Rob Smyth's Blog, page 92

April 8, 2021

Granada 0-2 Manchester United: Europa League quarter-final – as it happened

Goals from Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes put Manchester United in control of their quarter-final at the half-way stage

Read Sid Lowe’s match report from Spain Arsenal 1-1 Slavia Prague – Gunners concede late away goal

11.42pm BST

10.49pm BST

10.09pm BST

Sid Lowe has filed his match report, which is my cue to head off. Thanks for your company - goodnight!

9.54pm BST

Peep peep! That’s a very good night’s work for Manchester United. The game was rubbish, in truth, but United can live with that after such a favourable result. Marcus Rashford scored a classy goal in the first half and Bruno Fernandes added another penalty in the last minute. Granada struggled to lay a glove on United: their only shots on target long-range efforts from Kenedy. United didn’t have many attempts either, but they made theirs count.

9.51pm BST

90+3 min That second goal makes a big difference to the second leg. It means Solskjaer should - should - be able to start with Fernandes and Rashford on the bench, which is important as they are both in need of a rest.

9.50pm BST

Fernandes clipped it towards the bottom-left corner. Silva went the right way and got hands on it, but the ball slithered through his hands. That’s a very rare example of a goalkeeping error at a penalty.

9.49pm BST

Bruno Fernandes scores - just!

9.48pm BST

89 min: PENALTY TO UNITED! Brice has been penalised for fouling Fernandes off the ball. Everyone was waiting for a Telles cross, and Fernandes went over after a shove to the face by Brice. It looks a bit soft but it was also stupid from Brice, and it’s not going to be overturned by VAR.

9.47pm BST

88 min If it stays like this it will be Manchester United’s 11th clean sheet in the last 17 games. They’ve needed them, as the goals have dried up a wee bit, 9-0 victories notwithstanding.

9.45pm BST

86 min And Granada have brought on Luis Suarez (no, stop it) and Yan Brice for Gonalons and Soldado.

9.44pm BST

85 min Donny van de Beek has come on to replace Mason Greenwood.

9.43pm BST

84 min Matic is booked for leading with the arm and brushing the face of Puertas.

9.42pm BST

83 min: Good save from Silva! James did really well, dummying to shoot before reversing a pass to Fernandes. His shot from close range was smothered by Silva. Actually, scratch all that: replays showed Fernandes was offside, so it wouldn’t have counted.

9.40pm BST

81 min Mathis’s long-range shot deflects behind for a corner. There have only been four shots on target in the whole game: three from Kenedy and the goal from Rashford.

9.39pm BST

79 min United waste a couple of minutes by passing the ball around in defence and midfield. It’s been a really slow game, the antonym of that deranged thriller between Bayern and PSG last night.

9.33pm BST

75 min And two more changes for Granada: Dimitri Foulquier and the talented Venezuelan Darwin Machis replace Kenedy and Neva

9.32pm BST

74 min Another change for United: Pogba off, Matic on. Pogba had a 6.5/10 kind of game.

9.32pm BST

73 min James surges promisingly down the left but then overhits his cross.

9.31pm BST

73 min “They may be plucky underdogs, but Granada are a cynical disgrace,” says Duncan Edwards. “I’ve counted at least three times them complaining to the ref about nonexistent elbowing.”

Some of their tackling has been surprisingly brusque as well. They’ve clearly decided the English don’t like it up ’em.

9.30pm BST

72 min: Harry Maguire is out of the second leg as well - he’s been booked for a foul on Soldado. That means United will be without Shaw, Maguire and McTominay next week.

9.29pm BST

70 min Herrera breaks forward dangerously but slightly overhits his pass to Neva, whose cross deflects behind off Lindelof. Had the pass been softer, Neva would have been able to shoot first time.

9.28pm BST

70 min “That Bergkamp goal against Argentina was all well and good,” says Ian Copestake, “but talk about a one-footed player!”

9.28pm BST

69 min Herrera shoots over from the edge of the area.

9.27pm BST

69 min Granada had a good spell either side of half-time. Since then, however, United have kept them at arm’s length. You never really know in the peculiar world of behind-closed-doors football, but you’d think Granada need at least a draw tonight if they are to have a serious chance of going through next week.

9.26pm BST

68 min “Watching football without fans in the ground is kind of like an Imitation of Life, wouldn’t you say?” says Peter Oh. “I’d go as far as saying that I’ve been Losing My Religion.”

9.25pm BST

67 min For the third time tonight, a sweet long-range strike from Kenedy is too close to de Gea. He has been lively though.

9.25pm BST

66 min Talking of Spurs, Roberto Soldado has a speculative pop from 25 yards. Goal kick to Manchester United.

9.25pm BST

65 min Another Manchester United change: Edinson Cavani replaces the goalscorer Marcus Rashford, who is presumably being protected with Sunday’s revenge mission at Spurs in mind.

9.23pm BST

64 min “I’ve a friend who, how can I say it nicely, really does not want to like Rashford,” says Hiruy Gulilat. “This just makes me a defender of Rashford, without pay! And that control before the goal is not making it easy for him.”

9.21pm BST

63 min I shan’t tell you what’s happening in the other quarter-finals in case you plan to watch any games on delay. But if you want to know the latest scores, this link is your friend.

9.20pm BST

62 min Fernandes’s corner is headed over by Pogba at the far post. There were plenty of bodies around, but it still looked like a decent chance.

9.19pm BST

60 min Maguire sells himself near the halfway line and is beaten by Herrera. Granada have a two-on-two attack as a result but Lindelof’s positioning is excellent and he blocks Herrera’s pass towards Soldado.

9.17pm BST

58 min Maguire rumbles forward from the halfway line, beats Gonalons with some extravagant sleight of hip and rifles a long-range shot not far wide. He really should do that more often.

9.16pm BST

58 min We’re all friends here, so let us speak frankly: so far, this has been a dog of a game.

9.13pm BST

54 min Fernandes’s deep free-kick hits the head of Maguire at the far post and ricochets to safety. I’m pretty sure Maguire was unsighted, as otherwise it would have been a decent chance.

9.13pm BST

54 min Duarte’s night is over. He limps off, German runs on to replace him.

9.11pm BST

53 min Duarte is going to try to continue, though he’s limping heavily.

9.10pm BST

51 min Domingos Duarte boots James up in the air - and injures himself in the process. I don’t think he’s going to be able to continue. Either way, he won’t be playing next week: he was booked for that agricultural hack at James, his third yellow card of the tournament.

9.09pm BST

50 min The next corner is headed away by McTominay, but only as far as Kenedy on the left edge of the box. He whistles a good shot towards goal, but it’s too close to de Gea.

9.08pm BST

49 min Granada have won five or six corners either side of half-time. Make that six or seven, with Montoro’s near-post corner headed behind for another by Pogba...

9.07pm BST

47 min United have switched their front players: James to the left, Rashford central, Greenwood on the right.

9.04pm BST

46 min Peep peep! Granada begin the second half.

9.04pm BST

United have made a half-time substitution - Alex Telles is on for Luke Shaw.

9.04pm BST

That goal was Rashford’s 20th of the season, to go with 22 in 2019-20. Those are really decent numbers for a wide forward in a team that are good but not great.

9.02pm BST

“Putting aside magnificent art-pop for a second, Rashford’s first touch for the goal was absolutely filthy, and shouldn’t be shown without some kind of warning message,” says Matt Dony. “It was pre-watershed!”

If that’s an excuse to link to something I wrote ten years ago, then I don’t know what is!

9.00pm BST

“Hi Rob,” says David Wall. “What is the weather like in Spain this evening? I imagine it’s noticeably warmer than it has been in Manchester over the past week so it’ll be important for United’s players to replenish their Electrolyte levels at half time. If not then there’s a risk of a couple of Daysleepers in the defence as they’ll tire later in the game. With them having the lead in the away leg of the tie will Solskjaer be asking for more Drive in the second half, or will be an Apologist for taking a more defensive approach?”

I hope you’re proud of yourself, Matt Dony.

8.51pm BST

Peep peep! Mason Greenwood had half a chance to double the lead just before the break, but tried one stepover too many and was dispossessed. As it is, Marcus Rashford’s expertly taken goal has put United in control of the tie. It was a forgettable half, very sluggish, though Granada started to attack with more aggression after going behind. See you soon for the second half.

8.48pm BST

Marcus Rashford is the first English player to score eight goals for #mufc in European competition in a single season (excluding qualifiers) since Bobby Charlton in 1964/65 #mulive [opta]

8.47pm BST

45 min This is Granada’s best spell. They’ve been quite aggressive at times, particularly with Rashford and Fernandes, and I suspect we’ll see more of that after half-time.

8.46pm BST

44 min A nice corner routine from Granada. Montoro clips it outside the area to Kenedy, who cuts across a sweet volley that is comfortably saved by de Gea. It was straight at him, but a really good strike.

8.44pm BST

43 min “R.E.M. songs, is it, Martyn Crooks?” says Matt Dony. “United a goal up and looking to go through to the Great Beyond of the semi-finals. Granada have got players who could make a difference, though, if they tune themselves in. What’s The Frequency, Kenedy?”

Alexa!

8.43pm BST

42 min Luke Shaw is also out of the second leg: he has been booked for fouling Puertas.

8.43pm BST

41 min Montoro angle sthe resulting free-kick towards Herrera, whose volleyed cross hits the outside of the post! De Gea had it covered, I think, although the movement of his hands wasn’t entirely convincing. Moments later, Soldado drags a half chance wide of the near post.

8.40pm BST

40 min McTominay is booked for a foul on Puertas. That means he’ll miss the second leg.

8.40pm BST

39 min United have had 71 per cent of the possession. Rashford’s goal is the only shot on target at either end.

8.39pm BST

38 min A nice move from Granada ends with Dias flashing an excellent ball across the six-yard box.

8.37pm BST

35 min Fernandes’s long-range shot deflects behind for a corner. Nothing comes of it. The game has been a stinker, in truth, but United won’t care now they have taken the lead.

8.35pm BST

33 min Rashford’s angled run and finish were good, but the key to the goal was that velvety first touch.

8.33pm BST

32 min Herrera’s cross-shot almost falls kindly for Soldado, who is unable to sort his feet out at very short notice.

8.32pm BST

Ah, it was an exceedingly simple goal. Lindelof drove a 60-yard pass over the defence to Rashford, who killed the dropping ball majestically and slid it past Silva from 10 yards.

8.31pm BST

Marcus Rashford scores, and I’ve no idea what happened because they were showing a replay of the Soldado shot!

8.31pm BST

30 min Puertas gets to the byline and stabs the ball across to Soldado, who shoots into the side netting from a very tight angle. He had no chance of scoring from there.

8.28pm BST

28 min At the other end, Kenedy hammers a bouncing ball over the bar from a very tight angle.

8.28pm BST

27 min McTominay, the only man playing with much urgency, clips an excellent pass over the defence to find Rashford on the left of the area. He plays the ball back to Fernandes, whose outside-of-the-foot strike is blocked. Rashford picks up the loose ball and tries a big curling shot towards the far corner. He gets too much on it.

8.26pm BST

25 min Herrera goes down holding his face after a challenge with McTominay in the centre circle. McTominay did slap him, though I’m 99.9 per cent sure it was accidental. The referee agrees.

8.24pm BST

23 min Granada are very well organised defensively, and so far United haven’t threatened to open them up.

8.20pm BST

19 min Rashford wallops the free-kick over the bar. On the plus side, he doesn’t seem to be feeling his ankle any more.

8.19pm BST

18 min Fernandes is fouled 28 yards from goal by Herrera. The free-kick is a fair way to the left of centre, but Rashford looks like he wants to have a shot.

8.17pm BST

17 min Nothing is happening. The game is now taking place almost exclusively in Granada’s half, but not so much in their third.

8.14pm BST

14 min United are starting to have more of the ball, though it’s all fairly slow and safe for now. Granada look happy to play on the counter-attack.

8.11pm BST

11 min Rashford is still on the field. It’s hard to know whether he’s okay, as he’s had no reason to break into a sprint since that blocked shot in the fifth minute.

8.09pm BST

9 min Yes, it is the same Kenedy of Chelsea/Newcastle/Watford/Fluminense fame.

8.08pm BST

8 min Pogba loses the ball to Kenedy in a dangerous area, then brings him down and is booked. United, as is their wont, have started quite sluggishly.

8.08pm BST

7 min Rashford, who was a doubt for this game, looks like he’s struggling a little.

8.07pm BST

6 min The game is stopped for a few seconds because of a streaker. He looked very pleased with himself as he charged naked across the field.

8.05pm BST

5 min United break through Pogba, who plays a fine long pass out to Rashford out on the left. He cuts inside and has a shot blocked.

8.04pm BST

4 min It’s been a lively start from Granada, with most of the early exchanges taking place in the United half.

8.02pm BST

2 min “Predictions Rob?” says John Ryan. “I see United getting three, at least...”

I’m going for 2-1 Granada.

8.00pm BST

1 min Peep peep! United, wearing their Joy Division tribute kit, kick off from left to right. Granada are in their red and white home strip.

7.58pm BST

The players stroll onto the field. It’s a crisp night in southern Spain, and the only shame is that there aren’t 19,000 supporters here for the biggest game in Granada’s history.

7.43pm BST

Apropos very little, BT Sport’s Curb Your Enthusiasm-themed FA Cup adverts never fail to make me smile. Whoever came up with the idea deserves an award.

@AFCWimbledon v West Ham ⚒️
January 2019

"Two strong centre forwards...there's only going to be one winner!"

What the cup?!

#EmiratesFACup | Third Round | This weekend pic.twitter.com/uehhm5wOOL

Sutton v Leeds ⚪️
January 2017

"Leeds always produce, they're in a good place at the moment!"

What the cup?!

#EmiratesFACup | Third Round | Starts January 8th pic.twitter.com/xp8GkkvyxJ

7.41pm BST

“Agree that Granada is an incredible place,” says Martyn Crooks. “I lived there for a few months as a student; at the time CF Granada were playing the third-tier football. The only time I was at El Estadio Los Carmenes was to see an R.E.M. concert. That evening I witnessed an attempt to relive their glory day, not too unlike recent Manchester United.”

Look, the new album is a return to form.

7.28pm BST

We tend not to do live blogs from the ground. More’s the pity.

Welcome to the House of Dreams, @ManUtd. #UEL #GRAMUN pic.twitter.com/kUISV9GLhH

7.06pm BST

“God, I love Granada,” writes Ian Copestake. “Not the team (didn’t know they had one!). The place! If only it was one the coast it would be THE best place on the planet.”

When you wrote ‘not the team’, I thought you were about to start eulogising Coronation Street and the Krypton Factor.

7.02pm BST

The route to Europa League glory for Granada and United

Semi-final Roma or Ajax

6.59pm BST

Pre-match reading

6.49pm BST

David de Gea starts in goal for Manchester United, one of three changes from the team that beat Brighton on Sunday. Scott McTominay and Daniel James replace Fred and Edinson Cavani. That probably means Mason Greenwood will move to centre forward.

Granada (4-2-3-1) Silva; Diaz, Vallejo, Duarte, Neva; Herrera, Gonalons; Puertas, Montoro, Kenedy; Soldado.
Substitutes: Banacloche, Fabrega, Foulquier, Nehuen Perez, German, Suarez, Brice, Machis, Molina.

4.32pm BST

Hello. Let’s start with a trip to Dictionary Corner:

nearly
ADVERB
Nearly is used to indicate that something is not quite the case, or not completely the case.

View more on Rob Smyth's website »

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Published on April 08, 2021 14:09

April 7, 2021

Bayern Munich 2-3 PSG: Champions League quarter-final – as it happened

Kylian Mbappe scored twice as PSG took a slight advantage back to Paris after an astonishing match between last year’s finalists

11.31pm BST

10.11pm BST

Barney Ronay has filed his report, so I’ll leave you with that. Thanks for your company - goodnight!

10.04pm BST

I can’t stop thinking about the pace and intensity of that game. It’s so easy to get carried away in the moment but I’m honestly struggling to recall anything comparable, certainly not between two of Europe’s best teams. It was as if both teams had been told a bomb would go off if the match ever dropped below 50 miles an hour.

9.58pm BST

Bayern dominated all the statistics except the big one. PSG spent most of the game in their own third, but they were devastating on the counter-attack. When I say ‘they’, I really mean Kylian Mbappe: he scored twice, to go with a majestic hat-trick at Barcelona in the previous round, and gave Bayern’s defence the heebie-jeebies throughout.

In many ways Bayern played astonishingly well, particularly in the 32 minutes it took them to come from 2-0 down to equalise, and they’ll still fancy their chances in Paris next week. They won’t fancy another night of chasing Mbappe, mind.

9.53pm BST

Next Tuesday, same time, don’t be late. That was a quite stunning game of football, played on fast-forward throughout. I don’t know about you but I need a lie down, and I’m neutral.

9.51pm BST

90 min Rafinha replaces Neymar. There will be two added minutes.

9.51pm BST

89 min Choupo-Moting is booked for dissent after aggressively appealing for a penalty. A low cross from Muller definitely hit the hand of Herrera, but he slipped and the referee let him off because of that. Moments later, somebody flicks a header over the bar. I DON’T KNOW, OKAY.

9.49pm BST

88 min Alaba has a shot blocked by Herrera. The rebound goes to Coman, who forces Danilo to concede a corner. That leads to yet another blocked shot from a Bayern player.

9.48pm BST

87 min Coman’s cross is dummied neatly by Choupo-Moting and reaches Muller near the penalty spot. His shot on the turn hits his standing foot and spins just wide of goal. Navas had it covered and may even have got a touch, though a goalkick was given.

9.47pm BST

86 min: Just wide from Alaba! Sane’s short cross found Choupo-Moting with his back to goal, eight yards out and surrounded by PSG defenders. He laid it back to Alaba, whose low shot from the edge of the area went this far wide.

9.46pm BST

85 min A poor clearance goes to Draxler, 25 yards from goal. He pushes the ball forward and smacks a shot miles over the bar.

9.45pm BST

85 min According to the Uefa site, Bayern have had 25 attempts (including blocked shots) to PSG’s five. And Kylian Mbappe couldn’t care less about such stats.

9.43pm BST

83 min For the first time all night, Bayern look slightly subdued in attack. If it stays like this, they’ll need to win 2-0 in Paris to go through (or 3-1, 4-3, 5-4, etc).

9.42pm BST

81 min A relatively quiet couple of minutes, in which the pace of the game dropped to merely breakneck.

9.39pm BST

78 min “Hi Rob,” says David Hindle. “Is it perhaps apt to point out that the ridiculously young, already World Cup-winning Mbappe is what a €150M forward actually looks like?”

9.39pm BST

77 min Navas makes another big save from Choupo-Moting, though he was miles offside and the flag went up afterwards.

