Tensions between public officials and the press are hardly unusual

Leeds boss Sam Allardyce believes his side can take a giant leap towards Premier League safety with victory against Newcastle in Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off. Allardyce, appointed by Leeds eight days ago in a last-ditch bid to retain top-flight status, takes charge of his first match at Elland Road for the club, who sit second bottom and two points from safety with three games to go. The former England manager said: “The biggest thing that can happen is not lose. If we got three points I’d be 40 or 50 per cent thinking we could stay safe. “We still have to win some games. We won’t stay up on 30 points. If we get nine points we’ll stay up, if we get six we might stay up. I want to be still in it when we play Tottenham (on the final day).” Allardyce was sacked by Newcastle in early 2008 after just eight months in charge, but insisted that would not give him extra motivation to deal their top-four hopes a blow. “It’s a long time ago,” the 68-year-old said. “Was I disappointed? Yes. What did it do to my career? Massive knock-back. “But I always recover and move on. It was an opportunity, but in the end I couldn’t avoid a change of ownership that was unexpected.” Mike Ashley had taken control of Newcastle from Freddy Shepherd six months earlier and Allardyce added: “It was a blow to my career at that time because I wanted to take Newcastle as far as I could, like they’re doing now.” Newcastle lost 2-0 to Arsenal last week, but have won eight of their last 10 league games to stay on course for Champions League football next season. Allardyce said the Magpies’ transformation this term under manager Eddie Howe was not just down to the mega-riches provided by current Saudi owners, the Public Investment Fund. “If it doesn’t all come together, your relationship with the owners and the recruitment and the whole building of a football club is imperative to your success,” Allardyce said. “If you get the right players, as they have done…I think what they have done is they’ve not got sucked into the usual hell-for-leather spend, spend, spend like Chelsea. “The way they have spent, slowly but surely, position by position, not over-extending the price that they pay and refusing to pay the inflated price that everybody thinks they’re going to get because they’ve got a mega-rich owner, they’ve resisted all that and now they’ve had the benefit.” Allardyce, who has three games left to keep Leeds in the top flight for a fourth season, was pleased with their “fight and determination” in his first match in charge, which ended in a 2-1 defeat at Manchester City. After Newcastle’s visit they play West Ham away and then host Tottenham in their last match. Allardyce added: “It won’t be over if we lose (on Saturday), but to give ourselves the best chance we have to try and at least get a point on the board.” Allardyce, still without injured skipper Liam Cooper, does not expect USA captain Tyler Adams to feature again this season after he had hamstring surgery in March. Read More Sam Allardyce as good as Pep Guardiola? Man City show they are separated by a gulf Man City vs Leeds LIVE: Premier League latest updates Sam Allardyce labelled ‘deluded’ after Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp comparison Sam Allardyce returns and Liverpool on a charge – Premier League talking points Sam Allardyce asks Leeds for season’s best at the back to keep out Man City Former boss Javi Gracia has no bitterness towards Leeds despite sacking

Gogglebox star Ellie Warner has announced that she has given birth to a son she shares with her boyfriend Nat Eddleston, while co-star Pete Sandiford and his wife Paige Yeoman have welcomed a newborn girl. Both new parents confirmed the arrivals while appearing on Friday’s (2 June) episode of the Channel 4 show, giving viewers a glimpse at the children. Warner, 32, introduced her newborn as she handed the baby to her sister Izzi. Later, she shared a picture of her son on Instagram, who she has named Ezra. The picture sees baby Ezra sleeping in a cot underneath a yellow blanket. She wrote: “Sweet baby Ezra, he has made our lives complete, we love you so much son.” Meanwhile, Sandiford also confirmed his wife Paige Yeoman has given birth to their second child, a baby girl, on Friday’s show. Appearing on the segment with his sister Sophie, Sandiford is seen holding his baby, before saying to Sophie: “Did I tell you her full name? We think we’re going to call her Evie Sylvie Sandiford.” Sandiford and his wife Paige welcomed their first son Jimmy in August 2021 and wed last year. Announcing his baby news, Sandiford told his son Jimmy in a sweet clip that he was about to become a big brother. He joked: “Jimbers, you’re going to have a little brother or sister coming. You’re going to have to milk it.” Hairdresser Warner confirmed she and boyfriend Nat were expecting their first child together back in December. She confirmed her pregnancy on a Gogglebox episode, appearing alongside her sister Izzi, to who she showed her ultrasound scan. Warner, who has been dating her boyfriend Nat Eddleston since 2018, reflected on the moment she showed her mother her pregnancy scan. “When I showed mum the picture she said, ‘Oh can I take a picture,’ and you didn’t even look at it for two minutes,” she said. Izzi responded: “I did! I told you where the things were, I’ll stare at it a bit longer just to make you happy.” Warner and her sister Izzi first appeared on Gogglebox in 2015 after Warner was reportedly approached by a friend who worked on casting for the show. Sandiford and his sister have been fan favourites since they joined the show in 2017. Read More Triathlete proudly shares ‘beautiful’ racing photo where she bled through swimsuit while on her period A Place In The Sun’s Jonnie Irwin admitted to hospital amid terminal diagnosis Prince William overheard telling Kate to ‘chop chop’ at Jordan royal wedding Sarah Beeny shares health update after all-clear from breast cancer Meet the unconventional couple behind Escape to the Chateau Vanessa Feltz shares horrifying Rolf Harris encounter during live interview

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