this is bbc news, the headlines. a ukrainian missile damages a russian warship docked in occupied crimea — president zelensky says he's grateful to his airforce for the attack. israel's army chief says the war in gaza will continue for months — as the bombardment of the strip intensifies. iraq condemns us air strikes on iranian—backed targets in its territory — the us says it was retaliating after an attack on american bases. and — cameras take us behind the palace gates... we get a glimpse at a new bbc documentary following king charles in his coronation year. now on bbc news it's time for sportsday. hello and welcome to sportsday.

our headlines this evening... a hatrick on his return to st james park, wood fires forest to all three points against newcastle. back on form ahead of the old firm. celtic lead by five poinst in the scottish premiership. and the boxing day test between australia and pakistan in melbourne is finely poised after the first day. good evening, boxing day is always a special day in the football calendar. five premier league matches today, we have three results so far. it's been a difficult christmas for newcastle, defeat at luton at the weekend and now nottingham forest who came from behind to win 3—1, chris wood scored just one goal

at stjames park in his 18 months as a newcastle striker, he scored all three for forest there today. our sports correspondent joe wilson was watching. any colour will do at newcastle, as long as it's black or white. refereeing decisions are rarely that simple. just ask nottingham forest. a foul on newcastle's alexander isak, a penalty awarded. contact was minimal, enough for the decision to stand, and isak did enough to score. reaction from the new forest manager — understandable concern. but look, that's forest on the counter—attack just before half time. sweeping move and an equalising goal. chris wood with a simple finish and the subdued celebration. well, he's a former newcastle player. at the start of the second half, wood did well to try to contain himself when he scored one of the best goals of his long career. wow. newcastle shocked, forest led.

now hang on, this is too much. that's wood again. the new zealander with another perfect finish. expecting a belated offside? no, it was fine. by full time, newcastle looked tired, forest, reinspired. joe wilson, bbc news. let's hearfrom the managers, starting with nuno espirito santo, who is still in his first week as forest boss. the game plan was to defend well, first of all, defend well because i think we have to learn from the last game against bournemouth, we didn't defend well. and today we did defend well. chris had an amazing game. to allow chris and the attacking players to have the space and freedom to play, it comes from behind. so, spot on. they were always in the game, and i think they had pace and physicality and that was difficult for us. we have prided ourselves on defending those situations better normally, and for whatever reason today that wasn't it.

i'm already analysing what happened today, and we are looking to come back and improve. the big thing for us is we have not had a period of training for a long, long time. hopefully now we will. bournemouth beat fulham 3—nil to earn a fourth premier league win in a row. victory takes them above chelsea and into the top half. bournemouth went in front at the end of a scrappy first half whenjustin kluivert beat fulham goalkeeper bernd leno. dominic solanke made it two from the penalty spot before substitute luis sinisterra wrapped it up for bournemouth with this stunner in stoppage time. obviously very happy. i think in the second half it was quite level until we scored. not many chances. good phases from both teams and i think from the first goal for us it was an easier game and we found more space

and we were better in the second half. we did not take the decision this afternoon — we did not take the decision this afternoon and we were a bit sloppy. the penalty created a different scenario — the penalty created a different scenario as they were more comfortable and after that our performance was not good enough. there was an incredible game at bramhall lane bewteen two sides in the relegation zone. luton came from behind to beat sheffield united 3—2. sam allison took charge of the match, the first black referee to officiate in the prmier league for for 15 years — we'll have more on the impact of his appointment later on sportsday. the blades had gone 2—1 up after a real goalmouth scramble, their captain anel ahmedhodzic eventually put the ball in the net. but two own goals in four minutes turned the game — first sheffield united's jack harrison flicked the ball past his own keeper. before carlton morris' cross was turned in by blades defender anis slimane. united stay bottom of the table,

