Key events
On a normal day, everyone would be talking about Crystal Palace’s dramatic comeback at Manchester City, who continue to misfire in their quest for a fourth consecutive Premier League title. But instead the thoughts of fans across the country will be with Luton Town captain Tom Lockyer, who collapsed during his team’s match at Bournemouth. Extremely worrying signs, especially in the wake of his collapse at the play-off final last May, and his enforced substitution at Brentford earlier this month. Thankfully his club have reported that Lockyer is “responsive” and receiving treatment at hospital. Here’s to further good news and a full recovery; we send our love and best wishes. Godspeed, and thanks for reading this Clockwatch.
We all hope and pray for our leader and captain Tom Lockyer, who is thankfully responsive and has been taken to hospital.
We don’t know the full extent of what happened and what the next steps are at this stage, but we thank Bournemouth and the medical staff on both sides for… pic.twitter.com/pPCuB9ROju
— Luton Town FC (@LutonTown) December 16, 2023
Manchester City 2-2 Crystal Palace. “It was, though, a classic rope-a-dope comeback from the visitors who were 2-0 behind after 76 minutes,” reports Jamie Jackson.
Luton: Lockyer ‘alert … thankfully responsive … taken to hospital’
Luton Town have posted an update on their captain Tom Lockyer’s condition on X. Lockyer is “thankfully responsive and has been taken to hospital” though the club “don’t know the full extent of what happened and what the next steps are at this stage”. They thank Bournemouth and the medical teams of both clubs for their “absolutely amazing” response. The message continued: “We thank everyone for the wonderful applause and singing of Locks’ name inside the stadium at such a difficult time. Now is the time for all of our players, staff and supporters to come together as we always do and give our love and support to Tom and his family. Our thoughts are with him and them all.”
We all hope and pray for our leader and captain Tom Lockyer, who is thankfully responsive and has been taken to hospital.
We don’t know the full extent of what happened and what the next steps are at this stage, but we thank Bournemouth and the medical staff on both sides for… pic.twitter.com/pPCuB9ROju
— Luton Town FC (@LutonTown) December 16, 2023
Newcastle 3-0 Fulham. “The psychological damage sustained by Eddie Howe’s team during a trio of consecutive defeats looked, if not quite fully repaired, decently patched up,” writes Louise Taylor.
Chelsea 2-0 Sheffield United. “This was not a performance that will lure Mauricio Pochettino into thinking that the corner has been turned and a charge up the table is on the way,” reports Jacob Steinberg.
FULL TIME: Plymouth 3-2 Rotherham (Whittaker 90+6). Morgan Whittaker decides it late at Home Park. The second half lasted 53 minutes; the first just over an hour.
FULL TIME: Celtic 0-2 Hearts. Celtic were booed off after first-half goals from Lawrence Shankland and Stephen Kingsley earned Hearts their first Premiership win at Parkhead since 2007. Meanwhile two results from aforementioned matches in the Scottish Championship: Dundee United 0-1 Raith; ICT 1-2 Arbroath.
Championship full-times
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Bristol City 1-0 Sunderland
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Hull City 3-0 Cardiff City
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Ipswich Town 2-2 Norwich City
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Leeds United 1-1 Coventry City
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Millwall 1-1 Huddersfield Town
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Plymouth Argyle 2-2 Rotherham United (L)
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Preston North End 1-5 Watford
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Sheffield Wednesday 2-1 QPR
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Southampton 4-0 Blackburn Rovers
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Swansea City 1-2 Middlesbrough
Premier League full-times
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Bournemouth 1a1 Luton Town (match abandoned after 65 minutes)
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Chelsea 2-0 Sheffield United
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Manchester City 2-2 Crystal Palace
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Newcastle United 3-0 Fulham
FULL TIME: Newcastle United 3-0 Fulham
Newcastle snap their three-game losing run with an easy win over ten-man Fulham. They have lost Joelinton and Fabian Schar to injury, though.
FULL TIME: Manchester City 2-2 Crystal Palace
The whistle goes at the Etihad, and the champions have now won just one of their last six Premier League games. What a comeback by Palace.
FULL TIME: Chelsea 2-0 Sheffield United
The Blues move into the top half.
GOAL. Manchester City 2-2 Crystal Palace (Olise 90+5 pen)
Phil Foden catches Jean-Philippe Mateta in the box. Michael Olise dispatches the spot kick calmly, and the champions are in danger of dropping two more precious points.
Bournemouth v Luton. Rob Edwards was understandably emotional after Tom Lockyer’s collapse at the play-off final last season. The Luton boss is no less shaken today, walking around the pitch to applaud every fan in Dean Court for their patience and support. “Thank you,” he mouths to the crowd. Glassy eyed, he taps his heart in a gesture of love, clearly only just managing to keep himself together.
Bournemouth v Luton off
Bournemouth 1-1 Luton. The referee Simon Hooper has talked to Andoni Iraola and Rob Edwards, and opted to call the game off in the wake of Tom Lockyer’s worrying collapse. The latest on Lockyer is that he is “alert and responsive”. His Luton team-mates come back onto the pitch to applaud their fans. Bournemouth come on too, and all four sides of the stadium offer warm applause that translates as a message of support for the stricken Luton captain. Love and best wishes to Lockyer in the hope of a full recovery.
