Jet-heeled Chelsea set up Swansea semi-final December 19, 2012 LEEDS UNITED 1 vs CHELSEA 5 CHELSEA manager Rafael Benitez hailed his players’ powers of recovery after they shrugged off jet-lag and came from behind to thrash Leeds and set up a Capital One Cup semi-final against Swansea. A shock looked in prospect when Luciano Becchio put the hosts ahead but the Blues hit back [...]
Tube strike to hit Arsenal’s West Ham tie December 18, 2012 ARSENAL’S Boxing Day London derby against West Ham at the Emirates Stadium is likely to be postponed due to the threat of a tube strike. London Underground drivers are planning a strike for 26 December, due to a dispute over Bank Holiday pay, which threatens to cause travel chaos across the capital. If the game [...]
Allardyce praise for West Ham’s backs to the wall defending December 16, 2012 WEST BROMWICH ALBION 0 vs WEST HAM UNITED 0 WEST HAM manager Sam Allardyce hailed his team’s resolute defending as yesterday’s goalless draw at the Hawthorns earned the Hammers their first clean sheet in six games. Allardyce’s men had gone a goal behind in each of their previous five Premier League games, yet managed to [...]
Stadium isn’t yours yet, Boris tells West Ham December 5, 2012 MAYOR Boris Johnson has warned West Ham that he will walk away from talks and reopen a football-free Olympic Stadium next summer if they cannot thrash out their remaining differences. The Hammers were yesterday named first-choice bidders for the centrepiece of the 2012 Games by the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC), but significant hurdles remain [...]
West Ham on tenterhooks over stadium December 4, 2012 WEST Ham will today discover whether three fraught years of bidding, lobbying and negotiating have finally won them the right to move into the Olympic Stadium. Mayor Boris Johnson will chair a meeting of the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC) in Stratford this morning to discuss the club’s offer for a 99-year lease on the [...]
Crystal Palace starlet Zaha earns first call-up as Hodgson patches up his injury-hit squad November 11, 2012 ENGLAND manager Roy Hodgson last night handed a first call-up to in-demand Crystal Palace prodigy Wilfried Zaha amid a spate of injury concerns before Wednesday’s friendly in Sweden. Versatile forward Zaha, 20, has scored four goals this season in Palace’s charge to the top of the Championship and has been scouted by a host of [...]
Ameobi keeps Newcastle top November 8, 2012 CLUB BRUGES 2 vs NEWCASTLE UNITED 2 NEWCASTLE manager Alan Pardew hailed the impact of forward Sammy Ameobi after his side scored two goals in three minutes during a frantic first half in Brugge to snatch a point in the Europa League. The Belgian side went ahead on 14 minutes when a long ball caught [...]
Odemwingie double leaves Southampton fighting for life after hitting rock bottom November 5, 2012 WEST BROMWICH ALBION 2 vs SOUTHAMPTON 0 SOUTHAMPTON’S sorry return to the Premier League continued as the concession of the 27th and 28th goals of their league season last night at West Brom ensured that they remain bottom of the table. Pressure had already unfairly been mounting on manager Nigel Adkins, who had overseen two [...]
Swansea vs Chelsea November 1, 2012 A more low-profile fixture will suit Chelsea this weekend, after last week’s goings on, and away from the live TV cameras in South Wales I expect Roberto Di Matteo’s men to prosper. The Premier League defeat to Manchester United was their first of the campaign and Chelsea’s consistency sees them top the table. Swansea, however, [...]
West Ham vs Manchester City November 1, 2012 SHOULD Man United and Chelsea win earlier on in the day, then it will be imperative for Manchester City to claim three points from tomorrow’s early evening showdown at West Ham. They certainly have the tools to do just that and Coral’s offer of 8/11 for a City victory is very tempting. The champions might [...]