boss

Cullen and Leinster, who had comfortably cruised through the tournament last season, came under intense scrutiny after Northampton’s fast start saw them take a 12-point lead at half-time.

The four-time champions fought back and almost snatched the game at the death, with Cullen revisiting late refereeing decisions that cost his side in the 37-34 defeat last May.

A year on, he defended his side, who had previously never beaten three-time champions Toulon, and said he always expects a Champions Cup semi-final to “never go to script”.

“Naturally [in the last 10 minutes] you try and protect things, don’t you? Whereas the other team they don’t have protection and throw everything at it,” he added.

“We were sitting in this room this time last year. We were in that situation and we were throwing everything at Northampton. [Henry] Pollock gets a poach – it should have been a penalty.

“It’s clearly illegal, but nobody wants to report about it after. We should have had a penalty try and nobody wants to report about it. You just want to kick the boot into us, don’t you? But that’s the way it goes.

“Semi-finals come down to the tightest of margins. In 2012, Wesley Fofana knocked the ball over the tryline and that is how we [Leinster] got to the final.

“I would be kind to Toulon as they showed great spirit to the very end.”

Leinster will travel to Bilbao for the final on Saturday, 23 May, where they will face last year’s champions Bordeaux-Begles or Bath, who play on Sunday.

Cullen confirmed centre Robbie Henshaw and flanker Josh van der Flier, who left the field with head injuries, will undergo the graduated return-to-play protocol.

Flanker Jack Conan limped off and “will get checked”, with Tommy O’Brien said to be likely suffering from cramp.

All four are important players for Cullen as Leinster seek a fifth Champions Cup in three weeks’ time.

EUROPE’S biggest airline is calling for new European travel rules to be suspended.

Ryanair has written to the 29 countries where Europe‘s new Entry/Exit System (EES) is being enforced, to suspend the system until September following lengthy airport delays.

Follow The Sun’s award-winning travel team on Instagram and Tiktok for top holiday tips and inspiration @thesuntravel.

The budget airline’s COO Neal McMahon said: “Governments across Europe are attempting to roll out a half-baked IT system in the middle of the busiest travel season of the year, and passengers are paying the price, being forced to endure hours-long passport control queues and in some cases, missing flights.

“The solution is simple and already provided for under EU law (EU Reg. 2025/1534) – Governments should suspend EES until September when the peak summer travel season has subsided, just as Greece has done.

“This would allow passengers – many of whom are travelling with young families – a smoother airport experience for their summer holidays.”

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It comes as the airline has called on the French government to suspend the rollout of EES to ensure passengers do not suffer long queues at airports during the summer period.

According to the airline, despite French authorities knowing that EES was going to be introduced on April 10 this year for the past three years, they have “failed to ensure adequate staffing, system readiness or kiosks are in place”.

This has meant that there are long queues at passport control and in some cases, passengers are even missing their flights.

For example at Beauvais, Marseille and Nantes airports, queues are taking around one to two hours for passengers to get through.

Other European countries are also suffering, with Sun Travel Reporter Alice Penwill recently getting stuck at Lanzarote Airport in Spain for three hours.

Other reports have seen two-hour queues at Lisbon Airport in Portugal and in Malta, one flight was forced to wait on the tarmac for 40 minutes before passengers could get off, as passport control queues in the airport were so long.

Greece, on the other hand, has suspended EES until September, to manage peak summer travel.

Back on April 18, a statement from the Greek Embassy announced that Brits are “exempt” from biometrics at all “Greek border crossing points”.

Eleni Skarveli, the director of the Greek National Tourism Organisation in the UK, added: “The exemption of British passport holders from biometric registration at Greek border crossing points, effective from 10 April 2026, is expected to significantly reduce waiting times and ease congestion at airports.

“UK travellers will no longer need to undergo additional EES biometric procedures, ensuring a smoother and more efficient arrival experience in Greece.

“The Greek National Tourism Organisation remains committed to ensuring a seamless and welcoming journey for all visitors from the UK.”

Head coach Eddie Howe says the desire of Newcastle United‘s owners to get to the top remains “unchanged” after meeting with them this week.

Chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the governor of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), and minority owner Jamie Reuben are among those who have flown in for a two-day annual summit at Matfen Hall in Northumberland.

Although the PIF is to withdraw its multi-billion dollar backing of LIV Golf at the end of the season, senior figures at Newcastle were informed a couple of weeks ago that the pullout would not affect the club.

Newcastle are 14th place in the Premier League, but Howe stressed the “determination to succeed” came through from those above him in the meetings he attended on Thursday.

