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تعرض فريق ريال مدريد لهزيمة مذلة على ملعبه في إطار منافسات بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا، مساء يوم الثلاثاء، أمام نظيره ميلان.

واستضاف ملعب “سانتياجو برنابيو” مباراة الفريقين في إطار منافسات الجولة الرابعة من دوري أبطال أوروبا، مرحلة الدوري، حيث خسر ريال مدريد بثلاثة أهداف لهدف. أهداف مباراة ريال مدريد وميلان في دوري أبطال أوروبا

وشهدت الدقيقة الثالثة من عمر الشوط الأول فرصة مبكرة لصالح ريال مدريد، بعدما وجه كيليان مبابي تسديدة من خارج منطقة الجزاء، ولكن الكرة مرت بجوار مرمى ميلان.

وفي الدقيقة الخامسة، تصدى حارس مرمى فريق ريال مدريد لونين لفرصة من قِبل ميلان، بعدما سدد ثيو هيرنانديز الكرة تجاه مرمى أصحاب الأرض.

ونفذ لوكا مودريتش ركلة حرة لصالح ريال مدريد، في الدقيقة الثامنة، حيث صوب الكرة ناحية مرمى ميلان، ولكن الحارس ماينان يتصدى.

وكسر ميلان حاجز التعادل السلبي بعدما نجح في تسجيل الهدف الأول في الدقيقة 12.

الهدف جاء بعدما نفذ بوليسيتش ركلة ركنية حيث وصلت الكرة إلى منطقة الجزاء، وتقابل رأس مالك ثياو الذي هز شباك لونين بهدف أول لصالح ميلان.

وكاد بوليسيتش أن يسجل الهدف الثاني لصالح ميلان، بنفسه، بعدما صوب تسديدة ناحية مرمى أصحاب الأرض، إلا أن لونين أمسك الكرة.

ولم يدم تفوق ميلان طويلًا، حيث تمكن ريال مدريد من تسجيل هدف التعادل عن طريق ضربة جزاء، في الدقيقة 22.

كان إيمرسون قد تدخل على فينيسيوس جونيور داخل المنطقة والحكم منح ريال مدريد ضربة جزاء، ونفذها البرازيلي بنجاح، محولًا إياها إلى هدف التعادل.

وعاد ميلان من جديد للتقدم بعدما استغل خطأ من تشواميني الذي مرر الكرة بشكل خاطئ، وبدأ ميلان هجمته حيث سدد لياو الكرة ناحية مرمى ريال مدريد، وصدها لونين، لترتد وتصل إلى موراتا الذي هز الشباك.

وكاد كيليان مبابي أن يسجل هدف التعادل لصالح ريال مدريد قبل نهاية الشوط الأول، وتحديدًا في الدقيقة 44، حيث سدد كرة قوية ولكن ماينان تألق وتصدى ببراعة.

وحصل ميلان على فرصة لتسجيل الهدف الثالث في الدقيقة 52، بعد تسديدة رأسية من لياو، ولكن حارس ريال مدريد لونين تألق وتصدى للكرة.

وأهدر مبابي أكثر من فرصة للتسجيل، حيث لم يحالفه الحظ، قبل أن يتمكن ميلان من تسجيل الهدف الثالث في الدقيقة 73.

الهدف جاء بعد انطلاقة من لياو من الجانب الأيسر للملعب، ومرر الكرة إلى تياني ريندرز الذي سددها في شباك ريال مدريد.

وتمكن أنطونيو روديجر من تقليص الفارق حيث سجل الهدف الثاني لصالح ريال مدريد في الدقيقة 81، ولكن تقنية الفيديو قررت إلغائه لوجود حالة تسلل.

بتلك النتيجة، ارتفع رصيد ميلان إلى 6 نقاط في المركز الثامن عشر، في حين تجمد رصيد ريال مدريد عند 6 نقاط في المركز السابع عشر بفارق الأهداف.

Manchester United are believed to have found a "standout candidate" to replace Erik ten Hag as manager this summer, according to a new update on the Dutchman's future.

