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Newcastle United have enjoyed a stellar start to the 2024/25 campaign thus far, despite Eddie Howe failing to really strengthen the first-team squad during the summer transfer window.

Seven points from nine in the Premier League while reaching the next round of the EFL Cup is certainly considered a more than decent start, but will the lack of investment in the team during the summer come back to haunt the manager as the season progresses?

Several players have stepped up and performed superbly during the opening few weeks of the season, most notably Anthony Gordon.

Anthony Gordon’s statistics this season

The Englishman enjoyed a wonderful 2023/24 campaign, registering 23 goal contributions – 12 goals and 11 assists – in all competitions for the Magpies as they narrowly missed out on European football.

These performances meant he was called up by Gareth Southgate for a space in the England squad ahead of the 2024 European Championship, although he featured just once during the competition, coming off the bench in the group stage game against Slovenia.

This experience will stand him in good stead, however, as he looks to become a permanent fixture in future England squads.

Gordon has played in all three league matches for the Toon this term, scoring once in the draw against Bournemouth a couple of weeks ago.

The winger has been in electric form in the top flight. Aside from his goal against the Cherries, the 23-year-old has also created one big chance, averaged 2.7 key passes per game and succeeded with 0.7 dribbles per match, showcasing his attacking qualities.

Shots on target

3

Big chances missed

1

Accurate passes

27/30

Key passes

2

Successful dribbles

0

Big chances created

1

Among his teammates, Gordon also ranks fourth for shots on target per game (0.3), along with ranking second for scoring frequency (a goal every 248 minutes) and first for expected assists (0.79) in the Premier League.

If the Magpies wish to return to the top six, or even the top four, Howe will be hoping one of his prized assets can maintain this current form once the international break is over.

Despite the left-winger shining for the club, could the manager have signed a player who has already outshone Gordon during the early weeks of the season? Chelsea winger Noni Madueke was a prime transfer target during the summer.

Newcastle missed out on Noni Madueke

The club were linked with numerous targets during the transfer window but failed to sign any of them.

With Howe aiming to bring another winger into his squad, particularly on the right flank, Madueke was an option that was being considered. They would have been forced to fork out a fee in the region of £40m in order to lure him north, however, and the move didn’t materialise.

In hindsight, this looks like a major missed opportunity for Howe, as there is no doubt the Magpies could have afforded the fee.

The English gem has started the season off in sublime fashion and has even outperformed Gordon in several metrics, proving why the club should have made a more concrete effort to sign him.

Noni Madueke’s season in numbers for Chelsea

Despite starting just three matches so far for the Stamford Bridge side, Madueke has scored four goals, which included a stunning hat-trick against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League.

These displays should ensure he is thought of as a main option by Enzo Maresca heading into the next few weeks of the season, yet it proves exactly what Newcastle missed out on during the summer.

Across his two league matches, Madueke has averaged 4.5 shots per game, missed two big chances, created a big chance, averaged one key pass per game and succeeded with one dribble per match.

Said to be “one of the best young players in Europe” and a "mentality monster" by technical coach, Saul Isaksson-Hurst, he's certainly living up to that hype in 2023/24.

Despite the interest from other clubs in the transfer window, it now looks as though Chelsea did the right thing by keeping the former PSV winger, as his goals could be vital this term, both domestically and in Europe.

How Noni Madueke compares to Anthony Gordon

If Madueke joined Newcastle, he wouldn’t be fighting it out with Gordon for a place in the starting XI as they operate on opposite flanks, but the England youth international is enjoying a better campaign in the top flight than the Toon star.

Not only does Madueke have more goals than Gordon, but he has also averaged more successful dribbles, key passes and shots per game.

Furthermore, according to FBref, the Chelsea sensation also has a better shots on target percentage per 90 than Gordon (66.7% vs 50%) in the top flight, along with averaging more goal-creating actions (1.03 vs 0), achieving a higher percentage of successful take-ons (50% vs 25%) and performing more progressive carries (5.26 vs 3.33) per 90.

These statistics clearly prove the Chelsea gem has enjoyed a better start to the 2024/25 Premier League campaign, demonstrating how effective Madueke is in the final third.

If Howe had managed to bring the Englishman to St James' Park in the summer, he could have formed a devastating wing duo which could have terrorised opposition defenders all over the country.

Gordon is still one of Howe’s key players, but he doesn’t have anyone as effective at performing on the right wing.

Failing to sign Madueke could turn into a mistake by the club, especially if he continues to impress for the Blues as the weeks progress.

Newcastle should take plenty of confidence from this excellent start they have enjoyed, but imagine how better it might have been if they had someone like Madueke performing at his very best for the Magpies.

Newcastle could regret selling £1.8m ace who outscored Gordon in 23/24

He’s gone on to have a successful career away from St James’ Park.

