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• In-form Chelsea can beat anyone, says Rafael Benítez • Brentford well-placed after Kevin O'Connor penalty O'Connor makes it count An injury-time penalty by Brentford's Kevin O'Connor ensured they left Swindon with a 1-1 draw in the first leg of their League One play-off…

Eight footballers say 'we're gay' but keep quiet in fear of fans

Players feel they must hide their sexuality to avoid being the target of homophobic chants At least eight professional footballers have revealed to colleagues that they are gay, but have refused to go public because they fear a backlash from fans. This latest evidence that British football remains…

My uncle Justin Fashanu and the gay prejudice that lives stubbornly on in football | Amal Fashanu

Homosexual sportsmen shouldn't have to live a hidden life In the 1980s and 90s, when my late uncle Justin Fashanu was playing football in England, prejudice and discrimination heavily marked society. He grew up in an environment where homosexuality was still a taboo subject, long before the notion…

West Bromich Albion 2 Wigan Athletic 3 match report: Survival back on the table as James McArthur rallies Wigan

For Wigan Athletic, this was the perfect start to arguably the biggest week in their history. Next Saturday will see the Lancashire club at Wembley for their first FA Cup final appearance and by then they could be out of the Premier League’s bottom three and within sight of another impressive…

Queens Park Rangers 0 Arsenal 1 match report: Gunner's lightning strike puts them in charge for top four finish

Arsenal may no longer be the most exciting team in London but they ground their way back up past Chelsea and Tottenham and into third place with an unconvincing but efficient 1-0 win over Queens Park Rangers.

Fulham 2 Reading 4 match report: Too little too late as relegated Reading grind a victory over Fulham despite Bryan Ruiz brace

Nigel Adkins celebrated his first win as Reading manager, after six games in charge, as his relegated team halted an abysmal run with a fine, free-scoring display.

Norwich 1 Aston Villa 2 match report: Gabby Agbonlahor plays saviour but leaves Norwich on edge

Having taken Norwich City into the Premier League two years ago, Paul Lambert did nothing to help keep them there as his Aston Villa side earned the three points that should be enough to ensure their own survival.

Swansea 0 Manchester City 0 match report: Manchester City fluff lines in FA Cup final rehearsal

Roberto Mancini’s Manchester City are odds-on favourites to rescue their season by winning the FA Cup next weekend – but if they reproduce a performance like this it will be his Wigan counterpart Roberto Martinez celebrating at Wembley.

Tottenham Hotspur 1 Southampton 0 match report: Gareth Bale gives award winning performance

He was last to leave the pitch, hugged by his smiling manager, Andre Villas-Boas, who must give thanks every night that Gareth Bale is in his team.