9.37pm BST

75 min I don’t know whether this is one of the all-time great Champions League games, because some of the defending has been pretty ropey, but I can’t remember seeing a game - certainly not between two teams of this stature - with such relentless pace and intensity.

9.36pm BST

73 min Choupo-Moting breaks innto space down the right but picks up the wrong option. Then Bayern appeal unsuccessfully for a penalty when Danilo goes through Davies. We haven’t seen a replay yet beCAUSE THERE’S NO BLOODY TIME.

9.32pm BST

71 min Angel Di Maria is going to be replaced by Moise Kean. He is feeling his hamstring, though it looks more like a strain than a tear so he might be okay for the second leg.

9.31pm BST

70 min Choupo-Moting shoots straight at Navas, Kimmich is booked for dissent. I cannot keep up with this.

9.31pm BST

What a devastating counter-attack from PSG. They covered 50 yards in just two passes, first from Draxler and then from Di Maria towards Mbappe on the left. He was one-on-one with Boateng, who looked terrified as he backpedalled into the area. Mbappe shapes to shoot across goal before dragging a shot that goes through Boateng’s legs and beats the wrongfooted Neuer at the near post. That is a brilliant goal!

9.28pm BST

Another twist in this sensational match!

9.27pm BST

66 min There’s a second leg next Tuesday as well.

9.25pm BST

64 min Davies makes a vital interception to stop Mbappe’s pass putting Di Maria through on goal.

9.24pm BST

63 min An overhead kick from Muller goes well wide. The intensity of Bayern’s response to going 2-0 down has been awesome, and PSG simply cannot get out.

9.22pm BST

62 min Draxler is booked for flattening Pavard.

9.22pm BST

It was made by Kimmich, who curled in yet another wicked free-kick from the right. Muller found some space at the edge of the six-yard box - goodness knows how - and flicked a superb header across Navas.

9.21pm BST

Bayern are level!

9.20pm BST

60 min This is frickin sensational stuff.

9.20pm BST

58 min Kimmich plays a superb return pass to release Sane on the right side of the area. He decides not to shoot and instead slides a low cross that is desperately cleared. The ball eventually comes to Kimmich, 25 yards out, and he floats a chip that is easily saved by Navas. He was so confident, in fact, that he controlled the ball on his chest and then picked it up. PSG break and Neuer denies Mbappe in a one-on-one! The flag went up afterwards, but Neuer didn’t know that at the time.

9.17pm BST

56 min Sane smashes over from the right side of the area. Bayern are having a shot on goal every minute at the moment.

9.16pm BST

56 min The next goal in this tie is of monstrous importance. This has been a helluva game.

9.16pm BST

55 min PSG are under so much pressure. Coman cuts inside from the left and hits a long-range shot that is comfortably saved by Navas. Just before that, Danilo produced a superb defensive header under extreme pressure from Choupo-Moting.

9.15pm BST

53 min The resulting corner is only half cleared, and when the ball is dumped back into the area Pavard meets it with a low volley. Navas makes another decent save to his left.

9.14pm BST

53 min: Good save from Navas! Bayern work the ball superbly in a tight area to set up Alaba in the D. He sweeps a shot that is pushed behind by Navas, falling to his left. It was nowhere near the corner from Alaba.

9.12pm BST

52 min: Big save from Neuer! Mbappe nicked the ball off Sane just outside the area and went straight for goal. He was tackled but the loose ball was stolen by Neymar, who danced clear and lifted a close-range shot that was blocked by Neuer. The ball ran to Di Maria, whose low shot was kicked off the line by Davies!

9.10pm BST

50 min A Bayern corner is cleared to the edge of the area, where Coman mistimes an attempted volley. It’s been all Bayern at the start of the second half.

9.08pm BST

48 min Coman’s angled cross from the left is this close to the head of Kimmich, who seemed to hang in the air for an age. I’m not entirely sure how PSG cleared it, but they did.

9.05pm BST

46 min Peep peep! Bayern begin the second half.

9.04pm BST

PSG have made a half-time substitution: the young Dutch left-back Mitchel Bakker is on for Abdou Diallo. That’s already the fourth substitution of the game.

9.03pm BST

“Hi there Rob,” says Francis Lee. “What law of physical chemistry explains how, while the snow is visibly slowing down the ball, the pace of play seem to have reached some new level of hyperacceleration?”

It’s the immutable law of the early goal.

8.51pm BST

That was 45 minutes of sheer, delightful football. Kylian Mbappe smashed PSG into an early lead, Marquinhos coolly made it 2-0 before going off injured, and then the former PSG player Eric Choupo-Moting got Bayern back into it with an emphatic header.

Bayern dominated possession and created most of the chances, but when PSG managed to break the press they were so menacing. Goodness knows what the final score will be, but I promise you one thing: this won’t finish 0-0.

8.46pm BST

45 min Two minutes of added time, and Bayern are on the attack. Kimmich’s outswinging corner is headed towards goal by the backpedalling Muller, and Navas dances across his line to make a comfortable save.

8.45pm BST

44 min The corner leads to a brief game of head tennis until Kimpembe blooters the ball to safety.

8.44pm BST

44 min Another marvellous free-kick from Kimmich on the right is put behind by Danilo, an excellent piece of defending.

8.43pm BST

43 min In normal circumstances, with crowds at both games, Bayern would be in all sorts of bother here. But we know that home advantage is minimal at the moment, so they are still right in this tie. They have played brillantly for most of the first half.

8.43pm BST

42 min Another Bayern substitution: Jerome Boateng replaces Niklas Sule. He doesn’t look injured...

8.40pm BST

38 min Neuer comes out of his area and plays a very dodgy pass that just evades the wrongfooted Di Maria. Had the ball gone to Di Maria he’d have had a relatively easy finish from 40 yards, with Neuer miles out of his goal.

8.38pm BST

The right-back Pavard flipped a nice cross into the middle, where the unmarked Choupo-Moting thumped a downward header into the corner. That was another very accomplished finish; Navas had no chance.

8.37pm BST

Bayern are back in it!

8.36pm BST

35 min Hernandez is booked for blocking Dagba off the ball.

8.35pm BST

34 min Replays suggest Hernandez didn’t get the ball when he tackled Neymar a couple of minutes ago. That could have been a penalty, albeit a soft one.

8.34pm BST

33 min A Bayern substitution: Alphonso Davies is replacing Leon Goretzka. That must be an injury, surely. Davies has gone to left-back, with Hernandez moving to the centre of defence and Alaba into midfield.

8.32pm BST

32 min Neymar swaggers into the area and is about to shoot when Hernandez makes a vital tackle. This is glorious entertainment!

8.32pm BST

31 min Danilo has moved to centre-back, with Herrera replacing him in midfield.

8.31pm BST

30 min That was such an accomplished finish from Marquinhos - but it’s his last contribution tonight. He is leaving the field through injury, with Ander Herrera coming on to replace him. That’s such a big blow for PSG.

8.30pm BST

A PSG corner was half cleared to Neymar, 40 yards from goal. He curled the ball over the outrushing Bayern defence towards Marquinhos, who controlled the ball immaculately and guided it confidently past Neuer. He timed his run beautifully, and replays confirmed he was well onside.

8.29pm BST

Make that 2-0 down!

8.28pm BST

27 min Kimmich’s wicked, deep corner is sliced wide at the far post by the stretching Choupo-Moting. That’s another decent opportunity for Bayern, who are playing sensationally. And are 1-0 down.

8.27pm BST

26 min Muller’s deep cross is missed by the leaping Dagba and reaches Coman, but his first touch is too heavy and that allows Dagba to clear. With a surer first touch he would have had a shot on goal.

8.25pm BST

24 min PSG are really struggling to get out at the moment. When they do, they look dangerous, but Bayern are pressing them relentlessly.

8.24pm BST

23 min “Every time I see a player laid down behind the wall in the draught-excluder style,” begins Luke Jones, “it makes me look forward to the first time a kicker smashes a hard, low shot directly at the prone defender.”

I’m sensing rancour.

8.21pm BST

21 min “Hi Rob,” says Peter Oh. “Hi Rob, I’m no weatherman but let me give this a shot: In Munich at the moment, we have a light dusting of snow followed by a burst of Mbappe. Storm clouds gathering on Flick’s brow but there is a decent chance of Sane breaking through within the next hour.”

8.21pm BST

20 min Sane controls a crossfield pass on the right of the area and lays the ball back to Pavard, whose fierce drive is pushed round the near post by Navas. This has been a savage response to going behind from Bayern.

8.20pm BST

19 min: Big save from Navas! Kimmich’s superb free-kick from the right was met by Goretzka, who powered a downward header towards goal from six yards. But it was too close to Navas, who was able to kick the ball away as he fell.

8.17pm BST

17 min “Neuer will be hurt by conceding a shot that was pretty much straight at him,” says Matt Dony. “But also, Mbappe’s shot hit him in the bare flesh of the inside of his thigh in the what looks like arctic conditions. He’ll be feeling that until half time! Who’d be a goalkeeper?”

At least they’re not using a Mitre Mouldmaster.

8.17pm BST

16 min A replay shows that Mbappe was approximately 0.00002cm offside in the build up to that disallowed goal. Crikey.

8.15pm BST

15 min Coman steals the ball in a dangerous area and wins a corner. Kimmich’s inswinger is headed away by Marquinhos.

8.15pm BST

15 min This is terrific stuff. Bayern have responded ferociously to going behind, and PSG look extremely menacing on the break.

8.14pm BST

13 min Bayern appeal unsuccessfully for a penalty when the ball ricochets onto the hand of Danilo in the area. That would have been given in England in October.

8.13pm BST

NO GOAL! But that was another ominous break from PSG.

8.13pm BST

12 min: Draxler has a goal disallowed for offside! It was an emphatic finish, but the flag went up against Mbappe in the build up. This is very tight and will be checked by VAR.

8.11pm BST

10 min: Chance for Muller! Goretzka’s shot from the edge of the area is blocked, but he keeps the move alive and heads the rebound in behind a packed PSG defence. Muller gets to the ball first but pokes a tame volley straight at Navas from eight yards. Everyone assumed he was offside but I’m pretty sure the flag didn’t go up. I suspect Muller thought he was offside as well.

8.10pm BST

9 min “Is it me or is there an increase in goals scored on the ‘near side’?” writes Gary Naylor. (He also sent this during Wolves v West Ham on Monday, but I missed it then.) “Goalkeepers seem to be set for the shot across the goal, probably because coaches have studied stats that show most shots go there. But if forwards sense a yard available via the shortest route to goal, they’ll take it and wither the stats then?”

8.08pm BST

8 min Kimmich’s free-kick hits the wall and Alaba slashes the rebound well wide from 20 yards.

8.08pm BST

6 min Gueye is penalised for handball on the edge of the D. That looked a bit harsh to me, but whatever. Kimmich is over the ball...

8.06pm BST

4 min Neuer will be unhappy with that. Mbappe’s shot was well struck but straight at him. He tried to save it as he fell to the right, but it went between his legs and into the net.

8.05pm BST

Kylian Mbappe has blasted PSG into the lead. It was made by Neymar, who ran onto a good return ball from Di Maria and slid Mbappe through on goal in the inside-right channel. He smashed a low shot from 10 yards that went straight through Neuer and into the net.

8.03pm BST

It’s there!

8.03pm BST

2 min Hernandez forces an early save from Navas, who pushes a shot into the side netting. The resulting corner is headed on cleverly by Choupo-Moting at the near post, and the ball bounces off the top of the bar.

8.02pm BST

1 min PSG have started with Draxler on the left and Neymar as the No10, rather than the other way round. Bayern’s shape is as expected.

8.01pm BST

1 min Peeeeep peeeeep! PSG, in their snazzy away kit, kick off from left to right. Bayern are in red.

7.57pm BST

The players of both sides embrace in the tunnel. It’s nice and warm in there, not so much outside: it’s still snowing.

7.50pm BST

Alternative entertainment

6.54pm BST

With Robert Lewandowski and Serge Gnabry unavailable, Eric Choupo-Moting – who came on for PSG in last year’s final – starts up front for Bayern. It’s the same side that beat Leipzig in the Bundesliga at the weekend. And yes, they have named only seven of the 470 allotted substitutes.

PSG have made three changes to the team that lost to Lille on Saturday: Colin Dagba, Danilo and Julian Draxler replace Thilo Kehrer, the suspended Leandro Paredes and Moise Kean.

6.46pm BST

Interesting... very interesting

Not really @ChampionsLeague quarterfinal weather, but we'll take it ️ #MiaSanMia #FCBPSG #packmas pic.twitter.com/8aRxJAe2wR

6.30pm BST

Pre-match reading

10.53am BST

Hello. Rematches are one of the best things in sport, a unique pot pourri of the past, present and future. They are mainly associated with individual sports – Gatti v Ward, McEnroe v Borg, Fischer v Spassky, Creed v Balboa – but can be just as mouth-watering when two teams are involved. We’re not talking about replays but rematches, where the finalists from the previous season meet again. One team has the chance to double down on their superiority; the other wants to enjoy bit of the old rewenge, while also eliminating one of the biggest obstacles to them winning the bloody thing this time round.

PSG left Lisbon with plenty of regrets after their 1-0 defeat to Bayern in last year’s Champions League final. It was a story of missed opportunities, unseized initiatives and unpunished high lines. Now they have another chance against a Bayern side who, though still the best team in Europe, are without the injured Robert Lewandowski for both legs of this quarter-final.

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Published on April 07, 2021 14:04

April 6, 2021

Real Madrid 3-1 Liverpool: Champions League quarter-final – as it happened

The electric Vinicius Junior scored twice as Real Madrid punished some nervous Liverpool defending to take control of their quarter-final

10.07pm BST

Sid Lowe’s match report has landed, so I’ll leave you with that. Thanks for your company and emails. Goodnight!

10.02pm BST

I won’t tell you the score in the City-Dortmund game, in case you plan to watch it on delay. But if you do want to read all about it, click this.

9.58pm BST

The score is a fair reflection of an imperfect yet very entertaining game. Real were more composed, more controlled, more secure, and in Vinicius Junior they had the most electric player on the pitch. And though Liverpool were better in the second half, they paid a big price for some jittery defending. They’ve had too many glory nights at Anfield for anyone to write them off, but Real are in a helluva position.

9.52pm BST

Peep peep! It finishes 3-1 to Madrid, just as it did in the 2018 final, but at least Liverpool get a second chance this time.

9.52pm BST

90+4 min Real break three on two, but Rodrygo’s pass is poor and Liverpool get away with it.

9.50pm BST

90+3 min Real haven’t crossed the halfway line for about five minutes.

9.50pm BST

90+2 min Salah makes a little bit of space in the D and hits a shot that is blocked by Eder Militao (I think).

9.48pm BST

90+1 min Four minutes of added time.

9.48pm BST

90 min “Liverpool have been poor today despite having Fabinho back in midfield,” says Yash Gupta. “But the bigger picture is when they face a team of passing midfielders (unlike Arsenal who were beyond pathetic even by their recent standards) their pressing goes awry and the main reason is their nonsense high line. Yes they may win the second leg but their high line looks far too dangerous for their own good.”

9.47pm BST

89 min Alexander-Arnold’s dangerous inswinging corner is bravely headed away by Eder Militao. He’d had an extremely good game.

9.46pm BST

88 min Wijnaldum’s long-range shot is blocked. It’s all Liverpool now, with even Benzema behind the ball some of the time.

9.46pm BST

87 min Felix Brych seems to be on a mission to remind the world that football is a contact sport. It’s been a fascinating refereeing performance. I suspect Liverpool fans will use a different adjective.

9.45pm BST

86 min A goal now for either side would mean so much. Mane goes over in the D after an excellent run. But for the umpteenth time tonight, Felix Brych isn’t interested.

9.42pm BST

84 min A change for Real: Rodrygo replaces the superb Vinicius Junior.

9.41pm BST

83 min Alexander-Arnold is booked for giving the assistant referee a mouthful.

9.39pm BST

81 min A double change for Liverpool: Roberto Firmino and Xherdan Shaqiri replace Jota and Kabak. Fabinho has moved back into defence.

9.39pm BST

80 min Real have their first extended spell of possession in the second half, a good way to easte a couple of minutes. Eventually Valverde’s lobbed cross skims the head of the stretching Phillips, a vital touch that takes it away from Benzema.

9.35pm BST

77 min Lots of possession for Liverpool, who are desperate for a second goal. Thiago wafts over the bar from the edge of the D.

9.33pm BST

75 min Mind you, football has been so perverse this season that Liverpool will probably win the second leg 7-2.

9.32pm BST

74 min An injury-hit Liverpool came back from 3-0 down against Barcelona a couple of years ago, though that was with supporters at Anfield. Given their recent home form, they could do with at least one more goal tonight.

9.30pm BST

72 min Vinicius Junior will get the headlines, and quite right too, but Benzema’s movement and link play have been masterful. He is a quite brilliant allround No9.

9.30pm BST

71 min Vinicius Junior goes on another dangerous run infield before finding Benzema, whose low shot is comfortably saved to his left by Alisson. At the other end, Jota heads wide from Salah’s cross.

9.28pm BST

70 min A Real Madrid change: Fede Valverde replace Marco Asensio.

9.26pm BST

69 min I can’t keep up with this. The second half has been wildly entertaining.

9.26pm BST

68 min “Any news on why Keita was subbed so early by Klopp?” says Oliver Driesen. “An injury, surely?”

I’m not certain but I don’t think he was injured. The tactical change made perfect sense, but to do it after 42 minutes – rather than 45, or even 35 – is unusual.

9.25pm BST

66 min Dear me, it was almost 4-1 a moment ago. Vinicius Junior charged down the right and played an inviting ball into the area for Asensio, who tried to turn away from Alexander-Arnold and Alisson but slightly mistimed his touch.

9.24pm BST

It’s another soft goal I’m afraid. Modric moved infield from the right and played a square pass to Vinicius Junior, 15 yards out. He screwed a first-time shot that went through the legs of Phillips and then through the hands of Alisson, diving to his left. He probably saw it late, but having got hands on it Alisson will be pretty disappointed that he didn’t keep it out.

9.23pm BST

Real score from the throw-in!

9.22pm BST

64 min: Great defending by Alexander-Arnold! Real break two on one - two on one! - from the resulting corner. Asensio tries to put Vinicius Junior through on goal, but his pass is too close to Alexander-Arnold and he knocks it out for a throw-in. Alexander-Arnold’s positioning was perfect.

9.21pm BST

63 min: Great defending from Mendy! Liverpool were so close to an equaliser. Jota, in the inside-left channel, played a smooth one-two with Robertson and surged into the area. He decided not to shoot and instead flicked the ball across the six-yard line towards Mane, who was about to shoot when Mendy appeared on his blind side to clear. That was vital.

