WIN AND A PRAYER February 23, 2011 ARSENAL1 vs STOKE 0 ARSENAL captain Cesc Fabregas last night vowed to win his race to be fit for Sunday’s Carling Cup final after injuries to him and Theo Walcott soured a victory over Stoke that lifted the Gunners to within one point of Premier League leaders Manchester United. Fabregas (right) was taken off with [...]
Fergie seeks home comfort February 23, 2011 MARSEILLE 0 vs MANCHESTER UTD 0 MANCHESTER UNITED manager Sir Alex Ferguson hopes home advantage will have a decisive say in the outcome of his side’s delicately poised last 16 Champions League tie against Marseille. The French champions managed to avoid the concession of an away goal but failed to force United goalkeeper Edwin van [...]
Cech: Blues still on for a double February 23, 2011 CHELSEA goalkeeper Petr Cech is refusing to give up on an unlikely Champions League and Premier League double this season, despite the Blues’ four-month malaise. Europe’s biggest prize has consistently eluded the west Londoners even during their trophy-laden recent years, while Carlo Ancelotti’s men are as close to mid-table as they are top-flight leaders Manchester [...]
Sport ‘needs unified anti-corruption body’ February 23, 2011 WORLD sports chiefs have been urged to establish a global anti-corruption agency with a mandate to target everything from doping to match-fixing. David Howman, director general of anti-drugs body WADA, believes the same criminals are often behind doping and fixing, meaning an integrated, international detective agency would be the most effective solution. “The key issue [...]
Tired Swann has plans for Sehwag February 23, 2011 ENGLAND spinner Graeme Swann admits he’s been slow to adjust to the challenges touring India presents following a hectic few weeks. The 31-year-old celebrated the birth of his first child last week, but 48 hours after his new arrival he was jetting off to the subcontinent to spearhead England’s World Cup challenge. “The change of [...]
Super Mario sinks holders in Milan February 23, 2011 GERMANY international striker Mario Gomez exacted revenge on Inter Milan with an injury time goal which handed Bayern Munich a crucial 1-0 first leg Champions League win at the San Siro. Bayern were beaten in the final by Inter last May, but the Bundesliga side are now strong favourites to progress to the last eight [...]
Afridi shows Kenya’s wide boys February 23, 2011 CRICKET: Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi took 5-16 as his side crushed Kenya by 205 runs in Hambantota. Pakistan reached 317-7 from their 50 overs, aided by the Kenyan bowling attacking who sent down a world record 37 wides.
No trials at Olympic Stadium February 23, 2011 ATHLETICS: UK Athletics insists the 2012 British trials are “very unlikely” to be held inside the Olympic Stadium. The governing body says it would “absolutely love” to hold the trials – which will decide GB’s Olympic team – at the arena ahead of the Olympics. We’re pushing them as hard as we can but there [...]
Wilko’s happy to guide Flood February 23, 2011 ENGLAND stalwart Jonny Wilkinson may not play a single minute of Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations showdown with France but the record-breaking fly-half still believes he can help Martin Johnson’s men triumph. The stellar form of Wilkinson’s old protege Toby Flood is likely to mean the 2003 World Cup winner (right) starts on the bench for [...]
COURT APPEAL: MANCHESTER TO HOST NBA February 23, 2011 SUPERSTARS from the NBA, such as British hero Luol Deng (above), are set to continue their incursion into Britain by playing a game in Manchester later this year. Details of the match, which could involve the Great Britain team, will be confirmed on Monday. The NBA will hold its first regular season game in Europe when [...]