Steve Cooper hails Nottingham Forest’s ‘upward trajectory’ despite stalemate
Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper believes his side are heading in the right direction despite their trip to Crystal Palace ending in a “disappointing” goalless draw. Cooper’s men had their chances at Selhurst Park, where Morgan Gibbs-White saw a shot come back off a post and a sprightly Murillo was denied more than once by Eagles goalkeeper Sam Johnstone. In the end, it was a closer result than some had perhaps expected from a Palace squad that, already mired in an injury crisis, saw both Jeffrey Schlupp and Jairo Riedewald forced off either side of half-time. Cooper said: “We’re definitely the team that, if anyone deserved to win it was us. That was clear, with the chances in the game, so there’s a little feeling of disappointment in the dressing room for sure, but also knowing that performances and results like this last year were so hard to come by. “So the fact that we looked like that tonight and the way we have played means that beyond the small disappointment of not winning, we see a team that’s growing and hopefully on an upward trajectory. “I have to bear that in mind. We want to be winning games, especially when we have chances like we did tonight, how we played in the first half and how we ended the game. “But I think we’ve also got to respect that we kept a clean sheet, and for us to play like that I think is something that overall will be a real positive.” Roy Hodgson, who managed his 400th Premier League contest on Saturday, admitted he has rarely, if ever, experienced an injury crisis quite like the one plaguing the Eagles. Having already been forced to make three changes to his line-up from Palace’s 1-0 victory over Manchester United due to injuries to Eberechi Eze, Joel Ward and Cheick Doucoure, the 76-year-old was forced into two more on Saturday evening. As Schlupp hobbled off the pitch, Hodgson elected to bring on 21-year-old Jesurun Rak-Sakyi, who before the Forest encounter had played just nine Premier League minutes for Palace. Rak-Sakyi, who had a disappointing Carabao Cup outing at Old Trafford last week, was a silver lining for Palace and received a warm reception from the home support after he delivered dangerous crosses into the area and tried twice to hand his side an opener. Ultimately neither side could take advantage of what few chances they had created, but the Palace boss was full of praise for his young substitute, who returned from a loan spell at Charlton at the end of last season. Hodgson, who compared Rak-Sakyi to the injured Michael Olise, said: “I was delighted for him. There were a lot of clubs interested in taking him again. “I had to fight with him a little bit to persuade him that if he really wants to be a Premier League player he is in the best place and chances will come, and today he got that chance and I think he took it extremely well. “He didn’t just do well on the ball, he also did his defensive work. Of course when you’ve got wingers, talented wingers, that is one of the things you ask questions about: is he going to be good on the ball for those few moments he’s got it, but also what is he going to be like when we’re working hard to stop them doing something with it?” Read More Owen Farrell relieved his shot clock blunder did not cost England victory Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest play out goalless draw at Selhurst Park Jonathan Taylor ends speculation over his future by committing to the Colts Andoni Iraola admits he has to prove his reputation as Bournemouth struggle Erik ten Hag wants Man Utd late show to be ‘a turning point’ Marco Silva hails ‘class’ Willian after Fulham beat Sheffield United
2023-10-08 04:48
McCarthy attempts damage control after questioning Trump's strength as a candidate
Speaker Kevin McCarthy has scrambled to contain the fallout after he questioned whether former President Donald Trump is the strongest candidate in the 2024 presidential race -- comments that outraged Trump allies.
2023-06-28 22:54
Josh Taylor sends Teofimo Lopez warning ahead of New York title showdown
Bullish Josh Taylor has warned title challenger Teofimo Lopez he will be at the peak of his powers on Saturday night as he bids to reign at Madison Square Garden. The 32-year-old Scot will take to the ring for the first time since his contentious victory, via a split decision, over England’s Jack Catterall in February 2022. Taylor knows he was not at his best that night in Glasgow almost 16 months ago, but he is adamant he will be firing on all cylinders as he goes head to head with 25-year-old Brooklyn boxer Lopez in their WBO super-lightweight title showdown in New York. “We could both go on our previous performances and say ‘you’re only as good as your last fight’ but I believe that’s a lot of s***,” said Taylor. “I prepared crap for the last fight so I performed crap. I believe he was the same (when winning by a split decision against Sandor Martin last December). He took his eye off the ball and he performed crap as well. “We’ve both got the bit between our teeth here. He’s up against the king of the division. I know he’s a good fighter. The version that beat (Vasyl) Lomachenko (in October 2020) is a very good fighter and that’s the version I’m preparing for. “It’s all about your preparation. This time I’ve prepared diligently and to the best of my ability, and you’ll see the best of me on Saturday night.” Taylor admits he is living out a childhood dream in topping the bill at the Garden. “I’ve been here 10-12 days now,” he said of his preparations in New York. “I came over nice and early to get used to the heat. “I was expecting the heat but it’s not been so hot. It’s been OK for me being Scottish, used to the cold weather, so I haven’t had to adjust too much. “I’m excited to be here. To be involved in a big fight and the main event like this, doing the Empire State Building and stuff like that, it’s really cool. “This is a dream come true. Starting out as a young kid, you always dream of coming stateside and fighting in venues like this. “This is the ‘Mecca of Boxing’, Madison Square Garden. Fighting in a place like this, topping the bill, bringing the travelling fans – the Tartan Army – over as well, so I can’t wait to get in there to make this dream become a reality. “This clown here (Lopez) is in my way but he’s another piece of cannon fodder, that’s all he is.” The fight is due to begin around 3am BST on Sunday. Read More Josh Taylor vs Teofimo Lopez live stream: How to watch fight online and on TV tonight Josh Taylor vs Teofimo Lopez time: When does fight start in UK and US tonight? Josh Taylor vs Teofimo Lopez card: Who else is fighting tonight?
