16/12/2025

SPORTS TUESDAY | DEC 16, 2025

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‘No quick fix’ Frank back under pressure after ‘very bad’ defeat to Forest

Ű BY JONATHAN VEAL

T OTTENHAM HOTSPUR boss Thomas Frank expects to be given time to turn his side’s problems around after insist ing there is “no quick fix” following a 3 0 Premier League defeat at Nottingham Forest. A costly mistake playing out from the back was punished by Callum Hudson-Odoi, who then scored with an overhit cross as goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario was caught out of position. The forlorn Italy international could not do anything to keep out Ibrahim Sangare’s wonder goal as Spurs put in a wretched performance and endured a desperate afternoon by the Trent. The clouds had appeared to be lifting after a draw at Newcastle and wins over Brentford and Slavia Prague but this was as bad as it has been under Frank, who insisted things would not turn around overnight. Asked if he would be given time to implement his idea, the Dane said: “I can’t see why not. I think it’s pretty evident that if no one SHORTS Calvert-Lewin one of best strikers in EPL: Farke LEEDS BOSS Daniel Farke labelled Dominic Calvert-Lewin “one of the best English strikers in the Premier League” and told England boss Thomas Tuchel to call any time after yesterday’s 1-1 Premier League draw at Brentford. Calvert-Lewin scored for a fourth consecutive game to continue the feel good factor around the Yorkshire club in December and open up a three-point gap to the bottom three. Nottingham Forest’s 3-0 win over Tottenham earlier meant Leeds have dropped to 17th, but Calvert-Lewin followed up goals against Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool with another after a flying 82nd-minute header in west London. Asked if he would soon recommend Calvert-Lewin to countryman and England manager Tuchel, the German coach smiled: “I have got such a good relationship with Thomas that I am far away from giving any recommendation. “Dominic has proven this before. He has many caps for England and has also a good goal record. I think these goals are even more remarkable for a promoted side that can’t play that dominant than sides fighting for the title, so he will have chances to be in the spotlight. “For me, he is one of the best English strikers in this league. Harry Kane is playing in Germany for Bayern Munich, but in the Premier League, he is definitely one of the best English strikers and he will be a key player for us going forward.” Henderson pays tribute to Jota JORDAN HENDERSON produced a touching homage to his late Liverpool teammate Diogo Jota after scoring his first goal for Brentford. Henderson put the Londoners 1-0 ahead against Leeds at the Gtech Community Stadium, striking for the first time since joining the club in the summer. After an initial celebration of the opener, Henderson sank to the floor in a seated position and mimed playing a video game, a trademark gesture made by Jota after his goals. “It was his birthday recently,” Henderson told Sky Sports . “We’ll never forget him. We will always remember him. I can only imagine what the lads at Liverpool are going through. “He was a good friend. I don’t score many goals, so when I did, I always thought that I would dedicate it to him.”

While Spurs put in a shocking performance, this was probably the best for Forest under new boss Sean Dyche, whose side moved five points clear of the drop zone. “Overall, it was probably our best (performance) because of the balance of play,” he said. “When we had to defend, we did. When we could play, we did. When we had to clear our lines and do the basics, we did.” Dyche is usually pragmatic when his side scores, but even he allowed himself to celebrate Sangare’s stunner, not that he admitted it. “I’ll have to look at that back,” he joked. “I’ll have to get the VAR to have a check on that. I’m disappointed in myself if I have got involved in that nonsense.” – The Independent Emery hails ambitious Villans UNAI EMERY hailed the response of his “ambitious” Aston Villa side after they came from behind twice to beat West Ham 3-2 and keep themselves in the Premier League title race. Morgan Rogers scored twice – including a stunning 25-yard winner – to ensure Villa remain three points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal. “Our start was poor, two times we were behind but how they responded and how we achieved those three points is how we are as a team,” said Emery. “Being ambitious, responsible, being organised in our structure. I’m so happy how we responded.” Villa trailed to Mateus Fernandes’ goal after just 29 seconds and later a poacher’s strike from Jarrod Bowen. But a Konstantinos Mavropanos own-goal cancelled out the opener and Rogers hauled Villa level at 2-2, before the England midfielder capped a sparkling performance with a superb dipping strike. “For me, the most important thing is how he is working, tactically, offensively and defensively and now he is scoring goals,” added Emery. “He is always doing his work with huge commitment. He is growing up so quick and performing better because physically, he is strong and his mentality is huge.” Villa have now won 10 of their last 11 Premier League matches, having been winless in their first five, but Rogers is not thinking about the title yet. “We’re not looking at that at all,” the 23 year-old told the BBC . “People were talking about relegation before so we are not talking about that. “It is about being as consistent as possible. At the moment we are in a great run so let’s see where that takes us.” West Ham led at Bournemouth and Brighton recently, as well as against Villa, but have taken just two points from those three matches and remain in the relegation zone. “We started very well, the perfect start to take the lead and this is something we are not able to do, control the game when we are in front,” said Hammers boss Nuno Espirito Santo. “I wish I could give a proper answer with a proper solution. But it’s happening to us recently. We are in front, we are leading and we are allowing teams to go back in the game. “Victories are getting away from us. It requires a lot of work on that part. There are a lot of factors, there’s information also. But we should do better.” – The Independent Ű BY ANDY SIMS

