Crystal Palace in Hornets string

World Cup refs named

- Crystal Palace move to within two points of third placed Watford in the Championship table. The Hornets led at half-time at Selhurst Park through top scorer Marlon King but, after the Eagles had levelled through Dougie Freedman, Palace were handed victory with own goals by Jordan Stewart and Jay DeMerit. With Watford losing for the second game in a row, it now seems likely that both teams will qualify for the Play-Offs.

Have Your Say! We welcome your views and descriptions of matches. On the spot and even conflicting views of what has happened offer a fuller historical picture than any single ‘official’ version ever can. By adding your comments and reviews, you are contributing to the history of the game.
Although we appreciate a bias in favour of your club, without exception, foul or abusive language will not be tolerated. This is very much a family website - indeed we are keen to encourage younger club statisticians to get involved.
Of course, please ensure factual statements are correct at all times.
For an acceptable example, go to this week’s Arsenal v Juventus match page via our Members Area.

- FIFA name the 23 referees who will officiate at the World Cup finals. England will be represented by Graham Poll.
A total of 30 refs will travel to Germany, with seven remaining on standby. 36 referees officiated in South Korea and Japan in 2002
A provisional list of 44 was evaluated over the past 18 months and also observed at two FIFA workshops.
The chosen 23 are:
Essam Abd El Fatah (Egypt), Carlos Amarilla (Paraguay), Benito Archundia (Mexico), Carlos Batres (Guatemala), Massimo Busacca (Switzerland), Coffi Codjia (Benin), Frank De Bleeckere (Belgium), Massimo de Santis (Italy), Horacio Elizondo (Argentina), Valentin Ivanov (Russia), Toru Kamikawa (Japan), Jorge Larrionda (Uruguay), Shamsul Maidin (Singapore), Manuel Mejuto Gonzalez (Spain), Markus Merk (Germany), Lubos Michel (Slovakia), Graham Poll (England), Eric Poulat (France), Peter Prendergast (Jamaica), Oscar Ruiz (Colombia), Mark Shield (Australia), Carlos Simon (Brazil) and Kyros Vassaras (Greece).

- In League One, a debatable Luke Beckett penalty moves Oldham Athletic in to the Play-Off places as the Latics draw 1-1 at strugglers Hartlepool United. In a mid-table clash at Prenton Park, Tranmere Rovers beat Port Vale 3-0.

Have Your Say! If you have views on any of football’s current news stories, we warmly invite your contributions.
Please leave them in the ‘Add Comment’ box or click on ‘leave a response’ below.

Basel brush Middlesbrough aside

Aussies put back Wembley deadline

- Middlesbrough face a tough task to reach the last four of the UEFA Cup after they lose 0-2 to Christian Gross’ FC Basel in the quarter-final first leg in Switzerland.
Boro are hit with a double just before the interval with quick-fire strikes from Mattias Delgado and David Degan.
A rain-soaked night became a miserable night for the Premiership visitors when Emanuel Pogatetz had to be carried off after suffering a broken nose and suspected fractured skull. To make matters even worse, rival fans clashed inside the St Jakob Park stadium.

Have Your Say! We welcome your views and descriptions of matches. On the spot and even conflicting views of what has happened offer a fuller historical picture than any single ‘official’ version ever can. By adding your comments and reviews, you are contributing to the history of the game.
Although we appreciate a bias in favour of your club, without exception, foul or abusive language will not be tolerated. This is very much a family website - indeed we are keen to encourage younger club statisticians to get involved.
Of course, please ensure factual statements are correct at all times.
For an acceptable example, go to this week’s Arsenal v Juventus match page via our Members Area.

- And just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse again, it has and how! Multiplex - the Australian builders of the new Wembley - announce that most of the remaining work will be completed by the end of the June but, astonishingly, reveal they are entitled to a further extension under the terms of its contract in order to put the final touches to the 90,000 capacity stadium.
It means completion is now set for the end of September - a full year behind the original deadline.
As well as the cancellation of a number of major headline concerts, the FA Community Shield will have to follow the FA Cup Final and Football League Play-Off Finals to Cardiff.
It is expected that the Football Association will announce that no England games will be played at the new stadium until next year. It means the first meaningful game will be against Israel in a Euro 2008 qualifier on 8 September 2007 - nearly seven years after England’s last game at the old Wembley.
Rugby League’s Challenge Cup Final is set to be transferred to Twickenham.

