Thanks for reading this clockwatch. That’s all from me.
I’m already looking forward to some seismic matches and derby duels next weekend: Brentford v Fulham, Chelsea v Man Utd, Everton v Liverpool and Man City v Arsenal. What a gameweek, eh.
Speaking of Everton’s rivals, Liverpool v Fulham is today Premier League’s endpiece – and it has just kicked off. Rob Smyth is at the helm.
‘Never-say-die-attitude gets you over the line’: Jordan Pickford reflects to Sky Sports
“I’m disappointed, we weren’t good enough int he first 20 minutes of both halves, but we showed resilience and Kiernan with a great finish at the end. Never-say-die attitude gets you over the line. We wanted three points, but we’ll take a point in injury time.
“Me and Caoimhin [Kelleher] boith had good games, we both made good saves at good times. I’m disappointed with the penalty, I just caught his foot and it’s one of those things … togetherness, that’s what we showed today.”
“The manager said in pre-season he wanted to get Everton back in Europe and that’s still our aim. We’ve got six big games to go and we’ll take on each game as it comes, we’ve got Liverpool next week [April 19], a first derby at the Hill Dickinson, which will be a massive game.”
Ooh, there is only a goal in it between Erling Haaland and Igor Thiago after the latter’s pair against Everton today. We’ve got all the numbers.
Updated
Scott Parker knows that when it rains, it pours. It has been months since Burnley’s last home league win and they appear to be going through the motions.
Meanwhile, through downpours and high winds at Turf Moor, Brighton stay in hot pursuit of a top-six place too.
Ben Bloom’s report from Brentford is here, lauding the extraordinary times for the home team. Both the west Londoners and Everton are vying for a place in Europe.
Updated
After Arsenal’s home defeat against Bournemouth, the Premier League title race could go all the way to the wire. Mikel Arteta’s side have a crunch match with Man City next Sunday. Winner could go on to take it all…
Ahead of Liverpool’s match against Fulham (5.30pm BST kick-off), here is how the table looks:
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arsenal | 32 | 38 | 70 |
| 2 | Man City | 30 | 32 | 61 |
| 3 | Man Utd | 31 | 13 | 55 |
| 4 | Aston Villa | 31 | 5 | 54 |
| 5 | Liverpool | 31 | 8 | 49 |
| 6 | Chelsea | 31 | 15 | 48 |
| 7 | Brentford | 32 | 4 | 47 |
| 8 | Everton | 32 | 2 | 47 |
| 9 | Brighton | 32 | 6 | 46 |
| 10 | AFC Bournemouth | 32 | -1 | 45 |
| 11 | Fulham | 31 | -1 | 44 |
| 12 | Sunderland | 31 | -4 | 43 |
| 13 | Newcastle | 31 | -1 | 42 |
| 14 | Crystal Palace | 30 | -2 | 39 |
| 15 | Leeds | 31 | -11 | 33 |
| 16 | Nottm Forest | 31 | -12 | 32 |
| 17 | West Ham | 32 | -17 | 32 |
| 18 | Tottenham Hotspur | 31 | -10 | 30 |
| 19 | Burnley | 32 | -30 | 20 |
| 20 | Wolverhampton | 32 | -34 | 17 |
Full-time scores
Phew, quite the goal-crammed finale there. Here are this afternoon’s results.
Just one goal-less draw in England’s top four divisions and the Scottish Premiership. Salford City and Gillingham in League Two, I’m looking at you.
Premier League
Brentford 2-2 Everton
Burnley 0-2 Brighton
Scottish Premiership
Aberdeen 2-0 Hibs
Celtic 1-0 St Mirren
Dundee Utd 3-2 Livingston
Hearts 3-1 Motherwell
Kilmarnock 2-2 Dundee
Championship
Charlton 1-2 Preston
Leicester 0-1 Swansea
Middlesbrough 0-1 Portsmouth
Oxford Utd 2-0 Watford
Sheffield Utd 2-1 Hull
Southampton 2-1 Derby
Stoke 1-1 Blackburn
Bundesliga
Borussia Dortmund 0-1 Bayer Leverkusen
Heidenheim 3-1 Union Berlin
RB Leipzig 1-0 Borussia Mönchengladbach
Wolfsburg 1-2 Eintracht Frankfurt
Updated
Full-time: Hearts 3-1 Motherwell
In that flurry of late goals, there was no time to note Pierre Landry Kaboré’s last-minute goal to add gloss to the result. No slip-up from the Scottish Premiership leaders today, despite some nerve-wracking moments for their fans.
