Premier League

Subterms

    More stories

    • 200 Shares139 Views

      in Soccer

      Ex-Chelsea stars fear Frank Lampard will have awkward dressing room after ‘resentful’ player’s comments on manager

      by

      FORMER Chelsea stars Frank Leboeuf and Mario Melchiot fear for Blues keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga.The Spanish stopper aimed a dig at Frank Lampard last year when talking about the Stamford Bridge icon’s first spell in charge.
      Two former Chelsea stars fear Frank Lampard and Kepa Arrizabalaga could be in for an awkward reunionCredit: Getty – Contributor
      Lampard was sacked in 2021 but has now returned as caretaker boss until the end of the season.
      And Melchiot, 46, claimed it will be “hard” for Kepa to be in the same dressing room as Chelsea legend Lampard again.
      Lebouef, 55, said Kepa’s “resentful” comments could come back to haunt him, especially if Lampard ends up getting the job permanently.
      Kepa, 28, played in Lampard’s first game back as boss – a 1-0 defeat away at Wolves.
      READ MORE ON CHELSEA
      But former centre-back Lebouef told ESPN FC: “Kepa was very resentful towards Lampard when Lampard left and had some bad words, so if they achieve something with Lampard, you don’t know what’s going to happen to Kepa.”
      Meanwhile, ex-defender Melchiot said: “Do you know how hard it will be for Kepa to be in the dressing room?
      “You had a go at your coach and that coach comes back and now you have to sit with him.
      “Oh my God… I don’t know what Kepa is going to do.
      Most read in Football
      FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
      “I want to give advice to any footballer: never talk about your coach in public, always do it directly. You might meet him again.”
      Kepa made 33 Premier League appearances in Lampard’s first season as boss.
      But the arrival of Edouard Mendy in September 2020 saw Kepa fall below the Senegalese stopper in the pecking order.
      And last year, Kepa told Marca: “We came from a not so elaborate game [with Lampard], we didn’t have to take the ball from behind, a less planned game, more to the free expression of the player, back and forth and less control.
      “With Tuchel we have returned to control.
      “It is true that in the Premier League we were not close to the top two, but in the other tournaments we have been very competitive.” More

    • 200 Shares139 Views

      in Soccer

      Rochdale awarded unbelievable ‘ghost goal’ as fuming Walsall manager says officials are ‘not fit’ to work

      by

      ROCHDALE were awarded a bizarre ghost goal in their League Two clash with Walsall which left their opponents fuming.The EFL’s basement boys are in desperate scrap for survival but managed to put four past out-of-form Walsall on Good Friday.

      But with the Dale 3-2 up, midfielder Ethan Brierley attempted to grab a fourth with an ambitious lob on Owen Evans.
      And while the Walsall keeper made a bit of a mess of gathering the ball, he did manage to collect it before the ball went over the line.
      But the assistant referee stunned fans as he flagged to signal a goal.
      The incident was one of a few that went against the visitors but it has proved to be particularly controversial after video footage circulating on Twitter confirmed the ball did not cross the line.
      READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
      Walsall boss Michael Flynn did not hold back after watching his side fall to a 4-2 defeat at Spotland.
      He said: “For Rochdale’s fourth goal you’ve got an official waving his flag to signal it’s crossed the line despite him being 15 yards behind the play.
      “It’s a guessing game. They aren’t fit enough to be professional officials and something needs to happen in the game.
      “There’s enough money in the Premier League to get some full-time referees because it’s not fair on these officials – they know they’re not up to it.
      Most read in Football
      BETTING SPECIAL – BEST FOOTBALL BETTING SITES IN THE UK
      “It’s not fair on them, on supporters, on managers and on the referees either because they are swimming against the tide.”
      The win for Rochdale means that caretaker boss Jim McNulty has recorded back-to-back wins.
      It’s the first consecutive league victories for the Manchester-based side since October.
      They remain bottom but are now only six points from safety with six games to go. More

