Month: May 2023

Garang Kuol insists Hearts will go out “all guns blazing” against Hibernian at Tynecastle on Saturday to keep ahead of their Edinburgh rivals in the cinch Premiership finale.

The 18-year-old attacker, who joined the Gorgie club on loan from Newcastle United in January after signing for the Premier League outfit from Central Coast Mariners,  came off the bench at Ibrox on Wednesday night to score his first Jambos goal and grab a 2-2 draw with Rangers.

Hearts, under interim boss Steven Naismith, lost out to Aberdeen in their bid for third place but remain two points ahead of Hibs.

Australia international Kuol spoke about his last-gasp leveller, saying: “It was a good moment and hopefully the first of many.” as he spoke positively about the last game of the season.

Looking ahead to the last games of the season, he said: “We’ve beaten them two out of three times this year.

“There have been some convincing wins but the last game of the season, a derby, it’s going to be a tough match.

“The boys are ready, we are focused and we will go out all guns blazing.

“The boys have worked hard. Obviously, tough periods come by. To be in the position we are in now shows the perseverance that the boys have, especially since Naisy has come in.

“He has got us working and to finish fourth, I think the boys can hold their heads high.”

Kuol has struggled for game time since arriving in Edinburgh but still considers his experience in Scottish football beneficial to his development.

He said: “People look at the game time as a negative, and obviously it’s not ideal.

“At the end of the day, what I’m doing in training every day is what makes me a better player. A lot of people look past that, look at the game time and they make it a whole negative story.

“I’m very happy that I came here, I’ve met some wonderful people, the coaches, and hopefully I can just keep developing.

“It (goal) just shows perseverance and the hard work I did behind the scenes on the training pitch every day.

“I just thought, ‘finally’. Obviously it’s been a tough period and just to get that goal was like a sigh of relief.”

England trio Alessia Russo, Keira Walsh and Lauren James were among the winners as the inaugural Women’s Football Awards took place in London on Thursday.

Manchester United forward Russo was named player of the year, while midfielder Walsh, her fellow Euro 2022 winner who joined Barcelona from Manchester City last summer for a world-record fee, took the international player of the year award.

Chelsea forward James and Liverpool midfielder Missy Bo Kearns, both 21, were winners in the young player of the year category.

There were also gongs for two members of the England men’s team, with captain Harry Kane and Declan Rice receiving ally awards, and former England and Arsenal striker Ian Wright was named women’s football champion of the year.

The ceremony, hosted by Eni Aluko and Jamie Carragher, followed more than 20,000 public votes being cast and ratification by a judging panel led by United forward Nikita Parris, Real Madrid midfielder Caroline Weir and Sky Sports News presenter Hayley McQueen.

United, who this season have secured their highest Women’s Super League points haul and Champions League qualification for the first time, as well as making their Women’s FA Cup final debut, were named best club of the year.

Other individuals recognised included former Everton and Liverpool player Fern Whelan, the first women’s football equality, diversity and inclusion executive for the Professional Footballers’ Association, receiving the Off The Pitch award.

Karen Carney, who retired in 2019 with 144 England caps, was honoured with a lifetime achievement award and there was a special recognition award given to Carol Thomas, the captain of the Lionesses team that were runners-up at the first women’s European Championship in 1984.

Aluko, another former player to have won more than 100 England caps, said: “Tonight was a highlight of my career. This was a first for women’s football and a landmark moment for the game. I am so proud to be part of this event.

“For the first time, women’s football has got the recognition it deserved. It is even more special because the public nominated and voted for these awards.

“To see so many amazing footballers, people, organisations and brands recognised for advancing and improving the game we love was phenomenal.”

Manchester United secured qualification for next season’s Champions League as Erik ten Hag’s men roared to a comprehensive 4-1 victory against wasteful Chelsea.

The Dutchman has led the Red Devils to Carabao Cup glory and next month’s FA Cup final during a promising first season that looked certain to end in a top-four finish until a recent wobble.