- The Coca-Cola Manager of the Month awards have a novel ring as Championship winner Rob Kelly of Leicester City and Frank Barlow and Ian McParland, the joint-bosses of League One winners Nottingham Forest, are all currently caretaker managers. Paul Simpson of leaders Carlisle United takes the honours in League Two for the second time this season.

- The Football Association encourage FIFA to use video evidence and implement a new rule which would see divers to be punished retrospectively.
Chief Executive Brian Barwick told The Times: “We’re in discussions with FIFA on retrospective disciplinary action. We have raised diving as a priority area where video evidence may be used.”
Barwick also strongly suggests that dealing with diving should be given priority during the summer’s World Cup.
The Times launched a ‘Say No to Diving’ campaign in February. As well as the FA, it has gained the support of Premiership clubs, the FA Premier League, the Football Supporters’ Federation, the English Schools Football Association, the League Managers Association, the Professional Footballers’ Association and the Referees’ Association.

Have Your Say! Will Middlesbrough climb the Swiss mountain? Is Wembley worth the wait or has it done long-term damage to the image of English football? Do you agree with this month’s Manager of the Month awards? Would you use video evidence to beat the cheats?
If you have views on any of football’s current news stories, we warmly invite your contributions.
Please leave them in the ‘Add Comment’ box or click on ‘leave a response’ below.

Mexico’s Claudio Suarez becomes most-capped player

Ruud’s re-awakening

- It is reported that Mexico’s Claudio Suarez became international football’s most-capped player in Chicago this evening. In a pre-World Cup friendly against Paraguay at the Soldier Field stadium, with his 174th appearance, ‘El Emperador’ is believed to have broken the record held by Saudi Arabia’s Mohamed Al-Deayea.
It proved to been a victorious night for the 37 year-old defender as the Mexicans won 2-1 in front of an enthusiastic crowd of 46,510. It was the fourth game of the so-called Real Mexican Soccer Tour of the USA.
Claudio made his international debut against El Salvador on 25 July 1992. Having played in two World Cup finals, on the prospects of making it to his third in Germany, Claudio responded: “I’m not the one who makes the decision. As a soccer player, you have hopes of playing in the World Cup but we’ll see what happens.”
Currently playing his club football with CD Chivas in the MLS, he is one of the select band of players to have played in 150 or more full international games. The others are Hossam Hassan (Egypt), Cobi Jones (USA), Adnan Al-Talyani (UAE), Sami Al-Jaber (Saudi Arabia) and Lothar Matthaus (Germany).
Among the most celebrated players to have made a century of international appearances are Cafu (Brazil), Peter Schmeichel (Denmark), Paolo Maldini (Italy), Peter Shilton (England), Luis Figo (Portugal), Marcel Desailly (France), Frank de Boer (Holland), Diego Simeone (Argentina), Kenny Dalglish (Scotland) and Steve Staunton (Republic of Ireland).
Has Claudio Suarez broken the record? See ‘Comments’ below.

- After five games on the bench, Ruud Van Nistelrooy makes a match-winning return to the Manchester United starting line-up. His goal on the stroke of half-time gives United victory against West Ham United. Although they are still nine points behind leaders Chelsea, crucially, they are now five points ahead of third-placed Liverpool. For the second time in four days, Old Trafford plays host to a record Premiership crowd as 69,522 witness the Hammers’ visit.

Have Your Say! We welcome your views and descriptions of matches. On the spot and even conflicting views of what has happened offer a fuller historical picture than any single ‘official’ version ever can. By adding your comments and reviews, you are contributing to the history of the game.
Although we appreciate a bias in favour of your club, without exception, foul or abusive language will not be tolerated. This is very much a family website - indeed we are keen to encourage younger club statisticians to get involved. Of course, please ensure factual statements are correct at all times.
For an acceptable example, go to yesterday’s Arsenal v Juventus match page via our Members Area.

- Liverpool confirm they are in talks that could lead to a takeover offer. The European champions are thought to be valued at £200million and the club statement reveals they are “continuing discussions with a number of parties regarding a potential investment of new funds”.
It is released in order to confirm they have been approached by Spanish tycoon Juan Villalonga who is believed to be heading a consortium. A former president of telecoms giant Telefonica, he received a £14million payoff when he left last year.

- Former Sunderland striker Niall Quinn is reported to be part of a group who are considering a bid to buy the struggling Premiership club. Black Cats chairman Bob Murray has already announced that he will sell his 56.8% stake, dependant on a suitable offer.
No formal talks have taken place, and reports linking horse racing magnate JP McManus with the bid are thought to be wide of the mark.
Reportedly £40million in debt, Sunderland have taken only ten points from their 31 games this season and look certain to return to the Championship in May.