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hearts | 33 | 30 | 70 |
| 2 | Celtic | 33 | 24 | 67 |
| 3 | Rangers | 32 | 32 | 66 |
| 4 | Motherwell | 33 | 23 | 54 |
| 5 | Hibernian | 33 | 14 | 51 |
Full-time: Brentford 2-2 Everton
Honours even at the Gtech Stadium as Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall strikes late for David Moyes’s side. They are still locked together on the same number of points in seventh and eighth place, respectively.
Full-time: Burnley 0-2 Brighton
Burnley’s miserable run continues, while Brighton move up to ninth in the Premier League, thanks to Mats Wieffer’s two goals.
Championship: It’s all happening. Portsmouth with a last-minute winner away to Middlesbrough, virtually their first shot on target. Conor Chaplin in the seventh minute of added time to make it 1-0.
Oxford have gone 2-0 up against Watford, but that late Chaplin winner will keep them in the relegation zone.
A late Danny Ings goal has given Sheffield United a 2-1 lead against ten-man Hull City, who may well rue that Lundstram red card.
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | West Brom | 42 | -14 | 46 |
| 21 | Portsmouth | 41 | -16 | 45 |
| 22 | Oxford Utd | 42 | -13 | 44 |
| 23 | Leicester | 42 | -10 | 41 |
| 24 | Sheff Wed | 42 | -57 | -4 |
Updated
GOAL! Brentford 2-2 Everton (Dewsbury-Hall 90+1)
Dewsbury-Hall’s goal in stoppage time surely grabs a point for the visitors, getting to a block from a Brentford defender fastest on the edge of the six-yard box. A cool finish.
A fourth draw in a row for Brentford is on the cards.
Updated
GOAL! Burnley 0-2 Brighton (Wieffer 89)
Two for Wieffer, two for Brighton. A gut-punch for home fans at Turf Moor after coming so close to equalising. 12 points from safety, six games left for Burnley. They are all but relegated.
Updated
GOAL! Hearts 2-1 Motherwell (Shankland 87 pen)
Penalty for the home side! A strange one as Steven Welsh tries to flick the ball and catches the back of Kabore’s head instead as he falls.
Lawrence Shankland dispatches his 13th goal of the season and Tynecastle roars. This should keep them three points clear of Celtic.
Championship: A late equaliser at Bramall Lane. Gustavo Hamer puts it to the Hull goalkeeper’s left to make it 1-1. One feels that Sheffield United are almost safe.
Gary Naylor writes in: “Does anyone think that Michael Kayode should have the nickname Wile E? That might work best if he’s chasing Adama Traore down the wing.
Also, like, I suspect, many an Everton fan, finishing ahead of Liverpool matters much more than a European place.”
GOAL! Brentford 2-1 Everton (Igor Thiago 76)
Who else could it be? In truth, it will go down as one of his most fortuitous goals of a prolific campaign. Michael Kayode made it, cutting in from the right and scything past a couple of Everton defenders. He shot, the ball hit Thiago’s midriff as he made a run into space and wrong-footed Jordan Pickford.
Brentford are up to sixth, as it stands.
Updated
Championship: John Lundstram is sent off at Sheffield United. Now a man down, Hull City have 15-odd minutes to hold on to their 1-0 lead. As things stand, they will finish the day fifth in the Championship.
Premier League: Everton come close at the Gtech. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall is one-on-one with Kelleher but delays and squanders the chance.
Meanwhile, Fulham are unchanged at Anfield but Liverpool has made four switches to the midweek XI. Rob Smyth will tell you who’s come in and plenty more besides.
League One: Tom Bradshaw makes it 3-0 for Barnsley away to beleaguered Rotherham. Lee Clark has not been able to stop the rot.
Championship: England international goal-scorer Taylor Harwood-Bellis (remember that?) scores by doing what he does best, with a precise header. 2-1 for Southampton, who continue their sublime form.
League One: Dan Kemp puts Alex Revell’s Stevenage ahead at promotion-chasing Bradford City. They could yet face one another in the play-offs next month. The table as it stands:
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Cardiff | 41 | 34 | 81 |
| 3 | Bradford | 42 | 6 | 71 |
| 4 | Bolton | 42 | 15 | 70 |
| 5 | Stockport County | 40 | 9 | 67 |
| 6 | Stevenage | 41 | 5 | 67 |
| 7 | Plymouth | 42 | 8 | 63 |
Premier League: A sublime save from Caoimhín Kelleher stops Everton from making it 2-1. He was moving one way to stop a shot, it got deflected, and he stuck out a leg to divert it.
