Champions League Report.

Barcelona sealed a 3-1 away win to give them a great chance of progressing to the last 8.

Barcelona took the lead 4 minutes from the break when Messi's through ball reached Alexis Sanchez who slipped under Bernard Leno for 1-0. The Germans however found a goal soon after the break to level Corluka crossing it in for Michal Kadlec to head it in for 1-1. The lead lasted only minutes as through ball carved the Germans open again allowing Sanchez to skip through round Leno to bury it in to an empty net for his second of the night. The Champions' sealed the victory when Dani Alves' shot was saved by Leno however the ball fell to player Bayer didn't want it to and Messi tucked away his 7 Champions league goal of the season. This will give Barcelona a real advantage going into the 2^nd leg at the Nou Camp.

Lyon won their home leg 1-0 against knockout newsboys, Apoel. The only goal of the game coming from French U21 international, Alexandre Lacazette who looped the ball over Chiotis in the Apoel goal for 1-0 after 58 minutes. Giving Apoel a real chance in the 2nd leg as 1-0 may not be a big enough advantage.

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Championship Round up.

Southampton closed the gap to 1 point defeating Burnley 2-0. 

With West Ham not playing due to their game at London Road being called off, Southampton took full advantage and closed the gap to 1 point. Defeating, the Clarets 2-0 at St Mary's. Billy Sharp scoring his first goal since signing from Doncaster in January. Hull broke into the top six winning their respected home game, easing past Bristol City 3-0. While Reading inflicted further misery on Coventry with the help of their goalkeeper, Adam Federici winning 2-0 to move up to 7th. Meanwhile, Leeds’ search for a new manager will continue following their home loss to Brighton, Alan Navarro's low shot beating Andy Lonergan to give the seagulls all three points. Cardiff will kick themselves for letting a chance slip to close the gap with automatic promotion zone, losing 2-1 at the King Power to Leicester City. Bore draw was the game between Millwall and Derby at the den, Craig Byrson's point blank miss the pick of the game. Forest did not help their relegation fight only drawing 1-1 with Watford at the City Ground.

The cold snap dominated the Championship yesterday 4 games being defeated by the weather, with Ipswich v Middlesbrough called off after 37 minutes due to the frozen pitch, much to the anger of both sets of fans. Barnsley v Birmingham, Peterborough v West Ham and Crystal Palace v Doncaster all succumbed to the cold. Making it seem as under soil heating is in order for a lot of these teams.

Sunderland 1-1 Middlesbrough

Championship Boro hold back revitalized Sunderland following a 1-1 draw at the Stadium of light this afternoon.

The Teessiders put their dismal start to 2012 behind them for a derby cup fixture against the Stadium of light, the home side, Sunderland had been in great form since, Martin O'Neil had took charge winning their last 2 home games. However it was Middlesbrough who took the lead, Barry Robson catching John O'Shea's poor clearance with a sweet volley to send the Boro fans delirious. Sunderland went in search of an equalizer and thought they had one close to halftime, When Craig Gardener finshed cooly past, Danny Coyne, however the goal was ruled out after it was thought by the referee that Connor Wickham had interfered with play from an offside postion. Sunderland protested this although a quite clear handball from Gardener made it just. Boro came close to doubling their lead near halftime, when Lukas Jutkiewicz raced through to have his intial shot saved by Mingolet however Haroun was quick to get the ball to Jutkiewcz who dragged his effort wide of the post to the annoyance of the Boro fans. Boro went into halftime holding a 1-0 lead , something many didn't expect.

Sunderland eventually got their equalizer after 59 minutes when Barry Robson poor backpass was picked by pacey Northern Irish winger, James McClean who raced through to play it to Fraizer Campbell who could make no mistake in finishing excellently past, Danny Coyne. The goal saw Campbell end a 500 days since scoring a goal. Sunderland could have stole the tie late on however James McClean effort went into the sidenetting rather than the goal.

The result meant the tie will go back to the Riverside on Tuesday 7th Febuary and Boro will be expecting a energetic atmosphere. The 5th round tie also pulled out the winner of the tie with a game against Arsenal at home.

Wolves 0-1 Birmingham City

Wade Elliot scored the only goal of the game as Birmingham beat Wolves in the Fa cup 3rd Round replay.

Wolves can now 'focus on the league' after crashing out of the Fa cup following a 1-0 defeat to Birmingham at Molineux tonight. Wolves started the game on the upper hand, creating chances through Ebanks -Blake, who fired a shot from 20 yards straight at Doyle after 7 minutes and headed a Adam Hammill cross into the ground and over. Wolves came close to taking the lead after 21 minutes, when Hammill and Doherty combined for Hammill to get the cross over however Ebanks- Blake was unable to get the clinical header. Birmingham were temporarily down to 9 men after David Murphy and Chilean, Beasujour clashed heads resulting in them both recieving treatment. Birmingham then squandered a great chance after 34 minutes, when Adam Rooney beared down on goal however he took far too long on the ball and seemed to be content with trying to win a penatly off a George Elokobi challenge, however Howard Webb wasn't going to give anything. Birmingham also came close to having a half time lead, when American defender, Johnathon Spector, surged forward and struck it low from 30 yards however the shot went inches wide.

