loss

Now, the side face the prospect of taking on the group favourites without their best player.

Bradley, who has also been booked three times in five Premier League appearances this term, was shown his second yellow card of the qualifying campaign in the 76th minute for a tackle on Lukas Haraslin.

O’Neill described the decision as “extremely disappointing” and felt his player had tried to pull out of the challenge.

“There were worse tackles in the game and one just before that was particularly poor on Isaac Price that the referee let go,” he said. “To produce a yellow card for that was disappointing.”

Speaking on BBC Sport NI, former Northern Ireland and Leeds United defender Stuart Dallas said Bradley had given “the referee a decision to make” but agreed with his old international boss that the decision ultimately was harsh.

If not for the resulting suspension, it would have been a mere footnote in an otherwise excellent performance.

Bradley was one of four players in the starting XI who went into the game knowing a booking would rule them out of Monday’s game, but Hume said they do not wish to curb his aggressive edge.

“We spoke before the game about the boys who were on yellows trying not to get one, but it’s one of those things,” he explained.

“You can’t go into a game trying not to get booked. You’ve got to play to your strengths.

“He’s full throttle. He’s 100% all the time.”

Since making his full Premier League debut in January 2024, Bradley has started 15 of his country’s 17 games, missing only the friendlies against Sweden and Switzerland in March.

Quite how to compensate for his loss gives O’Neill yet another thing to consider as he plots how to pull off what would be the biggest result of his second spell in charge.

While there is no like-for-like replacement in the squad, Oxford United’s Brodie Spencer figures to fill the void at right wing-back against the four-time World Cup winners.

“You’ve seen Brodie play left wing-back, right wing-back, he’s even played in a back three. We know how strong and athletic he is,” added Hume.

“Obviously Conor is going to be a big miss, but we’re a big group, we’re a strong team and we’re all together.

“It’s something we have to deal with and we’ll be ready.”

Oct. 9 (UPI) — The U.S. Navy has fired the commanding officer of the USS Wyoming Blue Crew, the service has announced.

Cmdr. Robert Moreno was relieved of his duties after staff lost confidence in his ability to command.

“Navy commanding officers are held to high standards of personal and professional conduct,” a Navy release said. “They are expected to uphold the highest standards of responsibility, reliability. And leadership and the Navy holds them accountable when they fall short of those standards.”

There were no details in the release about a reason for the dismissal, but the military often uses “loss of confidence” as a general statement when dismissing senior leaders.

Capt. David Burke, Submarine Squadron 20 deputy for training, was temporarily assigned responsibility of the USS Wyoming Blue Crew, the release said.

Moreno was temporarily assigned to Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, and took command of that ship in 2024. He became a commissioned officer in 2005, and was an enlisted sailor before that, his Naval biography said.

From 2001 to 2003, he was the commander of the Joint Force Marine Component.

EASTENDERS star Natalie Cassidy claims she was “damaged” by doing her fitness DVD, which saw her pocket £100,000 for shedding four stone.

The actress – who quit playing soap favourite Sonia Fowler in April after 32 years – was offered a bumper pay cheque to release two weight loss DVDs in 2007.

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Speaking on Giovanna Fletcher on her Happy Mum Happy Baby podcast, Natalie, 40, opened up about the damaging effect the weight loss deal had on her. 

Host Giovanna said: “I know that in the years to come you do find yourself in a place where you are completely comfortable with your body.”

Natalie, who has been promoting her new book Happy Days, replied: “I am but I think it damaged me doing that.

“Well I still would look in the mirror and go ‘oh I could be this, could be that.’

“But I think that is just us today.

“I just think it’s what we’re seeing all the time as women and men, but as women, I think it’s a scary world when you think about what we look like all the time.”

The soap actress opened up about signing up to do the DVD at a vulnerable time – and said she regrets her decision.

She added: “I’d lost mum at 19 so all of that weight stuff was happening through all of that time.

“Silly decisions were being made, shouldn’t have done that, not the right guidance.

“It’s a silly thing to do but if someone says ‘here’s £100,000 you want to lose some weight?’ I was like ‘yeah, I’ll take that’.”

Natalie said losing weight for the DVD left her “worse off” with her body.

She explained: “It took a turn for the worse, I put loads of weight on very, very quickly afterwards, if not more.

“I think I just ate loads and then I started taking laxatives at some point.

“And you know I would never say I had an eating disorder, I’m very fortunate to say that, but you know I think if I had carried on with laxatives and this and that, who knows where I’d be.”

Natalie said that raising her daughters Eliza, 14, and Joanie, eight, helped her snap out the cycle. 

She said: “I think because you’re not the be all and end all. You have those kids and that’s it. You forget about yourself.

“All you worry about, all you focus on is if they’re well cared for, their dinner, what they’re eating, what they’re wearing, are they sleeping. that that was my focus and  the idea of worrying about what I look like kind of fell to the wayside.”

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DIET PILL RUMOURS

However, attention on her weight has not eased up over the years.

Just last year, Natalie, who has been with her BBC cameraman fiance Marc Humphrey since 2014, was forced to deny she used diet pills to lose weight.

Her fans were targeted by scams online and the actress took to her social media to clarify that she recently lost her weight by cutting out treats.

The actress previously told The Sun: “I cut out rubbish. I cut down on alcohol too, even though I love white wine.”

“Alcohol is full of hidden calories, which all add up when it comes to a person’s daily limit.”

WEIGHT LOSS JABS

On the podcast, she denied using weight loss jabs too.

Natalie explained: “I’ve never gone through any injectable route. 

“I’ve not done Botox before or lip filler. I just haven’t. So to inject something, I’m just scared of it.”

Giovanna, 40 – mum to Buzz, 11, Buddy, nine, and Max, six – gave her own views on weight loss jabs and admitted that they have come up on her radar. 

It’s a silly thing to do but if someone says ‘here’s £100,000 you want to lose some weight?’ I was like ‘yeah, I’ll take that’

Natalie Cassidy

The wife of McFly’s Tom Fletcher, explained: “Only because I’ve had people going and doing it in a way where it’s almost discussed in a way that they’re trying to encourage you to do it.

“I’m like, I don’t want to do that. No, I’m not interested.

“It feels so bizarre to go from ‘this is me’ to a ‘let’s change myself’, and for what? 

“I don’t think anyone would like me more if I’m skinny. 

“I don’t think anyone would love me more. I don’t think I’ll be happier. 

“I think it would do the opposite.”

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The BBC Sport presenter joins the likes of Tom Daley, Jonathan Ross and Alan Carr in taking part in the first series of The Celebrity Traitors

The inaugural series of The Celebrity Traitors hits our screens on Wednesday night, with a star-studded cast taking part in the spin-off of the popular BBC programme.

Following the same format as the regular version, the series will see 19 celebs becoming either ‘Faithfuls’ or, in the case of some, ‘Traitors’. The task for the Traitors is to work together to ‘murder’ their fellow contestants without being detected, while the Faithfuls are charged with successfully identifying and ‘banishing’ the Traitors by voting them out.

