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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Barry Glendenning

Southampton relegated, Chelsea 2-2 Nottingham Forest, and more –as it happened

Dejected Southampton players after Fulham’s second goal against them.
Dejected Southampton players after Fulham’s second goal against them. Photograph: John Sibley/Action Images/Reuters

Match report: Crystal Palace 2-0 Bournemouth

Premier League: Eberechi Eze continued his impressive form with both goals as Crystal Palace cruised to a comfortable victory over a disappointing Bournemouth at Selhurst Park.

GOAL! Sunderland 0-1 Luton Town (Adebayo 11)

Championship playoff semi-final first leg: A young girl seated behind Anthony Patterson’s goal in Sunderland colours is on her feet and flicking V-signs at Luton striker Elijah Adebayo, which can mean only one thing. Tom Davies is monitoring proceedings at the Stadium Light …

National League playoff final ...

Chesterfield v Notts County: They’re playing extra time and there’s been another goal at Wembley in the National League playoff final but for who, Will Magee?

Match report: Leeds United 2-2 Newcastle United

Premier League: Rasmus Kristensen scored the equaliser that rescued a precious point for Leeds, while an investigation is under way after Newcastle boss Eddie Howe was shoved in the chest by a pitch invader. Louise Taylor was at an action-packed match at Elland Road …

Match report: Southampton 0-2 Fulham

Premier League: Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was on hand to witness his apparently beloved Saints win their equivalent of the Tory party’s race to the bottom and get relegated. John Brewin reports from St Mary’s …

Match report: Aston Villa 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur

Premier League: “Villa preyed on a wishy-washy performance by Tottenham Hotspur to move level on points with the visitors,” writes Ben Fisher from Villa Park.

Match report: Manchester United 2-0 Wolves

Premier League: Anthony Martial and Alejandro Garnacho got the goals that tightened Manchester United’s grip on fourth place and the Champions League qualification spot that goes with it. Jamie Jackson reports from Old Trafford …

GOAL! Chesterfield 1-1 Notts County (Bostock 87)

National League playoff final: With three minutes of normal time remaining, John Bostock has equalised for Notts County at Wembley. His long-range effort snuck in at the near post due in no small part to some awful goalkeeping from Ross Fitzsimmons. Scenes!

Match report: Chelsea 2-2 Nottingham Forest

Premier League: Raheem Sterling and Taiwo Awoniyi got two goals apiece as the sides shared the points at Stamford Bridge. Jacob Steinberg reports …

Sunderland v Luton Town ... live!

Championship playoff semi-final first leg: Ravaged by injury and boasting an average age of approximately 11 years old, Sunderland host Luton Town at the Stadium of Light in a game that kicks off at 5.30pm. Tom Davies will be keeping a beady eye on that one …

National League playoff final: With less than 15 minutes of normal time remaining, Chesterfield continue to lead at Wembley courtesy of Andrew Dallas’s early penalty. Will Magee has the latest …

Updated

Premier League results

  • Leeds United 2-2 Newcastle

  • Aston Villa 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur

  • Chelsea 2-2 Nottingham Forest

  • Crystal Palace 2-0 Bournemouth

  • Manchester United 2-0 Wolves

  • Southampton 0-2 Fulham

  • View the Premier League table

Scottish Premiership results

  • Rangers 3-0 Celtic

  • Aberdeen 0-0 Hibernian

  • St Mirren 2-2 Hearts

  • Dundee United 1-3 Ross County

  • Kilmarnock 2-0 Livingston

  • St Johnstone 0-2 Motherwell

  • View the Scottish Premiership table

Full time: Crystal Palace 2-0 Bournemouth

Premier League: Eberechi Eze scored twice as Palace notched up another victory under Roy Hodgson. They’re 12th, level on points with Chelsea just above them and only four goals worse off having played one game more.

Full time: Aston Villa 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur

Premier League: Despite a late consolation goal from Harry Kane, this was another dismal performance from Tottenham Hotspur. Aston Villa leapfrog Brighton to go seventh and are level on points with Spurs but two goals worse off.

