Wrexham will attempt to secure a Championship play-off spot on the final day of the regular season when they host Middlesbrough at Stok Cae Ras on Saturday.

The Red Dragons currently sit sixth in the table, ahead of seventh-placed Hull City on goal difference and a single point clear of Derby County.

Phil Parkinson’s side successfully clawed back a four-point deficit over the last month to take their top-six ambitions down to the wire.

“A few weeks ago we were four points adrift and the aim was to go right to the wire in the battle to get into the play-offs,” said the Wrexham manager.

He added that reaching this decisive scenario is an outcome the Welsh club would have accepted without hesitation at the start of the campaign.

Evolving mindset following Coventry defeat

The promotion hopefuls suffered a 3-1 defeat to title-winners Coventry City in their previous outing.

Midfielder Ollie Rathbone scored his eighth goal of the season in that loss and believes their deep frustration highlights the squad’s immense progress.

“It shows how much the team has evolved that we’ve come to the best team in the division and we’re disappointed that we’ve not taken anything away,” said Rathbone.

The 27-year-old expressed immense pride in their growth despite the ultimate disappointment against Frank Lampard’s newly-crowned champions.

Automatic promotion hopes complicate permutations

Visiting Middlesbrough arrive in North Wales with their own play-off berth already guaranteed.

However, Kim Hellberg’s men could still be chasing an automatic promotion spot depending on the midweek result between Southampton and Ipswich Town.

Rathbone insists the home side must ignore the intense outside permutations and focus entirely on claiming three points.

“I think you’ve just got to try and be as calm as possible, play the game as you would normally and hope you’ve done enough,” added the midfielder.

After 45 grueling fixtures in the second tier, the squad intends to go full blast this weekend with hopes of celebrating another historic achievement.

Welsh driver Elfyn Evans has reclaimed the World Rally Championship lead after finishing second behind Sebastien Ogier at Rally Islas Canarias.

The 37-year-old now holds a narrow two-point advantage over Toyota team-mate Takamoto Katsuta following the fifth round of the 14-race season.

He secured his position at the summit by collecting a maximum 10 Sunday bonus points alongside the 17 awarded for his runner-up finish.

Toyota dominate Spanish stages

Eight-time world champion Ogier secured his first victory of the campaign, crossing the line 19.9 seconds ahead of the new championship leader.

Toyota Gazoo Racing completely controlled the asphalt event, locking out the top four positions on the final leaderboard.

Finnish prospect Sami Pajari claimed the final spot on the podium, while Katsuta and his Irish co-driver Aaron Johnston finished fourth.

“It has been a solid weekend,” said Evans.

“It was a poor start and that put us out of the fight for the win.

“I have had mixed feelings, but congrats to Seb, he has driven an exceptional weekend.”

Solberg suffers late heartbreak

The Japanese manufacturer had been on course to claim an unprecedented top-five sweep before disaster struck for Oliver Solberg.

The Rally Monte Carlo winner crashed out on the penultimate stage after dominating earlier sessions with six stage victories.

Trailing the leading Frenchman by just two seconds, the 22-year-old was forced to retire his heavily damaged Yaris and left the Spanish island without scoring.

Armstrong faces steep learning curve

Elsewhere, Josh McErlean delivered a respectable eighth-place finish for M-Sport Ford.

His Motorsport Ireland team-mate Jon Armstrong endured a far more bruising encounter to finish 11th in his debut top-flight season.

The Fermanagh native lost more than two minutes on Saturday when spectators were forced to push his stranded car back onto the road.

“It has been quite a challenging weekend, there is no doubt about that,” said the 31-year-old rookie.

“It has taken a long time to get on top of a tyre on this rally.”

“It has not been a great rally, but sometimes you will have worse ones than good ones.”

Looking ahead to Portugal

The teams now have a brief respite before the championship shifts to gravel for round six in Portugal from 7 May.

The top of the provisional drivers’ standings remains incredibly tight as the current season approaches its midway point.

Rally Islas Canarias Top 5

WRC Championship Standings

Former Formula 1 driver Jos Verstappen has escaped without injury after his car flipped and collided with a tree during a severe crash at the Rally of Wallonia on Sunday.

The Dutchman, father of reigning world champion Max Verstappen, was competing alongside co-driver Jesper Vermeulen when their vehicle slid off the circuit.

