McLaren admit Alonso a doubt for Formula One season opener February 26, 2015 MCLAREN chiefs are optimistic that former world champion Fernando Alonso will be fit for the season’s first race in Australia next month, but admit he remains a doubt following his crash in testing. Concussed Alonso spent three days in hospital this week after ploughing into a wall at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona on [...]
Scots wounded by Afghan shock February 26, 2015 SCOTLAND skipper Preston Mommsen admits his side need time to recover from their devastating one-wicket defeat to Afghanistan yesterday. The Afghans fought back from 97-7 to chase down 210 in the final over as Scotland remain without a win at a World Cup. Mommsen said: “There was a lot riding on this. It will take [...]
27 February on this day… February 26, 2015 2005: Jose Mourinho won his first trophy with Chelsea, the League Cup, after a 3-2 victory over Liverpool at Wembley 10 years ago today – two days before he and Chelsea are back at Wembley on Sunday. The Blues manager is pictured celebrating with his backroom staff, including current Reading boss Steve Clarke, who is [...]
Ireland set to equal winning record with victory over England February 26, 2015 HARRY MADLEY PREVIEWS THE CRUNCH SIX NATIONS CLASH AND BEN CLEMINSON LOOKS AT SUNDAY’S FOOTBALL SSINCE being installed as England head coach in 2012, Stuart Lancaster hasn’t managed to guide his team to a Six Nations Championship, let alone a Grand Slam. However, overcoming Ireland on Sunday in Dublin would be a significant step to [...]
Take Chelsea and Liverpool to shine on Super Sunday February 26, 2015 THINGS haven’t gone Chelsea’s way in recent weeks and the cloak of invincibility that surrounded the club in December has started to slip away. They’ve dropped points in four of their last 10 league games and Bradford knocked them out of the FA Cup. Nemanja Matic, an impressive force in the Blues midfield, is suspended [...]
Maximum excitement on the capital one cup final February 26, 2015 WITH two big London rivals lining up to play for the Capital One Cup on Sunday expect passions to be running high. In two of the last three matches between Chelsea and Tottenham there has been a penalty scored and Sporting Index offer a couple of penalty markets. Penalty performance is a simple one – [...]
Take Williams to land back to back Greatwood Gold Cups with Bennys February 26, 2015 BILL ESDAILE PREVIEWS THE BEST OF THE WEEKEND’S RACING AS CHELTENHAM gets ever nearer the quality of racing unsurprisingly deteriorates and this is one of the most low-key weekends of the whole season. There are still opportunities to boost the betting bank, though, and the Greatwood Gold Cup at Newbury tomorrow (3.25pm), with the declarations [...]
Road to Cheltenham February 26, 2015 WHEN it comes to target trainers Martin Pipe has to go down as the godfather of them all. The 15-time champion trainer always used to have a horse lined up for races like the Imperial Cup or Paddy Power Gold Cup, and his son David is following in his footsteps. The Midlands Grand National is [...]
Champions League: Horror show leaves Arsenal on the brink February 25, 2015 Wenger despair as Gunners capitulate and face humiliating European demise ARSENAL 1 AS MONACO 3 DESPAIRING Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger last night accused his players of committing “suicidal defending” and losing their nerve after unheralded Monaco left them teetering on the brink of another Champions League last 16 elimination. Former Tottenham striker Dimitar Berbatov and [...]
Selection dilemma for Pochettino as trophy bid looms for Spurs February 25, 2015 TOTTENHAM boss Mauricio Pochettino has admitted the conundrum of juggling resources is preying on his mind as his side prepare to face Fiorentina in the second leg of their last-32 Europa League tie tonight. Spurs have reached the last 16 in the past two seasons but face a potentially difficult assignment having travelled to Florence [...]