PFA nominations announced

Ipswich duo in car crash

Doncaster beat Swindon

Little signs two-year deal

Savage steps down

Sir Alex Ferguson and Cristiano Ronaldo have claimed the Barclays manager and player of the month awards for March.

The nomination for the Professional Footballers’ Association players’ player of the year award have been announced. Unsurprisingly, Cristiano Ronaldo is the hot favourite while the other contenders include Arsenal pair Cesc Fabregas and Emmanuel Adebayor, Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard and striker Fernando Torres and Portsmouth goalkeeper David James. Ronaldo, Fabregas and Torres are also in the running to be the PFA young player of the year along with Aston Villa duo Gabriel Agbonlahor and Ashley Young and Manchester City defender Micah Richards.

Ipswich Town manager Jim Magilton and chairman David Sheepshanks needed hospital treatment after they were involved in a road crash on the A12 near Brentwood, Essex, late on Thursday.

In League One, Doncaster Rovers beat 10-man Swindon Town 2-0 at the Keepmoat Stadium to keep alive their hopes of automatic promotion.  

Brian Little has signed a new two-year deal to remain as Wrexham manager.

Inverness Caledonian Thistle chairman Alan Savage has announced his resignation after less than two years at the helm.

Nathan Davies

UEFA Cup round-up

Flamini sidelined for three weeks

Blues release statement

Mascherano appeal fails

New Cherries’ owners revealed

Ferguson admits common assault

Jean-Claude Darcheville (60) and Steven Whittaker (90) were on target as Rangers beat Sporting Lisbon in Portugal to progress to the UEFA Cup semi-finals 2-0 on aggregate. Walter Smith’s men will now face Fiorentina in the last four after they beat PSV Eindhoven 0-2 in Holland to win 3-1 on aggregate.

Elsewhere, Bayer Leverkusen beat Zenit St Petersburg 0-1 but the Russians still progress 4-2 on aggregate while 10-man Getafe drew 3-3 with Bayern Munich in Spain after extra-time but the Germans win on the away goals rule after the first leg finished 1-1.

The first legs of the semi-finals of the Uefa Cup will see Rangers play Fiorentina and Bayern Munich play Zenit St Petersburg on 24 April. The return legs are on 1 May.

Arsenal midfielder Mathieu Flamini has been ruled out of action for three weeks with an ankle injury after limping off during the Champions League defeat to Liverpool at Anfield on Tuesday.

Birmingham City have released a statement concerning the arrests of co-owner David Sullivan and managing director Karren Brady. The pair were questioned by City of London Police yesterday as part of their ongoing investigation into football corruption. The statement read: “We wish to clarify the situation regarding the City of London Investigation. The City of London Police investigation is focusing on payments to a football agent and two players, dating back to 2002/2003. There is absolutely no allegation that any Director of the Company or the club itself have benefited financially from any of this activity. In so far as there may be any implications for the Company, these are not considered material to its financial affairs and they are in relation to the payment, or possible non payment of PAYE and National Insurance contributions. The club and its Directors are co-operating fully with the police in this investigation and will continue to do so. For the avoidance of doubt we wish to make it plain that David, Karren and Birmingham City FC deny absolutely any wrong doing.”

Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano has failed to overturn the extended two-match ban handed to him by the Football Association last month. The FA ruled that Mascherano was guilty of improper conduct after being sent off against Manchester United at Old Trafford on March 23 and banned him for two extra games as well as fining him £15,000. He appealed on the grounds that the punishment was excessive but this was dismissed.

The prospective new owners of Bournemouth have been named as EU UK Ltd Local businessman Marc Jackson led the consortium but he is unlikely to have any role in the running of the Cherries. They have until Monday to complete the purchase of the club.

Peterborough United manager Darren Ferguson has admitted to common assault against his wife at a re-arranged hearing before Macclesfield magistrates and was fined £1,500. He was also ordered to pay £200 costs and a £15 victim surcharge by the judge on Monday.

Nathan Davies

Champions League round-up

Football League review

North of the border

Birmingham duo arrested

Derby form Utrecht link

Pompey reveal losses 

New record set in Unibond League?

Carlos Tevez scored the only goal of the game on 70 minutes as Manchester United beat Roma 1-0 at Old Trafford to progress to the semi-finals of the Champions League 3-0 on aggregate. Roma’s Daniele de Rossi blazed a penalty over the crossbar after 29 minutes. 

The Red Devils will now face Barcelona in the last four after Frank Rijkaard’s men beat Schalke 04 at the Nou Camp 1-0 to progress 2-0 on aggregate.

In the Championship, two goals from Kayode Odejayi helped Barnsley to a 0-3 win over Watford at Vicarage Road that hauls the Tykes out of the relegation zone and consigns Colchester United to League One next term. Meanwhile, Ipswich Town and Cardiff City drew 1-1 at Portman Road.

