Middlesbrough sweep aside struggling Sheffield Wednesday
Middlesbrough closed in on the Championship play-off places as they claimed a 2-0 victory over struggling Sheffield Wednesday.
Isaiah Jones’ deflected strike followed an own goal from Michael Ihiekwe as Michael Carrick’s side extended their unbeaten run to six games and moved to within six points of sixth-placed Norwich.
Wednesday’s defeat would have been even heavier had Boro’s Sam Greenwood not rolled a late penalty against the post, and the Owls find themselves two points adrift of safety in 23rd position.
After briefly threatening to turn things around, Danny Rohl’s side have now gone four games without a victory.
Wednesday had conceded six goals in their previous away game at Ipswich, but they made a decent start on Teesside and could have claimed the lead inside the opening four minutes.
Marvin Johnson was released down the left by a long ball from the back, but while the former Middlesbrough wing-back’s angled drive beat goalkeeper Seny Dieng, the ball shaved the outside of the far post.
Boro, who had claimed a creditable draw at Southampton on Good Friday, took time to get going, but Lewis O’Brien finally recorded the hosts’ first effort at goal midway through the first half.
The Nottingham Forest loanee attempted a curled effort from 25 yards, but the ball deflected wide off Barry Bannan.
The home side should really have claimed the lead six minutes before the interval, but while Jones was unmarked as he met Greenwood’s cross at the back post, he could only slice a wasteful shot wide from eight yards.
Two minutes later, Boro were celebrating taking the lead despite still having failed to record an effort on target.
Greenwood swung in a corner from the right, and when Emmanuel Latte Lath failed to make any contact with his attempted header, Ihiekwe could only deflect the ball past James Beadle and into his own net.
Ihiekwe’s bad day might well have got worse two minutes after the break, but while the defender looked to have caught O’Brien in the area, the referee waved away Boro’s spot-kick appeals.
O’Brien saw a shot blocked as Boro continued to press for a second goal, while at the other end Wednesday substitute Djeidi Gassama wasted a decent opening as he completely missed his kick while attempting to sweep home Pol Valentin’s cross.
Latte Lath fired wide midway through the second half, with Beadle saving from Greenwood a couple of minutes later, but Boro claimed a second goal to make the game safe with 17 minutes remaining.
Luke Ayling released Jones down the right, and the winger’s shot looped beyond Beadle thanks to a hefty deflection off Bannan.
Boro should have added a third goal with nine minutes left after Bannan was penalised for handling Ayling’s cross, but Greenwood’s side-footed penalty rebounded off the base of the left-hand post.
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Champions League
'It is obvious' - Carlo Ancelotti admits Real Madrid have advantage over Man City
Real Madrid take on Man City in quarter-finals of this season's Champions League
Los Blancos enjoy nine-day break before first leg while Cityzens will play two further games
Carlo Ancelotti has responded to Pep Guardiola's criticism of English football schedule
By Sean Walsh
5:00 PM GMT+1
Ancelotti gave an honest answer
Ancelotti gave an honest answer / Quality Sport Images/GettyImages
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has admitted his side will have an ever so slight advantage against Manchester City in their Champions League quarter-final due to their lighter schedule.
Los Blancos will take on the reigning kings of Europe in the last eight, with the first leg to take place at the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday 9 April before the return fixture at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday 17 April.
However, City boss Pep Guardiola revealed his frustration last week with the arrangement of the fixtures as his side have a packed Premier League schedule to contend with, while Madrid will have nine days of rest in between.
"We play Aston Villa at 20:15, then at 12:30 against Crystal Palace on Saturday - at 12:30!" Guardiola bemoaned. "Then we go to Madrid on Tuesday. Madrid has nine days to prepare, nine days.
"They play this weekend and they won't do it again until our game. I would like to reflect and ask for one more day, because the difference is a lot."
Pep Guardiola, Carlo Ancelotti
Guardiola and Ancelotti will meet again / Julian Finney/GettyImages
Following Madrid's 2-0 win at home to Athletic Club on Sunday evening, Ancelotti was asked for his thoughts on Guardiola's comments and ceded that his side will indeed have a 'small advantage'.
"I see it well, they have a more complicated schedule, it is modern football," Ancelotti said. "It is obvious that we have a small advantage, but it will not affect the match. I really liked the handling of today's match and a little less intensity."
Madrid have been paired with City in the knockout stages of the Champions League for a third successive season having met them in the semi-finals in each of the last two campaigns.
The winner of this tie will face either Arsenal or Bayern Munich in the semi-finals, with Atletico Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona on the other side of the draw.
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David Moyes defends Kalvin Phillips after midfielder stuck middle finger up at fan
Phillips' West Ham loan took a downturn with a poor performance against Newcastle
Man City loanee raised middle finger to fans after facing insults
Moyes backs Phillips to turn things around
By Tom Gott
5:00 PM GMT+1
Phillips has struggled since joining West Ham
Phillips has struggled since joining West Ham / Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/GettyImages
David Moyes has backed Kalvin Phillips to prove his worth to West Ham United fans after the midfielder found himself caught up in a clash with fans.
Phillips joined on loan from Manchester City in January with a view to reigniting his stalling career, but the 28-year-old has endured a torrid time with West Ham and was called "useless" as he boarded the team bus after this weekend's 4-3 defeat to Newcastle United.
In response to the insult, Phillips raised his middle finger at the supporter in question - a gesture Moyes moved to defend.
"Kalvin's a human being and can do things which we all do at different times," Moyes said. "What he needs is support behind him, people to help him, and we're going to stand with him help him as much as we possibly can.
"Obviously, we need all out supporters to give all our players, whoever it is, their support.
"He's fine, he's back training and we've all moved on from the weekend. We've got a big game coming up and we're getting ready for that now."
Kalvin Phillips, Anthony Gordon
Phillips conceded a controversial penalty / Stu Forster/GettyImages
Phillips has now started three games for West Ham, coming off the bench for another six appearances, and may retain a big role as first-choice midfielder Edson Alvarez remains suspended.
His switch to the London Stadium was made as Phillips found his spot in the England national team under pressure. Gareth Southgate has remained loyal to the midfielder, despite the fact he played just 911 minutes with City between July 2022 and January 2024.
However, his poor form with West Ham actually saw Phillips left out of the England squad for the March international break - two years since he was last omitted for reasons other than injury.
"At the moment, I couldn't be confident on the performances Kalvin's had in the last few weeks that he could go onto the field and do the job we know that he's capable of," Southgate said when asked why he dropped Phillips last month.
"So, there's absolutely no reason why he can't find that form. Nothing would give us more pleasure than having a Kalvin that's back in the rhythm of playing and back to full confidence."
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