Full time: Manchester United 2-0 Wolves

Premier League: Erik Ten Hag’s side stay in fourth place, increasing the gap between themselves and Liverpool to four points. Both sides have three games remaining and the Champions League spot is United’s to lose.

Full time: Chelsea 2-2 Nottingham Forest

Premier League: Forest take a priceless point home with them to stay three points clear of the relegation zone. Chelsea stay in 11th place, seven points behind Brentford.

League One play off semi-final: It’s finished Bolton Wanderers 1-1 Barnsley in the first leg at the University of Bolton Stadium.

GOAL! Manchester United 2-0 Wolves (Garnacho 90+4)

Premier League: ALejandro Garnacho runs on to a ball from deep, takes it a little wide and fires past Daniel Bentley. His shot goes in off the post to move Manchester United four points clear of Liverpool with both sides having played the same number of games.

Garnacho seals the victory for Manchester United.
Garnacho seals the victory for Manchester United. Photograph: Tim Goode/PA

Updated

Full time: Southampton 0-2 Fulham … Saints relegated

Premier League: Southampton’s relegation to the Championship is confirmed and they’ve gone down without so much as a whimper. Carlos Vinicius and Aleksandar Mitrovic scored the Fulham goals that sealed their fate.

Updated

Manchester United 1-0 Wolves: Not for the first time today, Wolves debutant Daniel Bentley foils Antony with an excellent save.

GOAL! Aston Villa 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur (Kane 90pen)

Premier League: Harry Kane scores from the spot to pull a goal back from Spurs. Ashley Young was booked for scuffing the penalty-spot before Kane stepped up.

Kane sends Martinez the wrong way to pull one back for Spurs.
Kane sends Martinez the wrong way to pull one back for Spurs.
Photograph: Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images

Updated

Penalty for Tottenham Hotspur

Aston Villa 2-0 Tottenham Hotspur: Harry Kane wins a penalty, going to ground even before Emi Martinez brings him down. There’s a VAR check to see if Kane was offside as he ran on to a through ball. Referee Peter Bankes goes to his pitchside monitor and … awards the spot-kick.

Harry Kane goes over to earn a penalty.
Harry Kane goes over to earn a spot-kick. Photograph: David Klein/Reuters

Updated

St Mirren 2-1 Hearts: Fourth in the table ahead of their Edinburgh rivals Hibs on goal difference, Hearts are a goal down and now a man down after losing Peter Haring to a red card on 77 minutes.

Manchester United 1-0 Wolves: Making an impressive debut in goal for Wolves, Daniel Bentley gets down to save smartly from Casemiro, whose shot hit the ground and bounced up.

Scottish Premiership: In increasingly bleak news for reader and self-appointed Scottish Fitba correspondent Simon McMahon, his beloved Dundee United now trail Ross County 3-1. As things stand, Dundee United go bottom, two points behind Ross County.

GOAL! Aston Villas 2-0 Tottenham Hotspur (Douglas Luiz 72)

Premier League: Douglas Luiz makes it 2-0 to the Villa against hapless Spurs, scoring with a free-kick that went up and down over the wall and in. In goal for Spurs, Fraser Forster got a big hand to the ball but couldn’t keep it out. Harry Kane is booked for dissent in the aftermath of the goal. Fun fact: Tottenham’s first half xG was 0.00.

Douglas Luiz jumps for joy as Villa extend their lead over sorry Spurs.
Douglas Luiz jumps for joy as Villa extend their lead over sorry Spurs. Photograph: Jason Cairnduff/Action Images/Reuters

Updated

GOAL! Southampton 0-2 Fulham (Mitrovic 72)

Premier League: Back from his long spell on the Naughty Step and on as a substitute, Aleksandar Mitrovic doubles Fulham’s lead with a stooping header. Southampton are going down without anything resembling a fight.

Mitrovic dives to head the second goal for Fulham at Southampton.
Mitrovic dives to head in the final nail in the Saints coffin. Photograph: John Sibley/Action Images/Reuters

Updated

Bolton 1-1 Barnsley: Nicky Cadden fired Barnsley in front in the League One play-off semi-final first leg but has just seen his goal cancelled out by Dion Charles.

