Scott Murray's Blog, page 108

January 7, 2020

The Fiver | For if they lean forward, 75cl of vintage port will cascade from each nostril

Folk have been bemoaning the destructive effects of financial inequality on the FA Cup for a while now, ever since Queen’s Park were forced to default their 1872 semi-final replay because they didn’t have enough cash left to stay in their hotel for another night in order to play the game. It’s been downhill ever since, and now we’ve just completed a third round with no shocks whatsoever. And no, suddenly noticing that Nasty Leeds are fun to watch these days because you’ve just caught them on telly after the One Show doesn’t count.

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Published on January 07, 2020 08:55

January 6, 2020

Arsenal 1-0 Leeds United: FA Cup third round – as it happened

Leeds gave Arsenal the runaround for a while, before Mikel Arteta’s side increased the intensity and booked a fourth-round tie at Bournemouth.

10.04pm GMT

So Arsenal go to Bournemouth in the fourth round, while Leeds regroup for their Championship bid. Nick Ames and Barney Ronay were at the Emirates tonight, and here are their verdicts on the quintessential game of two halves. Clickity click, enjoy, enjoy ... and thanks for reading this MBM. Nighty night!

10.01pm GMT

Mikel Arteta talks. “Now I am really pleased. But I think we have seen two different teams. One in the first 30 minutes, another from the first 30 minutes of the first half. I tried to give them advice, to tell them exactly what they were going to face. And after 32 minutes we started to win. We changed our attitude and desire, and at half-time our organisation. We were completely different. Leeds batter every team, but it is good to learn. Their intensity is really different.”

9.57pm GMT

The goalscoring hero Reiss Nelson speaks to the BBC: “Emotions are high. Leeds are a great team, and they pressed us hard, we didn’t expect it. But we got the goal in the end.”

Then man-of-the-match Alexandre Lacazette is asked what Mikel Arteta said at half-time. “He shouted a lot. He was not happy. Thank you Reiss for the goal!”

9.54pm GMT

The Leeds fans are giving their team a huge ovation, despite the result. They were deliciously good in the first half, blowing Arsenal away, lacking only a cutting edge. Admittedly the word “only” is doing a lot of work there. Arsenal couldn’t have complained had they been a couple of goals down. But they regrouped magnificently in the second half, beating Leeds at their own high-energy game, and managed to grind out the decisive goal. The sort of game Arsenal haven’t been winning so often in recent years. Leeds don’t look too distraught. You sense they’re more than happy to concentrate on their promotion push.

9.49pm GMT

Well that was a game of two halves, and no mistake. Leeds were totally dominant in the first half, but couldn’t find the net. Arsenal turned the tables in the second half, and Reiss Nelson scored the goal that made the difference. Arsenal will travel to Bournemouth in the fourth round!

9.48pm GMT

90 min +5: Douglas slips Harrison into space down the left. Harrison runs the ball out of play for a goal kick. That is surely that.

9.47pm GMT

90 min +4: Leeds need to get it upfield quickly. So White decides to beat two men in his own area instead of moving the ball on. He only just about gets away with it, but that’s cost Leeds precious time.

9.45pm GMT

90 min +3: Luiz takes, and shovels a ludicrous effort miles over the bar. Leeds are still alive ... just. Can they pull something out of the bag, and take Arsenal back to Elland Road?

9.44pm GMT

90 min +2: Guendouzi buys a cheap free kick off Costa, just to the right of the Leeds D. A great opportunity for the hosts to close this out.

9.44pm GMT

90 min +1: In the first of five extra minutes, Pepe is replaced by Saka.

9.43pm GMT

90 min: A brilliant chance for Harrison to save Leeds, as he’s sent into acres down the left. But upon entering the box, he hesitates over his shot, allowing Sokratis to challenge. Adding insult to injury, Sokratis plays the ball off him, and Leeds don’t even get a corner.

9.42pm GMT

89 min: Of course, prim old VAR has to spoil everyone’s fun, and far too much time is spent deciding whether Douglas had deliberately poked Sokratis in the eye. There’s nothing obvious to see, and on we go. Eventually.

9.41pm GMT

87 min: Now Arsenal are guarding the ball by the right-hand corner flag. Sokratis is sitting around the ball, legs akimbo. He’s swarmed by desperate Leeds players. Eventually Harrison, trying to work the ball out from betweek Sokratis’s legs, falls over. He clatters into Sokratis, knee on chin, boot up arse. It’s a moment of slapstick brilliance. No free kick. It’s only going to be a throw.

9.39pm GMT

85 min: Pepe swings the resulting free kick into the mixer. Leeds clear easily enough. But they need something in attack, quicksmart, and Arsenal aren’t affording them the opportunity. Paul Janaway will be pleased with all this: “Hopefully Arsenal will learn to grind out the game with Arteta. A learning process for many of the Arsenal youngsters and something we have lacked for years. Every game extra experience!”

9.37pm GMT

84 min: Willock and Kolasinac are happy to faff about near the left-hand corner flag. No attacking intent, just good game management. Eventually Martinelli decides to dribble towards the box, and is hauled down by Dallas, who goes in the book.

9.34pm GMT

82 min: ... Dallas crosses deep. Costa, at the far post, but too wide for a shot, passes back to nobody. Luiz clears.

9.34pm GMT

81 min: But Leeds aren’t finished yet. Costa breaks upfield and slips the ball wide right for Stevens, whose first-time cross is blocked out of play by Luiz. Corner. And from that ...

9.32pm GMT

80 min: ... Sokratis sends a shot sailing towards Highbury & Islington tube.

9.32pm GMT

79 min: Kolasinac bursts down the inside left. He one-twos with Lacazette, then shoots from a tight angle. Douglas slides in to deflect out for a corner. From which ...

9.31pm GMT

78 min: Ayling looks to have tweaked his hamstring. He’s replaced by Stevens, making his third appearance for Leeds.

9.29pm GMT

77 min: Ozil is replaced by Willock.

9.29pm GMT

75 min: Before the corner can be taken, VAR checks on a clash between Lacazette and Berardi. Lacazette had taken a little soft kick at the prone Leeds defender, after a brief tangle. But it’s not considered enough for a red card. Or any censure in fact. The corner, like the VAR rock-and-roll, comes to nothing.

9.27pm GMT

74 min: Lacazette turns away from two blue shirts, a gorgeous bit of skill. Leeds are now on the back foot. Pepe runs at them down the right and tees up Martinelli, who shoots. His effort is deflected over for a corner.

9.25pm GMT

72 min: Douglas goes direct for goal. Aiming for the top right, he’s always wide and high. Another let-off for Arsenal. But Leeds are at least showing in Arsenal’s half of the pitch now; they haven’t done that on a regular basis for quite a while.

9.23pm GMT

71 min: Costa spins Kolasinac smartly down the inside-right channel. Kolasinac sticks out a cynical arm and he’s in the book. Another free kick for Leeds, 30 yards out, right of centre.

9.22pm GMT

70 min: The free kick’s lumped in. The flag goes up for offside. Then another Leeds attack. A long ball. Costa and Bamford are both flagged. Frustration for Leeds.

9.21pm GMT

69 min: Ozil is stripped by Dallas, who makes off down the left. Ozil drags him back. Free kick. A chance for Leeds to cause some rare second-half bother in the Arsenal box.

9.20pm GMT

67 min: Klich is booked for a late clatter on Xhaka. That may raise a Leeds eyebrow or two, as Xhaka has been putting it about tonight without censure. But that’s the decision. Meanwhile Arsenal make their first change of the evening, replacing the goalscorer Nelson with Martinelli.

9.18pm GMT

65 min: Cute play from Ozil and Nelson, who work the ball in from the left and tee up Lacazette on the penalty spot. Lacazette attempts to spin and shoot, but collides with Berardi. Lacazette wants a penalty, and VAR take a look, but nothing is forthcoming.

9.16pm GMT

63 min: Xhaka swings a leg at Douglas. It’s late and clumsy, and he should be in the book, but referee Anthony Taylor is in a very generous mood tonight.

9.15pm GMT

61 min: Ozil and Lacazette combine on the edge of the Leeds D, slipping the ball to Nelson on the left. Nelson’s shot is deflected out for a corner on the right. The set piece comes to nothing, but the hosts continue to knock on the door. They’ve been relentless since the restart, a full switcheroo from the first half.

9.13pm GMT

60 min: Leeds make that double switch: Costa and Dallas come on for Gotts and Alioski.

9.12pm GMT

59 min: Pepe dribbles down the inside-right and sends a cross infield. The ball hits White’s chest. Pepe wants a penalty, but that’s not going to happen.

9.11pm GMT

58 min: Gotts tries to turn the tide with a shot from 25 yards. It’s wild and wide. On the touchline, Marcelo Bielsa prepares a double change.

9.10pm GMT

57 min: Arsenal passes are sticking now. And Leeds, who were first to everything in the first half, suddenly look a bit ragged. They’ve been shocked by Arsenal’s newly found intensity.

9.09pm GMT

Arsenal’s post-break pressure pays off! Pepe wins the ball in midfield and drives down the inside-right channel. He slips the ball wide right for Lacazette, who tries to return it. But the ball’s deflected towards Nelson instead. Nelson doesn’t quite connect properly, six yards out, but manages to bundle the ball over the line anyway. Leeds will wonder how it’s come to this, after their first-half dominance, but here we all are.

9.07pm GMT

54 min: Leeds finally get themselves going in the second half, Bamford drifting in from the right and pearling a low shot towards the bottom left that Martinez does extremely well to parry.

9.06pm GMT

52 min: Guendouzi curls a low shot inches wide of the bottom left. Where have this Arsenal been? Not turning up until the second half? Has Mikel Arteta bought Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s sat-nav?

9.05pm GMT

51 min: This is so much better from Arsenal. Guendouzi slips a pass in from the right for Ozil, who pauses, draws three players towards him, then tees up Lacazette to his left. Lacazette fires towards the bottom right. Meslier is behind it all the way.

9.03pm GMT

50 min: Lacazette takes. He whips over the wall towards the top left. It’s never coming down quickly enough, though. It skims the top of the crossbar. Meslier almost certainly had it covered.

9.02pm GMT

49 min: Xhaka drives down the inside left and purchases a cheap free kick off Klich, who clumsily barges him over from behind, just to the left of the D. A free kick in a very dangerous place.

9.02pm GMT

48 min: Nelson has another dribble down the left. He goes nowhere, but that’s OK. Arsenal have obviously been given the proverbial rocket at half time. They’re faster and sharper, and haven’t allowed Leeds a kick since the restart.

9.00pm GMT

46 min: And Arsenal come again, Lacazette flicking cutely down the middle for Nelson, who skedaddles with great purpose towards the Leeds box. White sticks on his shoulder, though, and does just enough to herd him away from goal before he can shoot. Phillips arrives to help out, and Leeds clear. But barely a minute of the second half has elapsed, and already Arsenal look a different team.

8.58pm GMT

45 min 13 sec: Pepe has a go from 30 yards. It flies 30 yards over, but that’s not the point. A necessary statement of intent.

8.57pm GMT

It’s the second half. Arsenal kick off. They were totally outplayed by Leeds in the first period; the visitors enjoyed 63 percent possession, and had 15 attempts on goal to Arsenal’s three. Leeds’ high-paced pressing has been too much for Arsenal, who will need to raise their game in this second half or they’ll be going out. No changes yet.

8.46pm GMT

Half-time entertainment.

8.44pm GMT

How on earth are Leeds not a couple of goals up? They’ve been utterly dominant, and have given Arsenal a proper chasing. I’d pay ready money to be a fly on the wall as Mikel Arteta turns on the hairdryer.

