That's it for today
Thanks for your company. Not the most sparky of Premier League afternoons, Burnley’s win over Southampton perhaps making the biggest headlines. Fairly routine wins for Chelsea and Man City in the end, a good derby victory for West Brom over Villa and draws at Sunderland and Palace. Plenty of goals in the Championship, meanwhile, Bournemouth beating Cardiff 5-3 to top it.
There’ll be on-the-whistle match reports to savour on this website very shortly. And you can tuck into Nick Miller’s MBM of Arsenal v Newcastle, too. That game start at 5.30, but Nick’s already on it.
Cheers, and I’ll see you tomorrow for Manchester United v Liverpool – live!
Full-times from the Scottish Premiership
Dundee United 0-2 Aberdeen, Hamilton 2-1 Dundee, Inverness CT 0-4 Partick Thistle, Kilmarnock 0-1 St Johnstone, Motherwell 2-2 Ross County
Championship full-times in...errrr....full
Birmingham 6-1 Reading, Bolton 0-0 Ipswich, Bournemouth 5-3 Cardiff, Brentford 3-1 Blackburn, Charlton 2-2 Blackpool, Leeds 0-1 Fulham, Norwich 5-0 Huddersfield, Rotherham 0-0 Nottingham Forest, Sheffield Wednesday 0-1 Wolves, Watford 2-1 Wigan
Bournemouth have beaten Cardiff 5-3 and go top of the Championship on goals scored from Middlesbrough, because Ipswich have drawn 0-0 at Bolton.
Full-time: Sunderland 1-1 West Ham
Deeply controversial Gomez penalty, deflected Downing equaliser, gigglesome Altidore miss. That’s all.
Updated
Full-time: Leicester City 0-1 Manchester City
Frank Lampard won it in the first half. Not pretty, but it’ll do for City.
Updated
Full-time: West Brom 1-0 Aston Villa
Brad Guzan hared up for a late set-piece to atone for the error that helped give Craig Gardner a winner, but it came to nought. Kieran Richardson’s first-half red card did not help much.
Full-time: Burnley 1-0 Southampton
A winner from Ashley Barnes, and a penalty save from Dusan Tadic by Tom Heaton!
Full-time: Crystal Palace 1-1 Stoke City
McArthur in the 11th, Crouch in the 13th, not a great deal thereafter.
Updated
Full-time: Chelsea 2-0 Hull City
Hazard and Costa, with Huddlestone sent off.
Benteke has just missed a reasonable chance to equalise for Villa, floating a shot well wide from 16 yards.
And Blackpool, meanwhile, have equalised at Charlton! 2-2. Scorer TBC...
Bournemouth 5-3 Cardiff now! Callum Wilson seals it...surely? And Bristol City will stay on the League One summit – a late goal from Luke Ayling has put them 1-0 up over Crawley.
Yeovil now lead 4-0 at Oldham in the Johnson derby.
Southampton have just hit the post at Burnley! Nathaniel Clyne, who scored a belter at Arsenal in the League Cup remember, unleashed one again but was denied by the frame. Still 1-0 to Burnley.
Watford are 2-1 up over Wigan now: Troy Deeney has another. And Leon Clarke has scored against his old club with his first touch of the ball in what might just be a late winner for Wolves at Sheffield Wednesday. 1-0 there!
Updated
Anthony Knockaert has just squandered a favourable free-kick for Leicester. Into the wall it was sent.
Marouane Chamakh has now injured his hamstring at Palace v Stoke and Dwight Gayle is on. But that game, after such a fast start, has really drifted and the same really goes for Sunderland v West Ham although the latter was lit up by that Altidore miss, which you will be seeing a lot of. These matches are both tied at 1-1.
Updated
Accrington, pegged back in the first half by Portsmouth, have taken the elad again through Piero Mingoia. 3-2 there.
Leicester have not threatened Man City all that much but Leonardo Ulloa, on from the bench, has just turned in the area and seen a shot deflected wide by Demichelis. It’s not been a good game: could injury-afflicted City yet regret not putting it to bed?
Cardiff back in it yet again at Bournemouth! Sean Morrison makes it 4-3 now!
