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Leeds United head coach Daniel Farke was left incredibly frustrated by his side’s lack of ruthlessness in the final third in their defeat to Burnley on Saturday.

After the match, the German head coach noted that his team had more “possession, shots, big chances, xG” than the Clarets in their Premier League clash, but they came away from Turf Moor with no points to show for their efforts.

The statistics in the table above show that Farke was right about the level of chances that his team created throughout the match, but they failed to score a single goal from 2.63 xG and four ‘big chances’.

Brenden Aaronson, arguably, missed the biggest chance of the match when he raced through on goal to fire his shot almost straight at Martin Dubravka, who produced the save.

Jayden Bogle, Jack Harrison, and Dominic Calvert-Lewin also missed opportunities to find the back of the net, as the home side scored two goals from four shots in the entire game.

It is hard not to feel a little bit sorry for Farke from an offensive perspective, as the players the board have left him with do not look clinical enough for this level.

Why Farke is not to blame for Leeds United's attacking problems

It can be easy to use outcome bias to pin all the blame on the manager when a team loses a game. Sometimes the manager is to blame because the coaching or the tactics lead to a poor performance that gives the players little chance of picking up a result.

However, Farke put out a team with a structure and a style that created three times as many ‘big chances’ as the opposition, and roughly five times as much xG, but it was the players at his disposal that let him down.

Football Insider reported last month that the head coach wanted two more attacking signings in the summer, Harry Wilson and Manor Solomon, but the club did not land either of them.

As you can see in the table above, Leeds rank within the top eight teams in the league for ‘big chances’ created, but they also rank fourth for misses.

They have missed a staggering 14 of the 17 ‘big chances’ that they have created, which is why Farke should not be blamed for the lack of potency in the final third, because his system has been one of the most effective in the league.

Calvert-Lewin, who has scored one Premier League goal, is one of the players who has let him down. The former England international has missed the most ‘big chances’ in the team (five), per Sofascore, and ranks third in the division for ‘big chances’ missed.

The summer signing from Everton has not stepped up and delivered enough quality in front of goal, which has left Farke in a difficult position without the signings that he wanted the club to make in the forward areas.

In The Pipeline

Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

The former Norwich and Borussia Monchengladbach head coach has been let down by the options he has in the first-team, which means that he may have to look to the academy.

Leeds United are brewing a potential upgrade on Dominic Calvert-Lewin in the form of 17-year-old centre-forward Harry Gray, who has excelled at youth level.

Why Harry Gray may be an upgrade on Dominic Calvert-Lewin

The teenage striker is currently out with a hip injury and is expected to be back in training next week, and he should be given a chance to impress once he is back up to speed.

There is no guarantee that Gray will be able to handle the step up to the Premier League as a 17-year-old striker, which is why it is harsh to judge Farke if he decides against such a risk, but his form at youth level suggests that he has the potential to be a breakout star.

The English striker scored four goals in four Premier League 2 matches before picking up a hip injury, per Transfermarkt, whilst he also notched a hat-trick against Scunthorpe in the National League Cup.

Gray, who was described as “seriously talented” by analyst Ben Mattinson, also scored eight goals in 11 matches for the U18s in the 2024/25 campaign, per Transfermarkt.

This means that the teenage marksman, who made his first-team debut against Stoke in the Championship last term, has delivered goals on a consistent basis at U18 and U21 level over the past 14 months or so.

As you can see in the table above, Calvert-Lewin’s form for Everton in the four seasons before his move to Elland Road does not suggest that he is likely to turn his current form around in front of goal.

He has consistently underperformed as a finisher in the Premier League, which is why it is not a surprise that he has missed five ‘big chances’ and only scored one goal for Leeds so far.

Gray, meanwhile, has been a lethal goalscorer who has found the back of the net week-in-week-out at two different age groups at academy level in the last two seasons for the Whites.

His impressive goalscoring rate for the U18s and U21s suggests that the club are brewing an upgrade on Calvert-Lewin, who has struggled to score goals on a consistent basis for most of his career, but it remains to be seen if he can make the step up in the short-term.

Worse than Struijk: Farke must drop Leeds dud who's "never going to push on"

Daniel Farke must drop this Leeds United flop who was even worse than Pascal Struijk against Burnley.

