Blackburn 0 Newcastle 0

OUR football correspondent LIAM MACKEY is back in top form and full of energy.

BOLTON boss Owen Coyle saluted Matthew Taylor’s return to form after two late goals from the midfielder sank Stoke and provided Wanderers with a giant leap towards survival.

Carlos Tevez found himself the centre of controversy after steering Manchester City to a crucial 3-0 victory against Wigan at Eastlands.

Wigan’s Barclays Premier League home match against Aston Villa, scheduled for this afternoon, has been postponed due to a frozen pitch at the DW Stadium.

Everton 1 Birmingham 1

A new year is looming and, given the events of the last 12 months, nobody will be celebrating with more gusto when the clock strikes midnight on December 31 than Kevin Doyle.

AMID the hyperbole surrounding Manchester City and Tottenham’s pursuit of English football’s established elite, the challenge of Aston Villa has gone almost unnoticed.

WINTER may still be weeks away but, for these two clubs, the chilly grip of a relegation squabble has already taken hold.

IT has taken time, and perhaps longer than Kevin Doyle would have liked, but at long last the Ireland striker is feeling at home at Wolverhampton Wanderers.

THIS was supposed to be the day for Liverpool to bellow their title aspirations to the rest of the Premier League.

RAFAEL BENITEZ could be investigated by the FA after claiming Stuart Atwell, the fourth official for Liverpool’s 2-1 defeat by Spurs yesterday, was too young to officiate top flight fixtures.