Match reports
Cheers for following along and thanks to Sarah for kicking us off.
Final update from me is a bit of fitba, Neil Warnock has confirmed he is stepping down from his interim job at Aberdeen. He leaves after a 3-1 win over Kilmarnock in the Scottish Cup quarter-final, just his second win two in eight games.
Updated
Not much change at the top of League Two, but Forest Green have a lifeline at the bottom:
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mansfield | 36 | 39 | 69 |
| 2 | Stockport County | 35 | 30 | 66 |
| 3 | Wrexham | 36 | 21 | 66 |
| 4 | Milton Keynes Dons | 37 | 13 | 64 |
| 5 | Crewe | 36 | 13 | 61 |
| 6 | Barrow | 35 | 12 | 59 |
| 7 | Gillingham | 37 | -7 | 55 |
| 8 | AFC Wimbledon | 37 | 11 | 54 |
| 9 | Walsall | 36 | 5 | 54 |
| 10 | Morecambe | 36 | -4 | 54 |
| 11 | Crawley Town | 35 | 0 | 52 |
| 12 | Bradford | 35 | 5 | 50 |
| 13 | Newport County | 36 | -4 | 49 |
| 14 | Harrogate Town | 36 | -12 | 49 |
| 15 | Notts County | 35 | 1 | 47 |
| 16 | Accrington Stanley | 36 | -4 | 46 |
| 17 | Tranmere | 37 | 2 | 44 |
| 18 | Swindon | 37 | -3 | 44 |
| 19 | Doncaster | 36 | -14 | 43 |
| 20 | Salford City | 37 | -16 | 40 |
| 21 | Grimsby | 35 | -15 | 35 |
| 22 | Colchester | 35 | -19 | 32 |
| 23 | Forest Green | 36 | -26 | 30 |
| 24 | Sutton Utd | 37 | -28 | 27 |
Derby have cut Portmouth’s lead at the top of League One:
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Portsmouth | 37 | 29 | 77 |
| 2 | Derby | 37 | 33 | 72 |
| 3 | Bolton | 37 | 24 | 71 |
| 4 | Peterborough | 36 | 27 | 68 |
| 5 | Barnsley | 36 | 21 | 67 |
| 6 | Stevenage | 36 | 14 | 61 |
| 7 | Oxford Utd | 37 | 13 | 60 |
| 8 | Blackpool | 37 | 15 | 57 |
| 9 | Lincoln City | 37 | 12 | 55 |
| 10 | Leyton Orient | 37 | -1 | 54 |
| 11 | Northampton | 37 | -7 | 50 |
| 12 | Bristol Rovers | 36 | -4 | 49 |
| 13 | Wigan | 37 | 5 | 47 |
| 14 | Charlton | 38 | -1 | 44 |
| 15 | Wycombe | 36 | -2 | 44 |
| 16 | Exeter | 37 | -23 | 41 |
| 17 | Shrewsbury | 37 | -24 | 41 |
| 18 | Reading | 37 | -5 | 39 |
| 19 | Cambridge Utd | 36 | -13 | 39 |
| 20 | Burton Albion | 36 | -17 | 39 |
| 21 | Cheltenham | 36 | -20 | 34 |
| 22 | Fleetwood Town | 37 | -20 | 32 |
| 23 | Port Vale | 35 | -24 | 32 |
| 24 | Carlisle | 36 | -32 | 23 |
The Championship looks like this:
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leicester | 37 | 41 | 82 |
| 2 | Leeds | 37 | 40 | 79 |
| 3 | Ipswich | 37 | 25 | 78 |
| 4 | Southampton | 36 | 26 | 73 |
| 5 | West Brom | 36 | 18 | 60 |
| 6 | Norwich | 37 | 12 | 58 |
| 7 | Hull | 37 | 7 | 58 |
| 8 | Coventry | 37 | 16 | 57 |
| 9 | Preston North End | 36 | -6 | 53 |
| 10 | Cardiff | 37 | -6 | 53 |
| 11 | Middlesbrough | 36 | 0 | 50 |
| 12 | Sunderland | 37 | 3 | 47 |
| 13 | Watford | 37 | 1 | 45 |
