Callum Wilson: There was a certain irony in Sam Allardyce’s pre-match comments about wanting Elland Road to be like a bear pit for the visit of Newcastle United. Those who saw the former Bolton centre-back play, and as someone who played against him and felt the weight of his tackles, would understand why the recently appointed Leeds manager used the metaphor. However, this was a game about using your head, not your brawn. Callum Wilson held his nerve and converted two penalties in the 2-2 draw, while Patrick Bamford missed his which, if you are a Leeds fan, must be very worrying. Leeds must win their two remaining games if they want to secure their Premier League status and neither will be a game for faint hearts. Wilson meanwhile does not suffer from that condition. The Newcastle striker was the coolest man in the stadium and has bounced back from a blip in goalscoring form to look as sharp as ever.
Antony: As a Manchester United player you have to deliver. The words of manager Erik ten Hag in his interview after the 2-0 win over Wolves have never rung truer. Not since the days of Sir Matt Busby and Sir Alex Ferguson has United’s red flag looked so promising. Wolves have come a long way since the arrival of Julen Lopetegui but were no match for United. The star of the show was Antony who looked electric on the day. The Brazilian’s ability is not in question, but all too often against the better teams he struggles by allowing his frustrations to get the better of him. United are very close to securing a Champions League place for next season. Ten Hag must impress upon Anthony during the summer that the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich will seek out those frustrations and expose them – and if he wants to stay at United he has to deliver against them as well.
Taiwo Awoniyi: The appointment of Mauricio Pochettino as the new Chelsea boss next season suggests life for Frank Lampard at Stamford Bridge is, once again, over. That doesn’t mean if Pochettino’s time at Chelsea is an unmitigated disaster they can’t haul Lampard back for a third time to hold the fort, such is the barmy nature of professional football these days. Nottingham Forest’s 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge only serves to endorse the need for fresh ideas at the top of the club. Taiwo Awoniyi’s two goals not only exposed their defensive frailties, but provided Forest with a Premier League lifeline. The Nigerian striker struggled, as did his team, in the first half of the season, but regular readers will note I said the only way Steve Cooper’s Forest could survive was if the owner stopped buying players mid-season and allowed the manager to create a team. The World Cup break also bought Cooper time to do precisely that. Meanwhile, Awoniyi has grown into a player and Forest now have a real chance of survival.