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Aston Villa tasted their first Premier League defeat under Steven Gerrard as they slipped to a 2-1 loss at the hands of Manchester City on Wednesday night.

The Villans fell behind to strikes from Ruben Dias and Bernardo Silva in the first-half, and while Ollie Watkins managed to pull a goal back shortly after the break, they couldn’t drum up any more pressure to seal an equaliser.

While there were a number of players who performed quite well against the Premier League champions, Matt Targett was arguably one of the very few who had a rather difficult night.

Having to come up against both Riyad Mahrez and Joao Cancelo was hardly the most easiest of tasks to begin with, but the full-back seemed to get his positioning wrong at times, either not getting quick enough out wide or getting caught high up the pitch.

As per Sofascore, he won just 50% of his duels on the night while he was also dribbled past twice, the second-most of any Villa player – an indication of how City’s right-hand side looked to take him on at every available opportunity.

It was no surprise then that he couldn’t offer much support going forward either, and he actually managed fewer touches and passes than goalkeeper Emi Martinez.

And, writing in his post-match player ratings for The Birmingham Mail, Ashley Preece gave him a a 6.5, saying: “Had both Mahrez and Cancelo to content with for large parts with that City duo doubling up on Villa’s isolated left-back. The left-back was caught high up fort City’s second as Jesus was given acres to cross for Bernardo. Overall, Targett did OK and won his fair share of tackles before having to be replaced after a head injury.”

On Twitter, Claret Villans simply posted that Targett was having a “rough outing”, and his failure to get his head on the ball for Dias’ strike rather summed it all up.

The 26-year-old could certainly have done with more help from his teammates however, and Gerrard will surely be looking to that his team’s wide players carry out their defensive duties and ensure a repeat doesn’t happen again.

Meanwhile, Villa are interested in signing this French midfielder…

Leeds United have received a triple injury boost ahead of their Premier League clash with Brentford at Elland Road this afternoon.

What’s the word?

In Friday’s press conference, Marcelo Bielsa confirmed Patrick Bamford, Luke Ayling and Pascal Struijk will be available for selection once again over the weekend following their respective fitness woes.

“It’s likely Patrick and Luke [Ayling] will be available on Sunday. Pascal [Struijk] has a knock around his hip, but we think he’ll also be available,” Bielsa revealed to reporters during his pre-game press conference.

Marcelo Bielsa will be delighted

News that all of Bamford, Ayling and Struijk could return to the matchday squad against the Bees will leave Bielsa feeling absolutely delighted, given their importance to the first-team squad.

Leeds have a great opportunity to secure consecutive victories in the Premier League for the first time this season when they take on Thomas Franks’s newly-promoted charges over the weekend.

Raphinha’s injury-time penalty last time out snatched all three points against Crystal Palace, but their performance level still left significant room for improvement.

Therefore, Bielsa will be relieved that the returning trio will once again be at his disposal.

Last term, Bamford finished as the west Yorkshire outfit’s top scorer with a hugely impressive 17 strikes in the Premier League, while Ayling and Struijk also played a pivotal part in their success. ,

As per Whoscored, Ayling averaged 2.8 tackles per league game throughout 2020/21, bettering all of his teammates tallies, and Strujik notched up 3.1 clearances, also outperforming all of his colleagues.

With Leeds currently just three places and five points above the relegation zone having played a game more than 18th-placed Burnley, securing a positive result against Brentford could be crucial to the Whites’ season, meaning Bielsa will warmly welcome the trio’s comebacks.

