The Robins hitting form at a crucial time
Bristol City consolidated their position in the play off positions in a thrilling game at Ashton Gate as they beat faltering West Bromwich Albion 2-1.The teams were all square at half time although City would have taken a deserved interval lead were it not for two stunning saves from former Bristol Rovers loanee goalkeeper Josh Griffiths.Nahki Wells keeps rolling back the years - he's 35 in June - and the Bermudian showed his class to turn the defender and stroke the ball into the far corner almost on the hour to give City the lead that their high energy display deserved.For a few minutes, they really turned on the style before a calamitous misunderstanding between Max O'Leary and Cam Pring presented Alex Mowatt with and easy chance to equalise. That heralded a period of dominance by the Baggies and with both teams introducing four subs each (65 minutes in for West Brom; 75 mins for City) the game moved towards its closing finale.O'Leary atoned for any blame that might have been attached to him for the goal conceded with two saves and then the visitors had Jayson Molumby sent off for a rash challenge on Joe Williams. With five minutes of added time signalled, City were camped on the edge of Albion's area probing for a way through and it actually came in the 96th minute when a corner was only half cleared and Rob Dickie slipped the ball to Haydon Roberts to prod home, the goal going between the keeper's legs.The roof literally came off Ashton Gate as the crowd erupted, such was the importance of gaining all three points against a fellow play off challenger. It drew comparison with Korey Smith's late goal against Manchester United in 2017 and in the play-offs when Christian Roberts earned victory over Hartlepool to see Bristol City the 2004 final.City are hitting form at just the right time and need fear no one at this critical point of the season.You can hear more from David Pottier on the fans podcast Forever Bristol City, external.
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Scottish Sun
6 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Jack Grealish has gone from eye-catching showman and heartthrob to miserable bench warmer – and I know who's to blame
WHAT has Pep Guardiola ever done for Jack Grealish? Aside from helping him earn three Premier League titles, a Champions League, an FA Cup, a Club World Cup and more than £60million in wages? 6 Jack Grealish helped Manchester City triumph in the Champions League in 2023 - but all has gone wrong ever since Credit: Getty 6 Pep Guardiola's playing style has left Jack out in the cold Credit: AFP 6 Party boy Jack downs a beer on the parade to celebrate City's League title win last season Credit: Alamy Well, the Manchester City manager has also shackled one of English football's greatest showmen and sucked the joy out of its most likeable bloke, reducing an effervescent eye-catcher to a miserable bench-warmer. Grealish at his best, before his £100million move from Aston Villa to Manchester City in 2021, was an old-school flair player and a darling of the terraces for his dribbling ability, as well as being a style icon and heart-throb. Now his four-year spell at the Etihad is coming to an end, with Grealish axed from City's 27-man squad for the Club World Cup which starts in the US this weekend. Grealish is looking for a new club this summer, while City have already signed eight players for a total of £282MILLION in 2025. And it is a wonder why City boss Guardiola ever agreed to lavishing what was then a British record transfer fee on a player who was never likely to fit in. Guardiola is a tactical genius but he likes his players to be as obsessive about football as he is. He demands workaholics. And while Grealish is not a playboy waster, he lives by the old adage 'all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy'. City have usually played in a delicious eye-candy style under Pep, but his philosophy is all about teamwork, about pass-and-move, rather than the type of individual flair for which Grealish was renowned. Topless in the rain It is a testimony to Grealish's lovable personality that when Scotland's Stephen O'Donnell successfully marked him during a 0-0 draw with England at Wembley in the Euros of 2021, he killed him with kindness rather than kicking or insulting the Three Lions man. Jack Grealish racked up £10k bar bill partying with pals in the wake Man City's 5-2 win over Crystal Palace - despite playing 3 minutes O'Donnell had taken advice from teammate John McGinn — a Villa colleague of Grealish — on how best to keep him quiet. 'John had given me some tips,' revealed O'Donnell. 'He told me that if Jack comes on I need to get nibbling in his ear but don't be critical, be complimentary. 'So the second he came on I was telling him how good-looking he was, that I loved his calves, and I was asking him how he got his hair to look like that. 