Millwall vs Sheffield Wednesday match report: Owls survival hopes remain lit
In a crucial clash between relegation-threatened teams, Sheffield Wednesday secured a vital 2-0 victory against Millwall on Saturday.
The breakthrough for Sheffield Wednesday came in the 31st minute when striker Ike Ugbo showcased his goal-scoring abilities, finding the back of the net for the sixth time this season.
The lead was extended just 10 minutes later, with Anthony Musaba confidently slotting home in the 41st minute. Musaba's clinical finish added to the newfound attacking repertoire of Danny Rohl’s Wednesday and solidified their advantage.
Assists for the goals came from the creative contributions of Anthony Musaba and Barry Bannan, emphasising the team's ability to capitalise on key moments.
The partnership between the goal scorers and the providers showcased the cohesion within the Sheffield Wednesday attacking unit.
Just like in recent weeks, Millwall started the match brighter, creating clear chances that tested Wednesday's defence. However, they couldn’t find the necessary edge needed to topple their opponents.
Despite The Lions finishing the match with the kings share of possession, it was their lack of efficiency in front of goal that ultimately made the difference.
As the second half unfolded, Zian Flemming and substitute Duncan Watmore went close for the home side, attempting to reclaim any likelihood of the points being shared.
However, the home side found Wednesday’s goalkeeper, James Beadle, in fine form, as he thwarted their attempts to find the back of the net.
In a dramatic turn of events, Sheffield Wednesday's joy was tempered by the late dismissal of Ashley Fletcher. The forward received his second yellow card in injury time, just 13 minutes after coming off the bench, leaving his team to finish the game with 10 men.
Fletcher's untimely exit added an element of tension in the dying moments, but the away side managed to hold on to their lead, rounding off a successful trip for the travelling fans.
With this crucial victory, Sheffield Wednesday remain second from bottom in the Championship table. However, the three points gained have narrowed the gap to 22nd placed QPR to just three points.
Lifelong Owl’s fan Daniel Bryan, 25, remains positive about his side’s chances for the remainder of the season.
He said: “I’m hopeful, like most Wednesday fans, I think the manager is the man to keep us up and just hope he’s with us next year with a full preseason and his own signings through the door.
“We [Sheffield Wednesday] have a good run of games where we should pick points up and plenty of six pointers into the end of the season.”
The win provides a glimmer of hope for Sheffield Wednesday in their battle to avoid relegation, while Millwall faces increased pressure in their bid to stay clear of the bottom three.
Worry looms as junior doctors strike again
Members of the public are "unsure what to expect" during the second junior doctors' strike.
@RoseAnnieFlor expressed her worry about attending appointments on X -
“Much of the British public is still ignorant,” says Chairman of Sheffield Palestine Campaign
Further pro-Palestinian protests took place this weekend at Sheffield Town Hall.
The Sheffield Palestine Campaign has demonstrated weekly since the 7 October 2023 Hamas terror attack and subsequent situation in Gaza.
Saturday's protest began with a vehicle convoy from Meadowhall shopping centre, before a gathering outside the Town Hall in Arundel Gate.
A street band played as various speakers and protestors sang and chanted for peace as they demanded an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
Musheir El-Farra, who was born in Khan Yunis, Palestine, is an author and filmmaker as well as the chairman of the Sheffield Palestine Campaign.
He said: "It's still extremely important to raise awareness among the British Public of what's going on in Palestine.
"Much of the British public is still ignorant of the situation - this genocide that is taking place by the Israelis."
Mr El-Farra also highlighted the diversity of ethnicities and religious backgrounds that took part in the rally.
Pro-Palestinian campaigners have sometimes faced accusations of antisemitism. However, Leni Solinger, a Jewish activist, does not agree.
"I feel like the press try to say that the Jewish community is all completely behind Israel, and they try to equate anti-Semitism with criticism of Israel," she said.
"I feel absolutely compelled to speak out as a Jewish person. Stop the genocide and stop trying to ethnically cleanse. You come from a people who went through the Holocaust. You should know better."
