Lukaku at the double as Everton maintain unbeaten league start September 30, 2013 TWO goals from on loan Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku saw Everton maintain their unbeaten league start with a 3-2 win over Newcastle. Lukaku opened the scoring on five minutes with a first-time finish from Kevin Mirallas’s low cross, then turned provider to thread a pass through for Ross Barkley to fire in. And before the [...]
Wenger laughs off ridiculous Premier League title claims September 30, 2013 ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger attempted to ground growing optimism sprouting from his team’s superb start to the season by branding talk of winning the Premier League title “ridiculous” yesterday. The Gunners go into arguably their toughest match of the season tonight against Napoli in the Champions League on a nine-match unbeaten run following an opening [...]
Golf Comment: We may be Seve Trophy outsiders, but so were Europe at Ryder Cup September 30, 2013 THIS week’s column comes from France, where I’m excited to be preparing my Great Britain and Ireland team to face Europe in the Seve Trophy. The highlight of my career came as a captain, when Europe beat the United States to win the 2002 Ryder Cup at the Belfry, and although this is a different [...]
Lennon sad at Messi blow September 30, 2013 CELTIC manager Neil Lennon says he has mixed emotions regarding the absence of the “best player in the world” Lionel Messi from tonight’s Champions League meeting with Barcelona. Messi faces a three-week lay-off with a thigh injury, and Lennon said: “It’s tinged with sadness because it’s always fantastic to see the great players in Glasgow.”
Derby return for McClaren September 30, 2013 FORMER England manager Steve McClaren has agreed a three-year deal to succeed Nigel Clough in the Derby County hot-seat. McClaren, 52, spent three seasons as a player with The Rams and also enjoyed a spell as assistant manager to Jim Smith. Chief executive Sam Rush says a “play-off place” is Derby’s goal.
British NFL franchise not credible September 30, 2013 AMERICAN FOOTBALL: The creation of a British-based franchise is not yet credible, according to NFL UK managing director Alistair Kirkwood, who says logistical issues, including the size of the Wembley Stadium dressing rooms, still need to be ironed out.
Buttler makes Lancashire switch September 30, 2013 CRICKET: England wicketkeeper Jos Buttler has joined Division Two county champions Lancashire from Somerset.
Torres could face further ban but has Mata support September 29, 2013 CHELSEA midfielder Juan Mata has leapt to the defence of team-mate Fernando Torres, following a fiery display in the fiercely contested London derby with Tottenham on Saturday. The Spain striker was sent off 81 minutes into the 1-1 draw following an aerial collision with defender Jan Vertonghen, though was fortunate to have escaped a red [...]
Premier League: Suarez deserved comeback goals, insists Rodgers September 29, 2013 SUNDERLAND 1 vs LIVERPOOL 3 LIVERPOOL boss Brendan Rodgers feels striker Luis Suarez’s two goals on his return to Premier League action were just reward for months of hard graft. Suarez, making his first league appearance in more than five months following a 10-match ban for biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic, looked immediately accustomed to [...]
Sport Comment: Why won’t football learn lessons from rugby? September 29, 2013 THIS week’s column is the proverbial record that’s got stuck, for which apologies, but it’s a pretty safe bet it’s going to get re-written a fair few times in the future until things change. When will football, wonderful arrogant football, admit it can learn a few lessons from other sports? Having taken an eternity to [...]