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LEEDS RECORD GOAL SCORER PETER LORIMER DIES AT 74.

Leeds’ record goalscorer Peter Lorimer has died at the age of 74 after a lengthy illness.

The attacking midfielder, having become the youngest player to represent United at the age of 15 years and 289 days, netted 238 goals in 705 appearances during two spells at Elland Road.

His death was announced in a statement on the club’s official website, which read: “It is with great sadness, Leeds United has learned of the passing of club legend Peter Lorimer this morning at the age of 74 following a long-term illness.

“Peter made a huge 705 appearances for the Whites over two spells and is the club’s record goal-scorer, having netted 238 times in all competitions.”

Lorimer was an integral member of the Leeds side that Don Revie transformed from an ordinary Second Division outfit into one of the most feared teams in Europe during the 1960s and 70s.

Blessed with a shot renowned as one of the most powerful in the game at the time, he helped the club claim seven trophies, including two league titles and the FA Cup, during his first spell at Elland Road between 1962 and 1979.

The club’s statement added: “Peter’s contribution to Leeds United will never be forgotten and his passing leaves another huge hole in the Leeds United family.

“He will always remain a club icon and his legacy at Elland Road will live on.

“Our thoughts are naturally with Peter’s wife Sue and the rest of his family at this difficult time. Rest in peace, Peter.”

Current Leeds captain Liam Cooper tweeted: “Fly High Peter. A legend that we all aspire to be like. Sending all our love to Peters family”.

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EPL: FULHAM SQUANDER CHANCE TO ESCAPE BOTTOM THREE WITH DEFEAT TO LEEDS

Patrick Bamford responded to his omission from the England squad with a goal as Leeds ended their misfortunes in the capital with an entertaining 2-1 win over Fulham at Craven Cottage.

The defeat saw the Cottagers fail to grasp the opportunity to move out of the relegation zone for the first time since December.

After Bamford’s 29th-minute opener, Fulham’s Joachim Andersen got the equaliser with his first goal for the club, before Raphinha scored his sixth Premier League goal of the season, slotting the ball past goalkeeper Alphonse Areola for Leeds’ winner.

Marcelo Bielsa’s men had lost all five of their games in London this season, and were winless in their last 16 visits to the capital in all competitions, losing 14.

Leeds’ intensity proved too much for Fulham, who remain in the drop zone ahead of the crucial clash between relegation battlers Brighton and Newcastle on Saturday.

Leeds looked to have taken the lead in the eighth minute, only for Luke Ayling to be denied by VAR.

Ayling had lost his marker at the far post and headed home from a Tyler Roberts cross, but after VAR intervened, the goal was disallowed as Roberts was ruled marginally offside in the build-up.

Fulham uncharacteristically struggled to get out of their own half in the early stages of the match, and had difficulty coping with Leeds’ energy, especially in the middle of the park.

With Harrison Reed momentarily down, Leeds had the ball in the back of the net for the second time, as Raphinha was played through before slotting the ball past goalkeeper Areola, but the linesman had to wait until the ball was in the back of the net to raise his flag, with the Leeds winger obviously offside.

Fulham, who had been second best in the opening exchanges almost had the opener, when Josh Maja turned in the box before shooting towards goal from close range, but Illan Meslier was able to make the save.
Just moments later, it was Leeds who took the lead. Jack Harrison’s cross found Bamford, who made no mistake, putting it past Areola to break the deadlock just before the half-hour mark.

Leeds’ advantage did not last long however, with stand-in captain Andersen equalising for Fulham from an Ademola Lookman corner.

Andersen beat Ayling to the ball before finding the back of the net with a first-time strike for his first club goal since his arrival on loan from Lyon in the summer transfer window.

It was also the first time Fulham have scored from a set-piece since Matt Ritchie’s own goal during the draw at Newcastle in December.

At the start of the second half, Fulham definitely had to weather the Leeds pressure as they pushed for a second, which came in the 58th minute, just after Lookman had missed a chance to put Fulham ahead.

Another quick break, with Kalvin Phillips dispossessing Mario Lemina, before another defensive error from Fulham allowed the ball to be played through to Bamford, who found Raphinha, with the winger able to slot past Areola.

