Round-up: Trialists at QPR and Middlesex suffer defeat
Fulham youngster Joe Felix and Manchester United goalkeeper Theo Richardson (pictured) played for QPR’s development side on Monday afternoon.
West London Sport revealed on Monday morning that right-back Felix, 18, had joined Rangers on trial along with Richardson, 19, and that they would play in the game against Crewe at Loftus Road.
Aramde Oteh scored twice in a 3-1 win for the home side, whose other goal was scored by teenage striker Ody Alfa.
Felix has been a regular for Fulham at Under-18 level and has also played for their Under-23 side.
Richardson was on Leeds United’s books prior to signing for United last summer.
Cahill plays down top-four chances
Gary Cahill believes it will need a “very, very surprising” turn of events for Chelsea to snatch Champions League qualification.
Chelsea are five points adrift of fourth-placed Tottenham with four matches remaining and skipper Cahill is taking a realistic approach.
“I am not being negative by any stretch, but the games are running out and the teams in there are very good, so if they do let it up it’ll be very, very surprising,” the defender said.
“(There is) that gap and the point difference, but the obvious thing is all we can do is win our games.”
Chelsea youngsters lose in final
Chelsea’s Under-19 side lost 3-0 to Barcelona in the final of the Uefa Youth League.
The Blues, winners of the tournament in 2015 and 2016, went behind in Nyon, Switzerland, after Alejandro Marqués’ goal just after the half-hour mark.
And worse followed when a mistake by defender Marc Guehi led to Marqués scoring again early in the second half.
Chelsea, who were without the suspended Trevoh Chalobah, did not give up. Callum Hudson-Odoi and Charlie Brown both hit the woodwork and Luke McCormick also went close to pulling a goal back.
McCormick’s overhead kick flashed inches wide and striker Hudson-Odoi hit the post with a free-kick before crossing for Brown, whose header struck the top of the bar.
Josh Grant headed wide from Hudson-Odoi’s free-kick shortly before Abel Ruiz added a third for Barca in stoppage time.
Kirby is Player of the Year
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Chelsea Ladies striker Fran Kirby’s excellent form has been recognised by her peers as she won the vote for the Professional Footballers’ Association Women’s Player of the Year.
The 24-year-old striker has netted 22 goals in all competitions so far this season.
Kirby was one of five players from unbeaten Women’s Super League leaders Chelsea to be shortlisted for the award, with Millie Bright, Ji So-yun, Maren Mjelde and Ramona Bachmann having also been in the frame.
Kirby said: “It’s pretty special for me. It’s very humbling because it’s voted for by the people I play against week in, week out, so I’m absolutely delighted to win.
“A massive thank you to everyone who has voted for me and to my team-mates who helped me get here.”
Middlesex beaten
Derbyshire ended their long wait for a home victory in the County Championship by beating Middlesex to win by 101 runs on the final day of the Division Two match at Derby.
A run of 23 home championship matches without a win stretching back 1,306 days to September 2014 was finally broken when Duanne Olivier bowled Tim Murtagh to end spirited resistance by the Middlesex tail.
