| BACKSEAT | (& 24-across) Bossy passenger makes defensive players eat penny flower (4-4,6) (8) |
| SNOWDROP | Sister welcomes present from Old Penny - flower raised in a spring garden (8) |
| FARE | Passenger makes it in? Only just by the sound of it! (4) |
| POPPYSEED | Bloomer by leading player: eat this, fail drug test |
| SICILIAN | Islander makes defensive move (8) |
| GUARDSMEN | How soldier makes defensive mood on board (9) |
| SWEEPERS | Defensive players, ones lamenting following conclusion of shambles (8) |
| FULLBACK | Defensive player (4-4) |
| LAIDBACK | Unhurried when left to help defensive player (4,4) |
| DRAYMOND | Warriors forward Green who was the N.B.A.'s 2017 Defensive Player of the Year |
| HALFBACK | Defensive player, usually |
| KICKBACK | Sweetener giving defensive player stimulation at first |
| KNEEJERK | (& 24-across) Impulsive response (4-4,8) |
| ARMCHAIR | (& 24-across) Amateur advisor to run with old forward, chasing wing (8,6) |
| INTHEBOX | (& 24-across) Having the advantage, I grab over ten hat boxes (2,3,3,4) |
| COUNTTHE | (& 24-across) Assess the damage (5,3,4) |
| RODLAVER | (& 24-across) Stick to clean choice, backing an entertainment venue (3,5,5) |
| BREAKNEW | (& 24-across) Do pioneering work, harrowing? (5,3,6) |
| BACKFORMATION | Group of defensive players sidle maybe? (4,9) |
| REARGUARDS | Gerrard's dribbling around United's area for defensive players (10) |