But Ten Hag has righted the ship and United secured a return to European football’s top table with a game to spare as Casemiro, Anthony Martial, Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford scored against toothless Chelsea.

This was a club record 16th defeat in a 38-match Premier League season for Frank Lampard’s Blues, who saw a bad early Mykhailo Mudryk miss punished by a sixth minute Casemiro header.

Further Chelsea chances went begging across the evening, including the miss by Conor Gallagher in first half stoppage time that was followed by Martial scoring.

Bruno Fernandes’ penalty and substitute Marcus Rashford’s goal – his 30th of the season in all competitions – wrapped up a victory that was only dampened by Antony’s exit on a stretcher and a late Joao Felix consolation.

Ten Hag stuck with the side that beat Bournemouth and took an early lead when Christian Eriksen sent over a free-kick from the left and Casemiro rose high to power a header past statuesque Kepa Arrizabalaga.

The Brazil international punched the air after the goal was given the green light by the VAR after checking for offside.

Things could have been so different had Mudryk – one of Chelsea’s three changes– displayed a modicum of composure two minutes earlier.

With Aaron Wan-Bissaka drawn inside and Antony failing to track Lewis Hall’s run, the winger somehow turned wide after the promising left-back put it on a plate for him.

Play swung from end-to-end and United had a glorious chance to double their advantage when Eriksen put three team-mates through against one defender.

Fernandes’ smart run opened a lane for Antony to play in Martial, but the dithering forward was caught by Cesar Azpilicueta.

It proved Antony’s last impact of note as soon the winger left the field on a stretcher having pulled up in agony during an innocuous-looking coming together.

Rashford replaced him and when play resumed Chelsea were again ruing another wasted chance, with Kai Havertz heading a Hall cross wide.

Fernandes saw penalty claims against Wesley Fofana overlooked and Gallagher bent wide as a helter-skelter half headed towards a conclusion.

The Chelsea midfielder would go closer still in stoppage time. Put behind by Enzo Fernandez’s fine pass, Gallagher dragged across the face of goal.

It proved another costly miss as Casemiro played an exceptional pass through to Jadon Sancho, who delivered a low ball for Martial to turn in at the back post.

That gut punch was nearly followed by another blow with moments of the second half getting under way.

United, who replaced Luke Shaw with Tyrell Malacia, won the ball through Victor Lindelof and Sancho teed up Fernandes to crash a strike off the woodwork.

Like the first half, this was an entertaining back and forth.

De Gea stretched to tip a deflected Mudryk shot behind before the slightest deflection meant Eriksen could not tap in a low Malacia cross. Kepa got back to claw off the line and Casemiro curled the follow-up just wide.

Hall was denied by De Gea, as was Mudryk’s deflected follow-up, and Chelsea saw penalty claims ignored as they looked to reduce the deficit.

But hope of a comeback was ended once and for all in the 73rd minute.

Fofana caught Fernandes with a lazy recovery challenge after being nutmegged by the Portuguese, who stepped up to coolly to convert in front of the Stretford End.

Rashford bent wide as United pushed for a fourth, which he would get in the 79th minute.

Fernandes cut out a lax Fofana pass and teed up the returning forward to put into an empty net after Kepa’s first save only slowed the ball.

Alejandro Garnacho hit the bar and was denied by Kepa either side of a fine Chelsea consolation, with Felix running through the centre and ending a fine solo run with a thumping drive.

A businessman and football club owner convicted of fraudulent trading has lost a civil court fight with a council involved in investigating allegations of mis-selling.

Andy Pilley, owner of League One side Fleetwood and chairman of BES Utilities, had been involved in High Court litigation with Cheshire West and Chester Council.

BES Utilities and a number of other utility firms based in the Fleetwood and Blackpool areas of Lancashire had sued the council.

They made a number of complaints – including an allegation of misfeasance and an allegation that search warrants were obtained unlawfully.

Council bosses denied all allegations and a High Court judge has ruled in their favour.

Mr Justice Freedman has dismissed claims made against the council.

