Jack Grealish’s 83-minute wonder-strike separated two evenly matched sides as Aston Villa beat Cardiff City 1-0 in the Championship on Tuesday night. Here’s six things from the game. Villa’s strong start Villa were the more prominent side early on, when they targeted the right channel. Robert Snodgrass drifted into central areas to force inside ex-Villan… Read more →
When football started in England in the late 19th century, it was in itself a pastime for even the best players. Indeed, the winners of the first ever FA Cup Final in 1872 were Wanderers FC, a group of former pupils who went to Harrow, while the runners-up were Royal Engineers AFC, who had worked… Read more →
Will Mauricio Pochettino win his first trophy as a manager? Will Manchester United secure their second FA Cup win in three years? Will Antonio Conte leave Chelsea on a high or will Southampton end their 42-year wait for glory? All of these questions will be answered in the next two months and as the competition… Read more →
Blackburn Rovers went top of League One on Thursday night after second half goals from Bradley Dack and Craig Conway gave them a 2-0 win over out-of-form Bradford City. Here’s six things from the game. Blackburn’s bold start Tony Mowbray, who is arguably establishing himself as one of Blackburn’s most popular managers so far this… Read more →
It seems inevitable that Antonio Conte will leave Chelsea this summer – what is less clear is the manner in which that departure will take place. Finish with an FA Cup victory and qualification for the Champions League, and the Italian will be remembered as one of the most successful managers in the club’s history.… Read more →
A crucial part of Shrewsbury Town’s impressive automatic promotion challenge has been their defensive unity. A week ago, they had conceded just eight first half goals in League One, highlighting their collective resilience. More recently though, they have had to show a different type of resilience after being punished for below-par first half displays against… Read more →
John Marquis’ late brace gave Doncaster Rovers a 2-0 victory over out-of-form Bradford City on Monday night: here’s five things from the game. Intricate Doncaster Not for the first time this season, Darren Ferguson asked his Doncaster side to overload central areas and play cute one-touch football in tight spaces. Winger-turned-right-back Matty Blair therefore rarely… Read more →
Cardiff City re-enforced their promotion credentials with an iron-willed display at Griffin Park, where they defeated play-off outsiders Brentford 3-1. Here’s six things from the game. Brentford’s bright start Dean Smith’s side outlined their intentions inside the first 20 seconds, when Neal Maupay forced Neil Etheridge into a save. The striker wouldn’t be kept out… Read more →
If Bournemouth’s 1-1 draw at Leicester last week proved anything, it is that they are at their most productive when they are on the offensive. The Cherries enjoyed a positive first hour, during which Charlie Daniels made several intelligent forward runs from left-back to link up with forwards Callum Wilson and Josh King. The latter… Read more →
Patrick Bamford’s first half goal gave promotion-contenders Middlesbrough a 1-0 win at St Andrews, piling the pressure on strugglers Birmingham City. Here’s five things from the game. Birmingham’s early breakaways The hosts had the galvanizing effect of a new manager in Garry Monk, so it was not a great surprise that they attacked at a… Read more →