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Zinedine Zidane has hit out at the decision to allow Real Madrid’s match at Osasuna to go ahead.

Spain has been battered by Storm Filomena, with large swathes of the country blanketed in snow. Atletico Madrid's match against Athletic Club was postponed earlier on Saturday.

Madrid were forced to travel to Pamplona ahead of the game, despite their plane being stuck on the tarmac for over three hours as they awaited clearance to take off.

Pamplona was hit hard by snow on Saturday and the pitch at El Sadar was extremely tough for both sides to perform on.

It was little surprise, then, that the game ended in a goalless draw.

Following the game, Zidane cut a frustrated figure in his press conference - and was clearly unhappy about the events of recent days.

“We did what we could do on the field but it was not a football match,” Zidane said. “The conditions were very difficult.”

With Madrid also being battered by snow, the Real squad have no chance of getting home on Saturday - and will remain at their hotel in Pamplona. It could be some time before they are able to travel, much to Zidane’s chagrin.

“Everything that has happened these two days has been very complicated,” he said. “We do not know when we can return.”

Pressed further on his feelings about the game, Zidane was unequivocal in his thinking.

“Yes, clearly the match against Osasuna should have been postponed,” Zidane said. “That is clear.

“The conditions to play football were not met, which in the end is what everyone wants. As much for us as our opponents.”

Zidane was asked for comment on the Spanish FA, who pushed for as many games to take place this weekend as possible.

“I'm not going to get into these things,” he said. “We have done what they have told us, we have played and that's it. 

“We have to think about recovering even if we don't know if we are going to go to Madrid tomorrow, if we are going to return on Monday. And on Wednesday we have another game."

Real have a quick turnaround as they travel to Alcoyano to take on the minnows in the Copa Del Rey on Wednesday.

Sam Folarin scored Middlesbrough’s only goal in their 2-1 defeat to Brentford in Sunday’s FA Cup game played at the Brentford Community Stadium.

The 20-year-old, who is a product of the club’s youth setup, was brought in for Marcus Browne before the start of the second-half and he did not disappoint with a goal three minutes into his introduction.

Warnock made seven changes to the side which silenced Wycombe Wanderers, including a first-time appearance for Hayden Hackney while the bench consisted of several players from the club’s under 23 side.

Even at that, it was the visitors who threatened, albeit, Chuba Akpom, Marc Bola and Hackney took their turn to miss clear-cut opportunities.

Nevertheless, Brentford took the lead in the 35th minute through Halil Dervisoglu who converted a well-taken corner kick from Saman Ghoddos as the Bees took a slim 1-0 lead into the half-time break.

Before then, Browne had gone down before being stretchered from the pitch after receiving lengthy treatment.

His replacement Folarin made an instant impact scoring his first senior goal to level matters against Thomas Frank’s side. The Nigerian showed huge composure to finish after good work by Marcus Tavernier and Patrick Roberts.

The hosts regained their lead four minutes after the hour mark when Saman Ghoddos worked himself some space before curling the ball beyond the reach of Jordan Archer.

Akpom could have sent the game into extra-time but his header off Tavernier’s cross went wide.

Looking tired after a trying evening, Akpom was replaced in the 90th minute by Rumarn Burrell, while Egypt's Sam Morsy and Britt Assombalonga were not selected for action.

For the hosts, Ghanaian midfielder Tariqe Fosu saw every minute of the clash, whereas French winger of Cameroonian descent Bryan Mbeumo did not make the matchday squad.

Middlesbrough return to the Championship on January 16 with a date versus Birmingham City.

Having accrued 36 points from 22 games in the 2020-21 campaign, they occupy the seventh spot in the English second tier log.

Scott McTominay has spoken of the honour he felt at being told he would captain Manchester United against Watford.

With Harry Maguire handed a rest - albeit he came on due to an injury to Eric Bailly - McTominay was handed the captain’s armband by manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer for the first time in his United career.

The 24-year-old led by example as the midfielder scored the only goal of the game to propel United into the fourth round of the FA Cup.

Following the match, McTominay gave his feelings on what it felt like to lead out the club he has been with for more than 18 years.

“When the manager told me it was a surreal moment,” McTominay told BT Sport. “I have been at this club since I’d just turned five years old, so 18 years associated with this football club.

“So to get that is a huge honour. I love this football club and it has been my whole life, so it is a real honour.

“The manager has been nothing but amazing for me since he came to the club. 

