Martyn Kelly remembers wishing he had a stool to climb on like the rest of the kids in the ground to get a better view.

The world's first official penalty shootout was not something he wanted obscured by other people's heads. On a warm evening on 5 August 1970 at Boothferry Park in Hull, a star-studded Manchester United reached the end of extra time level at 1-1 with second-tier Hull City in a cup match. Six weeks earlier, football's lawmakers had decided to end the days of the coin toss to decide winners in favour of five players from each team taking a kick from 11 yards out with just the keeper to beat. "Blimey," thought then 11-year-old Hull City fan Kelly. "It's George Best, one of the greatest players ever. He's going to take the first penalty in the world's first penalty shootout." That was something worth watching. No-one knew yet that this new method of deciding a tied football match would become a nerve-shredding experience some fans, players and managers can barely watch. Before this, cup or knockout matches that ended in draws were settled by replays, by drawing lots or tossing coins. At the 1968 European Championship, Italy went through to the final after a correct heads-or-tails guess following a 0-0 draw against the Soviet Union. The final against Yugoslavia then ended 1-1 and Italy eventually won 2-0 two days later when the sides reconvened for a replay. For those who were not fans of the existing ways to break a deadlock, the final straw came four months later. When Israel's captain pulled a piece of paper saying 'no' out of a big sombrero hat that determined his side had lost their 1968 Olympic quarter-final to Bulgaria after a 1-1 draw, some within his country's footballing governing body were furious. Israeli Football Association official Yosef Dagan said there must be a better way to decide these big moments – or at least one that was, theoretically, less to do with luck and more to do with skill. Dagan and Michael Almog – who went on to become Israel FA chief - developed the idea of a penalty shootout before writing an official proposal to Fifa in 1969. It was published in the governing body's official magazine. In the letter, Almog proposed "to stop this way of deciding the winner by drawing lots, an immoral and even cruel system for the losing team and not honourable for the winner". He called for it to be replaced by a shootout of five penalties for each side. If the teams were still level after that then it would continue until one side missed and the other scored. The suggestion was heavily debated before eventually being adopted by football's lawmakers, the International Football Association Board (Ifab), at its AGM in Inverness on 27 June 1970. Aside from drawing lots, tossing coins and replays, there had been other ways over the years to settle draws, including sharing titles or counting corners, and there had also been versions of penalty shootouts at some domestic and minor competitions. When BBC Sport asked Fifa to confirm whether the Watney Cup shootout was the first official penalty shootout, world football's governing body replied that is does not have "any records confirming or denying the claim". The National Football Museum does, though, refer to it as the first shootout in England. Various competitions, including the full rounds of the FA Cup until two seasons ago, still continued to use replays. It was not until 1990-91 that the FA Cup introduced penalties if teams were level after extra time in a replay. After that Ifab decision in 1970, it was not long before the first opportunity came to see a penalty shootout being used to decide a professional football match. Would the successor to the coin-toss be any less cruel? That evening in Hull at the Watney Cup - a pre-season cup competition - would provide some answers. "I couldn't believe it, my beloved Hull City were up against Georgie Best, Bobby Charlton and Denis Law. That's like having Messi, Ronaldo and Mbappe in the same team," Kelly recalled on the BBC's Sporting Witness programme. Former Hull City player Frankie Banks said: "It was a massive game, playing against Manchester United, who two years earlier had won the European Cup. "The atmosphere was electrifying. "The Man United players were our heroes. On paper we didn't stand a chance. We wanted to win, we wanted to prove to everybody that although they were the best side probably in the world we could go out and give them a game." And that is exactly what they did, taking the lead on 11 minutes through Chris Chilton before Law pulled one back for United in the 78th minute to send the game into extra time. As the clocked ticked down on the additional half-hour, players realised they were about to be part of something historic. "[Hull player-manager] Terry Neill obviously asked for volunteers and some of the lads were reluctant to step up and take the penalties and some were brave enough to step up and say 'I'll take one, I'll take one and I'll take one'," said Banks, who was not on the team sheet that day but was at the game. "Nobody wants to be the one that misses." And, in particular, no-one wants to be the first player ever to miss in a shootout. However, Best was happy to go down as the first player to score, sending his right-footed shot low into the left corner. For Hull City, Neill became the first player-manager to score in a shootout, helping keep the score level at 3-3. "It was still anybody's game and the noise was deafening," said Banks. But then, in a moment that countless big-name players to come would experience through the decades, Law saw his low shot saved by a diving Ian McKechnie. "For ever and ever, Law will go down as the first man to miss in a penalty shootout and McKechnie will go down as the first goalkeeper to save a penalty in a penalty shootout," said Banks. Ken Wagstaff then missed for Hull and so when Willie Morgan scored for United, Hull knew they had to convert their final kick. And that was when McKechnie became the first keeper to take a penalty in a shootout. "Please, not him," Kelly remembers thinking. "I couldn't believe it, my mum couldn't believe it, even Alex Stepney the Man United keeper couldn't believe it and actually asked him what he was doing up there. I had my head in my hands!" McKechnie stepped up and blasted a powerful strike... against the upper side of the crossbar. And with that, he became the first keeper to miss a penalty in a shootout. "I still maintain that Ian McKechnie was the right choice – he had a sweet left foot – and he had the guts to do it. I'd have put money on him to score," said Banks. "Missing that penalty stayed with Ian for the rest of his life." Of course, there have been many Laws and McKechnies since. In fact, statisticians say 24% of penalties in shootouts are missed. They have settled some of the biggest competitions, with the World Cup final going to penalties three times – in 1994, 2006 and 2022. The first major international title to be decided on penalties was the 1976 European Championship – with the winning kick the now infamous and audacious chip named after Antonin Panenka. Over the years, England's men have experienced plenty of misery in shootouts, losing seven times at major tournaments in that way. Two days ago, Wales' dreams of playing at this year's World Cup were ended by Bosnia-Herzegovina in the now all-too-familiar emotional rollercoaster of a penalty shootout. But before that night in Hull, no-one had known what to expect. Ten penalties later, they did. "Each kick was agony," said Kelly. And more than six decades later, that still stands....

