points clear at the top of the scottish premiership tonight after a 1—0 win at home to bottom club partick thistlectory thanks to a 17th minute goal from scott sinclair at a rain—sodden parkead. the champions are now unbeaten in 21 domestic matches. league one side peterborough united will face premier league leaders chelsea in the fa cup third round after beating notts county 2—0. the league two strugglers fell behind with less than two minutes gone at london road when gwion edwards struck. and just five minutes later, paul taylor ensured his first fa cup goal was a memorable one. great strike. jamie vardy will serve a three—match ban after his claim for wrongful dismissal was rejected by the fa. vardy was shown a straight red for a two—footed tackle during leicester city's match with stoke city on saturday. he'll now miss the premier league champions' games against everton, west ham and middlesbrough. joey barton will re—sign for burnley on a short—term deal until the end of the season. barton was named championship player of the year in his previous stint with the club. he left rangers last mon

other games in the scottish premiership saw motherwell beat bottom side inverness 2—1, while partick thistles what it has done for the table. celtic, with that 16—point lead at the top, ahead of rangers. and the old firm derby takes place on new year's eve, so there is a chance they could lead by 19 points heading into 2017. looking ominous — unless you're a celtic fan, of course. the former wales and manchester united captain ryan giggs and the current wales manager, chris coleman, are among the favourites for the vacant job at swansea city. the premier league side sacked bob bradley last night, afterjust 85 days in charge. here is nick palit with more. despite making history when he was appointed in october as the first american to manage in the premier league, under bob bradley's tenure, the swans have had a dire record. they have won just two out of 11 games, and conceded 29 goals. after another humiliating defeat to west ham here on boxing day, fans were chanting for bradley to be sacked, with half the premier league season remaining. last night, the swans did just that. in a statement,

stjohnstone won at kilmarnock 1—0 and partick thistle ended a seven—game run without a win and move offable after a 3—1win at ross county. world rugby‘s ruling body aren't happy with how northampton saints dealt with george north's apparent concussion in a match at the beginning of the month and they also want an explanation as to how the rfu and premiership rugby investigated the incident and failed to sanction the club for not following head injury protocols and removing him from the game. north is still sidelined and missed tonight's victory against sale. it ended a four—match losing streak for saints and they are up to sixth in the premiership they ran in three tries. the first from ben foden. sale did manage one of their own, scored by new signing from rugby league denny solomona. but they've now lost seven in a row. we've had a couple of matches in the pro 12. ulster are up to fourth after beating connacht 23—7. stuart mcclos key scored the first of their two dries. in the night's other match between the bottom two, treviso beat fellow italians zebre. petra kvitova has left hospit

partick thistle beat dundee 2-0. and deaths. partick thistle beat dundee 2—0.ing ominous, unless you are a celtic fan, of course. the former wales and manchester united captain ryan giggs and the current wales manager chris coleman are among the favourites for the vacant job at swansea city. the premier league side sacked bob bradley last night afterjust 85 days in charge. here's nick palit with more. despite making history when he was appointed in october is the first american to manage in the premier league, under bob bradley, the swans have had a dire record. a wonjust two out of 11 games and conceded 29 goals. after another humiliating defeat to west ham here on boxing day, fans were chanting for bradley to be sacked, with half the premier league season remaining. last night, the club did that. chairman huw jenkins said, with the club going through such a tough time, they would have to try and find the a nswe i’s would have to try and find the answers and get ourselves out of trouble. bradley himself believes the contentious way the new american owners took

stjohnstone won at kilmarnock 1—0, and partick thistle ended a seven—game run without a win, to moveable after a 3—1 win at ross county. celtic and rangers both play later today. joey barton has been charged by the football association for breaching their rules on betting. it is claimed he placed over 1,000 bets over a ten—year period up to may this year. barton has until five january to respond to the charge. last month, barton was given a one—month suspension by the scottish football association for betting on matches this season during his brief spell with rangers. barton is due to rejoin burnley in january, for the remainder of the season. world rugby say they want more information from the rugby football union about how northampton handled george's north's latest head injury. the wales international has had problems with concussion in the past. a panel ruled this week that the saints won't face any sanctions relating to the incident. north didn't feature last night for his club, who ended a four—match losing streak by beating sale sharks 2a—5. northampton ran in three tries agai

partick thistle ended a seven—game run without a victory to move off the bottom of the table after a both play later today. joey barton has been charged by the football association with breaching the rules on betting. it's claimed he placed over 1000 bets over a 10—year period up to may this year. he has until the 5th of january to respond to the charge. last month he was given a one—month suspension by the scottish football association for betting on matches this season while he was with rangers. he was due to read join his former club burnley injanuary rangers. he was due to read join his former club burnley in january for the rest of the season. world rugby say they want more information from the rugby football union about how the rugby football union about how the hampton handled george northup was my greatest head injury. he had problems with them russian in the past, a panelled rules he won't face any sanctions. —— yet problems with concussion in the past. but hampton ran in three tries against sale sharks. they have now lost seven in a row. in april12, ulster sharks. they have

