But if the Blues are to see off Brazilian side Palmeiras and win this competition for the first time, they will have to do a hell of a lot better than this laboured semi-final win here in Abu Dhabi. Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku broke the deadlock after firing home in the 32nd minute Credit: Getty Lukaku reacts after grabbing his ninth goal of the season for the Blues Credit: AFP What should ...Full Story »

Pep Guardiola brushed off suggestions Manchester City are the best side in the world after moving 12 points clear in the Premier League.The champions saw off Brentford 2-0 on Wednesday to tighten their already firm grip on the title race.Their form continues to attract plaudits but manager Guardiola, who felt his team had needed to dig deep and be patient to see off the Bees, claimed only to be ...Full Story »

Bournemouth manager Scott Parker felt his side proved a point after bouncing back from their humiliating FA Cup defeat to Boreham Wood with a 3-1 win over Birmingham.Goals from Ryan Christie, Dominic Solanke – his 20th of the season – and Jaidon Anthony – saw the Cherries climb back up to second place in the Championship table.The hosts were given a scare when Onel Hernandez br...Full Story »

Peterborough were brought crashing down to earth after their FA Cup joy last weekend as they were beaten 4-0 at relegation rivals Cardiff.Cardiff came into this crucial relegation clash battle-hardened by their 1-0 win at bottom-of-the-table Barnsley and never looked in danger of losing after hitting the front as early as the fifth minute.Visiting manager Darren Ferguson admitted pre-match that ...Full Story »

Chelsea hope Romelu Lukaku’s lucky goal can spur the Belgium hitman into top form and drive the Blues to a maiden Club World Cup crown.Lukaku pounced on Yasir Alshahrani’s moment of misfortune to blast home and seal Chelsea’s 1-0 Club World Cup semi-final win over Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal.Chelsea’s £98million club-record signing Lukaku ended a five-game goal dr...Full Story »

Romelu Lukaku’s gift-wrapped goal proved enough for Chelsea to overcome a resolute Al Hilal 1-0 and reach the Club World Cup final.Belgium hitman Lukaku spurned a clutch of fine openings but could not miss when presented with Yasir Alshahrani’s unwitting deflection just yards from goal.The 28-year-old lashed into the net in Abu Dhabi, to end a five-match goal drought and book the Blu...Full Story »

Hartlepool boss Graeme Lee admitted maintaining his side’s FA Cup momentum was key in a 3-1 victory over Barrow.Pools won plenty of plaudits and praise for their FA Cup defeat at Crystal Palace last weekend but Lee wanted his side to build on it back in League Two action.And they did just that, securing their first victory in nine games as they turned the game around following John Rooney&...Full Story »

Premier League leaders Manchester City will travel to face Championship strugglers Peterborough United in the FA Cup fifth round. It is a plum draw for Posh, who are at this stage of the competition for the first time since 1986 after overcoming Sky Bet Championship rivals QPR on Saturday. Pep Guardiola's men overcame Fulham 4-1 in the fourth round with Riyad Mahrez scoring twice during a comf...Full Story »

Boreham Wood manager Luke Garrard was pinching himself at the prospect of locking horns with Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole after his non-league side stunned Bournemouth to book an FA Cup fifth-round clash with Everton.Mark Ricketts’ first-half goal was enough to dump Championship promotion hopefuls Bournemouth out at the Vitality Stadium and set up a mouth-watering trip to Goodison Park.Th...Full Story »

Sadio Mane went from villain to hero as he broke club-mate Mohamed Salah’s heart by firing Senegal to Africa Cup of Nations Cup glory for the first time.Liverpool striker Mane, who had seen his seventh-minute spot-kick saved by goalkeeper Gabaski, nervelessly converted the decisive penalty in a 4-2 shoot-out victory over seven-times winners Egypt at the Stade d’Olembe in Yaounde afte...Full Story »

Boreham Wood recorded a huge FA Cup upset as captain Mark Ricketts’ first-half goal saw them knock out Championship high-fliers Bournemouth.The National League side will now travel to Premier League Everton in the fifth round having not conceded a goal in their five matches in the competition so far, with this momentous win extending their unbeaten run to 17 games in all competitions.All o...Full Story »

Furious boss Brendan Rodgers has told his Leicester flops they are fighting for their futures after being dumped out of the FA Cup by Nottingham Forest.The Foxes chief questioned his squad’s hunger and desire and labelled their performance embarrassing as the holders were routed 4-1.Two goals in 87 seconds from Philip Zinckernagel and Brennan Johnson were added to by Joe Worrall and Djed S...Full Story »

Nottingham Forest ran riot to dump holders Leicester out of the FA Cup.The Reds demolished last season’s winners 4-1 at the City Ground after three goals in nine first-half minutes.Philip Zinckernagel and Brennan Johnson scored twice in barely a minute before Joe Worrall made it 3-0.🔴 @NFFC ran riot at the City Ground putting 4️⃣ past @LCFC!#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.c...Full Story »

Harry Kane scored twice for Tottenham as they booked an FA Cup fifth-round spot with a 3-1 win over Brighton.The England captain struck in either half to move to 236 goals for Spurs, just 30 shy of Jimmy Greaves’ all-time record, with the hosts also benefitting from Solly March’s first-half own goal.As much as individual honours matter to Kane, it is silverware that really drives him...Full Story »

Luton reached the fifth round of the FA Cup for the first time in nine years with a 3-0 success at Cambridge.There are 29 places between the sides and goals in the first quarter of the game from Reece Burke and Carlos Mendes Gomes ensured there was rarely much likelihood of League One Cambridge springing a surprise for the second successive round.The home side were missing the presence of injure...Full Story »

Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl was left counting the cost of his side’s extra-time FA Cup win over Coventry.Saints needed a Stuart Armstrong wonder-strike and a 112th-minute goal from Kyle Walker-Peters to edge out the Championship Sky Blues 2-1 at St Mary’s.But the hosts lost defender Lyanco to a hamstring injury in the first half which left him on crutches, while in-form striker...Full Story »

Norwich boss Dean Smith believes his side continue to prove the doubters wrong as their FA Cup fourth-round win at Wolves saw them extend their good run.Kenny McLean’s header in first-half stoppage time was enough to seal a 1-0 victory in a drab contest at Molineux.The Canaries were bottom of the Premier League over Christmas and all-but written off in some quarters but have now won four o...Full Story »

Michael O’Neill is dreaming of FA Cup glory after Stoke progressed to the fifth round with a 2-0 win versus Wigan.The 2011 runners-up opened the scoring inside 14 minutes when debutant Josh Maja – a midweek loan signing from Bordeaux – converted from close range after a slip by Latics defender Jason Kerr.Backed by over 4,000 travelling fans, the visitors gradually grew into the...Full Story »

Southampton needed a Stuart Armstrong wonder-strike and an extra-time goal from Kyle Walker-Peters to edge out Coventry 2-1 in the FA Cup at St Mary’s.Coventry, 11th in the Championship, were leading through a fine first-half goal from Viktor Gyokeres and had chances to be even further ahead.A mix-and-match Saints side which featured 17-year-old debutant Thierry Small at left-back and Shan...Full Story »

Barnsley head coach Poya Asbaghi refused to blame the officials following their 1-0 defeat against Huddersfield in the FA Cup.Duane Holmes put the Terriers in front in the 19th minute with a composed finish following Josh Koroma’s knockdown.But the Reds were left frustrated after Michal Helik had a goal ruled out in stoppage time for a foul in the build-up.“We have had an equaliser d...Full Story »