| 14 | Bristol City | 36 | -2 | 44 |
| 15 | Swansea | 36 | -11 | 43 |
| 16 | Millwall | 37 | -12 | 43 |
| 17 | Plymouth | 37 | -7 | 41 |
| 18 | Blackburn | 37 | -13 | 41 |
| 19 | Stoke | 37 | -15 | 41 |
| 20 | QPR | 37 | -14 | 39 |
| 21 | Birmingham | 36 | -15 | 39 |
| 22 | Huddersfield | 36 | -16 | 38 |
| 23 | Sheff Wed | 37 | -25 | 38 |
| 24 | Rotherham | 37 | -47 | 19 |
Big chance for Arsenal to go top against Brentford, here’s the table ahead of the late game:
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Liverpool | 27 | 39 | 63 |
| 2 | Man City | 27 | 35 | 62 |
| 3 | Arsenal | 27 | 45 | 61 |
| 4 | Aston Villa | 27 | 22 | 55 |
| 5 | Tottenham Hotspur | 26 | 16 | 50 |
| 6 | Man Utd | 28 | 0 | 47 |
| 7 | West Ham | 27 | -4 | 42 |
| 8 | Wolverhampton | 28 | -2 | 41 |
| 9 | Newcastle | 27 | 12 | 40 |
| 10 | Brighton | 27 | 5 | 39 |
| 11 | Chelsea | 26 | 1 | 36 |
| 12 | Fulham | 28 | -4 | 35 |
| 13 | AFC Bournemouth | 27 | -12 | 32 |
| 14 | Crystal Palace | 28 | -15 | 29 |
| 15 | Brentford | 27 | -11 | 26 |
| 16 | Everton | 28 | -10 | 25 |
| 17 | Nottm Forest | 27 | -15 | 24 |
| 18 | Luton | 27 | -17 | 21 |
| 19 | Sheff Utd | 28 | -50 | 14 |
| 20 | Burnley | 27 | -35 | 13 |
Luton will be hoping Brighton can get back to winning ways at home against Nottingham Forest at the Amex tomorrow. Draws won’t be enough for the Hatters but they could end the wekeend having made up ground on the teams above them if results go their way.
Brentford are one of those battling at the wrong end of the table, they travel to the Emirates for the 5.30pm KO. Follow that game with Will Unwin:
League Two full-time scores
Accrington Stanley 0-3 Bradford
Barrow 2-0 Colchester
Doncaster 2-0 Crewe Alexandra
Forest Green Rovers 2-0 Walsall
Gillingham 1-1 Tranmere
Harrogate Town 1-2 Crawley
Mansfield 3-2 Swindon
MK Dons 3-1 Salford
Morecambe 1-3 Wrexham
Notts County 0-2 AFC Wimbledon
Stockport 1-0 Newport
Sutton United 1-1 Grimsby
League One full-time scores
Barnsley 1-2 Lincoln
Blackpool 0-0 Portsmouth
Bristol Rovers 0-3 Derby County
Burton Albion 1-3 Peterborough United
Cambridge United 1-3 Northampton
Charlton 3-2 Carlisle
Exeter City 2-2 Bolton
Oxford 2-1 Cheltenham
Port Vale 1-2 Shrewsbury
Reading 1-2 Wycombe Wanderers
Stevenage 0-0 Fleetwood
Wigan Athletic 1-0 Leyton Orient
Championship full-time scores
Blackburn Rovers 1-1 Plymouth Argyle
Hull 2-2 Leicester
Millwall 1-0 Birmingham
Norwich 5-0 Rotherham
Preston 1-2 Stoke
QPR 0-2 Middlesbrough
Southampton 4-2 Sunderland
Watford 1-2 Coventry
Premier League full-time scores
Bournemouth 2-2 Sheffield United
Crystal Palace 1-1 Luton
Wolves 2-1 Fulham
Updated
Goal! Wolves 2-1 Fulham (Iwobi 90+8)
Too little, too late for Fulham, Iwobi scores but Wolves move up to eighth.
