Soccer

VITOR PEREIRA can start planning ahead, Ivan Juric can start packing his bags.Southampton fans finally lost patience with their second manager of the season as Jorgen Strand Larsen’s double gave Wolves an even bigger cushion over the relegation places.Wolves won 2-1 at Southampton to move closer to Premier League safetyCredit: ReutersJorgen Strand Larsen scored both goals in the victoryCredit: GettyThe Norwegian had not scored since late December, but the ever generous Saints gifted him the opener before a well-taken second.Substitute Paul Onuachu bagged a fortunate one back for Saints but they never really looked dangerous enough to grab an equaliser.Wolves, now nine points clear of the drop, can surely start planning for next season in the Premier League.Just as Liverpool’s title is effectively wrapped up, the bottom of the table appears sealed too.READ MORE ON FOOTBALLSouthampton are by far the worst of the bunch, but neither Leicester nor Ipswich look capable of troubling those above them either.Pereira will not say so until his side are mathematically safe, but everyone knows they will be alright.Given the desperate state of the three promoted clubs preparing to head straight back down – Wolves could probably stop playing now and still finish above the bottom three.The one thing Saints have to push for is beating Derby’s record low points tally of 11.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSOne win would do it for them, but that feels an awful lot to ask for watching the way this side collapse at the first sign of difficulty.It has been the story of Southampton’s season that just as they start to look half decent in a game, someone does something to remind everyone why they are heading straight back down.Dan Burn’s gone from pushing trolleys at Asda to potential England glory – he fully deserves his call-upThis time around it was Armel Bella-Kotchap’s turn.Saints had started brightly, for a side on nine points in March, and Joe Aribo had the chance to put them ahead before firing over the bar.Two minutes later they fell behind as Strand Larsen was left free to rise and meet Jean-Ricner Bellegarde’s well placed cross as Bella-Kotchap, the closest defender, stood and watched a few yards away.Saints offered little in the way of a response before the game as supporters turned on hapless boss Juric – calling on him to play a striker having started without one for the second game on the bounce.The Croatian caved at the break, sending on Onuachu, but as a replacement for one of Southampton’s few competent players, Matheus Fernandes.This prompted more tumult from the stands, with loud boos and chants of “you don’t know what you’re doing”.Saints have already decided Juric will leave in the summer, the question now is whether they make the change sooner.Southampton were terrible under Russell Martin, but look even worse now.Juric wanted to stop them conceding, but their statuesque defending smacks of a team who have given up.Two minutes into the second half, Saints allowed Wolves to stroll through them, Marshall Munetsi and Bellegarde playing first time passes to tee up Larsen on the edge of the box who powered a smart finish low into the far corner.Saints did start creating some chances, with Yuki Suguwara, Tyler Dibling and Onuachu all having a sniff.Juric’s forwards all lack the quality to provide a cutting edge when it counts and even the goal they got back was more luck than judgement.Onuachu collected the ball just inside the Wolves half and fed Dibling.The teen, who is destined for much bigger and better than St Mary’s come the summer, carried the ball forwards.READ MORE SUN STORIESHis low shot had beaten Sa, but struck the far post and fell for Onuachu to tap in.Southampton looked to have a bit of belief about them that a point was within reach, especially after Joao Gomes had missed a sitter to get Wolves’ third, but no one in the stands really believed it would come.Larsen was given far too much space to head in the openerCredit: PAThe striker had not scored since December before his doubleCredit: GettyPaul Onuachu grabbed a close-range consolation for SaintsCredit: PAVitor Pereira can surely start preparing for life in the Premier League again next seasonCredit: GettySouthampton manager Ivan Juric looks utterly lost for ideasCredit: Reuters More

SIR JIM RATCLIFFE claims that co-owning Manchester United is turning him “into an old man”.The British billionaire, 71, also admits that he doesn’t know why he decided to buy into his boyhood club.Sir Jim Ratcliffe has spoken out about Manchester UnitedCredit: AlamyWith United facing criticism on and off the pitch, Ratcliffe has performed several interviews this week.In the latest, the Ineos chief – who also owns chunks of Mercedes F1, Ineos Grenadiers cycling and OGC Nice in Ligue 1 – was asked about his motivations for buying into the Red Devils.On if it was the money that appealed, he said: “That is 100 per cent not where I’ve come from at all. I’m making enough money in chemicals and oil and gas and all that stuff.”He then added: “I can’t honestly answer why we did it. It’s quite a difficult question.READ MORE ON MAN UTD”With Nice, in the French league, you can buy a club for £100million. It’s much cheaper access.”But I don’t particularly enjoy going to watch Nice because there are some good players but the level of football is not high enough for me to get excited.”Ratcliffe also revealed that Sir Alex Ferguson warned him of the stresses of Man Utd after he completed his purchase.He said: “The first thing Alex Ferguson said to me was that the shirt can be too heavy.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS”It applies to everyone here really, the coach, the players — the owner. It’s turning me into an old man.”It’s hard to do the interviews. On camera for 40 minutes, one cock-up and you’re legendary for it.”Sir Jim Ratcliffe launches scathing attack on struggling Man Utd squad saying some ‘not good enough’ and ‘overpaid’Ratcliffe refused to criticise the Glazer family during the interview.On possibly taking similar criticism to what United’s majority owners receive, he admitted: “So, eventually, if it reached the extent that the Glazer family have been abused, then I’d have to say, look, enough’s enough guys, let somebody else do this.”They can’t really come to a match, the Glazers. They’ve retreated into the shadows a bit now, so I’m getting all the bloody stick.“We bought in and I haven’t seen them since.”At the moment, I don’t have security, I don’t have to walk around like that.”But it would defeat the object, wouldn’t it? You couldn’t tolerate it at that level, it just wouldn’t be fun.”I wouldn’t have tolerated Ed Woodward, or Richard Arnold.Sir Jim RatcliffeRather than the Glazer family, Ratcliffe decided to take aim at two former United executives.He said: “I mean, I wouldn’t have tolerated Ed Woodward, or Richard Arnold.READ MORE SUN STORIES”Richard was a rugby man, he didn’t even understand football. Ed didn’t have the credentials to manage the club.”He was a merchant banker, an accountant. He wasn’t the chief executive.”Ed Woodward and Richard Arnold came under fire from RatcliffeCredit: PA More

