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Showing posts from December 29, 2024

Hull and Leeds produce a Championship classic

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Hull City 3 - 3 Leeds United Abu Kamara was the hero as his two goals helped struggling Hull City come from behind and take a point at home to the Championship leaders Leeds United. Author - Jack L After a difficult week for the forward, Kamara opened the scoring before lashing home a late equaliser. Ao Tanaka equalised for Leeds straight after the interval, Dan James converted a Jayden Bogle cut-back and Joel Piroe accepted a gift from home goalkeeper Ivor Pandur to put the visitors in control before some late drama. Joao Pedro gave home fans hope when he touched in with nine minutes to go and the comeback was complete in the 89th minute when Kamara fired home after a corner had been cleared to the edge of the area. With Leeds having won eight of their previous 11 league games and heading the Championship table, few would have expected relegation-threatened Hull to derail the visitors' promotion charge, but Kamara gave them a shock lead inside the opening five minutes. Late eq...

Bailey seals late winner for Aston Villa

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Aston Villa 2 - 1 Leicester City  Leon Bailey struck a dramatic late winner as Aston Villa handed Leicester their fifth consecutive Premier League defeat. Author - JP The Jamaican forward timed his run perfectly to slot home Ian Maatsen’s low cross in the 78th minute, securing his first goal of the season. It seemed as though Ruud van Nistelrooy’s Leicester might finally halt their losing streak when Stephy Mavididi equalised in the 64th minute. Mavididi capitalised on a rebound after Emiliano Martínez had produced a fine save to deny Jamie Vardy from close range. Unai Emery’s side had earlier taken the lead with a stunning strike from Ross Barkley , who curled a beauty from the edge of the box in the 58th minute – his third league goal of the campaign. At 2-1, Bailey nearly put the game to bed with a powerful effort that crashed off the underside of the crossbar. Ollie Watkins had a chance to convert the rebound but blazed his effort over. Villa did suffer a setback when cap...

Brentford thrash Southampton in awful day for new Saints boss

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Southampton 0 - 5 Brentford Bryan Mbeumo’s double helped Brentford secure their first Premier League away win of the season with a dominant victory over struggling Southampton. Author - Jamie P The visitors took the lead just six minutes in, as Kevin Schade finished off Mikkel Damsgaard's sublime defence-splitting pass. Mbeumo doubled the advantage just after the hour mark, smashing the ball into the roof of the net. The Cameroon international added his second from the penalty spot after Chelsea loanee Lesley Ugochukwu fouled Sepp van den Berg. Mbeumo then turned provider, setting up Keane Lewis-Potter for Brentford's first stoppage-time goal. Moments later, Yoane Wissa pounced on a poor header from substitute Yukinari Sugawara to complete the rout. The victory lifts Brentford to 10th in the table, while Southampton remain rooted to the bottom with just six points. Before this game, Thomas Frank’s side had only managed two points away from home – the joint-lowest in the...

Manchester City looking to boost Champions League hopes

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Manchester City v West Ham United preview Manchester City kick off their 2025 Premier League campaign with a home fixture against a struggling West Ham United side. Author - Macca The reigning champions have endured a tough spell, winning just one of their previous 13 games across all competitions before last weekend’s trip to the King Power Stadium. However, they managed a much-needed, albeit scrappy, win in the East Midlands, with Savinho playing a starring role.  On paper, a visit from West Ham might seem like a straightforward task for Pep Guardiola’s side, but City’s recent form at the Etihad has been anything but convincing. They’ve managed just one win in their last five home matches and were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw by Everton in their most recent outing on home soil. As for West Ham, their form had been on the up before a humbling 5-0 defeat to league leaders Liverpool halted their progress. Head coach Julen Lopetegui had been under less pressure in recent weeks,...

Can Arsenal close the gap on Liverpool this weekend?

