Max Verstappen hailed his victory at the Miami Grand Prix as “simply f****** lovely” after he beat Sergio Perez and the boo brigade to extend his world championship lead.
Verstappen was jeered before and after the race, as he celebrated a triumph that moves him 14 points clear of team-mate Perez, who finished second.
Fernando Alonso was third for Aston Martin. George Russell and Lewis Hamilton finished fourth and sixth for Mercedes.
Verstappen divides opinion in the sport and he was targeted by the Hard Rock Stadium crowd as he was presented on the grid ahead of the 57-lap race by rapper LL Cool J.
But the boos did not faze the double world champion as he raced from ninth on the grid to top spot to claim his third win from five rounds.
“Simply f****** lovely,” said Verstappen on the radio before he was also jeered on the podium as he collected his winner’s trophy.
Verstappen added: “It was a good race. I stayed out of trouble in the beginning. I had a good battle with Checo and we kept it clean and that was the most important thing. A great win today.
“Yesterday was a setback in qualifying but today we kept it calm and clean and winning a race from ninth is always very satisfying.”
Verstappen, who started on a different strategy to team-mate and pole-sitter Perez, was up to second on lap 15. He stopped for tyres with a dozen laps to go and then cruised into the lead by out-braking Perez at the opening corner on lap 48.
Perez said: “I gave it my all. The first stint was poor and that compromised my race.
“Max was particularly good today so a well-deserved win for him. We need to analyse what happened today because I didn’t have the pace.”
Max Verstappen overcame the boo brigade and Sergio Perez to win the Miami Grand Prix and extend his world championship lead.
Verstappen was subjected to a chorus of jeers by the 90,000-strong crowd at the Hard Rock Stadium as the sport’s drivers were introduced by rapper LL Cool J for Sunday’s 57-lap race.
But the double world champion put his poor reception to one side by racing from ninth on the grid to pass Perez with nine laps remaining and take his third win from five rounds.
Verstappen increased his championship lead from six points to 14.
Fernando Alonso completed the podium places with George Russell fourth. Lewis Hamilton finished sixth after starting 13th.
Sunday’s race marked the first of three to be staged in the United States this season, with Austin’s grand prix at the Circuit of the Americas and a debut event on the Las Vegas strip to follow later in the year.
And the event here in the Sunshine State was sprinkled with stardust for a show-stopping pre-race grid.
Actor Vin Diesel, singer Shakira, influencer-boxer Jake Paul, Serena Williams, Venus Williams and Roger Federer – with 50 tennis Grand Slam titles between them – watched on as will.i.am conducted an orchestra and LL Cool J assumed his role as Master of Ceremonies. Only in America.
On came the 20 drivers and the biggest cheers were reserved for Hamilton, Alonso and Perez, backed by a large contingent of Mexican fans. But Verstappen, last on to the stage, was booed.
Verstappen, by now in the sanctuary of his flying Red Bull machine, had moved up to eighth at the end of lap one, as pole-sitter Perez held off Alonso on the charge to the opening corner.
Verstappen then blasted his way past Charles Leclerc and Kevin Magnussen in his DRS-assisted Red Bull to take sixth at the start of lap four.
Further behind, Hamilton appeared in trouble after making light contact with Nico Hulkenberg at the first corner.
“I don’t know if we are going to last in this race,” he said, fearing his front wing was broken.
Up front, Verstappen was still on the move.
On lap eight he passed Russell under braking at Turn 17 for fifth place, which became fourth the next time round following a carbon-copy move on Pierre Gasly.
Verstappen sped past Carlos Sainz on lap 14 at Turn 11 and then Alonso on lap 15 to take second place with team-mate Perez 3.7 sec up the road.
In came Perez on lap 20 for fresh rubber with a 1.2 sec lead over Verstappen. The Dutchman, who started on the harder, more durable rubber stayed out.
Despite his earlier worries, Hamilton was able to continue but he was failing to make headway and on lap 32 he was ushered aside for team-mate Russell.
Hamilton, on a different strategy after starting seven places behind his team-mate, resisted at first before allowing his team-mate through.
“Thank you very much,” said Russell over the radio. “Very much appreciated.” Hamilton made his sole tyre stop on lap 37, dropping back to 13th.
Russell did not appear fazed in a machine team principal Toto Wolff described as “a nasty piece of work”, and on lap 39 he was up to fourth after fighting his way past Sainz.
“That is how we roll,” said the celebrating Briton.
Verstappen finally stopped for new tyres on lap 45 and he emerged from the pits just 1.2 sec behind Perez.
