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Changes for Bournemouth: Amine Adli and former Leeds player Tyler Adams come on, replacing Kroupi and Christie.
“Has no enterprising Leeds fan thought to develop a Black Lace style song for Ethan Ampadu (Du, Du, Du)?” asks Gary Naylor. “Of course, it’s the moves that would make it. Might give them something to do as the team have got their Wembley suits on.”
GOAL! Bournemouth 1-1 Leeds (Hill own goal 68')
Leeds score an agreeably scrappy goal, the ball ricocheting around before Gnonto collects and drills it across goal, where it pings in off James Hill’s heel. There’s a VAR check for handball, but the goal stands.
Cardiff lead Port Vale 1-0 through Rubin Colwill – if it stays that way, Vale’s return to League Two will be confirmed. As for already-promoted Cardiff, they’ll stay in second place, nine points off champions Lincoln and 14 points above Bolton.
That’s Okafor’s last action of the game as he and Jaka Bijol are withdrawn with Wembley in mind. Gnonto and Nmecha come on, with Daniel Farke switching to a back four.
Leeds hit the post! Having barely turned up for the second half, Leeds are so nearly level, as Noah Okafor pounces on Hill’s poor back pass and lifts the ball over Petrovic. With the goal gaping, the ball trickles onto the far post and is cleared away!
GOAL! Bournemouth 1-0 Leeds (Kroupi 60')
It had been coming since half-time, and now Bournemouth have the lead! It’s a simple enough goal, with Senesi’s pass slicing through the defence. Eli Junior Kroupi runs on to it and blasts a shot that deflects off Rodon and gives Darlow no chance.
Kroupi just fails to get a touch on Christie’s delightful lobbed pass – but the forward was probably offside anyway. At Turf Moor, it remains Burnley 0-1 Man City, but Erling Haaland has just hit the post.
A Nice goal, but not for poor Gary O’Neil – Elye Wahi has put the visitors ahead at Strasbourg in the Coupe de France semi-finals.
Marcus Tavernier whips in a brilliant cross that evades Evanilson and David Brooks, who had got beyond Gudmundsson but goes over as he tries to reach the ball. No penalty, and VAR doesn’t intervene.
GOAL! Charlton 1-2 Ipswich (Philogene pen 58')
Jaden Philogene scores from the spot to put Ipswich ahead, and back into second place on goal difference!
Bournemouth win an early corner in the second half, from which Alex Scott sends a speculative effort high over the bar. In the Championship, Sheffield United have pulled one back at home to Blackburn, bringing extremely faint hope to Oxford United fans.
It’s also a big Cup midweek in Italy; Inter rallied to deny Como in their semi-final last night, and now Atalanta and Lazio are battling to join them in the final. It’s 0-0 in Bergamo, 2-2 on aggregate.
In the Coupe de France semi-finals, Strasbourg v Nice is goalless at half time. The winner will face Lens in the final; if Strasbourg lift the trophy, will Gary O’Neil get the call from BlueCo?
We’re back under way at the Vitality, where Joe Rodon has come on for Leeds, replacing Jayden Bogle. I would guess that means James Justin will move to wing-back, with Rodon slotting into the back three.
In La Liga, Barcelona are hosting Celta Vigo, aiming to open a nine-point lead over Real Madrid. It’s 0-0 early on, with Lamine Yamal going close. Elsewhere, Getafe have pooped Real Sociedad’s Copa del Rey party, winning 1-0 at Anoeta to leapfrog them in the Europa League race.
Back under way in the Championship except for at the Valley, where something we’ll call “the clockwatch rule” meant that game’s first half finished 10 minutes after the others.
In League One, promoted Cardiff entertain Port Vale, who need a win to prolong their long battle against relegation. Both sides are also among the few to lose to Chelsea in recent months. It’s currently goalless there.
And it’s half-time at Turf Moor, where Manchester City lead 1-0 and Burnley need a goal to avoid going down, mathematically at least.
Half time: Bournemouth 0-0 Leeds
It’s been watchable, if not a thriller so far. Bournemouth have probably edged the first half, but it’s still very much up for grabs.
Double oof! The ball is whipped along the six-yard line and Aaronson just fails to connect with a boot and prod it home. That’s the closest Leeds have come.
