natalie pirks reports from wembley.igh—flying brighton landed at wembley, relishing their status of favourites. the seagulls are pushing for europe in the league, and under a grey london sky, an fa cup final for the first time in a0 years was at stake. united were looking to respond after a defensive horror show in europe. early on alexis mcallister put david tejeda's reflexes to the test. united were buoyed by the return of bruno fernandes. sanchez needed to be sharp. but it was brighton with all the running. they came out in the second half, all guns blazing. as the game opened up for them, tejeda had to yet again be on his toes. tired legs and heads now faced extra time. chances came and went. in this slugfest neither could inflict the final blow. even all penalties was scored, until solly march stepped up. he has enjoyed a brilliant season but football can be cruel. and that proved decisive. lindelof ensured united won the spot kick lottery while brighton could only rue what might have been. after an abject performa

natalie pirks bbc news, wembley.was teased as having the potential to be a closely fought top four battle — but in reality, it was over after 21 minutes — newcastle thrashed tottenham 6—1 in the end. eddie howe�*s side were five goals up in the first half, and added a sixth after harry kane grabbed a consolation for spurs. that result means newcastle up to third in the table, with spurs�* top four hopes taking a massive hit. they're six points off the champions league places, with those above also having games in hand. all in all, a terrible afternoon for tottenham. i want to apologise to everyone, because the first 25 minutes were not enough for this type of game. for me, it was unexpected, this type of performance. but when we changed the system, we played much better, so maybe my decision to change system was not the right decision. the mood is good but everyone has got a very stable and balanced mindset, we are never too high, never too low especially in this running. we have got seven really tough games and we h

natalie pirks bbc news, wendy.ential to be a closely fought top four battle — but in reality, it was over after 21 minutes — newcastle thrashed tottenham 6—1 in the end. eddie howe�*s side were five goals up in the first half, and added a sixth after harry kane grabbed a consolation for spurs. that result means newcastle up to third in the table, with spurs�* top four hopes taking a massive hit. they're six points off the champions league places, with those above also having games in hand. all in all, a terrible afternoon for tottenham. i want to apologise to everyone, because the first 25 minutes were not enough for this type of game. for me, it was unexpected, this type of performance. but when we changed the system, we played much better, so maybe my decision to change system was not the right decision. the mood is good but everyone has got a very stable and balanced mindset, we are never too high, never too low especially in this running. we have got seven really tough games and we have to take each won one by

natalie pirks was watching.in the final, to thomas tuchel�*s chelsea. the german is now at bayern munich but to overturn three goals, they would need a miracle. could city�*s former player leroy sane be the one to get it started? he�*s missed it! from there, the match burst into life. a red card was rescinded before an errant elbow handed city a penalty. but when the spot kick was delayed, it was enough to prompt a collector�*s item from goal machine erling haaland. he�*s put it over the bar! but you can�*t keep a good man down. with bayern pushing hard in the second half, haaland gave them the slip for his 48th goal this season. a late flourish saw bayern score a controversial penalty, and tuchel banished to the stands for one strop too many. but while he lost his head, city kept theirs to set up yet another clash in madrid. natalie pirks, bbc news. time for a look at the weather. it has just turned 10.30. here�*s stav da naos. good evening. behind me a typical scene of what we have been seeing over the last fe

our sports correspondent natalie pirks watched the action.l's gallop to the title has started of late and their nerves were on show right from the off. �* , . . ., . nerves were on show right from the off-— carlos - off. arsenal conceded! carlos alcaraz could _ off. arsenal conceded! carlos alcaraz could not _ off. arsenal conceded! carlos alcaraz could not believe - off. arsenal conceded! carlos alcaraz could not believe his| off. arsenal conceded! carlos - alcaraz could not believe his luck as the emirates was stunned into silence. ., ., ~' . as the emirates was stunned into silence. . ~ ~' as the emirates was stunned into silence. ., ~ ~ ~ ., silence. look at mikel arteta. southampton _ silence. look at mikel arteta. southampton are _ silence. look at mikel arteta. southampton are fighting - silence. look at mikel arteta. southampton are fighting for| silence. look at mikel arteta. - southampton are fighting for their premier league lives but if arsenal thought it could not get worse... the home fans were in disbelief. time for a good talk