Verstappen was soon all over Perez’s Red Bull gearbox and he made his first move at Turn 17 only for his team-mate to defend the left hander.
But Perez’s defence made him vulnerable on the main straight with Verstappen jinking to his team-mate’s left and making the move stick at the first corner on lap 48.
Verstappen crossed the line 5.3 sec clear of Perez.
Hamilton, like Verstappen, started on the more durable hard rubber and the strategy also worked for the seven-time world champion as he made up a number of positions in the closing stages – including the scalp of Leclerc with two laps to run – to salvage sixth.
Michael van Gerwen claimed his first European Tour title in a year after winning the Belgian Open.
Van Gerwen, who was a beaten finalist in Germany last month, overcame Luke Humphries 8-6 in the final to enter the winners’ circle for the first time since winning the European Darts Open in May 2022.
Humphries finished with a higher average and threw more 180s than Van Gerwen, but it was the Dutchman who prevailed thanks to his finishing prowess, which included a 129 checkout in the decisive 11th leg.
Van Gerwen, who now moves up to number two in the world behind Michael Smith, had earlier beaten Gary Anderson before gaining semi-final revenge on Josh Rock, the Northern Irish youngster who beat him in Leeuwarden last week.
It was a second successive final defeat for Humphries, top seed in this tournament, following his defeat to Dave Chisnall in Holland seven days ago.
The 28-year-old almost made darting perfection in the seventh leg but missed double 12 on his attempt at a nine-dart finish and then had to watch Van Gerwen lift the trophy.
Carlos Alcaraz is primed to become world number one once again after defending his Madrid Open title.
The Spaniard, who turned 20 on Saturday, beat Jan-Lennard Struff 6-4 3-6 6-3 to complete the Spanish double for the second successive year following his victory in Barcelona a fortnight ago.
Success in the capital means he will return to the summit of the rankings, displacing Novak Djokovic, if he plays the next ATP Tour event in Rome.
Alcaraz’s latest win came amid the news Rafael Nadal will miss the Italian Open as he continues to recover from a hip injury, and with Djokovic also nursing an elbow problem he is rapidly establishing himself as the French Open favourite.
German Struff became the first lucky loser to reach the final at a Masters 1000 event and gave Alcaraz a tough match, having taken the second set to force a decider.
But Alcaraz was too good and came through to defend his title on home clay.
“For me it is so, so special,” Alcaraz said on the ATP Tour website. “To lift the trophy here in Madrid. In my country. It is always special to play and to be able to do a good result here and (being) a champion is so special.
“In front of my home crowd, my family, my friends. Everyone close to me. For me it is a special feeling that I will never forget.
“It was a really tough match. Jan was playing great, really aggressive. In the second set I had a lot of chances to break his serve and I didn’t take it and it was tough for me to lose it.
“I told myself that I had to be positive all the time and that I would have my chances and I think I did it in the third set.”
Michael Beale described Rangers as the “most wasteful team” he has ever seen after Sunday’s 1-0 home win over Aberdeen.
On the day that Celtic retained the cinch Premiership title with a 2-0 win over Hearts at Tynecastle, midfielder Todd Cantwell gave the Ibrox fans something to cheer about in the 65th minute with his fine volley from a James Tavernier corner.
Rangers had an experimental look to their side, partly due to injuries, but the Gers boss returned to a familiar theme as he bemoaned missed chances throughout the game.
“We had some good moments with the ball all day,” said the former QPR boss, who revealed defender Ben Davies came off with a hamstring problem which could make him a doubt for next week’s game against Celtic.
“Sometimes I feel that we are the most wasteful team in the final third that I have ever seen. We created unbelievable chances and didn’t take them.
“We suddenly face two 80-yard dashes to our own goal. On another day we could find ourselves behind.
“In the first 15 minutes of the second half we missed more unbelievable chances, and when the balls hit the bar I thought it wasn’t going to be our day.
“I know it was their player who got the last touch (when Aberdeen captain Jonny Hayes inadvertently smashed a Rabbi Matondo cut-back against his own crossbar) but we have two or three players there.
“It is not unlucky when we are missing these chances. After a while it has to be poor play or poor final pass, movement, decision-making.
“It has happened in every single day since I came back to the club – we have missed incredible chances.”
Asked if the current squad could provide answers or if new attackers were required, Beale appeared unhappy with the contribution of substitute Alfredo Morelos, who is leaving at the end of the season.
The Colombia striker came off the bench with Scott Arfield, Glen Kamara and Scott Wright just after Cantwell’s goal.
Beale said: “I think you saw a difference when Alfredo came on in terms of energy but not a positive difference as well.
“I think we will need a focal point for the team, for sure.
