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Ange Postecoglou confronted angry Tottenham supporters after Thursday's 1-0 defeat at Bournemouth saw them drop to 10th in the Premier League table.

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• Tottenham beaten by Bournemouth
• Supporters clashed with Postecoglou at full-time
• Spurs fans called out for behaviour

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Tottenham suffered their sixth defeat of the 2024-25 Premier League season on Thursday against Bournemouth. After the frustrating loss at the Vitality Stadium, a section of Spurs fans hurled abuse at head coach Postecoglou, who walked across the pitch to confront the angry supporters in the away end and exchanged a heated conversation. One of the insults from the fans was 'Poste-no-clue'.

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• WHAT THE FANS ARE SAYING

  Spurs supporters' behaviour towards their own manager did not go down well with some X users, who called the fanbase 'spoilt' and 'classless'.

  @NjokuOTR wrote on X, "Posto No Clue. Classless fans."

  @nragavan3011 found humour in Spurs fans' behaviour as he wrote, "Postenoclue is objectively funny."

  A user with the handle @g9muskan slammed those digging out Postecoglou and wrote, "Blaming the managers while the club hasn’t won anything since 2008 is comedy gold."

  @lthfcg wrote, "Embarrassing spoilt fans. Not even 18 months in, clear gaps in the squad, & an injury crisis making us even worse. Brain dead fans, all of them."

  Meanwhile, @matthayesthfc wrote, "This is an absolute disgrace. Anyone directing any abuse at this man should be ashamed. Think what you want about his tactics and ability, but he has represented this football club with passion, dignity and respect. The game would be a lot better with more men like him."

  And @iaind93 claimed, "Said it at the time Tottenham was a bad fit for him, never going to win anything there."

• Getty Images Sport
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The former Celtic boss addressed the issue in his post-match press conference: "They're disappointed and rightly so. They gave me some direct feedback, which I've taken on board. I didn't like what was being said because I'm a human being but you've got to cop it.

  "I've been around long enough to know that when things don't go well you've got to understand the frustration and disappointment. And they're rightly disappointed because we let a game of football get away from us. But that's OK. I'm OK with all that. All I can say is I'm really disappointed and I'm determined to get it right and will keep fighting until we do."

  He added: "It comes down to us as a collective being a lot more determined to control a game of football and not let the opposition take control."

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• WHAT NEXT FOR TOTTENHAM?

  Spurs, who have not won a single game since their 4-0 demolition of reigning champions Manchester City, will aim to get back to winning ways on Sunday as they take on an in-form Chelsea side at home.

Chelsea are looking to bolster their squad heading into the 2024/25 Premier League campaign, having finished sixth last season, five points away from a top-four finish, which would have seen them qualify for Champions League football.

New manager Enzo Maresca has already been equipped with reinforcements, such as Leicester City POTY Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Tosin Adarabioyo, Marc Guiu, Caleb Wiley, Renato Veiga, and Omari Kellyman.

But Chelsea could still have further changes to their squad, with links circulating of adding another striker and potentially a left-winger to the mix, as well as some potential outgoings.

Chelsea transfer news

According to reports from Football Insider earlier this month, Chelsea are among the clubs keeping tabs on Crystal Palace star, Eberechi Eze, who is also attracting attention from Liverpool, Manchester City, Arsenal, Tottenham, and Manchester United.

The reports state Eze has a £60m release clause in his contract at Palace, but it does include some 'complications' such as a clause dependent on whether the buying club is in the Champions League or not.

Eze made 31 appearances for Crystal Palace last season in all competitions, scoring 11 goals, providing six assists, and totalling 2,285 minutes of football.

Why Eze could thrive with Osimhen

By adding the creativity of Eze to the clinical finishing of Victor Osimhen – who could be on his way to west London this summer – you could have a recipe for success.

Osimhen made 32 appearances for Napoli last season, scoring 17 goals and providing four assists. The season prior, he managed 31 goals and five assists, showing his reliability at putting the ball in the back of the net.

A massive factor in Osimhen's success at Napoli, was playmaker and partner in crime, Kvicha Kvaratskhelia. The Georgia international managed nine assists in the 2023/24 season, and 17 in the 2022/23 season, showing his importance for chance creation.

It is then noteworthy that Eze is viewed as a similar player to Kvaratskhelia, according to FBref, thus ensuring that the Englishman could be Osimhen's new dream partner at Stamford Bridge.

