Ferguson fumes as sloppy United show signs of weakness September 27, 2011 MANCHESTER UTD 3 vs FC BASEL 3 MANCHESTER UNITED manager Sir Alex Ferguson admitted his side were given a “wake-up call” by Swiss outsiders Basel after last night’s draw cemented their worst start to a Champions League campaign for 13 years. After the slightly fortuitous draw against Benfica a fortnight ago, United looked on course for a routine [...]
Anderson rested for India tour but Pietersen returns September 27, 2011 ENGLAND will travel to India for next month’s one-day series without three members of their Ashes winning attack after the selectors opted to rest James Anderson. With Chris Tremlett and Stuart Broad injured, Surrey’s 22-year-old paceman Stuart Meaker (inset) has earned a first call-up and is joined in the squad by his county colleague, and [...]
Villas-Boas maintains his love of Lampard September 27, 2011 VALENCIA vs CHELSEA CHELSEA manager Andre Villas-Boas has launched a passionate defence of Frank Lampard and hit out at suggestions the England stalwart is set for a reduced role at the club this season. The 33-year-old Lampard, who once set a record for consecutive Premier League appearances, has started three of Chelsea’s last four matches on [...]
Wenger won’t dwell on Van Persie contract September 27, 2011 ARSENAL vs OLYMPIACOS ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger has attempted to calm fears that captain Robin van Persie could become the latest big name to flee Emirates Stadium. The Holland striker has been in the most prolific form of his career since January, scoring 26 times in his last 31 games for the Gunners. But he [...]
SPORT | IN BRIEF September 27, 2011 Stricter whip-use rules backed HORSE RACING: Top jockeys have backed stricter rules on whips, which will limit them to seven uses in a flat race and eight per jump race. Flat star Frankie Dettori said the move, which comes into effect on 10 October, was “in the best interest of our great sport”, while champion [...]
England blow as Wilshere ruled out for five months September 26, 2011 ARSENAL and England have been rocked after midfielder Jack Wilshere was told his persistent ankle problems will keep him sidelined for most of the rest of the campaign. Wilshere, who broke down during pre-season and has not played since, underwent surgery on a stress fracture yesterday after attempts to let it heal naturally failed. The [...]
Lawes faces battle to win back England starting spot September 26, 2011 ENGLAND lock Courtney Lawes concedes he faces an uphill struggle to win back his starting place at the World Cup, with the team having gone from strength to strength in his absence. Lawes has missed the last two games, a flawed thrashing of Georgia followed by an impressive demolition of Romania, after being cited for [...]
Gatland reads the riot act to inspire Welsh landslide win September 26, 2011 WALES 81 vs NAMIBIA WALES coach Warren Gatland admits it took a half-time dressing down to inspire his team to their biggest ever World Cup victory yesterday against Pool D whipping boys Namibia. Gatland’s men looked on course for a huge score after claiming three tries inside the first 17 minutes – centre Scott Williams, [...]
Stuttering Sunderland downed by Lambert’s improving Canaries September 26, 2011 NORWICH 2 vs SUNDERLAND 1 NORWICH catapulted themselves into the top half of the Premier League table following their first home win of the season at the expense of Sunderland. Centre-back Leon Barnett put the Canaries ahead in front in the 31st minute after winger Elliott Bennett cut into the penalty area and delivered low [...]
Euro aristocrats Bayern hold no fear for Mancini and Man City September 26, 2011 BAYERN MUNICH vs MANCHESTER CITY MANCHESTER CITY manager Roberto Mancini has reiterated his belief that the Premier League upstarts can ignite their maiden Champions League campaign with victory at one of Europe’s traditional superpowers. Mancini joked in the aftermath of the 1-1 draw at home to Napoli – City’s opening Group A fixture – that [...]