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      Ched Evans signs for Preston North End on loan until end of season after bust-up with ex-Fleetwood boss Joey Barton

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      PRESTON have completed the signing of Fleetwood striker Ched Evans on loan until the end of the season.
      The move comes after Joey Barton was sacked as manager of the Cod Army, following a falling-out with the Welshman.

      Ched Evans leaves Fleetwood just days after the exit of manager Joey BartonCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Fleetwood owner Andy Pilley investigated the row and disposed of former Manchester City midfielder Barton.
      On his decision to drop Evans last month, Barton had said: “There’s been multiple infractions and we always try to give a bit of leeway but it’s just run its course.”
      And Evans has followed him out of the door, in a move to Preston confirmed on Wednesday.
      North End boss Alex Neil stated his delight at signing Evans ahead of a crack at the Championship play-offs.

      The Scot told the club website: “He will add competition at the top end of the pitch.
      “He is very physical; he wants to look after the ball, take it into his feet and get you up the pitch and equally score goals.

      I have spoken to him at length and his character as much as anything else will be important for the team.
      Alex Neil

      “He will be really excited about getting an opportunity in the Championship He’s an experienced player; he is a good lad.
      “I have spoken to him at length and his character as much as anything else will be important for the team.”

      Evans, 32, scored seven goals for Fleetwood in the first half of the campaign and is still rebuilding his career after being originally convicted of raping a 19-year-old woman in Rhyl, in May 2011.
      A Court of Appeal verdict quashed his conviction and ordered a retrial in 2016. An eight-day trial found Evans not guilty.
      Evans said on Wednesday: “I am really excited for the next six months, getting back to the Championship is brilliant. I’m really pleased for the opportunity and I’m looking to kick on.
      “I’m really pleased to be here, the facilities and everything are brilliant and Preston North End is a club in a great position at the moment to kick on for the rest of the season.”
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      Evans is cup-tied for Preston’s FA Cup tie at Wycombe on Saturday but will be eligible to make his debut for the 12th-placed club a week later at Bristol City.
      With Barton leaving ambitious Fleetwood in tenth, the League One club are reportedly eyeing James Beattie to take over as manager.
      The former Southampton striker is said to want ex-Reading ace Dave Kitson to be his assistant.

      Joey Barton sacked as Fleetwood manager after Ched Evans bust-up More

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      James Beattie on shortlist to become new Fleetwood boss with Southampton legend looking to replace Joey Barton

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      JAMES BEATTIE is reportedly in the running to replace Joey Barton as the new Fleetwood manager.
      The 42-year-old is believed to be ready to step back into management having not been at the helm of a club since departing Accrington Stanley in September 2014.

      Former Southampton striker James Beattie is believed to be on the shortlist to become the new Fleetwood bossCredit: Getty – Contributor

      League One side Fleetwood are on the lookout for a new gaffer after they sacked Barton two-and-a-half-years into his reign at Highbury.
      Barton was dismissed by Fleetwood on Monday after club chairman Andy Pilley spent a few days reviewing the background of his fall out with striker Ched Evans.
      The ex-Manchester City midfielder has since opened up on his axing, where he admitted he ‘didn’t always get it right’.
      According to the Daily Mail, Southampton legend Beattie is on the shortlist of potential candidates to replace Barton.

      It has been stated that should the ex-England international be hired, he would like to bring Dave Kitson in as his assistant manager.
      The duo played together at Stoke in the Premier League during the 2008-09 and 2009-10 seasons.
      Though Beattie hasn’t had a managerial job in over six years, he still boasts plenty of coaching experience.
      He has been part of Garry Monk’s coaching staff at a number of different clubs since 2015.

