Nadal semi-final looms as Murray prepares for Dolgopolov match January 24, 2011 BRITISH No1 Andy Murray is on course for a huge Australian Open semi-final clash with world No1 Rafael Nadal – if he can maintain his serene progress against Alexandr Dolgopolov. Murray meets the little-known Ukrainian – a surprise winner against fourth seed Robin Soderling – early tomorrow after reaching the last eight with a ruthless [...]
Johnson looks to Dowson and Wood to ease his injury crisis January 24, 2011 ENGLAND manager Martin Johnson has called up Northampton duo Phil Dowson and Tom Wood and Leicester lock George Skivington in a bid to ease his Six Nations injury crisis. Wood and Dowson both come in because of injuries to Leicester flanker Tom Croft and England captain Lewis Moody, while Skivington replaces the injured Courtney Lawes. [...]
Adam can go at right price January 24, 2011 FOOTBALL: Blackpool manager Ian Holloway is ready to sell star midfielder Charlie Adam to Liverpool, but only if the price is right. Holloway said: “Liverpool have to come up with the right money. I don’t want to stand in his way, but they have to put up or shut up.”
Trimble blow for Ireland January 24, 2011 RUGBY UNION: Ireland winger Andrew Trimble has been ruled out of the Six Nations opener against Italy with a broken right hand. Tommy Bowe is to have a scan on a knee injury.
Levy: Stadium decision must be head over heart January 23, 2011 TOTTENHAM chairman Daniel Levy has urged London 2012 legacy chiefs to ignore “emotive” rhetoric and focus on facts as they prepare to decide between bids from Spurs and West Ham for the Olympic Stadium. Levy spoke out yesterday as West Ham vice-chairman Karren Brady compared Tottenham’s proposals to bulldozing 100 primary schools, and Lord Coe [...]
United rebuff talk of £2bn takeover by Qatar Holding January 23, 2011 MANCHESTER UNITED insist the club is not for sale and have denied suggestions that the Glazer family, which owns the club, has held talks with a Qatari consortium over a potential £2bn takeover. Qatar Holding, the £40bn investment company owned by the Gulf kingdom’s royal family, is thought to have had a £1.5bn offer for [...]
Lemi’s winner proves a mere consolation as Wasps are left to regret Glasgow defeat January 23, 2011 WASPS (21) vs TOULOUSE (16) WASPS director of rugby Tony Hanks admits his side have been left with a sense of ‘what could’ve been’ after they crashed out of the Heineken Cup despite a last-gasp win over reigning champions Toulouse at Adams Park. In front of a record home crowd (10,014) at the Wycombe venue [...]
Northampton land Ulster draw and it’s Leinster for Leicester January 23, 2011 TOP SEEDS Northampton will host Irish province Ulster in the quarter-finals of the Heineken Cup. The Saints, who won all six of their group matches, will have home advantage if they reach the semis, but may have to switch the venue of their last-eight tie away from Franklin’s Gardens to a venue with a capacity in [...]
Struggling Prior needs more time to adapt to opening, says Strauss January 23, 2011 ENGLAND captain Andrew Strauss insists Matt Prior will remain at the top of the order despite successive ducks as Australia moved 3-0 ahead in the best of seven ODI series yesterday. Test gloveman Prior was recalled to the 50 over set-up last week, at the expense of Steven Davies, following a near three-year absence, just [...]
Ancelotti still trusts Chelsea’s old guard January 23, 2011 CHELSEA manager Carlo Ancelotti insists the club’s older players are not past their sell by date. The champions’ recent poor form has in part been attributed to a reluctance by Ancelotti to provide competition his established stars. Ahead of tonight’s testing trip to Bolton, he said: “I think the players remain motivated because when you win, [...]