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Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney's Wrexham have been predicted to be dragged into a League One relegation battle in 2024-25 by a supercomputer.
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League One fixtures for 2024-25 releasedWrexham predicted to avoid relegationBirmingham tipped to win the leagueWHAT HAPPENED?
Following the release of Wrexham's League One fixtures, the Grosvenor Sport SuperComputer believes Wrexham will finish 19th – just two spots and five points above the relegation zone. However, Birmingham City, who have NFL legend Tom Brady on their board of investors, have been predicted to secure an immediate return to the Championship by winning the division with 96 points.
AdvertisementWHAT THE SUPER COMPUTER PREDICTED
The supercomputer's final table prediction can be seen below, with Blackpool tipped to join Birmingham in the automatic promotion spots.
Pos
Team
MP
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
1
Birmingham City
46
28
12
6
84
50
34
96
2
Blackpool
46
28
9
9
73
47
26
93
3
Lincoln City
46
25
12
9
76
50
26
87
4
Bolton Wanderers
46
24
14
8
79
46
33
86
5
Huddersfield Town
46
24
11
11
75
48
27
83
6
Peterborough United
46
20
14
12
65
53
12
74
7
Wycombe Wanderers
46
20
13
13
73
56
17
73
8
Barnsley
46
20
13
13
70
55
15
73
9
Stockport County
46
21
9
16
55
54
1
72
10
Rotherham United
46
18
13
15
60
55
5
67
11
Exeter City
46
18
10
18
59
60
-1
64
12
Charlton Athletic
46
19
6
21
61
63
-2
63
13
Stevenage
46
17
11
18
65
68
-3
62
14
Reading
46
16
10
20
61
70
-9
58
15
Bristol Rovers
46
13
16
17
53
64
-11
55
16
Wigan Athletic
46
14
12
20
63
69
-6
54
17
Northampton Town
46
14
12
20
55
62
-7
54
18
Leyton Orient
46
14
11
21
56
68
-12
53
19
Wrexham
46
12
11
23
52
68
-16
47
20
Mansfield Town
46
9
19
18
52
61
-9
46
21
Crawley Town
46
10
12
24
37
68
-31
42
22
Shrewsbury Town
46
12
6
28
39
72
-33
42
23
Cambridge United
46
10
10
26
46
71
-25
40
24
Burton Albion
46
9
8
29
44
75
-31
35
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Wrexham are going for a record third-straight promotion in the English football pyramid, after winning the National League and earning promotion to League Oneat the first time of asking in April. Birmingham, on the other hand, will look to erase the memory of a torrid season in the Championship last term. And going by the SuperComputer, both teams are in for contrasting campaigns in 2024-25.
GOAL/GettyWHAT NEXT?
Phil Parkinson's Wrexham side begin their League One season at home to Wycombe Wanderers on August 10, while Birmingham entertain fellow former Premier League team Reading at home on the same date.
Alisha Lehmann and Douglas Luiz have reunited in Las Vegas, with the Aston Villa stars still at the centre of a Juventus transfer saga.
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Warner, who was declared the Man of the Match, was tentative at the start of his innings before growing more assured
ESPNcricinfo staff01-Jun-2019In his first international match after the one-year ban for ball tampering, David Warner carved out an unbeaten 89 off 114 balls to give Australia a seven-wicket win in their World Cup 2019 opener. The bowlers had bowled Afghanistan out for 207, and Australia chased that down in just 34.5 overs.Warner, who was declared the Man of the Match, was tentative at the start of his innings before growing more assured. He admitted that his long absence from the 50-over format had played a part in his slow start.”I think it was just nerves getting back into the camp, and getting back into the full intensity of training,” Warner said at the post-match presentation. “I was a little bit more relaxed when Finchy (Aaron Finch) started going. But look, to come out here and bowl the way that we did, probably set the tone from Ball 1 for us with the bat… there is a great energy and a great buzz about this team at the moment.”The way that I started out there – playing Twenty20 cricket over the last sort of 12 to 14 months – I hadn’t really moved my feet at all. So to get back into rhythm out there, start moving in the right direction, getting my head over the ball – that was just great to get out there and do that. As a positive, for us, it’s about getting past this first victory and move on to the West Indies.”Warner put on 96 in 16.2 overs for the opening wicket, with Finch smashing 66 off 49. But Warner ground his way through a patchy first half to ensure he was there at the end, earning praise from his captain and opening partner.”I think he was struggling for the first half of his innings there,” Finch said. “He struggled to time the ball and his feet weren’t really going, so the fact that he kept hanging in there and hanging in there… you always have to remember that it’s going to be harder for a new batter to come in. So that was great for him, to just keep on and do that job really well for us and be not out at the end.”Warner acknowledged the importance of the top order getting runs, with the trend so far in this World Cup being of the quicker bowlers scything through teams. “Us batters like to see that,” Warner said. “We know the bowlers always say that one-day cricket is always a batsman’s game. But two new balls over here, there’s a bit of swing for the fast bowlers, but you saw out and out quicks going through the top order. For us as batters, we’ve just got to hold our nerve a little bit, play normal cricket shots and get into our innings.”
