Fletcher to take extended break December 13, 2011 FOOTBALL: Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher is to take an extended break from the game after his club announced the Scotland captain is suffering with a chronic stomach illness. The 27-year-old, who has been out of action since the Champions League draw against Benfica on 22 November, has been diagnosed with a chronic inflammatory bowel [...]
Rovers deny financial crisis December 13, 2011 FOOTBALL: Blackburn have released a statement denying the club is heading for financial meltdown. Reports over the weekend claimed the club’s owners, Indian poultry firm Venky’s, had received a demand from the bank to pay £10m to help to pay off the club’s debts. “There is no financial crisis, and there is absolutely no danger [...]
Quins’ Care avoids RFU censure December 13, 2011 RUGBY UNION: England scrum-half Danny Care has escaped disciplinary action from the Rugby Football Union, despite being arrested and fined on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly last weekend. The incident took place following Harlequins’ 21-10 defeat by Toulouse at the Stoop.
Powell set for Brit indoor debut December 13, 2011 ATHLETICS: Former 100m world record holder Asafa Powell will make his British indoor debut at the Birmingham Grand Prix on 18 February.
Lampard ignites race for title December 12, 2011 By FRANK DALLERES AT STAMFORD BRIDGE Late penalty from Chelsea super-sub ends City’s unbeaten run and catapults Villas-Boas’ side back into the top four CHELSEA 2 vs MANCHESTER CITY 1 CHELSEA manager Andre Villas-Boas declared his team’s faltering Premier League title challenge back on track after Frank Lampard climbed off the bench to puncture leaders [...]
End of the road for England legend Wilkinson December 12, 2011 ENGLAND’S iconic World Cup winning fly-half Jonny Wilkinson yesterday announced his retirement from international rugby. The 32-year-old, arguably England’s greatest ever player, won 91 caps over the course of an injury-plagued career and also represented the British and Irish Lions on two tours. Wilkinson will forever be remembered as the man who kicked England to [...]
MATCH ANALYSIS December 12, 2011 KEY MOMENT Manchester City’s early dominance was hardly reflected by a 1-0 scoreline handed to them by Mario Balotelli’s second minute strike and a famous Chelsea comeback may never have materialised had referee Mark Clattenburg spotted Jose Bosingwa’s trip on David Silva inside the penalty area in the 14th minute. Only after super-slow-motion replays was [...]
Shanghai eye Drogba and Anelka pairing December 12, 2011 AMBITIOUS Chinese outfit Shanghai Shenhua want to reunite Nicolas Anelka with his old Chelsea strike partner Didier Drogba. Anelka, 32, will move to the Far East in January on a two-year contract believed to be worth £8m a year, it was confirmed yesterday. But, not content with just one former Stamford Bridge frontman, the Chinese [...]
Arsenal to conquer new frontier with pre-season tour of Nigeria December 12, 2011 ARSENAL chiefs are planning to take the club into new territory next summer by embarking on a pre-season tour to Africa. The Gunners are in talks about playing a number of matches in Nigeria next summer, before the 2012-13 campaign gets underway. Other tours are also being discussed and it is understood Arsenal could schedule [...]
Kauto Star set for King George December 12, 2011 HORSE RACING: Four-time winner Kauto Star has been entered for the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day by his trainer Paul Nicholls. The 11-year-old defied the critics by beating Long Run to win the Betfair Chase at Haydock three weeks ago.