Source: Daily_Mail
Tottenham v Chelsea, Bolton v Blackburn and Wolves v Birmingham LIVE
PREMIER LEAGUE Tottenham 1 Chelsea 1 FT [LNB]Bolton 2 Blackburn 1 FT[LNB]Wolves 1 Birmingham 0 FT[LNB]5.55pm: FULL TIME - What a fantastic game - it ends all square. [LNB]That will feel like a defeat for Chelsea after they dominated for long periods and Drogba missed an injury-time penalty. [LNB]But they will take heart from a much a performance that was much improved on recent offerings. [LNB]The Blues stay fourth when they had the chance to go top, Spurs move back up into fifth after Bolton temporarily jumped above them this afternoon. [LNB]5.54pm: .... Bale swings it high over the bar. A real waste. [LNB]5.53pm: My word, what a rollercoaster this is. Seconds left and Drogba's just conceded a free kick, 30 yards out... Bale stands over it.[LNB]5.52pm: SAVED! Drogba dives to his left and blocks. Not a great penalty to be fair. Atonement. Where was Lampard to take it? [LNB]5.51pm: PENALTY - Gomes bundles Ramires over in the box, chasing after the ball. Blatant penalty. [LNB]5.50pm: We'll have four minutes time added on. [LNB]5.48pm: Just a couple of regulation minutes remaining but I fancy there will be a lumpy amount of additional time, given the amount of stoppages we've had in this half. [LNB]5.47pm: Ouch. Palacios is in the wars again, this time he's writhing in agony after Ashley Cole raked his studs down the Honduran's achilles. He's[LNB]5.45pm: Crouch hits the deck after a swinging arm smacks him on the nose. The free kick is lumped high into the box, Crouch nods on but Cech is there to grab the ball as Keane lurked. [LNB]5.43pm: This is more like the Chelsea of old. They look composed, powerful and always the most likely team top score. You have to say Spurs will be pleased to take a point from this one. [LNB]5.38pm: And now Redknapp rolls the dice - Keane replaces Pavlyuchenko. Both mangers are really going for the win. [LNB]5.35pm: After three-and-a-half months out - Lampard makes his return. Chelsea's talismanic midfielder replaces Florent Malouda. [LNB]5.33pm: Is that the last goal in this game? With 20 minutes or so remaining, I'm as sure as I can be it isn't.[LNB]5.29pm: GOAL - Tottenham 1 Chelsea 1 (Drogba)[LNB]Off the bench, Drogba thumps Chelsea level. But Gomes will be sorely, sorely disappointed to see the ball bounce off his hands and loop over him. A powerful strike, but Spurs will think that's a soft goal to concede. [LNB]5.27pm: Tottenham are right back in this game now. After soaking up the early pressure they're making their own openings. Chelsea substitution: Kalou is replaced by Daniel Sturridge. [LNB] No way through: Ivanovic blocks as Tottenham's Gareth Bale tries to break through[LNB]5.24pm: Guilt-edged opportunity goes begging for Spurs. Hutton has aaaaaaages to pick an option: shoot, pass cross but waits and waits. He eventually dinks a cross to the back post which is cleared. A real waste. [LNB]5.22pm: Lampard's warming up again. Surely his cameo in this game can't be too far off. [LNB]5.19pm: Tottenham are struggling to keep hold of the ball which has probably hastened Peter Crouch's entrance to hold up the ball. The lofty striker is on in Defoe's stead. [LNB]5.18pm: Tottenham can't get out of their own half. [LNB]5.15pm: Fine save, Gomes! The Tottenham stopper saves Palacios's blushes, athletically tipping over his awkward defensive header over the crossbar. [LNB]5.14pm: We didn't have to wait too long for a Chelsea opportunity. Anelka's speculative drive from 25-yards out is palmed around the post by Gomes. [LNB] Why so glum? Ancelotti looks glum on the touchline as his side trail yet again[LNB]5.13pm: After a bright early spell, Chelsea are starting to exert themselves on this match again. They're pretty much controlling possession but we await a chance. [LNB]5.10pm: Spurs