When it rains, it pours, at least that seems to be the case with Chelsea.

In his pre-match press conference yesterday, Enzo Maresca confirmed that, in addition to the players already out injured, Cole Palmer would not play again until after the international break, and both Wesley Fofana and Tosin Adarabioyo are out of contention.

However, even with these injuries, the Blues still have the talent to get a result against Brighton & Hove Albion this afternoon.

To ensure the team has the best chance of securing all three points, Maresca must make a few changes outside of just the defence, such as dropping Jamie Gittens and Enzo Fernández.

Why Maresca must drop Gittens & Fernandez

Starting with Gittens, the reason Maresca has to take him out of the lineup for today’s game is straightforward: he’s currently offering nothing in attack nor defence.

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The former Borussia Dortmund gem might well have a high ceiling and a bright future ahead of him, but as things stand, we have yet to see any of the dynamic attacking play for which he was signed.

In his five appearances for the club, the Englishman has failed to score or assist a goal, and considering he started against League One side Lincoln City during the week, that is concerning.

So, for his own sake and the team’s attack, Maresca should take the Reading-born ace out of the team for now, and perhaps use him as a late impact player to try and get him up and running.

Things are a little less black and white when it comes to Fernandez, though, as we have seen what he can do when he’s at his best in this Chelsea side.

Unfortunately, the Argentine international has been nowhere near his best this season, has struggled in the league, looked out of place in the Champions League and was terrible in the League Cup.

In fact, it was his hospital pass that led to Lincoln taking the lead on Tuesday night, and if it weren’t for Tyrique George, he could have been in for an almighty hammering from the press.

Minutes

70′

Goals

0

Assists

0

Accurate Passes

44/55 (80%)

Crosses (Accurate)

1 (0)

Long Balls (Accurate)

8 (3)

Shots on Target

0

Duels (Won)

6 (2)

Lost Possession

16

Dribbled Past

2

Errors Leading to a Goal

1

Therefore, like with Gittens, the manager should remove the World Cup winner from the starting lineup for today, especially since there is already someone who could come in and do a far better job.

The Chelsea players to replace Gittens & Fernandez

Again, starting with Gittens, there is one obvious candidate to replace him on the right for today’s game: Estevao.

Yes, Maresca should replace the Englishman with the Blues’ newest “world-class” prospect, as dubbed by scout Jacek Kulig.

The Brazilian may still be young, but he has already shown far more attacking intent and all-around quality in his short amount of time at the club this season.

For example, in his first start for the club, against West Ham United, he provided an incredible assist for Joao Pedro and generally had their defence terrified whenever he had the ball at his feet.

Moreover, if he really is the “future Ballon d’Or winner” that respected analyst Ben Mattinson claims, then the club should be getting him on the pitch whenever possible.

Moving into the middle of the park, then, and the man who should come in for Fernandez is, of course, Moises Caicedo.

The former Brighton star has a real shout for being the club’s best player, and so when the Argentine is underperforming so much, it makes sense to bring him in and play him alongside the promising Andrey Santos.

On top of adding some real bite and defensive solidity in the midfield, the unstoppable “machine,” as dubbed by Kulig, has also become more of an attacking threat.

For example, he has already scored two goals in just five league appearances this season, including that stunner against Brentford.

Ultimately, Chelsea need to get back on track today, and one of the ways Maresca can help make that happen is by starting Estevao and Caicedo in place of Gittens and Fernandez.

Maresca has a bigger talent than George who's "the future of Chelsea"

The sensational youngster looks the real deal for Chelsea.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Sep 26, 2025

أعلنت رابطة البريميرليج عن الفائز بجائزة رجل مباراة ليفربول وبرينتفورد في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، التي أقيمت مساء السبت.

وحل ليفربول ضيفًا على برينتفورد في مباراة ضمن مواجهات الجولة التاسعة للدوري الإنجليزي موسم 2025-2026.

