OSUN GUBER - PDP RAISES ALARM OVER APPEAL COURT PRESIDENT'S CLOSENESS TO APC

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has alleged that the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, has close ties with the All Progressives Congress (APC).

PDP said such could cause bias in the petition it filed against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the APC candidate, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola.

The Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr Diran Odeyemi, said this in a statement at the weekend.

It read, “The eldest son of Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, Abubakar Bulkachuwa, was until recently a governorship aspirant of the APC in Gombe State. Her husband was also known to be a foundation member of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change.

“We are worried that the sudden disbandment of the tribunal earlier set up by the President of the Court of Appeal might be due to the insistence of members of the disbanded panel to do justice in the petition without fear or favour.

“We equally have it on good authority that senior members of the APC and the Osun State Government have boasted in several quarters that the new panel chairman and members are recommended by governors elected on the platform of the party as those who would do the bidding of the APC.

The party, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, on Thursday, frowned at the disbanding of the panel by the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachwa.

He alleged the APC had been mounting pressure on the judiciary to deny the PDP justice in the determination of the Osun governorship election dispute at the tribunal.

PREMIERSHIP-LATE CHELSEA FIGHT BACK RESCUES POINTS AGAINST MAN UNITED

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho was involved in a furious touchline bust-up after Ross Barkley's 96th-minute equaliser rescued Chelsea's unbeaten Premier League start at Stamford Bridge.

Mourinho's side looked on course for an outstanding win over his former club after two goals from Anthony Martial overturned the first-half lead given to the hosts by Antonio Rudiger's 21st-minute header.

He bowed his head in disappointment as Barkley scored in the dying seconds after a goalmouth scramble, but then reacted angrily as Chelsea technical assistant Marco Ianni celebrated in front of him before then pumping his fists in Mourinho's direction again.

The Portuguese jumped from his seat and was then held back by a mixture of stewards and Manchester United staff as he attempted to get down the tunnel at Ianni.

It was a dramatic conclusion as Mourinho saw victory snatched away after he had replied to the taunts of Chelsea fans by holding up three fingers to remind them of the three Premier League titles he won while in charge at Stamford Bridge.

The Blues looked in control when Rudiger took advantage of Paul Pogba's poor marking to head home Willian's corner, but United responded superbly after the break and Martial's double - a smart, swivelling finish and a composed, low effort - put the visitors on the brink of three points until that frantic finale.

MAN CITY ROMP TO A 5-0 WIN OVER CLARETS

Manager Pep Guardiola praised his Manchester City side for their "beautiful, beautiful goals" as they remained top of the Premier League with a convincing win over Burnley. 

Sparkling finishes from Bernardo Silva, Fernandinho and Riyad Mahrez, in particular, caught the eye as City maintained their 100% home record this season.

"After we scored the second goal and third quickly it was much easier," Guardiola said.

"The finish from Bernardo was not easy. The goals were so outstanding - beautiful, beautiful goals - and the chances we created, and it's three more points."

Guardiola's side were briefly knocked off the summit by Chelsea's draw with Manchester United earlier on Saturday, but opened up a two-point lead before Liverpool moved level on points with a 1-0 win at Huddersfield in the late kick-off.

City's procession towards the three points was initially held up by Clarets keeper Joe Hart, making his first return to Etihad Stadium after ending his 12-year stay in the summer.

Hart, a huge crowd favourite during his spell at the club, made superb first-half stops to deny Sergio Aguero and David Silva, but was powerless to stop Aguero firing home as the duo combined to round off a neat passing move. Hart's afternoon was to get a lot worse.

PREMIERSHIP- BRIGHTON WIN CONFINE NEWCASTLE TO BOTTOM OF THE LOG

Rafael Benitez said turning around Newcastle's fortunes will be the toughest challenge of his career after slipping to the bottom of the Premier League following defeat by Brighton.

The Magpies remain winless after a fifth straight home loss thanks to Brighton's Beram Kayal, who deflected in Jose Izquierdo's strike in the 29th minute.

The Seagulls lost leading scorer Glenn Murray, who was taken off after a sickening aerial collision in the ninth minute.

Brighton boss Chris Hughton later stated that the forward had been concussed but would leave hospital after having precautionary scans. 

But it did not put the visitors off their stride in a match where they spent most of the time defending.

Benitez said the Magpies needed to be "more precise and clinical" after producing 27 shots on goal, with only six on target.