Stats (per 90 mins)

Eze

Kvaratskhelia

Assists

0.18

0.19

Shot-Creating Actions

4.82

5.21

Progressive Passes

4.07

3.22

Key Passes

2.37

2.17

Passes into Penalty Area

1.97

1.30

Successful Take-Ons

3.02

3.44

Described as "mesmerising" by Palace teammate Joel Ward, Eze is highly praised for his ability on the ball, and the way he "glides over the pitch". His 3.02 successful take-ons per 90 highlight his ability to carry the ball, mixed with his 2.37 key passes per 90 – showing his end product doesn't lack.

Although Eze ranks marginally below Kvaratskhelia for assists per 90, averaging 0.18, to the Georgian's 0.19, the creative numbers such as progressive passes, key passes and passes into the penalty area all rank higher, showing the potential to strike a similar dynamic for the lethal Osimhen.

Pairing the creative passing and chance creation of Eze, with the 3.73 shots per 90, and 0.52 Non-Penalty goals per 90 of Osimhen, could be a recipe for plenty of goals in Chelsea blue.

Pairing Eze with Osimhen could also unlock even more for the 26-year-old Palace star, with extra attention being paid to the Nigerian striker, it would give Eze even more space to operate, and perhaps even unlock further his goal threat.

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Chelsea continue to hunt for clinical striker option

ByConnor Holden Jul 30, 2024

في ظل الشائعات المتداولة مؤخراً حول إمكانية رحيله عن منصبه، خرج خالد العيسى، رئيس النادي الأهلي السعودي، بتصريحات إعلامية حاسمة ليضع حداً لهذه التكهنات، حيث أكد العيسى بقاءه في اللجنة التي تدير النادي، نافياً بذلك صحة الأنباء التي تحدثت عن قرب رحيله.

نقلت صحيفة “الميدان الرياضي” تصريحات العيسى التي جاء فيها: “أنا ما زلت موجودًا باللجنة، وأكنّ كل الاحترام للجميع”، بهذه الكلمات، أكد العيسى استمراره في منصبه كرئيس للنادي، مبدداً بذلك الشكوك التي أثيرت حول مستقبله مع الفريق.

وفي سياق حديثه، انتقد العيسى بشدة ما وصفه بـ “حب الظهور وحب التصدّر على حساب النادي الأهلي من خلال التغريدات أو الأخبار المتداولة”، وأضاف: “أنا لست من أنصار التسريبات”، بهذه التصريحات، عبّر العيسى عن استيائه من تداول الأخبار غير الدقيقة والشائعات التي قد تؤثر سلباً على استقرار النادي، وشدد على أهمية العمل الجماعي والتركيز على مصلحة النادي بدلاً من البحث عن الشهرة أو التصدّر الإعلامي.

طالع أيضًا | وكيل فيرمينو يوضح لـ”بطولات” حقيقة انتقاله إلى الزمالك في ميركاتو يناير

يُذكر أن النادي الأهلي حقق فوزاً مهماً على نادي الشباب بنتيجة ثلاثة أهداف مقابل هدفين، في المباراة التي جمعت الفريقين ضمن منافسات الجولة الرابعة عشرة من مسابقة الدوري السعودي للمحترفين، وأقيمت المباراة على أرضية ملعب الجوهرة المشعة، وشهدت أداءً قوياً من كلا الفريقين.

بفضل هذا الفوز، رفع النادي الأهلي رصيده إلى 26 نقطة، ليحتل بذلك المركز الخامس في جدول ترتيب مسابقة دوري روشن للمحترفين. هذا الفوز يُعتبر دافعاً معنوياً مهماً للفريق لمواصلة المنافسة والتقدم في سلم الترتيب.

