Sheppey United boss Ernie Batten was proud of his side despite their 4-1 FA Cup first-round exit at the hands of League Two Walsall.The eighth-tier side were the lowest-ranked club in the first-round proper of the longest-running cup competition in the world.Batten’s Ites were competing in the first round for the first time in their history.And hopes of a huge cup upset were high after Jam...Full Story »

Sheppey United’s historic FA Cup run was ended with a 4-1 defeat to League Two Walsall.The eighth-tier outfit, who sit 73 places below the Saddlers in the English football pyramid, were competing in the first round proper for the first time in their 123-year history.A packed house of 1,400 were crammed in at Holm Park to roar on the lowest-ranked side left in the competition on the biggest...Full Story »

Plucky Horsham twice came from behind to earn a 3-3 draw at Barnsley as substitute Tom Richards earned them an FA Cup first-round replay.Barnsley took a 14th-minute lead when Jamie McCart’s ball into the area was met by a close-range header from Max Watters.The visitors equalised eight minutes later when Shamir Fenelon produced a fine finish after Dan Ajakaiye caused problems for the Barns...Full Story »

Erik ten Hag says he 'has to put it right' after Manchester United's 3-0 drubbing at the hands of Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup. WHAT HAPPENED? Goals from Miguel Almiron, Lewis Hall, and Joe Willock ended the Red Devils' Carabao Cup defence in emphatic fashion at a gloomy Old Trafford on Wednesday night. The Magpies inflicted a number of unwanted records on Ten Hag's team as they avenge...Full Story »

Fulham boss Marco Silva challenged Rodrigo Muniz to make the forward position his own after he scored in a 3-1 win at Ipswich to send them through to the Carabao Cup quarter-finals for the first time since 2004.The Premier League opposition proved too strong for the Championship high-flyers with Harry Wilson, Muniz and Tom Cairney on target at Portman Road before substitute Elkan Baggott pulled ...Full Story »

Benoit Badiashile scored the opening goal as he made his first appearance of the season in Chelsea’s 2-0 Carabao Cup victory over Blackburn at Stamford Bridge.The France defender had not started a Blues match since he was injured in their draw with Nottingham Forest in May and got himself involved at both ends of the pitch in a game that also saw Reece James return to the starting XI.Rahee...Full Story »

Manchester City could be set to replace Kalvin Phillips with a World Cup winner in January. It seems inevitable that Phillips will leave Manchester City in January in search of more regular first-team football, with sides such as Newcastle United, Liverpool and West Ham United all showing varying degrees of interest. A loan move seems most likely ahead of a permanent summer switch, but a r...Full Story »

Port Vale manager Andy Crosby was a proud man as his League One side saw off in-form Mansfield Town to book a place in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals for the first time.Alfie Devine’s 50th-minute finish proved the difference, ending League Two Mansfield’s proud 19-game unbeaten start to the season.Crosby said: “It feels incredible to reach the quarter-finals for the first time ...Full Story »

Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick praised his side as they overcame spirited Exeter to win a cracking Carabao Cup fourth round clash at St James Park 3-2.League One Exeter took a shock lead with a stunning Ryan Trevitt strike but two goals in quick succession from Morgan Rogers and Sammy Silvera turned the tie on its head at the start of the second half.Trevitt levelled things up with another b...Full Story »

Port Vale finally ended League Two Mansfield’s fantastic 19-game unbeaten start to the season with a 1-0 victory in their Carabao Cup fourth-round clash.On a foggy night at the One Call Stadium, League One Vale dominated the first half and lively Sheffield United loanee Oliver Arblaster saw Christy Pym save his 10th-minute shot after turning superbly.Funso Ojo headed a Tom Sang cross over ...Full Story »

Exeter gave Middlesbrough a scare in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup, but the Championship side’s superior quality ultimately prevailed as they won a cracking cup tie 3-2 at a sodden St James Park.Boro started the first competitive fixture between the two clubs well but it was League One Exeter that broke the deadlock in impressive style in the 13th minute.A quick throw released Kyle T...Full Story »

Lionel Messi has won a record eighth Ballon d'Or, beating off competition from Manchester City sensation Erling Haaland for the 2023 award. Messi honoured at glitzy ceremony in Paris Bests competition from free-scoring Haaland Argentine also edges out PSG's Mbappe WHAT HAPPENED?Messi was favourite to clinch the Golden Ball heading into the star-studded ceremony in Paris, and he was indee...Full Story »

Jurgen Klopp called his Liverpool team “easy to fall in love with” after watching them ease to a 5-1 win over Toulouse that puts them in complete control of their Europa League group.Ryan Gravenberch was outstanding in midfield, creating one and scoring another, Diogo Jota got his eighth goal in seven in Europe’s second-tier competition, Wataru Endo opened his Liverpool account...Full Story »

Brighton enjoyed a comprehensive first victory in Europe as a goal in either half from Joao Pedro and Ansu Fati eased them to a 2-0 win against Ajax at the Amex Stadium.It took until the final minutes of a first half that Brighton had dominated for the breakthrough to arrive, Pedro tapping home on the rebound, as Ajax – second-bottom of the Eredivisie – did little more than look to p...Full Story »

Liverpool seized control of Europa League Group E as they breezed to a 5-1 win over Toulouse at Anfield to go five points clear after three games.Diogo Jota continued his love affair with Europe’s second competition, scoring his eighth goal in seven appearances, and although Thijs Dallinga levelled for the visitors, Wataru Endo got off the mark in Liverpool colours and Darwin Nunez added a...Full Story »

Boss Unai Emery believes Aston Villa proved their European credentials after an emphatic 4-1 win at AZ Alkmaar.Leon Bailey, Youri Tielemans, Ollie Watkins and John McGinn struck as dominant Villa cruised to victory in the Europa Conference League.It was a second 4-1 win in two games – following Sunday’s victory over West Ham – and Villa earned successive Group E triumphs after ...Full Story »

David Moyes defended his team selection after West Ham’s unbeaten European record was reduced to ruins in Athens.The Hammers came a cropper in the shadow of the Acropolis as they crashed 2-1 at Olympiacos, their first loss in continental competition in 18 matches.Moyes, who led his side to the Europa Conference League title last season, made seven changes for their Europa League Group A cl...Full Story »

West Ham’s unbeaten European record was reduced to ruins in Athens as they crashed to a 2-1 defeat at Olympiacos.The Hammers came a cropper in the shadow of the Acropolis as they suffered a first loss in UEFA competitions in 18 matches.David Moyes, who led his side to the Europa Conference League title last season, made seven changes for their Europa League Group A clash in the Greek capit...Full Story »

Jack Grealish, James Maddison and Trent Alexander-Arnold danced the night away after the Three Lions thumped Italy 3-1 at Wembley. Jude Bellingham & Co racked up a £35,000 bar bill after celebrating their Euro 2024 qualificationLiverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold spotted on the night outSpurs James Maddison wore a yellow cap and eye-catching jumperTV star Emily Atack joined the night ou...Full Story »

Baden-Baden — so mad they named it twice — hosted an extraordinary WAG circus at the 2006 World Cup, the last major football tournament to be held in Germany. Gareth Southgate and England will not make Baden-Baden their base next summer Credit: Rex The German resort was made infamous by England's Wags at the 2006 World Cup Credit: Rex That plush Black Forest spa resort became syno...Full Story »