• Europa League round-up

Triple Europa heartbreak for Brits

Andros Townsend was on target for Tottenham © Getty Images

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A 4-0 win over Shamrock Rovers was not enough to see Tottenham through to the last 32 of the Europa League as Harry Redknapp's European campaign ended in disappointment and anger in Dublin.

Goals from Steven Pienaar, Andros Townsend, Jermain Defoe and Harry Kane gave Tottenham a comprehensive victory over the Irish part-timers, but Rubin Kazan's 1-1 draw at PAOK Salonika meant the favourites for Group A crashed out.

The match took an ugly turn with 20 minutes to go when Redknapp reacted angrily to barracking from the Shamrock fans by appearing to aim a defiant clenched-fist gesture towards them from the edge of his technical area.

Celtic crashed out of despite a valiant effort against Udinese in their final Group I game in the Stadio Friuli. The visitors, needing victory to go through into the knockout stages, took the lead in the 29th minute when Gary Hooper took advantage of a mix-up in the Udinese defence to tap in from a yard out.

But veteran striker Antonio Di Natale notched from close range himself with seconds remaining in the first half after Celtic defender Cha Du-ri inadvertently headed into his path. Elsewhere in the group, Atletico Madrid beat Rennes 3-1.

Birmingham made it three Europa League exits for the Brits on Thursday - despite Adam Rooney's goal earning victory over NK Maribor in their final group encounter at St. Andrew's. It was a brave effort by Blues, for whom Rooney settled the encounter with a first half header - his first goal for four months - from a cross by Nathan Redmond.

Club Brugge and visiting Braga went through after their 1-1 draw in Belgium.

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