Rob Smyth's Blog, page 24

Manchester United 1-1 FC Twente: Europa League – as it happened

Christian Eriksen scored a belter and was robbed for Twente’s equaliser as Man Utd endured another frustrating night

The players are about to walk into the moist Manchester night. As they do so, here’s a reminder of the teams.

Man Utd (4-2-3-1) Onana; Mazraoui, Maguire, Martinez, Dalot; Ugarte, Eriksen; Amad, Fernandes, Rashford; Zirkzee.
Substitutes: Bayindir, Heaton, De Ligt, Mount, Hojlund, Garnacho, Casemiro, Antony, Evans, Mainoo, Collyer.

Continue reading...

England beat Australia by 46 runs (DLS): third men’s one-day cricket international – as it happened

Harry Brook’s thrilling 110 not out, his first ODI century, drove England to a superb victory in a rain-affected game in Durham

2nd over: Australia 10-0 (Short 6, Marsh 2) It will be Jofra Archer to open from the Lumley Castle end. Memories of Darren Gough ‘spooking’ Shane Watson come swirling back from my youth. Decent bounce from Archer, he’s up at 90mph in his first over, pushing the batters back into their crease with his pace.

1st over: Australia 6-0 (Short 5, Marsh 1) Potts whizzes in with his dark King Edgar haircut standing out against the grey skies and biscuit coloured pitch. There looks to be decent carry through to the keeper, that’ll encourage the quicks. Short and Marsh get off the mark with glides wide of point for singles. Cut for four! Potts offers width off the final delivery and Short doesn’t miss out.

Continue reading...

Manchester City 2-2 Arsenal: Premier League – live reaction

John Stones denied 10-man Arsenal a famous victory with a 98th-minute equaliser at the end of a thrilling and spiteful match

The early Premier League game was a thriller, with four goals and both managers being sent off at the Amex Stadium.

Read Pep Guardiola on Arsenal and that other business

If you are pressing [then it is] long balls, they win the second balls. In the final third they have the ability to play 1,000 million passes and find the pockets and find the right space. If they can run, they can run. Martinelli, Saka, Ødegaard and whatever.

They are a top team because all the departments that a team needs to be solid, they do it. They are good at that. But we are good, too.

Continue reading...

Australia thrash England by seven wickets: first men’s cricket one-day international – as it happened

The remarkable Travis Head smashed an unbeaten 154 as Australia cruised to a target of 316 at Trent Bridge

Mitch Marsh says Australia would’ve bowled and that Benny Dwarshuis, “an incredible talent”, makes his d’boo. He’s trying to teach his players the importance of enjoying playing, especially in England where the crowds are big, then notes that Zampa, winning his hundredth ODI cap, is a “beautiful human being”. You’d take that as a reference, eh?

Harry Brook wants to put pressure on Australia by racking up a big score. Ben Duckett’s playing, likewise Liam Livingstone.

Continue reading...

Milan 1-3 Liverpool: Champions League – as it happened

Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk and Dominik Szoboszlai scored as Liverpool fought back impressively to beat Milan

Amadou Onana has put Villa 3-0 up in Switzerland. All things being equal, they are going to be really good fun to watch in this competition.

Plenty of other big clubs are in action tonight, including Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Manchester United. You can follow their games, and more, with Taha Hashim.

Continue reading...

Tottenham 0-1 Arsenal: north London derby, Premier League – as it happened

Gabriel’s mighty header, and a superb allround defensive performance, gave Arsenal a fine victory in a frantic derby

Big Ange: not for turning

This is a charming interview with Bukayo Saka.

Continue reading...

Manchester City 2-1 Brentford, Liverpool 0-1 Nottingham Forest, and more: football – as it happened

Forest won at Anfield for the first time since 1969, Erling Haaland only scored twice and there was late drama elsewhere

Two changes for Fulham. The new signing Joachim Andersen and Raul Jimenez come in for Issa Diop and Rodrigo Muniz.

Julen Lopetegui prefers Tomas Soucek to Lucas Paqueta, the only change from West Ham’s 3-1 defeat to Erling Haaland.

Continue reading...

England beat Australia by three wickets: second men’s T20 cricket international – as it happened

A mighty performance from Liam Livingstone and a thrilling cameo from Jacob Bethell helped England to a fine victory in Cardiff

4th over: Australia 51-0 (Short 19, Head 31) Head does superbly to drag an awkward short ball from Mahmood round the corner for four; then a helicopter shot teases the man at deep square before dropping short.

I swear Mahmood is bowling well but he’s still going the distance. Short slices a big drive over the slips for four, misses a slower cutter and heaves another short ball for a single. Head backs away to swat the last delivery over short third for four; he is the most remarkable player and has vroomed to 31 off 13 balls.

Continue reading...

England v Sri Lanka: third men’s cricket Test match, day three – as it happened

Sri Lanka seized control of the third Test at the Oval as England collapsed to 156 all out in the third innings

Morning 11am-1.15pm

Afternoon 1.55-4.10pm

Evening 4.30-6.30pm

On-the-nose musical interlude

Continue reading...

England v Sri Lanka: third men’s Test match, day two – as it happened

England bowled out for 325 after Ollie Pope’s 154Sri Lanka reach 211-5 by the close but are fighting backJosh Hull takes his first Test wicket on debut

47th over: England 235-3 (Pope 110, Brook 15) Rathnayake, a more disciplined bowler, replaces Kumara. Brook charges his first ball, smashes it a million miles in the air, and is dropped pitifully by Asitha Fernando on the cover boundary. To compound his misery, he then slipped over as he tried to retrieve the ball.

England could easily have lost both batsmen already. Pope, beaten in the previous over, edges an outswinger between second slip and gully for four runs. The ball is doing plenty and, unlike yesterday morning, Sri Lanka are bowling a pretty consistent line.

Continue reading...