CK Updates
Burnley boss Scott Parker ‘feeling pressure’ – ‘I’m a winner and a fighter’
Burnley boss Scott Parker says he will “keep bouncing back” despite feeling “the pressure” of trying to keep the club in the Premier League.
The Clarets, who returned to the top flight in the summer, have won just three of their opening 16 games and sit 19th in the table, six points from safety.
“I feel the pressure every time I’m sat in this position, I’ve felt the pressure every time I’ve walked out on the football pitch for 20 years of my career,” said Parker.
“There’s no-one will ever, no owner, no fan, yourself asking me the question or the guy who’s asked you to ask the question to me, that will put more pressure on me than I put on myself.
“I’m a winner, I’m a fighter and throughout my career and throughout my life, that’s exactly what I’ve been, and there’s always been pressure. That’s just the way it is.
“Pressure is something you learn to deal with, and also it’s that pressure and that fear at times – because no doubt at times there’s fear – that drives, absolutely drives.”
Since winning at bottom club Wolves on 26 October, Parker’s side have endured a dreadful run of seven consecutive defeats, with their previous three losses against Fulham, Newcastle and Crystal Palace all coming by a solitary goal.
And a section of the Turf Moor crowd let their dissatisfaction with the situation be known following last weekend’s 3-2 reverse to the Cottagers, with boos ringing out around the ground at full time.
“I don’t think it’s justified and I have an understanding of it and that doesn’t come from what I believe but I understand it because of the world we are in,” Parker added.
“I don’t agree with it. You don’t become a bad coach in four months.
“You are working tirelessly and you are fully committed. It’s what you sign up for. I am an emotional person and I wear my heart in my sleeve.
“To get the team to this position in the Premier League and see it change so quickly is hurtful. I will never be in doubt, you can chuck anything at me and I will keep bouncing back to try and improve this group.”
Former West Ham, QPR and Czech Republic goalkeeper Ludek Miklosko has died at the age of 64.
Miklosko made almost 400 appearances for the Hammers from 1990 to 1998 and was much loved by supporters, who regularly sang his name long after he left the club.
He later returned as a goalkeeping coach.
Miklosko withdrew from cancer treatment in December 2024, three years after his diagnosis.
Days later he returned to West Ham’s London Stadium for a Premier League match against Liverpool to a hero’s reception.
A West Ham statement read: “It is with deep and profound sadness that West Ham United announces the passing of legendary former goalkeeper and coach, Luděk Miklosko.
“Rest in peace Ludek, our beloved, inspirational goalkeeper and gentle giant of a man.”
More to follow.
Going into the 2026 season, few people would have backed Zverev to win two Grand Slam tournaments, with the German having already lost three major finals in a career which looked in danger of not living up to expectation.
But injuries to his biggest rivals – Alcaraz missing the French Open and Wimbledon, with Sinner ruled out of the US Open – opened the door for Zverev.
A below-par Zverev scraped through the opening rounds at Flushing Meadows in a series of early-morning finishes, but he gradually improved over a fortnight where he did not play a top-20 opponent until Shelton.
Zverev had not lost to Shelton in their five previous meetings and immediately capitalised on a nervy start by his opponent.
Shelton double-faulted on break point in the first game of the match, handing over the type of initiative that opponents often struggle to wrestle back from Zverev.
Through the strength of his first serve, and his ability to unpick Shelton’s weaker backhand in the baseline exchanges, Zverev rolled through the opening set and clinched it when Shelton hit another double fault on set point.
Zverev continued to patiently draw mistakes from Shelton in the second set, but without being gifted a break when his only opportunity arrived in the fourth game.
He instead showed why he has a strong tie-break record with another nerveless display and, unlike in the 2020 US Open final when he lost from a two-set lead, kept his composure in the pressure moments to secure a commanding victory.
Addressing his team which is led by his father Alexander senior and brother Mischa, Zverev said: “We went 30 years without winning a Grand Slam title and now won two in the span of three months.
“I think God has seen how hard we have worked, how hard we have suffered and how much pain we went through.
“I think 2026 is the outcome of all the years that happened before.”
With Haaland’s goal settling the match, United were unsurprisingly disappointed by the decision.
“I think it was offside,” said Martinez. “And what I can’t understand is the rules. I want to be calm now, I want to control myself.
“It’s so hard because you lose a derby, you lose three points at home, and every season they’re [referees] coming to our club, they explain for one hour the rules, and they look so confident with that, and then after [there are] five or six people doing these kind of mistakes in the Premier League – it’s unacceptable.
“It’s the best league in the world, you have the best teams in the world, the best players in the world, and now we have to go home with this injustice.”
United boss Carrick also expressed his confusion.
“We put things in place in the game now, we have people in offices with all the screens for this decision,” he said.
“It’s more worrying about if that’s the interpretation of football now. If that’s the interpretation of not interfering in the game now, that’s really worrying for me. It’s a staggering explanation.
“The decision isn’t going to change the season, but it’s had a major impact on the game.”
Wayne Rooney, part of the BBC’s MOTD2 team, said: “Surely it’s offside. Martinez is impacted by Fernandez’s movement, and he is offside.”
Gary Neville said on Sky Sports: “I think we’ll see some sort of apology from the referee’s association, there’s no doubt Fernandez is playing that ball and is trying to put off Martinez. I think it’s one they’ll recognising they got wrong.”
Micah Richards added: “I think it’s been a bad day for referees. They got the Foden decision wrong and the Fernandez decision wrong. I think they got it so wrong but I don’t think it takes anything away from City’s performance.”
Meanwhile, City boss Maresca said: “I think it was onside clearly so it’s good.”
Ludek Miklosko: Ex-West Ham goalkeeper dies aged 64
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