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      Joey Barton had his contract terminated by the League One side on MondayCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Beattie linked up with Monk at Swansea where he coached the club’s forwards, before he moved with the 41-year-old to Leeds in 2016.
      The ex-Sheffield United forward then followed Monk to Middlesbrough in 2017 as a first-team coach.
      A move to Birmingham happened a year later, with Beattie staying at the club even after the former Swans skipper was sacked.
      However following the arrival of Aitor Karanka, Beattie left, where he again linked up with Monk at Sheffield Wednesday in August, though the duo have since departed.

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      Tottenham 2 Brentford 0: Jose Mourinho seals Carabao Cup final spot with goals from Moussa Sissoko and Son Heung-Min

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      SOMEONE from Spurs had better try to remember where they parked their open-top bus.
      Then when they find it, they need to check beneath all the rust and dust to ensure it is still roadworthy.

      Son Heung-min was on target as Tottenham booked their place in the Carabao Cup finalCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

      Moussa Sissoko also scored in a 2-0 win against BrentfordCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

      And if it is, then all they need to do is hire some horses to pull it!
      But Tottenham can get ready to break open the Brasso after moving a step closer to ending their 13-year wait for a trophy.
      Goals from Moussa Sissoko and Son Heung-min sealed a hard-fought victory over Brentford in this one-legged Carabao Cup showdown.
      Thomas Frank’s Championship Brentford – playing in their first ever major cup semi-final – pushed their Prem stars all the way, and will be rueing the VAR’s decision to chalk off Ivan Toney’s second half strike for offside, with the score at 1-0.

      The visitors’ misery was compounded when ref Mike Dean red carded Josh Dasilva after VAR ordered him to the pitchside monitor to view the midfielder’s X-rated horror lunge on Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.
      But Tottenham will not care about that after setting up a Wembley date against one of the Manchester giants on Sunday, April 25.
      Spurs have not lifted silverware since winning this trophy in 2008 – when it was the Carling Cup.
      It may not be the most glamorous competition but when you have only won three trophies in 37 years it might as well be the Oscars.

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      Ivan Toney scored to make it 1-1 but the goal was ruled out for offsideCredit: Sky Sports

      Josh Dasilva was sent off late on for a bad tackle on Pierre-Emile HojbjergCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Mourinho will be looking to win English football’s second domestic cup competition for a FIFTH time – and if it is good enough for this serial winner it should be good enough for anyone.
      He was brought into Tottenham 13 months ago to bring silverware back to N17.
      And Spurs chairman Daniel Levy and their players and fans will be hoping the Special One’s habit of winning honours in his second season with clubs will kick-start a new golden era at this one.
      Oasis frontman and Manchester City nut Liam Gallagher posted a Tweet before kick-off saying: “C’mon Brentford”.
      So he will probably not be feeling too Supersonic this morning after the Bees failed to cause an upset.

      Dasilva’s early bath capped off a disappointing night for Premier League hopefuls BrentfordCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Son and Co are just one match away from winning a trophyCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      Spurs took a 12th minute lead with their first attack when left-back Sergio Reguilon, recalled after his Christmas Covid shame, crossed Sissoko to head home.
      It was the French midfielder’s first goal for 13 months and the hosts almost added a second two minutes later when Son’s sidefooted shot from the edge of the area was beaten away by Brentford keeper Simon Raya.
      Mourinho, who was accused of being too pragmatic after his side threw away half-time leads in their Prem draws at Crystal Palace and Wolves last month, had vowed they would go for the jugular if they managed to get their noses in front here.
      But despite dominating the ball in the first half they frequently found their path to goal blocked by Frank’s banks of midfielders and defenders.
      And while the score remained 1-0 the Bees were always in within a chance.

