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Birmingham 2 2 Blackburn Che Adams earns late point for Blues
Birmingham 2-2 Blackburn: Che Adams earns late point for Blues. Birmingham striker Che Adams added to his growing reputation by scoring twice in a 2-2 home draw against dogged Blackburn. Rovers had to show commendable spirit after Adams put Birmingham in the driving seat in the first half. They deservedly equalised in the 52nd minute when their veteran skipper Charlie Mulgrew curled home direct from a corner, with Danny Graham then putting them ahead in the 82nd minute. But Adams, the subject of interest from Scotland under former Blues manager Alex McLeish, scored his 21st goal of the season in the 83rd minute to salvage a draw. Birmingham came close to opening their account in the ninth minute when Jota's free-kick into the heart of Blackburn's defence resulted in Rovers' Spanish goalkeeper David Raya making a top-quality save to keep out a Lukas Jutkiewicz header. Raya soon showed his quality again, diving to stop a Maxime Colin shot. The ball ran towards Blackburn's net only for the alert Raya to scoop the ball off the line. Birmingham had their tails up and in the 16th minute their ace marksman Adams notched the opening goal. Gary Gardner won the ball off Amari'i Bell and slipped a pass down the channel to Adams, who smartly scored with a low cross shot to the right of Raya. Blackburn had little choice but to drop back on the defensive to contain Birmingham, though they still carried a threat and in the 31st minute, leading scorer Graham was only denied an equaliser by a diving save from Lee Camp after the home defence had been caught napping. Seven minutes into the second half Mulgrew produced a perfect corner from the right which went into the net despite several Birmingham players on the line. Raya produced another quality save from Kerim Mrabti while another Birmingham substitute, Connor Mahoney, also went close. Graham then brought the game alight by putting Blackburn into an 82nd-minute lead with a low angled shot only for Adams to pop up a minute later to score from a narrow angle. Predict 6 correct scores for your chance to win £250K.
Manuel Pellegrini admits handball goal helped West Ham but says it did not decide win over
Manuel Pellegrini admits handball goal helped West Ham but says it did not decide win over Fulham. West Ham's handball equaliser against Fulham was not decisive in their 3-1 win, according to Manuel Pellegrini. Javier Hernandez turned in Robert Snodgrass' corner with his hand half an hour into the Hammers' victory on Friday night, before which Pellegrini's side had been poor against second-from-bottom Fulham. They dominated most of the rest of the game at the London Stadium, but Pellegrini put their transformation down to their recent run of slow starts rather than Hernandez's goal. He said: "I've seen it now, it's handball but nobody really saw very clearly. The Fulham players didn't complain much about it, maybe they didn't see if it was the head or hand, but I don't think it decided the game. We scored two more and created plenty more chances. "We started the game sleeping, the first 10 minutes were unbelievable, they created chances, scored the goal and had another shot wide, but after those 10 minutes we played very well. "We scored three goals, had three or four clear chances and they didn't have any more clear-cut opportunities." Pellegrini's men have found the opening 15 minutes of matches troublesome all season, but even 27 games in the Chilean is still unsure what is causing their early woes. He said: "You never know the reason why but maybe we are a little bit struggling with instruction at the moment. The important thing was that we changed the attitude." Predict 6 correct scores for your chance to win £250K.
Swansea boss Graham Potter hails Dan James after FA Cup win
Swansea boss Graham Potter hails Dan James after FA Cup win. Manager Graham Potter heaped praise on man-of-the-match Dan James after Swansea City beat Brentford 4-1 on Sunday to qualify for the quarter-finals of the FA Cup. James scored Swansea's second goal after a long solo run, was fouled by Ezri Konza for the red card that reduced Brentford to 10 men at 2-1 and had a hand in George Byers' 90th-minute goal. "He's got lots to work on but he had an end-product today and I thought he was sensational," said Potter of the 21-year-old, who was close to joining Leeds on the final day of the January transfer window. "The ability to sprint repeatedly, it's as high a level as you're going to see." James came in for some rough treatment from Brentford defenders and Potter said: "Dan's courage is incredible, to not only have the ability to do it, but to ride the challenges. He's a top player." Potter also praised James' reaction to the breakdown of the move to Leeds. "You forget that these things happen in transfer windows where clubs don't agree a price," said Potter. "You can see why on that performance, the numbers are too low, that's the reality in my opinion. "Once that happens he just gets on with being a footballer, he's been incredible for us and we're looking forward to working with him for the future."Meanwhile, Brentford manager Thomas Frank revealed he had apologised to Swansea striker Oli McBurnie for the incident that saw the Danish manager booked by referee Stuart Atwell."I think it was a situation where I thought it was a 50:50 situation for who won the throw-in," said Frank. "I thought we were a little bit too open and I still wanted to win the game so I thought I need to be first to the ball. "I think I had the first contact and then McBurnie ran into me and gave me a dead leg, but it was my own fault. I said sorry to him afterwards and we've talked about it." Predict 6 correct scores for your chance to win £250K.