Van Graan criticises TV replay 'consistency' after Bath lose semi-final

Investec Champions Cup semi-final Bordeaux-Begles (24) 38 Tries: Gazzotti, Bielle-Biarrey, Lucu, Tameifuna, Matiu Cons: Lucu 5 Pen: Lucu Bath (12) 26 Tries: Muir 2, Hennessey, Carr-Smith Cons: Russell 3 Bath boss Johann van Graan called for more "consistency" with who supplies television match official footage after he felt foul play incidents were missed in his side's Investec Champions Cup semi-final loss to Bordeaux-Begles. The Prem champions were outplayed by Bordeaux on France's Atlantic coast in the English side's first top-tier European semi-final in 20 years, a point which Van Graan acknowledged post-match. Billed pre-game as the defending champions' organised chaos versus Bath's structured efficiency, Bordeaux's style prevailed as their visitors were eventually worn down by the game's relentless pace. Several key decisions did not help Bath's cause. French TV broadcasters have been criticised by some in the past for not showing replays of certain foul play incidents or decisions that may go against the home side. Asked if there is a problem with French broadcasters providing footage, Van Graan told BBC Sport: "Yes. All we want is consistency on both sides of the ball right through the competition. "I believe specifically that three carries from Alfie Barbeary made direct contact to the head. "I want to make clear that the better team won on the day, but I want to ask why certain things are not picked up when you play away from home in France." Had those three incidents been called in Bath's favour, it may not have ended up affecting the result, such was the excellence of Yannick Bru's side. At the sold-out 42,000-seater Stade Atlantique Bordeaux Metropole, the Champions Cup holders delivered a blistering first half with tries for Marko Gazzotti, Louis Bielle-Biarrey and Maxime Lucu. The English side were always underdogs but went blow for blow for the opening half hour, wing Will Muir twice getting on the scoresheet. In a game of international quality the key match-ups were everywhere - Bielle-Biarrey v Henry Arundell, Matthieu Jalibert v Finn Russell - but it was young talent Louie Hennessey who got Bath's third try at the beginning of the second half. From there Bordeaux took over, with 23 stone-plus substitute Ben Tameifuna powering over the decisive try and Temo Matiu putting the result beyond the Prem side, despite Tom Carr-Smith's late consolation. Bath's wait for another trophy in this competition will stretch to 29 years, while Bordeaux earn the chance to go back-to-back against Leinster in three weeks' time. Van Graan added: "Three words [points I would like to make]. Congrats to UBB, they were the better side. Number two the officials were exceptionally good today. The main point I want to make is that from a consistency point of view that where every game is played that the TMO [television match official] gets access to all the footage he wants. "From my point of view, you want the match officials to know what they are looking at. Whatever decision a ref makes is the final call." Muir keeps Bath in the fight Bath will have craved a steady start but delivered anything but. Barbeary - one of five Champions Cup player of the year contenders - failed to catch the kick-off and within two minutes Damian Penaud made a searing outside break and Gazzotti barrelled over. Two superb kicks helped Bath get on to the scoreboard, as Russell's cross-field gained territory and Ben Spencer's chip to the wing found an unmarked Muir over the tryline. Roared on by the home crowd Bordeaux came again, kicking to the corner and then spreading the ball to the other wing for Bielle-Biarrey to dive in unopposed. Bath, though, had plenty of practice facing unstructured chaos in their superb quarter-final against Northampton, and stayed in the fight with a Hennessey break from midfield. Bordeaux lock Adam Coleman may well have been carded for a high shot on Barbeary, the first of the incidents Van Graan identified, but the television match official saw no clear head contact. The English side did not have to wait too long for another boost though, Arundell drawing defenders to allow Muir to blast through Maxime Lucu's tackle and produce a superb diving finish in the corner....