partick thistle are off the bottom of the table after a 3-1 off the bottom of the table after a 3—1winter a 3—1 win at ross county. the world would be ruling body are not happy with how northampton saints tilt with how northampton saints tilt with the apparent concussion of george north in a match at the beginning of the month and they also wa nt beginning of the month and they also wantan beginning of the month and they also want an explanation as to how we are a few premiership rugby investigated the incident and failed to sanction the clu b incident and failed to sanction the club for not following head injury protocols and removing him from the game. george north is still sidelined and missed the victory tonight against sale sharks. it ended a losing streak for saint to go ended a losing streak for saint to 9° up ended a losing streak for saint to go up to sixth in the premiership, sale sharks did manage a try of their own, scored by their new rugby league signing, but they have now lost seven in a row. a couple of matches in the pro 12. ulster at up to fourth after defeating condu

celtic can go 1a points clear with a win over partick thistle.y at the moment. they lead 1—0 at celtic park. peter take on notts county for the right to take on chelsea in the third round. —— peterborough. five minutes later, paul taylor doubled peterborough's advantage. 2—0 currently. jamie vardy will serve a three—match ban after his claim for wrongful dismissal was rejected by the fa. vardy was shown a straight red for a two—footed tackle during leicester city's match with stoke city on saturday. he'll now miss the premier league champions' games against everton, west ham and middlesbrough. joey barton will re—sign for burnley on a short—term deal until the end of the season. barton was named championship player of the year in his previous stint with the club. he left rangers last month after having his contract terminated. newcastle united midfielder jonjo shelvey has been banned for five games and fined £100,000 after being found guilty of using racially abusive language. shelvey was charged following an incident with wolves midfielder romai

there were also wins for motherwell and partick thistle.epeated, that's according to one of his former team—mates. wiggins is the most decorated british olympian, with five gold medals in his total of eight — the most recent coming in the team pursuit in rio. but speaking to me earlier, his former team—mate rob hayles said the questions over his use of performance enhancing drugs for medical reasons had cast a cloud over the end of wiggin's career. over the end of wiggins' career. it's a real shame that all this tue has come right at the end of his career. there is a cloud and it is understandable. in terms of the rules of the sport, he has broken them. the uci, the world governing body wada said there is nothing to a nswer body wada said there is nothing to answerfor, but body wada said there is nothing to answer for, but there body wada said there is nothing to answerfor, but there is body wada said there is nothing to answer for, but there is still a question of, has it been ethical? i think that's a separate issue. but it's certainly no

stjohnstone won at kilmarnock i—o and partick thistle ended a seven—game run without a win to move off table after a 3—1 win at ross county. celtic and rangers both play later today. world rugby say they want more information from the rugby football union about northampton's apparent non compliance with concussion protocols relating to george's north's head injury. a panel ruled this week that the saints won't face any sanctions relating to the incident. north didn't feature last night for his club, who ended a four match losing streak by beating sale sharks 2a—5. northampton ran in three tries against sale who've now lost seven in a row. while in the pro 12, ulster moved fourth after beating connacht 23—7. stuart mccloskey scored the first of their two tries. the defending pdc darts world champion gary anderson is safely through to the third round at the alexandra palace. the ‘flying scotsman' fired in six maximums and didn't drop a set in his win over andrew ‘goldfinger‘ gilding. checkouts of 134 and 132 helped him secure victory 4—0. he plays ‘big ben' benito van de pas in the next

there were also wins for motherwell and partick thistle.rs are over. hatton said if there were a professional boxing association in place, others may be able to avoid the depression that hit him when he retired. hatton fell into heavy drinking and drug—taking, and tried to take his own life on several occasions. he said boxers who retire tend to spend the rest of their lives on their own. there has been another high—profile retirement in the world of sport, with tennis player ana ivanovic ending her career at 29. the serbian won the french open in 2008, and after struggling to repeat that success, she mounted a comeback last year and reached the semi—final at roland garros again. she married manchester united's bastian schweinsteiger this summer. andy murray says he will plan differently at the australian open next month, to do all he can to win the first grand slam of the season. murray has reached the final in melbourne five times, but this time he'll go into the event as world number one. i've played really well there in the past and it

and partick thistle have scored the only other goal of the evening so far, leading dundee 1—0.cking of bob bradley. ryan giggs has been linked with swansea before. ryan giggs was interviewed for the job when bradley was appointed in 0ctober. so he was overlooked on that occasion, but we do understand that occasion, but we do understand that swansea are still keen on the manchester united legend. he has not managed at all in his career yet, but has some coaching experience with man united. the other candidates, wales manager chris coleman, former leicester boss nigel pearson and ex—birmingham manager gary rowett. quite a few names in the frame, but ryan giggs is the early favourite. sir bradley wiggins has retired from professional cycling after more than 20 years on the saddle. he won the tour de france back in 2012 — the first briton to do so and also britain's most decorated 0lympian with eight 0lympic medals — including five golds. all that, plus seven world titles — across track and road cycling, explains the 36—year—old's statement on facebook this afternoon, saying... "i

