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Ed Conway, economics and data editor
Apr 14
Britain's economic prospects downgraded more than any other major economy

In a blow to the Chancellor Rachel Reeves, who heads out to the IMF for its latest meetings in Washington DC this week, the fund slashed its 2026 UK GDP growth forecast from 1.3% to 0.8%. The 0.5 percentage point cut is greater than for any of the other G7 group of seven leading industrialised nations, and comes hot on the heels of a similar downgrade from the OECD. Money blog: Stores 'taking mickey' out of shoppers on olive oil, says Filippo Berio boss The UK was hardly alone in seeing a downgrade in its projections for gross domestic product - the broadest measure of economic performance. In the face of the war in the Persian Gulf, the fund downgraded a swathe of other nations, as well as its overall global growth projection (which, it said, it would have raised were it not for the war). "The global economy has, to date, withstood a series of shocks," the fund said, "yet another one - this time a military conflict engulfing the Middle East since the end of February - is testing this resilience." However, what is striking about both this and the OECD economic updates from recent weeks is how badly the UK fares. This is thought in part to derive from Britain's dependence on energy imports, its sensitivity to import prices and its comparatively high levels of government debt, which leave it with less room than many other nations to cushion the economic blow for households. The fund said: "In the United Kingdom, the war and a slower pace of monetary easing mean that growth is projected to decline from 1.3% in 2025 to 0.8% in 2026, a downward revision of 0.5 percentage points relative to the October 2025 forecast. Growth is projected to recover to 1.3% in 2027, slower than expected before the war as the impact of higher energy prices linger." It also said that Britain would see higher inflation than most other developed economies this year, with the rate of annual price growth averaging 3.2% across 2026. The report said: "Inflation, which in 2025 increased partly because of one-off changes in regulated prices, is expected to pick up again temporarily toward 4% before returning to target by the end of 2027 as the effects of higher energy prices fade and a weakening labour market continues to exert downward pressure on wage growth." Read more on Sky News:Mark Kleinman blog: Destinus hires bankers for Amsterdam floatMarkets react to Trump blockade threat The fund said it expected global growth of 3.1% this year, down from its previous forecast of 3.3%, and below the 3.4% it would have anticipated were it not for the war. Although down sharply on the previous forecast, and below the 2.3% expected in the US, the UK growth of 0.8% is only slightly weaker than France's 0.9% and is identical to Germany's 0.8% forecast. Responding to the announcement, Ms Reeves said: "The war in Iran is not our war, but it will come at a cost to the UK. These are not costs I wanted, but they are costs we will have to respond to. "I have vowed that my economic approach to this crisis will be both responsive to a changing world and responsible in the national interest, keeping inflation and interest rates in check to protect households and businesses," she said. "We entered this conflict in a stronger position because of the choices this government took to build economic stability, but there is more to do."

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Bethany Minelle, arts and entertainment reporter
Apr 14
Record number of British stars to be inducted into Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

