CRUEL FOR CATS | O’Neill watches as Sunderland crash at Wolves December 4, 2011 SUNDERLAND’S new manager Martin O’Neill (inset) received an unwelcome reminder of the scale of the task he will inherit when he officially takes over this morning when his side lost yesterday at Wolves. The Black Cats, including Nicklas Bendtner (pictured above) squandered a lead and missed a penalty before collapsing to two Steven Fletcher goals, [...]
Wolves make Sunderland pay penalty December 4, 2011 WOLVES (2) vs SUNDERLAND (1) WOLVES manager Mick McCarthy delighted in ruining his good friend Martin O’Neill’s day, as his battling side deepened the woes the Northern Irishman is poised to inherit. Two goals from Steven Fletcher cancelled out Kieran Richardson’s thumping opener in a match that hinged on a controversial penalty won and then [...]
Ruthless Quins warm up for European test December 4, 2011 WASPS (16) vs HARLEQUINS (22) HARLEQUINS captain Chris Robshaw declared his unbeaten side ready to test themselves in a double-header with European super-powers Toulouse after clinching a 14th successive win of the season. Tries from centre Matt Hopper, full-back Mike Brown and flanker Luke Wallace maintained the south Londoners’ flawless start to the campaign and [...]
Pulis joy as Huth completes Stoke’s perfect week December 4, 2011 EVERTON (0) vs STOKE CITY (1) STOKE manager Tony Pulis toasted a perfect week after following up Europa League qualification with a second consecutive Premier League victory at Goodison Park. A 15th-minute goal from Robert Huth, the defender diverting Dean Whitehead’s shot past Tim Howard from close range, was the decisive moment in a game [...]
Nadal signs off with Davis Cup victory December 4, 2011 AN EMOTIONAL Rafael Nadal hailed the best crowd of his life after a typically gutsy victory over Juan Martin del Potro earned Spain a third Davis Cup in four years, to the delight of a 22,000-strong support in Seville. Nadal had to come from a set down to defeat Argentinian No1 Del Potro 1-6, 6-4, [...]
Dubai showdown on cards as McIlroy closes in on Donald December 4, 2011 NORTHERN Ireland’s Rory McIlroy piled further pressure on European Tour leader Luke Donald and ensured a nailbiting climax to the season by winning the UBS Hong Kong Open yesterday. McIlroy’s two-shot victory at Fanling means he can deny Donald the honour of becoming the first man to officially top the US and European money lists [...]
Schwarzer: Tiredness is no excuse December 4, 2011 FULHAM goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer has warned his team-mates that fatigue will not be an acceptable excuse if their winless run continues. The Cottagers host Liverpool tonight in the Premier League, seeking their first victory in five matches and their first domestic triumph since October. Thursday’s Europa League defeat at FC Twente was their 27th match [...]
Brazil hero Socrates dies December 4, 2011 Former Brazil captain Socrates died yesterday, aged 57, after an intestinal infection. The elegant midfielder, who played in the 1982 and 1986 World Cups, was admitted to the intensive care unit of a Sao Paulo hospital on Friday. The ex-Corinthians, Botafogo, Fiorentina, Flamengo and Santos player suffered a stomach haemorrhage in August caused by alcohol [...]
Blatter aims fire at English December 4, 2011 Fifa president Sepp Blatter has renewed his attack on his English critics, claiming they are bitter at the failed bid to stage the 2018 World Cup. “They thought that football should have come home; the World Cup was theirs by right,” Blatter said. “When they came with David Beckham, Prince William and Prime Minister Cameron, [...]
O’Sullivan knocks out Davis December 4, 2011 Ronnie O’Sullivan beat Steve Davis 6-1 in a first-round clash of former champions at the UK Championships in York. World No1 Mark Selby eased into round two with a 6-0 drubbing of Ryan Day and will play Marco Fu next, after he beat Stuart Bingham 6-4.