World Cup bores Ferguson November 1, 2010 BURSASPOR vs MANCHESTER UTD MANCHESTER UNITED manager Sir Alex Ferguson believes watching the World Cup is as painful as a trip to the dentist and rates the Champions League as the best competition in the world. The tournament’s group stages have come in for some criticism in recent times, but Ferguson insists the Champions League [...]
Spurs warn fans to arrive early or risk Tube strike crowd chaos November 1, 2010 TOTTENHAM chiefs have urged fans to arrive early for tonight’s European showdown owing to a planned strike on the London Underground. Industrial action scheduled to start at 7pm threatens to play havoc with supporters travelling to White Hart Lane for the 7:45pm kick-off. Spurs are opening the stadium at 6:30pm and fans are advised, where [...]
Westwood is world’s best October 31, 2010 ENGLAND’S Lee Westwood is sitting on top of the world after ending Tiger Woods’ 281-week reign as top dog. Westwood becomes only the third Brit to head the rankings, along with Nick Faldo and Ian Woosman, and the first European to do so since Faldo 16 years ago. Westwood’s premier billing was under threat from [...]
Maxi strikes late to stoke Reds revival October 31, 2010 BOLTON (0) vs LIVERPOOL (1) LIVERPOOL manager Roy Hodgson insists it is too early for optimism at Anfield after his first back-to-back league win lifted the Reds out of the relegation zone. An 86th-minute winning goal from midfielder Maxi Rodriguez downed stubborn Bolton and hoisted Hodgson’s men from 18th to 12th in one fell swoop. [...]
Fresh injury for England star Moody October 31, 2010 ENGLAND captain Lewis Moody needed stitches after suffering another head injury playing for Bath but declared himself fit to face New Zealand in the first autumn international on Saturday. Flanker Moody was left caked in blood after sustaining a blow in the first half against Harlequins yesterday but saw out the match as Steve Meehan’s [...]
Pietersen dismisses Ashes mind games October 31, 2010 ENGLAND batsman Kevin Pietersen is refusing to be drawn into a pre-Ashes slanging match but admits he and his team-mates fancy their chances of achieving a rare triumph Down Under. Australia stepped up the psychological warfare last week when they projected an image of captain Ricky Ponting onto Big Ben with the legend: “Don’t forget [...]
Irish back on top despite a late collapse October 31, 2010 LONDON IRISH (39) vs SALE (26) LONDON IRISH head coach Toby Booth admitted tactical tinkering almost cost his side top spot in the Premiership. The Exiles moved back to the summit with a five-try victory over Sale, but a flurry of late substitutions clearly had an adverse effect on their momentum. Irish led 26-6 heading [...]
Toon triumph buoys Hughton October 31, 2010 NEWCASTLE (5) vs SUNDERLAND (1) NEWCASTLE recorded their biggest Tyne-Wear derby victory in 54 years but manager Chris Hughton remained coy on the subject of his future at the club. Freshly promoted Newcastle sit in a thoroughly respectable seventh place in the Premier League table, above their local rivals, following an emphatic win which came [...]
We were probably going to lose anyway, says Redknapp October 31, 2010 TOTTENHAM boss Harry Redknapp says referee Mark Clattenburg “made a mess” of Nani’s controversial goal in Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at Manchester United but admits his side would probably have lost anyway. Nani tapped in past a baffled Heurelho Gomes as the Spurs goalkeeper prepared to take a free-kick he thought had been awarded for a [...]
Grant believes Hammers heading in right direction October 31, 2010 WEST HAM manager Avram Grant believes his side showed enough in defeat at Arsenal on Saturday to suggest they are still capable of enjoying a successful season. The Hammers were moments away from securing a morale boosting point against high-flying Arsenal, before Alex Song’s 88th minute header condemned them to a 1-0 defeat. The east [...]