Handscomb, Glenn Maxwell and Nic Maddinson all made starts in their chase of 322, but they fell short by 65 runs
ESPNcricinfo staff19-Sep-2018 Getty ImagesA volcanic century by Matthew Wade in an opening stand of 170 with Ben McDermott set Tasmania on the path to a match-winning total against Victoria in the domestic limited-overs match in Townsville.Wade’s 117 from 74 balls featured six sixes and included particularly severe punishment of the sometime international paceman Chris Tremain. His partnership with McDermott, who made a relatively sedate 56 in a supporting role, occupied a mere 22.5 overs, but ensured a mighty Tasmanian total even if Victoria’s bowlers recovered.This they did, restricting the rest of the Tigers’ batting line-up to 8 for 151 from the remaining 27.1 overs of the innings, notwithstanding swift cameos from George Bailey and Simon Milenko, but the final tally was still steep. The youthful Victorian pair of Will Sutherland and Tom O’Connell both bowled serviceably for their captain Peter Handscomb.The Victorian chase began promisingly via an opening stand of 72 between Marcus Harris and Seb Gotch, but neither batsman would be able to go on to the score managed earlier by Wade. Tasmania were duly able to make regular breakthroughs as the required run rate steadily climbed, largely through the bustling seam of Tom Rogers.Handscomb, Glenn Maxwell and Nic Maddinson all made starts, but were confounded by Rogers and also the left-arm spin of the former Victorian Clive Rose, who in taking 4-42 delivered the best figures of his domestic 50-over career.
Wolverhampton Wanderers are back in action this evening, as Gary O’Neil’s in-form side host high-flying Newcastle United at Molineux in match day ten of the Premier League.
After a trialling summer, the Old Gold seem to have finally found their rhythm under O’Neil, with the Midlands side currently unbeaten in their previous four league games.
While confidence is high, Wolves face a huge battle this evening, as the Geordies arrive also in fine form, joining O’Neil’s side as also being unbeaten in their last four in the league.
Wolves team news vs Newcastle United
Last time out, Wolves were tested by Bournemouth, a test that they passed late into the game as Sasa Kalajdzic claimed the winner just two minutes from time at the Vitality Stadium in a 2-1 victory.
A goal early into the second-half from Matheus Cunha got the ball rolling for the Old Gold, and while neither usual culprits Hee-Chan Hwang nor Pedro Neto were on the scoresheet, both players claimed an assist to continue their fine form.
While the two forwards are crucial to keeping the side ticking in the final third, a key element to O’Neil’s setup was missing, as Mario Lemina faced suspension after receiving two yellow cards against Aston Villa.
Luckily for this evening’s hosts, the Gabonese ace is back in contention to start against Newcastle, along with Nelson Semedo who also missed the previous fixture due to suspension.
On the injury front, it’s been revealed that Joe Hodge is looking to be out of action for eight weeks after having surgery on a shoulder issue, while Jean-Ricner Bellegarde continues to nurse a calf problem.
The timing of Lemina’s return is pivotal for Wolves’ chances against Newcastle, as the Magpies pose a huge threat in midfield, a threat that could be controlled by the 30-year-old battler.
The stats that show why Mario Lemina must start against Newcastle United
When taking a look into Wolves’ squad, the numbers highlight that Lemina is O’Neil’s best-performing midfielder when it comes to tackles and interceptions in the Premier League.
The Gabon international averages 2.5 tackles and 2.1 interceptions per game this season in the league, reinforcing just how important he is to limiting the threat in the middle of the park as the ex-Southampton titan can constantly break up opposition attacks.
On the other side, Newcastle boast some stellar talent capable of building play from midfield, particularly through Brazilian duo Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton.
Last season, Joelinton ranked in the top 6% of midfielders in the Premier League for his average of 1.79 successful take-ons per 90, highlighting his proficiency in possession and transitioning play upfield.
Similar strengths are found in Guimaraes’ playing style, where this term he’s averaging 1.52 successful take-ons per 90, as well as showcasing an impressive level of progressive distribution through his 1.52 key passes and 6.99 progressive passes per 90, via FBref.
