Sport
Quatrième tour de la FA Cup : regardez quatre matchs en direct sur la BBC, dont Walsall-Leicester, Accrington-Leeds et Wrexham-Sheff Utd
Rendez-vous: 27-30 janvier Couverture: Accrington Stanley-Leeds (12h30 GMT) en direct sur BBC One, BBC iPlayer, le site Web et l’application BBC Sport samedi; Walsall-Leicester (12h30) en direct sur Red Button samedi; Preston-Tottenham (18h00) en direct sur BBC One, BBC iPlayer, le site Web et l’application BBC Sport samedi; Wrexham contre Sheffield United (16h30) en direct sur BBC One, BBC iPlayer, le site Web et l’application BBC Sport dimanche. |
Le quatrième tour de la FA Cup débute vendredi lorsque Arsenal, vainqueur du record à 14 reprises et leader de la Premier League, affronte Manchester City dans un match nul des poids lourds au stade Etihad (20h00 GMT).
Il y a 16 matchs sur quatre jours, dont Wrexham hors ligue, le club le moins bien classé de la compétition, à domicile contre l’équipe de championnat Sheffield United devant les caméras de BBC One dimanche (16h30).
Les détenteurs de Liverpool sont à Brighton dimanche (13h30) dans un match nul en Premier League, tandis que Walsall, du côté de la Ligue 2, cherchera à produire un bouleversement lorsqu’il accueillera Leicester City, vainqueur de 2020-21, samedi (12h30).
BBC One diffuse trois matchs en direct, dont deux samedi avec le club de Ligue 1 Accrington Stanley à domicile contre Leeds United (12h30) suivi du club de championnat Preston North End à domicile contre Tottenham (18h00).
Le match de Walsall avec Leicester est en direct sur le bouton rouge.
Les matchs nuls qui terminent au niveau après 90 minutes iront aux rediffusions pour décider qui se qualifiera pour le cinquième tour, qui se déroule les mardi, mercredi et jeudi 28 février-2 mars.
Les équipes gagnantes de la quatrième étape recevront 120 000 £ du fonds du concours.
La finale de la FA Cup aura lieu à Wembley le 3 juin, six jours après la fin de la saison de Premier League et une semaine avant la finale de la Ligue des champions à Istanbul le 10 juin.
Matchs télévisés du quatrième tour de la FA Cup (toutes les heures GMT)
Vendredi
Manchester City contre Arsenal, 20h00 – en direct sur ITV1, ITVX.
Samedi
Accrington Stanley contre Leeds United, 12 h 30 – en direct sur BBC One, iPlayer, le site Web et l’application BBC Sport.
Walsall contre Leicester City, 12 h 30 – en direct sur Red Button, BBC iPlayer, site Web et application BBC Sport.
Preston North End contre Tottenham Hotspur, 18h00 – en direct sur BBC One, iPlayer, le site Web et l’application BBC Sport.
Manchester United contre Reading, 20h00 – en direct sur ITV4, ITVX.
Dimanche
Brighton & Hove Albion contre Liverpool, 13h30 – en direct sur ITV1, ITVX.
Wrexham contre Sheffield United, 16h30 – en direct sur BBC One, iPlayer, le site Web et l’application BBC Sport.
Lundi
Derby County contre West Ham United, 19h45 – en direct sur ITV4, ITVX.
Quels clubs de haut vol sont absents?
Les 20 clubs de Premier League sont entrés au troisième tour, mais seulement 11 ont réussi.
Les neuf qui sont tombés au premier obstacle plus tôt ce mois-ci comprenaient Aston Villa, embarrassé à domicile par League Two Stevenage.
Newcastle United est sorti à League One Sheffield mercredi, tandis que Bornemouth et Forêt de Nottingham perdu contre l’opposition au championnat – Burnley et Blackpool respectivement.
Everton, Palais de Cristal, Brentford, loups et huit fois vainqueurs Chelsea sont également sortis.
