That’s it from me; here are some match reports to help you make sense of this afternoon’s action. Don’t forget to join Rob Smyth for Arsenal v Norwich. That should be fun. Cheerio!
What it all means
Premier League
- Newcastle are out of the bottom three with 33 points
- Sunderland are a point behind with a game in hand
- West Ham are up to fifth, five points off Arsenal in fourth
Championship
- Sheffield Wednesday join Derby and Hull in the play-offs
League One
- Wigan are promoted from League One after beating Blackpool
- Burton need a point to guarantee promotion to the second tier
- Doncaster are all but down after 3-1 defeat at Crewe
- Blackpool and Fleetwood will fight to avoid last relegation place
League Two
- Accrington, Oxford and Bristol Rovers still in the promotion race
- Plymouth, Portsmouth and Wimbledon are all in the play-offs
Updated
Drama at Moor Lane, where Salford City scored twice in the last ten minutes to beat Workington 3-2, seal promotion to the Conference North, and finally restore a smile to Gary Neville’s face.
Championship
Brentford 3-0 Fulham
Bristol City 4-0 Huddersfield
Ipswich 3-2 MK Dons
Leeds Utd 1-2 Charlton
Nottingham Forest 1-1 Wolves
Reading 1-2 Preston
Rotherham 0-1 Blackburn
Sheffield Wednesday 3-0 Cardiff
League One
Barnsley 2-2 Colchester
Burton 2-1 Gillingham
Chesterfield 3-0 Bury
Coventry 3-1 Sheffield Utd
Crewe 2-1 Doncaster (latest)
Millwall 3-0 Oldham
Rochdale 2-2 Swindon
Scunthorpe 1-0 Port Vale
Shrewsbury 3-4 Peterborough
Southend 0-1 Bradford City
League Two
Barnet 3-4 Yeovil (!)
Cambridge 2-2 Plymouth
Carlisle 0-2 Oxford
Dagenham & Redbridge 3-0 Crawley
Exeter 1-1 Morecambe
Hartlepool 0-2 Portsmouth
Leyton Orient 1-0 Mansfield
Newport 0-1 Notts County
Northampton 2-0 Luton
Stevenage 0-0 Wimbledon
Wycombe 0-1 Accrington
York 1-4 Bristol Rovers
Premier League results
Everton 2-1 Bournemouth
Newcastle 1-0 Crystal Palace
Stoke 1-1 Sunderland
Watford 3-2 Aston Villa
West Brom 0-3 West Ham
Updated
Sheffield Wednesday are in the play-offs after beating Cardiff 3-0 at Hillsborough, while Luke Varney has grabbed a late winner for Ipswich. Burton are on the verge of promotion after beating Gillingham 2-1, while Tom Lapslie has scored a last-gasp equaliser for Colchester at Oakwell. The U’s are already down, and had a forward in nets for the last ten minutes, so that’s impressive. At Crewe, Doncaster have around 20 minutes to realistically save themselves from the drop.
Updated
FT: Everton 2-1 Bournemouth
Everton win, but there are plenty of banners up around Goodison Park calling for Roberto Martínez to go. Leighton Baines got the winner in the second half.
FT: West Brom 0-3 West Ham
All over at the Hawthorns, where West Ham keep their top four push alive thanks to two goals from Mark Noble, and one for Cheikhou Kouyaté.
FT: Newcastle 1-0 Crystal Palace
An Andros Townsend free kick, and a Karl Darlow penalty save from Yohan Cabaye, earn Newcastle a vital victory. Bryan Graham has more.
Quite the game at the New Meadow, where Shrewsbury rallied from 3-0 down to level, only to slip 4-3 behind at the death. Now they’ve had Ian Black sent off. In League Two, it’s finished Cambridge 2-2 Plymouth; the visitors will be in the play-offs, Cambridge will not.
FT: Watford 3-2 Aston Villa
Villa snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, as Troy Deeney scores two stoppage-time goals to earn a useful win for Quique Sanchez Flores.
FT: Stoke 1-1 Sunderland
Jermain Defoe wins and scores an injury-time penalty to earn a precious point for Sunderland.