In the Championship, Preston have come from behind to lead 2-1 at Charlton, courtesy of Brad Potts.
Scottish Premiership: Hearts are level. Claudio Braga makes it 1-1, getting the final touch. VAR are having a look, mind… and it stands! Bodies everywhere, it wasn’t pretty, but the Tynecastle tifosi won’t care.
And in the Championship, Leo Scienza has made it the same scoreline for Southampton at home to Derby. He cuts onto his right foot and curls it beyond the goalkeeper.
Updated
Premier League: An hour in and Burnley are on top, pushing for an equaliser at home to Brighton. Bart Verbruggen makes a save on instinct with his legs to stop a Flemming shot on the turn.
Updated
League Two: Cambridge had their goalkeeper sent off in the first half but no matter, James Gibbons has just put them 4-0 up against Notts County.
At the bottom of the table, Joe Thomas makes it 2-1 for Newport against Harrogate. And it is an absolute belter, returning a cleared corner from the edge of the box with interest.
Championship: Jesurun Rak-Sakyi equalises and makes it 1-1 for Stoke at home to Blackburn.
Goal glutton Zan Vipotnik scored minutes ago for Swansea to put them ahead away to Leicester City. Can Gary Rowett’s players strike back?
Scottish Premiership: Emmamuel Longelo puts Motherwell ahead at Hearts. The leaders are good for a late goal, but they could be set to lose their unbeaten home league record. Celtic are breathing down their necks too…
Disallowed goal for Burnley
There was a VAR check which lasted several minutes. Bashir Humphreys fired home, but he was marginally offisde. Heartbreak for home fans as Jack Hinshelwood was very close to playing him on. They have had two wafer-thin calls go against them today.
Updated
Premiership: Brentford’s Nathan Collins powers a header against the crossbar, with Pickford nowhere near it. That was close. The west Londoners are turning the screw.
Updated
Bundesliga update. With few goals in the second-half, let’s see how things are going in Germany.
Dortmund are 1-0 down at home to Leverkusen, with about 15 minutes left for the second-placed side to salvage something. Bottom side Heidenheim are 2-1 up against Union Berlin. Leipzig and Mönchengladbach is goalless, while Eintracht Frankfurt lead 2-0 against Wolfsburg.
Survival chances look slim for Steve McLaren’s former side, who were in the Champions League group stage as recently as 2022.
Any more for any more in the clockwatch mailbag? Send your moans, missives and monologues to me here, whether at the match or watching from your sofa.
Updated
The Grand National is about to start at Aintree for those who fancy a quick half-time follow. John Brewin will be typing at warp speed during the race:
Half-time scores
Scores on the doors after the first 45 minutes from the land’s most prestigious leagues.
Premier League
Brentford 1-1 Everton
Burnley 0-1 Brighton
Scottish Premiership
Aberdeen 1-0 Hibs
Celtic 1-0 St Mirren
Dundee Utd 1-0 Livingston
Hearts 0-0 Motherwell
Kilmarnock 2-1 Dundee
Championship
Charlton 1-1 Preston
Leicester 0-0 Swansea
Middlesbrough 0-0 Portsmouth
Oxford Utd 1-0 Watford
Sheffield Utd 0-1 Hull
Southampton 0-1 Derby
Stoke 0-1 Blackburn
Championship: Leicester and Swansea go in at half-time goalless. The 2015-16 Premier League champions could be going down to the third tier this season. Here’s how the underbelly of the Championship looks currently:
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | West Brom | 42 | -14 | 46 |
| 21 | Oxford Utd | 42 | -14 | 44 |
| 22 | Portsmouth | 41 | -17 | 43 |
| 23 | Leicester | 42 | -9 | 42 |
| 24 | Sheff Wed | 42 | -57 | -4 |
GOAL! Burnley 0-1 Brighton (Wieffer 43)
Curse of the commentator, eh? Brighton are in front. Pascal Gross slips his man, finds some space on the left and Mats Wieffer meets his ball in with a neat, low finish, ghosting into the box unmarked. No chance for Dubravka, diving to his left in vain.
Updated
Premier League: Danny Welbeck has a penalty shout turned down at Burnley, taken down after breaking into the box.
Not much to report otherwise since that disallowed early goal for the home side.
