Category Uncategorized

Nottingham Forest haven’t enjoyed a positive start to life under Ange Postecoglou and a key update on his future has now emerged from the City Ground.

Nottingham Forest suffer damaging Europa League defeat

The fairytale return of Nottingham Forest to the European scene was a just reward for an excellent campaign last term. However, their shock 3-2 defeat at home to FC Midtjylland was a stark reminder of the frailties present within Postecoglou’s side.

Despite being alive in the majority of the Australian’s matches so far, conceding at awkward times has led to six games without a win under the former Celtic boss, breeding an elevated level of pressure on him to get it right in the East Midlands.

Speaking post-match, Postecoglou remained unbothered by chants calling for his dismissal, claiming that nothing surprises him in football anymore.

He said: “I heard it. They’re fans, they want to see their team win, and they’re entitled to their opinion. Nothing surprises me in football any more. We’ve just got to keep going. There is no hiding in the sport we’re in. Got to keep your head up and recover. We have a tough game against Newcastle at the weekend.”

With high-profile pundits such as Tim Howard among his detractors, Postecoglou has work to do in order to prove the doubters wrong, but that sort of challenge saw him win the Europa League last term, hence why it would be premature to count him out.

Nottingham Forest star fumes at something he's "never seen" before vs Sunderland

The Tricky Trees are still yet to find a victory under Ange Postecoglou.

By
Sean Markus Clifford

Sep 28, 2025

Newcastle United await on Sunday and won’t be an easy outfit to overcome. Nevertheless, their indifferent start to the Premier League season may offer a sliver of hope to the travelling supporters.

Either way, a change in mood is needed at the City Ground, though how are the Nottingham Forest hierarchy feeling about Postecoglou’s situation? Fabrizio Romano has delivered an update on that front.

Fabrizio Romano on how Nottingham Forest view Ange Postecoglou

Writing in his GIVEMESPORT newsletter, Romano has confirmed Nottingham Forest are being patient with Postecoglou and believe that he simply needs time to adapt before results improve at the City Ground.

Truthfully, Postecoglou is between a bit of a rock and a hard place, though he is certainly made of strong stuff and has shown he has the thick skin to come through adversity.

However, his side need to find a level of stability, as two draws and four defeats isn’t going to cut it if Nottingham Forest want to survive. Making their priorities clear, Evangelos Marinakis and company are opting to keep the faith for now.