    • 163 Shares179 Views

      in Soccer

      Three arrested after Wolves fans sing homophobic Chelsea chants then ignore tannoy announcement

      by

      THREE arrests have reportedly been made following alleged offensive chants during Wolves’ home game against Chelsea on Saturday.Some supporters were allegedly heard singing homophobic chants during the match.
      Wolves have condemned their own fans for a homophobic chantCredit: Getty
      Wolves defeated Chelsea 1-0 on SaturdayCredit: Alamy
      After being made aware of the chants, Wolves made an announcement over the PA system at Molineux to say that offensive chanting would not be accepted.
      However, some fans reportedly continued to sing despite the warning.
      They are said to have chanted: “We’ll sing what we want.”
      West Midlands police have now arrested three individuals, according to The Athletic.
      Read More on Chelsea
      The FA are also set to look into the matter.
      In a statement, Wolves condemned the chants.
      A spokesperson said: “We strongly condemn the discriminatory chants aimed towards Chelsea supporters at today’s game.
      “In response to the chants, supporters were reminded by a public address system announcement that discriminatory behaviour and chants of this nature are not tolerated at Molineux.
      Most read in Football
      “Homophobia, like all other forms of discrimination, has no place in football or society, and anyone engaging in discriminatory behaviour is committing a criminal offence.
      “As a result, we can confirm that three arrests were made by West Midlands Police relating to homophobia, and the discriminatory chants in question.
      “Our ethos at Wolves is about being ‘One Pack’ – an attitude we are passionate about and that extends to our relationships across the football community, regardless of rivalries or what happens on the football pitch.
      “We thank all supporters and staff who reported incidents, and will continue to campaign for inclusivity and tackle discriminatory abuse, whether inside stadiums or online.
      “The club will offer its full support to the police as they carry out their investigation.”
      In response to the incident, a Chelsea statement read: “Chelsea Football Club finds all forms of discriminatory behaviour totally unacceptable.
      “It condemns the homophobic chanting by some home fans at Molineux this afternoon.
      “Chelsea will continue to work closely with Chelsea Pride and the broader football community to eradicate these vile chants from our game.”
      And the Premier League wrote on Twitter: “The homophobic chanting heard at the Wolverhampton Wanderers versus Chelsea fixture today has no place in football or society.
      “The Premier League condemns all forms of discrimination. Football is for everyone.”
      In January, the FA released a lengthy statement condemning the use of homophobic chanting.
      Saturday’s incident comes just a few months after Nottingham Forest condemned their fans for singing homophobic chants.
      Read More on The Sun
      Wolves went on to beat Chelsea 1-0 thanks to an incredible strike from Matheus Nunes.
      The Blues now sit 11th in the Premier League table, one place above Wolves. More

    • 275 Shares99 Views

      in Soccer

      Watch Newcastle and West Ham fans chant at each other from team BOATS on the Thames – and rival supporters love it

      by

      WEST HAM and Newcastle fans have revived their rivalry from earlier this week by chanting at each other from BOATS.The two club’s supporters were heading to their away fixtures in London and crossed paths on the river Thames.
      West Ham and Newcastle fans chanted at each other from different boatsCredit: Twitter
      West Ham fans chanted ‘Irons’Credit: Twitter
      While Newcastle poked fun at the mid-week result in which they beat the Hammers 5-1Credit: Twitter
      West Ham were hammered by Newcastle earlier in the weekCredit: Getty
      The fans faced off on Wednesday and Newcastle’s travelling crowd had the last laugh as their side hammered West Ham at the London Stadium.
      But both sets of fans saw the funny side as they spotted each other’s boats heading down the river.
      The Toon fans were heading to Brentford while the Hammers were on their way to Fulham.
      Videos of the encounter were shared online. In one clip the Magpies fans could be heard chanting “5-1 to the Geordie boys”, referencing their win earlier in the week.
      READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
      While West Ham fans chanted “Irons, Irons, Irons”, back at the Newcastle boat.
      The moment was loved by fans online as one Magpie fan tweeted: “Great craic lads. Hope they [West Ham] stay up.”
      A second commented: “Haha, brilliant 🤣👏.”
      A third joked: “When you see another school on a school trip.”
      Most read in Football
      FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
      A fourth said: “Kinda rate the audacity to do that to a team that just absolutely demolished you 5-1 only a few days ago.”
      Regardless of the result on Wednesday, both sets of fans had enjoyable afternoons.
      West Ham gave themselves a massive survival boost against Fulham as Harrison Reed’s own goal was enough to win the game.
      While Newcastle came from a goal down to beat the Bees and keep themselves in third in the Premier League table. More

