Rob Smyth's Blog, page 163

January 7, 2017

Manchester United 4-0 Reading: FA Cup third round – as it happened

Wayne Rooney equalled Sir Bobby Charlton’s record of 249 United goals in a comfortable victory over Jaap Stam’s Reading

2.21pm GMT

Peep peep! A straightforward win for Manchester United, though it was not a routine day for Wayne Rooney: his early strike took him to 249 goals for United, equalling Sir Bobby Charlton’s club record. A largely second-string United side played some blistering football against an admittedly compliant Reading. The good times aren’t quite back at Old Trafford, but they’re in the post. Thanks for your company, bye.

PS John Ashdown will be dispensing romance and shocks with his FA Cup clockwatch. Join him here.

2.16pm GMT

89 min Blind is lucky not to be booked for a cynical foul on Gunter, who had skipped past him on the right wing.

2.15pm GMT

86 min So, Manchester United are still just about on course for the Alternative Quadruple. This is their eighth win in a row; the last time they did that was in the 2008-09 season, when they were two games and a penalty shoot-out away from the Actual Quadruple.

2.12pm GMT

84 min In fact it was Al-Habsi who saved Fellaini’s follow-up. He has made at least four or five excellent saves today, yet all anyone will remember him was his mistake. Poor bugger.

2.11pm GMT

83 min The United fans launch into “Yip Jaap Stam”, which might necessitate another apology from the commentator in a minute. Meanwhile, Rooney draws a fine save from Al Habsi with a curler from a tight angle, and Fellaini’s follow-up is blocked on the line.

2.09pm GMT

80 min The BT commentator Ian Darke apologises for the offensive language in a chant at Old Trafford. That’s the first time I’ve heard that. “What the fucking hell was that?” was the chant, in response to Al-Habsi’s unwitting assist.

2.08pm GMT

Oh dear. Al-Habsi, side on to goal, shapes to kick a backpass from Moore but inadvertently touches it with his standing foot and almost falls over. That allows Rashford to run past him and exaggeratedly hoof it into the net from a yard.

2.05pm GMT

77 min A couple of Manchester United substitutes: Bastian Schweinsteiger and Timothy Fosu-Mensah replace Juan Mata and the superb Michael Carrick. Reading almost make a change, with Dominic Samuel replacing Kermorgant.

2.04pm GMT

Marcus Rashford gets his first goal since September, a deserved reward for an effervescent and classy performance. Carrick swept a wonderful 30-yard disguised pass to put Rashford through on goal, and he opened his body to sidefoot it calmly past Al-Habsi.

2.02pm GMT

76 min “Rob, one of the reasons they were less gung ho because no two midfielders were as good,” says Jack Walsh.

No I’m afraid that’s not right. They were less gung-ho even with Keane and Scholes in the team in the early 2000s.

2.02pm GMT

74 min A couple of corners for United come to nothing. The edge has gone from this match, and it’s essentially a training session for both teams now.

1.59pm GMT

71 min “Re: Rooney’s “disastrous 2010” - was this the same year he won the PFA and FWA player of the year awards and was so pivotal to United we played him on crutches against Bayern?” says Des Carney. “You’re having a mare here Rob.”

No, Des, you are. In most cultures calendar years end in December, not April. The Bayern injury – when he was in the form of his life, and had scored 18 goals in 13 games – was the start of a career-changing nine months in which he alienated England fans, Manchester United fans and Sir Alex Ferguson, all a frustrated reaction to being unable to recapture the astonishing form he was in before the injury, when it looked like he was capable of leading Manchester United to a record fourth title in a row, not to mention another European Cup, and England to the World Cup. That Bayern injury was the most significant turning point of his career.

1.55pm GMT

67 min McCleary, who has had a fine match, goes on a penetrative slalom before finding Kermorgant, whose 20-yard shot is blocked by Smalling.

1.52pm GMT

63 min McCleary plays a lovely one-two with Swift, and Romero charges from his line before going feet first to win a 50/50 ball. McCleary was hurt in the collision but should be fine.

1.48pm GMT

60 min Van Den Berg saves a goal with a brilliant interception. He stretched to get the merest touch on Rooney’s low cross/pass, without which Rashford would have had a tap-in from 10 yards.

1.48pm GMT

59 min “That video of Stam getting stitched up is something else,” says Rhys Fraser. “The Stam-Koller bald doppelganger collision (or Kollision?), overseen by the greatest ref, bald or otherwise, in Collina, making a beautiful bald triumvirate and then Stam just sitting there with his lucid man-mountain terminator visage. Top viewing on an otherwise dreary Saturday at work.”

Yes, in the bald community we regard that as one of the universe’s finest moments.

1.47pm GMT

58 min Mata misses a sitter, though turns out he was offside. United have played some extremely slick and - even more strikingly after the last few years - quick football today.

1.45pm GMT

57 min A Reading substitution: the excellent John Swift, who is on his way back from injury, replaces Evans.

1.45pm GMT

55 min Rooney misses from four yards. Rashford, who seems to have got quicker today, played a high-class reverse pass to Fellaini, whose cross-shot wasn’t held by Al-Habsi. Rooney anticipated the rebound like Gerd Muller but then hit it straight at Al-Habsi’s legs. He should have scored.

1.42pm GMT

54 min Ashley Young is booked for a late tackle on Obita. Some referees would have sent him off for that, such was the dramatic and painful nature of the collision, though the fact he didn’t go over the ball probably saved him.

1.41pm GMT

53 min Martial plays the ball infield to Carrick, who cracks a fine curling shot from 25 yards that is superbly saved on the half-volley by the sprawling Al-Habsi.

1.40pm GMT

51 min The speed of United’s counter-attacking is such that you’d expect them to get plenty more chances in the second half. Rashford has been electric, if occasionally wasteful. All things being equal he will become a wonderful centre-forward.

1.38pm GMT

49 min “I’m sorry but you’ve started something interesting now and I have to bite,” says Michael Simpson. “Gung-ho though we were in 1999, that stable, post-Queiroz Champions League focused football was entirely dependent on players like Ferdinand being able to defend, intercept and play out the ball. I stand by my better player point.”

So you are saying they were better footballers? Or better defenders? I don’t really know, I was mesmerised in your italics. I do know I’d take Jaap Stam over John Stones though.

1.35pm GMT

47 min Another half-chance for United. Rooney, on the stretch beyond the far post, can’t quite get around Rashford’s excellent right-wing cross and slices it into the crowd.

1.33pm GMT

46 min Peep peep! Reading have made a half-time substitution, with Jordan Obita replacing United alumnus Tyler Blackett at left-back.

1.30pm GMT

Yet more half-time entertainment

“My favourite memory of Jaap Stam,” says Gary Naylor.

1.30pm GMT

More half-time entertainment

1.30pm GMT

Half-time entertainment

1.21pm GMT

More half-time chit-chat

“Rooney’s records are incredibly impressive, a testament to a superb career, though I’m sure the United goal scoring record will be beaten in our lives as its comparatively low compared to other big clubs,” says Mike Gibbons. “It says something about this serfdom to statistics though that, although they scored less and picked up fewer gongs, Law, Charlton, Ronaldo, Hughes and other goalscorers will always be regarded more highly at United.”

1.21pm GMT

Half-time chit-chat

“‘Stam played with far less midfield protection’????” sniffs Jack Walsh. “Roy Keane at his best, not to mind Paul Scholes, not good enough?”

1.17pm GMT

A lovely training session for Manchester United, in which Wayne Rooney equalled Sir Bobby Charlton’s goalscoring record. See you in 10 minutes for more of the same.

1.16pm GMT

44 min Martial misses a good chance from Rashford’s cross. United could have scored six or seven already.

1.13pm GMT

43 min Martial goes another twinkle-toed meander before inviting Mata to shoot first time from inside the D. He curls it over the bar.

1.12pm GMT

43 min “Unfortunately,” says Kevin Wilson, “to most people Stam is probably remembered for that penalty - it’s still in orbit.”

1.11pm GMT

42 min Mata takes Young’s crisp cut-back in his stride before lashing a shot that is crucially blocked by Evans.

1.10pm GMT

38 min The bushy-haired pair of Fellaini and Williams go head-to-head, or ‘fro-to-fro, after a challenge from Fellaini. The referee decides not to book either of them, and quite right too.

1.07pm GMT

37 min This has the breezy feel of a pre-season friendly, or maybe a post-season friendly: you attack, we attack. Reading have been really good in possession since waking up.

1.06pm GMT

34 min Rooney plays a beautiful first-time pass, straight outta 2007, to put Rashford through again. He shapes to go round Al-Habsi, who stays on his feet, so Rashford has to drive a low shot that hits the legs of Al-Habsi and goes behind. Rashford has looked really sharp today, playing up front for the first time in a while, but he’ll be annoyed that he hasn’t scored at least once.

1.05pm GMT

33 min “Hi Rob,” says Geoff Wignall. “Great as Stam was in his time at Old Trafford, those of a certain age will recall the equally great Martin Buchan, those of us even older will remember also Tony Dunne, albeit a full back so hard to compare directly. However there’s no need to have had quite so many birthdays to remember the finest of all: step forward Paul McGrath, the most outstanding defender I’ve seen at an English club in over 50 years of following football (and one who also managed to be a world-class midfielder).”

I wish I’d seen Buchan in his pomp. Fair point about McGrath. He was so astonishingly good at Villa that I’ve almost forgotten he used to play for United.

1.02pm GMT

32 min You want a Wayne Rooney goals record interactive? We’ve got a Wayne Rooney goals record interactive.

1.01pm GMT

30 min Rooney tries to score his 250th United goal with a little chip from 20 yards. It drifts a few yards away.

1.01pm GMT

29 min Evans rakes a gorgeous outside-of-the-foot pass down the right – think Gazza v Czechoslovakia in 1990 - for Kelly, who bursts into the box and drives a low cross that is palmed away by Romero. Reading are playing some lovely stuff now.

12.59pm GMT

28 min “Stam’s legendary status owes to the fact that he was only there for three years, I’d say, something only bolstered by Fergie’s own insistence that it was his biggest mistake (David Moyes, anyone?),” says Michael Simpson. “The what could have been is one of the most enticing fantasies in sport - just look at your own, half-joking point about Rooney and Maradona. Somehow in our heads Stam has come to embody defensive perfection even though, and without taking anything away from him, both Vidic and Ferdinand were probably better players.”

I wasn’t joking at all about Maradona. And nor, more important, was Johnny Giles. As for Vidic and Ferdinand, I don’t agree. Both greats, undoubtedly, but Stam played with far less midfield protection. At their peak I’d take Stam over both. In a way, Stam was Vidic and Ferdinand combined.

12.57pm GMT

27 min Rashford misses an open goal! He was played through by a lovely angled pass from Smalling, went smoothly round the outrushing Al-Habsi but then swept his shot into the side netting from a tight angle.

12.56pm GMT

25 min Reading are playing some good stuff now, moving the ball around confidently in the Ajax style. They were almost weirdly passive for the first 20 minutes. Kermorgant wins another corner on the right. It’s driven very deep to Van Den Berg on the edge of the box. He volleys it back across goal and Moore, on the six-yard line, can’t make contact as he flicks out his right leg. Had he done so he would probably have scored; instead the ball drifted a few yards wide.

12.53pm GMT

23 min A Reading corner almost leads to a goal - for United. Martial runs half the length of the field, with Gunter backpedalling all the way, before hitting a shot that is fumbled by Al-Habsi and claimed at the second attempt.

12.51pm GMT

21 min McCleary’s deep, dinked cross is volleyed back across goal by Beerens, and the ever alert Carrick makes a vital challenge to deny Kelly a tap-in. That was Reading’s first good attack after a dreadful start to the game.

12.49pm GMT

20 min This is a blow for United: Marcos Rojo, a key player these days, is limping off to be replaced by another key player these days, Phil Jones.

12.48pm GMT

19 min “By the nature of the game, it’s often the flair players that make bigger impacts,” writes Matt Dony. “Their exploits are romanticised and woven into the fabric of clubs much more quickly than defensive players. Which makes Stam’s standing at United all the more remarkable. As an outsider, I’m genuinely amazed he was only there for three years. I can’t think of many other defenders, any any clubs, who left such a strong impression in such a short time. Titus Bramble, maybe?”

Ginola at Newcastle? Neil Redfearn at everywhere?

12.46pm GMT

This is a lovely goal, but far too easy for United. Martial plays a one-two with Rooney, fronts up Moore on the left side of the box and passes the ball almost tenderly into the far corner. After a few months of youthful angst, Martial is playing brilliantly once again.

12.43pm GMT

13 min Martial floats an attempted curler too close to Al-Habsi. United are in total control at the moment.

12.41pm GMT

10 min It’s 4484 days since Rooney scored that amazing hat-trick, all from outside the area, against Fenerbahce on his United debut. He was an astonishing force of nature back then and, while he didn’t become the English Maradona that we all hoped, his statistical legacy brooks no argument: nobody has scored more goals for England or Manchester United.