Danni Wyatt-Hodge and Paige Scholfield raised a match-winning stand of 112 as Surrey women launched their Vitality Blast campaign with a convincing eight-wicket win over Somerset at the Cooper Associates Ground, Taunton.Both hit half-centuries, Scholfield top-scoring with an enterprising 63 from 48 balls with 11 fours, while former England star Wyatt-Hodge made 53 not out from 35 deliveries in a sparkling innings that included six fours and a six as the visitors chased down a modest target with 4.3 overs to spare to claim a bonus point.Put into bat, Somerset struggled to build partnerships, lost early wickets and came up short at 131 for 6, Alex Griffiths top-scoring with an unbeaten 37-ball 36 and Bex Odgers contributing 27. Surrey’s spinners made scoring difficult, Tilly Corteen-Coleman taking 2 for 21 and Danielle Gregory 1 for 18 from four tight overs.It was a disappointing outcome for Somerset, who were watched by a crowd of more than 2000. Surrey skipper Bryony Smith won the toss, elected to field and watched her bowlers make crucial early inroads during a powerplay in which the home side flattered to deceive.Amelie Munday came out swinging on debut and contributed 12 in an opening stand of 39 in four overs with Odgers before dragging a delivery from Ryana MacDonald-Gay onto her stumps. Alexa Stonehouse struck another blow for Surrey in the next over, having Emma Corney held at backward point, while Corteen-Coleman comprehensively bowled Fran Wilson as Somerset lost three wickets in seven balls, finding themselves in need of a rebuild at 47 for 3 in the sixth.Unperturbed, the no-nonsense Odgers continued to take the aerial route, accruing a quartet of fours in hurrying to 27 from 20 balls, only to then blot her copybook by offering a return catch to Gregory and departing with the score on 54 for 4. Seeking to stabilise the innings, the experienced pair of Sophie Luff and Griffiths were necessarily cautious in advancing the score to 74 for 4 at the halfway stage.Somerset’s fifth-wicket pair had added 34 in 5.3 overs and were looking to launch when Luff, who had scored 22, took on Phoebe Franklin and sliced high to Corteen-Coleman at short third man.Griffiths and Amanda-Jade Wellington attempted a change in tempo, but the latter fell for 11, attempting to reverse sweep Corteen-Coleman and finding point as the hosts slipped to 111 for 6 after 17 in the face of accurate bowing. Scoring at a run-a-ball, Griffiths did her utmost to haul Somerset to a competitive total, providing a flourish at the death in partnership with Chloe Skelton. But the visitors had good reason to feel satisfied with their work in the field.Somerset needed early wickets and Ellie Anderson removed Smith for 4, Surrey’s captain sending a top-edged pull shot to backward point in the second over. But Wyatt-Hodge and Scholfield quickly redressed the balance, finding the gaps with regularity and ruthlessly exploiting the poor ball, advancing the score to 44 for 1 at the end of the powerplay.Australia spinner Wellington kept the second wicket pair in check for a time, but there was a certain inevitability about proceedings as the partnership realised 50 from 35 balls. Growing in confidence, Wyatt-Hodge plundered a straight six off Wellington as the boundaries began to flow and Somerset’s fielding became ragged under pressure.Surrey reached halfway on 86 for 1, at which point the required rate was under five an over and the outcome a foregone conclusion. Playing fluently by now, Scholfield was first to 50, attaining that landmark via 37 balls with her ninth four, a straight drive at the expense of Wellington that also brought up the hundred partnership. Wyatt-Hodge brought up her half century from just 33 balls, seeing the job through after Scholfield had been bowed by Olivia Barnes.

At the end of the 2023/24 season, Newcastle United were dealt a cruel blow when Manchester United defeated Manchester City to lift the FA Cup.

The Red Devils finished eighth in the Premier League, and would not have played in European competition had victory over their rivals at Wembley not rolled out the red carpet toward the Europa League.

This came at the expense of Eddie Howe’s Magpies, who had battled hard despite a startling number of injuries across the season to finish seventh. Their European place was lost.

And now it is back, and what better way for Newcastle to begin their Champions League campaign than against Barcelona, one of the most historic teams on the continent?

At St. James’ Park, a cauldron of ear-splitting noise, anything can happen. And Howe will have drilled into his players a belief that they can indeed win.

All will need to be at the races, and there will be confidence in Nick Woltemade’s ability to build on last weekend’s goalscoring debut appearance in black and white.

Nick Woltemade's fast start at Newcastle

Newcastle failed to escape their group in 2023/24, but it was a tough group, and United’s campaign was strewn with misfortune and contentious decisions.

This time, Howe and Newcastle are more experienced, with the manager remarking that his side are “arguably stronger” than they were two years ago, even having sold Alexander Isak to Liverpool for a £125m fee on transfer deadline day.

Woltemade fills big boots, but his game-winning goal against Wolves on Saturday shows he’s up to the task, all right, not just scoring but producing a dynamic display which proves he, too, can serve Howe as a multi-faceted forward.

Minutes played

68′

Goals

1

Touches

20

Shots (on target)

3 (1)

Accurate passes

8/9 (89%)

Key passes

1

Tackles

3

Ground duels

5/7

Aerial duels

3/4

The 6 foot 6 star belies his lofty frame with a deftness of touch and technical command of a nimble, shifty striker. Isak was also big and boisterous, but silky and agile too, and while they differ as forwards, it’s clear that Woltemade has the tools to emulate his predecessor on Tyneside.

A standout showing against La Blaugrana would help him toward that reputation, to be sure.

However, Woltemade is only 23 and still settling into a new environment. The German will start in the absence of the injured Yoane Wissa, but he will need his teammates to step up and help him perform – and who better to inspire the troops than Bruno Guimaraes in the middle of the park?

