Cook’s quest for Caribbean runs begins with a warm-up century April 7, 2015 ENGLAND skipper Alastair Cook notched a morale-boosting century on the final day of his side’s drawn warm-up clash against a St Kitts & Nevis Invitational XI to start the tour of the Caribbean with a bang. Cook resumed on 95 yesterday and made light work of reaching three figures before instantly retiring as England’s preparations [...]
Blackburn Rovers deprived of 14 players for Liverpool FA Cup replay April 7, 2015 Blackburn boss Gary Bowyer insists that Liverpool counterpart Brendan Rodgers does not have the monopoly on unavailable players ahead of their FA Cup quarter-final replay at Ewood Park tonight. Much has been made of Liverpool missing suspended trio Steven Gerrard, Martin Skrtel and Emre Can for the clash, but the Championship outfit could be vastly [...]
In-form Manchester United can inspire City, says Kompany April 7, 2015 MANCHESTER City captain Vincent Kompany believes Sunday’s derby against Manchester United can act as a catalyst to reverse the decline that appears to have doomed their Premier League defence. Monday night’s shock 2-1 defeat at Crystal Palace was City’s fifth in seven matches and left their title bid in tatters, nine points behind leaders Chelsea, [...]
Tiger: I have worked my ass off and I expect to win the Masters April 7, 2015 FORMER world No1 Tiger Woods expects to end his seven-year wait for a 15th Major at the Masters this week after revealing the lengths he has gone to in order to play at Augusta. Woods took an indefinite break from competition two months ago in a bid to iron out flaws in his game but [...]
Back to form Snedeker has weapons to tame Augusta April 7, 2015 THE WORLD’S greatest golf tournament hits our screens again this week and with it the game’s greatest ever player, returning to his favourite course after missing last year’s event with a back injury. In his pomp Tiger Woods was simply majestic around Augusta, winning four times and finishing inside the top six on eight other [...]
Blixt looks big at 40/1 to blitz European rivals April 7, 2015 OF ALL the major golf courses in the world, Augusta really is one where the term horses for courses applies. As good as they are elsewhere, some players just can’t handle it. Rory McIlroy is the 13/8 favourite in the top European market. But at a much bigger price I’m going to have a few [...]
Premier League: Palace play kingmaker again as City falter April 6, 2015 CRYSTAL PALACE 2 MANCHESTER CITY 1 MANCHESTER City manager Manuel Pellegrini conceded his team’s hopes of defending their title had suffered a major blow after Crystal Palace all but killed off another Premier League hopeful last night. Goals from Glenn Murray and Jason Puncheon left City nine points adrift of leaders Chelsea and made the [...]
Rodgers brushes off mutiny talk and reiterates Champions League hopes April 6, 2015 LIVERPOOL manager Brendan Rodgers has dismissed suggestions of dressing-room unrest and insists he has been too quick to write off the team’s chances of earning Champions League qualification. The Reds boss denied that Saturday’s 4-1 defeat at Arsenal, which left them seven points adrift of the Premier League’s top four, had led to heated exchanges [...]
Blackpool down and Mackay out after 20 weeks April 6, 2015 TROUBLED Blackpool’s relegation was confirmed while Wigan ended the controversial tenure of manager Malky Mackay on a tumultuous day in the Championship yesterday. The Seasiders were condemned to drop into English football’s third tier with six games remaining after Rotherham’s 1-0 win over Brighton left Blackpool 19 points from safety. Lee Clark’s men host Reading [...]
Former champ Doherty blocking Evans’ path to snooker history April 6, 2015 LEADING female snooker player Reanne Evans has been handed a tough route to a possible World Championships debut after being drawn to meet former winner Ken Doherty in qualifying. The Englishwoman, 29, who has won the World Ladies Snooker Championship 10 years in a row, is bidding to become the first woman to appear in [...]