Point God

One of the big news coming out of the NBA recently is the retirement of Chris Paul; one of the greatest point guards in the history of the game. At 40 years old and playing in his 21st season; the man aptly named 'Point God' had defied the laws of longevity in recent seasons; but it looks like the time has finally come.

At 6'0", Paul was not the biggest; but he more than made up for it with his unparalleled court intelligence; heart and devasting elbow jumper. He played for a host of teams; but is perhaps best remembered for his time in the Los Angles Clippers as the chief protagonist of Lob City; when he threw alley-oops to Blake Griffin & DeAndre Jordan at will.

Not surprisingly; he was coveted by many teams; and his time in both the Phoenix Suns and Houston Rockets saw him come pretty close to winning the NBA championship. Sadly though; he could not quite achieve the ultimate accolade. Perhaps sadly too; his time at the end was perhaps an ignominious way to exit after a glorious career; with him perhaps antagonizing people the wrong way and ending up with an abrupt booting-out at the Clippers again, of all teams.

How does he rank overall in the pantheon of legends? For point guard; I rate him only behind Magic Johnson, Isiah Thomas, John Stockton and Steve Nash. That's pretty high territory. His complete court coverage and leadership make him stand out. He was also in the All-NBA First Team 4 times; which means he was the best point guard in the world for 4 seasons.

A Lot Of Fight

The National Basketball Association (NBA) seems to be taking something of a resurgence in recent times. With stars and entertainment on a high; the league seems to be more high-profile than ever; and the competitiveness has taken on a new level. With that new level however, has come up a new level of fights and violence, exacerbated by the prevalence of social media.

Fights of course are nothing new to the NBA; back in 1977 we had the infamous Maurice Lucas v Darryl Dawkins boxing match; then came the Larry Bird v Julius Erving affair in 1984; when Dr. J seemingly couldn't take the dominant Bird's trash-talk. But it seems to be happening rather often in recent years.

Probably the greatest brawl of all time occurred in 2004 in the 'Malice at the Palace'; a fight so legendary it became a Netflix documentary. The defending champion Pistons were bring humiliated at home by the upstart Indiana Pacers; and with the game winding to an end; the touch-paper was lit by a hard foul by Ben Wallace on Ron Artest; which eventually led to everyone getting involved and players chasing down fans in the stands.

Another notable fight occurred around 2021-22 when LeBron James and Isaiah Stewart got into it; with blood streaming down Stewart's face and him not giving it up even when the situation seemed to have been diffused with coaches; referees and everyone else holding them back.

And it was Stewart who was again involved in the league's latest altercation; when the Eastern Conference-leading Detroit Pistons met the red-hot Charlotte Hornets; who were on a 9-game winning streak. What began as a hard foul by Moussa Diabate on Jalen Duren developed into an all-out brawl; with Miles Bridges & Stewart getting involved & all hell breaking loose. There used to be a saying that NBA players was soft. That is certainly not the case now.

Beto Late Than Never

Everton have been having a bit of a topsy-turvy season; with stunning away victories buffeted by lethargic home displays. Thus as they lined up for an away game with a talented Brighton & Hove Albion outfit; it was anybody's guess which version would turn up.

The match was rather cagey; with both teams seemingly scared of each other's good form rather than trying to go for the win. And it all looked like going wrong for Everton again; when Pascal Gross; something of a cult hero in these parts; swept home after a lovely dummy from substitute Charalampos Costoulas. It was a lovely homecoming for Gross; who made a romantic return to his former club after a sojourn in Germany with Borussia Dortmund.

Brighton looked like they had sewn it up when Kaoru Mitoma finished neatly; but it was disallowed for an offside on Joel Veltman. Just when it seemed Everton were doomed; up stepped substitute Beto to fire home after Jake O'Brien's shot was palmed out into the danger zone by Bart Verbruggen. In the end; Brighton would be disappointed to give up the victory in this late manner. But for Everton; their upswing continues on; with their unbeaten run now reaching 4 games.

Mile High Victory

This was shaping up to be a delicious match-up. The Denver Nuggets had the surprise return of their star player Nikola Jokic after 16 games out; and the Los Angeles Clippers were the hottest team in the NBA; going at a 16-3 clip after a dismal 6-21 start. And by and large; that was exactly what we got. The intensity was awesome; players fighting for every ball; true Playoffs-style.

In the end though; it was the Nuggets who proved too strong; utilizing their relentless offense and unbridled chemistry to suffocate the Clippers in the 4th quarter. Jokic had a stellar game on his return; looking like he was never away; but he was ably supported by sidekick Jamal Murray (who is looking more & more like a Scottie Pippen to Michael Jordan); and supporting cast such as Peyton Watson; Jonas Valanciunas and Tim Hardaway Junior.

What makes the Nuggets more ominous is that they actually went 10-6 during the time Jokic was out; which even included absences to key starters Aaron Gordon, Christian Braun and Cameron Johnson. That actually forced the rest of the team to play better; such as small forward Watson, Spencer Jones and even Bruce Brown. That's why they have such a deep & loaded squad now; with tremendous chemistry; that makes them a serious force to be reckoned with.

Past Tense

The latest movie blockbuster is 'Back To The Past'; a Hong Kong sequel to the seminal 2001 series 'Step Into The Past'; a science-fiction inspired trip back to the Qin Dynasty for a modern policeman. Kind of like an antithesis to Back To The Future; the film brings back the sterling cast of Louis Koo; Raymond Lam; Jessica Hsuan and others; thus ensuring its nostalgic appeal back to the good old days.

With its strategic premise; you get a sense that this film could have been more. But with a good dose of humor; a relatively fast-moving story-line and its nostalgic cast; this makes it just about a hit. However; its strength is also ultimately its failure. By relying on the sequel method and bringing back all the old stars; it more or less makes it a sure-fire hit. But that is exactly the problem it is trying to overcome. Honk Kong shows nowadays are more or less showing the same stars in every show such as Bosco Wong & Charmaine Sheh; and there is just not enough new talent recognized enough to make a breakthrough.

Garnering Attention

We need to talk about James Garner. From being a nobody at Manchester United; he was shipped off to Everton; like so many rejects before him; such as Phil Neville; Tim Howard; Darron Gibson; Tom Cleverley; Morgan Schneiderlin and Louis Saha. While some were good like Neville & Howard; some were bad like Cleverley & Schneiderlin. But now; he is looking like he could be the best.

His initial start at Everton wasn't great. He was only doing average and everyone was complaining he was yet another Man United reject who couldn't make the grade. Slowly but surely though; he has established himself as a hardworking player capable of expressing himself at both ends of the floor. Over the past season or so; he was formed an indelible partnership with the experienced Senegalese international Idrissa Gueye in the centre of the park; and a key component of Everton's rise this season.

