MONDAY-MARCH 08, 2021 Sport 05 Rashford has two league goals in 2021: Should Joe Root says England must learn Man Utd be worried about star forward? from rotation policy after their 3-1 The England international has Manchester derby, at the Etihad January 1 and his frustration the past couple of months – he struggled to take his chances since on Sunday, Rashford's finishing could be heard through the fog on would be the first to admit that – the turn of the year but knows has come under scrutiny with Wednesday night as he swore at but he certainly isn't having the Test series defeat in India just what it takes to step up in a United presently struggling to team-mate Harry Maguire after disastrous season that some are Manchester derby score. being caught offside at one point. claiming. March 20 will mark the five- The 0-0 stalemate at Crystal To see Rashford so irritated As well as contributing 11 year anniversary of Marcus Rash- Palace marked three consecutive is hardly unsurprising, given he is assists, he has also racked up 18 ford’s favourite senior Manches- league games without a goal for a perfectionist and is always de- goals in all competitions – that’s ter United goal. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side and manding more from himself. only four off his career-best of 22, Back in 2016, he embarrassed some supporters and pundits even But, should United be de- which he posted last season. Martin Demichelis with fancy wondered why Rashford was al- manding more from Rashford? Is That's good going when one con- footwork before firing past Joe lowed to complete the 90 minutes, he underperforming in front of siders he was taken off penalty Hart to secure a derby-day win given the manager had a couple of goal? Interestingly, his statistics duty following the arrival of for Louis van Gaal's side. exciting young attackers on the suggest the opposite. Bruno Fernandes last January. Rashford was a fresh-faced bench in Amad Diallo and Shola Last season, he scored 17 Still, there's no denying that 18-year-old at the time. A lot has Shoretire. times in the league but his expect- Rashford, like many of his team- changed in the interim. Rashford had one of United’s ed goals (xG) stood at 19.9. This mates, looks tired. Granted, he’s He’s grown, physically and best chances within the first 15 term, he has bagged nine goals de- only 23, but he’s the only mem- mentally, and has established him- minutes but, after controlling the spite an xG of 7.15. He is even ber of the squad to have featured self as a first-team regular at Old ball well, he dragged his shot just outperforming his xG in 2021 in every single one of United’s 42 Trafford, a key component of Ole wide of the post. It was a poor (1.69) by scoring twice since the games in all competitions this sea- Gunnar Solskjaer’s fluid forward finish typical of his 2021 so far. turn of the year. son. line. The England international has Of course, Rashford could Even when it did not feel like However, ahead of the latest scored just two league goals since clearly have played better during he was needed, like against Luton in the Carabao Cup or in the sec- ond leg of the Europa League tie with Real Sociedad, he has still been called upon to play a part. There’s also a long-term inju- ry to factor into the equation, as Joe Root says England will at it and try and improve it for the being multi-format, we look after Rashford has yet to fully recover look for ways to improve rota- next series, the next tour. everyone. from the shoulder problem he suf- tion policy but maintains it is vi- "It would be naïve of me to "Make sure we don't get to a fered against Arsenal in Novem- tal in busy year of cricket: "As a make a comment now when it de- stage where guys are severely ber. captain, you want all of your play- serves a lot of time and thought burnt out and we are losing out on Is it any wonder, then, that ers available all of the time but we before any decisions are made on some real talent and that they are he isn’t firing on all cylinders right have to get away from running it. losing out on the enjoyment of the now? guys into the ground until they "But the rotation policy is game." Across his last five appear- fall over" there to look after the players. We England won the first Test in ances, he has managed just seven Joe Root says England must have said all along that making sure Chennai by 227 runs but then lost shots, only four of which hit the learn from their rotation policy looking after players and their the next three heavily, only pass- target, resulting in a solitary goal. after slumping to a chastening 3-1 welfare and wellbeing is para- ing 200 once in their last six in- There have also been some big Test series defeat in India. mount. nings of the series. chances missed which could have Jos Buttler was rested for the "It is difficult, as a captain you Root added: "We have to re- earned his team points. final three Tests - each of which want all of your players available member the good things we have He needs to improve and he England lost - as the ECB manag- all of the time, but in the current done on this trip. knows that. es the workload of multi-format