    • 238 Shares159 Views

      in Soccer

      Chelsea player ratings: Kai Havertz flat again on Frank Lampard return but Wesley Fofana shows fight for the Blues

      by

      FRANK LAMPARD’S Chelsea return failed to get the Blues firing as they fell to another limp defeat to Wolves. The London side barely had a clear cut chance all afternoon as they suffered loss for the second Saturday running.
      Wesley Fofana was one of the few good performers for Chelsea in their midlands defeatCredit: Getty
      Frank Lampard signed Kai Havertz in 2020 and, almost three years on, fans are still trying to work out what exactly he does wellCredit: Getty
      A stunning goal from Matheus Nunes was enough to grab Wolves a vital three points.
      While Chelsea fans were left with only despair ahead of their Champions League showdown with Real Madrid.
      SunSport’s Kiro Evans had a look at which Blues stars showed up for their new boss and who under-performed again.
      Kepa Arrizabalaga – 7
      After a dramatic week at Chelsea, it would have been quite the twist for their former striker Diego Costa to net his first goal for Wolves.
      READ MORE ON CHELSEA
      But Kepa Arrizabalaga was on hand to charge down his first-half shot, while there was nothing he could do for Matheus Nunes’ wonder strike.
      The Spaniard was also lucky to escape without punishment after some wayward second-half distribution.
      Reece James – 6
      Defensively James gave Daniel Podence too much space for Wolves’ opening goal.
      But the 23-year-old, playing in a more conservative right-back spot under Lampard, did still try to make things happen going forward and was menacing on the overlap.
      Most read in Football
      Wesley Fofana – 8
      While Chelsea’s forward players floundered, Wesley Fofana had another great game at the back for Chelsea.
      The Frenchman made several key interventions throughout the game, including one outstanding tackle of the edge of the six-yard box to close down Joao Gomes.
      Strangely subbed off after 79 minutes for Trevoh Chalobah.
      Kalidou Koulibaly – 6
      The 31-year-old was slightly unlucky as Daniel Podence’s cross took a deflection before barrelling into his path.
      But Kalidou Koulibaly’s weak header took the ball directly towards Matheus Nunes who unleashed a ferocious volley beyond Kepa.
      Marc Cucurella – 6
      Marc Cucurella was enjoying a fairly quiet afternoon for the first half hour with Wolves posing little threat.
      But the full-back certainly should have closed down Nunes quicker for the opening goal, and was partially culpable along with Koulibaly and James. And in the second-half he was booked for a reckless sliding challenge on Nunes.
      Enzo Fernandez – 7
      If Chelsea are doing something good on the ball than there’s a 95 per cent chance that Enzo Fernandez is involved.
      That remained true at Molineux with the first 20 minutes seeing the World Cup winner and Mateo Kovacic direct traffic in midfield while Wolves were still finding their feet.
      But he became less effective as the game wore on.
      Mateo Kovacic – 6
      A steady game in the middle of the park as the Croatian continues to grow a dynamic partnership with Fernandez.
      He also had to be sharp defensively to snuff out a Wolves second-half counter-attack.
      Conor Gallagher – 5
      The 23-year-old was initially meant to be Kai Havertz’s main support act as Frank Lampard played a 4-5-1 with Joao Felix out wide on the left.
      But Gallagher was not in sync with the rest of the team and when he did find his feet in the second-half, his final ball was lacking.
      Joao Felix – 6
      Lampard’s decision to revert to a back four saw Joao Felix stuck out over on the left hand side.
      It was a questionable tactical call and Felix, despite his best efforts, felt marginalised and on the fringes.
      It’s little wonder Chelsea failed to create decent chances for most of the game.
      Kai Havertz – 5
      It’s becoming increasingly difficult to understand why Havertz is an automatic starter for the Blues.
      While he showed more life in the second-half, the German spends most of his time feeling like a loose piece in Chelsea’s jigsaw and Lampard may have less patience for his obvious shortcomings than Thomas Tuchel or Graham Potter.
      Raheem Sterling – 5
      It was a difficult afternoon for the Chelsea winger. Wolves full-back Totti had him under a close watch and Sterling was left acting as a distraction to give James more space on the overlap.
      Failed to offer much more in the second-half before being hooked off.
      Subs
      Christian Pulisic (on for Havertz, 60) – 5
      On for the ineffective Havertz after an hour, the American did not much threat.
      But he had half a shout for a penalty when he tried to pounce upon Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s close range shot but was blocked off by Kilman.
      Ben Chilwell (on for Cucurella, 67) – 5
      Many fans will be wondering why Ben Chilwell was once again relegated to the bench while Cucurella started.
      But the full-back had a chance deep in stoppage time after some decent interplay from Aubameyang and Mykhailo Mudryk and blasted a shot over from the edge of the box.
      Mykhailo Mudryk (on for Felix, 67) – 5
      By the time Mudryk had made his appearance, Wolves had decided to park the bus and hang onto what they had.
      With little space available for the winger, he had another forgettable outing in a Chelsea shirt.
      Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (on for Sterling, 67) – 6
      Seemingly no longer frozen out at Chelsea after the managerial change, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang would have wanted to show Blues fans what they were missing.
      Read More on The Sun
      But his only chance in the final 23 minutes was a header from eight yards out which he put wide.
      Trevoh Chalobah (on for Fofana, 79) – 6
      There was little for Chalobah to do after his introduction. More