- Wrexham take another huge step forward to secure their future as a consortium led by local car dealer Neville Dickens signs an agreement with the administrators of League Two club. The Dragons must be sold by 3 June or face expulsion from the Football League.
Mr Dickens was a director of the North Wales club in the 1980s. One of his garages is on land adjoining the Racecourse Ground and the administrators believe the bid is ‘in the best interests of the club’.

- Chelsea are to join forces with AEG - the group that own or operate the franchise of four clubs in the USA’s Major League Soccer.
The Premiership champions have agreed a ‘special relationship’ with MLS champions LA Galaxy. They will have first option to sign LA players while they will loan youngsters to Los Angeles club.
AEG’s other MLS franchises are Chicago Fire, DC United and Houston Dynamo. The agreement will come into effect in the summer of 2007.

- Stoke City come from behind to win a mid-table Championship at Queens Park Rangers but it’s the Potters’ on-going managerial turmoil that hits the headlines. With Jan De Koning and John Rudge already suspended, manager Johan Boskamp misses the game with flu, allegedly. The former Anderlecht boss is due to meet the club’s board tomorrow.

- A hat-trick from on-loan striker Derek Asamoah lifts Chester City off the bottom of the Football League. Mark Wright’s charges win 3-1 at Boston United to move out of League Two’s bottom two.

Have Your Say! Has Claudio Suarez broken the record? Will Ruud leave Old Trafford in the summer? Will Spanish investment be good for Liverpool and should Niall Quinn move back in at the Stadium of Light? What do you make of Chelsea’s MLS venture? What is going on at Stoke City and which two League Two clubs will drop in to the Conference?
If you have views on any of football’s current news stories, we warmly invite your contributions.
Please leave them in the ‘Add Comment’ box or click on ‘leave a response’ below.

Fabulous Fabregas dwarfs returning Vieira.

Wembley facing even further delay.

- It seems that Highbury will probably see one more European night as Arsenal are on the verge of reaching the Champions League semi-finals for the first time. Juventus - the runaway leaders of Serie A - are humbled in North London as a superb performance by the eager Gunners ends in an emphatic 2-0 win.
It is a miserable return for former skipper Patrick Vieira who is totally outshone by the precocious young pretender - Cesc Fabregas. The 18 year-old Catalan crowns a brilliant display with the opening goal on 40 minutes then sets up Thierry Henry for the second with 20 minutes to play.
Juve are made to look jaded and cumbersome, and lose it in more ways that one in the closing stages. Mauro Camoranesi and Jonathan Zebina are both sent-off for second yellows. A booking for Vieira means he will also miss next week’s second leg in Turin.
Although justifiably confident, Arsene Wenger admits there’s still work to be done: “I believe we will finish the job in the second leg in Italy but there is still a lot to come. We have to keep our feet on the ground and keep our football simple.”

Have Your Say! We welcome your views and descriptions of matches. On the spot and even conflicting views of what has happened offer a fuller historical picture than any single ‘official’ version ever can. By adding your comments and reviews, you are contributing to the history of the game.
Although we appreciate a bias in favour of your club, without exception, foul or abusive language will not be tolerated. This is very much a family website - indeed we are keen to encourage younger club statisticians to get involved. Of course, please ensure factual statements are correct at all times.
For an acceptable example, go to the above Arsenal v Juventus match page via the Members Area.

- Just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse! Steelworkers, welders and scaffolders at Wembley Stadium are told they will be sent home next week unless payments to subcontractors are settled. Union officials call for urgent talks but further delays in the ill-fated £750million project seem inevitable.

- Sir Alex Ferguson calls for a change in the game’s disciplinary procedures to punish the cheats.
The Manchester United boss says: “The problem has been there for quite a few years and it is obvious it has got worse. The difficult thing is how do you stop it. The players diving have an advantage over the ones making a tackle. A lad going to make an honest tackle can receive a red card yet referees can only give the guy, who cheats to win a penalty or someone sent, off a yellow.”

- London Mayor Ken Livingstone insists the future Olympic Stadium will not be turned into a football ground after the 2012 Games. Rumours suggest Premiership clubs West Ham United or Tottenham Hotspur could move to the stadium once the Olympics are completed.
Mr Livingstone explains: “The deal we made is that it’s an athletics stadium and we have a legally-binding contract which is more like an international treaty.”

