ARSENAL 1-2 SWANSEA - MATT BARLOW AT THE EMIRATES: Arsenal's contribution to the title race no-one wants to win was this rather sorry home defeat against a Swansea team without their manager and with six players rested. It was not the reaction Arsene Wenger had expected after the defeat at Manchester United on Sunday. Joel Campbell's opener should have eased any anxieties but the problems seem to be a more deeply rooted in the Arsenal dressing room.
WEST HAM 1-0 TOTTENHAM - MARTIN SAMUEL AT UPTON PARK: All they had to do was win. Sounds easy, doesn't it? After all, Tottenham put four past West Ham the last time they played. It's different now, though. This was a win to go top of the league, by the team increasingly acclaimed as the title favourites. So it wasn't like any win Tottenham have searched for all season.
LIVERPOOL 3-0 MANCHESTER CITY - IAN LADYMAN AT ANFIELD: You would always rather have the cup than the revenge but as a response to disappointment, this was still spectacular from Liverpool. After Sunday's shoot-out defeat in the Capital One Cup final, Liverpool would not have relished seeing Manchester City again.
MANCHESTER UNITED 1-0 WATFORD BY CHRIS WHEELER AT OLD TRAFFORD: So much has been made of the spirit of youth at Manchester United in recent days. The startling emergence of Marcus Rashford and all those young debutants blooded by Louis van Gaal. But when it really mattered it was the oldest player in the side, Juan Mata, who stepped up to make the difference.
THE DEBATE: There is a time to board the showboat and it isn't in the dying minutes 1-0 down to West Ham. My subject wasn't technical errors, but attitude - Khazri's rabona typified the problem.
Arsenal suffered a further blow in their Premier League title ambitions as goalkeeper Petr Cech sustained a groin injury that will keep him out of Saturday's north London derby.
New Zealand's greatest test batsman Martin Crowe (pictured) has passed away after a long battle with cancer. Crowe announced in 2012 he had been diagnosed with lymphoma.
CRAIG HOPE: Sunderland have accused Johnson and his legal team of lying after claims they continued to play their £10million winger despite knowing all along that he was guilty of child-sex offences.
Steve Jones - television broadcaster, actor and model best known as first season host of America's The X Factor - is to be the new presenter of Channel Four's Formula One coverage which starts this month.
The former Sunderland player had already admitted grooming and kissing the schoolgirl. A jury has today found him guilty of putting his hand down her trousers when she met him in his car. The 28-year-old was accompanied by his girlfriend, Stacey Flounders (left) into court this morning. The player, who was sacked by his club after his initial guilty pleas, now faces a potential jail term and is unlikely ever to play football again. The case also raises questions for Sunderland, who allowed Johnson to continue playing for them even after he told them he had groomed the girl.
During a break in proceedings in the early part of his three-week trial - which concluded today with a jury finding him guilty of sexual activity with a 15-year-old schoolgirl - the former England international was scolded by the judge for his 'discourteous behaviour', something journalists were unable to report at the time.
The details of the trial - and Johnson's signing of the sex offenders' register - threaten to destroy his once-promising football career.
Sunderland have accused Adam Johnson of lying after he told the court in his child-sex trial that the club knew from the start he had groomed and kissed a 15-year-old.
The Adam Johnson verdict completes a dramatic fall from grace for the 28-year-old one-time England international who commanded a transfer fee of £10million at his peak.
LAURIE WHITWELL AT THE BRITANNIA: Steve McClaren failed to offer a wholly convincing response when asked after this latest defeat whether he would remain in charge at Newcastle United until the end of the season. 'I don't see any reason why not,' he said. It rather summed up his side, who are consistently unable to pinpoint the deficiencies that are beginning to cut them adrift from the rest of the Premier League. Newcastle spent the most money on transfers in Europe during January, but have little to show by way of results and at Stoke succumbed to their seventh successive away defeat in all competitions.
MALAGA 1-2 VALENCIA BY PETE JENSON: Denis Cheryshev claimed three precious points for Gary Neville's side after Malaga goalkeeper Carlos Kameni had punched the ball into the back of his own net to gift his side an equaliser
Having missed out on the chance to go top of the Premier League after losing to West Ham in their third game in seven days, the Tottenham manager is concerned his squad are currently leg-weary.
