Scott Murray's Blog, page 142

February 13, 2018

The Fiver | Pulling up the drawbridge in the disingenuous name of progress

We’re fast coming up to the 50th anniversary of one of the most infamous claims in the history of English football. “I think a lot of these foreign people are cowards, they play with a fear of defeat,” opined Malcolm Allison in the aftermath of Manchester City’s 1967-68 title win. “I promise you that next season City will attack these people as they haven’t been attacked since the old Real Madrid.” We’re also fast coming up to the 50th anniversary of Fenerbahçe bundling City out of Big Cup at the first hurdle. Some statements stand the test of time better than others, don’t they. Oh Mal!

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Published on February 13, 2018 07:53

February 12, 2018

Winter Olympics: Mikaël Kingsbury takes moguls gold, plus ski jumping – as it happened

Hot action from a cold day in PyeongchangLatest medal table | The Recap

4.23pm GMT

3.13pm GMT

2.53pm GMT

And that’s your lot for another busy day at the 2018 Winter Olympics. Just 13 more to go. Please join us again tomorrow!

2.52pm GMT

This is outrageous! Lundby sails to the 110-metre mark, earning herself 139.2 points for the final round and a gold-medal-winning total of 264.6 points! What a leap! The 23-year-old wins Norway’s second gold of the games! She’s won six of the last seven World Cup fixtures, and now the biggest prize of all! Althaus must settle for silver, while Takanashi picks up bronze.

2.48pm GMT

Irina Avvakumova of Russia puts in a stunning jump of 102m to snatch the lead. But her joy is short-lived as Japan’s Sara Takanashi makes it to 103.5m; her points total of 243.8 is quite the mark. That looks like potential gold-medal work. However Katharina Althaus reaches 106m to breeze past her: the German has 252.6 points! Can Maren Lundby of Norway deny Althaus gold?

2.42pm GMT

It doesn’t take long for Hoelzl to be bundled out of the winner’s circle. Ramona Straub of Germany adds 106.1 points to her first-round total of 104.4. But her mark of 210.5 doesn’t last long: the Slovenian teenager Nika Kriznar jumps a mammoth 104 metres to race past Straub with a combined total of 223.2. And then Carina Vogt of Germany trumps them all with a leap of 101.5m that takes her to 227.9. Four skiers to go!

2.36pm GMT

The snow is beginning to come down hard. After 20 jumpers, Chiara Hoelzl of Austria is in the winner’s circle right now. A final-round leap of 95.5m won her 101 points, and at 193.2 she’s clear of Japan’s Kaori Iwabuchi with 188.3. Jacqueline Seifriedsberger of Austria is in third with 183.5. But expect much to change with the leaders about to jump: by way of illustration, Sarah Hendrickson is now down in ninth spot. The crunch approaches.

2.25pm GMT

With ten jumpers gone, and 20 still to go, Sarah Hendrickson of the USA is out in the lead. She’s got a total of 160.6 points, the result of jumps of 86m and 88m. Chang Xinyue of China is second with 154.9 points. In third spot, Spela Rogeelj of Slovakia; after a 90.5m leap in this second round, she’ll be ruing a poor first jump which only trousered her 64.3 points. Her 90.2 points is by some distance the biggest second-round haul so far. She’s got 154.5 overall.

2.19pm GMT

The final round of the women’s normal hill ski jump is underway. It might take a while to decide the medalists, because the wind’s playing silly buggers. We’ll get there eventually. Meanwhile Sweden have wrapped up an 8-0 win over Korean in the women’s ice hockey. Sweden are through to the quarters along with Switzerland. Japan go home, as do Korea, albeit more metaphorically.

1.58pm GMT

Gold for Ireen Wust - who won her first Olympic title back in 2006 - in the women’s 1,500m speed skating! She’d set a mark of 1:54.35 with the 23-year-old Miho Takagi of Japan and the world-record holder Heather Bergsma of the USA still to race. For a while, it looked like Bergsma was on course to breeze gold, but she faded badly and ended 2.39 seconds off the pace, finishing eighth in the rankings. Takagi, though, threatened to nick it after sagging in the middle of her pursuit. Her powerful finish left Bergsma in the dust - well, an icy cloud - but she couldn’t quite match Wust’s time, finishing 0.20 seconds off the pace. A silver, and she’s in floods of tears. Hard to tell whether that’s happiness or bitter disappointment; it should be the former, because she was never quite getting there, so she’s thrown nothing away. Marrit Leenstra takes bronze, 0.91 seconds behind her Dutch compatriot Wust.

1.41pm GMT

The women have made their second runs in the luge singles. Summer Britcher of the USA was the fastest in that round, making it down the course in 46.132 seconds. She rises from 15th place to ninth. Dajana Eitberger of Germany was second fastest, with a run of 46.193. She’s second overall at the halfway mark, up from seventh. But leading the way after two runs is reigning champion Natalie Geisenberger, who consolidated her first-run lead with a time of 46.209, the third best of the second run. She leads her compatriot Eitberger by 0.120 in the overall standings. Alex Gough of Canada is third, 0.191 seconds off the lead. Plenty to dream about tonight, then, ahead of tomorrow’s final two runs. If anyone gets to sleep, that is. Could you get off if you knew you were 90 life-defining seconds away from Olympic gold?

1.26pm GMT

All three of the medalists are cavorting in the grand style. Kingsbury (86.63) races off like Ray Wilkins in the 1983 FA Cup final. Graham (82.57), the silver medalist, raises his arms. Hara (82.19) springs up and down like Danny Boyle at the Oscars. First medals of the Games for Australia and Japan, but this is all about the Canadian, who can now add Olympic gold to his roll of honour!

1.22pm GMT

Daichi Hara is compact and fast. He’s ecstatic as he crosses the line. Perhaps his jumps weren’t quite as aesthetically pleasing as Kingsbury’s. And he’s not quite as quick as either Kingsbury or Graham. But has he nicked the gold? He’s praying. And he’s got the bronze: 82.19. The world number one Kingsbury has the Olympic gold at last!

1.20pm GMT

The world number one Mikael Kingsbury is the penultimate runner. He’s neat and fast, his knees tight together as he bounces down the track, his jumps and twists precise and high. There looks very little wrong with that. And he’s awarded a massive 86.63! He holds his head in his hands, knowing he’s going to get silver at worst. It’s down to Daichi Hara now. Can he wrest gold from Kingsbury’s grasp?

1.17pm GMT

Casey Andringa of the USA doesn’t land his second jump well, sitting down momentarily. He’s in third spot at 75.50, but unlikely to stay in the medals. Graham is now guaranteed bronze at worst.

1.16pm GMT

Matt Graham of Australia is up next. A very fast and tidy run, and he’s celebrating like billy-o when he crosses the line. A three-twist final jump earns him an eventual score of 82.57. And that’s a big total (for reference, it bests Daichi Hara’s impressive qualifying mark). He’s in the gold medal position with three to come.

1.14pm GMT

The Canadian Marc-Antoine Gagnon is the first man to race in the super final of the men’s moguls. He makes it down the track in a very neat style, his knees never too far apart, in 25.30 seconds. He’s given a mark of 77.02. Vinjar Slatten, the only European in the contest, is quickly tumbling down the hill on his arse, landing awkwardly after his first jump. He gets up and completes the course in 26.71 seconds, for an eventual total of 33.61. At least that’s not a DNF, and, well, you never know, huh.

1.10pm GMT

The Japanese women’s ice hockey team can stand down. Having lost their opening two games, against Sweden and Switzerland, they were praying for a miracle in the Korea-Sweden match. But the Koreans aren’t going to pull off the shock they require. Korea area already 5-0 down against the Swedes, midway through the second period. Sweden will be going through to the quarters with Switzerland.

1.04pm GMT

The final six to make it through to the business end of the men’s moguls: Daichi Hara of Japan, Mikael Kingsbury of Canada, the USA’s Casey Andringa, Matt Graham of Australia, Norway’s Vinjar Slatten and Marc-Antoine Gagnon of Canada. It won’t be long before the final runs.

12.56pm GMT

The world champion Ikuma Horishima will not be making the final of the men’s moguls. The 20-year-old Japanese star lost control of his first jump, and was always battling gravity and hope. He lost a pole and a glove as he sailed down the powdery hill on his distressed face. The gold-medal favourite Mikael Kingsbury of Canada has made it through with ease, however.

12.43pm GMT

Aleksandr Krushelnitckii has the simple task of sliding his stone into the centre of the target and levelling up the match. If he’s really feeling it, there’s a chance of crashing Switzerland’s standing stone out of the picture and taking two from the end, snatching victory at the death! But he gets caught in two minds, and in going for the simple one to tie the game, gives it too much juice! The stone sails sadly through the target, and Switzerland win 7-5! They’ll meet Canada in tomorrow’s final! The Olympic Athletes from Russia will have to make do with a bronze-medal play-off with Norway!

12.39pm GMT

Back to the curling, and the Swiss lead the Russians 6-5. It’s the eighth and final end. Switzerland are standing one, but the Russians have the final stone. Can Anastasia Bryzgalova and Aleksandr Krushelnitckii force a draw and an extra end?

12.35pm GMT

Samuelsson has closed the gap to Doll, and is right on the German’s tail! This is a hell of a battle for silver. And Samuelsson takes him on the outside! He’ll grab the silver off Doll! But up ahead, slowing up to grab a French flag, Martin Fourcade crosses the line for the gold! He’s won in a super-sharp-shooting 32 minutes 51.7 seconds, a whole 12 seconds ahead of Samuelsson and a further 3.1 seconds ahead of Doll.

12.29pm GMT

The fourth and final round of shots. Martin Fourcade will have the gold medal in his pocket if he rattles off all five discs without missing one. And it’s five out of five! He pumps a fist into the air, and he’s 2.5km away from top spot on the podium! It’s a shoo-in, unlike the race for silver and bronze. Benedikt Doll, the sprint world champion, pings off five faultless shots to make it away from the range in second spot, 36 seconds off Fourcade’s pace. Then it’s Sebastian Samuelsson, a further seven seconds back.

12.25pm GMT

Fourcade is eating up this hilly course. There’s now a whopping 39 seconds between him and the second-placed competitor, now Tarjei Boe of Norway. Peiffer has tumbled out of the medal positions; Sebastian Samuelsson of Sweden is up for bronze as we stand.

12.21pm GMT

The third round of shots. Standing up this time. Peiffer doesn’t like this position, by all accounts, and sure enough he misses the first of his five shots. That opens the door for the world number one Martin Fourcade, who rattles off his sequence without error and zips away into a 20-second lead over Peiffer!

12.18pm GMT

The second round of shots are taken, and it’s advantage Peiffer. The German is clean, unlike Eberhard, who misses one of his discs and is forced around the punishment loop. Peiffer now has a nine-second advantage over his compatriot Lesser in second. Tarjei Boe of Norway makes it into third. Meanwhile Paul Kelly is a man worth listening to: “Turn this experience into a late 1970s James Bond chase by muting the TV and playing this as a backing track.” Yes, that really works. Nobody Does It Better is the best Bond theme, too, isn’t it. Marvin Hamlisch on a roll back there in ‘77.

12.09pm GMT

The first round of shots are taken. Peiffer is clean, but so is the Austrian Julian Eberhard, who rang off his five shots at super-fast speed. He’s now leading the German by just less than a second. Then there’s a 12-second gap between the pair and Benedikt Doll and Simon Schempp, both of Germany. Three Germans in the top four; four in the top six, with Erik Lesser making up the gang.

12.03pm GMT

It’s the men’s 12.5km pursuit in the biathlon. The 10km sprint gold medallist Arnd Peiffer is off first, a whopping four seconds ahead of Michael Krcmar of the Czech Republic. He’s also one minute and 13 seconds ahead of Johannes Thingnes Boe, Norway’s pre-tournament favourite, who didn’t have a good run in the sprint at all.

11.59am GMT

The first run of the women’s single luge is complete. Reigning champ Natalie Geisenberger’s mark of 46.245 hasn’t been bettered, though Alex Gough of Canada came closest; she’s 0.072 seconds behind, knocking Germany’s Tatjana Huefner into third by 0.005 seconds. Propping up the field of 30: Olena Stetskiv of Ukraine, who made just one tiny micro-mistake coming round a corner, lifting her shoulder a little, and went crashing into the wooden walls on both sides of the track. At one point she was almost skittering down the icy tube with her runners at right angles. She still made it to the finishing line, but a whopping 4.354 seconds behind Geisenberger. It really is a fine line between brilliance and disaster.

11.50am GMT

Another superb stone from Jenny Perret. A perfectly weighted guard ensures the shot set up by Martin Rios can’t be knocked away by Aleksandr Krushelnitckii, who throws his final stone away, refusing to make a bad situation any worse and giving up one shot. At the halfway mark, the Swiss lead 4-2, and the teams go off while the ice is given a good old clean. As things stand, Switzerland will face Canada in tomorrow’s final ... but there’s a long way to go.

11.40am GMT

It’s very much nip and tuck in the mesmeric pursuit of curling. Anastasia Bryzgalova and Aleksandr Krushelnitckii levelled the score at 2-2 after the second end, but Jenny Perret has just reestablished Switzerland’s lead with a delightfully judged delicate slider of a final stone in the third end. Her partner Martin Rios had called it as a waste of time - “Never!” - when the handle left her grip, sailing miles out to the left as the stone was. But it was in fact an exquisite effort, gently gliding back towards the centre and nicking off Russia’s standing shot. Perret shoots Rios a look, as if to say: you should never have doubted me! It’s 3-2 to the Swiss.

11.30am GMT

Words don’t come easy, to quote the great French philosopher FR David. Fortunately the Guardian has a picture desk. Many beautiful action shots are a mere click away!

11.21am GMT

Meanwhile at the Gangneung curling arena, it’s the second semi-final of the mixed doubles. Fighting for the right to face Canada in tomorrow’s final: Switzerland and Russia. Swiss pair Jenny Perret and Martin Rios have taken an early 2-0 lead after the first end. The response from Anastasia Bryzgalova and Aleksandr Krushelnitckii as we have it.

11.10am GMT

The women’s singles luge has started. Two runs today; the final two tomorrow. On a good day already for Germany, the reigning Olympic champion Natalie Geisenberger has zipped down the treacherously fast track at the Sliding Centre in 46.245 seconds. That’s 0.077 seconds ahead of the early leader, her compatriot Tatjana Huefner.

11.00am GMT

We try our best on the rolling blog. We only want you to be happy. But of course it can never be enough. So we strongly advise you to subscribe to The Recap’s Winter Olympics special! Sign up for all the latest news, delivered daily during the Games through your electronic letter box. Sign up! Sign up! Sign up!

10.50am GMT

All three medalists are delighted with their finish. And no wonder: biathlon is some discipline, it takes some doing to hold one’s nerve and maintain a steady hand, as anyone who ever played this back in the day ...

10.43am GMT

She adds pursuit gold to the sprint gold she picked up on Saturday, grabbing the German flag as she crosses the line wearing a huge smile. This is an unprecedented achievement in women’s biathlon! She finishes in 30 minutes, 35.3 seconds. She’s 29.4 seconds ahead of Anastasiya Kuzmina of Slovakia, who pips Anais Bescond of France on the line by 0.2 seconds. Dahlmeier laid waste to the rest of the field, but what a battle that was for silver!

10.36am GMT

Dahlmeier maintains her lead as she approaches the shooting range for the last time. Five crucial shots between her and a historic double! And she knocks all five discs over with astonishing speed and precision! Kuzmina, in second, arrives just as Dahlmeier is taking off! And the pressure is too much for her: she misses with her first shot and that surely seals the gold for Dahlmeier.

10.30am GMT

Dahlmeier shows her class at the range. She shoots clean, while Kuzmina misses twice! That’ll cost her 300 metres. She’s suddenly 38 seconds behind. Vitkova moves into third with a clean round of shots.

10.28am GMT

Kuzmina has overtaken Dahlmeier at the head of the field. They’re neck and neck, and out on their own. Anais Bescond of France has moved into third, about 20 seconds further back. Who will be able to regulate their heartbeat - and control their nerves - as they take their third round of shots, this time standing up as opposed to lying flat on the snow?

10.26am GMT

Dahlmeier arrives for the second round 17 seconds of shots ahead of Anastasiya Kuzmina. The leading pair both miss one of their targets, and will be forced to take an extra 150m. It’s a good round for Irene Cadurisch, though: five clean shots catapults her up the field to third place. Dahlmeier now has just 9.2 seconds on Kuzmina, who is a couple of seconds ahead of Cadurisch in third. This promises to be a hell of a battle.

10.19am GMT

After five minutes of powering up and down the stunning slopes of the Alpensia Biathlon Centre, Dahlmeier hits all five targets of her first shooting round and is up and off again. Marte Olsbu of Norway, who started in second place, 24 seconds behind Dahlmeier after the sprint, misses one of her targets and is forced to go on a 150-metre penalty loop. Veronika Vitkova of the Czech Republic moves up into second, 17.8 seconds behind the leader after the first shooting stage.

10.12am GMT

The women’s 10km pursuit biathlon is go! Laura Dahlmeier is the hot favourite: the 24-year-old German has already claimed gold in the 7.5km sprint biathlon, and is aiming to become the first woman to win the sprint and pursuit double. It’s minus 12 degrees.

10.02am GMT

In lieu of live action ... this was pretty sensational. Mirai Nagasu today became only the third American to land a triple axel in competition after Kimmie Meissner and Tonya Harding - and the first to do so at the Olympics.

9.51am GMT

Japan instigate a couple of scrambles in front of the Swiss net, but there’s nothing doing. The buzzer goes, and Switzerland win 3-1! They’ve won both of their games, while Japan have now lost both of theirs. Only a shock Korean win over Sweden later today will stop the Swiss and the Swedes making it through Group B and into the quarter finals.

