Celtic have still not conceded a goal in 2019 after easing aside Hibernian to maintain their six-point lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership.
Ryan Christie's composed first-half touch-and-finish gave them the lead. Christie then played in Oliver Burke to slash in a shot that struck Darren McGregor and looped over Ofir Marciano. The victory was a sixth in a row in all competitions for Brendan Rodgers' side, stretching back to 29 December, when they lost to Rangers at Ibrox. One disappointment for an injury-ravaged Celtic could be an injury to Emilio Izaguirre, who was carried off on a stretcher after a challenge with Darnell Johnson. Managerless Hibs, meanwhile, slip to eighth place after a fourth defeat in five Premiership matches. The Easter Road side have now won just one of their last eight league games. Composed Celtic not tested Given their recent record of just one defeat in 10, it would have been a major upset had Celtic stumbled, especially given Hibs' predicament with reluctant caretaker manager Eddie May calling the shots. The league leaders looked assured throughout and were barely troubled by the Easter Road outfit, who worked hard but never really threatened. Calum McGregor, Scott Sinclair and Burke all came close before the impressive Jeremy Toljan collected a wonderful Timothy Weah pass and cut back for Christie to finish on the angle. Celtic's biggest problem could have been their own complacency and Mark Milligan almost capitalised when given a clear view on goal, but his effort was well wide of the target. However there was a composure and class about Celtic. Scott Brown bossed the midfield, although the captain may have been fortunate to see only a yellow card for a nasty looking challenge on Milligan. Celtic's second goal had a fair slice of fortune as Burke's shot took a wicked deflection, which deceived Marciano. With the Europa League meeting with Valencia next week, the last thing Rodgers would have wanted to see was the sight of Izaguirre being carried off. The Honduran International in obvious pain. There was never any real threat of Hibs battling their way back into the game as Celtic cruised to another three points to preserve their lead at the top of the table.
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2019-02-07 02:00:00
Alfredo Morelos was sent off for the third time against Aberdeen this season as Rangers emerged victorious in a tempestuous contest to edge ahead of their Scottish Premiership rivals.
Steven Gerrard's side stay six points behind leaders Celtic after a Morelos brace, James Tavernier's penalty and a Jermain Defoe strike earned the points. Morelos and Scott McKenna, who were involved in an incident in the first game of the season, were both shown red cards after appearing to aim kicks at each other in a challenge. At that stage, the scoreline was 3-2 after Sam Cosgrove scored his second of the game from the penalty spot but, as Aberdeen searched for a leveller, Defoe secured Rangers' win. The victory moves the Ibrox side five points ahead of Aberdeen, who remain third. Morelos & Kent torment Aberdeen The three previous meetings between these foes this season had been dominated by Rangers, but Aberdeen emerged victorious in two of them - both 1-0 - and drew the other. There had been red cards in each of those league meetings too - two of them for Morelos and another for Cosgrove, the Scottish Premiership's top goalscorers. All the signs suggested this was going to be a tight, thunderous affair - and so it proved. Ryan Kent has been in superb form for Rangers and had a hand in both of Morelos' goals. First, the on-loan Liverpool forward slalomed his way past Shay Logan and into the Aberdeen box before unleashing a venomous shot which Joe Lewis could only parry into the path of Morelos, who rolled it into the net. Not to be outdone, Cosgrove showed he too is adept at the art of poaching, tapping home after the ball ricocheted off Tavernier and Connor Goldson following Lewis Ferguson's fizzing volley. Rangers had only lost one of the 16 games in which they had led this season, but just seven minutes after Aberdeen equalised they were back in front. Kent drove at the defence and slid a pass to Morelos who, on his left foot, shaped a sublime finish past McKenna and Lewis and low into the net for his 23rd goal this term. The Pittodrie crowd had barely settled again before Rangers were awarded their fifth penalty in two games. McKenna thrust up a hand to claim for something and Tavernier's free-kick struck it, clear as day. The Rangers captain stepped up and dispatched the spot-kick, his third successful conversion of the week, and Rangers had daylight.