وتمكن برينتفورد من تحقيق الفوز على حساب ليفربول بثلاثية لهدفين، ليرفع رصيده للنقطة 13، وتجمد رصيد الريدز عند 15 نقطة في المركز السادس.

اقرأ أيضًا | تقييم محمد صلاح في مباراة ليفربول وبرينتفورد بـ الدوري الإنجليزي

وحصل المصري محمد صلاح جناح فريق ليفربول على جائزة رجل المباراة أمام برينتفورد، بتصويت الجماهير عبر موقع البريميرليج.

وسجل صلاح هدف ليفربول الثاني، وبلغت نسبة تصويت الجماهير له 25%، وفي المركز الثاني جاء كيفن شايد لاعب برينتفورد بنسبة 19%، ثم إيجو تياجو بنسبة 18%.

Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim is set to be handed a massive boost, with Lisandro Martinez poised to return from an ACL injury he sustained eight months ago in February. The Argentina international is now targeting a return before the end of October, as he looks to add to the mere 16 appearances he has made under Amorim's management thus far at Old Trafford.

Martinez battling back

The centre-back has been out since sustaining an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury against Crystal Palace in February. Amazingly, he has only played 16 times under Amorim since the Portuguese's appointment at Old Trafford, and underwent surgery after the clash with Oliver Glasner's men. United have been cautious in monitoring his recovery but the Daily Mail now reports that he couldreturn before the end of the month. United's next three league games come against Liverpool, Brighton, and Nottingham Forest on October 19, October 25 and November 1; he is said to be targeting the latter two fixtures as a potential comeback. 

After his surgery, Martinz issued a positive update, saying: "Today, after going through several stormy days where I allowed myself to feel and accept my sadness, helplessness, insecurities, fears, and a deep emotional imbalance, I am reconnecting with my essence and my values, which help me see things from a kinder and more positive perspective.

"I feel immense gratitude for the incredible work and support of Man United, Argentina federation, my family, friends, teammates, and everyone who took the time to send me a message of encouragement. The surgery went perfectly! Now it's time to give it my all, with heart and soul, in the rehabilitation process."

AdvertisementGetty Images SportAmorim handed much-needed boost

United have endured a disappointing start to the season and sit 10th in the Premier League table, having won three, lost three, and drawn one of their opening seven fixtures. Amorim has come under severe pressure as a result of their poor results, but part-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has insisted that the Portuguese needs at least three years to prove his worth as a head coach, batting away suggestions that he is going to sack the former Sporting CP boss. Nevertheless, the prospect of one of their loudest voices in the dressing room and argubaly best defender returning is only going to boost his chances of helping United climb the table. Martinez has endured an injury-hit spell in Manchester and has missed a total of 90 games for the club and Argentina since 2022. 

Now, he will be desperate to prove himself, especially as his country have confirmed their qualification for the 2026 World Cup at the end of the season; Argentina won the South American qualifying group and will aim to retain the trophy they won in Qatar in 2022. 

Amorim's admission

Amorim has previously spoken of his desire to see Martinez return to United's first-team, insisting that the defender is "missed a lot", not least because the ex-Ajax star has the potential to thrive in the 3-4-2-1 system the coach is stubbornly holding onto.

He said in September, when asked about his potential comeback: "It's really important. When you have that injury, you have that time where you recover a lot of things really hard, then there is the boring part where it looks like you don't go to the next step.

"We miss a lot Licha, especially in this moment, we miss his aggression in everything he does, we miss him. But he's always there in every meeting. In training, he sometimes finishes his and stays to watch the training. We need Licha in this team."

Martinez has remained an integral part of Amorim's squad, travelling to and from games, and even flew to the United States to be a part of the travelling group for their pre-season tour. 

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GettyMartinez needs to stay fit

Martinez should be back to full fitness by the end of the month but he looks set to miss United's next encounter, a clash with Liverpool at Anfield. The Reds have lost three games on the bounce and will be out to return to the top of the Premier League table with a victory over their bitter rivals, while United look to jump up from 10th in the table.