What stands him out is his ability to play both sides of the park; thus influencing proceedings and controlling the tempo of the game. His outstanding stamina has allowed him to start every single game this season; surely an unheard of statistic. And nowhere were his traits better shown than in the recent 1-0 win at Villa Park; where he shone and broke up play at every opportunity. With Thomas Tuchel watching from the stands; there is even talk that he may have an outside chance for England at the coming World Cup. Now that would be something.

Up The Toffees

It was the most unexpected victory. The stage was all set for Aston Villa to win again and go a mesmerising 4 points behind league leaders Arsenal. This was after both Arsenal & Manchester City dropped points in a rare occasion. Villa had been the hottest team in the world; winning their last 11 straight matches at Villa Park (8 in the league); and having not lost at home in the past 15 months. Furthermore; Villa had never lost to Everton in their last 13 meetings in the league; winning 9 & drawing 4. Everton were also having a threadbare squad; with no less than 7 first-team players out; either through injury; suspension or the AFCON. Their bench only had 8 players; of which two were 'keepers and two unknown defenders in Reece Welch & Elijah Campbell.

So this made the victory all the more remarkable; on a par with that stunning 10-man upset at Man United earlier in the season. Their away form is actually better than their home form; and it's the style of David Moyes; tough & rugged away from home to squeeze out 1-0 results. Merlin Rohl had sounded the alarm after hitting the post after only 12 seconds; and it was an ominous sign of what was to come. Thierno Barry has been looking the part recently; and Everton perhaps don't need another striker now that he has come of age; scoring the winning chip and winning almost everything in the air.

For Villa; their fans looked aghast as if it couldn't quite be happening. They had expected an easy victory; but it was anything but. Morgan Rogers; the favourite for England at the coming World Cup; had one of his worst games ever; having about 8 chances but squandering them all; especially when he seemed to be skying them higher & higher. They tried to get back into the game but on this night; Everton's impressive willpower and tactical know-how proved too much to overcome.

Cry Wolves

We need to talk about the resurgence of Wolves! While attention has rightly focused on the top of the table; with all teams dropping points & whether Arsenal will bottle it again; a resurgence is happening at the other end of the table.

Wolverhampton Wanderers; looking so abject & hopeless earlier in the season; now look a totally different outfit. And they displayed this precisely in their latest match against a high-flying Newcastle United; themselves looking to intercept the Champions League places. With a confidence & poise belying their current basement position; Rob Edwards' men were well worth their goal-less draw.

Yerson Mosquera inexplicably found himself charging up the field from his centre-back position; while Hugo Bueno has suddenly looked like a decent left-back. But the clearest symbol of Wolves' rise is clearly 18 year-old Matheus Mane; who is looking mature beyond his years. Playing on the left-wing and looking threatening on the ball; he is displaying a new-found confidence & verve that has suddenly made the Wolves look threatening again.

Newcastle may have thought they could win this; but like several sides recently; they were left disappointed again. Their 6'5" beanpole Nick Woltemade had a few chances to win this; but in the end Wolves' defence proved resilient enough. Wolves still remain rooted to the bottom; but suddenly; it appears that hope is on board.

Back To Black

In 1989, Tom Chambers threw down a dunk on Mark Jackson that would change the world. It was the most electrifying dunk in history; with Chambers' knee almost at the top of Jackson's head in an extraordinary show of athleticism. Not surprisingly; that dunk became the calling card of the NBA; appearing on highlight reels and pre-game shows to no end.

Now; finally there could be a dunk to top that. Anthony Black; a 6'7" point guard from the Orlando Magic; took the ball on the fast break; slalomed his way to the hoop and threw down an emphatic dunk over 4 Memphis Grizzlies defenders. What's more; the game was held in Berlin; showcasing the feat to an international audience. Black; so far an unheralded name in the NBA; is having something of a breakout season; averaging 15.7 points while shooting 46.5% from the field. With this moment; his stock is set to soar even higher.

Crystal Clear

In 1988; the most one-sided final was taking place: Liverpool v Wimbledon. It was supposed to be a wash-out. Except Wimbledon didn't read the script. In perhaps the greatest upset ever; Lawrie Sanchez flicked home Dennis Wise's free-kick (a goal I can still see in my mind) and Dave Beasant saved John Aldridge's penalty to complete Wimbledon's fairy-tale win.

In 1992, Wrexham beat Arsenal 2-1 in another huge upset. Wrexham were in the lowly 4th tier; and Arsenal were the reigning league champions. It dun get any bigger than that. In 2015, Jose Mourinho's Chelsea were inexplicably beaten by Bradford City 2-4 at home after having gone 2-0 up. And in 1984; Third Division Bournemouth somehow beat Manchester United (with Bryan Robson) 2-0 in the 3rd Round.

Now there's an upset that beats them all. Unheard of Macclesfield; playing in the 6th tier of English football and a whopping 117 places below high-flying Crystal Palace; the defending champions no less; have beaten them 2-1 in the 3rd Round. Palace may nave rested some players but they still had the likes of England internationals Marc Guehi & Adam Wharton; USA international Chris Richards and Spanish international Yeremy Pino. What's more: they are managed by John Rooney; the younger brother of England legend Wayne; and Francis Jeffers; with a strong Everton connection. The magic of the Cup is very much alive.

Hollywood Stuff

With Ryan Reynolds watching on; Wrexham produced a Hollywood performance to stun Nottingham Forest 4-3 on penalties after a pulsating 3-3 draw after extra time in the FA Cup Third Round. Forest maybe took the Championship side too lightly; making no fewer than 8 changes from their last Premier League victory over West Ham United; and inevitably paid the price.

Wrexham; ninth in the Championship & going for their 4th straight promotion; are a more than decent outfit; and went up 2-0 and then 3-1 with goals from Liberator Cacace & Ollie Rathbone; and after Igor Jesus had pulled one back for Forest; Dom Hyam looked to have sealed it with a bullet header to restore their two-goal advantage. But substitute Callum Hudson-Odoi showed his quality; scoring two goals to haul Forest level and take the tie to extra time.

Forest looked the likelier in extra-time as their Premier League quality started to shine through; with Omari Hutchinson & Neco Williams going close for the visitors. The home side held on though and ultimately won the penalty shootout; with goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo the hero with 2 vital saves. To make the fairytale complete; amongst the penalty scorers for Wrexham were 36 year-old Jay Rodriguez; the former England international; and Josh Windass; son of the Hull City legend Dean Windass.

The End Is Here

Ruben Amorim has been sensationally sacked by Manchester United. Once again; it gives rise to a situation whereby the manager was sacked one year too late; when everyone seemed to know the outcome; but were just hanging on; to no avail in the end.