Updated
FT: Real Sociedad 0-1 Real Madrid
A Gareth Bale header settles a scrappy game, and Real are back on top in La Liga, for a couple of hours.
GOAL! Watford 3-2 Aston Villa (Deeney)
Come on now, this isn’t fair. Troy Deeney strikes again to earn Watford victory, and somehow make Villa’s season worse.
Updated
Scenes at the Pirelli Stadium, where Tom Naylor has put Burton 2-1 up in the 92nd minute!
GOAL! Watford 2-2 Aston Villa (Deeney)
I’m so sorry, Villa fans. Troy Deeney nods a Berghuis cross into the net to equalise in stoppage time.
Updated
GOAL! Stoke 1-1 Sunderland (Defoe pen)
Defoe takes an age to place the ball, then smashes it home to grab a point for Sunderland!
Updated
Penalty to Sunderland!
Oh boy. Geoff Cameron brings down Defoe, who gets up to take the penalty...
Updated
Real Madrid have a free kick to defend in added time, but Keylor Navas gets both hands to a near-post header. That should do it...
At Stoke, Seb Larsson fires a free kick over, and Sunderland’s frustrations boil over, with a couple of minor skirmishes breaking out. They’re running out of time, as are Doncaster, who have gone behind at bottom club Crewe. If they lose, they’re as good as down.
It gets worse for Plymouth, with James Spencer putting the hosts ahead, two minutes after their equaliser. That goal could keep Cambridge in the hunt for a play-off place themselves.
Big goals crash in at Oakwell – where Barnsley lead 2-1 – and the Abbey Stadium, where Cambridge have equalised against Plymouth. That could condemn Plymouth to the play-offs.
In the Championship, Stephen Quinn has equalised for Reading at home to Preston, in a game they’re racing to get over and done with.
Ten minutes to go in the Premier League. Can Sunderland level? Will Newcastle hang on? Are Everton about to win at home? We’re about to find out.
League Two news: it’s York 1-3 Bristol Rovers, and Accrington finally have the lead at Wycombe. All of the top six are winning, while there’s a cracker at Barnet, where Yeovil have just made it 3-3.
Your thoughts
“Gareth Bale redeems himself with a header à la Andy Carroll. Must be the topknot” says Charles Antaki.
“Toooooooon!” bellows Sam Huscroft.
GOAL! West Brom 0-3 West Ham (Noble)
The captain gets his second of the day, turning home Andy Carroll’s chipped pass. You know what to do, Roy...
Updated
GOAL! Real Sociedad 0-1 Real Madrid (Bale)
A big goal in La Liga, as Gareth Bale gets it right this time to head a Lucas Vasquez cross into the top corner!
Updated
Alex Revell gets his second, and it’s inevitably Ipswich 2-2 MK Dons in a game between two sides who can’t buy a win. And Sheffield Wednesday are bound for the playoffs, as Gary Hooper robs David Marshall of the ball and crosses, with Cardiff’s Lee Peltier applying the unfortunate finishing touch.
Oxford lead Carlisle 2-0, but they won’t be going up today – Bristol Rovers lead 2-0 at York, and Plymouth lead at Cambridge. In League One, Shrewsbury needed a win to secure survival. They’ve failed miserably, losing 3-1 at home to Peterborough.
Red card! Aly Cissokho sent off for Aston Villa
It had all been going too well for Aston Villa, and after Anya is put clear by Ben Watson, Cissokho brings him down with his trailing leg, and is sent packing by Anthony Taylor.
Updated
Penalty saved!
Jackie Milburn, Alan Shearer... Karl Darlow. The understudy keeper denies Cabaye, and Newcastle stay in the lead.
Updated
Penalty for Crystal Palace!
Moussa Sissoko handles from a Palace corner, and former Newcastle hero Yohan Cabaye is going to take it...
Bristol City lead 3-0 over Huddersfield, Jonathan Kodjia with his second goal. Elsewhere in the Championship, Ipswich lead MK Dons 2-1 through Brett Pitman, and Forest have equalised against Wolves.
