Good afternoon! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for today's afternoon football, and it promises to be another big day at both ends of the Premier League table. There are two particularly big relegation battles going on, and there are sure to be twists and turns at the top as well. We also have the lower leagues and European action fully covered, so there is no need to go anywhere else! Let's take a look at the 3pm Premier League team news...
GOAL! Tottenham 1-1 Arsenal (Toby Alderweireld)
Before we get to the team news - there has been a second goal in the huge North London derby at White Hart Lane, and it has gone the way of the hosts. They are now level at 1-1, with Toby Alderweireld scoring just five minutes after Francis Coquelin had seen red for a mindless challenge to earn him a second yellow. Game on there!
Oh it is all falling apart for the Gunners! Could this be the final nail in their coffin as far as the title race is concerned this season? Kane curls a magnificent effort past Ospina to make it two goals in as many minutes for Spurs, who now lead 2-1! Coquelin, what have you done?!
CHELSEA STARTING XI: Courtois; Azpilicueta, Cahill, Ivanovic, Baba; Mikel, Matic; Willian, Oscar, Hazard; Traore
Subs: Begovic, Miazga, Clarke-Salter, Loftus-Cheek, Fabregas, Pato, Remy
STOKE STARTING XI: Butland; Cameron, Wollscheid, Muniesa, Pieters; Whelan, Imbula, Shaqiri, Afellat, Arnautovic; Diouf
Subs: Haugaard, Ireland, Joselu, Walters, Teixeira, Crouch, Bojan
EVERTON STARTING XI: Robles; Coleman, Stones, Funes Mori, Jagielka; Oviedo, Lennon, Mirallas, McCarthy, Barkley; Lukaku
Subs: Baines, Niasse, Besic, Barry, Deulofeu, Osman, Howard
WEST HAM STARTING XI: Adrian; Oxford, Kouyate, Ogbonna, Cresswell; Antonio, Noble, Obiang, Lanzini, Payet; Emenike
Subs: Randolph, Song, Carroll, Sakho, Henry, Hendrie, Dobson
MAN CITY STARTING XI: Hart; Sagna, Kompany, Otamendi, Clichy; Toure, Fernandinho, Navas, Silva; Bony, Aguero
Subs: Caballero, Zabaleta, Mangala, Kolarov, M.Garcia, Sterling, Iheanacho
ASTON VILLA STARTING XI: Guzan; Hutton, Richards, Lescott, Clark, Cissokho; Veretout, Westwood, Gueye; Agbonlahor, Ayew
Subs: Okore, Bacuna, Sinclair, Gil, Bunn, Lyden, Gestede
NEWCASTLE STARTING XI: Elliot; Janmaat, Taylor, Lascelles, Dummett; Shelvey, Colback, Sissoko, Wijnaldum, Perez; Riviere
Subs: Darlow, Anita, Saivet, Gouffran, Aarons, Mitrovic, Doumbia
BOURNEMOUTH STARTING XI: Boruc; Smith, Francis, Cook, Daniels; Ritchie, Gosling, Surman, Gradel; King, Afobe
Subs: Federici, Elphick, Distin, O'Kane, Pugh, Grabban, Murray
GOAL! Tottenham 2-2 Arsenal (Alexis Sanchez)
Now then! Arsenal show a bit of fight at White Hart Lane and, despite being a man down, level things up through Alexis Sanchez. There is just under 15 minutes remaining in that game and it is on a knife edge right now. Leicester, though, would be pretty content if it stays like this as then both of their closest title rivals will be dropping points.
