NICE GUY BEN’S
Bruce to wield axe despite goal glut LAMPARD: BOSSES DESERVE A BREAK
STEVE BRUCE is ready to tear up the team which ended Newcastle’s six-hour goal drought.
For only the third time this season, the Magpies scored more than twice as they beat West Brom 3-2 in the fifth round of the FA Cup.
But Valentino Lazaro, who scored his first goal in English football on Tuesday and Joelinton, who enjoyed one of his better games, are among those who could be left out today.
Jonjo Shelvey and
Matt Ritchie,
FRANK LAMPARD has called for managers to be cut some slack when tempers boil over in the wake of Carlo Ancelotti’s red card.
Everton’s former Chelsea manager Ancelotti was fined £8,000 by the FA for confronting referee Chris Kavanagh after his side’s game with Manchester United.
Lampard, above, was pleased Ancelotti escaped a touchline ban and is looking forward to taking on his old boss tomorrow.
But he hit out at the severity of the Italian’s punishment. Lampard said: “It wasn’t the most who have both signed new deals at St James’ Park, are set for recalls at Southampton along with Isaac Hayden. And Bruce, below, must decide between Dwight Gayle, who he recalled against Burnley seven days ago, and Joelinton, stuck on one league goal since August. “Having a selection dilemma is the hard part,” said the Newcastle manager. “However, I would rather have that than what we had a few weeks ago.” vicious of reds, was it? I was surprised the sending off came. Now I’m on this side, I understand the emotions involved.
“It’s not easy to keep your emotions in check. Managers should be given some leeway in terms of how much you lose your rag. Carlo wasn’t doing anything terrible and I’m pleased he’s on the touchline.”
Lampard has injury problems with Mateo Kovacic out and Willian struggling and could bring backWilly Caballero for Kepa Arrizabalaga.
BEN FOSTER is already the nicest footballer in the Premier League – now Nigel Pearson wants to give him a new deal for being one of the meanest.
The Watford keeper, who has kept nine clean sheets despite spending all season in the relegation zone, is out of contract this summer.
Hornets messiah Pearson wants to keep the former England stopper at Vicarage Road because only Burnley’s Nick Pope (11) and Liverpool’s Alisson Becker (10) have directed more shutouts in the top flight.
Foster, 36, went viral this week when Watford published a video of his reunion with 12-year-old leukaemia patient Molly Hall and fulfilling his promise to ‘sign’ her as a mascot for last Saturday’s stunning 3-0 win over runaway leaders Liverpool.
Check it out on YouTube. Foster pushes her across the pitch in her wheelchair and leaves Molly saying: “He’s my best friend.”
It is not the first time this season Fozzie has been a safe pair of hands off the pitch as well as Watford’s last line of defence.
In December, driving home after the 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace, Foster and his wife Kate rescued an elderly gentleman who had toppled into a ditch, took him home and even offered to