The judge said the case involved  “non-domestic energy suppliers based in Fleetwood/Blackpool, Lancashire” working in the “small to medium-sized enterprise business market”.

He said the litigation concerned “allegations about mis-selling” which had “brought about a criminal investigation”.

Pilley, 52, was found guilty last week of fraudulent trading, fraud by false representation and being involved in the acquisition, retention, use or control of the proceeds of fraudulently mis-sold energy contracts following a trial at Preston Crown Court and will be sentenced on July 3.

Three other people were also convicted.

Mr Justice Freedman had overseen High Court hearings in London in late 2021 but had ruled that his findings could not be revealed until the crown court trial concluded in case jurors were influenced.

The judge released his findings on late on Thursday following the conclusion of that trial.

Pilley has been the chairman and owner of Fleetwood for 20 years and has overseen their rise from non-league status to the English Football League.

Erling Haaland has set his sights on history as Manchester City chase the treble.

The striker remained focused on City’s finals as he collected the Football Writers’ Association’s Footballer of the Year award in London on Thursday.

Haaland has scored 52 goals in 51 games for City – ahead of Sunday’s Premier League finale at Brentford – following his £51million move from Borussia Dortmund last summer.

City face Inter Milan in Istanbul in the Champions League final on June 10, a week after they play Manchester United in the FA Cup final, having already won the Premier League.

They are aiming to emulate their city rivals’ achievement of 1999.

Haaland said: “There are two finals left, we have to stay focused even though we won the Premier League.

“We have to stay focused to achieve what we can achieve in the next two finals. I will do everything I can to achieve good things in the finals and hopefully win both.

“It’s a good thing being favourites (against Inter Milan) because it means we have qualities, we have to attack the game in our way, play our football and in the end we’ll see who wins it.”

Haaland earned 82 per cent of the votes to win the FWA award, 75 years after Sir Stanley Matthews won the first trophy, ahead of Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard.

“I feel good, it’s a special moment,” he added, speaking to the FWA. “I expected to do good things but, to do this, I didn’t expect.”

He has broken the record for the most Premier League goals in a season with 36 as Manchester City wrapped up a third straight title with three games to spare, having trailed Arsenal by eight points at one stage.

“It’s really just about taking it game-by-game, to be honest, and to focus on what we can focus about,” said the 22-year-old.

“I don’t like to focus on the future or the past. I like to live in moment and I like to take it game-by-game – exactly what he (Pep Guardiola) said we were going to do and that’s what we did.

“We focused and we achieved exactly what we wanted to achieve. In then end it’s unreal what we did, being behind all season and we came like a unit together. It was amazing and an amazing feeling.”

Chelsea’s Sam Kerr took the women’s award, making the Australian the first player to win the trophy in consecutive seasons.

The striker scored the winner in Chelsea’s 1-0 FA Cup final triumph over Manchester United earlier this month.

Chelsea, who have a two-point lead over Manchester United, know victory at Reading on Saturday will seal the WSL title on the final day of the season.

Kerr said: “It’s amazing. It’s something that I’m very proud of. Off the back of the Euros women’s football has grown a lot. Walking down the street, the crowds are bigger. Everything’s just increased over the last year.

“I think to some people it might look easy but every year it gets harder and harder (to win the league). Anyone that’s involved in football knows how hard it is to come back year after year and to stay at the top. So we’re doing everything to win on Saturday.”

Chiedozie Ogbene and Alan Browne are facing a race against time to be fit for the Republic of Ireland’s Euro 2024 qualifiers against Greece and Gibraltar next month.

Frontman Ogbene is working his way back from a hamstring injury suffered during Rotherham’s 1-0 Sky Bet Championship win over Middlesbrough on May 1, while Preston midfielder Browne is continuing his rehabilitation from medial ligament damage sustained at QPR on April 7.

Speaking after a four-day training camp with his EFL and League of Ireland-based players in Bristol, manager Stephen Kenny said: “Chiedozie Ogbene had a hamstring tear with Rotherham and hasn’t been able to participate this week, so we’ll have to see how that is. Alan Browne as well, [is] coming back from a medial injury, so these are dilemmas for us.”

