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Wolverhampton Wanderers are heading into the international break off the back of a defeat after their 3-2 loss to Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Sunday.

How did Wolves lose to Palace?

The home side took the lead in the 56th minute after a relatively quiet first half as Tyrick Mitchell's low cross into the front post area was prodded into the back of the net by French centre-forward Odsonne Edouard.

Hwang Hee-chan soon levelled the scores less than ten minutes later as Pedro Neto's corner was diverted into the far corner by the South Korea international.

However, Gary O'Neil's side failed to push on to go and win the match as Palace took control and made it 3-1 by the 84th minute thanks to two superb goals from Eberechi Eze and Edouard, who both found room within the box to slot the ball past Jose Sa.

A 96th-minute consolation goal from Matheus Cunha had no bearing on the match as it came far too late for the away side to mount a comeback in the closing stages.

How did Fabio Silva perform against Palace?

One player who should be in danger of losing their place in the starting line-up is Fabio Silva after his disappointing performance at the top end of the pitch.

The 21-year-old marksman struggled, once again, to prove that he is ready to lead the line and offer a goal threat for Wolves. As a result, he must be ditched from the starting team in favour of Hwang, who has proven he is able to chip in with goals at this level.

Silva played 74 minutes of the game and offered very little in and out of possession. His lack of presence through the middle was evident as he lost four of his six ground duels and his only aerial battles throughout the clash.

The youngster also failed to register a single effort on target and accumulated a woeful 0.04 xG and 0.07 xA, showing that the Portuguese striker did not get into strong goalscoring positions or provide his teammates with opportunities in front of goal.

The former Porto starlet has started three of Wolves' four Premier League matches so far this season and has so far contributed with zero goals and has also failed to create any big chances for teammates.

His lack of strength has been on display throughout the campaign so far as the former PSV loanee has lost 100% of his aerial duels and 55% of his battles in total, whilst he has been unable to make up for that with his play in possession having missed two 'big chances'.

This underwhelming start to the season comes after Silva managed four goals and one assist in 14 Eredivisie matches for PSV last term, in which time he lost 65% of his physical contests and spurned four 'big chances' for the Dutch outfit.

Consequently, O'Neil should drop the talent from the XI after the international break as they host Liverpool at the Molineux. Instead, Hwang should be unleashed from the start.

How good is Hwang Hee-chan?

The £30k-per-week hotshot is far from a prolific number nine but his form at the start of this season suggests that he has the quality to offer considerably more than Silva at the top end of the pitch.

Goals have been hard to come by for Wolves in recent times as they only hit the back of the net 31 times in 38 Premier League matches last term and they have only managed four in four so far during the 2023/24 campaign, with two of those coming from the South Korean.

Hwang has showcased his qualities off the bench with two goals and one 'big chance' created for a teammate in three substitute outings, alongside a start in the only league win so far against Everton.

He has averaged an excellent Sofascore rating of 7.13 for the club with only two players – Jose Sa and Pedro Neto – having averaged higher ratings within the squad. It shows that the former RB Leipzig man has been one of the team's outstanding performers in spite of his limited time on the pitch.

The 27-year-old produced three goals and one assist in 12 top-flight starts during the 2022/23 campaign and five goals alongside one assist in 20 starts throughout the previous term. Again, hardly outstanding but there is untapped potential just waiting to be unleashed.

Over the last 365 days, Hwang ranks in the top 9% of his positional peers throughout Europe's top five leagues for non-penalty goals per 90 (0.41), showing that the talented frontman has been an efficient scorer compared to the minutes he has played against other strikers in Europe.

His superb level of production off the bench in recent weeks suggests that the versatile star, who can play on either flank or through the middle as a centre-forward, is able to offer far more than Silva, both as a scorer and a creator.

Hwang could also be a big upgrade on the young forward when it comes to putting in the hard yards for the team to do his defensive work against the ball.

