Championship
Mercedes replaces Lewis Hamilton with George Russell for Sakhir Grand Prix
British race driver, George Russell, will take Lewis Hamilton’s place at Mercedes for this weekend’s Sakhir Grand Prix after the seven-time champion tested positive for coronavirus. Mercedes has backed Russell’s career since 2017 and he is effectively on a three-year loan at Williams, where he has posted some impressive races since making his F1 debut last season. Jack Aitken, a 25-year-old British-Korean, will race in Russell’s place at Williams for his F1 debut while Russell is away at Mercedes. Mercedes had approached Williams to see if a deal to release Russell was possible as soon as it became apparent that Hamilton’s absence from the first race of his career was confirmed after the positive COVID-19 test and retest. And the confirmation of an agreement arrived on Wednesday morning. T...
On-loan Liverpool winger Sheyi Ojo stars in Cardiff rout
On-loan Liverpool winger Sheyi Ojo scored and weighed in with an assist as Cardiff City thumped Luton Town 4-0 in the Championship on Saturday. The Bluebirds were already 3-0 up when the wideman found the net in the 82nd minute following goals from Sean Morrison, Mark Harris and Kieffer Moore during thoroughly one-sided affair in which the hosts took a two-goal lead after nine minutes. Ojo had also contributed the assist for Harris’s ninth-minute goal—the forward’s first for the club—when he sent a fine cross from the left flank for the Wales U-21 international to dispatch with aplomb. The Anglo-Nigerian wideman then added the fourth late on, when he slammed home into the far corner after Marlon Pack’s corner was cleared into his path. Ojo impressed on the left flank—with Harry Wilson also...
Andre-Villas Boas: Marcelo Bielsa’s nomination for The Best FIFA Coach award ‘scandalous’
Marseille boss Andre-Villas Boas has taken a swipe at Leeds manager Marcelo Bielsa’s nomination for The Best FIFA Coach Award. The Argentine has joined a five-match shortlist that also includes Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, Sevilla’s Julen Lopetegui and Bayern Munich’s Champions League-winning coach Hansi Flick. Bielsa was at the helm as Leeds returned to the top flight of the English game for the first time in 2004, but Villas-Boas has suggested that these achievements pale into comparison with other coaches who have been overlooked. “Bielsa? Bielsa has to win a prestigious trophy,” he told the media on Friday. “But he’s not among the best five coaches in the world in 2020. It’s a scandal. He won the Championship!” Villas-Boas, who risks provoking the M...
Nico Rosberg: I take my hat off to Lewis Hamilton
Nico Rosberg hailed Lewis Hamilton’s record 92nd Formula One win and sporting longevity as a great achievement on Tuesday. Rosberg added that the way the Briton was using his platform to raise awareness for global issues was just as impressive. The 35-year-olds were teammates and fierce rivals at Mercedes from 2013 until the German won the 2016 title and immediately retired. Rosberg was also teammate to Michael Schumacher, whose record Hamilton broke in Portugal last Sunday, at Mercedes from 2010 to 2012 after the Ferrari great had made a comeback. “I have huge respect for what he’s managed to achieve,” Rosberg told Reuters after a launch for the Extreme E off-road electric series that starts next year with both men entering teams. “One thing is being at the level that he’s at, just a phen...
Andrey Arshavin: Moses is a strong character for Russian championship
Former Russian attacking midfielder Andrey Arshavin says Victor Moses’ arrival has strengthened Spartak Moscow and expects him to help the club this season. Moses scored his first goal in Russian football as Spartak Moscow thrashed their hosts Krasnodar 3 – 0 last weekend. The former Nigerian international was also involved in the Moscow derby against CSKA eight days ago. Speaking on the impact of Moses on Spartak Moscow since his arrival, Arshavin who also played for the club during his days, said Moses is a strong character for the Russian championship and has improved the team. “I think it was clear that this is a strong footballer for our championship. Moses has strengthened the necessary position for Spartak.” Andrey Arshavin said “I remember how he played for Wigan against us. He pla...
Deadline Day 2: The Biggest Deals in the Championship
Deadline Day 2 has finished and fans of two Championship clubs certainly have plenty of cause for celebration after completing some excellent deals. Blackburn Rovers can be particularly pleased with their business, bringing in four new players as they strive to mount a serious challenge for promotion. Harvey Elliott’s arrival on a season-long loan from Liverpool grabbed most of the headlines and the winger is undoubtedly an exciting addition the Championship. Rovers also sealed loan deals for Tom Trybull (Norwich City) and Barry Douglas (Leeds United), while goalkeeper Aynsley Pears was signed from Middlesbrough on a four-year contract. It was also a busy day for Swansea City, with four new signings compensating for the £15 million sale of Joe Rodon to Tottenham Hotspur. Ryan Bennett joine...
