Derby County manager Gary Rowett has explained the conundrum teams face when playing Fulham. Rowett's Rams beat Fulham 1-0 in their Championship play-off semi-final first leg at Pride Park Stadium last night. The second leg is at Craven Cottage on Monday with a place in the final at Wembley at stake. Fulham bossed possession in the first leg. They had 73% of the ball and made three times as many passes as Derby despite being the away side. But Rowett's tactics proved spot on and the Rams hold a slender lead. "Over the course of the season Fulham have made the most passes, they keep possession best out of all of the teams," said Rowett. "They give you a real conundrum. "As much as you want to be so brave and press them high up the pitch, they pass the ball and wait for you to open up your shape and then they try to capitalise because they have got very good attacking players. "It took us probably 15 minutes to show as much belief as I would like on the ball. "We showed discipline to … [Read more...] about Gary Rowett explains the conundrum teams face against Fulham
Explainers
David Ford: Perhaps Sandra Chapman could explain the tech solution to border
In last week’s News Letter Weekend supplement, Sandra Chapman said problems on the border can be solved by technology (‘Are Brexit rows leading to insecurity and mayhem?’ May 4 2018). As Minister of Justice for Northern Ireland, I saw how a small number of people are already exploiting the difference in tobacco and fuel tax. Perhaps you could ask Ms Chapman to explain in detail how technology could solve the larger border problem if the UK leaves the customs union?David Ford, Alliance MLA, South Antrim … [Read more...] about David Ford: Perhaps Sandra Chapman could explain the tech solution to border
Brian O’Driscoll explains why he feels Johnny Sexton is ‘actually getting better’ as the flyhalf bids for fourth European title
O'Driscoll has explained why he feels the 32-year-old isn't regressing, like many of the outhalves of his age. Bravery. While most flyhalves tend to sit deeper as they get older, Sexton is the exact opposite and Ireland's record tryscorer believes the Leinster playmaker is a more potent attacker as a result and is expecting another huge performance from him in tomorrow evening's Champions Cup final against Racing 92 in Bilbao. Sexton's former team are likely to target him in the contact and O'Driscoll is hoping that referee Wayne Barnes puts in a strong display. "I've noticed in years gone by that when (number) 10s get into their early 30s self-preservation becomes a thing and they get deeper and deeper ans the knock-on effect is that they push the defence on to players in wider channels," O'Driscoll told Off The Ball on Newstalk. "I think conversely to that I think Johnny is taking the ball flatter on the line and he encourages those shots that are right on the line. "That's why … [Read more...] about Brian O’Driscoll explains why he feels Johnny Sexton is ‘actually getting better’ as the flyhalf bids for fourth European title
Brian O’Driscoll explains why feels Johnny Sexton is ‘actually getting better’ as the flyhalf bids for fourth European title
O'Driscoll has explained why he feels the 32-year-old isn't regressing, like many of the outhalves of his age. Bravery. While most flyhalves tend to sit deeper as they get older, Sexton is the exact opposite and Ireland's record tryscorer believes the Leinster playmaker is a more potent attacker as a result and is expecting another huge performance from him in tomorrow evening's Champions Cup final against Racing 92 in Bilbao. Sexton's former team are likely to target him in the contact and O'Driscoll is hoping that referee Wayne Barnes puts in a strong display. "I've noticed in years gone by that when (number) 10s get into their early 30s self-preservation becomes a thing and they get deeper and deeper ans the knock-on effect is that they push the defence on to players in wider channels," O'Driscoll told Off The Ball on Newstalk. "I think conversely to that I think Johnny is taking the ball flatter on the line and he encourages those shots that are right on the line. "That's why … [Read more...] about Brian O’Driscoll explains why feels Johnny Sexton is ‘actually getting better’ as the flyhalf bids for fourth European title
How did Liverpool Council attempt to explain its epic tarmac fail?
Liverpool council has explained the reason behind a bizarre tarmac fail that left residents from a “beautiful cobbled street” in the city centre fuming. Yesterday Dave Maddox of Chatham Street, hit out at the council on Twitter after discovering monstrous patches of tarmac on his “lovely cobbled” road. He posted a picture of the road surface fail on Twitter and said: “ Liverpool City Council’ s solution to a subsidence to the lovely cobbled street. Unevenly tarmac over it instead of digging them up and building cobbles from beneath.” He said the tarmac was a “totally out of order” solution to the damage, whilst other angry twitter users slammed it as “lazy”. “cheap” and a form of “vandalism.” After the photo surfaced, the council issued a statement saying tarmac was a temporary repair. Read More Potholes However, long term residents of Chatham Street- which is just off Liverpool’s … [Read more...] about How did Liverpool Council attempt to explain its epic tarmac fail?