Warm applause fluttered around Wembley as Harry Kane slowly jogged up the touchline in the first half, but on the pitch Danny Welbeck was putting in a performance to indicate he is in no mood to step aside anytime soon. Roy Hodgson’s selection of Welbeck ahead of the in-form Kane in England Euro 2016 qualifier against Lithuania divided opinion across the nation ahead of kick-off. Should he have started the hot-shot Spurs striker, joint-top in the Premier League with Diego Costa on 19 and with 29 in all competitions? Or Welbeck who has been performing well for the national team but in-and-out of Arsenal’s starting line-up, struggling to eight goals in 34? Danny Welbeck leads the celebrations after putting England 2-0 ahead against Lithuania on Friday . Welbeck's header deflects into the back of the net to send England into a commanding lead . Welbeck is congratulated by England captain Wayne Rooney after scoring his sixth of the qualfying campaign . Former England striker Ian Wright thought the former. ‘Gutted that Harry Kane's not starting,’ he said before kick-off, ‘29 goals, form of his life.’ But within six minutes, the Arsenal man had justified the choice with a huge hand in the opener. Welbeck started on the left, but was to the right of goal when he nutmegged Lithuania’s Tadas Kijanskas with some nifty footwork and fired a shot across goal, which keeper Giedrius Arlauskis could only parry into the path of Wayne Rooney to head in. He almost set up a second on 19 minutes, again getting to the byline on the right before crossing deep to Rooney, who looped a header back across goal and on to the post. Welbeck was bright and alive around the box and got the goal his first-half performance deserved just before the break. Jordan Henderson crossed from the left and he diverted it in off a shoulder via a deflection. They all count. Welbeck caused the Lithuanian defence problems all evening and justified his selection . Welbeck is congratulated by former Manchester united team-mate Wayne Rooney after doubling the lead . Kane may be the latest boy wonder, yet Welbeck is the top-scorer in this Euro 2016 qualifying campaign. His goal moved him to six for the tournament, clear of Israel’s Omar Damari on five. Doubles against Slovenia and Switzerland, a goal versus San Marino and another against Lithuania is not a bad return. Say what you will about the strength of the opposition, but players can only score against what is put in front of them. Hodgson certainly recognised his value, choosing Welbeck as one of only four players - alongside Rooney, Gary Cahill and Nathaniel Clyne - to start from the last team he picked. Dat Guy Welbz, as he was dubbed by Ravel Morrison providing a nickname that went viral, did not let his manager down. He was close to adding another on 41 minutes, riding a challenge and bending a shot towards the top right corner from the edge of the box which was narrowly over. Welbeck is the first to congratulate debutant Harry Kane after scoring two minutes after coming on . Welbeck celebrates with Rooney after he turns home the rebound after the Arsenal striker's effort was saved . And again in the 54th, beating two men on his way into the penalty area to the right of goal and powering a shot on target which was pushed out for a corner. He would surely have had a second had Raheem Sterling not arrived in the box a fraction earlier to tap in England’s third. This may only have been Lithuania, the team ranked 94th in the world, but Welbeck’s passing was crisp and accurate, his runs inventive and movement fluid. An indication of his confidence was a clever back-heel flick in the middle of a quick England passing exchange early in the second half. England’s front three of Welbeck, Rooney and Raheem Sterling were swapping places all evening causing havoc to Lithuania’s defenders. Welbeck was substituted for Theo Walcott in the 77th minute, but the sponsors had seen enough to vote him their man-of-the-match. Kane may have scored within two minutes of coming on, but, for now, Welbeck will be going nowhere in the big games.

England beat Lithuania 4-0 in a Euro 2016 qualifier at Wembley on Friday . Danny Welbeck had a hand in the first goal and scored the second . Welbeck was picked ahead of England new boy Harry Kane for the clash .

 Hodgson's latest gamble to bring a new body into the team's attacking shape was in the air. A gamble that in some way worked – Welbeck's display for England against a strong, dynamic Czech side was more like the forward Hodgson has craved ever since Wayne Rooney picked up an ankle injury against Scotland.
The 27-year-old, who began his international career as a substitute for Rooney against Slovenia at the European Championship eight years ago, was not just a strong, athletic target man on Monday night, he was also a focal point for a cohesive attack. He brought out the best in Raheem Sterling, who had struggled to impose his pace against Italy and Wales in recent weeks.
Welbeck, so often criticised since Rooney became England's permanent right forward at international level, played just behind Sterling on Monday, and their relationship – while not as fluent as it can be – was working on Monday night, with the pair providing an excellent foil in the final third. There was also a pleasing symmetry in the way that Sterling assisted Welbeck's fifth goal – after being played in by Marcus Rashford – and how Welbeck set up Sterling for a strike against Scotland four days earlier.
Welbeck's touch, while not as polished as Rooney's, is stronger than that of the Manchester United striker's, whose technique has often caused England problems this campaign, with his lack of mobility and stamina holding up England's attack. Welbeck is quicker and has the stamina to last. At Manchester United he played out wide, and while he has struggled on the left, it is perhaps no surprise that he is most effective in a central position.
Rooney's exit, with injuries piling up at Manchester United as it struggles in the fight to qualify for the Champions League, presents Welbeck with a golden opportunity. England have a summer friendly with the Netherlands to prepare for, and with Sterling now in fine form, England's attack has an ideal structure.
For so long, this has been the one area in which England are strong, their wide position filled by pace and energy as they look to get behind the opposition, while the central area has been where the problems have come. But now, with the emergence of Sterling and Danny Rose on the left and the maturity of Ross Barkley to the right, England are beginning to look potent in the final third of the field.
For the first time in the group, England's shape –


March 16, 2014. Liverpool travel away from Anfield for a game that will shape the destiny of their season and Brendan Rodgers' confidence is telling. 'If we beat them, they cannot do it,' Rodgers proclaims ahead of a trip to Old Trafford. He had just been asked what the consequences would be if Manchester United, who were trying desperately to keep pace in the race for the Champions League, lost to Liverpool. His words are backed up by a swaggering display, full of devilment, wit and counter-attacking menace. Manchester United are left punch-drunk by a 3-0 defeat that could have been even heavier, as Steven Gerrard – with two pressure penalties – and Luis Suarez ran amok. Steven Gerrard scored two penalties as Liverpool won 3-0 at Manchester United on March 16, 2014 . Luis Suarez (bottom) was also on the scoresheet as Liverpool built a 14-point gap over their arch-rivals . Liverpool headed home that afternoon with a 14-point gap over their rivals in the Barclays Premier League and had effectively destroyed any lingering hope that David Moyes had of commandeering a top four spot. It was a day when Rodgers saw his players make a massive statement of intent, a day that suggested there was a shift in the balance of power of this rivalry; leaving Old Trafford then, you felt it would be a long time before the deficit would be clawed back. Fast forward to March 16, 2015. Again Liverpool were away from Anfield for a vital fixture and again Rodgers' confidence in the build-up was telling but, this time, there was no performance of verve and invention to back up his pre-game message. There was, however, doggedness, determination and the result was just as crucial. Jordan Henderson's freak goal, coming after they had spent much of a rain-sodden night in South Wales riding their luck and defending for their lives, has set them up for another afternoon of destiny with their most bitter foe. Jordan Henderson scored a second-half winner for Liverpool as they won 1-0 at Swansea on Monday night . Henderson runs off to celebrate his winner that moved Liverpool within two points of the top four . Henderson's (right) shot was deflected over the top of Swansea goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski and into the net . The goal was Henderson's (right) third in the last three Premier League games for Liverpool . No trophy will be presented at Anfield next Sunday but there is the sense that the winner of Liverpool and Manchester United's latest showdown will take all in relation to the final spot in next year's Champions League. It is going to be another day of reckoning. Do not underestimate how much Liverpool needed this result at the Liberty Stadium. They have stylishly worked their way into contention for the top four with a long unbeaten run but United's victory over Tottenham had threatened to alter the landscape. What if a loss in Wales and had then be follow up with a defeat at Anfield? Such a scenario would have left bleak consequences for Liverpool. Those result would have left them with an eight-point deficit and not enough time to claw it back, especially with some tricky assignments looming. As it is, they go into English football's Clasico brimming with confidence, two points behind United but ready to leapfrog Louis van Gaal's men. They will need to step up on what they produced against Swansea to topple United but Rodgers has a glint in his eye and faith in his team. Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge (centre) tries to wriggle away from a challenge from Swansea's Jack Cork . Liverpool might not have last year's electric swagger but they certainly know how to fight and, in some ways, the results they have put together since losing at Old Trafford on December 14 have been just as impressive as their unexpected title-charge. Nobody proved that determination more than Henderson, who emerged from a difficult first 45 minutes to keep on running and score the decisive goal, his challenge on Jordi Amat looping over Lukasz Fabianski's head to leave Rodgers' punching the air. Henderson keeps on producing these important moments. For all the noise that is being created around Raheem Sterling and his contract stand-off, the most pressing contractual issue Liverpool have is with their vice-captain. He has scored in each of his last three Premier League games and has led the team with distinction in Gerrard's absence. Young, hungry, talented English players like him are not ten-a-penny and it would be folly to let this drift. Liverpool should really get this business concluded. Raheem Sterling (left) runs at left back Neil Taylor during Monday's clash at the Liberty Stadium . Henderson (right) passes the armband to Steven Gerrard after he comes on as a second-half substitute . CHELSEA . Hull (away) - March 22 . Stoke (home) - April 4 . QPR (away) - April 12 . Man United (home) - April 18 . Arsenal (away) - April 26 . Leicester (away) - April 29 . Crystal Palace (home) - May 2 . Liverpool (home) - May 9 . West Brom (away) - May 16 . Sunderland (home) - May 24 . MANCHESTER CITY . West Brom (home) - March 21 . Crystal Palace (away) - April 6 . Man United (away) - April 12 . West Ham (home) April 19 . Aston Villa (home) - April 25 . Tottenham (away) - May 2 . QPR (home) - May 9 . Swansea (away) - May 16 . Southampton (home) - May 24 . ARSENAL . Newcastle (away) - March 21 . Liverpool (home) - April 4 . Burnley (away) - April 11 . Sunderland (home) April 18 postponed . Chelsea (home) - April 26 . Hull (away) - May 2 . Swansea (home) - May 9 . Man United (away) - May 16 . West Brom (home) - May 24 . MANCHESTER UNITED . Liverpool (away) - March 22 . Aston Villa (home) - April 4 . Man City (home) - April 12 . Chelsea (away) - April 18 . Everton (away) - April 26 . West Brom (home) - May 2 . Crystal Palace (away) - May 9 . Arsenal (home) - May 16 . Hull (away) - May 24 . LIVERPOOL . Man United (home) - March 22 . Arsenal (away) - April 4 . Newcastle (home) - April 13 . Hull (away) - April 18 . West Brom (away) - April 25 . QPR (home) - May 2 . Chelsea (away) - May 9 . Crystal Palace (home) - May 16 . Stoke (away) - May 24 . TOTTENHAM . Leicester (home) - March 21 . Burnley (away) - April 5 . Aston Villa (home) - April 11 . Newcastle (away) - April 19 . Southampton (away) - April 25 . Manchester City (home) - May 2 . Stoke (away) - May 9 . Hull (home) - May 16 . Everton (away) - May 24 . SOUTHAMPTON . Burnley (home) - March 21 . Everton (away) - April 4 . Hull (home) - April 11 . Stoke (away) - April 18 . Tottenham (home) - April 25 . Sunderland (away) - May 2 . Leicester (away) - May 9 . Aston Villa (home) - May 16 . Man City (away) - May 24 . Note: Fixtures in May subject to change for television schedule. For a full list of Premier League fixtures and to check kick-off times, results and league tables, visit our brilliant MATCH ZONE by clicking HERE. Games marked 'postponed' will be rearranged due to FA Cup .