“I have a lot to thank him for and the best way to thank him is to put in performances on the pitch and doing the best I can.

“As long as I have got the manager’s trust I am happy and will keep doing my job every day in training and matches as well.”

United started brightly and took the lead on five minutes when McTominay headed home, but a much-changed side did not put the match to bed.

McTominay felt the changes contributed to some patchy play, but believes it will benefit the club down the line to get minutes into fringe players’ legs.

“We started really well,” he said. “For the first half an hour we were really good, we moved the ball well, the combination play was really good. But we just did not find it after that.

“For the boys who came into the team it is difficult as they have not played for a long time and it is about finding your rhythm.

“First 30 minutes I bet [Solskjaer] wasn’t expecting the rhythm we got, but then maybe a combination of tired legs and tired minds.”

​Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has lavished praise on midfielder Scott McTominay, calling the Scotland star a "monster of a human being" after his winner against Watford on Saturday.

McTominay's header in the fifth minute against the Hornets was the game's only goal at Old Trafford, sending United through to the FA Cup fourth round with a 1-0 win.

The 24-year-old has now scored four goals in all competitions this season, one short of his best tally in a single campaign (five in 37 appearances in 2019-20).

With United starting a number of reserves, McTominay also had the honour of wearing the captain's armband for the Red Devils for the first time. 

Speaking to the BBC after the game, Solskjaer was full of praise for the United academy product. 

"Scott has had a very good season," the Norwegian said. "He is being more and more dangerous, we know he can be a box-to-box midfielder.

"He should have scored a few more on set-plays before now because he is a monster of a human being. I am very happy he got the goal."

Solskjaer was happy to see his side go through on a night when he admitted United lost steam after a bright opening to the match. 

"The most important thing in the cup is that you go through so that will make everyone happy, but the first 15-20 minutes I think were the highlights of our game," he added.

"I think we played some very good stuff, created chances and then we let them back into the game. But we are through."

With United facing a league match against Burnley on Tuesday, Solskjaer knew he needed to rotate the squad as his side continue to deal with a hectic schedule. 

“They had a chance to prove they could play the next game and the game after and get some match fitness," Solskjaer said of his lineup. "We will need all of them over the season and that was part of the reason we made changes.

"I’m delighted we are through. I told them I didn’t expect them to start like a house on fire. I expected them to grow into the game. The opposite happened more or less. We started brightly."

Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang’s notable FA Cup scoring form continued as Arsenal laboured to a 2-0 win over Newcastle United.

The Gabon ace lined up in attack alongside Reiss Nelson, Nicolas Pepe and Willian to halt the aspirations of Steve Bruce’s men towards reaching the fourth round.

As it proved a tough evening for Mikel Arteta’s men, scores stood at 0-0 after 90 minutes as the North London side put up a below par display.

Emile Smith Rowe gave the reigning FA Cup kings the lead in the 109th-minute, before the 31-year-old doubled the advantage with a simple finish thanks to Kieran Tierney’s assist.

With his effort against Steve Bruce’s side, the former Borussia Dortmund star has now scored in all four of his appearances in the competition, finding the net on six occasions.

Last season, Aubameyang scored 25 times for the Emirates Stadium giants, including a brace in the FA Cup win over Chelsea, buttressing his status as one of the best strikers in English football in process.

Nevertheless, he has been unable to replicate that form in the 2020-21 campaign with his loss of form concurring with Arsenal’s disturbing position in the Premier League.

This led to former club’s defender Lee Dixon suggesting that the 2015 African Player of the Year should be given a break to rediscover his best.

“It might just do him [Aubameyang] a bit of good to have a little step out of the team and just look from the sidelines,” he told talkSPORT.

“When you watch a game from the sidelines you can sometimes learn more than you do when you’re on the pitch. Your brain is so full of information when you’re playing; you don’t always see everything, you don’t always feel everything.

“He’s obviously a hugely talented footballer and we need his goals, but it might be a time for him just to look and assess the team.

“You can actually see little ways of improving your own game when you’re sitting on the bench, because you’re watching other people and you’re seeing gaps appear from a different angle.”

Arsenal will back in action against Crystal Palace on January 14, before their focus shifts to a meeting with Newcastle United again four days later.

Scott McTominay scored the only goal of the game as Manchester United booked their spot in the FA Cup fourth round with a slender 1-0 win over Watford on Saturday. 