      Sissoko opened the scoring with a bullet header for SpursCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

      Toney headed in during the second half before VAR came into playCredit: Reuters
      Unfortunately for them, their 16-goal striker Toney could not outmuscle defender Davinson Sanchez to get another purchase on his header when right-back Henrik Dalsgaard’s cross set up their first real chance in the 35th minute, and Hugo Lloris saved comfortably.
      Toney nearly scored a second for Spurs when inadvertently deflected Lucas Moura’s header from Son’s corner over Raya’s head and towards the net. But the Spanish stopper recovered brilliantly to claw the ball away from under his own bar and keep the visitors into the game going into the break.
      Having spent most of their 131-year history in the lower Leagues, the only real finals Brentford have reached are the Freight Rover Trophy in 1985 and the Leyland Vans Trophy in 2001.
      Their last cup semi-final was a second leg away to Exeter in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy 10 years ago when the Bees won 2-1 to seal a 3-2 aggregate win.
      They went close to getting back on level terms early in the second half when Bryan Mbuemo managed to get in behind the Spurs defence and pull the back to Toney, who shot was superbly blocked by Serge Aurier on the edge of the six-yard box.

      Son put the result beyond doubt with a fine finishCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

      Spurs’ main concern will be seeing how badly hurt Hojbjerg isCredit: PA:Press Association
      The Ivorian full-back then wasted a chance to make it 2-0 himself moments later when he blazed a shot over the bar – with Harry Kane waiting for a cross in the middle.
      Spurs showed a rare glimpse of Premier League class when Sissoko’s drilled cross was volleyed back across goal and just wide by Son.
      Then Toney had what he thought was an equaliser ruled out by the VAR – who spotted the frontman’s knee was offside when tapped home from close range Lloris and his defenders had made a hash of defending a corner.
      The Bees, of course, are not used to dealing with such technology in the Championship, and after experiencing it here, they might not be so keen to gain promotion to the top flight.
      Especially as Son rubbed salt in the wounds by racing away to slot Tottenham’s second from a fine Tanguy Ndombele pass.
      Ndombele then hit a post before Dasilva’s sending off.

      Jamie OHara slams Tottenham boss Mourinho for his Dele Alli criticism More

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      Joey Barton breaks silence over Fleetwood sacking and admits ‘I didn’t always get it right’ amid Ched Evans row

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      JOEY BARTON has opened up on his sacking by Fleetwood Town in the wake of his row with Ched Evans.
      The 38-year-old admitted ‘I didn’t always get it right’ in a statement released after his departure.

      Joey Barton has broken his silence after his Fleetwood sacking in the wake of his row with Ched EvansCredit: Rex Features

      The Cod Army axed Barton after chairman Andy Pilley spent a few days reviewing the background of his fall out with striker Evans.
      Barton and Evans came to blows after the manager reacted to a ‘comedy skit’ performed by Evans at a team meeting, according to the Mail.
      Barton then revealed he was letting Evans go after alleged disciplinary breaches, but Pilley was left to clear up the mess.
      Pilley had backed Barton in past controversies, but the Evans episode was the final straw. And it also comes on the top of indifferent results.

      Barton made no mention of the Evans incident in a statement released via the LMA but did admit he made mistakes amid ‘highs and lows’.
      It read: “First of all I would like to thank the chairman Andy Pilley for the opportunity to manage Fleetwood Town. I have enjoyed every minute of my time at the club. I have learned so much over the past two and half years.
      “There are some brilliant people at Fleetwood Town and I have enjoyed getting to know every one of them.
      “I would also like to thank all of the coaching staff, both the ones I inherited and the ones I brought in. It has been some journey with some highs and lows and I have really enjoyed watching each of them get better every single day.

      Barton said Evans would be leaving the club because of discipline issues

      “I would like to thank the fans and say that I appreciate you sticking with me in my first management role. I am not naive enough to think I always got it right, but my only intention during my tenure was to drive this football club forward.
      “I have nothing but good things to say about the people of Fleetwood and the surrounding community. I was welcomed from day one.
      “To the players, thanks to each of you for bringing it every day. Nobody enjoyed playing against Fleetwood Town and ultimately that is down to you.
      “Thanks for being patient with me on my coaching journey. I look forward to watching you as you continue to improve.
      “It is tough times for everybody at the moment with all that is going on in the world.
      “I am just a football manager who has lost his job, there are plenty of people who were much better than me at theirs that have lost them over the past 12 months.
      “I will use this time out to keep getting better, until the next opportunity comes. All the best for 2021.”