Announced during an episode of American Idol on Tuesday, six out of the eight latest honourees hail from the UK. Phil Collins, Sade, Billy Idol and Manchester icons Joy Division and New Order (who are being treated as one act) also made the cut. The two non-British honourees in the performer category were Luther Vandross, who died in 2005, and hip-hop innovators Wu-Tang Clan. Liam Gallagher has previously spoken critically about the Hall of Fame, saying in 2024 he didn't want an award from "some geriatric in a cowboy hat," and saying on social media, "RNR hall of fame is for W******". On Tuesday, Gallagher seemed to have a change of heart, writing on X: "I wanna thank all the people who voted for us it's a real honour ever since I was a little kid and singing in the shower I'd dream about 1 day being in the RnR hall of fame it's true what they say anything is possible if you have a dream LG x" He later responded to a follower's question about what would be in his acceptance speech, saying, "Well I'll obv bring a box of chocolates and flowers and apologise to the organisers for my ignorance." Last year, Oasis played their biggest ever US tour, with two sell-out nights in California. Pioneers of a new wave of British heavy metal in the 1970s, Iron Maiden have released over 40 albums, including The Number Of The Beast. The band's lead singer Bruce Dickinson has also been less than complimentary about the Hall of Fame in the past, saying in 2018, "It's run by a bunch of sanctimonious Americans who wouldn't know rock'n'roll if it hit them in the face". Drummer, singer and songwriter Phil Collins, who was a giant of 1980s popular music, will become a double Hall of Fame member, after previously being honoured as a member of Genesis in 2010. Responding to his second nod, Collins wrote on Instagram: "Obviously I'm pleased and honored to be inducted. It wraps up what has been a wonderful life in music." Billy Idol, instantly recognisable for his bleach-blond hair and hits including White Wedding and Rebel Yell, bridged the gap between punk and rock in the 1970s and 1980s, and went on to become an MTV star in the 1990s. Idol appeared in person on American Idol, performing alongside judge Carrie Underwood before his nomination was announced. Soul-jazz star Sade Adu, who fronts the band Sade - famous for hits including Sweetest Taboo and Smooth Operator - makes history as the first British black woman to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Manchester bands Joy Division and New Order share a single induction, with the latter formed by the remaining members after the 1980 death of Joy Division lead singer Ian Curtis. Rock & Roll Hall of Fame chairman John Sykes said: "Induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is music's highest honour. "We look forward to celebrating these remarkable artists at this year's ceremony - it's going to be an unforgettable night." Read more from Sky News:Trump deletes AI image of himself as Jesus Colombia to cull wild hippos from herd started by Escobar Artists are eligible for inclusion in the hall 25 years after releasing their first commercial recording, with more than 1,200 artists, historians and music industry professionals voting to decide the nominees each year. Nominees will be formally inducted in a ceremony at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles in November. As well as being a hall of fame, the Cleveland, Ohio-based organisation - which was founded in 1983 by chairman of Atlantic Records Ahmet Ertegun - is also a museum that documents the history of rock music and the artists, producers, engineers, and other personnel who have influenced its development.

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Ed Conway, economics and data editor
Apr 14
Britain's economic prospects downgraded more than any other major economy

In a blow to the Chancellor Rachel Reeves, who heads out to the IMF for its latest meetings in Washington DC this week, the fund slashed its 2026 UK GDP growth forecast from 1.3% to 0.8%. The 0.5 percentage point cut is greater than for any of the other G7 group of seven leading industrialised nations, and comes hot on the heels of a similar downgrade from the OECD. Money blog: Stores 'taking mickey' out of shoppers on olive oil, says Filippo Berio boss The UK was hardly alone in seeing a downgrade in its projections for gross domestic product - the broadest measure of economic performance. In the face of the war in the Persian Gulf, the fund downgraded a swathe of other nations, as well as its overall global growth projection (which, it said, it would have raised were it not for the war). "The global economy has, to date, withstood a series of shocks," the fund said, "yet another one - this time a military conflict engulfing the Middle East since the end of February - is testing this resilience." However, what is striking about both this and the OECD economic updates from recent weeks is how badly the UK fares. This is thought in part to derive from Britain's dependence on energy imports, its sensitivity to import prices and its comparatively high levels of government debt, which leave it with less room than many other nations to cushion the economic blow for households. The fund said: "In the United Kingdom, the war and a slower pace of monetary easing mean that growth is projected to decline from 1.3% in 2025 to 0.8% in 2026, a downward revision of 0.5 percentage points relative to the October 2025 forecast. Growth is projected to recover to 1.3% in 2027, slower than expected before the war as the impact of higher energy prices linger." It also said that Britain would see higher inflation than most other developed economies this year, with the rate of annual price growth averaging 3.2% across 2026. The report said: "Inflation, which in 2025 increased partly because of one-off changes in regulated prices, is expected to pick up again temporarily toward 4% before returning to target by the end of 2027 as the effects of higher energy prices fade and a weakening labour market continues to exert downward pressure on wage growth." Read more on Sky News:Mark Kleinman blog: Destinus hires bankers for Amsterdam floatMarkets react to Trump blockade threat The fund said it expected global growth of 3.1% this year, down from its previous forecast of 3.3%, and below the 3.4% it would have anticipated were it not for the war. Although down sharply on the previous forecast, and below the 2.3% expected in the US, the UK growth of 0.8% is only slightly weaker than France's 0.9% and is identical to Germany's 0.8% forecast. Responding to the announcement, Ms Reeves said: "The war in Iran is not our war, but it will come at a cost to the UK. These are not costs I wanted, but they are costs we will have to respond to. "I have vowed that my economic approach to this crisis will be both responsive to a changing world and responsible in the national interest, keeping inflation and interest rates in check to protect households and businesses," she said. "We entered this conflict in a stronger position because of the choices this government took to build economic stability, but there is more to do."

