Kent captain converts overnight hundred to leave hosts up against it in final innings

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay04-May-2025Daniel Bell-Drummond’s second highest score in first-class cricket allowed Kent to take charge of their Rothesay County Championship Division Two clash with Middlesex on day three at Lord’s.The 31-year-old Kent skipper, took his overnight 103 not out to 223 as the visitors piled up 473 all out.Jamal Richards (43), Joey Evison (35) and Chris Benjamin (34) all shared half-century stands with the right-hander as the Middlesex bowlers were ground into the dirt, Toby-Roland-Jones taking 3 for 107 for match figures of 8 for 140.Left to better a record fourth-innings winning score against Kent harking back more than 100 years to the days of the legendary Patsy Hendren, Middlesex stumbled to 81 for 3 at stumps, two wickets for Evison.With the visitors already 117 ahead, Middlesex needed early wickets and they weren’t without opportunities. After edging a four to the vacant third, Bell-Drummond was rapped on the pad by Dane Paterson, moving swiftly leg-side of the wicket as the home side’s pleads for lbw were not upheld.If that was unlucky Middlesex’s next wound was self-inflicted, Ryan Higgins failing to cling on to Evison’s slash to gully before the batter had added to his overnight score. The drop proved costly as by the time Henry Brookes held a caught and bowled at the second grab, the all-rounder, helped by a towering six back over the head of spinner Zafar Gohar had added 62 with Bell-Drummond.Any hope the new ball would bring further reward soon evaporated, a Bell-Drummond edge wide of a diving second slip the closest they came to another breakthrough.That scare survived Bell-Drummond, whose highest first class score of 300 not out came two summers ago against Northamptonshire at Wantage Road, crunched a lovely on-drive to the fence at mid-on before his 21st four, a cut behind point took him past 150 on the stroke of lunch.Upon the resumption, Bell-Drummond was becalmed, only adding a single boundary in the afternoon session. Wicketkeeper Benjamin though played positively, four boundaries helping him to 34 out of a stand of 74 before Higgins snuck one between bat and pad to trim the bails.Debutant Richards came out on a pair and was given a life on four, Ben Geddes failing to cling on the a low catch at second slip.As with Evison earlier, Richards made Middlesex pay, a thunderous straight drive the pick of his five fours in an entertaining 43 ended when he was harshly adjudged leg before to a ball from Gohar which appeared to strike him outside leg stump.Bell-Drummond continued on, marshalling the tail, to the point of refusing singles to protect Garrett, even though the lead was beyond 300.A tickled single to square leg took him to 200, after which he smote three huge sixes before being last man out caught at third.The target of 365 was exactly 50 more than Middlesex’s previous best successful fourth- innings chase against the men from the Garden of England, a total of 315-5 made at Lord’s in 1921.The gargantuan task was made more difficult when Sam Robson was bowled by a beauty from Garrett with only nine on the board.Max Holden flourished briefly in a stand of 53 for the second wicket with the obdurate Stephen Eskinazi, but Evison flattened his off-stump, before having nightwatchman Brookes caught a slip by Crawley to leave the hosts in the mire.

Arsenal legend Martin Keown has lavished praise on another player after the Gunners’ dramatic late win away to Athletic Bilbao.

Mikel Arteta’s side opened their Champions League account for the season with a 2-0 victory in Spain on Tuesday evening, courtesy of goals from super subs Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard — emphasising the importance of strength in depth.

Leandro Trossard

8.1

Gabriel Martinelli

7.9

Jurrien Timber

7.4

Riccardo Calafiori

7.4

Cristhian Mosquera

7.3

via WhoScored

The attacking duo have been linked with Arsenal departures regularly even after the summer window closed on September 1, but their presence in the squad was vital as Arsenal kickstarted their European campaign by beating an in-form Bilbao side.

Martinelli’s burst of pace and excellent close control allowed him to get a yard on Bilbao’s defence, after bringing down a clever flick-on from Viktor Gyokeres, before driving through and slotting the ball home from close range.

The Brazilian then set up fellow substitute Trossard for Arsenal’s deflected second after a great run down the left, wrapping up what turned out to be a hard-fought victory at the San Mames.

It was a match-winning performance by the 24-year-old amid the constant criticism and uncertain future hanging over his head, with Arteta reserving special praise after the 90.