9.46am GMT

It’s still 3-1 to the Swiss, with just under four minutes remaining. Japan need to throw caution to the wind, so withdraw Nana Fujimoto and play with an empty net. They’ve got six attackers on the ice. Little option.

9.32am GMT

Japan need something to happen, and quick. And here it is! Ayaka Toko sails down the right and sends the puck fizzing towards the left of the net from distance. Florence Schelling looks to have it covered, but Hanae Kubo arrives on the scene to adroitly flick the puck over the stunned goaltender and into the net. Chances are it’s too little, too late, but Kubo’s team-mates celebrate wildly anyway. It’s 3-1 and with 11 minutes or so remaining, hope’s not quite extinguished yet.

9.25am GMT

Chalk up a fate-tempting assist for this blog! Alina Muller piles down the right and flashes a speculative shot goalwards. Nana Fujimoto really should deal with it, but the puck flies straight through her, and that’s a 3-0 lead for Switzerland early in the third period. Fujimoto will have had better days in goal, and Japan’s Olympic dream is as good as over (unless Korea beat Sweden later, but, y’know).

9.21am GMT

For a second, you could be forgiven for thinking they were playing the synth motif from Duran Duran’s Save a Prayer over the PA at the Kwandong Hockey Centre. Turns out it’s just something vaguely similar. Nick Rhodes’ ears will be burning. Today’s internet kids love these sort of hot cultural references, right? Anyway, it’s a quiet start to the third period. Japan really need something to happen, but there’s nothing going on.

9.09am GMT

The hooter sounds to bring the second period, the session of Sara Benz, to an end. Switzerland lead 2-0, and are beginning to dominate, seriously turning up the heat on poor Japan. While we’re on the subject of ice hockey, the 2014 film Red Army is recommended viewing:

8.53am GMT

The Swiss go two up. A defence-splitting pass from Christine Meier, and Sara Benz is one on one with Nana Fujimoto. She gives Fujimoto the eyes, and flicks a glorious shot into the top left: 2-0! As things stand, the Swiss are as good as through to the quarters, while Japan will be as good as out.

8.49am GMT

That goal has rattled Japanese goaltender Nana Fujimoto. She makes a meal of clearing a routine Swiss shot, and soon enough there’s a comical brawl in front of her net, players on both sides piling in with sticks and giving it plenty. Quite a scrum. Switzerland try to force the score - the puck could be anywhere - but after some deliberation from the eagle-eyed video referee, it’s no goal.

8.44am GMT

Switzerland break the deadlock! Sara Benz lashes home from a tight angle on the right, taking Nana Fujimoto by surprise. Sort of like Steve Heighway versus Bob Wilson in the 1971 FA Cup final, except on the other side of the field of play, and on ice.

8.39am GMT

A glorious chance for Japan to break the deadlock in the women’s ice hockey. An exquisite reverse pass by Haruka Toko split the Swiss down the middle, but Ami Nakamura somehow managed to drag her shot across the face of goal from close range. Chances at a premium at Kwandong Hockey Centre.

8.30am GMT

A bit more on Aimee Fuller, who has just been talking to the BBC about the weather-wrecked women’s slopestyle final. Her tinder-dry appraisal: “She blew, the wind got me good!” Fuller finished in 17th place, after being thrown off balance during her second and final run. “I don’t feel like I had a fair shot at putting down my best run, the wind just took me sideways on the last hit,” she said. But at least Fuller won’t die wondering: despite facing conditions comparable to “war”, she went for it wearing her “full battle head”. Jock Wallace would be proud.

8.19am GMT

Good morning Pyeongchang. Straight in with some admin regarding that big third showdown in Group B of the preliminary round of the ice hockey: it’s goalless between Japan and Switzerland at the end of the first period. That 8-0 win for the Swiss over Korea seems an awfully long time ago, huh.

8.09am GMT

Well this is me signing off from Sydney, with my colleague Scott Murray taking over now from the UK.

The gold medals won today:

7.52am GMT

It’s still goalless but not for lack of trying. A lot of chances for both teams in a game of quick, unpredictable transitions. Japan are holding their own.

7.50am GMT

It’s end to end stuff. Switzerland surge forward and fire off a shot via Stalder, but Japan’s Takeuchi blocks it with her foot. Japan immediately counterattack but shoot wide.

It’s a big game for Japan. They’re currently third in Group B along with Switzerland, Sweden and Korea. The top 2 advance to the quarterfinals, the bottom 2 are out.

7.40am GMT

The women’s ice hockey is about to begin, as Switzerland play Japan.

7.23am GMT

This tweet reads like the set up to a milkshake duck joke. Am I wrong? With that jarring reference, welcome to my first social media roundup.

All the ladies love #Soohorang The cuddly white tiger greeting fans during the #Luge Men's Single yesterday at the #Olympics Sliding Centre #PyeongChang2018 pic.twitter.com/UdVGPT3tBy

I watched Home Again on the way to the Olympics and I know it’s a movie but I wished you were my mom. You’re my hero. ❤️ https://t.co/LRHEMEXroE

7.13am GMT

The first practice run ends with two men called Tobias. The defending gold medallists, Germany’s Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt, finish up with a time of 46.3 seconds. Their compatriots, Tony Eggert and Sasha Benecken posted the fastest times.

Not to worry though – there’s another training run to come.

7.05am GMT

In the meantime, have some snowboarding highlights.

Chloe Kim pulling tricks in slow motion:

I don't think you'll have trouble getting ice cream after that, @chloekimsnow #PyeongChang2018 pic.twitter.com/mqTHdaGNn9

Bravo @Emily__Arthur

An amazing second run puts the Aussie in excellent position for finals!@SamsungAU #DoWhatYouCant #PyeongChang2018 pic.twitter.com/UnfvRA52oU

"Once I was in the air it felt like I had a sailboat under my board."

The women's #snowboard slopestyle final was brutal today.#Pyeongchang2018 #bbcolympics pic.twitter.com/DSDxNAxMyI

6.58am GMT

The nordic combined has been delayed. The second day of training jumps, originally scheduled for an hour ago, has still not started. The official Olympic website has no further info, but bear with me as I try and find out why.

6.54am GMT

Korea’s luge doubles are up now. The host’s only doubles team, Park Jinyong and Cho Jung Myung take to the practice circuit, but it’s “a messy run” according to commentators. They finish on 47.485 seconds, 1.3 seconds behind current leaders, Austrians Peter Penz and Georg Fischler.

Earlier, the Romanian doubles team had remarked that “it’s harder today”. It seems to be a tricky track that, as Felix Loch would know, has claimed a few scalps.

6.47am GMT

Luge fans of course, will still be recovering from yesterday’s shock result. Germany’s Felix Loch, on course for his third consecutive gold medal in the men’s singles, missed out after a disastrous error on the final run.

Loch slumped over his sled in anguish as the unheralded David Gleirscher won his first gold, and Austria’s first men’s luge in 50 years. Watch it below.

6.42am GMT

Historically, the luge has been dominated by Germany. In singles, doubles and team, the Germans lead the Olympic medal table in every category.

In doubles, they have 10 gold medals, miles ahead of Austria, on second, with 3.

6.34am GMT

Now to the luge. It’s the third official practice run for the doubles event, held in Pyeongchang’s Olympic Sliding Centre.

Unlike the women’s halfpipe just then, this is not a qualification event. The Broz brothers, Lukas and Antonin, from the Czech Republic are up first.

6.27am GMT

The final is tomorrow, with Chloe Kim the favourite.

That was fantastic stuff all-round, but especially from Kim, who is a red-hot favourite, a dessert connoisseur and an amazing tweeter.

6.26am GMT

Arielle Gold qualifies for the finals, as Chloe Kim strolls through.

The final competitor, France’s Clemence Grimal, wraps up the qualifying with a disappointing run. She makes an error halfway through, slides and her hands go up. She knows she hasn’t made it, and we’re done.

6.19am GMT

In ice-cream news – Chloe Kim has owned up on Twitter.

Could be down for some ice cream rn

yes...

Oh and I also had 2 churros today and they were pretty bomb so if you ever get nervous go eat a churro

6.15am GMT

Arielle Gold from the United States is currently 12th. If she holds on, she’ll be the final competitor to make tomorrow’s final.

In the meantime, Australia’s Emily Arthur has definitely qualified. There are only 3 more competitors to come.

6.10am GMT

Chloe Kim has had an ice-cream. The American prodigy, making her Olympic debut at 17, is all the commentators can talk about from where I’m sitting.

They say that Kim, who is leading qualification with huge scores of 91.5 and 95.5, had an ice-cream in between her first and second runs. They don’t know what kind it was, but it’s really captured the imagination.

6.05am GMT

China’s Cai Xietong has posted a score of 69.00, which brings her up 6th. Sena Tomita of Japan follows with 66.75.

This pushes Australia’s Emily Arthur further back to 8th spot, with the top 12 going through to the final. There are 8 more competitors to come.

5.56am GMT

Ok everybody, I’m only here for a very short period of time today, so I’m about to hand over to one of my most favourite colleagues in Naaman Zhou. Enjoy your time with him and I’ll see you back here on Wednesday!

5.53am GMT

If you want to know exactly what’s happening in Pyeongchang and when, you can always check out our interactive event schedule. I don’t know about other Australians, but it can be very hard to tell from the channel seven coverage what is actually happening when and where, given they cut so quickly between events!

We’ve also got a story up on Jamie Anderson’s second Olympic slopestyle gold – won in “brutal” conditions.

5.45am GMT

Good news Australians, Emily Arthur may have worked her way into the women’s halfpipe final. She’s currently sitting in sixth with a score of 66.50 in the second qualifying run. Love the footage of her singing her way into the run!

Bravo @Emily__Arthur

An amazing second run puts the Aussie in excellent position for finals!@SamsungAU #DoWhatYouCant #PyeongChang2018 pic.twitter.com/UnfvRA52oU

5.39am GMT

Chloe Kim of the USA is putting on some show in the women’s halfpipe snowboarding qualifying event. She’s just improved her first qualifying run with a score of 95.50 for her second. Looks unbeatable at this point, but we’ll see what her competitors can produce.

THIS WOMAN IS A CHEAT CODE.@chloekimsnow drops back to back 90+ scores #PyeongChang2018 pic.twitter.com/kc4rbeYt37

Could be down for some ice cream rn

95.50 on your second run?? Ice cream is on us! https://t.co/QTUAJKHLVm

5.33am GMT

Earlier, six of the first seven riders in the women’s slopestyle final crashed, battling 30mph crosswinds. While the women’s giant slalom was postponed on Thursday morning because of the weather, the slopestyle final went ahead, causing controversy, and piling further pressure on the Federation Internationale de Ski.

5.25am GMT

The head of Pyeongchang 2018, Sung Baik-you, admitted that more ski events could be cancelled in the coming days. However the International Olympic Committee denied there was any danger of the Games overrunning. “It’s a little bit early to discuss that,” the IOC’s head of communications, Mark Adams, insisted. “There’s plenty of time. There’s reserve places for competition.”

He also downplayed suggestions that some events may have to be cancelled. “We’re on day three so I’m hoping that won’t happen. Come back to me on day 14.”

5.23am GMT

We’re with the women’s halfpipe snowboarding qualifying now. On qualification run one, the USA’s Chloe Kim is in first with a score of 91.50. She looked confident – and apparently has plenty of tricks still in the bag. Liu Jiayu of China is second with 87.75, and Maddie Mastro of the USA in third with 83.75, for now.

5.11am GMT

Some more updates from today’s figure skating action, which included men’s single skating, women’s single skating and ice dance free dance.

Canada took gold in the team event after stellar performances by Patrick Chan and Gabrielle Daleman, with Chan landing two quads early in his free skate on his way to finally winning Olympic gold. After the women’s free skate, Canada was already locked in first place, with ice dancers Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir still left to compete. With the pressure taken off them, the duo blew away competition, finishing first with 118.10 points, six points ahead of Americans Maia and Alex Shibutani, who helped their country win bronze.

The Olympic Athletes from Russia, with a stunning free skate by 15-year-old Alina Zagitova, the European champion, were guaranteed silver, the team’s second medal of the Pyeongchang Games.

5.03am GMT

Jamie Anderson battled challenging cross winds to win her second successive Olympic gold today.

Only five riders made it down the first run without falling in the difficult conditions, which also included hard snow, with Anderson scoring 83.00 points to give her an almost 10-point advantage heading into the second run.

It was enough to hold off Canada’s Laurie Blouin, who took silver with 76.33 on her second run, and Finland’s Enni Rukajarvi, who added bronze to her silver from Sochi four years ago, with 75.38 points.

None of the riders were able to complete two error-free runs. There was a particularly scary moment when Slovakia’s Klaudia Medlova landed flat on her back after missing a grab during her first run but she did complete her second and finished 24th.

1.29am GMT

Welcome everyone to this blog of all the Winter Olympics action from day three. The Games were hit with yet more disruption in the early hours in Pyeongchang today as the women’s super giant slalom was forced to be postponed due to high winds. The women’s slopestyle final was also delayed due to the gusty weather but eventually got under way on Monday with Jamie Anderson of the United States triumphing despite the tricky conditions, which resulted in a number of spectacular crashes. Her best score was 83.00. Silver went to Laurie Blouin of Canada with 76.33, while Enni Rukajarvi from Finland took bronze with 75.38.

Australian snowboarder Tess Coady was absent from the final after she tore her ACL ligament on Sunday practising prior to the cancelled women’s event. She has controversially blamed the wind for the crash that led to the tear, while Australian officials have questioned whether the practice session should have been cancelled.

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Published on February 12, 2018 06:53

Winter Olympics 2018 day three: ice hockey, snowboarding and more – live!

Latest updates from the action in PyeongchangFull schedule | Latest medal table | The RecapAnd feel free to email your thoughts to Scott

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Well this is me signing off from Sydney, with my colleague Scott Murray taking over now from the UK.

The gold medals won today:

7.52am GMT

It’s still goalless but not for lack of trying. A lot of chances for both teams in a game of quick, unpredictable transitions. Japan are holding their own.

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It’s end to end stuff. Switzerland surge forward and fire off a shot via Stalder, but Japan’s Takeuchi blocks it with her foot. Japan immediately counterattack but shoot wide.

It’s a big game for Japan. They’re currently third in Group B along with Switzerland, Sweden and Korea. The top 2 advance to the quarterfinals, the bottom 2 are out.

7.40am GMT

The women’s ice hockey is about to begin, as Switzerland play Japan.

7.23am GMT

This tweet reads like the set up to a milkshake duck joke. Am I wrong? With that jarring reference, welcome to my first social media roundup.

All the ladies love #Soohorang The cuddly white tiger greeting fans during the #Luge Men's Single yesterday at the #Olympics Sliding Centre #PyeongChang2018 pic.twitter.com/UdVGPT3tBy

I watched Home Again on the way to the Olympics and I know it’s a movie but I wished you were my mom. You’re my hero. ❤️ https://t.co/LRHEMEXroE

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Not to worry though – there’s another training run to come.

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In the meantime, have some snowboarding highlights.

Chloe Kim pulling tricks in slow motion:

I don't think you'll have trouble getting ice cream after that, @chloekimsnow #PyeongChang2018 pic.twitter.com/mqTHdaGNn9

Bravo @Emily__Arthur

An amazing second run puts the Aussie in excellent position for finals!@SamsungAU #DoWhatYouCant #PyeongChang2018 pic.twitter.com/UnfvRA52oU

"Once I was in the air it felt like I had a sailboat under my board."

The women's #snowboard slopestyle final was brutal today.#Pyeongchang2018 #bbcolympics pic.twitter.com/DSDxNAxMyI

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Earlier, the Romanian doubles team had remarked that “it’s harder today”. It seems to be a tricky track that, as Felix Loch would know, has claimed a few scalps.

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Loch slumped over his sled in anguish as the unheralded David Gleirscher won his first gold, and Austria’s first men’s luge in 50 years. Watch it below.

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Historically, the luge has been dominated by Germany. In singles, doubles and team, the Germans lead the Olympic medal table in every category.

In doubles, they have 10 gold medals, miles ahead of Austria, on second, with 3.

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Now to the luge. It’s the third official practice run for the doubles event, held in Pyeongchang’s Olympic Sliding Centre.

Unlike the women’s halfpipe just then, this is not a qualification event. The Broz brothers, Lukas and Antonin, from the Czech Republic are up first.

6.27am GMT

The final is tomorrow, with Chloe Kim the favourite.

That was fantastic stuff all-round, but especially from Kim, who is a red-hot favourite, a dessert connoisseur and an amazing tweeter.

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Arielle Gold qualifies for the finals, as Chloe Kim strolls through.

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In ice-cream news – Chloe Kim has owned up on Twitter.

Could be down for some ice cream rn

yes...

Oh and I also had 2 churros today and they were pretty bomb so if you ever get nervous go eat a churro

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Arielle Gold from the United States is currently 12th. If she holds on, she’ll be the final competitor to make tomorrow’s final.

In the meantime, Australia’s Emily Arthur has definitely qualified. There are only 3 more competitors to come.

6.10am GMT

Chloe Kim has had an ice-cream. The American prodigy, making her Olympic debut at 17, is all the commentators can talk about from where I’m sitting.

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China’s Cai Xietong has posted a score of 69.00, which brings her up 6th. Sena Tomita of Japan follows with 66.75.

This pushes Australia’s Emily Arthur further back to 8th spot, with the top 12 going through to the final. There are 8 more competitors to come.

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We’ve also got a story up on Jamie Anderson’s second Olympic slopestyle gold – won in “brutal” conditions.

