30/09/2024

MONDAY | SEP 30, 2024

29

SPORTS

Pep’s Rodri headache Guardiola to concentrate on finding solutions after draw against Magpies P EP GUARDIOLA insisted Manchester City must get on with life without Rodri after Newcastle fought back to deny the Premier with (Jacob) Murphy, Gordon, (Harvey) Barnes. Ű BY DAMIAN SPELLMAN

Nuno criticises Fulham penalty decision

Ű BY MARK WALKER

NOTTINGHAM FOREST boss Nuno Espirito Santo criticised the referee again after his side’s unbeaten Premier League start ended in a 1-0 home defeat to Fulham. Raul Jimenez converted his 50th English top-flight goal via a controversial penalty after a lengthy VAR check had concluded with referee Josh Smith viewing the pitchside monitor and pointing to the spot. Fulham’s Andreas Pereira had gone down under Murillo’s challenge, but Nuno claimed the match officials had got the decision wrong. Forest were further aggrieved later in the second half when another VAR penalty decision went against them – this time following Fulham defender Calvin Bassey’s tackle in the area on substitute Anthony Elanga. Forest’s senior management conveyed after the match that they too were growing increasingly frustrated at the standard of refereeing in the top flight. Nuno said: “We all want peace and to continue well and don’t want to come here to speak about the referees. But it was bad wasn’t it? “Even the one in Fulham’s box also – the situation with Bassey and Anthony also. “They looked, but they don’t have the same opinion as we do. Let’s just hope for the next one that we are not talking about the referees. “I try to give referees peace. They are trying to improve, but today was not the best day. “We don’t want to talk about (referees). Nobody wants to talk about it. When we come to the game, we don’t think about the referees. “We just want to compete and play the game and hope the referee gets things right. “But today he didn’t do a good job, so I hope that he improves.” Forest lost for the first time in six League matches this season and were left waiting for their first home League win since April. Fulham boss Marco Silva felt his side deserved all three points after they extended their unbeaten League run to five matches and climbed up to sixth in the table. “It’s a great three points for us and a great battle. A tight game as we expected. The boys did really well,” Silva said. – The Independent EVERTON manager Sean Dyche was delighted with the way his side managed the game as they came from behind to beat Crystal Palace 2-1 for their first Premier League win of the season. Having twice squandered two-goal leads to lose in the last month Dwight McNeil’s double just after half time turned things around after Marc Guehi’s 10th minute opener. It was the first time since October 2022 Everton had won a League match having gone behind and after recent chastening experiences Dyche was pleased to get an important victory on the board against a team who are still searching for their first victory. “I think it’s good the players have earned the right (to celebrate) because of previous results and the question marks about seeing the game through,” said Dyche. “I thought we handled the second half very well. Two great moments from and after that I felt we managed the game well, which had come into question this season. “We debrief games and you learn, showing them ways of killing the game off, professional things. “I appreciate the fans want glorious football constantly but it’s hard to deliver that. Do the professional things, turn the game around and defend resolutely. “Do the absolute basics: head it, clear it, kick it. We kept them to a minimum in terms of clear-cut chances.” Boos at half-time were replaced by celebrations at the final whistle as relief was the over-riding emotion sweeping through Goodison Park after taking just one point from their first five matches. But Dyche knows he cannot consider it a corner turned. “It just means it’s a step forward. The work is never done here,” he added. “The reality is the expectation is to win again, win again. We have to park it very quickly and build up to the next game.” – The Independent Ű BY CARL MARKHAM Dyche hails ‘step forward’ for Toffees

reason, a lot of injuries that they had, otherwise it’s a team that competes really well. “I admit that we would like to win. We drew, they deserved it as well and we’ll both take the point.” Howe, who admitted he and his players had not liked they way they performed in defeat at Fulham last Saturday, was happy with what he felt was his team’s best display of the season to date. He said: “I thought it was a really good game. I thought it was really interesting tactically. “It’s our best display of the season, there’s no doubt about that for me, with and without the ball. It’s also probably the most competitive we’ve been against Manchester City as well.

