Premier League
Table
CHELSEA stayed top of the Premier League by a point from Manchester United who dealt a severe blow to Arsenal's title-winning chances with a 3-1 win at the Emirates.
The Blues were expected to struggle in January with the loss of five players, including Didier Drogba, to the African Nations Cup.
But they retain a narrow lead after successive wins against Sunderland (7-2), Birmingham City (3-0) and Burnley (2-1) in which John Terry ended a troubled week with a late winner.
United's win against Arsenal keeps Sir Alex Ferguson's men in touch, though they have played a game more than their rivals from Stamford Bridge.
Wayne Rooney scored the vital second goal after a lung-busting run and his good form has helped United recover from their shock FA Cup exit to Leeds United at Old Trafford.
Since then, Ferguson's men have beaten Burnley (3-0) and Hull City (4-0) with Rooney scoring all four against the hapless Tigers. United also overcame Manchester City in the Carling Cup semi finals.
Arsenal have now lost all three games played so far this season against Chelsea and United.
The Gunners are five points adrift of Chelsea having played a game more with a vital clash at Stamford Bridge next Sunday.
Tottenham Hotspur still lead the race for fourth but only by a point after a stuttering month in which they have won just once in the league.
Frustrating draws with Hull and Birmingham were bad enough for Spurs but it could be that the loss against Liverpool will be most damaging at the end of the season.
The 2-0 win for Liverpool leaves the Reds just one point behind Spurs, though away draws with Stoke City and Wolverhampton Wanderers show inconsistency remains.
And so, it is Manchester City, who are also a point behind Spurs, are favourites for fourth with their two games in hand.
Seventh-placed Aston Villa are just two points away from fourth with a game in hand of their own.
But while Villa may have beaten Blackburn Rovers 7-4 on aggregate to reach the Carling Cup final, Martin O'Neill team have struggled in front of goal in the league, going four games without a goal until a 2-0 win against Fulham.
Portsmouth stay bottom in a sorry state on just 15 points after a 2-0 defeat against Manchester City.
That was Pompey's 15th league defeat of the season from 22 games and it came after news that their players had not been paid on time yet again, a fourth such occurrence.
The rest of the bottom of the table is a lot tighter with a single point separating five teams.
Hull City, without a win in nine league games, and Burnley, without a win in 12, are in the relegation zone on 20 points with three others above them on 21 points.
The fate of the Clarets looks particularly ominous with just one point and two goals from their last six Premier League matches and three consecutive defeats for new manager Brian Laws.
Of course, former Sheffield Wednesday manager Laws replaced Owen Coyle at Turf Moor after Coyle was lured to save Bolton Wanderers from a place in the bottom three.
Coyle lost his two opening league games, home and away to Arsenal, but gained a vital 1-0 win away at Burnley to rub salt in the wounds. The Trotters also have a game in hand on all their rivals.
Wolves and West Ham United, like Bolton, are a point outside of the drop zone and neither team look likely to pull away any time soon.
Wolves have taken just two points from nine while the Hammers have drawn three in a row.
Wigan Athletic, two points clear of relegation on 22, and Sunderland, on 23 points, could yet be sucked into the battle to stay up.
The Championship
Table
NEWCASTLE UNITED failed to take advantage of second-placed Nottingham Forest's incredible unbeaten run being brought to an end by bitter rivals Derby County.
The Magpies drew 0-0 with ten-man Leicester City for their fourth draw in the last six league games.
At least the stalemate was enough to put Chris Hughton's men on 56 points and extended their own unbeaten record to 14 league games, but this will undoubtedly be seen as a chance missed.
Forest are four points behind Newcastle, though they have played a game more.
The gap has closed after a run of 19 games - 13 wins and six draws - without defeat, a best for any team in The Championship for this season.
The performances in the streak seemed to get better and better with clear highlights in a 3-1 win over promotion rivals West Bromwich Albion and a 5-0 thumping of Queens Park Rangers.
But it all came to an end in the local derby as Billy Davies' men lost to his former employers at Pride Park.
That allowed third-placed West Brom to close back up on Forest to two points with a game in hand after a 3-1 win against Sheffield United.
The Baggies needed that win after recent form of just two points from nine with draws against Ipswich Town and Newcastle, and a home defeat against Forest.
