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The Melbourne Renegades kept their chances alive in the BBL with a six-run win that knocked the Adelaide Strikers out

The Report by Geoff Lemon16-Jan-2017
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsMarcus Harris reached his fifty off 29 balls•Cricket Australia/Getty Images

Strikers struck off, Renegades surviveThe Melbourne Renegades stayed alive in the sixth edition of the Big Bash League, finally closing out a contest after a couple of thrilling losses, and knocking out the struggling Adelaide Strikers with a six-run win.Asked to bat at the Adelaide Oval, the Renegades set a decent total of 171 for the loss of nine wickets, built around Marcus Harris’ dominant innings of 85. No other batsman really got going, Callum Ferguson the next best with 26, though all of the top five got starts.Ben Laughlin bowled an exceptional spell of 2 for 15 from his four overs, while Michael Neser returned 2 for 14 from three, but the Renegades made up for it by punishing Kieron Pollard, Liam O’Connor, Ish Sodhi and Wes Agar.The final result looked closer on paper than it was in the flesh, the chase effectively extinguished when captain Brad Hodge was out 37 runs short of victory with 20 balls to spare, after little substantial support from the top order. Jono Dean clubbed the Strikers to within some hope of a comeback win, but Thisara Perera finished off with the ball after so famously failing to do so in last week’s record chase against the Hobart Hurricanes.We’ll always have HarrisThe Renegades opener was the difference, and proved his value as a recruit from Western Australia, belting his 85 from 53 deliveries. Six of his shots went to the fence and four cleared it, his moderate start dropping into gear with three consecutive fours off Agar in the third over.He flew past a half-century thanks to a couple of sixes off Pollard in the eighth. Cameron White and Tom Cooper fell around him, but Harris pushed on to within reach of a maiden T20 century in his 20th game.When he fell with the score on 149 and four overs to go, a possible Renegades score of over 200 went begging, as the last six batsmen kept to single figures. In the end, though, Harris alone had been enough.Strikers waste another good chancePeter Nevill is accompanied off the field after being struck in the face by Brad Hodge’s bat•Getty Images

Tim Ludeman and Ben Dunk got the start that should have enabled the Strikers to chase comfortably, with 53 runs from the first six overs. But not for the first time this season, the rest of the innings lost its way. Ludeman holed out, Dunk missed a straight ball from part-time offspinner and part-time Dutchman Cooper, and the slide began.”I’ll just look to be super positive against Perera. Pollard is great against spin, so hopefully that takes some pressure off him.” That was Hodge’s offering to the commentary team during the chase. “We know Perera will be bowling a lot of slower balls, so hopefully we get onto a few.”It was Pollard rather than Hodge who got onto one, a ball that dropped short and sat up. Pollard hammered it out to deep square leg, flying for a flat six. Or that’s what everyone thought had happened, except that a screamer from Callum Ferguson at the boundary intercepted it.Once again it was poor Hodge trying to herd a bunch of kittens across the finish line. That paved the way, though, for a fluke accident that took the shine off the win for the Renegades. As Hodge looked to lift the rate, his bat flew out of his hands after a particularly violent slog sweep, and flew behind the pitch where Peter Nevill stood a few paces back.With the wicketkeeper’s eye on the ball at deep backward square, he didn’t see the bat that then hit him in the side of his face, forcing him to come off with a massive swelling on the right side of his jaw. Perera knocked over Hodge later the same over, while opposing captain Aaron Finch deputised with the gloves.Be the crowd favouriteThe competition for bringing the crowd into the game was split between Harris and Neser. Aside from Neser’s bowling providing a couple of deep catches, he put on a show himself by the fence.First he hung on to one at deep midwicket to dismiss White. Then he dropped Ferguson at long-on, held Perera at long-off, and snared James Pattinson at deep midwicket towards the end of the innings.Harris brought onlookers into the game literally via the last of his sixes from a gorgeous straight hit off New Zealand legspinner Sodhi. A security guard on a camp chair at the boundary wasn’t watching play, and only just responded to the crowd’s calls to yank his head out of the way. Harris tried to send him the next ball as well, but the pull shot hung just inside the rope for Dean to claim.The late season wash-upVery simple. This was a knockout match, even as the second-last of the season for both teams. The Strikers and Renegades went into the game at the bottom of the ladder on four points each, needing to win their last two to match the eight points of the teams currently occupying the finals positions.The Renegades had certainly had the better season on the field, losing twice from the last ball of matches, while the Strikers had struggled. In the end, things went to form, and Red Melbourne stayed in contention.