Soon enough, Amorim will be able to name Martinez in his starting XI, and the player himself will be desperate to stay fit, as his Old Trafford spell to date has been defined by injuries. 

Despite spending bigger than ever this summer, Liverpool could reportedly splash the cash once again next year to welcome a player who is ready to reject Real Madrid.

Slot sends reminder about "great" Liverpool business

Even after winning four from four in the Premier League, Arne Slot and Liverpool have faced plenty of criticism. The Reds have needed four, dramatic late winners to maintain the only 100% record in England’s top flight so far this season in a run that is yet to feature a goal or assist from big-money arrival Florian Wirtz.

As he continues to adjust to life in England, there’s been plenty of talk about whether he will prove his worth at Anfield and about Liverpool’s general spending. Slot, however, was quick to remind reporters that there were also a number of sales at Anfield this summer in his press conference before Liverpool’s meeting with Atletico Madrid.

The Dutchman also had his say on Wirtz, telling reporters: “There is so much focus on Florian, but those already here haven’t scored four goals or produced 12 assists either.”

The good news for Liverpool is that, whilst the former Bayer Leverkusen star is not at his best quite yet, they’ve won four games from four and should only get better as a collective.

Their spending may not be done after the summer just gone, either. Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes sent a statement of intent in the last transfer window, which could quickly see them return to the market in 2026. Reports are even suggesting that one player is now ready to reject Real Madrid in favour of an Anfield move.

Wharton ready to reject Real Madrid for Liverpool

According to reports in Spain, Adam Wharton is ready to reject Real Madrid in favour of joining Liverpool in 2026. The England international has been priced at around £70m by Crystal Palace, who could also lose Marc Guehi to the Reds next summer. In a double swoop, Slot could land two of the most important players at Selhurst Park.

PL stats P90 24/25

Adam Wharton

Alexis Mac Allister

Minutes

1,318

2,599

Progressive Passes

7.33

6.12

Tackles Won

0.96

2.01

Ball Recoveries

6.99

5.12

In Slot’s new double pivot, it could be argued that Wharton would be the perfect addition. Last season, the Englishman kept up with Alexis Mac Allister in possession and recovered possession more than the Liverpool star. That’s how talented Wharton is and that’s the level that he should be competing with every week.

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The Reds are set to turn their attention towards the Champions League.

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Dubbed “incredible” by former Crystal Palace teammate Eberechi Eze, Wharton is still just 21 years old and is yet to even reach the peak of his powers. If he continues his current rise, then £70m could quickly turn into a bargain deal for Liverpool next summer.

Trent Boult was the wrecker-in-chief early on, taking the wickets of Abhishek and Head

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Apr-202514:39

What explains SRH’s poor showing this season?

