Goals from Daryl Murphy and Jay Tabb gave Mick McCarthy an early Christmas present on Saturday as a 2-0 win over fellow promotion hopefuls Middlesbrough lifted Ipswich to second in the Championship.

How the Irish fared

Several people have come forward with information since the parents of six children who died in a house fire appeared in court last week, police in England have said.

Nottingham Forest last night appointed former first-team coach Sean O’Driscoll as their new manager.

Swansea midfielder Joe Allen has been named as a transfer target by Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers.

Roy Keane would be interested in the vacant managerial post at Nottingham Forest if he was approached by the club’s new owners, according to the former Manchester United captain’s representative.

Roy Keane would be interested in the vacant managerial post at Nottingham Forest if he was approached by the club’s new owners, according to the former Manchester United captain’s representative.

Former Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy has ruled himself out of the running to become the new Nottingham Forest manager after holding initial talks with the club.

Nottingham Forest’s new owners have confirmed they have held talks with former Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy about the vacant managerial post at the City Ground.

Roy Keane has been linked with an emotional return to the club he started his career in England with after Nottingham Forest yesterday sacked Steve Cotterill.

The funerals of six siblings who perished when fire ripped through their home as they slept in their beds will take place in Britain today.

Several people have come forward with “extremely useful” information about an arson attack that killed six children in the UK, as police were given extra time to question their parents.

A mother and father are continuing to be held in England on suspicion of murder following an arson attack at their home which left six of their children dead.

The parents of six children killed in an arson attack on their home have been arrested on suspicion of murder.

The father of six siblings who lost their lives in a suspected arson attack in Britain broke down in tears today as he issued a statement thanking fire crews for their efforts to save his children.

A house fire in which six siblings died as they slept in their beds is believed to have been deliberately started, police in Britain have said.

A 13-year-old boy has died in hospital after a house fire that claimed the lives of five of his brothers and sisters.

A teenage boy critically ill in hospital after a house fire which killed five of his siblings is “unlikely to survive”, UK police said.

Two people are being questioned on suspicion of murder in connection with the deaths of five children in a house fire, English police said.

Two people were last night being questioned on suspicion of murder in connection with the deaths of five siblings in a house fire in Britain.

A woman has been arrested after five children died in a housefire in England.

Defender Danny Higginbotham is unsure whether he will see out the final year of his contract at Stoke after returning to the club following a loan spell at Nottingham Forest.

Andy Reid, Irish football’s forgotten man, could still cut it in the Premier League.

Nottingham Forest manager Steve Cotterill hailed the qualities of Andy Reid after the Republic of Ireland international had turned in a match-winning performance against Millwall.

Chelsea have made a £1.5m bid for Nottingham Forest striker Patrick Bamford, according to Forest boss Steve Cotterill.

The Good

Leicester 4 Nottingham Forest 0

NIGEL ADKINS would prefer for people to be talking about his Southampton team’s style of play instead of Luke Chambers’ red card after the Saints defeated Nottingham Forest on Saturday to stay at the summit of the npower Championship.

Nottingham Forest 0 Southampton 3

IT says much that, over the Christmas period, Nottingham Forest manager Steve Cotterill had made one thing his biggest priority.

Portsmouth have confirmed the appointment of Michael Appleton as their new manager.

Portsmouth 3 Nottingham Forest 0

CHRIS HUGHTON praised Jean Beausajour for providing the spark to give his Birmingham side a vital 2-1 win over Leicester in yesterday’s midlands derby.

West Ham 4 Portsmouth 3

Birmingham have lined up six possible candidates to replace Alex McLeish as manager with former Newcastle boss Chris Hughton the current bookmakers favourite.

Birmingham have identified six targets as they step up their bid to replace Alex McLeish as manager.

Paul Jewell has urged his Ipswich side to “pull off a huge upset” by seeing off Arsenal in tonight’s Carling Cup semi-final.

Bolton 2 Blackpool 2

Portsmouth have confirmed the sale of the club to businessmen Balram Chainrai, Levi Kushnir and Deepak Chainrai has been completed.

Portsmouth 6 Leicester 1

Liam Lawrence has joined Portsmouth on an emergency loan from Stoke in a deal which will become permanent in January.

ANTHONY STOKES is expected to join Celtic from Hibernian today after the SPL rivals agreed a fee for the Republic of Ireland striker.

ANDY KEOGH has joined Cardiff on a season-long loan from Wolves, the npower Championship club have announced.

Portsmouth manager Steve Cotterill could soon be in a position to strengthen his threadbare squad as Balram Chainrai’s takeover bid moves a step closer.