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Kane Williamson and some late-order hitting held Yorkshire together, but Worcestershire dominated the first day of the Scarborough Festival

Paul Edwards19-Aug-20181:14

‘Nice to get runs on the board’ – Kane Williamson

ScorecardNot for a few summers have batsmen hurried to Scarborough slavering at the prospect of boosting their averages on a bland pitch. The pace and bounce at North Marine Road have embarrassed the best and their troubles have been worsened when sea-fret rolls across from the North Bay like smithy-smoke.The hundreds seen here recently have been scored in the second half of games and thus it was no great shock to see the home side inserted and also dismissed for 216 on the stroke of tea. The biggest Yorkshire banner ever unveiled (presumably Wars of the Roses included) proclaimed: “Welcome to Yorkshire”.”Especially if you bowl seam up at a decent lick,” someone should have added.Dillon Pennington certainly meets that description and the 19-year-old, 6ft 4ins fast bowler steamed in like the in full sail from the Trafalgar Square End, taking two wickets in his first spell and two more in his second. His first contribution helped reduce Yorkshire to 63 for 4; his second played a vital role in an afternoon collapse which saw David Willey’s side lose four wickets for as many runs in 16 balls.Watching four of those wickets fall, albeit in different sessions, was Kane Williamson, whose innings of 87 again proved again that testing conditions inspire the best players in any sport. Williamson hit fourteen fours in his 131-ball innings, seven before lunch and then four more in succession off Wayne Parnell ten overs after the resumption. And perhaps it was not until then that most of the crowd began to enjoy this 132nd Festival. They made their pleasure plain when Williamson straight drove Parnell to the Trafalgar Road boundary, for it was a stroke of such authority that it seemed to change the game.Williamson immediately leaned into two cover drives and bridged those shots by a pull to the tiered wooden benches. The spectators purred their appreciation at some proper championship batting under a sun which gave the batsmen brief respite. Williamson’s strokes dimmed their memory of the limp drive played by Gary Ballance which gave Pennington his first wicket courtesy of Ed Barnard’s catch at point; it lessened their fears that Tom Kohler-Cadmore’s dismissal two balls later when utterly discomfited by a shorter delivery from Pennington presaged an inadequate total. Kohler-Cadmore was unlucky; the ball deflected off his shoulder to point. But the warnings were clear.Williamson was sometimes beaten; he was occasionally wounded. He was even dropped on 18 when Ross Whiteley shelled a seemingly straightforward slip catch off Pennington. But he was not bested until he chopped the ball onto his stumps when trying to cut Moeen Ali and by then he had put on 88 with Jonny Tattersall.That stand took Yorkshire to 151 for four and it encouraged hopes that a total around 300 might be possible. But those hopes were dented by Daryl Mitchell’s brilliant one-handed reflex catch off Pennington which dismissed Tattersall for a useful 27. And they were shattered, first by Williamson’s departure and then when Tim Bresnan and David Willey followed him in short order.Jack Brooks’ response to this clatter was to clatter a few of his own. First he pulled Pennington for a six into the cheap seats; then he drove Moeen over extra cover and onto the top tier of the Scarborough pavilion, scattering the pastel shades of the gin and it brigade in the process. By the time Brooks skied a return catch to Ed Barnard he had made 38 off only 20 balls and Yorkshire had something to bowl at.However, their attempts to do so were frustrated first by the batting of Mitchell and Tom Fell, the latter opening in the Championship for the first time, and then by the bad light and rain which ended play 21 overs early. Willey and his bowlers will look to make inroads on the second morning but their concerns are directed towards the bottom of the First Division, where Worcestershire also reside. Welcome to Yorkshire, “the official destination management company” had unveiled a 50- square-metre county flag before play. For some that only emphasised that while there may be a flag in August, there will be no pennant in September.

Chelsea's most successful manager in recent times has been Thomas Tuchel.

The German tactician, who led the Blues to Champions League glory over Manchester City in 2021, was the last manager to deliver any sort of silverware to Stamford Bridge.

He recorded 63 wins in 100 matches and only tasted defeat 18 times in 20 months while reaching both the FA Cup and Carabao Cup finals in the 2021/22 season.

Despite this success, Todd Boehly and co ultimately decided that Tuchel wasn't the right man to take the club forward and according to his ex-wife, he was dismissed in September 2022 due to "off-field reasons and because the players lost respect for him".

While Tuchel's spell in charge ended on a sour note, so too did Chelsea's business during his time at the club, with the 50-year-old misfiring across all fronts in the transfer window.

