by ldh2013 » Fri Jun 24, 2016 9:06 am
NORWICH, England -- Norwich sacked manager Chris Hughton and his backroom staff Sunday and replaced him with former player Neil Adams in a bid to keep the club in the Premier League next season. . The decision came a day after a 1-0 home loss to fellow struggler West Bromwich Albion, which left Norwich in 17th in the Premier League standings, just five points above the relegation zone after losing four out of its last six matches. Four of the teams remaining five games are against Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal -- by far the toughest run-in of any of the relegation-threatened teams. Norwich said in a statement it parted ways with Hughton and his staff "to give the club the maximum chance to secure the points required between now and the end of the season to ensure retention of our Barclays Premier League status." The 48-year-old Adams was promoted from his previous post as under-18 coach. He played 206 matches for Norwich between 1993 and 1999, having won the league with Everton in 1987. "To say that I am delighted to have been offered the opportunity of managing Norwich City Football Club would be a massive understatement," Adams said. "People know what this club means to me, and so it goes without saying that we will be doing everything possible to ensure that we maintain our top-flight status for next season. "These final five games will be a huge test for us, and everyone must step up to the mark. But with the full backing of these magnificent Norwich supporters we will have every chance of achieving our objective." Hughton guided the Canaries to 11th place last season, and Norwich said "he has represented the club with dignity throughout his tenure." "However the recent run of four defeats in our last six Premier League games and six consecutive away league defeats, left the club with no choice but to act, with five games still to play in the current campaign," the clubs statement said. . -- Hockey fans in Brandon only needed to show up for one period, and the Wheat Kings made it count. .With Paes serving for the match, Hingis, a five-time singles champion, hit a hard overhead to Mladenovic, who netted a half volley from near the baseline.Hingis, who won three singles and six doubles titles at Melbourne Park, returned to the tour to play doubles in 2013 and teamed with the 41-year-old Paes for the first time at the Australian Open. . We have not discussed a new contract with AK Bars, said Burmistrov in an interview with Russian website Championat.com. I want to try myself across the ocean again, to fulfill my dream and play in the NHL.PHILADELPHIA -- Kyle Kendrick and his offence were in sync for the first time in a while. Ryan Howard had five RBIs and Kendrick pitched sharply into the seventh inning to snap his 10-game losing streak as the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Colorado Rockies 9-0 Monday. A day after Dodgers right-hander Josh Beckett threw a no-hitter against the Phillies, leadoff man Ben Revere started with a single for the first of Philadelphias 12 hits. Kendrick (1-5) allowed six hits over 6 2-3 innings to earn his first win since last Aug. 6, a span of 16 winless starts. His best performance since that skid came against the top offence in the majors. The Rockies are first in runs (262) and batting average (.291), but have been shut out in two straight games. Kendrick had several strong starts during his losing streak but didnt get much run support. He also had some poor outings when the offence produced. "It was tough. It was a grind," Kendrick said. "I tried to keep games close, pitch deep and give us a chance. Some of those wins and losses are out of your control." Jhoulys Chacin (0-4) gave up four runs and seven hits in five-plus innings. He has lost five straight decisions dating to last season. "I felt fine and my pitches were moving pretty good," Chacin said. Mike Adams relieved Kendrick and fanned Troy Tulowitzki with two on to end the seventh in a 4-0 game. Antonio Bastardo and Justin De Fratus finished off the seven-hitter. The key for Kendrick was getting through the first inning scoreless. He didnt allow a run in the first for the first time in five starts after giving up nine total runs in the opening frame in his previous four outings. "I didnt have my best command, but I made pitches when I needed to," Kendrick said. "No runs is all that matters." Chase Utley got the Phillies going in the fourth by reaching on an infield single with two outs. He advanced to secondd on a wild pitch and scored when Howard lined a single to right, snapping Philadelphias 15-inning scoreless streak. . Howard was 0 for 17 before the hit. "We got good pitches to hit and we jumped out early," Howard said. "Our approach was similar. Sometimes when a guy is on, hes on. You can have a bad day yesterday, but next day is a fresh start." The Phillies hustled out a run in the fifth. Domonic Brown walked and sprinted to third on Carlos Ruizs single to left. Two outs later, Revere dove headfirst into first base to beat out an infield single and give the Phillies a 2-0 lead. Kendrick escaped a two-out jam in the sixth, retiring Josh Rutledge on a foul pop to leave runners at second and third. Howard connected in the sixth, sending a drive into the right-centre stands for his eighth homer and a 4-0 lead. Utley hit an RBI double in the seventh and Howard followed with a two-run single. Pinch-hitter John Mayberry Jr. capped the scoring outburst with a two-run shot. "It was a good bounce-back game for us," Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said. "It was good to see Kendrick was solid against a good lineup." NOTES: Phillies lefty Cliff Lee was not cleared to start throwing and will be re-evaluated in three days. Lee has an elbow strain and was placed on the disabled list last week. "Its definitely better, but its still there," Lee said. "No sense in rushing it." ... Chacin didnt have a wild pitch this season before throwing three in the fourth inning. ... Charlie Culberson made his third straight start for injured Rockies 3B Nolan Arenado. ... Colorado was shut out for the third time this season. ... Matt Beech was the last Phillies pitcher to lose 11 straight decisions. His streak went from Aug. 13, 1996, to Aug. 2, 1997. ... LHP Jorge De La Rosa (5-3) goes for the Rockies against LHP Cole Hamels (1-2, 4.30 ERA) on Tuesday night. ' ' '