“Antonio Colak is not fit at the moment and Alfredo is obviously going to be moving on.
“Fashion (Sakala) and Rabbi (Matondo) gave us a different type of front line and it was also nice to see Ianis Hagi get some minutes.
“Throughout the game we had some passages of really good play but we have to be more decisive if we want to feel at ease at the end of the game.”
It was a first defeat in eight for Aberdeen, who remain in third place, five points ahead of Hearts.
Manager Barry Robson revealed that Ross McCrorie, twin brother of Rangers goalkeeper Robby, missed the game with a hernia injury, saying: “He had surgery, we hope to have him back pretty quick.”
Robson was also unhappy with his side’s finishing, especially the two chances Luis ‘Duk’ Lopes missed in the first half – a shot saved by McCrorie before he chipped the ball over the bar when again he only had the Gers keeper to beat.
He said: “First half we should have scored a couple of goals. We had two brilliant chances to get a couple of goals up on Rangers.
“You need to take them wherever you are, not just coming here. But it’s probably more important to take them here.
“You have those two unbelievable chances in the first half – they don’t come much better than one-on-one chances.”
Robson also complained about a first-half incident when Gers defender Connor Goldson tangled with Duk at the edge of the box, with referee John Beaton awarding only a corner.
He said: “And then obviously the first half, is it a penalty or a free-kick outside as well? I don’t know.
“It was one or the other. Where was VAR? Anyone see it? Where was it? I don’t know. Was it in the building today? I am being serious.”
Celtic captain Callum McGregor believes his team can continue to improve after retaining the cinch Premiership title in style.
The Hoops wrapped up their 11th title in 12 years with four games remaining thanks to a 2-0 victory over Hearts at Tynecastle.
The champions have only lost once in the league, against St Mirren in September, and can set a top-flight points record of 107 if they win their remaining matches.
Midfielder McGregor told Sky Sports: “I think there’s the makings of a really special team.
“You see when the going gets tough you have to fight the game out a little bit, like we had to do first half. So we have got that side of it, which you need to have if you want to be champions.
“And you see at the end there with the quality we could probably score another two or three goals.”
When asked if they could get even better, the 29-year-old said: “We are certainly on the right track but we have to keep on working.
“You can see it, you can see it – a lot of young players. You get over the line and you get more experience. You want to do it again the following season and you want to do it in a better style.
“I believe we have done that this season and there is always more to come.”
McGregor has won four out of five domestic trophies so far as skipper and can lead the team to the treble when they face Championship side Inverness in the Scottish Cup final on June 3.
“It’s a dream come true for me, it’s such a privilege, every day that I come into my work and represent this club, represent these guys,” he said. “It’s an absolute pleasure.
“At the start of the season this is always what the club wants, it demands success. Over a period of 38 games you have to be the best team and the best team will win the league.
“I’m so happy for the players, the staff, the supporters, everybody connected with the club. A really special day again.”
Miami Grand Prix bosses are in talks with Formula One about staging the race at night.
The event which runs round the Hard Rock Stadium – home of NFL’s Miami Dolphins – joined the calendar last season on a 10-year deal.
Sunday’s race is the first of three to be staged in the United States this year, with a debut event on the Las Vegas strip in November, while Austin’s grand prix at the Circuit of the Americas has been a permanent fixture on the F1 schedule since 2012.
The round in Vegas will take place under lights, and Miami Dolphins chief executive Tom Garfinkel revealed on Sunday that his race could transform to a night event.
“We have had some discussions about a night race and potentially doing that and what it would look like,” said Garfinkel.
“There are a lot of factors that go into that with F1 and television so we have to weigh all those things up, but we are certainly open-minded.”
The race in Florida is set to be sprinkled with stardust. Twitter and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, actor Vin Diesel, singer Shakira, former Manchester City forward Sergio Aguero, influencer-boxer Jake Paul, former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson, and tennis greats Serena Williams and Roger Federer are just some of the names on Sunday’s glitzy guestlist.
“The celebrity attendance is pretty remarkable,” added Garfinkel. “It shows the relevance of Formula One and how popular the sport is right now.
“The sort of wealth, CEO and celebrity factor, is like nothing I have ever seen at another sporting event.”
Jonathan Milan won stage two of the Giro d’Italia in a reduced sprint after a late crash ruled out Mark Cavendish and cost Tao Geoghegan Hart valuable time in the general classification.
This flat stage would have been one of the ones circled by Cavendish as he seeks his first win for Astana-Qazaqstan, but the Manxman hit the deck in the aftermath of a collision just under four kilometres from the line that left several riders counting the cost.
