Derby head coach Paul Warne applauded goalkeeper Joe Wildsmith for his part in a crucial 1-0 victory over League One promotion rivals Bolton.Wildsmith made several outstanding saves before Kane Wilson’s header settled a tense contest at a packed Pride Park.Bolton will look back on several moments, notably when Jon Dadi Bodvarsson’s 17th-minute header was brilliantly saved by Wildsmit...Full Story »

Hearts head coach Steven Naismith believes their recent progress and hunger for trophies will give them a chance against Rangers at Hampden after his side booked a Scottish Gas Scottish Cup semi-final place with a 1-0 win over Morton at Cappielow.Naismith’s side were immediately handed a repeat of their Viaplay Cup semi-final, which Rangers won 3-1 in November, in the draw for the last fou...Full Story »

Substitute Tyler Smith earned Bradford a late point in their 1-1 Yorkshire derby with Doncaster at Valley Parade.It was a first League Two game in 17 days for the home side after successive postponements.They took a while to get going as the visitors enjoyed the better of a feisty first half that saw seven bookings.Hakeeb Adelakun’s free-kick set up their first chance, the ball deflecting ...Full Story »

Steven Naismith condemned the “idiots” who threw objects at Lawrence Shankland as he waited to take Hearts’ penalty in their 1-1 draw at home to Hibernian.The Jambos top scorer had to hold his nerve before he equalised from the spot just before half-time after a range of items rained down on him from the stand behind the goal housing Hibs fans.Shankland was struck by more objec...Full Story »

Hearts manager Steven Naismith hailed the improvements his players have made to their mentality after watching them beat Motherwell 2-0 to collect an eighth successive win.Second-half goals from Lawrence Shankland and Kenneth Vargas sent the Gorgie side 14 points clear in third place in the Premiership.Hearts have won 11 of their last 12 games in a fruitful spell stretching back to December and ...Full Story »

A Matt Smith goal secured Wigan a 1-0 away win and completed a season double over relegation-threatened Shrewsbury.The first opportunity of the afternoon went Wigan’s way when Luke Chambers played a drilled pass into Martial Godo, who was just inside the area, but Marko Marosi pushed his goalward effort clear.Shrewsbury started the second half brightly and went close to breaking the deadlo...Full Story »

Karl Robinson’s unbeaten start to life as Salford boss continued with an entertaining 5-3 victory over Barrow.The Ammies continued their resurgence as they made it eight league games without defeat – their best run since April 2022.Callum Hendry handed the hosts the advantage in spectacular fashion, drilling a bouncing ball from range into the far corner.Shortly before the interval, ...Full Story »

Steven Naismith was delighted at his side’s performance as they powered to the last eight of the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup with a 4-1 thumping of Airdire.Hearts raced into a three-goal lead with just 21 minutes on the clock after goals from Lawrence Shankland, Kenneth Vargas and Calem Nieuwenhof had them on easy street.Adam Frizzell restored some hope for the hosts, though that would be ex...Full Story »

Steven Naismith heaped praise on “lethal finisher” Lawrence Shankland after the talismanic striker’s 50th goal for Hearts secured a 1-0 away win over St Johnstone.The 28-year-old, who joined from Belgian club Beerschot in the summer of 2022, has taken just over one-and-a-half seasons to bring up his half-century in maroon.“He is at the peak of his career, his numbers are ...Full Story »

RB Leipzig are eyeing Arsenal midfielder Emile Smith Rowe. Smith Rowe has battled for minutes this season. Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano is reporting Arsenal want an outright sale: "For example, West Ham tried to make a deal happen on loan for Smith Rowe, not even a buy-option clause included, and Arsenal are never going to accept that. "For Arsenal, it makes no sense to let the player le...Full Story »

Matt Smith hit a hat-trick as Salford shocked in-form Crewe by clinching a 3-2 win at Gresty Road in League Two.The giant striker headed the Ammies in front early on and then levelled with a set-piece header after Aaron Rowe and Elliott Nevitt fired Crewe ahead before the break.Smith then grabbed an 85th-minute winner as Salford extended their unbeaten start to life under Karl Robinson to four g...Full Story »

Steven Naismith was delighted with the character shown by Hearts as they recovered from a “terrible” first half to tighten their grip on third spot in the cinch Premiership with a 3-2 victory over Dundee at windswept Tynecastle.The Jambos were booed off at the break as they trailed to strikes from Jordan McGhee and Lyall Cameron, but they roared back in the second half to claim a six...Full Story »

Steven Naismith was delighted to see Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon come through his first competitive outing in 13 months as Hearts scrambled past cinch League Two side Spartans to reach the fifth round of the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup.The 41-year-old’s career looked in jeopardy when he suffered a double leg-break away to Dundee United on Christmas Eve of 2022, but after a stirring reco...Full Story »

The 23-year-old midfielder has struggled for regular match action under Mikel Arteta this term. West Ham want Emile Smith Rowe on a six-month loan Now talkSPORT claims that the Hammers are willing to offer him the opportunity of Premier League minutes. And they want to bring the England international across the capital on a season-long loan deal. Smith Rowe is a much-loved and respected memb...Full Story »

Steven Naismith praised in-form Hearts for overcoming a “rubbish” pitch at the Tony Macaroni Arena to tighten their grip on third place in the cinch Premiership with a 2-1 away win over Livingston.The Jambos boss was braced for a scrap on the Lions’ artificial surface, and he was encouraged to see his team come out on the right side of it after second-half goals from Kenneth Va...Full Story »

Steven Naismith branded VAR “rubbish” after Hearts were not awarded at least one penalty before they had to fight back from two goals down to salvage a 2-2 draw with Ross County.The Jambos boss felt Nathaniel Atkinson was fouled by Ben Purrington in the first half, and he was left irate in the 51st minute when substitute Alan Forrest looked to be tripped as he tried to round County g...Full Story »

Steven Naismith believes Lawrence Shankland is well on his way to becoming a Hearts legend after his stoppage-time winner against city rivals Hibernian further endeared him to supporters.The talismanic captain overcame the disappointment of an early penalty miss to score the only goal of a tense Edinburgh derby in the third minute of time added on with what opposing manager Nick Montgomery descr...Full Story »

Steven Naismith admitted interest in talismanic captain Lawrence Shankland is inevitable after he continued his red-hot scoring form with a double in Hearts’ 2-0 cinch Premiership win over St Mirren.The Scotland forward notched a poacher’s header in the first half and then a stunning strike early in the second that opposing manager Stephen Robinson described as “an incredible f...Full Story »

Ex-Aston Villa and Leicester City boss Dean Smith is set to be named new head coach of MLS side Charlotte FC. WHAT HAPPENED?The Telegraph reports that Smith is close to signing on with Charlotte as their new boss, with a deal to be wrapped up within the next week. GOAL originally reported that alongside Smith in candidacy was ex-Chelsea boss Frank Lampard, who knows the league well due to his...Full Story »

Ben Smith insists he is proud of Ramsgate’s FA Cup run despite elimination following a 5-0 defeat against AFC Wimbledon at Plough Lane.Iraq international Ali Al-Hamadi scored twice for the Dons, with Jake Reeves, Josh Neufville and Connor Lemonheigh-Evans also finding the net.The Rams started the evening as the lowest-ranked team left in this season’s competition, but the five-goal d...Full Story »