List of All Articles with Tag 'sport'

Newcastle will look all over the world to find the players that will give them the depth they need to compete next season, according to manager Eddie Howe. A first season in the Champions League in 20 years means an increased workload for Howe’s squad next term, and conversations have already taken place between the manager and club officials over resources during the transfer window. Injuries have stretched Newcastle thin at times this season despite recording their highest Premier League finish since 2003. Howe felt his side lacked the quality in reserve to win the game in the second half of Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Chelsea that brought the curtain down on a memorable first full season in charge for the manager. With the restrictions put in place by Financial Fair Play rules, he cited qualification for Europe’s top competition as the critical factor in freeing up the ownership to invest in recruitment. Still, Howe warned the market may not be kind as the club seek to build a side capable of competing on all fronts. “Yeah we’ve had discussions (on Saturday),” said the manager. “I don’t think (the budget) is ever outlined because there are so many variables to it, but certainly we know where we stand. “When you’re sat in my shoes, it’s never as big as you want it to be. You’re one injury away from a very difficult situation so I think we need a little bit more depth Eddie Howe “It’s a difficult one because we go into a lot of competitions next year, so we need the depth. I think this year we’ve been light, certainly in certain areas of the pitch. We’ve carried – in the second half of the season – four midfielders. “You’re one injury away from a very difficult situation so I think we need a little bit more depth. “We’re not there yet, you could see that (against Chelsea), but we are suffering from injuries. Certainly that’s a concern for us in that we do need to bolster our resources. We can’t be looking at one or two injuries and we’re in a difficult position. “In the second half we were stretched and maybe lacking the bench that could have changed the game to win it.” Newcastle won eight of their 10 league games in March and April to take control of their destiny in the race for the top four, but enjoyed just one more victory in their final five, securing their Champions League objective with a game to spare. Howe pointed to disruption caused by injuries – key players Joelinton, Joe Willock and Nick Pope were unavailable for the game at Stamford Bridge, whilst Alexander Isak and Matt Targett have also missed significant chunks of the season – as something that must not be allowed to derail the team next term. The visitors struggled after the break against Chelsea despite having had the better of a first half in which Anthony Gordon gave them the lead, later wiped out by a Kieran Trippier own goal. “We’ve done it all season, we’ve been hugely competitive,” said Howe. “I don’t think we’ve been an easy game for anybody. “The challenge for us next year is to maintain our standards and mentality, because when you come to these tough grounds, if you’re not robust enough to deal with the challenge, these can be really difficult games. “The players that we currently have have to be fit and ready to go (next season). They have to be ready to prove how good we are all over again. We start at zero next season. I think that’s a healthy way to look at it. “If we can add one or two players that make the difference in the transfer market, that would be good news. “We’ll have our eyes and ears hopefully all over everything, whether that’s teams getting promoted, relegated; all over the world. As I’ve said many times, the market’s going to be difficult.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Liverpool and Juventus remember Heysel – Monday’s sporting social Fans celebrate Luton’s fairytale promotion to Premier League at civic parade Roberto De Zerbi says Brighton must build stronger squad for European challenge

New mother Elina Svitolina won her first Grand Slam match in nearly 1 1/2 years by eliminating 2022 semifinalist Martina Trevisan 6-2, 6-2

IndyCar owner Roger Penske says he is sure series officials will investigate what led to a wheel coming loose during a crash in the Indianapolis 500

Horse racing’s oversight authority will hold an emergency summit with Churchill Downs, Kentucky’s racing commission and HISA veterinary teams to review information and analysis in the wake of 12 horse fatalities the past month at the home of the Kentucky Derby

Sloane Stephens, the 2017 US Open champion and 2018 French Open finalist, says racist abuse targeted toward her on social media has been a problem throughout her entire tennis career.

