Pick of the stats: Leeds United v Preston North End
This fixture goes back to the 1924-25 season when Leeds won both matches in the old First Division, scoring four goals in each game.Preston are looking for a first league victory at Elland Road since 2010 when they came from 4-2 down at half-time to win 6-4.Leeds have lost just one of their past seven league games against Preston, (W3 D3), a 2-1 defeat at Deepdale in December 2023.Preston have won just one of their past 12 away league games against Leeds since 1963 (D4 L7).Leeds have scored 80 goals in the Championship this season, just one short of their competition record (since 2004-05) of 81 in 2010-11 and 2023-24. They last scored more than 81 in a league campaign in 1969-70 (84).Preston have won just one of their past 10 league matches (D6 L3), beating Portsmouth 2-1 in March. The Lilywhites have lost three of their past four away games in the Championship (D1).Leeds' Dan James has 12 league goals this season, one below his record in a single campaign of 13 last season. James could score in three successive league appearances for the third time in his career – the last time he achieved this (January 2024), the third game was against Preston at Elland Road.
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Scottish Sun
2 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Top cop's call to toughen up footie banning orders amid surge in violence among teen fans
Police chiefs want easier access and heavier punishments for louts PYRO MANIACS Top cop's call to toughen up footie banning orders amid surge in violence among teen fans Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) TOUGHER footie banning orders are needed to tackle an alarming surge in violence and pyro offences by teenage fans of Scots lower league clubs, a top cop says. Assistant Chief Constable Alan Waddell issued the warning days after yobs brawled in the street before the SPFL Premiership play-off tie between Ross County and Livingston. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 01FEB25 Dunfermlines fans at the start. Dunfermline 3 v 1 Raith Rovers , Scottish Championship game played 1/2/2024 at East End Park. 4 Assistant Chief Constable Alan Waddell wants to make it easier for courts to serve tougher punishments on louts 4 Ultras groups down the divisions have marred games with fighting and pyro 4 Partick Thistle keeper ignores a smoke bomb hurled onto the pitch during the clash with Ayr United It followed a series of 'shocking' incidents involving matches in the Championship, League One, League Two — and even at Junior level. ACC Waddell, who heads football policing operations across Scotland, said: 'We are aware of the importance of football to our communities. "But some of the scenes over the last year have been shocking. "There have been pitch incursions and violence recently inside grounds. "And outside them, there have been disturbances leading to concerns and increased reports about fan behaviour. "The challenge with disorder at lower-level matches is that we would not ordinarily have police resources at them. "It means that we have to take officers out of communities to try to deal with this.' Attendances in the Championship, Leagues One and Two rocketed by more than 65 per cent in the last 11 years to a record 985,287 last season. But among the new faces inside grounds are groups keen to replicate the ultras of Celtic's Green Brigade and Rangers' Union Bears. Some have embraced hooliganism — wearing masks and hoods, attacking rival supporters and setting off flares and smoke bombs. Moment Scottish football ultras have megaphone confiscated ACC Waddell is keen to see the yobs being kept away from matches. He told The Scottish Sun on Sunday: 'In England, it's much easier for a football banning order to be issued. "There's an expectation the courts will do that. "However, that's not the same in Scotland. "We are keen to see the legislation being explored further here. "It's in the Scottish Government's plan for the next few years. "We've worked really closely with them. "And we've been inviting sheriffs and procurator fiscals to matches. "We want them to understand the complexities of policing games. "We're trying to get the criminal justice system in a place where we can work together to address these issues.' Last Monday, more than 20 ultras linked to Ross County and Livingston threw punches and attacked each other with poles and makeshift weapons in Dingwall, Easter Ross. Kenan Widdows, 24, of nearby Invergordon, was caught up in the chaos. He said: 'Boys from both sides were really lucky nobody was hurt considering weapons were used and bottles were thrown.' Earlier this month a cop required medical attention after being injured when Ayr United and Partick Thistle fans scrapped before their play-off clash. During the match at Somerset Park four young fans were hurt by pyros and home goalie Josh Clarke, 20, was shoved by a Jags supporter who'd ran onto the pitch. Greenock Morton revealed they'd hit seven fans with two-year bans following trouble at several games. Club chiefs said they were left with 'no choice but to take action'. Flares were hurled onto the pitch at Partick Thistle, narrowly missing kids, and a lad of 13 was attacked outside. Security was stepped up at Ton's Cappielow Park ground, with stewards checking for flares and smoke bombs. Four fans, three of them just 13, were nabbed in February by cops for having pyros at the Raith v Dunfermline league clash at Stark's Park. Ultras also let off smoke devices at Falkirk v Dunfermline in March. League One's bottom side Dumbarton barred all unaccompanied kids after ultras set off flares inside and outside their stadium during a game against Montrose, leaving some spectators needing medical attention. League Two side Spartans launched a 'School for Ultras' after kids said they wanted to get together to write songs and paint banners. But it had to be axed over fears they would be targeted by rivals. Even Junior football was affected. Masked hooligans were caught on CCTV hurling fireworks into a petrol station shop after being ejected from Newmains United Community FC's West of Scotland First Division clash with Carluke Rovers. Scots courts have issued more than 150 football banning orders to fans of lower league sides since 2012. But last night Stuart Murphy, chief exec of the Scottish Football Supporters Association, warned the chaos could lead to diehard fans opting to stay away. He said: 'Long-standing season ticket holders at clubs are thinking twice about renewing due to the behaviour of some people. These supporters are the lifeblood of our clubs but this is especially true for many teams in the lower divisions. But they are sick of illegal pyro use inside and outside grounds. It seems the game is secondary for some ultras. Nobody should need to worry about their kids or grandkids being burned by flares or being beaten up at a football match.' Kennie Young, assistant secretary of the Scottish Junior Football Association, said: 'Kids are just copying what they see fans of the biggest teams do on the telly. Clubs need to engage with them and tell them pyro is unacceptable, give them their own section and teach them responsibilities.' An SPFL spokesman said: 'We have repeatedly stated that pyrotechnics are illegal and unsafe and have no place at our matches. We wholeheartedly support the increased use of football banning orders for unacceptable behaviour.'