Essex have added Neil Wagner to their ranks for 2017 as they look to compete on their return to Division One

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Dec-2016

Neil Wagner impressed during a spell with Lancashire in 2016•Getty Images

Essex have added Neil Wagner to their ranks for 2017 as they look to compete on their return to Division One. Wagner will fill the main overseas role for the first half of the season, playing Championship and 50-over cricket, before the arrival of Mohammad Amir.Wagner, the New Zealand left-armer, had a successful spell at Lancashire last season, helping them to briefly top the table as he picked up 32 wickets at 29.28. He will add experience to Essex’s attack after the retirements of Graham Napier and David Masters earlier this year.”I really enjoyed my time in England with Lancashire last season, but I am excited about linking up with Essex and building on the team’s success in 2016,” Wagner said. “I want to bring my experience to the team and help us win games. I hope to help the squad get off to a good start in both competitions.”Wagner, who only plays Tests for New Zealand, is expected to be available for all of the Royal London Cup group stage and up to eight Championship matches, depending on when Amir joins up with Essex after the Champions Trophy.Chris Silverwood, the head coach, had been looking to bolster his pace-bowling stocks after losing Napier and Masters, who took 103 wickets between them as Essex claimed the Division Two title. Jamie Porter, 23, has an impressive record but 2017 will be his first taste of Division One cricket, while Essex will hope Matthew Quinn and Matt Dixon continue to develop.”Neil will bring vast experience at the highest level to the club, as well as a skill set that will be valuable in the opening months of the season,” Silverwood said. “He performed excellently for Lancashire last year and is also useful with the bat lower down the order. Hopefully he can help us hit the ground running in 2017.”

India and Tamil Nadu seamer L Balaji will reitre from first-class and List A cricket, but has stated that he will be available for smaller T20 leagues

Arun Venugopal16-Sep-20161:01

Quick Facts: Lakshmipathy Balaji

India and Tamil Nadu seamer L Balaji will retire from first-class and List A cricket, but has said he will be available for smaller T20 leagues.Balaji will meet TNCA president N Srinivasan later this evening to formally announce his retirement. The TNCA, it is learnt, is keen for Balaji to be bowling coach for the 2016-17 domestic season, a role he also fulfilled in the 2015-16 season. Balaji is expected to take a call after discussing the terms of his contract during his meeting with Srinivasan.”I have taken a decision on not playing senior-level cricket any longer in any format. I have asked the TNCA to not pick me for the Tamil Nadu team this season,” he told ESPNcricinfo. “I am still looking to continue playing the smaller leagues, but let’s see how it goes.”Balaji, 34, made his first-class debut for Tamil Nadu in the 2001-02 season, against the Colombo District Cricket Association, and took 37 wickets in his maiden first-class season in India. The following season, he finished as the joint highest wicket-taker in the Ranji Trophy in 2002-03, with 47 dismissals, and went on to make a Test debut in October 2003 against New Zealand in Ahmedabad.Overall, Balaji played 106 first-class matches, taking 330 wickets at an average of 26.10, with 16 five-fors and four ten-wicket hauls. In List A cricket, his record stands at 145 wickets in 100 matches at an average of 29.35. He also captained Tamil Nadu for three seasons – from 2011-12 to 2013-14, with the side reaching the Ranji Trophy final in 2011-12.Balaji picked the spell against Delhi in the Ranji Trophy semifinal in 2002-03 as one of his favourites in his first-class career. Balaji took 5 for 49 in the second innings, and seven in the match, to help Tamil Nadu beat Delhi by 132 runs. “I think I have been part of some very interesting matches,” he said. “I picked up a five-for in the second innings against a team that featured three, four Test players like Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag and Aakash Chopra. My spell of 6 for 24 against Bengal in 2008-09 [Ranji Trophy quarter-final] was also very special.”His last first-class appearance came in the 2014-15 Ranji Trophy final, in which Karnataka beat Tamil Nadu by an innings and 217 runs. Before the 2015-16 season, Balaji was named bowling coach and was also picked as a player, though he did not eventually play any first-class matches in the season. His appearances for Tamil Nadu in 2015-16 were limited to four one-day matches in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.Since then, Balaji has only played in the inaugural Tamil Nadu Premier League T20 tournament, where he has taken eight wickets so far for Albert TUTI Patriots.Balaji played eight Tests between 2003 and 2005, picking up 27 wickets at an average of 37.18. His best performances in Tests came against Pakistan in the 2003-04 and 2004-05 seasons. On the tour of Pakistan in 2004, Balaji took 12 wickets in the three-Test series, including a haul of 7 for 171 in the decisive Rawalpindi Test, which India won to claim the series 2-1.The following year, when Pakistan toured India, Balaji was among the wickets again, ending with 14 wickets in three matches. This included a match haul of nine in the first Test in Mohali, where he also claimed his only five-for in the format.Balaji also played 29 ODIs between November 2002 and August 2005, before suffering a career-threatening stress fracture for which he underwent back surgery. He eventually made a comeback to the Indian side after being picked for the ODIs in Sri Lanka in early 2009, but played only one match in the series.Despite his international career remaining ridden with injuries, Balaji said he was fortunate to having played alongside his childhood heroes. “To play alongside bigger brothers like Zaheer [Khan], Ashish [Nehra], Harbhajan [Singh] and Yuvi [Yuvraj Singh]… they have always been looking after me,” he said. “Also playing with the six legends – Viru [Virender Sehwag ], Sourav [Ganguly], Anil [Kumble] bhai, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman – was a dream come true.”I am very indebted to my seniors from my state; I have learnt a lot from every cricketer I have played and interacted with. The TNCA has been very supportive, especially when I had a surgery, and N Srinivasan, especially, backed me. Of course, I am indebted to my family, my wife, my sisters, and my friends, without whom I wouldn’t have made this level from being a tennis-ball cricketer.”I have made the physio’s job and the doctor’s job very tough for a few years, so I would like to thank them for helping me come out of a career-threatening injury. I kept them busy for sometime, and in the end made good friends in a different field.”

