Premier League executive chairman Richard Scudamore has backed Sam Allardyces call for a winter break and says talks are ongoing about introducing one into the English league calendar. Allardyce has been consistent in his desire for a post-Christmas break and as England manager he now has even more of a vested interest in players not being too tired come the end of the season, using his first press conference as national team boss to reiterate the point. It would help the Premier League and us at international level if we could achieve that, he said. January and February is always the most difficult time to get players through. And Scudamore told Sky Sports News HQ: We are not against it, a winter break. We are in discussions with the FA and Football League, its an integrated calendar. Watch Sam Allardyce getting used to his new base at Englands training headquarters at St Georges Park. I dont know how close or near or far we are because I wouldnt want to compromise those negotiations, but if the three bodies come up with a solution we then have to road test that with the clubs, the fans and everything else.There is a willingness to try and make it happen but I cant put anything like a time scale on it. I think if it was easy it would have been done already.FA chief executive Martin Glenn said his association were also in favour of a break, but said it would not be feasible until the current three-year television rights deal is completed. Sam Allardyce believes the introduction of a winter break would make England better prepared for international tournaments There is a consensus that it would be a good thing to do, he said. We can do our bit about fixture congestion and thats why from the quarter-finals [of the FA Cup this season] were not going to replays.Glenn also hinted that the timing of the break may be pushed back to January.What scared people about winter breaks in the past is the thought of it being between Boxing Day and New Year but it doesnt have to be then. It can be after the FA Cup third round in mid-January. Win Sky Q Ultra HD with Sky Sports 43 LG TV plus a Sky Q Ultra HD package including Sky Sports to be won EVERY DAY - enter now! Also See: England had squad to win Slovakia first for Sam Allardyce talks up record What we learned from Allardyce Dallas Cowboys Larry Allen Jersey . Summers has seen scant playing time with the Coyotes since being selected 29th overall by the club in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, having played in 47 career NHL games. Dallas Cowboys Jay Novacek Jersey . Blatter also told reporters Saturday after meeting with Qatars emir that the decision to award the tournament to the desert nation is "not reversible." There have been calls to move the tournament because of Qatars intense heat. http://www.cowboyscheap.com/ . 3 seed Phillip Kohlschreiber from Germany. Defending champion Marin Cilic also reached the semifinals -- his fourth in Zagreb -- defeating fellow Croat Ivan Dodig. German qualifier Bjorn Phau beat Dudi Sela of Israel to reach his first semifinals in nearly five years. Dallas Cowboys Tony Pollard Jersey . The Tinkoff-Saxo rider was still dealing with the right shin he broke in a crash which ended his Tour de France on Stage 10. He hoped to defy his doctors and race in the home Grand Tour he won in 2008 and 2012, but he says there have been complications in his recovery. Dallas Cowboys Troy Aikman Jersey .Those stars, most notably the top line of James van Riemsdyk, Tyler Bozak and Phil Kessel, struggled against the Montreal Canadiens and must be better as the Leafs look ahead to facing the Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Rangers this weekend.OAKLAND, Calif. -- A pair of Oakland rookies, one heralded and the other a relative unknown, provided everything the Athletics needed to tie their AL division series with Detroit at one game apiece. Stephen Vogt hit a bases-loaded single in the ninth inning after Sonny Gray matched zeros with Justin Verlander in a sensational playoff debut, lifting Oakland over the Tigers 1-0 on Saturday night. Yoenis Cespedes and Seth Smith hit back-to-back singles against loser Al Alburquerque to start the winning rally, then Josh Reddick was intentionally walked before Rick Porcello entered to face Vogt. He lined a clean single past drawn-in shortstop Jose Iglesias and into left-centre. "Its just really nice to come out in front of these home fans in a must-win game and come through," Gray said. "It was awesome." The AL West champion As had eight walk-off wins during the regular season, then did it again at the perfect time on baseballs October stage. It was Vogts first career game-winning hit -- and it came after he lost a 10-pitch battle with Verlander in the seventh for his third strikeout of the night. Grant Balfour pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for the win, but it was Gray and Vogt who