NEWCASTLE celebrated their promotion back to the Barclays Premier League with a 2-1 win at home to Sheffield United last night.

ROY KEANE remains bullish about his Ipswich side’s chances of making the Championship play-offs despite admitting disappointment at yet another draw.

DANNY GUTHRIE fired Newcastle to the top of the Coca-Cola Championship last night as the depleted Magpies edged their way past Leicester.

An uninspiring Coca-Cola Championship clash between Ipswich and Leicester ended goalless at Portman Road.

Michael Chopra grabbed the first league goal at the new Cardiff City Stadium today to help his side to a comfortable 4-0 win over promoted Scunthorpe.

PAUL IFILL and Ireland U21 winger Sean Scannell fired Crystal Palace into the fourth round of the FA Cup at the expense of Leicester.

Lucky Fulham avoided being dumped on the Carling Cup scrapheap along with Premier League rivals Bolton, Hull and West Brom when skipper Danny Murphy’s deflected stoppage-time drive put them in the third round.

ADRIANO BASSO admitted he is on a mission to reach the Premier League and fulfil his dream of playing in the next World Cup.

IF ever Ian Holloway required a show of support from his players this was the occasion. The Leicester City manager could not have been presented with a more emphatic demonstration that he has their complete backing at the Walkers Stadium.

Leicester 1 Crystal Palace 0

Leicester 1 Crystal Palace 0

Derby chairman Adam Pearson is ready to swell the Premier League’s foreign legion as he tries to transform the club into a major force.

Derby boss Paul Jewell faces a striker dilemma ahead of tomorrow’s Barclays Premier League game at Bolton after selling Steve Howard to Leicester.

Leicester have completed the signing of Derby striker Steve Howard for an undisclosed fee.

Match-winner David Bentley hailed Blackburn’s “character” after they came from behind to record only their second victory since October with a 2-1 Premier League win at rock-bottom Derby.

Derby 1 Blackburn 2

Derby 1 Blackburn 2

Derby 1 Liverpool 2

Newcastle 2 Derby 2

Derby 0 Middlesbrough 1

AS he watched 21-year-old Amir Khan destroy his opponent in just 72 seconds from his ringside seat on Saturday night, Ryan Giggs must have been struck by the parallels in the careers of the two men.

Man Utd 4 Derby 1

Sunderland boss Roy Keane allowed himself a smile after seeing fellow Irishman Anthony Stokes come off the bench to snatch an injury-time victory over Derby.

Sunderland 1 Derby 0

Britain’s most expensive goalkeeper Craig Gordon pays for Sunderland’s humiliation at Everton with his place today as Derby arrive on Wearside.

Derby 0 Chelsea 2

Derby 0 West Ham 5

Derby v West Ham

Aston Villa 2 Derby 0

Derby manager Billy Davies has hinted at changes for tomorrow’s Barclays Premier League trip to fellow strugglers Fulham.

STEVE COPPELL was a relieved man after Kevin Doyle’s first League goal of the season gave the Royals a much-needed victory against Derby.

Derby midfielder Giles Barnes is in contention for a return to action when the Rams travel to Reading on Sunday.

Derby 1 Bolton 1

Avram Grant’s first home game as Chelsea manager started unimpressively as their west London derby with Fulham remained goalless after 45 minutes at Stamford Bridge.

Arsenal 5 Derby County 0

Derby manager Billy Davies admitted he was surprised to get a player of Kenny Miller’s quality on transfer deadline day after the Scotland international lifted Derby off the bottom of the Barclays Premier League.

Tottenham 4 Derby 0

Man City 1 Derby 0

Derby 2 Portsmouth 2

Newcastle manager Sam Allardyce made a stunning return to his old club Bolton as his team opened up a 3-0 lead at half-time in their opening Premier League match.

Derby 1 West Brom 0

Derby 2 Southampton 3 AET (4-4 on aggregate, Derby win 4-3 on penalties)

Southampton 1 Derby 2