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The sporting week ahead (27/05/12)

Today

Andre Villas-Boas was the most high-profile casualty

Liverpool target Villas-Boas after parting company with Dalglish

Liverpool's American owners have made contact with Andre Villas-Boas in the past two weeks, in an attempt to establish his interest in taking over at Anfield, where Kenny Dalglish was yesterday dismissed.

Cardiff play in blue

Cardiff halt plans for kit colour change following opposition from fans

Cardiff will not proceeded with plans to change the club's badge and home colours following strong opposition from supporters.

Chris Hughton took Birmingham to the play-off semi finals

Chris Hughton plays down exit talk following Birmingham play-off elimination

Birmingham manager Chris Hughton was adamant the aftermath of his team's npower Championship play-off semi-final heartache at the hands of Blackpool was no time to discuss his future.

Up for grabs will be 5000 tickets to see the 100m final (and almost certainly Usain Bolt) on 5 August

On your marks... get set... buy! Olympic ticket sale reopens

Golden chance for 20,000 'lucky losers' in first ballot to see 100m final as final batch is released

Ian Holloway is trying to take Blackpool back to the Premier League

Ian Holloway says Blackpool will need monumental effort against Birmingham

Blackpool manager Ian Holloway insists it will take a monumental effort from his players to preserve their slender npower Championship play-off semi-final advantage over Birmingham.

The Sports Matrix: Tuesday 8 May 2012

Dunfermline relegated from SPL

West Ham midfielder Kevin Nolan celebrates scoring the opening goal during the win over Cardiff City

Hammers nail down Wembley final place

West Ham one step closer to top-flight return – and £90m – after 5-0 aggregate win over Cardiff

West Ham reach Championship play-off final

West Ham 3 Cardiff 0 (West Ham win 5-0 on aggregate)

Cardiff’s manager, Malky Mackay, says ‘it’s only half-time’ in the tie

Patchy home form is the Hammers' main worry

West Ham United should confirm their passage to the Championship play-off final this afternoon, when they host Cardiff City in their semi-final second leg, having won 2-0 in Wales last week.

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard

Liverpool must produce team effort to win FA Cup says Steven Gerrard

Finals tend to bring out the best in Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard but he insists if they are to beat Chelsea in the FA Cup at Wembley tomorrow it will have to be a team effort.

Jack Collison makes sure everyone knows his name after scoring his second goal for West Ham

Clinical Jack Collison puts West Ham in complete control against Cardiff

Cardiff City 0 West Ham United 2

David Marshall of Cardiff fails to save from Jack Collison of West Ham United at Cardiff City Stadium

Welshman Collison shoots down Bluebirds

Cardiff City 0 West Ham United 2

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce

Sam Allardyce preparing West Ham for all play-off eventualities

West Ham boss Sam Allardyce has left no stone unturned as he attempts to guide the club back to the Barclays Premier League via the play-offs.

Career Services

Day In a Page

Special report: Tamil asylum-seekers to be forcibly deported

Special report

Tamil asylum-seekers to be forcibly deported
The problem with social mobility

The problem with social mobility

Politicians who say they want to break down Britain's social barriers have been told to unlock closed-shop professions – starting in their own backyard
France's sixth biggest city* goes to the polls (*that's London, by the way)

France's sixth biggest city* goes to the polls (*that's London, btw)

Next month expats in the stronghold of South Kensington will have a big say in who is returned as the first French overseas MP
Aftershock: How Haiti's quake hit the whole of Hispaniola

Aftershock: How Haiti's quake hit the whole of Hispaniola

Two years on from the disaster that shook the Caribbean state, its eastern neighbour, the Dominican Republic, fears a new wave of illegal immigrants could hurt its economy
Mean streets at the movies

Mean streets at the movies

Plan B's new film explores the urban tensions that led to last summer's riots – and he's not the only one finding cinematic inspiration in social unrest
Romney hits the magic number, but his smartphone app fails crucial spelling test

Romney hits the magic number...

... but his smartphone app fails crucial spelling test
Car-crash TV: Ferrari quits news after gaffes, rows and poor ratings

Car-crash TV: Ferrari quits news after gaffes, rows and poor ratings

Weeks after the demise of Sarkozy, the TF1 star he's said to have dated finds herself out of office too
Meet your doctor (please don't unplug it)

Meet your doctor (please don't unplug it)

Can a network of hi-tech terminals and online medics make the connection?
The 10 Best cycling gear

The 10 Best cycling gear

It’s summer, it's sunny... it’s the perfect time to get on your bike.
Song of the suicide bomber: How 'Babur in London' negotiated a cultural minefield

Song of the suicide bomber

Daring new opera 'Babur in London' features British terrorists planning an attack.
The school that brought the International Baccalaureate to the East End

Bringing the IB to the East End

The International Baccalaureate is not just for pupils in leafy suburbs.
England must beware brilliant Belgium

England must beware brilliant Belgium

They may have missed out on the Euros but the Belgians have a rash of young players who, thanks to the unifying skills of their coach, look to have a bright future
James Lawton: Liverpool must show new man the respect he needs to do the job

James Lawton

Liverpool must show new man the respect he needs to do the job
2012: the year when England's support decided to stay at home

2012: the year when England's support decided to stay at home

Three Lions will play their Euro 2012 games in front of only a few thousand of their fans
What's wrong with Rory?

What's wrong with Rory?

Is the trouble with the defending US Open champion in his head, in his swing, with his girlfriend – or is it all in the minds of others?