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Showing posts from December 22, 2024

Crystal Palace hold Bournemouth

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Bournemouth 0 - 0 Crystal Palace Bournemouth extended their unbeaten Premier League run to six games but were left frustrated with a goalless draw at home to Crystal Palace. Author - Peter Grainger Buoyed by a stunning 3-0 victory over Manchester United in their previous outing , the Cherries looked to build on their push for European football. They created the better chances but struggled to find a clinical edge in front of goal. Andoni Iraola's side came close to breaking the deadlock in the first half when Antoine Semenyo hooked a shot towards goal from a corner, only for Ismaila Sarr to clear off the line. Moments later, Sarr thought he had put Palace ahead after a solo run and finish, but the offside flag denied the visitors. The game was open and fast-paced, with both teams pressing high and attacking in numbers. Bournemouth had the lion’s share of opportunities and looked more likely to score, but their efforts couldn’t prevent a Boxing Day stalemate. Despite 18 atte...

Brighton’s winless streak continues

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Brighton & Hove Albion 0 - 0 Brentford Brighton’s winless streak in the Premier League extended to six matches after a determined Brentford side held them to a goalless draw, securing only their second away point of the season. Author - Craig H The home side came close to breaking the deadlock just five minutes in. Joao Pedro, with his back to goal, cleverly laid the ball off to Julio Enciso, whose first-time curling effort struck the right post. That was as close as either team came to scoring on a chilly, misty evening at the Amex Stadium. Brentford, boasting the league’s worst away record, thought they’d taken the lead in the 14th minute against the run of play. Yoane Wissa burst through Brighton’s defence and finished emphatically, only for VAR to rule him narrowly offside as he collected the ball. There was a heartwarming moment late on when Brighton midfielder Solly March came on as a substitute to a standing ovation from the home crowd. It marked his return after 14 mon...

Ipswich suffer narrow defeat against Arsenal

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Arsenal 1 - 0 Ipswich Town Kai Havertz netted the decisive goal as Arsenal edged past Ipswich Town with a narrow 1-0 win, moving up to second in the Premier League table. Author - DJ The German's seventh goal of the season proved crucial for the hosts, who were playing their first game without star winger Bukayo Saka, sidelined now for many weeks. The result handed Ipswich their fifth defeat in six matches. Arsenal broke the deadlock midway through the first half when Havertz was perfectly positioned to slot home Leandro Trossard's pinpoint cross. Gabriel Magalhães squandered a chance to extend the lead, heading wide from a corner just after the hour mark. However, the Gunners comfortably managed their slim advantage to secure the win. Mikel Arteta's team leapfrogged Chelsea and Nottingham Forest into second place, six points behind leaders Liverpool, who have played one game fewer. Meanwhile, Ipswich remain stuck in 19th, three points away from safety and 17th-placed W...

Frank Lampard's Coventry thrash Wayne Rooney's Plymouth

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Coventry City 4 - 0 Plymouth Argyle On Boxing Day, Plymouth Argyle endured yet another heavy away defeat in the Championship, as Wayne Rooney lost his first managerial clash against former England teammate Frank Lampard.  Lampard’s Coventry City dominated the injury-hit Argyle, scoring all their goals before the break. Author - Craig H  A bad day for Plymouth but their fans still created a fantastic atmosphere at Coventry. eurosuperfootball.blogspot.com [image or embed] — SuperNewsAffiliate ( @supernewsaffiliate.bsky.social ) 27 December 2024 at 21:37 Tatsuhiro Sakamoto opened the scoring early on, before a recalled Josh Eccles doubled the lead 20 minutes in. Coventry then put the game out of reach with two quickfire goals just before half-time. In-form Ephron Mason-Clark netted his fourth goal in six games since Lampard’s arrival, while Eccles added his second of the match – and tripled his season tally – to round off the first-half rout. This marked Lampard’s third win...

Celtic extend lead at top of the table

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Celtic 4 - 0 Motherwell Celtic maintained their composure despite a shaky start to secure a commanding 4-0 victory over Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership. Author - Sean M Following a frustrating draw at Dundee United on Sunday, the league leaders took time to find their rhythm. The breakthrough came just before the half-time whistle when a collision between Aston Oxborough and Hyunjun Yang earned Celtic a penalty. Arne Engels coolly converted, slotting the ball into the bottom-left corner as the Motherwell goalkeeper dived the wrong way. Celtic had the better chances in the first half, with Daizen Maeda’s effort blocked by Oxborough. The Motherwell keeper also had a nervy moment when he nearly turned the ball into his own net, but managed to clear it with the help of his defence. Early in the second half, Celtic survived a scare when Tony Watt inadvertently blocked Tawanda Maswanhise’s shot on Kasper Schmeichel ’s goalline, deflecting it behind. The hosts doubled their lead so...