During the 2022/23 campaign, the South Korean ranked within the top 11% or higher of his Premier League positional peers for tackles (1.59) and blocks (1.43) per 90, whilst he also made 0.40 interceptions per 90, as per FBref.

For context, Silva ranked within the bottom 38% or lower of his Eredivisie positional peers during his loan spell with PSV for tackles (0.44), blocks (0.59), and interceptions (0.15) per 90.

Evidently, the former RB Salzburg man offers far more than the 21-year-old striker out of possession to cut out opposition attacks at source. This is no doubt a valuable trait as it helps to prevent the other team from creating regular chances.

Therefore, O'Neil must unleash Hwang, who was once described as a "dangerous" forward by ex-Arsenal ace Kevin Campbell, from the start after the international break.

He'd certainly improve Wolves' attack to give them the best possible chance of scoring enough goals to pick up the points that they will ultimately need to beat the drop.

Burnley boss Vincent Kompany is believed to be plotting a move for an attacker who plied his trade in the Premier League last term and he has him on a shortlist at Turf Moor, according to reports.

What's the latest news involving Burnley?

Last week, Burnley saw a bid of £17 million turned down for PSV Eindhoven winger Johan Bakayoko as the Clarets continue their search for new arrivals that has yielded an extremely busy summer window at the Lancashire-based outfit, as per The Daily Mail.

Nevertheless, Liverpool, Everton and Crystal Palace are also keen on the 20-year-old and he could become highly sought-after in the final days of the window, as per Football Insider.

His future at PSV could be determined by whether the Dutch giants qualify for the Champions League group stages. Peter Bosz's men take on Scottish side Rangers in the play-off round second leg on Wednesday, with the tie finely poised at an aggregate score of 2-2, creating a winner-takes-all scenario at the Philips Stadion to secure entry into Europe's elite competition proper.

Burnley have already brought in a mass collective of new arrivals as Kompany looks to consolidate their place in the Premier League, with Lawrence Vigoroux, Zeki Amdouni, James Trafford, Michael Obafemi, Aaron Ramsey, Jordan Beyer, Sander Berge, Wilson Odobert, Dara O'Shea, Hannes Delcroix, Luca Koleosho, Nathan Redmond and Jacob Bruun Larsen signing on at Turf Moor, as per Transfermarkt.

Cited via The Burnley Express, former Manchester City icon Kompany has outlined his plans for the final stretch of the transfer window, stating when asked if anyone else could join Burnley:

"It depends who it’s up to. If it’s up to me, maybe not. But in the end we’ve really been able to attract a lot of players who we thought would be really exciting to work with, both in the short-term and in the long-term, with growth definitely everywhere in the club. If we can add to it, we’re not going to turn it down.”

Who else could Burnley sign?

talkSPORT claim on X that Burnley are targeting two high-profile forwards before the window closes on Friday – AC Milan's Divock Origi and Leicester City's Patson Daka.

"BREAKING: Burnley are trying to sign former LFC striker Divock Origi from AC Milan. The Clarets have also placed LCFC's Patson Daka on their shortlist of targets. – talkSPORT sources understand."

The Daily Mail claim that Bournemouth are also keen on Daka, who is valued at £25 million by his current employers, while Everton saw a loan bid turned down for the Zambia international earlier in the summer.

Daka has made 74 appearances for Leicester City, encompassing all competitions, registering 15 goals and eight assists in total, as per Transfermarkt.

Dubbed "brilliant" by former Leicester City striker Iwan Roberts in the past, £75k-a-week earner Daka ranks highly in regard to his positional peers across Europe's top five division in the art of assists, averaging 0.32 per 90 minutes in the last 365 days, putting him in the 97th percentile for this metric.

If he doesn't have a long-term future at the King Power Stadium, Kompany bringing Daka back to the Premier League could be an ideal solution for both parties if a deal can be struck, and it may be one to keep an eye on alongside Origi.

