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 [...]
FA Cup: Sherwood pep talk fires Villa February 15, 2015 ASTON VILLA 2 LEICESTER CITY 1 ASTON Villa goalkeeper Shay Given credited a half-time rallying cry from new manager Tim Sherwood with inspiring them to end their losing streak and reach the last eight of the FA Cup. Goals from midfielder Leandro Bacuna and winger Scott Sinclair ended a three-match slump that resulted in Paul [...]
FA Cup: Bantams twist knife on Poyet February 15, 2015 BRADFORD CITY 2 SUNDERLAND 0 BRADFORD manager Phil Parkinson says he fears nobody in tonight’s FA Cup quarter-final draw after the Bantams eliminated more top-flight opposition in the form of Sunderland yesterday. Former Black Cats striker Jon Stead continued his record of scoring in every round as his strike and a John O’Shea own goal [...]
Grayson aiming for upset repeat February 15, 2015 PRESTON manager Simon Grayson hopes hosting the megastars of Manchester United will inspire his team to pull off an FA Cup upset tonight. Grayson, who was manager of Leeds when they beat United in the third round five years ago, is aiming to maintain a three-match winning run. “I think it’s got to inspire them,” [...]
Wasps breeze past Harlequins to surge into league’s top four February 15, 2015 WASPS boosted their chances of making the play-offs by storming past Harlequins 37-6 at the Ricoh Arena yesterday to move fourth in the Premiership table. Departing wing Tom Varndell, centre Elliot Daly and two penalty try awards secured Wasps’ bonus-point victory as Andy Goode added 15 with the boot, while Nick Evans kicked two penalties [...]
The British Hammer Man tasked with auctioning Kevin Pietersen February 15, 2015 Richard Madley tells Ross McLean about selling cricketers to stars of Bollywood THE LIKES of Kevin Pietersen, Yuvraj Singh and Angelo Mathews may not be an auctioneer’s quintessential lot but for the eighth successive year a British gavel will come down on some of the most sought-after cricketers on the planet. The annual glitz and [...]
Moores keeps faith with Morgan despite four ducks in five games February 15, 2015 ENGLAND head coach Peter Moores has backed under-fire captain Eoin Morgan but admits the team must get better in key areas if they are to trouble the latter stages of the Cricket World Cup. Morgan suffered a fourth duck in five games as England lost their tournament opener against co-hosts Australia by 111 runs on [...]
Thai win ends Dodt drought February 15, 2015 AUSTRALIAN Andrew Dodt landed his first European Tour title since 2010 yesterday at the Thailand Classic – two years after losing his card and being forced to reinvent his game. Dodt’s bogey-free 67 left him on 16 under par, denying home favourite Thongchai Jaidee by one stroke and completing a fairytale return to form for [...]
Half term! Imagine Children’s Festival 2015 February 13, 2015 If you’re struggling to think of what to do this half term, head down to the Southbank Imagine Children’s Festival. A diverse programme of activities features readings from top authors including Russell Brand, Judith Kerr, Lauren Child, Anthony Horowitz and Helen Skelton. For something more lively you can clap along to live performances of Charlie [...]