Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez has said it is "crazy" this weekend's match against Mallorca is going ahead following a COVID-19 outbreak at the Catalan club. Barca have 10 confirmed positive cases among their first-team squad and a further seven players either suspended, injured or a doubt for the game at San Moix. However, LaLiga rules state that fixtures should be played if clubs have at lea...Full Story »

Forest Green boss Rob Edwards is hoping to keep hold of his prized assets during the January transfer window after seeing his League Two pacesetters go further clear at the top of the table.Second-half goals from Josh March and Jamille Matt earned a 2-0 win over Stevenage and moved Rovers seven points clear of second-placed Northampton, who were heavily beaten at Swindon.Rovers’ success th...Full Story »

Neil Critchley believes his Blackpool side need to learn to see out games more comfortably after they were made to sweat before sealing a 1-0 win over Hull.Gary Madine converted a 31st-minute penalty after reported Nottingham Forest target Josh Bowler was sent tumbling by Jacob Greaves.That proved to be the winner but the Tangerines had goalkeeper Dan Grimshaw to thank for the three Championship...Full Story »

Burton boss Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink enjoyed Kane Hemming’s “wonder goal” in a  4-1 victory over Crewe.Harry Chapman fired Burton into a sixth-minute lead and, although Tom Lowery fired home a spectacular Crewe equaliser, John Brayford poked the Brewers back in front.Hemmings then made it 3-1 with a stunning left-foot volley to put the home side in control at the break.Subs...Full Story »

Barrow assistant manager Richard Dryden insists his side need to start taking their chances after a 2-1 home defeat to Bradford.The Bantams took home the points thanks to goals from Lee Angol and ex-Bluebird Andy Cook, despite Josh Gordon pulling one back for the hosts.And Dryden admitted conceding too many and not scoring enough has been a continuing theme for Barrow this term.“We could m...Full Story »

Gillingham manager Steve Evans was delighted with how his team performed during their goalless draw at MK Dons despite a lack of preparation time.The third-from-bottom Gills had not played for three weeks prior to their trip to Stadium MK and had little time at the training ground since regrouping, following a Covid-19 outbreak at the club.Nevertheless, they defended doggedly and threatened spor...Full Story »

Antonio Conte was delighted to see Tottenham claim victory at Watford following Davinson Sanchez’s last-gasp winner but admits they need to make more of their opportunities.Tottenham, having been held 1-1 by 10-man Southampton on Tuesday, looked set to be frustrated again as they struggled to make the breakthrough against the Hornets despite dominating possession and having a number of cha...Full Story »

Ashley Nadesan scored twice with two headers as Crawley made light of a three-week lay-off to comfortably beat Colchester 3-1 at the Broadfield Stadium.It is the first time in over a year that Crawley had scored more than two goals in a home league game.Colchester, back in action after four successive postponements, rallied  late on but could not get back on terms and have now failed to win...Full Story »

Oldham’s interim boss Selim Benachour has urged his players to be confident that things will turn around after collecting a point at Hartlepool.Benachour watched the Latics’ goal live a charmed life at times at the Suit Direct Stadium, but similarly his side also had a few fantastic opportunities to win the match themselves.Oldham would have climbed off the foot of Sky Bet League Two...Full Story »

Oldham remain rooted to the foot of Sky Bet League Two despite leaving Hartlepool with a point after a 0-0 draw.The Latics, now winless in seven, battled away and had chances to climb out of the relegation zone.But Hartlepool had plenty of opportunities to win for only the second time in nine games.Jordan Cook, who had a header ruled out for offside, hammered the inside of the post, shortly afte...Full Story »

Real Madrid saw offers of £137m and £154m for Kylian Mbappe rejected over the summer, but the Frenchman is forcing the La Liga outfit to wait until the end of the season to secure his signature Kylian Mbappe has decided to postpone his talks to join Real Madrid until next summer in a bid to show respect to his current club, Paris Saint-Germain. The 23-year-old’s contract at the...Full Story »

Swindon will continue to be without captain Dion Conroy when Northampton visit the County Ground on New Year’s Day.The centre-half was sent off after the final whistle for dissent in the 2-0 defeat to Barrow earlier this month and serves the second game of a two-match ban.Town head coach Ben Garner will hope to have defender Romoney Crichlow and midfielder Alex Gilbert back in the mix agai...Full Story »

Leeds will be boosted by the return of at least three players for Sunday’s visit of fellow Premier League strugglers Burnley.Boss Marcelo Bielsa confirmed during Friday’s pre-match press conference that Junior Firpo would be back after suspension and joined in the squad by Diego Llorente and Daniel James following their recent struggles with illness and injury respectively.Jack Harri...Full Story »

Bruno Fernandes will return from suspension when Manchester United welcome Wolves to Old Trafford on Monday.The Portuguese missed Thursday’s 3-1 win against Burnley after collecting his fifth booking of the season at Newcastle earlier in the week.Ralf Rangnick hopes to have Victor Lindelof back after testing positive for Covid-19 and Raphael Varane looks set to start instead of Eric Bailly...Full Story »

Crystal Palace are waiting on the results of routine PCR tests but are set to have Joachim Andersen fit for the visit of West Ham on New Year’s Day.The Danish defender was withdrawn late on during Tuesday’s win over Norwich but assistant Osian Roberts revealed the centre-back was fine having only recently returned from a hamstring injury.Wilfried Zaha is also expected to play after s...Full Story »

Blackburn could again name an unchanged team as they bid for a seventh straight Championship victory against Huddersfield.With Rovers going so well, boss Tony Mowbray has resisted the temptation to make outfield changes since Daniel Ayala limped off against Peterborough in November.Ayala has been unable to force his way back in since returning to fitness, while the likes of Dan Butterworth, Sam ...Full Story »

Bristol City boss Nigel Pearson must decide whether to stick with Max O’Leary in goal for Sunday’s clash with Millwall.Pearson surprisingly dropped number one Dan Bentley for Thursday’s defeat to QPR, while striker Chris Martin also found himself on the bench, with Antoine Semenyo leading the line.George Tanner will be assessed after pulling up in the first half and being repla...Full Story »

Sutton remain without captain Craig Eastmond for the visit of Exeter in Sky Bet League Two.Midfielder Eastmond completes a three-game ban after being sent off during the 3-2 loss to Newport on December 7.Dutch winger Enzio Boldewijn will be assessed having suffered a hip problem in last week’s Surrey Senior Cup clash with non-league Sheerwater.Midfielder Kenny Davis, who has missed his sid...Full Story »

Blackpool will again be without Jordan Gabriel when they take on Hull at Bloomfield Road on New Year’s Day.The defender completes a two-match suspension following his red card in the 3-2 Boxing Day defeat at Huddersfield.Midfielder Sonny Carey has been ruled out for a number of weeks having suffered a fractured metatarsal in that game.The Seasiders’ lengthy list of absentees due to i...Full Story »

West Brom boss Valerien Ismael could opt for changes for Sunday’s Sky Bet Championship clash with Cardiff.Ismael was critical of his side in the wake of Monday’s 1-0 defeat at relegation-threatened Derby.Midfielder Alex Mowatt and forward Karlan Grant missed that game due to Covid-related absences and may return.Academy graduates Taylor Gardner-Hickman and Tom Fellows are among ...Full Story »