The celebrity line-up includes singer-songwriter Cat Burns, telly host Jonathan Ross, actress Celia Imrie and former Olympic diver Tom Daley. However, one contestant who’s been tipped to go the distance and bag the £100,000 charity prize is BBC Sport legend Clare Balding.

Over her 30-year career, the presenter has become one of Britain’s most esteemed broadcasters, having fronted massive sporting events such as the Grand National, Olympic Games and Wimbledon for channels like the BBC and Channel 4.

Balding will be hoping her authority, popularity and affability to take her far in the iconic Traitors castle, while she has grown used to the spotlight being cast over her, and particularly her life away from the cameras. As her stock has risen, particular attention has been paid her personal life, from her relationship with another presenter to her recent weight loss. Here’s what you need to know.

Ex-BBC presenter wife

Balding first met her wife, broadcaster Alice Arnold, in 1999 while they were both working for the BBC. While they were simply good friends at first, they began dating in 2002, after a national newspaper publicly revealed Balding’s sexuality.

The pair entered into a civil partnership in 2006 before getting married in a private ceremony in 2015, following the legalisation of same-sex marriage in the UK. Their marriage was subsequently back-dated to 2006.

Balding has described Arnold, who worked as a newsreader and continuity announcer at BBC Radio 4 for over two decades, as “fiercely loyal” and her “own little guard dog”.

Reflecting on their first meeting, the Wimbledon presenter confessed she was unaware of Arnold’s identity when she first noticed her at a BBC show, but added: “I saw her and thought ‘Oh, she’s really interesting and rather beautiful. We started chatting and she’s very funny. We were friends for at least two years.”

Balding recently spoke more candidly about her relationship with Arnold during an interview with Hello! Magazine, crediting her wife as the inspiration behind her debut novel ‘Pastures New’, which hit shelves in September.

“One of the things I wanted to write about in my novel was about falling in love because I thought ‘I know that’,” she explained. “I know what real, deep love is and meeting someone I want to grow old with. Lucky, lucky me.”

In the same interview, she revealed that she and Arnold are preparing to leave their long-time home in Chiswick as they look to fill the “canine-shaped hole” in their lives by getting a new dog.

“We’re looking to move out of London in the near future, and one of the main reasons for that is to have a bit more space and protection from the road so that it’s a good environment for a dog,” said Balding. “As soon as we’re settled, it’s definitely our plan – probably next spring. I just smile at the thought of having a dog back in our lives.”

On how she and Arnold spend their time together, she spoke about their love of golf, adding: “I’m not as good as Alice, who’s a seven-handicap golfer, but I’m working on getting better”. She also discussed the couple’s travel plans, explaining: “Alice and I are about to go from New York up to Quebec and back again and we’re going to Japan on a cruise next year. We love being on the water and then ending up in a new place.”

Balding’s relationship with Arnold came after she previously dated men, with one of her former partners even proposing to her. However, she turned down the proposal and never regretted the decision, explaining that he went on to “behave appallingly”.

“I had a few boyfriends, not like loads,” she recalled. “But I had one very serious boyfriend for two or three years. He asked me to marry him, and he was in the Army, and he was going off. And I thought, ‘He’s only asking me because he thinks he’s in danger and, according to romantic films, I’m meant to say yes at this point’.

“I knew I didn’t want to. I said, ‘Look, that’s a lovely thing to say but ask me again when you come back’. When he came back he didn’t ask me again, and I thought, ‘Thank God’. I thought, ‘I don’t trust you and I’ll never trust you’ – and funnily enough I was absolutely spot on as his ex-wife told me not that long ago.”

She added: “That relationship ended not very well with him behaving appallingly. I think I was damaged by that, but that doesn’t make you gay. I just think when I first fell in love with a woman, it was completely different.”

Cancer battle

In 2009, Balding revealed she had been diagnosed with thyroid cancer after spotting a lump on her neck while watching herself present on television.

Warning signs of the condition include a lump in the neck, a painful throat and swallowing difficulties that persist, and after heeding her family’s advice to consult a doctor, she was told she had cancer and needed an operation. Balding then underwent surgery to remove a cyst, her thyroid gland and a lymph node, followed by radioactive iodine treatment to halt the disease’s progression.

She later admitted to going through a “dark stage” after her diagnosis, as she feared the potential impacts of her illness on her voice and career. However, she received the all-clear at the end of 2010 and has since seen her career flourish.

During a recent appearance on the Stick to Rugby podcast, she opened up about her diagnosis, recalling: “It was an odd one because I hadn’t noticed feeling any different. I was doing the show jumping at Christmas when it was at Olympia and I recorded an opening link, and I was watching it back on the monitor as we were about to go live.

“I was looking at the mirror and I saw this lump on my neck, a big lump. I thought, ‘Wow, that’s really weird, where has that come from?’ I went home for Christmas and my sister-in-law’s Welsh grandfather was a doctor, and he looked at it. He was still a practising GP and he said that I’d better go to the doctor. He took Alice to one side and said, ‘Make sure she goes’.

“Between Christmas and New Year, when the doctor’s surgery was open, I went and the GP did some tests and he sent me to a specialist. They came back and said, ‘You’ve got thyroid cancer’ and they had to operate.”

Pointing to her neck, she added: “I’ve got a cracking scar there, they had to operate three times. I was most worried about my voice because of where the surgery is. I was thinking, please don’t hit my vocal cords. I came back and was commentating on the tennis for the radio and I couldn’t hit the notes, the vocal cords weren’t meeting properly.

“Anyway, it came back and I was all fine and I got my bass notes back – but that was all I was worried about. I then had radioactive iodine therapy, but that’s all right, because it’s not as bad as chemo.”

Body transformation

Today, Balding is healthier than ever, having shed one-and-a-half stone by eliminating a few food and drink items from her diet.

During her Hello! interview, the 54-year-old revealed that she had embraced a low-carb diet, ditching pasta and bread while also reducing her sugar consumption. She also modified her drinking habits, choosing gin and tonic over red wine.

After overhauling her eating habits, Balding says she not only “feels better” but has gained fresh confidence as she can now wear whatever she wants.

“I’ve worked hard at it and feel better,” she said. “I got into my 50s and thought, ‘I’m just going to be fat and happy’, but then a friend talked about a low-carb diet and the late Michael Mosley publicised this form of weight loss, too, and I thought, I’ll give it one more go – as I’ve tried so many diets over the years – and see if it works. And it did!”

Revealing she no longer eats bread or pasta and as little sugar as possible, she added: “And if I want a drink, I have a gin and tonic instead of wine, so I don’t feel like I’m depriving myself of things.

“I’m never going to be stick thin – that’s just not me. I’ve got massive bones. But I can now put on a pair of trousers with a belt and my shirt tucked in and I went for years without being able to do that. That feels great.”