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No Writer
Apr 14
Mikel Arteta: Arsenal manager admits he is on 'fire' as he responds to claims his team are bottling their season

Arsenal are attempting to reach back-to-back Champions League semi-finals for the first time in the club's history, with a potential Premier League title decider at Manchester City, live on Sky Sports, waiting in the wings on Sunday. But Arsenal go into this week on a run of three defeats in four matches, going from four possible trophies to two. And after a shock home defeat by Bournemouth, Arteta's ability to keep his team calm in the most important part of the season has been questioned. Analysis: How does Arteta stop Arsenal's 'bottle'?Neville: Arsenal need to balance their emotionsGot Sky? Watch Premier League games LIVE on your phone📱Not got Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW 📺 But Arteta was at again in the press conference room by admitting he himself is on "fire" ahead of the Champions League quarter-final second leg with Sporting CP on Wednesday, with his team 1-0 up on aggregate. Asked what he wants from his team on Wednesday night, Arteta took his time for a few seconds and then replied: "No fear. Pure fire. That's it. "That's what I want to see from the players, the people and myself. Go for every opportunity. It's unbelievable. "We are in April, an incredible opportunity ahead of us. Let's confront it and go for it. I am putting everything into it. "Fire! I'm on fire! That's it. Nothing else. I'm dreaming so much. "I've done so much to be in this position. Because I know how this club was. I've done so much against anything that I just see beauty, opportunity. I want to get it done who have been on this journey with us. They deserve it, it's unbelievable. "I have zero fear. I had fear when: if we don't get this done, I don't know what happens to the club. Now? It's just purpose, fire, direction." Asked if he is seeing it in his players, Arteta replied: "Yes. Big time." And asked if this is the biggest week of his Arsenal career, Arteta replied: "The biggest opportunity of six and a half years, yeah." Arteta reacts to Man City fan 'bottle' moment Arsenal have been accused of "bottling" the Premier League title race, as they missed the chance to go 12 points clear of Manchester City on Saturday, before Pep Guardiola's side - who have a game in hand - cut their lead to six by beating Chelsea on Sunday. One Manchester City fan drank from an Arsenal 'bottle' in the away end - a clip which ended up going viral - and Arteta responded to that moment. "One fan?" Arteta replied. "One fan that says something, over 60,000 fans that are incredible at the Emirates? I don't get moved by that. "I show [my players] all the people and players that love these players for what they're doing which is unprecedented in this club." "What we are trying to achieve, it's difficult, challenging, bumpy at times. It's supposed to be like this. You have to confront it." Arteta defended Arsenal's recent wobble in form - admitting that getting over the line to claim a first Premier League title in 22 years, and reaching the latter stages of the Champions League is meant to be difficult. "We are trying to do something, in this competition, that hasn't been done in the history of the club - in 140 years," said the Arsenal manager. "That tells you the difficulty of that. "It's the first time that we three years in a row in the Champions League quarter-finals. The first time in our history. "We value a lot where we are. We want to be in the semi-finals. We are in a really strong position in the Premier League for 22 years without doing it. So we know the difficulty of that. The beauty of it, is that it's difficult. "We haven't been in this position in the Champions League ever in our history. We have overcome a lot of hurdles that were there for 140 years, they've never been done before. "If we want to go to the next step, for sure, we have to have more ambition than anyone else. We are doing it, and are very, very close. "What I love about where we are is that there is no satisfaction about it. You haven't asked me any questions about: congratulations, you're going to be in the Champions League next year. "Now we take it for granted. I assume the next 20 years this club is going to take it for granted that you're fighting for titles in April. C'est fini. That's great. "I do value a lot what the players have done."

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No Writer
Apr 14
Albanian gang jailed after 'gloating' about £1m burglary spree

