Penalty woe as Blades gain Tevez revenge August 26, 2014 OLD foes Sheffield United returned to haunt West Ham after Ecuador striker Enner Valencia’s missed spot-kick sent Nigel Clough’s side through to the Capital One Cup third round at Upton Park last night. There has been bad blood between the two clubs ever since the Carlos Tevez ownership saga of 2007, and Hammers defender Winston Reid [...]
Premier League: Mario signing risky, admits Rodgers after City claim win August 25, 2014 MANCHESTER CITY 3 LIVERPOOL 1 LIVERPOOL boss Brendan Rodgers admits the signing of Mario Balotelli represents a gamble after Manchester City delivered a statment of intent and issued an early hammer blow to their title rivals thanks to a double from Montenegro hitman Stevan Jovetic at the Etihad Stadium last night. The former Fiorentina frontman [...]
Skipper backs more rugby joy as England’s women turn pro August 25, 2014 WORLD Cup-winning captain Katy McLean is confident full-time contracts will keep English rugby at the top of the women’s game after the sport’s governing body confirmed top female players will be paid for the first time. England Women’s Sevens side will now operate on a professional basis and the Rugby Football Union has issued 20 [...]
Balotelli feels the English top flight is home August 25, 2014 ITALY striker Mario Balotelli savoured his return to English football last night and revealed his regret at quitting the Premier League for an 18-month spell at AC Milan. Balotelli watched from the stands as his new club Liverpool were defeated 3-1 by his former team Manchester City, hours after his £16m had been confirmed. The [...]
United poised to push summer spending to £140m with Di Maria August 25, 2014 MANCHESTER UNITED were last night attempting to finalise the British record signing of Argentina winger Angel di Maria in a deal that would take the club’s summer spending close to the £140m mark. The Old Trafford side are believed to have agreed a fee of £59.7m with European champions Real Madrid, with United keen to [...]
Murray battles cramp to rescue US Open win August 25, 2014 GRITTY Andy Murray admits he was unsure whether the best strategy was to stick or twist after being engulfed by cramp, but powered through to beat Holland’s Robin Haase and avoid a shock first-round exit at the US Open at Flushing Meadows yesterday. The Briton is seeded eighth this year, which represents his lowest ranking [...]
Troubled Woods parts ways with Rose coach Foley August 25, 2014 FORMER world No1 Tiger Woods insists he is in no hurry to find a new coach after bringing to an end his four-year partnership with Canadian Sean Foley yesterday. Woods enjoyed a return to form under the tutelage of Foley, who also coaches England’s Justin Rose, winning eight titles and resuming his place at the [...]
Golf Comment: Ryder Cup hope Gallacher must copy Donaldson August 25, 2014 IF STEPHEN Gallacher needs any further inspiration in his last-ditch attempt to qualify for a first Ryder Cup then he need look no further than fellow Briton Jamie Donaldson. Last week I mentioned that Donaldson was at risk of being pipped to a place on the European team due to his absence from the FedEx [...]
Swann slams England’s World Cup chances August 25, 2014 FORMER spinner Graeme Swann is adamant England have no chance of lifting next year’s World Cup and insists there needs to be a cull of players scarred by the negativity of previous regimes. England’s one-day international against India at Bristol yesterday was washed out, with the second game in the five-match series taking place at [...]
Rosberg hits back at Lewis August 25, 2014 FORMULA One drivers’ championship leader Nico Rosberg has denied Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton’s claim that the German admitted to causing a crash with the Briton at the Belgian Grand Prix on Sunday. “I’ve been told what Lewis said in the press,” said Rosberg, who leads Hamilton by 29 points. “All I can say is that [...]