Four goals against Burton was Brazilian’s telling response to manager’s challenge to dislodge Sergio Agüero in City sideGabriel Jesus’s first four-goal haul for Manchester City could not have been better timed. After Pep Guardiola’s pre-game stance that the Brazilian and Sergio Agüero have to compete to be his centre-forward this was a big chance to bid for a place when Wolves visit on Monday. Related: Gabriel Jesus hits four in Manchester City’s 9-0 destruction of Burton Albion Related: Nigel Clough: ‘I hope Guardiola’s got more than a glass of wine for me’ Continue reading...
The original ‘nice young man’ faces an impossible choice between the relative sanity of Burton Albion and the emotional pull of his father’s old clubPerhaps this is an apt moment to remember an old story about the last time Southampton reached the League Cup final, back in 1979, and what it says about the way the sport has changed bearing in mind their opponents that day could be described accurately as the most hungover group of players ever to walk out at Wembley.Brian Clough always liked to keep it interesting and it turned out to be a wise move, sensing his Nottingham Forest players were a bit uptight, to decide the best form of relaxation at the hotel the night...
Plymouth’s defence was classy and defiant, Ndidi excelled on Leicester debut, Batshuayi proved little and Stourbridge showed romance is alive, even in defeatThe triumphant celebrations after Plymouth Argyle’s 0-0 draw at Anfield were further confirmation that giant-equalling is the new giantkilling. In the modern world of the FA Cup, it is enough for David to draw with Goliath – especially as it means a second payday for clubs often in need of such a financial boost. For Plymouth’s players, it was about more than that. It’s easy to be sniffy about their ultra-defensive approach against the youngest team in Liverpool’s history, but most League Two teams would not have been good enough to pull it off. Plymouth defended with such...