Chief among them was 2020 Giro winner Geoghegan Hart, with the Londoner held up to concede 19 seconds and fall from fourth to eighth overall, now 59 seconds behind leader Remco Evenepoel.
Amid the chaos, the 22-year-old Milan came around Kaden Groves to win comfortably from David Dekker on the seafront in San Salvo, taking his first Grand Tour stage win and doing it in his home race at the first attempt.
Evenepoel stayed safe in the pink jersey and retains his 22-second lead over Filippo Ganna at the end of the 202km stage from Teramo. Joao Almeida remains third at 29 seconds down, but Geoghegan Hart is now four seconds behind Ineos Grenadiers team-mate Geraint Thomas, who managed to avoid the trouble.
So much focus had been on a tight roundabout just before the final straight, but before that even came into view several riders went down on a narrow section of road.
Pascal Ackermann appeared to be pushed to his right and into the path of the Trek-Segafredo lead-out train with inevitable results.
Cavendish was behind the initial incident but was then struck from behind as riders struggled to slow, although his team was quick to say he was unhurt.
In his podium interview, Evenepoel was pointed in his remarks on the stage-defining incident.
“We were in front so we were out of trouble, but of course it was a pretty nasty crash,” the Soudal-QuickStep rider said. “I think I actually saw it happen and we know who we can blame for the crash but that’s racing. It wasn’t a nice move but luckily we stayed out of trouble and arrived safely.”
While the recriminations began, Bahrain-Victorious rider Milan celebrated a breakthrough moment.
“I am without words,” the Italian said. “I cannot believe it. My first Giro, the second stage. Yesterday I did a nice time trial, I was quite happy with my result and I was pushing good but I could never imagine that today a victory was coming.”
Although Cavendish was out of the running, there was one Brit in the top 10 as Jake Stewart sprinted to ninth for Groupama-FDJ.
The race continues with a 213km stage from Vasto to Melfi on Monday.
Poland’s Adrian Meronk breathed a sigh of relief after winning the DS Automobiles Open to boost his chances of securing a Ryder Cup debut.
Meronk held his nerve on the closing stretch to withstand the challenge of French pair Romain Langasque and Julien Guerrier at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club, which will host the Ryder Cup later this year.
Two birdies in the last three holes gave Meronk a final round of 69 and winning total of 13 under par, with Langasque a shot behind and 54-hole leader Guerrier another two strokes back.
“It’s such a relief to be honest,” Meronk told Sky Sports after claiming his third DP World Tour title.
“It was a tough day today. I didn’t play as good as previous days off the tee and tee to green so had to scramble a little bit, but super happy to come out on top and very proud of myself.”
Meronk’s victory lifted him to fifth in the European Points List and within 100 points of an automatic qualifying place for Luke Donald’s team as he bids to become the first Polish player to feature in the Ryder Cup.
“I think it’s a solid statement, a solid brick into the wall but it’s not over yet, I know that,” Meronk said.
“It’s still a lot of time but I’m super excited. It’s one of my big goals this year and it would mean a lot to me. I will keep pushing, keep doing what I can to get on that team but I think (today) should help a little bit.”
Guerrier took a one-shot lead into the final round but bogeyed the first two holes as Meronk and Langasque emerged as the most likely winners on a testing day.
Meronk gained a crucial advantage with his fifth birdie of the day on the short 16th before holing from 15 feet for par on the next as Langasque fell two behind with a bogey on 16.
Langasque bounced back superbly by chipping in for birdie on the 17th but, in the group ahead, Meronk two-putted from 75 feet for a closing birdie to effectively seal the win.
Lewis Hamilton has been warned by former rival Felipe Massa that it will be a gamble to leave Mercedes.
Hamilton’s contract with the Silver Arrows is up for renewal at the end of the year.
It is expected that the 38-year-old will extend his stay with the team which has carried him to six of his record-equalling seven world championships.
However, Mercedes’ indifferent start to the new campaign has led some to question as to whether Hamilton could shop around, with Ferrari a possible destination.
Speaking ahead of Sunday’s race at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium, team principal Toto Wolff described Hamilton’s unruly Mercedes as “a nasty piece of work”.
But Massa, who was at the Italian team for eight seasons and lost out to Hamilton by a single championship point in 2008, said: “Anything is possible, but I have doubts that it will happen.
“The relationship Lewis has with Mercedes is strong and to change that for Ferrari he would need to be sure what he is going to get.
“Ferrari have not proved they have the car to win the championship. Going there would be a bit of a gamble. If he cannot go to Red Bull, which is impossible with Max [Verstappen] there, I would stay at Mercedes.”
