Soccer

ERIK TEN HAG’S future as Manchester United manager continues to be in serious doubt despite the Red Devil holding Aston Villa to a draw on Sunday afternoon.United have made a shocking start to the new season, winning just two of their opening seven Premier League games.The Red Devils are also winless in the Europa League after draws with FC Twente and Porto.United’s hierarchy are reportedly scheduled to meet up 48 hours after today’s match at Villa Park amid growing uncertainty around Ten Hag’s position at the club.Should the Dutchman lose his job, the likes of Gareth Southgate, Thomas Tuchel, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Graham Potter have been linked with the post.RESULT: Aston Villa 0-0 Man UtdTV channel/live stream: Sky Sports Main Event/NOWAston Villa team: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Pau, Digne, Philogene, Barkley, Tielemans, Bailey, Rogers, WatkinsMan Utd team: Onana, Mazraoui, Maguire, Fernandes, Hojlund, Rashford, Eriksen, Garnacho, Dalot, Evans, MainooFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSFollow ALL the action from Villa Park with our live blog below…Maguire injury updateHarry Maguire was spotted leaving Villa Park wearing a protective boot.It appears the centre back has suffered a serious injury in today’s game.United have yet to confirm the severity of Maguire’s injury.He had to be taken off at half-time in the game against Aston Villa.Copy linkCopiedTen Hag reactsErik Ten Hag is confident he has the backing of the hierarchy at Old Trafford.We always speak. We speak every week.“We are all on board, together, on one page. We know what we are working to, it is a long-term project. We have to keep improving.“We proved in two very tough away games that this is a team. We showed our togetherness, our spirit, but also the belief and faith we have.”Erik Ten HagSky SportsCopy linkCopiedPrem low for Ten HagToday’s draw at Villa Park means Manchester United have just eight points to show from their opening seven Premier League games this season.It is the fewest that the Red Devils have mustered this stage of a league campaign since 1989-90 (7) when they finished 13th in the old First Division.Copy linkCopiedVery little x-citement on showThe combined expected goals total between Aston Villa and Manchester United in today’s game was just 0.94 – the lowest in a Premier League match so far this season.Indeed, the last game in the competition to see a lower combined total was Arsenal’s 1-0 home win against Manchester City in October 2023 (0.87).Copy linkCopiedGood Evans! United’s standout star speaksJonny Evans’ inclusion in the Manchester United line-up was a huge talking point before the game, but the 36-year-old put in an assured performance in defence to ensure a clean sheet – and earn himself the Man of the Match award.Speaking at full time, the veteran centre-back admitted that the display still wasn’t quite want United hoped for, but it was a major improvement on recent showings.It wasn’t perfect. We didn’t pass the ball as well as we would have liked to, but we’ve got a point against a very good side away from home. After conceding three in Europe, we were perhaps defensive-minded and hoped to catch them on the counter-attack which we nearly did at the end.Jonny EvansSky SportsCopy linkCopiedMatch stats from Villa ParkIt’s now three Premier League games in a row without a goal for Manchester United.Copy linkCopiedFull time – Aston Villa 0-0 Man UtdThank heavens for that.A really desperate game draws to a close, and it’s doubtful there would be a goal if they continued playing for another 90 minutes.Short on energy and excitement, lacking composure and creativity, there was close to zero attacking ability on show.The best it got was a Bruno Fernandes free-kick against the crossbar, while Marcus Rashford was lucky to escape a red card for two clumsy fouls in quick succession.Copy linkCopiedAston Villa 0-0 Man Utd90+7. Blow the whistle, referee. This has been dire.Copy linkCopiedAston Villa 0-0 Man Utd90+4. And now a huge opportunity for United!With Villa committing men upfield, the visitors break two-on-one with Garnacho in possession on the right.The Argentine just needs to weight his pass correctly to play in Fernandes, but his composure is really poor and he instead directs it straight at the single Villa defender.Awful.Copy linkCopiedAston Villa 0-0 Man Utd90+3. That was the chance!!A big, big moment comes and goes for Jaden Philogene, who gets on the end of a low