Charlton close the gap

Rams and Black Cats in top two

—– Only a last minute goal from Salomon Kalou gives Chelsea victory at bottom-of the-table Watford.
Manager Jose Mourinho admits that without that goal, the champions would not have been able to catch leaders Manchester United: “I think that if we had gone from six points to eight or nine behind Manchester United, mathematically it would still be possible to win the title but mentally not.”
Earlier in the afternoon it seemed that Manchester United were about to slip up too.
At half-time, they trailed Blackburn Rovers 0-1 in front of a new Premiership record attendance at Old Trafford.
United underline their title credentials though with a superb second-half display to run out 4-1 winners.
Liverpool leap-frog Arsenal to move up to third position with a 4-1 win against the Gunners at Anfield.
Peter Crouch returns from injury to net the first hat-trick of his club career.
The relegation dogfight is cranked up another couple of gears after wins for Charlton Athletic and West Ham United.
Charlton beat fellow strugglers Wigan Athletic at The Valley with a debatable late penalty converted by Darren Bent.
Manager Alan Pardew concedes that luck appears to be on their side at the moment: “I think it was a tough call but it was that kind of game. With the roll we are on and the good feeling in the stadium it was a big moment for the referee and sometimes they go your way.”
They are now just a point behind Sheffield United who lose 0-1 at Bolton Wanderers to a goal from self-confessed Blades fan Kevin Davies.
Although still five points in arrears, West Ham win for the second game in a row as they beat Middlesbrough 2-0 at Upton Park.
Having been under severe pressure a couple of weeks ago, Manchester City give their survival hopes a major boost as they jump up to 13th place with a 1-0 win at Newcastle United.

—– Derby County stay on top of the Championship with a 2-1 win at Barnsley to equal a club record of 12 away wins in a season.
Sunderland move back into the top two after a 1-0 win at Play-Off contenders Cardiff City.
West Bromwich Albion end a run of five games without a win to move back up to fifth. They win 2-1 at Queens Park Rangers with Zoltan Gera netting the late winner.
The result of the day is Southampton’s 6-0 win at Wolverhampton Wanderers in a key Play-Offs encounter. Marek Saganowski bags a hat-trick as Wolves concede six at home for the first time since the Saints won 6-2 at Molineux in October 1976.
To the immense credit of the Wolves fans - and in stark contrast to the so-called England supporters in midweek - manager Mick McCarthy and the team are applauded off the pitch at the end of the game.
On the day before his 38th birthday, another hat-trick scorer is Hull City’s Dean Windass as the Tigers beat Southend United 4-0 in the crunch relegation meeting at the KC Stadium.
In Kevin Blackwell’s first game in charge, Luton Town stay bottom despite earning a crucial point in the goalless draw at Burnley.

—– Scunthorpe United extend their lead at the top of League One to four points after they beat relegation-haunted Bradford City 2-0 at Glanford Park while Bristol City and Nottingham Forest (second and third, respectively) draw 1-1 at Ashton Gate.
In the other big promotion clash, Oldham Athletic go above Yeovil Town into fourth place after a 1-0 win against the Glovers at Boundary Park.
Blackpool retain the fourth and final Play-Off place with a 2-1 home win against Crewe Alexandra.
Cheltenham Town move out of the bottom four with a 2-1 home win against fellow strugglers Leyton Orient.

—– Walsall and Swindon Town both win at home to go second and third in League Two.
The Saddlers beat Accrington Stanley (3-2) while the Robins overcome Shrewsbury Town (2-1).
Their day is made even better as none of the teams below them in the top 11 win.
Torquay United keep their faint Football League survival hopes alive as Reuben Reid’s last minute goal against Wycombe Wanderers at Plainmoor gives the Gulls their second win in 11 games.
Boston United sink into the bottom two as Bury end their 16-game winless streak with Andy Bishop’s late strike at York Street.