Au moins deux autres clubs de haut vol sortiront ce week-end.
C’est parce que Manchester City-Arsenal et Brighton-Liverpool se rencontrent dans des matchs de Premier League.
Où pourraient être les chocs ?
Dirigeants de la Ligue nationale Wrexham et leurs propriétaires hollywoodiens Ryan Reynolds et Rob McElhenney cherchent à occuper le devant de la scène le week-end du quatrième tour.
La promotion dans la Ligue de football reste la principale priorité du club du nord du Pays de Galles, mais il atteindra le cinquième tour pour la première fois depuis 1997 s’il voit Sheffield United devant une foule de 10 000 personnes à guichets fermés au Racecourse Ground.
Si Wrexham gagne, ce sera la deuxième saison consécutive qu’un club hors championnat atteint les 16 derniers après Boreham Wood il y a 12 mois.
Walsall11e de Ligue 2, cherche à atteindre le cinquième tour pour la première fois en 20 ans.
Pour ce faire, ils devront vaincre la Premier League Leicester, qui a remporté huit de ses neuf derniers matches dans la compétition.
C’est l’un des matches de quatrième tour les plus attrayants et se jouera dans un stade Bescot à guichets fermés.
Un autre match accrocheur voit League One Accrington Stanley accueillera la Premier League Leeds dans une salle comble de 5 000 spectateurs au Wham Stadium.
Il s’agit du premier match nul de Leeds au quatrième tour de la FA Cup depuis 2016-17, lorsqu’ils ont perdu 1-0 à Sutton United hors ligue.
Comté de Derby, quatrième de League One, hôte de West Ham, 16e de Premier League.
Ligue deux Grimsby sont à Championship côté Luton et de Stevenage la récompense pour avoir éliminé Aston Villa au dernier tour est un voyage à Stoke de deux lieues au-dessus.
Côtés du championnat Sunderland et Blackpool sont absents dans les clubs de Premier League Fulham et Southampton respectivement.
Preton, 11e du championnat, accueille Tottenham pour la première fois en 13 ans, tandis que Paul Ince revient à Manchester United – où il a remporté la FA Cup à deux reprises en tant que joueur – avec son Lecture côté.
ville d’Ipswich, troisième de la Ligue 1, Burnley, leader du championnat hôte.
Suivez le quatrième tour sur la BBC
En plus de quatre matchs en direct à regarder, la BBC sera présente sur les 12 autres rencontres.
Les Soirée football du vendredi sur BBC Radio 5 Live aura des mises à jour de Manchester City-Arsenal et un aperçu de l’action de la coupe du week-end.
Score final sur BBC One le samedi 15h45-17h20 aura des mises à jour, des rapports et des réactions des sept matchs de 15h00, y compris Fulham-Sunderland et Southampton-Blackpool.
BBC Radio 5 en direct a sept commentaires en direct samedi, dimanche et lundi, y compris le match de Liverpool à Brighton.
Trois autres commentaires portent sur 5 sports supplémentairesy compris la cravate de Stevenage à Stoke.
Cliquez ici pour la liste complète des commentaires radio.
Il y a un FA Cup Match du jour sur BBC One le samedi à 22h50 GMT avec les temps forts. Il est répété à 07h40 le dimanche.
Le site Web de BBC Sport proposera des mises à jour textuelles en direct présentant les 16 matchs nuls ainsi que des clips de buts.
Les Bouton rouge présente les faits saillants de la FA Cup tout au long du week-end. Cliquez ici pour l’horaire.
Sport
Scott Brown: Former Celtic captain on hair, Ayr & choosing ‘to be horrible’
Venue: Somerset Park, Ayr Date: Friday, 29 March Kick-off: 19:45 GMT |
Coverage: Watch on the BBC Scotland channel and follow live text commentary on the BBC Sport website & app |
“It was my identity – what I needed to be the best I could be.”
