Winning start for Bradford as they make their League One return
Antoni Sarcevic, who scored the stoppage-time promotion decider against Fleetwood on the final day of last season, converted from close range after Stephen Humphrys saw two shots saved by Wycombe keeper Mikki van Sas.
Bobby Pointon quickly doubled the home side's lead with a low drive into the bottom corner from 20 yards.
Wycombe were missing League One player of the year Richard Kone who was left out of the squad after head coach Mike Dodds confirmed they had received 'four or five' offers for the striker during the week.
But they improved after the break and Magnus Westergaard missed a huge chance when he shot over from six yards.
Dan Udoh did pull one back midway through the second half but Sam Walker saved late on to deny Bradley Fink and secure Bradford's win.
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Telegraph
an hour ago
- Telegraph
The rise and fall of ‘Mighty Mouse' Kevin Keegan
Kevin Keegan was 'a fun-size colossus' on the pitch, but wore a 'halo of failure' in the second half of his career, as manager of the England team and at club level. Anthony Quinn's new and sprightly biography – written without the involvement of Keegan, who is now 74 – looks at how such a driven and adored player could have fallen so poignantly short as a manager, especially for Newcastle United, the great nearly men of the 1990s. Keegan's size is highlighted throughout the book, whether in his proving too small to be a paperboy during a childhood of 'Northern hardship' (in Armthorpe, Yorkshire), or too short (at 5ft 8in) to carry the coffin of his most influential gaffer, Bill Shankly. But Keegan was nonetheless 'built like a tank', having taken his fitness in hand at a young age to compensate. His ambition and physical attributes saw him fast-tracked into the first team by Shankly after being picked up from Scunthorpe, proving an immediate talisman for Liverpool, his goals leading them to a period of trophy-laden glory – including the European Cup in his final season. Later, at Hamburg, he was nicknamed the 'Mighty Mouse'. He was steely in other ways too, and Quinn makes a good case for Keegan orchestrating his career as English football's first 'free marketeer', deciding on his own terms and exits, negotiating high salaries and throwing himself into endorsements to become football's first millionaire. His instincts weren't perfect, however, and his post-retirement 'soccer circus' – an 'interactive football skills arcade' – failed to gild his fortune. Keegan had been out of the game for almost a decade when, in 1992, Newcastle sought out their former player to be the returning Messiah – this time in the dugout, rather than the penalty area. Here, Keegan the manager was all passion, hand gestures and cheery motivation. If it made for a near miss with Newcastle United, it spelt disaster at international level, when Keegan accepted the England role but discovered his dream job to be more of a nightmare. A man who thrived on day-to-day contact with players in order to get them to buy into his belief-led style, it's fair to say he wasn't one for over-complication: 'I buy good players and let them play.' Keegan was hamstrung by FA pen-pushers, and shown up by tactical superiors. In 2000, after 18 months managing the team, he was booed off the pitch when England lost 1-0 to Germany at Wembley. But Quinn is keen to show us Keegan as an individualist, often finding himself – uncoincidentally – in the most unpromising of places, frequently the biggest fish in a modest pond. (This was especially the case on Keegan's return to England after playing for Hamburger SV, where he arrived at Southampton – a move which surprised everyone.) He comes across as a strange mix of leading man and comic foil – nicknamed 'Andy McDaft' at Liverpool, some of his exploits are ridiculous, such as playing a ventriloquist's dummy on the team bus. Quinn can't ignore – but gives as short shrift as possible to – the weirdest story in Keegan lore. In 1991, Keegan was robbed and beaten while pulled over on the hard shoulder at a spot which happened to be a notorious dogging site. Tabloid rumours started 'springing from the mulch like poison mushrooms'. Quinn – a novelist at heart, with a penchant for plot twists and double-dealing – dismisses these via a Shakespeare quote about filching a man's good name. That assault was the hardest physical blow Keegan endured during his career, but his managerial shortcomings were far more deleterious. Beyond passion, he was 'tactically naïve', to use the immortal words of Martin Keown, and far more focused on entertainment than ensuring his teams were watertight in the way that wins titles. 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But he's sharp on Keegan's appeal as well as his flaws: '95 per cent of being a fan is disappointment', and in Keegan's hands, at least it was usually glorious failure, full of flair and hope. While Quinn fails to find much hinterland in Keegan, he's persuasive in the idea that what makes him seem such an old-fashioned figure from our vantage point of media-trained non-interviews and pragmatic, system-led coaching is his unrelenting honesty and his desire for his teams to put on a show above all else – and always putting the fans first. After all, and particularly in the cash-soaked global 'product' that is football now: '[Does] anyone listen to the fans any more?' ★★★★☆ Keegan: The Man Who Was King is published by Faber at £14.99. To order your copy for £12.99, call 0330 173 0523 or visit Telegraph Books