Liverpool have deployed chiefs to assess Fulham midfielder Joao Palhinha ahead of a potential summer move to Anfield, according to reports.

What's the latest on Palhinha to Liverpool?

The Reds are known to be in the market for a few new central-midfield additions during the upcoming window, with four players in that position set to be out of contract and therefore likely to be on their way out, and Palhinha has been identified as a possible candidate.

The Portugal international only arrived at Craven Cottage back in July, but has taken the Premier League by storm, as in his 31 appearances to date, has quickly become Marco Silva’s best-performing defensive player with a match rating of 6.99, as per WhoScored.

GiveMeSport reports that Jurgen Klopp had his eyes on the SW6 talisman even before he joined the Whites, so has clearly been a long-term admirer of his target, though a deal won’t be easy to complete with another four years still to run on his contract at Craven Cottage.

According to Football Insider, Liverpool have “sent scouts” to monitor Palhinha on several occasions as they weigh up making an official approach ahead of the 2023/24 term. The Merseyside outfit have a “strong relationship” with his agency, Gestifute, which is owned by Jorge Mendes – the same agent who also acts for Fabinho, Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez. The Reds are hoping to bring in “multiple” midfielders at the end of the season as the boss plots a huge overhaul and the £50k-per-week talent is one of the names on his list of options.

Would Palhinha be a good signing for Liverpool?

Palhinha may not be as high-profile a player as the likes of Borussia Dortmund’s Jude Bellingham and Chelsea’s Mason Mount, who Liverpool have also been linked with, but the man dubbed an “artist” by journalist Josh Bunting, could be a fantastic acquisition at Anfield.

The 6 foot 3 ace is naturally a defensive midfielder, as displayed by him ranking in the 99th percentile for tackles – making 105 this season alone, winning 60 in total, which is higher than any of his fellow teammates, as per FBRef.

The Lisbon native is also capable of contributing to his side’s efforts in the final third having scored four goals since joining, with this form at both ends of the pitch. And perhaps more importantly, his influence on the Fulham team is stark.

Indeed, Fulham have lost every game he has not featured in this season, such is his impact in midfield. Therefore, whilst his price tag remains to be seen, we think there is enough evidence for FSG to splash the cash to secure his services later in the summer.

ESPN journalist Luis Miguel Echegaray has been left in disbelief as Chelsea cool their interest in former Barcelona boss Luis Enrique.

What’s the latest on Enrique to Chelsea?

The 52-year-old has been on Todd Boehly’s radar since the west Londoners opted to dismiss former manager Graham Potter at the start of April.

