Champions League: Mourinho backs Blues bid if sharks avoided December 10, 2014 CHELSEA 3 SPORTING LISBON 1 CHELSEA manager Jose Mourinho believes his team are primed to go even further in the Champions League this season if they can avoid what he called “sharks”, after the Blues crowned their group campaign with a comfortable win last night. Cesc Fabregas’s penalty, a clinical strike from Andre Schurrle and [...]
Woakes delivers England chance to rescue series December 10, 2014 ENGLAND are this morning set to resume their one-day rescue mission in Sri Lanka after all-rounder Chris Woakes returned the third best figures by an English bowler in one-day international history. Rain intervened in Pallekele yesterday at the end of the Sri Lanka innings after England had dismissed their hosts for 239 with the final [...]
Pistorius could yet face life in jail for murder December 10, 2014 DISGRACED Paralympic star Oscar Pistorius could yet be convicted of murder despite his acquittal earlier this year after state prosecutors were granted permission to appeal yesterday. Pistorius was in September found guilty of the lesser charge of culpable homicide for shooting dead his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp at his Pretoria home on Valentine’s Day last year. [...]
Wasps target league attendance record as buzz grows over move December 10, 2014 IT MIGHT have provoked outcry and even a petition but Wasps’ decision to move further still from their London roots is already showing signs that it will prove a success. Club chiefs are confident the first match at their new home, the Ricoh Arena in Coventry, later this month could set a new attendance record [...]
Button set to learn F1 future December 10, 2014 BRITISH former world champion Jenson Button’s Formula One future is set to become clearer today when McLaren chiefs confirm their driver line-up for next season. Button and 2013-14 team-mate Kevin Magnussen are vying for the remaining seat, with Spaniard Fernando Alonso poised to return to the team from Ferrari. The Englishman, 34, who won the [...]
Champions League: Gerrard heroics can’t avert Reds’ European crash December 9, 2014 LIVERPOOL 1 FC BASEL 1 DEFLATED skipper Steven Gerrard admitted that Liverpool deserved nothing more than European elimination after the Reds were dumped out of the Champions League last night following a tame draw with FC Basel at Anfield. Gerrard hauled Liverpool back into contention for a place in the last 16 with a sublime [...]
Mourinho puts faith in Made in Chelsea youth December 9, 2014 CHELSEA manager Jose Mourinho insists the club are on the threshold of a productive new era of youth development and that the first fruits will be on display tonight against Sporting Lisbon. Mourinho plans to hand midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek, 18, a first-team debut in an experimental side shorn of John Terry, Eden Hazard and Willian, [...]
Pellegrini: City can reach last 16 without Aguero December 9, 2014 MANCHESTER City boss Manuel Pellegrini believes his squad has the depth in firepower to cope with the loss of Sergio Aguero after the Chilean last night confirmed his prolific marksman is set for between four and six weeks on the sidelines. City will have to contend without their 19-goal leading scorer, who suffered knee ligament [...]
Champions League: Arsenal stroll but miss out on group top spot December 9, 2014 GALATASARAY 1 ARSENAL 4 ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger saluted midfielder Aaron Ramsey’s wonder goal after routing Galatasaray but narrowly missing out on topping their Champions League group last night. A six-goal win would have lifted the Gunners above Borussia Dortmund, who could only draw with Anderlecht, but they fell short despite doubles from Ramsey and [...]
Spin set to be key as England face must-win Sri Lanka clash December 9, 2014 BATSMAN Joe Root is adamant the England hierarchy will resist the temptation to continue with a policy of experimentation during their must-win fifth one-day international (ODI) against Sri Lanka today. The tourists trail 3-1 in the seven-match tour which means defeat in Pallekele will give Sri Lanka an unassailable lead and consign England to their [...]