15/09/2026

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Foden red card sparks fury M ANCHESTER CITY manager Enzo Maresca believes Bruno Fernandes should have been sent off alongside Phil Foden in the first half of his side’s “That looks like a clear red card to me. Looks to be a secondary movement.” Speaking on Sky Sports , commentator Gary Neville said that he was “surprised that Fernandes has got away without a booking”, while former United midfielder Roy Keane said that the Portuguese “is the one who is violent here”. a flick or a gesture, than a kick out”. “Foden gets up and reacts obviously, so he’s sent off,” he said. “Fernandes catches him and gives him a little kick. I guess it’s classed as violent. But Fernandes is the one who is violent here, I don’t think Foden should have a red card.” Maresca believes United captain Fernandes should have been sent off alongside Man City star

“So Bruno’s act would be seen as a yellow card offence, which the VAR obviously can’t get involved in.” The sending off did not impact the result nega tively for City in the end as the 10 men earned a memorable victory on the road, though Erling Haaland’s winning goal was another contentious decision on a dramatic afternoon at Old Trafford. The result leaves City second in the Premier League after four games, with themselves and Arsenal the only two teams to hold a 100% winning record so far. Maresca’s side host Norwich City in the League Cup in their next game on Friday, before facing Sunderland at the Etihad on Sunday, Sept 20 in the final game before the international break. – The Independent/Agencies Then a mistake to make it 2-0 and the red card makes it very difficult. “We have to take responsibility. We did some good stuff, then the game became very, very difficult for us. We have to keep working.” Brighton are into the top four after win ning for the second time this term and the first since their 4-0 rout of Aston Villa on the opening weekend. “It’s important to stay humble and not take these things for granted,” Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler said. “Overall we are a team where a lot of players can score goals and that brings us a lot of flexibility which is good for a coach as well.” Coventry threatened early on when Jay Dasilva picked out Jack Rudoni and the midfielder’s cushioned volley forced a superb save from Bart Verbruggen. Verbruggen made another eye-catch ing stop to repel Frank Onyeka’s volley after the midfielder cleverly flicked the ball up for his shot. Brighton took the lead in the 35th min ute thanks to Kostoulas’s inspired moment. The teenage Greek striker astutely nodded Gross’s pass beyond two Coventry defenders and turned to drill a fine finish past Carl Rushworth. Yalcouye put Coventry in command, accelerating away from the defence to double Brighton’s advantage with a clinical strike in the 51st minute. A miserable day for Coventry took a turn for the worse two minutes later when Awoniyi was dismissed for clattering Maxim De Cuyper in the face with his elbow. Brighton piled on the misery for Lampard, Gross netting for the third time in the 70th minute. Dunk scored the goal of the day in the 83rd minute and Ayari put the seal on Brighton’s rampant performance in stop page-time. – AFP

1-0 win in the Manchester derby. Foden was given a straight red card for lashing out at Fernandes with a wild kick in the 23rd min ute after the Manchester United captain had fouled him. Fernandes also appeared to aim another kick at Foden’s back after the initial foul, sparking the reaction from the City man that eventually got him sent off. However, Fernandes received no punishment for the foul or the second kick, and VAR backed up the original decision made by referee Michael Oliver, with official Matt Donohue confirming: SHORTS De Zerbi plays down row with Tel

Dale Johnson, BBC Sport ’ issues correspon dent, said: “The referee and VAR would have to deem it violent conduct rather than just petulance from Fernandes. “The guidance changed some years ago to fac tor that in, so David Beckham’s kick on Diego Simeone in the 1998 World Cup would not result in a sending off today. “It looked to me like there was little to no con tact from Fernandes, and if there was it was limited force and wasn’t followed through.

And City boss Maresca was also clearly con fused by the decision, suggesting that Fernandes should also have seen red if Foden did. “It can be a red card (for Phil Foden), but I think in the same action it can be a red card for Bruno (Fernandes), in the same action,” explained the City manager. “So, anyway… It is what it is. Red card for us. We won,” he added. Former Manchester United forward Rooney did not believe it was a red, saying “it was more of

Brighton thrash 10-man Coventry

BRIGHTON thrashed 10-man Coventry 5-0 on Sunday to move into fourth place in the Premier League and leave Frank Lampard’s side rooted to the bottom of the table. Charalampos Kostoulas put Brighton ahead in the first half and Malick Yalcouye doubled their lead soon after the interval. Coventry striker Taiwo

wrapped up Brighton’s emphatic victory as Coventry’s frustrated fans flooded to the exits well before the final whistle. Coventry are still looking for their first Premier League goal since 2001 after going scoreless while losing their first four top flight matches this season. Lampard’s

