Barry's Blog

LEAGUE CUP FOREST 3-2 STOKE LOLLEY LOVERS  LIMELIGHT Forest took a fortunate lead when Adam Federici tried to collect the ball but it hit Ben Osborn and went in the net. Daryl Murphy doubled the lead with a powerful shot from 18 yards out and Joe Lolley added a third with a low strike. But Benik Afobe pulled one back from the edge of the penalty area and Saido Berahino bundled in a second from close range but it was not enough for Stoke. Forest played the last 13 minutes with 10 men after Diogo Goncalves was shown a straight red card for a high challenge on Tom Edwards. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/45569332 MY OPINION I think that Forest took their gas of the pedal after leading the game by 3-0 but I do think this is a very serious worry for Stoke. Forest could go far in this competition for certain but Stoke must look at what went wrong. WEST HAM 8-0 MACLESFIELD SLIPPY SNODGRASS Michail Antonio heading home in the 29th minute, before Robe...

FOOTBALL LEAGUE CUP THIRD ROUND BLACKPOOL 2-0 QPR GNADULLENT  GALLANT Armand Gnanduillet gave the hosts the lead as he sent Ben Heneghan's headed delivery home. Queens Park Rangers were reduced to 10 men when Jordan Cousins picked up a second booking deep in the second half. Jay Spearing fired from the edge of the box late on https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/45555888 MY OPINION I expected a lot more of a reaction from QPR after they lost the lead but a cup run can get the fans going in this competition. I think that maybe there is a sense that cups can be a distraction for QPR this season but momentum can change things in a cup run. BOURNMOUTH 3-2 BLACKBURN WILSON MAKES EVERYTHING WELL Junior Stanislas volleyed the opener and Jordon Ibe made it 2-0 from the spot after Darragh Lenihan's foul. Craig Conway pulled one back and after Tyrone Mings brought down Ben Brereton, Adam Armstrong's penalty equalised. But Rovers' Derrick Willi...

QUALIFIERS Halifax 6-24 Leeds London 11-8 Salford Toulouse 34-23 Hull FC Toronto 20-12 Widnes Team Played Won Drawn F/a Points Leeds 6 5 0 80 10 Salford 6 4 0 108 8 Toronto 6 4 0 17 8 Hull KR 6 4 0 5 8 Toulouse 6 3 0 0 6 London 6 3 0 -10 6 Widnes 6 1 0 -51 2 Halifax 6 0 0 -150 0 FIXTURES Salford v Toulouse If Salford win they go up. If Toulouse win they should go into a play off Thursday   Leeds v Toronto If Toronto win they should go up. Leeds should already be up Friday London v Halifax London will have to match Toulouse result +11 on Saturday Hull KR v Widnes Hull Kr Need a win to give them a chance at automatic promotion Sunday SUPER LEAGUE Warri...

NRL SEMI SATURDAY ROOSTERS 12-4 RABITOHS MENTAL TIMES FOR MOMIROVSKI he error-riddled opening 10 minutes set the tone for what would be a scrappy affair, from both the Roosters and the Rabbitohs, in the last NRL game ever to be played at Allianz Stadium. A penalty to the Rabbitohs in the 13 th  minute gave goal kicker Adam Reynolds a great opportunity to put his team out to a 2-0 lead and secure the first points of the preliminary final. However, it was the Roosters who managed to muster the first try just two minutes later, courtesy of a sublime sleight of hand from fullback James Tedesco. It was this great left-hand shift that saw Tedesco split the Rabbitohs’ right edge and create the space for winger Daniel Tupou to score in the corner. Poor discipline from the Roosters gifted the Rabbitohs back-to-back penalties and saw Reynolds level the score after 25 minutes. The Roosters’ relentless defence for the remainder of the first half restricted any chances that the R...

SATURDAY AFL SEMIS WEST COAST EAGLES 8-13 121 55 7-13 MELBOURNE CLINICAL CRIPPS A dominant opening quarter saw the Eagles kick four unanswered goals and hold a 29-point lead at the first break. From there it only got worse for Melbourne as the Eagles ballooned the lead out to a staggering 63 point margin at halftime. Melbourne’s horrific first half saw them end with only six behinds and made them the first team since 1927 to go an entire half in a final without a goal to their name. West Coast’s forward line was at its dominant best as Josh Kennedy, Jack Darling, Mark LeCras and Jamie Cripps combined for 13 goals. Jack Redden led the midfield charge as he ended the contest with a game high 31 disposals and became only the second player in preliminary final history to record 30+ touches, 10+ marks and kick a goal. https://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/live-afl-preliminary-final-west-coast-vs-melbourne-at-optus-stadium/news-story/a144b1781d9354c7b2ed1bbd61b40376 MY O...