Alfreton’s hopes of reaching the FA Cup third round for the first time in their history remain alive following a battling 0-0 home draw with Walsall.

There was little to choose between the National League North hosts and the Saddlers, who ply their trade two divisions higher.

The Derbyshire part-timers will travel to the Midlands for the replay still optimistic that they can land a trip to Championship Southampton, who await the winners.

Walsall were controversially denied a third-minute opener when Alfreton keeper George Willis was awarded a free-kick, even though he did not appear to have been impeded as he helped an inswinging Ryan Stirk corner into his own net.

At the other end, Adam Lund’s long throws caused issues for the Saddlers’ defence with Jackson Smith making a flying save to keep out Dwayne Wiley’s header after the home midfielder had hurled the ball into the box.

The visitors squandered an excellent opportunity to forge in front early in the second period when an unopposed Isaac Hutchinson fired wastefully over from eight yards.

But Alfreton midfielder Harrison Perritt twice went close to winning the tie for Town – his first attempt bouncing just wide and the second forcing a smart parry by Smith.

Hwang Hee-chan fired Wolves to a narrow win over struggling Burnley.

The forward’s ninth goal of the season earned the hosts a 1-0 victory at Molineux.

Dan Bentley denied Josh Brownhill and Sander Berge in the first half, but the Clarets remain second bottom while Wolves – who recorded a first clean sheet since August – climb to 12th, 11 points above the relegation zone.

Fresh from their 5-0 thumping of Sheffield United, which ended a seven-game losing run, the Clarets looked to control the game.

But it was Pablo Sarabia who had the first real chance when his deflected strike was tipped over by James Trafford before the midfielder volleyed over.

All of Wolves’ home games this term had come against the top eight – which had seen them beat Manchester City and Tottenham – but against relegation-threatened Burnley there was added expectation.

Yet they struggled to find their fluid best as the visitors bossed first-half possession with Zeki Amdouni testing Bentley from distance.

With growing momentum, the visitors found further confidence and Jacob Bruun Larsen fired over before Bentley bailed Wolves out six minutes before the break.

Joao Gomes lost out to Amdouni and Johann Gudmundsson as he tried to see the ball behind with the latter crossing to Berge.

His shot was blocked by Bentley and the goalkeeper then produced a better save to turn Brownhill’s volleyed follow up wide.

But, despite Burnley’s pressing, the soft centre which has now seen them lose 12 of their 15 games cost them again after 42 minutes.

It was sloppy as Trafford and Dara O’Shea played out from the back before Berge’s heavy touch allowed Sarabia to nip in and find Matheus Cunha.

The striker picked out the unmarked Hwang in the area who kept his composure to roll past Trafford.

Kompany’s men only had themselves to blame and could have fallen further behind when Mario Lemina nodded over two minutes into the second half.

The dynamic had shifted and it was now Wolves in the ascendancy with Trafford palming Sarabia’s free-kick away just after the hour.

Burnley were blunt and hardly tested Bentley, although Vitinho drove over from the edge of the box with 13 minutes left, but with their fading threat went their chances of recovery.

Trevor Lawrence sustained a right high-ankle sprain in Monday's night's 34-31 overtime loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.

Jaguars coach Doug Person revealed the diagnosis while talking to reporters Tuesday.

"Everything is stable," Pederson said. "Everything looks good and we'll see where he is in a couple of days."

Jacksonville visits the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, and Pederson didn't rule out Lawrence from playing.

"I'm not going to put that timetable on Trevor, not going to put him in a box like that," Pederson said.

Lawrence was injured with about five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter when his his right leg bent awkwardly after being stepped on by teammate Walker Little as he was sacked. He went to the ground in obvious pain and needed to be helped off the field. X-rays taken at Jacksonville's stadium were negative.

"The one last night looked worse than what it really was - very fortunate there," Pederson said. "But he seems to have a little bit of a knack (for avoiding serious injury)."