He brought in the likes of Romelu Lukaku, Saul Niguez and Marcus Bettinelli – who all failed in the blue shirt – and also sold a whole host of talented stars, including Tammy Abraham, Kurt Zouma, Fikayo Tomori, Marc Guehi and Olivier Giroud, the latter of which has gone on to make the Blues regret selling him in 2021.

How did Olivier Giroud perform for Chelsea?

Throughout his career, Giroud has become such a likeable figure everywhere's been. During his six-year stint at Arsenal, the Frenchman earned plaudits for his consistent goal-scoring and his ability to produce the spectacular, scoring 105 times and assisting a further 41 in 253 appearances for the Gunners.

So it came as no surprise to see many Arsenal fans frustrated at the club's decision to sell him to their rivals for £18m in 2018, with Arsene Wenger claiming a year earlier that the striker was performing at the pinnacle of his powers.

He said: "I know how important he is not only as a player – he’s a fantastic player – but also in the group he has a big weight. It was a relief for me he decided to stay. Giroud in his prime is at the top of his game."

After moving to west London, Giroud would become a pivotal figure in the club's quest for European dominance and the "top level" forward – as formerly claimed by Wenger – would perform exceptionally in Europe's top two competitions.

In 2018/19, his eye-watering 11 goals and five assists in 14 appearances helped the Blues win the Europa League, ironically scoring the winner against his former club in the final.

Then in the 2020/21 campaign, the 6 foot 4 phenom would play an integral role in the Blues' run to the Champions League final, having scored a sensational six times in eight appearances, including all four goals in their 4-0 victory over Sevilla.

Given those standout performances on the big stage, it begs the question as to why Tuchel sold him to AC Milan for a measly £1m in the summer of 2021.

How many goals has Giroud scored since leaving Chelsea?

While supporters have been made to sit through the transfer saga involving Romelu Lukaku, the toothless Kai Havertz and the struggling displays of Nicolas Jackson since Giroud's departure, the Frenchman has been a revelation for AC Milan.

At the remarkable age of 37, the sublime finisher has showcased his final-third expertise at the Rossoneri and left Chelsea fans frustrated with the form he's producing.

In 95 appearances for Milan, he's scored 36 goals and supplied 14 assists, a total that has seen him outscore every Chelsea player since his departure.

The 126-cap international also outperformed the majority of his positional peers in the Serie A last season, ranking in the top 16% for non-penalty goals, top 4% for aerials won, top 18% for assists and top 2% for touches in the attacking penalty box, as per FBref.

Giroud's powers in front of goal have also shown no signs of slowing down in this campaign either with four goals and three assists in eight appearances in the Serie A.

The talented Frenchman may be approaching the twilight years of his career, but if anything, he's aged like a fine wine and he continues to make Chelsea regret selling him for such a nominal fee.

Crystal Palace are back in action this evening as the Eagles welcome Nottingham Forest to Selhurst Park.

Roy Hodgson will be hoping that his side can build on their impressive result against Manchester United last time out in the league, where they defeated the Red Devils 1-0 at Old Trafford.

This evening’s fixture is set to be another test for the hosts, with both sides evenly matched ahead of the showdown in south London based on their respective starts to the 2023/24 Premier League campaign.

With Palace occupying ninth with three wins from seven, and Steve Cooper’s side sitting in 12th with two wins, the stage is set for a closely contested affair at Selhurst as both teams will push for three points.

What is the latest Crystal Palace team news?

After suffering a 3-0 defeat at Old Trafford in the Carabao Cup earlier last week, Palace eliminated the disappointment of the result by winning in Manchester that weekend.

It was an assured and brave performance by Hodgson’s side, who took three points back to the capital with just 23% of possession and facing 19 shots from Erik ten Hag’s struggling 11, via Sofascore.

Unfortunately for Palace, it was not all rosy for the Eagles, as star player Eberechi Eze was withdrawn just before the full-time whistle after suffering an injury, which has since been revealed as a hamstring blow.

The Englishman will be unavailable for around six weeks, adding him to the club’s growing list of absentees with Dean Henderson also being replaced early against his former club with injury.

In lighter news, summer signing Matheus Franca has begun full training after nursing an injury and building his fitness, meaning that the 19-year-old could make his debut in some capacity against Forest.

The main concern is obviously the blow to Eze, however, Hodgson could be spared of worry by unleashing one of the club’s most exciting prospects, who is on the fringe of the first team.

