Meanwhile in Scotland …
Thank you very much for your time today!
There was not much going on in the Premier League but it was still a huge day for all involved, even though it just sent a couple of teams closer to the drop.
Anyway...do not worry as you can join me again at 6.45pm for Manchester United versus Brighton, which should be fun.
In the meantime, why not enjoy Liverpool against Watford with Scott Murray?
Everton make the most of facing 10 men for the majority of the game at Stoke, as Paul MacInnes reports.
Roy Hodgson says Wilfried Zaha was just a bit tired and had been bashed around a bit when he suffered numerous fouls at Huddersfield. Good news for Palace fans.
A big three points for Crystal Palace on a cold day in Yorkshire where our fearless reporter Paul Doyle was watching on.
Bournemouth piled more misery onto West Brom and their fans as they came back to win 2-1 thanks to two cracking goals. Here is Ben Fisher’s report:
It is lively down at the bottom of League Two. Who will survive there?
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | Crewe | 37 | -17 | 37 |
| 21 | Forest Green | 37 | -20 | 37 |
| 22 | Grimsby | 38 | -25 | 37 |
| 23 | Chesterfield | 36 | -28 | 31 |
| 24 | Barnet | 38 | -22 | 30 |
And everyone love Tuncay.
1 - Cenk Tosun is the first Turkish player to score a brace in a Premier League game since Tuncay Sanli in 2008 (vs. Aston Villa). Impression. pic.twitter.com/f6TDLdAKFe
— OptaCan (@OptaCan) March 17, 2018
Big day at the bottom as West Brom confirm to the world they have no chance of staying up while Stoke have left themselves with it all to do in the final weeks of the season, while Palace were boosted by a much-needed win.
Pat asks...
“Riddle me this - Adam sent off for an uncontrolled challenge on Rooney - fair enough. However Rooney plays on.
“Pickford’s uncontrolled challenge on Max - and Max is off injured - where is the red?
“Why does Max’ goal negate Pickford’s - two feet off the ground - uncontrolled challenge?”
Goalkeepers get away with a lot, generally.
Updated
Down at the bottom of the Premier League...
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | Crystal Palace | 31 | -18 | 30 |
| 17 | West Ham | 30 | -21 | 30 |
| 18 | Southampton | 30 | -15 | 28 |
| 19 | Stoke | 31 | -29 | 27 |
| 20 | West Brom | 31 | -25 | 20 |
Eight losses in a row for West Brom, no wonder Mike emailed this in.
“Let’s hope Pardew remains unemployed forever. I’m tired of re-tread, hasbeen (or never were) types wasting space (and money). They are legends only in their own minds.”
Full-time: Bournemouth 2-1 West Brom
Ibe and Stanislas both scored cracking goals as Bournemouth recovered from going behind to Rodriguez’s close range finish. Charlie Daniels cleared one off the line in injury-time to ensure the Cherries earned the points.
Full-time: Huddersfield 0-2 Crystal Palace
Roy Hodgson’s side move out of the relegation zone thanks to goals from Tomkins and Milivojevic. Admittedly, Huddersfield were pretty poor throughout are barely threatened.
Full-time: Stoke 1-2 Everton
Two goals from Cenk Tosun in the snow were enough for the Toffees in the second half, even though Choupo-Moting pulled one back. The game changed when Charlie Adam was dismissed for a poor challenge on Wayne Rooney. Stoke are in serious trouble now as they sit three points adrift.
Goal! Bournemouth 2-1 West Brom (Stanislas, 89)
Alan Pardew will be unemployed this week. Stanislas has struck a delightful goal from distance with some wonderful dip at the end leaving Foster with no chance. No great escape, not even a point for West Brom.
Updated
Wilfried Zaha is heading off injured, which is unfortunate for Palace. Hopefully it is not too serious.
Daniel here likes ‘banter’.
He says: “As a newly decided West Brom fan, I like the exotic sound of this substitute Saido’s name. Do you think I should start up a crowd-fund project to raise funds to buy him, and do you think he would come?”
You always need a good penalty taker.
6 - Luka Milivojevic has scored more penalties than any other Premier League player this season (6). Conversion.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 17, 2018
Don’t worry Stoke fans, Saido Berahino is on the pitch so there is always hope...
Butland should have done better with Tosun’s header, so there is another chalked off for the England No1 spot. He got his hand to it but could only steer it towards the corner rather than wide.
Goal! Stoke 1-2 Everton (Tosun, 84)
Walcott got a cross into the box on the break and it was a classic diving header from Tosun to put them into the lead. Stoke were really going for it as they really need three points but it now looks like they will end up with none.