While Martinelli’s performance has understandably grabbed most of the headlines, Keown expressed how impressed he is with summer signing Cristhian Mosquera too.

Martin Keown praises Cristhian Mosquera after Arsenal win against Bilbao

The young Spaniard has deputised for the injured William Saliba to great effect, and is currently making the initial £13 million paid for his signature look like an absolute bargain.

Mosquera played at right-back against Leeds, but in the absence of Saliba, the 21-year-old has looked assured and composed at such a young age. His value has reportedly tripled already, with Keown praising Mosquera after Arsenal’s win in Bilbao.

Amid the noise surrounding Noni Madueke’s electric start at Arsenal, the impressive showings of Martin Zubimendi and Gyokeres’ goal return, Mosquera has perhaps gone under the radar.

Cristhian Mosquera to star for Arsenal

According to some reports, Arsenal believe Mosquera could be one of the best in the world in a few years, and if he carries on like this, the centre-back could hit that landmark sooner than anticipated.

The 21-year-old is good with the ball at his feet, able to play out of defence without panicking and is comfortable in multiple positions — whether that be in the middle or as a full-back.

Last season, Mosquera had the highest true tackle success rate out of any La Liga centre-back last season with over 76.7 per cent — which shows just how strong he is in one-on-one duels (Opta).

Still very young, the ex-Valencia sensation will only get better, and from what we’ve seen so far, the sky really is the limit.

Nottingham Forest are now poised to sign a “brilliant” midfielder in an out-of-window move, with an announcement expected imminently.

More changes expected at Forest despite transfer window closing

The transfer window came to a close on Monday evening, and Forest are likely to be happy with the business they’ve done, with Evangelos Marinakis spending heavily to ensure Nuno Espirito Santo’s side are competitive once again this season.

The Tricky Trees were particularly busy on deadline day, securing the signings of two full-backs in the form of Cuiabano and Oleksandr Zinchenko, while also bringing in winger Dilane Bakwa from Strasbourg.

With Bakwa joining, you would perhaps expect Marinakis to have sanctioned the departure of fellow winger Jota Silva, but there have now been suggestions the owner cost the Portuguese forward his dream move to Sporting CP.

As such, Jota is continuing to explore his options, and there are more changes expected at The City Ground, despite the transfer window ending, with Taiwo Awoniyi thought to be attracting attention.

Not only that, but there is also a new arrival expected in the very near future, with a report from Football Insider revealing Nottingham Forest have now agreed an out-of-window deal to sign Rangers midfielder Blaine McClure.

An announcement is expected imminently, with McClure set to move to The City Ground on a loan deal to begin with, with a view to joining permanently at some point in the future.

Just 18-years-old, the starlet is regarded as an exciting young talent by national side Northern Ireland and Rangers, but he is set to be a part of the youth set-up at Forest to begin with.

"Brilliant" McClure is one for the future

Given that the Northern Irishman is yet to make a first-team appearance for Rangers, he is unlikely to be a part of Nuno’s plans anytime soon, but there are signs he could be an exciting long-term addition to the squad.

Former Linfield player Glenn Ferguson spoke particularly fondly of the central midfielder during their time working together at the Northern Irish club, saying he has a “brilliant attitude”, before also adding: “I always call Blaine the ‘wee old man’. He is small in stature but has a massive heart.

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“And when you see him playing, some of the tackles would scare you. He is afraid of nobody and he can dictate games with the way he gets on the ball and makes things happen.”

Given that McClure has just 13 senior appearances to his name, which came on loan at Scottish League One side Kelty Hearts last season, he is almost certainly some way off first-team level at a club like Forest, but he clearly has plenty of potential.

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Abel Ferreira ganhou dois problemas para o próximo compromisso do Palmeiras no Brasileirão, no próximo sábado (19), quando o Verdão viaja para encarar o Cuiabá, na Arena Pantanal.

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Gustavo Gómez e Vanderlan sofreram o terceiro cartão amarelo na vitória suada sobre o Cruzeiro, nesta segunda-feira (14), e estão fora do duelo diante do Dourado.

O paraguaio sofreu o cartão ainda no primeiro tempo, por reclamação, enquanto o lateral-esquerdo foi punido com o amarelo no final da segunda etapa, após falta em Wesley.

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Luan e Piquerez (que foi preservado do duelo de hoje) devem ser os substitutos da dupla para encararem o time de Deyverson.