Images from the accident scene showed their Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 overturned in foliage with severe structural damage and a torn-off wheel.

Despite the heavy impact, the rally veteran confirmed to GPblog that he was entirely unharmed following the terrifying incident.

“All good.”

Impressive fightback cut short

The duo were forced to withdraw from the tarmac event following the high-speed collision.

It concluded a dramatic weekend for the driver, whose vehicle was already carrying damage from an earlier incident during the fourth stage.

He had managed an impressive recovery drive on Saturday to reach third place behind leaders Adrian Fernemont and Maxime Potty before disaster struck.

The Wallonia route is renowned for its technical challenges, combining exceptionally tight, winding roads with remarkably quick sections.

Late co-driver change

The former grand prix racer was competing without his usual navigator for this year’s edition of the demanding event.

Regular co-driver Renaud Jamoul was unavailable to participate as he continues his recovery following surgery on an ankle problem.

Fortunately, neither the stand-in Vermeulen nor the driver sustained any serious injuries when their campaign came to an abrupt end.

Meanwhile, his son Max continues to navigate a turbulent period in his own Formula 1 career amid speculation regarding his long-term future in the sport.

The Red Bull superstar recently questioned the expanding calendar and sweeping regulation changes, admitting that enjoyment has occasionally been stripped out of racing.

“You also wait for 24 races. And then you just think about is it worth it? Or do I enjoy being more at home with my family? Seeing my friends more when you’re not enjoying your sport?”

Everton midfielder Yuka Momiki scored a spectacular equaliser to level the scoreline against reigning champions Chelsea in a thrilling Women’s Super League encounter.

The Japan international delivered a moment of sheer brilliance to beat goalkeeper Hannah Hampton and bring the Merseyside club back into the contest.

Her unbelievable long-range effort caught the Blues’ defence entirely off guard during a fiercely competitive domestic clash.

A moment of magic for the Toffees

The Merseyside outfit have historically faced a stern test when coming up against the dominant West London side.

However, this stunning individual intervention provided a massive psychological boost for the ambitious squad.

Hampton, who has been in formidable form for her club, could do nothing to prevent the perfectly placed shot from finding the back of the net.

Vital implications for the domestic campaign

Securing a positive result against perennial title contenders is always a primary objective for teams looking to climb the league table.

The former Linköping playmaker showcased exactly why she was brought to England, combining technical proficiency with devastating execution.

Such high-calibre moments are essential if the team are to establish themselves as consistent challengers in the upper half of the division.

Nicolas Jackson will return to Chelsea this summer after Bayern Munich decided against triggering a £56m option to sign the striker permanently.

The Senegalese international spent the recent campaign on loan in Germany but struggled to displace Harry Kane as the primary centre-forward.

He registered 10 goals and four assists across 29 appearances to help the Bavarian side secure another Bundesliga title.

Bayern sporting director Max Eberl confirmed the club’s definitive transfer decision during an interview with Sky Germany.

“We will not trigger the option for Nicolas Jackson.”

Chelsea face pivotal summer rebuild

The returning forward now heads back to a turbulent Stamford Bridge environment ahead of the 2026-27 campaign.

The West London club are actively searching for a new head coach following the departure of two different managers last season.

Andoni Iraola, Marco Silva and Cesc Fabregas have all been heavily linked with the vacant managerial position.

Jackson originally pushed for a loan move after facing severe competition from new signings Joao Pedro and Liam Delap.

While former Brighton attacker Pedro has impressed, Delap has endured a miserable debut campaign featuring just two goals in 36 outings.

Olise stays as Neuer talks planned

Eberl also utilised the broadcast to address the immediate future of former Crystal Palace winger Michael Olise.

The German executive emphatically ruled out a summer departure for the talented French attacker.

“For us, there is not a second of thinking about it. He is developing excellently.”

Attention will simultaneously turn to securing the short-term future of veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.

The legendary shot-stopper will be offered a contract extension if he wishes to continue his glittering playing career.

“He is a legend. We will sit down and talk calmly. If Manuel feels ready for it, I wouldn’t know what would speak against him doing it for one more year.”

Switzerland’s Marcel Hug has won the elite men’s wheelchair race at the 2026 London Marathon to secure his sixth consecutive victory in the capital.

The dominant Swiss athlete crossed the finish line to claim his eighth overall triumph on the famous London course.