Inter Milan clinched their 21st Serie A title with a convincing 2-0 win over Parma.

Needing only a point to claim the Scudetto with three games to spare, Marcus Thuram and Henrikh Mkhitaryan struck the decisive goals in the success at San Siro. Inter, who last won the title in 2024, moved 12 points clear of defending champions Napoli. France forward Thuram opened the scoring in first-half added time, powering a right-footed finish into the corner past Parma keeper Zion Suzuki. Inter had to wait until the 80th minute for their second, with Lautaro Martinez sending the ball across the face of goal for his fellow substitute, 37-year-old Mkhitaryan, to slot home. Blue and gold ribbons littered the pitch at the end as Inter boss Cristian Chivu celebrated his first major prize as a coach, having won Serie A three times as a player with the club. He had told the media before the game that Inter wanted to "kill off" the Scudetto, external "as soon as possible". And they dominated against 12th-placed Parma, with five of their 12 shots on target, compared to the visiting side's none from four, 59% possession and three big chances. Inter have scored 19 goals in their past six matches and were favourites to be crowned champions, having won 26 of their 35 matches....

North Korean side to make rare trip to South Korea

A team of North Korean footballers will make a rare visit to South Korea later this month. North Korean side Naegohyang will cross the border to play Suwon in the Asian Women's Champions League semi-final on 20 May. Pyongyang has sent a list of 27 players and 12 staff who will make the visit. South Korea's Unification Ministry has confirmed the trip, which will be the first time athletes from the north have crossed the border since 2018. North Korea sent athletes to South Korea for the Pyeongchang Winter ?Olympics that year, as they formed a unified ice hockey team for the first time. The rare visit comes with South Korean ?President Lee Jae Myung seeking to improve ?strained ?ties with North Korea. Ties have in recent years deteriorated, with North Korea labelling South Korea its "most hostile state" and saying it would no longer seek reunification. The two Koreas are technically still at war since they did not sign a peace treaty when the Korean War ended in 1953. Naegohyang are playing in the Champions League for the first time, having beaten Ho Chi Minh City of Vietnam 3-0 in the quarter final. The winner ?will face Melbourne City or Tokyo Verdy ?in the final, also to be played in Suwon, on 23 May....