Arsene Wenger admitted concerns for Arsenal's form after Swansea condemned them to a third defeat in succession and dented their Premier League title ambitions.
Francesco Guidolin was absent from the Swansea City dug-out at Arsenal on Wednesday after being admitted to hospital with a lung infection. He was referred to a respiratory specialist in London.
Kimi Raikkonen became the first Formula One driver to run with the Halo closed cockpit system on Thursday as Ferrari fitted the frame to their car at pre-season testing in Barcelona. The device is the FIA's preferred solution to concerns over cockpit protection and they hope to introduce the design in 2017.
Holders Juventus survived a thrilling comeback by Inter Milan to win 5-3 on penalties and book their place in the Italian Cup final against AC Milan. Inter led 3-0 after 90 minutes to draw the clubs level 3-3 on aggregate after Juventus won the opening leg 3-0 with two goals from Alvaro Morata plus one from Paulo Dybala.
After last Friday's draw with Hamilton comes this lacklustre, dismal effort against Dundee. Celtic are playing like a team with no desire to win the league.
DUNDEE UNITED 0-1 ABERDEEN: Those who believe that Aberdeen lack the bottle and the belief to usurp Celtic as Premiership champions this season would be well advised to keep their own counsel for a while yet.
Paris Saint-Germain won 3-1 at Saint-Etienne in the French Cup quarter-finals on Wednesday to remain on course to defend their domestic treble. The French champions lost 2-1 to Lyon on Sunday
Conor McGregor has admitted a shot at the welterweight title has jumped to the top of his wish list. The Irishman, who holds the featherweight belt, was due to face Rafael dos Anjos at UFC 196 this weekend before the Brazilian pulled out with a broken foot. Instead he will take on Nate Diaz in a hastily-arranged fight at 170lb and should he win, McGregor could then target champion Robbie Lawler.
Miesha Tate is confident she can give Holly Holm a taste of her own medicine by knocking out the UFC champion. Holm won the bantamweight title last November when she stopped Ronda Rousey with a vicious kick to the head. But Tate believes she can produce a similar result when she challenges for the belt at UFC 196.
ADAM SHERGOLD: Arsenal's dismal 2-1 defeat by Swansea City at the Emirates on Wednesday night meant that they are six points off Premier League leaders Leicester City.
JACK GAUGHAN AT OLD TRAFFORD: Despite fielding their fourth youngest starting XI in Premier League season, it was the eldest member of the team Juan Mata who netted a late winne
A bullet header from Michail Antonio was enough as West Ham surged into Champions League qualification contention. Sportsmail's Sami Mokbel rated the players' performances.
Manuel Pellegrini has demanded an immediate end to the slump that is threatening to destroy Manchester City's hopes of becoming champions once again.
Manchester United's top-four push is building momentum, but Louis van Gaal wants his side to stay calm and take it 'step by step'. The Red Devils are level on points with fourth-placed Man City.
LEVANTE 1-3 REAL MADRID BY RIK SHARMA: After stepping out and boldly declaring 'If the rest of my team-mates were at my level, we'd be first,' Cristiano Ronaldo needed to back his words up with actions against Levante, to speak on the pitch, not just the mixed zone. He duly did, scoring Madrid's first and creating the third for Isco, but this was not a convincing team performance at the Ciutat de Valencia stadium from Zinedine Zidane's men.
A blazing row between British riders and their coaches erupted during the opening session of the Track Cycling World Championships after the women's team sprint pair failed to qualify for this summer's Olympics. Jess Varnish and Katy Marchant will not be participating in the event in Rio after finishing fifth in London in 32.903sec - they needed to finish three places ahead of the seventh-placed French in the two-woman, two-lap race - and the pair responded by blaming their superiors for tinkering too much with selection in training and in previous qualification events. China were quickest, with Russia second. They will duel for gold Thursday, with Germany and Australia riding for bronze.
England's big five clubs held a secret meeting in London. Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool met American billionaire Stephen Ross at the Dorchester Hotel.
NICK HARRIS provides five reasons why the proposed Euro League will not come to fruition despite the recent meeting at the Dorchester Hotel in London.