luton are still in the bottom three but only by a point after back to back wins. the momentum is changed because a bit of fear kicks in when they go up and we go again and i cannot quite have the players enough to show their character in this really big game. the crowd were really up for it and they knew the magnitude of it as well. maybe a bit of luck but however weight we did it to turn it around the players deserve a lot of credit. it isjust the mindset it is just the mindset and it isjust the mindset and one point so difficult — it isjust the mindset and one point so difficult to come by it is not a time _ so difficult to come by it is not a time to— so difficult to come by it is not a time to protect but to get forward and clearly if we had done that, the goalkeeperjust catches the ball and we are _ goalkeeperjust catches the ball and we are looking at three points and another— we are looking at three points and another two points on top of friday night _ another two points on top of friday night because of that attitude and approach — night because of that attitude and approach more than anything. two more results to come,

they are underway at turfmoor. liverpool will go top of the table if they avoid defeat at burnley — i—nil they are winning. aston villa will also jump above current leaders arsenal if they beat manchester united at old trafford later, which is a real possibilty with united on a really poor run. we have to put things right, we have to do things different. we really appreciate all the time they are supporting us, even with the setbacks. this time, they are all the time behind us, and we are really appreciating that. but of course we need any help. first of all, the team and i have to do it. the championship leaders leicester are at second placed ipswich later. leeds were looking to consolidate third place but slipped up away at preston.

leeds were reduced to ten men after goal keeper — islan meslier was sent off for raising his hands in an altercation and pushing a preston player in the face. it was goalless at the time butjust a few minutes later preston took the lead through their captain — allan browne. leeds equalised from the penalty spot inside the last ten minutes through their skipper pascal struijk. but in the final minute of the game preston won it with a brilliant goal from liam miller. they are up to 9th, leeds have dropped to fourth. celtic beat dundee with three second—half goals to move five points clear of rangers at the top of the scottish premiership. the visitors are unbeaten in a0 games against dundee — paulo bernardo scoring the first, before substitute mikeyjohnston's late double made sure of victory. next up for them is the old firm match on saturday, but rangers do have two games in hand, one of them is against ross county tomorrow night.

there was a big derby in the united rugby championship, and it went the way of the previous seventeen between cardiff and dragons, but this was also cardiff's biggest over their rivals 55—21. the hosts ran in nine tries at a packed arms park — seven in the first half alone to equal the league record — six different try scorers with prop kieron assirati even getting in on the act. cardiff are up to 10th in the table, dragons stay bottom. the scarlets are hosting the ospreys this evening as they look to turn around their faltering season. scarlets third from bottom and have been struggling. this is the latest in the west wales derby. you don't see this often in rugby, but the game was actually 0—0 at the interval.

there has been scoring in the second half though. munster then host leinster in a sold—out st stephen s day derby at thomond park. munster have lostjust once at home since the same day last year. leinster s only defeat this season was away to glasgow on the opening weekend. almost three hours of play was lost due to heavy rain on the opening day of the boxing day test bewteen australia test between australia and pakistan at the mcg. after winning the toss pakistan chose to field and the aussie openers put on 90 before david warner was dismissed. the tourists then got the key wicket of steve smith before marnus labuschange's unbeaten 44 steadied the innings as they closed on 187 for 3. australia can seal the series in melbourne the series in melbourne after winning the first test. kagiso rabada took five wickets as south africa took charge of the first test against india at centurion. he dismissed captain rohit sharma early

on and that set the tone for the rest of the day. wickets fell at regular intervals with india's talisman virat kohli also falling cheaply as they closed on 208 for 8. kl rahul staged a fightback late on with an unbeaten 70 before bad light and rain brought an early close. there was an upset at kempton today as hewick, a horse bought forjust 800 pounds, won the king george the sixth chase. one of the favourites, shishkin slipped while leading just after the second last leaving bravemansgame and allaho in control. but hewick, the 12 to i chance, ridden by gavin sheehan, and trained by shark hanlon, came from last to first to claim victory. as promised, let's return to football and the match at bramhall lane where sam allison was in the middle for the sheffield united luton game. the first black referee in 15 years, to take charge

