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The England star was electric as Emma Hayes' side moved one step closer to a possible meeting with UWCL holders Barcelona

Chelsea have one foot in the UEFA Women's Champions League semi-finals after beating Ajax 3-0 in what was eventually a comfortable victory in the first leg of their quarter-final on Tuesday. The Dutch side started well but sloppiness at the back allowed Lauren James to put the Blues ahead with less than 20 minutes on the clock and the champions of England were never going to let their lead slip from there.

Chasity Grant gave Chelsea an early scare when she struck the post but as bright as Ajax looked going forward, they were anything but at the back for the goal that broke the deadlock. As James pounced on a ball that had ricocheted off a defender, the home side completed stopped and allowed the England star to find the back of the net. A lengthy VAR check confirmed that she was indeed offside and the Blues had their lead.

Ajax seemed somewhat disheartened by the goal and their level dropped off, allowing Chelsea to take control. Chances flowed towards the end of the first half and almost immediately after Guro Reiten had a goal controversially ruled out by VAR, Kadeisha Buchanan's cheeky Cruyff turn, at the Johan Cruyff Arena off all places, created the space for her to find Reiten, who in turn set up Sjoeke Nusken to double the Blues' advantage.

The onus was on the Dutch side in the second half then, but they struggled to carve out any notable chances and the Blues thrived on the counter, Nusken eventually, surely, killing the tie off when she converted Catarina Macario's brilliant cross late on. Emma Hayes' side are in full control ahead of the return leg at Stamford Bridge next week.

GOAL rates Chelsea's players from the Johan Cruyff Arena…

Goalkeeper & Defence

Hannah Hampton (6/10):

A first-half error nearly gifted Ajax an equaliser but she was fine after that and stood up to any danger that came her way.

Eve Perisset (7/10):

Set pieces were great. Allowed little threat down her side.

Jess Carter (7/10):

A couple of questionable decisions in the early stages of the game but improved as it went on. Composed on the ball.

Kadeisha Buchanan (7/10):

Also got better after a shaky start, a lovely turn and pass setting Reiten free to tee up Nusken to double the lead.

Niamh Charles (6/10):

Solid at the back but didn't get involved as much as usual going forward.

AdvertisementMidfield

Melanie Leupolz (7/10):

Fantastic in possession and won plenty of duels.

Erin Cuthbert (7/10):

Battled well in midfield, was great on the ball and took up good positions in the final third. Probably should've scored.

Sjoeke Nusken (8/10):

Superb in a free-roaming role which saw her occupy the Ajax centre-backs at times. Scored two and could've even had a couple more. Great movement.

Getty ImagesAttack

Johanna Rytting Kaneryd (7/10):

A constant threat out wide with her desire to run at players and create something.

Lauren James (8/10):

Was the only one on her toes for the opening goal and put in a super cross for Chelsea to double their lead. Pressed brilliantly.

Guro Reiten (7/10):

Should've had a goal but for a contentious offside. Got a great assist moments later, though. Also played her part in the effectiveness of the press.

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GettySubs & Manager

Ashley Lawrence (7/10):

On for the final 15 minutes or so and was lively in a more advanced role than usual. Played her part in the third goal.

Catarina Macario (7/10):

Almost scored with her first touch, but Lawrence's cross was just too high. Got an assist before the game was done though, her superb cross met by Nusken.

Jelena Cankovic (N/A):

Only on for the final few minutes.

Aggie Beever-Jones (N/A):

Only on for the final few minutes.

Emma Hayes (8/10):

Plan to press Ajax high was effective and well executed by her players. The free role for James and Nusken's instructions to fill that No.9 space was a great combination, too.

After a disastrous start, Chelsea are beginning to show signs of life under Mauricio Pochettino, even after they squandered a 2-0 lead against Arsenal. The fact that they competed on most fronts against last season's nearly-champions shows that the Blues shouldn't be written off quite yet, and neither should Pochettino. If the Argentine can get certain details right within his squad, then he may just have a side capable of securing a top-four place in the Premier League.