Super Eagles star bids Serie A club goodbye as Watford switch nears
William Troost-Ekong has taken to social media to say his goodbyes to Serie A club Udinese as he nears a switch to Championship side Watford. The 27-year-old Nigerian centre-back has been with the Little Zebras since the 2018-19 season, when he joined from Turkish outfit Bursaspor. He has been a regular fixture in the Udinese squad since then, racking up 66 appearances in all competitions, all which have seen the club comfortably avoid relegation, finishing 12th and 13th, with 43 and 45 points, in respective seasons. Troost-Ekong’s time in Udine is, however, coming to an end with an eminent switch to Vicarage Road as reported by Watford Observer, set to be completed soon. Though he participated in pre-season, Troost-Ekong was an unused substitute in Udinese’s season opener at Hellas Verona...
Tiger Woods to defend Zozo Championship title next month
Getty Images Tiger Woods will defend his Zozo Championship title next month at Sherwood Country Club in California, the PGA Tour said on Wednesday. The 78-player tournament, which will be held from Oct. 22 to Oct.25, was relocated to California this year from Japan due to logistical issues caused by the COVID-19 outbreak. “It is disappointing that we will not be able to play in Japan this year, but Sherwood Country Club will be a great backdrop for what I know will be a great championship,” Woods said in a PGA Tour news release. Woods, who missed the cut at last week’s United States Open, enjoyed a wire-to-wire win at last year’s Zozo Championship in October to match Sam Snead’s record of 82 PGA Tour victories. Since his three-shot triumph over Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama, Woods has competed ...
Frank Lampard urges Premier League clubs to help save struggling EFL
Frank Lampard has urged Premier League clubs to ‘have a heart’ and help save Football League sides amid the financial implications of the coronavirus pandemic. The impact of the pandemic and continued absence of supporters is being felt right across the sport, but nowhere more so than the lower leagues who remain without a vital source of income as fixtures continue to be played behind-closed-doors. Sporting authorities have approached the government warning of the disastrous consequences potentially awaiting without financial aid, though the Telegraph are reporting that elite level football will not receive support given the riches at the highest level of the game. The government believes that the Premier League – the richest division in world football – should be responsible for providin...
Ovie Ejaria completes Reading move away from Liverpool
Liverpool forward Ovie Ejaria has left the club to join joined Championship club Reading on a permanent basis. The England born Nigerian youngster sealed signed four-year contract with Reading to bring an end to his Liverpool adventure. Ejaria joined Liverpool at the age of 16, he then struggled to break into the first team and therefore spent most of his career away from Anfield. Ejaria, first signed for Reading on loan back in January 2019, however, the club has now triggered their right to sign him on a permanent deal. “Reading Football Club are very pleased to announce that midfielder Ovie Ejaria has put pen to paper on a permanent move to the Madejski which will secure his future as a Royal until the summer of 2024.” Reading wrote on their official website. The FIFA Under-20 World Cup...
Relegated Premier League sides get fixtures as 2020-21 Championship schedule released
Bournemouth will start life back in the Championship at home to Blackburn Rovers, while Watford host Middlesbrough and Norwich City travel to Huddersfield Town. The Cherries were relegated after a five-year stay in the Premier League, while Watford and Norwich were also demoted in a top-flight campaign that was disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic. That halt means the new Championship season starts on September 12, with beaten play-off finalists Brentford travelling to Birmingham City on the opening day, while south Wales rivals Cardiff City and Swansea City – who also made the top six – host Sheffield Wednesday and visit Preston North End respectively. Wycombe Wanderers – playing in the second tier for the first time – welcome fellow new boys Rotherham United for their first game, while ...
Mikel Obi wants to be father figure at Stoke City
Stoke City new signing John Mikel Obi hopes to help instil a long-lost winning mentality at the club and also help the Potters push for promotion to the Premier League next season. Mikel penned a one-year contract with Stoke City on Monday becoming the club’s fourth signing of the summer. The experienced midfielder spent 11 years at Chelsea helping the Blues land the Premier League title twice, as well as three FA Cups, the Champions League and Europa League. The former Super Eagles captain has also played in China and Turkey, with a brief stint at Championship club Stoke City. Mikel is determined to become a mentor to his new team-mates and help them at difficult times. “It is good when you come into a football club having won so much in the game,” he told the club’s official website. “Th...
