Wednesday - A Good Night For Newcastle!

Last updated : 13 March 2008 By Footy Mad - Editor

PORTSMOUTH 4 BIRMINGHAM 2

Portsmouth followed up their FA Cup quarter-final win over Manchester United with a 4-2 victory over relegation-threatened Birmingham in an eventful game at Fratton Park.

Jermain Defoe struck twice in the first nine minutes, the first from the spot, as Pompey threatened to run riot.

But Birmingham pulled one back through Fabrice Muamba a minute later and were level before half-time following a superb Sebastian Larsson free-kick.

Hermann Hreidarsson put Pompey back ahead four minutes after the break and this time Harry Redknapp's side held on. Kanu added the finishing touches with a fourth goal in the last minute.

ASTON VILLA 1 MIDLESBROUGH 1

Gareth Barry's controversial second-half penalty denied Middlesbrough a much-needed win as Aston Villa claimed a 1-1 draw against Gareth Southgate's side at Villa Park.

Barry converted in the 74th minute after Luke Young was harshly penalised for handball.

Stewart Downing had put Boro on course for a win that would have taken them seven points above the relegation when he took advantage of a poor Zat Knight clearance.

CHELSEA 6 DERBY COUNTY 1

Frank Lampard hit four goals as doomed Derby felt the backlash from Chelsea's shock FA Cup exit tonight.

England midfielder Lampard was left of Saturday's humiliation at Barnsley but returned in sensational style as the Blues moved within five points of Barclays Premier League leaders Arsenal with a crushing 6-1 win.

Salomon Kalou and Joe Cole were also on target at Stamford Bridge as the Rams, 10 points adrift at the bottom, were run ragged.

Lampard opened the scoring from the penalty spot after 28 minutes before Derby goalkeeper Roy Carroll gifted Kalou the second.

Lampard added three more in the second half while Cole also joined in the fun and David Jones netted a consolation.

MIDDLESBROUGH - 30pts
Remaining games: Arsenal (a), Derby (h), Chelsea (a), Man Utd (h), Tottenham (a), Bolton (h), Sunderland (a), Portsmouth (h), Everton (a).

READING - 28
Remaining games: Liverpool (a), Birmingham (h), Blackburn (h), Newcastle (a), Fulham (h), Arsenal (a), Wigan (a), Tottenham (h), Derby (a).

NEWCASTLE - 28
Remaining games: Birmingham (a), Fulham (h), Tottenham (a), Reading (h), Portsmouth (a), Sunderland (h), West Ham (a), Chelsea (h), Everton (a).

WIGAN - 28
Remaining games: Bolton (h), Blackburn (a), Portsmouth (a), Birmingham (h), Chelsea (a), Tottenham (h), Reading (h), Villa (a), Man Utd (h).

SUNDERLAND - 27
Remaining games: Chelsea (h), Aston Villa (a), West Ham (h), Fulham (a), Man City (h), Newcastle (a), Middlesbrough (h), Bolton (a), Arsenal (h).

BIRMINGHAM - 26
Remaining games: Newcastle (h), Reading (a), Man City (h), Wigan (a), Everton (h), Aston Villa (a), Liverpool (h), Fulham (a), Blackburn (h).

BOLTON - 25
Remaining games: Wigan (a), Man Utd (a), Man City (h), Arsenal (h), Aston Villa (a), West Ham (h), Middlesbrough (a), Tottenham (a), Sunderland (h), Chelsea (a).

FULHAM - 20
Remaining games: Everton (h), Newcastle (a), Derby (a), Sunderland (h), Reading (a), Liverpool (h), Man City (a), Birmingham (h), Portsmouth (a).