Hailed a God at Sporting Lisbon; he is the latest world-class manager to end up a disaster at United. If even Jose Mourinho can't do it; who can right? It seems his stubborn use of 3-4-3 formation proved his ultimate downfall; with boss Jason Wilcox not impressed by his desire to keep using it no matter what the results. Well I think you need the players for it; and perhaps 2 better wing-backs than Diogo Dalot  & Patrick Dorgu. U aren't Crystal Palace my friend.

While the team seemed to have improved a little this season; results overall have not been good. A 3-1 loss at Brentford was the writing on the wall; as well as a shocking 12-11 penalty defeat to League Two Grimsby Town in the Carabao Cup early on. But I think a true turning point was when they lost 0-1 to 10-man Everton recently at home; when it was obvious the 3-4-3 formation wasn't working.

At pressure to reach the Champions League; the team have struggled under the recent scrutiny; first drawing at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers of all teams; who before that had only 2 points and lost their last 11 straight. Eager to make up for that mess; the team fumbled again; scrambling a 1-1 draw at lowly Leeds in the much-hyped War Of The Roses contest. All that came to a boil as Amorim exploded at the ensuing press conference; basically telling his bosses to do their jobs while he does his; never a good sign in any situation. Amidst all the furore, Gary Neville may also have a part to play in some of his comments on Sky Sports lol

Kawhi!

As Indian Summers go; this could be one for the record books. Not since Gary McAllister's stunning revival for Liverpool has an old-timer brought up the past so much. But that is exactly what Kawhi Leonard has been doing.

I've always been following him. From defensive specialist at San Antonio; he has morphed into an all-out offensive threat; fueled by the stunning NBA championship win at Toronto Raptors and now lo & behold; landing in my favourite Los Angeles Clippers team with James Harden.

The Clippers did not start well; ending up with a dismal 6-21 record that no one expected; especially as they were considered one of the dark horses for the title. But like the proverbial phoenix out of the ashes; Leonard has suddenly woken up to take the league by storm.

Witness his 55-point outburst against the league's surprise team Detroit Pistons; and further 40-point performances as the Clippers went on a 6-game win streak; and suddenly their season looks rather promising again. His ability has always been there; but a litany of injuries and continuity issues had taken their toll over the last few years. Now we are finally seeing the best of Kawhi again; and maybe also for the Clippers.

Africa

This post is far from Toto's seminal 1982 hit (though it could be u know); but about this beautiful tournament called the Africa Cup of Nations. Maybe it's the fact that Zinedine Zidane's son is playing there; maybe it's the miraculous, carnival-like atmosphere in the stands; maybe it's just the cultural football being played out there. But there is something special about this tournament,

I should know. I just watched an absolutely inconsequential game between Equatorial Guinea & Algeria. No matter what happened; Guinea would be last & Algeria would be first in the group. And still it was great. Still both teams played like their lives depended on it. In the last edition; Equatorial Guinea were the talk of the town; stunning all by progressing to the knock-out stages & in fact upsetting Algeria in the process. This time; it couldn't be more opposite as Algeria have won all 3 group games and Guinea have lost all; in a way going according to the form book.

It is now the knock-out phases; and unlike past editions where there were shocks aplenty; this time there are none. That also means that the heavyweights are all in the knock-out stage; meaning many mouth-watering clashes ahead. The likes of Morocco; Nigeria; Ivory Coast; Senegal & Algeria will all be dreaming big; and there remains no clue as to who will come out on tops. Some of the best players in the world are also on show; with the likes of Achraf Hakimi, Ademola Lookman, Amad Diallo; Sadio Mane & Riyad Mahrez all strutting their stuff.

Out Of The Woods

Everton produced a gritty, backs-to-the-wall performance to come up with an impressive 2-0 away win at Sean Dyche's Nottingham Forest. Forest tried their best to stamp their authority on the game; but their strategy of playing crosses in from the flanks was not a good one; as James Tarkowski & Jack O'Brien dealt with everything thrown their way. It also didn't help Forest's cause that their main striker was Igor Jesus; slightly smaller & less of a threat than the bigger Chris Wood.

The win was all the more impressive considering Everton were down to their bare bones due to injury issues & the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations; with their best players such as Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Iliman Ndiaye; Carlos Alcaraz; Michael Keane & Idrissa Gueye all missing in action. Jack Grealish though; was fit enough to be on the bench & gave a useful outing in the final half-hour or so. Credit also to new boy Tyler Dibling; who gave a good account on the right flank & is now looking the part after his big-money move from Southampton in the summer.

Another new boy getting good is striker Thierno Barry. Far from the bumbling start he made; he is now looking strong; winning challenges in the air and even scoring goals such as this one. He even looks happy when substituted off. But Everton's most important player currently could well be James Garner. The former Manchester United man has slowly become their chief midfielder; orchestrating things both offensively & defensively. And his all-encompassing display today; with both a goal & assist; just added to his growing resume. At the end of the day; Everton's sterling display ensured they did not miss the Forest for the trees.

Ipswich Look Perfect Tonight

In 1987; in my first-ever season of watching football; there came a fairy-tale in the form of the FA Cup Final. Lowly Coventry City were pitted against giants Tottenham Hotspur; and it was a true David v Goliath story. It was my first-ever FA Cup Final; and what a great one it was. Against all odds; Coventry beat Spurs 3-2 and my love addiction with football was sealed. I can still see Keith Houchen's diving header in my mind; that was how epic it was.

38 years later; Coventry; languishing for so long in the lower reaches of English football; are back in prime-time. Leading the EFL Championship by a mile and dazzling all with their stunning brand of football; Frank Lampard's side have surprised all & sundry; as nobody saw it coming. Lampard; not having a very good reputation as a manager after failed stints at Chelsea & Everton; seems to have finally found the winning formula.

But not on this night. Facing third-placed Ipswich in a highly-expected top of the table clash; Coventry started off badly; and it stayed that way throughout. Ipswich came with a relentless style of passing football; and in all apsects of the game; they were on top. After a rather dominant first half from the Tractor Boys; you would expect Coventry to raise their game in the second; but it was more of the same.

At the end of the day; strikes from the impressive Jack Clarke and substitute Wes Burns condemned Coventry to a demoralizing home defeat. It ended their unbeaten record at home this season; and was even more impressive considering the Sky Blues had won their last 8 consecutive on home turf. Ed Sheeran may not have been around; but on this night; Ipswich were damn near Perfect.

Bend It Like Bendtner

This highly-regarded book of Nicklas Bendtner is just like the man himself: irreverent; inspired & just a tad bit shocking. Over the course of the book; you understand what type of player he is; but perhaps more importantly; what type of man he was.

