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 [...]
Draw throws up heavyweight tie as old foes bid for semi-final spot February 16, 2015 DEFENDING champions Arsenal face a trip to Manchester United in the FA Cup quarter-finals after the draw pitted the two highest-placed teams against each other last night. United have beaten the Gunners once already this season, a 2-1 triumph at Emirates Stadium in November, and have not lost to the north Londoners in seven meetings [...]
Ireland’s World Cup shock leaves Porterfield wanting more respect February 16, 2015 IRELAND skipper Will Porterfield believes their four-wicket World Cup victory over West Indies in Nelson yesterday is further proof his side deserve greater respect from cricket authorities. The Irish reached their victory target of 305 with 25 balls to spare, while Ireland have now posted three of the five successful World Cup run chases of [...]
Golf Comment: Time is right for classy Clarke to lead Europe’s Ryder Cup defence February 16, 2015 IT WAS four years ago that Darren Clarke gave the ideal illustration of his Ryder Cup captaincy credentials with a peerless acceptance speech, having ended his wait for a Major by winning the Open at Royal St George’s. Clarke is by no means the only worthy contender when a five-man selection panel meets imminently to [...]
Armstrong hit with record $10m bill after losing doping lawsuit February 16, 2015 DISGRACED cyclist Lance Armstrong has been ordered to pay an American record $10m (£6.5m) in damages after losing a lawsuit with sports insurance company SCA Promotions. The Texan firm paid Armstrong $7.5m (£4.9m) in bonuses for his multiple Tour de France wins but sued him for the return of that sum plus $4.5m (£2.9m) in [...]
Brown rested after Italy KO February 16, 2015 ENGLAND doctors were last night assessing Mike Brown before making a decision on his availability for the next Six Nations fixture against Ireland in 12 days’ time. Brown has been given two days’ complete rest since appearing to be knocked out early in England’s 47-17 win over Italy on Saturday, which continued their 100 per [...]
FA Cup: Wenger hails two-goal star man Giroud February 15, 2015 AT EMIRATES STADIUM ARSENAL 2 MIDDLESBROUGH 0 ARSENAL boss Arsene Wenger extolled the progression of Olivier Giroud after the France striker fired the FA Cup holders into the quarter-finals at the expense of Championship high-flyers Middlesbrough yesterday. Giroud’s first-half double took his tally for the season to 10 and proved the difference for the dominant [...]
Six Nations: Wales deliver to revive their Six Nations chances February 15, 2015 SCOTLAND 23 WALES 26 WALES skipper Sam Warburton insists defeat would have ended any chance of his side winning the Six Nations after they chalked up their first win of the championship by edging past Scotland at Murrayfield yesterday. The visitors led 16-10 at half-time after a try from scrum-half Rhys Webb and three Leigh [...]
Football Comment: United could use a cup run to ease pressure February 15, 2015 IF NOTHING else, for the sake of providing a regular distraction from the pressure of trying to attain a top-four Premier League finish, Manchester United could really do with beating Preston tonight in the FA Cup. That league pressure was laid bare last week, when manager Louis van Gaal showed his short fuse by publicly [...]
Lancaster demands England improvement February 15, 2015 ENGLAND head coach Stuart Lancaster has warned his players they must raise their game if they are to win a potential Six Nations decider against Ireland in Dublin. Lancaster declared himself largely satisfied with a six-try 47-17 victory over Italy at Twickenham on Saturday that maintained their 100 per cent start to the championship. But [...]