Scott Murray's Blog, page 122

March 9, 2019

Crystal Palace 1-2 Brighton: Premier League – as it happened

Superb goals by Glenn Murray and Anthony Knockaert gave the Seagulls a deserved victory at Selhurst.

3.05pm GMT

It’s the end of the road for this report, as Brighton take the spoils in the second M23 derby of the season. Jacob Steinberg was our man at Selhurst Park. Here’s his verdict. Thanks for reading the MBM!

3.03pm GMT

Roy Hodgson’s turn. “We did dominate possession, we had a lot of the ball, and came across a packed defence. It wasn’t easy to create clear-cut chances, though we can’t be accused of not trying to. But the first goal comes from a ball in the swirling wind which makes life difficult for James Tomkins, and sets up beautifully for Glenn Murray. We had high hopes at 1-1, that we would go on to use our possession and territorial advantage to get a second goal. But of course we found ourselves on the end of a magnificent strike, right on the joint, that turns out to be the winning goal. It’s not as though we were outplayed, it’s because we couldn’t turn our possession into chances. Our priority is to stay in the Premier League, but if we can get to a cup semi-final that would be a nice thing to do too.”

2.57pm GMT

Chris Hughton speaks! “It’s a manly performance, particularly conceding when we did in the second half. The place was rocking then. But we weathered the storm. We had real good opportunities to break and increase our scoreline. I’ve been told their penalty was a penalty, so I have no complaints. We scored two excellent goals to win the game. We want to see that more often from Anthony Knockaert, with his ability. The goal caps a good all-round performance by him.” As for his potential sending off in the first 15 seconds? “From where I was, and I was very close, no.” Are you close to safety? “I’ve always maintained you need 40 points. It might be less than that, but it’s our goal.”

2.43pm GMT

Today’s expected goals result: Crystal Palace 1.52, Brighton & Hove Albion 0.16. Commiserations to the Seagulls on an extremely disappointing afternoon. Can Chris Hughton survive this calamity?

2.41pm GMT

Glenn Murray speaks to Sky! “A huge result for us. We’ve come off the back of some poor form, we got a crucial win last weekend and to back it up with these three points is crucial for us. Obviously I wasn’t meant to be starting, and got drafted in late. It’s great to get the goal. I’m delighted to get the three points.”

Brighton’s other goalscoring hero Anthony Knockaert adds: “It’s amazing, a great feeling. Obviously we were desperate to get back-to-back wins, and we did it. It’s nice to help the team, and to get the winning goal in a derby is special. I saw the space for me to go inside, but could not hit the first time. I took an extra touch and had more space, it was a superb finish. I am buzzing!”

2.29pm GMT

Brighton cavort in the corner, celebrating a huge win over their enemy! It’s a result that gives their survival hopes a huge boost, back-to-back Premier League wins recorded just when folk were beginning to question their capacity to stay up. A worrying slump reversed in memorable fashion. And Knockaert’s goal will live long in the memory. He’s very much earned the right to take off his shirt, dance around, and salute his fans. Brighton are up to 14th, on 33 points, behind 13th-placed Palace on goal difference but with a game in hand. It was a deserved victory for the Seagulls: they scored two fantastic goals and were resolute in defence. Palace, a brief spell after the break aside, were poor.

2.25pm GMT

Anthony Knockaert’s sensational curler wins the M23 derby! Brighton join Palace on 33 points, nudging clear of danger, after completing their first league double over their arch rivals since 1983-84!

2.24pm GMT

90 min +5: Locadia comes on for Jahanbakhsh. Palace win a corner from the throw, and yet another set piece becomes a total non-event.

2.23pm GMT

90 min +4: Zaha and Bernardo go nose to nose as Palace win a thrown deep on the right. All nonsense.

2.22pm GMT

90 min +3: Bernardo takes a heavy touch as he clears his lines and moves upfield. He’s booked for lunging in on Meyer. That’s a free kick, 30 yards out on the right. And it’s wasted, Brighton clearing easily.

2.21pm GMT

90 min +2: Ryan is booked for wasting time over the resulting goal kick.

2.20pm GMT

90 min +1: Zaha crosses from the right. Batshuayi rises but can’t beat Dunk. The ball drops to Schlupp, standing alone on the penalty spot. The ball takes a while to come down, though, which means Schlupp is rushing to take his shot ... and his effort flies harmlessly over the crossbar!

2.18pm GMT

90 min: There will be four added minutes.

2.17pm GMT

89 min: Dann is booked for charging March to the ground as the Brighton player raced along the right touchline. No complaints.

2.16pm GMT

88 min: Happily, van Aanholt is back up and about. A stinger, nothing more.

2.15pm GMT

87 min: Van Aanholt collides with March. A totally innocent accident, but the Palace man has hurt himself there. He’s down receiving treatment, in some pain.

2.14pm GMT

85 min: Brighton knock the ball around in reasonably calm style, given the way this match is poised. They earn a couple of free kicks, chances to run the clock down in a professional manner. Tick, tock.

2.12pm GMT

83 min: It’s tense end-to-end fun. For the neutral, that is, almost certainly not for fans of Palace and Brighton. A corner for Palace out on the right. The delivery doesn’t allow Benteke a header towards goal. Brighton mop up.

2.10pm GMT

82 min: Jahanbakhsh makes a little space for himself, 25 yards out, and nearly out-Knockaerts Knockaert. He sends a dipping shot inches over the crossbar, Guaita not necessarily getting to it, had it been on target.

2.09pm GMT

80 min: Bissouma robs Meyer and suddenly Brighton are countering four on three, Palace having over-committed in attack. The ball’s shuttled wide right towards March, but the sub hesitates and dribbles himself into a state of confusion, before lamely giving possession back to the hosts.

2.08pm GMT

79 min: Bernardo stops Zaha out on the right. Unfairly so. Free kick, and a chance for Palace to load the box. Benteke will fancy this. But Milivojevic fails to beat the first man, and Brighton clear. That was a very poor delivery.

2.06pm GMT

77 min: And now a double change for Palace, Townsend and McArthur replaced by Meyer and Benteke.

2.05pm GMT

76 min: That was Knockaert’s last contribution. He immediately makes way for March.

2.04pm GMT

This is a sensational goal, one of the season’s best! Knockaert is found out on the right touchline with a long pass. He cuts inside, past van Aanholt, along the front of the Palace box. When he reaches the right-hand side of the D, he curls a shot towards the top left. It’s right in the corner, off the angle and in, giving Guaita no chance! That was a precision whip into the top left! What a strike!

2.01pm GMT

72 min: Brighton are giving up a few half-chances now. Milivojevic drifts in from the left and looks for the bottom right. It’s not a million miles away, but wide, and Ryan had it covered.

2.00pm GMT

71 min: Zaha forces Knockaert into a poor clearance out on the Palace left. That allows Townsend to take up possession and cut inside, but he welts a dreadful effort miles over the bar while looking, presumably, for the top right.

1.59pm GMT

70 min: Murray cynically clips Milivojevic’s heel, and quite correctly goes in the book. Schlupp comes across to take issue with the brazen foul; he’s told to pipe down by both Murray and the referee. But it all calms down quickly enough. Poor Milivojevic, though, he’s been tossed around like an old sock this afternoon.

1.57pm GMT

69 min: Zaha tries to inject some quality into an increasingly scrappy game. He dribbles elegantly down the inside-left channel, drifts inside as he reaches the area, and for a second looks to have adroitly engineered a little space to shoot. But there’s simply too many green shirts swarming him, and eventually he’s crowded out. Brighton clear.

1.55pm GMT

67 min: Play continues to be very bitty. A little wind has been taken out of the Palace sail.

1.54pm GMT

65 min: A bit of a lull, which will make Brighton happy. They’ve been second best in this second half, and need a little time to clear their heads. Passes aren’t sticking.

1.52pm GMT

63 min: Murray and Milivojevic contest a high ball in the centre circle. The Palace captain comes off worst, falling onto his head from a great height, Murray having stood his ground with great determination. He’s been in the thick of the battle today, pretty much from the get-go. But he’s hardy, and is good to continue.

1.50pm GMT

61 min: A corner for Palace down the right. Brighton deal with it easily. But that doesn’t stop Chris Hughton looking concerned with the direction of travel in this match. He’s in full Ponder Mode on the touchline.

1.49pm GMT

60 min: Dunk and Batshuayi chase a ball towards touch down the Palace left. It’s going to be a Palace throw; Dunk gives the striker a cheeky little shove in the back. Batshuayi isn’t particularly happy to be pushed face down into pitchside dirt, but the officials see nothing wrong with it. Garden-variety derby nonsense.

1.47pm GMT

58 min: Propper creams a long pass down the left for JahanBakhsh, who does extremely well to keep the ball in play and makes good for the box. Just before he gets there, he’s upended by Tomkins, and should be awarded a free kick near the left-hand corner of the area. But the referee waves play on. Brighton aren’t happy; they need to take the pressure off as much as anything, because it’s been all Palace since the restart.

1.45pm GMT

56 min: McArthur drives at the Brighton defence, the hosts retreating in a panic. He’s got options either side, but slams a pass left, meant for Zaha, straight into touch. That was a real wasted opportunity, because Zaha would have been taking on Montoya, who is on a yellow card.

1.43pm GMT

54 min: Duffy faffs around as the ball bounces 25 yards from goal. He fails to head, then control, and Batshuayi takes over. The striker can’t quite tear clear, and slips a pass right to Townsend, who eventually shoots over. Duffy really got away with one there. Brighton are rocking.

1.41pm GMT

52 min: The penalty incident came after some good work from Batshuayi and McArthur, both causing problems on the edge of the box with some twinkling toes before Townsend took over. A result of Palace having taken it up a notch.

1.39pm GMT

The wind blows the ball off the spot. But Milivojevic has ice in the veins, and knows what he’s doing from 12 yards. He calmly whips the penalty into the top right, sending Ryan the wrong way. Selhurst erupts! That’s a perfect start to the half for the hosts!

1.38pm GMT

49 min: Townsend has the ball just inside the Brighton box. He drops a shoulder to the left, in the hope of making some space for a shot. Propper sticks out a leg and Townsend goes over it. A no-brainer of a decision! What a poor challenge by Propper.

1.36pm GMT

47 min: Jahanbakhsh still hasn’t scored for Brighton. He has an attempt from 25 yards, out on the left. Guaita is behind it all the way.

1.35pm GMT

46 min: Palace appear to have been given a rocket by Roy. They’re scuttling around in determined fashion. But passes still aren’t sticking. Van Aanholt drives down the left but is quickly robbed of possession. The first groans of the second period.

1.33pm GMT

Brighton get the second half underway! No changes.

1.24pm GMT

BREAKING NEWS: Marketing types occasionally talk out of their hat. Who knew?

1.20pm GMT

Palace only really got going after 44 minutes or so; the half-time whistle comes just as they were finally asking some questions of Brighton. They trudge off with some thinking to do. Brighton will be very happy with their first-half work.

1.19pm GMT

45 min +1: Brighton deal with the corner easily. But Palace come again, McArthur shaping a shot from out on the left, towards the top right. It’s deflected out for a corner. Townsend floats a ball in from the right. It’s half cleared. Tomkins, running backwards, clatters into Knockaert and wants a penalty. But he was going down before contact, looking for it, and the referee’s not interested.

1.16pm GMT

45 min: Palace push Brighton back into their final third, and suddenly a little space opens up. Finally. Zaha and Batshuayi combine down the inside-left channel and the latter is able to take a shot from a tight angle. But Ryan’s got it covered, and the ball is deflected out for a corner.

1.14pm GMT

43 min: Milivojevic sprays a pass down the right, Wan-Bissaka the intended target. It flies straight out for a goal kick. The Brighton fans, already in good cheer, enjoyed that. Palace need the half-time whistle, and some beneficial advice from their manager.

1.13pm GMT

42 min: But nothing comes of it. Palace have been extremely blunt up front.

1.12pm GMT

41 min: Zaha hasn’t had any space to work in. But here his sheer persistence, and refusal to give up a lost cause, earns a corner out on the left.

1.10pm GMT

39 min: More pinball soccer. And most of it’s in the middle of the park, too. Not much to report, in other words. Brighton will be perfectly happy with this, of course. Selhurst is quiet by its own high standards.

1.08pm GMT

37 min: McArthur and Schlupp swarm Bissouma on the halfway line and tear upfield with the ball. They slip the ball wide left to Zaha, who dribbles down a cul-de-sac and eventually scoops a weak cross out of play for a goal kick. Palace’s increasing frustration is palpable.

1.06pm GMT

35 min: Townsend dribbles with purpose down the right, but his cross is blocked by Bernardo. Shades of handball, with Bernardo’s back turned and right arm hanging out, but the referee waves play on, much to the home support’s chagrin. Penny for the thoughts of Presnel Kimpembe.

1.03pm GMT

33 min: As a result, the Palace support have become a little subdued. The travelling fans are making most of the noise right now.

1.02pm GMT

31 min: Palace have enjoyed two-thirds of possession so far, but little else. Brighton are holding their shape, sitting deep, and the hosts - best when they’re on the counter - are struggling to find a way through.

1.01pm GMT

29 min: Tomkins gets on the end of the corner, looping a header towards the top left. There’s no pace on it, and Ryan can scoop clear. From the resulting brouhaha, Schlupp sends the ball wide left. It’s the first time Palace have asked serious questions of the Brighton defence.

12.59pm GMT

28 min: This is still being played at 70mph. McArthur bursts down the left and manages to force the ball inside towards Zaha, who drops a shoulder and shoots from the penalty spot. Dunk sticks out a leg and deflects out for a corner on the right.

12.57pm GMT

26 min: File that Dann-Duffy tussle under Seen Them Given. Yes I know that’s a cop-out. But you have seen them given. Dann definitely had his arm around Duffy’s shoulder. Brighton could easily have been awarded a penalty there.

12.56pm GMT

24 min: Knockaert fires the free kick in from the left. The ball’s only half cleared - Dann rather fortunate to get away with dragging down Duffy amid a melee - and Bissouma tries to shoot from the edge of the box. His effort balloons through to Guaita. Zaha tries to break up the left, and is stopped unfairly by Montoya, who becomes the second Brighton player to go in the book.