A gap of five points to fourth-placed Cardiff City who recently rediscovered their form with a 6-0 thumping away at Bristol City after a series of disappointing draws.
Welsh rivals Swansea City are three points further back in fifth, the antithesis of the free-scoring Bluebirds.
A 1-0 win against Leicester was followed by two tight draws against Middlesbrough and Coventry City to keep the Swans in the hunt.
Sheffield United sit in the final playoff spot at the moment on 41 points with Blackpool continuing to threaten, just one point behind, and Leicester in eighth, just two behind.
The Foxes have a game in hand on United but their form is not great. Nigel Pearson's men have taken just two points from their last 12.
Crystal Palace also looked likely to be challenging for a top-six spot before being hit by a 10-point penalty for going into administration.
The deduction now leaves Palace just four points clear of the relegation zone, though at least they started their battle to beat the drop with a win against rock-bottom Peterborough United.
Palace could not have asked for an easier fixture, really. Posh have taken just one point out of 18 as Mark Cooper continues to struggle since his appointment in November.
Cooper's men have rarely looked capable at Championship level this season, and they are now 11 points adrift of safety.
Paul Mariner's Plymouth Argyle remain in trouble, second bottom and five points adrift of safety, after a 2-1 loss to Sheffield Wednesday who have really picked up since Alan Irvine came in.
Former Preston boss Irvine has led Wednesday to four wins, all of them by a 2-1 score, out of five games and hauled the Owls five points clear of the drop.
Reading remain in trouble, though, currently filling the final relegation place on 26 points but at least newly-installed permanent manager Brian McDermott managed a first league win in eight to close the gap on Ipswich.
The Tractor Boys' frustrating season continues after a 2-0 loss at Preston leaves them just three points clear of the bottom three.
League One
Table
NORWICH CITY are the new leaders of League One after they took advantage of Leeds United's cup distractions to overhaul the Yorkshire club's comfortable lead.
The Canaries beat Hartlepool United 2-1 on Saturday for their eighth consecutive win and a club record 11th home win in a row, putting them on 63 points from 29 games.
Leeds are still just three points behind in second with two games in hand but Simon Grayson's men could only take one point from the three matches which immediately followed their win at Old Trafford.
At least the 2-0 win against fourth-placed Colchester United in their most recent game has steadied some jangling nerves and Grayson's men are still well-placed.
That is because third-placed Charlton Athletic are five points behind on 55 points having played a game more.
The Addicks are not in the best form having taken just one point from their two recent games against lowly Tranmere Rovers (1-1) and Leyton Orient (0-1).
If anything, though, the south Londoners are hardly feeling the heat from Colchester. That 2-0 loss to Leeds for the Us followed an embarrassing 7-0 cup loss and a 5-0 thumping from Norwich.
Only a 2-0 win over playoff rivals Milton Keynes Dons has given Aidy Boothroyd anything recent to cheer.
Swindon Town are in fifth on 48 points, just a point behind Colchester with a game in hand. The Robins are a side in good league form with five wins and two draws from the last seven games.
Millwall are sixth on 46 points having only lost to Norwich since the start of December, and winning four of their last five games.
Huddersfield Town are just a point behind the Lions, however, with two games in hand.
Lee Clark's men are still unbeaten at home though they have yet to face any of the current top six at the Galpharm Stadium.
At the bottom, Stockport County finally ended their nightmare run of 12 successive losses with two draws in a row against Carlisle United and Brighton.
Another draw against Southampton looked possible before two late goals for the mid table Saints meant normal service was resumed for the hapless Hatters, who are 12 points from safety.
Wycombe Wanderers recorded their first league win for nine games against Bristol Rovers to give themselves a fighting chance of staying in the division.
But, although the Chairboys are just five points from safety, they have already played 29 games, more than all of their rivals.
Tranmere Rovers are third bottom, two points from safety, thanks mainly to their awful form at the start of the season.
Recent results include a 2-1 win against Yeovil Town and a 1-1 draw at Charlton to suggest there is plenty of hope for a Rovers recovery.
Oldham Athletic fill the final relegation place, above Tranmere on goal difference only, after a run of just six points from 33.
But the Latics have games in hand on all the teams above them, including two games on fifth-bottom Brighton on 28 points, three games on Gillingham on 29 points, and four games on Exeter City on 30 points.
Of those three teams, Gillingham are in the worst form with just one win in the last 10 games, and no away wins all season.
