Sport

Sale sit in seventh place with a European spot firmly in their sights, but with just eight points separating them from fourth a challenge for the play-offs still remains a possibility.

Sale Sharks currently lie in seventh place just one point behind Wasps, who occupy the all-important final European spot with four Premiership matches to go.

Over the weekend of April 18-19 the world’s biggest and best BMX stars will descend on the National Cycling Centre to compete in the first of the World Cup’s five legs.

Former Wigan Athletic defender Gary Caldwell will be the third manager of the club this season after Malky Mackay got the sack last weekend and Uwe Rosler suffered the same fate before him.

Greater Manchester Police have warned fans to be on their best behaviour ahead of Sunday’s derby battle between United and City at Old Trafford.

Former Wigan Warriors star Sam Tomkins is set for a return to Super League after New Zealand Warriors agreed to release him from his contract.

The Manchester Trophy at The Northern Club in Didsbury will be part of the Aegon Trophy Series running at four grass court venues including Eastbourne, Surbiton and Ilkley in the lead up to The Championships at Wimbledon in June/July.

Last year Eric Ham was crowned British under-21 champion while just last month he took junior gold at the English Open in Sheffield as the 17-year-old prepares to move to senior level on a permanent basis.

Calvin Andrew’s header pinched a 1-0 victory for Rochdale at Spotland on Monday afternoon, consigning Port Vale to their sixth straight defeat and elevating the home side to just four points off the playoffs with a game in hand.

Man City have not won in the capital this season, having drawn Premier League fixtures at Chelsea, Arsenal and QPR as well as losing at West Ham.

United dispatched relegation-threatened Aston Villa in confident fashion at Old Trafford, with a Ander Herrera double and a sublime Wayne Rooney strike sealing a 3-1 triumph to lift Van Gaal’s team into third.