Dan Long
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Journalist @SkyFootball & @BrentfordFC | Passionate about EFL & non-League stories | daniel.long@sky.uk | Views my own | 56/92
Articles by Dan Long
Intra-Arterial Tenecteplase After Endovascular Thrombectomy for Acute Stroke : One-Year Outcomes of the ANGEL-TNK Randomized Clinical Trial
Intra-Arterial Tenecteplase After Endovascular Thrombectomy for Acute Stroke: One-Year Outcomes of the ANGEL-TNK Randomized Clinical Trial Back to Top
Bolton Wanderers vs Middlesbrough; Sky Bet Championship
Middlesbrough moved to the Sky Bet Championship summit in emphatic fashion by thumping Bolton 5-1 at the Toughsheet Community Stadium. Will Lankshear continued his electric start to life in a Boro shirt with two more goals taking him to 11 in the league and 13 in all competitions. Aidan Morris and Amario Cozier-Duberry were also on target, while Lewis Brunt scored an unfortunate own goal.
Igor Thiago: Should Brentford be worried about the Brazil striker's lack of Premier League goals in 2026/27?
Igor Thiago's first season as a Premier League player, in 2024/25, was heavily disrupted by knee injuries - and he more than made up for lost time the following season. The striker started all bar one of Brentford's league games and scored 22 goals - the most by a Brazilian in a single season in Premier League history. You have to go back 88 years to find the last time a Brentford player scored as many top-flight goals.
Brentford: Liverpool defender Jeremy Jacquet was 'cute and clever' for his part in Yehor Yarmoliuk's red card
Brentford head coach Keith Andrews felt Jeremy Jacquet was "cute and clever" for his role in Yehor Yarmoliuk's red card in the 2-1 defeat to Liverpool. Ukraine international Yarmoliuk was sent off in the eighth minute of first-half stoppage time at the Gtech Community Stadium for catching Jacquet with what referee John Brooks called - after going to the VAR monitor - "a headbutting action".
Burnley vs Wolverhampton Wanderers; Sky Bet Championship
Burnley's run without a home league win will continue beyond the one-year mark after the Clarets were beaten 2-1 by Wolves at Turf Moor. On October 18, it will be 12 months to the day since they beat Leeds 2-0 in the Premier League. Since then, they have lost 11 games and drawn the other 10. It is the longest run without a home win across England's top four tiers. As it happened | Teams | Stats Watch FREE Championship highlights | Latest EFL news and rumours Not got Sky?
Southampton 1-0 Portsmouth: James Bree secures Saints' first league South Coast derby win since November 2004
Ten-man Southampton secured their first South Coast derby win in the league in over two decades with a 1-0 home victory over Portsmouth. Saints beat their fierce local rivals 2-1 in the Premier League on November 13 2004, with Kevin Phillips scoring the winner. And they finally did it again, thanks to James Bree's neat first-half finish, despite playing the entire second half with 10 men, following Cameron Bragg's red card.
West Ham United vs Queens Park Rangers; Sky Bet Championship
Jarrod Bowen saw his 91st-minute penalty saved as West Ham missed the chance to move top of the Sky Bet Championship after a 1-1 draw with QPR. Nicolas Madsen put Rangers 1-0 up after 18 minutes, rolling home a penalty awarded in highly controversial circumstances.
Marc White exclusive: Dorking Wanderers chief on new co-owners, EFL dreams and ambitions of becoming 'the world's local club'
Football needs charismatic characters - and Marc White is certainly one of those. It is more than likely you will have seen one of his rants go viral on social media. In that respect, he is one of a kind. But he also has no equal in the way that he set up Dorking Wanderers with a group of friends in 1999 - and is still there, 27 years on. The chairman, the manager, the face of the club.