9.20pm BST

61 min Kroos thrashes over from 18 yards. That was a fair chance for his player of his quality, even on his left foot. The opportunity came after a mistake from Thiago, who tried to chest a cross down in his own area. Instead he gave it to Asensio, who rolled it back towards Kroos on the edge of the area.

9.18pm BST

59 min Salah’s cross is taken off Mane’s head by Vazquez, a vital interception. The ball runs across the area to Robertson, whose cutback is blocked. There’s a desperation to Liverpool’s attacking play, which is making for great entertainment.

9.16pm BST

58 min Benzema slithers infield from the left, away from a couple of defenders, and rifles a shot that is well blocked by Phillips. This is really open now.

9.14pm BST

56 min Liverpool have been so much sharper since half-time. Thiago is a bit too lively: he gets a yellow card for a foul on Asensio.

9.12pm BST

53 min A booming cross from Alexander-Arnold is headed wide by the stretching Jota beyond the far post. It was a half chance at best but a spectacular ball in from Alexander-Arnold.

9.10pm BST

GOAL GIVEN! Yep, Salah was onside and Liverpool are back in it.

9.10pm BST

Wijnaldum charged through midfield and found Jota just outside the area. He ran at the heart of the defence and hit a shot that was blocked by Modric. The ball ricocheted towards Salah, who got it out of his feet and forced it past Courtois from close range. Courtois got a touch on the shot, which bounced up onto the underside of the bar and into the net. They are still checking for offside but I think he’s okay.

9.09pm BST

Mo Salah gets a precious away goal!

9.07pm BST

49 min Real are sitting a lot deeper, happy for Liverpool to have the ball. Lucas Vazquez is booked for a lunge at Jota.

9.04pm BST

47 min “Rationally, I’m telling myself that there is an awful long way to go in this tie (along with other assorted tired clichés),” says Matt Dony. “Plenty of time to take stock, change the dynamic, turn it around. Nothing to worry about yet. As ever, though, the irrational part of me is much, much louder. Football is awful. I hate everything. Happiness is a myth. I’ll probably die alone.”

9.03pm BST

46 min Peep peep! Liverpool begin the second half. On BT Sport, Michael Owen makes the excellent point that Anfield won’t be as big a factor as usual in the absence of fans. They really need a goal tonight.

9.01pm BST

Books etc “For Colin Eldridge,” says Steve Tayler. “He could travel the Whitbread Sports Books of the Year. One that didn’t win was The Miracle of Castel di Sangro, about an Italian team on an amazing season. One of those books about sport that is about life, like Friday Night Lights, or Beyond a Boundary. What do they know of football who only football know?”

8.55pm BST

Apparently there were 27 seconds between the challenge on Mane - which looks a foul when you see it again - and Asensio’s second goal.

8.51pm BST

Half-time reading

8.50pm BST

Peep peep! That was a slow-burning horror movie for Liverpool. They were impotent in attack and, after a solid start, a bag of nerves in defence. Real Madrid were good without being exceptional, and unpicked Liverpool with a series of long passes from Toni Kroos. His quarterbackery led to both goals, scored by Vinicius Junior and Marco Asensio, and it would have been worse but for a very good save by Alisson just before the break.

Liverpool aren’t out of it - never give up and all that - but they need to play so much better for the rest of this tie.

8.46pm BST

45 min One minute of added time.

8.45pm BST

43 min Asensio misses a great chance to make it 3-0. Kabak’s backpass was woefully short, putting Asensio through on goal on the right edge of the area. He slid a low shot with his right foot that was crucially saved with his legs by Alisson.

8.43pm BST

42 min Blimey, Jurgen Klopp has made a very early substitution: Thiago Alcantara is on for Naby Keita. It makes sense, because Liverpool’s passing has been hopeless, but the the timing is interesting to say the least.

8.42pm BST

41 min Real have had eight attempts at goal to Liverpool’s none. I’m slightly shocked by the poverty of this performance.

8.41pm BST

40 min Real Madrid have really targetted Alexander-Arnold, a tactic that has worked perfectly so far. Vinicius Junior got between him and Phillips for the first goal, and the second came from a bad mistake.

8.40pm BST

39 min Mane is booked for dissent, presumably over the free-kick that never was.

8.40pm BST

38 min Wijnaldum and Klopp are very unhappy that a foul wasn’t given at the other end just before the goal. I’m not sure it was a foul, in truth. Even if it was, that second goal was so avoidable.

8.38pm BST

That was a terrible goal to give away. Kroos, near the halfway line, lofted a pass down the inside-left channel towards Vinicius Junior. Alexander-Arnold read it well but then headed the ball across the face of the penalty area, straight to Asensio. His insouciant lob was half stopped by Alisson, but the ball bounced kindly and Asensio was able to run the ball into the net with appreciable glee.

8.36pm BST

Marco Asensio makes it two after a howler from Trent Alexander-Arnold!

8.36pm BST

36 min Mane goes over on the edge of the area after a collision with the last man Lucas Vazquez. The referee Felix Brych waves him up.

8.35pm BST

34 min Liverpool have been so disappointing. Any team can play badly, it happens, but it’s hard to explain the sluggishness of Liverpool’s performance.

8.34pm BST

33 min The resulting corner is headed away to the edge of the area, where the unmarked Asensio sprays a half-volley into orbit. It was on his right foot, hence the orbit bit.

8.33pm BST

32 min While that’s being checked, Vinicius Junior’s shot from the edge of the area takes a slight deflection off Phillips and whistles past the far post. It looks like Kabak has got away with that tackle on Benzema; I think he’s a bit lucky. Or, to put it another way, I think that would have been given in the Premier League.

8.32pm BST

32 min Benzema appeals unsuccessfully for a penalty after a desperate challenge from Kabak. This will be checked by VAR.

8.28pm BST

It was made by Toni Kroos, who received possession halfway inside his own half, turned and assessed his options. He drove a fantastic long pass over the Liverpool defence towards Vinicius Jr, who got behind Phillips and controlled the ball superbly with his left shoulder. That touch took him across Phillips and into the area, and his second touch was a confident drive back across Alisson. Liverpool will be annoyed at the simplicity of the goal, but the pass and first touch were immaculate.

8.27pm BST

Real take the lead with a majestic goal!

8.26pm BST

25 min A dreadful pass from Alexander-Arnold goes straight to Asensio on the halfway line. He gives it to Kroos, who slides a through ball towards Benzema in the inside-left channel. Benzema moves into the area and hits a shot that goes behind off Kabak. That was good defending from Kabak, who tracked Benzema all the way.

8.24pm BST

23 min Ozan Kabak and Nat Phillips have had a really solid start to the game. That’s the biggest positive for Liverpool at the moment.

8.22pm BST

21 min “I happen to be watching this match on a Spanish-language feed,” says Peter Oh. “I don’t speak the language but understand some bits and pieces. One of the commentators said ‘...Freddie Mercury!’, causing his colleague to break into a hearty chuckle. It was either a reference to Alisson Becker’s moustachioed look, or maybe Sergio Ramos got an edgy new Queen-themed tattoo?”

Are you sure you’re not watching repeats of the Fast Show?

8.20pm BST

20 min It’s still pretty cagey. Madrid’s passing has been better than Liverpool but neither side has created any clear chances.

8.18pm BST

18 min Fabinho has started strongly, with and without the ball. We’ll never know, but I wonder how the Premier League table would look had he not been seconded to the defence.

8.17pm BST

16 min A wicked cross from Alexander-Arnold is superbly headed away by Lucas Vazquez, who was facing his own goal and had Mane waiting behind him to score.

8.15pm BST

15 min Real Madrid have been the better team so far, though there isn’t a huge amount in it. Liverpool haven’t pressed as aggressively as most of us expected; most of the time they are sitting deep and playing for counter-attacks.

8.14pm BST

13 min Mendy beats Alexander-Arnold with ease, gets to the byline and stands up a cross towards Vinicus Junior. He flicks a header across goal that bounces a few yards wide of the far post. Alisson was scrambling a bit, but it never really looked like going in.

8.13pm BST

12 min Modric goes over in the D after a challenge from Gini Wijnaldum. Felix Brych waves play on, but VAR are checking in case it was a) a foul and b) in the area. No penalty: it was definitely outside the penalty area, and probably not a foul anyway.

8.11pm BST

10 min Salah gets away from Nacho, who slips in the centre circle, and would have been able to run through on goal but for some good covering by the left-back Mendy.

8.10pm BST

10 min “Hi Rob,” says Niall Mullen. “Liverpool’s fist job here, as with any European away, is to silence the crowd early doors.”

Arf, very good.

8.09pm BST

9 min Neither side has yet been able to expose the opposing central defenders. It’s been a fairly scruffy start to the game, in truth.

8.09pm BST

8 min “Ah, how boring, traditional kits,” says Mary Waltz. “What, no sherbet, tiger stripes, peach or chartreuse kits that have no connection to history and are only cynical cash grabs? What fun is that?”

8.06pm BST

6 min Both teams are pressing high, and it’s been a fairly frantic start to the game.

8.06pm BST

5 min ... and nothing comes of it.

8.05pm BST

5 min Asensio wins the first corner for Real Madrid. Kroos strolls over to take it...

8.02pm BST

2 min Benzema works Alisson with an low left-footed shot from 25 yards. It was a comfortable save for Alisson.

8.02pm BST

1 min Both teams are playing 4-3-3, as expected, but Liverpool have Diogo Jota rather than Sadio Mane at centre forward.

8.00pm BST

1 min Peeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep peeeeeeeeeeeeeeep! Real Madrid kick off from left to right. I won’t insult your knowledge by telling you what colours each team are wearing.

7.59pm BST

Two players in the starting XIs are on a yellow card, Ferland Mendy and the Liverpool captain Gini Wijnaldum.

7.58pm BST

“There’s been so much turning of corners these days,” says Ian Copestake, “that I am quite shocked Klopp has decided to bench Thiago as soon as he seemed to have turned one.”

Maybe he wanted to protect him from turning another one.

7.57pm BST

The players are out on the field, all with their gamefaces carefully applied. It’s time for Real Madrid v Liverpool!

7.57pm BST

“The key for us tonight is not stylish football but menace,” says Andy Gracie. “The kind of menace we showed in the early stage of the 2018 final, and especially when Gerrard and Torres terrorised them back in 2009. If there is one thing that puts the frighteners up Real Madrid it’s menace. Failing that I’ll take a clumsy 0-1.”

7.25pm BST

“Prediction tonight, Rob?” says John Ryan. “I can see goals...”

I think Liverpool will win, maybe 3-1 or 3-2, but it’s a hard game to call for a few reasons: the missing centre-backs, the absent crowd, Liverpool’s inconsistency, the inherent unpredictability of football and life itself.

7.18pm BST

“Smyth,” writes Colin Eldridge. “I need to buy my brother-in-law a football book for his birthday. Any tips?”

Hmm, how old is he? If he’s of a certain age, I can heartily recommend When the Seagulls Follow the Trawler by Tom Whitworth, which is all about football in the 1990s. I wasn’t sure about the concept but it’s very cleverly done, a mix of travelogue and interviews with key characters like Roy Evans and David Dein. And you can feel the love – of football and the nineties – on every page. Not enough love around these days.

7.00pm BST

If you’re looking for alternative entertainment, there’s a repeat of Yes Minister on BBC Four at 8pm. Oh, and this.

6.53pm BST

Real Madrid v Liverpool: a YouTube history

If this doesn’t whet the appetite...

6.46pm BST

The in-form Diogo Jota starts ahead of Roberto Firmino, while Naby Keita is surprisingly preferred to Thiago Alcantara, Curtis Jones and James Milner in midfield.

Real Madrid, who have been dabbling with a back three of late, look to have reverted to 4-3-3. Eder Militao and Nacho are covering for Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane at centre-back.

6.35pm BST

Pre-match reading galore

6.34pm BST

“Hi Rob,” says Tony Barr. “I was reading a poll earlier in which a surprising number of readers put Nat Phillips in a combined LFC/Real ‘available’ combined XI. I think he’s exceeded expectations for Liverpool, but surely it’s all about Fabinho back in midfield isn’t it? What’s your take on the Bolton Baresi? Is it too early for beer? I usually wait until the team are up, but hey...”

Blame the beer on lockdown while you still can. As for Phillips, he has done pretty well, and it’s a charming story, but I agree that Fabinho moving back is the bigger deal. I thought it was daft to move both Fabinho and Henderson into defence earlier in the year, and I think subsequent events have confirmed that I am a better football manager than Jurgen Klopp.

6.31pm BST

The first email of the night!

“Hi Rob,” says Peter Oh. “So Liverpool face the mighty Real Madrid for the first time since Kiev 2018. Boy oh boy have I been looking forward to this! You do know what dish is best served cold, right? Gazpacho.”

12.35pm BST

Good evening. Real Madrid and Liverpool know all about the healing power of the European Cup. Between them they have been champions of Europe 19 times - yet in 14 of those seasons, they weren’t champions of their own country. On a few occasions, they finished as low as fifth in their domestic league, but nobody cared about nine months of domestic misery when they were lifting the big one.

I doubt we’ll forget Liverpool’s surreal 2020-21 title defence in a hurry, but we’ll see it through very different eyes if they end the season by lifting a seventh European Cup. Real could still win La Liga - they are third, three points off the leaders Atletico Madrid, but it’s unlikely, especially with Barcelona in such rampant form. Real could live with being third in Spain and first on the continent. They, more than any other club in Europe - arguably the world - are defined by European competition.

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Published on April 06, 2021 14:07

April 5, 2021

Wolves 2-3 West Ham: Premier League – as it happened

Jesse Lingard scored a spectacular solo goal as West Ham won a wildly entertaining match to move up to fourth in the table

10.12pm BST

That’s it for tonight’s blog. Thanks for your company and emails - goodnight!

10.10pm BST

It almost kicked off after the final whistle between Jesse Lingard and Pedro Neto. I’m not sure why, but the players on both sides charged over to separate them. Michael Oliver was nearby and didn’t dish out any more cards.

10.08pm BST

Peep peep! West Ham move up to fourth in the table after a wildly entertaining match at Molineux. They stormed into a 3-0 lead in a scintillating first half, but had a big scare when Wolves pulled it back to 3-2.

10.07pm BST

90+3 min Lingard is booked for timewasting, and risks another yellow card secdnds later when he kicks the ball away. Michael Oliver lets him off.

10.05pm BST

90+2 min Diop makes a good block from Traore’s long-range shot. West Ham break and Lingard kills a bit more time by winning a throw-in off Coady.

10.04pm BST

90+1 min Soucek is booked for fouling some fellow in gold.

10.04pm BST

90+1 min Four minutes of added time.

10.03pm BST

90 min Noble buys West Ham a bit of time by drawing a foul from Neves. Wolves have brought on Ki-Jana Hoever for Ait-Nouri.

10.01pm BST

88 min Wolves are running out of time. They had more attacking momentum at 3-1 down than they have had since making it 3-2.

9.58pm BST

85 min Neves is booked for standing on Lingard’s foot.

9.56pm BST

83 min West Ham aren’t really bothering to attack now. It’s human nature, I suppose, but they’ll be secreting regret should Wolves equalise.

9.54pm BST

81 min There’s a break in play while Tomas Soucek receives treatment. West Ham have used all their subs, but he looks okay to continue.

9.51pm BST

78 min West Ham make their final change, with Said Benrahma replacing Pablo Fornals.

9.51pm BST

77 min Dawson’s panicky clearance runs to Pedro Neto, who hammers a snapshot over the bar from 16 yards.

9.49pm BST

76 min West Ham have switched to a back five since Johnson came on, which makes sense but is also inviting a bit of pressure. Apart from Soucek’s disallowed goal, they haven’t really threatened in the second half.

9.48pm BST

74 min It’s hard to understand how this game has changed, such was West Ham’s dominance for most of the first half.

9.45pm BST

72 min Another Wolves change: Vitinha comes on to replace Willian Jose.

9.44pm BST

70 min Dendoncker misses a good chance to equalise! Pedro Neto’s cross from the left ricocheted towards the edge of the area, where Dendoncker ran onto the ball and spanked it over the bar.

9.42pm BST

Wolves are right back in it. Pedro Neto, in the centre circle, clipped a gorgeous pass over the West Ham defence to find Fabio Silva in the inside-right channel. He cushioned the ball perfectly on the run and then, from a tight angle, slid a low shot across Fabianski. That’s a terrific goal.

9.41pm BST

Well I never!

9.40pm BST

67 min A West Ham change: Ben Johnson replaces Arthur Masuaku.

9.40pm BST

66 min Neves dummies to shoot and instead angles a pass into Neto on the edge of the D. He runs round the ball but cracks a first-time shot well wide.

9.39pm BST

65 min Ait-Nouri runs 40 yards before being fouled by Noble. The free-kick is around 28 yards from goal, and Ruben Neves will take it...

9.35pm BST

61 min Pedro Neto scoots down the right, then cuts inside Cresswell and hits a rising drive that is patted down by Fabianski. It was a pretty comfortable save.

9.33pm BST

NO GOAL! Bowen’s shot was pushed away by Rui Patricio and the ball hit the arm of Soucek before he put it into the empty net.

9.33pm BST

59 min: Soucek has a goal disallowed for handball. VAR will check it. VAR loves to check things.

9.29pm BST

55 min Dendoncker drives not far wide from 22 yards. Fabianski had it covered through.

9.28pm BST

55 min Traore is back on the left now. I have no idea what formation Wolves are playing.

9.28pm BST

55 min Saying which, Bowen has missed a good chance to make it 4-1. Cresswell put in a delicious cross from the left, and Bowen flicked a header just wide from eight yards. He should have scored.

9.27pm BST

53 min It’s been a relatively quiet start to the second half. This often happens after a high-scoring first half, when coaches get hold of their teams at half-time and politely ask them to STOP PLAYING SILLY BUGGERS.

9.24pm BST

50 min The next goal is always important at 3-1, but it’s even more so today because West Ham lost a 3-0 lead in their last game.

9.22pm BST

49 min “Matt Dony, we are Tangled Up in Claret and Blue tonight,” says Pete Higginson. “I must admit - I got the prediction a bit wrong but That’s Life (introducing a Sinatra element in tribute to Bob’s Triplicate covers album). Can we come back to win 4-3? The answer is Blowin’ in the Wolverhampton Wind.”

Nobody ever does this with Climie Fisher songs.

9.21pm BST

48 min A cross falls kindly for Willian Jose, but he is weirdly hesitant and West Ham clear the danger.

9.21pm BST

47 min Wolves are still playing 4-2-3-1, but the pieces have moved: Willian Jose leftish, Traore right, Neto behind Fabio Silva.

