Premier League round-up

Football League play-offs

Celtic move four points clear 

Manchester United won the Premier League title with a 0-2 win at Wigan Athletic. Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring from the penalty spot on 33 minutes and Ryan Giggs grabbed the decisive second with 10 minutes left.

United finished two points clear of runners-up Chelsea who could only draw 1-1 with Bolton Wanderers at Stamford Bridge. Andriy Shevchenko put the home side ahead on 62 minutes but Matt Taylor equalised for Wanderers at the death.

At the other end of the table, Fulham stay up after beating Portsmouth 0-1 at Fratton Park thanks to Danny Murphy’s 76th minute header. The result condemns Birmingham City and Reading to the drop despite wins for both sides. Birmingham City beat Blackburn Rovers 4-1 at St Andrews while Reading thrashed already-relegated Derby County 0-4 at Pride Park, but it was not enough to save their Premier League status.

Everton qualified for the UEFA Cup after sealing fifth place with a 3-1 win over Newcastle United at Goodison Park.   

Elsewhere, Middlesbrough thrashed 10-man Manchester City 8- 1 at the Riverside Stadium, Theo Walcott scored the only goal of the game as Arsenal beat Sunderland at the Stadium of Light, Liverpool strolled to a 0-2 win against Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane and West Ham United and Aston Villa drew 2-2 at Upton Park

Hull City beat 10-man Watford 0-2 at Vicarage Road in the first leg of their Championship play-off semi-final. Veterans Nick Barmby (8) and Dean Windass (23) were on target for Hull. Watford skipper John Eustace was sent off on 69 minutes to compound their misery.

Stockport County held Wycombe Wanderers to a 1-1 draw at Adams Park in the first leg of their League Two play-off semi-final. 

Celtic beat Hibernian 2-0 at Celtic Park to stretch their lead over Rangers at the top of the Scottish Premier League to for points though Walter Smith’s men still have two games in hand.  

Nathan Davies

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Darlington beat Rochdale 

Ebbsfleet win FA Trophy

SPL round-up

In the Championship play-off semi-final first leg at Selhurst Park, Bristol City beat Crystal Palace 1-2 to give themselves the advantage going into the second leg at Ashton Gate. Louis Carey gave the Robins a 53rd minute lead but with three minutes remaining Ben Watson equalised from the penalty spot. David Noble struck a stunning injury-time winner for City.

Darlington beat visitors Rochdale 2-1 in the first leg of their League Two semi-final thanks to Ian Miller’s injury-time header.

Ebbsfleet United beat Torquay United 1-0 in the FA Trophy final at Wembley. Chris McPhee scored the only goal of the game on the stroke of half-time after earlier having a penalty saved by Gulls goalkeeper Martin Rice.

In the Scottish Premier League, Rangers moved to within a point of leaders Celtic with a 3-1 win over Dundee United at Ibrox. The beaten visitors are to lodge an official complaint about referee Mike McCurry as they appeared to be denied a penalty and had a goal chalked off for offside in the second half. Elsewhere, Motherwell all-but clinched third place with a 2-1 win against Aberdeen at Fir Park, Kilmarnock won 0-2 at Heart of Midlothian, Falkirk beat Inverness Caledonian Thistle at the Falkirk Stadium and Gretna held St Mirren to a goalless draw at Love Street.

Nathan Davies

Grant and Young awarded

Fair play bonus

Lawrence to face surgery

McCarthy reshuffles pack

Rosicky to miss Euro 2008 

Southend United and Doncaster Rovers played out a goalless draw at Roots Hall in the first leg of their League One play-off semi-final. Paul Heffernan was sent off for Doncaster in the 86th minute for violent conduct.

Chelsea boss Avram Grant has been named manager of the month for April with Aston Villa midfielder Ashley Young named player of the month.

English teams have topped UEFA’s fair play rankings and as a result the best-behaved Premier League team that does not qualify for European competition next term will be awarded a UEFA Cup sot. Manchester City are the side who would qualify in the current Premier League fair play standings with one game remaining.

Stoke City midfielder Liam Lawrence will undergo surgery on Tuesday to cure a long-standing groin problem but the 26-year-old should be fit for pre-season friendlies as the Potters prepare for life in the Premier League.

Wolverhampton Wanderers slapped Jay Bothroyd, Rob Edwards, Darren Potter, Darren Ward and Stephen Elliott on the transfer list and given a free transfer to former captain Gary Breen. Keith Lowe and Kevin O’Connor have also been released in addition to yesterday’s transfer listing of Freddy Eastwood.

