Thursday Sports Update

Soccer,rugby, golf and racing updates

SOCCER

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta admits his side only have themselves to blame after blowing a two-goal lead to draw 2-all last night at bottom side Wolves.

Arteta's men are now five points clear at the top of the Premier League table, having won just two of their last seven league matches - second placed Manchester City have a game in hand. 

Wolves are still in trouble - they're 17 points from safety with eleven games to go.

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Holders Arsenal are into the quarter-finals of the Women's Champions League thanks to a 7-1 aggregate victory over Belgian side Leuven.

They won the second leg of their play-off tie 3-1 last night.

It sets up a London derby with Chelsea in the last-eight.

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Nottingham Forest start life under their fourth permanent manager of the season when they meet Fenerbahce in the Europa League this evening.

Vitor Pereira leads them in the first leg of their knockout round play-off tie in Turkey.

Martin O'Neill takes charge of his 1-thousandth game in football management in Celtic's home game with German side Stuttgart.

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Crystal Palace continue their first ever European campaign with a trip to Bosnian side Zrinjski this evening.

They meet in the first leg of their Conference League knockout round play-off.

Republic of Ireland striker Troy Parrott is likely to start up front for A-Z Alkmaar in their game against NOAH in Armenia.

RUGBY

Ireland head coach Andy Farrell will reveal his team this morning for Saturday's Six Nations clash with England at Twickenham.

Jack Crowley is set to start at out-half, replacing Sam Prendergast.

Josh van der Flier is also set to come straight back into the starting team, after missing last weekend's win over Italy.

The England team was revealed earlier this week, with Henry Pollock handed a first start, and Tom Curry and Ollie Lawrence returning.

GOLF

Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry are in opening-round action at the Genesis Invitational later.

McIlroy tees off alongside Collin Morikawa and Ryder Cup teammate Tommy Fleetwood in Southern California just after five-past-5 Irish Time.

Lowry is out on course just before 20-to-5.

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On the DP World Tour, Mark Power is in action at the Magical Kenya Open in Nairobi.

The Kilkenny native is one under after eight holes, five shots behind the leader, David Law of Scotland.

RACING

There's a seven-race card Thurles this afternoon.

The first goes to post just after half-past-1.