McTominay was one of only two survivors from the EFL Cup semi-final defeat to Manchester City on Wednesday and the midfielder – captaining the Red Devils for the first time – headed his side in front after just five minutes.  

Eric Bailly and Juan Mata squandered good chances to extend United's lead before the interval, while Dean Henderson had to be alert to thwart Adam Masina.  

United rarely threatened a second during a dismal second half but they saw things out with the minimum of fuss to inflict a 10th straight defeat for the Hornets at Old Trafford.  

The hosts wasted little time stamping their authority on the tie, McTominay heading home his fourth goal of the season from Alex Telles' outswinging corner in the fifth minute.  

United goalkeeper Henderson was out quickly to deny Masina soon after, while Bailly flashed a header wide from another dangerous Telles ball into the penalty area.  

Mata fired straight at Daniel Bachmann following a superb flicked pass from Donny van de Beek as United ultimately failed to add to their advantage before half-time.  

Solskjaer brought on Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial with just over 20 minutes remaining in a desperate bid to inject some life into the home team’s stuttering attack.  

Rashford should have put the seal on the win, but his low effort after a fine run was too close to Bachmann.

Paris Saint-Germain saw off Brest 3-0 to collect their first victory under new head coach Mauricio Pochettino and close the gap on Ligue 1 leaders Lyon.

PSG were held to a 1-1 draw by Saint-Etienne in Pochettino's first game in charge on Wednesday but had too much quality for Brest in Saturday's encounter at the Parc des Princes.

Moise Kean's 11th goal of the campaign in all competitions set the reigning champions on their way with 16 minutes played and substitutes Mauro Icardi and Pablo Sarabia each got on the scoresheet in the final 10 minutes.

The win - less emphatic than the scoreline may suggest - moved Pochettino's men within a point of pacesetters Lyon, who battled back from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Rennes and retain top spot.

Keylor Navas pulled off a theatrical save to keep out Romain Faivre's curler and PSG were in front soon after thanks to Kean, who helped the ball over the line from a yard out after Marquinhos' header hit the inside of the post and landed in his path.

Marquinhos once again came close when guiding another header on target, but Gautier Larsonneur was equal to both that attempt and Idrissa Gueye's venomous long-ranger two minutes later. 

Brest are now without a win in 18 league meetings with PSG but troubled their opponents in a largely even first half, with Irvin Cardona let down by a poor first touch when clean through and Faivre seeing a free-kick pushed aside by Navas.

Larsonneur pulled off a fine save to frustrate Kylian Mbappe with an hour played and the forward curled a shot wide three minutes later as PSG - who lost Gueye to an apparent foot injury - pushed for a clinching second.

That goal arrived nine minutes from time courtesy of Icardi's composed finish following some superb play from Mbappe to get away from a pair of defenders in the opposition box.

And Icardi, making his first appearance since November after recovering from injury, teed up Sarabia to round off the scoring late on as PSG made a winning home start to Pochettino's tenure.
 

What does it mean? Lift-off for Poch

While Pochettino was keen to take positives from his first game earlier this week, a draw with Saint-Etienne was ultimately a disappointing result for the new man.

However, this third home win in a row without conceding means they are now breathing down the necks of Lyon, who dropped points for just a second time in 10 outings on Saturday.

Pochettino will be particularly pleased with the way his side turned possession (60.9 per cent) into shots on target (11 in total) and goals against a Brest side who had lost just two of their previous nine.

Kean to make his mark

The on-loan Everton striker was perfectly positioned to nod in from under the crossbar, making it nine goals in 13 Ligue 1 outings this season.

That is already as more than he managed in his previous two campaigns with Everton (two Premier League goals in 2019-20) and Juventus (six Serie A goals in 2018-19) combined.

Mbappe on the fringes

While Kean is in great goalscoring form, striker partner Mbappe is going through a bit of a difficult patch in front of goal.

He has now scored just once in his past four matches, failing to find a way through from any of his three efforts on target here, though he did set up Icardi with a brilliant assist.

What's next?

PSG have a chance to win their first piece of silverware of the season on Wednesday when they take on Marseille in the Trophee des Champions. Brest are back in Ligue 1 action in eight days' time with a home game against Rennes.

Milan bounced back from their midweek defeat to Juventus by overcoming Torino 2-0 at San Siro to take a four-point lead at the top of Serie A. 

Stefano Pioli's team suffered their first loss of the season last time out but produced a response worthy of champions, turning in an accomplished display on Saturday. 

