Southgate eyes up shock

Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate is confident his side can pull off a shock result to get their survival campaign back on track.

The Teessiders saw two precious points slip from their grasp as they were held 0-0 at the Riverside Stadium by Fulham on Saturday and their next two fixtures are a trip Arsenal and then a home game against Manchester United.

But Southgate believes his side can produce a surprise similar to the one that saw them beat Liverpool 2-0 and said: "We have to win a game that we are not expected to in the next few - we said that prior to the game against Liverpool."
He added: "We have got players who can deliver, but for me when I look at the next two fixtures, there is no pressure on us in those two fixtures, although we understand the importance of them.

"The players have just got to go out and have a go at them and keep ourselves in there with a fighting chance, and there's no reason why we can't do that."

Southgate is realistic enough to know that points are more likely to be forthcoming from the club's final three fixtures, a potential winner-takes-all visit to Newcastle on May 11, Aston Villa's visit to Teesside the following weekend and the season's finale at West Ham.

But he remains convinced that the spirit and commitment his young squad has shown in the depths of an ongoing crisis means they still have a chance of staving off a fate which seemed inevitable before they dragged Hull back into the scrap.

Southgate said: "We will leave here thinking it was a game we needed to win, but we are not out of it.

"It might prove to be costly, but I don't think Saturday's performance is the reason why we are where we are by any means, and it won't be a performance that has cost us in the long run.

"The commitment shown, the way that we played, was commendable from everybody. I couldn't have ask any more of the players in the last two matches."

Gers still in title hunt

Rangers kept their title hopes alive with a 3-2 win over Hibernian which moved them back to within a point of Celtic at the summit of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.

Steven Whittaker's early opener was cancelled out by Steven Fletcher but goals from Andrius Velicka and Maurice Edu sealed a crucial win for the Ibrox side after John Rankin netted late on for the home side.

The pressure was on Rangers after Celtic had moved four points clear with a win over Aberdeen the previous day but Walter Smith's men responded positively to remain within touching distance of the champions.
The visitors enjoyed the best possible start to the game when they surged into the lead in style after just two minutes when the ball broke fortuitously for Whittaker just outside the box and he left goalkeeper Grzegorz Szamotulski with no chance with a superb looping volley.

Hibs could have restored parity quickly when Colin Nish teed up a shot for Derek Riordan but his effort flashed just wide of the post, before Fletcher nodded over from close range.

But Hibs did level after 34 minutes. Lewis Stevenson found Fletcher in plenty of space with a cross from the left and the striker powered a header past Neil Alexander into the bottom corner of the net.

Rangers looked as though they were ready to make a change up front and throw Kenny Miller into the action when Velicka restored their lead early in the second half.

Whittaker turned provider with a long ball down the right and the Lithuanian gratefully collected before lashing home an angled drive with 53 minutes gone.

And any hopes of another comeback from the home side were dealt a blow when Rangers claimed their third of the day after 73 minutes. Miller came close to adding his name to the scoresheet when his close-range effort was blocked on the line by Sol Bamba but Edu was on hand to stab over the line from a couple of yards out.

Rankin then set up a tense finale to the game when he rifled home a thunderous shot from 25 yards with six minutes remaining - but Rangers held on for a much-needed victory.

Ipswich claim derby win

A Mexican masterclass from Giovani dos Santos ensured Ipswich saw off local rivals Norwich 3-2 to send the Canaries a step closer to relegation from the Coca-Cola Championship.

Bryan Gunn's visitors had forged ahead thanks to a fine header from David Mooney but Alan Quinn fired the home side level after an inspired touch from the on-loan Tottenham youngster sent him clear.

Giovani then converted a contentious second-half penalty to cap a performance of Premier League quality which illustrated why Spurs were willing to spend over £4million to bring him from Barcelona last summer. Substitute Jon Stead then hit a late third to confirm a costly defeat for Norwich, who grabbed a last-minute consolation through Sammy Clingan.

Norwich are a point adrift of safety with just two games remaining and could be left to rue the soft penalty decision for Giovani's goal if they find themselves in League One next season.

But the visitors started well and had already gone close through Alan Gow before they took a 16th-minute lead. Clingan whipped in a free-kick from the right and Mooney was left unmarked to send a fabulous header beyond Richard Wright and into the far corner from 15 yards.

They were pegged back in the 25th minute though as Pablo Counago turned Gary Doherty on the left touchline and fired a splendid crossfield ball to the edge of the area where Giovani showed real class to volley a deft lay-off perfectly into the run of Quinn. The midfielder did not have to break stride as he lashed home under the body of David Marshall with his left foot.

