AVA

Rejoice! A study conducted by the University of Leeds and BetVictor has revealed the potential health benefits of watching football.  The experiment, using 25 Leeds fans aged between 20 and 60, found that the elevated heart rates supporters experienced while watching games was a “positive stress” equivalent to a moderate cardiovascular workout. “It was clear that…

The La Liga champions are pushing to re-sign the PSG forward before the Spanish transfer window closes on September 2. Real Madrid are also exploring the possibility of acquiring Neymar, who is desperate to depart the Parc des Princes. Barcelona are the first to make a formal bid for the Brazilian, but PSG are demanding…

Bristol City boss Lee Johnson criticised the decision to award QPR a late penalty in normal time of their Carabao Cup first-round defeat. Ryan Manning’s conversion levelled the game at 3-3 and meant that a penalty shoot-out followed, which the west Londoners won 5-4. Famara Diedhiou had put the visitors ahead, before Nahki Wells and…

Carlisle United manager Steven Pressley hailed a “truly amazing” performance as his side won 3-0 in the Carabao Cup against a Barnsley team two divisions above them. Pressley lavished praise on his team as they reversed the form book with a first away win since January. A first-half goal from Harry McKirdy set the visitors…

Delighted Cambridge boss Colin Calderwood hailed his side’s defensive effort for causing one of the Carabao Cup’s big first-round upsets. Harvey Knibbs’ sudden-death penalty won it for the Us after Brentford’s Marcus Forss cancelled out Marc Richards’ third-minute opener. And Calderwood said: “We showed a lot of gumption to hang in there, and the longer…

Rafael Cabral’s “special powers” came to the fore, according to manager Jose Gomes, after the goalkeeper inspired Reading to a 4-2 penalty shootout win over Wycombe in the Carabao Cup. Cabral saved from both Nick Freeman and Fred Onyedinma as Reading bagged a second-round tie with Plymouth following the 1-1 draw at Adams Park. Alex…

Eddie Nketiah believes he can thrive on the pressure and expectation at Leeds after making a flying start to life at the Championship club. The Arsenal striker, who joined Leeds on a season-long loan last week, scored 43 minutes into his debut as the Yorkshire side won 3-0 at Salford in the Carabao Cup. Gaetano…

Blackburn’s late heroics to beat Oldham were not enough to prevent criticism from manager Tony Mowbray. Rovers avoided a Carabao Cup upset against League Two opposition by scoring twice in stoppage time to secure a 3-2 first-round victory. After Gevaro Nepomuceno’s opener had been cancelled out by Blackburn’s Bradley Dack in the 70th minute, Oldham captain…

Tom Bradshaw was given a standing ovation by Millwall’s staff and players after ending his nightmare year by scoring in the 2-1 Carabao Cup win at West Brom. The 27-year-old striker had not netted since his record £1.25million move from Barnsley in January after initially joining the club on loan last August. Since then the…

A proud David Artell felt Crewe deserved to seal a second round trip to Aston Villa in the Carabao Cup even before Middlesbrough forced penalties at the Riverside Stadium. Boro had to come from two goals down to level things in added time at the end of the 90 minutes but League Two Crewe still…