Samir Nasri celebrated his first start for almost seven months with the winning goal as Manchester City came from behind to beat West Brom 2-1.

Man Utd 3 Sunderland 0: As a proven winner of league championships across Europe, Louis van Gaal knows what it takes to stay the course and finish on top.

To qualify for selection on Donal Lenihan’s best ever World Cup XV, the players had to have at least one winner’s medal in the pocket

It was Donnacha’s day at Dundalk yesterday as Aidan O’Brien’s younger son registered his first success in the saddle when producing odds-on favourite Quartz with a well-timed late challenge to foil Duchess Andorra by a half-length in the Dundalk Stadium Apprentice Maiden.

Just when we were getting to know and appreciate the Munster coach, he’s leaving. So who is Rob Penney and what has shaped him as a coach and a person?

Man Utd 3 West Ham 1

PREMIER LEAGUE:

Ashley Cole has been interviewed as part of the Football Association’s investigation into allegations by Chelsea that referee Mark Clattenburg used inappropriate language towards their midfielder John Obi Mikel.

Mark Clattenburg will miss a fourth weekend of Premier League matches as Chelsea’s complaint against him continues to hang over the referee.

Referee Mark Clattenburg will not discover the outcome of the Football Association’s investigation into a complaint by Chelsea against the match official until next week.

Mark Clattenburg should hear by the end of the week whether he is to face any action following Chelsea's allegation that he used inappropriate language to midfielder John Obi Mikel.

Alex Ferguson today poured scorn on Chelsea’s claim Mark Clattenburg used “inappropriate language” towards John Obi Mikel, declaring: “I don’t believe it.”

Premier League managers Arsene Wenger and Sam Allardyce have voiced dismay that the law is again involved in football due to the Mark Clattenburg affair.

Referee Mark Clattenburg will receive the backing of his fellow officials as an investigation into allegations he used “inappropriate language” towards a player is conducted.

The two assistant referees and fourth official on duty in Sunday’s controversial Chelsea-Manchester United clash look set to give their full support to referee Mark Clattenburg in the Football Association’s forthcoming investigation.

Chelsea’s accusation that referee Mark Clattenburg used inappropriate language towards two of their players is spiralling into another huge controversy for the Premier League after the official was stood down for next weekend’s fixtures and police were urged to take up the case, just as they did recently with John Terry.

Mark Clattenburg was stood down from refereeing for a week today after the Football Association launched an investigation into allegations he used “inappropriate language” towards Chelsea stars John Obi Mikel and Juan Mata.

Arsenal 6 Coventry 1

Arsenal 6 Coventry 1

Arsenal 6 Coventry 1

Everton 2 Newcastle 2

Fermanagh continued their unbeaten run in Division 4 of the Football League with a facile 46-point victory over Kilkenny, while there were also away wins for Waterford and Carlow this afternoon and Clare accounted for Limerick in Ennis.

Crawley 0 Stoke 2

No-one can accuse the Arsenal players of not having the mental belief to win a trophy this season after they staged a dramatic comeback to book their place in the FA Cup fifth round.

WE love a good flanker down here.

The Soviet Army endured terrible suffering — losing eight million soldiers — in its defeat of Nazi Germany, writes Geoffrey Roberts.

There will be a number of players enjoying their first taste of the Ulster SFC when Derry and Fermanagh lock horns tomorrow.

Wolves 0 Stoke 1

Sheffield United 1 Aston Villa 3

FT: Chelsea 1 Bolton 0

UNDER-FIRE boss Roy Keane guided npower Championship side Ipswich into the semi-finals of the Carling Cup — where they will meet favourites Arsenal — following a 1-0 win over top-flight West Brom last night.

Wolves boss Mick McCarthy has made four changes to his starting line-up for the visit of Sunderland to Molineux in the Premier League this afternoon.

Manchester City's Adam Johnson has been recalled to the Manchester City line-up for this afternoon’s visit of Birmingham.

Joey Barton could find himself in trouble with the Football Association after he appeared to punch Blackburn midfielder Morten Gamst Pedersen in Newcastle’s 2-1 defeat at St James’ Park last night.

BLACKBURN boss Sam Allardyce was a happy man as he returned to Newcastle and left with three points after winning the tactical battle.

Newcastle boss Chris Hughton named the same team for the fourth successive Barclays Premier League game as United looked for a fourth three-point haul on the trot.

Theo Walcott has to be content with a place on the bench for Arsenal’s Premier League clash with bottom club West Ham.

JAVIER HERNANDEZ confirmed his status as Manchester United’s new hero with a brilliant winner to take the Carling Cup holders into the last eight of the competition last night.

Newcastle boss Chris Hughton turned to his big guns once again as nine of the men who fashioned a midweek Carling Cup victory over Chelsea made way for the game with Stoke.

RANDY LERNER’S smile returned yesterday after the storm clouds that enveloped Aston Villa since last Sunday were given a gentle shove, although not entirely blown away.

CONTROVERSY continues to rage in New Zealand in the wake of a sex scandal involving former All Black forward Robin Brooke, with former New Zealand internationals now weighing in on rugby players’ attitudes towards women.

WHEN the most noteworthy event being discussed post-match is the rights and wrongs of a drop ball then it is safe to assume that the game in question was anything but a classic.