Newcastle 3 Scunthorpe 0

The Championship game between Newcastle United and Scunthorpe United at St James's Park on Wednesday March 17 2010.

Andy Carroll demonstrated why he would be foolish to turn his back on England on Wednesday night as his two cracking finishes eased Newcastle towards the finishing line in the race for the Premier League.

The towering England Under-21 targetman is at the centre of a proverbial international tug-of-war thanks to his Scottish roots and while he might not be the finished article his endeavours for the Championship leaders again underlined his immense potential.

A rapidly improving Carroll, 21, and Peter Lovenkrands took their goal-scoring tallies this term to 14 apiece leaving Chris Hughton's Championship leaders needing a maximum of five more wins to guarantee a return to top-flight football after they overwhelmed Scunthorpe United.

Scunthorpe had never won at St James' Park and the prospect of Nigel Adkins' team re-writing the record books on their first visit to the Tyneside since 1963-64 quickly faded Lovenkrands tested Joe Murphy with a low left-footed shot before Carroll put a team undefeated at home all season on course for victory when he rose above the Scunthorpe defence to powerfully nod in Danny Guthrie's corner in the 10th minute.

Nolan had header disallowed for offside following Guthrie's clever dinked free-kick and Lovenkrands struck the crossbar from close range after Murphy spilled Jose Enrique's cross as Newcastle dominated.

Murphy, whose team beat Newcastle 2-1 at Glanford Park last October, then denied Carroll with a fine save as Scunthorpe fought to stay in the contest.

The Iron had no answer, though, to Lovenkrands' slick movement and the Dane scored for the sixth consecutive game when he confidently beat Murphy following Wayne Routledge's incisive pass in the 22nd minute.

It was a case of deja vu four minutes later following Routledge's pull-back but Murphy was equal to Lovenkrands first-time shot as Hughton's side threaten to humiliate opponents for whom goal-difference could prove to be vital to their fortunes this term.

Adkins was said to have rested key players such as striker Gary Hooper with crunch games looming and it meant Newcastle were able to cruise to their sixth consecutive home victory.

The highlight of a one-sided second half that at times drifted was Carroll's second goal of the evening as he latched on to the increasing influential Guthrie's pass before delicately lifting the ball over Murphy from an acute angle to show there is plenty of brain as well as brawn for this Geordie.

The standing ovation the former St James' Park ball-boy received when substituted by Hughton said it all.

Middlesbrough 2 Newcastle United 2

The Championship game between Middlesbrough and Newcastle United at the Riverside on Saturday, March 13 2010.

England Under-21 striker Andy Carroll salvaged a point for Newcastle United with a late equaliser to keep the Tyneside club on course for automatic promotion at the Riverside.

The Championship leaders may have allowed second-placed West Bromwich Albion to narrow the gap at the top but Carroll's late intervention ensured the all-important advantage over Nottingham Forest and the chasing pack was strengthened.

Carroll denied Boro victory in the Tyne-Tees derby for the first time since October 2006 just as Middlesbrough were ready to claim the local bragging rights as the home side outplayed Newcastle and overcame Peter

Lovenkrands's early opener to take the lead through the excellent Barry Robson and Scott McDonald before Newcastle had the final say.

Boro, who remain on the fringe of the four play-off positions, produced their best display this season and dominated from the word go with Newcastle manager Chris Hughton left fretting early on when Scott McDonald tumbled in the penalty area under Fabricio Coloccini's challenge but Lee Mason waved away legitimate appeals for the spot-kick.

Fitz Hall, in for Mike Williamson who could be out for a month after breaking a hand in a domestic accident, then blocked a goal-bound shot from as Boro thrived on the local derby atmosphere.

Despite Boro's promising start, Newcastle owner Mike Ashley was able to chortle at the ironic rendition of 'There's only one Mike Ashley' from the Boro supporters.

Ashley had plenty more to smile about in the 16th minute as Newcastle took a stranglehold on the contest.

The Boro defence disintegrated as Jonas Gutierrez skillfully made space for himself before he threaded a pass through to Lovenkrands who beat Danny Coyne with a low left-footed shot after leaving David Wheater in his wake to notch his 13th goal this season.

Boro bounced back impressively after that lapse and would have equalised in the 28th minute but for a smart save by Steve Harper who pushed away Barry Robson's 20-yard free-kick after Danny Simpson had felled Rhys Williams.

Robson was not to be thwarted when he set his sights on goal in the 36th minute as he equalised brilliantly and deservedly, playing a one-two with McDonald before curling a left-footed shot beyond the motionless Harper from 25 yards.

Coloccini limped off five minutes into the second half which forced Hughton to re-jig his back-four with Tamas Kadar switching from left-back to link up with Hall in central defence.

Boro almost made the most of Newcastle's misfortune and Julio Arca should have put the hosts ahead on the hour when he was sent clear by Gary O'Neil but Harper won the battle of wits and saved with a leg.

Back came Newcastle and Kadar almost restored his team's lead when he met Danny Guthrie's in-swinging corner but he nodded the ball straight at Danny Coyne from close range.

Gordon Strachan's team made the most of that let-off thanks to McDonald who struck from close range when Neil Killen nodded Robson's free-kick across the goalmouth in the 74th minute.

Boro looked set for a morale-boosting win until Ryan Taylor's cross eluded Stephen McManus and was slammed past Coyne by Carroll in the 82nd minute, the final notable incident of an intriguing derby.

Queens Park Rangers 3 West Bromwich Albion 1

The Championship match between Queens Park Rangers and West Bromwich Albion at Loftus Road on Saturday March 06, 2010.

Anyone scouring Loftus Road in search of a saviour may well have overlooked the 61 year-old with the slack jaw and receding hairline. But the mere shadow of Neil Warnock in the doorway appears to have cajoled Queens Park Rangers into life.

Less than a week after leaving Crystal Palace, his 11th club, he is remaking a 12th in his own weathered image. But to attribute Saturday’s result solely to the Warnock effect would be disingenuous. While QPR enjoyed a new lease of life, West Brom simply committed suicide. Roberto di Matteo’s team have won just one match in six.

“Both the goals in the first 20 minutes were terrible to give away,” the Italian said. “You can’t allow that. “It makes your day so much more difficult.”