Updated
Choupo-Moting’s equaliser was his final action of the day as he was injured by Pickford who left one in on the striker when challenging him.
Goal! Bournemouth 1-1 West Brom (Ibe, 77)
The Great Escape is off for West Brom after Ibe makes the most of some alterations to the Baggies defence, which freed up some space, to smash in a thunderous strike to level things up.
Goal! Stoke 1-1 Everton (Choupo-Moting, 75)
Substitute Choupo-Moting gets the vital touch onto a free-kick into the box, which was the only way Stoke looked like scoring, but for his troubles he has taken one in a very private area.
Now that Everton have the lead against 10-man Stoke it should be a nice breeze to the final whistle for them, which is bad news for the hosts who would be left three points from safety with seven games left.
Poor Lynden and poor Luke.
He emails: “I was thinking about reprising ‘Goochwatch’, my Lynden Gooch-spotting series of emails from last season. Alas, he’s not even been named in the squad today. Surely it’s time, for both the club and the young American, to move on?”
PLAY STOPPED AT BOUNDARY PARK!
Get some red paint, lads!
The referee has instructed the ground staff to clear the lines to make them visible. Play has been stopped. 0-2
— Oldham Athletic AFC (@OfficialOAFC) March 17, 2018
Goal! Huddersfield 0-2 Crystal Palace (Milivojevic, pen, 68)
Palace are heading out of the relegation zone thanks to a calmly taken penalty from Milivojevic, which has doubled the lead.
Goal! Stoke 0-1 Everton (Tosun, 69)
A cross from the left for Everton allows Tosun to shoot, however Butland keeps the visitors out a couple of times before Tosun finally sends it it.
Ben Hinchcliffe update.
64' | Cometh the hour, cometh a snow shower, as Ben Hinchliffe rushes from his line to claim the ball ahead of - yep - Ben Hinchliffe!
— Stockport County FC (@StockportCounty) March 17, 2018
Goal! Now it is 2-0 to Preston at Sunderland after Callum Robinson’s goal, leaving more players on the pitch than fans in the stands. They really are going down to League One.
Meanwhile, at Oldham.
Boundary Park Oldham pic.twitter.com/XXLw6CNzYS
— Ian Cheeseman (@IanCheeseman) March 17, 2018
I do not really miss playing in Glossop. I think I have played cricket there in similar conditions, though.
@Will_Unwin still snows in Glossop https://t.co/fRSDspL5Md
— Andy Lockett (@alockett76) March 17, 2018
Red! Jake Clarke-Salter has been sent off in his second successive game for Sunderland. It really is not a time to be a Sunderland player or fan. They are losing 1-0 at home to Preston currently.
Off the line! Tomkins almost had his second at Huddersfield but his strike on goal but Mounie is waiting on the line and clears it to keep his team in the game.
Daniel has asked for a team to follow. I would advise not backing West Brom in the short nor long term.
“Having just tuned into your clockwatch, after turning off the shower that is the England rugby team, I am on the lookout for a football team to follow. Not an expert in the game but I see that West Brom seem to be doing well today: would you recommend them as my new favourite “winners”?”
Sunderland are losing at home to Preston, that will not get the fans back. It looks like the Black Cats are heading down.
PNE in green 1-0. Maguire's first chance. pic.twitter.com/SbNLL3zysF
— Michael Walker (@mwalker2771) March 17, 2018
Third placed Shrewsbury have equalised at Scunthorpe through Jon Nolan. They could take advantage of neither of League One’s top two Blackburn nor Wigan playing today due to postponements and the FA Cup, respectively.
A win today for West Brom would leave them just seven points adrift of safety, which is something to hold onto. They have only won once in their last 28 league games, so it would be a nice boost and would make the season slightly less embarrassing even when they almost certainly go down.
Some more line chat here from Andrew.
“Apropos lines on the pitches. When the FA introduced the 9v9 format on smaller pitches for youth football as a bridge between seven a side football and the ‘mans game’ of eleven a side, there was a general absence of pitches so a common solution was to mark out a 9v9 pitch inside the bigger 11v11 pitch. The extra lines quite often caused chaos for the players as they lost track of where they were on the pitch during a match despite the use of blue paint with 9v9 players often suddenly playing to the white lines and vice versa for the 11v11 players.”
Goal! Bournemouth 0-1 West Brom (Rodriguez, 49)
Maybe the Great Escape is on the for the Baggies! Defender Gibbs gets down the left and then sends the cross to the far post where Rondon heads it back to Rodriguez who is lurking and he eventually gets the ball over the line.
Updated
Kevin certainly thinks Mr Adam is a touch naughty.
