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Millwall may live by the mantra that no-one likes them, but nobody can ignore them either, least of all second-placed Middlesbrough who hold a slender advantage of one point over the Lions.

Aiming for only a third ever top-flight season following two between 1988 and 1990, they are right in the automatic promotion picture.

McLean: “When I look at Millwall, I look at the level of performance and the games, like the way that they’re winning games. It’s not like they’re getting lucky. They’re going and they’re dominating teams.

“I look at the way they dismantled Charlton in a local derby. It epitomised everything that they’re doing. Physically they’re a match for absolutely anyone in the division and they’ve got quality players.

“They don’t play long ball but they mix it up, and on their day they’re as good as anyone in the division.

“Their goals come from everywhere in the team and Alex Neil has built a squad that isn’t reliant on one or two superstars. They work, they work brilliantly as a unit, and they all know their job.

Tonda Eckert took over Southampton in early November, with the team in 20th place, staring over their shoulders at the relegation picture.

Four months on and they are one spot away from the play-offs and scoring for fun with 42 in 22 games under Eckert, compared to 13 in 13 under Will Still.

McLean: “There is often a late darter and it definitely could be Southampton. They’ve scored more goals than anybody in that period of time since Eckert came in as well. Which is a transition from what they had prior to him.

“Obviously, Will Still was in charge at the beginning of the season and it just didn’t work for whatever reason. But Eckert has come in and he’s brought a new belief and they still play attractive football.

“What they do is they score a lot of goals as well. And now that they’ve got the momentum, you wouldn’t bet against them getting into the play-offs. Southampton and Ipswich are the two who have been in those promotion shake-ups and in those kinds of battles.

With relegation to League One confirmed and uncertainty over ownership swirling, players could be forgiven for throwing in the towel. For all that results are not going their way with 12 defeats on the spin, there are signs of fight at Hillsborough in difficult circumstances, despite them falling 3-1 at home against Southampton.

McLean: “The club accepted their fate a long time ago but you have to give so much credit to these players week-in week-out that they’re not just rolling over and getting beat six, seven and eight.

“A lot of the young players that are getting game time will benefit so much from this season and next year will be much better players for going through what they’re going through.

“And every player that plays for Sheffield Wednesday is playing for their future in one way or another: if you are a loan player you are wanting to go back to your parent club and try and push to get in their first team; if you are hoping to stay at Wednesday next season in the hope of a promotion campaign; or whether you want to play against somebody and you’re hoping that they’ll come and take you.

“No matter what the situation of the club, you’re always playing for your future.

“With an 18-point deduction, the writing was already on the wall from the start but how do you respond to that? Are you giving the level of performance? Are you putting in the running? That’s what the fans pay to see.

League One leaders Cardiff City and second-placed Lincoln are separated by a point, with a yawning gap of 10 points to third place. The pair, who meet next weekend in south Wales, are locked in an arm wrestle with 12 games to go and it could go right down to the wire.

McLean: “Both won 4-0 today and they are stretching away from the pack, but who comes out with the title? For me it goes right to the very end. With two of them pushing for the title, they’re driving each other.

“With a gap opening up to third, there can be a situation where you get complacent, where you think ‘OK, well, we’re going to get promoted’. So you have to have something that drives you.

“If I had to predict next week’s game [at Cardiff] I would say Lincoln. They won the reverse fixture and although Cardiff will be desperate to get their own back I think Lincoln.

For the second time inside eight days, relegation-threatened League Two side Barrow were undone by a stoppage-time goal, with last weekend’s 94th-minute winner for Fleetwood followed by a 103rd-minute winner for Gillingham.

It was a goal that should make the 330-mile journey back to Kent a whole lot sweeter.

McLean: “For Gillingham fans that will have been one of the games of the season and surely Gareth Ainsworth will have been on the microphone singing on the coach home!

“For Gillingham, for them to show the character, keep going all the way and feel the 103rd minute – full credit. I’m sure they’re enjoying their long journey home, which given it was a 650-mile round trip has probably still not finished.

