04/05/2026

SPORTS MONDAY | MAY 4, 2026

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and Manchester United failing to have the red cards overturned. Wolves were booed off at full-time as they remained rooted to the foot of the table. “I’m very frustrated, we all are,” said manager Rob Edwards. “I understand the situation at the moment. “We’ve been relegated, we’re bot tom of the League, we’ve drawn a game against 10 men off the back of three defeats in a row, I’m going to take it.” – The Independent NUNO ESPIRITO SANTO admitted West Ham lost their heads as they slumped 3 0 at Brentford to leave them deep in rele gation trouble. The Hammers’ Premier League sur vival is no longer in their own hands and they will find themselves back in the bot tom three if Tottenham beat Aston Villa overnight. Brentford looked ripe for the taking having not won in six matches, but they have become West Ham’s bogey team since they were promoted and have now won eight of their 10 Premier League meetings. A Konstantinos Mavropanos own goal, Igor Thiago’s penalty and Mikkel Damsgaard’s strike did the damage for the Bees, who are right back in the mix for European qualification for the first time in their history. West Ham were left to rue Mavropanos having an equaliser ruled out for a tight offside, while Taty Castellanos hit a post twice and Crysencio Summerville rattled the cross bar. “We are disappointed, of course,” said Hammers head coach Nuno. “First half was good, really good, really positive. We conceded from a cross, but we reacted well. “We played good, the game was flow ing, we were in control, we created a lot of situations, hit the posts, all these details. “So at half-time we were positive that the game is going to change and things will come to us. But overall, it’s a tough day for us. “We have to understand that we must react from a setback like today, a tough day. It’s up to us now to react, to react, knowing that it’s three games to go, it’s going to the last one. “So let’s prepare as much as we can so we can play better.” Thiago’s penalty proved to be the game’s pivotal goal, after El Hadji Malick Diouf went to ground trying to stop Dango Ouattara “He should avoid that, but Ouattara is a very good winger, so it’s hard to defend against him,” added Nuno. “The second goal hurt us. We lost composure, we lost organisation, we were rushing.” Brentford are up to sixth, which could yet yield a Champions League place this season, after an overdue win. “We’re in a good place,” said boss Keith Andrews. “Clearly sixth with three games to go is not a bad position to be in. “So, yeah, we should enjoy that. We should embrace that. “And yeah, let’s just keep push ing for the last three games and see where that brings us.” – The Independent Up to us now to react: Nuno

Pep downplays fixture jam

Howe will ‘sleep well’ after Newcastle win EDDIE HOWE said he would “sleep well” after admitting he woke up feeling anxious before Newcastle’s 3-1 victory over Brighton yesterday. The Magpies snapped a four game Premier League losing streak as goals from Will Osula and Dan Burn gave them a two-goal advantage at half-time. Jack Hinshelwood found the top corner to pull one back for Brighton, but Harvey Barnes wrapped up three points deep into added time. Victory was played out in front of Newcastle’s owners, with chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan and co-owner Jamie Reuben in attendance at St. James’ Park following their review of the season on Friday. Asked if he would get an eight hour sleep following a challenging period, Howe said: “It’s funny because I didn’t get eight hours last night. “I’ll level with you, there was a moment where I woke up and I thought: ‘Oh dear, what day is it?’. “Which is really unusual for me, I’m a very good sleeper. There was obviously an anxiety for me last night where I’m going into today’s game just wanting the team to perform. “I’m sure I’ll sleep well tonight, certainly with the emotions of that game I’ve got no doubt that I will. “Your outlook on things changes, as much as you try to stay very level, things just look a bit brighter with winning so hopefully we can enjoy next week. “From an emotional level that was a massive win for us, we knew it, everyone knew it internally. “I think we’ve been building towards that for a few weeks. I think the training has been really strong, really committed, very competitive and I’m a big believer that you always end up getting your rewards for that if your work continues to be strong. “Credit to the players for sticking together, staying united, behind the scenes they’ve been excellent. “At times we rode a little bit of luck today, but I think we more than deserved that in the recent weeks.” – The Independent Ű BY REBECCA JOHNSON