Hamilton will be 39 in January but the Briton appears determined to win a record eighth title.
In Miami, he even raised the prospect of racing into his fifties.
Massa, 42, who retired from the sport in 2017, said: “When I go to run I suffer more than when I was 30 or 25.
“The age will come to Lewis but he still has some years in front of him and you see what Fernando [Alonso, 41] is doing at Aston Martin. Lewis just doesn’t have the car, but maybe that will change.”
Former world eventing champion Ros Canter is within touching distance of a first Badminton Horse Trials title after she conquered punishing cross-country conditions to take pole position.
Lincolnshire-based Canter flourished with Lordships Graffalo – Badminton runners-up behind Laura Collett last year – on a day when many combinations floundered.
Double Olympic medallist Tom McEwen described the stamina-sapping going as “horrific”, and none of the starters threatened to jump clear inside the optimum time.
Canter collected 11.6 time penalties for an overnight score of 33.7, putting her nine penalties clear of Irish challenger Austin O’Connor and Colorado Blue, with McEwen’s Olympic team gold medal-winning colleague Oliver Townend third aboard Ballaghmor Class on 45.9.
Canter, who won the world crown in North Carolina five years ago, can afford to have two fences down in Monday’s showjumping finale and still land the £105,000 top prize.
Thirty combinations completed the cross-country test, with almost half the field either being eliminated or deciding to retire.
“It felt hard work in terms of galloping,” 37-year-old Canter said.
“He had to dig deep, but he is so honest and is a fantastic jumper. He is economical with his jumping, and you can’t get much better.
“A horse like him should be celebrated – I have not sat on anything like him before. Tomorrow is another day, but whatever happens, he is a star.”
O’Connor rocketed 32 places up the leaderboard after dressage, adding just 10.8 penalties to his score in pursuit of a crown that has not been won by an Irish rider since Major Eddie Boylan in 1965.
Cork-born O’Connor, who is based in Oxfordshire, said: “The horse was amazing. He is the real deal.
“It was the hardest he has had to try in a five-star event, but he is full of class. I’ve got a great team at home and they have kept him very fit.
“He is one of the best horses in the world, and I am a lot older than I look! I have ridden a lot of cross-country courses in the wet before.”
McEwen, meanwhile, lies fifth on Toledo De Kerser, just behind world number one Tim Price, with Gemma Stevens in sixth and Canter holding seventh spot aboard her second ride Pencos Crown Jewel.
Andy Murray claimed his first title since October 2019 with victory at the ATP Challenger event in Aix-en-Provence.
The Scot, playing with a metal hip, has not been in the winners’ circle since triumphing in Antwerp three and a half years ago and, although this is a second-tier tournament, he will take great pride in this confidence-boosting success ahead of the French Open.
Having breezed past lowly ranked French players on his run to the final, the standard was lifted and he came good, beating world number 17 Tommy Paul 2-6 6-1 6-2 to lift the title.
In doing so he ensures his return to the top 50 of the rankings and a first Challenger Tour level win for 18 years.
It looked like it might slip away after a poor start that saw him lose the first four games of the match to hand Paul, an Australian Open semi-finalist earlier this year, the advantage.
The 25-year-old American coasted to the first set, but that was as good as it got as Murray came to the fore.
He turned the tables by winning the first five games of the second set, including two breaks of serve, and soon levelled up.
Murray, eight days before his 36th birthday, broke in the opening game of the decider and did not look back as a second break consolidated his lead, allowing him to seal a memorable title.
The Scot only took a late wild card into the tournament following an early exit from the ATP Tour event in Madrid and will now decide whether to go Rome or rest and prepare for the French Open, which begins on May 22.
Peterborough boss Darren Ferguson praised his side’s first-half performance as they clinched the final Sky Bet League One play-off place with a 2-0 win at fourth-placed Barnsley.
Top scorer Jonson Clarke-Harris opened the scoring in the sixth minute, with Jack Taylor doubling the lead in the second half.
Peterborough will face Sheffield Wednesday – who beat Posh’s rivals Derby – in the play-off semi-finals, with Barnsley facing Bolton.
Ferguson said: “We got the result we needed and got a favour off Sheffield Wednesday, so it went exactly to plan.
“I thought we started the game ever so well, I’ve spoken all week about getting an early goal and making Derby nervous.
On his side’s second goal, Ferguson said: “The second goal was pivotal, obviously I’m aware Derby are losing I had to stick or twist to try and get a third.
“But in the end it didn’t matter because we managed to get the win.”
Wednesday led Derby at half-time and, asked whether that scoreline impacted his half-time team talk, Ferguson continued: “The main focus was on how we performed and making sure we did our bit.