ITV and Setanta win FA TV rights

Stanley avoid points deduction

—– Northern Ireland hero David Healy transfers his sensational international form to the domestic stage as he lifts Leeds United off the bottom of the Championship with a dramatic last minute winner against his former club Preston North End at Elland Road.
Leeds give their survival hopes a tremendous boost after falling behind to an early North End goal.
While Preston would have moved level with second-in-the-table Birmingham City with a win, Whites boss Dennis Wise hails his matchwinner: “People expect so much of Healy because of what he’s done for Northern Ireland. This is what happens when you score at international level.
“Everyone expects you to do it week in, week out. Unfortunately with us he’s hit crossbars, he’s hit posts.”

—– ITV and Irish satellite broadcaster Setanta secure the rights with the Football Association to screen the FA Cup and England home internationals in a four-year deal from the start of the 2008-09 season.
The £425million deal is a substantial increase from the current £300million rights deal currently held jointly by the BBC and BSkyB.
It’s a major coup for ITV and its new executive chairman Michael Grade who made coverage of live sporting events a priority when he left the BBC to join ITV in December.
Former BSkyB senior executive Trevor East is now Setanta Sports’ director of sport. He also has reasons to be cheerful: “The FA Cup is a great highlight in the English football calendar and an excellent addition to the Setanta line-up.”
A BBC statement reads: “Whenever we bid for a contract, we have to bear in mind the interests of licence-fee payers and we always have to seek value for money.”
There’ll now be no live football on the BBC after the end of next season.
Along with the new Premiership rights, the deal takes the money paid for English football at club and international level to a mind-blowing £3.1billion.

—– Hartlepool United go eight points clear at the top of League Two with a comfortable 3-0 win against Chester City at Victoria Park.
Pool extend their club record unbeaten league run to 23 games.

—– League Two strugglers Accrington Stanley breathe a huge sigh of relief after avoiding a points deduction for fielding ineligible players.
Stanley were charged with fielding two ineligible players - Preston North End striker Chris McGrail and young goalkeeper Martin Fearon - in games in which they won seven points.
They are fined £12,000 by the Football League, with half suspended.
A club statement reads: “We may have been guilty of technicalities that breached regulations. But, we have never sought to cheat or circumvent the rules.”
A seven point deduction would have meant almost certain relegation at the end of their first season back in the Football League.

—– From the ‘Something you thought you’d never hear about a Premiership footballer’ file, Liverpool defender John Arne Riise is declared bankrupt.
The declaration is made by Liverpool County Court for an unpaid debt of around £100,000.
He is involved in a legal battle with his former agent, Einar Baardsen, with the case is reported to be linked to an alleged £3million fraud investigation going through the courts in his native Norway.
Riise is thought to earn around £50,000 a week.

Scots march halted by world champions

Healy is NI hero again

—– The game that should have proved there are easy games in international football sees England struggle past Andorra.
With the game switched to the Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, the vast majority of the 12,800 crowd is made up of England supporters.
Against a nation whose entire population would comfortably fit inside Old Trafford, such is the paucity of England’s performance in a goalless first half that they are subjected to constant barracking by their travelling fans.
Although Andorra continue to keep ten men behind the ball, the tempo is upped in the second half with the impressive Steven Gerrard - used in a central midfield role in Frank Lampard’s injury absence - easing nerves and tempers with a brace.
A third is added shortly before time with the fairytale story of the night.
Coming on as a sub, David Nugent - playing in League Two only two years ago - becomes the first Preston North End player to represent England since the great Sir Tom Finney and the first non-Premiership player since Sunderland’s Michael Gray in 1999.
The dream comes true as the highly-rated 21 year-old nets the third from on the goal-line.
Steve McClaren is closer to nightmare territory though.
Having received a barrage of jeers from the stands following days of unfavourable coverage in the newspapers, the England coach brings a brief post-match press conference to an abrupt end: “Gentlemen, if you want to write whatever you want to write, you can write it because that is all I am going to say. Thank you.”
The win leaves England in fourth place in their Euro 2008 qualifying group, although the top four are only separated by two points at the halfway stage.

—– Scotland lose top slot in Group B after a 0-2 defeat by world champions Italy in Bari.
Two headers from Fiorentina striker Luca Toni throws the Scots’ hopes of reaching next year’s finals in to doubt but captain Barry Ferguson remains confident: “We can qualify. We have to be positive. We will regroup and look to get three points when we visit the Faroe Islands in our next match.”