Police said they "gloated" about their crimes and "shared images of ill-gotten gains" such as watches and designer handbags. CCTV showed them hauling a safe over a garden fence during one raid. Derbyshire police linked the gang to at least 59 burglaries - in Derbyshire, Cheshire, Cleveland, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire and West Mercia. The value of items stolen is estimated at more than £1m. Some of it has been recovered, but the majority is believed to have been sold on. Endrit Nikolli, 27, Kristian Gropcaj, 30, George Pepa, 31, Krisjian Dedndreaj, 28, and Sidorjan Lleshi, 26, all pleaded guilty. Appearing at Chester Crown Court, Gropcaj was jailed for 10 years, Pepa and Dedndreaj to nine years, while Lleshi got 10 years and nine months. Nikolli will be sentenced at a later date. Jade Tubb, a 33-year-old British woman, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess criminal property and received a 12-month suspended sentence. The group would typically gain access to properties using a ladder and enter through first-floor windows or balconies. Once inside, they stole jewellery, designer handbags, watches and cash. "The realisation that strangers had broken into our house while we were inside - just a floor away, was something I will never forget," said one victim from Macclesfield. "We didn't know if they were armed, how many people there were, or whether they would come downstairs, meaning we were forced to barricade ourselves in the lounge." Footmarks, number plates and DNA Derbyshire police launched an investigation in October 2024 after a series of burglaries across east Cheshire. Working with police in Nottinghamshire and Staffordshire, detectives from Macclesfield linked the incidents to several others through footwear marks. Officers then used automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) to identify vehicles present at all incidents. They found that a red Ford Focus, insured by Gropcaj, had been present at many of the sites. The force also found through phone data that Gropcaj had been in regular contact with Nikolli, Dedndreaj, and Lleshaj. Further enquiries revealed the four men had been meeting on a regular basis at a coffee shop in the Jewellery Quarter in Birmingham. Traces of DNA from Nikolli had also been found at the scene of a burglary in Staffordshire. On 2 July, police raided properties in Walsall, Sutton Coldfield and Birmingham and arrested Nikolli, Lleshaj, Gropcaj and Tubb. Dedndreaj was later detained in Surrey. Officers recovered 13 designer handbags, 14 watches worth almost £17,000, mobile phones containing Google Maps searches correlating to the burglaries, and information showing Lleshi was also part of the gang. He was arrested at his home in Sheffield on 3 September. Read more from Sky News:Soham killer Huntley's cause of death revealedRobo-taxis now driving themselves on British streets Detective Sergeant Laura Fox, of Macclesfield CID, said the burglaries "were carefully orchestrated, with the gang researching their targets before committing their crimes, even expanding their crime spree across multiple forces in an effort to go undetected". "Throughout our investigation, it has been clear that the gang had absolutely no regard for the impact that their offences would have on the victims," she added. "Instead, they regularly gloated about their crimes and shared images of ill-gotten gains."

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No Writer
Apr 13
Britney Spears checks into rehab after DUI arrest

The 44-year-old pop star voluntarily checked herself into a substance abuse treatment facility, according to an email sent to The Associated Press on Sunday. Spears was arrested on 5 March, after California Highway Patrol officers received a report that a BMW was driving fast and "erratically" on US 101 in Ventura County near the Los Angeles County line. She was later arrested for "driving under the influence of a combination of drugs and alcohol" and taken to Ventura County Main Jail, north west of Los Angeles. Spears, who lives in the area, was released several hours later. She is due to appear in court on 4 May. At the time of Spears's arrest, her representative called her actions "completely inexcusable" and said it would ideally be "the first step in long overdue change that needs to occur in Britney's life". Spears has not released new music for several years, saying in 2024 that she would "never return to the music industry". She went on to sell part of her rights to her back catalogue to music publisher Primary Wave in February. In 2021, a 13-year conservatorship allowing her father to control her freedom and finances due to concerns over her mental health was dissolved by the court. Spears published a bestselling memoir two years later, titled The Woman In Me.

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Beth Rigby, political editor
Apr 14
'I can't control thousands of people': Farage irritated as he's questioned on promises Reform hasn't kept

