The latest news from your league

Sunday 14th March

Headline news...

Carlo Ancelotti praised the performance of Florent Malouda after Chelsea's 4-1 thrashing of West Ham. The Frenchman set up two and scored another as his side returned to the top of the Premier League. Ancelotti said: "I think Malouda was the best player in this game. He was always giving us ideas on the left hand side, putting in crosses and when he scored that was a good moment."
Gianfranco Zola was happy with his side's performance, but said they need more positivity if they are to escape the relegation zone. "It was very good for 65 minutes but as soon as we conceded the second goal it was too hard for us. I saw the boys go flat because they had used so much energy trying to contain them. It is vital that you keep it on the positive side. That doesn't mean you turn your back on the problems, we will be dealing with those in the week."
Arsene Wenger praised the desire of his Arsenal side after their late win at Hull. Nicklas Bendtner scored in stoppage time to secure a 2-1 victory. Wenger said: "We will give absolutely everything to do it. You saw that in the game today. We were a bit jaded but we kept going. We needed the three points and we got it after the 90 minutes."
Hull boss Phil Brown pointed to Andre Marriner's decision not to send off Sol Campbell in the first half as the game's turning point. Campbell brought down Jan Venegoor of Hesselink in a move that led to Hull's penalty spot equaliser, but Marriner showed just a yellow card. Brown said: "The pivotal moment was undoubtedly in favour of Arsenal," said Brown. He should have been red-carded, it's as simple as that. He's denied a goal-scoring opportunity and under the letter of the law, he should have been red-carded."
Harry Redknapp hailed the performance of Gareth Bale after Tottenham's 3-1 win over Blackburn. Bale put in another impressive display as the White Hart Lane outfit strengthened their grip on fourth place. Redknapp said: "Gareth Bale is such an outstanding player. People forget he's only a boy. When I came here I felt he needed to learn the game, I didn't feel he'd really been taught the game. He had natural ability, but there was so much of his game that needed working on. I feel he's matured, he's progressed, he's got stronger and he just looks a fantastic player."
Martin O'Neill conceded that a draw was the fairest result between Stoke and his Aston Villa side. Neither team could find a way through in a goalless stalemate. O'Neill explained: "There weren't many chances in the game and the wind didn't help matters. I was hoping we would get the ball down, but that is easier said than done. It was a reasonable outcome. Probably a draw was a fair result."
David Moyes drew the positives despite watching his Everton side squander a 2-0 lead to draw at Birmingham. The Scot said: "At times our football was very good, but we let in a couple of sloppy goals and that was our downfall. Our play was good and we were in total control, but then we got sloppy and that gave Birmingham a lifeline."
Mick McCarthy was pleased to see Wolves' luck change for the better after their 2-1 win over Burnley. A Clarke Carlisle own goal gave the visitors the points in a tense match at Turf Moor. McCarthy said: "It's tightened it up again with West Ham and Wigan losing and it gives us more of a fighting chance, a bit of confidence. We've been playing well and I said if we keep playing that way our luck will change. I knew we would get a slice of good fortune by playing that way."
Bolton boss Owen Coyle has warned his Bolton side against complacency. The Trotters are eight points clear of the relegation zone after hammering Wigan 4-0. Coyle said: "This was a massive victory and gives us a bit of breathing space. That is all it does. We now have to focus on the games coming up and go and earn points."

Box to Box

Check out the pick of today's live football...

- Rangers v Dundee United, Scottish Cup Sixth Round, 12:05, BBC2 Scotland
- Manchester United v Fulham, Premier League, 13:30, Sky Sports 1
- Sunderland v Manchester City, Premier League, 16:00, Sky Sports 1
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To see all the week's live games click here...

The Big Debate

The World Cup is just three months away, but there is still a question mark over who will be Fabio Capello's number 1? Will Joe Hart be rewarded for his fine form at Birmingham, or will David James be given the chance of a World Cup swansong? Who do you think should be England's goalkeeper in South Africa? And fans of others nations, what are your sides' problem areas?

Head to The Big Debate and get involved...

In the Know

A handful of players have scored a perfect hat-trick (left-foot, right-foot, header) in the Premier League. These are: Mikael Forssell for Birmingham v Tottenham in March 2008; Gabriel Agbonlahor for Aston Villa v Manchester City on 17 August 2008; Emmanuel Adebayor for Arsenal v Blackburn on 13 September 2008 and Peter Crouch for Liverpool v Arsenal.