Michelle Cooper scored in the 59th minute and the Kansas City Current extended their unbeaten run to 16 straight matches with a 1-0 victory over Angel City on Monday night at BMO Stadium.

It was a league record 19th overall win for the first-place Current, who have already clinched a playoff spot and the NWSL Shield. It was also Kansas City’s 10th win on the road.

The loss snapped a three-game unbeaten streak at home for Angel City (6-11-6).

After a scoreless first half, Jun Endo had one of Angel City’s best chances in the 48th minute, but her shot from distance hit the post.

Cooper broke through just moments after being subbed in, scoring on her first touch off a pass from Haley Hopkins from out in front of the goal.

Kansas City goalkeeper Lorena had her 13th shutout.

Temwa Chawinga, who leads the Golden Boot race with 14 goals, did not play for the Current because of a knee injury.

Both the Orlando Pride and the Washington Spirit had 18 wins last year, the previous league high. The Current are 19-2-2 with three games left in the regular season.

Chargers running back Omarion Hampton will be placed on injured reserve, coach Jim Harbaugh said Monday, meaning the rookie first-round pick will be out for at least the next four games.

Late in the third quarter of Sunday’s 27-10 loss to Washington, Hampton came up limping after colliding with a Commanders pass rusher. After the game, the running back rode by the Chargers’ locker room on the back of a golf cart, wearing a protective boot on his left foot. Harbaugh declined to elaborate on the situation in his postgame comments.

However, Harbaugh revealed Monday that Hampton will be out for at least a month.

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Sam Farmer breaks down what went wrong for the Chargers in their 27-10 loss to the Washington Commanders at SoFi Stadium on Sunday.

Hampton, a University of North Carolina standout selected 22nd overall last spring, rushed for 44 yards in 12 carries Sunday and had six receptions for 26 yards.

“He’s been getting in a really good rhythm, playing really well,” Harbaugh said. “Special player. That was an unfortunate occurrence.”

The Chargers, who play Sunday at Miami, are looking to halt a two-game losing slide. They had put more on the shoulders of their rookie running back after losing veteran Najee Harris to a torn Achilles tendon in the second quarter of a Week 3 victory over Denver.

The team is already dealing with a slew of injuries along the offensive line and needs a reliable running game to take pressure off of quarterback Justin Herbert, who was hit a combined 21 times in the past two games.

In a Week 4 loss at the New York Giants, Hampton ran for 128 yards in 12 carries, including a 54-yard touchdown run.

Harbaugh said the Chargers will turn to reserve running backs Hassan Haskins, Kimani Vidal and Amar Johnson and “look at other avenues as well.”

The Chargers are coming off a loss in which they got off to a 10-0 lead before surrendering 27 unanswered points. They have been penalized 24 times in the past two games.

“In really all phases, every group’s got fingerprints on it, every position group, every coach,” Harbaugh said. “We’re all looking at that, wall to wall, going back, seeing every way we can attack and be better.”

The Chargers triumphantly dispatched the AFC West.

The NFC East? That’s a different story.

The Washington Commanders barged into SoFi Stadium on Sunday and handed the Chargers their second consecutive defeat — a 27-10 spirit crusher — coming on the heels of an upset of coach Jim Harbaugh’s team by the winless New York Giants a week before.

The visitors iced the win with a 13-play, 99-yard drive that ended with an eight-yard, blitz-beating touchdown pass from Jayden Daniels to Deebo Samuel. That had thousands of blue-clad fans streaming for the exits.

The game had been decided before that. A pivotal play came with 7 minutes, 40 seconds remaining and the Chargers looking to cut into Washington’s 10-point lead.

On third-and-goal from the 4, Justin Herbert dropped back and fired a pass for the sure-handed Keenan Allen. The ball was tipped by Jer’Zhan Newton and intercepted at the goal line by cornerback Mike Sainristil. Threat neutralized.

That blunted a drive that started with a masterful defensive play, a tackle by Chargers defensive tackle Teair Tart, who pried the ball loose from Washington running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt — who was having a tremendous game — then recovered the fumble.

The play hinted at a dramatic comeback by the lurching Chargers (3-2), a team still looking to find its groove. Much like their season so far, the Chargers started strong then faded.

Washington wide receiver Deebo Samuel scores on an eight-yard touchdown pass from Jayden Daniels in the fourth quarter of the Commanders’ 27-10 win Sunday.

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

They jumped out to a 10-0 lead against the Commanders before surrendering 27 unanswered points with the game torturously slipping away from the Chargers in the second half.

Their kryptonite was rookie Croskey-Merritt, who tore off some gains longer than his last name. The seventh-round pick from Arizona finished with a combined 150 yards in 14 carries and two catches.

He had touchdown runs of 15 and five yards around the left side that befuddled a Chargers defense that had played so well to this point. This was a Commanders offense missing star receiver Terry McLaurin, and with Daniels ostensibly limited by a sprained knee and bulky brace.

Daniels did some scrambling, however, and mobile quarterbacks historically have given this defense problems. The onetime star from Cajon High in San Bernardino threw for 231 yards and ran for 39.

Heading into the game, the primary concern of the Chargers offense was protecting Herbert, who was pressured on 46 drop backs in the first four games, more than any quarterback in the NFL, according to TruMedia. He was facing a defense Sunday that includes future Hall of Famers Von Miller and Bobby Wagner.

Washington players celebrate after cornerback Mike Sainristil intercepts a pass intended for Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen in the fourth quarter Sunday.

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Herbert creates problems for defenses with his arm and legs. On the third play from scrimmage, he broke loose on a run up the middle and picked up 41 yards.

The opening drive appeared to end with a 29-yard field goal by Cameron Dicker, but the Chargers got new life with an offsides call on Washington. That afforded the Chargers a first-and-goal at the six, and two plays later, Herbert found Ladd McConkey with a two-yard pass for a touchdown.

Allen caught five passes, becoming the 16th receiver in NFL history to accumulate 1,000 career receptions. He came into Sunday’s game needing two catches to hit that milestone, and he did that in fewer games than anyone (159), compared with the prior record-holder Marvin Harrison (167).

Herbert is playing behind a patchwork offensive line, as the team lost left tackle Rashawn Slater in training camp — 10 days after making him the highest-paid offensive lineman in history — then lost replacement Joe Alt to a high-ankle sprain in the first quarter of a Week 4 loss at the Giants.

Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey celebrates after scoring his first touchdown of the season in the first quarter Sunday.

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Right guard Mekhi Becton returned from a concussion that sidelined him for the Giants game, but Sunday sustained a hand injury. What’s more, right tackle Trey Pipkins III hobbled off the field in the second quarter with a banged-up knee. It was a true MASH unit.

This has been a roller coaster season for the Chargers, a microcosm of which happened at the end of the first half.