8.42pm GMT

45 min: Leeds stroke it around beautifully. Just as it looks as though they’re going to launch another sortie on the Arsenal goal, Alioski clumsily wanders offside. The Arsenal crowd holler at Sokratis; they want the game restarted quickly. But the defender is blowing hard, having been given the runaround for 44-and-a-half minutes, and he performs the internationally recognised mime for Calm Down. Not entirely sure the fans will be getting onside with that message.

8.40pm GMT

43 min: Breaking news on the BBC: Ozil has touched the ball nine times so far. Nobody’s seen less action. He’s an easy target sometimes, but come on. Here’s Charles Antaki with “the excellent news ... Arsenal cannot in all physical, sporting or moral conscience, be as bad in the next half as in this.”

8.38pm GMT

41 min: Alioski slips Klich into the Arsenal box down the left. Klich rounds Martinez on the outside, but the angle’s too tight for a shot. He pulls back for Gotts, who miscontrols and that’s a goal kick. This is absurd.

8.36pm GMT

40 min: Space for Klich down the right. Gotts, on the edge of the six-yard box, meets the pullback but skies it over the bar. How are Leeds not ahead? Or, put a different way: how are Arsenal not behind?

8.35pm GMT

39 min: Ayling crosses from the right, nearly catching Sokratis out and finding Alioski free in the box. Sokratis does well to readjust his position and clear in the nick of time.

8.35pm GMT

37 min: Arsenal can’t keep hold of the ball at all. White fairly clatters Lacazette twice, the striker asking for free kicks he’s never going to be awarded. He looks fully miffed. He’s been second best in that particular duel.

8.33pm GMT

35 min: Alioski hurt his leg while falling in a tangle with Sokratis, but he’s good to continue. It’s not long before Leeds are coming at Arsenal again, Harrison slipping a gorgeous reverse ball down the inside right for Phillips, who returns it across the face of goal. Harrison can’t quite get his shot away. Arsenal clear, and it looked as though Phillips was initially offside anyway.

8.30pm GMT

33 min: Ayling crosses deep from the right. Alioski wins the header in a battle with Sokratis, six yards out. It’s flying towards the top left. Martinez, channelling his inner David Seaman, claws out sensationally. What a save! Arsenal clear their lines, while Alioski stays down, requesting treatment.

8.28pm GMT

32 min: Douglas floats a pass down the inside-left channel that very nearly releases Bamford on goal. Holding does extremely well to read the danger and get in the way to head clear.

8.27pm GMT

31 min: ... Luiz heads harmlessly wide left. It was a great opportunity, eight yards out, with a huge hole in the middle of the Leeds defence. Arsenal have still only had one effort on target.

8.26pm GMT

30 min: Luiz strides forward and takes a hopeful punt from the best part of 30 yards. Full marks for ambition. It’s deflected out for a corner on the left. From which ...

8.24pm GMT

28 min: Alioski crosses from the left. Harrison swivels on the edge of the D and sends yet another shot whistling goalwards. Once again, Martinez is right behind it. The Arsenal keeper is earning his money this evening.

8.23pm GMT

26 min: Sokratis has to battle like billy-o just to earn a throw on the halfway line. Leeds aren’t giving Arsenal any space or time. The wide-eyed, open-mouthed look on Sokratis’s face as he takes the rare chance to catch a breath speaks volumes.

8.21pm GMT

24 min: Leeds, suitably chastened, go up the other end and nearly score themselves, Alioski making good ground down the left before whizzing a low shot across the face of goal and out for a goal kick.

8.20pm GMT

23 min: Leeds stroke it around nicely. So good to watch. Complacency is the only danger right now. White dawdles over the ball and allows Lacazette to scoot away with it. The striker enters the area. It looks like a classic sucker punch is about to be landed, but Lacazette takes too much time and he’s swarmed then crowded out.

8.18pm GMT

21 min: Phillips swings a medium-height free kick into the mixer. The ball skims off Xhaka’s head, and Martinez spills it off his chest and out of his arms. It’s knocked out in a panic for a corner, which Martinez to be fair claims well. He launches long ... and there’s nobody in red in the Leeds half. Arsenal need to clear their heads, because they’re all over the show at the minute.

8.16pm GMT

20 min: Arsenal are a shambles at the back. Nelson, running back towards his own goal, is easily stripped of possession by Alioski, who slips a pass wide left for Bamford. Alioski clumsily bundles him over. A free kick in a very dangerous position, just to the left of the area.

8.15pm GMT

19 min: Luiz plays a ridiculous ball out of defence, an easy interception for Alioski, who should do better than standing up a cross, intended for Bamford, that’s easy for Holding to head out for a corner. The set piece comes to nothing.

8.13pm GMT

17 min: Harrison drops a shoulder to leave Kolasinac in the dust down the right. Another shot from distance. Martinez, who will have warm hands, deals with this one too. Leeds will wonder how they’re not ahead.

8.12pm GMT

15 min: Leeds hit the bar! Klich glides in from the right and lays off to Bamford, who one-twos a pretty triangle with Harrison, enters the box, and smashes a shot off the crossbar from 12 yards out, a little to the right. He probably should have scored, but the quality of the move was such that you can’t complain too much. Leeds are playing some fine football. Can we have them back in the Premier League, please? Enough’s enough.

8.11pm GMT

14 min: Harrison has a dig from 20 yards. It’s a fine, rising effort, and Martinez does very well to claw it away from the top-right corner. This match is being played at 101 mph.

8.10pm GMT

12 min: Xhaka goes on a sensational 60-yard run down the left wing. He then tries to release Ozil into the box, but in attempting a slide-rule pass, punts clumsily out for a goal kick. That’s like walking a couple of miles home with the house keys, to let your locked-out family in, only to drop them down the drain in front of the porch.

8.08pm GMT

11 min: Ayling and Alioski combine well down the right, the former eventually hooking across from the byline for Douglas, who is completely unmarked in the middle, six yards out and onside! But the cross is a foot too high for Douglas. What a let-off for Arsenal, who are all over the shop at the back.

8.06pm GMT

10 min: Leeds are putting the Arsenal defence under pressure with their hard press. Holding is forced into a shank out of play. From the throw, Bamford latches onto Harrison’s whipped right-wing cross and flashes a header out of play on the right. This is good stuff from Leeds, both on and off the pitch. A hell of an atmosphere, some good old-fashioned cup bedlam.

8.05pm GMT

8 min: Pepe looks in the mood for Arsenal, even if the rest of his team-mates aren’t up to speed yet. Now he lashes a shot towards the top left from 20 yards; it’s easy enough for Meslier, but a decent effort nonetheless.

8.04pm GMT

7 min: Harrison latches onto a dismal Holding pass out of defence, and goes racing towards the Arsenal box. Leeds are three on two. Harrison slots one down the inside-left channel for Bamford, who is in less space than the man in blue out on the right. Bamford shoots, only to see his shot blocked for a corner that comes to nothing. Leeds should have worked Martinez at the very least.

8.03pm GMT

6 min: It’s mainly Leeds in these opening exchanges. They’re pinging it around nicely. But hold on! Douglas loses control in the centre circle, and misses a tackle on Pepe, allowing the winger to sashay down the middle of the park with great purpose. He’s crowded out before he can get to the Leeds box, but what a fine run.

8.01pm GMT

4 min: Alioski takes the free kick, sending it curling towards the far post. Bamford gets eyebrows on it, but can only help it out for a goal kick.

7.59pm GMT

3 min: Douglas rakes a long ball towards Bamford, who can’t win the heading duel with Luiz, but then Guendouzi bundles over Alioski as they compete for the loose ball. A free kick for Leeds, just to the left of centre, 40 yards out.

7.58pm GMT

2 min: Leeds are out of the blocks quickly, pressing, pressing, pressing. A sign that they’re not here to mess about. Bamford is nearly released down the left, but Luiz snuffs out his run. A lively start by the visitors.

7.57pm GMT

And we’re off! Leeds get the rerun of the 1972 final going. A fantastic atmosphere at the Emirates.

7.53pm GMT

The teams are out! Arsenal in red shirts with white sleeves, Leeds in third-choice powder blue. We’ll be off in a minute!

7.50pm GMT

Right, I’m back. What a draw, eh? Eh? Anyway, back to tonight’s big game, and let’s find out who’ll be travelling to Bournemouth in the fourth round. No bombshells in the pre-match interviews, other than the revelation that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is ill.

7.48pm GMT

Before the big kick-off at the Emirates, the draw for the fourth round will be made. That means some downtime for this MBM, as I nip across to populate the live blog with the fate of your favourites. See you over there, and we’ll all meet back here before the match? Great, it’s a plan.

7.24pm GMT

♫ ♯ ♪ Memories light the corners of your mind, distant snow-covered memories, of the way we were ♪ ♫ “The Arsenal v Leeds tie in 1991 went to a whopping three replays,” recalls Matt Emerson. “I vividly recall the second one being during a bitterly cold spell in London and tuned in to Capital Gold to hear the great news that they’d cleared the snow off the pitch and - thanks to Arsenal’s fabled undersoil heating - the match was definitely on. I duly went along: it ended nil-nil. Happy days.”

7.16pm GMT

A night off for Arsenal’s leading scorer and captain, then. But Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has made his presence felt at the Emirates tonight nonetheless. Ahead of a month of frenzied transfer-window speculation, he’s sought to shut down all idle chat surrounding his future. Arsenal fans will enjoy reading the captain’s notes in their official matchday programme this evening. Unless the first letter of each paragraph spells A-C-T-U-A-L-L-Y-I-M-O-F-F-S-E-E-Y-A, in the style of former Autocar employee James May, we haven’t checked that closely.

❤️ "I am the Arsenal captain. I love this club. I am committed to it and desperate to bring it back to the top, where it belongs."

@Aubameyang7 addresses recent speculation in tonight's #EmiratesFACup programme notes - read it now

7.08pm GMT

Arsenal make four changes to the side that beat Manchester United last week. Emiliano Martinez, Rob Holding, Reiss Nelson and Matteo Guendouzi take the places of Bernd Leno, Lucas Torreira, Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Leeds make five changes to the team sent out to draw at West Brom in their last match. Illan Meslier and Robbie Gotts make their debuts, alongside the recalled Gaetano Berardi, Barry Douglas and Patrick Bamford. Casilla, Liam Cooper, Stuart Dallas, Eddie Nketiah and Helder Costa make way.

6.58pm GMT

Arsenal: Martinez, Sokratis, Luiz, Holding, Nelson, Guendouzi, Xhaka, Kolasinac, Ozil, Pepe, Lacazette.
Subs: Leno, Ceballos, Mavropanos, Willock, Martinelli, John-Jules, Saka.

Leeds United: Meslier, Ayling, Berardi, White, Douglas, Phillips, Alioski, Gotts, Klich, Harrison, Bamford.
Subs: Cooper, Casilla, Dallas, Helder Costa, Davis, Stevens, Casey.

10.20am GMT

Arsenal and Leeds United first met in the FA Cup in 1950. Leeds, then as now, were in the second tier, but a defence led by legend-in-making John Charles gave a good account of itself. They restricted the hosts to the one, decisive goal, as Alex Forbes beat three men down the left and fed Don Roper, who crossed for Reg Lewis to head home. Arsenal went on to win the cup. Leeds missed out on promotion.

The next time the teams met in the cup was the 1972 final. Leeds were the best team in the land back then, the bosses of England from 1965 to 1974, though much good that did them in terms of overall trophy haul. By way of illustration, it was Arsenal who were reigning double champions at the time; Leeds righted some wrongs by prevailing 1-0 at Wembley thanks to Mick Jones’ pullback and Allan Clarke’s diving header. It remains their only FA Cup.