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2019-02-07 02:00:00
Glenn Murray came off the bench to score twice as Brighton reached the fifth round of the FA Cup at the expense of West Brom.
After a goalless first meeting, Kyle Bartley put the hosts in front in the replay at The Hawthorns - hooking the ball in from behind the goal - before Florin Andone levelled for Brighton with a smart finish. Andone was lucky not to be sent off in the first half after catching Sam Field in the face with a flailing elbow in an incident unpunished by referee Paul Tierney. West Brom then went down to 10 men in extra time when Hal Robson-Kanu limped off after they had made all their substitutes. And the Premier League side took charge as top scorer Murray entered the action to score his 11th and 12th goals of the season, firing the Seagulls into a fifth-round tie with Derby County.
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2019-02-07 02:00:00
Pep Guardiola says Manchester City have learned "to never give up" after returning to the top of the table for the first time since 16 December with a win at Everton.
A week ago City were five points adrift of Liverpool but took full advantage after Jurgen Klopp's side could only manage back-to-back draws, moving ahead of the Reds on goal difference albeit having played one game more. "A few days ago we could have been seven points behind. Now we are top of the league. That is the best advice, the lesson is never give up," said Guardiola. "That is a lesson for all athletes. Try to win the games, because life can change immediately." Defender Aymeric Laporte met David Silva's free-kick to head home his fourth goal of the season, putting City in front just before half-time. Sergio Aguero and Raheem Sterling both spurned decent opportunities to extend City's lead after the break before Gabriel Jesus sealed victory in stoppage time. It was far from a vintage display by City, who instead had to show their battling qualities to secure the points and regain the initiative in the title race. Attention will now switch back to Liverpool, who can return to the summit with victory against Bournemouth on Saturday, 24 hours before City host Chelsea at Etihad Stadium. Everton stay ninth after suffering a fourth defeat in five Premier League games at Goodison Park, though they should take some encouragement from a resilient display that was a notable improvement on their performances in recent weeks.
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2019-02-07 02:00:00
Championship side Brentford beat non-league Barnet to set up an FA Cup fifth-round tie at Swansea City.
Sergi Canos scored following a well-worked corner routine, before Julian Jeanvier doubled the lead with a fine volley from Said Benrahma's free-kick. Barnet's Craig Robson headed against the crossbar and Neal Maupay added a third goal with a side-footed finish. David Tutonda pulled one back for Barnet, but it was not enough for the lowest-ranked team in the competition. Darren Currie's side, 17th in the National League, had knocked out Championship Sheffield United in the third round and had been 2-1 ahead in the original tie against Brentford before it finished 3-3 and went to a replay. But Barnet fell behind after seven minutes at Griffin Park from a short corner as Benrahma's low cross was converted by Canos for his third goal in as many games. Moses Odubajo and Benrahma shot just wide and Maupay had an effort cleared off the line, before Jeanvier did well to steer Behrahma's free-kick into the roof of the net to give Brentford a two-goal advantage. The hosts had further chances, but Canos glanced a header just off target, Maupay had two shots saved by Mark Cousins and Romaine Sawyers shot wastefully wide. Barnet's Robson headed against the woodwork following Daniel Sparkes' free-kick and Ephron Mason-Clark had a low strike saved by Luke Daniels. But Maupay grabbed Brentford's third, finishing off from Henrik Dalsgaard's cross, although Tutonda's fine strike gave the non-league side a deserved goal. Swansea play Brentford at the Liberty Stadium in round five on Saturday, 16 February.