12.38pm GMT

Wayne Rooney joins Sir Bobby Charlton as the leading goalscorer in Manchester United’s history. Martial went on a superb run infield from the left before playing it back to Mata. He crunched a mishit shot across goal, and Rooney improvised to thigh the ball over Al-Habsi and into the far corner. Did he mean that? Who cares.

12.36pm GMT

4 min “Hi Rob,” says Aditya Devavrat. “Regarding your statement on Jaap Stam - which I’m sure you didn’t think would prove to be this controversial! - I think if one were to look at it simply as, of all the defenders who have at some point played for United, which one was the best, then Stam could easily top that list. But with something more vague like greatest defender in club history, in which things like longevity or time spent at the club also come into play, I’m not sure you could put Stam over Vidic, Ferdinand, Bruce, Pallister, etc.”

Yes that’s true. I was referring purely to the highest level of performance of which each player was capable. At his best, and especially in the Treble year, Stam was awesome. And he had everything. He was one of the fastest beefcakes I’ve ever seen.

12.34pm GMT

2 min Rooney, who needs one goal to equal Sir Bobby Charlton’s record of 249 for United, is denied by an excellent save from Al-Habsi. Rojo’s pass over the top was expertly controlled on the run by Rooney, who then rifled a low shot across goal with his left foot from a tight angle. Al-Habsi got down really smartly to his left to make a strong-wristed save.

12.31pm GMT

34 seconds A long kick downfield from Romero bounces through to Rashford, who runs at the backpedalling Moore and flashes a sidefooted shot not far wide from the edge of the area.

12.30pm GMT

1 min Peep peep! Reading, in blue and white, kick off from right to left. Manchester United are in red.

12.26pm GMT

On the subject of the FA Cup, Reading and legendary Manchester United centre-halves...

12.19pm GMT

An email! “Stam the greatest defender in United’s history?” sniffs David Wall. “More significant to them than the likes of Vidic, Gary Neville, Steve Bruce, or Denis Irwin (you might even make a leftfield case for Park Ji-Sung after his reinvention as a defensive winger)? He was a super player for United but I wonder if his reputation is burnished somewhat by the fact that he left long before his career started to decline so is only remembered for a few years there when at his peak. Perhaps, to balance it out, his United legacy should be grouped with the career of his unfortunate lookalike William Prunier. He’d drop down the pecking order then for sure.”

I didn’t say most significant – he was only there three years – but at his peak, specifically in April 1999, you can make a strong case that he was better than anyone. Ferdinand would run him closest among the centre-backs I think. I suppose it’s hard to compare centre- and full-backs.

11.51am GMT

Manchester United (4-2-3-1) Romero; Young, Smalling, Rojo, Blind; Carrick, Fellaini; Mata, Rooney, Martial; Rashford.
Substitutes: Pogba, Ibrahimovic, Mkhitaryan, Schweinsteiger, Fosu-Mensah, Jones, J Pereira.

Reading (4-3-3) Al-Habsi; Gunter, Van Den Berg, L Moore, Blackett; Williams, Evans, Kelly; McCleary, Kermorgant, Beerens.
Substitutes: S Moore, Cooper, Swift, Obita, Samuel, Meite, Watson.

11.49am GMT

11.20am GMT

Hello. I wonder what Ivan Zamorano is up to today. It’s hard not to think of Zamorano, given that Jaap Stam is returning to Old Trafford. Stam was only at United for three years but has the enduring impact of a one-club man. Unusually, he is both a legend and a cult hero. He was adored by United fans for many reasons: silently informing Zamorano of the challenges of playing away from home, umpteen masterclasses in one v one defending, measuring 5.4 on the Richter Scale at Highbury - and most of all because he just got it. Every team has players they love for that reason more than any other.

Stam might even be the greatest defender in the club’s history. So while he says today’s FA Cup third-round tie is not about him – and he is a fascinatingly unsentimental man - deep down he knows it is. It’ll be a 90-minute encore of “Yip Jaap Stam”, with a football match as the backdrop.

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Published on January 07, 2017 06:21

January 4, 2017

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

Two lovely headed goals from Dele Alli continued his brilliant run of form and ended Chelsea’s 13-match winning streak

9.53pm GMT

Chelsea’s astonishing winning run is over. Spurs were at their charming, admirable best to win an unyielding match between two excellent sides. Dele Alli headed two lovely goals to make it six in three games and seven in four. He’s on quite a run; Chelsea’s is over, but they are still five points clear at the top of the table. Could be worse, eh. Thanks for your company; here’s Mac Millings with the last word.

“Wrong. Roy Walker.”

9.50pm GMT

90+3 min Son replaces Harry Kane, who has done plenty of sour metres up front tonight.

9.49pm GMT

90+2 min “Kyle Walker or Des Walker?” says Simon Frank. I’m appalled you even had to ask the question. Always, always Des. At his best, either side of Italia 90, he pretty much perfected defending. Best England defender of my lifetime.

9.48pm GMT

90+1 min There will be four additional minutes of futile defiance from Chelsea.

9.48pm GMT

90 min David Luiz, in the Huth-at-Camp-Nou-bugger-dignity-we’re-losing role, flicks a header high over the bar from 12 yards. It was maybe slightly better than a half-chance.

9.47pm GMT

88 min If only Spurs had played their Champions League games at White Hart Lane, eh. They are good enough to beat any team in the world on this ground - with the obvious exception of Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao, reigning champions of the much admired Chinese Super League.

9.45pm GMT

87 min Costa, frustrated, has a little tug of Dier’s right ear. Not sure where that stands on Niall Mullen’s hygiene-o-meter. Moments later, Danny Rose is booked for something or other. Rose and Walker have been so good again.

9.43pm GMT

86 min Spurs make another change: Moussa Sissoko replaces the wonderful Dele Alli.

9.43pm GMT

85 min Chelsea make their final change: Michy Batshuayi comes off the missing persons list to replace Victor Moses.

9.42pm GMT

83 min Chelsea haven’t done a huge amount wrong tonight. The timing of the goals - one just before half-time, one when Chelsea were rampant just after the break - was really important. Spurs have done unto Chelsea as Chelsea have done unto so many other teams this season.

9.39pm GMT

81 min “Tactics question,” says Zulfiqar Shah. “What do you think Spurs are doing to exploit Chelsea’s 3-4-3 system?”

Scoring goals. You’re welcome!

9.39pm GMT

80 min For the first time, Chelsea are hinting at an acceptance of defeat. The good news for them is that the next two league games - Leicester away, and Hull at home, and by the way I hope Hull are relegated in each of the next 48 seasons after that utterly scandalous decision to sack Mike Phelan - are winnable. They are still strong favourites, but at least the rest of the Big Six have hope.

9.36pm GMT

79 min Cesc Fabregas gets a warm welcome as he comes on to replace N’Golo Kante.

9.35pm GMT

78 min “The correct portmanteau is Delisen,” says Shaun, “which sounds as delicious as their link-ups.”

Look, all of it, just let it go.

9.34pm GMT

77 min Rose is fouled 30 yards from goal, slightly to the left of centre. Eriksen has a pop nonetheless and curls a nice effort just wide of the near post. Courtois had it covered.

9.33pm GMT

76 min “Deliksen,” suggests Gustav Björklund for the Alli/Eriksen portmanteau. I think I’m just going to call them Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen.

9.31pm GMT

74 min A Spurs substitution: Harry Winks replaces the excellent Mousa Dembele. You have to love Pochettino’s faith in young players. You have to love Pochettino full stop.

9.31pm GMT

73 min Chelsea have won 13 matches in a row and yet - cliche alert - a draw here would feel like the biggest victory of all.

9.30pm GMT

72 min Pedro, who has been lively since going to left wing-back, wins a corner. That leads to another, of which he makes a Horlicks.

9.27pm GMT

68 min Pedro’s fast cross is cleared superbly in the kung-fu style by Vertonghen, in his own six-yard box. Moments later, Alderweireld blocks Costa’s scissor-kick. Chelsea are as incessant as the aliens in Space Invaders, and almost as inexorable.

9.25pm GMT

67 min Eriksen combines yet again with Walker and hits a shot that is blocked by Cahill. It would be entirely wrong to say that Eriksen and Alli are Spurs’ version of Xavi and Iniesta, so that’s exactly what I’m going to do. You know what I mean. They are nowhere near that all-time-great class, but they go together beautifully and they are so lovely to watch. The portmanteau isn’t quite as good as Xaviesta, though: Allikesen? Elli?

9.24pm GMT

66 min “Don’t forget the Snoop Dogg posters, Bobby,” says my university buddy James Hatfield, whose memory is apparently not what it was.

9.23pm GMT

65 min That second goal has rocked Chelsea, who were playing so well at that point. Willian is coming on to replace Marcos Alonso, so Pedro will play as the left wing-back.

9.20pm GMT

62 min Moses is a little fortunate not to be booked for a lunge at Alli.

9.17pm GMT

59 min Eriksen’s cross deflects towards Kane, eight yards out, and Courtois gets there just before him to palm the ball away. Dele Alli, as you probably know, has now scored six in his last three games.

9.16pm GMT

57 min This is a great test for Chelsea, who will be pretty aggrieved by the scoreline. Many players would sulk and/or give up in this situation, but you can’t see a Conte team doing that.

9.14pm GMT

55 min If you’re not truly, madly, deeply in love with Dele Alli, you’re either a Chelsea fan or you’re living the wrong life. He makes football fun, just like it used to be. He’ll soon be a national treasure.

9.13pm GMT

They’ve done it again! Another lovely cross from Eriksen on the right, and a fine header from Dele Alli. This was a superb ball, clipped beyond the far post, and Alli hung in the air for an age before cushioning a header back across Courtois and into the net. Brilliant.

9.11pm GMT

54 min “A note to wantaway MBM blogger Rob Smyth, if you’re still there Rob: any Spurs fans who gave up smoking for the New Year may be in for a tough 45 minutes,” says Justin Kavanagh, who has a friend who supports Spurs and has just given up smoking. “Stay resolute! Let’s hope Spurs do too! Rob?”

9.10pm GMT

52 min This is the match we expected. It’s lurching from end to end now, with Chelsea looking especially menacing.

9.08pm GMT

50 min “Rob,” says Thaddeus Verhoff. “I thought it an entertaining first half--if a tad sloppy. Wanted to shout out to my friend Brian in CA, Carmen in NYC (where I am watching live while he wanders about selling beer) and Melissa who couldn’t be bothered to show up for the first half. If Melissa did show up at the pub we could engage in some good-natured banter, as she somehow roots for Chelsea and I for Spurs. Here’s to the second half!”

Are you suggesting not all banter is good-natured? Next you’ll be saying 98 per cent of banter is just bullying by another name!

9.07pm GMT

49 min This is a furious start to the second half from Chelsea. Moses falls over in the box after a challenge from Dembele. Martin Atkinson waves play on. It was probably a foul, a shove to the side, but the original contact was outside the box.

9.06pm GMT

48 min Hazard misses a great chance! A cross from the right was half cleared to Alonso, who headed it back towards goal. It bounced up to Hazard, just beyond the far post, and he headed wide from a few yards. He did have Lloris and Vertonghen between him and the goal but should still have scored.

9.05pm GMT

47 min Chelsea aren’t going to go quietly. Diego Costa works some space 20 yards from goal and hits a fierce low shot that is excellently palmed away by Lloris. Then Hazard slides a dangerous ball across the face of goal that Rose puts behind for a corner.

9.03pm GMT

47 min “It’s therefore inevitable that you’ll move to cover the Chinese Super League (if your comments are anything to go by),” says Jerome Mallon. “And when you do, it will have always been a boyhood dream, am I right?”

Exactly. At university, while everyone else had profound posters of Che Guevara and Pamela Anderson on their wall, I preferred an artist’s impression of Fan Zhiyi.

9.03pm GMT

46 min Pee peep! Chelsea begin the second half. They have only needed to come from behind twice in this run - against City and Spurs - but teams managed by Antonio Conte will never shy away from adversity.

8.53pm GMT

Half-time chit-chat

“Continuing on the Chinese Super League theme,” says Gerrard Catesby, “I pose another question: do you think that players are selfish putting their financial situation (which in reality isn’t exactly unsustainable in the European leagues) above their fame, prestige, and, ultimately, their career, or do you think that it is - as mentioned - a slice of their own downfall, initiated by their own actions? Thus, it is no longer selfish, but ignorant. Thoughts please.”

8.50pm GMT

Well, that changes things. Chelsea won’t panic - they were behind at half-time against Manchester City last month and ended up stuffing them. Spurs are a much better side defensively, mind. See you in 10 minutes what should/will/may be a belting second half.

8.48pm GMT

45+2 min Alli is booked for expressing joy towards other human beings.

8.47pm GMT

This is a fine goal. Walker runs at Alonso and gives the ball back to Eriksen, who curls a fine ball towards the far post. Alli gets between two defenders and loops a high-class header back across the leaping Courtois and into the net. What a joyous footballer he is. Chelsea won’t be happy with the defending but Eriksen and Alli, two lovely footballers, played their parts immaculately.