Last week, Mumbai Indians (MI) had straightjacketed Sunrisers Hyderabad’s (SRH) batters on an atypically slow surface at the Wankhede Stadium. On Wednesday, they did the same in the reverse fixture at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad, sending SRH in and keeping them to 143 for 8. Getting to that total was a bit of an achievement for SRH after they had slumped to 35 for 5, with Heinrich Klaasen hauling them to something like respectability with a superb 71 off 44 balls.The most telling performances of the innings came from MI’s new-ball bowlers, however, with Trent Boult and Deepak Chahar picking up two early wickets each as SRH slumped to the lowest powerplay score of the season, 24 for 4. SRH were in danger of collapsing to a double-digit total when they lost their fifth wicket in their ninth over, but Klaasen and Impact Player Abhinav Manohar ensured that didn’t happen, putting on 99 for the sixth wicket in 63 balls.Klaasen played a number of sensational shots – none better than a reverse-scooped six off Jasprit Bumrah in the 19th over – but thanks to the circumstances SRH were in, his innings was necessarily one of restraint, as a control percentage of 86 suggested. The risks he took were measured ones, off marginal errors in line and length from MI’s bowlers. That he still finished with a 160-plus strike rate was a testament to his quality, with Manohar’s 43 off 37 balls and the scores of SRH’s other batters putting his innings in context.Interviewed during the innings break, Manohar suggested the pitch had been on the slow side, with the ball holding in the surface particularly early on. Despite that, he felt SRH’s score was not nearly enough.The early exchanges set the tone, with both Chahar and Boult swinging the new ball while also benefitting from the grippiness of the surface. Conditions still weren’t as tricky as SRH’s top-order slump made them look, though; both Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma were caught while going hard at the ball, slicing shots they were early on, while Nitish Kumar Reddy chipped a drive to mid-on.The biggest moment of SRH’s powerplay collapse, however, was the wicket of Ishan Kishan, who was out to a leg-side strangle for the second time this season. He began walking even though no MI player made a genuine appeal, and Ultra Edge proceeded to rub more salt in SRH’s wounds, showing no spike as ball passed bat.There was one more unusual dismissal later in SRH’s innings, during a double-wicket final over from Boult, who finished with 4 for 26. He sneaked a yorker past Manohar and hit the stumps, but the batter, sitting deep in his crease, had already disturbed his wicket while trying to bring his bat down to keep the ball out.

What a start it has been for Everton in the 2025/26 Premier League season. David Moyes’ side has made several new additions and, so far, they’re proving to be successful. The Toffees are flying already this season, and sit fifth in the table.

The Merseysiders have already picked up six points and have scored five goals, having no issues in front of goal. Jack Grealish has started his career at the Hill Dickinson Stadium superbly, with four assists already, and Iliman Ndiaye has scored twice in the first three games.

Having a real focal point leading he line has been important, too. New signing Thierno Barry has started once, with Beto given the nod in the other two games. His early-season form has been strong.

Beto’s start to the season

It has been a fast start to the new campaign for Beto, who has now found the back of the net 17 times for Everton. As per Transfermarkt, most of those have come under Moyes, with the striker scoring nine times in 23 games under the legendary Scotsman.

So, it’s surely no surprise that the former Udinese star has already found the back of the net twice this season, in just four games. He’s only featured for 221 minutes, leaving him with an average of 2.4 full 90-minute games played and a goals-per-game average of almost 1.

One of the 27-year-old’s goals came in the Carabao Cup against Mansfield Town, and the other in the Premier League against Wolverhampton Wanderers. That game saw Beto play 76 minutes and open the scoring inside the first ten minutes, as Everton won 3-2.

It has certainly been a fast start to the season for Beto, who has previously struggled in a Toffees shirt. His value his shot up recently, coinciding with this good form, and he’s now worth as much as £19.1m, according to Transfermarkt.

Incidentally, there is a former Everton striker who is worth far more than Betom and has shown even better form than the 27-year-old.

The former Everton striker worth more than Beto

If Beto is doing this well under Moyes, you can only imagine the kind of form that Italian centre-forward Moise Kean would have shown. The 25-year-old was snapped up by the Toffees back in 2019 from Juventus for upwards of £27.1m.

However, after a few loan spells, he returned to the Old Lady four years on, with Farhad Moshiri and co ultimately deciding it was best to cut ties with the striker. In total, Kean played just 39 games for the club, scoring four goals, before ultimately returning to Serie A.

After a tough season in Turin following his permanent return, the striker moved to Fiorentina, where his career has taken a huge upward trajectory. His goal record in Florence has been exceptional, with former Juve teammate Weston McKennie describing him as a “beast”.

In 47 games for the Tuscany-based club, he’s found the back of the net 25 times, chipping in with five assists. Last season, Kean was second in the race for the Serie A Golden Boot, with 19 goals to his name.

He averaged 0.7 goals per game and had a conversion rate of 21.35% in the Italian top flight.