If goalkeeper Scott Carson still idly aspired to a seat on the plane to South Africa, it took 13 minutes for the door to be closed for the last time. Launching QPR’s first meaningful attack, Adel Taarabt crossed. The ball was indisputably Carson’s, but he failed to cling on, and after Hogan Ephraim had taken first bite, it was left to Jay Simpson to jab the ball in.

Left-back Marek Cech was at fault for the second goal, straying too far infield as Alejandro Faurlin played a diagonal pass to Matthew Connolly, who finished between Carson’s legs.

Cech then went some way towards redeeming himself, beginning the move that led to West Brom’s goal. Jerome Thomas’s cross looked unthreatening, but at the back post, Chris Brunt’s header was trained at the right trajectory to float into the corner.

As West Brom pressed for an equaliser, the main difference between the sides continued to be between the posts. While Carson garnered ironic acclaim whenever he claimed the ball, QPR’s Carl Ikeme kept his side ahead with two excellent saves. His second, rushing out to deny Thomas, was outstanding.

If Carson thought his day could get no worse, he was wrong. Akos Buzsaky hoisted in a free-kick from the left, and as it eluded forwards and backs alike, Carson was left hopelessly stranded as the ball bounced over his head, off the post, and trickled in.

“We’ve had a good week,” Warnock said. “It was a matter of finding out what I’m like. They’ve taken everything on board from the first day, and they’ve not let me down.”

Newcastle United 6 Barnsley 1

The Championship match between Newcastle United and Barnsley at St James’s Park on Saturday March 6th, 2010.

St James's Park has become a web of intrigue since Mike Ashley bought the club but here it was the scene for Newcastle United's very own Spiderman in the shape of Jonás Gutiérrez to weave his magic.

Ashley was still relatively popular when Gutiérrez arrived on Tyneside from Real Mallorca in July 2008 with the Argentine promising to celebrate goals by sporting a Spiderman mask.

At long last the wait to see the comic book super-hero act that became his trademark in Spain was finally ended in this rout against Barnsley, who suffered a debilitating blow when goalkeeper Luke Steele was sent off just before half-time when he conceded a penalty.

It would only be a slight exaggeration to say substitute keeper David Preece’s first six touches all came by virtue of picking the ball out of the back of the net amid an incredible flurry of goals.

Unbeaten in the league this season at home, the Championship leaders haven’t so much turned their ground into a fortress as a place of execution for opponents as their lead at the top of the division was stretched to eight points.

No one sums up their home superiority more than Peter Lovenkrands, whose 11 goals this term have all been scored on home turf, but if the Dane created the foundation with a brace and Danny Guthrie sealed victory, Gutiérrez took centre-stage with his Spiderman antics before Guthrie and Kevin Nolan completed the scoring.

“I’m not sure it was worth the wait but Jonas’ was a wonderful goal,” Hughton said. “What was most important was his overall contribution which we can’t fault.”

Until Steele’s sending-off, Mark Robins’ side gave Newcastle a good run for their money. The game turned Newcastle’s way when when Steele fouled Lovenkrands, who then slotted his penalty past Preece.

Lovenkrands nodded in Andy Carroll’s cross before Guthrie beat Preece from 25 yards, but Gutiérrez upstaged them by crashing in a long-distance shot off the underside of the bar.

Guthrie curled home a free kick and Nolan burst into the box and rounded the goalkeeper for the home side’s sixth before Daniel Bogdanovic’s consolation for Barnsley. Robins said: “The disappointment was the sending off. That was pivotal.

It was dubious whether there was any contact but I’m told by the ref if the rule is whether there is a trip or attempt to trip.”

Nottingham Forest 1 Swansea City 0

The Championship match between Nottingham Forest and Swansea City at the City Ground on Saturday March 6th, 2010.

While the old adage that there is no place like home certainly applies to Nottingham Forest the East Midlands club may also reflect that charity also begins at that same location after seeing off one of their closest promotion rivals at the City Ground.

During their previous five away games, Forest have amassed as many points as they have goals - precisely zero - but their fine form in their own backyard continued with this tenth successive league win on the south bank of the River Trent.

A goalkeeping clanger by Swansea's Dorus de Vries in the first minute of time added presented the victory to Forest that hoisted them back in to the automatic promotion places behind Newcastle United, now seemingly the champions elect.

But a glaring error of equal magnitude by referee Colin Webster was also pivotal in Swansea's first defeat in 13 matches, their last reverse also being inflicted by Forest at the Liberty Stadium last December.

Darren Pratley, released by substitute Cedric van der Gun's pass, was poised to secure a 73rd minute lead for the visitors when full back Chris Cohen tugged the midfield player to the floor, a tackle that would have merited a red card had the match officials spotted the incident.

Their failure to punish Cohen was compounded when Forest were awarded a disputed corner, Swansea claiming offside against Dexter Blackstock, which Lewis McGugan floated into the six yard area in the 92nd minute.

De Vries misjudged its flight badly and as it sailed over his groping hands, centre half Luke Chambers, only starting because of injury to Kelvin Wilson, headed the winner which appeared to stun the scorer as much as Swansea and Paulo Sousa.

"Week by week, not just once, we are on the wrong end of decisions," said Swansea's Portuguese manager. "I hope somebody can explain it because it's difficult to understand. The whole ground was shocked, everybody saw it. These mistakes have cost us a lot of points when we could be in the automatic promotion places."

Forest manager Billy Davies agreed that Sousa had every right to be unhappy with the officials but by then his team should have been ahead.

George Boyd was denied a goal on his debut when De Vries's legs blocked his right foot effort but later in the first half, Cohen was profligate when he volleyed high and wide after Paul Anderson's clever turn and centre had invited a more composed close range finish at the far post.

Reading 5 Sheffield Wednesday 0

The Championship match between Reading and Sheffield Wednesday at the Madejski Stadium on Saturday Feb 27 2010.

Brian McDermott is fast becoming the Championship’s alchemist. The novice Reading manager seems to have pinned down the formula for prompting promising footballers to realise their potential.

If he can maintain such adroitness in cultivating talent, as well as persuading players they are better than they actually are, more glamorous positions could beckon, yet he is content to continue wringing out the ability of those who grace the Madejski. A fifth league win in six was garnered to go alongside a captivating FA Cup adventure.