1 ByEthan Lamb Sep 8, 2024

Real Madrid are facing an injury headache ahead of their Super Cup final clash with Barcelona as Jude Bellingham and Fede Valverde are nursing knocks.

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Blancos overcame Mallorca in semisValverde forced off with muscle complaintIn-form Bellingham also a fitness doubtFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱GettyWHAT HAPPENED?

Los Blancos booked themselves another shot at major silverware – having already collected the UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Intercontinental Cup this season – when seeing off Real Mallorca 3-0 in the Supercopa de Espana semi-finals.

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England international Bellingham was on target in that contest, as he opened the scoring just past the hour mark, with a stoppage-time own goal and 95th-minute effort from Rodrygo making the final scoreline slightly more comfortable for Real.

GettyWHAT ANCELOTTI SAID

The reigning Spanish champions did, however, see Valverde forced off 15 minutes from the end. Bellingham then pulled up with a muscular problem late on, and Ancelotti told reporters afterwards when asked about the decision to replace Uruguayan midfielder Valverde: "He had an adductor strain, like Bellingham. It was an unexpectedly hot game, it was very hot… and it could have affected both of them."

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WHAT NEXT?

Real have just two days to prepare for a Clasico clash with arch-rivals Barca that will see another trophy fall within reach for both clubs. It remains to be seen whether Bellingham – with nine goals through his last 12 appearances – is fit enough to figure in that contest.

It was normal service resumed for Liverpool in their opening game of the Champions League campaign, dispatching AC Milan 3-1 at the San Siro.

It was a crucial result. Last weekend, the Reds were beaten in a shock Anfield loss against Nottingham Forest, with the hosts stumped by the Tricky Trees’ low block and compact defensive line.

Liverpool have steadied the ship but will now need to restore their fluency in the Premier League to ensure that they keep up with the likes of Manchester City and Arsenal at the front of the pack.

Slot deserves praise for his success in instilling his footballing brand seamlessly, bringing a more control-heavy and pass-focused sheen to the red half of Merseyside. Luis Diaz is one of the players to have profited the most from the tactical tweak.

Luis Diaz is starting to improve

Diaz has been at Liverpool for a while now, signing from FC Porto for an initial £37m in January 2022. Despite his skills and wheels, the Colombian’s goal return leaves something to be desired, having posted only 27 goals and 14 assists across 103 appearances.

That’s a goal contribution rate of 0.40 per game. His predecessor on the left flank, Sadio Mane, concluded his time at Liverpool with 120 goals and 42 assists across 269 matches, which stands at a rate of 0.60 per game.

Matches (starts)

37 (32)

4 (4)

Goals

8

3

Assists

5

1

Touches*

43.8

41.0

Shots (on target)*

2.5 (0.9)

2.3 (1.0)

Pass completion

85%

88%

`Big chances created

5

2

Key passes*

1.8

1.8

Dribbles (completed)*

1.8

1.8

Ball recoveries*

3.4

3.5

Tackles + interceptions*

1.0

2.1

Total duels won

4.6

4.8

It’s early days but you can see that Diaz is starting to become more effective with his attacking actions. He only needs to score six goals across 34 Premier League fixtures to better last year’s tally, while he has also created two big chances from four outings so far, having mustered up just five across the entirety of last season.

Diaz has been known to ebb and flow, however, and he was pretty dismal in his performance against Forest last time out, sparking fears that his purple patch has faded away and Slot will have to now contend with a highly talented winger lacking in end product.

Cody Gakpo put in a masterful performance from the left wing at the San Siro, and with Darwin Nunez, Federico Chiesa and Diogo Jota both capable out on the flank, Slot will feel that he has sufficient options.

But this draws our mind back to the sale of Takumi Minamino, who never quite found his feet on Merseyside but has possibly outshone Liverpool’s South American wideman since leaving.

Why Liverpool sold Takumi Minamino

Liverpool sold Minamino to French club AS Monaco in a deal worth £15.4m last year, linking up with his new teammates in 2022, two-and-a-half years after joining Liverpool from RB Salzburg.

The Japan international had been a terrific player for the indomitable Austrian side, light on his feet and sharp in his decision-making, notably scoring and assisting apiece at Anfield in the Champions League at the start of the 2019/20 season and convincing Jurgen Klopp to make his move.

For a release clause worth just £7m, it was the kind of deal that FSG loved, moving swiftly in December 2019 to get the job done. Minamino arrived the following month.

He earned £75k per week for the Anfield side but failed to ever break into the first team with the kind of regularity that he would have hoped for, only starting five Premier League matches for Liverpool across the entirety of his stay.

He ended on a high, scoring seven goals and adding one assist across the FA Cup and Carabao Cup campaigns in his final year under Klopp’s wing, 2021/22. Liverpool went on to win both competitions and his contribution was immense in achieving this double.

