Champions League: Blues survive PSG fightback to claim draw February 17, 2015 PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN 1 CHELSEA 1 CHELSEA manager Jose Mourinho claimed he fielded five injured players as his side survived a potent Paris Saint-Germain resurgence in their Champions League last-16 first leg tie at Parc des Princes last night. Full-back Branislav Ivanovic struck with a potentially pivotal away goal and his first European strike since the [...]
Goode in line for England recall as Brown struggles February 17, 2015 ENGLAND head coach Stuart Lancaster has handed Saracens full-back Alex Goode a Six Nations lifeline amid continuing doubts over Mike Brown’s fitness for next week’s crunch trip to Ireland. Goode is yet to feature in this year’s championship after losing the No15 shirt to Brown during 2014 but pressed his claim for a recall with [...]
Birmingham owners call in the receivers amid internal dispute February 17, 2015 BIRMINGHAM City chiefs have moved to appease fears for the future of the Championship club after their parent company Birmingham International Holdings Limited was placed into receivership yesterday. The Blues said they wanted “to reassure supporters and staff most emphatically that no winding up petition has been filed against the company (BIHL) and that it [...]
Former City banker Warburton sacrificed in Brentford overhaul February 17, 2015 BRENTFORD have confirmed plans to part company with their City banker-turned-football manager Mark Warburton at the end of the season despite his success with the Championship club. The move follows more than a week of intense speculation about the former AIG, Bank of America and RBS currency trader’s position, prompted by reports he was set [...]
‘I gave absolutely everything playing for my country to the point I now struggle to walk’ February 17, 2015 Matt Prior tells Ross McLean of his Test comeback hope and new cycling project HE MAY be a triple Ashes winner and a principal component of England’s surge to the summit of Test cricket in 2011 but deposed wicketkeeper-batsman Matt Prior accepts the greatest challenge of his sporting career may prove unconquerable. Prior is taking [...]
Moeen: Let’s forget Aussies February 17, 2015 OPENER Moeen Ali has urged England to forget a resounding defeat to Australia in their World Cup opener and make amends against New Zealand on Friday. The second pool match, which starts at 1am British time, is against a side who have won their first two games at the tournament and 10 of their last [...]
Mourinho set to unleash his lethal weapon February 16, 2015 CHELSEA boss Jose Mourinho is ready to plunge star striker Diego Costa straight back into frontline action against Paris Saint-Germain tonight and has blasted counterpart Laurent Blanc for claiming the Blues hold a physical advantage. Costa has missed Chelsea’s last three Premier League matches after being handed a retrospective suspension for stamping on Liverpool’s Emre [...]
Aston Villa post was no-brainer, says Sherwood February 16, 2015 ASTON Villa manager Tim Sherwood has described his decision to take charge at the struggling club as a “no-brainer” and insists six wins from their remaining 13 games should be enough to avoid relegation. Sherwood officially started work yesterday, having accepted the job on Saturday and watched his new team reach the FA Cup last [...]
Pietersen’s stock falls further in IPL auction February 16, 2015 FURTHER evidence of former England captain Kevin Pietersen’s fall from grace emerged yesterday when he was sold at the Indian Premier League (IPL) players’ auction for a cut-price £205,000. The sum paid by Sunrisers Hyderabad for Pietsersen was nearly £700,000 less than the maverick batsman fetched 12 months ago when he joined Delhi Daredevils and [...]
FA Cup: Team spirit key for Van Gaal after United survive Preston cup scare February 16, 2015 PRESTON NORTH END 1 MANCHESTER UNITED 3 RELIEVED Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal highlighted his side’s resilience after they recovered their poise to banish fears of an FA Cup upset against League One promotion-chasers Preston North End at Deepdale last night. Second-half strikes from Ander Herrera, Marouane Fellaini and a Wayne Rooney penalty sealed [...]