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Despite rapid half-centuries from Riki Wessels and Michael Lumb, Nottinghamshire needed the help of six penalty runs before scraping over the line to defeat Lancashire by two wickets

ECB Reporters Network04-Jun-2016
ScorecardRikki Wessels helped get the innings off to a flying start•Getty Images

Despite rapid half-centuries from Riki Wessels and Michael Lumb, Nottinghamshire needed the help of six penalty runs before scraping over the line to defeat Lancashire by two wickets in their NatWest T20 encounter at Trent Bridge.Wessels made 58 and Lumb scored 53 but the home side then collapsed in pursuit of a victory target of 185, before a dramatic intervention from the rule book. Needing 15 runs from the last over, Notts were awarded those six penalty runs as the defending champions hadn’t been in a position to begin their last over before the allotted cut-off time.A Sam Wood maximum, heaved high over the leg-side boundary, either side of a couple of scrambled singles, left Luke Fletcher to clip Arron Lilley away for the winning run, with two deliveries remaining.After Jos Buttler’s unbeaten 56 had helped Lancashire to 184 for 4, Notts had been sent on their way by their openers, with Wessels scoring his runs from 31 balls, with seven fours and three sixes, while Lumb registered his first fifty in domestic T20 cricket since July 2013.The chase got off to an explosive start, with 72 runs coming from the six Powerplay overs. The opening partnership had been extended to 100, a county T20 record against the Red Rose, by the time Lumb hit Stephen Parry to deep midwicket. Wessels was then bowled by Jordan Clark, who also removed Samit Patel for nought, before George Edwards grabbed 3 for 38, as Notts slumped from 143 for 2 to 168 for 8.Earlier, Buttler’s 27-ball 50 ensured the visitors finished their innings on a positive note. Martin Guptill and Alviro Petersen had put 40 on for the first wicket, before Harry Gurney had the New Zealand international caught in the deep for 28. Petersen followed for 21, trapped lbw by Patel, one delivery after lofting the spinner back over his head for six.Patel also removed the dangerous Liam Livingstone, who edged behind to Wessels. The wicketkeeper then handed over the gloves to Brendan Taylor, with the former Zimbabwe captain remaining behind the sticks for the second half of the innings.Karl Brown followed up his Roses’ half century on Friday evening with another handy contribution, although he should have fallen on 39 when he received a grateful gift from a close friend – Steven Mullaney, Brown’s pal from their days together in the Lancashire academy, put down the simplest of caught-and-bowled chances.Wessels, out on the ropes this time, took his second catch of the innings to remove Brown but that only enabled Buttler to take centre stage for some belligerent hitting, late in the innings. Three sixes in four balls, two of them from consecutive Gurney deliveries, helped take Buttler to his half-century and onwards to an unbroken 59-run partnership with Steven Croft.After two defeats, Notts now have their first victory in this season’s competition, while Lancashire’s record now stands at one win and three losses.

Southampton have received an injury boost ahead of their crucial game this evening against Bournemouth at St Mary’s with their star-striker due to return after a spell on the sidelines.

Ruben Selles revealed that leading goalscorer Che Adams has recovered from injury and is “available” to feature in front of the home crowd tonight. Juan Larios, Tino Livramento and Mohammed Salisu remain out of contention.

It’s a must-win fixture for the Saints, who sit bottom of the table and six points from safety with just six games remaining to secure survival.

Will Che Adams feature against Bournemouth?

The 26-year-old was injured whilst on international duty with Scotland, and has been out of action for the last four games with a calf problem.

The Leicester-born striker has netted ten goals for the Saints this season, five of which coming in the Premier League, as well as contributing three assists in 25 appearances. It’s been a dull season for the south-coast side, who have won just six of their 32 games this season however, Adams has been a shining light in a bleak setting.

Before his injury, the forward found the net against Tottenham in the thrilling 3-3 draw at St Mary’s, that gave Saints hope of pushing away from the bottom of the table. In his absence, his team have collected just one point in their previous four games, including narrowly missing out on a win at the Emirates last time out.