Goal! Crystal Palace 1-1 Luton (Woodrow 90+6)
WOW! Luton have barely had a sniff until stoppage time but they could have got a big point here. Cauley Woodrow has headed his first Premier League goal in ten years!
Couple of chances in the Premier League, Luton hit the bar at Selhurst Park and Bournemouth spurn a chance to get the winner from Luis Sinisterra.
Paddy Madden has got a late, late winner for Stockport against Newport, crucial with all the League Two promotion chasers winning.
Goal! Bournemouth 2-2 Sheffield United (Unal 90+1)
We’re set up for a grandstand finish at the Vitality with the Cherries grabbing a dramatic late leveller through Enes Unal.
Updated
Bolton have equalised at Exeter through Eoin Toal but Derby, one spot behind Wanderers in League One, are now 3-0 up at Bristol Rovers.
Big goal at Millwall where Japhet Tanganga has scored late on to give the home side a 1-0 lead against Birmingham.
Couple more EFL updates, Peterborough are in front at Burton and Luke McNally has put Stoke 2-1 up at Preston.
Luton have been very quiet at Selhurst Park, where Eze has almost scored a wonderful goal but his effort goes just over. Crystal Palace lead 1-0.
Goals! Southampton 4-2 Sunderland (Rothwell 77 and 80)
Saints back on top as Joe Rothwell grabs two goals in three minutes.
Important goal at the bottom of League Two for Forest Green, they’re now 1-0 up against ten-man Walsall with a win pulling Rovers within two points of 22nd placed Colchester.
At Vicarage Road, Coventry are now 2-1 up, with Haji Wright putting the Sky Blues ahead.
Goal! Bournemouth 1-2 Sheffield United (Ouattara 74)
It is game on now as substitute Dango Ouattara meets a Ryan Christie corner.
Updated
Goal! Southampton 2-2 Sunderland (Bellingham 71)
From 2-0 down the visitors have clawed their way back into this and by all accounts this is a stunner from Jobe Bellingham.
Elsewhere, Boro are 2-0 up at QPR, Plymouth have equalised at Blackburn, Preston have levelled at home against Preston.
Goal disallowed! Bournemouth 0-2 Sheffield United
Solanke thinks he’s got one back for the Cherries but a VAR check showed that the ball cannoned into his arm before he turned it home.
Goal Wolves 2-0 Fulham (Cairney OG 67)
Given after a VAR check for offside. It’s a long way back for Fulham from here you’d think.
Goal! Hull 2-2 Leicester (Vardy 62)
Well that lead didn’t last long…
Goal! Bournemouth 0-2 Sheffield United (Robinson 64)
The Blades have picked themselves up after that pumping by Arsenal and after a goalmouth scramble the have doubled their lead at the Vitality.
Updated
Goal! Hull 2-1 Leicester Zaroury (60)
The Tigers are back in front against the leage leaders. Southampton are 2-1 up against Sunderland, Leeds won last night and Ipswich lost at Cardiff in the early kick-off so this could be a big goal in the Championship promotion chase.
QPR have been on a decent run recently but they now trail 0-1 at home against Middlesbrough and Blackburn are down to ten men against Plymouth but still lead 1-0.
Derby have doubled their lead at Bristol Rovers with Bolton losing and Portsmouth all square against Blackpool.
Goal! Wolves 1-0 Fulham (Ait-Nouri 53)
Wolves lost Neto in the first half to another injury but thye’ve found a way to get the breakthrough against a stubborn Fulham side. Rayan Ait-Nouri turns it home from close range after Wolves worked a set-piece routine.
Updated
More goals in League One, Derby now lead 1-0 at Bristol Rovers, Peterborough are 1-0 up at Burton and Lincoln lead 2-0 on the road at Barnsley.