If he can't play, it would be the first game the durable Lawrence would miss since the Jaguars selected him No. 1 overall in the 2021 NFL draft. 

Backup C.J. Beathard would then make his 13th career start - and first since Week 17 of the 2020 season for the San Francisco 49ers. He is 2-10 as a starter in the NFL.

Replacing Lawrence on Monday, Beathard completed 9-of-10 passes for 63 yards.

"It's good to get C.J. a full week of preparation," Pederson said. "Trevor will stay mentally sharp and obviously see where he's at."

Lawrence was enjoying another showing before the injury, completing 22-of-29 passes for 258 yards with a pair of touchdowns.

In 12 games this season, he has 3,004 passing yards with 14 passing touchdowns and seven interceptions.

While Lawrence's status is uncertain, Pederson announced that top wide receiver Christian Kirk will be sidelined for "some time" due to a core muscle injury that will likely require surgery.

Kirk, who was injured on the first play from scrimmage against the Bengals, leads Jacksonville with 787 receiving yards on 57 receptions with three touchdown catches.

With Monday's loss, the Jaguars dropped to 8-4 and their lead atop the AFC South shrunk to one game over the Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans.

Teona, Via Sistina and 1000 Guineas heroine Cachet were among the star attractions as several top-class racing and broodmare prospects were sold for seven figures on day two of the December Mares Sale in Newmarket.

The sales ring was unsurprisingly buzzing as the second round of the ‘Sceptre Sessions’ got under way at Tattersalls, with Cheveley Park Stakes winner Lezoo and Qipco Champions Day victor Poptronic also going under the hammer in front of a packed crowd.

Teona won the Prix Vermeille in 2021 and rounded off her career by finishing third behind Yibir in that year’s Breeders’ Cup Turf.

Not only does the five-year-old possess a blue-blooded pedigree, being a daughter of Sea The Stars out of another Group One-winning mare for trainer Roger Varian in Ambivalent, but she is also in foal to the great Frankel, so it was no surprise she attracted huge interest in the auction.

Following a protracted battle, Teona eventually secured top lot status as she was knocked down to Frankel’s owner-breeders Juddmonte for 4.5million guineas.

“She is the best mare in the sale, she is a Group One winner out of a Group One winner, and they are very difficult to find,” said Juddmonte’s Simon Mockridge.

“She is a beautiful addition for us, she has a great pedigree. She is by Sea The Stars, who has made a fantastic start as a broodmare sire and has had five Group One winners – she will fit in very well.

“She is an outcross to Frankel, which is ideal and what we are looking for. And, yes, she will be going back to Frankel!”

When asked if the final price was expected, he told Tattersalls: “You always have to stretch when you want to buy the best, it is competitive. It was very strong bidding for her, I did think that around about 3.5 to 4million (might get her).

“You have to make that extra stretch – that is something we have learnt, it is all very well trying to value them before but when you come to the moment you have to be a little stronger.”

Having claimed Group One honours in the Pretty Polly Stakes in Ireland earlier this year, Via Sistina looked set to strike gold in the Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot in October, only to be mowed down late by King Of Steel under an inspired Frankie Dettori.

The four-year-old, who cost owner Stephen Hillen just 5,000 guineas as a yearling, was sold for 2.7million guineas to Evergreen Equine.

Hillen said: “It was amazing to watch! It has been tremendous from the day one. She was with Jamie Magee to be broken her in and he has a lot of good stock through his hands, he rang me in February and said she is the biggest, but she gets up the gallop better than all anything else!

“It has been a dream! I thought that she’d bring in 2million guineas plus, that cross is sensational. She was Group One winner, but arguably she ran great in the Champion Stakes and she was still improving all the time. It is nice now to see her almost certainly be retired sound and go to stud.

“I was fine watching her sell – I thought that if we don’t get what we want for her, we can still race her so it was a celebration either way.”

Zoustar filly Lezoo, trained by Ralph Beckett, was bought for 2.2million guineas after an online bid from Narvick International, who out-battled two separate parties from Japan.