1

By
Dan Emery

Oct 19, 2025

The club’s current struggles in front of goal in the Premier League mean that Farke may have to fast-track his development and throw him in at the deep end once he is back from injury.

كشفت صحيفة سبورت الإسبانية، عن تفاصيل مفاوضات نادي برشلونة مع الأهلي، وذلك من أجل التوقيع مع اللاعب الشاب حمزة عبد الكريم.

حمزة عبد الكريم يبلغ من العمر 17 عامًا فقط ويعتبر من بين أبرز المواهب الشابة في كرة القدم المصرية خلال السنوات الأخيرة.

وتم تصعيد حمزة عبد الكريم إلى الفريق الأول بالنادي الأهلي خلال هذا الموسم، وشارك اللاعب مع الفريق المصري خلال مباراة شبيبة القبائل ببطولة دوري أبطل إفريقيا.

وأكدت تقارير عديدة خلال الساعات الأخيرة، رغبة نادي برشلونة في التعاقد مع حمزة عبد الكريم خلال الفترة المقبلة.

وذكرت سبورت، أن المفاوضات بين برشلونة والأهلي جارية منذ ثلاثة أسابيع بشأن حمزة عبد الكريم، وأن هناك تفاؤلاً في الفريق الكتالوني بإتمام الصفقة، على الرغم من اهتمام العديد من الأندية الأوروبية بضم اللاعب.

وأوضحت الصحيفة، أن رغبة برشلونة هي ضم حمزة عبد الكريم خلال فترة الميركاتو الشتوي المقبل في يناير على سبيل الإعارة لمدة ستة أشهر، مع وجود خيار الشراء النهائي في نهاية الموسم.

وأردفت الصحيفة، أن حمزة عبد الكريم سيبلغ الـ18 من عمره في بداية العام الجديد، ما سيسهل كثيرًا على برشلونة التعاقد معه، حيث يتم الآن وضع اللمسات النهائية على الصفقة.

اقرأ أيضًا .. لامين يامال يكشف أسباب تفضيله لمنتخب إسبانيا على حساب المغرب.. ويختار أفضل هدف في مسيرته

وتابعت سبورت قولها إن الأهلي رفض من قبل بيع عبد الكريم إلى بايرن ميونخ، كما إنه متردد للغاية تجاه اهتمام برشلونة بسبب أهميته للجانب المصري في ظل إمكانياته الهائلة، لكن اللاعب يريد التوقيع مع بطل الدوري الإسباني وسعيد باهتمام البلوجرانا بضمه.

وقالت سبورت، إن هناك العديد من الأندية التي تريد ضم عبد الكريم، حيث توجد منافسة شرسة بين مانشستر سيتي وأولمبيك ليون، وإي سي ميلان، بجانب بايرن ميونخ وبرشلونة، لكن الأخير هو المرشح الأبرز لضم اللاعب والذي وقع مع وكالة أوروبية خلال الساعات الماضية لإتمام انتقاله إلى النادي الكتالوني.

وأتمت الصحيفة قولها، إن عبد الكريم سوف ينضم إلى الفريق الثاني ببرشلونة ويستمر معهم حتى نهاية الموسم، حيث تعتبر الخطة بالنسبة للاعب الشاب هي تصعيده للفريق الأول بالنادي الإسباني مع بداية الموسم الجديد.

ويلعب حمزة عبد الكريم في مركز المهاجم الصريح وكذلك الجناح الأيمن، وتألق بشدة مع منتخب مصر في بطولة كأس العالم تحت 17 عامًا ، مما جذب أنظار الأندية الأوروبية تجاهه.

One of Sheffield’s own is now in the running to buy Sheffield Wednesday, according to reports, after taking a key step ahead of the December 5 deadline.

Sheffield United merger rejected

The Owls have reportedly set a soft deadline of December 5 to find a new owner and narrow their search down. So far, they’ve not been short on candidates. Several potential buyers have shown proof of funds worth £50m and some have even been shown around the club’s facilities.

The biggest headline so far has arrived courtesy of Sheffield United, however. Wednesday’s rivals reportedly enquired about buying the club and were keen to merge the two Steel City rivals together in controversial fashion.

Unsurprisingly, any talks of that merger taking place have been shut down almost as quickly as they started gathering pace. Sheffield Wednesday, like many others, are keen to keep the derby alive and kicking instead, which is set to see them turn to other candidates.

