'I'm not feeling sorry for myself'
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BBC News
7 minutes ago
- BBC News
One-Day Cup - Surrey suffer record loss to Essex
Surrey suffered a record One-Day Cup defeat as Essex thumped them by 244 runs at asked the hosts to bat first and watched Essex rack up 417-6 with Ireland all-rounder Curtis Campher hitting a career-best 123 off only 68 balls on debut. Then young 19-year-old Charlie Bennett took 5-36 as Surrey were bowled out for 171 with 12.2 overs to Rapids went top of Group A with a four-wicket win away to Derbyshire Falcons, while Hampshire moved into the top three with a commanding seven-wicket success over Leicestershire Group B, Middlesex made it three wins in a row with a 28-run win over Warwickshire in a maiden List A century from Northamptonshire Steelbacks' James Sales was the foundation of their 150-run victory at Durham. Group A - Campher makes instant impact Previously winless Essex were asked to bat at a sun-baked Chelmsford, and promptly smashed an inexperienced Surrey attack to all parts for their record One-Day Critchley made 58 at the top of the order and Luc Benkenstein hit 83, but it was the partnership between Campher and Simon Harmer that provided the added 175 in under 16 overs as Campher, in the first of just three games for Essex in this competition, walloped 12 fours and six sixes in his highest-ever List A score off only 68 balls, with Harmer equalling his best in this format with were never in a position to threaten Essex's mammoth total with Cameron Steel's 49 the only modicum of took 5-36 in only his fourth game at this level as Essex put a seal on their remarkable 244-run result was record defeat for Surrey in the competition, and they sit second bottom of Group A with one win from four are now top of the group with three wins and a tie, but they were under pressure when Derbyshire's Caleb Jewell and Matthew Montgomery were the grounds of Repton School, their 150-run partnership took them to 196-1 in the 32nd Australian Jewell went for 113 and Montgomery eight short of his century as Derbyshire slipped to 315 all out, crucially with 17 balls not used up as Ben Allison and Khurram Shahzad claimed three wickets Rapids were soon 11-2, but Brett D'Oliveira and Jake Libby (69) turned things around with a stand of 183.D'Oliveira was eventually out for a personal-best score of 138 off 118 balls to leave Worcestershire 272-5, but 19-year-old Daniel Lategan on debut steered his side home on 42 not out by four wickets with 11 balls to made it three wins out of four with a strong display to see off Leicestershire Foxes at the Rose visitors batted first, but were kept in check by some fine bowling from South Africa seamer Kyle Abbott up top as he eventually finished with Budinger (65), Shan Masood (57) and Ben Cox (55) all passed 50, but the Foxes were eventually bowled out for 252 in the penultimate reply, a magnificent opening stand of 202 between Ali Orr and captain Nick Gubbins set up the went for 81, and although Orr perished for a terrific 131 in sight of the winning line, Hampshire completed their seven-wicket success with 6.3 overs to spare. Group B - Hollman spins Middlesex to win Middlesex's momentum in this competition continues to grow with a third win in six days as they moved level on points with Yorkshire and Somerset at the top of Group was not going to plan at halfway after batting first against Warwickshire as they were bowled out for 217, with Jake Lintott taking 5-37 with his left-arm spin. But it was a sign of things to come as Luke Hollman's best figures of 4-27 led the way, as the hosts lost seven wickets to spin to be all out for 189Middlesex captain Ben Geddes was the top scorer in that match with 48, only two days after his side had enjoyed a record run-chase in the One-Day Cup of 390-5. After being on the end of that chase, Durham suffered another damaging home decided to bat first at Banks Homes Riverside and finished on a more than respectable Sales made 117 - his first century in this format and smashing his previous top score of 35 not out - as he shared century stands of 119 with New Zealand batter Tim Robinson (63) and 102 with Justin Broad (59).That total proved more than enough for the Steelbacks as two wickets each for Luke Procter and Luke Guthrie reduced Durham to there, the innings subsided with Durham eventually out for 171 in only the 32nd was a first win in the competition for Northants but a bad result for the hosts, who missed the chance to go level on points with the teams at the top of the group.