One major recent positive has been the form of Mykhailo Mudryk. The Ukraine international finally ended his wait for a Premier League goal by scoring against Fulham, before following that up with a second goal in three games with his audacious effort against Arsenal. That hasn't stopped Pochettino's pursuit of further competition in the left-wing role, however, with one particular star reportedly targeted.

Latest Chelsea transfer news

It was once again a busy summer for Todd Boehly and Chelsea, as players such as Mason Mount, Mateo Kovacic, and Kai Havertz all left for fellow top-six Premier League clubs, allowing room for the likes of Cole Palmer, Christopher Nkunku, and Moises Caicedo to arrive. It remains to be seen whether that transfer tactic will pay off for the Blues, though, having failed to cement their place among the top flight's best sides so far. Further arrivals may change that, however.

The latest Nicolas Gonzalez transfer news suggests that those at Stamford Bridge could attempt to solve their attacking problems in January. According to reports in Spain, Chelsea and Liverpool could battle it out to sign the right-winger, who Fiorentina reportedly value up to €60m (£52m). We've seen how willing Chelsea are to spend money in the last two years, perhaps making Gonzalez's price-tag no issue for those at Stamford Bridge.

Nicolas Gonzalez stats

It's no surprise that both Liverpool and Chelsea are interested in signing the Fiorentina man. After all, Gonzalez's stats so far this season show the level that he is capable of going to. Even when compared to Chelsea's current wingers, the Argentine stands out in certain areas, as per FBref.

Player

Goals

Assists

Pass Completion Rate

Nicolas Gonzalez

5

1

73.8%

Mykhailo Mudryk

2

0

61.6%

Raheem Sterling

3

0

72.7%

Gonzalez's output when it comes to goals has been particularly impressive this season, with five in seven games – six of those being starts – proving just how impressive he has been. What makes his start in Serie A this season even greater is the fact that only Lautaro Martinez and Victor Omishen have found the back of the net more times.

It's no shock, then, that the Fiorentina man has been at the centre of praise, including from statistician Opta Paolo, who posted on X back in January: "253 – Nicolás González has scored a Serie A goal as a starter for the first time since May 21st, 2022, against Juventus, 253 days ago. Jewel."

With that said, it will certainly be interesting to see whether Chelsea move ahead of Liverpool in the battle to sign Gonzalez, and secure his signature in the process.

Ben, 22, a left-handed batsman, made his Northamptonshire debut against Derbyshire last week after a successful period in the 2nd XI

ESPNcricinfo staff15-Aug-2018Ben Curran, the brother of England cricketers Sam and Tom, has signed with Northamptonshire, the club of their late father, Kevin, for the remainder of the season.Ben, 22, a left-handed batsman, made his Northamptonshire debut in the T20 Blast against Derbyshire last week after a successful period in the 2nd XI where he scored 490 runs in six Championship matches having caught the club’s eye while playing against them for MCC Young Cricketers.”I’m delighted to have signed for Northants. The fact that my Dad played here too it makes it even more special to be able to represent this county,” Curran said”I hope that I can contribute in all three formats over the next few years and fingers crossed we can have a strong end to the season in both the Blast and the County Championship”.Northants’ head coach, David Ripley said: “Ben has scored heavily in all formats for us in the 2’s as well as continuing to churn out runs for the MCCYC’s.”He deserves an opportunity and we look forward to working with him over the next two seasons. He has a lot of competitive spirit and I know he will make the most of his chance.”We are grateful to Steve Kirby and the YC’s for their cooperation in making this happen.”Kevin Curran had a successful spell with Northamptonshire between 1991 and 1999

Barcelona face yet another setback as its financial vice president, Eduard Romeu, has tendered his resignation.

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Romeu resigns from Barcelona The departure leaves a void in Barcelona's leadershipClub struggling with severe financial challengesGettyWHAT HAPPENED?

