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      Jude Bellingham spotted in stands at Hull vs Sunderland watching brother Jobe as he enjoys winter break from Real Madrid

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      JUDE BELLINGHAM was seen in the stands watching brother Jobe play for Sunderland against Hull on Boxing Day.The Real Madrid superstar, 20, is enjoying the Spanish winter break following his side’s 1-0 win over Alaves on Thursday.
      Jude Bellingham was spotted in the stands for Hull vs SunderlandCredit: PA
      He was watching his brother Jobe play in midfield for the visitorsCredit: PA
      Jude wore a gilet and also appeared to have a Sunderland scarf wrapped around himCredit: PA
      Jobe swapped Birmingham for Sunderland in the summerCredit: Alamy
      Los Blancos have a two-week break, before they return to action at home to Mallorca on January 3.
      And Jude is spending some of the festive period back in England as he took to the stands at the MKM Stadium in Hull.
      Brother Jobe, 18, joined Sunderland in the summer, following his sibling in leaving Birmingham.
      Jobe’s dad Mark is living with him in Sunderland, while mum Denise is in Spain with Jude – who also attended Sunderland’s 3-0 defeat to Coventry before Christmas.
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      And the Championship midfielder has enjoyed a sensational start to life in the North East, scoring four goals and providing one assist for the Black Cats.
      His recent form even saw him linked with a move to Real Madrid – where Jude is tearing it up.
      Jobe started in his usual No10 role against Hull, with Sunderland beginning the day in ninth place, three points adrift of the play-offs under new manager Michael Beale.
      And he helped them to a 1-0 win that lifted them into sixth.
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      But while Jobe is showing tremendous promise, he still has some way to go to replicate his older brother.
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      Jobe, left, and Jude, right, are both impressing at their respective clubsCredit: Instagram / @judebellingham
      Jobe has been sensational since joining Sunderland
      Jude, who wore a gilet to the game and also seemed to be rocking a Sunderland scarf, has started life in the Spanish capital in remarkable fashion.
      He has scored 17 goals and provided five assists in 21 appearances for the 14-time European champions.
      Jude is now widely considered one of the best players in the world alongside the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland.
      Real Madrid moved above Girona at the top of the LaLiga table following their late win over Alaves – which came thanks to a stoppage time strike from Lucas Vazquez.
      They also booked their spot in the last 16 of the Champions League with a perfect group-stage record.
      Jude has been in remarkable form at the start of his Real Madrid career More

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      Tom Lockyer’s cardiac arrest brought back horror of my dad’s collapse at the same ground

