Sports

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Futbol
Cardiff Sack Riza As Wales' Ramsey Takes Charge
~2.2 mins read
Wales captain Aaron Ramsey will take charge of Cardiff City for the remainder of the Championship season after the Bluebirds parted company with Omer Riza. Riza was told of the decision on Saturday after defeat at Sheffield United left the Bluebirds one point from safety in the Championship relegation places. Ramsey, 34, will lead the side for the first time during Monday's game against Oxford United at Cardiff City Stadium (15:00 BST). He will be assisted by former Wales team-mate and current Wales Under-19s manager Chris Gunter, as well as Bluebirds midfielder Joe Ralls. Gavin Ward, who is expected to continue in his role as goalkeeping coach, makes up the remainder of the technical staff alongside under-21s coach Matt Bloxham and under-18s manager Tom Hutton. A club statement read: "We'd like to thank Omer for his passion and effort during his time as Cardiff City manager and wish him the very best for his next steps in the game." Ramsey has no frontline managerial experience but has harboured coaching ambitions for some time, being tipped by Wales boss Craig Bellamy as someone who could work at a high level at the end of his playing career. The 86-cap international will be the third man in the Cardiff dugout this season, one that began with Erol Bulut at the helm before he was sacked after picking up just one point from their opening six games as the club endured its worst ever start to a season. Former Watford coach Riza - drafted in to assist Bulut last summer - was initially appointed on a caretaker basis before being handed a contract until the end of the season in December after an upturn in form. However, he has come under increasing pressure with Cardiff unable to pull away from trouble. It is believed some of the club hierarchy had considered a change last month - with former manager Neil Warnock considered as a replacement - only for Riza to retain the support of owner Vincent Tan. But with fans calling for Riza to be removed after Friday's 2-0 loss at Bramall Lane – their fifth game without a win - the club have taken action in a late bid to avoid dropping into the third tier for the first time since 2002. Cardiff will hope the appointment of Ramsey - one of the club's most decorated youth products - will at least galvanise supporters ahead of final games against Oxford, West Bromwich Albion and Norwich City. The midfielder became the club's youngest ever player after breaking into the first-team at the age of 16 in 2007 before moving to Premier League Arsenal, where he twice won the FA Cup. He returned to his boyhood club in 2023 following spells at Juventus and Nice, although his impact on the field had been limited because of injury. Ramsey had been ruled out from any playing involvement during the Championship run-in after having surgery on a hamstring injury sustained in defeat against Luton Town last month. He has worked at the club's academy during his time back in south Wales while has also provided tactical analysis for Riza from games during a previous injury lay-off earlier in the season.
All thanks to BBC Sport
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Futbol
~2.2 mins read
Lesley Ugochukwu scored a stoppage-time equaliser as bottom side Southampton claimed a thoroughly deserved point at West Ham. The midfielder cancelled out Jarrod Bowen's opener as he thumped the ball in off the post in the 93rd minute at London Stadium. A point means Southampton are up to 11 for the season in total, drawing level with the Derby County side of 2007-08, who hold the unwanted record of fewest points in a Premier League season. Saints have avoided taking that record outright and have five matches to gain another point to move ahead of Derby. Meanwhile, there were boos from the West Ham fans at the final whistle as their winless run in the Premier League extended to six games. The visitors were the better side in the first half with the lively Kamaldeen Sulemana causing West Ham problems. Shortly after Kyle Walker-Peters fired narrowly wide, Sulemana rattled the crossbar when the ball bounced invitingly for him inside the box. But after a dreary showing in the first 45 minutes, Bowen collected Niclas Fullkrug's pass and curled clinically into the far corner at the end of a swift counter-attack two minutes into the second half. That led to a spell of West Ham pressure but Southampton kept it at 1-0 and, as the hosts dropped off, Simon Rusk's men pushed for a leveller. Substitute Tyler Dibling blazed a glorious chance over the bar late on, and a club record-extending 27th league defeat was imminent before Ugochukwu's powerful left-foot strike salvaged a point. In what has been a miserable season, Oguchukwu's goal was a moment of joy for Southampton. More than just a last-gasp equaliser in a game that looked to have got away from them despite a good performance, there was an enormous amount of relief in the wild celebrations from the away end. It was a rare moment as players and fans alike revel in a goal they hope will keep their team's name out of the record books. Another point is still needed to make sure of that - and should it not come before the end of the season, they may rue missing the opportunities that could have got them all three here - but for now, it is a point to savour. By contrast, there can have been few more frustrating days for West Ham since Graham Potter took charge. In glimpses, you can see what the manager wants from his side with quick interchanges between Lucas Paqueta, Mohammed Kudus and Bowen, but they were rare. Barring a 15-minute spell at the start of the second half, it was all too ponderous from the Hammers. That it was mixed with carelessness only invited more problems. Southampton were encouraged and as they took control of the game in the second half the hosts failed to respond. It looked as though they would get away with it - and perhaps a scrappy win is what West Ham need - but eventually they were made to pay. There may not be much left to play for this season but, with frustration growing, Potter and West Ham cannot afford to simply coast through to its conclusion.
All thanks to BBC Sport

