Wayne Rooney offered 5,000 travelling supporters a reminder of former glories but, thanks in part to two goals from new striker Odion Ighalo, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s current Manchester United side made another potentially significant step forward.

Having left his seat in Tallaght just before the winning strike, the Ireland manager says he had already seen enough of the midfielder’s performance to give him “plenty to think about” as he ponders his squad for the Euro 2020 play-off against Slovakia.

James McClean is hoping that intensive rehab work he is undertaking in Dubai will help speed up his recovery from a knee injury in time to make him available for Ireland’s Euro 2020 play-off game against Slovakia on March 26.

A BBC spokesperson said: “These were entirely unacceptable comments and we will no longer be working with Craig.”

League One Shrewsbury have been handed a dream trip to Chelsea in the FA Cup fifth round if they can find a way past Premier League leaders Liverpool.

There is a conversation from a couple years ago that sticks in the mind — and the craw — of Sean O’Shea.

Allegations of racism again marred the weekend’s football schedule, with Chelsea’s Antonio Rudiger the victim during his side’s win at Tottenham.

Watford have appointed Nigel Pearson as their new head coach, initially until the end of the season.

In the clamour for football ‘content’ we are now flies on every wall, forever ‘behind the scenes’.

Nathan Collins is confident that decimated Ireland can keep their U21 European Championship challenge on course in Armenia today.

The Ireland boss was speaking at the PFAI awards which saw Dundalk boss Vinner Perth and Shamrock Rovers man Jack Byrne pick up the manager and player of the year awards.

Derby County pair Tom Lawrence and Mason Bennett have avoided prison after they admitted drink-driving over a crash which left their club captain and Republic of Ireland international Richard Keogh seriously injured.

The Shrimpers were set to confirm Larsson as Kevin Bond’s replacement after agreeing terms with the former Celtic, Manchester United and Sweden striker

Blackburn Rovers defenders Darragh Lenihan and Greg Cunningham have been called up for the Republic of Ireland's Euro 2020 qualifiers this month.

Republic of Ireland international Richard Keogh could be out of football until December 2020 after damaging two knee ligaments in last week’s car crash.

That I can say I feel for Richard Keogh this morning is not the same as saying that he was not guilty of an appalling error of judgment, to put it at its mildest, for his involvement in the events which culminated in the car crash on Tuesday night. One that saw two of his Derby County team mates arrested on drink-driving charges and the club captain and Irish international sustaining a serious knee injury.

Leeds’ Achilles heel hurt them once more as the Sky Bet Championship leaders were held 1-1 at home by Derby.

Mick McCarthy is considering delaying a decision on the make-up of his final squad for the upcoming Euro 2020 qualifier against Switzerland and the friendly against Bulgaria, amid concerns about the impact of injuries and the amount of game-time some of those in contention are getting with their clubs.

The draw was made after completion of 33 first-round fixtures last night and includes all the top-flight clubs who are not involved in European competitions.

Aston Villa have announced the permanent signing of Bournemouth defender Tyrone Mings.

Manchester United fans were involved in more football-related arrests where racism was an aggravating factor or a feature than any other club in England in the four seasons up to 2017-18, data from the UK Home Office shows.

It is among the great sources of regret in professional football, the lost connection between players and fans.

Derby substitute Jack Marriott scored twice to help fire his side into the Sky Bet Championship play-off final after a 4-2 victory at Leeds.

Kemar Roofe hit a second-half winner to give Leeds a slender 1-0 advantage over Derby following the first leg of their Sky Bet Championship play-off semi-final.

Any lingering hopes that Troy Parrott could play for the Republic of Ireland in the Under-17 European Championships could have disappeared tonight.

Manager Colin O’Brien is hoping for the green light from Spurs to allow Troy Parrott to join up with the Irish U17 squad ahead of the Euro Finals which kick off on Friday.

John Egan, Enda Stevens, David McGoldrick, and possibly Scott Hogan will be plying their trade in the Premier League next season after Sheffield United secured promotion to the Premier League this weekend.

John Egan, Enda Stevens, David McGoldrick, and possibly Scott Hogan will be plying their trade in the Premier League next season after Sheffield United secured promotion to the Premier League this weekend.

Manchester United go into tomorrow's derby with Manchester City on a run of six defeats in eight games.

Ireland's Derrick Williams has spoken out about being on the end of online racist abuse from one of his club's own supporters.

Éamonn Fitzmaurice said the parents of a boy who suffered alleged racist chants in a football match were "quite unsettled" by it and that his school wants to take a "strong stand" against it.

A number of racism-related incidents have plagued English football in the last number of months.

Collins edged out fellow Ireland international Aiden McGeady for the award.

When Richard Keogh sits before you with his right hand almost totally encased in a protective cast and bandaging, he looks for all the world like a player who is about to tell you how gutted he is to have to sit out the next game through injury.

Richard Keogh is ready to play with a broken hand as the Republic of Ireland attempt to launch their Euro 2020 qualifying campaign with victory in Gibraltar.

O'Neill was a hugely animated figure and was lectured by referee Jeremy Simpson after straying from his technical area and down the side of the pitch once too often.

Here's your morning bulletin.

The former Republic of Ireland boss helped Forest win the European Cup twice as a player.

Holders Chelsea are safely through to the fourth round of the FA Cup but Premier League Cardiff were victims of a giant-killing act by Gillingham.

Jose Mourinho has suddenly found the secret formula to beating team full of high quality, big-impact stars who play at a higher level than his own side, just in time for a similar test against Manchester City in the Premier League.

A comedy own goal by Jayden Bogle denied Derby County a third successive win and a place at the top of the table as they drew with Middlesbrough in the lunchtime kick-off.

Middlesbrough manager Pulis is plotting the downfall of Derby boss Lampard ahead of Saturday's meeting at the Riverside Stadium.

Jose Mourinho insists he relishes the pressure cup competitions can create as he seeks to draw a line under another turbulent weekend at Manchester United.

An exquisite free-kick from Conor Hourihane rescued a point for Aston Villa in Saturday’s Championship clash at Blackburn.

Leeds midfielder Pablo Hernandez salvaged Marcelo Bielsa's unbeaten start to the season with an equaliser in the 2-2 draw against former club Swansea.

West Ham will take on League One club AFC Wimbledon in the second round of the Carabao Cup.

Derby are in the hunt for their sixth manager in three years following Gary Rowett's departure to Stoke.

His desire to spend a stint at boyhood idols Celtic is apparent but the first priority for James McClean is the immediate uncertainty over his club future.