Man United manager latest

The Red Devils have had an up-and-down season under Ten Hag, but the negatives outweigh the positives currently, considering they look likely to miss out on a top-four finish in the Premier League.

This has led to pressure growing on the manager, especially since Sir Jim Ratcliffe's influence at Old Trafford has grown so much in recent weeks, with the boyhood United supporter potentially eyeing a change in the dugout.

Ten Hag is contracted with United until the summer of 2025, but if Ratcliffe feels that there are better options out there, he is unlikely to wait until then and risk a poor season next time around, and there have been conflicting reports flying all over the place in recent days.

While Fabrizio Romano said Ten Hag may be granted a chance under INEOS, one report has claimed that the Red Devils have already made contact with former Juventus and Chelsea manager Antonio Conte about taking charge, while former Real Madrid Champions League-winning boss Zinedine Zidane is seen as a strong option by Ratcliffe.

United chiefs identify "standout candidate"

According to Football Insider, Manchester United see Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi as a top candidate to replace Ten Hag at the end of the season. The Italian is now a serious contender, with Football Insider believing the reports indiciating Ten Hag may get some time to prove himself are untrue – Ratcliffe and co determined to make a change.

"A well-placed source has told Football Insider that De Zerbi, 44, is seen by United as a “stand-out candidate” to replace the Dutchman. Club chiefs feel his front-foot, aggressive playing style far better fits the Red Devils’ ethos than that of Ten Hag, while he also has a proven track record of improving and developing players."

De Zerbi represents an intriguing option for United, having done such an impressive job with Brighton since replacing Graham Potter, guiding them into the Europa League and awaiting a last 16 clash with Roma next month.

The 44-year-old has got the Seagulls playing some of the most attractive in the Premier League on their day, with relentless pressing and a ball-playing style standing out. Meanwhile, Pep Guardiola is a huge admirer.

De Zerbi would surely jump at the chance to go up a level and manage United, and there is an increasing feeling that Ratcliffe may not think Ten Hag is the right man for the job.

Man Utd eyeing move for "special" manager to replace Ten Hag

The Dutchman appears to be under pressure.

ByCharlie Smith Feb 29, 2024

The next few months may decide the Dutchman's future, but most important is that United's controller of football policy has exactly the right man in place, in order to help resurrect the club.

Leeds United will know picking up another victory tonight will ramp up the pressure on Ipswich Town to then travel to Cardiff City and clinch a similar result, the Whites praying that the Tractor Boys have an off-day in the Welsh capital.

Before Leeds get carried away however, Daniel Farke's automatic promotion hopefuls will have to overcome a resurgent Sheffield Wednesday side who have won five of their last six matches in the Championship.

Still, when you consider the Owls' lowly 23rd ranking in the division compared to Leeds' superiority up in third spot, anything but a win for the travelling Whites will be considered not good enough.

Patrick Bamford could well drop out of Farke's XI for the short trip to Hillsborough, with the 30-year-old centre-forward ineffective up top last match against Stoke City.

Patrick Bamford's performance vs Stoke in numbers

It would have been wildly optimistic to expect Bamford to keep firing on all cylinders at the rate he was, the injury-prone attacker bagging six goals this season all condensed into the last three months before this out-of-sorts display against the Potters.

The well-regarded Leeds servant would muster up just two efforts on the Stoke goal in the 1-0 win, with Bamford's blushes spared by Daniel James' tricky feet enabling the Welshman to score a wonderful strike to win the tight affair.

Club played for

Games

Goals scored

Assists

Derby County

1

1

0

Middlesbrough

3

0

1

Leeds United

3

0

0

Away from James' heroics, Bamford was timid in contrast with a lacklustre 31 touches managed and just 18 accurate passes tallied up before being substituted off late into the second 45 minutes.

This poor night overall for the revitalised Whites figure could see him drop out of his manager's plans for the nail-biting clash with Wednesday, with Joel Piroe waiting in the wings ready to take his chance in the starting lineup at the expense of his teammate.

Joel Piroe as Bamford's replacement

Piroe should lead the line with more confidence than the quiet number nine against the Owls, even with the former Swansea City man wanting to break his Championship goalscoring duck against Danny Rohl's side.

