Premier League
Table
CHELSEA failed to extend their lead with Manchester United in Carling Cup action after Manchester City stunned Stamford Bridge with a 4-2 win.
Braces apiece from Carlos Tevez and Craig Bellamy gave City only their fourth away win of the season and a rare double over the Londoners.
The match will also be remembered as the first time that John Terry and Wayne Bridge faced each other since Terry's affair with Bridge's ex-girlfriend became public.
Bridge has retired from international football as a result of the tabloid exposure and refused to shake Terry's hand as the teams lined up.
Despite the acrimonious build-up, the match took a while to develop any pattern but, as the first half wore on, Chelsea began to dominate and Frank Lampard gave them the lead on 40 minutes.
But City were level at half time after a comedy of errors in the Blues' defence allowed Tevez to trickle the ball past Chelsea goalkeeper Hilario.
Hilario was then beaten by Bellamy on his near post as City started the second half well before Gareth Barry won a penalty and Julio Belletti was sent off for his clumsy last-man tackle.
Tevez dispatched the penalty and, after Michael Ballack was also sent off for two bookings, Bellamy's breakaway goal gave Roberto Mancini's men an emphatic 4-1 lead.
Lampard scored a penalty in stoppage time but it was little more than a consolation for Carlo Ancelotti's nine men who, nevertheless, remain top on 61 points from 28 games.
Manchester United recovered from their sixth league defeat of the season, 3-1 at Everton last week, to beat West Ham United 3-0 in midweek and cut the gap back down to one point.
Arsenal stayed in the hunt for the title, despite recent losses to both United and Chelsea, but only after a fine comeback against Stoke City.
The Potters led 1-0 after Danny Pugh's goal from Rory Delap's long throw. But, after Nicklas Bendtner equalised on the half-hour mark, a late penalty from Cesc Fabregas and an even later goal by Thomas Vermaelen gave the Gunners a 3-1 win.
The match was marred by a sending off for Ryan Shawcross who was devastated as he left the field, having broken teenager Aaron Ramsey's leg.
The incident bore a distinct similarity to the injury suffered by Eduardo against Birmingham City at St Andrew's in 2008-09.
And, just like back then, television executives decided against showing replays of the horror tackle with Arsenal players visibly upset by their team mate's condition.
The Gunners, then, will be pleased to have come out of the match with a win which leaves them just three points behind Chelsea.
The other top half race for fourth place looks as open as ever with Manchester City staking a real claim after that win at the Bridge put them on 49 points.
Tottenham Hotspur, in fifth on 46 points, could move back above City by beating Everton tomorrow while Liverpool, in sixth on 45 points, face Blackburn Rovers.
Aston Villa, in seventh on 45 points, are out of league action this weekend as they play United in the Carling Cup final at Wembley.
Meanwhile, the clash of the bottom two saw Portsmouth beat Burnley but it was a hollow victory for the south-coast club after yesterday's announcement that they had gone into administration with up to £70m of debt.
It means Pompey will lose nine of their 19 points and, even with this victory, they are now 14 points adrift of safety and almost certain for relegation.
Burnley look destined to join them after a woeful performance made it just one league win in 16 matches for the Clarets.
Brian Laws' men remain just one point adrift of safety but many more home displays like this and that gap will surely grow.
Hull City were out of action due to Villa's League Cup participation and that allowed Bolton Wanderers to dump the Tigers in the bottom three.
The Trotters beat Wolverhampton Wanderers to go up to 15th and that defeat also leaves Wolves in trouble on 24 points, only above Hull on goal difference.
Wigan Athletic are in 16th place on 25 points after a 1-0 defeat to Birmingham City who reach the 40 point mark with 11 games left thanks to James McFadden's penalty winner.
Bolton, in 15th, have 26 points, just below Sunderland on goal difference.
The Black Cats spent big in the summer but it has not paid dividends and, despite an encouraging start to the season, they find themselves in a familiar position of fighting relegation.
A home match against Fulham tomorrow straight after the Cottagers' European exertions provides a fine chance to extend the gap over the bottom three to five points.
That would leave West Ham looking back over their shoulders as despite recent wins over Hull (3-0) and Birmingham (2-0), the Hammers are still only three points clear of relegation.