Liverpool won 1-0 away at Swansea in the Premier League on Monday night . On March 16, 2014, the Reds were 14 points clear of Manchester United . Fast forward a year later and Liverpool trail United by two points . READ: Liverpool have sights on second place after beating Swansea . CLICK HERE for all the latest Liverpool news .

 the match, with a tone that makes it clear that if Liverpool do not do so, they have little chance.
When he says that, the Reds are trailing City by seven points in the league with nine games to go and Liverpool have won just one in their last nine games. For Rodgers to say something so obvious, as if this was as straight forward as a five year-old's problem, suggests that his position had been growing increasingly tenuous.
The following week City are beaten 3-1 at Southampton in their next game; Liverpool win 3-1 at home against West Brom, while they are drawing against Manchester United and their hopes of the title begin to flicker.
That was the moment that it had truly begun to click that Liverpool may actually have a chance of winning the league. Since then they have thrashed both United and City in the title race and it has to be said that they've been playing some good football along the way.
They may not be as consistent as they need to be, but they are a good side with a promising set of young players with a lot of talent, although they have not won the league since 1990. And, while there is an argument to be made for the way that Rodgers is being portrayed by the press, the fact that he had to change his tactics from direct to more nuanced in order to take down City does suggest something about the sort of approach that he takes.
It is fair to say that Rodgers has had little time to really get the side as he would like it, but it does seem as though the changes that he had to bring about were as much about his own philosophy and his ambition as much as the capabilities of the team, and the club, at his disposal.
The fact is that Rodgers came into the club when it had been on the verge of being sold and it has become a regular thing for the club's owners, Fenway Sports Group, to say that they will not stand in the way of a takeover and there has been no real move to change things on the pitch from the new owners.
However, the fact remains that the club's board have overseen the spending of £300 million so it is not entirely unrealistic to say that Rodgers should be closer to a title victory than he is.
It is a fact that when Arsenal won the league last year, they had been top for just eight weeks, yet they spent the whole season just one point behind Leicester City, which means that if


In a sport increasingly dominated by statistical analysis and calm dissection of performances it was reassuring to hear Dan Cole discuss the depth of anger felt by England’s players on reviewing their Ireland no-show. Cole, one of the few England stars to depart Dublin with his reputation enhanced last Sunday, revealed the extent of the frustration within the England squad at their misfiring display when their Grand Slam dream was broken by a series of tactical and technical blunders. Stuart Lancaster’s men held a debrief on Tuesday at their five-star Pennyhill Park retreat in Surrey and the video analysis made for uncomfortable viewing. Dan Cole has revealed the frustration felt by England's squad as they relived the Ireland defeat . Chief among their concerns was the spectacular first-half line-out fail which saw England hooker Dylan Hartley throw straight to 6ft 10in Ireland lock Devin Toner at the back when a clean catch and drive would have almost certainly yielded points. England’s repeated disciplinary infringements also led to a 13 to eight penalty deficit and Cole admits watching the match again was deeply frustrating. ‘There is room for emotion because you are frustrated with the game and there were a few things we’ve gone over,’ he said. ‘We didn’t plan to do a lot of the stuff that we did. Trust me we didn’t train what we did at the weekend. We didn’t do that on the training field. ‘There is that frustration and it comes out in anger or whatever from coaches and players because they are frustrated in that regard. It is not just a cool, calm dissection – sometimes it is but if a point needs to be raised it is talked about. England failed to take their chances and made some basic errors, before being punished by the Irish . ‘It was interesting, it was good, it was honest. I think there were some areas – a lot of areas obviously – where we didn’t perform like we should have done.’ Ireland outmanoeuvred England by denying them scrummaging opportunities and by failing to implement the expected ‘choke tackle’, therefore denying the visitors the chance to play to their strengths. Their British Lion half-back pair of Johnny Sexton and Conor Murray controlled field position with some outstanding tactical kicking. When England did have a chance to gain a foothold in the game, Hartley’s wayward throw to Toner cost them dear after George Ford opted to kick a kickable penalty to the corner. Cole was one of the few Englishmen to come out of the defeat in Dublin with any credit . ‘That line-out was a frustration. In international rugby if you get a set piece in the opposition 22 and especially 5m out you have to take it,’ Cole added. ‘You don’t really get another chance like that against sides like Ireland, and we didn’t really get one. I’m not saying that the game changed on that but it was an emotional swing. 'They steal the ball and the crowd lifts up. You score there and it is a different mentality. It wasn’t the reason we lost the game but next time we’ll probably throw away from the 6ft 10 bloke with long arms!’ The England prop will hope his side can bounce back against Scotland at Twickenham next week . While South African referee Craig Joubert took exception to much of England’s work at the break down, Lancaster and his team hope Frenchman Romain Poite will be more forgiving at Twickenham against unfancied Scotland next Saturday. Cole added: ‘Referees have their strengths and weaknesses, just like players do. Set-piece, open play, some refs will let you play stuff, others won’t. There is a variance but it is a case of being as clean as you can. If you are positive in your actions, you will be on the right side of the referee.’

England lost to Ireland 19-9 last week in Dublin . Dan Cole reveals the frustration after players watched video back . Game went against England's plans as mistakes let them down . England will hope to respond against Scotland next week at Twickenham .

 Dublin with a good impression of their performance, also revealed that Martin Johnson has ordered an end to the jollity within the squad ahead of tomorrow’s clash with Scotland in Murrayfield.
“It was frustrating because we didn’t back up our great start to the Six Nations,” Cole said. “We got off to a great start at Twickenham in terms of our game plan and tactics, but we didn’t really carry that on. We were too negative, we didn’t want to play, and that comes down to leadership. At the start, we were on top of our game and then we weren’t, and we need to get back to doing that again.”
England’s failure to beat Ireland in Dublin, and their equally poor showing in France a week later, may have a bearing on Cole’s determination to get England out of their slump sooner rather than later. The Leicester loose head’s appetite to learn from their setbacks will be important to England’s bid to put the past two weeks behind them, and move on towards a strong end to the tournament.
The last fortnight for England will be remembered for what Johnson said in his post-match press conference, when he said: “We’ve got to come here and win. We can do it. It’s not about what we can’t do, it’s about what we can do. We’ve got to back it up again and beat Scotland.”
The remark was greeted with laughter in Ireland and France, where England’s last two performances in the championship were greeted by the predictable claims that they were a “joke”, incapable of sustaining consistent good form and able only to beat weaker teams, even when they are at home.
Cole said: “Martin has spoken to a couple of us to make sure he reiterates what he said about winning the game. There is nothing we can say back, because we know we were very poor in both games against France and Ireland. We can’t dwell on it too much, but we know we can play better. We were better than we were against France in the autumn, and against Ireland in Dublin, so we have to take that on.”
“We have to take it on because it’s the Six Nations and we need to win.” Cole’s words will echo in England dressing rooms, although there is little chance of anyone challenging his claims about the value of winning, particularly for an international squad.
“We’