Should Jesurun Rak-Sakyi start against Nottingham Forest?

After a phenomenal loan spell at Charlton Athletic in League One last season, versatile winger Jesurun Rak-Sakyi could be the ideal replacement for Hodgson to exert over Eze this evening.

While the 21-year-old, who celebrated his birthday this week, has had a fast start with the academy in the Premier League 2, making two goal contributions in two appearances, he has also made his mark in the top flight.

The Palace academy graduate has made three appearances in the Premier League this campaign, more than he has previously for the Eagles, suggesting that he could be on the cusp of a full breakthrough with his boyhood club.

At Charlton, Rak-Sakyi directly had a hand in 23 goals in League One, scoring 15 and assisting eight to claim the club’s Supporters Player of the Year award.

Once described as “lively” by journalist Joe Donnohue, the 21-year-old could be given the chance to showcase his threat against Forest, and earn further appearances in the side as Eze recovers from injury.

As told by Palace’s official site, the winger continues “modelling his game” on Eze, adding further fuel to his claim to replace the Englishman during his spell on the sidelines.

In what is set to be an even affair against Forest, Rak-Sakyi could cause Cooper’s side some problems if he is handed the chance to show his worth from the off this evening.

Glasgow Rangers have endured their busiest transfer window in recent memory as Michael Beale aimed to trim the squad and add some much-needed freshness ahead of the 2023/24 season.

With nine new arrivals, it remains to be seen whether they can spur the Light Blues on to success and the 43-year-old has certainly spent a large chunk of money.

Danilo cost £6m while Sam Lammers arrived for £3m and given what is at stake this term, they need to start scoring goals and living up to their fees sooner rather than later.

If not, they will go down as flops and their value will decrease, indicating that the club might end up making a significant loss on the players in the future.

Rangers have endured various transfer howlers over the previous 25 years under a succession of managers, but it was Alex McLeish who let one of the club's finest players in recent memory go for a fee way below what was shelled out to bring him to Ibrox; Mikel Arteta.

How much did Rangers sign Mikel Arteta for?

After taking over the Light Blues in December 2001, the former Aberdeen defender revitalised the club and secured a domestic cup double during his first six months in charge.

Heading into the 2002/03 season, he was charged with delivering a first league title in three years and there were a couple of new arrivals that summer.

Kevin Muscat joined on a free transfer after leaving Wolverhampton Wanderers, but it was Spaniard Arteta who was the biggest signing, joining from Barcelona for a fee in the region of £6m.

McLeish was full of praise for the youngster, saying: "Mikel is an excellent young player, and I'm sure he is someone who will really excite the Rangers fans.

"I think the fans will see a class act when he pulls on a Rangers jersey next season. He is very comfortable on the ball and he has an excellent touch – and the great thing is his best years are still ahead of him."

By the end of his first season, Arteta ended up repaying that £6m fee and more in one of the most dramatic conclusions to a Scottish league campaign in history.

What happened to Mikel Arteta at Rangers?

The starlet formed a wonderful partnership alongside Barry Ferguson in the heart of the Gers midfield as he went on to make 27 league appearances during the season, scoring twice.

His maturity allowed Ferguson to rampage forward on a regular basis as he provided an unlikely goal threat from the middle of the pitch and coming into the last day of the campaign, the title would be decided on goal difference.

With just minutes to go against Dunfermline Athletic, Arteta slotted away a penalty like it was the least important thing in the world and secured their 50th league crown. From that moment his future at the club looked bright indeed.

The former Barcelona gem stayed just one more season at Ibrox, finishing the 2003/04 trophyless, and he eventually joined Real Sociedad for just £2.6m, which represented a 79% decrease on the initial £6m they spent on him just two years prior.

Where is Mikel Arteta now?

His stint in La Liga didn’t work out, and he joined Everton in January 2005 and the 5 foot 9 midfielder would remain in the Premier League until his retirement 11 years later.

After six and a half seasons on Merseyside, Arteta joined Arsenal, and he ended up becoming the club captain under Arsene Wenger ahead of the 2014/15 campaign, just months after helping the side win the FA Cup.

His approach to the game clearly impressed Wenger, who stated back in 2015 that he hoped the player would go on to become a manager.

He said: “Just through his behaviour, his focus on getting everything right in the team, he has a huge influence. He has great experience and is respected throughout the squad.

“I really hope Mikel considers going into coaching. When you manage, you want to see your players continue and see them give their experience and knowledge back.

