Cheltenham: Higgs, Jeremy Gill, Gallinagh, Duff, Wright, Vincent (D Agostino 61), Bird, Armstrong, Spencer (Lindegaard 90), Gillespie, Brooker.
Subs Not Used: Scott P Brown, Connor, Ben Gill.
Booked: Gillespie.
Goals: Brooker 25.
Southend: Flahavan, Francis, Clarke, Barrett, Mulgrew, Gower, McCormack, Bailey, Black (Harrold 79), Walker, Barnard.
Subs Not Used: Collis, Hunt, Moussa, Grant.
Booked: Bailey, McCormack.
Goals: Bailey 74.
Paddy Kenny's own goal six minutes from the end of extra time sank Sheffield United to gift Middlesbrough an FA Cup quarter-final at home to Cardiff. 
Mido's shot hit the bar and deflected in off Paddy Kenny
Man City 0-2 Everton L
Yakubu 30
Lescott 38
Man City
* 25 Hart
* 04 Onuoha
* 22 Dunne
* 02 Richards
* 03 Ball
* 12 Vassell
* 28 Gelson
* 21 Hamann
* 07 Ireland
* 15 Petrov
* 27 Benjani
Substitutes
* 01 Isaksson,
* 11 Elano,
* 16 Corluka,
* 20 Caicedo,
* 30 Castillo
Everton
* 24 Howard
* 02 Hibbert
* 04 Yobo
* 16 Jagielka
* 05 Lescott
* 18 Neville
* 26 Carsley
* 21 Osman
* 20 Pienaar
* 17 Cahill
* 22 Yakubu
Substitutes
* 33 Wessels,
* 08 Johnson,
* 19 Nuno Valente,
* 23 Fernandes,
* 28 Anichebe
Ref: Rob Styles
Ashley Young
Young's goal set Villa on their way to victory
Aston Villa kept up their challenge for fourth place in the Premier League with a win at relegation-placed Reading.
Villa's Gareth Barry missed a dubiously-awarded penalty before the visitors went ahead when Ashley Young slotted home after a counter-attack.
Nicky Shorey had a shot parried as the Royals fought back, but Marlon Harewood curled in a shot to secure Villa's win.
Reading efforts did receive their reward in injury-time when Shorey scored with a 25-yard free-kick.
McCarthy scored his first goals for five games to set up the win
McCarthy scored his first goals for five games to set up the win
Benni McCarthy scored two penalties as Blackburn swept luckless Bolton aside.
McCarthy blasted home after Gretar Steinsson fouled David Dunn but replays suggested the ball was won cleanly.
Bolton were again unfortunate when Kevin Nolan struck the bar but Kevin Davies fired them level following a punt forward from Ivan Campo.
McCarthy netted after Cahill fouled Dunn, David Bentley headed in the third from Dunn's cross and Morten Gamst Pedersen swept in a fourth at the end.
| Tottenham v Chelsea | ||
Venue: Wembley Stadium Date: Sunday, 24 Feb Kick-off: 1500 GMT Referee: Mark Halsey (Lancashire) Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard and defender John Terry could miss Sunday's Carling Cup final against Tottenham. Both players were named in the Blues squad but BBC football correspondent Jonathan Legard said: "I'm told the pair are set to be left out again." Tottenham defender Michael Dawson and midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng are being troubled by hamstring concerns. But Pascal Chimbonda (knee) should be fit and Ledley King is set to return after a month out with a knee problem. | ||
Tottenham (from): Robinson, Cerny, Hutton, Chimbonda, Lee, Gunter, Dawson, King, Woodgate, Rocha, Kaboul, Tainio, O'Hara, Huddlestone, Zokora, Jenas, Malbranque, Lennon, Boateng, Taarabt, Bent, Keane, Berbatov.
Chelsea (from): Cech, Cudicini, Hilario, Ferreira, Belletti, Terry, Alex, Ben-Haim, Carvalho, A Cole, Bridge, Sidwell, Essien, Lampard, Ballack, Malouda, Wright-Phillips, Drogba, Anelka, J Cole, Pizarro, Shevchenko, Kalou, Obi, Makelele.
Paul Jewell's return to the JJB Stadium ended in defeat as second half goals from Paul Scharner and Antonio Valencia gave Wigan all three points. 
Paul Scharner set Wigan on their way to a 2-0 win over Derby
Scharner pounced on the hour mark to turn the ball in at the far post after Emile Heskey's close range effort was parried by Derby keeper Roy Carroll.