“We controlled them really, really well in most parts of the game, especially when we play so, so high. Bruno (Guimaraes) and Joelinton, the physicality, (Sandro) Tonali and after the central defenders so high. It’s such a difficult team. “We know with Newcastle last s e a s o n struggled a little bit for just o n e

League champions victory at St James’ Park. The Spain midfielder will miss the remainder of the season with a knee ligament injury, leaving Guardiola to plug a yawning chasm at the heart of his midfield. Mateo Kovacic, Rico Lewis and later Bernardo Silva were asked to do the job on Tyneside, and their manager was philosophical when asked about it after a hard-fought 1-1 draw. Guardiola said: “Guys, I’m going to tell you – I know you’re going ask me all the time – of course you’re going to miss Rodri, his physicality, his presence, I know. “But he’s not there, so I’m judging Kovacic and Rico and Bernardo after and the wingers with Jack (Grealish) and how we have played, and it was exceptional, so it’s simple. “I had to find a

“Even in the 3-3 draw (two seasons ago), I thought we had a bit more control today than we had in that game. It’s really good signs for us.” – The Independent

solution. I would love Rodri to be here and Oscar Bobb be here and Kevin (de Bruyne) be here and (Nathan) Ake be here, I would love it. But it is what it is.” City, who struck late to snatch a 2-2 home draw with main rivals Arsenal the previous weekend, went ahead through Josko Gvardiol at St James’ during a first half in which they dominated possession. However, they were pegged back after the break when Anthony Gordon dispatched a 58th-minute penalty, his second goal of the season, after being brought down by keeper Ederson. Guardiola, who spoke at length to opposite number Eddie Howe after the final whistle, was ultimately satisfied with a point from the game. Asked what he had said to Howe, he replied: “I said to him how I admire him and the way he approaches the game with high pressing. His team is so direct and has a lot of legs

Man City manager Pep Guardiola (left) and Rodri.

Arteta seeks to defuse tensions

Ű BY PHILIP DUNCAN

for everything he did for me and continues to do with me. I consider him a friend. “When I say that ‘I know him’, it is that I know how hard he works. I have not seen a human being who has worked as hard as Pep and the coaches and everybody at that football club to be consistently winning. “And the reason they are there is because they maintain that hunger and this is what I have learned. “I cannot be any more clearer than that. If you want, I can repeat it. But if someone wants to damage our relationship that is not in my hands. The feeling is profound, he knows it and the staff know it. “Sport has to be about a will to win. They have it, I have it, we have it for sure. They have had incredible achievements because they have that mentality. Hopefully that is clear.” Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard appeared to have sent Arsenal on course for a comfortable win against the Foxes.

But James Justin’s deflected header and brilliant volley after the interval, combined with an inspired Mads Hermansen in the Leicester goal, had the hosts, who recorded 36 shots in all, rocking. However, Trossard’s volley from a corner in the fourth minute of added time cannoned in off Wilfred Ndidi before Kai Havertz scored a fourth five minutes later as Arsenal joined City on 14 points with six matches gone. Following what could be a pivotal game in Arsenal’s quest for glory, Arteta added: “It was very emotional and more emotional than we wanted, but I am really pleased with how we played and dominated the game. “After 2-0, the result should have been bigger, but this is the Premier League, the quality of the opponent and they scored two goals, but I was happy with how we dealt with that. Emotionally we were super in control. We fully deserved to win the game.” – The Independent

MIKEL ARTETA says he loves, respects and admires Pep Guardiola in a clear move to defuse escalating tensions with his one-time mentor. Guardiola told Arteta’s Arsenal to prepare for war amid the fallout from the previous weekend’s heated draw with Manchester City and the Gunners yesterday responded with a last-gasp 4-2 victory against Leicester at the Emirates. Speaking on the eve of yesterday’s fixture, Guardiola also urged his former City colleague to explain why he claimed he had “all the information” about the champions following his four-year spell there. Addressing Guardiola’s remarks, Arteta said: “I can repeat it, very clear. I love Pep. I admire him. And I have admired him since I was 10 years old. “I respect him profoundly. I am so grateful