Premier League
Table
A BRILLIANT overhead kick from Wayne Rooney was enough for Manchester United to win another derby against City late on, and effectively ruled their opponents out of the title race.
Rooney's spectacular strike came in the 78th minute and provided the perfect response from the Red Devils after they had surprisingly lost their unbeaten record at bottom-of-the-table Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Nani had given United the lead four minutes shy of half time before City got a lucky break when on 65 minutes when Edin Dzeko shot ended up in the net via David Silva's back.
Roberto Mancini's men had deserved to be level on the balance play, though, and it took a moment destined to go down in the Old Trafford history books to win the match.
Sir Alex Ferguson's men now have 57 points from 26 games - eight clear of third-placed City who have played a game more.
Only Arsenal, in second on 53 points, are in the position to provide any challenge to Manchester United in the closing months after Robin van Persie rediscovered his best form.
The Dutchman has scored five goals in his last three games against Newcastle United, Wolves and Barcelona.
But, incredibly, in the first of these matches, van Persie and Arsenal had to settle for a point after an extraordinary 4-4 draw at St James Park.
Newcastle found themselves 2-0 down within three minutes after early goals for Theo Walcott and Johan Djourou. Van Persie then received the freedom of St James Park to double the score to 4-0 within 26 minutes.
The tide then turned immediately after half-time when Abou Diaby was sent off for pushing Joey Barton and Kevin Nolan.
And, as soon as Barton converted a penalty with a quarter of the game left, the home crowd roused itself to inspire the greatest comeback of the Premier League era.
Leon Best made it 4-2, having earlier had a goal wrongly ruled out for offside, before Barton added another penalty, this time dubiously awarded for a push on Mike Williamson.
But there was nothing wrong with the goal which restored parity as Cheik Tiote smashed a volley from 25 yards just inside the left-hand post.
It is fair to say that Arsenal will not expect comebacks like that to happen to them again any time soon and van Persie will be glad his subsequent goals against Wolves and Barcelona contributed towards two wins.
The Gunners' North London neighbours Tottenham Hotspur have also been picking up vital victories to sit in fourth place on 47 points from 45 games.
Niko Kranjcar scored successive match winners against Bolton Wanderers and Sunderland as Harry Redknapp's men bounced back from their FA Cup drubbing at Fulham.
Spurs have now won four matches in a row in all competitions, and the most recent of these came at San Siro where Peter Crouch scored the only goal of a Champions League last 16 tie against Milan.
And, having impressed in Europe's premier competition, it is no surprise that the Spurs fans and Redknapp want more.
They may well get their wish with Chelsea still flailing in fifth place, two points behind after a 1-0 home defeat to Liverpool and a 0-0 draw at Fulham.
It could not have gone much worse for Fernando Torres since his £50m move from Liverpool on transfer deadline day - but it could have actually been worse for the Blues.
Fulham, who had frustrated Chelsea with their defensive tactics for most of the game, then had a glorious chance for a rare win over their West London neighbours.
However, American Clint Dempsey - who had won a penalty after falling under David Luiz's foul - then proceeded to fire the ball straight at Petr Cech from 12 yards.
Only in May, I suspect, will we know how important that penalty save was.
Plenty will happen between now and then, of course, and matters will be no more keenly felt than at the bottom of the Premier League where it remains incredibly tight.
Wolves currently prop up the rest of the league on 24 points from 26 games after a tough run of fixtures against both Manchester clubs, Liverpool and Bolton.
To their credit, the Molineux club inflicted Manchester United's first league defeat upon them thanks to goals George Elokobi and Kevin Doyle in a 2-1 win.
However, coming matches against West Bromwich Albion, Blackpool and Aston Villa will reveal more about the chances of Mick McCarthy's men surviving.
West Ham United know what it feels like to be bottom having been there most of the season but Avram Grant's men lifted themselves up a place after a fine comeback of their own.
The Hammers were 3-0 down at half time as Roy Hodgson's first game since he was appointed as West Brom manager started like a dream.
But the Baggies remain deep in relegation trouble themselves after Scott Parker inspired two goals from Demba Ba and one from Carlton Cole to make it 3-3.
West Brom, in 17th on 27 points, are just outside the drop zone on goal difference with that game in hand against Wolves coming up on Sunday.
Wigan Athletic are third-bottom after a run of just one league win in eight matches since Boxing Day - though that was a cracking 4-3 win over Blackburn Rovers, James McCarthy scoring twice.