12.54pm GMT

23 min: Wan-Bissaka bundles over Propper, out on the Brighton left. A chance for the visitors to load the box and cause some bother.

12.52pm GMT

21 min: And to think he wasn’t supposed to be in the starting XI. That’s football, that.

12.52pm GMT

A long hoof upfield. Tomkins fluffs his clearing header. That’s the rubbish out of the way. Because after that, it’s quite sensational, as Murray romps clear down the inside-right channel, and from the edge of the box, pearls an unstoppable shot across Guaita and into the bottom left! That’s a glorious finish by the leading scorer in this fixture, and it’s Murray’s 100th goal in a Brighton shirt!

12.49pm GMT

18 min: Zaha sashays in from the left, scooting past Stephens in the insouciant style. He looks for the top right from the edge of the D, but leans back and the ball sails off towards Sainsbury’s.

12.48pm GMT

17 min: Townsend announces himself on the left, forcing Bernardo to block out for the first corner of the match. Nothing comes of the set piece, and Bissouma blooters clear.

12.47pm GMT

16 min: It’s bagatelle right now. Two-pass moves are at a premium.

12.45pm GMT

14 min: Milivojevic gifts Brighton possession in the Palace half, but Brighton go backwards instead of forwards and there’s a half-chance to trouble the hosts gone.

12.44pm GMT

12 min: It’s all a bit scrappy and hectic right now. That’s derby football for you. Here’s Gary Naylor: “A rare (well, rareish) match-up of two British managers in the Premier League that prompted me to look to see if any of them were overachieving reasonable expectations this season. And I don’t think that they are.” Does that count as yet another good reason to call off Brexit?

12.42pm GMT

10 min: There really is a sensational old-school atmosphere at Selhurst, both sets of fans giving it plenty. And it’s ramped up another notch as Bassouma slides in on the much-fouled Zaha. The referee gives him another lecture; I suspect it’s his last one before he goes in the book.

12.39pm GMT

8 min: So having said that, Brighton launch a slinky attack, Knockaert and Bissouma combining down the right, the former nearly releasing the latter with a cute sliderule pass along the channel. Schlupp is alert to the danger and does very well to intercept.

12.38pm GMT

7 min: A little time and space for Batshuayi, just outside the Brighton box. He takes a speculative shot. It’s deflected and easily snaffled by Ryan. But the visitors are sitting deep, inviting some pressure.

12.37pm GMT

5 min: Bissouma was telling Knockaert to calm down, but now he’s in the thick of it, clipping the heel of Milivojevic, in the wars during these early exchanges. That one only earns a lecture from the referee. Brighton appear to have decided that a robust approach is for the best.

12.35pm GMT

4 min: Brighton haven’t really had much of a touch yet. Murray tries to get on the end of a long punt, but he’s never going to be able to control, never mind hold it up. Palace stroke it around for a bit.

12.34pm GMT

2 min: Before the game restarts, Bissouma spends a little time telling his team-mate Knockaert to simmer down. Zaha wasn’t particularly happy either, and has his say. Gotta love fierce rivalries!

12.32pm GMT

And we’re off! The hosts get the ball rolling. It’s the 99th meeting between this pair! It’s a windy day ... but sunny. Within 15 seconds, Knockaert goes in hard on Milivojevic. Studs on knee as the pair slide together. He’s rather fortunate to get away with just a yellow card, because he raised his leg going into that challenge, and didn’t look in full control. What a start that could have been.

12.28pm GMT

The teams are out! A cracking atmosphere at Selhurst Park, as ever, but even more so given today’s opposition. Everyone glad all over. Palace sport their famous red and blue stripes, while Brighton wear a rather lovely second-choice green. We’ll be off in a couple of minutes.

12.24pm GMT

A late change. Florin Andone has pulled something in the warm-up, so he’ll be replaced in the Brighton starting XI by M23 derby specialist Glenn Murray. “For marketing this overseas, to those of us for whom M23 sounds like a dubious indie band, may I suggest we tag this one as The Quadrophenia?” pitches Joe Studholme. “Mods versus Rockers?” It’d certainly work when they’re facing off down on the south coast. They could schedule the next derby at the Amex for a 5.15 kickoff. Purple hearts all round on the train down. I’m sure Southern Rail would love that.

12.10pm GMT

Roy Hodgson talks! “I do know, having come back here, what this means to the supporters. But when I was growing up in the area, it wasn’t a fixture of any particular note. Of course in the 1970s when the rivalry kicked off I was working in Sweden, so I would lie if I said I knew exactly what this means to the supporters from a personal viewpoint. But of course I do realise what it means for the supporters because I work for the club and I have been well rehearsed into all the trials and tribulations of the Palace-Brighton game. We have taken our chances recently, there has been a relative consistency to our performances. There is no doubt that if we get to 36 points you are looking at a potential downhill run rather than an uphill run, because teams below us have more work to do. Today is an opportunity for that but it’s by no means a given.”

11.52am GMT

Brighton boss Chris Hughton explains the Andone-Murray decision. “It’s just the level of competition we have. Florin Andone in our last win changed the game, and got the goal. We need to be smart in the way we play, because there’s no doubt this is a very big game for the supporters, and Palace can get a tremendous atmosphere here. We need to make sure we don’t get caught up in that one. They’re a very good offensive team with good options. Our morale has been good, and the cup games have lifted us, so there’s been no doom and gloom. But to make sure this is the season that we’d like, we need more points. Last week was a big win for us. If we can be encouraged by last week’s performance, then of course we have a chance.”

11.40am GMT

Palace won 3-1 at Burnley in their last fixture, and make three changes to the starting XI named that day. Andros Townsend and James McArthur replace Cheikhou Kouyate and Max Meyer, both of whom drop to the bench. Meanwhile there’s no Wayne Hennessey today; his place between the sticks is taken by Vicente Guaita, while the veteran Julian Speroni backs up on the bench.

Brighton make just one change to the side that beat Huddersfield Town 1-0 last Saturday. Florin Andone replaces M23 expert Glenn Murray up front.

11.33am GMT

Crystal Palace: Guaita, Wan Bissaka, Tomkins, Dann, van Aanholt, McArthur, Milivojevic, Schlupp, Townsend, Batshuayi, Zaha.
Subs: Speroni, Ward, Meyer, Kouyate, Ayew, Benteke, Kelly.

Brighton & Hove Albion: Ryan, Montoya, Dunk, Duffy, Bernardo, Bissouma, Stephens, Propper, Knockaert, Andone, Jahanbakhsh.
Subs: Bong, Kayal, Murray, Izquierdo, March, Button, Burn.

10.44am GMT

The M23. A high-speed vehicular highway in the United Kingdom opened in 1974 that runs north to south from the Surrey village of Hooley to Pease Pottage in West Sussex, with a spur at junction nine for Gatwick Airport. There are more lyrical and romantic names for a football derby, if we’re being honest with ourselves.

Still, what a rivalry! Crystal Palace and Brighton & Hove Albion have met on an irregular basis since their Southern League days in the early 20th century, though they only started truly locking horns in the 1970s, Malcolm Allison, Peter Taylor, Terry Venables, Alan Mullery, all that. There’s no love lost.

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Published on March 09, 2019 07:05

March 6, 2019

Paris Saint-Germain 1-3 Manchester United (3-3 agg): Champions League – as it happened

A controversial late penalty sent United through as PSG suffered dramatic European heartbreak once again

PSG 1-3 Man Utd (3-3 agg): read Daniel Taylor’s report Porto convert late VAR penalty to send Roma out of Europe

1.08am GMT

Ole talks!

10.40pm GMT

So big congratulations to Manchester United, who join Tottenham Hotspur, Ajax and Porto in the quarter finals. Daniel Taylor was our man at the Parc des Princes, as PSG found yet another way to exit Europe in spectacular fashion. Thanks for reading. Nighty night!

10.38pm GMT

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer speaks! “It was fantastic. The belief in the boys was what we hope for. It was a great start, we set out a plan to get the first goal but didn’t expect it after two minutes. That made it more open for us. We wanted many goals in the game. I was in the Champions League with Molde and we got a penalty in the last minute against Basel, but my player missed and we went out. So this time ... normally Paul takes the penalties, but this time Rashford took it, he’s only 21 and nerveless. Him and Rom were fantastic tonight. Real Madrid and Ajax was our team-talk. We always know it’s possible, and this club, it’s what we do, that’s Man United! I haven’t seen the penalty, the referee had a big call to make. My staff say he made himself bigger and it was a clear penalty.” And is he going to get this job or what? “No no no no. Wait until the summer, we’ll see what happens.” We all know what’s going to happen, though, right?

10.21pm GMT

Man-of-the-moment Marcus Rashford speaks! “I just tried to keep a cool head. It’s the sort of thing you practice every day, I wanted to take it. The wait before was the hardest thing, but we live for those sort of moments, and we were smiling after.” That’s pretty much all I could make out of the interview, as Ashley Young was in the background screaming in the excitable style. Fair enough, if you can’t interrupt the post-match banalities after a game like that, when can you?

10.10pm GMT

None of the ex-players in the BT Sport studio thinks that was a penalty. Michael Owen, Rio Ferdinand and Owen Hargreaves your jury there. It was a very contentious decision, for sure. Kimpembe’s back was turned, the ball having flicked off his elbow as Dalot shot. His arm was sticking out a little bit, but not so much that it was a clear and obvious offence. However, former referee Peter Walton, also on BT Sport, thinks it was the correct decision, sure that Kimpembe’s arm was in an unnatural position and that he wasn’t in control of the situation while turning his back. They call this sort of thing a talking point these days, don’t they?

10.03pm GMT

Is Ole Gunnar Solskjaer capable of doing something, anything wrong? All current evidence suggests no. At the final whistle, United teared off towards their supporters en masse, the sort of celebration you usually see at the end of a final. They’re happier than Real Madrid were in Kiev last spring, put it that way. Sheer delight on their faces. Poor old Presnel Kimpembe is understandably distraught, and he’s hugged by Romelu Lukaku, who has a word of comfort for the young shell-shocked defender. But it’s all about Solskjaer, whose smile could light up every arrondissement in Paris. He’s got the job now, hasn’t he.

9.59pm GMT

Yep! A witless Verratti free kick is headed clear by Lukaku, and United have closed out one of the most sensational comebacks in European Cup history! PSG have become the first club to win a first leg 2-0 away from home, but not advance. United are in the quarters ... and all of a sudden, anything is possible!

9.57pm GMT

90 min +9: Shaw is booked for a clumsy challenge on Verratti, 40 yards from the United goal on the right. Surely this is PSG’s last opportunity?

9.56pm GMT

90 min +8: The ball’s flung into the mixer from the left. Paredes goes up for a challenge with Shaw, and over. He wants a penalty but he’s not getting it. Plenty of added time here for the VAR controversy!

9.55pm GMT

90 min +7: The United supporters are singing their song again. Ole’s at the wheel! But the game goes on.

9.54pm GMT

90 min +6: The corner’s half cleared. Di Maria whips a cross in from the left, but it’s overcooked and out for a United throw on the right. Blessed relief for the visitors!

9.53pm GMT

90 min +5: A desperate PSG send on Edison Cavani for Dani Alves. A final throw of the dice. The ball’s flung into the mixer. De Gea elects to punch clear, allowing Di Maria a chance to shoot from a tight angle on the left. A corner! This is some drama!

9.52pm GMT

Rashford lashes it into the top left! Buffon went the right way, but had no chance whatsoever, so well was the penalty struck!

9.51pm GMT

90 min +3: Paredes trots into the box to put Rashford off. Some brief shoving. Eventually calm breaks out, and...

9.50pm GMT

90 min +2: After a long look at the VAR, the referee points at the spot! Kimpembe holds his head in his hands. Thiago Silva is beyond livid. That was a very tight call, one that could have genuinely gone either way. Marcus Rashford will have the chance to put United into the quarter finals!

9.49pm GMT

90 min +1: Kimpembe was turning his back, though his right arm was sticking out a bit. Was his arm in an unnatural position?

9.48pm GMT

90 min: A bit of space for Dalot to run into, down the inside-right channel. He shoots from distance, and it’s deflected out off Kimpembe for a corner! And from the set piece ... ah hold on ... they’re going to have a look at the VAR, seeing if the ball came off Kimpembe’s arm! What a decision this could be!

9.47pm GMT

89 min: Meunier breaks down the right, but he’s got nobody with him in attack. He does very well to hold up the ball, and eventually Verratti is dribbling his way into the box on the other flank. But he can’t make space for a shot.

9.45pm GMT

87 min: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is hell bent on writing a fairytale for the ages tonight! He takes off Young and sends on 17-year-old Mason Greenwood for his United debut! What a story this could be.

9.44pm GMT

85 min: Shaw crosses deep from the left. The ball drops to Dalot on the right-hand edge of the six-yard box. But Dalot can’t connect! It looks like Marquinhos might have got a little something on the ball to deflect it away from the United man. But that was very, very close. The tension in the Parc des Princes is palpable!

9.43pm GMT

83 min: An outrageous escape for United! Dani Alves slips a pass down the middle, hoping to release Mbappe. It’s too strong, but hits Smalling, dropping perfectly for Mbappe! The striker tries to round de Gea on the left, but stumbles, the keeper getting a little fingertip to it. The ball breaks to Bernat, running in from the left. He shoots ... and hits the base of the left-hand post! Whisper it ... but could this be United’s night? They just need one goal to complete an outrageous comeback!

9.40pm GMT

82 min: Di Maria slips a pass down the right for Meunier, who shoots from a tight angle. De Gea batters it away.

9.39pm GMT

80 min: ... nothing occurs, Di Maria playing a ridiculous pass back up the right flank towards the centre circle, allowing United to evacuate the box! That was really daft. Then Pereira is replaced by 19-year-old Tahith Chong. A fairytale in the making here?

9.37pm GMT

79 min: Dani Alves wedges a cute pass down the inside-right channel for Meunier, who tries to hook into the centre, but his cross is bundled out of play by Shaw for a corner. From which ...

