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EDDIE NKETIAH sealed a comfortable win as Crystal Palace set a new club-record 19-game unbeaten run.

The former Arsenal striker came on for Jean-Philippe Mateta at the break to fire home from Yeremy Pino’s brilliant 58th-minute cross.

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Daniel Munoz had headed the Eagles into a 31st-minute lead against the Ukrainians in Poland.

That broke their existing 56-year record.

But they ended the game with 10 men when Borna Sosa was sent off for a second yellow with 14 minutes left.

Jean-Philippe Mateta was given a boost before kick-off by being named in the France national team for the first time for their upcoming World Cup qualifiers with Azerbaijan and Iceland.

Les Bleus boss Didier Deschamps said: “He’s not exactly young, even if he went through almost all the youth national teams. 

“Wherever he plays, he has the ability to score goals. He has an interesting profile.”

And Mateta almost got Palace off to a flying start.

Adam Whartons pushed a ball toward Daniel Muniz down the right and his low first-time cross found the striker lurking at the near post.

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But Taras Mykhavko was quick to get a block in with Mateta set to pounce.

And the Dynamo defender just managed to get a ball forward to Mateta to clear the danger.

Palace moved in front with a peach of a goal.

Yeremy Pino appeared to have overhit a free-kick from the right yet Munoz somehow managed to get up to it and steer a brilliant header into the top right corner.

And Palace were denied a second when Borna Sosa slid in to attack a brilliant Wharton’s 20-yard diagonal pass.

But keeper Ruslan Neshcheret managed to get his body in the way to block the attempt.

Mateta broke through just before the break with only keeper Ruslan Neshcheret to beat but he blazed over.

Nketiah had the ball in the net after coming on at the break when he got on to a Wharton pass but was fractionally offside.

But moments after he did get his goal — converting with a lovely finish from Pino’s cross.

Palace were having fun. Wharton again released Nketiah but Neshcheret managed to deflect it behind.

Sosa, who had been booked three minutes earlier for hacking down Shola Ogundanam, received his marching orders for barging over Tymchyk.

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West Ham’s “main priority” is bringing the club’s fans and players closer together, says new manager Nuno Espirito Santo but he knows there is “a lot of work” to do.

After recent protests, chants of “sack the board” could be heard during Monday’s 1-1 draw at Everton, Nuno’s first game in charge of the Hammers after replacing Graham Potter.

But, after Jarrod Bowen’s second-half equaliser had earned them a spirited point, the former Tottenham and Nottingham Forest boss took his players over to the travelling supporters at the end of the match in a show of unity and togetherness.

“What I think is important is to appreciate what our fans did traveling to Liverpool on a Monday night and giving the support they’ve given,” he said. “It’s our main priority to come closer to our fans.

“We have to deliver so they can appreciate the work of the boys. Moving forward it’s important.”

After beginning his tenure with a point on the road, Nuno said his players will “embrace the challenge”.

“I think the team competed well,” the Portuguese manager said. “It’s a tough, tough place to come, a very good team.

“Overall it was a good game, intense, both teams had chances. The message for us [to the players] is how we can compete now.”

Nuno said he has avoided making too many changes to West Ham’s tactics and is instead focusing on making incremental improvements.

“Simple, don’t change too many things,” he responded when asked about his approach. “When you arrive at a club it’s about slowly progressing and trying to find the right options and solutions. Now it’s how we can improve them.”

The cryptocurrency market has had an extraordinary year, with top cryptos like Bitcoin (BTC -4.23%) and Ethereum (ETH -8.20%) setting new all-time highs. That upward trend has stalled recently. As I write this (September 25), Bitcoin has fallen 5% in the last week, Ethereum is down 13% and XRP (XRP -6.93%) has shed over 9% over the same time period.

What’s behind this lackluster performance? And will so-called Uptober — a term based on data that shows prices often go up in October — turn the crypto tides? Let’s dive in to learn more about three headwinds facing cryptocurrencies right now.