SOUTHAMPTON STARTING XI: Forster; Martina, Van Dijk, Fonte, Bertrand; Clasie, Romeu, Davis, Mane, Tadic; Pelle
Subs: Stekelenburg, Cedric, Yoshida, Ward-Prowse, Reed, Juanmi, Olomola
SUNDERLAND STARTING XI: Mannone; Yedlin, van Aanholt, Kaboul, Kone; Kirchhoff, M'Vila, Rodwell, Khazri, Borini; N'Doye
Subs: Jones, Larsson, O'Shea, Defoe, Toivonen, Mandron, Pickford
SWANSEA STARTING XI: Fabianski; Rangel, Fernandez, Williams, Taylor; Britton, Cork, Sigurdsson, Routledge, Ayew; Paloschi
Subs: Nordfeldt, Naughton, Amat, Fer, Montero, Barrow, Gomis
NORWICH STARTING XI: Ruddy; Pinto, Martin, Klose, Brady; O'Neil, Howson; Redmond, Hoolahan, Naismith; Jerome
Subs: Rudd, Mbokani, Bamford, Jarvis, Dorrans, Mulumbu, Bennett
FULL TIME: Burnley 1-0 Blackburn
The second of the two early Championship kickoffs, and it is Burnley who get the bragging rights in the East Lancashire derby courtesy of Andre Gray's first-half penalty. That leaves the Clarets top of the table, while Blackburn are still languishing down in the bottom half.
There was also a win for Cardiff City against Bristol City at Ashton Gate earlier this afternoon, which is a result that puts the Bluebirds level on points with the playoff places heading into the 3pm kickoffs. They are only out of the top six on goal difference as things stand, but that, of course, could change this afternoon.
And here is the situation at the top of the Championship after those two early games. Burnley will stay top for today at least, with neither Middlesbrough or Hull in action this afternoon.
Tottenham 2-2 Arsenal: It's all getting very tense at White Hart Lane. Follow the final few minutes with our dedicated commentary by clicking on the link!
Six Bundesliga matches have now begun, and there has been an early goal in one of the 2.30pm kickoffs, with Schalke taking the lead against Koln courtesy of a Huntelaar penalty in just the second minute.
It ends all square at White Hart Lane and, while they took the lead in that one, you have to think that Arsenal will be relieved with that having conceded twice in quick succession shortly after being reduced to 10 men. A point apiece is not the ideal result for either side, though, and when asking who will be the happier, the answer is probably Leicester! They face Watford in the day's late kickoff and now have the chance to move five points clear!
And this is where that leaves the top six of the table before the 3pm kickoffs. Two points between Leicester and Spurs, another three to the Gunners, and City with one eye looking up and one eye looking down.
MAN CITY VS. ASTON VILLA Now that one is over and done with, let's take a look at some of the games coming up today, starting with the club who will be looking to take advantage of both Spurs and Arsenal dropping points. Man City have now lost three Premier League games on the bounce, but this is surely as close to a home banker as you get in the Premier League. Villa are all but down already and take on a City side who simply have to win - not only for their fading title hopes but also for their Champions League hopes. It should be a comfortable home victory.
EVERTON VS. WEST HAM One of the teams chasing that top-four spot is West Ham, who take on
Everton at Goodison Park today in arguably the most enticing of the 3pm kickoffs. Everton have been full of goals at both ends at Goodison this season, and West Ham have the ability to hurt them with the likes of Payet breaking forward. It should be a really good game, but with the Toffees of having the prospect of moving up to eighth with a win, they'll be looking to prevent the Hammers from sustaining their Champions League challenge.
CHELSEA VS. STOKE Also in the mix around those mid-table spots are
Chelsea, who remain unbeaten in the league under Hiddink since he returned to the club, and Stoke. Chelsea are without the likes of Costa and Fabregas in their starting lineup this afternoon, perhaps with one eye on the upcoming Champions League clash with PSG, and an in-form Stoke side will look to take advantage of that. The hosts will be favourites though, and at the very least I expect them to maintain their unbeaten record under Hiddink.
NEWCASTLE VS. BOURNEMOUTH There are some big games at the other end of the table today, not least
Bournemouth hosting Newcastle. The Magpies are down in 19th at kickoff, but they have a game in hand, which means that survival is in their hands more than any of the other teams currently stick on 24 points.
Bournemouth, meanwhile, on hanging on the periphery of safety following a few really good results recently and another win this afternoon would take them a big step closer to survival.
