In it for the long run: one month to go

This week has been all about coming back down to earth with a big, muscle-aching bump. After the elation — and elevation — of my running weekend in the Highlands it was back to pounding the pavements and racking up the miles in a far more urban setting.
At this stage of the training, now only [...]

By Jane Bainbridge | Sport | Thursday, 24 March 2011 at 12:19 pm

iBet: Simply – England are better than Wales

Wales v England, Euro 2012 Qualifiers, Saturday 3pm
Back England at 1-2
Wales have only scored once in their three qualifying games so far – against Switzerland, Montenegro and Bulgaria – so they won’t be relishing a competitive game against the old enemy England. In contrast England have only conceded once and have scored seven times. Put [...]

By Gareth Purnell | Sport | Thursday, 24 March 2011 at 1:00 am

English former Philippines head coach Simon McMenemy is on his way to Vietnam

When unknown Englishman Simon McMenemy was appointed Head Coach of the Philippines last year, a few eyebrows were raised. His previous job had been as Assistant Manager at Worthing FC and his only major managerial experience had come from a spell in charge of his hometown club, Haywards Heath.
At the time though there was barely [...]

By James Goyder | Sport | Wednesday, 23 March 2011 at 3:14 pm

iBet: Blackburn’s run-in looks the toughest

Premier League League relegation
Back Blackburn for relegation at 9/4 – generally available
Having looked at the remaining fixtures for the teams concertinaed at the bottom of the Premier League, in my opinion Blackburn are the wrong price at 9/4 to go down. I feel they should be more like 6/4. Blackburn might sit in 15th at [...]

By Gareth Purnell | Sport | Wednesday, 23 March 2011 at 1:00 am

Rugby League: Non-try shows the law is an ass

I’m waiting for someone to explain to me satisfactorily why the Leeds-Saints match could have been decided by an outrageous non-try.
It was a storming game at Headingley, but it would have been a travesty if it had been won by young Zak Hardaker’s first try for the Rhinos.
In case you missed it, the pass from [...]

By Dave Hadfield | Sport | Tuesday, 22 March 2011 at 3:33 pm

iBet: Charlton are in a dire run of form

Charlton v Southampton, League One, tonight 7.45pm

Lay Charlton at 3.3 to one with Betfair
Charlton started off well under Chris Powell but they have hit a dire run of form. They have not won any of their last eight matches and indeed have lost seven of those, scoring only five time in that period. The result [...]

By Gareth Purnell | Sport | Tuesday, 22 March 2011 at 1:00 am

English clubs shouldn’t underestimate Inter Milan

Following last week’s draw for the Champions League quarter-finals, a word about defending champions Inter. To say that they are misunderstood or underestimated in England is in itself wrong, because frankly no one really cares much about them here. As was exhibited by a Chelsea representative after the draw who claimed “we’re happy because we [...]

By Varun Mathure | Sport | Monday, 21 March 2011 at 12:48 pm

iBet: Peterborough are the League One entertainers

Milton Keynes V Peterborough, League One, 7.45pm
Lay under 1.5 goals at 4-1 with Betfair
When Darren Ferguson took over as manager of Peterborough in January he pledged to shore up their defence. It took him about half a game to realise that for Peterborough, attack is the best form of defence and [...]

By Gareth Purnell | Sport | Monday, 21 March 2011 at 12:40 pm

Premier League review: Weekend rich in goals, poor in goalkeeping

Who scored the best top-flight goal of the weekend? Tough question.
Danny Higginbotham, with his stunning set-piece for Stoke? Good shout. How about Maynor Figueroa? The Honduran’s match-winner for Wigan nearly burst Birmingham’s net. Or was it Louis Saha? His low drive aided Everton in their win over Fulham and it carried personal resonance, for the [...]

By Giles Lucas | Sport | Monday, 21 March 2011 at 12:34 pm

Why the lean and mean Novak Djokovic of 2011 has tennis running scared

There was a brief passage of time when Novak Djokovic lived up to his nickname. The Djoker. Not because he was doing the life-and-soul-of-the-party thing, the impressions, the running commentary, the often profligate banter. No. Of course, it was very funny for a while. A breath of fresh air. But it was after the initial [...]

By Alexandra Willis | Sport | Monday, 21 March 2011 at 9:30 am