season.
He arrived in Telford not having won a tournament match all season but beat Martin Gould, Mark Allen, Stephen Lee and Stephen Maguire to reach the final.
His success makes him only the 10th player to have won both the UK and World crowns.
The evening session resulted in Murphy increasing his lead to 6-3 in the opening frame and after both players missed chances of match-winning breaks in the next, Fu finally potted brown, blue and pink to take it and stay in touch.
Fu cut the deficit further in the 11th frame after Murphy failed to escape a snooker on the brown and then he levelled the match after Murphy potted the cue ball after sinking a red.
Three big breaks helped Murphy win the first two frames after the mid-session interval to go 8-6 up but once again Fu hit back - making the score 8-8 after taking three chances to get out of a snooker in frame 16.
Fu finally went ahead for the first time in the match in the next frame but Murphy was not to be denied and won the last two frames to take the title and move back up to third in the world rankings, having slipped to sixth.
Fu, who began the season ranked 14th, climbs to number six.
Sutton won Commonwealth Games cycling gold for Australia in 1978
British Cycling's Shane Sutton has been named coach of the year at the UK coaching awards in London.
The 51-year-old played a key role at the Olympics and World Championships.
Sutton was also one of seven winners of the high-performance coach of the year award along with swimmer Rebecca Adlington's coach Bill Furniss.
British Swimming was named governing body of the year and Tom Daley's coach Andy Banks earned the performance development coach of the year prize.
Golf coach John Jacobs and Baroness Sue Campbell were presented with the lifetime achievement award and and recognition of outstanding contribution to sport and coaching awards respectively.
UK Coaching Awards 2008 Winners:
Coach of the Year:
Shane Sutton (cycling)
Young Coach of the Year:
Duncan Parniss (hockey)
Lifetime Achievement Award:
John Jacobs OBE (golf)
Recognition of Outstanding Contribution to Sport and Coaching:
Baroness Sue Campbell CBE
High Performance Coach of the Year:
Jenny Archer (Paralympic athletics), Bill Furniss (swimming), Chris Gowers (sailing), Jurgen Grobler (rowing), Billy Pye (Paralympic swimming), Shane Sutton (cycling), Bob Torrance (golf)
Performance Development Coach of the Year:
Andy Banks (diving)
Participation Coach of the Year:
Darren Barton (rowing)
The Coaching Chain: The Appreciation of Coaching Award:
Linda Bennett, Ian Negus, Glenn Smith & Bill Furniss (coaches of Rebecca Adlington)
Children's Coach of the Year:
Gordon Fearn & Martin Tilling (Nottinghamshire Play Sport)
Coach Educator of the Year:
John Mills (cycling)
Governing Body of the Year:
British Swimming
Coaching Environment of the Year:
Leeds Metropolitan University
Agency in Support of Coaching:
Coaching Highland
Coaching Intervention of the Year:
Coaching Communities Project as part of the Sports Pathways to Employment Programme, managed by Sports Structures in partnership with Sandwell MBC.
Veteran Holyfield gets title shot
VALUEV v HOLYFIELD
Nikolai Valuev
Age: 35 Height: 7ft Reach: 85ins
Evander Holyfield
Age: 46 Height: 6ft 2ins Reach: 78ins
Evander Holyfield will take on Russia's WBA champion Nikolai Valuev as he bids to become the oldest heavyweight title-holder in history.
The 46-year-old former champion will meet Valuev on 20 December at the Hallenstadion in Zurich, Switzerland.
Holyfield has not fought since losing an unanimous decision to then-WBO champion Sultan Ibragimov a year ago.
Fellow American George Foreman was 45 when he knocked out Michael Moorer in 1994 to win the IBF and WBA crowns.
Holyfield will be a massive underdog against Valuev, who is more than 100 pounds heavier and stands a towering 7ft tall.
The Russian regained the WBA title he lost to Ruslan Chagaev in April 2007 with a win over John Ruiz in August this year.
