Football Round-up: Lions mauled on Rae off-day

EAST LONDON'S pursuit of Newcastle at the top of the First Division met with mixed results yesterday. Millwall, lying third and playing particularly well recently, lost at Oxford. Starting with their usual enterprise, the Lions were knocked back in the 36th minute when Jim Magilton was felled in the penalty area by Alan McLeary and got up to convert the spot-kick. It was Oxford's first shot. Eleven minutes into the second half, Joey Beauchamp made it 2-0, after which it all became too much for Millwall midfielder Alex Rae. He was sent off in the 64th minute. Beauchamp scored again a minute from the end.

PLAGUED by injuries and suspensions, West Ham nonetheless scored their seventh away win of the season coming from behind at Leicester. David Lowe gave City the lead after seven minutes but Mark Robson equalised 12 minutes later and centre-back Tony Gale scored the winner 10 minutes into the second half. Second- placed West Ham are now 10 points behind who Newcastle entertain Derby this afternoon.

NEITHER Bolton in the Second nor Southend in the First were able to carry over their excellent FA Cup form to the League. Bolton were beaten 1-0 at home by penurious Brighton while Southend lost at Peterborough by the same margin, Posh being inspired by their new signing from Millwall, John McGlashan. Southend slipped to two places off the bottom after Cambridge and Bristol Rovers won at Birmingham and Brentford respectively.

PORT VALE were the only side in the Second Division's top four to win. Nicky Cross scored in the first and twelfth minutes against Bournemouth. Keith Houchen wrapped it up with 20 minutes to go. One of Houchen's former clubs, Leyton Orient, suffered their first home reverse of the season, beaten 2-1 by Reading, who knocked them out of the FA Cup earlier in the season. The top two, Stoke and West Brom, both drew - the former at Wigan; the latter, surprisingly, at home to bottom side Huddersfield who equalised in the 90th minute.

CHESTER, one off the bottom of the second, beat Hull by timing their goals as though they were boiling eggs. After three minutes, Stuart Rimmer put them ahead; three minutes later Eddie Bishop made it two; a further three minutes on, Rimmer scored his second.

RANGERS and Aberdeen both scored four away from home but Hibernian still managed to give Walter Smith's Premier leaders a fright. Mark Hateley gave Rangers a half-time lead. Just as well really, because they shared six goals with Hibs in the last 21 minutes. The Dons, by contrast, were relatively untroubled as their highly-rated young striker Eoin Jess scored two of their four against Falkirk.

WITH Anders Limpar and Mark Flatts injured, and John Jensen and Ian Wright suspended, Arsenal could give winger Jimmy Carter a rare outing against Liverpool, the club they bought him from in 1991, in this afternoon's Barclays League match at Highbury. Since his transfer, Carter has made only eight appearances and the Gunners have yet to win with him in the team. He came on as substitute in last week's FA Cup draw with Leeds. Liverpool have won just once in 10 games but have Steve Nicol and Steve McManaman back from injury while Ian Rush has a late test.

BERNARD PARDO, a former Olympique Marseille and France midfielder, was arrested at his home near Marseille yesterday by police investigating cocaine trafficking in southern France. One of 12 detained, Pardo, 32, left his last club Paris St Germain in 1991. Police have another 34 names on their wanted list, including several famous sports personalities.

THREE South Africans come to Britain this week. Full-back David Nyathi of Orlando Pirates will be a triallist at Chelsea, John 'Shoes' Moshoeu, Highland Park's international midfielder arrives at Wolves and Doctor Khumalo of South Africa's champions Kaizer Chiefs goes to Aston Villa.