Ogbene in particular has become a key member of Kenny’s team – he started the 1-0 defeat by World Cup finalists France at the Aviva Stadium in March as Ireland opened their Group B campaign – while Browne has scored against Belgium, Scotland and Norway in the last year or so.

The squad is due to be finalised next week – Atletico Madrid defender Matt Doherty will join up after his club’s final LaLiga fixture at Villarreal on June 4 – before preparations begin in earnest.

Despite a resilient display against Didier Deschamps’ men, the Republic know they may need to take maximum points from June’s double-header – they face Greece in Athens on Friday, June 16 and Gibraltar in Dublin three days later – if they are to force their way out of a difficult group which also includes the Netherlands.

That, however, may prove easier said than done in the heat of the Greek capital – Ireland will spend nine days training in the Turkish resort of Antalya in a bid to acclimatise – and with the hosts having topped their group in Nations League C.

Kenny said: “Greece are a good team, they won their Nations League group so we’re going to have to really perform to a high level. We need to make sure we are absolutely 100 per cent, and going to Turkey will help us, training in similar conditions, get ourselves ready.

“We go to Athens on the Wednesday and play on the Friday against Greece before we come back and play, and I heard that 42,00 have already been sold for Gibraltar, which is fantastic. It would be great to have a full house there if we could on the Monday night.

“But at the moment, we’re firmly focused on our preparations for that, and I think that will give us a chance, our preparations here, coming to Bristol, going to Turkey.

“Hopefully some of the players can come through some of their injury difficulties and if so, we want to make sure we’re ready.”

Tottenham and England forward Harry Kane reflected on a “special” day after he officially received the Freedom of the City of London on Thursday in a ceremony alongside his family at Guildhall.

One of the City of London’s ancient traditions, the Freedom is believed to have begun in 1237 and enabled recipients to carry out their trade.

England captain and record scorer Kane was awarded the Freedom of the City of London in November for his outstanding sporting achievements but was only now able to receive his certificate in a ceremony alongside wife Kate, his three children and other members of his family.

Chris Hayward, the City Corporation’s policy chairman, and deputy policy chairman Keith Bottomley nominated Kane, who has spent the majority of his playing career in the capital with Tottenham where he is their all-time top scorer.

Reflecting on the day at Guildhall, Kane told the PA news agency: “It was great, really unique and really special in its own way.

“Just a great experience. I have all my family with me today and for them to be in that room with me and see me get the certificate has been amazing.

“I am learning more and more about it as we go on. The ceremony dived into a bit of the history and some of the names before me so it is incredible to be a part of.

“I am extremely grateful to London and what it has given me, the opportunities it has given me. I have been lucky to live here my whole life pretty much.

“I have had a couple of short spells away when I was on loan, but other than that I have been here. To represent not just England but London as well is something I am extremely proud of.

“To receive this award has been an amazing honour for me.”

Kane follows in the footsteps of former England cricketer and World Cup-winning captain Eoin Morgan, who officially received the Freedom of the City of London last year.

Meanwhile, every member of the Lionesses’ squad received the Freedom of the City of London following their winning exploits at Euro 2022.

Spurs forward Kane guided England to the final of the European Championships two years ago and won the golden boot at the World Cup in 2018.

Policy chairman Hayward added: “Harry Kane is an outstanding sportsman and role model for young footballers, having achieved so much before the age of 30.

“Born and raised in London and admired by many millions of followers of the beautiful game – not just in this country, but around the world – it was our pleasure to welcome him and his guests to Guildhall.”

Bottomley said: “I was delighted to support the nomination for Harry Kane’s Freedom, which is richly deserved.

“Harry is, in every sense, at the top of his game and his Freedom goes some way towards expressing our admiration for his tremendous skill on the pitch, and our considerable pride in him.”

LaLiga president Javier Tebas claims with the correct legal framework he can eradicate racism in Spanish football within six months.