8.44pm GMT

45 min “How much,” says Juan Torres, “would it take for you to uproot and move to China to cover the Chinese Super League?”

Well, Juan, China are certainly looking to develop their football, looking at their signings and their recruitment. If an opportunity came along I am contracted to the Guardian but I have to look at my long-term strategy of my career. How long can I last as a liveblogger? I have been at the Guardian 13 years. It’s been a wonderful 13 years. There is no offer on the table but if they made an offer it would be under consideration. But at the moment I still enjoy working for the Guardian.

8.44pm GMT

44 min Steve Waterhouse (2 min) is a clairvoyant. There hasn’t been a single shot on target.

8.41pm GMT

41 min “Fistbumps are just more hygienic than handshakes,” says Niall Mullen, sending a medical graphic as proof. My whole handshake world has been shattered. Everything I know is wronDON’T EFFING SHAKE MY HAND OKAY.

8.40pm GMT

40 min Wanyama is booked for a sliding foul on Hazard.

8.39pm GMT

38 min Cahill gives the ball to Eriksen, panics, pulls him back and is booked. Well played Gary. The resulting free-kick, taken by Dembele on the right, is swung beyond the far post. Dier heads it across the six-yard box and Courtois dives to his left to push it away. It wasn’t a save as such, as it wasn’t going in, but it may have saved a goal nonetheless.

8.36pm GMT

36 min Hazard’s penetrative square pass from the left finds Costa in space just outside the box. He moves the ball into the D and then belts it into Row Q.

8.35pm GMT

35 min This game is still waiting for an innocuous incident and/or a goal to spark it into life. Chelsea will be the happier team, just about.

8.34pm GMT

34 min “Where were you when you were shit?” chant the Spurs fans. It’s a bit of an inaccurate slur given that all the Chelsea supporters were following their team last season.

8.31pm GMT

32 min “Re: the fistbump,” begins Mike Perrry. “Are you not up with “Gangs of the EPL” [on the Athletico Mince podcast]? Clearly Toby Alderweireld is trying to drum up support for his gang.”

I didn’t get a word of that. It’s me, not you.

8.29pm GMT

3o min I knew this game would be a stinker.

8.28pm GMT

29 min The more Spurs dominate possession, the more you feel a deadly Chelsea counter-attack is coming. Chelsea can play more than one way, it’s true, but they are the masters of Contenaccio.

8.27pm GMT

27 min “Hey Rob,” says JR in Illinois. “Just before Eriksen took that last Spurs corner David Luiz gave Toby Alderweireld a fist bump. What’s that all about?”

No idea. Homoeroticism?

8.25pm GMT

25 min David Luiz wobbles a 30-yard free-kick over the bar.

8.24pm GMT

23 min Kante, under pressure from Alli, gives the ball straight to Eriksen. He runs to within 22 yards of goal before whipping a lovely shot across Courtois and just wide of the far post.

8.22pm GMT

22 min Danny Rose wins a corner down the left. He’s been the most influential attacker so far. Eriksen’s dipping inswinger is headed away and Chelsea break menacingly, four on three. Eventually Diego Costa stabs a pass towards Pedro that goes through to Lloris, whereupon Costa gives Pedro a huge rollocking. It wasn’t quite Lee Bowyer and Kieron Dyer but they were arguing about it for at least 30 seconds.

8.20pm GMT

21 min “Mousa Dembélé is criminally underrated,” says Gustav Björklund. “That is all.”

It’s the right answer! As well as being bloody good, he is so elegant, particularly when he runs with the ball and hugs it on his left foot.

8.19pm GMT

19 min A brilliant left-footed cross from Eriksen is cleared admirably by the sliding Cahill at the far post. Spurs are starting to dominate.

8.18pm GMT

18 min That’s the first booking! Pedro slides ineptly through Danny Rose, and gives Martin Atkinson an easy decision.

8.17pm GMT

17 min “Plenty of needle under the surface so far,” says Dave Adams. “Lots of barely controlled aggression. Has the air of a ‘lively’ boozer early on a Saturday night - just waiting for something innocuous to result in a completely disproportionate and unnecessary ruck.”

Haha that’s a perfect analogy for this. It will kick off because of something innocuous. Either that or somebody will get bored of waiting and do a Begbie.

8.16pm GMT

16 min David Luiz makes an excellent headed clearance from Eriksen’s dangerous inswinging free-kick. He’s had a superb start to the game.

8.14pm GMT

15 min To borrow a metaphor from the old fight game, both teams are sparring rather than slugging.

8.12pm GMT

13 min Vertonghen’s long, bouncing pass almost puts Rose - who is more wing than back at the moment - through on goal. David Luiz scurries across to make a crucial tackle.

8.10pm GMT

11 min Spurs have won four of out 49 Premier League games against Chelsea. Antonio Conte has won 43 of his last 49 league games.

8.10pm GMT

10 min A lovely, elegant run from Dembele, who slips past both Kante and Matic before scooping a through pass towards Kane. Courtois gets there first to claim.

8.08pm GMT

8 min We know how good Chelsea are on the counter-attack but they have not played that way at the moment. I don’t have a personal Opta dripfeed but I suspect they’ve had more possession so far.

8.07pm GMT

7 min “I feel like there is a lot of pressure around this match,” says Yoann Lechenault. “Do I have to bet a Costa red card?” Only if the fun hasn’t stopped.

8.07pm GMT

6 min Vertonghen, who looks up for this, gets in a tangle with Pedro and is then shoved over by Azpilicueta. Pedro signals for Vertonghen to be booked, presumably for something sly while they were playing Twister on the floor. Martin Atkinson decides not to book anybody, and he’s probably right.

8.05pm GMT

5 min Hazard almost gives Chelsea the lead. Matic lofted an angled pass over the top to Hazard, who was played onside by Vertonghen on the other side of the pitch. As the ball bounced up on the left side of the box he dragged a left-footed shot across Lloris and wide of the far post. He didn’t get hold of it properly, though it wasn’t far wide.

8.04pm GMT

3 min Vertonghen robs Pedro on the halfway line and keeps running down the left to receive Alli’s return pass. David Luiz comes across and Vertonghen, on the stretch, crosses too deep.

8.02pm GMT

2 min “Huge build up to this game, two outrageously in-form teams,” says Steve Waterhouse. “0-0 innit?”

I think you’ll fin the appropriate phrase, in accordance with the Guardian style guide, is “is it not”.
They are the best two defences in the division, so it’s not beyond the realms. Can’t see it, mind.

8.00pm GMT

1 min Peep peep! Spurs, in white, kick off from right to left. Chelsea are in blue.

7.56pm GMT

The players are in the tunnel, diligently applying their business faces. This could be immense.

7.56pm GMT

“You will have to try hard to find a more pessimistic Spurs-fan than me - but a new year, a new mentality, right?” says Lars Bøgegaard. “So: when Manchester City arrived they were unbeatable and running away with the league. So once more unto the breach. It could be the charge of the white brigade and... oh! Old habits die hard.”

No offence, but that email puts you in the all-time top five Spurs-supporting optimists I’ve met in my life. Also: what’s Peter Oh got to do (got to do) with it?

7.45pm GMT

The dark side of neutrality

“Spare a thought for us Gooners, Rob,” writes Allan Castle. “Hard to want a Tottenham victory. But want to keep Chelsea in sight (I’m an optimist). Yet want to finish above Tottenham. But having the record broken by Chelsea… shudder. ‘Mass brawl’ seems like the best outcome to some of us, yet the last two times WE were implicated in one of those we won the league. Yours, Deeply Conflicted.”

7.26pm GMT

Pre-match reading

Tottenham must put gloss on their finishing against leaders Chelsea, says Paul Doyle

7.02pm GMT

Tottenham Hotspur (3-4-2-1) Lloris; Dier, Alderweireld, Vertonghen; Walker, Wanyama, Dembele, Rose; Alli, Eriksen; Kane.
Substitutes: Wimmer, Vorm, Trippier, Davies, Son, Winks, Sissoko.

Chelsea (3-4-3) Courtois; Azpilicueta, David Luiz, Cahill; Moses, Kante, Matic, Alonso; Pedro, Diego Costa, Hazard.
Substitutes: Begovic, Ivanovic, Zouma, Willian, Chalobah, Fabregas, Batshuayi.

2.12pm GMT

Tomorrow? Nah, don’t care mate. Yesterday? Not interested! Every now and then, the post-McKenna mantra of “living in the moment” really does apply - even in sport. A few precious matches exist in isolation, where the bigger picture is almost entirely irrelevant. All that matters is winning, right here, right now. That is emphatically the case for Spurs at White Hart Lane tonight, where they want to end their beloathed Chelsea’s run of 13 consecutive league wins in the grand manner

We know that Spurs want to finish in the top four. They might still win the league. But whatever happens for the rest of the season, a win over Chelsea – and perhaps a draw – would be a memory to cherish for decades. Under Mauricio Pochettino, Spurs have become an excellent big-game team and they have already beaten the champions-elect once this season; their stirring 2-0 win over Manchester City in October changed the Premier League title race completely.

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Published on January 04, 2017 13:53

January 2, 2017

Gary Anderson v Michael van Gerwen: PDC World Darts Championship final – as it happened

Michael van Gerwen was in imperious form to beat the two-times defending champion Gary Anderson 7-3 to clinch his second world title

10.10pm GMT

Here’s a report of the action for you to digest …

10.09pm GMT

A bit of housekeeping for you … there were 42 180s which is comfortably a record. These two really have taken darts to the next level.

And in a minute or two, Van Gerwen is going to be officially presented with the trophy he’s already hoisted. Twice. First though, Sky Sports reverts to full montage mode.

10.03pm GMT

A teary Van Gerwen seizes the trophy again, this time at the instruction of Dave Clark …

10.01pm GMT

MvG doesn't bother waiting to be presented with the trophy, grabbing it off the plinth instead. Superb.

10.01pm GMT

“That was a bit said to be fair, you always get people like that, they try to be funny. He wanted to give me the trophy but you’re not allowed to do that,” says Van Gerwen of the invader.

Anderson is phlegmatic in defeat: “The year that this man has had, it’s been a walk in the park for him. It’s well deserved but I’ve had a good three years, the crowd has been fantastic and we’ve had a good couple of weeks.”

9.59pm GMT

Van Gerwen is relishing his moment. In truth he was far too good for Anderson, who really did pay the price for failing to go 3-1 up in sets. The Dutchman’s form when streaking clear of the two-times defending champion was out of this world. A worthy champion indeed.

“I feel absolutely over the moon,” says Van Gerwen. “I’m a very happy man at the moment.”

9.54pm GMT

Tenth set: Van Gerwen 0-1 Anderson (Van Gerwen leads 6-3 in sets): Van Gerwen is back to within one leg again. Oooosh, that’s ominous, a 180 from Van Gerwen but Anderson responds with one of his own! He may need 134 to stay in the match though. He can’t do it so Van Gerwen has 85 for the title, make that bullseye … AND HE NAILS IT!

9.53pm GMT

Tenth set: Van Gerwen 2-2 Anderson (Van Gerwen leads 6-3 in sets): The crowd are bellowing Anderson’s name. And a timely 140 puts a bit of pressure on Van Gerwen’s throw. As does another 180 for Anderson. Van Gerwen checks out on 100 though – his fifth three-figure finish.

9.52pm GMT

Tenth set: Van Gerwen 1-2 Anderson (Van Gerwen leads 6-3 in sets): It’s another 180 for Anderson though. And another for Van Gerwen. Woof! Anderson needs 103 to take this leg. Not this time. Van Gerwen needs 124 to move to the brink. But he can’t find it and Anderson takes the leg with tops.

9.50pm GMT

Tenth set: Van Gerwen 1-1 Anderson (Van Gerwen leads 6-3 in sets): Van Gerwen responds the only way he knows how, with a maximum. Van Gerwen needs 87 for this leg and needs just two darts for an 11-dart leg. Emphatic.

9.49pm GMT

Tenth set: Van Gerwen 0-1 Anderson (Van Gerwen leads 6-3 in sets): He couldn’t, could he? Anderson has the darts. And he racks up another maximum. Van Gerwen seems rattled by that invader and Anderson is all of a sudden hitting his doubles!

9.48pm GMT

Ninth set: Van Gerwen 2-3 Anderson (Van Gerwen leads 6-2 in sets): So Van Gerwen has the darts and needs to close out this leg for his second world title. Anderson is going down swinging though with 180 No17. And another! What a champion! Anderson needs 81. And he nails it. THAT IS DARTS AT ITS FINEST!

9.47pm GMT

Ninth set: Van Gerwen 2-2 Anderson (Van Gerwen leads 6-2 in sets): Anderson has the arrows. And his 16th 180 takes him to 125. He’s left himself 40 but Van Gerwen is nowhere in this leg. Maybe not after a 180. Anderson misses three darts at tops so Van Gerwen has 115 for the title. It’s not going to be this time, and after a brief interlude for a stage invader, we’re back. And Anderson hits double five.