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WOLVES 0-1 LIVERPOOL: JOTA STRIKE HELP REDS AVOID ANOTHER LEAGUE DEFEAT

Diogo Jota scored against his former club to give Liverpool a 1-0 win at Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League on Monday and keep them in contention for a top-four finish.

The result lifted Liverpool two places up to sixth on 46 points from 29 games, five adrift of fourth-placed Chelsea and two behind fifth-placed West Ham who have a game in hand. Wolves stayed 13th on 35 points from 29 matches.

Play was held up for 10 minutes in the closing stages as Wolves goalkeeper Rui Patricio suffered a concussion and was carried off on a stretcher after colliding with team mate Conor Coady who tried to close down Mohamed Salah.

Jota struck in first-half stoppage time as he beat Patricio with a swerving low shot from inside the penalty area after a flowing move by Salah and Sadio Mane, who fed the Portuguese forward with a sublime pass.

Nelson Semedo missed an early chance for the home side when Liverpool keeper Alisson Becker parried his close-range effort before Mane twice came close for the visitors, who looked toothless in the opening 30 minutes.

Conor Coady headed over the bar for Wolves from a good position in the 49th minute and Patricio tipped away a Salah shot from a tight angle at the other end before sustaining the serious-looking injury.

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MOURINHO ACCUSES TOTTENHAM PLAYERS OF ‘HIDING’ DURING THE NORTH LONDON DERBY DEFEAT TO ARSENAL

Jose Mourinho has slammed many of his ‘important’ Tottenham players for ‘hiding’ in their north London derby defeat to Arsenal on Sunday.

Spurs led at the home of their rivals thanks to Erik Lamela’s clever ‘rabona’ flick but Martin Odegaard brought the Gunners level at the break before an action-packed second-half took the game away from Mourinho’s men.

Alexandre Lacazette won then scored a controversial penalty for Arsenal before Lamela was sent off for two yellow cards. Harry Kane then hit the post in the dying moments as Spurs came away from the derby empty-handed.

Mourinho claimed his side were ‘poor’ in the opening exchanges against Arsenal and lacked intensity in one of their biggest matches of the season.

The Spurs manager said after the game: ‘The only two things that were positive in the first half were an amazing goal and the result – 1-1 was not a fair reflection of that first half where they dominated us. We were very poor.

‘Some important players hiding. I’m not even going in direction of individuals. I’m as guilty for that first-half as the players.

‘People hiding themselves, no intensity, no passing and moving. We were poor. As simple as that.’

Spurs improved after the half-time whistle and created several chances before and after Lacazette’s winner from the penalty spot.

Mourinho made two significant second-half changes by taking off Gareth Bale and Tanguy Ndombele for Moussa Sissoko and Dele Alli, with the Portuguese coach claiming the two players who came off were not showing enough intensity.

When asked why Bale and Ndombele came off, Mourinho told his post-match press conference: ‘Intensity. Gareth Bale and Tanguy, we need more intensity in that game.

‘We need to press more. We need to get more depth. We need to be more intense in the game.

‘We needed initially Sissoko to give us that intensity in midfield that Tanguy was not bringing.’

Spurs became more of a threat after the two changes. Alli came inches away from scoring a header from inside the penalty area, Kane’s late free-kick struck the woodwork before Davinson Sanchez’s shot was blocked on the line by Arsenal defender Gabriel.

Mourinho claimed his side did all they could to level the tie in their bid to recover from a disappointing opening 45 minutes.

‘The second half was under control, we recovered what we lost in the first half. We made changes to try and win it and then it’s a penalty.

‘After the penalty a second yellow for Lamela, but even so the team in the last 20 minutes, we did what we could and tried to get a result.’

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WESTHAM OWN GOAL GIVES UNITED THREE POINTS, HELPS OLE’S MEN RETAIN SECOND SPOT

Manchester United will start April second in the Premier League standings after Craig Dawson’s own goal saw high-flying West Ham fall to defeat at Old Trafford.

With the Europa League trip to AC Milan and FA Cup quarter-final at Leicester coming up before the international break, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side kicked off an important week with a solid performance on Sunday.