Daily Mail
7 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Rangers boss Martin staying buoyant amid an ocean of criticism following pep talk from surprise source
Landing the biggest job of his career at a time when Rangers were coming under American ownership, there was much to enthuse Russell Martin on arrival at Ibrox a couple of months ago. With an initial investment of £20million being pumped into the club's coffers — and a blank canvas on which to create his blueprint — this was a fresh start in a league which, in theory, suited his style of play. Where Martin had struggled so badly with Southampton at the bottom of the English Premier League last season, life at Rangers would be different. No longer would he be trying to punch above his weight. In Glasgow, he would be in charge of a team who are expected to dominate on a weekly basis. His obsession with possession, and insistence on playing out from the back, would suffocate so many of the opponents attempting a low block on the domestic scene. Before we have even reached mid-August, however, that particular theory is already being questioned. In two Premiership matches so far, Rangers have laboured to a couple of 1-1 draws with Motherwell and Dundee. Martin would never have been naive enough to expect a quick fix when he took the job. Tasked with trying to turn around a failing institution, overnight success was never really on the cards. It would take time. 'Aye, but you don't get time at the Old Firm.' That's a statement so often uttered on radio phone-ins and fan forums, and it remains comfortably the most tiresome and unhelpful cliche in Scottish football. To be questioning a manager's future at such an early juncture, as some Rangers supporters have done this week, is a nonsense. Such short-sighted, short-termism has blighted the club for years. None of this is to say that Martin gets a free pass. Barring the first leg of the Champions League qualifier against Viktoria Plzen at Ibrox, which Rangers won 3-0, the standard of football has been poor. In the return leg in the Czech Republic in midweek, Rangers were fortunate to go through despite losing 2-1 on the night. Plzen wasted numerous gilt-edged chances and could easily have scored two or three more goals. Martin admitted afterwards that the performance hadn't been good enough. He wasn't trying to pull the wool over anyone's eyes. He called the game as every other punter saw it. Indeed, his comments after pretty much every game so far have been honest and accurate. He hasn't tried to spin an alternative reality, as his predecessors Philippe Clement and Michael Beale would do regularly. This will take time to get right. The problem is that fans are fed up of hearing it, despite Martin showing more honesty and having a better style of play than the pair before him. It's a delicate situation. How does Martin balance the need for patience with the need to show progress and deliver results? 'I think there's been an energy around this place for a while, I'm talking inside and outside, it's just been a lot of disappointment and a lot of frustration and a lot of criticism (of) the players, (of) the club,' said Martin, whose side face Alloa in the Premier Sports Cup tonight. 'Everyone has an opinion; everyone's entitled to one. So while I'm here, while we are here, our job is to really focus on what we can affect and what we can impact. 'If we do our jobs to the best of our ability and focus on the work and being better and having really, really high standards that this club should stand for, then I just don't see how it doesn't go in the right direction. 'One of the maintenance guys here this week said: 'We're turning a tanker around, gaffer, and it will just take some time, but when we get it going...'. 'I thought it was a perfect analogy. 'He's a great guy. He was here when I was here before (as a player). I don't want to embarrass him but, honestly, when he said that, I was like: 'No, you're right. We just qualified for the Champions League (play-off).'. 'I spoke to the staff last Sunday after Dundee because everyone here supports the club and they really feel things. 'But our job in here is to try and just work, not let the outside noise affect how we work. It just can't.' Earlier this week, former Rangers midfielder Halliday was scathing in his criticism of some of the performances under Martin so far. Halliday, who was a team-mate during Martin's loan spell at Ibrox back in 2018, claimed on a podcast that the manager's tactical approach was leaving Rangers badly short of numbers in attack and devoid of creativity. 'You'll ask me about Andy Halliday's criticism at some point, I am sure, but it can't impact the work we do,' said Martin. 'We need to be really consistent in the process here. We need to be really consistent in our behaviour, be really consistent in what we're asking them to do. 'And then that consistency will show up on the pitch. I've been in this situation at every club we've been at. This is why I can sit here calmly and tell you what I think is going to happen next. 'We just have to trust the work and trust each other. And I've spoken to the players relentlessly about that. 'And I can see what's coming with them, how they're growing into the culture we're trying to build, how they're adapting to it, and that's why I'm excited about what's going to come.' Pressed on whether he had an issue with Halliday's comments, Martin said: 'No, I like Andy. Everyone is entitled to an opinion. I regard him as a really good ex-team-mate and a good person and I like him. 'So I'm sure at some point we'll have a coffee in the West End and we'll sit down and discuss some. I know he wants to coach at some point. 'But when you work in the media, you have to give an opinion, right? So I've got absolutely no problem with it at all. Although I have never said we're going to play with inverted full-backs, I have told him that.' With a Champions League play-off clash with Club Brugge to come on Tuesday, Martin will rotate his squad against Alloa. New signings Thelo Aasgaard and Mikey Moore are both available and could make their debuts, with Hamza Igamane also fit again and ready to play. 'It's a nice position to be in,' added Martin. 'We'll see how many minutes they'll get on the pitch, but they'll all be back involved. 'We're not going to make 11 changes. So there'll be a chance for some people to play, for sure, but there are also some people who need to keep building and keep improving their performance. 'But, yeah, I'm looking forward to (seeing) some of the guys that will get opportunities, whether it's starting, whether it's coming off the bench, to see what they can bring us and how they can help us 'With Thelo and Mikey, I think they'll be top players, I really do. So much talent, character, courage to take the ball, creative, but really willing to run, physically both very good. So I think they'll help us a lot.'
BBC News
7 minutes ago
- BBC News
West Bromwich Albion women's team move to new stadium
The Alexander Stadium has been named as the new home of West Bromwich Albion's women's team for the 2025-26 in the Perry Barr area of Birmingham, the club said the 17,500 all-seater ground had "word-class facilities" and was just four miles from Albion's ground in West Bromwich - The Bromwich Albion Women have been playing their recent seasons at Redditch United's Valley Stadium, which is 20 miles away from West chairman Shilen Patel promised in the summer that they were looking for a new home for the women's team. The team play in the National League Northern Premier league and two promotion spots are available this director Andrew Nestor said: "This is another significant step forward for our women's football programme."We are committed to the advancement of our women's first team, and this is a crucial component for the club's progression. "This venue move will ensure our players and coaches are working in top-class facilities at home fixtures, and that our supporters enjoy a vibrant and welcoming match day experience within our local community."He added: "I want to make special mention to all our women's first team leadership and club staff and thank them for their work in securing this stadium partnership. We look forward to welcoming our fans to the Alexander Stadium." Manager Siobhan Hodgetts-Still said: "It's a really great venue to be playing our games at this season.""It brings us much closer to our area, which will hopefully continue to grow our fanbase. "And it also shows the ambition of the ownership group and the football club, in terms of the direction we believe we're heading."The first match there will be the FAWNL Northern Premier Division game against Stoke City on Sunday 14 September. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