9.19pm BST

46 min Peep peep!

9.18pm BST

Wolves have made a half-time substitution: Fabio Silva is on for Daniel Podence.

9.18pm BST

“Given that there is no option to buy in Lingard’s loan deal with West Ham, what do you think the future holds for him next season?” asks David Wall. “As a youth product I’m sure he’d love to return to Old Trafford, but not to sit on Desolation Row (aka the bench). Do you think Solskjaer will welcome him back, giving Shelter from the Storm, or will he have to leave Old Trafford like a Rolling Stone?”

It’s tricky, isn’t it. In this form he’s a huge asset, one that Manchester United could use now, never mind next season. But he has played like this for only a couple of periods in his career. I suspect Lingard’s future will depend on what they do with Donny van de Beek.

9.13pm BST

“Your description of Lingard’s involvement in West Ham’s second goal (‘lobbed infield for Masuaku’) could be the understatement of the season,” says Brad Mcmillan. “In my opinion, his careful touch to keep the ball in while running at pace towards the corner, and the delicate dink over the charging defender’s foot to create danger from nothing, were wonderful to watch - arguably better than his contributions for the first and third goals.”

You’re right, but so much was happening that my fingers couldn’t keep up, never mind my brain. I’m not certain Lingard was intending to find Masuaku (I’d need to see it again, and see above), but the original bit of skill reminded me of that famous Dimitar Berbatov assist against West Ham.

9.04pm BST

Half-time reading

9.03pm BST

Peep peep! The smart money was on a 0-0 draw in this game; happily, the smart money now belongs to the bookies. We’ve had four goals, two of them involving outrageous 60-yard solo runs from Jesse Lingard and Adama Traore, and both sides have also hit the woodwork. See you in 10 minutes for more of this moreish madness.

9.01pm BST

45+1 min “I can never decide if Nuno is a good manager or not,” says Niall Mullen. “Oftentimes Wolves seem less than the sum of their parts. But his beard is so luxuriant and his voice is so calming that I want to believe.”

He’s a much better manager when Raul Jimenez is available, I’ll tell you that for nothing, and it won’t be in a soothing voice either.

9.00pm BST

45 min There will be three minutes of added time. Can we make it three days?

9.00pm BST

Adama Traore made the goal with a stunning surge down the left wing. He ran 60 yards, beating Coufal (twice) and Noble, then lifted a left-footed cross into the middle. Dendoncker arrived late to thump an accomplished header into the bottom corner.

8.58pm BST

Hello!

8.56pm BST

41 min: Pedro Neto misses an open goal! What a surreal first half this has been. Podence’s low cross from the right was met by Willian Jose, whose scruffy close-range shot was pawed away by Fabianski. The ball rebounded to Pedro Neto, who somehow poked it wide from six yards. He went with his left foot when, even allowing for his one-footedness, it would have been much easier to use the right.

8.54pm BST

That was another devastating counter-attack. Lingard scurried 40 yards at a backpedalling defence, no frills whatsoever, and forced a through pass towards Bowen. He took it on the run and smashed a shot past Rui Patricio at the near post. It was poor defending from Wolves, who had five men back against West Ham’s two, and Patricio probably should have done better as well. As if West Ham will care: for the second game in a row, they are 3-0 up.

8.53pm BST

Jarrod Bowen has scored within two minutes of coming on!

8.52pm BST

37 min Traore, in the D, rattles a snapshot that is confidently held by the falling Fabianski.

8.51pm BST

36 min Jarrod Bowen comes on to replace Michail Antonio, an unlike-for-unlike substitution. There is nobody else like Antonio.

8.50pm BST

35 min “Hi Rob,” says Gary Naylor. “Five years ago at Wembley for the FA Cup semi-final, I recall being struck by Jesse Lingard’s running style - he really floats over the ground. He’s not the most gifted of footballers, but an athlete of uncommon grace and balance (if that’s not damning him with faint praise). It’s no surprise that a bit of confidence does wonders for him.”

He’s a hard player to get a handle on, for observers and defenders. When he’s bad, he’s desperate; but when he’s good, he’s a ghostly menace.

8.48pm BST

33 min Antonio was injured during that barnstorming solo run, and it looks like he’s coming off. That’s such a shame because he was playing spectacularly.

8.47pm BST

31 min Antonio looks unstoppable tonight. He wriggles away from two defenders on the right, keeping possession even after falling over, then turns Saiss inside out before smashing the ball into the side netting from a very tight angle.

8.44pm BST

29 min “What’s that, Pete Higginson?” says Matt Dony. “Bob Dylan references, you say? Well, if you insist. There certainly seems to have been a Changing of the Lingards this season, from rubbish to brilliant. He’s attacking like a Hurricane. Must have been a difficult few seasons for him, but he obviously saw the chance to go to West Ham, and thought ‘I Shall Be Free’. Strange how these things can just work out sometimes, like a Simple Twist Of Fate.”

Didn’t he write a song called Dignity?

8.41pm BST

27 min Pedro Neto, near the penalty spot, heads miles wide from Podence’s cross. Wolves look fairly bright going forward, but their finishing leaves plenty to be desired.

8.41pm BST

25 min It’s worth repeating that, if it stays like this, West Ham will be in the Champions League places with eight games to go - above Chelsea, Spurs and Liverpool. After 30 games last year they were 17th, and 56 points behind Liverpool.

8.37pm BST

22 min Neto’s chipped cross is met by Podence, whose looping header skims the top of the bar. That was a decent effort. At the other end, Antonio misses an excellent headed chance from Coufal’s cross. He mistimed his jump and ended up heading the ball across the face of goal rather than towards it.

8.36pm BST

21 min Wolves appeal unsuccessfully for a penalty when Dawson challenges Traore in the area. It was a risky challenge, but VAR isn’t interested.

8.34pm BST

19 min West Ham lost a three-goal lead against Arsenal in their last game, so they won’t be taking owt for granted just yet.

8.32pm BST

18 min Neto’s outswinging corner is headed over at the far post by Neto. That was a decent chance for Wolves.

8.30pm BST

It’s been another blistering start from West Ham, who have already scored two and hit the post. The move for the second goal started when Cresswell drove a long pass down the left wing to Lingard. He lobbed it infield towards Masuaku, who charged into the area and cut the ball back towards the near post. Fornals, in far too much space, opened his body to spin a precise first-time shot into the far corner.

8.29pm BST

Pablo Fornals makes it two!

8.28pm BST

12 min Lingard’s low shot from the edge of the area is comfortably saved by Rui Patricio. He is playing with so much confidence; in fact, this is the best he’s played since a purple patch in the winter of 2017-18.

8.26pm BST

11 min “Sitting here a mile from Molineux and still celebrating (with a Laphroaig) a win on the Irish Grand National this afternoon,” says Pete Higginson. “Took 125-1 £2 ew on ‘Freewheelin’ Dylan’ and pocketed £310! Like the look of the team tonight and fancy a corresponding 3-1 win, with Traore to bag a brace.”

You’ve already got the 1 in the bank.

8.25pm BST

10 min Diop is booked for a foul on Traore.

8.22pm BST

7 min It’s been a brilliant start to the game, and Ait-Nouri almost equalises with a cross-shot that flashes just past the far post.

8.22pm BST

Lingard was 10 yards inside his own half when he received a short pass from Coufal. He turned and ran straight at the heart of a backpedalling Wolves defence, with Dendoncker in his slipstream, and was not even challenged until he reached the edge of the penalty area. Antonio made a superb off-the-ball run from left to right that dragged Coady out of position, and Lingard used him by not using him: he veered to the left, away from Saiss, and lifted the ball calmly over Rui Patricio.

8.21pm BST

Jesse Lingard scores a glorious individual goal!

8.19pm BST

4 min Dawson is booked for a cynical foul on Pedro Neto.

8.19pm BST

4 min: Antonio hits the post! Blimey, what an effort from Michail Antonio. He stormed past two Wolves defenders and swished a drive towards goal from 25 yards. Rui Patricio, diving to his right, did very well to claw it onto the near post.

8.18pm BST

2 min Willian Jose misses a good chance to give Wolves an early lead. He received Podence’s driven cross on the edge of the area with his back to goal, and created the opportunity for himself with a smart turn away from Dawson. The finish was less impressive, dragged wide of the near post.

8.16pm BST

2 min Both teams have started in a 4-2-3-1 formation, since you asked.

8.15pm BST

1 min Peep peep! West Ham kick off from left to right.

8.06pm BST

Willy Boly has tested positive for Covid-19, Nuno Espirito Santo has confirmed. Jonny is also out for the rest of the season with a knee injury that requires surgery.

8.04pm BST

West Ham’s Champions/Europa League rivals Everton dropped two points in the early game, with Michy Batshuayi scoring a late equaliser for Crystal Palace.

7.52pm BST

Pre-match reading

7.23pm BST

Wolves (4-2-3-1) Rui Patricio; Semedo, Coady, Saiss, Ait-Nouri; Dendoncker, Neves; Traore, Podence, Neto; Willian Jose.
Substitutes: Ruddy, Hoever, Silva, Gibbs-White, Vitinha, Kilman, Otasowie, Richards, Marques.

West Ham (4-2-3-1) Fabianski; Coufal, Dawson, Diop, Cresswell; Noble, Soucek; Fornals, Lingard, Masuaku; Antonio.
Substitutes: Martin, Trott, Balbuena, Alves, Fredericks, Johnson, Benrahma, Bowen, Odubeko.

11.15am BST

Hello and welcome to live coverage of Wolves v West Ham from Molineux. West Ham have stolen Wolves’ identity this season, assuming their role replacing them as miserly, streetwise Big Six-botherers. West Ham are right in contention for a Champions League place, and if they win tonight they will jump from seventh to fourth. But the news that Declan Rice is out for a while with a knee injury is a big blow to their hopes of hearing some ersatz Handel at the London Stadium next season.

Wolves know all about the perils of losing a star player. They have struggled since Raul Jimenez’s sickening injury at the Emirates in November, winning only five out of 20 league games. They sit in 14th, with nothing much to play for, though a kind run-in offers hope of a happy ending: their next five games are against teams in the bottom six. There’s a time when West Ham at home would have looked like an easy fixture too. Not this season.

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Published on April 05, 2021 14:12

April 4, 2021

Manchester United 2-1 Brighton: Premier League – as it happened

Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood scored as the home side came from behind to beat Brighton in an intriguing game at Old Trafford

9.31pm BST

That’s it for tonight’s blog, but a match report will appear soon, as if by magic. Thanks for your company and emails. Now who or what the hell is H?

9.30pm BST

Here’s the matchwinner Mason Greenwood “It was a hard night. When they scored we knew we had to react and put in a better performance. The second half was excellent and the boys were switched on. Ole said his bit at half-time and so did Harry as captain.

“The goal is a confidence boost - I know I haven’t scored many in the Premier League but I’ve been working on headers for a long time behind the scenes so I’m pleased with that. We’re happy to get the three points.”

9.25pm BST

Danny Welbeck gave Brighton a deserved half-time lead, but Bruno Fernandes - who was having a stinker - dragged United back into the game through sheer will. He made the equaliser for Marcus Rashford and played a big part in Mason Greenwood’s late winner.

9.24pm BST

Peep peep! For the eighth time this season, but the first at Old Trafford, Manchester United come from behind to win a Premier League game. It takes them 11 points clear of fifth-placed Spurs, and all but ensures they will play Champions League football next season.

9.22pm BST

90+3 min Sanchez comes up for the corner but it’s headed away by Fred.

9.22pm BST

90+3 min Gross’s cross hits Shaw and goes behind for a corner. This is Brighton’s last chance...

9.20pm BST

90+1 min Four minutes of added time.

9.20pm BST

90 min James gives away a needless foul on the left wing with a clumsy challenge on Veltman. Gross’s free-kick ricochets around the area until Wan-Bissaka clears acrobatically.

9.18pm BST

89 min Greenwood is booked for timewasting.

9.17pm BST

88 min A double change for Brighton. Andi Zeqiri and Ali Jahanbakhsh replaces Lallana and Moder. Lallana was very good.

9.16pm BST

87 min Steve McManaman makes a good point on BT that Bruno Fernandes, despite having a bit of a stinker, still played a decisive part in both goals.

9.15pm BST

85 min “My first thought was penalty & a red card for Maguire,” says Will Morgan of that incident in the 71st minute. “I think if Dean had looked at the monitor he would have given it.”

I think it fell into the clear and obvious black hole. Had it been given on the field I’m not sure Dean could have overturned it either.

9.13pm BST

84 min That peculiar assist was Paul Pogba’s last touch - he is replaced by Scott McTominay.

9.13pm BST

Shaw started the move with a penetrative pass into Fernandes on the left side of the area. He looked up and floated a deep cross towards Pogba, arriving late in the area. Pogba made a complete mess of an admittedly difficult volley, but the ball bounced invitingly towards Greenwood and van de Beek on the six-yard line. Greenwood got there first, stooping to head past Sanchez and through Dunk on the line.

9.12pm BST

It’s there!

9.11pm BST

82 min Greenwood is now playing up front, with James on the right, Fernandes left and van de Beek as the No10.

9.11pm BST

81 min Donny van de Beek replaces the anonymous Edinson Cavani.

9.09pm BST

80 min Another 20-yard shot from Fernandes kicks up awkwardly in front of Sanchez. This time he holds on with authority.

9.06pm BST

76 min: So close from Greenwood! Fernandes’s long-range shot was parried by Sanchez, who might have been unsighted. James was first to the loose ball and poked it across the area towards Greenwood, who lofted it onto the roof of the net. It was a difficult chance for Greenwood, who was stretching and had very little reaction time.

9.05pm BST

76 min “There was a first touch by Pogba just now that was so bad, it reminded me of Ashley Grimes,” shudders Adam Roberts.

9.03pm BST

75 min Brighton had a nervy spell either side of the Rashford goal but they are back in the groove now. This could still go either way.

9.02pm BST

73 min The goalscorer Marcus Rashford is replaced by Daniel James. That can only be a fitness issue, because Rashford has been one of United’s better players. He’s limping slightly as he walks down the touchline.

9.01pm BST

72 min Greenwood cuts infield from the right and hits a decent low shot that is comfortably held by Sanchez.

9.01pm BST

71 min A low cross from Maupay was missed by Welbeck, in fact, and the ball rolled just wide of the far post. Maguire challenged him from behind, and Welbeck was convinced he’d been fouled. No penalty. I suppose that’s fair enough, as it wasn’t a clear and obvious error, but there was definitely a tangle of legs. You could argue that Welbeck kicked Maguire rather than the other way round.

8.59pm BST

70 min: Just wide from Welbeck! Brighton want a penalty, and it’ll be checked by VAR.

8.58pm BST

70 min Fred’s long-range shot takes a deflection and spins onto the roof of the net. Sanchez had it covered, and he confidently claims the resulting corner as well.

8.57pm BST

68 min United have been energised by the goal, and Brighton could do with a spell of possession to calm everything down.

8.55pm BST

66 min Ben White is booked for perceived timewasting.

8.54pm BST

65 min Wan-Bissaka storms down the right and crosses towards the near post, wehere Greenwood opens his body and steers a shot wide. It was a half chance at best.

8.53pm BST

64 min Apparently Cavani was booked for something or other a moment ago.

8.53pm BST

64 min Alexis Mac Allister comes on for Brighton in place of Leandro Trossard.

8.52pm BST

The goal was made, inevitably, by Bruno Fernandes. He picked up a loose ball 35 yards out and scurried impatiently towards the area. Fernandes waited and waited before playing the ball to the left for Rashford, who opened his body and slid a precise low shot into the far corner. Excellent goal. Fernandes was taken out in the D by Veltman after playing the pass, though Mike Dean didn’t book him.

8.51pm BST

Marcus Rashford equalises for Manchester United!

8.50pm BST

60 min Pogba’s clever first-time pass is taken down on the chest by Fernandes, and Sanchez springs from his line to dive across Fernandes and push the ball away. Excellent goalkeeping.

8.48pm BST

59 min Wan-Bissaka plays a one-two with Fernandes, but once again his cross isn’t good enough. Veltman heads clear at the near post.

8.46pm BST

57 min Fernandes does brilliantly to keep Lindelof’s pass in play and win a corner. He takes it himself and Bissouma heads away.

8.46pm BST

56 min Bissouma makes another interception when Fernandes tries to flick a pass round the corner. He’s an extremely good holding midfielder, one of the best in the league.

8.44pm BST

55 min Rashford slaloms between Lallana and Gross, forcing White to concede a corner. Shaw’s corner leads to a brief game of head tennis until Pogba tries an overhead kick and is penalised for dangerous play.

8.42pm BST

53 min Brighton have everyone apart from Trossard behind the ball when United attack. I’d be inclined to bring van de Beek on; if anyone can find an eye in the needle it’ll be him.

8.41pm BST

52 min Rashford loses Lallana, 25 yards from goal, and hits a dipping shot that is comfortably saved by Sanchez. That’s United’s first shot on target.

8.40pm BST

51 min If Brighton win tonight they will be nine points clear of the relegation zone. They’re an extremely impressive side.

8.37pm BST

48 min “Hello Rob,” says Stephen Carr. “Re Geoff’s offering - my father in law used ‘wallop’ as a generic term for any type of beer. Furthermore, in my pomp, I enjoyed a pint or seven of ‘Golden’, which was a delightful combo of shite lager and even shiter bitter. GOOD TIMES.”

The best.

8.36pm BST

47 min Shaw plays a nice one-two with Rashford and drills a low cross that is calmly intercepted at the near post by Dunk. United’s tempo looks better at the start of the second half.

8.35pm BST

46 min Rashford makes a beeline for the penalty area and is well challenged by White. Fred then has a long-range shot blocked by Bissouma.

8.34pm BST

46 min Peep peep! Manchester United begin the second half.

8.18pm BST

Peep peep! Brighton are 45 minutes away from a first-ever victory at Old Trafford. They have been the better side - smarter, classier, more confident - and lead through Danny Welbeck’s header against his old club. United haven’t had a shot on target, though Mason Greenwood hit the outside of the post early on.

8.17pm BST

45+1 min Gross’s corner from the right is missed at the near post and bounces up towards Moder, whose volley hits Rashford and dribbles just wide.

8.16pm BST

45+1 min Two minutes of added time.

8.16pm BST

45 min Trossard plays a clever little pass to Lallana, who lifts it over Lindelof on the edge of the area. The ball almost runs through to Maupay, but Maguire comes across to make a vital interception.

8.15pm BST

43 min Brighton are defending very deep, a tactic that has worked perfectly so far. United might need the lock-picking skills of Donny van de Beek if it carries on like this. What they really need, but don’t have, is width.