Martin Drury exclusive: Meet the former Man Utd and Valencia coach plotting Huddersfield's way out of League One
"No. In truth, it wasn't." Martin Drury is a straight-talking man, open about the fact it was never in his plans to become a head coach. Granted, he was in charge of Bradford Park Avenue in the National League North for much of 2015/16, but that came quite shortly after his retirement and he soon disappeared into the background. Over the next decade, he built a coaching career that took in spells at Boston United, Bradford City, Manchester United, West Brom and Valencia.
Salisbury: The National League South club about to embark on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Kuwait
It is just over a year since Ali Alhamad completed his takeover of Salisbury FC. And, for much of the time that has passed since then, the businessman has been dreaming about bringing the non-League club to his home country of Kuwait. A unique dream, granted - but one that is about to be realised. Between Sunday September 27 and Thursday October 1, the Whites will swap Wiltshire and the autumnal evening chill for the Middle East and temperatures in the high 30s.
Brentwood Town: How former Leyton Orient owner Barry Hearn is helping shape the future of his local non-league club
Barry Hearn is best known for transforming snooker, darts and boxing into major television sports. Even at 78, the Matchroom founder remains one of the world's most recognisable sporting promoters. His involvement in football is perhaps lesser known - but every bit as intriguing. In March 1995, Hearn saved Leyton Orient - who he first watched at the age of 11 - from bankruptcy by buying the club for just £2.43.
Steven Sessegnon exclusive: The twin brother of Fulham's Ryan rebuilding at AFC Wimbledon after 'tough' period at Wigan
Steven and Ryan Sessegnon walked out at Craven Cottage side by side, each holding their daughters, last month. The twins had made their way through Fulham's academy together and played in the first team together on a handful of occasions - but that night, they played against one another for the first time ever. It was a special moment; a full-circle moment. Got Sky? Watch EFL games LIVE on your phone📱 Not got Sky?
Xabi Alonso: Chelsea manager says Blues needed 'an update' rather than a reset when he took over at Stamford Bridge
Xabi Alonso says Chelsea were in need of "an update" rather than a full reset when he was appointed manager this summer. The 44-year-old signed a four-year contract in May and took over a Blues side that finished 10th in the Premier League, after parting ways with both Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior during a tumultuous campaign at Stamford Bridge. That meant missing out on European football for the third time in four seasons.
Sheffield United vs Wolverhampton Wanderers; Sky Bet Championship
Raul Jimenez came off the bench to score a 90th-minute winner and earn Wolves a 1-0 win over Sheffield United. Cesar Peixoto's side had controversially been denied a penalty shortly after the restart, when Mark McGuinness handled in the box. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Wolves were denied a penalty after this incident during their Sky Bet Championship game against Sheffield United. Watch FREE Championship highlights | Latest EFL news and rumours Not got Sky?
Crystal Palace vs Ipswich Town; Premier League
Ipswich came from behind to secure their first Premier League away win since April 2025 after beating 10-man Crystal Palace 3-2. Goals from Emersonn and Leif Davis answered Anan Khalaili's opener, before substitute Zian Flemming struck the 90th-minute winner after Jorgen Strand Larsen had pulled the Eagles level. That goal ended a run of 32 Premier League games - stretching back to December 2001 - in which the Tractor Boys had conceded first and failed to win.
Keith Andrews exclusive: Brentford head coach on the improvements he hopes can help the Bees 'break the ceiling' and reach Europe
Seconds before the curtain came down on the 2025/26 season, Brentford had a golden chance to do what they had never done before: qualify for Europe. They were drawing 1-1 with Liverpool at Anfield and knew that one goal would be enough to finish seventh and secure Europa League football. In the 10th minute of added time, Mikkel Damsgaard dropped the ball off to Vitaly Janelt on the left-hand side of the penalty area.
Andy McCann interview: The assistant headteacher from Liverpool about to become England manager for a week
Andy McCann has only just returned to work. By day, he works as an assistant headteacher at Great Sankey High School in Warrington. The summer holidays have come to a conclusion and the school year is back in full swing. But he is about to take eight days off in order to become England manager... sort of. Sky Sports Rewards - tickets, offers and more Download the Sky Sports app for expert analysis, best video & more Not got Sky?
