Fulham’s Moritz Volz scored the 15,000 goal in Premiership history today in their 2-2 draw at Chelsea.

Here’s a breakdown of other Premiership landmark goals.

Goal 1: Brian Deane (Sheffield United) v Manchester United, 15 August 1992

Goal 100: Eric Cantona (Leeds United) v Tottenham Hotspur, 25 August 1992

Goal 500: Lawrie Sanchez (Wimbledon) v Norwich City, 5 December 1992

Goal 1,000: Mike Newell (Blackburn Rovers) v Nottingham Forest. 7 April 1993

Goal 2,000: Mick Quinn (Coventry City) v Manchester City, 19 February 1994

Goal 3,000: Klas Ingesson (Sheffield Wednesday) v Everton, 26 December 1994

Goal 4,000: Alan Shearer (Blackburn Rovers) v West Ham United, 2 December 1995

Goal 4,999 / 5,000: Andy Townsend (Aston Villa) v Southampton and Chris Sutton (Blackburn Rovers) v Leicester City, 7 December 1996

Goal 6,000: Nathan Blake (Bolton Wanderers) v Wimbledon, 29 November 1997

Goal 7,000: Dennis Bergkamp (Arsenal) v Aston Villa, 13 December 1998

Goal 8,000: Gus Poyet (Chelsea) v Sunderland, 4 December 1999

Goal 9,000: Nicky Butt (Manchester United) v Derby County, 25 November 2000

Goal 10,000: Les Ferdinand (Tottenham Hotspur) v Fulham, 15 December 2001

Goal 11,000: Jay Jay Okocha (Bolton Wanderers) v Blackburn Rovers, 7 December 2002

Goal 12,000: Alan Shearer (Newcastle United) v Tottenham Hotspur, 13 December 2003

Goal 13,000: Fredi Kanoute (Tottenham Hotspur) v Middlesbrough, 28 November 2004

Goal 14,000: Jermain Defoe (Tottenham Hotspur) v Birmingham City, 26 December 2005

Goal 15,000: Moritz Volz (Fulham) v Chelsea, 30 December 2006

Sir Alex’s six-point birthday present

Rain stops play

—– Chelsea’s 2-2 draw with Fulham in the West London derby at Stamford Bridge draws stinging criticism from boss Jose Mourinho.
Without keeper Petr Cech and captain John Terry, the champions’ famously watertight defence have now conceded two goals in each of their last three games much to their manager’s dismay: “Maybe we are not as good as we think, maybe I am not such a good boss, maybe the players are not such good players.”
Fulham’s opening goal from Moritz Volz is the 15,000th goal in the history of the Premiership.
There’s no such worries for Sir Alex Ferguson on the eve of his 65th birthday. Manchester United beat Reading 3-2 at Old Trafford to establish a six-point lead at the end of the year at the top of the Premiership.
Bolton Wanderers are third after a 3-2 win against Portsmouth at the Reebok Stadium.
Arsenal lose ground with a 1-0 defeat at Sheffield United. It’s the Blades first league win against the Gunners since September 1973 and boss Neil Warnock calls it his proudest moment since becoming manager at Bramall Lane. United defender Phil Jagielka goes in goal for the last half-hour after Paddy Kenny is injured.
A last minute winner from Bryan Hughes gives strugglers Charlton Athletic three vital points against Aston Villa at The Valley.
It plunges new manager Alan Pardew’s old club West Ham United in to deeper trouble as they lose to a goal from Manchester City’s DaMarcus Beasley at Upton Park.
Watford’s game against Wigan Athletic is abandoned after 55 minutes with the score at 1-1 due to a waterlogged pitch at Vicarage Road.

