Marco Silva says Bernd Leno ‘touched the ball boy, he didn’t push the ball boy’

Fulham boss Marco Silva insisted his goalkeeper Bernd Leno “touched” but “didn’t push” a ball boy during the Cottagers’ 3-0 defeat at Bournemouth.The second-half incident occurred when Leno went to collect the ball from the youngster’s outstretched hand before using his own hand to make deliberate contact with the shoulder of the ball boy, who appeared to

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Simon Weaver hails Harrogate’s ‘perfect Christmas’ after Accrington victory

Harrogate boss Simon Weaver praised his team’s character and ability as they leapt into the top half of League Two following a 2-1 home win over Accrington.For the first time since August 2021, Harrogate secured maximum points after conceding the opening goal at their Wetherby Road ground with George Thomson’s stoppage-time effort sealing victory after he had set up Jack Muldoon’

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Neill Collins hoping Barnsley learn from second-half struggles after Vale scare

Barnsley manager Neill Collins hopes his side learn from their mistakes in the second half after they held off a fight back from Port Vale to win 3-2.Adam Phillips opened the scoring before John McAtee added a quickfire brace, including a stunning strike from 35 yards for his second, to make it 3-0 after 37 minutes.But Vale fought back after the break, with Ethan Chislett and Jack Shorrock both fi

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Russell Martin full of admiration for ex-club Swansea after Southampton rout

Southampton manager Russell Martin admitted he took no joy in thrashing old club Swansea 5-0.Martin took charge of the Swans for two seasons before leaving to join Saints last summer – where he has now overseen a 16-match unbeaten run and seen his side close in on the Championship automatic-promotion places.The former MK Dons boss, who was making his first reunion with the Swans, did a lap o

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David Wagner to have words with Borja Sainz after red card in loss at West Brom

Norwich head coach David Wagner admitted he would be having words with Borja Sainz, whose early red card potentially cost his side in the 1-0 Championship defeat against West Brom at The Hawthorns.Winger Sainz was sent off in the 34th minute for two bookable offences within five minutes – the second for a needless dissent – after twice going close to giving the Canaries the lead.Brando

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Jason Goodliffe pleased with battling Sutton’s win at his former club Wimbledon

Jason Goodliffe said it was “very pleasing” to come away from his old stamping ground with three points after Sutton lifted themselves off the bottom of Sky Bet League Two with a 1-0 win over AFC Wimbledon.It was a 63rd-minute Omar Sowunmi header that handed the visitors three points a week on from Goodliffe being handed the reins at Gander Green Lane on an interim basis.A former Wimbl

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Ian Evatt says Bolton ‘got what we deserved’ with late winner at Lincoln

Bolton boss Ian Evatt hailed his side’s persistence after a last-gasp 1-0 win at 10-man Lincoln.The resolute Imps looked to have held on for a hard-fought point after Danny Mandriou was sent off in the second half.But Eoin Toal sent Evatt and the traveling Wanderers fans into scenes of jubilation with his dramatic 89th-minute winner.“I thought we played so good,” said Evatt. &ldq

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Liam Manning excited by Bristol City’s potential after Watford win

Liam Manning promised that his Bristol City side will get even better after their 4-1 victory at Watford.The Robins thoroughly deserved their triumph, their third straight win under former Oxford boss Manning, who arrived at Ashton Gate last month.It was also their first on the road under Manning, and City’s first back-to-back triple since November 2020.Manning said: “We’re going

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Darren Moore wants Huddersfield’s mindset to be focused on teams above not below

Darren Moore wants Huddersfield to start looking up the Championship table rather than over their shoulder after putting distance to the relegation zone with a 3-0 win over Blackburn.Jaheim Headley’s low strike handed the Terriers a first-half advantage which was added to after the break by Sorba Thomas and Delano Burgzorg as Moore’s men opened up a five-point gap to the bottom three.T

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Mat Salder: Analysts provide inspiration for Walsall victory

Walsall boss Mat Sadler said his number crunchers had provided the inspiration for the Saddlers to end a decade of despair against bogey side Crewe by beating the Railwaymen 2-0.Headers from Freddie Draper and Oisin McEntee gave Walsall only a second win in their past 20 meetings with the Alex – and a first victory in 11, a rotten run dating back to 2013.“I was told about that by my an

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