Football Comment: Chelsea home but United in form March 22, 2015 THE COMPETITIVENESS of the Premier League means it is never over until it’s mathematically decided, but I cannot see Jose Mourinho letting it slip from here. The title is Chelsea’s; it’s now about who finishes second, third and fourth. Chelsea’s win at Hull yesterday was massive. They’d got away with a couple of poor performances [...]
Farah sets new European best in half-marathon March 22, 2015 DOUBLE Olympic champion Mo Farah enjoyed an early birthday present as he won the Lisbon Half Marathon in a new European record time yesterday. The long-distance runner clocked 59 minutes and 32 seconds as he pipped Kenyan Micah Kogo. The time was 20 seconds quicker than Spaniard Fabian Roncero’s previous best over 13.1 miles, set [...]
Cook slips to first-class fail March 22, 2015 ENGLAND Test skipper Alastair Cook marked his return to first-class cricket with an uninspiring score of three while representing the MCC against Yorkshire in the domestic season’s curtain-raiser in Dubai yesterday. The 30-year-old was trapped LBW by ex-England seamer Ryan Sidebottom in the third over of the day, although did last longer than his former [...]
Refs’ chief in plea for video March 22, 2015 REFEREES’ chief Mike Riley has called for English football to adopt video technology to enable officials to make more accurate decisions, following the controversial sending off of West Brom’s Gareth McAuley. West Brom manager Tony Pulis made a similar plea after referee Neil Swarbrick mistakenly dismissed McAuley instead of team-mate Craig Dawson early in the [...]
England have shown World Cup winning potential, insists Carling March 22, 2015 FORMER captain Will Carling insists England’s ultimately forlorn Six Nations title bid showcased snapshots of the quality needed to dismantle any opponent during this autumn’s World Cup. Stuart Lancaster’s side finished as championship runners-up for the fourth successive year after falling tantalisingly short of holders Ireland on points difference, despite dispatching France 55-35 on a [...]
Last-gasp Sarries dispatch holders Exeter to claim LV=Cup silverware March 22, 2015 SARACENS match-winner Ben Spencer insists the club’s underpinning unity came to the fore as his side secured the LV=Cup with a last-gasp 23-20 victory over defending champions Exeter at Franklin’s Gardens yesterday. Scrum-half Spencer, who received his first career yellow card shortly before the break, slotted over a last-minute penalty after two tries from full-back [...]
Schmidt revels in title tension March 22, 2015 IRELAND coach Joe Schmidt believes the manner of his side’s heart-stopping Six Nations triumph will prove a sizeable investment, despite causing short-term palpitations. Holders Ireland claimed back-to-back titles for the first time since 1949 after beating Scotland 40-10 at Murrayfield, a points differential which England ultimately failed to overhaul against France. Schmidt said: “It was [...]
Manchester United win means Liverpool must make history to qualify for Champions League March 22, 2015 With Manchester United taking home three points from their trip to Anfield, Liverpool will need to make a small slice of Premier League history if they are to qualify for next season’s Champions League. Thanks to two Juan Mata goals and Steven Gerrards’ rapid red card, Louis van Gaal’s side inflicted a first league defeat [...]
Hodgson: Euro failings nothing to worry about March 19, 2015 ENGLAND manager Roy Hodgson has attempted to douse fears that the repeated failure of Premier League clubs in European competition is evidence that they have been left behind by continental rivals. Manchester City’s schooling by Barcelona on Wednesday saw them follow Arsenal and Chelsea out of the Champions League and, allied to Everton’s Europa League [...]
Wenger calls for outdated away goals mechanism to be shelved March 19, 2015 EUROPEAN football’s away goals rule is an anachronism and should be scrapped or overhauled, according to Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger. The Gunners and Chelsea both tumbled out of the Champions League this month after falling foul of the rule, which favours teams who have scored more goals away from home in the event of scores [...]