Scottish Sun
9 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Rangers v Alloa: Cyriel Dessers injury latest as Moore could make debut plus Igamane & Aasgaard updates
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) RANGERS didn't win either of their first two domestic games in the Scottish Premiership against Motherwell and Dundee. But will Russell Martin finally get off to a winning start domestically against League One challengers Alloa this weekend? Sign up for the Rangers newsletter Sign up 1 Russell Martin is searching for his first domestic win Credit: Willie Vass Rangers host the Wasps at Ibrox in a David vs Goliath Premier Sports Cup clash tomorrow night. It would be a shocker if the Light Blues don't get the job done against their third division opponents. But we found out last season that anything can happen in the cup at Ibrox - after Queen's Park stunned Philippe Clement's side to dump them out of the Scottish Cup in February. That was one of - if not the biggest - cup upsets in the history of Scottish football. But if Alloa manage to pull off a similar result in Govan then that would most certainly top it. Russell Martin will be without a number of his players for this one - but he could also hand one of his summer signings their Ibrox debut. SunSport has all the details ahead of the showdown. What time does Rangers vs Alloa kick off? Rangers take on Alloa on Saturday, August 16. The game kicks off at 5.45pm UK time. It will be held at Ibrox. What TV channel is Rangers vs Alloa kick off and can I live stream it? The game will be shown live on Premier Sports 1. Coverage begins at 5.15pm - half an hour before kick off. Subscribers can stream the game live via the Premier Sports website or app. BBC Sportsound will have live radio commentary. Alternatively, you can follow al the action right here with our LIVE blog. Team news Russell Martin could welcome the likes of Thelo Aasgaard, Mikey Moore and Hamza Igamane back this weekend. Billy Dodds on turning down Celtic for Rangers and surviving relegation scare with Aberdeen Moore will be available to face Alloa, while the other pair could feature in the squad after making their returns from injury. The manager revealed that both Aasgaard and Igamane will be available to face Club Brugge - and hinted they could feature in the Premier Sports Cup tie. The game against Alloa will come too soon for Cyriel Dessers, though, but he should be ready to face the Belgian outfit too. Dujon Sterling will definitely be missing from the cup tie. Latest odds Rangers 1/40 Draw 19/1 Alloa 35/1 *Latest odds correct from Sky Bet as of Friday, August 15. Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
Scottish Sun
11 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
How Sunderland lined up for last Premier League game including Jordan Pickford, Man Utd legend and two Liverpool flops
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) IT'S BEEN eight long years but finally the Black Cats are back in the big time. Every gruesome detail of Sunderland's downfall into League One was screened on Netflix. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 7 Javier Manquillo scored Sunderland's last goal in the Premier League Credit: - 7 That came in a 5-1 thrashing at Chelsea in what proved to be David Moyes' final match in charge Credit: AFP Now the cameras and spotlight return to the Stadium of Light for what promises to be a bumper showdown against West Ham on Saturday. Regis Le Bris could potentially field an entire new team against the Hammers after bringing in eleven new recruits over the summer. But what ever happened to the last side that lined-up for the club in the top-flight? Sunderland's last Premier League fixture was back in May 2017 in a match better remembered as John Terry's bizarre final farewell to Chelsea. READ MORE FOOTBALL Field generals Five midfield engines Man Utd could swoop for if Baleba transfer fails Despite taking an early lead, the already relegated Black Cats were thumped 5-1 at Stamford Bridge. That proved to be David Moyes' final match in charge - but here's a look at each player who was wearing red and white that day at Stamford Bridge: JORDAN PICKFORD It also proved to be academy product Pickford's last game for his hometown club as weeks later he joined Everton for £30m. It's fair to say that the now 31-year-old goalie is one of the few to go on to bigger and better things. BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS He's still at the Toffees and preparing for their big move into their new stadium - coincidently with Moyes as his manager again. And he remains England's No1 goalie - a position he's enjoyed since 2018. Sunderland fan kicked out of women's derby at Newcastle after wiping bum with Toon flag BILLY JONES He arrived at Sunderland in 2014 from West Brom and played over 80 times during his four years on Wearside. Jones stayed for one another season after relegation from the Prem but departed shortly after the club dropped into the third tier 12 months later. He headed to Rotherham before hanging up his boots in 2021 after a loan spell at Crewe following knee injuries. Was last known to be working as a coach in Shrewsbury's academy. 