Ű BY ANDY HAMPSON

City set for hectic season finale after fixtures were moved because of FA Cup Final

Man City manager Pep Guardiola. – REUTERSPIC

P EP GUARDIOLA has played down Manchester City’s frustrations over fixture rescheduling during their domestic treble push. City face a hectic end to the campaign after Premier League games against Crystal Palace and Bournemouth were given new dates either side of their FA Cup final against Chelsea. The matches needed to be moved because of City’s progression in both domestic cups but the new schedule means they need to play three times in the space of seven days from May 13-19. Their programme then concludes with a visit from Aston Villa on May 24. City were unhappy when the fixtures were con firmed this week – particularly feeling the Palace game originally slated for March could have been rearranged earlier – but boss Guardiola has accepted it. “It is what it is,” he said at a press conference on Saturday. “When we won the treble and quadruple we always had this kind of calendar. Of course it could be better but I’ve never expected (help). “We’ll do that and go game by game. The broad casters, Premier League, whoever, decides. We will be there with 11 players plus people on the bench.” Guardiola was relaxed as he spoke to media, suggesting he is not feeling the pressure of the title race. City trail Premier League leaders Arsenal by six points but two games in hand, having five left to

play compared to the Gunners’ three. He said: “It’s normal, it’s the calendar. Sometimes you play first, sometimes behind. It is what it is and nothing changes at this stage – you know exactly what you have to do.” So laid-back was Guardiola that he claimed he did not even know when Arsenal were next playing when asked if he would be watching yesterday’s game against Fulham. He said: “What time do they play? It’s after a training session, so maybe I will watch it.” Guardiola gave his players a few days off earlier this week and he used some of his free time to attend Stockport vs Port Vale in League One. He joked: “The day before I saw the calendar, the PSG-Bayern game, and I said, ‘What a disaster game, the managers are not good, really s*** play ers!’ I am in love with English football and I went to see Stockport.” Defender John Stones announced this week he would leave City at the end of the season after 10 years at the club having won six Premier League titles and the Champions League. Guardiola said: “He was the best player by far in the final in Istanbul. That shows his huge person ality. “Like with Bernardo (Silva), part of ourselves is leaving. His contribution has been massive. He’s an incredible person on and off the pitch.” – The Independent

Sunderland manager Le Bris questions hair-pull rule after Ballard red card

Ű BY DAVID CHARLESWORTH

less, Ballard is massive as well, so the ball in the air 20 times in a game, many things can happen. “If the rule is the rule, when you have a striker with long hair, you will have problems because you can’t defend. It was more or less the case. They executed the rule but it’s a bit hard to digest.” Michael Keane and Lisandro Martinez have also fallen foul of the rule this season – the former for pull ing Arokodare’s hair – with Everton

the rule and I think Paul Tierney is a great referee but the execution of the rule is very hard to digest because I don’t think it is intentional and violent conduct. “We don’t want to be controversial, we are here to help the game, many people are watching the Premier League and we want to be clean in our behaviours, but football is foot ball. “It is a duel in the air and with a tall striker (who weighs) 100kg more or

The sending off meant Sunderland had to play with 10 men for more than an hour and Wolves capitalised, end ing a goal drought stretching back to mid-March when Santiago Bueno equalised in the second half. Le Bris’ side remain 12th in the Premier League and to rub salt into the wound, Ballard faces a three match ban that will prematurely end his season for an offence that is deemed violent conduct. But Le Bris said: “We understand

REGIS LE BRIS admitted Dan Ballard’s red card for hair pulling was “hard to digest” as Sunderland’s hopes of European football next season were dented by a 1-1 draw at Wolves. Sunderland led through Nordi Mukiele against already-relegated Wolves when referee Paul Tierney dis missed Ballard, who was adjudged to have tugged the long braids of Tolu Arokodare in an aerial duel.