After defeat on the pitch Arsenal hit by a loss off it February 28, 2011 ARSENAL’S off-field fortunes have followed their on-field ones in taking a dip after the club confirmed a £2.5m loss for the six months up to November 2010. The Gunners, who lost Sunday’s Carling Cup final, reported a record annual pre-tax profit of £56m in September, but a number of factors have curtailed that healthy performance. [...]
Tottenham play down Defoe’s injury scare February 28, 2011 SPURS striker Jermain Defoe is set to return to training this week after an x-ray revealed a foot injury wasn’t as serious as first thought. The England striker missed two months of the season after he picked up ankle injury on international duty in September and after taking a knock during Spurs’ warm weather training [...]
Vela rescues Baggies again with late goal February 28, 2011 SUBSTITUTE Carlos Vela scored a vital late equaliser against Stoke to lift West Brom out of the relegation zone after a 1-1 draw at Britannia Stadium. The on-loan Arsenal striker struck late to deny Wolves last week and the Mexico international repeated the trick here, capitalising on a close offside call three minutes from time to [...]
It’s an early kick off for next year’s SPL February 28, 2011 THE SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE have announced that next season will kick off on 23 July. The earlier start date has been chosen to help SPL clubs get up to speed for the early rounds of European football and to reduce the number of midweek fixtures in the winter. The SPL board have allowed clubs to [...]
Mercedes completes Brawn buyout February 28, 2011 FORMULA 1: Mercedes GP Formula One team is now fully owned by the car manufacturer after its parent company bought remaining shares from former Brawn GP team management. Ross Brawn, now the Mercedes GP team principal, says the move is positive. “It’s a further step in strengthening for the future,” he said. “I remain fully committed [...]
Roach hat-trick destroys Dutch February 28, 2011 CRICKET: Kemar Roach finished off a fine team performance with a hat-trick as West Indies beat Netherlands by 215 runs in their World Cup Group B clash. Chris Gayle (80) and Kieron Pollard (60 from 27 balls) took the Windies to 330-8. Roach then took 6-27 to hand the Windies their first win of the tournament.
Gunners blow big chance by shooting themselves in foot February 27, 2011 ARSENAL (1) vs BIRMINGHAM (2) ● Birmingham snatch Carling Cup with gift of a late winning goal ● Scapegoats Koscielny and Szczesny ‘destroyed’ by costly blunders CRESTFALLEN Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger called on his players to prove they have the resilience to resume their quest for long-awaited silverware after surrendering the Carling Cup to Birmingham [...]
Credibility of Wenger’s grand scheme is at stake February 27, 2011 DEFEAT leaves Arsenal facing a mammoth challenge in the remaining three months of the season. And there is far more than a domestic pot resting on it; nothing less than the credibility of manager Arsene Wenger’s masterplan is at stake. The Frenchman (right) has tested the patience of even the most ardent Gunners fan over [...]
Rooney set to miss Chelsea trip as FA ponder elbow ban February 27, 2011 MANCHESTER UNITED will learn today whether striker Wayne Rooney is available or banned for tomorrow night’s heavyweight Premier League clash at Chelsea. Rooney faces a possible three-match suspension after he appeared to elbow Wigan’s James McCarthy during Saturday’s 4-0 win, which saw United re-establish a four-point lead at the top of the table. But the [...]
Hero captain Parker shrugs off pain February 27, 2011 WEST HAM (3) vs LIVERPOOL (1) WEST HAM manager Avram Grant praised captain Scott Parker after a valuable victory which lifted them off the bottom of the Premier League table. Parker (right), a major doubt with a damaged shoulder, produced an inspired display in midfield capped with a wonderfully inventive finish with the outside of his [...]