However, the relegation battle does not just concern these four teams and there are just six points between Stoke City in 10th and the bottom three.
The Potters should have more than enough to survive, though, and Blackburn and Fulham can also rely on their home form.
Things are more looking more serious elsewhere where Everton, Birmingham City and Aston Villa - three clubs who finished in the top-half in 2009-10 - are all just three points above the relegation places.
But the biggest concern must be reserved for Blackpool who are now in their lowest position since the start of the season.
The Seasiders are in 16th on 29 points, two ahead of Wigan, and they have the worst form in the league.
Ian Holloway's men have taken just four points from a possible 24 in 2011 with their sole victory coming against Kenny Dalglish's Liverpool.
Whatever happens to Blackpool, they can reflect on some fantastic memories of a campaign which began so well for them.
It is increasingly looking as if it will have no happy ending, though.
The Championship
Table
QUEENS PARK RANGERS became the first club in England's top four divisions to reach 60 points this season after a 1-1 draw with in-form Nottingham Forest on Sunday.
The Rs reached the landmark after 31 games and it is enough to be five points clear of Cardiff City in second.
It could have been even better for Neil Warnock's men after Tommy Smith had given the home side the lead at Loftus Road on 16 minutes.
Radoslaw Majewski was then given a straight red for a nasty two-footed challenge on Adel Taarabt but Forest refused to wilt.
David McGoldrick equalised on 26 minutes and the score remained the same as QPR extended their latest unbeaten record to six matches.
Forest lost only once in the league since the end of October when they visited Glanford Park to play struggling Scunthorpe United in their game in hand last night.
But, typically, with second spot up for grabs, Forest failed as Chris Dagnall's early strike earned a vital three points for the Irons.
Forest's defeat, their first in the league for 10 games, leaves them in fourth place, two points adrift of Cardiff - though Billy Davies' men still have another game in hand to come.
Sandwiched in between the teams for now are Norwich City who have lost just once in their last 10 league matches to amass 54 points so far.
That represents a fine effort from Paul Lambert's Canaries who were only promoted from League One last season - although it was clear they were far too good for that division.
The League One runners-up Leeds United are also in the promotion picture, sitting in sixth place on 52 points, three behind Cardiff, after successive wins over Coventry City and Bristol City.
Swansea City are just above Leeds in fifth on 53 points courtesy of Craig Beattie's stoppage-time winner in a 4-3 thriller against Middlesbrough at the Riverside.
Behind the top six, there is a gap of four points but seventh-placed Leicester City are worth keeping an eye after really hitting form in the New Year.
Sven Goran Eriksson's Foxes have taken 19 points from a possible 21 in their seven matches in 2011 with two successive four-goal hauls at home against Millwall and Barnsley, and a 2-0 win at East Midlands rivals Derby County.
That defeat for the Rams is part of an arresting slide down the table and the Pride Park club currently have the worst form in the division with just five points from their last 36.
The sequence included a run of five successive defeats either side of Christmas, culminating in a 5-2 thumping at the hands of Forest.
Early promotion hopes have given way to another relegation fight - and victory over Preston North End on New Year's Day is Derby's only success since late November.
At least Derby fans can just about take heart from the fact that they are not yet in Preston's position.
The Lilywhites are bottom with just 22 points from 30 games, nine adrift of safety, and already it would take something special for them to survive now.
Although there was some fight shown in the 2-2 draw with Watford this week, Phil Brown's men have won just once in their last 17 games, and Deepdale looks set to be hosting League One action from August.
Second-bottom Scunthorpe United are at least more accustomed to playing at that lower level but the Iron do not look like giving up their status in the second-flight easily.
That 1-0 win over promotion-chasing Forest takes Ian Baraclough's men to within four points of safety with two games in hand over fourth-bottom Crystal Palace.
But it was only their second home win in the league all season, and their first since August when they beat Palace.
Sheffield United have also struggled at home this season - indeed, the Blades are finding it hard to pick up a result from anywhere at the moment, having won just once in 13 games since the end of November.
In that time, the Blades have taken only seven points under old boss Gary Speed, now with the Wales national team, and new boss Micky Adams.
United have 29 points from 31 games, two adrift of Palace who famously stayed up against the other Sheffield club in a winner-takes-all match on the last day of last season.
Palace may be pulling off the great escape act again this season after their 1-0 win over Middlesbrough made it seven consecutive clean sheets at home.