9.36pm GMT

78 min: A little bit of possession for United, a rare commodity this evening. They don’t really go anywhere, unable to press forward with the hosts holding their shape well. “This is just about the only time when one goal takes you straight from losing to winning,” notes Curtis Ruder. “Is the away-goals rule sort of stupid? Yes. But it creates a higher level of drama that would be sad to lose.”

9.35pm GMT

76 min: A poor Dalot throw puts Young in trouble on the halfway line. Di Maria strips him of possession, then sends Mbappe racing down the left. Mbappe takes a clumsy touch and runs the ball out of play for a goal kick, with United ragged in the centre. The crowd groan, those European nerves kicking in once again.

9.34pm GMT

75 min: Paredes is booked for a poor slide on Pereira. Thomas Tuchel isn’t too happy about it, and is told to pipe down by the ref.

9.33pm GMT

74 min: Dalot caresses the ball down the right and nearly releases Lukaku. The striker’s swarmed by black shirts and is forced to turn around, but just for a second it looked like he might break clear. Promising for United, who will be throwing a few more men into attack now we’ve reached the business end of the tie.

9.31pm GMT

73 min: Mbappe romps into the United box, chasing after Verratti’s sliderule pass down the right channel. He traps and shapes to shoot, but the flag goes up for offside, correctly.

9.30pm GMT

72 min: Mbappe and Alves one-two down the inside-right channel, the former then whipping a low cross through the six-yard box. Di Maria is waiting to tap home, but Young slides in to hook clear. What an intervention! PSG had opened United up there.

9.28pm GMT

70 min: Draxler is down, his left hamstring pinged. He’ll be replaced by Leandro Paredes. Also going off is Kehrer, who makes way for Thomas Meunier.

9.26pm GMT

68 min: Lukaku wriggles out of a thicket in the centre circle and suddenly he’s tearing towards the PSG box with options either side and the home team short in defence. He should drive on and shoot, but instead attempts to thread a pass towards Dalot on the right. It’s intercepted with ease, and a fine chance to go for the goal United need to progress wasted.

9.24pm GMT

66 min: Mbappe is sent scampering into a lot of space down the right. He’s got Di Maria in the middle, and United are light at the back, but the cross is hopeless and mopped up easily.

9.22pm GMT

64 min: It continues to tip down. PSG continue to hog the ball, but do very little with it. Here’s Dan C: “Why is Ole wearing a substitute bib? I know United are short on the bench, but surely he’s far too ol... actually, put him up against Kehrer.”

9.21pm GMT

62 min: Now it’s de Gea’s turn to whack a short goal kick straight out of play. It’s not exactly been a technical masterclass, this match, but it’s been a hell of a ride nonetheless.

9.20pm GMT

61 min: Draxler loops a cross into the United area from the right. Young’s acrobatic high-kick diverts the ball away from the lurking Mbappe. A fine interception. Then McTominay sticks out an arm in a challenge with Marquinhos, and chops the PSG midfielder across the throat. It’s an accident, though for a second it threatens to kick off. Young and the referee take turns to play peacemaker, and we move on.

9.18pm GMT

60 min: Di Maria has a strike from 25 yards, just to the right of centre. De Gea could have claimed that one in his sleep.

9.17pm GMT

59 min: PSG are beginning to up the tempo. Dani Alves barges Shaw out of the way and nearly sets up Mbappe in the centre. Not quite, and United clear their lines. This to-and-fro tie is wonderful fun.

9.16pm GMT

58 min: Lukaku goes down holding his leg having fallen awkwardly in a tussle with Marquinhos. He looks worried, but hauls himself up off the wet turf and limps his way back into action.

9.15pm GMT

56 min: It looks as though PSG have scored a potentially decisive goal, and a very pretty one to boot. Verratti slips a pass down the inside-left channel. Mbappe, with his back to goal, flicks it on towards Di Maria, who is free in the box! He draws de Gea and chips elegantly over the keeper and into the net. But the flag goes up for offside, correctly. A quick check with VAR, and it’s still 1-2 on the evening.

9.13pm GMT

55 min: PSG’s nerves betray them yet again, Buffon nearly rolling a goal kick straight out of play, a simple rolled pass to the nearby Kehrer beyond him. Kehrer does very well to keep the ball in play, with Rashford lurking.

9.11pm GMT

53 min: More space for Bernat on the left. His cross hangs in the air. Beneath it, Smalling barges into Dani Alves, who falls to the ground and wants a penalty. But it’s a fair charge, and the play is waved on as United clear.

9.09pm GMT

51 min: Dani Alves crosses deep from the right. Young takes no chances and heads behind for a corner. From the resulting set piece, Dani Alves shapes to shoot from distance, but Fred is all over him like a cheap suit and smothers the danger.

9.08pm GMT

50 min: Young curls a long pass down the right, hoping to release Rashford. It’s a fine ball, and PSG are light at the back, but the striker’s too eager and the flag goes up for offside.

9.06pm GMT

48 min: It’s all PSG in the early exchanges of this second half ... but there’s no zip or ping to their play, and the slow pace allows United to keep them at arm’s length without too much bother.

9.05pm GMT

46 min: PSG knock it about for a bit, then Verratti sends a simple pass towards Bernat on the left flying out of play. An early sign of the jitters?

9.03pm GMT

OK, here we go again! This promises to be a dramatic second half. As PSG come out of the tunnel, Buffon wears a thousand-yard stare. The shaky hosts get the party re-started. “My loyalties lie further along the M62,” begins Matt Dony, “but I (almost) always like to see any British team do well in Europe. It’s good for the Premier League. And, although PSG have some excellent and likeable players, they are a pretty difficult club to like. There’s still a long way to go, and it’s probably still unlikely, but I’d be very happy to see United pull this off. (Even though the United fans in work will be unbearable tomorrow.)”

8.56pm GMT

Looking at the replay of the first United goal ... Lukaku was clipped from behind by Thiago Silva, slide-tackling in desperation. He could easily have opted to go down. It would have been a red card and a penalty. But he wanted his goal, so stayed on his feet and rounded the keeper instead. Hats off to the big man.

8.52pm GMT

Half-time hubris with Lizz Poulter. “Just remembered that as I was driving home this evening, France Inter radio’s newsreader (I live in the Gard) was talking about tonight’s match. He referred to PSG’s opponents in the quarter finals. For that alone, they deserve to lose.”

8.49pm GMT

Rashford nearly romps clear down the centre, but he’s hounded out of it. And that’s the end of a very strange, very entertaining, very unpredictable half. United still need another goal, but they’ll be delighted with the way this is going. Could PSG become the first team to give up a first-leg 2-0 away lead in European Cup history? You can be sure they’ll be thinking of the worst right now, given their past troubles in this tournament.

8.46pm GMT

44 min: A farcical moment as Dalot, under no pressure out on the right, floats a pass backwards, towards his defensive chums. But he only manages to send it straight to Mbappe, who tears up the field. He’s got Di Maria to his left, and an option to shoot ... but he stands on the ball and loses possession! What a fiasco. Neither of these teams are playing great football, there have been a lot of elementary mistakes ... but who cares when the game’s as entertaining as this?

8.43pm GMT

42 min: Verratti hoicks a long pass down the middle of the pitch. For a second it looks as though Di Maria might latch onto it and shoot inside the area, but Young stays strong and shepherds the ball back to de Gea. United go straight up the other end through the attack-minded Dalot, who dribbles into the area and crosses low and hard. PSG benefit from a game of pinball and the ball deflects back to a grateful Buffon.

8.41pm GMT

40 min: Rashford is down having been accidentally nutted by Kehrer. He rubs his noggin for a bit, but it looks like he’ll be good to continue. He’s up and about eventually.

8.39pm GMT

38 min: Dani Alves nearly finds Mbappe in the United box with a floating curler of a cross. It’s an inch or two over the striker’s head. For a second, United hearts were in mouths. Good luck predicting which team is going to score the next goal.

8.37pm GMT

36 min: A United free kick near the centre circle. Young lofts it down the inside-right channel. Rashford is clear! But he sends a bobbling effort across Buffon and wide of the left-hand post. A poor miss, but the flag goes up for offside, so it wouldn’t have counted anyway. And Rashford can take succour from the fact that United, under the cosh for so long, have started creating chances.

8.36pm GMT

35 min: Bailly took a kick from Verratti a few minutes back there, and it looks like he’ll be forced to go off. His place will be taken by Diogo Dalot.

8.35pm GMT

33 min: Verratti slips a ball down the inside right to release Draxler into the United box. He crosses deep for Di Maria, who gets his volley all wrong. Then McTominay hoicks a clearance upfield, accidentally kicking Di Maria in the process. He goes down in pain; that’s a stinger. But he’s up soon enough. Di Maria then receives a booking, having done not much.

8.33pm GMT

32 min: Just before that goal, PSG’s share of possession had risen to 81%. Stats, eh?

8.32pm GMT

Rashford makes up for all that in short order! He’s 30 yards out, and takes a speculative shot towards the bottom left. Buffon should gather, but inexplicably lets the shot ping off his chest, and that’s teed up for Lukaku to slot the rebound home! When you’re on form, you’re on form, and Lukaku is on a streak all right. This is on again!

8.31pm GMT

29 min: Rashford may still have been thinking about that weird shank when, racing free down the left, the uncertain Kehrer having slipped on the greasy turf, he sends a weak low diagonal shot wide right. Lukaku was clear in the middle, screaming for the pass. He’s still screaming.

8.29pm GMT

28 min: Rashford takes one of the worst free kicks of all time. Out on the left wing, by the halfway line, he turns and sprays it into touch on the opposite flank, down near his own penalty area. That’s really strange. But PSG don’t take advantage of the territorial gift.

8.27pm GMT

26 min: ... Dani Alves lashes high and wide from a tight angle on the left.

8.26pm GMT

25 min: Mbappe floats a pass wide left, just over Bailly’s head. That’s such a tease, and Bernat has space to attack. He wins a corner. From which ...

8.25pm GMT

23 min: Di Maria teases the all-at-sea Bailly down the left. He slips a ball to Bernat on the overlap. A deep cross falls towards Dani Alves, who attempts to meet it with a flying kick. It’s a fresh-air swipe. But Paris are causing United bother every time they pile forward.

8.23pm GMT

21 min: It’s Di Maria’s turn to have a ramble down the left. He sends a screamer inches wide of the top right. Not sure de Gea would have got to that, had it been on target. United are clinging on a bit here.

8.22pm GMT

20 min: More acreage for Bernat out on the left, found free by Di Maria’s cute slide-pass from the right of the D. He’s got time in the United box, with Bailly once again nowhere to be seen. He slams a shot straight at de Gea, gifting United a let-off.

8.20pm GMT

18 min: PSG have enjoyed 80 percent possession so far. Lukaku’s goal, timed at one minute 51 seconds, seems an awfully long time ago. Celtic scored here after 57 seconds last season and ended up losing 7-1. Time to regroup.

8.17pm GMT

16 min: Mbappe chases after a long pass down the right. He’s ahead of Lindelof, but the defender manages to just about stick to his shoulder, and his presence forces the striker to slap a shot into the side netting from a tight angle. United do not look secure.

8.16pm GMT

14 min: Di Maria skitters down the left and scoops towards Dani Alves, coming in from the other flank. Alves opts for the spectacular volley, even though he’s got time to take the ball down and control. He slices wildly over the bar. This is a sensational response to the shock of conceding so early, and so sloppily. PSG could so easily have been overcome by nerves and doubt.

8.14pm GMT

And so after causing United so much bother down the left, PSG undo United down the right. Dani Alves slips a pass down the channel for Mbappe, who is ahead of the United back line in the area. He whips a ball across the face of goal, and Bernat is on hand to tap into an unguarded net from a couple of yards out.

8.12pm GMT

11 min: But they’ll need to do something about this, because Bernat has yet another opportunity to cross from the left. He finds Mbappe in the centre; Smalling does very well to ensure the striker can’t get a shot away.

8.11pm GMT

9 min: A lot of time for Bernat out on the left. Bailly is all at sea out on this flank. Fortunately for the United makeshift right-back - it looks as though they’re playing a flat back four - Bernat balloons a cross to safety on the other side.

8.09pm GMT

7 min: PSG appear to have cleared their heads. Di Maria and Bernat combine down the left twice in 30 seconds, Mbappe nearly poking home a low fizzing cross but missing by inches, the same player getting closed down when shaping to shoot having controlled a second cross. It’s been a highly entertaining start to the game.

8.07pm GMT

6 min: That early goal’s taken the heat out of the Parc des Princes. Only the United fans can be heard right now. PSG clear their heads by stroking it around in the midfield for a bit.

8.06pm GMT

4 min: Rashford’s pressing had forced Kehrer into that awful mistake, and here he is racing past him, causing PSG more early bother. Rashford zips down the left and crosses. It’s cleared, then Pereira clanks into Dani Alves, and the pair go nose to nose. It all calms down soon enough, but this is a game alright!

8.04pm GMT

What a start for United! PSG stroke it around the back a bit. Kehrer, dozy, strokes a terrible pass from the United left into the centre. Lukaku sniffs danger, and he’s got the spring on Dani Alves. He intercepts and races clear, rounds Buffon on the left, and slides the ball into the box from a tight angle! Exactly what United needed! This is on!

8.02pm GMT

And we’re off! United get us underway. Lindelof launches it long, giving up possession quicksmart. Fred knocks Di Maria to the ground, and though there’s not much in it, the PSG winger rolls around a bit in pain. He’s up again soon enough, PSG knock the free kick backwards to restart play and get a feel of the ball, and that’s the first minute over and done with.

8.00pm GMT

The teams are out! A rip-roaring atmosphere at the Parc des Princes, PSG’s beautiful brutalist bastion. Fergie’s in the crowd, and so is Eric Cantona, Peaky Blinders cap shielding him from the rain that’s tipping down. PSG are in their European-only home colour of black, while United sport a very natty second-choice pink, one of the shirts of the season in my book. We’ll be off in a minute!