For all the danger that Eddie Howe’s duo can exploit, Lemina is the best-suited player to answer their questions, as highlighted in the table below.
Mario Lemina 2023/24 Premier League
Statistic
Average
Tackles
2.55
Interceptions
2.17
Clearances
2.42
Passes blocked
0.38
Ball recoveries
6.63
Per 90 figures via FBref
Once lauded as “unbelievable” by analyst and scout Umir, the 30-year-old talent’s return could pose to be crucial to Wolves’ hopes of beating Newcastle, with his presence in the midfield incomparable to any of O’Neil’s other options.
Molineux has already seen Wolves slay Manchester City this season, with the hope there that the squad can overcome this evening’s challenge as the Geordies pay a visit.
Tottenham Hotspur extended their winning run in the Premier League to four matches with victory over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, maintaining their lead at the top of the table.
The meteoric rise under Ange Postecoglou's stewardship has been nothing short of exemplary, and against the Eagles, while not at their best, Spurs got the job done and brandished their title-winning credentials after securing a 2-1 victory.
Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou.
Whereby last season only brought misery and a fourth managerial dismissal in as many years following Antonio Conte's sacking in March, there is now a tangible possibility that silverware – a premium so agonisingly out of reach for so long at Tottenham – could be gleaned.
Spurs' win against Roy Hodgson's side means that eight victories have been collected from ten Premier League matches, having drawn the opener away to Brentford and again against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.
Tottenham's performance vs Crystal Palace
Palace were resilient and looked to stifle the away side's attacking verve through a cohesive, collective understanding of the match plan, and while they held their shape well for the lion's share of the first 45 minutes, the tactical tweaks in the second half swayed the odds in Spurs' favour.
Indeed, after a drab opening half, the away side knuckled down and started to thread their plan together, with James Maddison warming after an ineffective first 45 and Postecoglou's substitutions working well.
Ben Davies earned his first Premier League start of the campaign in the absence of Destiny Udogie, but the 30-year-old stalwart was hooked during the break and replaced by the more energetic Emerson Royal, who was in the thick of the action and actively progressed the play.
Maddison's whipped delivery, forcing an own goal, put the Lilywhites in the driving seat shortly after the break while Heung-min Son's eighth goal in seven Premier League matches confirmed that three points would be returning to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
With another win in the bag, Tottenham's manager praised the "disciplined" performance, and it was indeed the kind of composed and controlled display that was often elusively out of reach last term, as the north London club slumped to an eighth-placed league finish and conceded a staggering 63 goals.
Postecoglou deserves all the plaudits for the transformative effect that he has instilled, but there is little doubt that the signings made across the summer have been nothing short of superlative, with the likes of Maddison, Micky van de Ven and goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario steering the ship on course.
James Maddison was "superb" again
Maddison, of course, has been the standout so far since joining from Leicester City for £40m in the summer, having scored ten goals and supplied nine assists in the English top flight despite only starting 28 times as his outfit plummeted into the Championship.
This term, he has already posted three goals and five assists from the opening ten games of the Premier League term, winning August's Player of the Month award, and while he did not add to his tally at Selhurst Park, he was once more at the centre of the success.
Hailed for his "superb" link-up play by football.london's Alasdair Gold, the England international warmed into his role in the second half, and after forcing Joel Ward to turn into his own net, he served reliably as the conduit, ensuring his teammates had apt supplementation.
Metric
#
Minutes played
89
Touches
57
Pass completion
31/16 (86%)
Key passes
2
Ground duels won
4
Dribble attempts
1/3 (33%)
Tackles
1
Clearances
1
It was by no means his most impressive display for the club, but it is an illustration of how consistent his performances have been since the summer, and as Spurs march on, he will continue to serve as the centrepiece.
Maddison is the obvious player to shower effusive words upon, but it was the performance of Pape Sarr that perhaps went under the radar despite exhibiting the sheer collective value of this newly-vitalised team.
Pape Sarr is Postecoglou's true hero
Sarr, aged 21, moved to Tottenham from Metz in a £15m deal in 2021 but returned to the French side on a season-long loan, and while he sat on the periphery last season, he is now very much at the core of the midfield.