Lewis Grabban has put Norwich 5-0 up against Huddersfield. Five goals in 31 minutes for them.
Vincent Kompany has just pulled up under no pressure at all against Leicester – looks like a hamstring, and he’s now walking off. Big blow if it’s serious. Martin Demichelis comes on.
Nearly an instant response from the Saints though – Davis’ free-kick is met by Jose Fonte, who would score if he headed anywhere but right into penalty hero Heaton’s midriff.
Goal! Burnley 1-0 Southampton (Barnes 73)
Well, well. It’s Ashley Barnes – squeezing the ball inside Forster’s near post when everyone expected a curler! Southampton’s slump looks about to continue, while Burnley are really giving themselves a fighting chance at the moment.
Updated
Goal! West Brom 1-0 Aston Villa (Gardner 72)
Oh dear Brad Guzan (think I said that last week too). He misses a Saido Berahino cross, recovers to save Brown Ideye’s follow-up but can do nothing to prevent Craig Gardner thumping home!
Updated
There is not much going on at the King Power Stadium. Few chances at either end but Leicester hanging in there...
Norwich are 4-0 up over Huddersfield now, Cameron Jerome scoring against the side that has been down to 10 men since the 17th minute.
Bournemouth, who score loads and concede plenty too, are now 4-2 up over Cardiff. A Yann Kermogant free-kick did the job there.
Goal! Chelsea 2-0 Hull (Costa 68)
That was a bit easier on the senses though. A delightful bit of play by Hazard and a lovely through-ball for Diego Costa, who does not really miss those.
Updated
It all looks a bit mucky at Stamford Bridge. Gustaf Borelius-Larson reports:
“Chelsea’s performance is one of the most disgraceful ive seen in a long time. 3 players booked for diving, Cahill should be off and still being outplayed by a 10-man Hull. Mourinho’s best team? I dont think so.”
Could this be the death knell for Nigel Adkins’ Reading stint? Should it be? David Cotterill has made it 6-1 to Birmingham!
At the Reebok, Eidur Gudjohnsen has come off the bench to huge cheers. Hmmm, is there a script written?
Updated
And Swindon join the three-goals-away club, they’re 3-0 up at Notts County.
Brentford 3-1 Blackburn now, the third coming from Jota.
Another team has scored three away from home in the lower divisions: Plymouth are 3-0 up at Northampton.
Fulham have struck at Leeds – Hugo Rodallega right on the hour. 1-0 to the visitors.
Penalty save! Tom Heaton (Burnley) from Dusan Tadic (Southampton)
The home ‘keeper repels the Serbian’s effort after Ryan Bertrand was fouled by George Boyd!
Updated
Red card! Tom Huddlestone, Hull
High, dangerous foot from Huddlestone on Filipe Luis and Hull’s job is now very difficult.
Brentford are back in front against Blackburn – Alex Pritchard has made it 2-1. And Jordan Cousins has turned things around for Charlton, who lead Blackpool 2-1 now. Still goalless between Bolton and Ipswich at the Reebok. The visitors go top if they win.
West Brom aren’t doing enough against Villa and their 10 men just now. Most of the deliveries into the box haven’t been up to scratch, the latest from Pocognoli sailing out of play.
Gary Cahill gets a spot of luck at Stamford Bridge, going over far too easily in the box and going unpunished. Chelsea really haven’t got going but they lead through that early Hazard goal, which perhaps hasn’t done a lot for their intensity.
All happening in the Championship. Birmingham 5-1 Reading now, Andrew Shinnie’s goal. And Norwich have scored three in the first six minutes of the second half – this was another for Bradley Johnson. 3-0.
Cardiff have another back at Bournemouth – it’s Sean Morrison, and it’s 3-2.
And it’s now 2-0 at Carrow Road, Nathan Redmond heading home a Martin Olsson cross. That will be that.
Updated
Norwich, up against 10 men since the 17th minute, have gone a goal up against Huddersfield through Bradley Johnson.
Second halves are getting underway....