Mason Greenwood twice struck the post on a night when Dawson’s own goal proved the difference.

David Moyes’ men were set up to frustrate a month on from their extra-time FA Cup loss at Old Trafford and failed to muster a shot in the first half – the first Premier League side to manage that since March 2018

But the Hammers also gave little away in the opening period, with Lukasz Fabianski superbly tipping a low Greenwood shot onto the post when frustrated United had their best chance.

But Solskjaer’s side finally found a way through eight minutes after the break when Bruno Fernandes’ corner was touched on by Scott McTominay and the unsighted Dawson turned into his own net.

West Ham attacked with more purpose after falling behind but Moyes’ wait for a first win away at Old Trafford continues, with Fernandes superbly denied before Greenwood thumped the post as United looked to settle any nerves.

The visitors had started positively but failed to launch a serious first-half attack, with Michail Antonio left ploughing a lonely furrow up top.

Moyes’ men are a threat from crosses and Dean Henderson – again deputising for David De Gea – made no mistake when clearing a deflected Aaron Cresswell ball from the left, leaving Jarrod Bowen needing treatment.

Harry Maguire let his team-mates know in no uncertain terms that they needed to “tidy up” and stop giving the ball away during that expletive-filled break in play that was followed by the hosts’ best chance to that point.

Quick build-up after winning the ball ended with Greenwood cutting onto his left and floating a cross to the far post, where Marcus Rashford – a surprise starter after an ankle issue – failed to get clean contact.

Fabianski just about gathered a dangerous cross from Greenwood soon after but West Ham were defending well on the whole, throwing themselves in the way of shots and clearing balls into the box.

But the visitors had their goalkeeper to thank for keeping things level at the break as United attacked at pace and Greenwood hit a low, left-footed shot that Fabianski superbly tipped onto the post in the 37th minute.

Rashford got away a tame header from a clipped Fernandes pass that the West Ham goalkeeper stopped simply before the break, from which the hosts returned strongly.

Vladimir Coufal did well to prod behind a Greenwood cross that Rashford was ready to tap home at the far post, but the resulting corner proved costly.

Fernandes swung in the set-piece from the left and Dawson directed into his own net under pressure from Maguire in the 53rd minute.
The goal opened play up. The video assistant referee ruled Maguire had not fouled Tomas Soucek in the box after a review, with the giant Czech midfielder towering over the United defender and heading wide soon after.

Fernandes forced Fabianski into a fine one-handed stop down to his right in between those moments, with Moyes turning to Said Benrahma and Manuel Lanzini in a bid to inject new attacking impetus.

Play was swinging from end to end as both sides pushed, with Maguire stretching to cut out a Coufal cross before Issa Diop inexplicably welcomed on Greenwood and saw the teenager rattle the post in the 77th minute.

Shaw threw himself in front of a Soucek attempt as United held out for a fourth successive league clean sheet for the first time under Solskjaer.

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IHEANACHO’S FIRST PREMIER LEAGUE HATRICK HELP LEICESTER HAMMER ROCK BOTTOM SHEFFIELD UNITED

Kelechi Iheanacho scored his first Premier League hat-trick as rampant Leicester put sorry Sheffield United to the sword at the King Power Stadium.

Ayoze Perez’s strike and an Ethan Ampadu own goal sealed a 5-0 success for the Foxes which saw them return to second place in the table, ahead of Manchester United’s game against West Ham later.

For the Blades, it rounded off a difficult week which had seen the departure of manager Chris Wilder the day before the match.

Sunday brought the day United fans never wanted to contemplate – the first game after the Wilder era.

There has been few more remarkable or romantic stories in English football than the Sheffield lad and Blades supporter who dreamed longingly out at the hallowed Bramall Lane turf as a ballboy, who would then play for the club he loved and pack the kop with his friends and family, lead them from the stagnancy of the third tier to a top-half finish in the Premier League, and make a fanbase fall in love with their team once more.

It took Wilder just four years, but nine months on the club’s injury crisis coupled with the financial realities of top-flight football for a recently-promoted team and – crucially – fundamental differences exposed between Wilder and the owner, the bubble burst.