But Minamino was not going to earn a regular starting berth, and when Monaco came calling with a £15m offer, it was something of a no-brainer to cash in for a healthy profit.

Takumi Minamino's performances since leaving Liverpool

Journalist Josh Bunting once said that Minamino, now 29, was “undervalued” in Klopp’s Liverpool squad, but perhaps the wealth of talent simply made it impossible for him to ever spread his wings.

Minamino has since gone from strength to strength at Monaco. He was initially branded as a “flop” by journalist Nabil Djellit after failing to impress throughout his first term, scoring only once – and claiming four assists – across just ten starts in Ligue 1.

Where Are They Now

Your star player or biggest flop has left the club but what are they doing in the present day? This article is part of Football FanCast's Where Are They Now series.

But he was excellent last year, notching nine goals and six assists in the division despite starting just 25 games. As per FBref, the diminutive winger ranked among the top 8% of positional peers in the French top flight for goals scored and the top 15% for assists made per 90.

He might appear to have started the current campaign off indifferent at a perfunctory glance, grabbing one goal from four games – three starts – but Minamino has also averaged 2.8 key passes per game.

Given that he has been firing at a more prolific rate while proving to be more relentless with his playmaking output, Minamino might have actually been better than Diaz over the past year or so – though if Slot has actually unlocked the full scope of the Colombian’s skillset, and last weekend’s effort was a mere blip, then that could soon change.

In any case, Minamino is a fine player and has shown since leaving that he had so much more to offer in Liverpool.

Liverpool thought they had the new Gerrard, but he left under Klopp for £0

He was once seen as a very promising talent during his time at Anfield.

ByEthan Lamb Sep 19, 2024

Foxes precede washed-out match by announcing Harris will return to Australia to combat travel restrictions

ECB Reporters Network05-Aug-2021On the day Leicestershire announced that overseas player Marcus Harris would not play again this season, a superb 140 from Glamorgan opener Nick Selman proved in vain as their Royal London Cup match at Leicester was abandoned with no result.The day had started with Leicestershire announcing that Australian opener Harris, who had been set to stay until the end of the Foxes’ Royal London Cup and County Championship campaigns, had been forced to return to Australia early because of concerns that coronavirus-related travel issues might affect his availability at the start of his own domestic season. Harris, 29, had impressed with four centuries across the two competitions, making 887 runs in all.Meanwhile, Selman’s career-best List A score was backed up by 67 from Billy Root as Glamorgan posted 277 for 8 in 50 overs, the pair sharing a partnership of 123 for the fourth wicket to set a competitive total after the early loss of New Zealand batter Hamish Rutherford for just a single.George Rhodes claimed career-best figures of 3 for 44 with his off-spin and held three catches and Leicestershire, after winning the toss and giving their bowlers first use of a green-tinged pitch, would have fancied themselves at least to run the group leaders close.But they were able to complete only one over of their innings before rain arrived, and though a restart with a revised target of 257 from 43 overs was proposed at one stage, more rain put paid to that and play was abandoned at around five o’clock.Selman’s runs came off 144 balls and included eight fours and a six. He almost batted through the full 50 overs but was run out off the first delivery of the final over. Root hit four fours and a six in his 60-ball contribution.Earlier, after Rutherford had been caught brilliantly by Rhodes at backward point in the second over, Selman shared a valuable partnership of 92 with Steven Reingold. They were not separated until the 20th over, when Reingold’s attempted pull against Rhodes saw him leg before.Skipper Kiran Carlson soon became a second victim for Rhodes but Root was busy from the start and he and Selman found the open spaces in the ground’s expansive outfield to keep the scoreboard moving.When they went on the attack, Root swept Arron Lilley for six and cut Gavin Griffiths for four to pass fifty from 47 balls, shortly before Selman, having gone to three figures from 120 deliveries, sent teenager Rehan Ahmed’s leg-spin clattering into the brickwork at long-on, requiring a change of ball.The last five overs added 40 runs but a cost five wickets. Root was leg before trying to paddle Rhodes, James Weighell fell to a fine catch by Ed Barnes at deep midwicket, Joe Cooke found the fielder at deep square leg and Tom Cullen top-edged to point two balls after Selman’s demise.Leicestershire’s Ben Mike was another absentee as he completed a two-match suspension imposed after he was ruled to have deliberately damaged the pitch with his spikes during a match against Northamptonshire in the Vitality Blast. The Foxes were also docked a point for the 2021 Blast season by the Cricket Disciplinary Commission, which had no effect on their sixth-placed group stage finish, outside the knockout places.The commission also handed Leicestershire a suspended points penalty on Wednesday after the club had accumulated six fixed penalties within the past year. Should the club incur another fixed penalty in the next 12 months, they will lose 12 points in the Championship, or two in the Royal London Cup or T20 Blast.

