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Serie A round up Inter beat Parma as Napoli stumble to draw against Fiorentina
Serie A round-up: Inter beat Parma as Napoli stumble to draw against Fiorentina. Substitute Lautaro Martinez scored Inter Milan's first Serie A goal this year to give them a much-needed 1-0 win at Parma on Saturday. Martinez replaced Joao Mario in the 77th minute and made his mark within two minutes. Inter won possession in midfield and Radja Nainggolan slipped the ball to the Argentine who held off his marker and fired his shot into the roof of the net. Luciano Spalletti's side remain third in Serie A, and on course for the Champions League next season, with 43 points while Parma are 12th with 29. The visitors, whose previous three league games produced a 0-0 draw with Sassuolo and 1-0 defeats to Torino and lowly Bologna, had a let-off before halftime when former Liverpool and Roma forward Gervinho crashed a shot against the Inter bar. â±| FT | #ParmaInter ALL OVER! #Lautaro with the winner! ðŸ‚Had to grind it out and we did. Onwards and upwards! #ForzaInter pic.twitter.com/Gc4SiAGVSu Danilo D'Ambrosio thought he had broken Inter's duck when he turned the ball in from a corner in the 54th minute but it was chalked off after a VAR review showed that the ball struck his arm. Inter gained in confidence after the goal and Matias Vecino saw a shot cleared off the line while Marcelo Brozovic hit the upright with a low shot. Second-placed Napoli wasted half a dozen clear-cut chances as they were held 0-0 at Fiorentina, their fourth successive away game in all competitions without scoring. Napoli, whose hopes of winning the title last season effectively ended with a 3-0 defeat in the same fixture, were left eight points behind leaders Juventus who visit Sassuolo on Sunday. "I would say they are two points lost, we played well and it was not the right result," Napoli coach Carlo Ancelotti said. "We lacked the finishing touch. We had some difficulties building from the back because they pressed hard but when we got past that, we managed to create chances. We've just got to work on our finishing." Predict 6 correct scores for your chance to win £250K.
Barnet chairman Tony Kleanthous gives up FA Cup ticket
Barnet chairman Tony Kleanthous gives up FA Cup ticket. Barnet chairman Tony Kleanthous has given up his ticket for their FA Cup replay with Brentford as he "didn't feel comfortable sitting with the prawn sandwich brigade" while some Barnet fans missed the club's "special occasion". Kleanthous was unhappy Barnet had only been given an allocation of 1,660 tickets for the tie at Griffin Park. He wanted their maximum allocation of 1,914 (15 percent of Griffin Park's capacity) It emerged Brentford had asked for special dispensation to provide less than the maximum allocation for away fans, on Friday, which the FA then granted on Saturday on grounds of health and safety. As a compromise, the FA asked Brentford to provide Barnet with a small number of additional tickets, which the club duly complied with. Kleanthous said the extra tickets along with the complimentary allocation for Barnet staff meant they were able to satisfy the demand of their members and therefore the matter was now closed. Despite stating his disappointment with Brentford chairman Cliff Crown's initial refusal to compromise, Kleanthous says he was unwilling to "cry over spilt milk" and is happy to watch the match with Barnet fans at The Hive where the FA have permitted the club to purchase a live stream of the game. Predict 6 correct scores for your chance to win £250K.