"I'm taking this fight very seriously," said Valuev who holds a 49-1 record with 34 knockouts.
"Holyfield is a strong opponent, and 10 years ago I would not have dreamed of getting into the ring with this champion."
American Holyfield has been crowned world champion on four occasions, but since 2001, he has won only five of 11 fights. He currently holds a 49-9-2 career record.
He began his professional career in 1984 beating Lionel Byram on points having also won an Olympic bronze medal that year.
Holyfield went on to fight the likes of George Foreman, Riddick Bowe, Larry Holmes, Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis in a glittering career.
He won his first heavyweight title in 1990 beating James Douglas having won previous world titles at cruiserweight.
One of the most notorious incidents in his 24-year career came in 1997 when Holyfield had part of his ear bitten off by Tyson during a fight in Las Vegas.
Collins poised for Scottish debut
Collins will be competing for a Commonwealth Select in Glasgow
Former world 100m champion Kim Collins will compete in the 60m and 200m at the Aviva International Match at Glasgow's Kelvin Hall on 31 January.
It will be the 32-year-old's first appearance in Scotland.
The St Kitts & Nevis sprinter is preparing for the World Championships in Germany in August.
"Winning silver at the World Indoor Championships in March was very satisfactory and I will look to go one better in Berlin," he said.
"Glasgow is a renowned quick track, so I am aiming for a fast time there."
Collins, who came sixth in the 200m Olympic final in Beijing, will be part of a Commonwealth Select up against Great Britain and Northern Ireland, USA, Germany and Sweden.
Athletes at the Aviva International compete to win points for their country.
Britain won the final event last year to take the match by one point.
Collins will also be competing in the 60m at the Aviva Grand Prix at the NIA in Birmingham in February.
Valuev ends Holyfield title dream
Holyfield was giving away 30cm in height to the 7ft Valuev
Russia's Nikolay Valuev claimed a majority points decision to defeat veteran American Evander Holyfield and retain his WBA heavyweight crown.
Holyfield, 46, was bidding to become the oldest and first five-time heavyweight champion but was well beaten in Zurich, Switzerland.
Valuev now holds a 50-1 record with 34 knockouts, while Holyfield's 24-year-old boxing career looks to be over.
Two judges had the fight 116-112 and 115-114 with the other scoring it even.
"I saw it the other way from the judges but I'm not disappointed by my performance," said Holyfield.
"He's a tough opponent, the sheer size of him is of course the main factor but he fights well with it too and that's the problem."
Four-time world heavyweight champion Holyfield was conceding a massive 96lb in weight and 12in in height to 7ft Valuev.
But despite Holyfield's greater mobility, the 35-year-old Russian edged the fight to take the decision.
"He was a strong opponent and he made me work very hard for the win," said Valuev.
Holyfield had hoped to eclipse George Foreman's record of claiming the heavyweight title at the age of 45.
Valuev claimed a majority points win over 12 rounds
Fellow American Foreman knocked out Michael Moorer in 1994 to win the IBF and WBA crowns.
But Holyfield, who last won a world title when defeating John Ruiz in 2000, must now be seriously considering his future in the sport.
He had not fought since losing a one-sided decision to then-WBO champion Sultan Ibragimov over a year ago.
"I thought I had done enough, now I will just have to go home and think about my future," said Holyfield.
Holyfield has been crowned world champion on four occasions but since 2001 he has won only five of 11 fights.
He claimed his first heavyweight title in 1990, beating James Douglas, having won previous world titles at cruiserweight.
Exotic Dancer lands Lexus success
Tony McCoy won the Lexus Chase on Exotic Dancer
Tony McCoy rode Exotic Dancer to a 20-length success in Sunday's Lexus Chase at Leopardstown after favourite Neptune Collonges fell two from home.
Exotic Dancer was going well in second when Ruby Walsh's mount crashed out and he raced away from 2006 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner War Of Attrition.