When football turned to penalties to end 'cruel' system

Martyn Kelly remembers wishing he had a stool to climb on like the rest of the kids in the ground to get a better view. The world's first official penalty shootout was not something he wanted obscured by other people's heads. On a warm evening on 5 August 1970 at Boothferry Park in Hull, a star-studded Manchester United reached the end of extra time level at 1-1 with second-tier Hull City in a cup match. Six weeks earlier, football's lawmakers had decided to end the days of the coin toss to decide winners in favour of five players from each team taking a kick from 11 yards out with just the keeper to beat. "Blimey," thought then 11-year-old Hull City fan Kelly. "It's George Best, one of the greatest players ever. He's going to take the first penalty in the world's first penalty shootout." That was something worth watching. No-one knew yet that this new method of deciding a tied football match would become a nerve-shredding experience some fans, players and managers can barely watch. Before this, cup or knockout matches that ended in draws were settled by replays, by drawing lots or tossing coins. At the 1968 European Championship, Italy went through to the final after a correct heads-or-tails guess following a 0-0 draw against the Soviet Union. The final against Yugoslavia then ended 1-1 and Italy eventually won 2-0 two days later when the sides reconvened for a replay. For those who were not fans of the existing ways to break a deadlock, the final straw came four months later. When Israel's captain pulled a piece of paper saying 'no' out of a big sombrero hat that determined his side had lost their 1968 Olympic quarter-final to Bulgaria after a 1-1 draw, some within his country's footballing governing body were furious. Israeli Football Association official Yosef Dagan said there must be a better way to decide these big moments – or at least one that was, theoretically, less to do with luck and more to do with skill. Dagan and Michael Almog – who went on to become Israel FA chief - developed the idea of a penalty shootout before writing an official proposal to Fifa in 1969. It was published in the governing body's official magazine. In the letter, Almog proposed "to stop this way of deciding the winner by drawing lots, an immoral and even cruel system for the losing team and not honourable for the winner". He called for it to be replaced by a shootout of five penalties for each side. If the teams were still level after that then it would continue until one side missed and the other scored. The suggestion was heavily debated before eventually being adopted by football's lawmakers, the International Football Association Board (Ifab), at its AGM in Inverness on 27 June 1970. Aside from drawing lots, tossing coins and replays, there had been other ways over the years to settle draws, including sharing titles or counting corners, and there had also been versions of penalty shootouts at some domestic and minor competitions. When BBC Sport asked Fifa to confirm whether the Watney Cup shootout was the first official penalty shootout, world football's governing body replied that is does not have "any records confirming or denying the claim". The National Football Museum does, though, refer to it as the first shootout in England. Various competitions, including the full rounds of the FA Cup until two seasons ago, still continued to use replays. It was not until 1990-91 that the FA Cup introduced penalties if teams were level after extra time in a replay. After that Ifab decision in 1970, it was not long before the first opportunity came to see a penalty shootout being used to decide a professional football match. Would the successor to the coin-toss be any less cruel? That evening in Hull at the Watney Cup - a pre-season cup competition - would provide some answers. "I couldn't believe it, my beloved Hull City were up against Georgie Best, Bobby Charlton and Denis Law. That's like having Messi, Ronaldo and Mbappe in the same team," Kelly recalled on the BBC's Sporting Witness programme. Former Hull City player Frankie Banks said: "It was a massive game, playing against Manchester United, who two years earlier had won the European Cup. "The atmosphere was electrifying. "The Man United players were our heroes. On paper we didn't stand a chance. We wanted to win, we wanted to prove to everybody that although they were the best side probably in the world we could go out and give them a game." And that is exactly what they did, taking the lead on 11 minutes through Chris Chilton before Law pulled one back for United in the 78th minute to send the game into extra time. As the clocked ticked down on the additional half-hour, players realised they were about to be part of something historic. "[Hull player-manager] Terry Neill obviously asked for volunteers and some of the lads were reluctant to step up and take the penalties and some were brave enough to step up and say 'I'll take one, I'll take one and I'll take one'," said Banks, who was not on the team sheet that day but was at the game. "Nobody wants to be the one that misses." And, in particular, no-one wants to be the first player ever to miss in a shootout. However, Best was happy to go down as the first player to score, sending his right-footed shot low into the left corner. For Hull City, Neill became the first player-manager to score in a shootout, helping keep the score level at 3-3. "It was still anybody's game and the noise was deafening," said Banks. But then, in a moment that countless big-name players to come would experience through the decades, Law saw his low shot saved by a diving Ian McKechnie. "For ever and ever, Law will go down as the first man to miss in a penalty shootout and McKechnie will go down as the first goalkeeper to save a penalty in a penalty shootout," said Banks. Ken Wagstaff then missed for Hull and so when Willie Morgan scored for United, Hull knew they had to convert their final kick. And that was when McKechnie became the first keeper to take a penalty in a shootout. "Please, not him," Kelly remembers thinking. "I couldn't believe it, my mum couldn't believe it, even Alex Stepney the Man United keeper couldn't believe it and actually asked him what he was doing up there. I had my head in my hands!" McKechnie stepped up and blasted a powerful strike... against the upper side of the crossbar. And with that, he became the first keeper to miss a penalty in a shootout. "I still maintain that Ian McKechnie was the right choice – he had a sweet left foot – and he had the guts to do it. I'd have put money on him to score," said Banks. "Missing that penalty stayed with Ian for the rest of his life."...

Lakers star Doncic to miss rest of regular season

Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic will miss the remainder of the regular NBA season with a hamstring injury. The Slovenian, 27, had played himself into contention for the league's Most Valuable Player (MVP) award during an outstanding March in which he became only the 10th player in history to score 600 points in a single month. But he will miss the final five regular season games after suffering a grade two strain of his left hamstring during Thursday's heavy loss to Oklahoma City Thunder. The Lakers have not provided a timetable for Doncic's return after he had a scan on Friday - just two weeks before the start of the NBA play-offs on 18 April. Doncic is the NBA's leading scorer this season with 2143 points for an unequalled average of 33.5 points per game. However, having been sidelined for four games with a left hamstring strain earlier in the season, and missing two games to return to Slovenia for the birth of his daughter in December, Doncic is set to fall short of the minimum games threshold required to qualify for the NBA's major end-of-season awards. Doncic, who is one appearance short of the 65 required, will apply for an "Extraordinary Circumstances Challenge", according to his agent Bill Duffy. "This season, Luka Doncic has performed at a historic level, leading the league in scoring, carrying the Lakers to third place in the Western Conference and placing himself in the middle of one of the most tightly contested MVP races in memory," Duffy told ESPN. "To ensure Luka's incredible accomplishments this season are rightly honoured and he can be considered for the league's end-of-season awards, we intend to apply for an 'Extraordinary Circumstances Challenge' to the 65-game rule." Doncic was named March's player of the month following 13 consecutive 30-point performances which helped the Lakers to 13 wins in 14 games prior to the defeat by Thunder....