Adams will certainly be a boost for Selles to consider in his starting XI and a selection that Bournemouth would favour against, considering his goal being the decider between the two sides back in October in Southampton’s 0-1 win at the Vitality.

The £30k-per-week Scotsman scored a decisive header to gain take three points from the Cherries, and will provide Selles with a presence in the number nine role that they’ve missed.

The "phenomenon" – as once hailed by former boss Ralph Hasenhuttl – ranks in the top 10 of players in the Premier League when it comes to aerial duels and with two of his five goals this season coming from headers, he gives an aerial threat and potency in front of goal that Saints are crying out for.

Paul Onuachu has not worked out as instantly as Southampton were perhaps hoping, with the £18m forward yet to score in the league.

Despite building a good spell of form, Bournemouth remain just four points above the drop zone with a point to prove should they hope to stay in the top division.

The Cherries have conceded the joint-highest number of goals this season (63), something that the Saints must capitalise on with the added energy of a fully fit Adams potentially leading the line in what is a massive and relieving boost for Selles this evening.

Kieran Tierney's exit from Arsenal this summer 'could be getting done' despite his quality, according to pundit Frank McAvennie.

Who could leave Arsenal this summer?

Members of Mikel Arteta's squad have been tipped to leave this summer given their status as fringe players, with Emile Smith Rowe and Tierney among them. The latter man stood out as a fairly key player during Arsenal's fight for the top four last season – having even been among their top ten most regularly-picked assets in the Premier League.

Tierney even chipped in with a goal and three assists over his 22 league starts that year, but this campaign, minutes have been much harder to come by. The signing of Oleksandr Zinchenko has impacted his playing time however, with Tierney starting just five games over 2022/2023 whilst making the vast majority of his appearances off the bench.

As such, the Scotland international leaving north London is a very realistic possibility this summer, with pundit and former West Ham striker McAvennie saying Newcastle United are in the hunt.

Speaking in an interview with Football Insider, the 63-year-old claimed Tierney's departure 'could be getting done' based off what he's 'heard'.

McAvennie explained:

“I have heard that they [Newcastle] are in for Tierney and that could be getting done.

“I could understand that. It would be an ideal situation for Tierney, it is only a few hours away from Glasgow and it would be great for him.

“How he can’t get a game in the Arsenal team is incredible but it is the way they want to play. I just think it is crazy.”

Should Arsenal let Tierney go?

We believe letting the 25-year-old go to Newcastle would be a mistake when you consider the best teams in Europe all have one thing in common – strength in depth. Tierney is a more-than capable option to slot in when required, as perhaps best summed up by William Gallas, who said this on the left-back in March:

"You always need two quality players in every position if you want to be successful in the Premier League. If Tierney goes to Newcastle, then they won’t have that competition.

"You have to find the best solution for all of the parties because I’m sure Tierney wants to play more regularly. Arsenal need to have good, young players who are waiting to come through and prove their quality."

Indeed, the defender could still have a key role to play, both for the remainder of this season and in years to come.

A number of Arsenal fans have flocked to Twitter to wish former player Mesut Ozil all the best after the German announced his retirement.

What happened between Mesut Ozil and Arsenal?

On Wednesday afternoon, the 34-year-old took to Instagram to state that he would be hanging up his boots amid recent injury issues.

His statement read: “After thoughtful consideration, I’m announcing my immediate retirement from professional football.

“I’ve had the privilege to be a professional football player for almost 17 years now and I feel incredibly thankful for the opportunity.

“But in recent weeks and months, having also suffered some injuries, it’s become more and more clear that it’s time to leave the big stage of football.

“It has been an amazing journey filled with unforgettable moments and emotions. I want to thank my clubs – Schalke, Werder Bremen, Real Madrid, Arsenal, Fenerbahce and Basaksehir – and the coaches who supported me, plus team-mates who have become friends.”

He also added: “Thank you to all my fans who have shown me so much love no matter the circumstances and no matter which club I was representing.”