SWANSEA VS. NORWICH Arguably even bigger than that match is the one between Swansea and
Norwich City at the Liberty Stadium. Norwich are in dreadful form going into that match and look like favourites to go down alongside Villa this season, but their performances have at least shown signs of improvement over the last week or so. Swansea, meanwhile, go into the match off the back of a shock win at Arsenal, in which they rested a number of players ahead of this game, so will be full of confidence hosting the Canaries.
SOUTHAMPTON VS. SUNDERLAND Sunderland have dragged themselves out of the bottom three following their recent improvement under Sam Allardyce and have real hope of avoiding the drop now, whereas not too long ago they were considered almost dead and buried. They travel to a
Southampton side not in particularly good form themselves having lost their last two games to slip back down the table and perhaps out of the European picture.
There are plenty of interesting matches today, then! With the exception of Man City vs.
Aston Villa, none of them appear to be clear-cut as to who will win going into the game, and with so many of them potentially having a big impact on the table, it promises to be another intriguing afternoon in this most unpredictable of seasons.
The goals are flying in in the Bundesliga at the moment, with Schalke and Werder Bremen both taking 2-0 leads inside the opening half an hour against Koln and Hannover respectively. Wolfsburg lead Monchengladbach 2-1, while Augsburg, Ingolstadt and Stuttgart are all winning by a single goal too.
We're just a couple of minutes away from kickoff now! One final reminder of the games we have covered with in-depth dedicate live commentary:
Chelsea vs. Stoke
Real Madrid vs. Celta
Everton vs. West Ham
Man City vs. Aston Villa
Newcastle vs. Bournemouth
And we're off! Matches are kicking off all over the country, so now we just have to sit back and wait for the goals to go flying in!
GOAL! Brentford 0-1 Charlton (Callum Harriott)
It is a dream start for the Championship's bottom club Charlton as Callum Harriott gives them the lead after just 19 seconds against Brentford! They have a long time to hold out now, but should they win this then it would be an unexpected boost to their slim hopes of survival.
Aside from that, it's pretty quiet on the goal front so far! Raith have taken an early lead against St Mirren in the Scottish Championship and Airdrie are ahead against Cowdenbeath in League One, but nothing so far in England besides that Charlton goal.
More trouble for Blackpool it seems. Having slipped into the League One relegation zone, they are now trailing Millwall in the early stages at The Den. The Lions, meanwhile, look on course to consolidate their place in the playoff spots.
GOAL! Reading 0-1 Fulham (Moussa Dembele)
Fulham strike first at the Madejski, with Dembele prodding the ball home from close range after Madl had nodded it back across goal. The Cottagers on course to move further away from the drop zone!
GOAL! Everton 1-0 West Ham (Romelu Lukaku)
He's got a good record against the Hammers, and he has done it again today, Romelu Lukaku opens the scoring for Everton against West Ham - the eighth game in a row that he has scored against them. A blow to West Ham's European hopes!
Meanwhile, down in League One there could be a major chock brewing. Crewe, who began the day second from bottom in the table, having taken the lead against leaders Burton. Crewe's survival hopes still look pretty bleak, but an unexpected win like that could have a huge impact on their season.
While Burton's title challenge appears to be faltering today, Northampton march on in League Two. They have taken the lead against Carlisle as they look for yet another win in this incredible run of form. Plymouth, who themselves led the way for a while before falling off the pace, fell behind at Oxford, but have now levelled things up at Home Park.
He's just one behind Jamie Vardy...
We've hit half time in the Bundesliga, and here are the scores as they stand:
Koln 1-2 Schalke
Augsburg 2-0 Bayer Leverkusen
Eintracht Frankfurt 0-1 Ingolstadt
Stuttgart 2-0 Hoffenheim
Werder Bremen 2-1 Hannover
Wolfsburg 2-1 Monchengladbach
Still no goals at the Etihad Stadium, but as expected it is Man City who are dominating things. Villa went for five at the back today expecting a siege, and they are going to get one!