Normally a player has hair and then loses it when he becomes a manager. Scott Brown did it the other way round.
For the best part of two decades, this shaven-skulled enforcer dominated the Scottish football landscape on a journey during which he would become one of the game’s most decorated players.
These days, he can be spotted in the Somerset Park dugout with a thick thatch.
Turns out being bald was all part of the plan for the former Celtic and Scotland captain.
“I made a decision when I retired I would grow my hair for the kids and I do look like a more approachable person,” the Ayr United head coach tells BBC Scotland.
At 38, the boots have been hung up for a while and Brown’s focus is all about navigating the notoriously choppy waters of the “tightest division in the world”.
‘I did it to intimidate players’
Being bald was just part of Brown. It fed into the psychology of a player who would adopt an uncompromising attitude whenever he crossed that white line. A mindset suit of armour to improve the chance of victory.
“[I did it] just to intimidate people,” he says. “I made that decision just to be horrible. Not really speaking to anybody on the park. If players tried, I would refuse to speak to them.
“Not being big time but just to make sure my head was focused and I was ready and organised, because if I had a laugh and a joke about stuff on the park, I probably would not have played as well as I could have.
“You can be whoever you want for 90 minutes on that pitch. You can be a winner, want to dictate games, be passionate, be louder than you normally are in the changing room. It worked really well for me.”
It sure did. A deluge of silverware followed, including 10 Scottish Premiership titles, six Scottish Cups, seven League Cups, not to mention 55 Scotland caps.
“After the 90 minutes, I could go back to being Scott – sit down, chill and relax,” Brown adds.
‘It’s about getting the balance right’
But age brings many gifts. Maybe a softening of attitudes in some aspects of life. And family has an impact too.
“During Covid, the kids asked if I had hair,” he explains. “I wasn’t 100% sure if I actually did.”
It will be there for all to see on Friday night as BBC Scotland broadcasts Ayr’s home game with high-flying Airdrieonians.
Rhys McCabe’s SPFL Trust Trophy winners occupy fourth – the last of the promotion play-off places – while the hosts are eighth, just three points above the relegation play-off spot.
However, a win for Ayr would take them to just one point off Friday’s visitors, such is the congested nature of the Championship.
“Two good weeks and you could be challenging for the top four – two bad weeks you could be challenging for the relegation zone,” Brown admits.
When an Anton Dowds-inspired Ayr triumphed against Airdrie five games ago, it lifted them to fifth. Now, they’re back looking over the shoulder.
However, Brown believes he has the players capable of the primary objective this season, which is staying in the division, and aims to harness the local passion for the club.
“[Former head coach] Lee [Bullen] brought in a good squad and I have got the benefit of the lads now,” he says.
“We have a couple of experienced pros, but we are a very young team. It’s about getting the balance right.
“There are young players coming through who have never been anywhere else, so we are lucky enough they understand the club and what it means to them.
“When Fraser Bryden, a lifelong Ayr fan, scored against Inverness Caledonian Thistle the other week, his mates were all in the crowd singing, cheering and chanting his name. When he does score those goals, it’s emotional for everyone.”
That emotional rollercoaster is full steam ahead as the campaign nears its end.
Brown knows what it takes at this stage of the season and, while the shaven head is no more, that driven, uncompromising attitude is going nowhere.
Sport
Premier League fantasy football tips: Mohamed Salah, Erling Haaland, Son Heung-min
The fixture calendar for the rest of the Premier League season is pretty much set so now it’s up to you to decide on your strategy depending on what chips you have left in the game.
We know there are seven teams with a double gameweek 34 – Arsenal, Liverpool, Wolves, Bournemouth, Crystal Palace, Everton and Sheffield United.
Tottenham don’t have a fixture in gameweek 34, which makes things slightly trickier if you don’t have a Free Hit chip, because they will then have two double gameweeks before the end of the season.
