Football round-up: Lionel Messi strikes to write another chapter in bulging record book
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Your support makes all the difference.Lionel Messi's 73rd-minute goal for Barcelona at Celta Vigo wrote yet another chapter in the record book he has single-handedly filled with eye-popping achievements. It was the 19th consecutive La Liga match in which he has scored, the first time the feat has ever been achieved against 19 different clubs. Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo scored against every other La Liga side in 2011-12, but not in successive games. There was one disappointment for Messi – Celta Vigo equalised and it ended 2-2.
Championship
George Boyd's strike 37 seconds into the second half earned second-placed Hull City a 1-0 win at Huddersfield to close the gap on leaders Cardiff City, beaten 2-1 at lowly Peterborough, to four points. Boyd's fourth goal in six games since joining on loan from Peterborough came days after winning his first Scotland cap.
"That was the one bit of quality," the Tigers manager, Steve Bruce, said. "We've a huge game against [third-placed] Watford now on Tuesday."
Meanwhile, Boyd's parent club put the brakes on Cardiff's promotion charge when 70th-minute substitute Grant McCann tucked away 72nd- and 79th-minute penalties to seal a 2-1 comeback win, lifting Posh out of the bottom three after fellow strugglers Barnsley lost their Yorkshire derby with Sheffield Wednesday 2-1.
"I have watched the two penalty decisions several times," disgruntled Cardiff manager Malky Mackay said. "Don [Cowie] won the ball for the first one and [Dwight] Gayle was on the way down before Matt [Connolly] had even challenged him for the second."
Bolton's play-off hopes dimmed at The Valley, where Charlton shrugged off poor home form to come from 2-0 down and win 3-2. Trailing 2-1, the balance swung in Charlton's favour in the 58th minute when Wanderers' Sam Ricketts was sent off for his challenge on Ricardo Fuller. Dorian Dervite levelled before Yann Kermorgant made it 3-2 with a penalty. Two yellow cards in time added on for substitute Craig Davies saw Bolton finish with nine men.
Second-half goals by Bjorn Sigurdarson and Kevin Doyle, plus Stephen Doyle's own goal, saw Wolves beat Middlesbrough 3-2 at Molineux. Leeds' hopes at Ipswich took an early blow when Tom Lees was sent off for a foul on Jay Tabb. Two goals either side of half-time from David McGoldrick set up Wolves' victory.
League One
Graham Westley is back at Stevenage as manager. He left Broadhall Way in January 2012 to take over at Preston, who sacked him after 13 months.
League Two
Jamille Matt scored both goals as Fleetwood Town came back twice to hold leaders Gillingham 2-2.
Scotland
Rangers' long climb back to the top tier began when they clinched the Third Division title, their first trophy under Ally McCoist. Rangers only drew 0-0 at Montrose but challengers Queen's Park lost 1-0 at home to Elgin.
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