“As good as it was for travelling fans I have to say I felt gutted for Barrow manager Dino Maamria, because that was the second game back-to-back that they’ve conceded in injury time.

United Rugby Championship

Munster (7) 21

Tries: Daly, Kendellen, L Barron Cons: Hanrahan 3

Zebre (7) 7

Munster secured a much-needed 21-7 win over Zebre in the United Rugby Championship, being made to work hard before pulling clear in the second half at a drenched Thomond Park on Saturday.

With three defeats in their last four URC outings – against Leinster, Ulster and Glasgow Warriors – and having made 10 changes from the side that lost to Glasgow Warriors last month, this result will steady the ship somewhat for the Irish province.

After going in level at half-time at seven points apiece, Munster edged ahead in the second period with a late brace of tries from Alex Kendellen and Lee Barron, those scores securing Clayton McMillan’s side their first win in Limerick since October.

Munster had the majority of early territory and pressure, with a beautifully judged kick from Tom Farrell handing the hosts a line-out just seven metres from the Zebre line.

That pressure intensified when Giulio Bertaccini was shown a yellow card two minutes in for a deliberate knock-on, as Munster threatened to score under the posts.

Despite being reduced to 14 men, Zebre initially stood firm, but winger Shane Daly demonstrated his explosive pace and stormed over in the left corner after six minutes, getting Munster off the mark, JJ Hanrahan adding the conversion.

A sudden downpour swept across Thomond Park, making handling increasingly treacherous, yet Munster continued to probe.

The hosts generated quick ruck ball and a clever grubber from Mike Haley almost put captain Jack O’Donoghue in under the posts, but the ball slipped forward at the crucial moment.

Munster controlled territory for much of the opening quarter, working patiently through phases as Zebre were forced into heavy defensive shifts.

Gradually the Italian visitors found a foothold and just after the half-hour mark, Samuele Locatelli broke Munster’s defensive line, with flanker Bautista Stavile scoring under the posts. Giacomo Da Re added the extras.

Early in the second half, Tom Farrell kicked in behind the defence, setting up Paddy Patterson to get over the try line on his 50th appearance for Munster.

After a TMO review, the referee confirmed that the ball had hit Patterson’s hand and then the ground, so it was ruled to be a knock-on and the score remained tied.

Munster failed to capitalise on opportunities, with Calvin Nash threatening with a storming run on 52 minutes that fizzled out into touch, and then a promising five-metre line-out maul was halted by a forward pass.

The breakthrough for Clayton McMillan’s men finally came 64 minutes in.

A strong maul off the lineout carried Munster close, and after a series of pick-and-go carries, replacement Kendellen grounded the ball from close range to mark his return from injury in style. Hanrahan’s conversion edged the hosts 14-7 ahead.

Zebre continued to battle, but Munster finally found their tempo and ill-discipline from the visitors cost them key opportunities.

With 10 minutes left on the clock, Hanrahan kicked to the corner. Replacement hooker Barron threw the ball into the lineout and capitalised on the Munster pack’s strong rolling maul to get over for their third try. Hanrahan was successful with the extra two to put 14 between the sides.

Chasing a bonus point, Barron later broke the line but was hauled down short by Stavile.

As the clock ticked into the red, Zebre briefly threatened, but a crucial turnover from Munster, followed by an unfortunate knock-on from Edogbo, brought the game to an end.

Munster: Haley; Nash, Farrell, Kelly, Daly; Hanrahan, Patterson; Milne, Scannell, Ala’alatoa, Kleyn, F Wycherley, Coombes, O’Donoghue (capt), Gleeson.

Replacements: L Barron, J Wycherley, J Ryan, E Edogbo, Kendellen, Coughlan, T Wood, O’Brien.

Zebre: Montemauri; Batista, Bertaccini, Mazza, Gesi; Da Re, García; Pitinari, Ribaldi, Pieretto, Canali, Ortombina, Stavile, Locatelli, Ferrari (capt).

