FOUR-MIDABLE TYKES TURN ON THE STYLES

CALLUM STYLES’ piledriver and Daryl Dike’s first goal for the club secured a fourth straight win for Barnsley to keep their promotion bandwagon rolling.

Classy midfielder Styles, nicknamed the ‘Bury Baggio,’ smashed a left-foot shot from 25 yards which flew into the top corner in the ninth minute.

American striker Dike – on loan from Orlando City – then came off the bench to rifle in a late second as the in-form

Tykes moved menacingly towards the top six.

French boss Valerien Ismael said: “The result was perfect for us. Dike’s first goal for us was a joy and another clean sheet, but the game was very difficult.

“You feel the strength of the team. It was about what we needed tonight to do.”

Styles’ fifth goal of the campaign set Barnsley on their way and they did not look back.

There was precious little invention from Stoke and the Potters were made to pay when Conor Chaplin slipped in Dike, who smashed in a low shot.

Stoke boss Michael O’neill said: “I thought in the first half we had good opportunities that we didn’t take.

“We said to the players before the game that this was about playing common sense football and we didn’t do that.”

ask, ‘Why are you writing these things?’

“If I showed the others what they write, I think I have to close my social media, everyone has to close social media.

“If you want to criticise someone, no problem to criticise me. But don’t make the others involved as they have nothing to do with my job.

“So you have to open our eyes and look after this a lot, because I think you kill the football like this if the people start to speak about a player or their families or things like this.”

LEEDS star Raphinha is delighted he has made an impact so quickly.

The Brazilian arrived at Elland Road in October and has become an instant hit with the Whites faithful.

The winger has bagged five goals and five assists in the Premier League so far.

Raphinha tormented Southampton with his skill and pace on Tuesday and crowned his performance with a 25-yard free kick to seal Leeds’ 3-0 win.

The former Rennes star (inset), 24, was unheralded when

Leeds signed him for an initial £17m and says he is pleased he has adapted so well. “The Premier League is an extremely competitive and tough league,” he said. “The games are intense and finely balanced. I’m happy with my quick adaptation.

“After all, it is my first season and I’m pleased I’ve been able to help the team on their return to the Premier League.

“The most important thing is that we are having a good campaign.” Raphinha dedicated his strike to the passing of fellow countryman Ronaldinho’s mother.

He said: “I entered the field with immense sadness because of the passing of Dona Miguelina.

“Anyone who knows us knows our families have always been very close.”

REAL MADRID spared their blushes with a late winner after a shocking Champions League display in Italy, despite facing 10 men for more than 70 minutes.

The win offers manager Zinedine Zidane breathing space, with his future again in doubt after a run of poor performances.

Ferland Mendy scored his first European goal with a curling shot four minutes from time.

And it was Mendy who won the foul which saw Atalanta’s Remo Freuler sent off after 17 minutes.

The Italians can feel aggrieved at the decision, which reduced them to a heroic defensive effort.

Freuler did little more than brush against Mendy but the Real wide player flung himself down and German referee Tobias Stieler produced the red card.