Indians 8 for 237 (Rahane 108*, Pujara 54) vs Australia AAjinkya Rahane, who is set to take over as captain from Virat Kohli in a few weeks, made the ideal start to his tour of with a superbly constructed hundred on the opening day against a demanding Australia A attack for which James Pattinson, in his first red-ball outing for nearly a year, put in a performance to suggest he would be ready for the Test side if needed.Overall, it was a mixed outing with the bat for the Indians, Rahane’s fine century and Cheteshwar Pujara’s obdurate fifty balanced against three ducks in the top six. Pattinson, who is actually an incumbent player having faced New Zealand at the SCG in January when Josh Hazlewood was injured, finished with 3 for 58 including the scalp of Pujara for a 140-ball 54.The Indians, for whom this was the first multi-day match for all of them since March, recovered from 3 for 40 and 6 for 128 through the efforts of Rahane, who brought up his hundred from 203 deliveries, helped by contrasting lower-order contributions from Kuldeep Yadav and Umesh Yadav, the latter somewhat denting Pattinson’s figures.The other standout feature of Australia A’s bowling display was the eight overs sent down by Cameron Green across two spells. Generating good pace and carry on a pitch that offered encouraging bounce, he caused problems to the Indian batsmen.Rahane won the toss and batted in the first of two warm-up matches, the second under lights at the SCG starting Friday, as a decent smattering of spectators gathered on the grass banks outside the ground. However, the openers did not last long. Shubman Gill fell first ball he faced, to Michael Neser, getting an inside edge onto his pads which looped to the slips. In the next over, Prithvi Shaw edged a rapid outswinger from Pattinson.Pujara and Hanuma Vihari negotiated the remainder of the opening spells, but Australia A’s phalanx of pacemen – there was no specialist spinner included the XI with Mitchell Swepson having moved to the T20I squad – maintained the pressure, particularly Green whose first four overs cost just four runs as it hit a challenging length outside off. Tim Paine was regularly taking deliveries on the rise, although it remains to be seen when this is the case in Test cricket.Jackson Bird broke through when he pinned Vihari lbw although there may have been some doubt over the decision and at lunch, the Indians sat on an uneasy 3 for 65.A large part of the afternoon session saw Pujara and Rahane steady the innings with a stand of 76 in 28 overs. Pujara’s innings was an early reminder of how he was the rock behind India’s series win here two years ago during which he made 521 and wore the Australian attack down.Playing his first competitive cricket since March, he was the soon back into his bubble (the batting variety, rather than the biosecure variety) and at one stage went 27 deliveries between scoring shots, a sequence that was ended by an inside edge to the leg side.His half-century arrived from 129 balls, via a brace of overthrows, before a dismissal that may become a large part of Australia’s plans for the Test series as he turned a delivery off his pads and was well caught, low down, at leg gully by Marcus Harris. It was very similar to the way Australia removed him in the second innings of the MCG Test in 2018, when he flicked Pat Cummins around the corner for a duck – albeit with India miles ahead in the game and sandwiched between scores of 106 and 193.The Indians then slipped again as Wriddhiman Saha, who suffered a hamstring injury in the latter stages of the IPL, was given lbw in captain Head’s first over although it looked a rough decision. R Ashwin was then pinned by a full, fast delivery from Pattinson as the Indians lost 3 for 12 before tea.Although he was beaten on occasions, Rahane’s game looked in very good order with some of his drives especially pleasing on the eye. His most expansive moment was when he went to his fifty with an upper cut for six off Pattinson during the early stages of a stand with Kuldeep which frustrated Australia A’s attempts for swift mopping up of the tail.Rahane cashed in against the old ball, relative to the general pace of scoring through the day on a surface that rarely allowed the batsmen to break free. When the new ball was taken, he moved to 98 with a glide through the slips before a brace into the covers brought the hundred. For a man who will have a vital part to play in the series, it was the ideal performance to set up the tour.

Following a debut Premier League campaign full of ups and downs for Ange Postecoglou last season, it looks set to be an incredibly important summer of transfer activity for Tottenham Hotspur.

Daniel Levy and Co have already brought in the incredibly exciting Leeds United wonderkid, Archie Gray, but to make a real charge up the table in 2024/25, the club must bring in players who can fight for a place in the first-team today.

So it's good news for fans that the latest name touted for a move to N17 is an incredibly talented attacker and someone who could be unreal alongside club captain Son Heung-min.

Tottenham Hotspur transfer news

According to a recent report from transfers expert Fabrizio Romano on his Playback live show, Tottenham have placed Wolverhampton Wanderers' Pedro Neto back on their shortlist of transfer targets this summer.

Romano claims the Lilywhites are concerned about the winger's injury history, but he is still a player they "appreciate" ahead of a busy couple of months.

The Italian makes no mention of a potential price or other interested parties, but a report from Football Transfers late last month claimed that Wolves have reduced their asking price to around £43m and that Spurs' North London rivals Arsenal are also keen on the Portuguese international.

It could be a complicated deal to get over the line, but with the new lower price and his impressive performances in the Premier League, Neto is a player Spurs cannot miss out on, especially as he could form a brilliant partnership with Son.