Crisis continues at Manchester City

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Manchester City 1 - 1 Everton Erling Haaland saw his second-half penalty saved by Jordan Pickford as Manchester City’s struggles continued with a lacklustre Premier League draw against Everton at the Etihad Stadium. Author - Macca Pep Guardiola’s side, once an unstoppable force, now find themselves in uncharted waters, having won just once in their last 13 matches across all competitions. The result leaves the reigning champions in sixth place, five points behind Arsenal in fourth and a daunting 14 points adrift of league leaders Liverpool. City came close to a dream start in the third minute when Josko Gvardiol’s towering header struck the post. Their early dominance eventually paid off in the 14th minute, as Bernardo Silva capitalised on Jeremy Doku’s pass, squeezing a deflected shot past Jarrad Branthwaite into the far corner. Phil Foden nearly doubled the lead, setting up Silva in the box, but the Portuguese midfielder’s first-time effort went wide. Everton, however, made their...

Rowett starts life at Oxford United with a win

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Oxford United 3 - 2 Cardiff City Gary Rowett made an ideal start as Oxford United manager, guiding his side to a crucial 3-2 victory over relegation rivals Cardiff City at the Kassam Stadium.  Author - Peter Grainger This dramatic Boxing Day clash saw former Cardiff players Mark Harris and Ciaron Brown haunt their old club, as Oxford moved out of the Championship relegation zone while deepening Cardiff's survival woes. A closer look at what happened The match began tentatively, with both sides showing the nerves of a relegation six-pointer. Cardiff looked the more dominant early on, with Chris Willock’s deflected shot hitting the crossbar and Yakou Meite failing to capitalise on the rebound. Yet despite enjoying more possession, the visitors lacked the cutting edge to break through. Oxford punished Cardiff’s inefficiency when their first real chance of the game fell to Mark Harris. The former Bluebird latched onto Przemyslaw Placheta’s precise cross and slotted home from clo...

St Mirren stun Rangers with late winner

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St Mirren 2 - 1 Rangers  Caolan Boyd-Munce’s last-gasp screamer ensured Rangers finished Boxing Day 12 points behind league leaders Celtic. Author - Mark Lee The visitors endured a dismal first half, with Jack Butland clumsily fouling Greg Kiltie, allowing Oisin Smyth to calmly slot the resulting penalty past the former England goalkeeper. Stephen Robinson’s St Mirren impressed with their aggression, intensity, and defensive organisation, but the half-time introductions of Nicolas Raskin and Danilo injected much-needed energy into Rangers’ performance. Brazilian striker Danilo equalised from close range moments after being denied at a similar distance by goalkeeper Ellery Balcombe. However, Philippe Clement’s side couldn’t capitalise, and their hopes of rescuing a point were dashed when substitute Boyd-Munce rifled in a stunning 93rd-minute strike from 20 yards. No title for Rangers in 2025? This defeat halts Rangers’ recent momentum and leaves their faint title hopes hanging b...

A bad Boxing Day for Manchester United

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Wolverhampton Wanderers 2 - 0 Manchester United Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes saw red for the third time this season, as Wolves maintained their perfect start under new manager Vítor Pereira with a 2-0 win over the Red Devils. Author - Olivia T Fernandes was sent off just two minutes into the second half after receiving a second yellow card. This follows earlier dismissals against Tottenham and Porto, adding to what has been a frustrating campaign for the United skipper. Was this a significant moment in the match? Wolves wasted no time making their numerical advantage count. Eleven minutes later, Matheus Cunha delivered a moment of déjà vu for United fans, scoring directly from a corner—just as Tottenham’s Son Heung-min had done a week earlier. Cunha’s delivery floated over André Onana’s reach in a packed six-yard box, exposing United’s continued struggles to defend set-pieces. The game was put to bed deep into added time. With United desperately searching for an equali...