GOAL! Sheffield Wednesday 0-1 Rotherham (Matt Derbyshire)
Advantage Rotherham in the South Yorkshire derby! They take the lead against Sheffield Wednesday with a goal that could have an impact at both ends of the table. Rotherham went into that match just three points off safety, while Sheffield Wednesday are now only in the playoff places on goal difference.
GOAL! Reading 1-1 Fulham (Hal Robson-Kanu, pen)
Reading level things up at the Madejski Stadium, and it is Hal Robson-Kanu who gets the goal from the penalty spot. Robson-Kanu was the man brought down too, and he got up, dusted himself off and duly sent the keeper the wrong way from 12 yards.
GOAL! Brentford 1-1 Charlton (Yoann Barbet)
GOAL! Newcastle 0-1 Bournemouth (Steven Taylor og)
Newcastle are in trouble! They fall behind at home to Bournemouth, and it is a moment to forget for Steven Taylor as he turns Josh King's driven cross into his own net! A potentially huge moment in the relegation battle, at least as far as Bournemouth are concerned - they edge ever closer to survival. Down at the bottom of the Championship, meanwhile, Brentford have levelled things up against Charlton through Yoann Barbet's first goal for the club.
There have been a couple of quickfire goals at Highbury Stadium, where Sheffield United took the lead against Fleetwood but have been instantly pegged back by the hosts to make it 1-1.
GOAL! Derby 1-0 Huddersfield (Chris Martin)
Championship promotion hopefuls Derby County take the lead against Huddersfield through Chris Martin as they look to bounce back from their defeat to Wolves a week ago. They still have work to do if they are to get themselves back in the race for a top-two spot, though.
RED CARD! Kevin Mirallas (Everton)
Big blow for Everton! They go down to 10 men after just 35 minutes against West Ham courtesy of a second yellow card for Kevin Mirallas, who fouled Cresswell. The Toffees do have a 1-0 lead through Lukaku's goal, but it is a big ask for them to hold on to that for the remainder of the game now.
Plymouth aren't making things easy for themselves in the League Two promotion battle. They had won just two of their last seven league games heading into today's match, and have now fallen behind against Oxford for the second time. Northampton, by contrast, are 2-0 up in their match and continue to storm towards the title.
GOAL! Leeds 1-0 Bolton (Mirco Antenucci)
These are two clubs who have had their fair share of problems in recent times! Leeds go ahead against Bolton, though, as Antenucci flicks the ball past Rachubka from close range after Carayol's corner had been diverted into his path.
GOAL! Chelsea 1-0 Stoke (Bertrand Traore)
Well, he was handed a start in the absence of Costa, and Traore has not disappointed. He breaks the deadlock against Stoke at Stamford Bridge to send Chelsea on course for yet another win.
Real Madrid also take the lead in their match, with Pepe breaking the deadlock against Celta Vigo. They will, of course, fight until the end in La Liga, but you have to think that the Champions League is their priority now after last week's Madrid derby defeat to Atletico.
GOAL! Reading 2-1 Fulham (Hal Robson-Kanu)
Reading complete the turnaround against Fulham to put the Cottagers back in a bit of bother at the wrong end of the table. It is Robson-Kanu who gets the goal again, doubling his personal tally for the afternoon to put Reading in front.
The half-time whistles are beginning to blow around the country, and it hasn't exactly been a goal-laden opening 45 minutes in the Premier League. Just three from the six games so far!
We're also into half time at the Bernabeu, where Real Madrid enter the break leading Celta 1-0 courtesy of Pepe's header from an Isco corner.
CHAMPIONSHIP HALF-TIME SCORES:
Brentford 1-1 Charlton
Derby 1-0 Huddersfield
Ipswich 0-0 Nottingham Forest
Leeds 1-0 Bolton
MK Dons 0-0 QPR
Preston 0-0 Brighton
Reading 2-1 Fulham
Sheffield Wednesday 0-1 Rotherham
While not too much has happened in the Premier League as a whole, so far it is a good day for Bournemouth. They would climb above Crystal Palace in 14th as things stand, leading Newcastle as they go by a goal to nil at the interval. That was courtesy of a Steven Taylor own goal, which will no doubt have Steve McClaren bemoaning his side's luck at full time if it proves to be the difference.