Bruno Guimaraes could be Newcastle's talisman

At Newcastle, Isak wasn’t just an elite goalscorer, but a striker whose skillset was disproportionately greater than his positional role demanded.

That is why he was sold for a British-record fee, having been a title-winning talisman for the Toon last season. Now, Guimaraes appears to be stepping up, becoming an even brighter leading light than before, and in a different way to the Sweden striker.

Against Liverpool, Newcastle were defeated, but the Brazilian midfielder was hailed for his effort, winning seven duels, making three tackles and nodding home United’s first of two strikes.

It hasn’t been a characteristically imperious start to the season for Guimaraes, but he’s a perennially athletic number eight whose completeness has been freed up by the form of Sandro Tonali in a deeper-lying berth.

The 27-year-old loves Newcastle, and his energy and passion permeate across the pitch. It is for this reason he wears the armband, and he matches his intensity with a technical level that has led to interest from the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City, and a ward-away price tag of £100m.

According to data-driven platform FBref, he ranks among the top 8% of midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues for progressive passes, the top 2% for through balls and the top 9% for shot-creating actions per 90.

Guimaraes’ passing and vision provide the root of Woltemade’s potential against the La Liga champions. The South American has been described as an athletic “machine” by Newcastle blogger Thomas Hammond, with his impressive 7.5 ball recoveries per Premier League match this term a testament to that.

If Woltemade fails to show up, or indeed is nullified by a strong Barcelona backline, it will damage Newcastle’s chances, but it won’t negate them.

However, Guimaraes’ ability to stand up and perform in the midfield battle will be vital for Howe’s side, and if he manages to replicate the passion and desire that was on show against Liverpool last month, there’s every chance that Newcastle will pull off one of their great European nights on Tyneside.

Guimaraes is the complete package, and, in the prime of his career, will be determined to make this a season to remember for United, having tasted success in the Carabao Cup last year.

Newcastle have qualified for the Champions League across two of the past three seasons, bookending a year that frustrated the club and left them adrift from continental football after Man United shocked a few at Wembley.

Still. Howe and his outfit have shown a remarkable ability to overcome adversity and work their way toward a nailed-down position among the biggest hitters that the Champions League has to offer.

A big performance against Barcelona would rubber-stamp their position, and if Guimaraes is on his A-game, Newcastle might just do it.

He earns 2x more than Anderson: PIF must sell "disappointing" Newcastle dud

It may soon be time to cash in on this Newcastle star.

ByAngus Sinclair Sep 17, 2025

MatériaMais Notícias

Na vitória por 4 a 1 contra o Santos, Alexandre Pato marcou seu primeiro gol nesta terceira passagem pelo São Paulo. No Morumbi, comemorou colocando uma parte da fantasia do mascote do Tricolor, o Santo Paulo.

RelacionadasSão PauloPrioridades? Dorival Júnior explica se São Paulo vai abrir mão de alguma competiçãoSão Paulo16/07/2023Fora de CampoSão Paulo goleia Santos com direito a gol de Pato e torcedores vão à loucura; veja repercussãoFora de Campo16/07/2023São PauloATUAÇÕES: Calleri dá aula em clássico, Pato marca primeiro gol em retorno, e São Paulo anula Santos no BrasileirãoSão Paulo16/07/2023

Após a partida, Pato explicou o porquê de ter escolhido esta comemoração. De acordo com as palavras do jogador, era algo que já estava planejado há algum tempo.

– Já tinha pensado há muito tempo, hoje tive uma oportunidade especial. Pulei, ele estava do meu lado. Na hora, me deu uma fobia e eu não conseguia respirar. Pensei que eles iam vir e eu ia desmaiar lá, o Caio derrubou, saiu e deu tudo certo. Foi uma consequência que foi no símbolo onde eu já tinha marcado contra o Santos, sou muito grato – revelou.