“The desire is unchanged,” he said. “It’s to try and get to the top of the Premier League, to try and consistently win as many trophies as possible.

“I don’t think that will change while the PIF are our owners, part owners or majority owners. They are very ambitious for the football club.”

Newcastle’s hierarchy have talked of achieving such goals by 2030, but Howe recognised that the infrastructure needed to elevate the club to such a position will take time.

Following a major capital investment, an announcement is expected regarding plans for a new state-of-the-art training ground to underline the owners’ commitment.

There have also been discussions this week regarding the future of St James’ Park as Newcastle weigh up whether to expand the stadium or build a new ground in a bid to turbocharge income streams in the long run and bridge a huge revenue gap on the league’s highest-earning clubs.

“They clearly care so much about the football club [given] the long-term planning that’s going on, on a number of levels,” Howe said of the PIF, who bought an initial 80% stake in 2021 before going on to increase their share.

“[There are] very exciting times ahead for the club, regardless of what happens short-term. The long-term vision is clearly there.”

This gathering of executives, which had been in the diary for several months, was viewed as an opportunity to discuss such infrastructure projects, recruitment plans, the team’s slide down the table and how the club go about addressing it.

Howe was among those to give a presentation on Thursday, as was always planned.

Rather than reacting emotionally, the view internally remains that Newcastle need to respond rationally with the help of cold, thorough analysis.

Howe had “challenging conversations” with those at the top, but the head coach sounded upbeat at his news conference on Friday before the visit of Brighton.

“I was pleased by the level of support given to me, but of course still understanding how football works and knowing we need to get results,” he said. “That will never change.”

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery was highly critical of the video assistant referee for not sending off Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson in two impassioned rants after his side’s 1-0 loss in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final.

Anderson avoided punishment for a first-half sliding tackle in which he won the ball but then caught the ankle of Ollie Watkins with a high, studs-up challenge.

Referee Joao Pinheiro did not take action – and there was only what appeared to be a very brief VAR review before the incident was cleared.

Forest would go on to win through a VAR-awarded penalty which Chris Wood scored – but Emery accepted that decision.

“Fantastic, the referee, fantastic,” Emery told TNT Sports. “But the VAR is so, so bad. It’s a clear red card – I don’t understand why the VAR is not calling the referee because it’s so clear.

“And it’s very, very important. It’s a huge, huge mistake. VAR is responsible.

“The referee – fantastic, fantastic job, 10 out of 10. I appreciated how he managed the match for 90 minutes.

“But I watched it back – wow. Huge. He could break his ankle. Wow, VAR – where are you? Please. It is your responsibility, we are professionals. You are doing very bad work because it was so clear for everybody [to see]. He could break his ankle.

“I respect the referees always but VAR, I don’t understand. It’s not fair.”

Since the Straight of Hormuz was closed during the Iran War, the price of jet fuel has doubled. As a consequence, many airlines have cancelled flights. Regional airports are feeling the most strain

Europe’s smaller airports face an “existential threat”, according to the boss of the Airports Council of Europe.

Olivier Jankovec, the director general of ACI Europe, has warned that some of the continent’s smaller airports may not survive if jet fuel shortages triggered by the Middle East crisis lead to widespread route cancellations.

Since the Straight of Hormuz was closed during the Iran War, the price of jet fuel has doubled. As a consequence, many airlines have cancelled flights.

Regional airports are most exposed to airlines cutting capacity and raising fares, as demand on their routes is generally more price-sensitive than with bigger airports. This comes in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, which has left some regional airports 30% below 2019 levels, according to Mr Jankovec.

“The current levels of jet fuel prices and the prospect of a new cost of living crisis mean that many regional airports across our continent are likely to face both a supply and demand shock. For them, this is nothing short of an existential threat,” the aviation boss told the Guardian.

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Conversely, the biggest airports in Europe have a different problem.

Heathrow, the UK’s busiest airport, delivered a stark warning about its capacity on Wednesday, as conflict in the Middle East triggered a surge in demand for connecting flights.

“Heathrow is full”, declared its chief financial officer, Sally Ding. Her comments came alongside the publication of first-quarter figures showing 18.9 million passengers passed through the airport in the opening three months of the year. That represents a 3.7% increase year-on-year.

Airspace closures stemming from the conflict in Iran led to a rise in transfer passengers. This pattern is expected to persist as geopolitical uncertainty continues, impacting one of the UK airport’s chief international competitors for worldwide connections, Dubai.

