Daily Mail

Cole Palmer is training with Chelsea on Friday for the first time since picking up his muscular problem, as he aims to take on Tottenham Hotspur in six days.

Mail Sport reported yesterday how Palmer had not yet taken part in a session since suffering his setback, leaving fans worried that he might miss next week’s seismic showdown with Spurs, but the playmaker is at Cobham today to participate.

The injury had forced Palmer to miss their last Premier League loss at Arsenal nearly two weeks ago, as he was then unable to join up with Thomas Tuchel’s and England for the World Cup qualifiers with Albania and Latvia.

Blues boss Enzo Maresca has also been boosted by the return of Nicolas Jackson, finally giving him a striker to work with.

Despite being out of form by his high standards, Palmer is vitally important to Chelsea’s push for a top-four finish, and his numbers could be helped by having a centre forward in Jackson to feed.

It has been a demanding season for the 22-year-old Englishman, who had started every other Premier League game for Chelsea prior to their 1-0 defeat at Arsenal.

Chelsea are looking for a strong run-in to confirm a return to the Champions League.

They currently sit fourth in the table, and beat Spurs 4-3 away from home earlier in the season in a comeback in which Palmer scored twice, including a Panenka penalty.

Mathys Tel was forced to delete a social media post and apologise to supporters after the Tottenham forward inadvertently drew the ire of the club's fanbase.

The teenager's deadline day move on loan from Bayern Munich in the January window was viewed as a major coup given his impressive performances for the Bavarian giants.

However, despite the fanfare surrounding his arrival in north London Tel is yet to find the net in the Premier League and his latest social media post has done little to endear the French youth international to the Spurs faithful.

On Thursday Tel shared a series of images to his Instagram account, including one of him wearing a shirt bearing the name and number of Fulham star Willian.

The post prompted an immediate backlash from supporters online, with Willian having previously plied his trade for Spurs' bitter rivals Arsenal.

To make matters worse, the Brazilian had been scheduled to join Tottenham from Anzhi Makhachkala in the summer of 2013 during Andre Villas Boas' reign at the club.

After completing a medical ahead of a move to Tottenham, Willian ultimately had a last-minute change of heart, and instead went on to join Chelsea where he would go on to win two Premier League titles during a seven year stint.

The 36-year-old would later describe snubbing Spurs as the 'best decision' of his career.

'I wasn’t sure about Chelsea,' Willian told the club's website in 2022.

'They’d shown interest but it wasn’t so firm at first. Chelsea came on the day I was going to sign the contract with Spurs. I was at Tottenham’s training ground to finalise the deal when the call came. My agent said to me, "Chelsea just called me and they want you". I said, "OK, I want to go there!"

'Then I left the training ground and went back to the hotel. It was a difficult situation because I’d agreed more or less to join Spurs, but in my mind was only Chelsea.

'Once the deal between Anzhi and Chelsea was agreed, I only wanted to go there. It was the best decision of my career.'

As such, Tel's photo proved hugely controversial among Spurs fans, with one writing: 'Is Mathys Tel on a wind up?'

Another added: 'This club, No leaders at all, worst season I’ve ever seen, players liking posts of a player that scored and beat us & now tel wearing a Judas shirt get rid of all.'

A third agreed, writing: 'Wtf am I looking at.'

A number of Spurs fans leapt to Tel's defence, noting that the teenager would have been just eight years old at the time of Willian's snub.

The post was swiftly taken down with Tel later explaining in an Instagram comment that he was not aware of the contentious history.

He wrote: 'Ahaha sorry my bad guys I didn't know.'

Tel has made seven appearances in all competitions since joining Spurs and netted his first goal for the club in an FA Cup fourth round defeat to Aston Villa last month.

Ange Postecoglou's side return to action on April 3 as they travel to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea.

Ange Postecoglou's Tottenham future is in serious doubt, with the club lining up a current Premier League boss as his replacement, according to a report.

Postecolgou has been under pressure for the majority of this season, with Spurs seriously underperforming and sitting 14th in the Premier League table with 15 defeats in 29 games.

Fans have generally been split on his future, but a new report has suggested his position could be considered in the summer with other targets already being sounded out.

Postecoglou, earlier this year, vowed to win a trophy in his second year in charge - this year - but has just one shot left at fulfilling that promise in a year to forget.

