Summary

  • Leicester off bottom - Burnley now 20th

  • FT: Palace 0-2 WBA, - Morrison and Gardner

  • FT: Stoke 2-1 Saints, Everton 1-0 Burnley

  1. Strange reasons for leaving a game earlypublished at 12:09 British Summer Time 18 April 2015

    As is usual on a Saturday morning, we're teaming up with the Danny Baker Show on BBC Radio 5 live. Today's topic for conversation is: Strange or stupid reasons for having to leave a match early.

    Lee, Abingdon: Dislocated my shoulder celebrating a Brentford goal against Tranmere a couple of seasons ago. Wouldn't leave the game as B's were playing well, so got the St John's Ambulance and club doctor to relocate it. Only missed 15 minutes of the game but spent the rest of it in agony.

    Neil Birkbeck, Basingstoke: My first ever football match was with my dad, sister and her friend. Doncaster Rovers v Darlington. Rovers were six up at half-time but we had to go home as the girls were bored, Rovers went on to win 10 nil their record score.

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  2. Join the debate at #bbcfootballpublished at 12:08 British Summer Time 18 April 2015

    Top of the Premier League table matters kick in a bit later today, but first we have some relegation affairs to deal with, in the shape of four fixtures featuring some of the teams in trouble. But which teams are going to claw their way out of bother? Who has the most in their locker to deal with a scrap? Which players are going to make the difference? Get in touch with us via the usual channels to tell us why you think a certain team will avoid the drop? In short, we want your survival manifesto 2014/15.

    Get involved on Twitter using #bbcfootball, external or post a comment on the MOTD Facebook page., external

    You can also text us in the UK only on 81111 - but please don't forget to include your name and location.

  3. Coming up on BBC TVpublished at 12:04 British Summer Time 18 April 2015

    Football Focus
    BBC Sport

    Football Focus

    Dan Walker and guests begin the build-up to the weekend's football in a special edition of Football Focus, live from Wembley on BBC One from 12:10 BST.

    Not for viewers in Scotland however, where there's live coverage of the Scottish Cup semi-final between Hibernian and Falkirk from the same time.

    You can hit the Red Button to follow Final Score from 14:30 or tune into BBC Two from 16:30.

    Live coverage of the FA Cup semi-final between Reading and Arsenal from Wembley begins at 17:05 on BBC One.

    And later there's highlights from the day's five Premier League matches on Match of the Day at 22:30, to be followed by the best action from the lower divisions in the Football League show from 23:40.

  4. What is happening and where?published at 12:01 British Summer Time 18 April 2015

    Thanks Mandeep, a sterling effort sir. You are very much the Marty Jannetty to my Shawn Michaels. Courtesy of m'colleague's fine efforts this glorious Saturday morning, you've got the low down of who is playing and when. What I can add to that is who is covering what and where here at the BBC.

    Myself and Mr Tom Rostance are going to look after the English league action, starting with Wolves v Ipswich from the Championship before focusing on the four 3pm kick-offs in the Premier League, with updates from the Football League. If it's Scottish Cup action you're after, you can find it in our separate text commentary.

    Later, we'll have separate live coverage for Chelsea v Manchester United, the FA Cup semi-final between Arsenal and Reading and Real Madrid v Malaga from La Liga, which I'll link you to as and when they get under way.

  5. Postpublished at 12:00 British Summer Time 18 April 2015

    In dedication to wrestler Wade 'Bad News' Barrett, it's time for me to tag out to Phil Dawkes, who will see you through a top day of footie action when we will also have separate live text commentaries on the FA Cup semi-final between Reading and Arsenal as well as Chelsea v Man Utd. Enjoy.

  6. 'Massive belief'published at 11:58 British Summer Time 18 April 2015

    Leicester City striker David NugentImage source, Getty Images

    Leicester striker David Nugent: "We've won the last two and it has given us massive belief. It's very hard to get back-to-back wins in the Premier League and we've done it.

