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Southampton fail to overcome Man United in lacklustre display

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Southampton V Manchester United

The Saints are left rooted to the bottom of the table after suffering a 3-0 defeat to Erik Ten Hag’s side.

After being beaten in their opening three fixtures, Russell Martin hoped that the international break could provide some much needed time to rethink his strategies in order to get Southampton’s season up and running in their first game back against Manchester United.

And the start of the game seemed to show evidence of the work paying off, as the Saints played some of their best attacking football so far this season, as well as putting a lot of pressure on their opponents off the ball, not allowing United to get a foothold in the game early on.

One standout performance in this period, and throughout his entire stint on field, was Saints youngster Tyler Dibling, who made his first Premier League start on the day. The 18-year-old was Southampton’s biggest attacking threat, showing tremendous footwork and skills down the right hand side giving Diego Dalot a tough time.

In the 31st minute, Dibling’s determination and hard work paid off as he beat Dalot to a ball through from Yukinari Sugawara, forcing Dalot to commit a foul just inside the area, gifting the Saints a well deserved chance to go in front.

PENALTY CHANCE


Summer signing Cameron Archer was the man to step up to take the penalty, despite never having taken a penalty before in his career before the game. After a lengthy wait for the referee to blow his whistle, the 22-year-old took a short run up, but was only able to release a tame effort that was easily palmed away by Andre Onana.

And that moment seemed to be the turn of the tides in this game, as only two minutes later, Matthijs De Ligt turned in a Bruno Fernandes cross after being left unmarked at the far post to make it 1-0 to the visitors.

A few minutes later, United doubled their lead thanks to Marcus Rashford, who was afforded the time and space to curl a shot into the far corner, giving the Red Devils a comfortable advantage going into the break.

After the restart, Southampton were still struggling to get back into the game, and in the 63rd minute, Russell Martin made a quadruple substitution in the hope to reignite the energy and pressure Saints had showed in the early stages.

Tyler Dibling was one of the names called off, which was responded to by a roar of boos from the Southampton fans, after he had been the shining light in what was turning out to be a dim day for the Saints. Deadline day signings Maxwel Cornet and Ryan Fraser were brought on with Ross Stewart to form a completely new frontline for the Saints, along with Adam Lallana who was hoping to create some magic in the midfield.

RELEGATION ZONE


However, Southampton still struggled to lay a finger on Man United, who seemed very comfortable in the fixture. But in the 79th minute, the game became even tougher for the Saints as they were reduced to 10-men; captain Jack Stephens was sent off for a high and late challenge on Alejandro Garnacho.

And that wasn’t the last involvement Garnacho had in the game, as in the last minute of added time he netted United’s third goal, smashing it in from close range, giving Aaron Ramsdale no chance of saving.

Southampton were left well beaten on the day, where excluding a few individual performances, not many positives could be taken. Following the results of the rest of the weekend fixtures, the Saints were still sitting in 19th, as both they and Everton have failed to accrue any points this season.

Russell Martin and his side travel to Goodison Park midweek in the hopes to continue their cup run with a positive result against Everton. Then, at the weekend, the Saints will be back at home again, where they’ll face fellow promoted side Ipswich Town, in what already looks like a must-win for the south coast club.

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Billie Jean King – Battle of the Sexes – 1973

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This is a portrait of Billie Jean King, courtesy of Jonathan Exley - Billie Jean King Enterprises, Inc.

The year was 1973. The lights of the Houston Astrodome glared down on a tennis court that had become more than just a playing field — it was a stage for a cultural revolution.

Cameras flashed, tension buzzed in the air, and two players stepped onto the court — one a confident showman, the other a determined trailblaser carrying the hopes of millions.

As the first serve sliced through the air on that September evening, millions around the world weren’t just watching a tennis match — they were witnessing a fight for equality, respect, and change.

Billie Jean King is a legendary American tennis champion and advocate for gender equality whose career and impact extends far beyond the court.