The Blues came back from being 2-0 down at the break to keep their slim hopes of European qualification alive with a point at Villa Park.
After a difficult week, Chelsea showed some fight to earn themselves a point at Aston Villa that could yet prove crucial in their fight for European qualification. Mauricio Pochettino's side came from 2-0 down at half-time to secure a 2-2 draw against Unai Emery's Champions League hopefuls.
The Blues were looking to bounce back from their chastening defeat to Arsenal last time out, but made the worst possible start when Marc Cucurella diverted John McGinn's scuffed shot into his own net inside the opening four minutes.
The visitors looked to battle back, and Nicolas Jackson came closest to equalising when he hit the post with a header, but Chelsea found themselves two goals down before half-time as Morgan Rogers was allowed to cut inside onto his right foot and fire a low shot into the bottom corner.
Chelsea were dominant after the break as Pochettino made a couple of tactical tweaks, and their improved display was rewarded around the hour-mark as Conor Gallagher won the ball back on the edge of the Villa box, and the ball was worked to Noni Madueke to curl home. Gallagher then produced a moment of magic with 10 minutes to play, as he whipped a 20-yard effort into the top corner.
Pochettino's team even thought they'd won it right at the death when substitute Axel Disasi headed home in stoppage-time, but the goal was ruled out following a VAR review thanks to a shove from Benoit Badiashile in the build-up, and the Blues were forced to settle for a point.
GOAL rates Chelsea's players from Villa Park…
Getty ImagesGoalkeeper & Defence
Djordje Petrovic (6/10):
Had no chance with the opening goal, but will be disappointed to be beaten at his near post by Rogers. Did make a decent save to deny Watkins in the first half.
Trevoh Chalobah (4/10):
Deployed as a narrow right-back, but didn't seem to fully understand where he was meant to be when Villa attacked. Will feel he could have done better for both goals.
Thiago Silva (6/10):
Beaten for pace on one occasion by Watkins, but an assured presence in defence otherwise. Limped off late on.
Benoit Badiashile (6/10):
Looked much more comfortable next to Thiago Silva having struggled so much at Arsenal. Punished for his slight shove at the death when Chelsea thought they'd won it.
Marc Cucurella (6/10):
Could do little about his own goal, though he wasn't great from a defensive point of view. Did offer a fair bit in attack, both out wide in the first half and in a more inverted role after the break.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesMidfield
Moises Caicedo (7/10):
An encouraging display with the ball, as he looked to play incisive passes and posed something of a threat around the edge of the box. Was caught on the wrong side of the ball when defending a couple of times, but made some crunching challenges to win the ball back.
Conor Gallagher (7/10):
Lacked quality in the first half, even if he worked tirelessly. Managed to put everything together after the break, however, as his excellent pressing led to Madueke's goal before his superb finish levelled the scores.
Cole Palmer (4/10):
Returned from illness but not at his best as Villa largely crowded him out. Set-pieces were disappointing before he missed a huge chance to win it in stoppage-time.
Getty ImagesAttack
Noni Madueke (7/10):
A real game of two halves. Forced to hug the touchline in the first half, and he was guilty of not tracking back for both Villa goals. Moved inside after the break and instantly became Chelsea's most dangerous attacker, with his goal a superb finish.
Nicolas Jackson (6/10):
Ran himself into the ground and unfortunate that a fine finish was ruled out for offside. Should have scored with a free header that hit the post.
Mykhailo Mudryk (3/10):
Struggled to get himself into the game, while his final ball was constantly lacking. A first-half shot that almost hit the corner flag summed up his performance.
Getty ImagesSubs & Manager
Cesare Casadei (N/A):
Thrown on in the final minute.
Axel Disasi (N/A):
Almost the hero with his stoppage-time header that was controversially ruled out.
Mauricio Pochettino (7/10):
Didn't get his set up right in the first half, but deserves huge credit for both the tactical tweaks he made and how he was able to encourage his players to battle back.
Phil Parkinson says Wrexham are working on their “budget” for the summer transfer window, with Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney expected to spend.
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New Zealand last lost four matches in a series back in 2012; they need to find a way – quickly – to avoid it this time
The Preview by Sidharth Monga30-Jan-20195:11
Can the Black Caps finally open their account?