    "The teams around us are on a bit of a blip in form. Hull have got a tough fixture list and Sunderland are struggling to score. They're the teams that we need to keep slipping up.

    "We've probably got the best run-in and, hopefully, we can use that to our advantage."

  7. Strange reasons for leaving a game earlypublished at 11:53 British Summer Time 18 April 2015

    As is usual on a Saturday morning, we're teaming up with the Danny Baker Show on BBC Radio 5 live. Today's topic for conversation is: Strange or stupid reasons for having to leave a match early.

    Jack Beardwell: I walked out of Turf Moor in 2010 against Manchester City. Just couldn't handle seeing my team lose 6-1!

    Ben Turner: Left the Southampton v Arsenal League Cup game in September after two minutes because my dad forgot to book the tickets...

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    You can also text us in the UK only on 81111 - but please don't forget to include your name and location.

  8. Scottish football latestpublished at 11:53 British Summer Time 18 April 2015

    At Hampden, Hibernian meet Falkirk in the first of this season's Scottish Cup semi-finals. These two sides met at the same stage of the competition back in 2013 when Hibs recovered from a 3-0 half-time deficit to win 4-3 in extra-time. The sun was splitting the sky in Glasgow that day and it looks like being another sunny afternoon at the national stadium but will there be the same glut of goals? Follow our live television, radio and text coverage to find out on our separate Scottish live text.

  9. Monk plays down Hammers linkpublished at 11:51 British Summer Time 18 April 2015

    Swansea manager Garry MonkImage source, Getty Images

    Garry Monk has led Swansea to a record-equalling 47 Premier League points with six games left this season and that has led him to be linked with taking over from Sam Allardyce at West Ham.

    "West Ham have a fantastic manager in place," sais Monk.

    "For them to be looking elsewhere - if they are - I think they've already got the manager there who's had a fantastic season.

    West Ham have done exceptionally well this season, progressed again, and that's what you want from a club."

  10. 'Keep focus'published at 11:45 British Summer Time 18 April 2015

    Leicester City manager Nigel PearsonImage source, Getty Images

    Leicester City seem destined for the drop recently but wins against West Ham and West Brom have reignited their survival hopes.

    They could move out of the relegation zone for the first time since November if they beat Swansea by three goals at the King Power Stadium on Saturday and Burnley drop points at Everton.

    "It is really important that we keep our focus," said Foxes boss Nigel Pearson. "If you can use it (being underdogs), great.

    "It really is about dealing with the situation that you are in and then allowing the players to go out there without pressure. There is pressure, of course, but when the players take the field, they have got to go out there and perform."

  11. Foxes hopes reignitedpublished at 11:40 British Summer Time 18 April 2015

    Back-to-back victories have ignited Leicester's survival mission after a run of eight matches without a win but ending the day outside the bottom three might be a bit of a tall order.

    The Foxes would need to win by three goals, something they have not managed since they beat Barnsley 3-0 on their way to the Championship title last season.

    Swansea arrive in the East Midlands with two wins and a draw from their last three matches.

  12. Strange reasons for leaving a game earlypublished at 11:35 British Summer Time 18 April 2015

    Chelsea players celebrateImage source, Getty Images

    As is usual on a Saturday morning, we're teaming up with the Danny Baker Show on BBC Radio 5 live. Today's topic for conversation is: Strange or stupid reasons for having to leave a match early.

    Ben Osland, Greater London: My uncle and cousin left the Chelsea v Manchester United match in the Capital One Cup a few years ago. Chelsea were 3-2 down, when it was about to end, my uncle told him to get up, because "Nothing else will happen." My cousin protested but my uncle said "Nothing will happen. I bet £50 nothing else will happen." Chelsea got a penalty, but having left the stadium, they weren't let back in. They had to go to a pub to watch Chelsea win 5-4 in extra-time. My cousin was soon £50 richer!

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    You can also text us in the UK only on 81111 - but please don't forget to include your name and location.

