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Tottenham Hotspur stand-in captain Molly Bartrip insists the Women's Super League team can turn around their season despite their recent run of defeats.

Spurs have lost their last six games in all competitions, including their last five in the league, scoring just once in the process, as they prepare to travel to Leicester City on Sunday, live on Sky Sports.

"It's tough when things aren't going your way," centre-back Bartrip told Sky Sports.

"You've got to look at each other, look at the team and how we can push on. We know this weekend is a big game.

"We're looking to come away with three points. All we can do is focus on ourselves."

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The eradication of form has led to increased pressure on Spurs head coach Robert Vilahamn and his pass-heavy tactics.

It was the same system, however, that got Tottenham Hotspur to a top-half finish and the FA Cup final last season and Bartrip admits that style is now in their DNA.

"We're never really going to change our identity. We want to play football," she added.

"If I'm honest, the teams in the league are getting better and you have to think of other ways to break teams down.

"We've not been the best at that and we've conceded too many goals. Going into the Leicester game we know their qualities but we have to focus on ourselves and get the win."

Tottenham sit ninth in the table, two points and a place above Sunday's opponents. Despite the relative distance from the relegation place - Crystal Palace are eight points adrift of them - Bartrip admits it feels like Sunday's game is a must-win fixture.

"One-hundred per cent. It's for our confidence as well," she said. "We want to get goals, we want to get clean sheets. Within the group we definitely need a win before the international break."

It is clear Spurs feel they have five games to save their season. A run of positive results could see them finish in the top six for the second year in a row, something Bartrip is keen to achieve.

She said: "It's crazy in football how you can go from one extreme to the other. If we can get as many points as possible from these five games all of a sudden people will be saying it's almost a successful season. But that's down to us."

Bartrip has had to step up from vice-captain in recent weeks after an injury to Beth England.

The 28-year-old is proud to wear the armband but is also missing her skipper, a player she has known for more than a decade after playing together at youth level for England.

"It feels like an honour to be vice-captain to Beth. I have so much respect for her as a footballer and a person," she said.

"Her stats don't lie. Obviously, she's out right now and it's a big loss.

"I don't really change who I am. I've just got to try to lead as best as I can but I'm never going to be a different person. I just want to make sure everyone around me is happy."

One thing is clear, the happiness around the club will vastly improve when they start winning again.

Bartrip is determined to make sure that starts sooner rather than later.

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SCOTTISH SUN

AC Milan legend Joe Jordan reckons Scott McTominay is on course to become one of the best British exports to Italy.

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Tottenham Hotspur stand-in captain Molly Bartrip insists the Women's Super League team can turn around their season despite their recent run of defeats.

Spurs have lost their last six games in all competitions, including their last five in the league, scoring just once in the process, as they prepare to travel to Leicester City on Sunday, live on Sky Sports.

"It's tough when things aren't going your way," centre-back Bartrip told Sky Sports.

"You've got to look at each other, look at the team and how we can push on. We know this weekend is a big game.

"We're looking to come away with three points. All we can do is focus on ourselves."

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The eradication of form has led to increased pressure on Spurs head coach Robert Vilahamn and his pass-heavy tactics.

It was the same system, however, that got Tottenham Hotspur to a top-half finish and the FA Cup final last season and Bartrip admits that style is now in their DNA.

"We're never really going to change our identity. We want to play football," she added.

"If I'm honest, the teams in the league are getting better and you have to think of other ways to break teams down.

"We've not been the best at that and we've conceded too many goals. Going into the Leicester game we know their qualities but we have to focus on ourselves and get the win."

Tottenham sit ninth in the table, two points and a place above Sunday's opponents. Despite the relative distance from the relegation place - Crystal Palace are eight points adrift of them - Bartrip admits it feels like Sunday's game is a must-win fixture.

"One-hundred per cent. It's for our confidence as well," she said. "We want to get goals, we want to get clean sheets. Within the group we definitely need a win before the international break."

It is clear Spurs feel they have five games to save their season. A run of positive results could see them finish in the top six for the second year in a row, something Bartrip is keen to achieve.

She said: "It's crazy in football how you can go from one extreme to the other. If we can get as many points as possible from these five games all of a sudden people will be saying it's almost a successful season. But that's down to us."

Bartrip has had to step up from vice-captain in recent weeks after an injury to Beth England.

The 28-year-old is proud to wear the armband but is also missing her skipper, a player she has known for more than a decade after playing together at youth level for England.

"It feels like an honour to be vice-captain to Beth. I have so much respect for her as a footballer and a person," she said.

"Her stats don't lie. Obviously, she's out right now and it's a big loss.

"I don't really change who I am. I've just got to try to lead as best as I can but I'm never going to be a different person. I just want to make sure everyone around me is happy."

One thing is clear, the happiness around the club will vastly improve when they start winning again.

Bartrip is determined to make sure that starts sooner rather than later.

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Victor Wanyama has told Sky Sports he "couldn't resist" the chance to join his former Celtic manager Neil Lennon at Dunfermline.

