Fulham boss Marco Silva talks up ‘top quality player’ Tom Cairney
Fulham boss Marco Silva praised his captain Tom Cairney after watching him score two goals in the thumping win over Leicester on Monday. Cairney has made only 23 starts in the Premier League this season but took full advantage of his inclusion against the relegation-threatened Foxes, registering his first league goals of the campaign and putting in a fine all-round performance. The 32-year-old swept in his side’s third goal of a 5-3 rout of Dean Smith’s team on the stroke of half-time, before adding his second after the break with a deft first touch and finish from Kenny Tete’s cross. It kept Fulham in the hunt to register their highest-ever points tally in the Premier League, with two wins needed from their final three matches to break the club record of 53 set by Roy Hodgson’s team in 2009. Silva said he was pleased to see Cairney working in midfield to help the team out of possession while also instilling the calm in the first half that ultimately helped them to sweep away Leicester before the break. “Tom is always a player that can give us the calmness to start the game, even some moments under pressure he can give us what we need,” said Silva. “Of course he knows I am pushing him to arrive in certain areas, to be between the lines. “In some moments, first and second phase, we need players like him to start well, but when the game goes forward and we are in our defensive half, we need him to arrive in certain areas as well. “Two great finishes, two great goals from him. Top quality player. We know his quality on the ball, everything that he can do. “I’m pleased to see him working hard off the ball, understanding the moments, understanding the moments to press higher with Vini (Carlos Vinicius), the moments that he should drop to help the other midfielders as well. It was a very good performance from him and I’m really pleased for him. “He deserves it and he’s having a good season, even if he’s not playing every time from the start. All of the last season for him has been good.” The victory ended a run of three straight losses that had effectively ended Fulham’s hopes of qualifying for Europe next season. Despite the disappointment, Silva remained optimistic that they can still record the club’s best tally for a top-flight season. They will have Aleksandar Mitrovic back for the trip to struggling Southampton on Saturday and will relegate Saints with a victory, before hosting Crystal Palace at Craven Cottage and finishing with a visit to Old Trafford to play Manchester United. “It’s really important we don’t hide that it’s our clear goal to achieve the target points that we want, to make the season even to be more brilliant, if I can say,” said Silva. “We want really to finish the season with a big stamp, and the stamp will be to get that certain amount of points. We are going to fight for it definitely. “We don’t know if it’s going to happen. But we are going to work hard and fight really hard and to enjoy to embrace the challenge to achieve it.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Former captains Stuart Hogg and Stuart McInally named in Scotland training squad Dwight McNeil says ‘nothing is done yet’ despite Everton’s huge win at Brighton A closer look at this season’s play-off contenders as promotion battle resumes
2023-05-09 23:29
Braves place ace Max Fried on IL with strained left forearm
The Atlanta Braves’ rotation was dealt another major blow when ace left-hander Max Fried was placed on the 15-day injured list with a strained forearm
2023-05-09 23:23
Avalanche's Landeskog to undergo knee cartilage transplant
Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog is set to undergo a cartilage transplant operation in the hopes of alleviating a long-term injury to his right knee
2023-05-09 23:20
This Corgi has predicted every winner of Lakers vs. Warriors series
Sports betting content sometimes gets a bit haywire and bogged down in "trends" and misleading information that has little impact on the outcome of the result.However, it's hard not to fall in love with this social media clip that has gotten some serious run as the Los Angeles Lak...
