Tom Cairney scored the only goal in Fulham's 1-0 win over Aston Villa in the Championship play-offs final at Wembley. Clive Mason / Getty Images
Tom Cairney scored the only goal in Fulham's 1-0 win over Aston Villa in the Championship play-offs final at Wembley. Clive Mason / Getty Images

Tom Cairney's goal sends Fulham back to the Premier League



It has been a six-month surge to glory, a charge from the obscurity of 17th in the Championship to the limelight of the Premier League that was completed by their captain. Tom Cairney scored a goal that is worth £155 million (Dh758m) to Fulham, taking them back to the top flight after a four-year absence and condemning Aston Villa to a third consecutive campaign in the second tier.

It was a reward for the fluent football Fulham have played since a slow start to the season and for a manager, in Slavisa Jokanovic, who will belatedly get to manage in the Premier League, three years after he took Watford up.

But the consequences for Villa could also be considerable. They will be forced to cut costs now. Their exile from the elite could be prolonged. The 36th anniversary of the day they won the European Cup proved an unhappy one. Ryan Sessegnon has only been alive for half of that time but, eight days after turning 18, the Fulham prodigy provided another indication of why he seems destined for the top. He started the season at left-back, ends it with 16 goals, the majority delivered from the left wing, and illustrated his ability when he wandered infield to set up the sole goal.

He guided a pass through the Villa defence, catching John Terry flat-footed, and into the path of Cairney. The midfielder is another of Fulham’s phalanx of gifted left-footers, as he showed by steering his shot past Sam Johnstone. Cairney had been coveted by West Ham United in January. Fulham’s refusal to sell was justified by his contribution.

It was Fulham’s first notable chance, but a sign pressure paid off. They had dominated possession. It could have brought a bigger lead, but James Chester made a fine block to thwart Aleksandar Mitrovic.

But the action was not confined to the penalty areas. A game of two Ryans should have brought three red cards. Mistake compounded mistake in referee Anthony Taylor’s display, which amounted to an advertisement for VAR.

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Fulham should have been reduced to 10 men within the first half hour as Ryan Fredericks escaped unpunished for a stamp on Jack Grealish. Villa manager Steve Bruce had a perfect view and was understandably aggrieved.

Grealish’s frustration was reflected in a shocking challenge on Cairney that also merited a red card. Eventually, Dennis Odoi, already booked for fouling Grealish, was dismissed for a studs-high challenge on the midfielder. It was an indication that Fulham kept resorting to the illegal to halt Grealish.

Grealish, though, was ubiquitous. He has been rejuvenated under Bruce and the lifelong Villa fan was irrepressible. Villa’s best chances fell his way, but he blazed over after Fulham were caught out by Robert Snodgrass’ clever free kick and then his header from Albert Adomah’s cross was too high. His radar was better after a mesmeric dribble but Marcus Bettinelli saved his shot.

It formed part of an onslaught as slow starters played with much more urgency in the second half. Fulham had opportunities on the break, with Stefan Johansen lofting a shot over the bar and Mitrovic also unable to add the decisive second, but were often camped around their own box.

Substitute Oliver Norwood made a brilliant block. Tomas Kalas came on to bolster a defence deprived of Odoi. Fulham held on. Their prize is huge.

COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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Company%20Profile
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The specs
Engine: 77.4kW all-wheel-drive dual motor
Power: 320bhp
Torque: 605Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh219,000
On sale: Now
Business Insights
  • Canada and Mexico are significant energy suppliers to the US, providing the majority of oil and natural gas imports
  • The introduction of tariffs could hinder the US's clean energy initiatives by raising input costs for materials like nickel
  • US domestic suppliers might benefit from higher prices, but overall oil consumption is expected to decrease due to elevated costs
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The specs

Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now

WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?

1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull

2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight

3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge

4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own

5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed

If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.

When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.

