Manchester United have made their worst start to a season in 61 years and pressure is mounting on manager Erik ten Hag.
Here, the PA news agency has a look at what has gone wrong, the issues at play and what is next for the stumbling Red Devils.
– How has the campaign started for United?
Dreadfully. Ten Hag’s side papered over the cracks with an unconvincing three-game winning streak, before two 3-0 home humblings in the space of four days brought them crashing down to earth.
Neighbours Manchester City could easily have won Sunday’s Old Trafford derby by a greater margin and the manner in which the holders bowed out of the Carabao Cup against Newcastle in the repeat of February’s final only compounded matters.
– How bad have United been?
Underwhelming, jumbled performances have led to results that make for grim reading.
The defeat to City meant United have lost five of their opening 10 Premier League matches – their most at the start of a league campaign since 1986-87.
Newcastle then inflicted their eighth defeat in 15 matches in all competitions, making it their worst start to a season since 1962-63.
– Are there any mitigating factors?
Injuries have been a constant issue for United this season, with the defence particularly impacted by absentees.
That has unbalanced a side lacking confidence and depth, albeit to an extent few could have foreseen.
A tough early schedule did not help matters, nor has the off-field issues that have provided constant background noise.
The potential takeover process also continues to provide a major cloud over a club paying for the Glazers’ longstanding lack of effective leadership.
– What is the latest on the ownership?
Wholly unpopular since their leveraged buyout in 2005, there was hope the Glazer family would leave when United announced a strategic review last November.
But frustrated Sheikh Jassim recently pulled out of the interminable process, leaving Sir Jim Ratcliffe looking set to purchase around 25 per cent of the club.
The Ineos founder’s team are still awaiting updates and nothing has been formally finalised, but the deal would see them have a significant say in sporting matters.
There are certainly areas on the football side that need a shake-up and they will be keeping a close eye on the managerial situation.
– What has gone wrong under Ten Hag?
Ten Hag ended United’s six-year wait for silverware by lifting the Carabao Cup in his first season, but the afterglow of that promising campaign has long since gone out.
The Dutchman rather concerningly given his successes with Ajax, has been unable to establish a clear playing style and his selections have at times been as iffy as some of his signings. Antony, for example, has got nowhere near to fulfilling his eye-watering price tag.
There have been reports of disquiet in the dressing room about the meticulous disciplinarian, who has banished Jadon Sancho from the first-team.
He said on Wednesday night that the misfiring team need to “stand up” and work “shoulder by shoulder”.
– What is next up for United?
Defiant Ten Hag called himself a “fighter” after the loss to Newcastle and needs to quieten growing questions over his position before into the international break.
There is little time to prepare for Saturday’s Premier League trip to Fulham, before United head to Copenhagen for a Champions League clash that could go a long way to deciding whether they progress from the group.
A home league match against promoted Luton follows before a November break that United can ill afford to limp into, especially with trips to Everton, Galatasaray and Newcastle immediately following.
Luis Enrique has insisted he is still only in the early phases of developing his Paris St Germain side.
After a sometimes bumpy start to the season results-wise, PSG found some consistency in October, responding to the 4-1 Champions League defeat away to Newcastle with four straight victories in all competitions.
That has seen them move up to second in Ligue 1, one point behind Nice ahead of Friday’s home match against Montpellier, while topping their so-called Champions League ‘group of death’ ahead of Borussia Dortmund, Newcastle and AC Milan.
But although there has been progress, former Barcelona and Spain coach Enrique, appointed at the start of July, said he was only just getting started.
“This is part of a learning process,” he said. “The team is doing many things well but it is still the initial phase and we always need to remember the principles and the things we need to do…
“We are undergoing a constant development process. What I like and what we are trying to do is have an unpredictable team for our opponents, but predictable for ourselves.
“We need to generate uncertainty in our opponents but no uncertainty at PSG. That process takes longer than a usual process…
“I have coached teams that dominate and that means the opponents need to adapt their style of play and we get to play the same style.
“That is why you want different options in your team. I am pleased with the way the players have taken it in and this is only the start.”
When asked if he could quantify how far into the process he might be, Enrique said at a press conference on Thursday that would be difficult to do, but he insisted he was happy with the progress that was being made and the time taken to do it.
“If you look at the way of analysing training sessions and matches I am very pleased with all of that,” he said. “It is a very long process. I struggle to say exactly where we are.
“But I am optimistic in general and certainly pleased with what I can see. But I also know there is plenty of room for improvement because I am an ambitious person.”
Marco Asensio has returned to training after two months out but Enrique said the forward still needed some time to get back up to speed.
