Gareth Barry’s 38th birthday turned into a sour affair as Sheffield United returned to the Championship’s two in a rousing game at The Hawthorns.

Veteran midfielder Barry, who was also making his 825th senior appearance, was also outjumped for the only goal of the game, scored by Kieran Dowell as Chris Wilder’s side went second on goal difference above Leeds United to continue their fine run of form with one defeat in 11 Championship outings. 

While the Blades maintained their impressive streak, West Brom suffered only their second defeat since New Year’s Day to end a four-match unbeaten run. 

Kieran Dowell (right) scored the only goal as Sheffield United beat West Brom

Dowell, on loan from Everton, scored in the 14th minute to hand the Blades three points 

Dowell celebrates with his United team-mates after scoring against West Brom 

And, based on this performance where they had to withstand plenty of attacking intent from West Brom, they looked a good bet to return to the Premier League.

West Brom had much of the play and it looked like they had equalised six minutes from time when Jay Rodriguez netted. But his aerial effort from Mason Holgate’s cross was correctly ruled out for handball, and he was rightly booked.

In truth, Darren Moore’s side did enough to have earned at least a point, rather than suffer their first league defeat since New Year’s Day.

The visitors went ahead with the game’s first serious attack in the 14th minute. Midfielder Kieran Dowell, on loan from Everton, floated a header inside the far post for his first goal for the club, beating Barry in the air in the process.

The goal came after Martin Cranie wriggled to the byeline to cut the ball back following a surging run by Kieron Freeman, who found his team-mate on the overlap for the cross. Ollie Norwood started the move just outside his own penalty area.

The visitors threatened a second goal soon afterwards when Marvin Johnson’s first-time curling effort drew a low save from Sam Johnstone, the West Bromwich goalkeeper.

The hosts were slower into this game and it was beyond the mid-point of the first half when they produced their first serious effort, when Mason Holgate, the right back, cut inside and curled a left-footed shot just wide.

Chris Wilder shouts instructions to his United team during their match on Saturday

Dwight Gayle was unable to take a chance to get West Brom level against United 

West Brom striker Dwight Gayle then missed contact as he slid in when he should have done better after escaping around the back of the United defence to latch on to a bouncing shot from Rekeem Harper.

West Brom threatened again when defender Craig Dawson’s strong header was well held by goalkeeper Dean Henderson on the line before Rekeem Harper, drilled wide from 25 yards.

After withstanding some pressure from West Brom, it was United’s turn to give the hosts some problems of their own following the restart.

David McGoldrick hooked in an inviting cross and it took some cool footwork from Ahmed Hegazi, the central defender, to keep the ball away from Billy Sharp deep inside the penalty area.

But West Brom hit back with a genuine chance of their own when Gayle saw an angled drive strike a defender for a corner.

The visitors could have made sure of their hard-earned victory in the 80th minute when Dowell’s flick allowed Gary Madine, the substitute, a clear shooting chance from a central position. But he could only fire straight at Johnstone from 20 yards. 

Thibaut Courtois has been named as Best Goalkeeper of 2018 by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS).

The Real Madrid stopper finished ahead of Tottenham’s Hugo Lloris, while Gianluigi Buffon, of Paris Saint-Germain, was third.

Courtois’ Real Madrid teammate, Keylor Navas, was fourth, while Atletico Madrid‘s Jan Oblak and Barcelona’s Marc-Andre ter Stegen were joint fifth. 

Real Madrid stopper Thibaut Courtois has been named as Best Goalkeeper of 2018

According to the IFFHS, football experts from 90 countries took part in the voting process that saw the 26-year-old Belgium international receive 181 votes.

Lloris came second with 109 votes, Buffon came third with 59 votes.

Los Blancos said on their website that Courtois had a “great year” in 2018, with the former Chelsea star helping his country secure a third-place finish in the World Cup last summer.

Luka Modric was presented with the award for the World’s Best Playmaker 2018

For his exploits in the international competition, he took home the Golden Glove award for best ‘keeper of the tournament.