Praised for his “unbelievable” performance by scout Lee Mayes, who remarked at how well he "ran the whole midfield", the Senegalese starlet took 92 touches and completed 89% of his passes – very much omnipresent in his duties.
Making two interceptions and clearances apiece and succeeding with his one dribble, he was everywhere on that pitch and played a big part in both of Tottenham's goals, with Gold among those waxing lyrical after the match.
Gold said: "Forgot to mention Pape Matar Sarr, who was terrific again. Never stopped running, providing an outlet and using the ball well on the whole. Played a big part in the second goal and still mad to think he's only 21. He's only going to get better and better under Postecoglou."
Against Crystal Palace, he demonstrated a maturity and energy that evades all but the select few midfielders who sit atop the pile, and it really is frightening to consider how good he might become over the coming years.
Tottenham midfielder Pape Sarr.
As per FBref, the all-action midfielder ranks among the top 10% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for pass completion, the top 19% for assists, the top 18% for progressive passes and the top 20% for passes attempted per 90.
Frankly, there is so much more to come, and Tottenham really have unearthed a jewel in this rising star, who has been sensational in the early phase of the campaign and a large reason behind such a relentless start.
And while Tottenham are currently five points clear in their table-topping position, both Arsenal and Manchester City have the opportunity to close the gap this weekend.
Nonetheless, the job that Postecoglou has done so far has been remarkable, and there would have been scant optimism that such a position of strength could have been established mere months ago.
With gifted stars like Sarr in the centre, there is every possibility that this season's success will endure, and Tottenham will prevail.
Kent need another 52 with six wickets left to strengthen their hold on the top two and end Middlesex’s challenge in the process
ECB Reporters Network11-Sep-2018 ScorecardA thrilling third day finish could be in prospect at Lord’s where Division Two rivals Kent and Middlesex continue to cross swords in an action-packed Specsavers County Championship match.After the loss of 19 wickets on day one, this low scoring clash continued with a further 15 falling on an enthralling second day that ended through bad light at 6.20pm with Kent on 104 for four – requiring another 52 runs with six, second innings wickets intact to secure their fourth successive championship win and strengthen their hold on a top-two place.With a potential 39 overs remaining in the day, Kent looked to make an ultra-positive start to their run chase but paid the price with the loss of four cheap wickets.Zak Crawley was superbly caught by Dawid Malan off Ethan Bamber, then an over later, Matt Henry – promoted to pinch hit at No3 – skewed his second ball to mid-off to gift his wicket to Steven Finn.Sean Dickson and Joe Denly added 33 for the third wicket until Denly went leg before to James Fuller, then Dickson’s stay for 32 ended when he prodded at the first ball of a new spell from Bamber to be caught low at second slip.The umpires took the players off nine balls later for a 20-minute break for bad light, after which Daniel Bell-Drummond and Heino Kuhn emerged to add 50 runs in positive fashion before the gloom descended again.Kent took a stranglehold on proceedings during the mid-session when New Zealand strike bowler Henry bagged four for 40 to inspire a Middlesex collapse that saw the hosts lose eight wickets for 88 runs.In taking five victims in this game Henry, the championship’s leading wicket-taker, took his season’s tally to 66 at less than 15 apiece as Middlesex succumbed in 60.2 overs.It was Kent’s 42-year-old all-rounder Darren Stevens who started the home demise by breaking a useful opening stand worth 59 between Sam Morgan and Nick Gubbins.Robson and Gubbins rode their luck under the floodlights as Henry and Harry Podmore beat the outside edge on numerous occasions. Yet, within 10 overs, Middlesex had wiped out the first innings deficit of 31 as the pair went on to record only their third 50-run first-wicket stand of the championship summer.Stevens, fresh from signing a one-year contract extension to keep him at Kent for a 14th season, then struck at the double. Robson edged an away-singer to second slip then, four runs later, left-hander Max Holden fell leg before to an in-swinger that pitched on leg and middle to beat Holden’s airy, leg-side flick.Middlesex lost three wickets for one run in the space of 13 balls after lunch after