| BACKCHAT | Impudence from defender about to get headgear (8) |
| UPHOLDER | Defender about to be ignored by current champion? |
| CHAMPION | Defender about to overplay ball breaking leg |
| CHUTZPAH | Shameless impudence (from Yiddish) (8) |
| BACKLASH | Adverse reaction from defender with whip (8) |
| BELGRADE | Champions rise up, status inspiring hero after header from defender (3,4,8) |
| BLACKTIE | Defender, about 50, seen before match with formal evening dress (5,3) |
| BOGSTANDARD | Basic error from defender perhaps wrapped in British flag (3,8) |
| BLACKBURNROVERS | Defender, about 50, beside stream with people wandering from football club |
| REDSTAR | Champions rise up, status inspiring hero after header from defender (3,4,8) |
| OGRE | Giant mistake in game, finishing touches from defender dire (4) |
| HARNESS | Tackle from defender initially getting out of difficulty (7) |
| FINDER | Perhaps keeper’s better catching header from defender? |
| ANTE | Wager Italian linesman's ruled out header from defender |
| BLACKBIRD | Songster identified by defender, about 50, getting prison sentence (9) |
| KICK | Keep it clean for starters on the weekend, as striker is expecting it from defender! (4) |
| DAS | Lawyers on the other side of the courtroom from defenders: Abbr. |
| SAUCEPAN | It's impudence to criticise a cook's utensil (8) |
| NECKWEAR | Impudence to damage scarf, say (8) |
| LIPSTICK | Impudence by staff offered to one's face |