thank you natalie pirks.ay was all about the fight for survival — more on a huge win for leicester to come but the day started with a missed opportunity for leeds. they could have pulled clear of the bottom three and put pressure on the teams around them — but fulham had other ideas as david brindle reports: 11 goals conceded in their last two games, leeds united needed vast improvement at craven cottage to stave off relegation. but london hasn't been a happy ground for them this season five visits and five defeats. leeds united kept a clean sheet for a while before a cross was finished by wilson, 1—0. two goes into games for harry. then the goalkeeper was a bystander as the crossbar was rattled from a soon after, leeds united could only watch on as it for them could only watch on as fulham putting another one. javier garcia size was need of help. they got a lifeline but leeds united could not find a equaliser and remain in a precarious close position. losing the game is difficult to accept. we are finishing

natalie pirks is pitchside for us at wembley. avourites for this game. sounds extraordinary, but perhaps not given the two teams' recent form? it is incredible to thinkjust eight weeks ago manchester united were here winning the caramel cup final with the victory against newcastle. brighton eighth in the league and with games in hand it six wins in nine and coming in off the back of a week to build up and they beat chelsea last weekend. united had a morale sapping defeat in spain in the quarterfinals of the europa league, they were abject in defence, fingers pointed at de gea and harry maguire who is suspended today it is are mounting up for manchester united but they could be boosted by the return of bruno fernandes and perhaps marcus rushford. —— rashford. brighton are looking to be in the fa cup final for the first time since 1983 and they have beaten united in the last two games they have played them so seagulls fans will come here with confidence and whoever wins will face manchester city in the final injune. france and wales

chasing a premier league, champions league and fa cup treble after beating sheffield united as natalie pirksthe fa cup — it's been some time. united! cheering but standing in the way of their first fa cup semifinal since 1936, was a side leaping into treble contention. come on city! wembley was far from full for this northern clash but sheffield united were not simply here to make up the numbers. it commentator: he's had to make a save! early on, they looked sharp. but this was truly a test against the best. city were starting to get a foothold and when danieljebbison swiped at bernardo silva in the box, the referee did not hesitate. penalty given. riyad mahrez coolly dispatched the spot kick to place city in the driving seat. the second half continued in the same vein. city calm and composed. mahrez driving through the blades like a knife through butter. remarkably, he wasn't done. the rout was complete just minutes later. mahrez! a hug for the hat—trick hero, the first fa cup semifinal hat—trick since 1958 and city's 17th goal in this fa cup campaign. the celebrations belonged to the fans.

but championship side sheffield united stand in their way at wembley stadium — our correspondent natalie pirkse yet to concede a goal in this fa cup campaign. they are unbeaten in 15 matches in the blades haven't won anything cup semifinal the last five times and asking. make no mistake, if they were to meet city here today would be huge mistake. there is no—one on the planet here today that thinks they could do it but as we saw last night between southampton and arsenal nothing is in football. —— nothing is certain in football. well, it could be a treble winning season for manchester city if they win the fa cup, the premier league and the champions league. but history is against them, particularly in europe, so pep guardiola is not getting too distracted. really start to talk the treble when you won the premier league and after we won the fa cup, before the final of the champions league. look how far away to start to talk about that. i said many times, how many times in this amazing country, travels, i've done. how many years? that's why we get so excited. how many games? is one. wrexham's ho

our correspondent natalie pirks is there for us: we are at that point and we where seasons can be madepect of automatic promotion back to the premier league if they beat west bromwich here today and they are trying to reach the fa cup final for the first time since 1936 but standing on their way are the current premier league champions on theirfifth are the current premier league champions on their fifth consecutive fa cup semifinal. pep guardiola's side are coming to the boil atjust the right time. you mention the trouble though they could do that it would be the first time that's been donein would be the first time that's been done in english football bowl since 1999 and the signs for sheffield united are ominous and city are yet to concede a goal in this fa cup campaign. they are unbeaten in 15 matches and the blaze haven't won an fa cup semifinal the last five times of asking. make no mistake, if they were to meet city today would be huge upset. manager says there is no—one on the planet that thinks they can do it but as we saw last night between southampton and arsenal, nothing is