- Preston North End win for only the second time in eight Championship games to get their Play-Off hopes back on track. A 37th minute Brett Ormerod goal is enough to beat bottom club Crewe Alexandra to give them a five-point advantage over 7th placed Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Southampton still have lingering relegation worries despite been handed an own goal by Phil Bardsley after only 38 seconds at Burnley. The Clarets force a draw through new signing Andy Gray.

- Brentford are back up to second in League One with a single goal win via Lloyd Owusu at bottom-of-the-table Milton Keynes Dons. The Dons come close to grabbing a vital point but Izale McLeod misses a 85th minute penalty.

- Carlisle United strengthen their place at the top of League Two with a 1-0 win against Lincoln City at Brunton Park. Former Leeds United striker Michael Bridges scores the only goal to take United six points clear with seven games to go.

Have Your Say! Just how good was Cesc, and how poor was Patrick and Juve? Was Wenger right to sell Vieira or is that why Arsenal aren’t so effective in the Premiership? Is Sir Alex right to blame the rule makers or should managers do more? And when will Wembley be ready?
If you have views on any of the stories in our News / Blogs section, we warmly invite your contributions.
Please leave them in the ‘Add Comment’ box or click on ‘leave a response’ below.

Tottenham Hotspur beat strugglers after falling behind.

Wenger defends Drogba.

- Premiership strugglers West Bromwich Albion miss out on vital points after looking good for a win for much of their visit to Tottenham Hotspur. The Baggies had taken the lead after 21 minutes through Curtis Davies as the Champions League hopefuls struggled to get in to their stride.
Spurs levelled on 68 minutes through Robbie Keane and it was the Irishman who hit the winner with a last-minute penalty. Albion keeper Tomasz Kuszczak had annoyed the White Hart Lane crowd for much of the evening with his time-wasting tactics then earned the displeasure of the WBA fans as, after his clearance was blocked, he hauled down to Jermain Defoe to concede the crucial kick.
Exasperated Albion boss Bryan Robson says: “Even when they equalised we were the better team but we shot ourselves in the foot. We do it every week it seems, what can I say?”

- Chelsea’s Didier Drogba receives backing from an unlikely source in the wake of his diving admission.
Speaking at a press conference before tomorrow’s Champions League clash with Juventus, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says: “Drogba is a bit under the spotlight at the moment for obvious reasons, but overall I like his attitude, basically. He is not an unfair player, basically. He makes sometimes more of it, like many strikers do as well, but sometimes he is maybe pushed or pulled when nobody sees it - defenders cheat on the strikers as well you know.”
That’s alright then.

- It’ll be of little consolation to them, but it isn’t only the England supporters who are complaining about the allocation of World Cup tickets. Holland fans have been allocated only eight percent of tickets from those available for their matches, and they aren’t happy.
A lottery, organised by the Orange Supporters’ Club and KNVB (the Dutch Football Association), distributed 18,000 tickets although around 180,000 fans had hoped to travel to Germany. OSC chairman Lloyd Vandenberg tells the Dutch news agency ANP: “It’s outrageous that FIFA has not given more tickets.”
Tickets are available on the black market but at a vastly inflated cost: “That’s the result when FIFA releases so few tickets. Someone with a fat wallet might be willing to pay those prices, but the real soccer fan won’t even stand a chance.”

- Swansea City or Carlisle United will miss out on £50,000 in prize money as the winners of this Sunday’s LDV Vans Trophy Final.
LDV was sold off after going into administration last year, and the new owners have refused to honour the cash prize. A Football League spokesman says the issue is ‘under review’ but no decision is likely before the Final at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium. The competition will now be known as the Football League Trophy.

Birmingham City suffer another heavy defeat at Manchester United.

Bolton Wanderers lose at thriller at Middlesbrough.

- The agony continues for Birmingham City as the relegation threatened Blues suffer another heavy defeat at Manchester United. Manager Steve Bruce returns to the scene of many of his triumphs but must have feared the worst after falling two down after only 15 minutes. In front of a new Premiership record crowd of 69,070, City regain some lost pride as they battle back although they concede a further goal from Wayne Rooney - the 50th goal of his club career. Bruce chooses to re-open the controversy following David Sullivan’s verbal attack on his players: “Maybe there is method in his madness but I did not like my owner’s comments. Where I come from, in situations like that, you batten down the hatches, say nothing and come out fighting. Everyone is entitled to their opinion but I did not agree with his comments.”
See below for more on this game.