7.50pm GMT

Ole’s not at the wheel right now; he’s on the mic, talking to BT Sport. “We go into this game positive, knowing the players who are starting are all full internationals. There are 11 internationals. You have players there who are fresh, who haven’t played too much. So you have to look at the positives in the circumstances. When you go to places like this, you need to make sure you stay in the game. We have to defend first and foremost, make it difficult for them to score. We need the first goal, we can’t give them the first goal, then the tie would probably be over. We have players who can create moments of magic, and hopefully that will happen tonight. Set piece deliveries, we have quite a few strong players in the box. So we are confident that we can cause them problems, and hopefully we can take our chances.”

7.31pm GMT

While we’re waiting for meaningful action, here’s something that’ll while away those nervous moments before kick-off. That Rob Smyth knows a thing or two about Manchester United, and he recently spoke to the Roy Keane Versus podcast about the 1996 FA Cup final. An appalling match to watch, of course, but our Bobbie can turn water into wine, and this makes for some real good listening. United fans, slake your thirst.

7.17pm GMT

The quarter-finals (or next season’s group stage). Thilo Kehrer, Marco Verratti, Juan Bernat and Julian Draxler are all walking the disciplinary tightrope. They’ll miss the next match for PSG if they pick up a yellow card. Only Ashley Young of United’s contingent need worry about this.

7.11pm GMT

Manchester United make a couple of changes to the side named for the 3-2 win over Southampton on Saturday. Alexis Sanchez is injured while Paul Pogba is suspended, so Eric Bailly and Fred come into the starting XI instead.

United appear to be going 3-5-2, with Bailly joining Victor Lindelof and Chris Smalling at the back, Ashley Young and Luke Shaw providing support from the flanks. It’s an inexperienced bench, featuring Mason Greenwood, James Garner, Tahith Chong and Angel Gomes ... but then youth is what United are all about, so.

7.04pm GMT

Paris Saint-Germain won 2-1 at Caen on Saturday thanks to a couple of Kylian Mbappe goals. Mbappe is one of only five players from that match who keep their place in the starting line-up. In come Gianluigi Buffon, captain Thiago Silva, Presnel Kimpembe, Marco Verratti, Juan Bernat and Julian Draxler. They take the places of the benched Alphonse Areola, Leandro Paredes, Thomas Meunier and Layvin Kurzawa, and Christopher Nkunku and Moussa Diaby, who miss out altogether.

A lot of changes, though that’s the same PSG side that started at Old Trafford. Edinson Cavani returns to the bench after injury.

6.58pm GMT

Paris Saint-Germain: Buffon, Kehrer, Thiago Silva, Kimpembe, Bernat, Verratti, Marquinhos, Dani Alves, Draxler, Di Maria, Mbappe.
Subs: Areola, Paredes, Cavani, Meunier, Choupo-Moting, Kurzawa, Dagba.

Manchester United: de Gea, Bailly, Smalling, Lindelof, Young, Andreas Pereira, Fred, McTominay, Shaw, Lukaku, Rashford.
Subs: Romero, Rojo, Dalot, Garner, Chong, Gomes, Greenwood.

3.22pm GMT

It’s fair to say Manchester United are up against it here. They’re 0-2 down after the home leg, and that’s a specific scoreline you simply don’t come back from in the European Cup: not once in the 63-year history of the tournament has a team extricated themselves from bother after losing 0-2 at home. A total of 106 teams have tried it; a total of 106 teams have failed.

Not only that, half of the team is missing through suspension, illness or injury. So we’ll not see Paul Pogba, Anthony Martial, Alexis Sánchez, Ander Herrera, Jesse Lingard, Juan Mata, Nemanja Matic, Phil Jones, Matteo Darmian or Antonio Valencia tonight.

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Published on March 06, 2019 14:43

The Fiver | Oh Sergio! What have you done?!

Say what you will about Sergio Ramos, and we hear that some folk are beginning to form opinions, but the man is quite good at defending. Sadly he wasn’t able to show off any of that ability on Tuesday night, on account of the cynical booking he picked up towards the end of Real Madrid’s 2-1 Big Cup win at Ajax, a clean slate for the inevitable quarter-final the welcome result. Sly Sergio! Clever Sergio! Hard-nosed professional Sergio! But it’s a thin line between success and abject failure containing enough comedic value to get ‘em rolling in the aisles all the way from the Metropolitano to Merseyside. And oh! Oh Sergio! What have you done?!

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Published on March 06, 2019 08:02

February 28, 2019

Premier League: 10 things to look out for this weekend

Everton seek an elusive derby win, tiring Spurs encourage Arsenal, Rodgers returns to Watford and Dyche eyes safety

Easy to forget after Virgil van Dijk sliced a woeful shot into the sky, Jordan Pickford flapped and Divock Origi plundered the most ludicrous goal in Merseyside derby history – step aside, Sandy Brown – but Everton should have won at Anfield in December. Yerry Mina missed an early close-range header; Alisson made a point-blank save from André Gomes; Joe Gomez was forced to hook the rebound off the line. Had any of those gone in … but it ended how it ended, and collective confidence crashed through the floor. Spooky timing, then, that Everton put in their best performance since then at Cardiff midweek. That should provide succour and the belief to go at their arch rivals again, in the hope of reward this time. Especially as the in-form, two-goal Gylfi Sigurdsson has so often before been a thorn in Liverpool’s side. Can the Iceland international – who has scored against them four times during spells at Reading, Swansea and Everton – inspire his current side to a first derby win since Roy Hodgson was in town? SM

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Published on February 28, 2019 16:02

February 27, 2019

Chelsea 2-0 Tottenham Hotspur: Premier League – as it happened

Tottenham’s title hopes took a serious blow at Stamford Bridge.

12.00am GMT

10.28pm GMT

Dominic Fifield was our man at Stamford Bridge. Here’s his verdict. Thanks for reading. That’s all, folks!

10.26pm GMT

Mauricio Pochettino also talks to BT Sport. “It was an even game. In some situations they dominate, in others we dominate. They had one shot on target and scored, we had zero and so it was impossible to score. And impossible to draw. It wasn’t a great game to watch. They have a lot of quality but it was an even game. It was a bad night for us. The north London derby is a tough fixture for us, and then we have the Champions League. It’s good when you win, win, win, so when you lose and lose it’s important to be calm.”

10.17pm GMT

Maurizio Sarri talks! “I think the performance was in line with the last one. But fortunately the result was different. The performance was really very similar to the one against Manchester City. Pedro is a very important player for us. He is dangerous, can score, but he is also good defensively and balances the team. I was sure before the match that the relationship with my players is very very good, and in the last month I think better. Caballero is a good goalkeeper with great experience. He is a great man and very important on the pitch and in the dressing room. We need consistency.”

10.07pm GMT

Willy Caballero speaks. “Of course we are happy. It’s a great result for us after the last game, and I think now we have to enjoy it, because every game for us is a lot of effort. We defended fantastically. Every victory is important, to be a little bit closer to Tottenham. We are behind a lot of teams but we will recover well. Always a clean sheet is a satisfaction. We spoke about what happened the other day, and the very good news is that Kepa was fantastic today, he supported me, and he learned, and we are improving as a team.”

10.02pm GMT

A poetic cry from the heart, courtesy of Dom CFK. “I must admit being a Spurs fan from a Spurs family breeds an odd kind of gallows fatalism, even in these more gallant times, so I’ve been expecting not only wheels to come off, but gaskets to be blown and engine blocks to explode in spectacular fashion. Like Grace Jones, pick the motoring metaphor for being shafted you prefer. But curiously for a while I’ve been wrong.

“However, something about the run of Burnley (suddenly OK after big doldrums), Chelsea (an exploding clown car of a club every day bar today no doubt) and The Arse (what week is it? well who knows) made my gut feel zero points from nine. And, especially with recent talk of title races and ‘cup finals’, I think it’s on.

9.58pm GMT

That’s a great result for Chelsea, who were by far the better team in the second half and thoroughly deserved their win. A great evening for Maurizio Sarri and the faultless Willy Caballero, too. The crowd celebrate accordingly. They’re still in sixth place on 53 points, but have a game in hand on fifth-placed Manchester United (55) and fourth-placed Arsenal (56). Worryingly for Spurs, who started the week thinking about the title, they’re now nine points behind leaders Liverpool, eight behind Manchester City ... and only four ahead of Arsenal. It’s going to be some north-London derby at the weekend!

9.53pm GMT

And that’s the final whistle! No big brawl this time, but Tottenham’s title hopes are now hanging by a very slender thread.

9.51pm GMT

90 min +3: Kane prepares to take a throw and gets into a childish tussle with Luiz. Both are booked for their playground nonsense.

9.50pm GMT

90 min +2: A throw for Chelsea down the right. Pedro links arms with Rose. He’s enjoying the tussle, laughing and smiling. Rose has a sense-of-humour failure and shoves him back. Not hard enough to warrant censure, but enough for the Chelsea crowd to give him a bit of stick.

9.48pm GMT

90 min +1: Rose has replaced Sissoko, by the way.

9.47pm GMT

90 min: There will be three added minutes. They can’t tick round quickly enough for Spurs, who just want to head back north.

9.46pm GMT

89 min: It’s difficult to work out who was more at fault, Trippier or Lloris. Should the keeper have hared out to the edge of his box to receive the backpass? Or should Trippier have looked up to see where his keeper was upon making it? Questions, questions, as we said all the way back in the preamble.

9.45pm GMT

87 min: Down the other end, Cabellero celebrated that second goal with great feeling. He’s done little wrong tonight. To think all eyes were on him at the start of the game, and now look what’s happened to poor Lloris.

9.43pm GMT

86 min: “It’s happened again. Tottenham Hotspur, it’s happened again.” Chelsea fans sticking in the knife and twisting hard, as Tottenham’s title challenge crumbles in farcical circumstances.

9.43pm GMT

The ball’s launched long. Giroud flicks it on to nobody. Trippier, under no pressure whatsoever, just needs to roll the ball back to Lloris. But his keeper has sprinted out to the edge of the box. Trippier’s backpass rolls wide right of the keeper, and trundles comically into the unguarded net. Oh dear oh dear oh dear.

9.41pm GMT

84 min: Higuain is replaced by Giroud. Then ...

9.40pm GMT

83 min: Eriksen’s weak shot sails wide right. Cabellero was behind it all the way.

9.40pm GMT

82 min: Tottenham are threatening to lose the rag. Kane thinks about engaging with Rudiger, then Sissoko chest-barges Azpilicueta, who to be fair was getting up in his grille. They could do with keeping their heads as they look for the equaliser - and late winner - they’re so desperate for.

9.36pm GMT

80 min: Lucas Moura comes on for Son.

9.36pm GMT

79 min: Trippier crosses from a deep position on the right. He’s looking for Kane, lurking near the right-hand post, but Azpilicueta is on hand to shepherd the ball back to Caballero.

9.34pm GMT

77 min: Chelsea make their second change of the night. Kovacic is replaced by Loftus-Cheek.

9.34pm GMT

76 min: Kante backs himself in a footrace with Alderweireld down the right, knocking the ball into space and then tearing after it. He just about wins it, then flicks it inside for Pedro, who in turn flicks down the inside-right channel. Higuain would have been clear on goal, but didn’t quite read Pedro’s intention and found himself in the wrong place, the ball bouncing harmlessly away from him. Would have been a cute move.

9.31pm GMT

74 min: Trippier crosses again from the right. Llorente rises to compete, but Luiz slams a header clear.

9.30pm GMT

73 min: Trippier crosses from the right. The ball finds Llorente, eight yards out, level with the right-hand post. It’ll be half a chance if he can take it down, but he lets the ball ping off his knee and out for a goal kick. Very poor.

9.29pm GMT

72 min: Wide on the right, Pedro sends a speculative curler towards the top left. It’s not that far away. Willian then wins a corner on the opposite flank, though the resulting set piece is a waste of time. Chelsea are looking very comfortable right now. Spurs are doing nothing at all.

9.28pm GMT

70 min: And that’s Lamela’s last contribution to the evening’s entertainment. He’s replaced by Llorente.

9.28pm GMT

69 min: Spurs are looking very jittery at the moment. Sissoko has his pocket picked by Kovacic on the halfway line. Chelsea ping it around awhile. Lamela intercepts the ball, but then immediately falls over, skidding across the turf on his face. He even tries to smother the ball with his arms, in the hope of stopping Kante regaining possession, but can’t even achieve that. A slightly farcical episode.

9.24pm GMT

67 min: Sissoko toils to earn a corner off Luiz out on the right. Alderweireld rises highest to meet the set piece, but under pressure from Alonso, can only eyebrow a weak header miles wide left.

9.23pm GMT

65 min: This might not be Tottenham’s night. Davies crosses from the left. The ball’s dropping to Kane, on the left-hand corner of the six-yard box. It’s the sort of chance he slams home so often, but gets his body in the wrong shape and sends a soft volley squirting harmlessly left of goal.

9.22pm GMT

63 min: Lamela and Son shuttle the ball into the Chelsea box from the right. Son slips a pass left for Eriksen, who drops a shoulder to make space to shoot. From nowhere, Pedro comes in from behind and strips Eriksen of possession with a stunning sliding tackle! Pedro then dribbles away from the danger zone. Sensational defensive work from the goalscorer!

9.19pm GMT

62 min: Son threatens to dribble into the Chelsea box from the right, but he slows up and is quickly swarmed. Uncharacteristically ponderous play from Son.

9.17pm GMT

60 min: Hazard, who has been quiet tonight, makes way for Willian.

9.17pm GMT

59 min: Eriksen, mindful that Spurs need to do something if their title hopes are to stay alive, has a dig from distance. The shot bobbles harmlessly wide left.

9.16pm GMT

Hazard, to the left of the centre circle, spreads play to the right for Azpilicueta, who shuttles it further down the wing for Pedro. Pedro dribbles hard into the area, drops a shoulder to nick past Alderweireld, and slams a shot towards the bottom right corner. The pace surprises Lloris at his near post, the ball flashing through his legs and in. On the touchline, Sarri celebrates with great feeling.

9.13pm GMT

56 min: Spurs show in the Chelsea box for the first time in a while. Lamela dribbles down the inside left and chips into the centre, but Rudiger had taken the pace off the ball and it’s an easy claim for Caballero.