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Published on January 06, 2020 14:04

FA Cup fourth-round draw: Man City host Fulham, Chelsea travel to Hull

Out of the confirmed ties in the next round, there are few to write home about with Manchester City against Fulham a vague highlight

8.30pm GMT

Liverpool face a trip to either Bristol City of the Championship or Shrewsbury Town of League One in the fourth round of the FA Cup, while for the holders, Manchester City, there is be a home tie with Fulham, also of the Championship, to contend with.

In what was a largely underwhelming draw, the visit of the European champions and current Premier League leaders to lower-league opposition is arguably the tie of the round, and one that will almost certainly see Jürgen Klopp deploy a number of young players, as he did in Liverpool’s third-round victory over Everton.

Having beaten Port Vale in their third-round tie, City will face the team that sits fifth in the second-tier following their victory over Aston Villa. Elsewhere, League One Tranmere will host either Wolves or Manchester United should they get past Watford in the replay that came about after Micky Mellon’s side came back from 3-0 down to draw 3-3 at Vicarage Road on Saturday. Wolves and United drew 0-0 in their third-round tie.

Rochdale and Newcastle also drew and the winner of their replay will host Oxford. Chelsea, meanwhile, head to Hull while Leicester travel to Brentford and Tottenham, should they win their replay against Middlesbrough, will be away at Southampton.

West Ham host West Bromwich Albion while Arsenal will travel to Bournemouth. Finally, Norwich take on Burnley, Sheffield United travel to Millwall, Sheffield Wednesday travel to Queens Park Rangers and Northampton, the lowest-ranked side through, host Derby.

All ties will take place on the weekend of 25-26 January.

Women’s FA Cup

7.47pm GMT

Watford or Tranmere Rovers v Wolverhampton Wanderers or Manchester United
Hull City v Chelsea
Southampton v Middlesbrough or Tottenham Hotspur
QPR v Sheffield Wednesday
Bournemouth v Arsenal
Northampton Town v Derby County
Brentford v Leicester City
Millwall v Sheffield United
Reading or Blackpool v Cardiff City or Carlisle United
West Ham United v West Bromwich Albion
Burnley v Norwich City
Bristol Rovers or Coventry City v Birmingham City
Manchester City v Fulham
Rochdale or Newcastle United v Oxford United
Portsmouth v Barnsley
Bristol City or Shrewsbury Town v Liverpool

Ties to be played over the weekend of January 24-27.

7.43pm GMT

And finally it’s Bristol City/Shrewsbury v Liverpool.

7.42pm GMT

Portsmouth v Barnsley.

7.42pm GMT

Rochdale/Newcastle v Oxford United.

7.42pm GMT

Manchester City v Fulham.

7.41pm GMT

Bristol Rovers/Coventry City v Birmingham City.

7.41pm GMT

Burnley v Norwich City.

7.41pm GMT

West Ham United v West Bromwich Albion.

7.41pm GMT

Reading/Blackpool v Cardiff/Carlisle.

7.40pm GMT

Millwall v Sheffield United.

7.40pm GMT

Brentford v Leicester City.

7.40pm GMT

Northampton Town v Derby County.

7.39pm GMT

Bournemouth v Arsenal or Leeds.

7.39pm GMT

QPR v Sheffield Wednesday.

7.39pm GMT

Southampton v Middlesbrough/Tottenham Hotspur.

7.38pm GMT

Hull City v Chelsea.

7.38pm GMT

Here we go, then. Alex Scott will be plucking out the home sides, David O’Leary the away teams. And the first team out is ... Watford/Tranmere. They’ll play Wolves or Manchester United!

7.37pm GMT

Two former Arsenal players, Alex Scott and David O’Leary, will be making the draw. They’ll be shaping the late-January fixture lists any minute now. Excited? Of course you are, it’s still the FA Cup when all’s said and done, don’t be that cynic.

7.27pm GMT

How we used to live. The public face of the draw, back in the day. A couple of cold pre-admin sharpeners may or may not have been taken.

10.31am GMT

Evening. The draw for the fourth round of the 2019-2020 FA Cup is due to begin at 7.35pm GMT. Stay tuned, we’ll be here the moment they shake the velvet bag and the balls inside start to rattle. (OK, they use a fancy perspex bowl these days, and we’re stuck in the 1950s. So sue us!)

Ties will take place between Friday 24 and Monday 27 January. Here’s your club-by-club-or-replay ball guide …

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Published on January 06, 2020 11:47

The Fiver | Ancient history and empty promises for Evertonians

So Everton didn’t start the Twenties particularly well, did they? The 1920s, that is. The first match of that roaring era saw the Toffees miss two penalties against Sheffield Wednesday in the league. Then a few days later they played their first FA Cup tie of the new decade, and went down miserably at second-tier Birmingham after passing up a series of decent chances. Whether things have improved much a century on, after a supine loss at Manchester City, and then that, against Liverpool, a mid-table rabble from the Professional U23 Development League, is a moot point. It’s up to you to decide, The Fiver’s not getting involved.

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Published on January 06, 2020 07:56

January 4, 2020

Wolves 0-0 Manchester United: FA Cup third round – as it happened

The teams go back to Old Trafford for a replay after an uneventful match.

7.55pm GMT

According to BT Sport, that’s the first time in five years United haven’t had a shot on target in a domestic fixture. Thin gruel for Paul Doyle, who was our man at Molineux. Here’s his report. Click, enjoy ... and thanks for reading this MBM!

7.53pm GMT

Ole talks! “It is always a grind when you come to Molineux. Good team, strong team, physical. I thought we dominated the first half but they took over in the second. It was an even game, and a draw was a fair result. We didn’t create too many chances in the first but we controlled it. In the second half we had two decent chances. I thought Chong was fantastic, I am very pleased with him. We were close to taking Maguire off but he battled through. I’d rather have a replay and still be in the FA Cup.”

7.46pm GMT

Nuno speaks. “It was tough. We had quality in some moments. It’s not easy to play football. But we played better in the second half. There were not very many spaces. We controlled better in the second half. We wanted to solve the situation today, because we have a very tight schedule. But we want to play. We have a week to recover well.”

7.40pm GMT

Just like last year, Paul Doyle was at Molineux as Wolves and United went at each other in the cup. Here’s his report.

7.36pm GMT

Victor Lindelof was given the man of the match award. “It was a tough game,” he tells BT Sport. “There has been a lot of games during this period, and we changed a few players. But the young players showed great character. In the first half we controlled the game. Obviously we want to score goals, but they were a tough opponent.”

7.25pm GMT

Back to Old Trafford we go! For a replay that neither team will have wanted, with a crowded 2020 coming up. But they’re both still in the FA Cup, so there is that.

7.23pm GMT

90 min +6: Unreserved apologies for the fate-tempting entry on 9 min.

7.22pm GMT

90 min +5: Dalot has another go, this time from the best part of 30 yards. He hits Greenwood and the ball deflects harmlessly out for a goal kick.

7.22pm GMT

90 min +4: Moutinho is booked for a wrestling move on Fred. The free kick’s hooked into the box, causing Wolves mild panic. The ball drops to Dalot, in space to the right of the six-yard box. He spins and welts a shot deep into the crowd. What a waste.

7.20pm GMT

90 min +3: Greenwood is in space in the middle, with plenty of turf in front of him. But Pereira’s long ball forward is no good.

7.19pm GMT

90 min +2: Traore glides down the right and crosses hard and low. Lindelof does very well to hook clear with Jimenez lurking.

7.18pm GMT

90 min +1: Jonny rolls the ball towards Neto out on the left. Neto lets the ball roll under his boot. Throw. Young takes an age, and earns a lecture from the ref. He’s already on a booking, so is really testing the official’s patience.

7.17pm GMT

90 min: All very hectic as time marches on. Everyone desperate to avoid last-gasp heartbreak. But there will be six added minutes. So plenty of time for drama yet.

7.15pm GMT

88 min: Neto wastes a good opportunity out on the left by blootering the ball out for a goal kick. He had options in the middle.

7.14pm GMT

87 min: Maguire goes on an upfield sortie. He loses the ball and is out of position as Neto threatens to latch onto a long pass up the other end. Young does extremely well to get his body in the way and win a cheap free kick. Danger over.

7.13pm GMT

86 min: Young is booked for a cynical tug on the back of Neto. The clock ticks on. Can anyone find the killer punch?

7.13pm GMT

85 min: United are so close to taking Wolves back to Old Trafford. Romero goes through the motions over a goal kick. Carefully, slowly. Perfect game management, and Wolves are accordingly irritated. They have to suck it up.

7.11pm GMT

83 min: Rashford and Pereira combine at speed down the inside-left channel. Just as it looks as though Rashford is going to burst clear in the box, Neves slides in and gets a toe to the ball. Rashford goes over and demands a penalty with some feeling, but he’s not getting one.

7.09pm GMT

82 min: Chong can’t continue. Dalot comes on in his stead. Moutinho has a belt from 25 yards out on the left. It sails harmlessly wide right.

7.09pm GMT

81 min: Jimenez jigs his way down the right and enters the box. He smashes a shot from a ridiculous angle, as tight as it comes, slicing the ball onto the near post, Romero beaten all ends up. That battered the woodwork, it’s a wonder the frame is still standing.

7.07pm GMT

80 min: From a standing start, Traore whizzes past Williams down the right in the Olympic style. His cross nearly confuses Romero at the near post, but the ball flies away from danger. Wolves have turned it up a notch or two.

7.05pm GMT

78 min: No complaints from Wolves, although the crowd are giving it the big one about VAR. Then Jonny sends a shot whistling past the left-hand post from the left-hand corner of the D. He’s made an instant impression on this match.

7.04pm GMT

77 min: Jimenez whirls down the left, reaches the byline, and executes a pointless rabona, with nobody in the middle to convert. Wolves come again, Jonny crossing from the same flank, Doherty heading into the top right. But he doesn’t celebrate, knowing full well the ball had come off his arm before flying in. He’ll be sick that he’s miscued that header; it was a great chance to score.

7.02pm GMT

75 min: The free kick is a non-event. Jonny replaces Vinagre. And Chong is determined to keep going. He’s back on.

7.01pm GMT

74 min: Chong looks in some pain. He’s blowing hard as he receives treatment. He eventually gets up and walks off the pitch. Can he continue? A rueful shake of the head suggests maybe not.

7.00pm GMT

73 min: Chong knocks the ball down the right touchline. He’s away, but Kilman slides in late. Kilman tries to pull out of the challenge, but he’s zipping across the turf at speed, and catches poor Chong on the shin. That’s one of the clearest bookings you’ll see.

6.59pm GMT

72 min: Wolves respond to the double change by sending Joao Moutinho on for Saiss.

6.58pm GMT

70 min: Within 27 seconds of coming on, Rashford hits the crossbar! Greenwood slips him clear with a clever slide-rule pass down the inside-left channel. He shoots. The ball loops off the sliding Coady’s boot, sailing over the stranded Ruddy. It’s heading towards the top right ... but doesn’t quite drop. It pings off the woodwork, and away from danger. What an introduction that would have been!

6.56pm GMT

69 min: United make two changes. Mata and James make way for Fred and Marcus Rashford.

6.54pm GMT

67 min: Greenwood has been quiet, but springs to life as he sashays in from the right and looks for the top right from 30 yards. It’s overly ambitious, and clears the bar by many miles. Still, if you don’t buy a ticket, etc.

6.53pm GMT

66 min: Vinagre brings down Young, out near the right-hand corner flag. A free kick that Mata takes. It’s hoicked towards Maguire, who doesn’t get any significant purchase on his header from six yards. The ball sails wide left to Matic, who trundles it out of play to relieve the pressure on the hosts.

6.52pm GMT

64 min: Traore runs around on the right in a rococo style. He eventually carves out space to cross; his effort is eyebrowed to the far post by Maguire, giving Vinagre the opportunity to lash wildly into the crowd from a tight angle. A half-chance, that.

