Erling Haaland’s Manchester City teammates all crowded round to give him a “deserved” guard of honour after yesterday’s Premier League victory.
The Sky Blues once again cemented their place at the top of the Premier League table after an emphatic win over relegation battlers West Ham at the Etihad Stadium last night, slotting three goals into the net in a 3-0 victory, and making it a total of 1,000 Premier League goals scored under current manager Pep Guardiola.
But, as has been the case in a lot of Manchester City matches this season, it’s Norwegian superstar Erling Haaland who grabbed the headlines yet again, and even earned himself a guard of honour from his teammates and staff after the game.
And what exactly did he do to “deserve” this star treatment? Break another record, of course.
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 3, 2023
We all know by know that the 22-year-old striker is no stranger to goals, and setting countless new records with the amount of goals he scored – but many fans and pundits are arguing that last night’s achievement is probably Haaland’s most important to date, and one of the most significant in Premier League and football history.
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As he smashed in Man City’s second goal of the night in the 70th minute, that made it Haaland’s 35th Premier League goal – which means he officially broke and set a new record for the most goals scored by one player in a single Premier League season.
He claimed the title from former Premier League all-time greats, Alan Shearer and Andy Cole – who each scored 34 goals back in the mid 90s.
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Erling Haaland given ‘deserved’ guard of honour after breaking Premier League goals record / Credit: Man City (via Twitter)
Speaking to Sky Sports after the match, and reflecting on his new record, Haaland said he was “really happy and proud” of his individual achievements.
“It’s a special night and a special moment,” he added.
While he said that scoring the record-breaking goal “was a nice feeling”, just like all his other goals, he did admit that the guard of honour wasn’t the most pleasant experience, explaining: “Winning the game is also really important.
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“But the guard of honour really hurt – they hit me hard on the back.”
“All the team is satisfied for that because he is a unique person, so special, and he deserved the guard of honour because it’s an incredible milestone.
Tommy Fury announces huge fight against former World’s Strongest Man Eddie Hall
Daisy Jackson
Tommy Fury has announced his next major boxing match – against a rather unlikely opponent.
The Manc boxer and former Love Island star will face Eddie Hall, who once reigned as the World’s Strongest Man and was the first person on the planet to deadlift 500kg.
The match, billed as Beauty vs The Beast (we’ll let you decide who’s who…), will take place at the AO Arena this summer.
Tommy Fury and Eddie Hall will be facing off in Manchester as part of the Misfits Boxing series, a sports promotion company founded by YouTube sensation KSI.
26-year-old Fury – younger brother of heavyweight legend Tyson Fury – remains unbeaten, seeing off all-comers in the crossover boxing world.
As for 38-year-old Eddie Hall (nicknamed The Beast), he retired as a strongman competitor, where he’s previously been crowned the World’s Strongest Man, and has now pivoted into combat sports.
The pair have collaborated recently on several videos online, taking on challenges like a One Punch Knockout and a breakfast eating competition.
But this will be the first time they’ve publicly faced off in the ring.
Misfirst Boxing has once more delivered the biggest match-ups possible in the crossover boxing space, with Fury vs. Hall promising to be a titanic tussle that will captivate fans around the world.
Tommy Fury vs Eddie Hall, Beauty vs The Beast, will take place on Saturday 13 June at the AO Arena in Manchester – you can get tickets HERE.
Corey Blackett-Taylor ruled out injured for the rest of the season
Danny Jones
Bolton Wanderers winger Corey Blackett-Taylor has been ruled out for the rest of the season following injury.
With not that long left in this year’s campaign and the playoff scrap set to ramp up even further in the coming weeks, it’s an unfortunate twist of fate for the Trotters.
Despite still being only a relatively recent signing, having just joined Bolton in the most recent January transfer window, it didn’t take long for him to make a good impression.
Scoring on debut in a 1-0 away win against AFC Wimbledon, the 28-year-old is now set to miss the remainder of the 2025/26 term, letting supporters know the news on Friday, 27 March.
Blackett-Taylor was forced off in the game against Rotherham United after pulling up in the wake of taking a shot, ultimately being subbed in the first half.
It was quickly confirmed to be a thigh injury, and while the specific nature and severity of the damage haven’t been fully detailed, he has now informed fans that his season is over.
Writing on Instagram, he said: “Instantly from arriving at the club, I felt the passion and support from the fans, club, staff and players.
“I have no doubts [about] the club achieving their targets of promotion – I want to say a huge thank you for making me feel so welcomed and comfortable. Unfortunately, my season is concluded due to my injury, but I’ll be here supporting the team to the very end.”
He isn’t the only impactful League One player at a side eyeing up the Championship to have been hampered by setbacks on the physio bench, with rivals Stockport County also confirming an absence at this crucial point in the campaign.
Not ideal for either of the Greater Manchester hopefuls.
Once again, while the recovery period for both of these players has already begun, the exact timelines for their return remain to be seen.
That being said, chances are we’ll see the Derby County loanee back in action before Hills, though we’ll have to wait to find out whether it will be at the Toughsheet Stadium or back with his parent club.
Who do you think is going to clinch that third promotion place at Wembley come this May?
Emily Sergeant -
4th May 2023 
