Sturridge brace propels Blues progress January 4, 2010 Chelsea 5 Watford 0 CHELSEA boss Carlo Ancelotti backed Daniel Sturridge to fill the void left by Didier Drogba after the teenager’s brace helped the FA Cup holders set up a fourth-round tie with Preston. Sturridge scored in each half to press his claims for a place while Drogba, who has scored 19 goals this [...]
Gunners dig deep to avoid a Hammering January 4, 2010 West Ham 1 Arsenal 2 ARSENAL boss Arsene Wenger admits he wants to strengthen his squad this month after seeing the Gunners given a scare before reaching the FA Cup fourth round. Wales starlet Aaron Ramsey and Croatia striker Eduardo struck within five second-half minutes to save Wenger’s men, who looked to be heading out [...]
RFU chief Andrew hits back at Saracens’ Venter January 4, 2010 ELITE rugby chief Rob Andrew has leapt to the defence of Premiership referees after Saracens boss Brendan Venter’s criticism of current standards of officiating. The South African could be charged for bringing the game into disrepute following comments made about the referee after Saracens’ 22-15 defeat to Leicester on Saturday. Venter was unhappy with David [...]
Peerless Taylor powers to his 15th world title January 4, 2010 PHIL TAYLOR earned the 15th world title of his glittering career last night after a thrilling PDC World Championship final at Alexandra Palace in London. “The Power”, the defending champion, shrugged off a cagey opening to overwhelm unseeded Australian Simon Whitlock 7-3. Whitlock opened up a 2-1 lead in the early stages but saw his [...]
SPORT | IN BRIEF January 4, 2010 FOOTBALL: FA Boss: Capello going nowhere Football Association chief executive Ian Watmore insists Fabio Capello will see out his England contract. Rumours have emerged that the Italian may stand down after this summer’s World Cup in South Africa, with Fulham boss Roy Hodgson being touted as a possible successor. But Watmore said: “We expect Fabio [...]
Cook denies City conspiracy December 21, 2009 MANCHESTER CITY chief executive Garry Cook insists the club had only agreed a deal with Roberto Mancini just a day before Mark Hughes was sacked. Cook and the Eastlands hierarchy came under criticism for their treatment of Hughes, who was sacked after Saturday’s 4-3 win over Sunderland. But the City CEO refutes any suggestion of [...]
Bring on Man United, blasts boss Mancini December 21, 2009 NEW Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini says is ready to do battle with city rivals United – with the aim of bringing the Premier League title to Eastlands within 18 months. Mancini won three successive titles with Inter Milan before resigning last summer, and is already comparing the City/United rivalry to that of his former [...]
Ferguson rejects plans to strengthen in January to ease defensive crisis December 21, 2009 SIR ALEX FERGUSON has ruled out the possibility of delving into the transfer market to ease Manchester United’s defensive crisis. Ferguson saw his United side slump to a fifth defeat of the campaign at Fulham on Saturday – one more that than the whole of last season. It left them four points behind Chelsea at [...]
World Player Messi hails a perfect year for Barca December 21, 2009 LIONEL MESSI spoke of his “perfect year” after being named the Fifa World Player of the Year last night. The brilliant Argentine winger, 22, beat team-mates Andres Iniesta and Xavi, plus last year’s winner Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka, to the award in Zurich, which was voted by each national team coach and captain. Messi, 22, [...]
I’ll do it my way, Trott warns Smith December 21, 2009 ENGLAND batsman Jonathan Trott has brushed aside criticism from South Africa captain Graeme Smith over his laboured batting style. South African-born Trott played his part in England batting out for a draw in the first Test in Pretoria on Sunday with an invaluable 69 in only his second Test match. But his slow preparation at [...]