—– With leaders Birmingham City held to a 2-2 draw against Luton Town at St Andrews last night, Preston North End reduce the lead at the top of the Championship to six points. They win (1-0) at Sunderland for the first time since the days of Tom Finney and Len Shackleton (March 1948).
Torrential rain delays kick-off at Southampton by 45 minutes but it’s worth the wait for the Saints as they beat Leicester City 2-0 to stay in fourth place.
Colchester United’s 11th consecutive home win (2-1 v Wolverhampton Wanderers) take the division’s surprise package back in to the top six.
Despite a 0-3 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday in the South Yorkshire derby at Oakwell, hours later, Barnsley confirm caretaker manager Simon Davey as their new boss. The Tykes are only two points above the relegation zone.

—– Scunthorpe United end 2006 as the new leaders of League One. The Iron beat AFC Bournemouth 3-2 at Glanford Park after taking a 3-0 half-time lead.
Nottingham Forest lose top slot after being held to a 1-1 draw by Tranmere Rovers at the City Ground.
Oldham Athletic are only three points behind in third after a 3-0 win at Gillingham.
Bottom-of-the-table Brentford end their 22-game run without a win with a 2-1 success against Chesterfield at Griffin Park.
Millwall lead 1-0 at Northampton Town when the game is abandoned after 68 minutes due to a waterlogged Sixfields pitch.

—– Milton Keynes Dons reduce Walsall’s lead at the top of League Two to two points after a 3-0 win at Chester City. Walsall draw 2-2 with Bristol Rovers at the Bescot Stadium.
Darryl Duffy’s last minute goal against Peterborough United at Victoria Park clinches Hartlepool United’s new club record eighth consecutive league win. Pools haven’t conceded a goal in over 11 hours of play.
In the battle of the bottom two at Plainmoor, David Morley’s last minute goal gives Macclesfield Town their fourth win in five games and leaves Torquay United without a league win since 16 September.
The heavy rain claims its third game of the day as Accrington Stanley’s game against Mansfield Town is ended at half-time with the score at 1-1.

—– Although they only draw 1-1 at Motherwell, Celtic end the year with a massive 16-point lead at the top of the SPL.
Aberdeen lose 1-3 at Dundee United while Rangers can only draw 1-1 with St Mirren at Ibrox.

Shakers boss Casper ‘hurting like hell’

Dearden returns to Stags hot-seat

—– After hearing two hours of evidence, a three-man Football Association panel take five minutes to reject Bury’s appeal against their expulsion from the FA Cup.
The FA Cup winners in 1900 and 1903 were thrown out earlier this month for fielding an ineligible player in their Second Round replay win against Chester City on 12 December.
Their team included Stephen Turnbull, who is on loan from Hartlepool United, but the young midfielder played without the Shakers seeking permission from their League Two rivals to play him in the competition.
The FA reinstate Chester City who will now face Ipswich Town in the Third Round on 6 January.
The expulsion means Bury will lose the £24,000 in prize money for beating Chester plus 45% of the gate receipts from the game at Ipswich.
Bury manager Chris Casper earlier offered his resignation but the club’s board turned it down.
The 31 year-old former Manchester United, who is currently the Football League’s youngest manager, finds little comfort in the FA’s thinking though: “If that’s justice, the FA can keep their justice as far as I’m concerned.
“When teams lose, fielding an ineligible player, nothing happens basically. Is that right?
“We also got the same punishment as people that don’t come clean.
“On a personal level my feelings for the players and the supporters, I’m hurting like hell.”
It won’t help that the FA’s decision appears to go against earlier precedents.
As far as we are aware, the most recent similar case in the proper rounds was the Kettering Town v Tilbury First Round tie in November 1977.
The Kettering team included the ex-Leicester City winger Len Glover who had recently returned from playing in the NASL with Tampa Bay Rowdies.
Following protests from the Tilbury officials, it was established that there was a technical error regarding his registration.
Kettering won the original game but, rather than expel the Poppies, the tie was ordered to be re-played. That was drawn 2-2 then Tilbury went through after winning the replay 3-2.
We believe that Bury are the first club to be expelled from the proper rounds of the FA Cup since Everton fielded ineligible players against Bolton Wanderers in the First Round of the 1887-88 season.
Would the FA have come to the same conclusion today if a Premiership club had committed Bury’s oversight?

