Basso helps City ride their luck

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

The Bristol City goalkeeper is determined to use promotion to the top flight as a platform to show England and Brazil that he has the credentials to become an international.

Basso, born in Sao Paulo, can play for England as he has lived there for five years and has set himself a two-year deadline to force his way into Fabio Capello’s thoughts.

And after starring in one of the most crazy Championship games of the season, where he helped repel some of the 24 efforts that saw Leicester fail to score, he claims his dreams are inching closer to reality.

He said: “I want to play for England or Brazil but my focus now is to put Bristol City into the Premier League so that my chance becomes more real.”

City extended their lead at the summit to four points after Leicester’s Iain Hume, Kelvin Etuhu, Gareth McAuley and Steve Howard all wasted golden chances.

Liam Lawrence converted a late penalty to give Stoke a 1-1 draw with Burnley which kept the pressure up on the leaders.

Chris Brown struck twice to give Preston a 2-1 win over Charlton, which pushed them four points clear of the relegation zone

A 63rd-minute strike from James Beattie gave Sheffield United a 1-0 win over Plymouth at Home Park as the Pilgrims slipped out of the play-off zone.

Hull moved up to sixth at Argyle’s expense, after they eased to a 2-0 win over Scunthorpe, while Sheffield Wednesday boosted their survival hopes with a 2-1 win over QPR at Hillsborough. Jay Tabb’s strike was enough to give Coventry a 1-0 win over nine-man Norwich at the Ricoh Arena.

Colchester remain in trouble after slipping to a 2-1 defeat to Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, leaving themselves nine points from safety. Southampton are three points above the drop zone, after earning a 2-2 draw at Blackpool.