Poptronic, last seen springing a surprise in the Qipco British Champions Fillies And Mares Stakes for Karl Burke, made 1.4million, while Tom Clover’s Matron Stakes runner-up Rogue Millennium made 1.65million and Ed Walker’s talented mare Primo Bacio, in foal to Frankel, went for 1.1million.

Zion Williamson believes there is great potential in the ranks of the New Orleans Pelicans after they bounced back to defeat the Sacramento Kings in the NBA's in-season tournament.

The Pelicans teed up a semi-final tie with either the Los Angeles Lakers or the Phoenix Suns in Las Vegas, after rallying from a 15-point first-quarter deficit to win 127-117 on Tuesday.

Brandon Ingram finished with 30 points, eight rebounds and six assists in the comeback victory, while Herb Jones added 23 points for the Pelicans, who trailed by a 32-17 score less than eight minutes in before embarking on a 22-4 run to take a three-point lead early in the second quarter.

New Orleans extended the margin to 69-61 at halftime and never trailed in the final two quarters while building a lead as big as 15 points in the third. Ingram had 17 of his points in the second half, while Jonas Valanciunas posted 18 points on 7-of-11 shooting along with 11 rebounds for the Pelicans.

"This team can be so great," Williamson said. "We have a lot of potential, but we have a lot of growth to do.

"But overall, we can do something really special if everybody stays locked in. We can do something really special."

Williamson only had 10 points, but he believes it is crucial that others step up to the plate when he is not at his best.

"With the shooters we've added, it definitely does take pressure off of me," Williamson said.

"I didn't play too well, but we were still up 13, 18, late in the game. This just shows how locked in everybody is. Coach always talks about staying ready. Our guys stayed ready."

For coach Willie Green, the level of trust shown by his players was the most pleasing aspect of the win.

"The biggest thing I saw in that game was trust," Green said.

"Our guys just stuck together. They stuck together in the huddle, and they continued to make the right play over and over and over again.

When you see a team that has 29 assists and only 14 turnovers, that's a team that's continuing to trust. We want to continue to build on that."

The Pelicans' win was marred, however, by news of a fan dying after a medical emergency at Golden 1 Center.

"During the first quarter of the Kings vs. Pelicans game, a guest had a medical emergency," a Kings statement read.

"EMS immediately responded and administered CPR. Tragically, these efforts were unsuccessful and the guest passed away. The organization offers its deepest condolences to the guest's family and loved ones."

Light Speed can be expected to go on to bigger and better things judged on an all-the-way victory on his handicap debut at Lingfield.

Previously successful in maiden and novice company at Newcastle and Wolverhampton respectively, the Mehmas colt was an 8-11 favourite to complete his hat-trick in the hands of Oisin Murphy.

Andrew Balding’s charge was soon bowling along in front in the BetUK. Home Of The Acca-Fenwa Handicap and was not hard pressed to score by two and a quarter lengths from Enough Already.

Murphy told Sky Sports Racing: “He broke quite well and I didn’t want us to walk around and fight him, so I was happy to let him tip away in front.

“He’s a lovely model. On pedigree there are mixed signals as to what trip he’ll want, being by Mehmas, but he’s out of a Sadler’s Wells mare and he stays 10 furlongs quite well.”

There was a degree of poignancy to the success as Light Speed was a final lead-up for Kingsclere stalwart Geoff Rigby, who is now set to enjoy his retirement.

“I’ve been at Kingsclere for 55 years – I started there in 1978 when I was 15 and I’m 70 now,” said Rigby.

“It’s a lovely place to work and the highlight was looking after Mrs Penny. She won the Cheveley Park, the Cherry Hinton and the Lowther Stakes, then she won the French Oaks and the Prix Vermeille and was second in the King George.”

Balding said: “Geoff’s been at Kingsclere since 1978 and he’s been a star. He lives in the village and we’ll be seeing plenty of him, I’d hope.

“The horse read the script, which is great.”