“I don’t think there are any secrets. We don’t look too far ahead, we look at each game. The players are really up for it. We played really good football,” McDermott said, perhaps struggling to resist thoughts of next Sunday’s quarter final against Aston Villa.

Reading’s third goal was an explicit illustration of a footballer’s sudden refinement. Simon Church has not found goal-scoring a simple activity this season but the swivel past Sheffield Wednesday defender Richard Hinds and measured shot which found the net via a post in the second half smacked of a forward who nets for fun.

Wednesday under Alan Irvine have a purposefulness which was not apparent under Brian Laws, although they were swamped by Reading’s greater appetite to attack and win the match. Wednesday reside in the relegation zone.

All over the pitch there were examples of Reading’s rejuvenation in miniature. Grzegorz Rasiak has divided opinion among supporters but he gave them reason to extol his virtues as a goal poacher extraordinaire. With clinical opportunism he scored twice, first doubling Reading’s lead just before half time after Church’s shot was blocked and then stabbing in Jimmy Kebe’s cross as Wednesday disintegrated.

Kebe is another whose self-belief has been unshackled. His work ethic has often been a subject of debate but, playing wide on the right and often drifting infield, he displayed the conviction to run at players. He gave Reading the lead with a shot which took a deflection off Hinds and wrong-footed Lee Grant before tearing through in the 71st minute and crashing in his second and his side’s fifth goal.

This was football butchery and all the more impressive given McDermott was without the energy and penetration of suspended winger Jobi McAnuff and had to pitch Gylfi Sigurdsson on the left flank.

Reading goalkeeper Adam Federici may have perversely regretted not having more opportunity to showcase his ability to Premier League suitors but he was a virtual bystander.

Watford 1 Newcastle United 2

The Championship match between Watford and Newcastle United at Vicarage Road on Saturday February 27, 2010.

And so the Newcastle juggernaut rolls on. What was remarkable about this victory was its almost complete lack of anything to remark on. Two goals, and a six-point lead at the top of Championship, compiled with the minimum of fuss.

Newcastle, long noted for their lassitude south of Watford, looked pin-sharp in the town itself. Watford had not conceded at home so far this year, but within four minutes they had succumbed to the black-and-white blitzkrieg.

Danny Guthrie’s free-kick from the left touchline found Andy Carroll, whose header looped across the face of goal. Fabricio Coloccini did the honours, nodding past Scott Loach into the corner of the goal. It was the eighth time this season Newcastle had scored in the first 10 minutes of a game.

Watford attempted to claw their back into a match they had missed the start of, but without the suspended Nathan Cleverly, were unable to lock Newcastle’s defence. The closest they got was Danny Graham’s mistimed shot from 12 yards that Steve Harper gathered comfortably.

For their part, Newcastle were content to sit on their lead and neuter Watford’s hopeful lofted balls into the channel. The first half rarely threatened to entertain, although the home fans were at least able to cheer the booking of former Watford player Mike Williamson.

But in the second half, just as in the first, Newcastle pounced early. Again Watford failed to mark tightly enough at a Guthrie corner, and six yards out in the centre of the goal, Carroll was allowed to rise unchallenged for the ninth goal of what is fast becoming his breakthrough season.

As sheets of rain began to lash down, prompting jocular chants of “this is unplayable” by the home supporters, Newcastle continued to defend stoutly.

By the time Watford were finally able to breach the dam, Will Hoskins lashing home after Heidar Helguson’s shot had deflected off Kevin Nolan, it was too late.

Middlesbrough 2 Queens Park Rangers 0

The Championship match between Middlesbrough and QPR at the Riverside on Saturday Feb 27 2010.

If Neil Warnock wants an insight into the size of the task awaiting Queens Park Rangers' new manager then he should quickly acquaint himself with a DVD of this contest.

The Loftus Road club may be confident of luring Warnock from Crystal Palace but the manager who has become a promotion specialist will have to ready himself for a prolonged relegation wherever in London he decides to work.

Here at the Riverside, Warnock's prospective new charges made a bright opening before their hopes of easing their own relegation worries were quickly extinguished in the space of six minutes.

The visitors were all too easily brushed aside by Gordon Strachan's side whose own play-off aspirations are alive again thanks to two first-half penalties by Barry Robson who helped Boro dominate the crucial midfield exchanges.

Rangers tried to shoot themselves in the foot when Kaspars Gorkss appeared to punch Gary O'Neill's free kick but he was let off the hook by the referee and striker Neil Killen who thumped the ball over from six yards out in the 20th minute.

The visitors almost capitalised on their lucky escape ten minutes later when Jay Simpson surged into the penalty box but his rising shot appeared to clip the outside of Danny Coyne's near post.

Rangers were let off the hook again when Jeremie Aliadiere was allowed the time and space to pick his spot at the far post following Willo Flood's cross but the former Arsenal forward before firing wide from an inviting position.

The Frenchman was clearly keen to atone sooner rather than later and won a penalty for his side when he darted goalwards moments later only to be brought down by former Newcastle defender Peter Ramage.

Barry Robson grabbed the ball and fought off the claims of his team-mates such as Aliadiere and Leroy Lita to thump the ball straight down the middle of the goal into space vacated by Carl Ikeme in the 39th minute.

Rangers' caretaker manager Mick Harford saw his charges respond impressively and they almost equalised but Simpson had a rising shot pushed wide by Coyne.

There would be no let-off for Gorkss when he erred again as he pushed over Lita in the penalty box and was booked before Robson smashed home his second penalty of the afternoon in the 45th minute.

Substitute Adel Taarabt, on loan from Tottenham, almost halved the deficit in the 72nd minute with a sweetly-struck 20-yarder but Coyne turned his effort wide before Boro broke forward and Ikeme denied Lita.

Rangers stuck to their task and skipper Mikele Leigertwood struck a post late on as Boro sat back yet Gary O'Neil should have finished off a counter-attack but Ikeme came to his side's rescue.

Bristol City 2 West Bromwich Albion 1

The Championship game between Bristol City and West Bromwich Albion at Ashton Gate on Sunday Feb 21, 2010.

