now on bbc news — sportsday. hello and welcome to sportsday — i'm hugh ferris. our headlines this evening... a first taste of the old firm — can philippe clement continue rangers�* rise against celtic tomorrow? katie boulter seals a united cup win for britain over australia after her teammate beats her boyfriend. australia end their big year with a series win over pakistan as captain cummins proves decisive at the mcg.

hello again. of all the traditions in football's festive period there is one that, in scotland, stands out above the others. there's always an old firm derby as the calendar changes over to the new year, and tomorrow at celtic park this most fiercely contested of fixtures could tighten the premiership title race further as rangers manager philippe clement experiences glasgow's great derby for the first time — albeit in a stadium without his team's fans — with away supporters banned for old firm matches. it's a pitiful football, it's a pitifulfootball, it's it's a pitiful football, it's always better to have two sides, it creates also certain atmosphere. i think it's a pitiful football but its decisions made above my head, also with knowing much more things than i know, so again i try to control the

controllable. the things that i can do, the things we need to do as a team, with my staff, with the players, and the rest is not important. we're not focused on that, we are focused on our football and the game that comes. know it's about the points, and of course it's about the points, and of course it's a boost at that moment, but then three days later you need to confirm the boost and i've seen in the past well enough in my team or in other teams that people get an incredible boost and an incredible performance and three days later they don't perform any more because they were thinking about their boost. then you'd lose, it's about three points, then on tuesday again about three points. but game by game, that's the story we need to do. i know that's the way to win things long—term. philippe clement's first old firm. for pat nevin quite the opposite — the former rangers and scotland winger will be covering the game for bbc 5 live tomorrow and joins us now.

pat, i don't dare ask you how many, unless you have off the top of your head in number in line? a calculation, overioo, head in number in line? a calculation, over 100, a good start there. yes, that is intimidating enough. if you think about the experience tomorrow it'll be slightly different because of the fan situation, will come to that in a moment. if you were to sit him in a moment. if you were to sit him in a room and asked operate under those circumstances, what would you say to him about the unique atmosphere would provide? first him about the unique atmosphere would provide?— would provide? first of all, it's a comlete would provide? first of all, it's a complete assault _ would provide? first of all, it's a complete assault to _ would provide? first of all, it's a complete assault to the - would provide? first of all, it's a complete assault to the senses, | would provide? first of all, it's a - complete assault to the senses, the noise is just off the scale. i've seen great games this season in english premier league, newcastle is buzzing, phenomenal, the spurs are incredible. something extra special when you are a celtic player, it sounds like the noise is deafening. however, it will not be deafening if the away team scores, it will be absolutely silent. the one thing i

would suggest is, be aware that the first ten, 15, 20 minutes, never mean the ball and go on with the game, people will be charging about, chasing each other, so exciting. sometimes, only sometimes, it comes in after that. find sometimes, only sometimes, it comes in after that-— in after that. and what would you sa about in after that. and what would you say about his _ in after that. and what would you say about his impact _ in after that. and what would you say about his impact not - in after that. and what would you say about his impact not only - in after that. and what would you say about his impact not only onl say about his impact not only on the rangers but also on the title? absolutely staggering, he's had 16 games in charge, he is yet to lose a game, if you look at his league games, he is played 11 league games he's been in charge for one, ten of them. the thing is, they're playing well, much more organised than they were before they arrived, there is no change in personnel but they were completely different. they are so mean at the back, they've lost eight

goals, that's eight goals they've lost so far in the premier league this season. he's got them organised, hard to beat, good to watch, scoring goals, and you look what celtic are doing right now in comparison and is not quite as good. even though celtic have a five—point lead at the moment, those two games in hand are what everyone is looking at, and if clement can get a win or possibly a draw, it will put them in a fantastic position. find possibly a draw, it will put them in a fantastic position.— a fantastic position. and this uneasy agreement _ a fantastic position. and this uneasy agreement between | a fantastic position. and this i uneasy agreement between the a fantastic position. and this - uneasy agreement between the clubs of not having away fans for derby matches, i suppose it's something that has been around for a few years now and needs resulting, partly because, i guess, you're right, the atmosphere is aided by it. but also for someone like brendan rogers who has the home side and the home fans at his back, it's different, isn't it? when you don't have that equal and opposite from the other. yeah, i

