birminghammail--2020-03-08--Fingertip searches in Staple Lodge Road, Northfield, after gunfire and BMW stabbing

Police carried out extensive fingertip searches as they continued to hunt for attackers who stabbed a man repeatedly in a BMW in a city street .
Officers were out in force searching bushes and looking under vehicles after a 41-year-old was knifed in a parked car on Kinlet Avenue , Northfield , on Saturday night , March 7 .
Soon after the 6.15pm attack , which saw the man stabbed in his arm , chest and legs , a gun was fired into the residential road .
As the victim remained in a serious but stable condition in hospital in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police were in the area close to West Heath Park conducting detailed searches .
On Sunday , Staple Lodge Road remained sealed off between Monkswood Avenue and Kinlet Avenue with blue and white police tape and there were six police vans in the area blocking the roads and keeping watch .
Half-a-dozen officers with long sticks and blue gloves walked up to Kinlet Avenue for a fingertip search which took more than half an hour .
They were seen prodding bushes , searching gardens and looking under vehicles on adjoining Staple Lodge Road @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police believe may have fled in a silver car , were being hunted by West Midlands Police amid an urgent witness appeal .
Police at the scene did not want to discuss the situation with BirminghamLive .
All was calm in the area with few people walking around the morning after the major incident .
One resident called Laura ( shown speaking in the video above ) said she had lived nearby for eight years and had thought it was 'getting better ' .
Three years ago , in December 2017 , an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ condition after a stabbing on Staple Lodge Road .
But she said the area had been quiet , until last night .
`` It 's a nice area , '' she said .
`` I saw all the police here at about 6pm last night because I could see reflections of flashing lights and wondered what was happening up the road .
`` ( Something like this ) is scary and a bit worrying , but I do n't know anything about it ( what happened ) .
`` Everyone is normally quite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the last few years .
There is nothing normally like this.. '' Commenting to a local Facebook group , one resident added : `` I was walking my dogs , just up from where this happened , I got told by some paramedics that were in a doorway , unable to leave the building as the police told them there was a man running around with a gun .
`` They told me to get home , I was terrified , was the quickest walk my dogs have had . ''
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the crime scene has relatively modern , medium-sized detached houses with Spanish-style tiled roofs .
The area of interest is a mixture of houses-cum-three-storey modern apartments , part red brick , part rendered .
There are no shops nearby .
Sgt Richard Forrester , from the Force CID team , said : “ I would ask anyone who saw or heard anything suspicious in the area last night , to speak to us as soon as possible .
“ I would also be keen to hear from anyone who has any dash cam @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before or after the stabbing .
“ CCTV and house-to-house enquiries continue today and we will be doing all we can to find those involved.
” Anyone with information is urged to contact us via Live Chat at west-midlands.police.uk between 8am and midnight , or call 101 anytime .
Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111 .
Please quote crime reference 20BW /61719D/20 or 20BW/61726Y/20 .

newsdesk@birminghamlive.co.uk (Graham Young, Stephanie Balloo)

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Police carried out extensive fingertip searches as they continued to hunt for attackers who stabbed a man repeatedly in a BMW in a city street.
Officers were out in force searching bushes and looking under vehicles after a 41-year-old was knifed in a parked car on Kinlet Avenue, Northfield, on Saturday night, March 7.
Soon after the 6.15pm attack, which saw the man stabbed in his arm, chest and legs, a gun was fired into the residential road.
As the victim remained in a serious but stable condition in hospital in the wake of the terrifying incident, police were in the area close to West Heath Park conducting detailed searches.
On Sunday, Staple Lodge Road remained sealed off between Monkswood Avenue and Kinlet Avenue with blue and white police tape and there were six police vans in the area blocking the roads and keeping watch.
Half-a-dozen officers with long sticks and blue gloves walked up to Kinlet Avenue for a fingertip search which took more than half an hour.
They were seen prodding bushes, searching gardens and looking under vehicles on adjoining Staple Lodge Road.
Three offenders, two of whom police believe may have fled in a silver car, were being hunted by West Midlands Police amid an urgent witness appeal.
Police at the scene did not want to discuss the situation with BirminghamLive. All was calm in the area with few people walking around the morning after the major incident.
One resident called Laura (shown speaking in the video above) said she had lived nearby for eight years and had thought it was 'getting better'.
Three years ago, in December 2017, an 18-year-old man was left in a critical condition after a stabbing on Staple Lodge Road. But she said the area had been quiet, until last night.
"It's a nice area," she said.
"I saw all the police here at about 6pm last night because I could see reflections of flashing lights and wondered what was happening up the road.
"(Something like this) is scary and a bit worrying, but I don't know anything about it (what happened).
"Everyone is normally quite friendly and it's been quite quiet for the last few years. There is nothing normally like this.."
Commenting to a local Facebook group, one resident added: "I was walking my dogs, just up from where this happened, I got told by some paramedics that were in a doorway, unable to leave the building as the police told them there was a man running around with a gun.
"They told me to get home, I was terrified, was the quickest walk my dogs have had."
The side of Staple Lodge Road opposite to the crime scene has relatively modern, medium-sized detached houses with Spanish-style tiled roofs.
The area of interest is a mixture of houses-cum-three-storey modern apartments, part red brick, part rendered. There are no shops nearby.
Sgt Richard Forrester, from the Force CID team, said: “I would ask anyone who saw or heard anything suspicious in the area last night, to speak to us as soon as possible.
“I would also be keen to hear from anyone who has any dash cam footage which could have captured events either before or after the stabbing.
“CCTV and house-to-house enquiries continue today and we will be doing all we can to find those involved.”
Anyone with information is urged to contact us via Live Chat at west-midlands.police.uk between 8am and midnight, or call 101 anytime.
Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111. Please quote crime reference 20BW /61719D/20 or 20BW/61726Y/20 .


birminghammail--2020-03-08--Tesco has now started rationing goods to stop coronavirus panic buying

Tesco has started rationing products to control stockpiling amid the coronavirus outbreak .
The supermarket giant announced it would limit numbers of products in a bid to stop panic buying .
Shoppers have been stripping shelves of products such as hand sanitiser , toilet roll and baked beans amid COVID-19 hysteria .
Now bosses at the UK 's biggest supermarket have decided to limit customers to five items each of UHT milk , pasta and baked beans , both online and in store , the Mirror reported On the Tesco website , shoppers trying to order the products are told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Videos posted online have showed people piling trolleys high with toilet roll and other gooods .
At Costco in Chingford , London , shoppers were limited to one case of water each , due to reported shortages .
The man who filmed the panicked scenes said it was `` very over the top '' and people were `` fighting and pushing in front of each other . ''
Tesco is also limiting purchases of children 's cough medicine , Calpol , wipes and sprays .
Prices of hand gel have soared with some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cent higher than normal - despite the fact medical experts say washing your hands with soap and water is more effective .
Masks , gloves and other protective products were also being snapped up .
Top microbiologist Dr Peter Piot , who was one of the scientists at the forefront of the battle against Aids and helped discover Ebola , has warned the outbreak could last for six months and peak at Easter .
He says coronavirus could resurface next winter , meaning the quest for a vaccine , which is currently expected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ great significance .
The Government 's worst case scenario would see 80 per cent of the population infected , with a mortality rate of around 1 per cent , but Dr Piot did n't think it would be that bad .
The mortality rate given by the World Health Organisation earlier this month was 3.4 per cent but does n't account for the anticipated large number of unconfirmed cases of people with the virus .
So far more than 100,000 have contracted COVID-19 globally and 3,600 have died , mainly in China where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ December .

newsdesk@birminghamlive.co.uk (Ed McConnell, David Bentley)

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Tesco has started rationing products to control stockpiling amid the coronavirus outbreak.
The supermarket giant announced it would limit numbers of products in a bid to stop panic buying.
Shoppers have been stripping shelves of products such as hand sanitiser, toilet roll and baked beans amid COVID-19 hysteria.
(Image: Shazia Awan-Scully)
Now bosses at the UK's biggest supermarket have decided to limit customers to five items each of UHT milk, pasta and baked beans, both online and in store, the Mirror reported
On the Tesco website , shoppers trying to order the products are told they have reached a five-item limit.
Videos posted online have showed people piling trolleys high with toilet roll and other goods.
At Costco in Chingford, London, shoppers were limited to one case of water each, due to reported shortages.
The man who filmed the panicked scenes said it was "very over the top" and people were "fighting and pushing in front of each other."
Tesco is also limiting purchases of children's cough medicine, Calpol, wipes and sprays.
Prices of hand gel have soared with some online retailers stocking it at 5,000 per cent higher than normal - despite the fact medical experts say washing your hands with soap and water is more effective.
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Masks, gloves and other protective products were also being snapped up.
Top microbiologist Dr Peter Piot, who was one of the scientists at the forefront of the battle against Aids and helped discover Ebola, has warned the outbreak could last for six months and peak at Easter.
He says coronavirus could resurface next winter, meaning the quest for a vaccine, which is currently expected to take 18 months, is of great significance.
The Government's worst case scenario would see 80 per cent of the population infected, with a mortality rate of around 1 per cent, but Dr Piot didn't think it would be that bad.
The mortality rate given by the World Health Organisation earlier this month was 3.4 per cent but doesn't account for the anticipated large number of unconfirmed cases of people with the virus.
So far more than 100,000 have contracted COVID-19 globally and 3,600 have died, mainly in China where the outbreak started at the end of December.


birminghammail--2020-03-08--Aston Villa favourite makes a confession and Wolves fans will love it