TalkSPORT pundit Jamie O’Hara has shared his verdict on one Tottenham player who he believes is “miles” off the pace, following their disappointing 1-0 defeat to Arsenal in the North London Derby on Sunday.

Tottenham 0-1 Arsenal as Postecoglou concedes to weakened Gunners

Given the amount of star absences in Mikel Arteta’s line-up over the weekend – with club captain Martin Odegaard, summer signing Riccardo Calafiori, Spain star Mikel Merino, Declan Rice and Oleksandr Zinchenko all missing – Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou had a real opportunity to seriously upset the club’s fierce rivals.

Ange thinks £120k-per-week ace has no Tottenham future after drop in form

The Australian is considering drastic action.

1 ByEmilio Galantini Sep 13, 2024

The Lilywhites did dominate possession and created a host of chances throughout the 90 minutes, but Tottenham’s lack of cutting edge and set-piece weakness eventually cost them dearly.

Arsenal star Gabriel Magalhaes scored the only goal of the game, leaping above all of his opponents to guide a close-range header past the helpless Guglielmo Vicario, who had real trouble defending his six-yard box from the corner.

This was enough for Arteta’s side, who held on to their narrow lead past the hour mark to come away from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with all three points, in what was a regrettable afternoon for Postecoglou and co.

Dejan Kulusevski was criticised against Arsenal for his attacking display, with the Sweden international unable to unlock Arteta’s back line on enough occasions. Meanwhile, a lot of debate has also centered around Vicario’s lack of confidence when it comes to dead balls.

Minutes

95′

Expected Goals

0.16

Goals

0

Expected Assists

0.11

Assists

0

Touches

49

Passing Accuracy

17/25 (68%

Crosses (Accurate)

5 (0)

Shots on Target

1

Dribbles (Successful)

3 (1)

Duels (Won)

17 (5)

Possession Lost

20

Dribbled Past

3

Tottenham must now lick their wounds, reassess and come back stronger in their next Premier League game against Brentford on Saturday, but before that, Postecoglou’s squad travel to face Coventry City in the EFL Cup on Wednesday.

Jamie O'Hara slams "miles off it" Brennan Johnson after Arsenal loss

O’Hara hasn’t held back with his criticism of Spurs after the home defeat, and one player in particular – winger Brennan Johnson.

Taking to X on Sunday, O’Hara called Johnson a “frustrating” Tottenham player to watch, and he’s since shared a further verdict on the Wales international who cost Daniel Levy around £50 million to sign from Nottingham Forest last year.

Indeed, speaking to talkSPORT, O’Hara has also claimed that Johnson is “miles off” the pace at Tottenham, with the 23-year-old proving ineffective on many occasions against Arsenal and beforehand.

“We played well but we don’t score – take your chances. We’ve brought in good players and you expect them to do the business,” said O’Hara. “But I look at it and think have we brought in top players? Solanke, one good season at Bournemouth and we signed him for £60million.

“Brennan Johnson, a good player and a young player at Nottingham Forest. We signed him for £50million and he looks miles off it. Then I look at Archie Gray who we signed from Leeds, he’s a Championship player and then we signed Odobert from Burnley.

“Daniel Levy has built this big shiny stadium and it’s only enjoyable to go to when Beyonce’s on! We’re not signing a top player from Barcelona or Atletico Madrid or someone who is actually at the level of where we want to be.”

Al-Nassr superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has been issued with a Mohamed Salah warning while being advised not to return to Europe.

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Ronaldo issued Salah warningAdvised not to return to EuropeIn last six months of Al-Nassr contractFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱GettyWHAT HAPPENED?

Ronaldo is into the final six months of his contract at Al-Nassr and there has been talk of the Portugal icon readying himself for another new challenge, with a return to Europe being speculated on for the evergreen frontman. Paris Saint-Germain are among the clubs to have been linked with Ronaldo, although that rumour has now been rebuffed.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Amid the uncertainty around Ronaldo's future, former England and Liverpool forward Emile Heskey has advised him not to return to Europe, citing Mohamed Salah's messy contract situation at Anfield as a cautionary tale. The Egyptian forward is yet to put pen to paper on a new Reds deal despite having just six months left on his current contract.

WHAT EMILE HESKEY SAID

Speaking to , Heskey said: "I can't see him coming back to Europe unless someone thinks it’s more of a commercial deal than anything else. Coming back to Europe, players who are 30 and doing really well are struggling to get new contracts, Mo Salah being the biggest name, so I don't think he'll come back to Europe. But I still think he could do a job, absolutely."

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AFPWHAT NEXT FOR CRISTIANO RONALDO?

The ex-Real Madrid and Manchester United forward will be back in action for Al-Nassr on Thursday after the short winter break as the Saudi giants take on Al-Akhdoud in a league clash.