St Johnstone 0 2 Celtic Scottish Premiership champions restore six point lead over Rangers
St Johnstone 0-2 Celtic: Scottish Premiership champions restore six-point lead over Rangers. Two late strikes saw Celtic restore their six-point lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership with a hard-earned 2-0 win at St Johnstone on Sunday. James Forrest, who later had to hobble off with a hamstring injury, finally made the breakthrough with just 12 minutes to go, before substitute Timothy Weah sealed the win in the final minute. And despite Kristoffer Ajer's injury-time red card, the champions held on to stay six points ahead of second-placed Rangers, while the Saints remain sixth in the table. The home team had struggled to create many meaningful openings in their 2-0 defeat at Celtic in midweek, but they were almost ahead within just five minutes. However, faced with just Scott Bain to beat, Matty Kennedy shot too close to the Celtic 'keeper and thereafter the visitors took control. The closest Celtic came to making the breakthrough was just before the quarter-hour mark when Jason Kerr appeared to catch Oliver Burke in the box, only for referee William Collum to wrongly decide the St Johnstone defender had got the ball. Brendan Rodgers's side moved up a gear in the second period, only to find Zander Clark in inspired form between the posts, with the Saints No 1 making a succession of impressive stops to keep the scoreline goalless. But just as St Johnstone's fans were starting to believe their team could earn yet another clean sheet, Scott Tanser lost concentration at the far post, allowing Forrest to nip in and touch home Weah's cross from the left. St Johnstone made four changes from the side that lost 2-0 at Celtic in midweek, with Ross Callachan, Matty Kennedy, Sean Goss and Tony Watt all coming into the starting XI.Meanwhile, Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers stuck with the same line-up that beat the Saints at home on Wednesday. It was Weah who wrapped up proceedings late on after St Johnstone lost the ball from their own corner, allowing Callum McGregor to break upfield and set up the on-loan PSG forward for a simple tap in. The champions' day may have been spoiled when Ajer was given a straight red after losing possession to Callum Hendry - son of former Scotland defender Colin - and pulling the substitute back as he broke clear on goal. But their victory did mean Rodgers has now won 75 of his first 100 league games in charge of Celtic, matching the record of the legendary Jock Stein. Celtic take on Hibernian at Celtic Park, while St Johnstone travel to Hamilton, with both Scottish Premiership games taking place on Wednesday night. Predict 6 correct scores for your chance to win £250K.
Pep Guardiola says Manchester City were not at their best in Newcastle defeat
Pep Guardiola says Manchester City were not at their best in Newcastle defeat. Pep Guardiola acknowledged Manchester City were below their best as they were beaten 2-1 by Newcastle, but said his side did not underestimate their opponents. Looking to close the gap on Premier League leaders Liverpool to one point, City made the perfect start at St James' Park as Sergio Aguero scored after 24 seconds. However, Newcastle replied with two second-half goals to dent City's title ambitions. "It was not our best night," said Guardiola. "We were not at our best, sometimes that happens, I can understand the players. "We didn't play like normal, it happens sometimes, unfortunately we couldn't win." Asked whether City had underestimated Newcastle, Guardiola said: "Never. When you are in four competitions it is because you don't underestimate one competition or one team. When you get 100 points it is because you don't underestimate one team. If you do you are not in the final of the Carabao Cup. "Sometimes we don't play the level we want to play, it happens… It's everybody, it's not just one player. We could not win, because we were not at our best, that's all." Liverpool have the chance to move seven points clear of City when they face Leicester on Wednesday. Reflecting on City's title chances, Guardiola said: "We are in January with a lot of time but of course when you are behind the leader you can't drop points because it helps them. We have a lot of titles and games still to play. "I love these players. I know how they feel right now and I am beside them, close to them. It's an incredible group. Sometimes it happens." Predict 6 correct scores for your chance to win £250K.
Kilmarnock to appeal Kris Boyd red card received in draw at Aberdeen
Kilmarnock to appeal Kris Boyd red card received in draw at Aberdeen. Kilmarnock have confirmed they will appeal the red card shown to Kris Boyd in Saturday's 0-0 draw at Aberdeen. Boyd was dismissed by referee Nick Walsh for serious foul play after a challenge on Graeme Shinnie in the 80th minute of the goalless draw at Pittodrie. The Scottish FA have fast-tracked the hearing for this case, which will be heard on Thursday. Kilmarnock have also announced the signing of Conor McAleny on loan until the end of the season. The 26-year-old forward arrives from Sky Bet League One club Fleetwood Town and becomes Killie's first signing of the January transfer window. McAleny, a product of Everton's academy, enjoyed spells with Wigan and Oxford before joining Fleetwood in the summer of 2017. We are pleased to announce Conor McAleny as our first signing of the January transfer window on a loan deal from @ftfcWelcome to Killie @CMcAleny✍️ https://t.co/GcUsVnyDWE #Killie150 pic.twitter.com/Nm7tlNtZrM He joins Kilmarnock's push for the Premiership title, with the club currently third and three points behind leaders Celtic, who have a game in hand. Predict 6 correct scores for your chance to win £250K.
