Defeat won’t spell end for Blues boss December 6, 2011 TONIGHT’S Champions League showdown against Valencia represents the biggest match of Andre Villas-Boas’s fledgling Chelsea career, but even were it to end in disaster I think Roman Abramovich would resist the temptation to sack him. Recent performances, particularly at home, hardly suggest Chelsea possess the wherewithal to contend with a hugely talented Valencia side, but [...]
KNOW YOUR ENEMY | VALENCIA December 6, 2011 PERMUTATIONS Victory would ensure Chelsea a place in the knockout stages, and they could even top Group E if Bayer Leverkusen fail to win at whipping boys Genk. The only draw that will take the Blues through is a goalless one, a seemingly improbable prospect against a team that smashed seven in the last Champions [...]
Dalglish disputes Spearing red as Dempsey makes Reina pay December 6, 2011 FULHAM 1 vs LIVERPOOL 0 LIVERPOOL manager Kenny Dalglish insisted the controversial dismissal of Jay Spearing was the decisive factor in his side’s damaging defeat at Craven Cottage last night, as Clint Dempsey’s late goal helped Fulham move a healthy five points clear of the relegation zone. A contest which Liverpool had largely controlled swayed [...]
Woods eyes 2012 Majors December 6, 2011 FORMER World No1 Tiger Woods insists he’s determined to make up for lost time in 2012 after ending his two-year title drought on Sunday. The 35-year-old rolled back the years with a birdie-birdie finish to win the Chevron World Challenge in California by one shot from compatriot Zach Johnson, to register his first tournament victory [...]
Olympic ceremonies to cost extra £41m December 6, 2011 THE GOVERNMENT has come under fire after pledging to spend an additional £41m on doubling the budget for the London 2012 opening and closing ceremonies. Such costs would normally be met by organising committee Locog, but sports minister Hugh Robertson said he would add to their funds with public cash. “We decided to go in [...]
Wenger has ultimate faith in his Arsenal understudies December 6, 2011 OLYMPIACOS vs ARSENAL ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger has warned his fringe players not to treat tonight’s Champions League clash against Olympiacos as a glorified friendly. While the Greek champions could progress with a victory, even a defeat in Athens wouldn’t prevent the Gunners from topping Group F following their impressive 2-1 victory over Borussia Dortmund [...]
Klitschko pulls out of title fight December 6, 2011 BOXING: World heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko has pulled out of Saturday’s title fight against France’s Jean-Marc Mormeck having failed to recover from an operation to remove a kidney stone last Friday.
Messi favourite to land hat-trick December 6, 2011 FOOTBALL: Barcelona forward Lionel Messi is the overwhelming favourite to win the prestigious Fifa Ballon d’Or award for the third year in a row after the three-man shortlist was announced yesterday. The 24-year-old Argentine, who scored a staggering 53 goals in all competitions last season, is joined by his Barcelona team-mate Xavi and Real Madrid’s [...]
Manchester rivals thrown together by FA Cup draw December 4, 2011 A SIMMERING rivalry that has already delivered fireworks this season is poised to be reignited after Manchester City were drawn against neighbours Manchester United in the FA Cup third round. Holders City, who thrashed United 6-1 at Old Trafford in October, could now inflict more misery on them by dumping them out of the FA [...]
Tiger’s back: Woods wins for first time in two years December 4, 2011 FORMER World No1 Tiger Woods finally ended the longest barren spell of his distinguished professional career last night when he won the Chevron World Challenge – more than two years after his last victory. Woods, who dropped outside the top 50 in a desperate spell that followed the break-up of his marriage, showed flashes of [...]