—– Another remarkable night at Windsor Park sees Northern Ireland replace Sweden at the top of Group F.
David Healy continues his fantastic international form as his double keeps NI on track to reach their first tournament since 1986.
The Leeds United striker has scored nine of Northern Ireland’s ten goals in their qualifying campaign and a total of 29 goals in 56 appearances.
Having received a standing ovation after being substituted in the dying seconds, he reflected on another glorious night in Belfast: “The second goal was probably the sweeter as it was the winner but my first was definitely the better strike, although all goals at Windsor Park are sweet.”

—– A first-half goal from Reading’s Kevin Doyle’s keeps the Republic of Ireland’s qualification hopes alive as they beat Slovakia at Croke Park.
The Republic are level on points at the top of Group D with Germany and Czech Republic with an inferior goal difference.
Amid a tricky start to his reign as coach, Steve Staunton can see definite signs of progress: “The back five have kept three or four clean sheets now which is excellent defensively.
“We’ve got some wonderful young talent coming through and they showed that especially in the first half.
“The lads played with a lot of pride and passion. They shifted the ball quickly like we know they can.”

—– Wales’ forlorn hopes of qualification are reflected by a crowd of less than 20,000 at the Millennium Stadium.
They secure an anticipated comfortable 3-0 win against San Marino.
Following Saturday’s disappointing display in Dublin, coach John Toshack welcomes a much improved performance: “We’re happy with the result but it still doesn’t make up for the result on Saturday.
“Up until that game we had been going well - even in the Slovakia game we lost at home we played the way I wanted.”

—– Bristol Rovers’ hopes of ground-sharing at Bristol City’s Ashton Gate while the Memorial Stadium is re-developed are dashed.
City chairman Stephen Lansdown announces they are no longer considering Rovers’ proposal.
In a £35million project, the current home will become a 18,500 all-seater venue.
Work is due to start at the end of the year, and they have also been in ground-share talks with Swindon Town, Cheltenham Town and Bath City.

Blackwell goes home

New Reds owners complete takeover

—– The Football Association confirm the new Wembley Stadium will stage this season’s FA Cup Final.
After two successful ‘ramp-up’ events - a community day was staged for 34,000 locals and England Under-21s faced Italy in front of nearly 56,000 supporters - Brent Council have now issued the required general safety certificate.
Relieved FA chief executive Brian Barwick says: “The Cup Final and Wembley Stadium go hand in hand and everybody at the FA is looking forward to a great day.”
The £800million venue’s managing director Alex Horne admits: “We realise that there is still some way to go yet and are digesting the feedback we have received in order to ensure that coming to Wembley Stadium is a fantastic experience for fans.”

—– Luton-born Kevin Blackwell is named the new boss of Luton Town.
With seven games of the season to go, the Hatters are next-to-bottom of the Championship with only Leeds United - the 48 year-old’s previous club - below them.
His controversial predecessor Mike Newell was sacked after five consecutive defeats.
Blackwell, who used to stand on the Kenilworth Road terraces as a boy, signs a four-year contract: “This is a big, big job but the future for Luton looks very bright.
“It’s a challenge but I’ve come for the bigger picture as well.”

—– George Gillett and Tom Hicks formally complete their takeover of Liverpool.
98.6% of shareholders have agreed to sell them their shares so, under Stock Exchange rules, the remaining shares can be can now be purchased compulsorily.
The American tycoons have already suspended work on the Reds’ new stadium in Stanley Park and ordered a review.
Liverpool City Council have now asked them to re-consider sharing the new venue with Everton.

Pools perfect day

Bees stung by late double

—– There’s a superb afternoon of action in League Two with the three games featuring the top five.
And days don’t come much better than this one for Hartlepool United.
The leaders create a new club record of 22 consecutive league games without defeat as they win 3-0 at local rivals Darlington.
Pools manager Danny Wilson is fulsome in his praise: “They showed great composure in possession, they passed the ball well and they were terrific.
“Derby games are usually tight but it was a masterful performance. And I thought the fans played as well as we did. The support was second to none.”
To make it even better, Milton Keynes Dons and Walsall - in second and third - cancel each other out in a 1-1 draw at the National Hockey Stadium to leave Hartlepool five points clear at the top.
Swindon Town win the battle of fourth and fifth with a 3-2 win at Lincoln City.