Weverton e Dudu, outros dois titulares que foram preservados do duelo de hoje, também podem retornar ao Verdão diante do Cuiabá.

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A lista de pendurados do Palmeiras segue grande: Weverton, Gustavo Garcia, Zé Rafael, Jhon Jhon, Endrick, José López e Abel Ferreira.

Russell Martin’s tenure at Glasgow Rangers looks like it could be a short one, as there are already rumblings about him being removed from the role.

Earlier in the month, The I Paper’s chief football correspondent, Daniel Storey, wrote about how the 49ers Enterprises were at Ibrox and saw “the poor fare, they heard the boos, and they will not have missed the banners of dissent”, which would likely have had an effect on their thoughts around Martin.

Since then, things haven’t improved at Rangers as they remain winless in the Scottish Premiership, and their only wins have come in the Scottish League Cup.

With the situation nearly becoming untenable, the board may soon start to look at a previous managerial candidate to fill the role, should they give Martin the boot.

Rangers could look to recreate Celtic's Postecoglou's success

As per The Daily Record journalist Gavin Berry, one of the candidates that could be top of the list if Martin leaves is Kevin Muscat:

Muscat’s career thus far has followed a similar trajectory to that of Postecoglou’s, where he started in Australia and has now moved on to the Asian Leagues. The similarities go even further with both coaches having tenures at Melbourne Victory and Yokohama F. Marinos, with Muscat taking over from Postecoglou at both clubs.

Muscat is currently at the Chinese club Shanghai Port FC, where he has won both the Chinese FA Cup and the Chinese Super Cup.

Martin vs Postecoglou and why Muscat is the best candidate

Martin and Postecoglou had very different styles of play when managing in Scotland, and at the moment, it seems like the new Nottingham Forest manager’s style better fits the Scottish Premiership.

At Southampton, Martin’s style of play focused on playing out from the back and dominating possession. With a Premier League-quality side in the Championship, they were able to dominate games and secure promotion, but when they were promoted and were one of the weaker teams in the league, the tactic was ineffective.

When Martin was appointed to Rangers, it was speculated that he might be able to recreate the dominance he found in the Championship, but this has yet to happen.

Postecoglou’s method also saw his side with a high level of possession, but with a much higher line and greater attacking output. This saw his Celtic side average 2.3 points a game during his time there, leading to his winning the domestic treble. Muscat’s career may have been influenced by Postecoglou, and his sides have demonstrated the same attacking ethos.

Based on this, Postecoglou’s style of play seems to be the better one for the Scottish Premiership, so if they do decide to sack Martin, then Muscat and his attacking tactics would be the best possible replacement.

Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe has put striker Will Osula on red alert for the Premier League after seeing him score twice as the holders booked their place in the Carabao Cup fourth round with a 4-1 win against Bradford.

The 22-year-old Dane scored the Magpies’ second and final goals against the League One leaders at St James’ Park to highlight his development, and with record signing Nick Woltemade still coming to terms with English football and Yoane Wissa injured, he has been told he could get his chance amid a hectic schedule.

Asked how close Osula, on £25,000-a-week, is to starting a league game, Howe said:

Howe impressed with Newcastle forward Osula in training

Osula, rarely seen this season with just over 200 minutes of game time, arrived at the club from Sheffield United as a raw youngster last summer, and Howe and his coaches have since gone to work with him on the training ground.

Newcastle largely dominated throughout and the game was effectively over when Joelinton and Osula struck after 17 and 19 minutes respectively.

However, thanks to the efforts of City goalkeeper Sam Walker and some sub-standard finishing, they had to wait until the 75th minute for the Brazilian to make it 3-0, and although lifelong Magpies fan Andy Cook reduced the deficit, Osula scored again at the death to wrap up a comfortable win.

Howe said: “It was always going to be a difficult game. Nobody makes anything easy for you. Bradford are top of their league and full of confidence, so we needed an element of patience in our performance. But once we got into our groove, we were good.”

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Opposite number Graham Alexander, who played under Howe during his spell in charge at Burnley, was happy with much of what he saw from his side on a difficult night on Tyneside.

Asked what they had learned, he said with a smile: “We learned what a Champions League team looks like up close.”

On Cook’s goal, he added: “He’s a proper lad, he’s been a big player for this club for the last three or four years and everyone knows about his support for Newcastle, but he’s also got a massive bond with our club as well, so it was a special night for Cooky just getting on the pitch.

