Callum Cooke is in line to start against his former club as Hartlepool prepare to welcome Bradford to the Suit Direct Stadium.The 25-year-old midfielder spent the last three seasons at the Bantams before being released this summer and will be eager to prove a point come Saturday afternoon.Defender Alex Lacey played a full 90 minutes in their midweek stalemate with Tranmere despite battling illne...Full Story »

RYAN Giggs sent his former girlfriend Kate Greville an X-rated poem saying she makes him "hard as a totem pole" after a string of flirty messages, a court heard. The former Manchester United player is on trial accused of assaulting his ex, as well as controlling and coercive behaviour towards her. Ryan Giggs is accused of assaulting his ex The court heard how he sent an X-rated poem to ex Kat...Full Story »

Lucas Joao could start for Reading in their Sky Bet Championship clash against Middlesbrough.He made a goal-scoring impact after coming on as a second-half substitute in the 3-0 victory over Blackburn after recovering from hamstring trouble.And after seeing Joao prove his fitness, Royals boss Paul Ince might be tempted to give him a starting run.Ince, meanwhile, hopes to soon see his resources f...Full Story »

Middlesbrough boss Chris Wilder was left bewildered by his side’s 2-2 draw with Stoke after City substitute D’Margio Wright-Phillips spared the blushes of veteran team-mate Phil Jagielka.Wright-Phillips, 20 years the junior of 40-year-old Jagielka, headed a stoppage-time equaliser after Boro came from behind thanks to Duncan Watmore and Jagielka’s generosity.Watmore cancelled o...Full Story »

A bloke somehow got into Anfield wearing these ... madness! Wearing any old sliders to a football match is bold (imagine the half-time toilets), but wearing a pair with Manchester United's logo on them to a Liverpool match is even riskier. The unnamed fan was spotted on the steps of Anfield's Main Stand ahead of Liverpool's draw with Crystal Palace on Monday night. The Reds supporter who snap...Full Story »

The grim 'food' wouldn't be everyone's cup of tea Hungry football fans are swapping their traditional half-time pie for a bag of juicy maggots. A chunky grub was shown impaled on a cocktail stick moments before being wolfed down on the terraces. A wise-cracking supporter joked: “Still better than a hotdog at Arsenal.’’ Another wrote: “Would be £4.50 at West Ham Sta...Full Story »

Brazil manager Tite hit back at France striker Kylian Mbappe's claim that World Cup qualifying is more difficult in Europe than in South America. Paris Saint-Germain star Mbappe said in May that European teams, who have won the last four World Cups, have an advantage over their South American rivals because they play "high-level matches." Mbappe added: "Argentina and Brazil don't have that l...Full Story »

Chelsea are still looking for a central defender this summer and have not given up hope of bringing in Wesley Fofana. Chelsea so far have been unable to break Leicester City’s resolve to keep him, but now at least they are assured that if they can do a deal with Leicester, Fofana will arrive. The quoted figure for Chelsea seems to be in excess of £80m if they want to persuade Leice...Full Story »

Paul Hartley wants to see further improvements after watching Hartlepool record a second goalless draw in a row at the Suit Direct Stadium.Even though Pools did not lose to Tranmere, Hartley is keen to get three points on the board for the first time since taking over in the summer.And the Hartlepool boss thinks that his new-look side still need to do more in the final third, having scored just ...Full Story »

Halifax and Southend shared the spoils from a goalless National League stalemate at the Shay Stadium on Tuesday night.Southend had the chance to go ahead when they were awarded a penalty in the 20th minute, but Callum Powell’s spot-kick was saved by goalkeeper Sam Johnson.Halifax then nearly broke the deadlock on the half-hour mark when a mistake from goalkeeper Steve Arnold saw the ball f...Full Story »

Reading are hopeful of having Tom Ince, Jeff Hendrick and Naby Sarr available for their Championship clash with Blackburn on Wednesday.Ince has a slight thigh issue and Hendrick has been carrying an ankle problem but both are expected to be fit, while the Royals are hoping to finally obtain clearance for defender Sarr.Lucas Joao, Scott Dann and Sam Hutchinson are closing in on full fitness while...Full Story »

The two managers clashed more than once during a fiery London derby Thomas Tuchel and Antonio Conte have been charged by the FA after coming to blows following Tottenham's last-gasp draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Both coaches received a red card for their heated confrontation while performing the traditional post-match handshake. Earlier in the game, Tuchel had reacted angrily when Co...Full Story »

Leicester City boss Brendan Rodgers denies Wesley Fofana was saying farewell to fans after defeat at Arsenal. The French defender, linked with a big-money move to Chelsea this summer, went over to see the City supporters by himself following the 4-2 defeat to Arsenal. Onlookers suggested that he may have been saying goodbye to the fans who have supported him for the past two seasons. It was ...Full Story »

Cristiano Ronaldo went straight down the tunnel after Man Utd's humiliating loss Cristiano Ronaldo exchanged words with Steve McLaren after the Manchester United coach told him to go over to their loyal away fans after a 4-0 mauling at Brentford. The Portugal international refused, which led to some stern words, before the two descended down the tunnel at the Brentford Community Stadium. It ca...Full Story »

A journalist from Ballon d'Or organisers France Football has explained why seven-time winner Lionel Messi was snubbed from their 30-man shortlist this year. On Friday afternoon, the nominees for the 2022 Ballon d'Or awards were announced, with the likes of Karim Benzema, Darwin Nunez and Dusan Vlahovic featuring in the Men's category. Five-time winner Cristiano Ronaldo was also included but ...Full Story »

Preston boss Ryan Lowe hailed Brad Potts’ ‘fantastic’ winner as his side picked up their first Sky Bet Championship victory of the season with a 1-0 success at Luton.The wing-back settled the encounter after just 18 minutes, scoring a wonderful flying volley at the back post from Robbie Brady’s cross, following up his first strike of the season during Tuesday night’...Full Story »

Danny Schofield compared the joy of recording his first win as Huddersfield boss to memories of the birth of his children after his side defeated Stoke 3-1 in the Sky Bet Championship.Carlos Corberan’s successor secured the first win of his Terriers tenure as his players capitalised on the visitors’ wastefulness in front of goal.Lewis Baker had an early penalty saved and Jacob Brown ...Full Story »

Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna hailed his side’s impressive 3-0 win over MK Dons at Portman Road as their best performance of the season so far.Goals from Wes Burns, Marcus Harness and Conor Chaplin took Town to the top of the Sky Bet League One table following a convincing home display in searing heat.The Tractor Boys were largely in control, but MK Dons, who finished third last season, will...Full Story »

Brett McGavin’s first-half goal set up a 1-0 smash-and-grab win for Torquay at FC Halifax Town.The Shaymen had dominated the first half but McGavin fired home in time added on after a long throw was flicked on and fell to him in the area.Halifax had been the better team before that and Jesse Debrah was somehow denied an equaliser by Gulls goalkeeper Mark Halstead, who was a one-man resista...Full Story »

Sutton picked up their first win of the League Two season after substitute Tope Fadahunsi’s second-half goal earned them a controversial 1-0 win against previously unbeaten Barrow.A long ball from Sutton goalkeeper Jack Rose was finished off by Fadahunsi in the 79th minute after Barrow stopper Paul Farnham appeared to misread the flight of the ball.It looked as though Barrow substitute Joh...Full Story »