“You want them to give their expertise of the way we want to play football and the way we want to behave. It would be great if someone like Mikel went into management, so somewhere the spirit of our game can survive through the players who have played for us.

“He has the quality to be a manager in the future I’m sure, but at the moment he gives his focus on the job as a player and gives absolutely everything.”

Wenger’s prophecy came true as he took over at Arsenal in 2019 and has since won the FA Cup in 2020 while building a squad which surprised everyone last term as they came so close to winning the Premier League.

Manchester City caught them in the end, but Arteta is building something special at the Emirates as a progressive and modern coach, capable of tinkering away with his team's and inventing new positions for players who previously hadn't proved too versatile.

The Ibrox faithful will always keep the Spaniard close to their hearts, especially considering he scored the goal that secured a then world record 50th domestic crown and although his second season didn’t go to plan, his short-lived legacy lives on.

Losing him for just £2.6m was definitely a poor decision by McLeish, yet the need for money in order to reduce the spiralling debt more than likely played a part in his decision rather than any other reason.

His ambition certainly shone through during his time in Glasgow and the Emirates faithful are now beginning to see just how much of a winner Arteta really is as he bids to end a two-decade wait for a league title in north London. Perhaps he could seek to retrieve some magic from that title win in Glasgow all those years ago.

Celtic have confirmed the signing of a highly-rated teenager at Parkhead despite the transfer window now being closed in Scotland.

What's the latest news involving Celtic?

Hoops boss Brendan Rodgers has been talking to the media in his pre-match press conference before Celtic take on Dundee this Saturday and refused to rule out the possibility of bringing some Scottish talent to the club in the near future.

Cited by Football Scotland, Rodgers stated: "Having that identity is very important. If I worked in Spain I would want a Spanish core of players. When I work in Scotland I want a Scottish core of players who understand what it's about. I think you have to look at that moving forward because squad planning is important. We were anticipating there were some players who were going to move on who haven't left the club."

In other news, journalist Dean Jones has told GIVEMESPORT that Celtic are working hard behind to try and tie Denmark Under-21 international Matt O'Riley down to a new deal at Parkhead amid interest from Leeds United in his services during the summer.

Celtic winger Liel Abada has been ruled out until around the Christmas period and will likely miss the Hoops' entire Champions League group stage campaign, as per The Daily Record.

Several widemen now have an opportunity to step up at the club over the next few months, including the likes of Yang Hyun-jun, Luis Palma, Marco Tilio and James Forrest, with Daizen Maeda regularly occupying a berth on the left-hand side for the Hoops.

Who have Celtic signed?

Cited by Australian outlet KEEP UP, Celtic have completed the signing of young defender Liam Bonetig from A-League outfit Western Sydney Wanderers after the 18-year-old impressed during an initial trial period at Parkhead.

Western Sydney Wanderers will receive a training compensation fee for his services and Celtic have once again dipped into the Australian market, having brought in the likes of Aaron Mooy and summer signing Tilio in the recent past.

Speaking to Celtic's official website, Bonetig spoke of his delight at being able to join a club the size of the Scottish Premiership champions, stating: “It’s such a huge club and I couldn’t believe it when Celtic were interested. So I am just glad to get it done."

Bonetig will initially join the academy set-up at Celtic and has signed a three-year deal at the club and has previously been part of an Australian schoolboys tour of the UK & Ireland, winning player of the tour and gaining valuable experience in the process.

Last term, the central defender made nine appearances in the National Premier League – New South Wales for Western Sydney Wanderers' second string, as per Transfermarkt.

During this campaign, Bonetig will be available to play his part in the Lowland League, UEFA Youth League and Premier League International Cup, which will only help to enhance his profile further as he tries to break into the senior squad at Celtic at some point in the future.

Manchester United suffered an agonising defeat to Arsenal in what was a match filled with late drama.

Erik ten Hag brought on winger Alejandro Garnacho with just over five minutes left, and it looked as though he scored the winner in the dying embers of the game, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside.

Mikel Arteta’s men then went and scored twice during injury time to secure a vital 3-1 win and maintain their unbeaten record in the Premier League heading into the international break.

How did Manchester United perform vs Arsenal?

The 3-1 defeat means United head into the break occupying 11th spot in the table following just two wins from four games, and they are already six points behind Manchester City, who top the pile.

The Red Devils only had two shots on target throughout the encounter while enjoying just 45% of possession and with the tie finely balanced at 1-1, Ten Hag would have seen an opportunity to secure all three points.

Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes were their better performers during the tie, with the former scoring United’s only goal while the Portuguese midfielder made four key passes during the match.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to gain anything from the match and the Dutchman will need a big response from his team against Brighton and Hove Albion when the domestic calendar resumes.

One player who should be ditched from the starting XI following that clash is Brazilian winger Antony, who once again failed to shine against the Gunners and perhaps unleashing someone else on the right wing might be a good idea.

How did Antony play vs Arsenal?

The 23-year-old was largely ineffective from the right wing as he struggled to really get involved and create any meaningful opportunity against the north Londoners.

He completed a dismal tally of just 59% of his attempted passes while failing to deliver a cross or a key pass during his 84 minutes on the pitch, indicating just how poor he was.

Indeed, the winger succeeded with just two dribbles from five attempts while failing to have a shot on target and losing possession 15 times during 84 minutes on the pitch. It's safe to say that Oleksandr Zinchenko had the better of him on Arsenal's left-hand side.

Such a lack of influence on the game was best summed up by the fact that his touch count of 49 and pass count of 16 was lower than goalkeeper Andre Onana who had 57 touches and 42 successful passes.

The £200k-per-week player has been incredibly frustrating so far this season, having failed to score or register an assist across any of his four Premier League matches and considering Ten Hag splashed out £82m for him last summer, so much more must be demanded.

He was notably criticised by broadcaster Harry Symeou following the game yesterday, along with a host of other players, saying: “Antony, anonymous again & Martial a passenger.”

In 48 matches for the Old Trafford side, Antony has scored eight times and grabbed just three assists, which works out as a £7.5m per goal contribution. This is simply not good enough and as a result, he should find himself back on the bench after the international break.

Inded, a change is surely required against Brighton in a few weeks, yet will it bring about a different result? Only time will tell.

The third round of Premier League fixtures this season will see newly promoted Sheffield United welcome Manchester City to Bramall Lane on Sunday 27th August at 2pm GMT. So, we at Football FanCast have taken a look at everything that has ever gone on between the two clubs.

With two games on the board, a clear gap is already opening up between this duo as City are on 6 points and the Blades are yet to get off of the mark.

Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City got their title defence underway with a 3-0 victory over Burnley, a game that saw Erling Haaland pick up where he left off in front of goal, scoring a brace.

This was then followed up with a narrow win over Newcastle United, the only goal of the game coming from Julian Alvarez.

Sheffield United on the other hand have been on the receiving end of a pair of one-goal deficit defeats.

First it was against Crystal Palace on home soil and then a late Chris Wood header secured all three points for Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.

It has to be said though, United’s goal in that game was a thing of beauty from debutant Gustavo Hamer, following his move over from Coventry City.

Sheffield United vs Manchester City: Who has the better head-to-head record?

As will be regularly mentioned, Manchester City are the dominant force in English football currently, but that hasn’t always been the case.

Sheffield United won the First Division title at the tail end of the 1800s, pointing towards the historic aurora that has always surrounded the club. Whilst City have won more of these fixtures than the Blades, it is closer than one would originally think.

Sheffield United wins

Draws

Manchester City wins

37

34

51

Sheffield United vs Manchester City: Who has more wins at Bramall Lane?

United just about take it when it comes to games taking place on their own patch, which has always been Bramall Lane. It is a stadium steeped in history and is the oldest major sports ground anywhere in the world.

Sheffield United wins Draws Manchester City wins 23 19 19 Sheffield United vs Manchester City: Who has more wins at Maine Road/the Etihad?

Manchester City’s story of their home ground is very different having played their games at Maine Road up until the early 2000s. City were there for 80 years and prior to that it was Hyde Road Football Stadium which they left partly due to a fire in the main stand.

More recently of course, the Etihad is the home of the European champions and it has seen so many iconic moments, most notably that Sergio Aguero goal against Queens’ Park Rangers.

Sheffield United wins Draws Manchester City wins 13 15 31 Sheffield United vs Manchester City: Who has the better cup record?

Despite these being two teams have been around for years and years, their fates in the English cup competitions have only crossed paths eight times. Sheffield United have won half of them although the last time they met, a game which will be spoken about further down the line, went the way of the Manchester club.

Sheffield United wins Draws Manchester City wins 4 2 2 Sheffield United vs Manchester City: How have the last 5 meetings played out?

It isn’t all that surprising to see that Manchester City’s recent dominance stretches into their clashes with Sheffield United. 4 of these 5 games came in the Premier League and all went the way of the Citizens, as did their huge FA Cup battle.

