Portsmouth beat fellow English Premier League side Birmingham City 2 – 0 to reach the FA Cup semi-finals thanks to two goals by Frederic Piquionne.

But London rivals Fulham and Tottenham – managed by Harry Redknapp, who masterminded Portsmouth’s FA Cup triumph in 2008 – will have to replay after a goalless draw at Craven Cottage.

French forward Piquionne scored twice in three second-half minutes for Portsmouth, forcing the ball home from close range and then, in the 70th minute, after being played in by Jamie O’Hara, beating Joe Hart when one-on-one with the goalkeeper to the delight of the Fratton Park faithful.

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Chelsea beat Birmingham City 3 – 0 at Stamford Bridge to go to the top of the English Premier League again.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side brought an end to Birmingham’s 15-match unbeaten run thanks to an opening goal by Florent Malouda and a brace from Frank Lampard. The win put Chelsea one point clear of Manchester United at the top of the table with a match in hand on their rivals.

The home side went ahead in the fifth minute when Chelsea opened their account through Malouda. The goal was engineered by England midfielder Joe Cole, who burst into the City penalty area from the right flank before crossing for the unmarked Malouda to head past Joe Hart from six yards.

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Steven Gerrard’s late penalty last night saved a point for Liverpool at Anfield against Birmingham City. The sides drew 2 – 2 in this English Premier League encounter.

Gerrard came on as a substitute seconds before the break and drove home a spot-kick in the second half to salvage a point.

Liverpool led early on through a David Ngog goal but Christian Benitez nodded the equaliser and Cameron Jerome smashed home a stunning 30-yarder to put Birmingham City ahead until Gerrard’s intervention.

Fernando Torres was not included in the squad as Liverpool sought a second win in nine matches but Gerrard was named on the bench.

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