ATUAÇÕES: Calleri dá aula em clássico, Pato marca primeiro gol em retorno, e São Paulo anula Santos no Brasileirão

 Para os tricolores paulistas apaixonados: produtos a partir de R$39,90 na FutFanatics!

Pato entrou quase nos minutos finais da partida, quando o São Paulo já estava com uma boa vantagem no placar. Entretanto, contou também que acreditava que não jogaria neste domingo (16).

– Eu achava que não ia entrar, não estava na expectativa, estava acabando. O jogo estava mais tranquilo, a torcida começou a gritar, quis fazer o meu. Deu certo e fui, estava meio ansioso e ainda deu para fazer um gol. Foi uma noite muito especial – disse.

Após passar por quase um ano sem jogar, Pato se referiu ao gol marcado como um gol de ‘superação’. O jogador ainda disparou: quer fazer história no Tricolor.

– Foi um gol de superação e entrega. Depois de dez meses, voltar… Não achei que fosse voltar para o São Paulo, me recebeu muito bem. Queria fazer gol antes e foi especial, espero que seja um começo de coisas muito boas. Quero fazer história no São Paulo – finalizou.

Heather Graham, Nicole Faltum and Charli Knott will captain Australia A in a multi-format series against England A from late March.The series includes three T20s, three one-day games and a four-day match with all the games being played in Sydney.Graham will lead the Australia A T20 side while Faltum, who has been called up for the T20I tour of New Zealand starting March 21, will captain the one-dayers and Queensland allrounder Knott will take charge of the four-day contest from April 12-15 at Cricket Central.

Australia A vs England A fixtures

26 March: First T20, Hurstville Oval

28 March: Second T20, Hurstville Oval

30 March: Third T20, Hurstville Oval

2 April: First 50-over match, Cricket Central, Sydney

4 April: Second 50-over match, Cricket Central, Sydney

7 April: Third 50-over match, Cricket Central, Sydney

12-15 April: Four-day match, Cricket Central, Sydney

The England A matches will be preceded by the second running of the Green vs Gold fixture where two groups of Australian players face each other in a three-day game which will be held in Canberra from March 12-14. The concept was introduced last year and Georgia Voll scored a double century.Faltum will captain the Green side while Gold will be led by Knott.”These series make up a crucial part of the elite player pathway, providing some our best and most promising domestic players with additional development opportunities and the chance to show selectors what they can do against strong international opposition,” national selector Shawn Flegler said.”The National Selection Panel is always looking to the future as we’ve seen in recent years with Georgia Voll and Phoebe Litchfield transitioning into the Australian team with great success, so this is a great opportunity to get a look at a wide range of players.”We’ve included some fresh faces across the squads and are excited to see the likes of Grace Dignam, Elsa Hunter, Gabby Sutcliffe, Sianna Ginger and Rhys McKenna in action.”With a one-day World Cup in India this year and a T20 World Cup next year, the ‘A’ series in particular, will allow us to have a good look at players we think could push for selection.”The visit of England A comes after the senior side was whitewashed 16-0 in the Ashes earlier in the season.

Australia A squads vs England A

T20s
Lauren Cheatle, Hannah Darlington, Sophie Day, Amy Edgar, Tess Flintoff, Sianna Ginger, Heather Graham (capt), Charli Knott, Anika Learoyd, Rhys McKenna, Madeline Penna, Amy Smith, Courtney Webb, Tahlia Wilson50-overs
Lauren Cheatle, Hannah Darlington, Sophie Day, Nicole Faltum (capt), Tess Flintoff, Sianna Ginger, Nicola Hancock, Ella Hayward, Charli Knott, Anika Learoyd, Amy Smith, Georgia Voll, Courtney Webb, Tahlia WilsonFour-day
Maitlan Brown, Lauren Cheatle, Maddy Darke, Sophie Day, Nicole Faltum, Tess Flintoff, Sianna Ginger, Nicola Hancock, Ella Hayward, Charli Knott (capt), Anika Learoyd, Lilly Mills, Rachel Trenaman, Tahlia Wilson

