Premier League round-up

Rangers reach Scottish Cup final

Hibs earn point at Tannadice 

PSV clinch title

Aston Villa crushed local rivals Birmingham City 5-1 at Villa Park. Ashley Young (28, 63) and John Carew (42, 53) both scored twice while Gabriel Agbonlahor (78) grabbed a fifth. Mikael Forsell scored a consolation for Birmingham on 67 minutes but they remain in the bottom three. Villa have now scored 15 goals in their last three Premier League games conceding just one in the process.

Michael Owen bagged a first-half brace as Newcastle United cruised to a 2-0 victory over Sunderland at St James’ Park in the Tyne-Wear derby. Owen scored with his head after only four minutes and dispatched a penalty on the stroke of half-time to ensure the Magpies are clear of relegation worries while their near neighbours will be looking nervously over their shoulder in the next few weeks.

Manchester City remain in the hunt for a UEFA Cup spot after a 3-1 home win over 10-man Portsmouth. Darius Vassell put the hosts ahead on 11 minutes and City’s lead was doubled just two minutes later by Martin Petrov. John Utaka got one back for Pompey on 24 minutes before Hermann Hreidarsson was sent off for impeding Darius Vassell as he ran through on goal, five minutes before the break. Benjani sealed the three points on 74 minutes.

Rangers beat St Johnstone 3-4 on penalties in their Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden. The score after 90 minutes was goalless but Daniel McBreen gave St Johnstone the lead four minutes into extra-time only for Nacho Novo to level from the penalty spot on 103 minutes. Walter Smith’s men remain on course for a domestic treble after the game was decided on penalties. Daniel Cousin scored the decisive spot-kick to send Rangers to their 49th Scottish Cup final.

In the Scottish Premier League, Dundee United and Hibernian drew 1-1 at Tannadice. Hibs took the lead through Dean Shiels on 57 minutes but Noel Hunt restored parity from the penalty spot just three minutes later.

PSV Eindhoven have clinched their fourth consecutive Eredivisie title and 21st overall following a 0-1 win at Vitesse Arnhem. Danko Lazovic scored the second half winner. Meanwhile, Excelsior are relegated after being thrashed 0-5 at Heerenveen and De Graafschap and VVV will now battle it out with six sides from the second division in the relegation play-offs.

Nathan Davies

Premier League round-up 

Football League review

SPL round-up

Hamilton seal title

Manchester United remain on course to retain the Premier League title after an 88th minute Carlos Tevez strike earned them a 1-1 draw with Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park. Roque Santa Cruz had given Rovers the lead after 21 minutes but Tevez’s goal keeps United three points clear of Chelsea, with a superior goal difference, ahead of their visit to Stamford Bridge.

Gavin McCann scored the only goal of the game on the hour mark as Bolton Wanderers beat Middlesbrough 1-0 at the Riverside Stadium to move out of the relegation zone. Birmingham City - who travel to Aston Villa tomorrow - replace them in the bottom three.

Arsenal beat Reading 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium to record only their second win in nine Premier League matches. Emmanuel Adebayor put the hosts ahead on the half-hour while Gilberto Silva added a second on 38 minutes. The result leaves Reading just one point above the relegation zone with a worse goal difference than the teams around them.

Fulham look destined for the drop after losing 0-2 to Liverpool at Craven Cottage. Jermaine Pennant and Peter Crouch were on target for the visitors. The Cottagers are now five points adrift of safety with just three games remaining.

Elsewhere, Wigan Athletic and Tottenham Hotspur drew 1-1 at the JJB Stadium while West Ham United beat already-relegated Derby County 2-1 at Upton Park.  With just one win this season, Derby face the prospect of becoming the first club in English league football for 109 years with such a low total of victories.

Swansea City are League One champions despite losing 1-2 against Yeovil Town at Liberty Stadium.  Second-placed Carlisle United lost 1-2 at home to Southend United to hand Swansea the title.

Milton Keynes Dons secured promotion to League One with a 2-3 win against Stockport County at Edgeley Park and second-placed Peterborough United are also celebrating promotion from League Two after a 0-1 win against Hereford United at Edgar Street.

Celtic top the Scottish Premier League for the first time this year after an unconvincing 1-0 home win over Aberdeen. Georgios Samaras scored the only goal of the game on 56 minutes as Gordon Strachan’s men move two points clear of Rangers at the top of the league though they have played three-games more. Elsewhere, Heart of Midlothian beat St Mirren 3-2 at Tynecastle, Inverness Caledonian Thistle ran-out 3-0 winners against Kilmarnock at Caledonian Stadium and Falkirk and Gretna played out a goalless draw at the Falkirk Stadium.