He says: “Is one of the dirtiest players in the game, and has been for a long time. FWIW, I think Scholes was also a dirty player. Excusing any of these guys because they are talented is a mistake.”
Kick-off!
Here we go again across the country!
I once played in a win at Glossop when I scored a couple of cracking goals as a kid, so I have fond memories of playing in the snow. You would think those from Glossop would revel in the arctic conditions but they literally froze as I dribbled through their pitiful defence.
Peter asks about Charlie Adam being “that sort of player”.
In an email, he says: “When there’s an awful challenge and the Redknapp brigade rush to use the “not that sort of player” defense, I wonder if there’s someone who everyone agrees *is* that sort of player. Is Charlie Adam one? Every time I see him pick up a booking it’s not a Scholesian “he tries his best but he’s never been able to tackle”, it’s nasty and deliberate and violent and reckless.”
There is no doubting that his tackle today was utterly atrocious, that is for sure.
Three points for Palace could move them up to the lofty position of 16th and just one point behind opponents Huddersfield so Roy Hodgson will be doing all he can in the dressing room to make sure his players do not lose their focus.
If you had bet on who would be the only player to score in the opening 45 minutes today not many would have put James Tomkins down. Huddersfield had 30 shots in their 0-0 draw last week against Swansea whereas today they have not produced a single effort in the opening half, which will underwhelm their fans.
Wayne Rooney has been the victim of a foul for a sending off, while his brother has the boot on the other foot and has been dismissed for Guiseley.
Half-time
The break brings with it more snowy pictures from Stoke.
Premier League half-time scores:
Bournemouth 0-0 West Brom
Huddersfield 0-1 Crystal Palace
Stoke 0-0 Everton
Updated
No words...
Divock O'Rigi and the rest of the team would like to wish you all a very happy #StPatricksDay❗️ pic.twitter.com/DauZrM6FPX
— VfL Wolfsburg US (@VfLWolfsburg_US) March 17, 2018
Will we get an abandoned game today? No one wants that but there are plenty of games being conducted during a blizzard and some great photos of snowflakes obscuring the view.
Over in Birmingham there is supposedly a match going on.
📸 St. Andrew's... 😳 #BCFC pic.twitter.com/CP0eqzhrJc
— Birmingham City FC (@BCFC) March 17, 2018
James Maddison has just scored his 14th of the season for Norwich, his latest coming from the spot to make it 3-1 at home to Reading. He will be off to the Premier League over the summer.
Off you go, Charlie.
Rooney did recover from the challenge and is still on the pitch, although he is still being booed by the home fans for the being Adam’s victim.
2006 - Charlie Adam is the first player to be sent off in the Premier League for a foul on Wayne Rooney since Sam Sodje for Reading in December 2006. Quirky.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 17, 2018
Now we just need some action at Bournemouth against West Brom and then all over our reporters will have something to write about. Sadly, it does not sound too exciting down at Dean Court or whatever it is called nowadays.
Red card! Stoke 0-0 Everton (Adam)
The Scot has overrun the ball and produces and over the top challenge on Rooney, leaving the former England captain on the floor in a lot of pain. It does not look good for Rooney especially as it is far too cold to stay on the floor for too long in that Stoke blizzard.
Updated
Gideon ensures we all re-think our Saturday plans.
He says: “I wonder if there has ever been worse selection of matches to watch on MOTD tonight. Pro plus and Red Bull all round.
“Reminds me of a gooner friend who nodded off watching Arsenal on MOTD just as they had a corner. He woke as the corner came in watched the rest of the game and then thought ‘sod it I’m going to bed’. Walking upstairs to retire he was met by his girlfriend who handed him their newborn daughter and turned to go back to bed. He started to complain that he’d had her the previous night and they were supposed to be taking turns and so was rightfully put out until he saw the sunshine outside and realised he’d slept all night and woke up at the exact same incident on the morning repeat that he’d fallen asleep the night before.”
Other energy drinks are available.
It does not look like it is getting any warmer at Stoke.
Quite easy to track the path of the ball at Stoke today... pic.twitter.com/XX7X3MBxJP
— Martin Hardy (@mhardysport) March 17, 2018
Goal! Huddersfield 0-1 Crystal Palace (Tomkins, 23)
A corner was swung into the box which Huddersfield failed to clear allowing Tomkins to take a shot from close range which was saved by Lossl but the big defender does not make any mistake with the rebound to give his team a vital lead.
Updated
Get down to Altrincham versus Stalybridge early and you can still make it in time for Manchester United against Brighton later, as long as the Metrolink is working. A lovely day out in Greater Manchester for Danny Last.