Defending meagre total at Old Trafford, Yorkshire choose not to run out cramping Croft

David Hopps17-Jul-2021Those in charge of recording Roses folklore, pens and pads to the ready please. Joe Root, as a stand-in Yorkshire captain, was at the centre of one of the most debatable acts of sportsmanship (now there’s a word that needs some urgent gender-neutral consideration) in Roses history. If it is not read about a hundred years from now then either the chroniclers have not done their job or county cricket has collapsed without trace.Lancashire needed to win their final North Group tie to join Yorkshire in the quarter-finals of the Vitality Blast, but do not believe that Yorkshire were soft-pedalling because their place in the knockout stages was already secured. They were tigerishly defending their inadequate 128 for 7 with Lancashire five down, 15 needed from 18 balls and enough tension to ensure that the result was not quite the formality it sounds.Matthew Waite’s delivery to Luke Wells was worked into the off-side with a single on offer, only for Steven Croft to hesitate and collapse in mid-pitch, clutching his hamstring as if he would never play again. Yorkshire chose not to run him out, it turned out to be cramp and he was able not only to resume, but celebrate a four-wicket victory with an over to spare as if he had drunk from the elixir of life in the meantime.Not since Marcelo Bielsa ordered Leeds United deliberately to concede a goal against Aston Villa two years ago will Yorkshire have debated an act of sporting integrity with such passion. The point is that it mattered. It took its place in history. Tell that to advocates of the Hundred.It’s probably worth reflecting that the three players involved in the immediate decision had a combined age of 68 and have not actually played much professional cricket. The bowler, Waite, the fielder Jordan Thompson, the keeper Harry Duke. Integrity or largely confusion? It would be no surprise to find that some on Yorkshire’s coaching staff disagreed with their humanitarian stance (this is not often presented as a prime feature of Yorkshire cricket) and for the sake of history perhaps they should put their views on the record.Root, impressively, seeking unity, and protecting all concerned, was a master of diplomacy. “As a side we made a very difficult decision under pressure,” he said. “It looked very serious at first glance. In many ways it was a relief it was nothing serious. I am sure there will be many different opinions. Many people would have handled it differently.”The umpires called a dead ball, although it is not sure at what point – and why not a dot ball? Yorkshire appear to have suffered twice over.That umpires’ decision appeared to be pragmatic, designed to negotiate a settlement that protected everybody’s interest. There was no right or wrong. There were no obvious arguments on the field. There was just half a second when three young players wondered what to do and opted for righteousness. It is not clear whether Root, a captain, who whether he likes it or not has become the moral conscience of England cricket, uttered an instruction. He was right to suggest that players should be free to do as they choose. But there was a strong argument for breaking the wicket and asking questions afterwards.But what of Croft, Lancashire’s Lazarus? “Two games in two days at 36 and a bit of sun has done me,” he told . “I put the brakes on, they worked, and my legs just cramped up. I didn’t know where the ball had gone. They could have taken the bails off and credit to them that they didn’t.”Related

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Just don’t get cramp in the final, you’ve had your chance, might have been Yorkshire’s suitable rejoinder.There was little need to ask Croft how he was. His unbeaten 26 from 29 balls had concluded with a sprinted two and an uninhibited pull against Matt Fisher, with six needed from eight balls, that was almost intercepted, left-handed, by Thompson on the midwicket boundary only for him to fall into the boundary advertising and the ball to roll for four. He struck the next ball slightly squarer for the winning hit. He had the decency to curb his celebrations.All this meant that Lancashire extended a winning sequence against Yorkshire in the Old Trafford Roses T20 that began in 2015. Simply put, but accurate for all that, they won it on the Powerplay. On a grabby, used Old Trafford pitch, this is where runs are most easily made. Yorkshire made 27 for 2, restricted by an entire top five (with the exception of Adam Lyth who got out early) which seemed to want to play the controlling role. Lancashire, by contrast, returned 57 for 3.Lancashire understood the Old Trafford pitch and bought into the nature of what they had to do, no more so than the New Zealander Finn Allen, who made 22 from eight balls, easefully striking Lyth’s fill-in offspin for two successive leg-side sixes in the second over before he was bowled in what has become a very predictable fashion – careering outside off stump against the seam bowling of Fisher to leave his leg stump exposed.And Lancashire had a champion with the ball up front, who would have deserved a headline on many other nights. Luke Wood’s left-arm pace is always full of verve and on this occasion his length, his change-ups, his concentration, was also on the money. He returned a career-best 4 for 20 and to rub it in for Yorkshire he was born in Sheffield. He more than anyone left Yorkshire at least 20 runs short.Luke Wood claimed four wickets•Getty ImagesHe had Lyth brilliantly caught down the leg side by Dane Vilas, who sprang athletically to his right to hold a pukka leg glance, and left Mark Stoneman uncertain with changes of length and pace before nipping one back into his off stump. Stoneman’s loan from Surrey, despite a half-century, has not been a success.Root and Harry Brook, brought together after 2.5 overs, both wanted to play the long game before expanding. Root, the Test England captain, whose game is built upon it; Brook, the leading scorer in the Blast, whose success has been built upon a low-risk start. Wood had shaken Yorkshire and by the time both were dismissed (Root cutting, Brook bowled by the workaday legspin of Wells) Yorkshire had used more than half their overs in making 59.There followed panic. Here’s one for the data analysts: what is the record number of balls in a second half of a T20 innings where batsmen swing above the ball without making contact? Yorkshire must be up there. Somehow, Gary Ballance, desperation etched on his face, emerged with a highly creditable 31 from 21 before Wood’s on-a-length cutter defeated his leg-side swipe.At 64 for 5 off 7.2 overs, Lancashire could have lost the game. They should have reined in their aggression with three down, instead they adjusted with five lost as Croft and Wells (who survived a stone-dead lbw appeal from Thompson on 11) remedied matters. They had probably just about won it when Croft, innocently enough, collapsed in mid-pitch. But it is a rare Roses match that proves to be straightforward.

