Football news and talking points: Isco does not know 'how to win Zinedine Zidane’s confidence' at Real Madrid, England's VAR fallout

Lambert: Stoke deserve better

Paul Lambert insists Stoke deserve to be in a better position as they prepare to resume their battle to stay in the Premier League.

Lambert takes his Stoke side - currently in the relegation zone - to Arsenal on Sunday following the international break.

"Obviously nobody wants to be in that position but we should have had more points than we've got," he said.

"We've had no luck."

Stoke have lost their last 15 games away to Arsenal but Lambert, who replaced Mark Hughes as manager in January, is unconcerned by that record.

"I'm new to this club, what happened in the past isn't of interest to me," he added.

Click here for Arsenal v Stoke City odds with Sky Bet, including the Potters to win at 15/2

Isco: ‘I don’t know how to win Zidane’s confidence’

Isco said he felt "alive" after his first career hat-trick helped Spain thrash Argentina 6-1 at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid.

The Real Madrid playmaker has seen his club football limited in spells under Zinedine Zidane this season.

However, Isco produced a superb display for La Roja against Argentina, whose captain Lionel Messi again watched from the stands because of fitness concerns.

Spain - now 6/1 with Sky Bet to win the 2018 World Cup - drew 1-1 with Germany last week and have now extended their unbeaten run under coach Julen Lopetegui to 18 matches.

"In Madrid I don't have the confidence a player needs, " Isco said in a post-match interview, as quoted by Marca.

"The matches with the national team give me life. Here I have the confidence of the coach.

"I want to show that I'm a good player. Lopetegui shows me confidence with the minutes he gives me. Maybe I'm the problem in Madrid. I don't know how to win Zidane's confidence."

After Gonzalo Higuain shot wide early on, Diego Costa fired Spain ahead in the 13th minute, before Isco struck either side of a header from Argentina defender Nicolas Otamendi. Thiago Alcantara added a fourth, with substitute Iago Aspas also on the scoresheet before Isco netted his third with 16 minutes left.

FA rejects new CEO claims

The Football Association has denied a report that chief executive Martin Glenn wants to quit after just three years in the job.

According to Sky News, the national governing body has asked recruitment firm Odgers Berndtson to find a successor for Glenn as he has "become jaded" by a series of controversies and wants to leave after this summer's World Cup.

But, in a statement, an FA spokesperson said: "The FA, in accordance with good corporate governance, is conducting a talent mapping exercise for future CEO succession.

"This is not a recruitment process and there is no current or planned timeline for Martin Glenn to leave the Football Association. He remains committed to leading the modernisation of the organisation and uniting the game to make English football a better game for all."

A former Leicester director, Glenn joined the FA in 2015 after successful stints at United Biscuits, Birdseye and Walkers Snack Foods, where he was responsible for hiring former England striker and current Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker to advertise crisps.

Like so many of his predecessors, however, the 57-year-old's time at Wembley has been mixed.

The Wolves fan remains popular at Wembley and has many supporters within the wider game, so there is no internal or external pressure on his position.

If he were to leave this year, though, the FA would find itself looking for a fifth boss in a decade. Finding new candidates has never been a problem in the past; keeping them has been the issue.

West Ham up security measures

West Ham will erect a security barrier near the directors' box at the London Stadium for Saturday's visit of Southampton to prevent a repeat of the crowd trouble which marred their last match.

Almost 20 supporters have now been issued with lifetime bans following the shameful scenes during the 3-0 defeat by Burnley on March 10.

West Ham v Southampton: Sky Bet odds, including the Hammers to win 3-0, 3-1 or 3-2 at 10/1

Five fans invaded the pitch while hundreds more gathered on the concourse below the executive seats to protest against David Sullivan and David Gold.

The joint-owners were eventually forced to leave their seats for their own safety, with Sullivan being struck by a coin.

Sky Bet:

It is understood Sullivan and Gold intend to be at the match, a crucial one in West Ham's battle against relegation, and the barrier will stop supporters getting too close to the directors' box.

One fan has complained that he has been moved from his seat in the disabled section to make way for the barrier, but West Ham have explained that is only a possibility and even then the temporary measure would affect only three wheelchair seats.

Extra police and stewarding will also be in place, with West Ham insisting the safety of supporters is of paramount importance.

In case you missed it...

Follow Sporting Life on social media - find us on Facebook here or tweet @SportingLife

Last updated at 1530 BST 28/03/2018.

Related football links

• Free football betting tips
• Live scores and in-play odds
• Latest football fixtures
• Football results
• Updated football tables
• Latest Paper Talk
• Sky Bet's football odds