Burnley 1-1 Preston North End
It was honours even in the east/west Lancashire derby at Turf Moor, but both sets of supporters would have been hoping for more with the two sides with different ambitions at opposite ends of the First Division table. The hosts, following on from there please mid-week draw against promotion hopefuls West Ham United, got off to a great start and took the lead against their rivals through Welsh international Robbie Blake after 18 minutes. However, play-off chasing Preston levelled the scores 15 minutes into the second-half courtesy of a Graham Alexander spot-kick. There was a major blow for the visitors in injury time with star player Ricardo Fuller sent off for an off-the-ball tackle, and the striker looks set to be suspended for three matches, denting the Lilywhites' chances of finishing in the top 6.

Crystal Palace 2-2 Reading
The clash of two play-off hopefuls at Selhurst Park promised to be a good game, and it lived up to it's billing with the 17,853 in attendance witnessing four games and a hard-fought game of football. Lloyd Owusu opened the scoring for the Royals early-on in the first-half, but Dougie Freedman and Andrew Johnson both netted for the Eagles before half-time to turn the game around. Reading fought back in the second-half to earn a valuable point, with Owusu completing his brace on the 56 minute mark. Only goal difference separates Reading with an illusive spot in the play-off zone, with Iain Dowie's Crystal Palace two points off the top 6, evidence of the fantastic job the former West Ham United striker has done.

Gillingham 2-1 Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest's revival under Joe Kinnear ground to a halt, as the former Wimbledon boss lost his first game in charge of the First Division strugglers at the Priestfield Stadium today. Kinnear's side took the lead courtesy of a striker from loan forward Nick Barmby, the Gills fought back to ease their threat of dropping back down into the Second Division. Agyemang started the fight-back for the home side ten minutes before the break, and Daniel Spiller netted the winner eight minutes from time. Forest, who sit three points above the relegation zone having played a game more than the two teams directly below, and the last minute dismissal of Alan Rogers this afternoon will not improve matters for the club.

Rotherham United 1-2 Bradford City
Bryan Robson's Bantams proved that they have not yet given up on First Division survival with a spirited display at Milmoor, and the three points that they took back to Yorkshire will have given supporters of the struggling side a glimmer of hope that staying up is a possibility. Ex-Manchester United midfielder Ronnie Wallwork was the hero for the visitors with two goals only minutes before the break, with Paul Hurst netting only consolation for Ronnie Moore's side as the game reached it's close. Bradford sit 9 points from safety in 23rd place, with Rotherham United in 16th place but the Millers will still be aware of a possible relegation battle.

Stoke City 3-1 Watford
Stoke City's tremendous form continues with an impressive home victory over a Watford side who are in danger of being sucked back into the relegation zone. Tony Pullis' Potters, who demolished Ipswich Town during mid-week took the lead through journeyman striker Ade Akninbyi and then doubled their advantage only minutes later through the highly rated Girton Noel-Williams. Icelandic forward Heldur Helguson got the Hornets back into the game on 36 minutes, before Ade Akninbyi secured his brace with the winning goal only seconds before the half-time break. Fans at the Britannia Stadium, who feared relegation earlier in the campaign, now harbour realistic ambitions of promotion with the play-offs only 3 points out of reach. The result sees Watford sit 5 points above the dreaded red zone.

West Bromwich Albion 3-0 Coventry City
With West Ham United forced to settle for a point at home to Walsall, West Brom did their hopes of automatic promotion and the First Division championship no end of good with a 3-0 victory over Midlands rivals Coventry City. However, despite the emphatic scoreline, this derby was anything but a one-sided affair with the Sky Blues posing an attacking threat to the Baggies throughout. Geoff Horsfield broke the deadlock at the Hawthorns on 20 minutes, and after soaking up masses of Coventry possession this advantage was doubled through Robert Hulse minutes into the second period. The visitors kept battling, but Mark Kinsella secured the win for Brom ten minutes from time. Gary Megson's side are level on points with leaders Norwich City, who face fierce rivals Ipswich Town tomorrow. The defeat is a dent to Coventry City's slim chances of a play-off place, and the Sky Blues may now have to settle with mid-table safety.

West Ham United 0-0 Walsall
The days coupon buster was at Upton Park, with Walsall surprising football followers across the country with a valiant point against automatic promotion chasers West Ham United. Despite the legions of striking talent Alan Pardew possesses, West Ham lacked the final touch in front of goal despite dominating possession for the majority of the game this afternoon, and a brace Walsall defence can leave the capital knowing they earned a vital point. The Hammers now sit 5th in the table, with a ten point gap to close with the top two places if they are to achieve the pre-season objective of promotion to the Premiership without the end-of-season play-off lottery. Colin Lee's Saddlers are now 3 points off the relegation zone, but the performance and result today will be a major confidence booster to the Midlands outfit.

Wigan Athletic 2-3 Crewe Alexandra
The champions and runners-up of last years Second Division battled out an entertaining game at the JJB Stadium, which saw Paul Jewell's Latics lose their first game of 2004 against a Crewe side who are desperate to stay well clear of the big relegation battle forming only places below them. The hostile encounter saw Dean Ashton hit a brace after only 24 minutes with both goals coming from controversial penalties. Jason De Vos was sent off for an argument with the referee regarding the second spot-kick. However, as we see so many times in football, the team with 10-men staged a comeback and Wigan stunned and delighted the 7,000 home supporters inside the JJB by drawing level before the break thanks to a double from highly-rated Scottish forward Lee McCulloch. The hosts were the better side throughout the second-half with their hard-working and physical approach frustrating the Railwaymen, but it was the travelling fans who were to leave with smiles on their faces with Dean Ashton securing his hat-trick to dent Wigan's promotion hopes in the final minute.

After today's results, the Bluebirds remain 14th in the First Division table, but could drop a place next Saturday with the tough test of Norwich City visiting Ninian Park. However, victory over the table topping Canaries could see the Bluebirds return to the top half, depending on the results of Coventry City and Sunderland, who have 5 games in hand on many clubs in the division! For the latest league table and First Division statistics please click here.

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