The 33-year-old has signed for the Championship side until the end of the season after Lennon took over at East End Park last week as he bids to steer the club away from relegation.

Wanyama played under Lennon at Parkhead where he won consecutive league titles, plus impressed in Europe - scoring in a famous Champions League win over Barcelona.

Lennon excited by Dunfermline challenge

Scottish Championship table | Fixtures & results

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His form resulted in a move to Southampton for a then Scottish record fee of around £12.5 million, and the Kenyan international went on to play for Tottenham for four years before a move to Montreal.

He left the Canadian club in January and, after passing a medical on Wednesday, is back in Scottish football for the first time since 2012.

"I got the call from Neil Lennon, and the way he wanted me to come down and help, I couldn't resist," Wanyama told Sky Sports News.

"I also spoke to the owner, he's very ambitious, and I decided to come down and have this challenge.

"He [Neil Lennon] is a bit of a serious guy outside and he's always been there for me, you know, trying to help me also outside football.

"Once I got that call, I knew he was serious, I couldn't resist because he's somebody who has played a big role also in my career.

"He taught me how to be a professional player, also outside the pitch, while also inside, shaping me to be the player I am today."

Subject to international clearance, Wanyama will make his debut on Saturday against Ayr United, who are managed by his former Hoops captain Scott Brown.

"Scott is a great guy, and also he's been doing well as a manager, so I'm looking forward to going and facing his team as well. It will be good. A bit like a fairytale, but I'm looking forward to it," he added.

"Scott was an example. He was an example to all, also to me. He was a leader, and he led in a good way, and I'm always proud of him.

"I respected him. He's shown us the way, all of us. I think he doesn't get the respect that he deserves, but I hold him high as a player and also as a manager now."

Dunfermline are second-bottom of the table - six points clear of automatic relegation but two points behind Hamilton Accies as they bid to move out of the relegation play-off spot with seven games to go.

Lennon excited by Dunfermline challenge

Lennon says he was compelled to take the Dunfermline job after long talks with the Championship club's owner and chairman.

The former Celtic and Hibernian boss, who was most recently in the dugout last year at Romanian side Rapid Bucuresti, has taken charge at East End Park until the end of the season.

He is Dunfermline's third permanent manager this term, with James McPake sacked in December and Michael Tidser dismissed earlier this month after just 60 days in the job.

While the 53-year-old knows he faces a real challenge to keep them in Scottish football's second tier, he insists it was an opportunity he could not turn down.

"Last week, we had a lot of conversations between myself, the chairman and the owner. They made a very compelling argument for taking the job," he said.

"There's an old adage from Sir Alex [Ferguson] where sometimes you pick the owners rather than pick the club.

"So I think we've got a good one here. Further down the line, he's got really good aspirations for the future of the club.

"I wanted to align myself with that.

"We have a lot of work to do, which is not going to happen instantly, but I've had a good response from the players over the last two days. I'm delighted with their attitude and application.

"It's great to be back involved in football. I know how competitive and attritional the Championship can be.

"I know we're not in the best of form at the minute, so that is a challenge for myself to turn the psychology of the club and dressing room around."

Dunfermline's final league fixtures

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This is a natural rivalry. It stems from the rivalry between their fathers.

Benn-Eubank was just the biggest rivalry ever. I remember growing up, getting into boxing, I was probably eight years old when they fought the first time up the road from me at the NEC in Birmingham in 1990 and I just remember everybody talking about that fight.

They were both superstars and I guess because they had each other. You need a dance partner in boxing. They had each other and they couldn't have been more different personalities, different fighting styles, so they were literally the perfect rivals.

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Who has won the mind games so far between Eubank Jr and Benn?

Chris Eubank Jr has achieved his purpose. He has riled Benn. He's irritating him. He's got him to lose his temper. He definitely winning the one-upmanship, if that's what you want to call it.

Eubank Jr has achieved his purpose but at the same time, it works for Conor Benn too because he wants to be fired up and uses anger to motivate him and push him in training.

It's all about having fire in the belly but ice in the mind. You need to have passion, to know this is the biggest fight of your life to motivate you but you can't allow that to overwhelm you and run away with yourself and get too emotional, get too invested because you will burn up a load of energy and won't make the right decisions. It's all about just staying cool, calm and collected and composed amongst the chaos.

This has name recognition, huge profiles and massive media attention. Everyone wants to see this fight. In terms of media attention and hype, this is right up there with any fight we have ever seen.

Will Benn stepping up two weight divisions be an issue?

It could be significant. But, Father Time is undefeated and Eubank Jr hasn't looked as good in recent performances as he did a few years back.

The athletic attributes that he had served him so well, his chin, his stamina, they were probably his two best assets. Obviously, they dwindle as you get older.

I don't think his punch resistance is what it was, and naturally his stamina won't be what it was, and also coming down in weight, going up in weight, coming back down to weight, making 160 pounds, the middleweight limit, I think, will really hurt Chris Eubank, Jr at this stage of his career.