يحل نادي ريال مدريد ضيفاً عى نظيره غرناطة، ضمن منافسات الجولة الـ35 من الدوري الإسباني لكرة القدم.

ستنطلق المباراة بين الفريقين في تمام الساعة التاسعة والنصف مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة على ملعب “لوس كارمينيس” في إطار منافسات الدوري الإسباني.

ويحتل ريال مدريد المركز الأول في سلم ترتيب الدوري الإسباني برصيد 87 نقطة، فيما يأتي غرناطة بالمركز التاسع عشر برصيد 21 نقطة.

اقرأ أيضاً.. تقارير: غضب كبير في برشلونة بعد الوصول إلى مدريد لخوض الكلاسيكو

وأعلن كارلو أنشيلوتي المدير الفني لفريق ريال مدريد عن التشكيل الذي سيخوض به المواجهة، والذي شهد تواجد تيبو كورتوا أساسيًا. تشكيل ريال مدريد اليوم أمام غرناطة في الدوري الإسباني

حراسة المرمى: كورتوا.

الدفاع: روديجير – ميليتاو – فران جارسيا – فاسكيز.

الوسط: كامافينجا – مودريتش – سيبايوس.

الهجوم: خوسيلو – إبراهيم دياز – أردا جولر. بدلاء ريال مدريد اليوم أمام غرناطة في الدوري الإسباني

كيبا – لونين – كارفاخال – بيلينجهام – ناتشو – فينيسيوس جونيور – توني كروس – رودريجو – فالفيردي – ميندي.

📋✅ تشكيلة الفريق لمواجهة غرناطة!
🆚 @GranadaCF_Arab #GranadaRealMadrid pic.twitter.com/L5IEqXQ4iX — ريال مدريد (@realmadridarab) May 11, 2024

Aston Villa are reportedly still on the tail of Real Madrid midfielder Dani Ceballos, as Unai Emery eyes another reunion with one of his former players this summer.

The Spaniard has already rekindled his relationship with Pau Torres, whom he acquired from his previous club Villarreal earlier in the window, with his sights reported to be set on Ceballos.

What’s the latest on Dani Ceballos to Aston Villa?

As reported in Spain by news outlet Sport, Villa are ‘preparing’ an offer for the Spaniard, who has been linked with a move to the Midlands since the January window.

It’s speculated that Emery will offer Madrid a figure in the region of €15m (£13m) for the playmaker, despite him penning a new deal with Los Blancos in June.

Sport adds that the Spaniard will hope to lure his former player to Villa Park, with the move more likely following Madrid’s big-money signing of Jude Bellingham plus the fact that game time is not going to be easy to grasp.

How good is Dani Ceballos?

The 27-year-old is a player well known not just by Emery, but by the Premier League too, following his consecutive loan spells at Arsenal.

Having been hailed as a “little genius” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, the central midfielder has shown that he can perform in England at the top level, making him a potentially strong addition to the manager’s set-up in the Midlands.

While the Utrera-born gem has taken up a more sporadic role at the Bernabeu, his inconsistent game time hasn’t derailed his level of performance, as highlighted through his numbers.

As per FBref, Ceballos maintained an average pass completion rate of 90.6%, as well as recording a monstrous 11.74 progressive passes per 90 in LaLiga.

To put such numbers into perspective, Villa’s main creator last term Emiliano Buendia averaged 5.15 progressive passes per 90 in the Premier League, suggesting just how significant an impact the Spaniard could have at Villa Park.

One player that could benefit from the potential presence of the former Gunner in the squad is new arrival Moussa Diaby, who could take his performances to further heights with an outlet as competent as the Madrid whiz.

As highlighted by FBref, the 27-year-old averaged 1.73 key passes and 1/04 passes into the penalty area per 90 for los blancos last season, showcasing areas that could be of use to the winger.