Aston Villa 1-0 Tottenham Hotspur: Ryan Mason has rung the changes, bringing on Dejan Kulusevski and Yves Bissouma for Richarlison and Oliver Skipp. The duo have immediately injected some much needed life into Spurs hitherto abject performance but Villa still lead.

GOAL! Chelsea 2-2 Nottingham Forest (Awoniyi 62)

Premier League: I spoke too soon as Forest’s hideously bad away form does show signs of abating. Orel Mangala sends a cross to the far post, where Taiwo Awoniyi scores his second of the afternoon with a header from six yards. There’s a VAR check to see if the ball took a touch off the head of Ryan Yates, which would render it offside. Forest survive the check and are back level.

Taiwo Awoniyi scores an equaliser for Nottingham Forest.
Taiwo Awoniyi is the latest player to grab a brace this afternoon! Photograph: Andrew Boyers/Action Images/Reuters

Updated

GOAL! Chelsea 2-1 Nottingham Forest (Sterling 58)

Premier League: Sterling bags his second in quick succession, getting the better of Forest defender Felipe before bending the ball inside the far post. Chelsea lead and relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest’s hideously bad away form showes no sign of abating despite their good start.

Raheem Sterling scores his second goal at Stamford Bridge.
A brace for Sterling! Photograph: Peter Nicholls/Reuters

Updated

GOAL! Crystal Palace 2-0 Bournemouth (Eze 58)

Premier League: In Zaha’s absence, Eberechi Eze scores his second of the game, smashing the ball into the top corner after a deft bit of control.

Eberechi Eze scores his second goal at Selhurst Park
Eberechi Eze scores a cracker at Selhurst Park. Photograph: Tony Obrien/Reuters

Updated

Crystal Palace 1-0 Bournemouth: Wilf Zaha has just left the pitch to a standing ovation after being forced off with injury. Depending on its seriousness, this could conceivably be the last time Palace fans see him play in their colours. His contract expires at the end of June and he’s bound to have no shortage of offers as a free agent.

GOAL! Chelsea 1-1 Nottingham Forest (Sterling 51)

Premier League: Trevoh Chalobah sends a cross into the Forest penalty area and Raheem Sterling sweeps home for an equaliser Chelsea scarcely deserve, his shot taking a deflection on its way in. A minute or so previously, Forest had gone close to doubling their lead from a corner.

Raheem Sterling scores an equaliser for Chelsea.
Raheem Sterling remembers where the net is and equalises for Chelsea. Photograph: Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC/Getty Images

Updated

GOAL! Southampton 0-1 Fulham (Vinicius 48)

Premier League: Moments after Southampton had a goal “scored” by Carlos Alcaraz correctly ruled out for offside, Fulham go up the other end and take the lead through the in-form Carlos Vinicius. As things stand, Southampton will be relegated to the Championship today after an 11-year stay in the top flight.

Carlos Vinicius beats Alex McCarthy to give Fulham the lead.
Carlos Vinicius beats Alex McCarthy to give Fulham the lead. Photograph: James Marsh/Shutterstock

Updated

Top broadcaster and Spurs devotee Danny Kelly tweets. It would be fair to say he’s not best pleased with his side’s latest poor performance.

Scottish Premiership half-times

  • Rangers 3-0 Celtic (FT)

  • Aberdeen 0-0 Hibernian

  • St Mirren 2-0 Hearts

  • Dundee United 1-1 Ross County

  • Kilmarnock 0-0 Livingston

  • St Johnstone 0-0 Motherwell

  • View the Scottish Premiership table

Premier League half-times

  • Leeds United 2-2 Newcastle (FT)

  • Aston Villa 1-0 Tottenham Hotspur

  • Chelsea 0-1 Nottingham Forest

  • Crystal Palace 1-0 Bournemouth

  • Manchester United 1-0 Wolves

  • Southampton 0-0 Fulham

  • View the Premier League table

Bolton 0-0 Barnsley: The deadlock remains resolutely intact in the League One playoff semi-final first leg between the two northern sides. Peterborough spanked Sheffield Wednesday in the opening leg of the other semi-final played at London Road last night.

More on sorry Spurs: “Harry Kane has scored 26 goals and needs four more in remaining three games to become the first player to score 30 goals or more in a 38-game season twice without winning The Golden Boot (Salah 2017-18, now Haaland),” writes Admir Pajic. “Spursy, eh?”

