Watford 1-2 Burnley: match report
Time to sign off with Ben Bloom’s match report – but you can join me later for Oxford United v Leeds United, liiiive. Until then …
League Two table
Carlisle’s bid for a dramatic late escape continues, after they defeated leaders Port Vale 3-2 at Brunton Park. Doncaster eased past Tranmere 3-0, while Walsall were held to a 2-2 draw at home by Harrogate. Accrington won at Salford in a big boost to their survival hopes, but Morecambe are on the brink after a 1-0 defeat at Bromley.
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Port Vale | 43 | 18 | 76 |
| 2 | Doncaster | 43 | 18 | 75 |
| 3 | Bradford | 43 | 19 | 74 |
| 4 | Walsall | 43 | 21 | 73 |
| 5 | AFC Wimbledon | 43 | 23 | 70 |
| 6 | Notts County | 43 | 19 | 69 |
| 7 | Colchester | 43 | 11 | 66 |
| 8 | Grimsby | 43 | -5 | 66 |
| 9 | Chesterfield | 43 | 15 | 63 |
| 10 | Salford City | 43 | 5 | 62 |
| 11 | Crewe | 43 | 5 | 62 |
| 12 | Swindon | 43 | 9 | 60 |
| 13 | Bromley | 43 | 1 | 59 |
| 14 | Fleetwood Town | 43 | 1 | 57 |
| 15 | Barrow | 43 | 2 | 56 |
| 16 | Cheltenham | 43 | -9 | 54 |
| 17 | Gillingham | 43 | -7 | 51 |
| 18 | Newport County | 43 | -19 | 48 |
| 19 | Milton Keynes Dons | 43 | -15 | 47 |
| 20 | Harrogate Town | 43 | -19 | 47 |
| 21 | Accrington Stanley | 43 | -16 | 46 |
| 22 | Tranmere | 43 | -25 | 44 |
| 23 | Carlisle | 43 | -26 | 40 |
| 24 | Morecambe | 43 | -26 | 36 |
League One table
Wycombe leapfrog Wrexham with victory at Bolton, with the Dragons held at home by Bristol Rovers. Stockport rescued a late point at Peterborough but drop behind Charlton in fourth place, while Leyton Orient are up to sixth after beating Barnsley 4-3. Cambridge boosted their faint hopes of a great escape by winning 2-1 at Huddersfield, but Shrewsbury were relegated before their 1-0 home defeat to Wigan kicked off.
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Birmingham | 41 | 44 | 96 |
| 2 | Wycombe | 43 | 32 | 84 |
| 3 | Wrexham | 43 | 27 | 83 |
| 4 | Charlton | 43 | 21 | 79 |
| 5 | Stockport County | 43 | 26 | 78 |
| 6 | Leyton Orient | 43 | 19 | 69 |
| 7 | Reading | 43 | 7 | 69 |
| 8 | Bolton | 43 | -1 | 66 |
| 9 | Huddersfield | 43 | 9 | 64 |
| 10 | Blackpool | 42 | 12 | 63 |
| 11 | Lincoln City | 43 | 9 | 58 |
| 12 | Barnsley | 43 | -5 | 57 |
| 13 | Rotherham | 43 | -5 | 55 |
| 14 | Exeter | 43 | -13 | 53 |
| 15 | Stevenage | 42 | -8 | 52 |
| 16 | Wigan | 42 | -3 | 50 |
| 17 | Peterborough | 42 | -10 | 49 |
| 18 | Mansfield | 42 | -10 | 48 |
| 19 | Northampton | 43 | -18 | 47 |
| 20 | Burton Albion | 42 | -15 | 43 |
| 21 | Bristol Rovers | 43 | -26 | 43 |
| 22 | Cambridge Utd | 43 | -25 | 38 |
| 23 | Crawley Town | 43 | -32 | 37 |
| 24 | Shrewsbury | 43 | -35 | 30 |
Championship table
Burnley’s win at Watford puts them top, and they could seal their Premier League return against Sheffield United on Monday. Bristol City sank Sunderland and Coventry saw off West Brom to boost their playoff hopes, but Middlesbrough’s late penalty winner against Plymouth keeps them in touch. Argyle stay bottom, while Stoke and Portsmouth are probably safe after earning victories today.
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Burnley | 43 | 45 | 91 |
| 2 | Leeds | 42 | 53 | 88 |
| 3 | Sheff Utd | 42 | 24 | 83 |
| 4 | Sunderland | 43 | 18 | 76 |
| 5 | Bristol City | 43 | 10 | 67 |
| 6 | Coventry | 43 | 7 | 66 |
| 7 | Middlesbrough | 43 | 11 | 63 |
| 8 | West Brom | 43 | 10 | 60 |
| 9 | Millwall | 43 | -3 | 60 |
| 10 | Blackburn | 43 | 3 | 59 |
| 11 | Swansea | 43 | -5 | 57 |
| 12 | Watford | 43 | -6 | 56 |
| 13 | Norwich | 43 | 3 | 53 |
| 14 | QPR | 43 | -5 | 53 |
| 15 | Sheff Wed | 43 | -10 | 53 |
| 16 | Stoke | 43 | -9 | 50 |
| 17 | Preston North End | 43 | -9 | 49 |
| 18 | Portsmouth | 43 | -14 | 49 |
| 19 | Oxford Utd | 42 | -17 | 48 |
| 20 | Hull | 43 | -10 | 45 |
| 21 | Derby | 43 | -11 | 43 |
| 22 | Luton | 43 | -25 | 43 |
| 23 | Cardiff | 42 | -21 | 42 |
| 24 | Plymouth | 43 | -39 | 40 |
Updated
“It’s the hope I can’t stand for Boro,” says Victor Rushton. “I was poised to throw in the towel, in light of today’s shambles and both Cities (Bristol and Coventry) winning, then we score a last gasp penalty. Does feel like a stay of execution though, don’t deserve to be anywhere near the play offs.”
In the National League North, Scunthorpe have suffered a costly 1-0 home defeat to King’s Lynn, allowing Kidderminster and Brackley Town to move above them in a crowded promotion race, with two games left to play.
That’s positively straightforward compared to the NL South, though: Torquay’s 1-0 win at Truro City means that Worthing – who drew 1-1 at Eastbourne Borough – are top with 84 points. Truro and Torquay both have 83pts, Dorking are up to 82pts alongside Eastbourne – and Boreham Wood, who are sixth, have 80pts.
With two games to go, half-a-dozen teams can still win the title, and Worthing host Dorking on Easter Monday. Cor!
In the National League, AFC Fylde’s defeat to Halifax means they are relegated; third-placed Forest Green earned a point at Yeovil, while Oldham beat Hartlepool 2-1 and Rochdale won at Altrincham to consolidate both sides’ playoff places. The big game comes at 5.30pm, with under-pressure leaders Barnet at home to Eastleigh.