With Zlatan Ibrahimovic making a return off the bench following his recovery from injury, Rafael Leao opened the scoring before Franck Kessie's penalty made it 2-0. 

Torino had a penalty of their own overturned in the second half but Andrea Belotti's poor header to end a rare attack summed up a disappointing performance, meaning their long wait for a league win at Milan goes on.

The hosts managed four attempts by the 17th minute and their dominance told when Theo Hernandez found Brahim Diaz, whose slick first-time pass played in Leao to dispatch a finish which the watching Ibrahimovic would have been proud of.

Torino's frustration was compounded seven minutes later when Diaz drew a hefty, last-ditch tackle from Belotti.

Referee Fabio Maresca pointed to the spot and despite checking with VAR, found no reason to change his decision. Kessie calmly sent Salvatore Sirigu the wrong way.

The crossbar prevented Ricardo Rodriguez pulling one back against his former club with a superb free-kick – Torino's first shot – while Sirigu made a brilliant stop to deny Kessie on the stroke of half-time.

Torino thought they had a lifeline when Simone Verdi went down under pressure from Sandro Tonali but, after initially giving the penalty, referee Maresca overturned his decision following a check. Tonali came off worse from the collision too, the former Brescia midfielder having to be taken off on a stretcher.

Belotti wasted his first sight of goal by heading tamely at Gianluigi Donnarumma, who pulled off a fantastic 90th-minute stop to keep out Jacopo Segre's deflected attempt to stem any danger of a late Torino comeback.

Real Madrid failed to take full advantage of Atletico Madrid's cancelled fixture with Athletic Bilbao as they played out a toothless 0-0 draw at lowly Osasuna.

LaLiga leaders Atleti saw their game called off as the snow from Storm Filomena battered the capital, which also delayed Madrid's flight for the clash at El Sadar.

Whether it was the disruption to the travel or the freezing conditions, Madrid put in a turgid display and failed to muster a single shot on target in 45 forgettable first-half minutes.

There was little improvement after the break - despite two disallowed goals - and Madrid could only move to within a point of Atleti, who now have three games in hand.

The falling snow was the biggest talking point of a dire opening period in which Madrid saw 72.3 per cent of the ball without mustering any effort of real meaning.

Indeed, the only action of note was when Thibaut Courtois smartly parried Oier's thumping header from Ruben Garcia's corner.

It took until the 49th minute for Madrid to test home keeper Sergio Herrera, who batted away Marco Asensio's bending effort with relative ease.

Karim Benzema did bundle home after Herrera brilliantly kept out his initial point-blank header, only for the offside flag to swiftly curtail the celebrations.

There was a sense of deja vu in the closing stages when Mariano Diaz squirmed home from Benzema's take down but both men were offside when the initial pass was played, as a poor game petered out into a draw.

What does it mean? Madrid feel the freeze

Admittedly, it is pretty rare to see such Baltic-looking conditions in Spain but that alone does not account for Madrid's insipid display. Zinedine Zidane's side had a great opportunity to put pressure on Atleti against a team struggling in the relegation zone but it was one they missed.

Madrid forwards go cold

Madrid's front three of Asensio, Benzema and Eden Hazard just did not click into gear. Asensio offered one shot on target and a key pass, but both he and Hazard - who provided neither a shot on target nor a key pass - were hauled off in the second half. Benzema created a sole chance in the final minute of the match.

Herrera does the job

He had little to do in truth but Herrera was a constant source of calm whenever Madrid posed a threat with a tricky cross into the area and marshalled a stern Osasuna defence throughout.

What's next?

Madrid's attentions now turn to Athletic Bilbao and the semi-finals of the Supercopa de Espana on Thursday, while Osasuna visit Granada on Tuesday.

Jamshedpur is set to host Kerala Blasters at the Tilak Maidan in Vasco in the 2020-21 Indian Super League on Sunday evening. Chennaiyin and Odisha will be in action earlier the same day.

TV CHANNELS & LIVE STREAM

The Star Sports Network have the exclusive broadcasting rights of the ISL in India.

Commentary will also be available in vernacular languages across India.

TEAM NEWS

Jamshedpur Possible XI:   

Injured - None
Doubtful - Narender Gahlot, David Grande, Nick Fitzgerald, Laldinliana Renthlei
Suspended - None  

Key Players - Nerijus Valskis, Jackichand Singh

Kerala Blasters Possible XI: 

Injured - None
Doubtful - None
Suspended - None  

Key Players - Jordan Murray, Sahal Samad      

Paul Onuachu has set a new personal scoring record with his 19th league goal of the season as Genk suffered a 2-1 defeat to Kortrijk in Saturday's Belgian First Divison A encounter.

