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Report: Hapoel 0-0 Saints

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The result stretched their unbeaten run to five games and helped clock up a fifth successive clean sheet, as Sparta Praha defeated Internazionale in the other fixture.

Claude Puel rested captain José Fonte, Charlie Austin, Steven Davis and Ryan Bertrand for the trip, making seven changes in total that saw Cuco Martina, Maya Yoshida, Virgil van Dijk, Matt Targett, Jordy Clasie, James Ward-Prowse, Jake Hesketh and Shane Long all come in.

There was also a place on the bench for young forward Olufela Olomola, who has scored four times for Saints Under-23s so far this season.

Hapoel Be’er Sheva had won all three of their European outings at the Turner Stadium, but it was Saints who started brightest.

The first chance of the game came when Virgil van Dijk met James Ward-Prowse’s inch-perfect free-kick delivery with his head at the far post, but couldn’t steer it down to test David Goresh.

In the opening 25 minutes, Be’er Sheva enjoyed the lion’s share of possession as they grew into the contest without truly troubling Fraser Forster.

First Maharan Radi’s deflected shot was held well by the Saints keeper, before the in-form Anthony Nwakaeme, who has scored four goals in eight appearances so far this season, saw his clever turn and shot from the edge of the box saved comfortably.

The hosts began to take control of the first-half and almost created a golden chance on the half hour mark.

Mihály Korhut found the run of Maor Melikson with an incisive pass, but van Dijk, captain in the absence of Fonte, got across well to make a well-timed intervention before being fouled.

Puel made his first change of the game when Jake Hesketh was withdrawn to be replaced by Duśan Tadić.

Tadić helped to establish more control before a flashpoint at the end of the first-half, when John Ogu took exception to Nathan Redmond playing to the whistle with Matt Targett down injured, as he curled the ball over from the edge of the box.

After the interval, chances were at a premium but Saints began to use the ball better in the final third.

James Ward-Prowse picked up a pocket of space around 25-yards from goal, before testing Goresh with a right-footed drive and forcing the Israeli international into a smart save.

On 67, the hosts had the best opportunity of the half after a break. Nwakaeme played the ball across goal and found his onrushing captain Melikson, whose shot across the face of goal went inches wide.

Another chance for Be’er Sheva came when Yoshida’s half clearance from a right-wing cross fell kindly on the edge of the box for Nwakaeme but he dragged his effort wide.

Substitute Ovidiu Hoban was the next to call Forster into action when he dug out a shot that was routinely tipped away from danger.

The lively Tadić continued to try and create, but after a neat bit of skill on the edge of the box, his effort was blocked and the game ended all square.

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Sourced from Southampton FC - Official Site article

The Full 90: Hapoel 0-0 Saints

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Ralph Krueger calls Eric Black allegations a ‘personal issue for him’

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TORONTO – Southampton chairman Ralph Krueger has said the allegations of impropriety against first-team assistant Eric Black are a “personal issue for him” and that the club plan to cooperate fully with the FA as they seek more details on the matter.

The news about Black compounded an already bad day on Thursday for Krueger, who is also the head coach of Team Europe at the World Cup of Hockey in Toronto.

First, he saw Saints play out a goalless draw against Hapoel Be’er Sheva in the Europa League group stage. Then Black was implicated in the Daily Telegraph’s undercover corruption investigation, for seemingly giving advice on how to bribe other football officials. Hours later, Team Europe gave up two late goals to lose to Canada, 2-1, and finish runner-up at the World Cup.

At the end of the hockey game, Krueger stood behind his empty bench, his hand to his face. Afterwards, he was asked about Black.

“Obviously under the circumstances, I focused on what I was doing here today,” Krueger told ESPN FC and The Associated Press. "I completely trust our club and our leadership that’s there right now.

"We will participate completely in the process to make sure that this is an opportunity for English football.

“In regards to the situation with Eric, it’s a personal issue for him. It has nothing directly to do with us as a club,” Krueger added. “I don’t have enough information to make judgment on it. All I know is that Southampton Football Club is going to do everything possible to participate with The FA in finding ways to improve regulation as a result. That’s all I can tell you.”

