The Premier League clubs’ chairmen have shot down a proposal which would have seen a playoff being played between fourth and fifth placed teams for the final Champions League slot. As per the current regulations, the top two finishers in the Premier League have direct qualification to the UCL while teams finishing third and fourth have to play qualifying rounds. The proposal mooted that the final Champions League spot be granted to the winner of the playoff which was to be played between the fourth and fifth placed teams in the League after the end of the season. The fortunes of the top three finishing teams were not to be affected.

The likes of Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool were quick to voice their dissatisfaction over the suggestion. Other teams in the top half were considerate enough to give it a thought with Martin O’Neill describing it as “interesting” and one that “people might go for”.

Any change in the current format would have needed the approval of 14 of the 20 Premier League clubs. With the television deal in place for the next three years, any change would have reflected only after the current deal expired.

Also, the general consensus at the meeting was that the team finishing in fourth position after a gruelling season deserved to play in the Champions League. The congestion in the English football calendar did not help the change at all. Premier League bosses feared that this change would reduce the significance of the FA’s other tournaments especially the FA Cup. Why mend something that ain’t broken?

Manchester City were knocked out of the FA Cup after their loss to Stoke at the Britannia Stadium on Wednesday. Stoke had already held City to a 1-1 draw when the two sides had met in a Premier League game a few days ago. In a very cagey affair, Stoke took the lead through Dave Kitson in the 79th minute but Bellamy equalised for City within two minutes to make it 1-1. In the 83rd minute, Emmanuel Adebayor was sent off for retaliating against Ryan Shawcross. The former United defender turned hero in extra time as he headed in a Rory Delap throw-in to give Stoke the lead. Mancini’s side were put out of their misery when Sanli Tuncay scored to give the Potters a 3-1 victory.

Unlike City, both Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa booked their place in the next round with wins over Bolton and Crystal Palace respectively. Tottenham cruised to a 4-0 win against the Trotters. Roman Pavlyuchenko continued his resurgence and scored twice. Own goals from Jaaskelainen and O’Brien also contributed to Bolton’s downfall.

Aston Villa secured a battling 3-1 win over Crystal Palace. John Carew scored two late penalties for the Villians. Agbonlahor had given Villa the lead late in the first half. But Darren Ambrose equalised from the spot for Palace before Carew took the game away from the Championship side.
In another closely contested replay, Reading progressed to the sixth round with a 3-2 win over a strong West Bromwich Albion side.