Askou on Miller, 'being brave' & 'harmonic' Motherwell
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South Wales Argus
10 minutes ago
- South Wales Argus
Rangers held to draw at Motherwell after late Emmanuel Longelo leveller
Gers skipper James Tavernier headed in from a corner in the 14th minute but Russell Martin's side never really found any rhythm. The Light Blues survived Well pressure for large spells of the second half but only until the 87th minute when Emmanuel Longelo drove in the equaliser. Rangers reached the Champions League third qualifying round by completing a 3-1 aggregate win over Panathinaikos in Athens on Wednesday but carried a fair bit of luck over the two games. And after this unimpressive display in Lanarkshire, there is clearly and understandably still work to do for Martin's side, as they try to implement his possession-based philosophy. Motherwell's new boss Jens Berthel Askou, a former team-mate of Martin at Norwich taking charge of his first league game, will be pleased by the way his side kept going when it looked like it would not be their day. Rangers could quickly fall behind champions and Old Firm rivals Celtic, who host St Mirren on Sunday, following a game that took time to warm up. In the fourth minute Well keeper Calum Ward palmed a 25-yard free-kick from Tavernier around a post and Kieran Dowell headed Joe Rothwell's corner over the crossbar. Rangers were getting their aim in. Attacker Djeidi Gassama – who started in place of Findlay Curtis in the only change – curled a shot wide after taking a pass from Brazilian striker Danilo, who then clipped the bar with a shot from 25 yards. However, it seemed all to easy for Tavernier to head in a Rothwell delivery to the back post for his 131st Gers goal, after Well skipper Paul McGinn had shanked a clearance to concede a corner. While dangerous in attack, the visitors looked fragile in defence at times – this could be a feature of their play this season – and in the 24th minute keeper Jack Butland fumbled an effort from an unmarked Longelo then blocked the shot on the rebound from striker Apostolos Stamatelopoulos. Both sides were intent on playing out from the back and there were numerous turnovers but little in the way of goalmouth action, until Ward made a save from Gassama's header two minutes after the interval. Minutes later, Callum Slattery's whipped-in free-kick, after he had been fouled by Tavernier, found Elijah Just at the back post but he could not control his header and the ball went off target. Motherwell grew in confidence and Butland made a diving save from McGinn's low drive after the defender had burst into the Gers box, with John Souttar completing the clearance. Lyall Cameron and Cyriel Dessers replaced Mohamed Diomande and Danilo and debutant Cameron got booked immediately for a foul on Lukas Fadinger before he tested Ward with a 25-yard drive. At the other end, Stamatelopoulos headed over from just under the bar from a tantalising cross from Just. However, with three minutes remaining Longelo burst too easily into the Gers box and when the ball was repelled, Johnny Koutroumbis returned it into the area, Just chested it back and Longelo drilled it low past Butland for a well-deserved equaliser. And only a fine save from the Ibrox keeper in added time from substitute Tom Sparrow prevented a defeat.
South Wales Guardian
10 minutes ago
- South Wales Guardian
Rangers held to draw at Motherwell after late Emmanuel Longelo leveller
Gers skipper James Tavernier headed in from a corner in the 14th minute but Russell Martin's side never really found any rhythm. The Light Blues survived Well pressure for large spells of the second half but only until the 87th minute when Emmanuel Longelo drove in the equaliser. Rangers reached the Champions League third qualifying round by completing a 3-1 aggregate win over Panathinaikos in Athens on Wednesday but carried a fair bit of luck over the two games. And after this unimpressive display in Lanarkshire, there is clearly and understandably still work to do for Martin's side, as they try to implement his possession-based philosophy. Motherwell's new boss Jens Berthel Askou, a former team-mate of Martin at Norwich taking charge of his first league game, will be pleased by the way his side kept going when it looked like it would not be their day. Rangers could quickly fall behind champions and Old Firm rivals Celtic, who host St Mirren on Sunday, following a game that took time to warm up. In the fourth minute Well keeper Calum Ward palmed a 25-yard free-kick from Tavernier around a post and Kieran Dowell headed Joe Rothwell's corner over the crossbar. Rangers were getting their aim in. Attacker Djeidi Gassama – who started in place of Findlay Curtis in the only change – curled a shot wide after taking a pass from Brazilian striker Danilo, who then clipped the bar with a shot from 25 yards. However, it seemed all to easy for Tavernier to head in a Rothwell delivery to the back post for his 131st Gers goal, after Well skipper Paul McGinn had shanked a clearance to concede a corner. While dangerous in attack, the visitors looked fragile in defence at times – this could be a feature of their play this season – and in the 24th minute keeper Jack Butland fumbled an effort from an unmarked Longelo then blocked the shot on the rebound from striker Apostolos Stamatelopoulos. Both sides were intent on playing out from the back and there were numerous turnovers but little in the way of goalmouth action, until Ward made a save from Gassama's header two minutes after the interval. Minutes later, Callum Slattery's whipped-in free-kick, after he had been fouled by Tavernier, found Elijah Just at the back post but he could not control his header and the ball went off target. Motherwell grew in confidence and Butland made a diving save from McGinn's low drive after the defender had burst into the Gers box, with John Souttar completing the clearance. Lyall Cameron and Cyriel Dessers replaced Mohamed Diomande and Danilo and debutant Cameron got booked immediately for a foul on Lukas Fadinger before he tested Ward with a 25-yard drive. At the other end, Stamatelopoulos headed over from just under the bar from a tantalising cross from Just. However, with three minutes remaining Longelo burst too easily into the Gers box and when the ball was repelled, Johnny Koutroumbis returned it into the area, Just chested it back and Longelo drilled it low past Butland for a well-deserved equaliser. And only a fine save from the Ibrox keeper in added time from substitute Tom Sparrow prevented a defeat.
Belfast Telegraph
10 minutes ago
- Belfast Telegraph
Northern Ireland striker set to be subject of League One bidding war as multiple sides weigh up offers
The Belfast Telegraph revealed earlier this week that the former Cliftonville hero was open to a move away from the Scottish Championship side in order to keep his World Cup dreams at international level alive. After scoring 18 times for Ross County last season, Hale has already netted four goals this term for the Staggies and played 90 minutes on Saturday in the 2-2 draw at Airdrie as the Highlands club began their campaign in Scotland's second tier following their relegation from the top flight in May. It is understood the striker, having made a positive impact on his Northern Ireland debut in June, is keen to play at a higher level to cement his place in Michael O'Neill's squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers, which kick off with an away double header versus Luxembourg and Germany in September. League One sides Luton and Wycombe Wanderers have been tracking Hale, while Reading have also been keeping an eye on the 26-year-old and could now be ready to make their move. In turn, that may lead to others following suit, with Ross County looking for a healthy return on a player who has been a big hit for them and has two years left on his contract. Reading, who on Saturday lost their opening League One fixture of the season 2-0 at Lincoln, have money to spend after midfielder Harvey Knibbs joined Charlton Athletic for an undisclosed fee. Fellow Hale admirers Wycombe Wanderers were also defeated in their first game 2-1 at Bradford. Scottish Premiership clubs are monitoring the situation but it seems the English sides have moved ahead in the race. Belfast native Hale played at youth and Under-21 level for the Republic of Ireland but last year opted to go through a protracted FIFA process to complete an international transfer to Northern Ireland. Having waited patiently for his first appearance for O'Neill's side, he started in the 1-0 friendly win over Iceland at Windsor Park and looked dangerous in attack. After enjoying his first taste of senior international football, Hale is hungry for more and is determined to give himself the best chance possible of playing in the World Cup games.