'I was told if I kick him or get him really hard, he gets back up and at you.' That was during Gareth Southgate's reign as England manager, when his reluctance to select Grealish in his starting line-up became a lightning rod. It was seen as proof that the most successful Three Lions boss of the past 60 years was a negative, cautious stick-in-the-mud — the majority of Grealish's 39 caps having come as a substitute. I love Jack. I love everything about him. I love his personality, I love his quality. The guy has courage. Thomas Tuchel, England manager Terrace songs imploring Southgate to bring on 'Super Jackie Grealish' were the soundtrack to many an England match — yet Southgate surprisingly omitted him from his squad for last summer's Euros. Southgate believed, correctly, that Grealish is a player who thrives on being the main man in any team — a playmaker, who demands a lot of the ball, a risk-taker at his best when he can showcase his devilment. That was never going to be the case with England, who are blessed with so much talent in wide and attacking midfield positions — nor at Guardiola's City. England's new manager Thomas Tuchel has said: 'I love Jack. 'I love everything about him. 'I love his personality, I love his quality. 'The guy has courage.' And yet Tuchel hasn't picked Grealish in either of the two squads he has named because of his severe lack of game time at City. Last season, Grealish started just seven Premier League games — and only one after Tuchel started the England job in January. He managed just one goal and one assist in the entire league campaign. Grealish has told Tuchel he is 'not a stop-start player', that he craves rhythm — and Guardiola simply hasn't allowed that to happen during the past two seasons. In January, Guardiola said he wanted to see 'the Jack Grealish that won the Treble'. Grealish played a major role when City swept the board by winning the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup in 2023 — even though his wings had been clipped with less emphasis on dribbling and taking on opponents. But since the iconic image of the boozed-up Brummie standing topless in the piddling rain during City's celebratory bus parade two years ago, Grealish's fortunes have plummeted. Seasons of torment He turns 30 in December but retains his boyish looks and a child-like love of life. His interviews, while on England duty, are great theatre — he is funny, engaging and honest. But despite his charismatic nature, there is also a vulnerability. During one interview, when Grealish's lifestyle had been under the spotlight, the player told the assembled media: 'I just want youse all to like me.' In truth, it is difficult to spend any time in Grealish's company and not like him. Having been assaulted on the pitch by a Birmingham City fan — who was jailed for the incident — during a derby match against Villa, Grealish would have more reason than most to keep his distance from supporters. Yet in an era of roped-off, VIP, multi-millionaire footballers, he is one of the most accessible of big-name players. His down-to-earth qualities were recently displayed when he visited a social club in Wearside in March and stuck £500 behind the bar for fellow drinkers. Whoever does sign Grealish will be recruiting a gem of a player, desperate to express himself after two seasons of torment under Guardiola. Grealish is not a one-dimensional character. He's Jack the Lad and he's Gentleman Jack, too. He is a keen amateur DJ and a Gucci model — which is one of several lucrative commercial deals, ranging from Bose audio equipment to Hellmann's mayonnaise. And he is also an ambassador for Special Olympics GB. His sister Hollie has cerebral palsy and he frequently interacts with disabled people in person and with video messages. His partner Sasha Attwood is a model — like many a Premier League Wag — but the couple are childhood sweethearts who met at school in Solihull. Their first child, Mila, was born in September. Indeed, over the past year or two you would have been more likely to hear about Grealish carrying out a commercial or charitable appearance than playing a game of football. Hopefully that will change this summer. Despite Grealish having two years left on his City contract, Guardiola is happy for him to leave, either on a permanent deal for around £30million to £40million, or on a loan. Everton, who are moving into a swish new stadium next season, are among the leaders in the race to sign him, along with German club Bayer Leverkusen — managed by former Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag. Whoever does sign Grealish will be recruiting a gem of a player, desperate to express himself after two seasons of torment under Guardiola. Any lover of football — any lover of life — will enjoy seeing him play with a smile on his face again. 6 Jack is held up and steadied by teammate Kyle Walker in Ibiza, after a three-day bender Credit: Splash 6 Jack's partner, Sasha Attwood, is a model — like many a Premier League Wag — but the couple are childhood sweethearts who met at school in Solihull Credit: Refer to Caption 6 Jack and Sasha welcomed their first child, Mila, in September Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme - Sun Club.