took celebratory whipped cream pies to the face. Game 3 is Monday afternoon in Detroit. Jarrod Parker, who pitched Game 1 at Comerica Park last year and lost to Verlander, goes for the As against 14-game winner Anibal Sanchez. "I knew there was going to be a lot of adrenaline and how I was able to harness that adrenaline was going to be a big factor in the game," Gray said. "It was awesome because I was still able to locate my pitches without being too shaky." This marked the first game in post-season history in which both starters had nine strikeouts and no runs allowed. Alburquerque struck out two in the eighth. He is still remembered for kissing the ball while recording an out in the ninth inning of a Game 2 win last October. The As got him this time. Grey hung tough with a masterful Verlander in a thrilling pitchers duel between the rookie making his 11th career start and the 2011 AL MVP and Cy Young Award winner. Each calmly worked out of tough jams, wore their emotions on their sleeves -- with fist pumps and cheers -- and set down the heart of the others batting order. Grey struck out nine in eight dazzling innings, allowing four hits. Verlander, who beat the As twice in the ALDS last fall, struck out 11 to give him 33 Ks in his past three post-season outings against Oakland. "Verlander was absolutely terrific," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. "This is post-season pitching. Thats what you saw tonight at its absolute best. Everybody had to battle at their best tonight because both pitchers were outstanding." At the start of Verlanders remarkable 2011 season, Gray was finishing up at Vanderbilt before becoming the 18th overall draft pick. Brandon Moss drew a leadoff walk in the seventh and Reddick singled two outs later with Moss beating a throw to third and Reddick advancingg.dddddddddddd That gave the As their best scoring chance of the night against Verlander, with two Tigers relievers warming. Vogt fouled off five straight pitches, laid off a ball and fouled another before ball two. He fouled one more but then struck out on a high 98 mph fastball, and Verlander marched off the mound pumping both fists. "The at-bat with Verlander, he kept coming at me with everything hes got," Vogt said. "Obviously I didnt come through, ended up with a punchout. I felt pretty good about that at-bat. ... You come up with bases loaded in the ninth, thats what you dream of." Facing his biggest jam of the night with runners at the corners and one out in the fifth, Gray got Austin Jackson to swing on a 3-0 count and later struck him out. Vogt also fired a perfect throw to second base from behind the plate to get Iglesias for an inning-ending double play. The As then missed a key opportunity in the fifth after Cespedes and Smith hit consecutive singles to start the inning. Reddick popped up a bunt attempt and Vogt struck out. Verlander then retired No. 9 hitter Eric Sogard for his ninth strikeout, emphatically pumping his right arm as he walked off the mound. With a pretty curveball and a fastball firing up to 97 mph, Verlander looked every bit the ace after an up-and-down year in which he managed only one win over his final 10 regular-season starts. Leyland chose Max Scherzer for Game 1, then insisted Verlanders 13-12 record was hardly indicative of his pitching despite a couple of rough patches. Grey could have been rattled when Torii Hunter pointed at him after the rookie threw high and inside in the top of the third. Hunter stepped well out of the batters box before returning and striking out on three straight pitches. Gray then fanned 2012 Triple Crown winner Miguel Cabrera to strike out the side in order. In the sixth, Gray went 1-2-3 on seven pitches against Hunter, Cabrera and Prince Fielder -- and walked off the mound to chants of "Sonny! Sonny!" Jackson, the Tigers leadoff hitter, finished with four of Detroits nine strikeouts. Six of Verlanders first seven Ks this time were called, and he seemed unfazed by a rowdy sellout crowd of 48,292 on its feet and swirling yellow towels all night. The right-hander ran his post-season scoreless streak against the As to 22 innings. As manager Bob Melvin was thrilled to see Vogt -- one of three catchers on the roster -- do a little bit of everything. "Thats why we have three here right now. If I could have 10, Id have 10," he said. NOTES: Previously, the only rookie with eight or more scoreless innings and at least nine strikeouts in a post-season game was Mike Boddicker in the 1983 ALCS for Baltimore vs. the White Sox. ... Cabrera has reached base safely in all 26 of his post-season games with the Tigers, a franchise best. ... Neither team planned a workout for Sundays off day at Comerica Park given the travel with a day game next. ... The As had their second-warmest game of the year with a first-pitch temperature of 82 degrees. 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