Airdrie to meet Cove in Championship play-off final - round-up
Airdrieonians kept their hopes of retaining their second-tier status alive by dispatching Stenhousemuir to set up a Scottish Championship play-off final against Cove Rangers.After winning the first leg 3-1, Airdrie killed the tie by netting the opening goal on 39 minutes when a corner to the back post was headed in by Alex Bannon.Ben Wilson made it 5-1 on aggregate after the break before third-tier Stenhousemuir scored a consolation through Matty Yates' deflected shot.Cove will now meet Rhys McCabe's men for a place in the Championship next term after following a goalless first leg with a 2-1 win over fellow League 1 side Queen of the South.Meanwhile, Annan Athletic's aims to remain a third-tier club remain intact despite a 2-1 second-leg defeat at home to Elgin City.Annan progress 5-4 on aggregate and will meet East Fife, who overcame a 1-0 first-leg deficit with a 3-0 home victory over Edinburgh City, in the League One play-off final.And in the League Two play-off final, East Kilbride are in the driving seat to secure promotion to the SPFL after beating fourth-tier Bonnyrigg Rose 3-1 in their first-leg encounter.
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Daily Mail
4 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Games against Iceland and Liechtenstein may lack glamour but they are important to Steve Clarke and Scotland ahead of World Cup qualifying bid
The domestic season is done and dusted but Scotland will be back in action on Friday night when they take on Iceland at Hampden. For Steve Clarke and his players, it'll be the first of two friendlies, with a visit to Liechtenstein to come on Monday night. With the World Cup qualifying campaign coming sharply into view in September, Clarke will be looking to experiment with a few players and assess his options throughout his squad. Here, Mail Sport's Calum Crowe and John McGarry take a look at some of the issues facing the Scotland manager in this double-header and moving forward in the qualifiers. What's the value in these two games for Steve Clarke? At the end of a long season, do we really need a couple of friendlies? Calum Crowe: Granted, two games against Iceland and Liechtenstein probably won't set the pulse racing among the Tartan Army. But it's far from a pointless exercise. Scotland need these games to try and rediscover some form heading into the World Cup qualifiers in September. The 3-0 hammering against Greece at Hampden in March was woeful and consigned Scotland to relegation in the Nations League. Given that we play the Greeks again in our World Cup qualifiers, Clarke needs to build some positivity in the camp again. It is a short burst of six games in the space of two months to determine World Cup qualification. This is the last chance to carry some momentum into that campaign. John McGarry: They certainly aren't the most glamorous fixtures we've ever seen, but they are still a worthwhile exercise. The introduction of the Nations League has been a good thing. The downside is there are now fewer games in which the result isn't all that important. There's scope for Clarke to experiment here. There are seven uncapped players in the squad and others at the outset of the international journeys. That said, the serious business of the World Cup qualifiers starts in Denmark on September 5. The side most likely to play that night would benefit even from playing a half together. How much of a concern is the goalkeeping situation? CC: Angus Gunn became a mainstay under Clarke in the qualifying campaign for Euro 2024 and he served Scotland well. He was the first-choice keeper on merit, but he had a poor Euros and has dropped off. Even by the time he picked up an injury last year, he had already started to make too many mistakes. Out of contract with Norwich, it remains to be seen where he ends up at the start of next season. I've said it consistently over the past couple of years - I believe Craig Gordon is still Scotland's best goalkeeper when he's fit. Even well into his 40s, I would still have him as my No 1. If he gets back fit for Hearts at the start of next season, he should start the World Cup qualifiers. But the lack of options will be a major problem for Scotland beyond that next campaign. After a generation where we were blessed with Gordon, David Marshall and Allan McGregor, we've gone from feast to famine. JM: It's now the main problem area. Angus Gunn looked like the answer when he first arrived on the scene. Bluntly, he didn't cover himself in glory during the Euros. Finding a new club after leaving Norwich shouldn't be an issue. But if he doesn't go in somewhere as a No1, that will constitute a problem for Clarke. Both Craig Gordon and Liam Kelly are injured. Even at the age of 42, Gordon might be the best bet come the qualifiers, assuming Kelly remains the back-up at Rangers. Cieran Slicker and Robby McCrorie should get at least a half each. The way this is going, they might well be needed in the autumn. Which players excite you in this squad and who is most deserving of game time? CC: Lewis Ferguson has to be given a proper run in midfield over