The Saints had already released an official statement earlier in the day, saying that they had requested but not received the entirety of the Telegraph’s report, which was published in Friday’s edition. “We have contacted The FA and The Premier League, and intend to work closely with both bodies on this matter when the facts become clear,” the statement read.

The side also said they were “fully committed” to investigating the situation.

That echoes Krueger’s previously strong statements on the growing scandal, when he had told ESPN he was “absolutely shocked” about the scandal that cost Sam Allardyce his job as England boss.

Chris Jones is a writer for ESPN FC. He’s on Twitter at @MySecondEmpire

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@SouthamptonFC - Southampton FC

Tickets for Sunday’s trip to #LCFC are now off sale. Claude Puel’s men will be backed by 2,000 #SaintsFC fans this… https://twitter.com/i/web/status/781812533464330240

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Summary of non-mainstream articles: 30/09/2016 11:34:33

| | Premier League predictions: Cortes call City clash in Spurs’ favour - TEAMtalk | Latest Football News & Transfer RumoursTEAMTALK |
| | Southampton chairman distances club from Eric Black amid corruption claimsSQUAWKA |
| | Saints chief reveals quartet rest decisionCLUBCALL |
| | Southampton FC: Puel’s possessionUNDERTHECOSH |

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Antonio Conte can prove he is better than Steve Bruce: 10 reasons to feel optimistic about this weekend’s Premier League football

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What is more, Palace have won two and drawn the other of their three games at Goodison Park since returning to the Premier League. Each game has had its fair share of drama.

Both teams will fancy their chances of a win, while the neutral can look forward to an entertaining start to the weekend.

For a team that ended last season indifferently under a new manager who has still yet to fully convince in the Premier League, the fixture list hasn’t been kind to Swansea or Francesco Guidolin.

The Welsh side have already played Leicester, Chelsea and Manchester City, and face Liverpool this weekend, followed by Arsenal next. It’s not all that surprising that they find themselves 17th, they are nearing the end of this torrid run and their games over the rest of autumn and the start of winter are rather more favourable.

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Saints’ Eric Black joins high profile list of those named in ‘corruption in football’ exposes

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ERIC Black is the latest high profile figure named in the Daily Telegraph’s ‘corruption in football’ exposes.

He joins a list including Sam Allardyce and Tommy Wright - both of whom have lost their jobs as a result - plus Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Leeds owner Massimo Cellino.

The FA is awaiting “full and unfettered disclosure of all available material from the Daily Telegraph” as the corruption allegations engulfing football which has now implicated Saints assistant manager Black.

Wright was yesterday sacked after claims made against him and the newspaper’s latest claims surround Black, who allegedly offered advice on how to bribe officials at other clubs.

He was filmed at a New Forest hotel apparently saying staff at other clubs could possibly be persuaded to give information about a player to a management company for money.

He has denied the allegations.

The FA said it had yet to receive the requested material and wanted to investigate matters fully as soon as possible, after a Telegraph spokesperson said it remained the newspaper’s intention to release the information - but that the police had asked to review it first.

City of London Police later confirmed that discussions had already taken place with the FA and the Telegraph.

The FA’s statement came just hours after Wright lost his job following the Telegraph’s report that he took a £5,000 payment from undercover reporters posing as representatives of fake investors from the Far East.

The 50-year-old Scot, who maintains his innocence, was suspended after the allegation came to light on Wednesday but the South Yorkshire club terminated his contract with immediate effect.

Wright becomes the second man named by the Telegraph in its undercover investigation into corruption in football to lose his job, following England’s now ex-manager Allardyce.

Barnsley’s swift response to the report came within an hour of the League Managers Association saying it was frustrated with the newspaper for failing to hand over all of its evidence.

The newspaper has published several allegations over the last three days, including claims that 10 unnamed managers have taken so-called ‘bungs’ in transfer deals.

Saints last night pre-empted the implicating of Black with a statement which said the club "intends to work closely with both bodies (The FA and Premier League) on this matter when the facts become clear.

‘‘Southampton Football Club is fully committed to investigating any situation that directly or indirectly relates to our club, employees or the wider community.’’

According to the Telegraph, Black - a distinguished player with Aberdeen during his career - attended a meeting arranged by Scott McGarvey, the football agent who also teed-up the Allardyce meeting.