League Two results
Bromley 1-0 Morecambe
Carlisle 3-2 Port Vale
Cheltenham 1-1 Gillingham
Colchester 0-0 Crewe
Fleetwood 0-0 Barrow
Grimsby 0-4 Swindon
MK Dons 0-0 Newport
Salford 1-2 Accrington
Tranmere 0-3 Doncaster
Walsall 2-2 Harrogate
Wimbledon 0-0 Chesterfield
League One results
Birmingham 0-0 Crawley
Bolton 0-2 Wycombe
Charlton 2-1 Northampton
Huddersfield 1-2 Cambridge
Leyton Orient 4-3 Barnsley
Peterborough 1-1 Stockport (L)
Reading 0-1 Lincoln
Rotherham 3-3 Mansfield
Shrewsbury 0-1 Wigan
Stevenage 1-3 Blackpool
Wrexham 1-1 Bristol Rovers
Championship results
Blackburn 4-1 Millwall
Bristol City 2-1 Sunderland
Coventry 2-0 West Brom
Middlesbrough 2-1 Plymouth
Norwich 3-5 Portsmouth
Preston 1-2 QPR
Stoke 2-0 Sheffield Wednesday
Swansea 1-0 Hull
Watford 1-2 Burnley
Classified check coming up – but first, Stockport grab a late equaliser at Peterborough through Josh Diamond, in a League One game that’s running a few minutes behind.
Full-time: Carlisle 3-2 Port Vale It was nervy for the home fans as Port Vale fought back, but a late penalty save earns Carlisle their third straight win. Tranmere fell to a 3-0 home defeat against Doncaster, but Accrington boosted their survival hopes with a 2-1 win at Salford. Morecambe lost 1-0 at Bromley, and are surely doomed.
Updated
Full time: Watford 1-2 Burnley
A big, big win for Burnley, who went behind early on but hit back in style. Josh Brownhill’s winner puts them top on 91 points, three clear of Leeds and eight ahead of Sheffield United. A Premier League return is very close now.
Norwich get a third through Emi Marcondes … and are 5-3 down at home to Portsmouth. At Deepdale, QPR have pinched the win, Lucas Andersen belting home from 25 yards deep in stoppage time.
Big drama at Carlisle: Not quite a Jimmy Glass moment, but home keeper Gabriel Breeze has made himself a hero, saving a late Port Vale penalty to keep Carlisle 3-2 ahead.
In League One, Wycombe wrap up a 2-0 win at Bolton, and go up to second as Wrexham drop points with a 1-1 draw at home to Bristol Rovers. Cambridge are pegged back late at Huddersfield … but Sullay Kaikai immediately strikes back to make it 2-1 to the U’s!
GOAL! Middlesbrough 2-1 Plymouth (Conway pen 92')
A big goal at either end of the table – Joe Edwards is sent off for Plymouth for a shove in the area, and Boro have a penalty. It looked a pretty soft decision, but Tommy Conway converts to boost the hosts’ playoff hopes, and leave Argyle in despair.
Full time! Bristol City 2-1 Sunderland
The Robins fight back from a goal down at home to 10-man Sunderland to consolidate their place in the top six, while the Black Cats stay isolated in fourth place.
Liam Gordon levels for Walsall at home to Harrogate – it’s 2-2, and the Saddlers edge closer to the top three. Bradford (in third) drew 1-1 with Notts County (sixth) last night.
Watford are down to nine men, Edo Kayembe joining Sissoko on the naughty step. Burnley still lead 2-1, and look good to go top of the Championship table. West Brom haven’t been at it today, and John Swift can’t get a promising free-kick over the Coventry wall. In League One, Jordan Bowery strikes for the visitors to make it Rotherham 3-3 Mansfield.
Goal! Preston 1-1 QPR Michael Frey hammers in a leveller for QPR at Deepdale. In League Two, Accrington lead 2-1 at Salford, while Tranmere are 3-0 down at home to Doncaster. Carlisle still holding on to their 3-2 lead at home to Port Vale.
Goal! Norwich 2-5 Portsmouth One win in 16 away games for Pompey before today, but they’re having a great old time at Carrow Road – Regan Poole slots home their fifth. At the Riverside another former Plymouth player, Morgan Whittaker, goes down cheaply in the penalty area for Middlesbrough to no avail.
GOAL! Bristol City 2-1 Sunderland (McCrorie 76)
Rory McCrorie completes the turnaround for Liam Manning’s side, who are up to fifth in the live standings and tightening their grip on a playoff place with Middlesbrough still being held at home by Plymouth.
Updated
Goal! Wrexham 1-1 Bristol Rovers Matt James fires the League One promotion-chasers level – they’re back up to second place. Charlton, by the way, are only five points behind Wrexham and Wycombe, and have to play both in their final three games.
Bristol Rovers’ surprise lead at Wrexham has left Cambridge on the brink of relegation – but they’re not giving up without a fight, and they lead at Huddersfield through James Brophy! And there’s better news coming …
Game back on at Carlisle? Port Vale have struck twice and now trail 3-2. And Leyton Orient, from 2-0 down, lead Barnsley 4-3 in League One! As it stands, they’re up to sixth. Above them, Charlton are 2-1 up at home to Northampton, Matt Godden on target.
In League One, Leyton Orient have rallied to level at 3-3 with Barnsley in a blockbuster at Brisbane Road. Another playoff hopeful, Reading, are a goal down at home to Lincoln. Blackpool’s Rob Apter has hit a 12-minute hat-trick for Blackpool, who lead 3-0 at Stevenage.
Goal! Coventry 2-0 West Brom Matt Grimes keeps Coventry on course for the top six, with Albion’s Callum Styles sent off shortly after. Elsewhere in the second tier, Blackburn lead Millwall 4-1, and Norwich have one back against Portsmouth, who lead 4-2. Stoke are 2-0 up at home to Sheffield Wednesday thanks to Ben Wilmot – to be specific, Wilmot’s posterior, which redirected a Pierce Charles drop-kick into the net.
Updated
It’s a strange red card, with Sissoko booked for dissent, and then again for a shove as he tried to creep into the Burnley half before the kick-off was taken. More goals incoming …
Updated
GOAL! Watford 1-2 Burnley (Brownhill 58')
Josh Brownhill fires Burnley in front – and moments later, Moussa Sissoko is sent off for Watford! The game changes at Vicarage Road, and Burnley are top of the table (and eight points clear of third-placed Sheffield United) as it stands.
Updated
Goal! Bolton 0-1 Wycombe Centre-back Caleb Taylor gives Wycombe the lead – and they move above Wrexham and up to second in League One as it stands.
Goal! Carlisle 3-0 Port Vale Scenes at Brunton Park, where Aaron Hayden has put Carlisle three up against the League Two leaders. Carlisle visit Accrington on Monday in a huge game at the bottom of the table; meanwhile, bottom club Morecambe are a goal down at Bromley and edging towards the drop. Doncaster lead Tranmere 2-0, and are a point behind Vale in the crowded battle for the title.
GOAL! Bristol City 1-1 Sunderland (Dickie 55)
Rob Dickie blasts in the equaliser for Bristol City at home to 10-man Sunderland, in a game that could be reprised in the playoffs.