Lee Hendrie and his family notched a score up in the 'support your local team ' ranks , but not in the way that Aston Villa fans may have preferred .
Former Villa star Hendrie took his eight-year-old son to a football match yesterday , but one taking a fair distance away from his old Villa Park stomping grounds .
The pair headed to Molinuex , the team of choice for Hendrie Junior .
The local mission turned out well for Hendrie and son , as he added .
'Had a great day today .
Took my lad on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years old , who supported the Wolves out of his own choice and I love that , ' Hendrie wrote on his Twitter feed .
'Wanted to him to no what it feels like walk-in into a ground soaking up the game day feeling .
'He loved it dressed in his full kit proud . '
Hendrie made over 250 appearances in his claret and blue Villa shirt before enjoying a rather nomadic end to his playing days - appearing for Bradford City , Brighton , Bandung and Tamworth .
Now , his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wolves top - albeit , not yet professionally , but in a choice made personally , and not one forced by family ties .
Robert : He supports a LOCAL club fair play when I was his age the lads I knew missed out on matchday atmosphere cause they all supported United/Arsenal .
Nathan : Saw that Lee Hendrie was at the game , his son is a Wolves fan ( do n't know how ) but that 's respect taking him down the glorious palace for a Villan .
Top chap , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ care if I turned around & said I was Villa/Alb**n as a bab .
Conor : The way Wolves are playing at the moment is very attractive and full honours to them .
One thing any young person should learn and respect is as good as times are at a football club , there will always be hard times aswell .
Stu : Respect Lee , nice to see you have n't tried to stop him becoming a wolf cub .
When it 's in your blood it 's in your blood .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ see you down Molineux more often .
Simon : Fair play not pushing him into your team , that 's great too hear .
@ Pedalsingh : Great stuff .
Saw you both walking past the Samosa Saturday Stall .
Nothing like a father and child moment at the football .
Keith : I ’ m a Bluenose but love this tweet fair play to you , enjoy the good times .
Richard : Glad you & your son had a great day out .
Villa fan but love football and watching Wolves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ treat .
You 're a better man than me all my kids indoctrinated in the way of the Villa since their first breath .

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Lee Hendrie and his family notched a score up in the 'support your local team' ranks, but not in the way that Aston Villa fans may have preferred.
Former Villa star Hendrie took his eight-year-old son to a football match yesterday, but one taking a fair distance away from his old Villa Park stomping grounds.
The pair headed to Molinuex, the team of choice for Hendrie Junior.
The local mission turned out well for Hendrie and son, as he added.
'Had a great day today. Took my lad on the Train to the Molineux today, 8 years old, who supported the Wolves out of his own choice and I love that,' Hendrie wrote on his Twitter feed .
'Wanted to him to no what it feels like walk-in into a ground soaking up the game day feeling.
'He loved it dressed in his full kit proud.'
Hendrie made over 250 appearances in his claret and blue Villa shirt before enjoying a rather nomadic end to his playing days - appearing for Bradford City, Brighton, Bandung and Tamworth.
Now, his son has made his first in a Wolves top - albeit, not yet professionally, but in a choice made personally, and not one forced by family ties.
Fan Reaction
Robert: He supports a LOCAL club fair play when I was his age the lads I knew missed out on matchday atmosphere cause they all supported United/Arsenal.
Nathan: Saw that Lee Hendrie was at the game, his son is a Wolves fan (don't know how) but that's respect taking him down the glorious palace for a Villan. Top chap, my Dad would have put me in care if I turned around & said I was Villa/Alb**n as a bab.
Conor: The way Wolves are playing at the moment is very attractive and full honours to them. One thing any young person should learn and respect is as good as times are at a football club, there will always be hard times aswell.
Stu: Respect Lee, nice to see you haven't tried to stop him becoming a wolf cub. When it's in your blood it's in your blood. Once again respect mate. Hope we see you down Molineux more often.
Simon: Fair play not pushing him into your team, that's great too hear.
@Pedalsingh: Great stuff. Saw you both walking past the Samosa Saturday Stall. Nothing like a father and child moment at the football.
Keith: I’m a Bluenose but love this tweet fair play to you, enjoy the good times.
Richard: Glad you & your son had a great day out. Villa fan but love football and watching Wolves at the moment must be a real treat. You're a better man than me all my kids indoctrinated in the way of the Villa since their first breath.


birminghammail--2020-03-08--Train chaos from Birmingham to London Euston - with Monday services disrupted

Commuters heading into London Euston have been warned of severe disruption set to last until Monday .
Rail users starting their week with a train journey to the station were urged to check before they travelled after weekend rail chaos .
Trains to and from Euston were severely disrupted , with cancellations and delays all day on Sunday , March 8 .
The disruption was caused as Network Rail engineers fixed hundreds of metres of overhead power lines in the South Kenston area north of London .
All train services from Euston to the West Midlands and the North West @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
There were no services leaving Euston after 9pm on Sunday as Network Rail needed access to the track to make further , overnight repairs .
Ad the overnight closure was set to impact on Monday morning services .
Passengers were advised to check for the latest information at www.nationalrail.co.uk .
A spokesman for LondonNorthwesternRailway said : `` There is significant damage to overhead electric wires .
`` This severely limits the train services we can run today and this will affect Monday morning commuters too .
`` We have arranged ticket acceptance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doing all we can to keep people moving but we have limited capacity and there will be disruption .
`` We encourage anyone delayed by 15 minutes or more to claim compensation . ''

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Commuters heading into London Euston have been warned of severe disruption set to last until Monday.
Rail users starting their week with a train journey to the station were urged to check before they travelled after weekend rail chaos.
Trains to and from Euston were severely disrupted, with cancellations and delays all day on Sunday, March 8.
The disruption was caused as Network Rail engineers fixed hundreds of metres of overhead power lines in the South Kenston area north of London.
All train services from Euston to the West Midlands and the North West of England were affected by the disruption.
There were no services leaving Euston after 9pm on Sunday as Network Rail needed access to the track to make further, overnight repairs.
Ad the overnight closure was set to impact on Monday morning services. Passengers were advised to check for the latest information at www.nationalrail.co.uk.
A spokesman for LondonNorthwesternRailway said: "There is significant damage to overhead electric wires.
"This severely limits the train services we can run today and this will affect Monday morning commuters too.
"We have arranged ticket acceptance with other train operators and we are doing all we can to keep people moving but we have limited capacity and there will be disruption.
"We encourage anyone delayed by 15 minutes or more to claim compensation."


birminghammail--2020-03-08--"Ours to lose" - Romaine Sawyers sends message of defiance as Leeds United go top

Romaine Sawyers believes that the Championship top-spot is West Bromwich Albion 's to lose after a 0-0 draw with Swansea City stunted the side .
Title rivals Leeds United jumped ahead of West Brom with a victory over Huddersfiled .
It could 've been all different though - Sawyers ' return to the Albion line-up may have heralded victory , if only Jake Livermore 's shot had crept under the cross bar .
This is your round up of all things West Brom ; the one-stop shop that will keep you updated on the latest goings on at the club @ @ @ @ @ @ @ match-days and managers , we ’ ve got you covered .
We ’ ll be bringing the very latest on the Baggies throughout the week and around the clock .
Make sure you keep yourself updated with our handy daily catch up ... • Chris Brunt speaks on his future after FA Cup exit - READ For all your latest WBA news , opinion , analysis and transfer gossip , click here You can follow our West Brom reporter Joseph Chapman on Twitter , and his email address is Joseph.Chapman @ reachplc.com The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blaze it over in the dying minutes of the game .
The draw against the Swans was West Brom 's 70th point of the season , and the side now sit in second place , a single point behind Leeds United , having lost their place at the top in the last round of fixtures .
Despite the change in table position , Sawyers knows that the season is far from over .
`` People are looking at everybody around us but we just have to focus on ourselves .
`` It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
There is a gap there that we have created through our standards .
`` If we do our job it is irrelevant what anybody else does .
We have got to keep focused on us and us only . ''
West Brom would 've taken victory late on , if Livermore had n't fired his chance over .
It is too often that footballers are condemned for one moment in time .
A miss can define a career , as can a flaring of tempers .
Agonising misses are part-and-parcel of football @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and believes that his side will back Livermore after his gutting Swansea miss - without a shadow of doubt .
After all , it 's what the Baggies captain would do if it the boot was on the other foot .
`` Him missing that chance , we aren ’ t going to rip his head off , you have to put your arm around him just like Jake would do if it was someone else , '' added Sawyers .
`` He is the most honest player you will ever play against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of those things where you take on the chin .
`` We need him , he is our captain and he has been excellent all season .
`` He really does set the standards for us . ''
Livermore 's standards will have to be held high for the rest of the season .
Promotion is n't a guarantee for the Baggies , not just yet .
The ex-Brentford midfielder is n't taking his position in the team for granted , after missing out a number of games , and believes that competition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is motivated for the run-in .
`` Yeah it was good , I loved it .
It ’ s what I do , it 's my job .
`` It ’ s been very hard watching the three games .
`` In training the boys are pushing each other , we have got nine finals now and we have to continue to push each other to make sure we get over the line . ''

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Romaine Sawyers believes that the Championship top-spot is West Bromwich Albion's to lose after a 0-0 draw with Swansea City stunted the side.
Title rivals Leeds United jumped ahead of West Brom with a victory over Huddersfiled.
It could've been all different though - Sawyers' return to the Albion line-up may have heralded victory, if only Jake Livermore's shot had crept under the cross bar.
The midfielder controlled the ball, only to blaze it over in the dying minutes of the game.
The draw against the Swans was West Brom's 70th point of the season, and the side now sit in second place, a single point behind Leeds United, having lost their place at the top in the last round of fixtures.
Despite the change in table position, Sawyers knows that the season is far from over.
"People are looking at everybody around us but we just have to focus on ourselves.
"It’s ours to lose shall we say. There is a gap there that we have created through our standards.
"If we do our job it is irrelevant what anybody else does. We have got to keep focused on us and us only."
West Brom would've taken victory late on, if Livermore hadn't fired his chance over.
It is too often that footballers are condemned for one moment in time. A miss can define a career, as can a flaring of tempers. Agonising misses are part-and-parcel of football, though. Sawyers knows that, and believes that his side will back Livermore after his gutting Swansea miss - without a shadow of doubt.
After all, it's what the Baggies captain would do if it the boot was on the other foot.
"Him missing that chance, we aren’t going to rip his head off, you have to put your arm around him just like Jake would do if it was someone else," added Sawyers.
"He is the most honest player you will ever play against or with so it’s one of those things where you take on the chin.
"We need him, he is our captain and he has been excellent all season.
"He really does set the standards for us."
Livermore's standards will have to be held high for the rest of the season. Promotion isn't a guarantee for the Baggies, not just yet.
The ex-Brentford midfielder isn't taking his position in the team for granted, after missing out a number of games, and believes that competition for places will ensure that the squad is motivated for the run-in.
"Yeah it was good, I loved it. It’s what I do, it's my job.
"It’s been very hard watching the three games.
"In training the boys are pushing each other, we have got nine finals now and we have to continue to push each other to make sure we get over the line."