With 39 Grand Slams titles and a historic victory in 1973, “Battle of the Sexes” match, she not only proved her athletic ability but also challenged stereotypes about women within the world of sport.

As a founder of the Women’s Tennis Association and a leader behind equal prize money, King became a powerful force for fairness and inclusion, later emerging as a voice for LGBTQ+ rights.

Her legacy as both a world class athlete and a fearless activist changed the game for generations to come.

The “Battle of the Sexes” was a famous match, between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs, a former men’s champion who was adamant that men were superior athletes.

The match was played in front of more than 30,000 fans at the Houston Astrodome and watched by roughly 90 million people worldwide, the event was a both a sporting spectacle and a major milestone in the fight for gender equality.

Billie Jean King defeated Riggs in straight sets (6-4, 6-3, 6-3), this proved that women could compete in the highest level which inspired greater respect and opportunities for female athletes around the world.


The event’s impact was immediate. Women’s tennis surged in popularity, drawing new audiences, sponsorships, and media coverage. King used the momentum to push for lasting change.

This helped the US Open to become the first major tournament to offer equal pay. Her win also empowered a new generation of female athletes to come out and code and what was rightfully theirs.

More than five decades later, the Battle of the Sexes remains a cultural milestone.

It symbolised more than just a tennis match, it was a statement about equality, perseverance, and the power of sport to challenge societal norms.


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Football

Ivan Juric leaves Southampton after earliest ever relegation

Lennie Teague

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Ivan Juric has left his role as Southampton first team manager following the club’s relegation on Sunday.

The Croatian joined the Saints on an 18-month deal in December following Russell Martin’s dismissal but lasted just 107 days in charge.

Juric oversaw just two victories in his 16 matches in charge with Sunday’s 3-1 defeat to Tottenham confirming Southampton’s relegation to the Championship.

With seven matches still to play, Saints’ relegation is the earliest in Premier League history, breaking the joint-record set by Derby County and Huddersfield Town in 2007-08 and 2018-19 respectively, who both went down after 32 games.

The club confirmed the process of searching for a new manager is now under way and said: “With relegation to the Championship now confirmed, we believe it is important to give fans, players and staff some clarity on the future as we head into a very important summer.”

First team coach Simon Rusk is set to take charge of the team for the remainder of the season with player Adam Lallana to act as his assistant.

Southampton currently sit on 10 points at the bottom of the league and require a further two points to avoid breaking the record-low set by Derby County, who finished the 2007-08 season with 11 points.

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Autism

Slopes that don’t discriminate at Solent Ski Club

Guy Nicklinson

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Solent ski club has been providing adaptive skiing sessions for people with various disabilities for over 20 years.

Sessions take place on the second Sunday of every month at the Alpine Sports Centre in Southampton.

The club has been a charity since 2017. It is funded by member subscriptions, ski session fees and donations. 

Club Chairman, Peter Ramm said: “The aim of the club is to put a smile on their faces. Ultimately, we take a view that everyone has a disability when they come skiing because they put a plank of wood on their feet.”

Solent Ski Club hope their guidance can provide disabled skiers with more confidence and therefore greater independence and enjoyment when on the slopes.

Peter Ramm said: “The primary driver is safety, it’s about having enough people around them to ensure they can ski safely.”

The club also aims to develop the skiing knowledge and skills of all members.

Qualified ski instructors, trained ski guides and many volunteers are present at all sessions.

Florence Davies, a skier at the club said: “My favourite thing is probably getting to speak to and enjoy laughs with other people that share similar difficulties to me. Getting to know other people and finding my independence.”

Ellie Wheatley, another participant, who is partially deaf due to a condition called CMV which was passed onto her at birth by her mother, said: “It’s good for my confidence, it gives me opportunities to get out and interact with the wider world. There’s no sport where you’re at a height, you’ve fallen over half the time, but you’re still smiling at the end of it.”

Solent Ski Club look forward to January 18th, where they will take a group of their disability skiers on their annual trip to Folgaria in Italy, to enjoy the experience on real snow, in the mountains.

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