Czech Republic captain and Arsenal midfielder Tomas Rosicky will miss Euro 2008 due the knee injury that has kept him sidelined since January.

Nathan Davies

Sunderland release quartet

De Canio departs Loftus Road

Manager of the month awards

Gretna face closure

Rijkaard to leave Nou Camp

Berlusconi resigns 

England Ladies win

Newcastle United striker Mark Viduka will be out of action for between three and six months because of an Achilles problem.

Sunderland have released veteran Andy Cole along with defenders Ian Harte, Stanislav Varga and Stephen Wright. 

First team coach Luigi de Canio has left Queens Park Rangers by “mutual consent”.

West Bromwich Albion manager Tony Mowbray has been named as the Championship’s manager of the month for April. Nottingham Forest boss Colin Calderwood won the League One prize while Paul Ince of Milton Keynes Dons recieved the League Two award.

Administrators have confirmed that Gretna will fold at the end of the season if a buyer is not found for the club. David Elliot of administrators Wilson Field Ltd said: “The proposal is that we continue to trade and allow the club to continue to play football until the end of the season while we seek a buyer. We have got four interested parties and I would like to remain hopeful that one will come through before the end of the season.” Although the season ends on May 13 for Gretna, Elliot said they would remain “in funds” until four days after that.

Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard is to leave his post at the end of the season and will be replaced by the club’s reserve team coach Josep Guardiola.

AC Milan president Silvio Berlusconi has resigned from his position in charge of the Serie A giants with immediate effect.

England Ladies beat Belarus Ladies 1-6 in Minsk in a Euro 2009 qualifying match.

Nathan Davies

SFL play-offs

Scotland squad announced

Zambia appoint Renard

Barry Ferguson scored the only goal of the game on 74 minutes as Rangers beat Motherwell at Ibrox as they closed the gap on league leaders Celtic to four points with two games in hand.

The Scottish First Division play-off final, first leg saw Clyde win 0-1 against Airdrie United at New Broomfield.

Arbroath beat Stranraer 2-0 at Gayfield in the first leg of their Scottish Second Division play-off final.

George Burley has named his Scotland squad to face the Czech Republic in Prague on May 30. The squad includes five uncapped players including Rangers pair Kevin Thomson and Steven Whittaker, Heart of Midlothian defender Christophe Berra, West Bromwich Albion midfielder James Morrison and Motherwell striker Ross McCormack.  Celtic midfielder Scott Brown misses out as he faces a small operation at the end of the season. Rangers quartet Barry Ferguson, Allan McGregor, Lee McCulloch and David Weir are also not included in the squad for the friendly.

Herve Renard, the assistant coach of Ghana, has been named as the new coach of Zambia.  He will fly into the country next week to complete formalities.

Nathan Davies

Berger to leave Villa

Liverpool plans approved

Nani apologises

Trio to leave Newcastle

SPL refuse extention 

Cambridge United beat Burton Albion 2-1 in the second leg of their Blue Square Premier play-off semi-final at the Abbey Stadium to win 4-3 on aggregate and secure a Wembley final against Exeter City on May 18 

Patrick Berger has played his last game for Aston Villa after he advised team-mate Gareth Barry to move to Liverpool.

Liverpool’s revised plans for its Stanley Park stadium have been approved by the city council. The latest plans include improved leisure and retail facilities. Meanwhile, Anfield will be redeveloped as a car park, sports centre and hotel.

Manchester United’s Nani has apologised for the headbutt on Lucas Neill that resulted in the winger being sent off in Saturday’s 4-1 win over West Ham United at Old Trafford.  

Newcastle United are to release Stephen Carr, Peter Ramage and James Troisi at the end of the season.

The Scottish Premier League have refused to extend the season for a second time to allow Rangers time to prepare for next Wednesday’s UEFA Cup final against Zenit St Petersburg at the City of Manchester Stadium. The Ibrox club wanted next Saturday’s league game against Dundee United postponed but the SPL said no “viable alternative” could be found.

Nathan Davies

Exeter reach Wembley

Falkirk break Hearts

Arsenal Ladies win cup

AC Milan sign Flamini 

Michael Ballack (61) and Florent Malouda (82) were on the scoresheet as Chelsea beat Newcastle United 0-2 at St James’ Park to draw level on points with Manchester United at the top of the Premier League with only one game remaining. United will be crowned champions if they beat Wigan Athletic at the JJB Stadium on Sunday due to their vastly superior goal difference but anything less than three points will give Chelsea a chance to overhaul them. The West Londoners are home to Bolton Wanderers.  