22nd April 2023- Manchester City 3-0 Sheffield United:

The most recent meeting between these two was a major one as they crossed paths in the FA Cup semi-final, even though the Blades were a Championship side at the time. This will be delved into further in the famous fixtures section but given Manchester City’s treble-winning exploits last season, it is no surprise how this game went.

30th January 2021- Manchester City 1-0 Sheffield United:

A pattern is appearing in these last five games of Sheffield United failing to score but one has to give them their credit that three of the defeats were by a single goal. Gabriel Jesus, now of Arsenal, scored the only goal of the game at the Etihad en route to another top-flight title.

31st October 2020- Sheffield United 0-1 Manchester City:

The reverse fixture in that season ended with the same scoreline. Spoiler alert but this time around it was a former Blade Kyle Walker who fired home the decisive strike up in Sheffield.

21st January 2020- Sheffield United 0-1 Manchester City:

For large parts of the game, Sheffield United looked as if they could hold Pep Guardiola’s side to a goalless draw but an inevitable duo popped up and changed that. Kevin De Bruyne played in Sergio Aguero who made no mistake in finishing beyond the reaches of Dean Henderson after Jesus had missed a first-half penalty, breaking blades hearts.

29th December 2019- Manchester City 2-0 Sheffield United:

This is the only Premier League meeting in the last 5 games that saw more than one goal scored and it was only two, both of which going the way of the hosts at the Etihad. The aforementioned duo came to the fore again with second-half strikes from Aguero and De Bruyne securing three points for City against Chris Wilder.

Who has played for both Sheffield United and Manchester City?

Tommy Doyle (Manchester City 2019-current; Sheffield United 2022-2023)

A few players have played for both Manchester City and Sheffield United recently with a pair of them returning to the former after loan spells in the Steel City last year. The first of those two is midfielder Tommy Doyle, who was also a part of the England U21s side that tasted European glory earlier this summer.

After nearly a decade in the youth academy, Doyle graduated into the City first-team where he made one appearance for going out on his first loan. He went to Hamburger SV and Cardiff City before then landing at Bramall Lane where he of course gained promotion back to the top-flight.

James McAtee (Manchester City 2021-current; Sheffield United 2022-2023)

One year his junior at 20 years of age is James McAtee who was even more influential under the stewardship of Paul Heckingbottom. He made 37 league appearances and contributed 9 goals and three assists at a rate of one every 158 minutes which is hugely impressive.

This was McAtee’s first loan spell away from the Etihad and since returning, he made a brief cameo in the win over Burnley on the opening night of the season. He certainly has a very bright future ahead of him in the sky-blue shirt.

Kyle Walker (Sheffield United 2008-2009 and 2009-2010; Manchester City 2017-current)

Finally to a Manchester City stalwart who was formerly a Blade, Kyle Walker. He was born in Sheffield and came through their academy with immense pride. After just one year as a pro there he was sold to Tottenham Hotspur, although his first year as a Spurs player saw him loaned back to his hometown team.

Walker rose to prominence in a Tottenham shirt and since arriving in Manchester in 2017, has won all there is to win in the game for your club, the icing on top of course being last year’s Champions League success. Walker’s time with Sheffield United was one year away from crossing paths with that of the now former Manchester United captain Harry Maguire.

What is Sheffield United’s biggest victory over Manchester City?

26th October 1925: Sheffield United 8-3 Manchester City

The centenary of Sheffield United’s biggest win over Manchester City is nearly upon us and it is very unlikely that they will break this record in the next two years.

In 1925 with Halloween just around the corner in post-war England, the Blades romped to an 8-3 victory. Harry Johnson found the back of the net four times whilst his namesake Tommy was also on the score sheet for Man City. Meanwhile, Fred Tunstall chipped in with a Blades’ brace, one of which came from the penalty spot.

What is Manchester City’s biggest victory over Sheffield United?

21st August 1999: Manchester City 6-0 Sheffield United

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Manchester City’s largest win over Sheffield United came a lot more recently with the turn of the century just months away.

This clash actually took place in the Championship and a pair of legendary City names were amongst the goals. Paul Dickov and Shaun Goater are the two in question with Kevin Horlock also adding two first-half penalties in a 6-0 thumping at Maine Road, made all the more easy by United’s goalkeeper Simon Tracey’s sending off.

