Southampton broke a 103-year-old club record by going 21 games unbeaten as Russell Martin celebrated his return to Swansea with a 3-1 success.Che Adams, Will Smallbone and birthday boy Flynn Downes scored first-half goals as the Saints secured a Sky Bet Championship victory that should have been by a far greater margin.Jamie Paterson gave Swansea brief hope in cutting the deficit to 2-1, but thi...Full Story »

Cape Verde became the first team to qualify for the knockout stages of the Africa Cup of Nations with a 3-0 victory over Mozambique.Bebe’s extraordinary free-kick and a brace from Ryan Mendes in Abidjan guaranteed that the Blue Sharks will top Group B.Mozambique now lie bottom of the section with one point ahead of their final group game against Ghana, while Cape Verde meet Egypt on Monday...Full Story »

Fulham midfielder Alex Iwobi admits beating the Ivory Coast on Thursday night is the only way his Nigeria side will quieten the critics after a lacklustre Africa Cup of Nations opener.The Super Eagles could only manage a 1-1 draw against Equatorial Guinea, a side 46 places below them in FIFA’s global rankings, and next face a tough test in Group A challengers and AFCON hosts Ivory Coast.Su...Full Story »

Hamari Traore and Lassine Sinayoko struck second-half goals as Mali launched their Africa Cup of Nations campaign with a 2-0 victory over South Africa.Captain Traore tapped his side into a 60th-minute lead in the Group E encounter in Korhogo before striker Sinayoko quickly added a second.South Africa had the better of the opening period but paid a heavy price for a penalty miss from former Brigh...Full Story »

Algeria endured more Africa Cup of Nations frustration as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Angola in their opening match in Bouake.Baghdad Bounedjah gave the Algerians the lead, but a second-half equaliser from Mabululu, who converted the rebound after his penalty hit the bar, salvaged a point for Angola in the Group D clash.The Algerians are looking to avoid a similar fate to 2022 when they ente...Full Story »

Cameroon were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw by resolute 10-man Guinea in their Africa Cup of Nations opener in Yamoussoukro.Mohamed Bayo had given Guinea a shock early lead before captain Francois Kamano was sent off in first-half stoppage time following a VAR review for standing on Frank Magri’s foot.Magri’s header levelled things up six minutes into the second half, but Cameroon c...Full Story »

Seko Fofana and Jean-Philippe Krasso lifted tournament hosts Ivory Coast to a 2-0 victory over Guinea-Bissau in front of an elated Abidjan crowd to kick off the Africa Cup of Nations.Fofana fired the Elephants in front inside four minutes at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium, punishing their Group A rivals for a lapse at the back, and came inches away from adding another before the break.Krasso doub...Full Story »

Russell Martin has urged his Southampton players to “make history” after equalling their best English Football League unbeaten run by thrashing Sheffield Wednesday 4-0.Adam Armstrong scored and set up Che Adams, Ryan Fraser and Sekou Mara to mark Saints’ 19th league game without defeat. They moved into the automatic places for the first time since the opening day of the season,...Full Story »

Jack Bridge fired Southend to a 1-0 victory over Eastleigh with a second-half penalty at Silverlake Stadium.The encounter got off to a slow start but picked up as the halfway point in the first period approached when Eastleigh goalkeeper Joe McDonnell made a pair of saves in quick succession.There were numerous chances for both sides to net an opener before the break, but it was not until Henry ...Full Story »

Adam Armstrong produced an attacking masterclass as Southampton dispatched Sheffield Wednesday 4-0 to equal their longest English Football League unbeaten record.Top scorer Armstrong scored one and set up Che Adams, Ryan Fraser and Sekou Mara as Saints leapt into the top two for the first time since the opening day and closed the gap to table-toppers Leicester to 10 points.Saints are now unbeate...Full Story »

Manager Russell Martin admitted Ryan Fraser has done everything possible to start for Southampton after his sensational performance in the 4-0 FA Cup home win over Walsall.Fraser scored twice and set up another as Saints strolled into the fourth round and moved to a 19th game unbeaten in all competitions.The Scotland international has been forced to wait for his chances after arriving on loan fr...Full Story »

A late double from Gus Scott-Morriss helped Southend to a 3-0 Vanarama National League victory over Halifax.The hosts took the lead in the third minute when Henry Sandat ran through to score after being played in by Nathan Ralph.Jamie Cooke went close for Halifax in the 54th minute, but 25 minutes later Scott-Morriss scored his first, with Ralph again the creator.And Scott-Morriss made it three ...Full Story »

Ryan Fraser had a hand in three goals as Southampton swatted aside League Two Walsall in the FA Cup with a professional 4-0 victory.Winger Fraser produced two fine finishes and set up Sekou Mara as Saints eased to a 19th match unbeaten – one off a club record 20 games without a loss in all competitions.Che Adams jumped off the bench to slide in a fourth to confirm Southampton’s progr...Full Story »

David Moyes was frustrated at not being able to pick Mohammed Kudus for West Ham’s goalless draw against Brighton.Ghana forward Kudus, arguably West Ham’s best player this season, was unavailable due to his forthcoming participation at the Africa Cup of Nations.Yet Egypt’s Mohamed Salah was able to play for Liverpool against Newcastle 24 hours earlier, scoring twice in a 4-2 wi...Full Story »

Russell Martin was left to reflect on what might have been as his Southampton side had to be content with a 1-1 draw in their Championship clash against Norwich at Carrow Road.The point stretched the Saints’ unbeaten run to 18 matches but with 75 per cent of possession, they were left frustrated after the match as Canaries substitute Josh Sargent’s late goal ensured honours ended eve...Full Story »

Southampton extended their unbeaten run to 18 matches as they drew 1-1 with Norwich in the Championship at Carrow Road.The Saints dominated the game for long periods and looked to be heading for all three points when Adam Armstrong converted from close range midway through the second half.But Norwich kept battling away and earned themselves a share of the spoils in the 78th minute as fit-again s...Full Story »

Barnet left it late to beat Southend 1-0 in the Vanarama National League.Adebola Oluwo met Jordan Cropper’s long throw six minutes from time to send a looping header over Southend goalkeeper Collin Andeng-Ndi.Finley Potter almost put third-placed Barnet – 2-0 winners at Southend on Boxing Day – ahead after 15 minutes, but he was denied by a wonderful stop from Andeng-Ndi.Barnet...Full Story »

Che Adams and Carlos Alcaraz netted as Southampton continued their assault on the Sky Bet Championship automatic places by beating Plymouth 2-1 at St Mary’s.Alcaraz’s and Adams’ second-half strikes were also given an official seal of approval as Prime Minister Rishi Sunak – a Southampton fan – celebrated them from the stands.Ryan Hardie pulled one back in stoppage t...Full Story »

Southampton manager Russell Martin admitted he took no joy in thrashing old club Swansea 5-0.Martin took charge of the Swans for two seasons before leaving to join Saints last summer – where he has now overseen a 16-match unbeaten run and seen his side close in on the Championship automatic-promotion places.The former MK Dons boss, who was making his first reunion with the Swans, did a lap...Full Story »

Barnet moved within 10 points of the Vanarama National League summit courtesy of a 2-0 Boxing Day victory at Southend.With leaders Chesterfield losing, Barnet consolidated third place by collecting three points at Roots Hall.Reece Hall-Johnson opened the scoring with four minutes on the clock as his deflected effort put the visitors ahead.The triumph was wrapped up 12 minutes from time when Harr...Full Story »