Weve relied on our goalies, theyve been phenomenal.

Sunday will be the first time Diego Costa and Chris Smalling have clashed in club football - but the Manchester United defender had the upper hand when the pair met on the international stage. Striker Costa was suspended for the 0-0 draw between Chelsea and Manchester United at Old Trafford in December, and missed both fixtures between the clubs last season with hamstring injuries.However, he did come up against Smalling when Spain hosted England in a friendly last November. Spain eventually ran out 2-0 winners, but the game was goalless when Costa was substituted on 64 minutes. This will be Costas first-ever game against Manchester United. Hell hope it goes better than his previous encounter with Louis van Gaal - Costa and Spain were on the end of a 5-1 group stage defeat to the Netherlands at the 2014 World Cup.However, Costa has rediscovered some good form and has flourished under interim boss Guus Hiddink with five goals in six Premier League appearances under the Dutchman. That is a marked improvement on his goal ratio under Jose Mourinho this season. Diego Costa under Mourinho and Hiddink in Premier League Under Mourinho Under Hiddink 14 Apps 6 3 Goals 5 394 Mins/goal 102 14.3% Shot conversion rate 29.4% 52% Shooting accuracy 47% 1.5 Attempts/game 2.8 55 Sprints/game 65 Overall, Costa is taking twice as long to hit the back of the net this season compared to last, scoring a goal every 211 minutes compared to a goal every 104 minutes. Diego Costa - 2014/15 v 2015/16 in Premier League Last season This season 20 Goals 8 104 Mins/goal 211 35% Shot conversion rate 21% 64% Shooting accuracy 50% 2.2 Attempts/game 1.9 Only one of Costas eight league goals this season have come against a side currently in the top eight - good news for fifth-placed Manchester United - against Arsenal two weeks ago. It was a similar story with his 20 league goals last season as only three came against last seasons top six. Chris Smalling has been Manchester Uniteds top defender this season Smalling, meanwhile, is Manchester Uniteds top appearance maker in all competitions this season, starting 35 of their 36 games. Hes played every minute of 23 of their 24 league fixtures, only missing Uniteds 2-1 defeat at Bournemouth in December due to a groin injury. Rise of Smalling From non-league to Englands best defender, we chart the rise of Chris Smalling Smalling has made the most clearances (128) and made the most interceptions (62) for United in the Premier League this season. Englands top centre-backs Player Clearances/game Interceptions/game Tackles won/game Duels won/game Aerials won/game Smalling 5.6 2.7 1.4 5.6 3.3 Jones 2.4 1.3 0.7 3.2 2.0 Stones 3.5 1.9 1.3 4.8 1.4 Jagielka 7.8 2.4 0.7 4.8 2.7 Cahill 5.1 2.3 0.8 2.9 2.9 Terry 3.8 1.7 0.7 3.3 2.1 Smalling has been a major contributor to United having the second best defensive record in the Premier League this season, conceding just 21 goals in 24 games. The 26-year-old has been involved in 12 clean sheets in the league this season, more than any other player. Most clean sheets in Premier League this season Smalling - 12Bellerin - 11Cech - 11Hart - 11 Smalling has faced last seasons top-six sides six times in the Premier League this season and has contributed to clean sheets in four of these games, including the 0-0 against Chelsea at Old Trafford in December. Most clean sheets in Europes top five leagues Atletico Madrid - 14PSG - 14Angers - 13Inter - 13Bayern - 12Man Utd - 12 Costa will be looking to extend Hiddinks nine-match unbeaten run since re-joining Chelsea in December, but will have to be at his best to find a way past Smalling. Watch Chelsea v Man Utd live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 3.30pm on Sunday Also See: Man Utds stylish response Hiddink: Costa was provoked Nike Air Max 1 2020 . Detroit and Boston are deadlocked, 1-1, and Tigers manager Jim Leyland could be forgiven if he was caught rationalizing instead of dissecting how his club could blow a 5-1 lead late in Game 2. Fake Nike Air Max 1 . Mickelson barely made the cut but had the best round of the day with nine birdies and an eagle coupled with two bogeys to sit two shots behind leader Craig Lee of Scotland. Lee shot a 69 for a 12-under 204 total. "I just love the fact I am in contention and have an opportunity in my first tournament of the year here in Abu Dhabi," Mickelson said. https://www.cheapairmax1store.com/ . Manuel was offered a position the day he was fired. He accepted earlier this week and the team made the announcement Friday. Nike Air Max 1 2021 ., and Rudi Swiegers of Kipling, Sask., took sixth spot on Saturday in pairs at the NHK Trophy ISU Grand Prix figure skating competition. Replica Nike Air Max 1 .J. -- Marshawn Lynch said Thursday it will be good to get back to football after the Seattle quiet talking running back wrapped up his final mandatory media session of Super Bowl week. ST. LOUIS -- Goalie Ben Bishop and the Tampa Bay Lightning will be looking to end a couple of long streaks in Thursday nights game against the St. Louis Blues.Bishop, a St. Louis native, has not won a game in his homestand since joining the Lightning, going 0-2-1 in his three games in St. Louis since the 2013-14 season. His last win in St. Louis actually came when he played for the Blues, on March 7, 2011.Coach Jon Cooper did not commit to Bishop getting the start, but he did not play in the Lightnings game Tuesday night in Columbus and is expected to start.Its been even longer since the Lightning won a game in St. Louis -- Dec. 18, 2009. Overall, the Lightning has lost their last five games against the Blues.While the Lightning players know that history, they are more concerned with trying to break out of a current slump which has seen them lose their last three games, being outscored by a combined margin of 14-5.Id love to play against us right now in our own end -- its easy, center Brain Boyle told the Tampa Bay Times after the Lightning lost 5-1 Tuesday night in Columbus. Weve relied on our goalies, theyve been phenomenal. Theyre great teammates because they havent ripped into us yet for how were treating them, for how were defending.The worst part is we know how to do it.Boyle and the rest of the Lightning know their task of ending their slump wont be easy against the Blues, who have won their last five home games and are 8-0-2 in their last 10 home games.dddddddddddd They have lost only once in regulation in 13 home games this season.In their two most recent games, the Blues have allowed a late goal with the opponents goalie pulled which tied the game before they rebounded to win, once in a shootout and once in overtime.That is one problem coach Ken Hitchcock wants his team to correct, and he also believes they have taken too many penalties recently, especially in their own offensive zone.He has a new strategy to try to correct that problem.Were not going to talk about that anymore. Were going to use a different approach, Hitchcock said. Its the disease that were not going to speak about. Were just going to go out quietly and find a cure. Were not thrilled by it, but the more we talk about it, the more it seems to manifest itself. ... Its in the DNA; weve got to get rid of it. Well figure out a way.The Blues could have one new player in their lineup Thursday night. Defenseman Joel Edmundson has been cleared to play after being sidelined since Nov. 6 because of an upper-body injury.The Lightning also could make a couple of changes to their lineup. The team recalled left winger Michael Bournival and right winger Joel Vermin on Wednesday from the minor leagues. ' ' '