Australia Green v Gold Squads

Green
Lauren Cheatle, Maddy Darke, Grace Dignam, Nicole Faltum (capt), Sianna Ginger, Ella Hayward, Elsa Hunter, Katie Mack, Lilly Mills, Georgia Prestwidge, Gabby Sutcliffe, Rachel Trenaman, Amanda-Jade WellingtonGold
Maitlan Brown, Hannah Darlington, Sophie Day, Emma de Broughe, Amy Edgar, Tess Flintoff, Nicola Hancock, Charli Knott (capt), Anika Learoyd, Bridget Patterson, Amy Smith, Courtney Webb, Tahlia Wilson

Former MLS forward and current CBS Sports analyst Mike Grella praised Christian Pulisic's impact at AC Milan, suggesting that the USMNT star’s success at one of Europe's most storied clubs represents a milestone for soccer development in the U.S. Grella said Pulisic, who scored twice Saturday for Milan, has changed perceptions of American players in Europe.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Standard bearer reshaping perceptions

  Grella said that Milan's Rafael Leao might have questioned Pulisic’s ability when he first arrived at the club.

  "Imagine you're Leao – 100 percent this went through his head," Grella said on CBS Sports. "And I don't want to put words in his mouth but 100 percent. I know this for a fact because I was an American playing in Europe. Pulisic comes and he (Leao) goes ‘I'm the guy here, I'm the man, I’m the most talented player,' right?

  “There was rumors of how much he was worth year one after he got the MVP, he was saying he's worth $100 million, right? No doubt in his head, he goes. ‘Who's this American kid coming here? Thinking that he can play at AC Milan with me.' Right? One hundred percent, there was that thought in his mind. And now with Pulisic, year three, constantly being this steady?"

  Grella said Pulisic is now setting standards for U.S. internationals.

  “Scoring goals constantly, look at him," he said. "Just gets his job done, hard worker. That sends a shockwave through the entire team, especially to guys like Leao. 'Look hey pal, you have to play, you have to perform, you have to work.' Like, this is a standard now at Milan.

  "And the fact that Pulisic is setting that standard for AC Milan tells you where American football is going. Hopefully in the right direction, with obviously things going on with the national team, not so great. But him leading the flag for American football… is an awesome storyline. Credit to Pulisic."

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Pulisic is a complete player

  Grella praised Pulisic after his brace helped the Rossoneri to a 3-0 win over Udinese.

  “He can do it all,” Grella gushed. “Both feet, he can score with his head if it’s not a contested header. He can beat guys on the dribble. He’s just a guy you want in the changing room. With so much change in the team, managers, players… he’s been the guy that’s been, ‘No I’m here and this is my job, and this is what I do.' He’s been the one steady at a club that’s been trying to figure things out over the last couple of seasons.”

• AFP
  

  Marco Messina on Massimiliano Allegri’s influence

  Analyst Marco Messina also praised Massimiliano Allegri’s influence on the team. The Italian was appointed as the Rossoneri’s new coach before the season.

  “What stands out to me most is how professional they they were,” Messina said on CBS Sports Golazo. “Even at 3-0, they were going to get the fourth goal, they didn’t want to concede, you could see the anger in them. That’s a touch of Max Allegri and we’ve said before, he was exactly what they needed.

  “Milan’s management have gotten things wrong in the past, and we’ve sat here and we’ve said ‘They got this wrong, they got this wrong.' In this summer, we all sat here and said, 'They got the best possible coach for this exact situation.' Yes, it’s only a few games into the season, but you can see the writing on the wall, that this Milan is headed in the right direction.”

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Pulisic now with three goals

  With three goals in four league appearances in the Serie A, Pulisic will hope to continue his run of form.