In a glittering career, the talented midfielder played 254 times for Arsenal, winning three FA Cups along the way as he impressed supporters with his technical quality and creative skill set – earning the reputation as the “assist king”.

However, it’s safe to say things didn’t end too well for Ozil in north London, as Mikel Arteta dropped him from his side in an attempt to get rid of the German, who was viewed as underperforming while having a mammoth £350,000-a-week contract.

Eventually, he opted to leave Arsenal six months before his contract was due to expire, with the player and club agreeing to a mutual termination back in 2021.

He went on to play for Turkish Super Lig giants Fenerbahce before moving last summer to Istanbul Basaksehir. He ends his career as a World Cup winner, while also winning major trophies in Spain and Germany.

Despite how things turned out for him towards the end of his time with Arsenal, it seems as though many fans will remember him for the good moments rather than the bad.

Here are some of the best reactions…

Chelsea are making progress over the permanent signing of on-loan attacker Joao Felix this summer, according to transfer insider Dean Jones.

The Lowdown: Felix impressing at Chelsea

The Portuguese joined the Blues during the January transfer window, as he looks to kick his career back into gear after a disappointing spell at Atletico Madrid.

Felix has struggled to become a consistently key part of Diego Simeone’s plans in Spain and a loan move looked like the best option for all parties at the beginning of the year.

Since coming in at Chelsea, the 23-year-old has looked like a class act, not necessarily always delivering end product but catching the eye with his technical quality.

Felix does now have two goals in seven appearances in the Premier League, though, having found the back of the net with a clinical finish in Saturday’s 2-2 draw at home to Everton.

Chelsea seem keen to turn his move from a temporary switch into a permanent transfer, and a positive update has emerged, in that respect.

The Latest: Permanent move progressing

Writing for Give Me Sport, Jones said that the Blues’ feelings towards signing Felix permanently are ‘becoming more clear’, with ‘further talks’ planned for next month.

He is described as a ‘breath of fresh air’ at the training ground and those high up at Chelsea are now ‘beginning to mastermind a plan on how they could integrate him permanently into their plans’.

The Verdict: No-brainer for Blues

Felix has always been a massive talent, winning the prestigious European Golden Boy award back in 2019, and his quality has been clear to see at Stamford Bridge.

The four-goal Portugal international has simply looked a happier player than he did at Atletico, where Simeone’s defensive style has arguably held him back too often.

Chelsea should do all they can to sign Felix permanently at the end of the season, with Alvaro Morata hailing him as a ‘special’ footballer and his best years still highly likely to be ahead of him.

As he continues to adjust to Graham Potter’s playing style and his new teammates, he should only improve further, with the Champions League allowing him a great chance to further prove his worth, ahead of a mouthwatering quarter-final tie for Real Madrid.

Perhaps most importantly, Felix appears to be enjoying his time at Chelsea and doesn’t want to return to Atletico, so the idea of him moving there for good this summer feels like a match made in heaven.

Chelsea are interested in Brighton & Hove Albion manager Roberto de Zerbi as a replacement for Graham Potter, according to a report from Football Insider.

The Lowdown: Potter’s future in doubt?

There are conflicting reports as to whether Potter faces an uncertain future with the Blues, with the Telegraph recently reporting that the next two games, at home to Leeds United and Borussia Dortmund, are make or break for the manager.

The Guardian indicate that the Englishman will be given more time regardless of the results in their upcoming matches, however it will still be a worrying time for the Chelsea boss, with the likes of Mauricio Pochettino already being linked with the job.

The Latest: Interested in De Zerbi

As per a report from Football Insider, the Blues have a genuine interest in appointing De Zerbi to replace Potter, who is also being eyed as a potential heir to Antonio Conte at Tottenham Hotspur.

The Brighton boss is viewed as a top-level manager by the Chelsea hierarchy, as a result of the instant success he’s had in the Premier League, as well as his record working with young players, and he is said to be keen on the job.

The Verdict: Right appointment?