However, three of those matches finished 0-0 and Eagles manager Dougie Freedman's men have failed to win away since October.
Meanwhile, Boro's recent improved run of form looks to have ground to a halt with the defeat at Selhurt Park followed by a gut-wrenching collapse from 3-1 to lose 4-3 at home to Swansea.
The successive defeats leave Tony Mowbray's men in 20th place on 33 points from 30 games, four above the drop zone with a game in hand.
But, the Boro are in reach of a trio of clubs on 35 points - Bristol City, Portsmouth and the plummeting Derby.
Pompey have also been in rough form recently with four draws and five defeats in nine games since Boxing Day.
However, they did at least arrest that form away at Doncaster Rovers with a 2-0 on Saturday.
Rovers then made it a week to forget at the Keepmoat by promptly losing their next home game 6-0 to Ipswich Town on Tuesday as the Suffolk club continues its resuscitation under new boss Paul Jewell.
League One
Table
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION boss Gus Poyet has admitted that promotion to the Championship is "getting close" after the Seagulls soared to a 4-1 win over Hartlepool United.
Glenn Murray's brace and further goals from Chris Wood and Craig Noone put Brighton 4-0 up just 10 minutes into the second half.
And, although Antony Sweeney reduced Pools' arrears, Brighton gave a further boost to their goal difference by recording their fifth win by three goals or more this season.
The Seagulls' fourth successive home win helps them onto 56 points from 28 matches, three points ahead of Bournemouth with two games in hand.
Bournemouth remain steady in second place with 53 points from 30 games, and just one defeat in 2011, but the chasing pack is ominously filled with bigger names.
On Saturday, the Cherries face third-placed Huddersfield Town. The Terriers are only three points behind with a game in hand, and they are unbeaten in eight league matches in 2011.
But the biggest impact will perhaps come from fourth-placed Southampton who do not have a 10-point deduction with which to contend this season.
Rickie Lambert scored his 50th goal for the Saints in his 92nd appearance as Carlisle were beaten 1-0 at St Mary's Stadium.
Nigel Adkins' men are now on 48 points, five behind Bournemouth, but with two games in hand.
Another former Premier League club, Charlton Athletic, have also moved themselves into a playoff place after winning four games in a row, only to find this good run of form end in a 2-1 defeat at Hartlepool.
Still, Chris Powell's team sit in fifth position with 47 points from 28 games, just ahead of Peterborough United who have 46 points from 29.
In January, Posh turned back to former manager Darren Ferguson in a bid to reignite their stuttering promotion bid.
But, while he has failed so far to nail down any consistency, his teams have been involved in some recent thrillers with 34 goals scored at either end in his first seven games.
This included a 4-4 draw at home against Southampton in a match featuring four penalties, two for each side.
Saints took a 2-0 lead through Richard Chaplow and Lambert's first penalty before Posh hit back with two goals in six minutes before half time through Craig Mackail-Smith and Chris Whelpdale.
Within five minutes of the restart, though, Southampton had restored their two-goal lead at 4-2 as Lambert converted his second spot-kick and Dean Hammond slotted home.
But, the two-goal advantage was only held for five minutes before Grant McCann scored the third penalty of the match to make it 4-3.
Southampton looked set to hold on for a vital win in the promotion chase until Lee Tomlin kept his cool to convert the game's fourth penalty in the 93rd minute.
Outside of the top six, there is still plenty of interest in the playoff spots with Oldham Athletic, Milton Keynes Dons, the hugely impressive Rochdale and Leyton Orient all within a win of a top-six spot.
Orient, who have been caught up in the West Ham-Tottenham Olympic Stadium saga, are having much more fun on the pitch with an unbeaten home run stretching back to September.
The Os most recent success at Brisbane Road was an easy 4-1 win against Bristol Rovers who have tumbled to the bottom of the division after five successive defeats.
Indeed, Dave Penney's Pirates have won just once in 18 league games since mid-October, meaning they have only 27 points from 30 games, six adrift of safety.
However, Rovers are not the only West Country club having a tough time of it in the division this season - Plymouth Argyle, Yeovil Town and Swindon Town are all at the wrong end of the table.
Like Bristol Rovers, Plymouth have lost their last five league games, though looking back further, it is even worse for the Devon club with eight defeats in their last nine.
Plymouth are two points above the relegation places with 33 points from 31 matches, level with Yeovil who have one game in hand.
The Glovers' encouraging run of form of just one defeat in December and January has dramatically ground to a halt after three successive defeats.
