Manchester clubs difficult to split in Sunday’s battle September 19, 2013 BEN CLEMINSON AND BILL ESDAILE WITH THE BEST FOOTBALL AND RACING BETS THIS WEEKEND THE Premier League season hasn’t really caught fire yet with last year’s top four all suffering one defeat. Manchester City will probably be the most disappointed as they would really have expected at least 10 points, rather than the seven they [...]
Take the two Irish 33/1 shots to cause big upset in Ayr Gold Cup September 19, 2013 THE William Hill Ayr Gold Cup (3.50pm) is one of the most historic handicaps on the flat racing calendar and it is certainly Scotland’s biggest day’s racing of the whole year. However, although the locals come out in force to celebrate it, they haven’t cheered home a Scottish winner since 1975. That could all be [...]
Boris makes beeline for rugby star at IoD dinner September 18, 2013 TO THE Royal Albert Hall yesterday, for the annual gathering of the Institute of Directors (IoD) with the likes of Virgin boss Richard Branson, chancellor George Osborne, shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna and mayor of London Boris Johnson. Morning speaker Boris entertained delegates by comparing the economy to the formerly capsized cruise ship Costa Concordia. [...]
Champions League: Blues beaten as Mourinho cites squad’s immaturity September 18, 2013 CHELSEA 1 FC BASEL 2 CHELSEA manager Jose Mourinho blamed mental weakness for his team’s indifferent start to the season, which continued with a shock home defeat to Basel in the Champions League last night. Playmaker Oscar gave the Blues the lead on the stroke of half-time, but second-half goals from Mohamed Salah and Marco [...]
World governing body could veto Euro breakaway September 18, 2013 AN ANGLO-FRENCH breakaway competition to replace the Heineken Cup would not have the support of the International Rugby Board (IRB), chief executive Brett Gosper said yesterday. England and France’s top clubs have threatened to form their own competition from next season unless other unions cede a greater share of revenues and agree to a new [...]
Exclusive: Beat USA and British Davis Cup run is on, says Rusedski September 18, 2013 GREAT Britain can mount a genuine challenge for a first Davis Cup in 80 years if they can overcome a tricky tie against the United States, says former British No1 Greg Rusedski. The nine-time champions have not passed round one of the World Group since current standard-bearer Andy Murray was born, and will have to [...]
Football League has put players’ careers at risk, says Villas-Boas September 18, 2013 TOTTENHAM manager Andre Villas-Boas has slammed the Football League for inducing fixture congestion, which he fears could endanger his players’ careers. Spurs play Tromso of Norway in the Europa League tonight, which begins a run of three games in six days with a trip to Cardiff City in the Premier League on Sunday followed by [...]
Blatter blames political leaders for influencing Qatar Cup vote September 18, 2013 QATAR’S controversial bid to host the 2022 World Cup succeeded because European politicians leant on their football administrators, according to Fifa president Sepp Blatter. Scrutiny of the decision to award the game’s biggest spectacle to the tiny Gulf nation has intensified amid discussions about switching the tournament from summer to winter to avoid searing heat. [...]
Champions League: Walcott missile ignites Arsenal Euro campaign September 18, 2013 OLYMPIQUE MARSEILLE 1 ARSENAL 2 MANAGER Arsene Wenger backed Theo Walcott to rediscover his scoring habit after the forward’s first goal of the season set Arsenal on the way to three precious Champions League points and a club record 10th straight away win. Walcott’s blistering 65th-minute volley broke the deadlock in Marseille and midfielder Aaron [...]
Champions League: Lennon defiant after late goals hit Bhoys’ bid September 18, 2013 AC MILAN 2 CELTIC 0 CELTIC manager Neil Lennon still hopes to qualify for the Champions League knockout stage, despite two late goals giving his side a nightmare start to perhaps the hardest of all groups. The Bhoys looked on course for a valuable point in Italy until eight minutes form time, when AC Milan [...]