Essien goal keeps Chelsea in title race
Blue Square Premier results
Rams sign Zadkovich
Liverpool in turmoil
O’Neill undergoes knee operation
Old Firm duo banned
Michael Essien scored the only goal of the game as Chelsea beat Everton 0-1 at Goodison Park to close the gap on Premier League leaders Manchester United to just two points.
In the Blue Square Premier, already relegated Droylsden drew 1-1 with Ebbsfleet United at the Butcher’s Arms while Rushden & Diamonds beat Torquay United 2-1 at Nene Park.
Derby County have signed 21-year-old Australian international Ruben Zadkovich on a two-year deal although he cannot play for the Rams until next season as he left his previous club Sydney FC in March, outside the transfer window. Zadkovich can play in central midfield or as a right-back.
It has been another day of vicious back-biting behind the scenes at Liverpool as the relationship between co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett continues to deteriorate. Hicks has restated his calls for Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry to quit, labelling his tenure a “disaster”. However, Parry has the support of Gillett and a majority in his favour among the club’s six-man board. Parry said: ”It’s for the board to ask me to resign and they haven’t.” George Gillett also spoke out later in the day and says he will not sell his shareholding to Hicks - who is aiming for sole ownership -accusing him of creating “turmoil” at the club.
Middlesbrough midfielder Gary O’Neil will miss the rest of the season after undergoing knee surgery. The 24-year-old sustained lateral ligament damage during Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane.
Celtic defender Gary Caldwell and Rangers defender David Weir will receive one-match bans after squaring-up to each other following the final whistle of last night’s Old Firm derby at Celtic Park. Their actions served to trigger a melee and as a result Caldwell will miss Celtic’s next league game, against Aberdeen - Weir is out of Sunday’s Scottish Cup semi-final.
Nathan Davies