Hull City produced a manful performance to hold Chelsea to a surprise draw as the title hopefuls missed the chance to take their league lead to four points.

The Londoners were lacklustre to say the least, but that was down in no small part to Hull's brave approach.

And it was the hosts who took the lead when Steven Mouyokolo headed home.

Didier Drogba marked his return from Africa Cup of Nations duty with the equaliser from a free-kick, but Hull comfortably held on to a precious draw.

It was no less than the hosts deserved from an all-action display and even though the result was not enough to move them out of the bottom three, it could provide a welcome fillip as they enter the crucial stages of their battle against relegation.


We more than competed - Brown
Chelsea, meanwhile, can comfort themselves with the knowledge they go two points clear of Manchester United and six of Arsenal at the top of the table.

Boss Carlo Ancelotti will surely consider this a missed opportunity, though, especially with a home match against the Gunners to come on Sunday.

The Gunners' comprehensive defeat to United at the weekend looked to have turned the race for the Premier League title into a two-horse race, especially with Chelsea widely expected to move on to 57 points from 24 games with victory at the KC Stadium.

On paper, it looked a straightforward task. Six straight wins in which they have scored 21 goals and conceded only four marked Chelsea out as clear favourites against a Hull side without a win in nine.

But the hosts' disciplined and forceful approach, typified - as so often - by Stephen Hunt, stultified a Chelsea side far from their best.

Your game against Arsenal & your trip to Old Trafford just became a whole lot more important!

scobiedog
The title chasers did have two good efforts in the first half hour; Frank Lampard forced a smart stop from Boaz Myhill with a dipping 20-yarder, while Michael Ballack tamely headed Branislav Ivanovic's superb cross from the right straight at the keeper.

However, they were only the briefest glimpses of the visitors' quality as they failed to get out of first gear in the face of Hull's high-tempo tactics.

It was testament to the hosts' first-half play that it was no great surprise when they took the lead, and even less so that it was from a set-piece.

Of the 19 league goals Chelsea have conceded this season before the game, 14 had come from set-pieces, and the visitors struggled to deal with Hull's dead-ball situations throughout.

And Mouyokolo took full advantage on the half hour as he headed home Hunt's corner unmarked from six yards out.


Ancelotti positive at top spot
It served only to prompt a response from Chelsea, though, as they finally snapped out of their malaise long enough to equalise through Drogba's pin-point free-kick from the edge of the box.

Any expectations that Hull would sink into their shell were wide of the mark, though.

They continued to threaten from set plays, Anthony Gardner and Jozy Altidore both guilty of profligacy in front of goal from well directed Hunt deliveries.

Myhill kept the scores level at the other end, sprawling one way and then the other to stop headers from Drogba and John Terry, booed throughout following press revelations about his private life, in quick succession.

And that meant, with 15 minutes left, the match was finely in the balance.

However, a grand assault from the visitors never even looked like coming, their final ball and incision in front of goal - as it had been all throughout the match - absent.

With the away fans streaming for the exits there was at least a fine effort from substitute Daniel Sturridge, his left-footed shot tipped round the post by Myhill.

But it was too little, too late from Chelsea, who will be desperate for an improved performance against Arsenal knowing the title race once again looks to be a three-horse race.

Irvine took charge of Preston in November 2007
Preston manager Alan Irvine has been relieved of his duties after more than two years in charge at Deepdale.

Chairman Derek Shaw made the move following Monday's 1-0 defeat by Sheffield United.

North End, who reached last season's play-offs, have slipped to 16th in the Championship after winning only one of their last 10 games.

The former Everton assistant boss took charge in November 2007, following the sacking of Paul Simpson.

The Republic players remonstrate with the referee after Gallas's goal

Fifa's Sepp Blatter has revealed the Republic of Ireland have requested a spot in the 2010 World Cup finals as an extra team after their play-off defeat.

The Republic lost to an extra-time goal against France when Thierry Henry handled the ball during the build-up.

"I will bring it to the attention of the Executive Committee," said Blatter.

The president of football's world governing body added that goal-line technology and extra referees would be considered for the South Africa finals.

The executive committee will hold an emergency meeting in Cape Town on Wednesday, two days ahead of the draw for the finals, to assess the idea of extra match officials.

If they recommend the proposal it will go before football's rule-making international board in Zurich in March for a final decision.

"It's possible we will make additional officials for the World Cup but we have to see if it is feasible or realistic," added Blatter. "Something has to be done in terms of match control.

"We have only one man on the field of play who shall intervene in this matter. He has two assistants for the time being, perhaps more in the future. He has to make an immediate decision.

"He has only two eyes. So match control is now is on the agenda. How shall we avoid such situations as we have seen in this very specific match?"

606: DEBATE
Even before the handball incident Ireland were still at 1-1 in extra time so how can they go through to the World Cup on the basis that it was still a draw ?

Chelski-4-life
Regarding the Republic's case, Blatter added that Costa Rica, who also believe they were unfairly denied a place in the finals - this time because of an offside goal from Uruguay - would also have to be acknowledged if extra places are discussed.

The Football Association of Ireland released a statement, confirming Blatter had agreed to a meeting in Zurich last Friday, which lasted for 90 minutes.

"A lot was discussed at the meeting and at one stage the FAI asked if Ireland could be accommodated into the World Cup 2010," read the statement.

"Other suggestions were also made to mitigate against further occurrences of such incidents, including the use of additional goal-line assistant referees for Fifa international matches, further use of video technology for matches at the highest level, stronger provisions to discourage players from engaging in such blatant breaches of the laws of the game and provisions to strengthen referee selection for such important matches."

The Republic originally asked for the play-off to be replayed but that request was turned down by Fifa.

The man at the centre of the storm, former Arsenal striker Henry, released a statement two days after the infamous match in which he said a replay would have been "the fairest solution".

Riot police line up in front of the supporters at Oakwell on Tuesday night

The Football Association is to investigate the crowd trouble that marred Tuesday's Carling Cup match between Barnsley and Manchester United.

After a number of reported incidents the FA is awaiting the reports of an FA crowd control adviser, present at the game, and from referee Chris Foy.

Eight fans were arrested at the match after trouble flared at half-time and two more later at the railway station.

Fans also broke into a kiosk and stole money and food from the shelves.

Police were hit with bottles and eight staff were forced to hide in a store room for 25 minutes when fans forced themselves into the club's catering area.

Stewards on the pitch also had food thrown at them during the disorder with one police officer suffering a minor facial injury.

United beat the Championship side 2-0 to progress into the quarter-finals of the Carling Cup.

An FA spokesman said: "There is no place for anti-social or violent behaviour in our game.

"Any culprit found to be involved in these disturbances and identified as such by either the police or clubs should be subject to a lengthy ban from attending football matches."

Barnsley are also launching their own investigation into the violence, accusing Manchester United fans of causing "substantial damage" in the stadium's north stand.

A Barnsley spokesman said: "It's a hell of a mess down there. Doors have been kicked in, tills have been damaged and there's food and drink everywhere.

"It looks like a swamp in one of the bars. A complaint has been made to the police and we will be taking a look at CCTV footage of the incident before we can comment further."

Five of the eight people arrested at the ground were Manchester United supporters and three were from Barnsley.

Two further arrests were made at around 2300 GMT after fans jumped onto railway tracks in a bid to stop the Barnsley to Sheffield train.