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• I got it wrong – Jermaine Jenas apologises after using abusive term towards ref

  Former Tottenham midfielder Jermaine Jenas has apologised after branding referee Robert Jones a “complete s***house” during Sunday’s north London derby at Arsenal.

  The 40-year-old, now a television pundit and presenter, took to social media during the thrilling 2-2 draw at the Emirates Stadium after the Gunners were awarded a controversial penalty, prompting a backlash from other users.

  Responding to the criticism on Monday, Jenas wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter: “I hold my hands up, I got it wrong yesterday.

  “I should know, more than most, the responsibility we have as fans, players and pundits and the impact our words online can have as it’s an area I’ve been vocal in.

  “My emotions got the better of me and I apologise to The FA and to all match officials.”

  Jenas’ initial post came after Jones had been advised by the Video Assistant Referee to take another look at an incident in which the ball had hit the arm of Spurs defender Cristian Romero from close range.

  The referee had not initially awarded a penalty, but did so after the review and Bukayo Saka promptly dispatched the spot-kick to make it 2-1 to the home side, although Son Heung-min levelled almost immediately to ensure the game finished all square.

  Jenas, who was part of the Football Association, Premier League and EFL’s Love Football, Protect the Game campaign ahead of the new season, wrote: “Complete sh**house off a referee! They’re all ruining the our game!”

  The charity Ref Support UK accused Jenas of encouraging the abuse of match officials.

  The organisation said on X: “This is a disgraceful tweet and you should be ashamed. Your tweet encourages online abuse of referees and considering your role on TV your employers need to give their head a wobble.

  “Remember Anthony Taylor and his family were attacked at an airport because of antics such as yours.”

• Steven Naismith wants his Hearts players to thrive under pressure

  Hearts head coach Steven Naismith has told his players they have to use the pressure and expectation that comes with playing for the club to spur them on to Hampden.

  Naismith faced the wrath of some Hearts fans on Saturday when a 1-0 reverse against St Mirren left them with five defeats in their last six games.

  The former Scotland international views Tuesday’s Viaplay Cup quarter-final at Kilmarnock as the perfect opportunity to atone.

  “Being at a club like Hearts, when you don’t win on a Saturday, there’s that frustration and that’s something that builds,” the 37-year-old said.

  “I’m comfortable and confident that by the end of the week we can look back on it being a good week and that starts on Tuesday night.

  “The game at the weekend was small margins, we don’t take our chances and give up a cheap goal.

  “This game coming so quickly is good because it gives us a chance to react but the bigger picture is it’s a chance to get to Hampden and one step closer to getting silverware which is something as a squad we are desperate to get. But also that expectation from the club is there, that we should be getting into these positions.

  “It’s something you become aware of when you come to the club, it’s not so much any single person letting you know that.

  “The crowd that travel to every away game, the crowd that are in the stadium for home games, they are there because they have a right passion for the club and want to see success.

  “You could argue that over the last 10-15 years there has probably not been enough silverware.

  “In terms of being in the later rounds of competitions, that has been pretty successful over the last five or six years but taking that next step to win something is the most important one and one that us as a squad need to show we are capable of.”

  Naismith won six major trophies with Rangers and also played in cup finals with Kilmarnock and Hearts, the latter resulting in defeat by Celtic in one of three Scottish Cup finals Hearts have reached in the past five years.

  “We were two or three penalty-kicks away from winning the Scottish Cup and never managed to do it,” he said.

  “That element of pressure for me is something I have managed throughout my career to some ways enjoy and push you forward. As players that is what you have to do.

  “The week to week, day to day of signing a new contract and of playing x amount of games is one achievement but if you want real success then that’s defined by winning trophies.

  “As a player fortunately I managed to do it and I know what it takes, so hopefully us as a squad can do it.”

  Hearts have failed to score in four of their past five matches but Naismith believes there are encouraging signs.

  “The frustration from my side is that we have picked up injuries to more attacking players,” he said.

  “One positive is, in the chances we have created, it’s different players that are getting on the end of them.

  “It’s not as if we are relying on one player to get on the end of crosses and through-balls. We are getting plenty of men forward. It’s just converting them really.”

  Nathaniel Atkinson drops out through injury for Hearts but Andy Halliday is back.

• Chelsea owners ‘need to support plan’ despite rocky run – Mauricio Pochettino

  Mauricio Pochettino says Chelsea’s owners must look past their disappointment and back him to implement the plan he was hired to draw up in order to lift the club out of their slump.

  Defeat to Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge on Sunday means the team have taken an average of 0.85 points per game over the last 35 matches, three short of a full league season.

  Over a single campaign they would have won 32 points, a tally that would have seen them relegated in every Premier League season since the league became 38 games in 1995, and would have left them bottom of the table in five of them.

  That run goes back to October 19 last year when the team, then managed by Graham Potter, drew 0-0 away at Brentford.

  Pochettino is the fourth manager to have led the side in that period, with Potter having been removed on April 2 and Frank Lampard taking over until the end of the campaign, with a single game in charge for caretaker boss Bruno Saltor.

  Despite the turnover of coaches, the Blues have won only six times in the league in the 11 months since, drawing 12, giving them a return of 30 points from 35 games.

  The squad assembled by co-owner Todd Boehly’s Clearlake Capital consortium at a cost of more than £1billion over the last 16 months are currently 14th in the table after six games and have not scored in 285 minutes of play.

  Pochettino encouraged supporters to keep faith and focus on the quality of recent performances rather than the club’s relegation form over the last year.

  “It’s about learning, it’s about the process,” he said after Ollie Watkins’ second-half goal for Villa condemned his side to their third loss of the season.

  “We are a young team (in) a process that they need to learn all together. It’s difficult to talk about positives because when you lose it’s difficult, but we need to talk about positive things.

  “No doubt that with time the team is going to perform, but of course now we cannot hide the situation. It’s a situation that disappoints all the fans, the club, us and the players.

  “They (the owners) are disappointed, they arrive to the club and (were) so excited to build some project. Of course they feel disappointed, but at the same time they need to support the plan.”

  If there was a bright spot for Chelsea it was the return of striker Armando Broja after nine months out with an ACL injury.

  The Albania international came off the bench in the second half and headed wide in the closing minutes as the team sought an equaliser.

  “It was good to see Broja after nine, 10 months,” said Pochettino. “Again I think to have the possibility to have different options is good for the team. But he needs to build his confidence also.”

  Watkins’ goal was his first in the league this season and the striker admitted it was a weight off his shoulders.

  “The first one is always hard to get,” Watkins told VillaTV.

  “I’m delighted to get off the mark now.

  “It’s a bit of a relief, really, because the more the games go by, there’s a lot of talk and pressure.

  “But I just try and block that out and I back myself in front of goal no matter what anyone says.

  “I’m looking forward to the games coming up now and plenty more goals for the season.”