The Commanders were punting from their own end zone and put the ball in the hands of Chargers returner McConkey, who weaved his way to the end zone for an apparent touchdown.

That jubilation didn’t last long for the Chargers, as they were flagged for roughing the punter, giving the visitors a first down. No sooner did the defense get back onto the field than Daniels connected on a 50-yard heave to Luke McCaffrey, younger brother of San Francisco 49ers star Christian McCaffrey.

Two plays later, Samuel picked up 22 yards on a reception for Washington (3-2), setting up a field goal that forged a 10-10 tie the teams took into halftime.

The Commanders carried that momentum into the third quarter when, with a combination of receptions and runs by Croskey-Merritt, they worked their way downfield for the go-ahead touchdown.

It was about 12 hours after his team blew numerous opportunities in an overtime loss to the San Francisco 49ers, and Rams coach Sean McVay was still kicking himself.

And lamenting his team’s troubled kicking game.

“That has been a killer for us,” McVay said Friday during a videoconference with reporters, “and it’s cost us two games.”

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Gary Klein breaks down what went wrong for the Rams in their 26-23 overtime loss to the San Francisco 49ers at SoFi Stadium on Thursday.

The Rams are 3-2, with defeats by the defending Super Bowl-champion Philadelphia Eagles and the 49ers due in part to woeful execution on field-goal and extra-point attempts.

The Eagles beat the Rams by blocking two field-goal attempts in the fourth quarter, including a potential winning kick that they returned for a touchdown on the final play.

On Thursday night, Rams kicker Joshua Karty missed a long field-goal attempt, and the 49ers blocked an extra-point try. That’s four points lost in a 26-23 defeat. Karty, who has been masterful at dropping hard-to-handle knuckleball kickoffs into the landing zone, also misplaced a kick that gave the 49ers the ball at the 40-yard line.

Karty, however, does not appear to be McVay’s most pressing kick-related concern.

The kicking unit as a whole has played a major role in both defeats, which also featured poor execution by the Rams at times in other areas.

“I can’t remember feeling much more disgusted waking up after a tough loss, than I have after the two that we’ve had,” McVay said.

So how do the Rams fix their kicking problems?

“Oh man,” McVay said. “I wish it was just one thing but when you watch the protection — we’ve got to fix it. And it’s not one thing in particular.

“There’s different locations and spots and people that have not executed the way that we’re capable of.”

After the Rams defeated the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, McVay thought the Rams had addressed their issues.

“Clearly, I was not right on that,” McVay said, “so we’ve got to fix it. We’ve got to go back to work.”

The Rams are off for the weekend, and they will return on Monday to begin preparations for a game against the Baltimore Ravens in Baltimore. After that game, the Rams will remain in Baltimore to prepare for their next game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in London.

“We’re a couple execution plays away from being a 5-0 team,” McVay said. “But the reality is we’re 3-2.”

McVay sounded confident that the Rams would rebound from the loss to the 49ers.

“This is going to galvanize us,” he said. “I promise you that.”

Etc.

McVay continued to lament his final play call against the 49ers, which did not give quarterback Matthew Stafford a chance to make a play. Stafford had moved the Rams into position to win the game, but on fourth and one at the 49ers’ 11-yard line, McVay called a running play. The 49ers stopped Kyren Williams for no gain, ending the game. “I know it wasn’t the best decision to take the ball out his hands in crunch time on that fourth down,” McVay said. … Rookie tight end Terrance Ferguson, a second-round draft pick, caught his first pass for a 21-yard gain. “We’ve got to be able to figure out a way to get him going,” McVay said, adding, “he’s going to be a really good player for us.” … McVay indicated the Rams might make moves to improve the cornerback group. “We’re going to look into those things,” he said.

Besides the small step on the road to recovery that was the Scottish Premiership win at Livingston at the weekend, Rangers haven’t managed to lose sight of the starting blocks.

In Austria, they had an opportunity to build a bit of momentum and make a case for their head coach, who remains under huge pressure.

Instead, a poor throw-in from James Tavernier was lofted forward by Dimitri Lavalee, controlled by Maurice Malone, and finished by Tomi Horvat. Seven minutes had elapsed.

If that was a defensive mishap, the second goal was a defensive calamity.

A high line at a deep free-kick was sliced open with one delightful daisy-cutter, and a scrambling Jack Butland was left blushing for a second time in the first half.

“Schoolboy stuff,” said former Rangers right-back Alan Hutton.

Two mistakes due to the Ibrox side’s mentality, according to Martin. Nothing to do with their set-up, system or style.

“The difference from the first half-hour to the next 60 minutes was too far apart really,” the head coach said. “It’s concentration, it’s mentality.

“I’m frustrated because we give away two poor goals, soft goals. We did so much work on them recently we were just not alive.

“We hurt ourselves because they didn’t create anything from open play. It’s hurtful and frustrating.”

SCARLETT Moffatt has wowed fans after showing off her incredible weight loss – revealing she’s ditched her size 18 clothes for good.

The former Gogglebox star, 31, left viewers stunned as she unveiled her slimmer figure on Big Brother Late and Live on Sunday.

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Scarlett looked happier than ever as she wowed viewers in a dark green co-ord top and mini skirt with feather deatiling at the trims.

She oozed confidence wearing a pair of leopard print block high heels and styled her dark hair in classy loose curls.

The reality star posted her look on Instagram, with the caption: “Always been a huge fan of big brother, in fact my guilty pleasure will forever be a chicken kebab and watching reality tv!

“So glad I got to do a major tick off my bucket list and be at a launch night at @bbuk“.

Fans flooded the comments gushing over her transformation, with one saying: “You look amazing.”

Another added: “Stunning!!🔥 😍😍 need outfit drop pls!”

A third penned: “Looking beautiful gal.”

This comes after Scarlett revealed she finally feels “happier” than ever after years of yo-yo dieting, brutal bootcamps and body battles.

She admitted she once dropped to a size 8 after punishing herself with 700-calorie days and a gruelling Swiss bootcamp involving six hours of exercise – all in a bid to stay slim after releasing her controversial fitness DVD in 2016.

But despite shedding three stone, Scarlett confessed she was still miserable and wracked with body image issues.

Now, she says she’s proud to embrace her curves – and is finally comfortable in her own skin.

“The thing with being body positive and having body confidence is just celebrating everybody’s body,” Scarlett previously told The Sun.

“As long as you are healthy, being yourself and you’re being nice to people, you do you.”

The I’m A Celeb star said she regrets the years she “missed out” on life because of low self-esteem, but now urges fans to stop being so hard on themselves.

Scarlett even revealed her own trick – imagining she’s speaking to her younger self whenever negative thoughts creep in.

“Would you ever say horrible things to a six-year-old?” she said. “Of course not. So don’t say it to yourself either.”

Now proudly flying the flag as a plus-size TV presenter, Scarlett says she’s thrilled kids today get to see more diverse faces and body types on screen.