And, in other news…Bielsa could repeat Gelhardt masterclass with Leeds swoop for 20 y/o “manager’s dream”

The West Indies captain has said he is fully motivated for the upcoming limited-overs series against Australia

Cricinfo staff03-Feb-2010West Indies captain Chris Gayle has said he is fully motivated for the upcoming limited-overs series against Australia. It’s been a over a month since West Indies returned home after being beaten 2-0 in the three Test series in Australia, but Gayle stayed behind to represent Queensland Bulls in the Twenty20 Big Bash. However, he said he was focused on coming out trumps in the five ODIs and two Twenty20 internationals.”I am feeling really good. I’m happy to be back in the groove and representing the West Indies,” Gayle told . “We are without two key batsmen, Shiv [Chanderpaul] and [Ramnaresh] Sarwan but this is a chance for other players to grab the opportunity and make a name. It will be a challenging tour but I know we are capable of winning.”With injuries also sidelining bowlers Fidel Edwards and Jerome Taylor, West Indies have been forced to turn to more untested players. Fast bowler Kemar Roach has played just seven ODIs, while fellow seamer Ravi Rampaul has played 36 games over a six-year span. Another paceman Gavin Tonge has managed just five.However, Gayle believed the unit possessed enough quality and backed them to perform against the in-form Australians. “The Aussies are a good team and they played well against Pakistan, but they are beatable,” he said. “We have been watching the series and we have seen what the Australians have to offer.”On our side we have a lot to offer. We have depth, and we have players who are capable match-winners. Everyone knows what is required.”West Indies have just one warm-up match before the series kicks off in Melbourne on Sunday and Gayle said the team was taking the tour game, against a Matthew Hayden-led Prime Minister’s XI at Manuka Oval tomorrow, very seriously.”We know the Aussies will come hard against us and we know we have to be on the money,” Gayle said. “We need a good start and we will be looking to start well against the Prime Minister’s XI. This will be a very serious game for us. We want a solid start and we want all the players to be in the right frame of mind when we take to the field on Thursday.”

A round-up of the second day’s action in the fifth round of matches of the 2009-10 Regional Four-Day Competition

Cricinfo staff14-Feb-2010A career-best eight wickets from the legspinner Odean Brown secured Jamaica a first-innings lead over Combined Campuses and Colleges at the Guyana National Stadium. Today it was CCC’s turn to struggle against spin – on day one Jamaica collapsed to Ryan Austin – and their failure allowed Jamaica turn the tables around on day two. Brown snared 8 for 54 from 28.4 overs to send CCC crashing to 161 in reply to Jamaica’s 202; the main contributors to that poor total were Kjorn Ottley (44) and the opener Kyle Corbin (34). Tamar Lambert, the Jamaican captain, backed up Brown with 2 for 21 from 13 overs of offspin. At stumps Jamaica were 37 for 2 with a lead of 78.Brown’s star turn triggered CCC’s collapse from 48 for 0 at lunch. He began the second session by bowling Corbin, 19, with a sharp legbreak and dismissed Omar Phillips via a return catch. Jamal Smith soon followed when he snicked one to Carlton Baugh jnr behind the stumps, and after a 48-run stand Ottley and Floyd Reifer fell in succession before tea. From 115 for 5, CCC folded for 161.At the Bourda, former West Indies allrounder Omari Banks snatched career-best figures to put Leeward Islands in a strong position against <b<Windward Islands. Banks ran through the Windwards' line-up to finish with 7 for 41 as they fell to 204 in reply to Leewards' 325, and that stellar performance gave his team the first-innings points and a lead of 121. That was extended to 143 runs atthe close, without any loss.Windwards had begun the day well, taking the last five Leewards wickets for 71, and were well placed at 81 for 1. Then came a dramatic collapse that saw eight wickets go down for 123 runs. Leading their demise was Banks and his tidy spin, which flummoxed the batsmen for flight and variation. Shane Shillingford's 52 contained eight fours and a pair of big sixes and after that the other contribution was Andre Fletcher's stroke-filled 50 off 82 balls. Banks struck after Windwards were 81 for 2. First he had Liam Sebastian held at slip and then sent back Donwell Hector for 1 as the scoreline became 92 for 4. Lyndon James survived the hat-trick but became Banks' third victim at 102 for 5 when he was snapped up by Mali Richards at short mid-off for 10. The rest came and went without much conviction.Tino Best and Ryan Hinds combined to leave Guyana on the ropes at 189 for 7 against Barbados at the Albion Sports Complex. Best picked up four wickets and Hinds three – following a half-century on day one – and Guyana were 214 runs behind Barbados at stumps. The visitors had extended their score from an overnight 326 for 5 to 403, with Devendra Bishoo taking four wickets on day two, and Best and Hinds combined to shut Guyana out. Only the No. 3 Gajanand Singh, with 66, offered any resistance..