birminghammail--2020-03-08--'Didn't stop singing' - Reading fans jubilant after Birmingham City win

Despite an early opener from the prolific Scott Hogan , Birmingham City could n't handle a 1-2-3 second-half knockout combination from Reading that ended Pep Clotet 's ten-game unbeaten run in the league .
The Blues took a lead into half-time , but Matt Miazga 's volley equalised shortly after the break .
Yakou Meite followed up shortly after , while Pele swept home to seal victory for the visiting Royals .
Reading were able to leapfrog Blues with yesterday 's win , and their away following are tremendously happy with the events that unfolded during the second-half at St @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the reaction from Reading fans after yesterday 's Blues loss .
Matt : Have to say , our support home and away , people may still knock it but it is getting so much better !
Did n't stop singing even at 1-0 down STILL barely heard the Blues fans , even at 1-0 up they were very quiet .
What a noise all second half !
`` WE 'VE GOT SUPER MARKY BOWEN '' @ TheTilehurstEnd : Reading were n't at their best , but showed so much character to brush @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Saw the result out well , great to get the third goal and could well have had a fourth .
Tom : Well done Bowen , great manager and total respect .
Simon : Ascending to mid-table obscurity .
Seriously I ’ m happy with that .
Marc : A very nice comeback win for Reading makes today a favourable one to drag out the Championship table since Mark Bowen took over .
Peter : What a fantastic second half , just wish we could avoid performances like the first half .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 13th , 9 from relegation .
Great Saturday afternoon !
Might have a beer or 3 to celebrate

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Despite an early opener from the prolific Scott Hogan, Birmingham City couldn't handle a 1-2-3 second-half knockout combination from Reading that ended Pep Clotet's ten-game unbeaten run in the league.
The Blues took a lead into half-time, but Matt Miazga's volley equalised shortly after the break.
Yakou Meite followed up shortly after, while Pele swept home to seal victory for the visiting Royals.
Reading were able to leapfrog Blues with yesterday's win, and their away following are tremendously happy with the events that unfolded during the second-half at St Andrew's.
Here's just some of the reaction from Reading fans after yesterday's Blues loss.
Matt: Have to say, our support home and away, people may still knock it but it is getting so much better! Didn't stop singing even at 1-0 down STILL barely heard the Blues fans, even at 1-0 up they were very quiet. What a noise all second half! "WE'VE GOT SUPER MARKY BOWEN"
Royal: A game of two halves!
@TheTilehurstEnd: Reading weren't at their best, but showed so much character to brush off the first half and immediately respond. Saw the result out well, great to get the third goal and could well have had a fourth.
Tom: Well done Bowen, great manager and total respect.
Simon: Ascending to mid-table obscurity. Seriously I’m happy with that.
Marc : A very nice comeback win for Reading makes today a favourable one to drag out the Championship table since Mark Bowen took over.
Peter: What a fantastic second half , just wish we could avoid performances like the first half. Away win, three points, up to 13th, 9 from relegation. Great Saturday afternoon! Might have a beer or 3 to celebrate


birminghammail--2020-03-08--'Everyone's forgotten' - Leicester City star makes Aston Villa claim

Aston Villa and Leicester have faced each other three times this season - playing out an equal set of results across Premier League and Carabao Cup action .
The two teams dueled most recently in January - with Villa coming out on top after a draw and eventual victory in the two-legged cup semi-final .
The Foxes ' Ben Chillwell , however , is dwelling on the most historical of this season 's Villa v Leicester fixtures - the 4-1 win in December at Villa Park - appearing to bemoan the fact that recent fixtures have become much more publicised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Obviously , everyone ’ s forgotten about the league , when we played against them , and we won 4-1 earlier on in the season , '' said Chillwell to Leicester 's club website .
`` We played brilliantly that day , so we ’ ve just got to focus on that .
The League Cup is obviously massively disappointing .
It would ’ ve been great to reach a cup final . ''
That 4-1 victory is still very much in the mind of the Leicester team , who will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ benchmark heading into tomorrow 's clash at the King Power stadium .
`` But we ’ ve just got to concentrate on the game coming up on Monday .
We 'll look at the league game when we played them a few months ago and try and replicate that .
It ’ s a young group of lads and maybe we weren ’ t quite clinical enough . ''
However , the left-back could n't mention Leicester v Villa without touching on the most recent set of results - a 180 minute clash @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last-gasp goal that threatened to burst Villa Park with both sound and energy .
Chillwell believes that his side , despite the result , were the better side in terms of 'football . '
`` Over 180 minutes , we definitely probably played the better football , but that doesn ’ t mean anything .
They were more clinical and probably deserved to go through in the end because they showed that clinical edge that we didn ’ t show . ''
The fixture will be refreshed anew tomorrow night at 8pm , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the final whistle .

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Aston Villa and Leicester return, once more, to a familiar fixture.
They have faced each other three times this season - playing out an equal set of results across Premier League and Carabao Cup action.
The two teams dueled most recently in January - with Villa coming out on top after a draw and eventual victory in the two-legged cup semi-final, and will go head-to-head once more tonight.
The Foxes' Ben Chillwell, however, is dwelling on the most historical of this season's Villa v Leicester fixtures - the 4-1 win in December at Villa Park - appearing to bemoan the fact that recent fixtures have become much more publicised than their own victory in the match-up.
"Obviously, everyone’s forgotten about the league, when we played against them, and we won 4-1 earlier on in the season," said Chillwell to Leicester's club website.
"We played brilliantly that day, so we’ve just got to focus on that. The League Cup is obviously massively disappointing. It would’ve been great to reach a cup final."
That 4-1 victory is still very much in the mind of the Leicester team, who will be looking at that stellar performance as a benchmark heading into tomorrow's clash at the King Power stadium.
"But we’ve just got to concentrate on the game. We'll look at the league game when we played them a few months ago and try and replicate that. It’s a young group of lads and maybe we weren’t quite clinical enough."
However, the left-back couldn't mention Leicester v Villa without touching on the most recent set of results - a 180 minute clash won by Villans winger Trezeguet with a last-gasp goal that threatened to burst Villa Park with both sound and energy.
Chillwell believes that his side, despite the result, were the better side in terms of 'football.'
"Over 180 minutes, we definitely probably played the better football, but that doesn’t mean anything. They were more clinical and probably deserved to go through in the end because they showed that clinical edge that we didn’t show."
The fixture will be refreshed anew tomorrow night at 8pm, and prior encounters will hardly matter after the final whistle.


birminghammail--2020-03-08--Forget the play-offs as Blues miss Jeremie Bela - Birmingham City talking points

Birmingham City were handed a lesson in finishing in their 3-1 home defeat to Reading .
Pep Clotet ’ s side actually went 1-0 ahead , through Scott Hogan ’ s seventh goal in eight league games .
But a failure to put the Royals away came back to haunt Blues as Matt Miazga , Yakou Meite and Pele saw the Royals leave with all three points .
Here ’ s what stood out on a frustrating day at St Andrew ’ s .
Blues miss Jeremie Bela mightily .
The 26-year-old has been superb since signing as a free @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and seven assists in his half season at the club .
He ’ s a threat from dead ball situations , can deliver from either foot , on either wing and is good for a goal wherever he plays .
We ’ ve seen Kerim Mrabti , Dan Crowley and Jude Bellingham play wide since the former Albacete man strained his hamstring - and broadly speaking yet to provide the same kind of dangerous delivery that brings Lukas Jutkiewicz into the game .
To be fair to Bellingham , he wasn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first half here he was the one Blues player who looked most likely to create a second goal .
He had a shot saved from an acute angle at the end of the first half and found Jutkiewicz with a superb free kick at the start of the second .
But when Blues needed a goal after Meite ’ s header the supply from wide positions just wasn ’ t there Ivan Sunjic , Maxime Colin and Kristian Pedersen also had good crossing opportunities .
This was a huge missed opportunity for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sweeping aside a team with little to play for , an exciting end to the season beckoned .
Three points would have been massive and a second goal would surely have secure them .
They would have taken them to 50 – and almost certain safety – and even more enticingly it would have cut the gap to the play-offs to just six .
Yes , there ’ s a logjam of imperfect candidates jostling for the sixth place – but one of them has to take it because Preston and Bristol City @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Millwall , Swansea , Cardiff , QPR and Blackburn all think they have a chance , albeit an outside one of gatecrashing the post-season .
Blues could have joined them yesterday .
That is now exceedingly unlikely to happen .
Twice this week Blues fans have shown their appreciation for a former player .
Demarai Gray was lauded at Leicester and Michael Morrison was also warmly received at St Andrew ’ s .
The 32-year-old was returning for the first time since leaving the club he had captained for most of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He walked out of the tunnel with his two children accompanying him and – when the sides changed ends before kick-off – applauded as he ran the Tilton , who reciprocated .
He then set about holding , nudging and clambering all over his pal Jutkiewicz , seemingly free from the censure of Andy Davies and his whistle .
Incredibly Morrison committed zero fouls in the game , while Davies awarded four against Jutkiewicz .
“ He is fouled every time – and he never gets a foul , ” Clotet complained afterwards @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s joy at his return : “ He has got a massive smile on his face in the dressing room.
” Speaking of Davies , the official ’ s display angered all Blues fans .
If it wasn ’ t his adjudication of the Morrison-Jutkiewicz tussle , it was the free kick count which went 14-7 against the hosts .
But most decisively it was his refusal to award Bellingham a penalty in the 71st minute .
Blues were trying to climb out of their self-dug hole – that really was a shocking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had Reading on the back foot .
Scott Hogan went down the right , reached the bye-line and crossed for Bellingham who appeared to be pulled back by Matt Miazga .
The Blues bench cleared , Bellingham raced across to the assistant tugging at his own shirt , incensed .
“ I am just done talking about , it ’ s clear , the numbers speak for themselves , ” Clotet said afterwards .
Indeed they do .
His team have been awarded just two penalties this season .
The least in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Bristol City , Hull and Barnsley .
By comparison Preston have 11 .
Last season ?
Three .
Only the Robins , Bolton and Ipswich had fewer and it seemed it needed Che Adams to be shot to win a spot-kick .
The season before ?
Only three – again only three teams had fewer .
I don ’ t buy into institutional bias or conspiracy theories – but there is a point when constant bad luck starts to feel like something more .