After a blistering start, England were forced to work for their win against Scotland, which took them level on points with Ireland and Wales at the top of the Six Nations championship table. Jonathan Joseph had Stuart Lancaster's side ahead inside five minutes, but Scotland fought back and forced a thrilling finale. Sportsmail's Chris Foy was there to run the rule over the two teams: . Courtney Lawes gets up above Jonny Gray to secure line-out ball for England in a hard-fought battle . ENGLAND . Mike Brown – Ominous when he dropped first high kick but settled well and posed a threat whenever he had the ball. 7. Anthony Watson – A game of near-triumph for him, but he scored a ‘try’ which was ruled out, as was another he helped set up. 7. Mike Brown takes on Finn Russell as the England full back looked to create opportunities . Jonathan Joseph – Took his try with typical, swerving aplomb, to showcase his nifty footwork. Held up well in defence. 7. Luther Burrell – Squandered glorious early scoring chance. Forceful as ever, but not igniting this campaign as he did last year. 6. Jack Nowell – Exeter wing was electric with his broken-field running. Some suspect decision-making but good finish for try. 7. Jonathan Joseph dives over to score England's early try, which looked to have set them on their way . George Ford – His authority grows. Created openings with distribution and pace, and scored a try. All was well until late missed kicks. 8. Ben Youngs – Was a livewire threat early on and continued to test the Scottish defence with his darts around the fringes. 7. Joe Marler – Deft handling in run-up to Ford try, put in familiar busy shift in defence and was at the heart of set-piece onslaught. 7. George Ford dives over the line for his try in a game where he contributed 15 points and controlled the play . Dylan Hartley – This was a fast-and-loose encounter, so his work in the tight was most felt with his part in a first-half scrum blitz. 6. Dan Cole – The Leicester tighthead is quite content to win scrums and hit rucks, in which case he was in his element here. 7. Dave Attwood – Not as prominent as he was in Dublin, when his defensive work was so valuable and not among top carriers. 6. Dave Attwood gets the ball away out of the tackle as England in another good display from the second row . Courtney Lawes – Largely effective in the way he orchestrated the lineout and a dynamic, punishing presence around the field. 7. James Haskell – Made his fair share of tackles but no major carrying or breakdown impact. His place may be under threat. 6. Billy Vunipola – Determination to impose himself was clear from sheer number of times he pounded the Scottish defence. 7. Billy Vunipola goes on one of his characteristic runs as he offers England some momentum . Chris Robshaw – Not a towering presence before the break, but more influential later, especially as a link-man in attacks. 7. Replacements: Tom Youngs exploded from the bench to provide impetus and fellow front-rower, Kieran Brookes, was involved in the build-up to Nowell’s try and Tom Wood made one strong late burst. Chris Robshaw needs two Scottish tacklers to bring him down as he led England to a Calcutta Cup victory . SCOTLAND . Stuart Hogg – Did well to chase back and prevent a try by Brown. Frustrated by restricted chances and threw some wild passes. 6. Dougie Fife – Had a couple of jinking bursts but largely well shackled. Covered effectively when Watson threatened in second half. 5. Stuart Hogg goes low to bring down Jack Nowell but Scotland couldn't hold out for long . Mark Bennett – Kept his head when the chance came; ignoring men outside to touch down. Largely occupied with tackling. 7. Matt Scott – Was an emergency replacement for Alex Dunbar and this wasn’t a day for him to prove his creative credentials. 5. Tommy Seymour – A regular threat. He came in-field looking for work and often found gaps. Kept choosing clever lines. 7. Finn Russell – Was all at sea in the first quarter but grew into the game. Some shrewd touches but also some glaring lapses. 6. Finn Russell looks for territory as the Scots struggled to get good field position to make a late charge . Greig Laidlaw – Behind a beaten pack, he struggled to control proceedings and didn’t challenge England with box-kicks. 6. Alasdair Dickinson – The prop was damned by association with a scrum effort which was hapless as England took command. 5. Ross Ford – He has had far more commanding outings than this, as he failed to make many dents in a pack on the back foot. 5. Euan Murray – After early tussle with Dan Cole, was left flailing as George Ford scored his try and couldn’t prevent scrum rout. 5. Greig Laidlaw kicks clear as Courtney Lawes attempts to get through two Scottish forwards to charge down . Jim Hamilton – It wasn’t his day. Took a blow to the head that led to an early exit and not the usual snarling menace. 5. Jonny Gray – Nearly touched down when the Scots finally gained a foothold. Couldn’t disrupt English supply at the lineout. 6. Rob Harley – Had a hand in the try scored by Bennett but against the big, strong home forwards he was a lightweight presence. 5. David Denton – Last year, he was almost a lone threat to England and this time he again fought the good fight in vain. 7. Jonny Gray carries the ball as Scotland fought back from a poor start to make a game of it . Blair Cowan – Aside from one slick aerial off-load to send Seymour hurtling clear, he was a low-profile figure in this game. 5. Replacements: The lack of Scottish depth was harshly exposed. None of them sent on from the bench by Vern Cotter could do anything to turn the tide against their team.

England create countless chances but made to work hard for win . Result takes England top of Six Nations table on points difference . George North picked up 15 points as England retained Calcutta Cup .

 when Ben Youngs fed him off a turnover just inside Scotland's half.
Chris Ashton was forced to play for 52 minutes with a bleeding ear, as the visitors continued to press until they were awarded a penalty in front of the posts that Greig Laidlaw slotted over. After that Scotland could have won the match, but it was England who took the initiative and scored three excellent tries, two from the young George Ford, after another dominant win.
They take the lead for the first time when the ball is quickly recycled on the left, and Owen Farrell chips ahead on the full to give Ashton a run on the line. He dives over to give England an 11-3 lead after 10 minutes.
The try came after an error by Scotland, who were looking for a quick penalty, which would have put them into a 3-on-2 advantage against a side which England had battered in the first 12 minutes. Instead Scotland decided to run the ball back, which ended up with Chris Ashton steaming up the middle.
The 25-year-old winger was caught by an over-zealous tackle by Matt Scott, but with a helping shove from Billy Vunipola, he was over. The try was in fact an example of everything England had been doing from the first whistle – hard work and aggression – which meant that Scotland never got a chance to get out of their own half until they were down to 14 men.
After Scotland's second try of the game, when they found space on the left, Ford took over, making a darting run from 55 metres and finishing with a deft chip over the defence to score the first of his three tries. He was set up by Danny Care's 12th tackle of the match when the scrum-half intercepted an off-target pass.
For the first 50 minutes the England wing was outstanding, finishing things off by putting Jonny May over in the corner, before he showed his finishing touch with his third try of the game, a great finish by the touchline.
Greig Laidlaw made a good 70-metre break early in the second half, but Ford's decision to pass the ball to his wing, rather than to try his luck himself, was the right one as he was held up over the line. From the subsequent ruck Ashton's offload freed Jack Clifford to run 30 metres before handing to Ford to run the final 10 metres for


Jordan Henderson required a slice of luck  after an uninspiring first half against Swansea, Jordi Amat’s sliding tackle sending the ball ricocheting on to his shin and ultimately looping beyond the reach of Lukasz Fabianski. But there has been nothing fortuitous about the manner of his improvement over the past two years. He has blossomed from a player talked about in the same breath as Andy Carroll and Charlie Adam  - as examples of how Liverpool wasted the money from the sale of Fernando Torres - to England’s best midfielder. Liverpool have not lost any of the 15 games where their vice-captain has worn the armband this season, winning 12 and drawing three, proving himself in the dressing room and on the pitch a worthy successor to the departing Steven Gerrard. Jordan Henderson celebrates scoring against Swansea, the latest high point in his huge improvement . Henderson was almost sold to Fulham by Brendan Rodgers but is now England's best midfield option . The former Sunderland man was spoken about as a waste of money but is Steven Gerrard's successor now . An incredible unbeaten run in the league stretching back to December has put Liverpool just two points behind Manchester United in fourth and Henderson has been the key to their revival. Even when he is not playing well, as was the case against Swansea, the 24-year-old is a hub of industry, harrying the opposition and straining every sinew and devoting every ounce of energy to the cause. He also keeps popping up at the crucial moments - this was his third goal in as many games and a vital one which keeps the momentum going for his side. Sportsmail’s Jamie Carragher speaks of him as one of the best midfielders in the Barclays Premier League. Not bad for a bloke from Wearside who runs funny. Henderson was not even playing particularly well against Swansea but he made the difference for Liverpool . Liverpool have not lost any of the 15 games played by Henderson as captain in Gerrard's absence . Legendary Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson turned down the opportunity to sign Henderson . That was the assessment of none other than Sir Alex Ferguson, who wrote in his autobiography that Steve Bruce, then Henderson’s manager at Sunderland, recommended United sign the youngster. Ferguson declined citing Henderson’s gait ‘might cause him injuries later in his career'. Of course now he is just the sort of player Manchester United would want marshalling their midfield when the sides meet on Sunday in what could transpire to be pivotal in the race for the final Champions League spot. Henderson laughed off Ferguson’s mean observation, even taking it as a compliment that the pair were discussing him. Over his career so far, he has demonstrated an enviable resilience and a thick skin. When he first arrived at Anfield for £16million and failed to immediately deliver on the promise shown for boyhood club Sunderland he was widely, and understandably, maligned. Even Brendan Rodgers wanted to sell him to Fulham at one point. When he first arrived at Anfield, Henderson failed to immediately deliver on the promise shown at Sunderland . Ferguson turned down Henderson while he was at Sunderland but Manchester United could do with him now . Rodgers considered selling Henderson to Fulham but has been won round by the player's ambition . But Henderson won the Northern Irishman round with his desire and ambition and the two have struck up a good relationship. Henderson credits Rodgers' insistence that he work on his tactical nouse with his improvement. Gary Neville, who works closely with Henderson in the England set-up, has observed a big change in him in the last 12 months and praised his fanatical approach to working on set-pieces. ‘He has a massive conscience in terms of caring about his game and practising on the training ground,’ Neville said on Sky’s Monday Night Football. ‘I remember last year seeing a big change in him in terms of training and practising free-kicks and set pieces. Henderson poses with Charlie Adam, Kenny Dalglish, Alexander Doni and Stewart Downing (left to right) upon signing but in his early days at the club he was viewed as an example of Liverpool wasting money . Henderson is a leader in the dressing room at Liverpool, and with England, according to Gary Neville . The midfielder accepts the congratulations of his team-mates after a hard-fought win in Wales on Monday . ‘You saw him taking set-pieces with Steven Gerrard in the middle. Who would have thought that would happen two years ago? He is not frightened to pull people out and talk, that is why he has the captain’s armband. He is one of the leaders in the dressing room at Liverpool and he is the same with England.’ There may have been moments of luck along the way for Henderson but his story is one of perseverance and boundless improvement. Liverpool and England will hope there is even more to come. Henderson initially struggled to meet expectations at Liverpool but is now valuable  for club and country . Jordi Amat slides in to clear for Swansea but the clearance rebounded off Henderson and into the net .

Jordan Henderson scores fortuitous winner as Liverpool beat Swansea 1-0 . Liverpool have not lost any of their games with Henderson as captain . Vice-captain Henderson has proven himself as Steven Gerrard's successor . He is now England's best midfielder and the envy of Manchester United . Sportsmail's Jamie Carragher rates him as one of Premier League's best . United and Liverpool face each other in top-four showdown on Sunday .