Over in the Bundesliga, it appears as though Stuttgart and Werder Bremen have things wrapped up, with both leading by three goals against Hoffenheim and Hannover respectively. Augsburg are 3-1 up against Leverkusen, meanwhile, while the remaining three games are still pretty close with around 20 minutes left.
Over in France, runaway Ligue 1 leaders PSG have just kicked off their match against Montpellier. Laurent Blanc's side are looking to go 25 points clear.
We're getting back underway around the country for the second half of games now. More goals please!
It hasn't taken City long at all to break the deadlock in the second half! They go ahead against
Aston Villa through Yaya Toure's strike, and Villa will now be hoping that the floodgates do not open.
Ah. The floodgates do appear to be opening at the Etihad. City have a second in as many minutes as Sergio Aguero gets in on the act to double the hosts' advantage. No way back for Villa now surely.
GOAL! Real Madrid 2-0 Celta (Cristiano Ronaldo)
Real Madrid double the lead against Celta, and it is Cristiano Ronaldo who gets the goal to make it a Portuguese brace after Pepe had opened the scoring. It's a long way back for Celta at the Bernabeu now!
GOAL! MK Dons 1-0 QPR (Dean Lewington)
Huge goal for MK Dons, and it is the skipper Lewington who has got it! With Rotherham winning, there is no telling how big that goal could prove to be if MK Dons hold on against QPR.
Are there any more for Aguero today? I'm sure there are hordes of fantasy football players hoping so!
GOAL! Reading 2-2 Fulham (Ross McCormack)
GOAL! Real Madrid 3-0 Celta (Cristiano Ronaldo)
GOAL! Everton 2-0 West Ham (Aaron Lennon)
Oh dear, oh dear Aston Villa. They were able to hold Man City for the first half, but they have now conceded three times in the opening 15 minutes of the second as Aguero doubles his personal tally for the afternoon. Everton have also extended their lead against West Ham despite being down to 10 men, with Aaron Lennon setting them on course for a hugely impressive victory, while Ronaldo makes it two stunning strikes today with a fine free kick to put Madrid three goals to the good.
GOAL! Swansea 1-0 Norwich (Gylfi Sigurdsson)
Big goal for Swansea and a damaging one for Norwich as Sigurdsson gives the hosts the lead at the Liberty Stadium! It was a calm finish into the bottom corner having been set up by Fer, which leaves the Canaries in real trouble. Celta, meanwhile, have pulled a goal back at the Bernabeu through Liverpool legend Iago Aspas.
GOAL! Real Madrid 4-1 Celta (Cristiano Ronaldo)
GOAL! Man City 4-0 Aston Villa (Raheem Sterling)
GOAL! Leeds 2-0 Bolton (Mirco Antenucci)
We're getting into the realms of embarrassing (again) for Villa now. They fall 4-0 down to Man City as Sterling scored just a few minutes after coming on as a sub. Over at the Bernabeu, Ronaldo has completed yet another hat-trick to restore Madrid's lead, while Antenucci is now on a hat-trick himself having doubled both his personal tally and Leeds' advantage over Bolton.
PENALTY SAVED! Romelu Lukaku (Everton)
PENALTY MISSED! Sergio Aguero (Man City)
Wow! Two of the Premier League's most deadly strikers miss from the spot within seconds of each other! First Lukaku misses the chance to put 10-man Everton 3-0 up against West Ham as Adrian keeps the Belgian out, and then Aguero is denied a hat-trick by the woodwork as he hits the post!
GOAL! Brentford 1-2 Charlton (Callum Harriott)
GOAL! Derby 2-0 Huddersfield (Johnny Russell)
GOAL! Real Madrid 5-1 Celta (Cristiano Ronaldo)
GOAL! Leeds 2-1 Bolton (Kaiyne Woolery)
It's getting hard to keep up with Real Madrid! They move 6-1 ahead against Celta, with four of those goals coming from Cristiano Ronaldo. That puts him above the great Telmo Zarra and behind only his perennial rivals Lionel Messi in the all-time La Liga scoring charts. If only all his teammates were as good as him, hey Ronny?