Just who wins the bidding war is the big question. Former Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley is reportedly among the interested parties, as is John McEvoy.

Many were quick to criticise Ashley at Newcastle in the past, but it’s worth noting that he cleared all of the Magpies’ debt. Financially speaking, he would arguably be a wise option.

Alas, it’s not just Ashley in the running. New names are now beginning to emerge and that includes Sheffield’s own Ryan Howsam. The Staysure founder has been based in Dubai in recent years, but could yet return to his home town to save his local club.

Who is Sheffield Wednesday takeover candidate Ryan Howsam?

So, is Howsam the man for the job? His impressive portfolio, which includes Avanti, PayingTooMuch, The Rock Group and several digital travel investments, certainly suggests that he’s got the funds to complete a takeover, but it would be his first venture into football.

The prospective owner has reportedly been given access to the club’s data in a key step towards potentially buying the club. He also recently told This is Money when asked about a return to England: “I would come back to the UK in a heartbeat if the environment was right.”

Sheffield Wednesday now braced for imminent "concrete" takeover bid

Things are looking up for the Owls.

ByTom Cunningham Nov 14, 2025

It would be fairly fitting for a Sheffield-born candidate to complete the takeover, but administrators would need to ignore their hearts and ensure that Howsam is the right man for the job.

Compared to someone like Ashley, Howsam is far from experienced in the world of football and the Owls simply need to steady the ship. It must also be noted that it may yet be neither of those options who emerge as frontrunners to buy the club.

With time ticking by before the December 5 deadline, Sheffield Wednesday must assess every possible option before making their final decision.

Mike Ashley position clear as Sheffield Wednesday takeover reaches final candidates

Liverpool find themselves in a rut and under pressure to get results, something Arne Slot could help alleviate by making a club-record signing at Anfield.

Despite VAR controversy surrounding Nottingham Forest’s open goal, the Reds were well and truly second best in a 3-0 defeat to the Tricky Trees that has plunged the reigning champions into the bottom half of the Premier League table.

Another abject display has left Slot’s side with six losses from their last seven top-flight matches, and the Dutchman delivered an honest reaction to a damaging defeat that may be the final nail in the coffin regarding their slim hopes of retaining the title.

He said: “Another big disappointment. We started off quite well for the first half an hour. We conceded the 1-0, and we weren’t able to play the way we did in the first half hour. I don’t know. I heard it wasn’t offside, so if it’s not offside, there’s nothing to debate. We created and were waiting for us to score a goal. The set piece changed everything, and they scored two.

“If things go well or things go bad, it’s my responsibility. We weren’t able to create enough. I tried to adjust a few things, but it didn’t work out. We were unable to score a goal. You never know in this stadium, if you score a goal, then things can work out.”

Another ineffective outing for record signing Alexander Isak have only added fuel to the fire regarding their poor campaign, signalling that arrivals are needed in January to steady the ship. Come January, the Reds and FSG may now be willing to do just that in record fashion with a new midfielder.

Liverpool preparing record Joao Neves bid

According to reports in Spain, Liverpool are preparing a record £140 million bid for Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Joao Neves, someone they believe could be a pivotal piece of their engine room jigsaw as they look to catch the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City in the race for silverware.

While there is belief that he may be attainable at some point down the line, Luis Enrique has insisted that the Portugal international is not for sale at any price and that he won’t be sold unless there is a drastic change in plans from the standpoint of player and club.

Labelled “excellent” by Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes, Liverpool view Neves as a potential era-defining acquisition, and it is easy to see why after his exploits in Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League-winning campaign last term.

Nevertheless, managing to bring him to Merseyside will be no easy feat, and the financial muscle involved would likely create headlines around the world should Slot and company be able to snap him up.

Worse than Konate: Slot must drop 2/10 Liverpool flop who lost 100% duels

Scott Harris had quite an awkward moment during an appearance on MLB network on Monday.

While being interviewed, the Detroit Tigers president of baseball operations was asked about a report from Jon Morosi that his team was interested in signing free agent first baseman Paul Goldschmidt. The ensuing discussion was a bit awkward, as Harris was put squarely on the spot.

All things considered, he handled that pretty well.

Here's the original tweet from Morosi:

The Tigers have been looking for first base help and Goldschmidt would make sense. The 37-year-old is a seven-time All-Star, has won five Silver Slugger Awards and four Gold Gloves. He was named National League MVP in 2022, though he hasn't been the same hitter since.