Enrique is also reliably believed to have even flown to England for talks with Chelsea recently, coming as the club step up their pursuit of a new manager.

Frank Lampard has been placed in temporary charge until the end of the Premier League campaign, a tenure which has gone disastrously thus far with still no victory since taking the hot seat.

Out of the Champions League and with zero chance of clinching silverware, it’s back to the drawing board for Boehly with managers high on the agenda.

Enrique was thought to be among the primary contenders to take over at Chelsea alongside former Bayern Munich boss Julian Nagelsmann, with the latter sacked unceremoniously despite leading his former club to a Champions League quarter-final.

Now, though, according to a report by The Telegraph, Chelsea have apparently cooled their interest in Enrique – with the Champions League winner not among Boehly’s main contenders for the role.

Reacting to this news, Echegaray has been left surprised – explaining that Enrique could be ‘perfect’ for the job.

Taking to social media, he explained:

Instead of the former Spain boss, it is believed that Nagelsmann and former Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino are set for further talks and Boehly has even already been ‘impressed’ with the latter coach.

Should Chelsea turn away?

Enrique has plenty of credentials and arguably far more than some other names to have been linked.

Indeed, the former Celta Vigo boss holds multiple league titles alongside a Champions League winners medal – all while encouraging a possession-based, attack-minded style of football.

His status as a free agent stands out as yet another incentive for Chelsea to make a move for him, so The Telegraph’s update does indeed come as a surprising one.

Perhaps it was Enrique’s lack of experience in England which ultimately lead to this decision, but one way or another, some supporters will be disappointed.

MS Dhoni has said it was very important for India to not trip up in the final of the Asia Cup to hold the critics at bay, and to keep the team’s momentum intact leading up to the World T20. The unit is a balanced one ahead of the showpiece event, he said, with the only question mark hanging over seamer Ashish Nehra who might have to make way for Mohammed Shami.”India losing a final is a bigger headline than India winning a final,” Dhoni said after sealing an eight-wicket win over Bangladesh in Mirpur with a six over midwicket. “It’s like putting in a lot at stake: if you win then they say ‘nothing really’; if you lose to Bangladesh, say people ‘oh, you lost to Bangladesh?'”You’re supposed to win. It’s like a game where a lot is at stake but when you win, you actually don’t take anything forward.”However, Dhoni added, Bangladesh’s recent top form at home – including a 2-1 ODI series victory over India in June 2015 – translated into this victory meaning a lot more. “Things have changed. It’s not like the 2004 Bangladesh team. They have a fantastic squad right now. They have improved a lot, and that’s what is showing in their performance on the field. So it was an important one to win.””As far as staying in the present is concerned, it always helps. If you start thinking about what happened when the last time we were here… of course you feel hurt, but what’s important is to forget all of that and concentrate on the present. You can’t do much about the past, you can only take the learnings from the past and that’s what we did today.”Dhoni said the focus now turned to the World T20 for his team, which is already “in the groove” for the tournament. “If you see the kind of performances that the team has given, they will carry a lot of confidence into the World T20. They know what has been really going well for them, what their strengths are.”While he is satisfied with how the XI is looking, Dhoni said, he is also still waiting to see how Shami’s recovery progresses; Nehra has “done very well” for the team but might be replaced by Shami if the latter can get fit in time. Shami was initially part of the Asia Cup squad, but was ruled out of the tournament after it was found he had failed to fully recover from a hamstring injury that had kept him out of the limited-overs series in Australia in January.”Whether Shami is fit or not, we’ll see. He still has a bit of time,” Dhoni said. “The only reason he was picked was because, he is someone who can deliver with the old and new ball, yorkers being his strength.”I think it’s very difficult to replace [Jasprit] Bumrah. He has the strength of bowling yorkers at will, and with the new ball also he has contributed. Nehra has also contributed. Few games ups and downs happen in T20. Hardik Pandya, he’s a fast-bowling allrounder. If Jadeja or him can bat No. 8 and they can give me three or four overs, then it looks like a better balanced side.”For Shami to replace [someone], it would be Ashish. Ashish is the only slot, but to replace Ashish would be very tough. The reason being he has done very well for us, he has moved the ball around. But Shami will have to prove his fitness in the warm-up games. If he does, he will stay ahead with the team.”Nehra was India’s joint second-highest wicket-taker at the Asia Cup, with six wickets at an average of 16.50. He was the most expensive of their specialist bowlers though, conceding 7.07 runs per over, with his poorest returns coming in the final where he took 1 for 33 in his three overs.

