'Regis Le Bris, take a bow'
The Frenchman has come under fire for a poor run of results at the end of the regular Championship season but has stayed calm in press conferences and assured in his approach. He made surprise tactical changes that paid off as his side won the semi-final first leg.
Advertisement
Bennett, a match summariser for BBC Radio Newcastle, said Le Bris should "take a bow" as the full-time whistle blew.
He added: "The players were fantastic. (Eliezer) Mayenda, excellent goal. Wilson Isidor, what a professional performance that was tonight.
"Coventry can't complain about that. But saying that, how well did we defend?"
After securing play-off qualification early, Le Bris has been rotating his side, which drew criticism from fans and pundits. But Bennett thinks he proved his critics wrong.
The former Sunderland captain said: "You look back now and you're thinking resting them players when he has done has worked, because they have put a shift in."
Advertisement
Bennett's broadcast partner Nick Barnes added: "Regis Le Bris, trust in Regis Le Bris, he knew what he was doing.
"He has consistently maintained that his team could do what they have done tonight."
You can listen to full post-match reaction on BBC Sounds.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
5 minutes ago
- Yahoo
🚨 Media: Arsenal sign £70m striker in response to Havertz injury
Arsenal FC is set to strengthen its offense with a high-profile signing. According to transfer experts Fabrizio Romano and David Ornstein from 'The Athletic', Eberechi Eze will be joining the Gunners from Crystal Palace. 'The Guardian' also reports a basic agreement has been reached. According to media reports, Arteta & Co. will have to pay around 70 million Euros for their new signing. Apparently, an additional 7 to 8 million Euros in bonuses could be added to the sum. Thus, it appears that Arsenal FC has outmaneuvered its arch-rivals Tottenham. The Spurs had apparently been interested in the English national player for some time, but he decided to join the Gunners. The signing of the English player follows, among other things, the renewed absence of Kai Havertz. The German national player could be out for a long time in the coming season due to a knee injury. According to 'The Guardian', Eze will play his last match for Palace in the Conference League on Thursday before undergoing his medical check with the Gunners. This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here. 📸 Justin Setterfield - 2025 Getty Images
Yahoo
5 minutes ago
- Yahoo
WWE? Hollywood? Rugby? What megastar Maher might do next
Women's Rugby World Cup: England v United States Venue: Stadium of Light, Sunderland Date: Friday, 22 August Kick-off: 19:30 BST Coverage: Live on BBC One, BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Sport website and app. Ilona Maher says she is contemplating an offer to enter professional wrestling with the WWE after playing for the United States at the Women's Rugby World Cup. The 29-year-old social media sensation, who has nearly nine million followers across her Instagram, TikTok and X channels, has previously appeared on Dancing with the Stars and was named as 2025's best breakthrough athlete at US broadcaster ESPN's prestigious Espy award show. "I've been approached before by the WWE," she told BBC Sport, joking that her ring name would be 'Maher-vellous'. "I don't know if I would [go into wrestling]. I should think about it, there is great money in it." Maher says that if she did get into wrestling it would be with the aim of progressing into Hollywood. "I would love to get into the acting space and the scripted space. I think a Dwayne 'the Rock' Johnson, John Cena progression - I would love to do that," she added. "It would be exciting to see my body type on the screen. I'll start off small - probably like a hot assassin or something, let's not get too crazy! "I'm not going to be in a rom-com just yet. "We'll see. The world is open, but I do see myself coming back to rugby." A viral sensation, a financial necessity - why Maher became rugby's biggest star Maher's impact 'phenomenal' as PWR semi looms The star player hoping to turn millions of TikTok followers into rugby fans Johnson has starred in the Fast and Furious franchise and Disney blockbuster Moana since leaving WWE, while Cena's acting career includes a cameo in 2023 hit Barbie. Maher would not be the first sports star to appear in WWE. Boxers Mike Tyson, Floyd Mayweather and Tyson Fury have all made cameos, while Olympic medallists Kurt Angle and Ronda Rousey have been key ongoing characters in the promotion. Maher, who has been named at outside centre for Friday evening's World Cup opener against England in Sunderland, says she remains a rugby player first, despite her phenomenal success on social media and clutch of new ventures. Having won a bronze medal with the US sevens team at Paris 2024, she joined Premiership Women's Rugby side Bristol Bears on a three-month contract in January to help her acclimatise to the 15-a-side game. Her debut against Gloucester-Hartpury set a new attendance crowd for the league of 9,240 after the fixture was switched to Ashton Gate to accommodate more spectators, while her team's social media footprint also grew significantly. "So many times people forget, but I am a rugby player first," Maher added. "I do the social media because I have to because it is not sustainable to be a women's rugby player - I am not going to make money doing it. "It does irk me at times when people forget that. One comment once was: 'Are you going to watch the Instagrammer play?' "I was like, 'no, I have won a bronze medal, I've been to two Olympics, I am a good rugby player who loves the sport'. "I am proud to do both but I do want to be known as a rugby player." The US are distinct underdogs against runaway world number ones and tournament favourites England on Friday. However, Maher believes the absence of expectation frees up her and her team-mates against the hosts. "I am going into it with the mindset not that we have something to lose, but something to gain from this. We have an opportunity here to have some fun. "The Red Roses not having lost a game for more than 1,000 days - that is having something to lose. I don't think we do. "They will be very tough opponents. For us to beat them, we would have to be on our A-game every single minute of that game. "But I am just excited to play in front of 40,000 people. Whether we win or lose I want to be able to say that I enjoyed it." The US take on Australia and Samoa in their remaining Pool A games. Two teams from each of the four pools advance to the quarter-finals. Women's Rugby World Cup fixtures and BBC coverage
Yahoo
5 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Everton eyeing move for Hayden Hackney this summer
Everton remain interested in signing Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney this summer, according to Sky Sports. He is a long-term target for the Toffees. Everton are seeking reinforcements across the roster following poor pre-season results and a 1-0 loss to Leeds United in Premier League matchday 1. Hackney would be a massive coup for the Toffees if they could land the 22-year-old. The Everton target was one of the Championship's standout performers last season. He played a central role in Boro's push for promotion and can help Everton as the club bids to finish in the upper echelon of the Premier League. No player in the Championship was involved in more open-play attacking sequences that ended with a shot (273). Hackney personally initiated 49 of those moves, just four shy of league leader Jason Knight of Bristol City. Although his return of five goals and three assists may appear modest to Everton fans, it only tells part of the story. Operating as a deep-lying midfielder, Hackney excelled at the less glamorous but equally decisive aspects of chance creation. He topped the Championship charts for secondary key passes – the pass before the final pass – with 66, underlining his influence in Middlesbrough's build-up play. His ball progression statistics further emphasise his value. Hackney advanced the ball upfield more than any other central midfielder in the league, covering 4,347 metres. He will be a massive weapon for the Merseyside outfit. His blend of vision, energy, and composure in possession has attracted attention from several Premier League clubs, but Everton remain among the most persistent suitors. A Middlesbrough academy graduate, Hackney developed into a key figure under Michael Carrick, one of the more underrated midfielders in Premier League history. Often described as Carrick's on-field embodiment, the former Manchester United star described Hackney as 'everything you could ever hope for in a player'. Whether Everton can tempt Boro into selling remains to be seen. Still, Hackney's profile suggests he could provide precisely the midfield stability and creativity David Moyes' side are desperate to add.
