Saints stroll to first leg romp July 30, 2015 SOUTHAMPTON moved to within touching distance of the Europa League play-offs after dispatching Dutch side Vitesse Arnhem 3-0 in their third qualifying round first leg tie at St Mary’s Stadium last night. An opening goal from striker Graziano Pelle and a successfully converted Dusan Tadic penalty fired the Saints into a two-goal half-time lead, before [...]
Hughes wins on farewell at Goodwood July 30, 2015 CHAMPION Jockey Richard Hughes admits he is ready to retire happy this weekend after landing the first winner of his farewell visit to Glorious Goodwood yesterday. Hughes, who failed to register at his favourite track on the first two days of the festival, kept 11-1 shot Gibeon just in front of the Frankie Dettori-piloted favourite [...]
Platini labelled a Blatter protege by Fifa presidency rival Chung July 30, 2015 SOUTH Korean billionaire Chung Mong-joon branded Uefa chief Michel Platini a “protege of Blatter” after entering the race to succeed the outgoing president of football’s besieged world governing body Fifa yesterday. Former Fifa vice-president Chung, who is the major shareholder of industrial giant Hyundai and said to be worth $1.2bn, has been a long-term critic [...]
Mo Farah cleared by UK Athletics investigation into allegations against trainer Alberto Salazar July 30, 2015 Double Olympic champion Mo Farah has been cleared of wrongdoing by a UK Athletics (UKA) investigation into allegations of doping made against his American coach Alberto Salazar. Read more: Mo Farah – Prove I’m doping or leave me alone UKA said it had not been presented with any evidence of misconduct by Farah, nor any material [...]
England seize control after seam attack routs Aussies July 30, 2015 ENGLAND’S James Anderson highlighted the role played by bowling coach Ottis Gibson after the seamer rediscovered his most potent form to dismantle Australia on the opening day of the third Investec Ashes Test yesterday. Anderson, who went wicketless in the second Test at Lord’s as the tourists levelled the series at 1-1, looked far more [...]
Wood in bits over Ashes debut July 30, 2015 England new-boy tells Ross McLean he’s still adjusting to toll of Test cricket WIDE-EYED England seamer Mark Wood admits Test cricket has him hooked despite the unrelenting fervour of an Ashes series being incomparable to anything he has experienced in his career. The 25-year-old right-arm fast bowler announced himself on the international stage earlier this [...]
Finn on the road to Australian redemption July 30, 2015 IF PERFORMANCES within Ashes series go some way to defining Test careers then rejuvenated England seamer Steven Finn will be relieved to have started healing scars from his last brush with Australia. In 2011, Finn usurped Sir Ian Botham to become the youngest Englishman to reach the milestone of 50 Test wickets, while his two [...]
Dyke backs Platini quest to succeed Blatter July 29, 2015 EUROPEAN football chief Michel Platini has vowed to make Fifa liked and respected after confirming his ambition to succeed Sepp Blatter as president of football’s embattled world governing body. The Uefa head and former France captain and coach, 60, announced his candidacy for February’s elections in a letter to Fifa’s 209 member associations. “We can [...]
No Chelsea joy in Stones hunt as bid rejected July 29, 2015 REIGNING Premier League champions Chelsea could be forced to pay a British record fee for a defender in order to sign Everton’s John Stones after the Blues failed with an improved offer of £26m. It is the second Chelsea bid for Stones to be rejected by the Toffees, who have publicly insisted that the 21-year-old [...]
No panic over transfers, says Hammers boss July 29, 2015 WEST Ham manager Slaven Bilic insists he is not panicking yet over the club’s failure to sign another striker or complete a permanent deal for midfielder Alex Song. The Hammers, who host Romanian outfit Astra Giurgiu in the Europa League tonight, have already welcomed seven summer arrivals and Bilic hopes there will be more before [...]