Barton return boosts QPR’s survival bid April 11, 2012 PREMIER LEAGUE QPR 3 vs SWANSEA 0 QPR boss Mark Hughes hailed Joey Barton after the captain’s return inspired Rangers to a third successive home win and lifted them out of the relegation zone. Barton, rested at the weekend to avoid suspension, justified his recall with a goal that set Hughes’s men on the way [...]
Al Fayed in stinging attack on refs, FA and top flight chiefs April 11, 2012 FULHAM chairman Mohamed Al Fayed has launched a stinging attack on the game’s lawmakers, accusing referees of being influenced by big clubs and questioning the integrity of both the Football Association and the Premier League. Al Fayed has written to both bodies demanding “an immediate review of refereeing practices and the process of decision making” [...]
Van Persie rediscovers touch as Gunners tighten grip on Champions League place April 11, 2012 PREMIER LEAGUE WOLVES 0 vs ARSENAL 3 ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger is refusing to take third place in the Premier League for granted, after a comfortable win at 10-man basement club Wolves increased their cushion to five points. Early goals from Robin van Persie and Theo Walcott followed by Yossi Benayoun’s late strike swept the [...]
Carroll lifts Dalglish as Reds keeper crisis grows April 10, 2012 PREMIER LEAGUE BLACKBURN 2 vs LIVERPOOL 3 LIVERPOOL manager Kenny Dalglish sidestepped another refereeing row last night after an evening of mixed fortunes saw £35m misfit Andy Carroll snatch a late winner but the Reds’ goalkeeping crisis deepen. Carroll headed home in injury time to claim his first Premier League goal since January and earn [...]
Ivanovic faces ban after day of shock calls April 10, 2012 CHELSEA defender Branislav Ivanovic is facing a three-match ban and QPR have failed in an appeal against Shaun Derry’s controversial red card after a day of surprising decisions by the Football Association. Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli will also face no further action over his knee-high challenge on Arsenal’s Alex Song, meaning he could return [...]
Twenty20 blow as Broad told he’ll miss IPL April 10, 2012 ENGLAND’S 20-over captain Stuart Broad is set to miss valuable short-form cricket practice ahead of this year’s World Twenty20 after being ruled out of the remainder of the Indian Premier League season. Nottinghamshire paceman Broad, who flew home early from the recent tour of Sri Lanka with a calf strain, is not expected to recover [...]
Silva, not Balotelli, is real reason for City’s collapse April 10, 2012 LARGER than life Mario Balotelli has borne the brunt of the blame for the collapse of Manchester City’s Premier League title challenge, but he is just one of the reasons for their dramatic slide, and not the biggest. Losing influential midfielder Yaya Toure in January during the African Cup of Nations was a massive loss [...]
Malaysia date for Arsenal tour April 10, 2012 FOOTBALL: Arsenal will kick off their pre-season tour of Asia with a game against a Malaysia XI in Kuala Lumpur on 24 July, the club have confirmed. The Gunners will then face Premier League rivals Manchester City in Beijing’s iconic Bird’s Nest stadium on 27 July, before finishing the tour in Hong Kong on 29 [...]
Champions League fight to go to wire, says Di Matteo April 9, 2012 FULHAM (1) vs CHELSEA (1) Chelsea boss predicts tight battle after late Dempsey goal denies Blues top-four boost CHELSEA manager Roberto di Matteo expects the four-way skirmish for two Champions League places to remain unresolved until the final day of the season, after local rivals Fulham dented their hopes last night. Midfielder Frank Lampard’s penalty [...]
Redknapp concedes third place to Arsenal April 9, 2012 TOTTENHAM (1) vs NORWICH (2) TOTTENHAM manager Harry Redknapp has all but conceded defeat in the battle for third place after their late-season slump deepened with a shock home defeat to Premier League surprise package Norwich. Goals from Anthony Pilkington and Elliott Bennett, either side of Jermain Defoe’s equaliser, condemned Spurs to a fourth defeat [...]