Journalist Ben Jacobs has claimed that Arsenal are currently among the "frontrunners" to land midfield transfer target Declan Rice in the summer window.

What’s the latest on Declan Rice to Arsenal?

While the Gunners will no doubt be primarily focusing on the exploits in the Premier League as they look to win the division as he enter the final 11 games of the campaign, others will still have one eye on the upcoming transfer market.

In fact, it seems the West Ham United captain may even be looking ahead to the end of the season as he dropped a big hint about his future when saying in December that he wants to play Champions League football soon.

This no doubt would have put a number of clubs on high alert and while speaking about the player on the Devils United podcast, Jacobs said Manchester United and Chelsea are both keen on the player but tipped Arsenal to get the deal done if things remain as they are.

He said: "Declan Rice is a player that Manchester United have liked for a while, but Arsenal and Chelsea are thought to be the frontrunners.

"And the reason for that is because, a bit like what I said a moment ago, Rice just really likes living in London and has spoken glowingly about Mikel Arteta.

"So I sense that Arsenal are frontrunners, but Chelsea are still very much in that race as well."

Why does Declan Rice want to join Arsenal?

As Jacobs alludes to, Rice is understood to be very keen to learn under manager Arteta – with the midfielder said to be a big fan of the Spaniard (via The Guardian).

What's more, the Gunners seem to be in the market for a big new midfielder signing – evidenced by their failed attempts to sign Moises Caicedo in the winter – so the West Ham captain may be able to see a clear path for him to claim a spot in the starting XI.

On top of that, the club's superb season now means the prospect of winning major trophies in the near future is a lot more realistic and this will no doubt appeal to Rice who is yet to win any silverware up to this point in his career.

Of course, clubs like Chelsea and Man Utd will also be able to offer him similar incentives, so it's not a done deal just yet. But it does feel as though this transfer is in Arsenal's hands for now.

Manchester United’s need for improvement in the 2025/26 campaign is there for all to see, after the club endured one of their worst seasons in memory last time around.

The Red Devils could only register a 15th-placed Premier League finish, ending the year 24 points off a Champions League spot, after winning just 11 times in their 38 outings.

Ruben Amorim has so far fallen below the expectations put on his shoulders after arriving, but will have the summer transfer window to try and transform the current situation.

Whilst it’s his first major chance to land new additions to his first-team squad, it could also be his last if he fails to attract the right calibre of player and subsequently sees a repeat of last season’s dismal form.

The pressure is certainly on, but it appears as though the hierarchy are set to hand the 40-year-old the tools he desires to make the changes he needs at Old Trafford.

The latest on United’s hunt for new signings this summer

Bryan Mbeumo is still the name on everyone’s lips at Man Utd, given the major interest they’ve shown in his signature during the ongoing transfer window.

The Red Devils have placed two separate offers for the Brentford star, with the latest totalling £62.5m, but no deal has been agreed, as Keith Andrews’ side are holding out for £65m this summer.

However, he’s not the only Premier League talent currently on their radar, with Chelsea star Nicolas Jackson a firm target, according to Sky Sports’ Dharmesh Sheth.

He claimed that Amorim’s side are keeping a close eye on a potential move for the 24-year-old forward, who registered 13 goals across all competitions last season.

It’s also been claimed elsewhere that he could command a fee in the region of £100m this summer, with the Blues demanding a pretty penny for his signature.

Why United’s £100m target could be Amorim’s answer to Isak

Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak has been a name hugely mentioned in recent days, with the Swede potentially being subject to an English record bid this summer.

The interest in his signature this window is hardly a surprise given the 25-year-old’s tally of 23 league goals in his 34 outings during the 2024/25 campaign.

Such a tally takes his total of goals in England to 62 in his 109 appearances, with Isak now undoubtedly one of the most feared talismen in Europe’s top five leagues.

There’s no denying that United fans must wish they had a talent like the forward, but talents like the Swede don’t come around often, and when they do, they command a hefty fee – as seen by his current price tag.

However, they could be about to land their own version of the forward this summer, with a potential move for Jackson, who possesses very similar qualities to the Magpies’ star.

He’s been labelled as a similar player to Isak by FBref, even managing to outperform him in multiple areas when comparing their respective stats from last year.