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Birmingham City were handed a lesson in finishing in their 3-1 home defeat to Reading.
Pep Clotet’s side actually went 1-0 ahead, through Scott Hogan’s seventh goal in eight league games.
But a failure to put the Royals away came back to haunt Blues as Matt Miazga, Yakou Meite and Pele saw the Royals leave with all three points.
Here’s what stood out on a frustrating day at St Andrew’s.
Wing clipped
Blues miss Jeremie Bela mightily. The 26-year-old has been superb since signing as a free agent in November, contributing four goals and seven assists in his half season at the club.
He’s a threat from dead ball situations, can deliver from either foot, on either wing and is good for a goal wherever he plays.
We’ve seen Kerim Mrabti, Dan Crowley and Jude Bellingham play wide since the former Albacete man strained his hamstring - and broadly speaking yet to provide the same kind of dangerous delivery that brings Lukas Jutkiewicz into the game.
To be fair to Bellingham, he wasn’t involved at QPR or Leicester and in the first half here he was the one Blues player who looked most likely to create a second goal.
He had a shot saved from an acute angle at the end of the first half and found Jutkiewicz with a superb free kick at the start of the second.
But when Blues needed a goal after Meite’s header the supply from wide positions just wasn’t there Ivan Sunjic, Maxime Colin and Kristian Pedersen also had good crossing opportunities.
Play-offs off
This was a huge missed opportunity for Blues, 1-0 up at home and sweeping aside a team with little to play for, an exciting end to the season beckoned.
Three points would have been massive and a second goal would surely have secure them.
They would have taken them to 50 – and almost certain safety – and even more enticingly it would have cut the gap to the play-offs to just six.
Yes, there’s a logjam of imperfect candidates jostling for the sixth place – but one of them has to take it because Preston and Bristol City seem just as flawed as their pursuers.
Millwall, Swansea, Cardiff, QPR and Blackburn all think they have a chance, albeit an outside one of gatecrashing the post-season. Blues could have joined them yesterday. That is now exceedingly unlikely to happen.
Morro the same
Twice this week Blues fans have shown their appreciation for a former player. Demarai Gray was lauded at Leicester and Michael Morrison was also warmly received at St Andrew’s.
The 32-year-old was returning for the first time since leaving the club he had captained for most of the previous five years in July 2019.
He walked out of the tunnel with his two children accompanying him and – when the sides changed ends before kick-off – applauded as he ran the Tilton, who reciprocated.
He then set about holding, nudging and clambering all over his pal Jutkiewicz, seemingly free from the censure of Andy Davies and his whistle.
Incredibly Morrison committed zero fouls in the game, while Davies awarded four against Jutkiewicz.
“He is fouled every time – and he never gets a foul,” Clotet complained afterwards.
Meanwhile Mark Bowen revealed Morrison’s joy at his return: “He has got a massive smile on his face in the dressing room.”
Paying the penalty
Speaking of Davies, the official’s display angered all Blues fans. If it wasn’t his adjudication of the Morrison-Jutkiewicz tussle, it was the free kick count which went 14-7 against the hosts.
But most decisively it was his refusal to award Bellingham a penalty in the 71st minute.
Blues were trying to climb out of their self-dug hole – that really was a shocking start to the second period – and had Reading on the back foot.
Scott Hogan went down the right, reached the bye-line and crossed for Bellingham who appeared to be pulled back by Matt Miazga.
The Blues bench cleared, Bellingham raced across to the assistant tugging at his own shirt, incensed.
“I am just done talking about, it’s clear, the numbers speak for themselves,” Clotet said afterwards.
Indeed they do. His team have been awarded just two penalties this season. The least in the league and they share that unwelcome statistic with Bristol City, Hull and Barnsley. By comparison Preston have 11.
Last season? Three. Only the Robins, Bolton and Ipswich had fewer and it seemed it needed Che Adams to be shot to win a spot-kick.
The season before? Only three – again only three teams had fewer.
I don’t buy into institutional bias or conspiracy theories – but there is a point when constant bad luck starts to feel like something more.


birminghammail--2020-03-08--Leeds United might be back on top - but West Brom boss Slaven Bilic is right to relax

West Brom played out their first goalless draw of the season as they dominated Swansea City without doing enough in the final third to merit all three points .
Albion passed up an excellent late chance from Jake Livermore as they relinquished their hold on top spot for at least one week , courtesy of Leeds ’ win over Huddersfield .
Callum Robinson , Hal Robson-Kanu and Darnell Furlong all tried their luck at various stages , but Sam Johnstone only had one notable save to make himself in the Baggies ’ goal .
Here are the talking points from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , was the first time a goal hadn ’ t been scored - by Albion or against them - under Bilic .
In fact , you have to go back to last year ’ s trip to Reading on Easter Monday , for the last time the Baggies both drew a blank in front of goal and kept a clean sheet at the same time .
As any wise footballing figure will tell you , though - if you can ’ t win it , you better make damn sure you don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ door .
In truth , Albion were never in trouble of allowing that to happen .
Semi Ajayi really appears to have found his best form again and snuffed out any kind of threat from the otherwise lively Rhian Brewster .
As Bilic himself described it , it was a ‘ strange ’ afternoon .
Romaine Sawyers was back in the starting XI here and , much like Matheus Pereira about a month or so ago , showed flashes of having benefitted from his spell on the sidelines .
Having missed the last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thrown straight back in and , in the first half particularly , he was excellent ; he barked out instructions , was creative with his passing and got stuck in .
“ I agree in the first half he was in many situations .
He was putting his stamp on the game ‘ this is my game , this is my territory and I am going to dictate it ’ , ” Bilic said post-match .
“ He is one of the reasons why we got into those pockets a lot of times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aggressive , we weren ’ t as fluid as we were in the first half.
” Of their last 29 league matches , Albion have not found themselves top of the league ladder following just six of them .
When you consider they were top for a single weekend last season - ‘ we are the Albion , we ’ re top of the league ’ was sung at Deepdale in September after a 3-2 win - it ’ s remarkable how prominent they ’ ve been this term in comparison .
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strong away end here ; indeed Albion had been leapfrogged by Leeds 3:03pm , after Luke Ayling ’ s goal .
Still , Bilic was super relaxed when he addressed the changing of the guard at the top of the division ; he ’ d much rather focus on the existing gap between themselves and the chasing pack , which remains the same at six points , all the while with another game shaved off the ‘ remaining games ’ tally .
Frustrations will remain with the attackers here , but it is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ improvement in Albion ’ s back-line of late .
The ease with which opponents were finding the net towards the end of January , culminating in that dreadful 2-1 defeat in Cardiff , was increasingly concerning , and Bilic admitted week after week that something needed to be done .
Something clearly has been done , too , because in the last eight matches - since their fortunes improved drastically - Albion have managed five clean sheets and that in turn has doubled their clean sheet tally for the season .
It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the upheaval that ’ s been there ; Kieran Gibbs has had injury woes , Nathan Ferguson - a mainstay in the first half of the campaign - is not in contention , Kyle Bartley ’ s form has been mixed and Bilic has had to call on Dara O ’ Shea and Conor Townsend in the full-back roles .
They ’ ve excelled , though , as has Semi Ajayi who looks back to his tremendous best .
Something worth recognising .

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West Brom played out their first goalless draw of the season as they dominated Swansea City without doing enough in the final third to merit all three points.
Albion passed up an excellent late chance from Jake Livermore as they relinquished their hold on top spot for at least one week, courtesy of Leeds’ win over Huddersfield.
Callum Robinson, Hal Robson-Kanu and Darnell Furlong all tried their luck at various stages, but Sam Johnstone only had one notable save to make himself in the Baggies’ goal.
Here are the talking points from the Liberty Stadium.
Drawing a blank
This, incredibly, was the first time a goal hadn’t been scored - by Albion or against them - under Bilic. In fact, you have to go back to last year’s trip to Reading on Easter Monday, for the last time the Baggies both drew a blank in front of goal and kept a clean sheet at the same time.
As any wise footballing figure will tell you, though - if you can’t win it, you better make damn sure you don’t let your opponents through the back door.
In truth, Albion were never in trouble of allowing that to happen. Semi Ajayi really appears to have found his best form again and snuffed out any kind of threat from the otherwise lively Rhian Brewster.
As Bilic himself described it, it was a ‘strange’ afternoon.
Romaine revels
Romaine Sawyers was back in the starting XI here and, much like Matheus Pereira about a month or so ago, showed flashes of having benefitted from his spell on the sidelines.
Having missed the last three games through suspension, Sawyers was thrown straight back in and, in the first half particularly, he was excellent; he barked out instructions, was creative with his passing and got stuck in.
“I agree in the first half he was in many situations. He was putting his stamp on the game ‘this is my game, this is my territory and I am going to dictate it’,” Bilic said post-match. “He is one of the reasons why we got into those pockets a lot of times.
“Second half they were more aggressive, we weren’t as fluid as we were in the first half.”
Changing of hands
Of their last 29 league matches, Albion have not found themselves top of the league ladder following just six of them.
When you consider they were top for a single weekend last season - ‘we are the Albion, we’re top of the league’ was sung at Deepdale in September after a 3-2 win - it’s remarkable how prominent they’ve been this term in comparison.
That famous chant was absent in the 2,000 strong away end here; indeed Albion had been leapfrogged by Leeds 3:03pm, after Luke Ayling’s goal.
Still, Bilic was super relaxed when he addressed the changing of the guard at the top of the division; he’d much rather focus on the existing gap between themselves and the chasing pack, which remains the same at six points, all the while with another game shaved off the ‘remaining games’ tally.
Stingy at the back
Frustrations will remain with the attackers here, but it is at least important to remember the significant improvement in Albion’s back-line of late.
The ease with which opponents were finding the net towards the end of January, culminating in that dreadful 2-1 defeat in Cardiff, was increasingly concerning, and Bilic admitted week after week that something needed to be done.
Something clearly has been done, too, because in the last eight matches - since their fortunes improved drastically - Albion have managed five clean sheets and that in turn has doubled their clean sheet tally for the season.
It’s quite something, when you consider the upheaval that’s been there; Kieran Gibbs has had injury woes, Nathan Ferguson - a mainstay in the first half of the campaign - is not in contention, Kyle Bartley’s form has been mixed and Bilic has had to call on Dara O’Shea and Conor Townsend in the full-back roles.
They’ve excelled, though, as has Semi Ajayi who looks back to his tremendous best. Something worth recognising.


