Djokovic ready for battle with Nadal in bid to retain Tour title November 10, 2013 DEFENDING champion Novak Djokovic is anticipating a thrilling ATP World Tour final when he locks horns with world No1 Rafael Nadal at the O2 Arena tonight. Djokovic overcame Switzerland’s Stanislas Wawrinka 6-3, 6-3 last night to join Nadal in the final after the Spaniard had earlier beaten Roger Federer 7-5, 6-3. The Serbian’s victory was [...]
England Ashes injury scare as Pietersen sent for a knee jab November 10, 2013 ENGLAND are hopeful Kevin Pietersen will be fit to play in this week’s final Ashes warm-up match after the batsman was sent for an injection yesterday on his knee. While the squad jetted to Sydney, where they are set to face New South Wales on Wednesday, Pietersen flew to Melbourne to see a specialist, having [...]
Our height was key to victory, reveals Rooney November 10, 2013 MANCHESTER United forward Wayne Rooney revealed his team deliberately pinpointed Arsenal’s lack of height in order to secure a vital three points that boosted their hopes of retaining their Premier League crown. The Gunners, missing 6ft 6in central defender Per Mertesacker through illness, conceded the only goal when former striker Robin Van Persie rose highest [...]
Lancaster urges England to find ruthless streak November 10, 2013 ENGLAND rugby head coach Stuart Lancaster has warned his team that New Zealand will punish them next weekend unless they develop a more ruthless streak. Lancaster’s team coasted to a 31-12 victory over Argentina on Saturday at Twickenham but looked complacent in a dreary second half that was notable only for replacement No8 Ben Morgan’s [...]
Sport Comment: Djokovic is wrong, Tour Finals have found home at last November 10, 2013 IF YOU are one of the quarter of a million spectators who have been to the O2 over the past eight days for the ATP World Tour finals, which reach their climax this evening, you will probably have read Novak Djokovic’s comments about moving the event from London with a measure of dismay and derision. [...]
Irish pay price for sloppy errors in cup reverse November 10, 2013 LONDON Irish forwards coach Glenn Delaney admitted indiscipline cost his team as they slipped to a 29-21 away defeat to Newcastle Falcons in the LV= Cup. Two weeks after losing to the same opposition in the Aviva Premiership at Kingston Park, Falcons fly-half Rory Clegg proved the difference between the two teams with five successful [...]
Premier League: Krul defeat for Spurs as Newcastle keeper stars November 10, 2013 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 0 vs NEWCASTLE UNITED 1 TOTTENHAM manager Andre Villas-Boas felt the record-breaking performance of goalkeeper Tim Krul was decisive as his team dropped points at home for the third time in four Premier League matches yesterday. Krul saved 14 of Spurs’ 31 attempts at goal, the highest number of stops in a single [...]
Premier League: Pellegrini at a loss to explain City’s travel woe November 10, 2013 SUNDERLAND 1 vs MANCHESTER CITY 0 MANCHESTER City boss Manuel Pellegrini admitted yesterday that he is baffled by his team’s awful away record, after they fell to their fourth Premier League defeat on the road at the Stadium of Light. A first-half goal from Phil Bardsley gave the Black Cats a crucial victory in their [...]
Rose blooms in Turkey to turn up heat on Stenson ahead of Dubai November 10, 2013 ENGLAND’S Justin Rose moved a step closer to usurping Race To Dubai leader Henrik Stenson at next week’s season finale with a third-placed finish at the Turkish Open yesterday. Rose scored a final round 65 and had a share of the lead after a birdie at the 16th hole, but eventually finished four shots behind [...]
Cool Hazard is back in favour November 10, 2013 CHELSEA’S Eden Hazard appears to have wiped the slate clean with his manager Jose Mourinho, after the Belgian international atoned for taking an unsanctioned trip to France by grabbing a late equaliser against West Brom on Saturday. “He was cool,” Mourinho said. “It’s difficult when you are losing and you have a penalty in the [...]