9.13pm GMT

55 min: Hazard drives fast and hard down the middle of the park. He’s got options either side, so Davies does extremely well to intercept just before Hazard can decide what to do. Hazard wanted a foul, but the ref’s simply not responsive to that sort of request this evening, so he might as well be whistling Dixie.

9.11pm GMT

53 min: Jorginho clips a cute pass down the inside-right channel to release Higuain, who sashays into the box, draws Lloris, and chips daintily over the keeper and into the net. But it won’t count; he went a split second too early, and the offside flag springs up. Lovely finish, though.

9.10pm GMT

52 min: It’s gone scrappy again. Luiz was a bit unhappy when Lamela clipped him late, but there wasn’t much in it and he didn’t get the foul.

9.08pm GMT

50 min: Hazard sends Kante scooting down the right with a fine crossfield ball. Azpilicueta is fed on the overlap. The resulting cross is too high for Hazard. Chelsea have seen plenty of the ball in Tottenham’s final third since half time, but it’s not quite firing for them at the business end.

9.05pm GMT

48 min: Chelsea have been on the front foot since the restart. Pedro dribbles down the left now, and is only just stopped from getting a shot away by the toe of Alderweireld. The ball breaks to Alonso, whose low snapshot is deflected away from danger.

9.04pm GMT

47 min: Alonso, still getting pelters, sprays a wonderful left-to-right pass towards Pedro, who dribbles into the area then lays off for Higuain. The striker crosses to the far post where there’s ... nobody. The ball bobbles out apologetically for a goal kick. The crowd groan in unison.

9.03pm GMT

46 min: No half-time changes, by the way. And it’s a fast start to the half as Higuain dribbles in from the left and pearls a shot from the edge of the box. Alderweireld blocks well.

9.02pm GMT

Chelsea get the second half underway. With Manchester United and Arsenal both currently winning, 1-0 at Crystal Palace and 3-1 at home to Bournemouth respectively, the hosts will be desperate to keep up in the chase for fourth place. They’ll need to improve if they want all three points ... but then again so do Spurs. “Something’s been missing,” agrees Matt Dony. “What this game needs is more Clattenburg.”

8.49pm GMT

Half-time entertainment.

8.47pm GMT

Both teams have hit the frame of the goal. It’s nearly kicked off once or twice. Other than that, it’s been a relatively quiet match so far by Chelsea-Tottenham standards. Plenty of time left yet.

8.46pm GMT

45 min: Spurs have turned it up a notch. Son dribbles hard down the right, reaches the byline, and fizzes a low ball across the face of goal. Caballero fingertips it away from the lurking Kane. Chelsea eventually clear.

8.45pm GMT

44 min: Winks, 25 yards out down the inside-right channel, sends a spectacular looping shot over the fully extended Caballero and off the crossbar! That wasn’t far from dropping into the top left ... but had it been the necessary inch or two lower, the keeper probably had it covered. Though I wouldn’t bet the farm on it.

8.44pm GMT

42 min: Kane takes matters into his own hands by driving in the old-fashioned style down the inside-left channel. He takes a whack from the edge of the box but his shot is deflected out by Azpilicueta. The resulting corner is played out to Davies by the left of the D; his cross clanks off his boot and out for a goal kick, nowhere near any player on the park.

8.41pm GMT

41 min: This match began in very entertaining fashion. It’s now descended into low-quality nonsense. Two-pass moves are at a premium, and neither set of fans sound particularly happy about it. An awful lot of groaning going on.

8.39pm GMT

39 min: Kovacic, out on the left, rolls a pass inside for Kante, who takes a shot from the best part of 30 yards. It flies harmlessly over the crossbar.

8.38pm GMT

37 min: Spurs slowly stroke the ball across the back. Chelsea eventually press, Pedro nicking the ball off Davies, but he’s penalised for some minor contact with the full-back. A wry smile spreads across his face.

8.36pm GMT

35 min: Chelsea haven’t done much in attack for a while, and the crowd have quietened accordingly.

8.35pm GMT

33 min: Sissoko shoots from the edge of the Chelsea box. It’s deflected towards Son, who has a go from a tight angle. His shot is blocked, but the ball sits up for Eriksen near the penalty spot. He slams it goalwards, but Caballero smothers excellently. That’s a save that’ll give him heart, though it wasn’t strictly necessary as the flag had gone up for offside against Son.

8.33pm GMT

32 min: Lamela slides in on a ponderous Jorginho. Chelsea bellow for a foul, but they’re not getting it, and soon enough Son is taking a shot from the right-hand corner of the box. It’s deflected off Luiz for a corner that comes to nothing. Chelsea were very unhappy about that non-decision; there had been a little contact. So much for calming everyone down.

8.31pm GMT

30 min: Something of a lull, which is probably for the best as a few tempers were beginning to get frayed. “I’m a Chelsea fan and I hate hearing our own fans booing Alonso,” writes Lee Madden. “What do they think they’re achieving by booing one of our own players? It’s not his fault he’s been picked and it’s hardly going to help the team.”

8.29pm GMT

28 min: Luiz bundles Son off the field out on the Spurs right. A free kick, and a chance for Chelsea to load the box. Trippier curls a fine ball towards Kane, ten yards out, but Caballero comes off his line to punch clear with great purpose. Rudiger becomes collateral damage, caught in friendly fire, but that was good keeping, and the defender’s soon back up anyway.

8.27pm GMT

26 min: Just before that brouhaha, Eriksen had slipped a pass down the right for Son, who nearly tore free into the box. Alonso came across to intercept and clear, fine defending that wasn’t particularly appreciated by anyone, as he continued to get dog’s abuse seconds after.

8.26pm GMT

24 min: From the restart, Sanchez launches it long in the sporting fashion towards Caballero. Luiz chests it down instead, at which point Kane competes for the ball. Once play stops again, Azpilicueta takes issue with Kane, and the pair have a nose-to-nose debate about manners. The ref eventually calms everyone down. Sort of. This is bubbling up nicely.]

8.23pm GMT

22 min: Trippier challenges Hazard for the ball on the halfway line, and takes an accidental one in the coupon. He goes down. The ref doesn’t stop the game, and Hazard dribbles off down the left, but then he decides to turn and put the ball out of play for a throw. Trippier gets a little treatment. He’s OK.

8.22pm GMT

20 min: Chelsea really should be leading. Lloris plays a laughably bad pass out to the left, and it’s easily intercepted by Pedro, who tries to tee up Hazard on the edge of the box. But Hazard has his back to goal; Higuain coming in a little deeper and facing the right way, would have been a better option. Hazard cushions the ball, teeing it up for Higuain, who curls wide left when looking for the top corner. He really should have scored. Hit the target at least. Lloris gets away with it.

8.20pm GMT

18 min: Hazard tries to burst clear down the left but is crowded out. The ball breaks back to Alonso, on the edge of the box; he hits a first-time cross towards Pedro, but gets it all wrong, the ball flying out of play to the right of goal. The Chelsea fans have been giving the out-of-form Alonso a bit of stick, so that went down well.

8.17pm GMT

16 min: Sissoko clips Kovacic to the floor, a little late to the ball. Kovacic isn’t particularly happy about that one, but the referee doesn’t care. This is keenly contested, as you’d expect.

8.15pm GMT

14 min: Chelsea have a reasonable shout for a penalty, as Azpilicueta whils a cross in from the right, and the ball slaps against Eriksen’s arm, which isn’t in a particularly natural position. And there was a bit of distance between the pair. But it’s not clear cut enough for the ref to point at the spot. File under that old cop-out Seen Them Given. The ball pings out for a corner, which drops to Kovacic on the edge of the box. His speculative bicycle kick flies way off target.

8.13pm GMT

12 min: The referee Andre Marriner is letting quite a few dubious challenges go. Kante clips the back of Son: no foul. Lamela bundles into Alonso: no foul. Let’s hope this doesn’t boil over into a hilarious 2016-style bench-emptying brawl that spills down the tunnel, eh kids.

8.11pm GMT

10 min: This is nice and open. Kovacic should have released Hazard down the middle with a simple pass, but he clunks it too far in front of his team-mate and a glorious opportunity is spurned. Then Pedro dribbles with purpose down the left and reaches the byline, but can only send the ball dribbling into the arms of Lloris at the near post.

8.09pm GMT

8 min: Eriksen sends Kane away down the left, but he’s ushered towards the wing by Rudiger. Kane still manages to hook a cross into the Chelsea box, but Luiz is there to slam clear.

8.07pm GMT

6 min: Higuain hits the post! Sissoko doesn’t deal with a high ball on the edge of his own area. It drops to Higuain, who hits across the ball and sends a fine effort curling towards the right side of the goal, with Lloris totally flat footed. But it caroms off the woodwork and away. Spurs pile up the other end, Kane having a shot from distance. It’s blocked. This is already a lot of fun.

8.05pm GMT

5 min: Alonso blooters the free kick straight into the wall. The ball breaks into the middle of the Spurs box, but there’s nobody in blue anywhere near, and Spurs clear.

8.04pm GMT

4 min: But then Chelsea win another free kick near the Spurs box, Kovacic dropping a shoulder down the inside-right channel, cutting inside, and drawing a foul from Winks. This is in a much more dangerous position.

8.03pm GMT

3 min: Hazard’s delivery is uncharacteristically poor, his inswinger failing to beat the first man Trippier.

8.03pm GMT

2 min: Chelsea get a meaningful touch. Rudiger tries to release Hazard down the left. Not quite. But Alonso wins a free kick off Sissoko, and it’s a change to load the box.

8.02pm GMT

And we’re off! Spurs get the party started. Son and Davies combine well down the left to earn a throw deep in Chelsea territory. Good position to fling the ball into the mixer, but they opt to stroke it around awhile instead, and soon enough it’s back at the feet of Lloris. Chelsea yet to get a meaningful touch.

7.58pm GMT

The teams are out! A classic aesthetic with both teams wearing their first-choice gear, Chelsea in royal blue, Spurs in lilywhite. And it’s a classic London derby atmosphere to match, with Stamford Bridge jumping under the lights. “That’s a pretty attacking bench Sarri has named,” observes Neal Butler. “I’m a bit concerned that Alonso is starting, and there are no full-backs on the bench; but then again, Sarri wouldn’t use them. I predict Willian on for Pedro, Barkley for Kovacic, and Giroud for Higuain at some point around the 70 minute mark, barring injury.” Squinting really hard to read between the lines here, but I sense the jaded certainty of a supporter who has seen it all before. Anyway, just enough time for a quick snatch of the Harry J All Stars, and we’ll be off any minute!

7.48pm GMT

More from Sarri: “I think Willy Caballero is ready, he has very good experience. We are not to worry about him.” Mauricio Pochettino also speaks to BT Sport: “Jan Vertonghen felt a problem in his hip yesterday. We hope that it is not a big issue and he can be available for the next game.” And finally a little bit from Harry Kane: “It’s a London derby, we;ve had some great battles with Chelsea this season and over the past few years. So it’ll be the same again tonight. Obviously both teams will want to bounce back from the weekend, so it’s down to us to play our style and try to get the three points.”

7.40pm GMT

“There are consequences.” We shouldn’t be particularly surprised that Sarri’s dropped Kepa. Here he is yesterday, dropping a fairly obvious hint.

7.30pm GMT

Here’s Chelsea’s two keepers going through their pre-match warm-up. Everyone getting along just fine! There’s nice.

7.20pm GMT

Maurizio Sarri, straight to the point as ever, explains his decision to drop Kepa. “It’s a choice. It’s a message for my group. That we are a group, and not 25 players. It’s my choice.”

7.09pm GMT

So there’s our answer: Maurizio Sarri has dropped Kepa Arrizabalaga, all £71m of him, to the bench. That’s punishment for the keeper’s brazen insubordination at Wembley towards the end of the League Cup final against Manchester City. Pent-up penalty expert Willy Caballero takes his place ... at long last. That’s one of four changes made by Chelsea. Marcos Alonso, Mateo Kovacic and Gonzalo Higuain take the places of Emerson, Ross Barkley and Willian.

Spurs meanwhile make four changes of their own from the XI who went down at Burnley on Saturday. Keiran Trippier, Davison Sanchez, Ben Davies and Erik Lamela step up; Danny Rose, Juan Foyth, Serge Aurier and Jan Vertonghen make way.

7.01pm GMT

Chelsea: Caballero, Azpilicueta, Rudiger, Luiz, Alonso, Kante, Jorginho, Kovacic, Pedro, Higuain, Hazard.
Subs: Arrizabalaga, Barkley, Loftus-Cheek, Giroud, Hudson-Odoi, Willian, Christensen.

Tottenham Hotspur: Lloris, Trippier, Alderweireld, Sanchez, Davies, Winks, Sissoko, Eriksen, Lamela, Son, Kane.
Subs: Rose, Wanyama, Llorente, Foyth, Gazzaniga, Aurier, Lucas Moura.

2.43pm GMT

Will Tottenham close the gap on Liverpool and Manchester City? Will they register back-to-back league wins at Stamford Bridge, having ended a 28-year wait for a victory here last year? Can they complete a league double over Chelsea for the first time since 1971? Will Chelsea bounce back from League Cup final misery to reclaim a place in the top four? Will this descend into a wild brawl like it did in gloriously entertaining fashion when Spurs ran out of title gas in 2016?

Questions, questions. Though to be honest, the only one anyone’s really worried about is this: will Maurizio Sarri pick stubborn netminder Kepa Arrizabalaga after his theatrically bolshie display at Wembley last Sunday? We’ll soon find out! Teams coming soon, after which ... it’s on!

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Published on February 27, 2019 14:28

The Fiver | A dressing room lined with blue shirts and Ibroxian wood panelling

In an episode sociologists will one day surely reference as a textbook study in collective cognitive dissonance, a large number of Parkhead regulars rushed to various online forums and social media disgraces on Tuesday to accuse their former manager of not being loyal enough. It didn’t help that Brendan Rodgers was later pictured in a dressing room lined with blue shirts and Ibroxian wood panelling, standing on some light blue Jock Wallace Memorial Carpet, in a stadium named in celebration of the strength and authority of a sovereign monarch. Still, Neil Lennon’s officially back, and they like him more, so it’s swings and roundabouts. Plus the new interim boss insists he’s “mellow” these days, so that augurs well doesn’t it. In other news, the Old Firm derby is scheduled for Sunday 31 March at high noon, so set your watch for that.