resuming on their interval score of 98 for two. Gubbins, off balance and working across the line, departed lbw to Podmore, then Henry swung the very next delivery back in to end Dawid Malan’s innings of 32.Podmore’s slower ball off-cutter, which turned into a dipping, low full-toss, was scooped straight to mid-wicket by Eoin Morgan and the procession continued when Martin Andersson, in crab-like defence, played inside the line to Podmore’s in-ducker to be given lbw.Stevie Eskinazi went in the same fashion to a shooting off-cutter from Stevens and Henry returned to polish things off with a 20-ball stint of three for seven. The slippery Kiwi got one to lift and leave Oli Rayner for a regulation catch at second slip then, in his next over, swung a full one away from Bamber for Sam Billings to snaffle a diving catch in front of slip.Henry trapped Finn lbw for his 66th wicket of the championship campaign to leave Kent with a potential seven sessions of the match to secure their ninth win of the campaign.The second day started with Kent completing their first innings. It lasted only another 11 deliveries as they added only three to their overnight score to miss out on a batting bonus point by eight runs.Grant Stewart, the Australian-born all-rounder, was Kent’s last man to go for a battling 63, bowled by Fuller when playing across the line of a very full delivery. Fuller, the pick of the home attack, finished with four for 49 as Kent secured a modest 31-run lead.
Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson has explained the tactical tweak that led to the club's much-needed 3-1 win over Grimsby Town.
Article continues below
Article continues below
Article continues below
Parkinson made tactical tweakLined up in different shape to usualWon comfortably to strengthen promotion hopesGettyWHAT HAPPENED?
Wrexham beat Grimsby 3-1 this weekend to get back to winning ways, having drawn with Harrogate Town and lost to Tranmere in their two most recent outings. The result moves the club back into third place, just three points behind leaders Mansfield Town, and Parkinson has explained that there was a small tactical shift that helped his side to victory.
AdvertisementTHE BIGGER PICTURE
A brace from Andy Cannon and a goal from Paul Mullin proved decisive for Wrexham against Grimsby and Parkinson has explained that he tried to line up in a way that would shock their opponents, with Elliot Lee deployed in a No.10 role. And the result led to a delighted tweet from Rob McElhenney.
WHAT PARKINSON SAID
Parkinson told reporters: "We changed the shape slightly. We put Elliot Lee in behind the front-two because I knew Grimsby had worked very hard in their preparation to stop us and it really worked for us.
"It gave us a different dimension. Tom (O'Connor) is great at just picking up pieces and filling the holes when other players go forward and we scored some great goals."
ENJOYED THIS STORY?
Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
GettyWHAT NEXT?
Wrexham are next in action on Friday against leaders Mansfield in a huge game that could be decisive for their automatic promotion hopes.
A late goal in the second half secured Cavan Sullivan and Philadelphia Union U17's place in the GA Cup semifinals on Thursday evening.
Article continues below
Article continues below
Article continues below
Sullivan on verge of Man City transfer14-year-old playing with U17s in GA CupUnion advance to semifinals with massive winWHAT HAPPENED?
In the 2024 Generation Adidas Cup, Sullivan and the Union advanced out of the group stage after going 2-1 through their first three matches. In their first test of the knockout round, they prevailed over South Korean side Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors thanks to a 57th-minute goal. At the full-time whistle, Sullivan and his teammates celebrated with friends, fans and family by leaping onto the chain-link fence behind the pitch to cheers and applause from many.
Get the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games nowAdvertisementWATCH THE CLIPTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Sullivan is one of the hottest prospects in all of world soccer at the moment, and is on the verge of completing a monumental move to the Premier League with Manchester City. Scouts of the Pep Guardiola-coached side have dubbed the 14-year-old the 'most exciting' player of his age in the entire world. Now, Sullivan will hope to lead the Union to glory on the podium, while also looking to put pen to paper on his first professional contract shortly thereafter.
ENJOYED THIS STORY?
Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
MLSWHAT NEXT FOR SULLIVAN AND THE U17 UNION?