GOAL! Everton 2-1 West Ham (Michail Antonio)
RED CARD! Jose Fonte (Southampton)
GOAL! Everton 2-2 West Ham (Diafra Sakho)
They did it against Norwich not too long ago, and they've done it again today! West Ham recover from two down with a couple of goals in quick succession as both Antonio and Sakho find the net against 10-man Everton at Goodison. The hosts now need to hang on for the final 10 minutes or so. How big does that missed Lukaku penalty look now?
GOAL! Chelsea 1-1 Stoke (Mame Biram Diouf)
GOAL! Southampton 0-1 Sunderland (Jermain Defoe)
Goals galore at the moment, but that is a particularly big one for
Sunderland! Their recent revival continues as Defoe, who did not start the match, gives them a late lead against
Southampton that will be a huge boost to their survival hopes and leave both Newcastle and Norwich in big trouble.
WATFORD STARTING XI: Gomes; Nyom, Britos, Prödl, Ake; Capoue, Watson, Suarez; Amrabat, Deeney; Ighalo
Subs: Pantilimon, Holebas, Behrami, Guedioura, Abdi, Anya, Oulare
LEICESTER STARTING XI: Schmeichel; Simpson, Morgan, Huth, Fuchs; Mahrez, Kanté, Drinkwater, Albrighton; Okazaki, Vardy
Subs: Schwarzer, King, Amartey, Schlupp Gray, Ulloa, Wasilewski
We're heading into stoppage time in most of the matches now, and as things stand it is a great day for
Sunderland in the relegation battle. They will be three points clear of both Newcastle and Bournemouth as things stand.
GOAL! Everton 2-3 West Ham (Dimitri Payet)
GOAL! Southampton 1-1 Sunderland (Virgil van Dijk)
FULL TIME: Swansea 1-0 Norwich
GOAL! MK Dons 2-0 QPR (Ben Reeves)
FULL TIME: Southampton 1-1 Sunderland
FULL TIME: Derby 2-0 Huddersfield
FULL TIME: Leeds 2-1 Bolton
FULL TIME: MK Dons 2-0 QPR
FULL TIME: Ipswich 1-0 Nottingham Forest
FULL TIME: Preston 0-0 Brighton
FULL TIME: Brentford 1-2 Charlton
FULL TIME: Reading 2-2 Fulham
FULL TIME: Sheffield Wednesday 0-1 Rotherham
Phew! It has been another breathtaking day of action, particularly in the Premier League. There were goals galore in that second half, and a few of them came late too. West Ham will steal the headlines, though, having come from behind to beat 10-man Everton 3-2 at Goodison Park in dramatic fashion. The top four is on!
So where does that leave things regarding the table? Well, Bournemouth are sitting pretty now 11 points clear of the relegation zone, while Swansea have also edged away and now have a nine-point gap to the bottom three. Sunderland were denied victory late on by Southampton but still gain a point on both Norwich and Newcastle, who lost their respective relegation battles this afternoon.
As for mid-table, Chelsea could only manage a draw and so sit 10th, while Everton spectacularly lost 3-2 to West Ham to remain in the bottom half, having had a chance to move 3-0 ahead from the penalty spot at one point. Southampton rescued a late point to take them back above Liverpool, but it wasn't a particularly good day for any of the sides from that middle six you played today.
Meanwhile, at the top of the pile it has been another good day for Leicester, who sit two points clear following the North London derby draw in the early kickoff. The Foxes themselves are in action against Watford in the later kickoff, which gets underway in around 20 minutes, and have the chance to go five points ahead. Man City did manage to close the gap with a commanding victory over Aston Villa, but West Ham remain just a point behind them, leapfrogging Man United into fifth with their dramatic win over 10-man Everton.