Big PictureNever mind the 2007 World Cup, India have been a very good ODI side pretty consistently since the 2003 World Cup. Yet, there is a headiness now that can be compared to the dominant Australians of the 1990s and 2000s, which could pitch an Australia A side in an international tournament and end up making it more competitive. At the moment, former Indian cricketers are asking for another ‘superstar’ to be introduced in place of the resting superstar.Imagine the aura of the side: Virat Kohli, for all intents and purposes an all-time great of the format, believes he was not 10% the player when he was as old as Shubman Gill. This is four months from the World Cup when a conservative side would not even be thinking of newcomers. For India, Gill may or may not be allowed to present his case; back home Rishabh Pant is keeping the pressure up for incumbents. We are talking about incumbents who have seen the team to 12 series wins in their last 13 bilateral contests. In tournament cricket, they have made two finals of two tournaments in this period, winning one of them.Watch New Zealand v India LIVE on ESPN+
Readers from the US can watch the New Zealand v India series LIVE here, on ESPN+
At the other end to this team at the peak of its powers are New Zealand, still holders of the best win-loss record at home since the last World Cup, still serious contenders at the upcoming World Cup, but suddenly unable to respond to a brand of cricket only India seem to be playing in a power-driven sport. Not that New Zealand believe in the philosophy, but what India have can’t be bought in a market. Two wristspinners who win by bowling slow, and getting even slower when under pressure. Three top-order batsmen who have outdone by some distance Sehwag, Tendulkar and Ganguly as a combination.The last time New Zealand lost four matches in a series was back in 2012, but in the West Indies. At home, only Australia (twice) and Sri Lanka have consigned them to the fate. Now they need to find a way to avoid it in the next two games.Form guideNew Zealand (last five completed games, most recent first) LLLWW
India WWWWWIn the spotlightDoes Colin Munro work in ODIs? Some might call him a poor man’s Brendon McCullum, the sharp impact player at the top of the innings as opposed to someone who sets himself up for long innings, a T20 player of sorts to play the first 20 overs as a separate match. In theory, it is a move that tests the limits of the format, but Munro doesn’t have the success rate to inspire confidence that this can work at the World Cup. Not blessed with the same human resource as India are, New Zealand have to make some low-percentage moves to try to even out the field. Munro, though, needs flat conditions with the ball not doing much off the straight – both in terms of line and in pace – to come off. Now is about time for New Zealand to decide whether they want to change their plan for the World Cup.He is known for his double hundreds. He is now playing his 200th ODI. And Rohit Sharma is doing it as India’s captain in Kohli’s absence. On one occasion in this series, he has raised the possibility of a double, on another he has looked good for a hundred; now he will finally want to score his first century in New Zealand.Colin Munro has struggled to get going at the top•Getty Images
Team newsAfter missing the last game with a hamstring strain, MS Dhoni was back in the nets. Tempting as it might be to take a look at future ‘superstar’ Gill, it will be more practical to persist with Dinesh Karthik, who did a good job in Dhoni’s absence. Ambati Rayudu could move up to the No. 3 vacated by Kohli, with Karthik and Dhoni manning the middle order.India (likely) 1 Rohit Sharma (capt), 2 Shikhar Dhawan, 3 Ambati Rayudu, 4 Dinesh Karthik, 5 Kedar Jadhav, 6 MS Dhoni (wk), 7 Hardik Pandya, 8 Kuldeep Yadav, 9 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 10 Mohammed Shami, 11 Yuzvendra ChahalNew Zealand have made two changes to the squad that surrendered the series in the first three matches. James Neesham and Todd Astle have replaced Doug Bracewell and Ish Sodhi, and could be the only changes to the XI. Depending on the conditions, Tim Southee could replace one of the spinners.New Zealand (likely) 1 Martin Guptill, 2 Colin Munro, 3 Kane Williamson (capt.), 4 Ross Taylor, 5 Tom Latham (wk), 6 Henry Nicholls, 7 James Neesham, 8 Mitchell Santner, 8 Todd Astle, 10 Lockie Ferguson, 11 Trent BoultPitch and conditionsIn the last three ODIs at Seddon Park, scores of over 260 and under 290 have been chased down successfully. Spinners have done well in all three; Mitchell Santner even opened the bowling once. No weather disturbance in expected.Stats and trivia The average ten-over score against India this year – after six matches – has been 41 for 2. In all three matches, the new-ball bowlers have left New Zealand two down at the end of ten overs. India’s spinners have been a problem for New Zealand, but they have been given a head-start by the combination of India’s opening bowlers and New Zealand’s opening batsmen. By comparison, India have been 40 for 1 on an average in the first ten overs. In this series, they have been 43 for 1, 44 for 1 and 56 for 0.Quotes”The thing that stands out for me is the relentless intensity with which the guys have played all these three games, not relaxing after 2-0 up as well, which I think is very, very important. Now they’ve started to realise how to close series and how to capitalise when we have advantage in a series. “
“I hope it’s not a problem in the future. We’ve got a very clear plan of how we want to play – that won’t change. We have to recognise at the moment that the top order aren’t getting as many runs as what we’d like, but also [Mohammed] Shami and [Bhuvneshwar] Kumar have been outstanding with the new ball and really put us under pressure.”