Josh Windass soars through the air and, in the most spectacular manner, Sheffield Wednesday keep going up. That may just be to the EFL Championship but the new Wembley has scarcely had moments as sensational as this. With a diving header to rival Keith Houchen’s famous FA Cup winner at the old Wembley, Darren Moore’s irrepressible team beat a young but spirited Barnsley in the very last moment of an epic match. This was maybe the only way to possibly top that sensational comeback against Peterborough, and the only way to do it justice. It was also, in the moment as much as much as the match itself, the only way to finish the game. It was certainly the most impressive and instinctive piece of improvisation, that has almost been the story of this rise through the play-offs for Moore’s side. They maybe shouldn’t have been here. They arguably shouldn’t have got this far, even on the day. Barnsley were the better side for most of the actual 90 from a contentious red card, but - as has been the case throughout this run - Moore has instilled this team with an incredible spirit. It has also imbued this historic club with something greater, and the sense of some grander for the future. They had to come through quite a battle here, as well as a fight, even if they initially made it like that. As the historically bigger club, with almost double the fans there and a far older team, it was symbolically fitting that Wednesday were inevitably seeking to physically dominate Barnsley. Moore’s side were launching balls wide and in behind, and such an aerial approach led to the only chance of the first half. Dominic Iorfa forced the first of some brilliant saves from Harry Isted. It was ironically as Barnsley attempted to match them for physicality, and initially suffered, that it brought out much more sharpness to their superior football. Duff’s side could feel aggrieved at how that went, though, and could certainly argue that two borderline VAR decisions went against them. For the first, Wednesday’s Lee Gregory visibly caught Liam Kitching on the calf. Referee Tim Robinson didn’t give a penalty and the VAR deemed that he didn’t make a clear and obvious error. It certainly wouldn’t have been controversial if the decision went the other way. Gregory then found himself at the centre of the next call, if this time on the receiving end. With the Wednesday striker running onto a ball in midfield, Adam Phillips went in rashly if not quite strongly. Robinson immediately sent him off. It again went to VAR, and VAR again stuck by the referee’s decision. Barnsley were not going to just dig in and stick 10 back, though. It was almost like they were more intent on beating Wednesday through pure football. What followed was their best spell of the game They began to batter the Wednesday goal, Nicky Cadden and James Norwood peppering shots at Cameron Dawson. The goalkeeper, undeniably Wednesday’s best player on the day, was nevertheless equal to them. He often surpassed himself, especially with two strong-handed stops that pushed driven efforts wide. Dawson could only look on with gratitude, though, as Cadden’s deflected volley bounced off the bar. He deserved it. And yet the save of the game still came from Isted. You could see one other reason Barnsley upped it after the red, since they evidently didn’t want to go into extra-time with 10 men. That inevitably brought fatigue, and Wednesday finally enjoyed a concerted spell of pressure. From that, though, nobody could surely have seen what Isted did next. Michael Smith was presented with the ball just yards out, but the goalkeeper somehow got a hand to it to palm it away. The atmosphere was by that point something else. It was an occasion that had that purity of exertion, both in terms of what the players were putting in and what it was taking out of the supporters. There was an audible gasp as Liam Kitching strode forward, Barnsley enjoying a rare burst of extra-time energy, to exploit a break in the Wednesday half. He fed it to Luke Thomas who displayed superb presence of mind to play it across for Luca Connell… only for the midfielder to blaze it wide. It was one of those efforts that was clearly an effect of tired legs. There was then a vintage piece of theatre, from a vintage piece of technique. Wednesday substitute Will Vaulks had smashed the ball into the top corner with the cleanest of strikes, to bring an explosion of emotion - but from both ends. As Vaulks careered around the pitch trailed by teammates and even fans, Barnsley supporters cheered the offside flag going up. The game seemed to be heading for penalties, something all the more enthralling given the goalkeepers had such superb performances. It was into the third minute of the three minutes of allotted stoppage time. There was somehow more to come, though. The comeback against Peterborough was about to have a further crescendo. Gregory, the player who might have given away a penalty, played a cross in. There was Windass flying through the air, to send the ball past Isted, and Wednesday back to the Championship. Read More Former England physiotherapist Alan Smith dies aged 74 Michael Duff urges his Barnsley players to keep calm on their big day at Wembley Michael Duff feels ‘good fella’ Darren Moore ‘deserves loads of credit’ Lee Gregory’s face mask returned following Sheffield Wednesday appeal The masked striker – Sheffield Wednesday searching for Lee Gregory face shield Barnsley beat Bolton to set up League One play-off final against Sheffield Wednesday

Josef Newgarden walked around Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Monday as the Indy 500 champion

Sergei Bobrovsky needs a haircut

NASCAR's Coca-Cola 600 is set to take place Monday at 3 p.m. ET after it was postponed from Sunday due to rain.