Afternoon entertainment: @altrinchamfc v @StalyCelticFC pic.twitter.com/4i3bOOQGS4
— Danny Last (@DannyLast) March 17, 2018
Goal! Coady lifts the ball over the top for Costa to chest down and fire one in for Wolves as they aim to get things back on track against lowly Burton, who signed a local student this week.
Noel has emailed in to clear up my ludicrous question.
He says: “It appears there are no rules for the colour of lines. However, if there’s an artificial surface (which must be green), then non-football lines are allowed as long as they are not the same colour as the football lines. A rule that must be useful in the US.”
An assist for the wind at Scunthorpe!
🕐 8’ IRON 1-0 SHREWSBURY: Josh Morris scores from the free-kick! He curls his effort over the wall and the ball drops in the wind, hitting the back of the net. Great start! #UTI
— Scunthorpe United FC (@SUFCOfficial) March 17, 2018
All quiet in the Premier League in the opening 10 minutes as everyone likes to get used to the snow and cold. Rondon has flashed a header straight at Begovic which is about as exciting as it gets.
Accrington are winning against Forest Green! Callum Johnson has given the League Two leaders the lead as they look to extend their advantage over Luton Town who are currently losing at Newport.
But Sheffield United are using red lines. Are there not some sort of Football Association rules for what colour lines need to be painted?
Blue markings at Stoke instead of the traditional white due to the snow, which is novel. At least not many games have been taken by the weather this week as the snow is poor man’s Beast from the East, although my walk in was very nippy earlier.
Updated
Goal! Kane Hemmings stepped up to equalise from the spot in 100th minute of Notts County versus Mansfield. His goal for the Stags made it 1-1, which is a decent result at Meadow Lane.
Kick-off!!
Here we go!
Yannick Bolasie up against Glen Johnson might be the real battle of the day, considering the latter has only made five appearances this season. Bolasie will fancy his chances in the cold and the snow, one suspects.
There was a west London derby earlier and it did not go as Fulham would have hoped or expected. Here is the report.
We are not far away from kick-off which is a relief as there are only three Premier League games to build up to. Let us all hope they are the best games of our lifetime. On the upside, none of us are currently at Stoke, which is a relief as it is freezing there.
It is a big day for Dulwich Hamlet, they held a rally this morning. Here is more information on their current plight, courtesy of Hugo Greenhalgh.
West Brom have not won in their last 14 away games and they have lost the last three without scoring, so things cannot get much worse, which is something to hold onto. Well, maybe they could get a little worse.
Someone has angered Ossie Ardiles, which is not something you want to do.
Still, not happy with the commentators in BT. The criticism of our club and in particular our manager... Incredible. "MP playing @dele_official hoping He gets injured for England". Extraordinary comment. He said it twice! COYS COYS COYS
— osvaldo ardiles (@osvaldooardiles) March 17, 2018
That looks cold...
Stoke pic.twitter.com/DYe4xcWsgc
— Alan Smith (@alansmith90) March 17, 2018
Alan has emailed in support of JR.
Alan says: “I agree and sympathise with JR. In particular I’m mazed that Livermore merits inclusion in West Brom’s shambolic team, let alone England’s.”
Just before we get into the 3pms, here is Daniel Taylor’s latest column on Uefa and their action against Besiktas and lack of with Welbeck.
First Glen Johnson wins at golf this week and now he gets to start a Premier League match, what a time he is having.
Winners on the 18th. Always nice.... #winner #beaverbrook #tookthemoney pic.twitter.com/dF0iszc2La
— Glen Johnson (@glen_johnson) March 14, 2018
We already have an FA Cup semi-finalist after Spurs were untroubled by Swansea. Here is the report form Stuart James:
In the big game of the day between Gainsborough Trinity and Stockport, both teams are fielding a Ben Hinchcliffe. Gainsborough’s is a striker on on loan from Hull, while the Hatters own version is a goalkeeper. Will Ben Hinchcliffe score against Ben Hinchcliffe? I will bring you the latest.
BEN HINCHLIFFE WATCH | Gainsborough include our 'keeper's namesake among their starters, following the striker's arrival at The Northolme from @HullCity yesterday. Hopefully, all will become clear as proceedings progress...
— Stockport County FC (@StockportCounty) March 17, 2018
I am legally obliged to bring up St Patrick’s Day.
Only one Irish player has ever scored in the @PremierLeague on #StPatricksDay - Wes Hoolahan for Norwich v Sunderland in 2013....and both managers on that day were Irish too (Martin O'Neill & Chris Hughton)
— Matt Furniss (@Matt_Furniss) March 17, 2018
JR has emailed to point out how bad the West Brom team is on many levels.
