The Sports Matrix: Monday 21 February 2011

Ancelotti treading thin line at Chelsea

Should struggling Chelsea be defeated by Copenhagen in the Champions League first knockout round tomorrow, the Blues’ owner, Roman Abramovich, may be persuaded to sack manager Carlo Ancelotti before the end of the season. MORE

Vela earns West Brom vital draw

Carlos Vela’s injury-time effort earned West Brom a precious 1-1 draw with Wolves at The Hawthorns. Jamie O’Hara put Wolves ahead, before Vela seized on Wayne Hennessey’s fumble to earn a draw in Roy Hodgson’s first game in charge of Albion. MORE

England prepare for Dutch test

England are taking no chances as they prepare to face the Netherlands in their opening game of the World Cup tomorrow. The Dutch claim they were refused a request to borrow video footage of James Anderson. MORE

Wrangle over the Olympic Stadium

What [Leyton Orient chairman] Barry Hearn surely wants is compensation. He knows he cannot fight the political imperative to have a major tenant in the Olympic Stadium and neither is he powerful enough to block a bigger club. MORE

Hooper’s double helps Celtic win

Celtic moved one step closer to securing the Scottish Premier League title after beating rivals Rangers 3-0 in the Old Firm derby, moving them eight points clear at the top. Gary Hooper scored two goals and Kris Commons also struck at Parkhead. MORE

Manchester City destroy County

Manchester City eased through to the FA Cup fifth round after brushing aside League One Notts County 5-0 at Eastlands. Patrick Vieira scored twice while substitute Carlos Tevez and Edin Dzeko also scored, with Micah Richards completing the rout. MORE

Saracens trounce struggling Leeds

Saracens cut Leicester’s lead at the top of the Premiership with a 39-0 thrashing of Leeds yesterday. Sarries scored five tries and their fly-half Alex Goode kicked 14 points, four conversions and two penalties, as Leeds were consigned to defeat. MORE

Opinion: James Lawton

Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli looked angry, embittered and dislocated – a condition that had developed long before he turned in the box and accidentally collided with defender Krystian Pearce. MORE

Late equaliser earns Emirates trip

Leyton Orient substitute Jonathan Téhoué’s equaliser two minutes from time earned his side a lucrative replay in yesterday’s 1-1 draw at Brisbane Road. Tomas Rosicky had earlier put Arsenal ahead in the second-half, but Orient dug in and achieved a famous draw against a team who conquered Barcelona just four days ago. The League One side’s delighted manager, Russell Slade, said: “We are humbled but we are also proud that we have got this far and have another opportunity to play against Arsenal in a magnificent stadium.” MORE

Klasnic’s volley enough for Bolton

Ivan Klasnic’s first-half goal was enough for Bolton as they beat Fulham 1- 0 to progress to the quarter final stage. The Croat volleyed in from 12 yards after fine build-up play from Fabrice Muamba in the 19th minute as the west Londoners crashed out of the Cup. MORE

Djokovic prepares for Dubai event

Novak Djokovic has been spending time in Monte Carlo ahead of this week’s Dubai Duty Free Championships, his first tournament since his Australian Open win. “I’ve been going to the beach, doing some nice walks round the Côte d’Azur,” he said. MORE