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Bravo @Emily__Arthur

An amazing second run puts the Aussie in excellent position for finals!@SamsungAU #DoWhatYouCant #PyeongChang2018 pic.twitter.com/UnfvRA52oU

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THIS WOMAN IS A CHEAT CODE.@chloekimsnow drops back to back 90+ scores #PyeongChang2018 pic.twitter.com/kc4rbeYt37

Could be down for some ice cream rn

95.50 on your second run?? Ice cream is on us! https://t.co/QTUAJKHLVm

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He also downplayed suggestions that some events may have to be cancelled. “We’re on day three so I’m hoping that won’t happen. Come back to me on day 14.”

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Some more updates from today’s figure skating action, which included men’s single skating, women’s single skating and ice dance free dance.

The Olympic Athletes from Russia, with a stunning free skate by 15-year-old Alina Zagitova, the European champion, were guaranteed silver, the team’s second medal of the Pyeongchang Games.

5.03am GMT

Jamie Anderson battled challenging cross winds to win her second successive Olympic gold today.

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Published on February 12, 2018 01:46

February 10, 2018

England 12-6 Wales: Six Nations – as it happened

Jonny May was England’s two-try hero in a dour battle at Twickenham

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Hepburn wrenches the ball from a Welsh hand, and England hang on for a hard-fought victory! And deservedly so: in an undistinguished game, they were the better side. Though Wales will legitimately wonder what might have happened had Gareth Anscombe’s first-half try been awarded by the video ref, as it surely should have been. But Jonny May’s two tries settle it, both set up by the wily kicking of Owen Farrell. England’s grand-slam dream is still alive! Meanwhile the Welsh wait for a victory over the old enemy in the Six Nations goes on: five years and counting.

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80 min: A high hit by Te’o gives Wales a penalty. They can pump the ball upfield. They’ll have one last chance to launch an attack for the try they so desperately need.

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79 min: Wales make it to 18 phases. But they’re still in their own 22. This is a test of fitness and nerve!

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78 min: Wales move through the phases. But they’re deep in their own territory.

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77 min: Twickers is suddenly a little anxious; Wales just need a converted try to steal the win. England make a change, swapping Vunipola for Hepburn.

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But play’s pulled back for a penalty, and Wales opt to knock it over, making this a one-score game.

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75 min: It’s the last-chance saloon for Wales. Tipuric rips the ball from England. North blasts up the right. Wales shift the ball to the other flank. Parkes kicks through for Steffan Evans, who tries to sidefoot the bouncing ball over the tryline, but can only knock it out of touch.

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74 min: Bradley Davies comes on for Hill. England win their line-out and set up camp again in the Welsh 22. They’re quite happy to flick it around in the time-eating style.

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73 min: Farrell’s kicking has been exceptional all evening. He sends a high one down the right, forcing Anscombe to gather just outside his 22. England bundle him into touch. Anscombe betrays his frustration by complaining quite a lot to the touch judge. About what, it’s not clear.

6.29pm GMT

72 min: But England are soon coming back at Wales, albeit in the midfield now. No matter: the clock is their friend. Wales need to score soon if they’re to have any chance of nicking this game. They don’t look like doing so.

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71 min: England inch forward as they move through the phases. They’re up to 20, 21, 22. Then Wales win it back, Francis leading a counter ruck. Wales soaked up a lot of pressure there.

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70 min: England string together a few phases in Welsh territory. Eight, nine, ten. Nowell turns on the jets down the right, but can’t quite break through. Thirteen, 14, 15.

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69 min: Ford is replaced by Te’o while Launchbury is swapped for Kruis.

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67 min: More scrum faff. England will be quite happy to see the clock tick on, while nothing much happens.

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66 min: Aled Davies comes on for Gareth Davies.

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65 min: Dee and Tipuric come on for Owens and Moriarty. England swap Care and Cole for Williams and Wigglesworth.

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63 min: Wales are putting sustained pressure on England for the first time in the game. They spend a little time in England’s 22 ... but then knock on, Farrell forcing a mistake from Shingler. Better from the visitors, though.

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62 min: Wales break with purpose down the left. North flicks left to Scott Williams, who slides towards the corner. He’s surely in, but Underhill comes across at the death to bundle his man into touch with inches to spare! What a saving tackle that was!

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61 min: It’s all a bit scrappy right now. It’s England’s turn to make a daft error, going to sleep when the ball pops out backwards in the breakdown, allowing Wales to snaffle possession.

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60 min: Wales suddenly turn up the heat, Anscombe burning down the middle and nearly setting up camp for his side just inside the 22. But Farrell turns the ball over to nix the visitors’ momentum.

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58 min: Lee and Rob Evans are replaced by Wyn Jones and Francis.

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57 min: Patchell is replaced by North. Anscombe will play as 10 now; Adams at 15.

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56 min: Anscombe chips cutely down the right and nearly opens England up. Moriarty knocks forward, but Wales are threatening to launch a few attacks of their own now.

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54 min: England break into the Welsh 22 down the right, the result of a loose Patchell pass in the midfield. Wales are let off the hook when Nowell goes off his feet. In the stand, Eddie Jones mouths a few more EFFs. He’s got a proper face on, England having failed to build on their lead since the restart. Wales, having dug in well, are still in this.

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53 min: Hartley is replaced by George. Farrell is England’s captain now.

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51 min: Now England put together a few phases in Welsh territory. Nowell very nearly bursts through the middle, on the Wales 22, but falls to his knees and spills the ball forward.

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49 min: Shingler breaks all of a sudden down the left wing, and glides infield. A 50-yard run at pace. He’s suddenly one on one with Care, going so fast that none of his team-mates can keep up with him. He tries to kick the ball past Care, with a view to circumventing him and busting for the tryline. But Care reads it well and snaffles.

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47 min: A shot of Eddie Jones in the stand, annoyed as his side concede a penalty in the midfield for not rolling away. He mouths a textbook “EFF!” as he batters his hand on the back of the seat in front of him. A study of frustration.

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46 min: Line-out for England, just outside the Welsh 22 on the right. They win it, but the ball’s intercepted by Patchell and Wales can move upfield, the early pressure they’ve been feeling in this half released.

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45 min: Watson took a big whack there, and he’s forced to limp off. Nowell comes on in his stead.

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43 min: After ten phases, the ball’s fed out to Watson on the right again. He nips inside and threatens to sashay his way through a few challenges and over the tryline. But Shingler eventually puts a stop to his gallop.

5.53pm GMT

And we’re underway again! Underhill has come on for Simmonds. England get the second half moving. They’re soon camped in Welsh territory. Watson has a look down the right but can’t quite wriggle free. England on the front foot early doors, though.

5.38pm GMT

Half-time reading: From the earlier game ...

5.38pm GMT

And that’s that for the first half. Jonny May’s two tries, both set up by clever kicking from Owen Farrell, are the main difference here. But Wales will think they should have had a try through Gareth Anscombe. The video ref thought differently. Intriguingly poised, though Wales will surely need to score next if this is to be a contest in the second half.

5.34pm GMT

39 min: England hoick upfield. Wales run through a few phases near the halfway line. But they don’t really go anywhere and knock it back upfield themselves. Ford gathers and calls for the mark. A slow, careful stroke back up the park, and England will be more than happy with their nine-point advantage at the break.

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37 min: More of it.

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36 min: A lot of scrum faffing.

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35 min: Wales win their line-out and drive for the tryline. Heave! Adams tries to break through under the posts. England hold firm. Parkes has a look down the right, but there’s not a chink of light for him to zip through. And finally Lee drops and knocks the ball forward. What defence by England!

5.27pm GMT

34 min: Wales don’t go for the posts. Instead they send the penalty into touch for territory down the right. They’ll send the ball into a line-out, ten yards from the England tryline.

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33 min: Anscombe goes on a bit of a jig down the left. Then Gareth Davies tries to power his way through the middle. Wales make a bit of ground, and the English get handsy on the floor. Penalty. But before the kick can be taken, Farrell and Shingler get involved with each other on the floor, and soon enough everyone on both teams are brawling in the old-school style. Lovely. The crowd are very much enjoying this. A few harsh words in a few swollen ears - “You must calm down ... another scuffle and there will be two players on the bench” - and we’ll continue in a minute. A scuffle!

5.21pm GMT

30 min: Some midfield back and forth. Wales are slowly working their way into this game, after shipping those early tries. But they’re not spending much time in the England 22. Just 5% of the game has been played out down that end of the pitch.

5.17pm GMT

28 min: Wales win some turnover ball, Scott Williams looking to break down the right. But England strip it back! They hoof upfield. Patchell drops a shoulder to evade Joseph, a sign that his confidence may be growing a little after a shaky start.

5.16pm GMT

26 min: England, having perhaps got away with one there, go up the other end and park themselves in the Welsh 22 again. A few phases. But Wales dig in and eventually push England back into the midfield.

5.14pm GMT

Patchell clips over the sticks to get Wales on the board.

5.13pm GMT

23 min: Wales win their line-out and set themselves up inside the England 22. The England fans are Swinging Low. A wonderful atmosphere. They have penalty advantage. Patchell kicks towards the left corner. Steffan Evans knees the ball down the flank and over the try line. He’ll not get to the ball first to score. But it looks like Anscombe, chasing, gets his hand to it, ahead of Watson. The video ref reckons otherwise! Hmm. Wales will kick for the penalty instead, in front of the sticks.

5.09pm GMT

22 min: England go off feet, tight on the left touchline. Wales have a penalty, but they’re already a way behind, so kick for the corner and will go for the try.

5.08pm GMT

England have a penalty in their pocket, but they’re looking for the try. They shift it left, then right, then back again. Then a gorgeous chip to the left by Farrell. Launchbury claims, and takes two men with him as he drives towards the corner. Then he offloads, giving May, on the inside, his second try of the afternoon! Farrell’s conversion, tight on the touchline, is never missing.

5.05pm GMT

18 min: England line-out down the right. The ball’s flung with flair into the centre of the field, where England set up inside the 22. Ford threatens to sashay straight through the middle but is stopped ten yards out by Hill. England will continue to push; they’re up to a dozen phases.

5.03pm GMT

15 min: Half of the England team are already covered in purple dye. On-pitch sponsors NatWest are certainly getting their money’s worth. I hope they’re picking up the RFU’s laundry tab, it’s the least they can do.

5.01pm GMT

13 min: Scott Williams, who has team-mates nearby, goes it alone and tries to barge his way through Farrell down the left wing. Farrell stands firm and the ball’s knocked forward.

4.59pm GMT

11 min: England are kicking the ball hither and yon, Ford and Farrell taking turn to chip it through and get Wales on the back foot. England are dominating possession, and most of the game so far has been played out in Welsh territory.

4.57pm GMT

9 min: Another clever Farrell kick, this time a nick down the right, forces Wales to clear the ball into touch on the full. England line-out in good field position, near the Wales 22. But the line-out’s won by Wales, and the visitors clear their lines.

4.54pm GMT

7 min: Patchell gives the kick some proper welly, but it drifts off to the left. It’s been an eventful start for him. He could have done with it being a bit quieter.

4.53pm GMT

6 min: Patchell plays a loose pass under severe pressure from Ford. England briefly threaten to break in numbers down the left wing, but turns out they were offside. A penalty for Wales. Patchell will have a go from just inside the halfway line, against the breeze.

4.52pm GMT

4 min: Farrell can’t send the conversion between the sticks, the ball sailing off to the right. Ah well, he’s still in credit after setting up that fine try.

4.51pm GMT

Joseph gets to a high kick before Patchell, knocking it back down the right flank. Farrell sends an immediate diagonal kick towards the left, into acres. May races into it, gathers the ball, and tears 40 yards to the line! What a start for England ... and that’s a very clever kick by Farrell. So much for the fast Welsh start.

4.49pm GMT

2 min: The ball’s shuttled out to the left wing. Anscombe sends a grubber kick down the flank. Too hard, and Ford gathers. But that’s a lively start by the Welsh, who are playing into the breeze in this first half.

4.47pm GMT

Wales get the party started, Patchell making to kick down the right but switching the other way. England spill, Navidi forcing Watson into the mistake. Hartley goes into a tackle without using his arms, and Wales will put into a scrum just outside the England 22.

4.45pm GMT

Hymns and arias. The teams are out, England in white with red rose, Wales in red with white fleur-de-lis. First an emotional blast of Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau; then it’s God Save the Queen. Prince Harry giving it plenty in the cheap seats. The atmosphere at Twickenham is blistering; everyone’s been on the ale, to be fair. It’s rainy and dark: perfect Six Nations weather. We’ll be off in a minute!

4.34pm GMT

Eddie Jones speaks to ITV ... “We’ve just changed the order. JJ looked sharp. Ben Te’o played superbly for us last week, but the second game back from a long injury is always the most difficult, so we feel this is the right order this week. We’ve continued to work on our set piece and defence. Wales are a good side so we expect pressure from all areas.”

... as does Warren Gatland. “Leigh Halfpenny unfortunately picked up a foot infection, he wasn’t right to take the field. Gareth Anscombe has played a lot of rugby there so we are confident he’ll do a job. Rhys Patchell will do our kicking. We’ve got real depth.”

4.25pm GMT

There’s already been one big England-Wales clash today. That occurred at the Stoop, where England’s women thrashed the Welsh 52-0 in the Women’s Six Nations, teenage sensation Ellie Kildunne scoring the game’s standout try.

4.20pm GMT

Meanwhile Eddie Jones has been on BBC Radio defending his observations about Rhys Patchell: “Those comments are done and dusted. It would be easier for me to come on the BBC and say nothing. You ask me my opinion and I give my opinion. I don’t cross the line, I describe the game as I am asked and how I see it. I can’t take anything back now.”

4.17pm GMT

One change to the line-ups, and it’s bad news for Wales. Leigh Halfpenny isn’t fit to start at full back, so in comes Gareth Anscombe to take his place.

1.06pm GMT

Welcome to the big one, as England take on Rhys Patchell at Twickenham. That’s how Eddie Jones has styled it, right?

Hey, attempts to rattle inexperienced international fly-halves are neither here nor there. Meetings between these two old enemies require no ratcheting up. England are the current Six Nations champions and tournament favourites; Wales have just eviscerated a supposedly resurgent Scotland. England haven’t lost at Twickenham since Australia beat them at the last World Cup; Wales haven’t won there since beating England at the last World Cup. A beautiful symmetry seeing it’s possible that this one could decide this year’s championship. It’s on!

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Published on February 10, 2018 10:44

Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 Arsenal: Premier League – as it happened

Harry Kane’s towering header was the difference at rainy Wembley.

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That’s that! The whistle blows, and Tottenham Hotspur are deserved winners of the 195th north London derby thanks to Harry Kane’s towering header! A livid Wilshere tries to lock horns with a smiling Lamela, but the two are pulled apart quickly enough, and everyone soon departs for a hot bath after 90 rain-soaked minutes. It wasn’t much of a first half, but Spurs were by some distance the better team in the second, even if Arsenal had a couple of chances to snatch something right at the end. Tottenham go into third place, seven points clear of their bitter rivals, who stay stuck in sixth. A top-four finish for Arsenal isn’t a pipe dream yet - it’s still only February - but they’ll need to keep going in the Europa League, just in case.

2.21pm GMT

90 min +5: A long ball by Arsenal. Welbeck brings it down to the left of the D. Dembele hangs out a leg. Welbeck doesn’t need asking twice. He goes over it. Free kick. Ozil takes, but blasts it straight into the wall! Arsenal have had their chances to equalise in injury time, but that is surely that!

2.19pm GMT

90 min +3: Arsenal so nearly snatch a draw! Iwobi, from deep, slides a pass down the inside-right for Lacazette, who zips past a confused Sanchez and into the box. He enters the area and beats Lloris with his low shot, but the ball squeaks past the left-hand post and out for a goal kick! What a chance that was!

2.17pm GMT

90 min +2: Space for Aubameyang out on the left. He’s got Lacazette and Welbeck in the box, but slices his cross behind for a goal kick.

2.17pm GMT

90 min +1: Bellerin romps down the right and loops long. The ball’s dropping perfectly for Lacazette, in the box to the left of goal, 12 yards out. A great chance, but he balloons a dreadful volley over the bar. Not the easiest chance, but not the hardest to get at least on target for a striker of his quality.

2.16pm GMT

90 min: There will be four added minutes.

2.15pm GMT

89 min: Lamela is set free down the inside-left channel by a simple long ball from Davies. He looked offside, but there’s no flag, and he’s clear in the box! But from a tight angle, he drags his shot across the face of goal. Spurs have wasted some chances since going ahead.

2.14pm GMT

88 min: It’s still pelting down at Wembley. Ozil tries to set Monreal away into space down the left, but the ball skids off the turf and out for a goal kick.

2.12pm GMT

86 min: Arsenal are really going for it now: Welbeck comes on for Xhaka. And then Aubameyang wins a corner for the Gunners down the left. A rare chance to worry Spurs. But Trippier heads the set piece clear. Wilshere tries to release Welbeck by returning the ball down the left; sadly for the visitors, Welbeck can’t sort his feet out to trap, and the pass trundles through to Lloris.

2.10pm GMT

85 min: Before it can be taken, Alli is replaced by Wanyama. Alli doesn’t rush off, making his sweet way in the professional style. The corner comes to nothing.

2.09pm GMT

84 min: Kane bothers Monreal down the Spurs right, and earns a corner he had no right to win.

2.08pm GMT

82 min: Ozil drops deep and slips a pass down the left for Aubameyang, who opens his legs and tears goalwards. The flag goes up again, and this time there’s absolutely no debate: he’s offside.