Danilo Pereira has been ruled out until after the upcoming international break while Keylor Navas, Nuno Mendes and Presnel Kimpembe are out.
Montpellier sit 11th in the table ahead of their trip to the capital, but Michel Der Zakarian’s side have found some form of late, losing only one of their last five and beating Toulouse 3-0 last weekend.
Swiss international Becir Omeragic is doubtful with a foot injury, but Issiaga Sylla is fit again after a calf injury.
Vladimir Coufal has backed “unbelievable” Declan Rice to win silverware with Arsenal this season despite suffering Carabao Cup defeat on his return to West Ham.
Rice joined Arsenal for £105million in the summer after a decade with the Hammers, who he captained to Europa Conference League success in his final match with the club.
The 24-year-old has started the season in fine form but was unable to help the Gunners fight back in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup.
Rice came off the bench to a mixed reception as the hosts ran out comfortable 3-0 winners courtesy of a Ben White own goal and second-half strikes from Mohammed Kudus and Jarrod Bowen.
West Ham will now face a trip to Liverpool in the quarter-finals, but Coufal believes Rice will add to the Community Shield won by Arsenal in August.
“I think they’ll win something for sure,” the Czech Republic full-back said.
“They’ve won the Community Shield already, so he already has a trophy with Arsenal. I think they’re not too disappointed to lose this game.
“It was something special, to see him on the other side of the pitch. He’s doing an incredible job for Arsenal, even better than he did for us.
“He’s an unbelievable player. It was strange to see him in different colours but we wish him all the best. He came into our changing room to say hello and see how we are.”
Arsenal may still be contesting for the Premier League and Champions League, with the FA Cup yet to come, but Coufal is targeting Carabao Cup success to add to the winners’ medal in the Europa Conference League.
“Of course we would like to win another trophy,” he said.
“It’s still very difficult. We know Man City are out, Man United, now Arsenal, but still there are a lot of good teams remaining.
“Every win against a team from the top six or top end of the table is really good. It was Carabao Cup but we needed this win after three difficult defeats in a row.”
Mikel Arteta made six changes to the Arsenal side that lost in east London but his starting XI still boasted nine full internationals.
One of the most experienced of those, Italy midfielder Jorginho, captained the visitors and he is pleased they can attempt to quickly bounce back from the defeat as they travel to face Newcastle in the Premier League on Saturday evening.
“It’s great that the game is in three days because it’s a chance to turn things around, and turn this feeling because it’s not the best feeling, of course,” he said.
“We can go and try to put things right. The only thing we can take from this tough result is how we need to be much better at competing for the next game, because if you’re going to play at this level, you won’t win for sure.
“So that’s what I think we need to improve on for the next game to try and win there.”
Under-fire Erik ten Hag says Manchester United need to “stand up” and work “shoulder by shoulder” to turn around a season that is threatening to go into a tailspin.
Old Trafford is under the spotlight after two 3-0 home humiliations in the space of four days ratcheted up the pressure on a club enduing their worst start to a campaign since 1962-63.
Sunday’s derby defeat at the hands of rivals Manchester City was compounded by Newcastle on Wednesday, who comfortably won the repeat of February’s Carabao Cup final.
It underlined just how far things have gone off track since the sides met at Wembley, with United now having lost eight of their 15 matches in all competitions this term.
“This is not good enough and we know that,” manager Ten Hag said after Miguel Almiron, Lewis Hall and Joe Willock struck for Eddie Howe’s Magpies.
“We were in the game and then in a couple of minutes we are giving the game away.
“That’s below our standards and we know that all and we have to take responsibility for this.”
United’s performances have been as much a concern as the results, leading pressure to mount on Ten Hag just 17 months after starting in the post.
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Bookmakers’ odds on him leaving have been slashed, but the defiant Dutchman said he was a “fighter” as United prepare for three key games before November’s international break.
Premier League matches away to Fulham and home to Luton bookend next Wednesday’s trip to Copenhagen as they attempt to keep their Champions League campaign alive.
Asked how he lifts everyone ahead of the Saturday lunchtime kick-off at Craven Cottage, Ten Hag told MUTV: “Yeah, but that is our job. We sleep and (Thursday) we have to go again, so we have to stand up.
“(Sticking together) is the only way, the only way we do it, shoulder by shoulder, then we will come through this.”
Ten Hag has repeatedly spoke about togetherness in recent weeks and has taken hope from the misfiring squad’s ability to get narrow victories over the line.
But players continue to underperform, both individually and collectively, and confidence appears to be an issue at United.