Wrexham vs Birmingham City; Sky Bet Championship
Wrexham's winless start to the season was extended to four games in all competitions after they were beaten 2-1 by Birmingham at the Racecourse Ground. Centre-back Phil Neumann - who has never scored more than two goals in a single season - scored both Blues goals, either side of a Callum Doyle equaliser. It was the ideal response from Chris Davies' side, following their 6-1 hammering at the hands of Brentford in the Carabao Cup in midweek.
Wrexham vs Birmingham City; Sky Bet Championship
Wrexham's winless start to the season was extended to three games after they were beaten 2-1 by Birmingham at the Racecourse Ground. Centre-back Phil Neumann - who has never scored more than two goals in a single season - scored both Blues goals, either side of a Callum Doyle equaliser. As it happened | How the teams lined up | Match stats Watch FREE Championship highlights | Latest EFL news and rumours Not got Sky?
Preston North End vs Everton; Carabao Cup Second Round
Thierno Barry scored three goals and set up the other as Everton sauntered into the third round of the Carabao Cup by way of a 4-0 win over Preston at Deepdale. The French striker scored eight goals in 41 games in 2025/26 and, after his first of the season in Saturday's Premier League win over Crystal Palace, is now already halfway to matching that total despite having played 38 games fewer.
Cardiff City vs Wrexham; Sky Bet Championship
Cardiff earned the most dramatic point on their return to the Sky Bet Championship as Rubin Colwill's stunning 98th-minute free-kick earned a 1-1 draw against Wrexham. Former Bluebirds striker Kieffer Moore had given the visitors the lead with a cracking strike after just two minutes and 26 seconds at the Cardiff City Stadium, in the first meeting between the two Welsh sides in 24 years. It was his seventh goal against Cardiff - against no side has he scored more in his career.
Frankie Terry interview: John Terry's nephew discusses his footballing family, non-League loans and Colchester breakthrough
Football has always been the family business for Frankie Terry. His dad, Paul, played for Dagenham & Redbridge, Yeovil and Leyton Orient, where he now works as assistant to Richie Wellens. His maternal uncle, Paul Konchesky, earned two England caps and played 347 times in the Premier League for Charlton, West Ham, Tottenham, Fulham, Liverpool and Leicester. And his paternal uncle, John Terry, captained both Chelsea and England. He played over 700 times for the Blues and earned 78 Three Lions caps.
The non-League Wrexham? Farnham Town chairman Harry Hugo on three straight promotions and a new dream of reaching the EFL
Having sold 40 per cent of influencer marketing agency, Goat, in 2021, Harry Hugo had made his fortune at 26 - and he realised that, by the age of 30, he would have the rare luxury of not needing to work again. So, by his own admission, he chased moments of "instant gratification". But he also knew he needed to find a purpose. One day, he and his friends - who had worked with him since he started his first business aged 16 - visited a Ferrari garage. He had his eyes on a 458 Spyder in black.
The non-League Wrexham? Farnham Town chairman Harry Hugo on three straight promotions and a new dream of reaching the EFL
Having sold 40 per cent of influencer marketing agency, Goat, in 2021, Harry Hugo had made his fortune at 26 - and he realised that, by the age of 30, he would have the rare luxury of not needing to work again. So, by his own admission, he chased moments of "instant gratification". But he also knew he needed to find a purpose. One day, he and his friends - who had worked with him since he started his first business aged 16 - visited a Ferrari garage. He had his eyes on a 458 Spyder in black.
Connor Wickham exclusive: Former Sunderland, Crystal Palace striker discusses the reality of 18 months without a club
Three months into his second season at Crystal Palace - following a £9m move from Sunderland in the summer of 2015 - the trajectory of Connor Wickham's career changed. In a 5-4 Premier League defeat away at Swansea, the striker ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament - and between 26 November 2016 and Christmas Day 2018 made just one 90th-minute substitute appearance, owing to further setbacks. He did not start a top-flight game for the Eagles again.
