Essex eye place in Division One September 16, 2014 ESSEX cranked up the pressure on County Championship Division Two promotion rivals Hampshire yesterday, with victory by an innings and 79 runs just two days into their match with Leicestershire. James Foster hit a stunning 132 as Essex posted 334 all out, in reply to the home side’s 138. And Leicestershire could manage just 117 [...]
Cardiff keen on completing shock return for Halfpenny September 16, 2014 CARDIFF Blues chief executive Richard Holland says he would jump at the chance to re-sign Leigh Halfpenny, with the No10’s future at Toulon in doubt. The British and Irish Lions fly-half switched from his native Wales to the back-to-back Heineken Cup champions in the summer, but is yet to make his debut in the Top [...]
Win the Champions League or we’ve failed, says Kompany September 16, 2014 MANCHESTER City captain Vincent Kompany says his side will be deemed to have failed if they do not win the Champions League this season. City head to the Allianz Arena tonight, to take on Group E rivals Bayern Munich for the fifth time in four seasons. After an initial bout of stage fright in the [...]
Premier League: That’s what we paid for, insists Sam September 15, 2014 HULL CITY 2 WEST HAM UNITED 2 WEST HAM manager Sam Allardyce believes striker Enner Valencia has proven why the club shelled out £12m for his services after the Ecuador frontman netted a sublime strike as the Hammers twice came from behind to draw with Hull last night. Valencia’s exquisite drive cancelled out an opening [...]
Wenger juggling Arsenal’s defensive ranks September 15, 2014 ARSENAL boss Arsene Wenger admits he may be forced to throw untried Spanish full-back Hector Bellerin into the firing line during his side’s daunting Champions League clash at Borussia Dortmund tonight. The depleted Gunners head to Germany with their defensive options stretched after France’s Mathieu Debuchy sprained his ankle against Manchester City on Saturday, with [...]
Rodgers aiming for knockouts on Euro return September 15, 2014 LIVERPOOL boss Brendan Rodgers insists anything short of the knockout stages will be deemed a failure as his side make their long-awaiting Champions League return against Bulgarian outfit Ludogorets Razgrad at Anfield tonight. The five-time winners have not featured in European football’s premier competition since 2009 and have been drawn alongside star-studded Real Madrid and [...]
Golf Comment: Relaxation is vital but individual preparation is driven by players September 15, 2014 IT is just ten days to the start of the Ryder Cup and while in some senses it’s fever pitch right now, it’s also a slight lull for everyone concerned. The team is picked and everything but everything is done and we’re all just waiting now for a week on Friday now. These are very [...]
Pace the key in snagging deal, believes Woakes September 15, 2014 SPEEDSTER Chris Woakes believes an injection of pace was vital in re-establishing his international cricket ambitions this season and seeing his endeavours rewarded by cricket chiefs with a central contract. The Warwickshire all-rounder played the final three Test matches of the summer as England turned the tide against India with three crushing victories, posting 3-30 [...]
Slade on the brink at Orient September 15, 2014 UNDER-PRESSURE Leyton Orient boss Russell Slade admits the club’s new owner Francesco Becchetti has laid it on the line and it is win or bust as his side visit Notts County tonight. Orient have endured a difficult start to the season and lie one point above the League One drop zone after posting a solitary [...]
Premiership Rugby £500,000 salary cap rise could tempt England stars in France to return September 15, 2014 Aviva Premiership Rugby is set to increase the league’s salary cap by 10 per cent in future seasons, and will also allow clubs to sign a second “excluded” player from overseas. Clubs’ spending on player wages is currently capped at £5m, but the Aviva Premiership will permit a further £500,000 spending ahead of the [...]