With their Premier League campaign proving to be dire, the north London club also suffered exits in both domestic cups, meaning they have just the Europa League to play for.

They are in the last-eight, and must win the competition to qualify for next season's Champions League. If they don't, Spurs could turn to Andoni Iraola, according to The Athletic.

Iraola has overseen an impressive transformation at Bournemouth since he joined the club at the start of last season. After leading them to 12th in the table last term, they are currently in 10th, but just four points off the Champions League spots.

He will be a man in demand in the near future, and his team are 10 points ahead of Spurs in the table while also having an FA Cup quarter-final to look forward to this weekend.

The Spaniard has one year left on his deal with the Cherries, meaning Spurs would have to pay his £10million release clause if they want to secure his services.

Postecoglou, like his essential rival, also has a year left on his deal, with an option of extending for a fourth season at the helm in north London.

Iraola also isn't the only option for Spurs in the summer, according to the report. It is suggested that two other top flight managers are also under consideration in Marco Silva and Thomas Frank.

Silva's Fulham are currently eighth in the league table, while Frank's Brentford are 11th. Both managers have helped their sides become established Premier League sides after guiding them to promotion from the Championship.

It is believed that Silva, who was under consideration when Postecoglou was appointed, is believed to be second choice behind Iraola. Fulham, though, are said to be confident of keeping their man.

All three bosses will be back in action this weekend after the international break - Spurs take on Chelsea, Fulham travel to Arsenal and Brentford face Newcastle at St James' Park.

Alexander-Arnold looks set to leave boyhood club for Real Madrid this summer

Reds have tough task of replacing one of the most unique footballers in world

LISTEN NOW: It's All Kicking Off! Is England's squad good enough to win the World Cup?

As Trent Alexander-Arnold’s dramatic end-of-contract move to Real Madrid looms ever closer, Liverpool need to quickly figure out who is going to replace their start right back come the end of the season.

Real Madrid have been keen on Alexander-Arnold as a long-term replacement for Dani Carvajal, with reports this week claiming Los Blancos have sent a contract proposal to Alexander-Arnold.

The importance of the Liverpool academy product cannot be underestimated. He has contributed three goals and seven assists across all competitions for Liverpool this season.

His unparalleled creativity is shown in his league-best total of 13 big chances created.

Liverpool has two options: Buy a proven right back or invest in a defender for the future, a dilemma which will trouble Liverpool boss Arne Slot.

Option 1: Buy a proven right back

Achraf Hakimi - PSG

Perhaps the answer to Liverpool’s future vacancy is buying one of the best in the business in the current footballing world.

According to Sofascore, Hakimi’s 7.70 rating is marginally better than Alexander-Arnold (7.24), reinforcing his claim to be considered as one of the best around.

The Moroccan has been performing at the top level for numerous seasons now and has led his national side to a historic World Cup semi-final in 2022.

Surprisingly, the 26-year-old outperforms Alexander-Arnold from an attacking perspective, scoring five goals and assisting eleven times while creating two more big chances than the Scouse defender.

Interestingly, he balances his superb attacking play with better defensive stats, registering 6.1 ball recoveries per 90, two more than Alexander-Arnold.

The one issue for Liverpool will be his price tag as, with his contract running until 2029, PSG will demand an astronomical sum to part with one of the totems of their new project.

Jonathan Clauss - Nice

The Frenchman has been a solid performer for the past five seasons in Ligue 1 with Lens, Marseille and now Nice.

He surpasses Alexander-Arnold for accurate crosses, finding his target 27 per cent of the time compared to Alexander-Arnold's 24 per cent.

However, as Liverpool look to revitalise their squad and lower the average age, the 32-year-old is beginning to leave his prime and would probably only be best to bring in on a short-term deal.

Pedro Porro – Tottenham Hotspur

The Spaniard has been struggling to get minutes of late for Spurs with the return of Destiny Udogie and the breakout of Djed Spence. This has prompted chatter of a possible move in the summer.

The 25-year-old’s inconsistency has alarmed Spurs fans as he eagerly pushes on in attack in sacrifice of his defensive duties which seems to be the undoing of Spurs of late.

Yet, his 8.3 final third entries per 90, whilst below Alexander-Arnold’s 11.1, suggests he would be well-equipped for making the bursting runs Slot requires from his right back.