Glasgow battle past Bulls to reach quarter-finals

Champions Cup Glasgow Warriors (12) 25 Tries: Williamson, Dempsey, Schickerling, McDowall Cons: Lancaster Pens: Hastings Bulls (14) 21 Tries: Grobbelaar, Van Staden Cons: Kriel Pens: Pollard 3 Glasgow Warriors battled past Bulls to reach the Champions Cup quarter-finals in an attritional and thrilling scrap in the rain and wind at Scotstoun. Franco Smith's side will face Toulon at Scotstoun next Saturday in their first home quarter-final in this competition. Max Williamson and Jack Dempsey scored first-half tries, with Patrick Schickerling and Stafford McDowall also crossing for the hosts after the break. The visitors led 14-12 at half-time as a stiff breeze at their backs helped Bulls dominated territory, with Johan Grobbelaar scoring a try and Handre Pollard booting three penalties. When the sides turned around, Glasgow's greater ambition triumphed - just. Schickerling's try was pivotal, coming when the majority of Scotstoun thought they should have taken an easy three points from a penalty. Instead, they tapped and went. Risk was rewarded. Their fourth came soon after from McDowall. The Warriors were eight points ahead with eight minutes left, but Marco van Staden's converted score a few minutes from the end set up a dramatic end. The last act fell to Adam Hastings with a penalty as the clock was running out. He banged it over in front of the posts and a richly deserved four-point win was secured. Scotstoun wasn't hit by the worst excesses of Storm Dave, but it was hardly pleasant out there either. The wind swept, the rain hit and the game was a mighty battle. Bulls backed their way into the last 16, qualifying for the knockouts despite losing three of their group matches, conceding a half century to Northampton and 61 points to Bristol. They picked hybrid teams for those contests. Here, they were mob-handed with 14 Springboks in their party, an amount of grunt which they unleashed on their hosts from early on, their reward coming from Pollard's boot. The visitors were in Glasgow with a conservative gameplan, all power and phases and pressure. Glasgow tried to play, as is their custom. To say it was a clash of styles was putting it mildly. Glasgow did not have territory against the wind. They had a couple of decent moments just after the Pollard penalty - one of them ending when Matt Fagerson ran on to a pass in the Bulls 22 only for it go forward off his face, the other when they messed up a lineout. The third time was brilliant, though. Dan Lancaster slipped the brilliant McDowall into a gap and the centre, in the team ahead of Huw Jones, galloped away. Bulls scrambled but Glasgow were relentless. Matt Fagerson kept things moving, he linked with George Horne and even though he was tackled close to the posts - and clearly hurt - he popped it to Williamson who smashed over. Lancaster converted; 7-3 Glasgow. That soon became 8-7 to the South Africans when their muscle got its reward after multiple phases - hooker Grobbelaar going over in the corner. Pollard put his side back in the lead on the half-hour mark, but Glasgow responded quickly. They had lost Horne to injury by then, but their gamble in going for touch with a penalty rather than posts paid off. Dempsey got the score in the end. No conversion, but they were a point in front again. That didn't last. Pollard, from distance, kicked a third penalty just before the break. That was the good news for Bulls. The bad news was that they lost Kurt-Lee Arendse at half-time, not that this was a night for world-class wingers. With the benefit of the wind in their favour, Glasgow started to get on top. Their risky strategy of turning down shots at goal off Bulls' indiscretions and going for touch instead was a policy they never deviated from, even when it looked decidedly unwise. Early in the new half they had a kickable penalty, went for touch and lost the lineout. They had another on 55 minutes - even closer this time - but tapped it instead of kicking it. Now they executed, Shickerling barging his way over for another unconverted score. A three-point game in Glasgow's favour. McDowall's try in the 72nd minute looked like settling it, but back came the Bulls with that score from Van Staden. Scotstoun held its breath, but then Hastings, with the last kick, sent the place into raptures. Glasgow march on, in style and substance....

