Frosinone coach Eusebio Di Francesco feels his side will have to play beyond their limits when they face the “most complete” team Inter Milan at the San Siro on Sunday.
The Nerazzurri secured a place in the Champions League knockout stages with a 1-0 win away at RB Salzburg on Wednesday night, which was a fifth-straight victory through all competitions.
Simone Inzaghi’s side, though, were knocked off the top of Serie A after Juventus beat Cagliari on Saturday.
Frosinone, who were promoted to the top flight this season, got themselves back on track last weekend with victory over Empoli, having lost back-to-back league games.
Canaries coach Di Francesco, though, is all too aware of just what challenge awaits his side at the San Siro.
“I believe that in order to compete with Inter we will have to outdo ourselves,” Di Francesco said.
“Inter are the most complete team, they are difficult to face and a club who have given continuity to the work of their coach.
“He has many weapons at his disposal, they are so difficult to deal with from all points of view.
“But what is most scary about Inter is the awareness, the knowledge they have among themselves which makes them a tough team to beat.
“If so far we have put in 10 out of 10, now to be able to compete with this Inter we will have to put in, I won’t say double, but come close.
“We must go and play this match with the same enthusiasm we have had so far.”
Despite the challenges ahead, Di Francesco wants his side to stay true to the values which have helped push them towards the top half of the table.
“In terms of the characteristics of the players who will be involved, the right solutions must be chosen, but we must not lose our identity and our principles of play,” said Di Francesco, who took over the newly-promoted side in the summer following the departure of Fabio Grosso.
“We must rely on the fact of enthusiasm, of the great desire to go and play the match.”
The Frosinone coach told a press conference: “I don’t share the concept that it’s not possible to face Inter with a smile and try to have fun – factors that will have to accompany us until the end of the championship this season.”
Di Francesco feels his players must focus on their collective goal, rather than get swept up in the occasion.
“I tried to tell my boys that when you enter the pitch in any stadium the strength lies in putting two plugs in your ears and to just focus on your team’s goal,” he said.
“That is what I did this week too, I didn’t give much weight to the match itself.
“I made it clear that we will have a strong team to fight against, however that doesn’t mean just standing behind them, but we must also be trying to fight back.”
Inter coach Inzaghi did not hold a media conference ahead of Sunday’s Serie A fixture.
Inzaghi is expected to recall Nicolo Barella after the midfielder did not feature in the Champions League.
Nerazzurri captain Lautaro Martinez started on the bench in Salzburg before coming on during the second half and scoring the late penalty which secured a 1-0 win.
Kieran Trippier confronted angry Newcastle fans following their 2-0 defeat at Bournemouth.
The injury-hit Magpies were downed by Dominic Solanke’s second-half double on the south coast.
As the players went to applaud the travelling fans after the final whistle, England full-back Trippier was filmed on social media responding to a supporter by saying: “Are the lads not giving everything? How many injuries have we got?”
Afterwards, Trippier played down the incident. He told Sky Sports: “The fans are emotional, they have travelled a long way.
“I had a chat with one of them, saying we are giving everything and there’s no need to panic.
“We got beat and we apologise for that result, but the lads are giving everything.”
Manager Eddie Howe admitted he understood the fans’ frustrations. “Kieran is fine. Emotions run high,” he said.
“We all feel a bit emotional after that from our perspective. We value all our away support, we value them greatly. We thank them for their support.”
It was a nightmare return to Bournemouth for Howe, who saw his side’s seven-match unbeaten Premier League run end and their injury crisis deepen.
The Magpies were already missing 11 players through injury and suspension after Callum Wilson injured a hamstring in the midweek defeat at Borussia Dortmund. Howe revealed Wilson will withdraw from the England squad and faces a spell on the sidelines.
They then lost Miguel Almiron to another hamstring problem midway through the first half.
The long casualty list meant a first Premier League start for 17-year-old Lewis Miley in central midfield.
Such are Newcastle’s lack of options they ended the match with Ben Parkinson, an 18-year-old who had never previously made a first-team appearance, playing alone in attack.
“It was a game where we couldn’t be where we needed to be for it and it was a tough watch. We were unrecognisable today,” added Howe, who was the Cherries manager the last time they beat Newcastle in 2017.
“It was a real off day. There are reasons, but I don’t want to sit here and make excuses. I want to support the players.”