think it's a great _ and opposite from the other. yeah, i think it's a great loss. _ and opposite from the other. yeah, i think it's a great loss. it _ and opposite from the other. yeah, i think it's a great loss. it is _ and opposite from the other. yeah, i think it's a great loss. it is going - think it's a great loss. it is going to say a great loss for scottish football, it's a great loss for football, it's a great loss for football because over the years it has been a few years i've been watching this game and attending this game, and that extraordinary atmosphere when both sets of fans, doesn't always need to be 50/50, semifinal at hampden park or whatever, it's rare for that, it's been a long time now but not to put too fine a point on it, the world's media and the world's tv and radio are interested in this game. but it's because of the atmosphere as much as anything else and if you take a large part of that atmosphere away, it does affect, and i hate to use this word but i'm going to anyway. it affects the product and how people look at it. some kind of saddened that there aren't fans and i hope we do come to a resolution at some point in time but it doesn't seem very close. when those two teams they dig their heels in, they

seem to dig them in very far. whatever the product is on five life tomorrow i'm sure you'll contribute for it, that's pat nevin here on sports day. he hasn't spoken to them yet but erik ten hag is convinced manchester united's new co—owners want to work with him. ineos agreed a deal to buy 25% of the club... and take control of its football operations... on christmas eve. cue a dramatic comeback win over aston villa... and some breathing space or a man prevoiusly troubled by some inconsistent form. united play nottingham forest tomorrow... and that's ten hag's only focus right now. this moment, i don't want to have distractions, but in the coming days, weeks, there will be time for this when i know more. but i think it is a good thing, it's very positive and as i said, we are really looking forward to work together. ineos wants to work with me, with this structure. and i want to work with them.

meanwhile friday is an island for the premier league's festive period. the only day between christmas and new year without a game. but fear not. they come back thick and fast tomorrow... and this is the picture at the top of the table after arsenal didn't take their chance to go back above liverpool last night. it's making for a compelling title race. with six points separating those top five teams... partly because of the competition provided by those lower down the table as well. when we lose a game, we are out of the title race, when we win a game, we are there, it's the same for our contenders, so it's possible we can address the fact that this year, anything can happen. this season it is a common thing for all the teams, they are struggling to get the results. that means how tough it is to keep going, game by game.

city play sheffield united tomorrow, while there's a game at selhurst park between two teams in terrible form. crystal palace, one win since the end of september... agianst brentford... six defeats from seven. they're next to each other in the table perching perilously above the relegatoin zone... and roy hodgson is a palace boss under pressure. after the games, i find after the games, ifind it hard after the games, i find it hard to really accept too much criticisms for the team's performance, on the other hand i'm talking to people who has to be from the result, the results have been poor. so until we can get some better results, i will have to accept that, but i think, as ijust said, i will be more concerned if the team is playing badly. mps have recommended a new criminal offence is created to try and avoid the scenes witnessed before the euro 2020 final at wembley, when there was violence outside the stadium before fans then tried to get in without tickets. the culture media and sport committee's inquiry into spectator safety issues suggests an offence of unauthorised entry to a match should be punished on conviction by a football banning order.