Light Speed was a second winner on the card for Balding and Murphy following the earlier success of the previously unraced See That Storm (11-10 favourite) in division one of the Boost Your Acca At BetMGM/EBF Restricted Maiden Stakes.

Dashing Darcey (10-11 favourite) impressed in division two for Roger Varian and David Egan.

“He ran a very nice race last time at Newcastle (finished second), I was drawn very low and he didn’t jump overly quick. The horse that won that day had track position in a slowly-run race and quickened away from us, but we were staying on all the way to the line,” said Egan.

“I was slightly expecting him to do the same, sort of go through the gears, but I thought he quickened up quite nicely to put the race to bed very quickly. He’s improving all the time.”

Kevin Sinfield has been hailed as an “absolute inspiration” by former RTE journalist Charlie Bird as the rugby league great continued his mammoth ultra-marathon challenge in aid of motor neuron disease.

Sinfield, the current England Rugby defence coach, set off on day five of the “7 in 7 in 7” challenge on a bitterly cold day in Dublin.

The 43-year-old is running an ultra-marathon every day for seven days in seven cities around Britain and Ireland, inspired by former Leeds team-mate Rob Burrow.

Bird, who is battling MND, thanked Sinfield for his efforts.

He said: “You are an absolute inspiration.

“I have cried every day watching you running marathon after marathon raising awareness and funds for MND all in the name of your best friend Rob Burrow.

“The money you have made is fantastic. He is a very lucky man to have a friend like you.

“I saw the picture of you carrying Rob over the finish line of one of your marathons, what an iconic image.”

Sinfield said it was “an honour” for the team to be in Dublin and representing Bird.

He said the team was a “little bit tired and a little bit busted” on day five of the monumental task.

Speaking at a media event at Croke Park GAA stadium, he said: “We’re really looking forward to running Dublin, we’re looking forward to running with Charlie.

“We’ve followed your story for some time Charlie, it’s incredible what you’ve done.

“Over the last three years, we’ve ran in some pretty special places and I think through the work our Doddie (Weir) did in Scotland in particular and through the UK, hopefully we’ve added to some of that in Rob’s name, and finally shown people how beautiful the MND community are and they need our support.

“MND doesn’t pick locations; it’s everywhere. We’ve got to fight together, we’ve got to come together and that’s part of why we’re here.”

After his visit to Dublin, Sinfield will move on to the penultimate stage in Brighton on Wednesday, followed by his final route which will conclude with him running up The Mall in London on Thursday.

:: To donate to Kevin Sinfield’s 7 in 7 in 7 quest, see https://donate.giveasyoulive.com/fundraising/kevin-sinfield

Hot on the heels of Sir Alex Ferguson tasting success with Spirit Dancer, Harry Redknapp and Michael Owen are now setting their sights on winning in Bahrain.

Former Manchester United manager Ferguson won the biggest race Bahrain has to offer in the International Trophy with a horse he also bred as the Richard Fahey-trained gelding streaked to glory.

Now Redknapp is targeting victory in the Bahrain Turf Series with Moktassab, trained by Phil McEntee, while Owen is sending over the Hugo Palmer-trained Box To Box.

Redknapp, who has been an owner for many years, said: “I am really looking forward to Moktasaab running in Bahrain. The horse has had a nice break since his last run in August and I think, like a lot of us, he will appreciate a bit of winter sunshine. Phil is very pleased with him and we hope he is back on a winning mark, having dropped a few pounds this year.

“I had a runner (Wonder Elzaam) in the first Bahrain Turf Series back in 2021, which was a lot of fun, and we will be heading out to Bahrain during the series to watch Moktasaab run.”

Owen is one of the owners of Box To Box, who finished second to Spirit Dancer at York in the summer.

“Box To Box arrives off the back of a really good season in England and he has travelled well to Bahrain,” said Palmer, ahead of the series, which starts on Friday.

“Physically the horse thrived in Bahrain last year, but he did his chances no good by being slowly away on a couple of occasions, which is unlike him. If he jumps well, then he has a lot in his favour.