6.49pm GMT

62 min: Chong suddenly turns on the jets and makes good down the right. His low cross looks dangerous; with black shirts lurking, Coady does extremely well to spin and slap the ball clear.

6.47pm GMT

60 min: Farcical scenes in the United defence as Maguire plays a pass across the face of his own goal, and Romero slices it out for a corner as he tries to send it back to the defender. The resulting set piece is a non-event, but United betrayed their continuing uncertainty at the back there.

6.46pm GMT

58 min: It was dangerous all right! Ruddy goes to his left, assuming Mata was going to whip the free kick over the wall towards the top right. Instead, Mata goes left, and his effort flies millimetres wide of the top-left corner, Ruddy utterly deceived, out of the game completely. That would have been a very cheeky one. United so close to taking the lead.

6.44pm GMT

57 min: Saiss goes in the book for a preposterous sliding challenge on Chong, who was making good down the right. Vinagre was still on point; it was a needless challenge. And now this is a free kick just to the right of the D. Ruddy waves his arms around in the wall-arranging, agitated fashion. This is a dangerous one.

6.43pm GMT

56 min: Neves departs, but after a final check, he’s back on quickly enough. The second half begins again.

6.42pm GMT

55 min: That’s a proper sore one for Neves, who is flat on his back, the physios going the extra mile to make sure he’s not concussed. Meanwhile on the United bench, Phil Jones performs a few stretches, maybe with a view to replacing Harry Maguire. Time will tell.

6.40pm GMT

53 min: Neves is down having been clumped upside the head, Lindelof accidentally nutting him from behind. A pause as he gets some treatment.

6.39pm GMT

51 min: Lindelof fires a long pass down the middle that very nearly releases James. Wolves go up the other end and test Romero’s fitness, Neto striding into space down the inside-left channel and battering a low shot straight at the keeper. Romero parries well. He passes the test.

6.37pm GMT

50 min: Another injury worry for United, as Romero goes down clutching his left leg. A hamstring injury? Perhaps not, as the physio gives the bench the internationally recognised signal for Don’t Panic. Cramp as opposed to a hamstring issue, maybe ... but he is clutching the back of his leg and grimacing quite a lot. He continues, anyway.

6.36pm GMT

48 min: Traore and Doherty combine well down the right again. Doherty is the one zipping towards the byline this time; his cross towards the near post is dealt with by Lindelof. The hosts appear to have taken it up a notch, their hairstyles perhaps nicely blow-dried during the break.

6.34pm GMT

47 min: Traore chips the ball down the right wing for Doherty, who wins the first corner of the half. They play it short. Traore turns on the boosters and reaches the byline on the right. He whips a low ball towards Jimenez, but Chong is on hand to hack clear just in time.

6.33pm GMT

Here we go again, then. Wolves kick off the second half. Raul Jimenez has taken the place of young Ashley-Seal, who was feeding on scraps in that first half to be fair. Harry Maguire hasn’t been replaced, though, so hopefully that hip isn’t giving him too much gyp.

6.19pm GMT

Half-time entertainment. Details here of the biggest cup shock of the day. The FA Cup knocked into a cocked hat.

6.18pm GMT

Just the 16 seconds of added time, and that’s your lot for the first half. Time to reboot a game that had a nice fresh feel for 20 minutes or so, before going on the turn. Managers, please, do your thing.

6.16pm GMT

44 min: United come back yet again, and James is barged from behind by Doherty. It should be a free kick, just to the left of the Wolves box, but the ref isn’t interested. Wolves could do with hearing the half-time whistle; they’ve done very little up front since the 18-minute mark, United having dominated possession since then.

6.15pm GMT

43 min: Young wins a corner off Vinagre down the right. Mata takes. Ruddy punches powerfully clear. But United come again, Pereira forcing Kilman into conceding another corner. Traore clears this one.

6.13pm GMT

41 min: Maguire went over awkwardly in a challenge with Traore a few minutes ago. He’s now limping a little as a result, having apparently hurt his hip in the fall. Plenty of frowning going on, both on the field of play and in the United dugout. A decision to be made at half-time, perhaps, with the League Cup semi against Manchester City coming up on Tuesday.

6.10pm GMT

39 min: Lindeof bustles his way down the left and earns a corner. He meets the set piece himself, but sends a directionless header deep into the stand behind the goal.

6.09pm GMT

37 min: James dances into the Wolves box down the right and tries to thread one into the bottom left. He drags it across Ruddy and out for a goal kick. The Wolves keeper still hasn’t had much to do, though United have enjoyed the bulk of possession.

6.08pm GMT

36 min: Chong feeds Young down the right. Young whips it in low. Doherty is hip to what’s going on and belts clear.

6.06pm GMT

34 min: Traore wins a corner down the right. From the restart, Neves has a dig from 30 yards. Nope.

6.05pm GMT

32 min: A VAR check for a penalty, after Dendoncker miscontrols in his own box and Williams falls over as he tries to skip off with the ball. There’s not a great deal of contact; certainly nothing clear and obvious enough to overrule the initial decision to wave play on. Though you’ve seen them given; one of those. The fans break into a chorus of the English folk standard Fuck VAR. Altogether now...

6.02pm GMT

30 min: Doherty launches long down the middle. Traore turns Maguire with ease. Maguire falls to the floor, demanding a free kick he’s never going to get. Fortunately for United, Lindelof is on hand to get to the ball before Traore, and clears.

6.00pm GMT

29 min: Chong probes down the right and cuts back for James on the edge of the D. James leans back and sends a shot sailing miles over the crossbar.

5.59pm GMT

27 min: Neto bustles his way through a couple of half-arsed United challenges and reaches the byline on the left. He whips a wonderful cross through the United area, but none of his old-gold pals have kept up with play, and it’s an easy mop-up job for Williams.

5.58pm GMT

26 min: United are beginning to dominate possession, and they’re spending increasing time in the Wolves half. Pereira has a whack from 25 yards; it’s high, wide and not so handsome. But United will be happy with the last ten minutes or so.

5.57pm GMT

25 min: Pereira sends James skittering down the left at great speed. James whizzes into the box and rolls a cross through the six-yard box. But there’s nobody in a black shirt waiting to poke home. Coady is able to hook clear without too much fuss.

5.56pm GMT

24 min: Greenwood tries to spark the game back into life with an ambitious shot from distance out on the left. It’s deflected, spinning high into the air, an easy gather for Ruddy under no pressure whatsoever.

5.54pm GMT

22 min: More scrappiness. The 18 min entry really has done a number on this match.

5.51pm GMT

20 min: So having said that, it suddenly goes scrappy for the first time. Pulitzer, please!

5.51pm GMT

18 min: Vinagre gets on the end of a long ball down the inside left channel. He guides a weak shot straight at Romero from a tight angle. Then United go up the other end through Chong, who skips into the box from the right and very nearly works space to shoot. But one touch too many allows Kilman to nick the ball away and go over for a cheap free kick. This match is good end-to-end fun.

5.48pm GMT

16 min: Saiss blasts a witless free kick straight into the United wall. United half clear. Wolves come back at them again, Vinagre attempting to flick the ball past Lindelof down the left. Wolves claim a hand ball, and a penalty, but neither ref nor VAR is interested, and it was outside the area anyway.

5.46pm GMT

15 min: Traore burns his way down the inside-right channel. He’s got Maguire and Lindelof back-pedalling furiously. Maguire sticks out a leg to block. Saiss picks up the loose ball, and purchases a cheap free kick from Matic, coming in from behind in the clumsy style. This is a dangerous position, 30 yards out, just to the right of centre.

5.45pm GMT

13 min: ... Wolves nearly score. They should score, in fact. The corner from the left is flicked on by Dendoncker to Doherty, who should slot home at the far post. But Romero sticks out a strong hand to deny the Wolves right-back. A sensational save, though Romero should never have been allowed to make it.

5.44pm GMT

12 min: Pereira gives up the ball with absurd ease in the centre circle, allowing Neto to burst down the middle of the park. He lays off to Traore on his right. The winger earns a corner off Williams. Saiss rises highest to meet the corner, but his header’s deflected out out to the left for another corner. From which ...

5.42pm GMT

10 min: Vinagre embarks on a fine dribble down the left, but Chong sticks to him well and the Wolves wing-back runs out of room. Vinagre strokes the ball out for a goal kick.

5.40pm GMT

9 min: There is surely no way this match will end goalless. Both teams are full of attacking vim and vigour. The game’s very open, and everyone looks in the mood. The FA Cup, right here!

5.39pm GMT

7 min: United take their turn to counter. James skedaddles down the left and wins a corner. They faff around at the set piece, but United work a second phase of play and Greenwood drops a shoulder down the inside-left channel, working space for a shot just inside the box. He leans back and skies his effort, but that was a crisp run. He’s a real prospect all right.

5.38pm GMT

6 min: Ashley-Seal goes straight up the other end, a direct, no-nonsense run down the inside-left channel. He wins a corner off Maguire. The set piece is easily snaffled by Romero.

5.37pm GMT

5 min: Pereira is clumsily bundled over by Neto, out on the United right. A chance to load the box. Pereira takes it himself, and it’s a ludicrous delivery, mishit and flat, and straight into Ashley-Seal’s coupon, ten yards away. That’s dismal, with the box teeming with scoring potential.

5.35pm GMT

3 min: Doherty launches long from the left-back position. There’s an absurd amount of space between the United centre-backs, and Ashley-Seal nearly latches onto the ball. He’d have been able to zip clear towards goal. Fortunately for United, Romero was out to cover and clear. Fair to say this has been an open start.

5.34pm GMT

2 min: James probes down the left and for a second threatens to burst into the box. Wolves hold their shape and the young winger is forced to turn tail. But this has been a fine front-foot start by United.

5.33pm GMT

1 min: Nearly a sensational start for United, as Chong is afforded way too much space 40 yards from goal. He tries to slip James away down the middle, but his pass is no good. A better ball, and the hosts would have been a goal up within 3o seconds.

5.32pm GMT

A quick burst of Hi Ho Wolverhampton ... anywhere you go now baby ... and we’re off! The visitors get the ball rolling. Molineux is bouncing. The third round of the FA Cup, right here.

5.30pm GMT

The teams are out! One stunning stadium, two gorgeous kits. Wolves are in their famous old gold, while United have opted to wear their black change shirt, shades of Eric Cantona, Sharp Viewcam, all that. We’ll be off in a minute. One minute later than usual. Here’s the heads up ...

5.25pm GMT

A reminder that there are some other ties being played this evening. The incomparable Rob Smyth will keep you up to date with Bournemouth-Luton, Fleetwood-Portsmouth, Leicester-Wigan and Manchester City-Port Vale. He’s been at Clockwatch since the break of dawn, too, pretty much. Rumours that he’s also powering the National Grid via some pedals under his desk have yet to be verified.

5.20pm GMT

Then a cheery Ole Gunnar Solskjaer adds: “We have to learn from our Arsenal performance. We’ve had improvements in the games we have played against Wolves in the last ten months. It’s about performing, turning out. I know when we play to our best, we have the chance to beat anyone. Tahith Chong has been bright lately with the reserves and gets his chance. Anthony Martial is ill, so it’s a matter for Mason Greenwood to take his chance again.”

5.20pm GMT

A relaxed Nuno Espirito Santo speaks to BT Sport. “We must play good, be organised, and compete. Benny Ashley-Seal is ready, I hope he competes well and enjoys the game. Man United are a fantastic team. They are such a huge club, you have to really go for it and compete well.”

5.06pm GMT

Catharsis. Here’s what happened to Wolves after that quarter-final triumph, and how they eventually escaped from the slough of despond.

5.01pm GMT

Bringing things a little more up to date ... this is a repeat of last year’s quarter final. Paul Doyle was on hand to witness that one, and here’s his memory-refreshing report.