Under-23s coach Paul Heckingbottom took charge on Sunday but it was the same old story for the Blades, as they struggled to make an impression or trouble Leicester as an attacking threat. The Foxes dominated and could have won by a bigger margin.

Jamie Vardy dragged a 20-yard shot wide after eight minutes before Perez’s glancing header was touched on to the post by Aaron Ramsdale shortly afterwards. Ramsdale then blocked a low shot from Vardy with his legs.

Leicester made the breakthrough six minutes before half-time. Some sharp, incisive passing between Youri Tielemans and Perez resulted in Vardy getting in behind the Blades defence down the left-hand side. His low cross left Iheanacho with a simple tap-in from close range.

Five minutes into the second half, Iheanacho tried to return the favour for Vardy but he saw his effort brilliantly headed off the line by Chris Basham.

Iheanacho then put Vardy through on goal after an hour but once again Ramsdale denied the diminutive striker with his legs.

A second goal was coming and Leicester doubled their lead after 64 minutes. Marc Albrighton led a counter-attack after the Blades had a free-kick in a dangerous position, and teed-up Perez who found the bottom corner with a strike from the edge of the penalty area.

Five minutes later, it was 3-0 to the Foxes. Vardy was the provider for Iheanacho once more, with the striker guiding the ball past goalkeeper Ramsdale from 12 yards.

Iheanacho completed his hat-trick after 78 minutes, driving a low shot from 25 yards beyond Ramsdale and into the bottom corner of the net.

It was the Nigerian striker’s first Premier League treble, and he looked quite emotional as the game restarted.

It got worse for the Blades two minutes later when Vardy’s shot from the left side of the penalty area, which looked to be heading wide, ended up in the back of the net via the outstretched leg of Ampadu.

It should have been six, and another goal for Iheanacho, but his shot was deflected over the crossbar by George Baldock.

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EVE 1-2 BUR: MC NEIL WONDER STRIKE SEALS BURNLEY WIN AT GOODISON PARK

A spectacular strike from Dwight McNeil proved decisive as Burnley beat Everton 2-1 at Goodison Park.

Burnley went ahead on 13 minutes, Chris Wood firing in for the second successive match after Everton had failed to clear their lines.

The visitors doubled their advantage 11 minutes later through a wonderful goal by McNeil. The winger got past Allan before curling a sumptuous 25-yard shot past Jordan Pickford, who limped off later in the half.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin reduced the deficit with a header on 32 minutes for his 14th Premier League goal of the season.

After the break, Everton pressed for an equaliser with Andre Gomes and Calvert-Lewin both going close.

At the other end, Ben Mee headed against the crossbar but Burnley had done enough to win and stay 15th on 33 points.

Everton are sixth on 46 points.

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DE BRUYNE, MAHREZ STAR AS MAN CITY THRASH SAINTS IN SEVEN GOAL THRILLER

Riyad Mahrez and Kevin De Bruyne each struck twice as Manchester City overcame a sluggish start and refereeing controversy to beat Southampton 5-2.

Premier League leaders City were contentiously denied a penalty with the score 1-1 in the first half after Saints goalkeeper Alex McCarthy was adjudged not to have fouled Phil Foden and VAR did not overrule.

But City responded to win convincingly as Mahrez put them ahead and then set up Ilkay Gundogan to make it 3-1 at the Etihad Stadium before half-time.

The Algerian added another after the break and De Bruyne scored a fifth after Che Adams had pulled one back.

De Bruyne had also opened the scoring in the 15th minute with James Ward-Prowse replying from the penalty spot.

The result extended City’s lead at the top of the table to 14 points and saw them return to winning ways after Manchester United ended their run of 21 successive victories at the weekend.

City appeared to be suffering a hangover from that Manchester derby defeat as they began unusually sluggishly.

Yet for all their positivity, Saints were unable to create any clear-cut chances and they were caught out as City took the lead from their first serious attack.

The move was started by Ruben Dias, who picked out Oleksandr Zinchenko with a superb crossfield pass.

Zinchenko then fed Foden and, although his shot was parried by McCarthy, De Bruyne was on hand to thump home off the underside of the bar.

