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Edinburgh Reporter
9 minutes ago
- Edinburgh Reporter
McInnes: ‘there is still more to come'
Derek McInnes admitted that games against clubs in other divisions can catch teams like Hearts out, but, once again the Tynecastle team's approach was good and the squad came through the Premier Sports Cup clash with Stirling Albion from Scottish League Two with a 4-0 win. Three of the goals came inside the first 38 minutes, and the club's head coach told Hearts TV that coming away from home in a cup competition can be difficult. Stirling Albion, he admitted, surprised the Tynecastle coaching team, coming in with a back four, something with McInnes said they have never done. Albion, he argued, are normally a back five, but the tactical move, he admitted, helped the visitors. He said: 'It was a bit more straight forward in terms of two wingers, two strikers. We got a lot right in the first half, especially in the early periods. They made a wee change before half time and came out second half, bolstered the middle of the pitch, with a 5-3-1-1, and it meant us going round the houses a bit more. We needed to be a little sharper. We wanted to show that penetration. 'We won 4-0, that's 12 goals and one conceded (in the Premier Sports Cup), goalkeeper Zander Clark has not made a save and we would have taken that before the game but, equally, I still think there is more to come.' McInnes said: 'We got one goal second half but we should really be showing a lot more authority in terms of creating chances. Not completely happy but happy with the approach of the team.' There were, he said, good combinations, some involving Alan Forrest, Harry Milne and Alexandros Kyziridis, and some good striking movements between Lawrence Shankland and Claudio Braga. They were well supported. Demanding McInnes said: 'You need to be aggressive in the first contact and look after the first pass, so there was a lot of that, but I was still looking for a bit more even within that first half in terms of the types of crosses we put in, when to cross and decision making at times. 'I am also conscious that pre-season, these games are to sharpen up your work but, because the focus is on you to win games competitively, it is not always straight forward. We got the job done and we are back in training on Sunday. 'Get some training into the lads, see them assessed in terms of injuries.' Beni Baningime was a noteable absentee at Forthbank because of a strain from training on Friday. He was not expected to train on Sunday but, hopefully, he will be ready to play some part in the game against Dumbarton at Tynecastle on Wednesday (kick-off 19.45) in the same competition. The ex-Aberdeen and Kilmarnock boss added that good habits, winning games, clean sheets are what his is looking for but he stressed: 'Listen, we are a wee bit short of what I am looking for.' McInnes also praised 2,000 fans for coming to Stirling in big numbers in the heavy rain and he said: 'I am finding out about the team, they want to find out about the team, and any time you make the effort to travel it is important to see the team win and get a wee flavour of what we could be. 'Bigger challenges ahead, of course, but we dealt with the challenge that was here today.' TALK-IN: Training chat between Derek McInnes (right) and Blair Spittal. Picture Nigel Duncan Like this: Like Related
Reuters
9 minutes ago
- Reuters
Manny Pacquiao, Mario Barrios fight to majority draw
July 20 - Manny Pacquiao's bid to become the oldest welterweight champion in boxing history fell short Saturday night as he failed to beat Mario Barrios at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. But he didn't lose, either. Instead, the 46-year-old Pacquiao and the 30-year-old Barrios fought to a majority draw, with one judge giving Barrios a 115-113 win and the other two judges scoring it a 114-114 draw. The result allowed Barrios (29-2-2, 18 KOs) to retain his WBC welterweight belt. "I thought I won the fight," Pacquiao said afterward. "I mean, it was a close fight. My opponent was very tough. It was a wonderful fight. It was good." Pacquiao (62-8-3, 39 KOs) already holds the record for oldest welterweight champion, winning the belt via split-decision over Keith Thurman in 2019. The Filipino legend was enshrined into the International Boxing Hall of Fame last month. Pacquiao dominated Saturday's fight early on, showing energy against his younger foe. Ultimately, though, CompuBox stats had Barrios landing more punches (120-101) and more jabs (45-20), though Pacquiao landed 81 power punches to Barrios' 75. Pacquiao held the lead on all three cards after 10 rounds, but Barrios took all three rounds on all three scorecards to avoid the upset. Age and stamina were definitely on Pacquiao's mind after the fight. "I need to continue my training for longer going into a championship fight," said Pacquiao, who lost his senatorial bid in the Philippines in May. "Because of the election, I started late, but it's OK. Of course I'd like a rematch. I want to leave a legacy and make the Filipino people proud." Don't tell that to Barrios. "His stamina is crazy," the champion said. "He's still strong as hell and his timing is real. He's still a very awkward fighter to try to figure out." As for a rematch, Barrios is ready. "I'll do the rematch. Absolutely. This was huge for boxing. I'd love to do it again." --Field Level Media
Daily Record
an hour ago
- Daily Record
Motherwell's young keeper says patience has paid off as he grabs chance
Matty Connelly has been handed the gloves in Aston Oxborough's absence Motherwell goalkeeper Matty Connelly says patience has paid off at Fir Park, and intends to grab his chance with both hands. The 22-year-old was heading back on loan to League Two newcomers East Kilbride on loan, but an injury to first-choice Motherwell shot-stopper Aston Oxborough suddenly opened up some possibilities. After Callum Ward sold a goal in the 2-2 draw at Clyde in Motherwell's Premier Sports Cup opener, Connelly was given the nodd for a 2-1 win over Peterhead on Tuesday and a 1-0 triumph at Stenhousemuir yesterday. Connelly, who wasn't really tested at Ochilview, said: 'I've been patiently waiting for my chance. I thought I did all right on my debut, and to get the chance to play again on Saturday, I could myself really lucky. 'I'm thankful to the gaffer for giving me the chance. 'I think it's a good base to make your debut, and when you're the team that's expected to win, it's just following that through. ''I was buzzing. It was a really calm game for me, no shots on goal, just kind of playing it out the back and stuff like that. 'The boys in front of me did brilliantly.' Connelly and Co can win Group D with a win over second-placed Morton on Tuesday, though they will be waiting on the Greenock club's final game at home to Clyde on Saturday. The young shot-stopper said: 'We're in a good position to qualify from the group, but Tuesday's another challenge and we'll try to get another three points and top the group. 'That's our last game, so we want the win.' Connelly has been at East Kilbride on loan for the last couple of years and played a major role last season as they won the Lowland League and the pyramid play-off against Bonnyrigg Rose. And he said: 'East Kilbride have been brilliant, the coaches – Mick Kennedy, Si Ferry, Blair Munn, Zander Cowie the goalie coach – have all been brilliant with me. 'I went back there twice and enjoyed it the first time, and set out to get promoted, and thankfully they did that. 'I would go back out there if needed. The plan when I came back in this summer was to go back out on loan, then I got the chance here to play games. 'But I'll see what happens, I do what I'm told!'
