moved to within six points of the championship play—off places with a hard—fought 1—0 win over queens park rangersd day for the villa striker, jonathan kodjia. the 11 million—pound summer signing won and then missed a first half penalty, which was saved by the rangers keeper alex smithies. but kodjia did make amends for that miss with the winning goal 15 minutes from time. villa stay in 13th place, while rangers are in 19th. they've lost their last five games. england's hope of a consolation victory in the fifth and final test against india are looking very slim. india batted all the way through the third day in chennai closing on 391—4. that's 86 behind england's first innings score, with rahulfalling just one run short of a double century. henry moeran's in chennai for us. the first two days of this test match dominated by the batting and scoring a77 on a surface that is placid, offering little opportunity to bowlers. do was look like without they would offer more of the same, england looking to eat into india's first—innings total. the day was dominated by a batsman who finished with a disappoi

newcastle's slip yesterday to go two points clear at the top of the championship with a 3—0 win over queens park rangersgham. joe lynskey rounds up the action. brighton's christmas cheer came giftwrapped from the north—east. newcastle's boxing day slipup meant they had a part of the summit. taking flight to the premier league is becoming a bit less surreal. they brought full confidence to qpr. when you are unbeaten in 17 league matches, things tend to come. this strike turned out to be unstoppable. while brighton have all the momentum, rangers are not having such luck. they conceded a penalty with this bunch. a gift that glenn murray would not pass up on. that sort of rash decision making has seen sort of rash decision making has seen qpr slide towards trouble. they will miss their captain for three games now. he was sent off for a professional foul. the defendant's absence left the door open to brand of brighton's scoring. he dedicated the goal to his late father. with eight points between them and third place, brighton have a clear path to promotion. derby county started the season sluggishly, but oft

newcastle's slip yesterday to go two points clear at the top of the championship with a 3—0 win over queens park rangersy, who beat birmingham. joe lynskey rounds up the action. brightens christmas cheer came giftwrapped from the north—east, newcastle boss mike boxing day slip—up meant the seagulls have a path to the summit and taking fight the premier league is becoming a bit less surreal. they brought form and confidence into the blizzard of qpr, unbeaten in 17 league matches so things just tend to come. sam baldock, his strike turned out to be unstoppable and while brighton have the momentum, rangers are not having such luck, they conceded a penalty from this lunge, uplift glenn murray would not pass up on. that could have rushed decision making has seen qpr slide towards trouble and they will now miss their captain for three games. sent off for a professional foul. the defenders, their absence left the door open for anthony walker to write —— to round off the brighton scoring, a goal that he dedicated to his late father. and now brighton has a clear path to promotion. derby county started the season

they moved to the top of the championship with a 3—0 win over struggling queen's park rangers. doping operation which affected some of the world's major competitions. a report earlier this month claimed more than a thousand russians benefited from a doping cover—up between 2011—2015. in interviews with the new york times, officials acknowledged the programme but denied it was state—sponsored. the acting director general of russia's anti—doping agency is quoted as saying it was an "international conspiracy". what a christmas it's been for racing trainer colin tizzard. he's claimed his second major victory in as many days, after his horse native river won the welsh grand national at chepstow yesterday. native river was favourite for the race and hit the front with 13 left to jump. it follows on from tizzard's success with thistlecrack, who won the king george chase on boxing day. the two horses could now go up against each other at the cheltenham gold cup in march. my goodness, what a run. what a week for colin tizzard. such a wonderful story as well with thistlecrack. great stor

newcastle's slip yesterday to go two points clear at the top of the championship with a 3—0 win over queens park rangerse gift—wrapped from the north—east. newcastle's boxing day slip—up meant the seagulls have a path to the summit. taking flight to the premier league's becoming a bit less surreal. they brought confidence into the visit of qpr. when you are unbeat non—17 league matches things tend to come off. this strike turned out to be unstoppable. while brighton have all the momentum, rangers aren't having such luck. they conceded a penalty. a gift glen murray wouldn't pass up on. that sort of rash decision—making has seen qpr slide to trouble. they'll now miss their captain for three games, sent off for a professional foul. the defenders' absence left the door open for brighton to round off their scoring. a goal he dedicated to his late father. now with eight points between them and third place, brighton have a clear path to promotion. derby county started the season sluggishly but often momentum in the new year is what determines promotion. under steve mclaren that's exactly what they have. but ch