His latest performance firmly cements his status as one of the most formidable competitors in the history of the event.

Unrelenting dominance on the streets of London

The man widely known as the ‘Silver Bullet’ proved entirely untouchable from the moment the starting gun fired.

Securing a sixth consecutive win highlights a remarkable period of unprecedented supremacy in the elite men’s division.

Rival competitors were once again unable to match the blistering pace set by the veteran racer.

An eighth crown for the defending champion

Claiming an eighth overall title places the multiple Paralympic gold medallist in an exclusive echelon of endurance athletes.

The challenging capital route continues to be a highly successful hunting ground for the record-breaking marathoner.

Spectators lining the streets were ultimately treated to another tactical masterclass in elite wheelchair racing.

Former Newcastle United co-owner Amanda Staveley is assembling a £2bn takeover consortium in the United States to potentially buy the Magpies or West Ham.

The prominent financier sold her remaining six per cent stake at St James’ Park in July 2024 but is reportedly gathering funds for a fresh project.

A dramatic return to Tyneside remains a possibility if Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) chooses to step away following a difficult domestic campaign.

She previously played a central role in brokering the £310m deal that saw PIF take control of the club from Mike Ashley in 2021.

West Ham emerge as London alternative

According to journalist Alan Nixon, the investment group had explored purchasing Tottenham Hotspur before turning their attention elsewhere.

Acquiring her former club would require a significantly higher fee than the initial figure paid three years ago.

West Ham are now being actively monitored as a viable alternative if an agreement cannot be reached in the North East.

Despite not owning their London Stadium home, the East London outfit would likely demand a higher valuation due to overseas investors heavily favouring capital-based assets.

Premier League status remains crucial

Any potential move for the Hammers would depend heavily on their top-flight status, with relegation guaranteed to reduce the asking price.

Both target clubs have endured highly frustrating seasons in the Premier League.

West Ham currently sit 17th in the table following a vital 2-1 victory over Everton, hovering just two points above the relegation zone.

Meanwhile, Eddie Howe’s side occupy 14th place and appear highly unlikely to secure European football for next season.

Looming summer transfer window

This disappointing form could trigger a major summer rebuild at St James’ Park as they look to balance the books.

Key figures such as Anthony Gordon have been linked with high-profile moves, with the English forward emerging as a target for Bayern Munich.

Midfielder Sandro Tonali is also reportedly on the radar of both Arsenal and Manchester United.

Furthermore, Newcastle are currently battling Aston Villa and Tottenham in the race to sign an unnamed 23-year-old Manchester City star ahead of the summer window.

Arsenal’s 1-0 Premier League victory over Newcastle United has intensified scrutiny on their forward line, with an injury to Kai Havertz reportedly reigniting the club’s interest in Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez.

Mikel Arteta’s side returned to the top of the table on Saturday evening following a hard-fought win secured by an Eberechi Eze strike.

However, the narrow victory at Emirates Stadium was overshadowed by glaring inefficiencies in the final third.

The starting attacking unit struggled to create meaningful opportunities against a resolute visiting defence.

Injury concerns compound forward struggles

The situation worsened when Havertz was forced off during the first half with an unspecified injury.

His replacement, Viktor Gyokeres, endured a remarkably difficult afternoon despite currently standing as the club’s top scorer across all competitions.

The Sweden international managed just two touches during his opening 13 minutes on the pitch.

Late in the contest, the substitute squandered a crucial four-on-one counter-attack that would have sealed the result and improved their goal difference.

Title race pressures mount

Such technical deficiencies are raising alarm bells as the North London outfit attempt to salvage their season.

Having surrendered a nine-point advantage in the league, the Gunners now rely on Manchester City dropping points to secure the domestic crown.

Recent defeats in the Carabao Cup final and an FA Cup exit to Southampton have left European glory as their most realistic path to silverware.

Atletico star emerges as primary target

With a crucial Champions League semi-final against Atletico Madrid looming, attention has turned to the opposition’s star forward.

Alvarez has registered 48 goals and 17 assists in 104 appearances since moving to the Spanish capital.

The Argentine attacker already possesses vital English top-flight experience and a proven winning mentality.

Reports suggest the Arsenal hierarchy previously had a £105m bid rejected for the prolific goalscorer.

Securing the 24-year-old’s signature is now viewed as an essential step to prevent another trophyless campaign at Emirates Stadium.