Christmas drama at Stamford Bridge back in 2007

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December 2007: Chelsea 4 - 4 Aston Villa Seventeen years ago, Gareth Barry's late penalty rescued a dramatic draw for Aston Villa in what was a truly remarkable match. Author - Peter Grainger What happened in the match? The tone for a dramatic match was set from the outset as Chelsea made a sloppy start and early mistakes by full-backs Ashley Cole and Paulo Ferreira saw Ashley Young and Gabriel Agbonlahor drag efforts narrowly wide. Shaun Maloney eventually fired Villa into the lead with a volley before Petr Cech’s blunder gifted him a second. However, Zat Knight’s red card swung the momentum, allowing Andriy Shevchenko to convert a penalty. Shevchenko then powered in an equaliser, and Alex smashed Chelsea into the lead. But Villa fought back, with Martin Laursen levelling the score before Ricardo Carvalho was sent off for a reckless challenge. Michael Ballack’s superb free-kick looked to have sealed the win for Chelsea, but Gareth Barry kept his cool to make it 4-4 after Ashl...

Throwback to a Christmas cracker from 1995

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December 1995: Manchester United 2 - 0 Newcastle United We're going to throwback to a Christmas cracker from 1995 when Manchester United were 10 points behind top-of-the-table Newcastle. Author - Olivia T What happened in the match? The atmosphere inside Old Trafford was electric, with both sets of fans aware of the stakes. After a poor run of form, the home side desperately needed a win, and the players had to deliver. An early goal from Andy Cole certainly settled some nerves for everyone associated with Manchester United.  At times, Keegan's team came agonisingly close to equalising as Peter Schmeichel pulled off a series of crucial saves to keep the home side in front. For all Newcastle's attacking prowess, their players struggled to find a way past United’s resilient defence. The second half saw United assert greater control. Their midfield, marshalled by Roy Keane and Paul Scholes, began to dominate the battle in the centre of the park. Victory was ultimately se...

Birmingham see off brave Crawley challenge

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Crawley Town 0 - 1 Birmingham City Birmingham City climbed to the top of League One after Jay Stansfield's header finally broke Crawley's stubborn defence at Broadfield Stadium. Author - Craig H  In a match played under challenging conditions, the promotion-chasing Blues had struggled to find a breakthrough in what was largely a dull affair. However, they ultimately secured three crucial points, ensuring they'll be top of the table come Christmas Day. Stansfield continued his blistering form, nodding in his seventh goal in as many games from Keshi Anderson's pinpoint cross. The goal came as the game seemed destined for a goalless draw. Chris Davies' side now sit one point clear of Wycombe Wanderers, with a game in hand, after recording their fifth consecutive league victory. EFL: 2024/2025 news and stories Crawley remain in the relegation zone, two points adrift of safety, and will close out the year with tough away trips to Leyton Orient and Exeter. They welcom...

Valencia appoint West Brom boss as head coach

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Update on Christmas Day We can confirm that La Liga strugglers Valencia have appointed West Bromwich Albion boss Carlos Corberan as their new head coach. Valencia paid a release clause, believed to be between three and four million to allow him to leave Championship club Albion. Read below for an idea on how this story developed and why they were interested in the first place.  --‐--------------- Will Carlos Corberán be leaving the Midlands for Spain? Valencia, struggling in La Liga, have officially approached West Bromwich Albion head coach Carlos Corberán Author - Jack L The West Brom manager spoke with the club's YouTube account recently While discussions between the clubs are ongoing, no agreement has yet been reached. The Spanish club are reportedly ready to activate the 41-year-old's release clause at Albion, believed to be in the region of £3-4 million.  This follows Valencia’s decision to part ways with head coach Rubén Baraja on Monday after a dismal run of jus...

The best January transfers

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Is this all about desperation or a good chance to sign a bargain? This article will explore some of the best signings from the the January Transfer Window. Is it a good time to sign players or not? Author - Liam C Seamus Coleman There will be players on this list with a higher profile but very few that work out at better value for money than Coleman. Everton signed him from the Irish side Sligo Rovers in 2009. He has eclipsed 350 first-team appearances for the Merseysiders and has captained the team in recent times. The player has been an excellent servant for the Blues and has shown there is no shortage of talent across the top flight in Ireland. Patrice Evra In December 2005, French sources revealed that Manchester United was interested in signing Evra. Despite rumours that Monaco had reached a transfer agreement with Internazionale. On the 3rd of January 2006, Evra revealed he preferred to move to England to join Manchester United. He finally moved to Old Trafford a few days lat...