ROBERTO DE ZERBI played down any problem with Tottenham forward Mathys Tel after Saturday’s 0-0 draw at home to Everton. Spurs fired a blank in the Premier League for a fourth match in a row and De Zerbi’s immediate reaction after fulltime was to give Tel some instructions on the pitch. Tel expressed a hint of frustration before De Zerbi turned away to speak with other players, but the Tottenham boss insisted his only intention was to help the 21-year-old, who has played the majority of games for the club at left wing. “Yes, I coached him on the pitch,” De Zerbi said. “The body shape. He is a striker and the striker can play with the shoulder on the goal. “If we are playing with (James) Maddison, (Mohammed) Kudus and Savio, (Tel) has to play as a striker and the striker has to look at the goal or the cross from (Andy) Robertson. “He has to stay inside because he started as a striker eh? Now he is playing as a winger but he started his career as a striker, but I love Mathys as a player, as a guy and there is not a problem.” … as Redknapp criticises ‘diabolical’ Spurs JAMIE REDKNAPP labelled his former club Tottenham Hotspur “diabolical”after their goalless start to the Premier League season continued in a 0-0 draw with Everton. The hosts’ troubles in front of goal followed a summer of heavy investment, with new signings including Savio, Omar Marmoush, Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali all unable to make a breakthrough. And Redknapp was not at all impressed by a per formance that saw Spurs booed off. “After spending £300m (RM1.6b), I didn’t think there would be a problem scoring goals,” Redknapp said on Sky Sports .“I thought that they might struggle to win games, a few teething problems, but I thought with the players they’ve got in midfield… surely they have goals in this team. “To not score in the Premier League in six hours of football is absolutely diabolical, whatever way you look at it. They defended better today, the centrebacks were better than what they had been. But there was just not enough. How can you not score in six hours of football? “They have not got the right balance in the team. There are so many problems to solve in a game just to score a goal.”

men are the only Premier League team without a point this sea son. The Sky Blues were pro moted from the Championship last season to end their 25-year exile from the Premier League. “It’s a difficult scoreline and it’s not easy at home,” Lampard said. “The first half was pretty good, we created some chances and we had them under a lot of pres sure.

Awoniyi was sent off for vio lent conduct in the second half. Pascal Gross netted from the penalty spot and Lewis Dunk curled home from l o n g range. Yasin A y a r i

Brighton’s Malick Yalcouye (left) celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the English Premier League match against Coventry at the Coventry Building Society Arena on Sunday. – AFPPIC

Wolves beat Sheffield Utd, Preston sack Heckingbottom

WOLVES snatched a 1-0 win against Sheffield United as Raul Jimenez came off the bench to settle the Championship clash in the final sec onds, while Preston sacked manager Paul Heckingbottom on Sunday. Mexico striker Jimenez pounced on a miscued Tommy Doyle shot to finish with aplomb in the 90th minute at Bramall Lane. Bidding to return to the Premier League after last season’s relegation, Wolves climbed to seventh place in the table after their third win in six second

Lincoln on Saturday. Preston have lost six of their open ing seven league matches and sit sec ond-bottom of the table. “Football is a results business and despite significant investment in the playing squad since Paul joined the results during 2026 and the start of this current campaign have not been acceptable,” a club statement said. “Paul leaves us with our thanks and best wishes. His professionalism and work ethic during his time with us have been second to none.” – AFP

nection with Wolves fans). It has been like this since I arrived at the club in 2018. I felt it since the first moment, so it is really important. “All of the games have their level of difficulty. All of them have been tough, but we know that if we want to get pro moted we need to keep doing the good things. “Sometimes we have to get wins like this – it doesn’t matter how, we just need to keep winning.” Preston axed Heckingbottom in the aftermath of a 1-0 home defeat against

who struck in predatory fashion at the far post. “It is really special. It is really good for me to come onto the pitch and win the game. It was a really good goal and celebrating with the fans is always spe cial to me,” Jimenez told the BBC . “I have missed this great feeling, to be there celebrating with this family. We on the pitch and the fans in the stands – we are all together and we need to be all together to get what we want. “It has always been special (the con

tier games. United are in 14th place after their second defeat in seven league matches. Jimenez, introduced off the bench in the 63rd minute, shot wide twice in quick succession, while fellow substi tute Doyle saw his shot deflected off target. But former Fulham star Jimenez provided the crucial contribution in the last minute of normal time. Kieran Tripper found Doyle inside the area and his shot fell to Jimenez,