Geoffrey Soupe edged Orluis Aular to win the Vuelta a Espana stage seven on Friday in a...

Las Vegas Raiders coach Josh McDaniels insists the confidence he has in his offense is intact

A dramatic final weekend of the Football League campaign set up a series of intriguing play-off ties as the remaining promotion contenders gear up for one last push. Here, the PA news agency takes a look at the combatants in the Sky Bet Championship, League One and League Two as the semi-finals loom. The Championship Sunderland v Luton Sunderland went into their final-day trip to Preston knowing even victory might not be enough to edge them into the play-offs, but a 3-0 victory, coupled with Millwall’s remarkable capitulation at home to Blackburn, saw them snatch sixth place to keep alive their unlikely hopes of back-to-back promotions. Under Tony Mowbray, who replaced Alex Neil at the helm in August, they are unbeaten in nine and finished the regular season – during which star striker Ross Stewart was largely absent and they were without a recognised central defender – strongly to give themselves a chance to exorcise the ghost of successive relegations from the Premier League to League One. Luton, who have not played in the top flight since 1992, were already assured of third place and their play-off berth before Monday’s 0-0 home draw with Hull, which extended their unbeaten run to 14 games. Indeed, Rob Edwards’ men, who boast dyed-in-the-wool Wearsider Mick Harford among their backroom staff, have lost only once in the league since January 14 and climbed from 10th place into the top three after the former Watford manager’s appointment as Nathan Jones’ replacement in November. Coventry v Middlesbrough When Mark Robins accepted the hotseat at Coventry in March 2017, the club was hurtling into League Two and faced an uncertain future amid deepening financial problems. He has since guided them back up the pyramid to within touching distance of the Premier League, where they last played during the 200-01 season, after a run of 17 games which included just a single defeat and ended with Monday’s 1-1 draw at Middlesbrough. Former Manchester United and England star Michael Carrick, who was on the books at Boro as a youngster, inherited a team which had won just four of its first 16 league games and was languishing inside the relegation zone when he replaced Chris Wilder in October. Carrick has overseen a concerted drive up the table, fuelled in large part by revitalised 28-goal striker Chuba Akpom, which at one point saw the club flirt with automatic promotion. League One Peterborough v Sheffield Wednesday Peterborough’s last-gasp surge into the play-offs represents a triumph for persistence. Manager Darren Ferguson, who resigned in February last year with the club slipping inexorably towards the Championship exit, returned for a fourth spell in charge in January following successor Grant McCann’s departure. Sunday’s 2-0 win at Barnsley enabled Posh to leapfrog Derby into sixth place with a helping hand from Wednesday, who beat the Rams 1-0. Owls boss Darren Moore, however, will hope that is as far as his side’s charity extends having seen them finish 19 points clear of their semi-final opponents and just two adrift of second-placed Ipswich. They lost out to Sunderland at the same stage last season and will head into their latest two-legged appointment on the back of a four-game winning run. Bolton v Barnsley Bolton’s quest for a return to the second tier for the first time since 2019 caps a season of real positivity after a difficult spell in the club’s history. Promoted from the fourth tier two seasons ago, Ian Evatt’s men have lost only one of their last 10 games in all competitions, a sequence of results which includes a 4-0 Papa Johns Trophy final victory over League One champions Plymouth. Relegated from the Championship at the end of last season – having won just six of their 46 games a year after reaching the play-offs – Barnsley are looking to make an immediate return under Michael Duff. They rather limped over the line, taking just a point from their final three fixtures with runners-up Ipswich and fast-finishing Peterborough both winning at Oakwell. League Two Salford v Stockport Salford, famously backed by Manchester United’s Class of ’92, survived a final-day scare as they clung on to the final play-off spot despite a 1-0 home defeat by Gillingham. Led by former United Academy coach Neil Wood, the Ammies have made it to the end-of-season festivities for the first time since their emergence from the National League in 2019. Stockport boss Dave Challinor is targeted a third-successive promotion have steered County back into the Football League last season having done the same with Hartlepool 12 months earlier. They missed out on automatic promotion to Northampton on Monday after a 1-1 home draw with already-relegated Pool, but are unbeaten in 13. Bradford v Carlisle There are few bigger managerial names in the lower leagues than that of Bradford boss Mark Hughes, but the Bantams are going to have to do it the hard way if they are to make it back to the third tier. They won only one of their last five regular season fixtures – although drew 1-1 with champions Orient to seal their play-off place – and failed to score in either game against the Cumbrians. Carlisle’s 1-1 draw with Sutton ensured their continued participation, although their form too is patchy with only two wins in their last 11 games. Paul Simpson, the man who took the club from the Conference to League One in successive seasons during his first spell as boss, is back in charge having successfully fought his own battle with kidney cancer and hopes are high for a significant upturn. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Wales international Dan Lydiate seals return to the Dragons ahead of next season Ben Davies impressed by caretaker boss Ryan Mason’s impact at Tottenham Alpine’s Sophia Floersch sets sights on F1 after recovering from fractured spine

