Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti defended Gareth Bale skipping last week's title celebrations. When Los Blancos celebrated the LaLiga Santander title and their Champions League comeback against Manchester City, Bale was nowhere to be seen, so the coach was asked if the forward is distant from the rest of the squad. "He wasn't there because he couldn't move, not because he is distant," Ancel...Full Story »

Ralf Rangnick apologised to Manchester United’s supporters and branded their 4-0 thrashing at Brighton “humiliating” and “unacceptable”.United’s players were subjected to chants of “you’re not fit to wear the shirt” from their own fans as they were outclassed and outfought on a remarkable evening at the Amex Stadium.A chastening defeat on the...Full Story »

Boss Jon Brady issued a defiant message after 10-man Northampton saw automatic promotion back to League One snatched from their grasp.Instead of an immediate return to the third tier, Town face a play-off semi-final against Mansfield after being pipped to third place by Bristol Rovers on goals scored.Northampton won 3-1 at Barrow but were still overhauled by Rovers, who hit seven past Scunthorpe...Full Story »

Swindon boss Ben Garner says his play-off bound side have performed a “miracle” to be in with a shout of an immediate return to League One after sealing sixth spot with a 3-0 win at Walsall.After an ownership wrangle last summer left the club facing administration, Swindon were among the favourites for back-to-back relegations.But a takeover from Australian businessman Clem Morfuni r...Full Story »

Roy Hodgson insisted he had no regrets about taking the Watford job after relegation was confirmed following a 1-0 defeat at old club Crystal Palace.Wilfried Zaha’s 31st-minute penalty consigned the Hornets to a 25th Premier League loss of the campaign, which sealed their fate but the writing had been on the wall after last weekend’s 2-1 reverse at home to Burnley.The 74-year-old cam...Full Story »

Mike Jackson has urged his Burnley players not to lose any belief after his unbeaten record as caretaker boss was ended in a 3-1 home defeat to Aston Villa that deepened their relegation worries.Former Claret Danny Ings opened the scoring just seven minutes in at Turf Moor before Emi Buendia, architect of the first goal, doubled the lead in the 31st minute and Ollie Watkins finished Burnley off ...Full Story »

Manager Gary Bowyer admitted that the Salford fans put a smile on his face despite being disappointed with the result in a 4-2 League Two defeat against Stevenage.The Ammies went ahead in the 14th minute through Liam Shephard, though Stevenage were in front before half-time after a double from Jamie Reid.Luke Norris made it 3-1 before Corrie Ndaba grabbed Salford’s second, but Elliott List...Full Story »

Tranmere manager Micky Mellon refused to be too downbeat after his side’s attempt to snatch a Sky Bet League Two play-off place fell short.Despite a 1-0 victory for his own side, secured by a Kane Hemmings goal, results elsewhere ensured Rovers will be playing fourth-tier football next season.“It was unfortunate that we couldn’t make the play-offs because with the talent we hav...Full Story »

Notts County confirmed their place in the National League play-offs with a 3-0 victory over Altrincham at Meadow Lane.The hosts forced the issue early on and were nearly rewarded for their efforts when Ruben Rodrigues’ goalbound cross was tipped over and Jayden Richardson’s cross from the resulting corner came back off the crossbar.County hit the woodwork again on the stroke of half-...Full Story »

Todd Boehly was left with his head in his hands as Chelsea relinquished a Romelu Lukaku-inspired two-goal lead to slip to a 2-2 Premier League draw with Wolves.Visiting captain Conor Coady rescued a point with an added-time header for Wolves to stun the Blues, who had stormed into a 2-0 second-half lead through Lukaku’s smart double.Incoming Chelsea owner Boehly was on hand at Stamford Bri...Full Story »

Wealdstone came from a goal down to run out 2-1 National League winners over relegation-threatened King’s Lynn at Grosvenor Vale.The visitors opened the scoring courtesy of Gold Omotayo’s fourth goal in three games when he was first to react to Josh Barrett’s free-kick, which struck the underside of the crossbar.The hosts equalised in the 61st minute when Connor McAvoy slipped ...Full Story »

Substitute Jon Afolabi’s extra-time strike sent Airdrie into the cinch Championship play-off final as the hosts pulled off a dramatic second-leg comeback to defeat Montrose 6-5 on aggregate.Cammy Ballantyne headed home in the 12th minute to give the visitors a 2-0 aggregate lead and, when he struck again in the 26th minute, Montrose looked to be cruising into the promotion showdown with Qu...Full Story »

Swindon sealed a League Two play-off place in style as a 3-0 victory at Walsall – the Robins’ fourth successive win – secured sixth spot.Harry McKirdy’s early opener, his 19th league goal of the season, set them on their way before a Jack Payne double, one from the penalty spot, set up a two-legged semi-final with Port Vale.Swindon led after just three minutes as Mandela ...Full Story »

Exeter missed the chance to be crowned League Two champions as Port Vale secured a 1-0 win at St James Park to seal their place in the play-offs.James Wilson scored the only goal of a game lacking in quality but Exeter will be left wondering what could have been as they turned in one of their worst performances of the season when a point would have seen them pip Forest Green to the title.Exeter ...Full Story »

A first-half penalty from Wilfried Zaha confirmed Watford’s relegation from the Premier League as they lost 1-0 to Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.The Hornets already needed a miracle to survive but it was old nemesis Zaha who had the decisive say to ensure his former manager Roy Hodgson endured an unhappy return to south London.Hodgson, who received a CBE at Buckingham Palace in midweek, ...Full Story »

Danny Collinge scored twice as relegated Dover fought back to draw 2-2 at Bromley in the Vanarama National League.Chris Bush headed Bromley ahead after 26 minutes from Luke Coulson’s corner.Coulson had earlier set up Michael Cheek but his header was well saved.Bromley were grateful to goalkeeper Ellery Balcombe for denying Michael Gyasi and Jack Nelson before Collinge levelled nine minutes...Full Story »

St Johnstone face a relegation play-off tie after Jack Fitzwater’s last-minute equaliser secured Livingston a 1-1 draw at the Tony Macaroni Arena.Fitzwater cancelled out Glenn Middleton’s opener to leave Saints, who cannot catch 10th-placed Aberdeen, six points above bottom-placed Dundee with two games remaining.Middleton bundled home fellow substitute James Brown’s cross at th...Full Story »

Jamie Reid scored a brace as Stevenage ended their season in style with a 4-2 League Two win against Salford at the Lamex Stadium.The result means The Boro end their campaign in 21st, while Salford sit 10th.In the 14th minute, Christy Pym parried Brandon Thomas-Asante’s shot into the path of Liam Shephard, who put the visitors 1-0 up from close range.But nine minutes later, the ball fell t...Full Story »

Luton boss Nathan Jones was a relieved man after guiding the club to a play-off place in the Championship by beating Reading 1-0 at Kenilworth Road.Going into the game, Town knew a victory would be enough to finish in the top six and they managed to do so following Harry Cornick’s quick-thinking on the stroke of half-time, robbing visiting goalkeeper Orjan Nyland of the ball and slotting i...Full Story »

Wayne Rooney admits Derby are facing a “big 24 hours” for the future of the club after the Sky Bet Championship season ended with a 1-0 home defeat to Cardiff.American businessman Chris Kirchner is moving close to a takeover but the ownership of Pride Park, which belongs to former owner Mel Morris, remains a stumbling block.On the field Derby dominated but could not find a way past D...Full Story »