Central Football News

Aston Villa captain Ron Vlaar refused to believe his side were close to safety despite a 6-1 hammering of Sunderland tonight.

Christian Benteke scored a hat-trick - as they pulled five points clear of third-bottom Wigan but, with just three games left, Vlaar is refusing to get carried away.

"The most important thing was to win. We started well and got the goal,"

Villa's form now puts them in the driving seat to avoid the drop while their heavy negative goal difference was also boosted by a swing of plus five.

"The next game is Saturday and is very important. It's not over yet."

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• Aston Villa
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Villa bag win to go five points clear of the relegation zone. Read the full match report.

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• Aston Villa
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The chairman of Mansfield Town says the club can reach the Championship.

Thousands of people lined the streets to celebrate Mansfield Town's return to the Football League following a five year absence.

John Radford said: "I think we can get into the Championship and that's my target."

Manager Paul Cox called the day an "overwhelming and humbling experience."

He said: "The amount of people just coming out to show their appreciation is out of this world. You can see what it means to the players and the town what we've done this season."

Skipper Adam Murray said: "It's a proud moment for the town and we see from the turnout today that it means a lot."

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• Mansfield Town
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Thousands of people have lined the streets to celebrate Mansfield Town's return to the Football League after a five-year absence. The Stags paraded the Blue Square Bet Premier League trophy through the town on an opentop bus. Peter Bearne joined them.

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• Mansfield Town
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This video shows the open-top bus carrying Mansfield Town players and management on their victory parade after promotion back into the Football League.

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• Mansfield Town
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• Mansfield Town
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• Mansfield Town
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Mansfield Town FC will this afternoon celebrate its promotion back into the football league with an open top bus procession through all parts of the town.

Players and management are due to pack onto the bus which sets off from the One Call Stadium at 2:45pm.

It will then travel around Mansfield for 45 minutes before ending back at the ground.

To see a detailed interactive map of the route - see our Google Map here.

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• Mansfield Town
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Police are looking through CCTV to try to identify supporters who invaded the pitch and caused damage at Molineux after Wolves' defeat against Burnley,

Advertising hoardings and the dug-out were damaged, and at least one steward was assaulted.

Inspector Richard Cox, of West Midlands Police, said:

"The encroachment of the pitch by approximately 300 Wolves supporters was a disappointing end to an otherwise exciting and trouble-free game.

"During the course of the fixture only one arrest was made and that was a teenager who attempted to enter the ground drunk.

"In the coming days officers will be working with club officials to explore how people were able to evade security and get on to the pitch."

"Together we will review CCTV and where necessary seek to arrest anyone who may have committed a serious offence."

The defeat to Burnley left Wolves on the brink of relegation to League 1.

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• Wolverhampton Wanderers
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