The Sunday Crossword No 3013, Sunday 16 Sep 2018

ACROSS
1   Catch pitiful vehicle with ticket in end (12) DISADVANTAGE {DI{SAD}{VAN}{TAG}E}
9   Dreams, short of rations, about jelly (5) ASPIC {ASPIrations}{C}
10 Cruelly inexperienced, losing wicket, undone initially by cunning (9) CALLOUSLY {CALLOw}{Un...e}{SLY}
11 Artist, joined by number in Italian city, left without natural explanation (10) PARANORMAL {PA{RA}{NO}RMA}{L}
12 Follow story from speaker (4) TAIL (~tale)
14 Engineers in group agreed (7) SQUARED {SQUA{RE}D}
16 Mild chapter, part lacking energy (7) CLEMENT {C}{eLEMENT}
17 One inclined to question power in sect not usually in charge (7) SCEPTIC {SCE{P}T*}{IC}
18 Landed in south, confused (7) SADDLED {S}{ADDLED}
20 Piece on board for bird (4) ROOK [DD]
21 Jump around front of stage with crowd captivated by famous people (4-6) STAR-STRUCK{STAR{St..e}R}{TRUCK}
24 Essentially needing a bit of money before meeting (9) CENTRALLY {CENT}{RALLY}
25 Last letter from troublesome gangster (5) OMEGA [T]
26 Influential figure in field, mostly dull and undemanding (7,5) LEADING LIGHT {LEA}{DINGy}{LIGHT}

DOWN
1   New rule up on red gate in part of airport (9,6) DEPARTURE LOUNGE*
2   Poor judge after support (6-4) SECOND-RATE {RATE} after {SECOND}
3   Staff upset about extremes of erratic colour scheme (5) DECOR {D{e,,,iC}{c...uR}OR<=}
4   Partnerships completely ruined in case (9) ALLIANCES {ALL}{IN+CASE}*
5   Run temperature? Nonsense (4) TROT {T}{ROT}
6   French author, fantastic but vague, falters (7,8) GUSTAVE FLAUBERT*
7   Mass to occupy top American college area (6) CAMPUS {CA{M}P}{US}
8   Look at rent making small hole (6) EYELET {EYE}{LET}
13 Wilful leader's weight about right? Good (10) HEADSTRONG {HEADS}{T{R}ON}{G}
15 Sporting event strangely not held outside California (9) DECATHLON {NOT+HELD}* over {CA}
17 Bits of satire I'd cite that aren't even accurate (6) STRICT {SaTiRe+Id+CiTe}
19 Youngster put up with tacky stuff in order (6) DIKTAT {KID<=}{TAT}
22 Rector's first love? University, endlessly splendid (5) ROYAL {Re...r}{O}{YALe}
23 Produced signal to stop following bishop (4) BRED {B}{RED}

GRID