Goal! Norwich 1-4 Portsmouth Colby Bishop completes his hat-trick to surely wrap up victory at Carrow Road, where the home fans are getting restless.
Goal! Swansea 1-0 Hull Zan Vipotnik strikes from the penalty spot for Swansea, in bad news for the visitors, who are now just two points clear of Derby and Luton in the relegation battle.
Goal! Blackburn 3-1 Millwall Right-back Callum Brittain boosts Blackburn’s slim playoff hopes, smashing home at the near post after a nice team passing move.
Now, I promised National League updates and have failed to deliver so far. Allow me to make amends. York City won 3-1 at Gateshead earlier on, turning up the heat on leaders Barnet, who are now just three points clear of York; they host mid-table Eastleigh at 5.30pm.
Elsewhere, Yeovil lead playoff-bound Forest Green 1-0, Rochdale lead Altrincham 1-0 in a Greater Manchester derby, and Halifax are a goal up at AFC Fylde – a result which would see the hosts relegated today. Rochdale and Halifax move level on points with Oldham – currently 1-1 at home to Hartlepool – in the playoff places.
League Two half-times
Bromley 0-0 Morecambe
Carlisle 2-0 Port Vale
Cheltenham 1-1 Gillinham
Colchester 0-0 Crewe
Fleetwood 0-0 Barrow
Grimsby 0-2 Swindon
MK Dons 0-0 Newport
Salford 0-1 Accrington
Tranmere 0-1 Doncaster
Walsall 1-1 Harrogate
Wimbledon 0-0 Chesterfield
League One half-times
Birmingham 0-0 Crawley
Bolton 0-0 Wycombe
Charlton 1-1 Northampton
Huddersfield 0-0 Cambridge
Leyton Orient 0-2 Barnsley
Peterborough 1-0 Stockport (L)
Reading 0-0 Lincoln
Rotherham 2-1 Mansfield
Shrewsbury 0-0 Wigan
Stevenage 0-0 Blackpool
Wrexham 0-1 Bristol Rovers
None of the third tier’s top 10 sides are leading at half-time …
Updated
Championship half-time scores
Blackburn 2-1 Millwall
Bristol City 0-1 Sunderland
Coventry 1-0 West Brom
Middlesbrough 1-1 Plymouth
Norwich 1-3 Portsmouth
Preston 1-0 QPR
Stoke 1-0 Sheffield Wednesday
Swansea 0-0 Hull
Watford 1-1 Burnley
Updated
Goal! Carlisle 2-0 Port Vale Ooof! Matthew Dennis puts Mark Hughes’ side two goals up. They’re still four points off Tranmere in the relegation battle, but this would be their third win in a row – is the great escape on?
Goal! Norwich 1-3 Portsmouth Colby Bishop converts a penalty to leave Pompey sitting pretty at half-time. And Preston lead QPR at Deepdale, in a rare game between teams without much to play for in mid-table.
GOALS! Blackburn 2-1 Millwall After 40 minutes of not much, three goals in three minutes at Ewood Park. Rovers struck first through Dom Hyam, Mihailo Ivanovic levelled for Milwall, but now Sondre Tronstad’s deflected strike has the hosts back in front! Blackburn move a point behind Millwall in the battle of playoff outsiders.
GOAL! Watford 1-1 Burnley (Flemming 43)
End-to-end action at Vicarage Road, as James Trafford makes a fingertip save to deny Kayembe, then throws the ball out to start a counter, which is finished at the other end by Zian Flemming! And that scoreline moves Burnley top of the live table.
Updated
Goal! Norwich 1-2 Portsmouth Matt Ritchie ends a flowing team move as Pompey retake the lead in what we’re all calling the battle of beaten 1992 FA Cup semi-finalists.
A big goal in League Two, where lowly Carlisle are 1-0 up at home to leaders Port Vale. Georgie Kelly strikes for Mark Hughes’ side, but fellow strugglers Accrington have also taken the lead at Salford.
Plymouth have spurned a couple of chances to take the lead at Middlesbrough, while it’s still goalless between Blackburn and Millwall, Preston and QPR, and also Swansea and Hull. Bristol City think they’re level at home to 10-man Sunderland, but the pesky offside flag spoils their fun.
Goal! Wrexham 0-1 Bristol Rovers A surprise scoreline in League One, Taylor Moore putting relegation-threatened Rovers in front at Wrexham – who drop from second to third in the live table as a result.
Goal! Bristol City 0-1 Sunderland They may be down to 10 men, but the visitors lead at Ashton Gate! Eliezer Mayenda strikes with a moment of individual brilliance, very much against the run of play.
Updated
League Two latest: Promotion chasers Doncaster lead at struggling Tranmere, Swindon are 2-0 up at one of Ian Holloway’s former clubs, Grimsby … and Cheltenham are level with Gillingham.
Updated
Goal! Norwich 1-1 Portsmouth Josh Sargent has quickly levelled for Norwich; it’s his 15th goal of the season. Curiously, Norwich have two of the division’s top three scorers (Borja Sainz is top with 17) – yet they’re mired in mid-table.
Goal! Stoke 1-0 Sheffield Wednesday The Potters are another team who realistically need another win to ease their relegation fears – and they lead at home through Dutch striker Million Manhoef, who sounds ready for a big-money move.
League One latest: Charlton led early through Luke Berry but Northampton have levelled from the penalty spot, while Barnsley lead 2-0 at Leyton Orient, and it’s Rotherham 1-1 Mansfield in South Yorkshire. Is that a derby? Answers to the usual address.
Updated
Goal! Middlesbrough 1-1 Plymouth Mustapha Bundu quickly gets the Championship’s bottom club back on terms at the Riverside.
Updated
Goal! Norwich 0-1 Portsmouth Pompey are looking over their shoulders, but one more win should be enough to stave off relegation fears – and Colby Bishop has put them 1-0 up at Carrow Road.
Updated
Goal! Middlesbrough 1-0 Plymouth Finn Azaz returns to haunt his former club, who are bottom but could catch Derby and Luton with a win today. As for Boro, they need a win to revive their playoff chances.
Ian Sargeant on Coventry’s scorer: “I had the pleasure of watching Jack Rudoni a few years ago for my hometown club Tonbridge Angels. He came on loan for a month or two from Wimbledon in his teens. The games I saw him in, it was clear that he was destined for better things – he was head and shoulders above everyone despite being the youngest player on the pitch. Would love to see him play in the next division up.”
Which rising stars have you seen in non-league action? I saw Ethan Pinnock play for Dulwich Hamlet, although Erhun Oztumer stood out as the player destined for the top.
GOAL! Watford 1-0 Burnley (Doumbia 8')
Goal! Watford 1-0 Burnley: Mamadou Doumbia strikes for the hosts against second-placed Burnley – just the 14th goal Scott Parker’s side have conceded all season. Hope for Sheffield United, who face Cardiff in the early evening kick-off …
Updated
Red card! Sunderland are down to 10 men very early at Bristol City – defender Trai Hume has been sent off. And there’s a big goal at Vicarage Road …
Goal! Coventry 1-0 West Brom: An early goal for the hosts – Jack Rudoni has swept home for Coventry in the battle of West Midlands play-off chasers.