Chelsea will also double twice in the last four gameweeks of the season, while Manchester City, Manchester United, Newcastle and Brighton will all have a double gameweek, which is almost certainly going to be in gameweek 37.
Managers who still have their second wildcard available will rightly be debating whether to play it now, either in gameweek 30 or 31, or in gameweek 35 to really attack the last four weeks of the season with a potential Bench Boost in mind for gameweek 37.
If you’ve still got that Free Hit chip then the earlier wildcard could be tempting because you can bring in as many Tottenham and Chelsea players as you like without having to worry about gameweek, 34 when Tottenham blank and Chelsea are away to Arsenal.
I like that strategy because the fixtures look good for both Tottenham and Chelsea in the next few weeks – but if you’ve already used your Free Hit then you might want to hold on to the wildcard until gameweek 35 and focus your transfers on Liverpool and Arsenal in the short-term as we start to build up towards gameweek 34.
Captaincy
Those managers who can get Mohamed Salah into their squads this week will certainly want to consider him for Liverpool’s game against Brighton at Anfield on Sunday as his ownership is relatively low.
Many will be taking a points hit to get him because they can’t afford him in a straight swap or they may decide to wait until next week, which will give those of you who get him on the wildcard a nice little edge.
If you don’t own Salah then I would suggest a Tottenham attacker for their game at home to Luton, preferably Son Heung-Min, or the man I’m looking to as a slightly differential captaincy pick this week in Cole Palmer, who has a home game against Burnley.
Fixtures to target
This is one of those gameweeks when two of the best teams in the Premier League go head-to-head and we own four or five of their players, in this case Manchester City and Arsenal, who face each other at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
I would be very happy to field my attackers in this game, the likes of Bukayo Saka and Erling Haaland, but I would try to bench my defenders if I could.
Arsenal’s defence has been superb this season and we know all about their prowess at set-pieces so fielding one of Gabriel, William Saliba or Ben White isn’t really too much of a problem, but I wouldn’t want to have two of them in my starting line-up if I could avoid it.
If you’re looking for a defender to bring into your squad this week then Statman Dave and Chris Sutton each had a suggestion in this week’s Fantasy 606 podcast – Dave has gone for Chelsea’s Malo Gusto, while Chris likes the look of Conor Bradley for Liverpool – and both come in at only £4.2 million.
Bradley has the advantage of the double gameweek 34 but if Trent Alexander-Arnold returns to fitness in the next few weeks then he is less likely to start every game. Gusto looks undroppable for Chelsea at the moment and we still don’t know when Reece James may return to action to provide competition for him.
Differentials
Fulham striker Rodrigo Muniz was one of the rare successes in gameweek 29, his two goals in Fulham’s 3-0 win against Tottenham taking his tally to seven goals in his past seven games and his next three matches are against Sheffield United, Nottingham Forest and Newcastle.
He only costs £4.6 million, which also makes him a great makeweight if you’re having to use two transfers to get to Salah this week.
Gamble of the week
We run a listeners’ team on the Fantasy 606 podcast whereby a different listener comes on each week to manage the side. This week’s listener, Alex from Vancouver, has taken the gamble to remove Haaland from the squad to enable the signing of Salah.
Haaland obviously has the tougher fixture this week, he doesn’t have a double like Salah in gameweek 34 and it enables the listeners to have Salah, Son and Saka in their midfield.
It comes down to your budget – if, like me, you can’t afford to have all four of Haaland, Salah, Son and Saka then which one makes way? It’s Son for me, who will be replaced by Salah next week, but I might then have to turn to a cheaper Tottenham attacker to try to fill Son’s boots.
Sport
My Mate’s A Footballer: Patrick Bamford tests podcast co-host Joe Wilkinson’s free-kicks
Leeds United striker Patrick Bamford meets up with his My Mate’s A Footballer podcast co-host, comedian Joe Wilkinson, for a free-kick challenge.