8.13pm BST

43 min Pogba plays a terrific ball to release Wan-Bissaka, whose cross is headed away by Bissouma. Greenwood picks up the loose ball on the edge of the area but takes too long and is dispossessed by Lallana.

8.12pm BST

42 min Gross is booked for pulling back Fred.

8.11pm BST

40 min Maupay wins a corner for Brighton, who continue to play the smoother football. Gross swings it out and somebody in red heads clear.

8.09pm BST

38 min A half chance for Pogba, who sidefoots well wide from the edge of the area after a good pass from Fernandes.

8.08pm BST

36 min Greenwood releases Wan-Bissaka on the right for the first time in the game. He hammers a low cross that is cleared at the near post by Bissouma. That wasn’t great from Wan-Bissaka, whose attacking ability is becoming a problem for United.

8.05pm BST

34 min “Hadn’t we established ages ago that United play so much better when Fred and McTominay play in front of the defence and Fernandes has more of a licence to orchestrate attacks?” says Kevin Wilson. “Every time this is disrupted to bring Pogba in, things go wrong.”

While I know what you mean, I don’t think that’s been United’s problem today. Their passing has been crap, and McTominay for Pogba isn’t going to improve that.

8.03pm BST

31 min Cavani misses a chance to put Rashford through, overhitting a relatively straightforward pass. That sums up a sloppy performance from United so far.

8.00pm BST

28 min Brighton’s defence is extremely narrow, which is an effective tactic against a United team who, with the exception of Luke Shaw, don’t really have the ability to get round the back.

7.58pm BST

27 min Gross’s corner is dropped by Henderson, who is very relieved to see it fall to Maguire rather than one of the Brighton players. He looks unconvincing on corners; Brighton have been deliberately dropping them right under the crossbar.

7.57pm BST

26 min United’s passing has gone to seed since Brighton took the lead. They can be such a moody team.

7.55pm BST

24 min “Hello Rob,” says Adam Roberts. “The pitch is playing quite strangely; there has been a number of instances of players slipping and, more than once, players leaving the ball behind as if it didn’t run smoothly - the latest example was Greenwood.”

I blame that bloody Rod Stewart concert.

7.53pm BST

23 min Veltman makes an important tackle to stop Greenwood running onto Pogba’s neat pass.

7.52pm BST

22 min Manchester United have been very good at coming from behind this season, though all of those fightbacks have been away from home. By my calculation they have goe behind three times at Old Trafford in the league, and lost all three. They did come from 1-0 down to beat Liverpool in the FA Cup though.

7.51pm BST

21 min “I’m glad you’re going with ‘Fernandes’ and not the increasingly common ‘Bruno’ in the MBM,” says Gary Naylor. “Some players seem to acquire this level of familiarity (‘Trent’) with fans as if they’re in their WhatsApp group and they’re going down the pub with them the moment they open. I suggest it’s acquired from pundits, who are, of course, on first name terms with some players and not with others.”

Cheers Naylor.

7.50pm BST

19 min Dunk almost makes it 2-0! Gross curled in a good free-kick from the left, and Dunk got in front of Wan-Bissaka to steer a header towards goal. It was close enough for Henderson to stretch and push it onto the top of the bar.

7.49pm BST

17 min After a slow start, Brighton are into their work now and have a bit of a strut on.

7.46pm BST

14 min Aaron Wan-Bissaka can be slightly dozy on crosses, and that was another example. He was the one marking Welbeck, who was able to lose him far too easily.

7.45pm BST

Pogba played a sloppy pass to Fred, who was partially obstructed by the referee Mike Dean. Trossard nicked the ball and moved it out to the right, where Maupay curled in a superb cross. Welbeck’s downward header was brilliantly saved by Henderson, but the ball bounced up perfectly for Welbeck to head into the net at the second attempt.

7.44pm BST

Danny Welbeck scores against his old club!

7.43pm BST

12 min Gross’s very deep cross is headed back across the area by Welbeck. Trossard takes the ball on the run but is shepherded out of play by Lindelof and Maguire.

7.40pm BST

8 min: Greenwood hits the post! Fernandes’s cross from the left was headed away to the edge of the area by the backpedalling Dunk. Greenwood waited for the ball to bounce and cracked a right-footed shot that smacked off the outside of the post. It was a really clean hit, though I suspect Sanchez had it covered.

7.39pm BST

8 min Brighton are struggling to get out of their half at the moment. United look sharp, particularly Shaw and Rashford on the left.

7.38pm BST

7 min After a couple of minutes of treatment, Bissouma is able to continue.

7.36pm BST

5 min Bissouma is in a lot of pain after falling awkwardly. This doesn’t look great; it’s a problem with his left arm.

7.34pm BST

4 min United have strated brightly, which isn’t always the case. Bruno Fernandes has the first shot, swishing over the bar from 20 yards.

7.31pm BST

1 min Peep peep! Brighton kick off from right to left.

7.28pm BST

The players stroll out on a calm, dry evening in Manchester. Let’s play darts.

7.27pm BST

“Evening Rob,” says Geoff Wignall. “I suspect it was a very regional or even more local thing, but David Wall might be interested that in my underage drinking days (and later) a pint of wallop was a mild + bitter mix.”

Brown ale and mild? I’m pretty sure I’m getting a hangover just from reading that.

7.24pm BST

This is only the second time since the 2013-14 season that David de Gea has been on the bench for a Premier League game. The other instance was the match away to Sheffield United earlier this season.

7.11pm BST

“Hi Rob,” says David Wall. “A random thought from your earlier MBM on the Newcastle - Spurs game, what a lovely word ‘wallop’ is. The kind of thing Ted Hastings might work into a colloquial phrase or other.”

6.58pm BST

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has just said Anthony Martial may not play again this season because of a knee injury. As exasperating as he can be, that would still be a big blow to United’s hopes of winning the Europa League.

6.56pm BST

It’s already been an eventful day in the Premier League. Read all about it by clicking the clickable things below.

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United’s injury list is not as bad as feared. Marcus Rashford, Mason Greenwood and Edinson Cavani all start, as do Paul Pogba and Dean Henderson, who is preferred to David de Gea. There are two changes from United’s last league game, the scruffy 1-0 win over West Ham three weeks ago: Pogba and Cavani are in for Scott McTominay and Daniel James.

Graham Potter sticks with the Brighton side that hammered Newcastle before the international break.

6.16pm BST

It’s second v sixteenth at Old Trafford. A home banker, right? Well not necessarily. This, for all kinds of reasons, is a really intriguing game. There’s Manchester United’s injury list and relatively modest home form; Brighton’s excellent recent performances and generally strong away form; the fact Brighton have never, ever, ever won at Old Trafford; and that bizarre game at the Amex Stadium in September, when Leandro Trossard hit the woodwork 49 times and Bruno Fernandes scored the winning goal after the final whistle had been blown.

While United are slightly in limbo - they are 17 points behind Manchester City and have an eight-point cushion from the teams outside the Champions League places - Brighton know exactly what time it is. For all their admirable football, they are still in a relegation battle and need all the points they can get. The league table says they have 32, which is 25 fewer than United. But if you’re into the whole xG thing, both teams should be on 49 points. That theoretical equality is another reason to think this match should be interesting enough to make us all forget the fact we’re missing bloody Line of Duty.

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Published on April 04, 2021 13:30

Newcastle United 2-2 Tottenham Hotspur: Premier League – as it happened

Harry Kane scored twice in the space of five minutes but Joe Willock, on loan from Arsenal, came off the bench to earn Newcastle a deserved draw

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Louise Taylor’s match report has landed, so I’ll leave you with that. Thanks for your company and emails - bye!

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More more more

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That’s a decent, deserved point for Newcastle, who played with plenty of pride and just enough quality in the final third. But it’s another frustrating day for Spurs, who have now dropped 15 points from winning positions this season.

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Peep peep!

3.54pm BST

90+2 min Reguilon’s cross clears Kane and reaches Lamela beyond the far post. It bounces up a little awkwardly, and he screws a shot into the side netting with his right foot. I’m surprised he didn’t try another rabona.

3.53pm BST

90+1 min Ritchie’s stinging volley from 20 yards is blocked by Lamela.

3.53pm BST

90+1 min There will be four added minutes. A goal for either side would be gold dust.

3.52pm BST

90 min Sean Longstaff drags a tame shot wide from 25 yards.

3.51pm BST

89 min Bale wallops it into orbit.

3.50pm BST

88 min Bale is going to take it. Who writes his scripts?

3.50pm BST

87 min Lamela is fouled 28 yards from goal by Sean Longstaff. Gareth Bale is coming on for Lo Celso, and might well take the free-kick.

3.49pm BST

Saint-Maximin beat a couple of players in the middle of the field and found Ritchie on the left. His deep, deflected cross was headed back across goal by Joelinton. Almiron’s header was blocked onthe line by Rodon but Willock followed up to ram the ball off the underside of the bar and into the net!

3.48pm BST

Arsenal’s Joe Willock has equalised!

3.47pm BST

85 min: Kane hits the post! So close to the hat-trick. Spurs broke superbly from a Newcastle corner, with Lamela running 70 yards before finding Kane on the left of the area. He shaped to shoot across goal and then dragged a low shot that wrongfooted Dubravka and hit the outside of the near post.

3.46pm BST

84 min Newcastle have switched to a back four now, with Shelvey back in midfield. Spurs look fairly comfortable, though they will be conscious of all the late equalisers they have conceded this season.

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83 min: Newcastle substitution The excellent but shattered Jacob Murphy is replaced by Javi Manquillo.

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81 min Shelvey is now playing as the third centre-back for Newcastle. Saint-Maximin is still up front alongside Joelinton, rather than in his usual position on the wing.

3.42pm BST

80 min “Reluctant Newcastle fan here, Rob,” says Rod Wooden. “The thing I have most against Bruce is his dreadful team selection. A couple of months ago, he told Jacob Murphy that he had 17 games to prove himself and deserve a new contract. Since then he has either been on the bench or not picked at all, and has come on a few times as a sub. Now, with just eight games to go, he finally starts him – and the kid is probably Newcastle’s best player so far. Words fail me, they really really do.”

3.41pm BST

79 min Emil Krafth is replaced by Joe Willock.

3.40pm BST

78 min Son’s free-kick is headed away as far as Hojbjerg, who belts it into orbit from 25 yards.

3.38pm BST

76 min Saint-Maximin’s first solo run is ended by a superbly timed tackle from Hojbjerg.

3.36pm BST

73 min: Chance for Spurs! Dubravka makes a vital save, smothering Kane’s close-range shot at the near post. Kane was put through by Ndombele, but there was little room to manouevre and Dubravka was out very quickly.

3.35pm BST

73 min Kane thumps the free-kick into the wall.

3.34pm BST

72 min Shelvey is booked for fouling Lamela 25 yards from goal.

3.33pm BST

71 min A Newcastle change. The popular Allan Saint-Maximin comes on to replace Dwight Gayle.

3.33pm BST

70 min: Just wide from Joelinton! That was a great chance for Newcastle. Krafth’s deep cross was pulled down superbly by Joelinton, who tried to guide a shot into the far corner. It beat Lloris but drifted just wide.

3.31pm BST

69 min This is a good spell for Spurs, who are chasing the third goal that would probably kill Newcastle off.

3.30pm BST

67 min: Almiron clears off the line! Lo Celso’s inswinging corner from the right was punched up in the air by Dubravka. Tanganga leapt majestically to head the loose ball towards goal, and Almiron headed it off the line.

3.27pm BST

65 min Dummett is booked for pulling back Lamela.

3.27pm BST

65 min “Vis-a-vis Mary Waltz’s thoughts about what makes Kane special,” begins Trevor White. “As a Canadian, it reminds me of G.O.A.T. hockey-player Wayne Gretzky’s explanation for his success: ‘I go to where the puck is going, not to where it has been.’ Kane has this same preternatural sense.”

3.26pm BST

64 min Tanganga is booked for fouling Ritchie. Spurs make a second change: Erik Lamela on, Lucas Moura off.

3.25pm BST

63 min Newcastle have had 15 attempts to Spurs’ four. They also have no Harry Kanes to Spurs’ one.

3.24pm BST

61 min Ritchie’s corner is headed up in the air by Shelvey. Gayle moves towards the bouncing ball, rolls Kane and helps the ball back across goal. Joelinton, on the stretch, diverts it wide from a couple of yards and is then flagged offside. Replays suggest he was probably onside, though, so it might have counted had he scored. It was a deceptively tricky chance because he was at full stretch and the ball bounced awkwardly.

3.22pm BST

60 min Murphy, who has played very well, sprays a pass out to his fellow wing-back Ritchie. His cross is booted behind by Sanchez.

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57 min It’s all a bit scruffy at the moment. Spurs have blown quite a few leads this season, so they’ll want a third goal.

3.17pm BST

53 min Spurs have switched to a 4-1-4-1 with the introduction of Son. He is on the left, Lucas Moura has moved to the right and Lo Celso is in the middle alongside Ndombele. Hojbjerg is sitting in front of the back four.

3.11pm BST

49 min Newcastle have made a fine start to the second half. Murphy has a couple of shots blocked before Longstaff spanks the loose ball over the bar.

3.09pm BST

47 min “Kane is special, just not in a way that will make the highlight clips of flashy internet hits,” says Mary Waltz. “What is it that makes him so special? A masterful ability to be two steps ahead of everyone else and brutal finishing skills.”

3.08pm BST

46 min Almiron has a half chance after 20 seconds, shaping a curler towards the far corner that is pushed behind at full stretch by Lloris.

3.07pm BST

46 min Peep peep! Newcastle begin the second half.

3.07pm BST

Half-time substitution Spurs are bringing on Son Heung-min for Carlos Vinicius.

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“It’s a strange beast of a season, Rob,” says Guy Hornsby. “We’ve been disastrous at times and yet there’s still a chance we could threaten fourth. But what will another year with José really bring us? And - as feels likely - without Kane, today’s a clear message that we’ll be a pretty toothless team. It’s a bit terrifying, really. I just hope he can turn it on against City, because we really are the millennium’s perennial silver medalist.”

2.53pm BST

Half-time reading

2.53pm BST

Peep peep! Spurs lead after a scruffy but very entertaining first half. Joelinton gave Newcastle the lead - but he also stirred the beast in Harry Kane, who scored twice in the next six minutes to put Spurs ahead.

2.51pm BST

45+2 min Newcastle keep the ball alive after a Shelvey free-kick is cleared. Eventually Joelinton eases the ball through to Longstaff, who shoots well wide from a tight angle.

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45+1 min Two minutes of added time.

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84 - In just 120 appearances away from home, Harry Kane has scored 84 @premierleague goals - the most by a player on the road for a single club in the competition's history. Icon. #NEWTOT pic.twitter.com/kf9bxB4U32

2.50pm BST

45 min Lo Celso is booked for fouling Almiron off the ball.

2.49pm BST

44 min “I agree that Harry Kane is a majestic footballer, but it’s hard to say exactly why,” says Gary Naylor. “I’d venture that the main reason is his decision-making, a vital component of any great player in any sport, but Kane seems “next level” (as the kids say).”

His technique is very good with both feet, but I’d probably agree that his brain is his biggest asset.

2.48pm BST

42 min: Chance for Newcastle Gayle overhits a simple angled pass to Almiron, who would have been through on goal. It won’t show in the stats but that was a great opportunity.

2.45pm BST

39 min Shelvey’s outswinging corner is met by Lascelles, whose volley deflects behind for another corner. Ritchie takes the second one and Hojbjerg heads clear.

2.44pm BST

39 min Murphy’s dangerous low cross is kicked behind by the stretching Rodon. It was a vital interception, with Gayle waiting behind him, though he hurt himself in the process.

2.41pm BST

36 min This isn’t news, but Harry Kane really is the most majestic footballer.

2.40pm BST

Harry Kane has his second, and it was a cracking finish. Ndombele surged through midfield and reversed a fine pass to Kane in the inside-right channel. His first touch was perfect, pushing the ball into the space so that he could run on and thump it under Dubravka. That’s a superb goal.

2.39pm BST

Bang bang!

2.38pm BST

34 min “Ah the tragedy of Newcastle,” says Mary Waltz. “They thoroughly outplay Spurs, get a much deserved goal, and give it right back in less then 90 seconds. They have the stink of relegation all over them.”

Eau de EFL is my favourite aftershave.

2.36pm BST

32 min Vinicius’s low cross towards Lo Celso (I think) is brilliantly cleared by Ritchie in the six-yard box.

2.36pm BST

Lo Celso, on the right, poked an angled ball towards Kane in the area. Krafth nipped in front of him but then tried to run the ball to safety instead of clearing it. It ricocheted off Kane and past Dubravka, allowing Kane to run on and stab it into the empty net from a few yards.

2.34pm BST

Harry Kane has equalised straight away!

2.34pm BST

Spurs tried to play out from the back but made errors galore. Tanganga gave it away; then Sanchez gave it away; then Hojbjerg lost a 50/50 with Ritchie on the edge of the area. The loose ball was picked up by Sean Longstaff, who slid an inviting pass across the area to the unmarked Joelinton. He finished superbly, sidefooting into the corner from 10 yards.

2.33pm BST

It’s there!

2.30pm BST

25 min “Davinson Sanchez is making a hell lot of mistakes out there,” says Yash Gupta. “He’s literally the carbon copy of Dier.”

I’m sensing rancour.

2.29pm BST

24 min: Vinicius has a goal disallowed for offside. Play continued, even though everybody knew he was offside, and the flag went up as soon as the ball hit the net.

2.27pm BST

23 min Shelvey’s long-range shot is blocked by Rodon, though I think it was going wide anyway.

2.27pm BST

21 min Newcastle have grown into the game after a slightly ominous start. The first goal feels especially important today given the fragile confidence of both teams.

2.25pm BST

19 min: What a chance for Gayle! Shelvey floated a lovely ball towards Gayle, whose downward header was brilliantly saved to his right by Lloris. The ball bounced back towards Gayle, three yards from goal, but he didn’t connect cleanly with his left foot and Lloris managed to wedge the ball against the post.

2.22pm BST

16 min This is better from Newcastle. Shelvey sprays a long pass out to Murphy on the right; he curls over an excellent cross that is missed by Gayle and headed behind by Sanchez. That looked like a decent chance for Gayle; I think he mistimed his jump.

2.19pm BST

15 min Shelvey’s corner yields the square root of bugger all.

2.19pm BST

14 min Krafth shows a bit of confidence on the ball, dancing past Ndombele and driving a long-range shot that deflects behind for a corner.

2.18pm BST

13 min Newcastle look very low on confidence, particularly in possession.

2.14pm BST

10 min “I don’t envy Spurs,” says Ian Copestake. “Losing to Newcastle carries with it enough ignominy to make it a six-pointer.”