The problem has been an issue for some time but hit the headlines on Sunday when Real Madrid winger Vinicius Junior spoke out after being abused at Valencia, saying Spain was a racist country because of “continuous episodes across several cities”, and his club filed a hate crime complaint with the Spanish State Attorney General’s Office.

That prompted a tetchy response to Vinicius on social media from Tebas, for which he subsequently apologised, but after complaining the league’s hands were tied by the country’s law which means LaLiga can currently only identify and report incidents and punishment is rarely handed out, the outspoken president is adamant he can rapidly eliminate the problem.

“What we want is the power to do more things. With the power we are convinced within months this would be solved,” he told a specially-arranged press conference.

“We are going along the legal route and I think in six months’ time this will be at zero and we will be the best league in the world.

“The competencies we want are for those intolerable behaviours – racism, homophobia.”

When challenged on his six-month solution claim, Tebas added: “We have been able to have economic control to stop our clubs gong bankrupt so if we are given the competencies we can put an end to this because it is easier to stop than financial control.

“Tomorrow, a communique will go to the head of government and political parties requesting the law is urgently modified against racism, xenophobia and intolerance and requesting the (Spanish Football) Federation and LaLiga to have competencies.”

Asked why LaLiga had not made such a request before, Tebas said: “That was probably a mistake of ours too but we thought we were making progress in the courts when we made complaints directly.

“We have seen it is not enough and we need greater agility and more speed to solve these problems more quickly.”

In the interim, Tebas said Vinicius would have his full backing should he decide to walk off the pitch in the face of further racist abuse.

“If he feels affected of course I’d encourage him to leave the pitch,” he said.

“He and the whole team could abandon it. That is the decision of the referee but I’d encourage him to leave the pitch – he will be supported by me personally and LaLiga.”

LaLiga has set up dedicated reporting channels, via email and its website, in order to speed up the identification of people who engage in racist behaviour but since the creation of LaLiga’s integrity and security department in 2015, there have only been, according to documentation provided by LaLiga, more than a dozen racist incidents linked to matches reported.

However, LaLiga also lists nine separate incidents relating to Vinicius since December 2020, four of which have been resolved but with only two found to have featured racism, with the clubs involved allowed to issue sanctions themselves.

Tebas denied Spain was a racist country but admitted he was concerned about the league’s worldwide image in the light of the latest accusations, although he did not think it would deter black players from signing for LaLiga clubs.

“If I weren’t concerned I’d be crazy. Of course I am concerned and we will work to find a solution to turn this image around. Spanish football is not racist,” said Tebas, who said he would speak to Vinicius when things had “calmed down” but had contacted sponsors to offer reassurances.

“We think it doesn’t reflect reality. This is unexpected and difficult but something we have to face up to, we can’t just hide and cry in the corner.

“We do protect black sportspeople from any racism. We will continue to protect them from any insults they receive on the field, in their professional career and outside their professional career.”

– Aston Villa have picked up 11 of their 17 league wins this season at Villa Park
– Brighton have won only two of their last five Premier League matches
– Recommended bet: Aston Villa to win at evens with LiveScore Bet

Aston Villa and Brighton have been two of the Premier League’s great overachievers this season and they lock horns on the final day of the campaign at Villa Park.

Fans of Brighton can relax after the Seagulls secured a top-six finish with their 1-1 draw with Manchester City on Wednesday night.  And Aston Villa will join them in European competition next season with victory over Albion on Sunday.

Villa could secure seventh spot, and with it qualification for the Europa Conference League, even if they lose to Brighton as long as both Tottenham and Brentford are also beaten on the final day — and the Villa Park encounter promises to be intriguing.

Team news

Philippe Coutinho, Jed Steer and Alex Moreno are all sidelined for Aston Villa while Calum Chambers and Diego Carlos will be assessed ahead of kick-off.

Brighton will be without Solly March, Jakub Moder, Jeremy Sarmiento and Tariq Lamptey for the visit to Villa Park.

Albion goalkeeper Robert Sanchez is out of favour and his future at the club is uncertain. Adam Lallana is a doubt.