birminghammail--2020-03-08--Man United handed top-four gift as Wolves star runs the risk of costly ban

Wolves ’ top-four aspirations were dealt a blow as they were held 0-0 by Brighton at home .
A two-goal win would have seen Nuno Espirito Santo ’ s side move into the Champions League places , but that never looked likely on a frustrating afternoon .
It ’ s now all eyes back on the Europa League as Wolves prepare for a trip to Athens next week .
Here are our findings from a disappointing afternoon at Molineux ... Nuno insisted that it wasn ’ t a case of two points dropped and that his focus remains on ‘ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , this felt like a real missed opportunity for Wolves .
The win over Spurs last Sunday pushed them front and centre in the race for Champions League football .
And although there are still nine games to go , most fans would have targeted 12 points from four games against Brighton , West Ham , Bournemouth and Aston Villa .
It piles a bit more pressure on to next week ’ s trip to east London , as well as bringing Arsenal right back into the race .
After stealing all of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it felt as if a little was handed back to Manchester United & Co. His first half swipe on Neal Maupay was thoroughly deserving of Romain Saiss ' ninth caution of the season .
It now means the Moroccan is facing a costly two-game ban at a pivotal point of the season .
Remarkably , it was Saiss ' first booking in 10 games , the longest spell of his four-year stay with the club .
His unerring ability to navigate games on a caution will now be tested in the coming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ until after the game with Villa in April .
Should he pick up another booking , it will be a bitter blow for Nuno when his defence is finally clicking , registering five clean sheets in the last seven games since Willy Boly ’ s return .
Wolves have admitted they are trying to control the lingering shoulder injury that is threatening to blunt Adama Traore ’ s blistering season .
He has suffered three dislocated shoulders in a short period of time , with some suggestions he is set for surgery in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attempted to reduce the workload on the Spaniard by starting him on the bench vs Brighton .
In his absence , Wolves switched back to the 3-5-2 formation that produced such stunning results both last term and in the recent fixture vs Espanyol .
Unfortunately , as it did against the Seagulls , that shape can negate some of Wolves ’ counter-attacking prowess .
Ruben Vinagre tried his best , but at times it looked easy for Brighton to hold Wolves at arm ’ s length .
The build-up was too slow , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jimenez and Diogo Jota , they failed to spark Wolves into attacking life .
When Traore was introduced , he created the two best chances of the afternoon , tormenting Brighton ’ s full-backs on a consistent basis .
Daniel Podence also provided a good outlet in his short cameo on the left of a front three .
It may not suit Jota , but the rest of the team , including Ruben Neves and Joao Moutinho , seem to thrive in the shape adopted in the closing stages In future weeks , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s injury , it may prove more effective for Pedro Neto or Podence to deputise for him .
How do you stop Nuno ’ s Wolves ?
Since his appointment in 2017 , it ’ s a puzzle that countless managers have tried and failed to solve .
In 113 league games , Wolves have failed to beat just three teams under the Portuguese head coach .
After failing to pick up a win vs Sunderland in the Championship promotion season , Wolves lost twice to doomed Huddersfield last season .
Now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wolves have still failed to pick up all three points .
It ’ s three draws and one defeat against the Seagulls as the curse of the bogey team rears its head again .
He may not have been able to continue his blistering goalscoring form , but there is little doubt that Diogo is back to his best .
His powerful , driving runs were one of the few avenues that panicked Graham Potter ’ s stubborn side .
A run in the second half was reminiscent of a memorable one at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in arguably his best performance for the club .
When he is on form , he is a joy to watch .
He struggled in the early months of the season and his improved performances have coincided with him lining up alongside Jimenez .
But when he is in the mood he is at the moment , you get the impression he could impact a game from centre-back .
He was extremely unfortunate to be taken off in the second half , but will fancy his chances of putting his stamp on the @ @ @ @ @ @

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Wolves’ top-four aspirations were dealt a blow as they were held 0-0 by Brighton at home.
A two-goal win would have seen Nuno Espirito Santo’s side move into the Champions League places, but that never looked likely on a frustrating afternoon.
It’s now all eyes back on the Europa League as Wolves prepare for a trip to Athens next week.
Here are our findings from a disappointing afternoon at Molineux...
A chance missed
Nuno insisted that it wasn’t a case of two points dropped and that his focus remains on ‘game by game situations’.
However, this felt like a real missed opportunity for Wolves. The win over Spurs last Sunday pushed them front and centre in the race for Champions League football. And although there are still nine games to go, most fans would have targeted 12 points from four games against Brighton, West Ham, Bournemouth and Aston Villa.
It piles a bit more pressure on to next week’s trip to east London, as well as bringing Arsenal right back into the race.
After stealing all of the momentum with the win over Tottenham, it felt as if a little was handed back to Manchester United & Co.
Traore’s importance highlighted
Wolves have admitted they are trying to control the lingering shoulder injury that is threatening to blunt Adama Traore’s blistering season.
He has suffered three dislocated shoulders in a short period of time, with some suggestions he is set for surgery in the summer.
On Saturday, Nuno attempted to reduce the workload on the Spaniard by starting him on the bench vs Brighton.
In his absence, Wolves switched back to the 3-5-2 formation that produced such stunning results both last term and in the recent fixture vs Espanyol.
Unfortunately, as it did against the Seagulls, that shape can negate some of Wolves’ counter-attacking prowess. Ruben Vinagre tried his best, but at times it looked easy for Brighton to hold Wolves at arm’s length.
The build-up was too slow, and despite the best efforts of Raul Jimenez and Diogo Jota, they failed to spark Wolves into attacking life.
When Traore was introduced, he created the two best chances of the afternoon, tormenting Brighton’s full-backs on a consistent basis. Daniel Podence also provided a good outlet in his short cameo on the left of a front three.
It may not suit Jota, but the rest of the team, including Ruben Neves and Joao Moutinho, seem to thrive in the shape adopted in the closing stages
In future weeks, should Wolves be forced to manage Traore’s injury, it may prove more effective for Pedro Neto or Podence to deputise for him.
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Nuno’s blindspot
How do you stop Nuno’s Wolves?
Since his appointment in 2017, it’s a puzzle that countless managers have tried and failed to solve.
In 113 league games, Wolves have failed to beat just three teams under the Portuguese head coach.
After failing to pick up a win vs Sunderland in the Championship promotion season, Wolves lost twice to doomed Huddersfield last season.
Now, in four fixtures against Brighton, Wolves have still failed to pick up all three points. It’s three draws and one defeat against the Seagulls as the curse of the bogey team rears its head again.
Jota’s form continues
He may not have been able to continue his blistering goalscoring form, but there is little doubt that Diogo is back to his best.
His powerful, driving runs were one of the few avenues that panicked Graham Potter’s stubborn side.
A run in the second half was reminiscent of a memorable one at Wembley last year, when he put in arguably his best performance for the club. When he is on form, he is a joy to watch.
He struggled in the early months of the season and his improved performances have coincided with him lining up alongside Jimenez.
But when he is in the mood he is at the moment, you get the impression he could impact a game from centre-back. He was extremely unfortunate to be taken off in the second half, but will fancy his chances of putting his stamp on the Europa League tie with Olympiakos.


birminghammail--2020-03-08--Woman stabbed in the neck in 3.30am burglary in Stourbridge, police confirm

Burglars stabbbed a woman in her own home in a 3.30am raid , police have confirmed .
The victim , a 50-year-old mum-of-two , was knifed in the neck as raiders ransacked her house in Murcroft Road , Stourbridge .
It was believed three men broke in through a lounge window and smashed the TV and units .
The men then demanded cash from the mum and her partner .
A 40-year-old man was also attacked during the burglary .
West Midlands Police confirmed officers were investigating the incident , which happened in the early hours of March 7 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigating after a woman was stabbed during a burglary in Stourbridge yesterday morning , Saturday , March 7 .
`` Officers were called to an address on Murcroft Road just after 3am , where a 50-year-old woman had been stabbed after a group of men broke into the house .
`` She was taken to hospital with a stab wound to her neck , though thankfully , her injury is only minor .
A 40-year-old man was also assaulted .
`` The man and woman are now being safeguarded after the group managed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of cash and deliberately damaged property in the house . ''
Enquiries continue to trace the offenders and anyone with information is urged to contact West Midlands Police via Live Chat at west-midlands.police.uk between 8am and midnight , or call 101 anytime .
Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111 .
Please quote log 460 of March 7 .