—– Brentford suffer a morale-sapping blow in avoiding relegation to League Two after taking a two-goal lead with only five minutes to play against Oldham Athletic at Griffin Park.
Seemingly set for three vital points, the Bees are stung by a quick-fire brace from Leon Clarke as the promotion-chasing Latics grab a point.
The draw leaves Brentford seven points from safety with seven games to play.

Eck of a start or Scotland

Historic day for national stadiums

—– England’s goal drought continues in a dour goalless draw in Israel as their Euro 2008 qualifying campaign stumbles along its uninspiring way.
With Israel refusing to break their defensive ranks, an unimaginative England attack struggles to carve out any clear cut chances.
It means they have now gone five games without a goal to equal the worst-ever run under Ron Greenwood in 1981.
Breaking from his usual upbeat demeanour, current boss Steve McClaren struggles to hide his frustration: “We have got players who can score goals. They packed the defence and it was always going to be hard.
“We have to be ruthless in front of goal and we weren’t ruthless enough. Either it didn’t fall for us or it was poor quality or poor decision-making.”
Not for the first time, he’d said this was the time for the England players to deliver. Once again, they haven’t.
With Russia and Croatia both winning, England find themselves three points adrift of the top two in Group E.

—– In Alex McLeish’s first game in charge of the national team, Scotland win their fourth game in five qualifying outings to stay top of Group B.
They beat Georgia 2-1 at Hampden Park with a dramatic late winner from substitute Craig Beattie.
The proud new boss hails a magnificent start: “It was quite a day. I was really excited by the welcome from the fans when we came out of the tunnel. It was like a cup final.”

—– David Healy becomes the first-ever Northern Ireland player to score two hat-tricks as they keep their qualification hopes very much alive with a 4-1 win in Liechtenstein.
The Leeds United striker fires the Irish in to second place in Group F.
He says: “You don’t score many hat-tricks in your career so to grab two in the same qualifying series is special.
“They got men behind the ball in the first half but we broke them down in the second and hopefully we can now go on and qualify for a major tournament.”

—– In an historic day for the game in Ireland, the Republic move level on points with the Czech Republic in second place in Group D as they beat Wales 1-0 at Croke Park.
With Lansdowne Road being re-developed, the Dublin venue - which is steeped in Irish tradition and politics - stages its first-ever game of association football.
In front of a crowd of 72,539, with immense irony, the match-winning goal is scored by Manchester City’s Stephen Ireland.

—– It’s also an historic day for England’s national stadium as the new Wembley stages its first game 2,358 days after the old stadium closed its doors for the last time.
There’s no sign of a white horse on the pitch, but a record crowd of 55,700 for an England Under-21s game witness a richly entertaining 3-3 draw against their counterparts from Italy.
Having suffered so many delays, it’s somewhat ironic that the historic opening goal is scored after only 28 seconds.
It shatters the stadium record of 38 seconds for the quickest international goal set by Bryan Robson against Yugoslavia in 1989.
The goalscorer is Fiorentina striker Giampaolo Pazzini who goes on to score the first hat-trick at the new stadium.
He becomes the second Italian to net a Wembley hat-trick after Gennaro Ruotolo of Genoa in the 5-2 Anglo-Italian Cup Final win over Port Vale in 1996.
The honour of being the first Englishman to score at the new Wembley goes to David Bentley of Blackburn Rovers.
And a quiz question for years to come; Newcastle United assistant manager Nigel Pearson is the first coach to lead an English team out at the new Wembley as Under-21s head coach Stuart Pearce is only contracted for competitive matches.

—– Scunthorpe United retain top spot in League One with a 2-2 draw at Leyton Orient. Leading scorer Billy Sharp’s last gasp equaliser is his 50th goal for the North Lincolnshire club.
It’s a vital goal as the chasing pack all win; Bristol City 1-0 at Doncaster Rovers, Nottingham Forest 3-0 against Cheltenham Town at the City Ground and Yeovil Town 1-0 against Chesterfield at Huish Park.