At the meeting, the Telegraph claims the pair explain to an undercover reporter they believe to be a potential investor how club officials could be persuaded to pass on information to a management company.

FA rules state that intermediaries “must not give, offer or seek to offer, any consideration of any kind” to a club official “in return for any benefit, service, favour or any kind of preferential treatment”.

A spokesman for Black told the Telegraph: “[Mr Black] does not recall Mr McGarvey making suggestions that football officials should be paid during transfer negotiations - this was not the purpose of the meeting so far as our client understood it. Any suggestion that he was complicit in such discussions is false.”

McGarvey also denies the allegations with a spokesman saying he will “vigorously defend his reputation”.

QPR manager Hasselbaink and Leeds owner Cellino have also been implicated in separate controversies.

Hasselbaink is alleged to have requested a fee of £55,000 to also work for a phoney Far East firm seeking to sell players to the club.

A club statement confirmed it has started an internal investigation into the matter, with chief executive Lee Hoos - a former Saints board member - and director of football Les Ferdinand meeting the 44-year-old Dutchman at their Harlington training ground.

“First and foremost, the club reiterates that we take these allegations very seriously,” the statement read.

“As part of the ongoing investigation, the club will need to view an unedited version of the video footage and full transcript of the discussions that took place.”

Hasselbaink has strongly denied the claims and is understood to be deeply upset by them.

Meanwhile, Leeds dismissed the Cellino allegations as a “non-story”.

The Italian, who denies any wrongdoing, appears to suggest to members of a fictitious Asian firm that they become shareholders in the club in order to receive portions of players’ transfer fees.

“This is plainly not a suggestion as to how to circumvent the rules but rather an accurate, albeit concise, explanation of how to operate within the confines of the rules,” a club statement read.

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@SouthamptonFC - Southampton FC

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#SaintsFC’s @Prowsey16 reflects on last night’s #UEL draw with Hapoel Be’er Sheva: https://grabyo.com/g/v/jtxwgeLh4d0

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Cook relishing Premier League Cup test

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Jack Stephens goal was enough for a fourth win from six against Tottenham Hotspur at St Mary’s last Friday in Premier League 2.

After such a strong start by Martin Hunter’s side, Cook is relishing entering a different type of competition in Group A.

He said: “We’ve had a lot of league games and it’s nice to switch it up in the cup and play for something we’ve won previously.

“We’re setting the goal to get our hands back on that trophy.

“We’ve had good results so far this season and it’s a competition we’d really like to go as far as we can in and try to win it to replicate what happened a couple of years ago.”

Since Saints won the competition in the 2014/15 campaign, it has taken on a different format which comprises of 32 teams split into groups.

And ahead of a visit from the Robins, the 18-year-old defender is expecting a stern physical test.

Cook added: “I think they’ll mix it up between direct and trying to play at times.

“They’ll give us another physical battle, which we’ve had in the last few weeks.

“Tottenham was a good team performance, particularly on the defensive side. You can’t really ask for much more than a 1-0 win and a clean sheet so we’re prepared for it.”

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Summary of non-mainstream articles: 30/09/2016 12:35:04

| | Southampton’s assistant manager Eric Black accused of corruptionFIRSTPOST |
| | Southampton boss Claude Puel backs Jake Hesketh following early substitutionHEREISTHECITY |

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Most crosses so far in the 2016/17 season | Sport Galleries | Pics | Daily Express

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Which Premier League star has the most crosses so far this season? [GETTY]

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U23 Preview: Saints vs Bristol City

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Summary of non-mainstream articles: 30/09/2016 13:35:10

| | Southampton’s Black in ‘corruption’ firing lineDAILYNATIONKE |
| | Europa League Round-Up: Manchester United squeeze past Zorya, Saints draw a blank in Israel | ShootSHOOTCOUK |
| | Three things we learned from Southampton’s 0-0 draw with Hapoel Be’er ShevaTHEBOOTROOM |

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Premier League team news, odds and stats from every match this weekend

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Ahead of this weekend’s matches in the Premier League, Sportsmail brings you the latest squad news, odds and stats on every top flight fixture as it breaks.

