Benitez: Gerrard will lead Reds charge October 19, 2009 BOSS Rafael Benitez is backing fit-again Steven Gerrard to lead Liverpool’s Champions League charge at Anfield tonight. The Reds welcome back their inspirational skipper for the visit of French side Lyon, but Benitez must again do without star striker Fernando Torres, who has a groin injury. Like Torres, Gerrard missed Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Sunderland, [...]
Tigers tamed as Fulham pair find their feet October 19, 2009 FULHAM (2) vs HULL CITY (0) FULHAM boss Roy Hodgson hailed his strike pair after the Cottagers returned to winning ways with a comfortable victory over Hull City. Hodgson’s front men have hardly hit the ground running so far this season, but a welcome strike from Bobby Zamora and a first of the season for [...]
Given lambasts seed system as Ireland land France tie October 19, 2009 GOALKEEPER Shay Given has hit out once again over Fifa’s decision to seed the play-offs after his Republic of Ireland side were handed the toughest possible draw in their bid to qualify for the World Cup. Giovanni Trapattoni’s side take on 1998 world champions France in a two-legged play-off on 14 and 18 November with [...]
Eriksson and Hodgson in running for Sweden role October 19, 2009 SWEDISH chiefs have sounded out former England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson and Fulham manager Roy Hodgson about becoming national coach. Eriksson, now director of football at Notts County, is the frontrunner and the country’s governing body the SvFF hope to make an appointment before the middle of next month. However, Cottagers chief Hodgson, who enjoyed successful [...]
Sheridan facing four months out after shoulder surgery October 19, 2009 ENGLAND manager Martin Johnson’s autumn plans have been plunged into chaos once again after prop Andrew Sheridan was ruled out for four months. The British and Irish Lions loosehead will undergo reconstructive surgery tomorrow, meaning he will miss the November internationals and the start of next year’s Six Nations. Sheridan, who has played in 21 [...]
Mr Consistency comes good October 19, 2009 ON THE GREENS WITHSAM TORRANCE GIVEN his ultra consistency, it’s hard to believe that Lee Westwood was celebrating a first European Tour win in two years in Portugal this weekend. Westwood has been the steadiest performer on the Tour for some time now, but has all too often fallen just short of landing the big [...]
SPORT IN BRIEF October 19, 2009 Ferguson lands FAchargeFOOTBALL: Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson was yesterday charged with improper conduct by the Football Association for his comments on referee Alan Wiley. Ferguson questioned Wiley’s fitness after the 2-2 draw with Sunderland on 3 October and could face a hefty fine or touchline ban if found guilty. He has two weeks [...]
Cruel defeat leaves Bath on the brink October 18, 2009 BATH head coach Steve Meehan admits his side have a mountain to climb if they are to make it through the Heineken Cup group stages after a dramatic 29-27 defeat to Stade Francais yesterday. Julien Dupuy struck a last-gasp penalty at the Recreation Ground to condemn Bath to their second successive Pool Four defeat and [...]
FROCH WINS BUT FAILS TO SHINE October 18, 2009 BRITAIN’S Carl Froch slammed Andre Dirrell’s negativity despite defending his WBC super-middleweight crown on Saturday night by split decision. The bout, in Froch’s hometown of Nottingham, was both fighters’ opening contest in the Super Six World Boxing Classic. Froch said: “A win’s a win, he can’t expect to come to Nottingham and beat me by [...]
Petrov to rescue as City fume at Wiley October 18, 2009 WIGAN (1) vs. MANCHESTER CITY (1) MANCHESTER CITY boss Mark Hughes accused under-fire referee Alan Wiley of missing key decisions after being held by Wigan, but refused to add to criticism of the official’s fitness. City winger Martin Petrov earned 10-man City a point after Charles N’Zogbia had put the Latics ahead, as the visitors [...]