Shots on target

1.7

51

Goals

0.7

19

Conversion rate

21.35%

21.25%

Chances created

0.6

17

Take-ons completed

1.5

44

One of his best goals included this acrobatic effort against Genoa, showing just how deadly he can be in the penalty box. The form he has shown for Fiorentina means his value has shot up, with Transfermarkt valuing him at £43.4m, well over double what Beto is worth.

That is also the highest Kean has been worth in his career.

Kean’s form makes you wonder how good the 25-year-old could have been if he were still at Everton now. With the attacking talent the Toffees have, like Grealish and Ndiaye, plus the output Moyes has gotten from his team this season, he could have been flying in a blue shirt.

It is something that the Everton faithful can only imagine, amid the mess made of the situation by the likes of Moshiri. But if Moyes had been able to coach Kean, he could have been a key player at the Hill Dickinson Stadium and contributed to this excellent start to the season.

Silva sold "world-class" Everton star, now he's worth more than Grealish

Everton must rue letting this top star go, who is now worth more than new Toffees ace Jack Grealish.

ByKelan Sarson Sep 2, 2025

Manchester United now have only the weapons at their disposal until January after Monday’s transfer deadline, but that doesn’t mean clubs elsewhere aren’t looking to snap up their own assets, with some windows around the world not yet closed.

Manchester United look ahead after promising transfer window

Results haven’t been too kind to Ruben Amorim this season, but there have been flickering signs that performances at Old Trafford are beginning to come together after some high-profile signings during the transfer window.

Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha, Diego Leon, Senne Lammens, and Benjamin Sesko took Manchester United’s summer spending spree to around £225 million, illustrating a level of ambition from INEOS to help the Red Devils challenge at the top end of the Premier League.

Ultimately, four points from nine available in the top-flight and a shock cup exit to Grimsby Town is unlikely to win any favour among supporters. Still, there is no doubt that this is a transitional season for Amorim’s men as they recover from an unfateful 2024/25 campaign.

Now, the focus is on integrating new faces for an important run of upcoming fixtures, starting with an away trip to rivals Manchester City after the international break, before a home clash with Chelsea.

After sustaining an injury against Burnley, former Wolverhampton Wanderers man Cunha confirmed via social media that he will be back sooner rather than later, stating: “What an incredible environment, it’s great to be here. I’ll be back soon, always with joy and gratitude. Thanks for all the messages.”

Sold for £5m: Man Utd must rue selling £43m star who'd get Sesko firing

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1

By
Ethan Lamb

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With the window now over in Europe, fans could be forgiven for thinking the Red Devils’ squad is now settled for time to come, but clubs are already scouring the market for players who may become of interest, and in some cases the window is still open…

Harry Maguire attracting interest from Saudi Pro League

According to The Sun, two Saudi Pro League clubs want to sign Manchester United’s Harry Maguire, with their window open until September 23. The player himself is considering the move, but only at the end of this season, which is perhaps a hit to INEOS and a boost for Amorim, as the Red Devils will lose out on a transfer fee but the manager keeps a consistent starter this season.

Indeed, the £190,000 per week earner is committed to remaining at Old Trafford until his contract expires in the summer of 2026, but this looks like one to watch once his deal ends when he could receive a massive pay hike.

Becoming a pillar of the Red Devils’ backline in recent years, Maguire has registered 16 goals and nine assists in 249 appearances for the club. He will be 33 by the time his Manchester United contract comes to an end, and it is clear that he has plenty of options open if he wants to seek a new career challenge elsewhere – or generational wealth.

TEAMtalk report that Manchester United could look to extend his contract, citing Amorim’s belief that he is a ‘crucial’ part of the dressing room, but it appears he could now be set to follow Andre Onana amid interest from Saudi clubs in the Cameroon international.

Manchester City star John Stones has revealed that he considered announcing his retirement from professional football last season amid his persistent injury problems. Stones appeared in just 11 Premier League matches for the Cityzens in 2024-25, having to remain sidelined for a long period with foot and hamstring problems. He played his last game of the 2024-25 season in February.

