Brecel bounces back to stun King December 5, 2012 SNOOKER: Teenager Luca Brecel stunned Mark King 6-4 from 3-0 down at the UK Championships to reach the quarter finals for the first time.
Chelsea will dodge exit, says Benitez December 4, 2012 CHELSEA manager Rafael Benitez is confident his misfiring team will pull off an unlikely Champions League escape act tonight and avoid becoming the first holders to crash out of the competition at the first hurdle. The Blues, who have not won in three games since Benitez took charge, must beat Danish minnows Nordsjaelland at home [...]
West Ham on tenterhooks over stadium December 4, 2012 WEST Ham will today discover whether three fraught years of bidding, lobbying and negotiating have finally won them the right to move into the Olympic Stadium. Mayor Boris Johnson will chair a meeting of the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC) in Stratford this morning to discuss the club’s offer for a 99-year lease on the [...]
Fergie: Rooney needs to play December 4, 2012 MANCHESTER United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed striker Wayne Rooney will start tonight at home to Cluj, despite already qualifying for the last 16 of the Champions League. Ferguson believes Rooney could benefit from a run-out to maintain his sharpness ahead of Sunday’s vital Premier League battle against neighbours Manchester City. “It has always [...]
City suffer final indignity of missing Europa League December 4, 2012 BORUSSIA DORTMUND 1 MANCHESTER CITY 0 MANCHESTER City manager Roberto Mancini admits his side have taken a step backwards after defeat to Borussia Dortmund last night saw them fail to even qualify for the Europa League. The lacklustre loss condemned City to a successive Champions League group stage exit, but this time without a single [...]
Gunners blow lead – and top spot in group December 4, 2012 OLYMPIACOS 2 ARSENAL 1 UNDER-FIRE Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger lamented his side’s failure to snatch top spot in Champions League Group B last night after watching them surrender a lead to Olympiacos. Midfielder Tomas Rosicky capped a fine first-half display by rifling the Gunners ahead, setting them on course to pip Schalke to first place [...]
Pitch row shows heat’s on India December 4, 2012 PROLONGED and public rows over the condition of the Kolkata pitch for today’s third Test between India and England clearly illustrate one thing: the hosts, and in particular their captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, are feeling extreme pressure. The Indian cricket press and public are perhaps the most fervent in the world, and expect their team [...]
Cardiff crunch tie off as Ritchie wants England battle at home December 4, 2012 RUGBY Football Union chief executive Ian Ritchie has moved quickly to reject a proposal from Wales to play their 2015 Rugby World Cup pool clash against England in Cardiff. Host nation England were drawn with Wales, Australia and two qualifiers, prompting Welsh Rugby Union boss Roger Lewis to suggest the crunch match should be played [...]
Dettori to learn drug test fate December 4, 2012 HORSE RACING: Jockey Frankie Dettori will today learn what sanctions he is to face for failing a drug test in September. France Galop is expected to hand Dettori a backdated six-month ban, meaning he can ride in the Derby and the Oaks in May and June.
Bhoys welcome back Brown December 4, 2012 FOOTBALL: Celtic have been boosted ahead of hosting Spartak Moscow in the Champions League tonight by the return of Scott Brown after a long-term hip problem. Neil Lennon’s side must better Benfica’s result at Barcelona in order to progress to the knockout stages.