John Smith is a member of the Sheffield Street Band who performed during the demonstrations, he is also a University lecturer in Genocide Studies.
Mr Smith believes the 7 October attack simply triggered Israel's subsequent actions in Gaza.
He said: "The Israeli government says you are a conspiracy theorist and you're also anti-Semite if you go against them. I think there's so much evidence that just as George Bush needed 9/11 the attack on the twin towers in order to justify the invasion of Iraq, Netanyahu needed October 7th in order to justify what they're now doing."
On 16 November 2023, MPs across the country voted on the notion of a ceasefire.
Sheffield MPs Paul Bloomfield and Clive Betts voted for the notion whereas Gill Furniss, Louise Hague, and Olivia Blake abstained.
Teaching unions dismiss phone ‘ban’ as a “non-policy for a non-problem”
Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: "Most schools already forbid the use of mobile phones during the school day or allow their use only in limited and stipulated circumstances.
"We have lost count of the number of times that ministers have now announced a crackdown on mobile phones in schools. It is a non-policy for a non-problem.
"The government would be far better off putting its energies into bringing to heel the online platforms via which children are able to access disturbing and extreme content."
42-year-old woman arrested over death of three children
A 42-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of murder following the deaths of three children at a house in Bristol.
A police cordon has closed off Blaise Walk, Bristol, with two rows of police tape and a police car blocking entry to the road.
Officers are making house-to-house inquiries nearby.
Sheffield Council approves 20mph zones in High Green and Fulwood
New 20mph zones are to be introduced in Fulwood and High Green following a public consultation.
Sheffield Council's transport, regeneration and climate committee have said the changes should improve road safety and encourage "sustainable" travel.
Police target sexual harassment and assault on trains
A campaign from the British Transport Police has encouraged passengers to report sexual offences in hopes that it will help convict offenders.
A survey conducted by BTP showed that over a third of women have been victims of sexual offences while commuting on a train or Underground.
It is hoped that the campaign, called 'Your Piece of the Puzzle', helps victims speak up and hold offenders accountable.
A1 crash blocks lanes with long delays near York
An accident on the A1M is causing delays at rush hour in North Yorkshire.
Live motorway traffic cameras show long delays as two lanes are shut southbound from Junction 44 to Junction 43.
Sheffield United vs Brighton & Hove Albion match report: “If we go down, we go down fighting” was clearly taken too literally
Brighton & Hove Albion delivered a commanding 5-0 victory against bottom of the league Sheffield United, leaving the struggling squad in disarray.
In Friday’s press conference, Blades boss Chris Wilder stated that he has embedded the mentality of “if we go down, we go down fighting” into every player.
Despite Wilder's optimistic pre-match sentiments, stating the positive mood within the club in recent weeks, the match took a dramatic turn in the 13th minute. Mason Holgate's reckless challenge on Kaoru Mitoma earned him a straight red card, drawing criticism from pundits like Jamie Redknapp, who labelled it 'scandalous.'
Wilder said in his post match interview that Holgate has now apologised to his team and understands the call. He labelled him [Holgate] "an experienced pro who simply got it wrong."
This set-back set the stage for Brighton's dominance, as they asserted control with 79% possession and excelled in duels, both on the ground and in the air.
The first half witnessed Facundo Buonanotte opening the scoring from a corner, followed by Danny Welbeck's swift goal just four minutes later. Sheffield United's Ben Osborn had a goal controversially disallowed for offside on the stroke of half-time, compounding their woes.
Brighton continued their onslaught in the second half, capitalising on Jack Robinson's own goal and Simon Adingra's precise finish within a two-minute span.
Adingra's late deflected effort marked Sheffield United's 65th goal conceded this season, setting a Premier League record for most goals conceded after 25 games.
The defeat pushed Sheffield United seven points adrift from safety, while Brighton climbed to seventh in the league.
Seagulls’ manager Roberto De Zerbi attributed the game-changing moment to Holgate's red card, suggesting that without it, the match would have posed a more significant challenge.
The gloom deepened as Sheffield United's defensive vulnerabilities came to the forefront, with this match seeing The Blades concede 20 goals from the last five home matches.