—– Bill Dearden returns to Mansfield Town for his second spell in charge of the Stags.
The 62 year-old, who was previously manager at Field Mill between June 1999 and January 2002, succeeds Peter Shirtliff who left on 19 December.
Caretaker boss Paul Holland reverts to his role as assistant manager.
The Stags are currently 19th in the League Two table but the former Sheffield United striker is looking forward to the challenge: “I have fond memories of Mansfield Town and the good young players I had - and I think that the boys here now are similar. I believe that they can be even better than they are now.”
Apart from Crewe Alexandra’s Dario Gradi, Dearden becomes the Football League’s current oldest manager.

Rangers sunk by Inverness again

Liverpool buy-out questioned

—– Charlton Athletic are denied a morale boosting win under new manager Alan Pardew by a last-gasp Fulham equaliser at The Valley.
Three days after Pardew became the Addicks third manager of the season, they come from behind to take the lead.
As the game enters the third minute of added time, Fulham are awarded a free-kick which, if anything, should have gone Charlton’s way. From the resultant play, Franck Queudrue salvages a point for the Cottagers.
After his brief break, the former West Ham boss appears to be, understandably, quickly back into the swing of things: “I’m absolutely disgusted. You’d expect the officials to be nice and calm and they made a bad mistake there. We were two minutes away from ecstasy but we feel deflated.”

—– In the SPL, a brilliant added time goal from John Rankin ends Inverness Caledonian Thistle’s nine-game run without a win to complete a fabulous double over Rangers this season having won at Ibrox in October.
It’s the Highlanders first-ever home win against the Glasgow giants, much to the delight of manager Charlie Christie: “To take six points from Glasgow Rangers and show the appetite and desire that we did was phenomenal. We matched them toe-to-toe and we got a tremendous goal at the end to win it.”

Newspaper speculation questions the motives behind Dubai International Capital’s (DIC) anticipated takeover of Liverpool.
The Daily Telegraph believe their intention is to sell the club in 2014 at a huge profit while releasing only limited funds for player transfers in the mean time.
A spokesman for DIC quickly refutes the allegations though: “Should DIC acquire the club, Liverpool will be well run, both on and off the pitch, and we are currently laying the groundwork to ensure that will be the case.”

—– Leeds United confirm that their Elland Road ground has been sold for a second time, but re-assure supporters that the future of their stadium is safe.
Amid their financial crisis, Elland Road was sold to Manchester-based businessman Jacob Adler in November 2004 but it now emerges that he sold it on to the Teak Trading Corporation of the British Virgin Islands 15 months ago.
United’s chief executive Shaun Harvey explains: “The change in ownership has had no material effect on us. We still have the same lease as originally entered into, albeit with a different company. More importantly, the buy-back provision has also been transferred.”

Ronaldo takes United four points clear

Blues celebrate in style

—– After a run of narrow squeaks over their last few games, Chelsea’s luck finally runs out as they are held to a 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge by Reading. Manager Jose Mourinho also reveals that captain John Terry could face a lengthy lay-off with his back injury.
Inspired by half-time substitute Cristiano Ronaldo, Manchester United take full advantage with a 3-1 win against Wigan Athletic at Old Trafford to establish a four-point lead at the top of the Premiership.
The first goal Liverpool concede in seven league games proves costly as they lose 0-1 at Blackburn Rovers.
Arsenal don’t slip up though as they win 2-1 at bottom club Watford.
Alan Curbishley’s West Ham United remain in the bottom three after old boss Harry Redknapp returns to Upton Park with his Portsmouth team and they win 2-1 with two goals from local lad Linvoy Primus.
Manchester City end a run of three consecutive defeats with a welcome 1-0 win at Sheffield United.