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Haas has named an unchanged driver line-up for 2024 with Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg both retained by the American team. Hulkenberg, 36, had been without a full-time seat on the grid since 2019, but has impressed since replacing Mick Schumacher. Magnussen, 30, was handed a second stint with Haas on the eve of last season after Russian driver Nikita Mazepin was sacked. Speaking ahead of this weekend’s Dutch Grand Prix, Haas team principal Guenther Steiner said: “It’s safe to say that we’ve had an extremely solid driver pairing this season in Formula One and ultimately there was no reason to look to change that moving forward. “Kevin is obviously a very well-known quantity to us, and I’m delighted he’ll return for what will be his seventh season in Haas colours. With 113 starts for our team alone, we know where his strengths lie and his knowledge and experience of our organisation pairs very well with that too. “On the other side of the garage, Nico’s simply slotted in without fuss or fanfare and proved himself to be a valuable member of the team. He’s approaching 200 starts in Formula One and we’re very happy to be the beneficiary of that experience behind the wheel.” Heading into the second half of this year’s 22-round campaign, Haas are eighth of 10 in the constructors’ standings. Hulkenberg scored the team’s best result of the season so far with a seventh place in Australia in April. He also qualified second at the Canadian Grand Prix in June, and has scored nine points to Magnussen’s two. “It’s nice to get things sorted early for next season to just keep the focus on racing and improving performance,” said the German. Magnussen added: “I’m obviously very happy to see my relationship with Haas extended once again. “My return in 2022 had been unexpected but was filled with numerous highlights, and although this season hasn’t gone quite as we’d hoped, we’ve still managed to get into the points and shown potential in the package we have.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live

Marcus Rashford has revealed how Wayne Rooney is willing him to break his Manchester United goalscoring record. Rooney tops the list of all-time scorers at Old Trafford with 253, but having recently signed a new five-year contract, 25-year-old Rashford looks in a good position to one day overhaul that tally. The 30 goals he scored last season, which was the most prolific campaign of his career, saw him move to 123 and more look set to follow with Erik ten Hag seemingly unlocking Rashford’s full potential. And Rashford says the man whose record he wants to take is cheering him on. Asked by Gary Neville on the Overlap, in partnership with Sky Bet, whether he can surpass Rooney’s record, he said: “Hopefully I will. “You never know what’s going to happen, but I’m all about scoring goals and trying to make assists. There’s definitely a chance that it can happen. “I’ve actually spoken to Wazza about it – he wants me to do it. “He said it would be good for me to do it as I’ve grown up at the club. Hopefully I get the opportunity to try and make it happen.” After such a prolific season last term, Rashford believes he could hit 40 goals if he can stay fit in the forthcoming season. “Before last season, I always said let’s get to 20 – for a winger a good benchmark,” he added. “But this season, I’ve hit 30 so we have to try and push it now and go above and beyond. “Towards the end of the season, I was struggling with a few injuries, and I probably wasn’t quite at it – that’s when the goals started to dry up a little bit. “If I can keep that side of it under taps, I feel like I can go on and get 35 or 40.” United look well placed to finally start challenging again under Ten Hag’s strict regime. Rashford felt the force of the disciplinarian last season when he was dropped from the starting XI for the game at Wolves after being late for a team meeting. The forward came off the bench to score the winner in a 1-0 victory, but revealed he was just one minute late. “I learned from pre-season, a couple of the lads were late and it was important to implement his rules there and then,” said Rashford, who also “100 per cent” agreed with Ten Hag’s decision. “I wasn’t even that late – I don’t think he was being harsh, late is late – but it was probably about 45 seconds, a minute late. “I already knew what was going to happen because of the rules he implemented in pre-season. “I am not going to sit and argue about it, because we’ve got a game to win. There is a time and place to speak to him, but if we win the game nobody really cares.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Castleford complete shock loan signing of Leeds half-back Blake Austin Josko Gvardiol set for Manchester City medical after £77.5m deal agreed Jack Crowley gets chance to stake claim for World Cup spot against Italy

Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez is a welcome face back at the club's Carrington training ground as he continues his recovery from a foot injury.

The WNBA has a full slate of games this week. Which matchups should be at the top of your viewing list?The WNBA season is in full swing and entering week three of action. Awards races are starting to shape up. All-Star voting starts tomorrow.With storylines developing across the league, it c...

