As always, the four Premiership matches in a short period of ten days over Yuletide, meant uphill struggle for all teams in the top flight.

This time, no team succeeded in gaining the maximum 12 points.

Other important news for December:

• In the second round of the FA Cup, Notts County lose 0-1 at home to non-League side Havant.

• Despite going down 0-1 at Milan, Celtic still progress to the last 16 of the Champions League.

• Everton continue with their winning spree in Europe, defeating Zenit St Petersburg 1-0 at home in a group match of the UEFA Cup.

Tottenham also make it to the knock-out phase following their 1-1 draw at Anderlecht.

Bolton can also join them after their significant 1-0 win at Red Star in Serbia.

• David Beckham is willing to work as the 'official face' for the FA's bid to host the 2018 World Cup.

• Aston Villa duo, manager Martin O'Neill and striker Gabriel Agbonlahor are named Manager and Player of the Month.

100 for Giggs

• Ryan Giggs scores his 100th Premier League goal in Manchester United's 2-0 win over Blackburn.

• Former England boss Bobby Robson receives BBC award Lifetime Achievement.

• Liverpool achieve their goal with a third straight win, 4-0 at Marseille, to qualify for the last 16 of the Champions League. Only Rangers fall by the wayside after the 0-3 home setback to Lyon. Now, the Gers will play in the UEFA Cup.

Other results: Chelsea-Valencia 0-0, Roma-Manchester United 1-1, Arsenal-Steaua Bucharest 2-1.

• Port Vale lose 0-1 to non-Leaguers Chasetown in a second round replay of the FA Cup.

• The Football Association appoint Italian Fabio Capello as England manager.

• Manchester City lose their perfect home record, going down 0-2 to Tottenham in the quarter-finals of the League Cup. The other three clubs in the last four are West Ham United, Chelsea and Arsenal.

• Without being involved, Bolton progress to the KO stage of the UEFA Cup.

Results: AZ 67 Alkmaar-Everton 2-3, Aberdeen-FC Copenhagen 4-0. The Dons join the trio of English sides in the knock-out phase of the UEFA Cup.

• Everton and Bordeaux are the only two sides to go through with a maximum points record.

• Fulham sack manager Lawrie Sanchez and Hibernian's John Collins quits the club.

• The FA give the go-ahead to build a National Football Centre at the Burton-on-Trent site.

• Fulham appoint Roy Hodgson as coach.

• Motherwell midfielder Phil O'Donnell dies after collapsing during a Scottish Premier League match against Dundee United.

• Fans all over the United Kingdom pay tribute to Motherwell captain O'Donnell.

Leading marksmen

Premier League
13 - Ronaldo (Manchester United)
12 - Adebayor (Arsenal)
10 - Santa Cruz (Blackburn); Keane (Tottenham); Anelka (Bolton)
9 - Torres (Liverpool); Mwaru-wari (Portsmouth); Yakubu (Everton)

The Championship
15 - Phillips (West Brom)
13 - Beattie (Sheffield United)
12 - Ebanks-Blake (Plymouth)
11 - King (Watford); Morrison (Crystal Palace); Fuller (Stoke); Gray (Burnley)

Scottish Premier
14 - McDonald (Celtic)
9 - Vennegoor of Hesselink (Celtic)
8 - Hunt (Dundee United); Fletcher (Hibernian)

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