over Norwich to ensure that the gap between first and second place remains at one point. Manchester City's 2–1 at Ipswich takes them to within one point and one place of the top five. A thrilling match in Division One sees Sheffield United win 6–3 at Luton and move to the brink of the playoff places, boosting their hopes of an immediate return to the Premier League. 7 December 1994 – Manchester United bow out of the Champions League despite beating Galatasaray 4–0 at Old Trafford in their final group game. Young midfielders Simon Davies and David Beckham score their first goals for the club. 9 December 1994 – The Football Association quashes Tottenham's FA Cup ban and 6-point deduction. 10 December 1994 – Nottingham Forest beat Ipswich Town 4–1; all the goals are scored in the first-half. Blackburn scrape a 3–2 home win over Southampton to maintain their lead of the Premier League. Manchester United keep up the pressure with a 3–2 win over QPR at Loftus Road; Paul Scholes scores twice for the visitors and Les Ferdinand – one of the strikers whose name has recently been linked with a move to Old Trafford – scores twice for the hosts. 11 December 1994 – Arsenal manager George Graham denies allegations that he received an illegal £285,000 payment as part of a transfer deal. Everton pay a club record fee of £4 million for Rangers striker Duncan Ferguson, who has been on loan at Goodison Park for two months. 12 December 1994 – Scarborough, who are bottom of Division Three, sack manager Billy Ayre, with former manager Ray McHale returning to the club for his second spell in charge. Though the vast majority of the clubs in the Football Conference still do not have grounds suitable for hosting League football, current Conference leaders Macclesfield Town's Moss Rose ground was used by Chester City from 1990 to 1992, making it seem likely that they will be promoted if they win the Conference. 15 December 1994 – Mark McGhee leaves Reading to take charge of Leicester City. He is replaced at Elm Park by 35-year-old players Jimmy Quinn and Mick Gooding. 17 December 1994 – Manchester United suffer their first home league defeat of the season when they go down 2–1 at home to Nottingham Forest, who win the game with goals from Stuart Pearce and Stan Collymore, squandering the chance