fans in full flow now - they're enjoying what's on offer so far this half. Drogba's been caught offside and Modric has just scuffed a volley wide from the edge of the box. [LNB]5.06pm: A delightfully worked move from Spurs, Lennon, Hutton and Modric involved, the ball arrives at Defoe's feet and his shot whistles past Cech's upright. [LNB]5.04pm: SECOND HALF - One change for Chelsea - Didier Drogba replaces John Obi Mikel. Spurs, kicking towards the Paxton Road end get us off and running. [LNB]4.58pm: Quelle surprise, Drogba and Lampard are warming up during the break. [LNB]4.48pm: HALF TIME - Tottenham 1 Chelsea 0 [LNB]An enthralling half of football. Spurs lead via a wonderful goal from Pavlyuchenko but there looks to be bags more goals in this one. More in a bit...[LNB] Heads up: Luka Modric and John Obi Mikel leap to battle for the ball[LNB]4.46pm: We'll have two minutes additional time at the end of this half. [LNB]4.42pm: Tottenham can't get out of their own half at the moment. Certainly their best spell of the match. The Chelsea fans think they've scored but Anelka's dink over Gomes is ruled out as he's a country mile offside. [LNB]4.38pm: Chances, chances, chances. There really is no time to catch your breath.Malouda's nodded a great chance inches wide of the upright, Tottenham then broke upfield, Lennon's cross was angling for Defoe but Cech dived on the ball as the striker lurked. [LNB]4.35pm: World-class defending from John Terry saves Chelsea from going two down. With Defoe in acres of space and Palacios in support the Chelsea captain stepped forward, took the ball off the diminutive striker, nutmegged Palacios then strode through midfield. Confident as you like.[LNB]4.34pm: Another chance goes begging - this time it's Pavlyuchenko at fault, blazing a volley wide from eight yards out. [LNB] From Russia with love: Pavlyuchenko peels off after slamming Spurs in front[LNB]4.31pm: The team scoring first goal in this fixture has won last three times and not lost in the last seven. FACT! [LNB]4.27pm: Chelsea squander another fine chance, and then Lennon just fails to find Pavluchenko who would have been in a one-on-one situation. A thoroughly entertaining encounter so far - the Blues are well in this. [LNB]4.23pm: Chance for Chelsea. Kalou arrives at the near post to meet Ramires's cross. But his flick is a touch heavy and the ball sails high over the bar. [LNB]4.22pm: Replays show Defoe was offside in the build-up to the goal. Only marginally but that will definitely be a half-time talking point.[LNB]4.20pm: The crowd are on their feet as Bale goes down under a robust challenge from Essien. The Ghanaian's studs raked down the Welsh winger's shin. Naughty. [LNB]4.17pm: GOAL - Tottenham 1 Chelsea 0 (Pavlyuchenko) [LNB]Fine, fine finish from Roman Pavlyuchenko. In the middle of the penalty area, he took a touch past Terry and slammed into the corner. A hint of offside in the build up when Defoe picked up the ball but credit to the Russian whose finish was impeccable. [LNB] Feeling Blue? Roman Pavlyuchenko slams home the opener for Tottenham [LNB]4.14pm: Speaking of woeful efforts, Ivanovic has just tried to score with a free kick fully 40 yards out. It almost troubled the corner flag. Nope, I've no idea, either.[LNB]4.12pm: Tottenham almost get caught out holding a very high line. Anelka peels off but Malouda's pass was woeful. [LNB]4.10pm: Chelsea seem intent on taking pot shots from all angles this afternoon but Essien's dart from 25-yards was comfortably collected by the Spurs stopper. [LNB]4.06pm: Signs of nerves from Chelsea? Dicey ball across the defence from Ivanovic sees terry scrambling to poke the ball back to Cech with Defoe lurking.