Giovanni di Lorenzo – Napoli

Challenging Pedro Porro’s final third entries (7.2), Di Lorenzo has been a dependable performer for Napoli for the past six seasons.

The 31-year-old is an Italian international, competing for them on the global stage, demonstrating that he would seamlessly transition into Liverpool’s demanding culture.

But his crossing is not good enough. Di Lorenzo has delivered only 17 per cent accurate crosses this season, below par for Liverpool’s play style.

Jeremie Frimpong – Bayer Leverkusen

The most likely to move to Liverpool many pundits would say, Jeremie Frimpong is one of the hottest footballing prospects in the world right now.

At 24-years-old, the Dutchman has a bright future ahead of him but he's already attracting interest from European giants after his his outstanding performances for Bayer Leverkusen.

His attacking output beats Alexander-Arnold this season with four goals and nine assists in a Xabi Alonso system where he is given license to bomb forward.

Videos of him greeting Ryan Gravenberch during the international break in a Scouse accent has also fuelled rumours of a move to Merseyside.

Although, Sofascore’s 6.87 rating places him as the worst performing player on the list because he often loses the ball due to his attacking approach.

Option two: invest in long-term potential

Liverpool fans and pundits alike may argue that the Reds already have a successor at right back with Conor Bradley.

The Northern Ireland international first burst onto the scene in Alexander-Arnold’s absence through injury in the 2023-24 season and proved himself as a capable back up.

The 21-year-old is not by any means the finished article, underperforming in the attacking department, assisting just twice in 22 matches.

Vanderson – Monaco

An intriguing option could be Brazilian Vanderson who has become a promising right back since his move to Monaco from Gremio.

According to Sofascore, his 7.13 rating is better than Bradley’s 6.78, indicating his future upwards trajectory.

Two goals and four assists in 34 matches show his potential on the attacking front, including 6.2 final third entries.

Defensively, the 23-year-old’s 5.6 ball recoveries per 90 topples Alexander-Arnold, suggesting he could be a viable option to add to the successful list of Brazilians who have played for the Reds.

Djed Spence – Tottenham Hotspur

Quietly rising the ranks after being cast aside under previous managers, Djed Spence is an excellent prospect.

Possessing the ability to play left or right and comfortable going forward and defending, the Englishman has been one of Spurs’ best players this season despite only playing 24 games.

Notably, his 30 per cent crossing accuracy is higher than Alexander-Arnold’s, which would be a vital weapon for Slot.

Valued at around £13m by Transfermarkt, if Liverpool wanted to make the move, they could acquire the Englishman on the cheap if Daniel Levy plays ball.

Guela Doue – RC Strasbourg

Brother to PSG’s Desire Doue, the right back boasts promising footballing pedigree.

At only 22-years-old, Doue has already established himself as a starter in the French side, proficient both offensively and defensively.

His 9.0 final third entries per 90 and 5.4 ball recoveries per 90 demonstrate his all-round ability, prevailing over Bradley’s statistics.

Atletico Madrid are monitoring developments with Spurs centre back Cristian Romero.

The Argentina international is understood to be interested in exploring a move away in the summer as he looks to play Champions League football.

The 26-year-old was critical of the club's hierarchy and recruitment policy in December, highlighting a lack of depth to their squad in comparison to the Premier League's elite, following a glut of injuries.

Having missed a number of games this season through injury and suspension himself, he has also praised his national side's medical staff in comments that have been construed as a subtle dig towards his rehab treatment at Spurs.

A World Cup winner with Argentina, Romero is playing under his fifth manager at Spurs, including interims, since signing for £43million from Atalanta in 2021.

Spurs are 14th in the Premier League and will play Eintracht Frankfurt in the quarter finals of the Europa League.

They face another summer of change with Ange Postecoglou's position expected to come under review and a number of players are assessing their next move.

Spurs, who tried to add Chelsea's Axel Disasi and Fikayo Tomori from Milan on deadline day, have been working on plans to strengthen further however with the likes of Lille midfielder Angel Gomes, who will be a free agent, and Southampton's Tyler Dibling among the names being considered.

Tottenham fans took to social media to poke fun at their struggling batch of current players, after their club legends beat AC Milan Glorie 6-2 in a charity game on Sunday.

Some notable names featuring in the game included Dimitar Berbatov, Robbie Keane and Teddy Sheringham for Spurs, while Dida, Andrea Pirlo and Cafu were part of the group that suited up for the Rossoneri.

