Sunderland manager Alex Neil was left to rue missed chances as his side could only draw 0-0 with struggling Charlton.The Wearsiders slipped out of the League One play-off places after they were unable to find a winner in London.Despite the setback, Neil believed his side played better in the first half than they did during last week’s stunning 3-0 win at Wigan.He said: “I think we de...Full Story »

Hearts manager Robbie Neilson was relieved that a contentious penalty decision did not cost his side victory as he branded Aberdeen’s Lewis Ferguson a ‘diver’.The Jambos were 2-0 up and cruising when the Dons were awarded a 70th-minute spot-kick after Ferguson fell in the box as he tried to go past Nathaniel Atkinson. The midfielder took the penalty himself and saw it saved by ...Full Story »

Alex Neil hailed his Sunderland players, who ‘rose to the physical challenge’ of travelling to Sky Bet League One high-flyers Wigan and came away with a 3-0 victory.Bailey Wright gave the Black Cats the perfect start when he nodded home Alex Pritchard’s free-kick inside two minutes.And a brace of penalties from Ross Stewart – one in either half – gave the visit...Full Story »

Blackpool boss Neil Critchley must decide whether to bring back Marvin Ekpiteta for the Championship clash with Reading on Saturday.The defender is struggling with a neural problem connected to his back and was left out of the midweek defeat by QPR.Critchley began with an unfamiliar 5-4-1 formation against Rangers but could revert to a 4-4-2 after seeing his side beaten by 10 men.James Husband i...Full Story »

Under-fire Robbie Neilson insists Hearts’ current slump must be placed in perspective.The Jambos boss has been heavily criticised by sections of the team’s support after a run of four cinch Premiership games without a win, the latest a 2-1 defeat away to St Johnstone.While Neilson admits they have not been good enough in suffering back-to-back league defeats against the bottom two of...Full Story »

Blackpool manager Neil Critchley was unhappy with referee Darren Bond’s “unbelievable decision” after his side were denied what he believed was “a stonewall penalty” in their 1-1 Championship draw with Cardiff.Tangerines right-wing Josh Bowler was sent tumbling in the Bluebirds box after 66 minutes under a challenge from midfielder Ryan Wintle, who had only just ret...Full Story »

Stoke manager Michael O’Neill called his side’s 2-2 result at home to Birmingham a “bad draw” as the Potters lost ground on the play-offs.Despite an early warning sign after in-form Birmingham striker Lyle Taylor struck the post inside two minutes, the Potters found themselves trailing when 17-year-old Jordan James notched his first senior goal.The visitors’ lead pr...Full Story »

Walsall caretaker boss Neil McDonald admitted the Saddlers were relieved to “stop the rot” after a 1-0 victory over Tranmere halted a run of seven successive League Two defeats.That run had cost rookie head coach Matt Taylor his job in midweek but Conor Wilkinson’s late penalty settled a drab affair to earn Walsall a first win in two months.Victory also gives them some breathin...Full Story »

Alex Neil insists Sunderland cannot afford to drop more points in the League One promotion race after his first game in charge ended in a 1-1 draw at AFC Wimbledon.Alex Pritchard rescued a point for the Black Cats with a second-half free-kick and cancelled out Luke McCormick’s first-half penalty.Neil was only appointed as head coach on Friday but saw Sunderland’s winless run extend t...Full Story »

Stephen Robinson and Neil Harris praised their side’s efforts after a hard-fought draw between League One strugglers Morecambe and Gillingham.Ryan Jackson looked like he was going to give Gillingham a vital three points with a long-range effort 17 minutes from time before Jon Obika levelled the scores.Morecambe manager Robinson said: “We totally dominated from start to finish with 70...Full Story »

Blackpool boss Neil Critchley will be hoping to have Richard Keogh available for the visit of Bournemouth on Saturday.The 35-year-old central defender was substituted in the 65th minute of the Tangerines’ 1-1 draw with Coventry in midweek with a calf issue but Critchley is hoping he is fit enough for the weekend.Defender Jordan Gabriel and winger CJ Hamilton were rested in midweek and are ...Full Story »

Blackpool boss Neil Critchley hailed Coventry the best team his side have played this season after holding the Sky Blues to a 1-1 draw at The Coventry Building Society Arena.Former Coventry striker Gary Madine opened the scoring for the Tangerines before top goalscorer Viktor Gyokeres levelled things before half-time in the Sky Bet Championship clash.“I thought Coventry were excellent, esp...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 »

Neil Harris insists Gillingham have enough quality to stay up this season after his first game in charge ended in a 1-0 win against Crewe.Danny Lloyd’s first-half penalty was enough to earn the Gills a first win in 15 League One games but they sit eight points adrift of safety.Harris was quick to temper expectations at full-time but says he has seen enough to convince him that they have th...Full Story »

Robbie Neilson felt Hearts should have had two penalties after his side were held to a goalless draw by city rivals Hibernian at Easter Road.The first flashpoint came in the 21st minute when Ellis Simms appeared to be bundled over in the box by Lewis Stevenson, who had already been booked.And late in the match, from an indirect free-kick inside the box, Alex Cochrane saw a shot blocked by the ha...Full Story »

Neil Harris’s first game in charge of Gillingham saw his side secure a first win in 15 League One matches as they beat fellow strugglers Crewe 1-0 at Priestfield.Having conceded four goals from penalties in their 7-2 defeat to Oxford on Saturday, Danny Lloyd scored the Gills’ winner from the spot in the 17th minute after Stuart O’Keefe’s shot had been handled in the area ...Full Story »

Gillingham’s new manager Neil Harris will take charge for the first time in their home game against Crewe.Former Millwall and Cardiff boss Harris was announced as Steve Evans’ replacement on Monday, with the club bidding for their first league win since October.Top scorer Vadaine Oliver could return after missing the Gills’ last two matches following the birth of his child.Midf...Full Story »

Hearts manager Robbie Neilson expects to have John Souttar available for Tuesday’s Edinburgh derby after the Rangers target went off injured in a 2-0 win over Motherwell.Souttar was hurt in a collision with Callum Slattery and went off at half-time for new signing Toby Sibbick but the knock was not serious.Hearts have rejected one bid for the Scotland international from Rangers, who are ke...Full Story »

Stoke boss Michael O’Neill praised his team’s attitude to gain a 1-1 draw at Huddersfield after claiming all of the game’s key decisions went against the visitors.Josh Koroma opened the scoring for the Terriers in the first half but was lucky to still be on the pitch having caught Taylor Harwood-Bellis with an ugly knee-high challenge.Before the break, Tyrese Campbell was then ...Full Story »

Neil Critchley credited his players’ relentless energy and determination after Shayne Lavery’s second-half strike was enough to beat Millwall 1-0 at Bloomfield Road.Lavery smashed home a rebound after CJ Hamilton had an initial shot blocked 10 minutes into the second half and then helped the Seasiders hang on for their second win in a row.Lavery’s goal was exactly what Blackpoo...Full Story »