“Yeah, that’s normal,” Ten Hag said. “But you only get your confidence when you take responsibility, when you fight, starting from winning your battles, winning and dictating the ground on the pitch.
“When you do that, then you get results and from there on you build your own confidence.
“So, confidence is something that is in your own hands (as an) individual but of course you have to do it as a team.
“You have to stick together and you have to do it together.”
No players spoke to the media after United’s latest embarrassment at the hands of Newcastle, with the team booed at both half-time and the final whistle.
A number of supporters had made an exit before full-time, but on a night of understandable frustration there remained supportive chants from sections of the Old Trafford faithful.
“The crowd were behind us, so I have to congratulate the fans,” Ten Hag added. “They were all game behind us – we didn’t deserve but they were.
“We tried to fight but we make easy mistakes and they took the chances.”
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp believes Jarell Quansah underlined his potential by producing a “top game” in tricky conditions at Bournemouth.
The 20-year-old defender helped the much-changed Reds set up a Carabao Cup quarter-final against West Ham with an assured performance in Wednesday’s 2-1 success at Vitality Stadium.
The England Under-21 international was forced to contend with relentless rain and swirling winds on just his fourth senior start for the Reds as Storm Ciaran hit the south coast.
Manager Klopp praised his players’ professionalism in successfully battling the adverse weather and singled out centre-back Quansah for special praise.
“He was really good,” said the German.
“In these circumstances, wow. So many difficult balls to judge, to estimate where it is coming down.
“He did really well. On the ball, Caoimhin (Kelleher) thought ‘give him the ball quite a lot and let’s see what he can do’.
“He did really well there. Yes, top game, absolutely.”
Quansah made his Liverpool debut at Newcastle in late August, having spent the second half of last season on loan at League One club Bristol Rovers.
The 20-year-old was voted man of the match by Reds supporters after Darwin Nunez’s stunning 70th-minute winner in Dorset secured progression to the last eight.
Cody Gakpo marked his first start since suffering injury at Tottenham on September 30 with the first-half opener before Justin Kluivert’s maiden goal in English football brought Bournemouth level.
Substitute Nunez unleashed an eye-catching effort into the top right corner just 10 minutes after coming off the bench to find the net for the third successive game, earning acclaim from fellow goalscorer Gakpo.
“It was an amazing goal,” the Netherlands forward told Liverpool’s website.
“I think for the players it’s not really a surprise as we see his quality every time in training and in games as well.
“Now he’s just in a great run and we are there to support him and he is there too, supporting us to keep this fantastic run for him and for us as well.”
Dutch forward Kluivert hopes to become more prolific after breaking his Bournemouth duck in his ninth appearance since his summer move from Roma.
The diminutive 24-year-old briefly brought the Cherries level with a close-range header from Alex Scott’s corner in the 64th minute.
“I’m super happy for that,” he told afcbtv. “We had to wait on that a while but I’m happy that it came and I’m looking forward to scoring a lot more.
“It was nice with the head, there are not a lot that I make in my career.”
He added: “I’m extremely proud of the lads. We fought to the end and unfortunately, they got the better hand with a great goal.
“We can take a lot of positive things and with a good mindset head to the next game (at Manchester City on Saturday).”
Slough boss Scott Davies is back involved in the FA Cup first round but this time the only rush he is seeking is the high of a win.
Davies, who is candid enough to admit he lost his professional career because of gambling, was a player at Crawley when they reached the fifth round in 2012.
Under the stewardship of Steve Evans, Crawley won four ties before they were beaten by then-Premier League opposition in Stoke, but Davies laughs upon the realisation that he did not contribute towards that run.
“It sounds normal for me, but I fell out with the manager that season, so I didn’t play a big part at all,” Davies told the PA news agency ahead of sixth-tier Slough hosting Sky Bet League Two outfit Grimsby on Sunday.
Except that is no longer normal for a player once so crippled by a gambling addiction that he quit the professional game at the age of 26 after losing more than £200,000.
Davies’ relationship with gambling started a decade earlier when he walked into a bookmaker to kill time after training with Reading’s youth team, but in the flash of an eye his £50 weekly wage had been swallowed by the roulette machine and he suddenly had no money for the £1.50 bus fare to training.
Across the next 10 years the midfielder would score against Chelsea in pre-season, but blow his chance to work with ex-Royals boss Brendan Rodgers, regularly bet on himself, waste a £30,000 signing on fee in a fortnight and hurt the people closest to him.
Plenty of wake-up calls were ignored: sleeping in his car, bailiffs knocking at his door and even a crash when he was watching horse racing on his phone.