The Dutchman last bagged a goal for Leeds in the middle of last month, returning to his ex-employers in the Swans by firing in an effort in the routine 4-0 win.

That was four games ago however, with the 6 foot 1 striker now eager to add to his second-tier goal tally of 11 at Hillsborough by striking fear into the Owls defence.

Piroe was impactful from off the bench against Stoke last time out, even when being deployed as a number ten in that game as opposed to slotting in as the lone attacker.

The silky 24-year-old – who was once described as being "clinical" by football journalist Josh Bunting – did fail to register an effort on Daniel Iversen's goal from his 17 minutes on the pitch but was a creative spark nonetheless by setting up a big chance at Elland Road.

Yet, his performances elsewhere this season backs up Bunting's complimentary label for the Dutch forward.

Piroe would need just one shot on goal to score against Swansea in February, whilst also not fooling around against Ipswich Town last December with a strike buried from just 25 touches of the ball.

Farke will hope that this call will see Leeds stroll to a confident three points in South Yorkshire, with the Whites still assured in their own ability that they can pip Ipswich and any other rivals to second place.

Aston Villa’s revival under Unai Emery has restored their reputation as one of the biggest teams in the country and the Spaniard has them flying this term.

Not only are the Midlands outfit in contention for a Champions League spot, but they have also qualified for the last 16 of the Europa Conference League and will take on Dutch giants Ajax for a place in the quarter-finals.

The former Paris Saint-Germain boss has been savvy in the transfer market, managing to lure talents such as Moussa Diaby and Pau Torres to Villa Park despite bigger teams showing interest in the pair, and they have become important members of the squad.

Not only that, but Emery has also managed to get rid of some deadwood too. Out went Danny Ings last January for £15m, while young striker Cameron Archer was moved on to Sheffield United in a deal worth around £18m and this has given the manager funds to bolster his side.

This summer could see even more players in the Villa side moved on, with Lucas Digne surely being someone who Emery could sell for a decent fee, as he has failed to truly showcase his talents since joining from Everton two years ago.

How much Aston Villa paid for Lucas Digne

Following the arrival of Steven Gerrard as the new manager in November 2021, the winter transfer window a few months later was his first chance to bring in players to improve his squad.

Philippe Coutinho was his most high profile addition as the Brazilian joined on loan from Barcelona, while the likes of Calum Chambers and Robin Olsen also moved to Villa.

The only signing that cost Gerrard any money was that of Digne, who cost £25m from the Goodison Park side and the move was looked upon as an excellent piece of business, with the manager praising the defender, saying:

"When Lucas became available we jumped at the opportunity to bring him to the club.

"To sign a player of his pedigree and quality in the January window is a great addition to our squad and his arrival excites me and everyone associated with Aston Villa."

Despite the fact clubs such as Newcastle United and Chelsea were keen on signing Digne, he chose Villa and it was certainly a coup.

It hasn’t quite worked out for him in the Midlands, however, as he has failed to really live up to such a lavish fee, while draining the club of a staggering sum of money in wages too.

Lucas Digne’s wage at Aston Villa

When the Frenchman signed in 2022, his wage was reportedly £120k-per-week and this did not change up until the 2023/24 season.

Compared to other players at Villa, his weekly wage is the seventh highest among his teammates, with Boubacar Kamara and Clement Lenglet each earning £150k-per-week, and it proves that he is one of their higher earners.

There is no doubt that this money could be utilised either in other areas of the first-team squad, or by replacing Digne with a player who is younger and showing more long-term potential.

Top ten highest earners at Aston Villa

Clement Lenglet

£150k-per-week

Boubacar Kamara

£150k-per-week

Youri Tielemans

£150k-per-week

Moussa Diaby

£130k-per-week

Ollie Watkins

£130k-per-week

John McGinn

£120k-per-week

Lucas Digne

£120k-per-week

Emiliano Martínez

£120k-per-week

Leon Bailey

£120k-per-week

Diego Carlos

£100k-per-week

Via Capology

The 30-year-old has a contract until the end of the 2025/26 season and this means Emery could potentially recoup a decent amount of the £25m that Gerrard shelled out for him by moving him on this summer.