Can Leicester battle back? Will Burnley shock the Saints? Will 10-man Villa – who have just bought Fabian Delph on for Charles N’Zogbia – hold out at West Brom?
Championship half-times
Birmingham 4-1 Reading, Bolton 0-0 Ipswich, Bournemouth 3-1 Cardiff, Brentford 1-1 Blackburn, Charlton 1-1 Blackpool, Leeds 0-0 Fulham, Norwich 0-0 Huddersfield, Rotherham 0-0 Nottingham Forest, Sheff Weds 0-0 Wolves, Watford 1-1 Wigan
Premier League half-times
Burnley 0-0 Southampton, Chelsea 1-0 Hull, Crystal Palace 1-1 Stoke, Leicester 0-1 Man City, Sunderland 1-1 West Ham, West Brom 0-0 Aston Villa
Wigan have equalised at Watford (Chris McCann) and Blackburn have levelled up at Brentford (Rudy Gestede). And it’s now 4-1 to Birmingham against Reading – a Demarai Gray hat-trick! How will Nigel Adkins spin the positive there?
Two more goals at Bournemouth! Kenwyne Jones gave Cardiff hope but Marc Pugh quickly restored the margin!
Updated
And, right on half-time, Jozy Altidore was more like Dozy Altidore, etcetera and so on, in getting his feet all wrong when given a chance four yards out.
Sebastien Pocognoli has just shot not too far over for West Brom, who are about to go in goalless against Villa.
Southampton have not threatened much at Burnley yet. They had similar problems breaking Villa down on their own turf the other week. Are people wising up to Koeman’s men?
Harry Arter has put Bournemouth, who have apparently been outstanding, 2-0 up over Cardiff. As things stand, they could go top of the division.
Charlton have equalised against Blackpool, a Yoni Buyens penalty, and Colchester are the latest League One side to be three down at home. Rochdale are handing out the beating there.
Goal! Leicester 0-1 Manchester City (Lampard 40)
Samir Nasri shapes one way, goes the other, glides towards the left byline inside the area and cuts back for Lampard, who converts from six yards out. City had started to look ominous, and this now looks very hard for Leicester.
Updated
West Brom looking lively against 10-man Villa, and Brad Guzan has just made a vital save with his legs from close range after the ball was cut back from the left. Didn’t see who got the shot away....
Updated
From Alan Kirkup in Florida: “Isn’t it a father vs son game at Oldham today? Looks like the old man might steal one over the youngster.”
It is, and father Gary’s Yeovil have just gone 3-0 up at son Lee’s Oldham!
Phew, it’s a been a breakneck first half-hour or so hasn’t it? In League One, Walsall have scored twice in three minutes against Barnsley and have gone 2-1 up.
Big save by Kasper Schmeichel’s replacement, Ben Hamer, at Leicester – he’s just been at full stretch to repel a rocket from Yaya Toure.
Young Southampton schemer James Hesketh has gone off injured at Burnley, to be replaced by James Ward-Prowse. That was his debut, and he looks gutted there.
Updated
Portsmouth have come back against Accrington: 2-2 now, Craig Westcarr.
Goal! Sunderland 1-1 West Ham (Downing 29)
Stewart Downing cuts in, sees his shot take a nick off home goalscorer Gomez and in it goes!
Updated
Fraser Forster has just saved well from Ashley Barnes at Turf Moor, where Burnley are applying some pressure.
Bit of a surprise brewing in the Championship where Chris Eagles – remember him? – has scored for Blackpool at Charlton. 1-0 there.
Birmingham 3-1 Reading now, Gray’s second of the game. We’re just 24 minutes in.
J.R. in Illinois has a weather eye on Stamford Bridge:
“We almost had the moment of the season right around the 11 minute mark of the game at Chelsea. Curtis Davies missed kicking John Terry’s head off of his shoulders by about six inches. His foot actually went OVER Terry’s head and Terry was not stooping down. Of course no card was shown. Sir Chris Hoy is in for some Twitter abuse tonight.”
Watford are 1-0 up over Wigan (Troy Deeney 20), in what they are not calling the Malky Mackay derby.
