SUNDERLAND // This poses a challenge for West Ham United's marketing department. Last Saturday's match against Wigan Athletic was branded as "Save Our Season" day at Upton Park, an attempt at a rallying cry that doubled up as an acceptance of the scale of their plight. What, then, can they call next weekend's game against Manchester City?
Because defeat at Sunderland returned Avram Grant's side to the foot of the Premier League. Before then, 24 hours of respite were granted not by the Hammers' own exploits, but when Wolves' goal difference worsened in defeat at Blackburn Rovers.
West Ham's subsequent setback served to prove that back-to-back wins over Wigan and Manchester United did not equate to salvation. They still require rescuing and it will take more than a well-meaning slogan.
Winning away from home would be a start, but it is 16 months since they could last savour three points anywhere other than Upton Park.
"It's fair to say we need to improve this and I'm sure we will improve this," Grant said.
While this was not as embarrassing as the capitulations at Villa Park, Old Trafford and Liverpool, the scoreline was nevertheless a fair reflection on the game.
The outcome was also an indication of Sunderland's progress. Along with Manchester United, they boast the division's only unbeaten home record and became the third occupants of seventh place within the space of a few hours. "We hope we can stay where we are," Steve Bruce said.
Their season has given him an enviable dilemma, one that the Sunderland manager attempted to resolve by naming his three prolific forwards, Darren Bent, Asamoah Gyan and Danny Welbeck, in the same side for the first time in the league.
With a perverse inevitability, therefore, their winner came from Jordan Henderson, a man without a goal for the best part of a year. Gyan, however, was a major contributor.
Nedum Onuoha bent a pass over the advancing West Ham defence. Although it was perilously close, the Ghanaian sprung the offside trap before laying the ball back into the path of Henderson.
With enviable assurance, the 20-year-old stroked his shot into the far corner of the goal. Resting the England international, whose form had dipped of late, was something Bruce had pondered publicly, but he was glad he didn't.
"He's a wonderful young talent," his manager added. "We all know he's got a goal in him. Hopefully there's a lot more to come."
Whether Bruce's boldness becomes a weekly routine remains to be seen but a second goal for his side, and a fifth in four games for Welbeck, would have followed but for a goal-saving block from James Tomkins after Rob Green spilled a ball under pressure from Kieran Richardson.
"I always thought we were a threat," Bruce said. "For me we've thoroughly deserved the three points."
Grant disagreed, but he conceded his side's finishing was too wayward.
"This is the main disappointment," he said after they mustered a solitary shot on target.
Fortunate not to have Luis Boa Morte dismissed early on, they threatened most in the minutes either side of the interval.
Providing reminders of his unexpectedly dynamic display in Tuesday's Carling Cup triumph against Manchester United, Jonathan Spector embarked upon a driving run before poking a shot wide. Carlton Cole, who also scored twice that night, came similarly close to adding to his tally.
With 10 minutes remaining, Victor Obinna clipped the outside of the post. But a clean sheet for a Sunderland side lacking its first-choice central defenders heartened Bruce while a failure to score was all too typical of West Ham's fortunes on the road. The search for that saviour continues.
sports@thenational.ae
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Power: 480kW
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
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Shower or bath after being outside.
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Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
Squid Game season two
Director: Hwang Dong-hyuk
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SERIE A FIXTURES
Saturday
AC Milan v Sampdoria (2.30pm kick-off UAE)
Atalanta v Udinese (5pm)
Benevento v Parma (5pm)
Cagliari v Hellas Verona (5pm)
Genoa v Fiorentina (5pm)
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Transmission: eight-speed automatic
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On sale: now
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
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The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
'Operation Mincemeat'
Director: John Madden
Cast: Colin Firth, Matthew Macfayden, Kelly Macdonald and Penelope Wilton
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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
SPECS
Engine: 4-litre V8 twin-turbo
Power: 630hp
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The specs
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Power: 154bhp
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Transmission: 7-speed automatic with 8-speed sports option
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Key products and UAE prices
iPhone XS
With a 5.8-inch screen, it will be an advance version of the iPhone X. It will be dual sim and comes with better battery life, a faster processor and better camera. A new gold colour will be available.
Price: Dh4,229
iPhone XS Max
It is expected to be a grander version of the iPhone X with a 6.5-inch screen; an inch bigger than the screen of the iPhone 8 Plus.
Price: Dh4,649
iPhone XR
A low-cost version of the iPhone X with a 6.1-inch screen, it is expected to attract mass attention. According to industry experts, it is likely to have aluminium edges instead of stainless steel.
Price: Dh3,179
Apple Watch Series 4
More comprehensive health device with edge-to-edge displays that are more than 30 per cent bigger than displays on current models.
SPECS
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Story of 2017-18 so far and schedule to come
Roll of Honour
Who has won what so far in the West Asia rugby season?
Western Clubs Champions League
Winners: Abu Dhabi Harlequins
Runners up: Bahrain
Dubai Rugby Sevens
Winners: Dubai Exiles
Runners up: Jebel Ali Dragons
West Asia Premiership
Winners: Jebel Ali Dragons
Runners up: Abu Dhabi Harlequins
UAE Premiership Cup
Winners: Abu Dhabi Harlequins
Runners up: Dubai Exiles
Fixtures
Friday
West Asia Cup final
5pm, Bahrain (6pm UAE time), Bahrain v Dubai Exiles
West Asia Trophy final
3pm, The Sevens, Dubai Hurricanes v Dubai Sports City Eagles
Friday, April 13
UAE Premiership final
5pm, Al Ain, Dubai Exiles v Abu Dhabi Harlequins
APPLE IPAD MINI (A17 PRO)
Display: 21cm Liquid Retina Display, 2266 x 1488, 326ppi, 500 nits
Chip: Apple A17 Pro, 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine
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Front camera: 12MP ultra-wide, f/2.4, Smart HDR 4, full-HD @ 25/30/60fps
Biometrics: Touch ID, Face ID
Colours: Blue, purple, space grey, starlight
In the box: iPad mini, USB-C cable, 20W USB-C power adapter
Price: From Dh2,099
Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha
Starring: Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Shantanu Maheshwari, Jimmy Shergill, Saiee Manjrekar
Director: Neeraj Pandey
Rating: 2.5/5
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Nepotism is the name of the game
Salman Khan’s father, Salim Khan, is one of Bollywood’s most legendary screenwriters. Through his partnership with co-writer Javed Akhtar, Salim is credited with having paved the path for the Indian film industry’s blockbuster format in the 1970s. Something his son now rules the roost of. More importantly, the Salim-Javed duo also created the persona of the “angry young man” for Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan in the 1970s, reflecting the angst of the average Indian. In choosing to be the ordinary man’s “hero” as opposed to a thespian in new Bollywood, Salman Khan remains tightly linked to his father’s oeuvre. Thanks dad.