9.44pm GMT

Ninth set: Van Gerwen 2-1 Anderson (Van Gerwen leads 6-2 in sets): Ooosh. And a 180 from Anderson.But Van Gerwen needs 148. Anderson needs 120. He’s got one shot at tops, but misses. Van Gerwen has double four and takes the leg on double two. Van Gerwen is one leg away now.

9.43pm GMT

Ninth set: Van Gerwen 1-1 Anderson (Van Gerwen leads 6-2 in sets): Anderson to throw first. He’s left himself 130 and has six darts at it. He’s left himself 40 … and gets it. So we’re level in the set at one apiece.

9.41pm GMT

Ninth set: Van Gerwen 1-0 Anderson (Van Gerwen leads 6-2 in sets): Van Gerwen has the darts. And van Gerwen opens up with his 16th 18. 100 from Anderson. 44 from Van Gerwen though, and a 180 from Anderson. 51 from Van Gerwen. Chance. Anderson has 140 to finish but can only manage 60. He’ll be back though. 80 then. 20, 20, 20 … so Van Gerwen needs 145. Anderson is back, AGAIN. He needs 20. And doesn’t get it. He’s gone. And Van Gerwen comes back to win the leg with double three.

9.35pm GMT

Eighth set: Van Gerwen 3-1 Anderson (Van Gerwen leads 5-2 in sets): Van Gerwen starts with 180. Of course he does. And just misses another. The Dutchman is streets ahead in this leg and has six darts at 100. He needs three and he needs just one more set for victory. It’s becoming a procession.

9.34pm GMT

Eighth set: Van Gerwen 2-1 Anderson (Van Gerwen leads 5-2 in sets): It’s when Anderson is in the 200s that things aren’t really going his way. But he’s left himself with 104. No three figure finish for him yet. Now is a good time to start … nope. He misses double 12. Van Gerwen needs 75 … and he hits double 12. And that’s the story of this match.

9.32pm GMT

Eighth set: Van Gerwen 1-1 Anderson (Van Gerwen leads 5-2 in sets): Anderson hits his first maximim for a while. And follows up with 140. Van Gerwen needs 76 though and requires just two darts … ruthless.

9.31pm GMT

Eighth set: Van Gerwen 0-1 Anderson (Van Gerwen leads 5-2 in sets): Anderson with the darts. If there is to be any comeback now is the time to start Gary … 100 to start. Van Gerwen is just relentless at the moment but Anderson has his nose in front in this leg. But visits of 40 and then 45 are not good enough. He’s in trouble again. Van Gerwen has 72 to break again. 16, 16, but he misses tops. Anderson needs 117. Ooouch. He misses tops as well. But Van Gerwen misses three darts at 40 … but Anderson misses three darts at 20!!!!! Van Gerwen needs double one … and misses. Yikes. Anderson finally hits double two to hold. And breathe.

9.25pm GMT

An email from Simon McMahon …

Anderson on the ropes here. It will take a superhuman effort for him to win from here. He might still be Ali, but it appears he’s facing George Foreman and Larry Holmes now.

9.24pm GMT

Seventh set: Van Gerwen 3-0 Anderson (Van Gerwen leads 4-2 in sets): The Touré brothers are back. Van Gerwen has 125 for the set. Of course he does. Van Gerwen is threatening to race away with this and burst a number of blood vessels in the process.

9.23pm GMT

Seventh set: Van Gerwen 2-0 Anderson (Van Gerwen leads 4-2 in sets): Anderson begins with a 180. The commentators are saying there is no ceiling to how good the darts can be … hmmm. Van Gerwen is about to break again though, double 16 again … Yep. The Dutchman has won 10 of the last 11 legs.

9.22pm GMT

Seventh set: Van Gerwen 1-0 Anderson (Van Gerwen leads 4-2 in sets): Van Gerwen has the bit between the teeth now. He has the darts and requires 47 wih Anderson not on a finish. He can’t do it but he’ll be back. Anderson bounces out. Typical. Van Gerwen hits double 32 at the second attempt.

9.20pm GMT

Sixth set: Van Gerwen 3-1 Anderson (Van Gerwen leads 3-2 in sets): Van Gerwen is throwing for the set. And piles it on with a 140. Anderson replies in kind. But Van Gerwen has 161 for the set. No dice so Anderson has 124 but it’s just not happening for the champ and Van Gerwen checks out in style on 64.

9.18pm GMT

Sixth set: Van Gerwen 2-1 Anderson (Van Gerwen leads 3-2 in sets): Van Gerwen hits 180 No2. Anderson does the same. This MC’s “180” is just fantastic. Anderson has 81. Oh, bends the wire but he misses double six. Van Gerwen pinches the leg with double eight.

9.17pm GMT

Sixth set: Van Gerwen 1-1 Anderson (Van Gerwen leads 3-2 in sets): A timely 140 from Anderson but Van Gerwen responds with a 180 to leave 48. 16, double 16. Simples.

9.16pm GMT

Sixth set: Van Gerwen 0-1 Anderson (Van Gerwen leads 3-2 in sets): Van Gerwen has won the last five sets – Anderson is clearly rattled but has the darts and must respond. Scrappy start but Van Gerwen has a chance to make it six in a row. Van Gerwen leaves himself 84 and will be back. Hits the treble but misses two darts at double 12. Oosh. That was a vital double tops for Anderson and he’s back in the groove.

9.10pm GMT

Fifth set: Van Gerwen 3-0 Anderson (2-2 in sets): Anderson hits 137 after 57 from Van Gerwen. But manages only 60 on his next visit. Another maximum from Van Gerwen, who has 130 for the set. Not this time. 164 for Anderson. 140 but Van Gerwen checks out at 65 and it’s the fifth set in double quick time.

9.08pm GMT

Fifth set: Van Gerwen 2-0 Anderson (2-2 in sets): Anderson surely must hold this set to stop Van Gerwen opening up a big lead. Van Gerwen applies pressure with a maximum … 136 for Anderson. Nope. So 94 for Van Gerwen to break. And he’s done it with tops.

9.07pm GMT

Fifth set: Van Gerwen 1-0 Anderson (2-2 in sets): Van Gerwen to throw first. How much will Anderson dwell on that missed opportunity? Van Gerwen is bouncing to oche. But that’s a timely maximim for Anderson who has 128 to break. Bullseye for it – nope. Van Gerwen needs 68 to hold, teble 20 but no dice on double four or double two. Anderson needs 35. 15, misses double 10 and misses double five! Van Gerwen nails double one to hold.

9.01pm GMT

Fourth set: Van Gerwen 3-2 Anderson (Anderson leads 2-1 in sets): 361 plays 362. Wow. 171 for Anderson just when he needed something. Van Gerwen hits back with 180. Anderson needs 132, not this time. Van Gerwen has 86 to break back. Oh my! He’s done it. And he’s pretty happy about it! Anderson could have opened some daylight there but Van Gerwen loves that kind of finish. Game on.

8.59pm GMT

Fourth set: Van Gerwen 2-2 Anderson (Anderson leads 2-1 in sets): Van Gerwen with the darts and he’s left himself 170. This one looks like ANOTHER fifth leg … only 58 for the Dutchman but Anderson is nowhere. 112 for Van Gerwen, nope, it’s now 32. And Anderson is now down to 78. Van Gerwen eventually comes through.

8.58pm GMT

Fourth set: Van Gerwen 1-2 Anderson (Anderson leads 2-1 in sets): Anderson is looking good here. 140 leaves him 222, make that 124. What can Van Gerwen do, not much with 95. Anderson needs 124 … but takes 84 with Van Gerwen struggling. Struggling but then nailing a 180. Anderson hits tops though so he leads again.

8.56pm GMT

Fourth set: Van Gerwen 1-1 Anderson (Anderson leads 2-1 in sets): A 180 from Van Gerwen, he looks visibly cross, and he should hold this one at least. He’s left himself 40, Anderson is toiling at 249. Van Gerwen nails tops. One apiece.

8.55pm GMT

Fourth set: Van Gerwen 0-1 Anderson (Anderson leads 2-1 in sets): Anderson is flying and opens with a 180. Anderson needs 40 for an all important hold but before that Van Gerwen has 170. He hits both trebles … but misses the bull. Anderson hits tops with his second effort so the champ holds.

8.53pm GMT

Third set: Van Gerwen 2-3 Anderson (1-1 in sets): Van Gerwen to throw for the set. Both are averaging more than 107 at present. Van Gerwen has 208, Anderson 161. That’s a finish but not any more after a poor first dart. Van Gerwen has 74 for the set … No! He just misses his double and Anderson nails double 12 to pinch the set! Woof!

8.52pm GMT

Third set: Van Gerwen 2-2 Anderson (1-1 in sets): Anderson begins with a 180. Van Gerwen with a 177. Then a 174 from the Dutchman. The nine-darter is still on. He needs 150 … Hits the treble 20 but misses the treble 18 and Anderson holds his nerve.

8.50pm GMT

Third set: Van Gerwen 2-1 Anderson (1-1 in sets): Anderson is reeling a bit. Not hitting his trebles in this leg. 140. Better from Anderson but Van Gerwen will have 130 to hold. And six darts at it. He’s down to double eight but he’s wide. Van Gerwen is back at 16, then eight, but nails double four with his third dart.

8.48pm GMT

Third set: Van Gerwen 1-1 Anderson (1-1 in sets): 83 from Anderson – he’s not starting that well – and Van Gerwen nails a maximum. Almost another but it’s 140 for Van Gerwen. 149, just like that for Van Gerwen, who has three darts at 32 to break back. Second time lucky and we’re back on through. That was some reply.

8.47pm GMT

Third set: Van Gerwen 0-1 Anderson (1-1 in sets): Van Gerwen with the arrows – 58 is not a good start. 140 from Anderson and the pressure is on the Dutchman. 59 opens the door for the champ. Anderson has left himself 170 to finish. No dice. Van Gerwen has 110 to save but misses double 16 so Anderson has 52 to steal … and does it. That’s our first break.

8.44pm GMT

Both players are averaging 107 after two sets, yet it feels like they haven’t hit top gear yet. That was a huge last dart from Anderson to take the second set. Van Gerwen blew him away with a furious start in the Grand Prix final in October, eventually winning 5-2, and there was a danger the same thing would have happened had Van Gerwen broken to go 2-0 up.

8.42pm GMT

Second set: Van Gerwen 2-3 Anderson (Van Gerwen leads 1-0 in sets): Anderson opens with 60, not great, but he hits back with a 180. His sixth. A 140 leaves Anderson 121 for the set, but a 180 from Van Gerwen piles on the pressure. Anderson can’t do it so Van Gerwen has 84 for the set, but he slips into the treble nine rather than 14. So Anderson has 80. He doesn’t leave much room for double tops but he squeezes dart No3 in! It’s all square.

8.39pm GMT

Second set: Van Gerwen 2-2 Anderson (Van Gerwen leads 1-0 in sets): If the crowd are to be believed, the Touré brothers are on the oche. Van Gerwen has left himself 90 and should be fine with Anderson on 141. Bull, misses tops, hits tops.

8.38pm GMT

Second set: Van Gerwen 1-2 Anderson (Van Gerwen leads 1-0 in sets): Yet another 180 for Anderson, Van Gerwen would have done likewise but for a deflection. Anderson looks certain to hold, down to 62 after nine darts but that’s a costly missed four. Van Gerwen has 146 to pinch it but just misses his second dart so Anderson is relieved to hold.

8.37pm GMT

Second set: Van Gerwen 1-1 Anderson (Van Gerwen leads 1-0): Anderson is down to 161 on Van Gerwen’s throw but it’s a tall order. The Dutchman will have to check out on 116 though … Anderson has left himself 40. Van Gerwen nails it! Wow!

8.35pm GMT

Second set: Van Gerwen 0-1 Anderson: Anderson throws first, 97 to open up. Woof. Maximum for Van Gerwen but 58 at his next visit. Anderson is under pressure with Van Gerwen down to 124. Single 20, treble 18 but he misses the bull. Anderson needs 105 to hold. One shot at double 14, but he drags it. Ooosh, but Van Gerwen misses his three darts at 25. Anderson has double seven for the leg and he gets it on his third dart.

8.29pm GMT

First set: Van Gerwen 3-2 Anderson: 43 for Van Gerwen to start. The door opens for Anderson but he replies with 40. Both darters exchange 140s. Then Van Gerwen nails his second 180. He’s on a finish of 138, he has six darts at it so ends up with 36. Anderson piles on the pressure with another 180 but Van Gerwen nails his double at the first attempt. First blood to the world No1.

8.27pm GMT

First set: Van Gerwen 2-2 Anderson: Another maximum for Anderson. He’s got one in every leg so far! Anderson moves to 81 after nine darts. Another 11-dart leg on the cards. Oooh. Needing double four he slips into the single but he’ll be coming back. Double two … double one … got it.

