#birmingham-city

#birmingham-city

When Rachel Furness celebrated winning the Women's Championship with Bristol City at Ashton Gate last month it was a serious case of deja vu.Twelve months earlier she had experienced the same promotion feeling, at the same ground - but with a different team.The Northern Ireland midfielder helped Liverpool beat Bristol City at Ashton Gate a year ago to secure promotion to the Women's Super League (WSL).

Coverage: Live on BBC Two Wales, BBC Radio Wales, BBC Cymru Fyw, the BBC Sport website & app; live text commentary on BBC Sport website & app.Ellen Jones could be set to make her international debut after being named in Wales' squad for next month's games against Northern Ireland and Portugal.

Queens Park Rangers manager Gareth Ainsworth says two more wins should avert relegation from the Championship.The west London club have picked up just one win in five games, losing four, since Ainsworth took charge.QPR are only six points above the bottom three after losing 1-0 at home to Birmingham City on Saturday.

Hannibal Mejbri scored the first and made the second as Birmingham City made it back-to-back Championship victories by comfortably winning the West Midlands derby against West Bromwich Albion.He then swung over the left-wing corner from which Polish midfielder Krystian Bielik also claimed his first goal for the club seven minutes into the second half.

Birmingham City as a club and a "number of individuals" have been charged by the English Football League with alleged rule breaches as a result of an investigation into a takeover bid.The EFL said "sufficient evidence" exists to issue charges of misconduct.Those charges allege that a number people were allowed to act as 'relevant persons' without EFL approval.

Ben Brereton Diaz smashed in a late free-kick to end his personal goal drought and rescue a point for Blackburn Rovers against West Bromwich Albion.Substitute Jayson Molumby's 73rd-minute header looked to have earned Albion all three points.But John Swift was adjudged to have brought down Lewis Travis on the edge of the Baggies box in the 89th minute - and Brereton Diaz exacted full punishment from 20 yards with an explosive right-foot shot that debutant Albion keeper Josh Griffiths got a hand to but could not keep out.

Seventeen-year-old Rangers midfielder Emma Watson has been called up to Scotland's senior squad for the first time for two April friendlies.Rangers captain Kathy Hill and London City Lionesses forward Sarah Ewens also earned their first call-ups.Pedro Martinez Losa's Scotland face Australia in London on 7 April before hosting Costa Rica four days later.

MANCHESTER, England -- The mantra in the Women's Super League is that the gap is closing which, whilst not incorrect, is also not the strictest version of the truth either.With the emphasis being that the league is one of the most competitive in the world, there is the need to hammer home the idea that any WSL team can beat any other WSL team, yet, when you cast an eye over the table or the results, it's clear that that isn't quite the case.

Paris St-Germain and Argentina forward Lionel Messi, 35, has not agreed a deal to join Inter Miami despite reports suggesting he is close to doing so.Chelsea are unwilling to let United States winger Christian Pulisic leave on a loan deal this winter and would prefer a permanent move for the 24-year-old.

Real Madrid are in advanced talks with Borussia Dortmund to sign England midfielder Jude Bellingham for more than 100m euros.The 19-year-old, who joined Dortmund from Birmingham City in July 2020, was one of England's top performers at last year's World Cup.Real are willing to pay around 100m euros for Bellingham but Dortmund are understood to want 150m euros.

Jude Bellingham's rapid rise in recent years has seen him become an important player for both Borussia Dortmund and England and a wanted man for some of football's biggest clubs.Just 19, Bellingham was one of England's standout performers at last year's World Cup and as he prepares to pull on the Three Lions shirt again, BBC Sport charts his path from humble youngster at Birmingham to one of the most sought after talents in word football.

Man United are still interested in bringing in Jude Bellingham.There can be no doubt that Jude Bellingham is the big ticket item going into the summer transfer window.The Englishman has been absolutely sensational for club and country over the last couple of seasons, improving on an almost weekly basis, turning into arguably the most complete midfielder within the sport.

90min rounds up the latest transfer news, rumours and gossip circulating around the world... Manchester United believe that they will be able to sign Harry Kane if Tottenham do not qualify for next season's Champions League.Spurs currently sit fourth in the Premier League table but their form has been inconsistent all year long.

Holders Manchester City face Bristol City on Wednesday as they continue their quest for a second successive League Cup.The blues have won the competition four times to date and beat Chelsea 3-1 in the final last year to secure Gareth Taylor's second major trophy as City boss.Both teams topped their individual groups, with the blues winning all four of their fixtures and Bristol City sneaking through after three teams all finished on the same number of points.

Leicester defender Georgia Brougham has left the club following the mutual termination of her contract.Brougham made 11 appearances for Leicester with the 8-0 loss to Chelsea in December her only one this season.Leicester sit bottom of the table having won their first points of the season on Sunday against Brighton .

10:50 PM ET



Kyle BonaguraESPN Staff Writer

Close
Covers the Pac-12.Joined ESPN in 2014.Attended Washington State University.While the United States' game at Grenada on Friday represented the team's return to competitive soccer for the first time since the World Cup, the match -- as expected -- was anything but.

Goalkeeper Ben Foster has come out of retirement to join Wrexham on a free transfer with the club bidding for the National League title.Wrexham, owned by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, were facing a goalkeeper headache before Foster's arrival with their first-choice option Rob Lainton ruled out for six weeks with a knee injury.