Updated
Championship: Carlton Morris makes it 1-0 for Derby away to Southampton. Not many would have that on the cards, given their red-hot form and FA Cup run. They are only outside the play-off positions on goal difference.
Meanwhile in League Two, Jack Evans makes it 1-1 for Harrogate, bottom of the League pyramid, at relegation rivals Newport. A lifeline.
League One: Nathan Lowe puts Michael Duff’s Wycombe a goal up at Huddersfield. Both teams are trying to keep up their faint hopes of a play-off place.
On the other side of Yorkshire, Adam Phillips gives Barnsley the lead at Rotherham. Nine points from safety, Lee Clark’s men have a mountain to climb.
Premier League: Brentford are back in control and it takes a smart Jordan Pickford save at full-stretch to deny Jensen, whose shot nearly crept into the back of the net at the near post.
He may have given away the early penalty, but that was Yashin-esque.
Updated
League Two: Shayne Lavery adds another for Cambridge, who are set to leapfrog opponents Notts County into third as things stand. Oh, and it’s three! In front of their biggest home league attendance since 1991, James Gibbons adds another.
Will Boyle puts Shrewsbury ahead against Oldham.
GOAL! Brentford 1-1 Everton (Beto 26)
Everton are level: Beto peels off his marker and scores with a header from point-blank range. Protests of a foul on Lewis-Potter fall on deaf ears; he was the man at fault, giving the ball away in possession in the corner, allowing O’Brien to set up Gueye for the cross.
Updated
Simon McMahon writes in: “Big day at the top and bottom of the Scottish Premier with the final round of fixtures ahead of the league split. Game of the day is at Tannadice Tynecastle where leaders Hearts, unbeaten at home in the league this season, will be desperate for three points against this season’s hipsters' team of choice Motherwell and maintain the pressure on Celtic and Rangers.
“Celtic should take care of St. Mirren in Glasgow today, while Rangers should do the same to this season’s surprise package Falkirk tomorrow. Defeat for Livingston at Dundee United would all but ensure their relegation, but the play-off spot could get interesting depending on the outcome of Kilmarnock v Dundee and Aberdeen v Hibs. All to play for, then…”
Championship: Myles Peart-Harris wallops into the back of the net to give Oxford a precious lead against Watford. A win here could take them out of the relegation zone.
Adam Forshaw just scored a 20-yard peach away for Blackburn away to Stoke, who are also very close to the drop.
Hull City are also one up away to Sheffield United, looking to safeguard a place in the play-offs in the next few games.
Updated
Scottish Premiership: After a couple of blocked shots by St Mirren players, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain puts Celtic ahead with a cultured finish. They are looking to keep the heat on Hearts this afternoon.
Joe Hugill has also given Kilmarnock the lead against Dundee.
National League: Woking are a goal to the good against Morecambe. Defeat today would seal relegation for the Lancashire team, who have had a tumultuous season.
Premier League: A disallowed goal for Burnley and Jaidon Anthony, offside. Eleven points from safety, seven games left. If they are going to seal an unlikely survival, one feels they have to beat Brighton at home and start to close the gap.
Wonder how many away fans have made that 10-hour round-trip in the hope of a viable victory on the road.
Updated
League Two: Cambridge United are already a goal to the good at home to Notts County. As fourth playing third, they could leapfrog their opponents if things stay the same.
At the other end of the table, in a relegation six-pointer, Nathaniel Opoku scores an important opener for Newport County after some dire Harrogate defending. Here is how things stand at the basement:
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | Tranmere | 42 | -23 | 37 |
| 21 | Crawley Town | 43 | -24 | 37 |
| 22 | Newport County | 43 | -30 | 37 |
| 23 | Barrow | 42 | -26 | 36 |
| 24 | Harrogate Town | 43 | -31 | 33 |
Updated
GOAL! Brentford 1-0 Everton (Igor Thiago 3 pen)
A stop-start, stuttering penalty from Igor Thiago, but he does the job, scoring his 20th league goal. Pickford should have got closer than he did. A dream start for the west Londoners.
Updated
Penalty to Brentford!
Jordan Pickford brings down Schade with his foot after he knocks the ball past him one-on-one. Yellow card for the England international and a chance for the home side to move into the lead, just 40 seconds into the match.
Updated
Peep!
The whistles go around the grounds for kick-off.
We’ll keep the keenest eye on the pair of Premier League 3pm kick-offs, as well as action at the top of the Scottish Premier League. Keep those emails and thoughts rolling in, you can reach me here.