Southampton quickly drew level. Nathan Redmond did well to get between Aymeric Laporte and Dias and force a good save from Ederson.

The trouble continued for City from the resulting corner as Jannik Vestergaard tested Ederson with a powerful header and was fouled by Laporte in the process.

Referee Jon Moss pointed to the spot and Ward-Prowse fired down the middle.

Controversy erupted soon after as City felt they should have had a penalty themselves. McCarthy went in feet first on Foden and appeared to catch him on the ankle after the City midfielder had taken advantage of an error by the keeper.

Moss, presumably thinking McCarthy had got a touch on the ball, gave nothing and City – particularly manager Pep Guardiola on the touchline – were incredulous when VAR did not intervene.

Foden, to his credit, quickly got back to his feet in an attempt to score but the chance was gone.

The incident appeared to unsettle City as Ward-Prowse tested Ederson from distance and Moussa Djenepo fired wide but Mahrez changed the course of the game with two moments of brilliance.

First he restored City’s lead as he cut in from the left to collect a pass from the right and bend a shot around McCarthy from the edge of the area.

Mahrez was then instrumental in making it 3-1 after weaving through the area and firing against the post. Gundogan tapped in the rebound.

The Mahrez show continued as he scored City’s fourth after 55 minutes. He turned in the area from a Foden pass and then skipped round Ward-Prowse before beating McCarthy again.

That was the first of three goals in a frantic four minutes.

Southampton caught the City defence napping to pull one back when Adams benefited from a ricochet to strike from close range.

City replied again as De Bruyne combined well with Foden before expertly placing the ball past McCarthy.

Mahrez and De Bruyne may have felt unfortunate to be replaced after their starring roles but, with City finally in firm control, Guardiola was able to introduce Sergio Aguero for only the third time since January 3.

Adams thought he had claimed a Saints consolation late on but he was flagged offside.

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WESTHAM STILL ON COURSE FOR TOP FOUR AFTER 2-0 WIN AGAINST LEEDS

Goals from Jesse Lingard and Craig Dawson kept West Ham in the hunt for a top-four Premier League finish with a 2-0 win over Leeds at the London Stadium.

The Hammers are back up to fifth after Lingard converted the rebound from his own missed penalty and fellow January signing Dawson crashed in a fine header.

A year ago on Sunday West Ham played their final match before lockdown, a 1-0 defeat at Arsenal which left them out of the relegation zone only on goal difference.

Since then, West Ham have collected 60 points from 34 games and transformed themselves from a side battling the drop to one mounting a genuine challenge for European qualification.

Goals from Jesse Lingard and Craig Dawson kept West Ham in the hunt for a top-four Premier League finish with a 2-0 win over Leeds at the London Stadium.

The Hammers are back up to fifth after Lingard converted the rebound from his own missed penalty and fellow January signing Dawson crashed in a fine header.

A year ago on Sunday West Ham played their final match before lockdown, a 1-0 defeat at Arsenal which left them out of the relegation zone only on goal difference.

Since then, West Ham have collected 60 points from 34 games and transformed themselves from a side battling the drop to one mounting a genuine challenge for European qualification.

The visitors then had the ball in the net twice in the space of two minutes, only for both goals to be chalked off.

First, Costa crossed for Tyler Roberts to tap home but a flag was raised and VAR’s lines confirmed that the Portuguese winger’s knee had strayed offside when Patrick Bamford flicked the ball on.

Moments later Bamford was presented with a tap-in but the ball had just gone out of play when Raphinha cut it back from the byline.

But Leeds’ boom or bust policy was exposed again as West Ham took the lead in the 20th minute with virtually their first attack.

Lingard played a neat one-two with Said Benrahma and skipped into the area, where Luke Ayling clumsily brought him down.

Lingard had wanted to take the spot-kick he won against Sheffield United last month, only for skipper Declan Rice to pull rank.

This time Lingard was allowed to take it, but Rice might well be back on penalties next time as Leeds keeper Ilan Meslier saved the Manchester United loanee’s weak effort.

Fortunately for a relieved Lingard, the ball bounced straight back to his feet and he gratefully tucked in the rebound.