delivery across the United penalty area that evades everyone else.With a huge target to aim at, the young winger fires his shot straight at Dalot, who had actually turned his back on the ball.The Portuguese player takes the congratulations of his teammates, but I’m not sure it was the best defending.Copy linkCopiedAston Villa 0-0 Man Utd90+2. Ironic cheers great the ref’s return to the pitch, and he comes complete with a new battery pack for his walkie-talkie.Meanwhile, Aston Villa have a free-kick wide on the left. Has either team been unsettled by the delay? Copy linkCopiedAston Villa 0-0 Man Utd90. The fourth official’s board goes up to state six minutes of stoppage time, but it’s going to be more because the referee is still having his equipment fiddled with.Meanwhile, the natives are getting restless.Copy linkCopiedAston Villa 0-0 Man Utd88. Referee Rob Jones heads over to the touchline to fix an issue with his communication equipment.It’s a disaster for everyone watching as the realisation creeps in that this game is going to go on much longer than is necessary.Copy linkCopiedAston Villa 0-0 Man Utd87. Lindelof, not content with putting two hands in the back of Duran, reacts slowly to the quickly taken free-kick by chopping down Rogers.The fifth Manchester United player to receive a caution.Copy linkCopiedAston Villa 0-0 Man Utd86. This game makes the new Joker movie look like a five-star thriller.Copy linkCopiedAston Villa 0-0 Man Utd85. A substitution apiece.Casemiro comes on for Kobbie Mainoo while Ian Maatsen replaces Lucas Digne.The Villa replacement gets in on the act immediately by overrunning the ball out of play for a United goalkick.Copy linkCopiedAston Villa 0-0 Man Utd83. Jonny Evans has been the best player on the pitch today.Hopefully Sir Jim is drawing up a new four-year contract as we speak.Copy linkCopiedAston Villa 0-0 Man Utd82. Zirkzee was only introduced in the 64th minute, but is moving about as though he took part in the Great Birmingham Run this morning.Copy linkCopiedAston Villa 0-0 Man Utd80. Another uneventful corner comes and goes.The highlight of that one was the referee having to step in to stop some shoving between Pau Torres and Jonny Evans.Copy linkCopiedAston Villa 0-0 Man Utd78. The excitement levels go up as soon as Duran gets on the ball.While the Villa Park crowd urge the substitute to shoot, he instead lays the ball wide into the path of Watkins.The England striker drives to the byline, and wins a corner when his low cross is turned behind by Lindelof.Copy linkCopiedAston Villa 0-0 Man Utd76. Digne’s reputation as a dead ball specialist is diminishing by the minute.His set-piece deliveries have been woeful today, and now he’s just curled a free-kick from a promising position 15 yards over the crossbar.Still, it was a never a foul by De Ligt on Watkins in the first place so justice has probably been done.Copy linkCopiedAston Villa 0-0 Man Utd74. There are half-hearted appeals for a handball from the Holte End as the ball thumps into the chest of Jonny Evans.Wishful thinking has very much become the order of the day.Copy linkCopiedAston Villa 0-0 Man Utd73. Diego Carlos will continue for now, but a concerned Unai Emery is keeping a close eye on proceedings on the touchline.Copy linkCopiedAston Villa 0-0 Man Utd72. On the stretch, Diego Carlos diverts an Alejandro Garnacho cross into the arms of Emiliano Martinez.But it’s not been a day for centre-backs, and the Brazilian – an early replacement for Ezri Konsa – lays out on the turf with a look of discomfort on his face.Will he be the latest player to limp out of action?Copy linkCopiedAston Villa 0-0 Man Utd70. The lack of attacking quality in this game so far is summed up by Morgan Rogers spurning an otherwise excellent move by spooning a first time cross behind for a goalkick.Can either team find a way through in the final 20 minutes?Copy linkCopied More

BRIGHTON host Tottenham hoping to end their four-game winless run.The Seagulls had won their first two games of the season but have since drawn three successive games before last weekend’s 4-2 defeat at Chelsea.Tottenham endured a tougher start but will be hoping to make it three successive wins at the Amex.Kick off time: 4.30pm BSTTV/Stream: Sky Sports Main Event / NowTVBrighton XI: Verbruggen; Veltman, Webster, Dunk, Kadioglu; Baleba, Hinshelwood; Minteh, Rutter, Mitoma; WelbeckTottenham XI: Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie; Kulusevski, Bentancur, Maddison; Johnson, Solanke, WernerFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSFollow our live blog below… More