The Listener, winner of the race two years ago, fell at the first ditch.
Trainer Jonjo O'Neill said the 4-1 winner would return to Leopardstown for February's Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup.
He said connections had still to decide whether to run in the Gold Cup or the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, but bookmakers clearly feel he has a decent chance at the bigger of those two races.
Exotic Dancer was trimmed to 12-1 from 33s with Ladbrokes and the same price from 20-1 with Coral for the Gold Cup - a race in which he finished runner-up in 2007.
From the start of Sunday's three-mile test, McCoy settled Exotic Dancer at the rear of the field as Walsh took up a prominent position on the 5-4 market leader.
He set a sound pace up front as McCoy was happy to bide his time and let Exotic Dancer sit last of the nine runners before making steady progress in the second half of the race.
Coming to the second last, Neptune Collonges was still in front and appeared to have something still to give as Exotic Dancer, War Of Attrition and Cane Brake lined up to challenge.
However, Neptune Collonges crashed through the obstacle, leaving Exotic Dancer in front and travelling best of all.
McCoy just had to keep him going up the straight and after he cleared the last, O'Neill's charge was barely troubled to come home well clear of the tiring War Of Attrition.
Shane Williams' dream 2008 has ended on a sour note
Ospreys boss Sean Holley expects Shane Williams to be fit for their 9 January Magners League clash against Munster.
The Wales wing has missed their last two games with a shoulder injury and is a concern for the January Heineken Cup games against Perpignan and Leicester.
But Holley said: "We have given him an injection, some rest and hopefully that will be sufficient for the European games (on 17 and 24 January).
"At the moment our physio is telling me he could be available for Munster."
Holley added: "Shane has a rotator cuff strain and it is a little bit more serious than we first thought.
"He did it out in Treviso (on 13 December) and landed awkwardly on an elbow and therefore there is a bit of damage there.
"We are taking a sensible view not to rush him back with some big games coming up. Whether it will need further exploration we don't know yet."
International Rugby Board player of the year Williams missed his side's 20-6 win over the Scarlets on Saturday after having treatment on Tuesday to help settle the problem in the "short term".
He will also miss the New Year's Eve Magners League derby with Cardiff Blues.
Williams - Wales's leading try scorer with 44 from 61 caps - was a Lions Test player in 2005 and hopes to tour again in 2009.
In a golden 2008, the Glanaman man helped Wales to the Grand Slam, won the RBS Six Nations Player of the Year award and was voted BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year as well as taking the IRB accolade.
Williams scored decisive tries in four of Wales' five Six Nations wins.
His score in the Grand Slam decider against France - the 41st of his international career - broke Gareth Thomas's all-time Welsh try record.
The winger went on to lift the EDF Energy Cup with the Ospreys, before outshining Bryan Habana on Wales' summer tour to South Africa.
The autumn Test series proved more challenging, but Williams was back to his best against Australia.
He scored the stunning opening try as Wales triumphed 21-18 to claim a rare Tri Nations scalp.
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard celebrates the opener at Newcastle
Liverpool cemented their place at the Premier League summit with a ruthless demolition of Newcastle United.
Newcastle keeper Shay Given denied Liverpool before Steven Gerrard stroked home from 12 yards after 31 minutes.
Sami Hyypia headed a second five minutes later, but David Edgar pulled one back on the stroke of half-time.
Ryan Babel scrambled home Liverpool's third five minutes after the break. Gerrard raced clear for a fourth and Xabi Alonso made it five from the spot.
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez surprisingly left Robbie Keane, a two-goal hero in the Boxing Day win against Bolton, on the bench - and how the Republic of Ireland striker must have wished he had been on the pitch in an encounter that was embarrassingly one-sided from start to finish.
Benitez was in the directors' box recovering from surgery for kidney stones as Liverpool exposed Newcastle's every flaw throughout 90 minutes of torture for the home fans - providing further confirmation that the Merseysiders' are in this title race for the long haul.
Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley took the "For Sale" signs down from the club prior to kick-off - and their players then produced the sort of performance that would have sent potential purchasers heading for the hills.
Liverpool created chances at will, and only a combination of brilliant goalkeeping from Given and poor finishing from Liverpool stopped Newcastle from shipping at least six goals in the first half alone.
Given set the tone for his one-man show of defiance by blocking Dirk Kuyt and saving brilliantly twice from Gerrard inside the first 13 minutes.
Hyypia then headed wide of an open goal from Gerrard's free-kick before Lucas somehow failed to turn in from a yard following a goalmouth scramble. The Brazilian then had a header turned away by Given before Charles N'Zogbia cleared another Hyypia header off the line.
Newcastle's survival for the first 31 minutes had been almost miraculous - but it could not last and to say Liverpool deserved the lead Gerrard gave them was a massive under-statement.
Javier Mascherano carved Newcastle open down the right flank, and when Yossi Benayoun pulled back a cross for Gerrard the Liverpool captain obliged with a thumping finish high past Given.
Newcastle's defending from set-pieces would have shamed a Sunday league side, and they paid the price again six minutes later when Hyypia rose to head Gerrard's corner beyond Given.
Hyypia had another header saved by Given before Newcastle astonishingly gave themselves a lifeline seconds before the interval.
This time Liverpool's defending was slack as Edgar got in front of Jamie Carragher to head past the previously unemployed Pepe Reina.
If Newcastle boss Joe Kinnear had ordered his side to improve their defending after the break, his plea had clearly fallen on deaf ears as they conceded another cheap goal after 50 minutes.
Gerrard's unremarkable corner created an outbreak of mass confusion in the six-yard area, and as a variety of Newcastle defenders stood motionless, Babel jabbed home the simplest of goals.
Substitute Geremi almost gave Newcastle slim hopes of a revival when his 25-yard free-kick clipped the bar, but in reality Newcastle had been outclassed.
Newcastle had been appalling, but credit must also go to Liverpool for a hugely impressive destruction and Gerrard underscored their superiority with their fourth goal after 66 minutes.
Lucas slipped an inviting through ball into Gerrard's path, and he was in no mood to let Given deny him again as he chipped a clever right-foot finish over the advancing keeper.
Gerrard was then withdrawn, even drawing applause from Newcastle fans in the season's best 52,114 crowd, but there was no let up in the pressure on Newcastle.
Liverpool's fifth goal came with 13 minutes left, substitute Alonso scoring from the spot after another replacement, David Ngog, had been hauled down by Edgar.
The game ended as it began, with Given saving brilliantly from Lucas' header and Liverpool remaining at the head of the race for the Premier League title.
Newcastle manager Joe Kinnear: "When you've six or seven key players missing it's always going to be difficult.
"We've had to put young kids in there and ask them to do a man's job against Liverpool, but we didn't do ourselves any favours in the way we defended.
"Shay Given proved that, without a shadow of a doubt, he's the best keeper in the Premiership. He made some magnificent saves."
Liverpool assistant manager Sammy Lee: "This is a strong, focused and determined bunch of players.
"We are improving with every game and that is all we can look for but you haven't seen the best of Liverpool yet.
"You win nothing in December but you can lose a lot and we're pleased to be going into the New Year at the top, however we cannot rest on our laurels."
Newcastle: Given, Edgar, Taylor, Coloccini, Jose Enrique (Ameobi 46), Gutierrez, Guthrie, Butt (Geremi 56), N'Zogbia, Duff, Owen (LuaLua 79). Subs Not Used: Harper, Xisco, Kadar, Carroll.
William Gallas scored a second-half header to earn Arsenal victory in a scrappy match with Portsmouth.
In a drab first half, Portsmouth came close to opening the scoring when Peter Crouch saw his header hit the post.
Arsenal's best opening fell to Emmanuel Adebayor but Sylvain Distin's excellent tackle prevented a certain goal.
