Category: Sports

Having challenged for automatic promotion from the third tier last term, Bolton were beaten to the final spot by Derby County on the final day of the 2023-24 campaign. They eventually beat Barnsley across two legs in the play-off semi-final to reach the final at Wembley, but they were uncharacteristically off the pace as Oxford dominated them over 90 minutes and won 2-0. Evatt blamed fear on their defeat, which prevented them from returning to the Championship for the first time since 2019. Bolton carried on that form into this season, with Tuesday’s defeat at the hands of Charlton their 10th in the league in 2024-25, a result which left them ninth and three points off the play-off places after 24 games. It has been a tough campaign for Evatt, who claimed in September he had the backing of the club’s board after a wayward start to the campaign, while his son also experienced abuse from fans. Having blamed his side’s inconsistent form on psychology, his side then registered 10 victories from 17 games in all competitions to claw their way into the play-off places, but Evatt was critical of fan judgement on his side’s performances. That criticism came after Brittan pledged her support despite the fact they were well off the pace of League One’s automatic promotion chasers following a dispiriting defeat by near neighbours Wigan Athletic, who themselves had been struggling. Source link

In that same year I had been working on a slower ball delivered from the side of the hand. I would squeeze the ball between my middle finger and ring finger, roll my middle finger down the inside of the ball and it would loop up, all whilst keeping my arm speed the same. That was the plan, anyway. It is a hard delivery to control and I was a player who liked to feel in control of what I was doing all the time. The unknown of letting a ball come out the side of my hand made me nervous. I worried about it in my sleep, but McCullum made it sound so simple. He fully backed me trying the ball in a game and reinforced the point that he didn’t care what happened. The first time I tried it in a game was against Gloucestershire at Uxbridge. McCullum had actually left by this point in the season, but had been on at me throughout the competition to try the new slower ball. I bowled the slower ball in to the pitch and the batter was through the shot way too early. The next ball I bowled a pace-on shorter ball and the batter was caught behind off the glove. It was the previous delivery that planted the seed of doubt in the batters’ mind about whether it could be a slower ball or not, and it got me the wicket. I took 4-24 to be player of the match. It’s not that McCullum doesn’t care about the outcome. He does, passionately. But, having played the game, he knows that you have far more chance of succeeding and committing to what you are doing if you are relaxed. This is the basic premise of his coaching, one that will suit Buttler and this England team. Source link

Arsenal and Villa are both guaranteed places in the knockout play-offs but they will be hoping to go straight through to the last 16 by finishing in the top eight. The Gunners have two matches left, starting with Wednesday’s home game against Dinamo Zagreb. Depending on other results, a victory could confirm a top-eight finish for Mikel Arteta’s side. Villa’s chances were dented by a 1-0 defeat to Monaco on Tuesday, but they remain in the top eight before their final league-stage fixture against Celtic. Celtic are 23rd in the table – two places above the elimination places. Brendan Rodgers’ side take on Young Boys – who are bottom of the table and without a point in the Champions League this term – at Celtic Park on Wednesday. A win would almost certainly guarantee Celtic a knockout play-off spot. Manchester City are a place and a point behind Celtic in 24th. Pep Guardiola’s side, the 2023 winners, face a daunting trip to Paris St-Germain on Wednesday before a home tie against Club Brugge on matchday eight. A win against PSG would significantly boost City’s chances of a knockout play-off spot but it would not guarantee it. A thrilling finale is assured on 29 January when all 18 final group games will be played simultaneously at 20:00 GMT. Source link

When Josh McErlean first stepped into a rally car at the age of 11, his dream was to reach the World Rally Championship. Now, he is one of the 10 drivers in the world who are preparing to compete at the pinnacle of the sport this year. The 25-year-old from Northern Ireland, who is part of Motorsport Ireland’s Rally Academy, will drive a Ford Puma Rally1 for the M-Sport World Rally team. “In terms of motorsport, it’s basically the Formula 1 of world rallying,” McErlean told BBC Sport NI. “You can’t get any further up. It’s the top level and you are racing the best in the world.” When he was a 15-year-old – two years before he could legally drive on a public road – McErlean claimed the Junior 1000 Rally Challenge series and won the 2019 Junior British Rally Championship title. “All young drivers dream of this moment,” he said as he reflected on his journey. “It’s become a reality now and I can’t thank everyone enough for their support. “We’re in this position now and we have to make the most of it. It’s going to be an exciting time ahead.” Source link

Sami Khedira makes his selection of the best five midfielders ever to play the game. Source link

