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Futbol

Are Record-equalling Hibs Scotland's Third Force?

On a Saturday night in late November, as the rain teemed down at Dens Park, Hibernian players trooped off the pitch reeling from a 4-1 annihilation that kept them anchored to the foot of the Scottish Premiership. They had taken an early lead, then capitulated. Jordan Obita was sent off. Elie Youan, infamously, performed keepy-ups on his own while David Gray reorganised his depleted team. Goalkeeper Josef Bursik dallied in possession and had his pocket picked for a calamitous goal. Hibs hadn't just hit rock bottom, they'd gone practically subterranean. Back then, in a time of slapstick defending, frequent red cards and constant late concessions, it already felt like Gray's job dangled by a thread. The rookie head coach had won one of his first 13 league games at the helm. Had Hibs not rattled through managers so prolifically of late, and had Gray not been a cup-winning club totem, the owners might have pulled the trigger. Wind the clock on five months and the striking contrast would have quantum physicists scratching their heads. On Sunday afternoon, Hibs obliterated Dundee 4-0, equalling a club record unbeaten run that has stood for nearly 80 years and strengthening their grip on third place. Relegation fears, thoughts of sackings and proclamations of doom have given way to euphoria, feelgood and passport hunting in anticipation of a European adventure. With Hibs, it's seldom dull. But seldom quite this bonkers. The Hibs team that set the record 17-game unbeaten benchmark in 1948 were crowned league champions. They lost the Scottish Cup final 1-0 to Rangers before a crowd of close to 150,000 at Hampden. This was Hibs' 'Famous Five' forward line in its embryonic years, the men enshrined in club history, who delivered European giant-slayings, silverware and lore, and after whom one of the four Easter Road stands has been named. Alongside these legends, Gray's squad are the unlikeliest of heroes. It's almost laughable to compare them. Yet, avoid defeat in their first post-split fixture, and this group will have eclipsed the feats of the Five - and from the gravest of beginnings. There were two particularly compelling elements to Sunday's Dundee demolition. The resurgence of Rocky Bushiri is Hibs' turnaround in microcosm. The hulking defender was seldom used and seemingly unfancied at the start of the season. He was widely reckoned error-prone and plenty supporters would have gladly seen him moved on. Once again, though, Bushiri's name pealed around Easter Road as the DR Congo international cutely volleyed home the opener from a Martin Boyle corner. Since Hibs changed shape, Bushiri has matured into his role as the central pivot of a defensive back-three. Quick, strong and increasingly assured in possession, he has now contributed four goals, including late levellers against Aberdeen and Rangers, and a Scottish Cup winner at Ayr United while defending resolutely against the best teams in the division. He has earned cult hero status in Leith and performed so impressively that the team who hardly picked him six months ago might now struggle to retain him when his contract expires in the summer. At the other end of the park, Kieron Bowie stole the show. Two predatory finishes offered more tantalising flashes of what the 22-year-old Scotland hopeful can deliver when fully fit. Bowie's season was ravaged by a serious hamstring injury on international duty and Gray has been careful to manage his minutes since. He looks tailor-made for the Scottish game, though. A power athlete and ruthless marksman, he combines his physical stature with beguiling technical class. The marquee signing on a long-term deal from Fulham, he'll be a weapon for Hibs post-split and well beyond. The goal rush in Leith strengthened Hibs' grip on third and the promise of guaranteed European group stage football it carries. It also bolstered an already formidable goal difference, which sits 12 and 17 above nearest challengers Dundee United and Aberdeen respectively. Aberdeen's sickening late blow against Rangers - conceding in the 96th minute to draw 2-2, having been two up against 10 men - allowed Hibs to open up a three-point gap above their two prime rivals. They are set to travel to Pittodrie and welcome United to Easter Road. They should also face a trip to Celtic, and home matches against Rangers and St Mirren - now the only side Hibs have failed to beat this season. The shootout for third may be alive to the very last matchday, but right now, it's Hibs who are the team to stop.

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Futbol

FA Cup Finalists Man Utd Want Wembley 'revenge'