CHAMPIONSHIP FULL-TIME RESULTS:
Bristol City 0-2 Cardiff (12pm kickoff)
Burnley 1-0 Blackburn (12.30pm kickoff)
Brentford 1-2 Charlton
Derby 2-0 Huddersfield
Ipswich 1-0 Nottingham Forest
Leeds 2-1 Bolton
MK Dons 2-0 QPR
Preston 0-0 Brighton
Reading 2-2 Fulham
Sheffield Wednesday 0-1 Rotherham
A big result for Rotherham over South Yorkshire rivals Sheffield Wednesday, then, which not only gives them bragging rights but also gives their survival hopes a boost. Their advantage is limited, however, by the fact that MK Dons also picked up a win, which helps to bring Bristol City, Fulham, Huddersfield and Blackburn, who all dropped points today, a little closer to danger. Charlton climb off bottom spot with a shock win over Brentford, being replaced by Bolton following their loss to Leeds.
That win lifts Leeds up to 16th in the table, not just three adrift of the top half after Nottingham Forest, Brentford, Wolves and QPR all lost either last night or today. Reading and Preston were both held to a point, meanwhile, which means that Ipswich are the big winners from that middle section, moving to within one point of the playoff places with their victory over Forest.
Cardiff's win in the early kickoff means they finish the day level on points with Sheffield Wednesday after the Owls were beaten at home by Rotherham. Derby picked up an important win to consolidate their place in the playoff places, as Brighton dropped points to lose ground in the title race. Neither Hull or Middlesbrough were in action today, which means that Burnley end the day top of the table following their East Lancashire derby win over Blackburn.
Before we get to reaction from today's events, let me point you in the direction of the late kickoff between Watford and Leicester. You can find dedicated live coverage of that match by
clicking here, as Leicester look to go five points clear.
SOUTHAMPTON 1-1 SUNDERLAND: Southampton boss Ronald Koeman is unhappy with his side's performance against Sunderland today, despite nicking a late draw when down to 10 men following Jose Fonte's red card.
"For 85 minutes, we were not at the level I expect of Southampton. I think we lack confidence at the moment. They made it very difficult with their defensive organisation.
"We played better football with one player less on the pitch.
"The red card was a one-on-one situation. If it's a foul, then it's a red card. You have to accept that."
SOUTHAMPTON 1-1 SUNDERLAND: Indeed, there is unhappiness on both sides after that result - 'devastation', even, for Sunderland's Jermain Defoe, who put the Black Cats in front.
"We should have won the game. When you concede a goal late on after you've worked so hard to get in front, it's disappointing.
"It's a difficult place to come. You have to hang on, be professional. Sometimes you have go long and we didn't do that. It would have been a massive three points, so we're devastated.
"We didn't lose and we got a point. The manager always says that if you can't win, you shouldn't lose. We've got a long break until our next game, but we'd like them to come thick and fast. We have to stay positive."
SOUTHAMPTON 1-1 SUNDERLAND: While Jermain is devastated, Big Sam is dejected. Victory would have taken them a handy three points clear of the relegation zone, and Allardyce knows just how big a missed opportunity that could prove to be.
"The dejection amongst us all is clear. It was so important to see this game out. We know how important three points would have been today.
"If we'd have got the win today, we'd have had a gap for next weekend when we're not playing. We dropped a massive clanger in those last few seconds. With the amount of people we had in that box, it's baffling. We didn't have the composure to keep the ball, play out and see the game out properly. We paid a very heavy price.
"It's concentration, making the right decisions when you're tired, being brave enough to cut the danger out and not leaving it someone else.
"I'm delighted with the chances we made, other than we could have finished them better. Then again, one goal isn't enough for us. We can't find a clean sheet – we have a bogey hanging over us.
"I've seen for a long time that we have enough to stay up, we aren't getting the results."
They're underway in the late kickoff between Watford and Leicester incidentally. A reminder that you can follow dedicated live coverage of that game by
clicking here.
It is still goalless in Ligue 1 between
Paris Saint-Germain and Montpellier, by the way, which would not be the best preparation for PSG's trip to Stamford Bridge in the Champions League next week. There is around 10 minutes remaining of that match.