It was a goal-fest at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, as Keane bagged a hat-trick for the hosts, while Jermain Defoe, Sandro and Michael Brown were also in on the act.

Cristian Zazzardo and Andrea Pirlo grabbed the goals for Milan, the latter winding back the years by scoring from a free-kick.

Victory at home has been quite the rarity for Spurs this season, especially in the Premier League, where Ange Postecoglou's side have logged just five wins compared to seven losses in their own back yard.

And Spurs fans were all saying the same thing after Sunday's result; many took their side's win as an opportunity to aim jibes at this season's squad, joking that the club should sign their legends and sell their current players.

One fan wrote on X: 'Sell our full squad and get our legends back.'

Another commented: 'Can [we] let this team play instead of Ange's team please?'

A third said: 'Sign them all up.'

A fourth asked: 'Can they play every week?'

Tottenham's woeful fortunes this season have landed them in 14th place in the Premier League table, seen them exit the EFL Cup in the semi-final and bow out of the FA Cup in the fourth round.

On the bright side, they remain in the Europa League, as they prepare to face Frankfurt in the first leg of their quarter-final tie on April 10.

Spurs' biggest struggles this season have come in defence, largely due to their injury crisis, which saw a whopping 13 players sidelined at one point in the year.

They have been strong going forward under Postecoglou, scoring 55 goals in the league this season - the second-most of any team. And it was the same story for their legends on Sunday, who blitzed Milan in the opening 45 minutes.

A brace from Keane and a goal from Defoe saw Spurs took a 3-0 lead within 18 minutes.

Soon after, Brazilian midfielder Sandro made it 4-0 with a stunning strike past Dida, before Keane completed his hat-trick before half-time.

Brown scored Spurs' only goal in the second-half, while Zazzardo responded for Milan before Pirlo further reduced the deficit by curling a free-kick into the top corner.

All profits from Sunday's charity match will be donated to the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation, with a proportion going into a community chest for local charitable beneficiaries.

Lord Sugar hit back at Sol Campbell claiming that he is 'disappointed with him'

It comes after the ex-player accused the Spurs board of trying to exploit him

LISTEN NOW: It's All Kicking Off! Is England's squad good enough to win the World Cup?

Lord Alan Sugar has hit back at Sol Campbell after the former Spurs star finally revealed why he left Tottenham for Arsenal back in the summer of 2001.

The former centre back made the headlines on Thursday when he disclosed that the Whites had tried to involve him in a police investigation of a fight that had happened at Derby Country.

The incident happened four years before his contract was set to run out, as Campbell thinks that the club's board wanted him to be framed for assaulting a steward in order to curb his appetite ahead of their negotiations.

However, Tottenham then-owner Lord Sugar was quick to take on social media in order to provide a response to the former player's allegations.

'I was under the impression that there was good mutual reactionship with Sol Campbell,' he wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

'The stuff printed in the sun quoting him about his departure from Spurs is total rubbish. I am disapointed with him. Shame on you Sol!'

Although Campbell remained Spurs' number one enemy for more than two decades, the incident sparked further this week when he appeared on the Stick to Football podcast, brought to you by Sky Bet.

After the Englishman revealed that the 15-month investigation did not find him guilty, he was quizzed whether Tottenham chiefs knew the steward had suffered his injury before the game.

'Either the hierarchy did or the lawyers,' he said. 'It was trying to get one over me, so if it came out, I’d sign a crap deal. I think it was all about the deal.

'They wanted to get one over me or have leverage over me. It’s like Virgil van Dijk going through his contract situation now, trying to pin something on him now – it’s the same thing.

'Once that happened [the legal incident], I didn’t have time for that [signing a new contract] – they literally tried to put me away for no reason.

'You start thinking to yourself about how people are innocent and get put away for something they hadn’t done.

'For me, going around to banks or wherever, people look at me and think I’ve bust someone’s wrist, but it was someone else, a South American player.

'It’s sad, it’s unbelievable. You’re a young boy, coming out, and they’re trying to pin that on you.

'For me, the episode of trying to frame me for no reason, that really governed my decision, and I wanted to win.'

Earlier, Campbell called for Tottenham fans to move on from his controversial transfer to their rivals, admitting the abuse still has an impact on him more than 20 years on.