[LNB]4.04pm: Signs of nerves from Spurs? Essien's through-ball just misses Anelka but Gomes hesitates and Assou-Ekotto has to thump clear. [LNB]4.02pm: First chance goes the Blues way. Modric loses possession in midfield, Anelka breaks free but drags his shot wide of Gomes's upright. [LNB]4pm: We're off and running. [LNB]3.56pm: Dramatic music booms around the Lane and the cameras cut to a very stern-looking Chelsea captain John Terry standing in the tunnel. [LNB]Big, big game for the champions. Kick off is on the way in just a few moments. [LNB]3.50pm: So, where's this game going to be won? Two key clashes for me: Dawson v Anelka and Bale v Ferreira. If Tottenham can impose themselves Chelsea may find their current lack of confidence too much to overcome. [LNB]3.45pm: Confirmation from Ancelotti in the pre-match briefing that Drogba is benched purely to give him a rest, nowt else. [LNB] Main man? Gareth Bale - who has been in incredibleform this season - can put the champions to the sword [LNB]3.40pm: This ground was christened Three Point Lane by Chelsea after they went 19-year unbeaten run over their north London rivals. No more. [LNB]Spurs have had the sign over the Blues in recent seasons so what better time for Carlo Ancelotti's team to breath life into their stuttering season with a win. [LNB]The champions can retake top spot with three points, Spurs can leap-frog Bolton to move back into fifth. [LNB]3.30pm: Right, time for a breather, Tottenham v Chelsea is only half an hour away. [LNB]3.26pm: FULL TIME - Bolton 2 Blackburn 1[LNB]All over, the 10 men of Bolton grind out a wonderful victory. A drab first half was replaced by an explosive second with three goals, a red card and a winner which came just 10 seconds after Rovers equalised. High drama and Bolton move up into fifth. [LNB]3.25pm: FULL TIME - Wolves 1 Birmingham 0[LNB]A bit nervy towards the end as Birmingham pressed but Wolves were good for their win. Mick McCarthy's men move to within a point of exiting the drop zone. Birmingham were bad, really bad. [LNB]3.24pm: It's all Blackburn at the Reebok but they can't make a genuine opening. [LNB]Tottenham v Chelsea - teams Tottenham: Gomes, Hutton, Dawson, Bassong, Assou-Ekotto,Lennon, Palacios, Modric, Bale, Pavlyuchenko, Defoe. Subs:Cudicini, Bentley, Keane, Crouch, Giovani, Corluka, Sandro.[LNB]Chelsea: Cech, Ferreira, Ivanovic, Terry, Cole, Ramires, Mikel,Essien, Kalou, Anelka, Malouda. Subs: Turnbull, Lampard, Drogba,Sturridge, Van Aanholt, Bruma, McEachran.[LNB]Referee: Mike Dean [LNB]3.21pm: Quickly, here's the team news from White Hart Lane: Frank Lampard is on the bench for Chelsea's clash at Tottenham, with Didier Drogba also among the substitutes.[LNB]Lampard is considered fit enough to be in the Blues' 18 after three and a half months out injured, but Drogba is rested as Nicolas Anelka, Ashley Cole and John Obi Mikel are recalled.[LNB]Michael Dawson captains the side on his return in what is his first senior appearance for more than three months, replacing William Gallas. Aaron Lennon and Alan Hutton are also recalled.[LNB]3.19pm: Any more drama left at the Reebok? Blackburn are pressing and have SIX additional minutes in which to find an equaliser. [LNB]3.16pm: GOAL- Bolton 2 Blackburn 1 (Holden)[LNB]My word, straight from the restart, Bolton go back to basics, big lump forward, Holden latched on and slammed past Robinson. Incredible![LNB]3.14pm: GOAL - Bolton 1 Blackburn 1 (Diouf) [LNB]Mame Diouf dinks a delightful finish over Jaaskelainen to bring Rovers on terms. Roberts slide rule pass splits the defence and Diouf delivers a calm finish. Great goal.