Key fixtures
Our pick of the matches kicking off at 3pm. Two rivals for European qualification have the same number of points. Can Brentford put daylight between themselves and Everton?
Premier League
Brentford (7th) v Everton (8th)
Burnley (19th) v Brighton (11th)
Championship
Middlesbrough (4th) v Portsmouth (21st)
Southampton (6th) v Derby (8th)
Oxford (23rd) v Watford (12th)
League One
Bradford City (3rd) v Stevenage (6th)
Doncaster (17th) v Reading (8th)
League Two
Cambridge United (4th) v Notts County (3rd)
Newport County (22nd) v Harrogate Town (24th)
Scottish Premiership
Celtic (3rd) v St Mirren (10th)
Hearts (1st) v Motherwell (4th)
Updated
As we turn our attention to 3pm kick-offs, Andy McGrath is back in the clockwatch chair.
Scott and Bournemouth deal blow to nervy Arsenal’s title hopes
For Arsenal’s longsuffering supporters, the emotional strain is reaching unbearable levels. They could only watch in stunned disbelief as Alex Scott’s goal 16 minutes from time condemned the Premier League leaders to a defeat they must fear will prove to be extremely significant.
While Arsenal still lead Manchester City by nine points, a defeat at the Etihad next Sunday could give City an opportunity to draw level on points if they beat Chelsea tomorrow and then win their game in hand against Crystal Palace. Having set the pace since the start of October, that is the nightmare scenario Arsenal must now come to terms with. Bournemouth, who have now gone 12 matches unbeaten, were excellent value for their second victory in succession here after Eli Kroupi Junior gave them an early lead.
Read Ed Aaron’s full report from the Emirates here:
Carrick part of the decision making process at Old Trafford despite temporary role
Michael Carrick, who has taken an admirable 23 points from his 10 matches as Manchester United interim manager, is a strong voice inside the club despite his role being temporary - for now, at least.
Earlier this week Harry Maguire signed a fresh one-year contract and Carrick was asked how involved he was in this and regarding plans for pre-season.
“In the role I’m in, there’s these decisions you need taking care of, I said it as soon as I came here. I’m part of that and whatever that looks like moving forward, I’m part of that.
“Certainly there’s conversations in different directions and different things that I’m definitely part of. I think it should be that way anyway, because things need doing. I’m here to take care of that.”
Updated
National League: York held on for a 1-0 win at Tamworth to extend their lead at the top of the table. Second-place Rochdale play Wealdstone later on with a chance to cut the gap to two points with two games to go.
Full-time Arsenal 1-2 Bournemouth
Amid all of the EFL action, the full-time whistle went at the Emirates sealing a result that definitely makes the title race a lot more interestng. Barry Glendenning has the reaction here:
League Two: Bromley miss the chance to be promoted today, they could not find an equaliser against 10-man MK Dons, that one finished 2-1. Bristol Rovers were able to add a bit of polish to the scoreline against Crawley with Yusuf Akhamrich making it 3-1 late on.
League One: All the 12.30pm kick-offs are finished, Cardiff beat Bolton 2-0, Lincoln held on to beat Orient 2-1 and Plymouth v Exeter finished all square.
Full-time: Norwich 0-2 Ipswich
A league double over their bitter rivals keeps Ipswich just about in the title race and firmly in the promotion picture as they climb to second.
Updated
Full-time: Coventry 0-0 Sheffield Wednesday
A goalless draw against the bottom side and Ipswich beating Norwich means Coventry cannot go up today.
Team news: Brentford v Everton
Brentford XI: Kelleher, Lewis-Potter, Collins, Van den Berg, Kayode, Jensen, Yarmoliuk, Schade, Damsgaard, Ouattara, Thiago
Subs: Valdimarsson, Pinnock, Nelson, Ajer, Donovan, Bentt, Shield, Stephenson, Owen.
Everton XI: Pickford, Mykolenko, Branthwaite, Tarkowski, O’Brien, Garner, Gueye, Ndiaye, Dewsbury-Hall, McNeil, Beto
Subs: Travers, Patterson, Keane, Barry, George, Dibling, Coleman, Rohl, Iroegbunam.
Team news: Burnley v Brighton
Burnley XI: Dubravka, Ekdal, Humphreys, Esteve, Hartman, Ugochukwu, Ward-Prowse, Edwards, Luis, Anthony, Flemming.
Subs: Weiss, Walker, Worrall, Larsen, Foster, Tchaouna, Pires, Broja, Tresor.