Two goals in four second-half minutes condemned West Bromwich Albion to only their second defeat on the road this season as City chalked up only their third victory in 20 games.

West Brom were much the better side in the first half but the way they wilted under mounting pressure from Gary Johnson's side in the second will cause concern for them while giving their promotion rivals plenty of hope.

"I'm angry because we were in the driving seat and gave it away," said Albion manager Roberto Di Matteo. "We were comfortable and in control of the game and we shouldn't have let them back into the match."

Johnson was full of praise for his team, who have slipped down the table recently: "We put in an unbelievably committed, passionate performance. I don't think my players quite realise how good they can be."

West Brom began the day with the best record on the road in the Championship and, the way they started, it looked as if they would ease to their ninth win away from the Hawthorns this season.

They deservedly took the lead midway through the first half. City had just survived one scare before allowing Graham Dorrans acres of space in the inside right channel to shoot across Dean Gerken off a post for West Brom's 32nd goal on the road in the league this season.

The 33rd should have followed soon afterwards. This time Dorran's was the provider as he set up Roman Bednar, who scuffed his shot with only Gerken to beat six yards out.

City were fortunate there yet they could have gone in level at the break. Joe Mattock allowed the ball to slip under his studs inside his own box, which gave Danny Haynes a fantastic chance but, with just the keeper to beat, he miscued his shot well wide of the goal.

Having been second best throughout the first period, City started to dominate in the second. Ten minutes in, Lee Johnson's corner caused problems inside the six-yard box before Chris Iwelumo, on loan from Wolves, poked the ball in for his first goal for City.

Four minutes later, City were ahead. Haynes had caused Mattock real problems all afternoon with his speedy runs down the right flank and, having left the full-back in his wake yet again, he delivered the ideal cross for Lee Johnson to slide in to score his first goal of the season.

West Brom looked ragged and Haynes consistently embarrassed Mattock, who was having a day to forget. "I bet he felt like slitting his wrists by the end," said Johnson.

City, though, have conceded a third of their goals this season in the last 10 minutes of matches and so, having failed to finish the game off, they had to hold on nervously at the end.

Bednar broke clear but had his shot saved by the legs of Gerken but, for once, City's defence held out as they won their first match in eight attempts.

"We managed to get a player to go down injured, we made a substitution, we kept the ball in the corner, we kicked it over the stand, anything to hold on," joked Johnson.

Match details

Bristol City (4-4-2): Gerken; Orr, Carey, Nyatanga, Fontaine; Haynes (Sproule 83), Elliott, Johnson (Hartley 90), Skuse; Clarkson (Maynard 79), Iwelumo.
Subs: Collis (g), Williams, Plummer, Edwards.
West Brom (4-5-1): Carson; Zuiverloon (Wood 79), Tamas, Olsson, Mattock; Brunt, Koren (Cox 62), Dorrans, Mulumbu, Nouble (Slory 56); Bednar.
Subs: Kiely (g), Moore, Meite, Thorne. Booked: Olsson, Brunt, Bednar, Cox.
Referee: N Swarbrick (Preston).

Crystal Palace 0 Coventry 1

The Championship game between Queens Park Rangers and Doncaster Rovers at Loftus Road on Saturday Feb 20 2010.

Mired in uncertainty off the pitch, Crystal Palace failed to regain their bearings on it. Administration has dissolved their promotion assault and they are struggling to keep their heads above water in every sense.

Ipswich’s triumph at Sheffield Wednesday condemned the south London club to the relegation zone and an arduous campaign of survival beckons.

Neil Warnock, whose future as Palace manager has been shrouded in conjecture, looked relaxed as he posed for photographs before kick-off, although calmness quickly evaporated when asked about Queen’s Park Rangers’ interest in him. “I’ve said enough about that. I’m fed up with it,” he replied with agitation.

A fixture riddled with sub-plots, marked by the return of Chris Coleman and Clinton Morrison to Selhurst Park, was not the breeding ground for expressionist football or a Palace recovery.

Coventry performed in a practical 4-4-2 and Palace, whose conveyor belt of talent has reeled off exciting players, largely failed to bring imagination to their play. Sean Scannell and Darren Ambrose were systematically stifled.

Yet there was transitory hope. Once marginalised by Warnock and seemingly on the way out yet liberated by Victor Moses’ departure, Nick Carle’s effervescence ignited Palace. In the first half he drifted past a couple of challenges and created space for Ambrose, whose shot ricocheted off Kieren Westwood and dribbled wide.

Carle was lithe and hungry for the ball, an appetite whetted by the promise of regular football. Both sides were competitive but stodgy going forward, although the Australian’s energy remained throughout.

Here was a player with designs on gracing this summer’s World Cup with Australia and rejuvenated by the prospect. Just minutes into the second half he weighted a pass into Ambrose, who burst into the box but was stopped by Stephen Wright.

Carle bristled with an exuberance generated by a new-found confidence. Soon he drifted out to the right and delivered a cross which Johannes Ertl headed off target.

The past, though, tugged uneasily at Palace. Morrison, so often their saviour, released Aron Gunnarsson with a nonchalant flick but, with just Julian Speroni to beat, his finish was tame.

Coventry did not exude adventure but menaced on the break and, five minutes from time, substitute David Bell played a one-two with Jonathan Stead and left Speroni stranded with a deft chip.

“You’ve got to feel sorry for them,” offered Coleman. His old club need to muster fantasy and resistance to the backdrop of hideously unpredictable times.

Derby County 0 Swansea City 1

The Championship game between Derby County and Swansea City at Pride Park on Saturday Feb 20 2010.

Derby are facing the prospect of more disciplinary action from the Football Association after another Championship encounter at Pride Park ended in a mass brawl.

At least 18 players were involved in a mêlée near Derby’s right corner flag, sparked by a wild two-footed lunge from Swansea substitute Gorka Pintado on Robbie Savage.

Pintado was sent off, and while referee Steve Tanner took no action against any of the other players involved, Derby could still be in trouble because they are already facing an FA charge after a touchline flare-up during last month’s game against Nottingham Forest.

The authorities are also unlikely to be unimpressed by County manager Nigel Clough choosing to defend his players’ part in the fight, which necessitated the intervention of several stewards and police officers standing in that corner of the stadium.