Paul Mullin has put Wrexham at Morecambe ahead in their League Two fixture. The visitors now lead 2-1.
Sonny Cox is having a day at St James Park. He got the equaliser for Exeter against Bolton and has scores twice in three minutes to out the Grencians ahead.
A couple of updates from League One and League Two, Exeter have equalised at home against promotion-chasing Bolton and there’s been two goals in two minutes at Mansfield where Swindon equalised before immediately going behind again.
Goal! Norwich 5-0 Rotherham (Sara 47)
First goal as the second halves get underway in the Championship, goal difference could be key in the race for the playoffs.
League Two half-time scores
Accrington Stanley 0-3 Bradford
Barrow 1-0 Colchester
Doncaster Rovers 1-0 Crewe Alexandra
Forest Green Rovers 0-0 Walsall
Gillingham 0-1 Tranmere
Harrogate Town 1-0 Crawley
Mansfield 1-0 Swindon
MK Dons 3-1 Salford City
Morecambe 1-1 Wrexham
Notts County 0-0 AFC Wimbledon
Stockport 0-0 Newport County
Sutton 0-1 Grimsby Town
League One half-time scores
Barnsley 0-1 Lincoln City
Blackpool 0-0 Portsmouth
Bristol Rovers 0-0 Derby County
Burton Albion 0-0 Peterborough United
Cambridge United 1-0 Northampton Town
Charlton Athletic 1-1 Carlisle United
Exeter City 0-1 Bolton Wanderers
Oxford United 1-0 Cheltenham Town
Port Vale 0-0 Shrewsbury Town
Reading 0-1 Wycombe Wanderers
Stevenage 0-0 Fleetwood Town
Wigan Athletic 0-0 Leyton Orient
Championnship half-time scores
Blackburn Rovers 1-0 Plymouth Argyle
Hull 1-1 Leicester
Millwall 0-0 Birmingham
Norwich City 4-0 Rotherham
Preston 0-0 Stoke
QPR 0-0 Middlesbrough
Southampton 2-0 Sunderland
Watford 1-1 Coventry
Premier League half-time scores
Bournemouth 0-1 Sheffield United
Crystal Palace 1-0 Luton
Wolves 0-0 Fulham
That is my stint on the clockwatch over and Tom Bassam will be taking you through the second half of the three matches. Take it away Tom.
Apologies, I had referred to Sheffield United’s potential win today as a first away win of the season but it isn’t. The club won away to Luton Town in February.
Half-time: Wolves 0-0 Fulham
Both sides have had chances to break the deadlock but both keepers are playing well and so it remains 0-0. All to play for in the second 45.
Half-time: Crystal Palace 1-0 Luton Town
Mateta’s goal is the difference so far with Luton not having any clear chances to level the game.
Half-time: Bournemouth 0-1 Sheffield United
Sheffield United are on course for their second away win in the league this season after Hamer put the visitors ahead. Bournemouth had a good chance after they were awarded a penalty but Solanke missed the chance.
Updated
Bournemouth 0-1 Sheffield United: McBurnie had a chance to add another goal for Sheffield United but his header is wide. Deep into injury time.
Crystal Palace 1-0 Luton Town: Mateta is so close to doubling the hosts lead. The goal-scorer found himself in a one-on-one with Kaminski but the keeper does well to save.
Bournemouth 0-1 Sheffield United: Grbic has made another great save, VAR checked to see if the block was legal and it’s been cleared. The keeper making sure Sheffield United hold onto their lead.
Updated
Wolves 0-0 Fulham: Of course as soon as I say it isn’t a blockbuster Fulham have a great chance. Adarabioyo has a shot but it’s off the bar, edging closer to breaking the deadlock.
“I’m suggesting Wolves, Bournemouth for home wins, fairly safe bet, and Luton to pull off a plucky point at Palace,” Jeremy Boyce has emailed.
So far none of these predictions are coming true but all could change Jeremy.
