Kean promises exciting times ahead at crisis hit Blackburn May 9, 2012 BLACKBURN’S season sank deeper into farce yesterday when under-fire manager Steve Kean insisted “exciting times” lay ahead for the club, whose relegation has been compounded by internal fighting. Kean also insisted his future at Ewood Park was safe, despite failing to safeguard their Premier League status, and issued a robust defence of Venky’s, saying the [...]
Di Matteo gamble fails to pay as Chelsea’s top-four hopes die May 8, 2012 PREMIER LEAGUE LIVERPOOL 4 Vs CHELSEA 1 CHELSEA interim manager Roberto di Matteo conceded Liverpool deserved to end their hopes of a top-four Premier League finish after making eight changes from the side that beat the Reds in Saturday’s FA Cup final. Goals from Jordan Henderson, Daniel Agger and Jonjo Shelvey followed Michael Essien’s own [...]
Kean: Rovers can return from our relegation May 7, 2012 BLACKBURN ROVERS (0) vs WIGAN ATHLETIC (1) DEFIANT Blackburn manager Steve Kean vowed to inspire a Premier League return after defeat to Wigan sealed their relegation to the Championship amid another chorus of criticism from the club’s deeply unhappy fans. Antolin Alcaraz’s late winner was enough to separate the sides and leave Blackburn six points [...]
Blues veterans can play to 40, says Di Matteo May 7, 2012 CHELSEA interim manager Robert di Matteo believes his ageing side’s FA Cup triumph shows they are more than capable of further success and are not the declining force they appeared until his appointment. Since Di Matteo replaced Andre Villas-Boas in March, Chelsea’s form has improved so much that they won the FA Cup with Saturday’s [...]
England’s Wright in dengue scare May 7, 2012 England and Sussex all-rounder Luke Wright is suffering from suspected dengue fever, caught while playing for Indian Premier League side Pune Warriors. He has undergone blood tests to determine whether he has the virus, the symptoms of which include fever, headache and joint pain. “Can’t remember feeling as bad as I have the last few [...]
Hodgson ticks all boxes for England post, says Curbishley May 3, 2012 FORMER West Ham and Charlton manager Alan Curbishley has backed Roy Hodgson to succeed as England’s new boss, but says a major overhaul of the national coaching set-up is long overdue. Curbishley, out of management since resigning from West Ham in 2008, also admits he misses day-to-day involvment in the game and revealed to City [...]
Mikel: Forget the league, we want the cups May 3, 2012 CHELSEA midfielder Jon Obi Mikel has urged his team-mates to forget the disappointment of missing out on the Premier League’s top four before it consumes their hopes of a famous Champions League and FA Cup double. Wednesday evening’s 2-0 defeat at home to Newcastle effectively ended any chance Chelsea had of domestically securing Champions League [...]
Cup kings Chelsea set for another win at Wembley May 3, 2012 CHELSEA vs LIVERPOOL Saturday – 5.15pm, ITV 1 TRADITION might have gone out the window when it comes to the scheduling of the FA Cup final, but there is still no other game quite like it. Playing the final a week early affected both Chelsea’s and Liverpool’s midweek Premier League fixtures, although at least it [...]
Cisse wonder goal halts Chelsea’s top-four bid May 2, 2012 Striker continues scoring streak to inspire Newcastle victory CHELSEA 0 vs NEWCASTLE 2 CHELSEA manager Roberto di Matteo admits his side’s hopes of qualifying for the Champions League hinge on winning the trophy after Newcastle, and Papiss Cisse’s goal of the season contender, tore their top-four hopes to ribbons. Red-hot Cisse’s extraordinary double, capped by [...]
Masterful Modric stirs Spurs win May 2, 2012 BOLTON WANDERERS 1 vs TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 4 TOTTENHAM manager Harry Redknapp conceded his hopes of one day managing England are over after a clinical performance from Spurs sent them back into fourth in the Premier League, edging Bolton closer to relegation to the Championship. “[The England job] has never bothered me since day one,” said Redknapp. [...]