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Republic of Ireland boss Martin O'Neill says working with Roy Keane has not been awkward.

Keane, renowned for possessing somewhat of a fiery temper, is O'Neill's assistant. The pair achieved qualification for Euro 2016 this week.

Unlike Samson, Andy Murray's hair probably isn't the source of his power but a mid-match trim didn't help as he was well beaten by Rafael Nadal in the ATP World Tour Finals.

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The Scot cut off a wayward strand of his locks while 2-1 down in the first set before falling to a 6-4 6-1 defeat.

Murray plays Stan Wawrinka in his last group match on Friday and can still progress to the semi-finals.

BBC 5Live

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Mark Pougatch is joined by journalists Henry Winter, Shaun Custis and John Cross to discuss whether the events in Paris have changed the way we’ll attend sporting events in future.

You can listen again or download the podcast here.

Burton Albion have not received an approach from QPR to speak to manager Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, says Brewers chairman Ben Robinson.

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Hasselbaink has been linked with the Championship side after winning the League Two title with Burton last season and taking them to fourth in League One this term.

But Robinson said: "We have not had an approach from QPR. The team and the manager have done fantastically well and that inevitably means that there will be speculation."

That's right. National League strugglers Southport have appointed former striker Dino Maamria as their new manager to make it seven bosses in 30 months.

The 44-year-old Tunisian has replaced Paul Carden who left by mutual consent on Monday. 

Maamria kept Northwich Victoria in the fifth tier as manager in 2008 and has worked under Graham Westley at Stevenage and Preston. 

He takes over a side that sit in 22nd place in the league and have won once in their last six games.

I wonder who might have a strong opinion on England dropping Ian Bell...

Mmm let me think.

Oh would you believe it, Kevin Pietersen has something to say, that's unlike him.

The exiled-England cricketer thinks the decision to drop Bell for the tour of South Africa is "ridiculous" and "pathetic."

Image source, AFP

Pietersen said:, external "How can you take somebody who has played over 100 Test matches and with the biggest Test series of the year coming up, against the number one team and you can drop him.

"You have to take him for his experience.

"I do not get the thinking, Cook can go two years without a Test hundred yet he plays every single game.

"It is pathetic, Bell has been hard done by."

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Martinez says England left-back Leighton Baines is close to a full return after ankle surgery but Tom Cleverley should make his comeback against former side Aston Villa.

On the challenge of facing Remi Garde's Villa, Martinez said: "I went to watch the game when they drew against Manchester City and they were very impressive.

"The new manager has come in with a very clear idea of the way he wants to see Villa playing and has really good experience of the British game from his time as a player.

"You're going to see a team based on attacking football and the fighting spirit they had against City is a really good starting point."

Ian Bell being dropped has caused quite a stir, not least among two South African greats... 

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Roberto Martinez was also asked about a move for ex-Aston Villa defender Ron Vlaar, who is a free agent but recovering from knee surgery.

"In Ron Vlaar you're talking about a player who has really good experience in the Premier League, he's unattached but at the moment it's not for me to mention any other players not in the squad."  

With Richie McCaw calling time on his career, we want to know which currently active sports stars can be considered all-time greats?

Talha: Scored the fastest century in ODIs ever on debut in 1996 & is 3rd on the T20 rankings in 2015. Afridi is an all time great

Darren Cook: Alastair Cook. Leading English run maker of all time & most 100s, still going, only 30 yrs old. On par to match/beat Sachin  

Parul Sharma: Messi and Federer. And his current form is spiraling downwards but in golf it has to be Tiger Woods

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Roberto Martinez was asked about reports defender John Stones is now a target for Barcelona in the January transfer window.

"From our point of view the window in January will be to see if there is anything that could help the squad in place but we don't look to be really involved in this window, both to buy or sell players," he said.

"Our best players will not be leaving in January - the focus is clearly on trying to be strong together and having real continuity in the group.

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It didn't go down well with Premier League clubs first time around, but England boss Roy Hodgson wants to rekindle plans to get his squad together over the winter.

"I would like an afternoon or early evening with the players," he said.  

Ten-pin bowling maybe? Qasar? Catch the new Bond movie perhaps?

What could Roy and the boys get up to on their get-together?

Roberto Martinez has also spoken of the challenges facing his squad in the busiest period of the season.

"It's such an incredible block of fixtures right now - at the start of the season you get periods of a lot of football then the international breaks.

"We've gone through this international break with real feelings of satisfaction because we haven't picked up any injuries and the group look very strong.

"We're now facing a period of 19 Premier League games and obviously involved in three competitions with the League Cup and the start of the FA Cup before the next international break."

Can Aston Villa move off the bottom of the table with a win away at in-form Everton?

Play our BBC Sport Predictor to test out how Remi Garde's Villains get on.

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Everton boss Roberto Martinez has given his thoughts on potential plans to sing the French national anthem La Marseillaise before this weekend's round of Premier League fixtures.

"We all experienced the feelings surrounding the game between England and France," he said.

"It was a fantastic vehicle of showing solidarity, showing what the game of football can do for humanity in such difficult circumstances.

"This weekend is going to be exactly the same, it's a perfect way to show the game of football has got a strong role in getting humanity together.

"We've not been spoken to about any security concerns, the only job we have to do is prepare for the game."

It's may not be the Linton Travel Tavern, but Leyton Orient have confirmed the story in today’s Daily Mail is true.

Owner Francesco Becchetti ordered his players to spend the week in a hotel following their defeat at Hartlepool on Sunday.

The players have been allowed to visit their families but have been eating and sleeping at the Marriott Hotel in Waltham Abbey.

The club are seventh in League Two and play York City on Saturday.

We just hope the corby trouser presses are still in tact...

Tricky one is this... Answers later on.

Jonathan Agnew
BBC Test Match Special

"Alex Hales will open, leaving Nick Compton, Gary Ballance and Joe Root to compete for the now vacant position at number three. Mark Wood and Steve Finn are both ruled out of the Tests, unless Finn can prove his fitness and earn selection later. Mark Footitt has been preferred to Liam Plunkett. And rather than kicking his heels, Adil Rashid will gain experience playing in the Big Bash."

Chris Jones
BBC Sport

“England are set to appoint former Japan and South Africa coach Eddie Jones.

"There are other creditable candidates, Jake White fits the bill with vast international experience but my understanding is that Jones has always been top of the list.

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“What Jones did with Japan at the World Cup was impressive, he is steeped in international experience having taken Australia to the World Cup final in 2003. Things have developed very quickly and I am hearing that a deal is all but done.

“He will be offered a lucrative contract, that’s what the RFU can offer. Hundreds and hundreds of thousands of pounds per year. They will have to open the chequebook to get their man but it’s looking increasingly likely that they will get Eddie Jones.”