But a year after being released by Oxford, the sight of his emotional mother outside a bookmaker tipped Davies over the edge and he subsequently checked into rehab at Tony Adams’ Sporting Chance clinic in 2015.
He said: “My rock bottom was when I lost my football career ultimately because of my gambling.
“I didn’t deserve to be a professional footballer any longer because I wasn’t living the life of a professional.
“It was around a year after I came out of the professional game when I was playing in non-league that it hit me like a ton of bricks.
“I lost my identity of who I was, I didn’t have any structure, focus or routine in my life and I found myself self-harming in my kitchen in 2015, which was a dark place.
“I look back now and realise I tried to deal with the problems myself when I wasn’t equipped to do that.
“When I started talking about the issue, I felt like I started to overcome it and it has been over eight years now since I had a bet.
“I’ve definitely turned a corner for the better and I am in a good place.”
Davies has transformed his life since leaving rehab and now regularly visits Premier League and Football League training grounds to share his story as part of his work with EPIC Risk Management, a global gambling harm minimisation consultancy.
While the 35-year-old believes football is finally starting to take gambling seriously, with more education and better help on offer, he has been saddened by the plight of Brentford forward Ivan Toney and Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali, both of whom are currently serving bans for betting on the sport.
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“We want the integrity of our game to be kept at the highest level possible, but I also find it extremely sad that people are struggling with addiction,” Davies added.
“We sometimes forget the person involved and just look at the story. No one has a bet with the intention of losing their career, but sometimes addiction can take over.
“From what I am reading, Tonali and Ivan Toney have definitely had an issue with gambling and hopefully they come out on the right side and get the help they need.
“I am actually really forward to seeing Ivan Toney come back. For me it will be great to see he has recovered from any issues he might have been facing and got the help he needed.”
The ‘new Scott Davies’ is approaching a year in management, happily married and content with life.
Davies, who has made 179 appearances for Slough since 2018, masterminded a successful survival mission in the National League South last season after being named permanent player-boss in November.
Now into his first full campaign as a manager, Davies will take on a Football League side on Sunday when Grimsby visit a sold-out Arbour Park, but the former Reading protege has no current desires to return to the pro game.
Davies added: “A lot of people say I should get my badges and focus on getting to the Football League as a manager, but I’m very different.
“With what I have been through in my life and where I have been, I am quite content and happy with what I am doing at the moment with being player-manager at Slough and working with EPIC.
“I take each day as it comes, like I have done for probably the last eight years.
“The regrets I have in football I am definitely making amends for now. I know I can get some unbelievable days as a manager and hopefully one of them starts with a win on Sunday.”
A prospective Saudi Arabia World Cup is taking football back to a “dark time”, according to Human Rights Watch.
FIFA confirmed on Tuesday that Saudi Arabia is the sole bidder for the 2034 tournament after a process lasting less than a month and with only interest from Asian and Oceanian federations permitted.
While it still needs to be rubber-stamped, probably at FIFA’s Congress late next year, this appears little more than a formality.
In a statement to the PA news agency, Minky Worden, director of Global Initiatives at Human Rights Watch, said: “FIFA awarding the World Cup without any competition or transparent bidding and assessment process takes us back to the dark time for football that delivered the Qatar and Russia World Cups in a corrupt process that led to years of arrests.
“With more than 11 years until the 2034 World Cup, why were all other federations that had previously expressed an interest in bidding to host a World Cup discouraged or disallowed?”
In announcing the bids, FIFA stressed that its dialogue with Saudi Arabia prior to the Congress will include ensuring its human rights obligations are met, but Worden has low expectations.
“The previous due diligence process to assess bids and deal with predictable human rights problems wasn’t perfect – but it existed,” she said.
“FIFA’s human rights policy will be worth less than the paper it’s printed on if Saudi Arabia’s bid goes forward as planned.”
England internationals Ben Chilwell and Beth Mead are fronting a new player-led initiative to better deal with mental health issues within football.
The pair are among several top-level footballers to back ‘Create the Space’, a long-term movement working alongside Common Goal aimed at training individuals – either externally or within clubs – on how to help those with mental ill health.
The goal is to eventually have such volunteers available to players throughout the whole football pyramid, helping to provide a safe space for conversations around mental health and well-being.
Chelsea full-back Chilwell has openly spoken about his own battles in the past and wants ‘Create the Space’ to normalise conversations around the subject.
“I have had my own mental health journey and I felt unsure about where to turn to for support,” he said.
“It’s down to our generation to change this and ensure that throughout football, all the way from the elite level to young people in community organisations, we have each other’s backs and we’re equipped with the tools to help ourselves and those around us.
