In-form United to put the boot into struggling derby rivals April 9, 2015 BEN CLEMINSON PREVIEWS THE MANCHESTER DERBY DERBY DAY arrives in the North-West this Sunday as a resurgent Manchester United look to heap even more pressure on their stuttering neighbours Manchester City. A look at recent history – whether in the league or in the derby itself – can tilt thoughts to either the red or [...]
Fifa world rankings: Wales’ staggering performance against the odds summed up in two charts April 9, 2015 Wales' football team have risen to their highest ever Fifa world ranking thanks to a strong start to their quest for qualification for Euro 2016. Rising to 22nd in the world, Wales are now ranked above countries such as the Ivory Coast, Russia, USA, Australia and Ghana. After winning three of five games in Euro [...]
Birmingham City receivers now weighing up seven takeover bids April 8, 2015 BIRMINGHAM City fans could soon see their club freed from years of boardroom turmoil after the club’s parent company announced it had received two more takeover offers on top of the five already confirmed. In a statement to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, receivers Ernst and Young who have been running Birmingham International Holdings Limited [...]
FA Cup: Rodgers: Cup win can offer league boost April 8, 2015 BLACKBURN ROVERS 0 LIVERPOOL 1 LIVERPOOL boss Brendan Rodgers believes his side’s FA Cup quarter-final replay success over Blackburn Rovers last night can reinvigorate their stumbling Premier League campaign following successive defeats. Brazil playmaker Philippe Coutinho proved the match-winner with a second-half clincher to set up a semi-final clash against Aston Villa, enhancing his reputation [...]
Birmingham City receivers weigh up seven takeover bids April 8, 2015 Birmingham City fans could soon see their club freed from years of boardroom turmoil after the club's parent company announced it had received two more takeover offers on top of the five already confirmed. In a statement to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, receivers Ernst and Yong who have been running Birmingham International Holdings Limited [...]
Chris Ramsey rues leaky defence as QPR see points slip April 7, 2015 Interim Queens Park Rangers boss Chris Ramsey lamented his side’s defensive frailties after a stunning Christian Benteke hat-trick deprived the Hoops of a potentially priceless victory in their quest for Premier League survival at Villa Park last night. Benteke rescued a vital point for Aston Villa with a late free-kick, having earlier wiped out [...]
In-form Manchester United can inspire City, says Kompany April 7, 2015 MANCHESTER City captain Vincent Kompany believes Sunday’s derby against Manchester United can act as a catalyst to reverse the decline that appears to have doomed their Premier League defence. Monday night’s shock 2-1 defeat at Crystal Palace was City’s fifth in seven matches and left their title bid in tatters, nine points behind leaders Chelsea, [...]
Premier League: Palace play kingmaker again as City falter April 6, 2015 CRYSTAL PALACE 2 MANCHESTER CITY 1 MANCHESTER City manager Manuel Pellegrini conceded his team’s hopes of defending their title had suffered a major blow after Crystal Palace all but killed off another Premier League hopeful last night. Goals from Glenn Murray and Jason Puncheon left City nine points adrift of leaders Chelsea and made the [...]
Rodgers brushes off mutiny talk and reiterates Champions League hopes April 6, 2015 LIVERPOOL manager Brendan Rodgers has dismissed suggestions of dressing-room unrest and insists he has been too quick to write off the team’s chances of earning Champions League qualification. The Reds boss denied that Saturday’s 4-1 defeat at Arsenal, which left them seven points adrift of the Premier League’s top four, had led to heated exchanges [...]
Platini in thirdparty ban plea to Borgen boss April 1, 2015 FOOTBALL’S European governing body Uefa and players’ union FifPro have joined forces to lobby the European Commission to outlaw the controversial practice of third-party ownership (TPO). TPO – when a player’s transfer value is owned in full or part by a speculating investor – is already banned at all levels in England, having gained notoriety [...]