    • 275 Shares169 Views

      in Soccer

      Wolves 1 Chelsea 0 LIVE RESULT: Frank Lampard has LOST his first game back in charge of Blues at Molineux – reaction

      by

      CHELSEA have LOST their first game since Frank Lampard returned to the Blues hot seat as Wolves triumph in Premier League clash at Molineux.Matheus Nunes scored a screamer on the half-hour mark to put the Wanderers ahead.
      Chelsea huffed and puffed in the second half but failed to test Jose Sa in the Wolves’ goal.

      FULL TIME RESULT: Wolves 1-0 Chelsea
      Wolves XI: Kepa, James, W Fofana, Koulibaly, Cucurella, Gallagher, Enzo, Kovacic, Sterling, Joao Felix, Havertz
      Chelsea XI: Jose Sa, Nelson Semedo, Dawson, Kilman, Gomes, Daniel Podence, Lemina, Joao Gomes, Matheus Luiz, Costa, Matheus Cunha

      CASINO SPECIAL – BEST ONLINE CASINOS FOR 2023
      Follow ALL of the latest updates below…
      FT: Wolves 1-0 Chelsea
      Wolves beat Chelsea at Molineux following an impressive performance from Julen Lopetegui’s men.
      The hosts opened the scoring with Matheus Nunes’ stunning winner on 31 minutes.
      Kalidou Koulibaly headed a cross from Daniel Podence to his left where Nunes was lurking and fired a worldie that smashed Kepa Arrizabalaga’s top left corner.
      Chelsea struggled with a toothless performance during interim manager Frank Lampard’s first match in charge.
      Credit: Rex
      FT: Wolves 1-0 Chelsea
      Peep!
      That’s full-time in Wolverhampton!!!
      90+5 Wolves 1-0 Chelsea
      Nunes couldn’t continue due to an injury he suffered earlier.
      The Wolves star was carried out of the grass.
      90+4 Wolves 1-0 Chelsea
      Substitution
      A smart substitution from Wolves boss Lopetegui who replaces Nunes with Collins.
      90+2 Wolves 1-0 Chelsea
      Chance
      Chelsea move the ball nicely and Chilwell tries a shot from the edge of the box but sends it to the crowd!
      90 Wolves 1-0 Chelsea
      Five minutes of stoppage time to.
      Plenty of time for a second goal and an equaliser…
      88 Wolves 1-0 Chelsea
      Chelsea getting booed in unison it feels…
      Wonder if that’s just the home crowd…
      86 Wolves 1-0 Chelsea
      Yellow card
      Chelsea’s Kovacic gets booked for protesting after the earlier penalty shout.
      86 Wolves 1-0 Chelsea
      No penalty!
      Referee and VAR waive play on!
      85 Wolves 1-0 Chelsea
      Penalty shout!
      Chelsea are protesting for a penalty after Pulisic went down inside the area while under pressure from Kilman.
      VAR is having a look…
      83 Wolves 1-0 Chelsea
      Chelsea are simply incapable of threatening Wolves goalkeeper Sa.
      Lampard’s changes haven’t really offered any spark…
      80 Wolves 1-0 Chelsea
      Substitution
      Another change by Chelsea caretaker Lampard, who introduces Chalobah for Fofana.
      77 Wolves 1-0 Chelsea
      Wolves continue to press high and are especially dangerous on the counter.
      There is urgency though as the hosts’ lead remains fragile…
      74 Wolves 1-0 Chelsea
      Substitution
      Wolves boss Lopetegui makes a double change with Traore and Sarabia coming on for Lemina and Cunha.
      73 Wolves 1-0 Chelsea
      Chelsea have yet to show a reaction and time is seriously running out.
      Wolves are holding on comfortably…
      70 Wolves 1-0 Chelsea
      Chelsea caretaker Lampard is truly giving second chances in the team.
      Lamps started with Gallagher, and now Aubameyang!
      68 Wolves 1-0 Chelsea
      Substitution
      Chelsea caretaker Lampard is shaking things up with a triple sub as Aubameyang, Mudryk and Chilwell come on for Felix, Cucurella and Sterling.
      67 Wolves 1-0 Chelsea
      Yellow card
      Chelsea’s Gallagher is booked for a late challenge on Dawson!
      65 Wolves 1-0 Chelsea
      Chance
      Another missed opportunity for Wolves as Cunha fires a shot over the bar from a tight angle down the left.
      64 Wolves 1-0 Chelsea
      Substitution
      Wolves boss Lopetegui makes a double change with Moutinho and Hwang replacing Podence and Costa.
      63 Wolves 1-0 Chelsea
      Yellow card
      Another booking, this time to Chelsea as Sterling fouls Cunha during a Wolves counter-attack.
      62 Wolves 1-0 Chelsea
      Chance
      Wolves’ Podence delivers a free-kick and Cunha finds himself at a tight angle down the right but his shot goes straight to Kepa.
      62 Wolves 1-0 Chelsea
      Looks like Felix will now spearhead Chelsea’s attack after Havertz’s exit.
      Pulisic will of course be covering the wing with Sterling on the other side.
      61 Wolves 1-0 Chelsea
      Substitution
      Chelsea boss Lampard makes the first change of the match with Pulisic replacing Havertz.
      60 Wolves 1-0 Chelsea
      Chance
      Chelsea’s James delivers a long-range free-kick but sends it way over the crossbar and into the nosebleed seats!
      Load more entries… More

