Arsenal no strangers to a European mission impossible as they prepare for Monaco task March 16, 2015 THEY will have to rewrite records if they are to pull off a Champions League miracle at Monaco tonight, but Arsenal have had more practice than most at desperate European salvage operations. Every year for the past four seasons the Gunners have entered the second leg needing to overhaul a deficit. Every time they have [...]
Advocaat in the frame to replace dismissed Poyet March 16, 2015 FORMER Rangers boss Dick Advocaat has emerged as the leading candidate to manage Sunderland on a temporary basis until the end of the season after the relegation-threatened Black Cats sacked incumbent Gus Poyet yesterday. Poyet assumed the Black Cats’ managerial reins from Paolo Di Canio in October 2013 before instigating a near-miraculous escape from relegation [...]
Premier League: Rodgers: Let’s reel in City March 16, 2015 SWANSEA CITY 0 LIVERPOOL 1 LIVERPOOL boss Brendan Rodgers insisted his side can finish as high as second after moving to within touching distance of Champions League qualification with victory over Swansea at the Liberty Stadium last night. A fortuitous Jordan Henderson clincher has left the fifth-placed Reds just two points adrift of Louis van Gaal’s Manchester [...]
Gunners face Reading after Bradford felled March 16, 2015 HOLDERS Arsenal face a semi-final showdown with Reading after the Royals last night ended 10-man Bradford City’s FA Cup fairytale with a 3-0 victory at the Madejski Stadium. Strikes from Hal Robson-Kanu, Garath McCleary and Jamie Mackie burst the Bradford bubble as former Chelsea midfielder Filipe Morais was shown a second-half red card for a [...]
Lancaster: England can not take France lightly March 16, 2015 ENGLAND head coach Stuart Lancaster has vowed not to underestimate rivals France ahead of their crunch Six Nations title decider at Twickenham on Saturday. The championship could well be determined on points difference for the second successive year, with England currently holding a slender advantage over reigning champions Ireland, who conclude their programme against Scotland. [...]
Salary cap rise on agenda after £280m TV deal March 16, 2015 ENGLISH rugby’s bumper new television deal with BT Sport could trigger further relaxation of the salary cap as Premiership chiefs ponder radical changes to the top flight. The amount teams may spend on player wages is already set to increase next season from the current limit of £4.8m plus one marquee player exempt from calculations [...]
London Welsh turn to Phillips as Burnell departs Exiles’ hotseat March 16, 2015 BELEAGUERED Premiership side London Welsh have appointed former player Rowland Phillips as their new head coach after previous incumbent Justin Burnell left the club yesterday. The Exiles were promoted to rugby’s top flight last season but have endured a disastrous campaign which is almost certain to end in relegation, losing all 27 competitive matches including [...]
Saker set for return home to coach Melbourne Renegades March 16, 2015 ENGLAND bowling coach David Saker is set to return to his native Australia and take charge of Melbourne Renegades during next season’s Big Bash League. The 48-year-old Tasmanian succeeded Ottis Gibson as England’s bowling coach in early 2010, helping England to victory in the ICC World Twenty20 in the West Indies during his first assignment. [...]
Golf Comment: Spieth overtakes Fowler as America’s bright hope March 16, 2015 THE LAST few tournaments leading up the first Major of the year, next month’s Masters, are a bit like heats at the Olympics, and few currently look in better shape than youngster Jordan Spieth. The American, 21, became the third youngest man to win multiple PGA Tour titles when he won a three-man play-off to [...]
Decisive final set catapults Murray into quarter final March 16, 2015 BRITAIN’S Andy Murray defeated Germany’s Philipp Kohlschreiber in three sets to reach the last 16 of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells last night. Fourth seed Murray crushed Kohlschreiber in the deciding set to post a 6-1, 3-6, 6-1 success and set up a quarter-final withFrance’s world No38 Adrian Mannarino. Victory saw Murray reach [...]
