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Premier League — Tottenham into relegation zone after West Ham’s win; De Zerbi optimistic of survival  West Ham United beat fellow struggler Wolverhampton Wanderers 4-0 on Friday and dropped Tottenham Hotspur into the Premier League drop zone for the first time this season.The Spurs are two points behind the Hammers before heading to Sunderland on Sunday.Valentín Castellanos scored twice in three minutes midway through the second half after Konstantinos Mavropanos put the Hammers 1-0 up with a header just before half-time.Konstantinos completed the scoring seven minutes from time with an acrobatic volley from a corner kick.Wolves remained at the bottom of the league and are almost certain to be relegated.Meanwhile, Spurs’ manager Roberto De Zerbi said his boys must play with courage to escape relegation.“I don’t want to put confusion inside the players. They have to be with a clear plan of the game and not too much instruction, not too much thinking,” the Italian said Friday at his first press conference.“They have to play with courage, with personality, and they have to fight. My demand is to show the right spirit I want to see.”De Zerbi was handed a five-year contract — though with no escape clause if relegated — with the immediate task of Premier League survival.“What I want to do, what I want to achieve immediately is the character, is the right spirit, the right courage to play, to attack, because the DNA of this club, of this squad, is to find the goal, to score,” he said.After a week or so of working with the players, he said, “I’m more positive, for sure” about Premier League survival.Spurs, the reigning Europa League champion, fired Igor Tudor after 44 days of an interim coaching spell that worsened Tottenham’s plight. Tudor was brought in after Thomas Frank lasted just eight months on the job.De Zerbi paid them respect on Friday.“I’m not better than Thomas Frank or Igor Tudor because I consider them very good coaches,” he said.“I try to bring my style, myself, my character, my personality, my passion to help the players. First of all, to show their qualities, because they have a lot of qualities and then to achieve our target, because the most important part now is our target.”Published on Apr 11, 2026  #Premier #League #Tottenham #relegation #zone #West #Hams #win #Zerbi #optimistic #survival

Premier League — Tottenham into relegation zone after West Ham’s win; De Zerbi optimistic of survival

West Ham United beat fellow struggler Wolverhampton Wanderers 4-0 on Friday and dropped Tottenham Hotspur into the Premier League drop zone for the first time this season.

The Spurs are two points behind the Hammers before heading to Sunderland on Sunday.

Valentín Castellanos scored twice in three minutes midway through the second half after Konstantinos Mavropanos put the Hammers 1-0 up with a header just before half-time.

Konstantinos completed the scoring seven minutes from time with an acrobatic volley from a corner kick.

Wolves remained at the bottom of the league and are almost certain to be relegated.

Meanwhile, Spurs’ manager Roberto De Zerbi said his boys must play with courage to escape relegation.

“I don’t want to put confusion inside the players. They have to be with a clear plan of the game and not too much instruction, not too much thinking,” the Italian said Friday at his first press conference.

“They have to play with courage, with personality, and they have to fight. My demand is to show the right spirit I want to see.”

De Zerbi was handed a five-year contract — though with no escape clause if relegated — with the immediate task of Premier League survival.

“What I want to do, what I want to achieve immediately is the character, is the right spirit, the right courage to play, to attack, because the DNA of this club, of this squad, is to find the goal, to score,” he said.

After a week or so of working with the players, he said, “I’m more positive, for sure” about Premier League survival.

Spurs, the reigning Europa League champion, fired Igor Tudor after 44 days of an interim coaching spell that worsened Tottenham’s plight. Tudor was brought in after Thomas Frank lasted just eight months on the job.

De Zerbi paid them respect on Friday.

“I’m not better than Thomas Frank or Igor Tudor because I consider them very good coaches,” he said.

“I try to bring my style, myself, my character, my personality, my passion to help the players. First of all, to show their qualities, because they have a lot of qualities and then to achieve our target, because the most important part now is our target.”

Published on Apr 11, 2026

#Premier #League #Tottenham #relegation #zone #West #Hams #win #Zerbi #optimistic #survival

West Ham United beat fellow struggler Wolverhampton Wanderers 4-0 on Friday and dropped Tottenham Hotspur into the Premier League drop zone for the first time this season.

The Spurs are two points behind the Hammers before heading to Sunderland on Sunday.

Valentín Castellanos scored twice in three minutes midway through the second half after Konstantinos Mavropanos put the Hammers 1-0 up with a header just before half-time.

Konstantinos completed the scoring seven minutes from time with an acrobatic volley from a corner kick.

