If 2022 is to be Marcelo Bielsa’s last year at Elland Road, at least it began with the sort of afternoon to suggest he should leave Leeds with Premier League football. Just their fourth win of the season means Leeds have nevertheless opened up an eight-point gap on the bottom three. Beaten 3-1 for the second time in four days, Burnley are stuck on a solitary victory. With Leicester, Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool next, that may remain the case for some time.
Even the finest moment of a dreadful day for Sean Dyche felt doubly damaging. Matt Lowton was struck on the head by a bottle of coke thrown by a Leeds supporter when celebrating Burnley’s goal. “Very disappointing,” said Dyche. It was the fourth consecutive match at Elland Road with flashpoints involving the crowd and the FA surely must investigate.
Dyche’s scorer, with a free kick he first won and then dispatched wonderfully, was Maxwel Cornet. The bittersweet element for Burnley is that their catalyst is now headed for the African Cup of Nations.
The Ivorian’s sixth goal was his latest spectacular strike but while the fit-again substitute was a transformative figure, his valiant efforts were in vain. Burnley can seem over-reliant on him, though Dyche argued the collective can compensate, adding: “I have never lost faith in these players and I won’t do. The pride I have them is enormous.”
But it was a triumph for Bielsa, who had been self-critical after defeats. “I don’t ignore the situation that we are in and I also don’t ignore what my responsibilities are,” he said. “It was very necessary to get the win.” As they did, his name rang around Elland Road. His team played his quixotic 3-3-1-3 formation in a game defined by their frenetic football, not Dyche’s more prosaic gameplan. “They had the edge against us with that desire,” admitted the Burnley manager.
Victory was sealed by two of Bielsa’s substitutes, Dan James heading in a cross from his fellow replacement Joe Gelhardt, but the pivotal two goals came from players who were proof of the Argentinian’s alchemy when pillars of his Championship side were outstanding in the top flight.
Both Jack Harrison and Stuart Dallas overachieved by scoring eight league goals last season and had underachieved by getting none this. Droughts were ended as emblems of regression recaptured their dynamism. While Wayne Hennessey parried his initial effort from an acute angle, Harrison scored the second. Dallas’ superb first-time finish from the edge of the box restored Leeds’ lead.
They were worthy winners after a late flurry when Gelhardt excelled and Raphinha spurned a golden chance. “We dominated the game and created danger,” Bielsa said. Even without the watching Kalvin Phillips, plus Patrick Bamford, who has only played 22 minutes since September, and Liam Cooper, this was a more recognisable Leeds side than the depleted teams who had lost their three previous matches, conceding 14 goals. It was their first game for 15 days and they were faster and fresher.
There was ambition and audacity when Raphinha tried to score from 50 yards and Junior Firpo with a back-heeled flick. But, until Cornet’s arrival, the threat to Leeds stemmed from two of their alumni. The former Leeds striker Chris Wood had two chances, each created by their old left-back Charlie Taylor. Illan Meslier saved his first shot while the second fizzed over the bar.
Otherwise, Burnley were architects of their own downfall. They were overwhelmed and overrun in the first half, making error after error. James Tarkowski’s poor clearance led to the opener and he was the starter with their best pass completion rate. Dyche accepted: “We kind of hurt ourselves.”
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
RACE SCHEDULE
All times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Friday, September 29
First practice: 7am - 8.30am
Second practice: 11am - 12.30pm
Saturday, September 30
Qualifying: 1pm - 2pm
Sunday, October 1
Race: 11am - 1pm
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
If you go
The flights
There are direct flights from Dubai to Sofia with FlyDubai (www.flydubai.com) and Wizz Air (www.wizzair.com), from Dh1,164 and Dh822 return including taxes, respectively.
The trip
Plovdiv is 150km from Sofia, with an hourly bus service taking around 2 hours and costing $16 (Dh58). The Rhodopes can be reached from Sofia in between 2-4hours.
The trip was organised by Bulguides (www.bulguides.com), which organises guided trips throughout Bulgaria. Guiding, accommodation, food and transfers from Plovdiv to the mountains and back costs around 170 USD for a four-day, three-night trip.
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Intercontinental Cup
Namibia v UAE Saturday Sep 16-Tuesday Sep 19
Table 1 Ireland, 89 points; 2 Afghanistan, 81; 3 Netherlands, 52; 4 Papua New Guinea, 40; 5 Hong Kong, 39; 6 Scotland, 37; 7 UAE, 27; 8 Namibia, 27
Chatham House Rule
A mark of Chatham House’s influence 100 years on since its founding, was Moscow’s formal declaration last month that it was an “undesirable
organisation”.
The depth of knowledge and academics that it drew on
following the Ukraine invasion had broadcast Mr Putin’s chicanery.
The institute is more used to accommodating world leaders,
with Nelson Mandela, Margaret Thatcher among those helping it provide
authoritative commentary on world events.
Chatham House was formally founded as the Royal Institute of
International Affairs following the peace conferences of World War One. Its
founder, Lionel Curtis, wanted a more scientific examination of international affairs
with a transparent exchange of information and ideas.
That arena of debate and analysis was enhanced by the “Chatham
House Rule” states that the contents of any meeting can be discussed outside Chatham
House but no mention can be made identifying individuals who commented.
This has enabled some candid exchanges on difficult subjects
allowing a greater degree of free speech from high-ranking figures.
These meetings are highly valued, so much so that
ambassadors reported them in secret diplomatic cables that – when they were
revealed in the Wikileaks reporting – were thus found to have broken the rule. However,
most speeches are held on the record.
Its research and debate has offered fresh ideas to
policymakers enabling them to more coherently address troubling issues from climate
change to health and food security.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
RESULTS
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