CHELSEA have dropped points against ten-man Nottingham Forest in what turned out to be a fiesty thriller at Stamford Bridge.Chris Wood temporarily put the visitors ahead before Noni Madueke equalised eight minutes later.And the three points were there for the taking when James Ward-Prowse saw red for a bizarre handball, but Nuno Espirito Santos’ men held on.RESULT: Chelsea 1-1 ForestLive stream/TV: Not televised in the UKChelsea team: Sanchez, Cucurella, Gusto, Fofana, Colwill, Caicedo, Fernandez, Madueke, Palmer, Sancho, JacksonNottingham Forest team: Sels, Aina, Murillo, Milenković, Moreno, Yates, Anderson, Ward-Prowse, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi, WoodFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSFollow ALL the action from Stamford Bridge with our live blog below…Match report by Andy DillonNONI MADUEKE saved Chelsea’s bacon as the Blues were held to a draw by 10-man Nottingham Forest.Chris Wood’s strike gave the visitors the lead at Stamford Bridge.And Chelsea appeared unable to break down Forest’s deep block.But Madueke stepped up to fire home and rescue a point for the hosts…Read the full match report here: Copy linkCopiedPlayer ratingsIt was far from what the Chelsea players and fans would’ve hoped for out on the pitch today, and SunSport’s Jack Figg has rated the players for you to take a look at. Noni Madueke took home the best rating, while a frustrated Chelsea star received the worst…You can view the player ratings here…Copy linkCopiedMan of the match Your SunSport man of the match today has got to go to Nottingham Forest keeper Matz Sels. The strike from Noni Madueke was a tough one to stop, but aside from that he was absolutely imperious in the net for Forest. Multiple saves to deny Cole Palmer, Christopher Nkunku, Noni Madueke and more rescued a point for his side, and he has been a large contributor in their impressive start to the season. Matz Sels took the SunSport Man of the Match award at Stamford BridgeCredit: AlamyCopy linkCopiedFull-time: Match StatsThis is how the statistics saw the game at full time, in what was an electrifying and entertaining game from start to finish. It was Chelsea who dominated the possession, but Forest who had more shots on target, with their counter attacking style proving tough for Chelsea to deal with once the Trees had the lead. The match stats after Chelsea were held to a draw by Nottingham ForestCopy linkCopiedFULL-TIME: Chelsea 1-1 Nottingham Forest FT. It’s full time here at Stamford Bridge, and the points are shared between Chelsea and Nottingham Forest. There were chances galore, but two impressive goalkeeping performances, particularly Sels of Forest prevented more goals flying in. Not to be for Chelsea today, but it could’ve been worse for Maresca’s men…Chelsea’s Cole Palmer was left frustrated despite picking up an assist for Chelsea’s equaliserCredit: PACopy linkCopiedChelsea 1-1 Nottingham Forest 90+13. Forest’s free-kick is smashed by Murillo and deflected out for a corner. One last chance for Forest to get their big men in the box…Aina crosses, but Sanchez makes a HUGE save to deny Jota at the death who hit a glancing header on target. Copy linkCopiedChelsea 1-1 Nottingham Forest 90+12. Forest are frustrating Chelsea here, as Moises Caicedo leaves a late challenge on Jota driving forwards. There are just moments left here for either side to find a winner, and Forest have a free kick here with their big men forwards. Copy linkCopiedChelsea 1-1 Nottingham Forest 90+11. Robert Sanchez gives the ball away too easily and Forest have another chance, with a Neco Williams volley being saved by the Chelsea stopper. Copy linkCopiedChelsea 1-1 Nottingham Forest 90+8. Chelsea are dominating the ball here as we head into the final five minutes of added time. Caicedo gives away a foul, which Forest will take their time over once more…Copy linkCopiedChelsea 1-1 Nottingham Forest 90+5. HUGE SAVE from Robert Sanchez and then by Matt Sels!It is end-to-end here right now! Forest get forward after a free-kick, and Neco Williams’ placed shot is saved excellently by Robert Sanchez and played out to Mudryk on the left-hand side. The Ukrainian bursts down the left and crosses perfectly for Christopher Nkunku, only for his header to be parried away by Matt Sels. There is a winner in this game if both teams keep going for it like this!Copy linkCopiedCHANCE! Chelsea 1-1 Nottingham Forest 