Upsets have been in short supply in the Women's FA Cup this season.Just one WSL side has been knocked out by a team from a lower division.That came when Birmingham City beat Everton in the fourth round - and Darren Carter's team will aim to repeat the trick on Sunday when they welcome Brighton in the quarter-finals.

Returning boss Neil Warnock said he had "tears in his eyes" following the reception he got from Huddersfield Town fans before their comeback victory over Birmingham City."I was really proud of the lads.Every one of them put a shift in.I can't fault anyone.There were people playing out of position and so many changes," Warnock told BBC Radio Leeds after a memorable win - which gives takes the Terriers to within two points of safety.

Chelsea and Germany goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger says she refused to let the return of her thyroid cancer prevent her enjoying a "positive" year on the pitch for club and country.The 32-year-old confirmed in August that, after four years of being cancer-free, her illness had returned and she would undergo treatment.

Preston North End struck twice in six minutes in the first half to pile the misery on Birmingham City, who lost their fifth Championship game in a row.The visitors led early on through Ryan Ledson's strike from the edge of the box and they doubled their lead through Alan Browne's header soon after.Birmingham offered little in the way of response for much of the game, with fans going on to protest against the club's ownership as they headed for another defeat.

Tim Weah will miss the United States' CONCACAF Nations League matches against Grenada and El Salvador after getting hurt while playing for Lille.The 23-year-old was injured in Lille's Ligue 1 match against Toulouse on Saturday.The U.S. Soccer Federation said Sunday that Weah had entered the concussion protocol.

We've always known that Bayern Munich keeps an eye on talent from across Europe, and isn't shy from trying to hijack a bid when it's nearly done.Apparently this is exactly what happened when Borussia Dortmund was trying to close a deal for Jude Bellingham, as confirmed by the former CEO of Birmingham City.

Bayern Munich turned heads in the summer 2022 transfer window by dipping into France's Ligue 1 talent pool and shelling out around €30m for seventeen-year-old Rennes talent Mathys Tel.It was a hefty sum to throw on the ledger for a player who was still making his way through the youth ranks at club level, but it may have only been a sign of things to come.

Brighton scored twice in four minutes to secure victory over Birmingham City at St Andrew's and progress to the semi-finals of the FA Cup.Poppy Pattinson put the Women's Super League side ahead in the 28th minute directly from a floated corner.Danielle Carter doubled the visitors' lead with a composed penalty after Brianna Visalli was clipped in the box.

Manchester United defender Aoife Mannion has been named in the Republic of Ireland squad for the first time as one of two uncapped players.The 27-year-old and Marissa Sheva are included for a 10-day training camp and friendly against China in Spain.Mannion, who was born in Birmingham, represented England at U23 level and was twice called up to the senior squad without making an appearance.

Former Wales winger Jason Bowen has been diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease.Bowen, 50, played for Swansea City, Birmingham City, Reading, Cardiff City and Newport County in an 18-year career which included two Wales caps.A GoFundMe page has been set up to raise funds for Bowen's treatment.A statement on the page said Bowen was diagnosed with the incurable disease in March 2021 after "feeling weakness and twitching in his arm".

Birmingham City say they are "appalled and saddened" by alleged racist abuse towards Blues captain Troy Deeney by a fan in the home end at St Andrew's.The Championship side issued a statement saying Deeney and a number of Blues supporters had reported hearing the slurs at the end of Tuesday's 2-0 defeat by Cardiff City .

Heartbreak, tears and lots of talking - these were the reactions of Jason Bowen's family after he told them he had motor neurone disease (MND).The former Wales footballer and father of three, 50, is determined not to look too far ahead and to enjoy the present.A debilitating condition that affects the brain and nerves, there is currently no cure for MND.

Coventry City's new owner Doug King has completed his purchase of a majority 85% share in the Championship club.The deal, first agreed on 16 November, has now been given approval by the English Football League after the Warwickshire-based businessman passed their owners and directors test.The club have said that the deal will clear all the Sky Blues' debts.

Former Barcelona junior Oriol Soldevila scored a hat trick against his old club but still ended on the losing side as third tier InterCity took the LaLiga giants to extra time before losing 4-3 in a dramatic Copa del Rey tie on Wednesday.InterCity, promoted to the third division last season, came from behind three times to force extra time after a 3-3 draw at the end of 90 minutes, but were then knocked out when substitute Ansu Fati netted a 103rd-minute winner in Alicante to put Barca in the round of 16.
- Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Copa del Rey, more (U.S.) Ronald Araujo, Ousmane Dembele and Raphinha were Barcelona's other scorers while the 21-year-old Soldevila netted his three goals in a 25-minute second-half spell including a dramatic third in the 86th minute to take the tie to extra time.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has described England midfielder Jude Bellingham as "exceptional".The Borussia Dortmund player, 19, starred at the World Cup in Qatar as England reached the quarter-finals.Bellingham has repeatedly been linked with a big-money move to Liverpool and European champions Real Madrid.

Two men charged with the Boxing Day murder of footballer Cody Fisher are set to appear before Birmingham Magistrates' Court.Kami Carpenter, 21, and Remy Gordon, 22, were on Saturday charged with killing the 23-year-old at the Crane nightclub in Digbeth, Birmingham, shortly before midnight on Boxing Day.

Two suspects charged with the Boxing Day murder of footballer Cody Fisher have been remanded in custody at their first court hearing.Kami Carpenter, 21, and Remy Gordon, 22, were charged on Saturday with killing Mr Fisher, who was stabbed on the dancefloor at the Crane nightclub in Digbeth, Birmingham.