these two games. Ferguson has just captained Bologna to Coppa Italia glory and has further cemented his reputation as one of the best midfielders in Serie A. We can't have a player of that quality sitting on the bench any longer. Lennon Miller is another midfield talent who has a long Scotland career ahead of him. It would be good to see him given a chance on the international stage. His comments about being the best player in the squad and the timeline he set himself were perhaps slightly premature, but there's nothing wrong with having confidence and ambition. Max Johnston and Kieron Bowie would be the two others who could spring a surprise if they get a chance. JM: Kieron Bowie would already have made the step up to the senior team were it not for injury. There's an awful lot to admire about the Hibs forward. He's aggressive, busy in the box, left-footed and can finish. Any centre-back who faces him will know they've been in a game. The door is open for someone to put pressure on Che Adams' position. This should be Bowie's chance. Should Nathan Patterson or Max Johnston walk into the right-back slot or has Anthony Ralston done enough to continue there? CC: I don't really see what more Max Johnston can do to catch Clarke's attention. He has gone abroad to Austria, proven himself in a new environment, and has now won back-to-back league titles with Sturm Graz. Why Clarke would persist with Ralston or Patterson, neither of whom are regulars for their clubs, is beyond me. It doesn't send a good message. But a failure to promote young talent quickly enough has, unfortunately, been a recurring theme of Clarke's time in charge of Scotland. Aaron Hickey could well come back into the equation for the World Cup qualifiers, having recently made his return to full training with Brentford after a year on the sidelines. But, for these games, I think Johnston deserves his chance. JM: Patterson has got a lot to prove, firstly with Everton and then for Scotland. While he's not had his injury troubles to seek since moving south from Rangers, he's not yet developed as a player to the level that was expected. If it was a straight choice between him and Ralston to start in Denmark as things stand, the Celtic man would deservedly keep his place. Johnston's case is different. He's coming off back-to-back titles with Sturm Graz in Austria. He's flying. He's earned a chance to win his second cap. John Souttar and Grant Hanley were the central defence when we shipped three goals at home to Greece. Should Clarke shake it up? CC: I wouldn't hold Souttar or Hanley personally responsible for that debacle against the Greeks. As a collective unit, the whole team were miles off it. In a rotten run of form which stretched either side of Euro 2024, Scotland went on a run where they couldn't keep a clean sheet for love nor money. At one point, they had conceded 33 goals in 14 matches. They eventually stemmed the tide in the Nations League campaign with clean sheets against Croatia and Portugal at Hampden, as well as away from home against Greece. But the way the team were torn to shreds in the return leg was a serious concern. I would stick with Souttar and Hanley for now, but there needs to be a collective improvement. JM: Let's not throw the baby out with the bath water. That was an awful night, but the central defence were hardly alone in having games to forget. A few days previously, they were both superb as Clarke's side kept a clean sheet in Greece. As a pair playing in the centre of a four, they are probably the best the manager has available. Both Scott McKenna and Jack Hendry offer options, but do they really improve matters? If everyone is fit and available come the World Cup qualifiers, how do we get Lewis Ferguson into the team? What's the shape and system? CC: This is a tricky one. What we have to remember is that we still have Ben Doak to come back into the equation as well once he's fit again. Once Doak returns, he has to be one of the first names on the team-sheet. If we are basing it on a 4-2-3-1, then I think Ferguson plays as one of the two holders along with Billy Gilmour. You would then have John McGinn, Scott McTominay and Doak as the three in behind a central striker. That would see Ryan Christie missing out, whilst there would also be no place for Kieran Tierney. Or does there come a point when Scotland consider playing Tierney as a left-sided centre-back in a back four? I would be more inclined to find a way of getting him into the team, whilst Christie offers good value as a squad player. JM: It's quite simple really. Ferguson steps into Kenny McLean's position and becomes one of the holders beside Billy Gilmour. This is no slight on McLean, incidentally. He's been a brilliant servant to Scotland, has performed admirably across 50 caps. But he's 33 now and in the twilight of his career with Norwich in the English Championship. Ferguson is 25 and has just captained Bologna to the Coppa Italia and has frequently played in the deeper role for them. Keep the 4-2-3-1 with John McGinn, Scott McTominay and Ryan Christie playing behind Adams. Don't shoehorn Andy Robertson and Kieran Tierney into the side.