“We need to move from talking about mental health to taking action, and ‘Create the Space’ provides the platform for everyone wishing to take action to play a role in tackling mental health issues, whether they are playing in the Premier League, in the playground, or in the park.”
Mead won the Golden Boot and was named Player of the Tournament as she helped the Lionesses win the Women’s Euros last year but has since suffered setbacks on and off the pitch that have tested the 28-year-old.
“In January I lost my Mum and because of the injury I couldn’t play football, which was always my escape, my happy place,” the Arsenal forward said.
“Moments when people thought I was fine because of my outgoing personality, were very dark. It’s been a tough process to understand. Team-mates, people at the club, family and friends that supported me were so important, without them I could have been in a far darker place.
“I want to help create an environment in which it’s totally normal to address mental health. There’s not a perfect way of dealing with it, but if you feel you’re not alone it helps so much.
“We need to normalise mental health and in doing so that would go a long way.”
Other names to back the initiative include Mead’s Arsenal team-mate Vivianne Miedema as well as Tottenham captain Molly Bartrip and former England Under-21 international and mental health advocate Marvin Sordell.
Bartrip, in particular, recalled a moment in her own life where she needed help.
“Some years ago I was in a position where I wanted to commit suicide,” she said.
“You feel like you’re a burden, but it’s the strongest thing to ask for help. Mental health shouldn’t be a forbidden subject, it should be as open as having an injury.
“I want football to become a safe space and hope that from the top level down to grassroots that’s what we can achieve with ‘Create the Space’.”
Launched in 2017, Common Goal is a collective movement in global football and now 250 players and managers contribute a minimum of one per-cent of their football earnings to take action against challenges such as gender equity, racial justice, LGBT+ inclusion and mental health.
Former Chelsea and Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata was a trailblazer for the scheme, which is now also backed by household names across the men’s and women’s game.
Philippe Clement thanked the Rangers supporters for backing their team in the 5-0 win over Dundee at Dens Park but asked them to leave the pyrotechnics at home in future.
The match was delayed by 45 minutes after the Rangers team bus was held up in traffic and then suspended for 18 minutes after the travelling fans let off a large number of flares that triggered fire alarms under the stand.
Rangers were unaffected by either delay as they ran out comfortable winners thanks to goals from Ryan Jack, Danilo, Sam Lammers, Cyriel Dessers and James Tavernier.
Clement was pleased with his players’ focus but hoped there would not be future firework displays from the Rangers fanbase.
The Belgian said: “I expect a team that’s always ready no matter what happens, even if they say we have to play in the car park.
“We need to be ready because we play this game to win, so we must always be ready to adapt to the situations.
“The players were ready and after going inside again it was the same. Because you have five minutes in the dressing room it doesn’t mean you lose your focus.
“They need to be winners so whatever circumstances, whatever pitch, whatever weather, we are there to win games. That’s the mentality I want.
“I hope that the club does not face sanctions. You come here in the warm-up and the stand is full, everyone is chanting and supporting the players, giving a lot of energy.
“Those are very important things. We feel also the dynamic between fans and players is changing and it’s because of both sides.
“It was good the team started bright again, but I think everyone will understand that it’s really good to have all this support, all these songs and all this energy – I love it – but keep the fire outside of the stadium.”
Dundee boss Tony Docherty admitted he thought the game was going to be abandoned when referee Kevin Clancy took the players off the pitch.
He said: “It was a bizarre night and at one stage I thought the game wasn’t going to go ahead. I was trying to keep the boys focused.
“Then we start the game and because of the pyros we get brought in again. There’s a debate on whether there’s a place for that but the game was almost abandoned.
“The police took control and I didn’t think we were going to go back out again. That affects focus. When it’s almost causing matches to be abandoned I think we need to address it.”
Erik ten Hag promised he was a “fighter” after Manchester United slumped to a 3-0 Carabao Cup home defeat to Newcastle to pile more pressure on him.
Defeat in the rematch of last season’s final – which United won to highlight a promising first season in charge for the Dutchman – meant United have lost eight of their opening 15 fixtures in all competitions this term, their worst start since the 1962-63 campaign.
Goals from Miguel Almiron, Lewis Hall and Joe Willock ensured a second consecutive 3-0 home defeat for United, comfortably beaten by rivals Manchester City on Sunday, and they were booed off at both half-time and full-time as Ten Hag was left facing some serious questions.
“I am a fighter and I know it is not always going up,” he said.
“We have a lot of setbacks this season so far, but also you have to deal with it and that is never an excuse.