“But that’s a goal he’ll be talking about for the next 50 years, I expect.”

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) were staring at the prospect of a sixth loss in a row when MS Dhoni joined Shivam Dube with five overs left in the chase and 56 to get. But Dhoni won the battle against the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) seamers with an unbeaten 11-ball 26 while Dube made 43 not out in 27 to give CSK their second win in seven outings at IPL 2025.LSG captain Rishabh Pant said right after the game that LSG were “10-15 runs short” after being asked to bat. Despite Pant’s own 49-ball 63, his first half-century in LSG colours, they scored only 166 for 7 in 20 overs, their lowest total of the season. They were pegged back by Ravindra Jadeja’s two wickets and kept in check by Noor Ahmad’s miserly four overs that went for only 13 runs.Related

• Dhoni effect on show as CSK find a way

• The Bishnoi over that Pant left out 'a major point' in LSG's loss to CSK

• Dhoni: Tweaked attack gives 'more manoeuvrability for the captain'

After CSK’s opening partnership put them on course, LSG dragged the game back with their spinners. Digvesh Rathi, Ravi Bishnoi, and part-time offspinner Aiden Markram produced combined figures of 11-0-66-4, but a 19-run over from Shardul Thakur in the 19th ended LSG’s hopes.

Dhoni, Dube take down pacersWhen Dhoni walked out after 15 overs, Dube had made only 17 in his first 20 balls. Dube had failed to boss the spinners like he usually does and the dismissals of Vijay Shankar and Jadeja had only added to the pressure.But Dhoni enjoys pace – he came into the game with a strike rate of 222 against quicks since IPL 2024, and LSG supplied him with just that. Despite one over of Bishnoi left, LSG went for Avesh Khan and Thakur, and their wide-yorker plan ended up being too predictable.Dhoni edged a couple of fours down to deep third but showed his power by punching a boundary through the covers, flicking a full toss over midwicket, and dragging a one-handed six over deep square-leg.4:32

Why did Pant not give Bishnoi another over?

He also ran his ones and twos, sometimes gingerly, with Dube and took the pressure off his partner. When Thakur bowled two full tosses at the start of the 19th over, Dube smacked him for four and six, the second of a no-ball.Dhoni picked up his first IPL Player-of-the-Match award since 2019 and Dube, soon after hitting the winning runs, said he was pleased about taking the game deep. Their partnership of 57 came in only 28 balls.

Rasheed steps up on IPL debut

Shaik Rasheed’s ability was never in doubt. He is a former Under-19 World Cup-winning vice-captain, has a Syed Mushtaq Ali century, and a double-century in first-class cricket. It’s for those reasons CSK have kept a close eye on him since IPL 2023.With Devon Conway not among the runs, CSK gave Rasheed an IPL debut and he took strike to start the chase. By the second over, he had pumped three fours off Akash Deep, with one flick over midwicket described on the broadcast as “Virat Kohli like”.His 19-ball 27 with six fours helped CSK reach fifty in only 4.2 overs, and alongside Rachin Ravindra’s 22-ball 37, gave them a rare successful opening stand. Those runs proved crucial as a collapse against spin followed.2:04

‘What Dhoni is doing is extraordinary’

Pant fights his way to 63

With a strike rate of 80 and a high score of 21 this season, Pant needed to do something big. He walked out in the fourth over with Markram and Nicholas Pooran out to Khaleel Ahmed and Anshul Kamboj respectively for low scores.He started on a positive note, improvising a reverse lap over short third early for six along with a handful of pulls and cuts. But his strike rate of 165 plummeted to 103 when CSK’s spinners applied the squeeze. Pant saw wickets at from the other end, and ended up playing ten dots in 15 balls against Noor, scoring only six runs. His strike rate of 40 against the Purple Cap holder ended up being the second worst for any batter against a bowler in IPL (minimum 15 balls).However, after 40 in 39 balls, Pant found his touch against the pace of Matheesha Pathirana and Khaleel to turn his innings around. He couldn’t stay till the end, though, and the CSK spinners’ effort ensured LSG could make only 166 on a day where their second-highest individual score was Mitchell Marsh’s 30.

Morgan Rogers was delighted to make the most of his opportunity to impress for England against Wales, with the Aston Villa playmaker aware that "people will take your role" if the demands of head coach Thomas Tuchel are not met. Real Madrid superstar Jude Bellingham is among those to have missed out on a place in the latest Three Lions squad, with competition for places now fierce across all areas of the field.