Once lauded as “dangerous” by former Bundesliga striker Nils Petersen, Diaby could cause havoc if equipped alongside a player as creative in his approach to the final third as Ceballos.

Based on his averages obtained last season in the German top-flight, the Frenchman could frequently be a target for the former Arsenal man to aim for in his progressive exploits, with the 24-year-old receiving an average of 8.60 progressive passes per 90.

Villa’s £51.9m forward needs little chance to score, as suggested by his 14 goals and 11 assists in all competitions last campaign for Leverkusen, however, Emery could unearth a deadly combination by fuelling the playmaking strengths of his former player with the lethal ability of Diaby.

يتابع نادي برشلونة الإسباني، خيفتشا كفاراتسخيليا لاعب نابولي، عن كثب، ويبحث إمكانية ضمه في السوق الصيفي.

وارتبط كفاراتسخيليا بالرحيل عن نابولي إلى الدوري الإسباني، رغم وجود محادثات لتجديد عقده مع الفريق.

وبحسب صحيفة “سبورت” الإسبانية، قد ينظر نابولي في مسألة رحيل كفاراتسخيليا إلى برشلونة، ويستغل الأمر لعقد صفقة تبادلية.

تبلغ قيمة كفاراتسخيليا 80 مليون يورو، ولديه عقد حتى يونيو 2027 ولذلك نابولي له اليد العليا في التفاوض.

وأشار التقرير إلى أن فيرمين لوبيز وفيران توريس محل اهتمام لنابولي، لكن كلاهما سيرفض برشلونة رحيلهما.

اقرأ أيضًا | ماركا توضح مصير جواو فيليكس مع برشلونة

ويتابع التقرير موضحًا أنه في الوضع الحالي، يستمع برشلونة إلى العروض المقدمة لأي لاعب تقريبًا في الفريق.

ويفكر كفاراتسخيليا في الرحيل عن نابولي نظرًا لغياب فريقه عن المراكز المؤهلة للتواجد في دوري أبطال أوروبا.

وسجل الجورجي 10 أهداف وصنع تسع تمريرات حاسمة هذا الموسم، خلال مشاركته في مباريات نابولي.

Newcastle United are reportedly interested in Olympique Lyonnais midfielder Rayan Cherki, as the French side faces a financial battle this summer.

The Ligue 1 outfit’s woes could come as an advantage for Eddie Howe, who is on the prowl for sufficient reinforcements ahead of the highly anticipated 2023/24 campaign.

Could Newcastle United sign Rayan Cherki?

As mentioned by Foot Mercato earlier this week, Lyon may be backed into a position to offload some talent this summer, with Cherki named as a potential suitor for Newcastle.

The Frenchman is rumoured to be valued by his club at €50m (£43m), with a separate report last month also linking the Magpies to the 19-year-old.

With Lyon scrambling for funds ahead of the new season, now could be the perfect time for Howe to poach the teen sensation.

How good is Rayan Cherki?

Named among a “crazy” group of U21 France international by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Cherki could be a statement signing for Newcastle, after expressing his talents in Ligue 1 last term.

Rising through the ranks at Lyon, the teenager has cemented himself as one of the club’s leading talents, making 34 appearances in the league last campaign.

Contributing four goals and six assists from central midfield, the Lyon-born gem has found himself likened to both Lionel Messi and Vinicius Junior for his exploits over the past year, as per statistics from FBref.

FBref numbers reveal that the midfielder ranked in the top 1% of those in his position out of Europe’s top five leagues, averaging 3.80 successful take-ons per 90, as well as being present in the top 2% for his 6.39 progressive carries per 90.

Such figures highlight that the teenager is on the path to becoming one of the star talents in the continent, and a player that could excel in Newcastle’s midfield.

Deployed primarily as a central attacking midfielder, the Frenchman is versatile in his approach to play, featuring in both flanks as well for his current side.

Such flair and progression in his playing style suggest that he could be a perfect fit to play alongside St James’ hero, Bruno Guimaraes.