Red card! Kieran Richardson, Aston Villa (22)
Straight red after a nasty, nasty challenge! Villa, like Huddersfield, are on for a long afternoon now.
Updated
Goal! Sunderland 1-0 West Ham (Gomez pen 22)
Kiss of death for the Hammers just then. This came from a Jordi Gomez penalty after Adam Johnson was brought down by James Tomkins, although West Ham weren’t best pleased with the award at all. Did Johnson just fall over? Phil Dowd copped an absolute earful from Sam Allardyce after that.
Updated
Reading are back in it at Birmingham – Glenn Murray has made it 2-1.
West Ham are having a few chances at Sunderland. Andy Carroll has headed over and right-back Carl Jenkinson has forced Costel Pantilimon into two saves.
Portsmouth have one back against Accrington through Marcus Bean. And in a big game between Championship play-off hopefuls, Brentford are 1-0 up against Blackburn through Jonathan Douglas.
There is more. Huddersfield are down to 10 at Norwich – Murray Wallace has been sent off. It’s still goalless but they have 73 minutes to hold out.
Leicester are holding their own against Manchester City, still. City are having plenty of the ball but there is little penetration and you wonder how badly they will suffer for Dzeko’s last-minute injury.
In League Two, Accrington Stanley are already 2-0 up at Portsmouth. Lively stuff all round so far this afternoon.
Elsewhere in the Championship, Ipswich have started well at Bolton as they look to go top. Jay Tabb and Daryl Murphy have gone close but it remains goalless.
Correction, Oscar put that ball in for Hazard’s goal at Stamford Bridge.
Meanwhile, 2-0 to Birmingham against Reading! Demarai Gray with the second.
Goal! Crystal Palace 1-1 Stoke (Crouch 13)
They really have! Jon Walters’ shot was deflected to the feet of Peter Crouch and he wasn’t going to miss that!
Updated
Goal! Crystal Palace 1-0 Stoke (McArthur 11)
Yannick Bolasie, who is in such good form, set this one up – crossing superbly for James McArthur to loop the ball over Asmir Begovic. These two have stopped trading Tony Pulis stories and started this one at lightning pace.
Updated
Now Hull have another problem. Alex Bruce has had to replace Matt Dawson, who pulled up injured.
Another away goal in League One – Peterborough lead at Leyton Orient through Aaron McLean.
Sheffield United are winning at Fleetwood in League One, and so are Swindon at Notts County.
Goal! Chelsea 1-0 Hull (Hazard 7)
A Filipe Luis cross, a collector’s item of an Eden Hazard header, and Steve Bruce will not be particularly happy about that...
Updated
Another goal in the second tier. Paul Caddis for Birmingham, who are resurgent under Gary Rowett and lead Reading 1-0.
Eliaquim Mangala should have scored early on for Manchester City at the King Power Stadium, but the home side – who didn’t get much of a kick early on – are counterattacking with promise.
Updated
This is an excellent shout from Doremus Schafer. Who’s that playing instead of Dzeko?
Goal in the Championship already! Matt Ritchie for high-flying Bournemouth inside the first minute. They’re 1-0 up over Cardiff.
And they're off!
Our 3pms are underway. Buckle in....
A late change to Manchester City’s team! Edin Dzeko was injured in the warm-up so there’s a start for young Jose Pozo.
Richard Maughan has a point of interest about Chelsea v Hull:
“I fancy seeing how Chelsea get on without Fabregas. They seem to be lack a bit of invention when he’s not on his game. Hazard can obviously make a goal out of nothing, but I can’t help but feeling that Lampard would have been a great back-up as a creative force in the middle for when Fabregas is off his game.”
Riccardo S wants some help:
“Due to circumstances beyond my control , I can watch only ONE game tonight in the EPL. But once committed to this game I cannot change my game. There will be goals in the Man City/Chelski games but that could be over in 15 mins as the opposition would be unlikely to mount a comeback. The West Ham game could be interesting. Please help. Which game will be the most entertaining.”
I’m mildly intrigued. Only mildly, but I am. Let me solve your conundrum: Leicester v Man City. God speed.