Jokic outshines Wembanyama as Denver end Spurs' run

Nikola Jokic outshone fellow Most Valuable Player contender Victor Wembanyama with a game-high 40 points as the Denver Nuggets ended the San Antonio Spurs' 11-match winning streak. Serb Jokic, a three-time winner of the NBA's MVP award, starred as Denver recorded their eighth straight win with a 136-134 triumph in overtime. Wembanyama led San Antonio with 34 points but the Frenchman's team squandered a 107-96 advantage in the fourth quarter. Both players are among the leading names to claim this season's coveted individual award, given to the best performer during the regular season, and were full of praise for the other after the match. Jokic said of Wembanyama to ESPN: "I think the first time I played against him, I told you guys he's going to change the league. He's going to change basketball. "I still think that. And I think he has an opportunity, a chance to be the most unique basketball player to ever play the game." Reflecting on defeat, Wembanyama said: "I think it was an amazing game. One of the most fun games. I wish we could have closed it out. "It was a real test against a team that's playing for something right now. They've got the best offensive player in the world." Both teams have already clinched a place in the post-season play-offs, which begin on 18 April. But while San Antonio are assured of a top-two seeding in the Western Conference - they trail reigning champions Oklahoma City Thunder - Denver's final placing within the top six is still to be decided. The Thunder can move closer to a third straight Western Conference title against the Utah Jazz on Sunday, as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander seeks back-to-back MVP crowns. Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic could be out of MVP contention after the NBA's leading scorer was ruled out for the rest of the regular season with a hamstring injury on Friday....

Cult or culture? McCullum comes full circle following Ashes review

The final act of a traditional England away Ashes is about to play out. Hounded by the press from the moment the wheels touch down in Australia. Lose in Perth, lose in Brisbane, surrender the series before Christmas. Drink too much. Then comes the review. It leads to this: administrators gathering at Lord's in the spring to tell us where it all went wrong, what they have learned and what they will do better next time. England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chief executive Richard Gould and director of cricket Rob Key have got some 'splainin' to do on Monday. "Review" was the word Gould used in January. In the lexicon of English cricket, a review usually means a raft of sackings, a meaty document and blaming county cricket. This time is different. There will not be a 'ta-da', with white smoke rising across St John's Wood. England cannot blame county cricket, because they largely ignored it anyway. They can't rip up the domestic structure, because that was voted on last year. No one will be sacked. Instead, Gould, Key, coach Brendon McCullum, Test captain Ben Stokes, ECB chair Richard Thompson and everyone else connected to the England team will look inwards, realise they are all collectively to blame and decide they will stick together. They have been confronted with mistakes they could have spotted in November, and certainly would have been aware of by January. England's Ashes coaching staff was too skinny and they got key selection decisions wrong. Their preparation was inadequate and their relaxed approach was brutally exposed by the relentless Australians. Fixing these problems is relatively straightforward and would not have required lengthy discussion. England brought in a fielding coach for the white-ball tour of Sri Lanka and part of the T20 World Cup. A full-time appointment, along with a substantive fast-bowling coach, would beef up McCullum's backroom. Luke Wright has stepped down as selector of his own accord and the advertisement to replace his £115k-a-year role is in the public domain. England have been formulating plans for warm-up matches before their three overseas Test trips next winter and there has been a midnight curfew in place for the white-ball team....

Barcelona moved seven points clear at the top of La Liga with a narrow victory over Rayo Vallecano at Spotify Nou Camp.

Ronald Araujo headed home a Joao Cancelo corner to give the hosts the lead after 24 minutes. However, they could have been behind in the first minute when Carlos Martin had a tap in from six yards, but goalkeeper Joan Garcia raced out to close down the angle. That was Rayo's only shot on target in a largely uneventful first half. Raphinha fired an effort towards the top corner but it took a deflection and Rayo goalkeeper Augusto Batalla did well to push it on to the crossbar. After the break, Garcia produced a brilliant save to stop Unai Lopez's close-range header from drawing Rayo level. Pacha Espino curled a shot over the bar for Rayo in the 83rd minute as Barca clung on for a vital win. Second-placed Real Madrid restored the gap to four points later on Sunday, beating rivals Atletico 3-2 in a thrilling Madrid derby. Hansi Flick's side travel to Atletico after the international break on Saturday, 4 April before facing them twice more in the Champions League quarter-finals....

