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Scottish Premiership: Euro navel gazing & early troubles for title hopefuls

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Sunday navel gazing after a bruising midweek in Europe is becoming all too familiar for Scottish football, but this time Motherwell and Hibernian can look forward to second legs with some real hopes of progress, albeit in the third-tier Conference League qualifiers.

The Lanarkshire side will hope to finish off the job after a 1-1 draw away to HJK Helskini as they continue to earn plaudits for the style of play adopted last season by Jens Berthel Askou and adapted by new manager Alfred Johansson.

However, they will have to improve first on their record against Falkirk, who have won on their latest three visits to Fir Park and have not lost to Well in six meetings.

Since a 1-0 win over Well at Falkirk Stadium in May, though, John McGlynn’s side have lost four in a row in the Premiership.

Hibs’ 2-1 win over North Macedonians Shkendija was a bit of struggle, but at least it was better than their opening defeat at home to Well.

Now they travel to Glasgow looking to become the first-ever side to win in consecutive league games at Ibrox after winning 2-1 there in May.

Indeed, Hibs have won on two of their last three league visits and another would heap more pressure on new Rangers manager Derek McInnes after Thursday’s defeat in Poland.

That will be especially so should Celtic, who could be without O’Neill despite the manager being released from hospital, secure a ninth win in a row over Kilmarnock and a ninth league win in a row overall to create a healthy early lead over their title rivals.

The odds of that must be good considering the Ayrshire side, who lost their opener to St Johnstone, have failed to win their first two top-flight games in 12 of the previous 15 seasons.

Similarly, Hearts cannot afford a third consecutive league defeat – having lost last season’s decider against Celtic then their opener with Aberdeen – if they are to mount a similar challenge to the one under McInnes last term.

They have not won on Dundee United’s last three visits to Tynecastle and further questions will be asked of new head coach Wouter Vrancken if they suffer a fifth straight defeat.

The Belgian’s side have lost 14 goals in those four games and will not be helped by centre-half Stuart Findlay’s suspension, but United have themselves not kept a clean sheet in 17 away games in the Premiership and have kept the fewest away clean sheets of any side since the start of last season.

It could be a goal fest at Tynecastle.

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Brandon Clarke’s death ruled accidental overdose of cocaine, heroin

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Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke died of an accidental overdose of heroin and cocaine, the L.A. County Medical Examiner ruled in a report released Friday.

The medical examiner also listed the “combined effects of multiple prescription medications” as a significant contributing factor in his death.  A full autopsy report will be released at a later date and will include the names of those prescriptions, the medical examiner’s office said.

Clarke, a beloved teammate who spent his entire NBA career with the Memphis Grizzlies, died May 11 at a residence in Southern California. The 29-year-old was found unresponsive in his bedroom, according to the coroner’s report.

Following his death, the Grizzlies said in a statement that they were “heartbroken by the tragic loss.” Clarke had struggled with injuries during the past three seasons, but when healthy he was one of the most impactful bench players in the NBA.

“Brandon was an outstanding teammate and an even better person whose impact on the organization and the greater Memphis community will not be forgotten,” the team wrote.

Clarke played 309 games over seven seasons for Memphis, with the team reaching the playoffs four times. The Grizzlies said Clarke was expected to make a full recovery ahead of next season. He had a year remaining on his four-year contract worth $12.5 million annually.

Clarke was pronounced dead after the Los Angeles Fire Department responded to an emergency call at a residence in the 20300 block of Del Campo Place in Woodland Hills at just after 5 p.m. on May 11. Paramedics pronounced him dead at 5:15 p.m.

His death came six weeks after he was charged in Arkansas with felony counts of trafficking of a controlled substance and fleeing law enforcement at speeds topping 100 mph. Deputies alleged that he had 235 grams of kratom, a controversial plant-based substance that is not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, in a duffle bag in his car at the time of his arrest April 1.

While kratom is considered a felony narcotic in Arkansas, at the time of his arrest it was legal in Tennessee, where Clarke owned a home. The coroner’s report did not note the presence of kratom.

Clarke was also facing misdemeanor counts of drug possession for a THC vape pen he was carrying and for making unsafe lane changes and speeding. He was scheduled to appear at an arraignment on May 15 at the St. Francis County District Court in Forrest City, Ark. Following his death, the case was dismissed.

Clarke was born in Vancouver, Canada, and raised in Phoenix. He was part of a Gonzaga team with former Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura that was one of the greatest in school history. Clarke is remembered not only for his NCAA Division 1-leading 68.7 field-goal percentage, but for his warm, kind spirit.

He was drafted in the first round of the 2019 NBA Draft.

“He was just so easy to coach,” said Mark Few, Clarke’s coach at Gonzaga. “Every time you’d see him walking around the facility, he had a smile on his face.”

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Partick Thistle beat Livingston in Scottish Championship

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An early Robbie Crawford back-heel and a Cammy MacPherson own goal give Partick Thistle victory over Livingston as two of the promotion favourites meet in the Scottish Championship at Firhill.

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Football gossip: Fernandez, Esposito, Barcola, Alvarez, Ndiaye, Hall

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Manchester City explore Enzo Fernandez move, Arsenal could battle Manchester United for Pio Esposito and Liverpool yet to agree Bradley Barcola fee.

Manchester City are exploring a move for Chelsea‘s Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez, 25, with Spain midfielder Rodri, 30, expected to join Barcelona. (Independent, external)

Arsenal could battle Manchester United for 21-year-old Italy striker Pio Esposito, who Inter Milan value at £73m. (Sun, external)

Liverpool have held preliminary talks with Paris St-Germain for France forward Bradley Barcola, but there is a significant gap in their valuations of the 23-year-old. (Sky Sports), external

After missing out on Real Madrid’s Brazil forward Vinicius Jr, 26, Arsenal have three alternative targets – Barcola, Atletico Madrid’s Argentina striker Julian Alvarez, 26, and Everton‘s Senegal winger Iliman Ndiaye, 26. (Independent, external)

Newcastle have told Manchester United that 21-year-old England full-back Lewis Hall is not for sale this summer after an initial enquiry was rejected. (Sky Sports, external)

Ezri Konsa’s Aston Villa team-mates are increasingly resigned to the possibility of losing the England defender, 28, to Arsenal. (Mail – subscription required, external)

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