Boss Lee Carsley believes his England Under-21 stars rose to the challenge to boost their Euro 2023 qualifying hopes.Anthony Gordon’s debut brace and Folarin Balogun’s goal gave the Young Lions an impressive 3-1 win over the Czech Republic.They are now two points behind the Czech Republic, who top Group G, with a game in hand following victory in Burnley.Carsley had urged his men to ...Full Story »

Boss Joey Barton felt his League Two Bristol Rovers deserved their 2-2 draw at Oxford after Antony Evans’ 87th-minute penalty earned a replay.Taylor converted after late substitute Jamie Hanson fouled Aaron Collins.Matty Taylor had put the U’s in front in the 11th minute but Sam Finley levelled in first-half stoppage time.Marcus McGuane restored Oxford’s lead but the home side,...Full Story »

Crawley will be without suspended defender Joel Lynch for Saturday’s FA Cup first-round tie with Sky Bet League Two rivals Tranmere.Lynch was sent off during last weekend’s 4-1 loss at home to Port Vale.Striker Ashley Nadesan returns to contention after serving a two-match ban.Crawley are still missing defender Jordan Tunnicliffe due to injury.Tranmere have no fresh selection concern...Full Story »

Joe Ralls is in contention for a Cardiff starting spot at home to Huddersfield.Ralls has not started since the south Wales derby defeat to Swansea on October 17 because of a shoulder injury.But he came on in the closing stages against QPR on Wednesday and brought energy to the Cardiff midfield.Cardiff’s defeat to Rangers was their ninth in 10 games, but interim manager Steve Morison was pl...Full Story »

Leyton Orient assistant Joe Gallen has insisted they will go as strong as they can for the visit of Ebbsfleet in the FA Cup first round on Saturday.The O’s take a break from Sky Bet League Two action following a 5-0 thrashing over Hartlepool – where Aaron Drinan scored a hat-trick – to face opposition from two divisions below.While boss Kenny Jackett could view the competi...Full Story »

A delighted Russell Martin heaped praise on goalscorers Jamie Paterson and Joel Piroe after the pair earned Swansea a 2-1 win over Coventry at the Coventry Building Society Arena.Coventry-born Paterson opened the scoring inside five minutes with his third goal in five games before Dutch striker Piroe notched his ninth Sky Bet Championship goal of the season.“Joe and Jamie have been incredi...Full Story »

Chelsea head coach Thomas Tuchel has challenged Ruben Loftus-Cheek to “use his full potential” after the midfielder was praised for his performance during Tuesday’s 1-0 win in Malmo.The academy graduate started only his second Champions League match, with his full debut in the competition occurring more than six years ago.Loftus-Cheek took time to make his mark on the Group H c...Full Story »

Joe Morrell could return to the Portsmouth side for their Sly Bet League One clash against Cheltenham.The midfielder missed Pompey’s 1-0 win over Bolton at the weekend with a tight groin, and manager Danny Cowley told the club website Morrell needed a bit more time due to a three-game week.Morrell’s replacement, Ryan Tunnicliffe, could miss out after limping off just before half-time...Full Story »

Joey Barton believes that the fortunes of his Bristol Rovers side are “starting to turn” after earning a 1-0 win at Harrogate.Substitute Nick Anderton scored the only goal of the game after the hour mark to seal a rare away win for the 16th-placed Pirates, who were relegated from League One last season.Having previously failed to claim an away win since last December, Rovers have now...Full Story »

Keith Curle’s struggling Oldham side are in search of a much-needed League Two win as they host Swindon at Boundary Park.Latics are just a point outside the relegation zone and have won just one and lost five of their seven home games.Seventeen-year-old midfielder Joe Edwards is pushing for his first-team debut after featuring in the midweek FA Youth Cup first-round win at Carlisle and is ...Full Story »

Stoke will check on midfielder Joe Allen ahead of resuming their Championship campaign against managerless Cardiff.The Wales international missed the Carabao Cup defeat to Brentford on Wednesday night after needing stitches in a foot wound following the league loss to Millwall.Defender Tommy Smith was absent for both of those matches through illness and he will also be assessed.James Chester, Ma...Full Story »

Stoke have a doubt over midfielder Joe Allen ahead of the Carabao Cup fourth-round tie against Premier League Brentford at the bet365 Stadium.Allen needed stitches in a foot wound after Saturday’s Sky Bet Championship defeat at Millwall, so may not be risked.Defender Tommy Smith missed the match through illness but has resumed training, while on-loan Brighton forward Abdallah Sima (ankle) ...Full Story »

Joe Pigott is set to return to the Ipswich squad for their clash with Fleetwood.The striker has missed the last two games for the Tractor Boys after going on compassionate leave following the death of his father.Manager Paul Cook also hinted that he could stick with the same line-up after his side’s 4-0 win at Portsmouth in midweek.Cook told the club website: “For me as manager, I re...Full Story »

Swansea head coach Russell Martin hailed the ice-cool finishing of Joel Piroe after his team sealed a 2-1 Sky Bet Championship comeback win over West Brom.Karlan Grant scored after just 52 seconds to put the Baggies ahead but Swansea gradually grew into the game and were the better team in the second half.Piroe levelled after collecting a Jamie Paterson long ball and then turned creator for Pate...Full Story »

Bristol Rovers boss Joey Barton was angry with Premier League referee Graham Scott after his side finished their 1-1 draw at Colchester with nine men.Cian Harries, who had been booked for a foul early in the second half, was shown a second yellow card for time-wasting from a throw-in in the 87th minute and duly sent off.And Rovers substitute Trevor Clarke was also dismissed near the end for viol...Full Story »

Cambridge boss Mark Bonner is hopeful Dimitar Mitov, Paul Digby and Joe Ironside will overcome minor issues to face Sheffield Wednesday in Sky Bet League One.Goalkeeper Mitov (back), midfielder Digby (knock) and forward Ironside (dead leg) each required assessment following Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Ipswich.U’s midfielder Jack Lankester missed the weekend game against his former club ...Full Story »

Joe Williams and Andy King are doubts for Bristol City’s game with Nottingham Forest.The pair were forced off in Saturday’s 2-0 defeat against Bournemouth and are being assessed.Robbie Cundy and Antoine Semenyo are still battling knee injuries, while Tommy Conway continues to recover following ankle surgery.Boss Nigel Pearson returned to the dugout on Saturday after recovering from c...Full Story »

Gary Bowyer has demanded consistency from his Salford players after they beat Hartlepool 2-0.An early goal from Tom Elliott and Matty Willock’s late effort secured three points for the hosts.It was just the pre-season promotion favourites’ fourth win in 12 League Two games this season and Bowyer urged his side to go on a run and get themselves into the top half of the table.Bowyer sa...Full Story »

Rotherham defender Joe Mattock is in line to return from injury against Portsmouth.Mattock has missed his side’s last two league games with an Achilles problem, but he is back in training and manager Paul Warne expects him to be fit enough to be involved this weekend.Warne said Jamie Lindsay, who suffered a hamstring injury last month, will be out for “a few weeks”.Rotherham ha...Full Story »

A relieved Joey Barton insists there is plenty of hard work ahead for Bristol Rovers despite powering to a 3-0 win over Carlisle on Saturday.Antony Evans broke the deadlock before half-time with a superb turn and finish, and Sam Nicholson and Harvey Saunders gave the scoreline a handsome look with late goals to seal victory for Rovers and their under-pressure boss.The three points propelled the ...Full Story »