Under-pressure Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas has urged his side to cut out the defensive mistakes which contributed to a 3-1 Champions League defeat at Napoli. The Blues, who are 7/4 with bet365 to recover and reach the last eight, were cruelly exposed in the San Paolo, with the absence of inspirational skipper John Terry proving a major problem."We have to solve these mistakes at the back. We need this concentration right and this efficiency right, for sure," Villas-Boas admitted."We have full belief in these players and we have to continue to work with them to get it right."Villas-Boas will need to pick his players up quickly for their home Premier League clash with Bolton Wanderers on Saturday, with the Blues currently in fifth place in the table and in danger of missing out on the Champions League altogether next season.They will be boosted by the knowledge that they have won their last eight meetings with the Trotters and triumphed 5-1 at the Reebok Stadium earlier this season. Bet on this market at Back to Top
Cricket - Cook a concern for Pakistan (Wed, 22 Feb 2012)
England ODI captain Alastair Cook could pose a major threat to Pakistan in the upcoming three-match Twenty20 series, according to Misbah-ul-Haq. The left-handed opener, 4/1 with bet365 to be his team's leading batsman in the T20s, will remain in the UAE due to injuries among the England squad and with Cook having been in superlative form in the one-day internationals, Misbah fears a repeat performance.He admitted after seeing his side condemned to a 4-0 series whitewash in the 50-over game: "He's their in-form batsman, so he's a bit of a concern for us."Cook, often viewed as a Test specialist, made scores of 137, 102, 80 and 4 in the recent ODI action, thriving on the added responsibility of leading his side.Kevin Pietersen will also be looking to shine in the T20s, having scored back-to-back centuries of his own in the third and fourth ODIs, coming good in his new role at the top of the batting order. Bet on this market at Back to Top
Formula 1 - Vettel shines in testing (Wed, 22 Feb 2012)
Sebastian Vettel, who is 1/1 with bet365 to win a third successive world championship, reacted coolly to an impressive show in testing in Barcelona. The Red Bull ace headed the timesheets on day two at the Circuit de Catalunya, but refused to read too much into another impressive display.He said after a good day's work: "It's difficult to judge where we are compared with the others right now. It's all based on feeling and the feeling I have inside the car at the moment is fine."I'm looking forward to the last test and then really trying to get into the race mode and prepare for the start of the new season."The 2012 Formula 1 season gets underway in Australia on Sunday 18th March, with Vettel the strong favourite to be the man to catch once again.Last season he romped to the title by a massive margin of 122 points, winning 11 races, including the season-opener in Melbourne just under 12 months ago. Bet on this market at Back to Top
Cricket - Ponting eyes Ashes finale (Tue, 21 Feb 2012)
Australia great Ricky Ponting aims to feature in the 2013 Ashes series in England after confirming his retirement from one-day international cricket. The 37-year-old right-hander aims to end his Baggy Greens career on a high note, with Australia 5/2 with bet365 to regain the Ashes after two successive defeats.A defiant Ponting commented: "I will continue playing Test cricket. I think I've proved to myself and to everybody else that I'm still capable of dominating Test cricket, as I did in the last series against India."The passion for the international game of cricket for me has not died or changed one little bit. I still don't see a finish line as far as my international career is concerned."Ponting's Test future had been called into question ahead of the recent home series against India, with the veteran responding in superb style with 544 runs at an average of 108.80 as the tourists were whitewashed 4-0. Bet on this market at Back to Top
Golf - Donald still in positive mood (Tue, 21 Feb 2012)
Luke Donald is upbeat about the defence of his WGC Accenture Match Play Championship title, despite suffering in the final round of the Northern Trust Open. The world number one, who is 16/1 with bet365 to defend his title successfully at Dove Mountain, shot a 78 on Sunday to drop out of contention, but insists that his game is still in good shape for the challenge ahead.He told Reuters: "Compared to this time last year, I feel like I have more control - I am shaping the ball a little bit better."I certainly have good feelings going back to Dove Mountain and I love matchplay. I have a pretty good matchplay record, but you just never know with that format."Donald opens his bid for glory at Dove Mountain against South Africa's Ernie Els, with the Englishman aiming to repeat a run which ended with victory over Martin Kaymer 12 months ago. Bet on this market at Back to Top
Soccer - Hart keen on Euro glory (Tue, 21 Feb 2012)
Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart is eager to help his side to glory in the Europa League this season, with the Citizens 11/4 with bet365 to win the competition. City hold a 2-1 advantage from the first leg of their last-32 tie with FC Porto and Hart is eager to finish the job off at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday evening.The England international also believes that winning the trophy would be a major achievement, with some top-class sides still left in the competition.Hart told his club's official website: "People can say what they want about the Europa League, but there are a lot of top quality sides in the competition."Sporting Lisbon, Ajax, Porto, Valencia and Manchester United - some of the biggest names in world football - are all in this to win it. It's a great competition and make no mistake, one we want to win."City are at full strength for the return leg with Porto, with boss Roberto Mancini having plenty of options to choose from. Bet on this market at Back to Top
Soccer - Sturridge ready for Napoli test (Mon, 20 Feb 2012)