2.13pm BST

8 min Spurs have made a fast start and are well on top at the moment. Kane twists past Krafth and lifts a shot from a tight angle that is punched round the near post by Dubravka.

2.11pm BST

7 min ... and Kane thumps it into the wall.

2.11pm BST

6 min Moura is fouled 22 yards from goal by Almiron, although he felt he got the ball. Kane and Lo Celso are over the ball...

2.10pm BST

5 min Lucas Moura’s free-kick from the left wing beats everyone in the six-yard box and bounces just wide of the far post. That was so close.

2.08pm BST

2 min A poor header from Sanchez goes straight to Joelinton, who moves to the edge of the D and hits a rising drive towards goal. It’s too close to Lloris, who pats the ball down and grabs it at the second attempt.

2.06pm BST

1 min Newcastle, as expected, have started with three central defenders.

2.05pm BST

1 min Peep peep! Spurs, in their yellow away strip, kick off from left to right.

2.04pm BST

2.02pm BST

The players are out on the field. It’s a pleasant afternoon in Newcastle, with a hint of sunshine.

1.53pm BST

Full time: Southampton 3-2 Burnley That’s such a stirring victory for Southampton, who were 2-0 down at one stage. They now have 36 points and will surely stay up.

1.35pm BST

In the early game at St Mary’s, Southampton have come from 2-0 down to lead Burnley 3-2. They really do have an unconquerable spirit. When I grow up, I want to work for Ralph Hasenhuttl.

1.31pm BST

Pre-match reading

1.13pm BST

The fit again Allan Saint-Maximin is among the Newcastle substitutes. Steve Bruce has made five changes from the team that folded against Brighton a fortnight ago, and may have switched to a back three. Spurs are unchanged from their 2-0 win over Aston Villa before the international break, though Son Heung-min is fit enough for the bench.

Newcastle (3-5-2) Dubravka; Krafth, Lascelles, Dummett; Murphy, Almiron, Shelvey, S Longstaff, Ritchie; Joelinton, Gayle.
Substitutes: Darlow, Clark, Lewis, Manquillo, Hendrick, Willock, M Longstaff, Anderson, Saint-Maximin.

10.56am BST

Steve Bruce and Jose Mourinho are top of the table. Sadly for their self-esteem levels, this particular table is the one with odds on the next Premier League manager to do one. Whether it’s fair or not, these are the two least popular managers in the league, and they know that plenty of their team’s fans will want them to lose today.

In these style-conscious times, winning alone is not enough for Bruce or Mourinho - yet it’s still essential for both teams. Newcastle, who were 13th at Christmas, have been sucked into a relegation battle and are in desperate need of points. Spurs are in an exquisitely tight five-team race for the last Champions League spot, and a win today would lift them from seventh to fourth. Jose in! Jose out!

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Published on April 04, 2021 08:00

April 2, 2021

Preston 1-1 Norwich, EFL updates and Premier League news – as it happened

Look back on Friday's football news, including a dramatic late equaliser for Preston against the Championship leaders

7.33pm BST

5.51pm BST

5.26pm BST

Manchester United news

It’s Shilton and Clemence all over again (possibly).

5.19pm BST

Championship That late Preston equaliser means Norwich’s lead over Watford is down to six points. More importantly, they are 15 points clear of Swansea in third. Swansea have two games in hand, but Norwich will surely be playing in the Premier League next season.

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Peep peep! The final whistle has been blown in all our featured games. These are the final scores:

Championship

5.00pm BST

The captain Max Power calms Sunderland’s nerves with a breakaway goal.

4.55pm BST

Those Teemu Pukki misses have come back to haunt Norwich. The substitute Brad Potts has equalised for Preston with a deflected shot from 15 yards - it was Preston’s first attempt on target in the match.

4.52pm BST

Hull have also taken the lead! Mallik Wilks bursts into the area and hits a shot that takes a deflection and drifts into the far corner. It’s his 21st goal of the season, and one of the most timely.

4.51pm BST

And an equally big goal for Peterborough! Jonson Clarke-Harris has given Peterborough the lead with an excellent free-kick, driven under the wall. But hang on a minute...

4.46pm BST

This is a big goal for Sunderland. Lynden Gooch tees up Aiden McGeady, lurking in the D, and he curls a precise low shot into the bottom corner.

4.44pm BST

4.41pm BST

Dominic Solanke seals victory for Bournemouth, scoring from close range after his first shot was beaten away by Bettinelli.

4.38pm BST

Preston 0-1 Norwich Teemu Pukki completes a hat-trick of missed chances, clipping just wide after a lovely through ball from Buendia.

4.32pm BST

Here’s Jos é Mourinho on Harry Kane’s future

4.31pm BST

Watford 1-0 Sheffield Wednesday Jordan Rhodes has missed a great chance to equalise for Sheffield Wednesday, half-volleying over the bar from close range.

4.30pm BST

It’s a game of two penalties. Josh Magennis has equalised for the leaders Hull, smashing his penalty straight down the middle.

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4.28pm BST

The latest scores in our featured games

Championship

4.26pm BST

Sunderland 1-1 Oxford Oxford are down to 10 men, with Mark Sykes receiving a second yellow card for an, a-hem, robust sliding challenge.

4.26pm BST

The leaders Hull are behind at the Alexandra Stadium. Chris Porter scored coolly from the spot after a defender was penalised for handball.

4.24pm BST

Middesbrough were level for only three minutes. Jefferson Lerma’s hopeful shot takes a big deflection off Sam Morsy and wrongfoots the keeper Bettinelli.

4.23pm BST

For the third time today, Cheltenham have scored from one of Ben Tozer’s long throws. This one was headed away to the edge of the D, where Callum Wright adjusted his feet and spanked a beautiful volley into the net.

4.21pm BST

A deserved equaliser for Middlesbrough. Yannick Bolasie fires a pass into Duncan Watmore, lurking on the edge of the area. His first touch is superb, pushing the ball into the space behind the defence, and his second is a low shot across goal that sneaks past Asmir Begovic.

4.16pm BST

Preston 0-1 Norwich Teemu Pukki has spanked a shot off the underside of the bar for the leaders Norwich. If they win today they will be 17 points clear of third-placed Swansea, who have two games in hand.

4.16pm BST

Championship

Derby are on course for their first win since February: Graeme Shinnie’s penalty has put them 2-0 up at home to Luton.

4.07pm BST

Peep peep! The second halves are under way.

4.06pm BST

Here’s Pep Guardiola on the news that Manchester City don’t need no Erling Haaland to ride this train

3.51pm BST

Half-time reading

3.50pm BST

Peep peep! It’s half time in all the 3pm games, and you can get all the latest scores here. This is the state of play in our featured games:

Championship

3.49pm BST

Lynden Gooch equalises for Sunderland, tapping in from three yards after some delightful wingplay from Jordan Jones.

3.45pm BST

Cheltenham are running riot in the League Two top-of-the-table clash. This one didn’t come from a long throw, but it was self inflicted. Peter Clarke’s pass out of defence was intercepted by Liam Sercombe. He played the ball through to Alife May, who finished with a confident low drive into the far corner.

3.43pm BST

League One As things stand, there are only two points separating six teams who are chasing the last play-off place. Crikey.

3.34pm BST

Preston 0-1 Norwich Teemu Pukki has missed an excellent chance to make it two, dragging his shot wide after being put through by Buendia.

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Chelsea news

3.23pm BST

The latest scores in our featured games

Championship

3.22pm BST

James Henry has put Oxford ahead at the Stadium of Light with a cracking low drive from the edge of the area. That’s an excellent goal.

3.21pm BST

Everton news

Jean-Philippe Gbamin is finally ready to launch his Everton career under Carlo Ancelotti 20 months after his last appearance for the club.

3.19pm BST

A touch of class from Emi Buendia puts the leaders in front. He swerved away from a defender on the edge of the D and cracked a beautiful shot into the bottom corner with his left foot.

3.17pm BST

Another long throw from Ben Tozer, another goal! It was flapped away by the keeper Joe Murphy towards Callum Wright. He smacked the ball back into the six-yard box and Will Boyle divered it into the net.

3.15pm BST

Philip Billing has put Bournemouth ahead in the Woodgate derby. It was a precise finish, forced past Marcus Bettinelli after Danjuma lobbed the ball over his head.

3.14pm BST

In other news

3.09pm BST

Watford are ahead at Vicarage Road. Ismaila Sarr’s superb low cross has been put into his own net by Tom Lees, who had to do something with a Watford player waiting behind him to score. He probably didn’t have that in mind, though.

3.06pm BST

An early goal in the big League Two match. Conor Thomas has put Cheltenham ahead, scoring from close range after a long throw from Ben Tozer caused the intended chaos in the Tranmere area.

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Peeeeeeeep peeeeeeeeep! The 3pm games are under way.

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League Two

The two early games have finished goalless: Scunthorpe 0-0 Crawley and Bolton 0-0 Colchester. That’s a disappointing result for promotion-chasing Bolton, who have been in outstanding form.

2.28pm BST

Full time: Doncaster 0-1 Charlton That’s an excellent win for Charlton, their first under Nigel Adkins. Ian Maatsen, on loan from Chelsea, scored the only goal to lift Charlton from 10th to fifth in the table, at least for the next couple of hours.

2.24pm BST

Preston North End v Norwich team news

Preston North End Iversen, van den Berg, Storey, Lindsay, Hughes, Barkhuizen, Ledson, Johnson, Sinclair, Jakobsen, Evans.
Subs: Bayliss, Whiteman, Molumby, Huntington, Maguire, Hudson, Bodin, Gordon, Potts.

2.23pm BST

Bournemouth v Middlesbrough team news

Bournemouth Begovic, Smith, Carter-Vickers, Steve Cook, Rico, Lerma, Wilshere, Stanislas, Billing, Danjuma, Solanke.
Subs: Kelly, Mepham, Long, Surridge, Stacey, Riquelme, Pearson, Travers, Anthony.

2.21pm BST

Sunderland v Oxford team news

Sunderland Burge, McLaughlin, Sanderson, O’Nien, McFadzean, Power, Scowen, Jones, McGeady, Gooch, Wyke.
Subs: Maguire, O’Brien, Matthews, Diamond, Leadbitter, Winchester, Stewart.

2.20pm BST

Cheltenham v Tranmere team news

Cheltenham Griffiths, Long, Tozer, Boyle, Blair, Sercombe, Thomas, Wright, Hussey, Smith, May.
Subs: Flinders, Raglan, Williams, Azaz, Lloyd, Chapman, Vassilev.

2.16pm BST

Fleetwood Town v Peterborough team news

Fleetwood Town Cairns, Hill, Connolly, Holgate, Burns, Batty, Rossiter, Finley, Andrew, Garner, Vassell.
Subs: Coleman, Camps, McKay, Saunders, Donacien, Biggins, Rydel.

2.15pm BST

Crewe v Hull team news

Crewe Jaaskelainen, Daniels, Beckles, Lancashire, Pickering, Lowery, Wintle, Ainley, Dale, Porter, Kirk.
Subs: Mandron, Richards, Offord, Murphy, Walker, Evans, Wood-Gordon.

2.13pm BST

Watford v Sheffield Wednesday team news

Watford Bachmann, Femenia, Troost-Ekong, Sierralta, Masina, Hughes, Chalobah, Zinckernagel, Sarr, Success, Joao Pedro.
Subs: Foster, Ngakia, Sema, Gosling, Lazaar, Gray, Kabasele, Sanchez,
Hungbo.

2.11pm BST

2.01pm BST

You can see a full list of today’s games here. These are the 3pm kick-offs that we’ll be featuring.

Championship

2.00pm BST

Manchester City

There is a ... big chance that maybe we are not going to sign a striker for next season

1.57pm BST

League One There are just over 20 minutes remaining at Doncaster, where Charlton lead 1-0 through a goal from Ian Maatsen. There are also two early games in League Two, both of which at half-time: Bolton 0-0 Colchester and Scunthorpe 0-0 Crawley.

1.49pm BST

It’s Friday, so José Mourinho must have had a whinge. And so he has, this time at the Premier League for having to play Southampton in the week of the Carabao Cup final. .

Spurs will play Southampton at home on April 21, four days before the April 25 showpiece at Wembley. City play Aston Villa the same evening.

I am happy that it is Wednesday, I thought it could have been Thursday or Friday. In the beginning of the competition it is nothing that surprises me. In fact when we were knocked out of the Europa League and we had all these midweeks open I immediately thought that the game against Southampton was not going to be played in one of these weeks. It is not something that surprises me. I don’t want to speak about it more. But on April 25, we will be there.

Son is good. He will be selected. He was injured, he trained with the team fully for the first time this morning. Yesterday he was coming to do partial exercises, not a complete session, this morning was the first day he did it. Last week he didn’t train at all so it was completely impossible to play international. This time was a good chance for him to recover.

1.42pm BST

Oh Ole, oh no. Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood are doubts for Manchester United’s return to Premier League action against Brighton on Sunday.

Martial picked up a knee injury on France duty, though Rashford and Greenwood are in training after they pulled out of the England senior and Under-21 squads respectively. Ole seems positive about them.

Always when you send them away on an international break, you keep your fingers crossed that they’ll be available for you. I don’t know about Anthony, he didn’t join in the training this morning. But Marcus and Mason, they trained for the first time this morning and hopefully they can get through that today with no reaction for tomorrow. If they complete the session tomorrow, then they might be available for selection.

You know, I have the great option of two top goalkeepers and it’s a pleasure to have them here. We’ve got hopefully got nine plus five games to go - we want to go all the way in the Europa League as well. I’m sure you’ll see both of them playing in goal for us.

1.15pm BST

Rather like Hansi Flick, Robert Lewandowski and Poland, Zinedine Zidane has been forced say he doesn’t blame Spain for captain Sergio Ramos’s latest injury.

Ramos picked up a calf injury while doing warm-down exercises with Spain after their 3-1 victory over Kosovo. He had only come on as an 86th-minute substitute in the World Cup qualifier and will miss both legs of the Champions League quarter-final meeting with Liverpool, as well as next Saturday’s Clasico against Barcelona.

“We always want Sergio to be fit and available, but now we just have to focus on the players who we’ve got,” Zidane said ahead of Saturday’s visit from Eibar. “These things happen in football, the part of the game we don’t like. But things happen and you just have to accept them. We want him to recover and be back as soon as possible. We know what a player and captain he is. I’d obviously like to have all my players fit, but that’s not the case. We’ve got 10 games to go in La Liga and we need to focus.”

Toni Kroos and Eden Hazard (remember him?) have returned to training.

1.02pm BST

What can Kelechi do against his old club? James Maddison back, too?

12.56pm BST

That’s it from me for now. John Brewin will lovingly feed you team news and manager quotes for the next hour or so. Bye!

12.52pm BST

Arsenal v Liverpool Two of Arsenal’s bright young things, Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe, are doubtful for tomorrow’s match against Liverpool. But Martin Odegaard will be fit to start despite hurting his ankle while on international duty.

12.41pm BST

Southampton v Burnley Danny Ings and Theo Walcott should return from injury for Southampton, but they are likely to be without James Ward-Prowse. He picked up a calf injury with England.

12.38pm BST

“Hi Rob, Ian Copestake here,” says Ian Copestake. “Can you hear me? Happy Easter yeah to you and your “team.” I wonder if future generations of football fan will talk like Mikel Arteta, and head to the match to see how the project is going.”

I wish Brian Clough was still around. “Brian, three questions: how would you define your journey at Nottingham Forest so far, are you happy with the way the project is progressing and what changes have you made to the culture at the club?”

12.33pm BST

Newcastle v Tottenham Hotspur A soupçon of optimism for Newcastle fans: the wildly entertaining Allan Saint-Maximin is likely to return to their squad for the match against Spurs on Sunday.

12.17pm BST

Arsenal v Liverpool Mikel Arteta, who is in year two of his Arsenal journey (sic), has been full of praise for how Liverpool went from also-rans to the best team in the world.

“I don’t like to compare different projects - I think what they’ve done is remarkable. It’s been really intelligent. The way they managed resources and the way they have maximised resources has been exceptional. They’ve done it really, really well and now it is about sustaining that.

12.07pm BST

Real Madrid meet Liverpool in the Champions League next week, and you know what that means: a whole lotta love for Andrea Dossena. Will Unwin has been speaking to him.

12.03pm BST

Iconic goal klaxon

Thirty-five years ago today, Johannes Antonius Bernardus Metgod got hold of one.

12.01pm BST

Hello, Rob here, taking over for a while so that John can rustle up his usual confit of salmon with new potato & crab crush & dill drizzle for lunch. Let’s start with a bit of not particularly surprising news: Thomas Tuchel has been named Premier League manager of the month for March. His Chelsea team beat Liverpool and Everton before drawing 0-0 at Leeds.

Bossing it on the touchline

March's @BarclaysFooty : Thomas Tuchel #PLAwards pic.twitter.com/8tndi8Wfg9

11.57am BST

No Robert Lewandowski for quite a while for Bayern Munich (four weeks is the estimate), and Hansi Flick must shuffle his options ahead of a *big* game with RB Leipzig on Saturday. The Polish goal machine had scored 35 Bundesliga goals and looked on track to break the record 40-goal haul of Gerd Müller from the 1971-72 campaign. Perhaps not now. There are eight matches left of the season and Lewa will probably miss four of them at best.

“These are situations that coaches have to face,” Flick said. “I feel sorry for the player as well. I would have liked to have all the players. We all know that Robert is an important player. Now we have to see how we will solve this. We have players who can play that position. It is a challenge for us all and we have to tackle it.”

The Stoke City legend Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting is likely to replace Lewandowski at Leipzig.

11.44am BST

Will Jordan Henderson and/or Virgil van Dijk go to the Euros? That’s up to their national teams, says Jürgen Klopp. Henderson had groin surgery in February, while Van Dijk ruptured his ACL damage in October. Frank de Boer says Van Dijk might be back, while Gareth Southgate was rather less optimistic about Henderson.

“I don’t want to take a player away from England or Holland, if they’re ready, they’re ready. It’s not down to me to make these decisions,” said Klopp at today’s press conference ahead of Liverrpool’s match with Arsenal. I have no idea about the Euros. Nothing has changed. They are where they should be at the moment. If they are ready then they are ready. They are in a rehab process.”

11.26am BST

Congratulations, Kelechi. Seven goals in four matches (five in three in the Premier League) was pretty sensational, and the answer to Brendan’s prayers.

Leicester City striker Kelechi Iheanacho has been named March’s Premier League player of the month.

11.21am BST

Paul Heckingbottom faces the club where he had a brief but disappointing spell as manager, just like everyone else between David O’Leary and Marcelo Bielsa at Elland Road, aside perhaps from Simon Grayson.

