Gary O’Neil painted a bleak picture of the situation at Wolves and admitted “no magic wand” will fix their problems after a 3-2 loss at Ipswich in the Carabao Cup third round.

Wolves slumped to a fifth defeat in eight matches under the former Bournemouth manager, who only took over on August 9 following the departure of Julen Lopetegui by mutual consent.

O’Neil made 10 changes for the Portman Road clash and despite taking a 2-0 lead via goals by Hwang Hee-chan and Toti, the Premier League outfit were on the end of an upset after Championship high-flyers Ipswich responded through Omari Hutchinson, Freddie Ladapo and Jack Taylor.

Asked for a message to disgruntled Wolves supporters, O’Neil insisted: “To stick with the group.

“We are six weeks …

Vanni Sartini is anticipating a tight encounter when his Vancouver Whitecaps team face the New York Red Bulls.

Vancouver have enjoyed a fine start to the MLS season and sit second in the Western Conference.

The Red Bulls, meanwhile, are in second place in the East.

This game will be the first meeting of the teams since 2019, and Sartini joked that facing sides from a different Conference is akin to a trip to a casino.

He said: “It’s going to be hard. It’s like going to the casino when you play the Eastern teams – you never know!

“Maybe you’ll face the team in last, the team that’s in first place. Unfortunately this season we’re going to play the Red Bulls, who are doing very well.”

Explaining what he expects to see from t…

Rebecca Welch, the first woman to referee a Premier League match, is to be inducted into the National Football Museum’s Hall of Fame.

The 40-year-old made history when she was selected to take charge of the Fulham v Burnley game on December 23.

She was also the referee for the Bournemouth v Nottingham Forest fixture last month.

Congratulations to Rebecca Welch, who is set to be inducted into the National Football Museum Hall of Fame later this year

— PGMOL (@FA_PGMOL)

Welch will become the first female referee to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, with the museum confirming her induction on International Women’s Day.

“It’s quite overwhelming, I was very honoured to be asked,” Welch said.

“My journey start…

Tuesday saw a rare rest day at Euro 2016, allowing some stars to take a much-needed break, while others packed their bags for the journey home.

Confused Iceland fans, Ivan Rakitic s questionable dancing and the angriest man in a bath you ll ever meet all feature in our round-up of the more off-beat headlines of the day

ENGLAND GET A HERO S SEND-OFF? YOU MUST BE BARKING

After the worst defeat in their tournament history and the departure of head coach Roy Hodgson, England left Wales as the only British nation in France as they began their journey home.

But while Northern Ireland were greeted by a crowd of thousands in Belfast, England were given a pretty awkward send-off from their hotel in Nice.

Aside from the click of a few cameras…

Josh Wolff remains optimistic that Austin FC can improve on their play in the final third when they face Real Salt Lake in MLS on Saturday.

Wolff is under some pressure with Austin failing to win any of their last four league matches, scoring just two goals in that run.

They still have an outside chance of making the playoffs, currently sitting 11th in the Western Conference, but the head coach knows that will not happen if they do not score.

The main thing is you ve got to go out and win the next game, Wolff told reporters.

We ve got to have the same ideas that we ve had and the same performances that we ve had, we ve just got to take our opportunities.

I keep echoing that we ve been one of the better-performing teams at both ends, but it s al…

Mousa Dembele could be out until 2019 after Tottenham announced the Belgium international has damaged ligaments in his right ankle.

Dembele sustained the injury in Saturday s 3-2 Premier League win at Wolves, having to be replaced after only seven minutes at Molineux, and Spurs fear he will not return until the new year.

The midfielder missed Tuesday s Champions League win over PSV at Wembley and is expected to be out of their remaining Group B games against Inter and Barcelona.

Dembele will also be missing for upcoming London derbies against Arsenal and Chelsea in the Premier League, as well as December s EFL Cup clash with the Gunners, but manager Mauricio Pochettino could soon have Victor Wanyama available.

The Kenya midfielder has been restricted to t…

Lee Carsley revealed he did not formally apply to become the next England manager and wants no regrets over his time as interim boss.

Gareth Southgate left his position as England manager following their Euro 2024 final defeat in July, with the Football Association (FA) turning to Carsley for the Nations League fixtures.

He has won two of his three games so far, following up back-to-back wins over the Republic of Ireland and Finland with a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Greece at Wembley on Thursday.

With the return trip against Finland in Helsinki next up for the Three Lions, Carsley admitted prior to the game that he did not apply for the job during the application process earlier this year.

No, I didn t apply for it, he told talkSPORT. Because hopefully�…

Eddie Howe hailed Anthony Gordon s performance after he proved decisive in Newcastle United s 1-1 draw with Manchester City.

Newcastle fell behind in the first half when Josko Gvardiol finished off a slick City move, but the home side hit back, with Gordon winning and converting a penalty to earn a point.

With Alexander Isak injured, Gordon, who has won seven penalties in the Premier League since the beginning of last season, at least four more than any other player during that time, led the line for Newcastle.

The England international performed brilliantly, creating two chances while also attempting four crosses as he dragged wide to stretch City s defence.

Speaking to TNT Sports, Howe said of Gordon: I ve said he is capable of doing the role.

…

Chris Armas has hailed the Colorado Rapids professionalism as they close in on a playoff spot, ahead of Wednesday s trip to Sporting Kansas City.

The Rapids sit third in the Western Conference amid a fine first campaign under Armas, and they boast an impressive seven-point cushion to those outside the automatic playoff places.

Goals from Jonathan Lewis and Rafael Navarro handed them a 2-1 win over the in-form Portland Timbers last time out, but Armas says there is no chance of his men losing focus after that result.

It was a big step for our team, Armas said. The mood in the locker room is one where it s like, it s just another day in the office .

There s no big celebration but they understand that was a big step for us, to get three points in a decisiv…

Lionel Messi has expressed his happiness and relief at finally winning silverware with Argentina after Saturday s Copa America 2021 triumph over Brazil at the Maracana.

Argentina defeated Brazil 1-0 after Angel Di Maria s 22nd-minute strike, earning six-time Ballon d Or winner Messi his maiden piece of silverware with La Albiceleste.

Messi has finished runner-up in the Copa three times; 2007, 2015 and 2016, as well as runner-up at the 2014 World Cup and revealed his joy after the game.

I needed to get the thorn out of being able to achieve something with the national team, I had been very close for many years, Messi told reporters.

I knew that at some point it was going to go right, it was going to happen and I think there is no better moment than this.…