Heathrow’s trading update noted it had “temporarily absorbed demand from elsewhere”. It also warned “passenger numbers for the rest of the year are likely to be impacted whilst there is significant uncertainty in the Middle East”, as reported by City AM.

Yet as the long-running domestic saga surrounding planning permission for a third runway continues, Ding warned that Heathrow’s operating capacity meant “fewer choices and higher fares for passengers and missed opportunities for the UK economy”.

Heathrow’s £50bn proposal to increase capacity has been mired in political wrangling for years. Its blueprint for a new, 3.5-kilometre runway would elevate passenger capacity to 150m annually from 84m. With it, the airport could accommodate 756,000 flights per year, up from 480,000 currently.

“Our plan is privately financed, rigorously assessed and focused on value. With the right regulatory framework and government policy in place, we are ready to invest, grow and keep the UK connected to the world,” a statement from Heathrow said on Wednesday.

The project involves redesigning part of the M25, London’s ring road which passes close to Heathrow, by diverting it into a tunnel. For the first time in Heathrow’s history, the government examined a competing expansion proposal from another firm.

The more economical bid – costing £25bn, and put forward by the Arora Group, which runs hotels and is involved in property asset management as well as construction – would have avoided the M25 altogether. It was turned down last autumn by Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander. She selected Heathrow’s proposal, but it has faced further delays following a government decision to reassess its overarching strategy in its Airports National Policy Statement, now anticipated this summer.

Holidaymakers planning a trip to Spain who haven’t yet booked their flights are being warned to do so know amid speculation that escalating oil prices could soon drive up the costs

A Spanish tourist boss has warned that Brits who haven’t yet booked their summer holidays should book flights as soon as possible to avoid “price fluctuations”.

Jordi Hereu, Spain’s Industry and Tourism Minister, made the comments to Spanish news outlet Expansion yesterday (April 27), warning that growth in the tourist industry could be dampened by rises in the cost of flights. Last year, Spain welcomed 97 million tourists through its borders, and was expected to hit the 100 million mark this year.

He said: “What ⁠we’re recommending is that ‌people buy their tickets now because it’s true that (airlines) are currently using kerosene that was purchased some time ‌ago, and therefore there’s an element of ‌price fluctuations involved.”

“It’s already clear that prices have risen and this could affect demand.” he added. He went on to reassure holidaymakers that authorities were looking at ways to prevent fuel shortages as the busy summer season looms.

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But Mr Hereu also warned: “If the countries ‌that send tourists to Spain had problems, we would have them too.”

Many airlines have been foreced to cancel flights this spring and summer due to the rising cost of jet fuel as supplies run law, as a consequence of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz following the Israeli and US attack on Iran.

Keir Starmer said the UK was doing “everything we can” to reopen the Strait, although the UK PM warned: “I don’t want anybody to think that, once the Strait is open, that that’s the end of the damage. It will go on longer than that.”

He went on to tell Sky News: “I can see that, if there’s more impact, people might change their habits… where they go on holiday this year, what they’re buying in the supermarket, that sort of thing.”

Corneel Koster, Virgin Atlantic’s chief executive, told the Telegraph: “I was looking at improving our financial results by a really significant chunk. And then this happens. We have never seen jet fuel at these levels, with prices more than doubling. The industry cannot absorb increases like this.”

In recent weeks, the cost of a barrel of jet fuel has increased from £63 to as high as £148 amid the conflict in the Middle East. The cost of fuel accounts for around a quarter or more of operating expenses for airlines, meaning it can have a big impact on profits.

According to reports by the BBC, the lowest-priced economy tickets currently cost 24% more on average than this time last year. In response, airlines have asked for measures such as a cut or suspension to Air Passenger Duty to be put in place to balance out the costs for consumers.

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A number of airlines have already cut services, such as Lufthansa, which has axed 20,000 European short-haul flights, which it claims will save around 40,000 metric tons of jet fuel. The German airline will offer customers options, including refunding fares or booking them on alternative flights with other airlines.

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AIRLINES across Europe could collapse by September if the fuel crisis continues, the boss of Wizz Air has warned.

The ongoing war in Iran has seen the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s busiest shipping routes.

This has meant a shortage in fuel, including jet fuel, which has resulted in prices per barrel doubling in price.

Wizz Air chief executive József Váradi has since warned that airlines will be forced into closing if the prices remain high.

He told the Telegraph: “Airlines go bust two times a year, in September and February [and] airlines with weak liquidity positions will come under immense pressure in September time.

“At the moment, all airlines are selling against summer demand, which is the highest-priced capacity during the year – but you run out of steam by the end of June.”