Argentina vs Switzerland; FIFA World Cup Quarter Final
Julian Alvarez scored an extra-time stunner as Argentina beat 10-man Switzerland 3-1 and set up a mouth-watering World Cup semi-final clash with England. Lionel Messi and Co will face the Three Lions in Atlanta on Wednesday at 8pm UK time, with a place in the final against either France or Spain on the line. It will be the first competitive meeting between the nations in 24 years.
PFA pre-season: Fernando Forestieri, Jonny Williams among free agents training at dedicated camp to help find new clubs
The PFA's pre-season training camp for free agents has returned this summer. Since 2024, PFA pre-season - a fully-funded residential programme held at Champneys Springs in Leicestershire - has helped combat the uncertainty of free agency and helped players on the road to the next chapter of their playing careers. Last year, attendees included John Swift - who went on to sign for Portsmouth - and Angus Gunn, who signed for Nottingham Forest then went to the World Cup with Scotland.
Colombia vs Ghana; FIFA World Cup Round of 32
Colombia reached the last 16 of the World Cup for the third time in their last three appearances at the tournament with a 1-0 win over Ghana. Los Cafeteros reached the quarter-finals at Brazil 2014 and the last 16 in 2018. Nestor Lorenzo's side will now face Switzerland in Vancouver on July 7, with a place in the quarter-finals, against either Argentina or Egypt, on the line.
Croatia vs Ghana; FIFA World Cup Group L
Croatia sealed their spot as Group L runners-up after a 2-1 win over Ghana in Philadelphia. Zlatko Dalic's side will play the Group K runners-up - currently Portugal - in Toronto on Friday July 3, while third-place Ghana will know their opponents by the early hours of Sunday morning. The result also confirmed Scotland's exit from the World Cup.
Senegal vs Iraq; FIFA World Cup Group I
Senegal gave themselves the best chance of finishing as one of the World Cup's top eight third-placed teams as they thumped five past 10-man Iraq. After both teams lost to France and Norway in their first two Group I matches, only a win - and by a significant margin - would be enough to keep hopes of progression alive. The Lions of Teranga understood the assignment and went on to record the biggest win by an African nation at a World Cup.
Curacao vs Ivory Coast; FIFA World Cup Group E
Former Arsenal forward Nicolas Pepe scored twice as Ivory Coast secured second-place in Group E with a comfortable 2-0 win over Curacao. The result sent Emerse Fae's side into the World Cup knockout stages for the first time in history and ensured the debutants finished bottom of the pile.
League One 2026/27 season fixtures, dates, schedule & how to watch
Leicester City will start their first season in Sky Bet League One since 2008/09 with a trip to Notts County, live on Sky Sports. Every game on the opening day of August 15 will be broadcast live on Sky Sports. The former Premier League champions suffered back-to-back relegations to drop into the third tier for only the second time in their 142-year history.
Switzerland vs Bosnia and Herzegovina; FIFA World Cup Group B
Switzerland took a giant leap towards qualifying for the World Cup knockout stages with an emphatic 4-1 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina in Los Angeles. What had been an otherwise uneventful encounter for the first 73 minutes came to life when 20-year-old Johan Manzambi crashed in a volley just 166 seconds after his introduction, before Tarik Muharemovic was shown a straight red for catching Breel Embolo on the heel as the last man.
Iraq vs Norway; FIFA World Cup Group I
Erling Haaland starred on his World Cup debut, scoring twice to help Norway to a 4-1 win over Iraq in Boston. The Manchester City striker was kept quiet in the first 28 minutes - with the sum of his chances a towering header that went well over the bar - but he was soon off the mark when he tapped in a square ball from Wolves defender David Moller Wolfe.
