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• Simeone: It makes no sense to play after Spanish floods

  Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone is unhappy that most LaLiga matches will go ahead this weekend after catastrophic floods swept the eastern region of Spain.

  The deadliest flash floods in Spain's modern history have killed over 200 people and dozens were still unaccounted for, four days after torrential rains swept the region of Valencia.

  The tragedy is already Europe's worst flood-related disaster since 1967 when at least 500 people died in Portugal.

  Saturday's clash between Valencia and Real Madrid, as well as Villarreal against Rayo Vallecano, are among several games postponed over the weekend after the floods.

  "It doesn't make any sense," Simeone told reporters ahead of his side's home game against Las Palmas on Sunday.

  "What is happening is very hard; it is very moving to see the people who went out on the streets to help, who with a shovel and their tools are trying to collaborate and that speaks very well of the country, of the people, and we want to help wherever we can.

  "There are people having a very hard time, it's very sad and they tell us to continue and here we are, continuing."

  Last month, Las Palmas named former Espanyol boss Diego Martinez as their new coach, and while Simeone is not pleased that the game is going ahead, he is prepared for a tough encounter.

  "We have a tough game against a team that has improved a lot since the arrival of the coach," Simeone said.

  "They are more forceful and I imagine a dangerous game, with a lot of counter-attacking, fast people in attack and we will try to have a game with these situations under control and get it out with the help of our fans, which is always fundamental."

• Arsenal deserved to lose against Newcastle, says Arteta

  Mikel Arteta was left frustrated by Arsenal's performance in their 1-0 defeat away to Newcastle United on Saturday.

  The defeat left them third in the Premier League, though they could be up to eight points behind Manchester City by the end of the day.

  Arsenal had 63.9% possession and mustered more shots (10) and a higher expected goals total (1.11) than Newcastle, but could not find a leveller following Alexander Isak's early header.

  And Arteta was disappointed with how his side did the basics following what he thought was a good start.

  "We deserved to lose today. I thought we started really well and were really dominant. We didn't defend the box well enough," he told Premier League Productions.

  "Credit to them. They scored a great goal with a good ball.

  "Then the game changes and you start to play a different game. You have to adapt and we didn't do that well enough. I am very frustrated.

  "We got dragged into a game they are looking for constantly and we couldn't play the game that we wanted."

  Arsenal only managed one shot on target in the match, coming from a Mikel Merino effort that was cleared off the line in the first half. Declan Rice, meanwhile, put a close-range header wide in second-half stoppage time.

  "We had two big chances: Mikel had a big one, Declan had a big one. We lacked answers," said Arteta.

  Newcastle boss Eddie Howe, meanwhile, was delighted with the Magpies' performance as they sealed back-to-back victories following their win over Chelsea in the EFL Cup on Wednesday.

  "You have to be really strong mentality and know results will turn if you continue to do the right things," Howe told BBC Sport.

  "It has been a difficult week with the fixtures, but the players have done really well.

  "There was a better feeling in training after the Chelsea win, as if pressure lifted slightly.

  "Today's performance was built on hard work, desire and a lot of really good defending in the second half. I thought we looked good."

  Isak headed home from a pinpoint Anthony Gordon cross to tally up his third goal in three successive appearances in all competitions.

  "I wouldn't say it is a trademark goal for Alex but really pleased to see it. Anthony can give you that on his natural right-hand side and it was a great ball," said Howe.

  "It was always going to take a moment like that as it was a game of few chances."

• Sheffield United up to second after Blackburn victory

  Sheffield United moved into the Championship's automatic promotion places with a 2-0 win over Blackburn Rovers, with Harrison Burrows and Tyrese Campbell on target.

  Burrows scored his first goal for the Blades to hand them a 16th-minute lead at Ewood Park, where Blackburn failed to record a single shot on target against their rock-solid visitors.

  A close-range finish from Campbell gave Chris Wilder's men breathing space shortly after the hour mark, with Kieffer Moore, Gustavo Hamer and Burrows all missing chances to add further gloss to the scoreline.

  Sheffield United, who have only conceded six goals in 13 league games this campaign, moved up to second ahead of Saturday's remaining fixtures, leapfrogging Burnley and Leeds United. 

  Elsewhere, Stoke City claimed a much-needed 2-1 victory over Derby County – just their second win under new boss Narcis Pelach. 

  Tom Cannon won and converted a first-half penalty to put the Potters ahead, though Derby got back on terms when the ball deflected in off Stoke goalkeeper Viktor Johansson after 68 minutes. 

  However, Ben Gibson headed the winning goal eight minutes from time, with Derby enraged by Junior Tchamadeu's heavy challenge on Nat Phillips going unpunished. 

  In the last of the early kick-offs, Swansea City recorded their first win in seven matches by overcoming Oxford United 2-1 at the Kassam Stadium.

  Zan Vipotnik swept home after 38 minutes for Swansea's first goal in 563 minutes of Championship action to open the scoring, then Florian Bianchini doubled their advantage with 10 minutes to play.

  Dane Scarlett gave Oxford hope late on, but they were unable to force an equaliser and remain two points clear of the relegation zone.