Bundesliga results
No title for Bayern today, as Gladbach hold them to a 1-1 draw. They’re five points clear of Dortmund with two games remaining. Eintracht Frankfurt are out of the bottom two, with Werder Bremen dropping into danger.
Bayern 1-1 Gladbach
Darmstadt 1-2 Eintracht Frankfurt
Dortmund 5-1 Wolfsburg
Hannover 1-3 Schalke
Hoffenheim 2-1 Ingolstadt
Mainz 0-0 Hamburg
“Sunderland’s own Thomas Müller has not scored yet but I am sure he is working hard” honks Ian Copestake. Fabio Borini has now gone off, unappreciated once again.
Big goal at Hillsborough, where Gary Hooper has put Sheffield Wednesday ahead, tucking away the rebound after Pudil’s shot was saved. The hosts set for the play-offs alongside Hull, Derby and whoever finishes third.
GOAL! Everton 2-1 Bournemouth (Baines)
Leighton Baines puts Everton back ahead, placing an Aaron Lennon pull-back into the top corner with aplomb.
Updated
Joe Mason puts Wolves a goal up at Nottingham Forest, while in League One, Barnsley equalise at home to Colchester.
GOAL! Newcastle 1-0 Crystal Palace (Townsend)
Thank me later, Newcastle fans. Andros Townsend puts the hosts ahead from a free kick! Bryan Graham has more.
Updated
“Gareth Bale has just missed not one sitter, but two in short order against Real Sociedad. Adopts the hands-behind-head plus anguished-distant-gaze appropriate to such occasions” reports Charles Antaki. He also looked for an offside flag to help him out – absolutely textbook.
Can Newcastle take advantage of Sunderland going behind? They’re struggling at the moment. Get the latest with Bryan Graham.
Updated
It’s a (relatively) good afternoon so far for teams already down: Bolton have won, Villa are winning, as are Charlton, Colchester lead at Barnsley, Crewe have equalised against Doncaster, and Dagenham & Redbridge lead Crawley 2-0.
Here’s J.A. Hopkin with a fair point:
Let’s talk about how the other three Champions’ League semi-finalists are playing today, but the FA and Sky Sports would not allow Man City to move tomorrow evening’s match away at Southampton to a Saturday kick-off. How’s that for supporting our home clubs in Europe?
Manuel Pellegrini certainly isn’t happy:
West Brom offering no threat to West Ham, with Andy Carroll coming closest to scoring in the second half. Hard lines for Spurs fans...
Two big goals in the Bundesliga relegation race – Eintracht Frankfurt lead at Darmstadt, and Hoffenheim lead 2-1 at home to Ingolstadt. Elsewhere, Dortmund are sending a message to Mats Hummels – they’re now 5-0 up over Wolfsburg.
Gillingham grab an equaliser at Burton through Cody McDonald. If it stays like that, Wigan will be champions, and Burton will be nervous. In the Championship, Ademola Lookman has doubled Charlton’s lead at Leeds.
GOAL! Stoke 1-0 Sunderland (Arnautovic)
Grim news for Sunderland fans, Marco Arnautovic bullying Lamine Kone off the ball and firing Stoke into the lead.
Updated
GOAL! Watford 1-2 Aston Villa (Ayew)
Aston Villa freewheeling at Vicarage Road, retaking the lead through Jordan Ayew, who fires a low shot beyond the grasp of Heurelho Gomes.
Updated
Well then – Gladbach have equalised through Andre Hahn, and Bayern’s party is on hold. We’ve also got news from Crewe v Doncaster – don’t go thinking we’ve gone all continental on you. It’s 1-0 to Doncaster, who look set to keep their survival bid on track.
Half time: Real Sociedad 0-0 Real Madrid
Real Madrid fail to make a first-half breakthrough in a dull 45 minutes at the Anoeta.
Updated
Football League half-times
Championship
A couple of late goals, with Jonathan Kodjia putting Bristol City ahead, and Alex Revell equalising for MK Dons.
