Crystal Palace 2-1 Brighton, West Ham 2-2 Bournemouth, Ipswich 1-2 Wolves and more – as it happened (2025)

And to bring our clockwatch to a conclusion, here’s Ed Aarons on the frenetic and frantic finish to Crystal Palace v Brighton. Another Eagles win sees them soar further up the table and closer to the top half.

Thanks to you for reading today’s throughout the afternoon. It’s been a really fun one. Don’t forget to tune into our Aston Villa v Nottingham Forest coverage, as well as enjoying a slice of Saturday evening sun and maybe the odd ice-cold beverage. Bye!

The full-time take from Portman Road, where the 2024-25 relegation battle came to its final resting place. RIP.

Here’s Dean Henderson on Palace’s resilient win over Brighton:

It was phenomenal. The lads were in the trenches at the end. Going down to nine men, you have to dig deep and build relationships. No one knew what positions they were playing but they were throwing bodies in the way of shots. I’m speechless. It’s fantastic. This fixture is massive for the fans. It means the same to us. We’re delighted.

Here’s John Brewin’s take on the action at the London Stadium as Bournemouth’s European hopes took another body blow, despite the best efforts of Evanlison.

Vinícius Jr scored in the second half to banish his missed penalty demons from earlier in the match, but Valencia have nicked all three points late on to leave the Bernabeu in stunned silence. Hugo Duro was the matchwinner in the 95th minute.

It means Los Blancos are still three points behind leaders Barcelona, who host Real Betis tonight. A big day in the Spanish title race.

Aaaaaand breathe.

The match reports and plenty of reaction will drop in soon. What a day.

In League One, it finished Birmingham City 6-2 Barnsley, with the midlands side edging closer to automatic promotion – almost certainly as champions.

It’s the race for second and the top six where things get interesting. Wrexham won 3-0 earlier to jump into second spot, six points clear of Wycombe although the Chairboys have a game in hand. Stockport beat Exeter 2-0 today to cement themselves in the top six, with Charlton – who fought back from 2-0 down to draw with Lincoln today – also fairly secure there.

Bolton, Reading and Huddersfield all won today to remain in the playoff hunt.

The Eagles have held off the Seagulls to secure the bragging rights in this unique rivalry. Red cards for Nketiah, Guehi and Van Hecke will provide talking points for the highlights shows, but Palace were the more dangerous side when it was 11 v 11.

A first league double for Palace over Brighton in almost 100 years is celebrated wildly at Selhust Park!

A second half turnaround from Vitor Pereira virtually ends the relegation fight as a contest. Ipswich had hope when Liam Delap scored early on, but the visitors extend the gap to 12 points between 17th and 18th. It’s done.

A breathless and thoroughly entertaining second half ends with the teams on level terms. West Ham at least brought some threat in the final third after a disappointing first 45 minutes, with headed goals from Niclas Füllkrug and Jarrod Bowen, but Evanlison’s double is enough for a share of the spoils.

More full time scores in the Championship:

• Plymouth 2-1 Norwich – a big win for the bottom club

• Sheff Weds 0-1 Hull – the Tigers boost their survival bid

• Bristol City 2-1 Watford – are Robins on course for the playoffs?

• Swansea 1-0 Derby – the Rams’ good run comes to an end

Chaos in the A23 derby. Jan Paul van Hecke joins the red card club. Another second yellow. It’s nine versus 10 now.

Championship: Who had Oxford 1-0 Sheffield United on their predictions card? It’s finished that way in a big blow for Chris Wilder’s men.

It’s attack v defence at Selhurst Park now as this lengthy period of added time offers hope for Brighton. They’re not taking their chances at the moment.

A vital late goal for Hull in the Championship relegation scrap! Neither the Tigers nor Sheffield Wednesday have offered much today but Charlie Hughes’ stoppage time header might have put the visitors four points clear of trouble.

Marc Guehi follows Eddie Nketiah off the field and Palace are down to nine men! It’s another two yellow cards and, as 12 added minutes are signalled, we have a seriously interesting finish on our hands.

In League One …

Birmingham have run away with it against Barnsley. It’s 5-2 now.

Stevenage might have won it late on against Crawley via Jamie Reid’s goal.