Wolves 0-0 Fulham: Well the change I thought would kick life into the game hasn’t done so just yet. Not a blockbuster.
Bournemouth 0-1 Sheffield United: Christie has a shot at goal as Bournemouth look to hit back after conceding but it hits the side netting, a jeer comes from Sheffield fans.
Crystal Palace 1-0 Luton Town: The hosts had a free kick, Eze took it but Mengi heads it away to make sure Palace don’t double their lead. It has been all Palace on the attack so far.
Bournemouth 0-1 Sheffield United: If Sheffield United hold onto this it will be their second away win of the season. The club certainly liked that goal:
GUS HAMERRRRRRRR!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/hj5b9YQty7
— Sheffield United (@SheffieldUnited) March 9, 2024
Updated
GOAL! Bournemouth 0-1 Sheffield United (Hamer, 27')
Hamer picks up the rebound after the keeper saves a shot and bottom of the table Sheffield United are ahead.
Updated
Wolves 0-0 Fulham: A great chance for the visitors as Lukic backheels to Iwobi. He threads the ball to Wilson but his shot is just wide. A bit of oomph being added to that game.
Bournemouth 0-0 Sheffield United: Grbic has made a fantastic save from a strong strike by Semeno, aside from the penalty miss that has been the closest either team have come to scoring.
Wolves 0-0 Fulham: The game is yet to get into gear, both teams trying to find their feet and no real chances have come to fruition yet.
Crystal Palace 1-0 Luton Town: Palace’s Ward has a chance but his header is well wide, all the momentum with the hosts at the moment.
Crystal Palace 1-0 Luton Town: I have been tracking down information on Barkley, it seems he has re-entered play and is okay to continue after the hit to the face.
Wolves 0-0 Fulham: Wolves have been forced into an early change with Bellegarde picking up a knock. Doyle is on.
Crystal Palace 1-0 Luton Town: The goal came from a Luton error. Doughty’s back pass was picked up by Munoz, who passes to Mateta to score.
Updated
PENALTY MISS! Bournemouth 0-0 Sheffield United (Solanke, 15')
Solanke scuffs and the ball goes straight over the bar! Wow.
Updated
GOAL! Crystal Palace 1-0 Luton Town (Mateta, 11')
Crystal Palace have opened the scoring with a sweet touch from Mateta!
Updated
Bournemouth 0-0 Sheffield United: Solanke has been fouled in the box and Bournemouth have been awarded a penalty. It will be checked by VAR.
Bournemouth 0-0 Sheffield United: There are some heated scenes in the match as some fouls by Sheffield players have not been met with yellow cards. Jeers coming from the crowd.
Crystal Palace 0-0 Luton Town: Ross Barkley has been down for a while receiving medical treatment after heading another player accidentally. He has gone to the side of the pitch after having blood cleared from his face.
Updated
Bournemouth 0-0 Sheffield United: Solanke has a chance for Bournemouth but it’s cleared well.
Updated
8 min: Sheffield United will keen to repair their defensive form after losing 6-0 to Arsenal last time out in the league. So far so good but will Bournemouth find their way through? They have been awarded an early free kick but nothing comes of it.
There’s been no early drama in any of the 3pm kick-offs, all are standing a 0-0. Who will score first?
Kick-off!
Crystal Palace v Luton Town, Bournemouth v Sheffield United and Wolves v Fulham are all underway! All the action and goals to come.
The chaoticness of the 3pm kick-offs is descending, just a few minutes until we are underway across the three matches.
“Maybe if all the pundits start saying that Everton have to sign a striker like they did with Arsenal during the last window, they’ll suddenly start scoring five or six goals every match,” Phil Grey has emailed. “What do you think?”
That would be quite the turnaround! But you never know, maybe they should give it a shot.
Manchester United are closing in on a Champions League spot, the win over Everton means they are now eight points outside of the top four spot:
Man Utd return to winning ways 😤#MUNEVE | @ManUtd pic.twitter.com/6sgLuBDMs1
— Premier League (@premierleague) March 9, 2024
In the women’s game, Leicester City have made the Women’s FA Cup semi-finals for the first time after beating Liverpool 2-0.