GOAL. Newcastle 3-0 Fulham (Burn 82)
Dan Burn sees his header saved from close range, but dispatches the rebound.
Southampton 2-0 Blackburn. Penalty for Saints. Charly Alcaraz attempts a Panenka … and scuffs it. That shouldn’t matter against ten-man Rovers.
Chelsea 2-0 Sheffield United. Armando Broja somehow manages to miss from a couple of yards out. No matter, because the Blades are offering nothing in attack.
GOAL. Manchester City 2-1 Crystal Palace (Mateta 76)
It’s not quite over yet at the Etihad. Jean-Philippe Mateta taps in to halve Palace’s deficit.
Bournemouth 1-1 Luton. The BBC have corroborated that report. Lockyer is “alert and responsive in the tunnel.”
Lockyer ‘alert and responsive’ – Sky Sports
Bournemouth 1-1 Luton. There’s still no play at Dean Court. But we can tentatively relay some very welcome news: Sky Sports report that Tom Lockyer is “alert and responsive”.
GOAL. Southampton 2-0 Blackburn (S Armstrong 64). Saints are now two up, through Stuart Armstrong. Blackburn’s Callum Brittain had been sent off ten minutes earlier for a second yellow.
GOAL. Newcastle 2-0 Fulham (Almiron 64)
Miguel Almiron doubles Newcastle’s lead against the ten men.
Bournemouth 1-1 Luton. Tom Lockyer is now being carried down the tunnel. Dean Court rises as one to applaud him off. He takes everyone’s love and best wishes with him.
Bournemouth 1-1 Luton. All of the players have been taken off the pitch at Dean Court as paramedics continue to treat the stricken Tom Lockyer. Extreme concern. The stadium is understandably subdued. On Sky Soccer Saturday, Tim Sherwood stresses that he doesn’t want to speculate – the cameras have understandably been taken off Lockyer – but reports that while fans are extremely anxious, there have been ripples of applause, which he’s hoping can be read as a positive sign. Here’s hoping that is indeed the case. The Luton fans chant their support for their captain.
GOAL. Chelsea 2-0 Sheffield United (Jackson 61)
Nicolas Jackson doubles Chelsea’s advantage at Stamford Bridge.
GOAL. Newcastle 1-0 Fulham (Miley 57)
Newcastle take the lead against ten-man Fulham.
Tom Lockyer collapses
Bournemouth 1-1 Luton. Worrying reports from Dean Court as Tom Lockyer goes down. He’s motionless. Rob Edwards races onto the pitch as play is stopped. He takes his players off. Paramedics are currently treating the Luton captain. No speculation, though minds will inevitably go back to his collapse in the play-off final last season. He also went down at half-time against Brentford a couple of weeks ago. Thoughts, wishes and prayers.
GOAL! Manchester City 2-0 Crystal Palace (Lewis 54)
Rico Lewis volleys home to double City’s lead, minutes after Julian Alvarez thought he’d scored direct from a free kick. Rodri’s interference chalked that one off. But the champions go two up after all.
GOAL! Bournemouth 1-1 Luton (Solanke 58)
It’s five in six for Dominic Solanke, who is finally delivering on all that early promise.
GOAL! Chelsea 1-0 Sheffield United (Palmer 54)
Raheem Sterling tees up Cole Palmer for the breakthrough at Stamford Bridge. There’s a quick VAR check for offside but Nicolas Jackson wasn’t interfering with play.
It’s 1-1 between Plymouth and Rotherham at half-time. Injuries and some questionable challenges meant a feisty first half lasted one hour and 19 seconds.
And another! Iain Rowan tapping home from close range this time. “First few months of season: Howe has worked miracles with Newcastle. He has the same group of players and they never stop, run and press until they drop. Next few months of season: Why are the Newcastle players getting injured all the time? It’s a mystery and we may never know.”
A couple of open goals to report. “It occurs to me that ‘something’s not quite right under Rodgers’ is, if you see what I mean, its own explanation,” writes James Humphries. “Why they went for him again after Ange left is a mystery for the ages.”
Meanwhile Niall Mullen adds: “Yes, it’s a real mystery as to what Faustian pact Eddie Howe has made to earn such bad luck.”
Championship half-times
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Bristol City 1-0 Sunderland
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Hull City 1-0 Cardiff City
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Leeds United 0-0 Coventry City
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Millwall 0-0 Huddersfield Town
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Plymouth Argyle 1-1 Rotherham United
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Preston North End 1-1 Watford
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Sheffield Wednesday 0-1 QPR
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Southampton 1-0 Blackburn Rovers
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Swansea City 0-1 Middlesbrough
Premier League half-times
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Bournemouth 0-1 Luton Town
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Chelsea 0-0 Sheffield United
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Manchester City 1-0 Crystal Palace
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Newcastle United 0-0 Fulham
GOAL! Southampton 1-0 Blackburn (Edozie 44). Samuel Edozie breaks the deadlock at St Mary’s from close range. Saints are unbeaten since that four-game losing streak in September, and chipping away at the gap between the top two and the chasing pack.
Daniel Miller is a sports fanatic who lives and breathes athletics. His coverage spans from major league championships to local sports events, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis for sports enthusiasts.
