Sunderland are now 14 points adrift of safety in the Premiership.

The Black Cats suffer a moral-sapping 0-3 home defeat by local rivals Middlesbrough.

There’s frantic activity as the January Transfer Window closes at midnight.- Sunderland are now 14 points adrift of safety in the Premiership with only 15 games to play. The Black Cats suffer a moral-sapping 0-3 home defeat by neighbours and relegation rivals Middlesbrough, and frustrated supporters vent their anger on manager Mick McCarthy for the first time. Everton halt Wigan Athletic’s progress with a 1-1 draw at the JJB but Duncan Ferguson is sent-off only seven minutes after coming on as a sub. The Latics’ Jason Roberts is also sent-off but will serve his ban before the Carling Cup Final. A last minute Carlos Bocanegra gives Fulham the points against Tottenham Hotspur at Craven Cottage. Charlton Athletic and West Bromwich Albion battle out a goalless draw at The Valley.

- Reading are now a massive 21 points clear of the third-placed club in the Championship with only 15 games to play. The Royals sweep past Norwich City 4-0. With a 1-1 draw at Ipswich Town, Leeds United are back up to third. Leicester City end their recent slump with caretaker boss Rob Kelly leading the Foxes to a 3-2 win at Queens Park Rangers.

- In League One, Swansea City’s 1-2 home defeat by Gillingham means the Welsh promotion chasers have won just one of their last ten league outings. Bottom-of-the-table Milton Keynes Dons frustrate Nottingham Forest with a 1-0 win at the National Hockey Stadium. Swindon Town also increase their survival chances with a 1-0 win against Walsall at the County Ground.

- In League Two, the spoils are shared in the battle at the bottom as Stockport County and Torquay United draw 1-1.

- There’s frantic activity as the January Transfer Window closes at midnight. The biggest deal of the day is Rob Earnshaw’s £3.5million move from West Bromwich Albion to Norwich City. The most surprising transaction sees Brentford’s FA Cup hero DJ Campbell moving to Premiership Birmingham City for £500,000. This time last year, the 24 year-old was a warehouse worker playing for non-league Yeading. Portsmouth do the most business during the Window with returning manager Harry Redknapp bringing nine new faces in to Fratton Park. For full details of all the January Transfer Window transactions, go to our TRANSFER HISTORY section.

- Following a disciplinary hearing, Mark Wright is sacked by League Two Peterborough United for gross misconduct. The former Liverpool centre-back has made little comment so far but did call recent allegations ‘laughable’. A statement by the London Road club read: “The club feel badly let down after giving Mark the chance to re-establish himself within the football community.” Coach Steve Bleasdale is confirmed as caretaker manager.

- Senegal complete the Quarter Final line-up in the African Cup of Nations despite a 1-2 defeat to already-qualified Nigeria. The finish level on three points in Group D with Zimbabwe and World Cup qualifiers Ghana but go through on goal difference. Zimbabwe beat Ghana 2-1.