—– Birmingham City celebrate their 100th anniversary at St Andrews with a 2-1 win against Queens Park Rangers to go eight points clear at the top of the Championship.
They are the only winners in the top five as Preston North End go down 2-4 at West Bromwich Albion and Derby County lose 0-2 at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Colchester United extended their remarkable home record to ten consecutive wins as they beat Luton Town 4-1 at Layer Road.
Leeds United will end the year in the bottom three after they lose 0-2 in front of over 40,000 at improving Sunderland.

—– Nottingham Forest remain two points clear of Scunthorpe United at the top of League One after they both post home wins. Forest beat Port Vale 3-0 while United are 1-0 victors against Chesterfield.
Oldham Athletic are up to third after a 3-2 win at Rotherham United.
In the relegation zone London derby, Millwall win 4-1 at hapless Brentford.

—– League Two leaders Walsall show their mettle with a 1-0 win against Shrewsbury Town at the Bescot Stadium despite playing for nearly an hour with only ten-men.
Milton Keynes Dons move up to second place after a 2-0 win at Torquay United. The Gulls replace Macclesfield Town at the bottom as Paul Ince’s fast improving Silkmen win 3-0 at Chester City.

—– A new all-time Conference record attendance of 11,065 see leaders Oxford United held to a goalless draw by Woking at the Kassam Stadium.
The previous record was 9,432 when Lincoln City clinched the title against Wycombe Wanderers at Sincil Bank on 2 May 1988.

Addicks reign ends after 41 days

Pardew takes over at The Valley

—– Les Reed sensationally loses his job, by mutual consent, as Charlton Athletic’s head coach on Christmas Eve after only eight league games in charge at The Valley.
An official statement released by the Premiership strugglers at 7pm confirms that Alan Pardew - deposed as manager of West Ham United only 13 days ago and a former Charlton player - has been appointed with a three-and-a-half year contract.
Reed - a self-confessed Charlton supporter - was promoted from the role of assistant manager in mid-November following Iain Dowie’s sacking.
His 41-day reign is the shortest in Premiership history.
The Addicks are second from bottom of the Premiership and seven points from safety.
In the last week, they have crashed out of the Carling Cup quarter-finals (losing 1-0 at home to League Two Wycombe Wanderers) and yesterday slide to a 0-2 defeat at fellow strugglers Middlesbrough.
Charlton become only the second Premiership club to part with two managers before Christmas following Southampton (Paul Sturrock and Steve Wigley) two years ago.
Speculation suggests that the former FA technical director had lost the support of the players.
Alan Pardew has since been replaced at West Ham by Alan Curbishley who ended his 15 year reign as Charlton’s manager in the summer.

Prem top six all win

Donny say farewell to Belle Vue

—– On a rare Saturday afternoon when all 20 Premiership teams are in action, the top six all win.
Chelsea continue their recent trend of leaving it late. Having lost a two goal lead at Wigan Athletic, Arjen Robben snatches victory from the jaws of a draw with an added time winner.
Manchester United continue their imperious form with a 3-0 win at Aston Villa.
Liverpool struggle past bottom-of-the-table Watford with a 2-0 win at Anfield but Arsenal sweep aside Blackburn Rovers in a 6-2 rout at the Emirates Stadium.
Bolton Wanderers’ Nicolas Anelka returns to haunt one of his old clubs as he hits both goals in the 2-0 win at Manchester City.
Portsmouth continue their bid for Europe with a 3-1 win against Sheffield United at Fratton Park.
The pressure on Charlton Athletic boss Les Reed increases after a listless 0-2 setback at fellow strugglers Middlesbrough.

—– Birmingham City go five points clear at the top of the Championship with a 4-0 win at bottom club Southend United.
Derby County are held to a goalless draw at Burnley so Preston North End are back up to second after a 1-0 win against Colchester United at Deepdale.
Stoke City’s 1-0 victory at Ipswich Town moves the Potters up to fourth.
Sheffield Wednesday’s veteran keeper Mark Crossley heads an added-time equaliser in a thrilling 3-3 draw with Southampton at Hillsborough.
The Yorkshire derby between Leeds United and Hull City (both in the bottom three) ends goalless.