Marco Silva frustrated VAR not in use as Everton dispatched by Millwall
Marco Silva frustrated VAR not in use as Everton dispatched by Millwall. Marco Silva wants VAR introduced for all FA Cup matches after officials missed Jake Cooper's handball in Everton's defeat at Millwall. Everton boss Silva cut a frustrated figure at The Den as his team only had two shots on target, scoring from both of them through Richarlison (43) and Cenk Tosun (72). Despite leading twice, Everton could not hold on to their advantage as Lee Gregory (45+1) and Jake Cooper (75) pulled the Sky Bet Championship side back into the match. Murray Wallace went on to score a stoppage-time winner for the Lions but Silva felt Cooper's goal was a key moment in the match as the referee missed what he described as a "clear handball". VAR is only in use at Premier League grounds in the FA Cup - a decision that bemused Silva, who questioned the fairness of the competition. "It doesn't make sense," he said. "If we have to be fair with all the clubs and the competition - we have to do it for all the games. We were winning 2-1 at that moment and it made a big impact on the pitch. We need to put VAR in all the stadiums. "Seven or eight players saw the handball and it's difficult for us about how the referee or his assistant cannot see. Then 1,000 people can see it on the big screen but the referee didn't see - it's really strange." Silva has now won just six of 32 away games with Hull, Watford and Everton and the pressure is mounting on his shoulders. Everton have managed just two away wins all season. Being dumped out of the FA Cup leaves them with little to play for between now and the end of the campaign. Silva was left disappointed not to have made progress in the cup, especially after a picking a full-strength team. "It was a big frustration - it was a tough afternoon," he said. "We had a goal in this competition and today was disappointing. "Two details made the difference this afternoon. We need to be more mature to take responsibility for the first and the third goal and the decision of the referee also." Predict 6 correct scores for your chance to win £250K.
Bristol City 2 1 Bolton Callum O'Dowda and Niclas Elia sson score for hosts
Bristol City 2-1 Bolton: Callum O'Dowda and Niclas Eliasson score for hosts. Bristol City came from behind to beat Bolton 2-1 at Ashton Gate on Friday night and advance to the fifth round of the FA Cup. The visitors took a sixth-minute lead when defender Mark Beevers was given the freedom of City's penalty area to shoot home unmarked with a sweet right-footed half-volley from a Luca Connell cross. But the advantage lasted less than two minutes. City winger Callum O'Dowda was allowed time to control a chip to the edge of the box on his chest before sending a low volley past the diving Remi Matthews. Lee Johnson's team went on to play some slick attacking football in the first half and took a deserved lead on the half hour just after Bolton's Joe Pritchard and Craig Noone had seen shots blocked in a crowded box. The break out of defence saw O'Dowda race forward and when the ball reached Niclas Eliasson, the Swede danced past two defenders before planting a sweet left-footed shot into the top corner from just inside the penalty area. The only surprise was that there were not more goals, with both sides committed to attack and Bolton playing a full part in the entertainment. City could have been further in front by the break. Matthews made two diving saves to deny midfielder Joe Morrell. Famara Diedhiou and Kasey Palmer shot wide from good positions, while at the other end Frank Fielding had to deal only with a deflected shot from distance by Josh Magennis. Chelsea loanee Palmer was a constant threat with eye-catching forward runs from midfield and is already a firm favourite with Ashton Gate fans, having signed this month. The second half saw City pour forward and Palmer had a shot saved from Diedhiou's 57th-minute pass. But Wanderers stuck gamely to their task and Fielding had to be alert to parry Pawel Olkowski's shot from a narrow angle. With his side enjoying a rare period of dominance, Bolton boss Phil Parkinson introduced Sammy Ameobi as a 63rd-minute substitute for Pritchard. The final half hour brought goalmouth action at both ends, Bolton staging a grandstand finish that didn't prove quite enough to earn a replay. Diedhiou had opportunities to extend City's lead as the hosts continued to create the better chances. But Wanderers fought to the last and caused some panic in the penalty area themselves in the closing stages. The result extended City's unbeaten run in all competitions to 12 matches. Predict 6 correct scores for your chance to win £250K.
WATCH Lucas Digne scores bizarre own goal against Southampton
WATCH: Lucas Digne scores bizarre own goal against Southampton. Lucas Digne hit the ball into his own net from the edge of the box during Everton's 2-1 defeat to Southampton on Saturday. Southampton were 1-0 up in the 64th minute when Digne's attempted tackle quickly turned into the game's decisive goal. The former Barcelona defender, who Everton signed for £18m last summer, attempted to make a timely challenge on the onrushing Nathan Redmond who was slipped through by Danny Ings. However, as he attempted to make a tackle, his heavy touch sent the ball into the bottom corner, getting the better of Jordan Pickford. Hit the video above to watch Digne's unusual own goal against Southampton. Predict 6 correct scores for your chance to win £250K.