Preston 1 Manchester City 3

Watford cruised to a 4-0 win over Coventry for a victory which turns up the pressure on second-placed Sheffield United, who could only manage a point at Plymouth.

Reading came through a thrilling encounter with bottom side Crewe to extend their lead at the top of the Coca-Cola Championship.

Burnley have signed Leeds striker Michael Ricketts on loan until the end of the season.

Arsenal were buoyed by Thierry Henry’s commitment to stay at the club, but the Gunners captain was rested for their FA Cup third-round tie against Cardiff.

Cardiff 0 Coventry 0

Neil Shipperley scored the only goal against Wolves to extend Sheffield United’s lead at the top of the Coca-Cola Championship.

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

Coca-Cola Championship leaders Sheffield United showed their title credentials by recovering from two goals down to beat promotion rivals Watford 3-2 at Vicarage Road.

Cardiff have completed the loan signing of Leeds striker Michael Ricketts until the new year.

Middlesbrough will sit down with record signing Massimo Maccarone at the end of the Italian season to discuss his future.

Middlesbrough are closing in on a £6.5m (€9.4m) deal to take Portsmouth striker Aiyegbeni Yakubu to the Riverside Stadium.

SVEN-Goran Eriksson insisted David Beckham would prove he is 'not finished' as an England player in tonight's friendly against Holland.

LEEDS UNITED manager Kevin Blackwell believes the arrival of new chairman Ken Bates represents a positive turning point in the club’s history.

Derby 2 Leeds 0

Manchester City and Jon Macken went on a scoring spree, winning 7-1 against League One Barnsley in the Carling Cup second round tonight.

Sheffield United 2 Leeds 0

JUNINHO’S love affair with Middlesbrough could be drawing to a close as Steve McClaren ups the stakes in the hunt for further success.

Middlesbrough are today working to thrash out a deal to pair Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink with latest signing Mark Viduka as the whirlwind of activity on Teesside showed few signs of abating.

Middlesbrough have called a press conference at 1pm today to reveal the latest part of Steve McClaren’s jigsaw.

Michael Ricketts has become Leeds manager Kevin Blackwell’s fifth signing of the closed season.

Middlesbrough’s hunt for added firepower will not be confined to their three major targets.

MIDDLESBROUGH yesterday moved to quell speculation that fans’ favourite Juninho may be on his way out of the Riverside.

Middlesbrough today moved to quell speculation that fans’ favourite Juninho may be on his way out of the Riverside Stadium.

Portsmouth 5 Middlesbrough 1

Middlesbrough striker Michael Ricketts was counting his blessings today after a miraculous escape from a motorway smash.

Middlesbrough 2 Bolton 0

ROBBIE SAVAGE was at the centre of controversy but had the last word as his stunning free-kick helped Birmingham to victory over the Carling Cup finalists.

Bolton 1 Middlesbrough 2

Scott Carson has never stepped foot inside Old Trafford, but he will throw himself into Leeds’ relegation fight later this month with the unenviable task of a full debut at Premiership champions Manchester United.

LEEDS chairman Trevor Birch delivered a personal ‘thank you’ to the players following their decision to defer 25% of their salaries, but surely he could not have envisaged the latest fall from footballing grace.

Leeds caretaker-manager Eddie Gray tonight hammered home the message that repeat performances of their 3-0 Elland Road humiliation by Middlesbrough will see the debt-ridden club relegated.

Leeds 0 Middlesbrough 3

Middlesbrough have played down reports they have entered into talks with Liverpool striker Emile Heskey over a move to Teesside.

Arsene Wenger turned to Jeremie Aliadiere to partner Thierry Henry as Arsenal began their first of four matches against Middlesbrough this month.

Middlesbrough goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer has a 50-50 chance of returning at Arsenal after a back injury.

Young Australian goalkeeper Brad Jones could be set for his Barclaycard Premiership debut for Middlesbrough against Fulham at the Riverside tomorrow night.

Middlesbrough 2 Notts County 0

Manchester United are set to appeal against the second-half dismissal of Darren Fletcher which soured their win at the Riverside Stadium.

Manchester United, who left Ruud van Nistelrooy, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs on the bench, took the lead against Everton after just nine minutes when Nicky Butt volleyed home from the edge of the penalty area.

Aston Villa manager David O’Leary would love the chance to go head-to-head with his former club Arsenal in the final of the Carling Cup at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium.

Tottenham 1 Middlesbrough 1

Middlesbrough 0 Charlton 0

Gareth Southgate made a bit of Middlesbrough history at the Riverside Stadium but fears his continued success might come at a price.