Gabbiadini criticises 'anonymous performances'

30-04-2025

Former Sunderland striker Marco Gabbiadini has criticised "anonymous performances" in Sunderland's loss at Oxford United. "We are huffing and puffing and not really getting anywhere at the moment. It's a very difficult watch," he told BBC Radio Newcastle. "There was some moments. We probably deserved a goal from the sort of chances and half-chances we had in the first half."Sunderland have long secured their place in the Championship play-offs while Gary Rowett's side sealed their safety from relegation with Saturday's result. "It was a huge game for Oxford," Gabbiadini added."I think they did a job on us in that they were very physical. Every time a ball went to one of our players they got clipped or pushed or caught in the follow through or whatever but they did it in a clever way and we didn't find a way around that."Regis Le Bris has rotated his team in recent weeks but named his strongest possible 11 against the U's and Gabbiadini was not impressed with two of Sunderland's star players and one of the bosses tactical decisions. "There was some really anonymous performances. Roberts was just completely ineffectual," he added."Rigg struggled to really put his stamp on the game. In a game where they had a lot of possession and they needed a little bit of magic. I find it hard to criticise a lad of his age but this is the reality of where we are as a club at this moment. "My biggest question would be, why on earth isn't Enzo Le Fee playing in the middle of the pitch? He was the only one really, for me, who had any sort of gumption about him against Oxford. It was a hard watch."You can listen to more from Marco Gabbiadini on BBC Sounds.

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Ross County's Arron Lyall spells out risks of complacency as Staggies set their sights on Premiership return

Press and Journal

35 minutes ago

Press and Journal

Ross County's Arron Lyall spells out risks of complacency as Staggies set their sights on Premiership return

Arron Lyall insists any hint of Ross County slackness will be punished as the Staggies set out to seal the club's immediate return to the Premiership. The attacking midfielder is one of 11 new arrivals at the Dingwall club and he's relishing this fresh challenge. The 21-year-old, who had a four-month loan stint at Inverness in 2021 when he was coming through the ranks at Rangers, is delighted to have made the Highlands his base for at least two years. On Saturday afternoon, County will host Championship rivals Partick Thistle in the Premier Sports Cup, needing three points to get through as Group B winners and into the second round. They trail Thistle by two points, therefore only a victory will be enough to knock their opponents off top spot. A stunning 8-0 demolition of League Two Edinburgh City on Tuesday kept County in contention. Once the dust settles on this final tie, the attention will switch to their pursuit of the title. Lyall stressed there's no room for complacency – despite the high expectations nationally. He said: 'When you come down from the top-flight, a lot of teams are expected to go straight back up. 'However, the Championship is a very hard league. I played a lot of games in it over the past two seasons, it is tough. 'We'd like to think we're going to win the league, but we must not expect to win it. We must be focused for every single game. 'If we play to the best of our ability, then we've a really good chance, but any slackness and you will be punished. There are a lot of good teams and good players in the Championship. 'If you're not at the top of your game every game, then you can be punished.' Lyall had a ball in his year at Morton, impressing Ton boss Dougie Imrie having been on loan at Airdrieonians from Rangers from January to May 2024. He made 42 appearances for the Cappielow side and walked off with the club's young player of the year prize. That form was noticed by County manager Don Cowie, who secured his services on a two-year contract on June 21. Lyall was impressed by Cowie's early bid to sign him as he spelled out the target of getting back to the top-flight in one shot. He explained: 'I loved my time at Morton. It was great. 'I have such respect for Dougie Imrie, who was brilliant with me last year. 'The gaffer here phoned me quite early in the summer and made it clear a few times what his plans were for this season. 'He didn't mess around and told me what he wanted, and this move was a no-brainer for me.' Ronan Hale's first competitive hat-trick for County, a Jay Henderson double, a strike from Kieran Phillips and a brace from 16-year-old substitute Joe Coyle buried visitors Edinburgh City in midweek. County now know a victory against Thistle on Saturday will put them into the second round of the Premier Sports Cup. That rout came on the back of a 1-0 win at Queen of the South and Lyall explained they've been improving game by game since slipping up away to League Two Stranraer in their first tie in their section. He said: 'It was good to put on such a good performance on Tuesday, especially in our first home game. 'The Stranraer game especially wasn't great when we drew the game after being 1-0 up and then we lost on penalties. 'We expect better from ourselves, even if it is to grind out a 1-0 win. In the Championship, we might need to do that a few times. 'But Tuesday was more of a show from us. To score eight goals was brilliant. 'I was buzzing for young Joe Coyle to get two and for Ronan Hale to get his first hat-trick in Scotland.'