Swansea City 4 1 Brentford Dan James stars as Swans reach quarter finals
Swansea City 4-1 Brentford: Dan James stars as Swans reach quarter-finals. Swansea took their place in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup with a 4-1 comeback win to knock out Brentford. During a first half in which the Londoners completely dominated proceedings, Ollie Watkins scored a 28th minute goal after Brentford escaped on the counterattack. Neal Maupay set up Watkins to drive his shot across Kristoffer Nordfeldt from close range. Swansea had not had a single shot on target in a first half after which they were booed off by home fans. But they equalised quickly afer half-time when Bersant Celina's free-kick rattled off the post before the ball came off Brentford keeper Luke Daniels for an unfortunate own-goal. Dan James then scored a breakaway goal to put Swansea ahead in the 51st minute, running half the length of the pitch to notch before a piece of solo skill from Celina, cutting in from the left touchline, put Swansea 3-1 up. Graham Potter's team seemed to have had the ball in the net a fourth time when Connor James netted after Daniels had made a save from Celina, only for that to be ruled out by a delayed offside decision.But after Ezri Konsa was sent off for a foul on the rampant Dan James, the fourth eventually came when James and Celina combined to set up George Byers to finish from outside the box in the 90th minute. That completed a miserable afternoon for Brentford and their manager Thomas Frank, who was booked for withholding the ball from Swansea forward Oli McBurnie. Swansea went into the quarter-finals for the first time since the 1963-64 season. More to follow... Swansea will discover their quarter-final fate when the draw takes place on Monday after Chelsea vs Manchester United. Swansea play away at Sheffield Wednesday next Saturday at 3pm in the Championship, while Brentford host Hull at the same time. Predict 6 correct scores for your chance to win £250K.
David Beckham in crowd as Salford City lose to Dover
David Beckham in crowd as Salford City lose to Dover. Former England captain David Beckham has watched Salford City for the first time since becoming a co-owner of the National League club. But Beckham was unable to celebrate a win as promotion-chasing Salford were beaten 3-1 at home by Dover. Last month Beckham followed in the footsteps of his former Manchester United team-mates Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville, Phil Neville, Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt as he secured a 10 per cent stake in the club. That means the 'Class of 92' members are the major shareholders of the club at 60 per cent, and Beckham took to the stands at Salford's Peninsula Stadium on Saturday. Accompanied by his son Romeo, as well as Phil Neville, Beckham was inundated with autograph and selfie requests on his arrival at the stadium. His involvement in the club comes five years after the Neville brothers, Scholes, Giggs and Butt took ownership at Moor Lane. It is the latest venture by the 43-year-old Beckham, who has a wide portfolio of interests following a globe-trotting career which, following his trophy-laden stint at Old Trafford, took in Real Madrid, Los Angeles Galaxy, AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain. One of his more memorable moments as a player was his goal from the halfway line for United at Wimbledon in 1996 and Salford's teenage midfielder Dennis Politic followed suit, giving his side the lead with a 45-yard drive that sailed over visiting goalkeeper Mitch Walker. That goal came in the ninth minute and fifth-placed Salford looked on course to boost their promotion hopes. But Dover, who are down in 20th, equalised in the 25th-minute through Dan McNamara, before claiming all three points thanks to second-half goals from Scott Doe (59) and Jai Reason (81). Predict 6 correct scores for your chance to win £250K.
Southend 3 3 Portsmouth Simon Cox fires hat trick to complete stunning Shrimpers comeback
Southend 3-3 Portsmouth: Simon Cox fires hat-trick to complete stunning Shrimpers comeback. Southend showed their battling qualities as a hat-trick from Simon Cox completed a stunning comeback for a 3-3 draw with promotion-chasing Portsmouth at Roots Hall. The Shrimpers trailed 3-0 inside 31 minutes through goals from Bryn Morris (8), Ben Close (20) and Oliver Hawkins (31) for Pompey. But Cox began the revival when he headed in from Samuel Hart's cross nine minutes before the break. The striker then converted a penalty after Michael Kightly was fouled inside the box by Morris (78), and he fired in his 15th goal of the season with three minutes remaining to complete the comeback. The result moved Chris Powell's side up to 13th ahead of the remaining League One fixtures on Saturday, while Portsmouth are back above Sunderland into third, although they missed the chance to go level on points with second-placed Barnsley. Kenny Jackett must be wondering how this contest slipped away from his side, with Pompey good value for their 3-0 lead. Jamal Lowe combined with Omar Bogle down the right for the opener, as Southend stopper Nathan Bishop could only parry the cross into the path of Morris to lash in his first goal for the visitors. Southend were still re-organising themselves when Close fired in a second as Michael Turner's attempts to clear from Bogle's threaded pass seeking Hawkins fell kindly for the midfielder. Eleven minutes later, it looked like the division's best away performers would be celebrating another victory on the road when Hawkins tapped in the rebound after Morris' shot deflected back into play off Bishop's right-hand post. But Southend dug deep and reduced the deficit when Cox headed past Craig MacGillivray from Hart's deep cross. Portsmouth's attacking threat faded in the second period, but it was not until Morris' inexplicable challenge on Kightly with 12 minutes remaining that the hosts further regained a foothold, allowing Cox to score his second from the spot. Powell's men then restored parity when Timothee Dieng showed brilliant awareness to find Cox free on the edge of the box, and his curled shot left MacGillivray with no chance to complete an unlikely turnaround. Predict 6 correct scores for your chance to win £250K.