The Brazilian – who has been dubbed "world-class" by teammate Dan Burn – has shone for the Magpies over the last 18 months or so, after moving to the North East in January 2022 from Lyon.

The 25-year-old is a player that Cherki is very familiar with, given the two were teammates in France before Guimaraes opted to challenge himself in England, where the teenager could follow in his footsteps.

If paired together under Howe, the duo could become a frightening combination, the Brazilian acting as the protector in the middle of the park, as highlighted by his average of 2.58 tackles per 90.

Having an enforcer behind him as tactically aware as Bruno could give Cherki freedom to exploit his talents in the final third, with the two both possessing innate passing strengths.

Lauded as a “difference-maker” by Kulig, the teenager flexed his ability to cause danger in the box with his average of 3.17 key passes per 90, as well as receiving a monstrous 12.50 progressive passes per 90, to showcase his strength in positioning.

The movement of the Frenchman could come as a delight to Guimaraes, who averaged a mammoth 7.33 progressive passes per 90 last term in the Premier League, giving a bolstered outlet to Cherki’s advanced playing style.

Howe could mix a dangerous concoction to unleash on the league next term, however the Magpies must act fast to grasp the teen prospect.

Aston Villa are believed to be interested in signing Juventus midfielder Weston McKennie in the summer transfer window, according to a new update.

Was Weston McKennie a flop at Leeds?

The £49,000-a-week American is currently a Juventus player, with his deal there expiring in the summer of 2025, but it looks as though he is likely to move on in the current window.

Back in January, McKennie joined Leeds United on loan, coming in as what looked like an exciting signing for the Whites, and one that could help them pull clear from the Premier League relegation zone after a poor first half of the season. Instead, there is no question that he was a disappointment at Elland Road overall, ultimately failing to help his team remain in the top flight.

The 24-year-old made 19 appearances in the league for Leeds, not managing to score once and only registering one assist in that time, and his time there went "badly, very badly indeed". Unsurprisingly, there was little talk of McKennie joining permanently at the end of last season, given the Whites' relegation to the Championship, and the midfielder's future remains up in the air.

With Villa continuing to look at summer transfer business of their own, however, it looks as though the Juve man could be a target for them, according to a new update.

Are Aston Villa signing Weston McKennie this summer?

According to Italian publication Calciomercato [via The Boot Room], the Villans are keen on the idea of signing McKennie this summer, with the USA international wanting to prove himself again in the Premier League. They are far from alone in being the only club interested, however, with Borussia Dortmund and Galatasaray also mentioned in the report.

While Juve are believed to have wanted £34.2m for his services at one point, there are now willing to sell him for "drastically" less than that, accepting that his stock has fallen a little in recent months.

There is no doubt that some Villa fans would have reservations about the club bringing in McKennie, due to the level of his performances for Leeds, but they are in a better position than the Whites were, and he could thrive alongside superior players, also feeling more at home if the move is a permanent one.

It shouldn't be forgotten that the midfielder enjoyed a good 2022 World Cup campaign with the USA, making four starts in impressive fashion, and he has also been hailed as "excellent" by journalist Adam Pope during one performance for Leeds, so seemingly can turn it on in the right setting.

At 24, McKennie has lots of improving to do still, and could reap the rewards of playing under Unai Emery, so if the Villa boss sees him as a strong option, his superb performance as manager to date suggests that he and new transfer guru Monchi be trusted in their decision-making.

The Juve ace could come in and provide good competition for place in the middle of the park, while Villa's UEFA Europa Conference League commitments in 2023/24 also heighten the need for the squad to be rotated sensibly, and he could add the desired squad depth to aid that.