Romeu's resignation, confirmed by a Barcelona statement released on Thursday morning, cited "incompatibility with full dedication to his professional work" as the reason for his departure. However, sources close to Romeu, speaking anonymously, revealed to that Barcelona's deep-rooted financial problems played a significant role in his decision to step down.

AdvertisementWHAT ROMEU SAID

Speaking to reporters, Romeu said: "The enemy is outside the club. When we started this it seemed that nobody could save it, but the courage that Laporta has given us has allowed us to fight.

"To see a great Barcelona, we still need to make complex decisions. But there is still that final point that we must reach and we will follow our path with the same strength.”

However, Barcelona President, Joan Laporta remains optimistic that the existing economic team would continue his work.

“Eduard’s functions can continue to be carried out by the economic team. Romeu leaves a great team that is capable of continuing his work," he said.

“He has been key in the economic work of the club and we will continue to follow his advice. He leaves an economic area department who are prepared to continue his work.”

THE BIGGER PICTURE

The financial woes at Barcelona have been exacerbated by a €30 million budget shortfall for the current season which is attributed to lower-than-expected matchday revenues. Moreover, La Liga's decision to reduce Barcelona's salary cap to €204 million further complicates matters, marking a substantial €66 million reduction from the previous cap.

With Barcelona's real squad cost for the season officially budgeted at €492 million, the club faces pressure to make cuts to adhere to La Liga regulations. This may necessitate the sale of key first-team players to alleviate the burden of the club's historic debts, which exceed €1 billion.

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DID YOU KNOW?

Barcelona's efforts to navigate these financial challenges have been met with difficulties, as traditional strategies such as leveraging economic 'levers' face constraints imposed by evolving La Liga regulations. Despite significant cost-cutting measures, including the departure of several high-profile executives over the past year, including sporting director Jordi Cruyff and director of football Mateu Alemany, the club continues to grapple with financial challenges.

Unbeaten centuries for Daryl Mitchell and Moeen Ali gave Yorkshire a day to forget at the Scarborough Festival