• First England goal: Rogers takes his chance

  Tuchel has made it clear, in an ongoing countdown to the 2026 World Cup, that nobody can take places in his plans for granted. That includes ‘Galactico’ Bellingham and Chelsea talisman Cole Palmer – another of those to miss out this time around through injury. The absence of certain individuals is giving others a chance to stake their claim for a regular role.

  Rogers was handed a starting berth against Wales at Wembley and opened his senior international goal account inside three minutes of a friendly contest that was always going to have an edge as two geographical neighbours locked horns. He also hit the crossbar in the second half before being substituted to a standing ovation.

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  Competition for places: Bellingham & Palmer missing

  Rogers told afterwards when asked where a goal for England ranks in his career: "Right at the top. It's a proud moment to do it at home too in a home nation derby. A dream come true. The quality of players we have with people here and not here, you can never be too comfortable, or else people will take your role."

  He went on to tell : "Not a bad night for sure. It's a different team but it's the same idea. It's the same mindset. It's the same thought and the same way we want to play. The players that come in, the players that don't come in, we all know what we are doing and we are feeding off each other and it's a lovely place to be. It's a lovely environment and it's very nice to play for this team."

• Tuchel impressed: Rogers takes his opportunity

  Rogers endured a tough start to the 2025-26 campaign, being jeered by his own supporters at one stage, but opened his goal contribution account when assisting Emiliano Buendia in a 3-1 victory over Fulham and has since teed up Donyell Malen for an effort against Burnley.

  He completed 19 of his 24 passes against Wales, creating two chances alongside his goal, with Tuchel – who pointed out ahead of the game that he is "building a team" and "not collecting the most talented players" – left suitably impressed. England’s German tactician said: "Morgan is what he is. He is a number 10 and he is competing for his place. He is in a good way. We are ready for any team effort. Serbia was the next example of teamwork. We created a lot of chances. We could use Harry Kane all the time, but we need to play without Harry and Jude – the guys are injured."

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  Selection headache: Nice problem for England

  Tuchel now faces a welcome selection headache, with former England defender Stephen Warnock telling of seeing the likes of Bellingham, Palmer, Reece James, Jack Grealish and Phil Foden miss out: "Tuchel has been vindicated. The players named could start a match for England, but he has got big decisions to make.

  "His job isn't to make players happy. His job is to come in and win a World Cup for England. That is the difficult job he has got to do. The difficult part is you're going to upset people. You're going to get people in the press asking about your decisions. So far, the big decisions he has made have paid off, and it is looking in really good shape for England so far."

  Warnock added: "At the moment it looks fantastic and they might be able to continue that against the best teams in the world. There will come a point when you need a Jude Bellingham, a Cole Palmer, to perhaps have an influence on the game. The great thing is, we've got the players."

  England will be back in action on Tuesday when travelling to Latvia for their latest World Cup qualifier. If results go their way, that contest could see tickets booked to next summer’s finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Ex-Manchester United midfielder Andreas Pereira has taken a swipe at his former club’s training facilities after hailing the quality of those at his new club Palmeiras. Pereira spent 11 years in Manchester, which included a whole host of time away on loan, and has now revealed Man Utd’s training base wasn’t a patch on the offering at his new club in Brazil.

Pereira takes aim at United’s facilities

Pereira has weighed in on the debate about Man Utd's training base facilities, which have recently undergone a £50 million ($67m) makeover since Pereira left. Speaking to , he said: "Compared to what's out there, it's the elite of football. Few clubs have the structure Palmeiras has. I've worked for several big clubs in Europe, and I can say that Palmeiras has the best structure I've ever worked in. Better than Manchester United when I was there."