Bradford have wrapped it up against Crewe and look destined for the League Two summit. Just one point will separate the top three in the fourth tier, with the chasing pack not far off either.

Heartbreak for Ipswich. Wolves have done a number on them in this second half and the three points might be on their way across the country to Molineux. Jorgen Strand Larsen pokes it home … although there’s a VAR check going on.

The goal will count.

All three Premier League games are on a knife-edge going into the final few minutes plus stoppage time. Tasty stuff.

There’s been some debate over that Nketiah red. Not sure both offences were worthy of yellows, but there you go.

Paul Summers gets back in touch re Ipswich 1-1 Wolves:

Got to say that Wolves goal looked marginal for offside in the build up too. Not calling it either way but that didn’t seem to be checked either. Maybe this VAR team have the attention span of a goldfish?

A big goal for Swansea against in-form Derby and it’s come courtesy of Ji-Sung Eom. That would land the Rams firmly back in the mire, despite their excellent form under John Eustace.

Also in the Championship, Watford have scored but still trail Bristol City 2-1 while Portsmouth have equalised at Millwall.

It’s been a ding-dong second half at the London Stadium. Bournemouth saw their 1-0 lead evaporate but have struck back through Evanilson. The Brazilian is on a hat-trick now.

Eddie Nketiah only came on in the 68th minute but he’s received two yellow cards and has received his marching orders.

The Eagles have about 10 minutes plus added time to hang on with 10 men.

Charlton have surged back in the second half against Lincoln, turning a 2-0 deficit into a 2-2 scoreline. The Valley is positively bouncing – and those faint hopes of automatic promotion are .. well, still faint, but by no means dead and buried.

Fellow League One playoff hopefuls Bolton have taken the lead against Bristol Rovers.

Championship: Lewis Baker slots home a penalty at Deepdale to get Stoke back on terms.

That’s a very big goal for Wolves! They’ve piled the pressure on in this second half and substitute Pablo Sarabia has breached the Ipswich defence. An instinctive finish.

See Also

Southampton, the worst team in history? Paul Jewell knows the feeling | Ben Fisher

Team news has dropped from Villa Park for our 5.30pm offering. Scott Murray is your man.

Another update from north o’ t’ border via Simon McMahon:

Looking likely that Dundee United will be confirmed in the top six without kicking a ball, thanks to Dundee now leading St. Mirren 2-0, and Kilmarnock doing the same to Motherwell. Rangers are still trailing 1-0 to Hibs, and looking at a fifth home defeat in a row, but with away wins at Celtic, Fenerbahce, Dundee and Kilmarnock in the same period. Go figure.

Leeds fans will be hoping and praying that Oxford can hang on to that 1-0 lead against Sheffield United.

One of them, Jeremy Boyce, emails in:

Leeds fan here. As you said, not a great day for the Whites. The only saving grace is that Sheff U are currently 1-0 down, but i’m sure Wilder will re-establish some new order … As regards the Joy Division chanting, maybe as a variant they could try “New Dawn Fades”, as it so often does in the vicinity of Elland Road. Where will it end ?

The Hammers have turned it around! Jarrod Bowen scores and this has been the second half performance Graham Potter would have been craving.

Another cracking cross has been met by another good header.

Bayer Leverkusen have clinched a last-gasp victory at FC Heidenheim in the Bundesliga. Emi Buendia popped up in the 91st minute to score his first ever goal for the German club. That keeps them within six points of leaders Bayern.

In the Championship:

• QPR 0-0 Cardiff

• Sheffield Wednesday 0-0 Hull

• Swansea 0-0 Derby

Can we get a goal for anyone there? Please?

Birmingham 3-2 Barnsley. A mad game at St Andrews after that early Tykes’ red card.

West Ham fans, surely that relationship between James Ward-Prowse and Niclas Füllkrug, who combined for the goal, is something to be harnessed? You have a brilliant set-piece taker and one of European football’s biggest aerial threats.

Brighton need another spark so they’re bringing on Joao Pedro and Simon Adingra. The Seagulls have some serious strength in depth in attacking areas.

As it stands though, another Palace goal looks more likely than Brighton making it 2-2. Plenty of noise from the home fans.

There’s a trademark Niclas Füllkrug goal to get West Ham back on terms. A fine header!