—– With the top five in League Two not in action until tomorrow, sixth-placed Stockport County prove once and for all that it is a funny old game.
Three week as after completing a Football League record of nine consecutive wins without conceding a goal, the Hatters lose 2-7 at home to Rochdale. It’s the first time they have ever conceded seven goals in a game at Edgeley Park.
That’s nothing to the despair that must be being felt by Torquay United. The 0-1 defeat at Shrewsbury Town leaves the Gulls ten points adrift of safety with only seven games to play.
They appear distained for the Conference but the second relegation place appears set to go down to the wire with five teams divided by three points after Wrexham’s 1-0 win at Bristol Rovers.

UEFA refuse Spurs date change

Quiet Transfer Deadline Day

—– Manchester United are fined £6,300 by UEFA for the alleged poor behaviour of their supporters at last month’s Champions League game against Lille.
The tie was played at the Stade Felix-Bollaert in Lens due to Lille’s ground being re-developed.
United supporters appeared to be crushed against a 10-foot high fence with some having to be lifted to safety.
Club officials believe a tragedy was narrowly averted.
Lille are fined £42,000 for poor security and organisation, and for their outrageous reaction to the game’s only goal by Ryan Giggs.

—– Holders Sevilla’s request to move their UEFA Cup quarter-final first leg tie against Tottenham Hotspur from Thursday 5 April is rejected.
The Spanish club wanted to change the date due to a clash with a major religious festival with floats, processions and more than a million people attending.
A UEFA statement explains: “UEFA could not agree to moving matches based on circumstances related to festivities or other kinds of local events.”

—– In the past, the traditional fourth Thursday in March Transfer Deadline Day has been a veritable hive of activity.
Not so today as the current system means it has become the final day of the season for loan signings by Football League clubs.
In the region of 50 transactions are completed.
Probably the most eye-catching is Championship promotion chasers Cardiff City’s capture of Warren Feeney from Luton Town. The Northern Ireland international striker provides cover for injured top scorer Michael Chopra.

Unreserved Rafa

Saints reject Bates statue

—– Heart of Midlothian are seeking yet another manager after Valdas Ivanauskas leaves the Edinburgh club by ‘mutual consent’.
The 40 year-old Lithuanian had been reported to be absent for the last three weeks on football business.
Hearts owner Vladimir Romanov insists: “Valdas made the request to leave his role as head coach.”
Ivanauskas was named caretaker coach following the sacking of Graham Rix last March before being handed the job on a permanent basis in the summer.
Fellow Lithuanian Anatoly Korobochka takes over on a temporary basis.

—– Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez revives the debate about Premiership clubs being allowed to field their reserve team in the Football League.
His main gripe is that the current reserves set-up does not allow his younger players to develop as quickly as he would like: “I would like to see reserve teams of the big clubs like ourselves playing in the Football League. Why not if they have enough quality?
“Our young players may have the quality but not the experience for the first team. They are only on the bench. That will bridge the gap between the youngsters and the first team.”
In his native Spain, the Reds boss previously managed Real Madrid’s B team which - along with other leading clubs’ second string - played in the country’s lower divisions.
That is in total contrast to English culture, and all Football League chairman and managers who are quizzed on the subject condemn the suggestion.

—– Southampton decide to pull down the controversial statue of Saints legend Ted Bates.
The St Mary’s club have been inundated with complaints since sculptor Ian Brennan’s £112,000 statue was unveiled on Saturday.
Many supporters feel it more closely resembles Milan Mandaric - the former chairman of bitter rivals Portsmouth.
Ted Bates, who served the Saints for 66 years, died in November 2003.
If the existing 16ft statue cannot be suitably altered, the club confirm the project would begin again from scratch.