—– With Scunthorpe United winning 1-0 at Millwall last night, Nottingham Forest’s lead at the top of League One is down to two points after they lose 0-1 at Doncaster Rovers in the last-ever game at Belle Vue (now known as the Earth Stadium). Rovers move to their new Keepmoat Stadium next week.
Third-placed Bristol City are held to a 2-2 draw at Cheltenham Town.

—– Walsall draw 1-1 at Boston United but stay top of League Two after Swindon Town go down 1-2 at improving Macclesfield Town.

—– Celtic go in to Christmas with a 16-point lead at the top of the SPL after a 1-0 win against Falkirk at Parkhead.
Rangers are second following a 2-1 success at Aberdeen.

Charlton stand by Reed

Fitzgerald handed Bees post

—– Mike Newell reiterates his claim that there is corruption in football following yesterday’s publication of Lord Stevens’ report.
The Luton Town manager, who made his claim in January, says: “The game is not clean and Lord Stevens said that yesterday when he was asked the question directly.”
The nine-month investigation looked at 362 Premier League transfers over the last two years, and 17 still require further investigation.
Newell would like much further investigation: “Go back five or 10 years and involve everybody - because people with nothing to hide will fear nothing.
“They keep rolling these agents out who say the game’s clean and only five percent of activity is being questioned - but they’ve only gone into the last two years in the Premier League.
“In those two years clubs are more professional - so it’s not as widespread.
“But a lot of these agents have made their millions in the last five to 10 years.
“There will be a lot of people breathing a sigh of relief on their yachts and in their villas - and I’m not just talking about agents now.”

—– Charlton Athletic chairman Richard Murray gives his backing to under-fire manager Les Reed, and aims his fire at outgoing boss Iain Dowie.
The Addicks have won one Premiership game in six since the new manager took over who has been subjected to fierce criticism from supporters.
Murray blasts: “Those who watch Charlton regularly will say maybe it was the same under Iain Dowie. Maybe we haven’t got a good enough squad.
“We spent a lot of money in the summer - £11million we didn’t have to spend.
“We backed Iain, they were his signings, but I had never heard of Souleymane Diawara, apparently the best centre-half you’ve never heard of.
“For a club like ours to spend £3.7million on one player like that is a fortune. Some people must not look at Les but at what went on before.”

—– Brentford caretaker manager Scott Fitzgerald is promoted to the position on a permanent basis.
Alan Reeves will continue as assistant to Fitzgerald as the Bees, without a win in 16 league matches, battle against relegation from League One.
37 year-old Fitzgerald, the club’s youth coach, took over as caretaker following the dismissal of Leroy Rosenior on 18 November.
A club statement reads: “In a short period of time they have worked on fitness, organisation and team spirit.”

Chelsea and Spurs reach Carling semis

Bury kicked out of FA Cup

—— Lord Stevens releases his report on behalf of the Premier League into illegal payments in football.
He makes 39 recommendations to safeguard the game’s integrity but, with regards to the alleged bung culture, names no names.
The inquiry investigates a total of 362 transfers and 17 remain questionable and are subject to further investigation.
Lord Stevens criticises the lack of assistance he had received from “eight major agents” during the course of his Quest team’s nine-month work which has come at a cost of over £600,000.
Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore says: “People will only be named when there is evidence which will lead to a charge.
“The concentration is now on a number of agents and other parties - not clubs and club officials.
“In one sense they (the clubs) are in the clear in that the investigation into them has finished.”
Leading agent Phil Smith - a director of the First Artist Corporation - supports Lord Stevens’ call for an independent body to audit transfers: “The FA cannot cope. It’s all very well (FA chief executive) Brian Barwick increasing the numbers of staff on the compliance unit, but they haven’t been able to handle matters.
“There’s a lot of money going out of the country, not just out of the game because they are unable to complete checks on where it is all going.”

