CARDIFF CITY (0) 3 BURNLEY (0) 0
Steven Thompson marked his Cardiff debut with a two-minute double to set up a victory that boosts the Welsh team’s play-off hopes. Cardiff killed the game with three goals in five second-half minutes, Thompson’s first coming when he rifled home Willie Boland’s cross and his second arriving after he was put in by Cameron Jerome. Jason Koumas headed in Neal Ardley’s cross to complete the win .
Cardiff manager Dave Jones: We first went in for him (Thompson) in the summer when Rangers wanted £1 million, but we stuck at it and I’m very glad to have done the deal for far less.
Burnley manager Steve Cotterill: We had a crazy five minutes, but we were not helped by some of the referee’s decisions. We should have been awarded a free kick before they scored the opener.
Blinder: Steven Thompson.
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Stinker: Chris McCann.
DERBY COUNTY (2) 5 CREWE ALEXANDRA (0) 1
Derby’s thrashing of the bottom side did not prevent the Pride Park crowd calling for the resignation of the club’s board. Paul Peschisolido and Michael Johnson were on target for the home side during the first half before Tommy Smith bagged a brace and Iñigo Idiákez also found the net in the second half. David Vaughan scored a superb consolation for Crewe.
Derby manager Phil Brown: We’ve won 5-1 and at the end the crowd were shouting “Sack the board.” But since I arrived at the club, I’ve learnt there’s an awful lot of politics here.
Crewe manager Dario Gradi (on their Polish trialists): We’ve had the boys on trial and I’ve decided we’re going to sign them. There’s no point burying our head in the sand and we’re going to have to start looking abroad for players.
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Blinder: Tommy Smith.
Stinker: Gary Roberts.
HULL CITY (1) 1 CRYSTAL PALACE (2) 2
Crystal Palace clocked up their sixth consecutive victory to exacerbate Hull’s fears of relegation. Darren Ward opened the scoring in the early exchanges before Leon Cort, the Hull centre back, deflected Wayne Andrews’s superb cross past his own goalkeeper. Jon Parkin halved the deficit 60 seconds later with a neat finish, but despite their efforts, Peter Taylor’s men failed to penetrate a well-organised Palace side.
Hull manager Peter Taylor: After we scored we believed we could have got something from the game. We are in a scrap, but I’ve no doubt in my mind we are good enough (to stay up).
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Crystal Palace manager Iain Dowie: Although I believe Steve (Coppell) and Neil (Warnock) have done fantastic jobs, it (automatic promotion) can still be done. We’ve got to go on a hell of a run.
Blinder: Boaz Myhill.
Stinker: Mark Lynch.
PLYMOUTH ARGYLE (1) 1 NORWICH CITY (0) 1
Darren Huckerby returned from suspension to score his sixth goal of the season and earn play-off hopefuls Norwich a draw. An own goal by Simon Charlton had given Plymouth a slender half-time lead, but Huckerby’s neat chip shortly after the restart levelled matters against the run of play. Both teams had chances to win, but a combination of good goalkeeping and poor finishing ensured the game ended all square.
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Plymouth manager Tony Pulis: We’re disappointed not to win. It was a cracking game. You always worry that someone like a (Dean) Ashton or a Huckerby will pull something out of the bag.
Norwich manager Nigel Worthington: We are looking to add players. I don’t want to sell, the board does not want to sell, the supporters don’t want us to sell.
Blinder: David Norris.
Stinker: Gary Doherty.
PRESTON NORTH END (1) 2 MILLWALL (0) 0
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David Tuttle, the Millwall caretaker manager, suffered his first defeat in charge and the Londoners go into Wednesday’s FA Cup third-round replay away to Everton on the back of a first loss in six games, while play-off chasing Preston extended their run to 18 matches without defeat. Patrick Agyemang clipped in the opener and Claude Davis headed the second.
Preston manager Billy Davies (on Brian Stock signing): He met his team-mates at about 1.30pm. I spoke to him late on Friday night and I was concerned with the travelling and the carry-on of the last couple of days.
Millwall caretaker manager David Tuttle: Myself and Tony Burns (the assistant), we really want the job. The players are 100 per cent behind us and we’d really like a decision one way or the other so the club can go forward.
Blinder: Brian Stock.
Stinker: Ben May.
SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY (2) 2 LEICESTER CITY (1) 1
Leicester’s FA Cup heroes were given a harsh reminder of life in the Championship as relegation rivals Sheffield Wednesday fought back to claim victory. Six days after coming back to beat Tottenham Hotspur 3-2, Craig Levein’s men left with nothing and are now winless in eight league encounters. Richard Stearman’s stunning overhead kick put Leicester ahead, but first-half strikes from Chris Brunt and Graham Coughlan secured Wednesday the points.
Sheffield Wednesday manager Paul Sturrock: The rollercoaster keeps moving on and the players did well to come back. You can’t take your foot off the gas.
Leicester manager Craig Levein: Maybe this was a reality check. The players dream about playing in the Premiership, but it’s the drop-off rate that is alarming.
Blinder: Richard Wood.
Stinker: Mark de Vries.
WATFORD (0) 1 STOKE CITY (0) 0
Chris Eagles’s second-half strike was enough to give promotion-chasing Watford victory. Eagles, on loan from Manchester United, took advantage of Carl Hoefkens’s sloppy defending to score the winner, while Stoke were denied a point by Ben Foster’s magnificent save from Luke Chadwick. Gerry Taggart, the Stoke player-coach, was sent to the stands for allegedly using abusive language towards the fourth official.
Watford manager Adrian Boothroyd: It’s three more points on the road to where we want to be. Chris did very well and he is a better player than he was during his first loan spell with us.
Stoke manager Johan Boskamp: He (the fourth official) grabbed Gerry by the arm and then Gerry said something. You should not take people by the arm in that way.
Blinder: Marlon King.
Stinker: Junior.