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Burglars stabbed a woman in her own home in a 3.30am raid, police have confirmed.
The victim, a 50-year-old mum-of-two, was knifed in the neck as raiders ransacked her house in Murcroft Road , Stourbridge.
It was believed three men broke in through a lounge window and smashed the TV and units.
The men then demanded cash from the mum and her partner. A 40-year-old man was also attacked during the burglary.
West Midlands Police confirmed officers were investigating the incident, which happened in the early hours of March 7.
A spokesman said: "We are investigating after a woman was stabbed during a burglary in Stourbridge yesterday morning, Saturday, March 7.
(Image: Birmingham Mail)
"Officers were called to an address on Murcroft Road just after 3am, where a 50-year-old woman had been stabbed after a group of men broke into the house.
"She was taken to hospital with a stab wound to her neck, though thankfully, her injury is only minor. A 40-year-old man was also assaulted.
"The man and woman are now being safeguarded after the group managed to make off with a small quantity of cash and deliberately damaged property in the house."
Enquiries continue to trace the offenders and anyone with information is urged to contact West Midlands Police via Live Chat at west-midlands.police.uk between 8am and midnight, or call 101 anytime.
Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111. Please quote log 460 of March 7.


birminghammail--2020-03-08--Hunt continues for knifeman who stabbed 16-year-old boy 'after he bought sweets' in Duddeston Mill R

Hunt continues for knifeman who stabbed 16-year-old boy 'after he bought sweets' in Duddeston Mill Road, Nechells

A knifeman who stabbed a teenage boy after he 'bought sweets ' at a corner shop is still on the run from police .
The victim , aged just 16 , was knifed in the neck near to the top of Duddeston Mill Road , Nechells on Friday night , March 6 .
He was said to have staggered back into Kash 's Vauxhall Food Store , where just minutes earlier he had bought sweets off the front counter .
He was given emergency first aid until paramedics arrived , witnesses reported .
The boy suffered injuries to his neck @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an ambulance on a stretcher by a passerby .
Police were carrying out CCTV trawls in the area but had yet to make any arrests in connection with the stabbing as of Sunday morning ( March 8 ) .
Enquiries are ongoing and any witnesses are urged to contact West Midlands Police .
A statement from West Midlands Police read : `` We are investigating a stabbing outside a shop on Duddeston Mill Road in Nechells , Birmingham just after 9pm last night ( Friday 6 March ) .
`` A 16-year-old boy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to hospital , though his injuries are not believed to be life-changing or life-threatening at this time .
`` CCTV enquiries continue to trace the offender .
Anyone with information is asked to contact us via Live Chat at west-midlands.police.uk between 8am and midnight , or call 101 anytime .
`` Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111 .
Please quote crime reference 20BW/60859V/20 . ''
A pool of dried blood was left outside the shop where he was said to have bought sweets moments ahead of the stabbing .
Owner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 've seen the boy in the shop before .
He 's about 5ft 7 or 8 , stocky build and Jamaican .
He looks a good kid and he seemed happy when buying the sweets .
`` Once he came back , a lady was helping to administer towels to his neck and I think we had to wait about 20 minutes for an ambulance to arrive so he lost a lot of blood .
`` I hope he will be OK .
I think the lady helped to save his life judging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ''

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A knifeman who stabbed a teenage boy after he 'bought sweets' at a corner shop is still on the run from police.
The victim, aged just 16, was knifed in the neck near to the top of Duddeston Mill Road, Nechells on Friday night, March 6.
He was said to have staggered back into Kash's Vauxhall Food Store, where just minutes earlier he had bought sweets off the front counter.
He was given emergency first aid until paramedics arrived, witnesses reported.
The boy suffered injuries to his neck and was filmed being wheeled out to an ambulance on a stretcher by a passerby.
Police were carrying out CCTV trawls in the area but had yet to make any arrests in connection with the stabbing as of Sunday morning (March 8).
Enquiries are ongoing and any witnesses are urged to contact West Midlands Police.
A statement from West Midlands Police read: "We are investigating a stabbing outside a shop on Duddeston Mill Road in Nechells, Birmingham just after 9pm last night (Friday 6 March).
"A 16-year-old boy was stabbed in the neck and taken to hospital, though his injuries are not believed to be life-changing or life-threatening at this time.
"CCTV enquiries continue to trace the offender. Anyone with information is asked to contact us via Live Chat at west-midlands.police.uk between 8am and midnight, or call 101 anytime.
"Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111. Please quote crime reference 20BW/60859V/20."
A pool of dried blood was left outside the shop where he was said to have bought sweets moments ahead of the stabbing.
Owner Kashmir Singh told BirminghamLive: "I've seen the boy in the shop before. He's about 5ft 7 or 8, stocky build and Jamaican. He looks a good kid and he seemed happy when buying the sweets.
"Once he came back, a lady was helping to administer towels to his neck and I think we had to wait about 20 minutes for an ambulance to arrive so he lost a lot of blood.
"I hope he will be OK. I think the lady helped to save his life judging by how much he was bleeding."


birminghammail--2020-03-08--Man stabbed repeatedly while sat in parked BMW as shots fired in Kinlet Avenue, Northfield

Gunshots were fired and a man was repeatedly stabbed in the back of a parked car as a weekend of sickening violence rocked the city .
The 41-year-old was sitting in the back of a BMW when he was knifed several times in Kinlet Avenue , Northfield , on Saturday night , March 7 .
He was left badly injured and remained in a serious but stable condition in hospital in the wake of the attack .
A firearm was discharged soon after the stabbing , but no-one was hurt when the shots were fired .
Armed police flooded the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adjoining Staple Lodge Road as an investigation began .
No arrests were made and officers were hunting three men , two of whom were believed to have fled in a silver car .
A statement from West Midlands Police read : `` We are investigating after a man was stabbed and shots were fired on Kinlet Avenue , Northfield last night , Saturday March 7 .
`` Officers were called to the area in Birmingham at around 6.15pm , where a 41-year-old man had been stabbed several times while sat in a black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` He was taken to hospital with several stab wounds to his arms , chest and legs and remains there today , Sunday March 8 , in a serious but stable condition .
`` Soon after the stabbing , shots were fired in the road and investigations are now under way to trace the three offenders , two of whom may have left in a silver car .
Fortunately , there were no injuries caused to anyone from the firearm being discharged .
`` A large cordon remains in place today on Kinlet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enquiries continue . ''
Anyone who has information is urged to come forward as soon as possible .
Sgt Richard Forrester , from the Force CID team , said : “ I would ask anyone who saw or heard anything suspicious in the area last night , to speak to us as soon as possible .
“ I would also be keen to hear from anyone who has any dash cam footage which could have captured events either before or after the stabbing .
“ CCTV and house-to-house enquiries continue today and we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ find those involved.
” Anyone with information is urged to contact us via Live Chat at west-midlands.police.uk between 8am and midnight , or call 101 anytime .
Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111 .
Please quote crime reference 20BW /61719D/20 or 20BW/61726Y/20 .

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Gunshots were fired and a man was repeatedly stabbed in the back of a parked car as a weekend of sickening violence rocked the city.
The 41-year-old was sitting in the back of a BMW when he was knifed several times in Kinlet Avenue, Northfield, on Saturday night, March 7.
He was left badly injured and remained in a serious but stable condition in hospital in the wake of the attack.
A firearm was discharged soon after the stabbing, but no-one was hurt when the shots were fired.
Armed police flooded the scene shortly after 6.15pm and taped off adjoining Staple Lodge Road as an investigation began.
No arrests were made and officers were hunting three men, two of whom were believed to have fled in a silver car.
A statement from West Midlands Police read: "We are investigating after a man was stabbed and shots were fired on Kinlet Avenue, Northfield last night, Saturday March 7.
"Officers were called to the area in Birmingham at around 6.15pm, where a 41-year-old man had been stabbed several times while sat in a black BMW car parked on the road.
"He was taken to hospital with several stab wounds to his arms, chest and legs and remains there today, Sunday March 8, in a serious but stable condition.
"Soon after the stabbing, shots were fired in the road and investigations are now under way to trace the three offenders, two of whom may have left in a silver car. Fortunately, there were no injuries caused to anyone from the firearm being discharged.
"A large cordon remains in place today on Kinlet Avenue and Staple Lodge Road, as enquiries continue."
Anyone who has information is urged to come forward as soon as possible.
Sgt Richard Forrester, from the Force CID team, said: “I would ask anyone who saw or heard anything suspicious in the area last night, to speak to us as soon as possible.
“I would also be keen to hear from anyone who has any dash cam footage which could have captured events either before or after the stabbing.
“CCTV and house-to-house enquiries continue today and we will be doing all we can to find those involved.”
Anyone with information is urged to contact us via Live Chat at west-midlands.police.uk between 8am and midnight, or call 101 anytime.
Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111. Please quote crime reference 20BW /61719D/20 or 20BW/61726Y/20 .


birminghammail--2020-03-08--How Aston Villa starlet Jacob Ramsey got on in his latest man of the match performance for Doncaster

Aston Villa loanee Jacob Ramsey pounced with his third goal of the season to give Doncaster Rovers a win over MK Dons .
The Villa playmaker crashed into the the box to find Jon Taylor 's cross-ball , and scored past Don 's keeper Lee Nicholls with a class first-time right-footed finish .
His goal made the difference as the only scoring effort of the match , and Ramsey polled as Doncaster 's man of the match in a post-game vote .
`` We had a chance at the end of the first-half , but coming into the second-half the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's get a bit more possession and start to take our chances ' , which we did , '' offered Ramsey .
Nobody can argue with the effect of Moore 's words either - Ramsey 's goal was a sweetly taken effort , hit first-time with venom , and the icing on the cake of another performance that has got the Doncaster boss singing his praises .
`` He [ Ramsey ] has an ability to arrive late in the box , arrive at the right time and get a really clean contact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be pleased with his development , and his afternoon 's work coming here , '' said Moore after the victory .
`` I thought with the ball he manages to manipulate it well , showing good control with his feet , and contributed to the three points with the all important goal .
The Doncaster Free Press rated Ramsey at an 8 out of 10 , and added that he was `` quiet in the first half as he had trouble getting on the ball but superb after the break .
His composure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ turn and surge forward was excellent and he took his goal brilliantly . ''
Ramsey 's third goal in seven games for Rovers puts his loan side in the outside fringe of the League One play-off picture - and as long as solid performances continue for the loan-man , as well as his side , there is a chance that they may sneak into the play-offs .
There is a five point gap to close within 12 games for that to occur , though .