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Published on February 27, 2019 08:30

February 26, 2019

Newcastle 2-0 Burnley, Leicester 2-1 Brighton and more – as it happened

Newcastle’s good form continues, while Brendan Rodgers saw his new charges break their winless streak and Huddersfield stunned Wolves

10.11pm GMT

And finally ... Newcastle United 2-0 Burnley. Louise Taylor was at St James’ Park to see Toon continue their fine run and become a mid-table concern. Thanks for reading tonight’s Clockwatch; make sure to come back tomorrow evening for some more hot Premier League action! Nighty night.

10.05pm GMT

Huddersfield Town 1-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers. Paul Wilson was at the John Smith’s Stadium to watch the Terriers dramatically win an otherwise nondescript scrap with Wolves.

10.03pm GMT

Leicester City 2-1 Brighton & Hove Albion. Paul Doyle was on hand at the King Power to witness a winning start for the all-new true-blue Brendan Rodgers.

10.02pm GMT

Cardiff City 0-3 Everton. Ben Fisher was at the Cardiff City Stadium to see Gylfi Sigurdsson turn Everton’s season around.

10.00pm GMT

It’s not just Newcastle who enjoyed their evening in the Premier League. Everton ended a run of three losses with a comprehensive victory at Cardiff, who remain in serious relegation trouble. Huddersfield are almost certainly going down, but a late Steve Mounie winner against mid-table Wolves will have given Jan Siewert hope for a Championship rebuild. And Leicester have a new manager and a new one-in-a-row winning sequence, no small thing seeing they’d previously not won a league game in 2019. Brighton might have to start looking over their shoulder, though, as their winless streak continues, bringing the relegation zone into sharp focus.

9.56pm GMT

FULL TIME: Newcastle United 2-0 Burnley. The final final whistle of the evening sounds, and that’s four home wins in a row for the Toon. They’ve claimed 13 of the last 18 points on offer! Rafa Benitez really is a class act. They leapfrog Burnley into 13th spot on 31 points; Burnley drop to 15th on 30. Neither team is going down.

9.56pm GMT

James Tarkowski tangles with Joselu in the midfield, then as the Newcastle man falls, makes to stamp near his head. Then he leans over the prone player and has a word. That wasn’t particularly edifying from Tarkowski, who could easily have caused a serious injury there. Inches in it. The ref sees nothing.

9.52pm GMT

Another mad scramble in the Newcastle box! The home side’s nerves are betraying them. They can’t get out at all. But Burnley are a little too desperate, and nobody’s able to get a shot or a header away. The tension at St James’ is palpable, two-goal cushion deep into injury time or no!

9.49pm GMT

Now Crouch has planted an elbow on Mohamed Diame’s temple! That looked totally accidental, to be fair, as three players contested a high ball. But that’s a very sore one for Diame, who is down getting treatment and not moving around so much. Happily he gets up, his head swathed in bandages. The board goes up for five added minutes, but it’ll be a bit more than that now.

9.46pm GMT

Burnley spent a couple of minutes pinning Newcastle back there, looking for the goal that’d rattle the home team’s nerves. There was one almighty scramble in the six-yard box, a good old-fashioned lot of nonsense, but nobody in claret could toe-poke home. Meanwhile the veteran Peter Crouch, on in search of late glory for Burnley, steps on the top of man-of-the-match Fabian Schar’s boot. It’s a really clumsy challenge, as opposed to nasty, but he wasn’t fully in control and can consider himself fortunate to only see yellow.

9.44pm GMT

Still a few minutes to go at St James’ Park, where Newcastle still lead Burnley 2-0. Meanwhile there were some notable celebrations at the final whistles of the 7.45pm kick-offs, with Brendan Rodgers chuffed to bits with his new charges, and Jan Siewert cavorting with delight after securing his first win as Huddersfield boss. The Terriers are still going down, of course, unless something truly surreal unfolds, but there’s a result worth getting carried away about, December and January having been such cruel months.

9.41pm GMT

Premier League
Cardiff City 0-3 Everton
Huddersfield Town 1-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers
Leicester City 2-1 Brighton & Hove Albion
Newcastle United 2-0 Burnley (L)

Championship
Bristol City 1-2 Birmingham City
Hull City 2-1 Millwall
QPR 1-0 Leeds
Sheffield Wednesday 2-0 Brentford

9.37pm GMT

GOAL! Huddersfield Town 1-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers (Mounie 90+1). Aaron Mooy crosses from the right, and Steve Mounie scores a dramatic late winner! Surely! If the Terriers can hold on, they’ll end a long losing run that stretches back to November ... when they beat Wolves at Molineux. This is exactly how football works, isn’t it?!

9.35pm GMT

GOAL! Cardiff City 0-3 Everton (Calvert-Lewin 90+3). A perfect evening’s work for Everton, who snap their three-match losing run in style. Dominic Calvert-Lewin curls home an injury-time bonus, and they go into the Merseyside derby with an extra bounce in their step.

9.32pm GMT

Newcastle’s Fabian Schar is in a rich vein of form right now. A couple of goals recently against Cardiff, an absolute pearler today against Burnley, and now he’s just sprayed a magnificent 70-yard right-to-left crossfield pass towards Matt Ritchie, sending his team-mate into acres down his wing. The resulting cross isn’t converted, Salomon Rondon unable to get an effort on target from a tight angle on the right, Miguel Almiron sending a curler towards the top left over the bar. Schar, though. Wonderful. It remains 2-0 to the hosts.

9.26pm GMT

QPR are hanging on for the win that’d break their seven-game losing run. But only just, with Leeds pushing for an equaliser. Amid the same penalty-box scramble, Stuart Dallas should have slotted one into the bottom right from ten yards, while Patrick Bamford sent a close-range header straight at Joe Lumley. Nope! Rangers remain 1-0 up.

9.18pm GMT

Burnley aren’t posing much of a threat to Newcastle right now. A free kick’s won in the midfield. Tom Heaton hoicks it long into the Toon area and straight down Martin Dubravka’s throat. They’ve got nothing. So good against Spurs the other day, too. Such a strange game, football. “Almiron really is a gem of a talent,” writes Hubert O’Hearn. “How in heck did he end up plying his trade in the Dog & Duck League that is MLS without having been snaffled up by a Big Club? Whoever scouted him for the Magpies deserves their bonus (which is probably a 10% off coupon for a replica shirt at a Certain High Street Retailer, but still).”

9.11pm GMT

GOAL! Bristol City 1-2 Birmingham City (Diedhiou 66). Famara Diedhiou slams home a Matty Taylor knockdown from close range, and the hosts are back in it at Ashton Gate!

9.10pm GMT

GOAL! Cardiff City 0-2 Everton (Sigurdsson 66). A second for Gylfi Sigurdsson, and the Toffees are warming up nicely, just in time for the Merseyside derby on Sunday afternoon.

9.09pm GMT

GOAL! Leicester City 2-1 Brighton & Hove Albion (Propper 66). Davy Propper becomes the first manager to score a goal against Leicester in the Brendan Rodgers era. Not that we usually make note of things like that, but here we are and there it is.

9.08pm GMT

Meanwhile, Steve Mounie has just hit the side netting. That’s as near as we’ve come to excitement in the Huddersfield-Wolves match. In lieu of John Smith’s related entertainment ...

9.05pm GMT

GOAL! Leicester City 2-0 Brighton & Hove Albion (Vardy 63). Someone’s happy to see the back of Claude Puel, eh.

9.02pm GMT

Cardiff are giving it a good go in their quest for an equaliser against Everton. Kenneth Zohore zipped past Michael Keane, but couldn’t quite tee up Junior Hoilett in the centre. But other than that, we’re in something of a nationwide lull. So here’s a little entertaining whimsy from Vic Neale: “Just having a ‘idle thoughts of an idle fellow’ moment, knowing perhaps this should be posted to The Knowledge. Which manager has had a full house of shirt colours? Brendan now has the colours: yellow, blue and white stripes, white, red, green and white hoops, and now blue in his managerial collage. What next: Villa/Burnley/West Ham? Wolves, maybe a red and white stripe number: Stoke? Or can I predict, if it all goes ‘mammary-ascent’, good old Blackpool beckons. Or is tangerine too close to orange? Ho hum.”

8.56pm GMT

GOAL! Sheffield Wednesday 2-0 Brentford (Fletcher 48). A second goal for Steven Fletcher, a far-post header converting a right-wing cross. All going very well for Steve Bruce in his honeymoon period as Wednesday manager ... if you ignore the fact he was booked in the first half for yakking on far too much about some garden-variety foul or other.

8.53pm GMT

GOAL! QPR 1-0 Leeds United (Freeman 49). A cute flick in the six-yard box from Luke Freeman, converting a low cross from the right. And Leeds’ hopes of regaining top spot in the Championship recede.

8.52pm GMT

GOAL! Bristol City 0-2 Birmingham City (Morrison 47). Connor Mahoney, who scored the opener for Blues, floats a free kick into the area, pretty much straight down the middle. Michael Morrison rises highest and plants a simple header into the bottom left. So easy! Back-to-back defeats for the Robins look very much on the cards now.

8.47pm GMT

HALF TIME: Newcastle United 2-0 Burnley. Newcastle take their two-goal lead into the break. But they shouldn’t be doing so. Clarets defender James Tarkowski misses an absolute sitter! A free kick’s sent into the Newcastle box. Ben Mee wins one header; Ashley Barnes another. And the ball drops to Tarkowski, three or four yards out, near the left-hand post and faced with an open net, Martin Dubravka having gone walkabout. But he slices an awful effort miles over, having got all his limbs tangled up, an awfully uncomfortable shape. He looked like a treble clef. What a miss!

8.44pm GMT

It’s all happening now at St James’ Park! First Burnley claim a penalty, as Gudmundsson tears in from the right and shoots wildly over. But was he impeded by Ritchie, coming in behind. Was there much contact? Replays aren’t conclusive, but you can file that under our old pal Seen Them Given. Then up the other end, new boy Almiron turns on the jets and nearly latches onto a long ball down the left. Heaton in the Burnley goal does extremely well to slide out to the edge of his area, block, then get his arms out of the way as he slides out of the area. He springs up and clears. But after all that, it remains 2-0 to the hosts.

8.41pm GMT

GOAL! Newcastle United 2-0 Burnley (Longstaff 38). Matt Ritchie nearly runs the ball out of play down the left. But he manages to hook a cross into the mixer before it crosses the line. It’s a dangerous cross, forcing Ben Mee to eyebrow away from the edge of his six-yard box. But he can only send the ball to the feet of local lad Sean Longstaff, eight yards out. Longstaff takes a touch and belts it into the bottom left.

8.38pm GMT

Burnley haven’t got going against Newcastle at all. Simple passes are flying into touch. On the touchline, Sean Dyche swings pensively from a bottle of water. He may be trying to stop himself from slipping into a Pochettinoesque seethe ... or perhaps he’s trying to work himself up, given his players might need a half-time salvo. And hold on ...

8.35pm GMT

Premier League
Cardiff City 0-1 Everton
Huddersfield Town 0-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers
Leicester City 1-0 Brighton & Hove Albion
Newcastle United 1-0 Burnley (L)

Championship
Bristol City 0-1 Birmingham City
Hull City 2-1 Millwall
QPR 0- 0 Leeds
Sheffield Wednesday 1-0 Brentford

8.32pm GMT

GOAL! Hull City 2-1 Millwall (Pugh 42). Todd Kane, on loan from Chelsea, works his way down the right. His low cross is trapped by Marc Pugh, another loanee, from Bournemouth; he whips it into the bottom left. That’s a fine finish.

8.30pm GMT

GOAL! Bristol City 0-1 Birmingham City (Mahoney 42). A big stroke of luck for Blues, as Connor Mahoney cuts in from the left, shoots, and sees his shot - meant for the top right - deflected into the opposite corner. The keeper had no chance.

8.29pm GMT

GOAL! Sheffield Wednesday 1-0 Brentford (Fletcher 42). Barry Bannon releases Steven Fletcher with a long pass down the middle. Fletcher takes a touch and belts a shot into the top right from distance.

8.27pm GMT

GOAL! Cardiff City 0-1 Everton (Sigurdsson 41). Morgan Schneiderlin sends Seamus Coleman off down the right. Coleman cuts back for Gylfi Sigurdsson, who forces home from ten yards.

8.26pm GMT

GOAL! Newcastle United 1-0 Burnley (Schar 23). Oh this is a screamer! Nothing much seems to be happening at all, Newcastle probing very gently around the Burnley box. The visitors holding firm. And then suddenly, 25 yards out down the inside-right channel, Fabian Schar pings a glorious shot into the top right, off the post and in. That was real postage-stamp stuff, the keeper had no chance whatsoever!

8.24pm GMT

GOAL! Hull City 1-1 Millwall (Hutchinson 34). The Lions level it at the KCOM. An awful scramble in the six-yard box, instigated by a low right-wing cross from captain Steve Morison. A fresh-air swipe, then some pinball, and finally the vice-captain Shaun Hutchinson sweeps into the net from close range.

8.20pm GMT

Not a whole lot happening at St James’ Park between Newcastle and Burnley, though it’s hardly fair to single this match out. Anyway, two teams who have slowly rebuilt their confidence are taking turns to stroke the ball around in the midfield without taking any early risks. “Yesterday Celtic fans had Rodgers as their manager,” writes Peter Oh. “Today they’re blasted with photos of him surrounded by blue shirts that say King Power.” Yes, it’ll have felt like an extremely long day in the east end of Glasgow.

8.13pm GMT

Brighton haven’t troubled Leicester much since falling behind. Pascal Gross nearly sends an absurd deflection over Kasper Schmeichel, but otherwise nothing doing. Chris Hughton’s side need to cop on, and quick, because they’ve not won in the Premier League since the turn of the calendar year, and are slipping alarmingly down the division. They’re just three points ahead of 18th-placed Southampton. Though they are doing very well in the FA Cup. A repeat of 1983 is therefore on the cards. That year the Seagulls reached the final - and should have won, oh Gordon! - but also went down. In a world where the luck’s spread evenly over time, they’ll stay up this time round and beat Manchester United in the final.

