|
|
| Brighton |
1-1
|
Portsmouth
|
| Zamora
54 |
|
Todorov 64
|
|
|
Bottom team Brighton was at home to top placed
Portsmouth in today's lunchtime kick off, as both teams got a draw to help their
differing causes as Brighton try to get out of the bottom three and Portsmouth
at the top of the division. Brighton played well as they created a number of
chances with Bobby Zamora in the thick of the action, in which he ended
up giving the hosts the lead in the second half. Portsmouth also threatened,
with Nigel Quashie hitting the woodwork twice for Pompey, but they was to level
the proceedings later on in the match as Todorov finished from a corner
after Ayegbini forced Ben Roberts into a fingertip save. Portsmouth are now five
points clear at the top thanks to Leicester's defeat later on in the day and are
also eight points clear of Sheffield United in the automatic promotion places.
Brighton stay rooted to bottom place in Division One, some five points behind
the first clear team from relegation
Att: 6,848
|
|
| C Palace |
1-1
|
Burnley |
| Popovic Pen 62 |
|
Taylor 44 |
|
|
Both teams continued their unbeaten
runs after this draw at Selhurst Park. Both Burnley and Palace looked
threatening on the attack and it took until the 44th minute in which Gareth
Taylor had earned the Clarets the lead, having headed home Robbie Blake's
left wing cross. Palace were determined to get back and they created chances,
and finally scored, although from the penalty spot from Tony Popovic
after Adebola was fouled by keeper Marlon Beresford. Both teams then had the
chances to win the game but the defences held strong. This result ensures that
both teams stay in mid-table, with Palace closer to the play-off places in 9th
and Burnley in 16th.
Att: 16,344
|
|
| Gillingham |
3-2
|
Leicester |
Shaw 32, Elliott Og
45,
Sidibe 86 |
|
Sinclair 50,
Wright 61
|
|
|
Leicester's hopes of catching Portsmouth up after
they drew at Brighton earlier in the day, were in tatters as they blew away a
two goal comeback to lose at the Prestifield Stadium in an entertaining game.
Gillingham found themselves two goals up at half time through Paul Shaw
and a Matt Elliot OG. The Foxes then came back to level with goals from Frank
Sinclair and a first senior goal for Tommy Wright, who replaced an
injured Brian Deane. This comeback was to be in vain though as the Gills scored
a late winner with a few minutes to go from Mamady Sidibe, who scored his
second goal of the game to win the game and condemn Leicester to their third
away defeat. They still lie in second place, five points behind leaders
Portsmouth and only three points ahead of in-form Sheffield United, who have a
game in hand still. The Gills are in mid-table, but are only a few wins away
from the play-offs
Att: 8,609
|
|
| Grimsby |
0-2
|
Millwall |
| |
|
Claridge 43, pen 84 |
|
|
A brace from veteran Steve Claridge was
enough to give Millwall the three points at Blundell Park in a dour game in
windy conditions. Millwall were the better team and deserved the win, and maybe
could have had more as they outbattled a disappointing Grimsby side who did
create some chances but did not threaten Tony Warner in the Lions goal.
Claridge's goals came from a rebound from a save from a Dennis Wise shot and
also a penalty in the second half after John McDermott fouled Steven Reid.
Millwall are still on course for a play-off spot, just being four points from
sixth place while Grimsby continue to be engaged in yet another Relegation spot,
although they aren't in the bottom three, and have a game in hand which is
played next week
Att: 4,993
|
|
| Ipswich |
3-0
|
Preston |
Marcus Bent 30
Darren Bent 74,86 |
|
|
This game ran true to recent form as the home side
went eight games unbeaten with a good win at home to Preston, who in return have
now lost five in a row. Marcus Bent gave Ipswich the lead on the
half-hour mark as he headed home Magilton's free kick. The second half belonged
to super-sub Darren Bent, who scored a brace as he wrapped up the win to
send the Tractor Boys further up the table. Preston were unlucky at times
though, even if they was missing up to ten first teamers with injury and
suspension and they never stopped trying as they enjoyed good spells and had
chances to score. Preston stay in the lower reaches of the division, but on
current form they will be looking behind their shoulders at the teams below
them, who are picking up points whilst they aren't. Ipswich's recent surge up
the table means they will be challenging for a play-off spot sooner rather than
later.
