Watford Lose 5-1 to Middlesbrough, Coach Still Calls Result ‘Painful’

Ed Still lamented the defeat, noting that the game highlighted a lack of resilience and season‑long cohesion. He acknowledged a strong first‑half performance but said the team failed to convert chances and defend properly in the second half. The result drops Watford to 16th in the table and underscores the challenges the club faces this season.

Former Manchester United striker Teddy Sheringham has made his feelings clear as the club hesitates over appointing Michael Carrick permanently. tbzikra.org

United dithering

Carrick has overseen a massive turnaround at United since his appointment as Ruben Amorim’s temporary replacement at the start of the year.

He has taken charge of 12 games, winning eight, drawing two and losing two. Heading into the meeting with Brentford, United sit in third place in the Premier League and firmly on course to secure Champions League football.

Not only have results improved, but performances have as well. Yet, United are no closer to determining whether or not they will keep Carrick beyond the end of the campaign. While he has impressed some figures at Old Trafford, there are others, chiefly co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who believe that he may not be the best fit long-term.

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Other managers who continue to be linked with the job include Julian Nagelsmann, Andoni Iraola, Oliver Glasner, Carlo Ancelotti and Unai Emery.

More and more current and former players are calling for the club to stick with Carrick, and Sheringham has now jumped into that camp too.

Speaking on talkSPORT, the 1999 treble winner insisted that he’d be “disappointed” if United snub Carrick in favour of someone else, after what he has achieved so far.

Sheringham’s verdict

The Englishman said, “Michael Carrick’s gone in there, he’s done an unbelievable job.”

“And it just shows you what can be done if you’ve got the right approach, if you get on the right wavelength with players, things turn around very, very quickly.”

“So he’s gone in there, he’s had that reaction from him, and they’ve gone on from there.”

The 60-year-old added, “I’d be very disappointed in Man United if they didn’t give Michael Carrick the job. I think he’s been fantastic since he’s gone in there.”

United vs. Brentford kicks off on Monday at 20:00 BST.

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Corinthians and Vasco will have CHANGES for this Sunday’s match (26), at 4:00 p.m., at Neo Química Arena, for the 13th round of the Brasileirão.

For Timão, coach Fernando Diniz has several absences, such as Hugo Souza, Matheuzinho, Charles, and Gui Negão.

Raniele could take Matheuzinho’s spot at right-back. Up front, Jesse Lingard could be the new addition.

Thus, a likely Timão lineup is Kauê; Raniele (Pedro Milans), Gabriel Paulista, Gustavo Henrique and Matheus Bidu; Allan, André, Breno Bidon and Rodrigo Garro; Jesse Lingard (Kaio César) and Yuri Alberto.

At Vasco, Renato Gaúcho is also expected to make changes to the lineup. Alan Saldivia, for example, returns after serving a suspension in the last round.

Compared to the 2-0 win over Paysandu in the Copa do Brasil, Paulo Henrique returns — as a result, Puma Rodríguez drops out of the team.

Thus, Vasco should have Léo Jardim; Paulo Henrique, Saldivia, Robert Renan, Cuiabano; Barros, Thiago Mendes (Hugo Moura); Tchê Tchê; Johan Rojas, Andrés Gómez and Spinelli (David).

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Virgil van Dijk said he has no worries about the “outstanding” Alexander Isak despite his tough debut season at Liverpool and his lack of goals.

But the Liverpool captain said their record signing has to score more in the future after finally getting a Premier League goal at Anfield for Arne Slot’s side.

Isak, who cost a British record £125m, has only scored four goals in 21 games for Liverpool, three of them in the Premier League, in an injury-hit campaign.

Van Dijk said: “In terms of what I’ve seen of him everyone knows and sees and experiences as team-mates how outstanding he is. It is about getting games, confidence but obviously scoring goals as a striker – that’s the main trigger for him.

“I’m not worried at all about him whatsoever. We want more than goals from him and that’s what he can bring and he just has to keep going and keep working, keep staying fit and keep staying important for the football club because I think he will and he already is.”

Isak suffered a fractured leg when scoring against Tottenham in December and underwent ankle surgery. His goal in Saturday’s 3-1 win over Crystal Palace was his first in 2026.

Van Dijk hopes to see more goals from the former Newcastle player next season, though he is wary that his Netherlands side face Isak’s Sweden in Houston in June.

The defender added: “It is quite an understatement to say he’s had a tough year. He can probably explain it better but the injuries he had and the timing of it has been bad. But now he is fit and we all know what he can bring and he shows it in training and in games as well. It is on him now to keep showing that – hopefully after the World Cup because at the World Cup we play against each other so he can take it a little bit easier then.”

Liverpool’s two most expensive signings ever both scored on Saturday, with Florian Wirtz finding the net in injury time, and Van Dijk feels it is a good sign for the future.

He said: “That was always the plan. These two particular players have been brought to the club to make an impact and it’s not been an easy season for anyone, including those two, but you see the quality they have.”

BlogMarch 2026 Sports Highlights: World Cup Playoffs and MoreLate March has always been a time of transition in the world of sports, and this year was no exception. As the month drew to a close, the sporting world was treOpen →

The Cleveland Browns absolutely killed it on days 1 and 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft, and despite there being less excitement in rounds four through seven, they still added some potential studs on day 3.

Though the “value” wasn’t as pronounced as their selections on Thursday and Friday, they still added quite a few players who could contribute immediately for Todd Monken and Co. in 2026, beginning with their first selection of the day.

It’s no secret that Cleveland was in the market for a center heading into Saturday, and they found one who could end up having more of a chance to start as a rookie than the public thinks. Alabama C Parker Brailsfordis an incredibly special player who’s been one of the best centers in college football over the past 3 seasons despite being “only” 6’1.5”, 290 lbs.

His above-average flexibility and movement skills have allowed him to make up for most of his shortcomings when it comes to size, and there’s a very good chance that he’ll be able to continue his success at the next level for the Browns. He’ll provide legitimate competition at center throughout training camp in Berea, and fans shouldn’t be surprised if he ends up fighting his way to the top of the depth chart heading into week 1 of the 2026 season. This obviously depends on the team’s plans for Elgton Jenkins, but it sounds like they want him to play guard in Cleveland.

With their second 5th-round pick, they chose to address defense and added Alabama LBJustin Jefferson. He’s on the smaller side (6’0.5”, 223 lbs.), but his speed and coverage ability jump off the tape. He’ll most likely be a rotational WILL and special-teamer for Cleveland, but finding linebacker depth with his type of athleticism is a huge win for the Browns.

They were able to finish out the 5th round by adding Cincinnati TE Joe Royer, who’s been very impressive for the Bearcats since he joined as a transfer from Ohio State in 2024. He has excellent size (6’5”, 247 lbs.), enormous hands (almost 11”), and displayed the ability to be a consistent target in the passing game and blocker in the run game, which should allow him to be a legitimate TE2 option for Todd Monken as a rookie.

Moving into the sixth round, Andrew Berry and Co. decided to take a flier on one of the most athletic quarterbacks to come out of college football in a long time, Arkansas’ Taylen Green. His 9.99 RAS score could initially result in him being a fun wildcat-type quarterback in Cleveland, and the Browns’ new QB coach, Mike Bajakian, is undoubtedly excited to work with him.

With their final selection of the 2026 NFL Draft, the Browns selected one of, if not the best, blocking tight end in the entire draft. BYU’s Carsen Ryan is a classic “iron man” tight end who could end up sticking in Cleveland as a long-term depth option on offense and core special-teamer.

What are your thoughts on Cleveland’s day three selections? Join fellow Browns fans in the comment section below.