7 Jordan Pickford was unable to stop Sunderland from beating the drop Credit: PA:Press Association JOHN O'SHEA The Manchester United legend was another who stuck it out at Sunderland for another season but departed once relegation to League One was confirmed. The former defender headed to Reading for a campaign before retiring and going into coaching. He had spells at both Birmingham and Stoke and is now Heimir Hallgrímsson's assistant manager at Republic of Ireland. JOLEON LESCOTT A Prem winner with Manchester City, this outing proved to be the final outing of the ex-England defender's career. His brief stint with the Black Cats was one to forget and this was the second of his two appearances for them. Lescott has ventured into coaching since hanging up his boots and has worked with both the U21 and senior England setup. Play Dream Team now! Play The Sun Dream Team ahead of the 2025/26 season Free to play Over £100,000 in total prize money Play in Mini Leagues against your mates Submit a team for Gameweek 1 to enter £5,000 prize draw Play via Dream Team's app or website today! JAVIER MANQUILLO The Spanish full-back, who had previously endured an uneventful loan spell at Liverpool, is actually the last player to score for Sunderland in the Premier League. He opened the scoring against Chelsea early doors before Willian, Eden Hazard, Pedro and a brace from Michy Batshuayi secured the Blues 5-1 victory. Full-back Manquillo returned to Atletico Madrid following this loan spell but weeks later transformed into a villain on Wearside as he joined bitter foes Newcastle on a permanent basis. He went on to spend seven years at St. James' but left in January 2024 to reunite with ex-Toon boss Rafa Benitez at Celta Vigo and is still playing there. SEB LARSSON The Swedish midfielder became a big hit with the Mackems during his six years at the club. He left for Hull City after relegation and then headed to his homeland to finish his career at AIK. Larsson has turned to coaching since retiring in 2022 and is now assistant manager to Jon Dahl Tomasson with Sweden. 7 Lee Cattermole stuck with Sunderland all the way until League One Credit: - LEE CATTERMOLE The former Sunderland captain spent a decade at the club and stuck with them after they dropped into League One. He left for Dutch outfit VVV-Venlo in 2019 but only spent a year there before hanging up his boots. The ex-midfielder is another to have moved into coaching and has worked at both Middlesbrough and Bristol City. He recently completed his Pro Licence badge and is now eyeing up a new job. 7 JACK RODWELL Arguably one of, if not THE, most disastrous signings in Sunderland's history. The former Everton and Man City midfielder made just 76 appearances during his four years at the club. Continuing to earn big bucks, believed to be £70,000-a-week, in the Championship, Rodwell went almost a year without featuring before his deal was eventually terminated in June 2018. Moves to Blackburn and Sheffield United failed to help him reignite his career before he headed to Australia to play for both Western Sydney Wanderers and Sydney, where the 34-year-old's deal has just expired. 7 Jack Rodwell's time at the Stadium of Light was a disaster Credit: PA:Press Association BRYAN OVIEDO The Costa Rican arrived in January of the relegation campaign and stayed put even after the Black Cats dropped into League One. He returned to old team Copenhagen in 2019 prior to heading to the MLS with Real Salt Lake three years later. Oviedo moved back to his homeland to sign for Alajuelense a year ago though it remains to be seen whether the 35-year-old's contract will be extended. ADNAN JANUZAJ The ex-Manchester United wonderkid failed to shine during his loan spell at Sunderland and left Old Trafford permanently for Real Sociedad that summer after relegation. The Belgium attacker later moved to Sevilla in 2022 but has been sent out on loan to Istanbul Basaksehir and Las Palmas over the past two campaigns. FABIO BORINI The 34-year-old one cap Italy international, who previously underwhelmed at both Chelsea and Liverpool, was a firm favourite on Wearside. He departed after the drop and headed to AC Milan and has since played for Hellas Verona, Turkish club Karagumruk and spent the past two seasons with Sampdoria. Borini has recently been back in England after becoming a free agent and been training with other out of contract players in a PFA camp.