The only surprise was that it took dominant Bournemouth an hour before they made the breakthrough.
Joe Willock challenged Antoine Semenyo, the ball rolled off him into the path of Solanke who raced into the area and lashed his shot inside Nick Pope’s near post.
Bournemouth doubled the lead from a corner, Solanke flicking the rebound home with his heel after Luis Sinisterra’s header hit a post.
It secured only a second win of the season for Bournemouth and lifted them out of the bottom three.
Boss Andoni Iraola said: “I think we really deserved this win. We played well and had good chances. Luckily we finished the job in the second half.
“Dom has been very good for us. On the ball and off the ball, he helps his team-mates. He missed chances in the first half, but cleared his mind and continued playing the same way.”
Eddie Howe’s return to Bournemouth turned into a nightmare after Dominic Solanke’s double condemned Newcastle to a 2-0 defeat.
Howe, who was the Cherries manager the last time they beat Newcastle in 2017, saw his side’s seven-match unbeaten Premier League run end and their injury crisis deepen.
The Magpies were already missing 11 players through injury and suspension after Callum Wilson tweaked a hamstring in the midweek defeat at Borussia Dortmund.
They then lost Miguel Almiron to what looked like another hamstring problem midway through the first half.
The long casualty list meant a first Premier League start for 17-year-old Lewis Miley in central midfield.
Such are Newcastle’s lack of options they ended the match with Ben Parkinson, an 18-year-old who had never previously made a first-team appearance, playing alone in attack.
It was therefore little surprise to see Bournemouth dominate the match, although they had to wait for an hour before Solanke finally made the breakthrough.
Just 40 seconds had elapsed when Ryan Christie, who signed a new Cherries contract this week, tested Nick Pope with a drive from the edge of the area.
It set the tone for the evening and moments later Antoine Semenyo burst through and forced as fine save from the Toon keeper, down low to his left.
Bournemouth welcomed back Brazilian keeper Neto after a spell out injured and he had to be on his toes to tip over Sean Longstaff’s 20-yard shot from Newcastle’s only real attack.
Solanke should have given the hosts the lead after he raced on to Semenyo’s ball over the top, but he delayed his shot and Jamaal Lascelles slid in to make a last-ditch block.
Then Justin Kluivert, whose father Patrick played for Newcastle, let fly from 20 yards forcing Pope into another sharp save.
With the visitors under the cosh, Pope saved again from Christie and Semenyo poked across goal and wide as they somehow made it to half-time goalless.
Bournemouth almost fell behind after the break when Neto made a mess of Kieran Trippier’s free-kick, but Solanke was on hand to clear the danger.
Solanke then went back to the day job at the other end of the pitch and promptly broke the deadlock.
When Joe Willock challenged Semenyo, the ball rolled off him into the path of the former Liverpool striker, who raced into the area and lashed his shot inside Pope’s near post.
Pope saved a fierce drive from Marcus Tavernier shot but Bournemouth doubled the lead from the following corner, Solanke flicking the rebound home with his heel after Luis Sinisterra’s header hit a post.
It secured only a second win of the season for Bournemouth and lifted them out of the bottom three, while Newcastle head into the international break licking their wounds.
Second-half goals from Bremer and Daniele Rugani helped Juventus move to the Serie A summit with a 2-1 home win over Cagliari.
Massimiliano Allegri’s side struggled to break down the visitors during a tense first half, but finally made the breakthrough when Bremer headed home a free-kick by Filip Kostic in the 60th minute.
Kostic created the second 10 minutes later when Rugani bundled his delivery over the line, but there would be no seventh consecutive clean sheet for the hosts after Alberto Dossena reduced the deficit to set up a grandstand finish.
Juventus were able to hold on to at least temporarily take over at the top from previous leaders Inter, who play Frosinone on Sunday before the title rivals do battle in a fortnight after the upcoming international break.
Adrien Rabiot was suspended for Allegri’s side in Turin, which meant Andrea Cambiaso was drafted into the starting line-up as a result.
Chances during the opening exchanges were few and far between with more focus off the pitch with 24-time tennis grand-slam champion Novak Djokovic in attendance at Allianz Stadium.
It was Claudio Ranieri’s Cagliari who fashioned the first opportunity, but Nicolas Viola dragged wide from a promising position in the 10th minute.
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The hosts responded soon after with Federico Chiesa curling a free-kick harmlessly over before the visitors threatened again when Dossena headed wide from a corner.