AdvertisementGetty Images SportFrom dilapidated The Cliff to high-class Carrington

The Cliff was Man Utd's primary training ground from 1938 until 1999, located in Salford, it remains an iconic facility where club legends like George Best and Bobby Charlton trained. Though the first team moved to Carrington, The Cliff is still used by the United academy and foundation for training and rugby league side Salford train there, too. Following redevelopment of its first-team building, the Trafford Training Centre is a state-of-the-art facility designed to foster performance and wellbeing. The revamp, driven by co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, addressed previous criticisms regarding outdated infrastructure and aims to provide a world-class environment for players and staff. The enhanced facility boasts a range of amenities, including upgraded gym facilities, swimming pool, cryotherapy chambers, and a redeveloped canteen. It also features dedicated barbershop facilities, an F1 simulator, and a cinema-style analysis room. The design emphasises open workspaces and collaboration, with natural light and ventilation prioritised and a notable addition is a "flow system" that guides players through changing rooms, gym, pool, and medical zones in a sequential order. Medical facilities have also been significantly improved, now including advanced equipment like MRI and CT scanners. The Carrington complex, encompassing 108 acres, also includes numerous football pitches, an indoor pitch, and a helipad. It is considered one of Europe's most secure training facilities, featuring a high security wall and extensive surveillance. 

Pereira’s starts new chapter in Brazil

Pereira's career has seen him transition from a promising United youth prospect to a seasoned midfielder with experience in multiple top European leagues and in Brazil. Born in Belgium, Pereira joined Man Utd in 2011 at the age of 15, progressing through their academy and making his first-team debut in 2014. While at Old Trafford, he struggled to secure a regular starting spot, leading to several loan spells. These included stints at Granada and Valencia in La Liga, Lazio in Italy's Serie A, and Flamengo in Brazil's Serie A. During his time at Flamengo, he scored seven goals in 39 appearances. In July 2022, Pereira made a permanent move to Fulham for a fee reportedly around £10m ($13.4m). In west London, he became an important player, making 119 appearances across three seasons and scoring 10 goals. His consistent performances led to a call-up to the Brazil national team, making him the first Fulham player to achieve this. In August, Pereira returned to Brazil, joining Palmeiras.

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Getty Images SportWorld Cup glory in Pereira’s sights

Pereira's is a regular for his country, who have already qualified for the 2026 World Cup. And his recent return to Brazil will certainly boost his chances of becoming one of the first names on Carlo Ancelotti’s squad list for next year’s tournament.

Ryan Longman failed to convert an easy chance as Wrexham suffered yet another Championship defeat at the hands of high-flying Stoke City. The loss comes as yet another setback for Ryan Reyndols and Rob Mac's side, who continue to remain in the bottom half of the league table. Sorba Thomas scored a stunning goal for the hosts in the 36th minute to seal a key win for his side.

Stoke too strong for Wrexham

Stoke City dominated possession in the first half-hour of the game, though it was Wrexham who looked more positive with their moves in quick counter-attacks. The Red Dragons had a golden opportunity to go one up in the game in the 24th minute when Ryan Longman found himself in front of goal but the Wrexham star somehow contrived to miss from close range. Issa Kabore entered the box from the right side and attempted a shot on goal, which was parried away by Viktor Johansson but the ball fell to Longman's feet. The winger had an empty net in front of him but could only find the side-netting with a lacklustre shot.

The miss proved costly for Wrexham as the hosts shortly broke the deadlock through Sorba Thomas' brilliant strike in the 36th minute. Stoke won their first corner of the match, which was taken by Lewis Baker, whose delivery lacked sting but it somehow went to Thomas on the left side. The Stoke winger quickly switched the ball to his right foot and took a shot which flew into the top right corner.

The home side could have doubled their minutes after the hour mark as Million Manhoef rattled the crossbar with a powerful shot. Baker initiated the move and found Manhoef, who cut into the penalty box on his left before unleashing a shot. Unfortunately for him, the ball came off the crossbar, saving Wrexham from more embarrassment. 

Phil Parkinson's side had an opportunity to restore parity towards the end of the game when Aaron Cresswell almost sliced the ball into his own net, while trying to clear Liberato Cacace's cross but it went over the crossbar. 

Wrexham's misery continued as they remained in 18th position after Saturday's result. They have managed to register just two wins out of their first 10 matches and have now lost four times. 

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Thomas stole the limelight in a match where both teams lacked sting in attack and remained toothless throughout the 90 minutes. The Welsh winger stepped up when his team needed him and scored the winner with a stunning effort in the first half to seal a crucial three points. 

The big loser

Longman turned out to be the villain for Wrexham as he embarrassingly missed a sitter by being unable to find the back of the net in the 24th minute despite having an empty net in front of him. The miss cost the Red Dragons dearly as their six-game unbeaten run across all competitions came to an end. It's also the first time this season they've failed to find the back of the net in a Championship game.

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