Rob Page called the backing from his players “powerful” after Wales bounced back into Euro 2024 qualifying contention with a 2-0 victory in Latvia. A penalty from skipper Aaron Ramsey – his 100th career goal – and a delicious David Brooks chip deep into stoppage time put Wales within three points of a top-two place and lifted the pressure on under-fire manager Page. Group favourites Croatia’s 1-0 victory in Armenia was further good news for Wales, who had only won once in 13 games before arriving in Riga. Ramsey and others had backed Page during the build-up to a game many saw as pivotal in the manager’s tenure. Page said of the players’ support: “It feels good, it feels powerful, absolutely – that’s a massive compliment to myself from the players. “I’ve just said to them, even the lads that have not played, they all play a part. There are no bad eggs in that changing room. “Pressure doesn’t exist, it is created from outside influence. “We did our best as staff to try to not let that penetrate the bubble and keep as calm as possible. “We knew it was going to be a tough test for us after their heavy defeat. It wasn’t just about the win, I thought the performance was outstanding. “For the first 35 minutes of the first half, we were outstanding, kept the ball. We got the goal and then retreated a little bit, which we’ll address.” Wales had numerous chances to put the game beyond Latvia after Harry Wilson was bundled over in the box after 28 minutes and Ramsey converted from 12 yards. But none were taken until the sixth minute of stoppage time when Brooks, on for the injured Ramsey, accepted Wilson’s pass to slot home his first Wales goal since recovering from cancer last year. Page said: “The pressure came from the outside, understandably, but we never questioned it within the group. “We knew we had to give a positive reaction after the disappointment of June (Euro 2024 campaign defeats to Armenia and Turkey) and we absolutely have – and some. “A great performance against a very, very good (South) Korea team last week and followed it up with a completely different test against a very physical team that went back to front quite a bit. “We had to win first contacts and second balls. “And people like young Jordan James stepping in when we asked him to and developing the young players into this team. He was outstanding again.” Ramsey paid tribute to his replacement Brooks, who has had to be patient to return to the international stage after illness and injury. “It wasn’t easy, a lot of teams have come here and struggled,” Ramsey told S4C, while adding that he came off early in the second half as a precaution and will be fit for Cardiff’s South Wales derby against Swansea on Saturday. “To come here and win with two goals is fantastic, Brooksy as well, it’s good for us. “He’s so important for us and it’s nice for him to score. We’re just happy to have him back.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Freddie Steward: Kevin Sinfield ‘rocket’ inspired England heroics against Pumas Aaron Ramsey scores as Wales beat Latvia to keep their Euro 2024 hopes alive Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba provisionally suspended for anti-doping offence

No mercy.

Andreas Maxsø scored in the 41st minute, Marko Ilic made five saves and the Colorado Rapids beat Austin 1-0 on Saturday night for just their fifth victory of the season

Phil Jones will look back fondly on 12 years at Manchester United despite admitting to “difficult days” in his battle with injuries after it was announced he will be leaving the club in the summer. The 31-year-old will depart Old Trafford at the end of his contract, having been blighted by injuries for much of his stay. The defender, who joined from Blackburn in 2011, played 229 times, scoring six goals for United and helping them win one Premier League title, an FA Cup and the Europa League. Jones, who is yet to decide whether he will carry on playing, said in an open letter on Twitter: “It’s always tough to leave a club. I did so already with Blackburn Rovers, all those years ago aged only 19, but I could never imagine what was to follow. “My time at United has been nothing short of incredible. “It’s not a time to be sad. It’s a time to look back, for me and my family, and be happy that I managed to live a dream at United. “I can always say to my family and friends that not many people get to play for this club, to always be in its history and to be able to look back with such happy memories. I lived a dream at the biggest club in the world. I played for England in major tournaments. At United, I won trophies, most notably the Premier League under Sir Alex, in his final season Phil Jones “I wish Erik (ten Hag) and his staff, and all the players, the best of luck for the future. He’s building something here and I’ll be watching, supporting, and hoping, more than anyone, that he can continue the progress we can all see already. “I want to say thank you to everyone who has helped me at Manchester United, where I’ve made friends for life. “But, most of all, my family, who stuck by me through everything. The biggest one to my wife and two beautiful girls. I cannot put into words the support you’ve given me. We’ve stuck together and I can’t wait to see what the future holds.” Jones has not played in over a year and managed only 13 appearances since the start of the 2019/20 season and has revealed the turmoil injuries played on him. “I wish I could have played more. I wish I could have given more to the many squads I played alongside,” he added. “I will say, from the bottom of my heart, I did everything I could. I did everything the medical team asked of me. “I never left a stone unturned in the pursuit of living my dream and having the opportunity to represent Manchester United on the pitch. I spent some difficult days away from my family, rehabilitating and recovering away from everyone, recuperating away from the training pitch, which I was desperate to get back to. “I’ve said before that I found it hard to even speak to my team-mates because I was hurt that I couldn’t help them. I was hurt that my family couldn’t see me on matchdays, and you feel like you’re letting people down. “Sometimes, in life, things happen that we don’t like, but we have to learn to accept it and be at peace in our minds that we did everything we could to overcome the challenges. In your career, and life, that’s all we can really do. “I lived a dream at the biggest club in the world. I played for England in major tournaments. At United, I won trophies, most notably the Premier League under Sir Alex, in his final season.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Sean Dyche: The only table that matters is the one at the end of the season Julen Lopetegui thrilled with Wolves progress since his first clash with Everton Sam Allardyce urges ‘police to do a lot more’ about social media abuse