Gareth Bale has been linked with another return to Tottenham Hotspur…

What’s the word?

That’s according Spanish outlet Super Deporte, who claim that Spurs are the most interested team as he enters the final few months of his current contract at Real Madrid.

Los Blancos president Florentino Perez has already made it clear that he does not intend to extend the Welshman’s deal at the Bernabeu, meaning he will be available for nothing in the summer and can even speak to foreign teams from January.

It’s believed that Antonio Conte has the final word on whether or not the Lilywhites sign Bale for a third time.

Kane’s saviour

And approve a deal he must.

Despite rarely featuring under Jose Mourinho and then interim Ryan Mason during last season’s loan spell, Spurs have sorely missed his influence in the final third.

Indeed, the north London giants are struggling to score goals.

Only rock-bottom Norwich City (10.7) have averaged fewer shots than Spurs (10.9), whilst the fifth-placed outfit are inside the bottom seven for expected goals, as per Understat.

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Bale bagged three goals in seven starts in the Europa League and found the net 11 times (third-most) in the league, even though he started ten of his 20 appearances, via WhoScored. He managed a goal or assist every 71 minutes and that’s exactly what Conte needs to get Spurs firing on all cylinders again.

As such, the burden would be lowered on Harry Kane, who has delivered just one goal in the Premier League all season.

Furthermore, the pair combined for four goals in their 772 minutes on the pitch together last season, so you’d imagine that if they featured together more regularly, then the Spurs duo could be a lethal duo in the attack more often.

Even Mourinho dubbed the 6 foot 1 winger “remarkable” for his “incredible” impact at the club, both on and off the pitch, so that’s another encouraging factor for Conte to consider.

The 100-time Wales international, who is valued at £9m by Transfermarkt, would be an astute free signing for Spurs in the summer. Fabio Paratici and co must look to seal his permanent signature this time around.

AND in other news, 67% duels lost: “Special” £17m-rated Spurs dud may have blown his chance under Conte…

Rangers manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst has won six of his first seven matches in charge of the Ibrox giants and is yet to taste defeat.

The ex-Feyenoord boss came in after the 3-1 loss to Hibernian in the League Cup and has gone on to win all five of his Premiership outings, whilst winning one and drawing one in the group stages of the Europa League.

They now play host to Dundee United in Glasgow as they look to extend that run, having beaten St Johnstone 2-0 in midweek.

Key issue

One change that could be enforced upon the head coach is axing Borna Barisic from the XI. Van Bronckhorst provided an update on the defender after the win on Wednesday, saying:

“He’s okay. He was just not feeling well. He’s not injured.”

Whilst he did not pick up a physical knock during the match, the news that he was feeling unwell is concerning ahead of this weekend. There is no need for the Gers to make him play through poor health, assuming he is still not 100% at the moment, and that means that he could be taken out of the team to give him a rest ahead of Christmas.

Van Bronckhorst could solve this key issue by unleashing the player who replaced him against St Johnstone. He was withdrawn from the match in the 79th minute and right-back Nathan Patterson came on to see out the game in an unnatural position. However, he was quickly able to adapt to his surroundings and won all three of his ground duels during his cameo, whilst completing 89% of his passes and making three tackles.

Celtic midfielder Callum McGregor previously lauded the young defender whilst on international duty with him for Scotland, saying:

“He’s been absolutely first class. You can tell he’s a real talent – even from the first day he trained with us in the summer.