“I have said that before I know when there are setbacks the routines are not the same, but even then you have to get results in. Obviously, Sunday and tonight were far from that so we have to do things right and at a certain level, at the minimum level to win games.”
Questions of Ten Hag were already being asked after Sunday’s derby defeat left United 11 points from the top of the Premier League table after 10 games.
The former Ajax boss said he accepted that, but insisted he had no doubts about his own abilities.
“I understand it when the results are not there,” he said.
“It is also a logical process that they are questioning that. But I am confident I can do it. At all my clubs I have done it and also last year here I did it as well, but at this moment we are in a bad place.
“I take responsibility for it. I see it as a challenge. I am a fighter and I am in that fight and I have to make sure that I share the responsibility with my players and that we stick together and fight together, and get better results.”
Both sides made several changes from the weekend, but even with Newcastle’s resources stretched by injuries they looked by far the sharper of the two sides, winning the midfield battles and finding space going forward, often far too easily down United’s right-hand side in the first half.
“It is below the standards everyone expect from Manchester United,” Ten Hag said.
“It is not good enough by far. We have to put it right. I take responsibility for it. It is my team and they are not performing. I have to share it with my players, but I am responsible.”
Defeat was not the only blow for United with Casemiro, back after a three-game absence, withdrawn at half-time with an unspecified injury which Ten Hag said would rule the Brazilian out of Saturday’s trip to Fulham.
While United assessed the damage, Newcastle enjoyed lengthy celebrations with their loud travelling support after their first Old Trafford victory since December 2013.
“It was a massive performance from the players and I can’t credit them enough,” said Eddie Howe.
“Some great stories, only (an injury to) Matt Targett the negative, but even more credit to the players and some giant performances.
“I personally have always found it a difficult ground and Newcastle the same so another thing to be really proud of the commitment showed by everyone. I thought we showed some great goals, the quality was a real highlight.
“We are determined to try and do well in every game. We picked a team we felt could win and now we will do the same for Arsenal (on Saturday).”
Blackpool boss Neil Critchley was left frustrated after his side were forced to settle for a 3-3 draw in a thrilling Lancashire derby against Fleetwood.
Sonny Carey’s brilliant brace cancelled out early goals from Promise Omochere and Jack Marriott.
Shayne Lavery seemingly secured the bragging points for the Seasiders, but Marriott popped up with a dramatic last-gasp equaliser.
Critchley said: “It’s really difficult to know where to start because there are so many incidents in the game.
“My overriding feeling is that it’s two points dropped and it’s a game we should have won.
“I don’t know how many shots at goal we had, or chances that we created but it’s numerous and as the away team.
“At 3-2 we’ve got ourselves into a winning position after giving ourselves a mountain to climb first half.
“It’s a game we should see out. Even when they equalise we’ve still almost gone on to win the game.
“It’s a difficult one to sum up. We created chances. We constantly got into the final third in the first half and failed.
“We conceded two really poor goals, but if we keep conceding twos and threes it’s going to be difficult to win games of football.”
The Cod Army made a fast start and looked set to land a first Lancashire derby win for five years.
But they eventually had to come from behind to earn a point.
Boss Lee Johnson said: “The boys are disappointed and I’m disappointed.
“Ben Heneghan, to give an example, had told the lads we should have had nine points this week and instead we’ve got five, which is not a disaster.
“We’ve started a bit of an unbeaten run, but we need to deal with oppositions’ spells better.
“I thought there was a lot of character on the pitch, from both teams. And the fans really made it that derby atmosphere, and I love that.
“I want to see that against Exeter when we play them at home. We can create that with our spirit on the pitch and our spirit off the pitch.
“The spell that we conceded three goals, you ask whether they were fantastic or if we were poor. We felt we should have defended those much better.
“They threw caution to the wind, they had bright, busy players but we should have dealt with it better. We can coach it.
“We’ve started to score goals regularly which is really positive. It’s a sign that we’re improving, but it’s a sign we can’t get ahead of ourselves at anytime in any match and we need to stay focused.”
Jamaica College remains on course to defend their ISSA/Digicel Manning Cup title, as they joined Mona High in the quarterfinal round following victories in their respective second-leg Round of 16 fixtures at Ashenheim Stadium on Wednesday.
The Old Hope Road-based boys, who held a 3-0 lead over Eltham High at the end of the first leg, again made light work of the opponents in a 3-1 scoreline for a 6-1 aggregate win.
Jamaica College got their goals from Amarlie King (36th), Jayd Johnson (37th) and Jabarie Howell (61st), while Jevaughn Grant (54th) got Eltham’s consolation.
