Key events
A couple of early goals in the Championship. Ben Brereton Diaz has put Blackburn 1-0 up against Reading, while Luton lead Bristol City through Carlton Morris.
Half time – Tottenham 0-0 Leicester: All quiet in the WSL.
Southampton 0-0 Brentford: Is it a cross or shot? Who knows? Either way, Ward-Prowse’s effort skips off the surface and forces Raya to react.
“Should have stayed at Brighton,” says Jeff Sax. To be fair, he has won the last three and is the quarter finals of the Champions League.
GOAL! Brighton 1-0 Crystal Palace (March, 15)
Palace are made to pay for failing to take their chances. March goes through and slots the ball beyond Whitworth.
Brighton 0-0 Palace: Another shot from Palace! They are playing some slick stuff, especially considering their recent exploits in attack. Edouard forces a good save from Steele.
Southampton 0-0 Brentford: Janelt sends a ball over the top for Schade but he heads it just wide.
Brighton 0-0 Palace: Olise latches onto a through ball and goes one-on-one with Steele but the goalkeeper does well to stop him.
Brighton 0-0 Palace: Clyne whips in a cross for Edouard to attack but the striker flicks his head wide.
Brighton 0-0 Palace: Whitworth comes out of goal and heads the ball 30 yards away from the net. A decisive bit of goalkeeping. Palace have already had their first shot on target in four matches. Fair play.
“Seeing as it’s Clockwatch, we can have the Champions League and the Scottish Highland League, right?” Of course we can, Simon McMahon. “Tonight sees Brora Rangers welcome Buckie Thistle in a crucial match. Brora are 13 points behind leaders Buckie, but will of course cut that gap to 10 with a win tonight, and they have three games in hand. Brora have scored 94 goals in 24 matches, and Buckie have 80 in 27. A goalless draw very much on the cards then I reckon ..?”
…
“It’s a tricky one for Brentford,” says Bill Preston. “Southampton are sure to get a stomp and save their season via thrilling goal line heroics.
“Also, trains through stations sounds preferable to videos of teenagers playing Minecraft, screaming.”
Huge day indeed.
Patrick Vieira on 19-year-old Joe Whitworth, who will make his debut for Palace against Brighton tonight after VIcente Guaita’s injury. “He has been a ball boy at the stadium and is a true Palace fan. It is a big day for him.”
— Ed Aarons (@ed_aarons) March 15, 2023
Kick off
The two Premier League matches are under way.
I am currently working next to my two-year-old who is happily watching trains going through stations on YouTube. Is this normal?
Antony Train suggests re Pep and Roberts: “Until recently, I would have said Oceans 11. Clooney taking on the False 9 position, but now it is obviously, Erling Brockovich?”
Starting lineups: Napoli v Frankfurt
Napoli: Meret, Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Kim, Rui, Zambo Anguissa, Lobotka, Zielinski, Politano, Osimhen, Kvaratskhelia.
Eintracht Frankfurt: Trapp, Silva Melo, Ndicka, Lenz, Buta, Rode, Sow, Knauff, Götze, Kamada, Borré.
Kristof Künssler-McIlwain suggests Guardiola’s favourite Roberts film is Ocean’s Eleven.
Just in case you were wondering who Joe Whitworth looks like.
What do we think is Guardiola’s favourite Julia Roberts movie?
Notting Hill? Pretty Woman?
If you are a bit more mainstream, you can join Scott Murray for Real Madrid v Liverpool.
A big moment for Whitworth.
19 – At 19 years and 15 days, Crystal Palace’s Joe Whitworth is the youngest goalkeeper to appear in a Premier League game since Ben Alnwick in December 2005 for Sunderland vs Spurs (18 years, 336 days). Baptism.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 15, 2023
Over it in Naples, it is a touch lively due to clashes between supporters and police. A lot of Frankfurt fans have travelled to the city despite being officially banned from the stadium.
The big news down at the Amex is that 19-year-old goalkeeper Joe Whitworth is making his Crystal Palace debut because of injuries to Vicente Guaita and Sam Johnstone.
Starting lineups: Southampton v Brentford
Southampton: Bazunu, Walker-Peters, Bednarek, Bella-Kotchap, Diallo, Ward-Prowse, Perraud, Alcaraz, Elyounoussi, Adams, Sulemana.
Subs: Caballero, A.Armstrong, Onuachu, Bree, S.Armstrong, Mara, Salisu, Walcott, Lavia.
Brentford: Raya, Hickey, Henry, Pinnock, Mee, Norgaard, Jensen, Schade, Janelt, Mbeumo, Toney.
Subs: Cox, Dasilva, Wissa, Zanka, Ghoddos, Onyeka, Jansson, Damsgaard, Baptiste.
Starting lineups: Brighton v Palace
Brighton: Steele, Veltman, Colwill, Dunk, Estupinan, Gross, Caicedo, March, Mac Allister, Mitoma, Ferguson.
Subs: Sanchez, Webster, Sarmiento, Enciso, Undav, Gilmour, Ferguson, Van Hecke, Buonanotte.
Crystal Palace: Whitworth, Clyne, Andersen, Guehi, Mitchell, Lokonga, Doucoure, Olise, Edouard, Schlupp, Zaha.
Subs: Goodman, Ward, Milivojevic, Tomkins, Ayew, Eze, Mateta, Richards, Ahamada.
Welcome
What an intriguing night of action we have to look forward. There is the small matter of a Champions League last-16 game. Admittedly, Napoli are 2-0 up from the first leg in Frankfurt but there is still hope for the Germans. Not much, but hope nonetheless.
Back in Blighty there are two Premier League matches. Most notably, it is that well-known derby of Brighton v Crystal Palace. We could spend all day discussing the merits of said fixture being described as a rivalry but, ultimately, the fans would tell you it is absolutely MASSIVE. Brighton are aiming for Europe, while Palace are fully immersed in the relegation battle after a poor run of form.
Speaking of battling for survival, the Premier League’s bottom club Southampton welcome Brentford to St Mary’s in the infamous red stripe derby. Due to how close things are at the foot of the table, a win for Saints would lift them out of the drop zone and up to 16th, which is a handsome prospect. Brentford arrive off the back of a dispiriting loss to Everton at the weekend and will want to be far better tonight.
There is also the start of the post-Rehanne Skinner era for Tottenham in the WSL against Leicester and Championship games aplenty.
Here’s to a fun evening!
Napoli v Eintracht Frankfurt – 8pm (GMT)
Brighton v Palace – 7.30pm
Southampton v Brentford – 7.30pm