climate it is just not possible. We "We have won three out of six Goal players during a year of 17 Test have to look at cricket this year as games [including the wins in Sri matches and a T20 World Cup. a whole package. Lanka] and even in the last couple Moeen Ali, meanwhile, "There is so much cricket and of games there have been things played the second Test - his first it's important that while bubbles that have been really positive. Saluki Football | Novak Djokovic: in 18 months - before leaving for are still around we continue to "It has been disappointing and his scheduled period of rest after look after the players. We have to frustrating to finish on the note turning down England's late re- get away from running guys into that we have but I am proud of quest for him to stay. the ground until they fall over. World No 1 to play the work ethic and willingness to SIU rallies to beat Root says the rotation policy "It's easy to say we could have learn and get better in these con- is vital in such a packed schedule done things slightly differently but but admits England - whose full- it's all been done with the players' ditions. In many ways, that's all Youngstown State at Miami Open after strength T20 side will now take best interest at heart and for the you can ask for - to take the on India in five games, starting on good of English cricket across the knowledge from these games and YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — ception, Baker completed 13-of- Friday - will look at ways the three formats. get better. The SIU football team rallied 18 passes on the day for 139 injury scare system can be improved. "We might not get it right all "As long as we do that, we from an early 12-point deficit to yards and two touchdowns. The England captain - speak- the time to start with but we need will become a better team. beat Youngstown State, 30-22, on "You're never going to rattle ing after his side's innings-and-25- to move forward and look at a The guys have to embrace a cold, blustery Saturday in north- Nic," Hill said. "The kid plays run defeat in Ahmedabad - said: "I better way - and hopefully we can what's happened, understand it east Ohio. The No. 11-ranked Sa- with an unbelievable amount of think it's important to learn from find that quickly. and be realistic, so that if they tour lukis (3-1, 2-1 Missouri Valley — the kid has something. I know this tour as a whole and try and "It is very important that with here again they are prepared for it Football Conference) are off to he's 5-8-and-a-half, this, that and make it better. the amount of cricket we are play- and remember these experiences. their best start since opening the the other. He just has that 'it'. If "It would be silly not to look ing, and with a number of guys Skysport 2015 season at 5-1. he throws a pick, he doesn't lack The game didn't begin exactly confidence the next series." as scripted for SIU. The under- After allowing 19 points and dog Penguins (0-3, 0-3) took the 146 first-half rushing yards, SIU's California sports organizations opening kickoff and marched 83 defense allowed only a second- yards in 13 plays for a touchdown. half field goal and limited the Pen- On SIU's first drive, quarterback guins to 76 second-half yards on react to stadiums possibly re- Nic Baker was picked off at the the ground. YSU 47, and the turnover led to "(Defensive coordinator Jas- another Penguins touchdown to on) Petrino did a great job," Hill make the score 12-0. said. "We brought some pressures opening on April 1 "It's tough to go on the road in the second half to get them into SACRAMENTO, Calif. — with us to develop a comprehen- community have even more mean- in this league and win," said SIU some more predictable down-and- Sports organizations throughout sive plan that complies with local ing this year, as we work to solid- coach Nick Hill, whose team was distances. It's about winning on California are reacting to Gov. health directives and provides a ify a new investor for Major coming off a 38-14 home victory first down — you get them in sec- Gavin Newsom's announcements safe experience for our fans, em- League Soccer Plans," the state- over No. 1 North Dakota State. ond-and-long, now you have a that stadiums will allow fans to ployees, players, and vendors." ment reads. "We are ready for the "In the first half, our backs were pretty good idea what they're go- Novak Djokovic has con- third round. attend games in-person starting The Sacramento River Cats return of the drums, chants, songs, against the wall and it didn't go ing to do." firmed he will return to the court That's what I said in the post- April 1. will not be able to begin their quest and cheers from Republic FC like you'd want to draw it up, but Midway through the third at this month's Miami Open after match interview. I was kind of The San Francisco Giants, to defend their 2019 Triple-A fans." they just stuck together." quarter, the Salukis finally took recuperating from a muscle tear guessing, but I felt just that it's a Oakland Athletics and the Sacra- championship until May, but that Billionaire Ron Burkle an- The comeback started early in the lead, 20-19, on a shovel pass suffered