The Championship
Table
NEWCASTLE UNITED beat Watford 2-1 to extend the lead at the top of the Championship to six points as third-placed Nottingham Forest faltered against Leicester City.
Headed goals from Fabricio Coloccini and Andrew Carroll early in each half gave the Magpies a first away win since early December while Forest lost their fourth straight away game.
It looked like it was going to be an even better day for Chris Hughton's men with second-placed West Bromwich Albion falling behind at home against Derby County.
But the Baggies hit back to win 3-1 and put defeats in their last two games - against Bristol City in the league and Reading in the FA Cup - behind them.
With 13 matches left, Newcastle have 69 points and West Brom are on 63 points with Forest on 61 points having played a game more.
The remaining playoff positions are becoming clearer with Swansea City and Leicester City both going through February unbeaten to cement their top six places.
Indeed, the Swans have not lost for 12 league games with six wins and six draws stretching back to mid-December to reach 56 points.
Leicester have enjoyed a run of eight matches without defeat and lie two points further back in fifth place.
The final playoff spot is very much up for grabs with current occupants Cardiff City in typically patchy form.
The Bluebirds' main problem appears to be in defence with Newcastle hitting five and previously struggling Preston North End scoring three against the creaky back line in two heavy defeats on the road.
Nevertheless, Cardiff on 49 points are still a point clear of seventh-placed Sheffield United having played one game fewer.
The Blades are unbeaten at Bramall Lane in the league since early November but five away losses in a row have prevented the habitual late-season charge so far.
Blackpool on 47 points remain in the mix for the top six after consecutive 2-0 home wins against Middlesbrough and Reading.
But, with three points from 15 on the road, again it is the Tangerines' away form which is preventing them from capitalising further on their unexpected position.
Boro are level on points with Blackpool, and Coventry City - with six wins and a draw from their last seven home league games - are just a point further back.
Barnsley, in 11th place, have won their last two games to reach 45 points, four points adrift of Cardiff with a game in hand.
At the bottom, Peterborough United were condemned to an eighth consecutive away defeat in all competitions after a 1-0 loss at Swansea.
There have been some positive signs in home wins against Queens Park Rangers and Ipswich Town under new manager Jim Gannon, their third boss of the season.
But it all looks too little too late for Posh who have not won away all season and the loss at the Liberty Stadium leaves Peterborough on 24 points from 33 games, 10 points adrift of safety.
Plymouth Argyle have also been in trouble all season long. The Pilgrims remain five points adrift of safety, after picking up just five points from their six matches in February.
One of their losses was at recovering Reading who gained further breathing space by dumping Sheffield Wednesday back into the bottom three after a 5-0 thrashing at the Madjeski.
Wednesday had picked up their form under new manager Alan Irvine during January but four losses in five games in February have sent the Owls spiralling once again.
Nevertheless, crisis club Crystal Palace will be considered eminently catchable after their 10-point deduction for going into administration and concerns over manager Neil Warnock's future.
Only goal difference separates the Eagles from Wednesday in the drop zone after a recent run of one point from 12, though they could yet be saved by another London team.
Just two wins from 16 have seen Queens Park Rangers fall away from playoff contention to two places and three points above the bottom three.
It is a remarkable tumble down the table yet perhaps not surprising given that Mick Hartford became the Rs' third manager of the season in a caretaker capacity in mid-January.
But, in a cruel twist for Palace, there are strong rumours that Warnock will move across the capital to be the latest in the hot-seat at Loftus Road.
League One
Table
NORWICH CITY stretched their lead at the top of League One to five points with a tight 1-0 win against Oldham Athletic as Leeds United could only draw.
A week ago, the Canaries lost 2-1 at home against Southampton for their first league defeat at Carrow Road since that infamous 7-1 mauling against Colchester United on the opening day of the season.
But Norwich have reacted well to that setback by grinding out hard-fought victories against Southend United and Oldham to reach 72 points, nine clear of third place.
Having led the division until Christmas, Leeds are in danger of losing out on an automatic spot after their patchy form continued into February.
The 2-2 draw at Huddersfield Town means United have won just two of their last 10 league games, though they have a game in hand on Norwich.