It leaves you a taste of someone who was unnervingly talented; who was born for sports or football for that matter; but ultimately; you get a sense of someone who wasted it all; who never quite hit the heights that he could have.

Yes he had inspired seasons at Arsenal when he was at the top of his game; and a big plus for him was having Arsene Wenger believe in his talent. But almost before you knew it; he seemed to fade off the radar as well. He had inspired games for Denmark as well; when he was truly their No. 1 striker for a time; but that too didn't last for long.

Along the way; the fame seemed to get to him too fast too soon. He was engaged with a Baroness of Denmark; assaulted a taxi driver; had his pants down to take revenge on a sponsor and was caught in fisticuffs with his own teammate Emmanuel Adebayor.

In the end; you could sense the downfall of his game; as from the heights of Arsenal; he slowly became a player almost no one wants; begging for a job; and in the end ended up in the lower leagues of Norway & Denmark as his time slowly came to an end.

The Collective Good

Supergroups have always been around. The latest ones of F3 teaming up with Jay Chou & Ashin are certainly worth noting. As is the creatively-named Big Four starring Dicky Cheung; Andy Hui; William So & Edmond Leung that is making a comeback since 2009. But supergroups have always been a thing...

Perhaps the first supergroup ever created was Cream; the band that comprised superstar guitarist Eric Clapton; together with Jack Bruce & Ginger Baker of the Graham Bond Organization. Another top supergroup was The Power Station who were formed around 1984 as a revenge against Duran Duran kind of thing (lol); where Robert Palmer was rather weirdly paired with John Taylor & Andy Taylor of Duran Duran and famed Chic drummer Tony Thompson.

Not all supergroups turn out that super though. While the pairing of Marie Fredriksson & Per Gessle gave the world Roxette; many other groups turn out not so stellar and break up after a few tumultuous years. Perhaps the worst supergroup of all time is McBusted; a strange pairing that paired members of the bands McFly & Busted; two groups that were pretty good on their own actually. To no one's surprise; the band broke off after about 3 years and not many people hearing of them. I guess when you have to pair two boybands together; the writing is on the wall.

In sports; supergroups have not been left off the hook too. Perhaps the classic example is the Brooklyn Nets' supposed-championship winning trio of Kevin Durant; James Harden & Kyrie Irving. Surely no one would be able to beat those 3? Well we all know how that turned out eventually. Equally ill-fated was the supposed super-team of Los Angeles Lakers that put together Kobe Bryant; Shaquille O'Neal; Karl Malone & Gary Payton. Abit too old & past their peak; it didn't go according to plan.

City On Fire

I must admit: a part of me died when Kyle Walker left Manchester City. It was like an era had changed; a shifting of the times; if you will. Within a flash; it seemed that one of the greatest sides in world history was being dismantled before our eyes. Gone were Ederson; Manuel Akanji; Aymeric Laporte; Ilkay Gundogan; Kevin De Bruyne & Julian Alvarez. Things would never be the same.

But in true Pep fashion; it seems things are now becoming like the same. In came new recruits such as Omar Marmoush; the wily Rayan Cherki; the non-English speaking Abdukodir Khusanov and the former Wolves left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri. But perhaps the thing that gets me most excited is the influx of new academy players now getting a chance in the team: the likes of Rico Lewis; Oscar Bobb; the talented Nico O'Reilly, Divine Mukasa and the fresh-faced Charlie Gray. Together; they are forming the 'new wave' at Man City that threatens to match the expectations of the previous era.

And it is with this backdrop hat they eased to a 2-0 win over Brentford in the EFL Cup Quarter-Final for their 6th consecutive victory in all competitions. It was the new boys that did the damage; Cherki with his lesser right foot; and Brazilian youngster Savinho; who got a huge deflection via Kristoffer Ajer. In contrast; Brentford are not the same this season. It seems a part of them died when charismatic manager Thomas Frank left for Tottenham. Their rather lethargic displays are perhaps a reflection of their new boss Keith Andrews. Symbolic of that is Matias Jensen; previously an energetic midfielder; now relegated to insipid displays and he was hauled off in this one was well.

Chelsea Find The Neto

Plucky Cardiff City - the runaway leaders of League One; came up just short against the best team in the world Chelsea - losing 3-1 in the Carabao Cup quarter-final on an inspired night in the Welsh city. Impressing with their passing football; they made Chelsea look insipid in the first half & in fact could feel rather aggrieved at not having gone ahead; such was their stylistic display in the first 45 minutes.

Alas; their passing football was also their undoing; as it was unlucky Welsh defender Dylan Lawlor who gave the ball away carelessly to Facundo Buonanotte; leading to a pass to substitute Alejandro Garnacho who converted expertly past Nathan Trott. It looked like it wasn't going to be Cardiff's night; but their spirit served otherwise; with David Turnbull stunning all & sundry with a superb diving header to take them level.

It looked like it might go to penalties; but another of Chelsea's substitutes Pedro Neto; did what he can by steering in an excellent shot from just inside the penalty area to break Cardiff hearts. Garnacho then doubled his tally for the season with a final flourish; latching onto fellow substitute Joao Pedro's lofted pass before prodding home again. It was indeed the subs who turned the game for Chelsea.

Cardiff though can leave with their heads held high. They gave a truly awesome account of themselves; and with Craig Bellamy watching from the stands; their Welsh contingent of Isaak Davies; Cian Ashford; Joel Colwill & Lawlor certainly put on a fine show out there.

Wednesday Blues

Sheffield Wednesday are a far cry from their 80s pomp. The days of David Hirst, Chris Waddle & John Sheridan are long gone; and these days; the club are stuck at the bottom of the EFL Championship; with administration; deducted points and failed performances the order of the day.

Having said that; the current team do post some luminaries such as former Leeds captain Liam Cooper; Manchester United loanee Harry Amass and Bailey Cadamarteri; son of the former Everton legend Danny Cadamarteri. They faced a Derby County side that is looking more at the bright side of things; with a potential Playoffs place up for grabs. They too have a decent side of their own; with much-coveted striker Ben Brereton-Diaz; midfielder Bobby Clark (son of Newcastle legend Lee Clark) and Rhian Brewster; the former Liverpool hotshot.

There is a reason why Wednesday are down in the dumps; as too often their passes failed to find the intended target and there was a general lack of cohesion & motivation in the side. Derby on the other hand; played like a team hungry for the Playoffs; and it was US international Patrick Agyemang who saw off the challenge of Dominic Iorfa to put Derby ahead midway through the first half.

