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Results Based News

Duo retain title hopes

Author: Rose Young
Date: 04/03/2009

Liverpool and Chelsea kept up the pressure on Premier League leaders and football betting favourites Manchester United with victories over Sunderland and Portsmouth respectively.

Rafa Benitez's Reds enjoyed a slice of luck before seeing off Sunderland 2-0 at Anfield, with Kenwyne Jones passing up a superb chance to break the deadlock for the visitors.

That miss proved costly when David N'Gog gave Liverpool the lead seven minutes into the second half, converting a nod-down from skipper Steven Gerrard.

Yossi Benayoun made the game safe 25 minutes from time, netting with ease after a fumble by visiting keeper Marton Fulop.

Chelsea remain second in the table, ahead of Liverpool on goal difference, thanks to Didier Drogba's late strike at Fratton Park, which secured a 1-0 victory.

The Blues had struggled to break down their struggling hosts and needed keeper Petr Cech to make several fine saves, before Drogba powered the ball home following Ricardo Quaresma's deflected cross.

Arsenal put their recent goalscoring problems behind them as they won 3-1 at rock-bottom West Bromwich Albion, with Nicklas Bendtner netting twice and Kolo Toure also getting on the scoresheet.

In the Championship, Wolves moved five points clear at the top of the table as Sylvan Ebanks-Blake's penalty secured a 1-0 win at Crystal Palace.

Reading are up to second after coming from behind to win 2-1 at Sheffield Wednesday, with Kevin Doyle and Shane Long on target for the Royals.

At the other end of the table Norwich City remain in the relegation places despite a 1-0 win at QPR, which was secured thanks to Lee Croft's second-half goal at Loftus Road.

Southampton are also still in the bottom three despite a resounding 3-0 success at Ipswich Town.

Leicester City remain on course for the title in League One, moving 12 points clear of the chasing pack after a 1-0 home draw with Stockport County.

Peterborough United are second after a 3-2 win at relegation-threatened Leyton Orient, with MK Dons slipping to third after their game at Northampton Town was abandoned due to heavy rain.

In League Two, Brentford remain four points clear at the summit thanks to a 1-0 triumph at Grimsby Town, who slipped into the relegation places as a result.

The Mariners are now a point behind Bournemouth, who started the season with a 17-point deduction.

In the SPL, Dundee United pepped up their bid for a third-placed finish with a 1-0 victory at Falkirk, with Craig Conway's first-half penalty proving decisive.

The evening's other game saw St Mirren denied a crucial win in their bid to move clear of the relegation dogfight as visitors Aberdeen netted a last-minute equaliser in a 1-1 draw.

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