Chances remained limited in a tight first half, but Weston McKennie went close to a superb goal on the cusp of half-time.
McKennie started the move deep inside Juventus’ half and got on the end of Kostic’s cross, although he could only flick off target to ensure it stayed goalless at the break.
Allegri’s men came out with better intent after the interval and Chiesa tested Simone Scuffet inside 60 seconds, but the Cagliari goalkeeper was equal to the effort.
Chiesa was in the mood now and sent an ambitious volley over before he rifled wide after a dangerous cross from Kostic.
Kostic’s delivery was beginning to cause the away side problems and the opener finally arrived on the hour mark.
A free-kick from the wing-back picked out Bremer, who powered a header into the far corner for his first goal of the campaign.
One quickly became two when another Kostic set-piece resulted in Rugani bundling the ball into the net from close range in the 70th-minute.
The goal was not without controversy after Rugani first diverted Kostic’s corner onto the crossbar with his hand in close proximity before he was able to chest the loose ball in to make it 2-0.
A VAR check allowed the goal to be given, but Cagliari reduced the deficit with 16 minutes left.
Jakub Jankto’s corner was powered home by Dossena to give Ranieri’s side hope of earning their veteran manager his 700th point in Serie A.
There would be no happy ending for Ranieri at the home of his old club Juventus after Dossena’s late header hit a post and Gaetano Oristanio sent another effort wide.
Empoli head coach Aurelio Andreazzoli has urged his side to look for “continuity” ahead of a tough test against Napoli on Sunday.
Napoli are currently fourth in Serie A following a mixed start to the season, but they closed the gap on the top with a 2-0 win against Salernitana last weekend.
The reigning champions could leapfrog AC Milan into third in the table with a win against Empoli, but Andreazzoli wants his side to “move forward” for their upcoming fixtures.
“Napoli are extremely strong, but for us this doesn’t change the picture of what we have to do,” he told reporters.
“Frosinone also proved to be a tough opponent, which is why we need to focus on ourselves. There is time to grow but we have to move forward, for us it is a necessity.
“What Naples do I expect? I can’t know, (Rudi) Garcia is another friend of mine who I worked with, an excellent and scrupulous person. There was no coach who could replace Spalletti and do better than what Luciano did.”
Empoli are second from bottom in the table having only won two of their 11 league games so far this season and although they face a tough visit to the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, Andreazzoli hopes they can seek “continuity” in their performances.
He added: “We have to look for continuity, in the last match we played the game we wanted but our opponents were better.
“But we played a good game, because if we had gone ahead by two goals in the first half there would have been nothing to say.
“We had a blackout for part of the game which is inconceivable for what our team has in mind. We must always be proactive, even risking something.
“Tomorrow’s race is excellent in this sense, we can’t wait to compete with those who are better to understand who we are.”
Burton boss Dino Maamria was heavily critical of his side’s “really poor” performance as they were beaten 2-0 by out-of-form Northampton at Sixfields.
A tight first half ended in stalemate but the Cobblers dominated the second and goals from Marc Leonard and Sam Hoskins ended their six-game winless run in all competitions.
Burton themselves are now five games without a win in all competitions and their manager had no complaints.
“It was a poor performance,” admitted Maamria. “We were outfought and outplayed and the second half especially was really poor.
“There wasn’t much in the first half so the message at half-time was to push more bodies forward and play more forward but we didn’t do that.
“They scored a brilliant goal and that probably galvanised them but I’m really disappointed with our response because we didn’t get going after that and they dominated us.
“The most disappointing thing is that we were outfought in every department. They won first and second balls, they closed us down, they got behind the ball quicker and they asked more questions.
“There are ways to lose games and you don’t lose like we did today. Northampton are in a difficult moment and the goal helped them and they finished the game better, but we were outfought and that’s not like us.
“We missed easy chances. We should have got one goal back near the end and if you do that, it’s a different game, but we deserved absolutely nothing today and I’m gutted for our fans because they turned up in their numbers.”
It was a much-needed win for Northampton boss Jon Brady.
“I’m really pleased with the performance,” he said. “We needed that and every player came to the table.
“That’s the type of energy, work-rate and tempo we need because that’s our tempo.
“It’s been tough because we’ve been playing the same players week in, week out but today we were able to freshen it up with players coming back in. That makes one hell of a difference and we looked more physical and had more about us.