Brentford 3-0 Fulham
Bristol City 1-0 Huddersfield
Ipswich 1-1 MK Dons
Leeds Utd 0-1 Charlton
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Wolves
Reading 0-0 Preston
Rotherham 0-1 Blackburn
Sheffield Wednesday 0-0 Cardiff
League One
Barnsley 0-1 Colchester
Burton 1-0 Gillingham
Chesterfield 2-0 Bury
Coventry 2-0 Sheffield Utd
Crewe 0-0 Doncaster (3.30 k/o)
Millwall 2-0 Oldham
Rochdale 1-2 Swindon
Scunthorpe 0-0 Port Vale
Shrewsbury 0-1 Peterborough
Southend 0-1 Bradford City
League Two
Barnet 1-0 Yeovil
Cambridge 0-0 Plymouth
Carlisle 0-1 Oxford
Dagenham & Redbridge 0-0 Crawley
Exeter 0-0 Morecambe
Hartlepool 0-0 Portsmouth
Leyton Orient 0-0 Mansfield
Newport 0-1 Notts County
Northampton 2-0 Luton
Stevenage 0-0 Wimbledon
Wycombe 0-0 Accrington
York 0-1 Bristol Rovers
Premier League half-times
Everton 1-1 Bournemouth
Newcastle 0-0 Crystal Palace
Stoke 0-0 Sunderland
Watford 1-1 Aston Villa
West Brom 0-2 West Ham
GOAL! West Brom 0-2 West Ham (Noble)
Kouyaté turns provider, teeing up Mark Noble who toe-pokes the ball into the bottom corner to put West Ham very much on top.
Updated
GOAL! Watford 1-1 Aston Villa (Abdi)
Almen Abdi spoils Villa’s party, equalising on the stroke of half-time with a fine free kick.
Updated
Granit Xhaka curls a shot just wide of Manuel Neuer’s far post, with Bayern still just a goal up. Dortmund keep up the pressure, Marco Reus making it 3-0 over Wolfsburg. Hope for Frankfurt, as Makoto Hasebe equalises at Darmstadt.
Updated
Burton take the lead over Gillingham, Lucas Akins with the goal. Victory would put them six points and at least five goals ahead of Walsall, with two games remaining for the Saddlers. Millwall in fourth are 2-0 up over Oldham, but that’s no use unless Burton lose.
Relegated Charlton lead Leeds 1-0 at Elland Road, in a match that I’ll wager is lacking a party atmosphere. At Goodison Park, Ross Barkley is trying to make something happen, but fires a shot into Stanley Park from a good position.
“My local team, Eintracht Frankfurt, seem to be doomed” says Ian Copestake, who likes to spread his allegiances around. “Football God Alexander Meier needs to channel his inner Jay Jay Okocha”.
Frankfurt are still a goal down at Darmstadt, and the marvellous Meier is set for a spell of being undervalued at a Premier League contender.
Here’s our report from Bloomfield Road, where Wigan returned to the Championship in style, and Blackpool slid closer to League Two; they were in the Premier League five years ago.
“There appears to be some mistake,” says Chris Drew. “You’ve got Aston Villa as scoring a goal. And even more unbelievable, they’re in the lead.”
GOAL! West Brom 0-1 West Ham (Kouyaté)
Dimitri Payet collects the ball out on the right, and delivers a superb cross for Chiekhou Kouyaté to nod the Hammers in front.
Updated
Real Sociedad enjoy a spell of pressure, with Sergio Ramos of all people conceding a clumsy free kick – but two forwards get in each other’s way.
One early goal in the Championship that passed me by: Blackburn lead Rotherham 1-0 through Shane Duffy. In League Two, Bristol Rovers lead at York, and Barnet are a goal up over Yeovil. In Scotland, Aberdeen aren’t giving up the title today, and they’re working on the 39-goal swing, leading 2-0 over Motherwell.
GOAL! Watford 0-1 Aston Villa (Clark)
Surprise! Ciaran Clark gets his head to a corner and nods Villa into the lead! They haven’t won away from home since August.