Aston Villa 1-0 Tottenham Hotspur: Emi Buendia hits the cross-bar as Villa continue to dominate a Spurs side that have offered nothing and are sleepwalking their way through this game. They’ve yet to muster anything resembling a shot on goal.

GOAL! Crystal Palace 1-0 Bournemouth (Eze 39)

Premier League: Wilf Zaha does his thing down the left touchline, evading the attention of four different defenders to pull the ball back to Eberechi Eze, who slots home from close range.

Eberechi Eze on the mark for Crystal Palace.
Eberechi Eze on the mark again for Roy’s Eagles. Photograph: Micah Crook/PPAUK/Shutterstock

Updated

GOAL! Chesterfield 1-0 Notts County (Dallas 5)

National League final: Andrew Dallas picks himself off the ground and fires Chesterfield ahead from the penalty spot after Notts County goalkeeper Sam Slocombe had upended him with a rash challenge.

Andrew Dallas celebrates after opening the scoring at Wembley.
Andrew Dallas gives the Spirites the advantage at Wembley. Photograph: Zac Goodwin/PA

Updated

Crystal Palace 0-0 Bournemouth: There’s a VAR check at Selhurst Park (via Stockley Park) for a potential red card. Palace defender Joachim Anderson caught Jefferson Lerma in the face with what appeared to be a clenched fist but he avoids a red card as the “assault” is deemed to be accidental rather than violent conduct.

GOAL! Manchester United 1-0 Wolves (Martial 32)

Premier League: Bruno plays Antony through with a weighted pass, prompting Wolves goalkeeper Daniel Bentley to rush off his goal-line. Antony shapes to shoot and squares the ball for Anthony Martial, who slots into the empty net.

Anthony Martial celebrates after opening the scoring at Old Trafford.
Anthony Martial celebrates after opening the scoring at Old Trafford. Photograph: Matthew Peters/Manchester United/Getty Images

Updated

Manchester United 0-0 Wolves: Antony has just headed over for Manchester United when scoring looked easier if only he’d managed to keep his effort down. It was the best of several half-decent chances the Brazilian has missed against Wolves this afternoon.

National League playoff final: The Wembley showdown between Notts County and Chesterfield is about to kick off and you can follow the action with Will Magee.

Scottish Premiership: “It’s 40 years tomorrow since the greatest day in Dundee United’s history, winning the Scottish Premier League at Dens,” writes Simon McMahon. “Ralph Milne, what a goal. Hero. Legend. But who cares about league titles when you can have a relegation battle against Ross County instead?

“After United’s disappointing defeat in Perth last week ended a run of three straight wins, only one point now separates the bottom three teams, with United at home to Ross County and Kilmarnock hosting Livingston.

“It’s all to play for; relegation, that is, not the league title. It’s not 1983 anymore. No more right wing Tory governments, war, inflation, strikes. We’ve moved on from all that, right?”

In better news for Simon, I can tell him Dundee United have just equalised against Ross County, with Jamie McGrath slotting home from the penalty-spot to cancel out Jordan White’s opener.

Match report: Rangers 3-0 Celtic

Scottish Premiership: Todd Cantwell, John Souttar and Fashion Sakala got the goals as Rangers trounced Celtic 3-0 at Ibrox to give Michael Beale his first win over Celtic in five attempts.

GOAL! Chelsea 0-1 Nottingham Forest (Awoniyi 13)

Premier League: Sikou Niakate crosses from the left and Edouard Mendy comes for the ball and misses it. Taiwo Awoniyi rises between two defenders to head into the empty net and score his third goal in two games.

Taiwo Awoniyi celebrates after opening the scoring at Stamford Bridge.
Taiwo Awoniyi celebrates after opening the scoring at Stamford Bridge. Photograph: Rob Newell/CameraSport/Getty Images

Updated

GOAL! Aston Villa 1-0 Tottenham Hotspur (Ramsey 8)

Premier League: Villa have been monstering Spurs in the opening minutes of their encounter and get the goal they deserve. Back in the starting line-up, Leon Bailey canters down the wing and crosses into the box, where Jacob Ramsey converts.