The Italian has been successful in both the league and cup competitions since arriving at Brighton, most recently overseeing his side’s progression to the FA Cup quarter-final after a 1-0 win away at Stoke City, having defeated Liverpool in the previous round.

Since arriving at Brighton, the 43-year-old has averaged 1.62 points-per match, vastly out-performing Potter, who poses a figure of just 1.31 points-per match since arriving at Stamford Bridge.

Hailed for his ‘exciting’ brand of football by members of the media, as well as being ‘highly successful’ with former club Shakhtar Donetsk, De Zerbi would be an excellent appointment if Chelsea choose to part with Potter in the next few weeks.

Leeds United will be without Pascal Struijk for this afternoon’s Premier League clash against Manchester United, according to Phil Hay.

The Lowdown: Struijk a regular for Leeds

The Dutch defender has been a key figure for the Whites this season, featuring heavily at left-back under former manager Jesse Marsch. The 23-year-old has made 22 appearances in all competitions, missing just one Premier League fixture so far in the current campaign.

However, he went off early at Old Trafford on Wednesday after taking a Marcus Rashford strike to the face, and it looks like he won’t be featuring at Elland Road today.

The Latest: Struijk to miss Man Utd clash

Hay took to Twitter to relay news from Michael Skubala’s press conference from Thorp Arch on Friday.

When it came to injury news, it was confirmed that Struijk will ‘miss out because of concussion protocols’, whereas Liam Cooper, Marc Roca and Luis Sinisterra are being assessed.

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The Verdict: A blow for Leeds

Not having Struijk to call upon isn’t ideal for Skubala, who like Marsch gave him the nod at left-back in midweek in his first game as temporary manager.

Struijk has actually been Leeds’ best-rated performer this season with an average match rating of 6.90/10, as per WhoScored.

He has chipped in with two goals and ranks highly for tackles made per 90, so it looks as if Junior Firpo – who has been one of Leeds’ worst performers statistically and a lightning rod for heavy criticism – could be forced to come in as his replacement.

Newcastle United welcome West Ham United to St James’ Park in the Premier League this evening, with a victory strengthening the Magpies’ new-found standing within Champions League contention under Eddie Howe’s management.

Currently third in the table with 39 points and just one solitary defeat across the first 20 matches of the top-flight campaign, Howe’s system could not be more fluid, and his well-oiled high-octane team have emerged as genuine contenders for Champions League qualification.

Victory over West Ham – who in contrast have plummeted from prominence under David Moyes this seasonm winning just five league matches and only one point above the relegation zone – would be another step towards a top-four finish, potentially stretching six points above Tottenham Hotspur in fifth, who face Manchester City on Sunday.

However, Newcastle have been beset with several injuries of late, with Bruno Guimaraes’ suspension after his red card against Southampton in midweek hardly helping matters. Nonetheless, Howe will maintain his belief that this high-flying outfit can overcome adversity and continue to ride towards a monumental finish this season.

Here’s the starting line-up that we expect from the Magpies, with two changes from Tuesday night’s Carabao Cup win over the Saints.

Predicted Newcastle starting XI – Pope; Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn; Willock, Longstaff, Joelinton; Gordon, Wilson, Saint-Maximin

Nick Pope will hold his untouchable place in goal, having kept clean sheets across his past six Premier League matches in succession.

The established back-four will likely also remain unchanged, with Howe seeking to maintain the cohesive resilience which has formed the bedrock of his team’s endeavours. Newcastle have the best defensive record in the top flight, shipping only 11 goals up to this point.

Guimaraes picked up a late red card in the midweek Carabao Cup win and will consequently miss the next three matches; in his stead, Joelinton could move into midfield alongside Sean Longstaff and Joe Willock.

Having signed from Everton for £45m earlier this week, the “frightening” Anthony Gordon – as dubbed by Paddy Kenny – might be in line to make his Newcastle debut, with Allan Saint-Maximin returning on the other flank.

That means the impressive Miguel Almiron could be relegated to the bench after failing to score across his past seven appearances, having netted seven goals in as many league matches during the autumn.