How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
Company%20Profile
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Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairy Tale

Starring: Nayanthara, Vignesh Shivan, Radhika Sarathkumar, Nagarjuna Akkineni

Director: Amith Krishnan

Rating: 3.5/5

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BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES

(All games 4-3pm kick UAE time) Bayern Munich v Augsburg, Borussia Dortmund v Bayer Leverkusen, Hoffenheim v Hertha Berlin, Wolfsburg v Mainz , Eintracht Frankfurt v Freiburg, Union Berlin v RB Leipzig, Cologne v Schalke , Werder Bremen v Borussia Monchengladbach, Stuttgart v Arminia Bielefeld

How to protect yourself when air quality drops

Install an air filter in your home.

Close your windows and turn on the AC.

Shower or bath after being outside.

Wear a face mask.

Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.

If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.

Electoral College Victory

Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate. 

 

Popular Vote Tally

The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.

The biog

Fast facts on Neil Armstrong’s personal life:

  • Armstrong was born on August 5, 1930, in Wapakoneta, Ohio
  • He earned his private pilot’s license when he was 16 – he could fly before he could drive
  • There was tragedy in his married life: Neil and Janet Armstrong’s daughter Karen died at the age of two in 1962 after suffering a brain tumour. She was the couple’s only daughter. Their two sons, Rick and Mark, consulted on the film
  • After Armstrong departed Nasa, he bought a farm in the town of Lebanon, Ohio, in 1971 – its airstrip allowed him to tap back into his love of flying
  • In 1994, Janet divorced Neil after 38 years of marriage. Two years earlier, Neil met Carol Knight, who became his second wife in 1994 
Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
Rating: 2/5
 

Russia's Muslim Heartlands

Dominic Rubin, Oxford

The biog

Name: Abeer Al Shahi

Emirate: Sharjah – Khor Fakkan

Education: Master’s degree in special education, preparing for a PhD in philosophy.

Favourite activities: Bungee jumping

Favourite quote: “My people and I will not settle for anything less than first place” – Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid.

Starring: Jamie Foxx, Angela Bassett, Tina Fey

Directed by: Pete Doctor

Rating: 4 stars

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: ARDH Collective
Based: Dubai
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Sector: Sustainability
Total funding: Self funded
Number of employees: 4
UAE Rugby finals day

Games being played at The Sevens, Dubai

2pm, UAE Conference final

Dubai Tigers v Al Ain Amblers

4pm, UAE Premiership final

Abu Dhabi Harlequins v Jebel Ali Dragons

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
 
Started: 2020
 
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
 
Based: Dubai, UAE
 
Sector: Entertainment 
 
Number of staff: 210 
 
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
THE BIO

Mr Al Qassimi is 37 and lives in Dubai
He is a keen drummer and loves gardening
His favourite way to unwind is spending time with his two children and cooking

The specs

Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Power: 620hp from 5,750-7,500rpm
Torque: 760Nm from 3,000-5,750rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed dual-clutch auto
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh1.05 million ($286,000)

Disclaimer

Director: Alfonso Cuaron 

Stars: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, Lesley Manville 

Rating: 4/5

RESULTS

1.45pm: Maiden Dh75,000 1,200m
Winner: Lady Parma, Richard Mullen (jockey), Satish Seemar (trainer).
2.15pm: Maiden Dh75,000 1,200m
Winner: Tabernas, Connor Beasley, Ahmed bin Harmash.
2.45pm: Handicap Dh95,000 1,200m
Winner: Night Castle, Connor Beasley, Satish Seemar.
3.15pm: Handicap Dh120,000 1,400m
Winner: Mystique Moon, Sam Hitchcott, Doug Watson.
3.45pm: Handicap Dh80,000 1,400m
Winner: Mutawakked, Szczepan Mazur, Musabah Al Muhairi.
4.15pm: Handicap Dh90,000 1,800m
Winner: Tafaakhor, Sandro Paiva, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
4.45pm: Handicap Dh80,000 1,950m
Winner: Cranesbill, Fabrice Veron, Erwan Charpy.

THE SPECS

Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo

Transmission: eight-speed automatic

Power: 258hp at 5,000-6,500rpm

Torque: 400Nm from 1,550-4,400rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 6.4L/100km

Price, base: from D215,000 (Dh230,000 as tested)

On sale: now


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