Cheltenham – a special week March 5, 2015 BILL ESDAILE TAKES AT LOOK AT THE BEST OF THE BOOKMAKERS’ CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL SPECIALS WITH only days to go until the start of the Cheltenham Festival, bookmakers are falling over themselves with generous offers to attract new clients. Champion Chase sponsors Betway have pledged to refund all losing bets on their sponsored feature race next [...]
The Gunners can earn replay at Old Trafford March 5, 2015 BEN CLEMINSON PREVIEWS THE UPCOMING FA CUP AND PREMIER LEAGUE ACTION MANCHESTER UNITED and Arsenal leave their battle for European football next season aside for the moment as they vie for a place in the FA Cup semi-finals. It’s the only silverware United have a chance of getting their hands on and it’s a similar [...]
Rejuvenated Aston Villa ready to inflict more pain on the Baggies March 5, 2015 It was difficult to find a superlative on Tuesday evening which was a fair reflection on what Christian Benteke’s injury time penalty meant to all associated with Aston Villa. Newly appointed Tim Sherwood saw his side collect three points against a West Brom outfit who had lost just one of their last eight prior to [...]
Maximum excitement on the FA Cup March 5, 2015 MANCHESTER United take on Arsenal on Monday night and it’s a match that will lead to a shake-up on Sporting Index’s FA Cup Outright Index. The index rewards teams in the FA Cup points according to how far they get in the competition with the winners getting 100 and the runners-up 75. Losing the semi-final [...]
Cricket Comment: England need player like KP March 4, 2015 He’s a matchwinner and was unfairly let go but a comeback looks unlikely to me KEVIN Pietersen’s sacking last February was unfair and it was a shame for English cricket the way it happened but the timing of incoming ECB chairman Colin Graves seemingly handing him a lifeline has created an unwelcome distraction. England have [...]
Premier League: Gomis scare as Spurs maintain top four chase March 4, 2015 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 3 SWANSEA CITY 2 TOTTENHAM manager Mauricio Pochettino admitted a hangover from Sunday’s Capital One Cup final defeat to Chelsea had threatened to engulf the club before his side maintained their Champions League aspirations with victory over Swansea. There were concerns for Swansea striker Bafetimbi Gomis, a player with a history of fainting, [...]
Premier League: Mourinho reveals how Matic sustained a Wembley injury March 4, 2015 WEST HAM UNITED 0 CHELSEA 1 CHELSEA manager Jose Mourinho revealed midfielder Nemanja Matic twisted his ankle celebrating their Capital One Cup win after eking out three points at West Ham last night. Midfielder Eden Hazard’s goal kept the Blues five points clear at the top of the Premier League with a game in hand [...]
Australia crack record World Cup score in Afghanistan thrashing March 4, 2015 CO-HOSTS Australia smashed a World Cup record total of 417-6 during their 275-run mauling of Afghanistan in Perth yesterday. Opener David Warner smacked 178 while Steve Smith hit 95 and Glenn Maxwell 88 as Australia surpassed India’s 413-5 against Bermuda in Port of Spain in 2007. The winning margin was also a tournament high and [...]
City retain title challenge with tense triumph March 4, 2015 MANCHESTER City stayed on Chelsea’s tails with a nervy 2-0 victory over Premier League basement side Leicester to complete a midweek programme in which all the top seven won. Goals at the end of each half from midfielders David Silva and James Milner ensured City stayed five points behind the leaders, although the champions were [...]
Lancaster: You’re playing for your World Cup spots March 4, 2015 ENGLAND head coach Stuart Lancaster has reminded his squad that they are playing not just for long-awaited Six Nations glory but also their Rugby World Cup places. A chastening defeat to championship leaders Ireland in Dublin on Sunday has left Lancaster needing to conjure a strong response from his team when Scotland visit Twickenham next [...]