Up front, Alexander Isak was forced off against the Saints after experiencing dizziness, with the 23-year-old having been struck on the head by a fierce James Ward-Prowse free-kick. As such, Callum Wilson could look to add to his six goals this season in the centre-forward role.

An update has emerged on Arsenal and their pursuit of Leandro Trossard during the January transfer window…

What’s the talk?

Journalist Sacha Tavolieri has revealed that the Gunners are interested in signing the forward, who was recently banished from Brighton’s squad for their win over Liverpool due to an issue with his behaviour in training.

The reporter Tweeted:

“I saw a lot of messages on my DM about this so I will answer to all of the people that are interested on that news. Leandro #Trossard is indeed part of the targets watching by #ArsenalFC for this winter but he is not a priority for #AFC. #mercato #PremierLeague.”

Seagulls head coach Roberto De Zerbi has confirmed that he is willing to reintegrate the winger, saying: “Maybe his agent fancies selling him for a lower transfer fee… surely, Trossard didn’t tell me the truth.

“Everyone in the dressing room knows how things went. But if Trossand wants to rejoin us with the right attitude, I am happy to coach him.”

Reiss Nelson upgrade

Mikel Arteta could land a big upgrade on current winger Reiss Nelson if the club decides to act on their interest in Trossard before the end of the month.

The English forward, who is currently out injured, has only played twice in the Premier League this season and spent the 2021/22 campaign on loan to Feyenoord in the Netherlands.

Nelson scored two goals and provided four assists in 21 Eredivisie as he created 1.0 chances per match and averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.01.

Trossard, meanwhile, has averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.10 in 16 Premier League outings for Brighton this term and has contributed with seven goals and two assists, whilst creating 1.5 opportunities per game for his teammates.

This comes after the Belgian international struck eight times and assisted three goals in 34 appearances in 2021/22, whilst averaging a Sofascore rating of 7.10.

These statistics indicate that the Seagulls magician, who was once hailed as a “wizard” by journalist Charlie Haffenden, would be a big upgrade on Nelson at the top end of the pitch for the Gunners.

The 28-year-old could offer more in terms of his general performance level, his goalscoring threat, and the creativity that he provides to set-up his teammates for chances.

He is also a proven Premier League performer and this means that the gem could be able to hit the ground running in the second half of the campaign as Trossard knows what it takes to perform in England and would not need a period of adaptation from a cultural perspective.

Newcastle United are interested in signing Flamengo youngster Matheus Franca and are looking at the Brazilian market, journalist Ryan Taylor has claimed.

The Lowdown: Franca an exciting prospect

The 18-year-old has burst onto the scene at Flamengo, already racking up 26 appearances for the Brazilian giants and scoring seven goals for good measure.

Franca, who plays mostly as an attacking midfielder or second striker, has been linked with a move to Newcastle already this month, as Eddie Howe looks to bring in both young talent for the future and established stars for the here and now.

The teenager’s current deal doesn’t expire until 2027, but it looks as though Magpies are serious about making a deal happen anyway.

The Latest: Newcastle eyeing move

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Taylor said that Franca is definitely a target for Newcastle, who could also look at other players currently plying their trade in Brazil:

“You look at Newcastle’s team, and although they’ve been exceptional already this season you look at that [midfield] as an area that could be upgraded.

“I know there has been interest in Matheus Franca and Newcastle are looking at that Brazilian market as one where there could be opportunities. That’s down to Dan Ashworth.”

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The Verdict: One for the future

While Franca is clearly a big talent with a bright future – he won six caps for Brazil’s Under-16s – he would be more of a long-term acquisition than anything.

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He is still extremely young and has no experience of playing in Europe, so he would need to be eased in by Howe, maturing alongside older teammates and not being thrown in at the deep end.

The fact that Franca is believed to be on Real Madrid and Manchester City’s radar says a lot about his potential, though, and the attacker has been hailed as a ‘great finisher’ by coach Fabio Matias.