Lampard at the treble in Chelsea romp October 2, 2011 BOLTON (1) vs CHELSEA (5) CHELSEA manager Andre Villas-Boas insists he will not allow a player’s age to influence his team selection after Frank Lampard rolled back the years with a clinical hat-trick. Lampard followed up his midweek strike at Valencia with a vintage treble, while striker Daniel Sturridge grabbed the other two as the [...]
Taarabt strop a storm in a tea cup, insists Warnock October 2, 2011 FULHAM (6) vs QPR (0) QUEENS PARK RANGERS manager Neil Warnock insisted Adel Taarabt’s petulant response to being substituted was not his main cause of concern after watching Andrew Johnson’s hat-trick inspire a rout of his side. Morocco midfielder Taarabt, who recently lost the captaincy following the arrival of Joey Barton, failed to emerge for [...]
No room for Ferdinand or Gerrard as Capello snubs the old guard ahead of Euro qualifier October 2, 2011 FORMER England captain Rio Ferdinand has been left out of England’s squad for the Euro 2012 qualifier in Montenegro on Friday. Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard, only recently fit again following six months out with groin trouble, has also been overlooked. Gerrard had confessed he was short of fitness ahead of the squad announcement but Ferdinand [...]
Triple salvo from big guns save Spurs from Shamrock shocker September 29, 2011 TOTTENHAM 3 vs SHAMROCK ROVERS 1 `TOTTENHAM striker Jermain Defoe insisted justice had been done after they survived a huge scare at home to Irish part-timers Shamrock Rovers. Spurs looked set to suffer a humiliating Europa League defeat when Stephen Rice diverted a long-range shot to give the visitors a shock lead. But the Premier [...]
Scholes offers Tevez unlikely sympathy September 29, 2011 MANCHESTER CITY outcast Carlos Tevez, who has been told he has no future at the club following his apparent refusal to play, has found an unlikely ally in Manchester United coach Paul Scholes. City suspended Tevez for two weeks on Wednesday, 24 hours after manager Roberto Mancini accused him of ignoring his orders to warm [...]
North London bragging rights can go to Redknapp’s Tottenham September 29, 2011 TOTTENHAM fans would have feared the worst when their team was hammered 5-1 by Manchester City at White Hart Lane last month, but they have since won three straight Premier League contests and will be looking to add to Arsenal’s woes on Sunday. Spurs have lost just one of their last six league clashes against [...]
Villas-Boas maintains his love of Lampard September 27, 2011 VALENCIA vs CHELSEA CHELSEA manager Andre Villas-Boas has launched a passionate defence of Frank Lampard and hit out at suggestions the England stalwart is set for a reduced role at the club this season. The 33-year-old Lampard, who once set a record for consecutive Premier League appearances, has started three of Chelsea’s last four matches on [...]
Stuttering Sunderland downed by Lambert’s improving Canaries September 26, 2011 NORWICH 2 vs SUNDERLAND 1 NORWICH catapulted themselves into the top half of the Premier League table following their first home win of the season at the expense of Sunderland. Centre-back Leon Barnett put the Canaries ahead in front in the 31st minute after winger Elliott Bennett cut into the penalty area and delivered low [...]
Euro aristocrats Bayern hold no fear for Mancini and Man City September 26, 2011 BAYERN MUNICH vs MANCHESTER CITY MANCHESTER CITY manager Roberto Mancini has reiterated his belief that the Premier League upstarts can ignite their maiden Champions League campaign with victory at one of Europe’s traditional superpowers. Mancini joked in the aftermath of the 1-1 draw at home to Napoli – City’s opening Group A fixture – that [...]
Ferguson determined to improve Euro record September 26, 2011 MANCHESTER UNITED vs BASEL MANCHESTER UNITED manager Sir Alex Ferguson insists only once his side have claimed a fourth Champions League crown can they claim to be enjoying a golden period in their European history. United have contested three of the last four finals, a return which not even current holders Barcelona can match, but [...]