Tigers beat 10-man Colchester

Football League round-up

There were two games in the Championship this evening with Hull City strengthening their bid for a end of season play off place with a 1-3 win over 10-man Colchester United at Layer Road while Wolverhampton Wanderers beat Scunthorpe United 2-1 at Molineux.

League One leaders Swansea City stretched their lead at the top of the table to nine points with a 0-2 win at Bristol Rovers. At the Galpharm Stadium, Huddersfield Town beat Brighton & Hove Albion 2-1.

In their Scottish Cup quarter-final replay at Celtic Park, Aberdeen beat Celtic with Darren Mackie scoring the only goal of the game on 69 minutes. The Dons now face Queen of the South in the last four. First Division St Johnstone are also through to the semi-finals after beating St Mirren of the Scottish Premier League 1-3 at St Mirren Park. The Perth side will meet the winners of tomorrow nights clash between Rangers and Partick Thistle at Ibrox.

At Central Park, 10-man Queen’s Park beat struggling Cowdenbeath 2-4 while Second Division leaders Ross County were held to a goalless draw at Victoria Park by Brechin City.

In the Scottish Third Division, Albion Rovers and Stranraer drew 1-1 at Cliftonhill while Dumbarton recorded a 1-0 home win over Stenhousemuir.

The Football Association has launched a new five-year National Game Strategy, which will see £200m invested in English grassroots football. The money will be used to encourage more children to play the sport, improve facilities, develop skills and coaching and recruit more referees.

The Football Association has rejected calls from FIFA disciplinary chief Marcel Mathier to increase the ban on Birmingham City’s Martin Taylor who was banned for three matches for the foul on Eduardo da Silva that broke the Arsenal star’s leg. an FA spokesman said: “It would be unreasonable at this stage of the season to change our disciplinary procedures on the basis of one case. That would be a dangerous precedent to set. Serious foul play carries a three-match ban and the only cases where that has been increased is where there has been a clear case of intent and no-one is suggesting that happened in this case. We will be reviewing our procedures at the end of the season and consulting with the whole game, and dangerous tackles are certainly an area we will be looking at. We will also be requesting a meeting with Fifa for their input.”

Blackburn Rovers have signed free agent Johann Vogel on a two-and-a-half year deal with the option of a further year. The-31-year-old Swiss midfielder was released by Real Betis in December 2007. 

Newcastle United goalkeeper has had groin surgery in Germany today and will be out of action for six weeks. The 31-year-old has not played since February 23 when the Magpies slimped to a 1-5 defeat against Manchester United at St James’ Park.

Leeds United goalkeeper Casper Ankergren has been charged with improper conduct by the Football Association after he allegedly threw a missile at Swindon Town supporters at the end of United’s win at the County Ground at the beginning of March. The 28-year-old Dane has until 1 April to respond to the charge.

Rotherham United have gone into administration and appointed XL Business Solutions as their administrator. The League Two club have been deducted 10 points and fall from 7th to 11th in the table.   

Gretna players have voted against strike action and Saturday’s clash with Celtic at Almondvale is likely to go ahead although the administration-hit side will be severely weakened as up to a dozen squad members have refused to play unless guarantees are given that their contracts would be honoured until the summer.

Nathan Davies