Boro back top after gritty win over Wednesday

QPR head to Reading for tonight’s Championship clash aiming to close in on the appointment of Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink as their new manager.

Sunderland 2 West Ham 2: Former Sunderland defender Sam Allardyce, who has been taking a break since leaving his post at West Ham at the end of last season, is the early favourite to take over from Dick Advocaat, who left his job as head coach yesterday just four months after being persuaded to delay his retirement plans for a year.

Newcastle head coach Steve McClaren has vowed to field the strongest team he can as he bids to end Newcastle’s 46-year trophy drought against Northampton in the Capital One Cup second round tonight.

There is symmetry to Patrice Evra’s career. 

The art of scoring direct from free-kicks appears to be a vanishing one — despite the introduction of vanishing spray.

Larry Ryan compares Roy Keane’s two autobiographies to see what has changed during his second half.

Former Leeds striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has declared his interest in the vacant managerial position at Elland Road.

West Ham fans have been ranked top of the league when it comes to witty terrace chants.

Former Chelsea and Leeds striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink senses an upset as his two old clubs prepare to meet in the Capital One Cup.

For the first time in 13 years, we have a Madrid derby that really counts

Teenage Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku declared it was a dream come true after completing his transfer to Chelsea from Anderlecht.

Captain John Terry is hoping the FA Cup can spur Chelsea’s youngsters onto greater things after their 5-0 drubbing of Watford earned them a fourth-round tie away to Preston.

Portsmouth boss Paul Hart is keen to meet with the club’s new owner Ali Al-Faraj soon, but admits he is not concerned about how the Arab businessman finances the club.

Alex Ferguson has confirmed Brazilian teenager Rafael Da Silva is now an integral part of his first-team squad.

AFTER the first 60 minutes at Middle Eastlands I had mentally crafted this column as a thesis on which set of supporters this weekend looked the biggest set of plums — the Manchester City fans swathed in tea-towels and Brazil shirts or those braying Geordies with their paranoid banners about “the Cockney Mafia.”

Didier Drogba is adamant he and Chelsea team-mate John Terry will be fit for next week’s Champions League final against Manchester United in Moscow – but refused to confirm he will be at the club next season.

Cardiff boss Dave Jones expects Robbie Fowler to be “honest and truthful” in assessing his fitness ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup final.

The Football Association of Wales have rejected Cardiff striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink’s appeal against his dismissal against Colchester last Saturday.

THE Bluebirds are flying high, and not even the prospect of a turbulent flight back home could hold any fears for the victors.

WITH his game-plan reduced to tatters within 90 seconds and his players adding next to nothing for the rest of the afternoon Mick McCarthy still put on a performance — the one he always plays — as a Yorkshire curmudgeon.

Cardiff 2 Wolves 0

Aston Villa 4 Newcastle 1

ROBBIE FOWLER received a bear-hug from Rafael Benitez and a standing ovation from the Kop, but he could do little to stop Steven Gerrard driving Liverpool into the Carling Cup quarter-finals.

Robbie Fowler received a bear-hug from Rafael Benitez and a standing ovation from the Kop but he could do little to stop Steven Gerrard driving Liverpool into the Carling Cup quarter-finals.

Southampton manager George Burley praised his patched-up defence, as Stern John’s third goal in two games led them to a 1-0 victory over Cardiff.

JIMMY Floyd Hasselbaink scored his first goal for Cardiff but was eclipsed by the free-scoring Darius Henderson as Watford stormed to the top of the Coca-Cola Championship with a 2-1 win over Cardiff.

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink is interested in discussing a possible move to newly-promoted Birmingham, according to his agent.

Zheng Zhi believes he can still do a job in the Barclays Premiership despite being unable to help keep Charlton up.

Liverpool 2 Charlton 2

Luckless Middlesbrough striker Malcolm Christie will leave the club at the end of the season after a prolonged injury nightmare.

DAVID MOYES paid tribute to Everton’s resilience as they grabbed an injury-time winner against Charlton to force themselves a step nearer UEFA Cup qualification.

Everton 2 Charlton 1

James Beattie returns to Everton’s front line today in the absence of both teenage strikers Victor Anichebe and James Vaughan in the only change from the side that drew at Bolton last week.

Charlton will be without defender Hermann Hreidarsson (knee) and forward Marcus Bent (hamstring) for Sunday’s trip to Everton.

Watford moved off the bottom of the Premiership for the first time since early December but the 2-2 draw with Charlton effectively pushes both sides nearer to the drop.

Alan Pardew made his second visit to Watford this season having seen the club he started the season with, West Ham, draw 1-1 in August.

Charlton 4 West Ham 0

Alex Ferguson believes Manchester United’s firepower gives them every chance of ending Chelsea's reign as Barclays Premiership champions.

Manchester United have flew out of the blocks in their second Old Trafford encounter in a week against Aston Villa to lead by three at the break.

Charlton’s season went from bad to worse tonight as the Barclays Premiership strugglers crashed out of the Carling Cup against Wycombe, who booked a deserved place in the semi-finals.

Charlton will be without goalkeeper Scott Carson against Liverpool tomorrow as part of his loan deal from the Reds.

Charlton boss Les Reed insists striker Darren Bent is not for sale and warned old friend Alan Curbishley not to raid his former club.