Earlier in the curtain-raiser of the double-header, Mona High hammered Jonathan Grant 6-1 on the day for a 10-1 aggregate scoreline, as they too enjoy good form heading into the quarterfinal.
In the feature contest, Jamaica College were always favoured to make good on their first leg advantage, and they could have opened the scoring in the fifth minute had Johnson got a better touch on Howell’s weighted cross into the area.
They did however make amends six minutes past the half-hour mark in a delightful combination play. This, as Dylan John’s weighted cross was played down by Howell for King to fire home his seventh goal of the season from deep inside the 18-yard box.
Before Eltham could catch their collective breaths, they found themselves two-goals down when Johnson got on the end of, and finished off a rebound after Jamoy Dennis’s initial effort from a distance was kept out by goalkeeper Joshua Aitcheson.
With the score unchanged at the break, the “Dark Blues” came out slow on the resumption and that allowed Grant pulled one back for Eltham as Raul Renton in goal for Jamaica College was hesitant in coming to collect the ball.
But the St Catherine-based team’s joy was short-lived as Howell’s well-struck right-footer from a distance burst through the grasp of Aitcheson and restored Jamaica College’s two-goal cushion which lasted to the final whistle.
Winning coach Davion Ferguson expressed pleasure with his team’s effort despite conceding a goal.
“I think we are somewhat disappointed in conceding that goal, we set ourselves a record and so we never wanted to give up that goal. Nevertheless, I think they played well, credit must be given to Eltham I think came here with a very good game plan, but our boys were patient and they eventually found ways to score goals so credit to them,” Ferguson said in his post-game interview.
Eltham’s assistant coach Glenville Holmes believes his youthful bunch gave as much as was expected.
“The truth is Eltham has nothing to be ashamed of. We played the defending champions which was always going to be a tough fixture, but I think the guys did their best and I am super proud of them. They are a very young bunch, they are under 15 years old, and I think in time, they will represent Eltham very well,” Holmes reasoned.
Wednesday's results
Mona 6, Jonathan Grant 1 (10-1 aggregate)
Kingston College 4, Campion College 1 (7-3 aggregate)
Jamaica College 3, Eltham 1 (6-1 aggregate)
St George’s College 3, St Jago 0 (5-0 aggregate)
St Catherine 3, Wolmer’s Boys 1 (4-1 aggregate)
Haile Selassie 1, Tivoli High 1 (1-1 aggregate)
Hydel 3, Excelsior 1 (3-1 aggregate)
STATHS 7, Kingston Technical 0 (11-0 aggregate)
Fulham boss Marco Silva challenged Rodrigo Muniz to make the forward position his own after he scored in a 3-1 win at Ipswich to send them through to the Carabao Cup quarter-finals for the first time since 2004.
The Premier League opposition proved too strong for the Championship high-flyers with Harry Wilson, Muniz and Tom Cairney on target at Portman Road before substitute Elkan Baggott pulled one back late on.
It was the performance of Brazil striker Muniz which caught the eye after his movement helped create Wilson’s ninth-minute opener from Bobby Decordova-Reid’s pass before the 22-year-old fired home in the 50th minute from Andreas Pereira’s cross.
Muniz endured a difficult 2022-23 campaign on loan at Middlesbrough but after scoring his first Fulham goal since January of last year, Silva talked up his chances of starting Saturday’s clash with Manchester United.
“He is always a candidate and he had a very good pre-season,” Silva said.
“Unfortunately in the moment he was showing his quality, showing how he was growing, even if last season was tough for him, he had a muscle injury and it stop a little bit his development in the pre-season.
“He came back and had a very good game against Tottenham in the first Carabao Cup match we have and he is taking his chances. So, he is always a candidate like the others, like Raul (Jimenez) and Carlos Vinicius.
“They are fighting for the position, we don’t have a number one, two or three. It is for me to decide for each game regarding the strategy and what I want from the game. It is up to them to show the quality they have and to show they are able to play.
“Rodrigo did really well. Let’s see what is going to be my decision for the next match.”
Fulham’s passage into the last-eight was clinched when Cairney’s low effort went through Christian Walton in the 77th-minute.
While Silva was frustrated with Baggott’s headed consolation, he praised the application of his side.
He added: “Yes very good performance. Credit to the players, congratulations to them.
“It is true we did eight changes in our XI and even we probably needed more because we are going to play an early kick-off on Saturday, but in some positions it was impossible to do it.