[LNB] Big winner: Hunt's goal separated the two sides at Molineux[LNB]3.10pm: Finally, Birmingham force a chance (half-chance at that) from open play. A teasing cross into the box is just out of Jerome's reach and so the chance goes begging. Not the Blues day today. [LNB]3.06pm: Calm down! Petrov shows his displeasure at being substituted for Matt Taylor by throwing his gloves down in the dugout. Crazy times. [LNB]3.05pm: The evergreen Kevin Phillips is on for Lee Bowyer. [LNB]3pm: Real let off for Blackburn who are lucky to see hear the ref's whistle to disallow Petrov's effort. A rather soft free kick is handed to the visitors for a foul by Holden on Salgado rules out the Bulgarian's effort. [LNB]2.58pm: A game's worth of action inside 10 minutes at Bolton. My fingers are numb from typing. Phew! Over at Molineux, it's as you were from the first half: Wolves on top, Birmingham not very good. [LNB]2.53pm: GOAL - Bolton 1 Blackburn 0 (Muamba)[LNB]Well, well. Just a few minutes after going down to 10 men, the hosts take the lead - and it's the sub who came just after on who scored it. Some rather suspect defending allows Muamba time to set himself, sell Pedersen a dummy and shoot home from 16 yards out.[LNB] You beauty: Holden and Cahill rush to celebrate with the Bolton goalscorer[LNB]2.52pm: Off the line! Samba nods down from no more than five yards out but the Bolton captain Kevin Davies is there to smash clear. [LNB]2.50pm: This game is becoming a spiteful now. A rash of yellows as late tackle follows late tackle. Elmander and Olsson go in the book.[LNB]2.47pm: Chung-Yong Lee is replaced by Fabrice Muamba. [LNB]2.46pm: RED CARD - Mark Davies (Bolton) [LNB]Leading elbow from the Bolton midfielder earns him a second yellow. No malice in it but this is the Premier League so doubt there will be too many complaints. Yeah, right. [LNB]2.46pm: Fine save Paul Robinson. One for the cameras though as he throws himself across his goal to parry Diouf's cross-cum-shot. [LNB]2.45pm: Bolton win a free-kick, left of centre which which Elmander lines up. Just when you think he's going to smash it, he side foots it, trying an eye of the needle type pass which is easily cleared. Boo, etc. [LNB] Marching orders: Davies receives his second yellow and then a red card for a dangerous tackle[LNB]2.43pm: I'll level with you, the game at the Reebok has struggled to get going in the second half. The opening exchanges have been, well, a bit naff. [LNB]2.38pm: That's a bad miss by Dave Edwards. He should have at least hit the target after ghosting into the box but steered his header wide of the goal from 10 yards out. Will Wolves live to regret that later in the game?[LNB]2.34pm: And they're back up and running at Molineux.[LNB]2.33pm: Panic over, the footie resumes. Well, it has at the Reebok. [LNB]2.19pm: HALF TIME: Wolves have been much the better side and look dead set on helping their Premier League chances with a win over rivals Birmingham. They dominated the whole half, the Blues have been very poor. [LNB]2.18pm: HALF TIME: All square after 45 minutes at the Reebok. Both teams created chances but nothing clear-cut. A decent game that lacks a certain spark. [LNB]2.16pm: GOAL - Wolves 1 Birmingham 0 (Stephen Hunt)[LNB]Hunt hands Wolves a deserved lead. Slamming home into the top-right corner from inside the six-yard area. Credit to Ebanks-Blake who rolled his marker Scott Dann to set up the goal, too. [LNB] Goal! Hunt slams home from six yards to hand Wolves a deserved lead at Molieux[LNB]2.15pm: We'll have on minute added on at the Reebok. [LNB]2.14pm: Goooooaaaaaalllllll. No, not really. Stephen Ward's effort for Wolves is ruled out (rightly) for offside. [LNB]2.12pm: Another parsimonious afternoon in the Premier League. Where's the goals. Where's the glitz? Maybe all the action is being saved for the clash this afternoon between Tottenham and Chelsea... or on Monday night between United and Chelsea?