“You could see his quality, his athleticism. And it’s great to see him make such a big impact, getting off the mark with a goal. He needs to just keep his head down and keep working hard. Other experienced boys will keep him on the right track, keep him honest.”

Patterson, who Che Adams once dubbed as “amazing”, scored and provided an assist in his last outing for Scotland as they beat Moldova 2-0 in a World Cup Qualifier. He also has one assist in five Premiership appearances, having started once, this season – showing off the attacking threat he can provide from full-back.

The £4.9k-per-week gem could, therefore, be an ideal choice to come in and replace Barisic at left-back for a game if he is not well enough to start. He showed great promise with his cameo in the week and he has proven his quality at right-back in his aforementioned games for club and country, which is why van Bronckhorst must unleash him this weekend.

AND in other news, 86% duels won: Rangers beast who made 5 tackles vs St Johnstone surely had Gio purring…

Bangladesh are not going down without a fight as backs-to-the-wall resistance from Junaid Siddique and Mushfiqur Rahim ensured England will have to come back for a fifth day

The Bulletin by Andrew McGlashan15-Mar-2010
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsJunaid Siddique battled hard through two sessions to remain unbeaten at the close•PA PhotosBangladesh are not going down without a fight as backs-to-the-wall resistance from Junaid Siddique and Mushfiqur Rahim ensured England will have to come back for a fifth day. When the home side were reduced to 110 for 5 shortly before tea the hard work had seemingly been done, but the sixth-wicket pair remained undefeated throughout the final session.There has been a sense of inevitability about this whole match, but Bangladesh’s periods of resistance have made England dig deep in hot conditions. Siddique showed great determination after being worked over in the first innings and, barring the occasion lapse in judgement, was impressively solid during a four-and-a-half hour stay. He proved that Bangladesh batsmen are capable of occupying the crease without regularly finding the boundary and each time his concentration appeared to be wavering he refocused.Rahim followed his first-innings 79 with another composed, mature innings and he was rarely troubled by pace or spin, except from the occasional top-edged sweep. He passed 1000 runs in his 20th Test and again struck the ball cleanly when boundary opportunities were offered. England will look forward to the new ball in the morning, but creating chances when conditions go flat remains a challenge.The pace bowlers certainly felt the heat as they operated in short bursts, while Graeme Swann continued his notable match by booking in for a 25-over spell before being given a break – and that was only for a change of ends. Tim Bresnan was the most impressive paceman, particularly with a six-over spell in the afternoon session where he extracted Aftab Ahmed and Mahmudullah with reverse swing, but Stuart Broad appeared laboured and couldn’t match the menace of the first innings.England batted on for 50 minutes to leave Bangladesh a hypothetical target of 513 with the decision based more on time that it was runs. Alastair Cook is following the conservative route of Andrew Strauss when he comes to declarations. After the way Broad bombed the top order in the first innings it wasn’t a surprise when the same tactics were used again. Tamim Iqbal was again the more confident of the openers, but Imrul Kayes offered greater determination after a limp first-innings dismissal as he survived the short ball.Both Broad and Bresnan were rested after four-over spells – while Broad regularly got his head swathed in a cold towel at fine leg – with Swann given a successful early bowl and Steven Finn offered a chance with the ball still reasonably hard. In his second over, Swann produced another lovely piece of bowling when he spun one past Tamim’s outside edge to take off stump.Finn immediately hit a testing line and made Siddique inside edge close to the stumps and Kayes couldn’t build on his gutsy start as Finn showed the value of height to make one climb outside off and graze the edge through to Matt Prior. The more Finn bowls the more exciting a prospect he appears and his two wickets doesn’t reflect his endeavours.England were frustrated during the afternoon session as Aftab and Siddique played with impressive restraint. There was very little help off the pitch for either the quicks or Swann, but at around the 30-over mark the ball began to reverse. Bresnan has been more of a threat with the older ball in this game than with the new one and caused problems from the start of his second spell.In his second over he found Aftab’s edge with a full delivery as the batsman drove without much footwork to undo his hard work. Mahmudullah found life tough against the late movement, getting off the mark with a streaky edge to third man, and soon played all round a full delivery. It was a loose shot for a talented batsman but Bresnan deserved his success.Shakib Al Hasan completed a poor match with the bat, although can feel aggrieved with his decision after replays showed he gloved a sweep that Tony Hill ruled had come off the pad. Shakib has felt his team hasn’t had much luck with umpiring decisions and his anger was clear. However, the fact he fell to Swann wasn’t a surprise. The offspinner has had the Bangladesh’s captain number throughout the tour and had almost bowled him first ball.That loss appeared to open the door for a swift conclusion and an extra day off for England’s weary attack, but there is more bottle in this Bangladesh side than some people give them credit for. England will still win, but Test victories are meant to be earned and the home side have ensured it hasn’t been handed to them on a plate.