Valencia wrapped up the points six minutes from time, crashing a shot into the roof of the net from six yards out.
The result moves Wigan up three places to 14th while Derby remain bottom.
Jermain Defoe's late penalty earned Portsmouth only their fourth home win this season as Sunderland's miserable away form continued at Fratton Park. 
Defoe, right, celebrates his winner with Croatian midfielder Kranjcar
An abysmal first half was typified by poor passing and scrappy play, and a Sulley Muntari shot that flew over was the closest either side came to a goal.
Sunderland were holding their own, though, until Phil Bardsley felled Nico Kranjcar and Defoe scored the penalty.
Grant Leadbitter had Sunderland's best chances but Pompey comfortably held on.
Two goals each from Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney helped Manchester United beat Newcastle and close the gap on leaders Arsenal to three points. 
Ronaldo and Rooney were sublime at St James' Park
Wayne Rooney opened the scoring when he volleyed in Cristiano Ronaldo's cross at the far post before the supplier slotted in from Michael Carrick's pass.
Ronaldo rounded Steve Harper for his second but Newcastle reduced the deficit when Abdoulaye Faye poked in.
Rooney curled in the fourth before Louis Saha slotted in late on.
Fernando Torres grabbed a hat-trick as Liverpool came back from a goal down to beat Middlesbrough and move fourth.
The Reds went behind when Tuncay Sanli headed in from six yards before Julio Arca's mistake let Torres around keeper Mark Schwarzer to slot in and level.
Torres rifled in from 22 yards and side-footed in a third after Schwarzer rushed out of his goal without success.
Stewart Downing poked in a shot for Boro but the Reds held on with the help of Jeremie Aliadiere being red-carded.
 |
 A late goal from Nolberto Solano gave West Ham a narrow win and put pressure on relegation-threatened Fulham. The Hammers were frustrated in the first half as Carlton Cole saw a volley saved and another skim the bar, while Luis Boa Morte also went wide. Fulham worked hard but West Ham's firm defence kept out Brian McBride's volley and Diomansky Kamara's effort. Solano then bundled the ball in, to the fury of Fulham, who had Leon Andreasen sent off for his protests for handball. | ||
James McFadden salvaged a point for Birmingham with an injury-time penalty but the game was overshadowed by a horrific injury to Arsenal's Eduardo. 
The injury to Eduardo stunned everybody on the pitch
The striker suffered a broken leg in the third minute after a tackle by Martin Taylor, who was sent off.
McFadden gave the Blues the lead with a 20-yard free-kick before Theo Walcott poked in his first Premier League goal.
Walcott made it 2-1 with a mazy run and shot before McFadden equalised after Gael Clichy fouled Stuart Parnaby.
Goal 1
1-0 (Rooney) Manchester United vs Arsenal
Uploaded by carlespuyol91220
Goal 2
2-0 (Fletcher) Manchester United vs Arsenal
Uploaded by carlespuyol91220
Goal 3
3-0 (Nani) Manchester United vs Arsenal
Uploaded by carlespuyol91220
Goal 4
 Rome, Feb 14: Ronaldo has ruptured a tendon in his right knee during AC Milan`s 1-1 draw at home to Livornoand faces nine months on the sidelines, according to Gazetta Dello Sport. AC Milan confirmed the extent of Ronaldo`s injury on their website, which he suffered just minutes after entering the fray as a second-half substitute and was taken to hospital. Gazetta claimed the former three-time world player of the year`s career could be over as well. "It`s an injury that could end the career of `Il Fenomeno`," it said on its website. "The recovery time is dramatic: from nine months to a year." Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti refused to call time on Ronaldo`s career, though. "We`re all very sorry and worried about what happened to Ronaldo, I don`t want to say it`s the end of his career because only time can decide whether it is or not," he said. "From our part all we can do is stand by him and let him recover. Our players all left the stadium in a hurry to go to the hospital to check on his condition, I think that`s the right way to stand by a player who`s suffering." Ronaldo was taken to hospital from where Milan`s Brazilian scout Leonardo, said the striker had all but confirmed those worst fears. Ronaldo underwent an x-ray at hospital and Milan`s club doctor Jean-Pierre Messerman later confirmed he had indeed suffered the same injury that inflicted his right knee eight years ago. Another doctor, Walter Pascale, however, did have some good news for Ronaldo. "Surgical tenchniques to repair this kind of injury have improved a lot over the last eight