WEDNESDAY’S BIG STORIES
Mardy Sharp
As a popular Sheffield turn of phrase, it feels therefore appropriate to say Billy Sharp was a tad mardy last night.
Transfers
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“I’ve got a smile on my face because we’ve got through to the next round of the cup and the boys deserved it,” said Sharp, with anything but a smile on his face, and that was merely the end of a very-much-to-the-point interview in which last night’s match-winner appeared anything but happy with Wrexham’s players before and during the FA Cup replay, which Sheffield United won 3-1 after two late goals.
“It was a great cup tie over two games. They played excellent. I think they’ve been disrespectful, though – a few things before the game, thinking they were already through. I’m glad we’ve beaten them,” Sharp started.
“They’re doing well in their league, we’re doing well in ours. I wasn’t happy with a few of their players tonight, but that’s it now – we’ve got one over on them tonight. Good luck to them for promotion, and hopefully we’ve put that one to bed now.
“A few of their players, I wasn’t happy with. Little bit frustrated at the end there – I probably should have put the game to bed before I did. It’s one of those things. I want to win and I want to get through to the next round.”
Asked to elaborate, Sharp added criticism of referee Leigh Doughty to his unhappy list: “I wasn’t happy with the way they’ve been as a club, like before the game, eyeing up Spurs when they’ve not even beaten us.
“We’re an honest set of lads and we want to go as far as we can in this competition. If we get beaten in the next round, so be it, we’ll give it a right go. But I think they thought we were just going to roll over when they got back in it.
“I think the referee was helping them all night as well. I don’t think he gave me one foul all night tonight. But, yeah, it’s one of those things. I’ve probably lost my head a little bit, but I’ve got a smile on my face…” And you know the rest.
What, though, had piqued Sharp’s anger? Was it the in-game antics and theatrics of Paul Mullin? Or a pre-match tweet from the Wrexham account? Or something else?
Before the match, Wrexham had tweeted about the prospect of facing Spurs in the next round – see below – a mightily exciting prospect for this non-league side.
Here is an explanation of said photo:
Anyway, Sheffield United will be facing Tottenham in the next round.
Baggies play a blinder
There are hands-off warnings, and then there is West Brom’s approach, beautifully aided by one of the most spot-on pop culture references that even Burnley’s social media team will applaud.
“Why is everyone pretending you’re going to Leeds when you’re not?” went the quote from Happy Valley, with West Brom all too happy to shut down the Leeds rumours and announce Carlos Corberan’s new contract with reference to the popular BBC series.
It was a swift and emphatic response from the promotion-chasing Baggies, and seemingly sends Leeds back to the drawing board in their search for a new manager.
Corberan himself said: “I believe that success can only be achieved when everyone works together, and the way I have been made to feel welcome at this great club has made me confident that this is the right place for me.
“It is important to me that we do not let this moment distract us from our target, which is to ensure we improve every day, making the team more and more competitive for the challenges ahead. My focus is always on earning a positive result in our next game and we are working hard to achieve that at Birmingham City on Friday night.”
Hope for Mead?
So you’re telling us there’s a chance…
Beth Mead’s World Cup hopes are hanging in the balance given the ACL injury she suffered in November, but Lionesses boss Sarina Wiegman is going to give the Arsenal forward and hero of Euro 2022 every chance.
“I don’t want to push it,” Wiegman said. “She’s had so many things going on in her life. We’ll see how her rehab goes, then we’ll look at the future.”
Wiegman was naming her squad for the upcoming Arnold Cup, a chance for the Lionesses to gel before the tournament Down Under in the summer.
IN THE CHANNELS
Scenes.
COMING UP
Cupset alert in the FA Cup as Sunderland play their much-deserved replay against Fulham tonight.
Then you have Manchester United against Leeds. The first of a double-header between the two fierce rivals this week.
Transfers
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Premier League
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