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Hull 1 - 1 Chelsea
Hull City produced a manful performance to hold Chelsea to a surprise draw as the title hopefuls missed the chance to take their league lead to four points.The Londoners were lacklustre to say the least, but that was down in no small part to Hull's brave approach. And it was the hosts who took the lead when Steven Mouyokolo headed home. Didier Drogba marked his return from Africa Cup of Nations duty with the equaliser from a free-kick, but Hull comfortably held on to a precious draw. It was no less than the hosts deserved from an all-action display and even though the result was not enough to move them out of the bottom three, it could provide a welcome fillip as they enter the crucial stages of their battle against relegation.We more than competed - BrownChelsea, meanwhile, can comfort themselves with the knowledge they go two points clear of Manchester United and six of Arsenal at the top of the table. Boss Carlo Ancelotti will surely consider this a missed opportunity, though, especially with a home match against the Gunners to come on Sunday. The Gunners' comprehensive defeat to United at the weekend looked to have turned the race for the Premier League title into a two-horse race, especially with Chelsea widely expected to move on to 57 points from 24 games with victory at the KC Stadium. On paper, it looked a straightforward task. Six straight wins in which they have scored 21 goals and conceded only four marked Chelsea out as clear favourites against a Hull side without a win in nine. But the hosts' disciplined and forceful approach, typified - as so often - by Stephen Hunt, stultified a Chelsea side far from their best.Your game against Arsenal & your trip to Old Trafford just became a whole lot more important! scobiedog The title chasers did have two good efforts in the first half hour; Frank Lampard forced a smart stop from Boaz Myhill with a dipping 20-yarder, while Michael Ballack tamely headed Branislav Ivanovic's superb cross from the right straight at the keeper. However, they were only the briefest glimpses of the visitors' quality as they failed to get out of first gear in the face of Hull's high-tempo tactics. It was testament to the hosts' first-half play that it was no great surprise when they took the lead, and even less so that it was from a set-piece. Of the 19 league goals Chelsea have conceded this season before the game, 14 had come from set-pieces, and the visitors struggled to deal with Hull's dead-ball situations throughout. And Mouyokolo took full advantage on the half hour as he headed home Hunt's corner unmarked from six yards out.Ancelotti positive at top spotIt served only to prompt a response from Chelsea, though, as they finally snapped out of their malaise long enough to equalise through Drogba's pin-point free-kick from the edge of the box. Any expectations that Hull would sink into their shell were wide of the mark, though. They continued to threaten from set plays, Anthony Gardner and Jozy Altidore both guilty of profligacy in front of goal from well directed Hunt deliveries. Myhill kept the scores level at the other end, sprawling one way and then the other to stop headers from Drogba and John Terry, booed throughout following press revelations about his private life, in quick succession. And that meant, with 15 minutes left, the match was finely in the balance. However, a grand assault from the visitors never even looked like coming, their final ball and incision in front of goal - as it had been all throughout the match - absent. With the away fans streaming for the exits there was at least a fine effort from substitute Daniel Sturridge, his left-footed shot tipped round the post by Myhill. But it was too little, too late from Chelsea, who will be desperate for an improved performance against Arsenal knowing the title race once again looks to be a three-horse race. Andy Murray rises to third in ATP rankings
Murray's next Grand Slam chance will be the French Open Andy Murray's impressive run to the final of the Australian Open has seen him rise up to third in the world in the latest ATP rankings.The 22-year-old, who lost in straight sets to world number one Roger Federer on Sunday, returns to the top three for the first time since October. He replaces Rafael Nadal, who retired injured in the quarter-finals. It is the first time Nadal has been outside the top three since before winning his first French Open in 2005. Novak Djokovic, who lost to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the last eight at Melbourne Park, moves up to number two. However Murray, on 7,800 points, is only 510 points adrift of the Serbian and after his defeat to Federer, the Scot is keener than ever to lift a Grand Slam title. "I'm hungry to win one," he said. "I haven't [achieved it] since I was 16, 17 years old when I started playing the junior Grand Slams. "I