Thousands of Luton fans have celebrated the Hatters’ fairytale rise into the Premier League at a civic parade in the town. Luton won promotion to the top flight of English football on Saturday by beating Coventry in the Sky Bet Championship play-off final, just nine years after playing in the National League. Rob Edwards’ side – who won 6-5 on penalties at Wembley after the game had been drawn 1-1 – will next season welcome champions Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United to their modest 10,356-capacity Kenilworth Road home. “It means everything,” said head coach Rob Edwards before launching into a rendition of Bon Jovi’s ‘Always’ and holding aloft the play-off trophy on the Luton Town Hall balcony. “It’s for you (the fans), the Luton Town people, for the town, these players who deserve it, for the backroom staff who work so hard, the board. We’ve got to enjoy this moment.” Some Luton fans had waited nearly four hours to see players and staff make their way on to a specially-constructed stage in the town’s St George’s Square. Highlights of the season and the play-off final were shown on a big screen before two open top buses arrived following a short ride from Kenilworth Road. Hatters chief executive Gary Sweet told fans: “The impact of being in the Premier League will be massive for this town. “This could be a life-changing opportunity for us, but from a character point of view, don’t change. “Let’s still be us, still grounded. Let’s keep humble.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live

Manchester United have fought for success all year and David De Gea says they are ready for one more “special” battle against Manchester City in the FA Cup final. Erik ten Hag’s first season in charge has been one of progress and, for the most part, positivity, with the side finishing third in the Premier League and sealing a Champions League return. The Dutchman is only the second manager in United’s history to win a major trophy in his first season and has the chance to add to February’s Carabao Cup triumph this weekend. Ten Hag’s Red Devils head to Wembley for the first all-Manchester FA Cup final, when they will attempt to add to their cabinet and stop rivals City’s attempts to win the treble. “We have to recover well and start to prepare for the game,” De Gea said. “Of course, we know it’s a big final, a special game. “We’ve been the whole year fighting to be in that position to win titles and we will try absolutely everything to try to win.” De Gea and his team-mates were all in at Carrington on Monday morning, with Sunday’s starters focused on recovery from the 2-1 comeback win against Fulham at a bouncing Old Trafford. Kenny Tete had put the visitors ahead in the Premier League season finale and Marco Silva’s men would have extended their lead had Golden Glove winner De Gea not stopped Aleksandar Mitrovic’s spot-kick. United kicked on after that, with Jadon Sancho and Bruno Fernandes completing a victory that saw them beat Newcastle to third spot. “We concede the first goal from a corner and then I think five minutes after we concede a penalty,” De Gea, whose contract has yet to be extended beyond the summer, said. “I was very positive. I was feeling like ‘come on, you have to save this penalty, we have to finish properly the season at home, we have to win’. “Then I make the save, everyone was happy, enjoying and I helped the team to win the three points today. “The manager wants us to be focused every game, winning every game. Before the game he was shouting before ‘come on guys, we have to finish properly, winning mentality’. “So, yeah, we showed it again. 1-0 down, suffering a bit, but then we create chances and could have scored even more than two. “But, like I say, a big way to finish the season with a victory and (it) gives a bit of enjoyment to the fans.” The result saw United equal the club’s record of 27 home wins in all competitions in a single campaign, while also meaning they finished 17 points better off than last season. “100 per cent, for sure, the improvement is there,” De Gea told MUTV. “Of course we still have a gap to improve but, yeah, a massive improvement from last season. “Winning a cup, finish third – it’s never easy to finish in the Champions League places in England. “And then we have another final, a big final, so I think at the moment it is a great year.” As for Fulham, the defeat at Old Trafford was frustrating but this was a season to cherish having finished 10th on their return to the top-flight. Goalscoring right-back Tete said: “Unbelievable season, every single player. “If you saw how we fought all season for every single point. Not even one game was easy for us. “I am just proud of the boys. We said it as well to each other and this is something we have to build on. “We know now what our standard is, we know now what we can bring. I can’t wait for next season.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Fans celebrate Luton’s fairytale promotion to Premier League at civic parade Roberto De Zerbi says Brighton must build stronger squad for European challenge ‘We will be back’ says Leicester chairman following relegation

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