Brighton XI: Verbruggen, Wieffer, Van Hecke, Boscagli, Kadioglu, Ayari, Gross, Gomez, Hinshelwood, Minteh, Welbeck.
Subs: Steele, Julio, March, Rutter, Baleba, Kostoulas, Mitoma, De Cuyper, Veltman.
League One: It’s all going on at Home Park, Jayden Wareham had restored Exeter’s lead in the 87th minute but just 180 seconds later Malachi Boateng bundled in from close range from a scrappy set-pice. Lovely stuff.
Updated
Championship: Coventry are still struggling to find a breakthrough against Sheffield Wednesday. A couple of big chances in succession as Josh Eccles heads narrowly wide and Ellis Simms could not convert as he came on to a low cross swept in from the right.
League Two: Louis Watson has pulled one back for Crawley a Bristol Rovers to make it 2-1. The Sussex side have around 10 minutes to find an equaliser.
League Two: It did not take long for Bromley to take advantage of MK Dons going down to 10 men. Marcus Ifil has pulled one back and halved Dons’ lead, it’s 2-1 in MK.
GOAL! Arsenal 1-2 Bournemouth (Scott 75)
The Cherries are back in front with 15 minutes to go at the Emirates. Barry Glendenning has full coverage of that one here:
League One: Promoted Lincoln were 2-0 up against Leyton Orient but Dominic Ballard has pulled one back for the Os.
Elsewhere, Lorent Tolaj has equalised for Plymouth in their local derby clash with Exeter.
League Two: MK Dons are 2-0 up against Bromley, a scoreline that would deny the Ravens promotions, but the league leaders have a lifeline with Jon Mellish earning a red card for a second bookable offence.
I’ll leave you in the very capable hands of Tom Bassam while I grab a bite to eat.
Premier League: Raya playing with fire, taking a risk passing out to Zubimendi with Bournemouth’s strikers nearly on top of him. Not the first time he has done that today, either. Howls from the Emirates crowd. The home side have only had one shot on target so far – the penalty converted by Gyokeres.
A nervy final 25 minutes ahead for the league leaders, looking for a winner.
National League: York are a goal to the good against Tamworth and set to stay top of the table as things stand. Automatic promotion rivals Rochdale play Wealdstone this evening. Only the champion goes up, it is likely to go all the way to the wire.
Boreham Wood’s Matt Rush has scored a couple within five minutes for them against Hartlepool. They are certain to be in the play-offs.
Premier League: Arteta rings in the changes. Eze, Trossard and Dowman are off the bench and on the pitch. Cometh the hour, cometh the man child? The highly-tipped teenager could make his most important impact to date.
Meanwhile, 55 minutes in at top versus bottom in the Championship, Coventry are yet to break the deadlock against Sheffield Wednesday, though they nearly sprung the offside trap moments ago for a simple finish.
Updated
League One: Deadlock broken in the Devon derby as Reece Cole puts Exeter ahead away to playoff-pursuing Plymouth. That goal could be crucial in keeping them up. Their fans are unsurprisingly going loco, bragging rights potentially in the offing too.
At the other end, Cardiff go a goal up at Bolton with a header from Osmari Kellyman, taking them ten points clear in second place as things stand.
Two minutes later, Chris Willock adds a second!
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lincoln City | 42 | 44 | 93 |
| 2 | Cardiff | 41 | 34 | 81 |
| 3 | Bradford | 41 | 7 | 71 |
| 4 | Bolton | 42 | 15 | 70 |
| 5 | Stockport County | 40 | 9 | 67 |
Updated
Premier League: The players are back out at the Emirates. Big half ahead for Mikel Arteta’s side, who flattered to deceive for much of that first half. Going a goal down seemed to spur them into action, mind.
No changes from either manager at half-time.
Some half-time reading for you: Barney Ronay’s bid to turn £10 into £1,000 at the bookies
“I knew Arsenal were going to lose because I stare at sport all the time and I can see when something is crap. I’m the crap whisperer.
They duly lost. And this was my high point. Ten pounds had become £120. Yes, somehow only that tiny amount after all this winning and omniscience. But still a vast return in five days! I’ve got the key. I’ve got the secret. I am invincible. I … cannot lose.”
Updated
Lunchtime half-time scores
How things stand in the 12.30pm kick-offs.
