Jason Roberts recovered from a bout of swine flu to leave Portsmouth feeling pig-sick at Ewood Park as Blackburn came from behind to claim three priceless Premier League points in a 3-1 win. Rovers had been reeling at the end of a dismal first period in which Jamie O’Hara fired the visitors ahead with a 30-yard strike past Paul Robinson in the 15th minute. But Roberts clambered off the bench at the break to steer a 52nd-minute leveller past David James - and added Rovers’ third after Ryan Nelsen had netted a rare goal to put his side in front.

The win brought sighs of relief all round for the home side - and especially manager Sam Allardyce, whose changes were vindicated despite being greeted with deafening boos at the break. (more…)

Aston Villa responded to their midweek defeat at West Ham United in decisive fashion in what has become something of a traditional romp over outplayed Bolton Wanderers . The Lancashire side had conceded four goals on their last two visits to Villa Park and though their manager Gary Megson had called for a display of resolute defending, his players mustered only further incompetence by going one better, or worse, during this latest trip to the West Midlands.

John Carew was Villa’s most influential player, involved in four of the goals that amounted to an embarrassing rout for the visitors.
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Sunderland striker Darren Bent missed a penalty on his return to White Hart Lane as Tottenham secured victory through goals from Robbie Keane and Tom Huddlestone. Bent had the chance to level for the visitors against the side he left in controversial circumstances last summer but Heurelho Gomes saved his spot-kick, a crucial moment in the Barclays Premier League game as Steve Bruce’s men were gaining momentum.

Instead, Huddlestone grabbed his third of the season with an effort that crashed in off the crossbar, doubling the lead after Keane’s early strike. (more…)

An incredible first 36 minutes for Guillermo Barros Schelotto and the Columbus Crew.  And for really the first time all season long, Real Salt Lake played on the road the exact same way they’ve played at home all season long.

Unfortunately Robert Warzycha is going to catch the brunt of the criticism for this loss because he didn’t play Schelotto in the first leg, but this Crew team had a 2-1 aggregate lead at home after 36 minutes.

And Andy Williams, despite everything… Bomma, you called it on your Facebook for the third time this season.

Villarreal kept their Europa League hopes alive with an incident-packed victory over Lazio in Group G. Robert Pires put the home side in front with less than two minutes gone and Lazio were reduced to 10 men moments later. Ruben Cani made it 2-0 and the game was effectively over when Pires scored his second from the penalty spot after 14 minutes.

Villarreal were also reduced to 10 men after 31 minutes when Gonzalo Rodriguez was dismissed, but Pasquale Foggia blasted the resulting penalty off the bar. (more…)

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Rangers’ Champions League hopes were left hanging in the balance when a late equaliser from Unirea Urziceni denied them a crucial first victory in the tournament this season. A 4-1 defeat to the Romanian champions at Ibrox a fortnight ago meant Rangers headed into tonight’s clash in Bucharest knowing defeat would spell the end of their hopes of progressing to the knockout stages.

Lee McCulloch thought he had secured the win with a superb strike with just 11 minutes to go but Unirea hit back to claim a point when substitute Marius Onofras grabbed a last-gasp leveller. (more…)

Sevilla joined the growing list of clubs to have booked their spot in the last 16 of the Champions League tonight after holding on for a draw against battling Stuttgart at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan stadium. Winger Jesus Navas, captaining the side in the absence of a number of senior players, put Sevilla ahead in the 14th minute but the visitors staged a second-half fightback and deservedly claimed a point thanks to Zdravko Kuzmanovic’s deflected 25-yard strike 12 minutes from time.

The result ends Sevilla’s 100% record in Group G but, thanks to the 1-1 draw in the match between Unirea Urziceni and Rangers, they are guaranteed a place in the knockout stages. (more…)