Can Wilkinson finally prove himself to be the elite free-kick “specialist” that he claims he is?
Listen to episodes of ‘My Mate’s A Footballer’ here
Sport
Chelsea expect to be in Women’s Champions League semi-finals, says boss Emma Hayes
Emma Hayes says Chelsea “expect to be” in the semi-finals of the Women’s Champions League after securing their spot for a second season running by dispatching Dutch side Ajax.
Chelsea were beaten in the semi-finals by champions Barcelona last season.
“We expect to be here, I should say that,” said Hayes.
“If you look at our record in the Champions League, even in the last five years, it was only once we didn’t qualify from the group. We’ve made the latter stages every [other] year.
“I don’t make any excuses, we should be at this level and we should be at the semi-finals. Of course we have a little bit more depth to be able to do things like make more changes [on Wednesday] than we’ve ever had.
“But we haven’t won anything, we’re in the place we want to be. I don’t know who the opponent will be – but we’re ready.”
Chelsea could set up another meeting with Barcelona in the last four. The Spanish giants have a 2-1 aggregate lead going into the second leg of their quarter-final tie with Brann on Thursday.
Hayes, who leaves Chelsea in the summer to manage the United States women’s national team, hopes to guide her side to the quadruple this season but will need to rely on every member of the squad after being hit with long-term injuries.
As well as chasing a first European crown, Chelsea are top of the Women’s Super League, face Arsenal in the Women’s League Cup final on Sunday and play Manchester United in the Women’s FA Cup semi-finals next month.
“We love winning. I always say this to the players. No-one cares who scores. Everyone has a role to play,” said Hayes.
“We have to count on each other. Some will play more than others throughout the season. I trust the squad, I trust the players. We’re in the place we want top be.
“There were some that absolutely needed to recover [on Wednesday] so I’m really happy with the whole squad.”
Sport
Thursday’s gossip: Sesko, Branthwaite, Guimaraes, Alexander-Arnold, Diaz, Paqueta, Anselmino, De Zerbi
Arsenal have a 10-man shortlist for a new striker this summer with RB Leipzig’s Slovenian Benjamin Sesko, 20, Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyokeres, 25, and his fellow Sweden international, Newcastle’s Alexander Isak, 24, among those being monitored. (Mirror)
Manchester United are keen on Everton centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite, 21, as they prioritise improving their defence next season. (Telegraph)
Pep Guardiola is “obsessed” by Newcastle midfielder Bruno Guimaraes, 26, but Manchester City would have to pay 100m euros (£85.7m) to sign the Brazil international. (Fichajes – in Spanish)
West Ham expect Manchester City to move again for their Brazil midfielder Lucas Paqueta, 26. (Football Insider)
Chelsea are among the clubs interested in Athletico Paranaense goalkeeper Bento, 24, who made his Brazil debut against England last week. (Globo – in Portuguese)
Tottenham want to sign Feyenoord’s Mexico striker Santiago Gimenez, 22, as their replacement for Harry Kane this summer – one year after the 30-year-old England striker’s departure to Bayern Munich. (Caught Offside)
Liverpool forward Luis Diaz, 27, has not given up hope of moving to one of the big Spanish La Liga clubs in the future, according to the Colombia international’s father. (Daily Mail)
Manchester United are interested in signing Argentine defender Aaron Anselmino, 18, from Boca Juniors. (Ole – in Spanish)
Brighton manager Roberto de Zerbi is Bayern Munich’s leading managerial candidate if they cannot persuade their former midfielder Xabi Alonso to join from Bayer Leverkusen. (Florian Plettenberg)
Tottenham, West Ham, Brighton and Everton are all plotting moves for Juventus and England Under-21 winger Samuel Iling-Junior, 20. (Football Insider)
Italy midfielder Jorginho, 32, could leave Arsenal this summer to return to his homeland. (Football London)
The Gunners’ hopes of signing winger Xavi Simons, 20, have been hit because Paris St-Germain want to give the Netherlands international more game time when he returns from a loan at RB Leipzig. (Express)
Manchester United will let Denmark midfielder Christian Eriksen, 32, leave this summer. (Football Insider)
Real Madrid cannot afford a rumoured move for Liverpool and England full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold, 25. (Goal)
Germany midfielder Toni Kroos, 34, is set to sign a one-year contract extension to stay at Real Madrid. (Fabrizio Romano)
Liverpool assistant coach Pep Lijnders is a contender to take charge at Ajax next season. (Telegraph – subscription required)
Sport
Steph Houghton: Manchester City defender and ex-England captain to retire
Manchester City defender and former England captain Steph Houghton will retire at the end of the current Women’s Super League season.