The stats

It has been a case of home is where the heart is for Aston Villa in this season’s Premier League with 11 of their 17 league victories coming at Villa Park.

Unai Emery’s men are also on a good run of form, having picked up seven wins in their last 11 league assignments.

Brighton, meanwhile, have won just two of their last five league games, keeping just one clean sheet in the process and suffering a shock 5-1 defeat at the hands of relegation-threatened Everton.

Prediction

It is a bold move to oppose Brighton given what they have achieved this season but Roberto De Zerbi’s men may understandably take their foot off the gas in their final game of the season.

The Seagulls have already secured a top-six finish for the first time in the club’s history and can look forward to involvement in next season’s Europa League.

For hosts Aston Villa, though, the job is not yet complete and they will be wary of Tottenham and Brentford breathing down their necks.

They have recorded 11 wins at home in this season’s Premier League, sweeping aside fellow top-half sides Brentford, Manchester United, Newcastle and Tottenham on their own patch.

They also took a point off Manchester City at Villa Park and came within minutes of beating second-placed Arsenal, only to concede twice in stoppage time to lose 4-2.

Villa Park is not an easy place to go, even for a well-drilled Brighton team, and the hosts appeal at evens with LiveScore Bet.

Injuries are stacking up for Brighton, who have lost 5-1 at home to Everton and 4-1 at Newcastle in the last month, suggesting a long season, which also saw them reach the FA Cup final, may be taking their toll.

Back Aston Villa to win at evens with LiveScore Bet.

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Stockport boss Dave Challinor always believed his side would be fighting for promotion as the Hatters prepare to face Carlisle in the Sky Bet League Two play-off final.

County are bidding to make it back-to-back promotions on Sunday and booked their place at Wembley after coming from behind to beat Salford 3-1 on penalties after the two sides were locked at 2-2 on aggregate after extra time over two legs.

Challinor took over at Edgeley Park in November 2021, just five months after he guided Hartlepool into League Two and the County boss repeated that feat with his current club – this time finding himself one game away from his first English Football League promotion.

The 47-year-old admitted they suffered a poor start to the season but never stopped believing he could guide the club to successive promotions.

He told a press conference: “The start of this season was tough but we have got over that and we have built.

“Now it’s come up to this point where we have to back ourselves and we all hoped of having the shot of getting into League One because that was our ambition at the start of the season.

“It was a big ambition some would say, now we have the opportunity to take it. Promotion was always the plan, the hope, the ambition and that’s the big thing.”

Stockport ended the season unbeaten in 13 games but narrowly missed out on the automatic promotion places, finishing just four points behind Northampton in third place.

Challinor admits the Wembley stage is a far different atmosphere to many that greet his players on the pitch on a weekly basis in the fourth tier, as around 40,000 fans are expected to descend onto Wembley Way.

He continued: “You can have an impact in front of 10,000 at Edgeley Park, a bigger impact elsewhere in front of 2,000, it’s going to be difficult in front of the Wembley crowd.

“What we do everyday on the grass outside gives us bigger belief and trust that the players are good enough and that’s not going to stop me from wanting to kick a bottle or an advertising board.

“We are in a really strong situation, the fact we have got two players in (Antoni) Sarcevic and (Chris) Hussey that have played in a play-off final, so in terms of that, they can pass on completely different feelings and emotions, and we need to use those experiences in a positive way.”

Striker Paddy Madden has scored 10 league goals this season so far, and was also a part of the side which won promotion to League Two last year.

The 33-year-old made the switch to non-league from League One Fleetwood in the 20-21 season, and Madden insists his move was always based around the vision of the football club when many thought it was for financial reasons only.

He said: “At the time there were a lot of eyebrows raised about dropping down the leagues but I knew what kind of plans were in place here.

“I had the chance to watch a couple of game at Edgeley Park, heard the atmosphere and that played a massive part in me coming here because I knew how well the team was followed.

“We always backed ourselves that we would get into a good position, we are annoyed with ourselves that we did not get top three but at the same time getting promoted through the play-offs is better.”