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      WHEN Tom Lockyer collapsed at the Vitality Stadium last weekend lots of emotional memories came flooding back for QPR defender Steve Cook.For the last person who had his life saved at the same ground after also suffering a cardiac arrest was the Bournemouth legend’s dad, Richard
      Steve Cook with his father Richard, who also had his life saved at Bournemouth after suffering a cardiac arrest before a Championship game with Nottingham Forest
      Paramedics were quick to save Tom Lockyer’s life
      Just over a year and half ago, Cook, as a Nottingham Forest player, returned for the first time to the club where he enjoyed almost 11 happy years.
      And, unbeknown to him, his father, now 74, had to be brought back to life by paramedics after suffering a cardiac arrest shortly before the game started.
      Although he was aware a supporter was having emergency medical help in the crowd, it was not until he was substituted in the second half he discovered it was his dad.
      So after learning about Luton star Lockyer’s horrifying experience, it has reaffirmed Cook’s desire for all footballers to become first-aiders because he believes it could save lives.
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      The R’s ace told SunSport: “As soon as I heard about what happened, the memories came flooding back. It’s awful to see that happen not just to a footballer but any human being.
      “Obviously, with it happening to my dad in the same way, it’s scary. It’s an eye-opener for everyone.
      “But when you look at how everyone conducted themselves and responded. Bournemouth’s Phil Billing has been getting a lot of praise for how quickly he reacted.
      “It’s huge. While I was at Bournemouth, we did regular first-aid training. They’d put on courses for things like what to do if you burn yourself at home up to if there’s a cardiac arrest on the pitch. 
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      Steve Cook during his Bournemouth days
      “This is something in football which needs to be highlighted more and certainly us players need to be educated more on it. 
      “You don’t know when it’s going to happen, or how you would respond to it — but if you’ve got the knowledge of it, you can potentially save people’s lives.”
      Passing first aid exams is required for anyone taking a football coaching badge — and only two years ago then Wigan manager Leam Richardson had to give CPR to striker Charlie Wyke after he suffered a cardiac arrest in training.
      But it is not a requirement for professional footballers.
      Cook — who has also played in the pro game for Brighton as well as Mansfield on loan — would like to see that change.
      He added: “I’ve only been at a couple of clubs in my career so I’m not sure how many do it — but now where this kind of thing seems to be happening more regularly, players maybe need to be more aware so they must put on courses. 
      “When going for the coaching badges you must do it anyway but it’s something where players now need to be aware of.
      “And equally, if it happens to a fan, you are always close enough or someone is always close enough to affect the situation.
      “So I’d definitely be an advocate of pushing for players having annual first-aid courses.”
      There has been a worrying spike in recent years of professional footballers having heart-related problems.
      Christian Eriksen was the most recent high-profile cardiac arrest during a game and Sergio Aguero was forced to retire due to a heart-related issue while Wyke had his issue at Wigan.
      Denmark players quickly respond as Christian Eriksen suffers a cardiac arrest
      Denmark players form a circle around Christian Eriksen as medics battle to save him
      It seems incredible that fit athletes in peak condition can suffer heart problems.
      Meanwhile, 12 healthy individuals in the UK under the age of 35 die from undiagnosed sudden cardiac arrests.
      And Cook said: “It is. It’s a huge eye-opener, it’s very scary. Nobody seems to be safe from that now. 
      “Whether or not we’re becoming more aware and the media talk about it more but it’s something that you don’t think is going to happen to you, naturally. 
      “It’s something that’s becoming more common so when you’re a top athlete – Tom Lockyer a Premier League footballer, a healthy age – it’s something that we need to be more aware of, more ready and perhaps have more resources put into because it’s not nice.”
      Cook was gutted that his former boss Steve Cooper was sacked by Nottingham Forest on Tuesday.
      But the defender, who won promotion under him at the City Ground in 2022, believes the Welshman not only can hold his head high but deserve another Premier League job.
      Steve Cook holds aloft a cardboard cutout of Steve Cooper at Wembley after Nottingham Forest won promotion in the play-off final
      Steve Cook won promotion to the Premier League with Steve Cooper at Forest
      He said: “Steve united a whole city — there’s so much passion up there. He galvanised the club and took them where they were destined to be.
      “It was a miracle taking the club from the bottom of the Championship into the Premier League in the same season.
      “But keeping them up last season was an even bigger miracle with the turnover of players.
      “The owner’s expectations are huge. He has spent a lot of money and expected things to improve quicker than they did on the pitch, but that’s difficult when you sign FORTY-FOUR players all from different philosophies of football.
      “It’s hard to put everything into place in a short amount of time — but that is what Steve did.
      “At the moment he won’t look back and be proud because ultimately he has lost his job – but in the coming months, once the dust settles, he’ll look back and think he did amazingly.
      “There are always question marks about managers coming into the Premier League from the Championship — can they do it? Steve has sent out a message that he can manage top clubs. He deserves to be in the top league.”
      Meanwhile, Cook is hoping to help QPR out of a sticky predicament.
      They host promotion-chasing Southampton sitting third bottom but since new boss Marti Cifuentes replaced Gareth Ainsworth at the end of October their fortunes have picked up.
      The R’s have picked up three wins, three draws and two defeats in his eight games — and are now just two points adrift of fourth-bottom Huddersfield.
      Cook said: “Our aim is safety-first above everything else now. We have some talented players and the new manager has taken them under his wing and given them freedom to play.
      “We had a fractured dressing room but it’s a lot more together now.”
      Cook and his QPR team-mates visited Hillingdon Hospital to visit children staying there over Christmas — and handed out gifts.
      Read more on The Sun
      He said: “It’s not great having to stay in hospital, especially at Christmas, so it was nice to bring a few smiles to the youngsters’ faces.”
      CopyBet is the official betting partner of Queens Park Rangers FC. Visit CopyBet.com 
      QPR players visited Hillingdon Hospital to hand out gifts to kids More

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      Troy Deeney: Tonight is my first game as a manager in the Football League… and I’m playing myself up front