Aston Villa are ready to axe senior personnel responsible for the club's disastrous season with chief executive Tom Fox in the firing line as well as two senior staff in charge of recruitment.
DOMINIC KING: They have had this experience before: May 2012, three days after losing the FA Cup final, Liverpool welcomed Chelsea to Anfield and won convincingly.
Australian London Olympics silver-medallist rower Sarah Tait died on Thursday morning aged 33 after she was diagnosed with cervical cancer in March 2013.
Legendary Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar says Louis van Gaal is the best coach he ever worked with, and can turn the club's season around.
UEFA is evaluating Trafford Council's request to move the Europa League clash between Manchester United and Liverpool back from its scheduled 6pm kick-off time.
SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: Rugby is a great game. For girls and boys, men and women, parents and spectators it is a sport which brings out the very best in us. The game is filled with fine values. There is fierce competition between teams but sportsmanship, courage, togetherness and character shine through in victory and defeat.
England duo Chris Robshaw and James Haskell took time out of the squad's training camp at the University of Bath this week to take in some of the city's tourist attractions. Forwards Robshaw and Haskell visited the Roman Baths, a historic spa complex, for which the Somerset city is most famous. Eddie Jones' men have been put through their paces at the university's Sports Training Village facility ahead of the Six Nations match against Wales on March 12.
The 28-year-old England prop was speaking in response to a group of 70 doctors and academics who wrote to Parliament calling for tackling to be banned from raugby in schools.
The world No 2 resurfaced at Birmingham's Barclaycard Arena ahead of Friday's first round starting against Japan, three months after the 2015 final was won against Belgium.
Johanna Konta is through to the quarter-finals of the Abierto Monterrey Afirme after a straight-sets victory over Yanina Wickmayer. The British No 1 prevailed in two tie-breaks to beat her Belgian opponent.
Tiger Woods has revealed being unable to play with his children left him at a low ebb a couple of months ago, but he is much more positive now about his recovery from back surgery.
EXCLUSIVE BY DEREK LAWRENSON: As one of the world's top golfers, it's not surprising Danny Willett has dreamed of a Sunday at the Masters. He just hopes the birth of his first child comes before it.
How would you like a sprinting session with Dina Asher-Smith? Running with Britain's fastest woman was an opportunity Sportsmail deemed too good to miss, even when closely followed by the punchline that I would have to wear a blindfold throughout. Alongside Paralympic silver medallist Libby Clegg, Asher-Smith delivers a workshop to a group of primary school children, some with physical disabilities and learning difficulties. Then it is time to don the bright green blindfold myself and London's Lee Valley Athletics centre is plunged into darkness. With Asher-Smith as my guide we are attached at the wrist by a blue cotton tether. The idea is to mimic the environment for a visually impaired sprinter as part of a campaign to make sport more accessible for disabled children.
Rafael dos Anjos' manager has hit out at Conor McGregor for claiming the lightweight champion had only bruised his foot. Dos Anjos was due to defend his title against McGregor, who holds the featherweight belt, this weekend. But he pulled out last week with a broken foot suffered in training and was replaced by Nate Diaz.
In January, European football's governing body reported that Galatasaray had broken regulations on the level of financial losses allowed, paving the way for a potential ban.
The five-time Ballon d'Or winner began his career with Argentinian outfit Newell's Old Boys before being snapped up by Barca's academy in 2001. The 28-year-old is in no rush to leave Spain.
West Ham midfielder Dimitri Payet is happy with his debut Premier League campaign but has brushed off claims he is the signing of the season. The 28-year-old has been a revelation.
