France manager Didier Deschamps said it does not bother him "many people" want Argentina and Lionel Messi to lift the World Cup when they meet on Sunday. Deschamps is aiming to become just the second manager to win successive World Cups after Les Bleus' triumph in 2018. He also said there was no update on a virus in the French camp, but confirmed all players had trained. "We a...Full Story »

  One of the biggest beneficiaries of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar could be Man United's Harry Maguire. That's according to journalist Dean Jones, who believes the English centre-back's performance in Qatar could put him in a better position to 'salvage' his United career. Despite being named the 20-time league winner's captain by former boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Maguire, 29, lost ...Full Story »

  Chelsea remain interested in Barcelona winger Ousmane Dembele. Marca says Chelsea are monitoring a potential move for Dembele ahead of the January transfer window. The Frenchman is said to have a release clause in his contract with the Blaugrana, which could be triggered by the Blues. Chelsea were linked with Dembele last January, but missed out on a deal as his contract dwind...Full Story »

  Man Utd want De Jong AND Bellingham (MEN) Man Utd could make another move for Frenkie de Jong and remain interested in signing Jude Bellingham, according to the Manchester Evening News. Manager Erik ten Hag has told close friends that if he could sign any player in the world for his team it would be Bellingham. Meanwhile, De Jong has privately told Ten Hag he'd be happy to mov...Full Story »

Norwich head coach Dean Smith insisted he would not be worrying about his future after hearing fans call for his head both during and after a disappointing 2-0 home defeat at the hands of fellow high-fliers Blackburn.The Canaries remain in the play-off positions after the reverse but large sections of supporters were quick to voice their displeasure at a below-par display, making disparaging rem...Full Story »

Dean Lewington made it clear he does not want to become the permanent MK Dons manager despite masterminding a 2-0 League One victory over Portsmouth.Lewington saw Bradley Johnson and Jack Tucker both score to give the Dons a much-needed three points in their relegation battle.The long-serving defender took interim charge after Liam Manning was sacked last week but will not take to the dugout aga...Full Story »

Russell Martin had some harsh words for his Swansea side despite seeing them come from three goals down to salvage a 3-3 draw against Coventry at the CBS Arena.Jonathan Panzo, Jamie Allen and Viktor Gyokeres had put the Sky Blues in the driving seat before a 16-minute turnaround from Joel Piroe, Jay Fulton and Liam Cullen saw Swansea snatch a point.“I’m battling how to feel about it ...Full Story »

Manager Gareth Ainsworth was delighted as Wycombe continued to defy their critics and battled their way to a narrow 1-0 League One victory over deposed league leaders Ipswich.After coming so close to a second promotion to the Championship in three years last season, there were some who thought the Chairboys’ bubble had burst after an indifferent start to the current campaign.However, their...Full Story »

Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray said midfielder Elliot Embleton was taken to hospital with what looked “a bad injury” after he was sent off in the 1-1 draw at Hull.Embleton was shown a red card by referee Gavin Ward in the 59th minute as he was being taken off the pitch on a stretcher, having hurt himself in a challenge on Ryan Woods.Mowbray said: “He’s gone to hospital, he&...Full Story »

Martin Canning stood in for under-the-weather Stoke boss Alex Neil and spoke of his pride at the visitors’ efforts in their 2-1 come-from-behind victory at Bristol City.Jacob Brown scored a second-half winner after Liam Delap had cancelled out Nahki Wells’ opener.Neil was struggling as he watched from the dugout and missed his post-match press conference, and assistant manager Cannin...Full Story »

Derby head coach Paul Warne was not satisfied with his team’s performance, despite a comprehensive 4-0 victory over Forest Green.A David McGoldrick hat-trick, following Nathaniel Mendez-Laing’s early opener, helped take Derby into the top six in League One, but Warne felt his side could have done even better.Warne said: “I was happy with parts of it. I was happy with our second...Full Story »

St Johnstone manager Callum Davidson says his side are continuing to show their character in the cinch Premiership after fighting back to beat 10-man Ross County.Victory in Dingwall made it six unbeaten game for the Saints, but for their latest three points Davidson’s men had to recover from Jordan White’s 22nd-minute opener to claim a 2-1 comeback win.It is not the first time they h...Full Story »

Bristol Rovers manager Joey Barton reckons his strikeforce are as good as any in the division after John Marquis scored twice to end their 62-year wait for a win at The Valley.The Gas are undefeated in 11 of their last 12 League One matches and their 2-1 victory in a frosty south London moved them up to ninth in the table – three points outside the play-off places.Substitute Marquis had on...Full Story »

Slaven Bilic praised two-goal hero Joao Pedro after Watford eased to a 2-0 win at bottom side Huddersfield to climb to third in the Championship table.The problems for Mark Fotheringham’s Terriers are of a different kind as the defeat leaves them stuck at the bottom of the table, seven points from safety.Bilic admitted of Pedro, who scored goals at either end of the second half: “He&...Full Story »

Partick Thistle claimed an entertaining 3-2 victory over Scottish Championship leaders Ayr.Dipo Akinyemi opened the scoring for Ayr in the ninth minute against the run of play with a fine individual goal but Harry Milne headed in an equaliser in the 21st minute and then Brian Graham put Partick ahead just before half-time.Two minutes after the break Ayr were back level as Logan Chalmers picked u...Full Story »

Ozan Tufan rescued a point for Hull as they came from behind to draw 1-1 with 10-men Sunderland at the MKM Stadium.The midfielder was the man who lost the ball in the build-up to Ross Stewart’s opener for Sunderland in the 74th minute, with the forward breaking free to slot the ball home on his return from injury.But Tufan’s goal spared some blushes for the home side, who had the num...Full Story »

Devante Cole’s double helped Barnsley continue their good recent run by beating Burton 2-0 at Oakwell.Cole opened the scoring in the 36th minute and doubled his tally 17 minutes from time to make it seven wins from eight games in all competitions for the Tykes.The first real chance fell to Barnsley when James Norwood’s ball into the area found Jordan Williams arriving at the far post...Full Story »

Promotion contenders FC Edinburgh and Montrose played out a 2-2 draw in Scottish League One.Both would have hoped to take advantage of leaders Dunfermline’s game being among three postponed but they had to settle for a point each.Second-placed Edinburgh took an early lead through John Robertson but Montrose turned the tables early in the second half and went ahead through Craig Johnston an...Full Story »

Derby County moved into the top six in League One as a David McGoldrick hat-trick inspired an emphatic 4-0 win over Forest Green.Derby went ahead in the fifth minute when Nathaniel Mendez-Laing was given time to cut in on the right side of the area and bend a left-footed shot into the bottom corner.Forest Green were opened up again in the 21st minute by a four-man move down the left which McGold...Full Story »

Watford moved up to third in the Championship table as a second-half brace from Joao Pedro earned them a 2-0 win over bottom side Huddersfield at the John Smith’s Stadium.Slaven Bilic’s side sat back in the opening period as Huddersfield dominated possession but rarely troubled the visitors’ goal.Watford forward Keinan Davis was unlucky not to be awarded a penalty midway throug...Full Story »