    • 188 Shares139 Views

      in Soccer

      Wolves 1 Chelsea 0: Frank Lampard loses second managerial Blues debut after Matheus Nunes thunderbolt

      by

      FRANK LAMPARD has returned to become Chelsea’s saviour this season but not even The Second Coming could help this sorry mess of a club.Initially excited over his shock return as manager, Lampard could be forgiven for handing back the keys of his office at the club’s training ground and going back on an extended holiday.
      Wolves beat Chelsea by one goalCredit: Reuters
      Matheus Nunes scored a brilliant goal to help Wolves’ battle against relegationCredit: Getty
      Frank Lampard was taking charge of Chelsea in his second managerial debut at the clubCredit: Reuters
      While Wolves deserved their win, thanks to an absolute belter from Matheus Nunes, Chelsea were an utter shambles and it was a case of new manager, same old story.
      It was a game here in September 2019 which saw the Lampard’s initial reign enjoy take off in spectacular style courtesy of a 5-2 victory but there was never any sign of a repeat in his first game back in charge.
      Chelsea were weak in midfield, had no bite up front and the substitutes made no difference and overall. It was an absolute shambles.
      You can only imagine the damage the Blues could suffer away to Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals on Wednesday if they play like this.
      READ MORE ON CHELSEA
      On current form, that is unlikely to change because despite the sacking of Graham Potter, this was the same old performance from a side which has slipped into mid-table despite bonkers spending in the transfer market.
      Chelsea have now won just two of their last 11 Premier League matches. As for Lampard, he has lost six of his last nine League matches as Chelsea boss.
      But while it was another miserable day for the West London club, this was a key one for Wolves boss Julen Lopetegui.
      Wolves are in trouble but their home form should be enough to keep them in the division.
      Most read in Football
      FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
      And this year has also seen them deliver some decent results against the so-called bigger clubs with Chelsea following Spurs and Liverpool by leaving the Black Country without any points.
      The only disappointment for Wolves is that they could be in trouble with the FA as their fans twice sang homophobic chants aimed at the Chelsea team, despite being warned by the stadium PA announcer after the first time.
      Nunes’ goal was his first since a £38m arrival from Sporting Lisbon but he also played a part in controlling the midfield.
      Unsurprisingly, hundreds of Chelsea fans waited for the visiting coach to arrive. While there was little noise when the players stepped off the bus, the noise erupted once Lampard appeared.
      Lampard named a much-changed teamCredit: AFP
      And of the 20 players Lampard picked for his squad, he had previously managed just nine of them.
      Only four of those players were handed starts, namely Kepa, Reece James, Christian Pulisic and Kai Havertz.
      All eyes were on whether Lampard would throw his beloved Mason Mount into the team, yet the England midfielder suffered a recurrence of his hit injury so did not travel.
      Another notable absentee was fit-against N’Golo Kante but considering he has only just returned from nearly eight months on the sidelines, he is being rested for Wednesday’s Champions League trip to Real Madrid and is certain to start at the Bernabeu.
      N’Golo Kante was rested for the matchCredit: Getty
      Although Lampard’s backroom team had not been officially announced, coaches Ashley Cole, Joe Edwards and Chris Jones were all involved in putting the team through the warm-up at Molineux.
      Yet there was no sign of either Bruno Saltor or Bjorn Hamberg who stayed on at the club despite Potter’s sacking to take temporary charge.
      Lampard would have wanted his team to make an immediate impact but they started off well enough, without causing too much discomfort to Wolves who grew into the game.
      We had to wait nearly 30 minutes for an effort of note but Mario Lemina’s goal-bound shot was deflected wide by Wesley Fofana. 
      Nunes’ goal stood out from the gameCredit: Getty
      So it was all a bit dull until Nunes’ stunning strike which certainly did not belong to this game.
      Chelsea thought they were probably safe after Kalidou Koulibaly got his head to a cross from  Daniel Podence but with full-back Marc Cucurella hesitating, Nunes hammered his right-footed half-volley from inside the corner of the area and Kepa had no chance.
      Diego Costa, given a good reception by Chelsea’s fans before the game, could have had a second against his former club but belted a shot straight at Kepa
      Chelsea’s laughably-bad first half performance was summed up when Connor Gallager sent a harmless cross sailing into the arms of Jose Sa rather than play the ball back to Enzo Fernandez who screamed at his team-mate in disgust.
      Chelsea struggled to create many chances against WolvesCredit: AFP
      Even though Chelsea had six corners in a short space of time in the first half, they failed to create a single chance.
      The second half was very much the same Wolves defensively solid and Chelsea unable to take control of the midfield.
      Read More on The Sun
      Lampard’s first substitution of his new era was bringing Christian Pulisic for the anonymous Kai Havertz just past the hour and soon after, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Mykhailo Mudryk and Ben Chilwell were brought on but there was no difference.
      Wolves were unable to kill the game off but Chelsea’s opponents in Europe are unlikely to be so kind. More