“The game opened up in the second half. Tactically, they went to 4-4-2 so the midfield opened up more and if we won their balls in good areas, we were able to get in behind us and play forward and more space opened up.
“That helped us and then we broke on them brilliantly after we got the first goal.
“On top of that, our energy to get back into shape was excellent so a lot of key things worked for us today and the boys implemented what we had worked on so full credit to them.”
Sean Dyche praised Everton’s improved mentality away from home after he watched his side beat Crystal Palace 3-2 at Selhurst Park to make it back-to-back Premier League victories on the road.
Twice in south London Everton surrendered their lead but neither time were they deterred and they finally nicked it with a goal from Idrissa Gueye four minutes from the end.
Dyche, whose side beat West Ham at the London Stadium on their last Premier League away day, said he saw clear signs that his players are forging a mentality to win consistently away from Goodison Park.
“Obviously topsy-turvy,” said Dyche. “We started so well, with a fantastic goal. They responded with a moment we should have dealt with earlier. They get a soft penalty from our point of view.
“Then really it was a strange game after that. I don’t think anyone really gripped the first half, and second half (Palace) did. I thought they were very good. I think we had to work very hard.
“I think the mentality I’m trying to work with the players on is the belief in finding different ways of winning games, and I think we’re showing that.
“We had to do it last week against Brighton, so nearly won but got a good point. Then coming (to Palace) today.
“Away form here was a big question mark when got here. We’re beginning to change the mentality towards these games. That was on show today.”
Vitalii Mykolenko headed in Jack Harrison’s cross after only 55 seconds but Eberechi Eze, on his first start since returning from a hamstring injury, levelled from the penalty spot four minutes later.
Abdoulaye Doucoure restored Everton’s lead minutes after the break, but again Palace fought back to level when Odsonne Edouard capitalised on James Tarkowski’s error to score.
The hosts could not hold on to a point, though, as Gueye struck late to win it after latching on to Doucoure’s excellent through-ball.
Mykolenko, who had a hand in Doucoure’s goal, put in one of his best performances in an Everton shirt and Dyche said he felt the Ukrainian’s progression encapsulated his side’s improved approach in recent weeks.
“He’s beginning to mature into himself really as a player and in his Everton career,” he said. “I think he can defend, he’s beginning to show that he can go forwards, he wants to get into the right areas.
“It’s a fantastic header and he’s nearly got a brace with a lovely strike, a controlled effort at goal.”
Palace boss Roy Hodgson reflected on a match that ultimately slipped away from his side despite a gallant effort to twice recover from falling behind.
“I’m sad, I’m frustrated,” he said. “Early goals in each half, we had to come from behind twice.
“We had to work very hard to come from behind twice and put in a very good effort. We had a lot of the ball and worked hard to create those chances.
“To then concede a third goal and lose the game, that’s hard to take.”
Erik ten Hag says Manchester United need to start making life easier for themselves after his under-fire side secured a much-needed victory against promoted Luton before the international break.
This has been a chastening second season in the dugout for the Dutchman, with Wednesday’s 4-3 Champions League collapse in Copenhagen making it nine defeats in just 17 matches.
United could ill-afford another shock as Luton came to Old Trafford on Saturday afternoon, when a mixture of poor finishing and fine goalkeeping by Thomas Kaminski frustrated the hosts.
Rasmus Hojlund, Alejandro Garncho and Marcus Rashford all had good chances, but in the end defender Victor Lindelof was the unlikely match winner in a 1-0 Premier League triumph.
“We could have made life more easy if you score goals, but we create many chances,” boss Ten Hag said.
“First half, I observed four 100 per cent chances. If you get the first then you get the second, it becomes more easy.
“But if you don’t score, then you know they can always drop a ball in the box and you are in trouble.
“So we had to fight to the end and it’s maybe not the prettiest, but I am happy we created many chances.”
Asked if the lack of cutting edge is a confidence issue, Ten Hag said: “I don’t think it is particularly a confidence thing because Rasmus Hojlund scored five goals in the Champions League.
“He came full of confidence into this game and it will come.
“Rashford scored 30 goals last season. Obviously he’s now not scoring but there will come a day he starts scoring again.
“I think the other offensive players like Garnacho, they are capable of scoring goals, so it will come.
“But what is good, we already have 13 different goalscorers in our team, so it expresses the way we want to play football.