Cech to miss north London derby
Arsenal suffered a further blow in their Premier League title ambitions as Petr Cech sustained a groin injury
Ronaldo lifts the pressure on Zidane
Cristiano Ronaldo helped an injury-depleted Real Madrid recovered from their derby defeat by Atletico
Fellaini edging 'hairly' close to injury return
Marouane Fellaini decided he was in need of some brotherly love and took an afternoon stroll with his twin
Victorious Pendleton
Victoria Pendleton made every yard of the running to notch her first win aboard Pacha Du Polder at Wincanton to boost her Cheltenham hopes
Robshaw and Haskell meet a centurion
Chris Robshaw and James Haskell took time out of training camp to take in some of Bath's tourist attractions
McGregor readies himself for UFC 196 with fresh trim as Diaz admits he could get 'merked' by the Irishman
Looking spiffing ahead of Las Vegas bout
United striker Martial treats wife Samantha to birthday shopping spree
Pair enjoyed trip to Manchester's Trafford Centre to spend some hard-earned cash
O'Neil suffers nasty gash after head clash
***WARNING GRAPHIC CONTENT*** Norwich sank into the drop zone... and there was more pain at Carrow Road
Kenedy scores fastest goal of the season so far
Kenedy scored Chelsea's opening goal 39 seconds into their game at Norwich, with the Blues up to 8th
Vardy watch: Striker failed to add to tally but Leicester talisman still found room to prosper
How did WBA deal with the Premier League's top scorer?
Rooney ready for warm-weather break
Wayne Rooney will fly to Dubai after being told he does not need knee surgery that could have put the kibosh on Euros
Ever wondered what it's like in the dressing room after winning a cup final?
Take a look at Manchester City behind the scenes
Sturridge set to launch his mum's 'Sturr Crazy' cooking sauce that was so good he took it to the World Cup in Brazil
Secret to his success?
Food for survival? Defoe hoping to ease Sunderland's relegation fears after nutritious meal
Fans given insight into what's fuelling his form
Tuilagi back in the groove with England as he eyes first match since summer of 2014
Countdown to Six Nations clash with Wales
Lavezzi: I rejected Chelsea, Manchester United and Inter Milan... I like the money in China!
Ezequiel Lavezzi joined Hebei China Fortune for £11.65m per season
Rashford was a 'mini-superstar' of local youth team but didn't tell anyone he was on the books at United
Quiet and unassuming as a youngster
Sanchez is still in puppy love as Arsenal ace stars in Chilean dog food advert
Alexis Sanchez displayed full control of his pet dogs
Hungry for success! Van Gaal visits Wing's
Manchester United boss celebrated his side's recent upturn in form with a trip to one of the city's premier restaurant
Mayweather steals the show at Broner and Theophane press conference
Mayweather was the centre of attention again - despite not fighting
Froch returns to the ring to take on prankster Lee Nelson
Took part in a sparring session with comedian Simon Brodkin
New FIFA president Infantino gets up close and personal with Seedorf as he marks first day in the office with star-studded match
Kick-around in Zurich
And the Oscar goes to... Jamie Vardy! DiCaprio cleaned up at the big bash, but who wins our football awards inspired by Hollywood?
It's awards season...
'I'll get back to No 1 with shots like that!' Federer toasts Oscars by downing TEQUILA on the red carpet
Serena Williams was also at Hollywood bash
McGregor poses with his 'angel'... a £305,000 Rolls Royce
Conor McGregor took a break from preparations for showdown against Nate Diaz
He was disgusted! Rose reveals Lamela's response when he asked pal if Tottenham could finish in top four
Lamela said they'd win the title!
Loftus-Cheek signs new five-year deal as starlet vows to repay Chelsea faith
The 20-year-old has only made 13 appearances for the champions
All part of The Masterplan, Noel? Oasis icon Gallagher predicts City shootout win - and then poses with League Cup hero Toure!
Not a bad prediction...