PLANE MAD

Nine airlines that have cancelled flights as Iran war fuel crisis continues

HOL-D OFF

Brits warned summer holidays ARE at risk of being cancelled as jet fuel runs low

He added that airlines will be fine during summer as they are “making money” due to demand.

However, he said that winter was not the same, which will see a “flood of capacity removed” in September and October.

In the worst chaos scenario – which he called an “Armageddon situation,” Wizz Air could cancel up to 30 per cent of flights.

Lots of airlines have already cancelled flights in recent weeks.

This includes: 

• Lufthansa – 20,000 cancelled up to September
• United – around 250 a month cancelled
• Air New Zealand – around 1,000 cancelled
• Scandinavian Airlines – around 1,000 cancelled
• KLM – 160 cancelled
• Cathay Pacific – two per cent of flights up to June 30

Here are what all the other UK airlines are saying about the fuel crisis.

Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior said his team’s performance was both “indefensible” and “unacceptable” as he faced angry chants from his own supporters for the first time.

The chants began when Chelsea fell 1-0 behind at the Amex Stadium, with the visitors having barely registered an attempt on goal, before they eventually succumbed to a 3-0 defeat on Tuesday night.

It was a worrying display and a further dip in performance given Chelsea did not mount a shot on goal until the 40th minute and were error-prone defensively.

Chelsea extend an unwanted run of five consecutive defeats without scoring, their worst such sequence since 1912.

It played out in front of influential co-owner Behdad Eghbali and the club’s sporting directors on the south coast, where Rosenior began his coaching career.

As a result, questions will grow over whether the Englishman can continue in the dugout in the long term, with a last chance to save the season to come in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley against Leeds on Sunday.

In response to questioning about delivering such a poor display, Rosenior said: “It was unacceptable in every aspect of the game, unacceptable in our attitude. I keep coming out and defending of the players.

“That’s indefensible, that performance tonight. The manner of the goals we conceded, the amount of duels that we lost, the lack of intensity in the team. Something needs to change drastically right now.

“I think the players as well need to have a look in the mirror for what they put in. You can talk about tactics, tactics come after the basics. Having more courage to play, winning duels, winning headers, tackles, conceding terrible goals. That was an unacceptable performance tonight.”

Seven points behind fifth-placed Liverpool, having played a game more, Chelsea‘s Champions League hopes look in tatters and there are questions about whether the head coach, the players or the fans are on the same page.

April 17 (UPI) — An Irish man who allegedly laundered money and trafficked drugs and firearms throughout Europe was arrested in Dubai after officials in Ireland tracked him around the world.

Law enforcement officials in the United Arab Emirates said in a statement that Daniel Joseph Kinahan was arrested on Wednesday after a joint international criminal investigation, The Guardian and The Washington Post reported.

Officials from both Ireland and the UAE noted that the arrest comes after work in recent years to rein in “serious and organized crime.”

“The arrest comes as part of efforts to combat cross-border crime,” Dubai police said in a statement.

“The arrest followed the receipt of a judicial file from Irish authorities detailing the suspect’s alleged crimes and his involvement in an international criminal organization,” they said.

Kinehan is one of the leaders of the Kinahan Organized Crime Group and the founder of the MTK Global boxing management company.

In addition to Irish authorities, he was also being pursued by U.S. law enforcement because he was “believed to run the day-to-day operations” of the cartel, the Biden administration said when it announced sanctions against the group in 2022.

Officials in Dubai issued an arrest warrant after getting word from Irish authorities as part of a larger operation between Ireland and the UAE to stem criminal enterprises that operated in or through the two nations.

The report from Irish law enforcement had traced in him around the globe, including the use of fake names and other methods of avoiding arrest, and Kinehan was arrested within 48 hours of the the UAE warrant being issued.

Coventry City boss Frank Lampard described his side’s promotion back to the Premier League after 25 years away as a “unique” achievement.

The Sky Blues secured a top-two finish in the Championship with three games to spare courtesy of a 1-1 draw at struggling Blackburn Rovers.

“To go and get promotion automatically as a non-parachute [payment] team with three games to go… these boys have managed to achieve something special and unique,” Lampard told Sky Sports.

“This is what it’s about. Coming here and getting a point at this stage isn’t easy.”

He added: “Doing this after 25 years… wow.

“The resilience to come back after losing in the play-offs (last season to Sunderland). We spoke in the summer about what we could do this season and whether we could finish third or fourth to get a home play-off in the second game which we didn’t do last year.

