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Aston Villa produced a remarkable comeback on Saturday night to cancel out a three goal deficit and claim a point against Sheffield United.

The Blades could have consolidated their place at the top of the table with a win, and Billy Sharp’s hat-trick set them well on their way to doing just that. However, three late goals, from Tyrone Mings, Tammy Abraham, and Andre Green, brought the Villans level in dramatic circumstances.

The indoor football skills in the video below have to be seen to be believed…

The result was a major setback for Sheffield United, but a positive outcome for Dean Smith’s side whose form has been decidedly average of late. The draw was also great news for Leeds United, as it prevented Sheffield United from pulling away from them at the top of the table.

Instead, the result meant that a point against Middlesbrough would be enough to restore Marcelo Bielsa’s side to first place. The Whites duly got that point via a late Kalvin Phillips equaliser.

After Villa’s comeback, plenty of Leeds fans took to Twitter to join in the celebrations of the Midlands club’s result…

أوضح المدرب الفرنسي زين الدين زيدان، المدير الفني لنادي ريال مدريد، موقف الثلاثي إيدين هازارد، ماركو أسينسيو، وفرانشيسكو إيسكو من التواجد في مباراة ريال بيتيس بالدوري الإسباني.

ريال مدريد يستقبل ريال بيتيس مساء السبت على ملعب “بينيتو فيامارين”، ضمن لقاءات الجولة الثالثة من الليجا.

وقال زيدان في المؤتمر الصحفي الخاص بالمباراة: “في البداية نحن نعرف أننا سنواجه فريقا جيدا للغاية، ريال بيتيس فريق قوي، نريد أنّ نقدم مباراة جيدة، علينا تحسّين ما فعلناه في أنويتا”.

وأضاف: “نحن الآن لا نفكر في مباراة ريال سوسييداد، فقط نفكر في المباراة التالية، نريد القيام بعمل جيد، بيتيس فريق جيد، لقد أصبح لديهم مدرب جديد، وبيليجريني لديه خبرة وسيقدم الكثير لـ ريال بيتيس، لطالما كان بيتيس فريقًا ذو جودة، ونعرف أننا سنواجه فريق يريد تقديم مباراة جيدة”.

وبسؤاله “هل يُمكن أنّ يُسافر هازارد وأسينسيو وإيسكو؟”، أجاب: “يُمكنهم بكل تأكيد، لقد تدربوا، لكننا سنرى، الشيء المهم أنهم بصحة جيدة، سنرى غدًا، ثم سنلعب يوم الأربعاء؛ هُناك العديد من المباريات، سنرى ما سيحدث”.

وردًا على “روبرتو مارتينيز قال إنّ هازارد جاهز من الناحية الطبية 100%؟”؛: “هذا رأيي أيضًا، ليس لديه أي إزعاج من إصابته، هو فقط يفتقر للإيقاع، عليه أنّ يذهب شيئًا فشيئًا، هذا كل شيء، سيكون ما مع الفريق، يُمكن أنّ يتواجد في المباراة، وسنرى ما سيحدث”.

أقرأ أيضًا.. زيدان يكشف موقف ريال مدريد من التعاقد مع كافاني ويُصرّح: لن أرد على بيل

وعن غياب كاسيميرو عن مباراة سوسييداد: “إنها اختياراتي، في مباراة سوسييداد كان بديلًا، وغدًا سيكون هناك لاعبين ستأسلوا عليهم أيضًا، ومن الواضح أنّ الأمر سيستمر طوال الموسم، ولكن هذه هي الأمور هُنا البعض يلعب والآخر يلعب أوقات أقل، أنا أهتم بالجميع، وأشعر أنّ كل لاعب يُمكنه المُساهمة بشيء معي”.

وعن إمكانية لعب يوفيتش وبنزيما معًا: “نعم، يُمكنهم اللعب معًا، نحن هذا الموسم سنخوض العديد من المباريات، يُمكننا اللعب بشكل مُختلف، كل مباراة مختلفة عن الأخرى، وهناك العديد من الخيارات، وأنا لم أعتقد أبدًا أنّ يوفيتش وكريم لا يستطيعان اللعب معًا”.