2.06pm GMT

80 min: Some space for Lacazette down the right. He’s flagged for offside, having been far too eager. He shakes his head sadly. Arsenal will fall seven points behind Tottenham if they fail to get it together in the next ten minutes or so.

2.04pm GMT

79 min: Lamela is booked for a clip on Wilshere’s ankles. He looks incensed at the decision, but the referee had little choice: it was a clumsy sliding tackle, and late.

2.03pm GMT

77 min: A little bit of possession in the middle of the park for Arsenal. It steadies the ship - Spurs aren’t attacking - but time’s not on their side. They need to step it up a bit, and quickly.

2.02pm GMT

75 min: Arsenal are doing nothing up front, despite all their attackers. Spurs are the only ones who look like scoring. Eriksen dances down the left. He scoops a cross to the far post, where Tripper is racing in at speed. He meets the ball ten yards out, and batters a fine shot goalwards. But while Cech’s kicking has left a lot to be desired, he’s making some fine saves, and here’s another. He’s keeping Arsenal in this, almost single-handedly.

1.59pm GMT

73 min: The resulting corner comes to nought. Mustafi has been booked, meanwhile, for bothering Vertonghen in the physical style.

1.59pm GMT

72 min: Lamela dances down the right and shoots from a tight angle. Cech does very well to turn it around the post. How many chances are Spurs going to turn down? Having said that, the Arsenal goal is leading a very charmed life right now.

1.58pm GMT

71 min: Cech really needs to get rid of the clown boots he’s recently started wearing. He pings a pass to his right, intended for Mustafi. It goes straight to Alli, who very nearly takes it under control. Not quite: the ball breaks out for a goal kick. And then Arsenal overplay in defence again, Lamela picking up possession and releasing Alli down the middle with a clever flick. Alli nips it past the advancing Cech, but the ball bounces wide right of the empty net.

1.56pm GMT

70 min: Alli sashays in from the right and rolls a pass towards Son on the left-hand edge of the Arsenal D. Son looks to curl one into the top right, a first-time effort. It’s wild, wide, high, and his last input into today’s story. He’s replaced by Lamela.

1.54pm GMT

68 min: And now a reminder that, for all Tottenham’s dominance, there’s still only one goal in it. Wilshere takes a touch on the edge of the Spurs D, and turning to his left, swishes a magnificent shot towards the top left. Lloris gets behind it, saving wonderfully. Great football all round.

1.53pm GMT

67 min: Kane sends a pass towards Son down the left. Son can’t take the ball with him as he tears down the channel. Had he managed to do so, Arsenal were in a heap of trouble.

1.51pm GMT

65 min: Wenger rolls the dice. Iwobi and Lacazette come on; Elneny and Mkhitaryan make way. Arsenal are going for it. Lacazette’s first act is to be caught offside while fiddling with his socks!

1.49pm GMT

64 min: Xhaka clears the corner. But Arsenal can’t continue like this. It’s attack versus defence at the moment.

1.49pm GMT

63 min: Cech punches the corner clear, then catches the ball as Eriksen sends it in the box once more. Arsenal are holding on a little here. They’ve done nothing of note since the break. And it looks like there’s movement on the bench. But first, another Spurs corner, this time from the right.

1.48pm GMT

62 min: Eriksen takes. Son, at the near post, tries to back-flick an effort into the bottom left. Spurs make do with the corner.

1.47pm GMT

61 min: Arsenal desperately need something. A top-four finish is increasingly looking like a pipe dream. They can’t afford to fall seven points behind Spurs, who are moving into third spot this afternoon if they can keep a hold of their lead. Out on the Spurs left, Mustafi clips Alli to the ground. A pointless foul, as Alli was going nowhere. And it’s a chance for the home side to load the box.

1.45pm GMT

59 min: Apparently Wenger was claiming Kane fouled Koscielny as he Nat Lofthoused that header into the net. But replays suggest it was a fair aerial battle. Wembley is bursting with noise, incidentally. The home fans are enjoying this.

1.43pm GMT

57 min: Eriksen curls powerfully over the Arsenal wall and towards the top left. It’s heading in, so that’s a fine save by Cech, who fingertips over at full stretch. The corner from the left is sent deep, and Vertonghen heads wide right from close range. Chance.

1.41pm GMT

56 min: Son is brought down to the left of the D by a hectic lunge from Bellerin. This is a dangerous free kick in Eriksen Country.

1.41pm GMT

54 min: The corner is no use. But Spurs have come out for the second half flying. They’ve enjoyed 72% possession since the goal.

1.40pm GMT

53 min: Mkhitaryan is flagged offside down the Arsenal left. Spurs take the free kick quickly, and storm up the other end. Tripper makes himself space down the right, and scoops a cross into the middle. On the edge of the box: Mr Harry Kane, who meets the dropping ball with a screeching volley. It’s straight at Cech, who parries well. The rebound nearly falls for Son, but Spurs will have to make do with a corner.

1.37pm GMT

51 min: And it’s nearly two. Dier loops in from the right. Kane, on the penalty spot, heads down towards the bottom left. It’s inches wide! He should have scored, if we’re being harsh. But the header for the goal was so good, Spurs fans will forgive him everything.

1.36pm GMT

This is really simple. Davies romps down the left and curls in. Kane, on the penalty spot, rises above Koscielny and plants a header past a flat-footed Cech and into the bottom left. But what a cross. And what a header! Perfectly placed. Cech had no chance. Majestic.

1.34pm GMT

48 min: Cech, the ball at his feet, drops a shoulder and very nearly replicates his Swansea mistake. Kane very nearly nicks the ball off him, but Cech somehow gets out of the pocket and hacks clear.

1.32pm GMT

46 min: Spurs like to start quickly - just ask Manchester United - and they nearly catch Arsenal cold here. Alli should probably shoot from the edge of the box - he’s got time and space - but opts to slip the ball left for Son, with a snoozing Arsenal light at the back. Bellerin gets over to hassle Son, though, and the chance to work Cech is gone.

1.31pm GMT

And we’re off again! According to the good folk of BT Sport, there’s only been one goalless draw in the last 46 matches between these two sides. So here’s hoping. Spurs get the second half underway.

1.18pm GMT

Live action in lieu of football:

1.17pm GMT

And that’s that for a half in which Aubameyang was harshly flagged offside when through on goal, and Kane missed a very good chance. Otherwise, not a great deal to report. Never mind, there’s another 45 minutes to come!

1.14pm GMT

44 min: Dembele comes through the back of Wilshere. But lightly, and gets away with it. A free kick in the midfield, nothing more, though you’ve seen yellow cards awarded.

1.12pm GMT

42 min: Mustafi rakes a long ball down the right, in the hope of releasing Ozil towards the penalty area. Cech gathers. This half is petering out.

1.10pm GMT

40 min: Bellerin has a dig from 25 yards on the right. Not quite. But it’s worth a shot. The keepers haven’t had much to do.

1.10pm GMT

39 min: Ozil, dribbling down the inside right, scoops left for Monreal, who looks for Aubameyang in the middle. But his cross is cut out by Sanchez, who miscues his clearance but somehow gets the ball back to Lloris in the end.

1.08pm GMT

38 min: Mustafi tries to hoick the ball upfield along the Arsenal right, but only manages to handle it. Free kick, and a chance for Tottenham to load the box. Eriksen curls it into the mixer. Mustafi makes good by winning the clearing header, and Kane had roamed offside anyway.

1.07pm GMT

37 min: Eriksen tries to release Son down the left, but his pass along the channel skims off the turf and flies out for a goal kick. It’s becoming that sort of game.

1.06pm GMT

36 min: It’s gone scrappy again. Two-pass sequences at a premium.

1.05pm GMT

34 min: Arsenal press Spurs back. Wilshere makes towards the area, and thinks about shooting. He may as well have, because he passed left for Mkhitaryan, who entered the box then ballooned a very strange cross out of play on the right. A chance to trouble Spurs spurned.

1.02pm GMT

32 min: The rain is pelting down now. Eriksen shovels a pass down the left, in the hope of releasing Kane into the area, but Mustafi comes across to snuff out the danger.

1.01pm GMT

31 min: Kane passes down the left for Alli, who scampers into space. Eriksen is busting a gut down the centre to get into the Arsenal box. But he can’t make it there quickly enough, and Alli’s eventual cross is easily snaffled by Cech.

1.00pm GMT

29 min: Another corner for Spurs on the left. They’re having a lot of joy down that flank. Arsenal only half clear the set piece, and it falls to Dembele on the edge of the area. He shoots. But no Wanyama he. A dribbler ends up in Cech’s arms.

12.58pm GMT

27 min: What a miss by Harry Kane! Eriksen whips a cross into the Arsenal box from the left. Kane beats the last man and meets it with his head, six yards out. But he clangs it over the bar. The cross was travelling some, but Kane’s a world-class finisher so that counts as a poor miss. His reaction suggests he’d agree: he looks sheepishly over to the linesman, in the hope of being flagged offside. But there’s no flag, and it would have counted.

12.56pm GMT

25 min: Vertonghen spreads a pass wide right for Trippier, who hooks into the Arsenal box. From a position level with the right-hand post, 12 yards out, Eriksen looks to flick a clever header over Cech and into the top left. He doesn’t quite get enough loop on it, and Cech claims.

12.54pm GMT

23 min: The pace has slowed considerably. Another lull. Mkhitaryan shanks a pass out of play on the left. All of a sudden, it’s all a bit disjointed.

12.52pm GMT

21 min: Dembele sells Vertonghen short in the midfield. Wilshere nicks possession. For a second, Spurs are light at the back as Arsenal stream forward. But the move quickly loses momentum, there’s too much hesitation all round, and eventually Mkhitaryan sends a dismal cross in from the left. Far too long, and the danger is gone.

12.49pm GMT

19 min: Bellerin makes good down the right and his cross is deflected towards Wilshere on the edge of the box. Chance for a shot, but Wilshere takes a fresh-air swipe, much to the delight of the home fans.

12.48pm GMT

18 min: Son has a bash from 25 yards out on the left, Spurs having latched onto a poor Mustafi clearance. The shot’s not up to much, dribbling towards the bottom left. Cech smothers.

12.47pm GMT

17 min: Then they suddenly break forward, Alli and Son taking turns to dribble with purpose down the left. Bellerin holds them up, a difficult job done well.

12.46pm GMT

16 min: The first slight lull in the game, as Spurs stroke it around the middle in the sterile fashion.

12.45pm GMT

14 min: Another corner for Spurs out on the left. This one’s lumped into the mixer in the no-nonsense style. Dier rises highest to meet it, but can only flash a header wide right from ten yards. Never troubling Cech’s goal. Good luck calling the opening goal in this match: both teams are playing on the front foot.

12.43pm GMT

12 min: Wilshere, dropping deep down the right, plays a stunning reverse pass down the flank to release Aubameyang on goal! That’s a glorious threaded pass, and Spurs are split in two. But the flag goes up. That decision was very tight. In fact Aubameyang looked level. Most would certainly give the benefit of the doubt to the attacker, put it that way. But to be fair, Aubameyang doesn’t complain.

12.41pm GMT

10 min: Arsenal go straight up the other end, Mkhitaryan looping a cross into the Spurs box from the left. It’s too strong for Ozil to get on the end of. Close, though. This is a highly entertaining end-to-end start, both sides looking very dangerous on the counter.

12.40pm GMT

9 min: Now it’s Tottenham’s turn to stream forward. Alli goes down the inside-left and bursts into the box. His low cross, meant for Kane in the centre, is poked out of play by Mustafi. That’s fine last-ditch defending. The corner is shuttled back up the left wing for Alli, who attempts an elaborate curler into the top right. Nope. Cech claims with a yawn.

12.38pm GMT

7 min: From the poor Spurs corner, Arsenal break, and Ozil should really find either Mkhitaryan or Aubameyang with a long pass forward. He doesn’t, though. As Spurs had only one man back, the misplaced pass counts as a great chance spurned.

12.36pm GMT

6 min: Son goes tearing down the left and very nearly works space to cross. Not quite. No worries, he soon goes again, a stepover confusing Bellerin. He wins a corner. The delivery is no good at all.

12.35pm GMT

4 min: And Spurs will have their work cut out keeping Aubameyang quiet. He scampers after what looks like a lost cause down the right, yet wins a corner off a slightly dozy Sanchez. The set piece comes to nothing, but the striker’s given Sanchez notice of a difficult afternoon to come.

12.34pm GMT

3 min: Son causes Arsenal some momentary panic down the left. He was brilliant down that flank on Wednesday night. Only Newport, you might say. But then Son is brilliant pretty much against everyone. Arsenal will have their work cut out keeping him quiet.

12.32pm GMT

2 min: A long ball for Alli to chase. Koscielny makes sure there’s no joy for Spurs, though Arsenal looked light at the back for a split second. A nice open start. A small sample, but the early exchanges suggest both teams are looking to attack, attack, attack.

12.31pm GMT

And we’re off! A huge roar greets the kick-off as Arsenal get the party started. Wembley is bouncing. The visitors stroke it around the back a bit, all the defenders getting a touch. Then for a second there’s a bit of space for Monreal to break into down the left, but Eriksen is quickly over to close him down. Lloris has the ball in his hands soon enough.

12.27pm GMT

The teams are out at Wembley! It’s a dreich February day, but the atmosphere is red hot. It’s one of the classic fixtures in the English football calendar, and there’s a look to match: Tottenham wear their famous lilywhite shirts and dark blue shorts, while Arsenal sport those storied red tops with white sleeves and white breeks. Everybody gorgeous. Friendly handshakes all round; let’s see how long that lasts. We’ll be off in a minute!

12.00pm GMT

Pre-match reading:

11.56am GMT

Mauricio Pochettino speaks! “Always we try to decide the best player for every game. But the team played so well against Manchester United and Liverpool, I could go in with the same players. I can trust them. Toby Alderweireld needs to build fitness, it is so important to have Alderweireld, but it is about level of fitness and who is ready to compete in big games. There is no doubt that the team that is going to play is the best team. It is difficult for Lucas Moura, arriving from a different league to adapt. He must build his fitness and get to know his team-mates. If he can contribute and help us, fantastic; if not, he can wait to show his quality.”

11.51am GMT

Arsene Wenger speaks! “It is more than just a north London derby, it has big importance in the table. We have some ground to make up. We have an opportunity to do it today, and we want to show we are capable to do it. Aaron Ramsey is injured and could not participate. We are an attacking team, bit I have put one more defensive midfielder in. Jack Wilshere was sick but I hope he is back to his level, he had a good training week. But we only know during competition.”

11.41am GMT

Tottenham Hotspur gave their side a good old shoogle on Wednesday against League Two Newport County in the cup, so perhaps it’s more instructive to compare today’s starting XI to the one sent out at Anfield last week. And if it ain’t broke ... Mauricio Pochettino names the same team that performed so brilliantly in the second half against Liverpool on Sunday. Meanwhile the new £23m winger Lucas Moura is on the bench, chomping at the bit.

Arsenal make two changes to the side that swatted aside Everton in 19 minutes last Saturday. Alex Iwobi drops to the bench while hat-trick hero Aaron Ramsey misses out altogether. In come Mohamed Elneny and Jack Wilshere. Petr Cech had been a doubt with a calf injury but he’s passed the test.

11.31am GMT

Tottenham Hotspur: Lloris, Trippier, Sanchez, Vertonghen, Davies, Dier, Dembele, Alli, Eriksen, Kane, Son.
Subs: Rose, Lamela, Wanyama, Vorm, Sissoko, Aurier, Lucas Moura.

Arsenal: Cech, Bellerin, Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal, Elneny, Xhaka, Ozil, Wilshere, Mkhitaryan, Aubameyang.
Subs: Lacazette, Ospina, Iwobi, Chambers, Welbeck, Maitland-Niles, Kolasinac.

2.03pm GMT

Welcome to the first North London derby at Wembley for a quarter of a century. Back in April 1993, Tony Adams headed home Paul Merson’s cross with 11 minutes of a dour FA Cup semi-final remaining. Arsenal’s 1-0 win avenged Tottenham’s famous Paul Gascoigne inspired victory at the same stage two years earlier. It’s been a while.

The great rivals head west today in great heart. Tottenham have made the national stadium home, and haven’t lost there since a weird second-half League Cup capitulation to West Ham back in October. They’re fifth in the table, unbeaten since mid December, and recently scored a goal in 10.48 seconds against a defence tutored by Jose Mourinho. Lucas Moura could make his debut today. Spirits are high.

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Published on February 10, 2018 06:29

February 8, 2018

The Joy of Six: Aston Villa v Birmingham City memories | Scott Murray

Bitter rivalry, free-scoring marksmen, stretchers, rage and Peter Enckelman: half a dozen Second City derby stories

Villa dominated the Football League during its Victorian infancy – they racked up five titles by 1900 – so their early command of the Birmingham scene is no great surprise. In November 1887, they met the club that would become bitter city rivals in serious competition for the first time: Small Heath Alliance were dispatched 4-0 in the FA Cup second round. It was payback for the first friendly between the clubs in 1879, which Alliance won 1-0 at their Muntz Street ground. Villa – already a grand, bordering on aristocratic, institution despite being just four years and nine months old – complained bitterly that the pitch was full of holes.

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Published on February 08, 2018 02:24

February 7, 2018

Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 Newport County: FA Cup fourth round replay – as it happened

Spurs saw off League Two Newport without much fuss.

9.56pm GMT

David Hytner’s match report

9.40pm GMT

And that’s that! Spurs are through to the fifth round in a fuss-free manner. They didn’t put on a show, but then they didn’t have to. Newport put in a decent performance, and their pride remains intact. But all of the drama was played out at Rodney Parade. No matter, as their fans celebrate anyway. They made it to Wembley in the FA Cup, after all!