[LNB]2.10pm:Birmingham have been very poor this afternoon. In real contrast to the excellent run they were on this time last season. [LNB] Going down? Cameron Jerome hits the turf under the challenge from Wolves' Richard Stearman[LNB]2.06pm: Chance for Blackburn. Zat Knight goes in the book for tugging Roberts down on the edge of the box, Gary Cahill on the cover means no red was needed. The resulting free-kick is palmed straight into Givet's path but he skews horribly wide from five yards out. Big miss. [LNB]2.05pm: Any chances for Birmingham, I hear you ask? Just the one, and it wasn't a very good one. Sebastian Larsson's free-kick from 35-yards was tame. [LNB]2.02pm: Blackburn win a corner which is swung in. Ryan Nelsen offers his head at the ball but misses and the ball bobbles harmlessly through the six yard area. [LNB]1.59pm: Decent save from Foster - Ebanks-Blake's turn and shot was well saved. Still all Wolves. [LNB]1.58pm: Wolves remain on top but have failed to make another opening as clear as the header from Edwards early in the game. [LNB] No spring chickens: Bolton fans dabble in some fancy dress fun [LNB]1.53pm: More pressure from Bolton - two efforts from Martin Petrov both fail to break the deadlock. A deflected free-kick then a rather speculative drive from the edge of the box both fail to trouble Robinson too much. [LNB]1.50pm: Interestingly (well, interesting if you're a Birmingham fan) Roger Johnson second minute yellow card was the fastest received by a Birmingham in the Premier League. The previous fastest was Martin Taylor's third minute red in during the 2-2 draw with Arsenal in February 2008. [LNB]1.46pm: After a bustling start to the match, things have calmed down at the Reebok. Jeers from the travelling Rovers fans greet Kevin Davies attempts at controlling a lofted ball in the box. And Gael Givet has crashed down in the box. Clattenburg waved the appeals away despite the fact it was a blatant free-kick - just outside the area, mind. Tis all for now. [LNB]1.42pm: Fine save from Ben Foster! It remains 0-0 at Molineux. But how? The Blues stopper pulls of a fine point-blank save from Dave Edwards' header. Great stop. [LNB]1.40pm: I was contemplating typing the words 'it's all Blackburn' when Elmander just fails to connect with a cross that zipped across the six yard box. Bolton are starting to move into this, you know. [LNB] Grounded: Diouf fails to halt Ricketts' progress at the Reebok [LNB]1.35pm: Yes, I like the action at the Reebok so far. Already an open game - both sides spraying the ball around and chances for both teams. Good. Mark Davies has just thrashed a drive wide which Paul Robinson pounced upon. [LNB]1.31pm: Earlier chance for Jason Roberts. El-Hadji Diouf's cross found the Roberts dead centre of the box but he could only nod the ball tamely past Jaaskelainen's upright. [LNB]1.30pm: We're off and running at Molineux and at the Reebok. [LNB]1.28pm: Players are out... football is imminent. Lovely. [LNB]1.25pm: So we've learned something about Owen Coyle's pre-match routine today. The Bolton boss spent a few minutes earlier this afternoon armed with a spoon burying items (of an unknown variety) in the two penalty boxes. No, I've no idea, either. But whatever he's doing, it seems to be working. [LNB]1.20pm: Don't forget, you can share your thoughts with the world on today's clashes - send your emails in this direction, if you will - tom.bellwood@dailymail.co.uk [LNB]Wolves v Birmingham - teamsWolves: Hennessey, Zubar, Berra, Stearman, Elokobi,Foley, Edwards, Milijas, Ward, Hunt, Ebanks-Blake. Subs:Hahnemann, Fletcher, Mujangi Bia, Ebanks-Landell, Winnall,Rooney, Doherty.[LNB]Birmingham: Foster, Carr, Johnson, Dann, Murphy, Larsson,Bowyer, Ferguson, Fahey, Jerome, Zigic. Subs: Taylor, Gardner,Phillips, Derbyshire, Michel, Parnaby, Beausejour.[LNB]Referee: Martin Atkinson[LNB]1.15pm: And here's the news from Molineux: Mick McCarthy has made four changes to the side beaten 3-0 at Blackburn. Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, Stephen Hunt, David Edwards and Richard Stearman are in while Alex McLeish makes three changes to the side that drew 1-1 with Tottenham last weekend - Nikola Zigic, Sebastian Larsson and David Murphy all start. [LNB]1.10pm: Team news reaches us from the Reebok: United States international Stuart Holden has recovered from a thigh strain to return for Bolton today as Owen Coyle's men look to bounce back from last week's loss at Manchester City.[LNB]Holden replaces Fabrice Muamba in the starting line-up with Muamba, dropped for a Premier League match for the first time this season, on the bench.[LNB]Fresh from his own side's victory over Wolves last week, Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce has rather predictably made no changes, with Steven Nzonzi and Vince Grella still out injured.[LNB]Bolton v Blackburn - teams Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Ricketts, Cahill, Knight, Robinson, Lee,Mark Davies, Holden, Petrov, Elmander, Kevin Davies. Subs:Bogdan, Steinsson, Muamba, Taylor, Klasnic, Moreno, Blake.[LNB]Blackburn: Robinson, Salgado, Samba, Nelsen, Givet, Olsson,Emerton, Jones, Pedersen, El-Hadji Diouf, Roberts. Subs: Bunn,Dunn, Kalinic, Mwaruwari, Hoilett, Hanley, Mame Diouf.[LNB]Referee: Mark Clattenburg [LNB]1.07pm: So, it's a battle of finesse over grit at the Reebok as Bolton's stylish football faces the industrial power of Blackburn. [LNB]Lover's of the game know who they want to win but, sadly, we don't always get our way. Makes for a fascinating contest, mind. [LNB]1pm: Afternoon one, afternoon all and welcome to Sportsmail's coverage of what promises to be a cracking afternoon of Premier League football. [LNB]Shall I mention Carlos Tevez, get it out of the way now so we can enjoy the action? He wants to leave - Manchester City fans get over it. There, now that's done, let's get down to business.[LNB]There must be something in the water at the Reebok just now as Owen Coyle's side have really been turning on the style of late. [LNB]Rumours of Johan Elmander moving to Inter Milan confirm the world has changed and the player once considered one of the worst strikers in the league can now consider himself at ease dining at the top table with Drogba et al. Wonders never cease. [LNB]Bolton can move into fifth place with victory today over former boss Sam Allardyce. But Rovers, who have lost four of their last six away games, have registered wins at Newcastle and Blackpool, both former clubs of Allardyce. Spooky, huh. [LNB]Kicking off at the same time is the clash between Wolves and Birmingham, two sides desperate for a result in the added goldfish bowl of a local derby. Expect fireworks.[LNB] Times are changing: Chelsea - and in particular Carlo Ancelotti - are coming under pressure after a dismal run of results[LNB] Carlos Tevez hands in transfer request as Manchester City vow to fight and keep their star manChelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti is at breaking point ahead of Spurs clashBig Sam is the man for England job, insists Bolton striker Kevin DaviesTottenham director Sir Keith asked to take charge at the FA as Dein waits onRovers return! David Dunn urges Bentley to move back to Blackburn Cahill lined up by Chelsea move for Bolton defender to partner Terry[LNB] Explore more:People: Sam Allardyce, Johan Elmander, Carlos Tevez, Owen Coyle, Kevin Davies, Fabrice Muamba, Steven Nzonzi, Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, Mick McCarthy, David Murphy, Sebastian Larsson, Alex McLeish, Martin Atkinson, Roger Johnson, Martin Petrov, Martin Taylor, Jason Roberts, Paul Robinson, Ben Foster, Ryan Nelsen, Gary Cahill, Zat Knight, Scott Dann, Lee Bowyer, Kevin Phillips, Matt Taylor, William Gallas, Aaron Lennon, Michael Dawson, Nicolas Anelka, Frank Lampard, Ashley Cole, Didier Drogba, Alan Hutton, Mike Dean, Carlo Ancelotti, John Terry, Gareth Bale, Roman Pavlyuchenko, Peter Crouch, Daniel Sturridge Places: Birmingham, London, Newcastle