Since bursting onto Gogglebox in 2014 aged just 23, Scarlett has carved out a successful career in telly.

And now she’s moving into hard-hitting documentaries, with her latest, Britain’s Tourette’s Mystery: Scarlett Moffatt Investigates, airing soon on Channel 4.

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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The loose ball tumbled through the end zone, slipping through one set of fingertips, then another, blue-and-orange bodies clawing desperately aside cardinal-and-gold ones. So much had gone wrong for USC all afternoon, from its struggling secondary to its stifled pass rush to its inconsistent quarterback, but at the most critical moment in its season thus far, here was a particularly fortunate twist of fate, as linebacker Eric Gentry punched out a fumble and, somehow, some way, Christian Pierce had recovered it.

After a seamless 4-0 start to its season, the deck had seemed stacked against the Trojans all afternoon. Their starting left tackle was out. Their starting center soon joined him. Their top red-zone target was limited, and their defensive leader, Kamari Ramsey, was up all night puking.

For a while, that seemed to be the least of the problems facing USC on Saturday. The rushing attack couldn’t find room. Both lines were being blown off the ball, and the secondary was struggling to stop the bleeding. Then there were the self-inflicted mistakes, the very same ones that had marred the season to date.

All that, however, would be washed away with that loose ball in the end zone, the second fumble Illinois had coughed up that close to the end zone. A sliver of hope immediately turned to ecstasy as quarterback Jayden Maiava launched a rope to the corner of the end zone that found Makai Lemon for a go-ahead score with under less than two minutes remaining in the game.

But that hope was erased just as quickly, fading once again into the frustration, as Illinois drove the field for a game-winning field goal as time expired, beating USC, 34-32.

Illinois (4-1, 1-1 in Big Ten) gave the Trojans (4-1, 2-1) opportunities to take over the game. It fumbled on the goal line the first time just before halftime, and struggled to move the ball to start the third quarter.

Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer (9) rushes for a touchdown during the first half in a win over USC.

(Craig Pessman / Associated Press)

But back-breaking mistakes continued to mar the Trojans on both sides of the ball. Driving with a chance to tie the score in the third quarter, Maiava threw an ill-advised pass over the middle that was intercepted.

USC’s defense forced a rare three-and-out on the next drive, only for its own offense to go three-and-out in response.

Illinois wouldn’t waste its opportunity after that, as Kaedin Feagin caught a swing pass, shook one USC defender, turned the corner and saw nothing but open field in front of him. His 66-yard touchdown would secure Illinois’ lead until that late fumble gave USC life.

The Trojans might have been in better shape before that if it weren’t for their defense, which struggled mightily throughout Saturday. USC gave up 502 yards and was generally picked apart by Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer, who had 331 passing yards and two touchdowns.

The Trojans also struggled again with penalties, committing eight for 69 yards. The most crucial came on the final drive when cornerback DJ Harvey was called for a critical pass interference penalty.

USC’s quarterback was not exactly at his best on Saturday. Under more pressure than he’d faced all season, Maiava sailed several passes and missed multiple open receivers. He also threw his first interception of the season.

But he did make his share of eye-popping passes downfield, including hitting Lemon in the corner of the end zone for that 19-yard, fourth-quarter touchdown. Maiava finished with 364 yards and two touchdowns.

Lemon did his best to carry USC on his own, especially with Ja’Kobi Lane out because of an injury. He caught 11 passes for 151 yards.

From the start, it was a difficult day for the Trojans.

Just as USC started to find its stride early, Waymond Jordan burst through a hole on second down and lost control of the ball. The fumble, his second on an opening drive in three weeks, bounced right into the arms of Illinois defensive back Jaheim Clarke, and the Illini mounted a 10-play touchdown drive from there, striking with a 10-yard touchdown run from Altmyer.

In spite of the fumble, USC went right back on the ensuing possession to the rushing attack and Jordan, who punched in a one-yard score. But Illinois punched back with an even longer drive, capped by a trick-play touchdown from Altmyer.

USC pulled out a trick play of its own a few minutes later, as Jordan, running toward the sideline, tossed the ball to Maiava for a perimeter flea flicker. He immediately launched a pass downfield to Lemon, who juked two defenders out of their shoes on his way into the end zone.

But the 75-yard score was ultimately called back on account of backup center J’Onre Reed being too far downfield.

The penalty was nearly a devastating one. USC’s 13-play drive stalled just past midfield, as Maiava threw three consecutive incompletions, and the Trojans turned the ball over on downs. Illinois proceeded to march down the field, all the way to the USC two-yard line.

In desperate need of a break just before halftime, USC got a gift at the goal line. As Feagin tried to force his way through traffic, the ball came loose, and USC recovered.

The sequence was significant. Without enough evidence to overturn the call, the Trojans charged down the field in time to secure a field goal. What perhaps should have been a two-score lead for the Illini coming out of the half was instead just four.

Still, it proved too much for USC to overcome.

AFTER transforming her thinning hair to an enviable mane, one beauty buff has shared her secret weapon.

Sofia, a hair loss researcher from the UK, previously confirmed that she used to suffer with bald patches and hair thinning – two common concerns for both men and women.

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Naturally, Sofia did some research into the best ways to stop breakage and shedding – and now, rocking thick and luscious locks, she shares her top finds on TikTok.

The trichologist recently took to her page where she revealed ”the best shampoo for hair growth” – and it’s currently on sale at Boots too.

Raving about the wallet-friendly Nizoral Anti Dandruff Shampoo, Sofia said: ”If you’re losing hair and you’re not using this shampoo, you are missing out.”

According to the beauty buff, this haircare product ”is one of the only proven shampoos to actually revere female pattern hair loss” as its formula ”blocks the hormone” that’s behind hair loss.

However, when using the shampoo, Sofia warned there are three things you should be aware of, including not using the weaker formula.

”Don’t waste your money on the 1% – get the pink bottle.”

Whilst you may be tempted to use this shampoo all the time, the whizz warned to not ”overdo it”.

”Nizoral is a very drying shampoo. Something that I actually recommend is combining it with something like a bond-building shampoo.”

Don’t want to fork out a fortune on the viral Olaplex range? The are several more affordable options on the high street, including Elvive Bond Repair range and Pantene Bond Repair line for a fraction of the price.

”Or even just a really hydrating shampoo to make suee your hair is getting damaged and to make sure you’re keeping it in a as good of a condition as possible.”

When shampooing, the TikToker also warned to not apply the product on your ends at all – or risk behind left with a ”really dry” mess.

If you can’t find the exact brand at your local store, Sofia said you can use any shampoo as long as it’s got ”ketoconazole” as an ingredient.

”Lastly, the most important thing I have to say about this is that even though this is a great shampoo to be using and it can definitely help with your results, if you’re not combining it with things like minoxidil and other treatments, you probably won’t see amazing results.”

Minoxidil is a medication that can be taken orally or topically.