“Our players did nothing out of order,” said Clough, who had earlier seen Jay McEveley sent off. “The officials were right there in the corner when it all kicked off and didn’t show one yellow card to any other player.

“We don’t want our players to walk away from that situation, we expect them to support their team-mate in the manner they did.

“No one wants punches thrown but they are entitled to be there to support a player, especially after a tackle like that. It was a two-footed challenge from behind, feet off the floor. That in itself led to the problems in the corner.”

Swansea manager Paulo Sousa made a thinly disguised attack on the officials.

“We played against 14 but we had 12,” he remarked. “But we need to control our emotions much better.”

There was no sign of what was to come in a first half that was largely forgettable but the game boiled over after the interval when McEveley collected a second yellow card when he dragged down Dyer.

McEveley was furious at the decision and kicked over the drink bottles on his way to the tunnel but his team were trailing by the time he reached the dressing room. David Cotterill swung the ball to the back post where veteran striker Shefki Kuqi glanced a header inside the right post.

That was by no means the end of the drama, but Swansea rose above the maelstrom to preserve their lead and stay fourth in the Championship.

Queens Park Rangers 2 Doncaster Rovers 1

The Championship game between Queens Park Rangers and Doncaster Rovers at Loftus Road on Saturday Feb 20 2010.

Queens Park Rangers started life without Flavio Briatore in style as they moved four points clear of the relegation zone in what is likely to be Mick Harford's final game in caretaker charge.

The controversial Italian resigned from his role as Chairman of QPR Holdings Ltd on Friday, leaving a legacy of ten managerial changes and 47 signings in just 29 months in charge.

He has been replaced by Ishan Saksena, who Telegraph Sport understands has stepped up the search for a permanent manager to replace Harford, who has won just one of his seven games in charge.

The favourite is Crystal Palace manager Neil Warnock, although QPR would have to wait until after Palace's FA Cup fifth round replay with Aston Villa on Wednesday to make an offer.

Alan Curbishley has also been considered for the job in the past, but it is understood that he has been ruled out on this occasion.

Gianni Paladini has reverted back to his role as Chairman of QPR FC, which is in turn owned by the Holdings company, but it is Saksena who will make the final decision on the new manager.

Briatore has also sold the majority of his shares to the Mittal family, who are represented by Amit Bhatia, vice-chairman of QPR Holdings Ltd, but they are expected to be far less hands-on than the previous regime.

Briatore interfered with selection and transfer policy, but the new men in charge recognise that the new manager must be given complete control.

That is likely to mean the end of Harford's temporary reign at the club - a scenario he is well prepared for.

"The football club need to appoint a new manager. If it's me then great, if not then they should bring someone in to take this great club forward," said Harford.

"My remit is simply to look after the team. I've been given no assurances and I don't know if I'll be in charge against Middlesbrough next Saturday."

Yet if this was Harford's final game in charge it was a fine way to bow out as 18-year-old striker Antonio German took the game by storm, scoring his first professional goal from close range in the first-half after Neil Sullivan had parried Jay Simpson's shot.

QPR's achilles heel is their defence, and James Hayter made it 20

games without a clean sheet for the hosts as he converted Billy Sharp's low cross. But QPR were the better side - "we were awful," admitted Doncaster's manager, Sean O'Driscoll, afterwards - and Simpson won the game with 14 minutes left as he chested down Akos Buzsaky's through-ball and volleyed past an over-exposed Sullivan.

Nottingham Forest 1 Middlesbrough 0

The Championship game between Nottingham Forest and Middlesbrough at the City Ground on Saturday Feb 20 2010.

When two teams charged by vertically challenged managers from north of Hardian's Wall collide the natural laws of the universe state that sparks should fly.

Sadly both Nottingham Forest and Middlesbrough confounded the basic principles of the football cosmos at the City Ground though in this relentlessly dull contest of attrition, it was the home side that reaped its dividend with a ninth successive home victory.

Three more and Billy Davies will have emulated the 12 secured by Brian Clough's Forest over two seasons in 1980 but for now the current vintage can be satisfied with second position in the table, a berth West Bromwich Albion may regain if they beat Bristol City today.

"What brings a bigger smile to my face is our 15th clean sheet of the season," said Davies, whose reward for guiding Derby County to the Premiership three years ago was the sack within four months. "The way we competed against a team just down from the Premiership tells you how far we have come."

The single outstandingly fluid movement of the match belonged to Forest, finished in a style befitting its creation by Chris Cohen.

It had been a long hard slog, just for the neutral that is, and the goal owed much to the temperamental indifference of Leroy Rita who lost his composure and possession then threw a tantrum as Kelvin Wilson dispossessed the Middlesbrough substitute in the 72nd minute.

Radoslaw Majewski carried the move over the half way line on the left, found Dexter Blackstock who in turn released Cohen fractionally inside the 18-yard area before the midfield player swept a clever dink over Danny Coyne for the winner. Majewski's free kick that clipped the top of the crossbar and Robert Earnshaw's volley over the top were the best, in fact only, first half highlights.

Middlesbrough are in team in transformation but as yet, their kit has not changed to green and white hoops despite the January recruitment of five players from their manager Gordon Strachan's former club Celtic.

"They have added a steeliness and a drive but today wasn't our day," said Strachan, whose best hope of success is a play-off place - or maybe a revival of the Anglo-Scottish Cup.

Crystal Palace 1 Reading 3

The Championship game between Crystal Palace and Reading at Selhurst Park on Wednesday, February 17 2010.

Following Crystal Palace has become something of a lottery these days: administration, Cup giant-killings and now this capitulation against a competent but modest Reading side. Brendan Guilfoyle may have placed an advert for investors in the Financial Times, but perhaps the Racing Post would have been a better bet.

Any potential buyers at Selhurst Park would have been impressed by the home side’s speed out of the traps. They had four shots on goal in the first 10 minutes, all of them volleyed efforts. Darren Ambrose had the first and best of them, forcing a diving stop from Adam Federici with a volley from 18 yards, while Nick Carle and Neil Danns could also have scored early on.