Those who scoffed at Yorkshire’s self-belief after the side tipped for relegation had won their opening two matches might decide to keep their thoughts to themselves if Andrew Gale’s young team can turn a compellingly strong position in this contest into

Jon Culley at Headingley 28-Apr-2010
ScorecardJacques Rudolph left Durham left Durham’s depleted bowling attack with an undefeated 228•Getty ImagesThose who scoffed at Yorkshire’s self-belief after the side tipped for relegation had won their opening two matches might decide to keep their thoughts to themselves if Andrew Gale’s young team can turn a compellingly strong position in this contest into an emphatic victory over the defending champions.It not yet being May, there is a temptation to dismiss early-season results as not particularly relevant, on the basis that there is still a long way to go. In fact, after what had appeared to be a ridiculously early start, bound to be ruined by the weather, has instead produced three weeks of unbroken and positive cricket, we may be witnessing the decisive phase of the campaign.Durham’s crown has not slipped yet – they did, after all, beat Hampshire, supposedly a key rival, only last week – but they are looking much less invincible than had been supposed, particularly with their bowling resources so stretched. A comeback game for Graham Onions is still some way off and Steve Harmison’s back is taking time to heal. Given that those two shared 96 wickets last season, it is little wonder Durham are feeling their absence.Here they need to reach 461 merely to avoid the follow on after a second day dominated by Yorkshire, in which the redoubtable Jacques Rudolph, despite taking a bang on the helmet when a shot from partner and fellow centurion Anthony McGrath caught him with a glancing blow, expanded an epic innings to seven and three quarter hours, eclipsing his own personal best.Having laboured so long in the field, unable to make much headway on a slow pitch against batsmen happy to accumulate rather than take liberties, they might have hoped at least to post a sizeable total of their own, but after losing three wickets in the last session, their prospects look less than rosy.Ominously, moreover, they lost two of those wickets to consecutive deliveries by Adil Rashid, the leg-spinner, who has the experience now to deliver what Durham’s Scott Borthwick, the 20-year-old, could only hint at.Rudolph, the South African left-hander, walked off unbeaten on 228, bettering the 222 not out he made on his Test debut against Bangladesh in 2003, after Gale had decided he had enough in the bank 38 minutes after tea.The runs took his tally for the season to 473. He is on course already to be Yorkshire’s top scorer for the fourth season running. A controversial signing when he arrived in 2007, penning a Kolpak deal only five months after playing his 36th Test for South Africa, Yorkshire can count themselves fortunate to have him. His arrival might have been blocked in the first place but, after passing the revised Kolpak criteria for this season, he is contracted to stay now until the end of next season.Bizarrely, he and McGrath attracted criticism for scoring too slowly at times yesterday, not least when the chance to push on for a fourth batting point was allowed to pass with no discernible change in approach. But perhaps that is a legacy of the tempo at which much of today’s cricket tends to be played, prompting questions to be asked if a feat happens not to be achieved at high speed.A measured approach is sometimes exactly what is required and this Rudolph innings should not be considered a lesser achievement just because it was more workmanlike than classical. And no batsman hits 35 boundaries without unfurling the odd high-quality shot and when there are so many running off towards the fence it is easy for the appreciation to be dulled.The partnership with McGrath was in itself a tour de force, adding 206 in 74 overs and grinding Durham’s spirits to dust, even if it ended a little farcically, McGrath setting off for a run to mid-off, Rudolph declining and Dale Benkenstein hurting his knee as he retrieved the ball and executed the run-out.Gale missed an opportunity of his own, driving a widish ball from Liam Plunkett to square cover, before Borthwick bowled Jonathan Bairstow and had Rashid caught low down at extra cover. Borthwick’s overs were experience in the bank for a young player who will hope to emulate Rashid.They were of small consolation later, however. Durham survived Tino Best’s first Championship overs for Yorkshire but lost Kyle Coetzer when Rudolph grabbed a catch at first slip off Steve Patterson at the second attempt before two Rashid googlies accounted for Will Smith and nightwatchman Mark Davies. They have it all to do on day three.