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Brighton & Hove Albion v Arsenal preview Brighton host Arsenal at the Amex in Saturday’s late kick-off, eager to end a winless run of eight matches that has seen them slip to 10th in the Premier League table. Author - DJ When Arsenal beat Brighton last season The Seagulls have drawn five of their last seven games, including their most recent three against West Ham, Brentford, and Aston Villa. However, they’ll be wary of matching an unwanted record—Brighton haven’t drawn four league games in a row since October 2014, back when they were in the Championship under the management of former Liverpool defender Sami Hyypia. Currently, Brighton find themselves 12 points adrift of Saturday’s visitors. Arsenal head into the match on a high after closing the gap to league leaders Liverpool to six points with a 3-1 win over Brentford on Wednesday, The Gunners are in impressive form, having won six and drawn three of their league matches since their last defeat—a narrow 1-0 loss at Newc...

Can Manchester United cause a shock at Anfield?

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Liverpool v Manchester United preview Northern rivals are set to clash in a Premier League showpiece at Anfield, where title favourites Liverpool host a struggling Manchester United in a highly anticipated showdown. Author -  Liam C Arne Slot’s high-flying Reds hold a commanding 23-point lead over their long-time adversaries in the league table. While Liverpool chase Premier League glory, Ruben Amorim’s beleaguered United side find themselves nervously glancing over their shoulders at the relegation battle. As Arsenal, Chelsea, and Nottingham Forest scrap for the “best of the rest” tag, Liverpool have defied predictions of a mid-season slump. Slot’s team ended 2024 in emphatic style, thrashing West Ham United 5-0. They are poised to start 2025 with the same ruthless momentum. The goals at the London Stadium came courtesy of Luis Díaz, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Diogo Jota, Mohamed Salah, and Cody Gakpo, sealing Liverpool’s fourth consecutive victory across all competitions and ext...

A dramatic night in Valencia for Jude Bellingham

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Valencia 1 - 2 Real Madrid Jude Bellingham experienced a rollercoaster evening, missing a penalty but scoring a dramatic 95th-minute winner as 10-man Real Madrid snatched a thrilling victory over Valencia to reclaim the top spot in La Liga. Author - Josh T It was Carlos Corberán’s first game in charge of Valencia since his appointment last week , and the former West Bromwich Albion manager looked set to enjoy a dream start as his new side edged towards a memorable win—until the late drama unfolded. At a lively Mestalla Stadium, Valencia took the lead in the first half when Hugo Duro tapped in from close range after Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois could only parry Javi Guerra’s powerful effort. Real Madrid had a golden opportunity to level the score in the 55th minute when Kylian Mbappé was fouled inside the box. However, Bellingham’s penalty struck the inside of the post and stayed out. The visitors’ night looked like it was getting worse when Vinícius Júnior was sent off ...

Aberdeen's poor run of form continues

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Aberdeen 1 - 2 Ross County Aberdeen’s struggles deepened as their winless run hit nine games with a 2-1 home defeat to Ross County, who notched their second consecutive away victory in the Scottish Premiership. Author - Ajay  A closer look at what happened at a snowy Pittodrie Ross County, buoyed by breaking a 15-month away drought last week , deservedly took the lead at a snow-swept Pittodrie. Akil Wright’s stunning 30-yard strike flew into the top corner, with Aberdeen visibly struggling to adapt to the challenging conditions. However, the Dons were gifted a way back into the match before the break. County goalkeeper Jordan Amissah made a calamitous error, letting Kevin Nisbet’s free-kick slip under his body and trickle over the line. The equaliser sparked Aberdeen into life as they began the second half brightly. Duk came agonisingly close to giving the hosts the lead, his thunderous effort smashing off the crossbar — with replays suggesting a slight touch from Amissah. Was ...

Salah to leave Liverpool at the end of the season

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It's going to be the end of another era at Anfield Mohamed Salah has declared that he expects to leave Liverpool at the end of the season.  Author - William G Salah's first 200 goals for Liverpool. Mohamed Salah has ended speculation about his future, confirming that this will be his final season as a Liverpool player. The 32-year-old Egyptian forward announced his decision to leave the club at the end of the 2024/25 campaign, closing what has been an historic chapter at Anfield. This announcement cements the clues Salah hinted at earlier. Back in September, following a match against Manchester United , Salah implied that this season would likely be his last with the Reds. Today’s statement brings an end to the speculation. Despite the prospect of his departure, Salah continues to demonstrate why he’s regarded as one of the Premier League’s finest. He’s currently the league’s top scorer with 17 goals and has also contributed 13 assists, remaining an indispensable player f...

