Home comforts should open the door to FA Cup progress February 13, 2014 Ben Cleminson and Bill Esdaile with the best football and racing bets WHO says the FA Cup has lost its magic? This weekend the Premier League’s top four are all in action – against each other. Heavyweights Manchester City and Chelsea clash in tomorrow’s tea time kick-off and Manuel Pellegrini’s charges will want revenge after [...]
AP could make the difference aboard Merry King in Grand National Trial February 13, 2014 IF tomorrow’s meeting at Haydock gets the green light, the ground is certain to be bottomless and the only things that will matter in the Grand National Trial (2.55pm) are stamina and fitness. There are plenty with realistic chances, but the one that screams out to me is MERRY KING for Jonjo O’Neill and AP [...]
The Road to Cheltenham February 13, 2014 FOR the next four weeks I will be picking out an ante-post selection for the Cheltenham Festival that I feel will go off shorter on the day. The first race I’m going to look at is the Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle which this year kicks off Wednesday’s card. This race has a rich history. [...]
Premier League: Nerves stop Arsenal from moving top February 12, 2014 AT EMIRATES STADIUM ARSENAL 0 vs MANCHESTER UNITED 0 ARSENAL boss Arsene Wenger admits his team are psychologically bruised and struggling to revive their attacking fluency after missing the chance to return to the top of the Premier League last night. Manchester United came closest to the morale-boosting win both sides sought when former Gunners [...]
Hodgson closes door on Terry’s chance of World Cup comeback February 12, 2014 ENGLAND manager Roy Hodgson last night ruled out a sensational recall for defender John Terry ahead of this summer’s World Cup finals in Brazil. Without Terry, England sealed World Cup qualification last year, but the frailties in Hodgson’s squad were laid bare in back-to-back home defeats in November to Chile and Germany. But Hodgson insists [...]
Premier League: Adebayor laps up the plaudits as Spurs romp to four-goal victory February 12, 2014 NEWCASTLE UNITED 0 vs TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 4 TOTTENHAM manager Tim Sherwood praised striker Emmanuel Adebayor’s attitude after the rejuvenated striker took his tally to six goals in seven Premier League games last night. A goal from Adebayor in both halves, plus strikes from Paulinho and substitute Nacer Chadli, earned Spurs their biggest league win since [...]
Premier League: Last-minute defeat was tough to take, confesses Meulensteen February 12, 2014 FULHAM 2 vs LIVERPOOL 3 FULHAM boss Rene Meulensteen admitted surrendering a valuable point in second-half stoppage time was difficult to accept after his side stayed glued to the foot of the Premier League table last night. The Cottagers led twice, but England captain Steven Gerrard slotted in a 91st-minute penalty to nab the points. [...]
Injured Woods targets glory despite hip woe February 12, 2014 FORMER world No1 slopestyle skier James Woods admits he starts qualification today hampered by injury but determined to win a medal on what could be one of Britain’s most successful days ever at a Winter Olympics. Not since the 1936 Games in Germany has Team GB won more than one medal on a single day’s [...]
Euro rugby row is a threat to England, says Wilkinson February 12, 2014 ENGLAND 2003 Rugby World Cup hero Jonny Wilkinson has warned that the national team stands to suffer if a last-minute peace deal to save the European club game cannot be found. Union and club chiefs from England, Wales, Ireland, France, Scotland and Italy met in Paris yesterday for talks about the Six Nations committee running [...]
Poor season not damaging sales, say Reds chiefs February 12, 2014 MANCHESTER United chiefs have confirmed they are planning a summer of big spending and brushed off fears that a season of extreme turbulence will affect their financial might. United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward said the club were prepared to sign more than three players in the summer and were not “afraid of moving in the [...]