4.59pm GMT

En route to Molineux, you’ll see this. Memories of Wolverhampton Wanderers’ last FA Cup win. Bill Slater, there, lifting the famous old pot at the famous old Wembley in 1960, after a 3-0 win over injury-depleted Blackburn Rovers. Norman Deeley was Wolves’ two-goal hero in the second half that day. The first had been a nightmare for Rovers: the unfortunate Mick McGrath had opened the scoring by putting through his own net, then Dave Whelan broke his leg. No subs back then. It wasn’t much of a spectacle, and Wolves were pelted with apple cores, orange peel and screwed-up newspaper on their victory lap. Poor Wolves, who had just been pipped to the title by Burnley, getting no respect. The past, kids, another country.

4.42pm GMT

Wolves make four changes to the XI sent out for the defeat at Watford on New Year’s Day. John Ruddy, Max Kilman, Ruben Vinagre, Ruben Neves and under-23 scoring sensation Benny Ashley-Seal take the places of Rui Patricio, Ryan Bennett, Jonny Otto, Joao Moutinho and Raul Jimenez.

United also ring the changes. Seven, they’ve made, with only Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof, Daniel James and Nemanja Matic keeping their places after the miserable 2-0 non-event at Arsenal. In come Sergio Romero, Ashley Young, Brandon Williams, Andreas Pereira, Tahith Chong, Juan Mata and Mason Greenwood, as David de Gea, Luke Shaw, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Jesse Lingard, Fred, Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford rest up.

4.34pm GMT

Wolverhampton Wanderers: Ruddy, Doherty, Dendoncker, Coady, Kilman, Vinagre, Saiss, Neves, Traore, Ashley-Seal, Neto.
Subs: Patricio, Bennett, Raul, Otto, Moutinho, Otasowie, Rasmussen.

Manchester United: Romero, Young, Lindelof, Maguire, Williams, Pereira, Matic, Chong, Mata, James, Greenwood.
Subs: Grant, Dalot, Jones, Wan-Bissaka, Fred, Gomes, Rashford.

2.42pm GMT

Manchester United played Wolverhampton Wanderers for the very first time in October 1892. They were trading at the time as Newton Heath, and won the First Division fixture by the whopping scoreline of 10-1. Not a great day at the office for Wolves’ captain and defensive linchpin Harry Allen, though fortunes can change quickly in football, and he ended the season by scoring the winner against Everton in the FA Cup final. Not sure what relevance this has, but having found it out, it seemed silly not to at least mention it.

Wolves have won three more FA Cups since then. They saw off Newcastle United in the 1908 final, beat Leicester City 3-1 in 1949 (having beaten Matt Busby’s holders in the semi) and trounced ten-man Blackburn Rovers in 1960, whereupon they were pelted with rubbish by the crowd, the match having been that boring.

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Published on January 04, 2020 11:55

Rochdale 1-1 Newcastle United: FA Cup third round – as it happened

The 40-year-old Aaron Wilbraham came off the bench to ensure the Dale got the draw they richly deserved

2.46pm GMT

Jamie Jackson was on point at Spotland. Here’s his take on a fluctuating and very entertaining cup tie. Click, enjoy ... and thanks for reading this MBM.

2.45pm GMT

Steve Bruce adds: “How good we were in the first half, in the second we were disappointing. We should have been out of sight, and therein lies our big problem. We don’t score often enough. And if you don’t take your chances, this can happen in the cup. The loss of Almiron and Muto took the edge off us, but in my opinion we should have been out of sight. We have to take our chances and improve in that area. But we’re still in the cup, we’ll still be in the hat. It’s the FA Cup, and we’ll take it seriously.”

2.42pm GMT

Rochdale boss Brian Barry-Murphy talks to BT Sport! “It’s relief, really ... the first half was a tough watch for us and our supporters ... but we fully expressed ourselves in the second half, it was hugely satisfying. We were overrun in the first half, and the lads showed great courage to put that right. We relish the cup and we’re ecstatic for this to continue. It’s huge for the club and can only help us going forward.”

2.38pm GMT

This won’t enter the pantheon of great upsets ... not yet, at least. While we wait for the match report to drop (and to see what the managers have to say) why not test your knowledge of shocks past?

2.32pm GMT

Ollie Rathbone spurned two great chances, but he shouldn’t be too hard on himself. He was quite superb in the second half, the beating heart of Rochdale’s fine comeback. Man of the match, surely, though the official decision has gone to goalscoring hero Aaron Wilbraham. Here’s Rathbone, speaking to BT Sport: “The chance I had before the goal was a good save. The second one I rushed a bit. So it’s disappointing in that respect. But it’s a great opportunity to go to St James’. We’ve had a great trip to Old Trafford earlier this season, and we can be proud of our performance. It’ll be amazing. A huge incentive. We take the competition really seriously, so it’s all to play for in the second leg!”

2.24pm GMT

Everyone back to St James’ Park, then. That was a cracking cup tie! Newcastle were utterly dominant in the first half; Rochdale really should have turned it round in the second. They carved out enough chances to win. But they’ll take a deserved draw. Spotland hail their heroes.

2.23pm GMT

90 min +2: Still, a lucrative trip up north for a replay isn’t to be sniffed at. It’s the least Rochdale deserve.

2.22pm GMT

90 min +1: There will be three added minutes. Rochdale should be holding onto a lead; Rathbone has spurned two gilt-edged invitations to score.

2.22pm GMT

90 min: The set piece is half cleared by Atsu. But the ball’s sent straight back at Newcastle. Atsu tries to chest down, and gets it all wrong, allowing O’Connell to race off down the right! He enters the box and rolls across for Rathbone on the Spotland spot. He has to hit the target, surely, but wafts a weak sidefoot wide left of goal. Newcastle were on the brink of ignominious defeat, right there.

2.20pm GMT

89 min: Wilbraham and Henderson make nuisances of themselves out on the left. Fernandez comes sliding in on the latter, and this is a free kick in a very dangerous position.

2.19pm GMT

88 min: O’Connell and Fernandez compete as the corner’s swung with great purpose towards the near post. Goal kick, though Rochdale wanted another corner. Then Newcastle fly up the other end, Ki fizzing a rising shot towards the top left from some way out on the right. It’s not too far away.

2.18pm GMT

87 min: Rathbone, who has been Rochdale’s star man, bustles to win a corner down the left. Rochdale load the box. The six-yard box.

2.17pm GMT

86 min: Matty Longstaff lashes a 25-yarder wide left of goal. Not sure Sanchez would have got to that, had it been on target. This is such an entertaining cup tie!

2.16pm GMT

84 min: From the corner, Ritchie hooks in from the right. At the far post, Fernandez flashes a header across the face of goal. There’s nobody there to run it home for the Toon! Then Rochdale burst up the other end, Henderson nearly reaching a loose ball in the middle of the park. If he’d got that under control, he’d have been away down the middle, clear on goal. Anything could happen here!

2.14pm GMT

83 min: Atsu has a whack from 25 yards. His shot takes a wild deflection and nearly loops over Sanchez. Just over the bar. A corner. Newcastle load the box, desperate to avoid a replay. Desperate not to get knocked out.

2.13pm GMT

81 min: That was almost a carbon copy of the move that led to the chance Rathbone missed. One obvious difference, eh. Wilbraham scores on his 674th senior appearance. And credit to the manager Brian Barry-Murphy, because his three subs combined to create that equaliser. Rochdale deserve to be level.

2.10pm GMT

McLaughlin slips a ball down the inside-right channel for Matheson, who reaches the byline and cuts back for Wilbraham. The 40-year-old takes a touch and calmly pokes into the bottom right, giving Dubravka no chance! This had been coming!

2.09pm GMT

78 min: Rochdale are asking Newcastle a few questions now. Wilbraham puts himself about under a long ball, forcing Hayden into a panicked clearance. Then Ryan probes down the left, but his cross is too close to Dubravka, who claims at the near post.

2.07pm GMT

77 min: Newcastle re-establish a level of control by knocking it around the back for a bit. Then a ball’s pinged down the inside-right channel for Joelinton to chase, but Sanchez is wise to the danger and comes off his line to gather calmly.

2.06pm GMT

75 min: Rochdale struggled to retain possession in the first half. They’ve been much better in the second. Now they’re stroking it around in the middle of the park, as Newcastle sit back, holding on to what they’ve got.

2.04pm GMT

73 min: The resulting corner isn’t anything to write home about. What a run by Matheson that was, though. The 17-year-old is a player in the making.

2.04pm GMT

72 min: Matheson, the hero of Old Trafford, holds off Atsu and bursts into the Newcastle box on the right. He cuts back for Rathbone, who takes a cute touch to tee himself up, six yards out. He must score ... but in attempting to slot into the bottom right, hits Dubravka’s leg. Corner. Rathbone slides across the turf, on his knees, head in hands. He knows that was a huge chance to equalise.

2.02pm GMT

71 min: Yedlin tears down the right, as he did so often in the first half, but with less frequency in this second period. He makes himself plenty of time and space, burning past Rathbone, but hoicks his cross into the stand behind.

2.00pm GMT

69 min: Rochdale make their last swap, replacing Stephen Dooley with Ryan McLaughlin.

1.59pm GMT

68 min: Ryan bustles to earn a corner out on the left. Camps meets the set piece, onlyt to shank his volley horribly. Newcastle should really have wrapped this up by now, but Rochdale are still very much in this match.

1.58pm GMT

66 min: Krafth loops a cross in from the right. It nearly confuses Sanchez, who scrambles back and catches on the line. Just in the nick of time. That was going into the top left.

1.56pm GMT

65 min: Ritchie is in the thick of it immediately, racing down the left and pulling back for Ki, whose measured first-time sidefoot towards the bottom left looks to have wrong-footed Sanchez ... but is blocked by a defender just in time.

1.55pm GMT

64 min: The resulting corner comes to nothing, but the Newcastle fans are in fine voice anyway, as they welcome the return from injury of Matt Ritchie. He comes on for the goalscorer Miguel Almiron.

1.54pm GMT

63 min: Now Newcastle hit the post! Joelinton meets Atsu’s left-wing cross, sending a header towards the top left. Sanchez gets a fingertip to it, and the ball grazes the outside of the goalframe.

1.53pm GMT

62 min: So Newcastle, rather cleverly, slow the pace down by stroking it around the midfield. Great game management. As the volume decreases, Rathbone goes in rashly on Yedlin and becomes the first name in the referee’s pristine notebook.

1.51pm GMT

61 min: Spotland is bouncing again. We have ourselves a cup tie.

1.51pm GMT

59 min: Rochdale hit the post! Rathbone has another dig from distance, sending a dribbler towards the bottom left from the edge of the box. Dubravka makes a meal of saving, pushing the ball out to Henderson, who takes a shot from a very tight angle on the left. His effort caroms off the woodwork. So close! The crowd respond, knowing their team, having been put through the mill for the most part, are still in this!

1.49pm GMT

58 min: The ball drops near Sean Longstaff, out on the right wing. The older Longstaff brother attempts to launch a dipping, Le Tissieresque volley into the top left. It sails wide left, but full marks for ambition.

1.47pm GMT

56 min: And here’s some more proof, as Rathbone executes a lovely stepover as he makes his way down the inside-left channel, before pearling a rising shot towards the top left. Dubravka is forced to parry at full stretch, a fine save to match the quality of the strike.

1.46pm GMT

55 min: Camps, Dooley and Rathbone combine cutely down the inside-left channel, pinging the ball around in pretty triangles with both foot and head. But Newcastle hold firm on the edge of their area, and the move goes no further. Welcome proof that Rochdale can play some football when they get themselves going.