وعن أوديجارد وإمكانية اللعب في مركز صانع الألعاب: “أنا أعرفه، إنه لاعب مُختلف، يُمكنه المُساهمة بكل شيء، إنه يعلم أنّ هناك العديد من المراكز يُمكنه اللعب فيها، إنه جيد من الناحية البدنية، سيكون هناك الكثير من المباريات، والجميع مُستعدين”.

وبسؤاله “كيف ترى ما يحدث في برشلونة؟”، أجاب: “أنا مُحترم، ولا أردى ماذا يحدث هُناك من الجانب الآخر”.

وأتم تصريحاته قائلًا: “لا أريد أنّ أشارك في ما يحدث، كل الأندية لديها أشياء وأمورها الخاصة، وبرشلونة سيقتال من أجل كل شيء، ليس لديّ أي شك في ذلك”.

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Crystal Palace fans have taken to Twitter to react after it was revealed that Martin Kelly had signed a new contract with the club.

The England international’s new deal will keep him at Selhurst Park until June 2021, and is a big move for Palace as they tie down their third-choice centre-back for the foreseeable future.

Kelly has been with the club since 2014 after arriving from Liverpool, and has made 110 appearances for the south London-based club.

At 28 years of age, Kelly could be forgiven for wanting to leave as he finds game time hard to come by as a result of James Tomkins and Mamadou Sakho’s formidable partnership, but he has always displayed model professionalism when called upon by Roy Hodgson.

Kelly has made 10 appearances for the Eagles this season, emerging as somewhat of a fans’ favourite thanks to his excellent attitude and committed performances.

Let’s take a look at how the Palace supporters reacted to the news on Twitter…

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Aaron Cresswell and Fabian Balbuena are fit to play for West Ham United against Cardiff City this weekend, the club have confirmed.

The pair could return to Manuel Pellegrini’s starting XI as the club looks to continue their push for European football.

What’s the word?

Cresswell was kicked in the head against Newcastle United and was substituted after 34 minutes.

But he has recovered from the problem and will be fit to play against Neil Warnock’s relegation-threatened Bluebirds.

Balbuena, meanwhile, has been absent since December, when he sustained a knee injury in the 2-0 defeat to Watford.

He is now ready to return, leaving Hammers boss Pellegrini with a selection headache after previously selecting Issa Diop and Angelo Ogbonna at centre-back.

Without Balbuena, the Irons have played 11 Premier League games, winning four and losing four, while drawing with Brighton & Hove Albion, Liverpool and Crystal Palace.

Pellegrini, in quotes reported by the club’s website, said: “The injury update is Cresswell worked with the team the last two days so he will not have any problems.

“Fabian Balbuena played 45 minutes for the U23 team on Monday, also without any problems so both of them are fit. I think they are available for selection at Cardiff.”

Balbuena’s brilliance

The return of Balbuena will be music to the ears of many Hammers fans.

The Paraguay international endured a rocky start to his career at the club – losing his first four matches – but soon forged a superb partnership with Diop.

The pair were central to an impressive run between October and December in which West Ham lost just one game from eight in the top-flight.

Cresswell, too, has been in impressive form this season and, after suffering a potentially serious injury, it is good news that he will be available for selection this weekend.

The Hammers are currently ninth, four points behind seventh-placed Wolves and the final Europa League qualification spot; they need all the help they can get to overhaul the promoted side between now and May.

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Newcastle United will attempt to sign Benfica midfielder Andreas Samaris again in the summer after they failed with a move in the January transfer window, per Record via Sport Witness.

Samaris’ contract expires at the end of the season and Rafael Benitez’s side could well get themselves a bargain in the summer transfer window.

What’s the word?

Samaris was a target of the Magpies in January but a proposed deal, that would have seen him sign an initial short-term contract before committing to longer terms in the summer, fell through.

The report claims that the 29-year-old was unsure if he would actually have a club beyond the end of the season so decided to reject the proposal.

Newcastle signed Miguel Almiron from Atlanta United and Antonio Barreca on loan from AS Monaco last month.

And Samaris – who has played just six games in the Portuguese top-flight all season – can now begin negotiations with foreign clubs, with his deal soon due to end.