1. Money is flowing out of crypto ETFs

Crypto often suffers from a ‘buy the rumor, sell the news’ syndrome. Speculation drives prices up in anticipation of a big event, and then they fall because investors sell once it actually happens. In the run-up to the Fed rate cut on September 17, crypto prices rallied, and spot Bitcoin ETFs saw solid inflows.

But as investors digested Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s words, they became more cautious. Particularly after a speech this week where Powell spoke of a “challenging situation” in trying to manage employment risks against inflation pressures. Lower rates often make riskier assets more attractive, but not if the benefits are offset by other economic concerns.

Sentiment is important in crypto, and right now, the fear and greed index is firmly in fear territory. That’s reflected in steep outflows from spot crypto ETFs. Per the Block data, there were over $360 million in outflows from spot Bitcoin ETFs on September 22. Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund (FBTC -4.10%) alone reported $277 million in outflows. That’s one of the biggest single-day outflows we’ve seen this year.

2. Over $1.6 billion liquidated in one day

CoinGlass data shows over $1.6 billion was liquidated on September 21 — the largest amount so far in 2025. Over $500 million in Ethereum positions and around $300 million in Bitcoin positions were wiped out. The liquidation highlights how leveraged positions can quickly cascade as falling prices trigger liquidations and push prices even lower.

The use of margin and leverage in cryptocurrencies can amplify price volatility. And leverage levels in crypto are increasing. Investors can use their crypto as collateral and essentially borrow money to take a bigger position. If the market moves in their favor, it can translate into higher returns. However, if prices go the other way and there isn’t enough collateral to back up the loan, the broker may liquidate and forcibly close the position.

3. Crypto treasury companies are faltering

This year has seen a surge in companies adding cryptocurrencies — predominantly Bitcoin and Ethereum — to their balance sheets. Public companies now own about 5% of the total Bitcoin in circulation, per data from BitcoinTreasuries. Their steady accumulation is one of the drivers behind Bitcoin’s incredible price rally.

Pioneered by Strategy (MSTR -8.78%), around 200 companies now hold crypto. Many of them have raised money with the sole purpose of buying more. It can act as a hedge against inflation, and any gains from price appreciation will help their bottom line. However, if Bitcoin’s price falls, so will the value of those holdings. There’s a risk that companies may have to sell their crypto to cover their debt.

Currently, the corporate treasury model is under scrutiny. Companies are buying fewer Bitcoins. And a quarter of Bitcoin treasury companies now have a market cap that’s lower than their crypto holdings, per K33. Some are borrowing money to finance share buybacks, raising questions about the model’s long-term viability.

Image source: Getty Images.

Further volatility ahead

There’s been a lot of talk in the cryptocurrency news about the potential for sentiment to shift in Uptober. That’s because data shows that Bitcoin prices often fall in September and rise in October.

But the factors that are dragging crypto prices down won’t change just because we’re in a different month. Pay attention to jobs and inflation data. Not only will those figures influence Fed decisions about further rate cuts, but they also give us a better idea of whether the economy is slowing.

For all the headwinds, Bitcoin is holding its head above $111,000, and we may see some positive drivers before the end of the year. More rate cuts are likely, as well as SEC approval of a flurry of crypto ETFs. Plus, the government may make further progress with crypto legislation.

Whether or not the bulls can regain momentum, the recent price swings are a reminder of Bitcoin’s volatility. This remains a risky and unpredictable asset, making it important to limit your crypto exposure to only a small percentage of your wider portfolio.

BARRY HEARN reckons Luke Littler has made darts so popular that there aren’t enough days in the year to squeeze in the amount of events needed to meet fan demand.

The PDC chairman has said that “main man” Littler is one of the reasons behind darts‘ incredible growth in recent years.

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Littler, 18, burst onto the scene at the 2024 World Championship and has since cemented himself as one of the best players in the world.

His meteoric rise has seen him be crowned world champion on his second attempt, pocket in excess of £1MILLION in prize money and add over 15 PDC titles to a growing trophy cabinet.

Speaking to Sky Sports about what Littler’s emergence has done for the sport, Hearn said: “It’s [darts] just getting bigger and bigger.

“I’m actually having a problem that there is only 365 days in a year!

“The demand worldwide is so huge that I could fill that twice.”