Updated
Thanks Dave – a big afternoon continues in the Championship, League One, League Two and the National League. Our first goal in the 3pm kick-offs is in the fourth tier: Jimmy Jay-Morgan has made it Cheltenham 0-1 Gillingham.
Updated
Shrewsbury relegated
The wider impact of the 0-0 draw is that Shrewsbury Town have been relegated from League One. They’re now 13 points adrift of Burton and can only accrue 12 more.
And, with that, I’ll hand you over to Niall McVeigh to take you through all today’s 3pm games.
Updated
It’s finished Exeter 0-0 Burton in the early League One game. Exeter remain 14th while the draw puts Burton a precarious one-point clear of the drop zone.
It’s too late to impact the Premier League but news from Mikel Arteta that Kai Havertz is due to return earlier than expected could be a boost if Arsenal reach the Champions League final. Arsenal host PSG in the first leg of their semi-final on April 29 and play the return in Paris eight days later. If they come through that, the final takes place in Munich on the final day of May and Arteta believes the German could make it.
For the semi-finals? I think that is too close. But if I have to bet on him (being available) earlier than expected I would say, ‘Yes’. The way he works, every day he is in the gym, pushing everybody, and I don’t think you can hold him back any longer.
It’s tight at the top in League Two. The top four – Port Vale (76), Bradford (74), Walsall (72) and Doncaster Rovers (72) – are separated by just four points although Bradford have played a game more. Fixtures here:
A matchday NOT to be missed! 🙌#EFL | #SkyBetLeagueTwo pic.twitter.com/2E4Csd9q9S
— Sky Bet League Two (@SkyBetLeagueTwo) April 18, 2025
Some reaction from two key men in Luton’s tense 1-0 win at Derby.
Mark McGuinness:
I think it shows the character of the boys. It has done the last six games for us, we’ve show that resilience and, look, it’s not over yet for us and this game was massive for us.
Luton’s winner came from a corner and goalscorer Millenic Alli is asked how important set-pieces are for the Hatters:
Big time. It’s been very important. We’ve practised them in training and we’re very fortunate it’s come off today so we can’t be any happier. As you know, these kind of games, both boxes are very important and we defended our box very well and we did well in their box as well.
Full-time: Derby 0-1 Luton
Massive result at the bottom of the Championship as Luton pull level with Derby on 43 points thanks to Alli’s first-half strike from close range. Derby are still the right side of the relegation line due to a superior goal difference (-11 to Luton’s -25) but this result is a huge setback. And they could yet end the day in the relegation zone if second-bottom Cardiff pull off a shock at Sheffield United. Also, we could have three teams on 43 points if basement dwellers Plymouth win at Middlesbrough. Anyway, well played Luton.
Updated
Seven minutes of added time to play at Derby. The second-half stats are seriously one-sided – Derby 14 shots, Luton 0 shots - but the hosts can’t find a leveller.
Derby fluff another good chance as Luton enter the final five minutes with their narrow lead still intact. Will there be a late twist?
As for League One, today’s fixtures are below. It’s currently 0-0 in the early game between Exeter and Burton.
Birmingham have already sewn up the title so Wrexham will be keen to lock in the second automatic promotion spot. They take on Bristol Rovers today and I bet you didn’t know this: since 1928, Bristol Rovers have won just two of their 22 away Football League games played on Good Friday (D4 L16).
A huge weekend of #SkyBetLeagueOne football begins! 😍#EFL pic.twitter.com/RFsgzUZrhe
— Sky Bet League One (@SkyBetLeagueOne) April 18, 2025
Mixed news from Pep Guardiola as he gives updates on his Manchester City players. Goalkeeper Ederson will miss the trip to Everton but Phil Foden and Manuel Akanji could be back as City battle for Champions League qualification.
On Ederson:
Not ready for tomorrow. I don’t know (longer term). But for that game he’s not ready.
On Foden and Akanji:
Phil came back on Thursday and today will be the second training session since the action from Old Trafford. Manu makes two or three training sessions with us and I see him moving really well. We’ll see today (when he can come back).
On playing at Goodison Park for the final time:
Goodison Park is so special, like all traditional stadiums in England. When you go to Fulham or Villa Park, stadiums like that, you feel the atmosphere is special. But the clubs grow and I’m pretty sure the new stadium will be nicer in terms of being maybe more comfortable. A difficult place to go, a nice place to go.
Updated
A reminder of the rest of today’s fixtures in the Championship. We won’t know how the top of the table will look until much later this evening, with Leeds kicking off against Oxford at 8pm BST.
A big day ahead! 👊#EFL | #SkyBetChampionship pic.twitter.com/UjfWj25zSg
— Sky Bet Championship (@SkyBetChamp) April 18, 2025
Back at Derby, they’ve had eight shots to zero from Luton in this second half. The clock ticks on to 67 minutes but the visitors still have a precious 1-0 lead.
Derby really ramping up the pressure now and Luton surviving by the skin of their teeth as Mark McGuiness knees one off the line. Still 1-0 to the Hatters as we approach the hour mark.
Updated
Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has been speaking and – cynics, raise an eyebrow now - says he is in no doubt that he has the backing of the owners. A brave statement perhaps after being beaten 2-1 at home by a side currently fifth in the Polish Ekstraklasa. Of course, that loss didn’t stop Chelsea reaching the Conference League semi-finals but the boos around Stamford Bridge didn’t come out of thin air: they’ve been present for a while now.
Here’s Maresca when asked whether he felt the owners’ backing.
Absolutely yes, no doubt. We have spent almost all season in a Champions League spot. We are in a European semi-final. So why now we need to change something? I don’t have any doubt about what we are doing and the way we are doing. For different reasons we had setbacks like (against Legia), but for me this makes us stronger for the future.
Thanks Yara! So, can Derby launch a fightback after looking riddled with nerves in that first 45? It’s all Luton so far in the first few minutes of this second half.
Updated
Time for David Tindall to take you through the rest of the day, thanks for joining me!
Amorim to play youngsters in Premier League as United focus on Europe
Ruben Amorim will use younger players in Manchester United’s next three Premier League fixtures as he prioritises the Europa League semi-final against Athletic Bilbao.
United play at Athletic on 1 May and host the return a week later. Matches against Wolves and Bournemouth precede the first leg and United go to Brentford in between the European fixtures. At least three young players – Harry Amass, Chido Obi and Ayden Heaven – are in line to get more game time than might have been the case.
Amorim brought on the 18-year-old Amass in the 100th minute against Lyon on Thursday for his European debut after giving the defender two Premier League appearances. Obi, a 17-year-old forward, has played three times in the league and once in the FA Cup, and Heaven, an 18-year-old defender, has played twice in the league, once in the FA Cup and once in the Europa League.