The English Under-19 international completed a long journey from the Swansea academy to first team action with the club.
Henderson made his first team debut at the age of 18 in September 2012, playing 45 minutes away to Southampton.
A season later he was a regular in the first team and was called up to the England Under-21 side.
He scored in a 3-0 win over Poland, an effort that earned the young midfielder praise from England coach Stuart Pearce.
"He's a typical, English No 6 - hard-working, he likes to get forward, but he's still learning,” the England boss said.
Now the 21-year-old is hoping to make further progress after his first goal for Liverpool.
"It was nice,” he said. “I never thought it was going in, but I was trying to find someone. It was a bit of luck. It hit the post, I tried to follow it in and luckily it's gone in. Hopefully it's the first of many.”
Liverpool were far from convincing despite their slender lead thanks to a superb first half display from the home side. The Reds' 16 minutes of possession, during which they managed just one shot on target, was as much a part of the disappointment as the failure to create much else, with the Merseysiders being carved open again and again by Swansea’s counter-attacks.
The visitors went closest to an equaliser before the break through Dwight Tiendalli’s cross, which clipped the crossbar and bounced away. But Liverpool's defence kept a clean sheet for the seventh time this season, thanks largely to a superb performance from Martin Skrtel.
While the Liverpool captain's distribution and positioning was rarely questioned, it was his organisation with Daniel Agger that was the surprise aspect of his showing. The pair had never played together in the league and have had less than a month of pre-season to build a partnership.
"It was one of the best days of my career,” Skrtel said.
"I'm very proud to play with him - he's a great player. I'm so happy to play with him.”
Swansea manager Michael Laudrup felt that Skrtel and Agger would be the most difficult duo Liverpool’s opponents will have faced this season.
"When you have two such big players it makes it very difficult to play


A mother whose son suffered brain damage at birth has been awarded £5.2million after a 16-year battle with the NHS. Scotland’s highest court had twice rejected Nadine Montgomery’s claim that medical negligence caused her son’s physical disabilities. But in a landmark legal ruling seven judges of the Supreme Court in London upheld the 40-year-old mother’s claim in what was described as ‘the most significant medical negligence judgment in 30 years’. Nadine Montgomery, whose son suffers from cerebral palsy after he was starved of oxygen during birth, argued she was not properly advised on having a Cesarean by medics at NHS Lanarkshire . Mrs Montgomery expressed delight yesterday that the care of her son, Sam, who suffers from cerebral palsy, was now guaranteed. The biologist from Cumbernauld, Lanarkshire, said: ‘This is an enormous relief after a long legal fight, ensuring Sam receives the best care for the rest of his life.’ First-time mother Mrs Montgomery gave birth to her son in Bellshill Maternity Hospital, run by NHS Lanarkshire, in October 1999. The slightly-built Type 1 diabetic claimed that during her pregnancy she expressed concerns about the birth. Shoulder dystocia occurs when a baby becomes stuck during delivery, potentially starving the infant of oxygen and leading to brain defects. It is particularly common among the children of diabetes sufferers, which are often larger than typical children. Ms Montgomery, a type 1 diabetes sufferer, said the risks of natural delivery, and the prospect of having a Cesarean, were not discussed with her. Her son, Sam, suffered from shoulder dystocia during birth, and now has cerebral palsy. It is recognised that diabetic mothers can deliver larger babies, placing them at higher risk of complications, including the possibility of ‘shoulder dystocia’ where a newborn gets stuck in the pelvis. In her case, Sam’s shoulder stuck after delivery of his head. Staff released the shoulder but during a 12-minute delay he suffered oxygen deprivation. He was later diagnosed with cerebral palsy, caused by permanent brain injury at birth. Mrs Montgomery claimed that had she been advised properly, she would have opted for the alternative of a Caesarean section and Sam would have been born uninjured. But she said her obstetrician Dr Dina McLellan decided not to discuss the risks or suggest a Caesarean. At an earlier hearing, judges heard it was not Dr McLellan’s ‘practice’ to discuss the potential risks of shoulder dystocia, claiming that the risk for the baby was very small, and that Caesareans were not in the ‘maternal interests’ of women. Mrs Montgomery’s case for compensation had twice been rejected by the Court of Session in Edinburgh. But Lord Reed, who delivered the Supreme Court Justices’ decision yesterday said: ‘An adult person of sound mind is entitled to decide which, if any, of the available forms of treatment to undergo, and her consent must be obtained before treatment interfering with her bodily integrity is undertaken. Her claim for compensation was twice rejected by Scotland's highest court, but she was yesterday awarded £5.2million after London's Supreme Court overturned the ruling (file image) ‘There can be no doubt it was incumbent on Dr McLellan to advise Mrs Montgomery of the risk of shoulder dystocia if she were to have her baby by vaginal delivery, and to discuss with her the alternative of delivery by Caesarean. ‘The only conclusion we can reasonably reach is that, had she (the consultant) advised Mrs Montgomery of the risk of shoulder dystocia and discussed with her dispassionately the potential consequences, Mrs Montgomery would probably have elected to be delivered of her baby by Caesarean section. It is not in dispute that the baby would then have been born unharmed.’ A relieved Mrs Montgomery said: ‘This judgement is an enormous relief after a very long legal fight. I believe that I have a right to know of all the risks surrounding Sam's birth and I am pleased the Supreme Court has recognised that. 'I hope this means other patients will not have to go through what I have gone through. The decision will allow me to ensure Sam receives the best possible care for the rest of his life.' Dr Iain Wallace, Medical Director at NHS Lanarkshire, said: ‘Since this case, practices have changed significantly. Women are more fully informed and advised of the risks and complications of pregnancy. 'We are disappointed in the Supreme Court's decision which has applied retrospectively to the law relating to informed consent and to this case. 'We have only just received this judgement and will need time to consider it fully. We understand, however, that it materially changes the law relating to consent and we, along with other health boards in the UK, will need time to consider very carefully any potential implications for future service provision.'

Nadine Montgomery's son was starved of oxygen during birth in 1999 . That led to brain defects meaning he now suffers from cerebral palsy . Said she was not properly informed of risks and Cesarean was not offered . Scotland's highest court twice rejected her compensation claims . But yesterday London's Supreme Court overturned the earlier rulings .

 cerebral palsy at the time of birth and she was forced to take her legal fight to Strasbourg.
The mother said she was heartbroken to lose her first application for compensation to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg in 2003, but she has finally received the award she sought after a legal battle that took in four judges and was fought over seven years, three months and 12 days.
Ms Montgomery, 54, said she was delighted by the decision and added: “This is what I’ve been fighting for all these years – I am just over the moon.”
The ECHR ruled the decision by doctors in 1990 to delay delivery after the waters broke in Ms Montgomery’s labour was negligent and had deprived her son, now 25, of adequate oxygen.
The court said Ms Montgomery had not received proper advice from medical staff at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, where he was delivered.
It said the delay may have compromised “the viability of his brain” at the time of birth.
The Strasbourg ruling in the Nadine Montgomery case
The court noted that Mr Montgomery is not paralysed, but does have difficulty walking. He has difficulty writing, dressing himself and needs help with household tasks.
After the ruling, Ms Montgomery said: “Now, I will try my best to make up to him for those years he has lost, for the life he will never be able to live.
“I have just been heartbroken about what I had thought had gone.
“I am really pleased for him and I hope his life will improve with this.”
Ms Montgomery, from Dunfermline, said she had been “absolutely shattered” to lose her first attempt to claim compensation in 2003.
“The hardest thing was to cope with all the paperwork,” she said.
“I am a full-time carer and to be honest I don’t have much spare time to keep myself to myself.
“I was quite worried, and I didn’t sleep for three nights before I got the news.
“It’s a brilliant outcome – we got the money which we deserve.”
Mr Montgomery suffered from a severe form of cerebral palsy.
Following the ruling by the Strasbourg court he said: “I feel vindicated and a bit of justice has been done, although I didn’t expect anything.
“My life is not that difficult now.
“I go for a


A man who dropped out of university to start his own computer gaming business has sold the company for £20million. Craig Fletcher started Multiplay in his bedroom at his parents' home in Blackfield, Hampshire, some 20 years ago. The 36-year-old has now sold the company - whose 50 employees include Mr Fletcher's mother and brother - to video game retailer Game Digital. Scroll down for video . Entrepreneur: Craig Fletcher, pictured with his girlfriend, Pippa Caygill, who started Multiplay in his bedroom at his parents' home in Langley, Hampshire, some 20 years ago, has now sold the company for £20million . Remaining modest, Mr Fletcher said he plans to use the money from the sale to buy a new house for himself and girlfriend Pippa Caygill - and to pay off his brothers' mortgages. In 1994, when competitive online gaming was in its infancy, Mr Fletcher organised his first tournament, where 20 of his friends played first-person shooter Doom II at a Southampton hotel. He continued to organise weekend events while studying medicine at Edinburgh University, but they soon attracted hundreds of people and the hobby began placing more demands on his time. Mr Fletcher said: 'I originally started it as a hobby, something that I did for fun. I got to my final year of medical school and realised it was getting silly. 'I'd fly down on a Wednesday to organise an event with hundreds of people at the weekend and then head back for exams. I had to give the company a shot.' He dropped out of university in 2001 to work on Multiplay full-time and his mother, father and brother joined the business. Family business: Craig Fletcher, centre, with parents Tom, 72, and Yvonne, 67 (left) and brother Stewart, 47 . Working out of the family's four-bedroom home in Langley, the team continued to grow the business. Now, the company has 50 members of staff at their headquarters in Southampton, Hampshire. And more than 10 million users from around the world connect to Multiplay each month to play popular games like Minecraft and the Battlefield series. Mr Fletcher's father, Tom, 72, has retired from the company, but his 67-year-old mother Yvonne continues to work as the office secretary. Modest: Mr Fletcher, pictured, said he plans to use the money from the sale to buy a new house for himself and girlfriend Pippa Caygill . Mr Fletcher said the money made from selling the business will go towards paying off the mortgages of his brothers Paul, 48, and Stewart, 47, who works for Multiplay as operations director. He added that he and his partner, Pippa Caygill, 30, a urology surgical registrar, will likely move to a new home near Romsey, Hampshire. He said: 'We're very happy. This is a reward for those of us who have risked an awful lot. It recognises the hard work that everybody puts in. 'I honestly haven't thought about how else I'll spend the money, I'm more focused on getting the business out there. I did sneak a look at a few cars, though.' Mr Fletcher, who currently drives a Jaguar Xf, has been looking at Aston Martins, his mother said. He added  that a lot of the cash will be reinvested in new equipment. 'The sky's the limit. We have had a rocket put under us and we're going to be growing very fast,' he said. 'I wouldn't be surprised if there were 150 people working here in three years' time. We've got some big ambitions.' With the business initially revolving around him playing online and establishing contacts, now he hardly has any time to play games himself as work takes over. He said: 'The last game I played quite a lot was Eve Online [an online multiplayer game set in space]. I exist so that other people can play.' He added: 'Who knew this little tech company could grow so fast and do so much? 'We have been working with Game for quite a while. They were the first exhibitor who came to one of our shows. Events: Multiplay also organises gaming events including the Insomnia festival (pictured) - labelled the 'Glastonbury of the gaming world' - which saw 67,000 people attend last year and 1.4 million participate online . In 1994, when competitive online gaming was in its infancy, Mr Fletcher organised his first tournament, where 20 of his friends played first-person shooter Doom II (scene pictured above) at a Southampton hotel . 'They approached us. It almost happened as part of a conversation and it got to point where it was actually happening. 'For the first time in my life I will have a boss. Up until now it's been my mum.' His audience is expected to grow by at least 17 million people, the number of people with an online subscription to Game. Multiplay also organises gaming events including the Insomnia festival - labelled the 'Glastonbury of the gaming world' - which saw 67,000 people attend last year and 1.4 million participate online. Martyn Gibbs, chief executive of Game Digital, said: 'The world of live events, eSports and multiplayer gaming is growing rapidly and one we have been looking to enter for some time. 'By acquiring Multiplay we are benefitting from nearly two decades of experience, during which time Multiplay has built an exceptional reputation and leading position in its markets. 'Multiplay has a great management team and a fantastic culture - their passion and enthusiasm for games is infectious.'