Was Newcastle goalkeeper Martin Dubravka fouled for Wolves equaliser
Was Newcastle goalkeeper Martin Dubravka fouled for Wolves equaliser? . Willy Boly snatched a point in the last minute for Wolves against Newcastle, but did he foul Newcastle goalkeeper Martin Dubravka when heading home? Isaac Hayden's first goal since October 2017 looked to have put Newcastle on course for a crucial three points at Molineux on Monday Night Football, with the clock past the allotted four minutes of additional time. However, one last cross from Adama Traore put Newcastle under pressure. Boly went up with Newcastle 'keeper Dubravka, headed into the net, with the referee signalling for a goal, despite Newcastle appealing for a foul on their 'keeper. Jamie Carragher feels the referee got it spot on. "It wasn't a foul, and you have to give great credit to Wolves and Boly," he said. "Dubravka has been a great goalkeeper for Newcastle, but has made a few mistakes of late. Boly shows great determination to get there, and knock defenders out of the way. "Boly's hands are resting on the goalkeeper's shoulders but that is it. The goalkeeper does not cover himself in glory, and not for the first time in the last few weeks." Hit the video above and judge for yourself! Predict 6 correct scores for your chance to win £250K.
Athletic Bilbao 0 0 Barcelona Marc Andre Ter Stegen salvages point for Barca
Athletic Bilbao 0-0 Barcelona: Marc-Andre Ter Stegen salvages point for Barca. Marc-Andre Ter Stegen produced two fine saves to deny Athletic Bilbao victory as a lacklustre Barcelona were held to a goalless draw at the Estadio San Mames. Ter Stegen turned away Markel Susaeta's arcing shot before the break and then produced a superb reflex stop to repel Inaki Williams' effort from point-blank range as time ran down on a night when the La Liga leaders were unable to restore their eight-point advantage over second-placed Real Madrid. Indeed, had it not been for the German, they might even have left empty-handed with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez misfiring as Gaizka Garitano's men started and finished strongly. Bilbao signalled their intention to press the visitors from the off and saw appeals for an early penalty waved away after Oscar De Marcos flicked the ball against Nelson Semedo's arm inside the area. The visitors eased themselves into the game as Messi and Suarez, prompted by Philippe Coutinho, started to make their presence felt, although Athletic were handed the 11th-minute opportunity when Yuri Berchiche intercepted Arturo Vidal's loose pass and raced forward before firing just wide. Ter Stegen had to pull off a fine save to keep out Susaeta's curling left-foot shot six minutes later and Barcelona were less than comfortable in dealing with the two corners which followed in quick succession. Suarez glanced a 22nd-minute header wide from Messi's inviting cross as Barca responded, but Ter Stegen was called upon once again to keep out Raul Garcia's acrobatic volley two minutes later. Messi clipped a shot onto the top of the crossbar and over after goalkeeper Iago Herrerin had raced from his line to deny Semedo and then forced Herrerin into an inelegant save at his near post, but Raul Garcia saw a shot deflected wide by Sergi Roberto four minutes before the break. Ernesto Valverde's men returned in much more positive mood and Messi curled a 53rd-minute free-kick just over, although the Argentina international was growing increasingly irritated by Bilbao's physical approach to marking him. Substitute Mikel San Jose blasted just wide as the home side finally managed to put together a second-half attack with 65 minutes gone and Williams saw an audacious flick from De Marcos' cross blocked six minutes later. Suarez stabbed wide with the outside of his right foot after turning on Messi's 74th-minute pass, but Gerard Pique did just enough at the other end to prevent Williams from making meaningful contact with substitute Iker Muniain's free-kick five minutes later. Ter Stegen made an instinctive save to keep out Williams' close-range shot after he had been picked out in front of goal by Muniain with eight minutes remaining, and although Athletic saw De Marcos dismissed for a second bookable offence in stoppage time, there was to be no late drama. Predict 6 correct scores for your chance to win £250K.