Antonio is a beast! West Ham hero sparks chaos as sides struggle with unpredictable star
Antonio also welcomed NFL star Mohamed Sanu Sr to watch West Ham
Still a while off a return, Wayne? Rooney back at Old Trafford in a knee brace as he continues injury recovery
Captain Wayne Rooney is still out injured
Is this the worst rabona ever? Khazri angers Sunderland with fail in West Ham loss
Sunderland new boy garnered attention for all the wrong reasons
Lampard: I watch the big games and think I'd love to be mixing it with Barca again... but I won't go out with a whimper
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW BY OLIVER HOLT
Frampton defeats Quigg by split decision
JEFF POWELL AT THE MANCHESTER ARENA: Carl Frampton put on a masterclass of smaller men's boxing
Mourinho spotted at Craven Cottage as ex-Chelsea boss watches Fulham take on Middlesbrough
Jose Mourinho was at Craven Cottage
Griezmann leaves Real's title bid in tatters with winner for Atletico in Madrid derby
Zinedine Zidane's first city derby as manager ended in defeat
Vonn crashes out of the World Cup super-G race after she veered off course and had to be stretchered from the slopes on a rescue sled
Vonn slid off course
Courtois reveals friendship with Andy Murray... and how tennis helped him become a better goalkeeper
Thibaut Courtois and Andy Murray are friends
Sunderland hand out free green away shirts to 1,700 travelling fans at West Ham
Sunderland rewarded their supporters by handing out free shirts
Bouchard makes her fans see double
Eugenie Bouchard struck a pose in front of a familiar face as the tennis star hit the shops in Malaysia
Hamilton flies to Los Angeles for a break
After getting nearly 1,000 miles underneath his belt during a week of testing, Lewis Hamilton has decided to jet off
'All the needles in your a***, all the steroids will not help you, you p****'
Michael Bisping vowed to make Anderson Silva pay for his steroid transgressions
McGregor shows fans how he stays quick inside the Octagon
With UFC 196 just around the corner, Conor McGregor is finishing off his preparations
New United hero Rashford could have joined Man City at the age of nine but was lured by Meulensteen
Louis van Gaal owes a debt of gratitude
Inside the souvenir store of a serial winner: Terry shows off his incredible collection of medals and memorabilia
John Terry has won almost everything
What a gent! Schweinsteiger uses time out to carry glamorous tennis star girlfriend Ivanovic's bag
He was carrying her bag from her training base
There's Tiger! Nicklaus hosts US Ryder Cup team-bonding party... and Woods was in attendance
But no sign of Jordan Spieth or Patrick Reed
'Get away from me - you're an idiot': McGregor blows up at journalist who asks him if comment about Diaz was 'racially motivated'
Branded him 'an idiot'
Has FIFA's presidential election all got too much for FA chairman Dyke?
Greg Dyke appeared as though he might have nodded off during proceedings in Zurich
ALAN HANSEN talks to JAMIE REDKNAPP
Read about nerves he suffered before MOTD, why Stones should watch Terry... and racing Barnes for £20 at Aintree
Leicester stars have been relaxing on holiday but Ranieri trusts them to hit the ground running... after tracking them on GPS
Super-snooper!
Watson goes Loco in Acapulco as British No 2 soaks up the sun
Heather Watson has endured a tough start to 2016 but took to relaxing on the beach
Crouch attends Brit Awards after party with wife Abbey Clancy
Stoke City striker Peter Crouch attended the event's glitzy after party in Covent Garden
McIlroy pokes fun at Tiger and his skinny calves after posting Twitter video
Rory McIlroy welcomed Tiger Woods stepping up his golf comeback
Hart's call to arms prior to inspires Man City to victory
Watch Joe Hart set the wheels in motion for a fine Manchester City performance
West Ham stars fix the first claret seats as club prepares for Olympic Stadium move
The trio took a hands-on approach to the club's imminent move
'The only weight I give a f*** about is the weight of the cheques and my cheques are super-heavyweight'
Bullish Conor McGregor faced up to Nate Diaz
Pato shows off new moustache in Chelsea Willian's Instagram post
Chelsea fans could be forgiven for failing to recognise Alexandre Pato when he debuts
I don't want to look back and wish I had done things better
EXCLUSIVE: James Milner is 30 but he remains hungry for more glory days
Moore to be celebrated at West Ham's new Olympic Stadium home
Bobby Moore will take centre stage in a new landmark that is being constructed outside
Schweinsteiger and Ivanovic go shopping
Bastian Schweinsteiger was seen putting his injury woes to one side as he spent some time food shopping
Surrounded by onlookers, Rodgers gets down on one knee in Times Square to propose to girlfriend
Out of work boss was unabashed by crowd
Mourinho's message to Man United: 'Starting next season with a new club is probably the best thing for me'
Jose Mourinho has set out his plans to return
McGregor endures brutal gymnastics-style workout in latest video with movement master trainer Portal
Stepped up his training to Olympic proportions
Watford heroes Joshua and Deeney hang out ahead of heavyweight star's world title shot
Striker met up with local lad Anthony Joshua
Depay admits that he has failed to deliver
Memphis Depay admits he has not lived up to his £25m fee but that Ryan Giggs has taken a specialist interest in him
McGregor to fight Diaz as Dos Anjos reveals broken foot that ended his dream
Swollen foot shows how injury had badly affected challenger
Instagram star Spiranac leaves fans tee-tering on the edge as she drives ball out of man's MOUTH
She has her critics, but this skill was impressive
Sviatchenko's partner to play for Celtic too!