      Joey Barton’s first interview as Head Coach of Fleetwood Town More

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      Premier League and EFL WILL continue despite coronavirus lockdown as elite sport given green light

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      PREMIER LEAGUE chiefs received the news they needed from Boris Johnson: The show can go on.
      The Prime Minister announced a new national lockdown on Monday night as the mutant Covid strains spread out of control.

      Premier League and EFL games will continue to be played in lockdownCredit: Eddie Keogh Telegraph Media Group

      Boris Johnson announced strict new measures on Monday but elite sport is exemptCredit: PA:Press Association

      But despite League bosses set to reveal on Tuesday there were a record number of positive tests among clubs last week, elite football received the green light to keep playing.
      Prem chiefs had spent recent weeks liaising with the Government in a bid to ensure football was not shut down again.
      Those fears abated after the Scottish Government expressly excluded ‘those involved in professional sports, for training, coaching or competing in an event’ from the ‘stay at home’ order, with the UK Government following suit.
      Grassroots football – starting from the seventh tier – will be stopped under the new rules.

      But the FA have also been assured the FA Cup is safe ahead of this weekend’s third round fixtures, with eighth-tier Marine still permitted to host Tottenham.
      Prem clubs have been hugely embarrassed by a spate of Christmas Covidiocy.
      Spurs trio Erik Lamela, Giovani Lo Celso and Sergio Reguilon, West Ham’s Manual Lanzini, Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic, Crystal Palace skipper Luka Milivojevic and Manchester City full-back Benjamin Mendy have all been carpeted for breaching regulations.
      The latest figures are expected to show a marked increase in positive tests following the outbreaks at Man City, Fulham and Sheffield United.

      Several Premier League stars have already flouted Covid rules

      Man City’s Benjamin Mendy threw a New Year party which broke rules

      Last week there were 18 positive tests from 1,479 tests across the 20 clubs between December 21 and 28, the previous highest number recorded.
      But it is anticipated that the latest seven-day figure will be over 30.
      However, the confirmation that professional football has the go-ahead to continue — while all ‘parks’ sport, including youth matches, must stop — will still have been a significant relief.
      Clubs will again be reminded of the need to adhere strictly to Covid protocols around training grounds and on matchdays.
      Especially as there has been a 50 per cent rise in the number of patients in hospitals with Covid since Christmas Day, and in excess of 50,000 new infections each day across the UK.
      SunSport revealed how League chief executive Richard Masters emailed all 20 clubs last week to reinforce the necessity of meeting the requirement brought in last June.
      The Prime Minister’s new lockdown regulations came as Brentford boss Thomas Frank demanded identical Covid-19 testing guidelines across the Premier League and the EFL.

      Fulham’s Aleksandar Mitrovic and Crystal Palace’s Luka Milivojevic were filmed bringing in the new year
      Prem players are currently tested twice a week but there are NO coronavirus-testing regulations in place in the EFL.
      And Frank warned: “It’s very important the EFL, the Premier League and the FA find some kind of guidelines across the four leagues and the cup tournaments.
      “If you don’t have consistency it will extend the season again and then we are into the Euros.”
      Man City announced on Monday four of their women’s team have tested positive for coronavirus, while Sheffield Wednesday have closed their Middlewood Road training ground because of a Covid outbreak.
      League One Oxford United have suspended two youth-team players after they allegedly broke Covid-19 rules to attend a New Year’s Eve party.
      Oxford have launched an investigation and the pair could become the first British professional footballers to be sacked for breaching rules brought in to stop the spread of the virus.