Sullivan and the Union will take on Croatian side Hajduk Split in the semifinals of this years tournament as the Union look to go back-to-back in the U17 division. The match will be streamed on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV at 5:00 pm ET Friday night.
Peter George picked up three wickets as Tasmania slumped from 1 for 188 to 4 for 195 before ending the day at 5 for 257
The Report by Alex Malcolm16-Oct-2018Alex Doolan scored his tenth first-class hundred•Getty ImagesAustralia coach Justin Langer asked for more centuries in the Sheffield Shield this season and veteran Tasmania batsman Alex Doolan provided the first on a tightly contested opening day against Queensland at the Gabba.Doolan made his tenth first-class hundred on a day when scoring was not free-flowing. He struck 17 fours and two sixes in his 193-ball 115.He put together a 54-run opening partnership with Jordan Silk and a 134-run stand for the second wicket with Beau Webster, who made 43. But Queensland’s seamers stuck to their task and pulled things back late in the day.One-time Test bowler Peter George was the pick of the bowlers, removing both Silk and Doolan caught behind. He also bowled Jake Doran cheaply with a full-toss as Tasmania slumped from 1 for 188 to 4 for 195 in the space of 34 balls.Both George and Luke Feldman were miserly, conceding just 91 in a combined 46.4 overs, and Feldman removed Tasmania’s captain George Bailey late in the day.Bad light stopped play just before the scheduled close. Matthew Wade was batting on 37 and Simon Milenko on 9. They will hope to build again early on day two.
On the pitch, Everton are back on track for survival and potentially more after a disastrous start to the season left them fearing for their Premier League status. Sean Dyche has gone from defeats at Luton Town to wins over Bournemouth and West Ham United, as well as a draw against Brighton & Hove Albion. In an ideal world, their form at Goodison Park would be matched with success away from the pitch. But that has been anything but the case.
As 777 Partners look to complete their takeover of the club, the Premier League's financial fair play investigation into Everton has brought new fears for the club. The investigation could result in major consequences, be it a 12-point deduction or transfer sanctions, or perhaps even both. That said, the Merseyside club may need to raise funds to pay any punishments and are reportedly open to selling one particular player in the January transfer window.
Everton transfer news
Everton did well in the summer to keep hold of some key players. The likes of Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Abdolaye Doucourse and Jordan Pickford all stayed put, as Beto, Jack Harrison and Ashley Young, among others, came in to reinforce Dyche's side. The result of a successful summer window has been a place five points clear of the Premier League's dropzone.
They are still happy to cut ties with one player, however. According to 90min, Everton are open to the sale of Ben Godfrey amid interest from a number of British clubs. Newcastle United, Rangers, Burnley, Bournemouth and Crystal Palace are all reportedly interested in signing the central defender in the January transfer window.
Godfrey, of course, has fallen out-of-favour at Goodison Park and could, therefore, do with a fresh start. So far this season, the England international has featured in just one Premier League game in what has been a fall from grace. Godfrey's price-tag once sat at £20m when Everton landed his signature from Norwich City in 2020.
Everton may regret sale of "fantastic" Godfrey
An England international once worth £20m who is still only 25-years-old, Everton may well regret allowing Godfrey to depart if he does complete a move away in the January transfer window. The former Norwich City man has impressed in the past at Goodison Park and, whilst he remains without a place under Dyche, the defender is an ideal back-up for the former Burnley manager.
Premier League, Everton, Everton news, Everton latest news, Everton update, Everton performance, Everton analysis, EFC news, EFC latest news, EFC update, EFC analysis, EFC performance, Sean Dyche, Ben Godfrey
Godfrey caught the eye of the legendary Carlo Ancelotti during the Italian's time in charge of Everton. The current Real Madrid manager said, via The Boot Room: "Fantastic. We signed him as a centre-back not a right-back, but he has quality to play in that position, He had a little problem when he went on the pitch at the beginning, but second-half was really good. Congratulations to him, he was ready and he’ll be ready for the future."
When the January transfer window opens, Godfrey certainly looks like one to keep an eye on. Whether Everton regret his potential departure or not remains to be seen, however, as they look to avoid relegation once more.
