Eight-goal thriller at the Bridge
Premier League round-up
Football League review
SPL round-up
On a spectacular day of Premier League action, Chelsea and Aston Villa drew 4-4 at Stamford Bridge. Villa raced into a two-goal lead, courtesy of a Shaun Maloney double, but in first-half stoppage time Zat Knight bundled over Michael Ballack in the penalty area, was sent-off and Andriy Shevchenko scored the resulting penalty. Five minutes after the restart, Shevchenko netted the equaliser before Alex put the home side ahead. Martin Laursen then put Villa level before Ricardo Carvalho was dismissed after a crude challenge. Chelsea appeared to have won the match when Michael Ballack scored from a free-kick on 88 minutes but there was still time for Ashley Cole to receive his marching orders for handling in the box and Gareth Barry made no mistake from the penalty spot.
Chelsea had Petr Cech back in goal as his injury against Blackburn Rovers on Sunday was not as bad as first feared.
Manchester United are top of the Premier League after beating Sunderland 0-4 at The Stadium of Light while Arsenal were held to a goalless draw at Portsmouth. Liverpool are fourth after a last-gasp Steven Gerrard effort secured a hard-fought 1-2 win at Derby County.
Elsewhere, Tottenham Hotspur beat struggling Fulham 5-1 at White Hart Lane, West Ham United and Reading drew 1-1 at Upton Park, Birmingham City beat Middlesborough 3-0 and Wigan Athletic jump clear of the relegation zone with a 1-0 home win over Newcastle United.
Everton beat Bolton Wanderers 2-0 at Goodison Park.
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West Bromwich Albion are back on top of the Championship on goal difference after thrashing Bristol City 4-1 at The Hawthorns. The Baggies took thei opportunity after Cardiff City held Watford to a 2-2 draw at Vicarage Road. Stoke City are in third position after a last-minute Liam Lawrence penalty secured his hat-trick and a vital point for the Potters in a 3-3 draw. Crystal Palace’s fine form continued with a 0-2 win at Coventry City to make it 11 games unbeaten and Leicester City beat Ipswich Town 2-0 to secure their first win in eight.
Swansea City are back on top of the League One ladder after beating Cheltenham 4-1 at the Liberty Stadium. Nottingham Forest remain second despite being held to a goalless draw at Oldham Athletic while Leeds are third after Jermaine Beckford’s last-gasp strike in the 1-1 draw at Hartlepool United. Bournemouth are off the foot off the table after beating Leyton Orient 2-0. Luton Town picked up an unlikely point in a 1-1 draw at Bristol Rovers despite being reduced to 8-men. Chris Coyne, Steve Robinson and Anthony Grant all saw red.
Milton Keynes Dons stretched their lead at the top of League Two to six points as they came from behind to defeat Notts County 1-2 at Meadow Lane. Mansfield Town are off the bottom of the table after a 2- 0 home win over promotion chasing Peterborough United. Wrexham, who lost 0-2 to Rochdale at the Racecourse, replace them at the bottom.
In the Scottish Premier League, Celtic beat Dundee United 0-2 at Tannadice while Rangers triumphed over Motherwell at Ibrox 3-1. Celtic still lead the way at the top of the SPL by two points but Rangers have two games in hand. Kilmarnock picked up a 2-1 home win over managerless Hibernian, Gretna are now up to double figures at the bottom of the table after a 1-1 draw with visitors Aberdeen, Falkirk beat Inverness Caldedonian Thistle 1-0 at the Falkirk Stadium and Heart of Midlothian slumped to a 0-1 home defeat against St Mirren.
Nathan Davies