An ECB update at tea stated Stokes will not return to the field for NZ’s second innings

Vithushan Ehantharajah16-Dec-20240:48

Trescothick on Stokes injury: We didn’t see it coming

Ben Stokes was forced to leave the field during day three of England’s third Test against New Zealand at Seddon Park after a recurrence of a left hamstring injury. He will undergo a scan this evening to understand the full extent of the injury.England’s captain pulled up after the second ball of the 56th over of New Zealand’s second innings – his 13th, and third of the day – on Monday afternoon, immediately feeling the back of his left thigh after delivering a bouncer that Rachin Ravindra pulled for four. It was the same hamstring he tore in August while batting for Northern Superchargers against Manchester Originals in the men’s Hundred, which kept him out for two months.Bowling from the City End, Stokes put his hand on his face and kept walking in the direction of the team dressing room away at the newly renamed Tim Southee End. New Zealand were leading by 409 at the time, as left-arm spinner Jacob Bethell finished the over.An ECB update at tea stated Stokes will not return to the field for New Zealand’s second innings while he receives treatment, with a further assessment to be made on whether he will bat. England finished the day 18 for 2, chasing a mammoth 658, though they have already secured the series after victories in the first two Tests.”It’s the same hamstring that he’s had before,” confirmed England assistant coach Marcus Trescothick. “He’s been going so well, he’s been bowling and playing the role that he does as an all-rounder and captain.”We didn’t see it coming, you don’t have any signs of these sort of things…generally they just happen.”Stokes’ 36.2 overs in Hamilton were the most he has bowled for in a Test since 40 at Trent Bridge in 2022 (also against New Zealand). On day one, his 23 overs were the most he has managed in a single day, split between spells of eight, eight and seven. It is worth noting England’s first innings capitulation for 143 meant their seamers only had 34.5 overs of rest after 97.1 between them for New Zealand’s opening effort. The hosts went further in their second innings, keeping England in the field for 101.4 overs, eventually finishing on 453.This series has brought Stokes seven dismissals at 36.85 from 66.1 overs – his most as captain – accompanied by a batting average of 52.66 across four innings. After struggling to effectively fulfill the allrounder role, this series had been a welcome return to the Stokes of old.It was only on the previous evening (Sunday) that assistant coach Paul Collingwood lauded Stokes’ return as a talismanic allrounder. Following today’s events, Trescothick stated Stokes might have to tailor his bowling loads going forward.”I still think he’s shown signs over the course of this series that getting back to fitness he is going to have that level. Maybe it’s a case that you manage his bowling loads and he doesn’t bowl the volume that he’s potentially bowled in this game.”Injuries happen, right? they’re always going to be part of the game. he works dramatically well with his fitness. to try and get into the shape he can be. He bowled 24 in the first innings, and he was bowling quite a few in this (second) innings [12.2 overs]. We’ll just have to look at how we manage it.”Stokes looked understandably crestfallen as he walked off, having only just overcome the physical and psychological toil from the initial hamstring tear which derailed his return to full fitness in the summer.Related

England rekindle the joy after Bazball's year of transition

Brendon McCullum: Jacob Bethell's emergence is 'a good problem to have'

Stokes on his workload: 'I ain't holding back'

Williamson ton has England staring down prospect of heavy defeat

Stokes urges England to stay in the now as Ashes year looms once more

Having arrived into the home summer following successful knee surgery in October 2023, he bowled 49 overs across three Tests against West Indies, with five wickets that took him past 200 career dismissals. The tear subsequently set him back, ruling him out of the three-match series against Sri Lanka at the end of the season, and the first Test of the Pakistan tour.Stokes returned for the final two matches of that series but England lost both, succumbing to a 2-1 defeat having won the first Test. He admitted his drive to regain full fitness led him to “physically drain and ruin himself”. When the squad gathered at Queenstown at the start of the series, Stokes apologised for the negative effect he had on the team environment.Prior to this final Test, Stokes was optimistic he was in a good place, with a better understanding of his body.”I have to work so much harder on the physical side of the job to allow me to go out and do my job but I got a good amount of overs in during the last two games and I am more confident about getting through a lot of spells in a day.”That is where I got to before I pulled my hamstring. I bowled nice in summer, had a setback but now feel out of that and worrying about anything else happening again. As you get older you think about your body a bit more but I work harder because I have to.”Now, the 33-year-old must undergo another period of rehabilitation. England’s next Test match is not until May 22, against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge, but a lucrative £800,000 with MI Cape Town in the SA20, which begins on January 9, may have to be forgone. Having signed a two-year central contract in October, the ECB has the power to withdraw him outright from the tournament, even if he is able to regain fitness prior to the end of the group stages, with MI’s final match on February 2.This latest setback also complicates any prospective white-ball return for Stokes. The man himself has remained coy on whether he will make himself available for the upcoming Champions Trophy, with Test head coach Brendon McCullum assuming control of the limited-overs sides. Now, perhaps, the decision has been made for him.

