Allardyce rubbishes fan abuse and vows to keep Hammers job May 2, 2014 WEST Ham manager Sam Allardyce has shrugged off supporter discontent and insists he expects to still be in charge at Upton Park next season. The Hammers have lost seven of their last nine Premier League matches and during last week’s 1-0 defeat at West Brom displayed a banner which read: “Fat Sam Out. Killing WHU.” [...]
QPR eye £80m windfall, but rivals stand to scoop £120m May 2, 2014 PROMOTION to the Premier League is worth a minimum of £120m to most teams, but Queens Park Rangers only stand to make £80m if they go up this month. The £120m figure, estimated by Deloitte, is split equally between increased income based largely on more lucrative broadcast deals and parachute payments. QPR, however, already receive [...]
Robshaw clinging on to Quins top four hope May 1, 2014 HARLEQUINS captain Chris Robshaw is adamant his side will be ready to pounce if the door to the Aviva Premiership Rugby play-offs swings open this weekend. Quins currently lie in fifth, six points behind third-placed Bath and fourth-placed Leicester Tigers, who are in action against Northampton Saints and Sale Sharks tonight and tomorrow respectively. Maximum [...]
Cav outpaced but Brit keeps green jersey May 1, 2014 BRITISH cyclist Mark Cavendish finally lost a sprint finish at the Tour of Turkey yesterday when he was pipped to the line in the fifth stage by Italian Elia Viviani. Omega Pharma Quick-Step rider Cavendish, who won three of the first four stages, darted for home 200m from the finish only to be overtaken by [...]
2 May on this day… May 1, 2014 1987: BATH’S Jeremy Guscott makes an early appearance on the big stage as a second-half replacement in the John Player Cup final at Twickenham. Bath trailed 12-4 at the break to Wasps, but scored two late tries to win the cup for the fourth time in a row. Guscott, then 21, was still two years [...]
Martinez calls for rule change May 1, 2014 EVERTON manager Roberto Martinez wants Premier League rules governing loan players to fall in line with the rest of Europe for next season, permitting them to appear against their parent clubs. The Toffees have four loan players in their squad, including Chelsea’s Romelu Lukaku and Gareth Barry of Manchester City – tomorrow’s visitors to Goodison [...]
Sevilla and Benfica reach final May 1, 2014 FOOTBALL: A 94th-minute strike from Stephane Mbia sent Sevilla through to the Europa League final on away goals at the expense of Valencia following a 3-3 aggregate draw. They will meet Benfica in Turin on 14 May, who held Juventus to a goalless draw with nine men to win 2-1 on aggregate.
O’Sullivan storms ahead in semi May 1, 2014 SNOOKER: World champion Ronnie O’Sullivan resumes his semi-final with Barry Hawkins today with a 6-2 advantage. In a repeat of last year’s final, Hawkins took an early 2-1 lead, before O’Sullivan stormed back. In the other semi-final world No1 Neil Robertson trails Mark Selby 5-3.
U-turn on Olympic preparations May 1, 2014 OLYMPICS: “Rio can deliver an excellent Games,” claimed International Olympic Committee vice-president John Coates yesterday, performing a dramatic U-turn just two days after labelling preparations in the Brazilian city as the “worst” he had ever seen. Rio is set to host the Olympics in 2016.
Bailey, 16, wins European bronze May 1, 2014 TAEKWONDO: Teenager Asia Bailey won Britain’s first medal of the European Championships in Baku yesterday. The 16-year-old from Scotland took bronze in the -46kg weight category, after losing 5-0 in her semi-final to Iryna Romoldanova of Ukraine.