Relieved Salford boss Neil Wood urged his players to “keep their foot on the gas” after they ground out a hard-earned 1-0 win at home to Walsall.Matt Smith’s early goal proved the difference as the Ammies edged closer to the automatic promotion places.Wood said: “That’s a really important three points. It keeps us in a really handy position in the table.“It wa...Full Story »

Birmingham goalkeeper Neil Etheridge was allegedly targeted by racist abuse from a supporter during his side’s dramatic FA Cup draw at Blackburn.A visibly upset Etheridge was seen speaking to the referee after team-mate Jordan James had equalised in stoppage time for the Blues to secure a 2-2 draw and send the fourth-round tie back to St Andrew’s for a replay.Birmingham boss John Eus...Full Story »

Robbie Neilson backed Lawrence Shankland to kick on and score even more after he became the first Hearts player to hit 20 goals in a season for 31 years.The Jambos skipper notched his side’s second goal in their 3-0 Scottish Cup fourth-round win over Hibernian.And manager Neilson revealed that Jambos record goal-scorer John Robertson, the last man to score 20 in a season for the Tynecastle...Full Story »

Alex Neil praised Dwight Gayle after he ended his 50-game goal drought in Stoke’s 4-0 rout of Reading.The 33-year-old forward notched his first goal since December 2020 as he capped an impressive Potters’ display in the Sky Bet Championship clash.An early Will Smallbone effort opened the scoring with Tyrese Campbell and Jacob Brown tightening Stoke’s grip on the tie.And a first...Full Story »

Gillingham boss Neil Harris praised his side’s ‘clinical’ display after they won 2-0 at fellow strugglers Colchester United.Both goals came just before half-time, as the Gills claimed back-to-back League Two wins for the first time this season.They took a 37th-minute lead through David Tutonda, who headed home at the far post after Ollie Hawkins had flicked on Alex MacDonald&rs...Full Story »

Gary O’Neil branded the penalty given to Brentford in Bournemouth’s 2-0 defeat “scandalous”.Ivan Toney was pulled to the floor by Marcos Senesi shortly before half-time, giving referee Jarred Gillett what looked a simple penalty decision.However, Cherries boss O’Neil insisted VAR should have spotted Toney actually held on to the defender’s arm until they reach...Full Story »

Manager Neil Wood praised his “hungry” Salford side as their League Two promotion bid was boosted by a 2-0 victory over Sutton.A first half Conor McAleny double fired the Ammies to a second successive victory as they rose to fifth in the table.The in-form Salford striker opened the scoring early on with a precise low finish as the hosts assumed control.McAleny added a second after a ...Full Story »

Gillingham boss Neil Harris believes the only way is up for his side after they secured a first league win since October with a 2-0 victory over Hartlepool.In the battle of the Football League’s bottom two clubs, Gillingham ran out comfortable winners thanks to goals from debutant Tom Nichols and Dom Jefferies.Harris’ side, boosted by four January arrivals since their American takeov...Full Story »

Morgyn Neill’s stoppage-time equaliser secured Cove a 2-2 draw against Raith in their cinch Championship match at Balmoral Stadium.Lewis Vaughan put Raith ahead in the 29th minute with a chipped finish.The home side were soon level when Leighton McIntosh scored from the penalty spot following a handball by Ryan Nolan.Dylan Easton, though, had the visitors in front again just before half-ti...Full Story »

Alex Neil does not think Stoke’s FA Cup third round victory at Hartlepool could have gone any better.The Potters, struggling to find good form in the Championship, brushed aside the League Two strugglers with relative ease at the Suit Direct Stadium.Hartlepool defender Euan Murray turned a low Josh Tymon cross into his own net in the 16th minute and that was followed by a predatory Jacob B...Full Story »

Salford boss Neil Wood was determined to enjoy his 40th birthday party after his side set it up perfectly by beating Northampton 2-1.The three points – a first maximum points haul at home since August – was a real boost to Salford’s promotion hopes.“I’ve got a big party booked for tonight (Saturday) so I’m going to really enjoy that now,” said Wood.&ldqu...Full Story »

Salford boss Neil Wood praised hat-trick hero Matt Smith after his clinical display helped gun down Grimsby in Sky Bet League Two.Smith set the tone with a first-minute opener and scored twice more before half-time in a convincing 4-1 win for the promotion chasers.Ethan Galbraith also netted, with Otis Khan replying for the mid-table hosts at Blundell Park.Wood said: “Matt Smith ...Full Story »

Robbie Neilson revealed that Lawrence Shankland has been appointed Hearts captain in the absence of injured goalkeeper Craig Gordon.The striker wore the armband as he scored his 16th goal of the season in Wednesday’s 3-2 victory away to St Johnstone.With Gordon out for the rest of the season after suffering a double leg break against Dundee United on Christmas Eve, Neilson confirmed afterw...Full Story »

Neil Critchley described QPR’s goalless draw at Cardiff as a “nearly performance” as he made it four points out of six at the start of his reign as manager.“I’m not delighted, just satisfied with a point. I didn’t think we were at our best and you can look at the game in two ways: it’s either a point gained, or two points missed,” he said.“In...Full Story »

Neil Critchley extended his unbeaten start to life as QPR manager as his side made it four points from six with a scrappy goalless draw at Cardiff.Having ended an alarming run of six games without a victory in their 1-0 win at Preston in his first game in charge last week, QPR stayed on the fringes of the play-off places by taking a point on their travels.For Cardiff, it was another year without...Full Story »

Salford boss Neil Wood was content with a point after his side were pegged back late on in a 1-1 draw with Barrow.Jordan Stevens levelled for the Bluebirds after Salford played for around an hour with 10 men thanks to Callum Hendry’s 37th-minute straight red card.Wood had no complaints about the sending-off, but also rued a lack of luck as his skipper Ibou Touray was denied by the goalfram...Full Story »

Neil Harris slammed a “massive lack of quality” as his Gillingham side slumped to the bottom of the Sky Bet League Two table following a 1-0 home defeat against fellow strugglers Colchester.Junior Tchamadeu’s well-taken 26th-minute strike settled the outcome at Priestfield as the visitors won on the road for the first time in the league this season.Harris’ side came close...Full Story »

Stoke manager Alex Neil is calling on his side to be more ruthless in front of goal after the Potters could only manage a 2-2 draw at Rotherham.Neil’s side had to rally to get a point after twice going behind against the run of play at the New York Stadium.Stoke created a host of chances in the first half but Liam Delap was particularly wasteful, missing a hat-trick of opportunities.Viktor...Full Story »

Robbie Neilson admitted Hearts were “really worried” about the injury sustained by Craig Gordon in Saturday’s 2-2 cinch Championship draw with Dundee United.The 39-year-old was carried off midway through the second half with his leg in a brace and photographs that subsequently emerged suggest the Scotland number one has done serious damage. Hearts also lost centre-backs Craig H...Full Story »

Neil Critchley hailed his QPR players’ rapid adaptation to their new front-foot philosophy after celebrating his return to Championship management with a hard-fought 1-0 win at Preston.Jimmy Dunne’s second-half strike proved decisive at Deepdale as the visitors earned their first win since October.Brad Potts went close to grabbing a late leveller for Ryan Lowe’s side – wh...Full Story »