Why Neto would be a great signing

Now, the primary reason Neto would be an excellent signing for Spurs is rather straightforward: his output.

In 24 appearances last season, the 24-year-old dynamo scored three goals and provided 11 assists, meaning he averaged a goal involvement every 1.71 games for the Old Gold.

Moreover, according to FBref, which compares players in similar positions across Europe's top five leagues, the dynamic "monster", as dubbed by data analyst Ben Mattinson, sits in the top 1% of wingers and attacking midfielders for assists and the top 4% for progressive carries, both per 90.

Appearances

24

Minutes

1729'

Goals

3

Assists

11

Goal Involvements per Match

0.58

Minutes per Goal Involvement

123.5'

This level of attacking threat would not only see the Portuguese international himself rack up plenty of goals and assists, but it would also work in Son's favour.

The South Korean international was far and away the Lilywhites' most productive attacker last season, as he racked up 27 goals and assists in just 36 games and was the only player in the squad to register over 20 goals and assists.

If the former Bayer Leverkusen had a teammate as effective as the Old Gold star on the opposite wing to him occupying opposition defenders, then he would likely be afforded that little bit more room than he was last season and, in turn, start to slowly improve his already outstanding attacking return.

Likewise, with the Chuncheon-born superstar on the left, the dynamic rightwinger might see his numbers improve as he also ceases to be the primary player opposing teams look to mark out of the game.

With all that said, Neto's injury record is undoubtedly a worry, but if Levy and Co can bring him to North London this summer and keep Dejan Kulusevski and Brennan Johnson in the side as well, then there would be no need to play him in every game, and all three wingers could get the required rest to be fit all year round.

Ultimately, there is an element of risk in all signings, and while that might be slightly more true in the case of Neto, his performances on the pitch make it a risk worth taking, especially if he can help Son get even better as well.

Offer made: Spurs make move to sign "monster" Porro rival

The promising up-and-comer looks like the complete package.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jul 2, 2024

The Gunners showed fight in the second half but it wasn't enough as their manager suffered another damaging defeat, with Ramirez the primary tormentor

Was that Jonas Eidevall's final game in charge of Arsenal? The Gunners suffered a 2-1 defeat to Chelsea on Saturday which leaves them with just five points from their first four Women's Super League fixtures. It's a division which has only twice been won by teams that have dropped more than 10 points across an entire campaign. After draws with Manchester City and Everton, and now this loss, the Gunners' total already sits at seven. Their title hopes have already taken an almighty hit.

It was an even more damaging result because of the 5-2 thrashing Arsenal suffered at the hands of Bayern Munich on Wednesday night. There are still five Champions League group-stage games remaining for Eidevall's side to sort things out in Europe and progress to the last 16, but the defending was truly atrocious and only continued into the weekend. There were just four minutes on the clock on Saturday when Arsenal conceded from yet another set piece, while the lack of communication, organisation and marking for Chelsea's second further highlighted the problems at the back.

However, though at 2-0 it felt like the Gunners were on their way to another thrashing and Eidevall's future would be seriously in doubt come full-time, the response from the players was positive. Caitlin Foord's goal just before half-time was important and the valiant second-half display saw the hosts show real fight, only denied a point by the crossbar in the end. That spirited fight back may not have earned them a result, but it may have bought Eidevall some time.

In the opposing dugout, Sonia Bompastor won't have been happy with the game management from her players. There will have surely been a feeling of relief when the full-time whistle went, as Chelsea were really on the ropes in those latter stages. But a win is a win – and that is all Bompastor has known since she joined the club, replacing iconic coach Emma Hayes in the summer. Five games into her time with the Blues, she has five victories to show for it, with this the biggest one yet as the WSL champions pursue a sixth successive league title.

GOAL breaks down the winners & losers from the Emirates Stadium…

Getty Images SportLOSER: Jonas Eidevall

Arsenal haven't won the league for five years and after this start to the new season, it seems likely that the wait to be crowned champions of England again will only continue. The question is, will the club opt to make a change in the dugout in their bid to return to the very top of the domestic game?

Eidevall joined the Gunners in 2021 and things started well, with a strong title challenge. However, the past two seasons have seen Arsenal fall away before the race at the top has really heated up, only able to finish third on both occasions. The pressure has been somewhat eased by two League Cup triumphs, though added to by elimination in Champions League qualifying last year.