He has surpassed his previous scoring record of 18 goals in 36 games for Midtjylland during the 2016-17 Danish Superliga campaign, after 19 league matches this season

Onuachu's effort was not enough to help the Blue-White extend their three-game unbeaten run in the Belgian top-flight as Senegal's Habib Gueye scored a goal in each half of the encounter at the Guldensporen Stadion.

The Nigeria international, who scored a hat-trick against KAS Eupen on Wednesday, cancelled out Gueye's opener in the 41st minute as both teams went into the break level but the Senegalese striker restored Kortrijk's lead with his match-winning goal in the 54th minute.

Onuachu played the entire duration while his compatriot Cyriel Dessers came off the bench as a 60th-minute substitute for Ivory Coast's Eboue Kouassi.

Onuachu remains the highest scoring Nigerian player in Europe this season with 19 goals after 19 league matches and he leads the goalscorers chart in the First Division A.

Ghana's Eric Ocansey was in action from start to finish for Kortrijk while Gueye saw 83 minutes of action as he stretched his tally to four goals after 18 league appearances this term.

Despite the defeat, Genk remain second in the First Division A table with 38 points after 20 matches - a point behind leaders Club Brugge.

John van den Brom's men will be targeting a return to winning ways when they visit Royal Excel Mouscron for their next league outing next Saturday.

Gabriel Martinelli was a last-minute withdrawal for Arsenal ahead of Saturday's FA Cup third-round tie against Newcastle United after hurting himself in the warm-up, with manager Mikel Arteta saying the youngster's injury "didn't look good." 

Arsenal confirmed that the 19-year-old turned his ankle minutes before kick-off as he prepared for the match. 

Martinelli had been in line to start but was quickly removed from the starting line-up, with Reiss Nelson entering in his stead. 

Following a 2-0 win for his side in extra-time, manager Arteta provided an update and he was downbeat in his assessment of the problem.

"I am gutted," Arteta said. "I was in my office before the game and one of the coaches came in and said that Gabi hurt himself, that he twisted his ankle. 

"I went to the medical room and he was in tears. It didn't look good. 

"He was in a lot of pain and we're gonna have to see how he is. He was in pain so I imagine we're not gonna have good news with him."

Asked about when he expected an injury update, Arteta said: "I hope so [by Monday]. We really want to know what's going on. 

"He's a character that says he wants to play the next game, that he doesn't care that he can handle pain, but I don't know. 

"Hopefully there is nothing too serious but to start with it didn't look too good."

The Brazilian made his first-team return in December against Everton after missing six months of action due to a knee injury, which interrupted his promising start to life at the Emirates Stadium. 

He has since gone on to make three starts this season, although he sat out Arsenal's last Premier League clash against West Brom as an unused substitute. 

Speaking recently of the injury, which he incurred during a training session in June, Martinelli admitted that he wept upon hearing that it would require surgery and a long lay-off.

"I was about to receive the ball and felt a little pain on my knee. Not enough for me to stop practising, but, while we were on the finishing session, I told them that I was in pain," he explained to the Daily Mail.

"They told me to rest and, if I felt the pain the next day, to let them know.

"When I woke up, I felt it but I was able to walk. I thought it was nothing at first, but it was a pain I'd never felt before. I went to the club for the examinations and they said it was not good and I would need surgery. It broke me. I cried a lot."

Martinelli also paid tribute to manager Mikel Arteta for backing him throughout his absence, while pointing out he cannot afford to rush his return to regular first-team duties.

"Mikel talked to me during my recovery," Martinelli added.

"Always calling me to know how I was, even when I returned to Brazil for a time in August. When the club needed me, he talked to me again, asking if I was feeling ready to play.

"I said, yes. I still feel a bit of pain in the knee, but the doctors say that it is fine. I've not been able to play 90 minutes yet, but it also needs time. My focus is on getting better and helping Arsenal."

Eric Bailly was a first-half casualty for Manchester United against Watford on Saturday when he was forced off the pitch after clashing with goalkeeper Dean Henderson.

The defender started United's FA Cup third-round clash alongside Axel Tuanzebe at the back as the Reds looked to progress against their Championship opponents. 