League Two
Table
ROCHDALE retained a solid lead at the top of League Two despite a 1-0 loss to third-placed Bury and second-placed Bournemouth beating Rotherham United.
The Dale are still four points clear of the Cherries on 56 points from 28 games having suffered their first loss in 12 league matches to the Shakers.
Bournemouth have stuttered in recent times as a result of their smaller squad and lost three consecutive games in the first part of January.
But a 2-1 away win at Crewe Alexandra has given young manager Eddie Howe's side renewed confidence as demonstrated by coming from a goal behind against Rotherham to win 3-1.
The Millers remain in contention for an automatic promotion slot despite the defeat.
Ronnie Moore's men may be seven points adrift of Bournemouth and three away from Bury but they have games in hand on both after being hit particularly badly by the weather.
Indeed, Rotherham did not play any fixtures for five-and-a-half weeks after 12th December. Only rock-bottom Darlington were hit by postponements to an equal extent.
Bury have taken advantage of their rival's lack of games to rise to third place and the final automatic spot with a run of 16 points from 18, including that win over fellow Lancashire side Rochdale.
But it is the Notts County soap opera which has intrigued most outsiders about League Two this season - and it threatens to have a happy ending.
Through to the last 16 of the FA Cup for the first time in 18 years, the Magpies are still well-placed in the league under their third manager of the campaign, Dave Kevan.
Convincing wins against Dagenham & Redbridge (3-0) and Barnet (2-0) continued an excellent recent run of just one loss in 10 league and cup games.
This puts County in fifth on 43 points from 24 games, five points behind Bury but with three games in hand.
Inconsistency from Shrewsbury Town - sixth on 42 points from 28 games - and Chesterfield - seventh on 42 points from 27 games - have given the chasing pack plenty of encouragement.
The Shrews and the Spirites have a win, a draw and a loss from each of their last three games, meaning their current residence in a playoff spot is far from secure.
But with eighth-placed Aldershot Town on a similar run and ninth-placed Dagenham playing even worse, it is looking like tenth-placed Accrington Stanley will be the team to take advantage.
Stanley have returned to league action with two excellent wins - against rivals Shrewsbury and Aldershot - after a month due to postponements and, of course, their cup exploits.
Those wins meant Stanley have won six of their last seven league games in a run stretching back to the start of December.
The streak puts them on 39 points, just three off the playoffs, and they are another team with several games in hand, having played just 24 so far.
Rock bottom Darlington have also played only 24 matches but it is looking doubtful that any amount of games in hand could save the Quakers.
Steve Staunton's men caused a shock when beating promotion-chasing Rotherham in both clubs' first game for five weeks. The win took Darlington to 11 points from 22 matches.
But the basement club have since returned to type, losing their last two games to Crewe and Northampton Town to flounder 14 points adrift of safety.
Second-bottom Grimsby Town have also been in the relegation zone for months and, although 10 of their last 13 games have been drawn, no wins in 19 matches is a more telling statistic.
The Mariners last won in the league in mid-September. As such, they are on just 20 points from 27 games - that is five points fewer and one game more than third-bottom Cheltenham Town.
Blue Square Premier
Table
STEVENAGE BOROUGH took advantage of a slight Oxford United wobble to take top spot in the Blue Square Premier but the Us still command the better position.
Boro won both their January games in a month where the fixture list was ravaged by the weather, while Oxford suffered a freak 1-0 loss at home against Tamworth Town.
It means Stevenage, on 60 points from 28 games, lead Oxford by a point but the Us have the benefit of two games in hand.
Third-placed York City cannot be ruled out of the running for an automatic return to the league just yet.
The Minstermen's run of nine consecutive league wins came to an end at Histon in a 1-1 draw but Martin Foyle's team are just four points adrift of Stevenage after two-thirds of the season.
Fourth and fifth place are filled by Mansfield Town, on 50 points, and Kettering Town, on 48 points, respectively.
AFC Wimbledon, Rushden & Diamonds and Luton Town are all just two points outside the playoffs on 46 points. Luton have two games in hand on Kettering.
At the bottom, Chester City are still on negative points - minus three - after two January losses extended their painful run to one point from 27.
Second bottom Grays Athletic are also in trouble after their two January losses made it five defeats on the bounce, leaving them on 17 points and nine adrift of safety.
