Fletcher: Don’t blame Burley November 15, 2009 FOOTBALL: Scotland midfielder Darren Fletcher has backed manager George Burley after their crushing 3-0 friendly defeat to Wales. Burley, who failed to qualify for the World Cup, is expected to be sacked this week when the Scottish Football Association board meets, but Fletcher insists it is not the manager’s fault. “It’s not anything to do [...]
Rampant SA too good for poor England November 15, 2009 STAND-IN skipper Alastair Cook admitted his side lacked the skill to beat South Africa after a humbling 84-run defeat in the second Twenty20 international at Centurion. England’s bowlers were put to the sword with Graeme Smith (88) and Loots Bosman (94) sharing a world-record 170-run opening partnership before Cook and co fell well short chasing [...]
Boss Smith quits after Four Nations final defeat November 15, 2009 TONY SMITH has resigned as England rugby league coach, citing family reasons for stepping down. The 42-year-old’s decision comes in the aftermath of Saturday’s crushing 46-16 Four Nations final defeat to Australia but he insists the result had no bearing on his departure. “Even if we had won last night I’d still have stepped down,” [...]
Steely Brazil are the team I fear, admits boss Capello November 15, 2009 ENGLAND head coach Fabio Capello has identified Brazil as the biggest obstacle on the path to long-awaited glory at next summer’s World Cup. The five-time winners barely broke sweat as they strolled to a 1-0 friendly win over Capello’s men in the heat of Doha, Qatar on Saturday. Brazil have long been known for their [...]
Van Persie facing six weeks out with injury November 15, 2009 ARSENAL striker Robin van Persie last night calmed fears over his torn ankle ligaments by insisting he expects to be sidelined for no more than six weeks. The in-form Dutchman, whose eight goals in 11 outings have propelled the Gunners to second in the Premier League, was injured in Saturday’s friendly with Italy. Van Persie, [...]
Mayweather in Pacquiao’s sights after Cotto stopped November 15, 2009 NEWLY crowned five-time world champion Manny Pacquiao is gunning for unbeaten Floyd Mayweather Jr after his breathtaking win over Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto on Saturday night. The Filipino superstar, 30, stopped Cotto in the 12th round of their WBO welterweight clash in Las Vegas to claim his fifth world title at a fifth different weight. [...]
Race to Dubai top spot is consolation for McIlroy November 15, 2009 NORTHERN IRISH youngster Rory McIlroy will go into next weekend’s season climax as the European Tour’s leading player after finishing second in the Hong Kong Open. The 20-year-old’s superb six-under-par round of 64 was not enough to prevent Frenchman Gregory Bourdy from taking the title at Fanling by two shots, on 19 under. But it [...]
Ballyfitz has perfect Power profile at 8/1 November 12, 2009 PICKING the likeliest winner of tomorrow’s Paddy Power Gold Cup is even more difficult this year with a deluge of rain forecasted to hit Gloucestershire between now and 2.35pm tomorrow. However, whilst many are talking of showers of biblical proportions, others have suggested that we will get no more than a solitary downpour. Either way, [...]
MATCH OF THE DAY November 12, 2009 Cheltenham’s Open meeting, which gets under way tomorrow, is appropriately named as virtually all of the 18 races run over the next three days have a distinctly wide open looking feel. It’s for that very reason that a spread betting match bet comes into its own, as your selection only needs to beat one other [...]
Ireland can hold France in crucial Croke contest November 12, 2009 REPUBLIC OF IRELAND vs. FRANCETomorrow 8pm, Sky Sports 1IRELAND haven’t tasted defeat in Dublin since the 2006 World Cup qualifiers when they lost 1-0 to France in September 2005. Since then they have won five and drawn seven of 12 competitive home games. It is never easy to analyse international football form, as teams play [...]