The first incident of the second half came after 54 minutes when Ebanks Blake went down under the challenge of Curtis Davies, however it was deemed he slipped rather than contact. Colin Doyle had to be alert after 59 minutes when Doherty strike from 25 range deflected upwards, however Colin Doyle was able to grab the ball. There was evidence of Wolves' fear when , Stephen Fletcher started to warm up, Mick Mccarthy was clearly fearing the lack of goals at this point. Wolves again tested, Colin Doyle with after Jonsson struck it low in to the corner, however Colin Doyle was equal to the strike. Birmingham then wasted a decent oppourtunity when youngster, Nathan Redmond was alert to a ball into the Wolves box, but his strike was poor and resulted in a throwing. Wolves then gave an Fa cup debut to Algerian Midfielder, Adlene Guedioura who came on as a substitute for new signing, Jonsson. Stephen Fletcher finally came on after 72 minutes for Kevin Doyle, it was hoped the scottish forward could add some fire to the Wolves attack that had failed to find the net so far. Wolves goal would never come however, but Birmingham managed to find the net after 76 minutes, after Wolves had failed to clear the corner David Murphy managed to keep the ball in the danger the ball ran to midfielder, Wade Elliot who struck the post although he had a second chance and managed to scramble the ball past Wolves goalkeeper, Dorus De Vries. Sending the away fans into huge celebration. Wolves came close their closest to equalizing after 88 minutes when Fletcher came close to beating, Colin Doyle scramble but the ball deflected up for Irish man, Stephen Hunt however his effort was tipped over by the Birmingham goalkeeper. Wolves had lost the chance and Birmingham had completed the upset.

The result meant, Birmingham continued their unbeaten run to 2012, however Mick Mccarthy's men are still yet to win their first game of the season.

Liverpool 0-0 Stoke

Liverpool continue their unbeaten home record with a 0-0 draw at home to Stoke City. 

The same story continues at Liverpool , they are not losing at home however they are not winning. Liverpool had the first chance when Charlie Adam failed to make a clear connection from a Gerrard corner. Johnathon Woodgate had to count himself lucky after going in rash on Liverpool midfielder, Stewart Downing. Stoke had the oppourtunity to take the lead after Matthew Etherington skipped through the Liverpool midfielder however his effort was a simple catch for Pepe Reina in the Liverpool goal. Downing also came close to giving Liverpool the lead evading the challenge of Whelan to fire over the bar from range.


The main talking of the game came in second half when  Liverpool were denied some penalties when Robert Huth was not penalized for holding Carroll in the area on the corner. As wasn't Woodgate for holding in the area. Much to the frustration of the kopties, Howard Webb was having none of it. Liverpool had further chances to score with Kuyt squandering the chance off a Enrique deflected cross, in which he fired wide of the goal. Stoke had to rely on last ditch defending to keep them in the tie with Bellamy being denied by a Shawcross header at the backstick. Liverpool finally wasted their last oppoutunity off the subsequent corner when Skertel headed over the crossbar much to the agony of the Liverpool fans.

The draw meant Stoke moved closer off the bottom half of league, moving 5 points clear. While Liverpool moved within a point of 5th Arsenal.

Aston Villa 1-1 Everton

A second half Anichebe goal gives Everton a 1-1 draw at Villa Park.

The most played fixture in premier league history started with goalkeeper Shay Given showing his true talent with 2nd wonderful saves. Firstly he got down low to save a glancing by Louis Saha following a Baines freekick and then save his own defenders blushes by saving a Stephen Warnock header on the corner of his goal. It was the turn for the american goalkeeper, Tim Howard to show his goalkeeping talent saving from a long range Agbonlahor strike. The first ended with the scores still at 0-0

Given again stood like a brick wall early in the second half saving with his shoulder after Felliani had been played in by the freekick. Aston Villa got the first goal of the game 56 minutes when Stephen Ireland square ball was tucked away neatly by the prolific Darren Bent for his 8th goal of the campaign. Villa joy lasted around 13 minutes until after 69 minutes as Victor Anichebe was allowed to tuck it past Shay Given following a neat through by American, Landon Donavon. It was Anichebe's 2nd league goal of 2012.

The draw meant Everton pushed into the top half while Aston Villa picked their first point of 2012.

West Brom 1-2 Norwich

A Steve Morison header ensures Norwich take 2-1 victory at the Hawthorns. 

Norwich went to the hawthorns hoping to seek revenge following a 1-0 defeat to West Brom in september at Carrow Road. However it was the hosts who had the first chance when Peter Odemwingie had his long range effort tipped on to the bar by Canaries goalkeeper, John Ruddy. Norwich could of had the lead when Steve Morison chased down Ben Fosters kick but the effort came of the wrong side of the post. West Brom were the next side to have an oppourtunity, forcing Ruddy into a fine stop from the oncoming Simon Cox after he was played in by James Morrison. The vistors took the lead against the run of play on 43 minutes when Andrew Surman met a Wes Hoolhan cross on the volley in the box for Norwich's first goal of the afternoon and his third of the season.

West Brom sought after a equalizer with James Morrison's dipping half volley hitting the roof of the net. It was then Shane Long's turn to come close after his turn and shot was blocked by the Norwich defender. However the hosts eventually got a lifeline on 66 minutes when Jerome Thomas was brought down in the area following a challenge from Daniel Ayala. West brom were level as Shane Long cooly slotted his penalty to the other side of John Ruddy's dive. Ayala recieved a yellow card for the foul. West brom's joy was short lived after Norwich grabbed the winner just ten minutes later when Steve Morison rose highest to guide the ball past Ben Foster off a Grant Holt cross. Depsite the keepers best efforts to keep the ball out.

The win meant Norwich retained their 100% start to 2012, whilst West Brom were still after their first points of the new year following three league defeats on the bounce.