“Everyone is attacking, everyone is defending, and also defenders with us can score goals.”
Ten Hag will be hoping this victory did not come at too great a cost, with Hojlund and Christian Eriksen limping off and requiring further assessment once their respective issues have settled down.
The United boss will be hoping the Danish duo are available in a fortnight’s time when they return from the international break with a Premier League trip to Everton.
It is a match Ten Hag will serve a touchline ban for after collecting his third booking of the season in stoppage time.
“So it was about a moment so clear, a throw-in, but it was the second time,” the United manager said.
“I was on top of it. It was so clear and obvious our ball. It was my remark, so therefore I got booked.
“We have a very competent coaching staff and they will take over of course (at Everton).
“Until a certain point I can be involved but, as I say, my coaching staff is very competent.”
United head into November’s break on 21 points from 12 matches – a perhaps surprising return given their poor performances to date.
Ten Hag’s side will be desperate to kick on after the internationals, as will Luton after winning just one match since promotion via the play-offs.
Rob Edwards’ side conceded late on in last weekend’s 1-1 draw with Liverpool and produced another promising performance at Old Trafford.
“Obviously we’re disappointed not to get anything from the game,” the Town boss said.
“I want to be on more points but in terms of where we are, we are in the fight that we thought we would be in – and everybody probably thought we were going to be in that.
“But we are progressing and improving in the way I hoped.
“I think we learned pretty quickly after the first two games and since then I think we’ve been harder to beat.”
Steven Naismith savoured a “big win” for Hearts as two goals from Lawrence Shankland helped see off Motherwell at Fir Park.
The Tynecastle side had been under rising pressure after a mixed start to the season but this victory moved them up into fourth place in the table.
Naismith was pleased with his side’s performance but knew they would need to replicate it after the international break.
He said: “It was a big win because of our previous results.
“It’s important you stop that and get the points you need as quickly as possible. I thought we did that with what was a really good performance overall.
“It should have been a bigger margin because we had a couple more chances and we should have had a penalty or two. But the positive is that when Motherwell scored, we defended really well in the dying moments.
“That had been questioned with us losing some quick goals back to back in games. There’s a demand and an expectation.
“That’s not just one week and then it’s off. It’s there every week. It’s pleasing the way we performed got us that.
“A big question of this squad has been their away form which has been really poor over the years. That’s now four away games this season that we’ve won. It’s something that takes time.
“There are some moments you want to be better but you hope over time they get eradicated and the good stuff shines through. But if we don’t keep winning, the pressure comes.
“In this job you’re always under pressure. Even after this win, you’ll be under pressure from somebody.”
Motherwell, who scored through a late Blair Spittal penalty, have now gone nine games without a win and manager Stuart Kettlewell will try to find solutions on the training ground over the next fortnight.
He said: “What we have to do over the international break is work hard.
“I never shied away from that even when we were winning games. You have to put the hours in and that’s what we’re going to do again.
“That’s the only way we’re going to get out of this poor run and we can’t shirk it or hide from it. That’s the challenge that has been laid down to the players.
“People are asking questions about the run we’ve been on and I get that and accept it. But I believe we have the people and the formula to arrest this form we’re in.”
Russell Martin was proud that Southampton found a new way to win as they extended their unbeaten run to eight matches with a 2-1 victory over West Brom.
Will Smallbone and Adam Armstrong’s strikes maintained Saints’ promotion push, but it came in a much scrappier style than Martin would have liked.
The Baggies dominated the second half, equalised through Kyle Bartley and could have led but Darnell Furlong’s header came back off the crossbar.
Saints boss Martin said: “It was a different win to those we’ve had previously.
“I just said to the players it was built on character, spirit and togetherness. The energy from the crowd was amazing as well. It was that rather than dominance and control.
“They are one of the best teams we’ve played. I have so much respect for Carlos (Corberan). They make it seriously difficult for you. They have a lot of power and athleticism.
“In the second half the momentum swung and we were too untidy on the ball. Their goal was coming, we weren’t good enough in that period.
“We wanted the chance to fall to Adam, with his finishing abilities and mentalities.
“I enjoyed watching my players play and fight for each other. It is a big difference to the way we defended the goal at the start of the season.
“I can’t be entirely pleased with the performance but I can be proud of the way we won in a different way.