Jackson, who’s been labelled “sensational” by Pubity Sport, posted a higher shot on target accuracy rate – highlighting his ability to be more precise with the opportunities that are presented to him in front of goal.

How Jackson compares to Isak in the PL (2024/25)
Statistics (per 90)	Jackson	Isak
Games played	30	34
Goals & assists	15	29
Shot-on-target accuracy	45%	43%
Pass accuracy	76%	75%
Aerials won	37%	32%
Shots on target per game	1.4	1.3
Fouls won	1.2	0.4
Stats via FBref

He also managed to win more aerial battles, whilst also completing more of the passes he attempted, handing Amorim the focal point to play off and allowing for needed link-up play in attacking areas.

Whilst he’s been unable to match his goalscoring record, Jackson has showcased that he has all the tools to emulate his success in England’s top-flight in the years to come.

His comparison to such a high-profile attacker is evidence of the talent he possesses, hopefully making the jump and taking his career to the next level at Old Trafford.

If he can match the levels of Isak during any move to Manchester, it would be a sensational piece of business, handing Amorim that needed centre forward that he needs in 2025/26.

Amorim's own Pogba: Man Utd leading race to sign "sensational" £42m star

Manchester United could be about to make a move to land a key target in their plans for the 2025/26 campaign.

By
Ethan Lamb

Jul 16, 2025

Leeds United have the opportunity to cut the gap between themselves and Ipswich Town in second to within single digits at Elland Road this afternoon.

The Whites are currently ten points behind the Tractor Boys and would be seven points off the automatic promotion places with a victory today.

Ipswich then play host to league-leaders Leicester City on Boxing Day and this means that Leeds could be four points off second if results go their way within the next four days.

Daniel Farke's side are chasing automatic promotion back to the Premier League after the club was relegated from the top-flight at the end of last season.

A win against Kieran McKenna's men would be a huge boost to their hopes of sneaking into the top two before the end of the current campaign and the head coach could look to make some changes to his XI.

Latest Leeds team news

Ahead of this clash with Ipswich, Farke has provided an injury update on his squad as three players have been ruled out and two could return.

Versatile full-backs Jamie Shackleton, Stuart Dallas, and Sam Byram are all unavailable for selection as they deal with their respective injury issues. Phil Hay reported that Byram and Shackleton are both expected to be out of action until the turn of the year.

It was not all bad news, though, as it was also revealed that Ian Poveda, who was on international duty with Colombia, and Junior Firpo, who has returned to training following his injury issue, are both set to be in contention to feature.

Farke has also revealed that supporters can expect to see rotation in the team over the next few games as Leeds look to navigate the tricky festive period.

The congestion of games means that players have a lot of work to get through and resting and rotating the squad can help to avoid muscle injuries and fatigue heading into 2024.

With this in mind, Farke must now finally unleash winger Jaidon Anthony from the start over Daniel James, who has struggled over the last two games.

Dan James' last two performances in numbers

The Wales international played the full 90 minutes against Coventry last time out and failed to make an impact at the top end of the pitch as Leeds failed to win.

He was provided with 0.40 xG worth of chances by his teammates but failed to hit the back of the net and missed one 'big chance' in the process.

The former Manchester United forward only created one chance for his teammates and failed with all eight of his attempted crosses on the right flank.

That disappointing display came off the back of his struggles against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light in the club's previous match – a 1-0 loss on Wearside.

James did not register a single key pass or shot on goal in 75 minutes of action and also failed with all three of his attempted crosses on the night.

This means that the Leeds forward has produced zero goals and one key pass in 165 minutes of football, to go along with one 'big chance' missed and zero created, over the last two Championship games.

James' season in numbers

His last two performances have been off-colour in comparison to his form throughout the campaign as the winger has been impressive this season.

James had managed seven goals, four assists, and eight 'big chances' created in 15 league starts prior to those clashes with Sunderland and Coventry.

The Welsh whiz has averaged 1.8 key passes per game throughout the season so far in 20 appearances as he has showcased his ability to score and create goals on a regular basis from the flank.

His impressive displays have seen him become a consistent starter on the right of the attack for Farke but the busy festive schedule appears to have taken a toll on his displays, as evidenced by his poor statistics over the last two games.

Therefore, it could make sense to ditch him from the starting XI for this clash with Ipswich as Leeds will need energy and players who are fresh and ready to make an impact in such an important match.

This could open the door for Anthony to finally be unleashed as the young winger has the potential to be a key player for the Whites and this could be the game that he makes a name for himself in.