Wolves remained at the bottom of the league and are almost certain to be relegated.

Meanwhile, Spurs’ manager Roberto De Zerbi said his boys must play with courage to escape relegation.

“I don’t want to put confusion inside the players. They have to be with a clear plan of the game and not too much instruction, not too much thinking,” the Italian said Friday at his first press conference.

“They have to play with courage, with personality, and they have to fight. My demand is to show the right spirit I want to see.”

De Zerbi was handed a five-year contract — though with no escape clause if relegated — with the immediate task of Premier League survival.

“What I want to do, what I want to achieve immediately is the character, is the right spirit, the right courage to play, to attack, because the DNA of this club, of this squad, is to find the goal, to score,” he said.

After a week or so of working with the players, he said, “I’m more positive, for sure” about Premier League survival.

Spurs, the reigning Europa League champion, fired Igor Tudor after 44 days of an interim coaching spell that worsened Tottenham’s plight. Tudor was brought in after Thomas Frank lasted just eight months on the job.

De Zerbi paid them respect on Friday.

“I’m not better than Thomas Frank or Igor Tudor because I consider them very good coaches,” he said.

“I try to bring my style, myself, my character, my personality, my passion to help the players. First of all, to show their qualities, because they have a lot of qualities and then to achieve our target, because the most important part now is our target.”

Published on Apr 11, 2026

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#Premier #League #Tottenham #relegation #zone #West #Hams #win #Zerbi #optimistic #survival

Rory McIlroy needed a playoff to win his first Masters last year. Twelve months later, nobody can get near the free-wheeling Northern ​Irishman.

The defending champion fired a seven-under-par 65 on Friday — the lowest round of the week — to ‌reach 12 under for the tournament and build the largest 36-hole ​lead in Masters history, six shots clear of Sam Burns and Patrick ⁠Reed.

McIlroy finally completed the career Grand Slam of golf’s four majors with his victory here last year, and he said it had lifted a weight from his shoulders.

“I’ve always loved this tournament, I’ve ‌always loved this golf course even when I felt it didn’t always love me back,” McIlroy told Sky Sports after his round.

“I feel like ‌I’m playing with the house’s money which is a nice feeling to have.”

McIlroy ‌closed ⁠his round in breathtaking fashion, making six birdies over his final seven ⁠holes, including a chip-in from off the 17th green before holing a six-foot putt at the last for a fourth consecutive birdie.

History is also in his favour. In the last 14 Masters, the eventual champion ​was no more than four shots behind ‌the leader at the halfway point.

‘KEEPING MY FOOT ON THE GAS’

It was a display of the kind of liberated, free-swinging golf that has eluded McIlroy at Augusta for much of his career, and one he attributed to finally getting the monkey ‌off his back.

“Over the years, this golf course is sometimes — you know, my ​mindset hasn’t been keep swinging. It’s been guided, tentative,” McIlroy told reporters.

“I think the experience I’ve accrued over the years and obviously with ⁠what happened last year, it makes it a bit easier out there to keep swinging.”

Despite his commanding advantage, McIlroy has no desire to play it safe over the weekend.

“Look, I’ve ‌built up a nice cushion at this point. I guess my mindset is just trying to keep playing well and keeping my foot on the gas,” he said.

With a host of major champions lurking on a crowded leaderboard, McIlroy knows only too well that Augusta National can produce dramatic swings of momentum.

McIlroy infamously collapsed from a four-shot lead heading into the final round of the 2011 Masters, a meltdown that began with ‌a wild drive at the 10th that led to a triple-bogey.

But the Northern Irishman said his plan ​over the final two rounds is simple — stay in his own world and block out the noise.

“Obviously, this golf course has certain characteristics that ⁠guys can get on runs, guys can make eagles, you hear roars all over the golf ⁠course,” he said.

“I think the next two days for me is really about focusing on myself.

“It’s hard to avoid those big leaderboards out there, but ‌like I know that I’ve got a lead. So I don’t need to keep checking it all the time. So for me, just really focusing on myself and ​staying in my own little world out there is the best thing.”

