Northern Ireland celebrated a World Cup qualifying play-off place despite a 1-0 defeat in Norway as Scotland's bid ended in heartache.

Northern Ireland's joy at reaching the play-offs was tempered by Chris Brunt's wild own goal in Norway ensuring the likes of Portugal could stand between them and a place in Russia next summer.

Germany will be in Russia next summer to defend their World Cup crown having sealed their qualification by inflicting a first competitive home defeat on Northern Ireland in four years.

Northern Ireland’s elder statesmen are driven by a desire to feature at a World Cup finals before they call it a day, defender Chris Brunt has said.

Northern Ireland have beaten Czech Republic 2-0 in their World Cup qualifying Group C match at Windsor Park.

Northern Ireland are on the brink of securing second place in their World Cup qualifying group after beating San Marino 3-0 to record their fourth successive victory.

Substitute Peter Crouch took advantage of a terrible defensive mix-up to earn Stoke a 1-1 Premier League draw at West Brom.

Liam Boyce scored his first Northern Ireland goal in the win over New Zealand to stake his claim for a starting berth in next week's World Cup qualifier in Azerbaijan.

Wayne Rooney surpassed Sir Bobby Charlton to become Manchester United's record goalscorer with a dramatic injury-time free-kick which salvaged his side a 1-1 draw at Stoke.

Crystal Palace eased their growing worries as a 3-0 victory at home to Southampton ended a six-match losing streak.

Philippe Coutinho and Sadio Mane fired Liverpool to victory over West Brom but a late defensive lapse cost them the chance to go top of the Premier League.

Claudio Ranieri has named Tottenham as title favourites as the Leicester boss moves to ease the pressure off his side.

Everton will face Chelsea in the pick of the FA Cup quarter-finals.

Reading 3 West Brom 1: Chris Brunt insists he could have been blinded after being hit by a coin thrown from West Brom’s own fans.

The Football Association is investigating the incident in which West Brom's Chris Brunt said he was hit by a coin thrown by Albion fans following their 3-1 defeat at Reading, while police are treating it as an assault.

West Brom 2 Arsenal 1

Manchester United 2 West Brom 0: Critics of Louis van Gaal and his Old Trafford style lament that his team might win but ‘it’s not the Manchester United of old’.

Premier League

West Brom 2 Everton 3

Kyle Lafferty struck a stoppage-time equaliser as 10-man Northern Ireland salvaged a point against Hungary to keep their Euro 2016 dreams alive.

West Brom 2 Chelsea 3: Jose Mourinho refused to blame Chelsea captain John Terry for his sending-off in the club’s narrow win over West Brom and instead the Paranoid One vowed to continue coaching his players to expect to be reduced to 10 men.

Kyle Lafferty and Oliver Norwood were denied in a tense finale as Northern Ireland’s crunch Euro 2016 qualifier against Romania ended in stalemate at Windsor Park.

Arsenal 4 West Brom 1: There is nothing like an impending FA Cup final to put a bit of zing into an otherwise flat end-of-season match.

West Brom 3 Chelsea 0: This was an extraordinary evening at The Hawthorns in every sense.

Tony Pulis gave his players the hairdryer treatment at Old Trafford and the move paid off as West Brom recorded a famous and vital victory against Manchester United.

Manchester United gave Liverpool more than a glimmer of hope in their push for Champions League qualification as Louis van Gaal’s team slipped to a damaging 1-0 defeat to West Brom.

Brendan Rodgers remained tight-lipped over Liverpool’s interest in Memphis Depay but admitted the Reds were set for a summer overhaul.

Leicester climbed off the bottom of the Barclays Premier League as a 2-0 home win over Swansea gave them a third successive victory.

Premier League

Aston Villa 2 West Brom 1

Reinvigorated striker Brown Ideye inspired West Brom to a 4-0 FA Cup romp against West Ham as the Baggies reached the quarter-finals in style.

Burnley 2 West Brom 2: Saido Berahino lacks the right influences in his life to make the best decisions for his career, according to Tony Pulis.

Brown Ideye was West Brom’s unlikely saviour as they fought back from two down to draw 2-2 at fellow strugglers Burnley.

FA Cup — Saturday review

Blyth Spartans saw their hopes of an FA Cup third-round upset ended by Birmingham’s second-half fightback at Croft Park.

All the team news from around the grounds ahead of the full round of matches on St Stephen’s Day in the Premier League.

Danny Welbeck bagged a crucial winner for Arsenal as the Gunners clinched a comfortable 1-0 win at West Brom.

West Brom 0 Newcastle 2

West Brom 2 Man Utd 2