Updated
Ben Watson hits the bar with an outrageous volley from distance, while at the Hawthorns, Jonathan Leko is lighting things up in an otherwise quiet game.
David McGoldrick has put Ipswich a goal up against relegated MK Dons, while Sheffield Wednesday are knocking on the door against Cardiff.
In San Sebastian, Gareth Bale flashes another header wide, the Welshman leading the line with Benzema and Ronaldo out today.
“Are Leicester City going to party like its 1999 (see below), Manchester United’s treble winning year, when Manchester United, like Leicester City, only lost three matches during the Premier League season?” asks Raymond Reardon (presumably not that one).
Let’s not talk about Leicester. You want to, I want to, but... ah, what the hey, let’s talk about Leicester.
Peter Crouch flicks on Charlie Adam’s cross, but Marco Arnautovic can’t get their ahead of Mannone, before Kone throws himself in front of a Shaqiri shot. Nothing to trouble the scoreboard here, or at Newcastle, Watford and West Brom.
At the Anoeta, Gareth Bale has planted a header just wide as Real Madrid search for an opener. Here’s the Bundesliga half times; Bayern are 45 minutes from the title.
Bayern 1-0 Gladbach
Darmstadt 1-0 Eintracht Frankfurt
Dortmund 2-0 Wolfsburg
Hannover 1-2 Schalke
Hoffenheim 1-1 Ingolstadt
Mainz 0-0 Hamburger SV
Updated
Watford all over Aston Villa in the early stages, with the off-colour Odion Ighalo missing a couple of chances. In League One, Bradford lead at Southend, while in Scotland, Kilmarnock lead at Hamilton, pushing Dundee United closer to the drop.
It’s a big day for Salford City – they’re up against Workington in the Northern Premier League playoff final, seeking elevation to the Conference North. It’s 1-1 after 15 minutes at Moor Lane.
Fulham and Sheffield United fans, time to go out and enjoy the sunshine. Fulham are 2-0 down at Brentford, the Blades behind by the same score at Coventry.
GOAL! Everton 1-1 Bournemouth (Pugh)
It takes a while to be officially given, but Marc Pugh turns Callum Wilson in off Matthew Pennington to level immediately. Boos from the crowd over a potential push in the build-up.
Updated
GOAL! Everton 1-0 Bournemouth (Cleverley)
Tom Cleverley gives the hosts a welcome lead, firing into the bottom of the corner from the edge of the area.
Updated
Early goals in Leagues One & Two: Oxford lead at Carlisle with promotion in sight, while Northampton lead Luton through Zander Diamond. The champions will get their hands on the trophy at full-time, as my colleague Dan Lucas keeps reminding me.
More Hillsborough tributes at St. James’ Park:
“Rafa has made Newcastle my second team. The fans have just cranked out a thrilling rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone. Wonderful to see this in football” says Ian Copestake.
Peep
I feel a little discombobulated after that emotional Everton tribute, but let’s press on with the football. All games are under way.
At Goodison Park, a number of Hillsborough victims’ relatives are on the pitch, while the PA plays “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother”. During a minute’s applause, a banner is unfurled, it reads “Justice at Last 96 – Brothers in Arms”.
Updated
“Due to unforeseen circumstances, that is, a win for Kilmarnock at Hamilton today, followed by a defeat for Dundee United at Dens on Monday, today’s Scottish football update has been cancelled. Sorry” sobs Simon McMahon.
“But for anybody still interested it’s still quite exciting in the race for the Championship play offs between Falkirk and Hibs, and the bottom of League One between Cowdenbeath, Brechin and Stenhousemuir.”
Simon is too depressed to mention Celtic, who have beaten Hearts 3-1 at Tynecastle. They will be confirmed as champions if Aberdeen fail to beat Motherwell, but the Dons need four wins, three Celtic defeats and a 39-goal swing. You can forgive Celtic for celebrating early.
Roberts is on the bench at the Hawthorns today, and Pêl-droed is probably my favourite word for football in another language.
Updated
Thomas Müller has put Bayern 1-0 up early on in Munich. Dortmund, as usual, are chasing gamely – they’re already 2-0 up in Wolfsburg, Shinji Kagawa and Adrian Ramos with the goals.