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2019-02-06 02:00:00
Trevor Carson: Motherwell goalkeeper on cancer, DVT & working hard in the gym
Trevor Carson thought he was just appeasing his mother when he went to A&E with "a little niggle". Instead, doctors told him they were "90% sure" he had cancer. The Motherwell and Northern Ireland goalkeeper was eventually "only" diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis (DVT), but the illness has put an indefinite halt to his career for the past couple of months. Here, the 30-year-old tells BBC Scotland about feeling "lucky", his partner worrying about him falling off treadmills, and how every bump to his head could be fatal. 'I just wanted to be alive, to be a father' Carson woke on 11 November knowing something was wrong. Initially believing he had a trapped nerve in his neck, he would later take to the field as Motherwell were humbled 7-1 at Ibrox before going off on international duty with Northern Ireland. It would lead him to being diagnosed with DVT, but only after doctors initially were "90% sure" he had cancer. I was getting a little niggle in my arm, which was something I had never experienced before. I've had shoulder injuries but this built up over the week I was away with Northern Ireland. My mum knew something was up. She told me to go to A&E and after that I was in great hands at Wishaw General Hospital. They picked up on the clot and it had actually moved into my lung as well, so I got it at the right time. If I had waited another week or even a day, who knows what would have happened. Carson out for season with DVT For a doctor to tell you he is 90% convinced you have cancer makes you think you take a lot of things for granted. It was a bit of a shock; you don't expect at this age to get that sort of illness. Initially, I just wanted to get healthy, to be alive, to be a father, for my fiancee. People around me took it a lot worse than me. I took it as a positive, how lucky I have been. I could have had cancer. I've tried to remain positive throughout and its definitely helped me. There have been times I've been down, but I've got people around me who have picked me up and I'm definitely looking on the bright side now. 'A blow to the head could be fatal' Carson's treatment ends on 25 May, then he will have scans to ensure the clot has completely gone from his shoulder and lung. His aim is to be back playing for the start of next season. I'm on tablets and at the hospital every other day, but I can't believe how much better I feel physically in the space of two months. At the time, I was probably emotionally drained. I was lethargic and had no energy but now I'm doing basically doing full training in the gym. It's actually a little bit frustrating because I don't feel injured and feel like I can play, but I know if I got a blow to the head it could be fatal, so the risk is certainly not worth taking. While I'm on these blood-thinning tablets, I can't do any contact sports at all. If I was to get a knock on the head, it wouldn't clot because my blood is so thin. Even if I bump my head around the house, I have to go straight to A&E to get it checked because it can be fatal. You play though a shoulder or ankle injury because the worst thing that's might happen is it might go again, but this could kill me. My missus is so protective, and so is my mum. If I go on the treadmill they're like, "be careful, don't fall off", but you can't live your life like that. I've trained 10 times harder since being back at the gym. I'm hungrier now than ever before in terms of pushing on and playing at the
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2019-02-06 02:00:00
FA Cup: Goalkeeper's wife in labour and rise of the supermarket shelf-stacker
As his Newport team-mates were celebrating a stunning FA Cup win over Championship side Middlesbrough on Tuesday, goalkeeper Joe Day was sprinting down the tunnel after hearing his wife had gone into labour. It summed up a remarkable night for the League two team, who will now face Premier League champions Manchester City in the fifth round on Saturday, 16 February. Add to the mix the former shelf-stacker who scored the opening goal and a pitch that has already hosted more than 50 games this season - there was FA Cup magic in the air in South Wales. Day's swift exit for birth of twins Day missed the first tie at Riverside Stadium on 26 January because of the possibility of his wife Lizzie going into labour. Fast-forward 10 days and with Mrs Day seemingly no closer to giving birth to twins, Mr Day opted to play against Middlesbrough and was recalled to the side. Manager Michael Flynn says his goalkeeper wanted to focus, so "turned his phone off," only to get the news immediately on full-time that his wife had indeed gone into labour. "'Please can I leave gaffer?' - he asked me that straight after the game finished," Flynn said. "He sprinted off the pitch and it's the quickest I've ever seen him move. "If they come tonight, what a special, special birthday they'll have."
