Overjoyed Carlisle boss Paul Simpson was happy for his players to head out and enjoy a beer following their dramatic 5-4 penalty shootout win over Stockport in the Sky Bet League Two play-off final.After the Wembley showdown ended 1-1 after 120 minutes, the Cumbrians held their nerve to score five faultless spot-kicks to seal promotion and return to League One after nine years away.“I&rsqu...Full Story »

Paul Simpson is “gutted” for Ben Barclay after the on-loan Stockport defender scored the goal that secured Carlisle’s 3-2 aggregate Sky Bet League Two play-off semi-final win over Bradford.Barclay cannot play against his parent club who earlier in the day defeated Salford on penalties to reach Wembley themselves.Barclay headed home after Bradford threatened to send the tie to p...Full Story »

Former Manchester United star Paul Pogba was reduced to tears after being forced off with another injury as his fitness problems continue to plague him at Juventus. The Frenchman became overwhelmed with emotion after suffering another devastating setback, having only recently returned from a lengthy spell out, as he walked off the pitch in their match against Cremonese on Sunday night. The 30-y...Full Story »

Sheffield United boss Paul Heckingbottom said “he couldn’t be any prouder” of his players after they secured their 28th win of the season by beating Birmingham 2-1.Oli McBurnie fired the Premier League-bound Blades ahead in the 53rd minute when he headed home his 13th goal of the season before James McAtee tapped the ball into an empty net a few minutes later to double the lead...Full Story »

Grimsby manager Paul Hurst praised the huge effort his players have put in this season after closing out their first campaign back in the Football League with a 1-0 win against AFC Wimbledon.An own goal from Isaac Ogundere on seven minutes settled the scores at Blundell Park as Grimsby finished 11th in the standings to complement their FA Cup heroics, after they defied the odds to reach the quar...Full Story »

Carlisle boss Paul Simpson is relishing a play-off showdown with Bradford after his side’s 1-1 draw at Sutton secured them fifth place in League Two.The Cumbrians have limped into the top seven with just two wins from their final 11 games.Kylian Kouassi’s first-half effort was cancelled out by Joe Kizzi’s late own goal at Gander Green Lane.But Simpson’s side are now fully...Full Story »

Derby boss Paul Warne admitted he felt “heartbroken” after his team were pipped to the final League One play-off spot following a 1-0 defeat at Sheffield Wednesday.The Rams were overtaken by Peterborough on the final day of the regular season after captain Curtis Davies’ 41st-minute red card led to the only goal of the game – a penalty converted by Michael Smith, who help...Full Story »

Barcelona winger Ferran Torres is a potential target for Aston Villa in the summer. Spanish coach Unai Emery is not afraid to raid La Liga for talent as he looks to take his side to the next level. Depending on how this term finishes, Villa may even have European football to offer. Torres has been in and out of the Barca team since signing in 2022 from Manchester City. Now according to tal...Full Story »

Tottenham Hotspur are one of several clubs who have been alerted to the availability of Roma forward Paulo Dybala. Tottenham have historically been linked with the Argentine star, pursuing him in 2019 with the likes of Manchester United. Back then, the move fell through with Dybala's wage demands being too much for Spurs. The 29-year-old has since moved from Juventus to the Italian capital ...Full Story »

Paul Heckingbottom said Sheffield United’s promotion back to the Premier League is “finally starting to sink in” after his side swept aside Preston at Bramall Lane.The Blades secured a return to the top flight in midweek with victory over West Brom but, much to Heckingbottom’s delight, they did not ease off and stormed to a 4-1 win over a Preston side who still harboured ...Full Story »

Derby head coach Paul Warne admitted missed chances prevented his team securing a League One play-off place after they were held 1-1 at home by Portsmouth.A win would have sealed a top-six finish but a lack of ruthlessness in front of goal proved costly.Derby swarmed all over Portsmouth for the opening 20 minutes but Nathaniel Mendez-Laing fired wide from close range and David McGoldrick was twi...Full Story »

Sheffield United boss Paul Heckingbottom urged his side to enjoy themselves after clinching promotion to the Premier League with a 2-0 win over West Brom at Bramall Lane.Second-half goals from Sander Berge and Anel Ahmedhodzic gave the Blades, who lost in the play-offs last term, the victory they needed to seal their return to the top flight.Heckingbottom said: “I said to the players befor...Full Story »

Paul Hurst was delighted with the attitude shown by his Grimsby team during their 2-0 victory over Crewe.Goals from Gavan Holohan and Danilo Orsi did the damage at Blundell Park as the Mariners moved above Tranmere and into 11th with their second successive home win.Crewe remain 18th following a third defeat in four games as both sides prepare for another season in Sky Bet League Two.Hurst said:...Full Story »

Derby head coach Paul Warne revealed how patience was the key as his team beat Burton 1-0 in Sky Bet League One to climb back into the play-off places.David McGoldrick’s penalty, his 25th goal of the season, decided the contest in front of a 29,000-plus crowd to give the Rams a two-point advantage over seventh-placed Peterborough with two games to play.It might have been different if Deji ...Full Story »

Carlisle boss Paul Simpson was doubly delighted after earning bragging rights over Cumbrian neighbours Barrow with a 1-0 victory.As much as Simpson was pleased to complete the double over his side’s rivals for the first time since 1961, he was understandably more concerned with keeping in touch with third-placed Stevenage in the promotion race.Carlisle are one point behind Steve Evans&rsqu...Full Story »

Paul Simpson is not ready to concede defeat in Carlisle’s chase for a top-three finish despite a 2-2 draw with League Two promotion rivals Stockport County at Brunton Park.Jon Mellish and Owen Moxon each scored their sixth goals of the season in the second half to put the Cumbrians in front with seven minutes remaining.But the Hatters, who gained a 31st-minute lead through Myles Hippolyte,...Full Story »

Paul Heckingbottom wants to see Sheffield United “test themselves” against Premier League giants Manchester City at Wembley after the Blades moved within touching distance of winning automatic promotion with a 1-0 victory over Bristol City.James McAtee netted the winner in the second half after coming off the bench.Heckingbottom said: “I thought we were much better in the secon...Full Story »

Carlisle boss Paul Simpson is desperate for his players to bring about a change of fortune by “taking off the shackles” following a goalless draw at home to Northampton.The promotion rivals walked out for this fourth-tier match of the day to One Step Beyond by Madness.But Brunton Park certainly wasn’t the House of Fun for Simpson as his team drew its latest blank.Six times in t...Full Story »

Derby manager Paul Warne said he felt “cheated” after the Rams’ promotion prospects suffered a setback in a 1-1 draw with Bristol Rovers at the Memorial Stadium.Warne’s team were heading into the play-off zone thanks to David McGoldrick’s early goal until the visitors were denied all three points as Antony Evans equalised with a stoppage-time penalty.But Warne insis...Full Story »

Carlisle boss Paul Simpson refused to be downhearted despite seeing his side slip out of the League Two automatic promotion after being held to a 0-0 draw at 10-man Walsall.The Cumbrians failed to score for a fourth away game running despite playing the final half hour with a man advantage following Hayden White’s dismissal for a studs-up challenge on Jack Armer.They slipped to fourth as a...Full Story »