“I did tell them Derby were getting beaten and were down to 10 men, I had to tell them because I didn’t want to be wasting an opportunity that was in front of us.”
Ferguson was asked whether past experience will help with the play-off games and responded: “It could do, I’m used to it. I enjoy these types of games and this time of the season, it’s very rare I don’t have much to play for whether it be promotion or relegation.”
Barnsley head coach Michael Duff said: “(I’m) a little bit frustrated, to be honest, we’ve been done by a set-play.
“It’s tough to replicate the intensity and concentration that’s needed to play in these types of games.
“Credit to Peterborough, they’re a good team. I’m frustrated about when the second goal came in, I think we went flat after that and never really looked like getting back into the game.
“The last two weeks have been tough, but we’ve had a brilliant season and now we need to tune in again.
Barry Cotter caught the eye for the hosts and Duff said: “He was one of the big ones today, I thought he was excellent.
“He’s got loads of physical attributes, sometimes he needs to simplify his game but I think we can coach him.
Captain Mads Andersen continues to be sidelined and Duff admitted: “It’s a concern, he’s still not training with the group.
“Hopefully he’ll be fine but our promotion hopes don’t depend on Mads Andersen.
Looking ahead to the upcoming double-header against Bolton, Duff added: “Tough games, but who are you going to pick that isn’t a tough game?
“The last couple of weeks have been tough but we can focus in now.”
Cambridge boss Mark Bonner described his side’s remarkable escape from relegation as a “brilliant achievement” and believes the U’s could be looking at a much brighter future.
United had looked destined for League Two as they sat seven points from safety with nine games remaining but they secured survival on a dramatic final day of the season.
A 2-0 success over Forest Green for Bonner’s side saw them climb out of the bottom four for the first time since January, with club stalwart Harrison Dunk and leading scorer Sam Smith netting in the first half.
News of MK Dons’ failure to win at Burton sparked wild celebrations at the Abbey Stadium, with Cambridge securing a third season in League One.
“We’re a club on the up,” said Bonner. “You look at the number of people here; four sides of the stadium full of Cambridge fans. What a day. I was a bit emotional first half.
“I said a few weeks back we’re going to need to finish as we started, or even maybe more to make sure that we got across the line. It seemed an improbable task at the time.
“Firstly we had to take it to the last week, then we were trying to take it to the last day, then we needed the football gods to shine on us.
“It’s a brilliant achievement for us to do it. Hopefully this gives us a chance of building and making sure that next year’s a stronger one.
“What a way to do it, last day of the season. It’s incredible really. It will be one that sticks in everyone’s mind at the end of a really brutal season.
“The season, the longer it went on, became one where we said we’re going to have to have a fight to stay in it. I’m absolutely thrilled that we have for everybody. I’d say it’s well deserved.”
Forest Green boss Duncan Ferguson felt weaknesses shown in Sunday’s game summed up his side’s season as they ended the campaign bottom of the table.
“We’ve had a problem with set-plays during the season, that did us for the first goal,” he said.
“It was an end-of-season game for us, really. Of course they were chasing something, but we were always in the game.
“We think we’ve had a genuine shout for a penalty at 2-0 down, so a couple of decisions never went for us, but we lacked a cutting edge.
“The final third really has been a problem most of the season. We’ve not scored enough goals and we can’t even defend the set0plays, so that’s a problem.
“I’m always gauging the players, always judging them every day in training to see if we’re going to be good enough for League Two, so we’re always assessing.
“It’s been a tough season, probably even since the January before that we’ve struggled to win games. We’ve lacked that real goalscorer who’s going to stick the ball in the net.”
Jodi Jones fired in a late winner deep into extra-time as Notts County came from two goals down to go through to the National League play-off final with a 3-2 win over Boreham Wood.
The visitors took a shock lead in the 38th minute when George Broadbent latched onto a long ball and fired across for Femi Ilesanmi who turned home from close range.
Boreham Wood doubled their advantage on the stroke of half-time when Lee Ndlovu took advantage of some slack County possession and found himself one-on-one with Sam Slocombe before slotting home.
County pulled one back straight after the break after Aden Baldwin was left in acres of space 25 yards out, he let fly and fired past Joe McDonnell to make it 2-1.
The Magpies had a chance to equalise from the spot after Ruben Rodrigues was brought down inside the area. He stepped up but saw his penalty kick palmed away by McDonnell as Boreham Wood hung onto their lead.
But County’s relentless pressure finally paid off in the dying minutes of stoppage time when Jones’ cross was turned home by Baldwin for his second of the game to send the tie into extra-time.