In 2024 for the St. Louis Cardinals, he slashed .245/.302/.414 with 22 home runs and 65 RBIs in 154 games. He had career-lows in batting average (.245) and OPS (.716) and tied a career-high with 173 strikeouts.

Normally when an MLB team clinches a playoff spot, the team celebrates by spraying and drinking champagne in the locker room.

However, when the Baltimore Orioles clinched a postseason spot after their 5–3 win over the New York Yankees on Tuesday, second baseman Jackson Holliday couldn't partake in the champagne celebration as he's only 20 years old.

The Orioles found a solution for Holliday to be able to participate with his teammates, though.

When Holliday arrived in the locker room, the Orioles surprised him with "Bird Bath Water," which looked like a champagne bottle but instead said "0.0% alcohol for Orioles under 21."

The team also had a corner specifically for Holliday with a sign that read "Baby's First Clinchmas 2024." The "Bird Bath Waters" were in a tub of ice alongside baby bottles. A baby Holliday jersey was hung up with children's colorings of the Orioles logos. It was quite the set up.

Holliday turns 21 in December, so he'll be able to participate in any future champagne celebrations the Orioles may have in the coming seasons.

The Orioles clinched the first American League wild card spot. The wild-card round begins on Tuesday, Oct. 1.

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Daniel Bell-Drummond scored a brilliant hundred as Kent won narrowly in a high-scoring game at the Cooper Associates Ground to end Somerset’s six-match winning start to the Vitality Blast T20 South Group campaign.The 31-year-old registered a high-octane innings of 100 from 49 balls, smashing 12 fours and four sixes and dominating a record-breaking opening stand of 158 with Tawanda Muyeye as the visitors posted a formidable 228 for 5 after losing the toss and being put in. Muyeye weighed in with a 40-ball 70, helping himself to six fours and three sixes in the process, while Harry Finch finished unbeaten on 22 from 13 balls. It was a chastening experience for the Somerset bowlers, Riley Meredith having the best of it with a return of 3 for 44 from four overs.Tom Banton smashed 68 off 33 balls and dominated an opening stand of 91 with Will Smeed to give the Somerset reply the perfect start. But they were unable to maintain the onslaught and Nathan Gilchrist and Joey Evison claimed two wickets apiece as Kent held their nerve to inflict a first defeat of the tournament upon last season’s runners-up.Kent boast a decent record in matches at Taunton in recent years and Muyeye and Bell-Drummond showed no signs of being intimidated by Somerset’s 100% winning start to the campaign, striking the ball cleanly in a progressive opening partnership of 158 in 13.2 overs. These two initially matched one another blow for blow, the powerplay yielding 69 runs and the hundred coming up in 8.5 overs as Somerset’s bowlers were forced onto the back foot.Leading by example, Bell-Drummond was first to 50, reaching that landmark via 29 balls with five fours and two sixes, while Muyeye faced two deliveries more to attain his half-century as the partnership went from strength to strength.Especially severe on Matt Henry, Bell-Drummond took the New Zealander for a six and a four off successive balls in the tenth as Spitfires raced to 118 without loss at the halfway stage to dampen the spirits of a sell-out crowd of 7000. Bell-Drummond took centre stage thereafter, the former Millfield Schoolboy facing a mere 19 deliveries more to go to a magnificent hundred amid a blaze of boundaries.When the veteran batter drove Lewis Goldsworthy to the cover boundary in the 13th to advance the score to 151, he and Muyeye had established a new highest opening partnership for Kent in matches against Somerset, eclipsing the 150 amassed by Bell-Drummond and Joe Denly in a game at Canterbury in 2016.No sooner had Bell-Drummond raised his third century in domestic T20 cricket, than he got out, flashing at a ball from Meredith and offering a catch behind, much to the relief of the Somerset camp. Green then had the dangerous Sam Billings held in the deep before he could inflict damage, while Lewis Gregory bowled Muyeye in the 17th to further check Kent progress.But big-hitting Finch and Jack Leaning ensured there was to be little respite for the home side, staging a fourth wicket stand of 25 at the death.Somerset chased 230 to defeat Middlesex in their last appearance at Taunton three days earlier, and Tom Banton and Will Smeed opened up in a manner that suggested they believed another successful pursuit was within their capabilities. Dropped by Gilchrist in the deep off the bowling of Fred Klaassen when he had scored 2, Banton clubbed three sixes and a four in one Stewart over to rub salt into the wound and state West Country intentions.Making the most of his escape, Banton went to 50 from 22 balls and Somerset’s opening pair put Kent’s seamers under the pump to raise 81 from the powerplay and bring the required rate down to 10.6. Kent earned themselves temporary respite, Gilchrist pinning Banton lbw for 68 with the score 91 for 1 in the seventh. Smeed then departed for 24, top-edging a short-pitched Klaassen delivery to third man as the reply faltered.The onus was now on Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Tom Abell to play expansively and the third wicket pair plundered three boundaries in one Gilchrist over to keep the asking rate below 12. Kohler-Cadmore hit Wes Agar for an effortless straight six, followed up with a pull shot for four and then admired an Abell swish that went to the fine leg boundary as the stand realised 50 from 24 balls.Kent breathed a sigh of relief when Kohler-Cadmore, having plundered 38 from 20 balls, tried to hit Evison over the top and holed out on the long-off boundary. Gilchrist removed Abell for 22 in the next over, at which point Somerset needed a further 70 to win from 34 balls. Evison then accounted for Gregory, caught at long-on, as he visitors regained the upper hand.Somerset needed 50 off three overs and Sean Dickson and Ben Green gave it their best shot, trading in sixes to heap pressure back onto the bowlers. Green cleared the rope on three occasions at the expense of Gilchrist in the 18th and Dickson helped himself to another six off Klaassen to leave Somerset to chase 19 off the final over, bowled by Tom Rogers. Green holed out in the deep off the first ball, departing for a 12-ball 25, while Dickson finished unbeaten on 31 as Somerset fell just short in a tense finale.