Over the previous two years, Digne has rinsed Villa dry of a significant amount of money.

Lucas Digne’s Aston Villa statistics

Following his mid-season arrival from the Toffees, Digne looked like he could play a solid part in the Gerrard era, as he registered four assists in just 16 Premier League games for the club and his attacking threat added something extra to the side.

With a whole pre-season behind him, the onus was for Digne to improve and become one of Gerrard’s key men as he aimed to lead them to a European spot during the 2022/23 season.

After a dismal start to the campaign which saw the former Rangers' manager dismissed in October, Emery did improve things between then and the end of the season, but Digne failed to follow up on his promise from the end of the 2021/22 season.

In 31 matches in all competitions, he registered just one assist and no goals, and he has struggled somewhat again this season.

The Frenchman has missed a few games due to injury, starting 18 matches in the top flight and recording only two assists.

Among his teammates, Digne currently ranks just eighth for big chances created (two) in the league, while also ranking ninth for accurate passes per game (27.3), 17th for successful dribbles per game (0.2) and fifth for tackles per game (1.5) and these statistics prove that he is far from the attacking dynamo that Emery requires.

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Football FanCast's Wage Burners series explores the salaries of the modern-day game.

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Prior to the left-back joining Villa, he was criticised by former Everton defender Michael Ball as a player who had a “weak mentality” and during his two years at Villa Park, Digne has failed to demonstrate the talents which once saw him play for PSG and Barcelona.

Combining his £25m transfer fee with the £12.5m wages that he has earned since January 2022, the total amount of money that the defender cost the club is a staggering £37.5m, and he has contributed just 12 goal involvements during his 24 months at the club.

These statistics are poor, and he is not getting any younger, indicating that Emery might be wise to consider selling him when the summer transfer window rolls around in a few months.

It is clear that the manager is building a squad which could challenge the upper echelons of the Premier League, with the arrivals of Diaby and Torres proof that big talents do want to join the revolution at Villa Park.

In order to raise funds, however, certain players may have to depart and considering just how much money Digne has rinsed Villa for since arriving under Gerrard a couple of years ago, he could well be the first name on Emery’s list of potential departures.

It's been a season full of frustration for Newcastle United, who made such significant progress in the previous campaign by qualifying for the Champions League. After a summer of transfers to forget, followed by a limited winter window, they could now see their misery compiled by the potential exit of a vital cog in the St James' Park machine.

Newcastle exit news

Throughout the January transfer window, the likes of Callum Wilson, Miguel Almiron and Kieran Trippier were among the players to be linked with moves away from Newcastle, who found themselves walking a profit and sustainability tightrope due to their reported £155m in losses over the last three seasons. Despite that figure, however, Eddie Howe kept hold of his stars.

It remains to be seen whether that will be the case during the summer though, with Joelinton potentially one to keep an eye on. The Brazilian's contract runs out in the summer of 2025 and Howe admitted that he could yet leave, saying via BBC Sport: "He has 18 months left on his contract so it's a possibility he'll be sold in the summer."

Newcastle now winning the race to sign “wonderful” in-demand gem for Howe

This would be some coup…

ByTom Cunningham Feb 14, 2024

Making matters worse, it's not just those on the pitch that the Magpies have to worry about. According to Wayne Veysey of Football Insider, Dan Ashworth has agreed terms with Manchester United to become their first-ever sporting director. Ashworth – currently the sporting director at Newcastle – would take a lengthy period of gardening leave before completing his Old Trafford switch to join up with Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

It would be some blow for Newcastle, given how vital Ashworth's been to their project since 2022, building a squad capable of reaching the Premier League's top four. Just who they get in to replace the former Brighton & Hove Albion man is not yet clear, but Luke Edwards has claimed that former Liverpool man Michael Edwards is a name which has crept up in conversations.