Craig Fletcher started gaming company in his parents' home 20 years ago . Organised tournaments while studying medicine at Edinburgh University . But he decided to drop out in 2001 to focus on running Multiplay full-time . Worked with his parents and brother to build company out of family home . It now employees 50 staff who work out of headquarters in Southampton . Mr Fletcher has now sold company to video game retailer Game for £20m . Said he will buy new house and car and pay off his brothers' mortgages .

34-year-old, whose business sells virtual worlds and online gaming for PC users, said that this was the "proudest day of my life" because the firm's sale to global media and technology company Joltid showed that his business idea had been a good one. Fletcher told local media: "I knew my parents would be proud of me no matter what I did. But being able to say they're proud of what I'm doing and I've sold my business and they're going to be able to retire on it is fantastic."
The company has expanded to more than 10 staff members based in offices in Southampton and has recently set up in Toronto, Canada. At its inception in 1997, the company operated as a forum for internet games, and has evolved into the Multiplay gaming centre, which includes a virtual reality experience and 3D gaming. Multiplay opened its first centre in Winchester in 2003, which was followed by centres in Guildford and Bournemouth. It operates on a no-tipping policy and has a policy of providing hot meals and hot and cold drinks throughout the day to customers. The sale of Multiplay to Canadian software company Joltid will see the firm continue to focus on the PC games and internet gaming market. The company was launched in 1997 and was named after a World of Warcraft character Fletcher created during his time at university. It will continue to operate from its base in Blackfield under a long-term lease from the Fletcher family. Fletcher left university to set up the business in his parents' loft while working as a waiter at the Solent Skyline, a Southampton tourist attraction.
The company was originally run from his bedroom in Blackfield and has recently grown to almost 50 games consoles in its Southampton office and 10 staff. Speaking about the sale, Fletcher said he had been considering a buy-back for several years and when Joltid made contact to talk about a deal he jumped at the opportunity. "This is the moment I had hoped for and it's the proudest day of my life," he said. "Selling a business can be really difficult, you can lose that sense of pride, but this was the perfect buyer for us. They know the business in and out and the deal was a straightforward buyout." Multiplay's managing director Tom Fletcher said he hoped that the deal would ensure the firm's future for many years to come.
"It's not


For Dave King, the battle for control of Rangers is all but over. The resignation of Ibrox chairman David Somers on Monday morning brought confirmation that the end of days has arrived for this reviled current plc board. Yet, the hard work starts here as King and his backers try to revive an institution that has been more akin to a circus than a football club in the chaotic last three years since administration, then liquidation, visited Govan. Here, Sportsmail looks at the tasks that will be taking priority in King’s packed in-tray as he embarks on a rebuilding job that he and his team believe could take up to five years. Dave King is set to take control of Rangers after chairman Dave Somers resigned from post on Monday . 1. Appoint a new executive team . With the repayment of Mike Ashley’s £5million loan, and running costs of upwards of £25m over the next two years, Rangers need a top-class executive team in place as quickly as possible to map out the club’s financial future. After Friday’s extraordinary general meeting, King will install his allies Paul Murray and John Gilligan as directors. The two remaining current plc directors, Derek Llambias, Rangers’ chief executive, and Barry Leach, director of finance, are not expected to tender their resignations. But King’s first move is expected to be to sack and replace them — whatever the cost. Not surprisingly to those following this rapacious Rangers saga, Llambias and Leach have both just been awarded bumper contracts, complete with lengthy notice periods. 2. Appoint a manager . Kenny McDowall tendered his resignation in January and the uncomfortable-looking 51-year-old keeps making it plain he does not want to be the manager of Rangers a minute longer than he absolutely has to. Under his management, performances have been poor with Rangers winning just two of their last six games. But it would take a collapse of monumental proportions for the Ibrox side to be overtaken by Falkirk and Queen of the South for a place in the play-offs. Stuart McCall is being viewed as the favourite for the post, while fans would love to see King bring back Walter Smith, even in a short-term capacity. But whoever the new manager is, the speedier the appointment, the more time he would have to set his players up for a push at promotion. What is unarguable is this: the new man needs to coax better performances than managed by Ally McCoist and McDowall if Rangers are to overcome a Hibs side that has swatted them aside with ease in the Championship this season. Interim Rangers manager Kenny McDowall does not want the job a minute longer than he has to . 3. Player recruitment . There are 12 Rangers first-team players out of contract in the summer. Captain Lee McCulloch, plus Kris Boyd, Kenny Miller, Jon Daly, Bilel Mohsni, Darren McGregor, Richard Foster, Steven Smith, Sebastien Faure, Ian Black, Kyle Hutton and Steve Simonsen all see their deals run out on June 1, 2015. The sheer volume of out-of-contract players makes it easy for the new boss to carry out a mass cull of what was described by Ibrox legend Richard Gough as ‘probably the worst ever’ team in Rangers history. Yet from such a late starting point, the clock is ticking for the new regime to make wholesale changes. And with out-of-contract players free to speak to suitors since January 1, Rangers are already behind the eight ball in recruiting Bosman signings. 4. Mike Ashley and onerous contracts . Mike Ashley's crisis loans kept the Ibrox club afloat in recent times in exchange for security over pretty much everything bar Ibrox, not to mention an increasingly large share of retail revenues. The contracts with Ashley’s Sports Direct are currently the biggest drain on income at Ibrox. Analysis by the Union of Fans suggests that for every £10 spent on merchandise, Rangers receive an eye-wateringly poor 75p. The suggestions are that these onerous deals are watertight but King’s team need to find out if there is room for manoeuvre. They will also need to go through everything they find with a fine-tooth comb to ensure Ashley is not leaving behind any nasty surprises. Mike Ashley's crisis loans kept Rangers afloat but in exchange for a large share of retail revenues . 5. SFA fit and proper tests . Having won the war to take control at Ibrox, King now needs to convince the SFA he is a fit and proper person to become a director of Rangers. A member of the club board under Craig Whyte that eventually saw Rangers liquidated in 2012, tax offences in South Africa saw King fork out £44m in settlement in 2013. That raises issues because the SFA’s professional game board look at whether a proposed director has been convicted within the last 10 years of ‘(i) an offence liable to imprisonment of two years or over, (ii) corruption or (iii) fraud’. The Hampden board also considers whether the applicant has been a director at a club within the five years preceding an insolvency event. King’s prolonged struggle with the South African Revenue Service (SARS) has been raised repeatedly by the current plc board. But SARS has imposed no restriction on King acting as a company director and he remains ‘confident’ of passing the SFA’s fit-and-proper-person tests. Paul Murray, who was sacked from the Ibrox board by Whyte, must also convince the SFA he is a fit and proper person to be a director. 6. Infrastructure . Rangers fans regularly complain about the decrepit state of Ibrox. Cash is needed to bring it back up to acceptable standard, especially with fans likely to return through the gates in numbers to support the popular new regime. The club’s Murray Park training base at Auchenhowie, which opened 14 years ago, is also badly in need of renovation. Furthermore, Rangers will have to fork out to appoint a team of talent spotters given that the club’s scouting network was scrapped when Neil Murray left in April 2013. Former boss McCoist previously described the need for a scouting system at Rangers as: ‘My No 1 priority for the club moving ahead.’ Money needs to be spent on bringing Ibrox back up to an acceptable standard .

David Somers resigned as Rangers chairman on Monday morning . Dave King is set to take control of the Ibrox club in the next 48 hours . Here, Sportsmail looks at the most pressing tasks in the Rangers in-tray .