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      FRIDAY night will be my first match as a manager in the Football League.Ask me what kind of boss I’ll be and the only answer I can honestly give at this early stage is “a bald one with bags under his eyes”.
      Troy Deeney has ‘mixed emotions’ after stepping up from player-coach to replace sacked friend Dave Horseman, left, as Forest Green managerCredit: Rex
      Deeney reckons he’ll be fine if he takes the best bits of the managers he played under – because there were so many of themCredit: Getty
      From my first few hours in charge of Forest Green Rovers, I know this is going to be a new level of busy.
      I’ve just had the physio, the analyst and the set-piece coach on the phone to me in the last hour.
      And I am still a player, too. Because we have two strikers out injured, I will be naming myself on the bench for Friday’s home game against Gillingham.
      Oh and, by the way, the fact that we’ve got a specialist set-piece coach in League Two shows our owner Dale Vince has a very decent level of investment and ambition.
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      We may be 91st out of 92 league clubs in English football at present but we have two games in hand to get us out of the relegation places and I am determined to make an immediate impact.
      When a player goes into management, he will often say he wants to take the best bits from all the bosses he played under.
      Well, the plus point for me is that I spent more than a decade at Watford so I have a lot of managers to choose from!
      I would like to have the organisational ability of Sean Dyche, the attacking mentality of Gianfranco Zola, the tactical nous of Marco Silva, the likeability of Quique Sanchez Flores and Javi Gracia’s ability to ‘manage up’ and deal with owners and directors.
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      Those are all men I worked under at Vicarage Road and if I can take all of their best attributes, I’ll be a success in this role.
      I’ve been doing my coaching badges and have a Uefa A licence.
      While those courses were beneficial in some ways, they are also idealistic.
      What you learn would be great if you had Manchester City’s players and Paris Saint-Germain’s budget.
      In League Two, you’re more likely to find a player turning up for training having slept on his mate’s sofa because he’s been up playing Fifa computer games until 2am.
      After a run of bad results, I want to remind my players that being a professional footballer is the best job in the world. I want them to rediscover that joy.
      They don’t throw that sort of thing at you when you’ve got your  L plates on.
      I’ve had mixed emotions since getting the job because, for the past few months, I’ve been a player-coach under the management of my friend Dave Horseman.
      Dave is an excellent coach, a wonderful bloke and a good mate.
      He’d had a long career coaching at youth level — at Watford among other clubs — before getting his first job in senior management at Forest Green this summer.
      Zola’s attacking instincts as Watford boss impressed DeeneyCredit: Alan Walter
      Marco Silva is rated by Deeney as a great tactical brainCredit: Reuters
      But football is ruthless and this situation is business. Dave was sacked on Wednesday and, one day, either at Forest Green or elsewhere, I’ll be the one getting sacked.
      Forest Green is a lovely, friendly family club in rural Gloucestershire.
      The one thing everyone knows about us is that it’s a vegan club — and while it might have been funny the first time an opposition fan asked me if I wanted a steak bake or thrust a sausage roll at me, it soon wears off.
      I’m not vegan but for Dale it is all about educating people about vegan lifestyles and wider environmental issues. I have huge respect for that.
      But when Gillingham visit, our ground won’t be a bear pit.
      It won’t be like turning up at Millwall or West Ham’s old Upton Park.
      We need to find a bit more nastiness. Without wanting to turn us into 80s Wimbledon, I want us to become horrible to play against.
      I’m going to keep playing until January, when Dale hopes to invest more in the squad and then I hope to gradually fade into the background as a player, rather than retiring altogether.
      In League Two, you’re more likely to find a player turning up for training having slept on his mate’s sofa because he’s been up playing Fifa computer games until 2am.Troy Deeney
      Everyone has told me it will  be extremely tough to be a player-manager but, for the time being, it’s ‘needs must’.
      Some people have asked why I wanted to take over a club next to bottom in League Two for my first job in management — but I have never been one to turn down a challenge.
      I remember Paul Ince and Sol Campbell taking over at Macclesfield in similar circumstances and leading them to safety.
      It’s also true that there aren’t enough black and ethnic minority managers in English football.
      We’re still under-represented and we are less likely to get opportunities — even though I’m not sure how many black guys are applying for jobs at League Two level.
      But I’ll be giving my first team talk as a manager before kick-off on Friday evening and I hope I won’t be giving too many of them too often.
      I want our dressing room to become more self-sustaining, where players will give their own speeches before matches.
      Read more on The Sun
      But after a run of bad results, I just want to remind my players that being a professional footballer is the best job in the world. I want them to rediscover that joy.
      And I want to be in that dugout with a big toothy grin just like ­Jurgen Klopp’s.
      After managing Deeney at Vicarage Road, Sean Dyche has gone on to boss Burnley for 10 years and Everton since January 2023Credit: Rex More

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      England wonderkid Ronnie Edwards set to seal dream January transfer with Premier League teams chasing £4.5million star