Anne Rudmose is Erik Sviatchenko's heavily pregnant partner. By the summer, she will also be his Celtic club-mate
BAYERN MUNICH 1-2 MAINZ: Bayern Munich slumped to their first defeat for three months when the Bundesliga leaders suffered a shock 2-1 reverse at home to Mainz on Wednesday. Jhon Cordoba snatched the winner for the visitors in the 86th minute. Borussia Dortmund closed the gap at the top to five points as they beat Darmstadt 2-0 ahead of the second-placed club's meeting with Bayern on Saturday.
Fellaini has not featured for the Reds since their 1-1 with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge last month and it was reported the Belgian international had succumbed to a hamstring injury. As he awaits his return to the first team set-up Fellaini decided he was in need of brotherly love and took an afternoon stroll with his twin.
Argentine striker Martin Bravo scored twice as Santos Laguna demolished LA Galaxy 4-0 on Wednesday morning to reach the CONCACAF Champions League semi-finals. Bravo opened the scoring in the 18th minute and added a strike in the 61st for the Guerreros, who are trying to qualify for their first final since the 2012-2013 season. Ulises Davila, formerly of Chelsea, scored in the 23rd minute and Djaniny Tavares, from Cape Verde, in the 36th, also netted for Santos, who will face the winner of the quarter-final between Club America and Seattle Sounders.
CAS announced on Wednesday morning that Michel Platini was challenging the suspension from football at a national and international level.
The World Cup winner's form has been questioned since leaving Stamford Bridge to return to Germany in February 2015, although he was the standout performer in Wolfsburg's 4-0 victory.
Southampton will be without Charlie Austin for several weeks after the striker picked up a hamstring injury in Tuesday's 2-0 Premier League defeat at local rivals Bournemouth.
Danny Welbeck has heaped praise on fellow Fletcher Moss Rangers graduate Marcus Rashford following his recent goalscoring heroics for Manchester United's first team.
Manchester United full-back Guillermo Varela is being considered for an international call-up by Uruguay. The 22-year-old has been in good form for United
Prospective new Bolton owner Dean Holdsworth has earmarked Phil Brown as the club's next manager should his takeover be completed - but not until the summer.
PAOK Salonika owner Ivan Savvidis withdrew his team from the Greek Cup and called for the resignation of Hellenic Football Federation (EPO) president Giorgos Girtzikis after the semi-final first leg against Olympiakos Piraeus was abandoned due to a pitch invasion on Wednesday. With Super League champions Olympiakos leading 2-1 in the 86th minute at a hostile Toumba stadium, PAOK were denied what looked like a clear penalty when Slovakia midfielder Robert Mak was felled by visiting keeper Stefano Kampino. PAOK's players and supporters were incensed at the decision, prompting large groups of fans to storm on to the pitch with riot police forced to intervene.
David Silva showed he's capable of providing a touch of class off the pitch as well as on it by handing his Capital One Cup winner's medal to Manu Garcia. The Manchester City playmaker, who was substituted in the 110th minute of his side's penalty shootout victory against Liverpool, made the kind gesture after Garcia missed out on a medal.
MATT BARLOW: Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich will certainly try to keep Guus Hiddink (picture today at a Yokohama Tyres launch) inside his inner-circle in an advisory role when he leaves at the end of the season. Hiddink is clearly a soothing presence, a master at cajoling and massaging egos.
Evans was jailed for five years in 2012 after being found guilty of raping a 19-year-old woman in a Rhyl hotel. The former Sheffield United striker has always maintained innocence.