• Stones had an injury-plagued 2024-25 season

  Last season proved to be a nightmare for Stones, who is now back to fitness and ready to make an impact for club and country. However, he's admitted injury problems led him to some dark places mentally.

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• AFP
  

  Retirement became an option

  Speaking to the , Stones said: "Last season was tough for me, to the point where I thought about stopping. I didn't want to do it. I had had enough of being so professional and trying to do everything right in my power, to then keep breaking down and not having the answers. It was a very difficult place to be in.

  "There comes a point where you don't know why it happens and it is even harder when you put in so much effort, or you are ultra professional, to be able to play and be available. When that time comes and something happens, it would be easier to say 'well I didn't do X, Y and Z that's why' – but when you do it, it's then mentally challenging. Hopefully I don't go back to that place.

  "My emotions were high. I wasn't thinking straight. I don't think deep down I would have ever done it [retired].

  "I said years ago when City wanted me to have a new challenge, I said 'I am going to fight'. That's all I have known since I was a kid – why should I stop that now? So yes, there is that fight in me and that winning mentality that doesn't want to stop."

• Stones ready to sign new City contract

  The reported last month that City want to keep Stones at the club and are ready to open talks over a new contract. The England star's current deal expires at the end of the season but he remains a key member of Guardiola's squad, and he is now minded to remain at the Etihad.

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• Getty Images
  

  Stones set to make England comeback

  Stones was forced to pull out of the England squad in September after suffering a minor muscle injury, but he is now up and running and has earned a Three Lions call-up for the October international games. Thomas Tuchel's side face Wales in a friendly on Thursday, before travelling to Riga to face Latvia in a World Cup qualifier five days later.

Troy Deeney has slammed Aston Villa’s “ego” problem and called out one of Unai Emery’s key players after their dry spell of form continued last weekend.

Villa winless after opening five games

Very few fans would’ve predicted Villa to be in the Premier League relegation zone after their first five games, but they’re currently occupying 18th place, after drawing three and losing two, scoring just one goal in the process.

Most recently, the Villans came up short at the Stadium of Light, drawing 1-1, despite Sunderland being reduced to ten men in the first half, with Wilson Isidor cancelling out Matty Cash’s opening goal.

The problems have continued to mount at Villa Park, with it subsequently being confirmed that sporting director Monchi is set to leave, in what could be another major blow for Emery, amid widespread speculation surrounding the manager’s future.

As mentioned, one of Villa’s main issues up to this stage has been the failure to score goals, with Ollie Watkins yet to find the back of the net, and Deeney has now singled the striker out for criticism.

The former Birmingham City man said: “The biggest problem is lack of goals, lack of goals from Ollie at this moment in time.

“At this moment in time, you’re the only striker there, you’re the one they’re looking towards and for the start of the season, you’re not delivering.

The talkSPORT pundit also went on to add: “At the moment in time, he just looks off it, he looks comfortable.”

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Not only is Deeney unimpressed with Watkins’ start to the campaign, but he is also concerned there may be an “ego” problem at Villa, saying: “It’s a weird one. I thought maybe with [Jadon] Sancho and [Harvey] Elliott coming in, there’d be a bit more dynamism to it. But they must not be fit enough as he’s not putting them anywhere near the starting line-up. It’s an ego thing now, a player-driven ego thing.”

“I think the manager is a very, very good manager, but you have to start looking now and saying: Why are the players trying to play inside the pitch? Why is Morgan Rogers not the focal point?”

Watkins needs to start firing after poor start

No one can deny the Villa striker has been a fantastic servant, having picked up 87 goals and 42 assists in 229 matches, but he must start firing sooner rather than later, having once again put in a poor performance against Sunderland.

The England international missed one big chance and touched the ball just 16 times throughout the match, finishing with a SofaScore match rating of just 6.3.

In fairness, the onus isn’t just on the former Brentford man to start improving, with fellow key player Morgan Rogers also failing to register a single goal or an assist this term, while Shay Given has called Emery out for labelling his players “lazy”.