That point keeps the Terriers unbeaten at home all season and in the thick of a tight playoff places battle, currently headed by Charlton Athletic on 63 points.
Colchester United are just a point behind the Addicks with a game in hand after 13 points from their six February games signalled an improvement from Aidy Boothroyd's Us.
But it is fifth-placed Swindon Town on 60 points in the best form in the division despite Saturday's disappointment of a 0-0 draw with Leyton Orient.
That stalemate means the Robins are now unbeaten in 13 league games, and they have suffered just one defeat in their last 18.
Huddersfield follow in sixth place on 58 points, level with Millwall who remain the only realistic challengers for a playoff berth.
The Lions have won seven of their last eight league games to open up a gap of nine points to eighth-placed Milton Keynes Dons who have lost three of their last four matches.
Nine points is also the difference between Stockport County and safety, despite the Hatters' second league win in three, 4-3 against second-bottom Wycombe Wanderers.
It was a devastating defeat for the Chairboys who were 4-0 down before a second-half comeback nearly salvaged a point.
Wycombe may only be four points adrift of safety but Gary Waddock's men have played at least one match more than all of their rivals.
Meanwhile, Tranmere Rovers - third-bottom for most of this campaign - have turned it around to get out of the relegation zone.
But Rovers remain just a solitary point clear of the drop on 33 points and they are yet to put together consecutive league wins this season.
In Rovers' place are Exeter City after a real poor run has put their hard-fought League One status in jeopardy.
The Grecians have been promoted for the last two years and have stayed out of real trouble all season.
But just one win in 11 matches - against Leeds - has seen them drop to 22nd place on 31 points.
That is still just one point adrift of Oldham, who are in the final relegation place, and Southend who are outside the drop zone on goal difference only.
Both the Latics and the Shrimpers have lost their last three matches, and though it is the Latics in the drop zone, they have two games in hand.
League Two
Table
ROCHDALE'S quest to achieve a long-awaited promotion moved a step closer after they beat Macclesfield Town 1-0 while rivals Bournemouth and Bury failed to win.
The Dale, on 65 points from 32 games, stretched their lead at the top of League Two to five points over second-placed Bournemouth.
More importantly, Keith Hill's men hold an eight-point advantage over fourth as they seek to secure a first promotion for 35 years.
Second-placed Bournemouth lost at Shrewsbury while third-placed Bury could only manage a 0-0 draw with Barnet at Underhill.
Those results put the Cherries on 60 points from 34 games while the Shakers are a point further back but with a game in hand.
Chesterfield are in fourth place on 57 points from 33 games but their good run of five consecutive wins came to an end with a 1-0 home defeat to Aldershot.
Rotherham United, unbeaten in five, are in fifth place with 56 points from 31 matches while Shrewsbury are still in sixth place after a win, a draw and a loss against three of the top five.
The Shrews started that set of fixtures with a 1-0 loss to Bury but an encouraging draw with Rotherham gave them the confidence to beat Bournemouth and hold on to their top-seven place.
Notts County, in seventh on 51 points, complete the playoff picture as it stands, and with several games in hand on all the clubs above them, the Magpies remain a promotion threat.
It would be a fitting end to a tumultuous season and a 5-0 thrashing of Hereford United perhaps signalled County's intentions in the run-in.
At the bottom, desperate Darlington lost for the 22nd time in the league in 29 matches.
The 1-0 defeat at Valley Parade against Bradford City left the Quakers on 15 points, fully 16 adrift of safety.
Of course, Grimsby Town have been Darlington's bedfellows in the bottom two almost all of the way through the season.
After four consecutive draws encouraged hopes for survival, the Mariners then lost to Dagenham & Redbridge to make it 25 league games without a win.
Unsurprisingly, Grimsby have also been cut adrift on their 24 points from 33 matches.
Neil Woods' men are seven points from safety while third-bottom Cheltenham Town also have a game in hand.
FA Cup Fifth Round
CHELSEA remained on track for a possible league and cup double after an ultimately easy 4-1 win over Cardiff City.
Didier Drogba opened the scoring inside two minutes and Cardiff, on the back of a 5-1 loss to Newcastle United, looked ropey in the early stages.
But an opportunistic goal by Michael Chopra put the Bluebirds on level terms at half time at Stamford Bridge.