Further goals from Liam Thompson & Agyemang again put paid to any Wednesday challenge; with the latter a culmination of triple mistakes from substitute Nathaniel Chalobah, Sean Fusire's weak body-check and Max Lowe's hopeless flicked clearance. The home team were still too reliant on 36 year-old legend Barry Bannan; and were guilty of too much slack passing out of defence; notably from Cooper.

This City Never Sleeps

Whisper it softly... but it looks like Manchester City is back. Having gone through a seeming overhaul; they are now ominously reaching their former selves; as shown by their latest 5-match winning streak that has a very familiar feel to it.

Their latest was a comprehensive 3-0 away win over fellow high-flyers Crystal Palace; and a seemingly close game turned out to be anything but. Palace's strength has always been their rock-solid 3-man defensive backline of Maxence Lacroix; Chris Richards & Marc Guehi; that is so dependable that they basically have 1 extra player somewhere else; as such when the defence fails; it almost turns out with tragic consequences.

And it did this time; as the US international Richards let Erling Haaland loose for just a split moment; but it was enough for the hottest striker in the world to nod home powerfully from Matheus Nunes' beautifully-delivered cross. Palace only had themselves to blame; as their early superiority was not converted into goals; notably when Yeremy Pino crashed a glorious chance against the crossbar when it frankly seemed easier to score.

With Rayan Cherki in particularly menacing mood; it was left to Phil Foden; himself going through a revival of sorts; to fire past Dean Henderson for the second goal. And in all honesty; by the time substitute Savinho charged through on a breakaway solo run to win the penalty for Haaland's third; the race had already been run.

Heat On Fire

The Los Angeles Clippers are proving a right anomaly this season. Normally one of the championship contenders; they are languishing near the bottom of the Western Conference this season with a lowly 5-16 record. They still have the players; but gone is the venerable team chemistry; and no one seems to fear them anymore. The Miami Heat on the other hand; are the exact opposite. Not talked about much in pre-season; but even with the absence of All-Star Tyler Herro; they have stunned all & sundry with their electric offensive play & stifling defense.

And this contest was more or less about that. The Heat; not essentially a high three-point shooting team; went off the charts in this one; hitting an unbelievable 52.2%; on their way to tying a franchise-record 24 three-pointers. Simply put; the Clippers simply had no answers for this one. They did try their best however; coming back from a near 40-point deficit to make it slightly competitive in the 4th quarter; but in the end it was too little; too late for Tyronn Lue's men.

Norman Powell; sacrificed by the Clippers for wage space for their star men Kawhi Leonard & James Harden; seemed like a man on a mission; running up 30 points on a sparkling offensive performance; while hitting several eye-catching long-range shots for good measure. He was aided & abetted by accomplice Herro; who is intent on proving that the Heat are an even better team with him in the line-up. For the Clips; it is back to square one. No doubt they will take heart from the fight-back; but the fact is they still seem a little too Iso when Harden is in the team; and even with Leonard firing on all cylinders in the second half; it was not quite enough.

Roar Unleashed

In the greatest night for Singapore football; the Lions defied all the odds with a dramatic come-from-behind 2-1 victory over hosts Hong Kong to qualify for the Asian Cup 2027 in Saudi Arabia. It did not start that well for them though; as Everton Camargo's cross from the right was headed home by star striker Matt Orr to send the home fans into a rapture.

This Singapore team is made of sterner stuff though; and after staying patient with some controlled possession; their moment arrived in the second half. Ilhan Fandi; the third of the Fandi siblings and brought on for the fading Glenn Kweh; came up big for the away side; first knocking an intuitive volleyed pass for Shawal Anuar to prod home; before firing a sudden left-foot shot that took the HK goalkeeper by surprise.

I think it was a mistake for Ashley Westwood to play 41-year old goalkeeper Wang Zhenpeng for this one. He only has 8 caps; looked nervous and was basically at fault for both goals. His substitutes also did not have the desired effect; with some harried play and poor touches costing them deep in the game. On the other hand; Singapore played their game to perfection; with players working hard for one another; and their backline of Hariss Harun & Safuwan Baharudin in perfect tandem.

Quah Kim Song can rest easy now. Singapore have arrived. 

The Crying Game

In one of the greatest matches in world history, the Republic of Ireland stunned Hungary 3-2 away with a 96th minute hat-trick from Troy Parrott; to send them into the World Cup Playoffs in he final possible moment.

Hungary; of which Dominic Szoboszlai was in imperious form; had looked well on the way to the Playoffs themselves; having taken a 1-0 lead via Daniel Lukacs' glancing header and then a 2-1 lead via a stunning Barnabas Varga strike; only to lose it all in a calamitous finale at a stunned Ferenc Puskas Stadium.

Ireland are a team never to quit in the best of times; and they certainly weren't about to do so now; coming back strongly via Parrott's penalty and composed clipped finish to level things up. But as the clock ticked past the allotted 5 minutes of stoppage time; it looked like their dream was about to be over.

Only for substitute Ryan Manning; who hadn't had the best of second halves; to launch a final assault deep into the Hungarian territory. Then came 'The Climb' that Miley Cyrus would have been proud of; as Liam Scales rose first & highest to flick on the ball for Parrott to insurmountably prod home right at the death.

It was the greatest of great escapes; and after beating Portugal 2-0 to even get to this point; Ireland must surely be whetting their appetites for the Playoffs come March. We can't wait.

Feel The Roar

In a breathtaking final that showcased everything good about women's football; England overcame the odds yet again to triumph over the best team in the world Spain; in a thrilling penalty shootout victory. It did not look so early on; as after a bright start by England; it was Spain who seemed to settle into control; stroking the ball around with the term 'passing England to death' coming into the consciousness.

Not surprisingly; they took the lead midway through the first half; when a 'Martin Odegaard-style' of inter-passing saw arguably the best right-back in the world Ona Batlle spiking up a perfect cross for Mariona Caldentey to head home into the side netting. Spain then seemed to take control; and you wondered if the final was in fact gonna be over.

Credit to England though; this group of Lionesses never give up. Substitute Chloe Kelly seems to make England more dangerous every time she comes on; and another of her teasing crosses was brilliantly headed home by England's 'Graeme Sharp' - Alessia Russo; to put England back on level terms on the hour mark. In the end; you could see Spain was more frustrated and that showed in the penalties; as they seemed to couldn't believe how they had not won this. And Chloe Kelly's unorthodox run-up & final blast seemed to exemplify that England had the better confidence.

The difference with the men seems clear. While Spain is indeed the best team in the world - as explained by Irene Paredes' frustrated claim that England were 'lucky'; England had the best grit and the best teamwork; traits that can move mountains in football. While the men were mired in Lampard-Gerrard shenanigans; tabloid WAGS & over-pressure and Chris Waddle/Gareth Southgate balloons; the Lionesses showed that belief and determination can conquer all in football. In short; they showed the men exactly how it's done. Even Luis Rubiales couldn't spoil the show.