NEWCASTLE 1-3 BOURNEMOUTH: The man perhaps under most pressure in the Premier League right now is Steve McClaren. His side's 3-1 home defeat to fellow strugglers Bournemouth this afternoon was not well received by the Newcastle fans, as you might imagine, and he has admitted that he "can't see any positives" from the game.
"I'm very disappointed. That was definitely a poor performance and 'going down' material. The only positive is that we have 10 games to go.
"We have got to find the fighters in the team and the performance today did not epitomise that. We cannot play like that and hope to stay up.
"But we are fortunate that we've got 10 games and that's enough. It's a four-team league now and we play everyone around us.
"There was a certain edginess and you could see that in our play. We lost our shape. Normally we are a good attacking team, but today we were poor on the ball. You can only say that the pressure got to them.
"I can't see any positives but we have to stick together as a staff and as a team, and fight. As a coach you get through this. There are ups and downs. [The hostile atmosphere is] not nice, but I can fully understand it after that."
It's been a fairly open start between Watford and Leicester at Vicarage Road, but it remains goalless as things stand. Those two have arguably been the two biggest surprise packages in a season full of shocks.
GOAL! Villarreal 0-1 Las Palmas (David Garcia)
There could be a shock on the cards in La Liga! Las Palmas, who sit just one point clear of the relegation zone, take the lead against Champions League-chasing Villarreal at El Madrigal though David Garcia.
MAN CITY 4-0 ASTON VILLA: Man City ended a run of three consecutive league defeats with a comfortable win over Aston Villa this afternoon, and by the sounds of things Pellegrini is still gunning for the Premier League title this season.
"It was very important to be patient because we created chances in the first half. We dominated the game, so we just had to make it faster," he is quoted as saying by BBC Sport.
"We thought it would be a tough game, but maybe at the start we played a bit below our level, but we made the changes we needed to.
"I think the other teams will lose a lot of points, because it is a very close season. In the last six games the pressure will be on all the teams, so we have to carry on playing this way.
"Our experience is very important, we are used to handling pressure at the end of the season. I am sure other teams will start losing points because of the pressure."
FULL TIME: Paris Saint-Germain 0-0 Montpellier
It's not going to have an impact on the title race, but it is more dropped points for PSG in Ligue 1 as they are held to a goalless draw by Montpellier. That is now one point from their last two outings in the league, which constitutes as their worst form of the season. Still, their lead is now 23 at the top of the table, and they will switch their attention to Chelsea in the Champions League next.
MAN CITY 4-0 ASTON VILLA: Things look increasingly bleak for Villa, but manager Remi Garde is remaining defiant. He still thinks his side can stay up...
"We collapsed totally in the second half after a good first half. The game plan was to defend well as long as we could, but as soon as they scored we collapsed again," he told BBC Sport.
"The first 45 minutes was not entertaining but we knew it was the only solution for us. We had one chance in the first 45, and I told the players if we played like that we might get another.
"We can do [stay up] but we have to be realistic, if we play like we did in the first half, we have a chance. But if we play like in the second half, it is difficult."
CHELSEA 1-1 STOKE: Chelsea boss Guus Hiddink believes that the referee's decision not to give his side a penalty was a turning point in the draw with Stoke at Stamford Bridge.
"Stoke play well and creatively and they pushed us back. The first goal we got after a sloppy start, it was a beautiful goal. We should have got a penalty for a foul on Oscar. Any referee would have given a free kick if it was outside the box. That was a key point. Stoke got some encouragement after that," he told BBC Sport.
"We have rested one or two players but it's good to see the players who came in, especially the young ones, like Traore and Loftus-Cheek do well.
"Everyone knows in December we were one point off the relegation zone. There was a little bit of panic. Through a lot of draws at the beginning we moved away and then we had to make the next step with victories, which we did."
Right, that is all we have time for this afternoon! Thank you very much for joining
Sports Mole for all of today's afternoon action on what has been another brilliant day of football. Be sure to head over to over live coverage of the late kickoff between
Watford and Leicester, but for me, it is goodbye for now!