8.26pm GMT

First set: Van Gerwen 2-1 Anderson: Van Gerwen begins with his first 180 of the night, and he’s moved to 135. He’ll have three darts at it at least but Anderson is on a finish. Tops for the leg … too low. Anderson needs 164 but misses his treble. Van Gerwen is left on 20, single 10 but double five and it’s on throw.

8.24pm GMT

First set: Van Gerwen 1-1 Anderson: Anderson responds with a 140 to open up. Makes that two of them. Anderson is comfortably ahead here, and registers another 180. He’s got plenty of darts at 41 … and he needs two. 11 for Anderson in total there.

8.23pm GMT

First set: Van Gerwen 1-0 Anderson: Van Gerwen throws first with a solid 100. 99 from Anderson. Already close. First 180 from Anderson but he can’t check out at 163. So Van Gerwen goes at 122 – and it’s there with the bull.

8.20pm GMT

Anderson is out first … the MC is giving it beans. He comes out to House of Pain’s “Jump Around” – of course he does. Van Gerwen swiftly follows, to a few boos, to the riff from Pink Floyd’s “Shine on You Crazy Diamond” and then “Seven Nation Army”. Hmmm. No doubting the crowd are with the Flying Scotsman.

8.17pm GMT

Niall, who was in the chair I’m currently occupying 12 months ago, has made his prediction. Thoughts?

Prediction: MVG wins 7-4, and a nine-darter #lovethedarts

8.15pm GMT

Wayne Mardle and co are waxing lyrical about Van Gerwen’s performance against Barney last night, and they have every right to. As Mardle points out, Anderson is averaging 104 for the tournament so far, Van Gerwen 106. Both are likely to top that tonight.

8.13pm GMT

I will stop embedding tweets soon … but this tickled me.

https://t.co/cLhXrXhuzF

8.06pm GMT

Excitement x 10 …

HERE. WE. GO #WHDarts pic.twitter.com/iImqjkTjCt

8.05pm GMT

Simon McMahon has this to say … wise words indeed.

Evening Gerard. The contest between these two darting heavyweights is like the tungsten version of The Rumble in The Jungle, with MVG as George Foreman, seemingly unbeatable, and The Flying Scotsman as Ali, trying for one last shot at glory.

It’s hard to see even the brilliant Anderson beating Mighty Mike, but we all know what happened in Zaire. The heart says Anderson, the head says Van Gerwen. Let’s hope it’s a classic, whoever wins. The Finalé at the Pally?

8.02pm GMT

Not long to go now … Sky Sports is in full montage mode.

MvG v Anderson | This #WHDarts World Champs Final could NOT be set up more perfectly - Dan and Jamie explain why......... pic.twitter.com/3hHy9RH52Y

8.00pm GMT

Here’s an update from our man on the ground at Ally Pally.

Darts fans live by a different calendar. The new year doesn’t begin until the end of the World Championship. It’s New Year’s Eve at Alexandra Palace, with an atmosphere to match: everybody is high on life, booze (there will be a few existential incidents in offices around England tomorrow), Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond – and especially the prospect of a World Championship final between Michael van Gerwen and Gary Anderson. Unlike most New Year’s Eves, this surely can’t be an anti-climax. These two usually bring out the best in each other, and a high-speed thriller is on the cards. Even if one player runs away with it, the likelihood is they will have produced a legendary performance to do so. If it’s an anti-climax, I’ll eat my bobble hat.

7.56pm GMT

First email of the night award goes to JR in Illinois …

Hey Gerard,

One very nice thing about darts is that you know no referee is going to ruin the match <cough> MIKE DEAN <cough>

7.45pm GMT

Dogs and darts … what’s not to like?

Amazing dog chasing after darts pic.twitter.com/74iEAEB2Tz

7.38pm GMT

Let’s familiarise ourselves with both finalists’ route to tonight shall we?

7.26pm GMT

For the anorak’s out there, feast your eyes upon these little beauties.

Stats @SkySportsDarts
39,582 darts thrown
666 x 180's
4x 170 c/o
114.05 high av
66,000 fans
100+ c/o 161
100+ av 24
1/2 million pints sold

6.24pm GMT

Hello world! 2017 is merely hours old but already we have the first seismic sporting event of the year to feast upon. This one is, put simply, the showdown that we all wanted to see. World No1 against the two-times defending champion, tungsten-wielding titan versus tungsten-wielding titan, irresistible force meets unmovable object.

Gary Anderson is on a 17 (SEVENTEEN) match winning streak in the competition but Michael van Gerwen is playing on a higher plane that everyone else, he won 25 tournaments in 2016 and has been the favourite to reclaim the crown he won for the one and only time in 2014, before Anderson’s two titles.

2.32pm GMT

Gerard will be here shortly. Until then, relive Sunday’s action, in which Michael van Gerwen produced a record-breaking display to beat Raymond van Barneveld:

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Published on January 02, 2017 14:18

Michael van Gerwen beats Gary Anderson to win PDC World Darts Championship

• World No1 Van Gerwen wins 7-3 against Scotland’s two-time champion
• Dutchman wins his second world championship title

For 730 days there was something missing from Michael van Gerwen’s life. He won 43 tournaments in the two years after being dethroned as world champion – but not the one he really wanted. Before every single televised match he had to listen to the same piercing introduction: “The world No1 – and the former champion of the world.”

There were concerns that Van Gerwen might want – need – to win it too much this year. Instead his desire was an endless source of fuel that catalysed some of the greatest darts ever seen. His journey culminated with an emphatic 7-3 victory over the reigning champion, Gary Anderson, in the final at Alexandra Palace: his 44th tournament win in two years, and his crowning glory.

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Published on January 02, 2017 14:09

January 1, 2017

Michael van Gerwen blitzes Raymond van Barneveld to set up dream PDC final

• World No1 produces record-breaking display to beat fellow Dutchman
• Van Gerwen meets reigning champion Gary Anderson in Monday’s final

There are dream finals, there are probable epics, and there is Gary Anderson versus Michael van Gerwen in the final of the PDC World Championship. The two best players on earth will meet tonight after emphatic victories in the semi-finals. The reigning champion, Anderson, won his 17th consecutive match at the worlds, beating Peter Wright 6-3. The world No1 Van Gerwen’s response was to shatter the record for the highest average in this tournament during his 6-2 win over Raymond van Barneveld.

On the oche the two are very similar, rapid-fire geniuses who have taken darts to another level. Their contrasting backstories will add even greater spice. Anderson, champion in the past two years, says he does not need to win; Van Gerwen says a year in which he won 25 tournaments will be a disaster if he does not become world champion. “This means nothing,” he said after the semi-finals. “My hands are still empty. The final is all that counts. I made my goal very clear, and anyone in my path needs to get out of my way.”

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Published on January 01, 2017 16:35

Gary Anderson sees off Peter Wright to stay on track for PDC World Darts treble

• Anderson reaches final again after 6-3 win over fellow Scotsman
• I don’t want to give title up, says 2014 and 2015 champion

Gary Anderson is one game from true greatness. Only Phil Taylor and Eric Bristow have won three consecutive world championships, but Anderson has the chance to join that club after an ultimately comfortable 6-3 win over Peter Wright in the semi-final. It was his 17th victory in a row at Alexandra Palace, and he has the aura to match.

For so long Anderson was the underachieving genius of darts. He won his first world title two years ago at the age of 44, beating Phil Taylor 7-6 in a classic final, and followed up by retaining his title with formidable authority a year ago. Once he struggled under extreme pressure; now he is a big-game specialist, who saves his best darts for the biggest tournament of all.

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Published on January 01, 2017 14:21

Watford 1-4 Tottenham Hotspur: Premier League – live!

Harry Kane and Dele Alli both scored twice as Spurs started the year with a thumping victory over an abysmal Watford

3.21pm GMT

Peep peep! Spurs make it consecutive 4-1 wins away from home and move to third in the table for the time being at least. They were superb; Watford were crap. Thanks for your company, bye!

PS Join Niall McVeigh for Arsenal v Crystal Palace, or else. I have your IP address.

3.18pm GMT

Don’t call it a comeback. Watford get a goal in added time, with Kaboul sliding in a free-kick at the second attempt after a brilliant save from Lloris.

3.17pm GMT

90 min A bit of olé football from Spurs takes us into added time. They’ve scored eight goals away from home in five days; not bad preparation for Wednesday’s humdinger at home to Chelsea.

3.15pm GMT

87 min The tempo is much slower now. Spurs are content to pass the time rather than try to score a fifth.

3.11pm GMT

84 min A well-worked free-kick from Watford releases Kaboul on the left of the box, and his volleyed cross is acrobatically claimed by Lloris. That’s the first significant thing he’s had to do in the match.

3.09pm GMT

82 min Janssen screams with pain as Cathcart plants studs onto the top of his foot. Cathcart is booked.

3.05pm GMT

80 min “Hey Rob, here’s my review of the year,” says Kevin Smith.

“Manager of the Year: obviously it’s Bob Bradley. Hands down. I mean, just look at Swansea - 8 of 33 points (24%) with him, 4 of 24 (17%) without him.

3.05pm GMT

79 min Watford’s final substitution: Capoue off, Christian Kabasele on.

3.04pm GMT

78 min Spurs make their final substitution: Kane off, Vincent Janssen on.

3.03pm GMT

77 min Son continues to not score. First the last man Doucoure makes a vital interception; then Son lashes a bouncing ball over the bar.

3.01pm GMT

74 min Amrabat winces his way off the field to be replaced by Jerome Sinclair.

3.00pm GMT

73 min Amrabat bumps Wanyama over while protecting the ball and then collapses himself in the comedy style. He’s going to go off.

2.56pm GMT

70 min The youngster Mason does well to deny Son a shooting chance after a fine long pass from Wimmer.

2.54pm GMT

68 min A substitution for each side. Watford bring on the teenager Brandon Mason for Jose Holebas, who is on a yellow card, while Spurs introduce Ben Davies for the ever excellent Danny Rose.

2.53pm GMT

67 min Trippier is continuing, though he doesn’t look particularly comfortable. He fell awkwardly after a challenge with Holebas.

2.52pm GMT

66 min Trippier is struggling with a shoulder injury and might need to go off.

2.50pm GMT

64 min “The fear,” says Peter McLeod. “Sure, we’ll always have it, and with good reason. It was super Spursy to qualify for the Champions League, book Wembley for our home matches and then go and lose the first two. But we need to have some perspective. Back in the late 90s Spursiness consisted of trying to copy Arsenal by getting a fancy foreign manager, then watching as Wenger racked up Doubles while Christian Gross almost got us relegated. Some fans complain about the Levy era but it’s been a dream compared to what came before.”

2.49pm GMT

63 min Prodl is booked for a foul from behind on Son.

2.48pm GMT

61 min Dele Alli is substituted with Chelsea in mind. He played beautifully, scoring twice and smashing a long-range shot off the bar. Harry Winks replaces him.

2.45pm GMT

59 min Deeney, put through on goal by Prodl, is erroneously flagged offside. Morally speaking, it’s now Watford 1-4 Tottenham Hotspur.

2.44pm GMT

58 min “Hai Rob!” says Arief. “I’m watching Spurs in Klaten, Indonesia now. What do you think are the chances of Harry Kane surpassing Thierry Henry’s 59 goals in first 100 appearances in the second half?”

Ordinarily I’d say it’s unlikely but with the way Watford are defending he could easily get the 58 goals he needs.

2.43pm GMT

57 min “Agents Kabul and Gomes seem to have done their job, not forgetting Capoue who is joining in by being totally invisible,” says John Tumbridge. “Surely now is the opportunity to get Carter-Vickers on and see how he is in the Premier League and Janssen in the hope it will bounce off his backside and he can score without requiring a penalty.”

2.42pm GMT

56 min Kane curls it low around the wall, and Gomes gets down smartly to his left to push it wide. I think it would have hit the outside of the post anyway.

2.42pm GMT

55 min Capoue commits an offensively brainless foul on Rose 20 yards from goal. Eriksen usually takes free-kicks but Kane is on a hat-trick...

2.39pm GMT

53 min Here’s Mark Turner.

“Manager of the Half Year: Allardyce. You want entertainment? Big Sam got your entertainment.

2.38pm GMT

52 min Son slices wide of the near post after another fine move. I assume Spurs will declare soon, with Wednesday’s match against Chelsea in mind, but for now they look like scoring every time they attack.

2.36pm GMT

49 min Doucoure’s low cross finds Deeney eight yards out with his back to goal, but he dithers and loses possession.

2.35pm GMT

48 min “I was very disappointed when the FA deemed Big Sam too spicy but then the Premier League is more fun with him so let’s say he’s my pick for manager,” says Phil Podolsky. “Best player? Always liked that Yaya fella.”

<Bantz> What, Sanogo? </bantz>

2.34pm GMT

Dele Alli makes it four after 58 seconds of the second half. It’s another shocker for Watford. Prodl gives the ball away to Kane, who crosses to find Alli in his own personal postcode at the far post. He takes a slightly heavy touch but gets to the ball before Gomes and slides it under him with his left foot.