Hamilton Academicals will be playing Scottish Premier League football next season after a 2-0 win over 10-man Clyde at New Douglas Park helped them seal the First Division championship.   

Nathan Davies

Assistance needed

www.11v11.co.uk is the home of the Association of Football Statisticians. In our quest to maintain and enhance the standard of our international database, we need knowledgeable assistance from anyone who has an interest in games played by African or Asian countries.

We are looking for two reliable and enthusiastic individuals - one to work on African statistics and the other on Asian data.

Work would primarily involve inputting match details and preparing squad information on a volunteer basis initially.

In addition, we would like to hear from anyone interested in inputting match details from the domestic leagues. Candidates must be able to commit a couple of hours on Saturday night / Sunday morning. Input experience is preferred but training will be given.

Anyone requiring more details should express their interest at enquiries@11v11.com

New bids for Bournemouth

Panel still to decide

Millers receive number of offers

Burton beat Stevenage 

Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed Rio Ferdinand, Michael Carrick and Wes Brown have all agreed new contracts with Manchester United but the length of the deals has not been revealed.

Two new bids to buy League One strugglers Bournemouth were lodged with the club’s administrators on Friday, with a third set to follow in the next 24 hours. The news follows the collapse of a proposed takeover by EU UK Ltd earlier this week.

The arbitration panel deliberating over the 15-point penalty handed to Leeds United at the beginning of the season, have confirmed that a verdict will be delivered before the final game of the season. The panel will reconvene on Monday.

A number of formal offers have been made by prospective purchasers to takeover League Two club Rotherham United.  Administrator Jeremy Bleazard, of XL Business Solutions, said: “I am very encouraged that a number of bids have come in and I will spend the next couple of days considering each one on its merits. I hope to begin formal discussions with a ‘preferred’ bidder early next week.”

In the Blue Square Premier, Burton Albion beat Stevenage Borough 3-0 at Pirelli Stadium.

Nathan Davies

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

Redknapp takes legal action

Marshall signs extension

Torino appoint De Biasi

In the Scottish Premier League, Celtic beat Rangers 2-1 at Celtic Park. Shunsuke Nakamura gave the hosts the lead on 20 minutes but Nacho Novo restored parity ten minutes into the second half. With 20 minutes remaining visiting defender Carlos Cuellar was sent off for handling a Nakamura shot in the penalty area but Rangers goalkeeper Allan McGregor saved Scott McDonald’s spot-kick. With 93 minutes played, the Jan Venneggor of Hesselink headed the winner to narrow the gap on Rangers to one point, though Walter Smith’s men have two games in hand.

In the Scottish First Division, Queen of the South beat Partick Thistle 2-0 at Palmerston Park.  

Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp is taking legal action against the police over his arrest during an inquiry into alleged football corruption. Redknapp and his wife Sandra want a judicial review into a raid at their home in Sandbanks, Dorset. The 61-year-old, who denies any wrongdoing, was arrested last November by City of London Police.

Coventry City goalkeeper Andy Marshall has signed a one-year contract extension with the club.

Torino have appointed Gianni De Biasi as their new manager following the sacking of Walter Novellino this morning.  De Biasi was in charge of Primera Liga strugglers Levante but had a clause in his contract allowing him to return to Torino for his third spell at the helm.

Nathan Davies 

Football League round-up

Aldershot back in Football League

Scottish Second Division review

Ferdinand pens new deal

Chester report Caley Jags

Chester duo suspended

Nicholson to depart Dons

Adam out for season

SPL awards

Romario retires 

West Bromwich Albion are the latest leaders of the Championship after beating local rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers 0-1 at Molineux. Zoltan Gera scored the only goal of the game on 59 minutes. At Oakwell, Hull City beat Barnsley 1-3 to move into the second automatic promotion spot.

In League One, Huddersfield Town beat Leeds United 1-0 at the Galpharm Stadium. Andy Holdsworth got the only goal of the game on 76 minutes. Jonathan Douglas of Leeds United was sent-off for a second-bookable offence on 38 minutes while Jonathan Worthington saw red for Huddersfield Town for serious foul play on the stroke of half time. Bristol Rovers also hindered Walsall’s play-off hopes with a 0-1 win at Bescot Stadium.

Milton Keynes Dons had to delay their official promotion celebrations after being held to a goalless draw at stadium mk by Hereford United in League Two, Sergio Torres was on the scoresheet as Wycombe Wanderers won at Grimsby Town while Rochdale beat Barnet 3-0 at Spotland.