Sunderland will travel down to Tom Cleverley’s Watford today hoping to pick up their sixth victory of the Championship season already.

It won’t be completely straightforward, however, as Regis Le Bris’ side did display worrying chinks in their armour in their last away contest in the league, with Wayne Rooney’s Plymouth Argyle surprisingly getting the better of their high flying opponents in a 3-2 loss.

The Frenchman will have been pleased to see his side get back to winning ways against Middlesbrough last time out, however, as 17-year-old Chris Rigg stole the show with the winning strike.

Rigg's performance vs Boro

The teenage sensation continues to shine under the guidance of the former Lorient boss, with the Sunderland number 11 particularly impressive against Michael Carrick’s Boro in an attacking midfield role.

Rigg would cleverly tap home a scramble in the box to give his side the advantage they needed in the tight contest, with Eliezer Mayenda up top failing to fire a single effort on the Boro goal, away from the bright midfielder winning the even clash.

Moreover, the Sunderland academy product would rarely misplace a pass when the ball was at his feet, with a calmness present in his game even as the clock ticked nervously ticked down, as just two of his 19 passes in the lunchtime kick-off went astray.

Winning his fair share of duels too, with seven won in total, Rigg really helped his side pick up a slender win to get back on track in the tricky division, after a minor bump in the road in Devon.

Rigg would even be described post-match as a “symbol” of Sunderland’s young and hungry mindset by his manager, with the teenager nailed on for a starting spot against Watford today, even with his French boss bringing him off towards the end of the 1-0 win.

Whilst the promising midfielder will be assured of his starting spot, Daniel Ballard will be wary about his chances of breaking back into the Sunderland first-team mix, as his replacement for the Boro win in Chris Mepham excelled on his Black Cats debut.

Mepham's performance vs Boro

Ballard was judged only to be fit enough to make up a space on the Sunderland substitutes bench against Carrick’s away side, with Mepham then making the most of his moment in the Black Cats’ starting lineup.

The Welshman will be viewed as a very shrewd acquisition on loan, with the AFC Bournemouth loanee well versed in what it takes to compete in the second tier, having accumulated 90 Championship appearances on his career CV to date.

Stat

Mepham

Minutes played

90

Goals scored

0

Assists

0

Touches

44

Accurate passes

30/36 (83%)

Key passes

1

Clearances

4

Blocked shots

2

Total duels won

3/4

Mepham slotted into the Sunderland set-up effortlessly, with the visitors kept at an arm’s length throughout courtesy of the new number 26 shining, and also Luke O’Nien battling away valiantly for the full 90 minutes.

The Cherries loanee would block two shots that came his way in the tight clash, alongside managing to win three duels, and so it would feel harsh now to reinstate Ballard back into the main XI over the impressive 26-year-old.

Ballard will get chances again across the full campaign, but Mepham will be hard to shake, with Roker Report writer Andy Tomlinson waxing lyrical about the centre-back post-match.

Tomlinson would dish out a high 8/10 rating to the new Sunderland face on his debut, stating that the imposing 6 foot 4 defender read the game ‘superbly’ to play his part in the Wearside outfit picking up a hard-fought three points.

The Wales international will have to think about his future in the summer when it comes to his permanent employers on the South Coast, but will revel in getting more game-time at the Stadium of Light for the remainder of this season, having showcased early scenes that he could be a regular fixture in the starting lineup, much like young Rigg.

Sunderland star who left for £3.5m is now outscoring both Mundle & Mayenda

This former Sunderland striker has transformed into a goal machine.