Indy Streaks Ahead

When I saw the Cleveland Cavaliers a few years back; I knew they had something in them. That length; so undefinable on a basketball court; they just had it. 6'11" Evan Mobley. 6'10" Jarrett Allen. That ability to stretch and influence things on the basketball court. The play of Darius Garland. Well they were a little raw back then. Add a few more years; add Donovan Mitchell to the mix; and the recipe was perfect. For a long time this season; they were the best team on the planet; finishing second in the end to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

And now they are in deep trouble. After losing both games at home to the upstart Indiana Pacers; they threatened to get back even after winning Game 3. Which left Game 4 very much in the balance. And it was a total whitewash by the Pacers. You know when a player gets in the zone; and it's so fun to watch. Well the entire Pacers team was in the zone. And I mean everybody. Whether it was 6'10" big man Obi Toppin muscling inside for a lay-up; 7'0" center Myles Turner draining threes from way downtown ; or unheralded whitie T.J. McConnell driving to the hoop; everything was falling for the Pacers. So much so that they built up a scary 41-point lead at halftime. It indeed felt like a fairytale.

After beating up almost everybody in the Regular Season; the Cavs almost seemed like they forgotten how to play in this one. They came out lacklustre; tired almost; which was almost baffling for a game of such importance. Their movement was slow; they weren't getting open looks; and everything felt rushed. They also forced passes at strange sequences; leading to turnovers and fast-break points for the home side. The Pacers could even afford to lose key player Bennedict Mathurin; who was ejected after an altercation with the Cavs' De'Andre Hunter. But perhaps the highlight of the night was Toppin's Dr. J-esque right-to-left swoop and scooping lay-up; a testament to the iconic commercial play that many thought could never be repeated.

Away Day Blues

Everton continue their David Moyes-led resurgence with a scintillating 3-1 away win at continental-chasing Fulham. Even though going behind to a Raul Jimenez header midway through the first half; the Blues fought back and recorded a convincing victory that will surely lend credence to the fact that they could well be aiming for the European spots at their new Bramley-Moore Dock stadium next season.

Fulham had the better of the first half; but were slightly hamstrung with the absence of rampaging left-back Antonee Robinson; and Andreas Pereira in place of Sasa Lukic was not the right move for me; with the Brazilian probably better suited higher up the pitch. As such; the Everton tactic of doubling up on Sander Berge worked well; with the previously-composed holding midfielder forced to give up possession on several occasions.

For Everton; their players seem to be playing with the tide behind their back. Fans might have been worried with the inclusion of Ashley Young & Michael Keane; but it was the latter who put them decisively in front with a far-post header that snuck in beyond Fulham's' backline. Even better; it was suddenly in-form Beto who wrapped things up with a clinical finish just moments later; albeit due to a very uncharacteristic groping error from Bernd Leno.

Like Bees To Honey

There was a time 20 years ago when a game like Brentford v Manchester United was almost a sure-win by United. A time when the chance of United losing a game was harder than striking TOTO. Well those days have gone; and now it is lowly Brentford; a team unheard of 10 years ago; that are actually the favorites against United. In the words of Ruben Amorim; this could be the worst Man Utd team in history; even worse than the Gordon Strachan-inspired side of '86. They are like 15th in the league; below teams such as Crystal Palace; Everton and even Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Brentford have been establishing their identity in recent years. After a Sergio Canas-inspired 2-0 league opener win over Arsenal some years back; they have hardly looked back. With Thomas Frank's unique blend of teamwork and intensity; his team are now feared by all & sundry; especially at home; where they seem to have built up a unique reputation with their fans. On this rousing afternoon where they still had a chance of outside European qualification; they sensed United were there for the taking; and took it with open hands. Bryan Mbeumo; already one of the stories of the season; lit up the game with his pace & direct running; looking a threat everytime he cut in on his favourite left-foot. And this 4-2-3-1 formation suits them to a tee; with Ukrainian youngster Yehor Yarmolyuk a useful foil alongside the hardworking Christian Norgaard in central midfield.

For United; perhaps the less said the better. The passing & cohesion in this team is a far cry from their glory days. The players are not moving well; they don't seem to know what to do. Even when they took the lead through Mason Mount; they didn't have the confidence nor the wherewithal to hold on to it. With a youthful team of striker Chido Obi & youngsters Tyler Fredricson & Harry Amass; they were lacking in experience & know-how. It was notable that their entire back three was substituted; not something very common. Even their late scorchers from Alejandro Garnacho & Amad Diallo did not do much to buffer the scoreline.

A Sarr Is Born

Crystal Palace upset the form book; doing a scintillating 3-0 win over favorites Aston Villa; who had gone on a hitherto unbelievable 11 win out of 14 sequence; to reach the FA Cup final. Newly-minted England international Eberechi Eze; the man of the moment; did it again; scoring with a trademark opportunistic strike to draw first blood after a somewhat-tense opening period. Things got better for Palace as even with a missed Jean-Phillipe Mateta penalty; they went 2-0 up after another Ismaila Sarr unerring strike. The match was sealed deep in stoppage time; as Sarr again ran through a flagging Villa backline to prod home his second.

For a match of this importance; Villa simply did not show up. I thought Unai Emery made a mistake in starting the seldom-used Pau Torres instead of Tyrone Mings; and his rustiness became clear as the match went by. Another questionable decision is using captain John McGinn on the left wing instead of the in-form Jacob Ramsey; as McGinn is more of a central operator than a wide man. For all his quality; Marco Asensio was an invisible man; unable to influence or change the course of the match; and the same could be said of Morgan Rogers.

For Palace; they continue to be the rising force of English football; and Oliver Glasner's influence holds no bounds. Their 3-4-3 formation suits them to a tee; and I feel the foundation of their success lies in their 3-man defence of Maxence Lacroix; with US international Chris Richards and England man Marc Guehi. Such is their strength in depth that even after their central midfielders Adam Wharton and Daichi Kamada were shifted; their reserve partnership of Will Hughes and Jefferson Lerma is still teeming with quality. While upfront; the hold-up play of Mateta; paired with the speed of Eze and Sarr are just perfect for their counter-attacking qualities.

A Whiter Shade Of Blue

Chelsea edged out Everton 1-0 to move into the top 4; as their hunt for Champions League qualification takes on new intensity into the final weeks. Everton were not at the races for the 1st half; without a single shot at all. Beto had been having trouble holding up the ball all day long; and in one of those sequences; it led to Trevor Chalobah pinching it off him; and Enzo Fernandez setting up Nicolas Jackson for a sharp finish right into the corner.