“He is set to meet a couple of his former stable companions, Mr McCann and Chronograph, both of whom are now based in Bahrain, so it will be interesting to see how he gets on against them.”

Roman Dragon is another for Owen and Palmer to be making the journey.

Palmer said: “To date, all five of Roman Dragon’s wins have come around Chester’s tight turns, so the straight 1000m will be a slightly different challenge for him, but he will love the fast ground and he is fit and ready to run well. His owners were keen to experience the Bahrain Turf Series having heard good things about it.”

Chairman John Bennett pointed to the figure he believes is key to future financial success at Rangers.

The Ibrox club’s recently published accounts for the year to June 30, 2023 revealed a turnover of £83.8million, an operating profit of £250,000 but an overall net loss for the year of £4.2million, despite the sale of Calvin Bassey and Joe Aribo contributing to a record player trading profit of £23.6million.

Speaking at the club’s AGM at New Edmiston House on Tuesday morning, Bennett said: “I am focused on more than one number, but there is one number that should be focused on in that profit and loss account.

“Yes, this club, for the second year in a row, printed an operating profit but that was post-player trading.

“This club last year lost £10.5million, pre-player trading.

“I would ask you please to keep your eye on that £10.5million. It has to go away.

“This is a new executive team for a reason and it is tasked with not only growing the club, but driving through operating efficiencies.

“It is a cultural change and it is under way.

“That £10.5million has to become, at worst, zero. Not every club operates at that level, in other words at minimum break-even prior to player trading.

“They need player trading to have a model. We want to take Rangers to a place where it breaks even or better. I can tell you right now, every day it’s turning – and it will turn.”

Harry Fry views a switch to Sandown as a major positive for Love Envoi ahead of the rescheduled Fighting Fifth Hurdle on Saturday.

The seven-year-old was all set to lock horns with the brilliant Constitution Hill in the Grade One contest at Newcastle last weekend, only for the Gosforth Park fixture to be abandoned due to a combination of snow and frost.

The British Horseracing Authority moved swiftly to save the recognised Champion Hurdle trial, however, and it will now take place on familiar territory for Fry’s star mare.

“All being well, the plan is to run,” the Dorset-based trainer confirmed.

“Obviously, it was disappointing for Newcastle to lose their fixture on Saturday, but we’re pleased the race was able to be rescued and rescheduled for this weekend on a track that suits us well.

“She’s three from three at the course and won at this meeting last year in the handicap hurdle. There’ll be more of an emphasis on stamina over two miles round Sandown than there would have been at Newcastle, so from our point of view, we’re very happy.”

Nicky Henderson has suggested he may not only saddle Constitution Hill at Sandown, but that he could be joined by esteemed stablemate Shishkin, who he feels is in desperate need of a prep run ahead of an intended tilt at the King George VI Chase on Boxing Day.

Fry, though, is focussing on his own horse, adding: “Conditions shouldn’t be a problem, it’s an ideal starting point for her campaign and we’re looking forward to getting her season under way.

“We’ll just have to wait to see who else lines up. If Constitution Hill does run, it goes without saying he sets a very high standard, but you’ve got to be in it to win it.”

Fry is also set to be represented in the Betfair Tingle Creek Chase on Saturday’s card, with Boothill looking likely to take his chance in the Grade One feature.

The eight-year-old is two from two this season, having plundered a couple of valuable handicaps at Ascot, and his trainer is keen to step him up in class earlier than originally planned.

He said: “We’re leaning towards running. Initially, after winning the Hurst Park for the second year running, I thought we’d wait for the Clarence House (in January), but he’s bounced out of that race and is in great order with himself.

“It’s six weeks on Saturday until the Clarence House and with the weather at the moment, we’re having cancellations here, there and everywhere. You could wait all that time and you just never know.

“We just felt we’d keep our options open and we’ll make a final decision on Thursday morning, but at the moment, it’s probably more likely than not that we’ll let him take his chance.”