The deadlock is broken at The New Den and it’s Millwall’s Mihailo Ivanovic who has popped up with the goal against Portsmouth?

Could Pompey get dragged back into the Championship relegation fight? Strugglers Cardiff, Hull and Derby are all involved in goalless games right now.

Crewe Alexandra have given it everything at Bradford. Hosts’ goalkeeper Sam Walker has saved a penalty and now Alex have seen a goal chalked off for offside. Bradford still lead 1-0 in this one, with the outcome crucial to the automatic promotion and playoff races.

Birmingham have restored their lead against Barnsley. It’s been a bit of struggle for the League One leaders against the Yorkshire side’s 10 men. The visitors have been dogged and dug in, but promotion now seems inevitable for Blues.

A flowing Crystal Palace counterattack is finished by the wing-back Daniel Muñoz. Where has that goal come from?

The Eagles are flying.

Charlton have been one of the form sides in League One of late and even harboured hopes of an automatic promotion slot before today’s game at home to Lincoln.

But James Collins’s brace for the Imps has put the hosts 2-0 down … predicting League One is as tough as League Two.

Josh Sargent has scored within a minute of the restart to cut Norwich’s arrears at Plymouth to 2-1. Nerves will start jangling at Home Park now …

We’re getting back under way in dribs and drabs. What does the second 45-minute period have in store for us?

Here’s some halftime reading on the Lionesses, who were roaring form last night:

Crystal Palace and Brighton have shown no shortage of stomach for the fight on derby day despite both teams being safely ensconced in mid-table, albeit both will believe the Europa League is within their grasp. The Seagulls responded well to JP Mateta’s early goal.

Wolves haven’t really shown up at Portman Road yet and Ipswich have taken full advantage to lead 1-0. Can Kieran McKenna’s side hold on and secure a crucial three points that give them a sniff in the survival race?

And the final question … can West Ham muster up any creativity and invention to get back in the game against Bournemouth? It’s been in short supply from the Hammers so far today – and all season, come to think.

I’ll grab a quick cuppa before analysing those three Premier League first halves.

Premier League

• Crystal Palace 1-1 Brighton

• Ipswich 1-0 Wolves

• West Ham 0-1 Bournemouth

In the Championship, the standout scorelines are bottom side Plymouth winning 2-0 at home to Norwich and playoff hopefuls Bristol City 2-0 up v Watford. Sheffield United are trailing 1-0 to lowly Oxford.

League One leaders Birmingham are being held 1-1 by 10-man Barnsley, while Stockport are 2-0 up at Exeter. In League Two, Bradford are beating Crewe 1-0 after scoring in the first minute while Salford 2-2 Gillingham has been entertaining fare.

West Ham are getting the runaround by Bournemouth now, with the visitors hitting the crossbar … the Hammers need half-time, as most of these games enter first half added time.

Thomas Tuchel has a lovely old job, doesn’t he? He’s sat in the Selhurst sunshine this afternoon, presumably taking an interest in Dean Henderson, Ebere Eze, Adam Wharton, Marc Guehi and others.

There hadn’t been much to report at the London Stadium, but a mistake from Alphonse Areola allows Evanilson to snaffle the opening goal. The West Ham keeper pushed it out into the striker’s path.

A twist in the Championship promotion race? Oxford have stunned Sheffield United by taking the lead at the Kassam Stadium. Siriki Dembele bundles home for the Us after an almighty mess in the box.

Well, well, well (reprise) …

Barnsley have levelled virtually straight away at Birmingham via Davis Kellor-Dunn. The 10 men have something to hang onto.

Well, well, well.

In La Liga, Real Madrid are trailing 1-0 to Mouctar Diakhaby’s goal for Valencia. And Vinicius Jr has missed a penalty. It could be a big day in La Liga’s title race.

On that Delap goal – which was checked by VAR for a long time – Paul Summers emails in an explanation:

You’re right about Delap – onside. BUT VAR were checking the wrong offside! I’d love to see the lines drawn for when the ball was sent into O’Shea who then headed it to Delap. Everyone here called that offside but of course no replays and no checks.

It seemed only a matter of time til Birmingham took the lead against 10-man Barnsley. Jay Stansfield converts a penalty to take Blues one step closer to promotion. 1-0.