9.38pm GMT

90 min +3: Spurs must think the whistle’s already gone, because now Newport’s first-leg hero races free on goal down the inside-right channel! But his shot is weak and straight at Vorm.

9.37pm GMT

90 min +2: Corner for Newport down the right. One last holler of celebration from the home fans. McCoulsky rises high at the far post and connects with a header, but it’s blocked.

9.35pm GMT

90 min: Sissoko takes a shot that flies straight up into the sky, eight miles high. It’s been that sort of evening. There will be three added minutes.

9.33pm GMT

88 min: Corner for Spurs down the right. Llorente tries to win a header, but nothing’s working for him. Another corner, the second a total non-event.

9.32pm GMT

87 min: Aurier breezes down the right, then checks to send Butler off to the wrong fire. He chips across for Alli, who chests down and shoots for the bottom left. Day saves well.

9.30pm GMT

86 min: Walker-Peters replaces Rose.

9.29pm GMT

84 min: The chances Spurs have wasted in the last few minutes! If Newport were to somehow find a goal - they’ve had one effort on target all evening - Tottenham knees might start a-knocking.

9.28pm GMT

83 min: Eriksen splits Newport in half with a stunning pass down the middle of the park. He’s sent Alli scurrying towards the Newport box, free. He’s got to score, but leans back and in looking for the top right, smashes his shot off the top of the bar!

9.26pm GMT

81 min: Eriksen decides to do it himself this time, bursting down the inside right and looking to float one over Day and into the top left. Day fingertips it away marvellously.

9.24pm GMT

79 min: Eriksen, quarterbacking from deep, releases Llorente into the area down the inside left. Llorente meets the dropping ball first time, creaming a shot millimetres wide of the right-hand post. That would have looked so pretty had it gone in; sadly it goes down as a bad miss. It’s a thin line.

9.22pm GMT

78 min: Alli comes on for Wanyama.

9.22pm GMT

77 min: O’Brien comes on for White.

9.21pm GMT

76 min: Spurs knock it around for an age. Then suddenly Lamela chips through for Llorente, who races in from the right. Llorente heads down towards the bottom left. He beates Day, but also the left-hand post. The flag goes up for offside, though Labadie was playing him on.

9.18pm GMT

73 min: Winks, deep on the right, loops long for Sissoko on the left-hand corner of the six-yard box. Sissoko delivers neither cross nor shot, and he’s offside anyway.

9.17pm GMT

72 min: Foyth slides into the back of Labadie, next to the left-hand corner flag. A free kick, and a chance to load the box. Willmott floats it in. Foyth heads clear. Dolan returns it. Vorm punches away from danger. A rare period of pressure applied by Newport.

9.15pm GMT

70 min: Spurs stroke it around the back awhile, happy to let the clock tick down. Newport chase and harry, but never threaten to nick the ball.

9.13pm GMT

68 min: Rose bursts down the left, reaches the byline, and pulls back for Eriksen, whose first-time shot flies inches wide of the left-hand post. Spurs are beginning to seriously threaten again.

9.13pm GMT

67 min: Pipe clatters clumsily into Eriksen and is lucky to escape a booking. No matter, he’s got a tight hamstring anyway, and is replaced by McCoulsky.

9.12pm GMT

66 min: Spurs go straight up the other end and nearly find a third, Lamela and Llorente barrelling down the middle, Newport light at the back. Lamela enters the box one on one with Day, but slips as he tries to chip the keeper. Goal kick.

9.10pm GMT

65 min: Newport are holding firm at the back - this isn’t threatening to turn into a Notts County style capitulation - but neither are they threatening to nick a goal. Dolan sends Nouble off down the left with a fine pass, but the winger runs out of space and that’s a goal kick.

9.08pm GMT

62 min: Eriksen’s immediately involved, sending Llorente down the inside-left channel with a fast reverse pass, then nearly working space to shoot on the edge of the box as the move developed.

9.06pm GMT

61 min: Son has been superb tonight. But his race is run. He’s replaced by Eriksen, not a bad swap at all.

9.05pm GMT

60 min: Pipe steps across Rose to win a ball near his own corner flag on the left. It’s a fairly obvious foul, though Rose makes sure with a theatrical tumble. Pipe grins at his sauce. The free kick, essentially a corner, comes to nought.

9.04pm GMT

59 min: Son flicks Aurier into space down the right. A low cross leads to some pinball in the box. Newport survive. Tozer is then replaced by Dolan.

9.02pm GMT

57 min: Son wins a corner down the left, though he’s crunched (fairly) by Pipe for his pains. The corner’s met by Wanyama on the penalty spot, but his down-and-up header’s straight at Day.

9.01pm GMT

55 min: Nouble jinks between Aurier and Sissoko down the left and for a second looks like breaking clear into the box. He’s eventually crowded out of it, but that was a purposeful and entertaining sortie.

8.58pm GMT

54 min: Lamela curls a high one straight into the gloves of Day. There’s not much dramatic tension at Wembley, what can you do.

8.57pm GMT

53 min: Sissoko romps down the right and earns another corner. Spurs take an age to load the box.

8.57pm GMT

51 min: Bennett rakes a pass down the right for Amond to chase. It’s a futile gambol. Spurs go up the other end but lose control. The ball ends up at the feet of Day, who miskicks horribly, but his duffed kick somehow evades both Son and Llorente. Newport took a sharp collective intake of breath there.

8.54pm GMT

50 min: Lamela dances down the middle of the park and flicks the ball to Son on his right. Son, just inside the Newport area, checks back inside and shoots hard - and straight into Demetriou.

8.54pm GMT

49 min: They do nothing with it. A quiet start to the second 45.

8.53pm GMT

48 min: Spurs earn the first corner of the second half down the right.

8.52pm GMT

Here we go again! Tottenham start the second half. At half-time, the great Cliff Jones - an FA Cup winner in 1961, 1962 and 1967 - was presented with his 83rd birthday cake. Rose gives him a tip of the hat by going on a baroque dribble down the left wing. He gets as far as the corner of the six-yard box, but can’t fashion space to shoot, and can’t find a team-mate.

8.35pm GMT

Half-time reading:

8.34pm GMT

And that’s that for the first half. Newport started well, but Spurs turned up the heat and here we are. As things stand, the eight-time winners are off to Rochdale in the fifth round.

8.32pm GMT

45 min: Nouble goes down in great pain. Understandably so: Aurier has stepped on his foot with some force as the pair contested a 50-50 ball. But it was accidental. No punishment is forthcoming.

8.31pm GMT

44 min: Wanyama, perhaps encouraged by his worldie last Sunday, has another go from 30 yards. This one is a nonsense. But he’ll always have Anfield.

8.30pm GMT

42 min: Nouble surges down the left in a rare Newport attack. He reaches the byline and pulls the ball back into the Spurs box. Wanyama slides in and half-sits on the ball. Labadie claims a hand ball, but he’s not getting the decision. And correctly so. The ball was nowhere near Wanyama’s hand, but dangerously close to clattering into his special place. Spurs clear. Just for a second, though, it looked as though Newport had opened the hosts up.

8.27pm GMT

41 min: It’s an attack versus defence session now. Those opening exchanges seem an awfully long time ago. Son sashays in from the left and whips a fierce shot goalwards from the edge of the box. Day claims well.

8.25pm GMT

39 min: Son has Pipe on toast. He zips past him with ease, reaching the byline and skelping a low ball towards Llorente at the near post. Day does extremely well to claim before the striker can flick home from close range.

8.24pm GMT

37 min: Willmott is booked for bringing down a scampering Rose. A free kick just to the left of the Newport box. Son blasts it straight into the wall.

8.23pm GMT

36 min: Newport respond by winning a throw deep in Spurs territory down the left. They load the box, but it’s an exercise in futility, because Tozer loses grip of the moist ball and his throw flies harmlessly straight up into the air. Spurs clear.

8.21pm GMT

And now that dominance is reflected in the scoreline. Son dribbles down the inside left, drawing three Newport men towards him. He flicks inside for Lamela, who enters the box, takes a touch to the left, then gently caresses the ball past the advancing Day and into the net. A very pretty goal! Spurs will be travelling to Rochdale in the fifth round unless something very strange happens.

8.19pm GMT

33 min: Rose turns the ball inside from the left to find Llorente. The big striker shuttles it further infield instantly. Son latches onto it, and makes for the box, fizzing a fine effort just wide left. After a very slow start, Spurs are totally dominant now.

8.18pm GMT

31 min: A brilliant double save by Day! First he parries a vicious volley by Lamela. Then Son picks up the rebound and tries to fire one low and hard into the bottom right corner from a tight angle. Day gets down quickly to parry that one too. Superb goalkeeping to keep Spurs from scoring what will surely be a tie-settling second.

8.16pm GMT

29 min: Rose is bundled over near the Newport area again. He’s got a face on, perhaps wondering what he has to do to buy a decision. The ref’s not interested in that one either.

8.15pm GMT

28 min: Rose cuts in from the left and falls to the floor in the box under pressure from Willmott. You’ve seen them given ... but not by this referee, and not by the VAR either.

8.14pm GMT

27 min: The goal was fortunate, but a result of Spurs ratcheting it up a gear or two. And they’re not done yet. They win a corner down the right. The ball’s lumped into the mixer. Neither Llorente nor Winks can get on the end of it. Newport clear.

8.13pm GMT

When the goal came, it was a total fluke. Llorente, on the edge of the box, slips the ball wide right for Aurier, who fires it back into the box low and hard. Butler, the Phil Jones de nos jours, gets his feet all wrong, the ball clipping his heel and flying into the bottom right, his keeper going the other way in anticipation of the cross.

8.11pm GMT

24 min: Aurier floats a ball in from the right. Llorente rises to head down. Lamela, his back to goal on the edge of the six-yard box, goes for the overhead. He only manages to clatter Tozer. Spurs aren’t quite clicking yet, but finally there are signs of life up front.

8.10pm GMT

22 min: It’s all a bit scrappy so far. Newport will be delighted, having denied Tottenham any rhythm. A sudden burst as Son lays off to the right for Sissoko, who hits deep towards Rose coming in from the other flank. Rose rustles the side netting with a volley. It’s the closest Spurs have come so far.

8.07pm GMT

20 min: Winks has injured himself while sliding in for a loose ball with Nouble. The Newport man didn’t make a move towards his opponent, it was all Winks’ own doing. Looks like he’ll be OK, but for a second Winks was grimacing quite a lot. Relief for Spurs.

8.05pm GMT

18 min: Spurs win their first corner of the evening out on the left. The ball ends up on the other flank, where Aurier tries to tear into space. He’s upended by Nouble. A free kick, and it probably should be a booking, but the Newport man gets away with it. The set piece comes to nothing, Demetriou dealing with the high ball.

8.04pm GMT

17 min: Wanyama strokes a ball down the inside-left channel for Sissoko, who strides into the box. Pipe comes across him, a 50-50 challenge which causes Sissoko to stumble. He tries to stay on his feet but eventually goes over. There’s a half-hearted claim for a penalty, but there’s nothing doing.

8.02pm GMT

15 min: Bennett wedges a pass down the left for Amond. Foyth should usher the ball out for a goal kick, but Amond is such a nuisance that Foyth is panicked into playing it, and nearly concedes a corner, then possession. He eventually clears. Newport are contesting everything, and at the moment Spurs aren’t 100 percent comfortable with all the attention.

8.00pm GMT

13 min: Now there’s a long throw lanced into the Spurs box from the right. Demetriou wins the header, but it floats harmlessly into the arms of Vorm. It’s a really bright start by the League Two side, this.

7.59pm GMT

12 min: Willmott, out on the right, swings a high ball into the Spurs area. Amond rises above Alderweireld and Foyth, blasting his header well over the bar from eight yards. He’d have surely been flagged offside had he got that on target. Even so, that’s very promising for Newport, who don’t look cowed by Wembley at all.

7.57pm GMT

10 min: Son again troubles Pipe down the left. He squeaks a shot towards the bottom left. Day should gather, but fumbles nervously. Pipe just about hacks clear with Son still hovering. Neither team have quite found their rhythm yet, though you can bet your bottom dollar Newport are the happier right now.

7.55pm GMT

8 min: Willmott blooters the free kick straight into the Spurs wall. What a waste.

7.55pm GMT

7 min: The travelling fans continue to fill Wembley with FA Cup noise. Spurs really haven’t settled. Foyth plays a hospital pass to Wanyama. Labadie nips in. Wanyama is forced to bring him down, 25 yards from goal. That’ll be a booking for the Spurs man.

7.52pm GMT

5 min: Vorm faffs about with the ball at his feet, and Amond very nearly embarrasses him with his high-energy press. Just for a second ... just for a second ... but the ball’s whacked away from the danger zone soon enough. Newport are impressively on the front foot in these early stages. They haven’t let Spurs settle. Yet.

7.50pm GMT

3 min: And now Spurs launch their first attack. Sissoko strokes the ball wide left for Son, who seriously worries a frantically backtracking Pipe with a tricky jig down the flank. But Pipe does just about enough. Son enters the area and lashes a wild effort high and wide from a tight angle.

7.49pm GMT

2 min: Newport are pressing Spurs hard. Amond, the goalscorer in the original tie, finds a bit of space down the left but his cross is aimless and easily cleared by Alderweireld, who eases himself back into first-team action.

7.47pm GMT

And we’re off! Newport get the ball rolling. Their 7,500-strong support are giving it plenty. And their team have managed to hold out for longer than Manchester United did the other week. So that’s one box ticked already.

7.43pm GMT

The teams are out! Spurs wear lilywhite and blue, Newport gold and black. Wembley isn’t quite at capacity, but the Newport fans are here in number. And there’s a fine FA Cup atmosphere regardless. We’ll be off in a minute!

7.34pm GMT

A clean-shaven Mauricio Pochettino speaks ahead of his 200th game as Spurs boss. “This is why I look so fresh! It is amazing to be here for 200 games, I hope to be here for many more. It is so important for us, this game. Newport deserve to be here because they were good in the first game. But now it is important for us to get to the next stage. If you see our starting XI, nine players have played in the Champions League. It is a very competitive team. They are ready to fight for a place in other competitions too.”

6.54pm GMT

Tottenham make six changes to the XI named at Rodney Parade a couple of weekends ago. The new faces: Serge Aurier, Toby Alderweireld, Danny Rose, Harry Winks, Erik Lamela and Heung-Min Son. Making way: Kieran Trippier, Jan Vertonghen, Kyle Walker-Peters, Eric Dier, Mousa Dembele and Harry Kane. Alderweireld is making his first appearance since early November, when Spurs saw off Real Madrid.

Newport however are operating an if-it-ain’t-broke policy. No changes to the team that came so close of knocking Spurs out. They’ve earned a run-out at Wembley.

6.47pm GMT

Tottenham Hotspur: Vorm, Aurier, Alderweireld, Foyth, Rose, Wanyama, Winks, Sissoko, Lamela, Son, Llorente.
Subs: Gazzaniga, Trippier, Sanchez, Walker-Peters, Eriksen, Alli, Kane.

Newport County: Day, Pipe, White, Demetriou, Butler, Tozer, Bennett, Labadie, Willmott, Nouble, Amond.
Subs: Bittner, Dolan, McCoulsky, Reid, O’Brien, Sheehan, Hayes.

11.44am GMT

Newport County have defeated top-flight opposition in fourth-round-replay business before. Back in 1949, they travelled to Leeds Road, home of struggling First Division outfit Huddersfield Town, as a Third Division (South) side and won 3-1. Eddie Carr - who had made a fleeting contribution to Arsenal’s 1937-38 title win - was Newport’s two-goal hero, though this is an upset that’s been somewhat overshadowed historically by non-league Yeovil’s famous win over Len Shackelton’s Sunderland, a seismic shock that had occurred seven days previously (and from which the Black Cats have arguably still not recovered, though that’s a discussion for another day).

Anyway, so Newport have form. They also - perhaps more pertinently, we’ll admit - very nearly turned Spurs over at Rodney Parade a couple of Saturdays ago. Newport were eight minutes away from recording the biggest shock in years, thanks to Pádraig Amond’s first-half header. But Harry Kane spoilt the party, and here we all are today, back at Wembley.

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Published on February 07, 2018 13:41

February 6, 2018

FA Cup clockwatch: Swansea City 8-1 Notts County and more – as it happened

Swansea ran up their record FA Cup score to swan into the fifth round. Rochdale and Huddersfield joined them.

Match report: Swansea City 8-1 Notts County Match report: Birmingham City 1-4 Huddersfield Town

10.17pm GMT

Three games, 15 goals; yes, you’ve got to love the old FA Cup. A great night for Swansea City, Rochdale and Huddersfield Town, one to forget certainly for Notts County. Just the one fourth-round tie remains: can Newport County go to Wembley and knock the eight-time winners Tottenham Hotspur out? Join us tomorrow evening on the MBM to find out.

10.14pm GMT

And that’s that! The referee blows his whistle, a fountain of slush jets out of it, and Huddersfield will host Manchester United in the fifth round.

10.07pm GMT

I wonder if this will clear out Huddersfield’s pipes? They’d only scored two goals in their previous five matches. Now they’ve rediscovered their mojo, and in some style, just in time for the visit of Bournemouth at the weekend. They’ve set up a fifth-round tie with 12-time winners Manchester United, but this win could end up having just as much significance in their Premier League survival campaign.

10.02pm GMT

Tom Ince, whose speculative shot turned this tie around for Town, gets on the scoresheet by wheeching one into the bottom right.

10.00pm GMT

Meanwhile it’s half time in extra time at St Andrew’s. Huddersfield really turned on the gas in the first 15 of the 30 additional minutes. Now a home fifth-round tie against Manchester United is within touching distance.