He began the day on Monday at a news conference in central London, and I meet him mid-afternoon as he's being loaded onto a small plane to Aberdeen to travel to a members' rally that evening. Today, he'll fly to the Shetland Islands before travelling to Glasgow and then London. It will be like this for the entire run up to the May elections as Farage looks to turn his party from one governing a handful of councils in England to a serious party of government. A leader always on the go The Reform leader has already done about 40 campaign visits in recent weeks, and will do the same again in the run up to polling day on 7 May. If the schedule sounds exhausting, Farage seems energised and upbeat as he settles into his seat and orders a gin and tonic. He tells me campaigning is his favourite bit of the job as he chats with his team about the schedule for the week and the campaign. Soon lunch comes - a charcuterie and cheese board and scotch eggs, washed down with a big glass of red wine. This is a moment of relaxation for a leader always on the go, and I think about what a contrast Farage cuts to that of the prime minister, who I've watched from afar on flights, spending his time in meetings, going through his red box, looking at briefing notes or checking over a speech. Farage does none of that as I sit opposite him on the plane, and he reminds me that he never writes a speech for these rallies. Later he tells me he works off the "rule of three" - three different points he wants to make weaved into a speech. In the case of Scotland, his pitch is the failure of successive Scottish governments to deliver and what Reform could do for Scotland - be that expanding oil and gas production or cutting income tax. I cannot quite believe I am even writing this, but Reform hopes to become the official opposition to the SNP in Holyrood in May and sees this election for the Scottish parliament as the first step to seriously competing for power in Scotland in five years' time. It's astonishing they are in this position: at the last Holyrood elections, Reform didn't even register - winning no seats at all. The latest YouGov poll for Sky News predicts Farage will take 20 seats in Scotland and eclipse the Conservatives to become the official opposition. Reform aiming for 'seismic' wins As in other parts of the country, Reform is benefitting from the collapsing support for Labour and the Conservatives. In Scotland, Labour had hoped to win Holyrood from the SNP after nearly two decades, but that prospect has collapsed in tandem with the drop in support for the Starmer government. Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar called for Keir Starmer's resignation earlier this year as he sought to salvage his campaign and create distance from the Westminster government. Sarwar told me last month that he believed he could still win this election, but polling puts them third. It is a similar story in Wales, where Labour has held power ever since the Senedd was created in 1999. Now they are battling Reform for second position as Plaid Cymru takes the lead. Farage tells me he thinks that Reform can win the Welsh Parliament, which would be seismic: "Here in Scotland, to become the opposition would be amazing, absolutely amazing, and if we can embed ourselves there, we can move on in the years to come. "In Wales, well, we're neck and neck right now with Plaid Cymru. The Labour Party, particularly in The Valleys - the real birthplace of the Labour Party - is almost disappearing off the map. So, to be frank, coming first in Wales is the ambition. Whether we can remains to be seen." Some big issues to overcome Farage tells me that he thinks the big story of these elections will be the collapse of Labour - across the Welsh Valleys, the red wall in the Midlands, the North East, the North West and in Scotland. But Farage has his challenges too. While the insurgent party is benefiting from voters' disillusionment with the Conservatives and Labour, the sheen is coming off Reform a little of late. Recent polls show Reform's support has fallen a few percentage points from highs of 29% to 30% in the spring and summer of 2025, while a poll earlier this month by Conservative peer Lord Ashcroft suggested Reform has lost its outright lead across the UK for the first time in more than a year, putting the party on 21% alongside the Tories and Greens, with Labour on 17%. It is perhaps some of the pains of moving from a party of protest to becoming a party in power. There are still big questions around delivery. Recent polling shows that only a quarter of Britons think Reform UK are ready to form the next government, while 58% disagree. This position has slightly worsened from September 2025, when 53% disagreed. There are some big issues for the leader to overcome. First is his positioning on the Iran war and Donald Trump. Pollster Luke Tryl says that the "biggest barrier to people voting for Reform is Trump", while the YouGov March tracker poll found that 14% of Britons had a favourable opinion of Donald Trump and 81% had an unfavourable opinion. When I ask Farage if he has a Trump problem, he tells me "no". But he also spends some of our conversation distancing himself from his old friend while trying to avoid disavowing him: "It's America first, not Trump." 'We're not North Korea' There is also the question of distancing at a more local level when it comes to delivering on the handful of English councils Reform controls (it has nine with outright control and three under minority control). Farage gets irritated when he's questioned about promises made by some Reform candidates on council tax that were not kept. He tells me he cannot be responsible for what potential candidates promised on leaflets, and points out that Reform councils have overall delivered the lowest average council tax increases of any major party. The nine upper-tier councils controlled by a Reform majority increased Band D council tax for 2026/27 by an average of 3.94% - lower than the overall average increase for councils controlled by other parties, which was 4.86%. However, it is equally true that Reform politicians made promises they did not keep. North Northamptonshire candidates signed a letter pledging a freeze. Council tax there has gone up by 4.99%. A Kent County Council leaflet promised to "cut your taxes", but it was raised by 3.99%. Leaflets being distributed by a Reform candidate in the Staffordshire region said Reform would "freeze council tax and biz rates". Council tax went up by 3.99% there, too. Farage answers this by saying: "We're not North Korea. I can't control individuals and thousands of people." He repeats his point that he didn't promise cuts, but it raises questions about delivery and keeping promises - the exact points Farage and his team criticise other politicians about. On the cusp of success Should Reform win more councils and perhaps even a national parliament in May, those questions and that scrutiny is only going to increase. Three months ago, Farage said he was halfway ready to form a government. On Monday he told me he was now 75% of the way there with a leader appointed in Scotland and Wales, and four major spokesperson figures. He is now on the cusp of real success in a set of elections that look set to be an important staging post on Reform's journey towards trying to win the general election in 2029. If it goes Farage's way, he'll have proven he can win at the ballot box - but delivering in office is going to be a much harder task, and test. This interview is the first in a series that Beth Rigby will be conducting with party leaders ahead of the May elections.