Simply click on your team in the fixture list below to find out who is ruled out and who is making a return as well as all the key statistics surrounding your club’s fixture.

In or out? Keep up-to-date with all the latest team news and stats ahead of the weekend

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QPR join Saints in calling for Daily Telegraph to provide ‘full disclosure’ of the ‘corruption in football’ investigation

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QPR have joined Saints in urging the Daily Telegraph to provide more evidence in the paper’s ‘corruption in football’ exposes.

Saints last night pre-empted assistant manager Eric Black’s appearance in today’s Telegraph by releasing their own statement.

In it, Saints say they “immediately requested to be sent, by The Daily Telegraph, the details of this article” featuring Black prior to publication.

“The newspaper declined to share any further information,” Saints added.

Now this morning QPR say they are “unable to proceed” with an internal investigation into the conduct of manager Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink until the Telegraph fully discloses its evidence.

The newspaper’s investigations team this week began publishing information obtained during a 10-month probe which it claims “separately unearthed widespread evidence of bribery and corruption in British football”.

Secretly-filmed footage of Sam Allardyce appearing to make a variety of controversial comments cost him the England job after just 67 days, while QPR boss Hasselbaink is among other figures to have been filmed by undercover reporters as part of the investigation.

The Telegraph alleges the Dutchman requested a fee of £55,000 to work for a fake Far Eastern firm seeking to sell players to the club, with the former striker immediately denying any wrongdoing.

QPR pledged a “thorough internal investigation” on Wednesday evening, but this morning said in a statement that they have yet to receive the required information from the newspaper in order to proceed.

A statement from the Championship club said: "QPR can confirm that we are currently unable to proceed any further with the club’s internal investigation at this stage, as The Telegraph are yet to provide full and complete unconditional disclosure of all the information it has, despite a number of requests from both the club and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink’s legal team.

"We urge The Telegraph to provide full disclosure of all its information relating to the allegations, including video footage and a full transcript of the discussions that took place.

"The club believes this information should not be provided selectively, but unedited and unconditionally, in order for the club to view the full context and the sequence of what was said by all parties to include in its investigation.

"Once again, we appreciate the QPR fans want this issue dealt with as quickly as possible, which is why we request full co-operation from The Telegraph in providing us with the aforementioned footage and transcript.

In the video footage collected by the Telegraph, former Chelsea and Leeds star Hasselbaink appears to be seen asking his suitors to “come up with a nice figure” for a role, which the newspaper says he is told would involve a number of trips to meet with the firm in Singapore.

Hasselbaink says: “You said the word business. That’s all, it’s business, so it depends what you put down, you know… at the end of the day, it has to be worthwhile to go all that way.”

Black, meanwhile, was filmed at a New Forest hotel apparently saying staff at other clubs could possibly be persuaded to give information about a player to a management company for money. He has denied the allegations.

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Summary of non-mainstream articles: 30/09/2016 14:35:29

| | To cut a Long story short: 5 things we learned as Southampton lack service against HapoelHEREISTHECITY |
| | PL stats: Sturridge and Rooney itching to extend impressive records - TEAMtalk | Latest Football News & Transfer RumoursTEAMTALK |
|

| Saints assistant Black latest named in scandalRTE |
| | Football Game Scores - Football Scoreboard - ESPNESPNCOUK |

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Video: Ward-Prowse reflects on Hapoel stalemate

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In profile - the men at the centre of the ‘corruption in football’ exposes

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The Daily Telegraph’s ‘Football for Sale’ investigation has alleged a series of illicit practices in the English game and has already cost Sam Allardyce his job as England manager.

Here the Daily ECho looks at the individuals implicated.

SAM ALLARDYCE The former Bolton, West Ham and Sunderland manager left his role as England boss after footage emerged of him negotiating a £400,000 deal to give speeches to Asian investors in Hong Kong and Singapore. He also suggested there were ways “to get around” the Football Association’s “ridiculous” transfer rules and made rude remarks about his immediate predecessor Roy Hodgson and the FA. The 61-year-old described it as “a silly thing to do”, but said “entrapment has won on this occasion”.