Scottish Sun
4 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
John Stones could make shock Everton return to save World Cup dream as Man City eye Jarrad Branthwaite swap transfer
Everton may not sanction a deal for two reasons Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) JOHN STONES could make a shock return to Everton to keep his World Cup dream alive. And that may grease the wheels for Jarrad Branthwaite heading in the opposite direction as part of an all-change summer at Manchester City. 4 Manchester City star John Stones could make a shock return to Everton 4 Stones' return to Everton would grease the wheels for Jarrad Branthwaite heading to Man City Stones was one of Pep Guardiola's first signings as manager — costing £50million in 2016 — and is the only one of six players to join that year still at the club. Guardiola continues to rate him as one of Europe's finest ball-playing centre-backs and would be quite happy to keep him at the Etihad. But the last two seasons have been an injury-ravaged disaster for Stones, who has been dogged by hip and particularly hamstring problems. The last of his 13 starts saw him limp out of the Champions League defeat at Real Madrid in February after only eight minutes. And as fitness concerns limited his openings at City, he also faded from the England reckoning since his 83rd appearance in Finland in October. Stones, 31, knows he needs regular games to have any chance of forcing his way into boss Thomas Tuchel's plans for next year's World Cup. But although Guardiola is happy for him to stay, there are no guarantees on how much game action he will get — even though their relationship is as strong as ever. Stones would certainly play more at Everton but he has 12 months left on a £250,000-a-week Etihad contract. CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS And the Toffees, for all their new investment, are not going to sanction that kind of package for a player of his age and with his injury record. Yet Guardiola is well aware of that and club sources claim he would let the player go for peanuts as a gesture, which would leave wriggle room on personal terms. City would also hope the move puts them in pole position to sign Branthwaite, one of the best young centre-backs in the country. They are long-time admirers of the Cumbrian, 22, now the prize asset on Everton's books and a summer target for a host of clubs — though Chelsea remain the hot favourites. If Stones does move to Merseyside, he would be linking up with the manager who signed him as an unknown Barnsley teenager in 2013. David Moyes paid £3m even though Stones had made just 22 starts in the Championship and he had three sensational years at Goodison. Although there was ill feeling from some fans at his departure — having pushed for a move — that would not harm his return. 4
Metro
4 hours ago
- Metro
Wife's desperate plea for rugby star who vanished weeks after birth of new baby
The wife of a rugby player in West Yorkshire who went missing a day ago has issued an urgent plea about his disappearance. Dad-of-three Brandon Moore, 28, who plays for the Batley Bulldogs in Castleford, went missing Friday night. His wife, Mara, has asked anyone with information to come forward as he missed his Championship match against Toulouse Olympique today. 'If anyone has seen Brandon Moore, can you please message me? I usually wouldn't ever post anything on here like this, but family and friends haven't seen or heard of him and hoping maybe someone's seen sightings of him and can message me,' she said. 'I have a 7-week-old baby at home and 2 others, so I can't go hunting myself other than a car ride.' Mara said she is in contact with the police over her husband's sudden disappearance. Well-wishers have flooded her comment section as she awaits further news. 'Oh Mara, how worrying for you, hope it's something of nothing and he's home soon,' one wrote. More Trending Another added: 'Oh my goodness, sending you lots of love, Mara, can't even imagine what you're going through.' As of today, her post has been shared over 3,000 times. Metro has contacted West Yorkshire Police for comment. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: The strongest British & Irish Lions XV after Andy Farrell names squad for Australia tour