1.44pm GMT

54 min: Muto can’t continue. He limps off, to be replaced by Ki Sung-yueng. The corner, when eventually taken, is a complete non-event.

1.42pm GMT

52 min: Almiron wins another corner down the right. Before it cam be taken, Muto goes down. He appears to have a problem with his right hip.

1.42pm GMT

50 min: The corner on the left leads to a corner on the right. Almiron whips another vicious ball in. It’s half cleared. Krafth is clumsily bundled over by Wilbraham, and the pair square up, but the manbag session is over quickly enough as the referee reminds both players that they’re grown men. No free kick for Newcastle, as the flag had already gone up for offside.

1.40pm GMT

49 min: Almiron takes. He looks to whip one across Sanchez and into the top left, but the keeper sticks out a strong hand. Atsu picks up possession on the other flank and wins a corner off Matheson.

1.39pm GMT

48 min: A free kick for Newcastle out on the right. Sean Longstaff launches it into the box; Williams clears it easily enough. But it’s still not sticking up front for Rochdale, and the ball’s soon coming back towards their area. Yedlin skates down the right and is upended by Rathbone. Another free kick coming up, in a very dangerous position just to the right of the Rochdale box.

1.37pm GMT

47 min: Newcastle pick up where they left off, pretty much. Sean Longstaff slips a pass down the right for Yedlin, once more in acres of space. The cross isn’t all that good, and O’Connell, so often on point, clears again.

1.36pm GMT

It’s the second half! Rochdale get the party restarted. They’ve made a second change, replacing 16-year-old Kwadwo Baah with 40-year-old Aaron Wilbraham. A 24-year age gap! By the way, it’s still raining.

1.31pm GMT

Some more half-time entertainment. “Any time I see the name Rochdale it delights my inner revolutionary,” begins our old pal Hubert O’Hearn. “You see, back in the 1960s the University of Toronto unveiled an 18-floor dormitory called Rochdale College. It rapidly and notoriously became known as the hippie heart of Canada. If you happen to notice any bong passing, guitar strumming, free-love loving in the stands today, it will be good to know the tradition lives on. Mind you, with the injury plight and Mike Ashley to deal with, it might be Steve Bruce in need of a night of pipe, song and sex.” Legal disclaimer: the Guardian accepts no responsibility for the workings, however harrowing, of your mind’s eye.

1.20pm GMT

Half-time entertainment. This is magical. Hey, the FA Cup is magical. Enjoy, enjoy!

1.19pm GMT

Just the one goal in it at the break ... though Rochdale have Sanchez to thank for that, as the keeper makes a fine double save just before the whistle. Joelinton swivels on the penalty spot and dribbles a shot towards the bottom right. Sanchez stops. Yedlin tries to slam the rebound in from a tight angle on the right, but the keeper’s all over that too. Rochdale will need to make some half-time changes, because Newcastle are getting lots of joy on both flanks, and a one-goal lead is the least the six-time winners deserve.

1.17pm GMT

45 min: Yedlin shakes his hips and sits down Keohane. He shimmies into the box and dinks a cross towards Muto, but the delivery isn’t in the same class as the run. Rochdale clear.

1.16pm GMT

43 min: This is a little better from Rochdale, as Rathbone embarks on a rococo ramble down the inside-left channel, Krafth and Fernandez both unwilling to tackle him as he enters the box. But Rathbone’s close control lets him down, just as it looks like he’s opened up a little channel to cross. A little promise to take into the second half, perhaps.

1.15pm GMT

42 min: Camps tries to stir the crowd by shooting from 30 yards. The ball dribbles apologetically wide of the right-hand post. Dubravka wanders over to watch its serene progress.

1.13pm GMT

41 min: Newcastle have done an excellent job of silencing the home crowd. The atmosphere was bubbling at kick-off, but it’s eerily calm now.

1.12pm GMT

39 min: Yedlin bursts into the box from the right. He’s got the opportunity to shoot from a tight angle, but unselfishly opts to tee up Muto on the penalty spot instead. Muto smacks his shot straight at Sanchez when he really should score ... but then take nothing away from the keeper’s brave stop. Newcastle would have been worth a two-goal lead, but Rochdale are hanging on in there.

1.11pm GMT

38 min: O’Connell looks for the Beckenbauer inside, and sashays up the middle of the park. It’s a fine run, spoilt only by the pass he then clumps into the stand out on the right, while attempting to release Ryan on the wing.

1.09pm GMT

36 min: Newcastle continue to dominate possession. They’re in a patient mood right now, stroking it about, hither and yon, happy to wait for an opening to present itself. Eventually Atsu tries to reach the byline on the left for the 300th time this afternoon, but Matheson gets in the road and ushers the ball out for a goal kick.

1.06pm GMT

34 min: A corner for Newcastle out on the right. Sanchez claims it, but knackers himself by clattering into the newly arrived Matheson as he leaps. After a brief period of medical attention, he’s good to go again.

1.05pm GMT

32 min: Magloire has been run ragged in the right-back position, and he’s replaced by Luke Matheson, who you will remember as a 16-year-old scorer at Old Trafford back in September. Matheson went back to school the day after momentarily stunning Manchester United in the League Cup. He’s 17 now. All grown up.

1.03pm GMT

30 min: Joelinton’s not hiding, to be fair, despite his dismal scoring record. Hayden knocks one in from the left; Newcastle’s number nine rises under severe pressure from O’Connell and Sanchez, winning a header but sending it over.

1.01pm GMT

29 min: Atsu is burning it up down the left, but Yedlin isn’t doing too badly out on the other flank. He drops a shoulder to win a corner. Almiron’s set piece nearly finds Hayden, but Rathbone does enough to relieve the pressure.

1.00pm GMT

27 min: Newcastle continue to ping it around in a progressive style. It’s an open and entertaining match, though the visitors are experiencing the lion’s share of the fun. Very much so. They’ve hogged 74% of possession so far.

12.59pm GMT

25 min: Long-distance efforts at either end. First Rathbone has a pop from distance; it flies harmlessly high and wide. Then Matty Longstaff has another dig, but this one deflects off his own man and out for a goal kick.

12.57pm GMT

23 min: 2019 wasn’t Joelinton’s year. Will 2020 be better? On the evidence so far, possibly ... possibly not. He embarks on a glorious swerving run down the middle of the park, sending Williams off to the shops for the paper and 20 Bensons. He’s just got Sanchez to beat! So far, so good. Then he opens his body to sidefoot into the bottom left ... and rolls the ball dismally wide, bothering only a nearby ballboy. Shame, because that was a fine run.

12.55pm GMT

22 min: More space for Atsu, who has the run of Spotland this lunchtime. He lifts a cross into the middle, hoping to find Joelinton, but Sanchez claims. Rochdale are struggling to retain possession.

12.53pm GMT

20 min: Now it’s the Newcastle end in full voice. Blaydon Races. Oh me lads. Newcastle fully deserve this lead, they’ve been marvellous so far.

12.51pm GMT

It had been coming, and it’s right that it’s the excellent Atsu who sets it up. He romps down the left yet again, cuts back yet again, and Almiron is on hand to whip a glorious shot into the roof of the net from 12 yards.

12.50pm GMT

16 min: The Rochdale fans launch into a hearty chorus of the English folk standard Robbie Savage Is A Wanker. It’s usually the sort of thing the TV technicians turn down, but this time, for some reason, BT Sport don’t bother. Full Dolby surround sound, turned up to 11. Once more with feeling.

12.48pm GMT

15 min: Yedlin drops a shoulder to skate past Keohane down the right, and should do better with his cross upon reaching the box. Rochdale clear, but it’s beginning to look like a matter of time before Newcastle score the opener.

12.46pm GMT

14 min: Atsu is getting all sorts of room down the left. He reaches the white line and pulls back for Matty Longstaff, who takes a touch and sees his eventual shot deflected over the bar by the alert O’Connell. The resulting corner comes to nothing.

12.44pm GMT

12 min: Yedlin crosses from the right, having been sent skittering down the wing by Sean Longstaff. His low cross is intercepted and hoicked clear by O’Connell, with Joelinton lurking. Newcastle are showing plenty of menace in these opening exchanges.

12.43pm GMT

10 min: Hayden swings a cross in from a tight spot out on the left. It’s a decent ball, met by Joelinton’s header. Newcastle’s number nine aims for the top left, but doesn’t quite get enough purchase on the effort. But the Toon are soon coming straight back at Rochdale, Atsu again reaching the byline on the left and cutting back for Joelinton, who still can’t add to his season’s haul of one goal.

12.41pm GMT

8 min: Rochdale get their attack going for the first time this afternoon. Camps makes his way down the left and scoops inside for Henderson, who hooks a harmless effort well wide right from the edge of the box.

12.40pm GMT

7 min: Krafth channels his inner Trent Alexander-Arnold, spraying a gloriously ambitious right-to-left pass towards Atsu on the left wing. Atsu reaches the byline and cuts back. The ball breaks right to Krafth, who had kept on trucking. Krafth’s looping cross is snaffled by Sanchez. But that move was both pretty and dangerous. Nice football from Newcastle.

12.37pm GMT

5 min: Atsu wins the second corner of the match, bursting down the left and playing the ball off Magloire. Sean Longstaff tries again, and this delivery isn’t much better, easy pickings for Sanchez.

12.36pm GMT

4 min: Yedlin rolls a cute pass across the face of the Rochdale box in the hope of teeing up Matty Longstaff. Camps nips in to block and clear before the renowned Manchester United botherer is able to take a whack on goal.

12.35pm GMT

3 min: Sean Longstaff takes a short one, and makes an awful balls of it. After Newcastle noodle about in the futile style, Rochdale clear their lines.

12.34pm GMT

2 min: Early signs that Newcastle aren’t in the mood to hang about. Almiron turns on the jets and bustles down the left, winning the first corner of the game.

12.33pm GMT

And we’re off!

Wolverhampton Wanderers
Newcastle United get the ball rolling, to great cheers. The visitors stroke it around the back awhile. Krafth launches it long for Joelinton, but the ball sails harmlessly through to Sanchez in the Rochdale goal.

12.30pm GMT

The weather is miserable. Rainy and cold. Greater Manchester in winter. But it’s not dampening the spirits of a packed Spotland. A cracking third-round atmosphere, exactly as it should be. Out come the teams, with the hosts wearing their blue and black striped tops. Newcastle are in third-choice old gold with black trim, the spit of Wolves. A classic look, even if it’s not theirs. We’ll be off in a minute ... one minute later than usual. Heads up.

12.17pm GMT

Steve Bruce talks to BT Sport. “Newcastle’s recent history isn’t great reading. We want to have a cup run, if we can, so why not? I experienced it a few years ago at Hull. The first thing to do is get over today. There’s a couple of kids on the bench, but the team selection has been pretty easy because we are where we are, and we’ve got what we’ve got. Let’s hope we’ve got enough today. Everybody loves an underdog, that’s why the TV cameras are here. But that’s why the FA Cup is the competition it is.”

12.07pm GMT

Some pre-match reading. Paul Wilson talks to Rochdale manager Brian Barry-Murphy.

11.49am GMT

Rochdale are just four points above the relegation places in League One. But they won their last match, 2-1 at Accrington, and make only one change to their starting XI. MJ Williams comes in for the injured Paul McShane. (Does anybody else have this earworm?)

Newcastle are missing Jamaal Lascelles, Allan Saint-Maximin, Jonjo Shelvey, Jetro Willems, Fabian Schar, Javier Manquillo, Paul Dummett and Andy Carroll ... but still name a strong XI, with seven international players in it. They make five changes to the team that was trounced by Leicester, with Emil Krath, Christian Atsu, both Longstaffs and, despite a broken hand, DeAndre Yedlin starting.

