Bristol City moved back up to fifth in the Championship with a 1-0 victory over fellow play-off contenders Middlesbrough on Tuesday.

Adam Webster s first-half header proved the difference at the Riverside, where Boro were booed off after a fifth straight defeat that left them eighth – two points adrift of Aston Villa in sixth.

George Saville blazed over a glorious opportunity before Jonny Howson failed to get the better of Max O Leary when one on one in the 20th minute.

Howson saw another attempt deflected onto the post and Ashley Fletcher s follow-up was cleared off the line, with Webster s goal coming against the run of play in the 31st minute.

Britt Assombalonga also struck the woodwork after the restart but Boro were unable to find a route back int…

Australia have turned to former Netherlands and Saudi Arabia head coach Bert van Marwijk for this year s World Cup in Russia, it was announced on Thursday.

The Socceroos were searching for a new coach after Ange Postecoglou surprisingly walked away, despite guiding Australia to a fourth successive World Cup via the inter-continental play-offs in November.

Dutchman Marwijk – who led the Netherlands to the 2010 World Cup final – will take charge for the showpiece tournament, starting in June, having secured Saudi Arabia s qualification for the first time since 2006 before the 65-year-old was unable to agree a new contact with the Asian giants.

It remains to be seen who will coach the Socceroos after the World Cup, though Sydney FC boss Graham Arnold is the fav…

Bernd Leno swapped London clubs as the Germany goalkeeper left Arsenal to join Fulham on Tuesday in a move that could rekindle his World Cup prospects.

The 30-year-old sealed a move in a reported £8million deal, having lost his Gunners first-team place to Aaron Ramsdale last season.

He joins Fulham, who return to the Premier League in the new campaign, becoming the latest addition to Marco Silva s squad ahead of a season that gets under way at the weekend.

Fulham host last season s runners-up Liverpool on Saturday at Craven Cottage.

Leno, who did not feature in Germany s squad for Nations League games at the end of last season, has won nine caps for his country, but the hold of Bayern Munich s Manuel Neuer on the national team number one jersey has meant…

Besiktas have dominated Turkish football and now the Istanbul giants are on the right path to becoming a European force, according to former midfielder Manuel Fernandes.

Once Istanbul s third club behind bitter rivals Galatasaray and Fenerbahce, Turkish champions Besiktas are now one of Europe s cult favourites having emerged from the shadows of their noisy neighbours.

They have won back-to-back Super Lig titles and started a social media phenomenon with the use of phrase  Come to Besiktas to announce signings on Twitter.

It was used to unveil the arrival of Pepe from Real Madrid, while former Manchester City and Valencia striker Alvaro Negredo also made the move to Vodafone Park, which has fast become an appealing destination for players.

While Besikta…

Alexandre Lacazette says Arsenal want to win the Europa League to help save Arsene Wenger s job.

Arsenal are set to miss out on Champions League qualification via the Premier League for the second season in a row, the Gunners sitting sixth in the table.

But winning the Europa League would earn Arsenal a return to the continent s premier club competition in 2018-19.

Wenger s position has come under threat even though the veteran Frenchman has a year remaining on his contract at Emirates Stadium.

And Lacazette who has scored two goals on Arsenal s run to the semi-finals has targeted the Europa League as a way to secure Wenger s future.

It can be the way to keep the manager because he did so much good for the club, said Lacazette. We want to win tr…

Diego Maradona is desperate to return to coaching and has set his sights on a second spell as Argentina manager, suggesting he would even take the job without getting paid.

The 55-year-old previously coached the national team between 2008 and 2010, with Argentina s 4-0 defeat at the hands of Germany in the quarter-finals of the 2010 World Cup signalling the end of his spell in charge.

He then had a spell as Al Wasl boss in 2011, but has not worked in a coaching capacity since being sacked in July 2012.

However, Argentina are on the lookout for a new coach after Gerardo Martino resigned the post following the penalty shootout defeat at the hands of Chile in the 2016 Copa America final.

And Maradona, who won the World Cup with Argentina in 1986, is hopeful …

According to a recent report from Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona are going to try and re-sign Marc Cucurella at the end of the current season. The defender was loaned out by La Liga champions Barca to Eibar at the start of the season, and ever since then, he’s made a solid impression at the club. The 20 year old, who made his debut for Catalonia earlier this year, is considered by many to be one of the most underrated Spanish left backs playing at the top level today. Eibar are planning on triggering a £1.7 million option in the deal to try and sign him on a permanent basis, but as a direct contrast to that, Barcelona will proceed to offer £3.5 million in order to bring him back to the Nou Camp. Cucurella started off his youth development with Espanyol before making the switch to Barce…

Talksport understands that Everton are eyeing a £25m move for West Ham United full-back Aaron Cresswell.

Toffees boss Sam Allardyce was the man who signed the twenty-eight year old for the Hammers and is keen on a reunion as he looks to strengthen ahead of next season.

Cresswell was born on Merseyside, beginning his career with Tranmere Rovers before moving to Ipswich Town in the summer of 2011 and he was named the club’s Player of the Year in his first campaign at Portman Road.

After three seasons with the Tractor Boys he moved to East London and has so far racked up one hundred and fifty-one appearances, scoring four goals.

Internationally, he has been capped three times for his country with his last appearance coming in a World Cup qualifying v…

Barcelona star Lionel Messi has backed Sergio Aguero, describing him as one of the world s best strikers.

The Argentina team-mates will be on opposite sides at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday when Manchester City host Barca in the Champions League.

Aguero was controversially named as a substitute for City s 4-0 loss at Camp Nou in the reverse fixture earlier this month and has not been an automatic selection under Guardiola.

But Messi, who enjoyed sensational success under the Catalan manager during his Barca tenure, has no doubts over Aguero s quality, ranking him with the game s top centre-forwards like club colleague Luis Suarez. 

Kun is a very simple and easy-going person, a great lad and, as a striker, one of the best. As is Luis [Suarez], Messi told…

Senegal and Japan missed the chance to take a giant stride towards the World Cup knockout stages after playing out a thrilling 2-2 draw at the Ekaterinburg Arena.

After winning their opening games, three points for either side would have made them outright Group H leaders and put them in pole position for a last-16 berth.

As it is, they will have to endure an anxious wait for the result of Poland and Colombia s clash later on Sunday to know what they need to do in the final round of fixtures on Thursday.

Eiji Kawashima was slow to react to Juan Quintero s goal for Colombia in Japan s opening 2-1 win and the goalkeeper was again at fault for Sadio Mane s early opener, punching against the forward s leg when it looked easier to catch.

His blushes were spare…