Wayne Parnell has been included in Kent’s squad for Friday’s Royal London match against Sussex despite a health scare earlier this week

George Dobell04-May-2017Wayne Parnell has been included in Kent’s squad for Friday’s Royal London match against Sussex despite a health scare earlier this week.Parnell, the South African seamer who is with the club on a short-term stint as an overseas player, left the pitch feeling unwell after bowling four overs during Tuesday’s match against Somerset. He reported an elevated heart rate and feeling light-headed.While he was keen to return to the action after a few minutes, the club’s medical team insisted he sit out the remainder of the game as a precaution. Parnell was hospitalised in 2013 after complaining of similar symptoms while playing for South Africa A against India A. Subsequent tests revealed no long-term problem, with the issue instead put down to a virus.He did not go to hospital on Tuesday and instead travelled back to Kent on the team bus at the end of the game.He saw a doctor on Wednesday and underwent a series of basic tests. The club insist that some reports of his condition have been “greatly exaggerated” and suggested that they would not have named him in the squad for Friday’s game if there was any risk to his welfare.Cricket South Africa have been kept fully informed of Parnell’s condition and condoned his return to action.It is not certain he will play on Friday, though. He will undergo a fitness test ahead of the game before any final decision is made.

Chelsea have more attacking reinforcements in mind, namely Victor Osimhen, despite a deal being close for Nicolas Jackson, according to 90min journalist Graeme Bailey.

How many goals has Nicolas Jackson scored?

The current Villareal forward had the best season of his career to date in Spain in 2022/23, as the player plundered 12 goals over the course of just 16 starts in the division for his side. Previously, he had produced no goals for the team in La Liga, playing nine times in the last campaign with no return in front of goal.

This year though, the 21-year-old has emerged as a key player for the side and his goalscoring antics have even led to him outperforming some more experienced strikers across Europe. When you compare his stats to others upfront in the Men's 'Top Five' big leagues in Europe for example, he does compare well. With 0.68 non-penalty goals per 90 on average, he sits nicely in the top 6% for that stat – which shows just how clinical he has been in front of goal.

Chelsea have been the most keen to bring the player to the Premier League and it looks like the Blues will get their wish too. A recent report suggests that a deal is getting closer and closer, with Mauricio Pochettino's side ready to pay Jackson's release clause of 35 million Euros (£30m) to get a deal done.

Most notably though, Bailey believes that even if Chelsea get a deal over the line for the player, that will not stop them splashing out on a big name centre forward. It appears as though even if the Villareal man does make the jump to England, he might not be the guaranteed line-leader for the Blues – they remain interested in Napoli's Osimhen, despite a price tag of over £100m, which could make things difficult.

Should Chelsea sign both Jackson and Osimhen?

Despite his age, Jackson has already been highly praised for his contributions at Villareal. Having bagged goals and assists aplenty, football talent scout Jacek Kulig labeled him as La Liga's "MVP" over the last few weeks of the season and added that he had been in "incredible form."

If Chelsea manage to seal a deal for him then, they could be getting a really promising young forward who already knows where the back of the net is. The youngster can also play on either wing though, and that would make room for Osimhen, who boasts a quite ridiculous rate this season of 0.87 non-penalty goals per 90 minutes.

The Nigeria international, dubbed "incredible" and an "absolute beast" by Owen Hargreaves, could lead the line for years to come, with Jackson perhaps more targeted for the versatile role Kai Havertz has often filled.

The Melbourne Renegades kept their chances alive in the BBL with a six-run win that knocked the Adelaide Strikers out

