Finn insists England have time to prove World Cup pedigree December 2, 2014 ENGLAND seamer Steven Finn is refusing to press the panic button despite the worrying decline in one-day form which his side will bid to arrest against Sri Lanka in Hambantota today. A little over two years ago England moved top of the one-day rankings for the first time but have now lost 15 of their [...]
Froome shrugs off Tour doubts December 2, 2014 BRITAIN’S Chris Froome has confirmed the Tour de France is his main goal for 2015 and dismissed previous reservations that the difficulty of the route could scupper his bid to win it for a second time. Froome had hinted he might forgo cycling’s biggest event and instead target the Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a Espana. [...]
Premier League: Allardyce revels in comeback as Hammers soar December 2, 2014 WEST BROMWICH ALBION 1 WEST HAM UNITED 2 WEST Ham manager Sam Allardyce hailed his team’s fightback after they kept up their pursuit of the Champions League places with a dogged victory at West Brom. Defender Craig Dawson looked to have set up only the Baggies’ second home win of the season when he ended [...]
United maintain surge in form as Rangers and Palace woes deepen December 2, 2014 MANCHESTER United survived a scare to overcome Stoke City and maintain their place in the Premier League’s top four on a largely difficult night for London clubs. Goals from midfielders Marouane Fellaini and Juan Mata earned United a 2-1 win – their fourth victory in succession – despite Steven Nzonzi briefly equalising. They had to [...]
Mourinho takes aim at financial fair play rules December 1, 2014 CHELSEA manager Jose Mourinho has launched an attack on European football’s financial fair play (FFP) rules, blaming them for handicapping the Blues in the transfer market. Mourinho’s men have shown few signs of inferiority in a blistering start to the season that has seen them race six points clear in the Premier League and win [...]
Stopper Neuer out to keep star pair off No1 spot December 1, 2014 WORLD Cup-winning goalkeeper Manuel Neuer is the latest challenger aiming to break the Cristiano Ronaldo-Lionel Messi Ballon d’Or axis after the three-man shortlist for this year’s accolade was announced yesterday. The 28-year-old is the first keeper to make the final three since Italy’s Gianluigi Buffon in 2006 and is bidding to become only the second [...]
No England presence as cricket gathers to mourn tragic Hughes December 1, 2014 THE England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) will not be officially represented when the sporting world falls silent at the funeral service of Australia Test batsman Phillip Hughes in his hometown of Macksville tomorrow. England are currently in the midst of a seven-match one-day international series in Sri Lanka and any members of the travelling [...]
Balotelli set for FA investigation for controversial Instagram post December 1, 2014 CONTROVERSIAL Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli was last night at the centre of a storm after a posting on social media led to accusations of racism and antisemitism. The 24-year-old reposted an image of Nintendo character Super Mario on Instagram, which contained phrases such as “jumps like a black man and grabs coins like a Jew”. [...]
Redknapp eyes Defoe swoop to cure striking ills December 1, 2014 QPR boss Harry Redknapp has admitted his interest in linking up with Jermain Defoe for a fourth time but fears the Hoops may be priced out of a deal for the former England striker. The 32-year-old has endured a turbulent first season in Major League Soccer with Toronto FC despite netting 11 goals in 19 [...]
Leeds owner to fight league ban December 1, 2014 LEEDS United owner Massimo Cellino has vowed to resist demands to sell the club after he was disqualified by the Football League. League chiefs yesterday ruled that he had failed its owners’ and directors’ test in relation to a tax-evasion case in his native Italy. Cellino successfully appealed his disqualification over the same case earlier [...]