“If I had the chance, I would do even more (changes), but the main thing for me is we kept our structure, we kept the same way. All the players know the way we want to play and we were really serious in the way we approach the game.”
Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna was able to take plenty of positives from only their second defeat of the campaign.
“It was a tough game, no doubt about that, but I think a game and a night we will be much stronger for,” he said.
“It was always going to be a massive challenge irrespective of how the game went or which team we picked.
“To concede an early goal against a really good Fulham team it was always going to be a really tough game, but I’m pleased with how we stuck at it.
“I am pleased we kept trying until the last minute, we tried to stick to our football and there is big positives to take.”
Aberdeen manager Barry Robson welcomed a return to form ahead of their Viaplay Cup semi-final after watching his side beat Motherwell 4-2 at Fir Park.
Jamie McGrath hit a double and Nicky Devlin and substitute Luis Lopes were also on target as the Dons played the ball around with confidence, especially after the Irish midfielder’s first goal in the 26th minute.
Late goals from Motherwell substitutes Theo Bair and Mika Biereth added a touch of respectability to the score from the home team’s point of view but they failed to take the shine off the night for the Dons, who face Hibernian at Hampden on Saturday evening.
“We were good all over the pitch, passed it really well,” said Robson, whose side had lost 2-0 at Kilmarnock on Sunday.
“Credit to Motherwell, it’s a great pitch, night and day from playing at the weekend. That helped us a bit as well.
“We passed it really well, brought speed to the game, transitioned really well and thoroughly deserved it.”
The Dons had not won in their previous four matches.
Robson said: “They are all big wins. We are sixth, have a game in hand, we are in a semi-final, we are fighting it out in Europe against some huge European teams. We just need to keep going.”
Motherwell have now not won in six games and conceded some soft goals throughout as manager Stuart Kettlewell experienced his side’s worst performance of his reign.
Kettlewell said: “We played poorly and got everything we deserved. In terms of our discipline and decision-making, having a real soft centre, our organisation.
“I know there is always an intent to score, but what we did when I first came in, we started from the back end of the pitch and made sure we had a real stability, not just from the guys in the back line but the midfielders and forwards too.
“That’s not working just now – we have conceded seven goals in two home games. We are not rectifying situations when we lose the ball.
“There’s a chink in the armour at this minute and sometimes it can come from decision-making more than ability. That was a big aspect again – we have put ourselves into poor positions and made bad choices.
“There isn’t a magic wand to fix that side of it but we have to remain together. We are going through a bad spell – it was undoubtedly our worst game since I took charge in February.”
Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino is taking a “careful” approach with captain Reece James, who started a match for just the second time this season in the Blues’ 2-0 Carabao Cup victory over Blackburn.
James, who has been making his way back to full fitness after sustaining a hamstring issue in August, played 61 minutes of Wednesday’s tie before he was swapped for Malo Gusto.
Benoit Badiashile netted the opener in his first appearance this season, while Raheem Sterling added a second after the break to book the Blues a quarter-final clash with Newcastle.
Pochettino said: “The plan was to check at half-time how (James) was feeling, and after 15 minutes he starts to feel tired and we’re checking from the second half, and we need to be careful how we manage him.
“We decide to make the change because I think it is important now, the progression, and being careful about not going back, sometimes (you) play 90 minutes and maybe take some risks, but we need to avoid this.
“It’s true that we cannot 100 per cent avoid risk, but the plan is to go little by little.”
Badiashile, who had not appeared for Chelsea since May, broke the deadlock on the half-hour mark after Leopold Wahlstedt’s save deflected favourably into his path.
Both sides had penalty shouts go unanswered by referee Tim Robinson before the break, including a potential handball on Conor Gallagher that could have swung momentum in the visitors’ favour, but Sterling’s top-corner strike made it a comfortable second half for the hosts.
Blackburn had their chances – Harry Leonard firing just wide moments after the interval and substitute Arnor Sigurdsson coming close in stoppage time – but never looked close to a comeback in front of the 3,000 fans who had made the trip south.
Jon Dahl Tomasson was convinced his Rovers side should have been awarded a spot-kick, but was pleased by how well his youthful side responded to their top-flight opposition.
The Danish boss, who believes cup football is “extremely important” said: “It was a great challenge, and I think our fans will be proud of this young Rovers team playing against a top team in Europe.
“The millionaires from the Premier League against the young guns from the Championship and do a challenge and an effort like this, I think the boys will learn a lot from this game.
“When you play at this level you need to make a decision quite quick, the intensity is high, the decision-making needs to be right and I thought actually we had some great attacks on the ball as well.
“I’m sure this young group will take a lot from this game.”
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