Key occasions
Premier League: Fulham seemed to have doubled their lead in opposition to Aston Villa however Timothy Castagne’s highly effective header has been dominated out for a foul on Emi Martinez by Sander Berge, who had a fistful of the goalkeeper’s shirt. Marco Silva is livid.
National League: It stays 0-0 between York City and Rochdale within the decisive closing day conflict on the prime of the desk. As issues stand, York will win computerized promotion to League Two and Rochdale might be consigned to the playoffs regardless of amassing 106 factors.
Championship: Showcasing some nifty shut management within the six-yard field, Morgan Whittaker restores Middlesbrough’s two-goal lead in opposition to Watford. It’s 3-1 to the hosts approaching the hour mark on the Riverside Stadium.
WSL: Having shipped a painful trying bang on the top within the first half, Bunny Shaw has recovered sufficiently to cut back Manchester City’s arrears in opposition to Brighton. Her facet path 3-2 with 4 minutes of added time remaining.
Championship: James Abankwah has halved the deficit for Watford, who now path Middlesbrough 2-1 on the Riverside. Watford are taking part in for pleasure, whereas Middlesbrough are nonetheless within the hunt for an computerized promotion spot however look extra prone to find yourself within the playoffs.
WSL: Madison Haley has scored her second purpose of the sport to increase Brighton’s lead in opposition to the league leaders Manchester City. It’s 3-1 the house facet on the Broadfield Stadium, in opposition to a facet who had gained 16 of their final 18 video games. City want 5 factors from their closing three video games, together with this one, to wrap up the title.
Championship: On the stroke of half-time, John Egan has equalised for Hull City in opposition to Charlton with an unbelievable header from the byline at a nook. It seemed unattainable for him to attain from such a good,bordering on non-existent angle however the ball nearly crept over the road earlier than being cleared. It’s Charlton Athletic 1-1 Hull City at half-time.
Championship: David Strelec stands proud a leg to transform a Morgan Whittaker ball squared his technique to double Middlesbrough’s lead over Watford. It’s 2-0 on the Riverside, the place Boro might go fourth.
GOAL! Fulham 1-0 Aston Villa (Sessegnon 43)
Premier League: Ryan Sessegnon scores on the follow-up to place Fulham forward after Raul Jimenez had his preliminary effort blocked. Tim de Lisle has the newest …
WSL: Well, properly. Japanese worldwide Kiko Seike has taken simply two minutes of the second half to fireside Brighton forward in opposition to Manchester City on the Broadfield Stadium in what could possibly be a serious turn-up for the WSL books.
WSL: It’s all sq. at half-time in at present’s solely WSL match. League leaders Manchester City went forward at Brighton by way of Kerolin, earlier than Madison Haley restored parity for the hostesses in added time on the finish of the half. If City can win this recreation and their subsequent one, they’ll be topped champions.
Championship: Charlie Kelman has simply curled house an absolute purler from distance to place Charlton a purpose up in opposition to Hull City at The Valley. With West Brom at present holding Ipswich, as issues stand Charlton and the Baggies are secure, Oxford are relegated and Hull’s hopes of constructing the playoffs will take a extreme dent.
National League: Rochdale host York City in at present’s winner-takes-all decider within the race for the one computerized promotion place obtainable on the prime of the desk. York are prime with an astonishing 107 factors, whereas Rochdale are two factors again on a equally eye-watering 105. A draw will do the Minstermen, whereas Rochdale should win to leapfrog their rivals and keep away from being pressured into the playoffs. It’s at present scoreless within the first-half on the Crown Oil Arena.
Premier League: Fans of each Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur are feeling related ranges of stress at completely different ends of the Premier League desk, writes Jonathan Liew …
Daniel Farke: ‘I used to be the slowest striker in Europe’
Leeds United: A self-confessed “football romantic who has learned that romanticism shouldn’t blind you to reality”, Daniel Farke seems to have secured Premier League survival for Leeds United and takes them Wembley for tomorrow’s FA Cup semi-final in opposition to beleaguered Chelsea. Words: Louise Taylor.
The Championship
Coventry City have already secured promotion as champions, whereas Millwall, Ipswich Town, Southampton and Middlesbrough are all chasing the second computerized promotion spot. Ipswich Town and Millwall, who were held by Leicester City last night, are assured playoffspots a minimum of. Wrexham, Hull City and Derby County are additionally hopeful of constructing the playoff social gathering.
Needing one level from their closing two video games to ensure their security, Charlton Athletic are at present internet hosting Hull at The Valley in considered one of at present’s early kick-offs. Following yesterday’s factors deduction, West Brom additionally want a degree to ensure their survival and host Ipswich Town in one other.
At the underside, Sheffield Wednesday and Leicester City have each been consigned to the drop, whereas Oxford are clinging on with a six-point hole to overtake and solely two video games left wherein to take action. With Charlton and West Brom already in motion, Oxford could possibly be relegated earlier than their basement battle in opposition to Sheffield Wednesday kicks off on the Kassam Stadium.
Today’s fixtures
Charlton Athletic 0-0 Hull City (L)
Middlesbrough 1-0 Watford (L)
West Brom 0-0 Ipswich Town (L)
Birmingham City v Bristol City
Norwich City v Swansea City
Oxford United v Sheffield Wednesday
QPR v Derby County
Sheffield United v Preston
Stoke City v Portsmouth
Saturday’s Premier League fixtures
Fulham 0-0 Aston Villa (L)
West Ham v Everton (3pm BST)
Wolves v Tottenham Hotspur (3pm)
Liverpool v Crystal Palace (3pm)
Arsenal v Newcastle (5.30pm)
Manchester United v Brentford (8pm BST)
Welcome to the clockwatch …
Good afternoon and welcome to a Saturday Clockwatch the place the stakes might scarcely be larger or the nerves any extra frayed. It’s late April and we discover ourselves within the upside-down world the place two of London’s best are staring into the abyss.
The focus at present centres on a determined battle for survival. In 18th place and winless since December, Tottenham journey to already-relegated Wolves realizing that something lower than three factors can be one other disastrous pratfall within the path of a primary relegation since 1977. Just two factors above them, West Ham host Everton on the London Stadium in a match that’s prone to be each bit as tense. While Nuno’s facet are combating for his or her lives, Everton nonetheless dare to dream of a return to European football.
Meanwhile, at Anfield, Liverpool are going through a weird psychological hurdle. They host Crystal Palace at present, having already misplaced to their guests thrice since August – within the Community Shield, the Premier League and the Carabao Cup. Should Palace prevail once more, they may grow to be the primary facet in historical past to beat Liverpool 4 occasions in a single season.
Away from the Premier League drama, we’ll be preserving a pointy eye on the Football League, flagging up promotion clinchers and heartbreak from the Championship right down to League Two because the enterprise finish of the season reaches boiling level. Stick with us for each purpose, each VAR grievance and each existential disaster because it occurs.
