Alan Pardew s wait for a first victory as West Brom head coach continues after the Baggies laboured to a 0-0 draw with Everton on Boxing Day.
There was little Christmas cheer at the Hawthorns as Pardew saw a sixth Premier League game in charge end without victory, the stalemate only his third point since replacing Tony Pulis.
Both sides struggled to threaten throughout a drab 90 minutes and home striker Salomon Rondon wasted the best two chances.
Rondon was unable to test Jordan Pickford on either occasion, but his hamstring was stretched as he hobbled off early in the second half.
While Pardew waits for a win, Sam Allardyce s unbeaten start to life as Everton boss was extended to six league matches, the Toffees maintaining their place just inside the top…
Liverpool told to wait for Marcos Rojo
Premier League giants Liverpool have been informed they will have to wait until after the 2014 World Cup if they want to sign Sporting Lisbon starlet Marcos Rojo, .
The highly rated full-back is reportedly high on club s wish list following some impressive performances in the Primeira Liga this season.
And while the Reds are hoping to wrap up the deal for the Argentine footballer as soon as possible, Sporting Lisbon will only negotiate the sale after the upcoming World Cup.
Namely, with Rojo a first team regular for Argentine, the Lions believe the player s value will increase during the tournament finals and plan to act accordingly.
Taking also into account that Sporting only own 25% of the defender s contr…
Ryan Nelsen is set to be announced as the new Toronto FC head coach on Tuesday.
Goal.com revealed the 35-year-old QPR defender had looked set for a role as an assistant or player/coach in the MLS but is now set to take over from former England international Paul Mariner as the club s boss.
Nelsen will be reuniting with club president and general manager Kevin Payne, under whom he played at DC United before heading to the Premier League to sign for Blackburn Rovers in 2005.
The New Zealand international, who has no prior coaching experience, would be taking the head coaching position from a man who had just stepped into the role last June. Mariner was hired as TFC s director of player development in January 2011, a role he performed before taking over the coachin…
Leeds United reclaimed top spot in the Championship with a 2-0 derby win at Huddersfield Town on Saturday.
Sheffield Wednesday, Blackburn Rovers and Hull City all won at home to boost their play-off chances, while Bristol City earned a key victory away to Fulham.
Under-fire Middlesbrough boss Jonathan Woodgate saw his team collect a precious three points at home to Charlton Athletic and Stoke City s misery continued with a defeat at the KC Stadium.
West Brom, now second, can bounce back above Leeds when they host Swansea City on Sunday.
Here are the full-time results in the .
— Sky Bet Championship (@SkyBetChamp)
LEEDS MARCH ON
Marcelo Bielsa s men have won six in a row, conceding just twice in that run, after easing to victory …
Australia goalkeeper Mat Ryan, a reported target of Liverpool, is keen on a move to Anfield but not until the end of the season.
Liverpool target Mat Ryan will consider his options in the summer but is unlikely to make the move to Anfield in January, according to his agent.
The Merseyside club are thought to have targeted a move for highly rated Club Brugge goalkeeper as they eye a long-term solution to their goalkeeping problems, with Brendan Rodgers having dropped Simon Mignolet earlier this season.
Rodgers was forced to restore Mignolet to his starting XI in recent weeks after understudy goalkeeper Brad Jones picked up a thigh injury, but a new shot-stopper is a priority for the Anfield outfit.
Ryan, who is away on international duty with Australia a…
Cristiano Ronaldo scored the only goal of the game as Portugal triumphed over Iceland in Reykjavik in the qualifications for next year s European Championship.
It was a fine way for the 38-year-old five-time Ballon d Or winner to mark the milestone of becoming the first player ever to make 200 senior appearances for his country.
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Italy s next head coach will be Luigi Di Biagio, Antonio Conte or Roberto Mancini, according to the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) vice-commissioner Alessandro Costacurta.
Gian Piero Ventura was sacked as Azzurri boss following November s play-off defeat to Sweden, a loss that saw the four-time world champions miss out on World Cup qualification for the first time in 60 years.
Former Roma and Inter midfielder Di Biagio will step up from his role as Italy s Under-21 coach to take charge of the senior side on a caretaker basis in next month s friendly matches against Argentina and England.
Di Biagio is apparently firmly in the running for the full-time post, along with ex-Manchester City and current Zenit boss Mancini, but Costacurta once again naming Conte amo…
Hull City manager Steve Bruce hailed rivals Watford after pipping them to Premier League promotion on Saturday.
Bruce was forced to endure an agonising wait after his side gifted champions Cardiff a last-gasp equaliser in their final Championship match.
However, the 2-2 draw at the KC Stadium was enough for them to finish ahead of Watford after Gianfranco Zola s 10-man team fell to a delayed 2-1 defeat at home to Leeds.
Bruce told Sky Sports: I ve been around for a long, long time but I don t think I ve ever witnessed anything like that final 10 minutes.
I suppose it s wonderful entertainment for the viewers but, Jesus Christ, it s put us through the ringer. To be fair I thought, overall, we deserved it.
The referee for me has given an unbelievable decision for the penalty, b…
Barcelona are in danger of losing one of their highest-rated academy prospects at the moment, Ilaix Moriba, according to .
At the age of 18, Ilaix has 18 first-team appearances under his belt so far, together with one goal and three assists. He clearly stands out from the rest of the boys of his age at the club, and following the club s failure to land Georginio Wijnaldum this summer, it was expected he would be given a relatively prominent role in 2021-22, and a contract to reflect his progress.
However, Barcelona are in a difficult financial situation. They need to cut down their wage bill as much as possible to be able to re-sign Lionel Messi and register the players they ve already acquired. Therefore, the contract they offered Ilaix was the same as that given to th…
Roma are putting no pressure on Patrik Schick despite his goal drought, according to coach Eusebio di Francesco.
Schick was signed from Sampdoria on an inital loan last year ahead of a reported €37million switch, but a series of injuries have prevented the Czech Republic international from finding his rhythm at Stadio Olimpico, starting just six Serie A games this season and failing to appear in the Champions League.
The 22-year-old has scored only once for Roma in the Coppa Italia back in December but Di Francesco is keen to ease him into the team, allowing him time to express himself .
We just have to let Schick get on with things without putting any pressure on him, the coach told a pre-match news conference ahead of the clash with Fiorentina.
Be…