All associated with Arsenal want to win the league, something Eidevall himself said was the aim before the season began. But the same issues are costing them from achieving as much. So, has the valiant fightback on Saturday earned him more time to fix these problems? Or will this result be the straw that breaks the camel's back? We'll soon find out.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportWINNER: Kadeisha Buchanan

When Kadeisha Buchanan arrived at Chelsea, she did so as one of the best defenders in the world. Her performances at Lyon helped her rack up five Champions League titles, while her form on the international stage was crucial as Canada won Olympic gold in 2021.

She's not really hit those heights in her two years in England so far, something Hayes said last season that Buchanan herself was aware of. So far this season, though, we are seeing her top level again.

The centre-back was great in the 1-0 win over Aston Villa on the opening day – and outstanding at the Emirates. She was like a magnet for the ball, always in the right place to make a crucial block, tackle or clearance. If she can continue in this manner, Buchanan could be a huge player for Chelsea this year.

Getty Images SportLOSER: Leah Williamson

It's not been an easy start to the season for Leah Williamson, who has only recently come back from a concussion. Perhaps that absence contributed to an uncharacteristically bad display on Saturday. The Lionesses captain was up against a dominant Mayra Ramirez and the sheer quality of the Chelsea striker certainly played a part, as she can make even the very best defenders look poor. However, Williamson looked totally out of sorts in a myriad of ways in a calamity of a defensive display from the Gunners in the first half.

There was a moment in that opening 45 minutes when Williamson was chasing Ramirez down the right wing and she appealed that the ball had gone out of play for an Arsenal throw. It looked clearly in to everyone else – including the officials – but the defender slowed her chase of her opponent to question that decision. It was a surprising sight to see such a top defender ignoring the number one rule for any footballer, to play to the whistle, but a moment that also showed how out of character this performance was from Williamson.

For Arsenal to improve on defending that has been awful lately, they need her on top form. In that sense, they'll hope this was a one-off.

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Getty Images SportWINNER: Mayra Ramirez

Is there a more complete centre forward in the women's game than Ramirez? She's strong, able to bounce off defenders with ease, just as she did with Fox before scoring Chelsea's opener. She's deceptively quick, able to power away from opponents in a flash to either get in behind or get her team on the attack. She's incredibly skillful, as the improvised nature of her goal showed. She's also very intelligent in her movement off the ball, which allowed her to have so many good moments on Saturday.

Ramirez has real competition for her place in this Chelsea team. Aggie Beever-Jones has been in fantastic form and is earning opportunities as a result, while Sam Kerr and Mia Fishel will be back in the New Year. But if the Colombian continues to perform like this, Bompastor would struggle to bench her.

أدلى مهاجم فريق مانشستر سيتي، إيرلينج هالاند، بتصريحات صحفية بعد هزيمة فريقه أمام أستون فيلا في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

وخسر مانشستر سيتي أمام خصمه أستون فيلا بهدفين مقابل هدف، ضمن منافسات الجولة السابعة عشر من الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، على ملعب “فيلا بارك”.

وبهذه النتيجة، ارتفع رصيد أستون فيلا إلى النقطة 28 في المركز الخامس في ترتيب الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، بينما تجمد رصيد مانشستر سيتي عند النقطة 27 في المركز السادس.

اقرأ أيضاً.. صورة | جوارديولا يقبل رأس لاعبي مانشستر سيتي بعد الهزيمة أمام أستون فيلا

وقال هالاند في تصريحات لـ”TNT SPORTS”: “بالطبع نشعر بخيبة أمل، هذا ليس جيدًا بما فيه الكفاية مني”.

وعن أستون فيلا: “إنهم لاعبون جيدون، من الصعب القدوم إلى هنا، لكننا مانشستر سيتي ويجب أن نكون هناك، يتعين علينا الاستمرار، ويتعين علينا أن نؤمن بقدراتنا وأن نواصل العمل الجاد”.

وأضاف: “علينا أن نستمر، أولاً، أنظر إلى نفسي، لم أكن أؤدي بشكل جيد بما فيه الكفاية، لم أستغل الفرص التي أتيحت لي، علي أن أتحسن، لم أكن جيدًا بما فيه الكفاية”.

وتابع: “عن مستويات الثقة، بالطبع ليست الأفضل، نحن نعلم مدى أهمية الثقة ويمكنك أن ترى أنها تؤثر على كل إنسان، هكذا هو الحال، علينا أن نستمر ونبقى إيجابيين حتى لو كان الأمر صعبًا”.