Adding: “It’s non stop. The players are responding with performances beyond what I’ve ever seen in my life, in terms of averages and checkouts.

“Led by the main man Luke Littler, who is fast becoming a phenomenon.”

The increased interest in darts has meant an increase in prize money too.

Luke Littler prize money breakdown

Here is all the prize money Luke Littler has won so far after being crowned 2025 PDC World Darts Championship winner:

World Championship 2025 – £500,000

World Championship 2024 – £200,000

Grand Slam of Darts 2024 – £150,000

European Tour – £91,000

Player Championships events – £71,500

Players Championship final runner-up – £60,000

UK Open 2023 + 2024 – £17,500

World Matchplay – £10,000

World Grand Prix – £7,500

European Championship – £7,500

(Unranked) Premier League Darts – £315,000

TOTAL: £1.43 million

This year’s World Championship will be worth an eye-watering £1MILLION to the winner – double last year’s jackpot.

While there has been a total increase of £7MILLION across the PDC calendar thanks to a historic Sky Sports £125million five-year TV deal.

Speaking on the changes, Hearn said: “This is the first year where our prize money goes past £25million, World Championship is worth £1million, more European events because of demand in Europe.

“The Premier League is heading out of the UK and going to Belgium, it’s non stop”.

Core & Main (CNM -23.40%) reported its fiscal second quarter ended Aug. 3, 2025, earnings on September 9, 2025, lowering full-year revenue and EBITDA guidance for fiscal 2025 due to unexpected residential market weakness but highlighted resilient municipal demand and progress on cost containment. Residential sales are now expected to decline by low double digits through the end of 2025, offset by strength in municipal and select non-residential segments, with SG&A initiatives and M&A synergies anticipated to yield greater benefits in fiscal 2026. The following insights synthesize management commentary on growth drivers, operating leverage, and strategic execution directly affecting Core & Main’s long-term investment outlook.

Municipal strength offsets Core & Main’s residential weakness

Municipal water infrastructure demand remains robust due to increased funding and a multi-year replacement cycle, providing resilience against cyclical residential softness. Management noted positive momentum in treatment plants and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) product lines, while municipalities benefit from improved rates and healthy local budgets.

“The municipal market remains strong with ample funding, and we’re seeing a lot of demand there too. Those are kind of the puts and takes on the top line with the revised guide.”
— Robyn Bradbury, CFO

This dynamic illustrates the company’s balanced end-market exposure and positions Core & Main to capture secular growth from public infrastructure investment even as near-term residential lot development decelerates.

Margin management actions to drive 2026 profitability

SG&A (selling, general, and administrative) expenses rose 13% year-over-year, with about half attributable to M&A and one-time costs, while controllable spend reduction efforts and synergy realization from prior acquisitions are ongoing. Specific inflation-driven areas, such as insurance and compensation, contributed significantly to cost headwinds, but targeted workforce management and cost-out actions have been implemented, with major benefits expected beyond 2025.

“Some of those inflation items were a lot higher than we were expecting, and that’s what we need to work to offset. We’ve got several million dollars of cost-out actions that have been executed in the first half of the year. I would say we’ve got a meaningful amount of actions that are in process that we’re working through.”
— Robyn Bradbury, CFO

Core & Main expands Canadian footprint to unlock new growth

The company completed a three-branch acquisition in Canada, building on its earlier entry into the market and setting a platform for both greenfield branch expansion and further local M&A. Each acquired Canadian branch carries an approximately $15 million revenue run rate, diversifying the company’s geographic revenue base and advancing its multi-lever growth strategy beyond the U.S. market.

“the acquisition we did in Canada was a three-branch acquisition with two locations around Toronto and another one in Ottawa. Those, I would say, those branches are typical kind of branch size for us in kind of the $15 million range. Really excited about that one. It really builds a great platform for us to grow from in Canada. That’s now the second acquisition we’ve completed there.”
— Mark Witkowski, President

This cross-border expansion signals increasing addressable market opportunity and serves as a meaningful long-term complement to Core & Main’s organic U.S. pipeline.