11.07am BST

Ben Fisher has spoken to the Brentford manager. His team begin the day back in fourth in the Championship, before they play Huddersfield on Saturday lunchtime.

10.39am BST

Jack is back: Probably. Aston Villa will be able to welcome back Grealish when they play Fulham on Sunday. They have won just one of their six games without him. Dean Smith seems happy to have him back, while guarded.

He trained all week, he’s only had a few sessions but seems fit enough and has certainly put himself up for selection. The performances over the last six weeks haven’t been what they were previously. If anyone loses a player of the calibre of Jack you are going to struggle a bit. It will be a big boost for everyone to have Jack back.

10.26am BST

There may be developments today on this story. Eddie Howe seems an odd fit but could he be a better manager than Stevie? It’s not impossible.

10.23am BST

Manchester United have launched a new anti-racism campaign, See Red. The club’s players have been targeted, including Fred after last month’s FA Cup loss to Leicester. United have set up an online reporting system and is encouraging supporters to report incidents of racism or other hate crimes and speak out when there is discriminatory abuse.

We the comments.
⚪️ We the abuse.
⚫️ We the hatred.

But without an inclusive and diverse history, what would we have?#allredallequal #SeeRed pic.twitter.com/m08smRuCIY

10.09am BST

Roy Hodgson doesn’t much enjoy being asked about his future, as he was on Thursday ahead of Crystal Palace’s match with Everton on Monday.

Every week I get the same question, every week I give the same answer and I will continue doing that until such time I feel there is an announcement to be made. I am not interesting in having that discussion at the moment. I am interested in working very hard with the players to make certain we finish this season properly. As a result it is the games that are ahead of us which interest me much more than next season. When the time is right, we’ll discuss it.

10.00am BST

The least surprising quote of the day award has already gone to Sam Allardyce for praising Thomas Tuchel for prioritising clean sheets.

West Brom go to the Bridge on Saturday and Big Sam genuflected: “Fantastic because he’s done the right thing. Start with clean sheets and then you build from there. He’s done that absolutely magnificently That’s not to say that Chelsea are not very entertaining, because the quality of the players they’ve got at the other end, they are, and obviously I’m very jealous about that.”

9.51am BST

Let’s start this the usual way, with ten things to look out for this weekend, including Cavani, Mitrovic and Paul Heckingbottom.

9.08am BST

It’s back, your actual football. Pack up your tedious talk of Gareth Southgate and defensive midfielders in your old kitbag. We’re back into the final straight of the Premier League this weekend, and there’ll be all the talk from the ‘pressers’ to come. But before that, the Championship takes its if-not-quite-traditional-but-now-regular centre stage on Good Friday. Time was when the old First Division would play all over Easter - in the final 1991-92 season before football was invented, Manchester United played on Maundy Thursday, Easter Saturday, Easter Monday and No More Chocolate Wednesday and completely blew the league title. This current lot, with their three matches a week and their Covid-19 protocols don’t know they’re born.

In the Championship, we have these matches to be played today, all kicking off at 3pm (BST) unless stated:

AFC Bournemouth v Middlesbrough
Barnsley v Reading (5.30pm)
Birmingham v Swansea (8pm)
Bristol City v Stoke
Cardiff v Nottingham Forest
Derby v Luton
Millwall v Rotherham
Preston North End v Norwich
QPR v Coventry
Watford v Sheff Wed
Wycombe v Blackburn

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Published on April 02, 2021 09:32

March 28, 2021

Albania 0-2 England: World Cup qualifying Group I – as it happened

Harry Kane and Mason Mount produced classy finishes as England overcame a sluggish start to win comfortably in Tirana

7.02pm BST

That’s it for tonight’s blog. I’ll leave you in the Fairy Liquid hands of Will Unwin, who will talk you through the evening games. Goodnight!

7.00pm BST

Here’s Harry Kane

“I thought it was a really good performance. Maybe a little bit slow at the start – we changed our formation halfway through the first half [from 4-2-3-1 to 4-1-4-1] and that definitely helped. We got more runners into the box, more attacking play, and getting a goal before half-time was great. I thought we controlled the second half well, so overall it’s been a good night.

6.50pm BST

Peep peep! That’s the end of an efficient day’s work for England. They struggled for the first half hour or so, but once they took the lead the result wasn’t really in doubt. The two goals, scored by Harry Kane and Mason Mount, were expertly taken, and Nick Pope had very little to do at the other end. Albania 0-2 England is probably a par score for this fixture, so congratulations to all concerned.

6.45pm BST

90 min Kane’s shot takes a double deflection and drifts wide of the far post. There will be four minutes of added time.

6.44pm BST

90 min Gjasula is booked for inflicting pain upon Mount.

6.44pm BST

89 min Apparently Nick Pope is about to become the first England keeper to keep clean sheets in each of his first six appearances. But how many keepy-uppies can he do?

6.43pm BST

89 min Another Albania change - Ylber Ramadani replaces Laci.

6.43pm BST

88 min England are passing the clock down.

6.41pm BST

87 min See 83 min.

6.39pm BST

83 min The match is petering out. If it stays like this, England will be pretty happy with two wins and two clean sheets going into the match against Robert Lewandowski Team on Wednesday.

6.36pm BST

81 min Another England change. Jesse Lingard replaces Phil Foden, who has had a decent night. Seven out of 10.

6.34pm BST

79 min Hysaj is booked for pulling back Sterling, who has given him a decent working-over this afternoon.

6.33pm BST

77 min Hysaj’s dangerous cross is headed away well by Maguire, who is clattered by Pope in the process. Rice completes the clearance.

6.32pm BST

76 min “When Gareth goes to watch players playing for their team, does he look at how their club teams are setting up and how they are moving away from four-man defences,” says Jonathan Sisman. “Or is that beyond his pay scale?”

By my count, nine of the 11 players on the field at the moment are at teams who prefer a back four. And the other two (Rice, Mount) play at clubs who mix it up.

6.31pm BST

75 min “Hi Rob,” says Simon McMahon. “I know it’s still early in the qualification process, and it may have been said before, but it’s coming home, isn’t it?”

6.29pm BST

73 min Ward-Prowse’s cross is headed up in the air by Kane towards Sterling. He miskicks an attempted volley, but keeps the ball alive and knocks it across the six-yard box. Kane pokes the ball wide on the stretch, taking out two defenders in the process. He’s booked. I’m also not sure how he didn’t score.

6.27pm BST

73 min Uzuni missed that excellent early chance for Albania. Since then, they haven’t really laid a glove on England.

6.26pm BST

71 min And another Albania change: Ledian Memushaj replaces Bare.

6.25pm BST

70 min An England substitution: James Ward-Prowse comes on for Kalvin Phillips.

6.23pm BST

68 min Kyle Walker is booked for flattening Bare.

6.21pm BST

65 min After a slow start, this has been a solid night’s work for England. Raheem Sterling has been really impressive since he moved to the left.

6.18pm BST

Harry Kane scored the first and now he has made the second. Djimsiti’s poor pass out of defence was intercepted by Sterling, who poked it forward to Kane. He played an angled pass through to Mount, who opened his body and lifted the ball confidently over Berisha. That’s a really good finish.

6.17pm BST

Mason Mount makes it two!

6.16pm BST

60 min Phillips’ low cross is cleared by the stretching Ismajli. England’s passing and movement is much better now.

6.14pm BST

59 min A triple change for Albania: Rey Manaj, Klaus Gjasula and Ermir Lenjani replace Cikalleshi, Memolla and Broja.

6.13pm BST

58 min Berisha springs from his line to beat Sterling to Mount’s through ball. Excellent goalkeeping.

6.12pm BST

57 min Foden’s corner is half-volleyed over the bar by Kane at the near post. He looks disappointed, though it was another sharp chance.

6.11pm BST

56 min It feels like a matter of time before England get a second. They’ve been much better since Kane’s goal.

6.08pm BST

54 min After a difficult start, England are in complete control of the game.

6.07pm BST

52 min: Foden hits the post! Sterling teases Ismajli near the byline and plays the ball back to Foden on the edge of the area. He curls a low first-time shot that is tipped onto the near post by the diving Berisha. That’s a fine save because he was going the wrong way and had to change direction very sharply.

6.06pm BST

51 min Albania are still playing as if it’s 0-0, defending deep and in numbers. I suppose their plan is to take the game deep in the hope that human nature will do its thing in the final 10 minutes.

6.04pm BST

49 min Kane’s excellent first-time pass almost releases Sterling, who is shepherded away from the ball by Hysaj. That was an important bit of defending.

6.03pm BST

47 min I’m not sure Rice is playing as a third centre-back, but he’s certainly playing deeper than Phillips now. It looks like a 4-1-4-1 to me, or at least what we call 4-1-4-1. It’s effectively 2-3-2-3, the Manchester City formation.

6.00pm BST

46 min Peep peep!

5.54pm BST

“It looks like England have changed to a back three with Shaw and Walker as wingbacks, and Rice in the centre,” says Francis Mead. “We look better with Philips pushed forward. Having said that I agree that we don’t need Rice and Phillips. I’d replace Rice with Grealish in my first eleven, though Phillips is understandably playing rather safe. He needs to unfurl his ability to pass long a bit more, though now he’s in a more forward attacking position.”

Well I completely missed that. It’s a timely reminder that, if you start thinking you’ve cracked it, Mother Tactics will bite you on the bum. As Silvio Dante used to say, you’re only as good as your last chalkboard.

5.50pm BST

England first played Albania in 1989, during qualification for Italia 90. I’m halfway through David Hartrick’s new book on the Bobby Robson era and can’t recommend it enough. There’s so much good stuff in there that I didn’t know.

5.48pm BST

Half-time reading

5.47pm BST

Peep peep! Harry Kane’s expert finish has given England the lead in Tirana. It was hard work against a well-organised team on a sluggish pitch, but Kane’s goal should - should - ensure a more comfortable second half.

5.42pm BST

42 min: Kane hits the bar! That was so close to 2-0. Sterling cuts infield from the left and curls a devastating ball to the far post. Kane gets behind Memolla, five yards from goal, and slams a half-volley off the underside of the bar. He probably should have scored, though it’s not always easy to control a half-volley like that.

5.40pm BST

38 min For a variety of reasons, that’s Kane’s first goal for England since 2019.

5.39pm BST

Harry Kane gives England the lead out of nothing. Shaw curled a nice cross into the middle, where Kane got in front of Veseli and steered a stooping header into the far corner. That was a masterful finish.

5.38pm BST

Popcorn!

5.38pm BST

37 min “Hi Rob,” says Joel Dunmore. “I guess I’m not the first to pick up on your Grosse Pointe Blank film reference shortly before kick-off. But I can’t help myself: let’s hope we‘re not shooting blanks today. I’ll get my coat.”

They’ve barely managed to fire blanks, never mind anything more penetrative.

5.35pm BST

35 min England are getting frustrated. And why not?

5.34pm BST

34 min If it stays like this, Gareth Southgate will be tempted to take off one of his holding players at half-time. I’m not sure you need Phillips and Rice in a game like this.

5.32pm BST

33 min A fierce long-range drive from Walker is well held by Berisha. It bounced just in front of him, which could have been awkward, but he took it with authority.

5.31pm BST

31 min Foden is starting to see more of the ball, which is a good sign for England. Look, I’m taking the positives.

5.30pm BST

30 min Foden’s free-kick is missed by the leaping Rice at the near post. He was completely unmarked, though it would still have been a difficult chance as he was about 12 yards from goal.

5.28pm BST

28 min Hysaj mosies infield and plays a dangerous through ball that just evades Broja.

5.28pm BST

28 min A bit better from England. Foden plays in the underlapping Mount, whose low cross is booted clear by Ismajli in the six-yard box.

5.27pm BST

27 min England have had 75 per cent of the possession.

5.26pm BST

26 min There isn’t a huge amount of pace in the England midfield and attack. Sterling is very quick, Foden and Mount quick enough, but that’s about it.

5.25pm BST

25 min A pass from Pope goes straight out of play for an Albania throw-in. Pope’s distribution is by far the biggest barrier to him usurping Jordan Pickford.

5.23pm BST

24 min This might be a job for Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who is among the England substitutes.

5.22pm BST

22 min Kane smacks it straight into Maguire, who was making a nuisance of himself in the wall. It didn’t matter as the referee had blown for some pushing.

5.21pm BST

22 min The free-kick is on the edge of the D, slightly to the right of centre...

5.21pm BST

21 min In fact it’s Bare who was booked.

5.20pm BST

21 min Mount is fouled just outside the area by a combination of Bare and Ismajli. One of them is booked, Ismajli I think.

5.19pm BST

20 min So far this has been a great advert for the cricket.

5.18pm BST

17 min England must have had at least 70 per cent of the possession. But their domination has been sterile at best. Albania are really well organised defensively.

5.16pm BST

16 min Foden has moved to the right, Sterling to the left.

5.15pm BST

14 min “England are so one-paced it’s almost soporific,” says Lee Calvert.

It’s because those cheating Albanians didn’t cut the grass.

5.13pm BST

13 min: Chance for Albania! An England corner almost leads to a goal - for Albania. They broke superply, with Broja intercepting a pass from Mount and then sliding Uzuni through on goal. He took the ball nicely in his stride on the edge of the area but then lifted his shot over the bar. That was a great chance.

5.12pm BST

12 min Lee Dixon, on ITV, makes the excellent point that the pitch is very slow and not conducive to snappy passing. Apparently England asked for the grass to be cut before the game, and were politely reminded of an age-old concept called ‘home advantage’.

5.10pm BST

10 min Foden’s cross is headed behind for the first corner. He takes it himself, driving it towards Stones at the far post. Veseli does well to ensure Stones can’t get a clear run at the ball, and his header flies over the bar.

5.07pm BST

8 min Nothing to report. Albania look well organised defensively, and thus far England have created the square root of bugger all.

5.04pm BST

4 min Lots of early possession for England. Albania’s 3-4-3 formation is morphing into a 5-4-1.

5.02pm BST

3 min “Cautiously excited to see this England XI,” says Robert Lin. “It could well be the team for the Euros with two or three exceptions. Pickford probably still ahead of Pope, Henderson if fit for Phillips and perhaps Rashford in place of Foden?”

I think Chilwell is still the first-choice left-back, though that could change. You can make a case for James and Grealish as well. It’s really tight in some positions, isn’t it?

5.00pm BST

2 min England’s formation is actually a 4-2-3-1, with Foden on the left, Sterling on the right and Mount behind Kane.

5.00pm BST

1 min Peep peep! England kick off from right to left. They are in white; Albania are in red.

4.55pm BST

Twenty years ago today

Twenty years, man!

4.32pm BST

If you’re into the whole England thing, Sam Curran is trying to pull of a minor miracle in Pune.

4.31pm BST

“Afternoon Rob,” says Digvijay Yadav. “Where do you sit on the Southgate debate? Does he still have credit in the bank from 2018? Or does England’s current generation deserve a better coach?”

I know it’s easy to say this when you’re not emotionally invested, but I think England fans should be careful what they wish for.

4.10pm BST

Pre-match reading

3.57pm BST

No big surprises in the England team. The in-form Luke Shaw plays for the first time since 2018. Phil Foden also starts, probably as the right-sided attacker.

Albania (3-4-3) Berisha; Ismajli, Djimsiti, Veseli; Hysaj, Laci, Bare, Memolla; Cikalleshi, Broja, Uzuni.
Substitutes: Selmani, Strakosha, Lenjani, Gjasula, Memushaj, Manaj, Arlind Ajeti, Hoxhallari, Doka, Ramadani, Kallaku, Kamberi.

12.07pm BST

Hello. Contrary to the beloved cliche, there are plenty of easy games in international football. Just ask[that’s enough of that - Ireland ed]. But Albania are no longer one of them. They have improved enormously in the 21st century and have the ability to give England a game in Tirana tonight. Albania qualified for Euro 2016, beating the eventual champions Portugal en route, and were recently promoted to League B of the Nations League. A number of their squad are regulars in Serie A.

In short, this is unlikely to be San Marino (reprise). England should still win, because they are - excuse me - a damn fine football team, and they usually make short work of World Cup qualification. Their last defeat was in 2009, and that was a dead rubber, so it’ll still be a shock if they lose today. But it’ll be nowhere near as seismic as it would have been 20 years ago.

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Published on March 28, 2021 11:02

March 27, 2021

Republic of Ireland 0-1 Luxembourg, Serbia 2-2 Portugal: World Cup qualifying – as it happened

Ireland were humiliated by Luxembourg on a desperate night in Dublin, while Cristiano Ronaldo had an injury-time winner wrongly ruled out

9.54pm GMT

That’s it for tonight’s blog. Paul Doyle’s match report has landed, so I’ll leave you with that. Thanks for your company - goodnight!

9.48pm GMT

One other bit of business tonight: Kieffer Moore scored the only goal as an under-strength Wales beat Mexico 1-0 in their friendly match.

9.44pm GMT

2008 - Coming into tonight Luxembourg had won just three of their 124 away matches in EURO/World Cup qualifiers (D10 L111) and were winless in their last 28 away qualifying matches (D6 L22) since a 2-1 win over Switzerland in September 2008. Alarming. pic.twitter.com/MrPTdAW9ta

9.41pm GMT

Serbia 2-2 Portugal There was all sorts of drama in injury-time in Belgrade. Cristiano Ronaldo scored what should have been the winner for Portugal - but the officials didn’t think the ball had crossed the line and VAR is not in use. Oh my. Apparently Ronaldo threw his armband down and walked straight off the field.

9.39pm GMT

Republic of Ireland 0-1 Luxembourg It’s the most desperate night for Ireland, though Luxembourg deserve credit for a very good performance. They were the more relaxed team from the first whistle, and it was clear very early in the game that it was going to be a difficult night for Ireland. They had no idea.

9.38pm GMT

Diogo Jota scores twice in the first half, but Serbia roared back after the break.

9.37pm GMT

A superb result for Malta - but it could have been even better, as they were 2-0 up at half time.

9.37pm GMT

Anyone for a chorus of Que Sera, Sera?

9.36pm GMT

Romelu Lukaku’s 59th goal for Belgium earns them a point in Prague.

9.33pm GMT

Republic of Ireland 0-1 Luxembourg Four minutes of added time.

9.33pm GMT

“Hardest thing to accept about tonight,” says Niall O’Keeffe, “is that we have not got a prayer of finishing first or second in our group. After 2 games in. This is the first time in over 40 years of following Ireland that we have been ‘eliminated’ so early. Decimated squad but Kenny can’t go on can he?”

I’d be loath to sack him after less than a year, even allowing for this result. But it won’t be a surprise if he goes.

9.30pm GMT

Republic of Ireland 0-1 Luxembourg Ireland will be savaged in the press, but I must say Luxembourg have been really impressive: neat, well organised and confident to the point of cockiness.