Att: 24,666
|
|
| Nott Forest |
1-1
|
Coventry |
| Williams 33 |
|
Sara 87 |
|
|
In a battle of the teams in the top seven at the
City ground, the spoils was shared as Coventry came from behind to earn a point.
Forest looked to be heading for a first win in five games as Gareth Williams
first goal in 96 appearences for the club gave them a lead going into the final
few minutes until on-loan Argentine striker Juan Sara fired to get the
Sky Blues a point which extended their unbeaten run to ten games. Both teams had
the chances to score but keepers Darren Ward and Morten Hyldgaard stood firm in
goal. Coventry ended the game with ten men as defender Gary Caldwell was sent
off in the last minute for a second bookable offence. Both teams are still in
the play-off positions and will be looking to be there at the end of the season.
Att: 24,487
In a scrappy affair, both teams came away with a
point, in which was probably the right result for this game despite Reading
dominating for long periods of the game at the Madjeski Stadium. Reading were
trying to get revenge because Walsall knocked them out of the FA Cup on
Tuesday night but they could not find a way through although Nicky Forster was
unlucky not to have scored as he hit the bar with a drive that gave Jimmy
Walker no chance in the Walsall goal in the first half. After this game
Reading are just outside the play-offs, but a win today would have seen them
go into fourth place and Walsall are at the other end of the table, a few
places away from the relegation spots but are safe for the moment.
Att: 11,786
|
|
| Rotherham |
3-2
|
Bradford |
McIntosh 21
Garner 50
Byfield (pen) 60 |
|
Jorgensen 2
Gray (pen) 62 |
|
|
In a tussle of the Yorkshire teams at Millmoor,
Rotherham finally won at home as they beat Bradford City to end a run of four
home defeats in a row. The Bantams had taken a early lead with a goal from Claus
Jorgensen but the millers bounced back with three goals from Martin
McIntosh, Darren Garner and a Darren Byfield penalty which
had them 3-1 up with half an hour to go. Most of this half hour was spent just
the one goal ahead as Andy Gray tucked away a penalty in the 62nd
minute as Ward was brought down by McIntosh, but The Millers held on to record
the win and maintain their outisde chances of making play-offs. Bradford are
just two places above the relegation places with a vital game next weekend
away at Grimsby Town, the team one place below them.
Att: 6,939
|
|
| Stoke |
1-3
|
Derby |
| Greenachre
63 |
|
Christie 50
Zavagno 74
Morris 89
|
|
|
Derby County earned a welcome win with a good win
at struggling Stoke by beating them three goals to one at The Britannia
Staidum. Derby's first goal was scored by Malcolm Christie, who could
be playing his last games for The Rams as he is a loan target for
Middlesborough, this goal was a thumping volley from a Kinkaldze corner. Stoke
soon levelled as Chris Greenacre slotted home from a Gunnarsson cross.
Derby went on to win the game thanks to goals from Zavargo and Lee
Morris, who was rewarded for his hard work during the game. Derby still
have an outside chance of making the play-offs after this win, and are only
two wins away from being in the positions now, whilst Stoke remain in a battle
for Division one status, being just the one point behind Grimsby, but they
have played the one game more then them.
Att: 17,308
|
|
| Wolves |
1-1
|
Wimbledon |
| Miller
43 |
|
Francis
46 |
|
|
Both teams got a point from a disappointing game
at Molineux in which the teams were evenly matched. In the first half, Wolves
looked the better team and were rewarded for that as Kenny Miller put
the hosts ahead with his seventh goal of the season just a few minutes before
the break. This was the score at the break. It did not take Wimbledon very
long at all to level the score after Mikele Leigertwood crossed for Damien
Francis to hammer the ball home just 41 seconds into the second half.
After the equaliser, neither team did enough to try and win the game and in
the end they had to settle for a point, which keeps both teams well int he
hunt for a top six finish at the end of the season.
Att: 23,716
Full Match Previews can be found at --
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The Blues
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