Barry's Blog

LEAGUE CUP BOURNMOUTH 2-1 NORWICH SUPERB STANISLAS Junior Stanislas put the Cherries ahead when he cut in from the left and hit an unstoppable right-foot shot. Norwich improved after the break and equalised when winger Onel Hernandez netted from a tight angle. But the visitors were level for only two minutes as they failed to clear a corner and Cherries defender Steve Cook hammered home from 12 yards. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/45947948 MY OPINION This was a match based on 2 minutes where Norwich were not able to do the sensible thing just before conceding a goal. Bournemouth had shown themselves to be the better side over the 90 minutes but this was a very lucky win no doubt. BURTON 3-2 NOTS FOREST HEROIC HESKETH Fraser went on a run through the middle third and unleashed a shot which took a wicked deflection and flew beyond Steele into the top corner of the net. The Reds struggled to clear their lines as Burton broke forward and Fraser w...

FA PREMIERE LEAGUE WEEKEND 10 BRIGHTON 1-0 WOLVES MURPHY MANAGEMENT Murray, who was a doubt for the game after suffering concussion last weekend, turned Bruno's scuffed shot in from close range shortly after half-time. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/45924059 MY OPINION What was said in the dressing room at half time in that match is what changed it for sure and changed if towards Brighton as they were able to learn from the first half what was needed in order to control the match. FULLHAM 0-3 BOURNMOUTH WACKY WILSON Timothy Fosu-Mensah barged Wilson over in the box. The Bournemouth striker dusted himself off to send debutant Rico the wrong way in the 14th minute. With the hosts chasing the game in the 72nd minute, Brooks made the most of the extra space in the final third, latching onto a pass from Ryan Fraser and slotting the ball between Rico's legs. Wilson was another to enjoy the space on offer to Bournemouth's attackers, especiall...

PRO 14 IRISH TEAMS OSPREYS 22-17 CONNACHT GREAT GILES Wing Keelan Giles, on his PRO14 return after a 10-month injury absence, found space on the left wing after a charge-down, chipped into space and won the race to touch down. There was a sense of urgency about the way the Ospreys began the encounter, and before the 10 minute mark there was more joy for Giles when the ball bounced kindly from a Sam Davies cross-kick for him to notch his second try. A scruffy drop goal from Connacht No.10 Jack Carty got the visitors off the mark soon after and from that point the Irish province came much more into it, gradually imposing themselves. While the Ospreys preserved their seven-point advantage at the interval, McCusker's illegal challenge on Cian Kelleher's neck as the wing tried to launch a counter-attack, and his subsequent trip to the cooler, threatened to set them back. Intelligent decision making allowed them to establish good field position and when centre Al...

IRISH TEAMS IN EUROPE FRI Ulster:  Lowry; Baloucoune, Addison, McCloskey, Speight; McPhillips, Shanahan; O'Sullivan, Best (capt), Moore; Henderson, Treadwell; Reidy, Murphy, Coetzee Replacements:  Herring, Warwick, O'Toole, O'Connor, Jones, Stewart, Kernohan, Gilroy Dragons:  J Williams; Howells, Warren, Sage, Talbot-Davies; Tovey, R Williams; Harris, Hibbard (capt), Fairbrother; Screech, Evans; Taylor, Cudd, Keddie Replacements:  Lawrence, Jarvis, Bevington, Davies, Basham, Knoyle, Dixon, Kirchner

UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE GROUP L CHELSEA 3-1 BATE LION LOFTUS CHEEK Davide Zappacosta picking out Loftus-Cheek, who met the cross from 12 yards out before stroking it home. Loftus-Cheek soon doubled Chelsea's advantage, turning in Willian's corner from inside the six-yard area, stealing ahead of team-mate Olivier Giroud. After the break, Loftus-Cheek started and finished an attack to complete his hat-trick, picking out Pedro before latching onto the loose ball and tucking an effort beyond goalkeeper Denis Scherbitski, who should have done better with the strike from 18 yards out. Chelsea were hardly tested all night defensively, but they did go to sleep in the 79th minute, allowing Rios to tap in unmarked from a free-kick. https://www.skysports.com/football/chelsea-vs-bate-borisov/401972 MY OPINION This has but the young forward up in the stratosphere and you do wonder now whether he will succeed or fail. I think that Chelsea can learn a lot from this game ...

EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE GROUP A BRUGE 1-1 MONACO WICKED WESLEY Moussa Sylla right footed shot from the right side of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Aleksandr Golovin.   Wesley header from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Hans Vanaken with a cross. https://www.skysports.com/football/club-brugge-vs-monaco/401867 MY OPINION It was very interesting that both teams scored their goals so close together in the first half and that neither side could make the break in the second. I think both teams needed the win in order to stand any chance of reaching the last 16. BORICIA DORTMOND 4-0 ATHLETICIO GURERRIRO GETS GOALS Axel Witsel right footed shot from outside the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Achraf Hakimi. Raphael Guerreiro left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Achraf Hakimi. Jadon Sancho right footed shot from very close range to the centre of the...

EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE GROUP E AEK ATHENS 0-2 BAYERN MUNIC   MAGNIFICENT  MARTINEZ Javi Martínez left footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal following a corner.  Robert Lewandowski right footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Rafinha. https://www.skysports.com/football/aek-athens-vs-bay-munich/401857 MY OPINION This should be one of the major results that gets Bayern back into form both in Germany and in Europe it also gives them a buffer as they are not hot as they usually are and there is definitely some need here for improving for AEK this was one that got away and might put them out of the group completely. AJAX 1-0 BENFICA MAZRAOUI MAKES IT Noussair Mazraoui right footed shot from outside the box to the bottom right corner https://www.skysports.com/football/ajax-vs-benfica/401858 MY OPINION This was a very lucky win for Ajax there is no doubt and I think that for Aja...