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Euro T20 league backed by Bollywood to be postponed
Plans to hold a European T20 franchise tournament this summer are to be shelved until 2026 because three potential owners are instead focusing on completing deals to buy team stakes in The European T20 Premier League (ETPL), part owned by Bollywood star Abhishek Bachchan, and involving city-based franchises from Ireland, Scotland and the Netherlands, was set to start next six-team tournament was slated to take place from 15 July to 3 August but multiple sources have told BBC Sport the event will definitely not happen this project is being led by Cricket Ireland in collaboration with the boards of Scotland and the Belfast, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Amsterdam and Rotterdam were the designated venues for the ETPL, which promised to "elevate local talent, draw global superstars, and ignite a wave of cricketing enthusiasm across Europe".Deals for at least three of the six city-based franchises are understood to be very close to being signed off, and it was initially been hoped that once they were wrapped up, the remaining three would soon three of those potential ETPL franchise owners are also acquiring stakes in The Hundred and are said to have prioritised those April, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) extended the deadline to complete sales of the Hundred franchises that were agreed earlier this knock-on effect of the delay in those sales is the postponement of the ETPL, with a formal announcement to confirm it has been rescheduled to be made within the next 48 actor and film produce Bachchan was announced as part-owner of the ETPL in conjunction with Rules Sport Tech when it was launched in Sport Tech are a private Indian company who "promote and create high quality sports initiatives, tournaments and events".Mumbai-born Bachchan, 49, travelled to Dublin in March to promote the tournament via a series of media interviews and Instagram is not the first time a European T20 franchise tournament involving the Dutch, Irish and Scottish cricket boards has struggled to get off the 2019, the Euro T20 Slam - which had different backers - was postponed just over a fortnight before the opening came after team names were announced, a draft held and marquee players including Eoin Morgan were allocated to tournament was then postponed several times over subsequent years and never took are buoyant about the ETPL's prospects, even though no franchises have yet been sold, and are confident it will not be plagued by the same issues as the Euro T20 Ireland, Cricket Scotland and the Royal Dutch Cricket Association all declined to comment.
Reuters
3 hours ago
- Reuters
Chiefs favourites as new look Super Rugby playoffs kick off
SYDNEY, June 5 (Reuters) - The Waikato Chiefs remain title favourites as Super Rugby Pacific enters the business end of the season this weekend in a slimmed down six-team playoff series which includes a "lucky loser" for the first time. Closer games and more try-scoring have attracted bigger crowds as well as higher TV audiences this season and organisers will be hoping that three blockbuster knockout ties, including two trans-Tasman Sea clashes, will maintain that momentum. They could end up with egg on their faces, however, if the second-seeded Canterbury Crusaders beat the Queensland Reds on Friday night and the top-ranked Chiefs down the Auckland Blues on Saturday. That would leave the final playoff between the third-ranked ACT Brumbies and fourth-seeded Wellington Hurricanes on Saturday night devoid of any jeopardy with both teams guaranteed a spot in the semi-finals, one as the "lucky loser". The Chiefs, runners-up for the last two years, have hit peak form with big wins in their last three matches and will be confident of getting past a Blues side that scraped into the playoffs in sixth place. Clayton McMillan will field a patched-up midfield with All Blacks centres Quinn Tupaea and Anton Lienert-Brown absent through injury but there is still plenty of attacking flair in a backline steered by Damian McKenzie. The Blues made a miserable start to the season but have also rediscovered something close to the formidable form that saw them win 15 of 17 matches on their way to the title last year. Vern Cotter has been able to name a near unchanged line-up from the side that crushed the New South Wales Waratahs 45-6 at Eden Park last week for the trip to Hamilton. "We expect they will come in with a bit of momentum and no shortage of confidence," said McMillan. "We'll be treating this like every other game with respect for the opposition, what they bring, and the assumption they'll put up a tough game." The Queensland Reds travel to Christchurch to play the 12-times champion Crusaders knowing that no Australian team has ever beaten a New Zealand side in a Super Rugby playoff. The Reds beat the Crusaders on the road in the regular season last year, however, and welcome back captain Harry Wilson from injury as they look to hand their hosts a first playoff loss since 2016. A trio of All Blacks in fullback Will Jordan, skipper David Havili and his centre partner Braydon Ennor all return for the Crusaders, who have never lost a home playoff. "The boys are really excited about finals footy," said Reds coach Les Kiss. "Winning in Christchurch last year was an important game for the club. It gives us clues and confidence to put our best foot forward on Friday." The Hurricanes head to what will be a chilly Canberra with a spring in their collective step, having beaten the Brumbies 35-29 in the Australian capital in late April to kick off a five-match winning streak. Wallabies prop Allan Alaalatoa is back to reinforce the Brumbies pack and coach Stephen Larkham said he was encouraging his players to ignore the possibility that they could go through to the last four as the highest-ranked loser. "We are the last game this weekend but we've been pretty firm on making sure that we get a good result," he said. "Irrespective of the other results, we need to know that we're playing well. Either way, we're going out there to try and win the game."
