Fisher leads at Qatar Masters January 21, 2015 ENGLAND’S Oliver Fisher heads a swamped leaderboard after posting an opening round seven-under-par 65 at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters at Doha Golf Club yesterday. Fisher’s only European Tour victory came at the 2011 Czech Open but held a one-shot lead overnight from Spain’s Rafa Cabrera-Bello. The group on five under par includes two-time champion [...]
Arsenal still need a defender and Manchester United haven’t spent a penny – is this the most boring January transfer window ever? January 21, 2015 Are we in the middle of the most boring January transfer window ever? Almost three weeks have passed since the window opened on 3 January and it seems as if not much has happened. Arsenal were supposed to need a new defensive midfielder but have since discovered a hidden genius of Francis Coquelin, Manchester United [...]
From City currency trader to football manager: the rise of Mark Warburton January 21, 2015 The City's trading floor is not the archetypal breeding ground for Premier League managers but Brentford’s Mark Warburton stands on the cusp of trailblazing his way to English football’s top-flight and completing a sporting odyssey. Just under half the season remains in one of the most unrelenting and competitive divisions in Europe and Warburton and [...]
Capital One Cup: Jose Mourinho revels in decisive clash after stalemate January 20, 2015 CHELSEA boss Jose Mourinho was relieved to establish a winner-takes-all clash at Stamford Bridge next week after navigating a potent Liverpool fightback in the first leg of the Capital One Cup semi-final at Anfield. An individual strike from Reds forward Raheem Sterling cancelled out Eden Hazard’s fourth successfully-converted penalty of the campaign, as Liverpool extended [...]
Lancaster set to hand Easter and Cipriani recalls January 20, 2015 ENGLAND head coach Stuart Lancaster is set to hand veteran Harlequins No8 Nick Easter an international recall when he announces his squad for the opening clash of the Six Nations against Wales today. Lancaster will name a 34-strong party ahead of next week’s training camp for the Millennium Stadium showdown on 6 February and is expected to [...]
No excuse for Spurs, admits Pochettino January 20, 2015 TOTTENHAM manager Mauricio Pochettino has warned his team there will be no excuse if they do not overcome League One’s giant-killers Sheffield United and reach the Capital One Cup final. United have forged a reputation as cup specialists by defeating five top-flight opponents in little more than a year, including two of the Premier League’s [...]
Finn exorcises demons as England romp to morale-boosting victory January 20, 2015 ENGLAND bowler Steven Finn believes he has healed the wounds of last winter’s traumatic Ashes tour after career-best one-day figures of 5-33 helped to inflict a nine-wicket thrashing on India yesterday. Recuperated James Anderson also shone with 4-18 in his first outing for the team since September before Ian Bell’s 88 not out and an [...]
Jermain Defoe hoping Premier League return catches Hodgson’s eye January 20, 2015 SUNDERLAND striker Jermain Defoe believes scoring the goals to fire his new side to Premier League safety will ignite his burning ambition to earn an England recall. The former West Ham, Tottenham and Portsmouth forward was overlooked for last year’s World Cup in Brazil after moving to Major League Soccer side Toronto, but returned to [...]
F1 grands prix time changes January 20, 2015 FORMULA One’s season opener in Australia is one of five grands prix set for an earlier start in a change prompted by Jules Bianchi’s horror crash at Suzuka last year. Races in Malaysia, China, Japan and Russia are to be brought forward by an hour in an attempt to avoid the dusky conditions in which [...]
Glandular fever fears as ill Watson suffers Australian Open exit January 20, 2015 BRITISH No1 Heather Watson has played down concerns she could be suffering a recurrence of the glandular fever that paralysed her career after wilting in the first round of the Australian Open yesterday. Watson, 22, needed medical attention on court after complaining of blurred vision, nausea and feeling faint during a 6-4, 6-0 defeat to [...]