Oof! This is the closest either side have come, as Ryan Christie slides in at the far post but sees his shot repelled by Darlow’s right boot. Tavernier then flashes his effort wide, before Leeds break away again …
Leeds have a free kick on the left-hand edge of the area, but Tanaka’s delivery is terrible, wafting into the crowd behind the goal. The home fans ask: “what the [effing] hell was that,” and with good cause.
With Ipswich level and Boro ahead, the race for that second automatic promotion spot could scarcely be tighter. Ipswich have a game in hand on Millwall, but one of their three remaining fixtures is at St Mary’s.
Championship half-times
Birmingham 2-1 Preston
Charlton 1-1 Ipswich
Middlesbrough 1-0 Sheffield Wed
Sheffield United 0-3 Blackburn
Bournemouth 0-0 Leeds: From Truffert’s free kick, Marcos Senesi heads across goal but Darlow is there to scoop it up. Leeds break and Aaronson cuts inside before firing on goal. It’s on target, but easy enough for Petrovic to get down and collect.
Bournemouth’s Adrien Truffert records the game’s first shot on target, which is a start, even if it’s underhit and straight at Karl Darlow. In the Championship, Blackburn lead 3-0 at Sheffield United, Ohashi getting his second of the night.
Junior Kroupi goes in the book for a hefty challenge on Ampadu, who needs a touch of the magic sponge. At Turf Moor, Burnley are holding up under pressure, but Manchester City still lead 1-0.
Sheffield United 0-2 Blackburn: The visitors double their lead through Ryoya Morishita, and it’s looking like curtains for Oxford United in the Championship.
GOAL! Charlton 1-1 Ipswich (Furlong 35')
Ipswich are level, right-back Darnell Furlong striking clinically from the edge of the box after silky buildup work from Jaden Philogene.
Bournemouth launch a long throw that Darlow punches away and Leeds break, Okafor with a lung-busting run down the left. Gudmundsson eventually gets up to deliver a cross, but it’s cleared away by Truffer.
All over in Paris, too, where PSG have beaten Nantes 3-0 to move four points clear atop Ligue 1. Their Champions League semi-final opponents, Bayern Munich, lead Leverkusen 1-0 in the DFB Cup semis and in case you hadn’t guessed, it’s Harry Kane with the opener.
It’s finished Elche 3-2 Atlético in La Liga, with the hosts hauling themselves out of the relegation zone. Atlético sit fourth, and have had a very underwhelming league campaign alongside their Cup heroics.
Bournemouth have started stronger at the Vitality, with David Brooks almost latching on to a through ball before Evanilson fires wide.
Birmingham 2-1 Preston: Ibrahim Osman doubles the hosts’ lead at St Andrews, before Andy Hughes quickly pulls one back. The playoffs are beyond Birmingham now but they can secure a top-half finish with a decent run in their final three games.
At Turf Moor, Burnley have let Erling Haaland run through on goal, with predictable results. City lead 1-0, and are provisionally top of the table.
Sheffield Utd 0-1 Blackburn: Yuki Ohashi puts Rovers ahead at Bramall Lane – if they win, they’ll secure their Championship place and send Oxford down tonight.
GOAL! Middlesbrough 1-0 Sheffield Wed (Whittaker 11')
Boro take an early lead, Morgan Whittaker with the goal. Elsewhere in the second tier, Birmingham lead Preston through Jay Stansfield.
GOAL! Charlton 1-0 Ipswich (Docherty 1')
A big goal at the Valley, as Greg Docherty strikes on the rebound inside 60 seconds. It’s particularly good news for Charlton’s Sarf Lah’n neighbours, Millwall, who lead the race for second place.
Pre-game thoughts from Andoni Iraola, who is asked whether his exit – and news of Marco Rose’s arrival – has affected the players. “It is not affecting the performances, which tells you a lot about their mentality. The recent results, this appointment, show where things are going.”
And here’s Daniel Farke, his countenance as ever like a humble medieval farmer who must avenge a death: “We are focused only on this game, to achieve our goal, our bread and butter in the league. It’s a busy schedule but my players would rather be playing games than training!”
ICYMI, today’s big football news:
“Bournemouth are on the beach, but not in the football sense – they still have realistic Europe ambitions and will want to play up for the gaffer who’s taken them there,” writes Jeremy Boyce. “NotAsNasty Leeds will present feisty opposition, despite their upcoming FA Cup semi v leaderless Chelsea. A point tonight and they’re safe. Plenty to play for, and given their respective styles, there should be goals.