8.06pm GMT

Birmingham striker Che Adams has just sent a rising pearler crashing off the underside of the crossbar at Bristol City. That was a sensational shot; in a world just and true, that would have flown into the top left. But it remains goalless.

8.01pm GMT

GOAL! Hull City 1-0 Millwall (Bowen 8). Jarrod Bowen opens the scoring at the KCOM. Markus Henriksen aims a shot towards the bottom right from the edge of the box. Bowen flicks it on, confusing keeper Jordan Archer, and in it goes.

7.56pm GMT

GOAL! Leicester City 1-0 Brighton & Hove Albion (Gray 10). Demarai Gray is sent away down the inside-right channel by Youri Tielemans. And Gray becomes the first goalscorer of the Brendan Rodgers era, technically, even if the new boss is hands off this evening.

7.53pm GMT

No early goals tonight. Cardiff are on the front foot against Everton, Leicester starting brightly against Brighton. And Huddersfield, struggling so badly, go close against Wolves through an early Jonathan Hogg shot. Huddersfield haven’t won a game since November. The vanquished that day? Wolves, naturally. Everyone loves a neat story, so can the Terriers break this long miserable run?

7.46pm GMT

The new Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers takes his seat in the stands at the King Power. He’s getting a very warm reception from the fans, beaming, beside himself with glee as he waves back with both hands. Earlier this evening, the former Celtic manager posed for pictures in the dressing room at the King Power. Blue shirts! Blue carpet! The sort of classy wood panelling usually only seen at grand old stadiums built years and years ago with old money! Remind you of anywhere else? Jock Wallace would have appreciated the aesthetic, put it that way.

7.28pm GMT

Huddersfield-Wolves team news. Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santos names an unchanged side, but it’s his opposite number doing all the legwork here. Terriers boss Jan Siewert makes eight changes. The big news: right-back Demeaco Duhaney and striker Karlan Grant both make their full Premier League debuts, while Jon Gorenc Stankovic makes only his second league start at centre-back. Alex Pritchard, Erik Durm, Terence Kongolo, Philip Billing and Steve Mounie all return.

7.21pm GMT

Newcastle-Burnley team news. Rafael Benitez makes just one change as the Toon look for a fourth successive win at St James’ Park. Javier Manquillo replaces DeAndre Yedlin. His opposite number Sean Dyche also limits himself to a single act of tinkering: Johann Berg Gudmundsson comes in for Ashley Westwood.

7.13pm GMT

Leicester-Brighton team news. Demarai Gray and Ben Chilwell return for Leicester, replacing Rachid Ghezzal and Christian Fuchs. Former Leicester winger Anthony Knockaert is Brighton’s only change; he comes in for Jurgen Locadia. And watching from the stands, ladies and gentlemen, in his new neighbourhood, Mr Rodgers!

7.07pm GMT

Cardiff-Everton team news. Both teams make five changes. Cardiff welcome back Aron Gunnarsson, Junior Hoilett, Bobby Reid, Nathaniel Mendez-Laing and Kenneth Zohore, while Seamus Coleman, Phil Jagielka, Morgan Schneiderlin, Theo Walcott and Dominic Calvert-Lewin return for Everton.

7.03pm GMT

Bristol City: Maenpaa, Pisano, Kalas, Webster, Dasilva, Pack, Weimann, Brownhill, Palmer, O’Dowda, Diedhiou.
Subs: Wright, Taylor, Kelly, Eliasson, Paterson, O’Leary, Hunt.
Birmingham City: Camp, Colin, Morrison, Dean, Pedersen, Mahoney, Kieftenbeld, Gary Gardner, Mrbati, Adams, Jutkiewicz.
Subs: Craig Gardner, Vassell, Maghoma, Jota, Davis, Trueman, Harding.
Referee: Geoff Eltringham (Tyne & Wear).

Hull City: Marshall, Kane, Burke, De Wijs, Lichaj, Bowen, Henriksen, Irvine, Grosicki, Pugh, Martin.
Subs: Evandro, Dicko, Milinkovic, Long, McKenzie, Sheaf, Ridgewell.
Millwall: Archer, Tunnicliffe, Hutchinson, Cooper, Murray Wallace, Leonard, Thompson, Ferguson, Marshall, Jed Wallace, Gregory.
Subs: Williams, Onyedinma, Pearce, Martin, Elliott, Morison, O’Brien.
Referee: Darren Bond (Lancashire).

6.57pm GMT

Some big breaking news in the Premier League tonight. Although it’ll come as no surprise to anybody who’s been clicking around the internet today. Brendan’s back!

6.50pm GMT

Cardiff City: Etheridge, Ecuele Manga, Morrison, Bamba, Bennett, Mendez-Laing, Bacuna, Gunnarsson, Hoilett, Reid, Zohore.
Subs: Peltier, Arter, Ward, Josh Murphy, Smithies, Paterson, Harris.
Everton: Pickford, Coleman, Keane, Jagielka, Digne, Schneiderlin, Gueye, Walcott, Sigurdsson, Richarlison, Calvert-Lewin.
Subs: Andre Gomes, Mina, Tosun, Bernard, Stekelenburg, Lookman, Kenny.
Referee: Kevin Friend (Leicestershire).

Huddersfield Town: Lossl, Stankovic, Schindler, Kongolo, Duhaney, Hogg, Billing, Durm, Pritchard, Mounie, Ahearne-Grant.
Subs: Bacuna, Kachunga, Mooy, Hamer, Lowe, Depoitre, Jorgensen.
Wolverhampton Wanderers: Rui Patricio, Bennett, Coady, Boly, Doherty, Dendoncker, Neves, Joao Moutinho, Jonny, Jimenez, Jota.
Subs: Ivan Cavaleiro, Helder Costa, Gibbs-White, John Ruddy, Saiss,
Ruben Vinagre, Traore.
Referee: David Coote (Nottinghamshire).

2.47pm GMT

It’s a big evening in the Premier League. Cardiff City look to put a little daylight between themselves and the relegation places. Everton try to snap a three-game losing run. Huddersfield dream of a first win under Jan Siewert. Wolves eye that best-of-rest seventh spot. Leicester want to impress incoming Brendan Rodgers. Brighton search for their first league win of 2019. Newcastle hope to give another standing ovation to Miguel Almiron. And Burnley try to follow up their sensational win over Spurs to make it three victories on the bounce. Here’s the card:

Cardiff City v Everton
Huddersfield Town v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Leicester City v Brighton & Hove Albion
Newcastle United v Burnley

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Published on February 26, 2019 14:11

The Fiver | Maybe there’s method in the apparent madness

The way some folk go on, you’d think managing the Queen’s Celtic was as simple as turning up, clocking in, tootling a verse or two of The Fields of Athenry on a tin whistle, throwing your boots up and lighting a cigar, then waiting for the silverware to answer the call and roll into the trophy room, three at a time. But tell that to John Barnes. Or Tony Mowbray. Or Jo Venglos, Lou Macari or Liam Brady. It’s not quite as easy as Brendan Rodgers has been making it look. He’s won all seven domestic trophies on offer since taking over at Parkhead in 2016, becoming the first man in history to win two consecutive trebles. He’s well on the way to an almost inconceivable third, which makes his decision to immediately naff off back down south the very minute the first Premier League club came calling – the chair in his office still spinning, sheets of paper gently gliding back down on to the desk – seem rather surprising. Shocking, even. Oh Brenny! How could you! And you “living the dream” and all!

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Published on February 26, 2019 08:01

February 25, 2019

Time to pick the least annoying team to support as trophy season begins | Scott Murray

Your club may have no chance for glory but why not enliven matters by backing an unobjectionable rival still in the hunt?

This weekend marked the start of trophy-lifting season in England. The business end of the campaign is a period of giddy expectation for supporters of the big boys, though it’s rarely as thrill-packed for fans whose lovable rabble have descended into jaded mid-table irrelevance, without so much as the faint threat of relegation to keep the juices flowing. Thing is, you’ve got to get your kicks somehow. So once again, it’s that time of year when fans across the land hold their nose, take a deep breath, and hitch their wagon to another star.

In an ideal world Wembley will host a Swansea-Millwall FA Cup final

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Published on February 25, 2019 03:00

February 23, 2019

Leicester City 1-4 Crystal Palace: Premier League – as it happened

Wilfried Zaha scored twice as Leicester capitulated in the second half at the King Power.

7.57pm GMT

And that’s your lot. Paul Doyle was our man at the King Power. Here’s his verdict. Enjoy, and thanks for reading!

7.56pm GMT

Claude Puel talks. “We made a good performance in the first half, with good chances, good play. And then we conceded this goal, I think it was not a fair result at half time. It was difficult to find a solution because they played a deep block. But we tried a lot of good moves, without success. We came back in the game with the goal from Jonny, but after we conceded the second goal on the counter attack we did not manage the game. It was difficult to keep a structure. I think it was not a foul before their first goal. We were unlucky in this moment. Of course it is a worrying time. We have played a few games with quality, without getting the result, and now we are in difficulty. It will be tough, but we have to build confidence. It’s a young team. We need a positive attitude. It’s a difficult period in the season, but we must keep going.”

7.47pm GMT

Roy Hodgson speaks to BT Sport! “It was a very good win, a very dogged performance. We started slowly, were fortunate enough to get the goal, dug in during the second half, and took the chances that came our way. Age is a number, it’s really how you feel and how capable you are.”

7.39pm GMT

Wilfried Zaha speaks! “It’s a massive result, we’re trying to keep the run going, and do what we have to do. I made sure I got a good connection on the ball for my first goal, and score for the team. I was fouled for the first goal, but it’s up to the referee to decide, if they’re angry about it, it doesn’t bother us. I’m sure the manager is buzzing, because he set up the team just how he wanted it.” He momentarily fails to hide his disappointment when he’s told he’ll not be getting the man-of-the-match award for his two-goal performance, as BT Sport’s John Hartson awarded it to James Tomkins instead. But he’s not down for long. “I’m shocked!” he quips, before walking off smiling.

7.29pm GMT

That’s a great three points for Palace. They’re now in 13th spot on 30 points, above Burnley on goal difference and two points clear of Newcastle, who also won today. They’re still far from safe - just six points clear of 18th-placed Southampton - but on tonight’s display they’ll surely be fine. Leicester, though ... they’ve just lost four games in a row at home for the first time since 2000, and are only two points better off than Palace, in 12th spot with 32 points. So if Palace can’t yet count their chickens, neither can Leicester ... and they’re seriously short of confidence right now. The unpopular Claude Puel’s jacket is currently hanging on a very shoogly peg.

7.25pm GMT

And that’s it! Leicester had most of the possession, but did very little with it. Palace weren’t particularly good in the first half, but they were excellent in the second, and thoroughly deserved their victory. What a way for Roy Hodgson to celebrate becoming the Premier League’s oldest manager. He’s certainly the Premier League’s wisest manager tonight, his team having thrashed Leicester using his rope-a-dope tactics.

7.23pm GMT

Maguire, dozing as he strides upfield, is stripped of the ball by Ayew, who races up the other end. Ayew slips a pass right for Zaha, who slaps a shot towards the bottom right. Schmeichel should keep it out, but the power’s too much for him. The King Power descends into rancour.

7.21pm GMT

90 min +2: Gray wins a corner down the left and takes it himself. He instigates a bit of head tennis, but nothing more.

7.20pm GMT

90 min +1: Maguire crosses from the right. Guaita comes out to claim. Vardy, racing in, kicks the keeper on the left. It’s not a great challenge, and he should be booked. But the ref shows no interest in that.

7.19pm GMT

90 min: There will be four added minutes.

7.17pm GMT

88 min: Okazaki decides to go direct, welting a long pass down the right for Vardy to chase. It’s not the worst idea, but Tomkins is wise to the grift and positions himself well to intercept.

7.15pm GMT

87 min: Batshuayi - who demonstrated great instinct to score his first Palace goal, and has played very well tonight -is replaced by Ayew.

7.13pm GMT

85 min: Okazaki replaces Barnes, one of Leicester’s few stand-out players tonight.

7.13pm GMT

84 min: On this evidence, you have to wonder how Leicester beat Manchester City and drew at Anfield. They’ve had so much of the ball, yet Guaita has had very little to do in the Palace net.

7.11pm GMT

Milivojevic sidefoots powerfully to the right, Schmeichel having been sent the other way. That’s Milivojevic’s seventh successful penalty this season!

7.10pm GMT

81 min: Schlupp crosses from the left. Batshuayi fires hard towards the bottom left. Schmeichel saves well, but Schlupp comes again from the wing. Evans hangs out a leg, and Schlupp doesn’t look the gift horse in the mouth. He goes over Evans’ leg, and that’s a penalty. Schmeichel is booked for arguing the toss.

7.08pm GMT

80 min: Townsend is replaced by the more conservative Kouyate, as Palace look to lock down what they have.

7.08pm GMT

79 min: Gray glides in from the left and shoots for the top right. The ball’s deflected off Milivojevic for another corner on the right. Maddison sticks it in the mixer this time, no messing. Some head tennis. Palace clear their lines yet again.

7.07pm GMT

78 min: Maddison plays a shot corner, then faffs about. The over-elaboration allows Palace to clear. That’s a terrible waste in the circumstances.

7.06pm GMT

77 min: Vardy busies himself down the right and wins a corner. Before it can be taken, Dann comes on for the self-hobbled Sakho.

7.05pm GMT

76 min: Sakho, so skilful yet slightly awkward of gait, injures himself while making a simple pass up the left flank. He might have twisted a knee. He’s down getting treatment.

7.03pm GMT

74 min: Iheanacho comes on for Tielemans, who was intermittently impressive this evening. Iheanacho hasn’t scored for 20 games. Now would be a good time to rediscover the knack.

7.02pm GMT

73 min: Townsend peels off down the right. He makes up 80 yards and nearly finds Zaha at the far post with a floated cross. Evans does very well to head clear of danger.

7.01pm GMT

72 min: Barnes tries to respond instantly, driving down the left and whistling a low cross through the Palace area. Nobody in blue takes a chance on him.