Aston Villa's Jacob Ramsey opens the scoring against Spurs.
Aston Villa's Jacob Ramsey opens the scoring in the 3pm kick-offs. Photograph: David Klein/Reuters

Updated

This afternoon’s three o’clock kick-offs are well under way: The first of the goals in that particular time slot has gone to Ross County in the Scottish Premiership. They lead bottom side Dundee United courtesy of Jordan White’s strike in the opening minute.

Updated

Match report: Leeds United 2-2 Newcastle United

Premier League: Sam Allardyce’s first home game in charge of Leeds ended with his side down to 10 men following Junior Firpo’s late sending off but still in with an, albeit slender, chance of Premier League survival. Louise Taylor reports from Elland Road …

Manchester United v Wolves: Marcus Rashford is injured and absent from Manchester United’s squad, so Anthony Martial replaces him. Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane also start. Signed in January, 29-year-old goalkeeper Daniel Bentley makes his debut for Wolves, with Jose Sa dropping to the bench.

Southampton v Fulham: Nothing less than a win will keep Southampton up this afternoon and they are without the injured duo Armel Bella-Kotchap and Che Adams. Lyanco and Paul Onuachu start in their places. Fulham are unchanged but welcome Aleksandar Mitrovic back to their bench following an eight-match ban.

Aleksandar Mitrovic is back on Fulham’s bench after serving an eight--match ban for shoving referee Chris Kavanagh during an FA Cup match against Manchester United.
Aleksandar Mitrovic is back on Fulham’s bench after serving an eight--match ban for shoving referee Chris Kavanagh during an FA Cup match against Manchester United. Photograph: James Marsh/Shutterstock

Aston Villa v Tottenham Hotspur: Leon Bailey replaces Bertrand Traore in Villa’s only change in personnel. Tottenham start with the same line-up that kicked off in the win against Crystal Palace last weekend.

Leon Bailey returns to Aston Villa’s starting line-up for today’s game against Spurs at Villa Park.
Leon Bailey returns to Aston Villa’s starting line-up for today’s game against Spurs at Villa Park. Photograph: Manjit Narotra/ProSports/Shutterstock

Crystal Palace v Bournemouth: Will Hughes gets a rare start for Palace, coming in for Jeffrey Schlupp, who is injured. Chris Mepham and Ilya Zabarnyi come into Bournemouth’s defence in place of Marco Senesi and Adam Smith, who are among the substitutes.

Chelsea v Nottingham Forest: Edouard Mendy is one of five changes made by Frank Lampard, replacing Kepa Arrizabalaga in goal for his first start since early December. Lewis Hall, Raheem Sterling, Mateo Kovacic and Joao Felix are also in. Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper brings in Joe Worrall, while Brennan Johnson drops to the bench.

Full time: Leeds United 2-2 Newcastle United

Premier League: An incident-packed match has ended all square at Elland Road. Leeds take a massive point which leaves them in the bottom three, one point behind Everton having played a game more. Newcastle stay third, three points ahead of a Manchester United side that has played one match fewer.

Rasmus Kristensen celebrates scoring the equaliser that rescued what could be a priceless point for Leeds United in their battle to avoid relegation.
Rasmus Kristensen celebrates scoring the equaliser that rescued what could be a priceless point for Leeds United in their battle to avoid relegation. Photograph: Rui Vieira/AP

Full time: Rangers 3-0 Celtic

Scottish PRemiership: Rangers have won their first Old Firm derby of the season at the sixth attempt courtesy of goals from Todd Cantwell, John Souttar and Fashion Sakala. Celtic won’t mind too much as they’ve already won the Championship and it’s only the second time they’ve lost in this campaign, but Rangers boss Michael Beale will happy to get this monkey off his back even if the result is somewhat academic.

Meanwhile at Elland Road: Already lucky to still be on the pitch, Leeds defender Junior Firpo has been sent off for a mindless barge on Anthony Gordon right on the edge of the Leeds penalty area. Referee Simon Hooper showed him a second yellow and then a red but Kieran Trippier spanked his free-kick straight into the defensive wall. It remains 2-2, a pitch invader has just been manhandled from the Newcastle technical area by security and they’re into injury time. Follow the knockings with Scott Murray …

Aston Villa v Tottenham Hotspur line-ups

Aston Villa: Martinez, Young, Konsa, Mings, Moreno, Bailey, McGinn, Luiz, Ramsey, Buendia, Watkins.