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      ENGLAND Under-21 international Ronnie Edwards is certain to be sold by Peterborough next month.West Ham had two bids of around £4million turned down by Posh in the summer for their defender while Swansea failed with FOUR attempts.
      Wonderkid Ronnie Edwards appears set to leave PeterboroughCredit: PA
      Everton have also been watching Edwards and the League One promotion-chasers are expecting a fee of at least £4.5m.
      Yet potentially, they will also want more than double that actual fee in add-ons.
      Apart from clubs in the Premier League and Championship, there is also one club in Germany and one in Belgium interested in the centre-back.
      Rangers were also linked in the summer with Peterborough director Barry Fry revealing they had sent scouts to watch the youngster.
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      Edwards, 20, who started his career at Barnet, has already played 113 times for Peterborough and is contracted until 2025.
      Darren Ferguson’s side are currently second in League One and are unbeaten in five games although are seven points behind leaders Portsmouth.
      West Ham are set for a busy transfer window as David Moyes looks to address the weaknesses in his squad.
      Michail Antonio’s injury means the Hammers are desperate for more firepower up-front, with reports claiming they have targeted Montpellier striker Akor Adams.
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      They could also make an approach for Stuttgart defender Dan-Axel Zagadou – though that move could be dependent on the sale of Nayef Aguerd, who could leave for the right price.
      The Hammers could also bolster their defence with the addition of Chelsea outcast Ian Maatsen.
      Maatsen impressed on loan at Burnley in the Championship last season and the Clarets had a £30million bid rejected in the summer. More

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      Former Arsenal and Liverpool starlet wakes up a free agent after ripping up contract with League One club

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      FORMER Premier League star Ovie Ejaria is unemployed after seeing his contract ripped up at Reading.The 26-year-old came to an agreement with the League One club to mutually end his deal ahead of the January transfer window.
      Ovie Ejaria is now a free agentCredit: Getty
      Ejaria has not played this season due to injury problems and managed just eight league games last term.
      His contract was set to end this summer but it has been “amicably” terminated early.
      Reading have been keen to reduce expenditure and they will now save money on his wages.
      Ejaria was tipped for big things as a youngster and was on the books of both Arsenal and Liverpool.
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      He made eight senior appearances for the Reds and his debut came in 2016.
      The midfielder was subsequently loaned out to Sunderland, Rangers and Reading.
      He then moved to the Royals permanently for £3.5million in 2020.
      Ejaria also earned one cap for England’s Under-21s back when he was dubbed a wonderkid.
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      And he was part of a star-studded Under-20s squad that won the World Cup in 2017, which featured the likes of Dominic Solanke, Fikayo Tomori, Ademola Lookman and Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
      Reading are currently 23rd in League One and are in the midst of a relegation battle. More

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      Footballer Lucas Vaughan, 18, in intensive care after horror car crash as footballing world rallies around him

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      FORMER Bristol Rovers academy player Lucas Vaughan remains in a coma in intensive care following a serious car crash.The 18-year-old was a passenger in the smash that killed three teenagers in Wales on Monday.
      Former Bristol Rovers academy starlet Lucas Vaughan remains in intensive careCredit: Media Wales
      Vaughan is in critical condition at Cardiff University HospitalCredit: WNS
      The horrific crash occurred at around 7pm on Monday in Coedely, South Wales.
      Boxer Morgan Smith, 18, died in the incident, as well as Jesse Owen, 18, and Callum Griffiths, 19.
      The Audi A1 collided with a bus on a dark-wet winding stretch of 20mph road, with the five passengers on a night out.
      Vaughan’s former club Bristol Rovers have offered a message of support on social media, posting: “Our thoughts are with former academy player Lucas Vaughan and his family following a serious road traffic collision.
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      “The staff are in constant communication with Lucas’ mum Claire and we are supporting the family as best we can do during this extremely difficult time.”
      Since leaving Rovers Vaughan has played for Lydney Town, who wrote in their own statement: “On the eve of Monday 11th December Lydney Town player Lucas Vaughan was involved in a serious car accident which sadly resulted in three people losing their lives.
      “Lucas sustained life threatening injuries and was taken to Cardiff University Hospital, where he remains in a coma.
      “Since joining us, initially on loan and then permanently since leaving Bristol Rovers in the summer, Lucas, at only 18, has been a shining light at our club, and incredibly talented footballer but more so, a top, top guy with a lovely manner and zest for life.
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      “We all pray with everything we have for him and his amazing family at such a difficult time.
      “We thank the Hellenic League and Brimscombe & Thrupp for their understanding in rescheduling the scheduled fixture for the evening of the 12th.
      “We’re all thinking of you, mate.”
      Vaughan and another unnamed individual remain in critical condition.
      A GoFundMe page has since been launched by a family friend in order to help ease the burden on Vaughan’s family during this troubling time.
      It has so far received £7,000 of its £9,000 target.
      Deputy mayor Dan Owen-Jones was one of the first at the scene – describing it as “horrific”.
      He said: “At times I was numb and helpless to the grieving families.
      “I cannot even describe the pain, shock and suffering I have witnessed tonight… horrific.”
      Chief Superintendent Steve Jones, said: “Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this tragic incident. Trained family liaison officers are supporting the families at what must be an extremely difficult time for them.
      “Please can we ask the public to refrain from speculation and rumour while our officers deal with this serious collision.
      Read more on The Sun
      “These are obviously tragic circumstances and we do not wish for speculation online to cause further distress to the families of those involved.”
      You can donate to the GoFundMe page by clicking here More