“It’s such a good feeling that the boys have managed to get it over the line.”

The former Chelsea and England midfielder, 47, took over at the CBS Arena in November 2024 for his first job outside the top flight since a season at Derby in 2018-19.

An emotional Lampard, who also credited the “incredible” job his predecessor Mark Robins had done, said he had “fallen in love” with the club during his time in the Midlands and ranked leading Coventry back to the top flight alongside his many accolades as a player.

“I’m proud of myself and the staff,” he said.

“We came into a bit of an unknown 15 or so months ago when we arrived in a people carrier.

“We’ve fallen in love and this is right up there with what I have achieved.

“I’m very proud to be the manager.”

BRITS have been warned to book their summer getaways now or face a massive spike in prices as the Middle East conflict sends fuel costs soaring.

The boss of easyJet today sounded the alarm after revealing the war has already cost the budget airline £25million in fuel hikes.

The Luton-based carrier has been hit hard by rising oil prices after Iran tightened its grip on tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

Holidaymakers are being told that if these high costs persist, the extra bill will be passed directly onto passengers through higher fares across the entire industry.

EasyJet reported that the conflict has created “near-term uncertainty around fuel costs and customer demand” as families hesitate to book.

Official figures show that bookings for the peak summer months of June through to September have already dipped compared to last year.

PLANE BAD

Spanish airport to CLOSE for over a month with all flights cancelled

PINT-SIZED

My favourite up-and-coming EU country has £2.60 pints and summer highs of 30C

The airline is braced for a massive headline loss of between £540million and £560million for the six months leading up to the end of March.

Investors reacted with panic to the news as shares in the company tumbled by as much as 9% in early trading on Thursday.

EasyJet chief executive Kenton Jarvis admitted the firm has struggled.

He said: “Our H1 financial performance worsened year on year, impacted by the conflict in the Middle East and the competitive environment in some markets.”

Despite the gloom, the airline boss insisted that planes are still taking off as normal following the busiest Easter period on record.

He added: “Following our busiest Easter holiday period ever, the operational ramp up into peak summer continues as planned.”

Mr Jarvis claimed the company has the cash reserves to survive the crisis.

He said: “EasyJet’s financial strength from our investment grade balance sheet and £4.7billion of liquidity mean we are well placed to navigate current geopolitical challenges while remaining focused on our medium term targets.”

Experts are worried that the war could eventually lead to fuel shortages and forced cancellations, but the airline insists airports are currently “operating as normal” with supplies secured until mid-May.

Everything now rests on whether the crisis in the Middle East escalates or cools down in the coming weeks.

A quick resolution could see prices drop, but a long-term war could see holiday demand dry up as fuel is rationed around the world.

Manager John McGlynn says leading Falkirk out at a Scottish Cup final would represent the “pinnacle” of his career as the club prepare for a crucial last-four tie against Dunfermline Athletic this weekend.

The Scottish Premiership side face Neil Lennon’s men at Hampden on Saturday at 12:30 BST – live on the BBC – with a place in May’s showpiece at stake.

McGlynn has already led Falkirk to a top-six finish in the Premiership this term after securing back-to-back promotions from the third tier of Scottish football.

However, the 64-year-old is determined to cap a stunning season with the first major silverware of his managerial career.

“It would be a great honour to take the team out in a Scottish Cup final,” McGlynn told BBC Scotland. “For myself, [assistant coaches] Paul Smith and Steven McGinn, and all the backroom staff, it would reflect all the work that’s been put in.

“To take the team into the Premiership, be in a strong position and reach a Scottish Cup final – that would be the pinnacle of our careers.

“We know we’ll have to work extremely hard to get there and maybe need a bit of luck along the way, but walking out at Hampden for a final would be a very proud moment.

“We can’t look beyond Dunfermline. If we get through, then anything can happen.”

Reacher star Alan Ritchson will be headlining a new reality series for Netflix from the producer of Survivor and The Apprentice

Alan Ritchson, the star of Reacher, is set to host a new, intense reality survival series for Netflix.

The acclaimed actor, known for playing the iconic action hero on Prime Video and for the Netflix film War Machine, will challenge a group of high-profile contestants — from influencers to “headline-makers” — in a series of outdoor challenges designed to test their “resilience and grit.”

The currently untitled series will strip away modern luxuries, forcing players to rely on their instincts and determination. “Do they have what it truly takes to endure? Will they risk losing their carefully curated personas in the process? And who will break first under the pressure?” a synopsis from Netflix Tudum teases.