Aldershot Town clinched the Blue Square Premier title and a return to the Football League - 16 years after Aldershot FC folded - with a 1-1 draw at Exeter City.

In the Scottish Second Division, Airdrie United demolished Cowdenbeath 4-0 at New Broomfield while Queens Park beat Berwick Rangers 1-4 at Shielfield Park.

Rio Ferdinand has agreed a new five-year deal with Manchester United according to his agent, with reports suggesting the agreement is worth £130,000-a-week.

League Two strugglers Chester City are to report Inverness Caledonian Thistle to the FA after the Scottish Premier League outfit allegedly made an illegal approach for two of their unnamed contracted players.

Meanwhile, Chester City duo Paul Butler and Tony Dinning have been suspended by the club for what was described as an alleged “serious breach of club discipline”. Chester manager Simon Davies said neither of the players figure in his plans for next season.

Aberdeen midfielder Barry Nicholson has rejected a new contract at Pittodrie but he won’t be theonly one leaving the club during the summer as goalkeepers Derek Soutar and Greg Kelly, defenders Richie Byrne and Dave Bus and strikers Jonathan Smith and Steve Lovell are not being offered new deals. Striker Lee Miller has yet to decide whether to accept a contract offer.

Rangers midfielder Charlie Adam will miss the remainder of the season due to a knee injury sustained  during preparations for the UEFA Cup quarter-final with Sporting Lisbon.

The inaugural Clydesdale Bank Premier League Awards have taken place in Glasgow with Rangers boss Walter Smith named Manager of the Season while Ibrox defender Carlos Cuellar was presented with the Player of the Season award. Celtic’s Aiden McGeady won Young Player of the Season and Dundee United’s Willo Flood picked up Goal of the Season for his December strike against St Mirren. Rangers were also presented with the Best Matchday Hospitality award.

Former Brazil striker Romario, who claims to have scored over 1,000 goals during his career, has announced his retirement from football at the age of 42.

Nathan Davies

Owls out of drop zone 

Bournemouth takeover collapses

Da Costa leaves Leeds

Alexander injury blow for Lions

Gyepes signs Northampton deal

McMullen buys Livi stake

Tade commits to Stranraer

Chelsea’s hopes of catching Manchester United at the top of the Premier League were severely dented at Stamford Bridge this evening as they dropped two precious points in a 1-1 draw with Wigan Athletic. Michael Essien gave the West Londoners a 54th minute lead but an injury-time volley from Emile Heskey earned the Latics a point. Avram Grant’s men are now five points behind leaders United with four games left to play.

In the Championship,  Sheffield Wednesday climbed out of the relegation zone after a 1-1 draw with Plymouth Argyle at Hillsborough. The visitors took a second minute lead through a deflected Peter Halmosi free-kick but Tommy Spurr levelled in the 81st minute.

EU UK Ltd have withdrawn their bid for League One strugglers Bournemouth after their bid for an extension to complete their purchase of the club was denied by administrator Gerald Krasner. It is thought that EU UK Ltd refused to meet specific terms required by Krasner for an extension to be granted. Krasner said: “They have the money, they just weren’t prepared to lodge it under the original bidding agreement. They had control of the money. I asked them to release a certain part of it for the funding, but they didn’t seem to want to do that and pulled out this afternoon. I don’t think they are in the bidding process at all now.”

Portuguese winger Filipe Da Costa has left Leeds United after the remainder of his contract was cancelled by mutual consent.

Millwall have suffered an injury blow with the news striker Gary Alexander has been ruled out for the rest of the season.

Northampton Town defender Gabor Gyepes has signed a new one-year deal with the League One outfit. 

Irish property developer Anthony McMullen has bought a 50% stake in Scottish First Division club Livingston.

Stranraer midfielder Gregory Tade has signed a new deal to keep him at the club until 2009.

Nathan Davies

Premier League round-up

Football League review

Rangers through to semi-final

Celtic win at Motherwell  

Arsenal’s title dreams are all-but over after they lost 2-1 against Manchester United at Old Trafford. Emmanuel Adebayor put the Gunners ahead on 48 minutes but Cristiano Ronaldo equalized from a twice taken penalty after 54 minutes. Owen Hargreaves scored the winner on 72 minutes. The result sends United six points clear at the top of the Premier League and leaves Arsenal facing a third successive season without a trophy.  

Steven Gerrard (60), Fernando Torres (82) and Andrei Voronin (90) were on target as Liverpool beat Blackburn Rovers 3-1 at Anfield. Roque Santa Cruz (90) netted a late reply for Blackburn. Rafa Benitez’s side are now five points clear of fifth-placed Everton with four league games to go.