Simon McMahon has very kindly done some of my work for me by sending in his thoughts about today’s Scottish fixtures:
Having just about recovered from the laughing fit I suffered after the McCoist ‘I resign, but am still committed’ shenanigans yesterday, it’s time for the real action to begin. A sold out Tannadice is eagerly anticipating Scotland’s game of the day as Dundee United entertain Aberdeen. Should be a cracker. In other news Dundee will be looking to arrest their recent alarming slump when they visit Hamilton, Inverness host Partick Thistle and Motherwell’s new manager will get a first look at his team against Ross County.
As always, do send in your emails. The address is above. I’d like to know where you are. If you’re watching a game, anyway.
That’s that. In the Championship, by the way, Middlesbrough did indeed defeat Derby 2-0. They’ll be top tonight unless Ipswich win at Bolton – a match also notable for the return of Eidur Gudjohnsen, who starts on the bench.
West Brom v Aston Villa – teams
Varela and Ideye replace Anichebe and Mulumbu for West Brom. Kieran Richardson is in the the visitors, with Ashley Westwood injured.
West Brom: Foster, Wisdom, Lescott, McAuley, Pocognoli,
Dorrans, Gardner, Morrison, Varela, Sessegnon, Ideye. Subs:
Baird, Myhill, Gamboa, Mulumbu, Dawson, Blanco, Berahino.
Aston Villa: Guzan, Hutton, Okore, Clark, Cissokho, Cleverley,
Sanchez, Richardson, N’Zogbia, Benteke, Agbonlahor. Subs: Vlaar,
Weimann, Delph, Herd, Given, Lowton, Grealish.
Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral)
Crystal Palace v Stoke – teams
Palace are – glory be – unchanged. Stoke replace one Marc with another: Wilson is in for Muniesa.
Crystal Palace: Speroni, Kelly, Hangeland, Dann, Ward, Jedinak,
Zaha, Ledley, McArthur, Bolasie, Chamakh. Subs: Campbell,
Hennessey, Thomas, Gayle, Bannan, Delaney, Puncheon.
Stoke: Begovic, Bardsley, Wilson, Shawcross, Pieters, Walters,
Cameron, Nzonzi, Bojan, Crouch, Diouf. Subs: Huth, Whelan,
Ireland, Arnautovic, Adam, Butland, Assaidi.
Referee: Kevin Friend (Leicestershire)
Leicester v Manchester City – teams
Wes Morgan replaces Liam Moore at the heart of Leicester’s defence, while Andy King replaces Matty James and Danny Drinkwater comes in for Leonardo Ulloa. Ben Hamer replaces the injured Kasper Schmeichel in nets. Five changes for Manchester City – Kompany, Sagna, Silva, Toure, and Lampard all in for Demichelis, Zabaleta, Milner, Navas and Fernandinho.
Leicester: Hamer, Simpson, Wasilewski, Morgan, Konchesky,
Mahrez, King, Cambiasso, Drinkwater, Schlupp, Vardy. Subs:
Hammond, Powell, Moore, Knockaert, Smith, James, Ulloa.
Man City: Hart, Sagna, Kompany, Mangala, Clichy, Fernando,
Lampard, Nasri, Toure, Silva, Dzeko. Subs: Milner, Caballero,
Jesus Navas, Fernandinho, Pozo, Kolarov, Demichelis.
Referee: Jon Moss (W Yorkshire)
Chelsea v Hull – teams
Petr Cech makes what is these days a very rare start, with Thibaut Courtois out injured. Cesc Fabregas is suspended but Nemanja Matic is back from a ban of his own. Filipe Luis replaces Cesar Azpilicueta at left-back. Nikica Jelavic is back in Hull’s starting lineup, along with Curtis Davies and Andrew Robertson. Liam Rosenior, Abel Hernandez and Stephen Quinn drop out.
Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Luis, Matic, Mikel,
Willian, Oscar, Hazard, Costa. Subs: Zouma, Ramires, Drogba,
Schurrle, Remy, Schwarzer, Azpilicueta.
