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Results Based News

Magpies fail to ease fears

Author: Rose Young
Date: 28/04/2009

Newcastle United slipped closer towards relegation to the Championship after the struggling Magpies failed to overcome Portsmouth in a goalless draw at St James' Park.

Alan Shearer's side squandered chances to claim three priceless points against opposition also in the bottom third of the table as Michael Owen, Obafemi Martins and Mark Viduka were all guilty of wasteful finishing.

The interim manager has now seen his side fail to win any of the four games of his brief tenure and they are now three points adrift of safety with just four fixtures remaining in the season, making them betting favourites for the drop.

The point has lifted Portsmouth to the 37 mark and their caretaker manager Paul Hart believes his 14th-placed side are now on the cusp of securing their Premier League status for another season.

They could have also snatched all three points themselves as Richard Hughes hit the post with a second-half header and Hart also felt Peter Crouch should have won a penalty late on.

In the Championship, Reading gave themselves a chance of automatic promotion thanks to Shane Long's second-half double in a 2-0 victory at Norwich City.

In doing so, they made the Canaries relegation favourites because their only hope of avoiding the drop now would be to win at Charlton Athletic and hope that Plymouth Argyle beat Barnsley in Sunday's final round of fixtures.

Skipper Michael Clarke led by example as Australia beat Pakistan by 27 runs in the third one-dayer in Abu Dhabi.

Clarke's innings of 63 helped Australia reach 198-7 in their 50 overs before taking 3-15 as Pakistan were bowled out for 171.

The Baggy Greens now led the five-games series by a 2-1 scoreline.

The tour match between West Indies and Essex at Chelmsford was drawn after rain washed out play on a frustrating third and final day.

In the Indian Premier League, Mumbai Indians coasted to a 92-run victory over Kolkata Knight Riders, while Deccan Chargers won by six wickets against Chennai Super Kings.

In snooker's World Championship, John Higgins recovered from 12-10 down to beat Jamie Cope in the final frame of a thrilling second-round encounter.

Higgins will now face Mark Selby in the last eight at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, after he overcame Graeme Dott 13-10.

Meanwhile, Neil Robertson beat Ali Carter 13-8 and there was also a second-round 13-6 success for Stephen Maguire over Mark King.

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