"Champi-oo-nes, champi-oo-nes, ole ole ole!"

Manchester City Women are enjoying the acclaim of the Etihad crowd at half-time, parading the Women's Super League trophy around the pitch after last month's title success.

We'll know in about six months whether the blokes can match their achievement...

 Re 1524 - 'chocolate wrists':"This expression usually refers to a poor performance by a goalkeeper, as in e.g.: 'goals slipped through his hands like he had chocolate wrists …' The phrase presumably takes inspiration from the noun butterfingers, which is traditionally used to describe someone who drops things easily."Elliot, former goalkeeper, West Sussex  

Yoan Gouffran scored on the stroke of half-time to give Championship leaders Newcastle a 2-0 advantage at home to Cardiff. Christian Atsu put Rafa Benitez's side ahead early on. 

Fellow promotion hopefuls Norwich are 1-0 up at home to Leeds thanks to Robbie Brady's strike while Garath McCleary's brace has given Reading a 2-0 lead at Wigan heading into the interval. 

Things are looking bad for QPR against Nottingham Forest; the Rs have had Karl Henry sent off for two bookable offences and trail 1-0 to a Britt Assombalonga goal. Sheffield Wednesday striker Gary Hooper cancelled out Tom Lawrence's opener for Ipswich to ensure the Owls go into the break on level terms, while bottom side Rotherham are 2-0 down to Preston.

Aston Villa v Blackburn, Burton v Barnsley and Huddersfield v Birmingham are all goalless.  

Image source, Rex Features

Image source, Opta

He had to be beaten eventually.

Victor Valdes made six saves, a couple of them outstanding, but in the end he was beaten low to his left just before half-time.

Chris Waddle
Ex-England winger, BBC Radio 5 live at Etihad Stadium

Aitor Karanka has got Fischer, Nugent and Stuani on the bench if he wants to change it.

Some managers think that if they go for it, they'll get picked off again and again and they end up losing 4-0 or 5-0.

I can't see him changing it, but I can't see them scoring. They're not even getting any set-pieces.

Very, very close to a goal with the last kick of the half. West Ham free-kick in the Stoke D, Dimitri Payet obviously the man to step up. Whipping, fizzing, but not dipping under the bar. Words between the players as they leave the pitch, but it's not been the best half of football.

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City have scored before half-time in every Premier League game they have won this season - and they fully deserve a lead after battering Middlesbrough.

Sgt Pep's band are on course to extend their lead at the top to three points.

Almost 2-0 with the final kick of the first half. Jesus Navas tries to catch out Victor Valdes by thundering an angle shot towards his near post, and the Boro stopper is glad to see his left upright shaking and the ball pinging out towards the corner flag.

Refreshments. Incredibly, after their woeful start, Sunderland could have been ahead. Bournemouth have slept through the second part of that half.

So far so good for the home side. Goals inside the opening 15 minutes from Sam Vokes and Johann Berg Gudmundsson have lifted Burnley up to ninth in the 'as it stands' table.

Chris Waddle
Ex-England winger, BBC Radio 5 live at Etihad Stadium

That's the type of ball you need - nice and early, it didn't allow Middlesbrough's defence to block the space off.

Aguero gambled and it's a good finish. He makes things look very easy. A quality cross and a quality finish.

Image source, Getty Images

2-1 Sunderland? No! Duncan Watmore has the ball in the net, but the flag goes up. You almost feel sorry for the Black Cats...

If Palace fancy leaving Turf Moor with at least a point then a goal before half-time would be handy. The Eagles do come close, Christian Benteke swivelling to fire a half-volley straight at Tom Heaton.

This appears to be the afternoon that Victor Valdes finally streams back into public consciousness. The Boro keeper races out of his goal to stop Jesus Navas - winning the ball and a flesh wound for his troubles. Blood is pouring out of his right thigh. Time for the magic sponge.

Image source, Getty Images

That was Victor Anichebe's first Premier League goal since scoring for West Brom against Newcastle in May 2015 – 546 days ago.

Promotion-chasing Norwich have taken a 1-0 lead against Leeds at Carrow Road thanks to a goal from Robbie Brady while Tom Lawrence has put Ipswich 1-0 up at Sheffield Wednesday. 

At the other end of the table, bottom side Rotherham are 2-0 down at home to Preston after two goals in the space of five minutes from Jordan Hugill and Callum Robinson. 

Reading still lead 2-0 at Wigan and Newcastle remain 1-0 up against Cardiff. Aston Villa v Burton, Burton v Barnsley and Nottingham Forest v QPR are all goalless.

Ryan Lloyd: Re 15:24: Mandanda's "chocolate wrists"... In Brazil, they call that "mão de alface," or lettuce hands. So I'm down with chocolate wrists.

Chris Waddle
Ex-England winger, BBC Radio 5 live at Etihad Stadium

David Silva hits it early and it's a great reaction save from Victor Valdes.

Since the start of the game, City have been dominant. Just in the last five minutes, they've had three decent chances.

Image source, Reuters