England could face Brazil and Dutch in World Cup nightmare December 3, 2013 ENGLAND’S World Cup hopes suffered a setback last night when it emerged they could be plunged into a group with two top 10 teams when the draw is made on Friday. The worst-case scenario would see them drawn with Brazil, Holland and the USA – all ranked in world governing body Fifa’s top 14 countries. [...]
Premier League: Allardyce aggrieved at defence in Palace loss December 3, 2013 CRYSTAL PALACE 1 vs WEST HAM UNITED 0 WEST Ham manager Sam Allardyce slammed the sloppy defending that gifted Crystal Palace their first home win since August and sucked the visitors closer to the relegation zone. Palace started tentatively in new boss Tony Pulis’s first match in charge at Selhurst Park, but edged in front [...]
Mourinho eyes decisive spell December 3, 2013 CHELSEA manager Jose Mourinho says the hectic Christmas period will sort the Premier League title contenders from the pretenders. Arsenal sit four points clear but Mourinho, whose side visit Sunderland tonight, will only consider them favourites if they remain atop the table at New Year. “There is a lot to play for in December and [...]
Ramsey tipped to score more December 3, 2013 IN-FORM Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey can still hit new heights, insists his manager Arsene Wenger. Ramsey has scored eight goals in 13 games to help the Gunners build a four-point lead at the top of the Premier League ahead of tonight’s visit of Hull. The Welshman’s displays are in stark contrast to his performance levels [...]
‘Now people go crazy when I don’t get mad’ December 3, 2013 HEARD the one about the tennis player who went off the rails in retirement because they couldn’t match the buzz of regular competition? Probably not, because such cases are mercifully rare compared to, say, football or boxing. Golf is similarly free of fallen idols. It may be coincidence, but both have thriving senior tours which [...]
Cricket Comment: Time for Cook to end dismal run December 3, 2013 IF EVER there was a time for England to end their run of failing to score 400 in 18 consecutive Test innings then the second Ashes Test, which starts tonight, is certainly it. You dominate matches by getting big scores on the board and hitting 400 would send out a strong message. Now is the [...]
Bresnan back and ready to fire while Clarke’s fit for second Test December 3, 2013 ENGLAND bowler Tim Bresnan insists he is fit and ready to help square the Ashes series in Adelaide this week, despite spending almost four months on the sidelines with injury. The 28-year-old played in a three-day match for the England Performance Programme last week, his only appearance since August due to a lower back stress [...]
Triumphant QPR close to adding Benayoun for promotion charge December 3, 2013 QUEENS Park Rangers climbed to second in the Championship with a 3-0 win over Bournemouth last night and are close to bolstering their ranks with the signing of midfielder Yossi Benayoun on an 18-month deal. The 33-year-old has been a free agent since his release by Chelsea last summer and has recently been training with [...]
Hulkenberg rejoins Force India December 3, 2013 FORMULA ONE: Force India have re-signed driver Nico Hulkenberg on a “multi-year” deal. The German left for Sauber last year, but will join up with Force India again in 2014.
O’Sullivan storms into round four December 3, 2013 SNOOKER: World champion Ronnie O’Sullivan reached the last 16 of the UK Championships with a 6-2 win over Marcus Campbell yesterday. World No1 Neil Robertson also advanced.