Ajmal signs for Worcestershire January 19, 2011 CRICKET: Worcestershire have confirmed Pakistan spinner Saeed Ajmal, 33, as their overseas player for the second half of the 2011 season.
Angry Spurs fans planning to step up Olympic protest January 18, 2011 TOTTENHAM supporters are planning sit-in protests if the club presses ahead with controversial plans to leave their home of 112 years and move five miles across London to the Olympic Stadium in Stratford. Aggrieved fans desperate for Spurs to stay in their home borough say they are also considering boycotting games, as they and West [...]
Sullivan backs Grant January 18, 2011 WEST HAM manager Avram Grant has the “100 per cent” backing of the club’s board, according to co-owner David Sullivan, after it was confirmed that the Israeli would remain in the Upton Park hotseat yesterday. The former Portsmouth and Chelsea boss was widely expected to be replaced by Martin O’Neill after Saturday’s 3-0 drubbing at [...]
Boss facing moment of truth January 18, 2011 COMPETENT coach unfairly tarnished by hopeless causes in Portsmouth and now West Ham, or under-qualified charisma-void still dining out on his fleeting association with a great Chelsea side? Whatever you might think of Avram Grant, he certainly divides opinion like few other managers. Grant’s supporters will point to the fact he led Chelsea to the [...]
Easter: I’ll grab England armband with both hands January 18, 2011 ENGLAND No8 Nick Easter says he would relish the chance to lead his country into the Six Nations if asked to take over as captain from the injured Lewis Moody. Regular skipper Moody was yesterday ruled out for up to six weeks, meaning he is likely to miss England’s first three matches of the competition, [...]
Murray through to face Marchenko January 18, 2011 BRITISH No1 Andy Murray banished his pre-tournament jitters by cruising into the second round of the Australian Open. The Scot sealed his progress Down Under after opponent Karol Beck retired with injury with the No5 seed leading 6-3, 6-1, 4-2. Murray, still hunting a first grand slam, entered the tournament on the back of an [...]
Double-bagel woe for fading Safina January 18, 2011 DINARA Safina became the first former world No1 to suffer a grand slam double-bagel as she crashed out of the Australian Open to Belgium’s Kim Clijsters. The Russian, who has plummeted 74 places in the world rankings in just 15 months, lost 6-0, 6-0 to third seed Clijsters in just 44 minutes. Elsewhere there were [...]
Cup success is a real possiblity, says Van Persie January 18, 2011 ARSENAL striker Robin van Persie admits Arsenal need a major improvement on their last two cup performances if they are to get the better of Leeds this evening. The Gunners were well below par in their FA Cup third round tie at Emirates Stadium 10 days ago, when they required an 89th minute Cesc Fabregas [...]
Sven’s Eastlands return a losing one January 18, 2011 SVEN-GORAN ERIKSSON’S return to Eastlands ended in defeat as Manchester City booked their place in the FA Cup fourth round with a 4-2 win over Leicester. Carlos Tevez put City ahead before Paul Gallagher’s immediate response from the penalty spot. Two goals in 90 seconds before half-time, from Patrick Vieira and Adam Johnson, put the [...]
Bent puts seal on record Villa move January 18, 2011 ASTON VILLA have smashed their transfer record by paying £18m – a fee which could eventually rise to £24m – to Sunderland for England striker Darren Bent. Bent, who signed a four-and-a-half year deal, denied his move was motivated by money. He said: “I could could have gone to West Ham for more money but [...]