Published on Apr 11, 2026

#Masters #Rory #McIlroy #strengthens #grip #Augusta #title #defence">The Masters 2026 — Rory McIlroy strengthens grip on Augusta title defence  Rory McIlroy needed a playoff to win his first Masters last year. Twelve months later, nobody can get near the free-wheeling Northern ​Irishman.The defending champion fired a seven-under-par 65 on Friday — the lowest round of the week — to ‌reach 12 under for the tournament and build the largest 36-hole ​lead in Masters history, six shots clear of Sam Burns and Patrick ⁠Reed.McIlroy finally completed the career Grand Slam of golf’s four majors with his victory here last year, and he said it had lifted a weight from his shoulders.“I’ve always loved this tournament, I’ve ‌always loved this golf course even when I felt it didn’t always love me back,” McIlroy told Sky Sports after his round.“I feel like ‌I’m playing with the house’s money which is a nice feeling to have.”McIlroy ‌closed ⁠his round in breathtaking fashion, making six birdies over his final seven ⁠holes, including a chip-in from off the 17th green before holing a six-foot putt at the last for a fourth consecutive birdie.History is also in his favour. In the last 14 Masters, the eventual champion ​was no more than four shots behind ‌the leader at the halfway point.‘KEEPING MY FOOT ON THE GAS’It was a display of the kind of liberated, free-swinging golf that has eluded McIlroy at Augusta for much of his career, and one he attributed to finally getting the monkey ‌off his back.“Over the years, this golf course is sometimes — you know, my ​mindset hasn’t been keep swinging. It’s been guided, tentative,” McIlroy told reporters.“I think the experience I’ve accrued over the years and obviously with ⁠what happened last year, it makes it a bit easier out there to keep swinging.”Despite his commanding advantage, McIlroy has no desire to play it safe over the weekend.“Look, I’ve ‌built up a nice cushion at this point. I guess my mindset is just trying to keep playing well and keeping my foot on the gas,” he said.With a host of major champions lurking on a crowded leaderboard, McIlroy knows only too well that Augusta National can produce dramatic swings of momentum.McIlroy infamously collapsed from a four-shot lead heading into the final round of the 2011 Masters, a meltdown that began with ‌a wild drive at the 10th that led to a triple-bogey.But the Northern Irishman said his plan ​over the final two rounds is simple — stay in his own world and block out the noise.“Obviously, this golf course has certain characteristics that ⁠guys can get on runs, guys can make eagles, you hear roars all over the golf ⁠course,” he said.“I think the next two days for me is really about focusing on myself.“It’s hard to avoid those big leaderboards out there, but ‌like I know that I’ve got a lead. So I don’t need to keep checking it all the time. So for me, just really focusing on myself and ​staying in my own little world out there is the best thing.”Published on Apr 11, 2026  #Masters #Rory #McIlroy #strengthens #grip #Augusta #title #defence

Deadspin | Jalen Duren, Pistons relegate Hornets to East’s play-in tournament  Apr 10, 2026; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA;  Charlotte Hornets guard Sion James (4) is fouled by Detroit Pistons guard/forward Ausar Thompson (9) at the rim during the second quarter at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images   Jalen Duren scored 20 points on 8-for-11 shooting from the field and the Detroit Pistons rode a strong stretch early the fourth quarter to a 118-110 win over the host Charlotte Hornets on Friday.  Duncan Robinson racked up 19 points, Cade Cunningham had 14 points, Ronald Holland II posted 13 points and Ausar Thompson added 12 points for the Pistons (59-22), who have won five of their past six games. Detroit had already locked up first place in the Eastern Conference.  The outcome means the Hornets (43-38) will be in the East’s play-in tournament. The loss eliminated any chance that they could advance directly to the playoff bracket.  LaMelo Ball’s 27 points, including six 3-point baskets, led the Hornets, while Brandon Miller had 22 points. Coby White, after missing the team’s Tuesday game night because of groin soreness, scored 11 points off the bench, while Miles Bridges and Kon Knueppel each finished with 10 points.  This was the first meeting between the teams since a February brawl in Charlotte that resulted in multiple ejections and suspensions. There was a dust-up between Robinson and Miller less than two minutes into the Friday game after Miller dunked and there was contact afterward upon his landing. Both players were assessed a technical foul.  It was a tight game for the most part through three quarters. The Pistons led 93-90 before starting the fourth with a 15-2 run that Charlotte couldn’t overcome in its home finale. Duren scored six points and Huerter added five during the key surge.   Cunningham played in his second game since missing three weeks of action with a collapsed lung. He provided seven assists to go with his 7-for-13 shooting, though he was 0-for-3 on 3-point attempts in his 28-minute outing.  Detroit shot 50.6% from the field and benefited from Duren’s game-high nine rebounds.  The Hornets attempted more than half of their 88 overall shots from beyond the 3-point arc, going 13-for-47 (27.7%). They committed 16 turnovers.  The Hornets finished with a 21-20 record in home games.  –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #Jalen #Duren #Pistons #relegate #Hornets #Easts #playin #tournamentApr 10, 2026; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard Sion James (4) is fouled by Detroit Pistons guard/forward Ausar Thompson (9) at the rim during the second quarter at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Jalen Duren scored 20 points on 8-for-11 shooting from the field and the Detroit Pistons rode a strong stretch early the fourth quarter to a 118-110 win over the host Charlotte Hornets on Friday.