Tottenham Hotspur’s ability to pull top-level talent in the transfer market has been reflected by their move to land Mohammed Kudus from West Ham United this summer.

The Ghanaian has been a key threat in the Premier League over the last couple of years, scoring 13 times in his two seasons across the capital with the Hammers.

Before moving to join the Lilywhites, the 25-year-old was on the radar of the likes of Chelsea and Bayern Munich – but decided in favour of a move to join Thomas Frank’s men.

He’s already made an immediate impact with his new side, registering two assists in his first four Premier League outings – the most of any player in the first-team squad.

Whilst it’s still early days for Kudus in his career in North London, he has already adhered himself to the fanbase – potentially benefitting from one player’s talents had the board kept hold of him.

Harry Kane’s record-breaking spell as a Spurs player

No Spurs fan would have ever expected Harry Kane to have had the impact he did in North London after making his senior debut for the club as a youngster back in August 2011.

He would have to wait three years for his first start, but once he forced himself into Mauricio Pochettino’s plans, there was no looking back for the former academy star.

Fast-forward to the present day, the 32-year-old managed to rack up 280 goals for the Lilywhites in his 435 appearances – scoring over 30 goals in 50% of his decade-long spell in the first-team.

Such a record makes him the club’s highest-ever goalscorer, whilst also sitting second in the Premier League’s all-time scoring chart – with only Alan Shearer scoring more at present.

However, despite his phenomenal nouse for scoring goals, he was unable to catapult the Lilywhites to any silverware, which led to his transfer to Bayern Munich in the summer of 2023 for £82m.

Since joining the Bundesliga outfit, the Englishman has netted 93 goals in his 102 outings, further highlighting his talent in attacking areas – undoubtedly going down as one of the best English forwards in football history.

His move away from North London has left a huge void over the last couple of seasons, with new boss Frank hoping that one player can step up to the plate over the next couple of campaigns.

The Spurs player who could be their best forward since Kane

Whilst Kane was more often the man to finish off chances for Spurs, he also struck up an incredible partnership with Heung-min Son in the final third over countless years.

The Englishman and the South Korean linked up for 47 Premier League goals throughout their time together, sitting at the top for the most goals created by a single two-player partnership in Premier League history.

However, the latter of the pair also departed the Lilywhites this summer, joining LAFC in a £20m transfer – leaving yet another huge hole for Frank to fill in his first year at the helm.

As a result, the hierarchy delved into the transfer market and completed the £52m signing of forward Xavi Simons from Bundesliga side RB Leipzig.