years," he said. "If things go as they should he should get back to his best. However it`s difficult at this time to say for how long he will be out." Ronaldo will go under the knife in Paris today where he also underwent surgery in 1999. He fell awkwardly just three minutes after replacing Alberto Gilardino in the second half yesterday. He was challenging for a ball in the air with Jose Vidigal, although the move resulted in a penalty to Milan which Andrea Pirlo converted to level the scores. "I heard a horrible sound, like a bang, it was a strange sound," said Livorno goalkeeper Marco Amelia, who was close by when Ronaldo fell to the ground. The last time Ronaldo suffered the same injury he managed to make his comeback in April 2000 but lasted only seven minutes before reinjuring his knee. It was 20 months before he made a proper comeback for the 2002 world cup, during which he finished as top scorer as he guided Brazil to a record fifth triumph. However Ronaldo is now 31 and his contract at Milan runs out at the end of the season. |
| | ||
A dramatic stoppage-time penalty save by Joe Lewis earned Peterborough a win at promotion rivals Chesterfield. The young keeper turned away Peter Leven's spot-kick after substitute Tom Williams had been red-carded for pulling down Jack Lester in the box. A blunder by Chesterfield keeper Barry Roche gifted Aaron Mclean the opener and George Boyd volleyed the second. Leven set up a stirring finale with a fine finish from a corner, but Lewis's save ensured the Posh held on. | ||
Complete Story : http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/7236394.stm
| | ||
| Stevenage keeper Alan Julian produced a fine display to earn his side a draw with Forest Green and move them up to third in the Blue Square Premier. Stevenage's Steve Morison fired wide and headed over in the first half, while the visitors had shots from Darren Jones and Adriano Rigoglioso. After the break, Julian parried another Rigoglioso effort, and he tipped Stuart Fleetwood's drive over the bar. And the visitors' Michael Brough missed the target from Rigoglioso's corner.
Stevenage: Julian, Murray, Oliver, Westwood, Henry, Cole (Laird 69), Wilson, Martin, Moore, Morison, Rankin (Buchanan 89). Forest Green: Robinson, Tonkin, Jones, Giles, Hardiker, Lawless, Pitman (Stonehouse 63), Clist, Brough, Rigoglioso (Afful 68), Fleetwood. Att: 1,630. Ref: S Creighton (Reading). | ||
| | ||
Steven Fletcher claimed a hat-trick as Hibernian withstood a late fightback from Gretna to secure victory. The hosts cruised into a 3-0 lead as Colin Nish marked his home debut with the opener before Fletcher hit a double including a superb volley. Gretna hit back with two goals in the final 10 minutes through Gavin Skelton and Kenny Deuchar. But keeper Greg Fleming was sent off after upending Nish in the penalty area and Fletcher converted the spot-kick. | ||
Complete Story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/scot_prem/7240842.stm
| | ||
St Mirren scored the only goal of a pacy match against Dundee United at Tannadice to progress to the last eight of the Scottish Cup. Following a dry first-half, Andy Dorman opened the scoring shortly after the break with a close-range shot. United's Noel Hunt could have levelled matters with a spectacular overhead kick, but Mark Howard saved superbly. Gus MacPherson's side held out until the final whistle and now face a quarter-final tie against St Johnstone. | ||
Under-fire Sheffield United boss Bryan Robson saw his side battle to pick up a point against high-flying West Brom.
Felipe Teixeira went close twice for the Baggies in the first half, heading the post from Chris Brunt's cross before slicing a shot wide soon after.
The visitors' best chance fell to Matt Kilgallon who headed Lee Martin's corner wide when well-placed.
Blades keeper Paddy Kenny saved well from Kevin Phillips before Brunt missed a golden late chance for the Baggies.
#
West Brom boss Tony Mowbray:
"It was a night of frustration.
"We had enough chances there to win more than one game. We could have had two or three goals in the first 10 minutes but it wasn't to be.
"People mention we are out of top two but I don't want to get over-concerned about that - no prizes are given out at this stage of the season."
#
Sheffield United boss Bryan Robson, who is under pressure from disgruntled fans:
"Will this result settle things down? I don't think so.
"It will not appease the fans at this moment in time. Only getting on a winning sequence will do that.
"If they just give me a bit of time and let me get on with the job and get right behind the players, I am sure we can improve a lot."