وعن بيب جوارديولا: “لقد فاز بالدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز ست مرات في سبع سنوات، لذلك لن ننسى ذلك أبدًا، سيجد الحلول، لقد كان يفعل ذلك كل عام، ما زلنا نؤمن به، وعلينا أن نعمل بجدية أكبر من أي وقت مضى”.

وبشأن ما قاله له جوارديولا في النفق: “إنها تفاصيل صغيرة، لا أتذكرها الآن، أعتقد أننا خسرنا للتو مباراة أخرى، لا أتذكر ولكن ربما كانت بعض التعليمات الصغيرة للقيام بالأمور بشكل أفضل”.

Ange Postecoglou is surprised to see criticism over his 'always win things in second year' comment after derby defeat.

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Postecoglou's comment drew criticismAustralian claimed he said the truthSpurs went down 1-0 in North London derbyFollow GOAL's official WhatsApp channel!Join nowWHAT HAPPENED?

Postecoglou's Tottenham Hotspur are off to a disappointing start in the 2024/25 campaign having secured just four points from as many games in the Premier League. Last Sunday, Spurs suffered a 1-0 defeat against arch-rivals Arsenal in the North London derby which sent the club down to the 13th position on the league table.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE

After the derby loss, the Australian manager told Sky Sports, "I'll correct myself – I don't usually win things, I always win things in my second year. Nothing's changed." The remark has not gone down well with the fanbase who criticised the coach for the arrogant comment right after a defeat at the hands of their fierce rivals.

WHAT ANGE POSTECOGLOU SAID

On Tuesday, while addressing the media in a pre-match press conference, the Spurs boss defended his remark as he said, "It's amazing, isn't it? I just stated a fact. Am I supposed to just lie or just say it never happened? But do you really think it's me sort of boasting? It's just confusing to me that people are making a big deal out of something. I'm not sure how I'm supposed to answer something that is true. I've just said something that's true, and it seems like it's upset a lot of people for some reason."

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR TOTTENHAM?

The Lilywhites will now aim to get back to winning ways as they take on Championship side Coventry City in round three of the EFL Cup on Wednesday.

Dawid Malan was unbeaten on 50 as Yorkshire closed three down and needing 68 more for victory