The 22-year-old can either operate in a central role behind the striker or off the left-hand side, subsequently offering the Dane a versatile option within attacking areas.

The Dutchman has arrived in England with huge expectations, and understandably so given his record in Germany last campaign, with the youngster registering 19 goal contributions in just 33 outings.

Whilst he’s yet to notch his first goal for the Lilywhites, he’s already caught the eye in his first two outings – even registering an assist for Pape Matar Sarr in the 3-0 triumph over West Ham United last weekend.

Simons, who’s been labelled “phenomenal” by one analyst, has already racked up over 160 senior appearances despite his tender age, with his underlying stats from his first handful of Spurs games already catching the eye.

The Dutchman has already created three chances in his first two outings – the most of any Lilywhites player in that time – showcasing the creative spark he possesses despite his youthful age.

Games played

2

Minutes played

148

Assists

1

Shots taken

3

Pass accuracy

80%

Successful passes

52

Chances created

3

Dribble success

75%

Dribbles completed

4

Fouls won

3

He’s also completed 75% of the dribbles he’s attempted, whilst winning three fouls – tallies which highlight the danger he has already caused to the opposition during his bedding-in period.

Simons’ tally of 1.5 shots per 90 also highlights he’s more than capable of going alone when needed, but he just needs his first goal in English football to help kickstart his spell under Frank.

£52m may appear to be a mammoth investment by the board, but it’s one that could be worthwhile if he can continue producing the calibre of performances he has in the early stages of his Spurs career.

Given the levels produced by Kane in North London, he certainly has a long way to go before getting near his cult hero status, but there’s no disputing he has bags of time on his hands.

If he can carry on his superb start in England, there’s no reason why he can’t be the club’s best attacker since the English international – potentially able to write a new history for the side under Frank’s guidance.

