Author: AC

Southampton, 1998/99 When Santa Claus was making his way down the world’s chimneys on Christmas Day 1998, there was little festive cheer to be found in Southampton. Dave Jones’ men were mired in a relegation battle having won just three of their first 18 matches and conceded 35 goals – the worst defensive record in the division. A 2-0 defeat by Chelsea followed on…

We pick our favourites, what are yours? From Lewis Hamilton’s fifth world drivers’ title, to Gareth Bale’s Champions League Final stunner and Europe’s stunning Ryder Cup win, it’s been another incredible 12 months of sport. We’ve listed 10 of our favourite moments from 2018 below, if you think there’s one we’ve missed, then let us know! England win a shootout An unbelievable summer produced…

Odds and preview of Prem tussle It may be the season of goodwill, but neither Southampton nor West Ham United will be in a generous mood, with tonight’s Premier League clash vital for both sides. Saints are bidding to boost their three-point gap above the drop zone after a couple of wins under new boss Ralph Hassenhuttl. As for the Irons, victory could take…

KING POWER STADIUM, LEICESTER — Football’s greatest asset is not the quality of the players. It is not the personality of the managers either, though both are great. Its capacity to bring people together is wonderful too, although it sounds a little too much like a line said smugly by a Fifa executive who 10 years later gets led out from a Swiss hotel…

CHAMPION HILL, LONDON — Ten months away from home. That’s how long Dulwich Hamlet spent exiled from Champion Hill. When property developers Meadow Residential locked them out of their ground in March, it seemed like an existential threat to a club which had been one of non-league football’s greatest success stories in the years previous. Thousands of fans were left with the prospect of nowhere to go…

WEMBLEY STADIUM, LONDON — That’s 11 goals in two matches either side of Christmas. That’s 45 points from 19 games, Tottenham‘s best start to a season since the Glory Glory year of 1961. That’s a point more than Manchester City. They will never win the league, though. To suggest so is to invite death by rotten fruit and titters. Never mind are they challengers.…

A Mohamed Salah penalty put Liverpool 2-0 up against Newcastle on Boxing Day. With Manchester City losing to Leicester it looked like a crucial goal as the Reds tried to build their lead at the top of the Premier League table. While Liverpool fans were delighted, it's fair to say their counterparts in the away end, as well as a fair few pundits and…

Welcome to the BetBright STATZONE, where we give you the stats and you make the decisions! No let-up for the top-class racing action over the festive period with another huge day of National Hunt action on Wednesday 27th December. The ITV cameras head to Kempton for three races for the second and final day of their Winter Festival, while they are also at Chepstow to take…

Odds and preview for festive fixtures There’s a packed Premier League fixture list today. But which teams will be giving their fans a belated Christmas present? There are three games to enjoy on Sky Sports Premier League as you tuck into your turkey sandwiches. First up is a clash between two promoted sides, as Fulham host Wolves. Arsenal then travel to Brighton & Hove…

12.30 Chepstow – Nativegetaway They have given him a handicap mark of 120 but he could not qualify for the handicap race there as he has had just the two runs so he needs to have another spin. He likes the track and 2m3f is just about ok on this ground. It looks to be a competitive maiden hurdle and there might be one…

12.30 Chepstow – Jasmine Des Bordes We were pleased with his first run where he showed a good attitude at Exeter. We have decided to go straight to hurdling with him now as he has schooled well at home. His point-to-point form is solid and hopefully I can get the day off to a good start at Chepstow with a winner. David Pipe’s horses…

Marco Silva insists that all of his Everton players must take responsibility for their recent poor form and will not single out Jordan Pickford. Pickford, 24, established himself as one of the most sought-after young goalkeepers in the world after starring for England in the World Cup, but in recent weeks has been culpable of some howlers that have cost his side. Early in…

Dele Alli has been back to something like his best in recent weeks, scoring three goals in a period in which Tottenham have won six of their past seven games. An injury picked up in Spurs' win over Everton on Sunday, however, means he is a doubt for a busy festive period which includes matches against Bournemouth, Wolves and Cardiff in the space of…

“We’re going to kill the players,” said an exasperated Pep Guardiola in January 2018. “I know here in England the show must go on, but that’s not normal, guys.” Manchester City’s coach was bemused by the sheer intensity of the Premier League’s Christmas schedule. And he was not the first to voice such an opinion. Throughout Europe, it is customary to have a break…

Premier League Boxing Day Accumulator: New manager bounce in full flow at Old Trafford and St Mary’s It’s somewhat ironically the dawn of a new era at Old Trafford given those who have replaced Jose Mourinho are from a bygone era, a much happier time. There’s no denying that United fans have a lot to be festive about, even though many rival fans will argue ‘they…