Chris Wilder's 'fighting spirit' mantra faced a severe test, and the prospects of avoiding relegation looked increasingly bleak.
As the final whistle blew, Sheffield United faced the stark reality of their predicament, while Brighton celebrated a comprehensive victory that showcased their prowess.
The aftermath of this defeat will undoubtedly prompt soul-searching at Bramall Lane, with questions arising about the team's resilience, decision-making, and their ability to mount a late-season survival bid.
Notably, young prospect Oli Arblaster, recently recalled from a successful loan spell at Port Vale, remained benched despite pre-match assurances from Wilder.
Wilder had expressed confidence that Arblaster would feature in Premier League matches this season, with talks of a long-term contract being tabled for the players consideration, but the harrowing defeat evidently wasn't the opportune moment for the promising midfielder.
After the match Chris Wilder said: "we've got no excuses, and no where to hide" after being critical of his own decisions and the performances of his team, whilst still being full of praise of the job De Zerbi is doing and the strong Brighton side.
Chris Wilder and Roberto De Zerbi's initial reactions to the red cards can be seen below.
Sheffield cat café struggles with hefty emergency vet bills as prices soar
A Sheffield cat café has launched an appeal for donations after being straddled with over £4,000 worth of vet fees.
Tabby Teas, located in Highfield, has eight in-house rescue cats including Ziggy and Nyx, in need of various medical treatments.
Café co-owner, Charlotte Pickering, 37, said: “We were paying around £300 beforehand and now we are paying, judging by the last vet bill we had, £620, so vet bills have gone up dramatically.
“It is always a worry and we don’t really have a safety net because the cats aren’t really insured here, so every vet bill is a hit.”
One cat was cured of Feline Infectious Peritonitis, a common but often fatal virus for cats if mutated, after receiving public donations.
British Veterinary Association president, Malcolm Morley, said in a 2023 Times report “soaring inflation and the cost-of-living crisis is impacting both pet owners and business, including vet practices”.
The GoFundMe appeal has raised over £2,000 towards the medical procedures for the cats from the community so far, much to the co-owner’s surprise as Ms Pickering claims that this is the largest appeal they have launched.
“Although I know people like the café I never realised how much it really means to certain people, so it’s lovely,” she said.
“But it shows when stuff like this happens and we ask for a bit of help that people are willing.”
Cat rescue charity ‘Cat-CHING’ founder and CEO, Lauren James-Thompson, explained that the rise of veterinary bills is an impacting factor on the increasing financial pressure put on rescues from the demand.
Figures from the charity show that nearly 60% of their spending in 2023 went towards vet treatment.
The rescue has seen an increase in the numbers of cats through their door going from 1,325 in 2022 to 1,515 in 2023.
Ms James-Thompson said: “People as individuals are also struggling more than ever due to the cost-of-living crisis and although willing, people are unable to donate as much to charity as they'd like.
“Our costs have been high from the outset, however prices continue to go up and up and we often find ourselves struggling. The cost of caring for so many cats is immense but it is worth every penny.”
To donate visit ‘Tabby Teas’ GoFundMe or Cat-CHING.
Search operation after a two-year-old boy reportedly fell into river
A search operation has been launched following reports of a two-year-old boy falling into a river in Leicester.
The child was with family when he fell into the River Soar.
He hasn't yet been located, according to Leicestershire Police.
The operation is ongoing and will continues with specialist teams this morning.
The force said: “Our thoughts are with them at this extremely difficult time.
“If anyone has any information or comes across anything that may assist officers, they are asked to contact us immediately.”
Contact police on 999, quoting incident 476:180224.
A ten-month-old baby boy is among three children found dead at home in Bristol
A 10-month-old baby has been found dead at a house in Bristol on Sunday, police have said.
It is believed that there was also a seven-year-old boy and a three-year-old girl found.
The victims, who have not been named by detective, were found inside a property in the Sea Mills area of the city on Sunday morning.
Officers were called to the property in by a member of the public concerned for the welfare of the people inside.
A 42-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of murder and has been taken to hospital for non-life threatening injuries.