Premier League
Championship
Coventry 0-0 Sheffield Wed
Norwich 0-2 Ipswich
QPR 0-0 Bristol City
League One
Cardiff 0-0 Bolton
Lincoln 2-0 Leyton Orient
Plymouth 0-0 Exeter
League Two
Bristol Rovers 2-0 Crawley
MK Dons 2-0 Bromley latest
Updated
Championship: George Hirst doubles Ipswich’s lead at Carrow Road in first-half stoppage time. Firmly in control of the East Anglia derby, they have two more games in hand over promotion rivals Middlesbrough and Millwall. They will be favourites to go up to the Premier League – if they can hang on.
Updated
On the ball – guess the footballer
The Guardian has kicked off a new chapter in puzzles with the launch of its first daily football game, On the ball. It is now live in the app for both iOS and Android … so what are you waiting for?
GOAL! Arsenal 1-1 Bournemouth (Gyökeres 35 pen)
Arsenal are level: Viktor Gyökeres scores his 18th goal of the season, lashing the ball beyond Petrovic. He went the right way, but there was too much pace and precision on it.
However, the decision to award the penalty will be dissected at half-time and beyond. The ball was hit against Ryan Christie’s out-stretched hand at point-blank range and Michael Oliver awarded it. Many referees would not have given that one.
Updated
Premier League: Arsenal are playing like they have the weight of the world on their shoulders. Their opponents are more fluid and pressing them back into their own half.
At Coventry, the Championship leaders nearly fashion a messy opening from a corner but the Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper falls on the ball.
League Two: MK Dons have made it 2-0 against leaders Bromley with a Ben Wiles goal. The south Londoners may have to wait another match or two to confirm their promotion.
GOAL! Arsenal 0-1 Bournemouth (Kroupi Jr 17)
The leaders are behind at the Emirates. Arsenal’s defence was caught asleep and failed to play Truffert offside as he surged down the left, his cross pinged off Saliba’s boot and sat up perfectly for Eli Junior Kroupi to put away at the back post.
Updated
Championship: Ipswich go ahead at Norwich, thanks to a Jaden Philogene penalty, sending the goalie the wrong way.
Pretty stonewall, as Ben Slimane nearly inadvertently takes off Taylor’s head with a wild swing at the ball, going for a clearance from a free kick.
The table as things stand:
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coventry | 42 | 42 | 85 |
| 2 | Ipswich | 40 | 30 | 75 |
| 3 | Millwall | 42 | 9 | 73 |
| 4 | Middlesbrough | 41 | 21 | 72 |
| 5 | Hull | 41 | 5 | 68 |
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Championship: Dear me, bottom-of-the-table Sheffield Wednesday (one league win all season) nearly take a shock lead at Coventry through an absolute howler.
Goalkeeper Carl Rushworth slipped as he kicked the ball and got the ball caught under his feet. Jerry Yates nearly picked his pocket for the most straightforward goal, but somehow Rushworth recovered and got away with it.
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League Two: Second-placed MK Dons are a goal up inside 34 seconds. Nathaniel Mendez-Laing charges through and slips the ball low into the net. No time wasted, just what Paul Warne would have wanted.
Their opponents, league leaders Bromley have a slim chance of securing promotion if results go their ways, but they are already on the back foot here.
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Lunchtime games kick off
The whistle blows for the lunchtime games. Plenty of important matches, we’ll keep the focus on Arsenal, Coventry, the East Anglian and Devon derbies and the League Two table-top clash.
Whether at the match or watching on the telly, feel free to send me your thoughts, hopes or fears here.
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How De Zerbi is aiming to keep Spurs up
After West Ham’s thumping of Wolves last night, the heat has been turned up even higher on Spurs, in the relegation zone for the first time since August 2015. How will they stay in the Premier League, then? The new manager has a cunning plan.
“I want to keep the ball,” De Zerbi said. “I want to see again the Tottenham I watched with Postecoglou because, in my second season in Brighton, there was Postecoglou here with a lot of these players and it was one of the best teams in terms of quality of play. With Pedro Porro, with [Destiny] Udogie, with [Micky] van de Ven, with [Cristian] Romero, and I would like to see it again.”
Some Spurs fans may have their heads in their hands reading that, but they and you can read more about his masterplan here:
Expat Coventry fan Dan from Perth (Australia, not Scotland) writes in: “Have just been reflecting on the 2016/17 Checkatrade final when, all alone at a casino’s sports bar, with a moon-bound spaceship’s range of screens showing all manner of local footy varietals to no one in particular, I still had to beg the bemused manager (who knew not of this competition or my team) to allocate the tiniest box in the corner so I could experience Wembley and the first real bright spot in my Cov supporting adult life (being 19 when we were relegated to the championship and then on down that slippery slide).