Exeter City beat Torquay United 1-4 at Plainmoor to progress to the Blue Square Premier play-off final 3-5 on aggregate. The Grecians will face Burton Albion or Cambridge United at Wembley on May 18.

In the Scottish Premier League, Falkirk beat Heart of Midlothian 2-1 at the Falkirk Stadium.

Arsenal Ladies beat their counterparts from Leeds 4-1 at the City Ground to lift the Women’s FA Cup for a record ninth time and also complete a domestic double.   

AC Milan have signed 24-year-old Mathieu Flamini from Arsenal on a four-year deal.

Nathan Davies 

Championship round-up

Premier League review

Hibs frustrate Rangers

Cuellar wins award

West Bromwich Albion won the Championship title with a 0-2 win against 10-man Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road. Stoke City will join the Baggies in the top flight next season after a goalless draw with Leicester City at the Britannia Stadium that - along with Southampton’s 3-2 win over Sheffield United at St Mary’s Stadium - sent the hapless Foxes down into League One.  Sheffield Wednesday, Blackpool and Coventry City were under threat of relegation before kick-off but all survived despite contrasting results. Wednesday thrashed Norwich City 4-1 at Hillsbrough, Blackpool drew 1-1 with Watford at Bloomfield Road but Coventry got a 4-1 hiding by Charlton Athletic at The Valley. Hull City had to be content with a play-off spot after a 0-1 defeat at Ipswich Town and they are joined in the end of season lottery by Bristol City, Crystal Palace and Watford.  

Nicklas Bendtnar scored the only goal of the game on 77 minutes as Arsenal beat Everton at the Emirates Stadium.

Liverpool beat Manchester City 1-0 at Anfield with Fernando Torres scoring again on 58 minutes.

In the Scottish Premier League, Hibernian held Rangers to a goalless draw at Easter Road, which means Walter Smith’s men trail Celtic by seven points though they have three games in hand.

Rangers defender Carlos Cuellar has won the Scottish Football Writers’ Player of the Year award.

Nathan Davies

Premier League round-up

League One review

SPL and SFL round-up

Blades appoint Blackwell 

Manchester United took a giant step towards retaining the Premier League title with a 4-1 win over West Ham United at Old Trafford. Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice (3 and 24), Carlos Tevez (24) was on target against his old club but Dean Ashton pulled one back for the Hammers on 28 minutes. A breathless first-half was complete when Nani was sent-off for the home side on 37 minutes but despite being reduced to 10-men Michael Carrick sealed the victory on 59 minutes.

Elsewhere, Fulham jumped out of the relegation zone with a 2-0 win over Birmingham City at Craven Cottage, which leaves the Blues languishing in 19th position. Reading are also staring relegation in the face after a 0-1 home defeat at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur.

Wigan Athletic and Middlesbrough ensured they will be playing in the top flight next season. The Latics won 0-2 at Aston Villa while Boro won 2-0 against Portsmouth at the Riverside Stadium.  Bolton Wanderers also virtually safeguarded their Premier League status with a 2-0 victory at home to Sunderland.

Meanwhile, Blackburn Rovers came from behind to beat basement side Derby County 3-1 at Ewood Park. 

In League One, Nottingham Forest secured automatic promotion to the Championship due to the combination of their 3-2 home win against Yeovil Town and Doncaster Rovers - who occupied second place at the start of play losing 2-1 at Cheltenham Town. Meanwhile, Gillingham and Bournemouth have been relegated to League Two along with Port Vale and Luton Town. Bournemouth needed a win today but could only draw 1-1 at Carlisle United while Gillingham lost 2-1 at Leeds United.

In the Scottish Premier League, Celtic came from behind to beat Motherwell 1-2 at Fir Park and move eight points clear at the top of the table though Rangers have four games in hand. Elsewhere, Aberdeen beat Dundee United 2-1 at Pittodrie, Kilmarnock visited St Mirren but lost 1-0 and Inverness Caledonian Thistle thrashed Gretna 6-1 at Caledonian Stadium.

In the Scottish First Division play-off semi-finals second leg, Airdrie United and Raith Rovers drew 2-2 at New Broomfield but the Diamonds progressed 4-2 on aggregate while Clyde beat Alloa Athletic 5-3 at Broadwood to reach the final 6-5 on aggregate. In the Second Division play-offs, Arbroath won 1-2 at Cowdenbeath to progress 3-2 on aggregate and will face Stranraer in the final after the Clayholers beat Montrose 3-0 at Stair Park to win 4-1 on aggregate.

Sheffield United have agreed a three-year contract with manager Kevin Blackwell to secure his services on a permanent basis.

Nathan Davies