Hull press ahead with Tigers rebrand December 11, 2013 FOOTBALL: Hull City owner Assem Allam has defied fan opposition by formally applying to the Football Association to change the Premier League club’s name to Hull Tigers. The change would take effect next season and anger supporters who have campaigned to retain their current name under the slogan “City Till We Die”. Allam, who took [...]
Wenger: Tricky spell is time for Arsenal to shine December 10, 2013 ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger believes his side can afford to lose their next two Premier League games against Manchester City and Chelsea and still mount a formidable title challenge. The first of a trio of tricky fixtures tonight at Napoli, however, offers less wriggle room, with the Gunners needing to avoid a three-goal defeat to [...]
FA: Fixing no big issue but we’re not complacent December 10, 2013 FOOTBALL Association general secretary Alex Horne insists fixing in sport is “not a big issue” but has warned against complacency following a spate of arrests. Horne was among representatives from five major sports, also including cricket, rugby union and league and horse racing, who attended an emergency summit held by Culture Secretary Maria Miller yesterday. [...]
Striker Campbell quiz on fix claim December 9, 2013 BLACKBURN were in talks with striker DJ Campbell last night after the former Premier League player was arrested and quizzed by police investigating claims of match-fixing in football. The 32-year-old, who has also played for QPR, Blackpool, Leicester, Birmingham and Brentford, was among six men held on Sunday following allegations in The Sun. He was [...]
Lucky Swansea hit back at Hull December 9, 2013 SWANSEA boss Michael Laudrup conceded his side had ridden their luck after defender Chico Flores earned the home side a 1-1 draw with Hull in the Premier League. Former Swans striker Danny Graham touched in Ahmed Elmohamady’s cross for his first league goal since New Year’s Day but Flores bundled a fortunate equaliser before Laudrup’s [...]
Moyes takes the blame as United attempt to dodge ghosts of 1962 December 9, 2013 UNDER-FIRE Manchester United boss David Moyes has accepted full blame for a run that sees them on the brink of losing three successive home games tonight for the first time in his lifetime. A Champions League defeat to Shakhtar Donetsk would equal that spell in 1962 and concede top spot in Group A, leaving United [...]
Premier League: Wenger happy with steady Arsenal despite late slip-up December 8, 2013 AT EMIRATES STADIUM ARSENAL 1 vs EVERTON 1 ARSENAL boss Arsene Wenger admits his team blew the chance to go seven points clear at the top of the Premier League yesterday, but insists they are showing the kind of consistency required to win the title. The league-leaders were little more than seven minutes from victory [...]
Premier League: Refocused Berbatov tipped to ease Fulham’s relegation worries December 8, 2013 AT CRAVEN COTTAGE FULHAM 2 vs ASTON VILLA 0 STRIKER Dimitar Berbatov is fully focused on preserving Fulham’s Premier League status, according to head coach Rene Meulensteen. The Bulgarian nonchalantly stroked in a first-half penalty to cap a starring role that ended his team’s seven-match losing streak and simultaneously produced their biggest home win since [...]
Sticky Toffees have the defensive durability to stifle Gunners’ firepower December 5, 2013 ONLY in their wildest dreams could Arsenal fans have anticipated their team’s stunning start to the season – and yet they look to have the stamina to keep going and challenge for the title. With just over a third of the campaign gone the league is beginning to settle down. Come May, they might not [...]
Premier League: Mourinho praises special one in seven-goal thriller December 4, 2013 SUNDERLAND 3 vs CHELSEA 4 CHELSEA manager Jose Mourinho praised a “special” performance from playmaker Eden Hazard that kept his side second in the Premier League table. The Belgian took his tally to eight goals for the season with a sublime finish in either half as the Blues won a third successive league match. Hazard [...]