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Futbol
~3.3 mins read
Burnley came from a goal down to win at nine-man Watford and take a big step towards sealing automatic promotion back to the Premier League. Strikes either side of half-time from striker Zian Flemming and captain Josh Brownhill saw Burnley recover after Mamadou Doumbia gave Watford an early lead. Leeds United's 1-0 win at Oxford meant they lead the table on goal difference from Scott Parker's side, who equalled the club's record unbeaten league run of 30 games. The Clarets are just the second team in Championship history to go 30 consecutive, non play-off games without losing after Reading. And Burnley can rubber-stamp their top-flight return as early as Monday if they beat third-placed Sheffield United at home. Mid-table Watford, who dropped a place to 12th following this defeat, ended the game with nine men after they had both their captain Moussa Sissoko and then Edo Kayembe sent off. Watford started positively and were rewarded in the eighth minute when Doumbia headed in Rocco Vata's left-wing cross, ending Burnley's hopes of claiming an English record-equalling 30th clean sheet of the season at Vicarage Road. Flemming passed up two chances to level for Burnley, and Parker's men were fortunate not to fall a further goal behind midway through the half. After more good work down Watford's left, Caleb Wiley crossed for Kayembe but he could not keep his header down, instead directing the ball over. Burnley dominated possession after that without overly troubling Watford goalkeeper Egil Selvik until a frantic finish to the first half. Firstly, Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford produced a stunning flying save to fingertip Kayembe's drive on to the crossbar. While Trafford was still celebrating his save, the first of his three standout stops during the game, Burnley launched an attack of their own which ended with Flemming nodding in Jaidon Anthony's cross. Anthony then tested Selvik before Trafford denied Kayembe at full-stretch once again, and the two teams went in level at the break. Just before the hour, though, Burnley completed the turnaround. Following a slick passing move down the right, Connor Roberts' cross to the far post was knocked back into the middle by Hannibal Mejbri and Brownhill headed the visitors in front. Watford then suffered a double blow to their hopes of staging a recovery of their own when Sissoko and then Kayembe were dismissed, both after being shown two yellow cards in quick succession. With their two-man advantage, Burnley were the most likely next scorers and Brownhill was denied a second by Selvik. But they also had to remain alert at the death and needed a last-ditch CJ Egan-Riley tackle on Vakoun Bayo, and another big Trafford save to keep out Ryan Andrews' effort to preserve their lead. Watford head coach Tom Cleverley speaking to BBC Radio 3CR: "Barring an amazing saved by [James] Trafford [from Edo Kayembe], we would have gone in 2-0 at half-time and really in control of the game. "In that 20-second period where he's made an absolute worldie and they've gone down the other end, scored a real goal of quality, and the game is then 1-1. "That's what sides at the top of the league do. They really ride out the storms, capitalise on the waves, and they've done that well today. "For a team who is, we have to say, mid-table now, I thought that the guys looked motivated, full of life, quality and [that was] one of our best performances of the first half against the league leaders. "Unfortunately, through fault of our own, we've not seen the same level of football match in the second half, just because of the numerical disadvantage. We shot ourselves in the foot today. I've not got any complaints about the red cards. It's something we need to learn from." Burnley head coach Scott Parker told BBC Radio Lancashire: "I'm delighted with the team. We came here for three points and managed to walk away with them. "They react constantly to adversity. They're reacting the right way. They find a way. There's quality there of course, but sometimes it's a mentality that can get you to that point [of winning a game]. It was brilliant today. "Watford are a very good side. Tom has done an incredible job here. We knew that and I knew that looking at the prep leading into the game. "We knew that this game was definitely a tough game for us and we needed to address it in the right way, and we've managed to do that and get out of it. "We'll enjoy this result. The next game is our biggest game of the season again, which is Sheffield [United]."
All thanks to BBC Sport

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