2010 World Cup qualifying draw
Premier League round-up
Black Country stalemate
Cheltenham shock Leeds
Wrexham earn a point
Kingston is hero and villain
Saints lift Challenge Cup
The draw for the World Cup 2010 qualifiers was made this afternoon and has thrown up some interesting contests. England have been drawn in Group Six along with Croatia, Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Andorra. Scotland line up in Group Nine against the Netherlands, Norway, Iceland and Macedonia while Wales feature in a tricky looking Group Four along with Germany, Russia, Finland, Azerbaijan and Liechtenstein. Northern Ireland have been placed in Group Three along with Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia and San Marino. The winners of each European group will qualify for the finals automatically and the best eight runners-up play off for four more qualifying berths.
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Fulham drew 2-2 with Blackburn Rovers at Craven Cottage with all the goals coming in the second-half. The Cottagers struck first with a Danny Murphy penalty after 51 minutes before Brett Emerson levelled the scores six minutes later. Diomansy Kamara put the home side back in front but with just over 10 minutes left, Stephen Warnock ensured a point for Mark Hughes’ men. Fulham have now scored first eight times in the Premier League this season but only gone on to win once.
West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur drew 1-1 at Upton Park. The Hammers took the lead through Carlton Cole after 20 minutes only for Michael Dawson to equalise for the visitors in the second half. Spurs could have won it but Robert Green saved an injury-time penalty from Jermain Defoe.
Zoltan Gera missed a late penalty for West Bromwich Albion as they were held to a goalless draw at home by Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Black Country derby.
Cheltenham Town beat Leeds United 1-0 at Whaddon Road. Steven Gillespie’s 86th minute strike was enough to separate the sides. Dennis Wise’s men have now won only two of their last seven games in all competitions.
Brian Little’s first game in charge of Wrexham ended in a 2-2 draw against local rivals Chester City at the Racecourse. The Red Dragons, who remain bottom of League Two, fell behind after 26 minutes when Kevin Roberts struck for the visitors. Michael Proctor equalised ten minutes later but the Seals regained the lead on the stoke of half-time through Paul Linwood. However, Proctor added his second after 74 minutes to ensure a share of the spoils.
Gretna held Heart of Midlothian to a 1-1 draw at Firs Park. Michael Stewart was sent off for Hearts after only 20 minutes but six minutes later a Laryea Kingston strike put the visitors in the lead. Early in the second-half, Kingston turned from hero to villain though as he put in his own net.
St Johnstone lifted the Scottish League Challenge Cup this afternoon with a 2-3 victory over Dunfermline Athletic at Den Park.
Nathan Davies