Paul Edwards20-Aug-20180:34

Moeen’s focus on Worcestershire, not England

ScorecardThere is a crouching stance with the shoulders slightly hunched; there is a firm step back and then there is a non-committal move forward; there are skills learned over 14 summers and a temperament that has been tested by the best in the world; in time there are cuts and punches; staple runs are worked backward of square; flamboyance is left to others. “Labour well the Minute Particulars,” wrote William Blake. One supposes Daryl Mitchell would agree.So, perhaps, would Moeen Ali. His style at the wicket could hardly contrast more clearly with Mitchell’s yet the pair combined in an unbroken 199-run second-wicket partnership which seized complete control of this game for Worcestershire and gives the visitors a clear opportunity to build on their 94-run lead and register their second victory of the season.And on the day when Jonny Bairstow broke his finger, Moeen’s century will have been noticed by the England selectors at Trent Bridge. He reached three figures off 160 balls with a thunderclap of a cover drive, hit on the up off Jack Brooks, but he had by then earned the right to offer his full repertoire. Along with Mitchell, who batted quite as well as his partner, Moeen defied and defeated Yorkshire’s weakened attack for 56 overs at North Marine Road. The home coaches bemoaned the absence of both Steve Patterson and Ben Coad but Mitchell and Moeen were properly tested on a bouncy pitch. The opener’s bruises testified to that.Early in the morning spectators took the seats they have occupied since Ray Illingworth was on rusks and waited for early breakthroughs. But all they saw was Mitchell and Tom Fell accumulating runs in such a deft fashion one might have thought they did not wish to be noticed. Willey tried all his seamers except himself but nothing worked. The openers hit half a dozen fours in the first hour but none forked lightning. Fisher and Brooks tried bouncers but only conceded boundary byes.Yorkshire took their only wicket at 12.15 when Fell was leg before on the walk to Brooks for 45. He had put on 111 with Mitchell, the first century opening stand in Yorkshire’s Championship matches this season. Fell batted far better than his score suggests. He saw off the new ball, battled through Sunday’s murk and defied Yorkshire’s attack for over an hour on a morning when they expected to take wickets.On this bright and balmy Monday, though, one wicket did not bring two. Instead it brought Moeen to the crease and he was soon batting quite beautifully against the Yorkshire seamers, driving them through point and cover when he could and working them around when there was nothing else in the shop. After lunch Willey opened with Brooks and Matt Fisher who threw all their strength into making a breakthrough. Mitchell nurdled three singles through gully in 20 minutes and was whacked around the midriff, but he survived it all and the batsmen then cashed in against the part-time off-spin of Adam Lyth.Moeen reached his fifty off 85 balls a few minutes before Mitchell reached three figures with a back foot cover drive. Rain then caused a mid-afternoon delay which was as unwelcome to the visitors as Sunday evening’s stoppage had been pleasing. When play resumed Ali immediately whacked Josh Poysden over wide long-on for six and the pair had added a further 85 runs before bad light ended play on a day when 28.3 overs had been lost. Worcestershire will arrive on the third morning looking to press on and achieve what would be a vital win in what is the biggest fortnight of their season.There has, though, been another context to this festival. This has been a match when Yorkshiremen have thought of absent players but those in the media have marked the passing of a colleague. Dave Callaghan, who commentated on the county’s matches for Radio Leeds for over 30 years, died suddenly in March. His loss is sharply felt and the players feel it too. However bad their day had been Cally was almost always able to cheer them up a bit and the Yorkshire squad observed a minute’s silence when they heard of his death.Cally loved Scarborough and so it was only appropriate on the first day of this game that the two broadcasting boxes were renamed “Cally 1” and “Cally 2” in his memory. These are tough weeks for Yorkshire but any cricketer knows that defeats must be borne by any side. For the friends of Dave Callaghan the loss is of a quite different order and it is particularly acute during the Festival.

Aston Villa have recently agreed an off-field deal at Villa Park, with one finance expert labelling it as “excellent timing”.

Aston Villa update – off-field deal agreed

It has been a busy year in the Midlands, with Unai Emery transforming the club’s fortunes on the pitch and leading Villa into the Europa Conference League. As a result, NSWE backed the Spaniard in the transfer market over the summer, with the likes of Moussa Diaby and Pau Torres arriving in big-money transfers.

However, Villa have also been busy in recent months and announced a new collaborative partnership with Japanese club, Vissel Kobe. Villa shared the news last week, saying on their official website:

“As part of this exciting step forward for both clubs, Villa and Vissel Kobe will work to create a bilateral development framework for players and staff which will enhance youth development, alongside the cooperative sharing of ideas, techniques and best practice. The partnership will look to further open up pathways for talented Japanese players to play in Europe and, ultimately, at Aston Villa.”

Kieran Maguire has claimed that Aston Villa will want to emulate Brighton & Hove Albion’s success with Kaoru Mitoma going forward, and he has made another claim on the deal. Maguire, who contributes for Sky Sports, was talking to Football Insider about the off-field agreement and labelled it as “excellent timing for Aston Villa”.

“I think this Vissel Kobe partnership is excellent timing for Aston Villa. They have ambitious owners. They want eventually to be in a position where they can challenge the ‘Big Six’ in terms of qualifying in the Champions League places.

“Combining that with the expansion of Villa Park it makes even more sense. Football is leaning more towards prawn sandwiches, which as a fan you loathe. but as a financier you understand.”

Aston Villa and Vissel Kobe deal

Not only will Villa work with Vissel Kobe ahead of some potential players moving from Japan to England, but the club confirmed that exchanges of “technical knowledge and coaching methodology”, looking to improve areas of “performance, scouting and recruitment, data analysis and overall squad management” will also be on the agenda, so there appears to be an in-depth plan in place.