-bitten ex-Scottish Secretary has refused to take the ‘lions’ seat for his own, with his bid for control still on the go. So what exactly is his endgame?
As someone who has never previously shown interest in Rangers, it is difficult to understand what the Ibrox board is playing at. They claim to want to preserve the Rangers brand. What is meant by that? Are they now seeking to buy out the other 51% shareholder in the club, the S&S Consortium? Is this simply an attempt to stifle progress at the club by denying fresh funding? Or, perhaps, is there an even deeper agenda?
Whatever the motivation, it must be said that, in seeking to buyout the other shareholders on favourable terms, this bid for control appears to be much more a case of king-making rather than king-taking. One must presume that the bid does not envisage the removal of Dave King, but rather that he will be replaced by one of the current directors. It is therefore, more likely that any new investment will seek to bring greater stability to the running of Rangers, rather than a fresh set of ideas or managerial approach.
This bid represents an attack, however, on the club’s brand. It is a brand that is hugely important. It is more important than the manager, the playing squad, or the directors themselves. It is a brand, that, if maintained properly, can ensure success on the playing field, and off it. This is what Dave King believes in.
This bid seeks to undermine his position by replacing the current directors. As such, it threatens Dave King’s bid to purchase the 51% share of Rangers plc. His bid is only possible because of the desire of the current S&S Consortium to divest their share of the business, and if the bid does come to fruition, they would surely sell their entire share to Dave King. It is therefore, a bid that seeks to undermine Dave King. It is, indeed, an attempt to block his bid for control, and the Rangers brand.
This is a classic power play, and one that Dave King is, inevitably, going to lose. While he may ultimately win this round, there will come a time, probably very soon, when this plc board either sells their remaining 49% or, in all likelihood, seek to increase their shareholding through the issue of new shares. Either of these outcomes, for Dave King, is going to see the


London (CNN)Tunisia's ultra-radical fringe has come back to bite a government born out of the most successful experiment in constitutional reform to emerge from the 2011 Arab Spring revolutions. Wednesday's attack on the Bardo Museum in Tunis was grimly predictable, coming from what the Tunisian Interior Ministry calls a violent ultra-radical Islamist fringe forced underground -- but not crushed -- by security services. Jihadist firebrands representing thousands of active militants at home and abroad have been threatening retribution on Tunisia's outward-looking, investment-friendly majority. The attack was carried out by two gunmen, believed to have been supported by at least two accomplices. It may torpedo efforts to revive Tunisia's employment-generating tourism industry and may discourage other big-spending visitors. It will probably lead Tunisians -- who have shown a sage propensity to unite in the face of greatest adversity despite a marked appetite for political bickering -- to support a robust response by elected President Beji Caid Essebsi. The attack adds to the global narrative by which Islamic revolutionaries -- increasingly flying under the flag of the so-called Islamic State (ISIS) -- pose an existential crisis to moderate states, often Western allies, in the Arab world. Tunisia is the sole country to have emerged from an Arab Spring revolution with its political process intact -- current president, Essebsi, who was elected in November 2014, and his ruling coalition, are the products of a long constitutional process. In four tumultuous years they have competed hard with, but also showed a capacity to work with, opposition parties, led by the "moderate Islamist" Ennahda, which is represented in government and parliament. Islamists of a very different hue were responsible for the Bardo attack. Local Salafist groups (of whom the best known is Ansar Al-Sharia) as well as multinational units including ISIS have been most effective in recruiting disaffected young Tunisians in the capital's poorer quarters and in dusty towns of the south and interior, where the original revolution that removed Ben Ali in February 2011 surged up. Legitimate claims for more jobs and resources in these underprivileged areas during the four subsequent years have largely come to nothing, adding to frustrations. Radical jihadists -- some with back bases in Libya and Algeria -- have posed a major security challenge to successive governments, murdering two prominent "secular" politicians in 2013. The Tunisian armed forces, supported by Algeria's more experienced and better equipped military, have been fighting jihadist radicals in the Mount Chaambi region for nearly three years. They have yet to declare final victory, pointing to the resilience of underground groups. While successive governments have acted against radical Salafist groups, thousands of Tunisians have gone underground; they are widely believed to make up the biggest national group fighting with jihadists in Syria (over 3,000 by many accounts), and are present in Libya and other failing states. In January 2013, Tunisians and Libyans made up the majority of jihadists who attacked a strategic gas plant operated by BP and Statoil in southern Algeria. So, the Bardo attackers are a known enemy. Prime Minister Habib Essid has promised a robust security response. But the Tunis tragedy is unlikely to have any immediate impact on the political process. A majority of Tunisians remain foursquare behind preserving "republican institutions," even if they vocally disagree on the detail of policy. It will remind Tunisia's many friends that the country's transition is brittle, and that Tunis needs commitments of support to become reality, with more military and wider financial assistance, and, above all, investment that can kickstart an economy in the doldrums since 2011. Massacre at the Bardo places Tunisia more centrally within the global ISIS narrative, which has recently expanded to neighboring Libya. It is a ghastly way to remind the world that Tunisia's experiment in democratic reform needs all the help it can get.

Jon Marks: Ultra-radical fringe has previously threatened Tunisia's liberal majority . Majority of Tunisians likely to support robust response from president, he writes . Attacks a reminder that Tunisia's transition to democracy is "brittle," Marks says .

 Bardo National Museum in Tunis is a tragic example of how Tunisia's democratic experiment is being tested and also shows a wider phenomenon: the return of militancy, more than five years after the Arab Spring.
The attack -- the second in Tunisia this month after the assault on Sousse, which left dozens of people dead -- was claimed by the Islamic State group, which has been emboldened by the crisis in Iraq and the rise in instability in Libya and Syria. Islamic State, which has taken credit for many attacks in Tunisia, is also thought to be responsible for the massacre of foreigners in the southern Tunisian town of Kasserine on Wednesday, in which at least 15 were killed, seven of them British.
Tunisia, which led the revolutions, has been heralded as a "model" in the region. It was hailed after the uprising for its swift transition to democracy and it was thought to have put in place a model that could be emulated elsewhere in the Middle East. But in the years that have followed that revolution, Tunisia has struggled with its transition to democracy.
'A dangerous mix'
The transition to democracy started well in Tunisia in 2011, but then the government failed to meet the needs of youth, and it failed to tackle problems like ailing social services, and now this new tragedy is emerging. While other countries were dealing with the post-revolution challenges of poverty, unemployment and lawlessness -- Tunisia has failed to come to grips with its new reality.
"It is a dangerous mix: [there are] high expectations of what the democratic transition should produce and the difficulty to overcome the social, economic and political problems that Tunisia inherited from the Bourguiba and Ben Ali regimes," Hicham Krichen, a Tunisia-based analyst and former adviser to the prime minister, told CNN.
Tunisia's new government faces two challenges: the security challenge -- fighting extremism and radicalization, and the economic challenge, especially for the unemployed.
As the Islamic State group tries to spread its extremist message globally, Tunisia has become a key battleground in the group's campaign to set up a Sunni caliphate in the Middle East and beyond. On Friday, a militant group in Lebanon claimed to have killed two members of the group.
Tunisian authorities also need to take action on security. The Islamic State group has repeatedly called for attacks in Tunisia and the Interior Ministry said Wednesday that the museum was a


The soaring Sydney property market will achieve growth of 20 per cent over two years to send the median house price above $1 million, new research suggests. Prices are also set to take off in Brisbane, but growth will be much more subdued in Melbourne and Adelaide, and prices will fall in Perth, according to forecasts from BIS Shrapnel. The economic analysts say there are housing shortages in Sydney and southeast Queensland, and while housing construction activity has lifted, there is limited scope for a long run of growth in construction. Sydney house prices have grown by almost 14 per cent in the year to February, according to Australian Bureau of Statistics data, and BIS Shrapnel expects annual growth of 13 per cent for the 2014/15 financial year. Scroll down for video . The soaring Sydney property market will achieve growth of 20 per cent over two years. Pictured is a house for sale in Paddington . This three-bedroom, two-bathroom property at 106 Boundary Street in Paddington, in the city's inner-east, will go to auction in April . A further seven per cent rise is forecast for 2015/16, which would take the median price to $980,000 and could see it rise above $1 million by 2017. BIS Shrapnel senior manager of residential property Angie Zigomanis said the prices would rise due to interest rate cuts and undersupply. 'There's strong investor demand in Sydney, and in our view we still think there's an undersupply of dwellings,' Mr Zigomanis told Daily Mail Australia. 'There's also probably just an element of FOMO [fear of missing out] there. 'Buyers are worried the market will run ahead of them and they won't be able to get what they want in the area they want.' Brisbane prices are expected to post 14 per cent growth over two years, taking the median price to $540,000 . This property is for sale at at 82 Brimblecombe Circuit in Pullenvale, to the west of Brisbane's central business district . The house  has four bedrooms, two bathrooms, two parking spaces, a large casual living area and a swimming pool . SYDNEY . Up 20 per cent to $980,000 . BRISBANE . Up 14 per cent to $540,000 . MELBOURNE . Up five per cent to $685,000 . ADELAIDE . Up three per cent to $435,000 . PERTH . Down three per cent to $530,000 . * figures for June 2014 - June 2016, BIS Shrapnel Economic Outlook Report . Brisbane prices are expected to post 14 per cent growth over two years - six per cent growth in the current financial year and eight per cent growth in 2015/16 - which would take the median price to $540,000. Mr Zigomanis said the populations of Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth were being affected by fewer arrivals and more departures. But he said this change would not hit Brisbane house prices, as construction has been weak and has fallen behind population growth. BIS Shrapnel is tipping Melbourne to post a slow price growth of three per cent in 2014/15, and just two per cent in the following 12 months, which would see the median house price at $685,000 in June 2016. 'It comes down to demand and supply - Melbourne has had extended periods of strong [housing] supply,' Mr Zigomanis said. '[The market] is imbalanced, and slowly tipping to oversupply. And there are still a lot of new construction projects so supply will remain high.' Mr Zigomanis said declines in mining investment would contribute to falls in Perth house prices, with BIS Shrapnel forecasting a one per cent drop this year and a two per cent fall in 2015/16 to see the media house price hit $530,000. 'Perth's had a very strong surge in building, but vacancy rates are rising as people [in the mining industry] leave to go back overseas or back to their home states.' Adelaide's market is also set to slow, with growth of one per cent in the current financial year and two per cent in 2015/16. Median house prices are predicted to get to $435,000 in June 2016. Melbourne is tipped to post a slow price growth of three per cent in 2014/15, and just two per cent in the following 12 months . This house is for sale at 51 Stokes Street in Port Melbourne, a bayside suburb south-west of Melbourne's central business district . The house has two bedrooms, two bathrooms, parking, high ceilings with rafters and timber flooring . BIS Shrapnel said falling interest rates were unlikely to affect house prices as much as housing construction activity. 'For many prospective borrowers the decision on whether to enter the property market or not has already been made and an additional 0.25 per cent off their mortgage will not be enough to change their behaviour,' it said. 'It will probably encourage some purchasers around the fringes, providing a mild boost to the market. 'Activity has already found a momentum of its own which is set to continue for another two years.' Declines in mining investment will contribute to falls in Perth prices, with BIS Shrapnel forecasting a three per cent drop by June 2016 . This house is for sale at 15 Hamilton Street in Bayswater, a north-eastern suburb of Perth .