2.32pm GMT

46 min “Following here in Vadodara, India, rooting for my Spurs,” says Rich Zumkhawala-Cook. “Is Trippier playing as well all over the pitch as he is in attack?”

The moment he has any defending to do, I’ll let you know.

2.32pm GMT

46 min Peep peep! Spurs begin the second half.

2.31pm GMT

“I’ll see your 3-4 and raise you a 3-5,” says John Dalby. I didn’t like to mention that. No team deserves to be reminded of being terrorised by Juan Sebastian Veron.

2.27pm GMT

Matt Loten’s half-year awards

“Manager of the Half Year: Tony Pulis, because not even West Brom fans seem to give this man the love that he deserves. Not sure about his financial nous, mind, but I’m choosing to keep off-field issues out of my decision.
Player of the Half Year: Zlatan Ibrahimovic. To do what he’s doing, at his age, in ‘this league,’ is nothing short of astonishing. Context: The last Manchester United player to score 16 goals before Christmas was a 26 year-old Ruud van Nistelrooy.
Disappointment of the Half Year: Crystal Palace doing away with stripes for their home kit. It’s just wrong, I tell you. If Norwich were still in the top flight, though, it’d be their third kit.”

2.16pm GMT

Half-time reading (optional, encouraged)

2.16pm GMT

And the scoreline flatters Watford. See you in 10 minutes to see how many more Spurs can get.

2.15pm GMT

45 min Spurs know better than most about the dangers of a 3-0 half-time lead. I think they’ll be okay today though.

2.14pm GMT

44 min Holebas is booked for a bad tackle on Eriksen.

2.12pm GMT

This could end up a darts score. Kaboul mishits a clearance across his own box, Alli beats Cathcart to the loose ball and slides it calmly under Gomes. Spurs have been entirely magnificent today.

2.11pm GMT

40 min “If you need some space and time filler, how about if we choose our mid-season award winners?” says Hubert O’Hearn. “My idea so I get to go first:

Manager of the Half Year: Has to be Conte.

2.10pm GMT

39 min Son misses a great chance to make it 3-0. He met Eriksen’s inswinging free-kick on the volley, 10 yards out, but slid it fractionally wide of the near post.

2.07pm GMT

36 min Wanyama places his studs down the back of Amrabat’s leg, which gives Watford a free-kick. It lobs around the box for a bit until Alderweireld mistimes a header back towards his own goal. Deeney looks set to score until Kane appears to clear the danger. Who does he think he is, Roy Race?

2.05pm GMT

35 min I bloody love this Spurs team. There is so much to admire about them.

2.04pm GMT

Two goals for Kane, two assists for Tripper. This time he produced a sensational right-wing cross, larruping it into the six-yard on the box on the half-volley, and Kane muscled his way between two defenders to volley into the net. That is a brilliant goal.

2.02pm GMT

32 min “A Spurs fan mate of mine is at Cheltenham races this afternoon,” says Mark Turner. “I’m busy winding him up, so far told him that Watford are 2-0 up via an Alderweireld own goal and a Guedioura screamer. Will happily take suggestions for Chapter 3 of the wind-up (at some point he’ll check the interwebs and the fun is over). Happy New Year, Rob.”

Better still, tell him Spurs are 1-0 up and playing brilliantly. If that doesn’t give a Spurs fan the fear, I don’t know what will.

2.01pm GMT

30 min Spurs are rampant. Alli’s majestic scooped pass over the defence almost puts Kane clear, with Prodl making a desperate and vital challenge.

1.58pm GMT

Seconds after Alli hits the bar, Kane gives Spurs the lead. Trippier, on the right wing, played a clever pass around the defence to put Kane through on goal, and he calmly placed it over the diving Gomes.

1.57pm GMT

27 min Alli hits the bar with a brilliant rising drive from 25 yards. It was moving away from Gomes all the time and clattered off the bar. A goal is coming...

1.56pm GMT

25 min Two of Tottenham’s centre-backs almost combine for a goal in open play. Alderweireld drives an angled pass over the top of the defence to put Dier clear. He has the chance to loop a header over Gomes, lurking in no-man’s land, but instead tries to head down to a team-mate and the chance goes. Moments later, Eriksen rifles just over the bar from 20 yards. Gomes had it covered.

1.54pm GMT

24 min “I’m out there,” says Richard Wood. “Getting your coverage from Middleton, south Australia. Can we get Mike Dean in to give that penalty?”

He’s not actually the referee today, though such semantics needn’t be an impediment to him awarding a couple of penalties for shirt-pulling.

1.54pm GMT

23 min Eriksen’s square pass is dummied neatly by Alli, allowing Rose to maraud onto the ball, control it with his left foot just inside the area - and then splatter a right-footed shot miles over the bar.

1.51pm GMT

21 min

1.50pm GMT

20 min This game is not very entertaining.

1.46pm GMT

16 min Anyone out there?

1.45pm GMT

14 min Watford haven’t got going at all in attack. At the other end, Kane wallops a 30-yard shot not too far wide of the far post. Gomes knew it was going wide and didn’t make an attempt to save.

1.42pm GMT

10 min Spurs are beginning to control the match. Rose’s cutback finds Eriksen, whose hopelessly mishit shot slams off the outstretched hand of Capoue and behind for a corner. Some referees would have given a penalty there. That said, Eriksen’s appeal might have been an attempt to distract attention from the fact his shot was going approximately four miles wide of goal.

1.38pm GMT

8 min Amrabat is a bit lucky not to be booked for a clumsy hack at Rose.

1.37pm GMT

7 min Eriksen finds Son in space, 25 yards from goal. He moves infield and curls a decent left-footed shot that is comfortably held by the sprawling Gomes.

1.35pm GMT

4 min Both sides have started busily, though nothing of note has happened. You’re welcome.

1.32pm GMT

2 min Both teams are playing a back three, a formation that has come back from the dead in recent years. There are no right and wrong tactics, only fashionable and unfashionable ones.

1.31pm GMT

1 min Watford kick off from right to left and welt the ball straight out of play. Happy new year!

1.28pm GMT

Here come the players. It’s a grim day in Watford, with rain pelting down. Watford have had to make a last-minute change to their team: Juan Zuniga is injured so Odian Ighalo comes in.

1.03pm GMT

The first email of 2017!

“I trust Messrs Kaboul, Capoue, and Gomes won’t forget that without their time at Spurs they would not now be playing for Watford,” says John Tumbridge. “They all have much to be grateful for.”

12.57pm GMT

Some pre-match nostalgia

12.34pm GMT

Watford (3-5-2) Gomes; Kaboul, Prödl, Cathcart; Amrabat, Capoue, Guedioura, Doucoure, Holebas; Ighalo, Deeney.
Substitutes: Pantilimon, Sinclair, Folivi, Kabasele, Mason, Stewart, Rowan.

Tottenham Hotspur (3-5-2) Lloris; Dier, Alderweireld, Wimmer; Trippier, Eriksen, Wanyama, Alli, Rose; Son, Kane.
Substitutes: Vorm, Carter-Vickers, Davies, Dembele, Winks, Sissoko, Janssen.

11.39pm GMT

Hello, happy new year one and all. Whether in 2016 or 1900, Watford haven’t generally had the best of times against Spurs. Their list of defeats includes 7-0, 8-1, 5-0, 7-1, 6-3, 5-2 – not to mention 4-1 in the famous 1987 FA Cup semi-final. It’s 23 years since they last beat Spurs – and even that meant the square root of bugger all, because a 3-2 win in the second leg of their Coca-Cola Cup tie didn’t quite compensate for a 6-3 shellacking in the first leg at Vicarage Road.

That was then and this is now. Watford are an awkward side to face on their home soil - ask Manchester United, Everton and Leicester – but Spurs are an awkward side to face anywhere. They have only lost twice in the league all season and looked close to their exhilarating best in trouncing Southampton 4-1 last Wednesday. All told, this should be a good way to start a new year. Bloody better be because I’m in no mood for another 2016.

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Published on January 01, 2017 07:21

December 31, 2016

Manchester United 2-1 Middlesbrough, Chelsea 4-2 Stoke and more – as it happened

Chelsea won their 13th consecutive Premier League game against a dogged Stoke, while Manchester United score two late goals to beat Middlesbrough

5.19pm GMT

That’s about it for today’s Clockwatch. You can join Bazzer for Liverpool v Manchester City right now. Thanks for your company today and throughout 2016. Happy new year!

5.19pm GMT

Here are the last two Premier League match reports

5.14pm GMT

Get your match reports here!

5.10pm GMT

Dominic Fifield was at Stamford Bridge to see Chelsea beat Stoke 4-2 in a fantastic game. Here’s his match report.

5.03pm GMT

In case you missed it, Celtic won the Old Firm derby 2-1 against Rangers.

4.58pm GMT

“Last time I open my mouth about United losing...” says Stephen Lysaght.

Schadenfreude, like onanism, is an activity in which you should only partake if you are absolutely certain it’s not going to come back in your face.

4.57pm GMT

Here’s how the Premier League table looks after today’s matches. West Brom are up to eighth; most impressive of all, Burnley are now 11th.

4.55pm GMT

Sergio Aguero is back for Manchester City, who face Liverpool at Anfield. Get the latest news with Barry Glendenning.

4.54pm GMT

Sunderland are well and truly in the malodorous stuff.

4.53pm GMT

It’s probably fair to say that United would have lost that game a year ago. They aren’t quite back, but they are going in the right direction.

4.50pm GMT

Chelsea make it 13 consecutive league wins despite a fine performance from Stoke. They are nine points clear of Liverpool, who play Manchester City later today.

4.46pm GMT

Virgil van Dijk gets a second yellow card at St Mary’s, where Southampton are still trailing West Brom 2-1.

4.45pm GMT

The substitute Josh King completes a thumping win for Bournemouth, who have completely outclassed poor old Swansea.

4.45pm GMT

“United being beaten by Boro after biggest spending ever and no better than LVG,” says Stephen Lysaght. “Meanwhile Chelsea don’t spend and are 27 points better off. So what is Jose?”

He’s a mirage, a spook story, a concept.

4.44pm GMT

United have turned it round with two goals in two minutes. The increasingly influential Paul Pogba has headed them ahead from Juan Mata’s cross, and Sir Alex Ferguson, in the crowd on his 75th birthday, will be experiencing many a happy flashback.

4.43pm GMT

Anthony Martial has equalised from Ibrahimovic’s knockdown, the inevitable conclusion of 15 minutes of ceaseless pressure.

4.41pm GMT

Chelsea have been severely tested today, and they have come through it so impressively. Diego Costa has sealed victory with a thumping finish.

4.38pm GMT

Manchester United’s love affair with the referee Lee Mason continues: after disallowing Ibrahimovic’s goal in the first half, he has now turned down a big appeal for a penalty.

4.32pm GMT

Manchester United are swarming all over Middlesbrough, with the substitute Marcus Rashford having their 25th attempt at goal.

4.30pm GMT

Don’t call it a comeback.

4.27pm GMT

Sunderland are taking one hell of a beating at Turf Moor. Ashley Barnes has got the fourth for Burnley, who have now picked up 22 points at home this season.

4.25pm GMT

Oh my. Middlesbrough lead at Old Trafford, with Grant Leadbitter finishing well from a superb knockdown by Alvaro Negredo. The last time Boro won at Old Trafford was in 2004, when Juninho scored twice and Diego Forlan hit the crossbar from 0.0001 yards.

4.21pm GMT

Stoke were level for 74 seconds. Willian has scored

the greatest goal of all time
his second to restore Chelsea’s lead once again.

4.20pm GMT

Well, well, well: Peter Crouch has scored his first Premier League goal since the 2014-15 season to bring Stoke level again.

4.19pm GMT

“If you as the writer on Clockwatch cannot legally view the action,” says Steve Colwill, “how do you know if was a fine finish from Gray?”

Bob Kingsley told me.

4.14pm GMT

Ach, I can’t keep up with all these goals. Willian has finished off a brilliant move to put Chelsea back in front. Teams managed by Antonio Conte aren’t exactly renowned for losing a lead twice in one game, so you’d fancy Chelsea to win from here.

4.13pm GMT

A hat-trick for Andre Gray! This is another excellent finish, and surely ensures victory for Burnley.

4.12pm GMT

“Dearest Rob,” lies Mac Millings. “Greetings and seasonal felicitations from (thanks to North Carolina’s passing of the “bathroom law”) the superior of the two Carolinas - although not, I suspect, for long; South Carolinians are proud to be among the worst people in the nation (State Motto: “Nil Satis Nisi Oppressio”). I don’t really care about the football any more - just wanted to take the opportunity to make fun of my adopted homeland while that’s still allowed.”

Happy new year!

4.11pm GMT

Andre Gray gets his second to give Burnley a comfortable lead at home to Sunderland. As things stand, Burnley are nine points clear of the relegation places.

4.10pm GMT

“Thanks for the clip of the Arsenal defence being shredded by QPR,” says Charles Antaki. “Particularly prophetic are the two appearances of Steve Bould in the post-goal scenes, practicing the wearied, disbelieving expression that would come to be so useful in later years.”