Hull: McGregor, Elmohamady, Dawson, Davies, Chester, Robertson,
Meyler, Livermore, Huddlestone, Jelavic, Aluko. Subs: Rosenior,
Bruce, Hernandez, Brady, Jakupovic, Ramirez, Quinn.
Referee: Chris Foy (Merseyside)
Burnley v Southampton – teams
Burnley are unchanged; Toby Alderweireld and Jake Hesketh replace Maya Yoshida and Shane Long for the Saints.
Burnley: Heaton, Trippier, Keane, Shackell, Mee, Boyd, Marney,
Jones, Arfield, Barnes, Ings. Subs: Lafferty, Wallace, Kightly,
Jutkiewicz, Chalobah, Gilks, Long.
Southampton: Forster, Clyne, Fonte, Alderweireld, Bertrand,
Wanyama, Steven Davis, Hesketh, Tadic, Mane, Pelle. Subs:
Kelvin Davis, Yoshida, Gardos, Ward-Prowse, Mayuka, Reed, Long.
Referee: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear)
Updated
Sunderland v West Ham – teams
Diafra Sakho is back in for the fourth-placed Hammers, Enner Valencia exiting stage left. Lee Cattermole comes into the starting lineup in place of Liam Bridcutt for the home side.
Sunderland: Pantilimon, Vergini, O’Shea, Brown, Reveillere,
Cattermole, Johnson, Larsson, Gomez, Wickham, Altidore. Subs:
Bridcutt, Rodwell, Fletcher, Alvarez, Mannone, Coates, Buckley.
West Ham: Adrian, Jenkinson, Tomkins, Reid, Cresswell, Song,
Kouyate, Nolan, Downing, Sakho, Carroll. Subs: Zarate, O’Brien,
Collins, Amalfitano, Jaaskelainen, Cole, Valencia.
Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire)
Updated
Anything take your fancy straightaway? Leicester and Nigel f*ck*ng Pearson could do with summoning up some big-game spirit they showed against Manchester City’s neighbours, otherwise they run the risk of falling somewhat adrift at the bottom of the Premier League, particularly as Burnley might fancy getting something at home against a stuttering Southampton. Those two stick out in particular then, with ramifications at both ends of the table, and Chelsea v Hull, whose poor form seems to have passed without too much comment, is of similar magnitude.
Good afternoon!
So what do we have for you on this crisp, shiny winter’s day? It’s a perfect one for football, I must say, all low light and crackling air out there, so if you’re going to a game then lucky you. Whether you are or not, there’s plenty on offer for you here. A respectable six 3pm Premier League games are our main focus but there’s plenty of intrigue elsewhere too so, even if you’re in the stands somewhere and using some of those snazzy touchscreen gloves on a mobile communication device, stay tuned.
Here’s what we’ve got:
Premier League
Burnley v Southampton, Chelsea v Hull, Crystal Palace v Stoke, Leicester v Manchester City, Sunderland v West Ham, West Brom v Aston Villa, Arsenal v Newcastle (5.30pm)
Championship
Birmingham v Reading, Bolton v Ipswich, Bournemouth v Cardiff, Brentford v Blackburn, Charlton v Blackpool, Leeds v Fulham, Norwich v Huddersfield, Rotherham v Nottingham Forest, Sheffield Wednesday v Wolves, Watford v Wigan
League One
Bristol City v Crawley, Chesterfield v Bradford, Colchester v Rochdale, Doncaster v Gillingham, Fleetwood v Sheffield United, Leyton Orient v Peterborough, Notts County v Swindon, Oldham v Yeovil, Port Vale v Coventry, Preston v MK Dons, Scunthorpe v Crewe, Walsall v Barnsley
League Two
Burton v Hartlepool, Cambridge v Shrewsbury, Dagenham & Redbridge v Tranmere, Exeter v Carlisle, Mansfield v Cheltenham, Morecambe v Luton, Newport v Stevenage, Northampton v Plymouth, Oxford v Bury, Portsmouth v Accrington, Wycombe v Southend, York v Wimbledon
As we speak, Middlesbrough are about to go top of the Championship – for a couple of hours at the very least. Nick Miller is on it.
Nick will be here shortly.