But it is Swindon who fill the last relegation spot after their 2-1 defeat at Colchester United left them with 31 points from 31 games and only three points from their last 27 available.
The other two clubs in the relegation zone are Walsall and Dagenham & Redbridge who met on Tuesday at the Bescot Stadium with the result being a 1-0 home win to Walsall.
That should not come as too much of a surprise as the Saddlers have been steadily improving since the New Year with three wins, two draws and a defeat in their last six league games.
Having said that, Dagenham have also had some encouraging recent wins away at Hartlepool and at home against Brentford and Yeovil.
Those results have left John Still's men just five points shy of the safety mark with two or three games in hand on all the teams around them.
The Daggers, in only their fourth season in the Football League, may yet pull off a surprise by staying in the third flight.
League Two
Table
CHESTERFIELD hold a five-point lead and look set to continue their five-month long occupancy at the top of League Two.
But the Spireites have started to wobble after a series of stalemates, the latest of which came in a 1-1 draw against Bury at Gigg Lane.
Craig Davies gave Chesterfield a first-half lead but John Sheridan's men made it five matches without a win after Ryan Lowe equalised for the Shakers straight after the restart.
It is still not as if the leaders are being reeled in, though.
Of all the teams behind them, only second placed Shrewsbury Town are in particularly good form, and Chesterfield are still five points ahead with a game in hand.
The Shrews won just once in December and January to slip to seventh but four successive wins over Burton Albion, Southend United, Lincoln City and Stevenage have taken them to 51 points from 31 games.
None of the rest of the top seven can match that form with Rotherham United, in third on 50 points, having won their last three home games but lost their last five away.
Fourth-placed Wycombe Wanderers are also on 50 points but with two games in hand on the Millers. However, the Chairboys have taken just a single point from their last three matches.
Bury, in fifth on 47 points, sum up the division well by going from a defeat at struggling Stockport County to gaining that credible draw against Chesterfield.
Draws have also been an issue for Gillingham who have had three in their last four games - although a playoff place is much preferable for Gills fans than their early season form.
But seventh-placed Port Vale, on 45 points, are in danger of doing backwards having recorded just one win and six points in their last seven games.
The failings of the teams currently in playoff places and the improved form of some mid-table sides has unsurprisingly had a concertina effect on the table.
Now, even 11th-placed Southend United are within striking distance of a playoff spot. The Shrimpers have won their last four away games to put themselves within one good win of seventh place.
At first glance, the bottom of the table looks just as intriguing as the bottom four are separated by three points.
However, the two relegation spots are already filled by the two teams - Barnet and Stockport - who have played more games than any of the others.
Barnet are bottom with just 26 points from 30 games and, with only one win in their last 10 league matches, it does not like turning around for the Bees any time soon.
Stockport are second-bottom with 28 points from 31 games and a horrendous goal difference of -36, having conceded 69 goals.
But at least the Hatters managed on Tuesday to bring an end to a devastating run of just two points out of 27 with a 2-1 win over Bury.
Goals from debutant Matt Paterson and Antony Elding gave Stockport their first win at Edgeley Park since October, and perhaps a little hope for the rest of the season.
At this stage, though, it looks as if the likes of Burton Albion and Macclesfield Town will survive simply due to the weaknesses of Barnet and Stockport.
FA Cup
Delayed Fourth Round replays
Saturday 19 February:
Chelsea 1-1 Everton (12:30, ESPN). Everton won 4-3 on penalties.
Sunday 20 February:
Manchester City 5-0 Notts County (14:00, ITV1)
Fifth Round
Saturday 19 Februrary:
Birmingham City 3-0 Sheffield Wednesday
Manchester United 1-0 Crawley Town (17:15, ITV1)
Stoke City 3-0 Brighton & Hove Albion
Sunday 20 February:
Fulham 0-1 Bolton Wanderers
Leyton Orient 1-1 Arsenal (16:30, ESPN)
Monday 21 February:
West Ham United 5-1 Burnley (20:00, ESPN)
Tuesday 1 March:
Everton 0-1 Reading (19:30)
Wednesday 2 March:
Arsenal 5-0 Leyton Orient (replay)
Manchester City 3-0 Aston Villa
Sixth Round Draw Ties played on weeekend of 12-13 March
Stoke City v West Ham United
Manchester City v Reading
Birmingham City v Bolton Wanderers
Manchester United v Arsenal
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