Spurs flop was prematurely sold by Conte, now he's outperforming Kudus

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3 ByEthan Lamb Sep 18, 2025

Seventeen wickets tumble at Wantage Road as Kent take upper hand over Northants

Vithushan Ehantharajah04-Apr-2025Northants 118 for 7 (Keogh 53*) trail Kent 231 (Muyeye 72, Leaning 40, Weatherall 3-32) by 113 runs Spring is supposed to bring relief. Warmth from previous gloom as we welcome back the sun with open arms and a kiss on the forehead, despite the fact it left us in the lurch for so long. Forgive, forget and go again.Alas, at a gorgeously illuminated Wantage Road, the opening day of 2025’s County Championship was a case of relive and bemoan, as Kent and Northamptonshire indulged in a back-and-forth of their own misgivings from bygone seasons.Kent’s collapse to 231 all out, having been 164 for 3 after being sent in, was a reminder of the batting frailties that relegated them to Division Two. They were saved by the hosts also doubling down on their failings of summers past, first with an array of shelled catches that allowed Kent to recover from 60 for 3 and then 187 for 7. Then came a loose late afternoon with the bat that already leaves them seven down and trailing by 113.But the falsest promise was Zak Crawley’s, broken within nine minutes of a much-needed new dawn after a torturous winter. A week after kicking away a Loughborough University left-armer for a two-ball duck, England’s Test opener fell victim to another, sent back to the Pavilion at 11.09am for one. As many runs as stumps left standing.Both off and middle were floored by Northamptonshire left-armer Liam Guthrie’s 10th ball in English cricket; whipped across the right-hander before nipping in sharply between a huge gap between bat and pad. Guthrie, an Australian with a UK passport in his back pocket, brought the zip you’d associate with a quick reared in Western Australia and honed in Queensland. That dovetailed nicely with this green-tinged, East Midlands surface.It was a pretty outrageous delivery, capable of making a fool out of most batters. And with a number of deliveries rearing up and darting sideways as the day went on, Kent believe their score is akin to 300-plus. But Crawley’s footwork was limited, the scale of his misjudgement exacerbated by the adoption of a more open stance for the leftie coming over the wicket. He walked off sidemouthing this latest seven-ball failure – an 11th single-figure score in 20 innings since the end of last summer.”Fresh” from a Matt Henry-ruined series averaging 8.66 in New Zealand at the end of last year, and a miserable stint in the SA20 for Sunrisers Eastern Cape that eventually saw Crawley dropped, this innings was not out of step. Regardless of Guthrie’s nationality, Crawley’s recent record against Australians (53.33 in the 2023 Ashes) and India (40.70 on the 2024 tour) still carries weight for the rematches ahead.Zak Crawley’s struggle for form shows no sign of abating after a grim start to the season•Getty ImagesFurther extension of this grim run should test the loyalty of selectors. But Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum remain strong advocates of Crawley, as do many of his peers. Even former Kent teammate Jordan Cox, desperate for any slot in the Test team after a broken finger robbed him of the New Zealand series, who marked the season’s opening day with century for Essex against Surrey.”If England said open I’d do it hands down, but it wouldn’t be the place I’d want to bat,” said Cox, speaking at Chelmsford. “Opening the batting is the hardest job in the game.”Zak and (Ben) Duckett are the best two openers in the country. Zak, on his day, is by far in my opinion the best opener I’ve seen. Unfortunately, people have dips, but it’s unfair how he gets criticised. He wants to play in a certain way, express himself, playing lovely drives. Hundred in the Ashes, no-one said anything… people need to give him a break.”Nevertheless, there were performances that punctuated the day of players looking to make good on starting afresh.Tawanda Muyeye’s impressive 72 spoke of a renewed drive to balance grind and better shot selection. The 24-year-old was resolute in defence, including making adjustments when his edge was beaten on a pitch with pleasingly good carry. He toughed out a period before lunch as Guthrie returned for a second spell, going into the break with his 11th fifty-plus score in first-class cricket, brought up with glorious cover drive from his 60th delivery.”It’s probably worth more than seventy on that pitch,” said Muyeye of the conditions underfoot. “But yeah, I enjoyed myself today.”I went away in the winter and my biggest work on was finding myself in the middle order and like tough situations like that, and just being mature enough.”Sometimes I’ve thrown away my wicket just playing shots that I know I can play, but for the situation it’s not good enough. It’s just being able to pick and choose which shots to play and just being very specific. Because all the best players in the world just keep things simple and I felt like I kept things simple.”Muyeye should have been dismissed on 57, Guthrie robbed of a well-deserved third as he enticed a late attempt at a back-foot punch with a rising delivery that shaped into the right-hander, only for James Sales to drop the edge at first slip. Just when it looked like Muyeye and Jack Leaning were taking the game away, an inspired spell from Raphael Weatherall provided the dynamite to cave in the middle order.Weatherall, coming back from a lower-back stress fracture sustained last August in his maiden professional season, took three wickets in as many overs, instigating a collapse of 33 for 5. After bagging Leaning caught behind – ending a 104-run stand for the fourth wicket – he squared up Muyeye to take his off stump for a walk, before doing the same to Grant Stewart. The 20-year-old is highly thought of in these parts, and with Northamptonshire coming into this match without Ben Sanderson (knee), George Scrimshaw (side) and Gus Miller (foot), those vital interjections suggested he is ready to carry more responsibility on his young shoulders.It was from Weatherall’s cues, particularly the lengths hammered, that Kent’s seam attack emerged with a clear blueprint. And despite only getting 33 overs at Northamptonshire before stumps, the fact all five seamers were able to register in the wickets column – Grant Stewart and Jaskaran Singh with two apiece, the latter doubling his 2024 tally, while South African Keith Dudgeon took his first Kent wicket after a useful 26 – spoke of a collective focus. Likewise the hoots and hollers from the cordon that punctuated the air as the sun finally began to fade.”I think that’s the best performance I’ve seen in a very long time form our bowlers,” said Muyeye. “Just from the get go – everyone seemed to bounce off each other, just working hard together as a group.”Their first-innings buffer will require more of the same on Saturday, with Rob Keogh, unbeaten on 53, the home side’s last hope at something close to parity. The applause when the club stalwart reached his 66-ball half century was as much for his resistance as general admiration for the 33-year-old’s pluck.Last month, Keogh revealed he had spent the 2024 season dealing with mental health issues, with a back problem used as an excuse to explain time spent away from the game. Renewed and refreshed, even in tough circumstances, this was a confidence building knock.It was far from a perfect start for both sides. But however this match pans out, it did serve as a useful reminder to both new coaches, Adam Hollioake and Darren Lehmann, as they look to imprint their brands of “in your face” cricket on Kent and Northamptonshire, respectively, that change does not come quick. Spring cleans always take longer than you think.