It is a risky tactic for Emery to publicly criticise his players, but he will be hoping for a response from his side when their Europa League campaign gets underway against Bologna on Thursday.

Dom Goodman’s maiden first-class five-wicket haul inspired a Gloucestershire fightback on a fluctuating day two of the Rothesay County Championship Second Division match with Leicestershire at the Seat Unique Stadium, Bristol.Shortly after lunch, Division Two’s early season pace-setters Leicestershire looked well placed to post a sizeable first-innings lead. Having reached 200 for 5 in response to the hosts’ first-innings total of 252, the visitors looked well in command if perhaps not fully in control.The Gloucestershire pace attack would have been legitimately scratching their heads at the lunch interval having only managed to pick up one wicket during a morning session in which they beat the bat with almost comedic regularity.Resuming on 91 for 4, Leicestershire’s experienced pair of Lewis Hill and Ian Holland were given a testing examination of both technique and ticker on a pitch which continued to offer pace and bounce for the seam bowlers.Goodman and Ajeet Singh Dale bowled with skill and aggression but very little luck as they watched the Leicestershire batters continuously play and miss during the opening exchanges. Goodman did find the edge of Hill’s bat at the end of the morning’s third over, only for the ball to sail waist-height through the vacant third slip area.When the Leicestershire batter released the shackles shortly after with consecutive fours through the offside to bring up his half-century from 96 balls, it looked like Gloucestershire Captain Cameron Bancroft may live to regret his rather conservative cordon. But Goodman soon enticed another edge from Hill, and this time Bancroft took a smart catch, tumbling low to his right at second slip, and Gloucestershire’s 24-year-old paceman had picked up his third wicket of the innings and reduced the visitors to 119 for 5.Despite looking like a wicket might fall almost every ball, that early breakthrough proved to be the only one during the opening session. The battling Holland, together with Leicestershire’s wicketkeeper-batter Ben Cox, somehow managed to negotiate the remainder of the morning session without further damage. In the over before lunch, Holland’s patience and perseverance saw him bring up a gritty half-century from 134 balls, as Leicestershire reached the break seemingly well-placed at 189 for 5.But Gloucestershire, led by young seamer Goodman, roared back during the afternoon session. First, he pinned Holland lbw for 52, before producing an absolute beauty, which angled in and nipped away to hit the top of Logan van Beek’s off-stump. It was a perfect delivery and brought him his maiden first-class five-wicket haul in style, reducing Leicestershire to 206 for 7 in the process.The Foxes’ tail was further exposed when Ben Cox was forced to retire hurt on 36 having been struck in the ribs by a nasty Zaman Akhter nip-backer. And when Roman Walker was bowled by Josh Shaw for a six-ball duck and Ben Green fell to Ben Charlesworth in similar fashion for 21, the visitors had slipped to 237 for 9 and suddenly faced the prospect of a first innings deficit.Cox returned, however, to complete a gutsy half-century and guide Leicestershire beyond 250 and to their first batting bonus point. When he was bowled through the gate by Singh Dale for 53, the innings closed on 262, providing Leicestershire with a slender first-innings lead of 10 runs. It was a deserved wicket for Singh Dale who had run in hard all day for little reward, but it was the mightily impressive and metronomic Goodman, making his first appearance of the season, who will quite rightly take the plaudits, finishing with 5 for 54 from his 20 overs.In reply, Gloucestershire found themselves 9 for 1 after Ben Charlesworth feathered an edge to Leicestershire captain and stand-in wicketkeeper Peter Handscomb off the bowling of Holland. But skipper Bancroft and Ollie Price, who fell to the impressive Holland during the penultimate over of the day, fought hard to steer the home side to 88 for 2 at the close, a lead of 78.Leicestershire will hope that late wicket has swung the pendulum back in their direction but with Bancroft still at the crease this hugely absorbing contest remains firmly in the balance.