United win on Dundee derby day

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Dundee 1 - 2 Dundee United Top scorer Sam Dalby struck a dramatic late winner to hand Dundee United a thrilling derby victory at Dens Park, lifting Jim Goodwin's newly-promoted side to third place in the table. Author - Jack L Dundee took the lead in the second half through Simon Murray's penalty, awarded after a VAR check confirmed Kevin Holt’s handball. But United responded swiftly, with Vicko Sevelj nodding in an equaliser just four minutes later. Then, with two minutes left on the clock, Wrexham loanee Dalby smashed home his 10th goal of the season following a marauding run and pinpoint cross from Holt. Dalby’s clinical finish past Dundee goalkeeper Trevor Carson sent the packed away end into raptures and ensured United leapfrogged Aberdeen on goal difference. Meanwhile, the defeat sees Dundee slip to ninth. The result extends United’s impressive form, with just one loss in their last nine matches, and maintains their unbeaten run in eight consecutive derbies against the...

Rangers cut Celtic's lead after Glasgow Derby win

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Rangers 3 - 0 Celtic Rangers cut Celtic’s lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership to 11 points in sensational fashion, as Philippe Clement finally secured his first derby victory at the seventh attempt. Author - Sean M Ianis Hagi’s early goal, followed by strikes from Robin Propper and Danilo in the second half, sealed the win as the hosts dominated a fervent Ibrox crowd. The victory ended a long and frustrating run of poor results for Rangers against Brendan Rodgers' Celtic , who had only lost once in 20 derby clashes before this encounter. However, the occasion was slightly marred when Celtic’s Arne Engels appeared to be struck by a coin thrown from the stands. Fortunately, his manager later confirmed the player was unharmed. More reaction coming up. A bad day for Celtic. https://t.co/Mu4Cn3x6Z9 https://t.co/3FCnK8E1Sv — European Super Football (@ESFootballNews) January 2, 2025 A closer look at what happened Rangers had come into the match under mounting pressure, h...

Portsmouth ease to win over Swansea

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Portsmouth 4 - 0 Swansea Portsmouth climbed out of the Championship's bottom three with a commanding victory over Swansea City at a rain-soaked Fratton Park. Author - Jack L Josh Murphy's crisp first-time strike put the hosts ahead in the 22nd minute, and Paddy Lane doubled their advantage just seven minutes later, capitalising on defensive uncertainty. Swansea briefly looked like mounting a second-half comeback, with Josh Tymon rattling the woodwork, but Ryley Towler’s well-placed header eased any nerves for Portsmouth. A costly error by Cyrus Christie then allowed Colby Bishop to seal a resounding win. While John Mousinho’s side have struggled away from home this season, their improved form at Fratton Park has reinvigorated their fight to avoid a swift return to League One. Pompey have now claimed 13 points from their last five home games, scoring 14 goals in the process. For Swansea, it was a torrid afternoon as defensive lapses contributed to their heaviest defeat of...

Late equaliser denies Leeds at Elland Road

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Leeds United 1 - 1 Blackburn Rovers Danny Batth's injury-time strike salvaged a dramatic point for Blackburn Rovers, cancelling out Pascal Struijk’s late penalty in a gripping finale that left Leeds United frustrated at Elland Road. Author - Jamie P Struijk had calmly slotted home from the spot after substitute Mateo Joseph was deemed to have been brought down by Dominic Hyam, in what looked set to be the winner in a game otherwise short on clear chances. But just two minutes later, Batth pounced on a flicked Hyam header at the back post to steer the ball home, denying Leeds a 10th straight home league victory and keeping Blackburn’s promotion hopes alive. The result means Leeds maintain a three-point cushion at the top of the Championship but missed the chance to extend their lead further over Sheffield United, who lost to Sunderland. The home side almost snatched all three points deep into 11 minutes of stoppage time, only for Blackburn keeper Aynsley Pears to produce a stunn...