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No Writer
Apr 13
Cristian Romero: Tottenham captain to miss rest of season after suffering knee injury in Sunderland defeat

The defender was substituted in tears during Sunday's 1-0 defeat at Sunderland following a collision with Spurs goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky while defending the ball from Sunderland striker Brian Brobbey. Reports claiming the Argentina international will return in time for the World Cup are believed not to be completely accurate, but Romero's season at club level is over. Are Spurs destined for relegation? | Carra: Spurs look like they're going downSpurs news & transfers⚪ | Spurs fixtures & scoresGot Sky? Watch Tottenham games LIVE on your phone📱Not got Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW📺 Romero's injury is another monumental blow for relegation-threatened Spurs, who are in the bottom three and two points from safety with only six league games remaining. It is another injury issue for new Spurs boss Roberto De Zerbi, who told reporters on Friday he had expected to rely on Mohammed Kudus only for the forward to suffer a fresh quad injury. Now he will have to do without Romero for the run-in, whom he had labelled a "crucial player" after the defeat at the Stadium of Light. When asked about Romero's injury on Sunday, he said: "I hope for us it's not too important a problem because he's a crucial player for us. "He's a good guy, good player, top player, big personality and we need him to finish this season and to achieve our goal." Kevin Danso is line to replace Romero for the remainder of the season after the Austria international came on for him in the defeat at Sunderland. Romero is now facing a race to be fit in time for this summer's World Cup with Argentina aiming to defend the title in USA, Canada and Mexico. Argentina's opening game of the tournament is on June 17. Should Brobbey have been punished for push which led to Romero injury? Romero's season-ending injury came as a result of a push by Brobbey, who was already on a yellow card, leading to questions over whether the striker should have been sent off. Speaking on Sky Sports News' Ref Watch, ex-Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher said: "We have to be careful we don't get seduced by the outcome - the injury. "If the goalkeeper's not there, a little nudge, are you going to send him off for a second yellow card? The answer is most certainly no. "The goalkeeper comes out and a collision occurs. That changes everyone's perspective, but it wasn't a serious foul." Ex-Cardiff striker Jay Bothroyd added: "Romero is not in control of the ball and is trying to block Brobbey from getting it. At some point, Brobbey can't see the ball anymore because he's so close to Romero. "It's almost like he's pushed him to one side to see it. That's the kind of incident that comes because defenders are trying to shield the ball." Are Tottenham destined for relegation? Many of Tottenham's biggest issues were self-diagnosed by Roberto De Zerbi during his first game in charge. Spurs had fallen into the bottom three before travelling to Sunderland, and their performance in defeat did nothing to strengthen the belief that they can climb out of it. Appointing De Zerbi as one of the highest-paid head coaches in the division at this juncture of an already calamitous campaign was a high-stakes gamble. Some might argue that keeping Igor Tudor on would have been riskier still. But whoever the boss - De Zerbi is Spurs' fourth of the last 12 months - the same problems seem to persist. Sky Sports' Laura Hunter analyses De Zerbi's first game in charge. Carra: Spurs look like they're going down Sky Sports' Jamie Carragher: "I can't believe it. Tottenham look like they're going to go down," said Carragher. "The other [relegation-threatened] teams have something going for them. "You look at fixtures, you think that's a good game for Tottenham. But they're awful. Tottenham's a good game for them. "Wolves are bottom of the league. Do you think Tottenham will go there, and win? No chance." Tottenham's remaining games Saturday: Brighton (H) - Premier League, kick-off 5.30pm, live on Sky Sports April 25: Wolves (A) - Premier League, kick-off 3pm May 2: Aston Villa (A) - Premier League, kick-off 12.30pm May 11: Leeds (H) - Premier League, kick-off 8pm, live on Sky Sports May 17: Chelsea (A) - Premier League May 24: Everton (H) - Premier League

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