celtic are 14 points clear at the top of the scottish premiership after beating bottom side partick thistle the only goal of the game. the champions are now unbeaten in 21 domestic matches and they have a game in hand on second placed rangers. league one side peterborough united will travel to stamford bridge to face chelsea in the fa cup third round after beating notts county 2—0. peterborough struck with less than two minutes gone. gwion edwards was the scorer. just five minutes later, paul taylor made his first fa cup goal a memorable one, helping to earn his side a tie against the premier league leaders. liverpool'sjoel matip is one of seven cameroon players refusing to go to the africa cup of nations which begins on 14th january. they told coach hugo broos they're not interested in being selected after he named them in his squad. an angry broos said they had "put personal interest above those of the national team". and suggested the cameroon fa might ask fifa to suspend them at club level for the duration of the tournament. the finnish driver valtteri bottas looks likely to become lewi

top of the scottish premiership, and unbeaten in 21 domestic games, after beating bottom club partick thistleinclair, the scorer. there was a great reward for league one side peterborough united, who beat notts county 2—0 in their fa cup second—round replay last night. their next tie is at chelsea. and lewis hamilton's new team—mate looks increasingly likely to be valterri bottas, on the left. felipe massa has agreed to drive for williams again next season, paving the way for bottas to join hamilton at mercedes. thank you. and we have a quick the morning papers. dominating the papers. berlin. this is the sun. this shows you the route the lorry would have taken through the christmas markets. just seeing it is horrifying. bear in mind, it would have been packed. the search continues for the man who was driving that laurie. so many questions unanswered about that. the times has a picture of fabrizia di lorenzo, 3i, times has a picture of fabrizia di lorenzo, 31, from italy. she is missing and they fear for her safety. and this is canterbury cathedral. security is changing across european cities.

stjohn5tone won at kilmarnock one nil and partick thistle ended a seven—game run without a win to moveater today. the czech tennis player petra kvitova says she's confident of making a full recovery and returning to the court after a knife attack left her needing surgery on her left hand. the two time wimbledon champion was injured as she fought off an intruder with a knife who broke into her apartment earlier this week. she had surgery on her hand to repair nerve and tendon damage and has been ordered to rest for at least six months. world rugby say they want more information from the rugby football union about how northampton handled george's north's latest head injury. the wale5 international has had problems with concu55ion in the past. a panel ruled this week that the saints won't face any sanctions relating to the incident. north didn't feature last night for his club, who ended a four match losing streak by beating sale sharks 24—5. northampton ran in three tries against sale who've now lost seven in a row. whilst in the pro 12, ul5ter moved fourth in the table after beating con

celtic are 14 points clear at the top of the scottish premiership after beating bottom side partick thistledomestic matches and they have a game in hand on second placed rangers. league one side peterborough united will travel to stamford bridge to face chelsea in the fa cup third round after beating notts county 2—0. peterborough struck with less than two minutes gone. gwion edwards was the scorer. just five minutes later, paul taylor made his first fa cup goal a memorable one, helping to earn his side a tie against the premier league leaders. liverpool'sjoel matip is one of seven cameroon players refusing to go to the africa cup of nations which begins on 14th january. they told coach hugo broos they're not interested in being selected after he named them in his squad. an angry broos said they had "put personal interest above those of the national team". and suggested the cameroon fa might ask fifa to suspend them at club level for the duration of the tournament. the finnish driver valtteri bottas looks likely to become lewis hamilton's new team—mate at mercedes. his current team, william

stjohnstone won at kilmarnock one nil and partick thistle ended a seven—game run without a win to movelater today. joey barton has been charged by the football association for breaching their rules on betting. it's claimed he placed over one thousand bets over a ten year period up to may this year. barton has until the fifth of january to respond to the charge. last month barton was given a one month suspension by the scottish football association for betting on matches this season during his brief spell with rangers. barton is due to re—join burnley in january for the remainder of the season. the czech tennis player petra kvitova says she's confident of making a full recovery and returning to the court after a knife attack left her needing surgery on her left hand. the two time wimbledon champion was injured as she fought off an intruder with a knife who broke into her apartment earlier this week. she had surgery on her hand to repair nerve and tendon damage and has been ordered to rest for at least six months. during a session with the doctor i was able to move my fingers on my left

there were also wins for motherwell and partick thistle.sman averaged 107.68, the highest in the tournament so far, as he beat the dutchman benito van de pass 4—2 at alexandra palace. anderson is joined in the last eight by raymond van barneveld. let's return to the retirement of sir bradley wiggins, who has decided to hang up his cleats after almost 20 years at the top. when it comes to cycling he's won just about all there is to win. here are just a few of his career highlights. he does write an incredible amount of maturity, this young fellow. —— ride with. this is a virtuoso performance by bradley wiggins! he is turning on the style! he will be the 4000 metres olympic champion! bradley wiggins is a gold—medal winner and olympic champion! bradley wiggins is the master of the time trial and the master of this tour de france. he will become written's first—ever winner! this is going to be a golden moment for bradley wiggins and the crowd a re moment for bradley wiggins and the crowd are already going ballistic. here comes bradley wiggins u