Major blow for Newcastle

One of the most impressive in his role, Ashworth's exit, should it occur, could leave Newcastle's project under PIF in tatters. Meanwhile, Manchester United would be getting the perfect sporting director to finally start to organise the chaos of Old Trafford.

Gary Neville has already given his seal of approval when it comes to Ashworth too, posting on X back in November of last year:

At a time when Newcastle have been left more frustrated than ever off the pitch under PIF, Ashworth's exit would be coming at the worst time possible ahead of a vital summer transfer window. Not only will the Magpies have to think about incomings to improve Howe's side, but also restructuring away from St James' Park, potentially forced to replace their sporting director.

Their opponents are still technically battling for one of those semi-final spots, but for South Africa the post-mortem has already begun. How did two years of intense planning, which featured serious blooding of hopefuls and all manner of contingencies, including letting David Miller keep for a few games in case Quinton de Kock got injured – how did all that manifest in this train wreck of a campaign?And what does it mean now that the dream is dead? What happens to the coaches and senior players? South Africa had had success in ODIs in the past year, winning five successive bilateral series, but does that mean anything without a half-decent World Cup to show for it?Head coach Ottis Gibson’s contract runs to September. Who deserves to stay as they attempt to build for the next cycle?”It’s a bit tough for all of us – we haven’t performed as well as we would have liked and we have to suffer the consequences of that,” assistant coach Malibongwe Maketa said ahead of the match in Durham against Sri Lanka. “We are willing to take responsibility, but hopefully we will be judged on more than what we have done here. A lot of good work was done before. Hopefully that counts for something.”If heads do roll then we can look back and say we’ve given it our best shot. We came here to win and it hasn’t happened. We want to make sure we leave Cricket South Africa in a better place than when we took over. It might not look like it now, but we think we have contributed.”Although coaching staff are clearly thinking about their jobs right now, there are still two games to play before South Africa return home to face consequences. For the likes of Imran Tahir and JP Duminy, who had announced their ODI retirements before the tournament, the games against Sri Lanka and Australia are a chance to bid farewell on at least a mildly pleasant note. The remainder are attempting to salvage pride and stem negativity.Senior players – Hashim Amla and Faf du Plessis in particular – may find themselves under the microscope when the tournament ends regardless of what happens in these games. But two wins, perhaps, would temper the scrutiny a little.”What’s left to play for is really ourselves,” Maketa said. “We’ve dedicated the last two years to coming here and win the tournament. We can’t let two weeks’ work reflect badly on us. We need to make sure we really finish strong. As much as we’re playing for millions of people back home. We need to make sure we walk away from this World Cup and justify why we’re here.”The way we see ourselves representing our country, we want to make sure that we finish off on a high. We’ve got a few players who are finishing after this World Cup. Two victories here will go a long way, rather than just one victory. That will be our legacy of the World Cup, and we don’t want to let ourselves down.”

As it happenedWhoooooooosh.That’s the sound of ball beating bat. South Africa were not in control of nine of the first 12 balls that Jasprit Bumrah bowled.Crrrraaaccckkkkkk.That’s the sound of ball hitting bat. And breaking it. Kagiso Rabada made sure the entire world could hear it. But outside of that match-up, South Africa really had nothing to offer India.They’d lost Dale Steyn. They don’t know when Lungi Ngidi will be fit again. And they can’t ask AB de Villiers to come back. Meanwhile, the other team had the world’s best batsman, one of the bowlers of this generation, and two highly-skilled wristspinners. Essentially, this game was like an Angry Bird fighting Thanos.The impression hit home even further when Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav worked in tandem. From 78 for 2, it was quickly 89 for 5 as the revolutions those two put on the ball produced dip, drift and sheer magic.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Rassie van der Dussen tried to reverse sweep his way out of trouble and was bowled. JP Duminy figured he might read the turn better if he played off the back foot. Out lbw. Even their captain, Faf du Plessis, couldn’t keep a slider from crashing into his stumps.South Africa were on a recovery mission from that point on and though Chris Morris did rather well in the final overs, walloping 42 off 34 balls, the early damage was just too much. That is why Bumrah was the biggest influence in this game and watching him was a pleasure.The fast bowler’s glare tends to go down in history. But it’s even cooler when they smirk. It’s almost as if they’re telling the batsmen, “heh, is it that easy to beat you?”Bumrah’s upper lip curled several times in his first over on World Cup debut. He had Quinton de Kock – a legitimate contender for Man of the Series in this tournament – looking like a cardboard cut-out. Everything zipped past the edge and each time, the bowler just smirked. Each time, all he did was smirk. WATCH – Highlights of Chahal’s magical spell on Hotstar (India only)A wicket looked around the corner, except it was Hashim Amla who fell, caught at first slip, off the first ball he faced from Bumrah. Du Plessis walked in with four catchers behind him.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