His move is still considered one of the most shocking in football's history, with the then 26-year-old defender receiving interest from across Europe and making the switch to Highbury.

Arsenal had kept the deal under wraps, with the reporters present at his unveiling having expected to see goalkeeper Richard Wright announced from Everton before Campbell emerged for the press conference.

Campbell said he had been subjected to an 'inferno of hatred' on his first return to White Hart Lane as an Arsenal player in 2001.

He played over 200 games for the club across two spells, either side of a move to Portsmouth.

Following a match against Tottenham in 2008 when Campbell was playing for Portsmouth, charges were made against 11 Spurs supporters for 'indecent chants' made to the defender.

Tottenham have reportedly made a two-man shortlist to replace Ange Postecoglou in case the team's results continue to decline this season.

The Spurs boss is under pressure once again after his side suffered a disappointing 2-0 defeat by Fulham at Craven Cottage on Sunday.

The devastating loss saw Tottenham drop to 14th place in the Premier League standings with just 34 points after 29 games.

The Australian's saving grace is the side's progress in the Europa League, which is the only chance of silverware that Spurs have in the campaign. Should they get knocked out, it's likely that Postecoglou's position will be under scrutiny.

According to The Telegraph, Spurs have already decided that Andoni Iraola and Marco Silva will certainly be among the leading candidates to take over the squad in the next season.

But, the report stated that the current board remains supportive of Postecoglou management despite a poor season, which was extremely hit by several key players' injuries.

Spurs are also out of both domestic cup competitions this term - the FA Cup and Carabao cup - following defeats to Liverpool and Aston Villa, respectively.

They were close to another crushing blow after an early scare in their Europa League last-16 clash - where a Lucas Bergvall own-goal gifted AZ Alkmaar a first-leg lead.

However, the north London side turned the tie around when they met last week, with James Maddison and Wilson Odobert scoring to ensure a 3-1 win on the night.

Meanwhile, it is thought that Bournemouth are set to fight and keep Iraola following his impressive job in the club this season.

Although they are on a four-game winless streak, the Cherries are competing for a place in Europe next year after a stunning campaign to date.

Bournemouth owner Bill Foley is set to hold talks with the Spaniard regarding his contract expiring in 2026, while Mail Sport exclusively revealed in February that he was also added to Real Madrid's shortlist, should Carlo Ancelotti leave this summer.

Silva, meanwhile, has taken Fulham up to eighth in the table after securing three crucial points over Postecoglou and his struggling Spurs side.

Despite excellent results this season - after the team's hopes for silverware are still alive as they face Crystal Palace in the FA Cup - reports suggest that the Portuguese and the Cottagers could part ways.

Silva has a contract expiring in the summer of 2026, which is believed to include a £6million release clause.

Postecoglou's side could have climbed to 13th place in the Premier League, ahead of Manchester United, should they won their game on Sunday.

The Spurs boss left Micky van de Ven on the bench over fitness concerns as the centre back is yet to return to his peak form amid an injury-hit season.

Substitute Rodrigo Muniz got on the scoresheet in the 78th minute with his first shot in the game, while Ryan Sessegnon doubled the lead against his former side just moments later.

A Tottenham fan has revealed what was said when Mathys Tel came over to speak to members of the away end in the wake of Sunday's 2-0 defeat at Fulham on Sunday.

Spurs suffered their 15th Premier League loss of the season as Rodrigo Muniz and Ryan Sessegnon struck late on and the away end voiced their fury at full-time.

Particular chants were directed toward the under pressure Ange Postecoglou, whose side are 13th and a whopping 14 points adrift of the Champions League spots. Damningly, they are also set for their worst top-flight finish since 2003-04.

But Tel climbed into the travelling section after the final whistle to address their concerns and issue a rallying cry, highlighting the importance of backing the team.

A video posted on X showed the 19-year-old speaking to heated supporters at the front of one stand at Craven Cottage while still wearing his club tracksuit.

Tel was heard telling supporters that they 'need to be together' although his words fell on deaf ears with the ace told that performances 'aren't good enough'.

And a fan who claims to be one of the men involved has given his version of events to Mail Sport.

'After angrily shouting at the players, Maddison pointed at us and gave us a thumbs up before heading into the dressing room,' he wrote.

'Only after we continued shouting did Tel come over to us, hopping over the advertising boards before exchanging with me and the rest of the boys I with.