Courtois, who has previously revealed, also won the Best FIFA Goalkeeper at the Best FIFA Football Awards in September 2018, despite the fact that Manchester United’s David de Gea was named in the FIFA FIFPro World11.

Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric was presented with the award for the World’s Best Playmaker 2018.

Arsenal held their final training session ahead of their Premier League clash against Southampton, with Unai Emery being given some good news on the injury front.

Defender Laurent Koscielny was taken off as a precaution against BATE Borisov on Thursday but took a full part in training, as did Ainsley Maitland-Niles, who has recovered from illness.

That means Emery has the vast majority of his squad to choose from, with the only absentees being long-term ones in Hector Bellerin, Rob Holding and Danny Welbeck.

Laurent Koscielny and Ainsley Maitland-Niles both returned to full training with Arsenal

Nacho Monreal acted as a photographer as he took a picture of Alexandre Lacazette

Monreal also took a picture of Ainsley Maitland-Niles during the training session

Midfielder Mesut Ozil looked focused during the training session at London Colney

Young striker Eddie Nketiah, who has frequently been named in matchday squads this season, was involved in the session. 

The Arsenal players seemed in good spirits during training, and Nacho Monreal even took the opportunity to act as a photographer, taking pictures of Alexandre Lacazette and Maitland-Niles.

Ozil, who started against BATE Borisov, spoke to head coach Unai Emery

Recent loan signing Denis Suarez is hoping to make his first start for Arsenal

The Arsenal players, including Sead Kolasinac, seemed in good spirits during training

Mesut Ozil, who will be aiming to start against Southampton, looked focused during the session, as did recent loan arrival Denis Suarez.

Emery’s team are seeking to build upon their win over BATE as they look to give themselves the best possible chance of getting into next season’s Champions League. 

Arsenal go into the game against Southampton in fifth place in the Premier League. 

Lacazette, who missed the BATE game through suspension, enjoyed himself in training

Midfielder Matteo Guendouzi attempts to skip away from Mohamed Elneny

Striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will be determined to get on the scoresheet again

Leeds kept up the pressure in the Championship promotion race after being gifted the winner in a fraught contest that saw Bolton manager Phil Parkinson red-carded.

Two minutes after Ezgjan Alioski’s dink was allowed to creep under the crossbar and over the line by visiting goalkeeper Remi Matthews for the decisive goal, Parkinson was sent to the stands by Tony Harrington for charging out of his technical area as part of a melee that formed following a touchline foul.

Josh Magennis was booked for the challenge on Alioski and Joe Williams also saw yellow for his reaction before fourth official Scott Duncan advised Harrington on events.

Ezgjan Alioski scores Leeds’ second goal in the 2-1 win over Bolton Wanderers

Bolton boss Phil Parkinson was dismissed after a touchline altercation with Pontus Jansson

Patrick Bamford celebrates after scoring a penalty to put Leeds in front on 16 minutes

Bamford found the net after 16 minutes, sending Bolton keeper Remi Matthews the wrong way

Yet until Alioski lifted the ball hopefully goalwards in the 68th minute, frustration had dogged Leeds for the best part of an hour, much as it has done since they relinquished their advantage in the automatic promotion race last month.

In fact, this feels like a pivotal week in Leeds’ season: frontrunners for so long, a post-Christmas slump of 10 points from eight matches has seen them cede their advantage and a spell of three fixtures in six days, including the visit of in-form West Brom next Friday, will test their staying power.

Any heaviness in the legs should have been eased by the rare 10-day rest period in the lead-up, one which Marcelo Bielsa used to take in some of the Yorkshire countryside and the Football League used to issue a £200,000 fine and reprimand for the Argentine’s indulgence in spying.

Bielsa’s plans for Bolton were disrupted by the absence of top scorer Kemar Roofe due to a knee injury.

