Oldham 3 Liverpool 2

David Moyes’ tenure at Goodison Park has frequently seemed like one long battle against the odds but there is one barrier that has remained insurmountable during the manager’s reign.

Former team-mates and current professionals were among the mourners who today attended the funeral of ex-Liverpool and Everton defender Gary Ablett.

Paul Lambert claims taking Norwich from the bottom of League One into the Premier League in two seasons matches any of the achievements in his glittering career.

Defender Seamus Coleman believes Everton’s season would look in much better shape had striker Louis Saha been available more often.

Ipswich coach Gary Ablett has been diagnosed with a form of blood cancer.

Nigel de Jong was not even born when Manchester City last won at Arsenal but the Dutch midfielder is not going to let the weight of history bother him.

HULL CITY are hoping Joe Royle will be the man to save their club from Premier League relegation.

Royle Family actor Ricky Tomlinson is considering standing in the British general election, it was reported today.

Arsene Wenger admitted he was “sad” to see Mark Hughes sacked as Manchester City manager today.

ALEX FERGUSON admits the toughest part of his job these days is dealing with today’s “fragile” footballers.

Former Manchester City boss Joe Royle is confident the club will keep faith with present manager Mark Hughes.

MARK HUGHES was recently told to go and get Messi by Manchester City’s Arab owners, but maybe something was lost in translation.

Manchester City are close to sealing a deal for Mark Hughes to be their next manager after agreeing compensation with Blackburn.

DIXIE DEAN, Joe Royle, Bob Latchford, Graeme Sharp, and now Ayegbeni Yakubu.

Everton 0 Oldham 1

Paul Jewell tonight revealed he had turned down “a fabulous offer” to return to Wigan but reiterated he is ready to get back into management.

Former Wigan manager Paul Jewell has ruled out a return to the Barclays Premier League club.

Cork City have signed Brian O’Callaghan from Notts County and Cathal Lordan from Ipswich Town for the remainder of the 2006 season.

Peter Taylor has been unveiled as Crystal Palace’s sixth manager in seven years after the end of his three-and-a-half-year tenure at Hull.

IPSWICH Town’s Irish U-19 striker Billy Clarke has gone on loan to League One promotion hopefuls Colchester for a month - but Town manager Joe Royle insists that the player’s future remains at Ipswich.

Charlton Athletic manager Alan Curbishley is planning a spring trip to Dublin to watch Bohemians striker Stephen Ward.

Ipswich Town manager Joe Royle is interested in signing Bohemians wunderkind Stephen Ward.

STEPHEN WARD would like to follow in the footsteps of inspirational Republic of Ireland striker Kevin Doyle and play in English football.

Stephen Ward would like to follow in the footsteps of inspirational Republic of Ireland striker Kevin Doyle and play in English football.

Ipswich were today expected to sign Republic of Ireland striker Alan Lee from Cardiff.

West Ham midfielder Gavin Williams has signed a three-and-a-half year deal with Coca-Cola Championship Ipswich.

Scotland striker Kenny Miller has turned down a new contract at Wolves.

Dave Kitson fired a second-half hat-trick as Coca-Cola Championship leaders Reading thrashed Brighton 5-1 at the Madejski Stadium.

Cardiff 2 Ipswich 1

Richard Dunne has admitted it would be a season of failure for Manchester City if they failed to qualify for Europe.

Reading 2 Ipswich 0

Brynjar Gunnarsson scored an 89th-minute winner for Reading at the Madejski Stadium to close the gap on Coca-Cola Championship leaders Sheffield United.

SOUTHAMPTON coach Dave Bassett insisted referee Nigel Miller was off his “Christmas card list” after the twice-taken penalty which prompted a Saints collapse at Pride Park yesterday.

Sheffield United boss Neil Warnock has warned the Coca-Cola Championship there is more to come from his side after seeing them establish a four-point lead at the top of the table.

Ipswich manager Joe Royle has signed Charlton’s transfer-listed defender Mark Fish on a month’s loan.

Sunderland are closing in on midfield target Tommy Miller after agreeing terms for his switch from Ipswich to the Stadium of Light.

Ipswich 0 West Ham 2 (West Ham win 4-2 on aggregate)

Joe Royle’s Ipswich hope to take another step back to the premiership tonight - and fulfil Royle’s last remaining ambition in football. Simon Lewis reports.

West Ham were looking for a repeat of last year’s play-off semi-final, when they defeated Ipswich 2-0 at Upton Park in the second leg to progress to the final.

Wigan claimed automatic promotion to the Premiership today thanks to a 3-1 win over Reading at the JJB Stadium.

Wigan were poised for promotion to the Premiership after they raced into a 2-0 half-time lead against Reading at the JJB Stadium.

Sunderland will be playing top-flight football next season after today’s victory against Leicester ensured promotion from the Coca-Cola Championship.

Everton 4 Crystal Palace 0