“Hand on heart, this Leeds fan says a surprise 1-2 and a happy day out at Wemberlee on Sunday. We can always dream.”
There is, of course, another Premier League game on tonight: Burnley v Manchester City. If City win it, they go top, and Burnley will be relegated. High stakes indeed; follow that one with Simon Burnton.
“I know we start next season on -15 points, but looking at the team tonight, it’s a good League One team,” writes Sheffield Wednesday fan Colin Everest. “Let’s hope the takeover goes through smoothly this month.” Amen to that.
Middlesbrough v Sheffield Wednesday teams
Middlesbrough (3-4-2-1): Brynn; Malanda, Fry, Ayling; Brittain, Morris, Whittaker, Targett; Browne, Conway; Strelec.
Subs: Sene, Silvera, Castledine, Bangura, Edmundson, Hansen, Wildsmith, Ibeh, Sarmiento.
Sheffield Wednesday (3-4-3): Cooper; Palmer, Otegbayo, Lowe; Fusire, Heskey, Nakamba, Adaramola; Thornton, Yates, McNeill.
Subs: Iorfa, Lowe, Chalobah, Kobacki, Stretch, McGhee, Grainger, Moses, Silcott-Duberry.
“Did Liam Rosenior really fail at Chelsea?” asks Liam Ro David Wall. “People forget that their measures of success aren’t the normal ones for any other football club. Their aim is to short-sell the market on wide forwards below the age of 25, the other on-pitch stuff is just sleight-of-hand to get the suckers looking the other way. How they can make any decision on his tenure before the transfer window opens is beyond me.”
Bringing it back round to Bournemouth, Andoni Iraola is among the early favourites for the Chelsea hotseat this summer. You have to wonder why any manager whose star is rising would take that job on.
Bournemouth v Leeds team news
Bournemouth (4-2-3-1): Petrovic; Jiménez, Hill, Senesi, Truffert; Scott, Christie; Brooks, Kroupi, Tavernier; Evanilson.
Subs: Mandas, Smith, Adams, Diakité, Doak, Toth, Adli, Unal, Rayan.
Leeds United (3-4-2-1): Darlow; Justin, Bijol, Struijk; Bogle, Ampadu, Tanaka, Gudmundsson; Aaronson, Okafor; Calvert-Lewin.
Subs: Perri, Rodon, Bornauw, Buonanotte, Dan James, Sean Longstaff, Piroe, Nmecha, Gnonto.
PSG were originally supposed to host this game between the Champions League ties against Chelsea, but it was moved to allow them to focus on Europe. PSG have only played four Ligue 1 games since the end of February, and visiting fans made their feelings known with a banner. To be fair, PSG have lost two of those games, so it might not be helping.
It’s been a lively start to Atlético Madrid’s game at Elche – having led early through Nico González, the visitors fell 2-1 down before González got a second to make it 2-2 at half-time.
In Ligue 1, PSG lead relegation-threatened Nantes 2-0 at the Parc des Princes, the goals coming from Kvicha Kvaratskhelia and Desiré Doué. In fact, as I type this, Kvaratskhelia has added his second, the silky genius.
Preamble
Which team currently has the longest unbeaten run in any of Europe’s “big five” leagues? Bayern? Barcelona? No, it’s Bournemouth, who haven’t lost in 13 [thirteen] Premier League matches.
Not even Andoni Iraola announcing his summer departure could stop them – if anything, results have improved. Having emerged from trips to the Emirates and St James’ Park with six points in the bag, the Cherries can climb to sixth with a win tonight, a first European campaign within reach.
It could be a historic season for Leeds too – they are unbeaten in six games in all competitions, and will fancy their chances of upsetting Chelsea in the FA Cup semis this weekend. Eight points ahead of Spurs in the relegation battle, a result here would all but secure survival.
The vibes should be immaculate at the Vitality –and there’s plenty going on elsewhere. Ipswich and Middlesbrough need wins to boost their promotion hopes, Atlético and Barcelona are in La Liga action, and it’s only Leverkusen v Bayern in the DFB Pokal semi-finals. Let’s roll!