It could benefit both clubs in years to come, and as Maguire claims, the deal may also help Villa as they look to break into the ‘Big Six’ under Emery with an improved income in Asia both on and off the pitch. It will be interesting to see who the first player could be to make the move from Vissel Kobe to Aston Villa, but with Emery’s side once again flying during the current campaign, additions may well be limited to start with.

Durham supporters arriving late for the third day were in for a nasty surprise as Sussex made a surge towards victory

Paul Edwards at Arundel22-Jun-2018
ScorecardDurham spectators arriving around an hour late at the Castle Ground on the third morning of this match would probably have been reassured to see Will Smith batting. They would also have been keen to see their side’s first-innings score. Sadly their initial assumption was mistaken and their consequent keenness was soon replaced by grisly despair.Rather than beginning again in the manner of centurions, Smith had been dismissed for his overnight 90 when sweeping at Danny Briggs’ fifth ball of the morning. And having walked off this glorious meadow at just after eleven o’clock Smith was now back again some 67 minutes later, less time than it takes the Duke of Norfolk’s under-butler to clean a piece of silver.For his departure had been followed by five more as Durham lost their last six wickets for nine runs in 11 overs of mayhem. Batsmen arrived and departed with a rapidity that would have done credit to a hard-pressed GP’s surgery. David Wiese took three wickets in seven balls and finished with 4 for 33; Briggs had Gareth Harte caught behind for 13 on a morning when double figures might have prompted a bat raised in irony.An already bad session soon degenerated into the worst day of a season in which Paul Collingwood’s side have offered occasional indications that they grappling their way out of their travails. By six o’clock Durham’s supporters were reflecting on the loss of 16 wickets for 286 runs and their side’s innings and 64-run defeat. Not even the view over the Arun valley could console the Gateshead loyalists. Only Stuart Poynter’s 84 in the evening session had offered them anything to cheer.That early clatter of wickets was an enormous bonus for Sussex. Having not needed his new-ball bowlers during the bedlam, skipper Ben Brown had no qualms about enforcing the follow-on. A disconcertingly frisky Jofra Archer then brought one sharply back off the pitch to bowl a strokeless Cameron Steel for 8 and Durham lunched in the bleak knowledge they had lost seven wickets for 65 runs.The afternoon session brought no relief as another five batsmen were dismissed while 95 runs were scored. Yet such collapses seem out of place at Arundel. Frenetic drama does not sit well in this absurdly idyllic setting. “Good morning, campers” said Mike Charman, the Sussex scorer and PA announcer, when welcoming the early arrivals. Such benevolence is entirely typical of a ground whose many perfections greet spectators and strain their belief.Charman is the sort of good-hearted bloke who does not broadcast an outgoing batsman’s score when he has made nought. It was a kindness he had to exercise on five occasions during Friday’s cricket. In the afternoon session, as cricket drifted into the heart of the day, Charman announced the winners of the raffle, advertised other games and wished Nicola a happy birthday.But there was little to buoy Durham’s travelling band until Poynter put on 79 for the eighth wicket with Nathan Rimmington. Long before that, Tom Latham had been bowled between bad and pad by Ollie Robinson and Smith had been brilliantly caught at what was effectively third slip by Harry Finch off Wiese. Two balls later Collingwood was leg before for nought when playing across the line and Briggs then picked up Harte and Graham Clark. As so often, batting errors had spurred the bowlers to excellence and that in turn had prompted further error. Poynter’s defiance ended when he was lbw swinging across the line to Briggs and Archer’s caught and bowled ended the match next over.Sussex supporters applauded it all. Their side is playing fine cricket and their only regret was that there will now be no cricket at this ground on Saturday.To that list in Emily Dickinson’s poem, supporters at Arundel, Tunbridge Wells and Scarborough would add the joys of watching cricket, albeit some of those joys appear, in the eyes of outsiders, extraneous to the game. Such folk circle the county festivals on the calendar in winter’s depths and they have gone out these Midsummer mornings confident that life will treat them well; they have not been disappointed.They reckon – when they count at all – cricketing days at the outgrounds: the high heat of June afternoons, Academy lads like Phil Salt and Tom Haines, smoke drifting from valley cottages, ash, sycamore and Douglas-fir trees, skylarks, and the soft light of perfect evenings.