Boyhood Man City fan to Wembley winner - O'Reilly's fairytale continues

Nico O'Reilly has a tattoo of the Manchester area code etched on his arm and the Englishman will be the pride of the city following his man-of-the-match showing in his side's brilliant Carabao Cup final victory over Arsenal on Sunday. Academy product O'Reilly won the game for City with a pair of second-half headers into the goal in front of his club's ecstatic supporters. For a boyhood City fan to score twice at Wembley Stadium, this fairytale story has produced an unforgettable moment for the player, manager Pep Guardiola and supporters alike. O'Reilly was drafted into the City team last season to aid the squad's injury crisis in defence and has grabbed his opportunity - he now gets his hands on major silverware after delivering a performance that he will never forget. "Unbelievable feeling," O'Reilly told Sky Sports. "To win a final, to beat this team ... we know how good they are. We need to build on it, it will give us good momentum. Buzzing with today." Guardiola said of O'Reilly's impact: "He has been so surprising so far even for me, the season he has done so far has been extraordinary." 'O'Reilly gets the headlines' Cometh the hour, cometh the man - with the '0161' phone code inked on his body, O'Reilly came calling on the big stage when City needed a hero to step up. His first finish was the easiest goal he is likely to score in his career, stooping close to the goalline to head in after Kepa Arrizabalaga fumbled the ball into his path. The second just four minutes later was a brilliantly-placed header from Matheus Nunes' cross, effectively sealing victory for a jubilant Guardiola who performed a jig of delight on the touchline. O'Reilly took the adulation of the City fans after his goals and it will be a double celebration this weekend after turning 21 on Saturday. The only players younger than O'Reilly to score twice in the final of this competition were 20-year-olds Wayne Rooney for Manchester United in 2006 and Liverpool's Ronnie Whelan back in 1982. The Englishman took his goalscoring tally to eight for the season and said: "Bit of disbelief seeing all the fans cheering like that when I scored those goals. Really a good feeling and a great birthday weekend. "My whole family came down today. They are all in the stand and I know they will be buzzing. I can't wait to celebrate with them." This was O'Reilly's second match-winning double of the season as well, after scoring twice in the 2-1 Premier League win over Newcastle a month ago. Former England defender Matt Upson said on BBC Radio 5 Live: "Nico O'Reilly is fast becoming one of the key members in this Manchester City side. He gets the goals, he gets the headlines. He is a player in top form. "Physically, he is a machine. He's got height, he can run, he has got the strength and physicality."...

Guardiola's dance of joy as Man City pile pressure on desolate Arsenal

Pep Guardiola's wild run and dance down Wembley's touchline demonstrated the hunger for success remains and his competitive fire still burns as fiercely as ever. It came after Nico O'Reilly's second header in four minutes effectively sealed Manchester City's 2-0 Carabao Cup final victory against Arsenal, giving Guardiola a record fifth win in the competition. Guardiola was lost in the moment as he pumped his fists in delight towards City's jubilant supporters, the significance of the victory underlined by the crushing bearhugs he gave his players and backroom staff after the final whistle. "I wanted another yellow card and that is why I did it," joked Guardiola when quizzed about his celebration. "If I can't celebrate in the moment against a team like Arsenal, and the way we were playing... my emotions are related to the way we are playing. "I am not artificially intelligent, I am a human being, and I want to celebrate. It was not showing disrespect to Arsenal or for the other fans, I just celebrated with my people. And when I feel it, I express it." Arsenal, by contrast, were desolate as they missed the chance to win a first trophy since the FA Cup in 2020, the result of a timid performance lacking in attacking ambition until it was too late. City and Guardiola's mission was not simply to win the EFL Cup. It was to put on the sort of dominant performance that might sow seeds of doubt in Arsenal's minds as they hold a nine-point lead in the Premier League title race. It was the ideal stage for both sides to make a statement. Manchester City made theirs. Arsenal fluffed every line. Whether this result has wider ramifications remains to be seen. Will it fuel City for a late rally in the league? Will the disappointment of this defeat derail Arsenal? City must hope it has inflicted psychological damage on Arsenal. The Gunners must regroup and show the reserves of strength that have sustained their season. What is beyond doubt is the better - much better - team prevailed on this day. Manchester City may not have the relentless consistency of the Guardiola team that won four successive Premier Leagues, but this latter-day rebuilt version still looks the best football team in the country when they get it right....

Head coach Dickens leaves Newcastle Red Bulls

Newcastle Red Bulls head coach Alan Dickens is to leave the club with immediate effect. Dickens had been due to depart at the end of the season but an agreement has been reached to allow him to "pursue other opportunities", the club said in a statement., external He joined Newcastle in the summer of 2024 to work under director of rugby Steve Diamond, but was promoted to head coach when Diamond left after one game this season. The Red Bulls' current senior assistant coach, former Wales fly-half Stephen Jones, has been appointed head coach until the end of the season. Dickens, who has coached at Northampton Saints, Leicester Tigers and with England Under-20s, managed just one win from his nine Prem games in charge, with Newcastle bottom of the table, five points adrift of Harlequins. But he did lead Newcastle through their group in the Challenge Cup to set up an enticing last-16 tie against French giants La Rochelle next month. However, while the Red Bulls spent January signing a host of new players to bolster the squad for next season, there was no talk of Dickens' future. And he revealed that Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend, in his role as a rugby consultant for Red Bull, had informed him in a phone call that he would not be staying on beyond the summer. But now with eight Prem games and a Challenge Cup tie still left to play, Dickens departs early....