—— There’s a London double as Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur make it through to the semi-finals of the Carling Cup.
Chelsea’s Didier Drogba comes off the bench to see off Newcastle United at St James’ Park with a late free-kick in a 1-0 win.
Newcastle’s long wait for a domestic trophy goes on, and frustrated manager Glenn Roeder isn’t happy with the free-kick: “It was definitely a free-kick but what annoyed me is that, between our players and the referee, the ball was allowed to be moved to open up the angle.
“If it was taken where it was awarded I don’t think he can beat Shay Given.”
Spurs struggle past Southend United at White Hart Lane with the disputed only goal of the game coming deep in to extra time from Jermain Defoe.
Southend are bottom of the Championship but manager Steve Tilson is encouraged by their dogged performance: “Considering the desire and commitment we showed it should have gone to penalties.
“It’s even harder to swallow given that the goal was offside.”

—– Bury are kicked out of the FA Cup for fielding an ineligible player in their 3-1 second-round replay win over Chester City on 12 December.
The case relates to Stephen Turnbull. He is on loan from Hartlepool United but Bury did not seek permission to play him in their FA Cup matches.
Bury appeal against the decision but, if it is turned down, Chester will be reinstated and play Ipswich Town in the Third Round and receive the £24,000 prize money due to second-round winners.
Bury were docked a point by the Football League last season for fielding Colin Marrison against Lincoln City a day after his loan agreement from Sheffield United had expired.

—– There’s yet another managerial change although this time it’s at the departing manger’s own volition.
John Gorman’s resignation is accepted by Northampton Town. The former Wycombe Wanders boss cites personal reasons.
The Cobblers are currently 18th in League Two.
Gorman left Wycombe in May following the death of his wife Myra in February due to cancer.

Liverpool and Arsenal fogged off

Shirtliff departs Stags

—– The misery at Charlton Athletic deepens as League Two giantkillers Wycombe Wanderers shock the Premiership strugglers at The Valley to reach the semi-finals of the Carling Cup.
Jermaine Easter drove the ball home with a fierce 25-yard shot for the game’s only goal.
New Addicks boss Les Reed has won only one of his seven games in charge since he succeeding Iain Dowie last month and his job already appears to be under threat as the Charlton supporters patience is clearly on the wane.
There’s no such problems for Wycombe manager Paul Lambert.
Having become the first club of League Two level to reach this stage since Doncaster Rovers in 1976, Wanderers hadn’t gone beyond the Second Round of the League Cup competition before this season.
The former Scotland international hailed his side’s success: “It was an extraordinary effort from us.
“I don’t get this thing that ‘it’s only Charlton’. They are a top class side with a terrific stadium and fans and we gave a good account of ourselves.”

—– Arsene Wenger can truly say he did not see it as Arsenal’s Carling Cup tie at Liverpool is called off an hour before kick-off due to fog.
A disappointed Reds boss Rafa Benitez says: “Myself and Arsene Wenger tried to convince the referee that we could play, but it was impossible.
“The referee said that he could not see the different colours and that it would be difficult for the linesmen.
“But you could see both goals clearly from the centre-circle and the referee said no. I’m surprised because we felt we could play in those circumstances.”

—– Tranmere Rovers game with Crewe Alexandra falls foul to the weather for the second time in four days.
The night’s other League One game goes ahead though with Leyton Orient easing their relegation worries with a 1-0 win at Northampton Town.

—– Peter Shirtliff becomes the 20th managerial change of the season as his 15-month spell in charge of Mansfield Town is ended.
The Stags have won just one of their last eight matches and have slipped to 18th in the League Two table, four points above the relegation zone.
The former Sheffield Wednesday centre-back told the club’s official web site: “I’m disappointed but this is a results-based business and the results have not been good enough.”
Paul Holland, his assistant, is placed in temporary charge.