Frank hurting after QPR comeback
Championship John Aizlewood at Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium
2-1 Brentford
It has not been Brentford’s week. On Sunday they surrendered a 21-game unbeaten run to Barnsley. Last night they took the lead against Queens Park Rangers, only to lose to two goals in four second-half minutes from two West Brom players.
“It hurts,” lamented Brentford coach Thomas Frank. “We were so on top, but we’d have taken this position at the start of the season.”
Brentford snuck ahead on the half-hour when Mathias Jensen’s free-kick found Ivan Toney, who guided the ball past Seny Dieng. Just before half-time, though, a fabulous save from David Raya foiled Yoann Barbet and Brentford failed to heed the warning in the second half.
Kane’s cross was half-cleared by a Henry header and debutant Sam Field smashed the ball past Raya. Then, Lee Wallace’s pullback was met by Charlie Austin, whose low shot took a deflection past Raya.
“My players deserve so much credit for the response,” said Mark Warburton, the QPR manger.
Queens Park Rangers (5-3-2) Dieng; Kane, Dickie, Cameron, Barbet Wallace (Kakay 79); Ball (Field 56), Johansen, Chair; Dykes (Willock 65), Austin.
Lumley (g), Hamalainen, Bettache, Kelman, Adomah. Booked Kane, Ball, Dickie, Cameron, Dieng. Brentford (4-3-3) Raya; Dalsgaard (Rasmussen 83), Reid, Sorensen Henry; Dasilva (Ghoddos 75), Janelt (Forss 83), Jensen; Fosu (Mbeumo 58), Toney, Canos. Daniels (g), Zamburek, Pinnock, Bidstrup. Toney.
Gavin Ward (Surrey).
Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed that his biggest fear after suffering a brain haemorrhage three years ago was losing his memory.
The former Manchester United manager, 79, makes the admission in a new documentary Sir Alex Ferguson: Never Give In, which will be in cinemas from May 27 and available on Amazon Prime Video in the UK and Ireland two days later.
Ferguson, who won 13 league titles, five FA Cups and the Champions League twice with United, said: “Losing my memory was my biggest fear when I suffered a brain haemorrhage in 2018. In the making of this film I was able to revisit the most important moments of my life, good and bad.
“Having my son Jason direct this film has ensured an honest and intimate account.”
Including exclusive and unseen archive footage, as well as testimonies from his wife, Lady Cathy and three sons, Ferguson recalls his own playing career and 35 years of managerial success at United and Aberdeen, where he won the Scottish top flight three times and the European Cup Winners’ Cup.
Eric Cantona, Ryan Giggs, Gordon Strachan and Archie Knox are among the players and coaches to feature in the film.
Mikel Arteta has said he understands the criticism of Willian but has vowed to “protect and support” the struggling Brazilian as he looks to rediscover his form following a disappointing start to his Arsenal career.
Willian is in contention to play in Arsenal’s Europa League round of 32 first leg against Benfica tonight, but is expected to once again be on the bench after so far being unable to replicate his performances at former club Chelsea.
The free signing has yet to score for Arsenal since joining on a threeyear deal in the summer. He has not started a league match since Dec 19 and has been heavily criticised for his performances.
Asked if that criticism was unfair, Arteta said: “I don’t say it’s unfair because obviously expectations are really high in terms of the goals he can score, the assists he can create.
“You expect him to be in the starting line-up, so it is normal that people write things about him. We have to protect him, we have to support him as much as we can, because he deserves it with the way he handles his profession and the way he is every day with us.”
Willian’s professionalism was one of the key reasons that Arsenal targeted him in the transfer market and Arteta said the 32-year-old is showing “full commitment” behind closed doors.
“What he is doing at the moment, the way he is training and the way he is pushing to give everything to the team is what I demand,” said Arteta.
“Whether he is more successful or less successful in the game is another matter. It will come, with the quality that he has. But what I demand from every player is full commitment and to put the passion, and everything they have, in every training session and when they have the opportunity to play. So far Willian has done that every single day.”
Arsenal are facing Benfica in
Rome due to coronavirus travel restrictions and they will have captain Pierre-emerick Aubameyang available after suggestions he may have broken lockdown rules.
Aubameyang was pictured with a tattoo artist over the weekend but Arteta said the matter has been dealt with internally and there are no doubts over the striker’s involvement against Benfica.
Arsenal were knocked out of the Europa League at this stage of the competition last season by Olympiacos and Arteta said they must learn from their mistakes if they are to progress past Benfica, who are currently fourth in the Portuguese league.
“I thought it was very cruel, the way we got knocked out,” said the Arsenal manager. “The big lesson there is that you have to play every single minute of the competition with high focus. Every detail matters and every situation has to be handled.
“Being able to manage the game the way it is required is very important and that has to be in the back of your mind. You have to be able to control your emotions and be able to change the game when you need to.
“It was a really tough experience for all of us, the way it happened, because I think we deserved to go through. I think that created more hunger, for this season, to do more and we have to use that.”