Category: Football

When Jadon Sancho pulled on an England shirt to make his Three Lions debut, it was notable for more than one reason. While the Borussia Dortmund speedster was the first player born since 2000 to represent England at senior level, his substitute appearance in Croatia also anointed him as the nation’s maiden international to have regularly used futsal as part of his development. Although…

Manuel Pellegrini is facing somewhat of an injury crisis at West Ham over the holiday period, with a significant number of his first-choice players out with knocks. December injuries to Fabian Balbuena, Lucas Perez, Javier Hernandez and Marko Arnautovic mean that West Ham's casualty list has extended to double figures. Read more: Fernandinho injury: Will Manchester City star be fit to face Southampton? For the 4.9 per cent…

Manchester City's Premier League campaign has hit rocky ground in the past fortnight, with back-to-back league losses to Crystal Palace and Leicester City. As a result, Pep Guardiola's side have slipped from comfortably first to third in the table, behind Liverpool and Tottenham. With injuries and suspensions mounting in key positions, Guardiola may be minded to turn to the January transfer window to strengthen his squad…

He's the league's form player, rattling in six goals and laying on a further three assists in just five matches. But come January Son Heung-min is set to miss a series of league fixtures as he prepares to take part in the Asian Cup with South Korea. The call-up could have huge ramifications for Tottenham, the title race and the Fantasy Premier League. Nearl…

England football manager Gareth Southgate, Three Lions captain Harry Kane and cyclist Geraint Thomas are among the sports stars decorated with awards for their achievements. Southgate, who led the national team to its first World Cup semi-final since 1990, is appointed an OBE for his services to football. Southgate said: “I'm an incredibly proud Englishman, so having had the opportunity to have represented my country…

December is a time for clip shows, running through the highlights – or lowlights – of a memorable year, decade or lifetime. With that in mind, it felt apt at this time to focus on a one-man own goal highlight reel, football’s own Gil Gunderson: Mr Richard Dunne. Dunne turned bad luck into an art form during nearly two decades in the Premier League,…

There must have been something in the air over New Year’s weekend in 2011/12, with the four teams occupying the Champions League qualification spots all failing to emerge victorious in the Premier League. Yet whereas third-placed Tottenham Hotspur at least managed a draw against Swansea City, each of Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City were unable to even pick up a point… Chelsea 1-3…

It's not only Christmas weight that needs to be shed at this time of the year. Come the Christmas period, Fantasy Premier League managers often use their last opportunity to redeem their first wildcard and revamp teams bloated with point-fearing players. Consider recruiting one of the following players if you are undergoing a last-minute clean-out of your FPL squad. Abdoulaye Doucoure, Watford Abdoulaye Doucoure…

In the lead up to Gameweek 19 there was a sudden mad rush to recruit any attacking option wearing the red and black of Manchester United, this following their attacking renaissance under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Before a ball was kicked at Old Trafford, however, there was bad news for the 250,000 odd Fantasy Premier League managers who had signed Anthony Martial. The Frenchman wasn't…

Bournemouth travel to Old Trafford to face Manchester United smarting from a Boxing Day 5-0 thrashing at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur. A tough test faces Eddie Howe's side, as they will play a Red Devils team reenergised under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Under the Norwegian interim boss the Mancunians have scored eight goals in two victories. Read more: Next Manchester United manager: 5 contenders for permanent…

Buoyed by two wins in his first two matches, interim Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer can feel confident of being backed financially to achieve in the Premier League or in Europe this season. He likely will not be allowed to spend to the same degree as Jose Mourinho‘s first transfer window (£185m and Zlatan Ibrahimovic on a free), but he'll be given a…

Welcome to the BetBright STATZONE, where we give you the stats and you make the decisions! The Premier League action is coming at us thick-and-fast at the moment as we head into week 20. Another big set of fixtures over Saturday and Sunday – we get going on Saturday (29th) with five 3pm games that include Spurs v Wolves and Leicester hosting Cardiff, while…

Southampton, 1998/99 When Santa Claus was making his way down the world’s chimneys on Christmas Day 1998, there was little festive cheer to be found in Southampton. Dave Jones’ men were mired in a relegation battle having won just three of their first 18 matches and conceded 35 goals – the worst defensive record in the division. A 2-0 defeat by Chelsea followed on…

KING POWER STADIUM, LEICESTER — Football’s greatest asset is not the quality of the players. It is not the personality of the managers either, though both are great. Its capacity to bring people together is wonderful too, although it sounds a little too much like a line said smugly by a Fifa executive who 10 years later gets led out from a Swiss hotel…

CHAMPION HILL, LONDON — Ten months away from home. That’s how long Dulwich Hamlet spent exiled from Champion Hill. When property developers Meadow Residential locked them out of their ground in March, it seemed like an existential threat to a club which had been one of non-league football’s greatest success stories in the years previous. Thousands of fans were left with the prospect of nowhere to go…