2023-06-10 16:49
Families upended by school shootings share trauma in push for gun law changes, but get mixed results
Throughout the corridors of many state Capitols, families are sharing emotionally gutting stories of tragedy caused by mass school shootings with the hope that revealing their trauma will convince lawmakers on either side of the political aisle to reconsider firearm policies
2023-09-19 12:27
How tall is Josh Allen? Quarterback made NFL history with a perfect offensive possession
Josh Allen became the first quarterback in the National Football League to score a touchdown on each of his team's offensive possessions
2023-09-22 15:55
Hershey beats quarterly sales estimates
Hershey beat Wall Street expectations for quarterly sales on Thursday, riding on benefits from higher prices of its
2023-10-26 18:58
Monsha’at and Leading Saudi Entrepreneurs Take Part in Global Entrepreneurship Congress 2023
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2023-10-08 04:46
Connor Roberts knows Wales may not qualify for every major tournament
Connor Roberts insists it is naive to expect Wales to qualify for every major tournament. Wales have reached the last two European Championships and the 2022 World Cup after ending a 58-year wait to play at a major tournament. But making Euro 2024 in Germany next summer was seriously dented by qualifying defeats to Armenia and Turkey in June. Wales travel to Latvia on Monday knowing victory is essential to maintain hopes of automatic qualification, although being a top-tier team in the last edition of the Nations League will offer them the safety net of a play-off place. “I think there’s a bit of a determination to not feel like we did after those previous two games,” said Burnley wing-back Roberts, 27, who is set to win his 50th cap at Riga’s Skonto Stadium. “The only way to not feel like that is to win the game or to play well. It’s just remembering what got us to be performing well and to qualify for big competitions and to win games before. “That is hard work and dedication, but I think we would be naive to think that we’re going to qualify for every single tournament going forward and win loads of games. “We are still a small nation in the grand scheme of things. So we have to keep our feet on the ground and realise where we’ve come from.” Wales have had a difficult 12 months since qualifying for the World Cup by beating Ukraine in a play-off final. The talismanic Gareth Bale retired after the World Cup, other senior players left the international stage, and boss Rob Page has come under scrutiny after one win in 13 games – a 1-0 home victory against Latvia in March. There were some positive signs in Thursday’s goalless friendly against South Korea, but the sight of Cardiff City Stadium little more than a third full with an attendance of 13,668 underlined Wales’ current malaise. Roberts said: “We find ourselves in a difficult position, but we’re still in with a chance (of qualifying) and all you can do is try and win the next game. “If, come the end of the campaign, it’s not good enough then we just have to move on and progress as a country and as a footballing nation.” Roberts reaches his 50-cap milestone after being something of a late developer in the game. He did not make his debut for first club Swansea until he was 22 following loan spells with varying degrees of success at Yeovil, Bristol Rovers and Middlesbrough. Roberts said: “There was many a time at Middlesbrough and Bristol where I laid in my bed on my own miles away from my family thinking ‘maybe I ain’t good enough to be a footballer’. “Now I have nearly 50 caps for my country and no-one can ever take that away from me. “I’ve had some unbelievable experiences – a World Cup, a Euros, a couple of goals and a load of happy times in the Wales jersey. So hopefully that can continue for a couple of years at least.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Scott McTominay stars again as Scotland close on Euro 2024 spot with Cyprus win Jos Buttler says England not taking any risks over fitness after heavy defeat Gareth Southgate won’t be swayed by ‘external reaction’ over Jordan Henderson
2023-09-09 05:50
Colts QB Anthony Richardson continues to ponder decision over season-ending shoulder surgery
Anthony Richardson and the Indianapolis Colts are debating whether the rookie quarterback should undergo season-ending surgery on his injured right shoulder
2023-10-17 03:53
Wells Fargo to cut less than 50 investment banker jobs - source
Wells Fargo has let go of less than 50 bankers from its corporate and investment banking unit as
2023-11-15 07:56
Steelers taking a big risk with Kenny Pickett in training camp
Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett is slated to start in the team's first preseason game on Friday against the Buccaneers.To play or not to play starting quarterbacks in preseason games? That is the question. The Pittsburgh Steelers decided to do the former with Kenny Pickett, rolling him o...
2023-08-10 03:50
Three Israelis killed by Palestinian gunmen at Jerusalem bus stop
Two Palestinian gunmen fired at people waiting on a highway in the west of the city, police say.
2023-11-30 19:53
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