After the break, Adebayor and Samir Nasri missed chances before Gallas got in front of David James to nod home the winner from Denilson's cross.
The result lifts Arsenal to fourth place in the table, above Aston Villa, by virtue of having scored one more goal than Martin O'Neill's side, who next play on Tuesday.
But for a long time, it looked as though Arsenal would not get past a much-improved Pompey defence and that visiting boss Tony Adams would get something out of his return to the club he belonged to for 20 years.
In a sluggish opening period, neither side could establish dominance with possession frequently given away cheaply.
Arsenal, lacking creativity in midfield, were finding it difficult to break down a Pompey side that looked intent on eradicating recent defensive errors. As a result, an uninspiring stalemate ensued - and it was difficult to see who might inject some much-needed pace and inventiveness into the match.
The first real chance came Portsmouth's way and Crouch was unlucky to see his downward header bounce up against the post.
Arsenal responded by creating their only decent chance of the half when Adebayor rounded James and beat Campbell, but he had the ball nicked off his toes by Distin as he was set to score.
The game opened up a little after the break, and Nasri looked as though he could spark some life into the Gunners.
But Portsmouth remained defensively sound, with Papa Bouba Diop, in particular, providing a solid defensive barrier for the visitors.
In keeping with the scruffiness of the match, the scoring opportunities that did arrive were a result of defensive errors rather than attacking brilliance.
Twice James got away with failing to deal with a cross as first Mikael Silvestre's header was scrambled clear and, later, Adebayor volleyed into the side netting.
Portsmouth were showing little as an attacking force and Arsenal started to take control as they notched up the pressure.
And it took a decent save by James to prevent Nasri breaking the deadlock, the big keeper blocking with his leg to divert a low shot.
But James will probably feel he should have done better to prevent Arsenal's winner not long after, when Gallas got in front of him to power home a header after the keeper had come out to challenge for a cross.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger: "We were lacking a bit of zip because we gave a lot at Aston Villa in our last match.
"It was important that we were intelligent and patient. Portsmouth played very well and they were well organised and defended very deep.
"My team is maturing quite well, and quickly. We will fight for the title and we believe we have a chance."
Portsmouth boss Tony Adams: "David James made a great save from a one-on-one, just before Arsenal's goal, that kept us in the game.
"He is a magnificent goalkeeper and I don't have a bad word to say about him.
"I am very proud of my players - they worked their socks off. The players are certainly fighting for me, but we are just not getting the results."
Nick Evans produced more last-gasp heroics as Harlequins snatched a 26-26 draw with Leicester at Twickenham.
A fortnight ago, Evans' successful drop-goal with the final kick of the game had sealed Harlequins a famous Heineken Cup victory over Stade Francais.
On Saturday night, the former New Zealand fly-half sent Ugo Monye in for a last-minute try before landing a touchline conversion to complete a stunning Harlequins comeback.
With five minutes remaining the Londoners had been 10 points adrift.
But Leicester flanker Lewis Moody was sin-binned as Quins mounted a late rally and Evans took full advantage to send the 50,000 crowd home in festive spirits.
The world’s first night race on September 28 witnessed many firsts for Singapore, including hosting its very first F1 programme tailored exclusively for ladies – the Red Bull La Formula Una Programe.
This annual event that is held exclusively by Red Bull Racing (RBR) and Scuderia Toro Rosso (STR) – the two Red Bull-owned teams, which are the only Formula One teams with a dedicated program for the females. The programme offers a once-a-lifetime opportunity to rub shoulders with the who’s who in the world of Formula One, and to experience the sport in ways that will make the men green with envy.
VIP treatment is guaranteed both on and off track as the ladies, who will be handpicked by a panel of mystery judges, can expect four days of non-stop heady action, access to exclusive parties and glamorous fun. In addition, the agenda includes exclusive access to the F1 Paddock, pit garage tours, photo shoots, media interviews and possibly even the chance to dine with the RBR and STR drivers.