9.28pm GMT

Ireland are facing one of their greatest humiliations. Rodrigues picks up a loose ball 25 yards from goal, moves away from Cullen and rifles a superb snapshot into the far corner. Bazunu had no chance with that.

9.25pm GMT

Republic of Ireland 0-0 Luxembourg Ireland don’t really look like scoring. It’s been a desperate night for them.

9.20pm GMT

With just over ten minutes remaining, all four games are level.

Group A

9.13pm GMT

Republic of Ireland 0-0 Luxembourg A slightly arthritic overhead kick from Collins ripples the side netting. Moris had it covered but it was a good effort.

9.11pm GMT

Republic of Ireland 0-0 Luxembourg It gives me no pleasure to say this, but Ireland are hanging on for a draw at home to Luxembourg.

9.09pm GMT

The latest scores

Group A

9.07pm GMT

Here’s Ian Copestake again “To put that scoreline in even more context, Rob, Malta are 176th in the Fifa world ranking, which is two places below Barry Glendenning.”

9.07pm GMT

“Enjoying the sensational Malta story!” says Ian Copestake of a story that stopped being sensational about 15 minutes ago. “Is there a new found Brazilian connection there? Perhaps a Maltese Falcao!”

9.06pm GMT

Republic of Ireland 0-0 Luxembourg The teenager Gavin Bazunu makes another good save, this time from Vincent Thill. Ireland are really struggling here.

9.05pm GMT

Serbia have turned it round! Filip Kostic calmly finished off a sweeping counter-attack to bring his side level. That really was a brilliant team goal.

9.03pm GMT

The insatiable Romelu Lukaku has equalised for Belgium. That’s his 59th goal for his country, and he’s still only 27.

8.57pm GMT

Republic of Ireland 0-0 Luxembourg Browne misses a good chance for Ireland, heading Brady’s free-kick just wide of the far post. At first I thought it was a bad miss but on reflection the ball was slightly behind him.

8.55pm GMT

The Maltese dream is dying in Trnava. A right-wing corner was flicked on at the near post and headed emphatically into the net by Milan Skriniar.

8.53pm GMT

Goals galore! David Strelec has scored early in the second half to give Slovakia hope against Malta.

8.52pm GMT

Lukas Provod has put the Czech Republic ahead in Prague. It was a cracking goal, walloped past Courtois from long range.

8.51pm GMT

Your friend and mine, Alexsandar Mitrovic, has brought Serbia back into the match with a downward header from the substitute Nemanja Radonjic’s cross.

8.49pm GMT

Republic of Ireland 0-0 Luxembourg In fact Ireland are still playing with a back three. Alan Browne has moved to right wing-back.

8.47pm GMT

Peep peep! The second halves are under way. Ireland have made a half-time change: Robbie Brady is on for Matt Doherty, which suggests a switch to a back four.

8.41pm GMT

“Malta,” says Claude Camilleri. “For us here, a draw is a miracle; a draw abroad is a sensational miracle. Winning is unusual; winning away is ehm, unheard of.”

8.32pm GMT

Half-time reading

8.31pm GMT

Peep peep! It’s half time in the four evening games. Portugal and Malta are having a very good night; Ireland are at risk of humiliation.

Group A

8.28pm GMT

Republic of Ireland 0-0 Luxembourg Rodrigues, 30 yards out, spots Bazunu off his line and booms an up and under towards goal. Bazunu backpedals desperately and just manages to push the ball clear from under the crossbar. In the end it was a very good save.

8.25pm GMT

Republic of Ireland 0-0 Luxembourg Browne breaks into the area, taking Cullen’s cross in his stride, but his touch is slightly heavy and he runs the ball out of play under pressure from the keeper Moris.

8.22pm GMT

Diogo Jota gets his second. It was another accomplished header, flicked into the far corner from Cedric’s cross. Expertly done.

8.20pm GMT

Republic of Ireland 0-0 Luxembourg Ireland are really struggling to create chances. Anthony Moris made one terrific save, but apart from that he has had very little to do.

8.15pm GMT

The latest scores

Group A

8.14pm GMT

Republic of Ireland 0-0 Luxembourg Ireland’s tempo has been far too slow in the first half hour. If they’re not careful this could turn into a very difficult night.

8.10pm GMT

“What are the odds of Malta winning?” wonders Peter Oh. “I bet no one expected Slovakia to have Gambin problems today.”

8.09pm GMT

Republic of Ireland 0-0 Luxembourg Ireland certainly aren’t having this all their own way. Luxembourg look a confident, well-organised side; Ireland, understandably, look nervous.

8.08pm GMT

Slovakia 0-2 Malta To put this scoreline in context, Slovakia are 36th in the Fifa world rankings. Malta are 176th.

8.05pm GMT

Sensational stuff in Trnava! The teenager Alexander Satariano has put Malta 2-0 ahead with a majestic header from Ryan Camenzuli’s excellent cross.

8.04pm GMT

Republic of Ireland 0-0 Luxembourg A great chance for Ireland. Robinson beats his man on the left and hammers a superb low cross into the six-yard box. Collins slides it towards goal and Moris makes a brilliant reaction save with his legs.

8.02pm GMT

Newport’s Luke Gambin has put Malta ahead in Trnava with a beautiful long-range curler!

7.59pm GMT

The latest scores in the four evening games

Group A

7.57pm GMT

Portugal take an early lead in Belgrade. It was a simple goal, expertly created and finished. Bernardo Silva, on the right corner of the box, curled a deep cross towards Diogo Jota, who beat Marko Dmitrovic with a precise downward header. He is such an accomplished finisher.

7.53pm GMT

Republic of Ireland 0-0 Luxembourg It’s been a confident start from Luxembourg in Dublin. Vincent Thill, in particular, looks like he fancies it, and himself.

7.52pm GMT

Czech Republic 0-0 Belgium It is hooning down in Prague. That’s all.

7.47pm GMT

Ireland 0-0 Luxembourg The young goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu gets a nice early touch, saving comfortably from Vincent Thill’s long-range shot.

7.44pm GMT

Peep peep! The four evening games are under way. Goals, please!

7.33pm GMT

Here’s a round up of the earlier games, including another brilliant win for Turkey.

7.02pm GMT

“Hoping for a draw between Czech Republic and Belgium,” says Matt Dony, “although I’m expecting a comfortable Belgium win. They’re probably on a mission, still smarting after conceding the greatest team goal in the history of international football...”

6.54pm GMT

Full time: Croatia 1-0 Cyprus Mario Pasalic’s 40th-minute goal settled matters in Rijeka.

6.54pm GMT

Full time: Norway 0-3 Turkey A sensational result for Turkey, who have now tonked their two main rivals in group G.

6.53pm GMT

Full time: Belarus 4-2 Estonia A fine win for Belarus, who came from behind twice and then ran away with the game in the last 10 minutes.

6.50pm GMT

Full time: Netherlands 2-0 Latvia Peep peep! A comfortable and much-needed win for the Netherlands. Steven Berghuis scored a beauty in the first half; Luuk de Jong applied his noggin for the second.

6.44pm GMT

Croatia 1-0 Cyprus Croatia, the runners up in 2018, still lead through Mario Pasalic’s first-half goal. But they haven’t made the best start to the qualification campaign: they lost in Slovenia on Wednesday and are now labouring to victory against Cyprus.

6.41pm GMT

GOAL! Belarus 4-2 Estonia (Lisakovich 83) Vitali Lisakovich gets his second!

6.40pm GMT

GOAL! Belarus 3-2 Estonia (Savitski 81) Pavel Savitski has put Belarus ahead for the first time in the game!

6.39pm GMT

Norway 0-3 Turkey It gets worse for Norway: the substitute Kristian Thorstvedt has been given a straight red card for a studs-up tackle.

6.34pm GMT

The latest scores

Group A

6.31pm GMT

The teenage goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu makes his senior debut.

Republic of Ireland (3-5-2) Bazunu; Coleman, O’Shea, Clark; Doherty, Cullen, Knight, Browne, Stevens; Collins, Robinson.

6.29pm GMT

Czech Republic (4-1-4-1) Vaclik; Coufal, Celustka, Kudela, Boril; Holes; Provod, Soucek, Barak, Jankto; Krmencik.

Belgium (3-4-2-1) Courtois; Alderweireld, Denayer, Vertonghen; Castagne, Tielemans,, Dendoncker, Chadli; De Bruyne, Mertens; Lukaku.

6.27pm GMT

The Netherlands have missed umpteen chances but they should be safe now. Luuk de Jong has scored the second with a thumping near-post header from a corner.

6.24pm GMT

Serbia (3-4-1-2) Dmitrovic; Milenkovic, S Mitrovic, Pavlovic; Lazovic, Milinkovic-Savic, Gudelj, Kostic; Tadic; Vlahovic, A Mitrovic.

Portugal (4-2-3-1) Lopes; Joao Cancelo, Ruben Dias, Fonte, Cedric; Sergio Oliveira, Danilo; B Silva, Bruno Fernandes, Jota; Ronaldo.

6.22pm GMT

GOAL! Belarus 2-2 Estonia (Kendysh 64)

6.18pm GMT

It gets better for Turkey! Ozan Tufan has scored his second of the game to put them 3-0 up in Malaga.

6.17pm GMT

Norway 0-2 Turkey The Turks have continued their spectacular start to the qualification campaign. They beat the Netherlands 4-2 on Wednesday, and now they lead 2-0 against Norway thanks to goals from Ozan Tufan and Leicester’s Caglar Soyuncu.

6.16pm GMT

Netherlands 1-0 Latvia The home side lead through a cracking goal from Steven Berghuis in the 32nd minute.

4.17pm GMT

<Big Brother bloke> Day three, and the battle for places at Qatar 2022 is hottin’ up</Big Brother bloke>. Okay, that’s a big fat lie. It’s not even lukewarm yet, but some of today’s matches could look extremely significant when the qualification groups are completed in November. Serbia v Portugal is likely to have a bearing on who wins Group A; in the same group, Republic of Ireland desperately need to beat Luxembourg and end their 18-month winless run.

Those games kick off at 7.45pm, as does the intriguing match between the Czech Republic and Belgium in Group E. But there are some important games going on as we speak, so let’s proceed directly to a list of the latest scores:

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Republic of Ireland v Luxembourg, Serbia v Portugal: World Cup qualifying – live!

Ireland were humiliated by Luxembourg on a desperate night in Dublin, while Cristiano Ronaldo had an injury-time winner wrongly ruled out

9.54pm GMT

That’s it for tonight’s blog. Paul Doyle’s match report has landed, so I’ll leave you with that. Thanks for your company - goodnight!

9.48pm GMT

One other bit of business tonight: Kieffer Moore scored the only goal as an under-strength Wales beat Mexico 1-0 in their friendly match.

9.44pm GMT

9.41pm GMT

9.39pm GMT

9.38pm GMT

Diogo Jota scores twice in the first half, but Serbia roared back after the break.

9.37pm GMT

A superb result for Malta - but it could have been even better, as they were 2-0 up at half time.

9.37pm GMT

Anyone for a chorus of Que Sera, Sera?

9.36pm GMT

Romelu Lukaku’s 59th goal for Belgium earns them a point in Prague.

9.33pm GMT

Republic of Ireland 0-1 Luxembourg Four minutes of added time.

9.33pm GMT

I’d be loath to sack him after less than a year, even allowing for this result. But it won’t be a surprise if he goes.

9.30pm GMT

Republic of Ireland 0-1 Luxembourg Ireland will be savaged in the press, but I must say Luxembourg have been really impressive: neat, well organised and confident to the point of cockiness.

9.28pm GMT

9.25pm GMT

Republic of Ireland 0-0 Luxembourg Ireland don’t really look like scoring. It’s been a desperate night for them.

9.20pm GMT

With just over ten minutes remaining, all four games are level.

Group A

9.13pm GMT

Republic of Ireland 0-0 Luxembourg A slightly arthritic overhead kick from Collins ripples the side netting. Moris had it covered but it was a good effort.

9.11pm GMT

Republic of Ireland 0-0 Luxembourg It gives me no pleasure to say this, but Ireland are hanging on for a draw at home to Luxembourg.

9.09pm GMT

The latest scores

Group A

9.07pm GMT

Here’s Ian Copestake again “To put that scoreline in even more context, Rob, Malta are 176th in the Fifa world ranking, which is two places below Barry Glendenning.”

9.07pm GMT

9.06pm GMT

Republic of Ireland 0-0 Luxembourg The teenager Gavin Bazunu makes another good save, this time from Vincent Thill. Ireland are really struggling here.

9.05pm GMT

Serbia have turned it round! Filip Kostic calmly finished off a sweeping counter-attack to bring his side level. That really was a brilliant team goal.

9.03pm GMT

The insatiable Romelu Lukaku has equalised for Belgium. That’s his 59th goal for his country, and he’s still only 27.

8.57pm GMT

8.55pm GMT

The Maltese dream is dying in Trnava. A right-wing corner was flicked on at the near post and headed emphatically into the net by Milan Skriniar.

8.53pm GMT

Goals galore! David Strelec has scored early in the second half to give Slovakia hope against Malta.

8.52pm GMT

Lukas Provod has put the Czech Republic ahead in Prague. It was a cracking goal, walloped past Courtois from long range.

8.51pm GMT

Your friend and mine, Alexsandar Mitrovic, has brought Serbia back into the match with a downward header from the substitute Nemanja Radonjic’s cross.

8.49pm GMT

Republic of Ireland 0-0 Luxembourg In fact Ireland are still playing with a back three. Alan Browne has moved to right wing-back.

8.47pm GMT

Peep peep! The second halves are under way. Ireland have made a half-time change: Robbie Brady is on for Matt Doherty, which suggests a switch to a back four.

8.41pm GMT

“Malta,” says Claude Camilleri. “For us here, a draw is a miracle; a draw abroad is a sensational miracle. Winning is unusual; winning away is ehm, unheard of.”

8.32pm GMT

Half-time reading

8.31pm GMT

Peep peep! It’s half time in the four evening games. Portugal and Malta are having a very good night; Ireland are at risk of humiliation.

Group A

8.28pm GMT

8.25pm GMT

8.22pm GMT

Diogo Jota gets his second. It was another accomplished header, flicked into the far corner from Cedric’s cross. Expertly done.

8.20pm GMT

Republic of Ireland 0-0 Luxembourg Ireland are really struggling to create chances. Anthony Moris made one terrific save, but apart from that he has had very little to do.

8.15pm GMT

The latest scores

Group A

8.14pm GMT

Republic of Ireland 0-0 Luxembourg Ireland’s tempo has been far too slow in the first half hour. If they’re not careful this could turn into a very difficult night.

8.10pm GMT

“What are the odds of Malta winning?” wonders Peter Oh. “I bet no one expected Slovakia to have Gambin problems today.”

8.09pm GMT

Republic of Ireland 0-0 Luxembourg Ireland certainly aren’t having this all their own way. Luxembourg look a confident, well-organised side; Ireland, understandably, look nervous.

8.08pm GMT

Slovakia 0-2 Malta To put this scoreline in context, Slovakia are 36th in the Fifa world rankings. Malta are 176th.

8.05pm GMT

Sensational stuff in Trnava! The teenager Alexander Satariano has put Malta 2-0 ahead with a majestic header from Ryan Camenzuli’s excellent cross.

8.04pm GMT

8.02pm GMT

Newport’s Luke Gambin has put Malta ahead in Trnava with a beautiful long-range curler!

7.59pm GMT

The latest scores in the four evening games

Group A

7.57pm GMT

7.53pm GMT

Republic of Ireland 0-0 Luxembourg It’s been a confident start from Luxembourg in Dublin. Vincent Thill, in particular, looks like he fancies it, and himself.

7.52pm GMT

Czech Republic 0-0 Belgium It is hooning down in Prague. That’s all.

7.47pm GMT

Ireland 0-0 Luxembourg The young goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu gets a nice early touch, saving comfortably from Vincent Thill’s long-range shot.

7.44pm GMT

Peep peep! The four evening games are under way. Goals, please!

7.33pm GMT

Here’s a round up of the earlier games, including another brilliant win for Turkey.

7.02pm GMT

6.54pm GMT

Full time: Croatia 1-0 Cyprus Mario Pasalic’s 40th-minute goal settled matters in Rijeka.

6.54pm GMT

Full time: Norway 0-3 Turkey A sensational result for Turkey, who have now tonked their two main rivals in group G.

6.53pm GMT

Full time: Belarus 4-2 Estonia A fine win for Belarus, who came from behind twice and then ran away with the game in the last 10 minutes.

6.50pm GMT

6.44pm GMT

6.41pm GMT

GOAL! Belarus 4-2 Estonia (Lisakovich 83) Vitali Lisakovich gets his second!

6.40pm GMT

GOAL! Belarus 3-2 Estonia (Savitski 81) Pavel Savitski has put Belarus ahead for the first time in the game!

6.39pm GMT

Norway 0-3 Turkey It gets worse for Norway: the substitute Kristian Thorstvedt has been given a straight red card for a studs-up tackle.

6.34pm GMT

The latest scores

Group A

6.31pm GMT

The teenage goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu makes his senior debut.

Republic of Ireland (3-5-2) Bazunu; Coleman, O’Shea, Clark; Doherty, Cullen, Knight, Browne, Stevens; Collins, Robinson.

6.29pm GMT

Czech Republic (4-1-4-1) Vaclik; Coufal, Celustka, Kudela, Boril; Holes; Provod, Soucek, Barak, Jankto; Krmencik.

Belgium (3-4-2-1) Courtois; Alderweireld, Denayer, Vertonghen; Castagne, Tielemans,, Dendoncker, Chadli; De Bruyne, Mertens; Lukaku.

6.27pm GMT

The Netherlands have missed umpteen chances but they should be safe now. Luuk de Jong has scored the second with a thumping near-post header from a corner.

6.24pm GMT

Serbia (3-4-1-2) Dmitrovic; Milenkovic, S Mitrovic, Pavlovic; Lazovic, Milinkovic-Savic, Gudelj, Kostic; Tadic; Vlahovic, A Mitrovic.

Portugal (4-2-3-1) Lopes; Joao Cancelo, Ruben Dias, Fonte, Cedric; Sergio Oliveira, Danilo; B Silva, Bruno Fernandes, Jota; Ronaldo.

6.22pm GMT

GOAL! Belarus 2-2 Estonia (Kendysh 64)

6.18pm GMT

It gets better for Turkey! Ozan Tufan has scored his second of the game to put them 3-0 up in Malaga.

6.17pm GMT

6.16pm GMT

Netherlands 1-0 Latvia The home side lead through a cracking goal from Steven Berghuis in the 32nd minute.

4.17pm GMT

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