2023-05-09 22:59
NBA Playoffs: Surprise, it's Lakers and Heat with 3-1 leads
The two lowest seeds left in the NBA playoffs, a No. 7 in the Los Angeles Lakers and a No. 8 in the Miami Heat, are the teams in the driver’s seats right now
2023-05-09 22:58
Bukayo Saka set to sign new Arsenal contract before end of season
Arsenal are hoping to announce Bukayo Saka’s new contract before the end of the Premier League season. The England forward has been in talks with the club since last year but is committed to signing a new deal, which could now be sewn up before the summer break. Saka, 21, has played a pivotal role in the Gunners’ title challenge this season and is the only Premier League player to reach double figures for goals and assists. He has hit 13 goals and laid on 11 assists to help Mikel Arteta’s side to second place and remain in the title hunt heading into the final weeks of the campaign. Saka has missed just an hour of league football this season and also hit three goals at the World Cup as England made it to the quarter-finals in Qatar. Talks with Arsenal over fresh terms have stretched back to last summer, with Saka saying in August he “shared confidence” with Arteta that he would extend his deal at the Emirates Stadium. The PA news agency understands an agreement has all-but been reached for a new contract for the academy graduate, whose last deal was signed in the summer of 2020 and expires next year. It is believed promotional footage to be released alongside the announcement has already been completed and it is a matter or working through the finer details before the deal is finalised. While Saka is close to committing his long-term future to Arsenal, Granit Xhaka could be on the move this summer. It is understood the club would be willing to let the Switzerland captain, whose deal also expires in 2024, move on if they receive an offer they deem acceptable. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live
2023-05-09 22:46
MLB Rumors: Willson Contreras revenge, Max Fried replacement, Carlos Rodon update
Yankees: Will Carlos Rodon miss the entire 2023 MLB season?On Monday afternoon, a tweet circulated in which Jomboy Media suggested that Yankees free-agent acquisition Carlos Rodon, who signed a six-year, $162 million contract in the offseason, could miss the rest of the season with what's bee...
2023-05-09 22:27
PGA Tour goes to Byron Nelson as Champions has 1st major
The PGA Tour starts a disjointed Texas swing
2023-05-09 22:20
Eubank Jr vs Smith: New date revealed for delayed rematch
Chris Eubank Jr and Liam Smith will square off on 1 July, as a delay to their rematch was confirmed on Tuesday. Smith stopped Eubank Jr in Round 4 in January, and it was announced in April that the Britons would clash at the AO Arena in Manchester again on 17 June. However, ESPN reported on Monday (8 May) that Smith had suffered an injury, which would likely delay the middleweight rematch by a matter of weeks. That news was confirmed by Boxxer, which will promote the rematch, on Tuesday (9 May). “It’s just an old injury niggle flaring up,” said Smith, “but I want to take the time to let it heal up so that I can enter the ring at 100 percent on fight night. A 100 percent Liam Smith beats Chris Eubank Jr every day of the week and twice on Sunday.” Smith, 34, and Eubank Jr, 33, fought each other in January after the latter’s planned bout with Conor Benn fell through. Eubank Jr and Benn were due to box one another in October, almost 29 years to the day after their fathers’ second and final clash, but it was revealed on fight week that Benn had failed two drug tests in the lead-up to the catchweight bout. Benn’s return is still up in the air; the British Boxing Board of Control has stripped the 26-year-old of his licence, while UK Anti-Doping has suspended the Briton. However, the WBC did clear Benn of ‘intentional doping’. Eubank Jr will take a professional record of 32-3 (23 knockouts) into his rematch with Smith, whose pro record stands at 33-3-1 (20 KOs). Click here to subscribe to The Independent’s Sport YouTube channel for all the latest sports videos. Read More John Ryder took on the full power of Canelo Alvarez and emerged an unlikely hero Frustrated Canelo Alvarez must take valuable homecoming lesson from gutsy John Ryder Mark Zuckerberg wins first jiu-jitsu tournament, takes home multiple medals
2023-05-09 22:17
Al Hilal confident of Lionel Messi deal but talks continue with Barcelona
Al Hilal confident they can sign Lionel Messi from Paris Saint-Germain but Barcelona believe they are on course to re-sign the Argentine legend.
2023-05-09 22:16
Lionel Messi's next move fuels frenzy of speculation
Lionel Messi’s next stop could mark his return to Barcelona
2023-05-09 21:57
Veteran Giroud 'hungry' for Champions League success with Milan
Olivier Giroud said Tuesday that he has a young man's hunger for European success ahead of AC Milan's all-Italian Champions...
2023-05-09 21:54