World Cup: Former Liverpool and Republic of Ireland defender Phil Babb recalls playing in extreme heat at USA 1994
While none of the home nations qualified for the 1994 World Cup, the Republic of Ireland did. It was a second successive appearance at the tournament for the Boys in Green, who were again led by 1966 World Cup winner Jack Charlton. At Italia '90, the weather had been hot - but at USA '94, it was a different kettle of fish altogether. The iconic image of Charlton launching an open bottle of water in the direction of Andy Townsend and Tommy Coyne always provides a reminder of that.
World Cup 2026: How will extreme heat impact this summer's tournament in the USA, Canada and Mexico?
The challenge of the 2026 World Cup will extend beyond tactics, pressure and talent - with extreme and dangerous levels of heat presenting itself as a formidable extra opponent. Researchers have warned that 14 of the 16 venues throughout the tournament will reach dangerous temperatures, one of which will be England's base in Kansas City. That dangerous level is 28C, and four of those stadiums could reach an even more dangerous 32C in the hottest afternoon hours of the day.
World Cup 2026: All you need to know about Dick Advocaat's Curacao - the tournament's smallest ever nation
On Tuesday November 18 2025, Curacao travelled to Kingston to take on Jamaica in a winner-takes-all World Cup qualifier. Jamaica - led by Steve McClaren - trailed their opponents by one point, so needed to win to reach the tournament for the second time, and the first time since France '98. Curacao - led by Dick Advocaat - only needed one point to qualify for the tournament for the first time in history. A 0-0 draw ensured they did just that.
England Women: Lauren James fit for Lionesses vs Spain as Sarina Wiegman's side target World Cup qualification
Lauren James is fit to play in England's World Cup qualifier as the Lionesses reignite their rivalry with Spain in a bid to reach the tournament in 2027. England sit top of Group A3 after four matches, having won all four and conceded just one goal. Next up is their penultimate qualifier against Sonia Bermudez's Spain, who are second and three points behind the Lionesses.
Darren Bazeley exclusive: Meet the former Watford, Wolves, Walsall player leading New Zealand into the 2026 World Cup
Darren Bazeley has been to many youth World Cups. With the New Zealand U17s, he went to Nigeria 2009, Mexico 2011 and United Arab Emirates 2013. With the U20s, he went to New Zealand 2015, South Korea 2017 and Argentina 2023. Now, he is just a matter of days away from leading the All Whites into the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico - their first since 2010 and only their third in history.
Burnley vs Wolverhampton Wanderers; Premier League
Relegated pair Burnley and Wolves played out a 1-1 draw in their final Premier League game before they return to the Sky Bet Championship next season. Adam Armstrong's fifth-minute penalty put Rob Edwards' men in front, but Zian Flemming struck inside the first two minutes of the second half to earn the Clarets one final point. As a result, Wolves finish bottom of the table, without an away win all season. Burnley finish 19th, two points ahead.
Hull promoted to the Premier League: Oli McBurnie says it was "written for me" to score the play-off final winner at Wembley
Hull's Oli McBurnie said it was "written for me" to score the winner in the Sky Bet Championship play-off final that sent the Tigers back to the Premier League. The striker struck in the 95th minute at Wembley to earn Sergej Jakirovic's side a 1-0 win over Middlesbrough and send them back to the top flight after nine years away. "For the first time ever, I think I'm speechless!," he told Sky Sports. "It's been a long, hard season and that game today summed us up.
Championship play-off final: Middlesbrough's Kim Hellberg and Hull's Sergej Jakirovic discuss 'Spygate' scandal
Middlesbrough head coach Kim Hellberg has spoken for the first time since his side were reinstated to the Sky Bet Championship play-off final after the 'Spygate' scandal. They were beaten 2-1 on aggregate by Southampton in the play-off semi-finals, but Saints were dramatically expelled by an independent commission on Tuesday night.