11.38am GMT

Rochdale: Sanchez, Magloire, Williams, O’Connell, Keohane, Ryan, Rathbone, Dooley, Camps, Baah, Henderson.
Subs: McLaughlin, Andrew, Lynch, Wilbraham, Gillam, Tavares, Matheson.

Newcastle United: Dubravka, Krafth, Fernandez, Hayden, Yedlin, Matthew Longstaff, Sean Longstaff, Atsu, Muto, Almiron, Joelinton.
Subs: Ki, Ritchie, Lejeune, Darlow, Allan, Sorensen, Cass.

2.11pm GMT

Apologies to Newcastle United supporters for bringing it up yet again, but the definitive FA Cup third-round tie is this one. Ronnie Radford, Ricky George, Supermac, John Motson, kids in parkas, all that.

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Published on January 04, 2020 06:46

January 3, 2020

Football transfer rumours: Manchester United target Todd Cantwell?

Today’s rumours are apprehensive

God bless Manchester United, who are at least trying, if perhaps a little too hard. Here’s the list of midfielders they’re currently thinking about buying: Aston Villa’s Jack Grealish, Leicester City’s James Maddison, Newcastle United’s Sean Longstaff, Juventus’s Emre Can, Norwich City’s Todd Cantwell, Real Madrid’s Toni Kroos, and Widecombe Fair’s Old Tom Cobley.

Having said that, if they land Kroos, Paul Pogba will be sent packing the other way, so perhaps this is a more coherent and forensic rebuilding strategy than it appears at first glance after all.

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Published on January 03, 2020 00:40

December 21, 2019

Newcastle 1-0 Palace, Villa 1-3 Saints and more – as it happened

Miguel Almiron finally found the net for Newcastle, while Southampton pushed Aston Villa into the relegation zone.

5.38pm GMT

So that, my good friends, is your lot. Thanks for reading Clockwatch. Simon Burnton is currently MBMing Liverpool’s Club World Cup final against Flamengo, while Will Unwin is on Manchester City v Leicester City duty. Enjoy, enjoy ... and happy holidays to one and all!

5.32pm GMT

Glamour round-up.

5.31pm GMT

Paul MacInnes was on the south coast this afternoon to witness Burnley snatch a late win. Here’s his report.

5.30pm GMT

Celtic reestablished their five-point lead over Rangers by beating Aberdeen. Here’s our report.

5.28pm GMT

Wolves moved into sixth place today with a gritty win at Norwich. Here’s Tumaini Carayol’s take.

5.26pm GMT

More on Peters. Remembering the man described by his boss Alf Ramsey as being “ten years ahead of his time”.

5.20pm GMT

Martin Peters RIP. A genuine legend has passed away today. Martin Peters has died at the age of 76 after a battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Peters won the Cup Winners’ Cup with West Ham, and the Uefa Cup with Spurs, but of course will be best remembered as part of England’s 1966 World Cup winning team. Peters scored the second goal in the 4-2 victory over West Germany in the final. He also wore the shirts of Norwich City and Sheffield United with distinction.

5.14pm GMT

Paul Doyle was at the Amex to see the upwardly mobile Blades rise to fifth in the Premier League table. This is his report.

5.12pm GMT

Louise Taylor was there to witness the end of Miguel Almiron’s long goal drought. Here’s her report on a day of Christmas cheer at St James’ Park.

5.09pm GMT

We’ve already flagged up Paul Wilson’s report of the Everton-Arsenal lunchtime kick-off. Nick Ames was at Goodison too, and here’s his take.

5.07pm GMT

The last merry missive from Simon McMahon before the holidays. “4-0 Dundee United! Merry Christmas one and all!!!”

5.03pm GMT

Ben Fisher was at Villa Park to witness the home side’s capitulation. Here’s his report on a great day for the Saints.

5.02pm GMT

Football League loose ends. Aforementioned matches ahoy! In the Championship, Fulham have hung on for a 2-1 win over Leeds. West Brom have been held 1-1 at home by Brentford. And Derby have lost their sixth away match on the bounce, going down 3-0 at Reading. Meanwhile in League Two, Forest Green have fought back to draw 2-2 with Swindon, while Exeter couldn’t find a winner against Walsall, that to-and-fro fixture ending 3-3.

4.56pm GMT

FULL TIME: Bournemouth 0-1 Burnley. It’s six defeats in seven for the Cherries, who are going to be dragged into a relegation battle unless they get their gamefaces on soon. Last week’s unlikely win against Chelsea will given them some succour. Burnley meanwhile are comfy in mid-table.

4.55pm GMT

FULL TIME: Aston Villa 1-3 Southampton. What a huge result for Saints, who leapfrog out of the relegation places, pushing Villa into the bottom three. Villa need to sort their defence out, and fast.

4.54pm GMT

FULL TIME: Norwich City 1-2 Wolverhampton Wanderers. The same old story for City, who let another lead slip through their fingers and are now six points from safetly.

4.53pm GMT

FULL TIME: Brighton & Hove Albion 0-1 Sheffield United. It’s 18 away matches unbeaten for the Blades, a club record! They move into fifth spot, just one place and point behind Chelsea in the Champions League spots. Meanwhile Scottish champs Celtic have beaten Aberdeen 2-1, restoring their five-point lead over Rangers at the top of the league.

4.51pm GMT

FULL TIME: Newcastle United 1-0 Crystal Palace. Miguel Almiron the goalscoring hero at last! It’s eight home matches without defeat for the Toon, their best run since 2012.

4.49pm GMT

GOAL! Bournemouth 0-1 Burnley (Jay Rodriguez 89). VAR insisted on checking it for offside and handball. But Rodriguez was on, while the hand was attached to the arm of a Bournemouth player. Burnley appear to have snatched all three points!

4.45pm GMT

Glamour news. It’s 4-1 to Barcelona against Alaves now, Luis Suarez winning and then scoring a penalty. Meanwhile the teams are in for the big 5.30pm kick-off between Manchester City and Leicester. Will Unwin is in the hotseat for that one, and has all the details - including the return of Sergio Aguero!

4.43pm GMT

Almiron is booked for taking off his shirt in wild celebration. It’s the rules, you can’t blame the ref, but imagine being the person who wrote that particular law. Imagine your worldview. Shame shame shame.

4.41pm GMT

MIGUEL ALMIRON GOAL!!! Newcastle United 1-0 Crystal Palace (Miguel Almiron 83). Almiron puts an end to his 28-match wait for his first Newcastle goal, rifling in from 12 yards! Andy Carroll hoists his team-mate into the air as St James’ Park erupts!

4.38pm GMT

GOAL! Norwich City 1-2 Wolverhampton Wanderers (Raul Jimenez 81). The Canaries will rue those missed Teemu Pukki chances, as it’s the same old story, another defeat snatched from the jaws of victory.

4.37pm GMT

GOAL! Aston Villa 1-3 Southampton (Jack Grealish 75). A dipping Grealish volley that can best be described as Le Tissieresque. Saints fans will appreciate the artistry, if nothing else.

4.35pm GMT

Fulham have retaken the lead against Leeds. Josh Onomah whacks one in on 69 minutes. With Leeds losing and leaders West Brom currently being held at home by Brentford, it looks like being a good day for the chasing pack.

4.33pm GMT

Glamour news. Lionel Messi has just made it 3-1 for Barcelona, who should now be home and hosed against Alaves. In Germany, Leipzig have sealed a 3-1 comeback win over Augsburg. Bayern Munich meanwhile left it late against Wolfsburg, but two goals in the last five minutes from Joshua Zirkzee and Serge Gnabry have secured the win for the reigning champions, currently in third place and trailing the leaders by four points.

4.30pm GMT

The jig looks up for the Dons at Parkhead. Their goalscorer Sam Cosgrove has just been sent off. They trail 2-1 and will have to play the last 20 minutes with ten men.

4.28pm GMT

Some good news for Liverpool fans: Virgil van Dijk has recovered from illness and is in the team to face Flamengo in the final of that shebang over in Qatar. Simon Burnton is on point.

4.26pm GMT

Exeter have completed their three-goal comeback against Walsall. Lee Martin has equalised on 64 minutes. Meanwhile Celtic have reclaimed the lead against Aberdeen, Odsonne Edouard the home hero at Parkhead on 66 minutes. It’s 2-1.

4.24pm GMT

Over an hour in, and there have been no shots on target between Bournemouth and Burnley. What a business. Meanwhile a third for Leipzig: Yussuf Poulsen puts them 3-1 up against Augsburg with a minute to go, and they’ll surely be top for Christmas. Glühwein all round!

4.20pm GMT

Glamour news. Leipzig have taken the lead late on against Augsburg, Partik Schick making it 2-1. As things stand, they’ll be the winter champions of the Bundesliga. Meanwhile Pere Pons has pulled a goal back for Alaves against Barcelona; it’s 2-1 in that one too.

4.18pm GMT

GOAL! Norwich City 1-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers (Romain Saiss 60). Saiss slams in a header, and Norwich have let yet another lead slip, despite having dominated proceedings at Carrow Road. Regrets, they’ve had a few.

4.17pm GMT

An equaliser for promotion-chasing Leeds at Fulham. Patrick Bamford with a tap-in at Craven Cottage. It’s 1-1.

4.13pm GMT

Jack O’Connell finds the net at Brighton for Sheffield United. But VAR rules it out for offside. That’s the second time today that Albion have been rescued by the video ref. Can they take advantage and find an equaliser?

4.11pm GMT

GOAL! Aston Villa 0-3 Southampton (Danny Ings 51). Ings rounds Tom Heaton. Villa are a rabble, and they’ll be in the relegation places come 5pm.

4.11pm GMT

“Ayr United are entering into the Christmas spirit at Tannadice as they gifted hosts and Scottish Championship leaders Dundee United a half-time lead they scarcely deserve,” reports Simon McMahon, our old pal from Tayside. “United for most of the first 45 looked like they had been on the sauce last night, and could well have been stuffed before they took a half time lead after a defensive error. Here’s hoping we have a cracker of a second half in store.”

4.09pm GMT

David McGoldrick still hasn’t scored a Premier League goal for Sheffield United. He should have broken his duck at the Amex, having rounded Brighton keeper Mathew Ryan. But faced with an empty net, he could only slap the ball into the side netting. Oh David. His first goal, when it eventually comes, is bound to be a screamer, best look at it that way.

4.05pm GMT

Glamour news. It’s half-time at Camp Nou, where Barcelona are now 2-0 up on Alaves, Arturo Vidal scoring the second just before the break. Meanwhile Bundesliga leaders Leipzig have just equalised against Augsburg, midway through the second half. Can they find the winner that would ensure they’re crowned winter champions?

3.59pm GMT

And the League Two scores at the break. The match of the day is at Exeter, where Walsall were three up. But the hosts are coming right back at them. It promises to be a hell of a second half at the other (sort of) St James Park.

HT!

Plenty of goals about again today!#EFL | #SkyBetLeagueTwo pic.twitter.com/EslihSrUw4

3.57pm GMT

The League One half-times. For your leisure and pleasure.

HT!

How are your side getting on?#EFL | #SkyBetLeagueOne pic.twitter.com/fLkbK3fueJ

3.56pm GMT

Anyway, you’ll be wanting some half-time scores, won’t you. Here’s what’s going on in the Championship.

HT in the 3PMs...#EFL | #SkyBetChampionship pic.twitter.com/4xRk6hlLd0

3.55pm GMT

Some good news for at least one Aston Villa fan today. Live pictures on Sky Sports show a chap, draped in a claret and blue scarf, being handed a chocolate treat in an orange wrapper. That’s a Double Decker, I’ll be bound, and there are few better bars in your Clocko correspondent’s book. Its delightful mix of chocolate, nougat and cereal never fails to hit the spot.