Scottish Sun
8 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
‘Just ban this guy from the Etihad' – Man City fans FUME at Kyle Walker over his astonishing Tottenham claim
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) KYLE WALKER angered Manchester City fans after admitting he would sacrifice one of his Premier League medals to have been part of Tottenham's Europa League triumph. The Etihad club captain left Pep Guardiola stunned when he asked for a move away in January — when City were right in the middle of a crisis. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Kyle Walker said he would give up one of his Prem titles to have won the Europa League with Spurs Credit: YouTube/BBC Sounds 3 Walker won the league with City six times Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd 3 Spurs ended their 17-year trophy drought by beating United in the final Credit: Shutterstock Editorial He joined AC Milan on loan but the Italians turned down the option to sign him permanently. And boss Pep left the 35-year-old right-back out of his Club World Cup squad, meaning he is free to find a new club. But City fans were angry when Walker revealed on his BBC podcast he would have loved to have been with former club Spurs as they ended their 17-year trophy drought. Walker has won six Premier League titles at City and was part of their Treble-winning side in 2022-23. READ MORE IN FOOTBALL 'harsh and unfair' Club kicked out of Europe by Uefa in Crystal Palace-style case He said: 'I'd probably give up one Premier League title, not the first, to have won that Europa League with Tottenham because I know what it means. "Probably my second — although that was the 'Four-midables' [when they won all four domestic trophies]. 'It's hard to give one away but for what that moment meant, to say I was in that Spurs squad that won a trophy.' City fans slammed Walker, with one saying: "Just ban this guy from the Etihad and get it over and done with. He's already freely hating us, why protect whatever is left of his relationship with the club." JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS Another added: "Mental. I could never ever imagine John Stones, Nathan Ake, Samir Nasri, Carlos Tevez ever coming out and saying they would give up even a Community Shield to win a trophy at a former club." Tottenham supporters were delighted to see that he still loves the club, as one commented: "Great to hear you say 'we' when referring to Spurs." Roy Keane slams 'LAZY' Kyle Walker for role in Senegal goal vs England as ITV star says 'can't make mistakes like that' A second said: "As a Spurs fan, it was really heartwarming to hear Kyle's words and his feelings connected to the Europa League final. I was gutted when he left for Man City, but I've always been happy seeing him win trophy after trophy." Walker — who spent eight years on Tottenham's books — admitted he was a bag of nerves watching his old club beat Manchester United 1-0 last month. He added: 'It was the first time in a long time I've been nervous — and I wasn't even playing. 'I was there with my iPad and I couldn't sit and watch it. I was walking up and down my room. 'We reached a lot of finals but against better teams who knew how to win. 'They've always been a club that nearly got over the line but not quite. I'm buzzing for them.' Walker joined City from Spurs in July 2017 and has a year left on his deal. Turkish giants Fenerbahce are the latest to show an interest in him.
Leader Live
12 hours ago
- Leader Live
Pep Guardiola looking forward to Club World Cup despite Man City workload fears
The influential Spanish midfielder may also have been making a point about the expanded Champions League format, but the additional tournament, shoehorned into a period normally kept free for rest, was clearly a bone of contention. 'I think we are close to that,' said the Ballon d'Or winner when asked if players could stage industrial action over their seemingly ever-growing fixture commitments. 'If it keeps this way, (there) will be a moment that we have no other option, but let's see.' As the season then unfolded, with City suffering an uncharacteristic blip – failing to put up a strong defence of the Premier League title they had won for the previous four years and exiting the Champions League before the last 16 – it looked like they would need the break to regroup. Yet as the time has neared, no doubt helped by the announcement the winners of FIFA's latest showcase event could pocket close to £100million, the tone has changed. If Pep Guardiola has reservations about fixture congestion, injuries and a lack of preparation time for next season – all more than hinted at over the past season – he is now keeping them to himself. 'This is a very, very serious competition,' the City manager said recently with typical vigour. 'In the summer, the whole world will be watching this. 'A big number of the top teams in the world will be competing in this tournament and I can assure you, we're going to give it our best shot. We're going there to win it.' City were the last team to win the Club World Cup in its old guise in December 2023, but that only required them to win two games in the space of four days. The new quadrennial tournament is a different proposition, featuring 32 teams and lasting a month, following a format used for the traditional World Cup. City have been placed in Group G for this summer's edition in the United States alongside Morocco's Wydad Casablanca, Al Ain of Abu Dhabi and Juventus. Their regular Champions League foes Real Madrid could lie in wait in the first knockout round. Other notable sides involved include newly-crowned European champions Paris St Germain and the beaten finalists Inter Milan, Premier League rivals Chelsea, Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid and Borussia Dortmund. There are 12 European entrants in total with six from South America, six from South America, four each from Africa and Asia, five from North America and one from Oceania. Brazil has the most participants of any one country with four. The tournament, which begins on June 14, has had plenty of detractors, particularly from Europe, and its success remains to be seen. For City the message is now clear, however. They would rather be involved than not. 'It's an honour,' Guardiola said. 'It means in the last seasons we have done really well. It's a new competition for us and I'm looking forward to it.'