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Aston Villa loanee Jacob Ramsey pounced with his third goal of the season to give Doncaster Rovers a win over MK Dons.
The Villa playmaker crashed into the the box to find Jon Taylor's cross-ball, and scored past Don's keeper Lee Nicholls with a class first-time right-footed finish.
His goal made the difference as the only scoring effort of the match, and Ramsey polled as Doncaster's man of the match in a post-game vote.
"We had a chance at the end of the first-half, but coming into the second-half the gaffer [Darren Moore] said 'Let's get a bit more possession and start to take our chances', which we did," offered Ramsey.
Nobody can argue with the effect of Moore's words either - Ramsey's goal was a sweetly taken effort, hit first-time with venom, and the icing on the cake of another performance that has got the Doncaster boss singing his praises.
"He [Ramsey] has an ability to arrive late in the box, arrive at the right time and get a really clean contact with the ball, and he should be pleased with his development, and his afternoon's work coming here," said Moore after the victory.
"I thought with the ball he manages to manipulate it well, showing good control with his feet, and contributed to the three points with the all important goal.
The Doncaster Free Press rated Ramsey at an 8 out of 10 , and added that he was "quiet in the first half as he had trouble getting on the ball but superb after the break. His composure under pressure to receive the ball, turn and surge forward was excellent and he took his goal brilliantly."
Ramsey's third goal in seven games for Rovers puts his loan side in the outside fringe of the League One play-off picture - and as long as solid performances continue for the loan-man, as well as his side, there is a chance that they may sneak into the play-offs.
There is a five point gap to close within 12 games for that to occur, though.


birminghammail--2020-03-08--Crufts 2020 LIVE results for Day 4 Terrier, Hound and Best In Show winners

Crufts has reached its fourth and final day .
Around 26,000 dogs were set to take part , including just over 3,000 from overseas .
Numbers of overseas entries were down this year because of uncertainties over the effects of Brexit on pet travel .
And it 's said that the event could be in for its lowest ever turnout amid fears over coronavirus - though the Kennel Club has introduced extra measures to control the spread of infection .
Today is the judging for the terrier and hound breeds , plus a number of other activities including agility and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ produces seven finalists to take part in Best In Show , the grand finale of the event .
The 2020 winners - to be announced later RESERVE : West Chelan Quick Look At Me ( Whippet ) , owner Mrs S Mowbray 13.50 Programme ends and Arena to be cleared Presentation of the Police Dog Team Operational and Humanitarian Action of the Year Award Stage Set for Best in Show Best in Show and Presentation These are the terrier breeds that were eligible to be exhibited at Crufts 2020 .
These are the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exhibited at Crufts 2020 .
Clare Balding returns for more coverage , live from the NEC in Birmingham , as the build-up continues to the overall winner being crowned this evening , and awarded the Keddall Memorial Trophy .
Today 's theme is My Dog Saved My Life .
Clare is expected to be joined by celebrity guests .
Today 's theme is My Dog Saved My Life .
Momentum builds as the climax of Crufts 2020 culminates with one lucky dog being crowned Best in Show .
Plus , DJ Roman Kemp @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mental health , and singer Russell Watson explains his love of dogs to Clare .

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Crufts has finished for another year - and the Best In Show for 2020 has been revealed.
Around 26,000 dogs took part in the four-day event, including just over 3,000 from overseas.
Numbers of overseas entries were down this year because of uncertainties over the effects of Brexit on pet travel.
And it's said that the event could be in for its lowest ever turnout amid fears over coronavirus - though the Kennel Club introduced extra measures to control the spread of infection.
Judging of the various groups produced seven finalists to take part in Best In Show, the grand finale of the event.
This year's Best In Show was won by a wire-haired dachshund called Silvae Trademark, known as Maisie at home.
(Image: PA)
The dog's triumph will almost certainly be remembered for one notable reason.
As owner Kim McCalmont led Maisie on a victory lap of the arena, the cute little dog stopped to poop - which had officials, commentators and spectators roaring with laughter.
Mrs McCalmont kept her composure and whipped out a plastic bag to clean up.
After her dog was chosen as winner, Mrs McCalmont told Crufts presenter Clare Balding: "It is pretty stunning, it is the sort of thing you dream of."
Clare Balding later tweeted: “I admire #Maisie so much to have been able to move well enough to win Best in Show at #Crufts with such a big load inside her little tummy. What a star!”
Here are all the winners for 2020:
WINNER OF UTILITY: Ch Minarets Best Kept Secret (Poodle Miniature), Owner: MISS M HARWOOD
RESERVE: Ch Dawin All The Buzz (Poodle Standard), Owner: MRS L CAMPBELL
THIRD: Ch Kaga No Shouji Go Sapparo Kagasou Vormond (Japanese Shiba Inu), Owner: MISS M S DUNHILL-HALL
FOURTH: Ch Chelmbull The Aviator (French Bulldog), Owner: MISS A, MR D, MR A & MRS L CUND & HARROP
Note that there was no bulldog in the Utility breeds judging because it was not put through after vets found a skin infection.
(Image: Flick.digital)
WINNER OF TOY: Ch Regina Bichon You Rock My World At Pamplona (Bichon Frise), Owner: MESSRS M & R COAD & SMITH
RESERVE: Doma Fortuna Re Del Ritmo (Havanese), Owner: MS Y & MR T DOBROCZEK & DOBROCZEK
THIRD: Aphienna A Million Dreams (Chihuahua Long Coat), Owner: MRS H MURPHY
FOURTH: Ch Florita Tueletta (Italian Greyhound), Owner: MISS H M LISTER
WINNER OF GUNDOG: Ch Gwendariff Coco Nut Cream (Irish Setter), Owner: MRS D M ARMITAGE
RESERVE: Ch Kan Trace Very Cheeky Chic (Lagotto Romagnolo), Owner: MRS S & MR A ZDUNIC-SINKOVIV & LUCIN
THIRD: Ch Galaksi Freaking Famous (Spaniel American Cocker), Owner: MR M KRISTENSEN
FOURTH: Sh Ch Ludstar Frederick Frankenstein (Gordon Setter), Owner: MRS F BOXAL
WINNER OF WORKING: Ch Phoenix Never Dies Du Monde d'Elias (Bullmastiff), Owner: S LOOSVELDT
RESERVE: Nageem Haribo At Haccasbrook ShCM ShCEx (Rottweiler), Owner: MR E C & MRS C H FRANKLIN
THIRD: Petro-Prestige Dzhiya (Tibetan Mastiff), Owner: MR A KASHIN
FOURTH: Ch Manzart Vogue JW ShCM (Dobermann), Owner: MRS A EVERLEY
(Image: Flick.digital)
WINNER OF PASTORAL: Ch Bottom Shaker The Greatest Picture (Old English Sheepdog), Owner: MR KOROKNAI
RESERVE: Ch Wyndstar Magic Marker (Australian Shepherd), Owner: MRS K, MRS D, MR J & MRS M KIRTLEY, ERDESZ, SHAW
THIRD: Ch Nikara Diamond Dancer JW (Samoyed), Owner: MRS V & MRS S A FREER & SMITH
FOURTH: Ch Frostice Makeover (Shetland Sheepdog), Owner: MRS B ANDERSSON
WINNER OF TERRIER: Indian Princess At Perrisblu (Kerry Blue Terrier), Owner: MR DAVIES
RESERVE: Ch Saredon Enigma (Lakeland Terrier), Owner: MR S BONETT
THIRD: Ch Algraf's Viktor For Anroal (Jack Russell Terrier), Owner: A ROCA ALES
FOURTH: Rocabec Riding Shotgun (Bedlington Terrier), Owner: MR & MRS P CUMMING
(Image: Flick.digital)
WINNER OF HOUND: Ch Silvae Trademark (Dachshund Wire-Haired), Owner: MR D C & MRS K D MCCALMONT
RESERVE: Ch Ndoki Highlander (Rhodesian Ridgeback), Owner: MS S RADKE
THIRD: Ch Teocrazia One Million (Basset Hound), Owner: MISS F GHEZZI
FOURTH: Sh Ch Minidogland Take After Sun (Dachshund Miniiature Smooth-Haired), Owner: MR P P & MR J MEIER & CHEONG
BEST IN SHOW 2020: Ch Silvae Trademark (Dachshund Wire-Haired), Owner: MR D C & MRS K D MCCALMONT
RESERVE BEST IN SHOW: Ch Minarets Best Kept Secret (Poodle Miniature), Owner: MISS M HARWOOD
A look back at the 2019 winners
A papillon known as Planet Waves Forever Young Daydream - and known at home as Dylan the Villain - won the trophy at Crufts 2019.
According to the Kennel Club the papillon's name, which means butterfly in French, comes from its "well-feathered alert ears" which resemble the insect's wings.
The public favourite, Dave the Boxer, from Banbury, lost out in the grand finale.
Runner-up in Best In Show was a basset griffon vendeen (petit) called Magic Mike. from Wallingford, Oxfordshire.
BEST IN SHOW 2019: KC/SE/HR/PL/FR CH Planet Waves Forever Young Daydream Believers (Papillon), owner Miss K Roosens
Reserve Best in Show: CH Soletrader Magic Mike (Bassett Griffon Vendeen Petit), owner Mrs S & Mrs W Robertson & Doherty


birminghammail--2020-03-08--Aston Villa transfer target rejects renewed contract offer ahead of summer window

Chelsea forward and former Aston Villa striker Tammy Abraham has delivered a blow to his club by turning down a renewed contract after season-long negotiations .
Abraham wants to be paid equally in comparison to Chelsea 's other leading stars , and no hint of that has been given by Chelsea .
The Villa top-scorer with 25 league goals last season has enjoyed a spell as the figurehead of Chelsea 's attack this current season under Frank Lampard , but a renewed deal between the club and player has yet to be confirmed - with Abraham rejecting the last offer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , had heavy interest in Abraham - but the forward 's pricetag , and the context of Chelsea 's transfer ban - priced the club out of a move .
The contract of wonderkid Callum Hudson-Odoi has set the standard for Abraham , and the striker believes his performances should merit him a pay-packet and contract terms .
Hudson-Odoi signed a new deal last year worth £120,000-a-week but has only featured in 30 % of Chelsea 's available minutes this season .
Abraham , on the other hand , has featured in 77 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ charts at the club .
Equal terms , if not better , is the aim for Abraham .
He still has two years left to run on a deal signed in 2017 - shortly before a loan move to Swansea , but his role and stature at the club has changed exponentially since the inking of that deal .
That context has now changed - and the player may find himself back on the market sooner rather than later to find the deal that he believes he deserves due to his performances over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any other interested parties , however , would need to ensure they stay in the Premier League to take advantage of any opportunity presented following the breakdown of negotiations between Abraham and Chelsea .