- In the battle between two of Sven-Goran Eriksson’s possible successors, Steve McClaren’s Middlesbrough beat Sam Allardyce’s Bolton Wanderers in a thriller at the Riverside. Wanderers fight back from 1-3 to draw level but are then sunk by a last gasp Stuart Parnaby winner. In a series of newspaper interviews today, Big Sam delivers his pitch for the big job. For example, in the Sunday Mirror he modestly claims: “I don’t think there is another manager in this country who has achieved as much as I have. That might sound big-headed to others but, if you compare the money we have all spent on players and wages, pound for pound my record’s as good as anyone’s.”

- Newcastle United lose 1-3 at Charlton Athletic, their fourth defeat in a row. The usually restrained caretaker manager Glenn Roeder doesn’t hold back on his criticism of United’s defenders: “We are too inconsistent. We can produce a decent performance one week and then we don’t. That is not good enough for Newcastle and I don’t see any point in saying otherwise.” United deny Martin O’Neill is set to become Graeme Souness’ replacement as manager.

- Chester City stay bottom of League Two after going down 1-2 in the derby visit to Wrexham. Danny Williams and Mark Jones give the Dragons a comfortable lead before Mark Wright’s team grab a late consolation through new signing Jake Edwards.

- As well as playing in front of a new Premiership record crowd, on the day that Gary Neville became only the eighth player to make 500 appearances for the club, Manchester United also reached another major milestone this afternoon.
Their opening goal against Birmingham City was their 7,000th in league football, and United become only the second club to reach this particular milestone following Wolverhampton Wanderers earlier in the season.
Due to conflicting scorelines from games early in their history, there is still some debate as to which was Wolves’ 7,000th goal - it was either Ki-Hyeon Soel against Crystal Palace on 10 December or Ioan Ganea against Leeds United on 17 December.
There’s no doubting United’s 7,000th goal came in their 4,092nd game but the identity of the goalscorer will be one for the Dubious Goals Panel (DGP) to consider. If they confirm Ryan Giggs (rather than a Maik Taylor own goal) should be credited with the outcome of his 3rd minute free-kick then it would establish a remarkable coincidence.
507 games earlier, United notched their 6,000th goal back on 20 February 1993 when they beat Southampton 2-1 at Old Trafford. The scorer? None other than Ryan Giggs!
It seems likely that the DGP will deny Ryan an incredible double (his free-kick appeared to hit the post then bounce in off Maik’s back) but we wondered if there are any previous examples of one player achieving or coming so close to claiming two major club milestones goals.
If you can oblige or have a possible suggestion, or views of the scorer of Wolves 7,000th goal, please leave them in the ‘Add Comment’ box or click on ‘leave a response’ below.
All contributions are most welcome.

We would like to thank Manchester United statistician John Russell for his help in compiling this feature.

Steven Gerrard is sent-off after only 18 minutes.

Reading are promoted to the Premiership.

- Liverpool win an incident packed 203rd Merseyside derby as Everton go down 1-3 at Anfield. Reds skipper Steven Gerrard loses his composure and is sent-off after only 18 minutes for two yellow cards in the space of a couple of minutes. Despite being down to ten men, Liverpool take a two-goal lead with a Phil Neville own goal and Luis Garcia strike either side of the interval. The Blues hit back through Tim Cahill but they then go down to ten after Andy Van der Meyde sees red only five minutes after coming on as a sub. Harry Kewell settles it with a superb long-range effort. Gerrard and Everton’s James Beattie wear 08 on their shirts to promote the city’s year as Capital of Culture but Reds boss Rafa Benitez isn’t in the mood to defend his captain’s early dismissal: “We must learn, Steven and all the players, that you can play with the brain as well as the heart. He knows it created a difficult situation for the team and we must learn for the future.” Everton have seven players booked. There have now been 14 red cards shown in the Premiership Mersey derbies - the most in any fixture in the competition’s history.

- Another weekend, another game and the c-word attributed to Chelsea is cheating, rather than champions. Although they extend their Premiership lead to 14 points with a 2-0 win against Manchester City at Stamford Bridge, striker Didier Drogba is at the centre of another storm. After scoring both the goals (one with the help of a clear handball), speaking to a national audience on BBC TV after the game, he says: “Sometimes I dive, sometimes I stand” then quickly backtracks: “No, I don’t dive.” City skipper Sylvain Distin continued his arguments about the ‘handball’ goal at half-time and is sent off for a second booking. Refreshingly, City manager Stuart Pearce doesn’t disagree.