Ritchson, an experienced outdoorsman himself, will guide the contestants, “pushing them beyond their limits and into the unknown.”

The show is executive produced by Jay Bienstock, known for launching major reality hits like Survivor and The Apprentice, guaranteeing addictive viewing.

He is also executive producing, along with Julie Pizzi, Rupert Dobson, Gayani Wanigaratne, and co-executive producer John Faratzis.

The upcoming series will be joining Netflix’s already huge catalogue of popular reality shows, which is only set to grow over the coming years.

Fans have devoured the likes of Squid Game: The Challenge, Million Dollar Secret, and Is It Cake? so far.

Netflix is also in production on The Golden Ticket, inspired by Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and Win the Mall, a thrilling retail rivalry competition hosted by Haley Baylee, both set to be released this year.

A synopsis for the former reads: “To achieve sweet success in this high-stakes social experiment, players will have to adapt and strategize, as a golden ticket only gets you so far. Wonka’s guests must withstand games, tests, and temptations designed to prove their instincts, resilience, and ability to thrive in the chaos of a retro-futuristic dreamscape.”

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And Win the Mall will follow “10 teams of expert shoppers competing to gain control of storefronts, increase their spending power, and outmanoeuvre rivals in the ultimate retail experience.”

Keep your eyes peeled for more updates on Netflix’s must-watch TV tournaments.

England might not play again until the summer but Thursday night would have brought a smile to Thomas Tuchel’s face.

The England manager watched his side labour for goals without captain and record goalscorer Harry Kane during last month’s friendlies against Uruguay and Japan.

It once again underlined Tuchel’s limited options when it comes to an alternative for 32-year-old Kane, with the World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico a little more than two months away.

So he would have been very happy to find out Ollie Watkins had come up with two more goals for Aston Villa in their 3-1 win against Bologna in the Europa League quarter-final first leg in Italy.

The Villa forward was left out of the expanded 35-man England squad by Tuchel in March, having scored just one goal in his previous nine Premier League matches.

“Watkins is not with us but this is more down to the fact that I know what he can bring to the group – I know him very well,” Tuchel said during the squad announcement.

Despite the comments, the striker’s hopes of making it to the World Cup were left in doubt.

Watkins’ response to the setback has been nothing short of emphatic, with the 30-year-old adding to the goal he scored against West Ham in the Premier League just before the international break.

“It’s the back end of the season and I’m raring to go,” Watkins told TNT Sports after Villa moved one step closer to a place in a European semi-final.

“I could play another 90 minutes. I’m excited for the next few games. I’m hungry.”

After Ezri Konsa’s opener against the run of play in Bologna, Watkins eased Villa’s nerves with a second early in the second half as he pounced on a mistake from Torbjorn Heggem and finished through the legs of goalkeeper Federico Ravaglia.

After the Serie A side then scored a late goal through Jonathan Rowe in the 90th minute, Watkins restored Villa’s two-goal advantage in the 94th minute from a corner, before the return leg at Villa Park next Thursday (20:00 BST).

Wrexham came agonisingly close to earning a shock win over the Saints on the opening day of the campaign.

Josh Windass opened the scoring from the penalty spot for the visitors at St Mary’s Stadium but last-gasp goals from Ryan Manning and Jack Stephens earned the hosts victory.

Despite that triumph, the Saints struggled under Will Still and parted company with the head coach in early November.

They have drastically improved under German boss Eckert, winning nine of their past 12 league fixtures.

But Lewis O’Brien, who netted his side’s second goal at West Brom last time out, feels Wrexham’s improvement since the first fixture between the sides is evident.

“We were a pretty new team. There were a lot of signings and we were trying to understand how everyone played,” the midfielder said of the August contest.

“We’ve now got three games at home and three away and hopefully we can pick up as many points as we can.”

When Arsenal face Sporting in their Champions League quarter-final first leg on Wednesday, there will be much more riding on the game than just a knockout match in Lisbon.

For many, this is where the Gunners need to show back-to-back defeats, against Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final and the damaging loss to Southampton in the FA Cup quarter-final, will not leak into their European and Premier League campaigns.

Arsenal have been tagged as the ‘nearly men’ under Mikel Arteta with three successive second-placed finishes in the Premier League in the last three seasons.

But the Gunners have played a ruthless style of football this season, which has seen them establish a nine-point lead in the Premier League, reach the final of one cup competition and, depending what happens in two legs against Sporting, at least the quarter-final stage of the two other cup campaigns they began.

Their style of play has been questioned at times but now it is the team’s mentality that is coming under the spotlight.