In League Two, Stockport County moved level on points with third-placed Hereford United after a 2-1 home win over 10-man Mansfield Town.

In the Scottish Premier League, Gretna and St Mirren played out a goalless draw at Fir Park.  

In the Scottish Second Division, Airdrie United beat Ross County 2-0 at New Broomfield.  

Birmingham City co-owner David Sullivan and managing director Karren Brady have been arrested and questioned by City of London Police investigating alleged corruption in English football. The pair were questioned in connection with allegations of false accounting and conspiracy to defraud.  Both were bailed.  

Derby County have formed a partnership with Dutch side FC Utrecht similar to Manchester United’s long-standing relationship with Belgian club Royal Antwerp. The collaboration will allow coaches to compare styles and set-ups while Derby youngsters will be able to pick up valuable first-team experience on loan at Utrecht.

Portsmouth have recorded a loss of over £23m for the financial year ending 31st May 2007.

A new record could have been set this evening in the UniBond League Division One North fixture between Newcastle Blue Star and Bamber Bridge as two goals were scored within 47 seconds of the start of the game. Newcastle’s Lee Novak scored straight from the kick-off, albeit over the current record for the quickest goal of 4 seconds, before David McTiernan netted Blue Star`s second goal on 47 seconds. It is unknownas to when two goals were scored so quickly from the start of a competitive game.

Nathan Davies

Onuoha out for season

New deal for Forster

FA charge trio

Roeder and Clark charged

Ebanks-Blake wins award

Jackson wins race for Cherries

Blue Square Premier round-up

Wright blow for Killie

Liverpool will face Chelsea in the Champions League semi-final after both clubs won through to the last four on an evening of European drama. At Anfield, Liverpool beat Arsenal 4-2 to progress 5-3 on aggregate. Arsenal took the lead through Abou Diaby on 13 minutes but Sami Hyypia responded on the half-hour. Fernando Torres put Liverpool back in control on 69 minutes but with just six minutes left Emmanuel Adebayor struck and the visitors looked to be going through on the away goals rule. However, Steven Gerrard dispatched a penalty on 86 minutes after Kolo Toure pulled back Ryan Babel in the penalty area and Babel sealed the victory in injury-time.

Goals from Michaell Ballack (4) and Frank Lampard (87) were enough for Chelsea to defeat Fenerbahce 2-0 at Stamford Bridge and edge through to the semi-finals 3-2 on aggregate.

In the Premier League, Nico Kranjcar scored the only goal of the game on 61 minutes as Portsmouth beat West Ham United at Upton Park.

West Bromwich Albion are the new leaders of the Championship after three goals in the last 10 minutes helped them to a 1-3 win at Blackpool while Sheffield United battled back from two goals down to earn a 2-2 draw against Sheffield Wednesday at Bramall Lane.

In League One, the top two met at Brunton Park but neither Carlisle United or Swansea City could conjure a goal. Bristol Rovers held Nottingham Forest to a 1-1 draw at the City Ground and Southend United climb to fourth after a 2-0 win against Brighton and Hove Albion at Roots Hall.

Milton Keynes Dons are back on top of League Two after a 4-1 win over Wrexham at stadium mk, Rochdale beat Notts County 4-2 at Spotland with all the goals coming in the second-half while the games between Bradford City and Barnet and Morecambe and Shrewsbury Town both ended in 1-1 draws.

In the Scottish First Division, Partick Thistle beat Stirling Albion 1-0 at Firhill - a result which relegates Stirling - while Dumbarton were held to a goalless draw at home to Forfar Athletic in their Scottish Third Division clash.

Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha will miss the rest of the season after dislocating his shoulder during his side’s 0-2 defeat against Chelsea at the City of Manchester Stadium on Saturday. He has since undergone keyhole surgery on his left shoulder.

Newcastle United’s 20-year-old goalkeeper Fraser Forster has signed a new contract that ties him to the club until 2010.

The Football Association has charged Bristol City, their striker Enoch Showunmi and agent Charles Collymore with misconduct relating to Showunmi’s move from Luton Town in 2006. It is alleged that the Ashton Gate club dealt with an unlicensed agent and broke FA rules by paying £30,000 to a third party. A club statement said: “Bristol City has acted in good faith throughout and co-operated with the FA at all times. The club is very disappointed by their decision to bring these charges and denies the allegations strenuously.” These charges are in addition to further claims by the FA that Collymore touted Showunmi to Millwall when he was still at Luton Town, without the knowledge of his club.

Norwich City manager Glenn Roeder and his assistant Lee Clark have been charged with improper conduct by the Football Association during a recent match against Bristol City at Ashton Gate. Roeder openly criticised referee Andy D’Urso’s decision to award Bristol City a free-kick from which they scored their winner while Clark had to be sent from the dug-out. The pair have until April 21 to respond to the charges.

Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Sylvan Ebanks-Blake has been named the Championship’s player of the month for March.

A consortium led by businessman Marc Jackson has won the race to take over Bournemouth after a bid fronted by the club’s chairman, Jeff Mostyn, fell through. Jackson has until Monday evening to lodge the money into a bank account. No further announcement will be made until all the legal documentation has been completed.

Woking manager Frank Gray and assistant Gerry Murphy have been sacked following their side’s 2-0 home defeat by Stevenage Borough in the Blue Square Premier. Meanwhile, Stafford Rangers were relegated after a 0-4 home defeat against York City and Droylsden are also down despite also joined them despite a 1-2 win at Farsley Celtic.

Kilmarnock defender Frazer Wright has been ruled out for the rest of the season with an ankle injury.

Nathan Davies

Palace climb to sixth

Aberdeen seal top six place

Seip on transfer list

Two new bids for Cherries

Steele scoops award 

Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech had surgery to his lips and chin following a collision with a team-mate in training and will be out for a fortnight. The 25-year-old required 50 stitches.

Stoke City missed the chance to go top of the Championship after a 1-2 defeat against Crystal Palace at the Britannia Stadium. Tom Soares and Jose Fonte put the visitors in control at the break. Glenn Whelan pulled one back for Stoke with five minutes remaining but Palace held on to climb to sixth.

Aberdeen beat Falkirk 2-1 at Pittodrie to clinch a place in the Scottish Premier League’s top six. Chris Maguire gave the Dons a half-time lead but Carl Finnigan levelled matters early in the second half. Aberdeen left it late and with only eight minutes remaining Maguire grabbed his second. The game was followed by the announcement of the post-split fixtures.

Plymouth Argyle have transfer-listed and fined 26-year-old Dutch defender Marcel Seip two weeks’ wages after he refused to be a substitute for the game against Charlton Athletic at Home Park on Saturday.

Two fresh bids have been made to buy cash-strapped Bournemouth.  The League One outfit had faced possible liquidation after a consortium led by chairman Jeff Mostyn broke down but the successful bid will at least allow the Cherries to continue to operate until the end of the season. Administrator Gerald Krasner hopes to announce the identity of the successful bidder by Wednesday.

Northwich Victoria striker Lee Steele has been named as the Blue Square Premier player of the month for March.

Nathan Davies

Premier League round-up

Six-goal thriller at Tannadice

Smith wins award 

Cardiff City beat Barnsley 1-0 in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembey. Joe Ledley scored after nine minutes to set up a final against Portsmouth back at Wembley on May 17.

Manchester United stretched their lead over Chelsea at the top of the Premier League to three points after a 2-2 draw against Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium. Cristiano Ronaldo gave the visitors a tenth minute lead but a double from Alfonso Alves (35, 56) put Boro ahead before Wayne Rooney restored parity on 74 minutes.

Leon Osman scored the only goal of the game on 56 minutes as Everton beat Derby County at Goodison Park. The visitors have now gone  27 successive Premiership matches without a win.

In the Scottish Premier League, Dundee United and Rangers shared six goals at Tannadice. The point puts Rangers seven ahead of Celtic with a game in hand, while United move to within two points of third-placed Motherwell.

Rangers manager Walter Smith has been named Clydesdale Bank manager of the month for March.

Nathan Davies

Premier League round-up

SPL review

Ross County crowned champions

Hyypia signs deal 

A solitary Kanu goal after 54 minutes was enough for Portsmouth to beat West Bromwich Albion in a dour FA Cup semi-final at Wembley. It is the first time Pompey have reached the final since 1939.

In the Premier League, Arsenal’s title challenge suffered another blow as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium. Peter Crouch put Liverpool ahead three minutes before the break but Nicklas Bendtnar levelled the score after 54 minutes. Both managers rested players ahead of next week’s Champions League quarter-final second leg tie between the clubs.

Chelsea are Manchester United’s main rivals for the Premier League title and kept up the pressure with a 0-2 win at Manchester City, which put Avram Grant’s men only two points behind the current champions.

At the bottom, Fulham are six points from safety and looking doomed after losing 1-3 against Sunderland at Craven Cottage while Bolton Wanderers slumped to a 4-0 defeat against Aston Villa at Villa Park. This result means 18th-placed Wanderers remain four points adrift of Birmingham City with games running out. Alex McLeish’s men could have increased the gap but lost 2-0 against Wigan Athletic at the JJB Stadium. Ryan Taylor scored a brace for the home side and the Blues had captain Damien Johnson sent off in the first half for a lunge on Kevin Kilbane. The Latics are now eight points clear of the drop zone.

Elsewhere, Blackburn Rovers and Tottenham Hotspur drew 1-1 at Ewood Park and Newcastle United secured their third successive victory with a 3-0 home win against Reading - a result that effectively seals their Premier League status.

