Good afternoon. Here’s all the news you need to know this lunchtime.

THERE has always been a strain of science fiction concerned with exploring the human condition via journeys to faraway places. 

The sight of Jonás Gutiérrez returning to play in a Newcastle shirt after recovering from testicular cancer almost made the result of his team’s loss to Manchester United insignificant.

FA Cup Round-up: West Brom manager Tony Pulis refused to get carried away after the Baggies trounced Premier League rivals West Ham 4-0 to reach an FA Cup quarter-final.

FA Cup — Saturday review: Though cast in the shadow of high-profile fallers at Stamford Bridge and the Etihad, there was another giant-killing of sorts at Ewood Park, where nine-man Swansea became the third Premier League side beaten by lower-league opposition, crashing out 3-1 to Blackburn.

League One Bradford served up one of the biggest shocks in FA Cup history as they hit back from two goals down to beat Chelsea 4-2 at Stamford Bridge.

West Brom 0 Newcastle 2

Wales 3 Iceland 1

Everton 3 Reading 1

Everton 3 Reading 1

Reading 2 Arsenal 5

Wigan 3 Reading 2

Reading 3 Fulham 3

West Brom 1 Reading 0

Reading 1 Tottenham Hotspur 3

Portsmouth could be liquidated today after 114 years as a football club - although administrator Trevor Birch remains "cautiously optimistic" they will survive.

It was almost impossible to make out whatever vision Wenger has left for his club.

OBVIOUSLY I would’ve much preferred to have avoided all that early season agony.

Crystal Palace 0 Reading 0

PAUL LAMBERT last night led Norwich back to the Barclays Premier League and then branded the achievement a “miracle”.

Portsmouth 0 Norwich 1

A NIGERIAN national has been sentenced to seven years in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after he was caught carrying almost €62,000 worth of cocaine in the soles of his shoes.

CAPTAIN Matt Mills struck the only goal as Championship side Reading claimed another notable scalp to reach the FA Cup quarter-finals for a second successive year.

Harry Redknapp has admitted he is trying to sign David Beckham without having seen him play for Los Angeles Galaxy.

IT may surprise a lot of people that David Beckham should want to try his luck once more in the Premier League with Tottenham Hotspur, but if anyone can get the best out of the former England captain, it is Harry Redknapp.

Sunderland manager Steve Bruce tempered his criticism of referee Stuart Attwell after he awarded a “crazy” goal to Liverpool in the 2-2 draw at Anfield.

Portsmouth manager Steve Cotterill could soon be in a position to strengthen his threadbare squad as Balram Chainrai’s takeover bid moves a step closer.

Portsmouth manager Steve Cotterill could soon be in a position to strengthen his threadbare squad as Balram Chainrai’s takeover bid moves a step closer.

Shamrock Rovers coach Michael O’Neill was delighted with the way his side applied themselves despite their 2-0 defeat against Juventus in the first leg of their Europa League third qualifying round clash at Tallaght Stadium last night.

MANAGER Liam Buckley’s pre-match wish of keeping it tight and hoping to score first never materialised as Sporting Fingal bowed out of Europe at Dalymount Park last night.

Sporting Fingal 2 CS Maritimo 3 (Maritimo win 6-4 on aggregate)

A STOPPAGE-time Maritimo winner may have broken Sporting Fingal hearts, but manager Liam Buckley praised his players, insisting this tie is still very much in the melting pot.

SOUTH KOREA clinched a place in the last 16 of the World Cup for the first time on foreign soil despite being held to a draw by Nigeria in their final Group B match in Durban.

Nigeria 2 South Korea 2

Greece striker Theofanis Gekas is calling for the vuvuzelas to be banned by the World Cup organisers.

Republic of Ireland defender Steve Finnan has been released by his club Portsmouth.

Double-chasing Chelsea have named an unchanged team for the FA Cup final against Portsmouth at Wembley.

Avram Grant has pledged to field his fittest players for already-relegated Portsmouth’s last Barclays Premier League game of the season at Everton on Sunday, but warned it will not be the same team as will play in next Saturday’s FA Cup final.

Portsmouth will be without injured trio Nadir Belhadj, Jamie O’Hara and Tal Ben Haim for tomorrow’s Barclays Premier League match at Bolton.

Portsmouth 1 Aston Villa 2

Portsmouth manager Avram Grant handed 18-year-old academy defender Leonard Sowah his first start in this afternoon’s Premier League clash against Aston Villa at Fratton Park.