Replacements: Quattrini, Buofiglio, Franceschetto, Volpi, Bianchi, Dominguez, Roger Farias, Zanon.

Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU)

Assistant Referees: Robbie Jenkinson (IRFU) and Max Weston (IRFU)

Boos could be heard during a brief break in play to allow players observing Ramadan to break their fast during Saturday’s Premier League game between Leeds United and Manchester City.

The 17:30 GMT kick-off at Elland Road was paused in the 13th minute as both sets of players came to the side of the pitch to take on fluids.

A message was displayed on the big screen inside the stadium stating: “As tonight’s match takes place inside the holy month of Ramadan, play has been paused briefly to allow players to break their fast.”

City had three Muslim players – Rayan Cherki, Rayan Ait-Nouri and Omar Marmoush – in their starting line-up, with Abdukodir Khusanov on the bench.

BBC Sport has contacted Leeds United for comment.

Asked about the booing, Leeds assistant manager Edmund Riemer told Sky Sports: “I’m focused on the game so I don’t really hear it, but disappointed with some supporters that that happened.”

Riemer added in the post-match media conference “we try to learn out of it” and “need to do better next time”.

Ramadan – during which Muslims abstain from food and drink from dawn until sunset – began on the evening of 17 February and lasts for a month.

With sunset in the UK ranging from about 17:00 to 19:00 during this period, the only games that could feature a break in play are Saturday’s 17:30 kick-off and Sunday’s 16:30 kick-off between Arsenal and Chelsea.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said: “We took on a little bit of vitamins because [Rayan] Cherki, [Rayan] Ait-Nouri did not eat today.

“It is a modern world, right? [You see] what is happening in the world today. Respect religion, diversity, that is the point.

“The Premier League says you can have one or two minutes, you can have for the [fasting] players to do it [break their fast]. It is what it is, unfortunately.”

Anti-discrimination group Kick It Out said the booing was “massively disappointing”.

“Pausing the game to allow Muslim players to break their fast during Ramadan has been an agreed protocol for several years now,” it said.

“It’s an important and visible part of making the game welcoming for Muslim players and communities.

“But as tonight’s reaction shows, football still has a long way to go in terms of education and acceptance.”

Club captains and match officials find a natural pause in the game to allow Muslim players or match officials to break their fast.

In 2021, an agreement was put in place to allow Muslim players to break their fast during a Premier League match.

Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson said on BBC Radio 5 Live: “I think it’s very good for the players. We talk about the athletes and how fine-tuned they are at the moment.

Barcelona’s on-loan Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford has agreed a deal with the Spanish club, Aston Villa are keen on Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson and Real Madrid want Manchester City‘s Rodri.

England striker Marcus Rashford, 28, has agreed a three-year deal with Barcelona and the Spanish club intend to trigger a release clause of about £26m to turn his loan from Manchester United into a permanent deal in the summer. (Sport – in Spanish)

Chelsea‘s 24-year-old Senegal striker Nicolas Jackson, who is on loan at Bayern Munich, and Borussia Dortmund’s Guinea forward Serhou Guirassy, 29, are among the options AC Milan are interested in. (Gazzetta dello Sport – in Italian)

Aston Villa are also keen on Jackson as they plan to let 30-year-old England forward Ollie Watkins leave in the summer. (Football Insider)

Real Madrid want to sign 29-year-old Manchester City midfielder Rodri, with the Spain international set to cost about £44m. (Radio Marca)

England winger Anthony Gordon has been linked with Arsenal but, rather than suggestions the 25-year-old has two years left on his Newcastle United deal, he actually has four. (Sky Sports)

Atletico Madrid and Juventus have joined Newcastle in wanting to sign 26-year-old Uruguay striker Darwin Nunez, who has fallen out of favour at Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal. (Football Insider)

Juventus have made 27-year-old France striker Randal Kolo Muani, who is on loan at Tottenham from Paris St-Germain, a top summer transfer target. (Tuttosport, via Football Italia)

Former England boss Gareth Southgate has been linked with taking over at Manchester United but says he is “not actively looking for a role in coaching”. (Football Boardrrom Podcast, via Star)

Brentford and Burnley produced a Premier League classic, with the Bees coming out 4-3 winners in an edge-of-the-seat thriller.