Daniel Sturridge insists Chelsea remain confident going into Tuesday's Champions League clash with Napoli, despite their recent poor form. The Blues, 9/4 with bet365 to win in Naples, are struggling to secure a top-four spot in the Premier League and could only draw with Championship outfit Birmingham City in an FA Cup fifth round clash at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.Sturridge accepts it will not be easy to beat Napoli, 13/10 to win Tuesday's game, who impressed against Manchester City in the group stage of the competition.Despite this, Sturridge believes Chelsea can prevail. He said: "We are all together as one and we are not a divided unit. We are a family and we've got a good unit going here and I think maybe we will see that in the next few games."We go into the Champions League with confidence because we are playing some good football." Bet on this market at Back to Top
Soccer - Giggs happy with United's position (Mon, 20 Feb 2012)
Ryan Giggs is looking forward to the last three months of the season as the race to be Premier League champions intensifies. Manchester City currently lead Manchester United by two points but this weekend could be pivotal in the race to finish top.City face struggling Blackburn in the Saturday evening kick-off at the Etihad Stadium and are 13/2 with bet365 to secure a 3-0 win. Meanwhile, Sir Alex Ferguson's team face a tough trip to Norwich City 24 hours later. United are 13/2 to draw 1-1 at Carrow Road.Welsh veteran Giggs insists: "We've had inconsistency, but I think some of the teams we have put out at times have really tested the squad to the limit."You need a little bit of luck to win things in a season, but overall most teams could do better. We're up there and we are in a good position." Bet on this market at Back to Top
Soccer - Injured Spurs stars could miss derby (Mon, 20 Feb 2012)
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp fears that several of his regular first-team stars could be forced to sit out Sunday's derby clash with Arsenal. Former Gunners striker Emmanuel Adebayor is the most likely absentee as the Togo international missed the goalless draw at Stevenage in the fifth round of the FA Cup after twisting a knee in training last week.Spurs, 12/5 with bet365 to win the FA Cup, go into the north London derby 10 points ahead of Arsenal, who are 6/4 to claim a top-four finish in the Premier League.Luka Modric is struggling with a bout of flu while Benoit Assou-Ekotto had a groin operation a week ago. Rafael van der Vaart and Sandro are also doubts for the derby. Bet on this market at Back to Top
Soccer - Coyle keen on FA Cup repeat (Fri, 17 Feb 2012)
Bolton Wanderers are looking to put their struggles in the Premier League behind them as they go in search of another long FA Cup run this season. The Trotters, who are 7/5 with bet365 to defeat Millwall in the fifth round on Saturday, made the semi-finals last year and boss Owen Coyle wants to emulate that success this term.With Bolton set for a relegation battle for the remainder of the season, Coyle is hopeful the FA Cup will provide a welcome distraction, although the Trotters' prospects have been hit by a knee injury to skipper Kevin Davies which will keep him out of action at The Den."The Premier League is unforgiving, but this is a different type of game," Coyle told the Bolton News. "It's knockout, it's everything on the day."We are where we are in the league, but on Saturday we'll be focused on getting as far as we possibly can in this competition again." Bet on this market at Back to Top
Football - Holloway hails Moyes quality (Fri, 17 Feb 2012)
Blackpool boss Ian Holloway has tipped Everton's David Moyes to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson as the next manager of Manchester United, ahead of their clash in the fifth round of the FA Cup this weekend. The Toffees are 1/2 with bet365 to win at Goodison Park on Saturday and make the last eight of the competition, and Holloway is expecting a tough time against a manager he rates extremely highly."I'm up against the man I reckon would be perfect to one day follow in the footsteps of Sir Alex Ferguson," Holloway told the Daily Echo."Everton have remained competitive over the past decade because David has stamped his personality on the place from top to bottom. I've got the feeling that he might end up in the biggest job of them all."Everton are unbeaten in their last six games in all competitions, while Blackpool have gone ten games unbeaten since the turn of the year. Bet on this market at Back to Top
Golf - Westwood on track to break Majors duck (Fri, 17 Feb 2012)
A Major victory is the one glaring omission from Lee Westwood's CV but the Englishman hopes to fill that gap in April. Westwood, who is 16/1 with bet365 to win the US Masters this year, looked certain to break his duck at Augusta two years ago, but was denied by two fantastic rounds by Phil Mickelson.But the world number two is happy with the way he has begun the new season and is confident he can end his wait for a Major this year. Westwood told Sky Sports: "Hopefully I'll win it. I think this year could be it. I'm certainly playing well enough and getting my game together."I've been working hard and putting in a lot of preparation, so hopefully all that will click into place." Bet on this market at Back to Top
Football - Holloway hails Moyes' quality (Fri, 17 Feb 2012)
Blackpool boss Ian Holloway has tipped Everton's David Moyes to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson as the next manager of Manchester United, ahead of their clash in the fifth round of the FA Cup this weekend. The Toffees are 1/2 with bet365 to win at Goodison Park on Saturday and make the last eight of the competition, and Holloway is expecting a tough time against a manager he rates extremely highly."I'm up against the man I reckon would be perfect to one day follow in the footsteps of Sir Alex Ferguson," Holloway told the Daily Echo."Everton have remained competitive over the past decade because David has stamped his personality on the place from top to bottom. I've got the feeling that he might end up in the biggest job of them all."Everton are unbeaten in their last six games in all competitions, while Blackpool have gone ten games unbeaten since the turn of the year. Bet on this market at Back to Top