- Elsewhere in the Premiership, Blackburn Rovers are up to fifth with a 1-0 win at Sunderland. West Ham United win 2-1 at Wigan Athletic while Aston Villa and Fulham are goalless. Portsmouth versus Arsenal is postponed after the newly-laid Fratton Park pitch fails to cope with heavy rain.

- Reading are promoted to the Premiership and, come August, they’ll play top-flight football for the first time in their 135-year history. With results going their way around the country, Kevin Doyle scores the historic goal five minutes from time at Leicester City to earn a 1-1 draw and the all-important 92nd point of a fantastic campaign. Chairman John Madejski says: “This is the fulfilment of a dream, it’s what we set out to do 16 years ago.”

- Sheffield United’s hopes of following Reading in to the Premiership are given a massive boost as, amazingly, the Blades are the only team in the top 16 of the Championship to win. United win for the first time in five games as goals from Phil Jagielka, Paul Ifill and Neil Shipperley see off Southampton at Bramall Lane. With six games to go, second-placed United are now six points clear of Watford and Leeds United. Watford are surprisingly beaten by relegation threatened Millwall as Carl Asaba and Ben May score for the Lions at Vicarage Road. Leeds are held to a goalless draw by mid-table Stoke City at Elland Road.

- Elsewhere in the Championship, Sheffield Wednesday dent Wolverhampton Wanderers Play-Off hopes with a 3-1 at Molineux. Preston North End and Cardiff City fail to cash-in as they have 0-0 home draws with Plymouth Argyle and Queens Park Rangers, respectively, while Crystal Palace crash to an Inigo Idiakez double at Derby County. At the bottom, Brighton & Hove Albion only draw 1-1 with Luton Town at a rain-soaked Withdean so Crewe Alexandra are now only a point behind after thrashing Coventry City 4-1 at Gresty Road.

- In League One, Southend United’s second successive promotion is now in sight after they beat Hartlepool United 3-0 at Roots Hall to go eight points clear with seven games to go. Huddersfield Town move up to second despite only drawing 1-1 at Port Vale as Brentford lose 0-1 at home to Doncaster Rovers and Swansea City lose 0-1 at Gillingham. Rotherham United celebrate their momentous week by moving out of the bottom four with a 3-1 win against Bristol City at Millmoor. While Milton Keynes Dons now appear cut-adrift following a 0-3 defeat at Nottingham Forest, next to bottom Swindon Town still have every chance of surviving after a 2-0 win against Chesterfield at the County Ground. It remains very tight at the foot of the table with Tranmere Rovers in 14th are only six points better off than the Robins.

- In League Two, Carlisle United are also in a strong position for a second promotion in a row after the leaders beat Boston United 4-2 at Brunton Park. Grimsby Town are thumped 0-5 in the Lincolnshire derby at Lincoln City. Northampton Town move up to third with a 2-0 win against Notts County at Sixfields while Leyton Orient win the game of the day as they beat Wycombe Wanderers 1-0 at the Matchroom Stadium. Wanderers drop to fifth - their lowest position of the season. Jim Smith makes a victorious return to Oxford United as they beat Peterborough United 1-0 at the Kassam Stadium. Also at the bottom, Bury (2-1 against Rochdale) and Barnet (1-0 against Darlington) both record home wins. Torquay United’s game against Stockport County is called off due to a waterlogged Plainmoor pitch but it’s Rushden & Diamonds who are in the mire after losing 1-3 at Cheltenham Town.

Charlton Athletic and Middlesbrough tough out a dull goalless stalemate.

Rotherham United stave off the threat of liquidation.- Five teams with go in to the FA Cup Semi-Final draw tomorrow after the last of the week’s Sixth Round ties sees Charlton Athletic and Middlesbrough tough out a dull goalless stalemate. There are few chances in the encounter at The Valley of teams managed by Alan Curbishley and Steve McClaren, two of the possible replacements for England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson. It was Boro’s resilience that took the eye in their 19th cup tie of the season.

- With little more than a day to spare, Rotherham United stave off the threat of liquidation as a takeover is agreed. The local consortium is headed by builder Denis Coleman and restaurant owner Dino Maccio. Coleman, the new chairman, warns there are still problems to be solved: “As a group we have invested a lot of money in the Millers - but I must stress we cannot do it on our own. Fundraising for the Save The Millers Campaign has gone really well and has undoubtedly helped us save the club. For the time being it is important the fundraising continues.” Chief executive Phil Henson - a former Millers player and manager - leaves the South Yorkshire club after 35 years at Millmoor.