Parking chaos fears as Wrexham AFC grows and residents beg for fans 'to be respectful'

North Wales Live

an hour ago

North Wales Live

Parking chaos fears as Wrexham AFC grows and residents beg for fans 'to be respectful'

Residents living near Wrexham's football stadium are urging the club's Hollywood owners to address worsening parking problems linked to its surge in popularity. North Wales Live readers have come up with some solutions to the issue. Since Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney bought the Red Dragons in February 2021, attendances at the Racecourse Ground have tripled as the club has risen from the National League to the Championship. While Wrexham 's success has been widely celebrated, people living around the stadium say it has created serious problems on match days, with fans blocking driveways and pavements and sparking disputes with locals. Residents on the Maesgwyn estate, directly opposite the ground on Mold Road, fear matters could deteriorate further. The concerns come as Wrexham AFC submits a new planning application to increase the capacity of its proposed Kop Stand from 5,500 to 7,750 seats, taking the stadium's total to around 18,000 once construction is complete. Neighbours say they back the expansion but want a condition added requiring the club to pay for a residents' parking scheme to ease the strain. The Racecourse Ground — the world's oldest international football stadium still in operation — is understood to have had the issue raised directly with club chief executive Michael Williamson. A residents' meeting was also held last week to voice concerns. Commenter Mark Williams asks: 'Why do people buy a house by a football club and then moan?' Karen Jones replies: 'I have lived here for years. We are not moaning just asking for people to be respectful of parking. The football club pays every match day for signs and cones and then the supporters ignore them and park blocking driveways and pavements. I think it's wonderful what's happening to Wrexham and new development, but to go out in my car and then not be able to get near my property because someone has parked gets a bit frustrating.' Colin Wynn agrees: 'Most of the houses round by the ground are council houses. You are given a council house you don't have a choice simply because it's by a football club. They park both sides of the road so if there is ever a fire you wouldn't get a fire engine down the street.' Paul Morris suggests: 'They need to close Maesgwyn road & Yale Park, with security at the entrances, residents should show proof they live there to get in & out. That hopefully would improve the situation.' Colin Wynn replies: 'That's what they are trying to do but no one wants to pay for it. With the new stand going ahead that means two and a half thousand more fans that will need parking.' Jay Louise wonders: 'Maybe they should buy the disused multi-storey carpark in town and just have it as match day or season ticket holders?' Phillip Wynn points out: 'The local residents are fully behind the additional 2,250 spectator seats in the new Kop stand but are just asking the Club to take ownership of matchday parking in nearby residential side streets. The Club in their Travel Plan, which supports their Kop stand planning application, states in para 9.1.4 that they plan to 'minimise car parking close to the stadium' and to 'protect the amenity of local residents by better management of on-street parking' so everyone is singing from the same hymn sheet, the residents just want Rob and Ryan to clarify how this will be achieved.' Stephen Crewe asks: 'What ever happened to the football special on the train? It used to be the inter City British rail, with the main station opposite the ground, you could cover Holyhead all the way into Wrexham, Shropshire into Wrexham and Bidston into Wrexham with all the pick up points along each route, then run a return journey about an hour after final whistle. It would take a lot of traffic from the place on match days.' Mandy NL thinks: 'Wrexham council should hire more parking wardens and get out ticketing.'

Clubs must wait until October for confirmation of 2026 Super League status

Rhyl Journal

4 hours ago

Rhyl Journal

Clubs must wait until October for confirmation of 2026 Super League status

The current top 12 clubs voted last month to expand the competition to 14 from 2026, subject to enough applicants meeting tight financial and sustainability criteria. The top 12 will still be determined by existing IMG grading scores, with the possible additional clubs picked by a seven-strong panel of experts. Clubs – including those who face the prospect of dropping out of the existing top 12 in the IMG table – must express their intention to apply by next Wednesday, with the composition of next season's Super League announced on October 16. Crisis-hit Salford, who are battling to complete their season after forfeiting last week's game against Wakefield, are expected to drop out of contention, effectively leaving three top-flight places up for grabs. The PA news agency understands that Bradford Bulls, who last played in Super League in 2014, are in pole position to replace Salford in the 12th spot, leaving Toulouse, York and London as front-runners for the remaining places. The panel, which will consider criteria additional to those already set out by IMG, specifically relating to financial status and sustainability going forward, will be chaired by RFL non-executive director Lord Caine. Caine said: 'I am honoured to have been asked to chair the panel to determine whether the Betfred Super League expands from 12 to 14 in 2026 and, if so, which clubs will take up the 13th and 14th positions in the competition. 'This panel consists of individuals with the considerable knowledge and expertise necessary to ensure that the process is both thorough and robust. 'All of our proceedings will be conducted on the basis of absolute fairness, rigorous impartiality between the applicants, total independence and, of necessity, complete confidentiality.' The seven-strong panel will also include two fellow non-executive RFL directors Abi Ekoku and Dermot Power, RFL chief executive Tony Sutton, interim head of legal Graeme Sarjeant, RL Commercial managing director Rhodri Jones and Super League (Europe) board member Peter Hutton. The composition of next season's Championship and League One competitions – which are expected to merge – is set to be confirmed later this week.