Mateo Kovacic will miss Chelsea’s Premier League clash with Arsenal due to ankle ligament damage.The Croatia midfielder will be absent for two weeks after picking up the problem in Sunday’s 2-0 FA Cup semi-final win over Crystal Palace.Winger Callum Hudson-Odoi is still battling back trouble.Arsenal are likely to be without captain Alexandre Lacazette after he tested positive for cor...Full Story »

Gareth Bale is planning to leave Real Madrid this summer - though not the LaLiga. The Wales captain is off contract in June and won't be offered new terms by Real. A move within the LaLiga is now being considered, with El Chiringuito's Juanfe Sanz reporting: "One of his options is that of retirement, but there is a World Cup ahead and Wales has to play a phase to qualify. "Gareth Bale, as w...Full Story »

The former England great hopes to stick around at Pride Park despite the club dropping to the third tier of English football Wayne Rooney says he wants to stay and help "bring the happy days back" to Derby County after the Rams were relegated from the Championship to League One. Defeat against Queens Park Rangers and a draw for Reading against Swansea means that the Pride Park outfit will dr...Full Story »

Manchester United are seeking a new centre-half signing this summer. The Manchester Evening News says United held exploratory discussions with the representatives of Antonio Rudiger, out of contract in Chelsea at the summer, but there is little expectation of the Germany international joining them. Sources close to the player are more focused on discussing potential contracts with clubs guar...Full Story »

Paul Heckingbottom was both pleased and frustrated after seeing Morgan Gibbs-White keep Sheffield United’s Championship play-off hopes on track with a precious equaliser in Monday’s 1-1 draw at Bristol City.City took a 49th-minute lead when Antoine Semenyo broke down the left onto a long clearance from goalkeeper Dan Bentley and crossed the ball low for Chris Martin to fire home.But ...Full Story »

Morgan Gibbs-White kept Sheffield United’s Championship play-off bid on course with a second-half equaliser in a 1-1 draw with Bristol City at Ashton Gate.The home side took a 49th minute lead when Antoine Semenyo broke down the left onto a long clearance from goalkeeper Dan Bentley and crossed the ball low for Chris Martin to fire home from close range.But United equalised on the hour whe...Full Story »

Jordan Slew and Matt Warburton notched late goals as Halifax defeated fellow National League play-off contenders Chesterfield 2-0 at the Shay.The hosts took the lead in the 77th minute when Billy Waters’ ball from the left was allowed by Kian Spence to run to Slew, who slotted past Scott Loach.Warburton then doubled the advantage three minutes later with a strike that took a deflection off...Full Story »

Carlisle boss Paul Simpson was ‘chuffed to bits’ after a 1-0 win against Mansfield sealed their Football League safety.Omari Patrick bagged the only goal early in the second half as the promotion-chasing Stags were sunk.Simpson said: “I’m chuffed to bits. It’s been a really big challenge for everyone since I came back but it’s been a good challenge too.“...Full Story »

Tranmere boss Micky Mellon is already fully focused on the next game despite his side’s confidence-boosting 2-0 win against Exeter.Rovers gave their play-off hopes a welcome lift thanks to goals from Josh Hawkes and Elliott Nevitt at Prenton Park.It was a first win in six after sliding out of automatic promotion contention.And it dented the Grecians’ title bid as they fell five point...Full Story »

Matt Gray was relieved after Sutton managed to hang on for a narrow 1-0 League Two victory over play-off rivals Newport.The U’s returned to the play-off spots after Rob Milsom’s first-half penalty proved enough at Gander Green Lane.Sutton did not blow away County, but the run-in is purely about getting results, no matter how they come.After a pleasing third-straight win, Gray said: &...Full Story »

Gobsmacked Gillingham boss Neil Harris could not understand why striker Charlie Kelman was sent off in the goalless draw at home to Fleetwood.Referee James Linington showed both Kelman and Fleetwood winger Paddy Lane straight red cards for the same challenge – something Harris insisted he had never seen before – in the 78th minute.The hard-hitting collision left Lane needing treatmen...Full Story »

Wayne Rooney is “excited” by the challenge of leading Derby back to the Championship but insists both his and the club’s future rests on the completion of a takeover.The Rams, deducted 21 points this season after going into administration, were relegated to League One with three games remaining after losing 1-0 to QPR.Defeat left them 10 points behind Reading, who came from 4-1...Full Story »

Gary McSheffrey was downbeat after a six-goal thriller against Shrewsbury with Doncaster still set to drop into League Two.Rovers produced a great comeback from three goals down but they are six points off 20th-placed Gillingham with two games to go – with a -17 worse goal difference.On the reality of survival, McSheffrey said: “We need a big difference in goals and we need teams to ...Full Story »

Michael Appleton hailed an “outstanding” performance from Lincoln in their 3-0 victory over Cheltenham.Morgan Whittaker’s brace, either side of Anthony Scully’s 15th goal of the season, saw the Imps seal their Sky Bet League One status in style.All three goals came inside the opening 20 minutes. Whittaker opened the scoring after four minutes, Scully forced home the secon...Full Story »

Stevenage boss Steve Evans admitted his side were made to pay for their profligacy as they were held to a 1-1 draw by already relegated Scunthorpe.Boro had been on course for a third successive victory courtesy of Jamie Reid’s goal eight minutes into the second half, only for substitute Harry Bunn to salvage a point for the hosts in the 75th minute.“I can’t believe we’ve ...Full Story »

Wayne Rooney’s Derby were relegated from the Championship following a 1-0 defeat at QPR.Luke Amos’ late winner at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium kept alive Rangers’ play-off hopes and, coupled with Reading’s astonishing comeback, condemned the visitors to the drop.County finished the match with 10 men after Tom Lawrence was sent off for a second yellow card following...Full Story »

Eoghan O’Connell raced the length of the field to smash home a 94th-minute winner and hand Rochdale a 2-1 victory over Hartlepool.The visitors took the lead after nine minutes. Joe White whipped a delicious cross to the back post where Bryn Morris sent a cushioned volley across Jay Lynch and into the far corner of the net.Matt Done was a fraction away from an equaliser when his lofted effo...Full Story »

Torquay had to settle for a 0-0 home draw against Eastleigh, who were indebted to goalkeeper Joe McDonnell.Torquay pair Daniel Wright and Connor Lemonheigh-Evans both went close with first-half headers and Keelan O’Connell’s far-post effort was well saved by McDonnell before half-time.The home side threatened again early in the second period when Asa Hall fired wide and McDonnell pro...Full Story »

Plymouth drew 0-0 with Sky Bet League One play-off rivals Sunderland as both sides missed an opportunity to boost their slim hopes of sneaking into the automatic promotion places.Argyle were able to recall top scorer Ryan Hardie and he came closest to scoring in the first half, sending a 41st-minute header just past the post from Conor Grant’s pacy cross.The home side had the best of the f...Full Story »

Harry Cornick came off the bench to score the goal which earned Luton a 1-0 win over Cardiff at the Cardiff City Stadium.The three points made it a very Happy Easter for the Hatters, who beat play-off rivals Nottingham Forest 1-0 on Good Friday, and kept them in fourth place.Luton’s Welsh boss Nathan Jones, returning to a club where he played his youth football, was forced to make two chan...Full Story »