But just as Crystal Palace sought to press home their advantage, they were undone by an error at the back. Clint Hill cleared the ball straight to Jimmy Kebe, who laid the ball off for former Palace player Jobi McAnuff to cross. Taking a leaf out of the Paul Scholes playbook, Simon Church did not connect perfectly with the volley at the far post, but it was sufficiently well-directed to beat Julian Speroni and bounce over the line.

Church should have punished Palace again when Brnyjar Gunnarsson’s threaded ball put him through, but the Welsh striker’s touch deserted him. Barely a minute into the second period, though, Reading did extend their lead.

Gunnarsson crossed from the right and Kebe slapped a low finish past Speroni.

Such was the timbre of the game, though, that Reading’s lead never felt impregnable, and substitute Sean Scannell pulled one back for Palace when he hurled a dreadlocked head at Ambrose’s corner from close range. On the touchline, Neil Warnock applauded, grimly relishing the fight.

The Palace manager continues to be linked with a move to QPR, but appears to be in no mood for throwing in the towel.

But though his side continued to press, an equaliser ultimately eluded them. Federici again denied Ambrose and Danny Butterfield from long-range.

Finally, clinically, Reading delivered the killer blow. McAnuff floated in a free-kick from the right, Matt Mills controlled and squared for Church, whose tap-in was simplicity itself.

Newcastle United 4 Coventry City 1

The Championship game between Newcastle United and Coventry City at St James' Park on Wednesday, February 17 2010.

Wayne Routledge always seems to have flattered to deceive but on Wednesday night the winger suggested he may at last have changed his ways following his arrival at St James' Park.

With a spectacular goal, the former Tottenham player spearheaded an impressive Newcastle United recovery as the Tyneside club regained their grip on top spot in the Championship.

Routledge's intervention, after Clinton Morrison suggested an upset could be on the cards, ensured that Newcastle preserved their unbeaten home league record. Andy Carroll put Newcastle ahead before Coventry City were reduced to 10 men due to Routledge's pace that allowed Peter Lovenkrands to score from the penalty spot.

Coventry, unbeaten in their six games, gave Newcastle an early scare but Morrison, making his 500th league appearance, saw his curling shot nodded off the line by captainKevin Nolan.

Newcastle quickly hit back but Keiren Westwood brilliantly pushed away Peter Lovenkrands's header following Jonas Gutierrez's fine cross after the winger outmanoeuvred right-back Stephen Wright.

After drifting for more than half-and-hour, the game suddenly burst into life in the 35th minute when Coventry took the lead in fortuitous circumstances as Morrison slipped as he made contact with Michael McIndoe's cross but still diverted the ball past Steve Harper.

The response was as swift as it was stylish as Routledge beat Westwood with a low 25-yard volley after Lovenkrands's cross following Danny Guthrie's short corner was nodded out by Wright only for the winger to crash home his first goal in Newcastle colours.

It needed that moment of inspiration to pull Newcastle level because Chris Hughton's side lacked a creative spark in midfield that was necessary to prise open a robust Coventry defence while Gutierrez and Routledge failed to deliver on a regular basis out on the flanks.

Newcastle began the second half with far more purpose and their invigorated approach quickly paid dividends as Guthrie pushed the ball through to Kevin Nolan who crossed from the by-line for Carroll to apply the finishing touch with a close-range header in the 53rd minute.

Newcastle moved into an unassailable lead in the 70th minute when Leon Barnett was sent off after picking up his second caution of the evening when he felled Routledge in the penalty area and Lovenkrands beat Westwood with a powerfully struck spot-kick.

Substitute Ryan Taylor wrapped up the scoring with a close-range, stoppage-time finish.

Cardiff City 1 West Bromwich Albion 1

The Championship game between Cardiff City and West Bromwich Albion at the Cardiff City Stadium on Tuesday February 16 2010.

West Bromwich Albion regained top spot in the Championship, for the time being at least, thanks to a Gianni Zuiverloon goal at the Cardiff City stadium.

With Newcastle United resting ahead of tonight's game against Coventry City at St James's Park, the Baggies took over in pole position as Cardiff City further improved their chances of a play-off place.

However, it might have been an altogether different story had Albion substitute Simon Cox been a little more forceful when attempting to prod home a corner into added time.

Unfortunately, for Cox, man of the match Kevin McNaughton was on hand to hack the ball clear and preserve a valuable point for his side.

After a somewhat pedestrian start from both sides, it was the Bluebirds who struck first when captain Jay Bothroyd was hauled down by a clumsy tackle from the giant centre-half Jonas Olsson.

Peter Whittingham lashed home the ensuing penalty for 19th goal of the season and though they picked up the pace after that, Albion were restricted to a series of rather tame long range efforts that rarely troubled the Scotland goalkeeper David Marshall.

Bothroyd's aerial threat, even against the towering Olsson, provided Cardiff with a valuable long ball option on a night when they sorely missed the midfield presence of Joe Ledley and Stephen McPhail.

In contrast, Albion were neat and tidy in the central area of the field and when the influential Graeme Dorans caught Gabor Geypes napping in the 22nd minute, Andwele Flory struck an upright with Marshall well beaten.

Chris Burke forced a decent save from Scott Carson a minute after Whittingham had departed through injury, but having lost their way somewhat in the second quarter, the visitors levelled two minutes into first half stoppage time when Gianni Zuiverloon escaped the clutches of Mark Kennedy to score off the post.

With Cardiff looking increasingly vulnerable at the back, Chris Brunt hit the side netting with a rasping drive three minutes into the second half before Zuiverloon, on the overlap, was held back by Kennedy. Having been booked for taking the resulting free-kick too quickly, Dorans set up Zuiverloon to inexplicably blaze his shot into Row Z.

Ninety seconds later, Robert Koren saw yellow for deliberately handballing Gavin Rae's cross. However, once again, the set piece came to nothing as Bothroyd headed into the arms of Carson.

As both sides set off in pursuit of victory, there were half chances aplenty. Rae shot hopelessly high and wide from 25 yards before Geypes reacted quickest in his own six-yard box following a slide rule cross from Frank Nouble.

Nottingham Forest 1 Sheffield United 0

The Championship game between Nottingham Forest and Sheffield United at the City Ground Stadium on Tuesday February 16 2010.

