United seal qualifying top spot
Champions League round-up
Domestic action
McLeish resigns from Scotland
Davies puts name forward
Black quits Blues
Platini urges English appointment
Van Gaal tied up until 2009
FA charge Chelsea
Moyes charged over conduct
Sturrock back at Argyle
Saints appoint McInnes
Manchester United ensured they will finish top of Champions League Group F with a 2-1 victory over Sporting Lisbon at Old Trafford. The visitors took an early lead through Abel but United hit back in the second-half with goals from Carlos Tevez and a superb injury-time free-kick from Cristiano Ronaldo. Rangers lost 3-2 at VfB Stuttgart but are still hopeful of progressing to the knockout stages after Barcelona drew 2-2 with Lyon in France - a result that means Rangers need only a point in their final Champions League match against Lyon at Ibrox to progress from Group E. Meanwhile, Arsenal lost for the first time this season as Sevilla knocked them off top spot in Group H with a 3-1 victory over the Gunners in Spain.
Championship leaders Watford fell to a 1-2 home defeat to Burnley. Owen Coyle’s first victory as Burnley boss came courtesy of second-half goals from Andy Gray and Joey Gudjonsson. Danny Shittu pulled one back with four minutes remaining but the Clarets held on to win. Charlton Athletic missed the chance to go second as Sheffield United left the Valley with a resounding 0-3 victory. James Beattie (penalty), Gary Cahill and Chris Armstrong did the damage. Elsewhere, Ipswich Town made it 12 home wins in a row with a 2-0 victory over Southampton, bottom-placed Norwich City won away from home for the second time in a row after claiming a 1-3 win at Blackpool and Crystal Palace came from behind to beat visitors Preston North End 2-1.
The one game in League One this evening saw Swansea City beat Hartlepool United 1-0 at the Liberty Stadium, courtesy of an 81st minute strike from Angel Rangel.
The pick of tonight’s FA Cup first round replays came at the Memorial Stadium, where Bristol Rovers eventually beat 9-man Leyton Orient 6-5 on penalties after a rollercoaster 3-3 draw. Oldham Athletic are through to the second round after a 1-2 away win at Doncaster Rovers. Athletic hung on for victory despite being reduced to 10-men on 84 minutes when Neal Trotman saw red. Luton Town also won away from home, beating Brentford 0-2 while Nottingham Forest comfortably beat League Two strugglers Lincoln City 3-1 at the City Ground. Forest will now travel to Luton Town in the second round.
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Alex McLeish has resigned as Scotland manager is expected to be unveiled as the new Birmingham City boss at a news conference tomorrow. The Blues are believed to have agreed a compensation package with the SFA.
Former Derby County boss Billy Davies has expressed an interest in becoming the new manager of Scotland.
Birmingham City caretaker manager Eric Black has quit the club with an eye on becoming Steve Bruce’s right-hand man at Wigan Athletic. Black had previously assisted Bruce at St Andrews and is now set to follow him to the JJB Stadium after just one game in temporary charge of the Blues - the 0-2 home defeat to Portsmouth on Saturday.
Uefa president Michel Platini believes the Football Association should appoint an Englishman as the next England coach.
Louis van Gaal is unlikely to be the next England manager after he revealed that the clause that allows him to leave his current club, AZ Alkmaar, if he is offered an international job does not come into effect until 2009. Van Gaal has been in charge at Alkmaar since 2005.
Chelsea have been charged by the Football Association for failing to control their players during the 0-2 victory at Derby County on Saturday. Referee Andre Marriner was confronted by angry Chelsea players, led by captain John Terry, after he sent off Michael Essien for pushing Derby striker Kenny Miller in the face. Chelsea have until December 12 to respond, while Essien has been handed a three-match suspension for his red card.
The Football Association has issued Everton manager David Moyes with an improper conduct charge for comments he made about referee Mark Clattenburg after his side’s 1-2 defeat by Liverpool at Goodison Park. Moyes has until December 11 to respond to the charge.
Paul Sturrock has been confirmed as the new Plymouth Argyle manager. The 51-year-old left Swindon Town yesterday to replace Ian Holloway who is now at Leicester City. This is Sturrock’s second spell in charge of Argyle after enjoying a successful spell at Home Park from October 2000 to March 2004.
Derek McInnes is the new manager of St Johnstone. The 36-year-old won promotion to the hot seat after coaching the Perth club’s reserves and under-19’s. McInnes signed a two-and-a-half year contract at McDiarmid Park after Owen Coyle and his assistant Sandy Stewart moved on to Burnley.
Nathan Davies