The Report by Geoff Lemon16-Jan-2017
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsMarcus Harris reached his fifty off 29 balls•Cricket Australia/Getty ImagesStrikers struck off, Renegades surviveThe Melbourne Renegades stayed alive in the sixth edition of the Big Bash League, finally closing out a contest after a couple of thrilling losses, and knocking out the struggling Adelaide Strikers with a six-run win.Asked to bat at the Adelaide Oval, the Renegades set a decent total of 171 for the loss of nine wickets, built around Marcus Harris’ dominant innings of 85. No other batsman really got going, Callum Ferguson the next best with 26, though all of the top five got starts.Ben Laughlin bowled an exceptional spell of 2 for 15 from his four overs, while Michael Neser returned 2 for 14 from three, but the Renegades made up for it by punishing Kieron Pollard, Liam O’Connor, Ish Sodhi and Wes Agar.The final result looked closer on paper than it was in the flesh, the chase effectively extinguished when captain Brad Hodge was out 37 runs short of victory with 20 balls to spare, after little substantial support from the top order. Jono Dean clubbed the Strikers to within some hope of a comeback win, but Thisara Perera finished off with the ball after so famously failing to do so in last week’s record chase against the Hobart Hurricanes.We’ll always have HarrisThe Renegades opener was the difference, and proved his value as a recruit from Western Australia, belting his 85 from 53 deliveries. Six of his shots went to the fence and four cleared it, his moderate start dropping into gear with three consecutive fours off Agar in the third over.He flew past a half-century thanks to a couple of sixes off Pollard in the eighth. Cameron White and Tom Cooper fell around him, but Harris pushed on to within reach of a maiden T20 century in his 20th game.When he fell with the score on 149 and four overs to go, a possible Renegades score of over 200 went begging, as the last six batsmen kept to single figures. In the end, though, Harris alone had been enough.Strikers waste another good chancePeter Nevill is accompanied off the field after being struck in the face by Brad Hodge’s bat•Getty ImagesTim Ludeman and Ben Dunk got the start that should have enabled the Strikers to chase comfortably, with 53 runs from the first six overs. But not for the first time this season, the rest of the innings lost its way. Ludeman holed out, Dunk missed a straight ball from part-time offspinner and part-time Dutchman Cooper, and the slide began.”I’ll just look to be super positive against Perera. Pollard is great against spin, so hopefully that takes some pressure off him.” That was Hodge’s offering to the commentary team during the chase. “We know Perera will be bowling a lot of slower balls, so hopefully we get onto a few.”It was Pollard rather than Hodge who got onto one, a ball that dropped short and sat up. Pollard hammered it out to deep square leg, flying for a flat six. Or that’s what everyone thought had happened, except that a screamer from Callum Ferguson at the boundary intercepted it.Once again it was poor Hodge trying to herd a bunch of kittens across the finish line. That paved the way, though, for a fluke accident that took the shine off the win for the Renegades. As Hodge looked to lift the rate, his bat flew out of his hands after a particularly violent slog sweep, and flew behind the pitch where Peter Nevill stood a few paces back.With the wicketkeeper’s eye on the ball at deep backward square, he didn’t see the bat that then hit him in the side of his face, forcing him to come off with a massive swelling on the right side of his jaw. Perera knocked over Hodge later the same over, while opposing captain Aaron Finch deputised with the gloves.Be the crowd favouriteThe competition for bringing the crowd into the game was split between Harris and Neser. Aside from Neser’s bowling providing a couple of deep catches, he put on a show himself by the fence.First he hung on to one at deep midwicket to dismiss White. Then he dropped Ferguson at long-on, held Perera at long-off, and snared James Pattinson at deep midwicket towards the end of the innings.Harris brought onlookers into the game literally via the last of his sixes from a gorgeous straight hit off New Zealand legspinner Sodhi. A security guard on a camp chair at the boundary wasn’t watching play, and only just responded to the crowd’s calls to yank his head out of the way. Harris tried to send him the next ball as well, but the pull shot hung just inside the rope for Dean to claim.The late season wash-upVery simple. This was a knockout match, even as the second-last of the season for both teams. The Strikers and Renegades went into the game at the bottom of the ladder on four points each, needing to win their last two to match the eight points of the teams currently occupying the finals positions.The Renegades had certainly had the better season on the field, losing twice from the last ball of matches, while the Strikers had struggled. In the end, things went to form, and Red Melbourne stayed in contention.