ByKelan Sarson Sep 24, 2024

Attempts to make up for dismal first innings come to naught as home side blown away

David Hopps01-Sep-2021Nottinghamshire 448 (Patterson-White 101, Clarke 59, Fletcher 51) beat Somerset 107 (Fletcher 4-21) and 181 (Paterson 4-46) by an innings and 160 runsNot enough character, not enough discipline. Tom Abell was distraught over Somerset’s first-innings collapse. If he was that blunt to the media, what did he say in the dressing room? The message was abundantly clear: it was time to regain some respect, to show some discipline, to dig in.The temptation to imagine Somerset’s young thrusters looking in bewilderment at Abell’s instructions was irresistible.”Well, I’ve got this shot where I swivel yards outside off stump and slam it behind square leg for six,” Tom Lammonby might have ventured.”That’s nothing,” Tom Banton might have answered in turn. “I can slog-sweep the quicks over midwicket as well as anyone, if you like.””That’s just too high risk,” says Abell. “I want percentage shots.””Maybe I could swivel, but not so far?” offers Lammonby.”I never really understood percentages,” mutters Banton.More seasoned professionals, who have seen it all before, nod in acquiescence at such moments and privately tell themselves they will bat with serious intent. But while the older players will merely recalibrate slightly for the matches to follow, or just accept it as one of those things, Somerset’s younger pros have a greater challenge to find a workable Championship tempo.Banton and Lammonby have two half-centuries in 28 Championship starts. Banton averages around 21, Lammonby around 15. Banton’s Championship approach looks a bit shot; in fact, even in the shorter formats, the daring with which he burst on to the scene is now tinged with doubt. Lammonby just looks strokeless. Lewis Goldsworthy, too – a third talented young buck, although as yet not so highly feted – has a similar return.Banton and Lammonby are quite rightly regarded as two of the most thrilling white-ball batters to come out of Somerset for many a year. But you could feel their growing pains. Take chances, push the boundaries and make mistakes is the creed that has carried them so far, but bowlers are learning more about their games and, anyway, in the Championship there are deeper truths and they have yet to find them. Certainly, both need more get-out shots, workaday solutions that keep risk to a minimum. But when four-day cricket is not their first love – and no matter how much they keep up appearances it probably isn’t – finding solutions is psychologically even harder. They literally have run before they can walk.It was shortly after 5 o’clock when Somerset were beaten by an innings and 160 runs, dismissed second time around for 181 to follow up their 107 in the first innings. Everybody tried to dig in, nobody succeeded. They lasted 28 overs longer, but the irony was inescapable that their two highest-scoring batters, Jack Leach and Marchant de Lange, got there by accepting the inevitability of defeat and having a bit of a swing after tea.”We could have done that,” one could fancy that Banton and Lammonby mused in unison.For Nottinghamshire, the first phase in this four-game Division One climax could not have been more fruitful. Their first win at Taunton since 1985 was also their biggest victory margin in history against Somerset. Luke Fletcher and Dane Paterson bowled splendidly throughout, both taking seven wickets in the match as they outdid their Somerset counterparts. They began the season without a Championship win for nearly three years and are now very much in the title shake-up.For Somerset, the manner of defeat questioned their Championship credentials in the absence of two key seam-bowling allrounders, Craig Overton and Lewis Gregory. Leach needs a pitch offering some turn, but he is unlikely to get that against Yorkshire at Scarborough next week and when Lancashire come to Taunton the week after they will carry the legspin threat of Matt Parkinson in return.Somerset’s first three wickets fell to excellent deliveries – Steve Davies, edging one from Fletcher that seamed away; Abell, after 11 in 56 balls, edging one from Paterson that this time did not swing in but held its line; James Hildreth leaving Fletcher’s inswinger, his off stump rattled.For a long period on either side of lunch, Paterson to Lammonby was on repeat. Paterson, sensing that Lammonby had eschewed all temptation, repeatedly offered up deliveries wide outside off stump and Lammonby, a tall man crouching forward, let them pass. When Paterson took a breather, he had figures of 9-6-4-1 and Lammonby had failed to score off 23 balls from him, or the same ball, 23 times.Lammonby found some release when Notts skipper, Steven Mullaney, filled in with a few overs of medium pace – he swung it, too – and he also hooked Brett Hutton down to long leg. But on 34, from 95 balls, he pushed at a good ball from Hutton and was caught at first slip.Banton’s demise came when Paterson squared him up to be lbw. It put him out of his misery and that misery must not be allowed to fester. By the end of the over, only a single from Leach had prevented Paterson taking a triple-wicket maiden. Roelof van der Merwe clipped his first ball to square leg and Goldsworthy, another figure of undying responsibility, lost his off stump.Somerset were 86 for 7 after 48.5 overs, a penitent innings that had achieved nothing.Andy Hurry, Somerset’s director of cricket, was left to reflect upon it all. “We were in game on the first day, but Liam Patterson-White’s century took it away from us and since then we have been totally outplayed,” he said. “We came into the game with high expectations, but respect to Notts for how they went about things and we can certainly learn a few lessons from that. There were no redeeming features in our performance. We expect better individually and collectively from Somerset players.”