Glasgow Rangers navigated an error-laden first-half performance to secure a brilliant 2-0 victory over Panathinaikos in the first leg of their second round Champions League qualifier.

Jack Butland had to be called into action to make a series of fine stops to keep a clean sheet in the opening 45 minutes, before goals from Findlay Curtis and Djedi Gassama sealed the win in the second half.

Despite the nervy moments defensively that were littered throughout the 90 minutes, there were some impressive individual performances for Russell Martin’s side, as Curtis grasped his opportunity with both hands.

Findlay Curtis' performance in numbers

The academy graduate was given the nod to start on the left flank, with Gassama unfit to start and Thelo Aasgaard out injured, and stepped up to the plate with a fantastic showing.

It was an all-action and forward-thinking display from the 18-year-old starlet, who ended the game with four tackles and one interception made, which shows the hard work that he put in defensively.

As you can see in the clip above, Curtis also opened the scoring with a stunning goal, brilliantly taking the ball inside on the run before bending a shot, via a slight deflection, into the bottom corner from distance.

The teenage whiz attempted three dribbles and had two shots on goal, one of which was his goal, and this shows that he was constantly probing and looking to put the Gers on the front foot in the match, which the supporters at Ibrox were loving.

Performance in Numbers

Want data and stats? Football FanCast’s Performance in Numbers series provides you with the latest match analysis from across Europe.

Whilst Curtis shone on one wing, Kieran Dowell started on the opposite flank and was only able to show why the Gers must replace him with a new forward before the end of the window.

Why Rangers must replace Dowell

The left-footed flop has only produced two goals and two assists in 33 appearances for Rangers as an attacking midfielder or wide player, and was sent out on loan to Birmingham City in January because of his disappointing performances.

However, Martin has seemingly seen something in him because he selected Dowell to start on the right wing against Panathinaikos, but it was not a decision that was backed up by the performance.

As you can see in the table above, the former Norwich man, who was outshone by Curtis, did put himself about to win duels but he was ineffective at the top end of the pitch, once again in a Rangers shirt.

Dowell, who was described as “non-existent” in the first half by the Heart & Hand Podcast, does not impose himself on matches in the final third, hence his lack of goal contributions throughout his Gers career, and that was the case against Panathinaikos, notably taking fewer touches (29) than Butland (31),.

Rangers have lost Vaclav Cerny, who was on loan from Wolfsburg last season, and the 12 goals and four assists that he provided in the Scottish Premiership from a right wing position.

This means that the Light Blues need to find another right-sided attacker who can score and create goals at an impressive rate, and Dowell’s performance on Tuesday, coupled with the rest of his career at Ibrox to date, suggests that he does not fit the bill.

Their own Lennon Miller: Rangers lining up deal to sign £2.1m "controller"

Rangers are reportedly interested in signing a teenage star who could be their own version of Lennon Miller.

By
Dan Emery

Jul 22, 2025

Therefore, Rangers should be looking to replace the English flop with a new right winger, who can contribute in the final third on a regular basis, to start week-in-week-out for Martin this season, before the summer transfer window slams shut.

