João de Deus sent off, but happy with his side's 3-1 win

João de Deus saw the first red card of his career this Wednesday. However, with spirits high after seeing his side win for the five outings, the Sporting B coach proved willing to speak with the press at the final whistle. "I think I owe an apology, because I am a father of two and I was sent off. I asked if it would be worth us coming out for the second-half and I want to speak about what happened, because it is the first time in many years that I have been sent off. I accept that I was sent off, but I don't except that Tiago (Sporting B goalkeeping coach) was", said the Alvalade boss.

Although without their coach on the sidelines, Sporting B scored twice in the second-half to close out a 3-1 win. “It wasn't only in the second-half that we should have been ahead by two goals. In the first-half we also had the best chances to score. Daniel scored and I think he would have had another one, but he was stopped by an opponent in a debatable situation. In the second-half we showed more quality and it is normal that Sporting B's players are better than Atlético in terms of quality", affirmed Deus, going on to finish: "The difference between the first and the second-half was that we played some more serious stuff."

Sporting B rediscover winning form

Sporting B rediscovered their winning form this Wednesday with a convincing 3-1 victory against fellow Lisbon side Atlético. It was the Alvalade midfield that particularly stood out over the 90 minutes: Ryan Gauld managed to key passes, while Francisco Geraldes and Kikas created another.

Sporting CP needed just 11 minutes to open the scoring, when Podence finished off an excellent pass from Gauld. Atlético then drew level against the run of play courtesy of Cephas Malele, a few minutes after Cristian Ponde could have extended his side's lead from an excellent chance on goal. Half-time arrived with the sides deadlocked, but João de Deus' side finally ran away with the result in the second-half. Domingos Duarte rubber stamped an excellent performance with a goal in the 66th minute after a free-kick from Francisco Geraldes, before Betinho came off the bench and netted his side's third after two just minutes following another deadly pass from Ryan Gauld.

Bruno Jesus named for Ledman LigaPro matchday 34

Bruno Jesus, 33, from the Lisbon Football Association, has been named to take charge of Sporting B's trip to Atlético, on Ledman LigaPro matchday 34.

António Franco and Cláudio Correia will act as linesmen.

This will be Jesus' second time in charge of the team from Alvalade this season, following the trip to Famalicão on matchday 13. 

Atlético-Sporting CP B will get underway at 15h00 on Wednesday the 9th of March, in Estádio da Tapadinha.

João de Deus reflects on his side's draw with FC Famalicão

While praising the competitive edge shown by both sides in Sporting B's draw with Familicão this Saturday, João de Deus proved disappointed with the number of chances wasted on goal.

“The result isn't a reflection of what happened. We have three or four really clear chances and we were the better side. There was a clear difference in the individual quality of the players. We should have won, but it finished 0-0 because we wasted opportunities. I don't remember Familicão having a single good chance on goal", said the Sporting B coach, before speaking about the inclusion of senior side regulars Ricardo Esgaio, Matheus Pereira, Paulo Oliveira and Tobias Figueiredo: "The lads who have come in to help bring extra motivation and it ups our game."

Both sides battle for the points but chances on goal were few and far between

Ledman LigaPro matchday 33 between Sporting B and Familicão got off to a well disputed start, with neither side having the opportunity to build a real chance on goal. Sporting enjoyed the lion's share of possession, but a creative spark was missing when moving into the final third. Both defensive lines had obviously done their homework, with some clinical defending denying virtually every move going forward, until Esgaio floated in from the right flank in the 12th minute, but the Sporting B skipper was unable to trouble the Familicão keeper with the following shot. The visitors managed to get a foothold for a period and in the 14th minute Felix Baxinho created their only really notable effort of the half with a move down the right, but Leandro was unable to connect with the resulting cross.

The second-half proved more dynamic and a series of corners followed in the opening minutes, as both teams managed to develop play in their respective opposition halves. Sporting were looking more determined to take a grip of the encounter and Francisco Geraldes managed to pick out Cristian Ponde, but the Sporting number 49's shot was off target. The warning shot had been fired and goals only didn't follow thanks to Emanuel's display in the Familicão goal. After first denying a header from Cristian Ponde following a corner, the visiting keeper made a brilliant save from a stinging shot by Matheus. Down the other end, Stojkovic was only called into action seconds before the final whistle, but Medeiros' chance never really looking threatening.