Newcastle, then, have the opportunity to finally get the signing over the line, with Record claiming that he will almost certainly be allowed to leave Benfica.

Patience pays off

Benitez and owner Mike Ashley may have played something of a blinder here.

Fresh from bolstering their squad at the turn of the year, the opportunity arises to do a deal for a long-term target that will ultimately cost them nothing at all.

Of course, it cannot be known if this was the plan all along – hence the convoluted offer presented to Samaris – but bringing him in when the summer window opens makes all the sense in the world.

Newcastle may well have to secure their Premier League survival first – they are currently 16th, just one point above the relegation zone.

But if they do just that, it would be a surprise if Samaris did not end up wearing black and white from the 2019-20 season.

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According to The Liverpool Echo, Everton are reportedly growing increasingly confident that Henry Onyekuru will be lining up for them next season after what will be two years out on loan.

What’s the word, then?

Well, The Liverpool Echo report that the Merseyside club have been unable to utilise their 2017 summer signing because of ineligibility issues, which means the 21-year-old has spent time out on loan at Anderlecht, and now Galatasaray this term.

However, The Liverpool Echo report that the Toffees are hopeful the Nigeria international will finally be able to obtain a work permit at the end of the season, and they believe they have a robust case to present to the Football Association.

As per the same report, Marco Silva has also confirmed that the club is keeping tabs on the exciting attacker’s performances in Turkey.

He said: “Yes, we are doing our work and are aware of everything he is doing.

“It is the same with all of our loan players and at the end of the season we will take a decision.”

Could he start for Everton next season?

Should he get his work permit, then there is certainly no reason why he wouldn’t be competing for a spot in Silva’s XI.

Onyekuru showed just how good and dangerous he can be with 30 goals and 11 assists in 60 appearances for Eupen – despite playing out wide – prior to his move to Goodison Park, while he has also netted an impressive nine times in 19 Super Lig matches for Galatasaray this term.

In this era of ‘big 6’ dominance, has finishing 7th become as good as winning a trophy? The Pl>ymaker FC squad have their say in the video below…

With the likes of Bernard, Ademola Lookman and Theo Walcott not putting in consistently good performances on the wing for Everton there certainly looks to be a chance for the 21-year-old African to make his mark, and he may well get it if the Merseyside outfit are proved right with their confidence about him soon being eligible.

أشاد مدرب أستون فيلا دين سميث بالأداء الذي قدموه في مباراة اليوم أمام فولهام، في بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

وتواجه الفريقان في الجولة الثالثة، حيث فاز أستون فيلا بثلاثة أهداف دون رد في معقل فولهام. أهداف أستون فيلا وفولهام

وقال دين سميث، في تصريحات نشرتها شبكة “بي بي سي” العالمية: “لقد قدم اللاعبون لي كل شيء، واستمروا في فعل ذلك منذ نهاية الموسم الماضي، أشعر أننا نجحنا في تحسين الفريق”.

وأضاف: “هذا إلى جانب اللاعبين الذين كانوا هناك في النهاية في الموسم الماضي أيضًا، وهناك الكثير من الإيجابيات”.

وواصل: “جريليش؟ لقد عملنا على تحقيق تقدم كبير مع جاك وكان ذلك بمثابة أداء رائع منه وإنهاء رائع للهجمة، هو لاعب مميز وموهبة خاصة، أعتقد أنه سيكون أول من يقول إننا تحسننا كفريق”.

وتابع: “لقد تحسننا وهذا يساعد في تخفيف الضغط عنه قليلًا، لقد كان الأداء رائعًا في مباراة الليلة”.

وأكد دين سميث صعوبة مباراتهم المقبلة أمام ليفربول يوم الأحد القادم، قائلا: “نريد فقط الفوز بالمباراة القادمة، مواجهة صعبة، ليفربول على أرضنا، لكننا نريد مواصلة التحسين في كل مباراة، الأداء والنتائج مثل الليلة يمكن أن يساعدا في ذلك”.

[ad_pod ]Former West Bromwich Albion star and ex-teammate of Darren Moore, Jonathan Greening, has reacted on Twitter following the sacking of the 44-year-old on Saturday, and it’s fair to say he isn’t happy.