The Gunners have been so impressive this season that their defeats by City and Saints are the first time they have lost successive matches this campaign, while the loss on the south coast was just the fifth of the season.

But, with the Champions League and Premier League the top prizes for the Gunners, this is where Arteta needs to show the pain of coming so close in precious campaigns is not going to overwhelm his side as they look to win their first major trophy since 2020.

“Have some perspective about how difficult it is what we have done until now,” said Arteta, when asked how he and the team prevent a longer run of defeats.

“Feel the pain, feel the emotion and use it to be better and improve.”

HOLIDAYMAKERS could get stuck abroad this summer as up to 10 per cent of flights face cancellation if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary warned.

And the budget airline kingpin said that holidaymakers should book as soon as possible to avoid paying far higher prices.

The price of jet fuel has skyrocketed since the outbreak of the US-Israeli war with Iran, which has left the vital shipping route of the Strait of Hormuz blocked.

Speaking to ITV News, the airline chief revealed that between five and 10 per cent of flights in May, June and July could be cancelled if the Strait remains closed.

The Ryanair chief explained: “We have aircraft that are based at 95 airports across Europe.

“And we’ll have to cancel routes at whichever airport where the fuel company advises us they’re short of jet fuel at, say, Malaga Airport or Athens Airport.

“It’ll be those kind of decisions. And we’ll get very little notice – we’ll be told, I think, within five or seven days.

“So we will then be looking around and we will be trying to ground one or two aircraft and minimise inconvenience for customers. But it’s going to be difficult, it’s going to be challenging.”

O’Leary admitted that some holidaymakers may get stuck abroad due to flight cancellations, but noted that airlines have a responsibility to get you home.

He said: “Now, you won’t get compensation because it’s clearly beyond the airline’s control, but we will – and in Ryanair’s case we have lots of flights on a daily basis – we will re-accommodate you and get you back.

“You might be stuck for a day or two, but if you’re staying within Europe, you should be reasonably confident.”

Asked if it would be a “gamble” to book a summer holiday, O’Leary admitted “life is a gamble”.

He continued: “I think we’re looking at the risk of five or 10 per cent of cancellations in June or July, but 90 to 95 percent of flights will still operate.

“So, I think you’re really not taking much of a gamble. I would be much more concerned if you delay your booking, that actually you and your family will be paying much higher prices if you get to May, June, or July.”

The blame for any cancellations should be laid at the feet of the US President, not the airlines, the Irish airline boss added.

He added: “There doesn’t seem to be any exit plan at all. But we are where we are, blaming Trump is not going to get us anywhere.”

O’Leary said that this would be an “unknown scenario” for the airline industry and that “the sooner this war is over, the better”.

The new comments from the airline boss come after he said yesterday that jet fuel supplies could be disrupted as soon as May due to the new crisis in the Middle East.

Speaking to Sky News, the airline chief revealed that while Ryanair is “reasonably well hedged” on 80 per cent of its fuel, the company is being forced to shell out nearly double for the remaining 20 per cent.

O’Leary confirmed the airline is paying around $150 (€130) a barrel for the unhedged portion of its supplies.

Chelsea boss Sonia Bompastor said her players “do not deserve that level of refereeing” after Arsenal’s Katie McCabe avoided a red card for pulling Alyssa Thompson’s hair during their Champions League quarter-final exit.

The Blues were chasing a late leveller after scoring a stoppage-time goal to make it 3-2 on aggregate when McCabe reached out and tugged Thompson’s hair.

The American winger was breaking forward, but McCabe escaped a yellow card and the video assistant referee (VAR) did not advise referee Frida Mia Klarlund to review the incident.

Bompastor was shown a yellow card for angrily protesting against the decision and then sent off for her continued outburst – although she refused to leave the touchline as Arsenal held on to reach the semi-finals.

The Frenchwoman arrived prepared with her mobile phone so she could show a replay of the incident as she gave a furious interview to BBC Two.

“For me, it is clearly a red card for the Arsenal player. She’s pulling Alyssa Thompson’s hair,” Bompastor said.

“If the VAR is not able to check that situation, I don’t know why we have the VAR.

“I’m the one getting a red card when I think the Arsenal player should be the one getting a red card.”

RYANAIR boss Michael O’Leary has warned jet fuel supplies could be disrupted in May as the war in Iran chokes off global oil routes.

The budget airline kingpin warned that holidaymakers could face a summer of uncertainty if the Middle East war continues to throttle global oil routes.