Kevin De Bruyne has revealed he had the option to team up with Jurgen Klopp at Borussia Dortmund until Jose Mourinho demanded he stay at Chelsea.

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De Bruyne could have joined Klopp's DortmundEnded up staying at Chelsea under MourinhoLeft in permanent Wolfsburg move months laterWHAT HAPPENED?

De Bruyne returned to Chelsea after a loan spell at Werder Bremen and had the opportunity to return to the Bundesliga for another temporary spell. He says joining Dortmund, then coached by Klopp, was an option, but then-Blues manager Mourinho decided to keep him at Stamford Bridge.

AdvertisementGetty WHAT DE BRUYNE SAID

He told : "I signed for Chelsea knowing that I would be loaned out the first year and if I do really well we'll see what happens. I did the pre-season, went to Werder Bremen, had a really good year. In the summer it was a little bit of a toss-up, I could have went to Dortmund with Klopp at the time or stayed, and Jose wanted me to stay. It just didn't work out, I was maybe just a little bit impatient at the time also, but I just wanted to play football."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Despite Mourinho keeping him around, De Bruyne made just three Premier League appearances in the first half of the 2013-14 season and opted to leave to make a permanent move to Wolfsburg, where he became a star and earned a switch to Manchester City.

Asked if he felt he deserved to be in the Chelsea team before his departure, he said: "I had the confidence. I know there's a lot of good players there and that it was a top team. I understand how it also works for the young guys at every club when you get loaned out, come back, loaned out, come back, and I didn't want that situation anymore, so I just pushed a little bit to get sold and that will happen."

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR DE BRUYNE?

De Bruyne continued his ascent to one of the best playmakers in world football at City, where he has played since 2015. The Belgian attacking midfielder will hope to help fire his team to the Champions League quarter-finals when they take on Copenhagen in the second leg of their last-16 tie on Wednesday – City already lead 3-1 from the reverse fixture.

After getting off to a blistering start in the Premier League this season, Aston Villa will be looking to cause plenty more shocks after the international break. Unai Emery's side currently sit fifth, just four points adrift of table-toppers Tottenham Hotspur. The greatest credit that can be given to Emery and his side, is that their start hasn't been a major surprise – it always seemed likely that we'd be talking about the Midlands club as ones to watch.

The Villans could yet get even better, too, whether that comes through the January transfer window, or next summer, when they could be in a stronger position than ever to land some key targets, including one particular Championship star.

What's the latest Aston Villa transfer news?

Much of the credit for Villa's strong start this season should go to their recruitment team, who once again worked wonders to help land the likes of Moussa Diaby and Pau Torres in the summer. By the end of the deadline, they had spent a reported €93m (£80m), and ever since then, they have not looked back, with their spending more than paying off.

Player

Price (via Transfermarkt)

Moussa Diaby

€55m (£48m)

Pau Torres

€33m (£29m)

Nicolo Zaniolo

€5m (£4m) – loan fee

Youri Tielemans

Free

Clement Lenglet

Loan

Now, Villa could be set to spend even more money, with the latest Jonathan Rowe transfer news reporting that the Premier League side are interested in the Norwich City wide player. According to TeamTalk, Villa, Brentford, Crystal Palace, Burnley, and Sheffield United are all interested in making a move for Rowe, who the Canaries are keen to secure on a long-term contract.

When the January transfer window comes around, as well as the summer window, Rowe will certainly be one to keep an eye on, especially if Norwich fail to secure promotion from the Championship, and Aston Villa come calling. Rowe's agent is also the same as Jacob Ramsey's, so the club could have a route into negotiations on the player's side too.