- For the second time in a fortnight, Chelsea are charged by the Football Association with failure to control their players. It follows the 1-0 Premiership defeat at Fulham on Sunday, and relates to their conduct following William Gallas’ sending off in the last minute. A FA statement says: “The referee and assistant reported that a number of players had surrounded the assistant in an aggressive manner. Chelsea deny a similar charge after the game against West Bromwich Albion on 4 March. They were unhappy that the Baggies didn’t receive any sort of reprimand so are likely to be aggrieved that Fulham’s players haven’t been charged for surrounding referee Mike Dean prior to the ‘goal’ by Didier Drogba being disallowed for handball.

- In contrast to the frantic activity on the fourth Thursday in March in the past, the first Transfer Deadline Day under the new Transfer Window format in the Football League goes by relatively quietly. Only loans and the signing of players that are not under contract are allowed, and under 50 transactions are reported. Arguably, the most high profile move is veteran striker Steve Claridge’s switch from Bradford City to Walsall - it’s his fourth club of the season and 16th League club of his career. In only his second day back at Oxford United, Jim Smith brings in four players on loan as well as new player / coach Scot Gemmill. Fellow League Two strugglers Bury also make four loan signings. A total of only five payers are signed by Championship clubs.

- UEFA announce that they will not stand in the way of the G14 clubs if they want to form their own competition to rival the Champions League although, not surprisingly, they would expel them from their domestic leagues. G14 is the group that represents 18 of the world’s richest clubs. They want the format of the Champions League altered to increase the number of games after the change in 2003 created more knockout ties but fewer games overall. G14 are unhappy over the revenue loss and general manager Thomas Kurth hits back: “This attack on G14 does not mean the issues which we are fighting for will go away.” UEFA president Lennart Johansson isn’t impressed: “G14 want to flout the fundamental principles of democracy by pompously proclaiming themselves to be ‘the voice of the clubs’.”

Chelsea end Alan Shearer’s dream of a trophy in his last season.

Graham Rix is sacked by Heart of Midlothian.- Newcastle United are out of the FA Cup as Chelsea end Alan Shearer’s dream of a trophy in the last season of his playing career. John Terry scores the only goal at Stamford Bridge after four minutes as Shearer’s ten year stint on Tyneside draws to a close without any silverware. Caretaker boss Glenn Roeder says: “Alan set his heart on getting into the last four but conceding an early goal to the Premiership champions disappointed us. But he won’t want any sympathy. Alan is not a sympathy man, just look at his career and look at his life.” It wouldn’t be Chelsea without controversy. A dive by Shaun Wright-Phillips leads to United’s Robbie Elliott being sent-off in the final minute. Jose Mourinho refuses to speak to the press.

- In another bizarre twist to the extraordinary season at Tynecastle, head coach Graham Rix is sacked by Heart of Midlothian after only four months in charge following the dismissal of George Burley. Chairman Roman Romanov explains: “We have been disappointed with the team’s performance. Results were not what they should have been. We also felt that some of the signings made in January were not appropriate for Hearts.” They are second in the SPL and through to the semi-finals of the Scottish Cup. 11 players were signed during the January transfer window and, although many of them were believed to have been chosen by owner Vladimir Romanov. Rix’s position had already been undermined when it was revealed that Mr Romanov snr had picked the team for a game against Dundee United in January. Director of football Jim Duffy is also dismissed having been appointed only a month ago. Coach Valdas Ivanauskas has been appointed as Rix’s temporary replacement.

- In their first game at Parkhead since the death of Jimmy Johnstone, Celtic beat Inverness Caledonian Thistle 2-1 to extend their lead in the SPL to 17 points. They are now within two wins of clinching the title.

- Jim Smith is back at Oxford United, 21 years after leaving the League Two club. The 65 year-old Bald Eagle is appointed manager and will be a director after former youth team player Nick Merry completes a deal to buy-out chairman Firoz Kassam. Smith masterminded the most successful era in the Us’ history when he led them through two promotions to the old First Division. He has been out of football since his contract as Southampton’s assistant manager was not renewed in the summer, and replaces Darren Patterson who has been in charge for only three games. United are in 19th place but only four points above the relegation zone.

- In League Two, Northampton Town improve their promotion chances with a 1-0 win at Boston United. Gavin Johnson scores his first goal since moving to the Cobblers from the Pilgrims in the summer. Town move up to fourth.