Nottingham Forest's tilt at automatic promotion regained its momentum at the City Ground with this gritty victory over Sheffield United.

Robert Earnshaw's goal was decisive though the dismissal of Darius Hendersen seconds after the interval was also influential in the win, Forest's eighth in succession on home territory.

A sequence of three consecutive defeats had cast doubts over Forest ambitions but their pursuit of the division's leading lights has been relentless.

United can anticipate a play-off place at best but Forest manager Billy Davies, with previous form at this level with Preston North End and Derby County, knows that his team are ready to pounce should the top two falter.

Forest's attempts to revive fortunes found support from an unusual quarter – the United back four and in particular Toni Kallio, their left back.

Like his defensive colleagues, the Finnish international on-loan from Fulham made a tentative start and judging by his early distribution, his Scandinavian roots might be more of use on the snowy slopes of Vancouver.

That bad beginning got worse in only the fourth minute as Forest surged ahead from a set=piece. United manager Kevin Blackwell had probably drilled into his players the Forest routine from corner kicks but they heeded not a jot of the training ground warnings as Radoslaw Majeswki teased the ball into the near post where an unmarked Paul Anderson headed into the six yard area.

The effort might have crossed the line in itself but in the traditional fashion of the predator, Earnshaw was in the right place to finish for his 11th goal of the season.

In a less than enterprising response, Nyron Nosworthy's aimless free kick was the best the visitors could muster, its flight deceiving everyone until Lee Camp dived to his left to push the ball to safety.

Less than a minute into the second half, however, United's cause was hindered when Henderson was sent off, an off-the-ball incident spotted by a linesman who presumably told the referee that an elbow had been raised on Kelvin Wilson.

Inspired by their numerical advantage, Forest could have increased their lead, Mark Bunn thwarting Chris Cohen before the United goalkeeper's fine reactions produced the save of the match to deny substitute Nathan Tyson.

Lyon 1 Real Madrid 0

The Champions League game between Lyon and Real Madrid at Stade de Gerland on Tuesday Feb 16 2010.

Jean Makoun's brilliant second-half strike gave Lyon a deserved lead to take into the second leg of their Champions League last-16 clash against Real Madrid.

Following a scoreless first half that saw Lyon make most of the running and also hit the woodwork, Makoun struck what would prove to be the only goal of the game two minutes after the break with a stunning 25-yard effort.

That goal consigned Madrid to their third successive defeat at the Stade Gerland, and the Spanish giants – whose Bernabeu stadium is the venue for this year's final – have work to do if they are avoid being dumped out at the last-16 stage for the sixth successive campaign.

An impressive Lyon side enjoyed plenty of possession in the first half and were not slow to try their luck when the opportunity presented itself.

However, all of the early efforts lacked accuracy with Sidney Govou firing into the side-netting and then over with two ambitious volleys, while Jean Alain Boumsong headed over and Lisandro Lopez pulled another shot wide.

At the other end, a neat flick from Cristiano Ronaldo almost put Gonzalo Higuain through and Boumsong needed to make a vital intervention to prevent Higuain having a tap-in at the far post, but otherwise Madrid produced little going forward in the first half.

The closest either side came to breaking the deadlock before the interval came in the 40th minute when Lyon winger Cesar Delgado hit the woodwork.

A Miralem Pjanic corner was deflected to the edge of the area, where Delgado caught the dropping ball on the volley and his well-struck effort rebounded back off the post with Casillas motionless.

The French outfit may have considered themselves unfortunate not to have been ahead at the break, but it took them less than two minutes of the second period to take the lead.

There appeared little danger when Makoun picked the ball up not too far from the centre-circle, but he was allowed to progress to within 25 yards of Casillas' goal, where he sliced an unstoppable shot into the top corner of the net.

That was a huge setback for Madrid, and with their tails up, Lyon quickly set about trying to add to the Spanish side's problems.

Lisandro headed a free kick over when perhaps he should have done better, but he got an immediate chance to make amends when, from the resulting goal-kick, Casillas' fluffed clearance went straight to him 30 yards out.

However, Madrid centre-backs Raul Albiol and Ezequiel Garay managed to get back and make things difficult, and the former Porto man ended up firing wide.

Ronaldo briefly gave his defence some respite with a deflected 25-yard effort that Lyon goalkeeper Hugo Lloris palmed away, but moments later a rapid breakaway almost brought the home side a second goal.

Lisandro's pass put the overlapping Aly Cissokho in on the left and it needed a fine stop by Casillas to deny the young left-back.

Madrid were rocking, but then from nowhere they created a great chance to equalise.

A superb long ball forward from Sergio Ramos put Higuain in the clear, but the Argentinian's attempted clip over Lloris was stopped one-handed by the home keeper.

Higuain made way soon after that for Karim Benzema, the former Lyon striker who swapped his hometown club for Madrid in a big-money move last summer.

With Benzema on the pitch Madrid looked more threatening in the final 15 minutes, but none of their numerous attempts really came close to netting them a crucial away goal and they will need to do better in the return leg or bid farewell to their hopes of claiming a 10th European title on home soil in May.

AC Milan 2 Manchester United 3

The Champions League game between AC Milan and Manchester United at San Siro on Tuesday Feb 16 2010.

Manchester United waited 52 years to score against AC Milan at San Siro and then, like the local trams, three come along in quick succession. If Paul Scholes’ goal was cloaked in good fortune, Wayne Rooney’s two second-half headers were absolutely majestic.

David Beckham was saluted warmly by the United faithful but this game confirmed he is now a side-show in the great drama scripted by Rooney. The England striker was quiet in the first half but utterly irresistible after the break. The one downside was the red card for Michael Carrick, dismissed for two bookable offences, the first a foul on Ronaldinho, the second for kicking the ball away, in front of the watching England manager.

Up in the smart seats, Fabio Capello certainly had enough to occupy his attention, from Beckham to Wayne Rooney, the armband-wearing Rio Ferdinand to Carrick, and doubtless a wistful glance at Scholes, the shy, retired type. But it was an old England nemesis, Ronaldinho, who was first to show as the Italians began by far the stronger. Until Scholes’ goal, United were too unfocused, too sluggish in their tempo.