WHEN Anthony Elanga took advantage of more poor Ipswich defending to score Forest’s third goal in six first-half-minutes, the away fans could not resist.“You’re going down with the Leicester” they gleefully told their hosts.Anthony Elanga celebrates putting the game beyond IpswichCredit: GettyNikola Milenkovic is congratulated after opening the scoringCredit: AlamyAnd the blitz that blew Town another step down towards a return to the Championship told you everything about why two-time winners Forest are a good bet to be back in the European Cup next season.Centre-back Nikola Milenkovic has shown himself to be one of the best signings of the season with his work at one end of the pitch.After the Serb broke the deadlock, another of Forest’s excellent recruitment decisions, former Manchester United man Elanga, scored two goals typical of him and his team.The Ipswich defending was bad again but the ruthlessness and speed with which Elanga took advantage were sensational.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLWhen Nuno Espirito Santo’s team break at pace, there are few more thrilling sights in the Premier League.In 2025/6, the same will surely apply to European football. The only question is which competition Forest will be contesting.Jens Cajuste and George Hirst grabbed consolation goals either side of Forest substitute Jota Silva claiming the visitors’ fourth.But there can be little doubt about where Ipswich are heading, especially after Wolves’ win at doomed Southampton.Most read in FootballThe hosts did OK for the first 20 minutes and went closest to scoring when Omari Hutchinson fired just over the bar.BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERSElanga scores for Champions League-chasing ForestCredit: GettyMilenkovic fires Nottingham Forest into the leadCredit: ReutersBut the warning signs were there.The Forest supporters sang “England’s No10” all afternoon in honour of Morgan Gibbs-White and Thomas Tuchel’s debatable decision not to include him in his first squad.Why Gakpo v Isak will decide Liverpool v Newcastle Carabao Cup Final | Experts’ bets – Weekend WagerGibbs-White recovered the ball on the edge of his own penalty area and his team were on the attack in a blur of red.Seconds later Callum Hudson-Odoi had raced to the byline and sent a ball across the six-yard box that someone really should have tucked into the net.No matter.Soon afterwards, Delap’s weak defensive header fell to Milenkovic.The Serb lashed the ball into the top corner, with a savagery to match the away supporters’ chant about his alleged capacity for violence.Within two minutes, Hutchinson lost the ball and seconds later it was in the net again.Nicolas Dominguez fed Elanga and he raced down the right, before beating Jacob Greaves way too easily and curling a superb finish inside the far post.There was worse, and even worse defending, still to come for the home side.Milenkovic’s hefty punt down the field cleared Wood and his marker. Elanga reacted by far the quickest, nodding the ball past Greaves and running on to beat Alex Palmer with a low finish.Ipswich at least began the second half as if they thought it wasn’t game over.Cameron Burgess replaced the hapless Greaves in defence and Hutchinson forced Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels into his first proper save, but a routine one from a shot from distance.Delap should have Sels work harder soon afterwards. But when Leif Davis swung in a good corner, the Ipswich striker sent a free header from 12 yards wide.Some more questionable Ipswich defending led to a chance for Wood, but Forest’s top scorer could manage only a tame shot that Palmer stopped with a bit more fuss than necessary.With a quarter of the game to go, Nuno took off Elanga and sent on an extra defender, to save his team’s explosiveness for another day.READ MORE SUN STORIESIpswich, like others before them, had been blown away. Cajuste’s fine finish was too little, too late and Silva scored from Gibbs-White’s pass after another rapid break by Forest. Home substitute Hirst made the scoreline look more respectable.“Real Madrid, we’re coming for you,” sang the away fans. They may well be right.Jens Cajuste scores a consolation for IpswichCredit: ReutersJota Silva grabbed Forest’s fourth late onCredit: ReutersGeorge Hirst rises to score in stoppage timeCredit: Getty More