Midfielder Jonjo Shelvey went closest to scoring - first with a strike that was superbly blocked by Mat Ryan, then with a free-kick saved by the Australian with the help from his wall.

And despite saying he was confident he could turn things around, when asked if the current situation is the toughest he has faced, the Spaniard said: "Yes, at the moment, yes. 

"I have had a lot of situations, but at the moment, obviously it's a difficult task."

The result means Newcastle are the fourth team in top-flight history to lose their first five home games of a season - the other three teams were relegated.

PREMIERSHIP - QUICKFIRE EVERTON STRIKES DOWN CRYSTAL PALACE

Everton scored twice in the last three minutes to snatch a dramatic victory over Crystal Palace in a tight Premier League game at Goodison Park.

Tactical changes by Toffees boss Marco Silva decided the game, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin heading in fellow substitute Ademola Lookman's cross.

Moments later, substitute Cenk Tosun fired in the second.

Earlier in the second half, Everton keeper Jordan Pickford saved Luka Milivojevic's penalty with his feet.

Everton's third victory in a row lifted them to eighth in the table, while Palace stay in 15th, two points above the relegation zone with only two wins this season.

Silva strikes gold with substitutes 

For most of the afternoon a rather drab encounter looked destined to finish goalless as both sides struggled to create clear chances.

What swung the game in Everton's favour was Silva's decision to make a bold attacking double change, bringing on forwards Calvert-Lewin and Lookman with eight minutes left.

The home side effectively switched to a 4-2-4 formation, having earlier introduced striker Tosun for attacking midfielder Bernard.

Lookman clipped in a precise, curling ball from the left which was met by a Calvert-Lewin header from close range.

As Palace belatedly tried to respond, Tosun latched on to a long punt clear by defender Michael Keane to fire through Palace keeper Wayne Hennessey's legs one minute 44 seconds later.

"It came down to which manager was brave enough to make the big changes - and it was Marco Silva," former Scotland winger Pat Nevin said on BBC Radio 5 live.

"Luck favoured the brave. I don't think you will see too many better substitutions this season."

This was the first time since August 2017 that three substitutes were directly involved in goals in a Premier League game.

LIGUE 1 HENRY LOSES IN MONACO MANAGERIAL DEBUT.

Thierry Henry's first game as a manager ended in defeat as his Monaco side were beaten 2-1 at Strasbourg in Ligue 1.

Frenchman Henry, 41, saw his side go behind when goalkeeper Seydou Sy fumbled an Adrien Thomasson header.

It got worse for the visitors when Samuel Grandsir saw red for a high foot, before Strasbourg substitute Lebo Mothiba made it two for the home side.

Youri Tielemans' late penalty was only a consolation, with Monaco above bottom club Guingamp on goal difference.

Monaco, Ligue 1 title winners in 2017 under Henry's predecessor Leonardo Jardim, who was sacked on 11 October have failed to win in 11 games in all competitions since the opening weekend of the French top-flight season.

Their six-point tally from 10 games this season is also the club's worst start since the 1953-54 season. 

The result sees Strasbourg rise to sixth in the table, with the principality side left to focus on Wednesday's Champions League group match at Club Brugge.

Former France and Arsenal star Henry, who began his playing career at Monaco and helped them win Ligue 1 in 1997, was assistant manager of Belgium before joining the eight-time French champions.

BUNDESLIGA- DORTMUND CONTINUE REMARKABLE RUN WITH STUTTGART

Jadon Sancho and Paco Alcacer continued their remarkable form with goals as unbeaten Bundesliga leaders Borussia Dortmund thrashed Stuttgart.

New England international Sancho, 18, scored with a deflected shot past Ron-Robert Zieler after just two minutes and 12 seconds.

Sancho, making only his second Bundesliga start of the season, has now scored twice and assisted eight goals in 11 games for Dortmund this season.

Marco Reus added a second and then Alcacer, on loan from Barcelona, chipped in his seventh goal in four league appearances - on his first start in the German top flight.

His opening six league goals had come in a combined 81 minutes across three substitute appearances - and he has also scored in one Champions League appearance for the club.

Those goals all came in the opening 25 minutes, with Maximilian Philipp adding a late fourth.

Dortmund have now scored four or more goals in four consecutive Bundesliga games.

Elsewhere, England Under-21 forward Reiss Nelson scored twice for Hoffenheim in a 3-1 win at Nuremberg. The 18-year-old has scored four goals in as many league games since his loan move from Arsenal.