West Brom: Kiely, Hoefkens, Barnett, Albrechtsen, Robinson, Morrison, Greening, Filipe Teixeira, Brunt, Miller (Beattie 70), Phillips.
Subs Not Used: Danek, Martis, Tininho, Pele.
Booked: Miller.
Sheff Utd: Kenny, Geary, Kilgallon, Morgan, Naysmith, Cotterill, Speed (Armstrong 38), Quinn, Martin, Shelton (Gillespie 77), Beattie (Hulse 86).
Subs Not Used: Lucketti, Sharp.
Att: 22,643.
Ref: Lee Probert (Wiltshire).
Stoke 3-2 Southampton
Stoke held off a Southampton fightback for a crucial victory in a pulsating encounter at the Britannia Stadium.
The Saints' Darrel Powell put through his own net following a goalmouth scramble to give the Potters the lead.
Headers by Ryan Shawcross and Mamady Sidibe from Liam Lawrence corners made it 3-0 for the hosts at half-time.
Stern John fired home a 20-yard volley straight after the break and slotted in from Andrew Davies' pass but the visitors could not find an equaliser.
Stoke: Simonsen, Griffin, Cort, Shawcross, Pugh, Lawrence (Zakuani 87), Delap, Diao, Whelan, Sidibe, Fuller.
Subs Not Used: Hoult, Parkin, Gallagher, Pericard.
Booked: Pugh, Fuller.
Goals: Powell 27 og, Shawcross 35, Sidibe 44.
Southampton: Davis, Davies (Wright-Phillips 80), Powell, Ostlund, Wright, Viafara, Surman, Saganowski, Idiakez (McGoldrick 88), Euell, John.
Subs Not Used: Hammill, Lallana, James.
Booked: Saganowski, Idiakez, Ostlund.
Goals: John 46, 54.
Att: 19,481
Ref: Nigel Miller (Durham).
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** Norwich 1-1 Hull **
Hull maintain their push for the play-offs with a battling draw against Norwich.
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Scunthorpe 0-1 Bristol City
Bristol City moved second in the Championship table thanks to Bradley Orr's fortuitous 83rd-minute winner.
Orr curled a hopeful ball into the area and Scunthorpe goalkeeper Joe Murphy was distracted by Tamas Vasko's run, allowing the ball to sail into the net.
Scunthorpe will feel hard done by as City created few other chances.
The Iron had produced the best efforts but could not beat Adrian Basso with long-range shots from Kevan Hurst, Jim Goodwin, Marcus Williams and Jack Cork.
# Scunthorpe manager Nigel Adkins:
"We will stay up - the result is disappointing, as is the manner of it.
The initial reaction (for the goal) was offside, but well done to the linesman, it was a great decision.
"If we'd have had a little bit more quality and composure then we might have had a little bit more."
# Bristol City manager Gary Johnson:
"I don't know if the goal was a fluke. He hit three before that and if it was a cross then what a cross.
"You have to give him credit for moving that far up the field.
"We knew that we had to put in a good and solid away performance. We know Scunthorpe are a battling team, especially here (at Glanford Park)."
Scunthorpe: Murphy, Byrne (Butler 53), Crosby, Hobbs, Williams, Hayes (Sparrow 71), Goodwin, Cork, Hurst (Forte 66), Paterson, Horsfield.
Subs Not Used: Lillis, May.
Booked: Byrne, Horsfield.
Bristol City: Basso, Orr, McCombe, Fontaine, McAllister, Sproule, Johnson, Elliott, McIndoe, Carle (Skuse 90), Adebola (Vasko 78).
Subs Not Used: Henderson, Trundle, Byfield.
Booked: McCombe, Vasko.
Goals: Orr 83.
Att: 5,423
Ref: David Foster (Tyne & Wear).
Crystal Palace 0-1 Ipswich
Danny Haynes' fortuitous goal on the stroke of half-time was enough for Ipswich to overcome play-off rivals Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
The forward knew little about his fifth goal of the season when he deflected in Richard Naylor's volley with his head.
Clinton Morrison missed two decent chances to level in the space of a minute for the below-par hosts.
He first slipped when attempting to hook home Danny Butterfield's cross and then fired wide from in close in.
Crystal Palace: Speroni, Butterfield, Lawrence, Hudson, Hills, Danns, Watson (Fletcher 46), Derry (Freedman 67), Scannell, Scowcroft (Kuqi 56), Morrison.