Football League fixtures
Championship
Brentford v Fulham
Bristol City v Huddersfield
Ipswich v MK Dons
Leeds Utd v Charlton
Nottingham Forest v Wolves
Reading v Preston
Rotherham v Blackburn
Sheffield Wednesday v Cardiff
It finished Bolton 1-0 Hull in the early game; the visitors not exactly picking up speed as the play-offs approach.
League One
Barnsley v Colchester
Burton v Gillingham
Chesterfield v Bury
Coventry v Sheffield Utd
Crewe v Doncaster
Millwall v Oldham
Rochdale v Swindon
Scunthorpe v Port Vale
Shrewsbury v Peterborough
Southend v Bradford City
League Two
Barnet v Yeovil
Cambridge v Plymouth
Carlisle v Oxford
Dagenham & Redbridge v Crawley
Exeter v Morecambe
Hartlepool v Portsmouth
Leyton Orient v Mansfield
Newport v Notts County
Northampton v Luton
Stevenage v Wimbledon
Wycombe v Accrington
York v Bristol Rovers
Today in the Football League
Wigan are promoted from League One after thrashing Blackpool 4-0 at Bloomfield Road. It’s straight back to Championship business for them. The Latics will be crowned champions if Burton fail to win today; victory for the Brewers over Gillingham would, more pressingly, put them on the edge of a first-ever season in the second tier.
That can’t be confirmed until Monday, when Walsall play Fleetwood. That also spares Blackpool for today, while Doncaster need a win at rock-bottom Crewe. Chesterfield and Shrewsbury can seal survival with victories over Bury and Peterborough respectively.
With Middlesbrough drawing at Birmingham last night, and both Burnley and Brighton playing on Monday, there’s only issue to address in today’s Championship games. Sheffield Wednesday host Cardiff, knowing that a draw will seal a play-off place.
In League Two, Accrington and Oxford could both go up today with victories, providing that Bristol Rovers and Plymouth stumble. Oxford are looking to return to the third tier after 15 years away; Stanley last played at that level in 1960. Defeat for Plymouth at Cambridge could keep the play-off race alive, with the U’s battling Wimbledon for the final place.
There’s more on all the possible ups and downs here.
Updated
European preview
In La Liga, Real Madrid can return to the summit for a couple of hours with a win at Real Sociedad, who haven’t won in their three games since beating Barcelona. It’s a clash between two of Spain’s all-time big six: Real Madrid lead the way with 32 La Liga titles, their Basque opponents are sixth, with a whopping two.
In Germany, Bayern are ready to make history; victory over Moenchengladbach would seal a first ever Bundesliga four-peat. Gladbach are in the race for fourth, and defeat will give Mainz and Schalke the chance to catch up, with current incumbents Hertha Berlin playing in-form Leverkusen later. At the bottom, Eintracht Frankfurt can boost their survival chances with a win at Darmstadt.
In Ligue 1, Nice look set to miss out on ending a 56-year wait to return to the European elite; they’re 1-0 down at Nantes, chasing Lyon and Monaco for a top-three spot.
At the Hawthorns, talented teenager Jonathan Leko makes his first Premier League start a week after his sixteenth birthday. He’s the first top-flight player born in 1999, which is a good enough reason for me:
Updated
More team news!
Bobby rolls those dice, with January signing Oumar Niasse starting ahead of Romelu Lukaku up front, and youngster Matthew Pennington in central defence. For Bournemouth, Callum Wilson starts for the first time since September.
Everton v Bournemouth
Everton: Howard, Besic, Stones, Pennington, Baines, McCarthy, Gibson, Lennon, Barkley, Cleverley, Niasse.
Subs: Robles, Hibbert, Oviedo, Lukaku, Mirallas, Osman, Hassan.
Bournemouth: Boruc, Francis, Elphick, Cook, Daniels, Arter, Surman, Pugh, Ritchie, Wilson, King.
Subs: Gosling, Stanislas, Afobe, Federici, Grabban, Wiggins, O’Kane.