Property market in Sydney and Brisbane set to take off, but Melbourne will post slow  growth and Perth will fall . BIS Shrapnel economic analysts say there are housing shortages in Sydney and southeast Queensland . Housing construction activity has lifted but there is limited scope for a long run of growth in construction .

 Melbourne.
Sydney median house prices are on pace to reach $1.1 million by March 2017, according to a fresh forecast from Domain.
That is around 20 per cent growth on today's price, which is expected to reach $890,000 by next year. Brisbane and Adelaide house prices could also rise more than 20 per cent, the research found.
But the strong price growth in Sydney and other centres will be accompanied by an easing of demand due to tighter lending conditions.
The share of owner-occupiers in the Australian market will likely fall from around 69 per cent to around 62 per cent over the next two years. This will also reduce the rate at which homes are purchased, which will see 7 per cent fewer homes bought compared with today's levels.
"In terms of values, Sydney is likely to surge over the two years to March 2017," the analysis found. "Values are forecast to increase by 20 per cent. This is significantly higher than the 10.9 per cent increase forecast in our previous quarterly forecast, which was already the highest of any capital city over this period."
Brisbane's house price growth is expected to slow from around 14.6 per cent to about 5.5 per cent in the same time. But the median Brisbane house price will reach $580,000 by March next year, which is around 10 per cent higher than it is today.
The research also forecasts a decline in house price growth in Perth, where it sees prices increasing by just 1.8 per cent in the year to March 2017.
There's a reason for this growth forecast. Over the past three months, banks have introduced a series of policy changes to tighten mortgage lending, including raising the interest rate on many of their higher-risk mortgage products.
The changes have increased the cost of borrowing, which is expected to push many households out of the market or restrict the growth of prices and demand for new homes.
"Overall, the median price of a home will see gains ranging from 14 per cent to 21 per cent over the next two years," the report found. "Values are forecast to increase by 17 per cent in Melbourne, 20 per cent in Brisbane, and 21 per cent in Adelaide."
Brisbane's growth "will be much more subdued", however, with a smaller boost in prices over the next two years.


Stuart McCall insisted Rangers had earned a vital psychological boost in the battle to follow Hearts into the Premiership after recording a breakthrough 2-0 win over Hibs. The Ibrox outfit had lost all three previous Championship meetings with Alan Stubbs’ men by a crushing 9-1 aggregate scoreline, but turned the tables at Easter Road in a result which also meant the Tynecastle club were officially promoted as second-tier champions. Goals from Lee Wallace and Kenny Miller — the latter strongly disputed by Hibs — gave McCall a first win in charge and hoisted the Rangers to within three points of their second-placed hosts with a game in hand. Stuart McCall celebrates watching his side beat Hibernian 2-0 at Easter Road on Sunday . There is a fair chance the two sides could meet again in the play-offs and McCall admitted it was essential his side stopped the rot against their Leith rivals. ‘First and foremost I would like to congratulate Hearts on an outstanding season and winning the title,’ said the Ibrox boss, who drew his first two matches in charge. ‘Robbie Neilson and his team have been outstanding all season, so fair play to them. ‘I am delighted with our performance and the result but it’s only one game, we won’t get carried away. But it will restore a bit of confidence that has been severely lacking. ‘It’s a stepping stone. But if we are to hopefully get back into the top league at the end of the season then we’re likely going to have to play Hibs in a decider. ‘If we had come here and got beat today then psychologically it wouldn’t have been good, so this will help. But we have a long way to go. ‘We want to go into the play-offs with momentum, with a bit of spirit and confidence and players playing at the level they can play.’ Rangers had drawn their five previous games and travelled to Easter Road on the back of just one win in nine. Lee Wallace (centre) is congratulated by his team-mates after giving Rangers the lead away to Hibernian . Wallace slams home the opener just before half-time to put the away side in control at Easter Road . That dire run had left Ibrox fans despairing about their promotion hopes but McCall, who earned joy from switching to a 3-5-2 shape, feels his team have now shown they are good enough to go up. ‘Yes, that’s all we want from them,’ he said. ‘Whatever is past has now gone — even today has now gone. There are players in there who need a bit of belief and confidence. A performance like today can only help. ‘I said to the players, there is only one thing better than winning and that is winning as an underdog, when people don’t expect it of you. There is a long way to go and we won’t be getting carried away but it helps with the confidence, morale and belief.’ Rangers fans chanted McCall’s name as the minutes ticked away at Easter Road but he played down the formation rejig that drew a radically improved display. ‘Listen I am no master tactician or anything like that,’ he said. ‘We played a shape and it worked but that was down to the players who carried out what we wanted them to do. ‘You can talk about formations and tactics, whatever, but the bottom line is if the players show the desire and the willingness and the ability like they did today, then it’s about players and them doing the jobs they are asked to do. To a man, they did that today.’ Kenny Miller slots home to put the game beyond doubt for Rangers and close the gap on Hibernian .

Rangers closed the gap on Hibs to just three points in the Championship . Lee Wallace scored the opening goal for Rangers after 44 minutes . Kenny Miller sealed the tie in the closing minutes with a tidy finish . Click here for all the latest Rangers news .

 Stubbs’ men but sealed a memorable triumph with a first-half header from Lee McCulloch and an injury-time penalty from David Templeton.
McCall said: “I’ve been coming here to a noisy Hibs since 1983 and I was 9ft 5in back then. You’d go up a couple of steps and you couldn’t hear yourself.
“We’ve beaten Hibs for the first time in three games and that was obviously very important to everyone. It was good for us and also good psychologically for a club who want to get back into the Premiership.
“Hibs were difficult to break down early on but, as the half wore on, they got more stretched and there were more spaces and opportunities for us. They’d taken the game to us and we were comfortable to take the lead with a good header.
“The break from football because of the international window worked well for us and then it’s all about Saturday. We’ve played so well, yet lost our last two games. It’s time to end the run now and take that step towards the Premiership.”
A goal 10 days after his 18th birthday, from a free-kick outside the penalty area, put McCall in the spotlight as Rangers ran down the clock in typical style.
He said: “It was great to get the goal because I’ve been waiting for the second one to score this season. I’d missed one or two and I wasn’t going to let the chance go this time. It was important to get a good goal to take the edge off a game that had been a little bit tight.”
In the build-up, he felt it was important for Rangers to get off to a good start this season and they were in no mood to settle for second best against Hibs. After a low-key opening period, they increased the pace after the break and took the lead on 66 minutes when Lee McCulloch nodded home.
The captain then scored his second, and Rangers’ second, penalty of the season. McCall said: “As it turned out, the penalty was taken after the referee took a phone call. The linesman had put his flag up because of an infringement but, after a bit of chat, he told the referee that he was wrong. I was lucky, but it was a penalty.”
The former Hearts boss Stubbs had made his first


Since the Arab Spring in 2011, Yemenis have endured intermittent fighting, attempted coups and increasing violence but now, with Houthi militiamen advancing on the beleaguered forces of President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi in the second city of Aden, things look increasingly bleak. With the capital Sana'a also in the hands of the Iran-backed rebels, women and children are now on the front line of a conflict that, last night alone, saw an estimated 40 people perish after Saudi war planes apparently bombed a refugee camp. Now a haunting new set of photos has shed light on what Yemen stands to lose, including a Bedouin minority that has lived in Yemen - and neigbouring countries such as Jordan and Saudi Arabia - for thousands of years. Under threat: These women were photographed in Amran, a town that fell to the Houthis last summer and is now being targeted with air strikes . Front line: These girls live in Shaharah, a village in Houthi controlled territory close to the Saudi Arabian border . Fighting: This little girl was photographed close to the city of Taiz which fell to the Houthi militia yesterday . The pictures, which were taken by French photographer Eric Lafforgue, show the country's women and children going about their daily lives, whether chatting in the market or having their nails hennaed. But more than ever, their future looks uncertain with Saudi Arabian troops massing on the border, Iran refusing to back down and nightly air strikes conducted by planes from Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan and even Sudan. So far, most have been confined to the capital with Sa'naa's international airport among the targets hit last night, along with an army camp in Saadeh and the Red Sea port of Hudaida. 'There were huge blazes in the mountains outside Sanaa. It looks like they hit a missile depot and it was on fire for half an hour or so. Then there was anti-aircraft fire until dawn,' a Sanaa resident said. Nevertheless, even before the Houthi advance began, life wasn't particularly easy for the women of Yemen. One third of girls are married off before the age of 18 according to UNICEF, with a handful marrying aged nine or 10. 'Many activists campaign for a minimum age for marriage but enforcing that in the remoter areas is difficult,' explains Lafforgue, a frequent visitor to Yemen. Dangerous: Shaharah is currently in rebel hands but for the women who live there, little has changed so far . Restricted: For many women, life in Yemen is restrictive. Here, a woman is seen shopping accompanied by two male family members . Changing times: For these women, who live in the Yemeni capital, life has become increasingly dangerous since the 2011 Arab Spring . Historic: These women live in  historic Al Hajjarah, a town built by the Sulayhid dynasty in the 12th century. It was once popular with tourists . 'Yemen is a country where female genital mutilation (FGM) remains an issue, even though it has been officially outlawed. Many girls miss out on education as well.' Hadi's government had set a target of 90 per cent of girls in education by the end of 2015 but with the Houthis and soldiers loyal to ousted president Ali Abdullah Saleh now in control of most of the country, it's a target that is unlikely to be hit. 'Convincing parents of the benefits of sending their daughters to school is difficult,' adds Lafforgue. 'Many families in rural areas think it is a waste of money to educate a girl. 'Instead, they expect them to stay at home and cook or collect firewood and water. When they marry, the girls are expected do much the same.' Despite strict rules that often mean that the only part of a Yemeni woman visible are a pair of hennaed hands, Lafforgue says the same rules are not applied to foreign women who are regarded as 'a third sex' in Yemen. 'They don't have to wear a veil or anything like that, although it is appreciated in some places,' he says.'They are allowed to do everything, including eating and speaking with men. 'When I walked through Sa'naa with a girl wearing trousers, many Yemeni men came up to me and asked: "Is it a man or a woman?"' Trousers, unless with a long robe, are not supposed to be worn by women.' Some do have more freedom, however, among them the bare-faced ladies of Taiz and Jebel Saber close to Aden. But with both towns falling to the Houthis yesterday, their days of being allowed to do as they please could be numbered. Traditional: Women living in Shaharah. Because the village is so remote, fetching water means a daily trek to a well miles from home . Making a living: A lady carries water in a village just outside Al Hudaydah while another battles a flooded wadi in Tihamah . Scorching: Women living in the huge Hadhramaut province in central Yemen often wear tall hats as extra protection from the sun . Decorative: The only adornment visible on most Yemeni women is a pair of hennaed hands . Education: Many village women such as this one are not educated because their families see it as a waste of time, according to Lafforgue . The current round of fighting in Yemen has pitted government forces led by President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi against an Iran-backed rebel force made up of Houthis and soldiers supporting former leader Ali Abdullah Saleh who was ousted in 2012. Supporting President Hadi is an Arab coalition led by  Saudi Arabia and including Jordan, Egypt, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Sudan among others. The Houthis are from a Yemeni Shi'ite sect and are allied to Iran, Saudi Arabia's main regional rival. The Saudis and other Sunni Muslim countries in the region fear the advance of the Houthis will ultimately threaten the world's top oil exporter. Much of the fighting is focused on the port city of Aden where President Hadi is holed up amid bloody clashes with Houthi forces. Aden is Hadi's last stronghold in Yemen and remains besieged despite a fifth day of  air strikes aimed at checking the Houthi advance. The Saudi air strikes, part of an operation named Decisive Storm, may herald a full-blown invasion, with troops already massing on the Yemeni border. However, Reuters reports that US officials say that Saudi Arabia is reluctant to take the next step if at all possible. Different life: Not all Yemeni women live restricted lives. In Jebel Saber in Taiz, close to Aden, women have similar powers to men . Overrun: Residents of Taiz such as this women have now been overwhelmed by Houthi rebels who advanced into the city yesterday . Advance: Soldiers from Yemeni units loyal to ousted president Ali Abdullah Saleh pictured on the outskirts of Taiz . Frightening: Rebels in the Yemeni capital Sa'naa attempt to hold off a Saudi air strike using anti-aircraft weapons .