Subs Not Used: Ifill, Fonte.
Booked: Speroni, Danns.
Ipswich: Bywater, Bruce (Wright 86), De Vos, Naylor, Harding, Norris, Miller, Sumulikoski, Haynes, Lee (Counago 82), Walters.
Subs Not Used: Colgan, Garvan, Trotter.
Booked: Haynes.
Goals: Haynes 45.
Att: 16,090.
Ref: Clive Penton (Sussex).
Source: BBC UK
Managerless Coventry City held Championship play-off chasing Cardiff to a goalless draw at The Ricoh Arena.
Peter Enckelman saved a Michael Mifsud shot early on but Paul Parry should have broken the deadlock for Cardiff.
Gavin Rae's shot was parried by Andy Marshall but Issac Osbourne's denied Parry with a goal-saving challenge.
Cardiff did suffer a blow as Wales star Joe Ledley limped off injured but a point was a good result for Coventry who sacked boss Iain Dowie on Monday.
Coventry: : Marshall, Osbourne, Dann, Ward, Fox, Tabb (Andrews 80), Doyle, Michael Hughes, Gray (Davis 67), Mifsud (Simpson 59), Best.
Subs Not Used: Konstantopoulos, Hall.
Booked: Tabb, Best, Davis.
Cardiff: Enckelman, McNaughton, Loovens, Johnson, Capaldi, Whittingham (Brown 88), Ramsey, Rae, Ledley (McPhail 64), Parry, Hasselbaink (Thompson 77).
Subs Not Used: Oakes, Purse.
Booked: Loovens, Hasselbaink.
Att: 15,260
Ref: Danny McDermid (Middlesex).
Johnnie Jackson's late winner lifted Colchester off the bottom of the table.
Scott Vernon converted a 68th-minute penalty to put United ahead after North End defender Sean St Ledger was sent off for hauling down Karl Duguid.
Preston looked to have secured a draw when substitute Neil Mellor, who had only been on the pitch for four minutes, stabbed home from six yards.
But with just two minutes to go former Tottenham trainee Jackson lashed in a superb right-footed shot volley.
Colchester: Gerken, Ifil, Coyne, Virgo, White, Duguid, Izzet, Jackson, McLeod (Guttridge 84), Sheringham (Vernon 62), Platt.
Subs Not Used: Cousins, Granville, Watson.
Goals: Vernon 68 pen, Jackson 88.
Preston: Lonergan, Jones, St. Ledger, Chilvers, Davidson, Sedgwick (Mawene 71), McKenna, Carter, Whaley (Chaplow 78), Brown, Hawley (Mellor 77).
Subs Not Used: Szamotulski, Ormerod.
Sent Off: St. Ledger (68).
Booked: Sedgwick, Carter.
Goals: Mellor 81.
Att: 5,122
Ref: Paul Taylor (Hertfordshire).
Source: BBC UK
Wolves created plenty of chances but had to settle for a single point after being frustrated by Blackpool.
The visitors started well and Kevin Kyle had his shot saved by Paul Rachubka, while Matt Jarvis and Andy Keogh also went close.
Paul Dickov and Gary Taylor-Fletcher did threaten for Blackpool but Wolves were on top again in the second half.
Rachubka saved Kyle's header but Sylvan Ebanks-Blake went closest to beating him when his 12-yard shot hit the post.
Blackpool: Rachubka, Barker, Evatt, Jackson, Crainey, Taylor-Fletcher, Jorgensen, Southern (Green 87), Hoolahan, Dickov (McPhee 73), Burgess.
Subs Not Used: Coid, Morrell, Gerrard.
Booked: Taylor-Fletcher, Evatt.
Wolverhampton: Hennessey, Foley, Breen, Darren Ward, Elokobi, Keogh (Olofinjana 85), Henry, David Edwards, Jarvis, Ebanks-Blake (Eastwood 90), Kyle.
Subs Not Used: Rob Edwards, Elliott, Stack.
Booked: Keogh, Darren Ward.
Att: 9,413.
Ref: Lee Mason (Lancashire).
