Arsenal set to make amends for mauling in Manchester January 19, 2012 ARSENAL vs MANCHESTER UNITED SUNDAY – 4.00PM SKY SPORTS 1 ARSENAL’S title challenge was over before it started this season and if they aren’t careful the gap to the top four could soon be too big to bridge. Back-to-back defeats have left them trailing neighbours Chelsea by four points and, more worryingly for Emirates-goers, Tottenham [...]
England launch fightback with two late strikes January 18, 2012 Swann and Anderson rein in Pakistan as Broad urges batsmen to learn from their mistakes and create the platform for a dramatic turnaround ENGLAND fast bowler Stuart Broad insists his side can begin to target an unlikely victory in the first Test against Pakistan after a disciplined bowling performance culminated in two vital breakthroughs at [...]
No way back from batting shambles January 18, 2012 ENGLAND’S fightback in Dubai yesterday featured many of the qualities you’d expect of a side ranked No1 in the world, but I fear Andrew Strauss’s men may have forfeited any hope of winning the series with their substandard efforts with the bat on day one. Having won the toss England would have been looking to [...]
Sticky Andy prepares for Vasselin test January 18, 2012 BRITAIN’S Andy Murray admits he is facing an unexpected challenge from the elements at the Australian Open: soaring temperatures that cause the courts to melt. Murray, who meets Frenchman Edouard Roger-Vasselin in round two this morning, found his feet sticking to the acrylic surface in his opening win on Tuesday. “The court is incredibly sticky [...]
Ameen ‘corrected’ Khan scores January 18, 2012 THE MAN accused of interfering with scorecards in British fighter Amir Khan’s double title defeat to American Lamont Peterson has admitted correcting “errors” made by one judge. Mustafa Ameen, who does not belong to a relevant boxing body, said he was assisting Michael Welsh because the official felt unwell during last month’s IBF and WBA [...]
Isner claims another epic as Nalbandian slams ‘stupid’ call January 18, 2012 FORMER Wimbledon finalist David Nalbandian launched a stinging attack on the umpire after his Australian Open hopes became the latest victim of the record-breaking tenacity of American John Isner. Isner, who famously won the longest match in history when he beat Nicolas Mahut in an 11-hour marathon at Wimbledon in 2010, drew on his immense [...]
Nadal over knee woe but Fish reels after elimination January 18, 2012 SECOND seed Rafael Nadal allayed fears over his knee injury after sweeping past former world No2 Tommy Haas. Nadal (inset), who had complained of “unbelievable’ pain earlier this week, won 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 to book a third-round match with Slovakian Lukas Lacko. The Spaniard said: “It is much better and I am so happy the [...]
Terry glad Chelsea stars aren’t content with life on the bench January 18, 2012 CHELSEA captain John Terry admits player unrest is an inevitable consequence of manager Andre Villas-Boas’s rotation policy, but insists he’s encouraged by the attitude of those squad members not content to play a bit-part role. Record signing Fernando Torres and Blues stalwart Frank Lampard have both been in and out of the side this season, [...]
Wilshere hopes to return for Milan Euro showdown January 18, 2012 ARSENAL midfielder Jack Wilshere has given his manager Arsene Wenger a timely boost by stepping up his rehabilitation from the stress fracture to his right ankle which has kept him out of action since pre-season. The 20-year-old is due to return to full training next week and is hopeful of being in contention to feature [...]
Gatland defends handing Henson a Wales lifeline January 18, 2012 WALES coach Warren Gatland has defended the controversial selection of Gavin Henson in his 35-man squad for next month’s Six Nations. Centre Henson is set for a return to the international fold despite his indifferent club form, which has seen him dropped from the Cardiff Blues squad ahead of this weekend’s decisive Heineken Cup group [...]