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      EFL cult hero and former Premier League goalkeeper training with Man Utd academy as he seeks free transfer

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      FORMER Premier League star Joe Lewis is training with Manchester United.The goalkeeper is currently a free agent after seeing his seven-year stay at Aberdeen end in the summer.
      Joe Lewis is training with Man Utd to keep fitCredit: Getty
      Lewis is reportedly training with United’s academy to keep fit while he is on the lookout for a new club.
      The 36-year-old is an EFL cult hero and a former England Under-21 international.
      He came through the ranks at Norwich and then spent five seasons with Peterborough, winning three promotions with the club.
      He then moved to Cardiff in 2012 and played one match while they were in the Premier League the following year.
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      Lewis was loaned out to Blackpool and Fulham before signing for Aberdeen in 2016.
      He earned legendary status at Pittodrie, playing 271 times for the Scottish side.
      Lewis left after losing the No1 jersey to Kelle Roos last season.
      There has been speculation he would hang up his gloves and begin a new career as an agent.
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      Lewis is the most recent veteran to join in with United’s training sessions after Jonny Evans did the same during pre-season.
      The veteran centre-back ended up earning a contract at Old Trafford and he has gone on to play 11 times for the Red Devils this season. More

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      Fans say ‘those genes are STRONG’ after watching Jobe Bellingham interview following Sunderland winner against Leeds

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      JOBE BELLINGHAM has been compared to his superstar brother Jude following his mature interview after Sunderland’s 1-0 victory over Leeds.The 18-year-old’s late winner ended Leeds United’s seven-game unbeaten run in the Championship.
      Jobe Bellingham scored the winner at the Stadium of LightCredit: Reuters
      And fans are all saying the same thingCredit: Reuters
      It took until the 78th minute for the deadlock to be broken as Bellingham headed past goalkeeper Illan Meslier.
      His fourth EFL goal came against the newly relegated Whites, on the same night Jude was helping Real Madrid to victory over Union Berlin in the Champions League.
      The result means it’s two wins from two for interim Sunderland boss Mike Dodds, following the sacking of Tony Mowbray.
      Dodds told BBC radio: “Both brothers have a very similar mindset in terms of their relentless pursuit of where they want to get to.
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      “I  think he can go to the very top. I’ve worked with a lot of young players and he would be up there with the very best I’ve worked with.”
      Fans also spotted that Jobe Bellingham’s eloquent interview technique is remarkably similar to his elder brother’s.
      One supporter wrote: “If my eyes were closed, I would think this is Jude talking just with a higher pitched voice. Those genes are STRONG.”
      A second commented: “Their parents raised two of the most mature teenagers I have ever witnessed.”
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      A third wrote: “Opposition fans love to use the “Living off his brother” shout but they couldn’t be any more wrong.”
      A fourth said: “Wow they both come across so well. A credit to their parents.”
      Jobe Bellingham told Sky Sports: “The game required for me to go deeper.
      “If that’s what’s needed then you have to do it. I’ll play anywhere the manager and coaches want me to play and work my hardest.”
      Both brothers worked with Dodds during his 13 year coaching spell with the Birmingham City academy.
      The versatile midfielder moved to Wearside last summer following a £3million deal with Birmingham, just hours after his big brother’s record £115m switch to Real Madrid from Borussia Dortmund.
      Sunderland are within the play-off places, two points behind West Brom.
      Meanwhile, Leeds remain third in the league, behind Leicester who dropped to second following Ipswich’s 2-1 victory at Watford. More