Looking Ahead

Residential sales for the full year are forecast to decline by low double digits through the end of 2025, with municipal and select non-residential segments maintaining positive momentum. Gross margin rate is expected to remain stable versus fiscal second quarter ended Aug. 3, 2025, levels for the remainder of fiscal 2025, while SG&A expenses are projected to decrease in the second half of fiscal 2025 due to cost actions, with the bulk of synergy and efficiency gains materializing in fiscal 2026. Management confirmed the recent Canadian acquisition is not included in current guidance and referenced a strong M&A pipeline as a continued strategic focus.

Nassourdine Imavov beats Caio Borralho in Paris, then issued a title challenge to UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev.

Nassourdine Imavov outlasted Caio Borralho in the main event of UFC Fight Night in France, earning a unanimous decision and consolidating his claim as a potential title challenger to middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev.

Imavov, fighting in front of his home crowd at Accor Arena in Paris, secured a fifth straight UFC victory, with the three judges delivering a clear win for the 84kg (185-pound) fighter: 50-45, 49-46, 49-46.

The Saturday night bout was one-sided, with Imavov (20-4 MMA) controlling the distance for the fight’s duration with clean boxing and pressure volume, not allowing Borralho (17-2 MMA) to find openings, as he entered the contest with an imposing 62 percent of his wins by either KO/TKO or submission.

Imanov, who laid claim to the UFC middleweight division’s No 2 ranking, was hard on himself about not finishing Borralho as he had planned.

Despite not earning a stoppage victory, he had one message for Chimaev (15-0 MMA).

“I am next,” Imavov said as the crowd erupted during his post-fight speech. “[Borralho] was unbeaten for 10 years. I just beat him, and beat him with style as well. I need to be the next one [to fight for the UFC middleweight title].”

The loss for the No 7-ranked Borralho marked his first inside the UFC. After the fight, he acknowledged Imavov as one of the toughest opponents of his career.

“Thank you, Nassourdine, for the respect,” Borralho said. “Thank you so much… I think Nassourdine was the better man today. He was very fast, as I was expecting. He did very good in the fight. I couldn’t really adapt [my strategy] that much. I wanted to make this fight entertaining for the fans and the UFC. So, I tried to strike with one of the best strikers in the world, and that’s what you guys saw: a great war.”

In the co-headline fight, lightweight Benoit Saint Denis secured a rear-naked choke over Mauricio Ruffy at 2:56 of the second round.

Saint Denis (15-3 MMA) got a large lift from the hometown crowd and became the first fighter to submit Ruffy (12-2 MMA) in his career.

Ruffy’s loss to Saint Denis snapped a seven-fight winning streak dating back to November 2019.

DARREN TILL goes head-to-head with ex-UFC champion Luke Rockhold in a colossal fight for the MFB Bridgerweight title THIS WEEKEND.

Manchester’s AO Arena hosts the high-stakes bout with professional MMA fighter Till taking on former UFC Middleweight champion Rockhold.

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Till boasted a UFC record of 18-5-1 and has since transferred his skill to the Misfits ring.

The Liverpool born fighter, 32, has won his first two fights since making his Misfits boxing debut, convincingly defeating Anthony Taylor by TKO and Darren Stewart by unaminous decision.

“The Gorilla” will be eager to continue his form with a win over Rockhold and is favourite for the bout.

American retired MMA star Rockhold makes his much anticipated boxing debut on August 30.

The 40-year-old star is most remembered for becoming the seventh UFC Middleweight champion in UFC history just over a decade ago.

It will be a tough challenge for Rockhold as he makes the transition into boxing, but he will be hoping for a strong underdog victory against the in-form Till.

When is Till vs Rockhold?

• Till vs Rockhold will take place on Saturday, August 30.
• Streaming for the event begins at 7pm BST.
• The ring-walks for the main event will be approximately at 10pm BST.
• The bout will take place in Manchester at the AO Arena.

What TV channel is Till vs Rockhold on and can it be live streamed?