AC Milan star Rafael Leao had an angry confrontation with a journalist following his side's 1-0 loss to Roma in the Europa League quarter-finals.
Article continues below
Article continues below
Article continues below
AC Milan lose 1-0 at home to RomaMancini scores in Europa League winLeao angrily confronts journalistWHAT HAPPENED?
A disappointing Milan side slumped to a first leg Europa League last eight defeat on Thursday, with Gianluca Mancini scoring the game's only goal in the 17th minute. After the contest, where Leao was subbed off in the second half, the 24-year-old turned his ire towards a reporter in the mixed zone.
AdvertisementWATCH THE CLIP
The Portuguese international can be seen somewhat losing his cool during the interaction with the journalist following the Roma defeat at San Siro.
WHAT RAFAEL LEAO
It is understood the journalist in question said: "Here's Leao leaving [the stadium]," and then moments later, the former Lille and Sporting Lisbon man reportedly asked, "What the f*** do you want?"
There were boos heard around San Siro when Leao was subbed during the game, though a portion of the crowd did chant his name following his withdrawal.
ENJOYED THIS STORY?
Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
GettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Milan are one of the favourites to win this competition, with the Rossoneri dropping down from the Champions League earlier this season, but now they face an uphill task to overhaul this 1-0 deficit, win at Stadio Olimpico and keep their Europa League hopes alive.
When Julen Lopetegui left Wolverhampton Wanderers just before the Premier League season got underway, it would have been easy for the Midlands club to capitulate. But since the Spaniard's departure and Gary O'Neil's arrival, Wolves have looked more and more comfortable again in England's top flight and look on course to avoid a relegation battle.
What's been most impressive is their rediscovered ability to cause shocks at Molinuex, defeating Premier League champions Manchester City and scoring two late goals to turn the game on its head to hand Tottenham Hotspur back-to-back defeats for the first time under Ange Postecoglou. Perhaps bringing their momentum to a slight pause, however, one January sale could be set to deal Wolves a frustrating blow.
Wolves transfer news
Wolves weren't the busiest club during the summer transfer window and saw their headlines stolen by the departures of Ruben Neves and Matheus Nunes to leave them briefly depleted in the middle of the park. And that makes their start under O'Neil all the more impressive. The former Bournemouth boss, who was unlucky to leave the Cherries after keeping them up last season, has crucially got the best out of Pedro Neto once again and has benefitted from the form of Matheus Cunha. One player who looks unlikely to get the O'Neil improvement, however, is Goncalo Guedes.
According to Estadio Deportivo, Villarreal have set their sights on Guedes ahead of a potential January loan move. The Portugal international has been out on loan at Benfica since January, but has struggled with injury problems, game time and form. Now, Villarreal are reportedly set to offer Guedes a way out of what has been a nightmare spell in Portugal.
It remains to be seen just what Wolves' stance on sending Guedes to the La Liga side, who are reportedly willing to cover his wages. Given his lack of place under O'Neil, on paper there doesn't seem to be much standing in the way of the transfer taking place, though reports in Portugal have claimed that he is set to stay put for the season.
"Great" Guedes needs fresh start
Guedes has become a shadow of the player once seen catching the eye at Valencia. It just simply hasn't happened for the winger since leaving La Liga and a return to Spain could be exactly what he needs. Guedes' stats during his time in Spain's top flight speak for themselves. The 26-year-old scored 28 goals and assisted a further 28 whilst appearing a total of 146 times. Still young enough to turn things around, the former Valencia man could yet revive his career at Villarreal if given the opportunity to do so by Wolves.
Goncalo Guedes for Wolves
At his best, Guedes has been at the centre of praise, including from former Paris Saint-Germain forward Pauleta, who told the club's official website, via ESPN: "I know him very well. He plays for Portugal's under-21 side. I watched him grow up through his club and national team matches. He is a great talent — he is physically gifted and technically extremely talented. On top of that, he is a really nice guy off the pitch. He can bring a lot to PSG and he has all it takes to impose himself in Paris. He will grow and continue to progress."