Flocking to Twitter, many Manchester City fans have been left buzzing as some news emerges on Gabriel Jesus and his future at Eastlands.

The Brazilian has become a regular under Pep Guardiola this season, shining in a new role on the right hand side of City’s forward line.

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Jesus, grabbing more assists than any Sky Blues player in the Premier League over 2021/2022 so far, has been rejuvenated and arguably one of City’s most improved players.

Averaging the joint-third most shots per 90 out of City’s squad in that time (WhoScored), the 24-year-old is a consistent threat, leaving little wonder some news has emerged on what sporting director Txiki Begiristain could now offer the player.

According to 90min, the club are now preparing to offer Jesus a new deal and are ready to open talks with his entourage over fresh terms.

His current contract has 18 months left to run and it is believed that City are now lining up a move to tie him down for the foreseeable future.

City fans buzz…

Given how much the South American ace has thrived under Guardiola in a new role out wide, it’s little wonder City supporters are buzzing at this news.

City value Jesus at up to €65 million (£55m) and that should only increase with these consistent performances – especially considering he’s still fairly young.

Amassing over half a century of international caps for Brazil already, the striker’s quality is obvious, with many fans very keen to see him extend his stay at Eastlands.

Find all of their best reactions down below:

“Ah yes, finally getting our priorities straight “

Credit: @BFordiniho

“Excellent news and well deserved”

Credit: @MillerMattu

“PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE HAPPEN”

Credit: @gabbyjesus_9

“One of our big game players, get it done asap”

Credit: @10jackyG

“Great news, love Gabby.”

Credit: @JustKiam

“Yesssssss”

Credit: @MosesOnduso5

“I begggg this happens”

Credit: @gabbyjesus_9

In other news: ‘Let’s goooo’, ‘Coming home’, ‘I beg’…Sky’s news on Haaland has many Man City fans excited, find out more here.

A four-wicket haul from medium-pacer Asad Ali and a century from Imran Farhat inflicted on Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Panthers their third consecutive defeat in the Pentangular One Day Cup, and handed Punjab Stallions a six-wicket win

Cricinfo staff25-Apr-2010
ScorecardA four-wicket haul from medium-pacer Asad Ali and a century from Imran Farhat inflicted on Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Panthers their third consecutive defeat in the Pentangular One Day Cup, and handed Punjab Stallions a six-wicket win. Wicketkeeper Ahmed Said scored 51, striking three boundaries, but was short of support from the other batsmen as the Panthers were bowled out for 197. Asad was supported by Mohammad Talha and Raza Hasan, who bagged two wickets each.Farhat ensured the target was achieved with ease, smacking eight fours and two sixes in his 125-ball knock. He remained unbeaten, supported by useful contributions from the middle order to seal victory with 67 balls to spare.