'He said 'we need to be together,' and then I said to him 'it's not good enough', which he agreed with before heading back over the advertising boards and into the dressing room.

'It says it all when a 19-year-old loanee is the one to come over to the fans and be rather apologetic, whilst the rest of the leadership team kept their distance and clapped.

'Maddison, on the other hand, came close but didn’t give the time of day to speak to the fans shouting at him, instead giving a response that felt insulting to fans who spend hard-earned money to follow the team all around the country and over Europe.'

Other punters were heard shouting X-rated remarks including 'get him out', an apparent dig at Postecoglou as Spurs' horror campaign continues.

The interaction lasted for around 30 seconds before Tel clambered back over the advertising hoardings and onto the pitch. He then made his way to the tunnel.

The attacker, on loan from Bayern Munich, was handed a recall to the starting XI by Postecoglou but was hooked after a blunt display lasting 77 minutes.

He had been dropped for Spurs' must-win Europa League showdown against AZ Alkmaar on Thursday after a run of four games without a goal involvement.

Spurs created several chances but were unable to take them, Dominic Solanke spurning three openings - including one just five yards out - in the second half.

Fulham substitute Muniz then broke the deadlock in the 78th minute before former Spurs man Sessegnon wrapped a superb effort into the far corner.

Post-match, Postegolou admitted he understood the anger from supporters, declaring his side's rollercoaster form this campaign as 'unacceptable'.

'I get their disappointment,' he said. 'It's unacceptable to see 15 league defeats.

'It's nowhere near good enough, nowhere near the level we need to be and I understand the supporters' frustrations with that.

'Today wasn't so much about performance, it was just another day when we let a game get away from us that we shouldn't have. We weren't played off the park and I felt that up until the point they scored, we were the team that was getting on top.

'We had a couple of good chances to go 1-0 up and that would have put the pressure on them, but it's happened too many times this year.

'We've given the opposition a lift into the game by conceding soft goals.'

Tottenham forward Mathys Tel looked to calm down angry supporters and told them 'we need to be together' in the wake of their 2-0 defeat at Fulham on Sunday.

Spurs slumped to their 15th Premier League loss of the season after late goals from Rodrigo Muniz and Ryan Sessegnon and the away end voiced their fury at full-time.

Particular chants were directed toward the under pressure Ange Postecoglou, whose side are 13th and a whopping 14 points adrift of the Champions League spots. Damningly, they are also set for their worst top-flight finish since 2003-04.

But Tel climbed into the travelling section after the final whistle to address their concerns and issue a rallying cry, highlighting the importance of backing the team.

A video posted on X showed the 19-year-old speaking to heated supporters at the front of one stand at Craven Cottage while still wearing his club tracksuit.

Tel was heard telling supporters that they 'need to be together' although his words fell on deaf ears with the ace told that performances 'aren't good enough'.

Other punters were heard shouting X-rated remarks including 'get him out', an apparent dig at Postecoglou as Spurs' horror campaign continues.

The interaction lasted for around 30 seconds before Tel clambered back over the advertising hoardings and onto the pitch. He then made his way to the tunnel.

The attacker, on loan from Bayern Munich, was handed a recall to the starting XI by Postecoglou but was hooked after a blunt display lasting 77 minutes.

He had been dropped for Spurs' must-win Europa League showdown against AZ Alkmaar on Thursday after a run of four games without a goal involvement.

Spurs created several chances but were unable to take them, Dominic Solanke spurning three openings - including one just five yards out - in the second half.

Fulham substitute Muniz then broke the deadlock in the 78th minute before former Spurs man Sessegnon wrapped a superb effort into the far corner.

Post-match, Postegolou admitted he understood the anger from supporters, declaring his side's rollercoaster form this campaign as 'unacceptable'.

'I get their disappointment,' he said. 'It's unacceptable to see 15 league defeats.

'It's nowhere near good enough, nowhere near the level we need to be and I understand the supporters' frustrations with that.

'Today wasn't so much about performance, it was just another day when we let a game get away from us that we shouldn't have. We weren't played off the park and I felt that up until the point they scored, we were the team that was getting on top.

'We had a couple of good chances to go 1-0 up and that would have put the pressure on them, but it's happened too many times this year.

'We've given the opposition a lift into the game by conceding soft goals.'