Jake Livermore brace guides Watford to victory at QPR

Jake Livermore has rarely scored two goals in a season throughout his long career, but he hit two in five minutes to pile more misery on QPR.Former Tottenham, West Brom, Hull and England midfielder Livermore, now 34, struck twice from outside the area to earn Watford a 2-1 win at Loftus Road.Lyndon Dykes pulled one back for Rangers but they could not find an equaliser and remain deep in relegation

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Hosts Ivory Coast kick off Africa Cup of Nations with victory over Guinea-Bissau

Seko Fofana and Jean-Philippe Krasso lifted tournament hosts Ivory Coast to a 2-0 victory over Guinea-Bissau in front of an elated Abidjan crowd to kick off the Africa Cup of Nations.Fofana fired the Elephants in front inside four minutes at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium, punishing their Group A rivals for a lapse at the back, and came inches away from adding another before the break.Krasso double

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Pep Guardiola expects ‘special’ Kevin De Bruyne to boost Man City’s title push

Pep Guardiola is relieved to have “special player” Kevin De Bruyne back after he inspired Manchester City to victory at Newcastle on his return to Premier League action.The 32-year-old Belgium international, who had not made a league appearance since August because of injury, endured a disappointing start to his evening on Tyneside when he drilled a free-kick harmlessly into the defens

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Kieran McKenna hails ‘committed’ display as Ipswich hit back against Sunderland

Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna praised his team’s level of commitment as they ended a five-match winless run by beating Sunderland 2-1.The Tractor Boys trailed to Jack Clarke’s opener after 26 minutes, but Kayden Jackson levelled matters seven minutes later before Conor Chaplin completed the comeback in the 75th minute with a powerful header.Victory sees Ipswich retain second spot in t

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Ipswich fight back to see off Sunderland and end five-match winless run

Ipswich returned to winning ways in the Championship after coming back from a goal down to beat play-off hopefuls Sunderland 2-1 in a pulsating encounter at Portman Road.Jack Clarke opened the scoring for the Black Cats but Kayden Jackson levelled the scores during a frenetic first half.Conor Chaplin then completed the comeback in the 75th minute when he powered a header past Sunderland goalkeeper

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Kevin De Bruyne inspires comeback as Man City claim late win at Newcastle

Kevin De Bruyne came off the bench to inspire Manchester City to a 3-2 comeback victory over Newcastle as Oscar Bobb snatched a late winner.City were trailing 2-1 at St James’ Park when De Bruyne was sent on as a 69th-minute replacement for Bernardo Silva, but he scored within five minutes before setting up fellow substitute Bobb to snatch victory in stoppage time at the end of a thrilling e

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Steve Evans hails Stevenage performance in narrow victory at Shrewsbury

Stevenage boss Steve Evans hailed his side’s commanding performance as they returned to winning ways to keep up the pace with the League One play-off pack after recording a 1-0 victory at Shrewsbury.The first half was not one for the football purest, but the game opened up after the 70th minute with both sides looking for that decisive goal.Shrewsbury made a great move minutes later with Tom

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Ryan Lowe relieved to see triple substitution pay off for Preston

Ryan Lowe was relieved his half-time gamble to make three substitutions paid off after Preston claimed a 2-0 win against Bristol City.North End laboured in the first half but the introduction of attacking trio Emil Riis, Mads Frokjaer-Jensen and Will Keane changed the game.Keane proved to be the matchwinner, scoring twice in the second half to secure Preston a first win since Boxing Day.Lowe admit

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Wycombe boss Matt Bloomfield bemoans Lincoln’s late equaliser

Matt Bloomfield bemoaned conceding another late goal as Wycombe had to settle for a point in a 1-1 draw at home to Lincoln.Dale Taylor put the hosts ahead in the 29th minute but Ethan Erhahon rifled home an equaliser in the eighth minute of stoppage time to rescue a point.Bloomfield’s side conceded a 90th-minute equaliser against Port Vale just before Christmas and the 39-year-old vowed to l

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Birmingham boss Tony Mowbray frustrated despite late equaliser against Swansea

Birmingham’s new manager Tony Mowbray admitted he was frustrated despite rescuing a dramatic 2-2 draw against Swansea at St Andrew’s.Substitute Jordan James drilled home from 25 yards in the fifth minute of added time when Blues were struggling to create chances after plenty of opportunities in the first half.Mowbray thought a point was the least the team deserved in his first game in

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