Amorim, who is intent on managing his squad to ensure the best chance of reaching the final, has this month included on the bench five other players who have made academy appearances this season: Jaydan Kamason, Godwill Kukonki, Jack Moorhouse, Sekou Koné and the currently injured Toby Collyer.
Read more from Jamie Jackson here.
Some more from the postbag!
Rick on why he loves football:
I defy anyone watching that game last night other than Lyon fans or Manchester United haters not to have reminded themselves that this is why we love football. The cross from Casemiro was one of those moments where a great player almost nonchalantly looks up, instinctively measures the distance, and then plays the perfect cross right on to the head of probably the only player other than himself you would expect to score from it. I watched the Masters sudden death playoff last Sunday and it reminded me of Rory McIlroy’s stunning 8 iron shot into the 18th green to allow him to sink a birdie and claim golfing immortality.
Sam on Holland’s sacking:
Yokohama F Marinos fan here. It was another odd managerial appointment after last year’s Kewell fiasco. It’s actually been worse and much more boring than under Kewell, though. They’ve been second best in every domestic game, including the sole victory, which was achieved via wonder strikes. Holland seems like a good fella, but with no knowledge of the Japanese game and very little actual management experience, it seemed an odd appointment from the start. If you’re going to persist with it, then the manager needs a bunch of experienced support, Holland looked very alone out there on the touchline. I don’t know how much involvement City Group have in these decisions, but Marinos are a big club over here with strong backing, and they deserve better thought processes than what brought the last two appointments.
And Mac with some insight on English teams in Europe:
In regards to Tommy’s question at 12:26, the Nessun Dorma podcast (available wherever you get your podcasts) did a fabulous episode recently about 25 April 1984, a day which started with the possibility that all six of Europe’s finalists that season would be British (from memory: Liverpool, Forest, Aberdeen, Dundee United, Manchester United and Spurs).
Updated
Half-time: Derby 0-1 Luton! The visitors will take a lot of positives from that half. Moments before the whistle, Jerry Yates had a deflected effort that was denied off the line by Mark McGuinness.
As it stands, both teams are on 43 points with Derby ahead on goal difference.
Southgate’s former assistant Holland sacked by Japan’s Yokohama
The former England assistant Steve Holland was fired by Japanese side Yokohama F-Marinos, the club said Friday, less than four months after he took over as manager.
Gareth Southgate’s former right-hand man, who helped take England to two European Championship finals and one World Cup semi-final, had led Yokohama to just one league win in 11 matches this season. The 54-year-old was sacked just over a week before Yokohama were set to face Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr in the Asian Champions League quarter-finals.
“Yokohama F-Marinos announce today that the club have decided to part ways with Steve Holland, who was appointed manager in the beginning of the 2025 season,” the club said. “To fill the void, head coach Patrick Kisnorbo will serve as an interim manager for the time being.”
Yokohama also fired the former Leeds and Liverpool forward Harry Kewell last year during his first season as the club’s manager. Yokohama are part of City Football Group and were led by Ange Postecoglou, who is now at Tottenham, from 2018 to 2021.
Holland’s position at Yokohama was his first job as a manager since leading Crewe Alexandra between 2007 and 2008. He has extensive experience as an assistant and worked at Chelsea for eight years.
He said after taking over at Yokohama in January that he was “very ambitious” and wanted to step out of Southgate’s shadow, after both left their jobs with England following last year’s European Championship final defeat to Spain. Holland endured a nightmare start in Japan, with Yokohama winning one, losing five and drawing five of their games so far in the J. League. They are currently 18th in the 20-team first division.
Holland had more success in the Asian Champions League, beating China’s Shanghai Port in the last 16 to set up a quarter-final clash with Ronaldo’s Al Nassr. Yokohama were runners-up in the competition last season under Kewell.
Yokohama play Urawa Reds in the J. League on Sunday before heading to Saudi Arabia to play in the Asian Champions League final tournament. AFP
Guardiola: Man City face challenge to qualify for Champions League
Pep Guardiola has reiterated that Manchester City must be at their best to qualify for next season’s Champions League, with the manager saying there are “seven contenders” for the five spots given to the Premier League by Europe’s biggest club competition.
We will be fighting until the last moment. We have had three central defenders out that defined our Champions League. We have our striker out. We don’t have the squad.
I don’t think it’s a bad thing to be fighting to qualify for the Champions League! You could be in a very, very lower position in the Premier League if you have done few good things than we have done in these four, five months. We could be 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th! It’s in our hands, and of course Goodison Park and Villa is massively important. We don’t have much time.
I enjoyed [this week’s Champions League] games, really nice games! I enjoyed it, I miss it of course, but I accept. I’m a person who doesn’t complain much what life gives to me, in good moments, and bad moments.
Guardiola confirmed that Manuel Akanji and Phil Foden are back in training while John Stones, Nathan Aké, Erling Haaland and Ederson are still out.
Justin Kluivert is set to return for Bournemouth, who will be hoping to better their record top-flight tally tomorrow against Crystal Palace.
Andoni Iraola’s appointment in 2023 has proved a masterstroke, leading Bournemouth to a 12th-place finish with 48 points last term, before taking the team onto new heights this season. Monday’s 1-0 win over Fulham ensured they have matched the 48 earned last term – meaning just one point from their final six games will be enough to set a new club-record Premier League points total. The manager, who will be approached for a new deal by the club hierarchy soon, hopes tomorrow is the day.
I was really happy. We still need to get at least one more to celebrate it properly but it was one of the goals this season.
I hope we can do it tomorrow. Tomorrow is the first chance we have to beat it, so let’s try to do it.Justin will be available if he trains normally. That’s the plan. If everything goes normally, he is going to be available.
Sini [Luis Sinisterra] is not going to be available. The others should be fine I hope, everyone is ready to go.
GOAL! Derby 0-1 Luton (Alli 10)
Jordan Clark’s free-kick into the box is headed on by Carlton Morris and while Mark McGuinness can’t quite get the ball over the line from close range, Millenic Alli slams home the loose ball for the opener.
Updated
Derby v Luton has just kicked off, a massive game in the Championship with big implications on the relegation battle.
The Hatters are three points from safety with just four Championship games left to play this season. Derby are immediately above the relegation places with 43 points and are unbeaten in their last 10 home league games against Luton, dating back to 1990.
Updated
Some emails to get through!
Krishna writes:
Last night I went to sleep when the score was 2-4 only to wake up this morning to see the incredible result. All I could say was “ Football! Bloody Hell!”
Lesson learned: never fall asleep when United are playing!
And Tommy asks:
Is this the first time England had four clubs in the semi-finals of all three European club competitions? And if not, what other years did they do so? Or indeed exceed four.
A great question! Will take a look myself or maybe a future Knowledge question …
Updated
Tottenham will face Bodø/Glimt in the semi-finals, hosting Kjetil Knutsen’s side at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on 1 May before the second leg on 8 May at Aspmyra Stadion.