Sheffield United vs Manchester City: Key stats This will be the 11th league meeting between the two clubs in the Premier League era Manchester City haven’t lost to Sheffield United in their last five meetings Sheffield United haven’t scored in three straight home fixtures Sheffield United vs Manchester City: Famous fixtures

22nd April 2023 – Manchester City 3-0 Sheffield United:

As has been alluded too previously, Manchester City disposed of Sheffield United on the way to their FA Cup glory last season. Remarkably, it was the now departed Riyad Mahrez who scored all three goals under the Wembley arch, booking City’s spot in the final to face their Manchester rivals.

19th March 1994 – Manchester City 0-0 Sheffield United:

The other famous fixture deserves notability for very different reasons. With both teams on the verge of being relegated from the newly formed Premier League table, City and United met at Maine Road in a true six-pointer. It ended goalless which favoured blue more than red and this shone through at the end of the season as Man City stayed up whilst Sheffield United went down.

Newcastle United could try something slightly different to previous reports in an attempt to land Kieran Tierney, according to a new update.

What's happening with Kieran Tierney?

The Magpies couldn't have asked for a more impressive start to their 2023/24 season last weekend, as they ripped Aston Villa apart at St James' Park, winning 5-1.

It was fantastic occasion for so many reasons, with Sandro Tonali and Harvey Barnes enjoying debuts to cherish, and it was a performance that suggested Newcastle are well-equipped for another top-four finish, as well as a decent run in the Champions League.

Read the latest Newcastle transfer news HERE…

While their squad looks as formidable as it has even been, that's not to say that a little more transfer business between now and the end of the current window wouldn't go amiss.

One player who has been linked to a summer move to Newcastle a number of times is Tierney, who finds himself out of favour at Arsenal and unlikely to feature much in 2023/24 unless the Gunners pick up injury problems.

The Scot is seen as someone who could further bolster the Magpies' squad, providing stiff competition for Dan Burn at left-back, as he continues to shine there. However, reports this week revealed Arsenal's £30m price tag was causing issues.

How much will Tierney cost?

According to Football Insider, the Magpies are still pushing to sign Tierney this summer, but are now moving for a loan deal, effectively taking that initial cost from £30m down to zero.

However, the Gunners are currently sticking to their permanent price tag:

"Kieran Tierney is nearing the Arsenal exit as Real Sociedad and Newcastle have made contact over a potential deal, sources have told Football Insider. It is believed Tierney wants first team football and is keen to go where he will play.

"Arsenal want to sell the defender permanently, but both Sociedad and Newcastle have enquired over a potential loan deal."

Tierney has looked like an excellent option for Newcastle all summer long, with the 26-year-old possessing so many attributes to fit in with what Eddie Howe is looking for in a signing.

A tenacious player with a great team ethic, the Arsenal man combines dogged defensive work with good technical ability going forward, having assisted 37 times in 170 appearances for Celtic earlier in his career.

Tierney would come in as a very different option to Burn – better on the ball and providing more natural overlapping width – and Howe could rotate the pair throughout the season, keeping them both fresh and giving opposition sides different headaches, depending on who is playing.

The left-back has been called "fantastic" by Mikel Arteta in the past, suggesting the Gunners manager rates him but just can't find a place for him in his starting lineup, and a loan move could be the best outcome for all parties if Arsenal decide they do see a long-term future for him in north London.

The allrounder and Western Australia captain, slammed an unbeaten 80 to drive his side to a six-wicket win in the final against South Australia in Hobart

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Oct-2017
ScorecardThe victorious Western Australia team with the trophy•Getty ImagesWestern Australia captain Mitchell Marsh led his state to a comfortable victory over South Australia to lift the domestic limited overs trophy at Bellerive Oval in Hobart on Saturday.South Australia made a swift start after winning the toss, but the loss of regular wickets limited their chances of posting the sort of totals that had allowed them to beat Western Australia in the qualifying rounds and Victoria in the elimination final.Western Australia, who had been unbeaten before the SA loss, were then able to reel them in with 38 balls to spare, largely due to the efforts of Mitchell Marsh and Cameron Bancroft, the sometime-Test opening contender, but now a free-scoring gloveman.While Mitchell Marsh was named Man of the Match, at a time when his recovery from shoulder surgery rules him out of bowling and by extension an Ashes berth, it was his brother Shaun Marsh who was named Man of the Tournament for a string of outstanding displays at the top of the batting order.South Asutralia had started fluently through a first-over boundary from Alex Carey, but the early dismissals of the wicketkeeper and dual tournament centurion Jake Weatherald set a pattern. South Australia scored freely but lost regular wickets, which meant the later acceleration typical of their bigger totals was instead a steady stand between Tom Cooper and Cameron Valente followed by a late rush of wickets.Their new-ball bowling had been another feature of their progress, but after Michael Klinger fell early and Shaun Marsh had not fired from the start, Mitchell Marsh and Bancroft missed scarcely a beat in bringing the target under control. Long touted as a future leader by his coach Justin Langer, Mitchell Marsh has aced his very first exam as state captain.

