STALEMATE, NOT CZECH MATE FOR FOXES AFTER FORGETTABLE FIRST LEG
LEICESTER lacked bite in attack and had to settle for a 0-0 draw at Slavia Prague in the first leg of their Europa League last-32 tie.
Foxes boss Brendan Rodgers has never reached the last 16 of the competition after four attempts with Liverpool and Celtic.
Harvey Barnes was denied by Slavia goalkeeper Ondrej Kolar in the first half but the visitors struggled to maintain their threat after the break.
They needed Kasper Schmeichel to turn Nico Stanciu’s drive over and head home with a clean sheet ahead of next week’s return leg. The
Foxes started with Youri Tielemans’ crossfield ball releasing Barnes ahead of Alexander Bah and the winger burst into the box only to be denied by Kolar from close range.
Yet it was the only serious chance the Foxes carved out at the Eden Arena. Czech champions Slavia created brief openings, with Bah heading the best of them wide at the far post.
Foxes striker Kelechi Iheanacho will miss the second leg after his second-half booking.
REAL SOCIEDAD MAN UNITED Fernandes 27, 57, Rashford 64, James 90
BRUNO FERNANDES struck twice for Manchester United in Turin as the Reds superbly saw off Real Sociedad 4-0 to make themselves almost certainties to reach the last 16 of the Europa League.
A fine Fernandes brace, along with second-half strikes from Marcus Rashford and Daniel James, kept Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team on course for a repeat of their 2017 success under Jose Mourinho in this competition.
The game was open from the start and straight away, Eric Bailly lost the ball, and former United man Adnan Januzaj fired just wide. Rashford then twice had shots saved by Alex Remiro – he really should have netted with the second one from close range.
But Rashford soon made amends in the perfect way with a searching ball over the top after 27 minutes, which caused confusion in the Sociedad defence, with goalkeeper Remiro and two defenders colliding, and Fernandes clipping the ball into the net.
The Spaniards tried to strike back and United had their young forward Mason Greenwood to thank for clearing away before Nacho Monreal could turn in a cross from Alexander Isak.
Ten minutes after the break, United’s lead was doubled, with a delightful curling shot in off a post by Fernandes (right). There was a VAR check to see if there was an offside but the goal stood.
Sociedad were starting to fall apart and another goal seemed inevitable. It duly came with a lovely ball from Fred setting up Rashford, who finished in style. With time almost up, James netted a fourth to put the gloss on a perfect European evening for Solskjaer and his men. United will go into Sunday’s Premier League meeting with Newcastle in good heart. With a top-four place to fight for, and both the Europa League and FA Cup going concerns, the Reds still have plenty to play for.
FOOTBALL fans the nation over are debating what fate should befall referee Darren Drysdale for menacingly squaring up to a player on Tuesday night. Personally, I’m torn between a two-week, all-expenses paid holiday to the Maldives or a straight-up knighthood. Maybe the latter is a bit too much. An OBE would suffice.
The incident happened during an otherwise unremarkable goalless draw between Ipswich and Northampton. Drysdale waved away Alan Judge’s claims for a penalty, before the 5ft 7in midfielder gave him a bit of verbal stick, provoking Drysdale into his best impression of an extra from the film Snatch.
Lets be very, very clear about this. They only squared up. They didn’t even come to blows and there was no need for a St John
It was akin to watching Tyson Fury physically threaten Jimmy Krankie
Ambulance to attend the scene.
However, the whole ballyhoo looked worse because Drysdale is built like a brick outhouse and stands at the unofficial height of 8ft 3in. It was akin to watching Tyson Fury physically threaten Jimmy Krankie.
Of course, Drysdale shouldn’t have done this, and the Football Association have rightfully charged the RAF sergeant with improper conduct. Yes, he should be sanctioned in some manner, but let’s just hope the suits don’t get carried away.
Instead, they need to ‘read the room’. The vast majority of supporters see it as quite funny yet definitely out of order but totally understand how a referee could temporarily see red given the week in, week out verbal abuse they receive during every single game they officiate. The only surprise is it doesn’t happen more often. If they need a star witness, they should speak to Alan Judge himself, who admirably tweeted: ‘There was no need for an apology.
‘I wasn’t looking for one or looking for any action to be taken. In football as everybody knows stuff happens in the heat of the moment in a game.
‘We all make mistakes and for me that is the end of this.’
Nice one, Alan. Nonetheless, Drysdale took full responsibility, saying: ‘I fully understand that it is important for us as referees to maintain our composure throughout the game and always engage with players in a professional manner.
‘I’m sorry that I did not do that last night and I can only apologise to Alan and Ipswich
Town.’ And that should be that. A slap on the wrist. A trip to the naughty step for a handful of games, maybe a few match fees going to an applicable charity.
These are difficult times for us all, for different reasons and to varying extents, and most of us are full of anxiety and stress. For a split second, a human being lost his cool, then regained it almost immediately. No harm done.
The FA does not need to make an example out of Darren Drysdale but instead should set an example by employing common sense and compassion.
Without doubt, we cannot have referees and players going noseto-nose but that is not a genuine problem facing football today. It almost never happens. The constant verbal abuse and
physical intimidation of referees by players, on the other hand, happens at almost every game.
So, if the book is being readied to chuck at Drysdale, then I’m sure those calling for his severe punishment will also support lengthy bans for any players, managers or coaching staff who surround officials in numbers, or bound towards them, faces snarled and swear words spraying from their mouths. Otherwise, the hypocrisy is there for all to see.
At the time of writing this column, Drysdale has been stood down from Southend’s clash with Bolton at Roots Hall tomorrow. Rumours are also circulating he will be taking on Deontay Wilder at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on July 23.