Milan fans in the Curva Sud had unveiled a banner the width of the pitch, “110 years of history, fighting for glory’’ and they certainly enjoyed a glorious start, taking the lead after three minutes through Ronaldinho’s deflected strike. It was utterly avoidable, commencing with Patrice Evra’s stupid challenge on the lively Pato, gifting Beckham an inviting free-kick stage on the right.

The former England captain’s delivery was surprisingly poor but so was Evra’s interception, hooking it on to Ronaldinho. Again demonstrating his ability to punish an English defence, the Brazilian sent a volley flying goalwards, the ball catching Carrick and wrongfooting Edwin Van der Sar. As a party broke out in the tribunes, Ronaldinho’s clicked-heels celebration in mid-air indicated he had been watching Dick van Dyke on the roof-tops in Mary Poppins.

Ronaldinho was magnificent in the early stages, juggling the ball and conjuring up memories of his effervescent days with Brazil and Barcelona.

Some of his flicks to spirit the ball away from United’s initially bemused right-back, Rafael, were breathtaking.

Ferguson had gone for pace and energetic legs, hoping that Rafael would force Ronaldinho deep. No chance. Not early on anyway. Milan’s No 80 was a constant threat until Scholes dragged United back into contention.

Until then, Milan did to United in midfield what Ferguson’s men had done to Arsenal, pressing hard and fast.

Beckham moved between right and centre, seeking to stretch United, threading some neat passes through to Pato, while also assisting Andrea Pirlo in the middle. The Italian playmaker appeared to be marked by Ji-sung Park but the South Korean was not attentive enough. Park’s role was confused, a symptom of United’s midfield malaise for half-an-hour.

United kept surrendering possession, Scholes a notable culprit with a ball straight to Ronaldinho and only Ferdinand’s pace and precision in the tackle rescued the situation. The Milan tifosi screamed for a penalty but it was a good tackle by Ferdinand, and a correct decision by Olegario Benquerenca to wave Ronaldinho dismissively away.

Milan came again, red-and-black vapour trails spreading across a surprisingly decent surface for San Siro. Luca Antonini shot wide.

Ronaldinho, presented with the ball, again menaced. Klaas-Jan Huntelaar saw his shot cannon just wide off Evra.

But United stood firm, kept their nerve, and began putting together some passing moves. Gradually, Milan were forced on the back-foot, particularly in the 37th minute when United struck with the sweetest of build-ups and most fortuitous of finishes.

Carrick started the move, switching play with a fine pass to Park, who darted down the inside-right channel. Pausing for Fletcher to overlap, Park laid the ball into the path of the Scot, who had exploited Antonini’s vulnerability to pace. Fletcher had spotted Scholes, seen how the midfielder was ghosting in, and picked him out beautifully. Scholes swung his right foot but missed. The ball carried on, catching Scholes’ left shin and dribbling almost apologetically past Dida.

The force now appeared with the English, their speed and rising tempo alarming Milan, who sat increasingly deep. Yet the Italians still threatened on occasion, Ronaldinho weaving between Evra and Scholes before bringing a vital save from the excellent Van der Sar.

Beckham then swept a free-kick, prompting Pirlo to take responsibility for a dead-ball early in the second half and demanding an outstanding save from Van der Sar.

United fans had certainly not been daunted by the occasion, taunting the Milan fans with chants of “Jose Mourinho’’, Inter’s coach. United were enjoying increasing amounts of possession but for 66 minutes their problem lay in finding or releasing Rooney, playing the lone strike’s role in Ferguson’s 4-5-1 formation.

The England striker worked with typical industry, and moved with trademark intelligence, and was eventually rewarded midway through the second period. Ferguson had just made what proved an inspired substitution, sending on Valencia for Nani and the newcomer immediately lifted over a cross from the right. Rising above Daniele Bonera, Rooney planted a firm header back across Dida and in.

United were dominant, their bright ideas and greater stamina embarrassing the ageing Milan. Just after United fans had paid a warm tribute as their former No 7 was withdrawn, Rooney struck again, underlining Ferguson’s point that this was now the age of the Wayne. When Fletcher checked, then crossed, the unmarked Rooney headed firmly past Dida. “3-1 in the San Siro’’ chanted the visitors, “we want four’’.

Milan’s ageing aristocrats had one trick left, a majestic one, and it came from Beckham’s replacement. When Ronaldinho crossed from the left, Clarence Seedorf scored with a wonderful back-heel.

Coventry City 1 Nottingham Forest 0

The Championship game between Coventry City and Nottingham Forest at the Ricoh Arena on Tuesday Feb 09 2010.

Thanks to their terrific run of form over recent months, Nottingham Forest have a healthy cushion of points over fourth-placed Cardiff.

Nevertheless, it will be a concern for fans that once again they offered little end product to go with all that one-touch passing.

Compare and contrast with Coventry City: scrappy football, but at least they took the one opportunity that presented itself, Freddie Eastwood profiting from a parried save from Lee Camp in the first half.

In truth, though, this match, an uneventful affair in the main, will be remembered more for the fact that the referee, Tony Bates, was replaced with 20 minutes remaining by Amy Fearn, who with her first toot on her whistle drew the biggest cheer of the night – not that Billy Davies was smiling.

He had said that this was the most important match his side have been involved in thus far this season, given upcoming fixtures against Sheffield United and Middlesbrough.

The thing about Forest is that while their fluid brand of football looks well enough, it often lacks the necessary spark of initiative to find a way through their opposition back four.

It was certainly true here, when Dexter Blackstock was totally exposed, rendering Davies’ decision to leave Rob Earnshaw on the bench until there was less than 30 minutes look even stranger.

It was with just the sort of killer instinct Forest were lacking that Coventry took advantage. Clinton Morrison lifted in a cross from the left, and while the Forest back four simply gazed as the ball dropped into the box Richard Wood sent it scudding towards Camp, who could only parry it to Eastwood.

The finish, directed with gusto into the roof of the net, was the easiest the striker will get all season.

Paul Anderson could have earned his side a penalty and Guy Moussi should have equalised. Anderson was brought down on the edge of the area, but he gave his tumble the full works, flicking his hair back as if in a shampoo advert, and Stephen Wright was given the let off.

Moussi somehow directed a swinging free-kick from Chris Cohen wide.