CARDIFF CITY (2) 3 STOKE CITY (0) 0
Cardiff kept their play-offs hopes alive and extended Stoke’s winless streak to eight league games at Ninian Park. Goals from Kevin Cooper and a brace by Neil Cox, the defender, helped Cardiff to maintain their impressive home form. Cooper got the ball rolling with a stunning strike and then turned provider for Cox, who netted the third from Neal Ardley’s cross.
Cardiff manager Dave Jones: What won us the game was a strong defensive display and our two central defenders, Cox and Darren Purse, certainly know they have been in a battle.
Stoke manager Johan Boskamp: We played very well in the first 20 minutes, but after that the team fell down.
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Blinder: Neil Cox.
Stinker: Hannes Sigurdsson.
HULL CITY (1) 1 NORWICH CITY (0) 1
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Stuart Elliott’s late own goal salvaged Norwich a draw that they barely deserved. Lifeless to the point of disinterest, Nigel Worthington’s men looked set for a fourth consecutive defeat after Leon Cort headed Hull into the lead in the first half. But the home time paid the price for digging in too early and Norwich got their fortuitous equaliser.
Hull manager Peter Taylor: I’m delighted with a point. We had a nervous start, but we did well in the first half and scored a good set-piece.
Norwich manager Nigel Worthington: It’s a good point from the players’ point of the view because we worked the ball really well all game. We’ll chase every point and never, ever give up.
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Blinder: Keith Andrews.
Stinker: Jonatan Johansson.
IPSWICH TOWN (0) 2 BURNLEY (1) 1
Matt Richards converted a late penalty to secure Ipswich a vital victory in their quest to reach the play-offs. Michael Ricketts’s renaissance continued as he struck the opening goal, but Alan Lee drew Ipswich level before Richards netted the winner with seven minutes remaining. Burnley’s misery was compounded by the late sending-off of Wayne Thomas.
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Ipswich manager Joe Royle: We had 24 shots, some of them high wide and glorious, but there were two that counted.
Burnley manager Steve Cotterill: We went ahead with a great finish from Michael Ricketts but it was disappointing to be beaten by a penalty that, in my opinion, wasn’t a penalty.
Blinder: Alan Lee.
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Stinker: Gifton Noel-Williams.
PLYMOUTH ARGYLE (0) 0 SHEFFIELD UNITED (0) 0
Sheffield United’s hopes of automatic promotion suffered another blow as they were held to a goalless draw by gritty Plymouth. Sheffield were unable to break down their hosts and Romain Larrieu, the Plymouth goalkeeper, made a number of fine saves. Paddy Kenny tipped David Norris’ shot around the post late on.
Plymouth manager Tony Pulis: In Grand Prix terms they are a Ferrari to our Morris Minor. It was a tough game, but if any side was going to win it at the end, it was us.
Sheffield United manager Neil Warnock: When you have a knock-back like we had on Monday ( the defeat by Watford), you need to get something. You want to win every game you go into, but it was important we got something here.
Blinder: Chris Morgan.
Stinker: Paul Ifill.
SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY (0) 0 CRYSTAL PALACE (0) 0
Leon Best wasted Wednesday’s most promising opportunities in this tepid goalless draw. Best was brought on shortly before the interval and missed a chance to make an instant impact when he raced through shortly after. The youngster also missed from close range, while Dougie Freedman went closest for Iain Dowie’s team.
Sheffield Wednesday manager Paul Sturrock: With the disruption with the flu, injuries and suspensions, if somebody had offered me a point at the start of the day, I would have taken it.
Crystal Palace manager Iain Dowie: We managed at times to pass it, but nowhere near as well as we would have liked. We’re not pleased with a point, but it’s not the end of the world.
Blinder: Richard Wood.
Stinker: Marco Reich.
WATFORD (1) 4 COVENTRY CITY (0) 0
Ashley Young inspired Watford to victory over Coventry to keep them in the hunt for automatic promotion. He opened the scoring with his eleventh league goal of the season before Marlon King headed in a corner. Darius Henderson scored from a cross by Young, before Jay DeMerit headed the fourth.
Watford manager Adrian Boothroyd: We have done OK. We are getting better and we’re getting better at a good time. If we remain disciplined with what we’re doing, we’ll keep getting better.
Coventry manager Micky Adams: We’re disappointed to concede goals from set-pieces, but we have got to be playing at full tilt and if we don’t, we’re in trouble.
Blinder: Marlon King.
Stinker: Dennis Wise.
WOLVERHAMPTON W (1) 1 CREWE ALEXANDRA (1) 1
Wolves suffered a setback to their hopes of reaching the play-offs as they were held by Crewe, the bottom team, at Molineux. Mark Kennedy cancelled out Billy Jones’s early header and earned Wolves a point, although just as Crewe had dominated the first half, so the home side were on top thereafter. Both sides deserved their point.
Wolves manager Glenn Hoddle: The players looked too hesitant and I reminded them at half-time they had to be bold and brave. Perhaps they let the crowd reaction get to them too much.
Crewe manager Dario Gradi: We deserved it for the effort and we played some good football in the first half. We have taken a point we didn’t expect and stood up to Wolves very well.
Blinder: Steve Jones.
Stinker: Seol Ki Hyeon.