• Till vs Rockhold will be broadcast live on DAZN.
• The whole fight card will stream live on DAZN in over 200 countries across the globe via a DAZN subscription.
• If you are not currently a DAZN member, then monthly and annual subscription options are available to watch over 185 fights a year across boxing, bare knuckle boxing, MMA and kickboxing.
• An Annual Super Saver subscription is a one-off payment of £119.99 / $224.99 for 12-months access (£14.99 / $19.99 per month if paying in monthly instalments).
• A Monthly Flexible pass, which can be cancelled at any time, is £24.99 / $29.99 per month.
• Alternatively, SunSport’s live blog will bring you round-by-round updates from the huge card.

Who else is on the card?

Here are all the bouts taking place in Manchester:

Subject to change

• Darren Till vs Luke Rockhold; Bridgerweight
• Tony Ferguson vs Salt Papi; Middleweight
• Dillon Danis vs Warren Spencer; Light heavyweight
• Joey Essex vs Numeiro; Middleweight
• Ty Mitchell vs Sean Hemphill; Super middleweight

Strictly Come Dancing fans have reacted to the news that long-running professional dancer Gorka Márquez won’t have a celebrity partner when the show returns this year

Fans of Strictly Come Dancing have shared their disappointment over an announcement ahead of the new series. Some have said that the show “won’t be the same” after one of the pros confirmed that they won’t be competing.

The BBC show is just weeks away from returning, with viewers awaiting the line-up of celebrities ahead of the launch. While no contestants have been confirmed yet, earlier this year, the broadcaster announced which pros will be back on the dance floor when the show returns.

It was revealed that they will include Gorka Márquez, 34. As reported by the Manchester Evening News, there will be a host of other returning pros alongside him including Dianne Buswell, Nadiya Bychkova, Karen Hauer, Johannes Radebe, Kai Widdrington, Carlos Gu and Vito Coppola. It comes after reports of all the celebrities rumoured to be joining BBC Strictly Come Dancing 2025.

READ MORE: Channel 4 breaks silence after Gogglebox couple suddenly dumped from showREAD MORE: Gary Lineker ‘signs huge deal with ITV to host new show’ after BBC exit

At the time, it was also announced that two new dancers will be making their debut in the series. The newcomers have since been unveiled as So You Think You Can Dance champion Alexis Warr and Julian Caillon, who worked on Dancing with the Stars in Australia.

There’s thought to be more pros than contestants and it’s yet to be revealed which of the dancers will be paired with celebrity partners this year. Long-running pro Gorka, 34, has however confirmed that he won’t be one of them this time.

Amid the second week of rehearsals, Gorka announced earlier this week that he will return as a judge to the Spanish version of Strictly, Bailando con las estrellas, for a second series. He first appeared on the judging panel last year.

On Wednesday, he told his followers on Instagram: “I am Happy to announce that I will be back for season two of BAILANDO CON LAS ESTRELLAS as a judge from September.” He added that it means he won’t have a partner on Strictly though.

Gorka said: “Due to the filming dates this means that I won’t be competing with a partner this year in Strictly but I will be a part of lots of the group numbers and will be back for final weeks of the Show to support the rest of my fellow pros and their celebrities in what is going to be an AMAZING SERIES. As always thank you for all the love and support and remember! Keep dancing!”

His fiancée Gemma Atkinson responded: “Vamos! Very proud.” A number of his Strictly co-stars also showed their support. Some fans expressed their disappointment that he won’t be competing though, as reported by the Manchester Evening News.

One reacted: “Noooooo! Strictly won’t be the same without you! I hope you enjoy every minute of it!” Another commented: “Gutted wanted you to win.” A third wrote: “Gutted, always love to see u with a partner but least we will still see u in the group numbers.”

Someone replied to the announcement: “Congratulations and very well deserved too. It won’t be the same without you on Strictly.” Whilst another fan said: “Super happy for you @gorka_marquez but I will miss you on Strictly.”

Sharing their thoughts, another said: “Strictly won’t be the same without you @gorka_marquez! We needed you to lift that glitter ball as you nearly did so many times.” One fan wrote: “It seems that lots of people feel like I do. Good for you!! And a little sad for us!”

Whilst another viewer reacted to the news: “It won’t be the same without you but so excited for your judging role again! Congratulations!! And I’m looking forward to the group numbers.”

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