Jose slams off-colour Blues

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.