Bodø/Glimt’s progression to the semi-finals marks the first time a team from Norway has made it to the semi-finals of any European competition. Lazio appeared to have done enough last night after taking a 3-0 lead in extra time, but the Norwegian outfit showed tremendous character to fight back, win the shoot-out and make history. Nikita Haikin, the goalkeeper, did not realise his side had won the tie after he saved Valentín Castellanos spot-kick: “But then I saw the guys running and I started running too.”
They have now won eight of their last ten two-legged European ties and have only failed to score in two of their last 26 European games.
Maguire's last-ditch header 'sums up time' at Manchester United
Harry Maguire, Manchester United’s dying-seconds hero against Lyon, characterised his headed winner as emblematic of a six years at the club in which the defender was made captain under Ole Gunnar Solskjær, was stripped of the status by Erik ten Hag and nearly left for West Ham before revitalising his career under Ruben Amorim.
I’ve had some amazing moments at this club and I’ve had some great times – some bad times as well. That game pretty much summed up my time at this club, to be honest. It was an incredible feeling to score that winner in such an important game, in a game that was full of emotion and the strangest, maddest game I’ve ever played in or witnessed. The lads showed great spirit and fight in the end to dig in and turn it around.
Of being deployed as No 9 by Amorim he said:
We’re probably short on attackers. The squad tonight, we’ve got two attackers in the squad in Garners [Alejandro Garnacho] and Rasmus [Højlund] and they give everything out there. Garners was on his last legs and he was up and down the pitch numerous times. So if he asks me to go up there, I’m willing to go up there. I do see myself as a threat and I do feel like I can score a goal up there.
Let’s go back to the Europa League and take a look at the challenges that await Manchester United and Tottenham in the semi-final.
United will take on Athletic Bilbao, playing first at Estadio de San Mamés on 1 May before the return leg at Old Trafford on 8 May. Here was Amorim’s first reaction to their semi-final opponents:
I played against them in pre-season with Sporting. I know a little bit. Of course, it is a different moment and we know they are really technical. They have two wingers who are really good. We will have time to assess all the characteristics of the opponent and we need to focus a lot on what we need to do until that game because we need to.
Especially if you look at the team in the moments at the end of the second half, the team was really tired and you can feel it with some players. Bruno Fernandes was a little bit tired, so I need to be careful, even with Bruno. In the game and also in-between the next two games in the Europa League, I will try to do that, but I will not promise.
Brighton’s Carlos Baleba recently got his chat on with Ed Aarons to overcoming Premier League nerves, adapting while grieving for his mum and what shaped his work ethic.
Mum liked when my dad told me to train. She was not like some mums in Africa who say: ‘No, it’s too hard for him, it is not the right age to be in the gym.’ She wanted me to work hard. When I was a kid, I said to her: ‘When I become a professional, I will build you a house, buy you a car.’ Everything was for her. I told her this when I was 13. I started [the house] when I was at Lille. Now it’s done.
Liverpool's 'big summer' has already begun, says Slot
Arne Slot has said Liverpool’s big summer has already begun with securing the services of Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah for the next two years.
Van Dijk claimed “a big summer” awaited Liverpool before following Salah in signing a new two-year contract with the Premier League champions-in-waiting. But Slot believes retaining two world class talents, in deals that could ultimately cost Liverpool in the region of £90m in total, are a fundamental part of that strategy. He again refused to be drawn on Trent Alexander-Arnold’s future, who is the only one of Liverpool’s potential free agents not to recommit and has an offer on the table from Real Madrid.
“I think at Liverpool there is always a big summer and it is already a big summer now,” said the Liverpool head coach. “Maybe the players don’t follow everything what has been said in the media, me neither, but what I do know is that it was a big thing – ‘Can we hold onto them?’ - and by already holding on to two it is already a big summer. Let’s see what the rest of the summer will bring but it would be strange for me to say now I am not happy with the team. Maybe if we can keep that team it will already be a big summer.”
Liverpool are expected to target a new centre-forward and a young left back this summer but, just like last summer, Slot does not believe many improvements are needed for a squad that is on the brink of winning the Premier League title by some distance.
Slot, who expects Alexander-Arnold to return to the squad against Leicester on Sunday following an ankle injury, added: “We didn’t change anything last summer and I don’t think we went downwards. There are lots of studies being done that the longer a team plays together the more success it has. I think the core of the team you want to keep as long as you can together, as long as they are performing in the best possible way, but it is also in general good to have some new energy in and around the place with one or two players. That I agree on.
“But it isn’t really a necessity when you look at the quality we have and the quality of the season we have had because, again, we saw during the week how good a team Newcastle is. They are No 3 and that they played so well against us in the League Cup final is probably not a surprise any more. Paris Saint Germain have been good but Villa, No 7 at the moment, showed they can win against Paris Saint Germain. What a league we are in.”
Kaoru Mitoma is one of many available for Brighton’s trip to Brentford tomorrow after the club, Fabian Hürzeler confirmed. The Japanese has been out with a heel issue since the beginning of the month.
The big word today is positivity. Kaoru [Mitoma] is back, JP [van Hecke] is back.
A few players [Igor, Tariq Lamptey, Joel Veltman] will be stepping up their rehab next week, so the message is positive. We are positive that they will be back with the squad so they can help us on the pitch.
We have six finals left – that’s a good message and one the players share. We know every game will be a challenge but it’s also an opportunity and that is how we will approach it. You have to go step by step, you can’t force it and that’s our approach. We’re a young group and it’s a process, which we know takes time, and sometimes you have to take one step back to take two forward.
The stand-in Newcastle head coach Jason Tindall will offer his Aston Villa counterpart Unai Emery his hand before the pair go head-to-head in the battle for Champions League qualification.
Newcastle head for Villa Park on Saturday with memories still fresh of their stormy 3-0 Premier League win over Villa at St James’ Park on Boxing Day, during which Tindall and the visitors’ analyst Victor Manas were both sent off during a 20-man half-time melee in the tunnel.
Manas was later handed a two-match ban and fined after admitting his part in the incident, while a FA charge of acting in an improper manner against Tindall, who will be at the helm once again with head coach Eddie Howe still recovering from pneumonia, was found not proven.
Asked if he would shake hands with Emery before kick-off, Tindall said:
I’ve said before, I’ll always offer my hand for the opposition manager. When you are playing a game, all you want to do is win. That is how I have always been. I’m very passionate. That’s the only thing that crosses your mind during battle. It’s a frustrating game at times. I’ll certainly hold my hand out and if he wants to shake it, I am sure he will.
Exclusive: Club World Cup teams facing tax threat in new blow
Fifa is facing complex negotiations with the US authorities before the Club World Cup after failing to secure tax exemptions for the 32 competing clubs.
The world governing body announced a huge prize fund for the tournament of $1bn (£754m) in March, including up to $125.8m for the winners, but without tax agreements clubs could be left with bills of tens of millions of dollars to the US tax authorities on top of tax payable in their home countries. At least 29 clubs from outside the US, including Chelsea and Manchester City, will be competing.