Manchester United boss Marc Skinner says his side want "revenge" against Chelsea when the two sides meet in next month's FA Cup final. United beat rivals Manchester City in Sunday's semi-final to secure a trip to Wembley for the third successive year. While they go into the game as holders, United tasted defeat by Chelsea in their maiden FA Cup final appearance in 2023, before making a triumphant return to Wembley 11 months ago, beating Tottenham 4-0 to claim their first major piece of silverware. "It's pretty good right?" Skinner said after Sunday's victory at Joie Stadium. "As managers we're not usually allowed to show emotion but I'm really happy with the players. "There is a massive challenge ahead of us, we have played Chelsea in the final before and we want to get revenge." Before the sides meet at Wembley on 18 May, they have a Women's Super League fixture to contend on 30 April. Skinner's side retain an outside chance of catching runaway leaders Chelsea in the title race, who sit six points clear with four games to play. United will be aiming to use their varied FA Cup final experiences to go one better against Chelsea at Wembley. "I'm not even bothered who the favourites are," said Skinner. "I thought we were excellent against Chelsea in the previous final so we have to come up big again. "I'm just going to make sure my team is as prepared as they can be and they can show their experience. If they can do that we can beat anyone, I've no doubt about that." Eleven of the players that were involved in the 2023 final loss to Chelsea remain part of the current squad. Former United goalkeeper Siobhan Chamberlain says that the rematch will be a chance for them to "redeem themselves". "They lost their first FA Cup final to Chelsea at Wembley, now they have the chance to redeem themselves and get one over on Chelsea and prevent that quadruple," she told BBC Sport. Former Manchester City forward Ellen White added: "It's going to be really exciting. "Chelsea want the quadruple, United want to retain the trophy. It's going to be really exciting especially for the neutral." After playing a starring role in Tottenham's run to a first FA Cup final last season, on-loan Grace Clinton was forced to watch from the sidelines at Wembley as her parent club Manchester United claimed the trophy. This time round she is hoping to play a major role, having scored the crucial second goal against City on Sunday. "We want to win trophies at this club so it's really exciting and hopefully I finally get to play," the midfielder told BBC Sport. "It [being ineligible last season] was a weird feeling. I couldn't really explain it." The combative midfielder was taken off in the second half against City to avoid a second yellow card, a chance manager Skinner was not willing to take. "I couldn't risk her potentially not being part of the final again because she doesn't deserve that," said the United boss. "Before she came off, I thought she was the best player on the park. Her duelling, her work out of possession and her ability to change the game with her dribbling." It was fitting that Clinton and Celin Bizet, who were both on loan at Tottenham last season, scored the goals to send United back to Wembley. "Clinton has come back to Manchester United and really worked on her development, her physicality in both boxes," added White. "Also her scoring ability. She can score from pretty much anywhere. I feel she has really stamped her authority to play in that midfield."

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Futbol

'Part Of The Family' - Wolves' Remarkable Turnaround Under Pereira

As a now famous flag flown by Wolves fans suggests, Vitor Pereira will be in celebratory mood following his side's latest win. Wolves' 4-2 defeat of Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday moved Pereira's side 14 points clear of the relegation zone with just six games left to play. When he replaced Gary O'Neil as manager in December, such a comfortable end to the season was unthinkable. "Every time," Pereira said post-match when asked if - as the 'first the points, then the pints' flag at Molineux suggests - he would toast Wolves' fourth consecutive Premier League victory with an alcoholic drink. "Work is work, but after the work we need to celebrate together. I need to feel the energy of these people and be part of the family." The final word of that answer is arguably the most important - the way Pereira has instilled a sense of pride and togetherness at the club in such a short space of time is remarkable. Pereira has had a transformative impact at Molineux since he was appointed in December. Wolves were 19th in the Premier League table when the Portuguese coach arrived, having won only two of their opening 16 Premier League games. The West Midlands club have won eight and drawn two of their 16 league matches since, taking 26 points. In the same period, Southampton, Leicester and Ipswich have won 18 points combined. The defeat of Spurs on Sunday earned Wolves a fourth straight Premier League win for the very first time - not since 1972 had they put together a winning run of that length in the top flight. Pereira was pleasantly surprised by that record as he praised the new-found consistency of his team. "Now we know very well the moments of the game and how to deal with them," he told BBC Match of the Day. "Sometimes we need to wait and sometimes be compact and play on the counter-attack. Sometimes we have space to play with the ball, sometimes play fast and sometimes slow down. In this moment we have the tactical maturity [to adapt and switch between approaches]." Sunday's win was the first time since March 2022 that Wolves have scored four or more goals in a league game at Molineux, so it was fitting that Matheus Cunha scored the final goal on his return to the side. The Brazil striker came off the bench to make his return from a four-game suspension, and in the 86th minute dispossessed Lucas Bergvall before slotting past Guglielmo Vicario to wrap up the win. Cunha has been Wolves' best player this season, though in truth he hasn't been missed. Pereira's side took 10 points from the four league games they were without him, scoring six goals along the way. Yet the way the 25-year-old raises both his team-mates and the supporters is undeniable. He annoyed some Wolves fans this week with a social media post - since deleted - that hinted at a summer exit. "I will follow my dreams, not yours. So stay cool," it read. Cunha appeared to apologise to supporters when celebrating his goal, making a praying gesture before pointing to his heart. "He knows his quality, he knows the team was playing good games and winning [without him]," Pereira said. "In the right moment that we need him he said 'yes I am here to help the team'." Wolves striker Jorgen Strand Larsen - who scored four league goals in Cunha's absence and added a fifth in four games on Sunday - hailed Cunha as "probably the best player I've ever seen", adding: "He's such a good man too. "If he can do the right thing outside of football it's better for him. Coming back meant a lot for him. He's been our best player this season so I'm very happy for him." Strand Larsen also shed light on the impact Pereira has had at the club. "Since Vitor came in we have changed some small things a bit," he said. "It's not about doing something huge. With time we have built on that. We are not afraid of anyone now. We hope to build on this to do better next season. "It was a great atmosphere, the last three games have been massive for us. Spurs haven't had a great season but they are still a good team with amazing players. So it was amazing to build on that and win again. "Confidence in football is the most important thing. In a relegation battle it's hard to find confidence, especially for strikers, we don't get many chances." Rayan Ait-Nouri, who opened the scoring, told Sky Sports: "He's [Pereira] done a good job, he's a very good coach. He is focused and we work very hard in training during the week." Wolves are now up to 16th in the Premier League table with 35 points. Up next is a trip to Manchester United, three points above them, who on Sunday were soundly beaten 4-1 by Newcastle.