during his Australian tear because of the snap and the mento Republic FC released state- won’t stop fans from getting an nounced in February that he pulled the second quarter when Javon from Baker to Justin Strong that Open title defence. way I felt after that." ments about how excited they are early peek at the team in the month out as the lead investor because Williams Jr. took over from the went for a two-yard touchdown. The 33-year-old Serbian suf- However, according to a par- to play in front of a live audience of April. he no longer wishes to acquire an Wildcat spot and carried five Nico Gualdoni added a 36-yard fered the injury during the third- tial schedule posted on his offi- for the first time since the start of Sutter Health Park in West MLS team in Sacramento due to times for 25 yards, including a six- field goal with 5:14 left in the third round win over Taylor Fritz at cial website, Djokovic is entered the pandemic. Sacramento will host San Fran- the pandemic. yard diving touchdown that cut quarter to make it 23-19. Young- Melbourne Park. for the ATP Masters 1000 event The San Francisco Giants re- cisco’s taxi squad for workouts Stadiums may only allow 100 the deficit to 12-7. stown countered with its own field And despite the injury not on the hardcourts in Miami from leased a statement that they are and scrimmages, as it did during fans in attendance in the purple Youngstown answered with a goal to cut its deficit to 23-22. stopping him clinching a record- March 22-April 4. hopeful they could welcome fans the 2020 season. tier. Stadiums could allow 20% grinding, 19-play drive that was SIU's biggest offensive play extending ninth Australian Open It is the first of three events back to Oracle Park due to the A taxi squad is a development capacity in the red tier, 33% ca- capped off by a 1-yard TD plunge of the game came with 10 minutes title and his 18th Grand Slam, he will play in before heading to drop in COVID-19 cases in the system consisting of about 30 pacity in the orange tier and 67% by Jaleel McLaughlin. The shifty to go in the contest. On second- Djokovic confirmed a scan of his Europe for the claycourt swing surrounding area. players who continue to workout capacity in the yellow tier, ac- tailback caused SIU's defense fits and-5, Baker rolled to his left off abdomen had revealed he had ahead of the French Open at the "In the coming days, the Gi- and stay ready to be able to com- cording to the Associated Press. with his cut-back running ability play-action and hit a wide-open made the injury worse by playing end of May. ants will submit our operational pete at the Major League level Attendance limits are based on as he finished the game with 124 Landon Lenoir down the left side- on. From Miami, where he has plans for review and approval by should injuries, transactions or what tier the county is in. Teams yards on 26 carries. line for a 37-yard touchdown to At the time, Djokovic said: won six titles, Djokovic will head the local health officials, and we other situations arise. could sell tickets in the purple tier, "He just made something out make it 30-22. "The damage is bigger than what to Monaco for the Monte-Carlo eagerly look forward to safely The River Cats will open their but they will not allow conces- of nothing — (we'd) have the play "We thought that play would it was when it happened, when I Masters, running from April 11- welcoming fans back to Oracle season on the road beginning May sions inside until the county goes dead to rights and he bounced it be there," Hill said. "We were in a did the first MRI after the third 18, before returning home to Bel- Park," the statement reads. 6. Their home opener is scheduled into a less restrictive tier. back and made us pay," Hill said. running formation, it's one-on-one round. grade for the ATP 250 Serbia Dave Kaval, the A's president, to take place on May 20 against San Francisco County and Mixing run and pass, SIU on the outside, and Landon did a "It's a muscle tear of the ab- Open. said in a statement that the team Reno. Yolo County are currently in the countered with a 75-yard touch- great job on a double move, and dominal oblique muscle - it's not The Tour is returning to Bel- is excited to welcome back fans. Sacramento Republic FC is red tier, Alameda County and Sac- down drive in which Baker made then Nic did a great job, especial- too bad judging by what the doc- grade for the first time since 2012, "We thank Governor News- also applauding state and local ramento County are in the purple a dazzling 17-yard TD run, som- ly with the wind, putting it right tor said but I'll have to take some and the Serbia Open will be held om for his leadership and guid- officials' efforts to bring a return tier, according to California's ersaulting over the goal line to draw on him and not trying to overthrow time off and heal. at Djokovic's tennis center from ance during this process, and to live sporting events. COVID-19 dashboard. SIU within 19-13 just before the him." "I felt it right away when it April 19-25. Alameda County for Partnering "The support of our fans and abc10 half. Unfazed by the early inter- kulr8 happened against Fritz in the Sky