Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Sports World |
| Jewell bemoans lack of mental strength Posted: 29 Nov 2011 08:31 AM PST Ipswich manager Paul Jewell feels his side lack the mental strength to succeed after dropping more points in injury time. Goals from Alex Pearce and Noel Hunt saw Reading snatch a 3-2 victory over the Tractor Boys, despite the fact the side were trailing with just minutes to play. A week earlier, Nottingham Forrest scored twice in the last six minutes to condemn Ipswich to defeat by the same scoreline. Now Jewell has serious concerns about the ability of his side to see out games. "We're not strong enough. We're not mentally tough enough to see games out," Jewell told BBC Radio Suffolk. "We should have had the game sewn up last week. The team's lacking in cohesion and confidence." The side have now lost five games on the bounce and find themselves just one point of the relegation zone, losing their last three matches 3-2. Anyone who has placed a big Championship bet on them will not have been impressed. Jewell described the recent results as "sickening" and pointed out the way to get out of this rut is by games and that three points in either of their last two matches would have provided a confidence boost. He also reflected on a change of formation, revealed that although the diamond system he had employed this season had been working well, it had not been as effective in recent games. Although the width provided by Josh Carson and Jay Emmanuel-Thomas seemed to help going forward, the side's fragility at the back haunted them once again and the side now look set for a tough season.  |
| Robertson eyes UK Championship Posted: 29 Nov 2011 08:02 AM PST Neil Robertson is determined to make an impact at the UK Championship which gets underway in York next weekend. The Australian won the World Championship in 2010 but then suffered a dip in form which saw him drop down the rankings. However, he now believes he is back at his best and is confident of making a big impact at the Barbican Centre. Those following the latest snooker betting odds should remember this. "My form is looking good with the UK Championship and the Masters coming up," the 29-year-old said. "I've practised harder than ever this season and I am very solid. "Last season I was crashing out in the first or second round of most of the PTC events so it's great to have won a couple of tournaments." His performances on the baize have backed up this assessment and in October he claimed his second Players Tour Championship title of the season, making him only the second man to achieve this feat with Ronnie O'Sullivan being the other. Robertson's first PTC success this season saw him beat Ricky Walden in Warsaw, but it was the second victory that was arguably more impressive when he overcame rising star Judd Trump in the final of the Alex Higgins International Trophy. After securing the world title last year, the Australian then filed to get past the second round of the next three ranking event. However, he is still ranked fourth in the world and with this in mind there is every reason to expect he will pose a serious threat in York.  |
| Posted: 29 Nov 2011 05:04 AM PST Luke Donald goes into the final event on the European Tour in Hong Kong with the opportunity of making history by becoming the first player to top the money lists in both American and Europe in the same season. Donald is more than €1 million ahead of his nearest challenger in the money list in the Race to Dubai and a strong performance in the final event of the calendar would seal the historic double for the Englishman. Those following the best internet betting odds should remember this. German Martin Kaymer is second in the list but has opted not to play in Hong Kong so will not be able to catch Donald, however, third placed Rory Mcllroy is still in the hunt and could pass the world number one if he wins this week's tournament. Donald secured top spot in American by winning the Disney Classic in Florida on October 23. The fight goes on this week on the European Tour to secure a place in the season finale in Dubai, as the top 60 players in the money list qualify for the lucrative event. South African Hennie Otto boosted his chances of qualifying by winning the South African Open at the weekend in his home country to move up to 56th in the list. The man who will be looking over his shoulder in Hong Kong will be Ireland's Peter Lawrie, he is currently just inside the cut-off point in 60th place. One position outside the qualifying table is Scotland's Stephen Gallacher. Steve Webster, Peter Whiteford and Tom Lewis then follow respectively in the list and will be desperate for one of the top positions in Asia.  |
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