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2019-02-06 02:00:00
Pep Guardiola: Man City boss says Liverpool, Spurs, Man Utd & Chelsea are title contenders
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says more than two clubs can contest the Premier League title with 13 matches of the season to go. Guardiola's side are three points behind leaders Liverpool but can go top if they win at Everton on Wednesday. Tottenham are five points off top spot, with Chelsea 12 off the pace and Manchester United 14 behind in fifth. "There are 39 points to play and it is not too much if you are nine or 10 behind," said Guardiola. "I never said Tottenham are not there. United making this run every single week and they will be there. "Now we see the table and see the first two or three and we don't look further than that. Chelsea can win games in a row and be a contender."
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2019-02-06 02:00:00
Middlesbrough to set up a fifth-round clash with Manchester City at Rodney Parade.
Newport County's fantastic run in the FA Cup continued as they stunned Championship Middlesbrough to set up a fifth-round clash with Manchester City at Rodney Parade. The League Two side dominated their more illustrious opponents and were full value for the win, secured by second-half goals from Robbie Willmott and Padraig Amond. The prospect of the Premier League champions and Pep Guardiola visiting Newport is scarcely credible for a club that folded in 1989 and were within 90 seconds of dropping out of the Football League in 2017. County, who shocked Premier League Leicester in the third round, now stand to earn more than
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2019-02-06 02:00:00
Derby recovered from a two-goal deficit
Derby recovered from a two-goal deficit to edge past Southampton 5-3 on penalties in a thrilling FA Cup third-round replay at St Mary's. Two goals in two minutes from Stuart Armstrong and Nathan Redmond had put the hosts on course for victory, after the visitors had earlier had a Craig Bryson goal disallowed by VAR. But Harry Wilson's free-kick sparked a revival before Martyn Waghorn headed a late equaliser for Frank Lampard's side. Redmond missed in the shootout for Southampton, allowing Rams captain Richard Keogh to strike the winning penalty. Derby travel to League One Accrington in the fourth round on Saturday, 26 January (12:30 GMT). Inseparable after 210 minutes For the second successive meeting Derby displayed resilience to recover after falling two goals behind to Southampton, leaving the sides inseparable after 210 minutes of football. In a game full of incident, it seemed the visitors had drawn first blood when Bryson produced a composed left-footed finish past Saint goalkeeper Angus Gunn in the first period. But after a wait of two minutes, VAR judged forward Waghorn to be marginally offside before he played in the midfielder. The introduction of Redmond helped Saints up the tempo after the break and they looked to have put the tie to bed with two goals in two minutes. First Armstrong nodded in from close range to conclude a fine move involving Mohamed Elyounoussi and Shane Long. Jack Stephens then released Redmond who delivered a deft chip over Rams goalkeeper Kelle Roos. Derby arrived on the south coast having lost eight of their past nine FA Cup games at Premier League opponents, but that statistic was clearly not on the players' minds as they surged forward to force a free-kick that Wilson curled home beyond Gunn - but only after more anxious moments following a VAR review. And the battling visitors pulled level when Waghorn found the top corner with a well-placed header, forcing a goalless period of extra time before the successful shootout against last season's semi-finalists. Derby's players showed great composure to convert all five of their penalties, with Southampton's only failure from 12 yards coming from the otherwise impressive Redmond, who sent an ugly effort wide of the mark. 'It's the FA Cup, it's magical' - what they said Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl speaking to BBC Sport: "Congratulations to Derby County. When they fight like they did in the two games, they deserve to go through to the next round. "We didn't deserve to win. We had a few chances and didn't get the goal. We given the lead away two times so it was very disappointing. It was very frustrating. We were not very good in the first half so made changes to the system at half-time. Second half we were much better and played well for the two goals. "But they got a goal from a set-piece and you could feel everybody thinking about the first game and getting a bit nervous. The opponent was in the right place to score a second time, and both sides had less power in extra time. We still had chances to win it but didn't take them." Derby manager Frank Lampard on BBC One: "I'm delighted for the team and the squad. The workrate they put in there, having to come through VAR going against us in really small margins, they worked so hard and they were great penalties at the end and great courage from the lads. "We've had two games against Southampton and a tough patch in the league, playing some really g