Subs: Cash, Diego Carlos, Traore, Chambers, Duran, Olsen, Digne, Dendoncker, Kamara.

Tottenham Hotspur: Forster, Emerson, Romero, Lenglet, Porro, Skipp, Hojbjerg, Davies, Son, Richarlison, Kane.

Subs: Sanchez, Perisic, Danjuma, Kulusevski, Moura, Sarr, Bissouma, Austin, Craig.

Manchester United v Wolves line-ups

Manchester United: De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Varane, Shaw; Casemiro, Eriksen; Antony, Fernandes, Sancho; Martial.

Subs: Butland, Maguire, Malacia, Fred, Dalot, Weghorst, Pellistri, Elanga, Garnacho.

Wolves: Bentley; Semedo, Dawson, Kilman, Toti; Nunes, Neves, Lemina, Neto; Cunha, Costa.

Subs: Sa, Collins, Jimenez, Podence, Hwang, Sarabia, Gomes, A. Traore, Bueno.

A Manchester United fan makes his feelings about the current owners of the club clear.
A Manchester United fan makes his feelings about the current owners of the club clear. Photograph: Carl Recine/Reuters

Chelsea v Nottingham Forest line-ups

Chelsea: Mendy, Badiashile, Fernandez, Silva, Kovacic, Félix, Chalobah, Sterling, Gallagher, Madueke, Hall.

Subs: Arrizabalaga, Pulisic, Loftus-Cheek, Mudryk, Ziyech, Datro Fofana, Azpilicueta, Havertz, Fofana.

Nottingham Forest: Navas, Worrall, Mangala, Awoniyi, Gibbs-White, Niakhate, Yates, Aurier, Danilo, Lodi, Felipe.

Subs: Hennessey, Lingard, Toffolo, Surridge, Johnson, Kouyate, Freuler, Boly, Ayew.

Mykhailo Mudryk (right) and Christian Pulisic enjoy a pre-match stroll on the Stamford Bridge sward.
Mykhailo Mudryk (right) and Christian Pulisic enjoy a pre-match stroll on the Stamford Bridge sward. Photograph: Peter Nicholls/Reuters

GOAL! Leeds 2-2 Newcastle (Kristensen 79)

Premier League: Newcastle fail to clear a Leeds corner properly and Rasmus Kristensen sees a shot on the volley from the edge of the area deflected past Nick Pope in the Newcastle goal. Scott Murray has the latest …

Southampton v Fulham line-ups

Southampton: McCarthy, Walker-Peters, Bednarek, Lyanco, Maitland-Niles, Ward-Prowse, Lavia, Walcott, Alcaraz, S Armstrong, Onuachu.

Subs: Bazunu, Caleta-Car, Bree, Sulemana, Elyounoussi, Djenepo, Mara, Aribo, A Armstrong.

Fulham: Leno, Tete, Adarabioyo, Diop, Robinson, Joao Palhinha, Reed, Wilson, Cairney, Willian, Vinicius.

Subs: Rodak, Duffy, Soares, Lukic, Harris, Kebano, Solomon, Decordova-Reid, Mitrovic.

Fulham’s Harry Wilson walks across the pitch at St Mary’s, where Southampton will be relegated today if they fail to beat their visitors from London.
Fulham’s Harry Wilson walks across the pitch at St Mary’s, where Southampton will be relegated today if they fail to beat their visitors from London. Photograph: James Marsh/Shutterstock

Crystal Palace v Bournemouth line-ups

Crystal Palace: Johnstone; Ward, Andersen, Guehi, Mitchell; Eze, Doucoure, Hughes; Olise, Ayew, Zaha.

Subs: Guaita, Lokonga, Mateta, Clyne, McArthur, Edouard, Richards, Ahamada, Riedewald.

Bournemouth: Neto; Mepham, Zabarnyi, Kelly, Vina; Rothwell, Lerma; Ouattara, Billing, Christie; Solanke.