    • 238 Shares99 Views

      in Soccer

      Animated Prince George is gripped by the action as dad William takes him to watch his beloved Aston Villa

      by

      PRINCE George cut an excited figure in the crowd after going to watch an Aston Villa match with his dad William.The Prince of Wales is well-known as a huge Villains fan and treated his son to the Bank Holiday match up against Nottingham Forest at Villa Park.
      Prince George and Prince William enjoying the match at Villa ParkCredit: Paul Marriott
      William and George celebrate Villa taking the leadCredit: Paul Marriott
      Gareth Southgate was also spotted in the stands at Villa ParkCredit: Paul Marriott
      The young royal and his dad have proven a good luck charm with Aston Villa winning the Premier League clash 2-0.
      George, nine, was pictured enjoying the action and mirrored his father as he clutched his face when Villa missed a good chance.
      But the father and son were soon seen celebrating wildly and punching the air when Bertrand Traore broke the deadlock just after half-time.
      The young royal seemed gripped by football fever as he excitedly pointed to the pitch at the Prem stars while talking to his dad.
      Read More in Football
      England boss Gareth Southgate was also spotted in the stands at Villa Park with in-form striker Ollie Watkins scoring a late second.
      Unlike the last time he watched the Birmingham side, George didn’t opt for the claret and blue colours, but instead was seen wearing a striped collared shirt, black jumper and blue trousers. 
      The Prince of Wales also wore a navy blue jumper and a pale blue open-necked shirt.
      But in one photo of the father and son pitch-side before the match began, the young Prince could be seen carrying a Villa scarf.
      Most read in Football
      It is not the first time the nine-year-old royal has been spotted in the footie stands.
      The Prince and Princess of Wales took their eldest two children to their first football match in October 2019 to watch Aston Villa beat Norwich 5 – 1.
      Despite being surrounded by Norwich fans, George was seen excitedly punching the air when Villa scored.
      George is set for a key role at his grandfather the King’s coronation next month.
      He will serve as one of eight Pages of Honour during the ceremony.
      Prince George pointing towards the pitch during the Premier League clashCredit: Paul Marriott More