Into the #AdobeWomensFACup Semi-Finals for the first time! 🏆#LIVLEI pic.twitter.com/06itRshRUt
— LCFC Women (@LCFC_Women) March 9, 2024
A good read before the top of the table clash between Manchester City and Liverpool:
I would love to hear from you, on your predictions of the action this afternoon but also what snacks you are digging into as you watch. You can email me or contact me on X – @rendellx.
Manchester United are beating Everton 2-0 after Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford scored penalties.
You can catch the end of the game and all the reaction here:
Updated
Wolves v Fulham team news
Wolves have made three change to their squad, including the introduction of Fraser
Wolves: Sa, Semedo, S Bueno, Kilman, Ait-Nouri, M Lemina, Gomes, Sarabia, Bellegarde, Neto, Fraser
3️⃣ Three changes from #NEWWOL
— Wolves (@Wolves) March 9, 2024
➡️ S. Bueno and Gomes into the XI
🎓 Fraser's first start
How we line-up to take on @FulhamFC.
🐺📋 @AstroPay_OK pic.twitter.com/XyxmP5B8JI
Fulham have an unchanged side after beating Brighton.
Fulham: Leno, Castagne, Tosin, Bassey, Robinson, Reed, Lukic, Wilson, Andreas, Iwobi, Muniz
Three in a row is the 🎯!#WOLFUL pic.twitter.com/RN9CUftY8x
— Fulham Football Club (@FulhamFC) March 9, 2024
Bournemouth v Sheffield United team news
Bournemouth make one change to the team who beat Burnley last weekend. Mepham comes in with Senesi out.
Bournemouth: Neto, Kerkez, Cook, Mepham, Solanke, Christie, Smith, Tavernier, Kluivert, Semenyo, Zabarnyi
UP THE CHERRIES 🍒 pic.twitter.com/yMyFivosXP
— AFC Bournemouth 🍒 (@afcbournemouth) March 9, 2024
Sheffield United make four changes to the team who lost to Arsenal, including Arblaster who makes his first start in the Premier League
Sheffield United: Grbic, Baldock, Trusty, Hamer, McBurnie, Brereton Diaz, Robinson, Bogle, Davies, Osborn, Arblaster.
Team news 🗞️
— Sheffield United (@SheffieldUnited) March 9, 2024
How the Bladesmen line-up to face Bournemouth 📋#BOUSHU pic.twitter.com/FCkjyGCoMy
Updated
Crystal Palace v Luton Town team news
Crystal Palace name an unchanged starting side to the one who lost to Spurs last weekend.
Palace: Johnstone, Muñoz, Ward, Andersen, Richards, Mitchell, Wharton, Lerma, Ayew, Mateta, Eze.
To take on Luton ✊#CPFC | #CRYLUT
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) March 9, 2024
Luton Town, meanwhile, have made two changes to their starting team from their squad who lost last weekend. Bell and Townsend drop out with Osho and Ogbene come in
Luton: Kaminski, Kabore, Burke, Osho, Mengi, Doughty, Barkley, Clark, Chong, Ogbene, Morris
Your Hatters in the capital 🫡 pic.twitter.com/SOKk07Hye0
— Luton Town FC (@LutonTown) March 9, 2024
Preamble
Hello and welcome to today’s Premier League clockwatch. We have three 3pm GMT kick-offs and I will bring you all of the live updates from those games.
The fixtures are:
Crystal Palace v Luton Town
Bournemouth v Sheffield United
Wolves v Fulham
A lot of the focus will be at the bottom of the table with Luton Town and Sheffield United both in the relegation zone. If the sides win they will remain in the bottom three with Sheffield 11 points off of safety and Luton four points. But a win would boost hopes of remaining in the top-flight.
A match has already kicked off today between Manchester United and Everton, stay tuned for updates on that match and all the team news for the upcoming games.
