Accrington Stanley handed West Ham tie after stunning Burnley in EFL Cup August 25, 2016 Fourth tier side Accrington Stanley, who sit 86th out of England’s 92 league clubs, stunned top-flight Burnley 1-0 on Wednesday night to set up an EFL Cup third-round trip to West Ham. A Matty Pearson strike in the last minute of extra-time snatched Stanley’s first win over a Premier League club and ensured they will visit [...]
Manchester City 1, Steaua Bucharest 0: Pep Guardiola calls Joe Hart “part of City history” as goalkeeper savours farewell August 24, 2016 Manchester City 1, Steaua Bucharest 0 (Agg: 6-0) Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola paid tribute to “legend” Joe Hart but confirmed that the out-of-favour goalkeeper may have played his last game for the club on Wednesday night. Guardiola, having pointedly omitted Hart for his first three games, made him captain for what was effectively a dead [...]
Watford’s £7.5m signing of Daryl Janmaat paves the way for DeAndre Yedlin’s escape from Tottenham to Newcastle August 24, 2016 Watford have reinforced their defence with the £7.5m signing of Daryl Janmaat from relegated Newcastle, as Rafael Benitez’s Tyneside shake-up continues apace. Holland international Janmaat, who joined the Magpies from Feyenoord in 2014, is the 12th player to leave St James’ Park either permanently or on loan this summer, with more expected to follow. The [...]
Slaven Bilic refuses to panic buy as clock ticks on West Ham’s search for a striker August 24, 2016 West Ham manager Slaven Bilic insists he is not panicking over the club’s chronic striker shortage despite having just one week left to sign attacking reinforcements. Bilic, whose side face Astra Giurgiu in the Europa League on Thursday night, is keen on Manchester City’s Wilfried Bony and Simone Zaza of Juventus, but faces competition from Napoli. [...]
Chelsea 3, Bristol Rovers 2: Antonio Conte demands Blues hone their killer instinct after Rovers run them close in EFL Cup August 23, 2016 Chelsea 3, Bristol Rovers 2 Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has warned his team they must develop a killer instinct after the Blues survived an EFL Cup second-round scare against Bristol Rovers on Tuesday night. Twice Conte’s men established a two-goal cushion, through Michy Batshuayi’s brace and a Victor Moses strike, but on both occasions they allowed their [...]
Watford and West Brom dumped out by League One opposition as Liverpool hit five and Hull maintain perfect start in EFL Cup August 23, 2016 Watford manager Walter Mazzarri suffered an embarrassing early blow to his tenure as third-tier side Gillingham caused an upset in the second round of the EFL Cup. Hornets striker Odion Ighalo looked to have put the hosts on track for victory but Mark Byrne equalised in the 82nd minute and Bradley Dack made it 2-1 in the [...]
Recalling John Terry for England should be a non-starter – for lots of reason August 23, 2016 It's understandable that Sam Allardyce doesn’t want to rule anybody out as he settles into life as England’s new manager but he ought to think twice before talking up the possibility of recalling John Terry. I’m surprised that it is even being discussed. Bringing back former captain Terry after four years in the international wilderness [...]
Firing on all fronts. Leicester is voted Britain’s greatest sporting city August 23, 2016 Leicester City may be making a stuttering start to their defence of the Premier League title but last season's heroics helped them jump to the top of the UK's greatest sporting cities of 2016. Leaping 17 places and pushing Manchester down to second place, Leicester's success wasn't just down to its football team. Leicester Tigers made the Aviva Premiership rugby [...]
Sam Allardyce non-committal over Joe Hart and Wayne Rooney roles in his vision for England’s future August 22, 2016 England manager Sam Allardyce has indicated that out-of-favour Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart should leave the club in seek of regular football – or risk his international future. Allardyce insists that Hart, who has been dropped by new City coach Pep Guardiola, will be included when he names his first England squad on Sunday, but [...]
West Ham United 1, Bournemouth 0: Hammers’ character delights Slaven Bilic after Michail Antonio proves worth at attacking end August 21, 2016 West Ham United 1, Bournemouth 0 West Ham manager Slaven Bilic hailed his team’s character after they emerged from a gruelling week with victory in the first Premier League match at their new home, the London Stadium. Winger Michail Antonio’s 85th-minute header snatched the points for the Hammers just moments after Bournemouth were reduced to [...]