‘I’m not even the best player in Uzbekistan’: Javokhir Sindarov

If ever you wanted to understand the distinction between ‘winning the transfer market’ and winning an actual football match, then this was the game for you. Tottenham’s first home fixture of the Premier League season began with adulatory focus on all their new players. It ended in decisive defeat to Newcastle as recruit after recruit failed to make their presence pay, while Newcastle’s forgotten forwards made hay. “Tottenham Hotspur, it’s happened again”, sang the Toon Army as if it needed pointing out. Tottenham should have taken the lead in the first half they had the better of, but they had no response to impressive second-half strikes by first Anthony Elanga then Yoanne Wissa. What had looked like green shoots of positivity withered into nothing. For a Newcastle team itself a work in progress under Matthias Jaissle, this was a heartening victory achieved with still many of their own additions to come in...

Perhaps last week’s triumph was not a one-off. Hull backed up a shock victory against Manchester United by maintaining their 100% start to the Premier League by condemning Coventry to successive defeats. “We’re gonna win the league,” was the glorious chant raining down from the Hull support after Liam Millar’s 82nd-minute strike. The goal was a sucker-punch for Coventry, who were pushing for a winner themselves and looked set to at least earn their first point of the season. Frank Lampard, arms folded, was unmoved as the away end rejoiced...

Through wind and rain came the end of summer and a new era at the Vitality. Milan will visit Dorset this autumn, and travel to San Sebastián, Galicia, and Czechia awaits. The stadium itself is under renovation, exoskeletons to be filled in, new security cordons to negotiate. An unbeaten home record that stretches back to 3 January sustains, though so does Bournemouth’s ability to concede late goals, James Tarkowski’s equaliser coming in injury time. For all that renewal, Bournemouth kicked off with a familiar look, only António Silva in central defence an addition to the starting lineup Marco Rose inherited from Andoni Iraola. If the club stance is Alex Scott remains whatever the offers, his first-half goal and overall performance can only add to the cachet. Amid a game played at regulation Premier League 1.5x speed, as others careered around on a sodden surface, the Channel Islander made time and space bend to his will, the mark of true talent...