Eddie Jones spoils Welsh plans by U-turning on Principality Stadium roof issue February 9, 2017 England head coach Eddie Jones has fanned flames of hostility after he reneged on his previous assertion and insisted the Principality Stadium’s roof for tomorrow’s crunch Six Nations showdown with Wales be kept open. Jones had previously professed indifference to whether the retractable roof for the Cardiff clash would stay open or not, claiming the defending [...]
Betting: Back a low-scoring draw as Liverpool face Tottenham February 9, 2017 Chelsea's title rivals may be dropping out the race like flies, but Tottenham will be hoping to keep pace with the league leaders when they face Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday. Closest challengers Spurs sit in second, nine points back from their London rivals. Mauricio Pochettino’s men are on a nine match unbeaten run, which included [...]
Football Association warned by MPs it is in “Fergie Time” over calls for reform February 9, 2017 Football Association chiefs have been warned they are running out of time to reform voluntarily after MPs approved a motion of no confidence in the body’s ability to modernise on Thursday. The FA could lose at least £30m of Sport England funding unless it introduces reforms including greater diversity among board members, more transparency and [...]
Betting: England to edge a tight Six Nations affair in Cardiff February 9, 2017 DESPITE victory last week, a much-improved performance is needed by England when they travel to Cardiff to face Wales on Saturday. The Red Rose ran out 19-16 winners against France last week thanks to a late Ben Te’o try, extending their streak to 15 games. However, that unbeaten run will be put to the test [...]
Six Nations 2017 stats preview: Why England’s back row needs an improved performance against Wales February 9, 2017 Even Eddie Jones admitted that England weren’t at their best in a sluggish, narrow victory over France on Saturday. England displayed little of the vigour and verve that swept them to a grand slam last year and it was in an inexperienced new-look back row of Maro Itoje, Tom Wood and Nathan Hughes that was [...]
Great Britain urged to maintain Fed Cup promotion bandwagon after thrashing Latvia February 9, 2017 Great Britain captain Anne Keothavong has urged her side to keep the promotion bandwagon rolling after maintaining their bid to escape the anonymity of the Fed Cup third tier with victory over Latvia. World No10 Johanna Konta and Heather Watson led the British charge in their latest Europe-Africa Zone I clash in Tallinn against lower-ranked [...]
We can still catch Chelsea in Premier League title race, says Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino February 9, 2017 Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino insists his team can still make up a nine-point deficit and snatch the Premier League title from the clutches of Chelsea. Second-placed Spurs head a pack of five teams left trailing by the Blues but Pochettino believes that, with more than a third of the season remaining, Antonio Conte’s men can [...]
Manchester United plan to wind down transfer activity as Jose Mourinho is content with his squad, says Ed Woodward February 9, 2017 Manchester United plan to curb their activity in future transfer windows after executive vice chairman Ed Woodward said manager Jose Mourinho was content with his current squad. The Premier League giants have been linked with a move for Atletico Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann as part of another big spending summer to mirror last year’s capture of [...]
West Ham striker Andy Carroll could face West Brom despite missing training all week, says Slaven Bilic February 9, 2017 West Ham manager Slaven Bilic admits he has had to take extraordinary measures to keep injury-plagued striker Andy Carroll in contention to continue his scoring streak. Bilic has kept Carroll out of training every day this week due to a groin problem but still hopes to pick him for Saturday’s Premier League visit of in-form [...]
Arsenal fans can lift team in “sensitive” moment after back-to-back defeats, says Arsene Wenger February 9, 2017 Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has called for the club’s supporters to rally round the team as they look to bounce back from damaging consecutive Premier League defeats. The Gunners host relegation-threatened yet resurgent Hull on Saturday lunchtime, eager to reverse their momentum following two losses in the space of five days to Chelsea and Watford. [...]