Subs: Travers, Stephens, Cook, Brooks, Smith, Stacey, Moore, Senesi, Anthony.

GOAL! Leeds United 1-2 Newcastle (Wilson 69pen)

Premier League: Junior Firpo stuck his arm in the air while contesting a high ball into the Leeds box and it caressed his outstretched fingers as it sailed over his head.

Having initially missed the handball, referee Simon Hooper awarded Newcastle a penalty after consulting with his pitchside monitoron the advice of his video assistant referee. Callum Wilson stepped up and scored his second spot-kick of the game. Somewhat weirdly, Firpo wasn’t sent off for his handball despite being on a yellow card for an earlier foul on Bruno Guimaraes. Leeds are in a big, big trouble.

Updated

Women’s FA Cup final: Filling Wembley for a game of club football marks the point at which it is legitimate to talk about women’s football as a national ritual, a genuine mass entertainment product, writes Jonathan Liew ahead of tomorrow’s showdown between Chelsea and Manchester United.

Todd Cantwell yawps barbarically after firing Rangers ahead against champions Celtic in the final Old Firm derby of the season.
Todd Cantwell yawps barbarically after firing Rangers ahead against champions Celtic in the final Old Firm derby of the season. Photograph: Stuart Wallace/Shutterstock

Luke Ayling celebrates scoring Leeds United’s opener against Newcastle in a match that started well for the relegation-strugglers but has since gone downhill.
Luke Ayling celebrates scoring Leeds United’s opener against Newcastle in a match that started well for the relegation-strugglers but has since gone downhill. Photograph: Simon Davies/ProSports/Shutterstock

National League final: Having lost out to Wrexham in the race for the sole automatic promotion spot from the fifth tier despite amassing an astonishing 107 points, Notts County meet Chesterfield in today’s Wembley showdown, which kicks off at 3.30pm (BST). Both teams emerged victorious from thrilling semi-finals last weekend but only one can prevail today.

Notts are the favourites and it would probably benefit every other team in the National League, bar the Spirites, if the moneyed side from Meadow Lane weren’t in it next season but they are unlikely to have it all their own way this afternoon.

Bow born Malta international Jodi Jones, who has endured several years of injury hell on the back of three successive ACL injuries, scored the winner for Notts last weekend and was good enough to take time out from obsessively watching replays of his decisive strike to speak to the Guardian’s Ben Fisher.

Jodi Jones of Notts County celebrates his winner against Boreham Wood in last weekend’s National League playoff semi-final.
Jodi Jones of Notts County celebrates his winner against Boreham Wood in last weekend’s National League playoff semi-final. Photograph: MI News/NurPhoto/Shutterstock

Today's Premier League fixtures

Saturday clockwatch ...

There’s no shortage of mouthwatering action in the Premier League and beyond this afternoon. The top flight action got under way at Elland Road in today’s lunchtime kick-off between Leeds United and Newcastle, with both teams eager to take the points for very different reasons. Qualification for the Champions League is Newcastle’s goal, while the ambitions of Leeds are far less lofty.

Survival is the name of the game for Sam Allardyce’s men and they started well. Luke Ayling put them ahead on six minutes but Patrick Bamford squandered the opportunity to double their lead with a weak spot-kick after Joelinton had fouled Junior Firpo. Moments later, Max Wober lunged in to foul Alexander Isak in the Leeds penalty area and Callum Wilson showed Bamford how it’s done, coolly levelling proceedings from 12 yards. The scores remain level at half-time but Newcastle have the upper hand.

Away from the English top flight, we’ll keep tabs on the League One playoff semi-final first leg between Bolton and Barnsley, who look like they’ll be duking it out to face a Peterborough United side that convincingly thrashed Sheffield Wednesday last night. Meanwhile at Wembley, Notts County take on Chesterfield in the National League final, with the prize of a place in the Football League up for grabs.

Further north in Scotland, Celtic won the title last weekend and will be hoping to rub the noses of Rangers fans in their success during today’s Old Firm derby at Ibrox. They’ll need to up their game as Rangers currently lead 2-0 thanks to goals from Todd Cantwell and John Souttar.

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