Everton were much better in the second half; and that fragile 1-0 lead was nearly eradicated when they produced two chances almost out of nothing; with Beto first getting the better of Levi Colwill before testing Robert Sanchez with a sharp shot; before substitute Dwight McNeil could have connected better from another substitute Carlos Alcaraz's cross.

Chelsea were not at their best too; but did just enough to secure the win. Trevor Chalobah looks impressive in central defence though; and Noni Madueke caught the eye with a hardworking display down the Chelsea left. Cole Palmer though; still looks short of inspiration & perspiration; with his barren run without a goal now extending to 17 matches; while Jackson at least would have been happy to find the scoresheet after 14 games. They would be happy though to enter the top 4; with a testing run of games fast approaching.

Nothing But Neto

In another weird sign of things to come; Fulham were actually slight favorites against Chelsea in one of the most storied London rivalries. Such has been the resurgence of Marco Silva's team this season; and the abject inconsistency of Enzo Maresca's men; that has come to this day.

And Fulham started exactly how they have been all season: full of poise & panache; everyone knowing what to do; playing as a team; pressing brilliantly. It was with the run of play that they took the lead; with former Everton reject Alex Iwobi adding another bow to his so-far solid season. It was he who screwed up a few sequences just moments before; but before you knew it; he had stepped up to drill an unstoppable left-foot shot into the side netting.

Things wee looking bleak for Chelsea. This was another horror show that has happened too often for them this season. From a team looking like they could challenge for the title; they have fallen way off; symbolized by the drastic drop in form of their stars such as Cole Palmer & Jadon Sancho.

Credit though to the manager; he made the right switches at half-time. With Malo Gusto & Sancho coming on for their inept right-wing of captain Reece James & Noni Madueke; and with an upturn in energy; it allowed Chelsea to wrest back control of the match.

Things got even better for them when youngster Tyrique George slotted home an opportunistic finish; before Pedro Neto delivered an even better volley deep into stoppage time; to turn this game completely on its head.

Not So Keane

The times they are a-changin'. Who would have thought in a matter of months; it is now Everton who are favourites against Manchester City. Simply unbelievable. That on the back of a stunning run of form that would have seen Everton in 6th place extrapolated across the season. And City's worst period of form since God knows when.

Looking at the City line-up; it doesn't strike fear now. Gone are the likes of Kyle Walker & Erling Haaland; albeit through injury. And there is no Phil Foden; no Jack Grealish; no John Stones. In their place are unknowns such as the frizzy-haired Nico O-Reilly & the even more unknown Nico Gonzalez. And superstars such as Bernardo Silva are either bang out of form or in Kevin De Bruyne's case; waiting to be retired.

But it seems Everton got a bit complacent in this one; missing were the usual energetic high pressing game employed by David Moyes' men; in fact this seemed to represent a game in which both sides had nothing to play for; which was almost true of course. It was only when Michael Keane came on for the injured James Tarkowski did the match seem to turn; paralleled by the introduction of the dangerous Jeremy Doku for City. Suddenly; the sturdy defending of the home side was replaced by hesitancy & nervousness; exemplified when O'Reilly was first on hand to turn home Matheus Nunes' expected cross.

Things got worse when a slipping Mateo Kovacic somehow found his shot gliding past a despairing Jordan Pickford to make the points safe for City. Somehow though this was not the City that we were accustomed to seeing. And Everton surely could have won it had they took the chance.

Jewels In The Palace

The best-kept secret is out. Crystal. Palace are one of the best teams in England right now. Riding on the crest of an unbelievable 6-match away winning streak with no goals conceded; the Eagles soared to another comprehensive 3-0 away win at fellow high-flyers Fulham.

It wasn't always like this; as their early-season form saw them stuttering around in the lower reaches of the league and tagged as relegation candidates. The difference? The arrival of Oliver Glasner. The new man has put in place an expansive 3-4-3 formation that suits Palace to a tee.

And the key to that is the 3-man defence of Maxence Lacroix; US international Chris Richards & England standout Marc Guehi. They have proven so reliable that everything flows from there. That allows their two wing-backs Daniel Munoz & Tyrick Mitchell to operate where they like to; further up the field. They are complemented by two hardworking midfielders in Colombian Jefferson Lerma & new England international Adam Wharton; who was not afraid to put his boot about in this one.

Upfront; they look terrifically balanced as well; with seminal striker Jean-Phillipe Mateta complemented on the wings by the electric Eberechi Eze & former Watford star Ismaila Sarr; thus making Palace a threat at both ends. Add to that the depth of former Liverpool right-back Nathaniel Clyne; Japanese international Daichi Kamada & the industrious Will Hughes; and you know why everyone is getting excited about Palace these days.

Liverpool Crash & Burn

In a final representing more like a fairy tale; Newcastle United ended 70 years of hurt with their first domestic trophy in scintillating fashion over overwhelming favourites Liverpool. In contrast to their tepid performance two years ago against Manchester United; the Geordies were determined to stamp their authority on this one; and came out firing almost from the get-go.

Their midfield has well been the hallmark of their brilliant season; and again today; it was captain Bruno Guimaraes; the defensive masterclass of Joelinton and the probing of Sandro Tonali that won the day. The first half looked almost goal-less before Dan Burn; called up to the England squad for the first time at age 32; planted an unstoppable header into the corner following Kieran Trippier's corner. Bizarrely; he was marked by the smallest man on the pitch Alexis Mac Allister; as Liverpool's so-called zonal defence went up in smoke.

If Liverpool improved slightly after the break; it was to no avail as Alexander Isak; one of the stars of the season; reacted typically to slot home after Jacob Murphy had won the cross from Andrew Robertson; a move symbolising how Newcastle wanted it more in this one. Liverpool on the other hand were slow and ponderous; lacking in ideas and second to almost every challenge. In the biggest game of the season; they turned out the flattest, Their forward trio of Diogo Jota; Mohamed Salah & Luis Diaz; regarded as one of the best in the world; turned in perhaps their worst performance; with both Jota & Diaz substituted for their troubles. Even though Federico Chiesa did pull one back for the Reds late on; it was too little too late.

Now That's Entertainment!

Documentary season is in full swing on Netflix; and the latest one to make waves is the Vince McMahon Story; the inevitable story of one of the biggest bosses in sport; leader & visionary of the World Wrestling Entertainment franchise.

It is without a doubt that at its peak; the World Wrestling Federation was one of the biggest sports businesses in the world; easily beating Peter Ndlovu & the English Premier League back in its heyday. This documentary is not a full-fledged wrestling biopic nor a full-fledged McMahon biopic; and it seems to suffer in its dilemma-ed identity. No doubt he was the one who orchestrated its biggest success; with stars such as Hulk Hogan & Bret Hart amongst the most charismatic stars to come onboard.