Fifa has obtained exemptions from a range of taxes for the 2026 World Cup games in the US, with competing nations exempted from many city, state and ticket-sales taxes, but with the schedule for the Club World Cup put together at shorter notice it has been unable to secure similar dispensation.
Read more from Matt Hughes’s exclusive here.
Updated
Barnsley have appointed Conor Hourihane as head coach on a permanent basis.
Hourihane succeeds Darrell Clarke, who was dismissed last month. He has agreed a two-year deal with the option of a third season. The 34-year-old, who rejoined Barnsley last summer as a player-coach and was Clarke’s assistant, has taken charge of six matches so far on a temporary basis, overseeing one win, two draws and three defeats.
“It’s pretty emotional, to be honest,” said Hourihane. “I’m really honoured. I had success as captain, and now I want success as a head coach - it’s as simple as that. I want to win football matches more than anyone. Step by step, the ultimate goal is to have success.”
Barnsley, who play Leyton Orient on Friday, are 11th in League One with four matches to play. PA Media
Alexander-Arnold nearing return and could face Leicester
Trent Alexander-Arnold has been sidelined since sustaining an injury during the Champions League tie with Paris Saint-Germain on 11 March but Arne Slot confirmed that the right-back has trained with the squad for the first time this week.
Trent is coming back from injury and trained with us this week. He is not ready to start, but if things go well today and tomorrow, he might – might – be on the bench. First session with the team was Wednesday.
Every time he plays with us or trains with us, he shows his commitment. He has worked so hard to be back already now and the moment he is on the pitch, he shows me what a great football player he is and how much he is involved in us trying to achieve our goals this season. He has worked hard during the whole season and now in his rehab to be back with the team again.
The fans of Liverpool, everyone who watches football over the last five, six or seven years knows he’s been an incredible full-back for this football club. Let’s see what the future brings.
Alexander-Arnold’s future at Liverpool remains in doubt with the vice-captain’s contract up this summer and reports suggesting he is on his way to Real Madrid.
Updated
It is mathematically possible for Liverpool to clinch the Premier League title this weekend. Arne Slot’s side need a maximum of six points from their remaining six fixtures to seal a record-equalling 20th top-flight title.
If Arsenal lose away at Ipswich Town on Sunday and Liverpool follow that up with victory over Leicester a few hours later, the league leader’s points haul of 79 would be unassailable with five games left.
That being said, Slot said in his press conference this morning that he isn’t really focused on when and where Liverpool will confirm No 20:
My whole life, I’m living in the moment, living in the day; I’m not looking backwards a lot, I’m not looking forward a lot. That’s the type of person I am. In football, people tell you to enjoy the whole journey, but the only thing as a manager you are thinking about is that, at the weekend, there is a game coming up. We need to win that, then the next, then the next.
My thoughts are not on that at all. My thoughts are on Leicester and on our team. How to improve, what we can do better. We could do many things better in the first half against West Ham, we could do a lot of things better in the second half.
During the start of the week, we’ve worked on that a lot and now we are working towards Leicester. One game at a time and influence the one we can influence.
Just when you think you have caught your breath from the European football, the action comes at you thick and fast. Here are our ten things to look out for this weekend in the Premier League including Fulham looking to make derby history and a possible sneak peak into Ipswich’s Delap-less future.
Birmingham City have been transformed off the field and now face battle on the pitch with London City for promotion from the Championship. The side face Durham on Sunday before heading to Newcastle next weekend. Their final game of the season will be against London City, the team they are currently two points behind in the table.
Tom Garry and Fabio De Paola visited their training ground to get a sense of how Amy Merricks, the head coach and the players are feeling.
Walking around it on a sunny spring 2025 morning, the transformation is astonishing, after the club’s American owners dreamed a dream of WSL football. In the corridors, murals of former women’s team stars such as Karen Carney and Kerys Harrop are interwoven with those of the academy product Jude Bellingham. A state-of-the-art anti-gravity treadmill resides in the gym, together with hamstring testing kits, and the team meeting rooms have touch screens for analysis. In the canteen, the food is tailored around the team’s training loads and the “carbohydrate code” mapped to their weekly schedule with their full-time nutritionist. Their chef, Alan, goes with the women’s team on away games.
Updated
The Europa League dream came to an end for Rangers last night after Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams scored late to maintain hopes for the Spanish side to win the tournament in their home stadium. Here is Sid Lowe’s verdict from Estadio de San Mamés:
Rangers, by contrast, weren’t good enough. Over 180 minutes they only had two shots on target, although they actually had the first here, James Tavernier’s free-kick flying into the stands. Their task, or perhaps their limitations, were much the same as the first leg. This was, above all, about holding Athletic back again, or trying to.
On the left Nico Williams ran at them, Ridvan Yilmaz being nutmegged and then having to depart with an early injury that reinforced the idea that what Rangers had to do was resist. On the right, Óscar de Marcos provided a steady stream of balls into the box. In the middle, Maroan Sannadi, a huge, broad-shouldered centre-forward with his socks half way down his shins, was becoming a key figure. He was playing third tier football three months ago; now he stood above on the European stage.
Updated
Chelsea's James 'out for a period of time' with injury
Chelsea have confirmed Lauren James “will be out for a period of time” with a hamstring injury.
The 23-year-old sustained the injury on international duty with England and was substituted at half-time during the 5-0 win over Belgium. Chelsea said James “returned to the club to begin rehabilitation which she will continue with the support of our medical team”.
The news will come as a blow to Sonia Bompastor’s quadruple-chasing Chelsea who face Barcelona in Sunday’s Champions League last-four first leg at Estadi Johan Cruyff. Chelsea host the return leg a week later and the WSL leaders, who lead Arsenal by three points, have four games left in their bid for a sixth successive title.
Updated
It was an interesting night for Chelsea. They are through to a European semi-final … but they got booed off the pitch as it happened. From west London, Jacob Steinberg wrote:
Losing 2-1 to Legia Warsaw on the night was embarrassing. Chelsea, who seemed intent on giving the fifth-best side in Poland hope of pulling off a comeback for the ages at a disgruntled Stamford Bridge, were shambolic and easily could have crashed out.
No wonder Maresca is not feeling the love from the crowd. Nobody celebrated Chelsea squeezing into a Conference League semi-final against Djurgården after winning 4-2 on aggregate. The defending was miserable and the attack was poor. Filip Jörgensen, Robert Sánchez’s understudy, was jittery in goal and the worries around Cole Palmer’s slump are not going away.
Reece James’s assessment was blunt and damning:
It was a poor performance. We had a 3-0 lead – maybe that played a part in taking our foot off the gas. Maybe we disrespected the competition today. If you don’t prepare right, you will pay. It’s going to affect the mindset. It’s going to be in the back of people’s heads. I understand the frustration. Fans come to see excitement. We were frustrating to watch.
Former Rochdale player Joe Thompson dies aged 36
The former Rochdale player Joe Thompson has died at the age of 36. Thompson, who retired at the age of 29 in 2019, was diagnosed with cancer for a third time last year.