As penalties were looming, Jones let fly from long-range and although McDonnell got hands to it he could not keep it out and County had completed their comeback to book a place at Wembley.
An emotional Steve Cotterill revealed his disbelief after 10-man Shrewsbury ended their League One campaign with a 1-0 defeat at Lincoln.
Town dominated for over an hour but saw Luke Leahy and Rob Street hit the woodwork while Chey Dunkley and Jordan Shipley were denied by goalkeeper Carl Rushworth.
On-loan City midfielder Matty Virtue rammed home the only goal after 73 minutes, with only their second shot on target.
Max Sanders should have doubled the lead at the death but saw his penalty saved by Marko Marosi after Dunkley was sent off for upending Ben House in the box.
Cotterill fought back tears as he admitted how disappointed he was to head away from Sincil Bank pointless.
He said: “I can’t believe we have been beaten. I thought we were excellent. We were good value for the points, that’s it in a nutshell.
“Their keeper’s made some great saves, we’ve hit the bar twice and I just thought we were the better team by a mile.
“It is gut-wrenching because they have put in so much hard work. We wanted to finish in the top 10 and if we had won, which we should have done, it would least have put us up into 11th.
“It has, though, been real progression [this season] but it just doesn’t feel like it at the moment. I’m sad, I feel very sad.
“I am very proud of them. I am quite emotional – there has been so much adversity that we have had to fight through this season and we fought right up to the last minute.”
Lincoln’s win secured them 11th spot in the table, a position that delighted boss Mark Kennedy, who has just completed his first full season with the Imps.
He said: “It is beyond my wildest expectations. I’m not saying my expectations were low, it’s just that there were so many obstacles to overcome, so a huge thank you to the staff, the players, the board and the fans, who have been incredible. I just played a small part.”
Kennedy pointed to the introduction of Sanders midway through the second half as the turning point in the match, saying: “Max has been phenomenal this season.
“He has been a standout performer which says a lot as he hasn’t played a lot of football and he knows that. He completed changed the dynamics of the game.”
On match winner Virtue, he added: “I was quite frustrated with him early on as he was playing far too deep but he was much better in the second half and there was no surprise he got his goal.
“He has had an outstanding season and he is someone we are keen to get hold of.”
Portsmouth boss John Mousinho is optimistic about next season after an entertaining 2-2 draw at home to Wycombe.
Pompey equalised twice, through Marlon Pack and Paddy Lane, with Garath McCleary and Lewis Wing – with a long-range screamer – on target for the visitors in the final match of the 2022-23 Sky Bet League One campaign.
Mousinho said: “We could have scored more today. We had chance after chance after chance, but it just didn’t fall for us.
“Of the two conceded, the first one was sloppy, but the second was a wonder goal. One of those one-offs from about 50 yards.
“If today’s performance is anything to go by, then the future looks promising.
“Obviously the fans want us to shoot all the time but I felt that we did turn down a few opportunities to shoot in the first half.
“The way we build is excellent at times and I was absolutely thrilled with how we did that today.
“I think Paddy Lane has been excellent the last couple of games after a torrid six months. He’s looking good.”
Pompey were the dominant side in the first half, yet it was Wycombe who opened the scoring in the 31st minute.
A dreadful pass out from goalkeeper Josh Oluwayemi went straight to the feet of McCleary, who swept forward to power the ball under the goalkeeper’s body.
Pompey fought back and deservedly levelled in the 44th minute as a second corner in as many minutes saw a Michael Jacobs cross headed home by Pack at the back post.
The second half continued to entertain and in the 54th minute Wing hammered home from far out. However, Lane levelled 18 minutes later to ensure a point apiece.
Wycombe boss Matt Bloomfield is also looking forward to the next campaign.
He said: “We needed a good response to last week’s defeat (3-0 at home to Cheltenham) and I don’t think the players needed telling that. I’ve sensed in training that this sort of performance was possible today.
“There was anger in the team after last week, and with nearly a thousand supporters making the trip, they didn’t want to disappoint.
“We wanted to set the stall for next season, and I thought we did that. Three points would have been nice, but I thought a draw was fair overall.
“We could have had a winner at the end, and would question the offside decision, but that’s football.
“I thought we showed as an attacking threat overall. We certainly didn’t want to come here and play out a boring 90 minutes and a 0-0 before people go on their holidays.
“We’re excited about the future of this club. It’s a special place to be and I’m pleased to be here.”
Accrington boss John Coleman admitted his side “haven’t been good enough” this season after relegation was confirmed despite a 2-1 win at Oxford.