The Supreme Court has issued notices to and summoned three BCCI office bearers – CK Khanna (BCCI’s acting president), Amitabh Choudhary (acting secretary) and Anirudh Chaudhry (treasurer) – for the next hearing on September 19, asking them to explain why they have failed to implement the Lodha Committee recommendations.The court was responding to the latest status report filed by the Committee of Administrators (CoA), in which the committee said that there was a “need to direct” all three office bearers to “forthwith cease and desist” from continuing in the BCCI till fresh elections were held.The CoA had also asked the court to order that the committee, along with the BCCI’s professional management led by its chief executive officer Rahul Johri, take complete charge of the board in the interim. But the court deferred a decision on that request, effectively meaning Khanna, Choudhary and Chaudhry can continue in their posts.The court’s pronouncement cannot be misread as a relief to the office bearers, however. Khanna, Choudhary and Chaudhry had given written undertakings to the court in January saying they would ensure the BCCI implemented the reforms. Those undertakings were sought by the court after it sacked Anurag Thakur and Ajay Shirke, the BCCI president and secretary, for failing to honour their written submissions where they had stated the board would implement the reforms.On Wednesday, the court also directed the two-member CoA panel (comprising Vinod Rai and Diana Edulji) to draft the new BCCI constitution as per the approved reforms, barring the three it said it would revisit during the previous hearing on July 24. Back then, the court passed an interim order asking the BCCI to implement the reforms as far as “practicable” so that the “‘gentleman’s game’ remains nearly perfect”. The court had also said that it was willing to reopen debate over some of the reforms “pertaining to membership, number of members of the selection committee, concept of associate membership, etc”.Two days later, at a special general meeting (SGM), the BCCI members – the state associations – “unanimously” agreed to implement all but five of the reforms approved by the court in its original judgement of July 18 last year. Furious, the CoA said that the BCCI had handpicked from reforms that formed the “fundamental core” of the recommendations that were approved by the court originally.The five broad reforms the BCCI wants the court reconsider comprise: membership status which includes the one-state-one-vote reform, disqualification of office bearers, ministers and government officials based on eligibility criteria such as the age cap, tenure and cooling-off period, the strength of the Apex Council – which replaces the existing working committee – the division of powers between the office bearers and the professional management, and strength of the national selection committee.Those objections, the CoA noted in the status report, were “nothing short of gross abuse/contempt”. On Wednesday, Gopal Subramanium, the amicus curiae in the case, echoed the sentiment. “The objections to the recommendations expressed in the meeting (SGM) seeks to erode fundamental aspects of Lodha Committee recommendations and the principal judgement,” Subramanium said in a 23-page submission in the court. “It was clear that anything that affected the vested interests of the concerned individuals was not acceptable to the office bearers of BCCI and the state associations.”In his expansive note, Subraminum outlined the “systematic manner” in which the BCCI office bearers and state associations had “repeatedly” played the obstructionist role in not implementing the reforms. In its principal judgement of July 18 last year the court had given the BCCI a maximum of six months to implement the approved reforms. “Over a year has since passed,” Subramaniam said. “The conduct of the stakeholders has throughout been that of veiled non-cooperation.”He also said that the CoA, having realised the “portrayal of the purported intention” of the office bearers at both BCCI and state associations was merely a “farce”, was forced to request “sweeping directions” from the court including removal of board’s top three administrators – Khanna, Choudhary and Chaudhry.Subramanium agreed with the CoA that if “stringent” steps were not taken, the court’s principal order was in danger of staying as a dead letter. “The fact that two august Committees have conveyed considerable difficulties in resolving the deadlocks evidences the resoluteness of all involved to make a mockery of Justice and Rule of Law. Permitting such a course of action will be detrimental to the public perception of the sanctity attached to the judgements rendered by this Honourable Court.”This Honourable Court has been magnanimous in accommodating the grievances of all parties to ensure that justice is done. However, all efforts have been designedly defeated with the sole intention to avoid implementation of the judgement by triggering all fathomable objections.”