Francisco Geraldes sits down with Sporting TV ahead of the weekend's action

Sporting CP will host FC Famalicão at the Sporting Academy this weekend, in Ledman Liga Pro.

Speaking with Sporting TV in the build-up, Francisco Geraldes praised Familicão for there fantastic league campaign so far, but guaranteed that his side will be looking to claim the three points: "We are expecting a hard game against the team that is currently in third, but that doesn't scare us and we will play for the win like we always do. They have had some good results, but I wouldn't put that down to how they play, because they play pretty much the way they always have. We haven't won for a while, but I am sure that we will go on a good run when we do."

João Matos named for Ledman Liga Pro matchday 33

João Matos, 31, from the Viana do Castelo Football Association, will take charge of Sporting B's hosting of Famalicão, on Ledman Liga Pro matchday 33.

João Brito and João Pedro Morte will act as linesmen.

This will be the second time João Matos officiates a Sporting B match this season.

Sporting CP B-Famalicão will get underway at 15h00 on Saturday the 5th of Match, at the Sporting Academy.

João de Deus reflects on Saturday's loss to Olhanense

The Sporting B coach took a moment to speak to gather radio journalists at the final whistle of his side's loss to Olhanense this Saturday, in Ledman LigaPro matchday 32.

“It was a good first-half from us. We didn't have any clear chances, but neither did Olhanense. In the second-half both sides had an opportunity and Betinho scored an unlucky own goal. It happens sometimes and today it happened to us. Not a lot happened after that and the weather didn't help at all. A draw would have been fairer", said João de Deus at the final whistle, finishing: "Some players made their debut today. Obviously so many of the lads going through to the senior team takes its toll, but that is how the club works and we will do our bit. We are here to help the players develop so that they get a chance in the senior team."

Betinho own goal setences Sporting B

Sporting CP B lost out 1-0 to Olhanense this Saturday, on Ledman LigaPro matchday 32 with an own goal from Betinho in the second-half sentencing João de Deus' side to defeat.

The first noteworthy incident of the encounter was a chance on goal in the 9th minute. In fact, it was the only chance on goal in the entire half and came from Olhanense's Jorge González, who lost his marker and picked up possession in front of goal, only to be denied by Stojkovic in what was only the Sporting B shotstopper's second match of the season.

With Kikas, Ivanildo Fernandes and Francisco Geraldes all missing out due to suspension, Rafael Barbosa, Rukas and Fábio Martins were all given places in the starting line-up. It was Sporting B who set the pace of the afternoon, with the team from Alvalade enjoying long spells of possession, while Olhanense looked happy to sit back and cede territory. However, the visitors proved well organised and smothered most of Sporting's attempts to get forward.

The second-half was much more open, mainly due to Olhanense looking to push higher up the pitch. The extra space saw chances inevitably follow and on 50 minutes Rafael Barbosa picked out Podence in the area, but the Alvalade forward fired off target. Fifteen minutes later, Podence again had a chance to open the scoring, but this time the ball finished up the wrong side of the cross bar. Olhanense responded with a great chance of their own through Jorge González, but Stojkovic pulled out a fantastic stop to keep the scoreboard blank.

Olhanense began to turn the screw as the clock ticked over and the extra pressure while in possession saw Sporting's dominance start to dip. In the 67th minute Galassi tried to put Olhanense ahead with a chip, before a stroke of bad luck two minutes later saw Betinho deflect the ball into the back of his own net following a corner whipped in by Leandro Borges.

Duarte Oliveira named for II Ledman LigaPro matchday 32

Duarte Oliveira, 34, from the Braga Football Association, has been named to take charge of Sporting B's trip to Olhanense, on Ledman LigaPro matchday 32.

Nuno Fernandes and Licínio Vieira have been named as linesmen.

This will be the second time this season that Duarte Oliveira officiates over a Sporting B match this season, following the visit to Guimarães on mathcday 22 (0-1).

Olhanense-Sporting CP B will get underway at 11h15 on Saturday the 27th of February, in Estádio José Arcanjo, em Olhão.