9.58pm GMT

The biggest win in Swansea’s FA Cup history comes to an end. Eight goals, and not a scrappy one among them. They’re back, back, back. And the man who has inspired their revival, Carlos Carvalhal, is going back, back, back to Sheffield Wednesday in the fifth round! The sort of story only the FA Cup can provide. But spare a thought for poor old Notts County, who were ripped to shreds tonight. At least their goal was pretty damn good too. That’s something, right?

9.55pm GMT

Notts County stroke it around the back for a bit. Their fans indulge in a little of the old gallows humour, cheering every pass with a roof-rattling olé! Olé! Olé! Olé!

9.52pm GMT

Rajiv van La Parra smacks a shot into the bottom right, and all of a sudden this one looks over. Unless Blues have an Espana 82 West Germany-France style comeback in them.

9.50pm GMT

Steve Mounie plants Aaron Mooy’s cross into the net with his head.

9.48pm GMT

This is an astonishingly good goal by young sub Dan James. Routledge rolls a pass down the right for Narsingh, who fires a cross into the area. Abraham chests down on the penalty spot, a cushioned set-up for James, who shifts his feet and clinically dispatches the ball into the bottom right! As cool as you like by the 20-year-old winger!

9.43pm GMT

Nope! Ian Henderson’s goal is enough to separate the sides! The struggling League One side have knocked out Millwall of the Championship! Spotland will play host to either Tottenham Hotspur or Newport County in the fifth round.

9.40pm GMT

The Birmingham-Huddersfield tie has ended 1-1 and will go to extra time. Can Millwall force an extra 30 minutes at Rochdale?

9.38pm GMT

Swansea are playing keepball now. And no wonder: this now stands as their biggest victory in the FA Cup, beating their 7-2 thrashing of Folkestone in the first round of the 1966-67 competition. So is this a good omen for Tottenham Hotspur, who went on to win the final that season? A trophy for Mauricio Pochettino at last! You can’t say Spurs don’t deserve it.

9.34pm GMT

Carlos Carvalhal, though, huh? What a job he’s done at Swansea! They were a repressed mess when he turned up just over a month ago. Now look at them! Out of the Premier League relegation zone and running up a cricket score in the cup on national television! He wasn’t wrong when he talked of his team’s rising confidence before the match. This is a quite stunning performance, admittedly against a lower-ranked team who have imploded this evening in sorry fashion.

9.30pm GMT

Space for Carroll on the edge of the County D. He switches his feet, drops a shoulder, and whips a wonderful curler into the top left. Actually the BBC could be onto something if Swansea hit ten.

9.26pm GMT

Poor BBC One, who will have been hankering after a bit of FA Cup drama. But this was over before the half-hour. At least the Chelsea-Norwich replay in the third round, so dull for so long, climaxed with a comical Antonio Conte fume, a contentious VAR decision, a couple of red cards and some penalty drama. Still, at least this proves to a nation that Swansea have rediscovered their verve, and rather magnificently so, though after the recent wins over Liverpool and Arsenal we knew that already.

9.22pm GMT

This is now a rout. Dyer threatens to break into the box down the middle. Dickinson comes across to slide the ball away from the striker, a lovely tackle. But it’s just putting off the inevitable. The ball breaks to Routledge, who shimmies down the inside left and curls an unstoppable shot into the bottom right, comfortably out of Collin’s reach.

9.18pm GMT

It’s not been a good couple of minutes for the goalkeepers’ union. A corner for Swansea is flapped at by Collin. A weak punch lands at the feet of Naughton, who adjusts well and hammers the ball back into the net with some venom.

9.16pm GMT

Stead nicks the ball off van der Hoorn, and bursts into the Swansea area on the left. He’s one on one with Nordfeldt, albeit facing a tight angle. He attempts to curl it round the keeper and into the top right. The shot has no pace, but Nordfeldt still causes panic by parrying the ball into the middle of the area, a thicket of players. Swansea eventually clear, but no thanks to their very shaky reserve keeper.

9.14pm GMT

Everyone’s out and about at the Liberty again. Swansea are on the front foot in the early exchanges of the second half, as you’d expect given their three-goal advantage. Carlos Carvalhal can be forgiven for planning his return to Sheffield Wednesday in the fifth round already.

9.10pm GMT

It hasn’t taken long for Town to get back into this. Tom Ince pearled a shot from distance. Stockdale parried, but the ball ballooned up in a straight line. When it returned, Marc Roberts tried to hook the ball away from extreme danger but could only help it into the net.

9.03pm GMT

And like London buses ... Ian Henderson bundles home to give the League One strugglers the lead at Spotland, and put the 2004 finalists in a spot of bother. A couple of shocks on the cards here!

8.59pm GMT

Oh yes indeed! Che Adams breaks the deadlock at St Andrew’s with a shot from distance that whistles into the bottom left of Jonas Lossl’s net! The 1931 and 1956 finalists lead the 1922 winners!

8.57pm GMT

And that’s the end of the first half at Swansea. Will there be any goals elsewhere, while these two teams, who have served up five goals for a prime-time BBC One audience, enjoy a deserved glass of eggnog and a cigarette?

8.55pm GMT

There have been some fine goals in this game, and this could be the best of the lot. Bartley, deep in his own half down the left, caresses a stunning crossfield ball to the excellent Narsingh on the right. Narsingh races down the flank, looks up, spots Abraham rushing into the area, and delivers a ball that’s begging to be hit. Abraham obliges, skelping a first-time shot across Collin and into the left-hand side of the net!

8.53pm GMT

Routledge is this close from sending Abraham clear down the middle. He’s denied by a superb slide and hook from Duffy. And the ref’s about to blow for half-time, when...

8.50pm GMT

And County come again, Grant pearling a shot goalwards from 12 yards! Nordfeldt parries clear, not in a particularly convincing style it has to be said, but parry clear he does. Despite the scoreline, Swansea look like they need to hear the half-time whistle to rediscover their earlier poise.

8.48pm GMT

Notts County have their tails up again. Grant goes bombing down the middle of the park, and is cynically clipped by Clucas, who is booked for his sauce. The resulting free kick sees Brisley cause all manner of physical bother in the Swansea box. Under intense pressure, Bartley heads back to his keeper. Nordfeldt claims, but that header was really travelling! Bartley jogs back upfield, kidding on he knew exactly what he was doing, but you can tell by his eyes. He’s not kidding anyone. Lucky Swansea.

8.45pm GMT

So it’s been raining goals at the Liberty. Nowhere else, though! The games between Birmingham and Huddersfield, and Rochdale and Millwall, have reached the half-time stage without any scoreboard-bothering action.

8.43pm GMT

What a goal this is! County launch it long. Stead heads down on the edge of the box. Alessandra tees it up for Husin, who opens his body and curls an unstoppable shot into the top left! Nordfeldt had no chance! Though was Brisley, loitering in an offside position, in his eyeline? The ref checks with VAR, and the answer’s no. The goal’s correctly given. Not that there was any real need to consult VAR, but this is our life now.

8.40pm GMT

Corner for Swansea. Van der Hoorn meets it six yards out and heads over. He should have scored. Having said that, seconds before he palmed Duffy to the ground, a rugby-style hand off. Fortunately for the big Swansea defender, it was quite gentle really, so while the ref does his finger-to-lug VAR thing, there’s no retrospective punishment. Still, arms flailing where they shouldn’t be, and all that.

8.37pm GMT

On BBC1, commentary duo Jonathan Pearce and Martin Keown were discussing the promotion prospects of Wolverhampton Wanderers and Aston Villa. It was that kind of vibe. So thank goodness for Nathan Dyer, who suddenly shook up the sleepy atmosphere by buzzing down the middle, rolling a pass wide right to Narsingh, and meeting the low return with a first-time sweep across Collin and into the bottom left from 20 yards. That’s another glorious goal.

8.30pm GMT

Notts County have a chance to bounce back with a free kick just outside the Swansea area. They load the box. Dickinson wedges softly into the area. Nordfeldt comes off his line and should claim, but instead punches weakly, and very oddly, straight into the ground. That leads to a bit of pinball in the Swansea box. It’s eventually tidied up, but that’ll give the Magpies a little hope. That was dreadful keeping. Very shaky.

8.27pm GMT

The Swans really have taken flight! Abraham drops deep to quarterback. He slides a glorious pass down the inside-right channel for Dyer, who zips clear of the County back line. Dyer strides into the area and lashes coolly and calmly into the bottom right! One minute and 24 seconds between the goals, and all that sterile possession really did lull the visitors into a false sense of security! Wow!

8.25pm GMT

And with that, Swansea suddenly burst into life! It’s so simple, too, but stylishly so. Narsingh instigates a one-two down the right, and he scampers into space. He reaches the byline and whips a low ball towards the near post, where Abraham flicks home with nonchalant ease! Lovely stuff.

8.23pm GMT

Swansea are passing the ball around rather a lot. If Brendan Rodgers and Roberto Martinez are watching on telly somewhere, they’ll surely approve. Mind you, they’re not really going anywhere right now. From left to right and back again, all in the middle of the park. Notts County are holding their shape very well. Collin hasn’t had a truly dangerous situation to deal with yet.

8.19pm GMT

Naughton channels his inner Garrincha, twisting and turning down the right. His eventual cross is way too long, but Swansea recycle the ball, Carroll teeing it up in the centre for Dyer, who smacks low and hard towards the bottom right from distance. That warms Collin’s hands, and on an evening like this the County keeper will surely be grateful.

8.15pm GMT

Notts County launch their first sortie of the evening, Alessandra and Grant exchanging crisp passes down the right. Grant is sent barrelling into acres, but his cross isn’t up to much. A chance to cause a bit of trouble in the Swansea box spurned, there. Still no goals at St Andrew’s or Spotland either. Welcome again to your super soaraway FA Cup Clocko!

8.12pm GMT

Dyer is looking very lively in the early exchanges at Swansea. He romps into an awful lot of space down the right, reaches the byline and hooks into the mixer. Abraham can’t plant his nut on it from six yards, and that’s a corner. Nothing comes of it. But it’s all Swansea at the moment.

8.10pm GMT

No snow in Swansea, incidentally. It’s still freezing cold, though. Dyer has a dribble down the centre of the park, a dangerous burst. But his shot is dreadful and easily swallowed by Collin. Still no goals in the other two matches.

8.07pm GMT

And they’re off at Swansea! The home team are quickly on the attack, Routledge, Abraham and Dyer combining well down the inside-right channel and winning a corner. The set piece is snaffled by Collin, but that’s a bright start by the hosts.

8.05pm GMT

The teams are out at the Liberty! Swansea are dressed in all white, Notts County in neon yellow. It’s a VAR game, so no doubt there’ll be some sort of controversy at some point. Ach. We’ll be off in a second.

8.04pm GMT

Carlos Carvalhal speaks! “We are doing better and better. We are not repeating mistakes. Our dynamic is better. Confidence is more high and players can perform better.”

And so does Kevin Nolan! “We’ve just got to believe. We’re here on merit, we’ve got to enjoy it. I’ve told the lads to go out and express themselves. I’ve given them a gameplan, if they stick to it we’ve got a chance to cause a major upset. We’re pretty relaxed and looking forward to the game.”

7.54pm GMT

No early goals at St Andrew’s or Spotland. But here’s a weather report: it is COLD. Snow coming down in Birmingham. Tumbleweed rolling through this report. We’ll have some hot action from the Liberty coming up soon.

7.17pm GMT

Birmingham City make just one change to the team sent out at Huddersfield in the original tie. Craig Gardner comes in at the expense of Jota. Huddersfield however select seven different players: Jonas Lossl, Tom Smith, Scott Malone, Philip Billing, Aaron Mooy, Tom Ince and Zanka are in; Joel Coleman, Chris Lowe, Florent Hadergjonaj, Michael Hefele, Jonathan Hogg, Rajiv van La Parra and Daniel Williams are out.

Rochdale switch just one player from the starting XI named at Millwall. In comes Harrison McGahey; out goes Donervon Daniels. Millwall make four swaps: in come Conor McLaughlin, James Meredith, Shaun Hutchinson and Shaun Williams, at the expense of Tony Craig, Mahlon Romeo, Jake Cooper and Jed Wallace.

7.15pm GMT

Birmingham City: Stockdale, Dean, Roberts, Morrison, Jenkinson, Lowe, Gardner, N’Doye, Bramall, Jutkiewicz, Adams.
Subs: Colin, Boga, Dacres-Cogley, Jota, Trueman, Seddon, Lakin.
Huddersfield Town: Lossl, Smith, Kongolo, Jorgensen, Malone, Sabiri, Billing, Mooy, Ince, Quaner, Mounie.
Subs: Whitehead, Scannell, Coleman, Lowe, van La Parra, Hadergjonaj, Hefele.
Referee: Chris Kavanagh (Lancashire).

Rochdale: Lillis, McGahey, McNulty, Delaney, Rafferty, Cannon, Camps, Kitching, Done, Henderson, Andrew.
Subs: Ntlhe, Rathbone, Thompson, Inman, Moore, Adshead, Gillam.
Millwall: Martin, McLaughlin, Hutchinson, Shackell, Meredith, Tunnicliffe, Williams, Thompson, Ferguson, Elliott, Onyedinma.
Subs: Archer, Gregory, Romeo, Wallace, Morison, Saville, Cooper.
Referee: Tim Robinson (West Sussex).

10.35am GMT

Welcome to an evening of hot FA Cup fourth-round replay action. The fixtures are as follows ...

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Published on February 06, 2018 14:17

February 3, 2018

Arsenal 5-1 Everton: Premier League – as it happened

Aaron Ramsey scored his first-ever hat-trick as Arsenal routed sorry Everton.

8.55pm GMT

7.20pm GMT

And that’s the end of a perfect evening for Arsenal. A debut goal for Aubameyang, a hat-trick for Aaron Ramsey, and three assists for home debutant Mkhitaryan. Not a bad return at all! They move to within three points of fifth-placed Spurs. As for Everton ... well, at least they had a good 15-minute spell in the second half, eh.

7.18pm GMT

90 min +1: There will be two added minutes. In the first, the busy Davies wins a corner down the left. But they do nothing with it.

7.18pm GMT

89 min: Mkhitaryan is robbed by Calvert-Lewin, who makes off towards the area. He goes down in the box with Mustafi behind him. There’s a coming together, and Everton want the penalty kick, but the ref is convinced Calvert-Lewin instigated the contact, so they’re not getting it.

7.15pm GMT

88 min: Arsenal clip the ball around the midfield in the relaxed style.

7.14pm GMT

86 min: Ozil tries to set Aubameyang off down the right but overcooks the pass slightly. A broad smile from the new Arsenal striker anyway; he’ll have enjoyed his debut.

7.11pm GMT

84 min: Corner for Everton down the right. Ospina picks this one.

7.11pm GMT

83 min: Ozil opens Everton up down the right, finding Mkhitaryan on the edge of the box. Mkhitaryan spins and looks for Aubameyang in the middle, but his pass is blocked.

7.09pm GMT

81 min: Davies tears down the left, past a sleeping Bellerin, and pulls the ball back for Calvert-Lewin, who tries to sidefoot home from 12 yards like Ramsey, but shanks his effort off target.

7.07pm GMT

80 min: Tosun drags a very weak shot wide left from 20 yards.

7.07pm GMT

79 min: Kenny, quarterbacking from deep on the right, finds Calvert-Lewin’s head on the edge of the Arsenal area. Calvert-Lewin knocks down for Tosun ... not quite. Decent attempt, though, with Arsenal light at the back.

7.05pm GMT

78 min: Tosun comes on for Niasse.

7.05pm GMT

77 min: Now that Arsenal’s four-goal cushion has been reestablished, we’re back in testimonial mode. Nothing much going on.

7.02pm GMT

75 min: Now Ramsey goes off, Wilshere coming on in his stead.

7.02pm GMT

Aaron Ramsey scores his first-ever hat-trick! Mkhitaryan robs a dozy Calvert-Lewin down the Arsenal right. He strides down the wing and pulls back for Ramsey, who slams into the bottom right from 12 yards! What a crisp, clean strike. And he was about to be subbed, as well!

7.00pm GMT

72 min: Corner for Everton down the right. Ospina’s first meaningful act is to come off his line and flap at the ball. Niasse can’t turn it goalwards; the keeper’s got away with one there.

6.58pm GMT

71 min: Ospina’s first act is to blooter a free kick upfield. Mkhitaryan rises to meet it, and clashes heads with Martina. The flow of this game has been totally broken.

6.56pm GMT

69 min: Cech hasn’t been the same since being accidentally belted by Niasse. He sits on the turf and shakes his head. It looks as though he’ll have to go off. And indeed that’s his lot, as he trudges off. Ospina will take his place.

6.55pm GMT

67 min: The ball bounces around on the edge of the Arsenal box. Mangala shapes like Zidane to meet a Calvert-Lewin chest-down. But he can’t connect like Zizou circa 2002. Arsenal block and clear.

6.54pm GMT

66 min: So much for that testimonial atmosphere. The Arsenal fans have fallen really quiet now, while Everton’s have found their voice a little. And Everton are suddenly first to everything.

6.53pm GMT

Martina floats a cross into the Arsenal box from the left. Kolasinac doesn’t bother jumping. Calvert-Lewin does, aggressively attacking the ball and planting a header into the top left!

6.51pm GMT

63 min: The testimonial feel of this game is maintained, as both teams take turns to stroke the ball around the middle with no particular urgency.

6.49pm GMT

61 min: Calvert-Lewin comes on for ... Walcott. He gets a very warm ovation as he departs, and he spins to clap all four corners of the ground. A furrowed brow, which is understandable; he’ll feel pretty down right now. But he’s been far from the worst Everton player tonight.