3.49pm GMT

At the Hawthorns, Championship leaders West Brom and fellow promotion chasers Brentford have just traded goals from corners in short order. Henrik Dalsgaard gave the Bees the lead on 43 minutes, but Darnell Furlong has levelled up in first-half injury time. Meanwhile in Scotland, the leaders Celtic and Aberdeen go in level at 1-1.

3.47pm GMT

The Premier League half-times.

3.45pm GMT

Norwich are still leading Wolves at Carrow Road. But Teemu Pukki has missed a couple of decent chances, and they’ll be worried about shipping another lead. As things stand, they’ll be level on 15 points with plummeting Aston Villa, three shy of 17th-placed Saints and safety. Long time to go, though.

3.42pm GMT

Eoin Doyle has scored twice for League Two leaders Swindon Town at Forest Green. He’s now found the net in ten consecutive games, and scored 21 times already this season. Swindon are 2-0 up and will end the day six clear of second-placed Exeter if they keep this up.

3.37pm GMT

A shock brewing in Scotland? Sam Cosgrove has equalised for Aberdeen at Celtic Park. A 35th-minute header very much against the run of play. Rangers, who saw off Hibs easily last night, will have all fingers crossed.

3.35pm GMT

Glamour news. In La Liga, Barcelona are leading Alaves by Antoine Griezmann’s 14th-minute goal, while Bundesliga leaders RB Leipzig are trailing at half-time, Florian Niederlechner with an early goal for Augsburg.

3.33pm GMT

GOAL! Aston Villa 0-2 Southampton (Jack Stephens 31). A much-deserved second for Saints. And another deadly dead-ball delivery by James Ward-Prowse, Jack Stephens flicking home from his corner. Villa are in all sorts of bother now. If only Saints sent out a team of 16-year-olds.

3.29pm GMT

Danny Ings and Shane Long continue to cause Aston Villa all sorts of bother. Southampton are well on top, but they’ve only got the one goal to show for it. They’ll not want to spurn another win there for the taking, just like they did at Arsenal a few weeks back. Still, Saints haven’t been playing like a relegation team of late. That second-half comeback against Watford seems to have sparked a fire.

3.24pm GMT

GOAL! Brighton & Hove Albion 0-1 Sheffield United (Oli McBurnie 23). Scotland’s super-sharp shooter puts the Blades in front at the Amex, in the no-nonsense style, a long ball causing all sorts of confusion in the home defence. United will go fifth if they hold on for the win.

3.23pm GMT

GOAL! Aston Villa 0-1 Southampton (Danny Ings 21). What a striker Ings is. He’s on a one-man mission to save Saints from the drop. He’s also on hand to convert after Shane Long’s shot is parried by Tom Heaton. If it ends like this, Saints will leapfrog Aston Villa, pushing them into the relegation zone in the process.

3.19pm GMT

GOAL! Norwich City 1-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers (Todd Cantwell 17). City’s young star scores his fifth goal of the season from 12 yards. Carrow Road erupts. Norwich haven’t been too expert in holding onto leads this season. How they could do with keeping this one.

3.15pm GMT

Miguel Almirón still hasn’t scored for Newcastle United. But he’s just gone very close against Crystal Palace. A curler sent goalwards, but without the necessary power to beat Vicente Guaita. Like the Leeds promotion, it’s just a matter of time, surely. Surely.

3.13pm GMT

An early goal for the Scottish champions Celtic. Christopher Jullien with the opener against their bunnies Aberdeen. Meanwhile ever-entertaining Leeds - who have to return to the Premier League soon, they just have to - fall behind at Fulham, a result of Aleksandar Mitrovic’s seventh-minute penalty.

3.10pm GMT

It looked as though Sheffield United had taken the lead at Brighton. John Egan had the ball in the net. But there was a handball as he bundled it in, and VAR chalked it off.

3.09pm GMT

Things already not looking good for Derby. Scott Malone has been sent packing for bringing down Yakou Méïté. Charlie Adam knocks in the resulting penalty. Derby have lost their last five without scoring, so good luck to them.

3.06pm GMT

No early goals in the Premier League. So there’s time to report a couple of results down the divisions. In League Two, Scunthorpe have won their local stramash with Grimsby 1-0, thanks to Kevin can Veen’s second-half goal. Meanwhile in League One, Gillingham have beaten Buckinghamshire Franchise 3-1, leaving the men from Milton Keynes in the relegation zone.

2.58pm GMT

The teams are out at Villa Park, Dean Court, the Amex, St James’ Park and Carrow Road. We’ll be off in a minute. But while we wait, here’s Paul Wilson’s take on the early kick-off, the non-event at Goodison that leaves Carlo Ancelotti and Mikel Arteta with plenty to think about.

2.56pm GMT

The Arsenal representative of the Observer’s fan network isn’t totally convinced about the appointment of Mikel Arteta. Though it’s safe to say that, with the sum total of zero matches played under his yoke so far, the jury is very much still out. “It has been strange, in the context of Arteta’s appointment, to again hear many people talk of the appointment of untested young ex-players as managers, as if this was unusual,” notes David Reynolds. “It seems to me this has always been standard practice. To take three rather notable examples, Brain Clough got the Derby job at 32, Bill Nicholson got the Spurs job at 39, and Alf Ramsay the Ipswich job at 34. All were league champions at these clubs within a few years.”

2.39pm GMT

Here’s a bit more on this morning’s confirmation that Carlo Ancelotti will follow in the wake of genuine legends such as Harry Catterick, Howard Kendall and

Mike Walker
Joe Royle. The latter remains the last man to bring silverware to Goodison Park, the FA Cup in 1995. Should Ancelotti manage to snap Everton’s potless quarter-century streak, he’ll take his place on the list of Goodison greats with immediate effect.

2.30pm GMT

On the subject of fun ... Everton and Arsenal served up none of it. The lunchtime Premier League fixture ended up goalless, though that hasn’t stopped the denizens of Goodison cheering outgoing caretaker Big Dunc™ to the rafters. He shifts down the bench to make way for Carlo Ancelotti, who has plenty in his in-box. Also with much to do on today’s evidence: Mikel Arteta. God speed, lads. Anyway, Arsenal rise to ninth, Everton 15th. For now. Simon Burnton was your eyes and ears.

2.25pm GMT

And finally the team news from Carrow Road, where Norwich make one change to the team that deservedly drew at Leicester. Ben Godfrey is replaced by Grant Hanley.

No changes for Wolves in the wake of their unlucky defeat at home to Spurs last Sunday. Wolves have scored a goal in each of their last 16 matches, while Norwich score and ship them like nobody’s business, so this one could be fun.

2.22pm GMT

To the Toon, who can go eight unbeaten at home for the first time in seven years if they avoid defeat today. Steve Bruce makes three changes in pursuit of this goal. Sean Longstaff, Jetro Willems and Christian Atsu make way for Jonjo Shelvey, Miguel Almiron and Florian Lejeune.

Two changes for Crystal Palace after that draw with Brighton. Patrick van Aanholt and James McCarthy replace Scott Dann and Jairo Riedewald, the latter unsurprisingly given he was hooked at half-time on Monday evening.

2.17pm GMT

Brighton make one change to the side that should have won easily at rivals Crystal Palace on Monday evening. Dale Stephens has served his suspension and takes the place of Yves Bissouma, who played well at Selhurst Park if memory serves.

Two changes for Sheffield United after their win against Aston Villa. Luke Freeman replaces the suspended John Fleck, while Oli McBurnie leads the line instead of Lys Mousset.

2.13pm GMT

Bournemouth name the same side sent out to beat Chelsea last weekend. That means Joshua King has recovered from the knock he picked up at Stamford Bridge.

Burnley make one change to the side that beat Newcastle last week. Charlie Taylor comes in for Erik Pieters.

2.10pm GMT

Two changes to the Aston Villa side that went down at Sheffield United. Conor Hourihane and Douglas Luiz come in for Marvelous Nakamba and Henri Lansbury.

Southampton make one adjustment to the team that lost at home to West Ham. The injured Moussa Djenepo is replaced by Stuart Armstrong.

2.06pm GMT

Aston Villa: Heaton, Guilbert, Engels, Hause, Targett, McGinn, Douglas Luiz, Hourihane, El Ghazi, Wesley, Grealish.
Subs: Lansbury, Nakamba, Konsa, Trezeguet, Nyland, Kodjia, Elmohamady.
Southampton: McCarthy, Cedric, Stephens, Bednarek, Bertrand, Armstrong, Ward-Prowse, Hojbjerg, Redmond, Long, Ings.
Subs: Yoshida, Vestergaard, Adams, Romeu, Boufal, Obafemi, Gunn.

Bournemouth: Ramsdale, Stacey, Francis, Mepham, Rico, Billing, Lewis Cook, Gosling, Lerma, Fraser, King.
Subs: Boruc, Surman, Solanke, Callum Wilson, Stanislas, Simpson, Kilkenny.
Burnley: Pope, Bardsley, Tarkowski, Mee, Taylor, Hendrick, Westwood, Cork, McNeil, Barnes, Wood.
Subs: Drinkwater, Brady, Rodriguez, Hart, Pieters, Lennon, Long.

1.50pm GMT

The official teamsheets will be dropping in a few minutes. In the meantime, our match previews should whet the appetite.

1.42pm GMT

The first meaningful action in today’s Premier League has just come at Goodison Park. It’s a shot on target! But it’s still goalless between Everton and Arsenal, who are serving up poor Simon Burnton some thin gruel.

12.35pm GMT

Good afternoon, girls and boys, and welcome to Christmas Clocko. You’ve all been averagely behaved at best this year, so the traditional Saturday 3pm card has nothing whatsoever to do with the title race, and isn’t particularly concerned with the tussle for the Champions League spots either. But there is a plum relegation six-pointer at Villa Park, so you do get a little treat. Santa is good to you. Never unkind.

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Published on December 21, 2019 09:38

December 18, 2019

The Fiver Christmas Awards 2019

Give the one you love something special this year: a free subscription to The Fiver. The gift that never starts giving

Welcome to the 2019 Fiver Christmas Awards. We lost count last year of how many times we’ve done this, so don’t be expecting us to furnish you with a number now. All we know is, it’s been too many. You know it too. But despite the grinding familiarity and futility of it all, we go again. It’s a time-honoured festive tradition, see, like crackers, carols and crying. So here it is, merry Christmas, everybody’s trudging on. Charge your glass with a generous shot of your cheapest aftershave, top it up with a little turps, dig out the packet of tablets you should have taken for your bad back a few months ago but decided to save for the holidays, and sink into a gorgeous haze of delight, the better to deal with the next few minutes of existence. Make sure to have a couple of rolls of that Regina Blitz to hand, just in case you wake up with a start in a puddle! Enjoy, enjoy.

George Barker, for Gosport Borough, with your goal of the weekend contender pic.twitter.com/JbmvRYKQ67

Key penalty in the Copa Verde shoot-out for Paysandu against Cuiabá pic.twitter.com/RtdK8BcF23

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Published on December 18, 2019 04:10

December 17, 2019

The Fiver | Trying not to pull too hard on the threads of an historic parallel

You have to feel desperately sorry for Arsenal fans. Their beloved club has been slowly drifting into their greatest period of thundering irrelevance since the 1960s, when the team became such a mid-table non-event that at one point they got rid of their famous white sleeves and nobody noticed they were playing in plain red shirts for two years. Eventually they snapped out of their collective trance, got their gamefaces on (as well as the old classic kit) and by 1971 were champions of England again. Point being, the light at the end of the tunnel is always closer than you think, although as Arsenal won only one more trophy in the subsequent 16 years, and that an FA Cup against a Manchester United team who only turned up for the final at 4.41pm, it’s probably best not to pull too hard on the threads of this particular historical parallel.

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Published on December 17, 2019 08:10

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