The Black Cats won’t block City’s path to cup success February 27, 2014 BEN CLEMINSON AND BILL ESDAILE WITH THE BEST FOOTBALL AND RACING BETS FAILURE is unthinkable for Manchester City in Sunday’s Capital One Cup final against Sunderland – but they know as well as anyone that favourites don’t always win at Wembley. Last season’s FA Cup final is a perfect case study of David toppling Goliath after Wigan’s shock 1-0 victory [...]
Rebel Rebellion can give Paul Nicholls another win in Greatwood Gold Cup February 27, 2014 THIS is one of the quietest weekends of the National Hunt season as trainers get their ducks in a row ahead of Cheltenham. However, The Racecourse Newbury hosts its hugely popular Greatwood Charity Raceday tomorrow which celebrates all aspects of equestrianism. The highlight is the StanJames.com Supporting Greatwood Gold Cup (3.50pm) which has turned into [...]
The Road to Cheltenham February 27, 2014 JP MCMANUS has landed some pretty hefty coups at Cheltenham over the years and you can bet your bottom dollar that he will be lining a few up for the handicaps again this season. My Tent Or Yours is his big hope on the first day, but I’m actually more interested in Pendra in the [...]
Charts: Man Utd stars are playing 18 per cent worse under David Moyes February 27, 2014 Manchester United’s season is littered with statistics to make even ashen-faced manager David Moyes grimace, but these may be the most damning yet. A comparison of how players have performed relative to last season, using Kickdex, shows that United’s first-team regulars are on average 18 per cent less effective under Moyes than they were in [...]
Champions League: Chelsea fans urged to roar team through by Mourinho February 26, 2014 GALATASARAY 1 CHELSEA 1 CHELSEA manager Jose Mourinho has called on Blues fans to help their team reach the last-16 of the Champions League by reproducing “10 per cent” of the red-hot atmosphere that spurred Galatasaray’s comeback in the Turk Telekom Arena last night. The Blues took an early lead through striker Fernando Torres, but [...]
England set to welcome back centre Tuilagi February 26, 2014 ENGLAND centre Manu Tuilagi is poised to rejoin the squad next week following a chest injury, but coach Stuart Lancaster has played down his chances of featuring in the Six Nations title run-in. Tuilagi has not played since September due to a torn pectoral muscle that eventually needed surgery but is in contention to return [...]
Sherwood: Soldado’s time is now February 26, 2014 TOTTENHAM boss Tim Sherwood has challenged misfiring Roberto Soldado to fill the Jermain Defoe-sized hole at White Hart Lane, starting tonight against FC Dnipro. A hamstring injury leaves Defoe unavailable to help Spurs overturn a 1-0 deficit in their Europa League last-32 second leg, so the England striker will say farewell to supporters at half-time [...]
Trott targets return in April February 26, 2014 ENGLAND batsman Jonathan Trott is set for a return to the crease with county side Warwickshire in April with a view to restarting his international career. Trott, 32, returned home from England’s winter Ashes tour with a stress-related illness following the first Test in November. But chairman of Trott’s Warwickshire benefit committee Dennis Amiss said: [...]
Ticket row latest blow to United but club resist calls to axe Moyes February 26, 2014 MANCHESTER United were forced to defend their ticket policy last night after fans complained of being threatened with bans unless they bought seats for next month’s return leg against Olympiacos. Some season-ticket holders received messages warning they would be barred from the Premier League derby against Manchester City at Old Trafford on 25 March if [...]
Red Bull braced for crunch tests February 26, 2014 FORMULA ONE: Red Bull begin their final four days of pre-season testing in Bahrain today desperate to iron out issues with reliability and engine performance ahead next month’s opening Grand Prix of the season. Deputy managing director of engine supplier Renault, Rob White, said: “The gap to where we wanted to be at this stage [...]