Blackpool made it three Sky Bet League One wins in a row for the first time this season as they triumphed 2-1 against Bristol Rovers at the Memorial Stadium.CJ Hamilton opened the scoring in the fifth minute as he sidefooted a shot into the top corner, despite Josh Grant’s best efforts on the line. It came after a run and low cross from Kyle Joseph.Luke Thomas then spurned a gilt-edged cha...Full Story »

Liam Rosenior felt his injury-hit Hull side produced their “most important performance of the season” as they claimed a 1-0 Sky Bet Championship win over Sunderland.Hull were without nine senior players as they travelled to Wearside, but Fabio Carvalho’s second-half strike proved sufficient to secure them a hard-fought success at the Stadium of Light.The victory lifted the Tige...Full Story »

Aguibou Camara’s second-half goal fired Guinea to a precious 1-0 victory over Gambia in Group C of the Africa Cup of Nations.Both nations had failed to claim all three points in their tournament openers and were aware of the significance on this fixture towards their knockout stage hopes.After a goalless first half in Yamoussoukro, Camera made the breakthrough with 21 minutes left when he ...Full Story »

Everton midfielder Andre Gomes’ first Goodison Park goal in almost five years settled a dreary FA Cup third-round replay against Crystal Palace.With the temperature sub-zero the match did little to animate the 37,796 hardy souls in attendance but Gomes’ strike – the Toffees’ first from a direct free-kick in 197 games in a run dating back to August 2019 – was the one...Full Story »

Hamari Traore and Lassine Sinayoko struck second-half goals as Mali launched their Africa Cup of Nations campaign with a 2-0 victory over South Africa.Captain Traore tapped his side into a 60th-minute lead in the Group E encounter in Korhogo before striker Sinayoko quickly added a second.South Africa had the better of the opening period but paid a heavy price for a penalty miss from former Brigh...Full Story »

Bertrand Traore scored a late penalty as Burkina Faso snatched a 1-0 victory over Mauritania in their Africa Cup of Nations opener.Aston Villa’s Traore, a former Chelsea forward who is currently on loan at Istanbul Basaksehir, netted in added time to decide the Group D game in Bouake.Mauritania, making their third appearance at the tournament, were denied on two occasions in the first half...Full Story »

Tottenham twice pegged back Manchester United to deny Erik ten Hag’s men victory as Sir Jim Ratcliffe attended his first match since agreeing a partial takeover of the club.The billionaire’s agreement to buy a 25 per cent stake and take control of football operations has brought some hope to a club that has fallen off the top of the English game under owners the Glazers.But it is a l...Full Story »

Jake Livermore has rarely scored two goals in a season throughout his long career, but he hit two in five minutes to pile more misery on QPR.Former Tottenham, West Brom, Hull and England midfielder Livermore, now 34, struck twice from outside the area to earn Watford a 2-1 win at Loftus Road.Lyndon Dykes pulled one back for Rangers but they could not find an equaliser and remain deep in relegati...Full Story »

Seko Fofana and Jean-Philippe Krasso lifted tournament hosts Ivory Coast to a 2-0 victory over Guinea-Bissau in front of an elated Abidjan crowd to kick off the Africa Cup of Nations.Fofana fired the Elephants in front inside four minutes at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium, punishing their Group A rivals for a lapse at the back, and came inches away from adding another before the break.Krasso doub...Full Story »

Stevenage boss Steve Evans hailed his side’s commanding performance as they returned to winning ways to keep up the pace with the League One play-off pack after recording a 1-0 victory at Shrewsbury.The first half was not one for the football purest, but the game opened up after the 70th minute with both sides looking for that decisive goal.Shrewsbury made a great move minutes later with T...Full Story »

Michael Carrick admitted Middlesbrough’s bench made the difference after they came from a goal behind beat Millwall 3-1 at The Den in the Sky Bet Championship.Carrick’s Boro were on a high after Tuesday’s 1-0 Carabao Cup semi-final first leg victory over Chelsea and rounded off an impressive week with victory over another London side.Joe Bryan opened the scoring for the hosts b...Full Story »

Neil Critchley praised the patience of his Blackpool side as their impressive home form continued with a 2-0 win over Exeter.Long-range Albie Morgan strikes either side of half time earned the Tangerines their 10th home league win of the season – the most of any side in Sky Bet League One.Critchley’s side remain within four points of the play-offs and the 45-year-old hailed the menta...Full Story »

Barnsley returned to winning ways after defeating Bristol Rovers 2-1 at Oakwell.Devante Cole and Corey O’Keefe scored either side of Chris Martin’s equaliser to wrap up the three points for Barnsley, who had drawn their last two league games.The Tykes had a flurry of chances in the 32nd minute as Rovers could not clear. Adam Phillips came closest, but Matthew Cox was able to tip arou...Full Story »

Jack Bridge fired Southend to a 1-0 victory over Eastleigh with a second-half penalty at Silverlake Stadium.The encounter got off to a slow start but picked up as the halfway point in the first period approached when Eastleigh goalkeeper Joe McDonnell made a pair of saves in quick succession.There were numerous chances for both sides to net an opener before the break, but it was not until Henry ...Full Story »

Substitute striker Will Keane struck a sweet double as Preston claimed a 2-0 home win against Bristol City.The former Manchester United forward made a fine impact from the bench with two goals in the space of 23 second-half minutes as the Lilywhites claimed their first league win since Boxing Day.Victory also saw Ryan Lowe’s side end a worrying run of four defeats in their last five Champi...Full Story »

Lewis Baker’s first-half goal proved enough as Stoke extended their unbeaten league run to seven matches with a narrow 1-0 victory at Championship bottom side Rotherham.The Potters have not lost since a home defeat to Sheffield Wednesday on December 9, which cost former boss Alex Neil his job.New manager Steven Schumacher secured his second victory in the hotseat thanks to Baker’s st...Full Story »

Promotion-chasing Oxford kept up the pressure on League One’s top two with a convincing 3-1 victory at Carlisle.The U’s ran riot as Mark Harris’ brace and a further strike from Tyler Goodrham did the damage at Brunton Park.Alfie McCalmont pulled one back for the relegation-threatened hosts, but they ultimately slipped to a third defeat in four matches.The game sprung into life ...Full Story »

Albie Morgan’s stylish brace guided Blackpool to a comfortable 2-0 victory over struggling Exeter.The Tangerines started on top and spurned a fine chance to take the lead when Jordan Rhodes’ 25th-minute penalty was saved by Viljami Sinisalo, the Finnish goalkeeper making amends after fouling the striker.The Aston Villa loanee then tipped Kyle Joseph’s long-range effort around t...Full Story »

Courtney Baker-Richardson’s backheeled finish secured Crewe a hard-fought 2-1 win over Swindon.It was the Railwaymen’s third consecutive win, but the Robins’ sixth defeat in their last eight outings as the visitors succumbed despite skipper Charlie Austin cancelling out Elliott Nevitt’s opener for Crewe in the first half.The out-of-form visitors were under pressure early ...Full Story »

Substitute Macauley Bonne fired the winner as Gillingham closed in on the play-off places with a 2-1 victory over fellow promotion hopefuls Accrington.Teenager Alex Henderson gave Stanley a first-half lead but two goals after the break sealed Gills the three points.The first half was largely forgettable. The best chance fell to Accrington, with Gillingham goalkeeper Jake Turner pushing out Ben W...Full Story »