And things appeared to be going to plan for the hosts at Old Trafford when Scott McTominay fired them into the lead after just five minutes. 

But manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who heavily rotated his squad for the cup clash, was forced into a change just before half-time after an unfortunate mishap involving two of his players. 

Henderson came charging out of his goal to clear a cross from Nathaniel Chalobah, and managed to punch the ball away from danger. 

But in the process the former Sheffield United loanee crashed into Bailly, who was floored by the impact. 

The Ivorian received treatment on the pitch before being walked off by United medical staff, and clearly looked to be suffering the effects of the collision as he appeared dazed. 

United took no chances with the possibility of a head injury, removing Bailly from the game and sending on Harry Maguire in his place for the final minutes of the first half. 

Bailly has been in and out of the Reds line-up during 2020-21, and went almost three months without an appearance after being sidelined in the wake of the club's humiliating 6-1 reverse at the hands of Tottenham in October. 

But Solskjaer recalled him to the defence shortly before the festive period and he has gone on to start United's last three Premier League games, most recently playing all 90 minutes of their 2-1 New Year's Day victory over Aston Villa. 

That recent run of solid form has enthused ex-Reds favourite Rio Ferdinand, who believes him to be the perfect partner for Maguire. 

"A big thing that has gone under the radar is Eric Bailly," the United legend said on his YouTube channel FIVE.

"He’s added a little bit of pace and steeliness to that back four. My only issue with Eric Bailly has always been his fitness, he can never stay fit. 

"He’s always injured or a game away from an injury, and that’s a problem. You don’t get that consistency of performance or get to know each other.

"I think Maguire needs pace next to him, he has other attributes but pace isn’t one of them. In the modern game, to have two centre-backs who aren’t electric quick, you’ve got a problem.

"Bailly has good attributes, he’s quick and aggressive. If he can cut the silly mistakes out which he had previously and gets away from injuries and gets a clean bill of health, I think Manchester United are onto a good thing."

Emile Smith Rowe affirmed that he is living a dream by starring for Arsenal following an eventful afternoon on Saturday.

The midfielder is having a breakthrough campaign for the Gunners, and he helped fire the side into the fourth round of the FA Cup with a 2-0 win over Newcastle at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

Arsenal required extra time before seeing off the Magpies, with Smith Rowe’s precision finish into the corner setting the holders on their way to a place in round four.

It was a remarkable turnaround for Smith Rowe, as he was shown a straight red card in the 90th minute by referee Chris Kavanagh for a challenge on Sean Longstaff, only for it to be downgraded to a yellow following an intervention from VAR.

Smith Rowe has admitted it was a relief to see the red card overturned, and to take advantage by scoring the first goal in the 2-0 win which was sealed by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s close-range finish in the dying moments.

“I am really happy,” Smith Rowe told BBC Sport. “It is a bit of a relief, as the incident before was not ideal. It definitely was not intentional so I am happy to get the goal and go through to the next round.

“We knew it would be a tough game. It was about breaking them down and we’re happy with the win.”

Smith Rowe has had an excellent few weeks, with his form mirroring the uptick in the club’s fortunes since the Christmas period got underway.

“From a young kid I always dreamt of playing for this club,” he said. “All the young players, it is great to get opportunities so I am really happy to be playing for the club.”

Smith Rowe claims the work of manager Mikel Arteta and his staff on building bonds off the field is starting to pay off in their results.

“It shows how together we are,” the 20-year-old midfielder said. “We have been working off the pitch to get closer as a group and that is starting to show on the pitch. 

“We are just happy to keep winning games and we have got to keep going.”

Neeskens Kebano sealed Fulham's passage into the FA Cup fourth round with a goal in their 2-0 victory over Queens Park Rangers on Saturday.

The DR Congo winger came off the bench as a 78th-minute substitute to inspire the visitors to triumph in extra-time.

He doubled the lead at Loftus Road three minutes into stoppage time after Bobby De Cordova-Reid opened the scoring in the 104th minute.

The strike was Kebano's maiden strike of the season since he scored five goals in July during the 2019-20 Championship campaign.

In the absence of Tosin Adarabioyo, Nigeria's Ola Aina put in a solid defensive shift to help Scott Parker's side keep their second straight clean sheet in all competitions.

Senegal goalkeeper Timothy Dieng was in action for QPR alongside Zimbabwe's Macauley Bonne and Anglo-Nigerian Bright Osayi-Samuel who were later replaced in the 73rd minute and 90th minute respectively.

