Milner goal lifts Leeds

James Milner lifted some of the gloom surrounding Leeds as the Barclaycard Premiership’s bottom club took a 1-0 lead into the half-time interval at Charlton.

Milner slotted home from a Mark Viduka pass in the ninth minute to give caretaker manager Eddie Gray something to cheer as Leeds look to end a run of six straight defeats.

Leeds could wipe out their three-point deficit at the foot of the table with victory today, although their appalling goal difference means they will remain bottom barring a goal rush.

Fellow relegation battlers Leicester drew first blood at Fratton Park as Les Ferdinand fired into the top corner just before the half-hour to put City 1-0 up going into half-time against Portsmouth.

Aston Villa did their chances of moving out of the relegation zone the power of good in the first half against Southampton at Villa Park, with Dion Dublin opening the scoring in injury time.

Another team floundering at the wrong end of the table, Blackburn, also made a good start to putting matters right as they restricted Tottenham to a goalless first half at Ewood Park.

Bolton look set to extend their four-match unbeaten run after Per Frandsen headed home a Kevin Davies cross after 26 minutes. That gave Sam Allardyce’s men a 1-0 half-time advantage over Everton at the Reebok Stadium.

In today’s early kick-off, Wolves missed two late chances to claim maximum points as Newcastle left Molineux with a 1-1 draw.

Nathan Blake capitalised on a Shay Given error to put Wolves ahead but Alan Shearer levelled the scores soon after.