Duncan Robinson racked up 19 points, Cade Cunningham had 14 points, Ronald Holland II posted 13 points and Ausar Thompson added 12 points for the Pistons (59-22), who have won five of their past six games. Detroit had already locked up first place in the Eastern Conference.

The outcome means the Hornets (43-38) will be in the East’s play-in tournament. The loss eliminated any chance that they could advance directly to the playoff bracket.

LaMelo Ball’s 27 points, including six 3-point baskets, led the Hornets, while Brandon Miller had 22 points. Coby White, after missing the team’s Tuesday game night because of groin soreness, scored 11 points off the bench, while Miles Bridges and Kon Knueppel each finished with 10 points.

This was the first meeting between the teams since a February brawl in Charlotte that resulted in multiple ejections and suspensions. There was a dust-up between Robinson and Miller less than two minutes into the Friday game after Miller dunked and there was contact afterward upon his landing. Both players were assessed a technical foul.


It was a tight game for the most part through three quarters. The Pistons led 93-90 before starting the fourth with a 15-2 run that Charlotte couldn’t overcome in its home finale. Duren scored six points and Huerter added five during the key surge.

Cunningham played in his second game since missing three weeks of action with a collapsed lung. He provided seven assists to go with his 7-for-13 shooting, though he was 0-for-3 on 3-point attempts in his 28-minute outing.

Detroit shot 50.6% from the field and benefited from Duren’s game-high nine rebounds.

The Hornets attempted more than half of their 88 overall shots from beyond the 3-point arc, going 13-for-47 (27.7%). They committed 16 turnovers.

The Hornets finished with a 21-20 record in home games.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Jalen #Duren #Pistons #relegate #Hornets #Easts #playin #tournament">Deadspin | Jalen Duren, Pistons relegate Hornets to East’s play-in tournament  Apr 10, 2026; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA;  Charlotte Hornets guard Sion James (4) is fouled by Detroit Pistons guard/forward Ausar Thompson (9) at the rim during the second quarter at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images   Jalen Duren scored 20 points on 8-for-11 shooting from the field and the Detroit Pistons rode a strong stretch early the fourth quarter to a 118-110 win over the host Charlotte Hornets on Friday.  Duncan Robinson racked up 19 points, Cade Cunningham had 14 points, Ronald Holland II posted 13 points and Ausar Thompson added 12 points for the Pistons (59-22), who have won five of their past six games. Detroit had already locked up first place in the Eastern Conference.  The outcome means the Hornets (43-38) will be in the East’s play-in tournament. The loss eliminated any chance that they could advance directly to the playoff bracket.  LaMelo Ball’s 27 points, including six 3-point baskets, led the Hornets, while Brandon Miller had 22 points. Coby White, after missing the team’s Tuesday game night because of groin soreness, scored 11 points off the bench, while Miles Bridges and Kon Knueppel each finished with 10 points.  This was the first meeting between the teams since a February brawl in Charlotte that resulted in multiple ejections and suspensions. There was a dust-up between Robinson and Miller less than two minutes into the Friday game after Miller dunked and there was contact afterward upon his landing. Both players were assessed a technical foul.  It was a tight game for the most part through three quarters. The Pistons led 93-90 before starting the fourth with a 15-2 run that Charlotte couldn’t overcome in its home finale. Duren scored six points and Huerter added five during the key surge.   Cunningham played in his second game since missing three weeks of action with a collapsed lung. He provided seven assists to go with his 7-for-13 shooting, though he was 0-for-3 on 3-point attempts in his 28-minute outing.  Detroit shot 50.6% from the field and benefited from Duren’s game-high nine rebounds.  The Hornets attempted more than half of their 88 overall shots from beyond the 3-point arc, going 13-for-47 (27.7%). They committed 16 turnovers.  The Hornets finished with a 21-20 record in home games.  –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #Jalen #Duren #Pistons #relegate #Hornets #Easts #playin #tournament

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