Hair Loss 101

HAIR pro Samantha Cusick has revealed everything you need to know about hair loss. 

Why Does Hair Loss Happen?

Hair loss can be influenced by so many factors, from genetics and hormone changes to lifestyle choices.

Stress, diet, and even hair care habits can all impact hair strength.

It’s perfectly normal to lose some hair each day, but sometimes the body can shed more than usual, responding to things like hormonal shifts or even life stressors.

Why It Happens More This Time of Year

Have you ever noticed your hair seems to shed more in autumn? That’s seasonal shedding!

During summer, we hold onto extra hair to protect our scalp from the sun.

As the weather cools, it’s like our body recalibrates and lets go of those extra strands.

Dry, cooler air can also make hair more brittle, making it easier to lose a little extra volume during these months.

Hacks and Affordable Buys to Treat Hair loss

The great news? You don’t need to spend a fortune on pricey treatments to support your hair.

Try daily scalp massages—they’re so simple but really help boost blood flow to the follicles.

Castor oil is another fantastic, budget-friendly option that’s rich in nutrients to strengthen your strands.

Adding a bit more protein to your diet and a biotin supplement can also work wonders for overall hair health.

Products to Avoid

Steer clear of products with high levels of alcohol, sulphates, and parabens – they can be drying and damage hair over time.

Heat styling and chemical treatments can also cause breakage, so try to use them sparingly.

Instead, look for gentle, hydrating formulas to support your scalp and keep hair healthier through the seasons.

It is an over-the-counter product that acts as a vasodilator, taking more blood flow to your scalp.

The treatment shouldn’t be stopped, as hair loss will occur again.

You can purchase topical minoxidil easily on the likes of Amazon where you can bag a bulk of the product to last you several months.

It should be applied to the scalp every single night and means the product cost just 30p per application.

Sofia went on: ”Because if you’re someone who’s dealing with hair loss, the more things that you throw at it, the better your results will be.

”This should be one thing out of a routine of, like, six to seven things if you really want to see results.”

Posted just five days ago, the informative clip has taken the internet by storm, winning the beauty buff more than 212k views and over 7,000 likes.

168 people flooded to comments to share their thoughts and struggles with hair and scalp health.

One person had great success, writing: ”I’ve been using Nizoral shampoo 2% twice a week with Minoxidil foam 5% every night and after 6 months my hair has grown back faster healthier and stronger.”

Another chimed in: ”it’s so expensive I only got 3 washes out of it.”

”Nizoral made my scalp greasier,” a person claimed.

Bobby Witt Jr. and Adam Frazier each drove in two runs, Salvador Perez moved into second place on Kansas City’s career RBI list and the Royals beat the Angels 8-4 on Tuesday night, shortly after being eliminated from postseason contention.

The Royals (79-78) were knocked out of the race for an AL wild card with five games remaining in their regular season. Kansas City, which reached the playoffs last season, has failed to qualify for the postseason in nine of the last 10 seasons.

Perez singled to center in the first inning to score Witt. It was the 35-year-old catcher’s 97th RBI of the season and 1,013th of his career, moving him past Hal McRae. The Royals’ all-time RBI leader is George Brett with 1,596.

Maikel Garcia went three for four with two doubles. It was Garcia’s second career game with three hits and three runs scored, and his 11th three-hit game of the season.

Royals starter Cole Ragans (3-3) gave up two runs and three hits and struck out 10 over five innings in his second start since returning from the injured list with a left rotator cuff strain.

Bryce Teodosio hit his first career homer for the Angels in the fifth inning, in his 45th MLB game this season. Taylor Ward added his 35th homer, a career high, in the ninth inning. The Angels have lost 10 of their last 11 games.

Key moment

Mike Trout was honored before his first at-bat for hitting his 400th career home run against the Rockies in Colorado on Saturday.

Key stat

The Royals’ batters recorded 15 hits, and the pitchers recorded 13 strikeouts.

Up next

The Royals’ Stephen Kolek (5-6, 3.54 ERA) faces the Angels’ Yusei Kikuchi (6-11, 4.05) on Wednesday night.

Mention Aaron Donald and nearly everyone thinks Rams, the team he spent his entire 10-year NFL career with and led to a Super Bowl championship in 2022. Donald was a three-time NFL defensive player of the year, nine-time All-Pro and is regarded as one of the greatest defensive tackles of all time.

But before Los Angeles there was Pittsburgh, where Donald grew up and where he went to college. And it is the University of Pittsburgh where Donald became an unstoppable force from 2010 to 2013, setting an NCAA record with tackles for loss by an interior lineman before the Rams plucked him as their first-round draft pick.

So it is Pitt that will retire Donald’s No. 97 on Nov. 15 during a home game against Notre Dame, Panthers athletic director Allen Greene announced Monday. Donald also will be enshrined in the Pitt Hall of Fame this weekend, joining other iconic alumni names Dan Marino, Tony Dorsett, Mike Ditka and Larry Fitzgerald.

“Born and raised in Pittsburgh, I’m grateful to the University of Pittsburgh for taking a chance on me when so many others wouldn’t,” Donald said in a statement. “I accomplished more in my career than I ever dreamed of, and for that I’m truly blessed.

“To soon see my number hanging alongside other Pitt greats is an honor beyond measure. I will always love this University. Hail to Pitt!”

Donald starred at Penn Hills High, east of Pittsburgh. As a Pitt senior in 2013, Donald led the nation with 28.5 tackles for loss and added 11 sacks and four forced fumbles. He was a unanimous first-team All-American and won every award that exists for a lineman: the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Chuck Bednarik Award, Outland Trophy and Rotary Lombardi Award.

“Aaron Donald is a proud Pittsburgher who embodies the very best of what it means to be a Pitt Panther,” Greene said. “His humility, determination, and work ethic reflect the character of this community. Retiring his jersey honors not only an extraordinary athlete, but a leader whose relentless pursuit of excellence has defined his legacy.”

The first floor of Pitt’s Duratz Athletic Complex was renamed the Aaron Donald Football Performance Center in 2019, after Donald made a seven-figure gift to the program. He also set a high bar for workouts, as Rams teammate Jared Verse learned when he joined Donald for a punishing series of full-body circuit training in July — months after Donald retired.

“His wife came in laughing at me — I told her to call the police,” Verse joked, adding, “I tried to lie and say my mom was at my house and I had to go let her in. He told me to give my keys to his management or assistant and that they would go let my mom in. So I wasn’t leaving.

“Finished the workout. I’m dead tired, I’m exhausted. I had a plan to go jump in the sauna afterwards, didn’t happen. I had plans to watch film, didn’t happen. Went home and I didn’t work out for another day and a half because I couldn’t move my body.”

Donald also founded the AD99 Solutions Foundation, which provides Pittsburgh’s underprivileged youth access to education, nutrition and community involvement.

