The Premier League title-race is alive and kicking after Chelsea closed the gap on leaders Manchester United to three points ahead of their meeting at Old Trafford on Sunday, the first of three remaining league games for both.
Chelsea put pressure on United by beating Tottenham 2-1 on Saturday in a game which will be remembered for Frank Lampard’s controversial equaliser just before half-time when Spurs goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes spilled the midfielder’s shot but TV replays showed he pulled it back just before the whole ball crossed the line.
On Sunday Arsenal kept their mathematical chance of the title alive as Aaron Ramsey’s second-half strike proved the difference against United, leaving the Gunners six points behind from the same number of matches.
Manchester City took advantage of Tottenham’s defeat to all but secure fourth spot and the chance to qualify for next season’s Champions League with a 2-1 win over bottom side West Ham. Liverpool went above Spurs into fifth thanks to a 3-0 victory against Newcastle.
Blackpool remain 17th, Wigan 18th and Wolves 19th after all three drew – with Stoke, Everton and Birmingham respectively. Blackburn eased clear of the relegation zone with a 1-0 victory over Bolton. Also West Brom beat Aston Villa 2-1 and Fulham saw off Sunderland 3-0.
Queens Park Rangers and Norwich have earned promotion to the Premier League although QPR’s success could be scuppered if they are docked points at this week’s Football Association hearing into the legality of their signing of Alejandro Faurlin in 2009.
Northampton will play Leinster in the Rugby Union’s European Cup final on May 21. The Saints beat Perpignan 23-7 and the Irish side saw off Toulouse 32-23 in the semi-finals. Harlequins face Stade Francais in the Challenge Cup final following a 20-12 defeat of Munster.
Leeds are likeliest to finish bottom of the Premiership after Newcastle went a point ahead their nearest rivals despite a 14-11 defeat to Bath, who could scrape into the play-offs in Saturday’s final round of regular season games.
In Rugby League’s Super League Warrington went top on points difference after a 58-14 demolition of Bradford and Huddesfield’s 13-12 loss to Catalan Dragons. St Helens are third following a 24-24 draw with Hull and Wigan, who have the same points as the three above them, fourth with a 48-16 thrashing of Crusaders. Leeds moved above Castleford into fifth on points difference with a 48-6 victory over the Tigers and Salford beat Harlequins 34-16.
Cricket’s 40-over domestic competition group stage continued with a several teams playing twice over the bank holiday weekend. Of those Derbyshire, Essex, Somerset, Surrey and defending champions Warwickshire won both their games.
John Higgins came from 12-9 down to beat 21-year-old Judd Trump 18-15 and win his fourth snooker World Championship crown at the Crucible.
Lee Westwood remained the world’s number one-ranked golfer with victory in the Ballantine’s Championship in South Korea by one shot from Miguel Angel Jimenez.
Finally, former heavyweight boxer Sir Henry Cooper died aged 76.