(tx sot) i've been speaking to our correspondent natalie pirks who's at wembley for a match that brighton defeat for united in seville. knighted, as the body said, well, that morale sapping defeat 3—0 in spain in the quarterfinals of the europa league. we have heard erickson had saying it was simply an acceptable and that in the dressing room so it will be really interesting does he how they react that we have heard eric ten hard. brighton, as you said, are looking to be in the fa cup finalfor the first time since they were beaten by united in the last two matches they played so fans coming here full of confidence for the seagulls and of course whoever wins today will be facing manchester city in the final. serie a champions in waiting napoli will attempt to take their lead back to 17 points later when they playjuventus, a team who have leapt to third in the table after their 15 point deduction for false accounting was reversed. inter�*s win over empoli has taken them fifth. romelu lukaku with two of their three goals. the leaders in spain are also playing today. barcelona are 8 points cl

natalie pirks, bbc news. time for a look at the weather. it has just turned 10.30. here's stav da naos. good evening. behind me a typical scene of what we have been seeing over the last few days, blossom out and blue sky overhead, plenty of sunshine per stop tomorrow looks pretty similar but we will hold onto the chilly wind and that will be noticeable across england and wales. cooler down north sea coast. the breeze is a feature this evening and overnight. clear skies for many. a little low cloud and mist developing, the pennines, parts of wales also with low cloud. away from the east coast, it will be quite chilly tonight. a touch of frost in parts of scotland and western england and wales under clear skies out of town. high pressure on to those weather seems tomorrow. this feature running in off the near continent will be the fly in the ointment because most of the country will have another dry and sunny day, with fresh breezes again. there is the cloud, outbreaks of rain getting in to east anglia and the south—east through the afternoon period. a bit of a disapp

here's our correspondent natalie pirks.sed the treble. they face sheffield united, who are second in the championship, and premier leaue bound it would seem but today, they'll need to pull off an almighty cup upset. sheffield united have upset the odds already this season, defeating tottenham in the fifth round. but this is different — it's manchester city — who are chasing a treble of trophies and are in unstoppable form at the moment, although they have lost at this stage of the fa cup, in the last three seasons. wrexham could be promoted back into the football league for the first time in 15 years this evening and get the hollywood storyline their film star owners have been aiming for since they took overjust over a couple of years ago. the moment their club can escape non—league football, and they'll achieve that tonight with a victory over boreham wood at the racecourse ground. hollywood stars rob mackle—henney and ryan reynolds have pumped in millions of pounds into the club and theirjourney has been turned into a glo

natalie pirks, bbc news.and a milan derby. inter milan beat benfica 5—3 on aggregate to set up a last four meeting with their city rivals, ac milan, who they share a stadium with. the two sides have played twice before in the knockout stages, with ac milan winning the last meeting in the quarter finals back in 2005. back home in the championship, it is getting to that point of the season where one moment and one goal can change a club's entire season. both blackburn and coventry city are desperate to get to the premier league via the play—offs. and the sky blues kept their hopes alive at ewood park, with a last minute equaliser from their goalkeeper. ben wilson got on the end of the cross — the blackburn players thought he'd done so with his hand — but the goal stood and coventry claimed a crucial 1—1 draw. it's one of the tightest title races in recent wsl history, and league leaders manchester united, boosted their title hopes with a win over arsenal. alessia russo scoring the only goal of the game, on stro

and awaiting them rivals city natalie pirks reports from wembley.don sky, an fa cup final for the first time in a0 years was at stake. united were looking to respond after a defensive horror show in europe. early on, alexis mcallister put david de gea's reflexes to the test. united were buoyed by the return of bruno fernandes. sanchez needed to be sharp, but it was brighton with all the running. they came out for the second half all guns blazing. and, as the game opened up for them, de gea had to yet again be on his toes. tired legs and heads now faced extra time. chances came and went in this slugfest, neither could inflict the final blow. even all penalties were scored until solly march stepped up. commentary: and he's blazed it over the bar! i he's enjoyed a brilliant season, but football can be cruel and that proved decisive. commentary: scores! lindelof ensured united won the spot kick lottery, while brighton could only rue what might have been. well, that wasn't a vintage united performance by any means. and brighton may well feel hard done by