Accolades for his Rams career will be forthcoming. Donald will be eligible for the NFL Hall of Fame in 2029 and is considered a lock for first-ballot induction. The Rams have retired eight players’ jersey numbers and Donald’s No. 99 likely will be the ninth.

“I had the privilege — and sometimes the misfortune — of facing Aaron 14 times in his first seven years, and every snap was a reminder of his complete domination,” said Fitzgerald, an NFL Hall of Famer who spent 17 years with the Arizona Cardinals. “As a Pitt man, I was filled with pride watching him redefine what it meant to play defense, but as an [NFL] opponent, I knew he was carving his name into history at our expense.

“He wasn’t just disruptive. He was destructive, bending entire offenses to his will and still making plays no one else could make. Retiring his number is the perfect tribute because there will never be another Aaron Donald, and there will never again be another 97 at Pitt.”

Uniform numbers retired by the Rams

• #7: Bob Waterfield
• #28: Marshall Faulk
• #29: Eric Dickerson
• #74: Merlin Olsen
• #75: Deacon Jones
• #78: Jackie Slater
• #80: Isaac Bruce
• #85: Jack Youngblood

This week’s City Section top 10 high school football rankings by The Times:

1. BIRMINGHAM (1-3): Receiver Paul Turner is making plays but Patriots have to figure out how to get him more opportunities.

2. CARSON (2-3): The Colts will be strengthened by several players joining team after sit-out transfer period ends on Thursday.

3. PALISADES (4-0): Quarterback Jack Thomas has 17 touchdown passes with zero interceptions in four games.

4. SAN PEDRO (2-3): Face another tough test against unbeaten Laguna Beach.

5. BANNING (4-1): Pilots found out there is work to do after 52-0 loss to Palos Verdes.

6. GARFIELD (2-2): Bulldogs begin Eastern League play against Huntington Park.

7. KENNEDY (4-1): Golden Cougars are still team to beat in Valley Mission League.

8. MARQUEZ (4-1): Showdown game with Eagle Rock on Friday.

9. VENICE (2-3): Suffered 41-6 loss to Westlake.

10. HAMILTON (2-2): Jacob Riley has six interceptions as Yankees keep improving.

DENVER — Brenton Doyle had a tying two-run single and scored the go-ahead run on Ezequiel Tovar‘s sacrifice fly in a four-run sixth inning as the Colorado Rockies beat the Angels 7-6 on Friday night.

Tyler Freeman had three hits including a double and Hunter Goodman had an RBI triple for Colorado, which snapped a five-game losing streak and improved to 3-14 in September.

The Angels have lost eight straight games.

Goodman’s first-inning triple brought Freeman across to start the scoring, and Blaine Crim brought in another on a sacrifice fly.

Christian Moore and Denzer Guzman both went deep in the second inning to bring the Angels ahead 3-2, but Freeman’s second hit of the game brought the tying run across for Colorado.

The Rockies bullpen combined for four innings of one-hit ball in relief of starter Bradley Blalock (2-5), who allowed eight hits and six earned runs while striking out four. Victor Vodnik earned his ninth save of the year.

Mitch Farris (1-2) took the loss in his fourth career start, allowing eight hits and seven runs with five strikeouts.

Key moment: After the Angels had a three-run fifth inning, the Rockies immediately answered with four runs, including two sacrifice flies.

Key stat: Hunter Goodwin’s 61 extra-base hits are the most in a single season by a Rockies primary catcher in franchise history. He is the third Rockies player since 2022 to have 60 or more extra-base hits in a season, joining Tovar (75, 2024) and C.J. Cron (60, 2022).

Up next: Angels RHP Kyle Hendricks (7-10, 5.01) faces Rockies RHP Germán Márquez (3-14, 6.73) in the second game of the three-game series.

MILWAUKEE — Christian Yelich went two for four and reached 100 RBIs for the season as the Milwaukee Brewers defeated the Angels 5-2 on Thursday night.

Yelich doubled home Brice Turang as part of the Brewers’ three-run outburst in the seventh inning that broke a 2-2 tie. This marks Yelich’s first 100-RBI season since 2018, when he had 110 and was named the NL MVP.

The Brewers completed a three-game sweep and reduced their magic number for clinching the NL Central to four. The Angels have lost seven straight.

Milwaukee’s Quinn Priester struck out eight of the first nine batters he faced and didn’t allow a baserunner until the fifth inning, when Jo Adell drew a leadoff walk and Luis Rengifo homered. Those were the only runs allowed by Priester, who struck out 10 and gave up three hits and two walks in 5⅔ innings.

Priester has won a Brewers-record 12 straight decisions. He left this game with Milwaukee trailing 2-1, but the Brewers rallied after his departure.

Milwaukee tied it in the sixth when Caleb Durbin greeted José Fermín with a two-out single that scored Yelich.

Jackson Chourio led off the seventh with a ground-rule double off Luis García (2-2) and scored the go-ahead run on Turang’s single. After Yelich doubled home Turang, William Contreras came home on Andrew Vaughn’s sacrifice fly.

Aaron Ashby (4-2) struck out three in 1⅓ scoreless innings to get the win. Jared Koenig worked the ninth for his second save in four opportunities.

Angels starter Yusei Kikuchi allowed two runs over 5⅔ innings.

Key moments: With runners on third and second, Milwaukee’s Blake Perkins made a diving catch of Chris Taylor’s drive to the center-field warning track in the seventh to keep the score tied 2-2. The Angels had runners on the corners with one out in the eighth, but Abner Uribe struck out Rengifo and Yoán Moncada to end the threat.

Key stat: The Brewers have won the last 19 games that Priester pitched, a stretch that includes 16 starts and three games in which he followed an opener.

Up next: The Angels head to Colorado. Friday’s scheduled starters are Mitch Farris (1-1, 4.80 ERA) for the Angels and Bradley Blalock (1-5, 9.00) for the Rockies.

Ange Postecoglou says his Nottingham Forest players got too “comfortable” after Championship side Swansea scored twice in stoppage time to knock them out of the Carabao Cup.

Two first-half goals from Igor Jesus had put the Premier League side firmly in control of their third-round tie.

However, a Cameron Burgess goal gave the Swans hope and, in a stunning finale, Zan Vipotnik levelled before Australia international Burgess scored his second to send the 2013 winners into the last 16.

“We had to finish them off and we had plenty of opportunities to do that, and a couple of decisions didn’t go our way,” said Forest boss Postecoglou.

“I think the lads got a bit comfortable in that moment and you’ve got to know the warning signs.

“Players just thought it would naturally finish that way and we’ve paid a heavy price for that. We need to improve.”

The former Spurs boss had promised this would be the night fans started to see his imprint on the side he inherited from Nuno Espirito Santo at the City Ground.

Instead, Forest conceded three for a second game in a row under Postecoglou, who added: “Tonight was a great opportunity for us to progress in a cup and give ourselves an opportunity to that success – and to let it slip is hugely disappointing.

