Sport

Argentina have been integral to Manchester City’s recent success – the player of the year award has gone to an Argentine in three of the last five years – with four still remaining in Pablo Zabaleta, Martin Demichelis, Willy Caballero and Sergio Aguero.

England head coach Stuart Lancaster was at the AJ Bell stadium to watch Danny Cipriani orchestrate the performance in blustery conditions as the Sharks ran out 20-7 winners against the Premiership pacesetters.

With Chelsea overcoming a stubborn Newcastle side at Stamford Bridge, the result leaves City two points behind ahead of the top two sides’ meeting in three weeks’ time.

A gruelling three games in six days over Christmas/New Year, highlighting strengths and exposing weaknesses in any squad, showed up United despite Louis van Gaal’s big ambitions at the club.

Calvin Andrew’s injury-time header ensured Dale ran out 2-1 winners in a contest badly affected by a sub-standard playing surface.

Jabo Ibehre and George Elokobi put Oldham in front, but after Joseph Mills saw red with fifteen minutes remaining Doncaster clawed their way back with goals from Nathan Tyson and James Coppinger.

Louis van Gaal has been touted as having turned the corner during his side’s ongoing 11-match unbeaten run, and there has even been increasing talk of a possible title challenge, yet his record is arguably worse than Moyes’ and comes on the back of an unprecedented summer spending spree.

After 20 league games, all that separates Chelsea and Manchester City at the top of the league is a handful of letters. A huge if it may be, but IF it stayed this way after 38 games then the title would be decided by way of a play-off.

Manuel Pellegrini’s side play Everton at Goodison Park tomorrow and only alphabetical order keeps Chelsea ahead of them on paper.

Manager Lee Johnson expects this week’s developments in the Ched Evans saga will not deter fans from getting behind his team as they face Doncaster Rovers, the Latics looking to start afresh after a torrid end to 2014.

The three-times European champions are in the midst of an 11-match unbeaten run and the former Barcelona manager wants his side to keep improving.