It’s just reality. “I think the ones who have followed the club and the team, I think it’s fair to say there’s been a few not too consistent performances and that’s the thing. We are working very hard.” Frank did absolve hapless goalkeeper Vicario of any blame for the opening goal, even though his pass to Archie Gray put the Spurs midfielder under pressure. “I think you see that every week in the Premier League and from every team all over the world,” Frank added. “So, there’s no problem with that. “It is a classic thing you see week in, week out. A ball playing to one of the two sitters, bounce it up first touch, not take a touch. You learn from that, I’m pretty sure he will use one touch next time.”

gets the time, no one can turn this around. This is not a quick fix.” He added that, while he may appear cool, he is hiding a “hurricane” inside him. “I do everything to control my emotions, which is a hurricane inside me, because, of course, it’s deeply frustrating that we are not doing better today after three good performances,” he said. “I think it is extremely important to be calm and measured and of course, have very, very direct and clear messages at the right time, so they’re not in doubt of what I think. “I’m very honest about where we are as well. I was also very honest, today was a very bad performance, no two ways about that. “But I also know that to change this will take some time. No one will want to hear about that.

’Black Cats won’t get carried away’

Sunderland’s Noah Sadiki (left) clashes with Newcastle’s Fabian Schar during yesterday’s Premier League match at the Stadium of Light. – REUTERSPIC

Ű BY DAMIAN SPELLMAN

“Now it’s a question of just being composed, I repeat. You can enjoy and then reset because we have another tough challenge in a week.” Sunderland’s latest win came courtesy of Magpies record signing Nick Woltemade’s own goal seconds after the restart and it was perhaps a fitting decisive moment for a game which was high on intensity, but low on quality. For opposite number Howe, there was huge disappointment as his much vaunted stars, who remain in contention for the Champions League knockout stage and have a Carabao Cup quarterfinal against Fulham to come on Thursday, failed to deliver when their fans demanded it most. Howe, who had defender Dan Burn taken to hospital with a rib injury, said: “That is going to sting for a long time. We know our performance was off what we needed it to be, not from a defensive perspective, where I thought we defended pretty well throughout the game, but we weren’t good enough to open them up. “Criticism comes with every defeat, but of course with this one, I think it will be louder and stronger just because of the importance of the game. We fully acknowledge that. That’s why it hurts so much.” – The Independent

VICTORIOUS Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris turned his attention to Saturday’s Premier League trip to Brighton within minutes of steering the club to derby victory over Newcastle. Yesterday’s 1-0 win over the Magpies at the Stadium of Light extended their unbeaten League run against their arch-rivals to 10 games and, perhaps more importantly for the promoted Black Cats, eased them on to 26 points and into seventh place. Le Bris’ players celebrated with a group photograph on the pitch after the final whistle, mimicking what Newcastle had done after their 3-0 FA Cup win on Wearside in January last year, but the Frenchman insisted the euphoria will not go to their heads. Le Bris said: “We have to stay smart and respectful. It’s a game and when you win, you’re happy. “After that, obviously, we have players who were here for a long time, so they probably know better than the new ones how important this derby is, especially when you lost the previous one.