The SL keeper is understood to have failed a doping test during LPL 2024

Madushka Balasuriya16-Aug-2024

Sri Lanka wicketkeeper-batter Niroshan Dickwella has been suspended indefinitely following a doping violation, Sri Lanka Cricket has confirmed.Dickwella is understood to have failed a doping test held in line with World Anti-Doping guidelines, during the recently concluded Lanka Premier League, and will be suspended from all forms of cricket while further investigations take place.”The suspension is effective immediately and will remain in place until further notice,” stated an SLC media release.”The test, which was conducted by the Sri Lanka Anti-Doping Agency (SLADA) during the Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2024, is part of SLC’s ongoing commitment to maintaining the integrity of the sport.”This initiative, undertaken in collaboration with the Ministry of Sports and in accordance with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) guidelines, is aimed at ensuring that cricket remains free from the influence of prohibited substances.”SLC, together with the Ministry of Sports and SLADA, conducts these tests during domestic tournaments randomly to safeguard the sport against anti-doping violations.”The 31-year-old, who had captained Galle Marvels in LPL 2024, had last turned out for the national side in March 2023 but had received a call-up for Sri Lanka’s T20I series against Bangladesh earlier this year. He did not feature in a single game.Following his selection, the selectors intimated that they had spoken with Dickwella over his poor disciplinary record. The left-handed batter has been no stranger to controversy throughout his career, with his off-field lifestyle proving a lightning rod for criticism in light of his frequently erratic form. He was most notably among three players banned for breaching bio-bubble protocols in 2021, alongside Kusal Mendis and Danushka Gunathilake.Dickwella has kept wicket for Sri Lanka across formats, scoring 2757 runs in Tests, 1604 in ODIs and 480 in T20Is.

The tour includes three T20s, three one-day games and a four-day match on the Gold Coast

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Jul-2024

Australia A will take on India A in a multi-format series in Queensland during August with the home side featuring Tahlia McGrath, Kim Garth, Megan Schutt and Tayla Vlaeminck across the limited-overs matches.The tour involves three T20s in Brisbane, three 50-over games in Mackay and a four-day match on the Gold Coast.McGrath, Australia’s vice-captain, will captain the T20 and 50-over squads while Queensland allrounder Charli Knott will lead the four-day side. All three squads feature leading domestic players who will look to push their claims for higher honours.The four-day game will give players from both countries a rare chance to play long-form cricket.”I’m really looking forward to being a part of this series and for the challenge that India A will pose,” McGrath said. “It presents those of us not playing in the Hundred with the chance to prepare for a huge summer against a strong opposition.”Shawn Flegler, the national selector, said: “This series will allow us to take a closer look at some of the players who have impressed at domestic level while giving the nationally contracted players the chance to fine tune their preparations ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup.”Australia will return to action with a three-match T20I series against New Zealand in mid-September before heading to Bangladesh for the T20 World Cup. That begins another hectic season with the WBBL set to start shortly after the World Cup followed by an ODI series against India, a short tour of New Zealand in December then the multi-format Ashes in January.Australia A T20 squadMaddy Darke, Sophie Day, Nicole Faltum, Tess Flintoff, Kim Garth, Charli Knott, Katie Mack, Tahlia McGrath (capt), Grace Parsons, Megan Schutt, Courtney Sippel, Tayla Vlaeminck, Tahlia WilsonAustralia A one-day squadMaitlan Brown (2nd & 3rd matches only), Maddy Darke, Sophie Day, Nicole Faltum, Tess Flintoff, Kim Garth, Charli Knott, Katie Mack, Tahlia McGrath (capt), Grace Parsons, Megan Schutt (1st match only), Courtney Sippel, Tayla Vlaeminck, Tahlia WilsonAustralia four-day squadMaitlan Brown, Maddy Darke, Sophie Day, Emma de Broughe, Nicole Faltum, Tess Flintoff, Charli Knott, Katie Mack, Lilly Mills, Grace Parsons, Kate Peterson, Courtney Sippel, Georgia VollAustralia A vs India A women’s series7 August: 1st T20, Allan Border Field
9 August: 2nd T20, Allan Border Field
11 August: 3rd T20, Allan Border Field
14 August: 1st 50-over match, Great Barrier Reef Arena, Mackay
16 August: 2nd 50-over match, Great Barrier Reef Arena, Mackay
18 August: 3rd 50-over match, Great Barrier Reef Arena, Mackay
22-25 August: Four-day match, Gold Coast District Cricket Club