The level of cricket at this World Cup is also a function of the pitches being rolled out (and maybe the 10.30am starts as well). Groundsmen all across England have been good enough to leave a little grass on the pitches – it was uneven in Southampton, resulting in uneven bounce – and that’s made the contest between bat and ball all the more compelling. So making runs here mattered. It signalled that you had the bottle to succeed. And Rohit Sharma showed plenty.A few of his 122 runs came off mis-hits. He was even dropped on 1 when Rabada was in the middle of a scary good spell. But then, in the eighth over, he hit a glorious pull shot and never looked back. Braving through very difficult spells of fast bowling is a part of his game that doesn’t get enough credit.”Couldn’t play my natural game,” Rohit said at the presentation. “You have to play out and see what the ball was doing and take your time to play those shots. Certain shots that I love to play, I had to cut it down and make sure I play close to the body and make sure I leave as many balls as possible in the initial spell. Those are the basics that you had to do on a pitch like that and that’s what I was trying to do.”Sticking to that gameplan meant he was there to help India recover from a poor start (They lost Shikhar Dhawan for 8). He was there when South Africa got rid of Virat Kohli thanks to a perfectly executed plan (consistently bowl back of a length and along the line of fifth stump). And he was still there when the winning runs were hit (Hardik Pandya putting the final flourish with a violent cut shot). You can’t ask more of an opener.South Africa, meanwhile, have a lot to think about. They’ve lost all three of their matches at this World Cup, and although the format allows for a slow start, the team is short on resources and practically bereft of confidence.Rabada was the only one trying to make things happen. Nine of his first 18 deliveries made the batsman lose control. “Come oooonnnn!” he’d screamed watching the Rohit catch go down, fists clenched, head slanted upwards, a vision of pure anger. He used that emotion to fuel his performance, harassing the Indian batsmen with his pace, bounce and laser-like accuracy.But the problem was, even when he generated those wicket-taking opportunities, his team-mates kept messing it up. Rabada fooled Rohit on 107 as well only for David Miller to drop an absolute dolly at cover. And that basically summed up South Africa. One captivating genius. Ten others struggling to keep up.