Sunderland show promotion credentials

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Sunderland 2 - 1 Sheffield United Sunderland kept their push for automatic promotion alive with an entertaining victory over third-placed Sheffield United, who are now winless in three matches. Author - Ajay  The visitors squandered a golden opportunity to take the lead when Kieffer Moore’s poorly struck penalty was saved by Anthony Patterson in the Sunderland goal. Eliezer Mayenda then capitalised on a defensive mix-up to put the Black Cats ahead, but Luke O’Nien’sown goal levelled the scores. However, Wilson Isidor’s composed finish ensured Sunderland went into half-time in front after a chaotic opening 45 minutes. Sheffield United dominated possession after the break but couldn’t find an equaliser, with Rhian Brewster firing wide and Sunderland surviving a late scramble in their box. The result sees Sunderland remain fourth in the table and they are now just two points behind second-placed Burnley. Meanwhile, Sheffield United, who were three points clear at the top at Christ...

Arsenal fight back to beat Brentford

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Brentford 1 - 3 Arsenal Arsenal staged an impressive comeback to beat Brentford in the first Premier League match of 2025, bolstering their title ambitions. Author - DJ Bryan Mbeumo gave the hosts an early lead, but Gabriel Jesus levelled the score with his sixth goal in four matches. Arsenal then took control with quickfire goals from Mikel Merino and Gabriel Martinelli, sealing a valuable three points in west London. Manager Mikel Arteta’s team selection paid off, despite leaving Kai Havertz out due to illness and handing 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri his first Premier League start. The win lifts Arsenal back to second, six points behind leaders Liverpool, while Brentford remain 12th. Brentford struck first in the 12th minute after Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard’s misplaced pass in midfield. Mikkel Damsgaard pounced on the error, threading a ball to Mbeumo, who cut inside and beat former Brentford goalkeeper David Raya at his near post. Arsenal struggled to find their rhythm in the...

Windass stunner helps Sheffield Wednesday

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Sheffield Wednesday 4 - 2 Derby County Josh Windass scored an extraordinary goal from deep inside his own half as Sheffield Wednesday cruised to a convincing victory over Derby County in the Championship. Author - Chris C Windass picked up the ball in his own defensive third and unleashed a stunning strike from over 60 yards, sailing it perfectly over Derby’s goalkeeper Jacob Widell Zetterström. Barry Bannan, Djeidi Gassama, and Anthony Musaba also got on the scoresheet for the Owls, while Jerry Yates and Ebou Adams managed consolation goals for the Rams. A closer look at what happened as Wednesday move up the table The breakthrough came after lively wing-back Gassama exposed the lack of pace in Derby defender Sonny Bradley, delivering a low cross that left Bannan with a simple finish. Derby initially struggled but began to find their rhythm. Efforts from Kane Wilson and Nat Phillips forced good saves from Wednesday keeper Jack Beadle, while Yates hit the post just before half-time...

Rooney departs Plymouth after poor run of form

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What next for an English football legend? Head coach Wayne Rooney has parted ways with Championship strugglers Plymouth Argyle by mutual consent. Author - Peter Grainger The video below shows Rooney’s reaction after a recent defeat against Norwich City. The 39-year-old former England captain managed only four league victories while suffering 13 defeats in 23 Championship matches since taking charge of the Pilgrims in May. His departure leaves the club rooted to the bottom of the table. Rooney arrived at Home Park just four months after being sacked by Birmingham City, where his short 83-day tenure saw nine defeats in 15 games. Sunday's 2-0 loss to Oxford United , which extended Plymouth's winless run to nine matches, was met with boos from the crowd. It marked their sixth defeat in that run, which began in early November. Under Rooney’s leadership, Plymouth have struggled at both ends of the pitch. They’ve scored the joint-fewest goals in the Championship and conceded mor...

AFC Wimbledon boost promotion chances

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AFC Wimbledon 1 - 0 Gillingham AFC Wimbledon climbed into League Two’s automatic promotion spots thanks to a contentious winner from Matty Stevens in their narrow victory over Gillingham. Author - William G The decisive moment came early in the second half when Stevens appeared to bundle James Tilley’s corner into the net with his upper right arm, scoring his 12th league goal of the campaign. Gillingham had reason to feel hard done by, having been denied a seemingly clear penalty in the first half. Conor Masterson was wrestled to the ground by Wimbledon's John-Joe O'Toole, but the referee waved play on in a game that simmered with tension throughout. After Stevens’ goal, the visitors pushed for an equaliser, but Wimbledon held firm to leapfrog five teams into second place in the table. Gillingham, meanwhile, remain 13th, six points adrift of the play-off positions. Did bad decisions cost Gillingham? In a match short on clear-cut chances, the main talking points were two con...