Bradford 0-1 Bolton (Agg: 0-2): Xavier Simons strike cements Wanderers' place in League One play-off final
Bolton reached the Sky Bet League One play-off final after clinching 1-0 semi-final second leg win at Bradford. Xavier Simons scored the only goal to seal a 2-0 aggregate victory. For the most part, it was a cagey and fraught encounter at Valley Parade where chances came at a premium. It was 68 minutes until the first shot on target. They decisive period of the game came in a period of 68 second-half seconds.
Middlesbrough: Kim Hellberg says 'disgraceful' 'Spygate' saga 'breaks my heart' after Boro beaten by Southampton
Kim Hellberg said the 'Spygate' saga that overshadowed his Middlesbrough side's Championship play-off semi-final defeat to Southampton was "disgraceful" and "breaks my heart". It is alleged a member of Southampton staff was caught trying to observe a Middlesbrough training session last Thursday. After a goalless draw in the first leg on Saturday, Shea Charles' 116th-minute winner earned Saints a 2-1 aggregate win and a place in the play-off final at Wembley on Saturday May 23.
Southampton vs Middlesbrough; Sky Bet Championship Play-Offs Semi-Final
Southampton beat Middlesbrough 2-1 at St Mary's to book their place in the Sky Bet Championship play-off final for the second time in three seasons. After a goalless first leg on Saturday, Riley McGree slotted Boro into an early lead on the south coast, but Ross Stewart levelled with a towering header on the stroke of half-time. As it happened | Teams | Match stats When is the Championship play-off final? Got Sky? Watch your EFL team on the Sky Sports app Not got Sky?
Steven Schumacher exclusive: Bolton head coach on facing Graham Alexander and why it would mean everything to reach Wembley
Bolton Wanderers have carried the weight of expectation on them for several years now. This is a big club - one that has averaged crowds of over 21,000 for three seasons now; one that has dreams of an eventual return to the Premier League, where they have spent 13 seasons in all. But it is also a club that has been in Sky Bet League One for five seasons now - the longest stay in the third tier in club history. Two play-off campaigns have ended in heartbreak.
Sergej Jakirovic says taking Hull to the Championship play-off final is "the best thing I've experienced in football"
Sergej Jakirovic says taking Hull to the Sky Bet Championship play-off final is "maybe the best thing that happened in football in my life" and that leading the Tigers out at Wembley will be "a dream come true". After a goalless semi-final first leg against Millwall at the MKM Stadium on May 8, the 49-year-old masterminded a 2-0 win on the night at The Den, courtesy of goals from Mohamed Belloumi and Joe Gelhardt.
Tottenham: Roberto De Zerbi 'proud' of win at Aston Villa but warns 'don't forget the situation we were in'
Roberto De Zerbi has spoken of his pride at seeing his Tottenham team beat Aston Villa, but warned against forgetting the situation his side were in just a matter of weeks ago. Having lost to Sunderland in his first game in charge on April 12 and then drawn 2-2 against former club Brighton six days later, prior to the trip to Wolves on April 25, the north London club were sat 18th in the Premier League table, two points from safety.
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery fumes at VAR for 'huge mistake' that saw Forest's Elliot Anderson avoid red card in Europa League semi-final
Aston Villa head coach Unai Emery accused VAR of making a "huge mistake" in not recommending a red card for Elliot Anderson during his side's 1-0 Europa League semi-final first leg defeat to Nottingham Forest. After 31 minutes at the City Ground, Forest midfielder Anderson slid in to try and dispossess Villa's Olllie Watkins, but, as he did, he caught the forward on the ankle with his studs up, and left him in considerable pain.
Arsenal Women vs Leicester City Women; Barclays Women's Super League
Arsenal sent an emphatic warning to leaders Manchester City that the Women's Super League title race is far from over with a thumping 7-0 win over bottom-side Leicester at the Emirates Stadium. Stina Blackstenius and Smilla Holmberg scored two each, while Mariona Caldentey and Leah Williamson also got in on the act after Frida Maanum headed the opener on her 100th WSL appearance. The Gunners climb above Man Utd into third, two points behind second-placed Chelsea and eight behind City.
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