Gateshead are another team in poor form with three consecutive league defeats without a goal causing them to slip to third bottom on 22 points, four adrift of safety.
One of the Tynesiders recent losses was to Forest Green Rovers who, having spent most of the first part of the season in the relegation zone, are now looking most likely to get out.
Rovers are still in the drop zone on 26 points but that is level with Eastbourne Borough and just a point behind Ebbsfleet United. Rovers have two games in hand on United.
Barrow, currently on 28 points, are also in within catching distance but their FA Cup and Trophy successes leave the Cumbrian team with plenty of games in hand with which to get out of any trouble.
FA Cup Fourth Round
ARSENAL followed Manchester United and Liverpool out of the Cup after a 3-1 defeat to Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium.
Ricardo Fuller struck twice for the Potters before Dean Whitehead scored with four minutes left to seal the win after Denilson had given the Gunners hope.
But this was a deserved win for Stoke who have opened up this competition even further after the third round exits of Manchester United and Liverpool.
Manchester United lost 1-0 to Leeds United at Old Trafford while Liverpool were beaten 2-1 in extra time in a replay against Reading.
Cup holders Chelsea are certainly not shedding tears at their rivals' early exits.
The Blues strolled into the fifth round with an easy 2-0 win against Preston North End at Deepdale with goals from Nicolas Anelka and Daniel Sturridge.
Meanwhile, after their Carling Cup KO against city rivals United, Manchester City will also look to go far and always looked to have too much in reserve against Scunthorpe United in a 4-2 away win.
Other highlights of the fourth round included replays for Notts County and Leeds against Premier League sides Wigan Athletic and Tottenham Hotspur respectively.
The only other fourth round replay will be between Crystal Palace and Wolverhampton Wanderers after Wolves rescued a 2-2 draw with a late goal at Molineux.
Reading also continued their remarkable run, which is completely out of keeping with their league form, by beating Burnley 1-0 at home.
But, for Accrington Stanley and Brighton, the dream of a Wembley Cup final is over for another year.
Stanley fought hard to be level at half time but Darran Kempson's sending off just before the interval allowed top flight Fulham to take control and run out 3-1 winners.
Brighton also enjoyed parity at Villa Park at half time but early second half goals from Ashley Young and Fabian Delph killed off the tie before Nicky Forster's late consolation for the Seagulls.
Troubled south coast pair Portsmouth and Southampton both progressed. Pompey were 2-1 winners against out-of-sorts Sunderland while Southampton beat Ipswich Town by the same score. Now they will meet in the plum tie of the fifth round.
Birmingham City continued their impressive campaign with a 2-1 away win at Everton while Owen Coyle recorded his first win as Bolton Wanderers manager in a 2-0 home success against Sheffield United.
In the three all-Championship ties, West Brom beat Newcastle United 4-2, Cardiff City beat Leicester City by the same score with two late goals, and Derby County beat Doncaster Rovers 1-0 at home.
Results:
Saturday
Accrington Stanley 1-3 Fulham, Aston Villa 3-2 Brighton & Hove Albion, Bolton Wanderers 2-0 Sheffield United, Cardiff City 4-2 Leicester City, Derby County 1-0 Doncaster Rovers, Everton 1-2 Birmingham City, Notts County 2-2 Wigan Athletic, Portsmouth 2-1 Sunderland, Preston North End 0-2 Chelsea (ITV1), Reading 1-0 Burnley (FA.com), Southampton 2-1 Ipswich Town, Tottenham Hotspur 2-2 Leeds United (ITV1), West Bromwich Albion 4-2 Newcastle United, Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-2 Crystal Palace
Sunday
Scunthorpe United 2-4 Manchester City, Stoke City 3-1 Arsenal (both ITV1)
Replays:
Crystal Palace 3-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers (ITV4)
Wigan Athletic 0-2 Notts County
Leeds United 1-3 Tottenham Hotspur (ITV1)
Revised FA Cup Fifth Round Draw
Crystal Palace v Aston Villa (ITV)
Manchester City v Stoke City (ITV)
Derby County v Birmingham City
Bolton Wanderers v Tottenham Hotspur (ITV)
Chelsea v Cardiff City (FA.com)
Fulham v Notts County
Reading v West Bromwich Albion
Southampton v Portsmouth (ITV)
Ties to be played on 13-14 February.
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