Ballack double keeps Chelsea in title race
Premier League round-up
MK Dons clinch title
SPL review
Spurs sign Modric
Chelsea kept the Premier League title race alive with a 2-1 win over leaders Manchester United at Old Trafford. Michael Ballack headed Chelsea ahead on the stroke of half-time. Wayne Rooney pounced on a mistake by Ricardo Carvalho to restore parity on 56 minutes but with just four minutes left Michael Carrick handled in the box to give Ballack the chance to win the match for Avram Grant’s men from the penalty spot. He didn’t miss. The result leaves the top two level on points with only two games remaining though United do have a superior goal difference.
Meanwhile, United’s Rio Ferdinand apologised to a steward after accidently kicking her in the tunnel after the match. Ferdinand lashed out at a brick wall as he walked off the pitch but also made contact with a female steward. Ferdinannd said: “Unfortunately, a lady was stood by and I accidentally brushed her with my foot. I apologised profusely and went back to make sure she was OK. I have arranged for a bouquet of flowers to be sent to her. Credit to her, she laughed it off and was very understanding. She said she wasn’t hurt.”
It has also been reported that United players Patrice Evra, Gary Neville, Ji-Sung Park and Paul Scholes were involved in a fracas with Chelsea groundstaff during a warming down session after the match. The row reportedly started after Evra felt he was subject to racist abuse.
At the other end of the table, Fulham came from two goals behind to beat Manchester City 2-3 at the City of Manchester Stadium and keep their hopes of survival alive. Stephen Ireland (10) and Benjani Mwaruwari (21) gave City a commanding lead but second-half goals from Diomansy Kamara (70), Danny Murphy and a second effort from Kamara in the last minute completed a remarkable comeback. Fulham are still in 19th place but are now only three points behind 17th-placed Reading and safety.
Birmingham City occupy the last relegation spot after drawing 2-2 with Liverpool at St Andrews, despite surging into a two-goal lead through Mikael Forssell (34) and Sebastian Larsson (55). The Reds hit back through Peter Crouch (63) and Yossi Benayoun (76).
Wigan Athletic edged closer to safety but left their opponents Reading hovering dangerously over the drop zone after a goalless draw at the JJB Stadium.
Bolton Wanderers earned a vital point in their battle for safety with a 1-1 draw with Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane. The visitors were totally outplayed but Stelios Giannakopoulos gave them the lead on 46 minutes only for Steed Marlbranque to level on 52 minutes.
Elsewhere, Sunderland guaranteed safety with a 3-2 win over Middlesbrough in the Wear-Tees derby while Newcastle United came back from a two-goal deficit to draw 2-2 with West Ham United at Upton Park.
Milton Keynes Dons have won the League Two title after a 1-2 win against Bradford City at Valley Parade while Hereford United sealed promotion to League One with a 0-3 win against Brentford at Griffin Park.
In the Scottish Premier League, Motherwell took a step towards a third-place finish and a subsequent UEFA Cup spot with a 2-2 draw against fourth-placed Dundee United at Fir Park. The result leaves Well one point ahead of the Terrors but with two games in hand. At Pittodrie, Aberdeen game from behind to beat Hibernian 2-1. The visitors were reduced to nine men when Thierry Gathuessi and Colin Nish were sent off for complaining about their bookings. Elsewhere, there were 1-0 home wins for Heart of Midlothian and St Mirren against Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Falkirk respectively while Gretna held Kilmarnock to a 1-1 draw at Rugby Park.
Tottenham Hotspur have signed 22-year-old Croatia midfielder Luka Modric from Dinamo Zagreb for a fee believed to be £15.8m. The move is subject to Modric passing a medical and obtaining a work permit.
Nathan Davies