Crystal Palace 0, Everton 0: Stalemate leaves Eagles safe from relegation, insists boss Alan Pardew April 13, 2016 Crystal Palace boss Alan Pardew declared his side safe from relegation after a goalless draw with Everton moved the Eagles 11 points clear of the Premier League drop-zone. Toffees midfielder Ross Barkley struck the crossbar prior to James McCarthy being sent off for fouls on Yohan Cabaye and Yannick Bolasie, while Palace’s best chance fell [...]
Barcelona suffer Champions League shock as Lionel Messi goal drought continues April 13, 2016 Holders Barcelona suffered a shock European exit after an Antoine Griezmann double and 2-0 victory fired Atletico Madrid into the Champions League semi-finals. Barca led 2-1 from last week’s first leg at Camp Nou only for Atletico to level the aggregate score before half-time as unmarked France forward Griezmann headed home a Saul cross. The [...]
West Ham 1, Manchester United 2: Slaven Bilic vows Hammers will bounce back after Marcus Rashford spoils Boleyn Ground’s FA Cup farewell and eases pressure on Louis van Gaal April 13, 2016 West Ham United 1, Manchester United 2 West Ham manager Slaven Bilic has vowed his team will bounce straight back after party poopers Manchester United spoiled the Boleyn Ground's FA Cup farewell by dumping the Hammers out on Wenesday night. Goals from teenage striker Marcus Rashford and midfielder Marouane Fellaini set United on their way to [...]
England batsman James Taylor proved that guts not size is key to success – although his retirement means Test places are up for grabs April 13, 2016 I was still at Hampshire when I first played against James Taylor, who was with Leicestershire at the time, and I remember thinking to myself when he walked out to bat: ‘My God, this guy is tiny’. At 5ft 6in he is one of the smallest cricketers I ever came up against and he was [...]
Cyclists get ready: The London Nocturne is moving to the Square Mile April 13, 2016 Cyclist city workers and Olympic champions will come together when the London Nocturne celebrates its 10th edition in the heart of the City on Saturday 4 June. The cycling event is moving from Smithfield Market into the Square Mile for the first time, with a circuit that starts and finishes on Cheapside with St Pauls [...]
PFA Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year nominees unveiled – Arsenal, Tottenham and Liverpool feature but Leicester players dominate April 13, 2016 Three Leicester City stars have been nominated for the PFA Player of Year award in recognition of their team's incredible Premier League season. Riyad Mahrez, Jamie Vardy and N'Golo Kante have all been nominated for the gong by their fellow players after standing out in the Foxes' rise to the summit of English football. Second-placed Tottenham, [...]
Manchester City 1, Paris Saint-Germain 0 (Agg: 3-2): Pellegrini revels in City showing “big club” mentality as £55m man Kevin de Bruyne fires club to first ever Champions League semi-final April 13, 2016 Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini expressed his pride after the club reached the semi-finals of the Champions League for the first time in their history by edging past a subdued Paris Saint-Germain last night. A composed finish from £55m record signing Kevin de Bruyne spared the potential blushes of the usually dependable Sergio Aguero, who [...]
Real Madrid 3, VfL Wolfsburg 0 (Agg: 3-2): Zidane revels in best night of managerial career as Ronaldo treble stokes Champions League comeback April 13, 2016 Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane shrugged off speculation about his job security and instead chose to revel in his side’s stunning second-leg comeback after a Cristiano Ronaldo treble broke the resistance of Wolfsburg. Former Manchester United forward Ronaldo wiped out the German outfit’s advantage with two strikes in the space of 86 first-half seconds before [...]
McLaren’s Alonso remains doubtful for Chinese Grand Prix as Spaniard awaits medical green light April 12, 2016 Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso admits he remains unsure whether he will be given the all-clear to make his comeback and compete at this weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix. McLaren driver Alonso was ruled out of the Bahrain race earlier this month after fracturing ribs during a horror crash at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix in [...]
Danny Willett thanked his analytics team following his Masters triumph – but what are the key stats used in golf? April 12, 2016 Amidst the more usual recitations of gratitude towards his wife, sponsors and coach, Danny Willett this week took time off from celebrating his Masters win to tweet his thanks to a data analysis consultancy for professional golfers, who helped him plot his course strategy. In football, data analysis units have become well estabilished at top clubs, and the sport’s followers now [...]