Too little, too late as Stoke survive Fulham fightback January 5, 2010 STOKE CITY (3) vs FULHAM (2) FULHAM boss Roy Hodgson was left to rue a woeful first-half defensive display as Stoke held on for all three points in a snowy thriller at the Britannia Stadium. Poor defending allowed the hosts to power into a three-goal lead inside 37 minutes thanks to goals from Tuncay Sanli, [...]
FIA’s ban on Briatore was illegal, says high court January 5, 2010 MOTORSPORT chiefs were bracing themselves for another legal battle last night after their decision to hand former Renault Formula One boss Flavio Briatore a lifetime ban was deemed illegal by a French court. The Italian was banned by the sport’s governing body, the FIA, in October for his part in Nelson Piquet Jnr’s deliberate crash [...]
Ace Ally Cooks up a storm to set up a thrilling finale January 4, 2010 ENGLAND opener Alastair Cook says the third Test with South Africa is now a one-innings affair after his side recovered from a top-order wobble to set up a thrilling finale in Cape Town. Cook top-scored with 65 to lead the England reply after the tourists tore through the Proteas tail to bowl them out for [...]
Forget the Ryder Cup, I expect Tiger to return for the Masters January 4, 2010 THE rumour mill surrounding Tiger Woods’s return to golf has gone into overdrive it seems, but talk of the world No1 missing the entire season are greatly exaggerated, I believe. Some have suggested he may sit out all four majors and the Ryder Cup in 2010 – but I would be absolutely amazed if his [...]
Driven Button growing attached to No1 status January 4, 2010 WORLD champion Jenson Button insists he is more motivated than ever as he takes the first steps in his McLaren career. Button has been tipped to be eclipsed by team-mate and fellow Englishman Lewis Hamilton in 2010, despite scooping the drivers’ title last year. But while he is wary of talking up his chances before [...]
Gartside gets his man as Clarets agree to Coyle deal January 4, 2010 OWEN COYLE is expected to be named the new manager of Bolton Wanderers today after a compensation package in the region of £3.6m was agreed with Burnley last night. Coyle, a former Bolton playing favourite, has been locked in talks with Trotters chairman Phil Gartside for the past two days after being identified as the [...]
Diaby ready to deputise for Song January 4, 2010 ARSENAL midfielder Abou Diaby insists he is ready to take on the role of enforcer while Alex Song is absent at the Africa Cup of Nations. Cameroon star Song has made the position his own this season but could be absent on international duty now until the end of January. Gunners manager Arsene Wenger has [...]
Ferguson dodges FA rap as Mancini talks up City appeal January 4, 2010 MANCHESTER United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has received a timely boost after being told he will not face more punishment from the Football Association for his latest verbal attack on officialdom. Ferguson, who must pick up his team following their FA Cup exit to Leeds in time for tomorrow’s Carling Cup semi-final against Manchester City, [...]
Number of top officials is unhealthy, says ex-ref Poll January 4, 2010 FORMER referee Graham Poll has called for new refs’ chief Mike Riley to promote more officials to the Premier League’s roster. Top-light matches are currently allocated to a pool of 16 elite refs. But Poll believes that officials would be under less pressure if they did not come into contact with the same teams and [...]
Murray and Robson join forces to hand Britain a winning start January 4, 2010 GREAT BRITAIN recovered from a rubber down to complete a nail-biting victory over minnows Kazakhstan in the Hopman Cup in Perth. Teenager Laura Robson suffered defeat in her opening singles match to a flu-ridden Yaroslava Shvedova, only for men’s No1 Andy Murray to level the tie with a convincing 6-2, 6-2 win over world No133 [...]