Just as it was getting interesting, second half goals from Michael Ballack, Daniel Sturridge and Seb Kalou took the tie away from the Welsh team and ensured the Blues' progress was never really in doubt.
The holders face Stoke City after they followed up their fine 3-1 win over Arsenal in the last round with victory by the same score against ten-man Manchester City in a replay at the Britannia Stadium.
Extra time goals from Ryan Shawcross and Tuncay put Stoke in the last eight for the first time since 1972 after Dave Kitson and Craig Bellamy had exchanged strikes late in normal time.
There will be an all-London quarter final as Tottenham Hotspur face Fulham after both eventually recorded resounding wins in the fifth round.
Fulham completed the job at the first time of asking, brushing aside Notts County, the remaining challenge from League Two, in a 4-0 win at Craven Cottage.
Spurs were forced to take a replay against Bolton Wanderers after fighting back for a 1-1 draw at the Reebok Stadium.
Their 4-0 win in the replay at White Hart Lane was no less resounding than Fulham's thrashing of County.
Two goals from almost-forgotten Russian Roman Pavlyuchenko and two own goals were more than enough to overcome a subdued and disinterested Bolton side.
With seven of the eight quarter finalists from the Premier League, Reading are the lowest-ranked team left in the Cup after they beat fellow Championship side West Brom in the fifth round over two entertaining games.
Joe Mattock rescued a replay for the Baggies with a late goal in the first game after Simon Church looked to have won it for the Royals.
And there was more late drama in the replay at the Hawthorns as Reading striker Brian Howard forced extra time with a goal in the 93rd minute before Gylfi Sigurdsson's curling effort won the tie.
Reading will face Aston Villa in their first FA Cup quarter final for 83 years after the Birmingham side eventually beat Crystal Palace in the fifth round.
This was another tie to go to a replay after a dramatic finish to the original match as Stilyan Petrov scored from a corner that should not have been awarded to level the scores at 2-2.
Lightning struck twice in the tie as Gabriel Agbonlahor gave Villa the lead in the replay, again from a corner that should not have been given, before Darren Ambrose's penalty levelled things up again.
But two late penalties, converted by John Carew, were enough for Villa to dream of a second Wembley appearance in one season.
The remaining quarter final tie, Portsmouth v Birmingham City, was the only one in which both clubs got through the fifth round at the first attempt.
Portsmouth made light of their dire financial situation to silence the Southampton jeers with a 4-1 win at St Mary's Stadium.
The match was actually a lot more even than the final score suggested and, indeed, was level at 1-1 with 20 minutes left.
Quincy Owusu-Abejie gave Pompey the lead before Ricky Lambert for quickly equalised for the Saints.
But three late Pompey goals by Aruna Dindane, Nadir Belhadj and Jamie O'Hara tipped this fierce south-coast derby in their favour.
Birmingham City overcame a scare to beat Derby County and continue their fine season - but only after a last-minute Liam Ridgewell goal.
Joe McEveley had given the Rams a lead on 55 minutes before Scott Dann equalised with 20 minutes left.
The tie looked destined to be heading for a replay at St Andrew's before Ridgewell's late intervention sent Alex McLeish's side through.
Results
Saturday:
Chelsea 4-1 Cardiff City
Derby County 1-2 Birmingham City
Manchester City 1-1 Stoke City
Reading 2-2 West Bromwich Albion
Southampton 1-4 Portsmouth
Sunday:
Bolton Wanderers 1-1 Tottenham Hotspur
Crystal Palace 2-2 Aston Villa
Fulham 4-0 Notts County
Replays
Aston Villa 3-1 Crystal Palace
Stoke City 3-1 Manchester City (after extra time)
Tottenham Hotspur 4-0 Bolton Wanderers
West Bromwich Albion 2-3 Reading (after extra time)
FA Cup Sixth Round Draw
Portsmouth v Birmingham City (Sat 6 Mar, 12:30)
Fulham v Tottenham Hotspur (Sat 6 Mar, 17:20)
Reading v Aston Villa (Sun 7 Mar, 13:45)
Chelsea v Stoke City (Sun 7 Mar, 16:00)
All matches shown live on ITV1
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