the committee also looked at the problems liverpool fans encountered outside the stade de france in paris before the 2022 champions league final, which they called �*disgraceful, and was partly due to the attitude of foreign police towards british fans, which the committee said should be improved with government help. let's have a quick look at some of the other stories making the headlines today. carlo ancelotti has extended his contract with real madrid until the end of the 2025—26 season, appearing to end speculation linking him with the brazil national team job. ancelotti's deal was due to end next year, and in march the brazilian fa president said he was sure the former milan and chelsea boss would join them. jack grealish is expected to play for manchester city tomorrow after his house was burgled during their last match who at everton on wednesday night. nobody was harmed despite members of his family being at home, while reports suggest £1 million worth of jewellery was stolen. five—time champion raymond van barneveld beat welshman jim williams

by four sets to one in the third round of the pdc world darts championship at alexandra palace. and the dutchman will next play 16—year—old luke littler in the last 16 tomorrow. and mikaela shiffrin comfortably won a record—extending 93rd world cup race, finishing first in the slalom in lienz. the american was over 2 seconds faster than everyone else, and her 80th podium finish in the discipline takes her one away from equalling another of the sport's records. australia have ended the year in the same way they've spent much of the rest of it — by winning. they beat pakistan by 79 runs in melbourne to take a 2—0 lead in their three match series, coming through another test of character thanks in great part to their captain as patrick gearey reports. 2023, the year of the pat. cummins

leadin: , 2023, the year of the pat. cummins leading, australia _ 2023, the year of the pat. cummins leading, australia winning, - 2023, the year of the pat. cummins leading, australia winning, a - leading, australia winning, a fitting ending. so many have contributed to success, for instant, carrie. tough and tougher when you are facing ellipses practised and studied themselves, lead them back into the chase with every run the picture improved, five wickets remaining, less than 100 to win, australia needed their leader. cummins was sure mohammed was one had touched this even if the umpire was in, watch the right of the screen. the ball hit the wristband, that's out, and pakistan's elastic snap. cummins, took five wickets in the innings, ten in the match. but the innings, ten in the match. but the last went to test world champions this was australia's series in australia's year. patrick gearey, bbc news. we haven't yet bid farewell to 2023,

but the new 2024 tennis season is already under way with the united cup mixed team competition in australia and great britain beat the hosts to get the tournament off to a winning start. katie boulter secured the vital victory in the three rubber tie with a straight sets win over ajla tomljanovic. the british number one winning 6—2, 6—4just after her team—mate had beaten her boyfriend. cameron norrie is the former, australia's alex de minaur the latter. the british number one claiming a three set victory and after the tie was won, boulter said it was �*super awkward�* but she �*hopes de minaur will still have me�*. britain can reach the united cup quarterfinals if they beat the usa on sunday. meanwhile over in brisbane... rafa nadal is preparing to return to the court after a year out, ahead of a year that may well be his last in the sport. nadal�*s most recent competitive match was injanuary at the australian open, which he�*s also preparing for next week. after missing the other three slams in 2023 he�*s slipped out

of the world�*s top 600 and says he�*s realistic about his chances of winning more titles in 202a. for me it is impossible to think about winning tournaments today, but what is really possible is to think to enjoy the comeback to the court. no, i don�*t expect much. it is going to be a tough process at the beginning. nothing is impossible, but at the end, for me, just to be here is a victory and i hope i am going to have the chance to enjoy, and the crowd as well. just before we go, it may well be a day with no primary league football, and a rare one before the new year, but there is a full programme of championship matches, approaching half to plymouth, it is approaching have time and it is 0—0. second place ipswich also played, you can

follow a course on the bbc sport website, that�*s it from sports day, bye—bye for now. the number of anti—semitic hate crimes recorded by some of the uk�*s largest police forces rose sharply in the weeks following the hamas attack on israel. data released by 31 forces show incidents peaked in larger urban areas, including in west yorkshire, the west midlands, greater manchester and merseyside. however hate crime overall appears to have fallen significantly over the last decade. our home editor mark easton has this report. stop taking out innocent civilians! killing children every single day! in the weeks after the start of the israel hamas conflict, tensions spilled over into a spike in anti—semitic and islamophobic hate incidents in the uk. this is anti—semitism. data obtained from freedom

of information requests show that