It is clear that Hogan was the biggest star in wrestling at that time; and it was his good looks & charisma that seemed to pave the way for its success. When Wrestlemania V came on board; it seemed the whole world was watching; as breathtaking stars such as The Rockers & Demolition; along with baddies such as The Twin Towers & Zeus; kept audiences enthralled with the spectacle.

The problem with WWE; as with many other sports businesses; is that its success became its downfall. Felt by the need to create one big headline after another; it went into overload and scenes became too over-the-top. What was once believable spectacle became unbelievable incredulity; so much so that the tide began to turn and audiences stayed away.

In a similar vein; once-in-a-year match-ups such as Summer Slam piqued the interest; while having big matches every week on Superstars became an eventual turn-off. When you see too much of a good thing; it eventually becomes sour. So it becomes the present whereby no-one gives a damn anymore. The stars have dried up; the plots have dried up; and the spectacle is over.

Fool's Gold

How big was the trade of Luka Doncic to the LA Lakers for Anthony Davis!? Well even Luka thought it was an April Fool's joke. The only problem was: the date was not April 1. In split seconds; maybe the biggest trade in NBA history had taken place; with the 2nd best player in the world Doncic being traded to the most famous franchise in the NBA for one of the best big men in the game Anthony Davis.

Not since Lew Alcindor's move from Milwaukee to Los Angeles; and maybe Charles Barkley's earth-shattering 1992 move from Philadelphia to Phoenix has there ever  been a move like that. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to suggest that there was something behind the scenes at Dallas. Yes they reached the Finals last season; but then why did Alex Ferguson sell Jaap Stam? Questions remain over Doncic's fitness; conditioning and culture; and that beer-snatching episode has taken renewed significance.

Granted; both teams have defo gotten better. The Lakers are now the favorites for the NBA title; with two of the greatest players the world has ever seen; and their storied luck has even seen them getting lanky big man Mark Williams; together with seasoned veterans Markieff Morris & Maxi Kleber; while not having to give up Austin Reaves. Even Bronny James might not be able to bring them down. For the Mavs; they have righted the chemistry so to speak; and in Davis; Kryie Irving and Klay Thompson; they are truly stacked and ready for their own tilt at the title.

Yes at 31 Davis is of course older than Doncic at 25; but Dallas is obviously going for a win-now approach and worrying about the future later. They have also upped their culture & defense in a player like Davis. For the Lakers; their 'perennial' luck seems to be serving them no end. For years & years they have benefited from seemingly diabolical trade decisions. After Kareem they managed to get Shaq & Kobe; then Pau Gasol out of nothing; let alone Karl Malone, Gary Payton & Steve Nash, In recent years; they managed to get D'Angelo Russell then Lonzo Ball; and of course LeBron James. Now another megastar has seemingly fallen into their lap. And this one could well prove the biggest gambit of them all.

Hakuna Mateta

There was a time when Manchester United were kings of the world. The chance of them losing at home to a lowly-ranked team was harder than striking TOTO. Well; that time is over. These days; it seems any team can beat Man United anywhere... they have become something like... Coventry City.

The latest horror show was dished out by a rejuvenated Crystal Palace team; who are playing lively football under new manager Oliver Glasner; and are actually better than their 13th position would have you believe. Witness their effervescent football on this day; their 3-4-3 formation perfectly designed to counter the United equivalent; with their three-man defence of Maxence Lacroix; Chris Richards and Marc Guehi particularly solid.

On the other hand; United were always a step slow; unable to string their passes together; unable to make their moves; and losing all the second balls. Kobbie Mainoo was playing as a false nine and did have an early effort unluckily come off the post; but even when the real nine came on in Rasmus Hojlund & Joshua Zirkzee; it was too little too late.

In the end; it was not the greatest surprise when in-form striker Jean-Philippe Mateta pounced on the rebound after Lacroix's fantastic header over an overpowered Leny Yoro to seize Palace into the lead; and things looked especially gloomy when the impressive Ismaila Sarr played in Daniel Munoz; who squared unselfishly for Mateta to turn in Palace's second. United's revival is a far far away.

Forest Fire

Nottingham Forest reacted to last week's 5-0 hammering by Bournemouth in the best way possible: by handing out their own 7-0 demolition job on fellow high-flyers Brighton & Hove Albion at a mesmerised City Ground.

Manager Nuno Espirito Santo played his cards right yet again; deploying a 3-5-2 formation to stymie the Brighton wing threats of Yakuba Minteh & Kaoru Mitoma. With Morgan Gibbs-White revelling in a new-found right midfield position; it allowed the home side to dominate both on the wings and centrally as well.

On one such foray down the right; it was Gibbs-White who found space to play a teasing ball that ended with Lewis Dunk turning the ball into his own net for the first goal. Gibbs-White was having a magnificent match; and before long; he flicked in an Anthony Elanga corner superbly to put Forest two up.

Things got even better for Forest when Elanga; another having an inspired season; floated in a pitch-perfect cross for the inevitable Chris Wood to head home before half-time. If you thought things couldn't get worse for Brighton in the second half; it very soon did. Another searing counter-attack saw the irrepressible Elanga provide again for Wood to tap-in; as Brighton players started to down their shoulders.

They even had the temerity for smallish Tariq Lamptey to desperately haul down Gibbs-White in the area for Wood to complete his hat-trick via the penalty spot. With Brighton in serious disarray; their shambolic defence saw former Liverpool left-back Neco Williams smash home a messy sixth; before substitute Jota Silva intercepted Bart Verbruggen's poor clearance to slot home Forest's seventh.

Toffees Fail To Find Sweet Spot

The boos at the end of the match told its own story. In normal circumstances; a home draw against high-flying Brentford would have been a good point. This however; was no ordinary circumstance. Everton had raised their form and were largely in control of proceedings in this one. Brentford were also reduced to 10 men after 41 minutes; as captain Christian Norgaard was sent off in a somewhat unfortunate knee-high challenge on Jordan Pickford. To make matters worse; this was actually Brentford's first away point all season; thus showing that Everton perhaps should have taken all 3 points.

While their defence is improving with the return of talisman Jarrad Branthwaite; their attack still looks painfully shy of goals. With their main striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin in a catastrophic run of form and seemingly bereft of confidence; the squad looks rather thin up front; with only new signing Iliman Ndiaye looking capable of troubling the goalscoring update.

In the end though; the match petered out to an inevitable outcome; Everton have now lost just once in 8 Premier League matches; however a flurry of draws have meant they are still only 3 points above the relegation zone. While for Brentford; they can hold their heads high having secured their first away point of the season in adverse circumstances.