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 [...]
I’ll repay loyal Chelsea fans with goals, swears revitalised Torres September 26, 2011 CHELSEA striker Fernando Torres hopes his new-found ruthlessness in front of goal will help repay loyal Blues fans who backed him through his drought. Torres’ goal against Swansea on Saturday, following his effort at Manchester United six days previously, means he has now scored in successive games for the first time since his £50m January [...]
Gutsy Rangers make sure that justice is Dunne September 25, 2011 QPR (1) vs ASTON VILLA (1) AN INJURY-TIME own goal from Richard Dunne earned 10-man Queens Park Rangers a deserved point against Aston Villa but it wasn’t enough to spare referee Michael Oliver the wrath of R’s boss Neil Warnock. Rangers were made to pay for their first half profligacy when Oliver, 26, harshly adjudged [...]
Hargreaves frightened by end of injury ordeal September 22, 2011 REVITALISED Owen Hargreaves admits he was scared before making a triumphant Manchester City debut in Wednesday’s Carling Cup win over holders Birmingham. The midfielder’s injury-ravaged career looked all but over, having barely played at all in the last three years, until City took a chance and signed the 30-year-old free agent last month. He repaid [...]
Van Persie: We’ll fight out of crisis September 22, 2011 ARSENAL captain Robin van Persie has urged the beleaguered Gunners to come out fighting when they resume their Premier League nightmare against Bolton tomorrow. Last week’s defeat at struggling Blackburn marked another low in an already testing season and prompted fresh questions about manager Arsene Wenger’s future. But Van Persie said: “We realise this is [...]