Soccer-Villa will be like wounded animals, warns Southampton boss

LONDON, Jan 11 (Reuters) - Southampton must be ready for a backlash from "wounded animal" Aston Villa when the Premier League strugglers meet at Villa Park on Saturday, manager Nigel Adkins warned.Villa, entrenched in a miserable run of form, suffered a shock 3-1 defeat at fourth tier Bradford City in their Capital One (League) Cup semi-final, first-leg meeting on Tuesday."They'll be a wounded animal...

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Soccer-Higuain back and ready to try and fill Ronaldo's boots

MADRID, Jan 11 (Reuters) - Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain has said he is ready to step up and fill Cristiano Ronaldo's boots when the champions visit bottom club Osasuna in La Liga on Saturday without their suspended leading scorer.The Argentina international has just returned from two months on the sidelines with a hamstring problem picked up against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League...

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Soccer-Sturridge made right choice in Liverpool, says Henderson

LONDON, Jan 11 (Reuters) - New Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge made the right choice in joining the Anfield side from Premier League rivals Chelsea for an undisclosed fee last week, according to Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson.Sturridge, who struggled to hold down a regular first-team place after joining Chelsea from Manchester City in 2009, scored after seven minutes on his debut in the...

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Friday's Sports In Brief

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) -- Alabama coach Nick Saban sent home two backup players from the BCS championship game for violating curfew.A person with knowledge of the decision said the players were freshman linebackers Dillon Lee and Ryan Anderson. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the school didn't release names.A statement from Saban announced the disciplinary action. Alabama's...

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Report says Armstrong may confess to doping

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Lance Armstrong is reportedly considering a change in course, dropping his years of denials and admitting that he used performance-enhancing drugs.The New York Times, citing anonymous sources, reported late Friday that Armstrong has told associates he is thinking about the move.However, Armstrong attorney Tim Herman says that the cyclist hasn't reached out to USADA chief executive...

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Report says Armstrong may confess to doping, though move could have cons and benefits

AUSTIN, Texas - Lance Armstrong is reportedly considering a change in course, dropping his years of denials and admitting that he used performance-enhancing drugs.The New York Times, citing anonymous sources, reported late Friday that Armstrong has told associates he is thinking about the move.However, Armstrong attorney Tim Herman says that the cyclist hasn't reached out to USADA chief executive...

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YEARENDER-Tennis-Golden year for Murray, regrets for Nadal

LONDON, Dec 28 (Reuters) - For Andy Murray 2012 marked a golden milestone, for Novak Djokovic the year was an emphatic reminder of his status as the world's best male player, and for Roger Federer and his army of fans it was proof that the old master's magic still sparkles.Serena Williams used the second half of the year to demonstrate that she continues to be head and shoulders above her rivals in...

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Olympics sparkle at height of magical British summer

LONDON (Reuters) - London defied Britain's wettest summer for 100 years, potential transport and security chaos and a depressed economy to stage a marvelous 2012 Olympics during a magical year for British sport.Over the past century Britons have become resigned to watching the rest of the world beat them at games they had either invented or codified at the height of the island nation's imperial splendor.This...

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Asia delights in Olympic success but big names flop

Another shower of gold at the Olympics confirmed China's status as the powerhouse of Asian sport but there were few standout performances away from London for the continent's top sporting talents to crow about in 2012.The likes of Sachin Tendulkar and the Indian cricket team, Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao and Chinese tennis player Li Na had years ranging from the mediocre to the downright awful.There...

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