Decisive day in title race

Leeds on the brink

Spireites and Bantams down to Two

—– On the day when a minute’s applause is observed at every ground in appreciation of the late Alan Ball, Goodison Park - the scene of many of his memorable performances - is the stage for decisive and dramatic events in the Premiership title race.
An hour into Manchester United’s visit to Everton, the Red Devils lead at the top of the Premiership is in danger of evaporating before their eyes.
While Chelsea are drawing 2-2 with Bolton Wanderers, United are deservedly trailing 0-2 and there looks little sign of a response.
The turning-point comes when Everton’s back-up goalie Iain Turner - only playing because United won’t allow their loanee keeper Tim Howard to play - drops a corner at the feet of John O’Shea.
The goal sparks United into breath-taking action and they eventually run out worthy 4-2 winners while Chelsea are held to a draw.
It leaves United with a five-point lead and only three games to play.
Manager Sir Alex Ferguson says: “We got a break when their keeper dropped the ball and we scored but after that we were brilliant. We have played the right way and if we do win the league, we deserve it.”
A subdued Jose Mourinho’s demeanour suggests Chelsea’s game is nearly up: “When the chance is there, we have to believe but it is almost lost, almost.”
At the bottom, the Premier League’s controversial decision not to deduct points from West Ham United this week causes more consternation as the Hammers win 3-0 at Wigan Athletic to leave them level on points with the Latics.
Sheffield United move three points clear of the duo with a 1-0 win against already relegated Watford at Bramall Lane but it’s a bad afternoon for Charlton Athletic who are next-to-bottom after a 1-4 drubbing at Blackburn Rovers.
The fight for UEFA Cup places continues apace as Portsmouth beat Liverpool 2-1 at Fratton Park while Tottenham Hotspur win 3-2 at Middlesbrough.

—– Ten-man Birmingham City return to the top of the Championship with a 2-0 win against Sheffield Wednesday at St Andrews.
Blues’ Fabrice Muamba is sent-off after 58 minutes before Cameron Jerome and Sebastian Larsson put City within a point of an immediate return to the Premiership.
The scramble for the Play-Off places will go to the final day of the season next Sunday with six teams battling for the four places.
West Bromwich Albion halt their recent slide by moving back up to fourth with a 1-0 win at Coventry City.
Wolverhampton Wanderers are fifth after a 2-0 win against Queens Park Rangers at Molineux.
The last Play-Off slot is filled by Southampton who win 1-0 at Norwich City.
Stoke City are level with Saints and a point behind West Brom and Wolves as their 3-1 win at the Britannia Stadium finally ends Colchester United’s brave challenge.
Preston North End slip from fourth to eighth after their 0-2 setback at Plymouth Argyle.
Southend United’s 1-3 defeat by Luton Town at Roots Hall means they follow the Hatters into League One next season and, barring a miracle, they’ll be joined by Leeds United who are on the very brink of relegation to the third-tier of English football for the first-time in their history.
Due to Hull City’s 1-0 win at Cardiff City, Leeds are three points behind the Tigers with only one game to play. Significantly, they also have an inferior Goal Difference of nine goals.
In an afternoon at Elland Road that swings from nervous, to dramatic, to disgraceful, Ipswich Town grab an 88th minute equaliser through Alan Lee.
With the Whites unable to find a winner after five of the allocated six minutes of added time, hundreds of so-called Leeds supporters invade the pitch.
Referee Michael Jones orders the pitch to be cleared then brings the teams back on to play out the final few seconds over half an hour later.
38 years to the day since they won their first Football League title, six years after reaching the Champions League semi-finals and, more inexplicably, only a year after reaching the Play-Off final, Leeds boss Dennis Wise concedes that he accepts they will play League One football next season: “It’s an impossible task now I think, but everyone knows that. I take full responsibility for everything that’s happened.”

—– Scunthorpe United lose 1-3 at Blackpool but clinch the League One title as Bristol City lose 0-1 at Millwall.
Billy Sharp’s consolation goal is his 32nd strike of the season so creating a new club record.
With only one game to go, Blackpool are only two points behind City and they are bisected by Nottingham Forest who win 3-1 at Leyton Orient as the battle for the second automatic promotion place goes down to the last day of the season.
Yeovil Town will be in the Play-Offs after a 1-0 home win against Doncaster Rovers.
That last Play-Off place rests between Oldham Athletic and Swansea City.
They are level on 72 points after 2-1 wins at Brighton & Hove Albion and Carlisle United, respectively.
Chesterfield beat Bradford City 3-0 at Saltergate but both are relegated to League Two after Cheltenham Town’s 4-2 win at Rotherham United.
Along with Leeds almost certain demotion, Bradford’s return to the basement division for the first time in 25 years makes it an especially traumatic day for West Yorkshire’s two former Premiership clubs.
The Bantams left the top flight six years ago and are still fighting the massive debts they incurred.

—– Leaders Hartlepool United lose 0-2 at in-form Rochdale so Walsall are back at the top of League Two going into the last game of the season after they beat Wrexham 1-0 at the Bescot Stadium.
Swindon Town still can’t confirm their promotion as they lose 0-1 at Bristol Rovers while Milton Keynes Dons win 2-0 at Wycombe Wanderers.
Rovers move into the Play-Off places at the expense of Stockport County who are held to a goalless draw by Bury at Edgeley Park.
The battle to avoid joining Torquay United in the Conference next season also goes down to the final day.
Having been held to a 1-1 by Torquay at York Street, Boston United must win at Wrexham next week to avoid the drop.
That would send the Dragons down unless Macclesfield Town lose next week. Macc’s are in danger after their 2-3 defeat at Accrington Stanley today.

—– While Leeds United and Bradford City’s distressing decline continues, the fairytale rise of tiny Gretna reaches a dramatic new high.
Five years after leaving English non-league football’s Northern Premier League, now - after three consecutive promotions - they have reached the Scottish Premier League.
Needing to match St Johnstone’s result on the final day, the dream of a meteoric rise to the top division appeared to have ended with the Saints 4-3 win at Hamilton Academical while Gretna were being held to a 2-2 draw at Ross County.
That was until the final minute when James Grady scored the goal that clinched the First Division title.
With SPL rules demanding a minimum 6,000-capacity (double the population of the border village), Gretna aim to share Motherwell’s Fir Park next season.