So who wins?

Timing is key in the fight. There are lots of unknowns. Can Benn carry the power up to middleweight? He's had a couple of fights up at super welterweight but it hasn't been as dynamic. Eubank Jr, what has he got left? We don't really know the answer.

Eubank Jr is a pretty strong favourite. But I was speaking to Nigel Benn at the press conference at Tottenham Hotspur, and I thought I better not sit around him too long because his confidence nearly swayed me. He cannot see his son losing.

I think you have to say Eubank Jr is favourite.

Dunfermline have signed Victor Wanyama on a deal until the end of the season.

The move sees the 33-year-old reunite with his former Celtic boss Neil Lennon, who took over at East End Park last week as he bids to steer the club away from relegation.

Wanyama played under Lennon at Parkhead where he won consecutive league titles, plus impressed in Europe - scoring in a famous Champions League win over Barcelona.

Lennon excited by Dunfermline challenge

Scottish Championship table | Fixtures & results

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His form resulted in a move to Southampton for a then Scottish record fee of around £12.5 million, and the Kenyan international went on to play for Tottenham for four years before a move to Montreal.

He left the Canadian club in January and, after passing a medical on Wednesday, is back in Scottish football for the first time since 2012.

Subject to international clearance, Wanyama will make his debut on Saturday against Ayr United, who are managed by his former Hoops captain Scott Brown.

Dunfermline are second-bottom of the table - six points clear of automatic relegation but two points behind Hamilton Accies as they bid to move out of the relegation play-off spot with seven games to go.

Lennon excited by Dunfermline challenge

Lennon says he was compelled to take the Dunfermline job after long talks with the Championship club's owner and chairman.

The former Celtic and Hibernian boss, who was most recently in the dugout last year at Romanian side Rapid Bucuresti, has taken charge at East End Park until the end of the season.

He is Dunfermline's third permanent manager this term, with James McPake sacked in December and Michael Tidser dismissed earlier this month after just 60 days in the job.

While the 53-year-old knows he faces a real challenge to keep them in Scottish football's second tier, he insists it was an opportunity he could not turn down.

"Last week, we had a lot of conversations between myself, the chairman and the owner. They made a very compelling argument for taking the job," he said.

"There's an old adage from Sir Alex [Ferguson] where sometimes you pick the owners rather than pick the club.

"So I think we've got a good one here. Further down the line, he's got really good aspirations for the future of the club.

"I wanted to align myself with that.

"We have a lot of work to do, which is not going to happen instantly, but I've had a good response from the players over the last two days. I'm delighted with their attitude and application.

"It's great to be back involved in football. I know how competitive and attritional the Championship can be.

"I know we're not in the best of form at the minute, so that is a challenge for myself to turn the psychology of the club and dressing room around."

Dunfermline's final league fixtures

Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn will be live on Sky Sports Box Office on April 26.

The sons of Chris Eubank Sr and Nigel Benn are looking to carry on their fathers' famous rivalry in 2025 when they fight at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Eubank Sr and Nigel Benn are two of Britain's most famous boxers, whose fierce feud saw them box each other for middleweight and super-middleweight world titles in Birmingham and at Old Trafford in Manchester in 1990 and 1993.

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Eubank Jr and Conor Benn, natural rivals themselves, have had a number of altercations with each other since they were first due to box in 2022.

More than two years ago the pair had agreed to a bout at London's O2 Arena only for it to be called off days before it was due to take place after the results of Benn's failed drug tests emerged.

Benn's battle to clear his name has spanned the intervening years, with the lifting of his suspension coming in November after the National Anti-Doping Panel stated it was "not comfortably satisfied" the 28-year-old had committed a doping offence.

With Benn clear to box in the UK, the fight was rescheduled for the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on April 26.

They will box at middleweight, with Benn rising up two divisions for his first fight in Britain since he stopped Chris van Heerden three years ago.

After avenging the first stoppage loss of his career, Eubank Jr beat Liam Smith in a high profile 2023 bout. He only boxed once last year when he halted Kamil Szeremeta in Riyadh, with Benn confronting his rival before and after that bout.

At their launch press conference in February, Eubank Jr slapped Conor Benn, breaking an egg on the side of his head. That incident saw the British Boxing Board of Control issue Eubank with a £100,000 fine.

British light-heavyweights feature on the undercard as Anthony Yarde and Lyndon Arthur renew their own rivalry with a trilogy fight. Arthur won his first bout with Yarde but the Londoner avenged that with a knockout victory in their second.

Liam Smith returns to the ring for the first time since his knockout defeat to Eubank in September 2023, facing 19-0 undefeated Aaron McKenna in what promises to be an all-action clash.

Dethroned former cruiserweight world champion Chris Billam-Smith faces Brandon Glanton in his first fight since losing his WBO belt to Gilberto Ramirez.

Viddal Riley, in the stadium of the football club he supports, looks to extend his unbeaten start as a professional to 13 fights as he challenges Cheavon Clarke for the British cruiserweight title.

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