4.08pm GMT

Hal Robson-Kanu scored one of the goals of 2016, and he has ended the year with a screamer to give West Brom the lead at St Mary’s. Indeed that’s his first goal since he paid tribute to Johan Cruyff against Belgium in the summer.

4.06pm GMT

Thanks to my colleague Niall McVeigh for pointing out this Tim Cahill celebration. Go get me a corner flag.

4.04pm GMT

A flying start to the second half at Stamford Bridge, where Bruno Martins Indi has lumbered forward to equalise for Stoke.

4.03pm GMT

“Hi Rob,” says Wilfy, “To spread some Christmas/New Year’s cheer among all QPR fans looking forward to another year at the wrong end of the table and wondering where it all went wrong, please can you show all the goals from John Jensen’s finest hour.”

3.54pm GMT

Peep peep! It’s half time around England, if not Scotland. Chelsea are on course for their 13th consecutive win; Swansea are on course for the Championship.

3.49pm GMT

“Lee Mason’s call to disallow Zlatan’s goal is, for me, the worst refereeing decision in 2016,” says Putera Satria. “According to his standards, then all overhead kicks should be disallowed for high feet.”

This is what really sets Clockwatch apart: many of the readers can legally view the action being described, but the writer can’t.

3.47pm GMT

Bournemouth pass Swansea to death and go 2-0 up. Eventually Stanislas goes through, draws the goalkeeper and gives the goal to Fraser.

3.44pm GMT

West Brom equalise straight away at St Mary’s thanks to an accomplished finish from Matt Phillips. He’s having a fine season.

3.42pm GMT

Shane Long heads Southampton ahead from a lovely cross by

Sofiane Boufal
Dusan Tadic.

3.40pm GMT

“Re: Mark Eyeington - some of those Chelsea players very much underperformed last year, but didn’t Jose do the same - if not more so - by publicly humiliating Dr. Carneiro in the first game of the season (something he still hasn’t apologised for), and blaming everyone else for all the subsequent mistakes?” writes Ian Staerck. “I’m a Chelsea fan who still sang his name when things were going sour, but to entirely blame the players is a blinkered viewpoint.”

3.40pm GMT

A couple of near misses at Old Trafford: Martial hits the post for Manchester United, and then Zlatan Ibrahimovic has a goal disallowed for a high foot.

3.35pm GMT

“No, not sarcasm,” says JR. “He’s roasting people left and right and spraying passes to spring teammates. He also almost scored.”

3.34pm GMT

Gary Cahill, who has always been such a good finisher, heads Chelsea into the lead at Stamford Bridge. As things stand they are nine points clear of Liverpool in second place, 10 clear of Manchester City and 37 clear of Swansea.

3.32pm GMT

Burnley’s brilliant home form - only Chelsea and Spurs have won more - may be set to continue: Twitter’s Andre Gray has given them the lead with a fine finish.

3.31pm GMT

It’s not going to plan for Chelsea, with Stoke still the better side at Stamford Bridge.

3.28pm GMT

“Just so you and Jeff Stelling know, Sofiane Boufal is absolutely shredding the Baggies midfield and defence,” says JR in Illinois. “By far the best player out there.”

I have no idea whether JR is being sarcastic or not.

3.26pm GMT

“This may be naive, but I have seldom seen a player more out of place than Fellaini in this United side,” says Matt Richman. “His slowness of touch and thought takes the sting out of the midfield entirely and he will ballwatch throughout any Boro attack. Does he add something on the pitch that I am completely missing?”

I don’t really see it, but the fact he is liked by Ferguson, Moyes, Van Gaal and Mourinho – who have about 482 trophies between them – makes me confident we are missing something.

3.26pm GMT

Benik Afobe has given Bournemouth the lead against relegated Swansea.

3.23pm GMT

Leicester are winning a football match. Islam Slimani has given them the lead with a cracking header from Marc Albrighton’s cross.

3.22pm GMT

“Currently top of the Premier League, Chelsea are drawing plaudits for their discipline, resolution and knowhow,” says Mark Eyeington. “But let’s remember that this same group of players now conducting themselves on the pitch with the slightly smug air of chastened schoolboys are the same collection of reprobates that could not scrape together a point for Jose Mourinho last season and effectively got him sacked. Hard to like these PL leaders, all the more so when one contrasts them with last season’s honest and hard-working equivalents.”

I see your point, though I’d be reluctant to generalise about the whole squad. There were plenty of players – Azpilicueta, for example – who didn’t let Mourinho down. Also, I suspect Mourinho was happy to let it spiral out of control so that he would get sacked and then take his dream job.

3.19pm GMT

Lee Grant has made an excellent save from Diego Costa at Stamford Bridge, where it is still Chelsea 0-0 Stoke.

3.17pm GMT

Another chance for Boro at Old Trafford, with George Friend’s shock blocked by Marouane Fellaini.

3.17pm GMT

Paul Merson, on Soccer Saturday, says Stoke have been the better team at Stamford Bridge. They might have taken the lead too, with Azpilicueta making a vital interception to deprive Martins Indi.

3.15pm GMT

On this day in 1994, it happened.

3.14pm GMT

At Old Trafford, Paul Pogba has hit the outside of the post with a scissor-kick.

3.12pm GMT

Michail Antonio has missed a decent chance to give West Ham the lead at Leicester. Still no goals in the six Premier League games, though my sources tell me it won’t be long.

3.09pm GMT

It’s all happening at Shielfield Park. After three minutes, Edinburgh City lead the home side Berwick Rangers 2-0 (TWO).

3.05pm GMT

Middlesbrough have missed a great early chance at Old Trafford, with Adama Traore messing up a three-on-one break. At the King Power Stadium, Riyad Mahrez has hit the post for Leicester against West Ham.

2.58pm GMT

At various locations around England, groups of men are shaking hands under duress. You know what that means: it’s football time.

2.42pm GMT

On Sky Sports, Jeff Stelling has gone off on an imperious one about Southampton’s Sofiane Boufal’s display against Spurs. “It was the most disgraceful performance by a professional footballer I’ve ever seen in my life. He did not put an ounce of effort in, he gesticulated towards all of his fellow players ... how did he come out for the second half? And how does he start today? Explain that to me.”

2.36pm GMT

“Rob, you’ve summed up the ghastliness on 2016 by offering us, as antidote, the prospect of seeing whether Chelsea can beat Stoke,” says Charles Antaki. “Respect to all involved, of course, but a fitting valedictory for 12 months of spiralling misery.”

2.30pm GMT

“Afternoon Rob,” says Simon McMahon. “It’s a game of guess the kick-off time in Scotland today. The game of the day is taking place right now, KO 1.30, as Dundee United - or the Chelsea of the Scottish Championship as they’re currently known after 14 games unbeaten - face Dumbarton. Although Dumbarton, or the Swansea of the Scottish championship as they’re currently known, lead 1-0 at half time. Falkirk v Hibs, KO 12.30, is 1-1 into the final few minutes. In the Scottish Premiership two Glasgow teams played at 12.15. One of them won 2-1.

“Struggling Dundee v St. Johnstone and Partick v Kilmarnock both kick off at 2.00pm, and the Highland derby between Ross County and Inverness starts an hour later at 3.00pm - don’t think that will ever catch on. The three games in Scottish League One kick off at 1, 2 and 3pm, and 2017 kicks off at midnight, or maybe earlier, who knows? Happy New Year when it comes to everyone!”

2.28pm GMT

Swansea (4-2-3-1) Fabianski; Naughton, Amat, Mawson, Taylor; Ki, Britton; Dyer, Fer, Sigurdsson; Llorente.
Substitutes: Nordfeldt, Fernandez, Rangel, Cork, Barrow, Baston, McBurnie.

Bournemouth (4-2-3-1) Boruc; Francis, Cook, Ake, Daniels; Arter, Surman; Fraser, Wilshere, Stanislas; Afobe.
Substitutes: Federici, Mings, Smith, Ibe, Gosling, King, Wilson.

2.25pm GMT

Southampton (4-3-3) Forster; Martina, van Dijk, Yoshida, McQueen; Davis, Romeu, Hojberg; Boufal, Long, Tadic.
Substitutes: Taylor, Fonte, Bertrand, Reed, Sims, Ward-Prowse, Rodriguez,

West Brom (4-2-3-1) Foster; Dawson, McAuley, Evans, Nyom; Yacob, Fletcher; Brunt, Chadli, Phillips; Robson-Kanu.
Substitutes: Myhill, Galloway, McClean, Leko, Morrison, Gardner, Rondon.

2.16pm GMT

Manchester United (4-3-3) De Gea; Valencia, Bailly, Smalling, Blind; Herrera, Fellaini, Pogba; Mkhitaryan, Ibrahimovic, Martial.
Substitutes: Romero, Jones, Rojo, Schweinsteiger, Mata, Lingard, Rashford.

Middlesbrough (4-3-3) Valdes; Bernardo, Chambers, Gibson, Friend; Forshaw, Leadbitter, de Roon; Traore, Negredo, Downing.
Substitutes: Guzan, Fabio, Ayala, Clayton, Ramirez, Rhodes, Stuani.

2.13pm GMT

Leicester (4-4-2) Schmeichel; Simpson, Morgan, Huth, Chilwell; Mahrez, Drinkwater, Amartey, Albrighton; Slimani, Gray.
Substitutes: Zieler, Fuchs, Mendy, King, Musa, Okazaki, Ulloa.

West Ham (4-2-3-1) Randolph; Nordtveit, Reid, Ogbonna, Cresswell; Noble, Kouyate; Antonio, Ayew, Payet; Carroll.
Substitutes: Adrian, Quina, Feghouli, Lanzini, Obiang, Fletcher, Fernandes.

2.11pm GMT

Burnley (4-4-2) Heaton; Lowton, Keane, Mee, Ward; Arfield, Marney, Defour, Boyd; Barnes, Gray.
Substitutes: Robinson, Tarkowski, Darikwa, Gudmundsson, O’Neill, Bamford, Vokes.

Sunderland (3-5-2) Mannone; O’Shea, Kone, Djilobodji; Jones, Januzaj, Larsson, Borini, van Aanholt; Defoe, Anichebe.
Substitutes: Mika, Love, Manquillo, Pienaar, Khazri, Rodwell, Ndong.

2.08pm GMT

Chelsea (3-4-3) Courtois; Azpilicueta, David Luiz, Cahill; Moses, Kante, Fabregas, Alonso; Willian, Diego Costa, Hazard.
Substitutes: Begovic, Ivanovic, Zouma, Matic, Chalobah, Loftus-Cheek, Batshuayi.

Stoke (4-2-3-1) Grant; Johnson, Shawcross, Martins Indi, Pieters; Allen, Adam; Diouf, Afellay, Shaqiri; Crouch.
Substitutes: Given, Bardsley, Sobhi, Imbula, Whelan, Bony, Bojan.

1.39pm GMT

The first email of the last day of 2016

“Hi Rob,” says Philip Brennan. “Can I just send a little message of hope and cheer to all my fellow long suffering Man United friends out there in social media land: it’s been a difficult year for us not least because every small setback on the pitch would trigger a veritable tsunami of ‘advice’ from every ABU and his granny. The end of days though has yet to happen and if results go our way this weekend we will enter the new year a mere point behind Arsenal and only four behind Liverpool with half a season to go. Thank you for your time and happy new year one and all.”

11.01am GMT

Hello, good afternoon and happy old 2016 to you all. Let’s end this vile year on a high, with some hardcore football action. We’ll be focussing primarily on the six Premier League fixtures, listed below, and particularly whether Chelsea can move nine points clear by beating Stoke.

They have won 12 consecutive league matches and are two away from the English top-flight record, held by the great Ljungbergkamp Arsenal side of spring 2002. It’s been a staggering run, reminiscent of that monstrous 2004-05 Chelsea side, who went three months without conceding a goal in the league at one stage. This team isn’t as formidable on paper, which will give the chasing pack a sliver of hope, for the time being at least.

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Published on December 31, 2016 09:14

December 30, 2016

Hull City 2-2 Everton: Premier League –as it happened

Ross Barkley’s late header denied Hull a much-needed victory in an entertaining match

11.27pm GMT

9.51pm GMT

Peep peep! That was highly enjoyable Friday-night fare, though the result isn’t much use to either side – especially as they can both make a decent argument that they should have won. Thanks for your company, goodnight!

9.48pm GMT

90+1 min Tom Davies falls over in the Hull area and is angry when the assistant referee gives a goalkick. It looked a dive at first - and he’s been booked - but replays suggested Clucas was holding his shirt. Where’s Mike Dean when you need him?

9.47pm GMT

90+1 min There will be four additional minutes.

9.46pm GMT

90 min What a chance for Calvert-Lewin! Coleman’s superb cross came to him eight yards out, and he planted his header just wide of the near post.

9.44pm GMT

88 min Coleman’s attempted hooked clearance smashes into his own confused coupon and behind for a corner. It comes to nowt.