- In the fall-out from last night’s 0-7 mauling by Liverpool, Birmingham City co-owner David Sullivan has no doubt were the blames lies: “The players need to look at themselves and stand up and be counted. Some people aren’t playing to their maximum potential. Whatever happens this season we’re going to bomb a lot of players out in the summer and bring in a lot of players that want to play for this club.” Sullivan backs manager Steve Bruce, at least for the immediate future: “At this stage of the season it’s foolhardy to make a change. Just because the club is going through a bad run, to make a knee-jerk reaction would be fool hardy.”

- The European Union formally accepts the deal with the Premier League over the future sale of broadcasting rights as they confirm they will allow all twenty Premiership clubs to sell their rights together. BSkyB’s monopoly has been ended as a single broadcaster will not be able to screen all the available games. The rights are to be sold in six packages. Premier League chief Richard Scudamore says “It is a good outcome for supporters, whether in the stadium or watching our broadcasts.” European competition commissioner Neelie Kroes adds: “The solution we have reached will benefit football fans while allowing the Premier League to maintain its timetable for the sale of its rights.”

The FA Cup win takes the rampant Reds goals tally to 15 in a week

Crystal Palace win at Leeds United in the Championship.- Liverpool hit Birmingham City for seven, without reply, in the FA Cup quarter final at St Andrews. The embarrassingly easy win takes the rampant Reds goals tally to 15 in a week. Sami Hyypia opened the flood games after only 55 seconds and further goals followed from Peter Crouch (2), Fernando Morientes, John-Arne Riise, an Olivier Tebily own goal and Djibril Cisse. As well as being Liverpool’s biggest-ever away win in the FA Cup, it’s Birmingham’s heaviest-ever loss in the competition - they lost 0-6 at Wednesbury Old Athletic in 1881 (when they were still known as Small Heath Alliance) and by the same margin in a Sixth Round replay at Tottenham Hotspur in 1967. With Blues also facing a daunting fixture list to preserve their Premiership status, boss Steve Bruce felt the pain: “I’m shell-shocked, disappointed and humiliated. It was men against boys, a result possibly waiting to happen with the patched-up side we have got.”

- The Championship promotion race takes another twist as Crystal Palace win 1-0 at Leeds United. Jobi McAnuff scores the goal just before the interval. 5th-placed Palace remain four points behind fourth-in-the-table Leeds with seven games to play.

- In League One, Brentford’s promotion push is hit by a surprise 2-3 defeat at struggling Gillingham. The Gills finish the game with nine men as Alan Pouton and Sean Clohessy are sent-off. Colchester United move to within a point of the Bees with a goalless draw at Doncaster Rovers. It’s just as tight in the lower half, and there are good wins for Bradford City (1-0 v Blackpool) and Yeovil Town (2-0 at Walsall).

- In League Two, an added time equaliser denies Grimsby Town going top as Rickie Lambert secures a 2-2 draw for Rochdale at Spotland. Play-Off hopefuls Cheltenham Town and Wrexham also draw 2-2. There’s also a draw (1-1) at Gigg Lane where strugglers Bury and Oxford United share the spoils.

- Not for the first time, there’s trouble brewing between Sheffield United and West Bromwich Albion. The Blades want to end the loan deal of out-of-favour Baggies forward Geoff Horsfield but Albion insist that United must complete the earlier agreed permanent transfer. A statement released by WBA says: “That deal will stand unless United can find an alternative club to take on their responsibilities.”

- Members of England’s 1966 World Cup winning team and their West Germany counterparts return to the scene of the iconic final. To mark the 40th anniversary, Sir Bobby Charlton and Franz Beckenbauer lead the tour of the new Wembley Stadium site. In a welcome boost following recent bad publicity, Beckenbauer - who is the chairman of the organising committee for this year’s World Cup in Germany - is highly complimentary: “It’s completely different from the old Wembley I remember but, when it is finished, it will be the best stadium in the world. Before I stepped inside I thought the best stadium was the new one in Munich but now I have changed my mind.”

- England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson is the ideal candidate to lead host nation South Africa during the 2010 World Cup, according to their chief executive. After a disappointing showing in the recent African Cup of Nations, Danny Jordaan believes Sven is the man for them and isn’t concerned about his likely expensive wage demands: “The question is can we afford not to afford the best possible coach? It would be a footballing disaster if South Africa fail in 2010. The performance of the host nation determines how the people embrace the whole event.”