Celtic’s hopes of regaining the Scottish Premier League title suffered a huge blow as Motherwell visited Celtic Park and left with all three points. Simon Lappin scored the only goal on 33 minutes and Motherwell held on to this slender advantage despite having Bob Malcolm sent off in the 51st minute. Elsewhere, Hibernian beat St Mirren 2-0 at Easter Road, Inverness Caledonian Thistle beat Gretna 1-2 at Fir Park and Heart of Midlothian and Kilmarnock played out a goalless draw at Tynecastle.   Fraiser Wright was red carded for Kilmarnock four minutes into stoppage time.

Ross County sealed the Scottish Second Division title with a 4-0 home win over already relegated Berwick Rangers.

Liverpool defender Sami Hyypia has agreed a deal to stay at Anfield until the summer of 2009.

Nathan Davies

Accrington win at home

Liverpool appeal Mascherano ban

Ronaldiniho pulls thigh muscle 

Milton Keynes Dons beat Lincoln City 1-2 at Sincil Bank to draw level on points with Peterborough United at the top of League Two. Meanwhile, Accrington Stanley ended a run of four straight defeats with a 1-0 victory over struggling Dagenham & Redbridge at the Fraser Eagle Stadium. Phil Edwards broke the stalemate on 47 minutes but Accrington were reduced to 10 men late on when Leam Richardson was shown a second yellow card for time wasting.

Liverpool have lodged an appeal with the Football Association against the extra two-match ban given to Javier Mascherano following an improper conduct charge. The Argentine midfielder refused to leave the pitch after being sent off for a second bookable offence by referee Steve Bennett during his side’s 0-3 defeat against Manchester United at Old Trafford last month.

Barcelona forward Ronaldinho has been ruled out for six weeks after pulling a thigh muscle in training.

Nathan Davies

UEFA Cup round-up

Almunia signs new deal

Mascherano ban extended

Mido out for season

Manager of the month awards

Vine breaks leg

Lennon returns to Celtic

Lasley pens Fir Park deal 

Rangers drew 0-0 with Sporting Lisbon at Ibrox in the first leg of their UEFA Cup quarter-final tie.  Elsewhere, Fiorentina and PSV Eindhoven drew 1-1 in Italy, Getafe scured a 1-1 draw at Bayern Munich after a last-minute equaliser from Cosmin Contra and Zenit St Petersburg of Russia thrashed Bayer Leverkusen 1-4 in Germany.  

Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia has signed a new contract with the club, although the exact length has not been disclosed.

Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano has been banned for an extra two games and fined £15,000 by the Football Association after refusing to leave the pitch following his first-half sending off during his side’s 3-0 defeat against Manchester United at Old Trafford on March 23. Mascherano has already served a one match ban but after admitting a charge of improper conduct he will serve an additional suspension, which will come into force with immediate effect.

Middlesbrough striker Mido has been ruled out for the rest of the season after undergoing a hernia operation earlier this week.  

Hull City boss Phil Brown has won the Championship manager of the month award for March. John Ward won the League One prize for his efforts with Carlise United while Peterborough United boss Darren Ferguson lifted the League Two award.

Queens Park Rangers striker Rowan Vine, 25, will miss the rest of the season after breaking his leg in training.

Neil Lennon has returned to Celtic having been appointed to the club’s coaching staff.

Motherwell’s Keith Lasley has signed a new two-year deal at Fir Park.

Nathan Davies

Fenerbahce beat Chelsea

FA charge Ferguson and Queiroz

Pre-season tournament organised

Sweeney signs new deal

Liverpool are the favourites to progress to the semi-finals of the Champions League after holding Arsenal to a 1-1 draw in the first leg of their quarter-final tie at the Emirates Stadium. Emmanuel Adebayor gave Arsenal the lead on 23 minutes but Dirk Kuyt equalised just three minutes later.

Fenerbahce came from behind to beat Chelsea 2-1 in Istanbul. Chelsea took the lead when Deivid put through is own net but second-half goals from substitute Colin Kazim-Richards and another from Deivid - this time at the right end - put the home side in control.

The Football Association have charged Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson and Carlos Queiroz with improper conduct after they criticised referee Martin Atkinson and referees’ chief Keith Hackett following their 0-1 FA Cup quarter-final defeat against Portsmouth at Old Trafford. The duo have until April 17 to reply to the charge.

Tottenham Hotspur have accepted an invitation to play in the ‘Feyenoord Jubileum Tournament’ in Holland on August 1 and 3. Celtic and Borussia Dortmund will also take part in the pre-season tournament with Feyenoord having played all three clubs in European finals.

Hartlepool United midfielder Antony Sweeney has signed a new deal with the League One club although the exact length of the deal has not been disclosed.

Nathan Davies