9.43pm GMT

86 min Now Everton make a change: Funes Mori replaces Mirallas. That means a switch to a back three.

9.42pm GMT

85 min A Hull substitution: Tom Huddlestone replaces Diomande.

9.42pm GMT

Ross Barkley equalises! Baines beat Snodgrass on the left and coaxed a fine, dipping cross towards the far post. Barkley, unmarked six yards out, planted a good downward header to the left of Marshall and into the net.

9.40pm GMT

84 min Hull are really struggling to get out of their own half now. This’ll be a long last few minutes for them.

9.40pm GMT

83 min Mirallas is put in the ejector seat by Maguire, 30 yards from goal. Maguire is booked.

9.39pm GMT

82 min That penalty appeal could have gone either way. It definitely hit Snodgrass’s chest, and maybe his left arm as well as that was tight to his side. It’s hard to call it definitively even after a few replays.

9.38pm GMT

81 min Tom Davies’s cross hits the arm of a Hull defender in the box, prompting a huge shout for a penalty from the Everton fans. Jon Moss isn’t interested.

9.36pm GMT

80 min Coleman gets into the area on the right after a misjudgement from Diomande. His fierce cross is headed behind by Davies, and then Barkley’s corner is headed away by Dawson.

9.34pm GMT

78 min In the Hull dugout, Mike Phelan is reclining in his chair like he’s just had Christmas lunch and is settling in for a James Bond marathon. He’s almost horizontal!

9.33pm GMT

77 min If there was a Pound for Pound league table, Hull would be challenging for the title. There is so much to admire about them, most notably a spirit that is exemplified by players like Dawson and Davies.

9.32pm GMT

75 min Barkley goes around the houses, from centre to right, before driving a really dangerous low cross into the six-yard box. Lukaku is poised to do the necessary when Dawson stretches to make a vital clearance. Moments later, Barkley’s fierce shot from 15 yards is beaten away by Marshall. Hull break and Tom Davies is booked for a tug on Snodgrass.

9.30pm GMT

74 min Another Everton change: the disappointing Valencia is replaced by Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

9.30pm GMT

74 min Barkley tries to wriggle away from Maguire, ends up on his backside and complains to the referee. I think Maguire got the ball.

9.28pm GMT

72 min Hull certainly aren’t sitting on their lead at the moment. In fact Everton have hardly been out of their own half since the goal. Joel punches away Robertson’s dangerous cross, but the ball keeps coming back at Everton.

9.27pm GMT

70 min Snodgrass could play for any team in this league. He is such a lovely footballer.

9.25pm GMT

68 min Everton will be aggrieved at the award of the free-kick for that goal. It was pretty soft.

9.23pm GMT

67 min An Everton substitution: the Guardian’s own Tom Davies replaces Gareth Barry.

9.23pm GMT

... and this time he scores! It was another booming, dipping strike that Joel could only push into the net as he leapt to his right. He should probably have saved it but it was still a lovely free-kick from a high-class footballer.

9.21pm GMT

64 min Maguire goes off on another Beckenbauer tribute run before being fouled by Baines, 25 yards out. Well, a foul was given but there wasn’t much in it. Snodgrass is poised for another crack...

9.19pm GMT

62 min Elmohamady is booked for offending the referee Jon Moss’s sensibilities.

9.18pm GMT

61 min Dawson almost gets his second! Snodgrass’s corner was half cleared to Elmohamady, who wafted an excellent ball over the top as the Everton defence pushed out. Dawson controlled it superbly beyond the far post before rattling a low shot that was pushed away by Joel.

9.17pm GMT

59 min Jagielka is booked for a rib-ticklingly inept hack at Mbokani. That came straight out of 1984.

9.12pm GMT

56 min A Hull substitution: Sam Clucas replaces David Meyler.

9.11pm GMT

55 min Hull get a free-kick 25 yards from goal, just to the right of centre. That makes it perfect for the left foot of Snodgrass - and he curls a beautiful shot off the crossbar! Joel was nowhere near it.

9.10pm GMT

53 min Coleman’s long ball is headed on by Lukaku to put Barkley away just inside the box. As Davies comes across he tries a first-time sidefoot that is too close to Marshall, who claims it at the second attempt.

9.08pm GMT

52 min Barkley plays a sharp pass out to Mirallas, who comes infield from the left and hits a low shot that is too close to Marshall and comfortably held.

9.06pm GMT

50 min This has been an ominous start to the second half for Hull. Everton have been excellent and Lukaku is starting to really threaten.

9.05pm GMT

49 min That really was a brilliant save. Lukaku’s shot from just inside the area took a sharp deflection off Dawson and was arrowing towards the top corner before Marshall leapt to his left to tip it onto the bar.

9.04pm GMT

48 min Marshall makes a great save, tipping Lukaku’s deflected shot onto the bar!

9.02pm GMT

46 min Hull begin the second half. They are kicking from left to right, if you’re into the whole mind’s eye thing.

9.00pm GMT

“Kirk Shepherd,” considers Simon McMahon. “Dundee United? Or maybe I’m thinking of Kirk Stevens. There’s got to be some good MBM mileage in discussing every team’s darts and snooker player equivalent, but those six bottles of gin I’ve got in the kitchen aren’t going to drink themselves.”

8.49pm GMT

That’s a bad blow for Hull, who played admirably in the first half and were leading until David Marshall contrived to Lukic a corner into his own net. See you in 10 minutes for the second half.

8.47pm GMT

This is an Andrex-soft goal for Hull to concede. Marshall comes for an inswinging corner, mistimes his punch and slices it into his own net.

8.46pm GMT

45+1 min Baines plays a superb sliderule pass into the area for Lukaku, whose first-time shot on the turn is blocked by the sliding Davies at the expense of a corner. From which...

8.43pm GMT

43 min “Top six = PDC,” says Simon McMahon. “Also rans = BDO. Leicester = Keith Deller.”

So who’s Kirk Shepherd?

8.42pm GMT

41 min Valencia bursts into the box and slides a beautiful low cross that goes between goalkeeper and defenders and out for a goalkick. No Everton player was near the six-yard box, never mind in it.

8.39pm GMT

39 min Diomande catches Mirallas in the face with his arm as they jockey for position at a throw-in. It’s hard to say whether it was intentional; the referee thought not and took no action.

8.36pm GMT

36 min Robertson’s cross goes behind for a corner off Gueye. Snodgrass’s outswinger is cleared at the near post.

8.35pm GMT

35 min Barkley has been neat and tidy in possession but no more than that. Lukaku has struggled to get into the game. Saying which, Lukaku’s 20-yard shot pinballs around the box before Mirallas hooks an awkward dropping ball straight at Marshall from a tight angle.

8.33pm GMT

33 min “Lots of talk about the oceans of cash sloshing on the shores of the Premier League leading to an evening out of standards (yep, Leicester City etc etc etc), but the gap between the top six and the Also Rans is enormous,” says Gary Naylor. “The quality of football also appears to have levelled down, because this Everton side could be 17th as easily as 7th. (You’re right BTW - I’d also rather be watching the darts). We’re not far off the top 14 XIs in the Premier League comprising the top seven and their reserve teams.”

Yeah, I agree. This has been getting worse for the last 15 years, which makes Leicester even more miraculous. That will never make sense, thank goodness.

8.31pm GMT

31 min Lovely play from Hull. Maguire swaggers forward like Morten Olsen before playing the ball out to Snodgrass on the left. His dipping cross is met by the sliding Diomande, whose half-volley hits the back of Jagielka and flies wide.

8.28pm GMT

28 min Barry collects a loose ball, runs to within 25 yards of goal and strikes a fantastic rising shot that whistles this far wide of the far post with Marshall motionless.

8.24pm GMT

23 min Snodgrass’s superb deep cross from the right finds Mbokani, who towers above Coleman but ends up shouldering the ball back across the face of goal. Everton break and Barkley drags a low shot not far wide from 16 yards.

8.21pm GMT

21 min Hull have calmed things down a bit in the last few minutes, even crossing the halfway line on a couple of occasions.

8.16pm GMT

16 min Mirallas has dragged Everton kicking and screaming into this match after an abysmal start, and now they are probing incessantly. Hull are sitting too deep.

8.14pm GMT

14 min Barry’s flat cross from the left is headed onto the post by Coleman! That was a really good header from Coleman, who was only just inside the box when he made contact. It beat Marshall and bounced up to hit the inside of the post.

8.12pm GMT

12 min Mirallas springs into action, cutting inside from the left to hit a low shot that deflects off Dawson and is fumbled behind for a corner by Marshall.

8.11pm GMT

11 min Human nature being what it is, Everton have had more of the ball since going behind. Gueye tries to lob Marshall from the halfway line, and puts it 20 yards wide.

8.09pm GMT

8 min Everton’s start has put the ‘pathetic’in ‘apathetic’. They look like they’d rather be watching the darts!

8.07pm GMT

Hull are rewarded for their flying start. Snodgrass’s outswinging corner from the left is flicked across goal by the head of Davies at the near post. It bounces up awkwardly beyond the far post, where Dawson shows superb technique to contort his body and smash the ball low past Joel.

8.06pm GMT

6 min I thought Everton would dominate possession, but so far Hull have played like, erm, the home side. Elmohamady vrooms into the box on the right and hits a dangerous cross that Jagielka, stretching towards his own goal, has to shin high over the bar for a corner.

8.04pm GMT

4 min Robert Snodgrass’s left foot will be one of the main features when Hull becomes the UK City of Culture for 2017, and he has been influential in a good start from Hull. He runs at Baines on the right edge of the box, comes inside and whips a big curling not far wide of the far top corner.

8.01pm GMT

2 min Robertson’s floated cross is headed clear to Livermore, whose fizzing 20-yard shot is blocked by a defender.

8.00pm GMT

2 min “Hey Rob,” says JR in Illinois. “I’ll have one eye on this game and the other on the darts. I started following darts while in Ireland at this time of year in 2003. One of my most memorable nights was wandering from pub to pub in Athlone and watching that insane final between Taylor and Painter. Mercy, that was fantastic.”

Talking of Athlone, this is the greatest kick off ever.

8.00pm GMT

1 min Peep peep! Ross Barkley, recalled to the side, kicks off for Everton. They are in blue; Hull are looking waspish in amber and black.

7.37pm GMT

An email!

“Evening Rob,” says Simon McMahon. “You on the naughty step again? I mean, Hull v Everton could turn into a classic, but we both know you’d rather be watching the darts. This afternoons QF’s were sensational. Chisnall hit about 100 maximums and still lost to Anderson. The standard is just mind blowing. And the atmosphere looks and sounds electric.”

7.35pm GMT

A late Christmas present for the Everton fan in your life

This book is very, very, very good.

7.09pm GMT

Hull City (3-4-2-1) Marshall; Maguire, Dawson, Davies; Elmohamady, Livermore, Meyler, Robertson; Snodgrass, Diomande; Mbokani.
Substitutes: Jakupovic, Huddlestone, Clucas, Maloney, Weir, Henriksen, Mason.

Everton (4-2-3-1) Joel; Coleman, Jagielka, Williams, Baines; Gueye, Barry; Valencia, Barkley, Mirallas; Lukaku.
Substitutes: Hewelt, Funes Mori, Holgate, Cleverley, Davies, Lennon, Calvert-Lewin.

11.15am GMT

Hello and welcome to our live blog of Hull v Everton – or, if you prefer, Performances v Results. Hull have been playing pretty, pretty well without much reward; Everton are top of the Premier League Also Rans table, yet their fans are not especially enamoured with the football they have played under Ronald Koeman.

Though Hull are bottom of both the Premier League and the Premier League Also Rans tables, they have not been cut adrift yet. They are a manageable four points off Crystal Palace in 17th, especially as they have some decent fixtures in the next month, including Swansea and Bournemouth at home. If they are going to survive, it’s probably time to start swapping good performances for good results.

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Published on December 30, 2016 13:51

December 20, 2016

England report card: five areas to focus on before the Ashes series next winter | Rob Smyth

Despite the 4-0 Test series defeat in India, only minor surgery is required for a squad that has lost none of its thrilling potential

England are still a collection of richly talented individuals: exhilarating and deadly on their day but prone to batting collapses and missed opportunities. They did a lot of good things during the series against India and deserve enormous admiration for not allowing their spirit to break in the face of a sadistic itinerary and an unavoidable hammering. Despite a 4-0 defeat, they need only minor surgery.

The good news for their weary players is that they do not return to the subcontinent until a trip to Sri Lanka in 2018-19. They had a bespoke team structure for this winter but can now concentrate on a more traditional lineup before next winter’s Ashes. It is not hyperopia to focus on Australia because the main event of next summer’s Test programme, against South Africa, will be a very similar challenge. The number of all-rounders complicates matters, as selection decisions become interlinked in a way that is not usually the case. Having so many all-rounders may be a weakness disguised as a strength, as it discourages specialisation, particularly in batting and spin bowling. Those are two of five basic areas that England will consider over the next few months.

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Published on December 20, 2016 11:02

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