“Fast forward and I’ll be in front of another small screen in my study streaming the match with a significant plus one – my eight-year-old who, while not actually yet a fan (and who may, in fact, not be paying attention at all while making loom bracelets) has been here for the entire journey back.
“Can’t believe we’re finally maybe going back up; fingers crossed today is the day.”
Today's key fixtures
My pick of the matches this fine Saturday afternoon (3pm BST unless stated). Plenty of lunchtime action and some matches pitting promotion and relegation rivals against one another in League Two:
Premier League
Arsenal (1st) v Bournemouth (13th) – 12.30pm
Brentford (6th) v Everton (7th)
Championship
Coventry City (1st) v Sheffield Wednesday (24th) – 12.30pm
Norwich City (9th) v Ipswich Town (3rd) – 12.30pm
Middlesbrough (4th) v Portsmouth (21st)
Southampton (6th) v Derby (8th)
League One
Plymouth Argyle (7th) v Exeter City (21st) – 12.30pm
Cardiff City (2nd) v Bolton Wanderers (4th) – 12.30pm
Bradford City (3rd) v Stevenage (6th)
League Two
MK Dons (2nd) v Bromley (1st) – 12.30pm
Cambridge United (3rd) v Notts County (4th)
Newport County (22nd) v Harrogate Town (24th)
Scottish Premiership
Celtic (3rd) v St Mirren (10th)
Hearts (1st) v Motherwell (4th)
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Arsenal v Bournemouth team news
Seven games left for Arsenal, who are nine points up on Manchester City with a game in hand.
Piece of cake, right? Ha ha ha. More like seven chances to slip up, especially if their recent domestic form is anything to go by. After Carabao Cup final defeat and a surprise loss to Southampton in the FA Cup, Mikel Arteta will be keen to canter away to their first title in 22 years with minimal fuss and put the lid on talk of bottling it.
Three changes from the XI which beat Sporting, with Lewis-Skelly, Havertz and Martinelli coming in. Barry Glendenning has all the latest updates for us here.
Taking three points against Bournemouth will be no easy feat. They are unbeaten in 11 matches and only the top three Premier League sides have lost fewer matches than Andoni Iraola’s team. However, hampered by being draw specialists – fifteen in the Prem this year! – they are only 13th in the table.
Arsenal XI: Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly, Zubimendi, Rice, Havertz, Madueke, Gyokeres, Martinelli
Subs: Arrizabalaga, Mosquera, Hincapie, Jesus, Eze, Norgaard, Trossard, Dowman, Salmon
Bournemouth XI: Petrovic, Jimenez, Hill, Truffert, Senesi, Scott, Christie, Rayan, Tavernier, Kroupi Jr, Evanilson
Subs: Mandas, Adams, Brooks, Gannon-Doak, Smith, Diakite, Adli, Unal, Toth
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Preamble
To paraphrase the Titanic old lady, it feels like it’s been 84 years but after a 19-day intermission, the Premier League was back with a bang last night.
We’ll have all the reaction to West Ham’s 4-0 win over Wolves, lifting themselves out of the relegation zone and putting Tottenham Hotspur into the bottom three. Your move, Roberto De Zerbi.
At the other end of the table, Arsenal are at home to Bournemouth in today’s first kick-off (12.30pm BST), while Liverpool host Fulham this evening, last season’s winners seeking to get over their Champions League stinker and qualify for the continent’s premier club competition again.
In the Championship, leaders Coventry City could effectively ensure promotion today if they beat abject Sheffield Wednesday, in a lunchtime kick-off, and rivals Middlesbrough drop points at home to Portsmouth. After 25 years away from the top division, it is surely only a matter of time for Frank Lampard’s side, given their vastly superior goal difference.
The other choice fixture is the East Anglian derby, as Norwich City could dent Ipswich’s promotion push. Spicy.
In League One, second-placed Cardiff City could take a big step towards promotion if they can see off Bolton Wanderers. And in League Two, first plays second, with Bromley v MK Dons. The south Londoners (just about, even if it feels like Kent) could secure promotion today, and just need a win.
At the top of the Scottish Premiership, it’s all to play for. Hearts face Motherwell and if they lose, Celtic would be on the same number of points if they beat St Mirren.
As ever, please do get in touch with comments, tangents and matchday musings.
