Northern Ireland took a big step towards securing promotion back to the second tier of European football as second-half goals from Daniel Ballard and Dion Charles secured a 2-0 Nations League win over Belarus.Victory in Belfast keeps Michael O’Neill’s men two points clear of Bulgaria, and a draw away to Luxembourg on Monday would take them out of League C as Group 3 winners.After las...Full Story »

England Under-21s maintained their impressive away form as they held Spain to a goalless stalemate in a hard-fought friendly in Cadiz.Aston Villa winger Jaden Philogene went closest for England in the first half at La Linea de la Concepcion Stadium, while Spain twice struck the woodwork after the interval.England interim boss Ben Futcher handed Under-21 debuts to Sunderland’s Jobe Bellingh...Full Story »

France booked their place in the quarter-finals of the Nations League after a goalless draw with Israel in Group A2 at Stade de France, where there were clashes between fans and security guards in the stadium amid heightened tensions.Extra security measures had been put in place around the match, with authorities on high alert following violence in Amsterdam before and after a Europa League matc...Full Story »

Evan Ferguson’s fourth senior international goal handed the Republic of Ireland a 1-0 Nations League victory over Finland as Caoimhin Kelleher saved a penalty to see them across the line.The 20-year-old Brighton striker’s header in the final minute of the first half proved sufficient to add three more points to those his side secured in the reverse fixture in Helsinki last month, but...Full Story »

England are on course for promotion back to the Nations League top tier after debutant Curtis Jones’ fantastic flick completed an impressive 3-0 victory in Greece as Thomas Tuchel watched from afar.The Football Association’s decision for its new manager to start in the new year raised eyebrows, just as interim Lee Carsley’s penultimate selection did for Thursday’s must-wi...Full Story »

Chelsea’s 100 per cent start to their Champions League campaign continued as they came from behind to beat Celtic 2-1 at Parkhead.The hosts, group-stage debutants this season, took a shock lead in the 22nd minute when Murphy Agnew’s strike gave them their first ever goal in the competition proper.Much-changed Chelsea managed to quickly turn things around through goals from Maika Hama...Full Story »

Manchester City made it three wins from as many games in Champions League Group D as they saw off Swedish side Hammarby 2-0 at the Joie Stadium.Laura Blindkilde Brown put City ahead two minutes into the second half, shortly after a strike against a post from Aoba Fujino, who then saw a shot clip the crossbar.Fujino subsequently got on the scoresheet to wrap up victory for Gareth Taylor’s s...Full Story »

Cyriel Dessers capped off a fine personal week by scoring the winner as Rangers laboured painfully to a 1-0 William Hill Premiership win over Hearts at Ibrox.The much-maligned striker notched in the 2-1 Premier Sports Cup semi-final win over Motherwell last Sunday and again in the deserved 1-1 Europa League draw at Olympiacos in Greece on Thursday night.And he got the home side off to the perfec...Full Story »

Callum McGregor and Nicolas Kuhn continued their goalscoring form to ensure Celtic emerged from a difficult test at Kilmarnock with three points and top spot in the William Hill Premiership.McGregor’s cross drifted into the net in first-half stoppage-time and Kuhn sealed a 2-0 victory at Rugby Park when he finished from a tight angle in the 71st minute. It was the Celtic captain’s fi...Full Story »

Jay Rodriguez scored a stoppage-time penalty as Burnley snatched a 1-0 victory over Swansea to end a four-game winless run.For 90 minutes it had looked like being another frustrating afternoon for a Burnley side without a goal in their previous three games and desperately lacking creativity.But as some fans were heading for the exits, Matt Grimes handled in the penalty area while battling Burnle...Full Story »