He says; “What the hell kind of lineup is Pardew throwing out there? No, seriously, what is that? It’s a shame he wasn’t able to wedge a second goalkeeper into the starting eleven. At least he is starting every defender and not leaving any on the bench.
“Also benching his best midfielder is a wonderful move. Break curfew and steal a taxi? No trouble, you keep your place. Be unhappy when being removed from a game where you are one of the teams’ best players? That’s a benching, son.
Oh man what a season. I don’t feel well.”
Crystal Palace and Stoke City have the chance to move out of the relegation zone with wins today. Crystal Palace have Townsend, Benteke, Zaha leading the line so they will be confident of at least scoring one. Stoke have made a number of changes today as Paul Lambert seeks a formula which might hopefully keep them in the league. Glen Johnson and Peter Crouch start as Stoke back experience in their battle to stay up.
Alan Pardew has done very little of note since joining West Brom but he was a little concerned about losing his job at the Premier League’s bottom club so he held some “clear the air talks” with the board.
Pards said this week: “I told them what I think perhaps needs to happen going forward. They listened and I’m still in a job.
“I said it was probably time I spoke to upstairs and said, ‘I don’t know where all this speculation is coming from, so let’s clear the air’”.
There is plenty of stuff happening the Football League as the likes of Accrington Stanley look to take another stride in the direction of promotion. Our man Ben Fisher went to see why they are so good at football.
Teams: Stoke v Everton
Stoke: Butland, Johnson, Shawcross, Zouma, Stafylidis, Ndiaye, Allen, Adam, Shaqiri, Crouch, Sobhi.
Subs: Haugaard, Bauer, Martins Indi, Fletcher, Choupo-Moting, Berahino, Jese.
Everton: Pickford, Coleman, Keane, Jagielka, Baines, Gueye, Davies, Walcott, Rooney, Bolasie, Tosun.
Subs: Robles, Martina, Holgate, Schneiderlin, Klaassen, Calvert-Lewin, Niasse.
Teams: Bournemouth v West Brom
Bournemouth: Begovic, Francis, Steve Cook, Ake, Adam Smith, Stanislas, Lewis Cook, Gosling, Ibe, Wilson, King
Subs: Boruc, Surman, Pugh, Daniels, Defoe, Fraser, Mousset
West Brom: Foster, Nyom, Evans, Dawson, Hegazi, Gibbs, Yacob, Livermore, Brunt, Rondon, Rodriguez.
Subs: Myhill, Robson-Kanu, Phillips, McClean, Burke, Krychowiak, Field.
Teams: Huddersfield v Crystal Palace
Huddersfield: Lossl, Hadergjonaj, Schindler, Malone, Hogg, Mooy, Pritchard, Ince, Quaner, Mounie, Zanka.
Subs: Coleman, Smith, Billing, Kachunga, Lowe, Van La Parra, Depoitre.
Crystal Palace: Hennessey, Wan-Bissaka, Sakho, Van Aanholt, Tomkins, Milivojevic, Schlupp,McArthur, Townsend, Benteke, Zaha.
Subs: Cavalieri, Cabaye, Loftus-Cheek, Chung-yong Lee, Fosu-Mensah, Kelly, Riedewald.
Good afternoon!
Welcome to FA Cup weekend! Alas, there are no FA Cup games at 3pm, so we will need to make do with the glitz and glamour of the Premier League relegation battle.
It’s a great collection of six teams who were knocked out of the Cup after playing weakened teams fighting for survival in the league. Bournemouth become the latest club who can add to the misery of West Brom as they look to all but ensure their Premier League safety with a win today. The good news for the Baggies and their followers is that they are in a seaside town, which could mean the players believing they are on holiday and a taxi being repossessed prior to Alan Pardew getting into it a full-time.
Huddersfield host Crystal Palace which could is the most intriguing clash of the day. The Terriers drew with 10-man Swansea last week as they failed to break down the Welsh team and Palace will not be particularly liberal in their attacking neither. An on-song Zaha is what Palace need against a team four points ahead of them and if he is the mood it could lead them out of the relegation zone.
Obviously Everton are safe from the misery of a relegation battle but losing away at Stoke on a cold, snowy Saturday afternoon will not make Big Sam look good. Stoke were, naturally, defeated by Manchester City on Monday but, seeing as they are second from bottom, this I one they really need to get three points from as Everton are inconsistent and the Potters need a huge boost ahead of the run-in.
We will also have the best of the Football League, which must be more interesting than the Premier League.
Updated