of a premier league game. the pgmol, the governing body for refs says it wants an increase of 1,000 women and 1,000 black or asian referees at all levels of the game in the next three years. our correspondent nesta mcgregor has more. the referee, by the way, sam allison. he was going to be in charge... does the name sam allison mean anything to you? sam allison? no. not to me, it don't. yeah. first black referee after 15 years. it should not be shocking. why does it matter? as _ it should not be shocking. why does it matter? as long _ it should not be shocking. why does it matter? as long as _ it should not be shocking. why does it matter? as long as he _ it should not be shocking. why does it matter? as long as he is - it should not be shocking. why does it matter? as long as he is good. i the league's first black referee was uriah rennie, from 1997 to 2008. back then, ian wright was one of the stars of the league, scoring goals rather than analysing them. he says he's surprised at the lack

of progress 15 years on. i think that referees are a species that's in trouble. you know, when you look at what they go through at grassroots level. so the conveyor belt of people coming through, you know, asian and black referees are out there. we need to find out where the blockage is. rodney heinz is the co—founder of the football blacklist and a leading voice in celebrating black excellence in football. ., , ., excellence in football. people do so at grassroots _ excellence in football. people do so at grassroots level _ excellence in football. people do so at grassroots level and _ excellence in football. people do so at grassroots level and they - excellence in football. people do so at grassroots level and they are - at grassroots level and they are prepared — at grassroots level and they are prepared to do the hard yards. and then there — prepared to do the hard yards. and then there is a blockage. the need for black— then there is a blockage. the need for black officials within the national— for black officials within the national game is very important. monks _ national game is very important.

monks given by fa observers as one factor affecting the progression of match officials. referees say the grading system could be one reason why some find it difficult to climb the ladder. ashley left the game in 2019 after five years as a level four referee.— 2019 after five years as a level four referee. ., , ,, ., ., , four referee. level four is known as the graveyard _ four referee. level four is known as the graveyard for _ four referee. level four is known as the graveyard for black _ four referee. level four is known as the graveyard for black men. - four referee. level four is known as the graveyard for black men. i - four referee. level four is known as the graveyard for black men. i wasl the graveyard for black men. i was trying to do everything i could to come across as professional and i started to hear things implying that there was more play than just my ability to referee. little comments are starting to add up about my hair which was high top at the time. this amalgamation of comments and stories and anecdotes. all of that combined because there was more a plate and you can feel that in the atmosphere. as a person of colour you do know. ads, as a person of colour you do know. a spokesperson for the fa told us recruitment and development of

referees from all backgrounds is fundamental to the new strategy and we want to ensure everyone can feel valued and supported at all levels of the game. and with these positive changes being made this season ashley has returned to the ground that he loves. the ashley has returned to the ground that he loves.— ashley has returned to the ground that he loves. ~ ., ., ., ., that he loves. the fa are doing good thins that he loves. the fa are doing good thin . s and that he loves. the fa are doing good things and the _ that he loves. the fa are doing good things and the appointment - that he loves. the fa are doing good things and the appointment of - that he loves. the fa are doing good things and the appointment of sam l things and the appointment of sam alisonjust epitomises things and the appointment of sam alison just epitomises the changes that are taking place.— that are taking place. liverpool thou~ht that are taking place. liverpool thought they'd _ that are taking place. liverpool thought they'd scored - that are taking place. liverpool thought they'd scored a - that are taking place. liverpool thought they'd scored a second that are taking place. liverpool- thought they'd scored a second but it was disallowed. the harvey elliott girl seem to be good but mo salah was interfering from an offside position. that is all, enjoy the rest of your boxing day. after a day of eating and drinking, it seems much of the country likes

nothing more on christmas evening than curling up on the couch