Bednar suspended following drugs claims

Striker Roman Bednar has been suspended by West Brom following allegations he bought illegal drugs.

The 26-year-old Czech international was named and pictured in a newspaper report on Sunday morning and the midlands club have taken swift action.

A statement from the Barclays Premier League club read: "Roman Bednar has been suspended while the club conduct an internal investigation into the matter." Bednar joined the Baggies from Hearts in August 2007, initially on loan before the deal was made permanent at a cost of £2.3million last summer.

The frontman was a revelation in his first season at The Hawthorns, finding the net 17 times in 22 starts as West Brom won promotion to the Barclays Premier League and made it to the semi-finals of the FA Cup.

This term he has started just 12 times in the league, coming off the bench on 14 occasions, and has scored six goals.

Bednar signed for Hearts from Czech club Mlada Boleslav in July 2005.

Celtic held at Hibs

Celtic's Clydesdale Bank Premier League title challenge suffered a blow when they were held to a goalless draw by Hibernian at Easter Road.

Gary Caldwell and Scott McDonald missed good chances in the first half after Hoops' keeper Artur Boruc had saved well from Steven Fletcher's over-head kick but the champions could not get the second-half breakthrough despite incessant pressure

Celtic host Hearts at Parkhead next week in the last game of the season while Rangers travel to Dundee United two points clear of the champions.

Hibs had dented the Ibrox club's title challenge with a 1-1 draw at Easter Road in midweek but they could barely get out of their own half in the opening moments as Celtic quickly took a grip.

But in the seventh minute, seconds after they had won their first corner of the game, the Leithers had their first effort on goal when skipper Rob Jones headed a Derek Riordan cross over the bar from 10 yards. The champions, though, treated that let-off as a mere blip.

However, in the 22nd minute, it was Boruc who was the first keeper to be called in to action. To end a brief spell of Hibs pressure, the Hoops' keeper pulled off a fine save from Fletcher's overhead kick, after the Easter Road striker had latched on to a searching Ross Chisholm cross.

Six minutes from the interval Caldwell should have taken advantage of a pin-point Shunsuke Nakamura free-kick from wide on the left but he failed to get enough on his header and the ball slipped past the far post and the waiting Andreas Hinkel.

In the final minute Celtic missed another decent chance to get the breakthrough when McDonald latched on to a long pass from Caldwell but he screwed his shot from 14 yards wide of the far post.

In the 65th minute Hibs keeper Yves Ma-Kalambay did well to claw away Aiden McGeady's cut-back from the bye-line which was heading for Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink, who had replaced Georgios Samaras.

It was all becoming increasingly tense and in the 71st minute Ma-Kalambay did well again when he blocked McDonald's angled drive after the Australia international had been set up by Vennegoor of Hesselink, who soon afterwards headed a Hinkel cross over the bar.

Blues win in Hiddink's Bridge farewell

Florent Malouda and Nicolas Anelka gave Chelsea a 2-0 victory over Blackburn in the last match at Stamford Bridge under the charge of temporary head coach Guus Hiddink.

The Dutchman is set to return to his full-time role with the Russian national team following the end of the season, which will conclude with the FA Cup final at Wembley.

Chelsea were good value for their win, with Blackburn also putting on a decent performance despite having little to play for. The Blues, who have a slim chance to catch Liverpool in runners-up spot, started brightly, and took the lead after just four minutes.

Anelka escaped down the right, before whipping the ball back onto the penalty spot, where Malouda arrived on queue to crash a bullet header past Paul Robinson.

Rovers had a chance to get quickly back on level terms, but captain Ryan Nelsen headed El-Hadji Diouf's right-wing cross over from six yards.

Frank Lampard struck the crossbar after being played in by Anelka, before Gael Givet had to be alert to hack away Malouda's chip over the goalkeeper.

Chelsea continued in determined mood following the restart and doubled their lead after 59 minutes.

Cole's ball in was missed by Malouda, but Didier Drogba touched back for Anelka on the edge of the Blackburn penalty area. The French striker needed no second invitation, and drilled in his 18th league goal of the season, to draw level with United forward Cristiano Ronaldo.

Robinson produced a fine reaction save from Anelka at point-blank range during stoppage time before Chelsea and their departing coach all enjoyed a lap of appreciation after the final whistle.

Baggies go down

West Brom went down fighting as Liverpool edged to within one point of being confirmed as Barclays Premier League runners-up. after a 2-0 win.

Albion's players gave everything in a defiant last stand at The Hawthorns to avoid relegation, but Liverpool still stretched their unbeaten league run to 10 matches.

Football Writers' player of the year Steven Gerrard struck his 24th of the season in the first half to record his best seasonal tally to date, with Dirk Kuyt driving in the second with 27 minutes left. Albion, sticking to their attacking policy, have been battling the drop all season and this was their third relegation from the top flight in seven years.

They fought to the last, and there were more cheers than tears from their defiant fans at the end.

But Liverpool were a class above as Gerrard struck in the first half and then set up Dirk Kuyt for the second just after the hour mark.

The Reds looked uncomfortable early on - but were handed the lead by a shocking piece of defending after 28 minutes. Defender Shelton Martis, with plenty of time on his hands to clear, hesitated in possession and scuffed the ball straight to Gerrard. The Liverpool skipper surged away and clipped the ball over Dean Kiely.

Albion had strong claims for a penalty turned down after 60 minutes when Lucas' last ditch challenge sent Ryan Donk tumbling as he went for a Juan Carlos Menseguez cross.

But after 63 minutes Liverpool struck again. Gerrard fed Kuyt and the Dutchman surged at retreating defenders before drilling the ball past Kiely from the edge of the box.

Luke Moore struck a post for the home side and Marc-Antoine Fortune had an effort disallowed for offside while Ryan Babel and Lucas missed chances at the other end.