It appeared inevitable that Giovani would eventually create a third goal and he did so on the hour mark. After floating in off the wing he sent Kevin Lisbie clear with a beautiful pass and Marshall rushed out to narrow the angle. Lisbie hurdled the challenge and after waiting for an age referee Niall Swarbrick pointed to the spot.

Giovani stepped up and calmly rolled the penalty into the bottom corner to the delight of the home crowd.

Norwich poured forward in search of an equaliser but it was Stead who grabbed the goal in the 88th minute. Lisbie flicked on a long ball to send Stead clear and he showed admirable cool to side-foot past Marshall from eight yards.

Swarbrick then awarded the Canaries a penalty in stoppage time after Quinn appeared to climb on Alan Lee and Clingan fired home to ensure a nervy finale.

City see off Baggies

Robinho scored his first goal of the year to help Manchester City to a 4-2 victory that nudges West Brom closer to the Coca-Cola Championship.

He opened the scoring and Nedum Onouha extended their advantage in the first 20 minutes.

Chris Brunt scored a brace for West Brom before Elano (penalty) and substitute Daniel Sturridge secured the points.

More gloom for Toon

Newcastle and Alan Shearer were plunged closer to relegation after Darren Bent fired Tottenham to a 1-0 victory at White Hart Lane.

Bent struck after 24 minutes to leave Shearer without a win in his first three games as temporary manager, and he now has five games to keep his club in the Barclays Premier League.

Spurs enhanced their own hopes of qualifying for the Europa League but had Michael Dawson carried off with a serious-looking ankle injury.

The visitors' only shot of the first half, a tame effort from Kevin Nolan, came seconds before Bent's opener.

Heurelho Gomes saved Nolan's shot and hurled the ball out to Benoit Assou-Ekotto. Luka Modric took over and angled a pass towards Robbie Keane, which was cut out by Sebastien Bassong but fell to Bent, who finished at the second attempt from a tight angle after Steve Harper had saved his initial effort.

There were worrying scenes just after the half-hour mark when Dawson landed heavily and was carried off on a stretcher with his ankle strapped up. It looked serious and Harry Redknapp got up from the dug-out to console his centre-back.

The stoppage did not break Spurs' momentum and they were fortunate not to add a second when Modric's shot deflected off Bassong on the line for Harper to claim easily.

Shearer's response was to bring on Obafemi Martins and Mark Viduka, with Nolan and Andy Carroll making way. The two replacements joined Michael Owen in a three-man attack.

Martins had the ball in the net with a slick finish but Mark Halsey whistled for handball against the Nigeria striker.

Then Martins went over in the penalty area with seven minutes to go under a Jonathan Woodgate challenge, but Halsey waved play on.

Everton set up all Blue final

Tim Howard
Tim Howard
Former Manchester United goalkeeper Tim Howard returned to haunt his old club with two crucial saves as Everton set up an FA Cup final meeting with Chelsea after a 4-2 penalty shoot-out at Wembley.

United had fielded a team of youngsters, but held their own during 120 goalless minutes.

In the end, though, it was the experience of Howard which came through in the shoot-out, saving from Dimitar Berbatov and United captain Rio Ferdinand.
Darron Gibson and Danny Welbeck made their first appearances since the Carling Cup final victory over Tottenham in the same stadium seven weeks ago, while Rafael da Silva and Anderson were also included in what must have been one of the youngest starting line-ups United have ever selected.

Everton had a first-half penalty claim waved away by referee Mike Riley, whose appointment as replacement for Steve Bennett did not meet with the approval of Everton boss David Moyes. However, it was difficult to argue conclusively Rafael had fouled Steven Pienaar.

In sporadic bursts, United were at their free-flowing best. Yet Federico Macheda, who started brightly, and Welbeck were both guilty of rushing passes or shots.

The nearest Ferguson's team came was when Joleon Lescott deflected a Welbeck shot wide, Rafael supplying the cross.

After the interval, United were the better team. Park Ji-sung sent one shot skimming wide before Gibson tried his luck from long range with a dipping shot Howard saved without being able to hold.

The introduction of Berbatov at the start of extra-time, following the earlier arrivals of Patrice Evra and Paul Scholes, gave United a more recognisable look, although it was Tim Cahill who nearly broke the deadlock, Ben Foster making a fine feet-first save.

In truth though, a goal never looked like coming. And finally United saw their shoot-out luck run out, leaving Howard, Moyes and chairman Bill Kenwright to celebrate a day they have waited for so long to enjoy.