The championship will represent Easterby’s first time acting as a head coach since leaving the Scarlets in 2014. While Farrell will return to post after the Lions Test series against the Wallabies, the former flanker is looking forward to his time at the top of the coaching ticket. “I’m really excited,” he said. “It’s something I’ve been around for a while. I’ve been involved in the team for 10 or 11 years. “When I had the opportunity, when Faz had the opportunity to coach the Lions, I spoke to the Irish management around that and I was delighted to accept. I’m really lucky to have the opportunity.” Farrell was still in place for Ireland’s November internationals, when the side won three out of four Tests, and Easterby says the pair have remained in contact since. “We chat regularly,” he added. “He’s got other things to think about at the moment, but we speak regularly. “He’s always on the other end of a phone call if we need him. I spoke prior to coming in and I’m sure we’ll speak over the next few months.” Source link

Premier League strugglers Southampton have signed Denmark international midfielder Albert Gronbaek on loan. The 23-year-old, who has six senior Danish caps, moves to St Mary’s from Ligue 1 club Rennes. Gronbaek will spend the remainder of the 2024-25 season at Southampton, subject to international clearance. He told the club website, external: “I’m just so excited. It’s a big club and I think the playing style is suiting me very well, so I’m just very pleased to be here. “The facilities are very good and the stadium looks incredible. It’s even bigger and better when you come in person, so I’m just so excited to play there. I’m proud to be here.” Gronbaek only joined Rennes from Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt last summer in a 12m euros deal (£10m), but scored just two goals in 18 appearances for the French side. He becomes the second player to join Southampton in this transfer window, following the confirmation of Brazilian defender Welington’s arrival from Sao Paulo. But the pair face a tough ask to help drag Ivan Juric’s side out of danger as they sit bottom of the Premier League. Southampton have just six points from their first 22 league games and are 10 points from safety. Source link

Manchester City striker Erling Haaland says the charges facing the club had no bearing on him signing a new long-term contract. Haaland has signed a nine-and-a-half-year deal that would keep him at Etihad Stadium until 2034 – and makes him one of the highest-paid sportspeople in the world. City are awaiting the outcome of the disciplinary hearing into their alleged 115 breaches of Premier League financial rules, which could result in a points deduction and even relegation. READ MORE: Man City charges had no impact on new deal – Haaland Source link

Glentoran had the better of a first half which saw Larne trio Chris Gallagher, Mark Randall and Levi Ives all booked by referee Steven Gregg for hefty challenges. Rohan Ferguson was called upon to deny Jordan Jenkins early on and then midfielder Palmer fired into the sidenetting after being set up by Chrissie Pattison. Ferguson palmed away David Fisher’s strike, while at the other end Mills reacted quickly to smother Andy Ryan’s right-foot effort. In the second half Frankie Hvid was unable to get on the end of a corner at the back post and Jenkins headed straight into the arms of Ferguson from close range. Danny Amos almost broke the deadlock when he drilled a left-foot strike just wide. After Lindsay’s thunderbolt opener, Ryan equalised from the spot with five minutes remaining and then almost grabbed a dramatic late winner when his effort flew past the post. Larne had another opportunity late on when Mills excelled himself by palming away Joe Thomson’s piledriver. In the shootout, Ryan, Joe Thomson, Chris Gallagher and Tomas Cosgrove were on target for Larne, while Jenkins, Lindsay, Palmer, Wassim and Chrissie Pattison were Glentoran’s successful penalty-takers. Source link

Another day, another Mohamed Salah goal and another Liverpool win. The Egypt forward has now scored three Champions League goals this season and 22 in 31 games in all competitions. He has also set up another 17 for team-mates and his total of 39 goal involvements is the highest of any player in Europe’s big five leagues. His latest goal set Liverpool on their way to victory against Lille and to securing their place in the Champions League last 16. It was a nonchalant finish as he latched on to Curtis Jones’ superb through ball and lifted over the advancing Lucas Chevalier. It was his 50th goal in Europe for Liverpool – with 44 coming in the Champions League, five in last season’s Europa League and one in Champions League qualifying. His latest strike extends his record as the club’s leading European goalscorer and he has now scored 20 Champions League goals at Anfield. Former Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero (23 at Etihad Stadium) and ex-Manchester United forward Ruud van Nistelrooy (23 at Old Trafford) are the only players to score more goals in the competition at a specific venue for an English team. “There has always been a smile on Salah’s face but it’s just that belief in himself that he will score,” said former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock on BBC Radio 5 Live. “That’s what makes him so dangerous. That’s the elite mindset of a player of his calibre.” He has also been directly involved in 18 goals in 15 appearances at Anfield this season (10 goals, eight assists in all competitions). “He is a real talisman for Liverpool,” said former Reds striker Robbie Fowler on Amazon Prime. “He is a game winner. He is very comfortable in front of goal. “He is one of those players that if he misses a chance, he is not fazed because the next one he will score. “We wax lyrical about Mohamed Salah and know what he is capable of.” Source link