Spurs floored by Chelsea double

Cherries takeover

—– Manchester United reach a record-equalling 25th FA Semi-Final as they beat Middlesbrough 1-0 at Old Trafford in their Sixth Round replay.
Not for the first time, the mercurial Cristiano Ronaldo is at the centre of controversy as he ‘wins’ and converts the match-winning penalty.
He was felled by Jonathan Woodgate whilst in full flow, then picked himself up to coolly slot home the spot kick.
With the United winger preceded by a reputation, the penalty decision provokes a furious reaction from the Boro coaching staff.
Manager Gareth Southgate explains: “The galling thing for me is that we have played them three times this season and conceded three dodgy penalties.”
United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has an alternative view: “I don’t know what they are going on about, it was a penalty.
“If it had been any other player they would not have bothered but they have a guilt complex about him.”
The matchwinner modestly reflects: “Maybe some people don’t like me. Maybe I’m too good.”

—– Spectacular strikes from Andriy Shevchenko and Shaun Wright-Phillips guide Chelsea through to a Semi-Final meeting with Blackburn Rovers.
They beat Tottenham Hotspur in the White Hart Lane replay as the hosts fail to re-capture their outstanding performance from the first meeting.
The night ends on an even more distressing note for the North London club as they will expect a Football Association charge after a so-called supporter runs on to the pitch at the end of the game and clearly aims a punch at Chelsea’s Frank Lampard.

—– The future of AFC Bournemouth is secured after a local consortium led by new chairman Jeff Mostyn complete their takeover.
With debts approaching £4million, 61 year-old Mostyn claims this was the League One club’s last hope as receivership was not an option.
He explained: “The consequences of that would mean it would be very unlikely for us to play at this stadium [Fitness First Stadium] again and, if we were to survive at all, almost certainly playing six or seven divisions lower than we are now.”
The Cherries claim they became Europe’s first community-owned club in 1997 after a supporters’ trust fund saved them from the brink of extinction following a six-month spell in receivership.
The constitution prevented any one person owning more than 10% of the club.
This clause was one of the changes voted upon at the EGM last week, so allowing the takeover to go ahead.

Everton hail AJ

Hibs lift first trophy in 16 years

—– Charlton Athletic boost their Premiership survival hopes with a 2-0 win against Newcastle United at The Valley.
China captain Zheng Zhi scores the first and makes the second as they reduce the safety gap to four points.
After being second best in the first-half, manager Alan Pardew admits: “We adjusted, brought some fresher legs on and we played some good football in the second half and it brought its rewards.
“We’ve had two wins and a draw in our last three games and, with another home game coming up against Wigan, we’re on a bit of a roll.”

—– With snow and hail falling, Andrew Johnson hits a stoppage time winner against Arsenal to produce a dramatic finale at Goodison Park.
Manager David Moyes celebrates five years in charge at Everton as his team strengthen their European bid by moving up to sixth place.
The Toffees boss says: “That is four points we have taken from Arsenal this season and hopefully that shows sign of progress.
“This a terrific group of lads. It’s going to be tough for the rest of the season but hopefully we’ll give our supporters something to shout about.”

—– Liverpool fail to make the most of Arsenal’s Mersey slip-up as they battle out a goalless draw at Aston Villa.
The Reds stay in fourth place; a point behind the Gunners.
Villa appear to be denied a possible match-winning penalty but manager Martin O’Neill remains admirably phlegmatic: “It was more of a chess game, I’ve seen the incident it, it looked a penalty, but the ref hasn’t given it so we move on.
“We can play much better than that and the responsibility is on us at home to do just that.”

—– West Bromwich Albion blow a great chance to re-ignite their promotion challenge.
Leading ten-man Birmingham City ay The Hawthorns, the Baggies allow Blues back in with an 86th minute equaliser from Damien Johnson.
Albion remain seven points behind City who move back up to second.
Baggies boss Tony Mowbray admits his frustration: “Of course we’re frustrated. It’s a game we put a lot of work into and didn’t get our reward. It was a wonder strike that got them a point.
“We’ve been lacking a cutting edge, but that’s something we have to work on.”

—– Hibernian claim their first trophy in 16 years as they trounce Kilmarnock 5-1 in the CIS Scottish League Cup Final at Hampden Park.
After an even first-half, Hibs produce a dazzling display after the break to the delight of manager John Collins: “Sixteen years is a long time to wait for a trophy for a club like this.
“It is a special moment, but the players have worked hard since I arrived at the club in October and deserve it.”