Ipswich Town stun Chelsea

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Ipswich Town 2 - 0 Chelsea Liam Delap's standout performance inspired Ipswich Town to their first home victory of the season, dealing a blow to Chelsea’s dwindling Premier League title ambitions. Author - Marcus Ipswich Town v Chelsea European Super Football has all the reaction- eurosuperfootball.blogspot.com/p/premier-le... [image or embed] — European Super Football ( @superfootball.bsky.social ) 31 December 2024 at 15:10 The 21-year-old striker opened the scoring in the 12th minute, confidently converting a penalty he earned after VAR determined goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen had made sufficient contact as Delap weaved past him. Just eight minutes into the second half, Delap turned provider, seizing on Axel Disasi's wayward back pass to set up ex-Chelsea winger Omari Hutchinson for Ipswich's second goal. Despite dominating possession, Chelsea were wasteful in front of goal, with Joao Felix’s would-be first-half equaliser ruled out by VAR after a lengthy offside check. I...

Manchester United's year ends with another defeat

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Manchester United 0 - 2 Newcastle United Newcastle United secured a rare league victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford, only their second since 1972, as they handed the hosts a third consecutive home defeat – a feat not seen in 45 years. Author - Olivia T This result also marked another unwanted milestone for United, who have now suffered five league losses in a single calendar month for the first time since Sir Matt Busby’s reign in September 1962. Eddie Howe’s side were deserved winners, with early strikes from Alexander Isak and Joelinton sealing the points and lifting Newcastle to fifth in the table to cap off a strong finish to 2024. The in-form Isak continued his hot streak, notching his 12th goal of the season and eighth in his last six matches, scoring in each of those games. In stark contrast, Manchester United were woeful. The last time they lost three consecutive home league games was in 1979, and this performance provided little cause for optimism. Head coach Ru...

Celtic ease to win over bottom side in Scotland

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Celtic 4 - 0 St Johnstone Nicolas Kuhn opened the scoring in the first half, while Kyogo Furuhashi netted a double in the second half, with Daizen Maeda adding a fourth goal.  Author - Sean M A closer look at what happened at Celtic Park It was a largely one-sided affair, with Simo Valakari’s side putting up some resistance early on. Cameron Carter-Vickers, Kyogo, and Arne Engels all came close to breaking the deadlock. The opener came from a familiar source. Nicolas Kuhn, receiving the ball from Reo Hatate, cut inside and slotted it home with ease, leaving the goalkeeper no chance. The German forward’s knack for producing key moments in front of goal has been exceptional this season. Moments later, Kuhn nearly struck again, forcing a superb save from Josh Rae as his curling effort seemed destined for the far top corner. Celtic Football Club news and stories St Johnstone made a few changes at half-time and briefly showed signs of improvement, but they couldn’t turn the tide. Pi...

Crystal Palace come from behind to beat Southampton

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Crystal Palace 2 - 1 Southampton Eberechi Eze delivered the decisive blow as Crystal Palace overturned an early deficit to beat Southampton, moving six points clear of the relegation zone. Author - Craig H The Saints struck first in the 14th minute when Kyle Walker-Peters outpaced Daniel Munoz to whip in a cross, which Adam Armstrong flicked on for Tyler Dibling to slot home from close range. Palace, however, hit back 16 minutes later as Trevoh Chalobah rose to nod in a Will Hughes corner. Southampton players protested, claiming Jean-Philippe Mateta had fouled goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale as the ball came in, but VAR confirmed the goal. Eze then produced a moment of magic early in the second half, rifling Munoz’s deflected cross into the bottom corner to secure all three points for the Eagles. Munoz had missed a golden chance earlier, failing to convert Tyrick Mitchell’s inviting cross when the game was level in the first half, his effort rebounding off Walker-Peters with the goal at ...