Liverpool win an incident packed Merseyside derby
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.