How has Jonathan Rowe performed this season?

To say that Rowe, who can play on either flank, has got off to an impressive start for Norwich this season would be an understatement. Rowe's goals and assists have stolen the headlines, as he has scored seven times and provided two more in 13 games in all competitions. Add in the fact that he's still just 20-years-old, and you begin to realise just how much potential he has to become a top player, whether that be at Norwich, or a club like Villa.

That form has seen him earn plenty of praise, too, including from Carlton Palmer, who told Football League World: "Norwich City sit joint-fourth in the Championship on 16 points, representing a very decent start to the season.

"One player making a lot of noise is Jonathan Rowe, Norwich's 20-year-old winger has scored five goals in nine appearances and was named EFL Young Player of the Month in August. Rowe is a product of Norwich's academy and his scintillating form has seen him earn a call-up to England's under-20 squad.

"If he can keep producing performances like he's doing then he's going to become a very hot commodity. He could be worth upwards of £20m, I'd definitely put him in the same category as Gnonto at Leeds United."

Glamorgan’s batting has troubled them all season and Josh Poysden’s career-best ensured there would be no let up

ECB Reporters Network09-Jun-2018
ScorecardA career-best five for 29 from Warwickshire leg-spinner Josh Poysden continued Glamorgan’s batting struggles on the opening day of their Specsavers County Championship match at Edgbaston.The Welsh county chose to bat, aiming to at least double their haul of just three batting points collected from the first four games.But they added just one more as, on a slow pitch, they were bowled out for 220 after Poysden, playing his first championship game of the season, dismantled the lower order.Poysden said: “It has been a really frustrating time for me, not being in the team at the start of this year and for most of last year. I didn’t play as much as I wanted to, especially in the championship last year, and with us getting relegated it hurt not to be able to contribute.”But I went away in the winter and worked hard with Stuart MacGill again and then, after I came back, have worked hard with the coaches here at Edgbaston.”Australia Test star Usman Khawaja made just four on his debut and, though David Lloyd, Owen Morgan and Chris Cooke all got decent starts, no-one built the big innings required.The total looks well under par, although Glamorgan fought back well in the last session, removing both Warwickshire openers to leave the home side on 24 for 2 at the close.After Chris Cooke, captaining Glamorgan for the first time, won the toss, young openers Nick Selman and Jack Murphy added 44 in 14 overs. They were parted by Henry Brookes when Murphy was adjudged lbw by Indian umpire Yeshwant Barde, officiating in the first match of his exchange trip.Connor Brown then edged Chris Wright behind and Selman (30, 74 balls, four fours) bat-padded Jeetan Patel to short leg.Khawaja’s uncomfortable, 47-minute stay was ended by a Keith Barker inswinger and Barker should have immediately also dismissed Cooke, who was dropped on nought by Dominic Sibley at second slip. The captain survived to add 57 in 15 overs with Morgan before misreading Poysden’s first ball and falling lbw.Poysden struck again in each of his first two overs after tea when Morgan was lbw and Andrew Salter clipped to short mid-wicket.Lloyd, having batted forcefully to pass 2,000 first-class runs in his 50th match, then departed deeply unimpressed with the decision that he had edged a ball from Patel on to pad before Tim Ambrose reached forward to catch it.Ruaidhri Smith became the fifth lbw casualty when he missed a sweep at Poysden who bowled Lukas Carey first ball to complete his five-for.Glamorgan hit back hard when the home side replied as Carey rattled Will Rhodes’ stumps with the first ball of the innings and Timm Van der Gugten castled Sibley with the 56th.Both sides are depleted in the seam-bowling department with Warwickshire’s Olly Stone and Ryan Sidebottom ruled out by side strains and Glamorgan missing captain Michael Hogan and Marchant de Lange due to hamstring injuries.