THESE ARE THE SEAGULLS WHO LIKE TO SHARE
BRIGHTON’S inability to turn a mountain of chances into an actual goal continues to fascinate.
But at least the Seagulls like to share around the ones that do eventually cross the line. Adam Lallana’s 10th-minute opener in the 2-1 defeat at home to Leicester saw him become Albion’s 13th different scorer of the season.
Graham Potter (above) has seen his side drop 17 points from winning positions – only Southampton have squandered more this term.
Their tally of just 10 points from home matches also remains a Premier League low for 2020-21.
It was predictable, though, as Leicester have picked up 34 points on the road - four more than anyone.
SHEFFIELD UNITED have become only the second English top-flight team to lose 22 of their first 28 games in a season, emulating the Sunderland ensemble of 2005-06.
The 2-0 loss at home to Southampton means the Blades have shipped the first goal in 21 league games this season - more than any other side.
CARLO ANCELOTTI felt like he had won the lottery when he took charge of an Everton side which already had two strikers he rates as world class in its ranks.
The Italian believes fortune smiled on him because Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin (above) were at Goodison when he arrived in December 2019.
“We have two fantastic strikers,” said Ancelotti. “We couldn’t ask for more. I’m a lucky man.”
The pair are on fire and
Chelsea would do well to bear that in mind when they entertain their former Double-winning manager at Stamford Bridge tonight.
Much has been made of Thomas Tuchel’s unbeaten start as Chelsea boss with seven wins and three draws and two goals conceded.
But Ancelotti, who won the Double with the Londoners in 2010, is convinced he has the firepower to trouble any team on the planet.
Brazilian Richarlison (above, with Ancelotti) has 12 goals this season and has scored in each of the last four games, while England striker Calvert-Lewin has 20 goals for club and country.
Ancelotti was delighted to inherit a squad with the two 23-year-olds he believes have massive futures.
“They’re really young and they can improve,” he said. “It’s not easy to find these kinds of strikers so I’m really pleased to be their manager.
“They have it all in their hands, because they are modern strikers and in my opinion because they have everything.
“They have different characteristics but they are strong, they are fast and are good without the ball. They combine well together.”
Preparing to scrap it out with Tuchel, 47, for a Champions League spot, the 61-year-old added: “He is making his mark, of course because he has the quality. He is a young manager but he already has experience in Germany and at Paris.
“So he is a manager with knowledge and ambition and also because he is young – not old like me. I still have strong ambition even if I am a little bit older.
“Offensively Chelsea play a little bit differently but not too much because the quality of the players is still the same as they had before.
“But now they are really consistent and they are solid.”
MAX BIRD claims Derby are ready to fly again at Oakwell on Wednesday.
But they will have to improve markedly on this shot-shy display to give Barnsley the chop.
The Rams were poor, hardly made a chance, and were beaten when Coventry’s Callum O’Hare seized on Nathan Byrne’s poor cross-field pass and fed Max Biamou for him to fire in.
Bird (above with O’Hare) said: “We are not in the best position because we didn’t start the season well enough.
“It’s not where this club should be – where it deserves to be.
“We’ve got to control our own destiny, look after ourselves and try and get three points.
“It looked like we were pulling away a few weeks ago, but these things happen, you see it in the Premier League now with Liverpool.
“We’ve got to be the bigger team, we’ve got to start standing out again, climbing the table, not worrying too much about where we are or how many games are left.”
Barnsley are rolling over rivals for fun in the Championship but Bird added: “That inspires us, 100 per cent. It’s our job to stop it. It’s as simple as that.
“We need to take the few positives out of this Coventry game, analyse it, take it onto the training pitch and go from there.”
The Sky Blues know they are in a relegation scrap but are level on points with Bird and his pals, so Derby boss Wayne Rooney is back under pressure.
“That’s a massive win for us,” says Biamou. “It was the type of game we had to win if we want to stay in the Championship.”
COVENTRY: Wilson 6, Ostigard 6, McFadzean 7, Hyam 7, Dabo 6 (Pask 74, 5), James 7, Kelly 6, McCallum 6, O’Hare 7 (Sheaf 90), Hamer 6 (Allen 74, 5), Biamou 8
DERBY: Roos 6, Byrne 6, Wisdom 7, Clarke 7, Buchanan 6, Shinnie (Watson 67, 5) 6, Bird 6, Knight 6, Waghorn 6 (Gregory 67, 5), KazimRichards 6, Roberts 7 (Jozwiak 69, 5) REFEREE: John Brooks
MOTM
MAX BIAMOU (COVENTRY)