Photos show women from Houthi-controlled Sa'naa and the village of Shaharah which sits on the Saudi border . Saudi Arabia and its Arab allies are currently conducting air strikes against Houthi militiamen across Yemen . Government troops are currently holed up in the port of Aden and are being besieged by the Iran-backed militia . Among the cities to fall yesterday was Taiz where women still enjoy an unusual amount of freedom .

 the capital, Sana’a, the future of Yemen’s fragile nation has never looked bleaker.
Tens of thousands of civilians have been killed since the uprising against the autocratic leadership began in 2011. The UN has called the ongoing violence a man-made humanitarian crisis that is spiraling out of control.
On Wednesday, the United States’ Secretary of State John Kerry flew in to Yemen to urge the country’s warring sides to come together and put an end to the violence and humanitarian crisis.
In the country’s southern port city of Aden, Kerry said, “There are too many Yemenis being killed by violence and too many are dying from the failure of their country to get on with its future. It is time for the suffering to stop.”
“If Yemen’s adversaries are serious about solving their differences, I say to them: the world will stand behind a solution that leads to peace,” he said.
Fears for women’s rights
As the country crumbles, women, already victimized by a conflict that has seen the world’s poorest state dragged into what the UN says could be the largest cholera epidemic ever, are suffering a crisis within a crisis.
Al Jazeera reports:
Sanaa, Yemen’s capital and the epicenter of the Yemeni crisis, had so far been relatively spared the devastation that the conflict has unleashed. Women had the right to vote and own businesses, despite Islam being the country’s official religion and women having to cover their heads.
Women also had the right to choose which of their husbands to marry and how many children they would have.
Forced to remain indoors in accordance with the strict Islamic dress code, women have become the first to suffer from the war.
The UN estimates that 22 million Yemeni’s need humanitarian aid, of which the population of Aden itself accounts for half.
A ‘lucky’ 25 million
In the midst of all this suffering, it seems that only a small number of Yemenis are enjoying life.
On Tuesday, the Arab News revealed that a Yemeni businessman had created a “crisis premium” and raised the cost of food, gas and electricity in what he called a bid to “create some order in society” amid the “mess” caused by the ongoing war.
The Yemeni told the news outlet that the cost of electricity had gone up by $150 percent, gas by


A pregnant model, who is less a month away from giving birth, has come under fire from her Instagram followers after sharing a series of saucy lingerie-clad selfies flaunting her barely-there baby-bump. Sarah Stage, a 30-year-old underwear model and animal rights activist, has documented her changing figure via her Instagram page throughout her pregnancy earning herself a huge number of fans in the process. However, as her pregnancy has progressed, more and more people have begun criticizing the mother-to-be, claiming that her unusually trim and toned figure could be doing damage to her unborn child. 'I would be so nervous!' one critic wrote. 'The baby is probably really small and I would imagine she will have a hard time making milk.’ Scroll down for video . Mom-to-be: Sarah Stage, a Los Angeles-based lingerie model, has been documenting her changing pregnancy body and many of her 1.1m Instagram followers cannot believe she is eight months pregnant . Another added: 'Feed the baby! She's just cares about her looks, not the growing of the baby. So sad that the baby [will be] so tiny when he comes into the world.' The model’s pictures have garnered thousands more similar comments, many of which criticize her for being 'unhealthy' and unnaturally small for a pregnant woman. But while Sarah has faced her fair share of criticisms, others were more complimentary with their comments. 'Everyone is body shaming her. It’s really sad how quick everyone is to judge her and say that she is starving her baby, before actually educating yourselves on why she may look so small,' one person wrote. Proud: Sarah refuses to hide her eight month pregnant body in maternity clothes and prefers to flaunt it in lingerie . Meanwhile, another fan noted: 'Cuteset bump ever!' Despite her critics, Sarah refuses to hide her eight-month pregnant body in maternity clothes and prefers to flaunt it on social media for the world to see. Sarah, who is of European and Costa Rican descent and lives in Los Angeles, shuns baggy dresses and instead dresses her bump in fitted Lycra or nothing at all. The fitness fanatic loves hitting the gym and captures herself working out, as well as following a healthy diet of quinoa, spinach and chicken. Clearly not letting her growing baby bump get in the way of her career, Sarah has continued to model whilst carrying. Multi-talented: Sarah is a lingerie model and animal rights activist and adorns billboards in the states . Sarah's first modelling gig was at the tender age of two and the star, who is signed to Elite Model Management, has since adorned billboards and starred in countless campaigns. According to Malaysian Digest, Sarah indulges in occasional cheeseburgers and maintains her trim frame is down to daily gym visits. Comments from her followers include ones such as: 'she looks like me on a normal day' and 'my belly after a burger'. And despite some of her followers criticizing her unique physique, one medical professional claims that, if she feels healthy and happy, Sarah has no need to worry about her baby. Discussing how different women's bodies react during pregnancy, Dr Venkat, Director at Harley Street Fertility Clinic, said: 'If a woman is healthy - physically and mentally - to start with and if she looks after herself well then she will look radiant. Gym bunny: The model credits her svelte figure to her regular work-out sessions in the gym . 'The hormones are elevated during pregnancy and women react differently to the hormones. 'Some women are particularly sensitive to elevated hormones and suffer with symptoms, whereas others sail through without any symptoms.' Dr Venkat added that a woman's height plays a role and the taller a woman is can help her carry herself with better posture than a shorter woman. When it comes to working out, she says, women generally don't need to worry about staying in shape during pregnancy. Citing walking and gentle stretching as the best exercises during pregnancy, she says women are going to be exhausted in the first couple of weeks after delivery and can start exercising after a fortnight, once a routine is established. Fan club: Comments from her followers include ones such as 'she looks like me on a normal day' and 'I had to look at it for ages to notice she was pregnant' Popular: Sarah has over 1m Instagram followers who regularly comment on her trim baby body . Medical opinion: Dr Venkat says women generally don't need to worry about staying in shape during pregnancy but Sarah is clearly keen to continue with her regular gym sessions .

Sarah Stage, 30, from Los Angeles, is expecting her baby in just a few weeks . Throughout her pregnancy she has showcased her toned lingerie-clad body on social media . Many of her followers have commented on her images criticizing her for being 'unhealthy' Sarah has maintained that she hits the gym and follows a healthy diet .

-year-old American fitness and fashion model (who is also a married mother-of-one) from Ohio, has been getting criticism for her posts (which were first published on Dec. 29) — particularly for one showing her wearing a crop top and a miniskirt — as some commenters believed that her “silly selfies” were nothing short of bragging. “She thinks we all want to know about her life. Not interested,” said one annoyed Instagram user. “I just wanna know where all my hair went,” wrote another. A third said, “These posts are the most obnoxious kind. I follow people who are pregnant so I’m not going to hate on anyone’s bump. But these are like a picture perfect pregnancy.” Another commenter wondered if Sarah was still breastfeeding, adding that it would be “pretty messed up” if she wasn’t. “We don’t really need to be reminded of every minute of someone’s day, but especially someone who flaunts her baby bump, as if we give a damn,” said one of Sarah’s followers. “This is not what you see on [her Instagram feed] every day, [they’re] just throw-a-dresses-on-and-do-the-hand-over-tummy-pose,” wrote another. “And a very happy 9 years anniversary to this awesome couple!” Another fan responded with, “Omg she’s gorgeous!! I’m with [you], I’ve never seen her post like that before. Not even a bump picture, this is all I see. She’s just having a little fun and that’s okay.” Meanwhile, a follower defended Sarah, saying she felt the model was just having “some fun,” but adding that she “would probably hate these posts if her husband was going around posting pics of her naked.” However, one follower thought Sarah’s posts were “disgusting,” with another saying she found Sarah to be “fake.” Some other commenters, meanwhile, just thought her posts were “obnoxious” and “braggy” — and “trying too hard to be the center of attention.” Sarah has made it a habit of sharing pictures of her baby-bump on Instagram, but she has never shared one in the way she did last week. This was after one follower commented that Sarah’s husband, Kyle