VILLA MAKE RAPID EXIT August 26, 2010 ASTON VILLA crashed out of Europe last night with a 3-2 defeat at home to Rapid Vienna. Stephen Ireland (above) set up Gabriel Agbonlahor to put Villa ahead in the play-off second leg and, following an equaliser and Stiliyan Petrov’s missed penalty, Emile Heskey restored their lead. But late goals from Mario Sonnleitner and Rene [...]
Wembley braced for a Spanish invasion August 26, 2010 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2010-11 The road to Wembley has been mapped out for England’s representatives in the Champions League with the biggest obstacles, La Liga giants Barcelona and Real Madrid who head the betting at 3/1 and 5/1 respectively, kept out of harm’s way for now. Fourth favourites Manchester United will be pleased with their group [...]
Hard to separate sides in key Villa Park clash August 26, 2010 ASTON VILLA vs EVERTON SUNDAY – 4.00PM SKY SPORTS 1 ASTON VILLA and Everton were involved in arguably the most exciting tussle in the Premier League last year, the race for the fourth Champions League place. Both ultimately fell short – Everton finishing eighth behind Villa’s sixth. Two weeks into the new season then and [...]
Hat-tricks for London and Crouch as Tottenham revel in historic night August 25, 2010 TOTTENHAM (4) vs NEWCASTLE(0) TOTTENHAM finally took their place at the top table of European football last night – and ensured London has three clubs in the Champions League for the first time – but all manager Harry Redknapp wanted by way of celebration was a bacon sandwich. A hat-trick from Peter Crouch and a [...]
Ferdinand defends Capello and lambasts fickle critics August 25, 2010 “Before the World Cup he was the best thing since sliced bread,” reasons vexed England skipper ENGLAND captain Rio Ferdinand has leapt to Fabio Capello’s defence, insisting the head coach’s critics have been too quick to turn against him. Capello was widely depicted as the steely general England’s cosseted underachievers needed during an unerringly successful [...]
Strauss: Our batsmen will shine at Lord’s August 25, 2010 CAPTAIN Andrew Strauss has vowed to lead by example when England take on Pakistan in the series showdown at Lord’s this morning. The hosts’ batting line-up has come under scrutiny following two collapses during their four-wicket defeat at the Oval last week as Pakistan kept the series alive at 2-1. But Strauss is keen to [...]
Injury hits Borthwick England hopes August 25, 2010 FORMER England captain Steve Borthwick’s prospects of returning to the national team this autumn have diminished after he tore a thigh muscle. The Saracens skipper is expected to be sidelined for three weeks by the quadriceps injury, meaning he will miss their first two matches of the new Premiership season. Borthwick will sit out the [...]
Magpies dodge giant-killing as ruthless Fulham and Everton show no mercy August 25, 2010 ACCRINGTON (2) vs NEWCASTLE(3) PREMIER League heavyweights Newcastle needed a second-half resurgence to avoid an upset at League Two Accrington. Ryan Taylor looked to have put the underdogs in their place when his long-range strike gave an under-strength Magpies side the lead late in the first half. But a spectacular equaliser from Ray Putterill ensured [...]
Monty: Westwood fit for Ryder August 25, 2010 GOLF: European Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie insists world No3 Lee Westwood will be fit in time for the Ryder Cup in October. Europe’s top player is currently recovering from a torn calf muscle he picked up in June, but Montgomerie has guaranteed his participation at Celtic Manor – even if Westwood is unable to [...]
Semenya runs at Commonwealths August 25, 2010 ATHLETICS: World 800m champion Caster Semenya has been named in the South Africa team for October’s Commonwealth Games in Delhi following her return to competition last month. The 19-year-old, who was out of action for almost a year while gender tests were concluded, won her first two comeback races in Finland and Germany last month [...]