Fulham returned to winning ways with a 3-0 win over 10-man Aston Villa to pile more pressure on under-fire manager Steven Gerrard.Villa went into the match sitting outside the relegation zone on goal difference alone, having won just two matches this season.And they were subjected to yet another defeat by a dominant Fulham side, with the visitors booed off by their own fans at half-time and the ...Full Story »

Crewe are sweating on the availability of three key players for the visit of Doncaster.Rodney McDonald, Courtney Baker-Richardson and Tariq Uwakwe are subject to fitness tests in the hope they will take part in the Sky Bet League Two contest.McDonald (muscle tightness), Uwakwe (ankle) and Baker-Richardson (muscle tightness) will be given every chance to come through.Christopher Long has been lim...Full Story »

Lincoln have a doubt over midfielder Tashan Oakley-Boothe ahead of the Sky Bet League One match against Sheffield Wednesday.The Stoke loanee was forced off during the first half of the midweek Papa John’s Trophy win over Newcastle Under-21s with an unspecified injury and was not able to train on Thursday.Imps boss Mark Kennedy reported no other fresh concerns, with midfielder Teddy Bishop ...Full Story »

Sunderland will be without Aji Alese for the Sky Bet Championship match against Burnley, with the defender set for a spell on the sidelines.Alese limped off during the second half of the defeat to Blackburn on Tuesday night with an ankle problem, which is expected to keep him out for around a month.Midfielder Lynden Gooch missed the Rovers match with a foot injury, but could be back in contentio...Full Story »

Harry Darling could start for Swansea as they prepare to face Cardiff in the South Wales derby.In place of Kyle Naughton, Darling made his second consecutive home start against Reading midweek and bagged a goal to spark a comeback against the Royals.Joel Piroe is still suspended for the Swans following his red card at Burnley.Joe Allen and Jamie Paterson are expected to remain sidelined with inj...Full Story »

Aiden O’Brien will be hoping for another opportunity this weekend after making his first Shrewsbury start in midweek.The Republic of Ireland international has been battling a hip problem all season but managed a full 90 minutes against Stockport on Tuesday.There are still question marks over Matthew Pennington, who has been recovering from a groin injury.Dan Udoh and George Nurse remain on...Full Story »

Hibernian striker Kevin Nisbet continues his comeback from a knee injury but the visit of St Johnstone in the cinch Premiership comes too soon.Elias Melkersen has recovered from a knock and will be in contention for a game which sees the use of VAR in Scottish football for the first time.Lewis Miller and Momodou Bojang will miss out along with Aiden McGeady and Jake Doyle-Hayes.St Johnstone...Full Story »

Sutton captain Craig Eastmond is expected to come back into the starting line-up for the visit of Walsall.The 31-year-old scored the winner in last week’s 1-0 win over Sutton but was rested for their midweek Papa John’s Trophy victory against Oxford.Defensive pair Louis John and Aaron Pierre are still nursing injuries and remain doubtful.Left-back Sam Hart returned off the bench late...Full Story »

Exeter will hope for a change of fortune when they host Sky Bet League One opponents Fleetwood.The Grecians’ defensive options were tested before and during last weekend’s 4-2 home defeat against Oxford.Illness sidelined Josh Key before the game and Pierce Sweeney could not complete the first half due to feeling unwell.Although Sweeney returned to action in a midweek EFL Trophy defea...Full Story »

Reading will be without Andy Yiadom for the visit of Bristol City.Yiadom was booked for the fifth time this season in Tuesday’s defeat at Swansea and will serve a one-match ban.He joins a lengthy list of absentees for boss Paul Ince, with Sam Hutchinson, Naby Sarr, Liam Moore, Scott Dann, Femi Azeez and Baba Rahman all still sidelined.The Royals have not won in four games, having lost the ...Full Story »

Swindon will have Ciaran Brennan and Ricky Aguiar available for the visit of Hartlepool, despite the pair being sent off in midweek.Defender Brennan was dismissed for two bookable offences before midfielder Aguiar was shown a straight red card for a foul on Alfie Kilgour during the first half of the EFL Trophy loss to Bristol Rovers.The pair will not be suspended at the weekend, however, as the ...Full Story »

Cambridge have been dealt a major injury blow ahead of their Sky Bet League One clash against Port Vale.Midfielder Adam May is unlikely to play again this season after suffering a serious knee injury during Cambridge’s defeat against Bristol Rovers earlier this month.He has undergone scans and will now require surgery following a rupture to his anterior cruciate ligament being confirmed.Ca...Full Story »

MK Dons boss Liam Manning must decide whether to make changes for their League One clash with Wycombe on Saturday.It is a rematch of last season’s play-off semi-final but the Dons are stuck in the bottom four after a poor start to the season and have lost their last four league games.Nathan Holland made a rare start in last weekend’s loss to Plymouth and then scored in the EFL Trophy...Full Story »

New Newport boss Graham Coughlan is targeting an immediate change in fortunes when he takes charge of the side for the first time against fellow strugglers Colchester.The Exiles have lost their last three Sky Bet League Two matches, although they did receive a boost with the midweek EFL Trophy win over Southampton Under-21s.Offrande Zanzala returned off the bench for the first time in 10 weeks f...Full Story »

Stoke will check on defender Phil Jagielka as they prepare for Saturday’s Sky Bet Championship match against Coventry.Jagielka needed treatment for a head injury during the home defeat by Rotherham on Tuesday night and continues to be assessed.Midfielder Will Smallbone missed the Rotherham game through an unspecified injury, so Liam Delap could retain his place in the starting XI.Midfielde...Full Story »

Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez has accepted he will be out of a job if he doesn't win trophies this season after a difficult week for the Catalan club. Barca were held to a 3-3 draw by Inter Milan at Camp Nou last week and will be knocked out of the Champions League in the group stages if the Serie A side beat Viktoria Plzen later this month. They were then beaten 3-1 by Real Madrid at the B...Full Story »

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti was happy with Marco Asensio in victory at Elche. Asensio scored in the 3-0 win on the night. Ancelotti said, "We haven't discussed the contract. "Marco is a member of the squad. It's true that he hasn't played much, but he's proved that he can play. He's been decisive in the few minutes I've given him and he's going to be more involved going forward. "We'...Full Story »

Under-fire Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl was relieved to be on the right side of fine margins after easing pressure on his position with a vital victory at south coast rivals Bournemouth.Che Adams’ early header secured a nervy 1-0 success at Vitality Stadium to propel Saints out of the Premier League relegation zone following a five-match winless run.Bournemouth dominated the second ha...Full Story »

Eddie Howe praised Miguel Almiron’s blossoming confidence after watching him fire Newcastle to a 1-0 Premier League victory over Everton to answer his critics in style.The Paraguay international found himself on the wrong end of a jibe from Manchester City playmaker Jack Grealish at the end of last season, but has replied in fitting fashion with five goals to date this season, four of them...Full Story »

Graham Potter defended his decision to leave Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on the bench for 81 minutes of Chelsea’s goalless derby draw at Brentford.Former Arsenal striker Aubameyang, who has scored three times in his last five matches, was left kicking his heels as his team-mates laboured in front of goal.Aubameyang was finally sent on with nine minutes remaining but his only half-chance was ...Full Story »