The Sports Matrix: Monday 5 September 2011

Walcott sticks to his guns with book

Theo Walcott says he is “very happy” with his new book, Theo: Growing Up Fast, which includes criticism of Fabio Capello. “I knew it wouldn’t cost me [a place in the England team],” said the Arsenal forward. “If I play well, the manager will pick me.” MORE

Saints’ late show denies Gloucester

A 77th-minute Ryan Lamb penalty helped Northampton beat Gloucester 26-24 at Franklin’s Gardens in the opening round of the Premiership. The visitors appeared set for the points with a late Freddy Burns drop only for Lamb’s intervention. MORE

Capello warns Carroll over fitness

Andy Carroll has been warned over his fitness by England manager Fabio Capello. The forward failed to make the bench in Friday’s 3-0 win in Bulgaria. “He is big. He needs to play games, games, games,” Capello said. “He needs to find good form.” MORE

Somerset to meet Surrey in final

Somerset and Surrey will play in the CB40 final on 17 September. Somerset beat Durham by 39 runs on the Duckworth-Lewis system, thanks to Arul Suppiah’s 57. Surrey beat Sussex by 71 runs in a 24-over match at The Oval, having set a target of 229. MORE

Williams looks to push on after win

Serena Williams is wary that she needs to remain consistent if she is to win the US Open. “I’m only in the round of 16 now,” said the American following her victory over Belarus’ Victoria Azarenka on Saturday. “I’ve got to keep going the best I can.”

Djokovic dances into fourth round

Novak Djokovic felt inspired to dip into a dance routine following his win over Nikolay Davydenko, after seeing a fan dance in the stands on the screen. “You need to give them something in return,” said Djokovic, who plays Ukraine’s Alexandr Dolgopolov in the fourth round. MORE

Opinion: James Lawton

In New Zealand, Jonny Wilkinson has the chance to confirm that his career has been a unique example of commitment to the sporting nation, even if he provides as many certainties of what he cannot as of what he can. MORE

Farah seizes gold and Idowu silver on final day

Mo Farah won gold in the 5,000m final on the last day of the World Athletics Championship yesterday, while team-mate Phillips Idowu had to settle for silver, relinquishing the title he won in Berlin in 2009. Last Sunday Farah had gold snatched from him in the 10,000m by Ibrahim Jeilan. Yesterday, though, he was very quick on the final straight, crossing the line 0.28sec ahead of Bernard Lagat. Farah became the first British distance runner, at 5,000m, 10,000m or marathon, to take a global title. “I’m very proud,” Farah said. “I came so close in the 10,000m and I just wanted to do it in the 5,000m. When it came to the home straight, I just thought of what my coach had told me: ‘Don’t let anyone past you’.” Idowu could not take gold, though, as he was overtaken by American Christian Taylor’s jump of 17.96m. Londoner Idowu responded with 17.77m but had to settle for the silver medal. The Jamaican 4 x 100m relay team set a new world record of 37.04 seconds, with Usain Bolt running fourth. MORE