His former club said in a statement: “Rochdale Football Club is devastated to learn of the passing of Joe Thompson.
“Joe, who had been bravely battling cancer for a third time, passed away peacefully at home on Thursday, with his family by his side.”
Updated
Ange Postecoglou is another Premier League manager who has been under pressure this season but he insisted after last night’s victory he never lost faith in his Tottenham players.
We can’t get too far ahead of ourselves. We’re in the semi-final and will play a difficult opponent in the semi, but it’s not about my belief in the team.
What’s more important is the belief the team has had because after a season like ours, it would be very easy for the players and staff, they could have left me in a pretty vulnerable place in terms of them splintering. But I’ve never felt that [even] with all the noise around our season.
Could we get a Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur final in Europe this season? We’re one step closer after last night.
We will bring more Manchester United reaction as it comes but let’s turn to the other British teams in Europe last night.
Spurs impressively got it over the line against Eintracht Frankfurt, keeping a clean sheet in Germany to go through 2-1 on aggregate. The win means Tottenham have won two of their last four quarter-final matches in European competitions, as many as their last 14 attempts between 1982 to 2013.
Ed Aarons was at Deutsche Bank Park as Dominic Solanke kept his cool from the penalty spot.
A disciplined Tottenham side showed they are still playing for their manager. Solanke had not scored since 4 January – a run of 12 matches – but there were unbridled celebrations in the away end when he stroked home the decisive spot kick just before half-time and at the full-time whistle after almost eight nerve-racking minutes of injury-time.
The loss will be a tough one for Lyon to take. L’Equipe’s called it a “cruel” defeat, opting to go for a photo of a crestfallen Alexandre Lacazette, who scored a penalty in the 109th minute, being comforted by his manager, Paulo Fonseca on their front page.
Here’s what the Portuguese said after his side’s loss:
It’s hard to understand what happened. We have done magnificent things; we led 4-2 with one fewer player on the pitch. But we celebrated a lot at 4-2 when the match was not over. We thought we had won when we should have continued to think about our game management. We lacked experience at that moment. After the penalty to make it 4-3, Manchester United put a lot of pressure on us and put in a lot of crosses, and we gave in.
I am sad because I thought we deserved more but I don’t regret my changes at the end, because Manchester United started playing long balls, so I had to respond to that. But tonight, in the heat of the moment, I must above all remember that I am proud of my team and my players, of what they did with 10 against 11.
Lyon are still fighting for a spot in next season’s Champions League. They are currently fourth in Ligue 1 but fifth-placed LOSC and sixth-placed Strasbourg are only a point behind.
Updated
Maguire has come up with quite a few goals for United when needed, but last night’s header certainly has to be up there:
If you looked madness up in the dictionary you would probably describe it as that game. A crazy game and unbelievable to be on the right side of the result, and yet we’ve created great memories for a lot of our fans. We’ve made them happy and given them lots to talk about, good and bad.
We made really hard work of it, I must say. We don’t do things easily! Half-time at 2-0 up, we had full control. I think even in the second half, I feel like we had chances to score a third. Then they score a third out of nowhere, bit of a pinball goal which put us on the back foot and they manage to get that equaliser.
To go 4-2 down against ten men in extra time is nowhere near good enough, we opened ourselves up too much. They are a good team, have some good forwards, play great football. But we dug in, showed great spirit, and that is what this stadium does and to come back like that is an incredible performance from everyone in the final minutes.
I felt like the fourth goal for them was a real suckerpunch. Even going 3-2 down I felt like we were gonna get chances.
Obviously [the chance] fell to myself and I put it in the back of the net, which was an amazing feeling.
Updated
Any stats nerds around? Because United accomplished a few feats that no ever side has done before. Commit these to memory because I reckon they will be asked at a few pub quizzes around the country this weekend.
Harry Maguire’s goal was the first 120th-minute winning goal scored in Europa League history and the first in a major European tie since Atlético Madrid beat Liverpool at Anfield in March 2020.
It was only the second 5-4 win in Manchester United’s history, along with their 5-4 victory over Arsenal in the top-flight in February 1958.
Manchester United’s 5-4 win over Lyon was also the first game in major European football history to see five goals scored in extra-time.
Manchester United have lost only one of their last 30 Europa League matches at Old Trafford. They have also won their last five home Europa League matches.
This was the first nine-goal game in Europa League history. Ten previous matches had involved eight goals.
Lyon have been defeated in their last four two-legged European ties against English teams. The French side were unbeaten in ten away European games before this one.
This was Manchester United’s 28th Uefa competition quarter-final, a new English club record.
Manchester United have won eight of their last nine two-legged European ties against French teams.
Updated
Amorim, who has been under quite some pressure, would have faced quite a bit more had United not gotten it over the line yesterday. His side threw a two-goal lead and let a 10-man Lyon back into the game. But the head coach must be hailed for how they got through it in the end. His inspiration? Fergie time, of course.
I was watching the 1999 [Treble] documentary to have some inspiration for these moments. It was a great night, the team were tired, 4-2 with one more player, we think it’s over, but here it’s never over. Here everything is possible, you feel the environment. At 4-3, after the Bruno Fernandes penalty, we felt we could change the game.
We tried to put Harry Maguire up front because he is the only one who can score a goal with a header. Kobbie Mainoo has a lack of pace in this moment because of injury, but he’s really good in short spaces,” said Amorim.
The sound of the two last goals were amazing. It is something we can keep for the future. But in the end you go to the semi-finals but you need to win it. We just need to focus on the next stage and try and win the competition.
Updated
Jamie Jackson was at Old Trafford to witness the mayhem. He writes:
This is Manchester United and their proud DNA of Fergie-time and that 2-1 triumph over Bayern Munich at the Camp Nou. So: enter Harry Maguire to head the winner 34 seconds into added time, put United in dreamland and take the roof off the stadium – Casemiro again the provider, to make it three involvements in the three crucial strikes.
United, then, head to Spain for a semi-final first leg at Athletic Bilbao and after this who will wager against them reaching the showpiece at the same venue, after what was, too, a night of redemption for André Onana.
Updated
Preamble
All of the talk from the Spanish capital leading up to this week of European football was “Remontada this, remontada that”. Los Blancos were all talk and no action and it was ultimately Manchester United who managed the unthinkable comeback of the week.
Against Lyon, Ruben Amorim’s side scored three goals in the final six minutes of the match to seal a memorable 5-4 win over Lyon and book their berth in the Europa League last-four. For the first time in the history of a major European competition, a club had scored two goals in the 120th minute. Cue pandemonium at Old Trafford and on the Guardian sports desk.
There is bound to be a load of reaction from Manchester alone, which we will be bringing you right here. Spurs and Chelsea also booked their spot in the semi-finals of their respective European competitions and we will cast an eye towards a big weekend including Premier League, WSL and Football League action.
As always, if you have any thoughts, questions, complaints or musings (football related or otherwise), feel free to send me an email.
Updated
