Lautaro Martinez has admitted that his Argentina teammate Lionel Messi tried to convince him to depart Inter and join Barcelona when the latter was the Blaugrana captain. The Catalan club had been keen on signing the Argentine forward for a few successive transfer windows, but Lautaro stressed that he wanted to stay at the Nerazzurri. "He asked me about my situation at Inter," Lautaro told S...Full Story »

Jude Bellingham aimed a furious dig at referee Felix Zwayer by claiming he shouldn't have been officiating Borussia Dortmund's clash with Bayern Munich because of his involvement in a past match-fixing scandal. Dortmund suffered a controversial 3-2 defeat against their fierce rivals on Saturday evening. The English wonderkid was left incensed by some of the refereeing decisions and did not hold...Full Story »

Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez has said he believes his team can beat Bayern Munich in their crucial Champions League clash next week despite being dealt a reality check by Real Betis on Saturday. Juanmi's second-half goal earned Betis a 1-0 win in LaLiga at Camp Nou as Xavi suffered his first defeat since replacing Ronald Koeman in November. Barca's next game is a daunting trip to Munich on...Full Story »

Port Vale boss Darrell Clarke was delighted to see his side fight back as substitute Dennis Politic scored a quick-fire double to claim a 2-1 FA Cup second-round comeback at the expense of Staffordshire rivals Burton.Vale trailed to Ryan Leak’s first-half header before Politic equalised after 79 minutes and completed his brace and the turnaround four minutes later.“It was a great FA ...Full Story »

Barnsley boss Poya Asbaghi believes his struggling side are making significant progress, even though they are still to deliver the first win of his reign.The hosts came from behind to draw 1-1 with Yorkshire rivals Huddersfield on Saturday, Carlton Morris’ equaliser cancelling out Lewis O’Brien’s opener.Second-bottom Barnsley have now won just once in 19 Championship games, but...Full Story »

Reading manager Veljko Paunovic called for the introduction of VAR in the Championship after a 1-1 home draw with Hull.Centre-back Tom Holmes gave Reading a 1-0 half-time lead with a spectacular overhead kick in stoppage time – his first goal for the club.But Hull levelled 10 minutes after the interval when home keeper Luke Southwood allowed a long-range effort from Mallik Wilks to squirm ...Full Story »

Bristol City boss Nigel Pearson praised the football intelligence of teenage matchwinner Alex Scott after his first-half goal saw off toothless Derby 1-0.The 18-year-old connected perfectly with a left-footed shot from the edge of the box in the 16th minute to settle a game of few clear scoring opportunities.Scott began the season as a winger, but has quickly adapted to the more defensive role g...Full Story »

Ipswich sacked manager Paul Cook in the wake of their goalless draw at home to Sky Bet League Two Barrow in the FA Cup.Town were expected to be challenging for automatic promotion after a number of high-profile summer signings, but Cook – who was appointed in March – leaves with Ipswich 11th in League One, seven points off the play-off places.The Portman Road crowd voiced their displ...Full Story »

Steve Cooper admitted his relief at seeing Nottingham Forest end a run of three consecutive draws by securing an ultimately straightforward 2-0 win over Peterborough at the City Ground.Head coach Cooper had challenged his players to get themselves into the six-yard box with more urgency in the build-up to the game.And they twice profited from doing exactly that, as firstly James Garner and then ...Full Story »

Hibernian manager Jack Ross urged his players to “retain trust” in themselves after a 1-1 home draw against Motherwell lengthened a “difficult run” of results.The Easter Road side have now won just one of their last eight league games and have slipped to seventh in the cinch Premiership table.They looked to be heading for a morale-boosting victory after Kevin Nisbet&rsquo...Full Story »

Sheffield United manager Paul Heckingbottom praised his side’s character as they fought back from a goal down at half-time to beat 10-man Cardiff 3-2.United trailed 1-0 at the break after missing a host of chances but Sean Morrison’s dismissal turned the game on its head and the Blades scored three times before Cardiff bagged a late consolation.“It was definitely a deserved win...Full Story »

Mansfield boss Nigel Clough said “a little chat” at the break was the spark for his side’s impressive turnaround in their FA Cup tie at Doncaster.The Stags were a goal down at the break after Branden Horton put struggling Rovers ahead.But Will Forrester netted within three minutes of the restart and Mansfield went on to win comfortably courtesy of George Lapslie’s brace, ...Full Story »

Walsall boss Matt Taylor said he felt like “a broken record” after the Saddlers slipped out of the FA Cup with a 2-1 defeat at home by Swindon.The Robins continued their sensational run on the road with an eighth successive away victory to reach the third round for the first time in a decade.Tyreece Simpson, on loan from Ipswich, slotted home Jack Payne’s through ball to put th...Full Story »

AFC Wimbledon boss Mark Robinson was happy to see his side weather a late Cheltenham comeback as they booked their place in the FA Cup third round with a 4-3 victory.The Dons led 4-1 after braces from Ayoub Assal and Ollie Palmer but the visitors pulled it back to 4-3 and could have had a replay were it not for late heroics from goalkeeper Nik Tzanev.“I thought our goals were excellent but...Full Story »

Ayoub Assal and Ollie Palmer both scored twice as AFC Wimbledon survived a late scare to reach the third round of the FA Cup with an entertaining 4-3 win over Cheltenham.Wimbledon also had to come back from an early setback, with Alfie May putting the Robins in front inside two minutes after Kyle Joseph’s pass.But Mark Robinson’s Dons soon took control and Luke McCormick set up Assal...Full Story »

Struggling Barnsley came from behind to earn a 1-1 draw with Yorkshire rivals Huddersfield to leave new head coach Poya Asbaghi still waiting for his first winLewis O’Brien put Huddersfield ahead, but Carlton Morris levelled at the end of the first half.Asbaghi, appointed last month, dropped Jordan Williams, Josh Benson and Devante Cole to the bench, with Callum Brittain, Aaron Leya Iseka ...Full Story »

Barrow earned an attractive FA Cup replay after holding League One Ipswich to a goalless draw at Portman Road.The two teams had never met each other in a competitive encounter but the League Two Bluebirds held their own against the Tractor Boys, who hit the woodwork twice.The visitors enjoyed a confident start to the game and Josh Kay dragged a shot wide in the sixth minute after cutting in from...Full Story »

A brace from Harry Smith plus a strike by Omar Beckles and a penalty by Aaron Drinan put Leyton Orient into the third round of the FA Cup after a 4-0 win over Tranmere at Brisbane Road.The Londoners were rewarded for a totally dominant first-half performance with a two-goal lead at the interval.They took the lead after 22 minutes when Hector Kyprianou produced a defence-splitting pass for Smith ...Full Story »

A second-half equaliser from Tony Watt snatched a 1-1 draw for Motherwell as Hibernian’s frustrating search for victories continues.Kevin Nisbet’s opener in the 33rd minute sent Hibs on their way to what they hoped would be a second three points in three games.But Watt restored parity on the hour mark and left the Easter Road side with just one win from their last eight league outing...Full Story »

Mansfield compounded the woes of managerless Doncaster by coming from behind to dump them out of the FA Cup with a 3-1 triumph.A George Lapslie brace and Will Forrester strike saw the Stags overturn a half-time deficit after Branden Horton had put Doncaster ahead.In their first game since dismissing Richie Wellens as manager, Rovers got off to a strong start when Horton slotted in to give them t...Full Story »