Paul Edwards at Chester-le-Street03-Aug-2020
Sometimes the incomparable game reaches back into its rich past even as it charms us with its dynamic present. Should the forecast be correct this match may yet be curtailed by the weather. Yorkshire need 68 runs to win, Durham require seven wickets, yet the threat of rain means any result is possible in a contest that has recalled treasured dynasties.Cricket, you see, has its simple lists and its honourable lineages. Bowling fast and opening the batting for Yorkshire are among the latter. Bill Bowes, Fred Trueman and Darren Gough are just three of those who have taken the new ball for the White Rose while Herbert Sutcliffe, Leonard Hutton and Geoffrey Boycott all opened their county’s innings. All six cricketers performed their skills with much honour for England on very many occasions. And there were seasons when Halifax-born batsman Alex Lees seemed destined to follow in their line. For had not those mighty prophets Boycott and Bird assured us it would be so?Such years have now been consigned to the Elder Days. Lees left Yorkshire nearly two years ago, having fallen out of favour with the club’s management. There were even days when it seemed he didn’t much like the game itself. So neutrals were pleased to see him make a success of his move to Durham while Yorkshire supporters could be reassured that since his new team was in the second division there was little immediate chance of him playing against their county in proper cricket.That, though, was before Covid-19 and the inception of the Bob Willis Trophy. No one foresaw that Lees might do anything so dastardly as to make a century against Yorkshire, something he accomplished early on this third afternoon at the Riverside when he nudged Harry Brook backward of square for two runs on the off side. It was his 16th first-class hundred, a dozen of which have been scored for the county of his birth.So maybe it was thought fitting that Lees’ innings should be ended – and the match changed utterly – by York’s Matthew Fisher, who still has a career bubbling with promise despite the injuries that have haunted him in recent seasons. When Fisher took the new ball ten overs after lunch Durham were 215 for 3 and were digging themselves out of trouble. Their 96-run first-innings deficit had been cleared and Lees was unbeaten on exactly 100.Immediately, though, Fisher achieved prodigious swing, even on a warm afternoon unthreatened by cloud. Lees thin-edged his first ball to fine leg for four and had collected two more runs before the sixth delivery swung in, brushed his pad and sent the off stump sprawling.Fisher was merely warming to his task. Four overs later he produced what may be seen as one of the balls of the season: a ferocious inswinging yorker which not only removed Jack Burnham’s middle and leg stump but even succeeded in knocking the hapless batsman off his feet as he sought to play or avoid it. Two balls later Durham’s newly appointed skipper, Ned Eckersley, played sloppily across the line and was leg before. In the next over Paul Coughlin departed in similar fashion although not as culpably. Fisher had taken four wickets in 19 balls.Durham’s batsmen were allowed no respite. Jordan Thompson, a Loiner, replaced Fisher at the Finchale End and immediately dismissed both Ben Raine and Matthew Potts, who might have fared just as well had they been batting with a stick of tusky. Chris Rushworth joined Gareth Harte and the pair added 27 with a mixture of useful thumps and alert running. Durham’s lead was 170 when Steve Patterson completed the collapse by trapping Rushworth leg before. Less than two hours earlier he had begun it when he removed David Bedingham in like fashion for 77 four overs before the new ball became available. That wicket brought to an end the South African’s 136-run stand with Lees; more significantly it began a tumble that saw Durham lose their last eight wickets for 59 runs, and 6 for 18 before the last-wicket merriment.Yorkshire now needed 171 to win but fortunately we had an interval before the game’s final innings began. Dishes of tea were taken and chatty reports about the arrival of the soon-to-be ermined Lord Botham of Somewhere-or-Other were discarded. Wits were gathered and then immediately puréed as Rushworth rumbled in from the Lumley End and had both Adam Lyth and Will Fraine leg before in the first five overs of Yorkshire’s innings. At that point supporters of the away team watching events on the live stream may have decided that something stronger than tea was required.Dawid Malan and Tom Kohler-Cadmore calmed matters with a stand of 52 but Rushworth switched to the Finchale End and Kohler-Cadmore became the 14th batsman in this match to fall leg before. He was on his front foot but Graham Lloyd’s decision looked fair enough. That was Rushworth’s 500th first-class wicket in a fine career and his team-mates gave him a round of applause which was rather more enthusiastic than the one Lees had been afforded by his former colleagues. That was understandable enough, of course, although Patterson, a decent fellow at the worst of times, patted the opener on the back when he was out. Come to think of it, Yorkshire’s other cricketers may simply have been rubbing sanitiser into their hands.Durham pressed for further wickets in the soft evening sunlight and Malan was dropped on by Sean Dickson at first slip off Ben Raine when he was on 32 when Yorkshire needed a further 96. We then wondered if eight overs might be added to the day’s allocation but the umpires decided we had seen enough. Malan will resume on 50 after reaching his first half-century for Yorkshire in the final over of the day. His only contribution to the third morning had been to negotiate an obstacle course and retrieve the ball from a stand into which it had been hit by Bedingham. One imagines the former Middlesex batsman rarely had to perform such vulgar tasks when he worked at Lord’s but he may have something more useful to do on the fourth morning of this fine match.

MatériaMais Notícias

Após a derrota por 2 a 1 para o CRB, no Rei Pelé, em jogo válido pela décima rodada da Série B, o Botafogo tem, pelo menos, uma boa notícia. Um exame de imagem realizado na madrugada desta quarta-feira não constatou fratura em Ronald. O atacante havia entrado no jogo aos 31 minutos da etapa final, mas teve que deixar o gramado menos de cinco minutos depois, porque levou a pior em uma dividida.

> ATUAÇÕES: Rafael Navarro ‘briga’ pelo gol e recebe a maior nota do Botafogo

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O Botafogo ainda informou que tanto Ronald, quanto Chay farão exame de ressonância magnética durante os próximos dias, assim que a delegação retornar ao Rio de Janeiro.

> Veja a tabela da Série B

Com a demora para a entrada de uma maca, inclusive, Ronald saiu carregado de campo. Primeiro, com a ajuda de jogadores do CRB. Depois, Lucas Mezenga e Matheus Frizzo, que estavam no banco do Alvinegro, o levaram para ser tratado no canto do gramado.

O Botafogo volta a campo no próximo sábado, quando enfrenta o Cruzeiro, no Nilton Santos, às 16h30, em partida válida pela 11ª rodada da Série B do Brasileirão.