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Chelsea forward and former Aston Villa striker Tammy Abraham has delivered a blow to his club by turning down a renewed contract after season-long negotiations.
Abraham wants to be paid equally in comparison to Chelsea's other leading stars, and no hint of that has been given by Chelsea.
The Villa top-scorer with 25 league goals last season has enjoyed a spell as the figurehead of Chelsea's attack this current season under Frank Lampard, but a renewed deal between the club and player has yet to be confirmed - with Abraham rejecting the last offer made.
Aston Villa, amongst others, had heavy interest in Abraham - but the forward's pricetag, and the context of Chelsea's transfer ban - priced the club out of a move.
(Image: Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)
The contract of wonderkid Callum Hudson-Odoi has set the standard for Abraham, and the striker believes his performances should merit him a pay-packet and contract terms.
Hudson-Odoi signed a new deal last year worth £120,000-a-week but has only featured in 30% of Chelsea's available minutes this season.
Abraham, on the other hand, has featured in 77% of minutes and leads the scoring charts at the club.
Equal terms, if not better, is the aim for Abraham. He still has two years left to run on a deal signed in 2017 - shortly before a loan move to Swansea, but his role and stature at the club has changed exponentially since the inking of that deal.
That context has now changed - and the player may find himself back on the market sooner rather than later to find the deal that he believes he deserves due to his performances over the past two seasons.
Villa and any other interested parties, however, would need to ensure they stay in the Premier League to take advantage of any opportunity presented following the breakdown of negotiations between Abraham and Chelsea.


birminghammail--2020-03-08--'Same every week' - Everything Pep Clotet said after Birmingham City lost to Reading

Pep Clotet cut a frustrated figure after his Birmingham City side lost 3-1 at home to Reading .
The Blues boss spoke with the press afterwards and outlined his anger at yet another penalty appeal turned down .
Feel hard done by with some of the decisions ?
When it comes to the decisions it ’ s unbelievable that we keep talking about this every game .
Jude Bellingham received a penalty .
I saw it clearly from where I was .
If I had been where the referee was , I would have seen it even more clearly .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ was , I would have seen it even clearer .
It ’ s the same every week .
I ’ m just done talking about it .
The numbers speak for themselves .
Would have made it 2-2 Absolutely .
It ’ s a tough game to take .
First of all , we ’ re coming from a very good run of results and the team have looked very strong .
The team started very strongly at beginning of the game and created chances and possibly we should have made it 2-0 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minutes where we should have defended better and Reading were very clinical in those moments .
After that , we went for the game and it ’ s very tough and when you get clear penalties and they are not awarded then the game becomes very difficult .
The third goal wouldn ’ t have happened if we ’ d been at 2-2 .
Unfortunately , our good run in the league ends here .
I ’ m proud of the effort of the players in managing to get to this point with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ today we paid a little bit of a price of too many games in a short space of time .
When that fatigue kicks in a little bit the first thing that gets affected is the focus and technical ability gets a little bit affected .
I have nothing bad to say because in the end the squad has been superb , and they will keep doing it for the nine games we have left .
It ’ s a pity today because if we had won , we would have been looking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for .
We would have seen ourselves with 50 points , but that doesn ’ t give our motivation away we want to fight the next nine games and try to win as many as possible and try to get as many points as possible and have a good rest after this weekend and get at it again .
Frustrating that in recent games having taken the lead you ’ re not able to force home that advantage ?
The Championship is a little bit like this .
We are a team that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ showed that at Leicester as well .
But of course , the Championship is very unpredictable .
In my mind in the Championship when you score one goal especially in the first half I always tend to think that goal doesn ’ t count no matter who scores because if you don ’ t get a second goal in the first half it doesn ’ t really change the game much .
It ’ s how the league works and happens to everyone .
It happened against QPR , but we managed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thing is we are a team that managed to start games strong and get leads in the beginning and of course we need to keep working to try to extend our leads and never just think about keeping our lead especially when you score early in a game .
We will keep working and keep improving and keep going .
Yes , Scott had a good chance and Juke had a good chance and obviously there was the penalty as well .
That ’ s a good side of it that we create @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first half .
We had a lot of dangerous attacks in the first-half and it ’ s just a pity our lead wasn ’ t bigger , but I don ’ t want to be harsh on the players because we know what they ’ ve been through .
That said it ’ s important to rest , regroup and fight again .
I am relieved that there is no points deduction .
The club was always very confident that would be the outcome but you always take it as a big @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be mixed with bigger problems that it would mean .
It wasn ’ t on the players minds , we all took it for granted that a deduction would not happen , it would have been a blow .
It means the end of the season is a bit more straightforward , we know where we are , we want to get to 50 points as soon as possible and try to win as many games as possible until the end .
Lukas seemed to get no protection He is fouled every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ foul .
It is the same in every game , I should be counting how many fouls we received for us in the first half , it wouldn ’ t have been many .
Today , unfortunately , we saw something we shouldn ’ t be seeing at this level .
You were particularly upset with one in the first half ?
It was a very clear one – and in the second half as well with Dan Crowley .

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Pep Clotet cut a frustrated figure after his Birmingham City side lost 3-1 at home to Reading.
The Blues boss spoke with the press afterwards and outlined his anger at yet another penalty appeal turned down.
Here’s what was discused.
Feel hard done by with some of the decisions?
When it comes to the decisions it’s unbelievable that we keep talking about this every game. Jude Bellingham received a penalty. I saw it clearly from where I was.
If I had been where the referee was, I would have seen it even more clearly. If I had been where the linesman was, I would have seen it even clearer. It’s the same every week. I’m just done talking about it. The numbers speak for themselves.
Would have made it 2-2
Absolutely. It’s a tough game to take. First of all, we’re coming from a very good run of results and the team have looked very strong.
The team started very strongly at beginning of the game and created chances and possibly we should have made it 2-0.
In the second-half we had five minutes where we should have defended better and Reading were very clinical in those moments.
After that, we went for the game and it’s very tough and when you get clear penalties and they are not awarded then the game becomes very difficult.
The third goal wouldn’t have happened if we’d been at 2-2.
Unfortunately, our good run in the league ends here.
I’m proud of the effort of the players in managing to get to this point with such a thin squad.
I think today we paid a little bit of a price of too many games in a short space of time.
When that fatigue kicks in a little bit the first thing that gets affected is the focus and technical ability gets a little bit affected.
I have nothing bad to say because in the end the squad has been superb, and they will keep doing it for the nine games we have left.
It’s a pity today because if we had won, we would have been looking at maybe something really nice to play for.
We would have seen ourselves with 50 points, but that doesn’t give our motivation away we want to fight the next nine games and try to win as many as possible and try to get as many points as possible and have a good rest after this weekend and get at it again.
Frustrating that in recent games having taken the lead you’re not able to force home that advantage?
The Championship is a little bit like this. We are a team that I think defend very well. We showed that at Leicester as well.
But of course, the Championship is very unpredictable. In my mind in the Championship when you score one goal especially in the first half I always tend to think that goal doesn’t count no matter who scores because if you don’t get a second goal in the first half it doesn’t really change the game much.
It’s how the league works and happens to everyone. It happened against QPR, but we managed to get back into it.
The important thing is we are a team that managed to start games strong and get leads in the beginning and of course we need to keep working to try to extend our leads and never just think about keeping our lead especially when you score early in a game. We will keep working and keep improving and keep going.
Scott had a good chance.
Yes, Scott had a good chance and Juke had a good chance and obviously there was the penalty as well. That’s a good side of it that we create those chances and dominate most attacks in the first half.
We had a lot of dangerous attacks in the first-half and it’s just a pity our lead wasn’t bigger, but I don’t want to be harsh on the players because we know what they’ve been through. That said it’s important to rest, regroup and fight again.
Thoughts about winning EFL case?
I am relieved that there is no points deduction. The club was always very confident that would be the outcome but you always take it as a big relief because you don’t want to be mixed with bigger problems that it would mean.
It wasn’t on the players minds, we all took it for granted that a deduction would not happen, it would have been a blow.
It means the end of the season is a bit more straightforward, we know where we are, we want to get to 50 points as soon as possible and try to win as many games as possible until the end.
Lukas seemed to get no protection
He is fouled every time – and he never gets a foul. It is the same in every game, I should be counting how many fouls we received for us in the first half, it wouldn’t have been many.
Today, unfortunately, we saw something we shouldn’t be seeing at this level.
You were particularly upset with one in the first half?
It was a very clear one – and in the second half as well with Dan Crowley.