It was a horrible day at the office for Mikel Arteta's frontline, with a barrage of missed chances costing them a place in the fourth round.

Arsenal failed to take advantage of Manchester United playing around an hour with 10 men as they were held 1-1 by the Red Devils in the third round of the FA Cup before losing out on penalties on Sunday.

Arsenal thought they had taken the lead through Gabriel Martinelli after he appeared to beat the offside trap, but as he rolled the ball into the net, the linesman's flag was raised. The first half otherwise passed in a flash, but the game sparked into life after the break.

As they have done on their last few visits to the Emirates, United took the lead. A switch of play from Harry Maguire was not cleared by Gabriel Magalhaes and was pounced upon by Alejandro Garnacho, who broke away with pace before squaring to Bruno Fernandes, who finished emphatically.

However, the lead did not last long as 10 minutes later chaos reigned. Diogo Dalot saw red for a ridiculous tackle on Mikel Merino that led to a second yellow card, and less than two minutes later, Arsenal had the ball in the back of the net courtesy of a smart turn and finish from Gabriel, although Altay Bayindir's rogue punch straight into the air in the build-up was rightfully questioned.

The game seemed to have a theme of redemption, and after Gabriel made up for his mistake, Bayindir followed suit. Maguire was deemed to have fouled Kai Havertz in the box by referee Andy Madley, but Martin Odegaard's spot-kick was saved well by the Turkish international.

With no further breakthrough after 90 minutes, fans were treated to extra-time, but there was little goalmouth action as penalties loomed. Substitute Declan Rice saw a low effort saved at one end, while Joshua Zirkzee forced the same outcome at the other.

The shootout saw plenty of good strikes, but Havertz – the man who missed so many chances in the game – failed to convert for the hosts as United did not miss a single effort, with Zirkzee confirming their place in the fourth round of the FA Cup.

GOAL rates Arsenal players from the Emirates…

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David Raya (7/10):

Made some smart stops and a big save from Zirkzee in extra-time to deny United what may have been a winner.

Jurrien Timber (7/10):

Dealt with any United threats comfortably, forcing the visitors to stage most of their attacks down the opposite flank through Garnacho and Amad.

William Saliba (5/10):

Struggled against Hojlund's physicality until the Dane was withdrawn. Looked was slightly off the pace.

Gabriel Magalhaes (6/10):

Had a mixed afternoon after his tame clearance cost Arsenal a goal, but the defender redeemed himself with the equaliser in the second half.

Myles Lewis-Skelly (6/10):

Was beaten by Garnacho more than once on the left and his aggressive nature left a lot of risk at the back, particularly with United playing on the counter-attack.

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Martin Odegaard (5/10):

Failed to step up in the big moment for Arsenal, missing a penalty which would have put his side in full control of the tie, but did bury his effort in the shoot-out

Jorginho (6/10):

Was rarely mentioned in the game but did his usual dirty work in midfield, sweeping up and keeping the Gunners on the front foot.

Mikel Merino (5/10):

Aside from one effort at goal, the Spaniard was not able to add much quality and it was no surprise to see him replaced by Rice.

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Kai Havertz (3/10):

Involved in a few clashes with United players, including after the penalty was awarded, and lacked a clinical edge in the final third, scuffing more than one shot at goal. Missing a penalty in the shoot-out capped off a day to forget for the ex-Chelsea man.

Gabriel Jesus (6/10):

Was growing into the game with his fluid movement before suffering an unfortunate knee injury in the first half, which required the Brazilian to be stretchered off.

Gabriel Martinelli (7/10):

Impressed in the first half with his pace and was unfortunate to see a goal ruled out through offside, but his influence dropped in the second half.

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Raheem Sterling (5/10):

Replaced the injured Jesus, but as usual left much to be desired, looking a shadow of his former self.

Declan Rice (7/10):

Saw a brilliant header saved with 15 minutes to go at 1-1, but certainly made an impact off the bench.

Leandro Trossard (6/10):

Replaced the tired Lewis-Skelly and had a golden chance to score in extra-time but could not tap into an empty net.

Thomas Partey (6/10):

Added some fresh legs in extra-time as Arsenal pushed for a winner.

Kieran Tierney (N/A):

Saw seven minutes of action with Jorginho hobbling off late on.

Mikel Arteta (6/10):

Did not have too many options available from the bench, but introduced Rice at an important time in the match before adding fresh legs for extra time.