“I think the fans are now understanding the team and I hope they are starting to enjoy it. They stuck with it through a tough period.”
Saints took the lead in the fifth minute when Stuart Armstrong cut back to Adam Armstrong from the byline. His shot was saved but the rebound fell to Smallbone to convert from close range.
Conor Townsend thought he had cleared off the line but the goal-line technology confirmed West Brom had conceded the first goal in a match for the first time since September.
The visitors equalised after banging at the door for an extended spell. Brandon Thomas-Asante powered a header from Jed Wallace’s cross, with centre-back Bartley following up to bundle over the line for his second of the season.
The momentum continued when Townsend’s wicked cross was attacked by Darnell Furlong and crashed against the crossbar.
But Adam Armstrong went straight up the other end to calmly pull down Ryan Fraser’s cross and finish.
With Jan Bednarek suspended, Mason Holgate was given a rare start and Martin said: “Mason gave a brilliant performance today.
“Mason has had to wait for his opportunities. I put him in too early and he’s bounced back perfectly. The crowd were brilliant to give him man of the match.”
West Brom boss Corberan thought his side deserved a point for their second-half endeavour.
“I am not happy because we didn’t win,” he said. “We need to keep growing and attack better in their box and defend better in our box.
“If you analyse the way we play you will see how well we played in the second half. The volume of attack in the second half was more than the first.
“The fair result would have been a point for both teams.
“Every time we have lost the game before the international break but we have improved afterwards. If we can have those good performances as standard then we can be a competitive team.
“We need to do it against every type of opponent.
“We needed to be perfect today against a team like Southampton. We weren’t perfect in the first half and we weren’t perfect in finishing in the second half or how we defended their winner.
“We are frustrated because we go home with nothing.”
Valerien Ismael hailed a “great performance” after his Watford side heaped further misery on struggling Rotherham with a 5-0 thumping at Vicarage Road.
Watford endured a tricky start to the campaign, but are now six games unbeaten and charging up the Sky Bet Championship table after their biggest victory of the season.
Despite just six places separating the two sides heading into the game, the gulf in class was evident throughout, with Mileta Rajovic scoring twice before second-half goals from Edo Kayembe, Tom Ince and Matheus Martins.
“We came out of the challenge of losing three games very well,” said Ismael. “I think now we have built something strong.
“We need to recover because the next massive block will come in the big December games. But now we feel more ready.
“We know the players better and what type of players we need for each game. It was a learning process, but we feel we are moving in the right direction. Now the results show up.
“With the feeling we’ve had from the beginning that we are on the right path and now the results are showing, it will help to build our confidence.”
Watford’s two first-half goals came in near-identical fashion, with Ken Sema providing perfect deliveries from the left flank for Rajovic to finish inside the six-yard box.
Kayembe added the third after 54 minutes, turning his defender after Ryan Porteous had driven at the Rotherham defence.
Substitutes Ince and Martins then completed the rout late on with the visitors paying the price for making all of their changes and playing the final 10 minutes a man down after Cafu added to their long injury list.
“The first two goals were exactly what we wanted, to come around the block of the defender,” said Ismael. “We have to cross more, to shoot more, to force the opponent to defend more, just to keep the pressure on.
“Today was a team performance because the bench, the players who came in, gave us another breath and got their reward. Another clean sheet and five goals, a great performance.”
Defeat leaves Rotherham four points adrift of safety and without a win on the road for more than a year – a run that stretched to 21 league games.
Already battling a lengthy list of absentees, they lost Cafu, Daniel Ayala and Sam Clucas to worrying hamstring injuries.
“It’s a painful result, but the end is even more painful,” said Rotherham manager Matt Taylor. “The result is a big blow, but to lose three players of that calibre, for a team like Rotherham, is massive for us.
“I didn’t think there was much in the first half, but the game was past us before we could do anything about it.
“We’ve not trained since Tuesday so people can’t say we’re working them too hard. This league, to a team like Rotherham with our personnel, really highlights our weaknesses.”
On his side’s dreadful away record, he added: “We’ve not been good enough away from home. Last season we ground out enough points for survival. I didn’t see enough of that grind and stubbornness today.
“It’s tough at the moment. If you get anything away from home for Rotherham United you’ve done really well.
“Our fans can sing and shout whatever they want – I totally understand that because when you’re getting beaten every away trip. Why should you spend your hard-earned money to watch us?”
