Monday Morning Sports Update

Including soccer, rugby, darts and tennis

SOCCER

Tottenham avoided a third straight Premier League defeat as they won 1-nil at Crystal Palace.

They're now within a point of their ninth placed opponents.

Sunderland missed the chance to go fifth after being held to a 1-all draw at home by Leeds.

It moved the visitors seven points clear of the relegation zone.

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There's a clash between two automatic promotion contenders in the Championship tonight when leaders Coventry host third placed Ipswich.

Frank Lampard's side have an eight-point advantage at the top over nearest challengers Middlesbrough - who play Hull.

Millwall look to take Bristol City's play-off spot when they meet at The Den, while fifth placed Preston are at Wrexham.

Norwich and Portsmouth both have hopes of climbing out of the relegation zone ahead of their games with Watford and Charlton respectively.

Oxford could fall into the bottom three if they slip-up at home to fellow strugglers Swansea.

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A Riyad Mahrez penalty sent Algeria through to the last-16 of the Africa Cup of Nations with a 1-nil win against Burkina Faso.

Sudan got past Equatorial Guinea by the same score to boost their hopes of making the knockout rounds.

Mozambique are also in the hunt thanks to their 3-2 victory over Gabon.

Today's group stage action sees Mo Salah's Egypt face Angola, while Zimbabwe meet South Africa.

Comoros take on Mali and Zambia play Morocco.
 

TENNIS

Nick Kyrgios claimed victory in the 'Battle of the Sexes' exhibition tennis match.

The 2022 Wimbledon finalist beat women's world number one Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets.
 

DARTS

A host of former winners are through to the last-16 of the PDC World Darts Championship.

2018 champion Rob Cross will meet trophy holder Luke Littler after easing past Damon Heta 4-nil.

Gary Anderson claimed a 4-3 victory over Jermaine Wattimena, while Luke Humphries beat Gabriel Clemens 4-2.

Among today's matches at Alexandra Palace, fifteenth seed Nathan Aspinall meets Kevin Doets.
 

RUGBY

Exeter head into the new year in second place in rugby union's Prem thanks to a 24-10 victory over Leicester.

The three-try win took them within a point of leaders Northampton.

Leicester remain fifth - seven points off the top of the table.