6.47pm GMT

59 min: Ozil floats the free kick into the mixer. It’s easily cleared. A slightly strange atmosphere at the Emirates, hardly surprising given the scoreline.

6.46pm GMT

58 min: Arsenal are now beginning to reassert themselves. An awful lot of passing, back and forth, across the front of Everton’s area. The visitors hold firm for now. But then Xhaka is illegally checked 35 yards out on the right. Free kick, and a chance for Arsenal to throw a few more people forward.

6.44pm GMT

56 min: Walcott makes off down the right and curls another fine cross into the Arsenal box. Niasse can’t quite meet it, although the Arsenal defence make a meal of mopping up. Then Arsenal go up the other end, and after a quiet opening to this half, nearly score their fifth. Mkhitaryan sashays across the face of the Everton box and fizzes a low one towards the bottom left. Pickford reads it well, and collects.

6.42pm GMT

54 min: It’s been all Everton since the restart. Arsenal have done next to nothing in attack.

6.40pm GMT

52 min: Yes, much better! Walcott, on the right-hand corner of the Arsenal box, curls a delicious ball to the far post. Niasse, sliding in, meets it and sends it crashing off the left-hand post! Arsenal clear, and Cech will need some treatment having been accidentally hit by Niasse on the follow-through. Everton very unlucky.

6.39pm GMT

51 min: The free kick’s whipped towards the near post. Xhaka heads that one behind for a corner. Then a bit of a kerfuffle in the box. Walcott has a smack but Mustafi blocks. Arsenal half clear. Martina loops long into the area from the left, forcing Cech to claw away from under his bar. Much better from Everton.

6.37pm GMT

49 min: Martina and Niasse combine down the left. Mustafi comes across to hack the latter to the floor. He deservedly goes in the book for that. And this is a free kick just to the left of the Arsenal box, a chance for Everton to begin salvaging their reputation.

6.35pm GMT

47 min: Williams threatens to break down the Everton right. Ramsey dribbles with purpose down the Arsenal left. All in the middle of the field. Nothing in particular happening since the restart.

6.33pm GMT

Arsenal get the ball rolling again. They beat Everton 7-0 at Highbury in 2005, and 6-0 there in 1963 when the Toffees were reigning champions. Unless the visitors get their act together in this second half, they could suffer a similar humiliation tonight. With a view to stemming the tide, Davies has come on to bolster the Everton midfield at the expense of a reportedly dizzy Keane. Meanwhile Arsenal swap Monreal, who has suffered a small knock, for Kolasinac.

6.26pm GMT

Half-time ad break: “Hiya Scott,” begins Mac Millings. “Don’t forget to remind readers of your terrific new book, ‘The Title’. I got it for my dad for Christmas. His glowing review: ‘I haven’t read it yet, but I probably will.’ ” The Don Draper de nos jours, eh readers.

6.20pm GMT

Half-time entertainment: This is beyond magnificent, and well worth your time. Includes some hot Arsenal action from 1938 and 1991. Warning: it’s possible to lose yourself in these photos, so once you’ve had a look, snap out of it, will you, and come back for the second half!

6.17pm GMT

Poor Theo Walcott.

6.16pm GMT

45 min +1: In the first of two added minutes, Arsenal try to walk the ball into the net. Ozil’s at the heart of some very pretty triangles, as Everton are again opened up down the left. Ozil has the ball at his feet, just inside the area, and space to shoot. Which he does, but Xhaka gets in his way! Somebody’s got to try to stop him, I guess. Everton clearly couldn’t be bothered.

6.14pm GMT

44 min: Bellerin cynically checks Bolasie. No booking, but it’s a free kick, and a chance for Everton to load the box. Which they do, but Cech punches the set piece powerfully clear.

6.13pm GMT

43 min: Xhaka is back up and about.

6.13pm GMT

42 min: Xhaka is getting some attention from the physio after landing on his back from on high, having contested a ball clumsily with Niasse. It looks like he’s winded, nothing more, and he’ll be back up and about soon.

6.11pm GMT

40 min: The corner is hit long. Monreal slaps a header onto the left-hand post. The ball somehow stays out as it sails across the face of goal. Everton half clear, but soon enough Monreal is having another dig at goal, this time with his boot. His low shot is deflected wide left for another corner. Nothing comes from that second one, but Everton are an absolute shambles.

6.09pm GMT

39 min: Arsenal continue to pile on the pressure, and win a corner down the right. On the touchline, Sam Allardyce, hood down and drenched, chews gum even harder than usual.

6.08pm GMT

Everton’s passivity costs them. Arsenal ping it around. Everton don’t close them down. Mkhitaryan slips a pass down the inside-left channel and releases Aubameyang into the box. He draws Pickford, dinks the ball over him, and there’s a beautifully taken first goal for Arsenal! He was a mile offside, mind you; that’s a shocker from the linesman.

6.06pm GMT

36 min: Arsenal with more of the pretty triangles. After a decent burst of activity, Everton have become passive again.

6.05pm GMT

34 min: A pause as Mkhitaryan is padded down with the magic sponge, having taken Bolasie’s arm across his beak while contesting a 50-50 ball in the midfield. There didn’t seem a whole lot in that, and the referee agrees.

6.04pm GMT

32 min: Ramsey bundles Gueye over, 30 yards from Arsenal’s goal. The free kick is floated softly into the box by Schneiderlin, and easily cleared. Arsenal tear off up the other end, Ozil spinning down the left and raking a pass along the flank for Aubameyang, who is suddenly clear on goal! He reaches the area and batters low and hard towards the bottom left. Pickford kicks away, and a huge chance for a debut goal is spurned!

6.00pm GMT

30 min: A lull in the middle of the pitch. It’s fair to say the first half hour of this game has flown by.

5.59pm GMT

28 min: Then Williams meets the corner with his head on the right-hand corner of the six-yard box. He can’t direct the ball goalwards, and it skims off to the other side of the pitch. A half-chance, to follow up two full-fat chances. Everton should have taken at least one of them.

5.57pm GMT

27 min: And suddenly Everton are making chances! Niasse sends Walcott racing goalwards down the inside-left channel. He enters the box and should shoot, but opts to check and curl towards the top right. Mustafi slides in to block brilliantly, the ball deflected out for a corner on the right.

5.56pm GMT

25 min: Arsenal continue to ping it around in the pretty style. But there’s always a danger of complacency, and when one of the triangles isn’t completed, Bolasie picks up the loose ball and tears off towards goal. He’s on the edge of the Arsenal box, with space to shoot, and Walcott to his right. But he hesitates for a split second, then takes a heavy touch, and the chance is gone.

5.54pm GMT

23 min: A nice piece of fast-paced juggling by Walcott to jink his way past a couple of his former team-mates down the right. He strokes a pass down the wing for Niasse, who is cleaned out by Koscielny. A deserved booking.

5.52pm GMT

21 min: Everton finally put a few passes together. Kenny again makes some ground down the right. The ball’s hooked into the middle and only half cleared. Martina, on the left-hand corner of the D, takes a shy. His volley squirts wide right of the goal, but that’s better from Everton. To be fair, they couldn’t get much worse.

5.50pm GMT

Ramsey has a shot from 25 yards. The ball’s heading to the top right, until it clips Mangala and sails off to the left. Pickford’s already going the wrong way, and can’t stop the ball flying into the top left. But again, nobody in blue was closing down with any sort of purpose. Too easy for Arsenal, who are all smiles.

5.48pm GMT

18 min: Bellerin drops a shoulder, then saunters past Martina at will. His low cross doesn’t find a red shirt in a crowded box. Walcott scuttles upfield, and is fouled fairly unpleasantly by Xhaka. Studs nearly met shin there. Walcott doesn’t complain, though. Could have been a booking.

5.47pm GMT

16 min: Already this new Arsenal look effervescent in attack. They’re coming at Everton from all angles. Monreal shoogles in from the left, unchallenged of course, and looks to curl a low one into the bottom right. His shot clips Aubameyang, and the ball deflects wide left of goal. But Everton haven’t turned up yet.

5.45pm GMT

Mustafi meets the corner at the near post. He flicks it to the far post, where Koscielny stoops to head home from a couple of yards. So very, very simple! What was Williams was doing there? Not much, is what.

5.43pm GMT

13 min: Ramsey is sent scampering down the right. He pulls a ball back inside for Aubameyang on the penalty spot. A first-time snapshot, meant for the top right, is deflected out by Mangala. Corner on the right, which leads to corner on the left. From which...

5.43pm GMT

12 min: Monreal comes through the back of Gueye, out on the Everton right. The free kick’s looped into the Arsenal box. Keane rises and wins a header, knocking down for Walcott to his right. Walcott spins and shoots, but it’s blocked by Mustafi.

5.41pm GMT

11 min: A bit of space for Kenny down the right. The impressive young Everton defender whips a cross into the mixer. It’s easily snaffled by Cech, but only because neither Niasse nor Bolasie attacked the ball. That’ll give Everton a little succour, though. Goodness knows they need it after this slow start.

5.40pm GMT

10 min: Arsenal have enjoyed 82% possession in these opening exchanges. Everton are all over the shop. Mkhitaryan, who is here, there and everywhere, swans in from the left, unchallenged, and lets rip from 25 yards. His effort, intended for the top left, only just flies wide. A lovely effort which draws oohs and aahs from his new fans. He’s made an extremely positive impression already.

5.38pm GMT

8 min: Everton respond down the left wing through Mangala, of all people. The defender reaches the byline and for a second it looks as though he’s rounded Bellerin and Mkhitaryan, breaking into the area. But he’s just run the ball over the goalline.

5.37pm GMT

Arsenal recycle the ball and go again. Aubameyang plays a clever little reverse pass down the right. Mkhitaryan is in space in the box. He fires low and hard across the face of goal. Ramsey rushes in to powerfully sidefoot home from close range! A lovely crisp move, that. Everton were ripped apart with ease.

5.36pm GMT

6 min: Mkhitaryan is a foul magnet. Now he’s battered to the floor by Williams, just to the right of the Everton D. Ozil smacks the free kick straight into the wall. But no matter, because...

5.35pm GMT

4 min: Mangala’s first meaningful act in an Everton shirt is to miscue a clearance wildly as Iwobi attempts to break into the box down the right. He just about gets away with it.

5.34pm GMT

3 min: Mkhitaryan’s first act as an Arsenal player at the Emirates is to be clattered on the back of the head by Keane. A free kick in the midfield, nothing more. It’s all a bit scrappy so far.

5.32pm GMT

2 min: Now Bolasie makes good down the left wing. Mustafi comes across and puts in a firm but fair slide tackle. That’ll settle the defender down a bit.

5.31pm GMT

And we’re off! Everton get the ball rolling. It’s pelting down and it’s cold. Wenger doesn’t even have a coat on! Let’s hope he’ll wrap up warm soon. Everton send the ball long. Mustafi nearly trips over the ball twice, and then is almost robbed by Bolasie. Clearly not over the Swansea debacle yet.

5.27pm GMT

Big Sam talks! Although not to BT Sport today. And now the teams are out! Arsenal wear their famous red shirts with white sleeves, while Everton are in their storied blue. A couple of classic looks. And a rare old atmosphere on a rainy north London night as the home faithful get to see Aubameyang and Mkhitaryan for the first time ... and Walcott in blue. We’ll be off in a minute or two!

5.09pm GMT

Arsene speaks! “The new signings have lifted the club. Aubameyang felt much better than expected and was declared fit yesterday, so I thought it was better to start him, and if it doesn’t work we can take him off. Mkhitaryan has a point to prove and has an opportunity here to show he can be very successful in the Premier League. He was very successful at Dortmund, and a player that was admired by everybody. I hope he can do that here now.”

4.41pm GMT

Scrub that about Aubameyang’s fever! Arsenal’s new superstar striker hauls himself off his sickbed to make his debut this evening! He takes the place of Alexandre Lacazette, while home debutant Henrikh Mkhitaryan is the other change to the XI sent out at Swansea on Tuesday: he replaces Mohamed Elneny.

Five changes to the Everton side named against Leicester in midweek. In comes debutant Eliaquim Mangala, along with Jonjoe Kenny, Morgan Schneiderlin, Ashley Williams and Yannick Bolasie. Seamus Coleman and Phil Jagielka are rested altogether, while Gylfi Sigurdsson, Tom Davies and Wayne Rooney drop to the bench.

4.32pm GMT

Arsenal: Cech, Bellerin, Koscielny, Mustafi, Monreal, Ramsey, Xhaka, Mkhitaryan, Ozil, Iwobi, Aubameyang.
Subs: Lacazette, Wilshere, Ospina, Chambers, Maitland-Niles, Kolasinac, Elneny.

Everton: Pickford, Keane, Williams, Mangala, Kenny, Schneiderlin, Gueye, Martina, Walcott, Niasse, Bolasie.
Subs: Rooney, Tosun, Sigurdsson, Davies, Calvert-Lewin, Holgate, Robles.

5.17pm GMT

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has the fever. Not the battle fever; an actual fever. So Arsenal’s £56m new boy might not make his debut today. We’ll see. Another box-fresh signing should make his first home appearance, though; welcome to the Emirates, Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

And welcome back to the Emirates, Theo Walcott! Everton’s new hero returns to his old stomping ground in short order, and he’s in hot goalscoring form, with three already for his new club. He might feel he’s got something to prove.

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Published on February 03, 2018 11:21

Burnley 1-1 Manchester City: Premier League – as it happened

Burnley soaked up City pressure and hit the league leaders with a late sucker punch to earn an ultimately deserved draw.

2.24pm GMT

And that’s that! Burnley have taken a point off the runaway league leaders! Thing is, while City were dominant in terms of possession, territory and chances created, you can’t say Burnley don’t thoroughly deserve the draw. They were magnificently resilient in the face of all that pressure, then turned the screw a bit themselves as the game entered its final phase. A fine match between two teams who are both superb in their own way. So City are just - just! - 16 points clear of United, while Burnley remain in seventh, though Leicester can overtake them later today if they see off Swansea. Poor old Raheem Sterling, though; he’ll replay that miss in his mind before he nods off tonight.

2.23pm GMT

90 min +3: Barnes is booked for some over-zealous behaviour. De Bruyne lumps the ball into the Burnley mixer, but Pope claims. Turf Moor cheers the draw they know is surely theirs now.

2.23pm GMT

90 min +2: Otamendi’s loose ball in the midfield allows Hendrick to tear off down the left. Hendrick opts to retain possession rather than cross in the hope of setting up a winner.

2.21pm GMT

90 min +1: Barnes holds the ball by the corner flag awhile. A draw would be most agreeable to Burnley.

2.20pm GMT

90 min: Aguero plays a cute pass down the inside-left channel, nearly finding Diaz in the Burnley box. But the substitute runs the ball out of play. Goal kick. There will be three added minutes. Can anyone find a sensational winner?

2.19pm GMT

89 min: Walker earns a throw deep in Burnley territory down the right. The ball takes quite a while to come back. A collective effort at Turf Moor.

2.18pm GMT

88 min: Pep claps and points, points and claps. But his team aren’t putting any pressure on Burnley right now.

2.17pm GMT

86 min: City are struggling to respond to Burnley’s equaliser. They looked collectively shocked. On the touchline, Guardiola tries to gee them back up with some encouraging clapping.

2.15pm GMT

84 min: How costly does that Sterling miss look now? On the bench, the poor lad has a thousand-yard stare on. Bernardo tries to curl one into the top left from distance, but it’s miles off target.

2.14pm GMT

This has been coming! Burnley fling crosses into the City box from both wings. City clear, but the ball keeps coming back. Finally Lowton, deep on the right, curls to the far post. Gudmundsson races in from the left to meet it, sidefooting across Ederson and into the right-hand side of the net! Turf Moor erupts!

2.11pm GMT

80 min: Diaz dribbles down the left with extreme prejudice. A wriggly, tricky, magnificent run which nearly opens Burnley up. But Lowton sticks to him with great determination and finally Diaz miscontrols, running the ball out of play. He was knocked half off balance there, too; you’ve seen players go down for less. But he opted to fight gravity and stay on his feet.

2.08pm GMT

78 min: Taylor makes off down the left and sends a bouncer through the City box. Hendrick is free at the far post, but in the one position where the bounce evades him. He can’t meet the cross. But City are looking shaky all of a sudden. Burnley, having held firm, are giving this a proper go now.

2.07pm GMT

77 min: Vokes wins a corner for Burnley down the right. Long rises above Danilo and sends his header over the crossbar from eight yards. The home side are asking City some serious questions now.

2.06pm GMT

76 min: Turf Moor is a cauldron right now. A real sense that Burnley could get something from this match. Pep feels it for sure: he’s prowling the touchline again, doing an awful lot of frowning. He knows his side should be more than one goal up. Will they be made to pay?

2.05pm GMT

74 min: Cork crosses from the right. Lennon latches onto a half-clearance and shanks wide and high from the edge of the box. Meanwhile a dejected Sterling, still reeling from that astonishing miss, is replaced by Diaz.

2.03pm GMT

73 min: This is wonderful end-to-end entertainment! Lowton curls in from the right but can’t find Barnes in the middle. Not quite, but not far off. City go up the other end through Bernardo; he’s rugby tackled by Mee, who goes in the book.

2.02pm GMT

71 min: Sterling misses an absolute sitter! De Bruyne splits Burnley into pieces with a stunning pass down the inside right. Walker is clear! He rolls a cross through the six-yard box. All Sterling has to do is run it into the net, but he opens his body and squirts his shot wide left from a couple of yards!