Mikel Arteta made a point of praising the officials and VAR as 10-man Arsenal beat Burnley to move level with Premier League leaders Manchester City,
Fabio Vieira was sent off late on for a high challenge on Josh Brownhill, who had earlier cancelled out a brave Leandro Trossard opener.
But Arsenal had already secured the points by the time Vieira was dismissed, William Saliba heading them back in front before Oleksandr Zinchenko secured the points with an acrobatic volley.
Arteta could yet face a Football Association charge after he criticised the officials during a 1-0 loss at Newcastle last week, having been asked to provide his observations having called the winning goal “embarrassing” and a “disgrace.
Here, though, he was keen to play to the gallery and made sure he hammered home his praise of the referees.
“With the red card… yes, VAR was right, he said.
“The referee was right. Really good decision, really positive from Mikel to speak about that! Good decision.”
He later added to talkSPORT: “Please ask me about VAR because today it was good.
“I hope that I’m on TV saying the referees are so good and I’m completely with them and being very constructive.”
Trossard was the difference-maker for the Gunners, the Belgium international once again starting as the central striker and breaking the deadlock with a close-range finish that saw him clatter into Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford and the post.
He recovered to lay on the corner from which Saliba scored and it was another Trossard set-piece that led to Zinchenko’s fine scissor-kick.
“I think he connects everybody. He’s so intelligent,” Arteta said of Trossard.
“I think he moves in ways that attracts people that generates spaces and options for people.
“Today he did that really good because it was so difficult and the spaces were so small to attack. He gave us a lot of threat and possibilities to connect and find spaces for us.
“He put your body on the line if it’s necessary, and that was it. It’s the 1,000th goal at the Emirates – a beautiful number.
“I’m very happy with him. I think every time you ask him to play whether it’s wide or as a nine, it flows and he has a real threat. So I’m really happy with him.”
Burnley could end the weekend bottom of the table after a 10th defeat in 12 league games since their return to the top flight.
But manager Vincent Kompany believes the Clarets continue to show resilience in their battle against the drop.
“We were solid first half. To concede the way we conceded is avoidable. It’s football. Good teams are there for a reason,” he said.
“Our team is as hard working as you like and resilient as you like. The club is filled with good, hard-working people. In the games we’re not expecting to have their level but we want to give ourselves a chance. This team wants to embrace this challenge.”
Kylian Mbappe scored a hat-trick as Paris St Germain won 3-0 at Reims for a fifth straight Ligue 1 victory to move top of the table.
Luis Enrique’s side produced the required response from the midweek Champions League defeat by AC Milan to keep the pressure on Nice, who were held to a goalless draw at Montpellier on Friday night.
However, despite taking an early lead, PSG had to overcome some testing spells at Stade Auguste-Delaune before Mbappe settled matters late on.
Mbappe had given the visitors a perfect start by opening the scoring after just three minutes with a superb finish.
Ousmane Dembele swung the ball in from the right and Mbappe dispatched a fine volley back into the bottom corner from the left side of the penalty area.
Reims, though, were soon on the offensive themselves and had an equaliser ruled out.
Mohamed Daramy sent Junya Ito away down the left channel and the Japan international slotted a composed finish past Gianluigi Donnarumma.
The home side’s celebrations, though, were shortlived as the goal was swiftly ruled out for offside.
Ito was soon involved again as he put Marshall Munetsi in down the right side of the PSG penalty area but he slashed his shot wide.
A low free-kick from the Japan forward looked to be creeping in at the near post but Donnarumma got down to make a smart reaction save.
Azor Matusiwa then fired wide after latching on to a stray pass out from Donnarumma before Emmanuel Agbadou’s effort sailed just over.
Amir Richardson was denied by another fine stop from the PSG keeper at point-blank range just before the break.
Cheered on by a vocal home support, Reims threatened again early in the second half when Agbadou’s header from a corner was pushed away by Donnarumma.
PSG, though, made their hosts pay for spurning numerous chances to get themselves level when Mbappe doubled the lead just before the hour.
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Carlos Soler got away down the right and cut the ball back for the Frenchman to slot in his second.
With 10 minutes left, Mbappe completed his hat-trick, sweeping home a cut-back from substitute Bradley Barcola.
It was almost four for the French World Cup winner, who continues to be linked with a move to Real Madrid, when he rattled the crossbar from close range late on.