Rafa Benitez has demanded talks with with the Liverpool board over their plans earlier in the season to appointment Jurgen Klinsmann as his replacement. It was originally thought that Tom Hicks spoke to Klinsmann but Tom Hicks claims fellow co-owner George Gillett and chief executive Rick Parry also interviewed Klinsmann last year about succeeding Benitez as manager. “Off the pitch, I am surprised at things I have read. I need some clarification about a meeting with a lot of people that I did not know about. I will talk with the board about this (the Klinsmann issue) - as soon as possible, today or tomorrow.  need to resolve questions and I want some answers. I want to clarify things. I am really calm - but I want answers. I need to talk to the board to clarify things. I was surprised about a meeting with another manager. What concerned me was the people who were in the meeting.”

Ipswich Town beat Norwich City 2-1 at Portman Road to move within a point of the Championship play-off zone. Ched Evans put the Canaries ahead on four minutes before Alex Pearce put through his own net to level the scores on 13 minutes. Danny Haynes scored the winning goal after 40 minutes.

In League Two, Shrewsbury Town beat basement club Wrexham 3-0 at the New Meadow with Kevin McIntyre (7), Darren Moss (58) and James Constable (68) on target.  The result leaves the North Wales outfit nine points from safety with just four games remaining.

Rangers won their Scottish Cup quarter-final replay against Partick Thistle 0-2 at Firhill to set up a semi-final encounter with St Johnstone. Nacho Novo (27) and Chris Burke (40) grabbed the decisive goals while both sides missed second-half penalties.  Jags midfielder Simon Donnelly dragged his spot-kick wide while Rangers striker Daniel Cousin had his late penalty saved by Partick goalkeeper Jonny Tuffey.

In the Scottish Premier League, Celtic thrashed Motherwell 1-4 at Fir Park. Stephen McManus put the visitors ahead on 17 minutes and then proceeded to blot his copybook with an own-goal to level the scores on 24 minutes. Scott McDonald put Celtic back infront on the half-hour before a double from Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink (43 & 57) sealed the points.

Nathan Davies

Premier League round-up

Football League review

Queen of the South reach Scottish Cup final 

In the Premier League, Aston Villa crushed already-relegated Derby County 0-6 at Pride Park with six different goalscorers finding the back of the net. Ashley Young (25), John Carew (26), Stiliyan Petrov (36), Gareth Barry (58), Gabriel Agbonlahor (76) and Marlon Harewood (85) were on the scoresheet.

Fulham won away from home for the first time in 33 matches to keep alive their slim hopes of avoiding relegation. Brian McBride and Erik Nevland scored the goals that beat Reading 0-2 at the Madjeski Stadium and pulled the home side back into danger at the bottom of the table. 

Kevin Davies scored the only goal of the game on 47 minutes as Bolton Wanderers picked up a priceless three points against West Ham United at the Reebok Staadium. Atlthough Wanderers remain in the relegation zone they are now just two points behind Birmingham City were were held to a 1-1 draw by Everton at St Andrews. Joleon Lescott opened the scoring for the visitors on 78 minutes but Mauro Zarate equalised from a free-kick with seven minutes remaining. 

Elsewhere, Manchester City beat Sunderland 1-2 at The Stadium of Light, Tottenham Hotspur and Middlesbrough drew 1-1 at White Hart Lane and Portsmouth and Newcastle United played out a goalless draw at Fratton Park in the evening kick-off.

Scunthorpe United were relegated to League One after losing 2-0 against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park while the Eagles boosted their Championship play-off hopes.

Swansea City sealed promotion to the Championship after coming from behind to beat Gillingham 1-2 at the Priestfield Stadium. Dennis Oli put the Gills ahead but Guillem Bauza scored twice before the break. The Swans climbed into the second tier for the first time in 24 years while also setting a club record of 86 points - improving on the total of 85 achieved by John Hollins’ 1999-2000 side.

Port Vale as they were relegated to League Two, their first visit to the basement division since 1986, after being held to a goalless draw against Huddersfield Town at Vale Park. Luton Town were also relegated after losing 1-2 at Kenilworth Road against Brighton and Hove Albion.  

Queen of the South reached their first-ever Scottish Cup final after beating Aberdeen 4-3 at Hampden. The Dumfries club will face the winner of next weekend’s semi-final, with St Johnstone waiting to play the winner of the Partick Thistle v Rangers replay. If Rangers reach the final the First Division side would be assured of a place in next season’s UEFA Cup.

Nathan Davies