2.00pm GMT

69 min: And they nearly get that equaliser! Burnley suddenly turn up the heat on City. Barnes, out on the left, hooks inside for Cork, who runs hard at City’s back line. Lennon is free down the inside right. Cork slips the pass across for Lennon, who pearls a shot towards the top right from 12 yards. But Ederson tips the shot onto the right-hand post! City deal with the rebound, and Lennon holds his head in his hands. So close to a goal on his home debut!

1.58pm GMT

67 min: City press Burnley back again, but the home team hold their shape and Gundogan runs the ball out of play down the left. Goal kick. A fair chance Sean Dyche would have taken this scoreline at this stage of the match. Now to see if City can hold onto their slender lead, or extend it. Or can Burnley fashion an equaliser? It’s not as though they haven’t had their chances.

1.56pm GMT

65 min: Burnley load the City box. Gudmundsson curls a high teaser into the area. And once again it’s Mee threatening, failing to connect with a header by mere millimetres, just six yards out. On another day, he could have had a hat-trick! Never mind City’s dominance. Such a wonderful game, football.

1.54pm GMT

64 min: And suddenly here’s a mistake by City, as they overplay at the back. Gundogan is forced to stretch for a loose pass, and brings down Lennon, who was threatening to make off with the ball down the right. That’s a booking, and a free kick, just outside the City box.

1.53pm GMT

62 min: Sterling drops a shoulder and turns on the jets as he continues to hassle Lowton down the City left. He earns yet another corner. Again it doesn’t really bother Burnley much, and the hosts remain just one goal adrift. They are refusing to crumble in the face of relentless City pressure; it’s been a very impressive rearguard performance.

1.51pm GMT

60 min: De Bruyne tries to shape one into the top left, but only blams it into the wall. That’ll be a corner out on the left. Danilo has another pop at goal from distance, but this effort isn’t up to much.

1.49pm GMT

59 min: Long bundles Danilo to the ground as the City full back races towards the Burnley box at pace. This will be a free kick in a very dangerous position, 25 yards out, smack in the middle of the park. De Bruyne’s eyes light up.

1.48pm GMT

58 min: Nothing of any real interest comes from that one. City are thoroughly on top again. But they’re still just one goal ahead. Burnley are hanging in with great determination.

1.47pm GMT

57 min: ... Danilo very nearly recreates his sensational goal of the first half! This time Pope manages to fingertip it over the bar. Corner, this time on the right.

1.47pm GMT

56 min: Gundogan glides in from the right and should send Sterling, running in from the left, free on goal. But his pass is inaccurate. Still, it deflects out for a corner on the left. From which...

1.46pm GMT

55 min: City come so close to their second. Bernardo sashays down the right, moves inside and slips the ball to Aguero, who enters the area down the inside-right channel. He could shoot, but this time opts to shuttle it on for Sterling, on the penalty spot. The ball’s slightly behind Sterling, and though he adjusts well and gets a powerful rising shot away, it’s high and wide of the top-right corner. Right now, another Manchester City goal looks only a matter of time.

1.44pm GMT

54 min: Space for Aguero down the right. He slips the ball inside for Gundogan, who should shoot immediately from the edge of the box, but over-elaborates before pulling the trigger, allowing Burnley to close him down. The ball’s deflected out for a corner, which is plucked from the sky by Pope.

1.42pm GMT

52 min: Sterling is a real handful, like that’s breaking news. Another dribble, ball glued to foot, down the left. He can’t quite prise Burnley open this time, but he’s been very lively in the opening exchanges of this second half.

1.41pm GMT

50 min: Gundogan dribbles in from the right. He runs out of space, but here comes yet another corner. And finally the pressure is released when Danilo balloons a wild effort miles over the bar from distance. A nod to the Six Nations, starting later today.

1.40pm GMT

49 min: Gundogan tries to dig out a shot from the corner. It’s deflected. Another corner. Then Aguero has a try. Another corner! City are turning up the pressure.

1.39pm GMT

48 min: Sterling dribbles with purpose down the left. He reaches the area and lays off to Agureo on his inside. Aguero drops a shoulder to send Mee the wrong way, then shifts the ball left. He swivels to hit into the bottom right, but only smacks the back of the already-busy Lowton. The ball twangs away for a corner on the right.

1.37pm GMT

46 min: Gudmundsson gets Burnley immediately on the attack down the right, winning a couple of quick throws in a row. The second is deep in City territory. Lowton hooks a cross into the City mixer. Kompany clears the ball, heading backwards across the face of his own goal under pressure from Barnes. A very strange way to deal with a dipping ball. That almost came off his back! But it’s safe. Kompany hasn’t really been at the races today.

1.35pm GMT

And we’re off again! Burnley get the ball rolling for the second half, having swapped the injured Bardsley for Lowton. “Please let Gordon Pittendrigh (44 min) know that as there was a Super Blue Blood Moon only a few days ago, all offside calls for this match will be ruled in Manchester City’s favour,” claims Luc Henri de Rennes. “If more cider doesn’t clear that up, your abv% may be too low.”

1.24pm GMT

Half-time reading: There’s a big game in France this weekend, as Monaco take on Lyon in the battle to become best-of-the-rest. Let Paul Doyle be your guide.

1.20pm GMT

There’s enough time for De Bruyne to flay a long right-to-left pass into the feet of Aguero, who enters the box. He’s one on one with Pope, albeit facing a tight angle. He blooters his shot straight at Pope, who saves with his chest. And that’s that. City have been the dominant side, and Danilo’s goal was a peach. But Ben Mee’s had a couple of chances to equalise. This is far from over. The second half promises much. You’ll stay with us, won’t you?

1.17pm GMT

45 min +2: City stroke the ball back and forth along their back line. They appear perfectly happy to accept 0-1 as a half-time scoreline.

1.16pm GMT

45 min: There were a few stoppages early in this half, so there’ll be four extra minutes tacked onto the end of it.

1.15pm GMT

44 min: It’s been a fine half of football, it’s fair flown by. But it’s petering out now. Not a great deal going on. “I admit that a few cans of cider may be influencing my thoughts, but am sure that I can remember understanding the offside rule (36 min) in my younger days,” begins Gordon Pittendrigh. “Now I can’t work out who is or isn’t interfering or what phase of the moon we are in until the referee blows or doesn’t blow his whistle. Perhaps more cider will clear things up.”

1.13pm GMT

42 min: De Bruyne tries to break upfield and is hauled back by Cork. Burnley’s second booking of the day comes in short order. Here’s Adam Kline-Schoder: “I think it’s awfully thoughtful of Man City to print CITY in large (very faint) letters across the backs of their tops so that when you’re chasing them towards your own goal you know which team you’re playing.”

1.12pm GMT

41 min: Lennon dribbles hard at Walker ... and leaves his man sprawling on the deck with a wonderful jink and swerve! He reaches the edge of the area but is hustled out of it by Gundogan. Still, that’s his first meaningful run today, and will give him confidence for the rest of the game.

1.09pm GMT

39 min: City, perhaps shaken back into action by Burnley’s recent sorties upfield, launch another attack themselves. De Bruyne zips through the middle of the park and lashes hard towards the bottom left. Pope parries well but can only send the ball straight back out to Aguero on the penalty spot. But it’s travelling at pace, and Aguero can’t control with his chest. The ball ricochets back to the keeper in the harmless style.

1.08pm GMT

38 min: Long is booked for a late clip on Gundogan in the midfield. No real complaints.

1.08pm GMT

37 min: The corner’s hit deep from the right. On the left-hand corner of the six-yard box, Mee wins a header and sends it wide left, but not by much. On another day, Mee could have had two goals! Given the overall balance of this game, that’s a slightly strange state of affairs. But there it is.

1.07pm GMT

36 min: Burnley are slowly working their way back into this game. A bit more possession and territory. Hendrick floats one into the City box from the left, forcing Kompany to eyebrow out for a corner. Barnes was miles offside behind him, but not considered to be interfering with play.

1.05pm GMT

34 min: Kompany still hasn’t quite got into the swing of things today. He sends another slightly misjudged backpass towards Ederson, who has to drop a shoulder to wriggle away from Vokes and clear. It was a high-wire act.

1.02pm GMT

32 min: The corner comes to nothing. But that’s going to give the home side succour; it’s their first effort on target. City have already had seven.

1.02pm GMT

31 min: A free kick for Burnley in the centre circle, and a chance for the hosts to throw a few men upfield and push City back towards their own box. Some head-tennis on the edge of the area. Cork, to the left of the D, hooks a pass across the box ... and it drops to Mee, clear and onside, 12 yards out! Mee sweeps towards the bottom right, but Danilo gets down to turn the effort around the post. What a chance for Burnley to equalise! Against the run of play, it has to be said.

1.00pm GMT

30 min: Otamendi sends a lovely pass down the inside-right channel for De Bruyne, who barrels into space. He slips the ball inside for Sterling, who one-twos with Gundogan as the pair enter the Burnley box. It’s all a bit too intricate and Sterling can’t get the ball out from under his feet, when he really wanted to finally pull the trigger. Pope snaffles. A lovely counter-attack, though.

12.59pm GMT

28 min: Now it’s Sterling trying a Danilo. He shimmies in from the left but there’s no juice in his curler, and the ball nestles comfortably in Pope’s midriff.

12.58pm GMT

27 min: The Turf Moor faithful are a little bit quiet right now. City are utterly dominant, the home side finding it very difficult to spend any meaningful time in the opposition half.

12.56pm GMT

25 min: Aguero dribbles down the inside left. He enters the box and has Sterling in acres of space in the middle. He’s entitled to shoot himself, though, and that’s exactly what he does, attempting to replicate Danilo’s wonder strike. But curling it into the top right is not quite as easy as Danilo made it look back there, and his effort is blocked.

12.55pm GMT

24 min: Cork clips away at the heels of Sterling. He’s perhaps fortunate not to go in the book, but the referee opts for a quiet word instead.

12.53pm GMT

The ball’s worked back down the left channel for Danilo, who from 25 yards curls across Pope and into the top-right corner. A sweeter strike you’ll never see, a goal of gorgeous simplicity and perfection! Pope had no chance whatsoever! A goal from the second it left Danilo’s boot. What a wonderful finish!

12.52pm GMT

21 min: Walker curls into the Burnley box from the right. Mee takes a fresh-air swipe. Gundogan nearly connects with a flick. Long knocks it out for a corner on the right. Bernardo and Fernandinho cause a bit of trouble, forcing Long to concede a corner on the other side. From which ...

12.50pm GMT

19 min: Ederson races out of his area to intercept a Vokes flick-on. Barnes wasn’t far away from getting to the ball first. Ederson briefly considers going on a gander down the left wing, but Vokes is quickly up in his grille, and he thinks better of it. The ball is hoicked into touch upfield. Not the City way, but the sensible one in this particular situation.

12.48pm GMT

18 min: Kompany passes back to Ederson with some feeling. Hoof! Ederson does amazingly well to trap and dispatch the ball back upfield, under great pressure from Barnes. Then Kompany hesitates again, this time Vokes turning up the heat. Kompany blooters the ball off the striker and out for a goal kick, but City’s captain isn’t quite up to speed with this match yet. Very hesitant there.

12.46pm GMT

16 min: Now it’s Pope’s turn to have his knee prodded gingerly by the company doctor. Like Bardsley before him, he’ll be good to continue as well. But Burnley have been in the wars.

12.45pm GMT

14 min: Bernardo cuts in from the right but can’t work space to shoot. De Bruyne has a go instead. His effort is blocked, deflecting out for a corner on the right. After some set-piece fiddling, the ball’s swung in. Kompany contests it at the far post. He doesn’t connect, and the ball sails inches wide of the left-hand post. He clatters into Pope, who’ll require some treatment.

12.44pm GMT

13 min: City have enjoyed 78% possession so far. But Burnley have contributed too. It’s a nice, open game.

12.43pm GMT

11 min: Pope kicks big down the middle. The ball rears up, 30 yards from City’s goal, and Vokes momentarily threatens to trap it and tear clear on goal. But Otamendi has read the bounce well, and hooks it away from danger at the last second. The crowd ooh and aah accordingly. Great play all round. It’s dreadfully out of fashion, of course - in fact, it’s never been in vogue - but long-ball football can be fun too.

12.40pm GMT

9 min: Walker sails in from a deep position on the right, making a long diagonal run which concerns Burnley. He attempts a flick down the inside-left channel to release Gundogan, but the hosts slam the door shut. City are enjoying the lion’s share of possession, like that’s news.

12.38pm GMT

7 min: Vokes seems fine, once the sting subsides. Bardsley is grimacing quite a bit, though, the physio having taken a good look at that knee. Both players will continue, but it’s been an old-school start to the match, with some hard-but-fair challenges.

12.37pm GMT

6 min: Kompany meets the corner with a crashing header. Pope claims well. Also crashing: Bardsley and Vokes, both to the ground. Fair 50-50 challenges, but the Burnley men have come off worst, Vokes with a shoulder to the face, Bardsley tweaking his knee.

12.36pm GMT

5 min: Before the set piece can be taken, Barnes receives some treatment having landed awkwardly after an aerial challenge. He’ll be good to continue by the looks of it.

12.35pm GMT

4 min: Walker very nearly loses the ball on the edge of his own box, but at the last minute pokes it forward, and suddenly City are on the attack. Bernardo Silva sweeps the ball to the left wing, and isn’t far away from releasing Sterling into the area. Not quite. But then there’s another phase of attack, and Bernardo is making good down the right. He earns a corner off Mee.

12.32pm GMT

2 min: Another loose City pass, and Pep is already on the touchline, prowling, frowning, muttering. Ever the perfectionist.

12.31pm GMT

And we’re off! City get the ball rolling, and within six seconds spray it out of play. Most out of character. Burnley make their way down the pitch, winning another throw. Bardsley has the chance to swing the ball into the box, but hesitates, allowing Kompany to come over, nick it, and win a free kick. A fairly scrappy start, it has to be said.

12.29pm GMT

The teams are out! Burnley are in their famous claret and blue, while Manchester City sport third-choice black, their first-choice blue and second-choice purple clashing. A cracking noise being made at this atmospheric old ground, despite the drizzle in the north-western sky. We’ll be off in a minute, but in the meantime, here’s Ian Copestake, brazenly changing the subject: “You mentioned the 1959-60 season and the name of Denis Law. Newly signed for a (then) club record fee of 55 million, sorry thousand, pounds from Huddersfield, is it the stuff of common legend whether Shankly wanted Law at his new club, Liverpool?” Yes, I think Shankly wanted Law ... and Jack Charlton from Leeds. Didn’t get either, of course. Can’t quite recall whether it was one of the many times he threatened to walk as a result, playing the board like a flute. He ended up with Ian St John and Ron Yeats, of course, so things didn’t work out so bad for him over the long haul, huh.

12.10pm GMT

Sean Dyche speaks! “Aaron Lennon came on the other night and affected the game, he added pace and productivity. Vokes coming on changes our system; hopefully we’ll get the result we want, which is a win. It’s important to remember our mentality: City are a great side, but they are human beings, even though sometimes this season they have looked beyond that! But we take the challenge on, this is what we want to be part of in the Premier League, you’ve got to play the big boys. We’ve got everything to gain, nothing to lose. We understand the power of Manchester City. But this isn’t an easy place to come, despite results. We’ve played the top three sides in the last three home games, and we’ve been inches away from getting something from the game. Performances have been pretty good actually. But you’ve got to turn that into results, of course.”

11.57am GMT

Pep speaks! “We played two-and-a-half days ago, and felt that two days was too much for Aymeric, who hasn’t taken one serious training session since he came. And Vinny when he is fit is a very important player to us. We have only named six players on the subs bench because we don’t have any more. That is the reason why! We could take one from the second team but they had a game yesterday. We always think about what’s next, not about the future. There are still a lot of games to play. We have spoken about Burnley, who they are, what they do, and what we have to do. It is always tough here. They are a team who do not concede goals, it is difficult to create chances. And at free kicks and corners they are maybe the best team in the Premier League.”

11.44am GMT

Burnley - nine games without a win - make two changes to the team sent out at Newcastle on Wednesday night. Ashley Westwood and Scott Arfield drop to the bench, allowing Sam Vokes to lead the line and Aaron Lennon to make his first start for his new club.

Manchester City - on a four-match winning streak - make three changes to the team named against West Bromwich Albion the other day. Aymeric Laporte and Alexander Zinchenko drop to the bench, while David Silva is recovering from a knock. Stepping up: Danilo, Vincent Kompany and Ilkay Gundogan.

11.34am GMT

Burnley: Pope, Bardsley, Long, Mee, Taylor, Lennon, Hendrick, Cork, Gudmundsson, Barnes, Vokes.
Subs: Lowton, Nkoudou, Westwood, Wells, Lindegaard, Arfield, O’Neill.

Manchester City: Ederson, Walker, Kompany, Otamendi, Danilo, De Bruyne, Fernandinho, Gundogan, Bernardo Silva, Aguero, Sterling.
Subs: Bravo, Laporte, Adarabioyo, Zinchenko, Toure, Diaz.

4.25pm GMT

Burnley became champions of England in 1960 by beating Manchester City. They required a win in their final game of the season at a tense Maine Road on a Monday night. They managed it, pipping Wolverhampton Wanderers by a point to deny Stan Cullis’s great side a title hat-trick.

Brian Pilkington gave Burnley a fourth-minute lead. Joe Hayes equalised for City soon after, but 20-year-old reserve winger Trevor Meredith restored the visitors’ advantage on the half hour, battering home a ball that had squirted out of a penalty-box melee. Denis Law missed a golden chance to level again in the second half, while Alan Oakes shot straight at Clarets keeper Adam Blacklaw when one on one right at the very end. And that was that. Burnley were the champions. City finished 16th that season.

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Published on February 03, 2018 06:28

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