Articles by Matthew Abbott

Technology

Under-fire Vitor Pereira explains why he confronted Wolves fans after Burnley loss

Wolverhampton Wanderers head coach Vitor Pereira has explained what he said to the club's fans following their defeat to Burnley . Pereira went over to the Wolves supporters at Molineux after they failed to win for a ninth consecutive Premier League match. They trailed 2-0 after half an hour, but rallied just before half-time and went into the break level at 2-2. However, a 95th-minute winner from Lyle Foster meant they lost a seventh league match of the season Following the full-time whistle, players and staff went over to a section of the home support, with footage later showing Pereira being led away from there after an altercation. The coach has now explained what happened. "I went there just to say to them that we are fighting, we are fighting, we are fighting, and we must fight together. This is what I said," Pereira recalled. "But I understand the frustration because I was frustrated also. But this is football. "The last game (against Chelsea in the Carabao Cup fourth round), the result was not the result that we wanted. But I felt again the connection between the supporters and the team, and this is because of that." Asked about negativity towards the club's ownership and his communication with them, Pereira said: "Day-by-day, my work is to find solutions to try to help my team, my players, and the people in the club. They are doing the same. "I'm trying to be connected. To be united, to face this difficult moment of the season. Pereira then raised his eyebrows after being asked whether he felt his time was running out. "Your work, I leave that to you. Because this is your work, the future, the speculations," he said. "My work is today, the present. It is to spend my hours trying to find solutions to help my players, to help my club, to help the team and to reach a win to offer to our supporters. "This is my life. This is from seven o'clock in the morning until seven o'clock in the afternoon." Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.

Technology

Paddy Pimblett makes Tom Aspinall vs Ciryl Gane UFC title prediction - 'I don't see how'

Paddy Pimblett believes Tom Aspinall will dominate Ciryl Gane in the UFC 321 main event . Heavyweight champion Aspinall faces former interim champion Gane in Abu Dhabi on Saturday night. Aspinall and Pimblett have trained together in the same gym during the build-up to this title fight. 'The Baddy' is now backing the fighter from Salford to defend his belt for the first time since being promoted to undisputed champion this summer due to the retirement of Jon Jones from MMA . "I think Tom will dominate him, Dr Squatch ambassador for the Manladia campaign Pimblett told the Daily Mail . "I don't see any other way that it could go, to be honest, I genuinely don't." "Tom is brilliant. I've trained with Tom; he's one of the coolest dudes you'll ever meet, such a nice guy.' 'The Baddy' went on to explain: "I just don't see a way that Ciryl Gane can beat him unless it is like a big, crazy knockout that catches Tom off guard. I don't see how Tom can get beaten there. Pimblett added, "I'd say he has fought someone of the striking level of Gane before because he fought Sergei Pavlovich and knocked him out. Pavlovich, at the time, at least, was one of the most dangerous knockout artists in the UFC , and Tom knocked him out in two minutes or something (one minute and nine seconds). "So you could even say he has fought someone with better striking than Ciryl Gane; Gane is more of a technical striker, but I just can't see Tom losing that fight. He's got too much for Gane because he can strike with him, but he can take him down at will and submit him if he wanted to." Aspinall is similarly confident, saying at the weigh-in: "This is going to be a very special performance, guys, make sure you tune in, this is big." However, he has prepared for a longer fight than usual. "My opponent moves really well," Aspinall told the BBC , "so I'm gonna have to keep up with him moving. He's very athletic; he's got great cardio, so I obviously want to be able to match that or get as close to it as possible." Aspinall added, "I'd much prefer a short fight, but if I have to do a long fight, that's fine." Aspinall has also spoken about being the heavyweight champion. "The ultimate goal has been done a long time ago," he said, "which is to do this full-time. "I have been doing this full-time for a long time now; that was the ultimate goal. Anything on top of that is good. "As for being a long-reigning heavyweight champion? We will just see how it goes, but I am confident that I am the best fighter in the division. "But it's heavyweight MMA; you never know what is going to happen; well, there are two things that can happen – you can win or lose. You never really know. "The heavyweight title is like a hot potato; people have dropped it left and right. It doesn't tend to stay around for you too long."