7.00pm GMT

Sakho leads the charge upfield. McArthur then drops a shoulder to the left of the D to make himself a little space. He dinks a cross towards Zaha, who is coming in from the right, totally unmarked. He meets the dropping ball on the edge of the six-yard box and bashes a sidefoot past a helpless Schmeichel! Batshuayi was in the middle, miles offside, but not interfering with play. Not sure Schmeichel sees it that way, mind you.

6.58pm GMT

69 min: Barnes has a dig from distance. That one pings off a white shirt and out for another corner, on the right. Maddison takes, and sends it sailing over everyone in the box. A dreadful delivery that allows Palace to counter. And from that break ...

6.57pm GMT

68 min: Leicester have taken it up a notch. Tielemans sprays a pass wide right for Pereira, who is sent scampering into acres of space and should be ashamed of himself for hitting the first man with his cross.

6.55pm GMT

66 min: There’s an extra spring in Leicester’s step now. Maguire strides down the left in the Jan Vertonghen style, then slips a pass down the channel for Vardy, who’s clear in the box! But the angle’s no good for a shot. He tries to cut back for Maddison, free on the penalty spot, but gets it all wrong. So much better from the hosts, though! What tonic a goal brings.

6.54pm GMT

Fuchs flings it long. Maddison wins a header, flicking on towards Barnes on the right. Barnes fires a low cross into the mixer. Evans, who had been up for the throw, swivels and slams a shot into the bottom right! That came out of nothing, because neither side had been offering much. But finally there’s something for the Leicester faithful to sing about!

6.52pm GMT

63 min: Barnes busies himself down the left, his pressing forcing Ward into a hack into the stands. And from the resulting throw, near the corner flag ...

6.51pm GMT

61 min: Maddison tries a curler from the left-hand edge of the Palace box. It flies wide of the top-right corner. This is a poor match.

6.50pm GMT

60 min: Zaha shows a turn of pace down the left to earn a corner off Pereira. The set piece falls to Ndidi, who breaks upfield and promptly loses possession. Palace give it up again. Leicester give it up again. A farcical passage of play, like a PlayStation game when neither player knows which buttons to press.

6.48pm GMT

59 min: Maddison’s corner from the right is perhaps overly ambitious, a swerving, dipping shot aimed for the top left! Guaita knows exactly what’s going on, and is in position to gently pluck the ball from the sky.

6.47pm GMT

58 min: Pereira drives down the inside right, enters the area, and attempts to find Vardy inside with a chipped cross. It’s deflected out for a corner.

6.45pm GMT

56 min: Tielemans tries to release Barnes with a rolled pass down the inside-left channel. It’s a lovely idea, and Barnes has the legs on Ward, but Guaita reads the danger well, tearing out of his box to batter clear.

6.43pm GMT

54 min: At least that got the crowd going again. They’re also impressed when Barnes embarks on a neat dribble down the left. But he can’t find the final pass that would release Tielemans.

6.42pm GMT

52 min: With Maddison and Fuchs standing over the free kick, Maguire and Sakho get involved in a light shoving match. The ref tells them both to grow up. Maddison then pings the free kick off the wall. It spins to Fuchs on the right. He wedges a cross into the mixer. Maguire tries to head forward, but there’s no real power or direction on his effort. Palace clear.

6.40pm GMT

51 min: Maddison tries to dribble his way down the inside-right channel. He’s nudged in the back by McArthur, who picks up his sixth booking of the season. And this is a free-kick in a very dangerous position, just to the right of the D.

6.39pm GMT

49 min: Leicester have gained 13 points from losing positions in the league this season. That’s a divisional best, with Arsenal and West Ham on 12. Not that the home fans seem particularly hopeful. They’ve fallen silent, with the Palace fans making all the noise.

6.37pm GMT

47 min: Evans steps up from the back and whips a diagonal ball, right to left, that reaches Fuchs, just inside the area. There’s enough pace on the ball for Fuchs to simply flick his eyebrows at it, in the hope of diverting it into the top left. Not enough eyebrow; the ball sails harmlessly wide left. Lovely ball from Evans, though.

6.34pm GMT

Leicester get the second half started. One half-time change: Gray has replaced Ghezzal.

6.23pm GMT

Half-time reading. If Palace hold onto this, it would be a crucial win. Because earlier on today, down near the bottom, this happened ...

6.20pm GMT

There’s just enough time for Leicester to win a corner down the right, and for Maguire to send a poor header over the bar. And that’s the half-time whistle. It’s been all Leicester, though they’ve not seriously worked Guaita. Palace had one attempt, and they’ve scored from it. That’s the unpredictable nature of football, and why we both love and hate it in equal measure! Schmeichel accompanies the ref down the tunnel, ranting and raving.

6.17pm GMT

44 min: Tielemans tries to whip one into the bottom left from 25 yards. It’s not a bad effort but always going wide, and Guaita calmly watches it sail by.

6.17pm GMT

42 min: Schmeichel races after the referee, livid at the award of a free kick for Zaha in the centre circle, the move for the goal having started from there. Or maybe he’s angry at the non-award of a penalty. Either way, the ref’s not interested at all.

6.15pm GMT

It’s been all Leicester, so this had to happen. Milivojevic, to the left of the centre circle, fires a pass forward to McArthur, 25 yards out, level with the right-hand post. McArthur shoots towards the bottom left. Perhaps it’s going wide. The ball passes Batshuayi, who sticks out a leg and diverts it towards the bottom right ... and it’s in, past a wrong-footed Schmeichel! That’s a great instinctive goal.

6.12pm GMT

40 min: Barnes dribbles into the Palace box from the left. He goes over near Tomkins, and claims a penalty. But there’s nothing doing; the defender got the ball.

6.11pm GMT

39 min: Tielemans, Pereira and the ever-busy Maddison nearly open up Palace down the right with some very intricate close passing. But then Tielemans clumsily clips the back of van Aanholt, and Palace are let off the hook.

6.10pm GMT

38 min: Tielemans crosses from a deep position on the left. It’s deflected, and nearly finds Ghezzal clear, breaking down the channel. But Ghezzal opts to settle for the corner instead. The set piece is fizzed in low, and headed away very bravely by Tomkins.

6.08pm GMT

36 min: Palace have been fouling for fun since the get-go, but it’s a Leicester player who goes in the book first. Ndidi clips Schlupp from behind, and that’s a yellow card. On the touchline, Puel debates this with the fourth official in the passionate continental style.

6.07pm GMT

34 min: Maddison’s free kick, aimed for the top left, clips the Palace wall and twangs into the arms of Guaita. Leicester are soon coming again, Tielemans slipping a ball down the inside-left channel for Maddison, whose shot from a tight angle is straight at the keeper.

6.05pm GMT

32 min: Leicester pin Palace back in their own area. Quite a bit of pinball in the box. Palace just about get away with it, but then Milivojevic clips Maddison to the ground, and this is a very dangerous free kick just to the left of the D.

6.04pm GMT

30 min: Townsend brings down Maddison, 30 yards from goal on the left. Leicester load the box, but the delivery is poor and easily cleared. Tielemans tries to retrieve the ball, but is do-si-do’d out of play by Zaha. It’s an ersatz version of Ramos-Salah, and Tielemans ends up on his knees on the pitch border. No foul, for some reason.

6.01pm GMT

28 min: Well, Palace have done very little so far, but they should have caused Leicester some serious trouble here. Batshuayi drives at the Leicester back line. He reaches the edge of the box, and has Zaha totally free to his left, but the attempted pass clanks into Evans and the hosts can clear. That’s an appalling effort, a great opportunity wasted, and you can understand Zaha’s theatrical frustration.

5.59pm GMT

27 min: Fuchs floats a pass down the inside-left channel and nearly releases Vardy. Just a little too much air on that. Guaita gathers.

5.58pm GMT

25 min: The home crowd are getting a little agitated. Ghezzal accidentally plays a simple pass ten yards behind the nearby Pereira. No harm done, but the Leicester faithful don’t seem in the mood to cut Claude Puel’s team some slack, and deliver pelters accordingly.

5.55pm GMT

23 min: Ndidi decides to have a shy at goal from the best part of 30 yards. That’s no good at all. Full marks for ambition, I suppose.

5.54pm GMT

21 min: Palace are offering absolutely nowt.

5.53pm GMT

19 min: Barnes spins 30 yards from goal and sends a bobbling bouncer towards the bottom right. Guaita claims it easily enough, there wasn’t a whole lot of power in that. But if Leicester keep on shooting at this healthy rate - that’s six attempts already - someone’s going to catch one at some point.

5.51pm GMT

18 min: Vardy goes blazing down the left wing. He’s roughed up a little in full flight by Ward, and Tielemans claims a free kick for his team-mate, but the ref’s not interested at all.

5.49pm GMT

16 min: There’s not a whole lot going on right now. Time to wheel out a stat, they’re always good when you have nothing of note to say: Leicester are enjoying the bulk of the possession, with 65% of the ball.

5.49pm GMT

14 min: A corner for Palace out on the right. Milivojevic has two goes at beating the first man, and fails both times. Leicester tear upfield on the break, and Tielemans is stopped from dribbling down the left by Zaha, who leaves his studs on his opponent’s shin. That’s a really poor challenge, and if the referee had seen it, he could

5.44pm GMT

12 min: Tielemans is a very tidy player indeed. He skitters in from the left, exchanges passes with Barnes, and tries to curl one into the top right. There’s not quite enough oomph in the effort, and it’s an easy claim from Guaita. Leicester are beginning to ask questions.

5.43pm GMT

10 min: Vardy’s in the mood now. He busies himself down the inside-left channel and cuts back for Maddison, who looks to send a powerful curler into the top right. It’s a decent effort, but flicks off Sakho’s shoulder and out for a corner. Maddison claims half-heartedly for a penalty, but there’s no way. And nothing comes of the set piece.

5.42pm GMT

9 min: Good work by Barnes out on the left. He scoops a cross into the box for Vardy, who wins a header but can only flash it over the bar.

5.39pm GMT

6 min: Zaha cuts in from the left and slips a pass to McArthur, who tries to release van Aanholt with a cute pass down the channel. But the Palace full-back has wandered a mile offside, and a promising position on the edge of the Leicester box is wasted.

5.37pm GMT

5 min: It’s a little bit hectic and scrappy. Passing moves at a premium in these early stages.

5.36pm GMT

3 min: Maddison and Tielemans nearly balls it up, the former tapping to the latter, who dilly-dallies and nearly gets closed down. But Tielemans gets a shot away just in time. Despite a big deflection, Guaita isn’t going to be troubled by that, and he gathers easily enough.

5.35pm GMT

2 min: Now Leicester take a turn at knocking it around. Schlupp gets fed up and clatters Maddison to the floor. This’ll be a free kick in a central position, 35 yards from the Palace goal.

5.33pm GMT

Here we go, then! Palace get the match started, and stroke it about the back awhile. Then Zaha goes off on a run down the left. He goes nowhere, but don’t worry, it won’t be his last of the evening.

5.31pm GMT

The teams are out! Leicester wear their famous blue shirts, with black armbands today in memory of Gordon Banks. Palace are in their change strip of white with Team-of-the-Eighties retro sash. Before kick-off, there’s a minute of the warmest applause, as the King Power pays its respects to the life and stellar achievements of one of football’s true greats. We’ll be off in a minute.

5.22pm GMT

How does Roy Hodgson feel about becoming the oldest manager in Premier League history? “I am proud of my career and journey, though I don’t know there’s too much to be proud of in just becoming old enough to be given that title! But I’m still glad to be here, that’s the most important thing, and I’m really satisfied with the career football has given me. I’m also very happy that I’m here to be enjoying it to this day. It’s nice to be recognised in the company of such great men as Bobby Robson and Alex Ferguson, so it’s a good day in that respect, though it’ll only be a really good day if we get a result today.”

His opposite number Claude Puel adds: “Roy has a fantastic record. I do not think I will rival him! But I offer him a lot of congratulation, he is a fantastic man and manager. I just hope he cannot have good luck today!

4.59pm GMT

It’ll be an emotional day for Leicester, as they get a chance to say farewell to their legendary keeper Gordon Banks, who passed away earlier this month. The 1966 World Cup winner played 356 times for the Foxes between 1959 and 1967, winning the 1964 League Cup and turning out in the 1961 and 1963 FA Cup finals. He also very nearly won the league title while at Filbert Street, as part of the ill-fated Ice Kings side of 1962-63. Anyone unfamiliar with that particular bittersweet tale should click below now.

4.42pm GMT

Leicester make two changes to the XI named for the 3-1 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur a fortnight ago. Jamie Vardy replaces Demarai Gray, who drops to the bench, while Christian Fuchs comes in for the injured Ben Chilwell.

Palace make five changes to the side that brushed past Doncaster Rovers in the fifth round of the FA Cup last weekend. Vincente Guaita, James Tomkins, Mamadou Sakho, James McArthur and Wilfried Zaha replace Wayne Hennessey, Scott Dann, Martin Kelly, Max Meyer and Jordan Ayew. All of them drop to the bench, bar Kelly who is injured.

4.31pm GMT

Leicester City: Schmeichel, Ricardo Pereira, Evans, Maguire, Fuchs, Tielemans, Ndidi, Maddison, Ghezzal, Vardy, Barnes.
Subs: Soyuncu, Morgan, Gray, Iheanacho, Ward, Okazaki, Mendy.

Crystal Palace: Guaita, Ward, Tomkins, Sakho, Van Aanholt, McArthur, Milivojevic, Schlupp, Townsend, Batshuayi, Zaha.
Subs: Dann, Meyer, Kouyate, Hennessey, Ayew, Benteke, Riedewald.

4.22pm GMT

It’s a historic day in Leicester. Not quite up there with the discovery of the remains of Richard III, perhaps, but notable enough, as Roy I becomes the oldest man ever to manage a team in the Premier League.

Hodgson is 71 years and 199 days young today. That means the Crystal Palace boss sashays past the legendary Sir Bobby Robson, who was 71 years and 191 days old when he took charge of his final game for Newcastle United. So hats off to King Roy.

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Published on February 23, 2019 11:57

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