It triggered a recall for Tyler Roberts and placed an onus on Patrick Bamford to convert the chances Leeds’ high-tempo game create.

When they combined for the opening goal, it appeared they were good for the rest. Roberts’ flit across the area on the quarter hour was impeded by Pawel Olkowski and, in the absence of regular penalty taker Roofe, Bamford sent Remi Matthews the wrong way from 12 yards. 

Visiting defender Mark Beevers levelled the scores on 22 minutes, firing in from close range

Bolton players celebrate after scoring a first-half equaliser against Leeds at Elland Road

The lead proved fleeting, however, as Bolton’s aerial superiority – that had seen Josh Magennis’ close-range header spectacularly clawed over the bar by Kiko Casilla inside three minutes – played its part in an equaliser.

Although David Wheater’s initial header from Gary O’Neil’s corner was repelled, the scramble that ensued saw his central defensive partner stab in from eight yards.

Norwich dispatched four goals past the same relegation-threatened opponents last week but Leeds – and their 33,000 supporters – lived on their nerves throughout due to the lack of a second goal.

Bolton’s Jason Lowe was shown a yellow card for an early foul on Tyler Roberts

Bamford sees his first-half header saved by Bolton goalkeeper Remi Matthews

Bamford and Harrison both forced Matthews into sprawling, low saves to keep out glancing headers, after exploiting the space behind Bolton’s backline, during a first-half purple patch.

While an electric breakout from a visitors’ corner resulted in full-back Luke Ayling cutting in from the right flank only to curl the ball behind the far post eight minutes after the re-start.

In the end, they were thankful to the generosity of beleaguered Bolton. Clayton Donaldson was bundled off the ball far too easily by Mateusz Klich and even then no danger was apparent when Alioski shaped to deliver – the ball appearing to skew off his boot to wrong foot the goalkeeper.

Leeds manager Marcelo Bielsa feels the pressure in a tense game against the Trotters

It was not exactly losing to Scotland but England’s defeat to lowly West Indies in the second one-day international was a stark reminder to the No1 team in the world that they still have a shocking performance in them with time running out before they host the World Cup.

Remember, West Indies are a dismal ninth in the one-day rankings and only just qualified for this summer’s world tournament at the expense of a desperately unlucky Scotland whose victory over England in Edinburgh last summer remains a rare blip for Eoin Morgan’s all conquering side.

Here there was no unplayable bowling to blame nor any demons in a Kensington Oval pitch that was full of runs in the first one-day international and only a fraction more difficult for batting in Friday’s second.

Sheldon Cottrell’s bowling caused England’s fragile batting to fall apart in defeat

Yet England’s still fragile batting imploded against a 29-year-old saluting journeyman in Sheldon Cottrell who became a late replacement in West Indies squad only when Shannon Gabriel was banned and Keemo Paul was injured.

‘We turn up trying our hardest to win every game but it doesn’t happen every time and we were beaten by the better side today and learning from that isn’t a bad thing,’ said England captain Eoin Morgan. ‘We will see in the next game whether we learn from it or not.’

True, England were the victims of the sort of truly shocking decision by a home umpire that appeared to have been left behind in cricket’s dark ages when Barbadian official Gregory Brathwaite gave Tom Curran out lbw to a ball from Jason Holder that may have missed a second set of stumps.

One local official is still assigned to one-day internationals alongside an ICC elite umpire, in this case Bruce Oxenford, but Brathwaite did not appear up to the task and it did not need technology to show he had made the sort of howler DRS was supposed to eliminate.

Barbadian official Gregory Brathwaite did not appear up to the task of umpiring the match

England fell apart after Ben Stokes wasted his side’s review to a clear caught behind decision

It did not here, of course, because Ben Stokes, who was seemingly taking England home comfortably in their pursuit of West Indies below par 289 for six, had just wasted his side’s review to a clear caught behind decision that Brathwaite had got right.

England needed 57 off nine overs when Curran became the seventh man to fall but he has been in good batting form in the Big Bash and could have conceivably taken England home. But Morgan refused to complain about the decision afterwards.

