Premier League: Villas-Boas joy after Paulinho late flourish lifts Spurs to second September 22, 2013 CARDIFF CITY 0 vs TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 1 RELIEVED Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas believes his team’s 93rd minute winner was richly deserved for their persistence in Cardiff yesterday. Spurs, missing striker Jermain Defoe due to a groin problem, carved out 29 chances as they dominated for much of the 90 minutes, but were continually thwarted by [...]
Sport Comment: Cosseted players can learn from loyal fans September 22, 2013 EVERY football team has supporters like the two I met on a train on Saturday evening coming back from Newcastle, but just occasionally you wonder if a “meet the fans” evening at every professional club wouldn’t help focus the minds of some players who regard their job as a right and not a privilege, and [...]
Grant: I don’t understand exclusion of Mata September 22, 2013 FORMER Chelsea manager Avram Grant insists owner Roman Abramovich has never interfered with team selection, but admits he too is mystified by the continued exclusion of midfielder Juan Mata. Blues boss Jose Mourinho did not even name Mata on the bench for Saturday’s 2-0 win over Fulham. The Spaniard was Chelsea’s outstanding player last term [...]
Big spenders play out draw September 22, 2013 THE showdown between Ligue One big-spenders Paris Saint-Germain and Monaco finished 1-1 last night at the Parc Des Princes. Striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic put PSG in front on five minutes, but Radamel Falcao, signed for £52m from Atletico Madrid in the summer, headed Monaco’s equaliser on 20 minutes. Elsewhere, a thigh injury suffered in the warm-up [...]
Qatar winter World Cup would hit all competitions, says Gill September 22, 2013 MOVING the 2022 Qatar World Cup to winter is feasible but would force all parties to accept a compromise, admits Football Association vice-chairman David Gill. Former Manchester United chief executive Gill is also on the executive committee of Uefa, which last week backed in principle plans to put the tournament back several months. “It is [...]
Failed Lukaku loan deal proves doubly frustrating for West Ham September 22, 2013 WEST Ham boss Sam Allardyce was frustrated his failed pursuit of striker Romelu Lukaku came back to haunt him, as the Belgian marked his Everton debut with the decisive goal in Saturday’s 3-2 win at Upton Park. Desperate to reinforce his frontline, Allardyce made enquiries throughout the summer about the availability of Lukaku, but was [...]
Premier League: Holloway feels Palace defeat down to him September 22, 2013 CRYSTAL PALACE 0 vs SWANSEA CITY 2 BANNED Crystal Palace manager Ian Holloway shouldered the blame for his side’s defeat to Swansea yesterday, as he completed a two-match touchline ban and was forced to watch helplessly from the Selhurst Park stands. Michu’s second minute strike and a 48th minute goal from Nathan Dyer sealed the [...]
Premier League: Moyes demands United reply after neighbours pile on the humiliation September 22, 2013 MANCHESTER CITY 4 vs MANCHESTER UNITED 1 HUMILIATED Manchester United manager David Moyes demanded an instant response from his shell-shocked players after his first derby ended in a harrowing thrashing by Manchester City. Two goals from Sergio Aguero allied to strikes from Yaya Toure and Samir Nasri inflicted Moyes’s second defeat in three Premier League [...]
Memories of London 2012 propel Wiggins to Tour of Britain glory September 22, 2013 OLYMPIC champion Sir Bradley Wiggins said wrapping up his Tour of Britain triumph yesterday brought back fond memories from London 2012. Wiggins won time trial gold 13 months ago at his home Games and was back on the capital’s streets to complete his triumph on the eighth and final stage – won by compatriot Mark [...]
Sunderland sack Di Canio after miserable start to the season September 22, 2013 BOTTOM of the table Sunderland parted company with manager Paolo Di Canio last night after less than six months at the helm. The Black Cats have won just three games during the fiery Italian’s tenure, which began on 31 March, and taken a solitary point in the Premier League this season. Following Saturday’s 3-0 away [...]