Source: BBC UK
Blackpool v Wolverhampton, 19:45
Colchester v Preston, 19:45
Coventry v Cardiff, 19:45
Crystal Palace v Ipswich, 20:00
Norwich v Hull, 19:45
Plymouth v Barnsley, 19:45
QPR v Burnley, 20:00
Scunthorpe v Bristol City, 19:30
Sheff Wed v Charlton, 19:45
Stoke v Southampton, 19:45
Watford v Leicester, 19:45
West Brom v Sheff Utd, 19:45
 Paul McHale runs to celebrate with his Dundee team-mates after scoring the opener |
After a poor first half, Dundee took the lead on 49 minutes when Paul McHale lashed in a shot from close range.
Just six minutes later, Scott Robertson poked the ball home from three yards after a fast break by Kevin McDonald.
Darren Smith headed a goal for Well, but Dundee held on, despite red cards for McDonald and Gary MacKenzie. Motherwell: Graeme Smith, Brian McLean, Craigan, Reynolds, Hammell, McGarry, Lasley, Hughes, Fitzpatrick, McCormack, Clarkson.
Subs: Daniels, Danny Murphy, Lappin, Darren Smith, Jamie Murphy.
Dundee: Roy, Cowan, MacKenzie, Palenik, Malone, Robertson, McHale, McDonald, Swankie, Lyle, Davidson.
Subs: Samson, Dixon, Daquin, Zemlik, Sturm.
Referee: E Smith
Arsenal extended their lead at the top of the Premier League to five points after beating Blackburn despite a unconvincing performance.
Philippe Senderos headed home Eduardo's corner to give Arsenal an early lead.
But Rovers quickly dug in and the Gunners did not threaten again until Alex Hleb hit the post after the break.
Blackburn keeper Brad Friedel denied Emmanuel Adebayor twice but the Togo striker added a late second when he drilled his shot home in injury time.
Arsenal: Lehmann, Sagna, Gallas, Senderos, Clichy, Fabregas, Flamini, Silva, Hleb, Adebayor, Eduardo.
Subs Not Used: Fabianski, Bendtner, Traore, Justin Hoyte, Gilbert.
Booked: Fabregas.
Goals: Senderos 4, Adebayor 90.
Blackburn: Friedel, Emerton, Ooijer (Rigters 80), Khizanishvili, Warnock, Kerimoglu (Mokoena 77), Bentley, Reid, McCarthy (Roberts 77), Berner, Santa Cruz.
Subs Not Used: Brown, Kane.
Att: 60,049
Ref: Steve Bennett (Kent).
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Manchester United suffered a setback to their title hopes as they were beaten by derby rivals Manchester City.
A poignant minute's silence and tribute to the Munich air disaster victims took place before a game which saw Darius Vassell's strike put City ahead.
United became stifled by a staunch City side who extended their lead with a glanced Benjani Mwaruwari header.
United struggled overall but got a consolation goal when Michael Carrick shot into the corner in injury time.
Man Utd: Van der Sar, Brown, Vidic, Ferdinand, O'Shea (Carrick 73), Nani (Park 64), Scholes, Anderson (Hargreaves 73), Giggs, Ronaldo, Tevez.
Subs Not Used: Kuszczak, Simpson.
Booked: O'Shea.
Goals: Carrick 90.
Man City: Hart, Onuoha, Richards, Dunne, Ball, Vassell, Ireland, Hamann (Jihai 84), Gelson, Petrov (Garrido 87), Mwaruwari (Caicedo 75).
Subs Not Used: Isaksson, Geovanni.
Goals: Vassell 25, Mwaruwari 45.
Att: 75,970
Ref: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire).
Chelsea and Liverpool fought out a gritty goalless draw at Stamford Bridge which did little for the differing aspirations of either side.
The visitors, missing the injured Fernando Torres in attack, had the best of the first half with Peter Crouch shooting just wide on 18 minutes.
Yet Chelsea were unlucky not to be given a first-half penalty when Javier Mascherano skidded into Joe Cole.
Chelsea: Cech, Belletti, Carvalho, Alex, Ashley Cole, Ballack, Makelele, Lampard (Obi 71), Wright-Phillips (Malouda 64), Anelka, Joe Cole (Pizarro 86).
Subs Not Used: Cudicini, Ben-Haim.
Booked: Belletti, Carvalho, Alex.
Liverpool: Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Skrtel, Riise, Gerrard, Mascherano, Lucas, Babel (Pennant 71), Crouch, Kuyt.
Subs Not Used: Itandje, Kewell, Benayoun, San Jose Dominguez.
Booked: Babel, Riise.
Att: 41,788
Ref: Mike Riley (Yorkshire).