The result stretched Fulham's unbeaten streak to five games, which includes four consecutive draws in the Premier League before the trip to Loftus Road, however, their hosts are now winless in their last 10 matches in all competitions.

“It was a tough game. The same as when we played them last year so we knew that,” Parker said after the game. “I think over the 90 minutes we both punched away and both teams had some good chances.

“After the couple of weeks we’ve had, to go to extra time and look as strong as we did was pleasing.

“Momentum sticks with us, it’s a win. Unbeaten now in five, a clean sheet as well so a lot of positives out there today.”

Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Nigerian descent Ademola Lookman were not called up by Parker but they will be hoping to return to action when Fulham host Chelsea for their next Premier League fixture on January 15.

The Cottagers are 18th in the English top-flight table with 11 points after 15 matches, three points away from safety.

Former Kaizer Chiefs coach Ernst Middendorp added salt into Kaizer Chiefs’ wounds when his Maritzburg United side beat Amakhosi 2-0 in a league match at the FNB Stadium on Saturday evening.

A second-half brace from Judas Moseamedi, who seems to love scoring against Chiefs, left Amakhosi perched precariously just one point above the relegation zone and with just one win in nine league matches this season.

For Middendorp, it was his first match back at the FNB Stadium since he left Amakhosi at the end of a 2019-20 campaign which ended with the Glamour Boys conceding the league title to Mamelodi Sundowns in heartbreaking fashion on the final day of the season.

It was only last weekend that Maritzburg recorded their first win of 2020/ 21, 2-1 against Bloemfontein Celtic.

Chiefs had not been in action domestically this year but were away in Angola for a Caf Champions League tie on Tuesday. Middendorp felt it was the Amakhosi players’ travel-weary legs which gave his team the upper hand in Soweto.

"We had a full week to prepare. This is a little bit of a handicap of a team travelling to Angola, not really having recovered. I could see it already in the begging to be very honest,” the German told SuperSport TV after the game.

“But this is part of the business. If you want to be an international side...it came to our advantage. The freshness I could see on the [Chiefs] side was not there.”

A tactical switch as well as an injury to Khama Billiat three minutes after the break had the net result of the visitors getting stronger the longer the match went on.

It culminated in Moseamedi scoring with a well-taken header in the 66th minute before adding a gem of a goal 13 minutes later as he controlled a long throw-in into the box and fired home a left-footed volley from the tightest of angles.

“Of course we had to adjust in half time, we had some problems with Khama [Billiat], no doubt about it,” Middendorp explained.

“But I think more and more we felt more comfortable. And good, we have the difference - we can make out of three or four chances, two goals.

“I don’t know how Judas scored [the second] goal, it was fantastic, outstanding. But this is his quality. Compliments to the entire team, it was absolutely fantastic fighting spirit.”

Kaizer Chiefs coach Gavin Hunt refused to make any excuses for his side’s 0-2 league defeat against Maritzburg United on Saturday evening at the FNB Stadium.

After a goal-less first half, the visitors grew stronger after the break and took all three points courtesy of two goals from Judas Moseamedi in the final 25 minutes.

It was Amakhosi’s second match this week, and it came on the back of Tuesday’s trip to Angola where they had played a taxing Caf Champions League tie.

Hunt alluded to fatigue but also felt his men could have given him more on Saturday against a Maritzburg side who had gone into the game bottom-of-the-log.

“Disappointed with the result. I don’t think they had many chances, I think they had two chances and scored," Hunt told SuperSport TV after the match.

"That’s football for you, that’s what’s happening with us. I thought we had a lot of the play. Obviously a lack of energy. Only two centre midfielders [Njabulo Blom and Darrel Matsheke] available so we couldn’t make changes. It is what it is," he lamented.

"We had a big effort on Tuesday, but we couldn’t change [the starting line-up] because we didn’t have anyone else. There’s no excuse, everybody's got the same problems with Covid and things like that. You’ve got to be tougher, stronger, and I thought both goals we were a little bit weak," Hunt added.

The defeat leaves the Glamour Boys with just one league win all season and with seven points from nine matches, they are just one point above rock bottom Black Leopards.

In 16 games in all competitions they have won only four. Hunt's problems have been compounded by injuries and the club's transfer ban, which runs until the end of this season.

Next up for the Soweto giants is a league clash away at AmaZulu next week Wednesday.

Also still to come in January for a battle-worn Chiefs side are games against Cape Town City, Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila, Stellenbosch FC and Orlando Pirates.