Stanley needed to win and overturn an improbable 16-goal difference to have a chance of staying up but Cambridge’s victory over Forest Green sealed their fate in any case.
Billy Bodin put the U’s ahead after eight minutes but Stanley hit back in the second half through substitute Korede Adedoyin and Aaron Pressley.
Coleman said: “We were all over the place in the first half. But we’ve given our all and we thoroughly deserved to win.
“Yes they had far better chances than us but that’s when your goalkeeper and your defenders need to make a good save or make blocks and we haven’t had enough of that this season.
“But we scored two good goals. The sickening thing is if we’d have won last week, we’d have stayed up. Over the course of the season we haven’t been good enough and we have to accept that.
“We have to do it the right way and get ourselves back on an even keel, steady the ship and go again for next season. It’s going to be a tough league and we’re going to have to be prepared for a battle.
“We have given away too many chances all season.
“We’ve got to focus our efforts on restructuring the squad, get players in who can compete and produce on a regular basis in League Two, and make sure we don’t go down a slippery pole.
“We won’t get kidded by the result today – we’ve just got to sign the right players.
“I won’t rush into making decisions about who goes out. I need to get the right decisions so that we find ourselves in a healthier shape than we have this season.”
Oxford head coach Liam Manning reflected on a poor finish and poor finishing.
He said: “It was very disappointing to lose the game, especially after the number of chances we had. It’s the story of the season for us really.
“But in the bigger picture there’s huge credit to the players for getting it done when they did, getting over the line to stay up.
“We’re missing composure. We create so many chances and we just have to convert them.
“We have to learn from this season. It’s such a difficult division, so competitive, if you don’t have the right culture and the players aren’t all in you can find yourself really up against it.
“We have to make sure we evaluate all of that and put it right for next season.
“I’ve had meetings about the building here already. We’ve got a lot of work to do to get the right culture.
“Some players will need to move on – but that’s the same at any club. I will have to make some tough decisions.
“Yes, we need a striker or a number nine who scores goals but it’s not just a number nine, we need players all over the park who can score goals from multiple positions.
“When I came in I had to prioritise key areas because they were playing the game slightly differently to the way I see the game or how I like so it was about altering the shape and the organisation and not giving away goals.
“I always felt that we needed to be harder to beat and not keep giving away three or four goals a game.
“We’ll have a look at the squad and then come back in the summer to make sure we do the things we need to get ourselves in the right half of the table next season.”
Ipswich missed out on the League One title but manager Kieran McKenna hailed his team’s “incredible” season after a final-game 2-2 draw at Fleetwood.
Substitutes Freddie Ladapo and Marcus Harness took runners-up Town’s final league goal tally to 101 and a 19th game unbeaten.
But a second-half double from one-time Ipswich academy product Jack Marriott denied the visitors a chance to rack up a century of points.
Ladapo and Harness scored either side of Marriott’s brace while Town finished with 10 men after Harry Clarke’s stoppage-time dismissal for his second booking.
“It wasn’t our best performance and we didn’t hit the levels we did across the large majority of the season,” said McKenna.
“We finished at home with a 6-0 (win over Exeter) which was such a wonderful day, probably the best day in a lot of the players’ lives.
“We wanted to hit those levels again but the players are only human.
“They and the staff work so hard and train to levels of intensity and professionalism that are really high.
“That is why performances have been at the consistent levels they have been.
“We didn’t have that same edge and intensity this week for obvious reasons.
“When we don’t we aren’t such a good team. It was a little reminder for everyone going into next season that what separates us is the intensity and focus that we work with day to day.
“That’s what we need to do many times over next year. But I have great pride in the season.
“We wanted to finish it off with a win but there is still an awful lot to be pleased about.
“It has been an incredible season in so many ways on and off the pitch. Everyone can take the next week to enjoy that.
“But after that we will be already starting to refocus for next season to be as ready as we can be.”
Fleetwood’s point saw them finish 13th, drawing both games with promoted Town.
“We need to make sure we push towards the play-offs (next season),” said manager Scott Brown. “Or as far up the league as we possibly can.
“Our budget won’t be anywhere near some of the teams in this league. But the chairman has ambition so I think we all must dream high.
“Over the two games against Ipswich we competed really well against a team who has been promoted.
“We knew they would come here expecting to win. But we didn’t worry about them and our performance typified our season.
“There was no pressure on us so we could go and show our talent and compete.”
SportsMax is the Caribbean sports channel of choice, committed to providing sporting content of the highest quality to the Caribbean, delivered by a team of highly innovative, passionate and qualified professionals.
(876) 619-7629
digitalmedia@sportsmax.tv