“But it doesn’t change anything – we understand some of the things we have to work on.”

It was a stressful decision. But it shouldn’t have been so consequential.

In the middle of the fifth inning Tuesday night, Shohei Ohtani returned to the Dodgers’ dugout after a clean inning of work on the mound. Waiting for him at the top step was manager Dave Roberts, who (according to the SportsNet LA television broadcast) wanted to ask how he was feeling.

With any other pitcher, there would have been no such discussion.

Over his five innings against the Philadelphia Phillies, Ohtani had not given up a hit. He had thrown only 68 pitches. And he was flashing the kind of dominance that would have made a no-hitter feel like a real possibility.

Ohtani, however, is not like any other pitcher.

He is a two-way star, coming off a second career Tommy John surgery, who has been managed with kid gloves and Bubble Wrap in his return to pitching duties this year. He started his comeback by pitching one inning, then two, then so on until he built up to five. Weeks ago, the team — in consultation with the reigning MVP — decided to avoid pushing him past the five-inning mark until at least October.

His health, both on the bump and at the plate, remains the priority.

Thus, while Ohtani reportedly told Roberts he still felt good, he laughed and said it was up to the veteran manager to decide whether or not to extend his pitching outing.

Roberts, in a continuation of the team’s careful handling of Ohtani this year, decided against it.

The result, in a continuation of the struggles from the team’s beleaguered bullpen, was disastrous.

After pulling Ohtani with a four-run lead, the Dodgers watched their relief corps melt down in predictable, reminiscent fashion. Justin Wrobleski gave up five consecutive hits with one out in the sixth, including a three-run home run to Brandon Marsh that broke open the inning. Edgardo Henriquez made matters worse, replacing Wrobleski — amid a chorus of boos directed at Roberts — later in the inning only to give up another long ball to Max Kepler.

By the time it was over, the Phillies had scored six runs to take the lead. And though the Dodgers would battle back to tie the score in the eighth, the bullpen faltered again in the ninth, when Blake Treinen gave up a decisive three-run, two-out home run to Rafael Marchán in the Phillies’ eventual 9-6 win.

For the five innings Tuesday, Ohtani displayed utter dominance against the only team to have already clinched a division title.

His fastball was playing up, eclipsing 100 mph seven times and topping out at 101.7 mph. His secondary stuff was electric, a mix of sliders and sweepers and curveballs and splitters that kept the Phillies off balance and able to make only benign contact.

After a two-out walk to Bryce Harper in the first inning, Ohtani retired the final 13 he faced. He got only six total whiffs, but was more pitch-efficient because of it, with his 68 throws coming in 19 shy of his previous season-high (he threw 87 pitches in his only other full five-inning start on Aug. 27).

That’s why, once Ohtani raced back toward the dugout to transition from pitcher to hitter in the middle of the fifth, his removal wasn’t a foregone conclusion. Why, after Roberts conversed with Ohtani from the top step, he found first baseman Freddie Freeman laughing at him back on the bench, sensing the stressfulness of his manager’s decision (which represented the ninth time in Roberts’ Dodgers tenure he had pulled a pitcher from a no-hitter in the fifth inning or later).

By that point, of course, the game shouldn’t have been in danger either way.

The Dodgers had scored three runs in the second inning on home runs from Alex Call and Kiké Hernández. They added another in the fourth off Phillies left-hander Cristopher Sánchez, handing the Cy Young contender just his fourth start this season of more than three earned runs.

But then, a bullpen that had been burned repeatedly in recent weeks (including in a 10-inning loss in the opening game of this series Monday night) played with fire again.

Wrobleski, a rookie left-hander who had been one of the Dodgers’ better relievers of late, had Rafael Marchán break up the no-no with a one-out single, Harrison Bader and Kyle Schwarber to load the bases with two more hits after that, Harper to gap a double that brought two runs across, and Marsh to go deep on a hanging 0-2 slider for a go-ahead three-run shot.

Henriquez, another rookie who had been sharp in limited action this year, yielded another home run to Kepler two batters later.

Just like that, it was 6-4 Phillies.

Ohtani helped the Dodgers get back in the game with his bat. In the eighth, he clobbered a leadoff home run deep to right field for his 50th long ball of the season, making him just the sixth player in MLB history with consecutive 50-homer campaigns.

The Dodgers kept the rally going after that, loading the bases for Call to hit a tying sacrifice fly.

Alas, the Dodgers’ bullpen did what it does best once more in the ninth, coming unglued at the worst possible moment.

After getting two quick outs to start the inning, Treinen gave up a double to Weston Wilson (the No. 7 hitter who entered with a .202 average). He fell behind 3-and-0 to Bryson Stott (the No. 8 hitter) to trigger an intentional walk. Then, in a 3-and-1 count to Marchán (the No. 9 hitter and backup catcher for the Phillies), he served up an inside cutter that Marchán pulled down the line, getting just enough behind it to send it bouncing off the top of the short right-field wall.

Nine painful runs, in four miserable innings of Dodgers relief.

Another loss, that wasted Ohtani’s no-hit (but short-lived) masterpiece.

GEMMA Collins flaunted her three stone weight loss in stunning snaps from her holiday.

The glam reality TV star looked slimmer than ever after embarking on a health kick earlier this year.

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She jetted abroad with her fiance Rami and shared sun soaked snaps of their getaway, one showing her topping up her tan on the beach.

The Towie legend looked incredible modelling a white swimsuit as she stood with one hand resting on her hip.

Gemma, 44, later stood for a romantic snap with Rami, and wore a long pleated pink dress.

She teamed the look with a bouncy blow dry and large shades.

Earlier this year, Gemma revealed she had gone from a size 26 to a size 20 in just three months since starting weight-loss injections, describing them as “life-changing”.

GLP-1 injections such as Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro, have had a surge in popularity in the past 12 months.

Having been used primarily as diabetes drugs, they are now prescribed to boost weight loss by suppressing your appetite.

In January, Gemma teamed up with weight loss injection company Yazen in a paid partnership to try the jabs.

Elsewhere, The Sun recently revealed Gemma will be fronting a new reality show following her IVF journey.

Titled Four Weddings And A Baby, it sees the reality star team up with Sky.

The eight-part series will depict her daily life, from domestic moments, planning her dream wedding to striving for a baby through IVF.

Gemma is engaged to her long-term fiance Rami Hawash, 50, whom she first met in 2011.

Discussing the new series, she said: “This really is the most important year of my life, and for the first time people will get to see the Gemma behind the GC.

“Over the next year I will be planning my wedding and beginning the steps into starting a family.

“I’ve always felt natural in front of the cameras, but now I want to let the world see the real raw me sharing the most intimate and personal times in my life.

“I feel ready to truly open up, not just about the present, but about my past and everything I’ve been through to become the woman I am today.

“I feel truly blessed and excited for everyone to come with me on this new chapter of my life.”

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