      Boris Johnson announces third national lockdown to combat mutant covid strain More

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      Goalkeepers LESS likely to save free-kick with wall in front of them as delays reaction time, scientists reveal

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      NEW RESEARCH claims to have discovered a goalkeeper is less likely to save a free kick if there is a wall in front of them.
      Opposition players are required to be ten yards away from the ball when a free kick is taken, with a number of those defending traditionally standing side-by-side to make it harder for attackers to score.

      New research says a goalkeeper is less likely to save a free kick if there is a wall in front of themCredit: Reuters

      However, this technique has now been called into question after researchers from Queen’s University Belfast found the wall gets in the way of the goalkeeper’s eyesight.
      And it also slows down the keeper’s reaction time.
      They discovered a goalkeeper has their sight blocked for around 200 milliseconds and their reaction time is up to 90 milliseconds slower when a wall is in place.
      Researchers calculate that with a wall in place the stopper is 13 per cent less likely to make a successful save.  

      And they claim it applies to all different techniques of free-kick – from those who bend it like Beckham to the piledrivers of Cristiano Ronaldo.
      Co-auth Professor Cathy Craig said: “In a nutshell, placing a defensive wall could actually result in the goalkeeper conceding more goals.”
      The results, which are published in PLOS ONE, were discovered in virtual reality experiments that involved 25 participants in their 20s and 30s – with ten of them being skilled goalkeepers.
      And they applied to both groups of those who took part, including those who only ever played outfield.

      Co-author Dr Joost Dessing explained: “While the defensive wall strategy is effective in some cases, the wall frequently obstructs the goalkeeper’s initial view of the moving ball.
      “Although the negative effects of this obstruction have been assumed by experts, they have not been scientifically quantified until now.
      “Our study shows when the view of the ball is initially obstructed, goalkeepers wait longer before starting to move, which leaves them less time to make that all important save.”
      The position of the kick also plays a big role, with those taken from a more central position posing a greater threat to the keeper if they use a wall.
      It is a long held belief and tactic to place a wall as close as possible to the taker in order to reduce the amount of goal for the attacker to aim at.
      But now it is claimed the wall being in the way of the goalkeeper is doing more harm than good.
      Professor Craig added: “As with many sports, goalkeeping success is determined by the ability to get to the right place, at the right time to pull off a save.
      “Although goalkeepers might claim to ‘see’ the ball through the wall of players before it is kicked, they will most likely not see how that initial part of the ball trajectory unfolds just after it has been kicked.
      “It’s that important information the brain needs to make a decision about where the ball is going and when it will get there.”

      A new tactic has led to a defender laying down behind the wall this seasonCredit: Reuters
      James Devonald, development goalkeeping coach at Swansea City, believes there’s no right or wrong answer when it comes to a keeper getting rid of their wall.
      He told Dream Team last year: “Every goalkeeper should identify, based on their live assessment of the free-kick, whether they want a wall or not.
      “There are various different aspects which will affect a goalkeeper’s decision on whether to set a wall or not: where it is, who’s stood over it, what the pre-match analysis has shown the likely outcome to be, and so on.
      “I’ll always trust my goalkeeper to assess the situation and make the correct decision, as long as they can back that decision up with a reason and success.”
      Whether or not we see the wall done away with once-and-for-all remains to be seen, although new tactics are being introduced each season.
      The latest trend for defending set-pieces has seen a defender deployed to lay down behind the wall in order to block the shooter from rolling the ball under the defenders.

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      Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink watches on from stands as new club Burton concede three goals in disastrous half hour vs Oxford

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      JIMMY FLOYD HASSELBAINK watched on in horror from the stands as his new Burton side conceded three goals within a disastrous first half an hour against Oxford.
      The Dutchman, 48, was appointed manager at the Pirelli Stadium on Friday – five years after leaving the club to take over at QPR.

      Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, right, watched on from the stands as his new Burton side got smashed at home by OxfordCredit: Rex Features

      But not even 24 hours later, he realised the magnitude of the task at hand trying to keep the Brewers in League One this season.
      Coach Chris Beardsley and physio Nick Fenton took charge of the game on Saturday afternoon when Karl Robinson’s O’s visited.
      Just nine minutes were on the clock when Matty Taylor opened the scoring for the away side with a lob.
      And it was 2-0 after 18 when Olamide Shodipo fired into the top corner.

      Then Shodipo tucked home again on 31 minutes to take things from bad to worse for Burton, who started the day bottom of League One despite no team playing more matches than the Brewers this season.
      Hasselbaink was given something to smile about when Burton’s Kane Hemmings tapped in a rebound just before half-time.
      But normal service resumed ten minutes after the break when Josh Ruffels smashed in from 25 yards to make it 4-1 to Oxford – then the same player added a fifth just after the hour mark to complete the rout.
      The new manager will be desperate to get to work with his squad as they try and survive relegation into the fourth tier.

      Hasselbaink, who replaced Nigel Clough’s successor Jake Buxton, joined with the Midlanders six points from safety and with just two wins all season.
      The former Leeds United, Atletico Madrid and Chelsea striker enjoyed a successful 13-month spell at Burton between November 2014 and December 2015.
      He guided the club to the League Two title and left with a win percentage of 61 per cent and his side top of League One before taking the QPR job.
      After a year at Loftus Road and most of the 2017-18 season with Northampton, he had been out of management for nearly three years before returning to work under Burton chairman Ben Robinson.
      Hasselbaink said: “Burton Albion is a club which is very close to my heart and a really special club for me and my family.
      “The job is totally different from the first time, but we are coming in to try as quickly as possible to get us up the league and keep ourselves in League One.
      “There is enough quality in the playing squad but that’s not reflected in where we are in the table so there is a lot of hard work to be done.”

      Oxford ran riot in a dominant first half at the Pirelli StadiumCredit: Rex Features

      Olamide Shodipo made it 3-0 to the visitors with just 31 minutes on the clockCredit: Rex Features

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      Sunderland postpone Accrington Stanley clash as League One club struggles with coronavirus outbreak in squad

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      SUNDERLAND have postponed their League One clash with Accrington Stanley on Tuesday night due to a coronavirus outbreak at the club.
      The Black Cats are reported to have thirteen positive cases in their playing staff, including all three senior goalkeepers.

      Sunderland have been forced to postpone a fourth game due to a coronavirus outbreakCredit: Reuters

      A number of players self-isolating would have only been able to rejoin the rest of the group on Tuesday – the day of the game itself.
      SunSport previously reported that Sunderland had been forced to shut down their training ground for ten days.
      Tuesday’s away clash at Accrington has been the fourth game the League One club have had to postpone.
      Sunderland’s matches against Blackpool, Hull City and Shrewsbury already needed to be rescheduled.

      A club statement said: “Scheduled to take place on Tuesday 29 December, the club has informed the EFL that it will be unable to play the fixture due to the ongoing effects of a Covid-19 outbreak at the Academy of Light.
      “Due to the scale of this outbreak and the volume of positive tests returned by players and staff, the club has taken the decision to postpone the game based solely on the health and wellbeing of all effected.
      “Lee Johnson’s side are now set to return to action in the New Year, kicking off 2021 with a trip to Northampton Town on Saturday 2 January (KO 3pm).”
      A further statement from the EFL added: “The club informed the EFL that they would be unable to fulfil the fixture following the recent positive Covid-19 tests and the requirement for players and staff to self-isolate as per EFL and Government guidance in order to mitigate against the risk of further infection.

      “The circumstances around the postponement will now be the subject of an investigation in accordance with EFL regulations.
      “A revised date for the rearranged fixture will be confirmed in due course.”
      Sunderland are now 11th in the League One table following a 1-1 draw with AFC Wimbledon during their last outing earlier this month.

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