Bristol Rovers caretaker manager Andy Mangan was full of praise for his 10-man side’s desire after earning a hard-fought 1-0 win at Carlisle.
Sam Lavelle’s own goal before half-time proved to be the difference as Rovers, who extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to five matches, rose to 10th place in the League One table and United dropped to 22nd.
The Pirates went a man down in the 73rd minute as Tristan Crama pulled back Terry Ablade to deny a clear goalscoring opportunity, but they held on for victory.
“I’m delighted for them to be honest,” said Mangan, who has overseen three wins and a draw since taking interim charge following the sacking of Joey Barton.
“Their endeavour, their hard work, their desire to see that through after the sending-off is amazing. The lads deserve all the credit that they can get.”
The winning goal came in the 38th minute, when the returning Jack Hunt’s cross took a wicked deflection off opposition defender Lavelle and looped into the net.
Mangan said a change of shape played a key part in securing all three points.
“I just felt we could hurt them in wide areas,” he added.
“I think in the first 20 minutes you saw some really decent chances for us on the counter, when we hit them on the break.
“Jack Hunt was getting crosses in wide. Harvey Vale was then landing on them because they play a four. So the change of shape actually helped us.
“I thought we were a little bit more dangerous on the counter-attack and also, because they’re a little bit direct, what we could do was catch their long balls and then pick up a few more balls in the middle of the park with the three in the middle. It went to plan, thankfully, in the end.”
Carlisle boss Paul Simpson described the decisive goal as a “horrible” one to give away, but was keen to avoid blaming the result entirely on bad luck.
“It’s those fine margins that we keep falling on the wrong side of,” he said.
“There’s other things that we need to concern ourselves with, rather than just that.
“It’d be wrong to just look at that and say we were unlucky because you have to make your own luck.
“We’ve had 23 crosses into the box, we’ve had 10 corners, we’ve had six free-kicks, we’ve had five long throw-ins. We haven’t got on the end of enough of them. We haven’t troubled their goalkeeper.
“And, the big thing for me, we have to get to a mental state where we’ve got a desire to go and score goals and to get on the end of things.
“They’ve had some decent bits of football – I’ll give them that – and they’ve got some good footballers in there, but they haven’t troubled us a hell of a lot in terms of our goal.”
Ian Evatt called George Thomason’s stunning match winner “very special” as Bolton’s fifth straight Skybet League One victory was made in Blackpool.
Midfielder Thomason, let go by the Seasiders at 16, netted a superb 74th-minute strike to the delight of ex-Bloomfield Road favourite, Evatt, with the Tangerines beaten 1-0.
“Football throws up these stories sometimes,” said the Bolton boss who earned promotion to the Premier League during his seven-year career on the Fylde Coast.
“For a young boy to be released by Blackpool and score the winner for Bolton is something very special.
“I am very proud of him. But I am proud of them all because that was a very tough game.
“That club (Blackpool) is dear to my heart but so is this one. There is nobody happier than me that we won that game “
Bolton did not have things all their own way with Karamoko Dembele hitting a post, Matt Pennington heading wide and CJ Hamilton failing to convert James Husband’s second-half cross.
“What an advert for League One football,” enthused Evatt after a derby watched by 24,238 fans.
“I thought it was such a high-quality game, two teams that are good with and without the ball.
“I thought we shaded it, to be honest, had the better chances, and we raised the tempo second half.
“The togetherness in the group, the people they are, they are amazing. I can’t wait to get back out on the grass with them again on Monday. It excites me working with this group of players.”
Pool chief manager Neil Critchley reckoned he had been more annoyed after seeing his team win this season.
But he remained upset a potential handball by Thomason was not punished with a penalty by referee Ben Toner.
“It was a good game played between two good teams in the right spirit,” he said echoing Evatt’s words. “It took a fantastic strike from outside the box to decide it.
“I can’t fault the way we played or the effort. I have been angrier after some of the games we have won this season.
“I am disappointed to lose any game. It is a horrible feeling and with the following we had who got right behind the team you want to send them home happy.
“Performance wise though, we contributed to a good game. We knew they were in form but I thought we more than matched them.
“There wasn’t anything in it really. We just didn’t work their keeper when we created our chances.
“But For me there was a clear handball and penalty. The referee can see it, he should give it but he didn’t.
“One big decision he had to make he got it strong. You need those things to go for you in game of fine margins.”
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