ERIC BLACK The Southampton assistant manager, who enjoyed a distinguished playing career with Aberdeen, is alleged to have discussed with undercover reporters how managers and coaches in the lower leagues might be persuaded to identify players who could be signed up on management contracts. He denies the allegations. Southampton are seeking the Telegraph’s full file of evidence on Black before initiating an investigation.

MASSIMO CELLINO The controversial Leeds owner, an eccentric Italian businessman, appeared to explain to representatives of a fictitious Far East firm that they could become club shareholders in order to receive a portion of players’ sell-on fees. Leeds called the allegations a “non-story”. The club added: “This is plainly not a suggestion as to how to circumvent the rules (on third party ownership) but rather an accurate, albeit concise, explanation of how to operate within the confines of the rules.”

JIMMY FLOYD HASSELBAINK QPR manager Hasselbaink is alleged to have requested a fee of £55,000 to work for a fake Far East firm seeking to sell players to the club. QPR said the 44-year-old would be subjected to a “thorough internal investigation” but added: “We have every confidence in our manager and the robust systems and processes the club has in place.” The former Leeds and Chelsea striker denies wrongdoing. The west London club said on Friday they were “unable to proceed” with their investigation until they had been sent all the Telegraph’s evidence related to the Dutchman.

SCOTT McGARVEY The football agent was present at the meetings involving Allardyce, Black and Hasselbaink. Allardyce said he was helping a friend of 30 years, believed to be McGarvey, who is claimed to have helped negotiate the alleged deals. A spokesman for McGarvey said he would “vigorously defend his reputation” and that he denies all allegations of wrongdoing.

PINO PAGLIARA Unlicensed Italian football agent Pagliari was one of those secretly filmed and apparently arranged the meeting with Cellino. It was reported that Pagliara claimed a former top-flight boss had “more back-handers than Wimbledon”, while he also allegedly made claims about Belgian clubs which could be used to circumvent English transfer regulations. He was previously banned from the sport for match-fixing, the Telegraph said.

TOMMY WRIGHT The 50-year-old Scot was sacked as Barnsley assistant head coach after being accused of taking a £5,000 payment from undercover reporters posing as agents. Wright was initially suspended by Barnsley before being sacked following a meeting with chief executive Linton Brown. Wright denies wrongdoing.

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Courtois is statistically the worst goalkeeper in the Premier League

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Despite displacing Petr Cech as the Chelsea No 1 to be a mainstay in the Blues’ title win less than 18 months ago, Thibaut Courtois has become statistically the worst goalkeeper in the Premier League.

A promising start to the season under Antonio Conte has disappeared after successive defeats by Liverpool and Arsenal, and this latest development will give the Italian plenty of food for thought.

The 24-year-old has a save percentage of 47.1 so far this season, meaning he is letting more opposition shots on target hit the back of his net than not.

The man whose place he took in the Chelsea starting line-up finds himself eighth in the league table, with a more than respectable save percentage of 70.8.

But leading the way at the top are Manchester City and Tottenham No 1s Claudio Bravo and Hugo Lloris, who have stopped 77.8 per cent of shots on target each.

Bravo’s lofty position on the list provides early vindication for Pep Guardiola’s decision to dispense with England No 1 Joe Hart in favour of the former Barcelona shot-stopper.

Surprisingly, it is Burnley goalkeeper Tom Heaton who follows those two in third place.

With a save percentage of 76.5 he is statistically the best English goalkeeper in the Premier League, despite earning just one senior cap so far in his career.

Trailing just behind the 30-year-old is West Brom stalwart and fellow countryman Ben Foster, on 75 per cent, though he has not played for England since the 2014 World Cup.

Last season’s title-winning No 1 Kasper Schmeichel is sixth in the table with a save percentage of 72.7, ahead of Sunderland’s Jordan Pickford and Cech.

David de Gea’s place in the bottom-half of the table at 13th is a surprise, with the Manchester United No 1 saving only 65 per cent of shots on target.

He sits ahead of Liverpool’s Simon Mignolet, who saves only just over half of shots on target at 55.6 per cent, though he has recently lost his place in the first-team to Loris Karius.

Alongside Courtois in the bottom three are Middlesbrough’s summer signing Victor Valdes and England hopeful Fraser Forster of Southampton.

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