Cooke retires with broadside at Armstrong January 14, 2013 FORMER Olympic road race champion Nicole Cooke bowed out of cycling yesterday with a stinging attack on drug cheats and a warning not to afford sympathy to deposed Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong. Cooke, who said she had resisted pressure to take performance enhancing substances throughout her career, called riders who doped “criminals who [...]
Remy on verge of U-turn over Newcastle as QPR hijack deal January 14, 2013 RELEGATION threatened Queens Park Rangers have emerged as contenders to hijack Newcastle’s bid for Marseille striker Loic Remy. The France international was set to have a medical in Newcastle yesterday after a fee in the region of £8m had been agreed between the clubs on Sunday night as Magpies manager Alan Pardew looks to replace [...]
Saracens sign Vunipola duo January 14, 2013 SARACENS have secured the surprise double signing of Wasps No8 Billy Vunipola and Harlequins prop James Johnston for next season. Samoa international Johnston won the Premiership with Quins last season while Vunipola has shone for Wasps since his debut in 2011, and earned a place in England’s Saxons squad last week. Vunipola, 20, will join [...]
Taylor lined up by Sussex men’s side January 14, 2013 ENGLAND women’s wicketkeeper Sarah Taylor is targeting a groundbreaking move into the men’s county game. The 23-year-old Sussex vice-captain, who bats at No3, is being lined up to play for the club’s men’s second XI, and has also discussed representing the MCC. “Part of me knows it would be phenomenal,” she said. “I would love [...]
Cook warns players to keep focus January 14, 2013 CRICKET: England captain Alastair Cook insists his side must not become complacent ahead of today’s match in Kochi after last week’s dramatic nine-run victory, which handed England a 1-0 lead in the five-match one-day series.
Jol to rest Berbatov for FA Cup tie January 14, 2013 FOOTBALL: Fulham manager Martin Jol is set to rest striker Dimitar Berbatov and several key players for their FA Cup third-round replay at Blackpool tonight, to halt a run of one win in six league games at Manchester City on Saturday.
Gunners self destruct and hand City a title lifeline January 13, 2013 ARSENAL 0 vs MANCHESTER CITY 2 ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger last night insisted he was not angry at his defenders, despite admitting they handed a victory to Manchester City that keeps the champions in the Premier League title race. Defender Laurent Koscielny’s 10th-minute sending-off hampered the Gunners, and though striker Edin Dzeko failed to convert [...]
Ferguson hails resilient United performance January 13, 2013 MANCHESTER UNITED 2 vs LIVERPOOL 1 MANCHESTER United boss Sir Alex Ferguson hopes yesterday’s hard-fought victory against bitter rivals Liverpool will prove crucial in his team’s bid to reclaim the Premier League crown. Robin van Persie’s 21st goal of the season and a Nemanja Vidic header put United two up at Old Trafford, yet Liverpool [...]
Even Middle England must admire Murray January 13, 2013 IT’S still going on. The complete refusal of certain parts of Middle England to accept that Andy Murray is a national asset to be cherished and revered. On the 11.27 out of Waterloo on Saturday night, I was approached by a man (sober) who inquired if I was going to the Australian Open. “Yes”, I [...]
Murray insists: I’m fired up for Aussie Open January 13, 2013 BRITAIN’S Andy Murray insists he is heading into the Australian Open determined to seal a second consecutive grand slam title, despite admitting to being more relaxed since winning the US Open. The Scot sealed a long-awaited first grand slam victory at the US Open against Novak Djokovic in September, and says he is ready for [...]