Desire to emulate Barca’s style leaves defences cruelly exposed October 30, 2011 SATURDAY’S goalfest at Stamford Bridge may have made the task of those whose job it is to sell Premier League TV rights easier, but the match showcased just how far the standard of defending exhibited by the top teams has dipped this season. While Arsenal’s defensive fragility has been long-standing – though Laurent Koscielny’s recent [...]
McIlroy secures bumper pay day with play-off victory in Shanghai October 30, 2011 NORTHERN IRELAND’S Rory McIlroy believes he’s overcome his play-off demons after claiming golf’s biggest first prize with victory over Ryder Cup rival Anthony Kim at the Lake Malaren Shanghai Masters. The US Open champion banked a cheque of £1.25m, but only after he had seen a three-shot overnight lead disintegrate for the second tournament in [...]
Vettel dominates in India as McLaren order Lewis to make up with Massa October 30, 2011 WORLD champion Sebastian Vettel continued his domination of the Formula One season by claiming victory at the maiden Indian Grand Prix. It was the German’s (right) 11th win of an utterly dominant campaign as he led from start to finish at the Buddh International Circuit and came in over eight seconds ahead of Jenson Button. [...]
Bresnan delighted to finish his landmark year on a high October 30, 2011 ENGLAND seamer Tim Bresnan insists his side should be able to look back on their efforts in 2011 with tremendous pride, despite being whitewashed by India in the recent one-day series. A victory in Saturday’s one-off Twenty20 match meant England at least ended their whistle-stop tour of the subcontinent by ending their seven-match losing streak. [...]
Walcott: Gunners firing again after Stamford Bridge heroics October 30, 2011 ARSENAL forward Theo Walcott believes Saturday’s landmark win at Stamford Bridge emphatically proved his side are over their early season troubles. Eight wins in their last nine games in all competitions has helped instil belief in a side who had struggled to come to terms with the high-profile summer departures of former captain Cesc Fabregas [...]
Villas-Boas not prepared to curb his attacking style October 30, 2011 CHELSEA manager Andre Villas-Boas insists he will not change his attacking style despite Saturday’s crushing defeat by Arsenal. The Blues conceded five goals at home for the first time since 1989 in an enthralling London derby as the visitors struck twice in the final five minutes to secure an unlikely win. Despite the nature of [...]
Smalling out for a month October 30, 2011 Manchester United defender Chris Smalling has been ruled out for a month with a broken foot, manager Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed. The 21-year-old missed Saturday’s win at Everton with the injury. Smalling’s lay-off means he will miss England’s November friendlies against Spain and Sweden. Ferguson said: “Smalling has a small fracture on his foot. [...]
Charlton draw Halifax in FA Cup October 30, 2011 Conference North side Halifax Town have landed themselves a plum FA Cup first round clash with Charlton. The Addicks will visit Yorkshire next month as the long road to Wembley begins for Football League clubs. Basingstoke of the Conference South will travel to League one outfit Brentford, while Aldershot, fresh from their Carling Cup meeting [...]
Murray faces Haase test October 30, 2011 Britain’s Andy Murray will take on Dutchman Robin Haase in the first round of the Swiss Indoors in Basle today. Murray, who is on a 15-match winning streak, is chasing a fourth straight title after taking a wildcard to compete in the tournament.
Kvitova caps breakthrough year October 30, 2011 Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova clinched the WTA Championships with a 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 victory over Victoria Azarenka in Istanbul. The victory moves the Czech ahead of Maria Sharapova to second in the world. “When I started this season we didn’t have a goal,” said Kvitova after claiming a cheque for £1.1m. “We just wanted to [...]