Eight minutes later West Ham doubled their lead, Dawson arriving at the far post to head in Aaron Cresswell’s corner.

The transformation of Dawson has almost been as impressive as that of West Ham – the centre-half who could not get a game in the Championship at Watford earlier this season could soon be a Champions League player.

He almost added a third before half-time but this time his header, from another Cresswell corner, came back off a post.

Bamford should have halved the deficit at the start of the second half when he was put through by Diego Llorente.

The striker had time to let the ball run into his stride and open his body to curl the ball around Lukasz Fabianski, only to send it the wrong side of the post.

At the other end Pablo Fornals took aim from 25 yards and his volley looped over Meslier bounced off the crossbar.

Leeds continued to create chances but Fabianski saved a fierce drive from Raphinha, Bamford lifted a sitter over the crossbar and Dawson capped a man-of-the-match display by clearing a late deflection off Vladimir Coufal off the line.

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CHELSEA CONTINUE UNBEATEN RUN WITH WIN OVER EVERTON

Jorginho’s penalty and a Ben Godfrey own goal secured Chelsea’s 2-0 Premier League win over Everton that could prove pivotal to the Champions League qualification race.

Kai Havertz starred in a false nine role at Stamford Bridge, with the Germany playmaker twice denied a goal before winning Chelsea’s penalty.

New boss Thomas Tuchel’s stunning start to life in west London extended to an 11th match without defeat and a ninth clean sheet.

Where Chelsea were leaky and hesitant under Frank Lampard, Tuchel has quickly recalibrated the Blues into a mean defensive machine.

Chelsea have conceded just two goals on Tuchel’s watch, and their second win over a Merseyside opponent in five days tightened the Blues’ grip on fourth place in the league table.

After Thursday’s comprehensive 1-0 win over Liverpool at Anfield, here was another assured victory over a north-west rival.

Everton still boast a game in hand on Chelsea, but the Toffees now trail Tuchel’s men by four points.

Carlo Ancelotti pitched up at his old club Chelsea with Everton buoyant from three straight victories, but the visitors were outmatched on the night.

Havertz was desperately unlucky to have the opening goal taken away from him.

The Germany playmaker impressed throughout the first half in his false nine role, and certainly deserved a goal for his troubles.

But instead of his first Premier League strike in 15 top-flight appearances, Godfrey was credit with an own goal.

Havertz’s cute diversion of Marcos Alonso’s cross had certainly outfoxed Jordan Pickford and looked to be heading for the corner of the goal, before Godfrey’s intervention sent the ball crashing into the other side of the net.

Callum Hudson-Odoi deserved just as much credit as anyone else for the goal however, with the England winger thriving in his natural left-wing environment.

The 20-year-old jinked one way then the other, dropped off his marker Mason Holgate and collected a pass from Kurt Zouma – and that was just for starters.

Spinning on his heel to face the goal, Hudson-Odoi then threaded the perfect through-ball for the onrushing Alonso.

The Spain left-back’s cross set the goal in motion, but Hudson-Odoi’s stunning movement and precision passing had unlocked an otherwise tight Everton defence.

Alonso should have doubled Chelsea’s lead before half-time, having raced clear in latching onto Mateo Kovacic’s fine ball over the top of the Everton defence.

The 30-year-old’s shot took a slight deflection which reduced the power, and allowed Pickford to palm the ball just around his far post.

Chelsea boss Tuchel spent much of the half screaming at Reece James to tuck in off the right flank when the play was on the left wing. Tuchel was determined to see James attack with more aggression on the ball, and eventually called James and Havertz over to detail his instructions on a notepad.

Despite the manager’s frustrations however, Chelsea were good value for their half-time lead.

Havertz had the ball in the net again, shortly after the interval. The lively forward was also denied a goal here however, as a neat finish was chalked off for handball.

Chelsea did not have to wait long for their second goal though, and Havertz was involved once more.

The former Bayer Leverkusen star latched onto Kovacic’s raking through-ball in the Everton penalty area, and was felled by Toffees stopper Pickford.

Jorginho stepped up to the penalty spot and delivered his trademark skip-step finish, sending the frustrated Pickford the wrong way.