Prices have spiralled since the outbreak of fighting at the end of February, with Iran blocking vital tankers from passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

Speaking to Sky News, the airline chief revealed that while Ryanair is “reasonably well hedged” on 80% of its fuel, the company is being forced to shell out nearly double for the remaining 20%.

O’Leary confirmed the airline is paying around $150 a barrel for the unhedged portion of its supplies.

The outspoken boss warned that while rising costs are a major headache, the more “immediate concern” is whether there will be enough fuel to keep planes in the sky.

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He admitted that the industry is at the mercy of the conflict and the ongoing blockade of the world’s most important shipping passage.

“Fuel suppliers are constantly looking at the market. We don’t expect any disruption until early May, but if the war continues, we do run the risk of supply disruptions in Europe in May and June, and we hope the war will finish sooner than that and the risk to supply will be eliminated,” he said.

O’Leary calculated that the threat to the airline’s operations is now a very real possibility for millions of passengers planning their early summer getaways.

He warned that there is a “reasonable risk” that between 10% and 25% of supplies could be at risk through May and June, adding that like everyone else in the industry, he hopes the war ends sooner rather than later.

The Ryanair chief made it clear that the fate of the summer season rests on the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

He stated that if the war finishes by April and the shipping lane reopens, then there is “almost no risk to supply.”

Despite the looming threat of shortages, O’Leary struck a defiant tone regarding his own flight schedule.

He told Sky News that he does not expect to cancel any flights, even as some of Ryanair’s rivals struggle to cope with the volatile market.

However, the pressure on the industry is mounting across the board.

EasyJet boss Kenton Jarvis has already sounded the alarm for passengers’ wallets, warning that European consumers should expect higher ticket prices towards the end of summer when existing fuel hedges come to an end.

So far, a number of airlines have already said they will be raising the cost of flights due to the fuel crisis.

Cathay Pacific, AirAsia and Thai Airways are just some that are increasing fares, along with Air New Zealand.

United Airlines said it could eventually see fares increase as much as 20 per cent.

Other airlines have said they are cancelling flights altogether.

United Airlines confirmed that it would be cutting five per cent of flights for the next few months, which works out to around 250 a month.

Air New Zealand has cancelled 1,100 fights, affecting 44,000 passengers, while Scandinavian airline SAS also cancelled 1,000 flights.

Roy Hodgson said there was much he missed about football after coming out of retirement to return to the dugout as caretaker manager of Bristol City.

The 78-year-old accepted the role at the Championship club until the end of the season following the sacking of Gerhard Struber on Friday.

The former England manager has not worked since leaving Crystal Palace in 2024 and confirmed he will only be in the position for City’s seven remaining games, insisting he was “too old” for a long-term position.

“You don’t work at top-level football at my age really very often,” Hodgson said.

“I’d come to terms with that quite well then something like this happens and you realise that there’s a lot I do miss.

“Having this opportunity to get a feel for that again, and have a chance to work with a good group of players – it seems from what I saw this morning – and to relive being on the grass and doing the coaching, which I’ve always been really keen to do, and with a group of players without necessarily having all the drawbacks.”

Hodgson returns to the club where he began his career in 1982, spending four months as Bristol City manager during a turbulent financial time when the club nearly went out of business.

“I’ve been perfectly happy in my retirement period – a little bit bored from time to time – but a challenge like this was hard to turn down,” Hodgson said.

“Plus the fact it is Bristol which is a lovely city and I do have fond memories of my time here, despite the fact I shouldn’t have fond memories – I should be having nightmares.”

Nine years on, Flynn is anxiously watching on as a fan, having left the world of football for a new job in media and marketing in the Newport office of CDM Media, his city centre base just across the River Usk within spying distance of his old club.

Christian Fuchs’ team are two points above the relegation zone after Saturday’s crucial 1-0 win over Shrewsbury Town and, with six games to go, Flynn hopes there will be no need for a repeat of his final-day rescue act.

“I hope Christian can keep them up because there will be a big after-effect if things go wrong,” said the 45-year-old, who was born in the city and played for County before managing them from 2017 to 2021.

“My son is in the academy at Newport and if we go down… that could go. That would be catastrophic in terms of how we’re going to bring young players through.

“I think football in the city will drop. It would hit hospitality around match days. It’s going to leave a bad aftertaste.

“If they go down, I think it could be a long, long road back. If they get back.”

Flynn, though, is optimistic about their survival hopes. After all, they’re not 11 points adrift of safety as his 2017 side were after he accepted what looked an impossible survival mission by replacing the sacked Graham Westley as boss.