Wrexham's Moore to miss Wales' World Cup play-offs

Wrexham striker Kieffer Moore has been ruled out of Wales' World Cup play-offs with a hamstring injury. The 33-year-old had been a major doubt since sustaining a tendon split during the FA Cup defeat against Chelsea earlier this month. Having missed subsequent Championship matches against Hull City and Swansea City, Moore is not expected to return to action until April. That means he will be unavailable for Wales' World Cup play-off semi-final against Bosnia-Herzegovina on 26 March and, if they win that game, their play-off final against Italy or Northern Ireland five days later. "Kieffer's not going to be right for the internationals, which is a blow for him and for Wales," said Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson. "He's got this tendon injury which he feels OK with, but he's shown up on the scan and it's one of those injuries that, up to 80-85% you're fine, but if you extend beyond that you make yourself susceptible to muscle injuries." Wrexham wing-back Liberato Cacace is also on the sidelines for his club, the latest setback in an injury-ravaged first season for the New Zealander since his move from Italian side Empoli last summer. "Libby will miss New Zealand's internationals and we've just got to focus on getting him to hopefully contribute for the end of the season," said Parkinson. "Because he's had a couple of setbacks, I don't really want to put any pressure or time scale on him. "But it's not a major injury, it's just he keeps getting slight setbacks, which is obviously not him. We just do everything we can to get him to contribute."...

Ballard included in NI squad as Morrison called up

Sunderland defender Dan Ballard has been included in Northern Ireland's squad for the World Cup play-off semi-final in Italy despite a hamstring issue. Ballard, 26, was forced off in the second half of the Premier League defeat by Brighton on Saturday. Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill said he didn't "know the exact extent" of Ballard's injury, and admitted "there are a few injury problems" in his 28-man squad. O'Neill, who is also managing Blackburn Rovers for the remainder of the season, is boosted by the return of the Charles brothers, goalkeeper Pierce and midfielder Shea for the play-off. Preston midfielder Ali McCann and versatile Oxford United defender Brodie Spencer also return after missing November's final qualifiers. Key defender Conor Bradley is sidelined with a knee injury sustained while playing for Liverpool in January, however there is a first call up for his club team-mate Kieran Morrison. The 19-year-old has featured in the FA Cup and EFL Cup for Arne Slot's side this season and is a Northern Ireland underage international. Defenders Ryan Johnson and Jamal Lewis - who has had ankle surgery - drop out of the squad, and there is no place for winger Ross McCausland or goalkeeper Luke Southwood. O'Neill has named four goalkeepers in his panel as Charles joins Bailey Peacock-Farrell, Josh Clarke and Conor Hazard - who has been nursing an injury. "I know every player will do everything possible to try and be fit and available to play this game," O'Neill told BBC Sport NI. "We just have to keep our fingers crossed for the players that didn't play for their clubs at the weekend [that] there is still enough time. "There is 10 days until the game now and hopefully that is enough to still be as strong as we want to be." Northern Ireland face Italy in Bergamo on Thursday, 26 March and the winner will travel to Wales or Bosnia-Herzegovina in the play-off final on 31 March. The winner of the play-off will be in Group B for the World Cup with co-hosts Canada, Switzerland and Qatar. Northern Ireland squad Goalkeepers: Bailey Peacock-Farrell (Blackpool, on loan from Birmingham City), Conor Hazard (Plymouth Argyle), Pierce Charles (Sheffield Wednesday), Josh Clarke (Partick Thistle). Defenders: Paddy McNair (Hull City, on loan from San Diego), Dan Ballard (Sunderland), Ciaron Brown (Oxford United), Trai Hume (Sunderland), Brodie Spencer (Oxford United), Eoin Toal (Bolton Wanderers), Ruairi McConville (Norwich City), Terry Devlin (Portsmouth). Midfielders: George Saville (Luton Town), Ali McCann (Preston), Shea Charles (Southampton), Isaac Price (West Brom), Paul Smyth (Queen's Park Rangers), Ethan Galbraith (Swansea City), Justin Devenny (Crystal Palace), Brad Lyons (Kilmarnock), Jamie Donley (Oxford United, on loan from Tottenham Hotspur), Jamie McDonnell (Oxford United), Patrick Kelly (Barnsley), Kieran Morrison (Liverpool). Forwards: Josh Magennis (Exeter City), Dion Charles (Huddersfield Town), Callum Marshall (VfL Bochum, on loan from West Ham), Jamie Reid (Stevenage)....