  13. Team newspublished at 11:34 British Summer Time 18 April 2015

    Wolves boss Kenny Jackett makes two changes to the side that lost to Middlesbrough last Tuesday. Scott Golbourne replaces Kortney Hause in defence, while forward Nouha Dicko is in for midfielder Jack Price.

    Ipswich manager Mick McCarthy, formerly of Wolves, makes one alteration. Jay Tabb comes in for Stephen Hunt in midfield.

    Wolves XI: Ikeme, Iorfa, Batth, Stearman, Golbourne, Van La Parra, McDonald, Edwards, Sako, Afobe, Dicko.

    Ipswich XI: Bialkowski, Parr, Mings, Chambers, Smith, Berra, Skuse, Murphy, Tabb, Sears, Bishop.

  14. Postpublished at 11:31 British Summer Time 18 April 2015

    Burnley striker Danny Ings
  15. 'We have to win games'published at 11:26 British Summer Time 18 April 2015

    Burnley boss Sean DycheImage source, Getty Images

    Gruff-voiced Burnley boss Sean Dyche has won plenty of admirers this season and he says his side need to concentrate on themselves rather than the opposition today.

    "When the whistle blows, we have a plan and are more looking at how we are going to operate," he said.

    "We've done a lot of work to be where we are after being written off so heavily. We're certainly in the pack.

    "Performance-wise I've been pleased but we have to win games, of course. That's the nature of the business."

  16. Strange reasons for leaving a game earlypublished at 11:22 British Summer Time 18 April 2015

    As is usual on a Saturday morning, we're teaming up with the Danny Baker Show on BBC Radio 5 live. Today's topic for conversation is: Strange or stupid reasons for having to leave a match early.

    Phrenology head

    Andrew Griffin: My mate left a Cardiff game at half time a few years ago because he wanted to buy a phrenology head before the shops shut.

    Get involved on Twitter using #bbcfootball, external or post a comment on the MOTD Facebook page., external

    You can also text us in the UK only on 81111 - but please don't forget to include your name and location.

  17. Battle for play-off spotpublished at 11:20 British Summer Time 18 April 2015

    Wolves and Ipswich are both vying for a Championship play-off place and their game will get under way in just under an hour.

    We'll have team news soon and keep you updated on the game right here.

  18. Everton's home comfortspublished at 11:17 British Summer Time 18 April 2015

    Right, back to the game at Goodison Park. Everton have picked up 10 points from the last 12 available to keep the relegation battle at arm's length.

    Burnley would love to do the same but go to Merseyside to play a Toffees side which, along with Arsenal and Chelsea, is unbeaten at home in 2015.

    The Clarets have picked up a league-low six points over the last 11 games and are without a league goal in four hours and 59 minutes since George Boyd's winner in the 1-0 victory over Manchester City.

  19. Bad news for Lawropublished at 11:12 British Summer Time 18 April 2015

    Lawro's predictions

    Just to diverge a minute. Lawro's predictions always make for interesting reading and more so this week if only for the picture above.

    This week Lawro is taking on WWE wrestling star Wade 'Bad News' Barrett.

    Barrett is a lifelong Preston fan who has trained with the team and invited some of their players along to the WWE Live show in Manchester last weekend.

  20. Coming up on BBC radiopublished at 11:11 British Summer Time 18 April 2015

    BBC Radio 5 live

    BBC Radio 5 live begins its coverage of Saturday's football programme with commentary from Wolves v Ipswich, a 12:15 BST kick-off.

    That'll be followed by coverage of the 15:00 match between Leicester and Swansea, plus updates from around the grounds as the goals go in.

    Then it's off to the FA Cup semi-finals and Arsenal and Reading at Wembley, a 17:20 start - that one's also live on BBC One of course.

    Plus later this evening you can have your say on the big football stories on 606 with Kevin Kilbane and Kelly Cates, on today at the later time of 19:20.