Referee: Neil Swarbrick
Stoke City v Sunderland
Stoke: Haugaard, Bardsley, Cameron, Shawcross, Pieters, Whelan, Imbula, Shaqiri, Adam, Arnautovic, Crouch.
Subs: Muniesa, Joselu, Diouf, Walters, Wollscheid, Krkic, Bachmann.
Sunderland: Mannone, Yedlin, Kone, Kaboul, Van Aanholt,
Kirchhoff, Borini, Cattermole, M’Vila, Khazri, Defoe.
Subs: Jones, Larsson, Rodwell, N’Doye, Pickford, O’Shea, Watmore.
Referee: Craig Pawson
Team news!
Newcastle v Crystal Palace
Newcastle: Darlow, Anita, Mbemba, Lascelles, Dummett, Tiote, Colback, Townsend, Sissoko, Wijnaldum, Cissé.
Subs: De Jong, Shelvey, Perez, Taylor, Woodman, Mbabu, Mitrovic.
Crystal Palace: Hennessey, Ward, Dann, Delaney, Souaré, Jedinak, Cabaye, McArthur, Bolasie, Puncheon, Wickham.
Subs: Mariappa, McCarthy, Gayle, Adebayor, Sako, Ledley, Kelly.
Referee: Mike Dean
West Brom v West Ham
West Brom: Foster, Dawson, McAuley, Olsson, Evans, Yacob, Fletcher, Leko, Gardner, McClean, Rondón.
Subs: Chester, Myhill, Lambert, Berahino, Sessegnon, Sandro, Roberts.
West Ham: Adrián, Antonio, Reid, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Noble, Kouyaté, Lanzini, Sakho, Carroll, Payet.
Subs: Randolph, Tomkins, Collins, Moses, Byram, Emenike, Oxford.
Referee: Lee Mason
Watford v Aston Villa
Watford: Gomes, Paredes, Cathcart, Britos, Anya, Abdi, Mario Suárez, Watson, Jurado, Deeney, Ighalo.
Subs: Nyom, Prodl, Amrabat, Aké, Guedioura, Pantilimon, Berghuis.
Aston Villa: Bunn, Hutton, Clark, Lescott, Cissokho, Westwood, Gana, Toner, Bacuna, Gestede, Ayew.
Subs: Guzan, Richards, Sinclair, Veretout, Sánchez, Gil, Grealish.
Referee: Anthony Taylor
Premier League preview
They told me that the classics never go out of style but they do, they do.
It’s been a tough old season for the top flight’s established elite, and it could still end with Newcastle and Sunderland joining Aston Villa in dropping out. That would leave a top division without those three giants for the first time ever. Ever? Ever.
Newcastle host Alan Pardew’s Crystal Palace (join Bryan Graham for that one), while Sunderland travel to summertime Stoke; the sort of fixtures one might hand pick in their situation, but on the flip side, games where defeat will leave either club with that sinking feeling.
Another top-flight heavyweight could be about to end a record run; Everton haven’t sacked a manager since 2002, but unless Roberto Martínez can summon a fifth home win of the season against Bournemouth, it could be curtains. The reverse fixture, a 3-3 draw Everton refused to win, may go down as the Martínez Years’ defining moment.
Another manager on the brink is Quique Sànchez Flores, reportedly set to be sacked by the ungrateful swines at Watford, with a first top-ten finish in 30 years still on the table. If they can’t beat Aston Villa at home today, his departure could be inevitable, and almost forgivable.
There are no such worries for fellow newcomer Slaven Bilic, who still harbours dreams of leading West Ham to a first ever Champions League place. West Brom’s Tony Pulis will be looking forward to wrapping those dreams in a club shop scarf, and smashing them with a hammer.
There’s history to be made in Europe, the Football League and beyond too. Plenty to enjoy without even mentioning Leicester. Ah. Sorry. Team news to follow.
Premier League 3pm kick-offs
Everton v Bournemouth
Newcastle v Crystal Palace
Stoke v Sunderland
Watford v Aston Villa
West Brom v West Ham
Updated