‘It happens and it was a good tester for us,’ said Morgan, who was unhappy when an England review against John Campbell in the West Indies innings took more than five minutes for TV umpire Paul Wilson to adjudicate on. And even then it seemed inconclusive as to whether the ball from Moeen Ali had touched Campbell’s glove.

’It’s frustrating when it goes against you but it can throw you one of two ways and I think the guys responded well when it went against us.’

Not well enough to go two up in this last five-match series before England must name their World Cup squad on April 23 and they head to Grenada for tomorrow’s third match needing to avoid more slip ups for the sake of their preparation for a tournament they are expected to win.

Fast bowler Mark Wood continued his rise and was a hugely positive sign for England in defeat

One hugely positive sign for England is the continued rise of Mark Wood, who almost matched his St Lucia Test speeds of 95 miles per hour here plus gained reverse swing from one of the two white balls used in one-day internationals that rarely move off the straight.

Wood had appeared to be vulnerable to the emergence of Jofra Archer, who qualifies for England next month and could be fast-tracked into the World Cup squad, but if he can stay fit and firing now looks certain of a starting place, let alone a slot in the squad.

‘I think I’m one of the guys under threat but I wouldn’t say that night and day I’m up worried about Archer’s role,’ said Wood after West Indies 26-run victory. ‘He is a world-class performer but I’m going to continue with this bit of confidence and half decent form I’ve got to push my case.

‘It’s not really talked about in the dressing room but I’d be stupid to think my place wouldn’t be up for grabs if I didn’t put in the hard yards because he bowls quick as well so we’ll have to see what happens.’

Captain Eoin Morgan insisted there were plenty of positives despite the shock defeat

Meanwhile Morgan is adamant England’s best white-ball seam bowler in Chris Woakes will be fit for tomorrow and the bigger challenges that follow this summer after he was left out of Friday’s match to nurse his ongoing knee problem.

‘We’re not pushing him to play two games in three days because down the line at the World Cup he won’t have to do that,’ added the England captain.’ He could have played today but his risk of being injured would have been quite high. The World Cup is a completely different kettle of fish and we expect him to be fit for that.’ 

Eoin Morgan is confident that seam bowler Chris Woakes will be fit in time for the next ODI

Pep Guardiola led his Manchester City squad as they made the trip to London for Sunday’s Carabao Cup final against Chelsea at Wembley.

The Premier League champions will be aiming to retain the trophy they won against Arsenal in 2018.

That marked Guardiola’s first silverware as Manchester City boss, with Sergio Aguero, Vincent Kompany and David Silva scoring in an emphatic victory.

Manchester City were travelling to London ahead of the Carabao Cup final against Chelsea

Club captain Vincent Kompany scored in the 2018 final and will hope to take part on Sunday

Manchester City will be aiming to secure the first of four trophies that remain available to them this season.

They came from behind against Schalke to win 3-2 in their Champions League last-16 first leg ahead of the decider at the Etihad.

They also remain in contention in the FA Cup, while they are level on points at the top of the Premier League with Liverpool, having played a game more. 

Having signed a new deal with the club until 2025, Aymeric Laporte will want more silverware

England full-back Kyle Walker is hoping to win a third major trophy with Manchester City

As they travelled, the squad were dressed in outfits provided by Italian designers DSQAURED2, with whom the club have a multi-year partnership. 

 Danilo and Oleksandar Zinchenko were among the players opting to wear the brand’s blue crew-neck jumpers, while Fabian Delph and keeper Ederson matched white t-shirts with black jackets.

Boss Pep Guardiola had his jacket fully zipped up, while assistant Mikel Arteta donned a long-sleeved black shirt and Brian Kidd appeared to be sporting a polo neck. 

Pep Guardiola and his backroom staff opted for an all-black ensemble from DSQUARED2

Leroy Sane was on target for the club in their Champions League win over former club Schalke