The statistics that show why Anthony should start

Leeds signed the attacker on loan from Premier League side Bournemouth over the summer but he has only started two league matches for the club so far.

His last start came against Stoke back in October and the talented gem created two chances and completed three of his five attempted dribbles in 71 minutes.

Despite that impressive outing, Anthony is still waiting for his third start of the 2023/24 Championship campaign and it could come this afternoon.

James has not done enough in the last two clashes to suggest that he deserves to keep his place and the Cherries loanee does have an excellent track record in the division.

He was promoted with Bournemouth at the end of the 2021/22 campaign and caught the eye with his terrific performances on the flank that term.

Progressive passes (5.59)

Top 5%

Expected Assisted Goals (0.25)

Top 10%

Shot-creating actions (4.26)

Top 8%

Progressive passes received (9.19)

Top 6%

Blocks (1.61)

Top 2%

As you can see in the table above, Anthony was a fantastic creative talent throughout the season with his ability to conjure up shooting opportunities for his teammates at an impressive rate.

He ended the campaign with a sublime return of eight goals, seven assists, and 17 'big chances' created in 38 league starts for the Cherries.

His former boss Scott Parker once described him as a player who goes "under the radar" and that has certainly been the case at Leeds as the 6 foot wizard is yet to really burst onto the scene in Yorkshire.

Farke must now finally unleash Anthony from the start against Ipswich to allow him to shine in a Whites shirt by using his creativity to contribute to what will, hopefully, be a crucial victory for the club.

Leeds United once again failed in their pursuit of a first Championship win of the season, as Daniel Farke's problems were devastatingly emphasised…

How did Leeds get on vs West Brom?

Hosting Carlos Corberan's impressive but threadbare West Bromwich Albion outfit, there was a quiet confidence that the Whites would be able to secure all three points at the third time of asking.

After all, a disappointing opening-day draw with Cardiff City and a subsequent defeat to Birmingham City hardly have fans excited for the new campaign.

Last night marked yet another spirited display, but once which lacked that cutting-edge to see off the travelling Baggies.

Read the latest Leeds transfer news HERE…

They enjoyed 57% of the ball and rained down 16 shots, yet found themselves behind just after the restart and searching for an equaliser, via Sofascore.

Whilst it eventually came, they were forced to settle for the 1-1 draw, with a few standout individuals having let the side down.

Of all that disappointed, Jamie Shackleton was arguably the weakest of the toothless bunch.

How did Jamie Shackleton play vs West Brom?

Making his 82nd appearance for the Yorkshire outfit, it should have marked a triumphant return to the starting lineup for the 23-year-old seeking to stake his claim within the senior side.

However, he likely has ended up denting his chances of further opportunities, with an underwhelming display on the wing where he created little.

In fact, his 6.8 Sofascore rating throughout the clash was the third-worst of all of Farke's starting side, made especially terrible due to his anonymity in a game where he should have excelled.

After all, they did enjoy the bulk of the possession, exacerbating his dismal 39 touches. Even Illan Meslier, who was one of the two worse performers than the young wide man, managed more touches (43), via Sofascore.

The French shot-stopper even managed to complete more passes (29) than Shackleton (24) too, suggesting that his lack of influence also fed into an inability to even link up with his teammates sufficiently.

The £1.5k-per-week earner was offensively lacking throughout as well, failing in both of his attempted dribbles and failing to register a single shot, striking the woodwork after a slice in fortune. Had he offered something defensively the academy graduate could have been forgiven, but even then he won only three of the six total duels he competed in, a 57% failure rate, via Sofascore.

It seems that journalist Beren Cross shares this sentiment with regard to his profligacy, as he briefly lauded his physical assets before suggesting an area of improvement in his post-match ratings: "His pace, intensity and work rate really shone in the first half as his pressing drove errors from the visitors. Still lacking a little quality on the ball when he's playing in this final-third role."

Although Shackleton is only young, this should mark a damning indictment for Farke, who has seen his squad slowly dismantled before his very eyes.

Even now Wilfried Gnonto has compounded such misery by finally handing in a transfer request, with his exit surely now looming amidst the exit of numerous other first-team stars.

Shackleton may well offer a fine option in the future, but if performances like last night are to become a regular feature, his starting spot could be in jeopardy.

However, if it forces them into the market, fans will remain elated. They certainly need reinforcements regardless.