Houghton, 35, is City’s record appearance holder and is part of the squad in contention to win the WSL title this season.
Houghton has 121 England caps but has not played for her country since 2021.
“I hope I leave the game in a better place than when I started,” Houghton, who began at Sunderland in 2002, said.
“And [I hope] I have contributed in some small way to giving the girls of tomorrow a better future in football.”
Centre-back Houghton spent five years at Sunderland, followed by three-year spells at Leeds and Arsenal, before joining City in 2014.
She made her England debut against Russia in March 2007, going on to appear at two World Cups and two European Championships.
However, Houghton missed out on a place at Euro 2022, having not played for eight months because of an Achilles injury, and was also left out of Sarina Wiegman’s squad for last year’s World Cup.
Houghton also represented Team GB at London 2012 and Tokyo 2020.
“Taking the decision to retire, is such a difficult thing to do,” said Houghton, who was awarded an MBE in 2016 for her achievements in women’s football.
“Whilst age comes to every player, it makes it no easier having to say the words out loud. Football has been my life; my passion and I have loved the career I have had.”
The Lionesses posted on X: “We wish you all the best in your retirement.
“From leading the Lionesses to growing the women’s game – your impact will never be forgotten.”
How Houghton become an ‘icon of the game’
Houghton has played 241 games for City and is their most decorated player having won eight major trophies – four Continental Cups, three Women’s FA Cups and the FA Women’s Super League title in 2016.
She also won two WSL titles with Arsenal in 2011 and 2012, also helping the Gunners to five cup victories.
“Steph is – without question – an icon of the game,” said City head coach Gareth Taylor.
“Although her professional career on the pitch is now coming to an end, her legacy will be felt for so many years to come.
“She’s paved the way for so many to thrive in the future.”
City captain Houghton signed a new one-year deal in June 2023, taking her into a 10th year at the club during which she will stop her playing career.
“I feel incredibly privileged to have been able to work with her since 2020 and know her name will be written into the history books as a true footballing great,” added Taylor.
City are level with leaders Chelsea with five matches left in their WSL season, which is set to conclude on 18 May against Aston Villa.
“I am excited for whatever comes next,” said Houghton, who is married to former Liverpool defender Stephen Darby and helped him complete a 178-mile march for ex-players with motor neurone disease this week.
“In the meantime, I remain focused on giving everything I have left for Manchester City, over the next two months.”
Sport
Stoke City supporters banned for tragedy chanting at Elland Road
The force said the two men were in the away supporters’ section of the upper West Stand at the time, which is immediately above home fans.
Turner, 44, of Longport Road, Stoke-on-Trent, was fined £553 and ordered to pay £85 in costs and a £221 victim surcharge.
Lawton, 28, of Johnson Place, Stoke-on-Trent, was fined £120 and told to pay £85 in costs and a £48 victim surcharge.
Kevin Speight and Christopher Loftus were both fatally stabbed in April 2000, on the eve of Leeds’ UEFA Cup semi-final tie with Galatasaray.
Follow BBC Yorkshire on Facebook, external, X (formerly Twitter), external and Instagram, external. Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk.
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