90+3. Huge chance for Joao Felix. Neto stands a cross up in the box for Felix, who rises brilliantly to meet it, only for it to be headed into the ground and wide of the post.Copy linkCopied13 ADDED MINUTES: Chelsea 1-1 Nottingham Forest 90+1. A huge round of applause from the Chelsea fans as the fourth official holds up the board with 13 minutes added on. Copy linkCopiedFIGHT! Chelsea 1-1 Nottingham Forest 89. It is bedlam at the Bridge here. It has been a feisty game throughout, but it’s all kicked off now. Chasing the ball down, Neco Williams shoves Marc Cucurella into Enzo Maresca and sends him absolutely flying. It all kicks off after that, with both sets of stars at each others necks.Copy linkCopiedPALMER TWICE DENIED! Chelsea 1-1 Nottingham Forest 87. That is excellent goalkeeping by Matt Sels. Cole Palmer lashes a shot at Sels, which is palmed out only back to the Chelsea star who has a second bite of the cherry which is saved once more. So close for Chelsea, who can smell blood at the end here.Copy linkCopiedChelsea 1-1 Nottingham Forest 84. A corner whipped in by Cole Palmer is given as a free-kick as Matt Sels is wiped out coming to collect it. Chelsea really need to start going for this if they want all three points. Copy linkCopiedChelsea 1-1 Nottingham Forest 81. A host of changes here: Christopher Nkunku and Joao Felix are on in place of Nicolas Jackson and Enzo Fernandez. For Forest Callum Hudson-Odoi is replaced and given a warm reception by the Chelsea fans. He’s replaced by Anthony Elanga, while Morato comes on for Chris Wood and Neco Williams for Alex Moreno. Copy linkCopiedRED CARD: Chelsea 1-1 Nottingham Forest 77. WARD-PROWSE SEES RED. Chelsea look to be away on the counter here with Nicolas Jackson steaming through, before James Ward-Prowse slips and grabs the ball. The deliberate handball sees him get a second booking and he’s dismissed. Copy linkCopiedChelsea 1-1 Nottingham Forest 74. There is a lengthy break in play here as Morgan Gibbs-White hobbles off the pitch with the Chelsea and Forest players left arguing with each other. Nicolas Jackson is among those fuming, and the Forest fans are chanting “He’s gonna cry in a minute” at the Chelsea striker. James Ward-Prowse stands over the set-piece, and Cole Palmer is booked…Danger.Copy linkCopiedChelsea 1-1 Nottingham Forest 70. Forest come forward with pace here, and Morgan Gibbs-White finds enough space on the edge of the box to take a shot. Malo Gusto slides in really well to block it fairly, but Gibbs-White lands awkwardly and screams out in pain. Forest have a free-kick. Copy linkCopiedChelsea 1-1 Nottingham Forest 68. Gusto plays a nice ball into the feet of Cole Palmer, who just knocks it onto Noni Madueke, who will have a go at Alex Moreno once again. He taps it past him, but the Spanish full-back does really well to knock it out for a corner to the Blues. Copy linkCopiedChelsea 1-1 Nottingham Forest 65. Chelsea are really going for this now…Cucurella bursts down the left and crosses towards Nicolas Jackson, but the Senegalese striker can’t reach it and it’s blocked out for a corner. Copy linkCopiedCLOSE! Chelsea 1-1 Nottingham Forest 63. It’s a big chance for Chelsea, as Nicolas Jackson does really well to nick the ball for his side. He looks to drive towards goal and get a shot off, but is knocked off balance by a Forest defender. He keeps possession and cuts it back to Jadon Sancho, who lays it off for Noni Madueke. Noni takes the shot once more, but this time it is blocked. Copy linkCopiedChelsea 1-1 Nottingham Forest 60. Another chance falls at the feet of Noni Madueke after some great work down the left hand side by Jadon Sancho. The wingers combine as the latter rolls the ball across the box into the feet of Noni looking for a brace. It bobbles before reaching his foot and his effort sails over the bar, but it’s better from Chelsea in recent moments. Copy linkCopiedGOALLLLLL! Chelsea 1-1 Nottingham Forest 56. CHELSEA ARE LEVEL!Noni Madueke levels the scoring!After a good ball into the right-winger, he cuts inside on his left foot and his low driven shot finds the bottom right corner. Great finish! That has really lifted the home fans!Copy linkCopiedChelsea 0-1 Nottingham Forest 53. Chelsea are looking to bounce back from that early second half goal. but it is Forest who come forwards once more here…The ball is played into Anderson who is begging for the ball as he encroaches the box, before having his effort saved by Robert Sanchez. Copy linkCopied More