They threw away a three-goal lead before midfielder Mikkel Damsgaard’s 93rd-minute goal helped them edge past Burnley, but that was far from the end of the drama at Turf Moor.

Clarets striker Ashley Barnes thought he had equalised in the 98th minute, only for the goal to be ruled out by the video assistant referee (VAR) for a handball which needed four minutes and two different angles to be confirmed.

It was not the straightforward win that Brentford manager Keith Andrews would have hoped for to celebrate signing a new contract until 2032 this week.

“It had a bit of everything,” Andrews told BBC Match of the Day. “The neutrals will be very pleased, but it’s far too much drama for my liking.”

Nonetheless, the gritty victory has Brentford sitting seventh in the table, trailing fifth-placed Liverpool by five points.

With only 10 games left of their season, it means Brentford are closer than ever to playing in Europe for the first time.

“Definitely they can start dreaming about European football,” former England women’s captain Steph Houghton told BBC Football Focus.

“They believe in who they are and there is a real humility about them.”

Former Arsenal and England defender Martin Keown said: “It’s the next step. Five points away from the top five is amazing. Who would have predicted that?”

Many pundits and supporters questioned Andrews’ appointment when he was thrust into the hot seat following Thomas Frank’s exit for Tottenham last summer.

Appointing the club’s set-piece coach to succeed Frank, who guided Brentford into the Premier League during his seven-year tenure, would not have looked a very reassuring move.

And many tipped Brentford as relegation candidates, let alone replicate their 10th-placed finish from 2024-25, following the departures of captain Christian Norgaard, star winger Bryan Mbeumo and the prolific Yoane Wissa.

But eight months on, Andrews is proving his detractors completely wrong.

“Andrews has been fantastic,” former England goalkeeper Rob Green told BBC Radio 5 Live.

“He’s really taken that team and put his own twist on it without it being too drastic. He has managed everything around him very well.”

Damsgaard, who scored twice against Burnley, said: “He is a really good guy, first of all.

“We learn so much from him and he cares so much for this team. He’s the perfect fit.

“We have improved so much this season. It’s been a pleasure working with him and this group in general.

“It says a lot about the way Brentford do things with him signing a long-term deal. He is why we as a club have been doing so well.”

Andrews has built on Frank’s work to maximise the quality of the squad, with 18-goal striker Igor Thiago, Kevin Schade and Dango Ouattara stepping up in attack.

The result? Andrews has won 17 of his 34 games as manager, with 13 coming in the league.

Brentford have been impressive on the road, where they have won five of their past six league fixtures – and three in the row for the first time since March 2025.

Brentford made their Premier League debut in 2021-22 and have not played European football in their 134-year history.

But with England leading the Uefa coefficient table, finishing seventh could be enough for Brentford to claim Conference League football next season.

“We’re taking it one game at a time, but hopefully we can dream a little bit,” Damsgaard said.

Andrews said: “I haven’t looked at the table. We just keep pushing and we’ve got another tough one on Tuesday against Bournemouth.”

Ruby: It’s crazy that we thought that with Frank we reached our ceiling, but this season Andrews has taken us above and beyond anything we could have dreamed of when we arrived in the Premier League. Absolutely amazing job.

Gavin: Andrews’ success has not gone unnoticed elsewhere. He has been exceptional, seemingly learning from his mistakes and hopefully taking the club to new heights. Congratulations, you’ve earned your stripes.

Graham: Love Andrews. He’s done everything right and has a fantastically down-to-earth and relentless spirit. That said, the success is much more to do with the club than any one person.

Keith: It’s been a fantastic first two-thirds of the season and Andrews has to take a lot of responsibility for that. I would have waited until the end of the season to give him a new contract.