Kenya international Ismael Dunga has joined Michael Olunga after moving from Vllaznia Shkoder of Albania to Sagan Tosu.

The Albanian club has confirmed the striker is all but set to move to Japan after successful negotiations between all the concerned parties.

“In the recent days, the talks over the sale of Ismael Dunga to Sagan Tosu – a club where Fernando Torres was a player before - of Japan have been ongoing,” Vllaznia Shkoder announced.

“The talks between the parties have been successful and are finally concluded. Vllaznia Shkoder are convinced to let Dunga go in exchange of $90,000 and the striker’s move is expected to be made official in the coming hours.

“Success, Dunga.”

Dunga is among the Kenyan stars who moved to Europe and has additionally played for three Albanian sides in his career.

The former Sony Sugar and Tusker forward joined Vllaznia Shkoder from KF Tirana in 2020. He had joined KF Tirana in 2019 from another Albanian club Luftetari, where, from 2018 to mid-2019, he played in 24 matches and scored seven goals.

The 27-year-old forward played for Greek side Acharnaikos between 2016 and 2017, featured in seven matches, and scored three goals before he moved to Morocco and signed for Raja Beni Mellal.

From Raja Beni Mellal, Dunga signed for the City of Lusaka in 2017, and in 2018 he left for Napsa Stars FC, another Zambian side.

He has also played for Nakumatt and Congo United in Kenya before he started on a journey across foreign clubs in 2016.

His new club finished the concluded season 13th with 36 points after winning seven games, drew 15 and lost in 12 other matches. Eventual champions Kawasaki Frontale finished 47 points above Dunga’s club.

The move to Japan means that Kenya has two players in the Far East league although there are reports Olunga might leave for Al-Duhail SC of Qatar.

Olunga had a stellar season with Kashiwa Reysol as he had won the Golden Boot – after scoring 28 goals – and was also voted the Most Valuable Player becoming the first African to win both awards.

The former Gor Mahia striker had hoped that his success should inspire more Africans to join the Japanese league.

Manchester United have faced plenty of “unfair” criticism in recent times, says Tom Cleverley, with the former Red Devils midfielder hoping to see the likes of Harry Maguire and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer get the credit they deserve after helping to deliver a reversal in fortune.

The Red Devils have become an easy target for doubters since Sir Alex Ferguson headed into retirement on the back of a 13th Premier League title triumph in 2013.

David Moyes, Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho have all failed to recapture former glories at Old Trafford, with serious regression endured at certain points as a once dominant force have been forced to make peace with a standing as also-rans.

The tide has started to turn under Solskjaer, despite four semi-final defeats in cup competition, with United still in the hunt for major silverware this season – with the English top-flight crown back in their sights.

Cleverley, who formed part of United’s last title-winning squad, is pleased to see a fallen giant getting back to its feet.

He hopes those who have been quick to write the Red Devils off, and prominent figures within their ranks, will start to change their tune as hard work in Manchester is recognised.

A man who made 79 appearances for United told the Manchester Evening News: “I think the criticism that they've got in the last year or so is very unfair at times, I mean especially their individual players.

“They're doing a fantastic job and sometimes it'd be nice to see like praise for people like Harry Maguire, who plays every game, he's to a high level but when he does have that one bad game everyone seems to jump on it.

“So, I think against all the adversity they're doing a great job and, yeah, like I said before it's, it's good for English football if Man United are contenders, which it looks like they could be this year.”

Cleverley added on the exploits of Solskjaer, who has seen his future called into question on a regular basis during struggles for consistency: “If when I left the club you'd have said there's not going to be a title challenge until 2021 then that'd have been hard to believe, especially with the money invested.

“But a lot of credit has got to go to Ole. You need time to develop a title-contending team and he's looking like he's got that now and I wish all the best to them.”

Solskjaer is now readying his side for an FA Cup third-round meeting with Cleverley and Watford, with the former frontman considered to have made United a fearsome prospect once more, particularly going forward.

“I don’t know the work on the training pitch but their attacking unit is fantastic," said Cleverley.

“Even watching [Marcus] Rashford’s movement on Wednesday [in a 2-0 Carabao Cup defeat to Manchester City], he didn’t receive a lot of the balls but he’s running in behind and looking to hurt teams at all times and I’m sure that Ole has got that in his game.

“They have a frightening attacking unit and it looks like Ole is coaching them well.”