The west Midlands outfit decided to wield the axe on the former centre-back following the 1-1 draw against a lowly Ipswich Town at The Hawthorns at the weekend, which left them nine points adrift of the automatic promotion spots with 10 fixtures remaining.

While the Baggies still lie in fourth position in the Championship, one point from the previous nine – and successive defeats against fellow top-two contenders Sheffield United and Leeds United – meant that Moore paid the price.

Albion owner Lai Guochuan will now be looking to make an appointment that results in the club returning to the Premier League at the first time of asking, but it is looking more and more likely that they will have to do it via the play-offs unless there is a massive slip from either leaders Norwich City or Marcelo Bielsa’s Yorkshire outfit.

Greening took to Twitter to have his say on the decision, and he wrote: “Absolutely embarrassing decision from an owner who hasn’t a clue about football.”

The 40-year-old clearly thinks the wrong call has been made, and it was a very surprising one when you see how West Brom are doing compared to the other two teams that joined them dropping down to England’s second tier – Stoke City and Swansea City.

That said, Guochuan clearly wants promotion this term, and if he didn’t feel that Moore could deliver then you can’t blame him for making a change – even if it is a controversial one.

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Liam Palmer’s Sheffield Wednesday contract is due to run out at the end of the season, and just a few months ago not many Owls fans would have lost too much sleep if the 27-year-old left Hillsborough for nothing later this year given his below-par displays for a team treading water in the Championship.

However, their opinions may have changed in recent months – and in especially in recent weeks when he has shone out of position at left-back for the late play-off challengers – since Steve Bruce was appointed as manager.

The man who received a Scotland call-up last week has been completely transformed since the former Aston Villa boss was appointed as Jos Luhukay’s successor earlier in 2019, and has shown how powerful a mutual respect between player and manager can be.

The former Manchester United defender clearly believes in Palmer by trusting him in the left-back position, and the Worksop-born full-back hasn’t let either him or the Yorkshire outfit down.

His latest task at the weekend was to stop Blackburn Rovers star Bradley Dack – an extremely talented player at this level – and he did an admirable job.

While right-back Dominic Iorfa will get all of the plaudits after scoring and providing an assist, Palmer was just as important on the opposite flank – mainly from a defensive point of view.

The 27-year-old made three tackles, two interceptions and four clearances against Tony Mowbray’s men, while he also showed his strength in the air by winning three aerial duels.

He also attempted 14 long balls and was successful with seven of those, a tally higher than all of his outfield teammates put together managed.

The defender may not be the most talented player on the pitch, but he is willing to fight for the club and if he continues to put in displays like this one and the ones from previous weeks, it will be a no-brainer to extend his stay at Hillsborough in the summer.

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Leeds United’s mini-break from Championship action could serve them well in the promotion race, Quest pundit Dean Ashton has told Football League World.

Leeds were not involved in the fixtures over the weekend and will have had a rest of 1o days by the time they take on Bolton Wanderers on Saturday.

What’s he said?

Leeds are currently third in the Championship but they are level on points with Sheffield United, on whom they have a game in hand, and only two behind leaders Norwich City.

And Ashton, speaking to Football League World, has backed Leeds to take advantage of an impromptu rest.

He said: “I think if you were to give all the teams at the top the chance to have 10 days break they would all snap your hand off.

“At this time of the season where you’ve come through Christmas, it’s a difficult period I think it could make a huge difference.

“You’re still going to have to play that game later on down the line but at this moment in time it could give the boost you need and the recovery they need to push on until the end of the season.

“There’s time for any niggling injuries that you carry to settle down. I can see both sides but it could be quite important for them to have a break to try and settle those injuries down.”

Leeds have the advantage

Sheffield United played Reading over the weekend, while Norwich met Bolton. Leeds, meanwhile, sat pretty at home.

Promotion is so often a game of fine margins and Ashton is right to call attention to the break Marcelo Bielsa’s men have had.

They have the opportunity to get back on the field against Bolton this week – Norwich beat the Trotters 4-0 on Saturday – and start to make up that gap to the leaders.

Both of the clubs ahead of them will be watching on with interest, and they will likely see a completely fresh XI gunning for goals and three vital points.

If Leeds are promoted, they may well pinpoint this rest period as a key moment.