Riyad Mahrez revealed the reservations he had before he sealed his move to Leicester City by admitting he didn't realise the football team existed.
Nemanja Matic wants Chelsea to finish the season with a flourish and a 13-game winning streak which could see them break into the Premier League's European places.
Martin O'Neill may have to fret on the fitness of Harry Arter and Shane Long before he names his Ireland squad next week for the friendlies with Switzerland and Slovakia.
Euro 2016 matches could be moved to different venues and played behind closed doors in the event of terror attacks or threats. Organisers however are confident that the tournament will run safely.
Fabio Borini has staked a claim for a leading role in Sunderland's latest survival mission after dragging them back from the brink of another defeat.
Victoria Pendleton made every yard of the running to notch her first win as a jockey aboard Pacha Du Polder in the Betfair Switching Saddles Hunters' Chase at Wincanton. The dual Olympic cycling champion was unshipped from Paul Nicholls' charge on her first start under National Hunt Rules at Fakenham just under two weeks ago, but the duo made no mistake this time. Sharply away, Pendleton survived a couple of sticky leaps to triumph aboard the 5-4 favourite, running out a 29-length victor.
Amir Khan got yet another opportunity to size-up Canelo Alvarez when the pair squared off at the Hard Rock cafe on Tuesday. It was the latest stop on a media tour which took the 29-year-old Bolton boxer and the Mexican idol to London at the weekend ahead of their superfight which takes place on May 7. And Khan again looked comfortable alongside the middleweight champion despite the fact that he is moving up two weight classes to meet the dangerous 25-year-old who has only lost once in his professional career.
Conor McGregor is putting his final preparations together for UFC 196 by cutting a fresh cut before going toe-to-toe with Nate Diaz. The Irishman, who was meant to fight Rafael dos Anjos before he withdrew with a broken foot, has gone up 25lbs from featherweight to welterweight as he continues his quest to dominate UFC. And with the fight just days away McGregor and his movement coach Ido Portal, who posted the snap on Instagram, are making sure they look the part.
MATT LAWTON: Sir Bradley Wiggins is hoping for a glorious climax to possibly the finest career in British sporting history as the 35-year-old warms up for Rio at the World Championships.
Valtteri Bottas completed day two of the final Barcelona test fastest for Williams, but it was Mercedes who continued to show their overall strength during pre-season.
Monty Panesar will take what could be the first step of the rest of his career when he bowls in the nets at Northamptonshire on Thursday - as he aims to get himself in the fold for England's winter tours.
Novak Djokovic was upbeat about his prospects of leading Serbia against Kazakhstan in this weekend's Davis Cup tie, after pulling out of a tournament last week with an eye infection.
Lewis Hamilton and Jessica Ennis-Hill's stellar sporting 2015 seasons have been recognised with nominations for the prestigious Laureus Awards.
Bangladesh booked their place in the Asia Cup final with a five-wicket win over Pakistan in Dhaka. The hosts will face India at the same venue in Sunday's final.
Sportsmail racing expert Robin Goodfellow gives his hottest selections ahead of Thursday's racing at Southwell, Ludlow. Taunton and Chelmsford City.
Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby has issued a positive bulletin on Qipco 2,000 Guineas hope Emotionless and suggested the colt could be ready to take in a Trial before the Classic.
JACK GAUGHAN: Fletcher Moss Rangers, the youth football club on the banks of the Mersey in Manchester, have an astounding record of producing Premier League stars. Manchester United's most recent hero, Marcus Rashford, is one of an eye-catching list that includes Wes Brown, Danny Welbeck, Ravel Morrison, Jesse Lingard and Cameron Borthwick-Jackson. But, as their academy development officer Dave Horrocks explains, they are struggling to make ends meet
If Manchester United start handing out £2m for six-year-olds, where does that end? The queue of local clubs demanding a seven-figure cheque will stretch from the Old Trafford car park to the centre of town.
Arsenal have drawn up a list of targets for the summer. Arsenal have £135m in the bank but Arsene Wenger is expected to get around £70m to spend.
ROB DRAPER CHAMPIONS LEAGUE COLUMN: The Premier League has been coming up short when clubs have been paired with Barcelona in recent seasons.
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