Villas-Boas vents anger at impossible cup tie September 23, 2013 TOTTENHAM manager Andre Villas-Boas believes it will be “impossible” for his team to reach the Capital One Cup fourth round, as they travel to Aston Villa tonight to complete their third game in six days. A 3-0 demolition of Tromso in the Europa League on Thursday was followed by a last-minute 1-0 win against Cardiff [...]
Cricket Comment: Selectors crazy to opt for Rankin over Onions September 23, 2013 IMAGINE this scenario: England lose James Anderson to injury early in this winter’s Ashes series and arrive in Melbourne for the fourth Test without their key bowler and needing to beat Australia. To who do they turn to take his place? Whoever it is won’t replicate Anderson’s swing, as England have overlooked Graham Onions and [...]
Golf Comment: Stenson deserves every penny of cup windfall September 23, 2013 WHAT an incredible turn of fortune Sweden’s Henrik Stenson completed on Sunday and who can begrudge him the FedEx Cup and its bumper winners’ cheque? He lost millions of dollars in disgraced financier Allen Stanford’s fraudulent investment scheme four years ago, but this win now sets him up for life in a game he loves. [...]
Unprecedented double next on Swede’s radar September 23, 2013 NEW world No4 Henrik Stenson has set himself the goal of adding the European Tour’s Race to Dubai title to his FedEx Cup triumph, but plans a month away from the sport first to recharge his batteries. The 37-year-old became the first European to ever win the FedEx Cup, and £6.25m prize that goes with [...]
English and French clubs lack respect, says Euro rugby boss September 23, 2013 HEINEKEN Cup chiefs ERC have accused English and French league bosses of a lack of respect in their attempts to form a rival competition. ERC chairman Jean–Pierre Lux also called Premiership Rugby’s contract with BT Sport to broadcast the new tournament “questionable”. An Anglo-French breakaway, which would be called the Rugby Champions Cup, has gathered [...]
Pietersen hits back at Aussie coach over jibe September 23, 2013 ENGLAND batsman Kevin Pietersen wasted no time in mocking Australia coach Darren Lehmann’s depiction of the Ashes holders’ style as “dour” yesterday. Pietersen used a question and answer session with his fans on Twitter to respond to Lehmann’s remarks, saying: “I can’t remember the scoreline in Ashes… 3-0 or almost 4-0??”. Lehmann earlier lit the [...]
Exclusive: Henman backs Murray to return better than ever September 23, 2013 FORMER British No1 Tim Henman has backed Andy Murray to return from back surgery better than ever, but warned that it may take well into next year for him to scale the heights he did in winning Wimbledon. Murray yesterday underwent the operation in a bid to overcome the long-standing issue and is unlikely to [...]
Allardyce questions knee-jerk decision to dismiss Di Canio September 23, 2013 WEST Ham boss Sam Allardyce has questioned the logic in the sacking of the club’s former striker Paolo Di Canio by Sunderland on Sunday. Allardyce prepares to take charge of his 100th Hammers game against Cardiff in the Capital One Cup tonight and has sympathy for Di Canio, who was in the Sunderland hot-seat for [...]
Jol vows to pick strongest team as Fulham target overdue win September 23, 2013 OTHER Premier League managers may use Capital One Cup ties to rotate their team, but Fulham boss Martin Jol says he has no intention of doing so at home to Everton tonight with his side in desperate need of a victory. The Cottagers only triumph since the opening day of the season came in the [...]
Mata returns to Chelsea team September 23, 2013 CHELSEA midfielder Juan Mata is set to make just his third start of the season at Swindon in tonight’s Capital One Cup third round tie. Defenders David Luiz, Ryan Bertrand and Cesar Azpilicueta, plus midfielder Michael Essien are also expected to start and assistant boss Steve Holland believes Mata is ready to prove his worth. [...]