It's a weird day in Major League Baseball as the New York Mets and Atlanta Braves are playing a makeup doubleheader. A split puts both teams into the playoffs and there's a chance for the second game to get really weird as the team already safe in the postseason won't have much motivation. So it's not a huge surprise that bizarre things are already happening in Atlanta.
Including Mets rightfielder Tyrone Taylor hustling his way into one of the strangest infield singles imaginable thanks to some legitimately astounding spin.
It's probably best not to spoil anything and just have you watch.
Taylor deserves an incredible amount of credit for running this ball out. He was ultimately stranded by the Mets so it didn't really matter to the end result of the game. But can you imagine if a playoff spot had come down to pure freakishness.
There have been some hits like this in the past because physics are going to do that they do. Paul DeJong reached on a similar play back in 2012 and Brian Dozier got similarly lucky back in 2012.
Spin rate. It's not just for pitchers.
Tarik Skubal won his second consecutive Cy Young award on Wednesday, but his future in Detroit remains murky. While Skubal has emerged as one of the best pitchers in MLB over the last few years and a key part in Detroit making back-to-back postseason appearances, he has just one more year under the Tigers’ control and is set to become a free agent after the 2026 season.
The Tigers still have time to try and extend Skubal, but recent reports have suggested that the two sides are not closely aligned on a deal, with Jon Heyman of the reporting last month that the sides were $250 million apart on an extension.
More: Top Tarik Skubal Trade Destinations
If Skubal and the Tigers cannot get any closer on a deal, Skubal will become a free agent in 2026. Alternatively, if the Tigers realize a deal won’t get done, they could try to trade him to ensure they get a return for the ace.
With trade rumors surrounding Skubal, Tigers general manager Jeff Greenberg said Wednesday, “We love Tarik, obviously. It’s pretty obvious what means to this organization. He’s a fantastic pitcher, he’s a Detroit Tiger. We’re never going to talk about our players in the context of trades, but we’re lucky to have him. He’s been a huge piece to what we’ve done.”
When pressed further about whether it’s an obligation to listen to calls regarding Skubal if they don’t have him signed beyond the next season, Greenberg replied, “Again, it’s not something we’re going to discuss in this context, and I’d say that about any of our players. He’s got one year of control, that’s part of the process as it is for everybody in this system. He’s a Tiger. We’re fortunate to have him. That’s the reality right now.”
Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris, who is the team’s decision-maker, had a similar message last month when addressing Skubal’s future. He said in October, “I can’t comment on our players being traded, I can’t comment on free agents and I can’t comment on other teams’ players. So I’m going to respond by just not actually commenting on it. … He’s an incredible pitcher and we’re lucky to have him. That’s all I can say on that.”
Skubal himself said Wednesday, via Evan Petzold of , “Contract extension stuff is a little bit different, but trade stuff is out of my control. I've given everything I have to this organization. I want to be a Tiger for a very long time. … I love Detroit. Hopefully, I'm here. That's where I'm at with all of that."
أعلن الكرواتي كرونسلاف يورتشيتش، المدير الفني لنادي بيراميدز، تشكيل فريقه الأساسي في مباراته الودية أمام سيراميكا كليوباترا.
ومن المقرر أن يلتقي بيراميدز نظيره سيراميكا كليوباترا، بعد قليل، على ملعب الدفاع الجوي ضمن استعداداتهما لمنافسات الدوري المصري الممتاز.
طالع| يحضره أساطير العالم.. بيراميدز يعلن إقامة احتفال بمناسبة تتويجه بـ دوري أبطال إفريقيا
وشهد تشكيل بيراميدز تواجد الصفقة الجديدة، البرازيلي إيفرتون دا سيلفا، أساسيًا لأول مرة، بعدما ظهر على مقاعد البدلاء في الودية الأخيرة أمام تراكتور الإيراني.
وتعاقد بيراميدز مع البرازيلي إيفرتون قادمًا من بانيك أوسترافا التشيكي، حتى يونيو 2029، في الصيف الجاري. تشكيل بيراميدز اليوم أمام سيراميكا كليوباترا
حراسة المرمى: أحمد الشناوي.
الدفاع: طارق علاء، محمود مرعي، أحمد سامي، كريم حافظ.
الوسط: مهند لاشين، وليد الكرتي، إيفرتون دا سيلفا، عبد الرحمن مجدي، محمد رضا بوبو.
الهجوم: مروان حمدي.