New boss inspires Wolves to win over Leicester

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Leicester City 0 - 3 Wolves Vítor Pereira’s debut as a Premier League manager was pretty much perfect.  A two-time league champion with Porto, Pereira has finally been given his chance in England – and it couldn’t have started much more comfortably. Author - Jamie P Wolves found themselves 3-0 up by half-time, but that’s not to say Pereira has instantly turned them into a free-scoring machine. Instead, they simply capitalised on their opportunities when they arose. The opener came after Nelson Semedo lofted a speculative ball down the right channel. Somehow, it made its way to Gonçalo Guedes in the box. The Portuguese forward, making just his second league start of the season, hooked it past Leicester goalkeeper Danny Ward with Wolves’ first shot under Pereira’s management. The second goal had a touch of fortune about it. Matt Doherty sent a hopeful diagonal ball towards Leicester’s right-back, James Justin, who allowed it to roll past him – unaware that Joao Gomes had sneaked ...

Chelsea held by determined Everton

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Everton 0 - 0 Chelsea The blue side of Merseyside did the red side of Merseyside a huge favour by holding Chelsea to a draw at Goodison Park Author - Sarah W  Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca dismissed talk earlier in the week about his team being Premier League title contenders – and based on this result, he may have been right. While the Italian may have privately harboured different thoughts, Chelsea’s eight-match winning streak across all competitions came to an end, delivering a blow to their hopes of reclaiming the league trophy for Stamford Bridge. Star performer Cole Palmer, who stole the show with four goals – including a stunning first-half hat-trick – in a 6-0 demolition of Everton back in April, struggled to make an impact this time. He dragged an early shot wide and set up Jackson for a glaring miss. Premier League: Latest news from the 2024/2025 season Click here to find more Chelsea match reports news Jackson, who should have done better with a free header that struc...

United don't build on derby day success

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Manchester United 0 - 3  Bournemouth Manchester United will head into Christmas languishing in 13th place, following another lacklustre performance that has yielded just seven points from Rúben Amorim’s first six games in charge. Author -  Liam Chadwick In stark contrast, Bournemouth find themselves flying high in fifth. With English clubs performing well in Europe this season, that position could potentially secure a spot in next year’s Champions League. United were undone by Dean Huijsen’s 29th-minute header, as Bournemouth capitalised on the hosts' vulnerability at set-pieces. Justin Kluivert doubled the visitors’ lead from the penalty spot, sending André Onana the wrong way after being fouled by Noussair Mazraoui. Just two minutes later, Antoine Semenyo was left unmarked to convert Dango Ouattara’s cross, punishing Kobbie Mainoo’s costly error in midfield. Premier League: 2024/2025 season Super Reds News What's going wrong for Manchester United? United appeared to ...

Jesus shines for Arsenal again

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Crystal Palace 1 - 5 Arsenal Gabriel Jesus delivered a stellar performance, netting twice as Arsenal thrashed Crystal Palace 5-1 at Selhurst Park, moving to within three points of Premier League leaders Liverpool. Author - DJ The Brazilian forward has been in scintillating form, taking his tally against Palace to five goals in just one week after a hat-trick in Wednesday's Carabao Cup quarter-final. Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta expressed his hope that Gabriel Jesus' hat-trick in the midweek match against Palace would provide the 'spark' he needed to regain his scoring form in the Premier League. Arteta's optimism paid off, as Jesus appeared revitalized, scoring his first Premier League goals in nearly 11 months. This Arsenal victory came with a setback as Bukayo Saka was forced off with an injury in the first half. Click here to read the latest Premier League stories from European Super Football A closer look at the first-half fireworks Jesus set the tone early, sc...

Manchester City lose again

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Aston Villa 2 - 1 Manchester City Manchester City's crisis intensified as they slipped to another damaging defeat at Aston Villa. Author - Macca Jhon Duran and Morgan Rogers goals meant Phil Foden's late reply for the visitors was little consolation. Defending champions City have dropped to sixth in the Premier League, nine points behind leaders Liverpool having played two games more, while Villa have moved above them into fifth. It is now nine defeats in 12 games in all competitions for City, who are winless in their last eight away matches, as their season continues to spiral downwards. Pep Guardiola made six changes from the Manchester derby defeat last week but it made little difference during another laboured performance. The latest Manchester City news and stories What's going wrong for the Premier League champions?  Villa, who had won just three of their previous 11 top-flight games, earned a much-needed victory, one which keeps their top-four hopes firmly alive....