Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel admitted he took a fitness risk with Romelu Lukaku after the striker’s game-changing impact at Aston Villa.The forward came off the bench at the break with the score locked at 1-1 to inspire the visitors to a 3-1 win on Sunday.His first Premier League goal since September’s brace against Villa put Chelsea ahead and he then won an added-time penalty for Jorg...Full Story »

First-team coach Andy Parkinson praised Tranmere’s resilience following a fifth successive Sky Bet League Two win that lifted Rovers into the top three.Nicky Maynard’s seventh-minute opener and an 85th-minute effort from Kieron Morris secured a 2-0 win for the Prenton Park side.“In between the two goals was a battle where we had to show resilience which we did really well,&rdqu...Full Story »

Romelu Lukaku climbed off the bench to inspire Chelsea’s comeback victory as he continued to haunt Aston Villa.The striker scored his first Premier League goal since a September brace against the same opposition as the visitors came from behind to win 3-1.Lukaku has now scored nine goals in his last 10 top-flight appearances against Villa and also caused havoc to win a stoppage-time penalt...Full Story »

Shaun Maloney has set his sights on the teams above fifth-placed Hibernian in the cinch Premiership table after beating Dundee United at Tannadice.The former Scotland and Celtic star has made a dream start to life at Easter Road, winning his first game in charge over Aberdeen last week.Another victory was secured in the City of Discovery thanks to goals from Kevin Nisbet, Chris Cadden and Jamie ...Full Story »

Delighted Scunthorpe boss Keith Hill saluted “superb” Ryan Loft after the substitute’s brace helped his side climb off the bottom of League Two with a 3-1 comeback win over relegation rivals Oldham.Hill believes the Latics defence were scared of the 24-year-old, who came on after the interval with the Iron behind and went on to score twice and provide an assist in what was the ...Full Story »

Mansfield boss Nigel Clough was delighted his gamble of making sure the game went ahead, despite a depleted side, paid off as the Stags came from 2-0 down to beat Hartlepool 3-2 in thick Nottinghamshire fog.Already shorn of four key players, Clough lost another four with positive Covid tests.But, from 2-0 down, three goals in 11 second-half minutes saw them home for a 10th win in 11 games.&ldquo...Full Story »

Liam Manning hailed his MK Dons side’s resilience after they came from behind to beat Lincoln 3-2 in a Boxing Day thriller at Sincil Bank.The struggling Imps were gifted an early 2-0 lead thanks to Warren O’Hara’s own goal and Chris Maguire’s penalty, after Daniel Harvie handled in his own box in the eighth minute.But Michael Appleton’s side were left to rue their m...Full Story »

Pep Guardiola admitted Manchester City were never in control against Leicester after a frantic Boxing Day contest ended in a 6-3 win for his side.The champions raced into a 4-0 lead at the Etihad Stadium but were pegged back to 4-3 before producing a strong finish to settle a Premier League classic.The victory was City’s ninth in succession and opened up a six-point lead at the top of the ...Full Story »

Giovanni van Bronckhorst believes Rangers’ 2-0 win over St Mirren at Ibrox should have been more emphatic.In front on an attendance capped at 500 due to government restrictions amid on-going Covid concerns, first-half goals from Scott Wright and Alfredo Morelos – his sixth in eight games under the Dutchman – kept the Gers six points ahead of Old Firm rivals Celtic at the top of...Full Story »

Norwich head coach Dean Smith was left bemoaning individual errors as he admitted standards had “dropped massively” following a Boxing Day thrashing at the hands of Arsenal.A brace from Bukayo Saka either side of a rare Kieran Tierney strike had the Gunners on course for three points before a late Alexandre Lacazette penalty and a goal for substitute Emile Smith Rowe secured a comfor...Full Story »

Motherwell assistant manager Chris Lucketti praised Kevin Van Veen’s performance as the Fir Park side claimed a 2-1 win over Livingston.The Dutch striker scored a goal in each half, making Bruce Anderson’s late effort a consolation for the visitors.With speculation mounting over the future of Tony Watt, who was left on the bench, Lucketti was pleased with Van Veen’s contributio...Full Story »

Huddersfield manager Carlos Corberan hailed his team’s ability to overcome adversity following a 3-2 home win over Blackpool.Corberan highlighted three key moments of the game that demonstrated his players’ spirit as the Terriers moved into the Championship’s top six.The 38-year-old Spaniard was impressed with their reaction to falling behind after just 45 seconds to Jerry Yate...Full Story »

Hearts manager Robbie Neilson admits the lack of supporters played its part as his team faced a nervy ending to their 2-1 Boxing Day victory over Ross County.The hosts came flying out of the blocks at an empty Tynecastle – where Hearts opted not to open the doors to a reduced 500 crowd for logistical reasons – and opened the scoring in the fourth minute through Michael Smith.Neilson&...Full Story »

David Moyes admitted West Ham suffered a bad day at the office after they were beaten 3-2 by Southampton.A late header from Jan Bednarek condemned the Hammers to defeat after they had twice hauled themselves level in the Premier League clash at the London Stadium.Southampton took the lead after only eight minutes when Mohamed Elyounoussi finished from the edge of the penalty area.This is not the...Full Story »

Crystal Palace assistant manager Osian Roberts said the absence of Patrick Vieira was a big factor in the 3-0 loss at Tottenham.Vieira was not in the dugout in north London after testing positive for coronavirus, one of a number of cases in the Palace camp which saw them try to get the Boxing Day game called off.The Premier League refused their request and Spurs piled on the misery as goals from...Full Story »

Paul Warne felt it was a wasted opportunity after his Rotherham side failed to extend their points total at the top of table with a 1-0 defeat at Accrington.The Millers remain two points ahead of Wigan, who now have two games in hand, and the loss ended their club-record 21-game unbeaten run in all competitions.Stanley’s longest serving player Sean McConville scored with winner with an acr...Full Story »

Kelty Hearts suffered their first cinch League Two defeat of the season as they lost 5-1 at Annan.Nathan Austin put the league leaders ahead after 36 minutes, but the two teams went into half-time level after Owen Moxon’s equaliser, while the visitors had Jordon Forster sent off following an incident as the teams left the field.Michael Garrity’s strike just after the break and a hat-...Full Story »

Dundee manager James McPake felt the SPFL put both sides at risk by rejecting a request for their cinch Premiership trip to Aberdeen to be postponed.The Dens Park side travelled north with a depleted squad after a positive Covid-19 test in their camp, with five further players deemed to be close contacts and also ruled out.McPake refused to use the decision as an excuse for his side’s 2-1 ...Full Story »

Chris Wilder enjoyed an “electric afternoon” as his Middlesbrough side climbed into the Sky Bet Championship play-off places in front of a crowd of almost 30,000 at the Riverside.Boro rose to their highest position of the season so far as a first-half own goal from Ryan Yates and second-half strike from Andraz Sporar secured a 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest that made it 13 points fro...Full Story »

Manager Steven Schumacher hailed the professionalism of his Plymouth players after they claimed a 2-0 win at Cheltenham.A goal in each half for Panutche Camara and Jordon Garrick ensured Argyle maintained their promotion push with a second successive victory.“Professional is probably the best word to describe the way we played,” Schumacher said.“We produced two moments of good ...Full Story »