Kent 504 for 9 dec (Robinson 143, Crawley 108) and 124 for 2 (Renshaw 48*, Crawley 45) beat Warwickshire 346 (Sibley 132, Milnes 3-50) and 280 (Ambrose 107, Brookes 84, Podmore 5-62) by eight wickets
Had Steve McQueen suddenly appeared on a motorbike and attempted to clear the Eric Hollies stand, the sense that a great escape was in progress could hardly have been more clear.Well, that’s how it seemed for an hour or two anyway.When Henry Brookes walked out to join Tim Ambrose, Warwickshire were 121 for 7 in their second innings and still required 37 more to make Kent bat again. Victory with two sessions unused seemed likely.Over the next three or so hours, though, the pair added 144 in 45 overs. Ambrose registered his highest first-class score since 2015 and Brookes the highest of his fledging career, with both demonstrating the benefits of playing straight and not chasing or following the ball.And, as the Kent bowlers started to flag – the decision to enforce the follow-on sentenced them to 213.1 successive overs in the field; if anyone sees Mitchell Claydon standing on public transport in the next few days, you really should offer him your seat – so Warwickshire’s hopes started to rise. First the pair ensured Kent would have to bat again, then that they would have to chase 50 and, with tea approaching, they took the target required above 100 with the overs-remaining equation starting to become relevant.There’s nothing new about Ambrose’s batting. He continues to score heavily with the cut and here, forced by the match situation to play straighter and with more discipline than is always the case, he defended solidly. This was the 18th first-class century of an excellent career.Brookes is at the start of his career. And while 19-year-olds don’t come with guarantees, he surely has all it takes to achieve fine things in the game. It is his fast bowling that really excites, but he showed here a welcome ability not just to bat but to rise to the occasion and perform under pressure. While the first few boundaries were generally deflections into the leg side, as he settled he produced some fine cuts and a booming straight drive.But all that resistance was to come to nothing. When Matt Milnes returned with the newish ball he eventually trapped Ambrose, playing slightly across the line, with a delivery that nipped back and may have kept a fraction low. Within moments, the admirably nagging Harry Podmore dismissed Jeetan Patel in similar fashion – Patel planted his front foot and missed one – before Brookes attempted to whip one into the leg side. The last three wickets had fallen for just 15 runs and, on a fine surface, only two men in the top eight had made double-figures.Perhaps, on another pitch, Warwickshire may have fancied themselves to have a chance of defending the target of 123 in a minimum of 32 overs. Certainly Ryan Sidebottom and Brookes worked up some impressive pace at the start of the reply, but Warwickshire probably needed to bat for another 10 overs to make the game safe.This was a pitch rated “Test quality” by Kent assistant coach Allan Donald. So, though Sean Dickson fell early, playing across one from Brookes, Zak Crawley and Matt Renshaw ensured there was to be no mistake. Crawley, who might well be the most outstanding top-order prospect in English cricket, dealt with the short ball with impressive ease and, throughout the match, used the sweep – both reverse and conventional – to nullify the threat from Patel. Renshaw negotiated a sticky start – he didn’t play the short ball as well as Crawley – to see his side home.Kent’s Zak Crawley on his way to a ton•PA Photos

Kent’s first victory in Division One since September 2010 – and their first at Edgbaston in the Championship since 2005 – was achieved with nine-and-a-half overs remaining.Given the fortunes of recently promoted clubs in recent times, this may prove an important result for both sides. Certainly it will provide confidence within the Kent dressing room. And while their attack still lacks a bit of pace, they should be boosted by the return of Sam Billings and Joe Denly before too long. Few expect them to finish in the top half of the table, but they proved here they may make a better fist of survival than some promoted sides.This is a worrying reverse for Warwickshire. While they can claim some mitigation – they were without a number of first-choice players through injury – they will also know that some of their batting was flimsy and some of their bowling lacked control or consistency. They looked, in short, like a team struggling to come to terms with the higher standard in Division One. It is hard not to conclude that it is matters at the bottom and not the top of the table that will be the focus of their attentions towards the end of the season.”We were outbatted, outbowled and outfielded,” their head coach, Jim Troughton, admitted afterwards. “We have just been outbasic-ed really and that is something we are going to have to instil in this group of young players.”Perhaps it need not have been such a young team. The likes of Chris Wright, Rikki Clarke and Keith Barker continue to ply their trade elsewhere, while the sight of Jonathan Trott in a Kent tracksuit (it was his first day at the club in a new, short-term coaching role) underlined the sense that Warwickshire might have utilised the services of those they have let go just a bit longer. For a club this size to be signing a player – Tom Milnes – on a match-by-match basis doesn’t scream of great planning. Or perhaps performances like this are part of a transitional phase and patience will have to be given to young players as they bed in. A glance at Surrey, however, would suggest the two don’t have to be exclusive.”I am very proud of the guys,” Donald said of his Kent team. “It was a very clinical performance with the bat, with really good hundreds from Crawley and Ollie Robinson.”Taking 20 wickets on this pitch was a fantastic effort. I don’t think I have ever seen a pitch that good at Edgbaston. The groundsman said to me ‘get ready for a long haul’ and that is absolutely what we got but it was a really strong bowling performance. We have been relentless with the ball and thoroughly earned the win. It’s been a tremendous performance.”