worked really, really hard to try to do it and give myself the opportunity. So far it has not been good enough but I'm sure one day it will be. 606: DEBATE Everyone knows that Murray is the second best player in the world at the moment, and will soon be back to No. 2. Djoko hasn't got the consistency or health to mount any serious challenges. Tiger Tim "I've got a long career ahead of me, and I'm going to have more opportunities to win them. "I hope that I will, but if I don't there are a lot more important things to worry about than tennis. "I'm getting closer to it and my results show that. I've just got to keep working hard." One person who feels Murray's hard work will pay off is Federer - he remains sure a Grand Slam success will come for his rival. "It's not an easy thing to do to win your first Grand Slam. That's not trying to screw with his head, you know. It's just a tough thing," said the Swiss. "The next one is not going to get any easier, but his game is so good that I'm convinced he will win one. "He has got everything you need to beat the best and to win big tournaments. I think he's extremely strong in his mind, and I just feel like he's got the game to do it. The question is just when."Henman and Becker on the Aussie Open finalAnd former Wimbledon champion Boris Becker believes Murray has the mental skills to achieve his dream. "The more often he gets to a semi or a final and doesn't win, I think the media over here is going to put even more pressure on him. I think we should all relax a little bit," he told the BBC. "The guy did amazing. There isn't another player in sight from this country who can do what he did." College Causeway - He is the greatest
If College Causeway could speak, like Ali, he too would be shouting from the roof tops. "I am the greatest!" The star tracker has put up some breathtaking displays over the past couple of years. But his performance in the Paddypower.com Irish Greyhound Derby final at Shelbourne Park last Saturday was his best - bar none. Many great canines have ended their career having failed to win the Irish Greyhound Derby. Tyrur Ted is one who springs to mind. A sensational tracker who won nearly everything there was to win except the Irish Derby. Late Late Show was another hugely popular star who looked destined for Derby success during his career. He came within a short head of completing the dream for his connections. Greyhounds such as Spiral Nikita, Droopys Maldini and Premier Fantasy were other superb trackers who many believed deserved to win an Irish Derby but never did.Going into last Saturday's Irish Derby final, even the most optimistic of College Causeway fans felt that their star was going to join that elite list of the 'nearly men'. On the night when it mattered most, it appeared as though the draw had done the 'People's Champion'. And that was after an undefeated path to the final.But then again, College Causeway tends to enjoy doing things the hard way. And when he doesn't, he then goes and breaks track records. His first round demolition is a prime example of that when he smashed the seven years standing track record at headquarters.As good as that first round exhibition was though, Derby final night will go down as one of the most memorable in the history of Shelbourne Park. And that's coming from people who have been going to the Derby twice as long as I have.In a race which so many different outcomes looked possible, nearly everything went wrong for College Causeway. He broke nearly too well. That meant squeezing between Cashen Legend and Shaneboy Lee followed. He then was sandwiched going into the dreaded opening bend. Now he was last heading down the back straight. Even the great College Causeway couldn't pull this one off.But as soon as some started to right him off, up went the customary College roar. He'd found a gap. He'd got himself back into this Derby. Within a matter of strides, he had moved himself into third. Oran Classic was the clear leader but everybody knew he wasn't the greatest of stayers. Sure hadn't 'College' overhauled him a week earlier in the semis.Cashen Legend was the next to be passed by 'College'. It was now a two dog race. And with 'The Causeway', as he was described in commentary, going faster than ever before, it was only a matter of time. In Grand National terminology, Crisp was tiring and Red Rum had him covered.Around the final bend and 'College' drew upsides. A quick glance across to say, 'it's me again' and off he went. The place went wild. The roof had finally come off Shelbourne Park. The 'People's Champion' had got his just reward.It's not often that greyhound racing gets to witness such a star. But he's more than that. As Sea The Stars is to the horse racing public, College Causeway is Ireland's champion. In fact, he belongs to us. And the best part about it all is that he's not finished yet either!
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